IF: drifting

SHEEP SLEEP (or Counting Peeps)

Sheila Sheepington-Fleecewater,
found it hard to sleep well.

So she sipped a bit of sweet water, 
while she counted people.

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The Illustration Friday theme lends itself to quite a few images this week. However, what immediately comes to my mind is the trouble “drifting” off to sleep insomnia often gives me, as my alter-ego Sheila demonstrates above. (Plus, I wanted another excuse to draw sheep shoes.)

unfold

If her clothes hadn’t ended up unfolded, severely stretched out and reeking of wet dog, Sheila Sheepington-Fleecewater might have had less of a problem with the wolf borrowing them.

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One would use this saying to describe a person or thing appearing to be good but is actually, in fact, bad. There seems to be a few different ideas about it’s origin, but here is what Wikipedia has to say about it.

This week’s Illustration Friday theme is “unfold”. 

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Hitting the Bull’s Eye

or

“It’s all breezy, fun and games until someone loses an eye!”
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This week’s Illustration Friday word is “breezy” and my submission is a bit of a stretch, but hey, it works… no?

So anyway, a bull’s-eye is the center of a target in both archery and darts. The shot taken to achieve this feat is called hitting the bull’s-eye.

Although originally a sports term, bull’s-eye can be used for pretty much any design or pattern utilizing concentric circles. Bull’s-eye can also be used to describe a lens of short focal length, a circular window, a piece of glass inserted into a ship’s deck, or those round, striped mints you stuff into your pockets when the waitress isn’t looking, as you leave the restaurant. That’s right, I know you do.

Being quite the versatile idiom, “hitting the bull’s-eye” along with “hit the mark” and “hit the nail on the head” is used when someone or something is absolutely correct. For example: “Honey, your remark about my butt looking fat in these jeans really hit the bull’s-eye. Now here’s your pillow. Enjoy sleeping on the couch tonight.”

Anywho… bull’s-eye… versatile… oh yes, the origin… no luck there. Although it may have been used since the 17th century, the etymology seems to be a mystery. At least none of my sophisticated sources (Google) has revealed anything.

I do have one question however. Why a bull’s eye? Why not a fish, bird or, I don’t know, a moose eye? Perhaps a dinosaur’s eye? Something to think about on some breezy, Spring evening, while sipping a nice fizzy, champagne cocktail and you’ve nothing more important to ponder.

pale

 

er, um, excuse me, but… it seems AN ANT’S IN MY PANTS!

My goodness, this ant’s behavior is beyond the pale! 

Of course a situation like this is sure to induce a feeling of uneasiness, make one go a bit pale and, possibly cause a person to feel, well, um… antsy. Why, this situation pales in comparison to just about anyone else getting into your, ahem, pants.

However, when faced with a dilemma such as this, one must remember to remain calm. An ant’s curiosity lasts only as long as it’s attention span, which is really quite short.

Feigning nonchalance is best.

In 10 to 15 minutes the novelty of wearing your jeans will no doubt wear off. The ant will soon run off to check out something shiney and you will once again have possesion of your pants, your sanity and the flush in your cheeks.

clandestine

Mortimer became a mole, not for any political reasons, nor was it a passion for clandestine meetings or intrigue… he simply liked the trench coat and all the cool gadgets.

wag the dog

THE TAIL WAGGING THE DOG

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Any case where something of greater significance is driven by something lesser.

Wikipedia says:

“…is taken from the joke: “Why does a dog wag its tail? Because a dog is smarter than its tail. If the tail was smarter, the tail would wag the dog.” Interpretations differ as to the meaning of this metaphor. Some suggest the dog is public opinion, and the tail represents the media; the dog is the media, and the tail is political campaigns; or the dog is the people, and the tail is the government…”

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While perusing the opinion section of the newspaper, news site, or any of the plethora of political blogs out there on the innerwebs, you will often see the term “Wagging the Dog” being bandied about. It aptly describes any number of political, economic and social situations going on currently and, I suppose, in the past as well.

