What I Taught Myself....September 27, 2011

So if you really know me, you already know that I love comic strips.  I'm talking about the ones that are printed in the daily newspaper: Garfield, Zits, Baby Blues, etc.  In fact, I always wanted a career in cartooning, yet I lack the daily creativity and the position is too competitive.  Instead, I'd rather make strips for myself or family to enjoy.

But today, I got upset when I read a classic, but in my mind, overrated, comic strip Family Circus.  Family Circus is a strip that started in 1960 and drawn by Bil Keane.  It is based off of Keane's life as a cartoonist/father with his wife and four kids.  It tends to use a "cutesy family" type of humor, which I don't care for since I come from a smart ass family, which is represented more in Baby Blues and Zits (both written by the famous Jerry Scott).

So why did I get upset, you're wondering.  I feel that when a strip is based off of real-life events, it should represent real-life events, as Family Circus regularly does.  But every once in a while they throw in something that no child would ever say or do.  Today the strip had Jeffy with a box of cereal poured all over the table.  Jeffy is seen saying "They forgot to put raisins in my cereal!" REALLY???  Am I reading this wrong?  Or is the kid seriously upset that he has no raisins in his cereal??  Is he going to eat more cereal because of the mishap or was he searching for the raisins that NO KID likes?  Clearly this strip isn't believable.

Maybe its just me, but Keane is just losing it.  That's what happens when a cartoonist gets old or passes the inking pen to another cartoonist, which happens quite often.  But don't even get me started on how terrible Dennis the Menace is getting....

That's it for me!

Bobby P.

What I Taught Myself....September 4, 2011

Wow!  I've really been slacking off lately.  I finished school two weeks ago and have noticed that my blog was just a way for me to procrastinate on my homework.  Now it feels like I have to maintain it to keep you folks entertained.

I just celebrated my 23rd birthday.  Actually my birthday was 23 years ago.  I just celebrated the 23rd anniversary of my birth (politically correct).  For some reason the song "My Best Days Are Ahead of Me" kept coming back to mind throughout the day.  The song talks about how you can't change the past, just have to keep plugging away at the present and look forward to the future.  And thats what I'm going to do. Look forward to the future.

Looking back at what I've accomplished: finished high school, earned a 2- and 4-year degree, found a job I love, rode on RAGBRAI, paid a speeding ticket, served on a jury, had two hernia surgeries, bought a car, shopped for car insurance, in debt, went zip-lining, met Adam Frederick, and made a black friend, I'm satisfied with how I've turned out.  And I wouldn't change a thing I've done.

I've made friends, lost friends, met great people, and heard great stories.  Not everything has gone to plan.  But when does it?  I've been disappointed at times when things haven't gone my way.  But lately I've been following the advice of one of my idols, Conan O'Brien: "Whether you fear it or not, disappointment will come.  The beauty is that through disappointment you can gain clarity, and true originality."  At 23 I know who I am more than I did when I just turned 22.  I know who I am more today than I did yesterday but not as much as I will tomorrow.  My mind is stronger, I'm braver, and I'm more handsome.  My beard is growing quicker leading me to buy more shaving cream.  I'm mature yet still goofy.  I'm smarter but still have much to learn.  Although we might not think it, our best days are ahead.  We must be flexible.  Life isn't something you plan.  Its something you live.  I look forward to what is ahead of me.

That's it for me!
Bobby P.