Round and Round We Go

Existential crisis pt. deux. I was getting caught up in my hamster wheel life and the mundanity of it all.

So, when I got tired of my life, I decided to draw this cheeky little dragon instead. I’m really fond of his evil but cute expression in the first panel.

See, fire can be destructive, but if it’s used in small doses, it’s productive. Think matches for candles, pilot lights, and starting a fire to make s’mores. So while it’s tempting to blaze everything in your path, if you let things out gradually instead, you can keep things under control and not destroy the village and everything in your path. And now you know.

Eldest Daughter Syndrome

Social media would have you believe that being the eldest daughter is a one-way ticket to being a burned-out, stressed, over-achieving, emotional wreck.

I wouldn’t know a thing about it.

Identity Crisis

Is this a mid-thirties thing? Where you look in the mirror and say “Who is that?” And listen, I have enough friends who are older than me to know this is just the beginning.

All I know is that my squinty eye is just getting squintier.

Smaller Then

Spring is coming! Felix and I love walking through our local parks, including the Campbell Field and the Boyd Tract. It’s heartening to see the signs of spring popping up. I saw a cherry tree blooming amidst a stand of bare, gray trees, and it looked like she was a beautiful dancer making her way out of the shadows and into the spotlight.

My brother and I were reminiscing about our grandparents’ old farm in Virginia. We got to spend time in some pretty magical places as kids. Whether we were looking for arrowheads at my grandma’s horse farm after a rainstorm, riding ponies, or taking tractor rides with my grandpa, being outside meant having adventures. Maybe that’s why I find being outside so restorative now.

Who Are They Making Pants For?

I don’t think it helped that I tried on the jeans at the end of the day right after I had eaten a burrito bowl. Two of my favorite pairs of jeans just got the dreaded inner thigh blowouts, so I need to replace them but it is proving to be difficult.

February absolutely flew by. I ended it with a very fun and productive meeting with some like-minded creative folks. I was new to the group and just threw out ideas like the magical idea fairy I am wont to be.

Is there Wifi on This Desert Island?

When I started this project on January 1, I did not expect to have something to say every day. But, that’s in large part because I was not allowing myself any space to ponder. I’m not saying I sit down every day with a brilliant idea, but carving out time to sit and be present has deepened my connection with myself. I’m finding this has been a very valuable addition to my life!

Update: I took Charlie to the pet store and he was soooooo happy! He picked out some pot roast-flavored treats and I selected some calming peanut butter. I’m hoping that the peanut butter will be a useful bribe so that I can make my comics in the evening, undisturbed. The shop is Urban Pet Co— they are so sweet!

Sidenote— Charlie’s tail is so expressive! The second and third panels really capture how his tail goes from cautiously down to inquisitively up.

Some Days You're the Crow, Some Days You're the Pizza

I managed not to slip on any of the snow or ice, but a tree root took me down! Felix was not bothered. Charlie was very alarmed and ran back to me with his hackles up. I was relatively unscathed except for a bruise on my knee and a scrape on my knuckle— which is still healing as I write this almost two weeks later!

It’s prescribed burn season in the sandhills. Controlled burns are an integral part of forest management and necessary for the growth of the longleaf pines. Even though I know this, it can still be unsettling to see huge clouds of smoke rising in the sky. That has to be an evolutionary feature of being a human, right? But the fires make way for spring and for growth.

On this day, I was also thinking about how I live so much of my life in a little 2-4 block radius. I really love all the characters that I see every day and it’s comforting to remember that I’m part of the ecosystem.

Maybe Solve a Murder?

We actually got 2-3 hours of snowflakes gently falling outside! I was cozy on the couch, working from home with the pups and watching it swirl down.

I think I could actually excel at running an inn! Well, some parts, anyway. I would want to be the event coordinator and organize activities. I think I could also help with managing reservations and marketing. Then, we just need someone to be the repair person/carpenter, someone to do the accounting, housekeepers, front desk attendants. Plus investors. Okay, fine! Maybe I’m fine with being a librarian. Everything seems quaint and romantic until it’s time to unclog a toilet.

Smile Lessons

My dad can still turn on the charm.

It’s been a long few weeks. My dad is currently in a rehab facility where he will regain some strength before returning home to receive care. Now, he’s smiling less and has entered the “Take me home!” part of the journey. If he has enough strength to be irritated, I’m taking that as a good sign.

February Malaise

I’ve been feeling kind of “blah” lately. I think it’s just winter dragging on, plus the worry and stress of my dad being sick. I’m just not feeling very peppy.

But the ice/snow days did afford me time to have a Bridget Jones marathon. The new movie is so cute! I felt like it was a return to form of the first movie after the middle two were really not that great. I love Bridget’s narrative voice and, just like Liz Lemon, she’s a character that seems more and more relatable with age.

Maybe I'll Meet Someone in the Abyss

Politics, the climate, the economy. It’s all looking a little murky out there.

I did not expect to be navigating this phase of life (aging and sick parent) without a partner and family of my own. But then again, there are some benefits to piloting my little submarine solo.

Whoo-sa

It’s a great time for a little breathing exercise. Let’s try it, okay?

On Valentine’s Day, a hawk ate a squirrel right outside the library. I have never, ever seen a hawk in the wild that close! He sat right on a bench and ate the squirrel for about thirty minutes. Maybe it was gruesome, but hawk’s gotta eat.

Later that afternoon, I visited my dad at the hospital. He was asleep so I sat with him for a moment and watched over him as I imagine he did so many times when I was a baby. The next day, I went back to visit and cried— hence the realization above.

This page is not my favorite in my sketchbook so far. I wish the colors were more cohesive and everything got muddy in the section about the breathwork class. To be fair to myself, I was feeling pretty out of it by the time I got home to draw that evening. The class was intense and I felt woozy and out of it. It’s not something I could do all the time, but I can absolutely appreciate the benefits.

You Are Here

It’s hard to exist in the in-between. It feels like winter should be over, but it’s not yet spring. I feel like I’m still a kid, but life is proving that it’s time for me to be an adult and stand on my own two feet.

The bright spot of the week? At least I snagged Cowboy Carter tickets.

The Things You Can Control

Enough is enough! Thankfully, the dogs showed no interest in eating this onion and I was able to dispose of it.

But How Are You Really...

This is the week where things started to fall apart a little bit…

Here is the short of it: my dad is sick and my family and I are trying to figure out the appropriate care for this next phase of life. I feel like I’ve been rapidly cycling through emotions as we navigate all of this. And one of those has been: anger! But, having this outlet to express myself has been tremendously helpful.

Power Struggle

Felix understands way more of the English language than he should.

Recently, I let him get his way and we walked past the chickens. As you can imagine, he did not have pure intentions.

Microwave Pickles

I’ve completely given up on using the microwave. The “fix” is to clean the little sensors in the door, which sometimes causes the light to come back on and fixes the “door” error. But I’ve grown weary of letting my microwave’s whims determine my day! Could I just get a countertop microwave? Yes, but I don’t feel I should have to! I already have one! That doesn’t work! Anyway.

Getting this jar of pickles open was probably one of the best parts of the week. Sometimes, you just need a little victory.

Sharing is Caring

Okay, here’s where the comics start to get meta… a comic about comics. Well, sharing comics to be exact.

I’ve kept my personal art life compartmentalized from my library writing group for 6 years! I just felt compelled to take off my librarian hat and share during this meeting. Everyone was really positive, to be honest. But this exchange really made me laugh.

Time Flies When It's February

Well, well, well. Everyone wished away January and by the time you read this, it’ll be practically mid-February. Are you happy now?

I did not get to participate in Hourly Comics Day this year, but this serves as my little recap. It turned out to be a pretty busy day at work!

Lessons from January

I made it through one month of making comics every day!

Some of my takeaways:

• There is time to be creative. Most of the time, I spent around 30 minutes making my daily comic. That time added up to around 30 pages of comics!

• Keep your supplies handy. Having my sketchbook, paints, and pens close by on the coffee table made it that much easier to reach for them.

• Making and sharing art feels good! I heard so many sweet and supportive comments from people this month as I started sharing my art and it felt really good! The best part was that these were my friends and neighbors, people I interact with in real life.

Overall, this habit has been easier to maintain than I thought it would be. Plus, it feels good— just like eating right, exercising, drinking water, and all of those things they tell you to do! Cheers to another month of making comics.