for the ogre

Did this quickly today while taking a break from writing requirements. Another version of the Ogre for FeedTheOgre.com.

More bad Spock

I have a problem. I am so far gone on the crack that Bad Spock is that I find myself running to the bathroom to get a hold of the stash of sticky notes that I hid under the toilet tank lid just so I can rip out another Spock.

Request-a-doodle: Sir Grabalot

For the man from the land down under and his story-writing cronies.

True Horror Stories

We were at a dinner part this past weekend with friends. The weather was May perfect sunshine, light breezes and nice chill in the air. We pulled out their chiminea and got a fire stoked. At one point the conversation turned to movies and there was a survey of "who likes horror movies?" Some said they enjoyed a select few, others said they had no time for the genre.

Horror movies turned to talk of Jaws which, in turn, turned to an episode of MythBusters where they tested the idea of shooting a scuba tank with a rifle and making it explode. That brought about some chuckles about the whole concept.

Then one of the guests talked about how he witnessed his uncle's house in Lebanon being blown up by men shooting the butane tank outside the house during the war. Apparently, they use butane rather than propane for heat/cooking in that region. He remarked that that was horror and one of the reasons he left Lebanon.

That conversation's been bouncing around in my head for a few days -- how many of us here in the States and other 'stable' lands have never witnessed true horror -- is that why we have a love affair with horror movies and scary rides? Most of us don't know what it means to be scared in real life, day-in and day-out.

What happens when our troops come home from living in the horror of war? While they have 'normalcy' to come home to -- what's left in and of their minds? What about their families? What about their community? For that matter, what's the lasting effect on those people that live in lands where war is 'normalcy'?

I just need to appreciate more the lives we have.

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Along those lines, here's a shout-out to a charity that does good work for the US troops and their families: Fisher House Foundation. Here's a review of the charity at Charity Navigator. And here's a charity, American Near East Refugee Aid (their review on CN) that works to improve communities in the Middle East ravaged by war.

Undergotchie Guy

Had several phone conversations today that helped this fellow run along throughout the day.

Whole lotta nothing today

No time for doodling today and was at school jazz band concert with the West Chester University Criterions Jazz Ensemble. Nice tunes.

So here's a leftover from the last job...

Request-a-doodle: Moose Wrappings

Another request-a-doodle fulfilled...I think. Enjoy, Bear-dude.

Request-a-doodle: Cinco de Mayo Touristy Dude

One of the problems with request-a-doodle is that I don't always doodle near the internet -- so I don't always remember exactly what the request was. In this instance, I now realize that this fellow is missing his order of chips y salsa. Sorry, CF.



Deborah -- don't know if the missing chips y salsa throw off what you were looking for but here it is anyway. If you want to use it on your blog go for it, please just include a link back and my copyright info.

Request-a-doodle: Old Colleagues as Scissor Sisters

A request from the last job, two of my editorial pals as members of the Scissor Sisters. Apparently the request was the result of a strange dream which itself was the result of the weekly Friday afternoon dance party in the office in which a few folks blast out a rollicking tune and these two usually belt out their best falsettos. And, by the way, the one on the right doesn't speak Spanish.

Request-a-doodle Friday

You can request-a-doodle by adding a comment below. As usual, I'll make an attempt to doodle your requests in some form or fashion over the next week.

Have an outstanding day.

Cyclops dude

Was out again tonight setting up encrypted wireless at jd's new pad in conshy, so needed to dig into the back room to find this oldie -but-not-yet-blogged- doodle of a cycloptic creature from the last job. Shouts out to my homies in the First State.

Baby Dog Thing...i don't know

Dug this out of the excess pile. Very little doodle time this week anywhere. Think this was a concept for a previous request-a-doodle, half Jaden, half Maddux or something like that.

Request-a-doodle: Funky Donkey

Though the request was in late (by 3 days), I fulfilled it anyway since it was obviously from someone in the family. Imagine the poor creature above being hot pink, about 35 years old, made of pom-pom material and all of about 4 inches long. He was the most popular among our youngest brother's 'animals' but yet he was mean and degrading to everyone. Everyone wanted to be his friend but he would easily trample on your feelings. He taught me early on how to tell the phonies in this world.

