Lichtenstein Revisited

Back almost four years ago I happened on Roy Lichtenstein and his campy Pop Art. I like the look of the "I can see the whole room" artwork, and here have modified it into a size fitting to using as a computer wallpaper.

A bit after that, if you recall, I did up my interpretation as cup art, with work related text, which I've reposted here.

I don't remember how the inspiration for it came about, but I decided that I needed to use it as a wallpaper image again. That's how the modified image here came about.

Also, I was in need of a new artwork for my board at work, which is where I do my expressions these days. I had tried to do a snowflake (to go with the frigid weather we've been having these days) but that quickly spiraled out of control.

So, I thought I'd try my hand at this image again. I wasn't thrilled with how the first one I'd tried had come out. Taking a little more time and care, it came out better, but still not quite there. Primarily, in the original only one eye is visible.

My final attempt came out quite good, I thought, so far!!! I'm going to add some more black around it. Co-workers got a kick out of it last time, and we've got a lot of new ones these days, so this ought to entertain!!!

While looking around for a good version to morph into a wallpaper, it also occurred to me that these days phone wallpaper is more often in demand, and I was also in need of a new lock screen for mine, so I morphed it that way, too.

And how does one go about getting a Roy Lichtenstein image morphed into a wallpaper or lock screen size??? With an Image Duplicator, of course!!!

I'll be over here, waiting for my cease & desist...

Quantum Cup

"We demonstrate that a black hole remnant exists for Schwarzschild black holes in higher dimensions using gravity's rainbow. The mass of this remnant is found to be greater than the energy scale at which experiments were performed at the Large Hadron Collider."

I had something in mind to put on the side of my cup (previously I'd had "Phones, fax machines, bottled water, television... They're ALL instruments of the DEVIL!!! (and ought to be encouraged)" from Love/Hate's "Black Iguana" on it, everyone at work got a kick out of that one!!!) when I read this line that I ended up putting on instead. The story it was quoted in was that scientists at the Large Hadron Collider were saying that, because of this, it points towards there being multiple parallel universes, that holy grail of Sci Fi authors. I think they have made a quantum leap of a conclusion that Scott Bakula would be proud of.

Work bowling night was last month. I went, as I usually do, and actually had a better score on my second game than my first. Usually I start out good, and go downhill from there. I think I start analyzing my game more as I go along. My game was not stellar, but good enough for me, I had fun. Come to find out the next week, our team had the 2nd highest score!!! I think it was likely due to the one guy on our team who was at least a semi-serious bowler (he had his OWN BALL!!!) starting off his game rolling a turkey. Think he ended up with 207 that game, I think the highest I've ever actually seen up close. Anyway, this water bottle was the 2nd place prize, & I thought was pretty cool.

The setting for these shots is on the toilet seat that my dad custom painted up for us for Christmas a couple ago, that I didn't post much about the Christmas itself (except to mention the breakdown on the way there!!!) It's rad, and makes for a good background!!!

Dystopian Dance

So here it is, two posts in a row of cup art!!! Like there have been no other events in my life... This was inspired by a line from The Gaslight Anthem's "We Came to Dance"

