Tag Archives: be the bear

Fluffy Feline Friday: Mehitabel

It’s been just over a week since the sweet Mehitabel went to eternal resting place in the back yard. I still miss her terribly, and even though I have decided to keep her memory alive here in the Panda Chronicles, the house is way too quiet and empty without her. How a house can be more quiet than it was when she was sleeping 23 hours a day, I don’t know, but it is.

Here are some of my favorite ‘toons starring the divine Miss Mehitabel!

Mehitabel

Mehitabel thanks you!

first panda gender misidentification at zoo atlanta

Well, we do all look alike.

The panda kindergarten is “busy” …can you call back later?

Part 1 of Bob and Mehitabel’s explanation…

Look out Mehitabel! here comes the panda kindergarten!

Maybe someone else should release their tax returns, don’t you think?

And who could forget her starring role in The Wizard of Wu?

094-the-wizard-of-wu-episode-7-100-res.jpg

Mehitabel would like to register her protest about given the least sympathetic role in this adventure.

wizard of Oz satire

Stay tuned later this month for the outtakes and blooper reel!

We’ll have more of Mehitabel’s greatest moments in next week’s Fabulous Furry  Feline Friday!

Panda On!
Bob T Panda

And now, a political message from The Institute for Contemporary Panda Satire: If you believe that affordable healthcare for all is important, please call your representative today and ask him or her to vote AGAINST the repeal of the ACA (Affordable Healthcare Act). Repeal will affect you no matter where your insurance comes from, as some of the provisions include things like preventing insurance companies from rejecting  you or charging you  more for pre-existing conditions, and keeping them from setting lifetime limits on coverage, which, if you or someone you know has been very ill, can affect you. There’s a bunch more good stuff that it does, including providing insurance for low income artists such as myself, at an affordable cost.

They had six years to come up with a better plan and they haven’t. Don’t let them repeal it without replacing it with something better!

What if we wished …

What if we wished on the moon…do you think it might happen then? In Pandamorphosis, the cat wishes on the moon that she would be loved as much as the pandas were. It didn’t quite turn out the way she planned, now did it?

So, if Lun Lun wished that her girls would always be as sweet as they are now…

wished

Would it be such a bad thing?

Well, it COULD happen like that.

Panda On
Bob T Panda

What could it hurt?

The Little Gift That Keeps on Giving

Oh me, oh my! What trouble has Pinky caused now? I think I hear the phone lines sizzling even now, as Lun Lun discovers just what Pinky’s little gift to the twins actually was! But look how nicely she is playing Go Fish with her little brother. She is even…um…well, not exactly letting him win so much, as by not cheating so effectively that he doesn’t lose by much. Pinky is a font of generosity today!

Let’s see what is happening down in PandAlanta! 

little gift

The little gift that keeps on giving!

Panda On!
Bob T Panda

“Whut yoo meen ‘uh oh’?” Um, maybe you should watch the girls on the panda cam to calm your nerves!

 

Where there are pandas, there is hope

We now return to our regularly scheduled pandas. I am so sorry to bring you the sad news of Mehitabel’s real life passing. It has taken the wind out of my sails. It is the first time in almost 21 years, without the sound of the pitter patter of little paws. I hope I will have another cat, just not yet.

In the meantime, her fictional counterpart is not going anywhere. Who would keep these pandas in line is she were gone? The show must go on!

hope

Panda Trek 2: The Next Generation

Panda On
Bob T Panda

Note: Mehitabel came to me in a dream last night, and wanted me to take note of the fact that FAR more people were commenting on the post about her, than they ever had on anything panda.

Really, I want to thank all who have written and offered their sincere and heartfelt condolences. I know many of you have walked this same path, and that we will again, because in the end, all you need is love, and to be loved by a cat (and let me tell you, they can be really particular about who they love) is the greatest gift of all.

Resolution Day

You say you want a resolution, well, you know, you can never change the bear… Oh! Hello everyone. Welcome to 2017. We hope that 2017 turns out a lot better than 2016, but we really won’t know until we get there, right? One thing you can be sure of, as long as I can hold a pencil and pen, and my quart of india ink (extra black!) doesn’t run out, I will be bringing you new panda ‘toons twice a week, on Sundays and Wednesdays, and on Fridays, there will be a small collection of some of my favorite ‘toons of the past eight years! Yes, it has been that long!

You’d think I would be famous by now.

And while Bubba is growing up, some bears never change.

resolution

Once again proving the intransigence of Pinky, and the omnipotence of Mommy Mei

We shall Panda On!
Bob T Panda

Day 31: 31 Days of Pandas Happy New Year

Well, we’ve done it again. We have completed 31 days of panda goodness, coming to you from the desk and archives of The Institute for Contemporary Panda Satire. I hope you have had fun revisiting some of your favorite ‘toons, or if you are new here this year, that you have gotten a little taste of panda satire, and like a really good potato chip, it has you coming back for more. What better way to say hello to the new year than with panda satire? And no, despite how flattered I am to be asked, we will not be doing 365 days of pandas. I do need a bit of time to actually write and draw all of the panda ‘toons that I share with you here.

As far as I can see into the future (which, granted, my eyesight is not as good as it used to be,) I will always make my ‘toons here available for you to read, without any kind of subscription or fees. However, if you would like to support panda satire, I am grateful to have people buy my books here. That helps keep the ink flowing, the lights on, and the coffee perking so I can keep bringing panda goodness to you.

