It may not look it, but Jo is being productive. Yes, she is working, and studying and writing and drawing consistently, and because of that consistency she has had little time for updating Highlight of the Day. Or at least that is her excuse.
We all know it is not the homework and art that is keeping her from her daily doodling. Something else seems to be taking up her attention and devotion, and, strange as it may seem, it is not role playing, because she is, as it may be said, a ghost amidst her former compatriots (which would have been unthinkable a few months ago).
She seems preoccupied with communicative devices, and fretful when it grows late and she is not yet at home. She begins to panic when all computer access is denied, yet role playing, Highlight of the Day, games, or web surfing are quite low on her agenda. What is this mysterious force that is slowly taking over her brain? And what possesses her to burst out suddenly into inexplicable fits of laughter? Why does she check her email like an obsessive compulsive and feel the sudden urge to purchase flannel, listen to the Beatles, and sample Skyline chilly? Is it really school and work that keep her from updating her readers regularly, or is a deeper, more sinister conspiracy underway?
Jo: Who are you and why are you prying into my personal affairs?
N: I am the narrator. The readers are curious! The masses call for an explanation!
Jo: Masses? Ha ha hahahahahahahaha! I'd say there are maybe four people who come here on an irregular basis.
N: How do you know?
Jo: I don't, but I really don't think my life is that exciting, and if there ever were more readers, they've probably left, having given up on my ever updating this page again. Yet, out of idle curiosity, I wonder just how many readers I do happen to have at this moment.
N: Millions and gazillions!
Jo: Uh yeah. There aren't even a gazillion people in the world (If that's even a number). But hey, if you are one of the few who are reading this hodgepodge of nonsense, send me an email. I'm a curious cat.
[vizon_rok@yahoo.com]
*Today's drawing is inspired by Michel Gagne', illustrator of the book "Insanely Twisted Rabbits"
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And now a short tangent into movie madness:
Wait a minute - w-w-wait a minute! NO ONE said ANYTHING about THREE books!
You sound like a man who wants to live.
Oh there you are, Peter!
*surprised whisper* Clever girl.
Oh Captain, my Captain!
K-mart sucks.
Hey-hey-hey - it's me.
Prove it.
You're a dick.
Okay.
Who's Babe Ruth?
The great BAMBINO!!!
STOP, EATING, MY SESAME, CAKE!!!
*with a maniacal grin* Hello boys! I'm baaaaaaaaack! *BOOM*
Workshed!
Yes! I am INVINCIBLE!
You bring the dip and I'll bring the Dostoyevski!
WHAT is your favorite color???
Yellow -- I mean - AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
Where's the goat?!?
Hello, my name is Inego Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.
I answer to no one.
Then answer to God.
*BANG*
(derisively) You first...
Aaaaaugh!!! *choke* Harry! *gasp* Your hands are freezing!
Don't tell the elf.
With great power comes great responsibility.
Go get the keys, Milo! Get the keys! No, no - not the cheese - the KEYS!
Fine speech. Now what do we do?
Just be yourselves.
Where are you going?
I'm going to pick a fight.
I'm gonna kill her. I'm gonna KILL that sliiiimey egg-sucking salamander!
I'd sooner kiss a wookie.
THAT can be arranged!
Okay, well. Work, school, work, school has been the ultimate pattern of these last few days. Nothing of interest really happened (except I got a few good conversations in). We've started our bible study at school and have five people (including Bing and I). I think it's going to be good.
I am also reading a really fantastic book called, "Wild at Heart". It is somewhat revolutionary, daring to point out that men at Church are bored, and the teachings of the church (to be nice and loving to everyone) don't feed the fire that burns deep inside a guy's heart that makes him yearn for a battle to fight, an adventure to live, and a beauty to rescue - his natural God-given inclination. He emphasizes that Christ was not a passivist whimp who was careful not to "offend" or "cause trouble." He fought for something. And though I'm not done reading the book yet, I can see where it's headed, and I'm inspired.
Bing accidently forgot me at school for the first time ever. I finally buckled after 50 minutes had gone by and called his house, risking that I might wake up his Mom. It was a long day, but at least I had a book to read, and a Roach to converse with.
