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Enter blog text here.  (I can't think of anything to write about this morning...)

Rank Advancement                                         TW

Dang!

It's the end of the month already?!?!

Dusting Off The Old Friendship                     TW

Comings and Goings

While Mel will be getting back from her weekend-long trip to Vegas today, the characters of this comic strip are just beginning their visit and have finally arrived, after a long car trip, at their destination in Ohio.  They are visiting a new character, Crazy Carl, which, of course, is short for Crazy Cowabunga Coin-collecting Carl.

Annoying Alliteration                                      TW

NEXT!

So, Mel and I have this ongoing disagreement about the usage of the word "next".  The controversy stems from one of our first vacations together in which we were both riding on the subway.  While the train was in full motion (this is key) Mel told me to get off at the "NEXT" stop.  Naturally, I walked off the train as soon as it stopped and the doors swung open.  However, sensing something was awry, I turned around and found myself staring directly into Mel's eyes, which I swear to this day were glowing red with fury.  Instinctively, I gathered enough courage to quickly jump back onto the train with my raging girlfriend before the doors closed.  After a moment, we both laughed but then immediately began the never-ending debate about how the word "next" should be used and interpreted.

I realize that most of the people who read my blog are Mel's siblings so I want to make it clear that it's okay to side with me on this issue, as I am right.  :)

The Never-Ending Debate                              TW

For Mel

Today's strip was inspired by Mel...in more ways than one.  JK!  JK!  JK!  Mel merely suggested that it would be funny to do a comic about farting in the car.  She never toots, herself!  Especially never in an enclosed space within which the smell becomes trapped and is thereby intensified...Never!

P.U.                                                                 TW

Road Trip Woes

Old Vs. New                                                   TW

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles

Road Trip                                                        TW

Life's a Beach!

A good deal of this past weekend was spent at the beach in Galveston.  It was so relaxing to read my book on the sandy shore and hang out with friends in the cool waves!  To top it all off, Mel even caught 2 fish! (A school swam by her in the ocean and a few apparently worked their way into her swimsuit.  She didn't discover them until much later!)  We had to throw them back but it was still really funny!

No Harm No Foul                                           TW

Southbound to Houston

We are heading to Houston this weekend to spend some time on the beach, help Anh Vinh's family move/paint, and more than likely see Harry Potter in theaters for a sixth time!  Don't ask me which activity I'm looking forward to the most because I honestly couldn't say.

Summer Sunset                                                TW

Old Friends

This has been an exciting week of reuniting with old friends.  This past weekend it was Johnny and Val, both back from separate stints in Vietnam.  Today, a good friend of Mel and mine, Stephen Davis, is back in town.  This will be the first time we've seen him since he made the audacious decision to follow his dream and move to LA.  It will be great to catch up as I'm sure he'll have some crazy stories from life on the West Coast!

Flames...On the Side of My Face!                   TW

Wednesday

It is Wednesday.

Pricey Gift                                                       TW

Late Night

Poor Mel didn't get off work until 12:20 last night.  It seems like they keep her there later and later every time now.  Next week, I plan to bust out the old Moses costume (from my 4th grade play), head up to her work, and shout with outstretched arms, "Let Me-lissa GOOOOO!!!"

The Grass is Greener                                       TW

Back To School

I'm pretty sure that today marks the end of summer for a lot of my friends and family.  For those of us who were fortunate enough to experience the Summer of Pham, it was a great one and will be missed dearly.

Summer's End                                                  TW

We Bout To Have Us Some Fun!

So, it's the freakin' weekend and while this is probably the first time in months that we have nothing scheduled on the calendar I am looking forward to this one for a couple of reasons:

First of all, there is nothing scheduled on the calendar!  This is a major relief after a summer crammed full of weddings, travels, etc...

Secondly, Mel and I are tentatively scheduled to visit the Bob Bullock museum this Saturday.  Mel has never been and we both love museums so I hope we find an opportunity to go.

Thirdly, one of the girls that Mel bridesmaided with at Jenny's wedding is coming into town from Aggieland and we may get a chance to show her the sweet life that is Austin.

Fourth..est, Val is rumored to be in town and it's been ages since we've gotten to catch up with her.

And last but not least, JOHNNY PHAM!  The man, the myth, the legend from the Summer of Pham returns from his 3-week sojourn in the Motherland!  Should be epic!

May just end up being a fuller weekend than I thought...

 Something We Can All Agree On!                   TW

Happy Birthday Lisa!

Today is, good friend and longtime patron of my comic strip, Lisa Chamberlain's birthday!  From everyone here at the "I like (ninja) turtles" blog, we wish you a very Happy Birthday, Lisa!!!  Enjoy this video in honor of your special day!

Fashion Bullies                                                TW

One Month

That's about how long I've been creating my comic for.  The goal is to keep new strips coming for at least SIX months!  I've still got a ways to go, but I feel pretty good about having completed what I have done so far.

