Enough of a Year and Happy New Year, Elephant

May you have good company and an abundance of simple joys in the new year. 

Thank you for following along the journey and reading my cartoons. 

Connie on Ko-fi

[4-panel comic of a girl with a braid, talking to an elephant. In panel 1, she says, "I didn't do enough this year." In panel 2, she continues: "And yet, it feels like I did all I could." Elephant pauses briefly to listen. Panel 3 is borderless and Elephant says knowingly, while walking off the panel, "What about all those k-dramas you binge-watched? That's something." In panel 4, girl bristles with a touch of attitude at being called out: "Oh right. thanks." Off-camera, Elephant says, "anytime."]

[Single panel illustration of a girl and elephant quietly having tea and pastries. Text reads "Happy new year" and "Thanks for being there." link]

New Year Snowball

Thanks for all your support, encouragement, and thoughtful comments this year. It means a lot that you continue to follow my comics through life changes and growing pains. 

I continue to plow ahead with my writing project and process the journey, cartoon by cartoon. Hopefully, I'll see some progress in 2022. 

Wishing you safe and well and happy in the months ahead. 

Connie on Ko-fi

[Single-panel comic of a girl with a bun, strenuously rolling a giant, messy snowball across a winter landscape, toward an arrow sign pointing to 2022. Rolled snowball contains a live squawking chicken and a bewildered dog. Caption reads, "I'm not starting anew as much as I'm rolling a giant snowball of unfinished business into another year."] 

Very Shout-y Humans

Outbreak of covid from region to region has made things hard for a lot of people this holiday season. I think we're all trying our best, but it's tense and everyone is tired. 

Taking care of myself by limiting time on social media and spending more time self-soothing. 

Thanks for reading and wishing you safe. 

[Two-panel comic of an elephant and a girl with a braid, standing in a corner, covering her ears. In panel 1, Elephant asks, "What are you doing?" In panel 2, girl looks up, ears still covered, and answers "Social media detox." After a beat, she adds, "Humans can be very shout-y."]

Sad Song Loop

Mystery solved, but of course, it will change nothing ;)

Hope you are finding ways to delight in whatever makes you happy and brings you comfort this season. Sad songs and comedy are what get me through these days. 

Thanks for continuing to read and check in. Appreciate the gift of your time and attention, as another year draws to a close.  

Connie on Ko-fi

[3-panel comic of a girl with a braid sitting at a desk and crying a river, as an elephant ambles by, unfazed. Panel 1 text reads, "OH MY GOD WHY CAN'T I STOP CRYING??" Panel 2 shows a moment of reflective pause, music notes coming from her laptop, which indicate "sad songs in a loop." She sniffs and Elephant walks away, leaving the frame. In panel 3, girl is sedate and has stopped crying. After a beat, the thought bubble reads, "Makes sense."]

Pandemic Self-Assessment

Lol, the fatigue! The fatigue. We are all feeling it. We are human. Winter is here and yet another wave of infections.  

Take good care of yourselves and each other. Best we can do. Thank all the helpers and heroes in your world. I wish you well and safe.

Thanks for reading and supporting as I continue to develop new projects. Connie on Ko-fi

[Single-panel comic of a girl with a bun, laying supine on a mat, looking up at her phone. Above her is a simple flowchart that reads "Am I okay today?" Arrows point to yes or no. Yes leads to another question: "But am I really?" which circles back to no. Titled: "Pandemic Self-Assessment"]

Booster Shot

I was able to get a vaccine booster shot yesterday in New York City, just as a new wave of infections is hitting the region. 

Here's hoping everyone safe, boosted, and sound this season. Stay strong.

Thanks to the loyal for sticking around to read my cartoon updates. I continue to develop longer stories that I hope I will have the chance to publish in the future. Grateful for your support and encouragement. 

Connie on Ko-fi

[4-panel diary comic about getting a booster shot in NYC. The comic is dated December 14, 2021. Panel 1 shows a girl with a braid and mask running past a man smoking under a scaffolding on a city sidewalk. Text reads, "Running to my booster appointment." In panel 2, she's seated in a room with a doctor who is administering her doses: "Getting my booster and flu shot too." She has red bandaids on both arms, from the 2 shots. In panel 3, she is "walking home," passed a sidewalk stand selling Christmas trees. Cursive text reads: "All I can do is my best -- no energy left to argue right or wrong." In panel 4, she is home, "taking deep breaths" on a yoga mat. "Here's hoping we get through the season safe -- sanity intact."]

Follow The Emotion

This is the part of the writing process where I need a lot of courage. 

Thanks for staying with me and supporting through the cartoon-y growing pains. Connie on Ko-fi

[5-panel borderless comic of a girl with a bun, sitting at a desk with blank pages of paper in front of her. "Do I have anything worthwhile to say?" In panel 2, the caption reads, "I need my courage," as she holds up a magnifying glass. In panel 3, the search continues: "Where could it be?" In panel 4, she is prone: "Will I ever find it?" Elephant appears in the last panel pointing in the direction of the arrow that says, "Follow the EMOTION." Speech bubble reads, "I think you go that way --"]

Changed Person

When we say we want change, what we mean is we want things to stay the same. 

Thanks for reading and sticking around during a period of change and growing pains. Making some headway which I hope will reflect soon.

Appreciate your support on Ko-fi

[Two-panel comic showing a simple illustration of a girl with a braid, reflecting on personal growth. Panel 1 text reads, "I changed a lot...I'm a different person now." In panel 2, a mini-chorus of three figures say in unison, "We prefer the old you, actually." Dismayed, she exclaims, "Oh no - it's irreversible."]

Kinder To Myself Holiday

May your holidays be merry, but if this is a hard time, I hope you find the comfort you need. 

Thanks for reading. I am taking extra care of myself.

[3-panel comic of a girl with a braid looking a little bit melancholy. Text reads, "Holidays make me feel sadder than usual - even if I'm fine and nothing's wrong." In panel 2, she gives herself a hug. Panel 3 zooms out to show an elephant in the frame. Girl, still hugging herself, says "Let me be kinder to myself today." Elephant adds that "All is not lost. Maybe somebody you know made pie."]

Stronger Cartoonist (Tinyview #26)

I want to be a better, stronger cartoonist, but it's hard to know if I'm on the right path...

This is episode #26 from my comic series on Tinyview Comics app. 

https://tinyview.com/connie

It helps me a lot if you follow on Tinyview for my weekly strip!

[5-panel comic of a girl with a bun at a drawing table. Panel 1, overhead shot: "I really wish I were a better cartoonist. It's so hard." Panel 2, medium shot of the girl at her desk, looking mildly stressed. Text reads, "I don't know if I'm strong enough to do this." After a beat, panel 3 shows her determined face: "I can't give up! I have to try harder!" Panel 4 is a humorous illustration of the girl in shorts, lifting pink dumbbells. Text reads, "Must get stronger!" Panel 5 shows her "later," back at her desk, with bodybuilder arms, drawing pensively. Thought bubble: "Am I doing this right?"]

Thanks for supporting!

Seasons, Come As You Are

Fall foliage was at its peak in Central Park over the weekend. When the wind blew, it looked like it was raining sunlight in reds and golds. 

Seasons are never boring. Thanks for reading. 

[4-panel comic of a girl with a braid sitting, melancholy with her head on a table and a cup of tea. Panel 1 text: "I should get some fresh air." In panel 2, she is jogging in the park with fall leaves raining down brightly against a simple drawing of a city backdrop. Text reads: "I should exercise more." Panel 3 is a splash of color, the reds and golds of peak fall foliage. She is a tiny figure walking behind globs of bright color. Text reads, "I should live each day to the fullest." In panel 4, she is walking over fallen leaves with her hands in her pockets, head down, looking pensive. Text reads, "I should not feel sad." Title of strip: "Seasons, come as you are."]

Relationship Needs

I don't think I'm asking for much ;)

Thanks for reading and supporting

[3-panel comic of a girl with a braid, fantasizing about what the perfect relationship looks like for her. Panel 1 text reads, "I don't need much in a relationship..." In panel 2, she is being hugged tight by a figure with huge arms within a thought bubble and lifted a few inches off the ground. Text reads, "...just a guy with humongous arms - who will hold me until the world ends." In panel 3, there is a giant ferocious-looking monster (resembling "King Kong"), baring its teeth and towering over a dense cityscape, holding the girl in one of his hands in a tight grip. She is calm and expressionless: "I mean - this works too."]

