Creamy goodness

Ruthie performs a bit of civil disobedience that I could participate in.

Beetle Bailey goes surreal.

Agnes is becoming one of my favorite comic strips.

It is not pus, it is the creamy goodness within me emerging.

Interesting indifference

Boy, Mary Worth is quite spry for a woman her age. When I am her age I hope to be able to move that fast in the middle of a sentence.

Moy no longer cares about the writing, Giella no longer cares about the art, soon the coloring person will stop caring and then the comic will become real interesting.

90% of mothers would make the same mistake, the other 10% would be at the party.

Amen, Joe, amen.

Speaking on nonsense, Walter and I will watch the debate tonight. Netflix said that the Muppet Show Season One: Disc One should arrive today. I hope so.

We are not bonding

I've been on the receiving end of these kinds of conversations way too often. Mostly with women to whom I cannot tell to shut up without dealing with a lot of drama. If one utters out loud the words, "blah blah blah" several times in the course of a conversation that should indicate that one really has nothing to say. Conversation is the wrong word because that implies the involvement of at least two people. What is the word for one person talking and another person sitting there suffering through the sounds being jammed into their ears and their brain cells killing themselves to escape the pain?

I'm not sure if it's worth suffering just for some bit of kindness.
The species is cockatiel self-image. The bird's actual size is about 10 inches but in its mind its size is 10 feet. Rare for it to appear outdoors.
We have background continuity but not foreground continuity. It should take Terry Bryson another week to help Toby make the connection. Try percussive stimulation, Terry.
I love Earl the vacuum cleaner boy.
Why does Sally feel compelled to force Ted to try to make friends at the office? He should be on good terms, cooperative and helpful but friendship is not necessary especially if he has nothing in common with his co-workers. I wonder if Sally would push this if Ted worked in an office mostly populated by women?

I like my co-workers but I would not spend my own time with them. Forced socialization would make a bad work environment for me.

Says and goes are not synonyms. Lately, that mistake has really bothered me. I try to ignore it and I do not say anything to those who make it. In the larger scheme of things this should hardly rate a flicker of a thought. I considerate it an indication of current state of my life. I have time for this kind of thing to bother me therefore life is good.

The nightmare at the Bank of Santa Royale begins

I love psychotic Ruthie.
Thus begins the nightmare of a customer service representative at the Bank of Santa Royale.

Toby, you might want to light a match and lay off the spicy food. Maybe turn the AC down a bit as well.

--------------------------------------

I subscribe to a blog called Art Deadlines List. Description: Art contests & competitions, art jobs & internships, art scholarships & grants & fellowships, art festivals, call for entries/proposals/projects, and other opportunities in all disciplines, for art students, art teachers, and artists of all ages.

From time to time I tag an entry as "keep new" in Bloglines intending to follow up or submit something for a particular show. The deadline always passes and I never submit anything. My cartooning, life and other things end up filling up my time. I've not created other art in over a year.

I tagged this as keep new:

Side Show! Freak Show! Creep Show! We've all heard the terms. What does this mean to you? What comes to mind? What do YOU consider a 'Freak of Nature'? What constitutes this label? This is an open call to artists of all mediums to challenge themselves to respond to the title of this show. Who can participate: Anyone in the world, all artists welcome, all mediums. No entry fee. Contact: GM (Deadline is October 15)

The bold question really intrigues me. In response I want submit a portrait of Ann Coulter. So much ugliness in a somewhat attractive package. What a freak of nature.

Describe an accordion without using your hands

The premise of NBA draftees trying to flee the country is fictional but the TSA screeners are really that arbitrary and stupid.

I occasionally run by a church named Frontiers of Faith. The sign describes the church as a five-fold apostlostic ministry. There might be one more word in the description that I'm forgetting - something vaguely theological. I need to post a picture of the sign. The church is on Old Hearne Road in Bryan, Texas. I thought of this church in terms of the definition of frontier illustrated in the above cartoon. I'm curious about the self-description but not curious enough to invest the time listening to the explanation. It does provide a built-in way to explain the church that UU churches lack. Then, "What the ---- is that?" is not always the best conversation starter.
You go Martin! Tea party that muther down, man!
Puppies! Sketched puppies but still puppies! Sleeping puppies!
Damn it, Jeff, wrong approach! Stop referring to Mary's meddling as counseling. Counselors receive some training. Instead of talking to her in terms of your relationship, just tell her that she is unqualified and as a way to satisfy her need to meddle, give her the phone number of a professional you know to pass on to Ron.

Task for the day: attempt to describe an accordion without using your hands. Challenge your friends. It is more difficult than you think. Try it at a party this weekend. Let me know in the comments how you did. I failed.

Muffin Mae Snooze-Alarm

Greg and Mort, stop messing with my head.
Six days! This funeral has gone on for 6 days! Even though people come and go the walls in Santa Royale still rotate. Rotating walls the one constant in the Mary Worth universe.
The hyphenated last name really adds the right touch of surreal. Joe has become used to his sister's insanity and is only concerned about the tree accommodating the fake name.
You're a plugger if you took a low paying job after college or your education was way over-priced. It took me 10 years and I did not land a high paying job after graduation.
Olive Oyl showed her dark side during the spincoal storyline. Olive is either surprised that her dark side is so obvious or confused about the Sea Hag's appalling grammar. It does add a bit of insanity to read it without the contractions.

You are potential, dearie... you are potential!! Maybe Sea Hag plans on changing her career to motivational speaker.

The editor at King Features no longer cares.
--------------------------------
Tomorrow, Walter and I celebrate 14 years of marriage. We did the state sanctioned part at the Justice of the Peace on May 16 and held a ceremony on May 21 (our minister did not have the power vested by the state of Texas). I think this is the gypsum anniversary.

