The Shark Podcast: Episode 4

 

I made one more panel but wasn't sure if it was necessary or not. Here it is anyway.

* My list of some things to stock up (sorry, vegans, I need my cheese. And some other stuff):

1. Eggs
2. Milk/ cheese
3. Bread
4. Butter/oil
5. Flour
6. Rice
7. Sugar/ sweeteners/ honey
8. Salt/ Pepper
9. Pasta/ noodles
10. Coffee/Tea
11. Cereal/ Oats/ Muesli/ Granola 
12. Chocolate/ candy
13. Instant noodles
14. Peanut butter/ Nutella/ Jams
15. Tinned foods - beans, corn
16. Fruits & Vegetables
17. Frozen meat/ready-to-cook
18. Cooking sauces/ seasonings 
19. Drinks of your choice
20. Snacks - trail mixes, chips, etc
21. Baking essentials
22. Cleaning supplies
23. Pet food if you have a pet
24. Emergency cash
25. Medicines*
26. Personal care - soap, dental care, etc
27. Batteries/ Power banks
28. Candles/ matches/ torches
29. Books/ Art supplies 
30. I'm going to add "instant pot" because that has saved my life

* Prescription medicines as well as ones like paracetamol, probiotics, Vicks, pain balm, cough syrup, multivitamins, antacids etc. 

Mutual learning

I was asked to do a cartoon on what we can learn from the ocean. This one was a bit deeper and more serious than intended so I did a different one for that project (hopefully you'll see it someday soon). But I did like the message of this one so I thought I'd complete it anyway. Quite apt with teachers' day around the corner, isn't it?
I think so much about our planet can be learnt from the ocean. It should be protected and respected but we take it for granted. Ocean life can fill us with awe and wonder every time we encounter it and yet we are systematically destroying it. What an opinion they must have about us!

ps - I do love the idea of these mini-discussion groups around the reef.

Resolutions and solutions

I put off making resolutions for New Year until perhaps a week or two after the initial feeling of obligation to do such things passes. Even then, I'm hoping to simply create new habits for the year. Like being less cynical, make a lot more drawings and do some new activity. Well, good luck to me!

Stick to slapstick!

I did wonder what it is we mean when we refer to someone having a good sense of humour. In my case, I'd like them to make me laugh. And if they don't laugh at my jokes, I will have to resort to slapstick.

Feels like home.

It's been a while since I did a "Fence Conversation" and every now and then I feel like writing a mushy one. This is probably the mushiest by far. I was having a similar conversation with a friend and thought it was a really good line and had to use it.
We're all looking for someone to call 'home'. I just hope that when I find mine, it is shark-friendly.

Sharks in my living room

Remember my first "Sharks are friends, not food" drawing? I've wanted to do a coloured version of that one since I did the Central Perk one. So here it is.

Happy New Year: 2014!

Let's just resolve to be content. Also, is it better to give up sooner than later?

2012: A shark's eye view

Well, it seems that I did complete all my goals for the year. I try not to make elaborate plans because they never seem to work out the way I intend them to.
Anyway... let's recap the year, shall we?

• American Samoa became the most powerful shark protection territory.
• Shark Week didn't get aired on Discovery Channel India which seemed to be another indicator for the whole "End-of-the-World" thing. The biggest indicator was the success of "Fifty shades of grey".
• The World, as we know it, did not end. I was kind of looking forward to that bit of excitement ...things were getting a little dull. 
• Megalodon may not be the Great White's ancestor.
• "Oh, Dakuwaqa!" Facebook page reached over 600 likes and actually got over 100 shares for the Christmas card! (would have been slightly disappointed if the World had ended at 99 shares).
• Had a sketch made into a card for Congratulafins and another sketch translated into Chinese! 
• Did a few sketches for a couple of other shark conservation organisations - Hjelp Havets Haier and Shark Defenders.
• Sharks did not really swim around people's backyards after hurricane Sandy. 
• Started an experimental store on Zazzle.
• Did not get bitten by any leeches this year. Came close though. 
• Switched to digital drawing with Intuos 4!
• Finally bought a Kindle. It's not the Beast's library but I love it.
• My mother probably thinks I should be out looking for a husband and not doodling sharks. 
• Did not get a pony this year either. 
• I made shepherd's pie all by myself. But I was too nervous to taste it. Everyone else said it was nice though. (cooking is not something I do for fun). 
• I'm not yet tired of receiving shark-related gifts or links on my wall. 
• It's strange that I can't think of much else. But it's been an eventful and memorable (even though I can't remember much of it) year... I'm very grateful for everything good and bad that's happened to me. I'm a bit more grown up than I was last year.

Happy New Year, everyone! Have a wonderful 2013!

The inevitable question

This seems to be quite true. When I mentioned "profile photo", did you instantly think of Facebook or what? 

It's offensive to be offended!

Is it just me or do people get offended by more and more things every passing day? Most of which could be just ignored or laughed away. Is it also a coincidence that way more people are becoming "intolerant" of various food stuff - allergies that were not all that common some years ago? It's really weird that we get all offended about cartoons drawn decades ago that included all sorts of people groups and showed them in a humorous light but we seem accepting of kids getting stripped of their innocence younger and younger. It all seems rather silly.

