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I was all set to write brilliantly this morning, but spouse needed cough drops. I readied to drive to the cough-drop store and dead battery. I walked to the cough-drop store and carried the 40-pound car battery in a backpack to the auto-parts store. Bought a new battery, recycled the old, carried the new one back and installed it. Net achievement today: cough drops.

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Lol, oh how I know these Days, R.!

Thank you for sharing, it makes me feel more validated in my errand-filled days.

Also hearing your story written somehow makes it feel like I'm reading from a character in a book, which somehow makes your story feel somehow still magical.

I've been reading a lot of fiction recently which I think helps in making life feel more interesting because it turns everything into main character energy, hahaha.

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Stephen King said something to the effect (in his memoir) that life is not a support system for art; it's the other way around. Hearing that the first time, it felt like I could give myself permission to take my Stuff seriously without taking it, ya know, too seriously. It's important, but not as important as making sure spouse has some relief from her sore throat and coughing. Or a baby. Or a hungry cat for that matter. There's always time for a sketch.

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ohh god u dont need much "halp" i finished your diary book and its hysterical the japan trip alone....the comic-con world, your dedication/passion quite remarkable and the scientific balance of hubby lending depth to it all....its a great book so glad i called off the "hit" on etsy (bitsyteenyspider)

yeah just chill you are young

plenty sand left in hourglass (and ok if its NOT your body type 😉🤣🙃)

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Thank you so much, Appleton! It makes me super happy that you enjoyed Pipe Dreams!!!

I definitely worked very hard on those and sometimes I think I should make more, but then I remember the million other tasks/work I'm already behind on and my brain wisps off into the ether, haha.

I'm glad you called off the Etsy hit too. I hear murder is hard to come back from.

I will attempt chill, Appleton. I try so hard, I swear, haha.

***chill***

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and dont deprive of videos forever🫤🙈

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Absolutely love the echoes of James Thurber throughout.

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Do you have any favorite Thurber books or pieces btw?

I'd love to read his work.

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The Thurber Carnival brings together much of his work — including the complete My Life and Hard Times and many of his New Yorker-published sketches. Can't go wrong with that!

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I was not previously familiar with James Thurber, but his Wikipedia was an absolute pleasure to read and I am EXTREMELY flattered now, thank you so much, Matt!

Love the part about E.B. White finding Thurber's drawings in the trash and taking them out.

My dad actually used to do that! I threw all my drawings away growing up and my dad would find them and be like, "why are you throwing all your drawings away?!", which is really sweet in retrospect.

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Thurber is one of my absolute favorite cartoonists. His drawings are whimsical and wacky and nonsensical. There's an off-kilter inappropriateness to them that I just love — like a man displaying his first wife stuffed on a bookshelf or a fencer cheerfully shouting "Touche!" as he slices off his opponent's head.

Your opening drawing and the ape-parent drawing (and others previously) made me think of him.

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What a song! Thanks for sharing.

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OK, tired of all the hoops I have to jump through to leave a comment. But I believe your kid is still under six months. I used to get them in those nice thick onesies put them on their bellies and pick the the back of the onesie up with my teeth like a lion and carry them around.

Chimp behavior is good too, might as well try lizard smell them with your tongue, and lick their face. Do not imitate, elephant seals, who crush their young under their great girth…😜

In the meantime, here in Seattle, I am caring for my wife who has Alzheimer’s. Started before Covid so I’m pretty much retired now when I do get time off, I begin to remember that I had a life… I used to do mostly solo work. But, When I have the time, I am enjoying collaborating, and dancing with youngsters.

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