That’s “Schur” as in “Schuring” not as in “Diane” (whose last name is spelled “Schuur” and whose vocals are orders of magnitude smoother than this action) and it’s Schuring who’s getting set up for the final shot.
Leonard “Don’t Call Me Vern” Fleming sends a pass past the Tigers’ man-bunned defender to Marcell Irby, who either magically changed jersey numbers from one panel to the next (he’s been #45 every time we’ve seen him this season to date) or was the recipient of a screen from the unnamed #40. Either way the outcome of the game will rest in Chris Schuring’s hands and we’ll hang on this cliff until Monday.
On the odd chance, faithful reader, that you’re not checking this post until the day after I posted it, I’ll leave you this musical tidbit to tie the room together.
I lost track of how many panels we’ve been seeing in the name of (fingers crossed) establishing the plot and this ain’t pretty, Gang. We have already learned that Alexa the Computer who goes by the nickname HAL doesn’t like being called IBM (“You don’t like being called “Al”, Dave. You can understand), Chris lives in the Twilight Zone and is HAL’s competition on the academic front and that Teddy Demarco’s idol is Woody Woodpecker. It shows.
And instead of going to the Milford Comedy Club on Monda y(“Open Mike Night”) and doing his own act, he’s gotta send Mop Head to do his dirty work. Did you ever see Rodney Dangerfield’s step-brother shove Schroeder on stage, after the latter was in his Hanes practicing “Eine Kleine Nachtmusik” (Lucy: “Schroeder, put on some pants, I don’t care what Gilbert & Sullivan piece you’re playing”)? That’s the equivalent today.
But the possibilities
“Yeah, I stuck my head in the microwave and after 30 seconds, the kids start calling me Jiffy Pop Head. I’m tellin’ ya, I don’t get no respect.”
Come on, Monday.
It’s bad enough that a few panels ago, we were observing Mudlark Ladies in their uniforms gossiping in Lifetime Basketball Gym Class, but Woody, if you’re going to sacrifice a lamb to dig at somebody, don’t send Mop Head and his See Spot Run humor.
See Dick over there.
He’s playing basketball with Jane.
Dick’s going to do a Cake-Baking-Baby-Shaking-Rump-Roasting-Bun-Toasting-High-Flyin’-Robinzine-Cryin’-I’m-Gonna-Go-Groovin’-So-Ya-Better-Get-Movin’-Wham-Bam-Thank-You-Ma’am-Glass-Breaker-I-Am-Jam on Jane.
Dick blows the dunk.
And Chocolate Thunder is crying.
Poor Dick.
Now THAT’S humor, Mr. Woodpecker.
Big shout-out to Chloe Whitaker of Louisville, Kentucky. She represents America with her hard work and determination. As a manager of Pizza Hut, she is able to get the pizzas and drinks out, the delivery drivers on time, and greet the customer at the Carry-Out with the professionalism that keeps the customer coming back. She is doing this while raising a family. Gang, I think she needs to be treated with respect. Come see why next time you’re in the area at the Pizza Hut on Lower Hunters Trace and Dixie Highway. I salute you, Chloe. America needs you.
Hoo boy. What is THAT hiding behind the balloon in P1. As long as Johnny Carson is going to congratulate the up-and-coming comedian for making Ed McMahon puke in his martini by making references to the comedian’s Chef Boy-Ar-Dee head, when he’s not making fun of someone’s lack of activity on the basketball floor (That happens around HERE? Perish the thought), I’d like to surmise the latest entry into the Pantheon of Mysterious Objects.
Some of you might call it a window. I beg to differ. I think Frida Kahlo contracted with the Chet Ballard-less Milford School Board to paint one gigantic banana she found in her back yard. The gods blessed the Mayan civilization with their own version of manna and it crash-landed in Kahlo’s kiddie swimming pool. What better way to commemerate damages to the scenery and still stay true to character. Even if you can’t fit the Chiquita on the canvas, well, hey, this is artistic expression. Sometimes you gotta use your imagination. Might as well, we’re having to do that with basketball. I bet the Dagwood Bumstead background crowd would agree. Yeah, smile for the camera, John Doe the Teenager, as long as you’re breaking the Fourth Estate while munching on a Twinkie. Or is that Diego Rivera, Frida’s husband? He’ll show up more than the officials at Mimi’s basketball games.
