Arlo and Company

The cast of Those Funky Idiots

Tom's Ridges

  Of course, my ridges are usually itchy.   A photograph by Eric Whetsel.

Please Stand By

  My computer has been giving me some technical difficulties for the last three days, but things seem to have settled down a bit and I'm back on-line! Have you missed me?

Factoids

I don't have a studio.

I'm enjoying The Shins' new album.

Captain America is supposed to be dead. Act surprised when he returns.

I still haven't finished my syndication package.

Nick Grove got a new haircut.

Eric Whetsel got a new job.

I recently got some cool comics from Dale Martin, Pam Bliss, Winter, Keith O'Brien, and Billy McKay.

I liked Little Miss Sunshine, but I wanted to like it more than I did.

A new showerhead can change your life.

I need to buy a ticket for The Grapes of Wrath.

I renewed my subscription to Entertainment Weekly.

I need to read more books.

I tried to make a peanut butter sandwich, but the bread was all moldy.

They only dedicate the yearbooks to the popular dead kids.

Acting Up

Practice: Rehearsals continue for Moon Over Buffalo. For awhile we had to endure through some bouts of illness, but things are shaping up nicely as we plow towards our opening night next Friday. I've been rather rough on some of my clothing during the practices which is typical for me. Wednesday found me with a bloodied knee that bled through a new pair of slacks and Thursday was the day I found a slight tear in my shirt. I should really play it smart and wear cheap t-shirts and jogging pants during the rehearsal process.

I also seem to hurt people when I'm on stage. I guess I've been grabbing some of my co-stars rather roughly at times and leaving bruises in my wake. I guess I better work on that.

Bada Bleep!: I caught the first episode of The Sopranos on A&E a a few nights ago and it was strange to hear some of the language cleaned up. I don't know about anyone else, but I found it very distracting. I understand why they have to do it, but it really pulled me out of the episode so I flipped it off. I haven't seen any of the first season in years so it was funny to see how young the kids were (I had forgotten how AJ resembled Bobby Hill way back then) and James Gandolfini was practically slim and trim in the beginning. It was also great to see Nancy Marchard up and running as Livia, the true dark heart of the series. Great show, but stick to the DVDs.

Austin City Limits: I guess some ice and snow invaded Texas this past week which effected everybody at The Group Home West. According to an e-mail from Eric, the ice practically shut down Austin which would happen to a city that doesn't even own a snow plow. Thankfully the local news gave helpful hints about how to successfully walk on ice such as "Don't run!" and "Take small steps!".

What Are You Doing New Year's Eve? I Wrote This

The Ghost of Christmas Past: Well, Christmas has come and gone. Despite a bump or two on Christmas Eve, things went pretty well this year. Got some nice gifts, ate too much food, and generally had a good time. Of course, I think the highlight was seeing Tim and Brad. They traveled back to the north to spread some Christmas cheer, but unfortunately they couldn't stay too long. I was glad to see them and I wish they could been in town longer. Having dinner with them and Emily last Saturday felt like old times. And, though the suddenly reclusive Eric Whetsel did not make the trip back, I got to talk to him on Christmas day. Now I need to figure out when I can visit them in Austin. Hopefully, soon.

I'll Be Coma for Christmas: How do you waste a week off from work? Sleep through most of it like I did! This past Tuesday and Wednesday were one long snooze for yours truly. No wonder I never seem to get anything done!

Recently Departed: James Brown, Gerald Ford, and Saddam Hussein. Of course, only one of them was The Hardest Working Man in Show Business.

My New Year Resolution: To come up with some for next New Year's Eve.

My Favorite Christmas Card Comic:


Thanks, Dale!

One by One, I'll Knock You Out

Working Stiff: I've been working some overtime for the past couple of weeks which is always nice on the wallet. I've been helping out in the shipping department, packing orders into boxes and sending them on their way. It's basically a pretty simple job, but it does involve a lot of standing which can be difficult on a fat cartoonist's legs, but I'm adjusting.

My Pain (Non-Leg Related): It can be frustrating to have a quick wit and a slow mouth.

As Seen on TV (Good): I recently saw the first two episodes of Dexter and I enjoyed them immensely. Michael C. Hall plays a serial killer that targets other killers in Miami while working for the police department as a blood splatter expert. Hall is strangely likable as an emotionally hollow man. Finally Showtime has a show worth watching!

As Seen on TV (Bad): Charlotte Rae wearing a pink wig in a commercial for Trivial Pursuit.

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow: Like the fabled Samson before him, Eric Whetsel recently had all his hair chopped off. Unlike Samson, a woman named Delilah wasn't responsible for the act. That duty went to a barber named Fred.

Programming Note: Though I promised Jughead blogging last time, I'm afraid that may have to wait for a bit. Sorry, Archie fans!