I am also considering starting a Patreon account, so that people can more directly support my efforts of the last 8 years. I haven’t done it yet, but I am thinking about it. If you have an opinion about this, please feel free to share it with me.

I may also run a Kickstarter campaign later this year in order to complete a very special project. More about that later. :o) It does involve pandas.

But now, let’s say BUH-BYE to 2016, don’tletthedoorhityouonthewayout with the panda kindergarten! Happy New Year !!!

new years eve party, panda kindergarten

The panda kindergarten at their best…or is that worst?

The Four Panda Kindergarteners of the Apandalypse!

 

Let’s vow to panda on in 2017!!!!
Bob T Panda

Day 30: 31 Days of Pandas

Holy Moly! It’s day 30 of 31 Days of Pandas! We are almost at the end as the ball in Times Square makes its descent into the unknown. We have lost so many treasured, talented individuals this year, and now we have to add yet another to the list (as if Gene Wilder, Carrie Fisher, and Alan Rickman weren’t loss enough!) Yes, the father and grandfather of so many pandas, particularly the US pandas, Pan Pan passed away yesterday at the age of 31. He was quite a bear with the ladies and fathered 30 cubs and has over 130 descendants. He was really da bear! Farewell, Pan Pan. You will shine brightly in panda heaven.

But now, the conclusion of the Twelve Days of CrispMoss! Are you ready to sing?

HOW many more days are there?

whew!

Oh no! Not again!

F-F-F-FI-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-VE Cuppycaaaaaaakes!

whew!

No WONDER I didn’t get any presents!

F-F-F-FI-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-VE Cuppycaaaaaaakes!

whew!

OOOOO! Pinky is a star!

F-F-F-FI-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-VE Cuppycaaaaaaakes!

whew!

On the twelfth day of Crisp-Moss, My Panda cam Did See….

MX: no, Pinky, you may NOT have a Bamboo-tini!

I can’t hear you….

F-F-F-FI-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-VE Cuppycaaaaaaakes!

whew!

AND

Everybody sing!

Panda on!
Bob T Panda

Day 29: 31 Days of Pandas

I thought 2016 was going to be a great year, because at the beginning of the year, I started seeing news stories regarding the efforts of some Washington state businessmen and politicians having talks with China about bringing pandas to Washington state. Pandas HERE!!!! WOOZPPAH LIVES! So far, nothing has come of it, and we all know what a dumpster fire the year became.

But I am ever hopeful that You-Know-Who won’t completely screw up our relationship with China, which could instigate NOT getting pandas for Washington, and also losing the pandas we do have. You can see that I have a dog in this fight, right?

Anyway, here are some of my ‘toons from earlier this year, about WOOZPPAH! (WOOdlandpark ZooProjectPanda) (The “H” at the end is for a silent “Huzzah!” in case you were wondering where I got it.)

WOOZPPAH NOW!

pandas

I bet Seattle Pandas would vote for Bob!

If only we could have just a couple of pandas….

let me call you sweetheart…

And we are counting down the days…. Join us tomorrow for the rest of The Twelve days of CrispMoss. Here’s the link to the first part, so you can warm up your vocal chords.

Panda On
Bob T Panda

Day 28: 31 Days of Pandas

We have what…3 more days of 2016? Can you wait to say Buh-BYE to 2016 and welcome (and I use the term loosely) 2017 into being? Not that I think 2017 is going to be all that much better, only that 2016 will be OVER! So, here is something to cheer you up: a short video of Canadian Panda Daddy Da Mao (I bet you thought I was gonna say Justin Trudeau) engaging in a little performance art. Who says Pandas aren’t creative?

Meanwhile, here is today’s brand new ‘toon!

pandas

Sad.

To be honest, 2016 wasn’t a totally sad year…I had a great experience in the Nevada SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) Mentor program, where I worked with my brilliant mentor who is now my brilliant agent, (am I sucking up? why yes, I am!), I spoke at the 2016 Pandamonium Convention in beautiful sunny San Diego, and got to see panda-daddy extraordinaire Gao Gao, maybe for the last time, as he is now living in retirement due to age related health problems.

I participated in several art exhibitions, and have not fallen down and hurt myself (which is good, especially if He Who Must Not Be Named cuts off my health insurance in the months to come) and Mehitabel is still alive, if not exactly lively. Hey, I just read about a cat who is 31, so quit your whining, Mr. Kitty! You’re a spring chicken.

Be sure to tune in tomorrow for more Year in Review ‘toons, and then on Friday for the conclusion of The Twelve Days of CrispMoss! I am here for YOU!

Panda On,
Bob T Panda

 

31 Days of Pandas: The Year in Review

We are grinding down to the very last days of the year, and what better thing to do than to review some of my favorite ‘toons from the past 12 months? Also I have run out of Mini Bob travel photos, so there is that too!

One of the things that happened this last year was I got an agent! Huzzah! Right now he is working on getting my graphic novel (about pandas, of course) out into the world. One of the things I am learning, is that publishing is a long process, but when you have someone who loves your story, you have a better chance that the right home will be found for it. Pseudo thumbs crossed. You’ll be the first to know when that happens.

Here’s my ‘toon about finding my agent…

review

Do you smell smoke?

I like to listen to the radio to find ideas for ‘toons. Here’s one about a new study on “healthy eating.” It was a study. It must be true.

Inspired by a TRUE story!

And here is another story about an important scientific finding...No fake news stories here!

Well, it is kind of funny, isn’t it?

Ha ha! This still makes me laugh! Tune in tomorrow for another brand new ‘toon!

Panda On
Bob T Panda