A Last Limerick

All the sights this year now have been seen
And the things to do now all have been
So let's bid adieu
To the year we've been through
While we welcome two thousand fifteen

Old Computer

It's old, it's slowing down a bit and the fix I tried yesterday didn't work. However, the diagnostic says there's nothing wrong with the main hardware, so I guess it'll just keep limping along for a little while longer. I figure the longer I can keep this one going, the more interesting its eventual replacement will be.

Memories

Computer problems still concern me
Now its memory is shot
I'll go replace it, then we'll find out
If it's fixed or if it's not

Another Misadventure

There once was a cow who was spotty
Who had misadventures a lot-y
Like she once tried to ford
A small stream with a board
But fell in cause the thing was all rotty!

(Not much of a post tonight - I've been fighting with my computer which, after nearly 6 years of faithful service, is starting to get a bit cantankerous in its old age!)

Vacation Days

Vacation days all run together
Seeming to go on forever
Is it Monday? I don't know
I think last Thursday there was snow
Perhaps that makes it Saturday
It's hard to tell - time slides away
But still, I'd better not complain
Cause soon I'll be at work again

Rhino Summit

And here's the other Christmas picture - this one drawn for my brother-in-law.  (If you've been paying attention, you might recognize the theme for this from a few days ago...)

A Balloon!

Merry Christmas! This is one of the pictures I've been working on for the last few days (instead of putting much effort into these blog posts!) The original for this one (8" x 10", ink on cardstock, matted and framed) was given to my sister earlier today. Based on her reaction, I think it's a safe bet that she liked it.

Click to enlarge

Merry (Almost) Christmas!

So Christmas is finally here
I wish you all health and good cheer
And on this Christmas Eve
I hope you receive
Enough joy to last all through next year!

Last Minute Wishes

Busy drawing
Busy wrapping
But this post
Has caught me napping

Look at the time
There's not a lot
I'm making this
Up on the spot

There's just one thing
That's left to do
Wish Merry Christmas
Eve to you!

(I literally remembered I hadn't posted anything today at 20 minutes to midnight. This took at most five minutes, as you can probably tell!)

Up The Mountain

This time of year, does anyone else feel like they're trudging up an increasingly-steep mountain? Don't worry, we're almost at the top! (And it's all downhill from there!)

Or is this instead a teaser for something else?

Hard At Work?

Why another stupid poem
When I've got this time at home?
I should use my hands and head
Drawing something great instead
For my sister - could it be?
You'll just have to wait and see

Elf

What would Christmas be without a friendly elf? (Aside from all the religious significance, of course.) Why, look! Here's one now!

A Well-Earned Reward

Today I headed back to work

Though weak, my team I'd not forsake

And now I can enjoy the perk

Of two full weeks of Christmas break!

A Ray of Sunshine

Though I'm sick and the weather is gray
This one thought drives the sadness away:
That the new Star Wars flick
Is approaching real quick
And will open one year from today!

(Worse than normal? I can't tell! Blame the viruses, I'm going back to sleep!)

More Ugh

Spotty and I have been spending most of the day sleeping.

There was one bit of excitement this evening, though, when we got a nice visit from two charming young ladies from Child Protective Services. Apparently someone saw the big teal eyepatch our youngest daughter has been wearing recently (to help strengthen the vision in her other eye) and decided that it must be there to cover up signs of abuse. We had a nice chat and I think they went away satisfied that nothing bad was going on. 

Ugh

I just got back from the clinic
And guess what? I've got the flu!
I think I'll be going to bed soon
Admit it, you'd do the same, too.

(I actually have a doctor's note requiring me to stay home for the next couple of days, so I might have time to do some big, elaborate drawings - but I'll probably just be sleeping.)

RoboWorm

So they modeled a little worm’s brain

Every neuron and synapse the same

Then they hooked up the lot

To a little robot

Made of Legos! Now ain’t that insane?!

(This is all true! Click here to read the article and see a video of the roboworm in action!!)

