Author: TraverseCityCartoons

CAN ALL LIFEGUARDS SWIM?

In my early days as a STATE FARM AGENT, I often attended the annual “Professional Sales Institute” held by State Farm at Albion College, in Albion, Michigan. After a day of classes, one of the great things available to participants was the Olympic-size pool we got to use in the evenings .

As you might imagine, some insurance agents aren’t in the best physical shape.  On one particular evening, several of us “larger-than-life” agents were in the pool at the same time.  In addition to discussions about the rise in the water level, we all noted that the lifeguard was a tiny college coed.  Soaking wet, she might have weighed 90 lbs.  The thought occurred to us we might be in trouble if she had to jump in and save us.  In my mind, it was like sending a minnow to save a whale.

The “Save the whales” talk sparked the idea for the cartoon.  You might have noted from the cartoon that the section we were in was only 4 feet deep.  Maybe we weren’t in as much peril as we thought… if, for some reason we weren’t able  to stand up, she could have dragged us to shore!

HAPPINESS IS…

Cover of
Cover of Live In The Moment

I was asked by a Senior Citizen friend to draw a card with his dog on it.  He asked me to make the dog smiling because he was going to send it to a little girl in the neighborhood who had helped him  and loved his dog.

After I had drawn it, I got to thinking about dogs…  If we could adopt their attitude towards life, we’d be a lot happier.  Dogs don’t worry about the future or brood over the past.  They live in the moment.  If you own a dog, you know what I mean.

Just the mention of going for a walk will throw them into a frenzy.  Pick up a ball and they quiver with anticipation.  They don’t dwell on “I wonder how far he’s going to make me walk” or “Why don’t you go get it yourself?”  Dogs are just happy to be dogs… They live in the moment.

Humans spend too much time looking for happiness rather than experiencing it.  We all have the ability to be happy.  Think how your day would go if you decided to greet everyone you meet the same way your dog greets you when you get home.  Wouldn’t that change things?  Do you think people might treat you differently?  I don’t necessarily recommend you lick someone but wagging your tail wouldn’t hurt!

Now, on the other hand, if your dog happens to be a biter… You might want to reconsider how you greet people if you’re using your dog as a model for behavior.  You also might want to ask yourself, “Why is my dog a biter?” Since our pets usually follow our lead, does he reflect his owner’s attitude?    Think about it.
Most dogs will do almost anything for a treat.  We, as humans, will do almost anything in the search for happiness.  Follow your dog’s lead on this one… Decide to be HAPPY… relish the moment.  Your best chance is now!  Unless, of course, you decide otherwise.  In that case, don’t be surprised if you get bitten…

DISCOVER THE MAGIC OF RAINBOWS…A CHILDREN’S BOOK ABOUT EATING A RAINBOW DIET OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES

Are you looking for a great way to encourage young children to eat Fruits and Vegetables?  This book might be your answer.

Discover the MAGIC of Rainbows: Annie Oxidant finds the path to Healthy Foods is a new book that tells the story of a little girl,  ANNIE OXIDANT and her dog, PHYTO.  They love rainbows and follow one looking for treasure.  They are disappointed when it ends at a produce stand.  Friendly farmer, BROCK O’ LEE, assures them they are actually looking at the treasure because “You can eat a Rainbow”.

RUDY BAGA, Annie’s neighbor, doesn’t think that is possible.  To explain what he means, BROCK O’LEE takes them to the garden and orchard.  He has them pick fruit and vegetables representing each of the colors in the rainbow and in the process  explains, from a child’s perspective, what’s in it for them to eat the rainbow.

When I got the idea for the book, I needed nutritional information that would resonate with children. I’m not a nutritionist, so I contacted a good friend with a Masters Degree in Nutrition, Dr. Jane Oelke, ND, PhD .  She outlined the reasons why kids, from their perspective, would want to eat fruit and vegetables.  Additional valuable input was provided by Sandi McArthur, Education and Outreach Coordinator for Oryana Natural Foods Market, a Community Cooperative in Traverse City, Michigan.

My goal in writing and illustrating the book was to provide parents and educators with a resource that not only would provide accurate information but be interesting to kids.  Educators say most of the materials for teaching nutrition to young children are “dumbed-down text books”… boring to most children.  Discover the MAGIC of Rainbows has an engaging story line designed to teach the basic concepts of whole food and where food comes from… in the format of a treasure hunt.

After reading the book, parents say children become more interested in what they are eating and why .  Conversations about the book have created a means for parents or educators to address issues related to diet and attitudes about food.  To order the book, go to my website: www.BearClausePublications.com or email me at: bearclausebooks@gmail.com.

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FLY FISHERMAN’S DILEMMA

English is an interesting language.  The multitude of inherent double meanings  provide unlimited cartoon ideas.

I got this idea when  I saw an ad for the opening of Trout Season in Northern Michigan.  The ad suggested the business had everything a fly fisherman would need.  Prior to that, I hadn’t thought about what it would be like if flies fished.  The idea of flies fishing raises the same questions that people have who fish: “What are the size restrictions?… When do you have to catch and release?  Are they in season?”  Fishing is complicated!

Often, after a cartoon is drawn, I realize there is more than one way to interpret it.  Another possible interpretation for this cartoon:  Is the fly fisherman checking to see if the bait is still on the line?  If people use flies for bait, wouldn’t flies use people for bait?  If that’s the case…. What are the flies fishing for?

6OO MILES ON A TANK OF GAS… Be careful what you wish for!

Advertising  is like politics… It’s all about the spin.  Like the car ads that talk about how many miles you can drive on a tank of gas.  I drew this cartoon after listening to one of those ads.  I’m learning that when listening to ads and political speakers, it’s more important to pay attention to what they DON’T say, than what they do…

Take the car ad… First, it was an electric hybrid car and they were talking how far you could drive on a tank OF GAS… if you lived near where you work.  Think about it.  Most electric hybrids use the electric at low speeds and the gas power kicks in at highway speeds.  The announcer was claiming you could get 600 miles on a tank of gas.  He didn’t mention the part you couldn’t drive more than 30 miles from your house or over 40 mph.  Is that spin…or what?

I tried to envision what a gas-powered, “600 miles per tank” vehicle would look like.  I realized they weren’t talking about gas mileage… They were talking about Gas STORAGE!  It doesn’t matter how many mpg you get… if you have a big enough tank!  Take that way of thinking to the next level and soon they’ll be talking about vehicles that can go 1,000 miles on a tank of gas.

I only have one question… Where are you going to be able to park it?