Stephan Pastis's Blog, page 36

For the love of books

Because I am a kind and generous man (and because I was getting lunch next door to there), I just stopped in my local Copperfields bookstore in Santa Rosa and signed more Pearls books.  By request, I tried to draw some with Pig and Snuffles in them (as opposed to my usual Rat).   There aren’t a ton of them, so if you want one, you’ll probably need to call soon.  707-578-8938.

A Contemplation of All That is Dwarfish

I have been in a philosophical mood of late.  Thinking a lot of deep thoughts.

Foremost among these thoughts has been which of the Seven Dwarves I’d most like to be stuck on a desert island with.

Easiest to cross off the list is Sneezy.  All repetitive noises drive me insane.  After an hour of that bearded weirdo sneezing, I’d be forced to kill him.

Next is Sleepy, with a qualifier.  I am assuming based upon his age, fatness and general poor health, Sleezy is also Snorey.  That falls under the head

Pearls Before Swine Flu

So yesterday, I’m in my crowded gym, waiting for a free space on one of the treadmills.  On the TV overhead is CNN and they’re showing a story on the swine flu.

Out of nowhere, I get a tickle in my throat.  And  I cough.

People on the treadmill turn back and stare. One gets off her treadmill and walks away.  Quickly.

I take her treadmill.

It is at that moment that I realize that this swine flu paranoia has its upside.

I will  try this in the Safeway line.

I Am Going to Change the World

I am disturbed by mindless conformity to long-held traditions.  And I am determined to change them.

I am starting with a drink now unanimously referred to as “Pepsi.”

In restaurants, bars, fast-food joints and grocery stores, I have taken to  using the product’s God-given, full name:  Pepsi Cola.

It is harder than it seems.

For example, try telling the person at the Taco Bell window that you would like two “Pepsi Colas.”  And don’t just say it.  Over-enunciate each syllable for emphasis, as though t

Ahh, The Perils of Being Too Far Ahead of Deadline

I am generally five to nine months ahead of deadline, which is unusual for cartoonists, who are generally no more than than two or three weeks ahead.  Most cartoonists would love to have this problem, but the truth is, it does create some difficulties.  Today’s strip is one such example.

Four or five months ago, I drew some comic strips where Rat was testifying before Congress.  These are the strips that are running today and tomorrow.

A few weeks after I drew the strips, I saw in the paper that D

The Triumph of the Donkey

After much soul-searching and vote counting, it looks like the fourth new plush will be…..Envelope please….

Mr. Danny Donkey.

By the way, it’s interesting, because each time we turn one of these characters into a plush, I have to provide the plush manufacturer with what they call “turnarounds” for the characters.  This is a drawing of the character from multiple angles.

This is always a  struggle for me since I generally only draw my characters from one or two angles (and almost never from the rear

And The Plushie Goes To…

Hey, thank you to everyone who helped vote for the next four Pearls plush characters.  According to my tally, Snuffles the Cat is comfortably in first place, followed by Goat and Guard Duck.   So those three are easy choices.  The last one is a toss-up between Danny Donkey and a Zeeba Zeeba Eata Croc (complete with frat sweater, and if I’m lucky, beer in hand).  So I still have to think about that last one.   But thank you for all of your input.  I’ll pass it on the plush manufacturer’s, Aurora.

Five Favorite Albums of All Time

Just picked my five favorite albums of all time on my Facebook page.  Hard to limit it to just five though.

Here is one of them.

For the rest, just go to my Facebook page here:

http://www.facebook.com/people/Stepha...

If you’re not already my friend, just send me a friend request, and I’ll approve it.  Unless you’re that Safeway clerk.  She’s out.

Agree on the five?  Disagree?  What are yours?

You Are Now in Control

Hey, the good folk at Aurora want to make 4 more Pearls characters in plush!   So I need your help.

The first will definitely be Guard Duck.  And he’ll be carrying a grenade.

But the next three are up to you.  I have a few candidates:  Goat, Danny Donkey, Snuffles the Cat.

Or maybe Maura (Guard Duck’s girlfriend), Patty (Larry’s wife), or Pig’s girlfriend Pigita.   I’m conscious of the fact that I should probably have a female in the mix, so one of these might be good.

Or maybe one of the lions, or

I Must Say These Are Pretty Darn Cute

Just when you thought the Pearls plush were a one-time thing, along comes the Christmas versions!  I don’t know when these Christmas ones will be available, but here’s what they look like.