Mere Sentences

Yesterday was a rainy, gray day. The type of day that always got Karen Carpenter down. At least, when she was alive.

I’m currently reading The Partly Cloudy Patriot by Sarah Vowell. It’s a loaner from my pal, Nick. Thanks again, Nick!

The Elves and the Shoemaker premiered in Winchester this past Saturday and the show turned out rather well. Our merry band will return to the stage in Upland on December 3rd.

The shoes I’ve been wearing for the last couple years are starting to resemble the pair Reverend Jim wore on Taxi.

The number of ketchup packets I received at lunch yesterday? Five.

Remember: December 1st is “Draw Hiram Lodge Day”! Make Veronica happy and doodle her daddy!

The Number of Ketchup Packets I Received at Lunch Yesterday

Eight

Waterfowl

How I Spent My 4th of July: I worked on comic strips while watching a King of The Hill marathon on FX

Yesterday's Embarrassing Moment: While putting in one of my contact lenses, I dropped it and I thought it went down the sink's drain. Despite losing my contacts numerous times in the past, I went into panic mode. For three whiny minutes, I searched, gave up hope, and then searched again. Flinging my right hand in frustration, I heard a familiar sound. The sound of a contact lens making contact with a hard surface (An actual sound, believe me!). Looking down into the toilet, I saw my lens clinging to the bowl. I delicately retrieved it and gave it a through cleaning or three, As I type this, that same lens resides in my right eye.

The Picture Business: Less embarrassing for me was filming a brief scene at Prairie Creek reservoir for the film, Grove Lake. I basically had to wave good-bye to a car and then I was done. While at the shoot, a goose hissed at me. I guess I shouldn't have parked so close to it.

The Number of Ketchup Packets I Received at Lunch Yesterday: 7

Random TV Memory: I always enjoyed it when Tony Randall and Mandy Patinkin would run onto the set of Late Night with David Letterman, perform a number, and then run off the stage.

Bit Player

Lights! Camera! Action!: I just recently stumbled into a part for a Ball State student movie tentatively called Grove Lake. I play a Boo Radley-type of character with a fondness for scrap metal. My first day in front of the camera was Tuesday in Summitville where I harass a lovely reporter in a bar. Thursday found me in Mt. Pleasant, looking for cans and harassing that same lovely reporter (Are you noticing a trend?).

The cast and crew are a creative, energetic bunch that have treated me kindly. Filming the last couple of days have brought back fond memories of my public access days. Though the equipment is more expensive and the crew more plentiful, the process is basically comparable to what we did on our little garage sitcom. It's been fun playing make believe in front of a camera again. I'm just hoping I'm delivering the goods performance wise.

Album of the Moment: Icky Thump, The White Stripes

Political Suicide: By choosing a Celine Dion song for her campaign, Hillary Clinton guaranteed her bid for presidency will go down in flames.

The Number of Ketchup Packets I Received at Lunch Yesterday: Five

Coming Soon: Tales from Texas!

Jagged Little Pill

Simple Fact: No one will take you seriously if you wear pajama bottoms to work.

Sad News: After just four episodes, NBC cancelled the promising Andy Barker PI.

Sadder News: Somebody at work proudly proclaimed "I'm all about Anna Nicole!" after breaking the earth shattering news about the dead model's baby's true father. Overhearing conversations like this makes me long to answer the ad in the job listings for stuffing envelopes at home.

The Number of Ketchup Packets I Received at Lunch Yesterday: Despite asking for some, I received zero. Thanks a lot, McEmployee!

Showbiz Today

To Serve and To Project: Well, I don't know if you have heard the buzz, but a reality show is being shot in Muncie. Entitled Armed and Famous, the show will feature a handful of D-list celebrities as they train to be reserve policemen for the Muncie Police Department (Coincidentally, a D-list police department!). The recruits include Erik Estrada, La Toya Jackson, and Jack Osborne.

As someone who avoids reality shows like the plague, I really have no opinion about the show, but I hope it turns out to be a major disaster for everyone involved because nothing is funnier than a disaster caught on film. Don't let me down, Muncie's finest!

The Number of Ketchup Packets I Received at Lunch Yesterday: Five

Poster Boy: I recently finished my first poster for The Muncie Civic Theatre.


So what do you think?

Sometimes There's A Man:


Not only does the Dude abide, but he also Christmas shops!

Playing It The Company Way

Sad Images: I'm still trying to figure out which is sadder: Hugh Downs doing an infomercial or me eating mash potatoes with my fingers in the darkness of a parked car. You Decide!