Emotional Dictator

If my heart could talk, it would complain of a brutal dictatorship. 

Connie on Ko-fi

[3-panel sketchbook comic without panel borders. Shows sullen girl with a braid, arms crossed, her back to a forlorn-looking red heart that is locked in a birdcage. In panel 2, she turns to the caged heart and scolds, "Don't even think of coming out until you're ready to behave." Text reads: "My creativity is closely tied to my emotions...When I can't express myself openly, it blocks my ability to draw and write." In panel 3, Elephant comments, "That's not very nice to your heart," to which Heart echoes, "Yeah." Girl says dramatically, "HEY! This is really cutting into my productivity!" There's a flashing arrow pointed right at her that says "TYRANT."]

Room For Milk

May all your needs be acknowledged :)

Thanks for reading. 

[4-panel comic strip of a girl with a braid, ordering coffee. Panel 1 text reads "Current level of single desperation." In panel 2, she orders coffee from a bearded barista, with the caption "Imagining a future with anyone who acknowledges my needs in any way..." In panel 3, the barista asks, "Would you like room for milk?" In panel 4, there's a beat, as he waits, right before she responds with "marry me."]

Draw Anything (Tinyview #24)

Some days are extra hard and this is all you can do. It's something. 

Creative Notes #24 from my webcomic series on Tinyview. #25 is live on the app this week.

Thanks for liking and following - it helps! https://tinyview.com/connie

[6-panel comic about having a hard time finding the motivation to draw. In panel 1, a girl with a bun stares at a blank piece of paper taped to a wall. In panel 2, she doodles on the wall, everywhere but on the paper itself. Panel 3 shows white clouds. Panel 4 shows the girl sitting on a white cloud with a blank expression on her face. In panel 5, she's staring at a blank piece of paper again, with some empty thought clouds behind her. The final panel shows her drawing a "single dot of emotion". Text reads: "Sometimes the only way through a creative block is to go around it, to doodle in the margins and go somewhere wordless that can't be expressed verbally. Just draw anything and start there."]

Happy Homebody Halloween

You can be as creepy as you want to be. Who's sheet masking with me?

Connie on Ko-fi

[Single-panel illustration of a girl with a bun, wearing a sheet mask and gripping a paring knife and apple, looking creepy as all hell. Text reads "Happy Homebody Halloween."]

Elephant Gives A Hug

Elephants mean well. 

Hope everyone gets all the hugs they need. Thanks for reading. 

[3-panel comic of a girl with a braid, remarking that she "needs a hug." In panel 1, elephant looks on. In panel 2, elephant calmly shuffles closer, back first. Panel 3, elephant backs right into her with a "PLOP!" and asks, "How's that?" as her eyes bulge under the weight of an elephant hug.]

Emotional Block (Tinyview #23)

This is comic #23 from my weekly series on the Tinyview comics app. 

#24 is live on the app today: https://social.tinyview.com/5SnhNVR7Gkb 

Read new episodes every Wednesday. It helps me out if you follow and like on the app.

Thanks for all your support. 

[4-panel comic of a girl with a bun, experiencing "emotional block." In panel 1, she assumes "the drawing position," seated with cup of tea and a sketchbook open to blank pages. Frustrated in panel 2, text reads, "Ugh. Can't feel. Can't draw. I'm blocked." Panel 3 shows signage that reads "road closed," "do not enter," and "detour." "No feelings beyond this point!" Panel 4 shows girl at her desk, sketchbook closed, discouraged. Text reads: "Sometimes I don't have creative block as much as I have emotional block."]

Not A Better Person

Grieving is a hard process to go through and the experience is different for everyone. I'm learning that it doesn't make me a better person, but I should probably forgive myself for that. Still going through it. 

Thanks for reading.

[4-panel comic of a girl with a braid, experiencing unexpected symptoms of grief. First, that "patience is thin." In panel 2, "compassion is low" and she twitches in irritation. In panel 3, "willpower is GONE" and she is inhaling cookies and snacks like a crazed muppet. Panel 4 zooms out and girl is shown talking to a neutral elephant, back to her, but head turned. Speech bubble reads: "I'm disappointed to learn that I'm not a better, kinder person in grief." The elephant responds, "I forgive you...but maybe let's practice some social distancing for a bit."]

