Unfortunately, that means that I have shut down my computer for the duration.
No, I’m not vacationing in Iowa, but years ago I visited there long enough to buy this snappy postcard. In all seriousness, Iowa is a really nice place. In fact, I would live in Iowa if it was only located near anything. Anything at all. Work on that, Iowa, won’t you? Just get near something and I’m all yours!
While I’m gone, please do check out some of my old posts. I’ve always kinda liked this one.
And – just because – please enjoy my drawing of a happy pig.
This sketch is brought to you courtesy of the long lines at the DMV.
Do feel free to leave me a comment, by the way. I do so love those. I will answer every one of them upon my return. And here’s a prompt: What is your favorite wild animal and why?
See you next week!
6/22: I’m back! And how nice it is to come home to so many likes and comments! It is truly a Sally Field moment. I’ll write up a new post soon.
Anyone who knows me knows I love goats. I love the fact that goats in the Middle East climb trees and hang out on the spindly branches like overripe fruit. I love the fact that they are escape artists; no matter how high the fence, a goat will, sooner or later, find herself on the other side of it. I was even charmed by the goat I met recently who – a little too casually – stood near the front gate of a petting zoo; in a flash, she snatched and ate my admission fee before I could hand it over to the guy in charge.
Goats are friendly, curious, whip-smart, independent, and have an ornery streak that commands respect. (All the animals I really like, with rare exceptions, are ornery herbivores.) So goats are the complete package.
I don’t own any goats, I’m afraid, as I don’t have enough property to keep them. That will change someday. In the meantime, when I need my fix, I frequent area farms, find a goat, and scratch her chin. I find this oddly relaxing and the goat likes it, too.
My point is I’ve studied a lot of these little buggers. One thing I’ve noticed is that when you look at a goat head on, it appears kind of simple. The reason has to do with its eyes, I think; they’re widely spaced and those unusual, rectangular pupils make them look a little walleyed.
But when a goat turns its head a little to get a better look at you, that simple face suddenly radiates what I can only describe as wisdom – for only when a goat offers her profile can you see that wonderful, enigmatic Mona Lisa smile.
When I began this stamp business for my son, I had no idea just how much effort it would require. Stamps either had to be drawn early in the morning (while I was half asleep eating breakfast) or late at night (when I was half asleep and ready to go to bed). I don’t draw very well when I’m half asleep and, since I worked in ballpoint pen, I would often need to throw away several envelopes before I could manage something that looked halfway decent.
Another thing I discovered about being half asleep: good judgment sometimes fails to show itself. So a few of the stamps I worked on exhibit a noticeable lapse in good taste.
Often these stamps were inspired by current events. Surprise, surprise, on the day I drew this, my boy had a cold.
My sleepy, hard work on tasteless subject matter often paid off, though. Case in point: I discarded three envelopes before I finally got the right amount of explosive, flatulent pressure needed for “Celebrate Toots.” To this day, my son considers it to be my masterpiece.
If you prefer, my sister calls them "hiney squeaks." My sister is insane.
Hey, Look! A Writer Fellow! 