DUMPSTER DIVING… A SIGN OF THE TIMES.

Dumpster Diving has become a way of life in the U.S.  Unfortunately, for some people, it is also a matter of survival.

I was in a business networking group yesterday and they were discussing the quality of sticker needed to survive the elements and rough handling of dumpsters.  Someone joked about needing a sticker that said, “No Diving” for dumpsters… a cartoon idea was born.

As I drew the cartoon, I had several choices to make.  Did I want to focus on College kids in the process of furnishing their off-campus apartment or someone looking for food?  Was the person to be portrayed as desperate or simply looking for a treasure?  I decided to take the middle road and let the viewer fill in the blanks.

In reality, it made me think…   I reflected on the fact that even on my worst days, I never had to consider dumpster diving for survival.  How desperate would I have to be to go looking in a dumpster for a meal?  Or clothing?  Or a place to sleep on a cold winter night?  The fact that we have the term “Dumpster Diving” in our language says something about us.

If we want to put a positive spin on it, we call it “Re-cycling”… part of going Green.  Going Green is not always a good thing, especially if it’s the meat on the burger you just fished out of a McDonald’s dumpster.  We live in the wealthiest country in the world and seem to ignore the plight of a growing segment of our society that considers dumpster diving as a viable way of survival.  What’s wrong with that picture?


Part of what we CAN do is support ongoing efforts to attack issues of poverty, hunger, obesity and diabetes by supporting efforts to provide basic needs of food and shelter for everyone in our great country.  Support local Food Banks, Homeless Shelters and other organizations that make a difference.  The greatness of a country is defined by how it treats its population that is the most at risk.

I would love to see the day when dumpster diving becomes a matter of choice instead of a necessity.  A treasure hunt, not a last resort…. We can make it happen.

 

MOREL MUSHROOMS: THE HOLY GRAIL IN NORTHERN MICHIGAN

Hunting Morel Mushrooms in Northern Michigan is a big deal. Drive around the countryside in the Spring and you’ll witness cars parked at weird places as the annual hunt for the illusive Morel Mushroom occurs. 

Go to a local bar at that time of year and the stories you hear will rival stories from any fishing tournament on Earth.  Everyone seems to brag about the place they know where the mushrooms are bigger than anywhere else.  The trick in the storytelling seems to be the ability to brag convincingly without giving any specific information about the location.  No one wants to risk giving unscrupulous mushroom hunters (which, by definition, means anyone else in the woods)  access to their secret mushroom Garden of Eden… The Mother Lode, so to speak.

They go to great lengths to keep the spot secret…  Even to the point of walking in the opposite direction if someone approaches their stash and wandering aimlessly as if there is nothing to be found.  Wandering aimlessly seems to be the method of choice for mushroom hunters.  I’m not sure if it’s strategy or if they simply have no clue where they’re going and don’t want to admit it.

There is a definite similarity between hunting mushrooms and fishing.  As in fishing, size seems to matter more than quantity.  Bragging rights go to the person with the largest Morels.  But, as in fishing, there always seems to be a person in the group that will say they saw it first but claims someone else picked it before they could get there… the mushroom version of the “one that got away”.

I got the cartoon idea when I overheard someone talking about “hunting for Morals”.  I’m sure they were talking about “Morels”, but I heard “Morals”.  At the time, I was doing a series of cartoons about humorous Catholic issues and “Father Murphy” often was the lead character.   Morels, Morals and Father Murphy seemed to be a natural combination. 

I’m sure he would understand if the confession about the actual size of the mushroom didn’t include the location where it was found… That would be a sin for a mushroom hunter!

 

THE RAINBOW DIET FOR KIDS. What’s in it for kids to eat a Rainbow?

Discover the Magic of Rainbows
Learn more about Nutrition for Children of All Ages (including Adults)

“Discover the MAGIC of Rainbows” was written to help kids identify with eating a rainbow of fresh fruits and vegetables.  When I got the idea for the book, I called a good friend, Dr. Jane Oelke, ND, PhD and asked her, “What’s in it for kids to eat a rainbow diet?”  Jane has a Masters Degree in Nutrition and has written several books on Natural Healing.  Her information was invaluable in the story line and the concept of the book.

Here’s what I learned…  Continue reading THE RAINBOW DIET FOR KIDS. What’s in it for kids to eat a Rainbow?

Cyber-Psychology… it’s going to be BIG!

Preview of “14C-Cyber Psychology copy”I’m not a Techie kind of guy…  When it comes to technology, just turning a device on is a challenge.  I seem to spend an inordinate amount of time in front of computer screens scratching my head  and wondering where “it” went when I saved it…  Or wondering if a “Fatal Error” is as serious as it sounds.

When it comes to technology, I often find myself surrounded by people speaking English but in a different language.  You know what I mean?  They’re using words that make no sense to me…  For example, the other day I overheard a conversation about the  importance of the “Cloud” in the future.  I  thought I knew what clouds were, but now I’m not so sure.  They were young people of course and seemed to be talking about technological stuff.  It made my head swim.

You can’t just push an “ON” button anymore and expect to know how  things work.  Technology seems to have a lot of secrets buried in the vernacular.  My kids tell me, “Don’t worry Dad, it’s intuitive.”….  Right!

The whole idea for the cartoon came to me when I was tearing my hair out… well, not actually tearing my hair out.  I don’t have any hair  to tear out anymore.  You know what I mean.  I was looking for a padded room to vent my frustration with computers, etc.  My inner voice said, “This is going to drive me crazy!”  My other inner voice (They talk a lot…) replied, “You should ask for help.” 

Asking for “Help” can mean a lot of things.  To a guy, it means surrender.  It would be like asking for directions.  Who actually does that? Or,… even worse… seeing a therapist and admitting you don’t know what to do!  As I listened to the voices inside my head sort it out, it occurred to me a new field of Psychology would emerge.  One that would help people like me.  That other voice, the cartoon idea guy, whispered in my inner ear, “Do a cartoon about it.  Maybe no one will notice you don’t have a clue…”

I rest my case…

 


 

WELCOME TO MY WORLD !

Every once in a while I draw a cartoon that can be used in multiple ways. I drew a cartoon of myself to add to the Header for my website with the caption, “Welcome to my world !”.  It also had each of the characters of my books, Annie Oxidant, Phyto (her dog), TC Bear, Rudy Baga and Brock O’Lee, the farmer.

As I look at the drawing, I can see a lot of uses for it.  It looks like I’m telling a fish story about the one that got away.  Or, maybe, with a few lines to make it look like I’m waving my arms, it could be me saying, “Yoo Hoo!  I’m over here!”

I could be at Spartan Stadium (my college Alma mater) doing the wave or on the bow of the Titanic yelling, “I’m the King of the World!”  Put a wand in my hand and I could be parking a Jumbo Jet…. Or, Sky Diving.

As you can see, being a cartoonist is like being the Chief Executive of the Universe… We decide what it all means and what happens.  Now, I know what you’re thinking.  Why don’t I do something about the cartoon happening in Washington these days?  That’s another cartoonist’s territory. It’s out of my jurisdiction.  My Universe is pretty small…