Request-a-doodle: Bears go in the woods

BT Bear Esq. -- here's your request. It's not the be-all, end-all and not very finished but go ahead and use it with a link back here if you want.

Request-a-Doodle: Self Portrait with Freddy Mercury style Moustache

Here you go Anonymous. Me with a Freddy Mercury style moustache.

Request-a-Doodle: Candy Bar with Legs & a Tail

Perhaps more of a "Tootsie Roll" with legs and a tail for this request-a-doodle.

Request-a-doodle: Clem on a Harley

Skull on Wheel

So long, JD

We'll miss you out here in the country, JD. Enjoy that city living and keep the beers cold for us.

Request-A-Doodle: Kangaroo & Cheesesteak

Geno's image courtesy RebelAt via Wikipedia

This doodle was a fast one so I only solved the kangaroo + cheesesteak part of the request. I took some Photoshop liberties with the rest. For full effect, grab a listen.

Request-A-Doodle: Chris Walken & Easter Bunny (in disguise)

Needed to get this 'bunny' off my back and fast. HB scares me and wanted to get him somewhat satisfied. His original request was somewhat more elaborate and racier -- but too much detail for this PG doodle-rama. (That's some kind of bad Chris Walken, eh?)

Request-A-Doodle Friday: Dancing Monkey

Eric asked for a dancing monkey earlier today. I just got home and whipped up this wee fool of a chimp while the kids watched TV.

Forehead & Friends

Scanned this last night, but got busy with other stuff and forgot to upload it. So here it is.

Ole Daisy

The last job gave me a wealth of opportunities to doodle -- so I've got some left over from then that I occasionally pull out for nights like this (where I haven't had the time to whip-a-doodle.)

Request-a-doodle: Jaden at the ball game with his groundhog and a beer and hot dog

I think I about covered the gamut of requests for doodles in record time. Apologies to Random California/Jaden's parents. His photos are much better. Also, Rizz -- groundhogs can't wave AND hold a beer. Thanks for the requests and we'll open up the request line again this Friday. Keep 'em coming!

Bi-Coastal Dude

Finally was back in meeting mode today. Sketched out this bicoastal dude. Had the concept in my head and had done some earlier rough ideas but it took a good meeting to get it roughed out further. Next I'll try a 'finished' version of it (We'll see if I get to it...)

Raw Sketch Pad Monday

Here's a full page of scrambled thoughts and ideas. Click the image to see it supersized. Doodles not coming easy these days.

The world is not your ashtray

I'm in a cranky mood these days and one thing that gets the crank going is driving home behind folks tossing butts and ashes out their window. One place I sometimes (and used to more frequently) report abusers to is LitterButt.com. Pennsylvania, Texas, and North Carolina currently participate with the lone guy that runs the site in mailing letters to reported offenders based on their license plate.

While some may think ratting out your highway neighbor smacks of "Nazi" tactics, trashing the world smacks of selfish stupidity. Smoke in your car if you want to, but nobody wants to see your butt.

ear chops

airplane sketch from last week

Ruthie's, San Antonio, TX: I Want To Love It

Ever have a meal that puts you in that proper happy place? On my recent trip to San Antonio for the NCAA Regionals at the AlamoDome, my family stayed with my brother and his family. The first morning after arriving I awoke with a kink in my neck from a restless night in a strange bed. My physical therapist sister-in-law did wonders working some of it out but it continued to nag me for the next day or two. Then one morning, the adults, after feeding the kids their fill of chocolate chip pancakes and cereal, left the 13-year-olds in the hands of the 10 and 11 year olds and headed to a local home-spun Mexican diner, Ruthie's.

On my first trip to San Antonio, 14 years ago with my best friend and very pregnant wife, we had a breakfast on the famed River Walk that involved eggs mixed up with Mexican bacon, blue corn tortilla chips, refried beans, salsa and served with fresh hot tortillas. That restaurant was gone on subsequent returns and I've been trying to find an equal to that breakfast ever since.