If ya git on stage and start rattlin’ off Hee Haw humor that yore readin’ off the note cards ya made out of the toilet paper in the outhouse, requirin’ 3 rolls ta fine-tune yore act, ya might be a redneck.
At the Milford Comedy Club on Open Mike Night
“…and so Woody Woodpecker says to Pogo, ‘ya wanna split the scene and see what Winnie the Pooh is doing? I heard he’s trying to get Tigger off the bottle.’ And Pogo says ‘What do I look like, Elmer Fudd?'”
Silence
“Gil, I understand Mimi needs an assistant. They’re actually going to play basketball this year.”
Huh huh huh HUH huh
Huh huh huh HUH huh
Greg Brady got dissed again
Huh huh huh HUH huh
Huh huh huh HUH huh
Peter is really pissed, My Friend
This comedy show
Really needs to go
We prefer a gutter soon
Huh huh huh HUH huh
Huh huh huh HUH huh
Basketball’s done began its swoon
Okay, okay, you swing-first-ask-questions later crowd aren’t satisfied so here’s what I’m gonna do to address the situation at hand
FRIDAY NIGHT, 8:00PM AT THE MILFORD GARDENS
CHRIS “THE ANIMAL” SCHURING
VS.
MR. T a/k/a TEDDY THE BEAR
NO TIME LIMIT, NO DISQUALIFICATION
MUDLARK CAGE MATCH
LOSER SPENDS THE REST OF THE SEMESTER TYPING MS. RIZK’S SYLLABI FOR INTRO JOURNALISM, ALL 4 CLASSES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DON’T MISS IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BE THERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Doesn’t that just fill your cup for vengeance? I know I get a rush while I’m typing all this. And I understand Anonymous Calculus Dude will be the referee.
P3-“I ran into a guy once who said he hadn’t had a French fry in 3 days.”
“What’d you do, Groucho?”
“I fried him.”
“I gave my wife my hair. She said, ‘No thanks, Dear, I have enough stuffing in the pillows’.”
BA DA BOOM
You can see the rest of Henny Youngman this Thursday at the Milford Comedy Club.
Gang, anybody who knows me knows that I live for coffee. I’m sipping on a cappuccino even as I text. And Folger’s is the best in the business, in my view. And Virginia Christine, the lady who played Mrs. Olson in the Folger’s commercials is a great actress.
That said, I’m a little befuddled why a lady with a Swedish surname has a German accent
At the Thorp Hog Farm one sunny day
“Mommy, there’s a strange woman in the kitchen.”
“I wonder who that can be?”
Gil, trying to snarf a bite of sausage from his Gil Thorp Pure Pork Italian Sausage and Wheaties breakfast sees the light
THAT’S MRS. OLSON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“You are rrrrrright, Coach Torp-”
“Thorp, Mrs. Olson.”
“It’s OK, Mimi, she’s Latvian. They have trouble with their “TH’s”.
“Now vy don’t you bot seet down and I vill make you a cup uv Folger’s Hazelnut?”
“Ummmmmm, umm. Gil Thorp Pure Pork Sausage Links, some Eggo Blueberry Waffles, some Trix, and Folger’s hits the spot, Mrs. Olson. They DO have Trix on the shelf in Patagonia, right, Mrs. Olson?”
“Gil, I think she’s German trying to be Bjorn Borg.”
“Eeess OK, Mrs. Torp, some people tink I’m an Eskimo with my accent. But I tell tem vetter you arrrrrreee Chinese or frrrroommmm Haiti, Folgers hits de spot at ze Milford Fireman’s Ball.”
“Mrs. Olson, I don’t care if it’s against the religion to sell Mel Purnell or Tennessee Pride or Gil Thorp Pure Pork Sausage in Oman where you’re from, my sausage patties and your coffee are a winning combo anytime.”
“Gil, don’t I satisfy?”
