tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65442910832889512002012-02-16T20:23:24.259-06:00Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.comBlogger3381100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-71655913568928064802011-02-01T12:13:00.001-06:002011-02-21T09:30:56.684-06:00For those interested, I haven't given up cartooning. I'm just over here now: <a href="http://www.incivilian.net/">http://www.incivilian.net</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-7165591356892806480?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-13918263253159472202010-11-24T07:36:00.001-06:002010-11-24T07:37:48.922-06:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TO0UmQm5XXI/AAAAAAAACqk/H805C9E2f-0/s1600/Redistribution+graph.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TO0UmQm5XXI/AAAAAAAACqk/H805C9E2f-0/s1600/Redistribution+graph.png" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-1391826325315947220?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-91585951849204279502010-10-31T16:35:00.000-05:002010-10-31T16:35:31.151-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TM3g2lH63iI/AAAAAAAACqg/QL8eq-epnQs/s1600/Bikram+Final+3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TM3g2lH63iI/AAAAAAAACqg/QL8eq-epnQs/s1600/Bikram+Final+3.png" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-9158595184920427950?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-71743348062548928882010-10-19T14:13:00.001-05:002010-10-19T20:22:00.147-05:00<div style="text-align: left;"><br /><u>Front side:</u></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TL3tdoXOu6I/AAAAAAAACqQ/OGVCTfp7Pzs/s1600/Checklist+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TL3tdoXOu6I/AAAAAAAACqQ/OGVCTfp7Pzs/s1600/Checklist+1.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><br /></u></div><div style="text-align: left;"><u>Reverse side:</u><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TL3tl1zxudI/AAAAAAAACqU/oylXgH1-sxU/s1600/Checklist+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TL3tl1zxudI/AAAAAAAACqU/oylXgH1-sxU/s1600/Checklist+2.png" /></a></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-7174334806254892888?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-81300988032624130862010-10-18T16:43:00.001-05:002010-10-18T16:44:57.788-05:00<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/xfF0Szcblw9jG47Tyxur-1mg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TIlEOZ9Aj0I/AAAAAAAACg8/kyREn1prAm8/s800/Artist%20Note%20Final.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=comicallyinept&target=ALBUM&id=5393768647823419361&feat=embedwebsite"></a></td></tr></table><br /><i>To commemorate the <strike>approaching</strike> come-and-gone one-year anniversary of our little site here (and in an attempt to divert attention from the fact that at this point I'm completely phoning it in), I'm re-posting my favorite cartoon from each of the last 12 months. </i><br /><br />And that does it for the Year in Review. I thought I was going to have to re-post like three more cartoons today to get the thing finished. Then I realized that it would be impossible for me, at present, to post my favorite cartoons from October to December of 2010. I just love math.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-8130098803262413086?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-92196895991562568712010-10-18T16:34:00.001-05:002010-10-18T16:35:13.060-05:00<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/syqfy5Y52j21q2J77HnWglmg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TF9PJoPToqI/AAAAAAAACS4/oM90VIayAyI/s800/Medals2%20Final.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=comicallyinept&target=ALBUM&id=5393768647823419361&feat=embedwebsite"></a></td></tr></table><i>To commemorate the <strike>approaching</strike> come-and-gone one-year anniversary of our little site here (and in an attempt to divert attention from the fact that at this point I'm completely phoning it in), I'm re-posting my favorite cartoon from each of the last 12 months. </i><br /><br />Honorable mention: Too many to name. Seriously, August was my best month by far. Do yourself a favor a take a few minutes to peruse <a href="http://comicallyinept.blogspot.com/2010_08_01_archive.html">the entire month archive</a>.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-9219689599156256871?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-26909700749530874522010-10-18T16:31:00.001-05:002010-10-18T16:36:10.646-05:00<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/FVCGV01pJIIRiR_RdXxQJ1mg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TDp_-Rub-UI/AAAAAAAACHg/2sjpu0gOYBg/s800/Suicide%20Prevention%20Kit%20Final.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=comicallyinept&target=ALBUM&id=5393768647823419361&feat=embedwebsite"></a></td></tr></table><br /><i>To commemorate the <strike>approaching</strike> come-and-gone one-year anniversary of our little site here (and in an attempt to divert attention from the fact that at this point I'm completely phoning it in), I'm re-posting my favorite cartoon from each of the last 12 months.</i><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-2690970074953087452?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-37841972159299936012010-10-18T10:26:00.000-05:002010-10-18T10:26:34.624-05:00<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ycOQgFw0WX93YCzETzF_t1mg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TB2DhP2grfI/AAAAAAAAB7o/YGnhlrGwE8E/s800/Save%20the%20Planet%20FINAL.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=comicallyinept&target=ALBUM&id=5393768647823419361&feat=embedwebsite"></a></td></tr></table><br />Honorable mentions:<br /><br /><a href="http://comicallyinept.blogspot.com/2010/06/just-little-more-truth.html">Subterfuge</a><br /><a href="http://comicallyinept.blogspot.com/2010/06/bad-sponsor-therapy.html">Bad Sponsor</a><br /><a href="http://comicallyinept.blogspot.com/2010/06/love-earth.html">Love the Earth</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-3784197215929993601?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-34876563640663377562010-10-17T20:30:00.001-05:002010-10-17T21:18:03.817-05:00<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/NSz-lQVJWBkym09YLaNnyVmg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TABCuV4yKVI/AAAAAAAAByU/iycPl6kiszY/s800/Future%20Kid%20Final.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=comicallyinept&target=ALBUM&id=5393768647823419361&feat=embedwebsite"></a></td></tr></table><i><br />To commemorate the approaching one-year anniversary of our little site here (and in an attempt to divert attention from the fact that at this point I'm completely phoning it in), I'm re-posting my favorite cartoon from each of the last 12 months. </i> <br /><br />Honorable mention: <br /><br /><a href="http://comicallyinept.blogspot.com/2010/05/surrender-revised.html">Surrender</a><br /><br />Comically Inept began one year ago today. Last Sunday I decided that each day of the coming week I would post one cartoon from each month of the last year. I did this thinking that one week = 10 days and one year = 10 months. It's a recurring mistake that I make, one that adversely affects budgeting and travel-planning. So, here we are, one week later (that's seven days to you new folks), and I've only posted cartoons from October 2009 to last May.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-3487656364066337756?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-2451597134116056112010-10-16T21:49:00.004-05:002010-10-17T08:24:21.418-05:00<table style="width: auto;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/wUjGVFYDJ6fJL6eGEvt2J1mg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/S8yuGOtsW0I/AAAAAAAABfg/fZ6jP9cHKo0/s800/Chicago%20Map%20Final.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: right;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Behold! the Chicago Neighborhood Map: North Sider Reference Edition.&nbsp; By Comically Inept standards, this thing turned into a super-viral phenomenon.&nbsp; Not only did my Facebook friends not completely ignore it, but two (2) of them reposted it, and one of their combined friends "liked" it.&nbsp; Seriously, that's pretty gratifying for a guy who gets like one response when he posts the sad truth of attempting to re-potty train his cat by leading by example at the litterbox.&nbsp; (Onesies, people.&nbsp; I'm not a savage here.)</p><br /><p>Moving along, it's interesting skimming through the old cartoons month-by-month.&nbsp; Every so often, I went on a positively warm streak and turned out semi-decent work on a semi-regular basis.</p><br />Also from April, check out these comparatively fine offerings:<br /><br /><a href="http://comicallyinept.blogspot.com/2010/04/morning-walk.html">Morning Walk&nbsp;</a><br /><a href="http://comicallyinept.blogspot.com/2010/04/fatherly-advice-coping.html">Fatherly Advice: Coping </a><br /><a href="http://comicallyinept.blogspot.com/2010/04/progress-not-perfection.html">Progress, Not Perfection</a><br /><a href="http://comicallyinept.blogspot.com/2010/04/greeting-card-idea-1-so-instead.html">Greeting Card Idea (aka "the one with the drowning robot")</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-245159713411605611?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-1566384822594441922010-10-15T18:41:00.002-05:002010-10-15T18:46:24.867-05:00<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/S7JmdjkARbI/AAAAAAAABWg/smh3Qn6qqf4/s1600/BTown+Button+Final.png"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454534756647585202" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/S7JmdjkARbI/AAAAAAAABWg/smh3Qn6qqf4/s400/BTown+Button+Final.png" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 340px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 400px;" /></a>Dear Bucktown Mother:<br /><br />I made this lovely badge just for you. You can cut it out and pin it to your sequined terrycloth bebe tracksuit. In return, I'm hoping that the next time you see me headed your way on the sidewalk, you might allow me just a little bit of room to pass by. I appreciate that you can't do anything about the size of your double-wide stroller, and that you tethered your Golden Retriever to the side of the thing (thus monopolizing even more space) because you can't hold a leash, cell phone and grande latte all at the same time. But please, stop forcing me into the street. It's dangerous. <br /><br /><br /><i>&nbsp;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</i><br /><i>To commemorate the approaching one-year anniversary of our little site here (and in an attempt to divert attention from the fact that at this point I'm completely phoning it in), I'm re-posting my favorite cartoon from each of the last 12 months.&nbsp;</i> <br /><br />I feel like I should have an entire site of posts like this.&nbsp; I want an entire site of posts like this.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-156638482259444192?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-62557901733977119992010-10-14T21:20:00.000-05:002010-10-14T21:20:31.650-05:00<table style="width: auto;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/rG-cp3uA9B7reWhzSfnKlFmg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/S3R2Mz3Ug3I/AAAAAAAABBs/3eWvDcCnQbE/s800/Gesture%205.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: right;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=comicallyinept&amp;target=ALBUM&amp;id=5393768647823419361&amp;feat=embedwebsite"></a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><i>To commemorate the approaching one-year anniversary of our little site here (and in an attempt to divert attention from the fact that at this point I'm completely phoning it in), I'm re-posting my favorite cartoon from each of the last 12 months.&nbsp;</i><br /><br />Honorable mentions:<br /><br /><a href="http://comicallyinept.blogspot.com/2010/02/pity-party.html">Pity Party</a>, <a href="http://comicallyinept.blogspot.com/2010/02/science-fair.html">Science Fair</a> and <a href="http://comicallyinept.blogspot.com/2010/02/fatherly-advice-2-relationships.html">Fatherly Advice: Relationships</a>, in addition to a few other fair-to-middlin' entries in the <a href="http://comicallyinept.blogspot.com/2010_02_01_archive.html">February archive</a>.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-6255790173397711999?