Over in the Sheldon Forums, Tovias left one of the nicest posts ever. Here’s his post:

I just want to thank Dave for having the contest. I got up early Monday morning (even though it was a day off) and saw the blog post and immediately started through the archives. Pretty soon I had forgotten the contest and was enjoying reading the comics. A little later my daughter woke up and joined me. We started reading the strips out loud. She would read the Arthur parts and I would read Gramp and Sheldon. Then my son came down and started reading the Sheldon parts. It turned out to be one of my best mornings with the kids and everyone had a blast.

A few readers have forwarded this to me over the past few months, so I should probably share it with you all.

Ladies and gentlemen: The Pug Monitor Cleaner

I just noticed that my buddy Greg has passed the 8-year mark with his comic “Real Life”. If you’re not familiar with the strip, here’s a recent favorite of mine.

If you’ve ever listened to three dance songs or dance remixes in a row…you’ll know exactly what Greg’s talking about.

Ran across this quote again, recently, and thought I’d share it…as it’s an ol’ favorite.

“It takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan.”

– Eleanor Roosevelt

Have you ever read this strip from the Sheldon archives?

Sheldonista Nolan B. did, and he sent me this e-mail afterward:

Hey Dave! My name is Nolan and I’m a big fan. I was looking through your archives and I noticed that Grandpa spent $1,300 on a Microwave in 1979. Check out the information I got from measuringworth.com: In 2002, $1,300.00 from 1973 is worth: $5,261.42 using the Consumer Price Index, $4,252.76 using the GDP deflator, $5,559.30 using the value of consumer bundle, $5,110.79 using the unskilled wage, $7,232.43 using the nominal GDP per capita, $9,843.41 using the relative share of GDP. [He spent] four to ten thousand dollars on a microwave!

Thing better have a rack…

Just for fun, we’re going to have a little contest all this week: a scavenger hunt! Somewhere in the Sheldon archives, I’ve hidden this image…

The first person to find it will get a free, personalized drawing of any Sheldon character(s) they want!

Here’s how to play:

1.) Search the Sheldon archives to find the red square, seen above. The square will be located inside an actual strip. Specifically, in one of the daily, black-and-white, Monday-Saturday strips.

2.) Once you’ve found it, drop me a line to tell me the date of the mystery strip!

3.) IMPORTANT! Don’t say or share the date publicly in the forum…just e-mail me. I want to keep it fun for everyone else who hasn’t found it yet.

4.) I’ll announce the winner on or just after Monday, Nov. 19th. And of course, I’ll be sure to show a picture of their prize illustration shortly after that!

THE PRIZE: Will be a one-foot-by-one-foot illusration, drawn on acid-free Bristol vellum paper, using archival, lightfast inks. You can be assured it’s gonna be rad, and will be well worth the effort. (And remember: you’ll get to pick the characters and text you want in your drawing!)

Ladies and gentlemen…start your engines! And remember, half the fun here is re-reading some of your favorites!

In light of this past favorite strip on 3rd-Stage Halloween Candy, San Diego Sheldonista Rodel A. sent me this shot of he and a friend loadin’ up. They were sad to report that the 1st-Stage Christmas Candy was not yet available.

Sheldonista Meredith F. sent in a funny observation about this strip.

“So, I was at my professor’s studio yesterday for a presentation. As we were wandering around the different studios, I noticed a box of Krispy Kremes sitting out. Of course, I started laughing and asked Mr. Behle if he knew where they came from. Apparently, the painter who works in that studio space eats donuts when he is frustrated. I told him about your comic. Now he’s addicted, too!”

Thanks, Meredith — it’s awesome to see the “Krispy Kreme” option is a viable one!

In light of Sheldon’s Halloween costume choice, Sheldonista Brad F. sent in an awesome link. Make sure you watch the video on the link.

Also, may I offer a quick follow-up thought on this? The kind of follow-up thought that no one ever considers when they see a link like this:

On October 31st, you debut your weeks-long Jabba creation to universal acclaim, lots of photos, and plenty of back patting.

On November 1st, you’re standing by yourself, and left wondering where the heck to store the dang thing.

Total reversal of emotions.

Example A: Sheldon

Example B: The Real World

Special thanks to Aussie Sheldonista Sam F. for sendin’ that in!

——

Completely unrelated note about Australia: Lately, my wife and I have started using Australian sport chants around the house. For no particular reason, when we’re both reading quietly, for example, I’ll suddenly go “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie!” and she’ll go “Oi, oi, oi!”

WHY ARE TWO AMERICANS DOING THIS? ARE WE WEIRD?