The Dish Ran Away with the Spork???!!!

Preface: Along with the many other things I'd like to do in this life, illustrating a book is one of them. Now I'm trying to choose between wanting to do that and just coming up with a very small greeting card line. (This will not happen until many, many years from now. :) Anyhow, I truly wish I had more time to devote to these poor drawings, but there's bread and dough to be made (I mean that literally and figuratively); someone's gotta cook and bring home the bacon :D. Right now, that's me. So here's my little twisted fairytale comic about the inevitable, the Dish leaving the Spoon so that he can find true happiness with... a spork? Yep! This is the short story that goes with my submission for this week's difficult Illustration Friday theme: Resolve! (Colored Pencil/Pencil/Cartoon)

After years of being tormented by the well-known nursery rhyme that, for decades, paired him with the Spoon, the Dish finally realized he wasn't the Spoonman we thought he was. Despite the fact that there have been various songs depicting him as a Man of the Spoon, he really didn't care for silverware at all. Sure, Forks would literally bend over backwards for him; they'd always gaze at his 'fine china' exterior, but the Dish wanted to be appreciated for more than his looks and the name brand on his back side.

The decision was final. The Dish declared that he was done with spoons and forks; he was left cracked from the stress of failed relationships, after all! It was time to move on, even if others accused him of settling for less. The Dish fell in love with the utensil that's never seen a real dinner table! Made out of plastic and loved by many a cafeteria-eating minor, the Spork won the dish over with her simple ways. She'd had a rough life, being thrown to the bottom of backpacks and withstanding the weight of heavy books; Spork was even chewed on by anxious elementary school students during recess. The truth is, she'd never been with anyone other than sticky Fruit Cup and stinky Tupperware.

And so it goes, the Dish and the Spork were truly meant to be! To this day, neither of them look back to their former lonely days. The Dish really feels he's gotten the best of both worlds and the Spork knows that she finally has a chance to make it into the kitchen utensil drawer some day!

Things I want to remember about 2008

Our first snow:  Surprisingly, Jose was more excited than I was, as it was his first time getting to actually 'play' in the snow (i.e. throw snowballs at my head).  I don't think anyone's ever thrown that many snow balls at me before :D.  Oh yes, and I finally got a white Christmas!  

Celebrating our first year anniversary:  That one year flew by.  It feels like we've known each other forever, but it also feels like we've just met.  I really understand the idea behind loving someone more as time passes.  Before I got married, I was skeptical when others made this claim. That's not the case anymore! I feel blessed that I no longer have to wonder.

Taking the plunge, moving forward:  I should say, moving East :).  The day we found out Jose was accepted at his first-choice law school was one of the best.  For years we each dreamt of moving to this side of the country, for two completely different reasons:  Jose wanted to study at one of the best law schools and I just wanted a white Christmas and snow ;).  Looks like we both got what we wanted! (But I have to admit, when October and November rolled in, Fall definitely became my favorite season!)

The plane ride into Boston:  We were leaving everything we knew behind.  Starting fresh with so much to look forward to.  I still remember how I felt and what I saw as the plane landed. Old New England homes lined up right next to the port, the perfect post card image.  Of all the times I've landed after taking a trip anywhere, I never remember seeing homes like that.  It's not just the way they looked either; I've seen the New England style everywhere.  There was something very inviting about this scene outside the plane's small window.  It almost felt like I was in a life-size snow globe, except there was only the hope of snow.  As soon as I stepped out of the airport, reality hit me in the form of a humid East Coast heat wave.

I can't believe it's already 2009.  I'm posting this about a week after the 1st; I can't keep up with time because I'm trying to take everything in piece by piece.  It isn't that it's too much.  When life was harder, every day seemed like a year because there wasn't much to savor.  Now I can enjoy the aftertaste of every passing moment.

Hope

Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be." Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead -- since he was about a hundred years old -- and that Sarah's womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why it is credited to him as righteousness. The words "it was credited to him" were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness--for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.
Romans 4:18-24

1 year anniversary

the hubby and me

"Seahorses are monogamous, picking one mate for life. Daily greeting rituals include the male and female coming together each morning, dancing and changing color, twirling around with linked tails, and then separating for the rest of the day."  Taken from here

Entertaining Angels

I was cold and wet waiting for the bus yesterday. I was a little annoyed that I couldn't find the receipt I needed to exchange a pair of jeans that fit perfectly one day and were too small the next. I was also complaining to myself, wishing I could jump in a car instead of having to wait for the bus in the pouring rain. I decided to head out to the mall anyway.

Only a few minutes passed before a middle-aged/older man made his way to the same bus stop. He was friendly and said hello. He went on to say that it was a great day because we're still here. He had a grin on his face, I couldn't tell if he was being sarcastic.

To be honest, I was a little surprised by his friendliness. I'm used to the hustle and bustle of Bean Town, where most people don't have time to be extra friendly, usually a smile is all strangers exchange. (I was almost weirded out by it, but I shouldn't have been. After all, I do find it strange when other people find friendliness itself strange. It usually doesn't make sense.)

The bus arrives and I'm relieved that I didn't have to wait in the cold too long. I sit down, the stranger sits in the available seat in front of me. I begin to understand what he meant when he said 'we're still here' after he goes on to say 'we're here to serve God' a few moments later, on the bus.

Again, I was surprised that I was surprised by his candidness. He continued to chat. 'You know, most people don't hear the voice of God because they're distracted by the little things around them, but if you listen, you'll hear his voice; his message is one of love.'

I had to agree. He was mumbling a little after that, saying something about how the government isn't going to change anything because in the end it's all up to us. I nodded in agreement and then laughed a little to myself when he said 'we really need to stop burning gasoline'. After that, he said goodbye and hopped off the bus. I should note that I didn't laugh because what he said seemed disconnected from everything else he was saying; instead, I laughed because it was connected to what I was complaining about earlier.

I felt guilty about the ungrateful attitude I had just minutes before; I realized I'd missed an opportunity to hear God's voice instead of my own ungrateful thoughts. Thankfully, he also speaks through all kinds of friendly folks, even the ones you meet at the bus stop on a cold day.

Illustration Friday: Rambunctious

...and that would be a deflating balloon that the evil cupcake is holding on to, it's a bit hard to tell, I know :D.

First (and second) snow!

From The Snow Fairy by Claude McKay

Throughout the afternoon I watched them there,
Snow-fairies falling, falling from the sky,
Whirling fantastic in the misty air,
Contending fierce for space supremacy.

And they flew down a mightier force at night,

As though in heaven there was revolt and riot,
And they, frail things had taken panic flight
Down to the calm earth seeking peace and quiet.

I went to bed and rose at early dawn
To see them huddled together in a heap,
Each merged into the other upon the lawn,
Worn out by the sharp struggle, fast asleep.

The sun shone brightly on them half the day,
By night they stealthily had stol'n away.