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-25002693326336240602010-10-13T15:54:00.000-05:002010-10-13T15:54:06.099-05:00<table style="width: auto;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/TW_IJ9K_FvDBNbfoU0pGs1mg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img height="465" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/S1Ng2z_kT3I/AAAAAAAAAwg/eL4HlxfHy5I/s800/20%20Again%20FINAL.png" width="600" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: right;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&amp;feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><i>To commemorate the approaching one-year anniversary of our little site here (and in an attempt to divert attention from the fact that I've run out of ideas), I'm re-posting my favorite cartoon from each of the last 12 months.&nbsp;</i><br /><br />Honorable mentions:<br /><br /><a href="http://comicallyinept.blogspot.com/2010/01/lost-plot.html">Lost the plot</a><br /><a href="http://comicallyinept.blogspot.com/2010/01/facebook.html">&nbsp;Facebook </a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-2500269332633624060?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-76652862719981628742010-10-12T16:29:00.000-05:002010-10-12T16:29:27.342-05:00<table style="width: auto;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/TPLsrWBxIn7-uMxYm0oKE1mg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img height="465" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/SzEtJTnUtGI/AAAAAAAAAlw/pjTZAekeH1M/s800/Bad%20Idea%20FINAL.png" width="600" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: right;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&amp;feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><i>To commemorate the approaching one-year anniversary of our little site here (and in an attempt to divert attention from the fact that I've run out of ideas), I'm re-posting my favorite cartoon from each of the last 12 months.&nbsp;</i><br /><br />Coming in a close second: <a href="http://comicallyinept.blogspot.com/2009/12/fatherly-advice.html">the first Fatherly Advice</a>.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-7665286271998162874?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-63973205836396186172010-10-11T19:22:00.002-05:002010-10-11T19:39:51.546-05:00<table style="width: auto;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/MNkbeoWkPj_3Yi-vqDvt2Vmg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/SvM3S0-naJI/AAAAAAAAANA/UCOg-8T6Mzs/s800/sharktank.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: right;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=comicallyinept&amp;target=ALBUM&amp;id=5393768647823419361&amp;feat=embedwebsite"></a></td></tr></tbody></table><i>To commemorate the approaching one-year anniversary of our little site here, I'm re-posting my favorite cartoon from each of the last 12 months. </i><br /><br />Does this look like a newly married couple crossing the threshold, about to unwittingly plunge into a shark tank?&nbsp; Well, that was the idea at least.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-6397320583639618617?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-34659669255898423652010-10-10T21:20:00.000-05:002010-10-10T21:20:08.888-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TLJzP3uet0I/AAAAAAAACoM/zdmA2bt1A_E/s1600/Burning+Desire+Final.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TLJzP3uet0I/AAAAAAAACoM/zdmA2bt1A_E/s1600/Burning+Desire+Final.png" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Some AA meetings set aside the last five minutes for "burning desires."&nbsp; On rare occasions, the chairperson will qualify this opportunity as being available for "those who have a burning desire<i> to drink</i> today."&nbsp; More often than not, however, the stipulation isn't made, and this is what you end up with.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-3465966925589842365?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-78340389819191896142010-10-10T14:40:00.000-05:002010-10-10T14:40:10.495-05:00We're seven days away from the one-year anniversary of our little site here.&nbsp; I waited until today to begin posting a countdown of my top-10 favorite cartoons, thinking that one week equals 10 days.&nbsp; Realizing yet again that this is simply not the case, I've decided to publish 12 posts over the next seven days documenting my favorite cartoons from each month of the last year.<br /><br /><a href="http://comicallyinept.blogspot.com/2009/10/note-to-self.html">Note to Self</a> represents the obvious choice from October 2009.&nbsp; But, as it has become a permanent fixture on the right sidebar, it felt a little redundant to post it again here.&nbsp; So, from October 23 of last year we have Thin Line 1:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TLIWXwc12KI/AAAAAAAACn8/ezzJF9SQ-yA/s1600/Thin+Line+Rose+Best+Of.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TLIWXwc12KI/AAAAAAAACn8/ezzJF9SQ-yA/s1600/Thin+Line+Rose+Best+Of.png" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-7834038981919189614?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-7231496399578275912010-10-08T21:22:00.002-05:002010-10-08T21:22:44.103-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TK_R6CvdxQI/AAAAAAAACn4/yM4MejHvCT4/s1600/Slogans+Final.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TK_R6CvdxQI/AAAAAAAACn4/yM4MejHvCT4/s1600/Slogans+Final.png" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-723149639957827591?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-19674482774950247972010-10-07T22:23:00.000-05:002010-10-07T22:23:10.162-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TK6ORLdFrYI/AAAAAAAACn0/hJpXo8PKiUI/s1600/Complaints+Department+Final.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TK6ORLdFrYI/AAAAAAAACn0/hJpXo8PKiUI/s1600/Complaints+Department+Final.png" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-1967448277495024797?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-66965760721745355552010-10-05T18:12:00.003-05:002010-10-05T18:29:55.121-05:00In addition to teaching me the <a href="http://comicallyinept.blogspot.com/2010/05/dear-chicago-sanctimonious-blogger.html">Four-fold Path to Successful Daily Living</a>, my second sponsor also imparted to me the importance of personal hygiene.&nbsp; "Do you own a toothbrush, Joe?" he asked in response to my question as to which of the 12 Steps I could work in order to attract friends.<br /><br />"And a tongue brush, Joe.&nbsp; Do you know what that is?&nbsp; They sell them at pharmacies."<br /><br />Our man shared with me his most important piece of wisdom by opening with an anecdote.&nbsp; As a young Marine recruit, my sponsor had been brusquely informed by a drill sergeant, "Your hands are dirty--not your cock."&nbsp; I'm not quite sure the exact circumstances surrounding this incident, as the sponsor didn't go into detail, but the message was clear: Pay strict attention to what you're doing and why, at all times.&nbsp; <br /><br />Washing hands before using a urinal is nothing but religious brainwash, teaching us gentlemen that our wang-dang-doodles are in and of themselves dirty.&nbsp; Sorry, but my wang-dang-doodle is the cleanest part of my body.&nbsp; I rigorously scrub it every morning, using a scrunchie rag and/or loofah in concert with shower gel.&nbsp; What's more, throughout the day there are at least two layers of clothing insulating my John Thomas from the germs of the surface world.&nbsp; (Two-and-a-half layers if I've tucked in my shirt.)&nbsp; My hands, in comparison, are five-fingered petri dishes, teeming with god-knows-what allergens, pathogens, viruses and biles of both yellow and black varieties.&nbsp; If anything, upon making my acquaintance, you should commemorate the occasion by plunging your hand into my pants and giving us a nice firm shake.<br /><br />The idea of walking into a bathroom, handling my tackle and only then washing my hands is absurd.&nbsp; It's absolute medieval superstition, and I'm not going to take it anymore.&nbsp; It's time to stand up to Judeo-Christian indoctrination and wash before you go.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>My borderline NSFW campaign poster for Take a Stand at the Urinal, which contains a doodle of a doodle, is after the jump:<br /><a name='more'></a><br /><table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Mu3yWeFBB_IvQbI_hHDeOFmg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TKuz5RYq0sI/AAAAAAAACnk/z22v3JtG8JE/s800/Hand%20Wang%20Final.png" height="430" width="600" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-6696576072174535555?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-84194020626429359132010-10-04T21:40:00.001-05:002010-10-04T22:25:23.025-05:00<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TKqEelzwn-I/AAAAAAAACnQ/Ppewer2VOsQ/s1600/New+Tatt+Final.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's not the only woman's name I have tattooed on me.&nbsp; But it is the only woman's name I have tattooed on me that I don't wildly regret having tattooed on me. </td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TKqEelzwn-I/AAAAAAAACnQ/Ppewer2VOsQ/s1600/New+Tatt+Final.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />It's not so much that I'm out of ideas.&nbsp; There's the concept for the neighborhood map (a la "Your mind is a bad neighborhood; don't go there alone"), and the diagram of an Appalachian funeral, complete with warring familial faction.&nbsp; It's just that I'm really lazy.&nbsp; And since my professional stuff has started picking up recently I don't feel the need to cartoon, as I get my creative ya-yas from the work I do for clients.&nbsp; I'd love to conflate the professional work and this blog, but the whole <a href="http://gapingvoid.com/">marketing cartoon thing</a> has been done.&nbsp; (Not to mention anonymity issues.)<br /><br />So here we are.<br /><br />A few years ago in San Francisco, a guy whipped out the Big Book and showed me a passage from page 13, where Bill Wilson writes "... that of myself I was nothing; that without (god) I was lost."&nbsp; I adapted that passage into a go-to personal prayer. <br /><br />Saturday night I dreamt that "without you I'm lost" was tattooed across my chest, the letters jagged in my cartoon scrawl and running just above my collarbone from shoulder to shoulder.&nbsp; Of course, in the dream I didn't have a Byzantine mural of Jonah and the whale taking up real estate on the right side of my chest, so I thougthidzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz<br /><br />Yes.&nbsp; Yes, this is the most interesting thing I can think to write at the moment.&nbsp; Good thing there aren't any clients reading.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-8419402062642935913?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-10701702039313092062010-10-03T18:22:00.002-05:002010-10-03T18:34:21.283-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TKkRWZFBceI/AAAAAAAACnM/WzwXxw9W73s/s1600/Hurt+Myself.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TKkRWZFBceI/AAAAAAAACnM/WzwXxw9W73s/s1600/Hurt+Myself.png" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Whenever things go wrong, whether legitimate tragedy or minor irritant, my initial reaction is to consume massive quantities of drugs/booze/poon/double-chocolate-fudge cake/interwebz.&nbsp; I know that no matter how full I get, these things will ultimately leave me feeling empty, yet I persist.&nbsp;<br /><br />Oh, and hello again.&nbsp; How are you?<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-1070170203931309206?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-19965172035039186542010-09-23T16:53:00.000-05:002010-09-23T16:53:13.755-05:00<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/7ExCCSeNfPQjAFIehE71KVmg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TJvLdc9u16I/AAAAAAAACmY/TkIHiRZRhyI/s800/Anxiety%20Final.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></table><br />I'll be hitting the old dusty trail for a few days beginning Saturday. My tablet will most likely make its way into my luggage. Still, I'm not sure how often, if at all, I will cartoon.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-1996517203503918654?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-85082665727303453042010-09-22T21:14:00.000-05:002010-09-22T21:14:41.325-05:00<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/PF_IzheK4TO7pa459-VqyFmg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TJq3YKm3kQI/AAAAAAAACmE/GzqxA3ydVpg/s800/Threadless%20Tee%20Final.