Is it ok if I quit my job...

“Is it ok if I quit my job and start a blog?”...Well I haven’t succeeded in quitting my job (if that’s what you call how support my cartooning addiction) yet...however thanks to that Oscar Meyer commercial, I’m back on the blog.

There are certain shows I can’t miss (thank goodness my drawing table is facing the TV). Anything with Gordon Ramsey (including tonight’s, Hotel Hell and Hell’s Kitchen), A&E’s Shipping Wars, Showtime’s, Episodes and American Pickers. I think the guys on American Pickers, have the best job in the world...one that I may emulate soon, by traveling around the country and setting up my, Michael Hopkins Cartoons tent at various events throughout this great country of ours…Maybe I’ll see you there???

Also.....The new freeway (I-580) between Reno and Carson Valley has finally opened!!! It’s completely AWESOME!!!!! It saved my 20 minutes on my drive to Reno this morning!!!! I love this place!!!

Support the (good) arts....

Yesterday I took my son to see, Paranorman. I was so impressed and inspired by the film, my son suggested I watch the film, Coraline…he informed me that it was made by the same company (how’d he know that???), Liaka Entertainment. Well…never one to not follow sound advice, I purchased Caroline (we’re watching it tonight). Having the Obsessive Compulsive gene that I do (sorry about that, kids), purchasing the film was not enough and I have now discovered, Liaka Entertainment. It’s the production based in Portland, Oregon, that produced Paranorman, Coraline and Corpse Bride. They specialize in stop-motion animation, combining old technology with new…It’s an awesome company and they produce wonderful animation!!!! Check out their website (http://www.laika.com/) and go see Parnorman!!! We need to support this kind of amazing creativity or all the future will hold, will be nothing more than, Shrek and Kung Fu Panda sequels…..

Play the game...

And so it begins again….

Life as we know it, often sends us curveballs. To avoid being hurt, we must sometimes back off the plate and let the bullet pass us by. In the back of your mind, you knew the game was going too well. The pitcher wasn’t acting right. You received mixed messages throughout the game. What started out as perfection has turned into a comedy of errors. Maybe you were a bit over confident. Maybe the pitcher read your arrogance correctly…either way,  you still have control of the game and the pitcher can’t handle the pressure. The beanball was coming. Being the experienced player that you are, you back off the plate… just in time.