ABRAHAM LINCOLN Cooks

A quick one. Here's a pencil sketched with some ornaments and text layered over it for an elementary school cookbook my sis is working on.

I occurs to me, that I love Lincoln. Read about him! Quote him. His wisdom transcends the mockery of current political malcontent rhetoric.

Zombie Lincoln for President!

New Year, New Cartoon

I don't really know about this one. Just a reaction to the same people, in the same bar, on the same stool every time I go out. Of course... there I am to see it. Who is judging who? Happy New Year!

Based on an Actual Conversation

For anyone who doesn't know, I do a weekly comic strip for a local publication. The Chautauqua Region WORD has been running this cartoon for many years. It's fun and it's always something different. I have about 4 years worth of weekly strips. I've been toying with the idea of creating a book. It would have a limited appeal but it might be fun to do it and see where it goes. Anyway, people I know always end up in it, sometimes on purpose. This one won't run until Wednesday, put you can get a preview here! Woot!

Red Heading for the Finish Line...

Rocking. We are almost done... another day should do it. The forcast for tomorrow looks favorable, so with any luck I will be able to post the finished mural tomorrow. Keep your fingers crossed.

Most of the high ladder work is done at this point. The lift was donated for this project and it doesn't quite go high enough. We've been doing the last little bit with a step ladder. Scary.

Daily Dose of Desi...

The weather is holding (thank ye deities of percipitation) and we are moving and moving on the mural. Next few days are going to be a crap shoot. Thursday, Friday and Saturday look like a washout. Today, Wednesday, looks a little iffy, but I may get up there at some point. Cross your fingers. We are getting there...

The Elderly and Dessert

Occaissionally the Unexpected Guests Improv Comedy Troupe does weekday evening shows at the Tropicana Room in the beautiful Desilu Playhouse. Tonight was just such an event. A lot of tiimes the Lucille Ball - Desi Arnaz Center brings in tour groups, shows them the Lucy Museum, feeds them, and then needs someone to entertain them. That's when they call us to perform. Sometimes it's 60 people, sometimes it's 10. You never know going in to one of these shows. Sometimes these folks are ready for bed. Sometimes they exhibit more energy than we do. Like I said... you just never know.

Tonight's group was 60 to 75ish. They looked happy and fed as we strode out to meet them. They were really quite cool after warming up a little. We had a good string of scenes. They laughed, it was cool.

Then we went into one of our step up games. "Back In My Day..." is a game in which each of the players takes on the voice of an elderly person and descibes why things were better "Back In My Day..."

We take an audience suggestion like "Computer" and then the players take turns stepping up to deliver a short explanation. I'm never afraid to do this game in front of old people... but, I will say that there have been times when it has not been received well by older adults. (clears throat).

This group liked the game. We riffed on "Computer" for few minutes and then Tim Smeal, one of our players, delivered the most brilliant "Back In My Day..." line I think I have ever heard. (Don't tell him I said that... I don't want it to go to his head).

Tim steps up proudly, looks out into the crowd and says, "Back in my day, we didn't have computers because. " indignance rises in his voice," we didn't need them, because we could all write legibly and could do our own arithmetic."

The crowd exploded. I thought they were going to stand up at one point. Tim Smeal played that crowd like a cheap harmonica, and they ate it all... just like their desserts.

Also... I am turning over a big new leaf... tune in next time for details.