Monday, November 02, 2009
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Jellyfish Tar Blob Creature
Another vacation doodle leftover। Some tar blobby jelly fish creature.
[Vectorized in Illustrator and now available on a shirt - any style]
Monday, February 25, 2008
for the ogre
Did this quickly today while taking a break from writing requirements. Another version of the Ogre for FeedTheOgre.com.
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
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.
----------------------
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.
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.
----------------------
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.
Labels: charity, doodle, doodles, horror, Lebanon, movies, mythbusters, war
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Monday, May 07, 2007
Sunday, May 06, 2007
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.
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.
Friday, May 04, 2007
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.
Thursday, May 03, 2007
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
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.
Monday, April 30, 2007
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: Candy Bar with Legs & a Tail
Perhaps more of a "Tootsie Roll" with legs and a tail for this request-a-doodle.
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Monday, April 23, 2007
Friday, April 20, 2007
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Monday, April 16, 2007
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!
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Monday, April 09, 2007
Thursday, April 05, 2007
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.
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Monday, April 02, 2007
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.
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
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.
Monday, March 19, 2007
Thursday, March 15, 2007
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!
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
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.
Monday, March 12, 2007
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.
Friday, March 09, 2007
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.
Thursday, March 08, 2007
"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.
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.
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Sunday, March 04, 2007
Return of the annoying concert goer
My wife and I have gotten back into the concert-going thing over the last 6 years. We've focused on select artists or bands we really like and venues where we can really get close-up and have that 'intimate' feel with the performer.
Friday night we spent the evening with Chris Difford of Squeeze fame at Philadelphia's Tin Angel. By having an over-priced dinner at Serrano downstairs we were able to have reserved seats for the show upstairs.
At virtually every show there is an 'annoying fan' sitting way too close to us. At this show, it was the guy and his wife in front of us, which put them in the front row and saw the need to push having a personal conversation with Chris throughout the show. And when he wasn't doing that he was continually turning his head around looking for the waiter with a buggy eye and then resuming conversing with his wife during the songs. His head would turn a la The Exorcist kid and that buggy eye would roam the back of the room.
Other annoying fans in the past have been the drunkard at the Joe Jackson/Todd Rundgren show that heckled opener-Joe and then spent the whole Todd show, yelling "Todd, yeah, Todd, yeah, Todd" even during Can We Still Be Friends.
The rest are an odd collection of boomers that think we paid out top dollar to hear their lousy renditions masking the folks on stage. Our dream is to start hosting shows in our own living room or back yard.
That's enough of the rant for the weekend.
Friday night we spent the evening with Chris Difford of Squeeze fame at Philadelphia's Tin Angel. By having an over-priced dinner at Serrano downstairs we were able to have reserved seats for the show upstairs.
At virtually every show there is an 'annoying fan' sitting way too close to us. At this show, it was the guy and his wife in front of us, which put them in the front row and saw the need to push having a personal conversation with Chris throughout the show. And when he wasn't doing that he was continually turning his head around looking for the waiter with a buggy eye and then resuming conversing with his wife during the songs. His head would turn a la The Exorcist kid and that buggy eye would roam the back of the room.
Other annoying fans in the past have been the drunkard at the Joe Jackson/Todd Rundgren show that heckled opener-Joe and then spent the whole Todd show, yelling "Todd, yeah, Todd, yeah, Todd" even during Can We Still Be Friends.
The rest are an odd collection of boomers that think we paid out top dollar to hear their lousy renditions masking the folks on stage. Our dream is to start hosting shows in our own living room or back yard.
That's enough of the rant for the weekend.