It's good news, but how did it happen?

I'm pleased . . . totally! 


This morning's email contained a report from SiteMeter, which counts the number of times the Monthly Missive is visited. It's only the second one since the blog inaugurated January 4. The first report indicated that no one had looked in. That was a week ago. But this report showed an increase (it's difficult to go backwards) to 335 visits; as of 5:12 this morning! 
There are many blog sites (is that the correct terminology?) that sustain "hits" numbering in the thousands---yes, even millions so something under 350 might not appear to be a big deal. But, as I said, I'm pleased . . . totally!


Surely the mention in Facebook---of which I'm not smart enough to employ---by two of our sons, is a factor in the sudden, if only temporary popularity of the Monthly Missive. Of course, it's possible that all of our five children (youngest one is 50) have been going back--and back again to see if there is a new VINCENT the Magician on the blog; one they missed years ago when I was churning out the almost-never-to-be-quite-close-to-famous-comic strip. 
Whatever reason is valid, I'm pleased . . . totally!

 Hey, here we are, collaborating on a vintage knee slapping episode of VINCENT.       circa 1968

Right here, something should be made clear. 

The Monthly Missive will not change too much from what many of you have told me you've enjoyed for the past six years. I sent it directly as an email to more than 200 family members, friends, clients and associates. There was always the caveat: If you'd rather I not email this to you once a month, please just say, "Jim, stop!" 

With this blog format it's even easier to avoid contact. But I do hope you'll be a regular visitor to the MM-2-12-15-7 (Tom Mix code for b-l-o-g)       

Another thing, I enjoy writing almost as much as I like drawing. So MM-2-12-15-7 will continue to contain both, as the muse dictates. Writer friends tell me I'm a pretty good cartoonist. Buddies in the funny picture field suggest I should stick to the keyboard. That said, be advised that 

*VINCENT will be a regular in this space. 

*Jack Dunning of  www.computoredge.com has given me permission to share some of the cartoons which have appeared in his online magazine. Over time, there will be samplings of 

*LI'L ONES and WEE WOMEN shown. (The syndicated panels originally created by Mell Lazarus) 

*MagiToons, from MagiCurrents, the newsletter of San Diego's magic club, Ring 76 will appear without as much as an Abracadabra!  Ellen Friedman comes up with the ideas for those cartoons. 

*Gag cartoons which were published in magazines' Golden Age.

*Selected pieces of advertising cartoons and just any ole things I come across while pretending to get organized in this 

studio. 

+++ I tell you----I'm going to have fun. Hope you will too.

Before taking leave you should have a formal introduction to the VINCENT family.

I'll be doing something with MM-2-12-15-7  at least once a week. Maybe only just a tweaking.

NO, not twittering.

Cheers,

Jim

Shall we call this---- Progress?

Does it look like this glob . . . blob is put together with cellophane tape?  If such a feat were possible, that course would have been taken by ole Jimbo here; and deemed to be much easier a task than the path I’ve taken so far.


But we’re having fun aren’t we? That’s the primary reason for this long postponed project. Fun for you, first of all, and eventually I do believe that it will be fun for me.


There’s been an effort to keep the format simple, easy to follow and a big hope that you’ll be enticed to come on back. The  same sort of eclectic content as The Monthly Missive which I started in 2004 will be obvious. And I’ll try to spell better. Promise.

+++++++++++++++++++++

The usual Saturday morning routine was altered this past weekend. (January 22) After breakfast with the San Diego Union Tribune and the North County Times we showered and put on our finery--a cut above T-Shirt, sweats, and flip-flops and headed for the Moores Cancer Center in La Jolla.       Five years ago we had attended the Grand Opening of this most marvelous complex. Today we listened to fifty minute talk (with slides and sort of Closed Captions- which were a boon to me) outlining what even greater features will be possible to tout five years hence. The building program there never stops.


I must mention the delicious repast enjoyed in the courtyard, under a warm sun; and almost as delicious was a word or two exchanged with one of my favorite nurses in the infusion center where chemotherapy rules. Actually, she and I met more than six years ago . . .before construction of Moores Cancer Center was completed and open for business.

