Do You Want Cream With That?

"OOOOOOOOOOOOooooood morning, Peaksville!It's five am.Time for your 'P-98; news...."

So begins Sam Everly's Tuesday morning.He pushes the 'off' button on his 'GE' dual alarm clock/cd player,and swings his feet out of bed.

So begins Sam Everly's every morning.Always waking to the 'P-98' news sign on-never the news.Always swinging his feet out of bed.Always raising zombie like to the bathroom and then downstairs to waste away the first half hour or so of his morning doodling on the computer.

Check his e-mails,read the funnies.He has to have his funnies.More than once does he sit in front of his E-Machine patiently waiting for it to reboot back to life so that he can get onto to his funnies:Comics.com,Go Comics,or his two secret weapons,SeattlePI.com and TheSeattleTimes.com.

Sam doesn't live in Seattle,nor Washington.Sam lives in Peaksville,Ohio.But The Times carries today's 'Crankshaft',and thePost-Intelligencer carries today's 'Funky Winkerbean'.

They are two of the many main strips Sam has to have.'Moderately Confused','Frog Applause','Retail','The Meaning Of Lila'.He has to have them all.

'ZZZZZZZZ'Snoring.Bridget must have slept the night on the couch.It's funny,he didn't notice that she wasn't in bed.She must have had another migraine-or worse-another cluster.These always make her sleep downstairs.Millie,the eight year old cocker spaniel is sleeping soundly beside Bridget,Sam supposes.

Thank God for 'Imitrex'.It is a wonder drug.

Back to typing,Sam finishes his funnies and starts reading the few blogs that he has become addicted to reading.These bloggers are close internet friends.He comments on their thoughts whether political,poetical,life expanding or life experiencing.Sam likes expanding on their ideas or complimenting them on their great knowledge or wisdom or passions or love.

This morning two are brand new:"Love your thoughts on the President.They are right on!"He writes on one,"Love Tattoos,"He begins on another,"The only reason I don't have any myself is because I can't think of anything that I would want permanently on my body."Satisfied with his wit,Sam looks at his Timex Expedition Indiglo watch.The turquoise brilliance splashes in his eyes:'Time to go.'

Sam is already in his t-shirt and underwear.He has set his pants and work shirt on the ottoman next to the dining room table-across the way from the computer.Why the ottoman is next to the only used for homework table and not next to the love seat in the living room,Sam will never know. He doesn't make these decisions,he just accepts them.

Refreshed by his internet,it is only now that he is away from it that Sam realizes he needs coffee.The coffee in the pot is old.The remains of last evening's Folger's French Roast.Sam doesn't mind.He pours it into his giant travel mug,and contemplates it a moment.Not enough.

Not enough caffeine.

Sam reaches past the toaster and grabs the three quarters full jar of 'Great Value' 100% Arabica Instant Coffee'.Grabbing a clean looking dirty spoon from the sink he heaps in two large teaspoons of the instant and mixes it up with the Folger's in his travel mug.

He nukes it in the Emerson microwave for two minutes while he puts on his shoes and socks and brushes his teeth.'Ding!Sam grabs the steaming cup and forgoing milk,pops closed the lid.

Quickly,Sam dons his fitted Cleveland Indians cap,grabs his work stuff,the Focus keys and with all that-plus his coffee mug-out the door he goes.

The Black Keys Mania

In an effort to get tickets to their Dec,22,2007 sold out show,I wrote on The Black Key's webpage .Since I linked to here,I thought,heck,I might as well paste some of my previous posts and my all time favorite video(couldn't hurt:-)

http://thedrew102.blogspot.com/2006/11/time-to-ketchup-pt-ii.html

http://thedrew102.blogspot.com/search?q=the+black+keys

http://thedrew102.blogspot.com/2007/06/tv-commercials-that-rock.html

Jan.9th,2007
CRAP!Ouch!This was ugly.The only good thing about this game was when they started the third quarter,they played '10 am Automatic' by The Black Keys as a sound bite intro.

http://thedrew102.blogspot.com/2006/09/time-to-ketchup-2.html

http://thedrew102.blogspot.com/2006/09/black-keys_12.html

Introduction:

Hello.I am Ronald McDonald.To most people,I am the well loved clown that happily imparts the glory of the fun time experience of eating at the world's largest fast food restaurant,my home,my beloved,McDonald's.But when you serve over 54 million people around the world each and every day like we do at Micky D's,I feel it is not just the fun that brings you to my place,but the LOVE.