Central Park Double Rainbow

Double rainbows really ARE amazing to see. 

I was running in the park yesterday when I looked up and saw it, just as I was passing the fountain. It only lasted a few more minutes before it faded into the clouds. I didn't have my phone on me, so I had to try to draw it. 

Blessings abound. Thanks for reading. 

[4-panel full-color wordless comic of a girl with a braid jogging in Central Park, as it's starting to rain. Next panel in sequence, she is shown hunched with a scowl as the rain falls. Another beat and she looks upward again with surprise. Final panel splash, she has come to a halt in front of the Bethesda Fountain, at sundown,  sky lit up in golden hues and the arc of a double rainbow brushed across the last sunlight coming through the clouds.]

--

Update: This is a new version of the comic! I learned from my friend, cartoonist and author Brian Fies, that I got the rainbows backwards on my first try. (I drew them as identical rainbows.) The colors of the outer rainbow are a mirror of the inner rainbow because sunlight makes one more reflection inside the drop of rain, which is also why the outer rainbow is lighter, since light loses intensity with every reflection. Grateful to Brian for the correction! Here is the updated drawing:

October in New York

Sorry I haven't been posting new comics. Someone important to me died and it has left a hole in my heart. Taking time to grieve and remember. 

Thanks for reading. 

Additional note: A friend of mine just commented, saying that cardinals have some symbolism, which I didn't know when I drew this. I had just seen one and put it in the comic. I just googled cardinal symbolism and found this: "They say the vibrant red bird is an uplifting, happy sign that those we have lost will live forever, so long as we keep their memory alive in our hearts. As cardinals sing their pleasant song, people may recall cherished memories of better times. The beautiful birds are a reminder that  loved ones will never truly be forgotten."

[4-panel diary comic of a girl with a bun leaning against a tree, grieving the loss of a friend. "I lost a dear friend...and it hurts a lot." Panel 2 is a rough sketch of a Central Park path under a crescent moon with a cityscape in the background, drawn from memory. Text reads: "Time is so short." Panel 2 shows a cardinal bird sitting on a branch. Text reads: "Let me love and cherish every moment." Panel 4 zooms back in to the girl leaning against a tree: "It's all that matters."]

Long Live Artists

Trying to be kinder and gentler to myself, as a cartoonist who wants to keep making comics.

This is episode 20 of my weekly webcomic series about the creative process! 

Check out → tinyview.com/connie for new comics every Wednesday on the Tinyview app.

Thanks for following / liking / sharing on Tinyview — all of it helps keep the lights on and food on the table. 

Squid Game Nightmare

If you haven't heard of it, "Squid Game" is a new Korean survival drama that has become a mega hit on Netflix worldwide. 

It looks so good that I had an elaborate nightmare just from seeing the previews. 

I can usually lucid dream my way out of intense nightmares, but I couldn't escape this one! Anybody else??

Thanks for reading. Connie on Ko-fi

[4-panel comic of a girl recounting a nightmare she had after watching a preview of a survival k-drama. Panel 1 shows her sprawled on a bed. Caption reads: "I had a nightmare I couldn't wake up from this morning." Panels 2 and 3 show a character crouched tightly in fear and then running from imminent danger. Text: "It felt like being trapped in a psycho-thriller movie. Danger everywhere and every escape attempt foiled by an unseen force." Last panel cuts to present with a caption that reads: "This is why I can't watch 'Squid Game.'" Elephant appears and says sternly, "Don't...do it" while girl coos at a laptop screen, "Oooh, but it looks so good."]

Sketchbook: Morning Cup of YOLO

Okay, okay, I'm up :)

Also, work is now my YOLO, so it's all good :)

Thanks for the support on Ko-fi, it means a lot.

[Single-panel comic of a girl with a brain and a hot cup of tea, in a sweater, fluffy slippers, looking not quite woken up. Text caption pointing at mug: "Morning cup of YOLO." Thought bubbles: "Wake up" and "Get to work." Heading: "ADULTHOOD."]

