11/3/2001:

This strip was conceived in a victorious spirit. A spirit which now skulks in the corner of my brain, vowing not to come out until it's all clear. And I don't think it will be clear in my head for a while. Those of you who I talk to regularly (and whine to) probably can tell that I'm not the usual happy Kip of say a month ago.

But anyway, to this strip: it's a testament to the "damn the torpedoes" strategy of finding women. Women like confidence, right? Right? See, the confident man wouldn't even bother to question. "Damn the torpedoes" hasn't ever gotten me into actual trouble, but I think I could save myself a lot of heartbreak if I'd actually pay attention to a few of those torpedoes, perhaps altering my course slightly, or perhaps scouting the path more closely. I see trouble as occurring between people. And I know that my dull shooting pain is only really in my head and I'm not causing anyone any grief. So I think it's OK to feel this way.

I mean, I wish I didn't.

I don't know if I'm going to write more strips along this storyline since it's still a bit raw and new. I think I need to nurse these hurt feelings of the past few days until they coalesce into a shining bright hard diamond that I will place along with the others in my memory.

Other fish in the sea, right? Sure. They're right there. Past the torpedoes.

-kip

Wow, that was depressing. I'm reminded of this girl I met while doing ComedySportz in high school. She wore this one shirt frequently which told onlookers to "taste a drop of [her] unhappiness." Alyson and I used to mock her, for other reasons... and I still sorta chuckle when I think about that T shirt.

In the interest of not bumming people out too much: here's a happy song : The Beautiful South with the live version of Sail This Ship Alone.

If, if you choose that we will always lose, well then I'll sail this ship alone
And if, if you decide to give him another try, well then I'll sail this ship alone
Well they said if I wrote the perfect love song, that you would take me back
Well I wrote it, but I lost it, and now will you take me back anyway now?
If, if you insist that this is for the best, well then I'll sail this ship alone
And if, if you swear that you no longer care, well then I'll sail this ship alone
I'll sail this ship alone, between the, the pain and the pleasure
I'll sail this ship alone, amongst the, the sharks and the treasure
If you would rather go your way, then go your way
I'll sail this ship alone
If, if you're afraid that I won't make the grade, well then I'll sail this ship alone
And if, if you agree to him instead of me, well then I'll sail this ship alone
Well they said if I wrote the perfect letter, that I would have a chance
Well I wrote it, and you burned it, and now I do I have a chance anyway now?
If, if you swear that you no longer care, well then I'll sail this ship alone
I'll sail this ship alone, between the, the pain and the pleasure
I'll sail this ship alone, amongst the, the sharks and the treasure
If you would rather go your way, then go your way
I'll sail this ship alone, alone, alone, alone
Well they said if I burned myself alive, that you'd come running back...

Oh, you thought it'd be happy? Sorry. I lied.

-kip