I'm no Gary Larson, Bill Watterson, Shulz or Davis yet but I'm working on getting there!  Those guys are my heroes (in the world of the funnies, at least) and I'd love to one day have my own strip published in a syndicated newspaper with sub-plots as bizarre and hilarious as The Far Side, messages as heartfelt as Calvin and Hobbes, a publishing run as long as Peanuts, and characters as recognizable as Garfield.

That being said, if at the end of the day my comic never goes beyond this blog I will still be just as happy.  The act of creating a comic is in a way an end in and of itself for me.  Although I am working toward becoming a better cartoonist with the dream of one day being printed in the papers, I am quite content and thankful for the readers that currently tune in for my daily strips.  Thank you all!

Busts, and Waists, and Hips! Oh my!              TW

Long Time No See

I get to chill with the Lukester tonight after a two week hiatus of not getting to hang out.  Naturally, I've prepared a little surprise for him:

Toy Story 2!!!  On DVD!!!

He's seen the first and third installments but never the second.  His mind is going to be blown!!!  I know everyone likes the first and third movies better but I really like this one.  I mean it's the only movie with BOTH Emperor Zurg and Stinky Pete!  Let's be real, here!

Dress for Distress                                            TW

First Day of School

Derek doesn't start college today but he did catch a plane to Alabama to begin classes very soon.  He's destined for so many great things and I wish him a lot of luck during the first few transitionary weeks at school!

Gift Shopping                                                  TW

Weekend of Fun

I am so pumped for this weekend!  It will be sort of bittersweet to see Derek head off for college but I think everyone knows he is ready and is excited for him so the sweet definitely outnumbers the bitter.  Mel arrives in Dallas later today and I'm very much looking forward to the whole family getting to spend some quality time together!  

Blue-per Reel                                                  TW

The Final Countdown

Nothing new to report.  Just savoring the last few days our family has together before Derek heads off to Marion Military Institute.

Oh!  I did learn that Marion's campus is supposedly haunted and that several students report hauntings and the feeling of a mysterious presence when no one else is in the room with them!  Sucks for Derek!

Radio Head                                                     TW

SUCCESS!!!

Although I have yet to see it in person, Mel reports that she has successfully re-dyed her hair blue!  In fact, she informs me that the coloration is a mixture of bright blue and turquoise so that she looks a bit like a peacock.  Sounds pretty awesome!  I can't wait to see my "brown eyed, blue haired girl"!

Girl Talk                                                          TW

Housekeeping!

This morning, my mom paid for two housekeepers to come and clean our house.  We typically clean the house ourselves but every now and then my mom likes to have everything look especially nice and, as long as she can afford it, will hire someone to help us out.  Naturally, my mom had to work this morning, my dad had an all-day business meeting and my siblings are gone so I am the one left at home to direct the two women, both of whom don't speak a lick of English.

The language barrier doesn't bother me and I normally wouldn't mind "housekeeper sitting", especially since these two ladies in particular seem very nice, but our house is different from other houses that hire housekeepers.  Our house is a HOME in the sense that stuff is not neatly showcased but rather piled haphazardly ALL OVER the place.  I understand that most housekeepers go around wiping down coffee tables, vacuuming carpet, and dusting bookshelves.  Our housekeepers do that too but must first remove the layer of papers, old toys, souvenirs, and cat vomit covering everything in the house!  Truth be told, it's a wee bit awkward to be around the ladies who are clearly so overwhelmed by the task ahead of them (and rightfully so)!

Anyway, I've tried to help out as much as possible but need to be getting back to my own work.  I've set aside both today and tomorrow to begin the deferment process for all of my college loans, a task I've been dreading!  Perhaps, though, I can find inspiration from the housekeepers.  If they can overcome the jumble of piles and mismatched artifacts in my home without complaining (at least not in a language I understand) then I too can overcome my own pile of crud, that is the deferment process!  Let's all get to work!

Checklist                                                          TW

Blue Da-Ba-Dee-Da-Ba-DYE!

Mel has been playing with the idea of dying her hair for a couple of weeks now.  This past weekend, we finally decided that it was go time for this project and purchased some hair dye products.  I played the part of Mel's stylist, painting the bleach into her hair, folding it in foil, and then washing out the gunk after about an hour.  I tried to make her feel comfortable, like she was in a salon (and I actually knew what I was doing), by gossiping about boyfriends and Jake Gyllenhaal and such as I worked.

Let me just say that I.  Am.  A natural.

Her beautiful, shimmering black hair had turned to a dirty gold!  It was a sight to see, I tell ya, and I don't know which one of us was more excited!  The next step in the process was of course dyeing the hair blue.  However, I'm going to stop here and let Mel tell you about that part of the story!

Hair Scare                                                        TW