Very Natural Pep

I don't half-ass anything (though results may vary).

Have a good weekend and thanks for reading. Connie on Ko-fi

[2-panel comic of a girl with a braid, pondering: "What if I tried to be a peppier person??" In panel 2, she holds up a small mirror and shouts at it emphatically. "Hey!" "DON'T BE SAD!!" "YOLO, amirite?!!" Comic titled: "Very Natural Pep"]

Life Goals Plus Depression

Life is full of jokes that write themselves. 

Happy mid-week. Connie on Ko-fi

[Two-panel comic of a short girl with a bun, shackled to a ball-and-chain weight around her ankle. Panel 1 caption reads: "So hard to chase life goals with depression..." In panel 2, she has a carrot dangling in front of her and is strenuously dragging the weight along. Text reads: "And yet -- life goals are also what keep me going."]

Mooncake Holiday Rituals

Wishing everyone a happy Mid-Autumn Festival, a season of plenty and gathering together. 

For the lonely and struggling, may you feel seen and loved. Have some mooncake. This is an unnecessarily long pandemic, but I hope there are clarifying moments of grace for everyone. 

Thanks for reading. Connie on Ko-fi

[5-panel comic about Mid-Autumn Festival and mooncake rituals]

Panel 1, full color, shows a lonely girl, wearing a mask, looking at a bright moon over a Central Park cityscape. Text reads: "It's almost Mid-Autumn Festival, a major lunar holiday, celebrated in parts of Asia to mark the harvest season, a time of plenty before the winter months."

Panel 2 is a flashback in grayscale, in which there are two figures comically fighting over gift-giving in the form of boxed mooncakes. Text: I used to think the competitive gift-giving rituals of mooncake exchange were over-the-top..."

Panel 3, text continued, "...but the older I get, the more I miss the shenanigans of having people to share mooncakes with." Shows a solitary figure, standing next to a tree, in an empty park, in full color. 

Panel 4 is another grayscale flashback of people eating wedges of mooncake and drinking tea at a holiday gathering. Text: "This has been harder to come by in pandemic times."

Panel 5 mirrors the first full-color panel of the lonely girl, present day, looking at the moon over a city backdrop. Final panel text reads: "At least there's still the moon."

Single Introvert Energy

I wish I had more social energy to spend. Even when I feel lonely, there's a limited supply.

Hope everyone gets a chance to recharge over the weekend. 

Thanks for reading and supporting

[3-panel comic about recharging introvert energy. Panel 1 shows a zombie-eyed girl with a bun and a low battery icon hovering over her, thinking "uh-oh." Panel 2 has her hunched over, yet walking with purpose: "Must hurry." In panel 3, she is lying on her side, plugged awkwardly into an electrical outlet. Thought bubble: "You know...I bet this is why I'm single."]

Friend Therapy

I've been struggling with some lows lately and my good friend, Waj, a busy dad of three, gave me a single-text therapy session, which inspired today's comic.

Everybody I know is very, very tired. I think we can acknowledge that things are still not easy. 

Take extra care and thanks for reading. Connie on Ko-fi

[3-panel comic of a tired, sad girl with a bun, curled on a couch, phone in hand. Panel 1 text reads, "Me to friend: ugh...I don't know what's wrong with me :(" Panel 2 text shows an "immediate response." Girl sits up, looks at her phone: "pandemic + nyc + single = no joke". Girl sits upright in panel 3 and says, "That is SURPRISINGLY validating." Comic titled "Friend Therapy."]

Extremely Sensitive Person

I should make this my dating profile ;)

Loosely drawn idea, straight from my sketchbook. I've been playing around with how quickly I can express an idea, without being too fussy about details. 

Thanks for following the journey! Connie on Ko-fi

[Two-panel comic of a cartoon girl with a scribbly bun, reflecting on her personality type. In panel 1, she says, "Somehow I manage to be...extremely sensitive...and very clueless at the exact same time." Panel two, beat: "I don't know how I do it either."] 

Crying Is A Natural Painkiller

This week, I learned that the tears we cry have a different chemical make-up. (For example, onion tears are different from sad tears.) They also look different under a microscope, depending on why we cried them (i.e., tears of laughter are distinct from tears of grief). 

