Monday Sketchbook: A sprinkle a day

We've been having record-breaking rain here in Oregon the past few days, which is saying something for Oregon!

The gag itself may not be great, but as I was sketching out rain related ideas, I got an alert from the local paper that most of the city was without power due to the storm. I figured I'd better get something posted before it was too late!

The idea for this gag stemmed from one of my missionary experiences. My companion and I were walking down the streets of Busan during typhoon season (who knew?). We saw a curtain of water coming toward us -- there was no escape. Or, as the Borg would say, resistance was futile. In the blink of an eye we went from dry to soaked to the skin: immersed by a wall of rain!

Stay dry!

Stage fright

Sometimes the pressure is really on for those kids in Primary!

It's the season of Primary programs in our stake. One of the best parts is watching the kids when they do their speaking parts. Some are so poised and confident, others less so. Some practically yell into the microphone, others barely speak in a whisper. And the 11-year-old kids all wish they could be anywhere else!

By the way, yesterday was the General Relief Society Meeting. It was pretty awesome (I didn't attend, I eavesdropped). You can get the transcripts and electronic files on the Church website. It's a great warmup for General Conference next week!

Literary friends

Reading has always been a major part of my life. The first book I ever bought with my own money was a Peanuts collection, Slide, Charlie Brown, Slide! I picked it up at the BYU Bookstore to keep myself entertained while my folks went to classes during Education Week. I still have it among my collection.

The first chapter book that I owned was Marguerite Henry's Brighty of the Grand Canyon. I thought it was awesome! It, too, still sits on my shelf in a place of honor.

Spend some time today with a friend: read a good book!

Banned books!

Yes, once again it's Banned Books Week! Time to celebrate the ability and opportunity to read!

Technically, I guess, Banned Books Week ends tomorrow, so you could have been celebrating this whole time. Sorry I didn't tell you sooner!

I was intrigued to discover that the book that got the most complaints last year was one by Dav Pilkey, Captain Underpants! It's a favorite in our home (which tells you a little something about us!). Other books receiving complaints include the Hunger Games, the Harry Potter books, and The Lord of the Rings. Go figure!

2001: A Cartoon Odyssey

Today marks blog entry No. 2,001! As usual when I hit major milestones, I rerun my first published cartoon. I don't know why. Maybe I'm still surprised that the New Era ran one of my cartoons.

In your dreams

Upon further reflection, I've come to the conclusion that I may have to do a sequel to this for sister missionaries... hmm.

It's in the air

Word from Alberta is that although it's decent weather in Calgary, there have been snotcicle sightings near Lethbridge.

Welcome to fall!

Monday Sketchbook: Nomeclature

It's true. Moms see all, know all, hear all.

Don't even try it.

Almost ready...

There are probably close to a dozen scriptures that say "the field is white and ready to harvest" or some variation of that phrase. And there are a whole bunch more that talk about thrusting in your sickle.

But what do you do if the field's not quite ready?

Scouting skills

This was my troop as a kid.

Search me!

My son was amazed that I could still rattle off a bunch of scriptures from scripture mastery. It made me feel like this.

Besides being a triskaidekaphobe, my mom used to love memorization. I mostly blame her for those scriptures I memorized in high school that are still stuck in my brain!

I guess Elder Scott was right!

Another lost soul

Here's another Explore Provo that was also hidden away. I think I held this one back because (1) It's kind of dated -- Bloom County? and (2) it was the last daily Explore Provo strip. Well, the last official one, anyway... I've done a few more supplemental gags since then. The Safari Guy (we never came up with a good name for him) can get away with things that other characters can't.

Sending in reinforcements

While cleaning out some old files, I came across an old Explore Provo cartoon!

This one was probably a little bit "inside baseball-y" for general consumption. It assumes that you know what reinforced concrete is, and why worms wouldn't really be a good addition to reinforced concrete. Perhaps that's why this one languished in the drawer for so long.

Thanks for humoring me. Just smile and say, "Thanks for sharing."

