Category: Blogposts

Posts not connected to a comic… sometimes information, sometimes just ranting, it’s a bit of a gamble when you read these.

A Year in MINIons- MINIon #1159

Posted on December 31, 2015 by Bruce

1159and so it ends, not with a “bang” but with an “ook!”

365 days ago I started down this path. “I’m going to post a Minion a day for the entire year!” I thought- “this is going to be easy” around the 200th MINIon it started to get more and more difficult. I thank all the crazy holidays that we have for helping me out on some of those really tough days. Did I miss a day? Yes, when I was away for my God daughter’s baptism, and when I was at my Grandmother’s funeral. I still drew but didn’t have the tech with me to post. Those were posted for the most part in one lump sum as sketches.  They may not have been finished, but they were drawn and posted.

Did I make a mistake or two? Yes, the one I know of- there is one badge number that I drew two different MINIons for- the funny thing about that one is I drew two different MINIons, but they were based on the same character! I don’t even know if I like one better than the other.  SO do I remember each one?  I would say I do, but after discovering that mistake I think it would be better to say kinda sorta, maybe. I have yet to do a formal accounting or have it checked by an accounting firm (if I pay them enough they’ll say whatever I want). So if I discover I just completely spaced a day- I’m sorry. You try to do something like this and see how long it is before you go a little bit insane.  here’s the funny thing- except for MINIons that were drawn for specific people, the number actually has something to do with the drawing.  For some it may just be the date I posted (wasn’t feeling too creative) for others it’s now up to you to figure out how the number is related… Today’s is pretty simple- 11:59 the last minute of 2015.  So see how smart you are or how good you are at searching the interwebs.

I’m expecting to take a little break from everything for at least a few days…  Then figure out what this year’s challenge will be (not drawing monkeys).  You’ll be the first to know since I will post it here.

I wish you all a safe & prosperous New Year!

-Bruce

A Year in MINIons- MINIon #0333

Posted on December 30, 2015 by Bruce

0333I’m kinda ending this adventure the way it began, with a MINI Cooper friend. As most of you should remember I started this project making personal badges for some of the people I drive cross country with every two years. They put up with me, and the monkey- they get some custom artwork for their MINI. It started with my thinking that I’ll just draw a monkey with a fez, (Cecil’s Minions from this comic) and that will be it. Each person gave me a number that they wanted, and some of the numbers spoke to me. 0042, 0666… and I began drawing monkeys that went with the number. Once I started I couldn’t really stop, it wouldn’t be fair that only a few people got special ones- so this yearlong challenge began. 365 monkeys, a monkey a day. With one day to go, we have returned to our roots and – MINIon #0333. Could you guess this person owns pugs? Tomorrow will finish it and I’ll move on to a different annual challenge- that will NOT entail drawing monkeys every day. 🙂

A Year in MINIons- MINIon #2812

Posted on December 28, 2015 by Bruce

2812I’m horrible about writing thank you notes… While many people were forced to write a nice note to each relative who gave them something, my family didn’t believe in it.  It was their belief that if you said “thank you” either in person or over the phone, that was enough.  Not saying they didn’t try to get us to, but since I don’t recall seeing them every write a thank you note they didn’t model the importance.  Now as an adult, I do like getting them.  It tells me that the gift actually arrived.  It’s also nice to hear about what’s going on.  I’m still horrible at it. My current excuse is I don’t have any notecards to write on.  I’m thinking of using “no stamps” next.

A Year in MINIons- MINIon #2612

Posted on December 26, 2015 by Bruce

I really2612 have no idea why anyone would have a holiday just for one sport. I admit, in the US, “Superbowl Sunday” is basically a holiday, all that’s missing is for the NFL to payoff enough congressmen and I could see it happening. We really need to stop this trend or soon every day could be a holiday! Soon you’ll have holidays for Basketball Day (Nov. 6), Baseball Day, even Cribbage Day. Jai-Alai Day?  Cornhole Day (the last Saturday in June)?

Hmm… would it be regional or national.  I know there are many days the banks and federal offices are closed, but schools aren’t.  Would people protest that their state didn’t honor National Bocce Ball Day.  It would improve the economy with companies selling curriculum packets about each holiday.  Soon people will start saying that we aren’t teaching the story of tiddlywinks in a historically accurate manner.  Textbooks would have to change… Ouch, my head is hurting.

A Year in MINIons- MINIon # 2512

Posted on December 25, 2015 by Bruce

2512Just remember if someone buys you socks (when you really wanted a BB-8) this from Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone after Harry asks Dumbledore what he sees in the Mirror of Erised, a mirror that shows you what you desire the most, Dumbledore answers– “I? I see myself holding a pair of thick, woolen socks.” Harry stared.
“One can never have enough socks,” said Dumbledore. “Another Christmas has come and gone and I didn’t get a single pair…”

I am lucky that Sue is always knitting me new pairs each is rather unique, and I like it that way.

Merry Christmas!

A Year in MINIons- MINIon #1670

Posted on December 23, 2015 by Bruce

1670I’m pretty much out of words… I’ve seen candy canes being made, it is an interesting process.  Schimpff’s Confectionery in Jefferson, Indiana still makes candy the old fashioned way.  If you time your visit just right, you can watch them making red hots, lemon drops, or candy canes.  It’s a great place and their hard candy is wonderful (except the horehound- it’s an acquired taste).

A Year in MINIons- MINIon #0561

Posted on December 22, 2015 by Bruce

0561Happy Winter Solstice! Yes, today is the day when (in ancient times) folks would take a picnic and travel to Stonehenge to watch the sunrise and druids dance and frolic. There’d be clapping and hugs and aliens moving the stones around. It was a festival where everyone was overjoyed that the days would get longer.Because the aliens were adding minutes to the day giving back those minutes they stole during the first half of the year. We believe these minutes their fuel for when they time traveled (warning: may be historically and scientifically incorrect, please check other sources before quoting)

So as the Earth goes around the Sun on its tilted axis, sometimes the top of the Earth is pointed more towards the Sun, and sometimes the bottom. When the top is pointing towards the Sun a bunch of that solar energy warms that half and for the US it’s Summer. When the bottom part of the Earth is pointing, the people on that part get that energy, so it is winter in the U.S. (energy kinda = heat) The Earth doesn’t slow down to make the “days longer.” Days are always around 24 hours. It’s just which side is getting more light. The days are “shorter” because we have less daylight. In the Summer the days are longer which just means we get more daylight and more solar energy. This ends your Science lesson today, boys and girls, make sure to do your homework…