Conservation Bio Doodles

The Gaspé Shrew (Sorex gaspensis)

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In fisheries management, lobsters are given honorary fish status...just what they've always wanted!

Mammal Doodles

Some semi-aquatic mammals for you:

Forget about the baby...

Professor Mole said "labyrinth of adventures." What else am I supposed to think of?

Bird doodles

I have several doodle motifs. Birds is one of them.

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I didn't start out drawing my parrot, but somehow it happened anyway.

This is the look he gets when he's contemplating shredding something important--you know, like bills, or homework, or priceless books...

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Doesn't the one on the right look like it's doing karate?

Doodles

Hello all. Sorry I've been absent from MTTPL for the past few days. Some updates:
- I made a pumpkin pie with a gingersnap crust for American Thanksgiving. I didn't take a picture, but a picture wouldn't really have captured the tastiness.
- Diana came to visit. It was awesome.
- I got no work done. This is why I will be in the library all day. All. Day. 
- Next week is the last week of school. Honestly, I'm looking forward to finals as a respite from paper writing.


So I have now several actual comics in the works (and many more requests for comics I just don't know when I can fill). I still haven't received any guest submissions so...you guys suck. But I figured I may as well post some of my doodles from class, which seem to be increasing in intensity the later in the semester it's gotten. I don't know why. I have a bunch, which I'll be posting over the course of the next few days, while I'm working on a) my Victorian Lit essay, b) my Conservation Bio paper, and c) revising my Herp paper, d) finishing a book, and e) shopping for Christmas presents. Oh boy.


First off, some Herp-related doodles:

Anoles are very territorial. Males flare out the colourful flap of skin underneath their chin to display to other males to get the hell away. They also use them to impress the ladies.

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"Fame"

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During a presentation in Conservation Bio about Snapping Turtles (Chelydra serpentina, in case you were wondering), some girl said "Many people can relate to it [the snapping turtle] on a personal level" and I immediately pictured this. Sorry, presenter-girl, I really was listening before. 

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Ok, I know this isn't a comic, but it made me laugh (and if you have spent any significant amount of time around me, you probably will laugh too, or at the very least, smile knowingly). This is one of the peer evaluation slips I got back from my marine reptiles presentation in Herpetology. Most were very positive, and this one is too...sorta. I'm not even really offended, just tickled. Yeah, I talk with my hands. What of it?

More to follow.

This is weird

Ok, so two mornings in a row I have overslept my alarm by nearly an hour because I was in the middle of dreams in which Martha Stewart was giving me tips on how to live better: this morning it was how to prepare a Thanksgiving feast. Yesterday? Organizing my home.


Any bets on what tomorrow might be? 

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YOUR BETS

Katie says: "How to crash P. Diddy's birthday party and take inappropriate drunk pictures with horse lamps."

She's referring to this picture:

Although Martha doesn't need to crash P. Diddy's parties--she gets an invite. Probably hand-delivered. Because she's just that badass.

Why I don't need a blow-dryer

That last panel features my friend Nicolette! This is her debut appearance in my blog. We are sitting in my favourite classroom on campus, the Redpath Museum Auditorium. So...theoretically, this comic takes place on a Tuesday. Whatever.

This comic also features the return guest appearance of The Leaves from "Pocahontas."

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I have a case of the Mondays. Do you?

Guest Contributors

Don't think I'm going to let you all forget about my call for guest contributors. I'm not. I'm going to be extra-super-duper busy next week so...if you want to see anything new on MTTPL, you're going to have to get cracking on those doodles/collages/stick figures.

NSFW: Fridge Photos

I totally meant to post these like, months ago. 

BEFORE

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AFTER

Earlier this semester, Katie went away for a weekend, so Haley and I replaced all her precious soccer (I mean, football) pics--which have been monopolizing the refrigerator for 2 years--with pictures of animals. Needless to say, she was somewhat...less-than-thrilled when she got home. 

Surprisingly enough, the animals have stayed up. Even "that freaky bird" (the orange one that reads "man juice" in magnetic poetry magnets) that Katie insisted "[had] to go."

Note: I apologize for the, um, salty language.  I don't, however, apologize for Mario Lopez naked on a bearskin rug.


He should apologize to me.

I guess I missed this memo...?

And yes, that is a child with a laser pointer, in case you were wondering.

UPDATE: Haha, Katie just informed me that Saturday was in fact the Christmas parade on St. Catherine. Whoops. Nonetheless: babies EVERYWHERE.

I'm finally getting a balcony!

