New Year! New Planner Calendar! 2017! (clutter culture)

After a week or so of 2016 I wrote a hopeful post about my new planner. It looked like this:

My 2016 wasn't great. I'm still alive, have food, family, and health, but there were some rough parts of the year.

I look forward to a new year.

Here is what the calendar looks like now:

I didn't add very many stickers.

2016 didn't deserve many stickers.

I'm tempted to burn this planner... but I'll probably just put it in my office with the other ones.

I have a new planner!

I have some hope that 2017 will be a good year. Not as much as I did for 2016, but there is some.

Maybe 2017 will be worthy of a cover caked with stickers.

Oh, yeah.

Lots of great people died this year.

I don't really do much of the "remembering celebrities that just died" thing. Everyone else has it pretty much covered. It feels more "look at me" than any real tribute to those that have passed.

So I haven't really done much about Carrie Fisher or George Michael or Debbie Reynolds or anybody else that died.

I'm going to post a couple videos below from my youtube channel. They aren't tributes, but they are disgusting self-promotion.  Both videos are related to someone who passed this year (George Michael and Debbie Reynolds), but they aren't about them. They're about me.

I feel horrible doing this, but I also keep thinking about posting these stupid videos.

I don't feel better, but at least it's done now.

Here's to a great, sticker-full 2017! A year with far fewer deaths.

It's Freaking Cold!

I guess I never posted this here.

It's still technically Christmas. And it is still cold outside... kinda.


So whatever. It's on here now!

Yeah, I know there's another parody/updated version where there's consent. I haven't watched it. I honestly think the original is more innocent than people make it out to be. But I made this one because I thought of the idea and Melissa thought it was funny too.

Frosted Krusty O's Krusty Brand Cereal!

I did a new review!

This cereal came out as part of the promotion for the Simpson's movie. Back when they turned some 7-Elevens into Kwik E Marts. They had KrustyO's, pink Doughnuts, Squishees, and Buzz Cola (which Sir Mike got and gave one to me, and then I reviewed it!).


These KrustyO's tasted like stale Fruit Loops.

So not horrible.




I made a playlist of all my Simpsons-related videos!

Watch them all!

Watch my V IDEOS!!! Watch my VIDEOS!!! Watch my VIDEOS!!!

Christmas and all is quiet

I was having trouble falling asleep last night. So I made a couple quiet videos:

I like to whistle. I like the song "Oh, Christmas Tree".

So...

Here is 4 quiet minutes of the Christmas Tree from my afewquietminutes youtube account:

And here is 4 minutes of a fire in our backyard fire pit that I forgot to make public  during the fall:

I guess it's still fall for a few more days....

In Home Alone 2 is that Kevin's Voice on the Talkboy?

A couple years ago I did a review of the Talkboy:

As I made the video I noticed that the voice on the Talkboy during the phone call to the hotel did not match Kevin's voice in the scene where he recorded it.


So today I made a new video exploring this further (with clearer audio):

I don't think that's Kevin's voice on the recording. I don't know whose voice it is. Chris Columbus'? John Hughes'? I don't know.

Your guess is as good as mine.

Is this video fair use of the audio? I never know with these things. I'd like to put commercials on this video, but I don't want to get asked to take it down.

Some SciFi GuitProv

Here are three new Guitprov songs named for SciFiGi's.

Live Long Force Be With Prosper!

Entry of the Wizards!

Here are two Harry Potter universe heroes' names sung to the tune of "Entry of the Gladiators" written by Julius Fucik!

I think these drawings turned out pretty good!

I need to make a new picture of myself... I'm beardy now.

Max Explains: His 2 favorite things!

New Max Explains video!

I like doing Max videos! I hope you like them too!

ROAR!

MisterSeth interview on the Good Stuff Kids Podcast!

This is so cool!

I got interviewed for the Good Stuff Kids Podcast!

Here's a screenshot!

Here's a link to the interview!



Here's what I wrote on facebook about it:

"I got interviewed for the great Good Stuff Kids Podcast! I blather on about writing music for children and their grown up! The podcast is great for anyone with kids! Do yourself a huge favor and check out all of the other episodes! Mike interviews everyone from Caspar Babypants to Laurie Berkner to the head writer of "Go Diego Go" to people who make great clothing for girls to... it goes on and on! Plus there is a top 4 + 1 list of songs (4 his children request and 1 classic he tries to get them to appreciate). It really is some of the best "Good Stuff"!


You really should go check it out! It's a great resource for parents!

Good Stuff is great stuff!

It's December!!!!

It's December!

I loved Thanksgiving! I had a great time with my family, ate too much, etc.

During November I participated in NaNoWriMo!

And I won!

I wrote a novel called "Status: Solver"! It's pretty stream-of-conscious and probably not the best book, but if you want to read it you can read it HERE!