We are the last of the jukebox Romeos

We are romantics by the light of the fourway

We came to sing out a chorus, reinvent the good times

And bring it all back home again

Honey, we came to dance with the girls with the stars in their eyes

Do the jump back, jack, stop and slide to the right

Never break their hearts, never make them cry, come on

Strike up the band, play a song that everybody knows

If I'm not your kind, then don't tell a soul

I'm not the one who hates bein' alone, so come on

And in this unstable arena

Of what's left or become of my America

I'm askin' this dance so come take my hand, come on

And in this unstable arena

Of what's left or become of my America

I'm askin' this dance so come take my hand, come on

Honey, we came to dance with the girls with the stars in their eyes

Do the jump back, jack, stop and slide to the right

Never break their hearts, never make them cry, come on

Strike up the band, play a song that everybody knows

If I'm not your kind, then don't tell a soul

I'm not the one who hates bein' alone, so come on

And if they end it all

By the end of tonight

If the big bomb drops down

Over this quiet Edison sky

We'll blow one last kiss

To all the beautiful nights like this

Under this central Jersey sky

Honey, we came to dance with the girls with the stars in their eyes

Do the jump back, jack, stop and slide to the right

Never break their hearts, never make them cry, come on

Strike up the band, play a song that everybody knows

If I'm not your kind, then don't tell a soul

I'm not the one who hates bein' alone, so come on

Cause you ain't never had a night on the town

Like I can show you such a night on the town

And you ain't never had a song you could sing

Well it's a deep dark night and I hear you, I've been there

And these are the songs that we sing

Oh, these are the songs that we sing

You've never seen a two-step

Like when you've seen it from your mama's house

Where the kids flash like lightning

To the very best dancers around

We learned from the very best dancers around

We learned from the very best dancers in town

Come take my hand, cause mama, we came to dance.

I'd always pictured a scene like this from the line quoted on the cup. A tree and shrubbery lined horizon, spanned by high tension wires (which, as pictured, encircle the cup), with that big bomb dropping down behind it. Of course, I enjoy the song. Along with this line, it also has the line, "And in this unstable arena, Of what's left or become of my America" gives this song a distinctly dystopian vibe.

Everyone at work likes it. Before I'd added the text, one of the guys I was working with recognized the mushroom cloud. I was glad for that, that it wasn't mistaken for a big red tree!!!

Around the side, I added in the river from another Gaslight Anthem tune, "Meet Me By the River's Edge", to offset the dystopia.

Collabrative Cup

If you've been following this blog for any time, you may be aware that I always put a "512" on my cup. This tradition started back a few years, when they got a little bitchy about people leaving their cups at the printers at my work, and said that if you've got a cup, you have to put your name on it. I just used my number, and no one messed with it!!! Almost always up near the top rim in green pen. I vary the style I do it in, but often in a circle.

As you can see, this time I put it in a triangle. Didn't come out especially great.

I usually keep the same cup for a week or two, and occasionally will do some artwork on it. A few days in, the fun started when a co-worker added in three possible ways to state the number. Which one is correct???

A few days later, another helpful co-worker added in the Spanish translation for our amigos from South of the Border. Looks like he doesn't have a great grasp of the language, but points for the effort.

For the final touch (at least thus far, and likely this will be all, the cup is looking pretty beat up) yet another co-worker added in the topper, three more!!! First, she put in Roman Numerals (although one could argue for DXII, though I've done V over XII before). I made mention that I was considering asking one of our Asian co-workers to add in, if they could, the Asianic characters. She responded that she could do Japanese, she'd lived there for a year!!! And she did!!! By the way, who knew that my keyboard has the Japanese characters for one and two (- and =)??? Finally, she added in what I think is German!!!

You Can't Take The Sky From Me

Another "Looking Back" post I could do at any time would be from Christmas last year. This won't be that, but in passing I'll mention that I did get a new Ipod touch 5th generation, case for the same, and the DVD set of Firefly. If you're not familiar with Firefly... I dare say you haven't spent near enough time on the interwebs. I've heard of it for years, but other than knowing that it was a short lived sci-fi series that was supposedly THE BEST SHOW EVAR and having seen some pictures of Serenity, (and knowing that it spawned the big screen release "Serenity") knew not much about it. Had my wife wrap it up, and write the tag "To: Daddy & the rest of the House Nerds". Going in cold, I have to say, it truly lives up to the hype!!! I've been taking my time, and am only up to the 6th episode because I'm trying to make it last. I have since picked up "Serenity", too, so I've got that to look forward to. Don't get me wrong, I really like my new Ipod, but I LOVE Firefly!!!

So, if you follow this blog, you know I often put something on my water cup, then use the same cup for a week or so. The last one I did, I put the second part of the line from the episode "Safe" that goes, "Today we were kidnapped by hill folk, never to be seen again. It was the best day ever!!!" Most everyone who saw it was greatly amused.