Relationship matters/Relationships matter #3: The spaghetti incident

We all probably have a "Spaghetti incident" in our lives. I thought I'd posted mine in my old blog but I can't seem to find it. So I'll give you a brief summary. Once upon a time, my family went to Universal studios. It was lunch time and we were all crabby and getting on each others' nerves. I wanted to go watch the "Beetlejuice" show and we had about an hour so we went to get some food. I wanted my own plate of spaghetti and meatballs but my parents were asking me to share some of their food or share with my sister. I was like "No. I want my own". And so I got my own plate of spaghetti. I had totally underestimated American food portions. What I got was way more than I could handle. My parents said that I couldn't go anywhere unless I finished that entire plate of spaghetti. "Beetlejuice" was about to start and my mom and sister went ahead to watch it. It was all very tormenting and finally when I'd eaten about 90% of my meal, I was allowed to go watch the show. One would think that I'd never eat spaghetti and meatballs ever again. My family still laughs about this (even though they don't remember which amusement park it was or what Beetlejuice was about). It's not even that funny.

Anyway, while these are moments that may seem annoying (aka sitcom moments) at the time, they're certainly not ones over which you'd give up your family or relationships for.
People seem to be giving up for smaller and smaller issues compared to what they tolerated just some years ago. Some say we grow to love people, some say that some people are just impossible to love, some say it has to be a gut feeling... I don't know what works or if different things work for different people. I just hope I have what it takes to stick it out and that I find someone who'll stick through it all with me.

Oops maybe that's what happened to my Prince

I just found this one I'd done back in January and forgotten to upload or possibly waiting for an opportune moment. 

I'm not one to promote any black art stuff so I have to explain. Wanting to turn people into frogs (I should have said toads) was a thought I had now and then in my younger years, being a fan of "Bewitched" (and other fairytale witches) where Endora would threaten to turn Darren into a toad every time he annoyed her. Reading this now makes me wonder if people would get the idea that I [want to] kiss people and turn them into slimy creatures! As much as that would seem to be the case, it's not. 

I must've been annoyed at something on the day I drew this. But give me five minutes and the sentiment would be applicable again.

Forgotten to have remembered

Every now and then I have thoughts like this. I don't always write them down and then I'm left with a ghostly remnant of a pointless thought for which I have no use. It's a good thing our phones have little notepad apps which help you jot down the ridiculous thoughts that you may have during the day (and sometimes in the middle of the night when you can't really type so you end up with some garbled nonsense which can never be deciphered). 

The Art of Listening

This is true. I can appear to be listening very intently. This skill was very handy in school. I'm guessing now I'd have to face several "Are you really listening questions?" but I can appear to nod in acknowledgment as well.

Can't believe the year flew by so quickly!

Maybe this is why people run away to the hills or the woods to "find themselves" or become "better". It's easy to be good when there isn't anyone else around to be bad to or be better than. The trick is to be as good as you're meant to be while in whatever situation you may be.

This concept would have worked with either the human or shark deciding to be a nicer person. It would've been funnier if it was the latter and that was my first choice but I was on a drawing spree at an unearthly hour and when I woke up in the morning, this was what I found. I shall have to do the other version some other time.

Happy New Year, everyone! May this coming year bring more wit, laughter, humour, sarcasm and silliness!

PS - And vote for me on all the blog awards possible :D

Born Thirty. Not free.

I think I was born 30. This was from an actual conversation that I had with someone. It's not fun being torn between wanting to sigh and wanting to roll your eyes at romantic comedies. The problem is that even though we know that some of these movies are so ridiculously unreal, we wouldn't enjoy it half as much if they had much reality in them. And the problem with fantasy is that if it ever really happened we'd just be incredulous about it.

Being jaded and in denial is not a great combination but I think sometimes those heart traits show up when you least want them to. 

Nightmares and Dream-escapes

As much as great dreams make sleep so much more peaceful, one eventually has to wake up. Every time I have a good dream and I'm woken up, it makes me feel irritable to wake up to reality. But in bad dreams, you can actually tell yourself not to worry because once you wake up all of this will be fine.

I had a very strange, sort of bad dream last night. There were these annoying strangers who invited themselves along on an adventure I was on. They even assumed they were going to stay with me in my ancient castle like accommodation. I remember telling myself that they were not real and that they won't be there when I wake up. I had no idea I was this anti-social and inhospitable!
That left me feeling a bit disturbed. I guess.

One gigantic digestive system

I'd drawn these images (and several more) back in April but didn't get the time to actually finish the comic sequence. By the time I'd gotten around to it, I'd actually forgotten what I was going to write about. Thankfully, I had jotted down some dialogue in my notebook. The idea of the human race being one big digestive tract made laugh out loud. My dad would enjoy this analogy because he's a gastroenterologist and a bit of a cynic.
I know that the first panel has a lot of words, but it's all true. I go on twitter and millions of voices are bashing people who voice their opinion about the destructive nature of porn and such. It almost seems as if there's a force out there trying to manipulate humans into thinking what's good is bad and what's bad is good, doesn't it?

Child Sexual Abusers should be eaten!

This is supposed to be Child Sexual Abuse Awareness Month. I'm a bit late!
In a country that is on fire for fighting corruption, this would be a good time to recognize that child abuse corrupts the souls, hearts and minds of our child and if this is allowed to continue, India will never be free of corruption.
I'd talked about this issue several times on my old blog. You can read it for a more in-depth/ less "censored" opinion.
I pray that this cause will be taken up and that no sex offender/ pedophile will be allowed to hurt our children ever again.

ps - The whole cuckoo-cannibal bit of the conversation actually happened. My father was telling me about how cuckoos are rude birds with terrible social manners and they do happen to taste great so you feel pretty good about eating them. So I asked him if maybe that's how cannibalism started. He found that amusing and maybe even plausible.

The only title you should think of is "Mrs"!!

 

My mother actually does have this gift. And now I can almost see it coming. I'm going to be a menace to my kids. The words I used are as random as they can get - I got them from a random word generator site. Really. hehe.

I have some friends who could probably send me a dozen more wonderful examples. I hope people will! It should be fun! :D