Service with a Smile: I went to McDonald's for lunch (Ketchup Packets: Nine) and, after handing me my food, the girl at the drive-up said "Thank you, sir, and remember we serve our smiles for free!". Make of that what you will.

It's Personal: I just recently had to watch a sexual harassment video at work which I have seen so many damn times I could recite it verbatim. As part of our annual safety training, every employee of Touchy Feely Fotos has to endure a half hour of tedium and condescension hosted by two of the most hated people in the world, Dave and Nolan. These two former PM Magazine hosts inform us about sexual harassment and discrimination in the workplace by being as smug and annoying as possible. Dave is a balding guy in a sweater and Nolan is a middle aged stick with a pageboy. Every time I think of these two I want to track them down and ruin their thriving community acting career in the Quad Cities. That said, they are the perfect spokespeople for our hollow, little company. Here's hoping their next acting gig is in a snuff film.

Company Man: So the newest president of Touchy Feely is coming to town and he's speaking to all of us minions at various times. His meeting with the second shift is at 2:30pm which is an hour before I drag myself in. However, if I attend, it will count as overtime so I'm ever so-slightly torn. I have no real need to hear this guy speak, but I can always use the overtime so what is a member of the working poor supposed to do? Tune in tomorrow for my big decision!

Another Damn Day of Nothing Up

Nada: I really don't have anything to say. I've been plodding along at my usual pace. Nothing special. Just la dee dah.

Chicken: I perfer the dark meat. Probably the thigh the most, but a plate full of drumsticks is always appealing. The breast always seems to be too dry for my taste.

The Number of Ketchup Packets I Received at Lunch Friday: Four

Lancealot Link: Tina Majorino is one of my favorite actresses at the moment. I've enjoyed her recurring role on Big Love and her role as Mac on Veronica Mars is just one of the reasons I have recently become smitten with the series (Definitely looking forward to the season opener in a couple weeks!) so here's a link to an interview with Miss Majorino that I recently stumbled upon (Courtsey of TV Tattle).

201

The Syndication Package: I currently have thirty strips inked and lettered. The magic number is thirty-six. I have started to quibble a bit concerning which strips may or may not make the cut, but I'm happy overall with the results.

Words I Learned From Charles Schulz: Sigh, sarcastic, beagle, fussbudget, and blockhead.

Happy News: I received something interesting in the mail last Friday and I was going to write about it, but I think I need to wait a bit before I do. Ain't I a tease?

The Number of Ketchup Packets I Received at Lunch Yesterday: Seven

Subtle Insult: "You have such a distinguished personality! How fortunate it is not shared by others."

Question:


Is this cat really playing solitaire?

Rest in Pieces

When You Pay Peanuts Expect Monkeys: I found out yesterday at work that I will be receiving a 35¢ raise. Finally I'll have enough money to buy that pack of gum I've had my eye on.

Master of My Domain: I just renewed my domain name (www.thosefunkyidiots.com, of course!) for another year. For those interested, www.thosefunkyidiots.net and www.thosefunkyidiots.org are still available.

The Number of Ketchup Packets I Received at Lunch Tuesday: Eleven

The Syndication Package: Suffered some lettering woes yesterday and ruined two strips with excess ink. That was slightly frustrating, but I'm over it now. I did rebound with at least one strip successfully inked and lettered. I have 24 strips at the moment.

Currently Living in My DVD Player: The second season of Deadwood

It's Not Easy Being Green:



Here's some sad news concerning The Ceramic Tile and Carpet frog. From what I read at The Star Press, the giant frog fell apart as its new owners attempted to move it last Friday. Thus a little piece of local color is now history. Bummer.

Move On

Good News: After weeks, months, and years of hemming and hawing, I have finally started to put the finishing touches to my syndication package. Yes, I'll be sending Those Funky Idiots back to the syndicates soon and I guess we'll see what happens. So far I have inked six strips. I'm aiming for thirty-six. More progress soon.

Shirts: It's not safe being one of my shirts. I stupidly tore one of my newest shirts today and then the cursing began. It's a small tear, but it's already ruined in my mind and I really loved that shirt! It was plaid and orange and I really looked good in it! Hopefully, I can get another one to replace it.

The Number of Ketchup Packets I Received at Lunch Yesterday: Ten

Geography: Audrea Quinton is in San Diego. For those who don't know, Audrea was one of the talented actors featured in a little public access show near to my heart called Those Funky Idiots. Audrea played Sara Euler and The Rummage Sale Lady. She and her beau recently headed out west to find their fortune and, according to all reports, they are settling in nicely. Good luck, Audrea, and keep in touch!

Deadwood Quote of the Day: "Change ain't lookin' for friends. Change calls the tune we dance to."- Al Swearengen

Finally: