So, I reached the end of the comic book, but I kept reading. Because in the back of the magazine was a way to get a sea monkeys kit. And what blonde-haired, blue-eyed American boy wouldn’t want one of those? What?! You think there’s no such thing as a sea monkeys kit? Well, it was advertised right there in a real life comic book. … The rest of the story…
Category Archives: Tony Funderburk
There I was, a nine year old boy in the attic of a very old country house at the end of a dusty Kansas road. Well, it wasn’t actually the end of the road if you had the right kind of vehicle. The kind that could drive down the rocky incline, through the shallow creek, and up the other side where the dusty road … The rest of the story…
So, this catchy tune popped into my head this morning. And I thought, “Hmm, that might go real nice with some lyrics I wrote a few years ago.” Then, I sat down in my vocal booth and fired up the studio mic. And I hummed along with a salsa beat as pictures of avocado bliss danced in my head. If you never enjoy avocado … The rest of the story…
Let’s climb into my time travel ship and zoom way, way back to 1964. And let’s fly over the hilly countryside of Eastern Kansas. Look way down there. See those two little ants? Wait. Let’s fly down a little lower. Hey, those aren’t ants. It’s two young knuckleheads. Riding bikes down a trail in between a field of corn and a tree-lined creek. But … The rest of the story…
So, I’m sitting at my desk. And I found this in-depth review of my website. Part of it said: Tony Funderburk’s website paints a picture of a man who is: Boldly Convicted: Unapologetic about his Christian beliefs, he uses his platform to proclaim his faith and values. Creatively Versatile: As a writer, musician, and illustrator, he blends media to craft a unique, engaging experience. … The rest of the story…
It all started with a dream. An idea. Just some invisible thoughts in my head. Then, I wrote the thoughts down and they became words that I put into this little white box where you could see them. And that’s when the magic happened I took invisible thoughts out of my head and put them into yours. And you didn’t feel a thing. It … The rest of the story…
There I was, in my grandparents’ living room. It was a hot, Oklahoma summer day. And my Dad and Uncle were putting a weird-looking box through a window. I didn’t know what it was, at the time, because I was only about five years old. But my grandmother sure looked happy about it. I could tell she thought that box was a good thing. … The rest of the story…
I read a blurb that said kids still like to do things kids have done for decades. Like turn a spoon into a spaceship. Or turn a cardboard box into a castle. But now kids do funny things online because…well, because they can. What I read said, “toddlers try to vlog with their parents’ phones. They narrate their snack time like mini influencers.” Where … The rest of the story…
This morning I remembered a mad conversation, between a young couple, I overheard in a burger joint a few years ago. And they were parents of a couple of young kids. I know that because the kids were in the booth with them. So, the sad part is how the kids had to listen. And that’s the sad part because of what those kids … The rest of the story…
“They” used to say, “Man, I’m on such a high right now,” when something made you big-time happy. And some said that when they inhaled certain kinds of smoke. But let’s not go there. The reason I brought it up is to talk about a rainbow high. And the rainbow high comes from an actual rainbow. Not just some bright colors in an arch, … The rest of the story…
This world is getting darker and meaner every day. And there are fewer kids doing wholesome kid stuff with each passing year. But I think you’ll find that the sights and scents of a flower garden can still attract kids almost as much as they attract bees. So, stop what you’re doing and make the most of it. So what if you had an … The rest of the story…
I never met a honey bee I didn’t like. And, maybe it’s just my imagination (because I have a powerful imagination), but I think they like me, too. Because every honey bee I see smiles at me. Now, I gotta tell ya. It takes a special way of squinting your eyes in order to be able to see a honey bee smile. But I’ve … The rest of the story…
X marks the spot where I read what a homeschool mom said about the idea that homeschooled kids don’t get enough social interaction. She said: Homeschooled kids: leave their homes, talk to people, read books, play sports, go to dances, play instruments, debate, create art, work jobs, drive cars, build things, perform science experiments, and grow up to live in the real world. And … The rest of the story…
Where I live it can get pretty windy. In fact, the current Funderburk home town is the fifth windiest city in America. We have an average wind speed of 11.5 mph. And the strongest recorded wind speed is over 101 mph. Wow, that’s a lotta gusto. All that windy talk reminds me of when my dad showed my brother and me how to hook … The rest of the story…
When I was a boy, most parents, across America, actually cared about their kids’ health. And well-being. Yeah, I know it sounds like a fairy tale. But it was true. Most homes had a stay at home mom. And that’s a HUGE advantage over what goes on in America these days. My stay at home mom was better than any superhero. She didn’t just … The rest of the story…
According to research, rhyming books can “help with language development, including phonemic awareness, which is crucial for early reading skills.” And apparently rhyming books “make learning fun which is particularly appealing to young children.” Hmm. I guess that might all be true. But I just write ’em for the funny looks. Yeah, kids get funny looks on their faces with the right rhymes. And … The rest of the story…
Be aware. Be very aware. At all times. And in all places. Especially if you’re a female, a child, or a weakened old person. Because you best believe there are scumbags out there who are aware of who’s not aware. So, once again. Be what? Yeah! Be aware. Years ago I wrote a short story about a young boy who wasn’t the least bit … The rest of the story…
Way back in the 20th century, in a little Kansas town, of barely 1500 people, T-bud enjoyed summertime. In fact, he didn’t just enjoy it, he could barely wait for it every year. Yeah, you’d have a hard time finding anyone in the whole world who loved summertime more than T-bud. Every year he begged his mom, for weeks, to let him go barefoot. … The rest of the story…
There are lots of bad guys (and that includes the female part of “guys” too) out there everyday. You can’t swing a metal jump rope without hittin’ at least one. In fact, I could tell you a story, three stories in fact, that happened one after another on three consecutive nights way back in the 20th century. Well, I’ll just share the short version … The rest of the story…
Maybe you think of “A Christmas Story” when I share the term, BB gun. Or maybe you remember wanting one yourself once upon a time. Hopefully you’re not a scaredy cat who’s triggered (pun definitely intended) by any use of the word gun. Whatever you think of, I’ve got a funny story about a goofy BB gun. Once or twice upon a time Dad … The rest of the story…