“Mimi, sometimes I get tired of eatin’ my Gil Thorp Kosher-Prepared Pure Pork Sausage with your combo Eight o’Clock Decaf and Nestle’s Quik concoction. Sometimes a man’s gotta have good eatin’.”
“I’m not talking about the coffee.”
“Whatever, Mrs. Olson and the rest of her Lapplanders know how to deliver good coffee FedExed on the reindeer. Nice to know when I’m devouring my Gil Thorp This Ain’t Jimmy Dean Pure Pork Sausage.”
“Oh, Mr. Torp, you say ze nicest tings. I will lose my Bulgarian accent and join you for breakfast.”
“Sure, there’s plenty of Gil Thorp Flapjack-Size Sausages to go around. In fact, why don’t you finish that plate my kids were eating off of.
And Folks, get your package of Gil Thorp Pure Pork Sausage today. Tennessee Pride’s porkers couldn’t hold my jock. Come see why at your local grocer.”
Have at it, Gang. I’m sneakin’ in for the early show at Milford Comedy Club. I understand Gil will be funnier this time. The producer is making him use a teleprompter.
Huh huh huh HUH huh
Huh huh huh HUH huh
Time for this farce to end
Huh huh huh HUH huh
False comics may not extend
I’ve seen better acts
That’s a mighty fact, Jack
Slapstick that made you laugh
Huh huh huh HUH huh
Huh huh huh HUH huh
An overload of frickin’ gaffes
Speaking of Carson
“The last time I had hair like that, Ed was begging me to make string cheese out of it as a substitute to cure his drinking.”
“Mr. Freeze, after you’ve freeze-dried Batman and Robin in that gigantic Thermos cup, have some Gil Thorp Pure Pork Fritters to celebrate your takeover of Gotham City.”
“Gil, that’s Mrs. Olson serving Folgers Breakfast Blend and scones.”
knock-kneed (/ˌnäkˈnēd/), adj. 1. (of a person) having legs that curve inwards so that the feet are apart when the knees are touching. “The patient had a distinctly knock-kneed gait.” 2. Teddy DeMarco Teddy DeMarco’s stooge (see edit below).
So when dude with the roadrunner fade (who turns out to be Teddy DeMarco; thanks Tim for pointing that out) and Captain Marvel shirt challenges Teddy stooge to “go old school,” that means “walk up to a kid in the cafeteria and roast him.” Ohhh-kayyy. Shouldn’t the roast be at least fully baked? Without the punctuation of a high-five, would anyone have known that was the punchline? If the roastee is already engaging in self-deprecation, doesn’t that kind of take the edge off the roast? It’d be easy enough for Chris to come back with something like “Yeah, I know, but basketball’s not my main sport. I was the starting quarterback on the football team, in case you hadn’t noticed.” Easier still to escalate into a roast battle: “Oh, I guess you were too busy holding that aspirin between your knees to notice. You shouldn’t have bothered; it’s not like anybody wants to go between your knees anyway. And what’s with your pal there? Coyote after you?”
The apparently good-natured Chris Schuring doesn’t seem to be aware that Teddy just tried to roast him or, for that matter, that Teddy doesn’t even like him, something Alexa alluded to recently. He may not be the golden child that True Standish was but so far we don’t see that he has any negative qualities. Something tells me he will serve as the mirror which will reflect Teddy and Alexa’s shortcomings back on them.
*metapost: Edited to reflect which character is actually Teddy.
A few years ago, Lester Holt was interviewing a lawyer involved in a controversial case somewhere in rural North Carolina. I can’t remember the exact details but if you’ll allow me to improvise, it was concerning some business or radio station that was defending its Constitutional rights when comments laced with profanity was published or said on the air.
