Next weekend is the big trifecta, the birthdays of Bikkie (our own miracle cubbie) Bubba, and of course, Princess Pinky (#ClapLouder) Rather than try to sort out the ‘toons, this week and next (and probably the week after) I’m just gonna feature all of them.
Hopefully, it will distract us from the even worse clusterf*ck that is happening around TFG and his collection of purloined classified documents that he secreted away at Purr-a-Lago.
But first, I was looking in my computer files for some art business stuff, and I came across this thing I wrote. I’m not sure what I wrote it for, but I thought I would share it here. The file was called “100 words to my younger self”
Take chances. Listen to the voice in your head that says “YES! …What if…” Don’t listen to voices that say what you want is impossible. Don’t wait for permission.
The cost of a trip to Italy is the same whether or not you worry about the cost. Walk away from toxic people; you won’t change them, but they’ll try to change you, and not for the better.
Hang out with people who appreciate you. Pay attention to what and who makes you happy. Stay connected to those you love.
Watch panda videos.
Take chances.
Now, here are some of my favorite ‘toons about my favorite pandas!
Pinky tests her powers….oops.Oh Princess Pinky, mom has a trick or two up her paw, I think…He’s small for now, but Bubba Bei Bei is shaping up to be a whole lot of panda!Really, Pinky….It’s not nice to tease your little brother.See? I told you it was broken!
What a great excuse to run some of my most favorite ‘toons!
This past week, we celebrated the birthdays of Bebe Maurice and Fleur and Snowy! Here is a selection of ‘toons about them before we get down next week, to the serious business of celebrating the DC panda cubs!
#ClapLouder!
Zank hebben…for leettle bears!Of COURSE he would be an artist!We are pandas of mystery!What grace! What form! Bebe Maurice is a painter to be reckoned with!
Gee, I guess I don’t have very many ‘toons with Fleur and Snowy! I’ll have to work on that! Also I never finished the story when Babette came to be their governess. Oopsie!
Well, Hopefully this will hold you till I start the Pinky-stravaganza next week!
I must point out that today is the birthday of the adorable French twins, Fleur and Snowy! They are one year old today. Their big brother Bebe Maurice celebrates his birthday on Thursday! We will share some of their finest moments in ‘toons on Sunday!
It’s the high season of Panda Birthdays. This week we celebrate the birthdays of the great Mr. Wu, the triplets (aka Pinky’s minions) and PPJ, Pinky’s real life daughter and supernatural apparition within The Panda Chronicles.
Let’s get this panda party started!
Remember when Mr Wu got a present from da panda kindy?
Will the panda kindergarten get it put together before Bai Yun gets home?Mr Wu finds out that the Meihems were born in PandalantaAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!Triple Trouble indeed!What are Pinky and her minions getting up to?
And then, of course, there is Princess Pinky Junior, aka PPJ. Here, to celebrate her birthday, is the entire story of her arrival in the Panda Chronicles, “Someday you’ll have a cub just like YOU” aka Pinky’s nightmare.
This isn’t a dream…it’s a nightmare!
I hope you enjoyed our encore presentation of this segment of panda birthday season! Tune in next Sunday when we start our monthlong celebration of the most famous pandas anywhere (Pinky made me write that) Bikkie, Bubba, and of course…um…what was her name? Oh yeah! Pinky!
Be the Bear Bob T Panda
BTW, I made a felty cake to celebrate Mr. Wu’s 10th birthday. It’s one of a kind and includes Mr. Wu atop his cake. The whole thing stands about 5 inches tall with Wu. It is available for $98 + shipping. Send a message via the Contact Us page.
Did you ever have any doubts about her capabilities and talents?
I didn’t think so! #ClapLouder
Rumor has it that Le Le, the first cub born in Singapore turns one shortly, and they have declared that he gets a whole birthday MONTH!!!! I suspect some other little pandas are going to want more than just one DAY!!!
So here are some more birthday ‘toons celebrating this weeks batch of birthdays!
Minion security: you can’t be too careful.It’s so hard to be cool when you still live with your mom.
Well, that’s all for now! See you on Sunday for more ‘toons from the archives!
Be the Bear! Bob T Panda
Post script:
I thought I had more time. But I am now the last Anne standing. I just learned that my dear friend Anne Davenport passed away yesterday.
Let me explain about being the last Anne. When I moved to Whidbey Island over 30 years ago, I met the friend of a friend from Seattle. She in turn, welcomed me into a small group of her friends, which, coincidentally were all named Anne, except for the aforementioned friend of a friend, whose name was Fran. We referred to ourselves as three Annes and a Fran, but we renamed Fran Frances Anne.
We met every Wednesday for breakfast and conversation, and sometimes laundry, as I did not have my own washing machine. Annie C. tried to teach me how to fold laundry, but I was pretty hopeless. One of the best gifts I ever received was after my house fire, and Annie C. took home all my clothes and washed, ironed, and folded them for me.
