The Countdown: The Top Ten, part 1 (10-6)

What we've been waiting for all year! Here's the Top Ten from 2018. Today we examine the first half!

10. Here's another one that snuck in at the end of the year. Everybody loves the tots!

9. There was a series I ran earlier this year, "Hymns for the Road Home." The gags were based on songs that might make the after-work commute just a little less stressful.

8. No. 8 comes from another series, "Halloween Movies for Missionaries." This year was the cleverly titled sequel: "More Halloween Movies for Missionaries."

7. This one was hatched late at night, and my wife and I egged each other on as we worked on the words.

...and rounding out the first five of the Top Ten:

6. We've all been there. It's almost like it was yesterday!

Come back tomorrow for the rest of the Top Ten! Be careful out there tonight!

The Countdown: The Runners-Up

Welcome to the runners-up for 2018! These are those that, for whatever reason, didn't quite make it into the Top Ten but were still favorites among readers, editors... or what have you (see below)!

5. This cartoon from February is the "what have you" portion of our program. Occasionally we have a cartoon that gets hijacked by a bot, or "borrowed" by an online publication without permission. This one was undoubtedly grabbed by a bot — it's an OK cartoon, but was surprisingly dominant statistically. It scrapes its way into the countdown just for that reason alone.

4. Have you ever lived in a missionary apartment? If you have, you totally understand this cartoon!

3. This one from last August is just plain silly. 

2. I have a son serving as a missionary in southern California. One of his areas was a bit affluent, and almost every house had a security camera with a recording device to leave a message. Folks seldom answered the doors, but he got pretty good at teaching the security systems!

1. Choosing the right can be so difficult at times — especially if you're not sure which hand is which!

Be sure to come back Monday as we start the official Top Ten of 2018!

The Countdown: Sketchbook

This has been the most interesting category to follow this year! We have the perennial favorites — General Conference notes — that dominate in every statistical category. It's the default champion. Our countdown looks at the best of the rest. We've had a few surprises this year, too.

5. President Monson Retrospective: Can you believe that it's been a year since Pres. Monson passed away (January 2018)? We've seen so many changes and received so many new challenges that it seems like so long ago!

4. Moroni in Primary: What do you do when your dad compiled the book you're singing about?

3. Light mindedness: We've all been there from time to time; some of us are there a lot more often than others!

2. Stick to the covenant path: There are always distractions when you're on the path. You can pretty much bet that most* of the distractions aren't worth it!

*By most I mean none of them are!

1. Silent Night: This one rocketed to the top of the Sketchbook charts. Sometimes it's timing, sometimes a cartoon captures a particular sentiment. And on occasion, you get both! This may graduate to a full-fledged cartoon next year!

And there you have it — the tops from the Sketchbook from 2018. Tomorrow we take a look at those that almost made it: the runners-up for the year!

The Countdown: The others

These were a little more difficult to determine this year, as both Zarahemla Times and Good Heavens were on hiatus for a good portion of the year. I'm working on a compilation of Kerry Jo's mission blog, and I found a few story holes that needed to be filled.

With that in mind, here are the tops from those three comics!

Sis. Kerry Jo's Mission Blog:
One thing I really like about Sis. Kerry Jo is that she doesn't seem to have too many filters. She says what many of us are thinking — for example, the recovering from conference strip below. Look for more from her this coming year!

Good Heavens:
Good Heavens is where I get to inject a little political and social commentary, and occasionally refer to the news of the day. It got to be just a little too much to keep up with this year, so the strip is taking a bit of a time out. We'll see what happens in 2019.

Zarahemla Times:
Like Good Heavens, Zarahemla Times has been on a bit of a break for the past several months. I plan on coming back to it next year, although it may only be monthly at first.

Here are a couple of favorites from 2018. The scripture marking one was featured in the New Era!

The Countdown Begins: Memes and things

From time to time I share stuff I do for work or church. Here are a few of the more fun things we've done.

5. May the fourth is a big day for us and safety messages. And, yes, sometimes we have to force the jokes:

4. Springtime is our big push for safety, with the start of construction season and travel season, plus people are just out on the road a lot more in good weather. Here's another subtle reminder from the crew at the Princess Bride about travel safety.

3. You can't go too far wrong quoting — or misquoting — the Bard!

2. OK, it's not ALL about driving healthy and work zone safety. Sunday school stuff gets thrown in here from time to time as well!

1. Our local missionaries asked us to do mini videos about our favorite scripture from the Book of Mormon. Our family did a few, but this one — based on an old cartoon — was a favorite:

Stay tuned tomorrow as we take a look at the top hits from my other strips!

Merry Christmas!

Happy Christmas to all!

Sketchbook: And then she called for Silent Night

"Baby It's Cold Outside" isn't the only Christmas song getting shade thrown at it this year. "The Little Drummer Boy" seems to be getting dissed right and left as well.

As one sister in my ward put it, "Just what every tired mom wants to here while she's trying to put her baby to sleep — a drum solo!"

Which is probably why "Silent Night" is one of the most popular Christmas songs of all time.

Have a very merry Christmas!