My new job title went into effect on the 15th. Yipee!

The devil is an old lady in a pink pantsuit

A short list of the flaws in Mary Worth's suggestion:

1. Dr. Jeff is retired thus has the luxury of traveling to a foreign land and doing good work. He would have that luxury if Mary Worth would let him. Dr. Drew is employed at a hospital.
2. Mary, do you know whether or not Drew has a speciality that would meet the needs of the children at Peace Village? We have not seen Drew with an actual patient. He could be a pathologist or a medical examiner.
3. Nothing to cure the sadness brought on by a broken heart than working with poor, deformed children in a third world country. Yeah, that ought to cheer Drew right up. If you really want to cheer him up how about suggesting that he go to Darfur?
4. Christ Mary, let the man have some fun. He could take you and Jeff sailing in the Caribbean or skiing in St. Moritz. It would be better than you and Jeff's usual dates. Watching paint dry would be more exciting than one of your dates. Probably did the watching paint dry thing on the third or fourth date.
5. Browbeating someone to serve others really motivates that spirit of altruism.
6. Mary let Dr. Jeff go back to Peace Village and continue his work. This is Jeff's calling not Drew's and no amount of meddling will change that. If you really love Jeff you would support him in his pursuing his calling.
7. Drew may find his own calling - rescuing his father from the clutches of evil

This illustrates what I enjoy about Mary Worth - she has this facade of sweetness and good intentions but deeper analysis reveals something a bit more sinister. Reminds me that the devil does not wear horns or Prada.

Sort of reminds me of an influential member of my church but quite capable of expressing real love unlike Mary Worth. They possess a strong desire for things to remain as they are even if it is detrimental to the church as a whole. I've attempted to voice my concern about this once. A small number of people have alluded to it but I don't know if it is just me and a couple of people or if a larger group has concerns. I wonder if anyone has really put it together. I understand this person's desire to keep their beloved community and not have anything negative breach that community but there is a reality and other people. I guess that is where the community comes in - minister to this person, acknowledge fears and concerns and prove that the changes will make the beloved community stronger, safer and more inclusive. How to even begin that process? I don't know.

Funny, I wonder if anyone in the church views me as a barrier like a I view this member?

I would rather receive the picture. Mom has no appreciation for fine art.

Embracing the Armored Lifestyle

Your daughter's needs are beyond what the public school system can offer. It's time to consider alternatives.

Popeye really enjoys his girl fights. Judging by the splat it appears mud has become involved. Trench coat guy becomes repulsed and turned on at the same time.

Have your considered calling the police and charging the Forths with trespassing? Quite simple. If the Forths lived in Texas and visited the neighbor's pool at night, the couple in the comic can shoot them. I think a warning shot has to be fired though.

I love the bubble gum. I wonder if the armored lifestyle includes armor camps and resorts. I suppose Ren Fairs and Festivals could count. If the Forth's neighbors take more extreme measures to keep them out of the pool then they may benefit from the armored lifestyle.

I did not know the Family Circus kids had friends outside the family. Jeffy is visiting a friend because with 4 kids the Keanes cannot afford a big screen, flat panel TV mounted on the floor.

Packing them in like sardines. The lady in the background is drinking some kind of potion that magically brings you closer to the objects in the foreground.

Had to include this one because of the department where I work.
You're plugger if you are retarded. Usually, the driver is out of the vehicle when locking the car and setting off the quick honk.

Girl Fight!

Now, I want to see where this ride ends. Ruthie has gone beyond childhood imagination and has lost her grip on reality.

Popeye likes to watch women fight. Tomorrow he will ask the trench coat guy to turn on the sprinklers. To continue the insanity Sweet and Olive need to break out into a Bollywood style musical number instead of a fight.

I choose my cell phones based on the camera rather than on the main function. I'm still learning how to discreetly take photos of fat chicks with tramp stamps.

I wonder about the Bumstead's closet arrangements. Did Dagwood choose the pants while sleep walking?

Wendy, the word you are looking for is moron.
Lola needs to get rid of the black sweater because it shortens her arms.
Red wine goes with beige unidentifiable chunks while beer goes with light yellow and green unidentifiable chunks. Dawn's hair - organic material or sheet metal?

Heart of Darkness in Four Panels or Less

Your honor, that's when I shot her. I got tired of her misinterpreting my intentions. Combine this with yesterday's comic, I don't think a jury would convict Stanley.

Jeffy is a little too into this pirate game. Billy and Dolly's blank expression scares me.

A good question in the last panel. The answer, in most cases, is no.

Roger was helping rock the baby to sleep by reading Shirley Jackson's, "The Lottery" and adding some elements to make the story more interesting for the baby to hear.

Further down the rabbit hole of Ruthie's madness.

I've added Popeye to my comics list because of the Comics Curmudgeon. The storyline has become quite insane. I forgot to save today's Popeye with its inappropriate sound effect.

Surrealism in mundane places

I expanded my selection of Chron.com comics. It also fixed the 9 Chickweed Lane glitch.

Harriet's attempt to put Stanley in the mood frightens him. It scares me and I'm in a 3D reality. Stanley would rather watch TV than attempt to play the game and I suspect the prizes are not all that great.
Several neurons screamed in agony while attempting to parse this Blondie strip
Why does this Heathcliff comic look like elements were pulled from a hat or generated by a computer? The surrealism seems a bit forced.
Witness Ruthie's descent into madness
This comic would have worked better with an anthropomorphic pig. Might as well draw what people who see this comic strip are thinking.

A list of known Plugger species: Dog, Bear, Rhino, Chicken, Kangaroo