366 Days of Creativity

Over the last three years*, I have been trying, unsuccessfully, to draw comics consistently. I have more or less ceased to be a cartoonist or artist, and become merely a pen owner. (I had a neighbor once who owned a small sailboat, and when he’d gone a long time without taking her out on the water, he’d say he was not so much a sailor as he was just a boat owner.) Sure, there have been little bursts of creative effort here and there, false starts that haven’t really taken, and it’s been largely due to other, worthy circumstances and pursuits. Like, you know, moving to Missouri and getting married, that sort of thing (and just to assure any readers to whom I may be married, I do not write this post with any sort of regret or resentment, etc., and I love you).

But even in my new, married life, I still have lots of free time to basically do whatever I want to, especially during the academic year when Nicole is busy with her classes, but I haven’t taken advantage of this time by picking up that pen and drawing anything. I’ll play FreeCell or Puzzle Pirates, or I’ll post pictures on Flickr, or I’ll blog a bit, or watch a movie or TV show, or 65 dozen other things before I’ll remember to draw anything. I’m afraid of losing the interest altogether, and I’m just not ready to hang it up yet.

So tomorrow, in this spirit of New Year’s resolutions, I would like to change this. My idea is to draw a little something every day in 2008 and, as proof, post my silly work for all to see. I know, I tried this once before as The Daily Doodl, which became the Occasionl Doodl when I stopped posting every day. But this time I want your help! What I’d like are suggestions for themes: something consistent, some sort of common thread that will tie my daily drawings together. I have found it easier to work within some kind of framework than to just start with a blank white page and build from there. (By the way, good luck with that, Sam...Weiden+Kennedy needs you!)

For now, I’ll actually need to draw on the computer rather than on paper, until I can dig out our scanner and know that it works. I’m not too worried about not actually using a pen at this time – I really just want to create, something, somewhere. When I have finished the work, I know I will upload it to my Flickr page, and probably create a special set for just this endeavor. Also, I know that there are days when it will simply be impossible to do anything due to circumstances beyond my control – for example, when we travel, we sometimes cannot find any wi-fi. On those days, I will still try to create something offline, and, failing that, I’ll have to make up for the missed days with extra work upon my return. In all, I would like to end 2008 with at least 366 drawings of some type, probably cartoons, but maybe other things.

*I say three years because that’s about when I stopped doing Joel and Steve, even though I did draw a couple of strips in 2005.

Classic Dinglemunch! (Thanks Scott!)

Scott just posted this photo of me from almost 11 years ago:

For the record, even though it looks like there's a mullet under that hat, my hair was just as long in the front as it was in the back. I am not Michael Bolton!!

He promises to post more old-skool photos soon. Check them out here!

No, that's not a pet mouse walking beside me

A couple of weeks ago, Nicole bought me a pair of low-top, Converse Chuck Taylor All-Stars. I had been wanting a pair of these for a long time, and I finally asked for them for my birthday.

I have worn them nearly every day, and have really been impresed with how good they feel on my feet. It's surprising that this shoe, whose design has remained virtually unchanged for the last 90 years, can be so comfortable. There's just one little problem with them:

They squeak!

I'm switching back to omelets

Why do yogurt containers always explode a little drop of yogurt when you start to peel back the foil cover?

More importantly, why does it always land on the lens of my glasses???

What for happened to Stan and Nicole?

Well, we're still around, but we haven't had Internet for the last few days due to this week's ice storms. The power went off at the house Monday night at about 10:30, and it's still not up. Most of town is back up and running, but since we're just outside of Carthage proper, we're a little lower on their priority list. The tree trimmers were at work on our street last night clearing the branches above the power lines, so hopefully the electric company will get us hooked back up this morning.

Oh, and no power means no water, either, since we're on well water. So, no flushing toilets. We've been spending the last few nights at the church, which fortunately has a shower, and we're definitely ready to move home.

Update: At long last, the power came on Friday evening. We packed up all of our things and moved home, began to get settled in, and then...the power went out again. Oddly, this time it wasn't due to ice on the lines or tree branches. So, we got some things repacked to go back there, and just as we were about to get in the car, at exactly 11:00 pm, the power was restored.

