The Life & Times of Optiluiz - Part V

Greetings, Epic Clubbers!

Optiluiz here once more, nearly in a new decade! Sorry for the delay, but I hope today's post makes it up to you. So, how've you guys been these past few months?

To be honest, I'm really glad that 2019 is almost over. This has been a really stressful year and I'd like the current zeitgeist to be over with. It's not all bad, of course, and keeping the blog alive is part of what I liked about this year, but I think it's time for a change.

Oh, did I mention that I'm never going back to class? Yeah, folks! I handed in my final college project and never again have to return to that godforsaken campus. For the first time in a long time, I'm about to face Christmas and the New Year without the dreadful expectation of class in the coming months. God, that does feel great.

Meanwhile, I'm working on a few new projects, including setting up an indie production company with a couple of friends of mine. It'll be hard, but I think this will be the push I need to finally escape this country and start a real career. Oh, I also adopted two gnomes that I found in front of a vacant house a little while back (which reminds me of an ancient blog character that could use a revival). I need help naming these cute little guys that most certainly won't murder me in my sleep.

You know, I've noticed that I've become way too negative these past couple of years, and maybe it's time to change that. Most people around me seem to have gone down the same hateful rabbit-hole, and I'm not a fan of seeing friends suffer for no good reason. End-of-year melancholy is a recurring thing with me, but I'm also a fan of the Holiday season and the good that it represents, and I wish more people could feel those good bits with me. I know many associate this time of the year with horrible family members and stupid television specials, but there's more to it than that. I mean, a worldwide event where people at least try to love each other a little more sounds cool to me. I do miss the snow, though.

I'm not sure what exactly I'm trying to accomplish with this garbled nonsensical text, but I guess this year has left me tired, and I don't want to go through that again. I've seen where depression and apathy can lead, so I'd rather take a sharp turn in a new, better direction. I'm tired of relationship problems, sad distant friends and nights lost to meaningless rants. From this point on, I'm using my time for stuff that makes me less unhappy, and this blog is certainly one of those things. I guess I miss feeling things on the inside, and I'm taking serious measures to be happy again. I'd talk about my love life now, but I don't think anyone really cares.

Don't worry, though, the blog won't devolve into a happy-go-lucky comic series about me smiling at kittens and feeding the homeless (I can't really bring myself to laugh at stuff that doesn't involve at least a couple of mutilated orphans and cancer jokes), I'll just feel a little better behind the scenes, and will try to complain a little less in these rants.

I think that's it for now. I let myself ramble today because this is probably going to be the last post of the year (though I hope it isn't), but I guess I want you guys to try and find the light along with me. I'm tired of most of the internet, tired of parroted opinions and pointless bickering, so I think it's time that we all sit down and enjoy the Holidays with a little joy in our hearts.

God, I'm corny. Well, thank you all for visiting, and here's to a new era of awesome adventures and loving relationships. I'll leave you all with a throwback to something I used to hear a lot back in a similar time. Hope you all have a great Christmas/Hannukah/Kwanza/whatever festive occasion you prefer.

Chainsaw (Holiday) Cheers, love you all,

- Optiluiz out.

PS: I'm 25 now and feeling so goddamn old. I think that's part of why I need this blog to stay sane.

PPS: Currently playing Death Stranding and loving it, even if it is kinda slow.

PPPS: Get ready for a gnome movie, and a few announcements in the next post.

PPPPS: Max, if you're reading this, we should totally make more comics soon, and play some MtG.

PPPPPS: These posts also serve as a kind of weird time capsule where I pour my thoughts at any given moment and then reflect on them years later with a certain amount of cringe. Hunh, I guess I was the ECB's target audience all along.

PPPPPPS: We really need a better layout, though.

December Travels and a CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY! (CLOSED)

Greetings, jolly readers.

      Optiluiz here to forcibly shove some yuletide joy into your unprepared minds on this merry... Thursday. Yes, my friends, I'm posting early for the first time in forever! Actually, I'm only doing this because on Friday I'll be heading to the beach with my friends and won't be available for a while. Besides, I think we should all just enjoy the Holidays and not worry about posting for a while. Anyhow, on to the news, and remember to check out our giveaway details after the main post!

     Max and I are working on our next animated video, and I think it'll turn out ok. It'll probably be another remake of an old comic, but we're redrawing it to make things prettier! Animation is hard work, so it might still take a while to complete. In any case, I hope today's comic satisfies the humor-hungry readers out there. I'm also gonna test out my camera and editing skills on the new computer, so we might have some live-action videos as well! Be prepared, people.

     You know, living in Brazil has made it hard to fully appreciate the Christmas spirit, especially after childhood in Canada. The lack of snow, tv specials and general northerness kind of bums me out sometimes. However, I think the Christmas spirit should live on regardless of what continent you are in. As long as you're in the company of people you like and have access to a copy of The Nightmare Before Christmas, everything will be alright. (Yes, I have an annual tradition of re-watching that damned perfect film, and it's the only present anyone will ever need).

     Christmas is one of my favourite moments of the year, only losing to Halloween because there are no spooky things involved. I actually know a lot of people who don't care for it, but I can't imagine living life as a soul-less Grinch who can't enjoy the season of giving and cheer. Hell, my first goal for when I get horribly rich (and yes, it's when, not if), is to be able to buy EVERYONE I know some of the best Christmas gifts ever. But I digress, it's gonna be a while before that happens, and for now I guess the stuff I ordered on eBay will suffice. If it ever gets here.

     Alas, I do believe it's time to go. I'm sure you all have your own holiday matters to attend to, and I have to get ready for travel (and a few more stop-motion Christmas Specials as well). Hopefully I'll make another post before New Year's, as I think this was an amazing year with some events that warrant commenting on the blog. Until then, I hope you all have a great Christmas, with much love, partying and presents. I'll leave you with a Weird Al classic, to get y'all in the mood.

Chainsaw cheers,

Optiluiz out.

PS: Don't forget to check out my Christmas-y short story on the 29th!

PPS: Anyone else excited for the Doctor Who Christmas Special? God, I love Christmas Specials!

BONUS ROUND: In the spirit of Christmas, I've decided to do the Epic Club Blog's first Christmas Giveaway! Yes, folks, you all have a chance to win a downloadable copy of the survival horror game "Afterfall: Insanity - Extended Edition!" All you have to do to enter is comment below! Just tell us what your favourite ECB comic is, and you'll have a confirmed entry. We'll announce the winner on our next post before New Year's, so be quick about it (CLOSED).