Recently I found out something very important about myself: I don’t like sailing. Though I was born, grew up and still live in the Boating Capital of the Universe, Fort Lauderdale, I’ve managed to avoid ever boarding a sailboat. But all that changed this past weekend, when I finally tried it with some relatives from abroad.

It was a wretched combination of frying in the sun and puking.

I don’t understand why people think that’s fun.

Today the blissfully wedded couple on the uproarious comedy “Everybody Loves Raymond” decided that it would make sense to be at least as polite to each other (those whom they (presumably) love) as they are to strangers. Imagine — Raymond actually prefers to be called “sweetie” over “idiot.” Weird! Debra thought it was silly, but agreed to try to be nice.

Of course they couldn’t hold out for long. Soon they were back at each other’s throats, yelling angrily in each other’s faces.

As brilliant as that is, it hardly compares with the hilarity on another recent episode, wherein Raymond wanted to have sex, but Debra didn’t! *Again!* What a creative storyline, not a cliché at all, and an eloquent statement on the unparalleled fabulousness of the institution of matrimony.

This show is like the loathsome comic strips “The Lockhorns,” or “Andy Capp” — normalizing abuse by trying to pass it off as amusing.

Here’s a photo from an article in the San Francisco Chronicle about a traveling veterinarian clinic. Check out what’s on his hat!

Following is my schedule for San Diego Comic-Con. I’ll be at the NBM Publishing table. If you’re at the event, I hope you’ll stop by and say hello!

4-5:30 p.m. Thursday 7/24
2:30-4 p.m. Friday 7/25
5:30-7 p.m. Saturday 7/26

* * * * *

Here’s the last girly kitty strip (in this one, the kitty’s hiding under the table). Thanks to my cousin Michelle for this idea:

Here’s the fifth girly kitty strip (no kitty in this one though. Last one tomorrow):

Here’s the fourth girly kitty strip (two more left):

Here’s the third girly kitty strip (three more to go):

Here’s the second girly kitty strip (four more to go):

I’ve just finished drawing a series of six comic strips about a woman, with appearances by her cat. My goal: so-called “women’s” magazines. Yes, it’s part of my evil plot to sell out, i.e.: make a living. These are kind of not my thing, content-wise (they’re going to help destroy industrial capitalism how?), but I had fun practicing with my Wacom tablet and illustrator, and it’s also fun to draw cats because their bodies are so flexible. Here’s the first one, and I’ll post the others here during the coming days:

The people who bought my label printer have a business making chocolate! How lucky is that? Sally and Jonathan are so nice — they sent me some amazing chocolate as a gift. I inhaled the amazing truffles all in one sitting, and then went to work on the bar of Rattlesnake Island chocolate, which contains cayenne pepper and has a wonderful sharp bite. 10% of their profits go toward the conservation of the lake they live next to. Anyway, if anyone is looking for some great chocolate, I can certainly recommend this: http://winnipesaukeechocolates.com/.

* * * * *

Overused words and phrases that make me cringe with loathing:
- “Staycation”
- “Tumbled” or “soared,” when applied to prices
- “Hunkered down,” when applied to economy or hurricanes
- “Green,” when applied to any manufactured product
- “One (fill in the blank) at a time.”
- “Shut up!” When said by Stacy on “What Not to Wear”