Throwback Thursday

Musician (l) Cartoonist (c) Real artist (r)
 Circa 1964?

Enjoying a summer splash. Summers in eastern Montana proved variable...hot afternoons followed by evening thunderstorms, followed by humid "hard to sleep through" evenings. Having the pool was a nice respite. As I recall, the pool didn't last long because the liner tore under the weight of exuberant water games. Thankfully, a community pool with boardwalk, pier and diving board was a bicycle ride away once we got a little older.

Looking like a Monday

NSFC-

"I dunno--Doesn't that make us sound sort of, you know--NEEDY?"

Sometimes our congregations talk about wanting new members. Why? What do we have for them? All too often "it" surfaces---we need more bodies, more people to help fund the building's upkeep and the parson's salary. Hard to imagine people wanting to sign up if that's all we're about.

Who's new?

I like this little guy! The challenge is that as simple as the lines are, he's tough to capture in various angles and attitudes. Some toons will feature attempts (including tomorrow's). We'll see where this road leads--

Making Fish Faces on Friday

Circa summer 2014

This fish aren't designed to 'do' anything. I guess they could be made into something functional. For now I make them because they make me laugh.

Throwback Thursday

  I've always liked drawing large noses and attaching people to them. Really. Always. Drawings I did in preschool feature the prominent proboscis. Some things never change.

A short throwback....July 2013

The etymology of 'proboscis' is interesting by itself...it's root from a word meaning 'to feed' in a manner like butterflies and mosquitoes do through a tubular structure.

Punctual

"This guy's 'caps lock' key is permanently stuck."

Before comment sections in news articles and before email tirades, who knew that using all caps meant one was yelling?

Proudly Presenting....

    I feel a bit how I imagine Stephan Pastis(Pearls Before Swine) felt when the legendary Bill Watterson did "guest appearances" in his comics.
    I'm not sure our guest cartoonist expected anybody to find his work. Here's the amazing part... he puts together a very witty and 'tight narrative' in three panels of clean lines and flowing action.  Does this cartoonist labor away cloistered in contemplative solitude, assiduously hunched over a drawing table? Not today!
   In between games, crafts, science demos, and a snack during our church's Vacation Bible School he produces this gem and then off to the next activity! I just happened to find the toon sitting on a table. I read it and thought it was brilliant. Later, I learned the identity of the artist and Kevin(and his mom) graciously consented to letting it appear in today's blog. I have to say it--the guy draws well and shows a keen sense humor and comic timing doesn't he? Considering this cartoonist has a couple of years before junior high school, I say he could have a long career ahead of him.

"My cue to shoe" by guest cartoonist Kevin

 Not incidentally, he has been co-starring in a series of skits all week in which he is a co-anchor of a news show. He delivers the lines with aplomb and his knack for
 improv. is impressive.

Wayback Wednesday: Zoe edition

Zoe has lived with us for sixteen years now. In people years she'd be 80 as of July 16.  She and Greta (two days older) had been constant companions until Greta's death in March of 2013. Zoe's slowing a bit, yet can be energetic and spry when treats or a little outdoor walk are in the offing. Having these two around has been a significant part of making a house a home.

Puppy Zoe striking her tough dog pose

Greta (left) and Zoe (right) having a puppy meal. Circa 1998

Inspired by Zoe's antics

Monday's mantra

So, heh heh, only five days until the next weekend!

Making the weekend rounds

Maybe the weather will cooperate for a lap around the links (for those so inclined). For the rest of us maybe a nice stroll or bike ride is in order.

Is it crowded in here?

I get a kick out of drawing crowds (ala the Mad Magazine guy Sergio Aragones). It's fun to try to shape the people in relation to those adjacent to them. There's probably a metaphor in all of that about how we're all interconnected. I'll leave that  task of metaphorism to someone with more energy and time.

Throwback Thursday-Caption This!

What caption would YOU supply?

This toon goes  back three or four years when I was trying to get caption contests going. Didn't happen. So we'll simply regard this scrawl as 'retrospective'.

'Splain, please

So how is it that you get "World Champions"
when teams from only one
country are competing?

Wise Counsel

Recently, I was visiting someone who is well into their ninth decade. Many this age speak their mind with little reticence. The person I was visiting wondered about news from her hometown and I'm not very familiar with the goings on there. My admission of ignorance elicited the counsel you see in today's toon.

"You need to get out more"

Forth Fourth...both work

. When I was a kid, our neighbor used to call Independence Day "firecracker day".  Whatever you call the day, greetings to our family and friends in the States. Hope you have a festive day!

That's a bit cynical, eh?

I know what they said in civics class, but until you ARE an elected official, the rules and laws do apply to you!

Happy Thoughts

So Canada has their day on July 1. The States have their day July 4. Mexico has their day in May. What if we strung those days together for one big party for the whole continent (and islands too)? Or we could simply have mini celebrations everyday just because.

Oh, Canada

Wishing our Canadian friends a grand day. We're visitors (officially) in Canada and thanks for the welcome.