Not long after that, she was diagnosed with cancer and after an awful and hard year and a half, she died. I remember that we continued to meet, two Annes and a Fran, after that for a few years, but Annie C was the glue that best held us together. We still got together from time to time, but not as regularly. Life has a habit of getting in the way.
Fran had several brushes with cancer, but being Fran, she browbeat it into submission several times. Formidable does not begin to cover it. As big as her force of will was, her heart was bigger. I spent many raucous holiday dinners at her house. I always had a place of refuge when I needed it. She could be considered the godmother of The Panda Chronicles since, in her run for Island County commissioner, she made me the official campaign cartoonist.
a ‘toon I did for her campaign
A political being to the end, she died late in 2019, before the pandemic and before she could see TFG’s ass soundly whipped by Joe Biden.
Annie D had health issues almost since I’ve known her, but she rarely let them get in the way of doing what she wanted to do. She was a weaver and a knitter and a quilter with a strong aesthetic. I have several of her quilts and many scarves. The pandemic robbed us of far more than just going to movies, restaurant dining, and traveling. It robbed us of the ease of visiting, of dropping in on our friends, of face to face time.
One of the activities we shared for more than 10 years was the Anne x 2 art show, which we held in my studio. Some years we had lots of sales, but mostly it was a chance to hang out together. We quit doing it a few years back, when uncertain weather and more of a proliferation of art shows made traffic slow to a trickle. We also had an art/life strategy meeting every January. We would put our goals for our creative work life down in writing and even when I didn’t look at my list during the year, having set my intention helped me stay focused.
And now she is gone. I hadn’t been over to see her since May. I thought there was more time. and so our coven of Annes is now just me.
Oh my, TFG’s multi-shirted cretin is fresh from his contempt of congress conviction and still is promoting additional insurrectionist activities. Will we ever get any relief from this mob?
Let’s step into the Panda House for a little relief from reality!
Pinky is full of surprises!
I hope everyone is getting their cakes made and presents bought, because as I was reminded the other day, not only is it Mr. Wu’s birthday this Friday, it is also PPJ’s birthday and Pinky’s minions! (aka the triplets!)
Thanks a lot, Leslie. I think you gave Pinky this idea.
As you might imagine, the January 6th Committee Hearings are giving me many, many thoughts. Having the events put into a running timeline, from what was happening behind the scenes even before the election, right up until the minute by minute events at TFG’s rally to the coordinated effort (pre planned as we are learning) to storm the Capitol, is really helpful to understand the enormity of this event.
We really did come very close to losing our democratic form of government.
I appreciate all the people (primarily republicans who worked for TFG) who have come forward to testify. I really do. It doesn’t make them heroes, but they did need to find a reservoir of courage to speak up. There are some of course, who despite the fact they admit that TFG went three stops past too far, say they would still have voted for him and that they are “proud of their accomplishments.”
Really?
Maybe they want to stay in good standing with the GOP, such as it is, or maybe they have the very real fear that angry mobs will show up on their doorsteps or attack them online. This is happening and these acts are terrible. The violence that has been directed at some of the people who have testified is not the equivalent of peaceful protest at the recent SCOTUS decisions or attacks by the states on reproductive health freedom.
I am also grateful the representatives Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger have stepped up to be such integral members of the J6 Committee. Despite what TFG and his minions say, it really IS bipartisan with them on board.
I would just have this one little thought for them to consider as they move forward with their life in politics or out of it:
I know that we are never going to agree with many of our core philosophies of what constitutes good government. But I ask if you can see that the GOP stance on voting, on telling lies about your opponents, are the very things that brought us to the point that a corrupt president would think it was his god given right to abuse his office, mismanage a global pandemic, and end with an attempt to overthrow the government.
Going forward I would wish not that we agree on everything, but that we can accept that we each have sincerely held beliefs. That we can debate these differences without telling lies and attacking each other. That voting is a right and the more people that are engaged in voting, the better it is for our country. That an educated population is more productive than an ignorant one. That healthcare and housing and adequate food for all makes a better, safer country for everyone. That clean air and water and open space and pandas are part of having a strong country. (did you notice I snuck pandas in there?)
People should be able to be who they are, love and marry who they wish, or not marry at all if that is their preference. Why is this such a hard thing?
But now, it’s time to start celebrating the Wu Self’s Birthday Season because he turns 10 this year!!!!
“Howdy do! I’m Mr. Wu! Who are you?”“Wu calls his dance, ‘Ode to a Weaf’ “Yo ho ho and a bottle of BooBeer!An explorer’s work is never done.It is so hard for a small panda to prevail….Whatever could be in the box the panda kindergarten is delivering to Mr. Wu?
We will continue this adventure next Sunday, in part 2 of Mr. Wu’s birthday celebration!
Till then, keep being the bears, remember to check your registration and VOTE! Current polls are showing that Democrats have a much stronger possibility of holding on to both the House and the Senate. This is only possible if we get informed as to who wants to do what and then get out there and VOTE!
Bob T *I voted the primary* Panda
If anyone in western Washington state wants a good voting guide, I have several that were recommended by a local organization that I trust:
