Pug Wedge

My pug has found a new favorite seat.  She likes to wedge herself in between my back and the couch.  This results in very uncomfortable positions for both me (with a fat pug wedged behind me) and her (squished in a tiny spot with her upper body barely able to squeeze down and touch the couch seat).  I was stunned the first time this happened.  But I also secretly love it.

Why I Can't Move To Another State

True story - one day I went with my sister to pick up my niece and nephew from their day care.  We opened the door and all the kids stared at us in surprise.  Then my nephew popped up from the kid crowd, pointed at me, and shouted, "THAT'S MY AUNT!!"  My nephew and niece then came running at me, with my nephew leaping into my arms and my niece clutching onto my leg.  I felt like a rock star.  Seriously, that's pretty much what happens with rock stars and their fans.

Generation Tech

My almost 4 year-old niece and nephew were fascinated by my phone and how you can pinch zoom with the touch screen.  They quickly picked up on it and try to pinch zoom on any electronic equipment with pictures.  Now anytime I show them pictures on my camera their little grubby fingers immediately reach out to pinch zoom and get confused and distraught when it won't work.  I'm sure by the time they're 10 they'll be schooling me with the new technology and I'll be the confused and distraught one.

Plan B Savings

Some days (especially recently) I wish I had cashed out all my assets and bought gold bars that I would keep under my bed.  Akin to Scrooge McDuck's giant money tower with gold coins that he dives into, but I seriously doubt I'd have enough to fill a tower.  Besides diving into gold coins would hurt but petting my gold bars under my bed wouldn't.  Sigh.

Imperfect

This is my first drawing for Illustration Friday.  This week's theme is imperfect.  My mind immediately jumped to my pug and her various imperfections that make her perfect for me.  Lots of people (including myself) joke that pugs are defective dogs and would never be able to survive on their own.  I totally agree.  I think my pug would last all of 1 day on her own.

Cute Beagle = Bedbug Fear

Sheesh right after I post about my bedbug paranoia I saw a pest control truck outside my apartment building today.  On it's side it had a picture of a cute beagle and my mind immediately jumped to bedbug sniffing dog.  This wasn't the only thing on the side of the van, but I only included the parts that stuck out in my memory when I saw this in the morning - "Pest Control" and cute beagle's face.  I never thought the day would come when I'd associate a beagle's face with something so sinister and actually hope for a roach infestation as a better alternative.

August

Most days in August I step outside my apartment building and feel like I'm walking in hot water.  So freakin humid.  I'm ready for fall now.

Koala Pug

Is that a koala?  No, it's a pug dressed as a koala.  I ordered my pug a koala hat and until it arrives I like to imagine what she'd look like dressed as a koala.

Pond (Niece and Nephew Stories)

Yes, I know clown fish are saltwater fish, but I'm just drawing based on my sister's stories for her kids.  I don't control the stories and can't change the many many factual inaccuracies.

Forest Gate (Niece and Nephew Stories)

I've been doing some watercolor illustrations for the stories my sister tells her kids.  I do it mainly for my niece and nephew but thought I'd add them here as well.

Creatures of the Sea

I am both fascinated and terrified by the ocean.  Who knows what creepy things are down below you and want to eat you!

Bedbug Paranoia

I have a constant and deep fear of bedbugs.  I've never had them and never want to.  I blame my paranoia on the years I lived in New York when I'd hear about stores getting closed down and knew people who suffered from their horribleness.  Any bump or itch I get makes me immediately think of bedbugs and I have to send a picture to my obliging friend who will evaluate and then talk me down.  You think this is bad?  You should see the precautions I take in hotels.

Enough Stuffed Animals?

There was one period when I was giving my niece and nephew new stuffed animals every visit.  They like to store them in these laundry collapsible bins that are getting more and more stuffed.

The Call of the Books

In my world books speak to me and call out to me from the shelves.

Ice, Iced Coffee

Three things about me: (1) I like routine; (2) I need copious amounts of caffeine to barely function like a normal person; and (3) I hate hot drinks.  The one good thing about summer is that it's totally acceptable to drink iced coffee every day.  I drink it all year round.  I just make sure I have warm gloves in the winter.

This Fox in Socks

Whenever things suck, my friend and I like to say that it "Fox in Socks" (say it aloud).  Getting slammed at work always Fox in Socks.

Happy Hump Day!

My Pug's Cousins

My sister requested a drawing of her three dogs.  Her pug is a bit darker colored than mine.  And yes, the chi-pom on the right has one eye.

In My Perfect World...

We would all have personal air/conditioned (or heated for winter) balls to walk in.  I think then I could handle east coast summers.  I haven't worked out yet how my pug would go to the bathroom in her ball.

Trained Pug

I've got Cesar Milan-like skills - I've got my pug trained perfectly.