F%@# the Blues

Coleridge

We Go Together

Though I am at work, nothing can keep us apart today, my love. Not even being drawn on separate post-its. Yes, our love is that strong.

Happy Anniversary, my boo.

Holiday Blues

Goodnight, Sadie

I'm sad to say that we lost Sadie in the early hours last Saturday. We knew she was dying, it was just a question of when and how. It was our greatest hope that she would go at home, as she hated going to the vet's office. Thursday her breathing seemed to get worse and she had stopped eating. We had made an appointment Saturday afternoon to possibly have her put down. Gentle to the end, Sadie spared us that terrible decision. We were with her as she drew her last breath, sending her off with as much love as two people could carry.

We miss her terribly, and the boy seems to be continuously on the lookout for her. Betty, even, who barely tolerated the two other cats, seems especially tender lately. I keep catching bits of shadow or shapes in the corner of my eye and turning, expecting to see Sadie there. The mornings are lonelier without her badgering me for her scoop of Fancy Feast. My feet are colder at night.


Here's a picture of the real Sadie, cleaning the boy. I've never felt that my scribblings of her really ever did her justice. She's the first of the cats I ever included in my little cartoon adventures, and over the years I tried to develop and improve the pale approximation of the real thing. The real Sadie is far more complex than I could hope to describe.

Secretly, she was my favorite. I love all of them, but Sadie was the only one that made you earn her trust and affection. It was apparent to Kirsten and I that Sadie had been mistreated before she reached us. She was friendly, but was always ready to bolt. She hated to be handled or picked up. She peed in the bathroom sink. She was a challenge to love, sometimes, but the reward: one evening you'd be tucked into the couch, feeling low, and she would find you, jump up onto the couch with you and curl up around your feet. She'd then look up and give you a look that seemed to say "Yeah, I know." Then she'd purr that beautiful, ragged purr of hers.

Goodnight, Sadie. Sweet, Sexy Sadie, Mighty Huntress. Adopted mother to Darcy and Hutch. Shredder of paper, eviscerator of dirty socks, biter of fingertips. We'll miss you, but you've earned your rest.

Revising Can Be Fun...

Winter

Waiting for Brandon

Drawn on the back of my placemat waiting for the waiter who never quite came back.

Ol' Man Diggers

Up and Down

The Sadie Maneuver

Sadie Therapy

Favorite Places

A rerun today of one of my favorite Sadie cartoons.

Sadie Likes

Welcome to Your New Home, Sadie

She's a Sadie

I had something else in mind for November, but that feels less important right now. Kirsten and I got bad news this weekend about our Sadie, who's had some health issues the past few years. For a while, I'm just going to doodle about her. I've never been the praying type, but I would certainly welcome any kind thoughts in her direction. She's a sweet and friendly cat, and I know you'd like her if you ever met her.

Kill Me

The Las Vegas Adventure is back!

A Little Crispy

So... I just worked 22 hours this weekend. I have to say I've felt better.

In lieu of anything interesting, I thought I'd lay out a kind of state of the cartoon.

First I'd like to recognize and congratulate friend and former co-worker Mike on his recent nuptials. I tried to talk him into getting married on the bridge of the Enterprise, but cooler heads prevailed. Definitely a good omen.

Also, to all the people who have had birthdays lately... I sure know a lot of people who were born in October. Not counting the ones that have appeared here... there's also my grandmother and cousin.

Future plans (in case I forget, you can remind me, Sam):

• I will finish the Las Vegas Adventure. There's about three or four more cartoons there.
• I've toyed with the idea of doing a "Bad Kirsten" week, where I dish the dirt on K. She has secrets. Fair warning: My silence can be bought and/or enforced through threats of bodily harm.
  
• November is coming up, so that means I'll feel guilty about not finishing my own little NaGraNoWriMo experiment: Breaking Up from last year. I may feel a need to finish that story.
• I'm also toying with the idea of making some shirts based off of a few of the cartoons. Who wouldn't want a shirt with this on it to wear to work... or church even. Send in your suggestions.

That's all for now. Drop me a line sometime and let me know how you're doing.

It's Good To Be King

Gimme Some Sugar

Yes, I fell off the wagon. The siren call of the sweet, sweet sugar was too powerful. Sigh.

Just one more packet...

You've Got to Plan

Unicorns Party Hard!

When in Doubt

Oi Kirsten!

Bonus: Using the card as a soundtrack as Sadie and Hutch "clean" each other.

Hay Tory!

Happy Birthday from Mathew and Kirsten!

Hey Sam!

Cryptic Post from Beyond

I'll get back sooner or later... that son of Jor El better look out.

Sequential Life: Secrets

Yes, my laziest post yet!

FYI

Not that you didn't have suspicions before now...

I Sing the Body Fight Song

I apologize for not posting for a while. I've been fighting a cold which has been distracting me, especially when my immune system has this as a fight song.

Fighting a Cold

Please to enjoy this ground-level view of my bloodstream. And yes, even my white blood cells wear glasses.

So... About That Content

The above diagram illustrates the current state around here. In detail: (A) Represents my job violently impacting (B) my face, causing loss of (C) tooth... also creative energy, restful nights sleep, will to live, etc...

I have a few more episodes left for Viva Las Vegas Week, so the whole Clint Eastwood thing wasn't a lie. I wouldn't lie to you... I'm very bad at lying.

Content Resuming

Poolside Fun in Vegas

Random Scenes from Las Vegas

Sleeping Arrangements

Editor's Note: Long-time readers will recognize the call-backs to these two cartoons. Let it never be said I couldn't satisfy the continuity buffs out there.

Outside Las Vegas

On The Way To Vegas

The Packing

Viva Las Vegas Week kicks off with a conversation we have every time we pack for a trip.

Hello?

Kirsten and I took a much-needed vacation last weekend. I meant to put up a warning here, but there was no time... Vegas was calling. Good news is that I'm kicking off Viva Las Vegas Week here at Sequential Life, in which you'll witness:

• Tips on how to spot the European tourist
• A "salute" to Toby Keith
• Part 47 in a never-ending battle for musical taste supremacy
• A special appearance by Clint Eastwood

All that and the regular tomfoolery you have come to expect.

Haunted Breakfast

Yes, there was a contest that I was supposedly running here. And yes, I forgot to actually announce a winner. Well, here are the results:

In five weeks, Mathew consumed pancakes for dinner on seven nights (amounting to 90 individual pancakes total).

The grand prize winner is TRE, who guessed 60 individual pancakes. Runners-up include Mike, who low-balled with a paltry 3 nights, and Sam, who greatly overestimated my talent for putting away the dough. Send me your addresses, and Official Sequential Life Goodies will be dispatched to all three of you.

Thanks to all who played!

Random Scenes from the Weekend

Lil Dracula

The Thirteen-Year-Old In Me

Special thanks to Kirsten for art direction!

Our Clairvoyant Waitress

What Goes Around...

Almost Anything

Why You No Draw, Mathew?

Instead of drawing last night, Kirsten and I indulged in a few beverages. Aside from that, here's what's been happening:

• We've been getting caught up on episodes of The Closer.
• Moving furniture around, making the old place feel like a new place.
• Trying that cooking-at-home thing.
• Going on romantic bike rides around the neighborhood.

New content should follow shortly. Meanwhile, cast your vote for the most likely , "What Sam Did On Her Summer Vacation" scenario. My bet's on #3.

Home!