If you participated, good for you! I hope you won too!

Here's a celebration song I recorded when I first won, several years ago!

Glad it's done!

Heartthrobs

I made a bunch of Guitprov songs yesterday.

One was on my new guitbass. I named it Chris Ballew because almost all of his music is recorded with guitbass and bassitar.

And I've been on a 90s heartthrob kick lately.

Here's a bunch of songs named after dudes from things I watched in the 90s.

And here's the other heartthrob songs from other days:

And last, but not least

I made a playlist of them, too:

I hope you are thankful.

I know I am.

Twig!

Today I am Thankful for the Presidents of the United States of America!

The band....

From youtube:

My goodness do I love the Presidents of the United States of America and every musical thing Chris Ballew does!

This is one of my favorites. I mess up the words and play pretty novice-ly and the guitbass will not stay in tune at all, but I like my version quite a bit for all it's flaws.

I made a guitbass!

Many videos back (https://youtu.be/fg8skpCNRJE) I wrote about this guitar and how Guitar Center wouldn't buy it. I had to do something with it!

I started putting stickers on it and finally realized that I always wanted a guitbass ever since I found out about them!

I'll write more on pondercouch.com!

Here's some other Presidents and Chris Ballew songs I've covered:

Last Girl on Earth - https://youtu.be/c_lzAKNotoE

Boot Got Grounded - https://youtu.be/mzyH94Juz4Q

Munky River - https://youtu.be/lTWBPHB__eU

I hope you're having a good day.





New stuff just on the Ponder Couch:

Here's pictures of my guitbass!

I love this guitbass!

It won't stay in tune for anything, but I love it!

The strings vibrate to the point of uncontrollable distortion, but I love it!

I had to file down the bridge thing at the top of the neck so the strings would fit in it, but it was worth it!

I talked to the guy behind this site that is all about guitbasses and bassitars! He was very helpful and told me directly what gauge of guitar strings to buy to make an acoustic guitbass.

I thought I had more to say about this, but I can't think of it right now.

Oh well.

I love my guitbass!

Now to make an electric one...

Thankful

Halloween is over.

Now on to Thanksgiving!

I probably won't post very often during November.

I'm doing NaNoWriMo again this year.

I did it several years ago, tried again the next year, and just haven't bothered again until this year.

But I'm trying again!

So I spend a good portion of most evenings working on that instead of writing here.

But I wanted to post tonight because I feel Thankful!

15 years ago on Halloween Melissa and I had our first date.

15 years ago tonight Melissa agreed to officially be my girlfriend.

That picture was taken right around then. We can't remember if it was from the day before, the day of, or the next day, but it's the closest we have to a picture from our "real" anniversary.


I'm thankful for a lot of things, but I am most thankful for her every day.



In case I don't post again, from everyone here to everyone out there:

Both banners by Geoff!

I hope you all have a lot to be thankful for, too!

Rejected by the New Yorker 4 and 5!

I submitted a couple new comics to the New Yorker and they were almost immediately rejected.

Here ya go:

I still think they're funny.



Oh well. I'll try again when I come up with more.

Comics is hard.

My Favorite Yard Haunt 2016!

It was hard to get up this morning.

I slept okay, but had busy dreams that I wanted to keep dreaming.

I felt a bit like a record that started from a standstill and sloooowly sped up to regular speed.

I got into my car, feeling like I did not have enough energy to get through the workday ahead, when I saw what is now my FAVORITE YARD HAUNT OF 2016!

It wasn't because of any particular decoration or even the yard haunt itself, but the fact that it was there, blinking from across the street between two of my backyard neighbors. As I was driving to a day of work that I wasn't looking forward to, I saw this gaudy, blinking reminder that it is still Halloween Season for a few more days! Plus "On the Sunny Side of the Street" by the Manhattan Transfer was playing on WITT! I love that song.

It was enough to make me stop and take 2 short videos of it so I could remember it and so I could share it with you.

I drove by it again this afternoon.

Not really much to look at in the daylight. A grim reaper guy, a giant spider with a red butt, a generic Jack Skellington-looking guy with a hat, and the Staypuft Marshmallow Man. Kind of boring actually, but this morning it provided me with a moment that I can only compare to the scene in a Christmas movie where the main character sees a Christmas tree light up, and everyone knows that it will all be okay.

Click here to see and read about my favorite yard haunt from 2015!  I've driven by several times to see if they put it up yet this year. Either they have not or the person who put it up last year no longer lives there. It makes me a bit sad, but this year's favorite mostly makes up for it.

What's your favorite Yard Haunt of 2016? Please comment! My blog is so lonely....

Pez, Ecto Cooler, and Bill and Ted!

Here's my newest review!

I've loved Pez dispensers and candy for a long, long time.

I think it started with this:

In this one panel of Bill and Ted's Excellent Comic Book, issue 3 "Daze in the Life" by Evan Dorkin there is a mention of Pez.

I already liked Pez candy and dispensers, but when it was mentioned by Bill and Ted, who I was obsessed with (still am), Pez became part of that obsession.

I loved it so much that one year for Christmas at least half of my list was Pez-related!

I loved it so much I designed a Claudius Pez Dispenser T-shirt and put it up on the Ponder Couch Cafe Press store!

Soon after (like a day after) I got a Cease and Desist order from Pez to take it down. (I'm wearing the only one printed in the video!)

This panel added another food item to that obsession.

You can see it right in the middle of the panel.

A can of Ecto Cooler.

Man, do I love Ecto Cooler.

I hope they never discontinue it again.

I still also love Pez and Bill and Ted.

"Look What I Can Do!", Dumb Face Tricks, and "Catch a Falling Star!"

I made a new Guitprov song:

I used it as the background for this Dumb Face Tricks video:

I also covered Perry Como's "Catch a Falling Star"!

I love Perry Como's voice.

None of these things are particularly Halloweeny, but I love that banner Geoff made.

Rejected by the New Yorker 3!

Here is the most recent comic I submitted to the New Yorker!

They didn't want it.

Maybe I should have written "Imaginary Staircase" instead?

I just submitted 2 more comics to the New Yorker! So they'll probably be rejected in a couple months.

A Prairie Home Companion, Halloween is Coming!, and Real Turkish Delight!

I've been making stuff! I just haven't been updating much.

Chris Thile is taking over hosting duties on "A Prairie Home Companion"!

The first episode was last night! I enjoyed it.

That video is my cover of the intro theme that begins each episode.

I've been working on this song for a while now. I'm not totally happy with how the song and video turned out, but I'm glad to have it done and out of my system.

I hope you like it.

A review of "real" Turkish Delight!

I reviewed some "not real" Turkish Delight a few years ago.


Shares of everything appreciated!

Halloween Month has been super great this year!

Old Mother Goose - a Spooky Nursery Rhyme!

That logo just gets better and better with each post!

Did you hear the good news?
Old Mother Goose
is back on the loose...








I love puppets. They can be so wonderful, and oh-so-creepy!

Perfect for Hallowe'en.

Hallowe'en is coming!

Hallowe'en Mood Table!

I love that banner!



New Halloween Mood Table!

From youtube:

Dinosaur Dracula makes a Halloween Mood Table every year and a few years ago I started making them too!

This year DD made a video of his mood table. So I did too!

This one is a bit different from previous years. I have more real pumpkins around (that I grew!), I expanded to the coffee table and a chair (for My Pet Monster), and I left out a few things. Some because I wanted to, and some because I couldn't find them this year.

I plan to add to it as I find new things they year!

The video would've been longer, but I ran out of phone digital space.

The songs are:

Jack-o-Lantern

And 

Tired Little Ghost

You can download the songs HERE! Just click any of these words!

I love Hallowe'en!

Halloween is coming!

IT'S HALLOWE'EN SEASON!!!!!

Look at that beautiful header that Geoff made!




IT'S HALLOWE'EN SEASON!!!!!

I love Halloween!

Let's add some new stuff to those old videos I just posted!

Look at my new tattoo! I got it last month!

It's sort of 2 tattoos. I already had Charlie Brown, but the pumpkins were added around him, and he got colored in. So it's basically one big tattoo instead of a tattoo I already had surrounded by a new tattoo.

It was really hard to take that picture with my webcam.

MORE HALLOWE'EN-RELATED STUFF!

I love Ghostbusters!

Old/New, Boy/Girl, Cartoon/Real, Filmation/"Real". It's all good.

I found out from Dinosaur Dracula several weeks ago that Wayback Burgers had some Ghostbuster promo food because of the new Ghostbusters movie coming out on bluray. 

After a googlemapsing I found that there was one a couple hours away! Princess Melawesome agreed to go with me and found it!

It's in a mall food court!


I got all 3 items and they were all pretty good!

My favorite part was the shake!

The burger had Ghost Pepper sauce on it, and there was Ghost Pepper sauce for dipping the Mac n Cheese bites. The Ghost Pepper sauce tasted great, but was a bit too hot for me to finish.

I did get a fun Burger Pick thing:

I just checked the Wayback Burgers site and it looks like they're still available! Go get some!


That's all the new Hallowe'en Goodness I have for you so far!


Well, except for this picture I took of myself in the Trader Joe's bathroom because it was October 1st, I was wearing one of my Jack-o-lantern shirts, my hair looked amazing, and I felt cute.

More to come as soon as I get it made or find it!

HALLOWE'EN IS COMING!

PS: I read awhile back on Neil Gaiman's tumblr that Halloween is acutally "Hallowe'en"! I like that better. So I'm going to start writing it that way when I remember to!