At the end of last week, I put this design on my cup, from the pilot episode. This has also gotten positive reviews. A few weeks back I came across the pair of toy dinosaurs pictured that have built in voice boxes that recite this dialogue. "Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal!!!"

In other amusements, I took the most famous Sweet Bro & Hella Jeff comic and modified it a bit & put in on a T-shirt. I took the last two frames off, took a square from the left bottom and repeated it in a stripe on the bottom, and put the last line of text under it, as well as modifying the text in the first two panels to be more work friendly (AND work related!!!) It's a pretty lame comic, but most everyone who reads it laughs like crazy!!! My older boy got a white shirt with red sleeves that he plans to add Dave Strider's broken record logo to. If you're keeping count, that will make six Homestuck themed shirts in our house!!!

Little Black Submarines

Little black submarines

Operator please

Put me back on the line

Told my girl I'd be back

Operator please

This is wreckin' my mind

Oh can it be

The voices calling me

They get lost

And out of time

I should've seen it glow

But everybody knows

That a broken heart is blind

That a broken heart is blind

Pick you up, let you down

When I wanna go

To a place I can hide

You know me, I had plans

But they just disappeared

To the back of my mind

Oh can it be

The voices calling me

They get lost

And out of time

I should've seen a glow

But everybody knows

That a broken heart is blind

That a broken heart is blind

Treasure maps, fallen trees

Operator please

Call me back when it's time

Stolen friends and disease

Operator please

Patch me back to my mind

Oh can it be

The voices calling me

They get lost

And out of time

I should've seen a glow

But everybody knows

That a broken heart is blind

That a broken heart is blind

That a broken heart is blind

The Black Keys. Amazing tune!!! First time I heard it was partway through the song on my car radio. It was on one of the more "new rock" stations, and my first thought was, "Wow, they're playing Zeppelin on here..." Totally sounds like...

I enjoy most everything I've heard by them. Did I make mention that last time I saw Counting Crows at the Wiltern they played "Gold on the Ceiling" between acts??? I looked up, and it was all true!!!

The Broken Screen

When the main event of this post occurred, my youngest exclaimed, "I know you're going to use this on your blog!!!" With that kind of set up, guess I have to!!!

Pictured above is something I rigged up a while back. On my last recliner, the cat always loved to lay about on the foot rest portion. (As i searched for the post on the recliner, I realize I've not made mention of it's demise. It was an excellent chair, but unfortunately somehow the mechanism for the footrest broke, so it was permanently extended, making the sitting down and rising up difficult... but providing a ready resting spot for the feline!!!) Around my birthday of last year it was replaced by a smaller recliner, which fits the room nicely, but the footrest hits me mid-thigh, and it's vinyl skinned. But, it's in good shape and the recliner portion works well.

So, as the old one was on it's way out, I detached the footrest portion. Knowing that kitty was already accustomed to it, and knowing that one of his favorite places in the house is looking out of the window over the washer and dryer in the laundry room, I devised something I knew he'd like. I already had a couple of shelf brackets, but to span the distance I had to add a piece of wood under the footrest. All I had around was a 2x2, which I screwed to the bottom. Naturally, I had to mount the whole rig far enough out to clear the old school louver windows. He took to it right off!!! The first hiccup happened a couple days later. The shelf brackets are of stamped steel, and the 2x2 is on the very end. In other words, not near strong enough to support the mighty girth of wonder cat. It twisted around and probably dumped him off, or at least made him do the awkward struggle to maintain composure as it rotated around. I added in a couple aluminum brackets running up higher on the window frame, and it was back in service. As the weather warmed up, I finally got the chance to open up the window, affording him not only the view, but also the multitude of smells his kind so enjoys!!!