He was baffled as to why he suddenly had my omelet spilled over his head

So I’m walking down the hall, carrying a plate of food, or a bag of McDonald’s food, or something else that is obviously meant for my imminent consumption. A co-worker approaches. You know what joke I never need to hear again?

“Ooohh, what’d you bring me?”

NOTHING. I brought you nothing. This food is for me. Got it?

I hear a variation of this joke almost. Every. Day.

That's My King!

From a sermon by the late Dr. S. M. Lockridge, spoken in Detroit in 1976:

My King was born King.
The Bible says He's a Seven Way King.
He's the King of the Jews - that's an Ethnic King.
He's the King of Israel - that's a National King.
He's the King of righteousness.
He's the King of the ages.
He's the King of Heaven.
He's the King of glory.
He's the King of kings and He is the Lord of lords.
Now that's my King.

Well, I wonder if you know Him. Do you know Him?
Don't try to mislead me. Do you know my King?
David said the Heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows His handiwork.
My King is the only one of whom there are no means of measure that can define His limitless love.
No far seeing telescope can bring into visibility the coastline of the shore of His supplies.
No barriers can hinder Him from pouring out His blessing.

He's enduringly strong.
He's entirely sincere.
He's eternally steadfast.
He's immortally graceful.
He's imperially powerful.
He's impartially merciful.
That's my King.
He's God's Son.
He's the sinner's saviour.
He's the centerpiece of civilization.
He stands alone in Himself.
He's honest.
He's unique.
He's unparalleled.
He's unprecedented.
He's supreme.
He's pre-eminent.
He's the grandest idea in literature.
He's the highest personality in philosophy.
He's the supreme problem in higher criticism.
He's the fundamental doctrine of historic theology.
He's the carnal necessity of spiritual religion.
That's my King.

He's the miracle of the age.
He's the superlative of everything good that you choose to call Him.
He's the only one able to supply all our needs simultaneously.
He supplies strength for the weak.
He's available for the tempted and the tried.
He sympathizes and He saves.
He's the Almighty God who guides and keeps all his people.
He heals the sick.
He cleanses the lepers.
He forgives sinners.
He discharged debtors.
He delivers the captives.
He defends the feeble.
He blesses the young.
He serves the unfortunate.
He regards the aged.
He rewards the diligent and He beautifies the meek.
That's my King.

Do you know Him?
Well, my King is a King of knowledge.
He's the wellspring of wisdom.
He's the doorway of deliverance.
He's the pathway of peace.
He's the roadway of righteousness.
He's the highway of holiness.
He's the gateway of glory.
He's the master of the mighty.
He's the captain of the conquerors.
He's the head of the heroes.
He's the leader of the legislatures.
He's the overseer of the overcomers.
He's the governor of governors.
He's the prince of princes.
He's the King of kings and He's the Lord of lords.
That's my King.

His office is manifold.
His promise is sure.
His light is matchless.
His goodness is limitless.
His mercy is everlasting.
His love never changes.
His Word is enough.
His grace is sufficient.
His reign is righteous.
His yoke is easy and His burden is light.
I wish I could describe Him to you...but He's indescribable.
That's my King.
He's incomprehensible, He's invincible, and He is irresistible.

I'm coming to tell you this, that the heavens of heavens can't contain Him, let alone some man explain Him.
You can't get Him out of your mind.
You can't get Him off of your hands.
You can't outlive Him and you can't live without Him.
The Pharisees couldn't stand Him, but they found out they couldn't stop Him.
Pilate couldn't find any fault in Him.
The witnesses couldn't get their testimonies to agree about Him.
Herod couldn't kill Him.
Death couldn't handle Him and the grave couldn't hold Him.
That's my King.

He always has been and He always will be.
I'm talking about the fact that He had no predecessor and He'll have no successor.
There's nobody before Him and there'll be nobody after Him.
You can't impeach Him and He's not going to resign.
That's my King! That's my King!

Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory.
Well, all the power belongs to my King
We're around here talking about black power and white power and green power, but in the end all that matters is God's power.
Thine is the power. Yeah. And the glory.
We try to get prestige and honor and glory for ourselves, but the glory is all His. Yes.
Thine is the Kingdom and the power and glory, forever and ever and ever and ever.
How long is that?
Forever and ever and ever and ever...

And when you get through with all of the forevers, then...
Amen!

For the Star Trek or Tolkien fans in your life