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></table><br />We ran into the folks from <a href="http://www.threadless.com/">Threadless</a> at the Bucktown Arts Fest. Threadless does contests for t-shirt designs and mottoes. You think it's worth me taking a shot?<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-8508266572730345304?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-76026672036243265562010-09-21T22:12:00.002-05:002010-09-22T21:23:11.153-05:00<table style="width: auto;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/fokYrIglFo3YMRPkwfY8Llmg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TJlsrUUUarI/AAAAAAAAClk/5gD-nw5_pyg/s800/One%20of%20Those%20Assholes%20Final.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: right;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&amp;feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />When <a href="http://www.billburr.com/">Bill Burr</a> says that we need to drop roughly 5,999,970,000 people from the world's current population because said 5,999,970,000 people spend their days walking around looking up at buildings with their mouths hanging open, I howl with delight. As does everyone else in the audience. And I howl with doubled gusto thinking how all these idiots around me can't possibly be part of the 30,000* worldwide who really get it. Nope, it's just me and Bill. <br /><br />Somebody else asks, "What's the deal with all these bad drivers, am I right?" ARE YOU EVER. They're all out there behind the wheel SMSing and maybe, for all I know, MMSing. (And judging from the way that lady cut me off the other day, apparently some of them are even PMSing. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.)&nbsp; Just say "bad drivers" to a room of people and they'll all roll their eyes and groan, but there's no way everybody in the joint drives with hands at 10 and 2.<br /><br />In high school, Da Lench Mob's <i>Guerillas in the Mist</i> became an instant favorite. At one point, I specifically, and somewhat sheepishly, asked my friend Jeff, "So, when J-Dee** says that he's "'Slittin' whitey's throat/Cos he made us ride a boat,' he's not talking about us, specifically, right?" In that instance, Jeff was the only one laughing.<br /><br />Today while visiting my shrink the light came on. It's only been eight hours, but I already miss being special.<br /><br />*Is my math off? <br />**If I'm being honest here, I'm not sure it was J-Dee on that verse.&nbsp; It could've been Shorty or T-Bone.&nbsp; But it definitely wasn't Cube.&nbsp; That I do know.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-7602667203624326556?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-87578133149775179082010-09-20T21:08:00.002-05:002010-09-20T21:23:31.228-05:00<table style="width: auto;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/PxK2VNW77uK_a853H7cr5Fmg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TJgTMRb9aEI/AAAAAAAAClA/t2MxME3UKR0/s800/A-Bomb.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: right;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&amp;feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></tbody></table>Michael Stipe once said that it was relatively easy for him to write about depression and such-like, whereas he struggled to create anything worthwhile out of happiness. Lest anyone disbelieve him, he went out and did <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCQ0vDAbF7s&amp;ob=av3e">this</a>.*<br /><br />Positivity Week was more about the absence of negativity than outright optimism.&nbsp; <a href="http://comicallyinept.blogspot.com/2010/09/day-4.html?showComment=1284672617858#c5155725673455673706">Some people</a> might even say that it was about puerile meta-level masturbation.&nbsp; And they might be right (if I understood the comment to begin with).&nbsp; But that's just like my trip right now.<br /><br />It's good to be back.&nbsp; What say we mock some darkness.<br /><br />*That hat really sums things up.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-8757813314977517908?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-26952551769050847202010-09-19T18:36:00.001-05:002010-09-28T21:54:25.973-05:00<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/jPq21SIB5N2HhIJtS2CsGlmg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TJadH0MTEzI/AAAAAAAACks/UmLLFFembRY/s800/Wedding%20Crib%20Sheet%20Final.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></table><br />"Cousin" or "husband" might well be funnier than "wife" in that final instance. Positivity Week has been so ... well, positive that I've had little time to cartoon. Life has been abundant, with clients wanting work, friends actually wanting the sober me to attend their wedding receptions, and a Sunday dinner of bison tacos refusing to make itself. <br /><br />Congrats to Bobby <strike>to</strike> and Jen.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-2695255176905084720?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-65121341932575432312010-09-18T17:40:00.005-05:002010-09-18T17:51:53.571-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table style="width: auto;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/vk0djN__4cReb2rUCwbJCVmg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TJU9vELQ-FI/AAAAAAAACkk/MISxrgKskbY/s800/Artist%20Postcards%20Photo.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: right;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&amp;feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></tbody></table>No cartoon today.&nbsp; I'm getting ready to attend a wedding reception after working up an appetite during the Catholic ceremony.<br /><br />I just spent about 20 minutes perfecting each word of a post on the Artist Appreciation postcard, only for something to go haywire when I decided to have a little HTML fun.&nbsp; In short: If you'd like a three-pack of these handsome postcards, contact me before the end of the weekend.&nbsp; comicallyinept at gmail dot com.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-6512134193257543231?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-33199594192056050152010-09-17T19:54:00.000-05:002010-09-17T19:54:40.451-05:00<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/KwsaYoJ4gUX9s6UerAfg0Vmg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TJQNkT0klZI/AAAAAAAACj4/MY67tqF5BfU/s800/Maslow%20Finger%20Final.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-3319959419205605015?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-37328268181686226172010-09-16T14:11:00.003-05:002010-09-16T16:39:10.449-05:00<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/TsDNYrfrQb9K_j37SuC2LVmg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TJKOXE4wWkI/AAAAAAAACjw/S6ssn6t4_Qs/s800/4%20days2.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-3732826818168622617?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-47778915620749396802010-09-15T16:52:00.000-05:002010-09-15T16:52:24.264-05:00<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/M-VKUDsMINcBfH67iSaak1mg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TJE_64jcmzI/AAAAAAAACjM/PYV3RFGxfME/s800/Upside%20Down%20Frown.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></table><br />Just in time to be two days late!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-4777891562074939680?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-5702805332877407382010-09-15T16:50:00.000-05:002010-09-15T16:50:13.331-05:00<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/rwLjsX8vwHQ37nAlnRKCtlmg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TJE_fXzCfFI/AAAAAAAACjE/sPMfgAq8-Jg/s800/Future%20Trends%20Final.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-570280533287740738?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-47232248581892527592010-09-15T16:48:00.002-05:002010-09-15T16:48:55.811-05:00<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/IFqPtV-C9nTbVLGfwnM5p1mg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TJE_FBLHbkI/AAAAAAAACiw/JfZZNhQgCUw/s800/Dialoguing%20Final.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-4723224858189252759?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-65664447383214926452010-09-14T22:15:00.001-05:002010-09-14T22:35:51.312-05:00<table style="width: auto;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/HStGGUSk7gTwsTOjbVEavVmg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TJA5179c1ZI/AAAAAAAACic/JmNy9dtIJ_c/s800/Throw%20First%20Stone%20Final.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: right;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&amp;feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />A decent yuk-yuk cartoon. And it has a positive message. Who says you can't have it both ways?* ¡Viva Positivity Week! <br /><br />* Certainly not Lisabeth Salander, am I right?**<br /><br />** Lisabeth Salander, one of the main characters from the best-selling novel <i>The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo</i> (or <i>Men Who Hate Women</i>, as the book is known in its native Sweden) has sex with women <i>and</i> men, and thus does indeed "have it both ways."<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-6566444738321492645?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-8076428714715270732010-09-13T12:28:00.000-05:002010-09-13T12:28:23.106-05:00<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/JcUA-bx8Cr4Gxyp9c0iNNlmg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TI5ea2lHG0I/AAAAAAAACiI/DpF14pn3vFE/s800/Pliant%20Woodwind%20Final.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></table><br />And so begins Positivity Week. I'm expecting few yucks and praying for the courage to be earnest -- if it indeed comes down to that.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-807642871471527073?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-55879060322949189242010-09-12T19:05:00.002-05:002010-09-12T21:26:27.438-05:00<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/4L-0eh0urnsL-g1w_vEjJFmg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TI1isr5sM1I/AAAAAAAAChk/owIbLVmBVpA/s800/Psalm%2023%20Final.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></table><br />Positivity Week begins tomorrow. Here's my Facebook post, which no one but Kelly responded to (not to be confused with the Tweet that no one but Kelly responded to):<br /><br /><blockquote>Next week will be Positivity Week at Comically Inept. All cartoons will have an upbeat theme. Specifically, there will be no mention of suicidal ideation, crippling depression or the degradation of substance abuse. Which means I'm out of ideas. Any suggestions?</blockquote><br />Besides Kelly's suggestions, I'm still out of ideas. In terms of positivity, pickings have been slim indeed as of late. "Hardly news," I can hear you say. (You mouthy bastard.) Here's the thing: in terms of despair, I'm keeping these cartoons and my overall approach right around a three out of 10. As a departed friend of mine once said: "I don't know, man; I think some pretty grim shit." (I say he's departed not because he died but because he moved to Ypsilanti.) <br /><br />My biggest fear in life is what other people <i>might</i> think about me. I worry about coming across as someone who carries the mess, not the message. But lately I've come to the conclusion that either I'm the most messed up person in 12 Step recovery, or other members are ... let's say, just to put a positive spin on things ... practicing significant restraint while commenting at meetings. (A cynic might say "significantly editing" but not us, not here, not now, not with Positivity Week just around the corner.) <br /><br />Maybe I'll start laying it all out and lose my readers. Or maybe I'll just keep showing the pretty grim shit to Ms. CI before uploading. Today I showed her the original draft of this cartoon while she happily lazed with the cats.<br /><br />After looking at her face, I said, "Yeah, I know. I wanted to show it to you now, as opposed to you seeing it pop up online. I thought you might be concerned."<br /><br />"Uh, yeah," she said. "It's just a little bit dark. Couldn't you at least put a pink bow in there somewhere?"<br /><br />See, now that's thinking. I tried repeatedly to draw a bow, without luck. So here we are.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-5587906032294918924?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-1662462956346603172010-09-12T18:35:00.000-05:002010-09-12T18:35:56.232-05:00<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/MYafAk7KTIcAXGZ_lL88Mlmg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TI1jAWg3N7I/AAAAAAAAChs/qrS7CZ_IN_s/s800/dieyoung%20Final.