“But it says here you have 350 years experience in overnight delivery.” © D. Barstow 2009, All Rights Reserved.

I decorated my blog for Christmas! But does Santa seem depressed to you? Maybe it’s because we can’t see his rosy cheeks and red nose.

(There is a cartoonist that we all know, not naming no names, but here’s her book who draws her character only from the back! I can’t remember if any character in the panel has a face, but the main one has only hair. She said it’s because she can’t draw faces, but also because it lets Everywoman identify with her. Well, I guess so… As it happens, this cartoonist has connected with many pharmaceutical companies, so she’s doing well financially. Perhaps I can claim Santa has rosacea, and this will be my start to fame and fortune.)

Anyway, Santa is too good for the Post Office, but not savvy in applying for state unemployment. Anyone want to help him out?

Love this drawing!  It ran in a very happy paper with a happy editor this month.

This week from my editors:

• One editor was very apologetic to say that her paper was cutting back, and so they couldn’t use my cartoon for a while. (However, since I’m the only cartoon in there, and we have a really good rapport, I think she’ll be back.)
• One editor never let me know about the batch of cartoons I emailed last month. I even called about them. Finally, I emailed to ask again about them, and she said, “we rejected those weeks ago, Donna! I hope we can get your work back on track soon.” That’s chutzpah! A rejection, an insult, and a lie, all in one email! She has lied at least twice more this year about emails – never letting me know the verdict, so I don’t send any more, since I’m waiting to hear. What can you do about a liar? Truly, I understand when editors don’t like my work – fine, screw ‘em. But this is more passive-aggressive. Please, people, don’t fold on that important contract!!
• I have an interesting, different kind of contract sitting on my desk, but haven’t made any progress in getting changes I want (need).
• An art director for a law magazine said my work looks great!

Read more »

“Happiness is getting my paycheck and finding a clearance sale on the same day.” © D. Barstow

For Illustration Friday, topic: Similar.

Isn’t there some kind of milk called Similac? Anyway, my interpretation was SAME, similar to similar. Done on the fly.

This isn’t that funny. It’s more of a true thing – people like it because it’s about them, and speaks to their character. I do know the irresistible pull of a big sale – a deep, deep slashed first pick sale, with things in my size and colors. I notice one of the women has a MAC bag. That is because MAC is my favorite makeup ever. They never have sales (that I know of), but they are reasonably priced, and have very high quality cosmetics. (I have seen their collections discounted in an outlet store, but we don’t have any of those near here.) This is the time of year when they have Special Collections, like little teeny tiny lipsticks in a metal box, or brushes, or the greatest eye shadow pencils. They might be sold out already. Sigh.

Their lipstick and eyeshadow lasts for a long time on your lips and eyes, and the packaging is so well designed! I could go on and on, but then I’d have to go get my own bag of bag of MAC.

Don’t you wish you had a top 8 on MySpace like Jones? He is the unsung (but not unhung, hopefully) standup comedian or maybe Phil Hendrie writer – no one knows for sure, he’s just Jones – that writes bulletins worth reading. Here are a couple recent ones.

Nov 26, 2008 10:21 AM
Subject:     Thanksgiving prayer

Family gathered together
Turkey on the table
Let us all try to get along
No more Cain and Abel

note: if you are going the vegan route, you can substitute tofurkey for turkey

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Peace, Love and Joy from the Jones extended family to yours!

Date:        Dec 5, 2008 10:36 AM
Subject:     Jones LIVE tomorrow evening in Downey
Body:     I will either be eating dinner at the Havana Cafe, corner of Old River School Road and Firestone Blvd.–or at Pina Pizza house, corner of 2nd Street and Paramount. I should arrive around 6:30 p.m.– depending on traffic and what time I decide to leave my house. I will have a few jokes ready upon arrival. One of the jokes I have never told before, and am a little nervous on how it will be received. I am hoping for big laughs, but would settle for a few small courtesy laughs…or even one person making eye contact.

See some of you there at one of those places.