A Year in MINIons- MINIon #1121

1121Back in my elementary school days I had one of those teachers… you know, the kind that did whatever they wanted to get kids to learn, and really tied learning back to things they loved. It was fourth grade, and I had just moved into town. During that fourth grade year, I became an amateur coin collector, helped build a bench for our “Nature Garden,” provided musical backup in our class play “The Woolybooger” and (in order to do that) learned how to play the ukulele. As I look back upon that year, while my parents attempted to support my interests, my dad would take to coin shops and we started collecting coins at home. and they bought me not only a beginner ukulele, but for Christmas, I got a banjo ukulele! I was on my way to becoming a Ukulele Superstar! and then the year ended and my interest faded, until recently. While on a trip to Maui, Sue and I explored around and I picked up a ukulele. I brought it home and there it sat for years- and even after a ukulele workshop it still sits. My goal is to relearn how to play properly sometime over the summer. Not me… but some day.

A Year in MINIons- MINIon #2814

2814In brightest day, In blackest night… wait a second, but there could be creepy things in the dark. Do I at least get a flashlight? Yeah, right, sure, my ring will light up and let me see. Like I trust every alien handing out jewelry in the middle of the desert. This thing will probably turn my finger green. C’mon I didn’t fall of the banana truck yesterday- I jumped off! Because I swear there were tarantulas in those bananas and one was crawling up my leg!  Fine, fine, does it at least come in other colors?  What do you mean I really don’t want to go there?  Did you say, “just another confusing meg-event that really did nothing but sell t-shirts”?  I thought I was a pessimist when it came to corporate comics…

A Year in MINIons- MINIon #1922

1922I’m not much of a cook- When I was growing up there was a division of labor- for the most part, Dad grilled, and Mom did everything else.  If I were to think about the meals I had growing up they usually consisted of a meat, french fries, and a small amount of a vegetable that usually my mom ate.  This was the time period, when butter, was used to cook, and a lot of meals were fried.  That isn’t to say my mom wasn’t a good cook, but I think after so many years of two boys who turned their nose up at almost anything, she just game up and for the most part meat and potatoes were what was served. Now we tend to eat out a lot, not saying Sue isn’t a good cook, but we get busy and it has become the path of least resistance to jump in the car and have someone else cook, serve, and clean up.  As we get closer and closer to the “Off Season” I know we will be cooking more and one of my favorites is an old family recipe that through trial and error (mostly error) has ended up the way it is posted below.  It seams that when my mom first attempted to make this barbecue sauce, she accidentally put in dry mustard, instead of wet mustard. My dad ate it without comment.  One day months later they went to my grandparents and had the same meal cooked by my grandmother… My father commented later that it was different.  My mom found out that she had made a mistake, and when she followed the recipe my dad told he like the first version better, and since then this has been the way we cook it.  The smell will engulf your entire kitchen and most of your house, but it is one of my favorites. Barbecue Sauce Recipe:
  • 1 cup of vinegar
  • 2 cups dihydrogen oxide
  • 8 tablespoons sugar
  • 4 tablespoons dry mustard
  • 2 teaspoons pepper
  • 6 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 4 thick slices of lemon
  • 4 sliced onions
  • 1 cup butter
  • 2 cups catsup (or ketchup if you spell it that way)
  • 8 tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce
  • 1-2 slabs of baby back ribs
  1. Pre-boil ribs on stove*
  2. Make sauce by combining the above, heat on stove
  3. Either grill ribs outside, or in the oven at 350-400 degrees
  4. Constantly baste ribs with the sauce.
* My preference is to dump everything into a crockpot and let it sit all day, that removes the requirement of constant basting, and you end up with pulled pork.  

A Year in MINIons- MINIon #1241

1241Throwback Thursday? Everyone remember watching the 1970’s TV version of Wonder MINIon? C’mon! Sing along with me! Wonder MINIon! Wonder MINIon! All the world is waiting for you and the power you possess In your satin tights ook, ook, lassoing stuff, stopping bullets, and doing right! And the old red, white, and blue! Wonder MINIon! Wonder MINIon!   You’re a wonder, Wonder MINIon! ook!

A Year in MINIons- MINIon #0094

0094You should know better than to pick up a duck in dungeon… So, as I said, I wasn’t feeling well. I got up on Sunday and was feeling well enough to keep a promise to table at the INDYpendent Show which this year was part of the Who’s Yer Con, which sadly, I was unable to check out since I was drawing at my table all day.  I decided to draw something from one of my favorite games that I never play – Munchkin. I have been fortunate enough to fund the LEGO minifig accessories and even had my game board signed by Steve Jackson.  Never heard of or played Munchkin (in any of its variants?  Here’s the Table Top play by play of the game-
  Full Disclosure: While this was drawn on Sunday, it was not posted until Monday (and backdated), because I crashed after getting home from the Con.  I hope to make it out next year to do some gaming, teach a little about comics and sell some stuff! 🙂