A dad's job

Some messages get reinforced when the family spends a holiday together!

When Black Friday comes

Remember when Black Friday used to be fun?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Looking back on my mission, I can see the sacrifices the Korean missionaries made -- the biggest being, perhaps, putting up with the Americans! We didn't think twice about celebrating Thanksgiving, even though the Korean Thanksgiving, Chusok, happened earlier in the fall. We knew we were going to feast, and if we lived close to a military base, we'd find a member to treat us to turkey and pumpkin pie.

To the Koreans, it was just another day. To the Korean missionaries, it was another day to indulge the foreign missionaries and put up with their strange food and traditions one more time. We even made them play football!

Sis. Kerry Jo has the right idea here, treating her companion to a special snack that they sell on the streets of Korea: boendegi, a steamed silkworm pupae served in a cup. They're supposed to be healthy -- full of protein and other good things.

I tried them, once. I was brave and stalwart with the first one (it tasted a lot like warm dirt). The real challenge was eating a second one! The Koreans who were with me were impressed. And having eaten them once, I never had to do it again!

• Here's a video that shows one gal's experience with beondegi. Scroll down for the video.

Happy American Thanksgiving to you, and may all your day be full of gratitude!

What are you doing Thanksgiving Eve?

For the first time since 1888, Thanksgiving and the first day Hanukkah converge. The Thanksgivukkah holiday is being celebrated in many ways, including turkey-themed menorahs and turiedels.

Celebrate while you can -- it's supposed to be another 79,000 years or so before the phenomenon occurs again.

Shalom!

Intelligence

Monday Sketchbook: In pig's clothing

If you were a turkey, where would you hide before Thanksgiving? Considering that Hanukkah starts on Thanksgiving Eve this year, a pig farm might be just the place!

Just like momma used to microbake!

There are those who say that yes, you can microwave a whole turkey. But just because you can do something doesn't mean you should!

There's a hole in my calendar!

I had two Thanksgivings while on my mission: one at the MTC and one that we spent at an Army base in Korea. Even if it was cafeteria turkey in both instances, I was thankful to have it!

Five-Oh

Caricature has never been my strong suit, but for today's panel I had to try as it's the 50th anniversary of both the assassination of Pres. Kennedy and the debut of Doctor Who. In fact, the premiere episode of Doctor Who ran two days after Kennedy's assassination, which didn't help its ratings very much.

I thought this might be an interesting way to pay tribute to two cultural icons, both of whom found a way to inspire hope and to promote exploration in space.

And just for proof that great minds often think alike -- and so do cartoonists -- here's a link to Arie Van De Graaff's Doctor Who gag (and a much better caricature of No. 11!).

By any other name

Football and Thanksgiving go hand in hand, as do bowls -- and plates -- of turkey!

After the workout...

Did I just hear you groan?

Parting is such sweet sorrow!

You'll never guess who has a kid studying Shakespeare this semester... 

Monday Sketchbook: Temple Trip

I wanted to do a family history/genealogy-themed gag a few days ago. As I was sketching ideas for that topic, this one popped out.

Getting a drumstick in the door

Normally, I would have had the guy wear a BYU sweatshirt, but I liked the idea of having a duck answer the door to two turkeys.

Protect yourself from your ancestors

Every few years, it seems, someone in our family puts together a family history as a Christmas present. I like the stories, and I like looking at the photographs.

You may have seen the link on the Church's website (lds.org) that links to a familysearch.org page that helps in putting your family history together. They try to make it as easy for you as possible...but you still have to do some of the detective work! C'mon! It'll be fun!

Assemble the armor

Thorry.

By way of thanks...

They just took away both of my wife's counselors in the Primary presidency and gave her new ones. To thank them for their service, she gave blankets to her counselors who were released -- and included this little card.

Doing what we can

I thought it was an important enough issue to run this cartoon from last weekend's Good Heavens.

The typhoon in the Philippines was devastating. The area where it hit is a shambles, and residents there are under martial law.

Reports say that one of the biggest challenges in the relief efforts is knowing where to begin. Nevertheless, help is on its way. The Church is providing aid, the Boy Scouts of America is supporting aid through Shelter Box, and the Huffington Post has an article that gives ways to help typhoon survivors in the Philippines.

If you're not able to give financial aid, at the very least give a prayer. Thanks!

Monday Sketchbook on Tuesday: Face the front

No, this didn't happen to me when I spoke on Sunday. Actually, they put in a new Relief Society presidency, which meant extra speakers. As a consequence, I had about five minutes for my talk.

Alas, my deep doctrinal insights will have to wait for another day.

Veteran's Day, Korean style

If you came here looking for a Monday Sketchbook, come back tomorrow. We're switching days this week because it seems like Veteran's Day and Memorial Day always get the short shrift -- they never get real cartoons solely because they always fall on Mondays.

Kerry Jo's experience reflects my own. It was my dad who served in the Army during the war, however, not my grandpa. Whenever older people heard about him being there during the war, and then my coming back to be a missionary, they were more than willing to talk to us! I'll bet my dad never thought that his work in the Army would result in opened doors for me as a missionary.

Most of the time my dad served as company clerk (because he was able to identify a typewriter), although he did see action too many times. He was in the Battle of Pork Chop Hill.

Here's to my dad, and all the other Veterans who so willingly serve! Thank you!

What day is it?

Oh, the difference a little letter can make!

Opening prayer...

Just a word of warning: if you're in our ward this week, bring a pillow. Just sayin'.

Pondering

One of those days...

And that's what fall is like here

When I lived in Provo, I had a catalpa tree that did this very thing. One minute it would be covered with leaves, and the next minute the branches were bare and the lawn was ankle deep in catalpa leaves.

This gag also reminds me of my missionary trainer. He tried to teach me all kinds of things...but not a lot of them had to do with being a missionary. Bless his heart! I learned a lot from him!

Good habits

Did I have any companions who were  like this? I'm not saying!

Monday Sketchbook: Halloween leftovers

This should *ahem* wrap it up for Halloween gags for this year. 

Hidden mysteries

Yeah, sometimes the scriptures are like that.

Blessing of the fast

At our office, we were inundated with Halloween treats on Thursday, then we got all the leftover candy on Friday. Yikes!

Seasons change

Actually, I heard my first Christmas-themed commercial about three weeks ago. Don't retailers know the rule: no Christmas until after the World Series?!