Hey gang,

just time for a quick update.

At lunch on Wednesday I brought my sketchbook with me and finished writing and sketching out the cartoon that is currently on my drawing board. Wednesday night and last night as well, I spent a few minutes at the drawing board and worked on the strip. It is almost halfway done as of this writing. I finished the blue pencil roughs for 2 panels and also did the lettering. Then I busted out the crowquill and ink and finished off one of the panels and half of the other. Total work time over the last 2 nights was about 35-40 minutes. It is slow going, but at least I am going. It is such a rush to be drawing cartoons again! I found myself thinking about it a lot throughout the day. Once this one is done I think I am going to scan it and share with all of you. I am also mulling over some ideas for a re-vamped web-site. I will probably be offering some neat items for sale as well (framed prints and that sort of thing) so keep your eyes peeled for more details!

That is all.

Duty now for the future,

--Doug

Hey gang,

inked a panel and a half on my latest strip, and sketched out most of an idea for a new strip to follow. Haven't decided if there are going to be words to go with it or not. It might just be pictures. I can't decide if it is funnier without words. Certainly easier, not sure if it is funnier though. I am actually still trying to write the strip i am working on. I have most of it done, but I have about 3 or 4 panels I need to add to..including the punchline. Wish me luck!

---Doug

Howdy gang,

I probably forgot to mention that I am out of town this weekend, but I am, and I am relaxing, which is much needed. Really catching up on my sleep.

Last night Emily and I went out to dinner with her sister and brother-in-law and then to a movie. We noshed at the trendy PF Chang's Chinese Bistro (where they had a 2 1/2 hour wait...fortunately we had reservations.) The food was good, but a little bit pricey for chinese food. The bill with tip came to about $75 for the four of us. Once we actually sat down, the service was good. The food was good, too, but, like I said, a bit pricey.
Then we trundled off to the Regal for a early evening performance of the new film MIRACLE starring Kurt Russell as Coach Herb Brooks in a retelling of the story of the 1980 Olympic Hockey team. Even though you know how this one ends, it was very hard not to get caught up in the emotion of the event. The focus of the story was Brooks and of course the semi final game against the Soviet Union. Kurt Russell does a great job of portraying Brooks as a man driven by his past demons to create a compelling drama. The game against the Soviets took up almost 30 minutes of screen time and was a very realistic presentation of the emotional event. (Strangely the gold medal game against Finland was relegated to a glossed over 4 second voice over clip during a wrap up after the USSR game.) Jim and I enjoyed it very much and perhaps the most ringing endorsement came from Emily and Cath who both liked it. Not bad for a hockey movie. This definitely will have some crossover appeal and should do well. I predict it will be the #1 movie this weekend, and maybe next if words of mouth spreads.

Well, duty calls, I am being recruited to draw a chicken for my neice!


----Doug

Howdy again folks,

just checking in with a quick Oscar Update.

I took in Soffia Coppola's LOST IN TRANSLATION last night. I can see why it might be considered for Best picture and some of the other nods it has gotten, but it was a bit on the boring side. And as my good friend John Alspaugh suggested, I was a little put off by the moral ambiguity of the main characters. I won't give it away for anyone who has yet to see the film, but at some point the sympathy we feel for the characters is subverted by an act of immorality that had my head scratching just a bit. I guess I could see it happening, but wasn't that happy with the descision the character made. Fine acting performances all the way around, but I thought Murray had done better work in RUSHMORE and THE ROYAL TENNENBAUMS.

Also watched a bit of THIRTEEN. I did not like this film at all. Very depressing and gloomy with not much going for it. It reminded me a lot of the feeling I got watching SID AND NANCY, which is to say, not a good one. I understand the need to tell cautionary fables in film, but with no redeeming qualities whatsoever in any of the characters, it is hard to stomach and watch. Interesting, but ultimately not my cup of tea.

Still working on some new drawings. I am away for the weekend this week and I brought my sketchbook with me to do some writing, I might actually get some done as long as I get off the computer!

Ciao for now fight fans,

-----Doug

Howdy gang!

Not too much to report on this week, but there are a few tidbits.

The Oscar nominations are out and there are a few surprises, but i have a feeling that this is the year that Hollywood finally lavishes a little recognition on Lord Of the Rings and Peter Jackson. An incredible achievement in filmaking all the way around! "I can't carry the ring, but I can carry you!" had me in tears. What can I say...? I am a sentimentalist at heart. Look for LOTR to take Best Picture and Best Director (Though Mystic River has been getting a lot of hype, too.) I hope to have a more in depth assesment of the Oscars within the next week or so, so check back and see how I really feel.

Had a great time on Sunday watching the Super Bowl with my family and friends. A great game I was kinda pulling for the Panthers because I always seem to go for the underdog and the Patriots had just won 2 years ago. I like to spread the wealth. Both of my brothers were there and 1 of my 4 sisters. Joe brought along his family including my niece and nephew Maia and Sam and his wife Manju (who reportedly reads this blog...I'll have to quiz her later!)

Prior to the Football, I busted out a very rough copy of a game I have been developing based on the 2000 presidential elections here in the US. This was the first time i had play tested it and it seemed to go well. There were some great comments from those that played and I will be trying to implement some of their suggestions into a future revision of the game. If it goes well, I may try to shop it around to some game companies and see if anyone bites on it. I'll keep you posted as it develops.

Speaking of The Superbowl, was it just me or were the commercials pretty lame this year? The best one was the flatulant horse, and I hated that one. It certainly didn't make me want to go out and buy Bud Light. (If I buy Bud Light I might just get farted on by a horse? Somebody was asleep at the wheel on this one.) And what is the deal with Janet Jackson? I was in a room with 10 people and not 1 of us noticed what had happened. Why? Because the halftime show sucked and we weren't paying attention! Just what we need, Kid Rock, Nelly, Justin Timberlake, and janet Jackson gyrating through a medley of hits. This was more like a circus freak show that actual entertainment. Who cares if she popped out of her skin suit anyway? I've seen Dennis Franz's butt cheeks on NYPD BLUE so what is there to outrage against? Everything happened so fast I doubt very much that anyone got a good view of it. BAH. Screw the SuperBowl and all the hype. Just play the game!

Work is slow on the latest comic strip, but I will finish it by the end of the month! I might even scan some of the new ones in and share them with you! keep your eyes peeled!

My mind is turning over some ideas for a re-designed website. My goal is by the end of May or June to have the site completely overhauled. If anyone has any good suggestions, please pass them along!

talk to you all soon!

---Doug