Circle gets a Square

Life of the Squirrel in Winter

Long ago now, Annie and I returned to these United States. I've then spent much of that time being about as lazy as a man can be. Staring out of windows, watching TV, thinking about this or that. I'm slowly looking for some proper work, a day job, if you will. Something to pass the time, keep me warm, keep food in the cupboard, drinks in my glass, money in my pocket. Something to give me more ideas for Time to Werk. Anyone with a bright idea, give a holler.

Anyway, I don't know that I'm being less lazy now than I've been, historically speaking (I've been quite lazy), it's just that somehow through this laziness a small amount of work accumulates, like a fine dust.

The other day, we were out back shoveling the driveway that comes in off the alley. At one of the far corners there's this big arthritic old tree with about half a dozen squirrels chasing all over it, chirping and swatting at each other, making a mess below them of bark and other bits of tree debris. Out in the German countryside, they don't really have squirrels and you'd be surprised how quick it is you don't miss them.

Something recently from my sketchbook. . . .

Life @ Home!

One last post before we leave fair Europe. Why not some thoughts from our favorite married couple...

Skinny Girl w/ Super Soaker 50 (and Another Skinny Girl w/ Two Super Soaker 20s)

Here's some water colors I've been working on (not comics, for those of you that might be confused. Also, every now and then Blogger doesn't like to put links on the images so that's why the big ones are down below). Anyway, some pin-ups....

Life @ Home!

Life @ Home!

Here's another new comic idea. Let me know what you think, internet.

Time to Werk

Time to Werk

More Time to Werk

Time to Werk

Werk Vacation

Continuing the adventures of real life....

Loon

I've been in Europe now for exactly one month, and so, like most of the posts here, I'll begin with an apology. I thought I could spend a couple days resting and then get back on the horse. That horse which involves me getting on with this life of the mind I've chosen. Or, more specifically a life of the mind on the couch. Not really. I haven't been completely lazy. I've been spending my time reading books I should've read long ago and writing incomplete poems and traveling. I've been to Paris now, and I'd like to go back. Maybe next time with less of a checklist of sights and more time dedicated to nothing but being in Paris. Germany, too has been explored to some degree. The Rhineland, anyway. Where all towns are fairytale towns, all roads are old roads, and all rivers are lazy ones.

This country life is nice. But I can't tell if it's beautiful here because there's something uniquely German about it, or because it looks like all countrysides. Rolling hills thick with trees and great expanses of farmfields, a deafening sense of solitude as the sun goes down. It's the sky that gives it away. The sky here is empty. There are no buildings taller than a tree and no planes fly overhead (all we get is the occasional distant thunder of a C-17 heading in or out of the American airbase east of here - O'Hare it is not). Yes, it's alright. Now, if I could only find something to do with my time. . .

Here is something from the notebook.

Cocktopus. . .in 3D!!!

Put on yer glasses, it's comin' right at ya!*

*Results may vary.

Oaktapus

In other news, will be in Germany starting July 15. Quitting job, life in Chicago, America &c. . . Ann leaves in a week, myself following on the aforementioned date. The town is Hütschenhausen, located in the Rhineland-Palatinate. Will return sometime in the new year.

I have two plans–

1: To get on with the life I thought I'd already have been living, artwise. Heretofore wasted with day jobs and making excuses,

And

2: To utilize this internetual medium for a better display of what's been in my brain for the last 30 years or so. Either on this site or a better one of my own design (re: this one).

Here is a drawing I made at work. (Tip- a pad of paper makes for a good mouse pad/sketch pad!) It concerns my two interests lately- fat, lazy birds and octopi, also lazy.

Furthermore, if anyone has any suggestions for things to see and/or do in Europe, give a holler. There will be some free time. Come visit.

Slow & Steady . . .

Here's some more from the notebook. I've been sort of out of it for strips lately, there's no excuse, I've got a bunch of false starts and bad drawings to show for it. I started this stupid internet experiment so that I'd be more on top of it, but the real truth is I'm lazy and unfocused. Thanks for waiting.

Receipt Cocktopi

Off to Seattle shortly, hoping for some good seafood, maybe eat an octopus. The receipt is from the Dylan Bootleg volume 6 purchased the other day. (thanks to Keith for the discount).

More excuses from my notebooks . . .

Variations on a Scream, or . . .

More Werk, again

Weeks, repeat

I'm pretty sure I've seen this joke before. It's a fairly common feeling that comes with doing the same thing everyday without producing anything worthwhile to show for the progress. Stacks of paper and migraines don't count.