Leap of Faith #5: Let's Get Comical
Friday, February 29, 2008 
I hope you’ve enjoyed this month’s Leap of Faith Friday posts. I had a ton of fun sharing them with you all. Before I leap for the 5th and final time, I want to thank two of the coolest gals in Blogville, Christine at Chicken Fried Therapy and Piper at Bliss in Bloom. Christine was the mastermind behind the Leap, and without her urging, I never would have posted video of me losing a fight, and definitely not one of me singing. As some of you may have seen from her comment, my own mother didn’t even know that I like to strum ‘n sing. It was also the first time d Wife saw me doing both at once in any coherent manner. And Piper? Piper has been on Team BD since day 1. I honestly think half my traffic is generated from Piper pimpin’ me across the ‘net. You rock, Piper! Piper and I were the first Leapers with Christine and what a month of leaps it has been. Be sure to check out all of their past leaps – especially last week’s podcasts. It’s really cool to finally hear their voices after only knowing them through the written word for so long. Their personalities really shine through.
One last running leap...
See these kids? The funny looking one in the window? That’s me. Circa 1982. The bowl-cut tot in the yard is my friend Jeff. This picture is one of the last times we ever met in person. He’s the son of my mom’s best friend from elementary school. Before Jeff was even born, his family moved from Massachusetts to Michigan. Occasional visits were the only time Jeff and I ever crossed paths.
Fast forward to 2005. Fury was 3 years old and cracking me up daily. The best anecdotes made their way via email to various family members. One particular incident amused us so much that it somehow forwarded its way to Jeff. At the time, he was dabbling in cartooning and thought it would be amusing to put this incident into comic strip form. He sent this to my mom:
Do you mind hitting the FF button one more time? Sorry.
Fall 2007. I had just launched The Busy Dad Blog and had maybe published 5 or 6 posts. Jeff had cultivated his love of cartooning into a career aspiration and was looking for inspiration. He found my blog and emailed me. We communicated back and forth and an idea was born: a comic strip based upon my real-life adventures in parenting. He put it best – “hey, at worst, you’ll have a bunch of comics starring your son.” How could I say no to that?
We began work in earnest (well, he did. I just kept blogging away) and just last week, we had our first proposal ready to go for BusyDad Tales, the “reality comic” based upon my adventures with Fury. Neither of us know “the game” all that well and we’re both taking a leap of faith and learning as we go. We’ve submitted our proposal to a number of syndicates and I put a website together.
We don’t know where this will lead, but it has been a blast. As my last Leap of Faith, I wanted to share the website with you. We have about 30 strips in the hopper already and plan to continue putting them out. I added a few to the website and will add about 2-3 new strips per week. I hope these amuse you and I really hope you’ll be seeing them in some newspaper somewhere someday.
I don’t ever ask for much, but I’m pulling one favor. If you could link this to your blogrolls, Jeff and I would be extremely grateful. I will return the favor on the BusyDad Tales links section as well (even though traffic as of right now is 2: Jeff and Jim, I bet).
To all my readers, lurkers, stalkers and otherwise, thank you so much for all your support. It has made this year incredible!
Have I rambled too long? Yes. Let’s just get to the damn website already:
Reader Comments (42)
Too funny, I love them! Especially the one about adapting to the environment to survive... :)
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[BusyDad] Thanks! I'm living proof of Darwinism.
Excellent. Well done on getting it started and best of luck with the venture.
I'll link to the site in the morning.
Cheers!
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[BusyDad] Thank you Xbox! I'll link you as well, although it won't do you much good yet :)
That is very cool Jim. I'd be happy to add a link before the weekend is out. I'm going to check the site out now. Is there one based on the movie theater incident. I hope so. Peace!
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[BusyDad] Thanks Chuck! Actually we had one based on that. Jeff is reworking it. That was a tough one to capture in 4 panels. But yeah, one of my favorite Fury moments yet!
Ahh...you suck for holding out on us.
Those are great!
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[BusyDad] :) Thanks Maria. I only wanted to give you our best work, that's all.
They're terrific, Jim! I'll totally link to them.
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[BusyDad] Thank you Jen!! Glad you liked it - and thanks for the comment over at BDT too :)
Jim, this is awesome. I really think you are giving everything your all. WAY TO GO!
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[BusyDad] Thank you M! Luckily this stuff is fun :)
Fantastic! I love the strips. Best of luck with that.
Happy hoppin
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[BusyDad] Thank you CableG! I'm gonna be hopping in a little bit. Train hoppin at the moment...
Supercool. I will link ya some linky love on my blog. I wish you and Jeff syndicated success. So Jeff did your header, too? Just curious.
KEEP BELIEVING
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[BusyDad] Thank you Angie! And yes, you guessed it :)
That is incredible! Wow, how cool is that to be memorialized as a cartoon! You truly rock Buzzee Dad!
blog hopping - etcetera
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[BusyDad] It is extremely cool. All props to Jeff for making that happen! About to transform into Buzzee. Just give me a couple minutes.
That's great! Good luck to you!
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[BusyDad] Thank you very much, Damon! May the luck be with me!
*wipes tears from her eyes*
You have no idea how much that means to me, what you said. Thank you BD! I even named you BD, and now the whole world knows you as BD... but listen up, it has NOTHING to do with me! YOU are a superstar! YOU make the blogosphere the place that we all want to be.
You know me, I could go on, idefinately, gushing in pure Piper of Love fashion... but, I'm going to refrain. I'm HONORED to be your friend!!
These leaps of yours blow mine out of the water!! What a phenominal guy you are!! And you are doing such a great job raising another little you. The comics are incredible!! But you BD, you are the bees knees!
Viva la Leap! ~xo
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[BusyDad] No no I must give credit where credit is due :) Let's just say that the Piper of Love lives up to her name. And yes, "BD" was your handiwork!
The comics are fabulous. I see a book collection in the making... The next Calvin and Hobbes, except with two guys that can both actually talk.
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[BusyDad] I'll know we've made it once I see Chevys with stickers of Fury peeing on a Ford logo. And thanks for the props!
Done. Consider yourself doubly stalked.
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[BusyDads] My stalkers. The BEST.
If you make it to ComicCon 2008, I'll be there too!
That is WAAAAY Cool!!
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[BusyDad] OH! I always needed an excuse to go there! Thanks!
Aw, you look too cute in that photo!
Happy Friday! Blog Hoppin'!
~"Margarita Mom"
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[BusyDad] Hey thanks! That's an "awkward years" photo too!
this would have been so awesome of a post....if I didn't have an 80's perm. Oh....my.....God.....Good thing the busydad tales site cheered me up! Even krypto is on there! aaaw.
But really, couldn't you have digitized some improvement my hair? ack!
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[d Bro] Haha now your Little Orphan Annie perm is out on the 'net. You never thought that would happen way back then did you? And yup, Krypto is on the comic, but renamed Bada because Krypto is copyrighted by DC Comics. And also as a tribute to Bada.
I absolutely love the comics! Very cool!
Just further froof taht you are just WAY cooler than me!
Mindi (bloghopping with coffee because I was drinking with flesh-and-blood people last night)
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[BusyDad] Nah, I am simply very lucky that my friend is an extremely talented cartoonist. And my kid is funny. My aura of cool is only because I have cool folks to piggyback on. I'm just the messenger. Ok, I'm a cool messenger.
ummm- that should have been "further proof that"
I actually type better with a buzz than I do with a hangover.
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[BusyDad] I hear ya. I do everything better with a buzz. Except "being sober"
Way cool that you get to do what you love as a career. You're very blessed BD. Thanks for the funny comment on my page. You're aaa'ite! ;)
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[BusyDad] Nothin but a hobby yet. But wow, how cool would that be!!!
I always like reading the blog, the comic will be an added bonus. Its Calvin and Hobbs 'esque. And who don't love Calvin and Hobbs. Good Luck with it but I don't think you will need it, it will be great.
Oh..consider yourself linked.
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[BusyDad] Thank you! And yes, I do often feel like a stuffed toy. A wise one, but tattered and torn all the same.
Done! The comics look great, and let me just take this moment to thank you for the Blog Hoppin' as well. I'm having a grand time, making new bloggie friends!
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[BusyDad] Thank you April! And I'm glad you're happily hopping. It IS pretty amazing, the friends you can make doing this blogging thing.
It looks great, and is there anything you CAN'T do? Your friend Jeff has a great talent too. What a great team!
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[BusyDad] This is all Jeff. And Fury, of course. I'm just in the right place at the right time.
I'll post a link when I do that type of thing on my blog.
Blog hopping--HP
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[BusyDad] And I thank you in advance, HP!
I love that pic! Congratulations on the new venture. I've added it to my blogroll at Momisodes :) I wish you both success!
I sure will miss your Friday leaps :(
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[BusyDad] Thank you Sandy :) I will miss them too. I had a blast doing them. 5 was actually the right number though. I'm tapped out. I need a couple of "Couch of Sloth" Fridays now.
I'm so excited for you! This is huge!! I really hope you get published. How effing awesome would that be??!!
I've added the link to my blogroll, btw.
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[BusyDad] It would be completely f-in' cool!! But really, having a series of cartoons starring Fury is just beyond cool. Whether it's in the paper or not. Thanks for adding me! I did the same - on both BDB and BDT.