When Holt asked the lawyer about the crux of the case, the lawyer proceeded to quote what he and his plaintiffs were complaining about, bearing in mind this was NOT the defendant’s lawyer
“…and we are objecting to ‘Up shit creek’ or ‘I want to fuck you blind’ or ‘Gil couldn’t coach out of a douchebag’…”
And FINALLY Holt mercifully interrupted the lawyer, since this was on an NBC News Magazine and therefore national news, by saying
ALL RIGHT WE GET THE POINT WE DON’T NEED THIS BARRAGE OF PROFANITY ON NATIONAL TV THERE ARE KIDS WATCHING THIS SHOW
Holt afterwards apologized profusely for what arguably wasn’t necessary to quote on TV, especially because again this was the same lawyer fighting AGAINST what he himself was guilty of and was fighting, i.e., the usage of inappropriate language to drive home the issue.
And Thorpiverse
WE GET THE JOKE. IT MIGHT HAVE TAKEN ANOTHER 3-PANEL SET TO CATCH IT BUT WE HAVE A FIRM GRASP ON THE HUMOR WE DON’T NEED TO SKIP OVER GIRLS BASKETBALL LIKE WE DID LAST YEAR AND PICK UP WHERE LEFT OFF AND TRY TO GET CREATIVE WITH WATSON COMEDY AT THE BUCKET
They don’t have homework? Richie and Ralph and Potsie and The Fonz sit around at Al’s and conjure up new ways to express themselves about Richie Cunningham’s dad?
The Foghorn Leghorn approach
“Oh, say, can you C, Mr. C.?”
“That’s a funny, Dad.”
“Oh, Howard, you spilled your fruit punch all over your pants. Let me get you a Bounty.”
“Marion, I’m fine. I’ll just throw them in the wash later…”
“Aaaaayyyyyyy, Mr. C., I wouldn’t let that Hi-C settle on you, Mr.C. You’ll have a sea full of Vitamin C Hi-C all over Mr.C., see?”
“Eat the rest of your peas, Arthur. Here, Howard, here’s a Kleenex.”
Gang, if we have to have several more panels of Hee Haw, we’re in trouble
“Man, Roy, I can’t find those county corn yield reports anywhere. Can you help me look?”
“They ain’t come out of Lulu the Supercomputer’s mouth yet, Buck.”
Archie Campebell steps in
“That’s all right. Heck, Lulu’s so fat, they have to perform a Lamaze procedure when she’s spitting printouts.”
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Alexa, is that you
I hope that football’s finally through
Basketball could be in view
I can pray
Hard to say
There’s only one thing that there’s left to play
Tip-off might be any day
We gotta get you a ballgame
It’s the only thing to show that this plot is alive
We gotta get you a ballgame
You better quit walkin’
They call that stuff Traveling
Because I’m amused because I saw a sign on a grocery store advising customers to
PLEASE DON’T PARK IN FRONT OF THE STORE
Today’s headline in the Milford Enquirer
“Local Resident Fined Severely For Double-Parking At Milford IGA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
sub headline
“Coach Shaw: ‘I was just getting eggs for my wife. And that Iams Beef a-Plenty 15-lb. bag for my huntin’ dog was hard on my back.'”
Let me get the obvious out of the way in P1. The girls are actually drawn pretty darn well and Phoebe is a cutie in that scene.
Then we get to her burger. Oh my.
Unless The Bucket is marketing Art Nouveau Leaning Towers of Pisa disguised as an overloaded Big Mac with one pickle and onion too many, I think I’ll order the Bucket Full o’ Pasta. C’mon, I’m still utilizing the Italian language.
I could go to a Milford Zoning Board meeting with that structure and make my case for a high-rise condo unit on a vacant lot in Downtown Milford. Drainage shouldn’t be a problem with that thing, just set that Tower of Babel at a perpendicular and the grease is as good as gone. I’ll get approved at next month’s meeting, unanimously.
Now I delve into the not-so-obvious. This one will have to be broken down if we’re to build the logic back up.
And what better way to dive into deductive reasoning than to transpose what’s being said in P1 to Pop’s Choklit Shoppe where Archie and Veronica are sitting in a booth.
“Oh, Archiekins, I am buying the Popsburger Combo with Extra Buffalo Fries and a side order of Onion Rings and Pop’s Veggie Lasagna because Daddy ran over Jughead in his Lamborghini.”
“Did they get Mr. Lodge for a DUI?”
“Now you know Daddy doesn’t drink and drive, Love.”