A couple weeks back, my wife, being the first one up, explains, "The screen is out!!!" There's another phrase that has taken on a whole new connotation!!! First thing I was wondering was if it was a computer screen, a TV screen or a phone screen!!! Of course, when I found out, I wasn't as concerned as I'd started. A little miffed that I was going to have to replace a screen, but that was about it. I mean, there wasn't any way our giant cat could get out between those little four inch slats... was there??? I did my morning routine, but I did notice that he wasn't around... so I told my wife to try and locate him. He eventually answered back... from directly below the window!!! Now his tuxedo markings are that of the Great Houdini!!! Oh, and the window is now closed.

Next up is some of the most intricate whiteboard art yet, the older's rendition of the Mobius Double Reacharound (Virus??? will putting virus references on my blog make it a restricted site???), another reference to Homestuck!!!

Found the original image. I know I had issue with it before, but now it looks like blogger posts GIFs without issue!!!

And finally, a little cup art. The only part I did was the 512. Below it is one of the new line stickers from work, which one of the girls did my nickname on. Now if you wondered, you have a clue to my real identity!!! Last week I'd worn my Karkat shirt, and ended up having to explain it several times. Did an image search for Karkat for one of the girls, and she says, "Awww, he's CUTE!!!" Haha!!! I was working with her again the next day, and she added in his shirt logo. I noticed shortly thereafter that it was actually a mirrored image. I theorized that it was because she's left-handed!!!

The Happy Easter Post

Going a little random here, as I am wont to do!!!

To start off with, a couple of whiteboard artworks!!! The first is by my firstborn, the ancient enigma!!!

The second is my own creation. The text is from the examine of the mysterious statues in Runescape, "it's eyes stare off into the distance..."

I liked the mysterious statues better before the graphical update.

Not a lot new in the old cup art department, but I did do up this design for my 512 on my current one. I liked the way it came out. I was aiming for a bit of a Southwest look, but it missed by a bit, I think. Still like it.

The next shot is related to the boy's Birthday post. With his birthday money he bought himself a skateboard that he'd really wanted. He used it quite a bit at first, but has tapered off a lot. Seems like the wheel bearings are shot on it already, I'll see about some replacements if he promises to practice on it some more.

Finally onto the Easter festivities, here's a couple of shots of the egg hunt!!! In a move reminiscent of one seven years ago, I hid one in plain sight. It took quite a bit of hot and cold before he found it.

You can see the enlightenment on his face as he spots it!!! One of those classic perfect timing shots!!!

Good times!!!

In other not so good times news, poor Janices' transmission seems to be on it's last legs. I'm no expert, but I think it's lost the high gear band or bands, as the case may be. Naturally, right after I replace the battery again!!! Once again, I'm no expert, but I'm thinking around $1500 to have the trans done, and it's just not worth it to me. I'd totally get another one (being as I've got a good running engine in her, lifetime starter albeit not that great at staying working, and lifetime motor mounts albeit in need of being replaced already, and good tires and fresh rear axle shafts and good brakes and a new radio... all things I'd at least consider swapping over) AND there's a guy selling the rarer and more coveted 2-door coupe version in great condition (with the exception of a blown engine) with a fresh rebuilt trans for $1000... I really didn't want to get into another project like that!!! ANyway, my wife drives her more than I do (somehow that became her car) and since diesel fuel has been consistently higher than gasoline for the past few years... she's up for something else. She'd like a small, fuel efficient 4-door with decent hauling room, and even seems to more inclined towards a wagon of some kind. Ideally, I think (and she likes the idea, too) a low miles Saturn SW wagon of around the vintage of Baby would be awesome. We are quite pleased with the reliability, performance and mileage of our current Saturn, and I've got a couple of lifetime parts on her already. Alternatively, I've always liked the Subaru Legacy wagons and have heard good of their reliability. VW Passat, Escort (or better yet Mercury Tracer), or perhaps even Focus or Accord wagons might be acceptable, if we were to find nice condition, fairly low mile, and well optioned models in our price range. So far I've attempted to get in touch with four. One kept bouncing my E-mails back and undeliverable, another I left a message and never heard back, another was actually a stone's throw from our home and I cruised by and saw the guy getting out of it. Rolled down the window and asked if he wanted to sell it, and he said he'd changed his mind!!! The fourth was already sold. Sigh, car shopping.

