Another Day at the Circus

Look at the funny animals and their crazy tricks!

National Coffee Day

It's National Coffee Day! COFFEE DAY!! Have a cup of joe on me! (If you're reading this after 6:00 PM, don't worry - it's decaf! - I promise! - No, really! - Why do you ask!?)

A Trip To The Mall

“Let’s go to the mall,” my wife said

(That phrase always fills me with dread)

But the scene got more dire

When the Mall caught on fire!

So we all went to Target instead

(True story - we were there when the alarms went off, we smelled the smoke and saw the workers locking up the stores and we were walking out the door as the firefighters were stretching the yellow tape across. We're all fine and nobody was hurt, but it was a more exciting day than I had anticipated.)

Here's one news report: http://www.wane.com/news/local/fire-breaks-out-at-glenbrook-mall

Here's another: http://www.indianasnewscenter.com/news/local/Fire-Breaks-Out-at-Glenbrook-Mall-225654451.html


Bonus! Here's a little video I shot as we were driving away:

A New Creature

Yesterday, as a birthday present to myself, I finally got a tablet that I've been eyeing for a while. It's a Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0. What really attracted me to this particular tablet was the pressure-sensitive stylus that comes with it, which I'm hoping to use for more digital sketches and animations. Right now, though, I'm just learning how to use it and trying out different apps. Here's my first creation, using an app called Infinite Painter. It's not bad, but I think I'm going to keep looking. (I'm also attempting to upload this post directly from the tablet. I hope it works!)

(Update: I was able to post from the tablet, but had a hard time making the picture the right size and adding labels. The search for the perfect apps continues...)

Backyard Mantis

Over the last few days, we've had a visitor on our back porch. Sometimes he's in the raspberry bushes, sometimes he's clinging to the glass sliding door and sometimes he's just hiding. Regardless of where he is, if we can see him, he's been fun to watch. Here's to you, Mr. Mantis.

Another Day, Another Dance

Tonight's poem is short and sweet. After a full day of teaching, I was busy most of the evening with church and family related activities. These were fun and rewarding, but have left me rather exhausted. Anyway, on to the limerick...

Tonight at our church was a dance

Where our kids got to wiggle and prance

We got socks for the poor

That’s what Sock Hops are for

When you party while taking a stance

A Weird Day

Tonight's poem is based on actual events from my weird day today...

Today while at work I had just squatted down

To help with a question or two

When a strange thing occurred - for a moment or so

I didn’t know quite what to do

While I knelt there a little boy reached from behind

And he just started rubbing my head

I turned and I asked why he’d do such a thing

“Your head is so shiny!” he said.

I let that one go, and I thought we were done

I moved on from his childish crack

But that afternoon while I was teaching he said,

“Did you know you have fat on your back?”

“Yeah, your back fat’s right here,” he said, rubbing my side

And he squished it, much to my dismay

Well, what could I do? I just kept teaching on

While trying to swat him away

So as I recall these events from today

With my brain in my big shiny head

I recline on my big fatty back and conclude

I should probably just go to bed.

A Flock-a Quokka

Way back in January, when I first started posting regularly to this blog, I drew a picture of a quokka. As it turns out, it's been one of my most viewed posts, but I've never been completely happy with it. So here's another quokka, along with a number of variations on the theme...

Happy Birthday, John!

Today we had a nice little family gathering for chili and nachos at my mom's house, to celebrate my birthday and my brother-in-law's birthday. I asked my sister what he might like on his card, and she suggested a silverback gorilla, but cute, not angry. Here's what he got:

This is the front...

... and this was inside.

Big Whopper Liar Day

On the third Saturday of September, in New Harmony, Indiana, is the annual Big Whopper Liar Day tall-tale telling competition. I wasn't able to make it down there, but it got me thinking about some of my own unique abilities...

Let’s tell a tall tale

Let’s spin a good yarn

Exaggerate fibs

To the size of a barn

Can I do this in verse?