And not just the love for a great dinning experience;I'm talking a shared love.You love eating at McDonald's and 'WE' love having you.Whether you are enjoying getting your daily morning cup of Arabica coffee at our quick service drive-thru'or taking your grandchildren as a special treat to one of our many indoor/outdoor playground facilities,just knowing that we are bringing a smile to your face,puts one on ours.

We're Loving It.

During this holiday season,we at McDonald's thought of yet another way of putting another happy smile upon your busy faces.We thought that while you were enjoying your cheeseburger or a healthy and delicious fruit salad;you would like to hear a nice Christmas story.

You don't have to even be Christian to enjoy this story of love.I'm talking to you Japan.The story can be used as a metaphor for old fashioned values finding their place in this modern new fangled world.

"Merii Kurisumasu."

* *** *

The Comics

This Turkey Day comic,a'Moderately Confused',by Jeff Stahler,hits all the right marks.It is current,topical,comical and just downright funny.That is why it is the comic of the week.

In what is quickly becoming one of my favorite strips,'Frog Applause' has once again come in a close second with this great Saturday strip.Yes,I have wondered if....


But,the comic of the week belongs to Doonesbury,also from Saturday,December,1st.All week,Doonesbury has been about this guy named Toogle who is in Iraq downloading music off of Pandora.com for his fellow soldiers.Today he quoted Paul McCarthy,in what John Lennon said proves that Paul can write very profound lyrics.Just an awesome comic.By far,it is the comic of the week.

Yep,it's a tie.'Bad Reporter',by Don Asmussen,had two great strips this week.Both are cutting edge and sock it to the man.That is why they are both the comic of the week.

This 'Tank McNamara' from Thursday,Dec,13th ran a very close second.I laughed out loud at this.



This '9 To 5',by Harley Schwadron,from yesterday,Saturday,the 15th,made me laugh so hard that I had to make it the comic of the week.



This 'Luann ',by Greg Evans,from Thursday,December 20th,2007 was the accumulation of many many strips before it.I don't know how long it has been since hotty-bo-tottie Toni Daytona and Luann's brother,Brad have been going around in clumsy circles trying to justify liking each other,but no matter what later in the week strips implied,this is the loooong awaited moment where Toni admits to herself that she loves the somewhat plain Brad.Greg Evans has made this relationship seem sooo real and believable,that it is an actual happy moment in 'my' life to see this love kiss from Toni to Brad.That Mr.Evans worked it so beautifully into a Chirstmas strip is just ...magic!That is why this is the comic of the week.




In a week of Christmas themed comics,this 'Get Fuzzy' from Christmas Eve broke the mold and went a different direction.So funny.

Though I am not a real big fan of 'Pearls Before Swine',I thought this Christmas day strip was the best of all the Christmas strips and it even started turning me into a fan of this somewhat quirky comic.The 'Peanuts' reference is quite special especially since the artist,Stephan Pastis,used to work for Charles Schulz.That is why this is the comic of the week.

This 'Frank and Ernest' by Thaves from Friday Janurary 4th,2008 is by far the funniest strip so far in the new year.That is why it is the comic of the week.




This very funny 'Tiny Sepuku' ,from Wednesday,January 10,asks the very hard question of whether love should hurt and then gives us the answer.It is the comic of the week.
'Tiny Sepuku is an advice comic strip. The name is a butchered spelling of the Japanese word "seppuku" which roughly means "sacrifice for the benefit of others". It began as a parody of Hello Kitty in 1997' (quote from the Tiny Sepuku website)

Happy Thanksgiving

http://www.ohio.com/entertainment/shinn/11003761.html?page=all&c=y


Though it has been a rough year in many ways,I want to give thanks to not only my God but to my Family,and also to my Friends.Thank you for being there for my joys.I praise you for being with me during my concerns.Perhaps,it is through these concerns that I give you the most thanks and praise.I do not know how I would have survived with out you.In Jesus' name I pray.Amen

Freakin' Liar!

