Tag Archives: Mehitabel

Maurice Sendak passes away, pandas everywhere mourn…..

I have to admit, I had thought that Maurice Sendak was gone years ago. Maybe because his books were among my favorites as a young cubbie. His quirky and dark sense of humor continues to be an inspiration to me with my own work. Imagine my surprise to find that he was still alive, at least until this past Tuesday. I have to admit, that the idea of honoring him with a wild rumpus was not my original idea. On Tuesday night there was a meeting of the SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) in Seattle. So, thanks for the idea. I do believe I was the first to have the panda kindergarten rumpus in his honor.

Nobody can rumpus like the panda kindergarten!

Be the Bear!

Bob T. Panda

From the “I am NOT making this up” department….

9 Replies

I was listening to NPR last night (that’s National Panda Radio, you know) and heard a story about researchers giving orangutans iPads in order to teach them to communicate with people. I would respectfully (of course) point out that pandas have been using mePhones for several years in order to track each other (and occasionally order pizza) with great success.

Remember, you heard it here first!

Be the Bear

Bob T. Panda

But where in the world are the Torch bears?

Look out Mehitabel, here comes the panda kindergarten……

19 Replies

Once again I am going to step outside my role of cartoon panda to share a little piece of the view into the world I live in.

Warning: Heartwarming story coming…people who are looking for action, adventure, and panda kindergarten misdeeds should just skip on down to the cartoon!

When I lived in Seattle, one of my musician friends had a little joke he liked to tell about supporting yourself as a musician. “We make our living taking in each others’ laundry.” He was referring to the practice of one person paying another, to give their child music lessons, and then that person would pay the first to teach his child. It seems like no net gain for anyone, but really, it was a real builder of community and connectedness.

Today is the first Saturday in May, which on Whidbey Island is Hearts and Hammers day. It’s modeled on Habitat for Hummanity’s home building program, and is a one day all volunteer work blitz. They have done projects as simple as gardening for a home owner who is no longer able to keep up with the raging flora that we are gifted with here in the northwest, and as extensive as new roofs, railing and ramps and even a whole new bathroom in some houses. I’ve worked on projects for a number of years, and been the recipient of a “hearts and hammers-like” day, when my house caught fire 17 years ago.

We also have a very active food bank that several years ago started an organic garden that provides fresh vegetables for our food bank clients. Is this an amazing community or what? Not only do I love living here, but I am proud to live here as well.

So, when my good friend (and panda supporter) Vicky Brown, of the Little Brown Farm told me she was going to do a Kickstarter project to add to their facilities at the dairy, I offered to help her with my vast (ha ha) wisdom gleaned from doing my (successful) Kickstarter project. Besides being a very modest (very) contributor, I’ve been helping her with editing her posts and updates, and just being a general cheerleader. I know I have a community of readers out there, who love humor and pandas as much as I do. So I am going to use my panda pulpit once again to request your consideration, and hopefully, your help for the Little Brown Farm. Do check out their Kickstarter project and video (with adorable little goats!) and remember it’s really not the size of the donation that matters. even a small $10-$25 donation shows them you care about small scale farming and good food made by people who care deeply about their animals. They work harder than just about anyone I know (except for maybe other farmers).

http://kck.st/GW4Yal

And now for a word from the panda kindergarten:

join the pandas at http://kck.st/GW4Yal

Be the Bear!

Bob T. Panda

Fix It All the Time…a Fiat Panda car by any other name…

Look Out, Mehitabel, the Panda Kindergarten is at it Again….

7 Replies

As many of my faithful readers may remember, a few months ago, I came to you for assistance with my Kickstarter project (which was successfully funded, in no small part thanks to fans of the pandas.) I just wanted to tell you about another Kickstarter project that is worthy of your attention.

My friends, Vicky and Tom Brown had a dream. Well, it was mostly Vicky’s dream, but Tom, being the exceptional guy that he is, has gone way beyond the beyond in helping to make Vicky’s dream come true. Fortunately for those of us lucky enough to live on Whidbey Island, Vicky’s dream to have a working goat farm and dairy has come to pass. Full disclosure, I am not a disinterested party here. I love the cheese that Vicky and her girls (the goats) make at the Little Brown Farm. My favorites are her Caprine Creme and Caprizella and consume vast quantities whenever possible.

While I am usually making fun of many things here at The Panda Chronicles, the panda kindergarten has thrown their support behind The Little Brown Farm in a serious way. Check out their project here:

http://kck.st/GW4Yal

and then join the panda kindergarten in supporting Vicky and the girls.

Mehitabel is counting on it.

Note: No cats were actually harmed during the making of this cartoon, although they definitely were offended.

They have 23 more days to get all their funding, so there is no time to lose!

Be the Bear!

Bob T. Panda

PS, this is my 300th post! Huzzah!

And now, Friday Night Pandas brings you…the panda kindergarten! HUZZAH!

6 Replies

Well, with Mini-Bob off gallivanting around London, the panda kindergarten is up to their old tricks. People always want to know (OK, I IMAGINE that people want to know this) just what goes on in the typical panda kindergarten classroom. Who teaches the panda kindergarten? Are there naps and snacks? Are there cuppycakes? There really should be cuppycakes.

"Class....Claaaas....CLASS!!!!!!!!!

HAVE A BEAR-Y GOOD WEEKEND!

Be the Bear!

Bob T. Panda

More than 24,000 visits! Huzzah

And now, Friday Night Pandas brings you…the panda kindergarten! HUZZAH!

6 Replies

"Class....Claaaas....CLASS!!!!!!!!!

HAVE A BEAR-Y GOOD WEEKEND!

Be the Bear!

Bob T. Panda

More than 24,000 visits! Huzzah

It’s the panda season of lo-o-o-o-ove!

4 Replies

Doesn’t the thought of roly poly pandas on a date just tickle your fancy? But what does say, a panda at the Edinburgh Zoo have to do so that he will be desirable to his lady love? According to one of the zoo panda specialists, he needs to be put on an exercise program. I am NOT making this up. I heard it on the BBC. I think it maybe went something like this:

A panda by any other name, would smell...well, they would just smell...

More from the Scottish pandas later this week!

Be the Bear!

Bob T. Panda

San Diego Panda Whoopie!

6 Replies

News on the street is that perhaps the “festivities” (we are a family friendly cartoon feature…um… mostly) that took place at the San Diego Zoo earlier this week may have some adorable dividends. Bai Yun is not telling, although Gao Gao has a bit of a smirk, and keepers reported hearing him mumbling, “Whose da bear? I’m bad, I’m bad, I still got it…” under his breath as he did handstands and relaxed in his hot-tub. We won’t know for sure until much later this year, as pandas are notoriously tight-lipped on this subject, as well as unpredictable.

While we wait for our resident chronicler of pandas (will you get on it, and get off the darn computer and DRAW for cryin’ out loud?) to finish the latest cartoon, here is an old favorite on the subject of panda parenthood.

will the pitter patter of little paws soon follow?

Till we know more,

Be the Bear

Bob T. Panda