Time To Draw Comics

That's right. My favorite pen is missing. It was my fault, I think. I cleaned my pens and then somewhere after that, I misplaced it. I had to use a micron pen on this comic... my world is upside down.

Hands Off My Pop Tarts!

Hey, you thought I fell off the face of the earth didn't you? Well, I have a really good grip and instead of hurtling off into space, I held on. It took me a month, but I finally made it and I'm back with a comic to prove it. I don't know how consistent I'll be, but I'll do my best...

 

Hope you all had a great holiday/Christmas and all other holidays I don't know how to spell.

I missed you!

Chicken Hearted

I find parenting stressful. Very stressful. I can't always tell when I'm stressed, unless the lower eyelid of my left eye starts to quiver. It's extremely annoying and there's nothing to be done about it except wait it out. It eventually goes away for awhile. Until the next crisis, that is.

Beware the First Snowfall

Usually, the first snowfall is romantic and beautiful, but this  year, stuff was falling down all over the place! Our neighbor lost a ton of branches and we saw a big tree that had fallen over and just missed a car! Huge clumps of heavy wet snow were crashing down, so walking was treacherous and electrical lines were snapping all over the place. And we thought tornadoes were scary!

Photo Ops

You've Got Mail

Go Google Yourself

The Early Years: Reasons (#4 In Color!!!)

 

And here's the inked versions if you're interested:

The Early Years: Reasons (#4)

 

I feel a little guilty posting Sunday's comic when it's still in sketch form, but I really wanted to give you something and I will post when I actually ink and color this comic! I'm hoping seeing the pencil version will be a little interesting. It's so different once it's inked and colored, sometimes not for the better I think! Anyway, I hope you'll forgive me for posting a "half done" comic and find it enjoyable to read and look at anyway! Thanks, as always, for reading my comics!!!!

Special

 

Hey, just a bit of Minnesota trivia... I included a Minneapolis landmark in my comic this week! See if you can figure out what it is. If you just can't figure it out, the answer is HERE!

I've seen it in person a couple of times and all I can think of is how fun it would be to climb on it, but you get arrested if you do that, so....

Phil Talks to the Animals

Sketches and Notes

For today, I decided to post a few sketches of some comics that I've posted here. If you are interested in the process of creating comics, maybe you'll enjoy seeing these. I always carry either a sketch book or a small clip board with drawing paper in the bag that I take with me everywhere. I always have a pencil, eraser, small ruler, and a couple of my rapidograph pens in a little zipper pocket so I'm ready to go wherever I am. I try to draw whenever I have a couple of minutes... waiting at the doctors office, picking up kids at school, at church... whatever. That way I can keep track of any ideas I might have and practice drawing every day. I just really love to draw. I love the way the pencil feels against the paper. Maybe I'm weird, but that's how it is.

Anyway, here's a few sketches from my little clipboard.

 

This is a sketch of Phil at a gig.

T

 And here's the sketch I did of a comic I posted a couple of days ago. When I think of an idea, it usually appears to me pretty complete. I think in metaphors a lot...  because I'm a visual person. I could tell you that I think like I'm in a fog, but you get a better idea when I draw the fog and then the thoughts are little rockets that I can't catch.

That's it for this lovely Friday... see you soon with some new comics!

Brain Fog Disorder

A couple of months ago, I went through a psychological evaluation to find out if I had A.D.D. It was pretty grueling as tests go, I was there for almost 5 hours and was interviewed as well as taking a battery of tests. One thing I found out is that I'm a monster processor... my processing speed is manic, but sadly, my working memory falls far below that. So, I often feel like my brain is speeding, but I can't grasp and hang on to whatever thought is flashing through. It's really frustrating. Sometimes I find myself wandering in some other world, unable to focus in on any one thing. Time becomes irrelevant during these little forays into my imagination. I've spent valuable minutes/hours day dreaming!

Then there's this thing called "executive functioning". That's the ability to organize your life, keep track of your things, categorize, make decisions, be prompt, be able to follow through, manage your time wisely... an ability that's massively impaired when you have A.D.D.

I've spent my whole life trying to function, going to school, working, managing my home and family, but struggling in a kind of fog. Finally, I have an answer as to why it takes me so long and why it is so much of an effort to do things that seem to be easy for most people. I have a brain that doesn't fire very efficiently. I'm so relieved to find that there is something that can help me. It doesn't solve all my problems, but it clears out the fog and enables me to be productive. I'm not the type of person to say that all you need is a magic pill, but if there is something that helps, then by all means, take it. I can testify that my life has improved many times over now that I've found something that helps me think.

Ham Emancipation

Only You! Can Prevent Cooking Fires

I can cook pretty well, but for some reason, I seem to create a smoky atmosphere sometimes. 

I don't get it... 

And hamburgers are the worst.

Rosie Steps In

I can't say enough good things about my girl, Rosie. She's my best friend, my daughter and amazing. Yeah, I'm biased. Get over it :-)

A Mother of a Beast

The Early Years: 2nd Thoughts

Thanks for being so patient! I have been swamped with family stuff for the last week and a half! But I'm glad to have this comic done and sent out into the etherworld! Thanks for stopping by and reading... you make my day!!!

Gourd-zilla attacks my hometown!

This is so crazy you have to come look at it.... right here. It's really begging for a cartoon and maybe I'll have time to do one, but at the very least, you should go look at the world's biggest pumpkin. No kidding. It weighs almost a ton. And it's not very pretty. Happy Autumn anyway!

Sunday comic is coming... The Early Years: 2nd Thoughts

Checking in with my peeps...

Hey! I just wanted to check in with you all since I haven't posted in a week! I've been a little under the weather AND super busy with stuff at home. You might not know this, but I Homeschool my daughter, I'm starting to teach a few students this year (piano lessons!) and I have four kids that all need stuff so my life feels a little out of control at times. On the positive side, the weather has been gorgeous and that makes for a good mood. I'm still drawing and working on the latest Sunday comic that I missed last week... It's coming soon, I promise!

Take care, y'all! I miss you!