Oh - and in case you were curious about those movie quotes - I'll provide the answers:
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Wait a minute - w-w-wait a minute! NO ONE said ANYTHING about THREE books! (Army of Darkness)
You sound like a man who wants to live. (The Ghost and the Darkness)
Oh there you are, Peter! (HOOK)
*surprised whisper* Clever girl. (Jurassic Park)
Oh Captain, my Captain! (Dead Poets' Society)
K-mart sucks. (Rain Man)
Hey-hey-hey - it's me.
Prove it.
You're a dick.
Okay.
(X-men)
Who's Babe Ruth?
The Great BAMBINO!!!(The Sandlot)
STOP, EATING, MY SESAME, CAKE!!!(Congo)
*with a maniacal grin* Hello boys! I'm baaaaaaaaack! *BOOM* (Independence Day)
Workshed! (Evil Dead II)
Yes! I am INVINCIBLE! (Goldeneye)
You bring the dip and I'll bring the Dostoyevski! (Condorman)
WHAT is your favorite color???
Yellow -- I mean - AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
(Monty Python - Search for the Holy Grail)
Where's the goat?!? (Jurassic Park - yes I put it twice. I like this movie.)
Hello, my name is Inego Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die. (The Princess Bride)
I answer to no one.
Then answer to God.
*BANG*
(derisively) You first...
(The Three Musketeers)
Aaaaaugh!!! *choke* Harry! *gasp* Your hands are freezing! (Dumb and Dumber)
Don't tell the elf. (LOTR - The Two Towers)
With great power comes great responsibility. (Spiderman)
Go get the keys, Milo! Get the keys! No, no - not the cheese - the KEYS! (The Mask)
Fine speech. Now what do we do?
Just be yourselves.
Where are you going?
I'm going to pick a fight.
(Braveheart)
I'm gonna kill her. I'm gonna KILL that sliiiimey egg-sucking salamander! (The Rescuers Down Under)
I'd sooner kiss a wookie.
THAT can be arranged!
(Star Wars - The Empire Strikes Back)
Sorry, this entry was accidently deleted. It had something to do with pizza. Mmmm...pizza....
I found a penny the other day and thought I would keep it and scan it for you all because it looked like swiss cheese, but I forgot it. So today was interesting. On the way to the bus stop I found the road blocked off and policemen standing around, their patrol car lights flashing. All traffic was re-routed and I figured it had to be a wreck. All I saw at first was a single black truck, which was a little confusing. Especially since it didn't seem too damaged. Then I looked down the highway a ways where the police tape stretched and sighted a mangled bicycle *Shiver*. I was glad it wasn't me. I felt sorry for whoever it was because it looks like they'd be hurt pretty bad. Maybe I should buy a helmet.
Because my bus stop was blocked off I ended up hiking a mile or so down to my next stop. I wished there was more than dirt, concrete, and cactuses to look at. I mean, the most exciting thing was this backhoe that was driving really fast through a construction site that I thought was going to plow right through this blockade. Instead, he wove quickly inbetween two of the orange and white-striped barriers with expert precision. I was impressed, and for a moment wished I had a little backhoe like that.
Then I ate my sandwich at the bus stop and felt I would have been better off with a gas mask. I was sitting in the middle of all this landscaping that was yellow with some chemical poison fertilizer stuff, and the passing traffic fumes didn't help either.
I drew a troll on the bus and then...went to school and did school stuff except when I ate and talked to the Roach and stretched Bing. Then we had our bible study at 7:30 and it went rather well considering I didn't read the chapter I was supposed to (I know, I'm a bum - and one of the first questions was "what makes you feel guilty?")
I am unhappy about Mom's situation up in Montana. People are taking advantage of her and giving her a hard time. I can't do much but pray and send her encouraging emails from here though.
I got home and deliberated a bit with Bing before getting out of the van about God creating the world in 7 days. We wished each other goodnight and I tore upstairs into my apartment (after petting Jasper, of course) and turned on my computer. The Roach was there and we both jigged to Flogging Molly because they are the coolest band ever.
Yum! French Fries and TEA!
Okay, it's nearly 3 a.m. I'm going to sleep.