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></table><br />I originally had this idea when the LIVESTRONG bracelets first hit, around the time of John Kerry's ill-fated run for the Presidency of the United States of America. BUT I DIDN'T HAVE A BLOG BACK THEN. Luckily, they're coming back around, it seems, so here we are.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-166246295634660317?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-8917883861496088662010-09-11T17:50:00.000-05:002010-09-11T17:50:20.516-05:00<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/XJjQ56AgpC7uFbcC_sLpcFmg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TIwHYwW4ZzI/AAAAAAAAChQ/1gcWzU0O8NU/s800/Difference.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-891788386149608866?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-13704802077533311232010-09-09T15:44:00.002-05:002010-09-09T15:57:26.742-05:00<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/xfF0Szcblw9jG47Tyxur-1mg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TIlEOZ9Aj0I/AAAAAAAACg8/kyREn1prAm8/s800/Artist%20Note%20Final.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-1370480207753331123?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-75874240728052860112010-09-08T15:56:00.000-05:002010-09-08T15:56:56.408-05:00<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/hwg1lcOoI1CHbceAp2a6tFmg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TIf4JmiUBiI/AAAAAAAACgo/PercXmqmq3w/s800/Flatline%20Final.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-7587424072805286011?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-42228189305954028152010-09-06T21:34:00.000-05:002010-09-06T21:34:05.324-05:00<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/eRqo9fy5A8Jhun41lziYYVmg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TIWkKHYuIZI/AAAAAAAACgg/rZ79n2PCqkc/s800/Moment%20Final.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-4222818930595402815?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-66367574357891251592010-09-05T15:16:00.000-05:002010-09-05T15:16:10.863-05:00<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/oZ63GtYvdPWF-VbkMFdNOVmg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TIP55A-iwhI/AAAAAAAACgE/DOPh1VwNWZo/s800/Paying%20Attention%20Final.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-6636757435789125159?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-26343617212147430552010-09-04T23:12:00.000-05:002010-09-04T23:12:42.287-05:00<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/00ydTcKH8StTL0HIT0qGG1mg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TIMX3ThpfyI/AAAAAAAACf8/ZSVp5bUngww/s800/Gets%20Better%20Final.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-2634361721214743055?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-52176364607031176622010-09-02T22:26:00.000-05:002010-09-02T22:26:43.534-05:00<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/spvvbolydLwNlKy979d9DFmg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TIBqsWf8AuI/AAAAAAAACfQ/nN1LXq8LNAg/s800/Deals%20with%20God%20Final.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-5217636460703117662?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-81876182399483661002010-09-01T19:04:00.000-05:002010-09-01T19:04:01.738-05:00<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/5cXji-8Rw6kHGH0sPss7Klmg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TH7pqUhWTGI/AAAAAAAACek/sAQSd9GKTII/s800/Lifetimes%20Final.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-8187618239948366100?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-60727287990981935382010-08-31T17:00:00.002-05:002010-08-31T20:23:33.922-05:00<table style="width: auto;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Y2BGTrfEYppCFdyUajeMzVmg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TH1-0muEWsI/AAAAAAAACeY/kETyHO5mlgc/s800/Mat.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: right;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&amp;feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Welcome to everyone coming over from Clangnuts, where today appeared a review of this poxy little site. (Comically Inept regulars, please visit <a href="http://clangnuts.blogspot.com/">Clangnuts</a>. Take a look around and leave the man some feedback on his fine work.) My favorite parts of <a href="http://clangnuts.blogspot.com/2010/08/comically-inept.html">the review</a>: the incredibly diplomatic characterization of my drawing skills as "naive"; and the eloquence of the phrase "alcohol misuse and avoidance."&nbsp; <b>&nbsp;</b><br /><br /><b>Update: </b>Just to be clear, I honestly do like the "naive" description.&nbsp; I think it's generous and quite diplomatic, considering some of the adjectives that could be used to describe my style. <br /><br />"It's never too late to turn back" comes from my friend <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#%21/profile.php?id=666079070&amp;ref=ts">Andy</a>. I tried to uphold his original vision of placing the text on a welcome mat, with predictably poor results.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-6072728799098193538?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-13554082562562699042010-08-31T16:30:00.000-05:002010-08-31T16:30:05.525-05:00<table style="width: auto;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/YkqIGI0-CgLORxxBHnYqCVmg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TH1cj5ltxSI/AAAAAAAACdw/EacXIS_g7zc/s800/Zero%20Final.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: right;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&amp;feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Today's cartoon comes courtesy of my therapist, who in our session this morning quoted someone as saying, "Alcoholics start off at less than zero."&nbsp; When I wake up, I'm at -2.&nbsp; On a good day.&nbsp; If I can get up, get in my morning writing, look after the cats and bathe myself without indulging in a half-hour email/social networking timesuck, I'm steadily rising towards breaking even.&nbsp; If I can manage all that a few days in a row and start mixing in 12 step work; meetings; talking to others in recovery; working out twice a week; and therapy,&nbsp; I just might end up at +3 or 4 in a week's time.&nbsp; And I can stay there for as long as I want, as long as I keep moving.&nbsp; When I decide I want to put my feet up for a minute, I trip over myself and fall face-first.&nbsp; The longer I stay down, the harder it is to take that first step again.&nbsp; And I can stay down for a long, long time.&nbsp; Say, the past six weeks of my life, for example.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-1355408256256269904?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-65657855949566025822010-08-30T22:39:00.002-05:002010-08-30T22:45:03.294-05:00<table style="width: auto;"><tbody><tr><td><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Jozy9bdPXkpYQRnmxPrqFlmg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/THxwnCCKIAI/AAAAAAAACdU/N5_bfVjcy5s/s800/Isolation%20Final.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, that is supposed to be a peephole.</td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: right;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&amp;feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Background reading:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Kelly's <a href="http://comicallyinept.blogspot.com/2010/08/obscure-bloggers-guild.html?showComment=1283015432166#c5771138881110076750">recent comment on community</a>, written in response to&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">II. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://comicallyinept.blogspot.com/2010/08/obscure-bloggers-guild.html">"Obscure Bloggers Guild" post</a>, itself a response to </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">III.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://infactorium.blogspot.com/2010/08/hit-generator-as-springboard-to.html">AnyEdge's post</a> on feeling like an outsider.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I really like the idea of the Obscure Bloggers Guild.&nbsp; But, I have liked a lot of ideas in my day that didn't exactly catch fire.&nbsp; (See <a href="http://comicallyinept.blogspot.com/2010/02/announcing-i-love-you-but-im-busy.html">"I Love You But I'm Busy."</a>)&nbsp; For awhile now I've wanted to discuss a couple of thoughts, but hesitated out of fear that no one would care.&nbsp; And then I would look stupid.&nbsp; And then the world would end.&nbsp; But all the talk lately about community inspired the idea of the Obscure Bloggers Guild, which is obviously a joke, but over the last few days the joke has resonated and seems to fit perfectly with these ideas that I'm afraid to propose.<br /><br />The OBG pokes a hole in my tendency to take myself too seriously.&nbsp; The idea of drawing strength by celebrating a perceived shortcoming.&nbsp; This weekend I met someone who had a Field Notes notebook with her.&nbsp; She showed me hers and I showed her mine, proudly displaying the OBG badge that I taped inside the cover.&nbsp; I see it as our own community, clique, crew.&nbsp; Childish or child-like, I dunno, but I'd prefer to err on the side of comic book ads for Sea Monkeys. <br /><br />Anyway, the ideas:<br /><ol><li>Even if you think the OBG is stupid (and not in a good way), we could still do this: a blogger exchange program, where you write a guest post on this site on a given topic.&nbsp; Then I illustrate an upcoming post on your site. </li><li>In the event that you do like the OBG: I've always hesitated to put up a blogroll because sidebars tend to get pretty cluttered as it is.&nbsp; So, I'm thinking about putting the OBG shield on the right sidebar, most likely as a link to a blogroll.&nbsp; The thing is, I'm in no position to say that someone is an "obscure blogger."&nbsp; So, you'd have to tell me that you've decided you're a member.&nbsp; (It seems like the best societies work like that.) </li></ol><br />OK, I'm already feeling stupid.&nbsp; The meteors must be en route. <br /><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-6565785594956602582?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-25435480631229414822010-08-29T18:19:00.003-05:002010-08-29T20:17:41.891-05:00<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/1i02ICS3ZIIHIzjLjTOdwFmg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/THrop5-yTXI/AAAAAAAACck/wFj-pVV28Sg/s800/Comeback.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></table><br />Those of you who follow me on <a href="http://twitter.com/comicallyinept">Twitter</a> know that yesterday I submitted a cartoon to the <a href="http://longshotmag.com/">Long Shot magazine project</a>. The issue's theme was "comeback." I didn't have any ideas upon first hearing about the project Friday evening. Saturday morning, with around two hours to go before the deadline, the concept of this cartoon popped into my noggin. It was pretty exhilarating, getting the final piece uploaded two minutes before the deadline. I told myself that getting published was irrelevant, and I still mostly believe that, I guess, having just seen the list of accepted contributors.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-2543548063122941482?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-8160135170862851652010-08-28T18:52:00.003-05:002010-08-28T20:30:38.620-05:00<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/vuOHI5tu4FeUawkGuRgMi1mg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/THm23W7zneI/AAAAAAAACb4/rqzL9WW7lAI/s800/Card%20Final2.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></table><br /><br />Cut along dotted lines and fold for your very own pick-me-up card to give to a suicidal friend.&nbsp; Inspired by this recent <a href="http://www.savagechickens.com/2010/08/birthday-card.html">Savage Chickens</a>.<br /><br />Update: Another revision. I hope to have time this coming week to knock out a few cartoons in advance, to have time for each one to compost awhile before uploading. The original:<br /><br /><table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/oWnIn_AntCRj2AAfzFaCcVmg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/THmgoviovNI/AAAAAAAACbc/80S2HjhlQj8/s400/Card%20Final.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-816013517086285165?