Here is a freakin' liar telling a blatant freakin' lie!The question I ask is...why would he be lying?Just to lie?To mislead?Why?

The Difference Between Great Britain And America

http://www.maniacworld.com/Phone-Salesman-Amazes-Crowd.html

<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnVDHzUAj30>

The Comics

This 'Frog Applause' was in contention for the comic of the week... ...just pointing it out for a job well done,that's all.




But this,'Clear Blue Water' from yesterday(Saturday,November,17,2007) is the 'clear' winner.'Clear Blue Water',by Karen Montague-Reyes,is a great strip.It tells the stories of the Eve & Manny Torres family and all of their trials and tribulations.The Torres are a spunky group with a very large family that includes young twins and an autistic child as well.Throw in a quirky bunch of friends and a mix bag of political ideologies and you have an unpredictable madhouse of laughter.This strip jumps the gun on the tradition Thanksgiving themed comic strip week,but with hilarious results.That is why it is the comic of the week.

OSU BEATS WOLVERINES

Hurray!Buckeyes beat Michigan 14-3!That's four years in a row folks!

Stupid Is As Stupid Does

Let's see,for $11.00[a dollar raise]an hour,my company wants me to drive to the warehouse-45 miles away-towards Columbus-to be at their warehouse in Plain City
at 5:30am-driving my car,using my gas,to pick up a new employee because he doesn't have enough gas in his car to drive.

Then,next,for a $10.00 traveling bonus they want me to travel-without my $11.00 per hour pay-for an hour an a half,the opposite way>back past Bellefontaine>all the 90 mile way to Celina.

So far,I have driven all this time and mileage for $10.00 lousy dollars.Then,if I am lucky,I get to put in a 8-10 hour day,and drive this new employee the 90 miles back to his car in Plain City for free!

Finally,again for free,I get to go home.

If I take the van{because it is running better} and say,if I stretch the truth and say that it gets 20 mpg,it will take me over 13 gallons of gas to go from here,to there,there and back again,and then back to here.At Bellefontaine gas prices($3.20),I will spend $41.60 on gas.I will not get paid the 45 minutes to Plain City,nor the 180 mile round trip to Celina and back to Plain City.Also,my time is free for the 45 minutes going home.That is four and a half hours of my time for which I am not getting paid.My van does get $10.00 gas though.

If I work eight hours,I will have put in an extra four and a half hours for free to get it.So,$88.00 plus the ten bucks for gas is $98.00.Minus the $41.60 is $56.40.Divide that by 12 hours that I put in,that's,let's see...
...$4.60 an hour.

I made more than that on my paper route when I was twelve.That was thirty seven years ago!I might just call in sick...because I am sick of this shit.

Quick notes

Here are some quick notes:


Where would I be without friends who care for my well being?I would -and should -kiss you.You know who you are.

The Browns once again got robbed.I won't go as far as my Dad and say the game is fixed,but how come Pittsburgh's offensive line was allowed to tackle our defense without ever getting a flag,but with less then two minutes to go with us on The Steelers 40 yard line we get a THIRTY YARD penalty?Sour grapes?I only wish.

My work sucks.Now that I have been there a whole year I realize that my soul is dying there.The only way to get a head is either give it or,be related to someone high up.Once again,I only wish this was sour grapes.People working there only a month and a half are given the only guaranteed eight hour jobs because they are either the nephew of a higher boss or the Mom of another.Meanwhile they give me a dollar raise only to give me more responsibility with less hours and more travel time(140 miles a day without travel time or gas mileage).

It has been a rough couple of weeks.When it rains,it pours.Which reminds me...

...I like it when it rains.

Shit!It's almost 5:00 am.I gotta go.

The Comics

There is Diesel Sweeties.....The new daily strip....
.....and there is Diesel Sweeties....

....the on line more adult version.

Either version is a rocker[and I rock out].I have been a fan of Richard Steven's Diesel Sweeties from almost the very beginning,somehow finding it on line very early on.I even have three of his t-shirts( 'Johnny Cash Is A Gangsta'/The cassette image/and the 'Chewie Is My Co-Pilot' t-shirt.

