Back in October I went into the studio with Dave Fitzpatrick (a talented multi-instrumentalist/Producer) and we began  the production of my first commercial release 'Migration Songs'. It's a collection of 10 songs written and composed by myself, and to the musical accompaniment of 'Fitz'. The album is presently being manufactured and will soon be available for purchase. As many may know, this website is constantly under construction (I've been learning step by step as I've needed to). I hope to have the album available in digital format as well as compact disc...just as soon as I figure out how to set this up. I'm presently doing the banking setup!

 Well, there's as many names as there are places in Newfoundland & Labrador, that's for sure! In fact there's MORE names than there are places if one looks closely. For example one need only look to the popular body of water located in St. John's on which the annual regatta takes place. The official name is 'Quidi Vidi Lake'...but it's also known as 'The Pond', 'Kitty Vitty' and (phonetically) 'Quida Vida'! The different pronounciations depend upon where you 'longs at' or more explanatory, where you come from. 
oh...and if anyone knows what 'Goobies' means, please let me know!

This one is near the top of my 'most fun to draw' strips! I seem to have a preference for the strips that involve a bit of research. I also love to have the backstory running as well, where the subject is in a separate story, like in panel 6. The last panel is directly based on comments made to me by one of the older gents, (whom I cannot remember the name of right now) on Random Island when I was a lad. It's true! After a big, fine meal of fresh Turr, your innards will rock 'n roll! The whole drawing was fun, especially the Turrs themselves, lots of black ink to push around!

As I sit here today the sun is glaring in the window. Brighter now, that I feel Ron is helping it shine. His songwriting and energy will be missed, but I'm taking comfort in the knowledge that he has inspired so many with his 'twisting words'.

Alas, I have experienced every one of the topics I've drawn about in this strip! I love to grow things...I'm not really good at it, but I'm constantly learning, and I hope, improving. You wouldn't say that based on the results I had this year though! July did not happen. The temperatures were cold right through until August. My peppers were flowering in October...then promptly freezing! Zero peppers, very few tomatoes, brussels sprouts are still attempting to live in the greenhouse...they're about the size of a dime now. Not hopeful.
A bit about the strip above...panel 3 is a tip of the hat to a local radio show on CBC in Newfoundland & Labrador (Gardening Crosstalk). Panel 4 is reflective of the jolt one receives when hitting a rock with a pick, which is about every swing usually...but sometimes you hit one dead on and feel it right through to your toes! Panel 5 still holds true. I had a 'mystery plant' growing in my container box this year amongst the lettuce. Turned out to be a huge sunflower! I'm guessing the seed had been dropped by birds. Panel 7 is in reference to the historic 'Sprung Greenhouse' fiasco that the Peckford administration subjected us to back in the 1980's (I remember the slogan was something like 'self sufficiency in cucumber production'... which we already were considering only about 0.001% of the population can stomach the vile tasting growth! Oddly enough, once pickled, we love them!) and finally panel 8 sums up something my brother always speaks of, dandelions are our best growing crop.

All we have to do is figure out how to get rich from them! Those and alders!!

Yes, another strip that I did the 'research' thing on...it's always a good way to come up with inspiration. Most dictionaries will have enough information to do a gag on, and Easter was no different. The Irish taking the cake? That begs to be parodied.
As far as beliefs go, why is believing the earth to be hatched from a giant hen so unbelievable? Besides Scientific Proof, that is...you've got to suspend your common sense to get behind some of the crazy ideas that people believe. Finally though, the greeting wishes in the last panel relay the real message in the strip, enjoy life! 

Oh, I forgot to mention that this is one of the first mentions of my cartoon strip 'Sculpin Tickle' long before I actually started drawing it! This was when it was an incubating idea as a place name I could use to produce the strip (much like 'Bloom County' is used by Berkley Breathed)! I hadn't thought about that in ages.

I loved doing this drawing! It holds all the things that I find make a strip challenging and fun to draw: repeated figures and/or setting, my old 'Moontree' logo (from the Trees'n days), a funny named character and a good old social political commentary on the meddlings of the Federal bean counters...as well as some silly back action! 
I have my doubts that the address for the CCG Commissioner is still current. I wonder did anyone write to express their opinion??