Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all mothers, grandmothers, wanna-be mothers, or bad mother... Shut yo mouth!... Just talkin' 'bout mothers!... And we can dig it!

Anyway, here's the drawing from the front of this year's card. Love you, mom!

Ode to Old Gold

Today I had to say goodbye
My little car just got too old
And so, despite the times we've had
I took it in, and now it's sold

Ah yes, those times, they were so good
Like driving in to work each day
And then back home, where it would stop
In the garage, where it would stay

For eight long years it took me forth
And back and forth and back again
And in that time it gained some quirks
That popped up every now and then

Quirks like a wobbly back end
Providing me a chance to feel
A sense of wonder as I though
If I was gonna lose a wheel

The dashboard lights would sometimes pulse
The headlights pointed different ways
And though I might not see at night
They seemed alright during the days

Beneath the hood, something would leak
And leave a puddle on the floor
I thought the leak was just one thing
Surprise! In fact there's several more!

The engine, rough and grumbly,
Was also an exciting part
Cause every time I turned the key
I wondered whether it would start

So last week, in to get repairs
The service people took the keys
They looked it over, then they said
"Two thousand dollars, if you please"

To fix a '97 car?
That figure seemed ridiculous
And though it pained my wife and me
Our only choice was obvious

We traded it for something newer
(That will be another rhyme)
So here's to you, my old, gold car
You served me, well, most of the time

Campfire Stories - The Aftermath

That owl contest is finally done
And they've announced the ones that won

I wasn't first with that big bird
But... Yay, hooray! I came in third!

And as a prize for that old picture
I now am fifteen dollars richer!

(After re-reading this, it's probably good it wasn't a poetry contest! Anyway, click on this link if you'd like to see the official announcement of the winners.)

Campfire Stories - Final

Hey, look! I haven't fallen off the face of the Earth! I've (finally) completed this campfire scene for the Owlentine's Day contest. I'll let you know how it all turns out.

"Whooooo wants to hear a ghost story?"

First

I know that I've been gone a lot
I'll blame it on this thing I got

A new computer! Hip hooray!
I use it every night and day

And then some more, both day and night
The screen is such a pretty sight

With memory and speed to spare
It cost a bit, but I don't care

And best of all, at least to me
It doesn't turn off randomly!

That's what this little poem is from
The first of many more to come

Cheese Doodle Day

Here's a thought that I'd like to convey
On this National Cheese Doodle Day
Mr. Morrie Yohai
You're my kind of a guy
Though your doodles increase what I weigh!

(Today we celebrate Morrie Yohai inventing cheese doodles back in the 1940's and me eating Cheetos right now!)

Ice and Snow

Ice and snow
Snow and ice
Normally not very nice

Snow and ice
Ice and snow
Unless we do not have to go

Rain and sleet
Sleet and rain
Off to our old jobs again

Sleet and rain
Rain and sleet
So back to bed, pull up the sheet!


(A little poem inspired by the fact that all the schools were closed and I got a work-from-home day!)

Campfire Stories - Part 3

Now it's starting to come together a little more. Backgrounds aren't always the thing that catches your attention, but they're pretty necessary to set the tone.

The Final Countdown

A week from Monday - that's the day
Apple should reveal new stuff
Then I'll be able to decide
Cause choosing what to buy is tough

But if there's nothing new to see
I'll head to Best Buy north of town
And take the best one I can get
Cause this dumb thing keeps shutting down!

Polar Bear Day

It's Polar Bear Day
So remember our friends
With their little black eyes
And white furry rear ends

They're perfectly fine
When the icy winds blow
And they'll frolic and play
In the cold northern snow

So think of the moral
These bears teach you, son,
When conditions seem worst
You can still have some fun

But one thing's for sure
And make no mistake
I won't take off my clothes
And jump in a lake!