Wow, incredible! As I said in the guestbook, I am so jealous... I've always wanted to cartoon... you are so lucky to be immortalized in this way! Your friend is so talented, and you provide wonderful fodder for some very funny strips. I have added a link on my blog, and can't wait for more cartoons!!!
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[BusyDad] Thank you Maureen! This is going to be totally fun, no matter where it goes. I'm just stoked that I get to share these with folks who know me.
wow - that's Awesome! Your life in cartoons. You've been immmortalized! we missed you at the chatroom.
Senora Patron drinkin' and bloggin' on a Saturday nite (Sunday morning)
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[BusyDad] Thanks dk! I did manage to peek in there late Sat, but everyone was passed out already. Some even had Sharpie moustaches on. Who was behind that prank? hmmmm?
Can't wait for your life in cartoons! Verra verra cool, darlin'....
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[BusyDad] Thankyouverramuch... It's gonna be a blast, and I thank you and all the rest of the BDB readers for this crazy support!
You really are a rock star! I logged on last night, but didn't have the time to do this post justice. Now I have an entire afternoon, and I'm off to check out the site! How fun!
As for adding it to my blogroll...you didn't even need to ask.
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[BusyDad] :) Momo you totally rock. And I told you already, but if I run out of fodder, I'm giving your kid a call!
A link and a post in honor of your new life as a cartoon. The least I can do. Just like you did with Fury, you helped me take off the training wheels. :-)
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[BusyDad] Wow, that was one of the best comments I have ever gotten! Thank you!
How exciting for you both!
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[BusyDad] Very! Especially for Fury who keeps asking me to show him his cartoon. Multiple times a day!
Dude! Too cool! I used to read a cartoon online that some guy wrote about his boy, but he doesn't do it anymore. I'll add a link and subscribe as well. Awesome idea!
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[BusyDad] Thanks Jared! We're totally excited about it. I mean, how can this NOT be fun? I appreciate the support man!
Best of luck! Your link is in place!
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[BusyDad] Woo hoo! Thanks Sadia. I'll update mine too for you :)
Excellent project man! Best wishes on any venture you partake in of course, but this is really solid!
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[BusyDad] Thanks Joe! Crossing my fingers on the syndication thing, but really, if parents can enjoy it through the website, I'll still be stoked.
Absolutely - added to blogroll (and subscribed!!)!
That is such a great story! I always loved your banner and now a whole comics site! Fantastic! Love it, Jim.
My kids (and almost all of their friends) love Calvin & Hobbes. I bet they're going to love this. I'll start by showing them the So Jacked strip (b/c you know they loved that story. Heck, they started reenacting it when I told them about it!). Great choice (to include that interaction)!
I'm so very happy for you and Jeff. Best of luck with it!!
;-)
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[BusyDad] Thanks SB! And I find it utterly hilarious that your kids acted it out. I remember you telling me that. Let me know what the kids think. I've only tested it on Fury and he loves it (obviously - how cool is it to be a cartoon!!).
I havent gone there yet. But I know I am going to love them. You know I'll get my link on.
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[BusyDad] Thank you Miss! Thanks for that leap of faith :)
Love them!! Voice activated bottle opener... HILARIOUS!! I'm totally linking you!
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[BusyDad] That's the amazing thing about Jeff - even if it's a made up anecdote (like this), it's totally something Fury would say. Thanks for the link, Amy!
Gosh, those are great! After all the leaps, you are telling us how talented you are and I'm glad I have the chance to know a talented guy like you.
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[BusyDad] I'm just a little crazy. It makes me do stuff. And sometimes it actually looks like I know what I'm doing. But thanks for the props!
Good for you! You just gotta go for it! I wish you all the best. The Leaps were fun.
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[BusyDad] Thank you Jenna! I'm glad you had fun. I had a blast. And it was nice taking a break from writing stuff about Fury's antics. I needed to let that hopper fill up again. And fill up nice it did :)
Is THIS how you got that awesome new header you started using a while back? I LOVE it!! I'm adding you to my blogging to-do list, and you'll get some link love from me soon.
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[BusyDad] Yup! Jeff made that header when we first started cooking this up. Thanks Deb!!
I LOVE THEM! Seriously, I'm grinning from ear to ear and think that this leap was definitely a smart one.
(By the way... Hey there, BD! Long time, no visit. I'm a bad bloggy friend, I know.)
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[BusyDad] Thank you!! And your visit is big-grin-worthy :D
I know I'm way late -- still catching up from sickies and such...
Anyway -- I will definitely add that link! Those are hysterical!
Good luck and look forward to hearing how the rest goes!
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[BusyDad] Thanks Mimi! I'll add you on the BD Tales site as well. Glad you know you are among the healthy again!