Unfortunate Greeting Card

Today's strip represents the extent of my rhyming abilities.

No Meetings in Paradise

The week between Christmas and New Year's is low-key on of the best weeks for week during the year. The office is empty, there are no calls or emergencies, and absolutely no meetings! My work calendar for the week is completely empty. I can't remember the last time that was the case. This must be what paradise is like.*

*Working retail, of course, is a completely different story. I feel for anyone dealing with customers looking to make returns or who are otherwise working with a short fuse.

The Cold Shoulder

I remember making a couple of snowmen missionaries in a field outside my apartment during my second Christmas in Slovenia. We even included a couple of old ties to complete the outfit (we stopped short of adding name tags). When we came home after a day of delivering treats and holiday wishes to members and investigators, we found our snowmen had been knocked over and kicked in. 

It seems some folks don't like missionaries in any form. 

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Angels' Other Gigs

Chutzpah is the Yiddish word that best describes what's going on here. 

Serious question from someone who has been told more than once that he lacks any kind of musical pitch, are there other jobs for the heavenly hosts other than singing hallelujah? I don't even play a horn or harp. I worry that cartooning is not a skill that is in high demand.

Snow Angels

When I came up with this particular strip I was awfully proud of myself. It wasn't until about six months later when I was flipping through an old Pat Bagley I Spy a Nephi book that I discovered Bagley had done the gag over a decade earlier. 

This was the first time I discovered I'd independently come up with a Latter-day Saint gag someone else already did. It wouldn't be the last. While I try not to do it and will often review his archives to double check I'm not unconsciously stealing something I've seen before, I'm sure Kevin Beckstrom could point out a dozen of my gags he did first (and did better). Shoot, I've been at this so long, I'm starting to inadvertently steal from myself.

Christmas Spirits

Seriously, Ebenezer, get to work!

Make the Call

Pizza delivery was the first meal I experienced in the mission field. It was reassuring to know that things wouldn't be quite so foreign.

Speaking Coping Mechanism

This particular public speaking coping strategy has never seemed very helpful to me. I mean, what kind of weirdo is less anxious speaking to a roomful of people in their underwear?

Spilled Milk

You think that's bad, Elder Van Dyke, wait until you're at college sharing an apartment with five hungry roommates.