Next Stop: The Moon!!!

A while back, I did a little doodle of a spacecraft, something of a lander module.

Came out semi decent. Did a scan of it and 'shopped it into a lunar surface shot I found. Semi plausible.

Shortly after doing the drawing, though, it occurred to me that, when inverted, it looked quite a bit like an angry robot face!!!

Of course, I had to then 'shop it onto my bad robot cup drawing from a while ago!!!

Passing the Torch Random

Once again, I've got a lot I've been meaning to blog, and it's time to get some of it out!!!

First up is some cup art I did back on December 7th. I was going to subscript it with "We will never forget", but it didn't come out too recognizable. It's supposed to be the Arizona memorial, in honor of Pearl Harbor day.

There was another birthday, where as usual I was contracted to make a cake. Actually, it was a double birthday celebration, so I was requested to do two or something... I forced my older boy to do the second cake, ergo the title of this post!!!

My niece is a fan of Justin Bieber, and that was my only direction for a cake. I utilized the Rage Comic "Now Kiss" guy, and made the dolls her and Justin, then added their names (+ each other) to the bottom, along with a heart. She LOL'ed.

I'm sure he's been featured here before, but the other requested cake was for SpongeBob. I've done at least two other SpongeBob cakes, and even Wubbsy with Bob's pants on, and I'm about Bobbed out. My older boy is quite the aspiring artist, so I told him, "It'll be a new medium for you to work in!!!" He wasn't especially enthused to be doing so, but he came up with this slightly Picasso themed cake. the smaller eye is actually 3D about an inch tall!!!

That same evening was my company's Christmas party. There we are dressed up for it. This year, instead of having a photographer on the way in, taking a formal picture then selling it to you on the way out, they had a photo booth. The pictures were free, and they had a lot of costumes and props to use, too. I wore a sparkly hat and my wife wore a black & white feather boa and a necklace that read "HO HO HO" in large letters.

I worked the Friday after Thanksgiving, at time and a half, plus getting paid for the vacation day. I'm doing the same for tomorrow, Christmas eve. They fed us breakfast and lunch last time, and I'm assuming they will tomorrow, too. If not, I'll be going hungry.

I saw the Counting Crows at the Wiltern back at the end of November. It was a pretty good show.

Personal space and general admission shows are pretty much mutually exclusive.

Opening act one was Tender Mercies, who come to find out, Counting Crows has been doing several of their songs for years as covers. I have many as bootlegs, and one (maybe two???) are featured on their latest album. Instant fan!!! The second opening act, Mean Creek, well, they were loud. They feature a cute girl guitarist, who constantly jumped up and down the whole set. She made a comment that she loves when the crowds are rowdy, and we were the rowdiest. Pretty much the opposite was the case, I LOL'ed.

I liked the artwork for the Wiltern show. Wish they'd had it on a shirt. I never much care for the concert shirts from Counting Crows. Strange.

Goody day at work was kinda bad this year. We're back to three lunch breaks, and by the time I got my break, they were out of a lot of stuff, including drinks. Oh well, I've been told next year will be better. This year WAS better for gravy day. If I'm not mistaken, it was only 5% under what I've been told was the record amount. Also 10% under what I was told by a "reliable source" to be this year's amount. I'm good with it.

Though The Truth May Vary

A little more than a month back I was listening to the radio while driving into work, as is my custom. As is also my custom, I was hitting the buttons whenever a station would play commercials or be talking about something of no interest to me. I switch to a station just as some upbeat, poppy sounding tune comes on. It sounded a bit familiar, like some song I liked but I couldn't place it. Then the lyrics start in. At that point I realize I'm not familiar with the song, but I'm at once hooked. I hit the button that changes the display to the artist, then to the song title. "Little Talks", by Of Monsters and Men. I like that feature on that function on that radio. If I could find that radio again, I'd buy another. (Completely related sidenote, I bought my wife a radio for her car for Mother's day, made by the same manufacturer, Dual. It has no mechanical drives, but does have the audio input jack, USB port, and an SD card. Pretty cool!!!)

