Masterpiece Theatre meets knockin' on doors

So many people are able to speak through the door when nobody's home...!

Watch your language

I'll answer preemptively: yes, this one is based on a real life situation. Sometimes enduring to the end means making it through until the next transfer day!

That special glow

One ring to rule them all.

But wait! There's more!

I'm actually surprised that more of these don't disappear from construction zones. Not that I'm advocating that... Just sayin'...

Not fade away

Highway stripes are one of those things that seem so simple, and yet they can cause so much grief! Almost every highway worker has a story about striping, whether it be dealing with roadkill, missed timing of the sprayers or failing to negotiate a curve. When they're done well you don't notice them, but when you can't see them -- watch out!

Finding your niche

Sometimes I get an idea and it doesn't seem to quite work. In the original sketch of this, he was holding a sign that said, "Will home teach 4 food." That evolved to, "Will home teach 4 blessings." Then it clicked. Rather than begging, what about hitchhiking? Where would one want to go from the church parking lot?

Monday Sketchbook: Calvinist pioneers

Can't you just see Calvin and Hobbes taking a Conestoga wagon ride?

To boldy go

Happy Pioneer Day!

One to go

Our stake is having its pioneer trek this week. Last time we had a pioneer trek, the organizing committee somehow thought it would be a good idea to make the experience more realistic by serving food similar to what the pioneers of 1847 may have eaten.

Yep, that's right. Gruel for breakfast. Gruel for lunch. Gruel for dinner. Then the next day -- leftovers!

They promise better fare this year. Perhaps they'll throw in some sego lilies and horehound candy for dessert! Mmm!

Tales that are told...

As with everything, there are two sides to every story. I'm sure this was one that will live in infamy.

PR War

I think there was a reason why Captain Moroni was able to rally people around his standard...

It does a body good

The question is, do seagulls really have an appetite for crickets? I mean, didn't the seagulls gorge themselves then turn the Great Salt Lake into a vomitorium?

The road West

To decrease congestion and encourage car pooling, traffic engineers these days use HOV (high occupancy vehicle) lanes. Would the road West have been easier had traffic engineers been involved?

Monday Sketchbook: A call to arms

Ammon, as you may know, protected the flocks of the king by cutting off the arms of the bad guys who were trying to steal them. So I wondered if when Ammon tried to go to sleep, instead of counting sheep he counted...severed arms. The idea had promise when I thought about it, but when I got it on paper I realized that it was actually kind of disgusting. Sorry!

Time off

...or at least a break for Sunday school teachers?

A cleansing process

Our teams always lost so we didn't have to deal with anything like lucky socks.

We believe

Almost any missionary from the United States who serves in a foreign country will tell you that going to market is one of the most memorable experiences that they have. For me, I will always remember the butcher shops in Busan that displayed various parts of the cow. That and the pig heads that were used in various shaman rituals, like the one our neighbors in Yeosu had outside their door.

I won't mention the butcher shop we accidentally ran into in Pohang. Nope, not even going there!

On second thought, maybe the gift of tongue wouldn't be so bad!

There's a place in France

With today being Bastille Day, and with the U.S. Women's Team beating France in the World Cup, we just had to revisit the country. Eat a crepe, enjoy the day. Salut!

Oh, give me a home

There was a time not too long ago when almost everywhere I went, my cell phone went to roaming. Not so much these days; roaming charges seem to be on their way to becoming a thing of the past, so I thought I should run this one before it's too late!

Judge not?

July is the month when our thoughts turn to pioneers, as this is the month we commemorate the arrival of the Mormon pioneers into the Salt Lake Valley.

This particular cartoon, however, works much better using Oregon settlers. If you're familiar with early Church history, you'll understand why.

Monday Sketchbook: Over the hill

I always thought "Boot Hill" was an odd name for cemeteries in the Old West.

I hope by then I will be ready

Today we're having a returned missionary doubleheader. Two elders just got home and will be reporting today, one returning from Brazil and the other from Ecuador. My guess is that there will be a lot of young ladies there helping them celebrate their return!

Keys to less than success

Umm, yeah. One of the best lessons I learned as a missionary is that people everywhere are basically the same. Parents love their children, children love their parents, and they all want to be happy and be loved. Food or customs may be different, but underneath it all we're all children of God.

Feed me, Seymour!

And in more ways than one, this is true!

Home sweet home

Sometimes I wondered what the girls of 121 did during the summer. I drew a couple of strips, but they just sort of seemed out of place. To me they seem much more at home in college.

Open here

Have you ever wondered how they know where to make the cuts in the roadway during a reconstruction project? Now you know!

Actually, it's not too far from the truth. There are supposed to be plans that show what's under the road -- usually utilities like water, sewer, gas, cable, etc. They have crews that go out and locate where the pipes and conduits are, and they mark up the roadway with spray paint.

Sometimes there are surprises, like on University Avenue they uncovered some old trolley tracks that weren't included on any plans. And there are quite often archeological finds. That's one of the things that make road projects interesting!

...at least to some of us they are.

Rent-a-coat?

The story of Captain Moroni is an inspiring one. He was a brilliant strategist and didn't leave much to chance. So it stands to reason that before he hoisted the Title of Liberty throughout the land, he made sure it said what he wanted it to mean.

Monday Sketchbook: The rocket's red glare

I like the "accidentally" part.

Happy Independence Day!

In memory of...everything

I'm pretty sure there are moms everywhere who wish Captain Moroni had not used his clothes to make the Title of Liberty!

It's all in the approach

I had a companion, who shall remain unnamed, who wasn't particularly fond of knocking on doors. If someone didn't answer right away, he was ready to move on. I, however, preferred to stay so we could hear whatever excuse they had for not letting us in!

Oh, Canada! Eh?

Happy Dominion Day, better known these days as Canada Day! We plan on celebrating by putting on our toques and Habs jerseys, cooking up some poutine and singing traditional folk songs of the Great White North! Raise a glass (of maple syrup or Roger's Golden, eh) to our neighbors to the north!