Thursday, December 3rd, 2009 // 02:55
Badaboum Twist
http://drawn.ca/2009/12/02/badaboum-twist/ http://drawn.ca/?p=9896 
What a nice surprise to discover the autobiographical comics of David Libens. His Badaboum Twist boasts an enviable spontaneity and looseness.
(via James Sturm)
Posted by John Martz on Drawn! The Illustration and Cartooning Blog |
Permalink |
No comments
Tags: Comics, David Libens
Thursday, December 3rd, 2009 // 03:07
Thursday, December 3rd, 2009 // 02:49
Star Wars Inspired R2-D2 Hoodie
http://www.toxel.com/inspiration/2009/12/02/star-wars-inspired-r2-d2-hoodie/ http://www.toxel.com/?p=7929 Creative hoodie design inspired by the iconic R2-D2 droid from Star Wars. According to the designer, the awesomeness of this hoodie cannot be described. After all, it is R2-D2. [currently sold out]
Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009 // 21:14
Snicketiana, Hooray!
http://thediamondinthewindow.typepad.com/the-diamond-in-the-window/2009/12/snicketiana-hooray.html You cannot begin to imagine my elation when I opened up the Diamond in
the Window e-mail account, clicked on the new e-mail, and saw "My book
is free? Lock it up at once!" —Lemony Snicket. Diana loved these books when she first
encountered them. LOVED. She got immediately the perfect silliness, the
excellent diabolical-ness (?), just everything about them. We went on
to enjoy The Unauthorized Autobiography (my favorite image is the cow
disguise) and The Latke Who Couldn't Stop Screaming (a truly excellent
choice for those of you looking to purchase the perfect hanuka book for
a discerning 10 year old). There was even a brief, though somewhat
disappointing, visit to an opera for which he wrote the book. And there was, too, the cherished (for me) moment when we were in Diana's 2nd grade parent-teacher conference, discussing her writing, which was a little...strange. Her teachers (who were both amazingly excellent both as teachers and as people) were puzzling over what was going on with it, when it came to me in a flash: she was channeling her version of Snicket. I told them this, and they said "That's not a good influence for her writing," and I said, in one of my very few moments of clarity as both a mother and a reader, "You don't choose your influences. They choose you." For those of you who have read the excellent Habit of Being, the letters of Flannery O'Connor, note this: "Which brings me to the embarrassing subject of what I have not read and been influenced by. I hope nobody ever asks me in public. If so I intend to look dark and mutter "Henry James Henry James"—which will be the veriest lie, but no matter. I have not been influenced by the best people....The rest of what I read was Slop with a capital S. The Slop period was followed by the Edgar Allan Poe period which lasted for years and consisted chiefly in a volume called The Humerous Tales of E.A. Poe. These were might humerous...This is an influence I would rather not think about....But always the largest thing that looms up is The Humerous Tales of E.A. Poe. I think he wrote them all while drunk, too."
I find that so delightful. So what occasioned this e-mail? The first book of the series, The Bad
Beginning, is now available online. So those young 'uns who weren't
around during the first round can get a delicious taste. No doubt, like
crack dealers, the publishers are hoping your child will become
addicted and you will be forced to purchase the supply from here on in.
Even so, there are only 13 books, and it's hard to think of more
satisfying contraband. You can find it here.
I had begged (maybe even badgered) Diana to write this post for me. I
told her: but you're the biggest fan! She said yes, then no, then
hemmed, then hawed, tried to get me to ask one of her friends, then
finally said what I think was really getting to her: Mommy, I'm not
worthy.
From a child who is somewhat grudging in doling out the respect, this is really something. So go, read, enjoy. You'll thank us.
Thursday, December 3rd, 2009 // 02:27
Family Photographer Sneak Peek ~ Thea Coughlin Albany NY
http://www.theacoughlin.com/blog/?p=1340 I am so burnt from work, these images will have to speak for themselves. I cried and giggled editing these…
Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009 // 21:34
Thank you!