Later that day I looked up the lyrics. They don't seem exactly right. More on that later. Also looked up the video and watched it a few times. It doesn't really seem to go with the lyrics, but it's an epic video nonetheless.

In the next few days, I was thinking about the line from the chorus, "Though the truth may vary, This ship will carry our bodies safe to shore". What does it mean??? Hmm, well, they are from Iceland... and the video had quite a bit of imagery from the area, ice and snow and meteors and volcanoes. I got the image of a Viking funeral ship, so I drew one on the side of my cup!!! I think it came out as some of my best cup artwork, and my co-workers all seemed impressed, too. My firstborn said, "Nice shading!!!"

In the next few days, I added that particular line to the bottom.

I would ask co-workers if they'd heard of Of Monsters & Men or the song when they would inquire. Only one had. He displayed his pony tail and said, "It's the hair!!!" He said it was one of his son's favorites.
If you've not heard the song, it's something of a duet for the first couple of verses. I have transcribed what I think are the correct lyrics here, although there seem to be a couple of versions that sound a bit different. Here's what I came up with:

Hey! Hey! Hey!

I don't like walking around this old and empty house

So hold my hand, I'll walk with you my dear

The stairs creak I should sleep, it's keeping me awake

It's the house telling you to close your eyes

Some days I can't even trust myself

It's killing me to see you this way

'Cause though the truth may vary

This ship will carry

Our bodies safe to shore

Hey! Hey! Hey!

There's an old voice in my head that's holding me back

Well tell her that I miss our little talks

Soon it will be over, and buried with our past

We used to play outside when you were young

And full of life and full of love

Some days I feel like I'm wrong when I am right

Your mind is playing tricks on you my dear

'Cause though the truth may vary

This ship will carry

Our bodies safe to shore

Hey!

Don't listen to a word I say

Hey!

The screams all sound the same

Hey!

Though the truth may vary

This ship will carry

Our bodies safe to shore

You're gone, gone, gone away

I watched you disappear

All that's left is a ghost of you

Now we're torn, torn, torn apart

There's nothing we can do

Just let me go, we'll meet again soon

Now wait, wait, wait for me

Please hang around

I see you when I fall asleep

Hey!

Don't listen to a word I say

Hey!

The screams all sound the same

Hey!

Because though the truth may vary

This ship will carry

Our bodies safe to shore

Don't listen to a word I say

Hey!

The screams all sound the same

Hey!

Though the truth may vary

This ship will carry

Our bodies safe to shore

Though the truth may vary

This ship will carry

Our bodies safe to shore

Though the truth may vary

This ship will carry

Our bodies safe to shore

Final note: A couple weeks back, the toilet started leaking from the tank junction. It's an old, OLD toilet, and one of the sides where it has the mounting holes to hold the tank on (three of 'em on this particular model) the porcelain is broken away. I tried a new tank gasket, but it didn't work, so I just bought a whole new rig. It was only $84 with tax, which works out to $1 a pound!!! Of course, it's a ultra low water usage unit, and I was skeptical about it's ability, but thus far I've been quite pleased by it!!! That's it as the backdrop.

Where's My $43.2 Million???

Inspired by a previously posted Roy Lichtenstein painting, I did this likeness and tribute on my cup. Most everyone who sees it at my work loves it!!! I then get to share how it's based on a painting that sold for more than 43 million dollars!!! If you didn't know, that's the area of my work that I'm employed in, the bin structure.

I got to try something in Paint Shop Pro, stitching in the radius from another shot to get the whole quote bubble in. It looks funky and not right, but at least you can read the whole text!!!

About the title of this post: For you, the valued blog reader, I'll let it go for half of the price of the original, along with a signed certificate of authenticity!!!

