Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Speak your language

There is so much jargon in the Church and in LDS culture that it can be really confusing to people in the outside world. Sometime you have to put things in terms they can understand.

A couple of folks who are good at that are Sistas in Zion. They can translate Church terms into language that everyday folk can understand -- with a little twist. Check them out, you'll see!

Monday, May 30, 2011

Monday sketchbook: Memorial Day rerun

Memorial Day to me was going to the cemetery to decorate the graves of our family, then walking amongst the headstones while my dad told me stories of those who had gone before. I just wish I had paid better attention...

Happy Memorial Day!

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Before the lights go out

I remember one time I attended a funeral and I was asked to give the prayer because I was the only one there who knew how to pray. It felt a little awkward, but it was nice to be able to do that simple act.

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Miracle worker

Every mission has one. The problem is often solved by bringing the missionary into the mission home -- and giving him a staff job that keeps him away from the other missionaries!

Friday, May 27, 2011

Orange cone season!


Yesterday at the Oregon Department of Transportation we held a press conference to announce the beginning of the summer construction season -- between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

Our goal this year is zero fatalities in work zones. Last year in Oregon there were nine. The odd thing is, the people who get injured or killed the most in work zones aren't the workers. It's drivers. And the most common cause of work zone crashes? Inattention.

So, please, this construction be careful when you see the orange cones. Slow down, pay attention.

This has been a public service message from this comic strip. Thank you.

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Who needs a binky?

One day as I was doing the wash in the laundry room of our apartment at BYU, I overheard this very conversation. I knew it would come in handy some day!

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Mulligan

Bill Amend, the creator of Fox Trot, once observed that in the spring and summer, cartoonists write a lot of gags about golf. The reason for this, he said, is because so many cartoonists make so much money that they spend all their time on the golf course.

I, for one, am out of that loop. But I do have a couple of golf gags. Here's one.


I bring this up because I went to the driving range a couple of weeks ago with my brother-in-law. He had trouble spotting his hits, more on account of his eyesight -- we had the yellow golf balls and the course was a lovely green. On the other hand, I had no trouble at all finding mine... most weren't much more than 20 or 30 yards away!

Monday, May 23, 2011

Monday sketchbook: Who's on the wall?


You've heard about waking up on the wrong side of the bed. Ever have those days when you feel like everything is backward -- like you've woken up on the wrong side of the mirror?*

I hate when that happens!

*Not unlike the Star Trek TOS episode "Mirror, Mirror" in which evil Spock sports a nifty goatee.

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Now the day is over...

There are a lot of things that bishops have to deal with: everything from budgets to staffing to counseling to personality conflicts. Issues run the gamut. Many of those issues are brought up in confidence. And what happens when the bishop himself has problems or issues that come up? It's no wonder so many of them go gray (or even bald!) during their tenure!

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Imagine, if you will...


The world can often seem surreal when you're a missionary. You're cut off -- mostly -- from current events and popular culture while you're focusing on doing the Lord's work. It's an odd situation. However, there are some missionaries who can take the experience and make it seem even more surreal. That's when you cross over into the place known as...the Twilight Zone!

And no, it has nothing to do with sparkly vampires, thank you very much.

Friday, May 20, 2011

What to borrow

My kids were disappointed when they discovered that they'd misunderstood the lyrics to the hymn, "Did You Think to Pray?" It could have been a much more exciting song!

Thursday, May 19, 2011

You should hear the engine scream

Hood ornaments are cool. From the sighting target of a Mercedes to a leaping cat on a Jag, they offer a touch of style and distinction. So why wouldn't aliens want the same thing for their vehicles?

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Made in heaven...not so much

This almost stayed in the sketchbook. But each time I looked at it, the idea made me grin. It's a corny gag, I know, but I like it!

Monday, May 16, 2011

Monday sketchbook: It doesn't work that way

I was wondering what Laman or Lemuel would do if they got a chance to use the Liahona. Probably nothing good, that's for sure!

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Shoes ye this day

Missionaries make lots of sacrifices to serve missions, such as school or jobs. And missionaries aren't paid; the missionaries and their families support them in the field.

One day as we were talking about the things that missionaries go without, someone asked what the biggest sacrifice is for sister missionaries.

The answer? Cute shoes.

Saturday, May 14, 2011

The earth is full

I remember a saying in my mission that every missionary has at least one awful companion. If you haven't had an awful companion, guess what that makes you?

Friday, May 13, 2011

Searchin' so long...

In case you hadn't noticed, Blogger had some issues the past couple of days. Here's today's, albeit a little late.

Thursday, May 12, 2011

Differences

Quiet voices, books, card for special privileges... it's easy to get confused!

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Fair warning

You've probably seen the banners or at least heard rumors about the group that says the world will end on May 21. I saw a couple holding one of their signs downtown the other day, and it reminded me of this Explore Provo cartoon.

The back story is this. We (the Utah Department of Transportation) had a project that was going to close down a major interchange on Interstate 15 in Salt Lake for several months. If some of the computer models were to be believed, traffic would be backed up to Levan if people didn't change their driving routes.

For part of the public information campaign, we mailed out fliers with this "end is near" guy to local residents and used him on some of our other materials. We thought it would be fun to do a little cross promotion down in Utah County, so we stuck the sign guy into one of the strips.

The end of the world never happened. On the day the project started, there was nary a car on I-15 around the work zone. People altered their routes or their driving times, and for the most part it was clear sailing.

Let's hope that it's also clear sailing on the 21st!

Monday, May 9, 2011

Monday sketchbook: Important safety tip

I know driving laws vary from state to state, and here in Oregon it's illegal to use a cell phone and drive (unless it's hands-free). So imagine my surprise when driving through Denver last week when the woman in the next lane over was texting with both hands while aiming her vehicle at freeway speeds!

Texting and driving: don't do it!

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Sprucing up the stats


My sister-in-law, who may or may not have been known as Sis, O'Leary, passed away unexpectedly a short time ago. She was an avid scrapbooker who personally kept Michael's and Hobby Lobby in business -- although she was probably supplied and equipped well enough to open a store of her own!

Friday, May 6, 2011

JK

For the most part, the folks who work road construction are good guys. But I don't think it would be a good idea to mess with them!

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Falling for you

I've fallen victim to a few of these. In fact, I was taking photos of this very project when I tripped over one, and that's where this cartoon was born -- with me flat on my face!

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Seek and ye shall find, if ye keep seeking

I dunno -- I think I've put a lot of money in my backyard and I still don't have a lot to show for it...

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Monday, May 2, 2011

Monday sketchbook: School's out...of money!

Like many places throughout the country, our schools are facing major shortfalls. A short time ago, the administration announced that one of the first cuts they were making was to eliminate custodial services and librarians in K-8 -- 'cause they're the ones making the big bucks, I guess.

These are a few sketches I fired off when I first heard the news.



I like the ideas of our local newspaper editor better. It makes more sense.

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Adam fell that men might B, maybe B+...


Having just struggled through mid-terms here at our home, I can vouch that this is true.

Heh, heh. It just occurred to me that it's appropriate that I publish this on May Day!