Why Say Cheese?

Computer animation by Joe Chiappetta 2009 in GIMP, Adobe Illustrator and Flash programs.

Posing for a Chiappetta family portrait, the baby thinks to her self, "Say cheese?" Why? Are you going to give me some?"

Silly Daddy Has a Nose for Communication

Comic image is a 4.5" x 4" ink pen and marker drawing on 8.5" x 11" paper by Joe Chiappetta 2008.

One night I gently grabbed my wife's cute nose, started squeezing it and said, "Beep beep!"

"What are you doing?" she asked me with alarm.

I said, "I'm using new forms of communication to spice up our marriage. Beeeep."

"But I don't speak droid language!" replied my wife.

Free Lunch

Ink pens and markers on 4.5" x 3.5" paper by Joe Chiappetta 2008

Silly Sister, AKA Lisa Fellis, enters the Chiappetta home with a basketful of dirty laundry and says to Denise, "Thanks for letting me come over to use your washing machine."

Denise replies, "Sure sis." Then Denise turns to her husband and says, "Hey Joe, do you need me to make you a lunch for work tomorrow?"

Her husband replies, "Yeah, thanks."

"Oh, me too," adds Silly Sister.

Swimming Alone Is Not Recommended

Ink pens and markers on 4.5" x 3.5" paper by Joe Chiappetta 2008, colored by Denise Chiappetta

A woman leaving an indoor pool after a swim workout notices the sign that warns, "Swimming Alone Is Not Recommended."

She thinks to herself, "I agree with that. But the sequel, 'Swimming Alone part 2,' was pretty awesome."

Obviously, this comic came to me during one of my weekly training sessions at the Lakeshore Athletic Club swimming pool in Chicago. I was doing ten laps about three days a week as part of my rehabilitation from a back injury.

Hurricane Slice of Life

My sister-in-law Marty gave the following eyewitness survivor's account of an intense time for them when their first child was only a toddler.

"When the first hurricane hit Florida, Nino propped our mattresses upright against the walls in our hallway, and we all slept in between them on the carpet."

My brother Nino added, "That was my big safety idea."

Digital drawing on computer, edited in Adobe Illustrator by Joe Chiappetta 2008. I actually started this comic in 2005 but recently revised it.

Whiny the Foo

"Life is not fair," says Whiny the Foo as he tries unsuccessfully to wiggle out of a hole in a cave. "I don't want to go on a diet. That's not fun. I'm hungry."

Any resemblance to you, Winnie the Pooh or the Incredible Hulk is purely coincidental. However, if you can only read one Disney spoof of Winnie the Pooh, it must be this comic! I originally drew this as a toy design, the idea being that the silly old bear would get stuck in the cave but then pop out on a timer after winding up Pooh's leg as if he were exercising. But then I turned it into a comic. Sorry, toy lovers. You won't be seeing this in your next McDonald's Happy Meal.

Digital comic on computer in GIMP program and Adobe Illustrator by Joe Chiappetta 2008

Unsolved Mysteries of Fine Dining

Ink pens and markers on 10" x 8.5" paper by Joe Chiappetta 2008

While on a date in Chicago near a very European looking restaurant with a shady looking guy standing by the front door, I said to my wife, "Let's go to this restaurant."

Denise replied, "We can't go there. Looks like the Mafia runs the place."

"So what," I responded. "Our money is still good here."

As we approached the front door, the shady man said nothing and before we had a chance to pull the giant strand of rope that opened the front door, another man popped his head out the door and said firmly in an accent, "Sorry, we are closed."

I quickly countered, "But the sign says you're open."

As the inside man ignored us, I turned to the shady man outside, hoping for understanding and asked, "Do you know why they won't let us in?"

With a European accent, the shady man replied, "I don't know. I'm just a guy."

The mystery of the European restaurant remained unsolved, so we went and ate at Ihop that night. Later a friend who lives in the area told us that the Mafia did not run that restaurant (but how would they know for sure). All the more reason for me to go back someday and pull the giant rope that rings the bell. But maybe we won't go back there. I don't know. I'm just a guy.

Tummy Ache

Ink pens and markers on 4.5" x 3.5" paper by Joe Chiappetta 2008

"My tummy ache hurts."

That's what my baby daughter says instead of "My stomach hurts," or "I have a stomach ache." The first couple times she said it I paid little attention to her uniquely cute use of wording, since it is always heart-wrenching to see your child in pain.

Why I Squeeze a Plastic Ball

Ink pens and markers on 4.5" x 3.5" paper by Joe Chiappetta 2008

Noticing that a plastic toy ball was deliberately between my knees as I stood washing dishes, Silly Sister said to me, "That's random."

I attempted to explain by saying, "My personal trainer said to squeeze a ball between my legs. That activates unused front muscles, forcing my back to relax. It's a neurological issue with my back muscles. They don't know when to turn off."

"So you're like a broken robot," replied Silly Sister.

Special thanks go to Lisa Fellis for actually having the nerve to call me a "broken robot" to my face.
Fellow back pain suffering folks will be relieved and amazed to know that months after this incident, I have become completely healed of back pain which had plagued me for most of my adult life. How I came to be healed is a long story that I do hope to write down some day, but until then, know that the two most instrumental elements in the healing process were the following:
1) Being active in a true discipling movement of Jesus Christ. That term is used so loosely that I am pretty sure you won't fully see or believe what I mean unless I sit down and explain it to you. Perhaps some day I can.
2) Reading and applying the principles in my book: The Back Pain Avenger.

Silly Daddy Goes to a Marriage Class on Communication

Ink pens on 4.5" x 3.5" paper by Joe Chiappetta 2008

"That was a great marriage class on communication," said my wife as we cozily walked out of the class with much to think about.

Eager to put my learning into practice, I poked my wife gently in the face.

"Hey," she responds, "what are you doing?"

"I'm communicating with you," I said naturally.

My wife replied, "I don't think communicating like a mime counts!"

I try. But I try. This true story took place after a truly great class on marriage communication by Jay and Barb Shelbrack in Chicago. Click here to listen to the class: http://www.chicagoicc.org/2008/12/marriage-class-part-3-communication-in-marriage/

Full Belly Girl

Ink pens and markers on 4.5" x 3.5" paper by Joe Chiappetta 2008, colored by Denise Chiappetta

After dinner in front of her empty plate I said to my daughter, "Your belly looks full. Did you eat a lot?"

"Yes, I'm full of it," she replied in all seriousness.

Elephants in the Streets

Ink pens and markers on 8.5" x 5.5" paper by Joe Chiappetta 2008, colored by Denise Chiappetta

Elephants were chasing us but we escaped into a secret tunnel and came out in downtown Chicago. That was my favorite dream.

My son actually had such a dream and I tired to draw it. He is eager to point out that it is not his favorite dream. It's my favorite dream of his.

Civil War at the Civil War Reenactment

Ink pens and markers on 4.5" x 3.5" paper by Joe Chiappetta 2008, colored by Denise Chiappetta

At the most amazing Civil War reenactment that I have ever seen, my baby daughter tugs on my arm and says, "This is boring. Let's go."

That was our big family civil war at the Civil War reenactment.

For the record, this reenactment was at Dollinger Farms in Ilinois.