Things I learned today:
1. Don't tell customers their yellow cards don't expire as you're replacing it with a blue one that does.
2. Don't catch the bus at the stop with the giant Hooters advertisement.
3. Don't continue to look out across the bus when a shady man thinks you're looking at him.
4. Always carry your cell phone.
5. Ask questions in class, even if you're the only one. You're paying for that education - milk that teacher knowledge!
6. Don't assume that everyone you talk to over AIM is who you think they are.
7. Copy and paste your emails somewhere safe before clicking "send"!!!
8. Parmasian Asiago bread just isn't the same after sitting in a bookbag for five hours.
9. You can't say Mother" over AIM Express.
10. There's something special about hand-written letters (as compared to email)
Sorry everyone. I've been so busy, but I suppose I should have at least written a line or two. I mean, that'd be better than one comic every month, right? At least it'd be something different every day, even if I didn't have a clever doodle like today.
I am listening to an online Celtic radio station. It is nice, but it's not Flogging Molly. But since it is 1:41 a.m., I will not change it. I hate homework. I love my school and my classes, but I still despise homework. I guess that's one problem I have with some bible studies. Lots of assignments, little action if any.
Some day I'm going to be in Scotland, where I shall lie in the green green grass and sigh that it is paradise. Of course, I'll have to take a friend.
Goodnight.
15 Days!!!
Wouldn't it be nice to take an emergency escape whenever you felt overwhelmed with stress? I mean - without getting in big trouble for running away from all your responsibilities. Just...whenever you start to feel like yanking out your hair in great big chunks you would just run off and sit in a hole somewhere and people would just understand that you simply needed a break for sanity's sake. Oh well. I could run away if I lived out in the country or something I suppose. Go climb a tree or sit behind the chicken coop petting the dogs. I miss that.
I had to type up two homework assignments tonight in a very short span of time. I didn't think I'd be able to do it, but I did in fact pull it off. Then I rewarded myself with a heath Klondike bar. It was lovely, except that it was hard to talk with ice cream in my mouth.
Bing told me a funny story about how when he was in middle school, he was accused of intentionally walking funny by a teacher. She didn't believe that he couldn't help it...and the irony was that she was the special ed teacher. Heh heh heh. Talk about sticking your foot in your mouth.
Lesson for the day: Raw noodles are not good late night munchies.
2 Weeks!
Today went well for me. Even though I felt that work would never end, it turned out that I got to leave early. This made me quite gleeful and as soon as I got home I turned on my computer to see if I could catch the Roach online before school. I did, and found out some unfortunate news. The poor bug lost his faithful steed. It was crushed beyond repair. Thankfully, both halves of the Roach came out in tact, though a bit bruised and sore, and we have only God to thank.
It was about time to go, so I changed out of my work clothes. I am running low on clean clothes, so I ended up wearing these dark metalic pants with a zig-zaggy silver and black no-sleeve shirt. I thought I might get chilly later so I grabbed a jacket to match. Though I was armed to the teeth with my stun gun, keys, and pepper spray, I felt scared. What was I doing wearing something like that on Van Buren? As soon as I hit the sidewalk I regretted that I hadn't simply donned a sloppy T-shirt and flannel. Now I was obviously female and obviously dressed up (to an extent), and that's just a bad thing on Van Buren. I walked quickly, holding my jacket closed and going off the sidewalk when I could. I saw a prostitute in a slinky red dress across the street in front of the post office and became quite alarmed. Did people think I was one? Did those two girls up the sidwalk a ways think that I was one? Or worse yet - did shady perverts driving by think I was such a creature? I was becoming quite hot in my jacket, but there was no way I was going to expose my shoulders on Van Buren. After I saw the woman in red I decided to jog because I figured prositutes don't jog, they walk. So people would be less apt to think such a thing of me. I shouldered my backpack and jogged past the two girls whilst singing Metallica.
I reached 48th without incident and once I was off Van Buren, peeled off my jacket with a poof of steam and walked to the bus stop, relieved. It's so stupid. I want to be able to wear what I want without being afraid to walk down the street. I'm outta this ghetto as soon as my lease runs out.
Drive safely you all.
13 days!