On my way home from school the other day, I got this phone call from my roommate Katie:

Yes, because the limiting factor of this equation is obviously lemonade.

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So, I meant to post this last week, when it was still freshly-baked news, but life got in the way. Regardless, it's probably new news for most of you, so...

For those of you who have never been in it/have never heard me talk about it, I have about the most nonsensical room you can imagine. Not only is it dimly-lit and awkwardly-shaped, but it has a closet that's basically just an open nook in one wall, a door that opens into a creepy dark spiral staircase/fire escape on another wall AND a large window on the third of its six walls. Oh wait--that's not a large window...it's a door. A door that opens onto nothing. Our apartment is on the second floor. You do the math.


But finally--FINALLY--after 2 1/2 years of living in this nonsensical violet room, I'm getting a balcony! Sure, I won't be able to do this (totally unsafe and definitely not mom-sanctioned) thing anymore:

But...a balcony! 

Yeah, so last Wednesday morning, I wandered down the hallway--bleary-eyed and still in my pajamas--to find a bunch of men just outside our kitchen, dismantling the balcony. It was all rather unexpected, seeing as how our landlord Dolores (or Dolly, as we fondly call her) never bothered to inform us that this massive construction project was actually happening ON WEDNESDAY, AT 7:00 A.M., ON OUR BALCONY.  But it's not like I can really complain because, well...balcony.

It's gonna be like this every day:

I can't wait.

Come on in, the water's...cold, low oxygen, high pressure, and salty

My marine reptiles presentation is today! I'm including these drawings in my powerpoint:

This one is my last slide: 

Any questions?

Wish me luck!

Notes From a Meeting

Hey everybody--I got the first of my guest submissions today! This one's from my dad!!!


Here's what he said:
"While others are taking notes or checking their Blackberries, this is what I do during meetings. I'm sure I have no idea what they mean - aside from the one about coffee."

(Remember, you can enlarge the picture by clicking on it...if you haven't figured that out already)

My gmail inbox is lonely--send it some comics to keep it company!

And now for something *a little* different...

New comic is on its way--but in the meantime, I thought I'd try something different. 

Now, because I'm going to be a little bit pressed for time these next few weeks (four papers, a presentation, little sis coming to visit), I was hoping I could perhaps get some guest contributers. I'm not asking for much (clip art, stick figures, collages, etc. WILL be accepted) but yeah, if you hear/see/do/think of something comic-worthy, draw it, scan it, and send it to me, Manta, at montreal.manta@gmail.com. I know I've got some funny and talented readers out there, and just think, you'll be doing this busy little elasmobranch a BIG favor.


Manta

Happy Birthday Tessa!!!!!!!

Tessa, Alan and Martha were so thrilled with that portrait you did of them, they decided to throw you a party! Complete with quesadillas and homemade salsa and banana margaritas--non-virgin, obviously, because you are no kid (22! what?) and without tequila, a margarita is just a smoothie! If you're lucky, there may even be a sombrero for you too!

For those of you who are not Tessa and/or don't read Tessa's blogs, Tessa did the best portrait in the world, based on this segment from the Martha Stewart show, featuring the unlikely duo of Martha Stewart and Alan Cumming, in sombreros. 

This is their way of giving back.

Relief

As indicated by the increased presence of herpetofauna on MTTPL and the decreased presence of actual comics, I was studying all week for my Herpetology lab exam, which was rumored to be "one of the toughest exams at McGill" (my TA's words). And while the exam itself turned out to be not as bad as I thought it would be, let's just say Tuesday was a very looonnnnngggggg day. Not only was this hanging over my head, but I had a monster cold AND I had to look pretty for grad photos (made challenging by said monster cold) AND I had to give a presentation on why the pygmy snaketail should be considered threatened in Canada (also made challenging by said monster cold). So by the time I got onto the metro, headed at long last for home, I was ready to drop.

I'm not joking, I nearly fell asleep standing up in the LITERALLY TWO STOPS between school and my apartment. That look on my face? Pure relief--relief and anticipation of a good night's sleep and dreams mercifully free of slithering, croaking, hopping damp and scaly things.

As a side note, I can now recognize SEVENTEEN FROG CALLS! A skill that will undoubtedly serve me well in my urban surroundings!!!

Emily Peal

Hey guys, comics are on their way! I swear!

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I just want to take a moment to give a shout-out to my friend Emily who just released her album, Stacking Doll, a couple days ago. Emily is my oldest friend in all the world: we've known each other since we were something ridiculous like 2 weeks old AND we share the best birthday in the world, May 7. And basically since I've known Emily, she's always wanted to be a singer so...I've been waiting for this for like, forever. And let me tell you, this album was definitely worth the wait. Not only does she have the loveliest voice but her songs are all kinds of delightful and clever.