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-83687561649249900042010-08-27T19:25:00.004-05:002010-08-27T20:57:47.551-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/THhVh-60AJI/AAAAAAAACa0/iErhdW65DAk/s1600/OB+Guild+Final.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/THhVh-60AJI/AAAAAAAACa0/iErhdW65DAk/s400/OB+Guild+Final.png" width="311" /></a></div>Today AnyEdge over at the Infactorium <a href="http://infactorium.blogspot.com/2010/08/hit-generator-as-springboard-to.html">posted about always feeling like an outsider</a>, whether in the online recovery community, at work, in relationships or even in AA. I can empathize, or have been able to empathize at some point, on all counts.&nbsp; In regards to the online community, I'm really grateful for you lovely few who have taken an interest in this site. It's a cool feeling coming downstairs in the morning to see comment email notifications on my phone.&nbsp; With that said, I think that AnyEdge and I are in the same boat when it comes to stature within the blogging world, as are most of my blogging buddies.<br /><br />In an attempt to spread the love around, I created this lovely badge especially for all of us. (It's the latest in <a href="http://comicallyinept.blogspot.com/search/label/Chicago">a long line of lovely badges</a> that I've created.)&nbsp; AnyEdge can feel free to cut it out and pin it to his engineering-physician lab coat.&nbsp; Wearing this number on his lapel while he strides around the workplace should in and of itself boost his occupational stock. &nbsp; <br /><br />Today I stopped by the <a href="http://fieldnotesbrand.com/">Field Notes</a> HQ. One of the incredibly friendly and helpful gents there talked with me for a good long while about our shared Ohio roots and the aesthetic merits of the Futura typeface -- and even gave me a tour of the place. I came away with two little bundles of notebooks, which the guys thoughtfully placed inside a Field Notes mailing envelope along with a pencil, pen and "general purpose band of rubber."<br /><br />What would the contents of an Obscure Bloggers Guild welcome packet include?<br /><br />Update: Here's a poor-quality photo of our badge proudly displayed on the drawstring of my designated Blogging Sweatshirt:<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/THhs7DLweFI/AAAAAAAACbM/kHt1S-dkBdo/s1600/Badge+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/THhs7DLweFI/AAAAAAAACbM/kHt1S-dkBdo/s320/Badge+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-8368756164924990004?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-85657801878763665272010-08-26T21:55:00.002-05:002010-08-27T16:53:45.253-05:00<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/x3jcTnV8h02r8cHr2Bc4YVmg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/THgw7Xlyr0I/AAAAAAAACag/hx0cKE3up0k/s800/New%20Tattoo%202.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></table><br /><b>Update</b>: Another revision. There's a potential danger in these re-dos: Those of you beautiful souls who comment on the original posts might say something that, when the revised cartoon goes up, appears completely out of context. Though that hasn't been an issue yet, I'm aware of it. <br /><br />I try to do one cartoon per day and rarely have a surplus. This means that I don't have time to let drafts sit and come back to them with fresh eyes. In most cases when I see areas for improvement after a cartoon goes up, I just consider it a lesson learned, but in certain instances, like this one, I can't help myself. The revised wording is much better than in this original, about which Kelly and chocolat lover commented:<br /><br /><table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/rA9UmVMxrQBvuXnD6XKEbFmg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/THco8tdysKI/AAAAAAAACaM/UOmL_cHUJ-k/s400/New%20Tattoo%20Copy.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-8565780187876366527?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-4941480615047875882010-08-25T21:22:00.001-05:002010-08-25T21:27:49.892-05:00<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/vs1zEJ9QtQM9DRVN7Q8DtVmg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/THXPkOiba9I/AAAAAAAACZo/qWCtjYvlHek/s800/Drugs%20Social%20Final.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></table><br />Alcohol is unique among drugs in that people intentionally limit their intake so to avoid the drug's effects. I have never understood this. As I once heard an old-timer say: <br /><br />"I was having dinner the other night and the person next to me had two glasses of red wine and then got up and left. I thought, 'Man, that would be nice.' But then I remembered, 'What the fuck good is two glasses of wine?'"<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-494148061504787588?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-40223062758695290682010-08-24T23:50:00.003-05:002010-08-25T12:06:32.862-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/THShiKGNlRI/AAAAAAAACZg/_GonkKpIxBE/s1600/Hour+64.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/THShiKGNlRI/AAAAAAAACZg/_GonkKpIxBE/s640/Hour+64.png" width="496" /></a></div><br />Earlier today, a friend mentioned that hour 72 marks the end of physical nicotine withdrawal. Something clicked. It was almost like she was giving me permission to climb down off the cross. There's no overestimating the importance of mentality in kicking addictions. I mean, what does my friend know, anyway? (No offense, Eileen.) She's not an addictions counselor or physician. She just repeated something positive that she'd heard and I chose to believe it. Hour 72 became my goal. "Just get there," I thought, "and you'll be farting rainbows and belching big, billowy, smiley-faced clouds, with one eye of the smiley face a-wink-wink-winkin' right atcha, mister, and the cloud will be saying, 'Nice job, buddy!'"<br /><br />And here we are at hour <strike>74</strike> 72. Life's looking good. Great. Superb. I've got less than a day to turn it all around for the next cartoon.<br /><br /><b>Update:</b> As Kelly rightly points out in the comments, the numbers here are a little confusing.&nbsp; (Please bear in mind that I tested into Math 101 in college, starting with basic addition, and ended up with a C for the class.)&nbsp; So, hour 64 was around 3:30pm yesterday.&nbsp; I created the cartoon and wrote the post around 11:30 last night, which would have been hour 72, not 74.&nbsp; I think.&nbsp; Stupid math. &nbsp;<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-4022306275869529068?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-76748851434432850222010-08-23T17:32:00.002-05:002010-08-23T19:49:09.488-05:00<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ZZwKVynk_J1QCpRgdWe3dFmg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/THL4VvNbqnI/AAAAAAAACY0/jlwrWAPjCi0/s800/Hour%2042%20Final.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></table><br />Any other suggestions from those of you who've quit?<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-7674885143443285022?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-85947781413992635512010-08-22T18:58:00.003-05:002010-08-22T21:26:10.093-05:00<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/HMwpGsrx2y5DdizfVwol1lmg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/THG5k-pXSLI/AAAAAAAACYI/qS_Kz1EErhU/s800/Nicotine%20Withdrawal%20Final.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></table><br />Today is first time since 1994 that I've gone 24 hours without some form of nicotine. I am not amused.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-8594778141399263551?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-74998558834119388952010-08-21T21:32:00.000-05:002010-08-21T21:32:31.824-05:00<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Mouvh3F1rTsqwf6EdbP8vlmg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/THCMCEtZu0I/AAAAAAAACX0/t3YIXmIdMSc/s800/Like%20Today.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-7499855883411938895?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-60782653505833404142010-08-20T10:08:00.002-05:002010-08-20T10:21:49.251-05:00<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/g6_uwLvKprBBriBrYRtUIVmg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TG6aIX0HxMI/AAAAAAAACXg/jH2LtZpXQZg/s800/Do%20Not%20Disturb%20Final.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-6078265350583340414?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-86925958043192686542010-08-19T22:06:00.001-05:002010-08-19T22:10:18.021-05:00<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/0kA3YnPlbyZSYCaDqGAocVmg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TG3wi_orkyI/AAAAAAAACXM/LVPvGPwc7W8/s800/MS%20Paint.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></table><br />Yes. Yes, this is the best I could do. One of those days. (<a href="http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/imaging_3d/paintbrush.html">Paintbrush</a>, it turns out, is a good MS Paint substitute.)<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-8692595804319268654?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-50459677976111595352010-08-18T21:59:00.000-05:002010-08-18T21:59:23.309-05:00<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/_PeU4WN2gKaL_fvo356Rulmg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TGyd282OpII/AAAAAAAACW4/yD_xKLOr6O8/s800/How%20to%20Tenth%20Step.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-5045967797611159535?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-9586805032678413972010-08-17T21:11:00.000-05:002010-08-17T21:11:47.646-05:00<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/CQf6PDYQo3nkCRLycpDNlVmg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TGtBKkI7uKI/AAAAAAAACWo/g5GsqsHa5Ms/s800/Morning%20Affirmations.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-958680503267841397?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-87296033147695658622010-08-16T09:44:00.002-05:002010-08-16T21:39:48.104-05:00<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/lQC0_dnasuZzkh6_wR1HLVmg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TGn2QetoE7I/AAAAAAAACV8/YxBZdeBjrc8/s800/Fave%20Cartoon%203%20Final.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></table><br />The gent who runs the <a href="http://clangnuts.blogspot.com/">Clangnuts</a> cartoon site <a href="http://clangnuts.blogspot.com/2010/08/new-blog.html">recently posted</a> that he's considering featuring other folk's cartoons and threw the door open for Internet urchins such as myself. After a most enjoyable email exchange, he graciously invited me to send over one of my cartoons, which I said I'd do by tomorrow morning.&nbsp; If you have a favorite Comically Inept cartoon, please let me know; I'd love to have your feedback while making my selection.&nbsp; I'd like to send over a cartoon that's particularly representative of our little site here.<br /><br />I already mentioned all this on <a href="http://twitter.com/comicallyinept">Twitter</a>. <a href="http://undiaalavezestavez.blogspot.com/">Kelly</a>, god bless her, suggested these cartoons:<br /><br /><a href="http://comicallyinept.blogspot.com/2010/02/pecking-order.html?showComment=1281896062813#c141880729778246121">Pecking Order</a><br /><a href="http://comicallyinept.blogspot.com/2010/01/close-second.html?showComment=1281895972718#c6535420809048063273">A Close Second</a><br /><a href="http://comicallyinept.blogspot.com/2009/12/advent-of-ad-hominem-graffiti.html?showComment=1281895845526#c4218595561815272877">Advent of Ad Hominem Graffiti</a><br /><a href="http://comicallyinept.blogspot.com/2010/05/childhood-dreams.html">Childhood Dreams</a><br /><a href="http://comicallyinept.blogspot.com/2010/02/pity-party.html">Pity Party</a><br /><br />Thoughts?&nbsp; You can see all the cartoons on one page, <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE#">here</a>.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-8729603314769565862?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-85452847467192500092010-08-15T15:34:00.000-05:002010-08-15T15:34:12.881-05:00<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/UnIlZCbSMXTJywVdaZSPwFmg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TGhPJGCWY9I/AAAAAAAACVo/mP_lWrYiQSo/s800/Dynamic%202%20Final.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-8545284746719250009?