Leaving La Jolla, the magical GPS unerringly took us to the Escondido Public Library where Greg Evans was to do a book signing. His latest: Luann: 25 Years He expected a dozen or so people to show up (so he told the audience of more than a hundred+) so Greg had to send Betty back home to get a bunch more books. The line was too long for us to wait our turn; we came on home, stopping long enough to pick up a take-out sub which, with some good baked beans and a cold Tecate, comprised our dinner. It’s a cliché well worn, but still it fits: “Does it get any better than this?” I’m talking Saturday, now.

Then to the computer where I was disappointed; Apparently many notices of  the MM blog did not go forward as we’d intended. We hope to get the Site meter functioning before too long. Any tips for me on that issue?

Finally, as you see: two visits from VINCENT.  But first, some especially sage words from the master:  
Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened. ----Theodor Geisel 


Hope we'll meet again before the week is gone.
Jim

What's with the "v" in jimvtoons?

What's with the "v" in jimvtoons?


Well, at one point just plain "jimtoons" was no longer available to me as a screen name. To differentiate from the old, I inserted a "v." Vincent is my middle name. VINCENT is also a character in a comic strip claiming that title.


VINCENT, the strip was published previously. The International Brotherhood of Magicians featured it for more than a year in The Linking Ring, official magazine of the organization. I also signed a contract with a minor syndicate several years ago ---- but unsigned it when sales were not overwhelming. To tell the truth, I'm not sure there were any sales. A couple of major syndicate editors submitted encouraging words, even critiquing in a positive manner what I was doing. Alas, I didn't follow through.


But VINCENT will be part of the Monthly Missive blog . . . ever more frequently; Look for at least one or two strips each week.


A few words about our hero: VINCENT, the magician, suavely naive, gracefully bumbling; a world traveling homebody who has no difficulty producing rabbits and rice bowls from a top hat, but is stymied at coming up with the correct change for a candy vending machine.


Companions in his unbelievably stimulating journey are his wife WANDA, their very independent maid AGNES, a sarcastic rabbit named, what else, PETE, and a creature which shall best remain nameless for the time being. There is also AGNES' pet bird, a vulture whose moniker is VERNON.
While these characters will seldom, if ever be on stage at the same time they will wander in and out of VINCENT'S day-to-day sometimes glamorous--more often ludicrous life and they will find what I have, and maybe you will find: that VINCENT is a little bit of all of us.

Till next time,
Jim

Square1

Begin the Beguine! Ah, do you remember that great tune of the 40s, or thereabouts? I never knew what the Beguine was until I looked it up . . . just now. It may not be an exact fit, but I'm borrowing the title to announce the beginning of the Monthly Missive Metamorphosis, Strike up the Band! Let the Music Begin! Play it, Sam!

All this to say: Watch this spot. If I persevere, you'll be seeing regular additions to the MM that will, in a proper manner, titillate and amuse. We're talking cartoons of course, and possibly photos of folks you know; well some of you will.


This is all I'm capable of producing right now. Consider this first blog to be an invitation to come back regularly to see what we've been up to. An invitation . . . or fair warning. 


As always, with thanks,
Jim

There must be a title with more intrigue than MONTHLY MISSIVE.

Blogging--is that what this is called? In the Jim Whiting mode, it's more like slogging. Slowly. But this first effort will be worth it all. Won't it?

Gotta tell you; this isn't easy for old Jimbo.
The bits and pieces---small paragraphs don't wind up on the page or blog where I want them to! I keep losing unbelievably priceless prose due to---I want to say---the inefficiency of this program. 


But in my heart of hearts, I know that's not the truth. Bear with me, friends. We'll muddle through and although things may be quite disorganized, I'll import a few pictures, let fall where they may, and perhaps you'll have a chuckle or two.

Well, here goes. The first few words put to what I hope will be a Monthly Missive, complete with pictures, with no need for you to download a file, open it and hope that it won't be larger than your living room wall.

Long time subscribers to Monthly Missive know that I'm no technition when it comes to computers. I've learned enough to take care of business, but it's an ongoing struggle to go further. 

So--------let's see if there can't be less struggle, more fun.

By the time this blog is up on your monitor, "Happy New Year" will be a bit frayed at the edges; but know that I'm wishing that for you at almost the very beginning: January 4, 2011.


On with the show.

By the way, if you want to visit my website, just click here:
www.jimtoons.com