Of course! Can’t you see

There’s no other poet

Who’s better than me!

And what about drawing?

Consider these facts

My skills show “real” artists

Are talentless hacks!

In my job, I’m the best

All my students agree

Every kid that I teach

Gets his own Ph.D.

Please consider my bod

Am I studly? You bet!

I’ll lift eight thousand pounds

Without breaking a sweat

There are so many ways

I completely excel

Including, of course

Humbleness, can’t you tell?

I can breakdance and sew

And bake prizewinning pies

But the thing that I’m best at

Is making up lies

A Night For Letting Go

Tonight’s a night for letting go

Permit the grip to slip a bit

For saying “Yes” instead of “No”

Although it’s tough, I will admit

You see, tonight’s a dance at school

My daughter’s finally old enough

She’s so excited, it’s so cool

There’s pizza, candy, all that stuff!

I take her to the drop off zone

The line is long, the music’s loud

She looks around, so small, alone

Then disappears into the crowd

The hours pass and I’ve returned

I’m waiting as it starts to rain

The lot’s so dark, I feel concerned

But right on time, she’s back again

The whole way home she’s chattering

She bought some Skittles and a toy

A flashy, mouth-guard, light-up thing

But never once danced with a boy

Back home, relieved, the family

Is whole again, the proper way

I tuck her in, hug her to me

The letting go’s done for today

Pirate Lingo

Arrr, ya scurvy sea-dogs! Here be a few practical pirate-ical phrases that ye can use on Talk Like A Pirate Day!

"All hands on deck!"

"Shiver me timbers!"

"Hands off me booty!"

"Ahoy, mate!"

"Blow me down!"

"I be a buccaneer!"

TLAPD Eve

Tomorrow’s the day!

I’ve waited all year!

A day full of goofiness, laughter and cheer!

Get ready to play

And don’t you dare leave

It’s Talk Like A Pirate Day Eve!

Get ready to party

It’s Bring Your Own Grog

Go show off your booty, you old salty dog

Tomorrow, me hearty

Prepare ye to heave

It’s Talk Like A Pirate Day Eve! 

Growl “Arrrr!” at your boy

Say “Blow the man down!”

Scream “Shiver me timbers!” all over your town

“Avast!” and “Ahoy”

Make lubbers believe

It’s Talk Like A Pirate Day Eve!

Mirage 2000

Today at work we welcomed a French Air Force 2-star general and his staff. His pilots have been flying around here for a couple of weeks and I'm trying to get one (or more) of them to come give a presentation to my wife's class (she's a high school French teacher). Now, however, I'm starting to rethink the wisdom of giving my wife's phone number to a bunch of lonely French Top Gun pilots...

Anyway, their planes are pretty sleek. Here's a sketch of one - it's a Dassault Mirage 2000.

Click to Sky-size!

Mino-Tours

Little Known Fact: The legendarily aggressive nature of the minotaur stemmed from his first (and only) attempt to run his own small business. He filed for bankruptcy in less than six months, but was permitted to keep his labyrinth.

"Why isn't anyone taking a tour of my dark and spooky maze?"

Evening Limericks

Here are a few random limericks based on some of today's events.

The hour-long rain delay in the Seattle/San Francisco game:

In Seattle, when playing a game

Does anyone need to explain

You don’t open the roof

If you do, you’re a goof

And you’re asking for lightning and rain

The mess in Syria:

In Syria, what should we do?

Should we missile a rebel or two?

Should we let it all slide?

It’s too hard to decide

Mr. Putin, it’s all up to you.

Tonight's snack:

Oh Doritos, you’re such a delight

I could eat you most every night

With your powdery cheese

And your tang’s sure to please

Though my breath may cause others a fright

The Miss America pageant

In a contest of beauty and grace

Full of ladies that cry and embrace

There’s two things that you need

If you hope to succeed:

A hot bod and a real purdy face

Cake!

Since I didn't get a cake for my birthday (I got an apple dessert instead, and it was really tasty, so I'm not complaining!) I figured I'd make one for myself. After drawing all the candles, I'm beginning to see why a real cake might not have been the best idea after all...

Sick on my Birthday

Today is my birthday and I’ve got a cold

So I’m feeling like crud in addition to old

My workday was filled with small bags of disease

Excuse me, fifth-graders, don’t tell on me, please

We’re off to Red Robin for burgers and fries

Then hang ‘round the mall while my wife finds her size

Back at home there’s more stuff to be done and be seen

A scavenger hunt and a sweet dance routine

A few thoughtful gifts - thank you all, you did well

And that apple dessert has a wonderful smell!

So I’ll tell you right now what I’m going to do

Kick back and relax, and I think you should, too!

Space Toad

A few days ago, the LADEE moon probe blasted off from Virginia. People all along the east coast watched a spectacular night launch, but there was one brave soul who needed a closer look. Space Toad knew he would have to risk it all for the best seat in the house. Unfortunately, he miscalculated and was blasted from the shores of Virginia into legend.

Here's to you, Space Toad...

And here's the original photo:

9/11

Park Bench Banana

What's a guy supposed to do at the end of a long, hot, busy day when he's tired and has absolutely no inspiration? Draw a banana sitting on a park bench eating an ice cream cone, of course!

Early To Bed

Tonight after choir my daughter asked me

“Can I go to bed early? I’m wanting to read.”

Well what could I say, I mean surely she could

And why did she ask? Did she think that I would

Tell her “No! You must stay up until it’s quite late.

I don’t want you rested, I want you irate!

And none of this reading, cause you should stay dim!

Illiteracy is the way to fit in!”

I would never say that, so when dinner was done

And she finished her homework and brushed every one

Of her teeth we went up and we lounged on my bed

I got to relax while my little girl read

A Wimpy Kid book, and she read it out loud

She read it to me and it made me so proud

So tonight as I write this with digital pen

I hope that tomorrow we’ll do it again

Dachshund

The other day, my mom posted a story on her blog about the dachshunds we had when I was a kid. That got me thinking about those little dogs, so this post's for you Heidi and Remington.

A Very Dapper Rhino

I think the title says it all.

Friday Night Lite

Just a quick little poem - go have a good weekend.

It’s Friday night, a night for fun

For football games and chicken wings

For hanging out with all your friends

And seeing what the weekend brings

So see a movie, see a play

What’s on TV, let’s have a look

As for me, I’ll end this poem

And then kick back and read a book

More Monsters

Not sure what to draw tonight, so I got a blank card and a pen and just doodled a bunch of monsters. Don't be too scared!

Be Late For Something Day

Oh be alert and be aware

Prepare without delay

September 5th is National

Be Late For Something Day

So hit the snooze on your alarm

A couple extra times

Instead of getting up for work

Just listen to the chimes

That book that’s due to be returned

Back to the library

Just keep it for an extra day

Who cares about the fee?

And then that meeting with the doc

To see about that mole

In one more day it probably

Won’t grow out of control

Then in the evening just forget

To pick up your hot date

I’m sure your special someone won’t

Be bothered by the wait

So go ahead and put it off

Procrastinate perchance

And just ignore the fact that I

Will post this in advance

Giraffe Ballerina

Another request, this time from my niece, for a giraffe doing ballet. I thought a more classic drawing style was appropriate for a subject of such poise and grace.

A New Toy

No time to write

No time to play

We got a new TV today

A 40-inch

With LED

Of course it’s got 1080p

A Blu-Ray box

Shows movies best

Plus Netflix, YouTube and the rest

I’ll end this poem

It’s too inane

It’s time to mushify my brain

Herr Nacho

Another request fulfilled! This time it was for "a happy nacho complete with sombrero".  I'll let you figure out for yourself why he's wearing lederhosen. It just seemed appropriate at the time.

"It's my cheese! All mine! You can't have any! It's... "