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-63456752034955335292010-08-13T19:12:00.000-05:002010-08-13T19:12:45.414-05:00<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/e_0PBi6fpp9szIzg2Bx51Vmg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TGXfQUl_Z0I/AAAAAAAACU4/2cVWL5GpISA/s800/Better%20Material%20Final.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-6345675203495533529?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-3607190946638971802010-08-12T22:47:00.005-05:002010-08-12T22:56:14.496-05:00<table style="width: auto;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ptLpv83TjKca1EZurgB8OFmg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TGS0oRoZQhI/AAAAAAAACUc/p6hnd0Ys6TQ/s800/Control.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: right;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&amp;feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><a href="http://mamabp.blogspot.com/">Briar</a> inspired this one, in a roundabout way. Commenting on yesterday's entry, Briar said regarding my potential ability to monetize my cartoons, "Don't underestimate the power of Etsy. (And a little social media promotion.)" <br /><br />Here's the thing: With regard to social media, I have a tin ear. I take time to post tweets and Facebook updates: weighing words, asking questions in woeful attempts to start conversations, etc. (Sometimes this process <a href="http://comicallyinept.blogspot.com/2010/08/facebook-status-update.html">stretches to absurd lengths</a>.) Take for instance my tweet from today:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TGS3TM4cYXI/AAAAAAAACUw/EBdiulqUBHo/s1600/Picture+4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="98" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TGS3TM4cYXI/AAAAAAAACUw/EBdiulqUBHo/s320/Picture+4.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />A good question, I thought, but one which met with nothing but crickets.&nbsp; Meanwhile, someone will tweet, "My cat's poop stinks!!!!!!" and the responses cascade.&nbsp; Ditto for Facebook, which I've basically abandoned due to my ineptitude.<br /><br />All of which brings us to my dad.&nbsp; He genuinely enjoyed receiving visitors at the farm and happily explained his techniques for woodworking, gardening, etc. to whichever strangers he came across.&nbsp; But we received relatively few guests.&nbsp; There was something about the old man that made him seem unapproachable to some folks.&nbsp; At least, that's my read, as is this: Pops wanted folks to like him more than they did and that discrepancy always puzzled him.<br /><br />Summer, 25 years ago.&nbsp; Dad stands outside the back of our house, at the edge of the bank facing the road.&nbsp; His left arm is bent, with the hand resting on his hip.&nbsp; He turns his head toward the gaining sound of crunching gravel.&nbsp; As the car appears from around the bend, dad removes that left hand from his hip, hoists it in the air and shouts, "Hoi!"&nbsp; ("Hoi" is a Dutch greeting.&nbsp; [We are not Dutch.])&nbsp; The driver frowns and the female passenger snarls her lips and looks away.&nbsp; The car speeds up and disappears.&nbsp; With his eyes still trained on the lingering dust cloud, dad says what he always says in these instances, words that I heard hundreds of times during my childhood: "Nobody cares about the poor people."&nbsp; His right hand then shakes the last bits of urine from his plainly exposed penis.&nbsp; Bending slightly at the knees, the old man stows the member back into his pants and walks away with a smile that says, "I'm not going to let the bastards grind me down."<br /><br />I feel like I've become the old man.&nbsp; There are people driving by, people I'd genuinely like to greet and talk to, but I'm doing something incredibly off-putting, the online equivalent spraying a yellow arc of urine from my exposed cock in the direction of motorists.&nbsp; And I don't even realize it.<br /><br />With regard to tonight's cartoon, to me it seems plausible that confusion leads to fear, which leads to the need to control something, somebody, anybody.&nbsp; Understanding, or at least assuming, as much about my dad's confusion makes him, even at his worst, much more sympathetic.<br /><br />P.S. My cat's poop stinks!!!!!!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-360719094663897180?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-7656795527590790282010-08-11T22:05:00.001-05:002010-08-11T22:07:42.660-05:00<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/97unO8lMVgIA59oAgZxcDVmg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TGNjIfLiOBI/AAAAAAAACUU/Bze5r1tpEyo/s800/Bookmark.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></table><br />Today's cartoon, such as it is, wasn't intended for you, gentle reader. SO GET YOUR FILTHY EYES OFF IT. The other day, my girlfriend mentioned that her beloved cat bookmark, which I purchased for her some time back, had gone the way of earbuds, magazines, C-class narcotics, deep-seated morals and everything else that one tends to lose over the course of extensive travels. So tonight I spent my usual cartooning time whipping up this number. God willing and the creek don't rise, I will return to showcasing my inept artistic capacities in the accustomed manner tomorrow evening. Until then, sweet dreams and so on.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-765679552759079028?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-50525259129358571772010-08-10T20:01:00.000-05:002010-08-10T20:01:04.784-05:00<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/hqPCxA24vPgGasl7czcATlmg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TGH17GJZWcI/AAAAAAAACTY/oh7tROtUBUw/s800/Warm%20and%20Fuzzy%20Final.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-5052525912935857177?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-46529065148087402402010-08-09T18:16:00.000-05:002010-08-09T18:16:03.717-05:00<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/QoZXe8Ep-cJApOamHqddBlmg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TGCHzSIZRxI/AAAAAAAACTE/c9fIIcjjF4k/s800/Twitter%20Final.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-4652906514808740240?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-45525230158995064712010-08-08T19:35:00.001-05:002010-08-08T19:43:55.658-05:00<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/syqfy5Y52j21q2J77HnWglmg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TF9PJoPToqI/AAAAAAAACS4/oM90VIayAyI/s800/Medals2%20Final.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-4552523015899506471?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-54013701015709627652010-08-07T20:26:00.004-05:002010-08-07T20:52:17.306-05:00<table style="width: auto;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/7RTvprTXlUy7-3GEvGF88Fmg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TF4HqpEh9qI/AAAAAAAACSM/MWCdfoD5frE/s800/Handcuffs%20Final.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: right;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&amp;feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Great.&nbsp; Immediately after posting this, I thought, "Hey, I wonder if someone has already paired this threadbare joke with a cartoon." Turns out, yes. <a href="http://skreened.com/Altered_States/break-out-in-handcuffs">Yes someone has</a>.&nbsp; And all this, having just read <a href="http://www.kerismith.com/blog/what-to-do-about-plagarism/">Keri Smith's post on plagiarism</a>.&nbsp;<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-5401370101570962765?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-70731774650194206662010-08-06T18:15:00.000-05:002010-08-06T18:15:47.206-05:00<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/nQ9b7nu-7NyywpCbi1gREFmg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TFyXXCMOp8I/AAAAAAAACRs/U5YxeQmkRSY/s800/Shade%20Final.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-7073177465019420666?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-20187228085345656232010-08-05T20:56:00.000-05:002010-08-05T20:56:27.524-05:00<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/uFyNpoexXz95F1cuzNLPG1mg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TFtrc2pAOyI/AAAAAAAACQ0/KJsxapZSD7A/s800/Barrels%20Final.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-2018722808534565623?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-39694637328289109972010-08-04T18:16:00.000-05:002010-08-04T18:16:13.143-05:00<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/oULLV9L3ij0zFv687jxYoVmg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TFn0akAdfAI/AAAAAAAACQg/vaZBozOd4YA/s800/Partial%20List%20Final.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-3969463732828910997?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-45319727865083024612010-08-03T16:15:00.001-05:002010-08-03T16:18:21.125-05:00<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/rG1uGFcAqNzaRrCVgNsBXlmg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TFiBb-igyBI/AAAAAAAACQY/m7IiF1YOLXg/s800/Dont%20Know%20Final.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></table><br />It's impossible to say "I don't know" while assembling an improvised explosive device. Soldiers cannot say "I don't know" while writing glib messages on bombs destined to destroy other humans. It's entirely possible to raise a hand in anger while screaming "I love you" (the three most rote, overrated and meaningless words we have), but it's impossible to strike when admitting, "I don't know." And these three words, by far the loveliest in all the English language, can be much more than an admittance. They can be a declaration. When we say, "I don't know," we create a certain space around ourselves. The beliefs, values, mores, standards, biases and even hatreds of other people fail to rock our foundations. If we accept that our ideas are just that, they lose their vitality. They might be helpful or even gravely meaningful, but we no longer need them. Others can ridicule all they want, but they're attacking something immaterial, something that we previously agreed to pretend was important. And the biggest idea of all? I.<br /><br />Try it sometime. When a conversation takes a turn and you find yourself out of your depth, instead of talking through your hat to sound important and dominate your interlocutor, simply say, "You know, I really don't know." Bask in the incredible relief. Sense the other person's walls tumbling down along with yours. When you say, "I don't know," all creation smiles along with you.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-4531972786508302461?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-55888896006172395502010-08-03T15:48:00.000-05:002010-08-03T15:48:35.715-05:00<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/-RdsFrV1m-SNxNHmKL4A91mg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TFiAem-sI5I/AAAAAAAACQE/TNNEKIX_OcU/s800/FB%20Status%20Update%20Final.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-5588889600617239550?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-73410280967359172772010-08-01T20:47:00.000-05:002010-08-01T20:47:18.191-05:00<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/hZpcIrJ90rLwk8OPxABnV1mg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TFYjfX-CRUI/AAAAAAAACPw/oUQMCilR5Hw/s800/Disguise%20Fear%20Final.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-7341028096735917277?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-45373540617582191712010-07-31T16:11:00.000-05:002010-07-31T16:11:50.365-05:00<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/joiIwniO9XqfLGfb-j7ejVmg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TFSRbPs4SVI/AAAAAAAACPc/bsbMDa0UBLw/s800/Get%20It%20Final.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-4537354061758219171?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-60471362293750134582010-07-30T20:12:00.000-05:002010-07-30T20:12:02.642-05:00<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/CR4etUVC5clKmpbyxTZbDlmg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TFN4N5CkBbI/AAAAAAAACPQ/wg8PpD3FkN0/s800/Shellfish%20Final.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-6047136229375013458?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-67583074070353129632010-07-29T15:54:00.004-05:002010-07-29T16:08:59.798-05:00<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Gu_6211TMTMGsBYzqxbUVVmg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TFHmgam2J4I/AAAAAAAACO0/YGsPPADZ2yI/s800/Meltdown%20Final.