My father-in-law, Bert, passed away last month. When my wife, Jodie, posted a eulogy on Facebook she referred to her dad as “a character”. Her assessment of him was quickly confirmed in a flurry of responses, thumbs up, and heart emojis, making it, in the day and age of social media, absolutely correct. Bert was a character and the truth is, as much of a pain-in-the-ass he was, I miss him. He drove me nuts but made me smile, too.
Being such a character I always felt Bert was ripe for inclusion in one of my comic strips, however I was always hesitant to draw him ( strip him? ) lest I offend him. When I did, I was always very careful and made sure my drawings pass the appropriate “censors”, mainly my wife and sister-in-law, Jayme.
I’d like to dedicate this series of strips to my father-in-law, Bert. They take place a long time ago in a memory not so far from my heart – about a month after I met a beautiful young college student named Jodie Fagan.
“What should I call my team?”, I asked without looking up from my laptop, “‘Team Vandervort’?”
“I don’t want to sound conceited, but I really don’t know what else to name it.”, I continued.
“’Team Vandervort’ is good”, Jodie replied. She was scrubbing a cake pan in the kitchen sink. It was one of many left over from my oldest daughters’ latest baking frenzy.
I looked up from my laptop and over to her.
“I’m thinking about a slogan, too….”, I ventured.
“Oh?” ( scrub, scrub, scrub )
“How about ‘Help me nip cancer in the groin’?”, I asked with a hint of a smirk.
The scrubbing stopped.
I consciously refocused my eyes on my laptop and the registration form displayed on its screen, but I could feel her “are you ^#$@%# nuts” glare burning into my temple.
Silence.
“…. weeeeeeeell, maybe not. Just ‘Team Vandervort’ will work I guess”, I answered quickly.
The scrubbing resumed.
And that’s the problem with Prostate Cancer. While Breast Cancer has captivated the public with humorous yet risque catch phrases like “Save the Boobies”, Prostate Cancer is quick to refrain from such things less people be offended. Admittedly, the prostate just isn’t as much of a crowd pleaser. I totally get it. I wouldn’t want to see one strolling down the street, either.
Regardless, the 2021 Prostate Cancer Walk is important to me. When I was first diagnosed in late 2019 I had missed it by a month. I promised my daughters that we’d walk next year – only to be denied again by COVID restrictions. This year, however, Prostate ZERO has pulled out all of the stops. It’s happening,
Unlike most cancers, Prostate Cancer can be cured if caught early enough. I walk to bring attention to the disease so that other men will be aware of this. So that they will get tested. So that they can “nip cancer in the groin” before it’s too late. I walk to support people afflicted with the disease so that they can afford the treatments and care that will make them better. I walk because I don’t want anyone else to have to go through what I have.
Rest assured that I am doing well.
It’s been well over a year since my prostatectomy, seven months since my last radiation treatment, and my hormone therapy will be winding down later this year. My PSA, an indicator of prostate inflammation – or in my case ( since I am lacking a prostate ) – cancer, has stayed undetectable. I credit my incredible medical team at UCSD Moores Cancer Society, my loving and supportive family and friends, and some pretty extreme lifestyle changes. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the help of so many people.
If you’d like to join me and “Team Vandervort” in the 2021 Prostate Cancer ZERO Walk please click here for my team page. On my team page there are two buttons: “Donate to Team Vandervort” and “Join Team Vandervort”. The second button, “Join Team Vandervort”, will register you to participate in the walk and prompt you to select a team. The first button, “Donate to Team Vandervort” will allow you to make a donation but not participate in the walk.
There is a 5k run/walk as well as a 1k walk. My family and I will be participating in the 5k walk.
Real estate is red hot. And, as with all things red hot, it should be handled with caution. My wife, Jodie, a certified real estate broker, has been in the “business” for over ten years. She has never seen a market like this one. Low interest rates and low inventory has resulted in a seller’s market like no other. It’s a great time to sell, but a very very competitive time to buy. Word to the wise : Don’t get burnt. Find a good agent – like my wife – to help you.
One day in the near future when COVID is a distant memory my family and I will all look back and laugh about that one time while we were all working/schooling from home and our device’s batteries all died simultaneously.
What repeatedly gets lost, needs constant supervision, and takes forever to complete the most simple chore? An iRobot Roomba! All joking aside our little robot, an i3 model, does a fantastic job cleaning our carpet. However, if it had the slightest bit of intelligence I’m pretty sure that something like this would happen …
I’ve been working remotely from home for one year now and it’s been great….well, mostly. For more go here.
I’ve been working remotely from home for one year now and it’s been great….well, mostly. Like anything new, there have been obstacles. However, after many trials and tribulations I can now run the gauntlet like a soccer mom evading children playing in the street in her minivan.
Here are some things that I have learned ( maybe they’ll help you, too ) :
I’ve learned that there is no longer anyone to blame other than myself for burning the popcorn in the microwave
….and, that that horrible leftover smell in the fridge is, in fact, my own.
I’ve learned that having an “open door policy” doesn’t work when your officemates are two kids ( and dogs ).
I’ve learned that when everyone is working from home on battery powered keyboards and mice, he who holds the last two AA batteries is king.
I’ve learned that my wife showers at precisely the same time as my daily webcam meetings – and that the camera faces the bathroom.
Lastly, I’ve learned that pants are, indeed, optional.
Take care. Stay healthy. Live life. Forgo the pants.
My brother in law, Curtis, and I have theorized that the way AirPods really work is by inducing conversation as soon as you shove the things into your skull. Granted, it could be a genetic fluke given that the greatest offenders are our identical twin wives, but I have a feeling it goes further than that.
Every Valentine’s Day for as far back as I can remember Jodie has surprised me with a delicious hand-made dessert. Three years ago I started reciprocating by drawing her a Valentine’s Day comic. For more go here.
Every Valentine’s Day for as far back as I can remember Jodie has surprised me with a delicious hand-made dessert. Three years ago I started reciprocating by drawing her a Valentine’s Day comic. This year, to celebrate our addiction to LEGO, I drew her the comic you see here. In return, to celebrate our almost two years on a whole food plant-based diet, she made me delicious Flourless Sweet Potato Brownies.
If you’re interested, here are some Valentines comics of years’ past…
Happy Valentine’s Day to my wife, sweetheart, best friend, and mommy extraordinaire!
Love is messy …
The best gifts are made by hand with love – even if you can’t tell what the heck they are!
We’ve all been there – but not my wife, she never farts.
drawnandcoded.com 