After our little bible study Jess, Sammi and I went to our Sunday school class' Pancake breakfast. I had several blueberry and apple pancakes with strawberries and blueberries and whipped cream. It was marvelous. After I was done eating I volunteered to take over Phil's grill so he could go eat. I finished off the last of the pancake batter by making rabbit, human, turtle, and smiley-shaped pancakes.
I was so tired all the rest of the day, though. I kept nodding off. We went to Fudruckers after church and I was going to just skip eating because I didn't bring any money, but Jess said she'd buy so I ended up getting a burger and and IBC cream soda. I talked to Evan a little about what game I could make with limited resources (I just might).
We went to the nursing home to sing and hold a sort of church service for the people who wanted to come. It was odd going around and looking in all the rooms, asking people if they wanted to come. There were so many that were asleep with their mouths open - whispy ghost white hair, wrinkles, and no teeth. They seemed to me like living corpses in a way...hooked to machines, bed-ridden, a part of the mattresses. It didn't smell very nice and though there was a lot of flowery decor, it seemed all fake and forced. It was so sad because...so many of those people just seemed to be waiting there to die. No fun, no excitement, no life left. Just a regular changing of the sheets and feeding tubes. Some had TV's. Most were completely zoned out or asleep. I did find one writing letters and one putting a puzzle together (she was only there temporarily). After today I've decided that I'd rather die fighting in an exciting adventure, or at least die earlier quite suddenly. There's no way I want to ever be stuck in a home with only half a mind, wasting away while strangers bath and clothe me. Let me go out with a bang, please. Ground zero.
Poor Roach has only one working hand now, but you can't keep a good bug down. I called Mom and Jake tonight and found that Mom has a good new job. Huzzah and Praise the Lord! She's been working hard to get there and I'm happy for her. Jake says that "Samuri Jack" is a really cool cartoon. Too bad I don't get it.
Tomorrow it's back to the old grind. The week's going to wrap up quickly though, I imagine. I'll be dashing straight from one commitment to the next.
I need to start doing my taxes.
BOOOOoooooo!
Oh yeah - hello to Wolfy. And yes, "Bambi" is a wonderfully gory book. And I say the Little Mermaid should have turned into sea foam like she was supposed to.
11 days!
...Like a squirrel on crack
Yesterday I remembered one day that I happened to have a pair of fake rubber elf ears with me and wore them as we were driving through town. I would look at people out the window and see them do a double take at the sight of myself with large pointy ears. It was great fun.
Did I do anything today that I wanted to?
Well I got to draw and talk to the Roach. The rest of the day was out of my hands and out of obligation. Weeee. I just want to write my novel.
Goodnight.
10 days!
*Sits and watches thes otters play*
I was inspired to dig out the elf ears I mentioned yesterday and wear them again, just for the heck of it to see what people would do. The first person I ran into was the Shadow, but he never asked me about the ears - only whether I was headed to school. Perhaps he knew better than to ask "Why". Most people didn't. A postal worker asked me which way was south and then commented that it was a good thing my ears weren't really like that or I'd have a tough time finding a boyfriend. Oooo...that's a real big concern for me, I tell you what. I got a lot of stares a few "Nice ears." comments, and several "Why"s. My word, why can't a person just do something odd for no reason at all?
So I went to the grocery store and bought chocolate and razorblades. Oh yes, and a few other things I needed, like Pepperidge farm Goldfish and Little Debbie brownies. I bought pop tarts for breakfast because I'm tired of cinnamin toast and I'm running out of bread. I think now I can hold out for another week until I can really go shopping.
I came home to find that my key did not turn in the lock like usual. I was immediately suspicious and cautiously entered my apartment, drawing my stun gun. The hall light was on, which was odd, because I don't leave that light on. I searched the pantry and shower but no one was in my apartment or under the futon, so I closed the door and thought myself a paranoid looney. Then I spotted a note on my computer chair that said that the pest control people had stopped by and sprayed my baseboards in a large-scale preventive maintenence procedure. I forgot about that. But it was cool to know that my instincts are keen. I knew something wasn't right! Ha ha!
This is a cool site. Check out Strongbad's Emails.
9 days!
*Oooh...you'll just have to wait and see*