I found it at Ruthie's. Ruthie's appears much like any small roadside diner/kitchen type place. According to my brother there's a Mexican style eatery like it on every block. They had The Price Is Right playing on a static'y TV up on the wall and menu's were the requisite laminated paper style but with a full listing of items en Espanol that even my seasoned San Antonioan brother and sister-in-law couldn't identify for me.

Rather than play a guessing game or play it safe, I asked the waitress if she could tell me what I wanted based on my description. I laid it out for her in all its glory and she said, you want the 'Chilaquiles'. I've seen them described as something other than what I had but what I had was lovely.

Enjoying that full breakfast made me stop at one point and lower my cheek to the dish and cradling it with my arms, I said, "I want to love it."

The best part of the meal was that when it was all done, that kink in my neck was all gone -- replaced with the satisfaction in my stomach.

Yau Man - Survivor dude

Blatant, mainstream, pop-culture reference -- but I was watching Survivor tonight with the family -- it's the last reality show that I follow on a regular basis. So I sketched up Yau Man after finding the hidden idol.

Cats & Dogs Living Together

Did a fast sketch at the end of the day before heading off to see the tax man and went for a less 'terrifying' and 'odd' concept that make some wonder about my mind... don't get used to it. keep wondering.

wild things

This is an old doodle from the archives. We're in San Antonio, TX this week. Today before visiting the NCAA South Regional shootaround at the AlamoDome, we took the kids to the Animal Sanctuary of the United States Wild Animal Orphanage. It's amazing to the see the number and kinds of wild animals that people try to keep as pets and entertainment. Lots and lots of tigers, cougars, a couple bears, and even a couple of ligers -- test tube crossings of tigers and lions.

laptop discomfort

Off to NCAA South Regional Finals

I'll be having a meetup on San Antonio's RiverWalk with those folks in Texas that are nice enough to spend time looking at my doodles. Perhaps I'll post some pix from that.

I'll probably dig into the archives and post them this week from San Antone.

Ear Guy

Doodled while listening to some Iron & Wine after Duke made a hasty exit from the NCAAs at the hands of the sharpshooting VCU. Love love love the upsets. Damn your brackets!

US Airways Baggage

Did this rough draft at the PHL Monday morning as my 7:30 a.m. flight was delayed and delayed on a perfectly sunny day. I stopped working on this and would have added a few more bags to the list:

• flight delayed til 12:00 noon
• can't board until 12:15 because crew wasn't there
• got an automated call to my cell phone as I boarded, from US Airways letting me know that my flight was delayed 230 minutes and to call them if I needed to make new arrangements.
• sat on the plane at the gate until finally moving out and taking off at 12:40.
  

Chimping around

made this the other day on artpad.art.com and since I haven't solved my doodling-on-the-road issue, this will have to do for now.

toothy fellow

The new job has me pretty busy all day, especially in meetings so I've been trying to squeeze a doodle in here and there at night before bed or when I first get up at the crack before dawn. I'll be traveling next week so hoping to get some airline doodles in and submit mobiley or wait til i get back if I can't perfect the quality off the cell phone camera.

"Gallon Man" by Special Guest Artist in Residency

From my daughter, filling in for her slacking old man. We were discussing how many cups in a gallon and she broke into a song about it and then described The Gallon Man and drew up a diagram. Apparently the G-man is a popular figure in elementary learning. No liquid measurement left behind.


UPDATE Oct 2008:
I get a lot of hits from people searching for "gallon man" through Google and other search engines. And today received an email from a teacher in Texas asking for the words to the "Gallon Man" song. In the interest of advanced education here's a link for Gallon Man (aka Mr. Gallon):

If you go to Laura Candler's website she has a ton of teacher resources. Among them are a bunch of Gallon Man resources. Go to this page and scroll down to Time & Measurement for some "Mr. Gallon" information.

Mobi doodle

trying a little mobile doodling blogging by taking a photo of my doodles and then using bloggers mobile blogging service to email it to my blog. not real pleased with the initial test

Apple a day