The biggest news to me is that tears can be natural painkillers. I used to not cry much; now, I cry more and I think this is better. Our bodies are kind of amazing. 

Thanks for reading

[Two-panel comic of a girl with a braid looking at her phone, saying that she "just learned that...when we cry emotional tears, they contain a neurotransmitter that can act as a natural painkiller." In panel 2, she walks off with some pep in her step, turning to tell a lounging elephant, "Well, then! I'd say that's reason enough for me to keep watching k-dramas!" Elephant thought bubble reads: "Oh dear..."]

Sketchbook: Pandemic Lonely Days

Slice of life diary comic from my sketchbook. 

Bless all the dogs in New York City that notice I exist :)

Thanks for reading

[Single-panel illustration of a girl with a bun walking passed a dog on a leash in Central Park, who acknowledges her with a "woof." She responds with a "hullo." Caption reads, "These days, nobody notices I exist, except for the occasional, extroverted dog, in passing." Titled: "Pandemic Lonely Days"]

Mental Mordor

This is what it's like in my head, but don't worry, I'm working it out in therapy :)

Thanks for reading and supporting.

[3-panel comic in which a girl with a bun explains, "If you knew me in real life...I might not appear depressed you." In panel 2, she goes on to say, "I smile often and try to be cheerful around other people...and I can get a lot done." She is smiling but tired expression on her face. In panel 3, she is super upbeat and more animated, against a dramatically rendered background, depicting an uninhabitable, high fantasy hellscape, with a volcano erupting and dark stormy clouds swirling. Speech bubble: "- but inside my brain, it's like 'Mordor' from Lord of the Rings." Comic titled "Mental Mordor."]

Dateable Universe

For my fellow singles, happy Friday. Thanks for reading :)

Connie on Ko-fi

[Two-panel comic of a girl with a braid, musing wide-eyed, "I wonder...if there's one corner of the known universe...where I would be considered dateable??" Panel two shows girl walking off the comic with a deadpan expression: "-- because it sure isn't New York." Girl is followed by Elephant who asks conversationally, "So what k-drama are we watching tonight?"]

Hello, Climate Change...

No jokes today. I'm just noting what's happening around me -- it's bigger than we are. Bigger storms, longer fire seasons, and shrinking human rights.

Thanks for reading along.

[3-panel comic of a girl with a bun reading the news on her phone. Panel 1 shows her slightly stunned expression at being swept away in a deluge of torrential rain. Panel shows her dismayed at the news with an image of justice scales that are off-balance. Text reads: "Hello, climate change...goodbye, reproductive rights." An elephant appears in the final panel with a question mark. The girl turns her head, explains that it's "just today's headlines."] 

Relatable Penguin

What's more relatable than a lonely arctic penguin on a small raft of melting ice? Penguins pair-bond for life, unless you're me. 

Just-for-fun comic for the middle of the week. 

Thanks for reading

[Two-panel comic showing a solitary emperor penguin standing on melting ice. Panel 1 caption says, "Lonely penguin just wants to pair-bond." Panel 2 shows a girl with a braid in the same posture as the penguin, also standing forlorn on a piece of ice. Thought bubble reads: "Ugh, too relatable."]

My Body Doesn't Lie, But Sometimes It's A Jerk

Every now and then, my body reminds me that I need to deal with emotional aches and pains. 

I did some yoga stretch-ies and journaling. Thankfully, feeling some relief today.

Take good care and thanks for reading. 

[3-panel comic of a girl with a bun, drawing at a desk. Text reads: "When I feel anxious and I don't know what to do about it, I tend to just keep working." In panel 2, she arches her back in pain and says "owie." Text reads: "But then, my body will remind me that I'm not dealing with my emotions." Panel 3, she walks off, holding her aching back, scowling: "As usual, my body is a real jerk." Titled "My body doesn't life, but sometimes it's a jerk."]

Musical Pick-Me-Up

How it's going, late summer edition:

Have a great weekend and thanks for reading.

[Two-panel comic of a girl with a braid and pink headphones on, dancing awkwardly to music. Panel 1 text: "Me, listening to peppy pop music to cheer myself up and keep from sinking into depresh mode." Panel 2 shows her still dancing with a determined look on her face, between a work desk and chair. Text reads, "Also me: getting in daily steps without ever leaving my desk."]