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></table>The only thing worse than feeling awful is feeling guilty for feeling awful, because hey, I'm in recovery and should be <a href="http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/Guy_Smiley">Guy fucking Smiley</a> or something. Instead of cartoons about sobriety, perhaps these are really cartoons about dual diagnosis. Strictly for me and my MISA brothers and sisters. Holla, and so forth.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-6758307407035312963?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-28510352319333761052010-07-28T19:11:00.000-05:002010-07-28T19:11:05.615-05:00<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/eqVvEztHHmsZrg0aSBKYUVmg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TFDG6yKK2GI/AAAAAAAACOg/PDgwKehGxEs/s800/Gland%20Final.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-2851035231933376105?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-8727920995681603412010-07-27T12:57:00.009-05:002010-07-28T09:27:33.980-05:00<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/2VQ0nlO5hXuuY20IFqr1Xlmg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TFA-Na4QPeI/AAAAAAAACOc/UTSh8EcOSbY/s800/Damn%20Garbage%20Final.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></table><i>Inspired by <a href="http://undiaalavezestavez.blogspot.com/2010/07/battles-of-mind.html">this recent post</a> from Kelly.</i><br /><br />I wake up in the morning and think, "There's no way I can get out of bed." Eventually roused by a goading bladder and nagging conscience, I stand in the middle of the bedroom and think, "There's no way I can do my morning writing." But I pour the customary mug of chocolate soy milk and head downstairs, where I put in my 30 minutes at the keyboard. I stand up from my desk and think, "There's no way I can clean the litter boxes and give Cosmo his meds." After caring for my feline friends, I usually hit a stride, gathering the necessary momentum to function for an entire day. After that, it's just a matter of pacing. Action, not analysis, I've discovered, is the only way for me to overcome the distorted perception of routine chores as impossible Herculean feats.<br /><br /><b>Update:</b> Another switcheroo. Even though the still, small voice told me to wait to publish the original version of this cartoon, I uploaded it immediately after finishing the drawing. At the time I considered it the best cartoon I've done. After shutting down my computer and dashing outside for an appointment, I realized I had misspelled the word "led" as "lead." That gave me an opportunity for spiritual growth, which I maximized. Rather than obsessing about something I couldn't change at the time, I remained fairly present throughout the appointment and enjoyed myself. When I returned home, I made the correction and posted the revised version before heading back out. Now that I'm home for good, it seems to me that what I intended to portray as our guy shielding his eyes as if looking out over a sweeping vista looks more like him preparing to faint in the Victorian style (see below). So I made yet another revision. My sponsor once told me, "We're advised to pause when agitated or doubtful. But I think for you, Joe, you should just pause." I plan on taking that advice. After all this ridiculousness, I hope you at least agree the new one is an improvement. <br /><br />Previous version: <table style="width: auto;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/0K_jwdceflNbQJeeg77Jalmg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img height="161" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TE9SOpfNiJI/AAAAAAAACNs/j6I2K_z9waw/s200/Garbage%20Final.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: right;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&amp;feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-872792099568160341?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-47582174518702504222010-07-26T14:14:00.000-05:002010-07-26T14:14:42.098-05:00<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/_upwY3C6vFPYyu8F6dS0tlmg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TE3ecRUcmiI/AAAAAAAACM8/RHzStG77GHo/s800/Zealots%20Final.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-4758217451870250422?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-77043325522012104742010-07-24T20:27:00.001-05:002010-07-25T19:29:21.383-05:00<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/HwTsCq49WISDPxWLz3zK01mg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TEzWsRqLUpI/AAAAAAAACMk/tiLpJfrXKw0/s800/CS4%20Final.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-7704332552201210474?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-44323559090719125872010-07-23T18:37:00.000-05:002010-07-23T18:37:31.402-05:00<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Hd-mM0cbA4593FZ7BKfV0Vmg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TEonjoEN5XI/AAAAAAAACL8/NYsYDuBHxrM/s800/Blood%20Brothers%20Final.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-4432355909071912587?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-44217625418774675642010-07-22T22:28:00.000-05:002010-07-22T22:28:35.151-05:00<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Qm0ciyMS2LOMR3TY0mBj9Vmg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TEkL2ofsOjI/AAAAAAAACLo/-xhtyhVtDRM/s800/Perpetual%20Night%20Final.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-4421762541877467564?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-63393134339544906542010-07-21T10:27:00.000-05:002010-07-21T10:27:23.468-05:00<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/R_Hw9r1sZZd5oY4zMB_CIFmg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TEcRrblYcYI/AAAAAAAACLM/fnvNs6GoOt8/s800/Seventh%20Step%20Lead%20Final.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-6339313433954490654?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-85751099848883754642010-07-20T15:58:00.000-05:002010-07-20T15:58:47.476-05:00<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/4VMWGfh5H4Px_4ZCv7yDBlmg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TEYN3lb-olI/AAAAAAAACK4/uAyTAs904kg/s800/Advice%20Bloggers%20Final.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-8575109984888375464?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-72395713972130838402010-07-19T18:10:00.000-05:002010-07-19T18:10:42.016-05:00<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/h9XG9TCjOJaHsUtIHuXnHVmg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TETbRFJuP9I/AAAAAAAACKk/jjvpJpxKGGA/s800/Dont%20Like%20Me%20Back%20Final.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-7239571397213083840?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-35183813166045489482010-07-18T21:59:00.001-05:002010-07-18T22:22:06.218-05:00<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/627302A8q9PGn31eWDglDFmg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TEPExtt2LXI/AAAAAAAACKg/DYBhh2qT72w/s800/Drop%20Rope%202%20Final.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-3518381316604548948?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-82658193565142473652010-07-17T13:13:00.000-05:002010-07-17T13:13:09.281-05:00<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/UydCZL615t-tJ8DSKeMA7Vmg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TEHycVB-8mI/AAAAAAAACJ0/2iyjiOOK0yk/s800/Sorbiety%20Filter%20Final.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-8265819356514247365?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-51475063624942451892010-07-16T10:56:00.000-05:002010-07-16T10:57:25.510-05:00<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/o85Hn93guU1Z1-eA8Oa5k1mg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TECBO-fMxsI/AAAAAAAACJY/uW6kMCOkFmo/s800/Flip%20flops%20Final.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-5147506362494245189?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-58833333355283597042010-07-16T10:55:00.002-05:002010-07-16T19:05:51.349-05:00<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/bfm6uDH0j8zr2fUFlNekH1mg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TECA7h3aICI/AAAAAAAACJE/SMiWCGscXLQ/s800/Serendipity%20Final.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></table><br />A lot of folks in recovery invent their own taglines. <a href="http://comicallyinept.blogspot.com/2010/07/my-epic-heart-wrenching-drunkalogue.html">Here's mine</a>. I know a guy who often says, "The only thing I was looking for when I came in here was a good night's sleep and for people to stop chasing me." As for myself, I got sober strictly to avoid being put outdoors. But along the way, in sole pursuit of sidestepping destitution, I accidentally discovered an appreciation for my environment and the people who share it, along with a few other goodies. The harder I shake the apple tree, the more oranges fall into my lap.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-5883333335528359704?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-72741240534698163362010-07-15T21:40:00.002-05:002010-07-16T18:42:23.949-05:00<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/TjU-Ipx0ckkeHN6dz9nNA1mg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TEDtBrJLJbI/AAAAAAAACJg/VnjfCByrCyo/s800/quiet2%20Final.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></table><br /><br />Update: I pulled a switcheroo on this one. After posting the original, I decided to add vertical lines to the first and final panels, as well as abbreviate Christ's famous complaint from the cross. Oh, and I translated it from the Greek.<br /><br />The original:<br /><br /><table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ZtNrCYTVI0YIWFy0jMaU-Fmg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TD_Gp3GklDI/AAAAAAAACIw/E7jGF6lcIYU/s400/Quiet%20Desperation%20Final.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-7274124053469816336?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-43210428145958119862010-07-15T15:08:00.007-05:002010-07-28T18:40:40.113-05:00<table style="width: auto;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/fuBzmk1LRa38xXtYKttoGlmg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TD94gHDx_HI/AAAAAAAACIo/uNCI20ewXbQ/s800/GG%20Final%20Portrait%20Final.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: right;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&amp;feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></tbody></table><b><br />Update: The following post lacks a coherent point and the least shred of humor. I was trying to do something and fell flat on my face in the process. If you could just skip down a couple of posts to the "Soul" cartoon, I would consider it a personal favor. </b><br /><br />GG Allin could've been President of the United States. Granted, "Life sucks, scum fuck" isn't as catchy as "Yes, we can." I'm not saying the guy didn't need a little work. GG, who passed away in 1993 without realizing his potential as a statesman, would have needed to bathe and take the trouble to put on clothes before his televised addresses to the nation. While visiting with international heads of state, he would have needed to refrain from rolling in his own poop on top of the conference table, if not resisting the temptation to poop in the middle of the conference table altogether. <br /><a name='more'></a><br /><br />These are all minor details. The point is that GG Allin had the drive to be anything he wanted. No one agrees with me on this, except my friend Andy, who first brought up the idea of GG's political potential one day in conversation. Most people say that when GG assaulted audience members and mutilated himself during performances, he was simply "overcompensating," the idea being that deep down inside, GG was a frightened little boy. There might be something to the idea. After going through his trademark, tiresome anti-authority spiel, GG said on the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-hR9G1ZO6Q&amp;feature=related">Jane Whitney Show</a>, "I am an unbelievable person because I believe in myself and I have a very strong mind and I can get anything that I want." It's always sadly adorable to hear a little boy whistling in the dark; when he happens to be wearing a Nazi-style helmet, biker jacket and soiled briefs without trousers, it's downright hilarious.