Doonesbury – 12/03/2007

I’m worried about Ray. He was part of a convoy driving in Iraq, and it looks like they got hit by an IED.

As I looked at that last panel, white with a black vignette, my mind raced. What happened? Is he OK? What will his wife think — their last conversation in the strip was an argument. Let Ray be OK…

It’s just a cartoon strip, but I am so tied up in the war chronicles in Doonesbury. I have former students and future students that are experiencing this first hand. I’m living it vicariously through a 4-panel drawing. I need to get a grip.

I will confess this secret: everytime I hear or read about a Minnesota soldier killed in Iraq or Afghanistan, I hold my breath, hoping it’s not one of my former students. I know my anxiety is nothing compared to the family and friends of the soldiers; my reaction seems melodramatic in comparison. Again, I need to get a grip.

I do find myself wondering what Garry Trudeau has in store for this story line. I guess I’ll find out in the morning.

Planning Ahead

Don’t think I’ve mentioned that I’m taking Shimelle’s “Journal Your Christmas” this year. Shimelle sent out some sample templates, so I decided I would design some digital pages from the templates, just in case I don’t have the time to use paper — at least I could do the daily pages digitally.

I used Renee Pearson’s Greenwich kit from “Digital Scrapbooking”. It took me about four hours to put together these six templates, but then I’m a beginner.

I was really surprised at how nice this one came out. It was the easiest of all of them to do, even with all the little extra parts.

I like this layout, but I think I need something between the squares and the background paper. It looks incomplete.

I did some playing here. There are some things I like, and others that make me want to run away screaming. All the little block things don’t work for me. Maybe, if they were different colors…

This template surprised me. I like the look, but the drop shadows really make this layout. I wonder, though, how it would look if the circles were buttonized?

This template needs some help. I think I should have used a drop shadow on the star. It’s very plain.

I was very surprised at how nicely this one turned out. It’s not a design I would have thought of myself.

I guess if I’m feeling creative, I can work on some of these in my spare time.

Christmas: What’s Old and What’s New

On her blog, Ali Edwards asks what is new for you or your family this coming Christmas season, and what’s old.

  • What’s new? I’m organized this year. I have things written on the calendar, and I’m taking it slow.
  • What’s old? The Christmas cards from last year that I didn’t open because I was too depressed last Christmas to even think about it. Didn’t send cards out, either. This year, I’m on top of it.

And That’s It.

Four more days of NaBloPoMo.

Use Your Imagination

Rachel wanted me to tell her what to draw, she had run out of ideas. I told her she could draw a picture of my students.

“But I don’t know what your students look like.”
“Neither do I. Use your imagination. ” (the class I teach is online)

After discussing gender possibilities, she trotted off. She has just informed me she will draw my whole class.

Using your imagination. It’s so easy when you are in Kindergarten. I wish it as easy for me now, as a grown-up. It’s fun when something pops up, though. It’s worth the effort.

It Fits

Your Dominant Intelligence is Linguistic Intelligence

You are excellent with words and language. You explain yourself well.
An elegant speaker, you can converse well with anyone on the fly.
You are also good at remembering information and convicing someone of your point of view.
A master of creative phrasing and unique words, you enjoy expanding your vocabulary.

You would make a fantastic poet, journalist, writer, teacher, lawyer, politician, or translator.