It Runs In The Family

My daughter’s been wearing an eyepatch

It’s to strengthen the sight in one eye

But if anyone asks her about it

She thinks that it’s more fun to lie

Well, not lie quite so much, as embellish

When she’s asked why the eyepatch is worn

She’s responding, completely sincerely

“I was poked by a young unicorn!”

Which makes me, as a dad, when I hear her

Fabricate things with such smooth aplomb

Wonder where she got these inclinations

Then I realize, it must be from mom!

Turtumpkin

This one's for my niece, Queen of the Debaters!

What a nice shell!

Make A List

Yesterday I asked you all

What you might want from me

So far I’ve only heard the crickets

Chirping merrily

So here’s the deal, if you might want

A drawing as a gift

I need to know what sort of thing

Might give your heart a lift

And if you’d rather not reveal

Your wishes publicly

Just go online and send a good old

Email off to me

But if I don’t hear anything

It might just give me cause

To think there’s nothing that you want

From dear old Womas Claus

The Gift

It's a gift!

It's for YOU!!!

What's in it? I don't know.

(This is my way of requesting gift or drawing ideas. Have an idea what you want? You gotta ask for it!)

A Teacher's Lament

A class like today’s makes me frown

Every kid seems to act like a clown

We could have so much fun

And we’d get so much done

If they’d simply shut up and sit down!

Pterodactyl

Ptake cover! It's ptotally pterrifying!

Seasons Greetings

Tomorrow, December 9, is Christmas Card Day. To help celebrate, here are a few verses for you to (not) include in your homemade cards this year.

***

For Christmas I got you a puppy

But it wouldn’t fit in the box

So I sold it and kept all the money

And bought you a cheap pair of socks

***

Happy Christmas, my old friend,

I hope it’s full of cheer

Enjoy the lovely snow and ice

And don’t fall on your rear

***

Though I pondered for many long minutes

I didn’t know what I should get

For you, for this holiday season

So guess what? You’re looking at it!

***

Poinsettias sure look so nice

A splash of color in the ice

It’s just too bad I’ve killed them dead

So here’s a ragged weed instead

***

Seasons Greetings to you and yours

(Except your wife, she really snores!)

***

In this holiday season

I wish you were here

Cause you ate all my chips

And you drank all my beer

***

Here’s hoping Santa brings you lots

Of special stuff, you kid!

Because you’re getting squat from me

Cause I know what you did!

***

Noses are red

Lips can be blue

Get out of the cold

Or you might catch the flu!

Nutcracker, Part 2

Here's the finished nutcracker from a couple of days ago that I know you've all been waiting anxiously for!

The Recital

(My oldest daughter has been taking piano lessons, and today was her recital in a packed room with close to 100 people. She did very well, so today's post is for her. The finished nutcracker picture will come soon.)

My daughter faced her fears today

And played in her recital

She played a lovely little tune

(I don’t recall the title)

Regardless, she did very well

With parts both soft and louder

And from hard work came art and skill

I couldn’t be much prouder!

Nutcracker, Part 1

Tonight, my youngest daughter (and the Children's Choir she's a part of) sang for our local production of The Nutcracker. It's a pretty big deal and I'm very proud of her. She did one show tonight and will do two more tomorrow, so here's the first part of my Nutcracker drawing. The rest will be coming soon!

All You Get

I’m sorry for this tiny post

I beg - don’t throw a fit

But I’m tired, sore and cranky

So this is all you get

Take That, New York!

Tonight out in old NYC

They lit up their big Christmas tree

And though it looks chic

Mine’s been up for a week

So in this race the victor is me!

Emu Shoes

Today I met a new emu

There’s something strange about him

An old emu I knew wore shoes

But this one goes without ‘em

He said the rules call shoes taboo

And emus dare not flout ‘em

After review this seemed untrue

And so I had to doubt him

Into a rage this emu flew

With incoherent shoutin’

He then withdrew a block or two

And he’s still out there poutin'

Surfing Skunk

Tonight I felt like doing something different. Here's a surfing skunk.