Even MINIons can be crazy cat ladies (uh, monkeys).  The number was chosen because millions, and billions, and trillions would not fit and cats have nine lives.  No, Hemi is not part of the pile since he is part of MINIon #0037’s badge and it just would be embarrassing if two people had the same cat on their badge.

Brave and pure of heart MINIon #1066 was one of my designs that came out of a doodle and realizing that while I have drawn a few sword wielding MINIons I hadn’t done a proper knight.  While this one isn’t an historically accurate knight, it’s good enough for Hollywood.  

MINI has come out with numerous “Limited Edition” models over the years.  In fact it seemed like that was their only market before BMW acquired them.  Slap a weird sticker on a Mini and call it a Basingstoke Roundabout special edition and someone was bound to buy one!  This tradition has continued over the years to a lesser degree.  I’ve mention the John Cooper Works GP, which has been the one most people have heard about.  Around 2012 MINI released a slightly different limited edition the Goodwood.  This had an interior done by Rolls Royce.  They only made 1000 and only 140 were sent to the U.S. I’m not going to go into details but let’s say it was a little pricey, but after a while I heard that deals could be made when Dealerships had a few on the lot.  I had the chance to see one up close in 2012 at MINI Takes The States… very posh. So this badge goes to a MINIon with a Goodwood.  Just remember not to eat in your MINI on your way to work!

Like many of these new MINIons tied to real people, I’m not sure what to say or even if the the number is accurate… All I can say is that I have survived a hug given by MINIon #1978 which is something, but as they like to say what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas… wait, the hug didn’t happen in Vegas.

I’m a little leery of these new MINIon badges.  Basically because of the timetable I have given myself I’m not able to get the feedback with each badge as I sometimes like.  Some of these are ones that I’ve sketched out ideas, and gotten a basic OK on, and others, like this one- nope.  So understand that in 2016 you might run into MINIon #0247 and their badge may look entirely different.  For now, this is what I have.  The posts will also come later unless I can build up a buffer and go back to 5:00 posts. As for MINIon #0247, I recall first seeing them in Detroit as they were having stripes put on their solid black Coupe (no the roof doesn’t come off) during White Roof Radio’s celebration of the 400th episode.  In 2012 as we drove across country we had the chance for a detour to a little track for some “parade laps” missed meeting the Kool-Aid Guy, but had a great time on the track.

A Scout is Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, etc… some of you might not know I’m a Boy Scout (therefore not Jim Kirk). I come from a long line of Scouts, my Dad was an Eagle, my brother was an Eagle, and yes, I am an Eagle Scout.  I became an Eagle Scout a few days after my 13th birthday… Don’t ask, it’s weird.  For those who know about Scouts this might make some sense or might make me seem overly sentimental.  When I became a Tenderfoot Scout, my Dad gave me a coin with the Scout Oath and Law on it… I have carried that coin since.  As a teacher, I remember the push for “Character Education” years ago and all I could think about was instead of “Life Skills” why not just run with the Scout Law?  I have followed it as best I can since I was in elementary school- why should everyone kid consider it… oh, I forgot that the twelfth scout law is “reverent” and someone will be upset about that. Who knows in the next 300 days, I might have something to say about my misadventures as a Scout… for now, let;s just say I have been and ever shall be a Boy Scout.  including being able to sing Tom Lehrer’s anthem by heart 🙂  

This one is actually the last of the original MINIons I have from MINI Takes the States 2014.  While some new ones have made it into the previous posts from this point on all MINIons will be brand new, never before seen in their final form by anyone.  I have challenged myself to draw a MINIon a day for the entire year and now the buffer is basically gone. I only have about more 300 to go, maybe this wasn’t such a great idea (hopefully I’ll get an orange headband when I’m done- or a nice burgundy fez). I learned a long time ago to never question the client.  There was a time when my principal specifically asked me to “correct” the spelling of a word on our school website- without argument I change the spelling.  It was the wrong spelling of the word, but I liked being employed.  When I moved on to another school a parent finally noticed and complained about the misspelling and I was blamed for it.  I sent the original email requesting the change to them as my reply.  I say this because all the MINIons have been drawn from the waist up. I was asked to draw a MINIon with a walker… so you can kinda see the walker, but it was a stretch.  When I’m not really sure about how the end result will look, I tend to procrastinate on the project, it’s my way of politely, hoping that the person will change their mind, or maybe just give up (these were free after all).  As the original project was drawing to an end and I was dealing with the people wanting this change or that (understandable, they are putting these on their car after all) I started posting things like “No good deed goes unpunished” as the pressure grew, it stopped being fun for me, for a while, but when I saw how happy almost everyone was with the end result it made up for all the sleepless  nights.  Only a few out of the original 50+ badges were work, and now I’ve only got 300 more to do… eight are drawn and inked just waiting for color.  Other ideas are bouncing around my head, so we’ll see how they turn out.  One day at a time.

When trying to take iconic figures and make monkeys out of them some work, some don’t.  I did try a “BatMINIon” but I really didn’t like the way it turned out.  MINIons tend to have their ears sticking out, and the cowl hid that so someone could get confused and think that instead of a monkey it was a wombat, or something like that.  Then it dawned on me that there was a solution… and this is what I came up with.  The number comes from 2014 being the 75th anniversary of the publication of Detective Comics #27 (first appearance of Batman).  Robin didn’t make it into the comics for a while after that.  The badge was one of my “on the road extras” that found a good home. As for the actual MINIon it is for a faithful sidekick who helped along the road with lots of “trivial” things throughout the journey.

Those of you who really know me, know that I’m not a sports/exercise guy.  I like going out walking (if the weather is nice), but that’s about it.  When I do head out on a trail I follow the old rule I had when I walked to school (up hill, both ways) as a kid. Look down at your feet and you will reach the end sometime.  If you look ahead, you will get discouraged and need to rest more often.  If you don’t look at the incline or where your goal is all the time, you’ll make it before you know it.  SO I become a mindless automaton.  I do look around to take in the scenery, but for the most part, I just try to get it done and move on to the next task.  I know most people aren’t like that, and some people actually enjoy getting out in whatever weather, and challenge themselves.  So when MINIon #6464 asked for a “Tough Mudder” headband on their MINIon, I was a little confused.  Like any good artist I did some research to figure exactly what this thing was, and if I should do anything else to emphasize the concept.  I guess these people not only run… through the mud… but they attempt to push themselves (now understand I’m getting exhausted just typing about this) with other challenges along the way and after so many of these “fun” races they earn the coveted orange headband… Okay.  Please understand that I took my stand on exercise and competition after being compared to my older brother while growing up (an older brother who was nationally ranked in springboard diving at like eight or nine, varsity lettered in a sport or two). I decided instead of following him, I would go a different route, a route that confused my parents and kept me sane.  It’s not that I dislike pushing yourself, but I decided to do it a different way, I applaud the effort it takes to follow one’s passion and earn recognition in that endeavor.  If your passion is finding Tupperware in the woods, drawing comics, or running in the mud, have fun and enjoy!

Hated by many, loved by few… The infamous MINIon #4238.  I really don’t know why I should even include this most despised and utterly vile creature in the same ranks as other MINIons honored here, for those other MINIons I apologize, but I must be thorough and include even #4238. I would tell you his story, but then you would wonder about my character and how I even got to know such an utterly horrible person.  Let’s just say I’ve been putting up with him for more years than I can remember and the tales I could tell.  Terrible tales that could leave you sleepless for days… oh, the horror. Just thinking about MINIon #4238 makes me want to curl into a ball and sob.  So before I go any further…