August 18, 2006

Once upon a time there was a giant frog that sat in front of a carpet store in Muncie, Indiana. It remained in place for over three decades and became a familiar landmark in America's Hometown. Sadly, time took its toll on the frog and it gradually fell into decay. The carpet store then went out of business and the new owner of the property had no need for a happy-go-lucky, concrete frog. An attempt to move the frog to a new location sadly ended in disaster. The green behemoth couldn't take the strain and it simply fell apart. An era had ended.

However, the story doesn't end there.

I took some pictures of the frog about a month before its demise. I wanted to blog about some of Muncie's unique landmarks and I thought the frog was the perfect candidate. Then I read in the paper about the frog's uncertain fate and the effort to try to save it. A couple  days before the frog was to be moved, I e-mailed my pictures to Bill Griffith, the cartoonist behind Zippy the Pinhead. In the strip, Zippy would often travel about America, conversing with any roadside attraction that came his way so I thought the frog might be of interest to Zippy and to his creator.

The very next morning, I got an e-mail from Mr. Griffith. He was going to use the frog! And, true to his word, he mailed me a copy of the strip that featured the frog one week later. I was very happy when I opened the envelope and saw the strip. Despite falling to pieces, the frog lives on in Zippy's world, a heaven of sorts for all roadside attractions. Maybe not a bad ending for a giant frog after all.

August 12, 2006
Moving Right Along: For the last few weeks, whenever the thought of moving crossed my mind, I kept telling myself that I didn't want to think about it. However, with three weeks left, I'm afraid I'm going to have to think about it now. Dang it.

Cool News: This past Saturday I recorded some voiceover work for a 30 second commercial for Insight Media. It was for a kid-friendly establishment called That Fun Place. In the spot, I did the voice for a pirate, a parrot, and a monkey. I also read the copy in my best announcer voice.

I've been wanting to do some voiceover work for a long time and it was great to finally get a chance to do it. The recording process took an hour or so to do with Tim providing expert direction. Nailing some of the lines was a little harder than I thought. With only thirty seconds to play with, the reading of the copy had to be quick yet precise, annunciating the keywords with the proper punch. Overall, I think it went pretty well. Hopefully, there will be other opportunities to pursue more voiceover work in the near future. I guess I'll just have to wait and see.

And thanks again, Tim, for showing me the way! What the hell am I going to do without you? 

Just for the Record:

August 5, 2006
Office Space: My department at work was moved to a different location this past week. We're now in the back of the building, abbreviated and exposed. I'm still getting used to the change, but it hasn't been too bad the last couple of days. A lot warmer in the back though so sitting next to a fan is a must.

I am Yoko: I found a beetle in my hair yesterday. I guess that's better than lice.

The Syndication Package: I'm one strip away from the magic 36. 

 Deadwood Quote of the Day: "Pain or damage don't end the world. Or despair or fucking beatings. The world ends when you're dead. Until then you got more punishment in store. Stand it like a man and give some back."- Al Swearengen

July 29, 2006
I got cereal in the mail today. I’m sure the milk will arrive Monday.

July 23, 2006
Those Bitches Tried To Cheat Me!: The company I work for screwed up my PTO (Paid Time Off) and took away some of the hours I was owed. Fortunately, I caught the inconsistencies (The amount is always listed on your check) and I took the matter up with Payroll. They're going to fix it, but I'm determined to remain vigilant!

Random Thought: If I had a director that directed my life, I would want it to be Wes Anderson.

Countdown: I currently live in The Group Home with Tim, Brad, and Eric, but times are a' changing. My Group Homies will soon be leaving to find their fortune in Austin, Texas. I'm happy for them and I wish I had the courage to uproot and go with them. Unfortunately, I can't at the moment so I'm stuck in America's Hometown for awhile. I know I rarely write about my experiences at The Group Home, but it has been a great two years and I'm sorry to see it end. The guys have been the type of roommates anyone would want to have and I'm fortunate we have had such a good time living with each other. I'm really going to miss them.

The Syndication Package: I have thirty-one strips inked. I'm still debating about a few that won't make the cut, but the end is sooner than later.

Neighborhood Watch: If a giant Samoan in a compact car is seen in your area, call the police immediately! Please do not attempt to confront him for he is extremely dangerous! Do not attempt to shoot him for he was shot before and survived so apparently firearms are of no use! This is your first and last warning!

Question:

Exactly how dated is this punchline?

July 20, 2006
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?