AppleCup

I've always got things I should blog about, but I often delay and then they go away. I have a post (with no images as of yet, probably I'd just web source 'em) about a couple of really good burger places I've recently come across. Just last weekend was my boy's birthday celebration, it came together pretty well, and that one I do have a few good pictures of (but I missed the one I wished I got).

Anyway, here's one that I've had for a while that I've been meaning to do. Not long after I came up with my OC I did his cutie mark on my cup, leading to the rather lengthy explanation. Even people who didn't get the back story liked the art. My older boy did a link to that particular post on his tumblr, so a lot of the bronies got a chance to check it. One of his circle was complaining about everyone making up alicorns, and my boy asked him, "Even my dad's trollicorn???" and the guy responds, "No, that one's awesome!!!"

I've got some of Applecore's back story worked out in my head, and I can picture a comic of him telling his story to the cutie mark crusaders...

Second shot here, I saw in a parking lot a few weeks back. I LOLLed, Manther was one of the cats we used to have. Full name Samantha, but as that name is too long, it was naturally shortened to Manther. She was mostly black fur, so Manther the panther. That reminds me, the older boy was taking some pictures of our cat the other day, wonder if they are on his tumbler now???

Pepper Jack!!!

First time in a while that I've made the time to do some artwork on one of my cups. This one may require a bit of explanation...

At work, there's several different way to get a difficult order. You could get a cut, a big count, something bulky, or something heavy. At some point a month or two back, one of the guys started to announce when he'd get a heavy order by announcing something to the effect of "I got a 122 pounder... With cheese!!!" Kinda like a quarter pounder with cheese, is the idea, if you didn't get that.

So, that became a thing, where a few of the guys would say that. I decided I was going to start calling out all different types of cheese whenever I'd get a bad order. Limburger!!! Gouda!!! Deep fried mozzarella (I particularly liked the way that one rolls off the tongue..)!!!

Then I threw out "Pepper Jack!!!" That struck a chord!!! A play on the term "jacked", and now whenever some of us would get a bad order, we'll say, "I got pepper jacked!!!"

One day I'm working on one of the printers where you're likely to get a difficult order, and I penned this on my cup. Several people got it right off, but some aren't quite clear on what was going on. A couple of people wondered, "what, no funfetti cake???" No, no, I love that stuff. A couple of people thought it had something to do with the Green Bay Packers. Ha ha, closer but no. I'd have used my highlighter and yellowed it some for that.

I used this cup for more than a week.

I like the way the picture I took of it came out, with the shadow and light. This is on the end table I have next to my recliner now, since my older has moved a new desk into the corner here. He's got the best seat in the house, I think.

The connotation attached to pepper jack is unfortunate. I rather like pepper jack.

Quick CupDate

Here's a little artwork I did on the rim of my cup last week. Started out with just the blocky colorful one, and I expanded as the week went on.



And that is all for now.

CupDate: The Truth is Out There

And the truth is this: It's been a long, long time since I've had a chance to do any cup artwork!!! Work has been busy, but last week it seemed like there were a lot less lines per person, even though we were still doing a lot of business. Anyway, I finally had a chance to do some!!!



If you know at all, you will recognize this as a rendition of the poster Fox Mulder had (in his office or room??? Can't remember which) in the X-Files. Even people who aren't familiar with the show like the artwork.

Funny thing, when I googled "I want to believe" to see if I was getting the look right from memory, I clicked on the "shopping" link, to see what it'd have. I expected it to have the DVD of the second X-Files movie, which was called "X-Files: I want to Believe" in the first several slots, but instead most of it was for the actual poster!!! If I ever get the basement cleared out and make up a man cave down there, I'm totally getting that poster, as well as hanging up my wife's "Tombstone" poster.



A funny observation that I noticed when I was first penning this, and several others have noticed since: The saucer looks an awful lot like a sombrero!!! I joke to people who comment to that effect that after I drew the sombrero-saucer, I had to decide if I was going this way, or drawing the Tapitio man!!!



I spent entirely too much time photoshopping the saucer onto his head. Not so effective, actually. I notice that the actual sombrero I took out, the edges look a lot like tire treads!!!