Stephan Pastis's Blog, page 27

Meet Me This Thursday and Try Not to Look Disappointed

This Thursday, November 12 at 7:30 pm, I will be appearing at the Shadelands Arts Center in Walnut Creek, California.  So if you live in Northern California and want to come (or live in another state and are really, really motivated), you can find more info HERE.

Saddamapalooza, Day 5; or The Last Time Ever I Saw Garry's Face

I am sitting in a Blackhawk helicopter flying over a war zone.

Here is a Blackhawk.

Here is me:

And sitting across from me, helmet slightly askew, is this guy:

He is Garry Trudeau, creator of the legendary comic strip Doonesbury.

And I am sitting there thinking, "How the hell did I get here?"

You see, I have six main comic strip influences:  Peanuts, Calvin & Hobbes, Bloom County, Doonesbury, Far Side and Dilbert.

I was fortunate enough to meet Charles Schulz and Berke Breathed.  I'm friends with...

How To Draw Rat

A Film of Epic Importance

by Stephan T. Pastis.

Click HERE to view.

A New Video, and a Very Very Subtle Promotion

Just click HERE to view the video.

(Oh, and if you want to buy what you see, go HERE.)

Misanthropic Cartoonist, 41, Seeks Lively Discussion Later This Afternoon

The misanthrope in me is being temporarily set aside.

I am doing a live radio interview this afternoon to discuss my trip to Iraq, as well as other things.

So if you have a question for me, or just want to talk, or just want to tell me how great I look in those Iraq photos, call in.

I'll be on the air at 5:00 pm (Pacific Standard Time).

To listen live, go to http://www.ksro.com/ListenLive.aspx.

To call in, the toll free number is 877-636-1350.

And be nice.  I'm very sensitive.

Saddamapalooza, Day 4; or, To Hell With My Fellow Cartoonists

It is late night in Kuwait and we are getting ready to fly into Iraq.

This is the moment each of us gets our body armor.  A helmet and bulletproof vest.  A vest that weighs 32 pounds.

It is the first time I have had to do arm curls to put on clothing.

With the body armor on, I summon my inner GI Joe.  I feel very cool.

I pose for this:

I am immediately mocked because my camouflage does not match.  My helmet is one type.  My vest is another.

I am the military equivalent of a patchwork hobo.

I...

Saddamapalooza, Day 3; or, Stuck Inside of Kuwait With the Baghdad Blues Again

It is early morning when we hear that our flight to Iraq has been canceled.

The ten of us cartoonists have a free day in Kuwait.

With an entire nation to explore, a Middle Eastern culture to learn and the coastline of the Persian Gulf to roam, we take full advantage of the free time.

We play ping pong.

The table is in a small room at the back of the hotel.

I pick an easy mark.

Cartoonist Jeff Bacon.

Here is a picture of Jeff Bacon:

I don't want to brag, because I think that's in poor taste, so I'll...

Saddamapalooza, Day 2

I am sitting in the lobby of our Kuwaiti hotel.

I am a high-value target.

I am bored.

With no beer to constructively fill my time, I decide to do the next best thing:

Bring peace to the Middle East.

One person at a time.

I approach a Kuwaiti man.

"May I take my picture with you?" I ask.

"Yes," he says.

But he has a request.

"Can I hold the Kuwaiti flag?"

I want to say no.  But I am a diplomat.  So I agree.

"That would be acceptable to both me and my nation," I say, speaking for our nation.

We take the...

Saddamapalooza: Day One

When you arrive in Hawaii, a beautiful Hawaiian girl places a lei around your neck and says "Aloha."

When you arrive in Kuwait, a security man with a gun under his shirt places you in a shuttle and says, "You are now all high value targets."

Said to a roomful of normal people, the line inspires fear.

Said to a shuttle-full of cartoonists, the line inspired pride.

We had never been "high value" anything.

If there was any doubt that we were not in Kansas anymore, that was resolved by the high blast...

Mysteries Revealed

Just got back from Country X, which I can now tell you was Iraq. 

We spent three days traveling by Blackhawk helicopter and military planes to Mosul, Kirkuk, Tikrit and finally Baghdad.  We even spent the night  in Saddam's palace.

I'm traveling home today from Washington DC, but I plan on posting all about the trip on this blog, complete with photos.