Give her a listen at http://emilypeal.bandcamp.com/album/stacking-doll. You will be glad you did. And make sure you listen to the songs from her EP as well, because they are likewise awesome.

Excuses

I woke up this morning with the words Gyrinophilus porphyriticus on the tip of my tongue.

I am going to be SO happy when this lab exam is over...

...so I can draw some more comics!

A new month, a new nickname

So last month, I revealed to you the first of my seasonal nicknames. But it's a new month, folks, and ushered in with cold, bleak, leafless November is the second of my unfortunate monikers:

THE MANFLOWER

One year ago:

"This doesn't make any sense. It's kind of a stretch, guys. I don't remember agreeing to this. The MANFLOWER? It sounds....dirty."

(My pleas, sadly, fell on deaf ears).

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The slightly more palatable, albeit more obscure variant of this one is:

THE MANTA MARIA (as in "The Nina, the Pinta, and the MANTA MARIA"--get it?)

Crotch Shots (NSFW!)

I am both disturbed and amused by this somewhat dubious photo credit on our Herp class's website, Herpalicious:

Trust me, it was no less awkward actually taking the pictures, like this one, of an Ameiva ameiva:

 

Me: I'm not going to lie--this feels mildly inappropriate.

My TA: .......Yep.

Halloween Sketches Continued

I went to go see Rocky Horror on Halloween Eve with Alex & Co. I was dressed as Magenta. On my walk there from dance class it was unpleasantly rainy and windy. I got leafed in the face. It kind of hurt.

Also, there's something oddly poetic about being leaf-slapped by a maple leaf, symbol of Canada. Hmm....

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The Best Thing Ever

So, at Rocky Horror, before the movie/floor show began, they had a costume contest. One of the entries was this pair. I don't know who started the "MAKE OUT" cheer but pretty soon, the entire audience was on board. Dorothy and the Scarecrow looked kind of uncomfortable at first (maybe they weren't actually a couple? although...why would you go as what is CLEARLY a couple's costume) but then they got pretty into it. The emcee's response was perfect:

"It is not every day you get to rewrite a classic story."

When they won said costume contest, Dorothy leapt into the Scarecrow's arms and they then preceded to mime having sex onstage. Ah Rocky Horror...you make me happy.

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Waiting for the bus after the show

For some reason there were a bunch of Orthodox Jews across the street, standing next to this crowd. It was . . . weird.

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Here is a picture of me, Magenta with my brother, Riff-raff!

Halloween Sketches

The Seedless--er, Headless!--the Headless Horseman rides again!

Katie and I saw this smashed up watermelon on the way to school on Halloween Eve Day and somehow it became this story about the Headless Horseman's penchant for intricate pumpkin carving, and his heated rivalry with Martha Stewart, stemming mostly on her blatant rip-off of his whole "Ghostly Equestrian" deal (see below, and yes, that is Martha Stewart).

Also, I just like the idea of the Headless Horseman going to the grocery store and discovering they're out of pumpkins which he would otherwise throw at scrawny schoolteachers. But, you know, watermelons will do (see above).

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Possibly the thing I love most about Halloween is seeing people in costume in the most mundane of places, like descending the stairs in the metro station, capes flowing theatrically behind.

November News

I don't mean to get your hopes up unnecessarily with some boring ol' words BUT I promise there will be a new comic/several new comics up by tomorrow morning (or really late at night, if you feel like checking then). 

I just thought I would update you on some things:

Blog-related things:

1) You may have noticed the new website hit counter I posted (that little purple rectangly deal on the right side of the page). It seems a little vain, I know, but I was genuinely curious as to how many people actually look at my work. The number's up pretty high already, so I hope it's not just Haley clicking back onto the page a bunch of times. 

2) Evidently I'm scoring pretty high with the mom demographic. This makes me happy.

Life-related things:

3) We have a mouse in our house! I have yet to see it. I'm working on an essay in the living room, and periodically I keep tiptoeing over to the kitchen and turning on the lights to see if I can surprise it in action. I have not succeeded at this yet. Do I sound a little TOO excited at this prospect? Well...maybe I am. 

4) November is the crappiest month. Expect less comics. I am sorry. I feel like I'm disappointing my public. But I'm trying! I spent a good hour drawing today when I should have been writing a feministy Jane Austen analysis. So...there.

5) I am having herpetofauna anxiety dreams. Ask me why.

Good night, and good luck.