Oh, and, speaking of worms, that reminds me -- tonight's the spaghetti feed at the high school! Come on down!

Shameless promotion

Notice I didn't say "Shameless SELF promotion," because this isn't selling anything for me personally. It is, however, promoting a good cause!

If you're in the neighborhood (or even within driving distance)*, stop by the high school tomorrow night and enjoy a delicious -- and cheap! -- spaghetti dinner! Proceeds go to the high school education foundation.

I actually do a lot of artwork for the high school. Sometime I'll have to do a special T-shirt week. We've done some pretty good ones. Hmm...and maybe it could include a giveaway... I'll have to think about that.

Anyway, come on down tomorrow night and join us for a fabulous spaghetti feast!

Ciao!

*Within 300 miles or so...you'd have time to get here, eat, and get home before it's really late!

Monday Sketchbook: Dress Code

I know they say that fashion always comes around again, but please keep us from leisure suits, platform shoes for men and loud, plaid bell bottoms!

Advice to a new bishop

I should have subtitled this one "there's no place like home."

Getting an early start

We're just in to the second weekend of the school year, and already we* have homework coming up to our eyeballs!




*Actually, I don't have any homework myself. But it's kind of a family thing, y'kmow?

If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear!

My mother was the biggest triskaidekaphobe on the planet. Not only did she dislike the number 13, she was wary of its multiples as well. When she read, she would skip pages 13, 26, 39 and so forth AND pass right over chapter 13 altogether.

Of course, being the sweet children that we were, we totally tortured her with uniform numbers and whatever else we could come up with.

I always remember her on Friday the 13th. Mom, this one's for you!

Transferrable skills

Math classes are usually when I prayed the most!

Remembering 9-11

It's here at last

It doesn't take long to make the transition from summer vacation to being in the thick of it at school!

Monday Sketchbook: The forbidden topic

Guaranteed way to get a class to be silent, even the rowdiest deacons quorum: talk about the law of chastity!

Maybe that's why it's a topic missing from much of the dialog of the day -- nobody wants to talk about it!

Journey on

We've been rereading the conference talks from April Conference. One of them that really stood out was from Elder Holland, "Lord, I Believe."

Here's one quote:
"...if your faith is a little tested in this or any season, I invite you to lean on mine. I know this work is God’s very truth, and I know that only at our peril would we allow doubt or devils to sway us from its path. Hope on. Journey on. Honestly acknowledge your questions and your concerns, but first and forever fan the flame of your faith, because all things are possible to them that believe."

Hope on, and may the Force be with you. Or something like that! 

A measure of success

Almost without fail, whenever we work on a merit badge that's designed to help the kids be safe or know what to do in an emergency, someone gets hurt.

The best was when one kid wanted to skip out on First Aid. He decided instead to run around outside. He ran face first into a mailbox...and the rest of us used him to practice our first aid!

Long time comin'

I have to confess that, generally, my kids all like school. But after nearly three months off, it can certainly look like a long road ahead to the end of the school year!

I'm a doctor, Jim, not a marketer!

With all the hoopla about Samsung's interactive watch and Apple's event, I thought we should visit the roots of these technological developments!

I know, technically I should also have Dick Tracy in here someplace, but he was called out on a case.

Open a hailing frequency

I was going to provide a link to some Star Trek memes, but some of them were a little on the other side of PG-13, and this is a ring-around-the-bathtub, family friendly operation.

Live long and prosper.

Section 4

Monday Sketchbook: Today's the day!

I feel a little Charlie Brown-ish. I've never really understood Labor Day, but there's no Linus to quote scripture to me to figure it out.

In the meantime, I'll just play with poor puns and celebrate the holiday in my own particular way.

Happy Labor Day!

Anyone else think this is similar to one I did a few years ago?

Caught it!

Elder Nelson's talk in the April 2013 General Conference probably set a record for Mormon memes. It was probably one of the first to be memed  and got several different treatments. There's easily a dozen variations that pop up with a quick search on Pinterest.