Thank you guys for all the congratulations! And all the name speculation. You make me giggle! I better not say anything more about the name or you'll all know it anyway. I will give you one hint. It is not Wilma. Yabba dabba doo! That narrows it down to nine, for those of you who found the top 10 Swedish names list. I went to Kohl's today and was VERY VERY VERY tempted to get a little girl dress or three. I restrained myself. I am going to have more hand me downs than I know what to do with. I may as well save my money for things we really need (diapers, anyone?). My friend said she would give me some refresher knitting lessons, so I think I am going to try to knit a striped cardigan for the baby. I'm thinking lavender and green. I should also think about making this baby a quilt! I don't even know where to start. I am a little scared to turn myself loose in a quilting store. Does anyone else find it weird that Elizabeth Mitchell stars in Frequency and the killer is named Jack Shepard? (I think he is the killer. It has been a long time since I've watched the movie, but I am playing it right now). I really should get back to reading my book. Ofenjen has inspired me to do a Harry Potter re-read, so I started that tonight. I was reading a different book, but it didn't hold my attention. I found myself scraping soap scum off the shower walls with my fingernails instead of reading my book. Disgusting! I'd say that's a sign that a book is boring me, if ever there was a sign. Has anyone ever noticed that I bore easily? Understatement of the year. I had quite a talk with the mom of Erik's little preschool girlfriend today. Thank goodness she has three boys! Apparently Erik told the little girl that he has a big pen.is. Oh joy. Does anyone have a sex ed book for 4 year olds? I talked to him today about keeping his penis information private, but he thought I was crazy. Instead of understanding, he wanted to take off his pants and show me that he could "wag his wiener." Please send help. We had a little book exchange party this morning and I don't know what to do. Ok, so that's not true. I know exactly what to do. I have to be a book censor. Erik ended up with a Garfield book, which would be fine and dandy except it focuses on Garfield being fat. A few months ago Erik started calling me fat. I was not a happy camper. I mostly extinguished the behavior, though he's tried it out a couple of times since then. I really don't need this book in my house. I feel sort of guilty, but it is going to have to disappear.
Thursday, December 3rd, 2009 // 02:09
Colin Firth
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheEnglishMuse/~3/1Ci9N6zY1Q8/colin-firth.html Hello everyone! I wanted to tell you that my story on Colin Firth ran today, if you're interested in seeing it. The link is here. He's considered an Oscar contender for his role in Christopher Isherwood's "A Single Man." He's also smart, down to earth, and -- well -- very handsome (tall, square jaw, curly brown hair). ... Ok, I'll stop. Check out the story and let me know what you think! It was a piece I was working on at the LA Times before my recent layoff... 
Thursday, December 3rd, 2009 // 01:16
december views: stepping away from the frenzy
http://wonderingsandwanderings.wordpress.com/2009/12/02/december-views-stepping-away-from-the-frenzy/ http://wonderingsandwanderings.wordpress.com/?p=4034 
When I think of December, I think FRENZY. There is something about turning the calendar to December that unhinges us. Suddenly there are only 31 days left to the year and you wonder where it all went and how in the world you will have time to bake all those pies and wrap all those presents and check off the last of the resolutions you made at the beginning of the year. In the midst of all this frenzy, you have to be able to find silence otherwise you will go positively bonkers.
And that is why I participate in December Views every year. It’s for that time I give myself each day, in the midst of all the hustle and bustle, to just sit back and observe it, detach from it and pick the beauty from it. To grab my camera and slow the F down and notice that there is a whole other world out there, outside of my head. And the best part is there are no blogging rules. You want to say something? Say it. You don’t… then let the photos speak for themselves. Some days you’ll shoot, others the camera will stay in the bag… and that’s okay.
Thank you, Darlene, for starting such a beautiful tradition. You make me stop and pay attention to what is surely one of the most beautiful months of the year. I just get caught up in the frenzy and forget sometimes.
“And that desire–the strong desire to take pictures–is important. It borders on a need, based on a habit: the habit of seeing. Whether working or not, photographers are looking, seeing, and thinking about what they see, a habit that is both a pleasure and a problem, for we seldom capture in a single photograph the full expression of what we see and feel.” – Sam Abell
     
Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009 // 17:00
Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009 // 15:00
Don’t look at me like that
Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009 // 17:40
STEW
SQUEE! I am making the Beef & Mushroom Stew I mentioned earlier today, and seriously, nothing I make ever smells this good. I hope hope hope this turns out as yummy as it smells. I hope it holds up well for Rob to eat later tonight.
Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009 // 22:58
All the things I’ve wanted to post over the last week, but didn’t because I’m lame.
http://www.electricboogaloo.net/wordpress/archives/2009/12/02/all-the-things-ive-wanted-to-post-over-the-last-week-but-didnt-because-im-lame/ http://www.electricboogaloo.net/wordpress/?p=1675 Stupid outrages:
1. Stickers on avocados that say “RIPE” but then in teeny letters “when soft”. That’s like saying Buy this one! It will be ripe just as soon as it is ripe!
2. Gluten-free Thanksgiving where I don’t take the time to make myself some gravy and dressing and stuff = turkey and… oh. Right! Turkey.
3. Graham’s crown on his front tooth fell off again. They put it on a year ago, it fell off when I let him eat rock candy because we were studying crystals and whether or not his mother is an idiot. Dentist put it back on. $100. Then a month later it fell off just for the heck of it. Dentist put it back on for free and said this was highly unusual. A few weeks later and it’s gone. Now I wish we’d thought to make it a drinking game from the start.
4. I have a cold. Kevin has the same cold, but he started his a day later, which makes it hard for us to synchronize our sympathy requests.
5. The lines at the post office are unreal lately. They tell me it’s because they’re short handed on account of everyone keeps calling in sick. Graham, please get off the floor and stop touching everything.
6. I am in no hurry for my kids to grow up. This is a wonderful time in so many ways. But I have to say that I will not miss the degree to which my life requires me to deal directly with poop.
7. Yesterday — and I wish there were another way to describe this well-intentioned and generous-hearted undertaking — my father in law got into a fight with our washing machine. After many hours and only one request for a band-aid, he declared that he had won! IN YOUR FACE, Kenmore. He kicked its ass. Possibly with a hammer. We might need a new washing machine if Kevin can’t repair the damage this weekend.
Stupid awesomes:
1. My dog might bark at every noun that moves in the apartment building and he might be difficult to train and walk and all but whatever. He pees and poops in a box of pine sawdust. Do you know what this means?? NO standing out in the cold rain while he runs in sniffing little figure eights, getting tangled in the bushes and trees because his ancestors didn’t have leashes. NO more trying to guess when he is barking because he needs to go out rather than barking because someone, somewhere made a noise that we should know about. No more stepping in randomly-placed accidents (or “onpurposements” as Kevin once called them). Because he pees and poops in one place! And that place is very easy to keep clean! And I might be way too excited about this.
2. Graham invented my new favorite insult: dong whistle
Usage: “Daddy, you are you know what? A dong whistle!”
Meaning: A whistle that when you blow it instead of making a nice whistle noise sounds like this DONG!! And is that a very good whistle?? NO. It isn’t! And that’s why you are a dong whistle.
3. I suddenly realized that several of my favorite mom and pop Mexican restaurants are actually part of a chain. Oh! Well no wonder I like them! It made me feel happy for the owners. Good on them, opening several locations all with yummy chips, despite local overt pressure to GO HOME. To Texas? To south Atlanta? It’s not clear.
4. Focus group testing.
Yesterday Graham tossed a toy metal airplane at Kevin. “Ow,” Kevin said.
Then Graham tossed a second metal airplane at Kevin, hitting him on the leg. “OW. Graham! You are hurting me.”
Graham told him, “I know, I was trying to hurt you. Now,” and he laid the two planes on the floor facing Kevin, “Which one hurt more?”
Super awesomes:
Sales aren’t over the top but considering that this is a horrible idea for a time to launch a business, we’re doing surprisingly well this season. With so many struggling to pay rent and buy food and things, it’s nice to know that we, as a global economy, have our priorities in order and will continue to buy cute sciencey things for our babies.
We’ll have organic infant onesies ready any minute now and cute notecards and! Wooo new wholesale accounts! Including one that I’m not sure I can say the name of just yet. It um… shhhhh. Okay it rhymes with Pink Beak. The boys very very much enjoyed their donuts.
Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009 // 23:14
Slow-moving train
So my neurologist called me this afternoon to follow up on our last appointment (which, by the way, took place eight months ago), and she figures it's time for me to go back on interferon therapy. I balk a bit at the idea myself, so she said I should think it over and we can schedule an appointment after the upcoming holidays. If I'm lucky, she might squeeze me in before Easter.
Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009 // 12:21
Habit
http://blogdelanine.blogspot.com/2009/12/habit.html So far, so good :) Some 40 boxes ready...around 80 more to go. whew! ***News: I'll be rejoining Habit during this month. I was honored to be one of the guests in July.
During December all 33 lovely guests of '09 will be sharing peeks into their days.
There is a link on my sidebar with the word "habit" that will take you there.
I hope you come and visit!The beautiful yellow birdie photo is by the talented D.S. Brennan
Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009 // 22:23
Quick reminder
http://dooce.com/2009/12/02/quick-reminder For the Salt Lake City locals or anyone in town tomorrow night, Thursday, December 3, I'll be joining several other local authors at the King's English Bookshop for their annual Holiday Celebration. Stop by and say hi or SUCK IT or MY LORD YOUR CHIN IS HUGE. I'll be there signing books and mingling from 5:30 until 7PM (looks like they changed the time a bit). Sadly, they will not let me bring the dogs. But Jon and his beard will be there by my side. I'm bringing him so that I have someone to blame for my farts. HA. FART JOKE. CAN YOU EVEN IMAGINE THE FUN WE ARE GOING TO HAVE.
by dooce in Nubbin © Armstrong Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Originally
published by Heather B. Armstrong for dooce.com as Quick reminder. This post
cannot be republished without express written permission.
Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009 // 15:33
pajama pants
I thought I was done with maternity clothing angst. And yet? I need pajamas.
I didn't need them the first time around, because, well, I didn't wear pajamas. SHOCKING! I bet I was the only adult in the world who didn't wear pajamas! Ha.
And yet? With a child in the house, and what with getting up in the night on a far more regular basis, I have found that it's easier to just be DRESSED already, when I'm sleeping, and ready to deal with whatever I need to deal with. 24-hour parenting, thank you Dr. Sears, and all that. Go go gadget Mom.
So now, I seem to have grown out of every pair of pajama pants that I own, except for one fabulous pair of flannel Nick & Noras from Target. Bought on sale, of course, for something ridiculous like $2.99. OF COURSE.
And, well, I want more. Man can not live on one pair of flannel pajama pants alone. Or something like that.
But I don't want to pay $25 for a set, of which I'm only going to use the bottom half. And what with the pregnancy and all, I really need the comfy long RISE of these pants. Silly Xhilaration low-rise teenagery waffle weave stuff is not going to cut it.
I am on a mission. A mission from God. Ha.
Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009 // 15:32
Wednesday Giveaway!
http://joannagoddard.blogspot.com/2009/12/wednesday-giveaway.html  Today's giveaway is from Lille, a lovely lingerie boutique in Portland. They're offering Eberjey's Prima Ballerina PJ set, a feminine take on men's pajamas. Wouldn't they be adorable on cozy winter nights? For a chance to win, visit Lille Boutique and leave a comment below. A winner will be chosen at random tomorrow. Good luck! xo
Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009 // 20:00
Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009 // 15:04
Yes, Woman. It's Yummy. God.
http://www.amalah.com/amalah/2009/12/yes-woman-its-yummy-god.html Okay, so this is lame and mommy-indulgent and all of 19 seconds long, but I am uber-compelled to show off Ezra's newest (food-related, of course) trick:
What? He's BRILLIANT. SHUT UP.
Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009 // 20:49
Botany
http://dooce.com/daily-photo/2009/12/02/botany Leta: "Mom, my friend at school said that Christmas trees die."
Me: "Well, some do. When you pull a plant or a tree out of the ground it will eventually die."
Leta: "Is our tree going to die?"
Me: "No, we have an artificial tree."
Leta: "A what?"
Me: "Artificial. It means our tree is fake. It's not real."
Leta: "That is the dumbest thing I've ever heard."
Me: "And this concludes our science lesson for today."
click image above to see the photo on dooce.comby dooce in Daily Photo © Armstrong Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Originally
published by Heather B. Armstrong for dooce.com as Botany. This post
cannot be republished without express written permission.
|
snippetI can complain because rose bushes have thorns or rejoice because thorn
bushes have roses. Abraham Lincoln
more
obiter snippets
credits
Layout thanks to dandelion. Findus the cat as used in my user icon and header is the creation of
Sven Nordqvist.
|
