Giveaway

Okay, here's the deal. Doing this Sketchbook thingy has just about wiped out my brain. I have sort of come to a creative dead-end, so to speak. Or maybe it's just that I'm tired, and Secret Agent Man has been out of town all week doing Secret Agent things and I'm just out of my routine. I don't know.
But whatever it is, I'm drawing a blank (pun definitely intended) as to where to go next with this. I realize I don't have to have 40 pages of art, but I'd like to have more than 14.

Anyway...here's what I'm thinking: I'm going to have a contest. Submit to me your idea for an illustration and if I like it and I pick it I will send you a numbered and signed print of the drawing. (Numbered because at some point I'm going to offer some of them as a limited edition of prints, I think.)

Please keep in mind that
1) my theme is "Submersibles and Dirigibles";
2) nothing naughty, please;
and 3) it needs to be able to fit into a 5.5 in by 8.5 in drawing space.

Um....let's see - deadline 1 week from today, so Nov 5th. How's that sound?

Another Day In My Life at 911

I often sometimes get frustrated by people who call 911 to have the police come out to tell their roommates/boyfriends/sisters (whatever) to let them get their stuff out of the apartment they've just been kicked out of. I often sometimes get frustrated by people who call 911 because their neighbor parks in front of their house. I frequently sometimes get frustrated by people who call 911 to have the police come discipline their kids.

I have to laugh, though, at people who call 911 for stupid dumbass silly reasons.
Like the following: (Once again, I am NOT making this up!)

911: What is your emergency?
Caller: There's a suspicious guy walking down my street.
911: What's he doing?
Caller: Walking down the street.
911: So...how is that suspicious?
Caller: He doesn't live on this street.
911: Does he have any weapons?
Caller: No.
911: Is he hassling people?
Caller: No.
911: Does he seem intoxicated or on drugs?
Caller: No.
911: So why is he suspicious?
Caller: Because he doesn't belong in this neighborhood!
911: ...sigh...


911: What is your emergency?
Caller: There's, like, 30 people over in the park on the baseball diamond.
911: Okay. What are they doing?
Caller: Playing baseball.
911: ...(?) And that's a problem because...
Caller: The parks and recreation guy said the field is only for people under 16 years old.
911: ...sigh...


911: What is your emergency?
Caller: There is a suspicious guy at the gas station.
911: What's he doing that's suspicious?
Caller: He's parked at the gas pump.
911: Um, is he getting gas?
Caller: I don't know, but the gas station's closed.
911: Is it one of those pumps you can pay by card after the station is closed?
Caller: I don't know. You just need to get someone out there.
911: It's not against the law for him to buy gas after dark...
Caller: He shouldn't be there! You just need to get a cop out there!
911: So other than him being there after dark, what else is suspicious about it?
Caller: He's black.
911: Really? You think he's suspicious because he's black? (Yes, I actually asked him that.)
Caller: Yes! Are you sending a f*ing cop or what?!
911: ...sigh...

I think I have a permanent dent in my forehead from banging it against my desk.