<br /><br />Whether GG was, as he insisted, a messiah or overcompensating man child doesn't really matter. (For what it's worth, his father did name him "Jesus Christ," which brother Merle pronounced as "GG.") This is a guy who routinely shit in front of complete strangers. When I worked an office job, I'd get pee anxiety if one of my pod mates sidled up to me at the adjacent urinal, and we even had partitions. Had Allin learned to kiss babies instead of coerce fellatio from people stupid enough to stand directly in front of the stage; had someone taught him the finer points of international diplomacy instead of leaving him to discover the best ways to sodomize himself with microphones; in short, had this guy found an arguably more progressive outlet for his obvious and indisputably high level of energy--who knows what could have been. The man was a force of nature, who just so happened to be a diluvian shit storm.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-4321042814595811986?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-31500736493156256462010-07-14T22:29:00.007-05:002010-07-28T18:41:29.185-05:00<table style="width: auto;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/EOuB5XqnHWKDsN6HN21lAVmg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TD5_oiqsURI/AAAAAAAACIM/56XSKEGK6ZU/s800/Butler%20Award%20Portrait%20Final.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: right;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&amp;feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b><br />Update: The following post lacks a coherent point and the least shred of humor. I was trying to do something and fell flat on my face in the process. If you could just skip down a couple of posts to the "Soul" cartoon, I would consider it a personal favor. </b><br /><br />Rhett Butler famously, and frankly, didn’t give a damn. But of course he really did. Very much so. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have threatened to crush Scarlett’s skull “like a walnut;” splattered a commissioned portrait with perfectly good booze; or joked that Scarlett might miscarry their child. True, he spoke his legendary line specifically in response to Scarlett’s plea of, “Where shall I go? What shall I do?” But nobody remembers that. We just remember the impossibly aloof, debonair figure disappearing into the mist outside Tara, only to return 14 years later reincarnated and repackaged as Brando’s “wild one," and then two years after that as Dean’s “rebel.” (I’m sure there were plenty of iterations of this archetype before Rhett and between him and the others, but I’m just an idiot with a blog here, not a cinema historian.)<br /><a name='more'></a><br /><br />So, we have the Hollywood version of not giving a damn, which consists of striking epic poses and offering empty gestures of defiance towards a world that just doesn’t get it, man. (Naturally, one of the byproducts of this cool disaffection is getting crazy amounts of snatch.) I followed along with this charade for a good long while, calling on my own preferred outsider, Morrissey. Thrift-shop blouses, fingernail polish and cuffed jeans were the order of the day at the fraternity-overrun campus of Ohio University in 1994. <a href="http://comicallyinept.blogspot.com/2009/11/portrait-of-self-as-19-year-old.html">Sound and fury</a>. And, yes, this entailed a respectable amount of snatch. <br /><br />Media-driven "not giving a damn" proved particularly alluring to me because I am scared out of my mind about what people might think about me. To be clear: I understand intellectually that relatively no one on earth ever thinks about me. But the fear of what other people <span style="font-style: italic;">might</span> think is a different story altogether, a fear so potent that it can keep a person in a holding pattern throughout an entire lifetime. It goes beyond taking a crap job because of how family might react if you instead pursued childhood dreams, or of worrying what people will think if you admit that you’re afraid of imaginary sharks at age 34.* <br /><br />So, I thought it might be fun to take a look at some folks who, from my perspective at least, honestly don’t give a damn. This has nothing to do with style, mind you. I mean folks who have recovered from the epidemic-scale addiction to attention and approval. Forget "not giving a damn" while practicing looking bored. I mean "not giving a damn" as in hating your father and mother -- in the true sense of Jesus' statement. <br /><br />Like most of my other projects, this one will most likely crash and burn due to reader ambivalence and my infamously short attention sp-- that reminds me, if you share my “what would they think” affliction and know of someone who has overcome it, drop me a line. I only have two people in mind, so this should be relatively quick and painless, either way.<br /><br />* Besides this business of what people might think, I have two other fears. The lesser of the two is a carryover from my childhood: namely, that the great white shark from the original <span style="font-style: italic;">Jaws</span> lives under my bedroom floor; moreover, whenever I turn out the lights at night, the floor turns into the ocean, and the only safe spot in the room is my bed / lifeboat. Some time after I turned, I don’t know, 32, I began making myself pace the darkened room to face down the demon. To this day, the best I can manage is to walk back and forth listening to my breath quicken while picturing that scene where the shark sinks its teeth into the stomach of the grizzled fisherman and he pukes blood. The whole thing is nerve-wracking, but not necessarily debilitating.<br /><br />Second: although I explain it to others as a phobia of bridges and heights, I’m really afraid of jumping. This makes traveling on foot north of the Loop an unsettling experience (and really spices up roller coasters), but I can still function.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-3150073649315625646?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-11492269692808055012010-07-13T22:54:00.005-05:002010-07-14T00:21:36.581-05:00<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/KmygWJ-dLSMrpqCRJ2avbFmg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TD009GtFuLI/AAAAAAAACH0/UH3X2rdiMSs/s800/9%20to%205%20Final.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></table><span style="font-style:italic;"><br /><br />I thought of this one last night after visiting Hugh MacLeod's <a href="http://gapingvoid.com/">gapingvoid</a> site. Probably not a coincidence.</span><br /><br />I've spent the last 45 minutes typing and deleting, trying to establish even the most tenuous connection between this cartoon and our wee blog's purported theme of sobriety. But I'm completely exhausted, having spent my day going from therapy to acupuncture to the comic-book store to kung fu. My entire life, as Seinfeld once said of Kramer, is a fantasy camp.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-1149226969280805501?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-57768282810310707182010-07-11T21:37:00.001-05:002010-07-12T09:06:44.792-05:00<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/FVCGV01pJIIRiR_RdXxQJ1mg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TDp_-Rub-UI/AAAAAAAACHg/2sjpu0gOYBg/s800/Suicide%20Prevention%20Kit%20Final.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-5776828281031070718?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-18203264616129260782010-07-11T20:45:00.001-05:002010-07-11T20:47:37.238-05:00<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/_SXs6NdlTFGXrPZ405SXBVmg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TDpz5TgWpfI/AAAAAAAACHM/Et1nVVEL0IY/s800/Name%20Tags%20Final.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-1820326461612926078?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-40894757826939368892010-07-10T21:51:00.007-05:002010-07-10T23:08:57.771-05:00<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/76xlL3IYl6U-GZ0oYTvm21mg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TDlA37K1G9I/AAAAAAAACHE/L1yJrQv94z0/s800/Funeral%202%20Final.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></table><br /><br />If you join a 12 Step program and actually work the steps, you will eventually be encouraged to practice prayer and meditation. Now, we all know how to pray: “God, please smite my enemies. Destroy their lodgings with fire, ye Loving and Merciful God of Unrelenting Wrath and Vengeance, and let brimstone rain down upon their fields. From the pock-marked earth let sulphur spew forth, so that where once stood gardens and orchards, no living thing shall ever again come forth, neither tree nor vine; and that no creature shall ever find nourishment or shelter therein, neither noble beast nor those that crawl upon their bellies. Selah.”<br /><br />But what about meditation? Well, as long as we’re working the steps, let’s go straight to the source. In the book <span style="font-style:italic;">Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions</span>, Alcoholics Anonymous co-founder (and thus forebearer of all 12 Step programs) Bill W. suggests that we meditate thusly: “As though lying upon a sunlit beach, let us breathe deeply of the spiritual atmosphere with which the grace of (St. Francis') prayer surrounds us. Let us look now upon the sea and ponder what its mystery is; and let us lift our eyes to the far horizon, beyond which we shall seek all those wonders still unseen.”<br /><br />Yeah, no. <br /><br />Bill defends this proposed visualization technique by appealing to the virtues of "constructive imagination." Whenever I attempt to constructively imagine sunlit beaches, however, it's only a matter of time until sweeping storm clouds usher in tidal waves brimming with dirty needles. Bill does concede that "meditation ... is essentially an individual adventure, something which each of us works out in his own way."<br /><br />To find my own way, I turned to Anthony de Mello, whose books <span style="font-style:italic;">The Way to Love</span> and <span style="font-style:italic;">Awareness</span> I greatly enjoyed. Hoping to pick up a few pointers on meditation, I purchased a copy of <span style="font-style:italic;">Sadhana, A Way to God: Christian Exercises in Eastern Form</span>. Skimming the table of contents, I immediately noted the "Fantasy" section, specifically the "Your Funeral" visualization exercise. When I was using and drinking, fantasizing about my own funeral was a favorite pastime, second only to fantasizing about my own suicide. You might expect de Mello's exercise to prove more positive than the morbid scenes I thought up, but you'd expect wrong. While he doesn't explicitly call to mind images of weeping ex-girlfriends throwing themselves onto my funeral pyre, de Mello does encourage the reader to "listen to the sermon ... who is the preacher? ... Can you accept all the good things he is saying about you?" <br /><br />The same mind that turns sunlit beaches into post-apocalyptic wastelands will twist a positive eulogy and a serene corpse into a cry for the congregation to take up arms as my cold body raises itself to feast on human flesh. I don't need to think along more self-loving or "creative" lines. I need to stop thinking altogether.<br /><br />Those were my initial impressions when first attempting the de Mello "funeral" exercise. Oddly enough, I found on subsequent attempts that the deliberate envisioning of a sunlit beach, eulogy or anything else immediately interrupted my train of thought. I stopped thinking, while somehow remaining aware that I wasn't thinking. Then, a few moments or minutes later, I would snap out of a ruthless train of thought, which had swept me away from the brief state of awareness without my noticing. So, when attempting to think, I can't, and when attempting to not think, I can't do anything but. What a privilege: today I have a life where all this passes for a problem.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-4089475782693936889?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544291083288951200.post-76304955222368377152010-07-09T21:54:00.002-05:002010-07-09T21:58:13.689-05:00<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/8Teco6OoRTNTpx0vCl7QsVmg_4Din6ByUsnXSftFcGk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2eaJT0nO6Sg/TDfhtXmKneI/AAAAAAAACGs/m8kdyXlsGNI/s800/Simple%20Easy%20Final.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/comicallyinept/ComicallyInept?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-PsvDCmrrYhwE&feat=embedwebsite">Comically Inept</a></td></tr></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6544291083288951200-7630495522236837715?l=comicallyinept.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Comically Inepthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517016929130231906noreply@blogger.com1