Potential Wisdom

If only we had more wisdom...

Thanks for reading and supporting.

[3-panel of a girl with a messy bun, lamenting about the state of humanity: "We had sooo much potential..." Panel 2: "Oopsie! Not enough wisdom." Panel 3 shows the same girl, smaller, panned out, with an arrow pointed at her head: "Specimen of idiot."]

Nobody's Looking

Weekend recap: My floors are clean. 

Drew this for fun over a rainy Sunday, though posting late. 

Might as well dance to k-drama OSTs, as long as nobody's watching :)

Thanks for reading and supporting.

[Two-panel slice-of-life comic of an introverted girl with a braid, at home, staring out the window overlooking a cityscape and heavy rain clouds, captioned "Rainy day, what to do?" Panel 2, girl dancing to music in underwear with a Swiffer mop and with Elephant also getting down. Captioned, "Well, as long as nobody's looking."]

K-dramas Love Me

My mood every Friday ;)

Take care of yourselves this weekend.

Thanks for reading and supporting.

[Two-panel comic of a girl with a bun, sobbing dramatically in panel one: "Nobody loves me!!" Cut-to girl, sitting in front of a laptop, a bit frayed but sedate. She thinks to herself, "K-dramas love me."]

Forgot How My Face Works

This is not a joke, it's straight up reality.

Thanks for reading and supporting.

[Two-panel comic with panel 1 showing a simple drawing of a girl with a braid, holding a face mask in one hand with a flat, neutral expression on her face, with the instructions to "smile" in quotes. Panel two, labeled "me," is an identical image with no change, except that her mouth is in a painful grimace. Comic is titled, "Forgot how my face works."]

Hugs For Introverts

We should not skimp on hugs in difficult, lonely times. (But of course, be safe and all.) 

Connie on Ko-fi

[4-panel comic of a girl with a braid, musing that she has a hard time with dating apps, but if there were such a thing as "hugging apps," she'd...consider it.]

Sketchbook: "This Is Not Saigon"

Maybe not the same, but it's too familiar. (See @pivotorg's statement, h/t Tea Buoy: https://www.instagram.com/p/CSm9ffGBHth/)

"This is not Saigon." The words kept playing in my head, spoken by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the long war in Afghanistan, amidst the Taliban's blazingly swift takeover of the country over the weekend.

[Loose sketchbook drawing of U.S. forces urgently evacuating refugees from Afghanistan, referencing an AP photo by Rahmat Gul with Secretary Blinken's recent statement "This is not Saigon." Panel two: a cartoon depiction of surrealist René Magritte's iconic 1929 painting of a realistic pipe, captioned "This is not a pipe."]

Hold Me

Slowly processing what's happening on a global scale. 

Take extra care of yourselves in turbulent times. It's bigger than we are.

As always, thanks for reading.

[Two-panel comic containing a simple drawing of a girl with a bun with an image of the world in the background, in some turbulence. She says, "I want to be comforted and reassured." In panel two, the world is smoking and burning. With increased urgency, but no change in girl's expression: "Quick, somebody hold me."]

Heatwave Dress Code

I don't have any zoom meetings today ;)

Have a restful weekend and stay cool if you are in the heatwave too. 

Thanks for reading. 

[Two-panel comic about when you live alone and work from home in a heatwave. Girl with a bun sweating over a desk complains that "It's too hot to focus" and that she's melting like an ice cube. Cuts to: Girl stands akimbo, arms out, in only underwear. She institutes a new dress code and declares: "I am the boss of me."]

Therapy Update

It has been a year since I started therapy. It was the hardest, best thing I've ever done for myself.

If you think you might benefit from talking to somebody, I used Betterhelp and, after a couple tries, I found a therapist who I work well with and I recommend it. Talking to someone once a week has helped me more than I imagined it would.

Stay well and thanks for following the journey. 

[Two-panel comic showing a cartoon girl with a braid, holding a ball-sized heart in her arms, talking about starting therapy a year ago. Heart tells her to "put me down." In the second panel, Elephant pats girl on the head and says, "I'm proud of you." Girl and Heart stand side by side and Heart responds, "Thx."]