This on-line Diesel Sweeties from last Sunday,November 4th,pushed all the right buttons.A girl with blue hair.Talking about watching 'hentai' (Japanese anime porn).It was just adult enough without actually going too far off the edge.More of an imagination thing,really.Sort of like old forties movies.That is why is is the comic of the week.

P.S. Crush all hu-mans.

The Ghost Of Tom Joad

Thanks to Mixter for putting me into a 'Rage'.This is a so-so video of 'Rage Against The Machine's cover of the Bruce Springsteen song,'The Ghost Of Tom Joad'.Rage's version is,in my opinion,one of the absolute best rock songs:EVER!

Of course the song is about one of the main characters in John Steinbeck's absolutely great novel,"The Grapes Of Wrath".And of course
the anthem shouted out near the end of the song is the famous soliloquy made famous by Henry Fonda who portrayed Tom Joad in the absolute classic movie version of the magnificent book.





Now here is Bruce Springsteen's version.


I liked Rage's version best...but what about you?

Cleveland Browns vs.The Pittsburgh Steelers

Yes,OH,yes,I know it is a little early in the week to be encouraging you Browns fans out there.And yes,OH,yes I know that The Browns will have to play their absolute best for any chance at beating the 'Big whoop-Dee Doo' Pittsburgh Steelers whom are soo great,and win soo many Super Bowls.

But this message is not for you,the fans.This message is for the team itself.

Dear,Cleveland Browns football team,You come from a long history of great Cleveland Brown football teams.At one time,THE BROWNS had the biggest win percentage in the entire NFL!The Browns were in ten consecutive Championship games!!That's TEN!!The Browns have 8 league championships recognized by the NFL Hall Of Fame!Their first year in The NFL they won the whole ship and Kaboodle:They were The NFL Champions!

Cleveland fans-and I am not just talking about the crazy goofballs that dress up trying to be part of the show...but the true blooded-'Love The Browns NO MATTER WHAT' FANS:LOVE YOU!

Be Brave!Play to win!We are rooting for you!We know you can do it!Goooo Browns!!!Beat Pittsburgh!!!

The Hippocratic Party!!!

That's right folks,there's a new party in town.I call it,'The Hippocratic Party".We will stand up to the BIG hypocrites in office-both Repubican[no sic] and Democratic.

Our job:To expose the hypocrites for whom they are.Gay,but against gay rights?Hypocrite!In bed with the bin Laden family{no wonder you can't find him}?HYPOCRITE!

That's right,America,we're standing up for Life,Liberty and The Pursuit of Happiness!Whose with me,America?Let's vote the crooks out and bring back Truth,Justice and the American Way!

All aboard,say,Yea!Yea to The Hippocratic Party!Hip!Hip!Hurray!

The Comics

In a week with allot of fun Halloween strips [I'm talking to you'Retail'],this past Sunday's (Oct.28th) 'Biographic' was the absolute most fun.That is why it is this week's comic of the week.

Well Remembered

My nephew Todd was laid to rest yesterday.It was the nicest remembrance service that I have ever been to.Boy did Todd travel.He saw 46 states,and most of Europe and Asia.He loved music,was well read,but most importantly,very well loved.26 is much too young,but he got the most out of it.I will miss you Todd.

As a tribute to Todd,here is 2nd Corinthians 5:1-8[from 'The Message ' Bible]:
We know that when these bodies of ours are taken down like tents and folded away, they will be replaced by resurrection bodies in heaven—God-made, not handmade—and we'll never have to relocate our "tents" again. Sometimes we can hardly wait to move—and so we cry out in frustration. Compared to what's coming, living conditions around here seem like a stopover in an unfurnished shack, and we're tired of it! We've been given a glimpse of the real thing, our true home, our resurrection bodies! The Spirit of God whets our appetite by giving us a taste of what's ahead. He puts a little of heaven in our hearts so that we'll never settle for less.

That's why we live with such good cheer. You won't see us drooping our heads or dragging our feet! Cramped conditions here don't get us down. They only remind us of the spacious living conditions ahead. It's what we trust in but don't yet see that keeps us going. Do you suppose a few ruts in the road or rocks in the path are going to stop us? When the time comes, we'll be plenty ready to exchange exile for homecoming.




And here is a great song that seems to fit somehow from 'Paint Your Wagon'.Yes,that is Lee Marvin singing.