Believe it or not, I don’t really like to talk. I don’t like having a sore throat. When I do talk, I tend to talk loud… but ultimately always about the wrong stuff and using words I shouldn’t use. It has been said that actions speak louder than words and I can see that. I know some people that can talk REALLY loud. They talk really loud and have nothing to say… and yet, they always manage to find someone to listen to them.
Frank is of the school that lets their work speak for itself. He’s really not someone who likes to go out and sell himself. That’s a bad thing. You can let the work speak for itself, but if no one is around, you’re just listening to the work speak about to the work to the work and nothing or no one else. Can you speak for Frank? Can anyone speak for anyone? Technically, I’m not even supposed to be doing this, but I am.
Ever have those moments, years, decades where no matter what you do, it’s the wrong thing to do? Even when you’re 125% positive that what you do is right, even that turns out to be wrong. The problem is context and perspective. No two individuals seem to have the same of each together at one time. Of course, you can point to certain groups with millions of members and thing those two things in each of them is the same… but it’s probably not. It only takes a few. Then, watch the dominoes fall.
Something has to happen. I can’t be responsible for what.
Courage comes from within. I’ll buy that. But, what if you know beyond a light shadow of a doubt that there isn’t any in you to begin with? See, I was born a coward. I’m a sneaky, bottom-feeding, scrounging creature. We are not known for our courage. If there have been instances where we HAVE exhibited courage, it was probably only because we were too stupid to realize what huge danger we scampered into. Courage is moving forward in spite of the danger. So you need to know the danger in order to have courage.
I routinely run from danger, that’s how I know there’s not a speck of it in my body, bones, muscles, fur or teeth. And, I’m cool with that. We can’t all be the hero…if we were, there wouldn’t be room for all the trophies we’d constantly be giving each other.
If that sounds harsh, good…that’s how I meant it. I am sick of feeling down or bad about myself because I’m not the one getting the medal. A true hero wouldn’t even want the medal… he/she would almost be embarrassed by it. Some heroes never meant to be… a selfless action is a selfless action.
If you set out to be a hero, a hero you will never be.
In one of those “math can solve it but nothing is equal” type of mood. What type of math can you use to get though your day? Numbers, figures, equations… they explain the universe, but do they explain how and why you are feeling the way that you’re feeling?
Here for your entertainment and amazement! A new CAPTION CONTEST!
Take a good look at the Bob drawing above and think deep and hard about what he might be saying.
Got it? GOOD! Enter what you think by using the form below or by liking the drawing on Facebook and submitting your entry as a comment.
Two winners will be picked. Each one will receive a print of the drawing with their winning entry in the dialog balloon. CONTEST WILL END ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 21st, 6pm EST. GOOD LUCK!
Actually, there’s nothing to spoil. Everything is as fresh as can be. I’ve just always wanted to say “spoiler alert”.
The fact of the matter is, I’ll probably never know anything before anyone else. And, on the off chance I do, no one would even have the remotest desire to want to know what I know. Or, what I know will probably not ruin the experience they may or may not have with whatever I may or may not know.
This post has been cross-posted by Frank from bobthesquirrel.com
Yeah, he thinks that it’s that important.—
I have everything a man could want in his personal life. Everything.
I’ve come to terms with certain things in my professional life. Having recently attended my 20th high school reunion has kinda helped these terms along more.
I will never be rich and famous in the conventional sense and I’m more than fine with that. I don’t give a toss about fancy cars or swimming pools… expensive food, clothes or jewelry. I am proud to be a working stiff. I am a well educated, blue collar cartoonist with angst in his blood and ink on his jeans… one could do a lot worse in life.
The fact of the matter is this: being the well educated, blue collar cartoonist is who I’ve ALWAYS wanted to be. Not many people in life get to say that. Those that get to where I am; who are doing and being who they’ve always wanted to be, can easily take that for granted…especially when you’re on the inside looking out.
It’s always been hard, but it’s never been work to me. Drawing day after day is just what you have to do. I don’t question it, I just do it.
It really hit me while responding to an email from someone seeking my advice. Nearly 20 years into this and it still amazes me that someone would ask ME for advice. I’m still asking for it myself–which is the way that it should be. Once you think you know everything about something, you don’t get it, and you never will.
A phrase I used off the cuff in my response, completely created out of thin air, will now be my new mantra.
There’s nothing wrong with always being an opening act…as long as you always keep playing.
This doesn’t mean I will stop trying so hard and that’s it. No, no, no, no. It means that the work will be just as important as it ever has been. The hard work gets you there. The harder work KEEPS you there.
Lately, I feel as though I’ve been phoning it in. This happens from time to time… I’m sure I’ve mentioned it. Everyone needs a bit of course correction now and then. This mantra is that correction.
Convenience is pretty great. It is so great that it can bend rivers and change lives. It allows me to think and spread my squirrelosophy far and far instead of having to be out scrounging for some cold french fries in a dumpster (although, I will occasionally do that… to keep my skills sharp).
Not much else to say today. It’s way too convenient out for me to be stuck inside with a laptop. So i’ll be outside most of the day… with the laptop.
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If you’re interested in purchasing this original piece of art, click on the “Buy This Original Art” just below the panel.
As I may have mentioned before, I sped a lot of time looking up…mostly because I’m so short. When you spend a lot of time looking up, you get to know things. I see cracks in walls forming. They start out real small, almost undetectable. Gradually the raise up to the surface, a fissure in the wall. This could take years. Then there are times that a crack shows up, completely out of nowhere. It wasn’t there the day before. It wasn’t even there an hour or two before. It just shows up.
Those are the ones you have to worry about. You have to worry about them because they were there fast. Something underneath that crack was just waiting to get out. Something underneath that wall just moved.
You have a problem that spackle and wall patch will not solve. They WILL cover it up… temporarily fix the cleavage… But if you want to solve it right, you’re going to have to go deep. How deep is anyone’s guess.