It’s no secret that the U.S. (and the world) is in the midst of one historical, whopper of a economic crisis. However, because of this and so many other issues of grave concern in my country, it seems to me that recently, more and more of “the dog” (we the people) are becoming increasingly aware and active politically. We’re paying attention, speaking up, writing our representatives, consuming more wisely and some even starting grass roots movements. I feel, if more of us jump on that bandwagon and if we continue in this vein, we may just curtail our “tail” (the government) from wagging us and get it back on our butts where it belongs, serving us… and, of course, eventually as an indicator of how content we are. Like a good tail should.

Of course, this is just my humble opinion.

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Illustration Friday theme “Opinion.”

I posted this sketch about a year ago. Seemed great for the theme, so I colorized it in Photoshop and threw it back in the ring, along with an opinion.

Wise guys

Bada-bing bada-whooooo!

The Illustration Friday theme this week is “Wise.” Fuggit aboudit!

bending over backwards

So I was sketching out yet another idiom and I got to thinking… hey, today is the opening ceremony for the Olympics. Despite the politics and controversy, ya just gotta love the Olympics and this opening ceremony promises to be spectacular! Can’t wait!

Anyway… about that idiom… ahem, when you inconvenience yourself to help another, you might say you are bending over backwards for that person. You might say that… if you are a drama queen, that is! Whining over it like that somewhat tarnishes the good deed, don’t you think. Get over it, huh?

Alright then.

Speaking of drama queens, my good friend Barnabus T. Bunniwell has selflessly agreed to demonstrate the act of bending over backwards on a balance beam, whilst showing us his national pride. Let’s give Barnabus a big hand.

Go U.S.A.!

duck!

 

Have you ever had one of those days?

21 day creative exercise-day 21

I don’t want to get all up on my High Horse or anything, but I’m done. Stick a fork in me I’m done!

Actually, it was a really great experience and I sort of hate to see it end. So, I may do it again some time in the future. But for now, I am free to do as I please, which actually, probably won’t be all that much different from this exercise, hee hee!

You just never know, do ya?

Thanks everyone for all your great comments, feedback and cheering me on. I really appreciate it more than you can know. You’re all a stupendous bunch, you wonderful bloggers and blog readers you!

21 day creative exercise-day 20

When the cat’s away, the mice will play

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The cat was barely out the door, before the card game began.

Unfortunately Seymour thought they were playing “Go Fish,” and was accused of cheating at Poker by his unsavory friends.

21 day creative exercise-day 19

If her clothes didn’t end up severely stretched out and reeking of wet dog, Sheila Sheepington-Fleecewater would probably have less of a problem with the wolf borrowing them.

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It’s been a while, so thought it was high time to do an animal idiom.

One uses this saying to describe someone or something that seems to be good but is actually bad. There seems to be a few different ideas about it’s origin, but here is what Wikipedia has to say about it.

21 day creative exercise-14

Mortimer became a mole, not for any political reasons, nor was it a passion for intrigue… he simply liked the trench coat and all the cool gadgets.

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Kathy of Moongazing Hare bestowed this award upon me, which is really an honor, since I just adore her work! Thanks so much Kathy!

The rules of accepting are as follows:

awkward as a cow on rollerskates

I stumbled upon this term online. I’ve never actually heard anyone utter (or udder) this particular phrase, but by golly if it’s written somewhere on the internet it must be true, right? Well, regardless of it’s validity, this alleged idiom tickled me, and I immediately conjured up an image.

Granted, the little bovine beauty above does not appear to be awkward at all. Instead, she seems to be gliding right along, hauling…well…er…beef, if you will.

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Bessie is a recycled and refurbished post from way back in the early days. You know… waaaay back. Last November.

The poor thing was getting antsy, so I decided to knock the dust off, colorize and submit her to this weeks Sugar Frosted Goodness challenge, “C is for…”

fowl weather

Well, the heat wave is over, for the moment. It’ll be back and I have fudgesicles at the ready.

In the mean time, here are some hot, hot chicks for your animal idiom pleasure. ( It’ will be interesting to see how much traffic I get via the search words ‘Hot Chicks.’)