Up late on Labor Day, working away on GHOST RIDER #30. Just how many Ghost Riders do you reckon I can fit into one single issue? The answer so far: five. And there's more to come.

Had my second fantasy football draft of the week, so you better believe I'm set for the NFL kickoff in a few days. Oh how I abhor that despicably long wait between football seasons. Thank God for the NFL Network. And how about that Crimson Tide the other night? We're back, baby. The Bear is smiling down from his throne in heaven. All is right with the world again.

If you like looking at awesome pieces of original comic art, you should definitely check out the blog of my friend Ande Parks, inker and writer extraordinaire. Ande has an amazing collection. Tell him I sent ya. And remind him I'm gonna kick his ass in Fantasy Football this year too.

That is all. Ghost Rider awaits.

• Having a great and loving family, in particular a couple of incredibly supportive women: namely my wife Kelly and my mother Betty.
• That I actually get paid to write comic books (Trust me, every time I get a check in the mail, I still can't believe it).
• All the support I've gotten from writers like Ed Brubaker, Brian K. Vaughan, Brian Wood, Garth Ennis and Andy Diggle, retailers like Adam Mix of Daydreams Comics in Iowa City and William Binderup of Elite Comics here in Kansas City, and from other great people like Vaneta Rogers of Newsarama and Chris Neseman from the Around Comics podcast.
• My best friend, Jon Falkner, who's the proud father of a beautiful new baby girl.
• My late cousin, Gustav Hasford, the greatest writer I've ever known, and his friends and fellow vets of the First Marine Division ISO Snuffies.
• Editor Will Dennis of Vertigo, without whom I wouldn't have a writing career.
• Artist R.M. Guéra, my always passionate, always creative partner in crime.
• The other amazing artists and editors I've been fortunate enough to work with over the last year, in particular editor Axel Alonso of Marvel, and artists Cameron Stewart and Jock.
• The NFL Sunday Ticket on Directv (I don't know where I'd be without it).
• My laptop, AKA "My Office."
• My DC comp box.
• That President Bush is a lame duck.
• Getting to sleep late on the weekends.
• Being born a Southerner.
• Living in a city with great BBQ.
• Bruce Springsteen.
• You. Thanks for reading.