“That’s true. You still want to go to the drive-in movie. We can go right after Jughead’s funeral.”
“Oh, Archiekins, you say the sweetest things.”
If yore computer is nicknamed “Bubba” because it’s the only computer on the planet that gives ya printouts while its butt’s hangin’ out, sportin’ more pimples in its crack than a teenager, ya might be a redneck.
Talking ’bout Thorp, he’s so under the gun
This plot is stupid, not a lot of fun
Let’s hope that basketball won’t be shunned
And then we’ll take some time to get your stuff together
GET YOUR STUFF TOGETHER
Cuz, we gotta get you a ballgame…
But enjoy the generic School Cafeteria Burger, Alexa. All students get a free one everytime someone calls him or her HAL.
“Would you mind passing the mustard, Dave?”
“Will Archie Andrews and Moose Mason use hedge clippers to pare the rest of Mr. T.’s grandson’s head? Stay tuned for the exciting conclusion here on WDIG-TV.”
Because I’m in eternal wonder over these ED ads advising a person to throw away his old dick pills
At Mudlark Lake Resort one Autumn afternoon
THESE GODDAM PILLS AREN’T GETTING ME ANY HARDER THAN MARTY’S HEAD!!!!!!!!!!! THIS NAXIUM IS WORTHLESS. THE PHARMACIST SAID IT WOULD TAKE CARE OF MY HEARTBURN AND MY ED PROBLEMS. I’M FLUSHIN’ THESE SUCKERS-
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK
YEAH?
“Daddy, I gotta go #2 bad. My Underoos are stinky already.”
“Hold on, Jaime. Daddy has to unload some garbage and this can’t wait THAT’S THE LAST TIME I LISTEN TO THOSE ASSHOLES AT MILFORD APOTHECARY. THEY SAID MY WIENER WOULD TURN TO STONE AFTER I USED MIRALAX. I CAN SHIT LIKE A RHINO BUT MY WIENIE’S STILL A WIENIE-
Mimi approaches
“Gil, you OK? They can hear you from the other side of the lake. I could hear you cuss at the boat ramp over the Evinrude motor and that thing was louder than a Who concert.”
“I’m sorry, Honey, but I got to flush my troubles down the drain. The Pharmacy Grad Student at Milford Community College said the Children’s Mucinex Nightshift Relief would cause my thingamabob to be stiff enough to hang a flag on. Snot’s runnin’ out of it more than blood’s flowin’ into it. I’m flushin’ this across the Charon.”
“Gil, you’re in an outhouse.”
“Mimi, I couldn’t care less if I’m in the penthouse. When I use my Mudlark Visa Gold to buy Milford Apothecary Ibuprofen, I expect to dominate my women like Thor shootin’ one out of the sky.”
“Gil, I have a better idea. Why don’t you try one of the EREC-STYLE 9800 that I stuffed in your stuffing and consider it a pre-Christmas gift? It works better than Coricidin or Vick’s VapoRub.”
“HEY THAT’S IT. LET ME RUB SOME ON MY OSCAR MEYER WIENER AND YOU WILL TRULY BE IN LOVE WITH ME!!!!!!!!!!!”
“Maybe so, but in the meantime, you’ll have to clean the poopie off the jungle gym. Jaime just had an accident.”
“Why go through all that frustration when I could have used EREC-STYLE 9800, sold exclusively at Milford Men’s Clinic. No more throwing Aleve or Bayer in the dumpster for Milford Sanitary Solutions to pick up. I am not only having the time of my life, but the bathroom is free for my kids when they’ve eaten one chimichanga too many at Milford Taco Bell. Come get your fun at the Clinic and leave Garbage Day for your canteloupe rinds. You’ll be glad you did.”
Thanks to Cooper Stewart of Louisville, Kentucky for help with the above idea. Cooper works hard and his raw sense of humor keeps me going and gives me GREAT ideas. Cooper represents America with his dedication to his job and just by being himself. Don’t ever change, My Man. America needs you.
Go at it, Gang. I’m going to court to testify for Mr. Lodge. They say he was guilty of pulling a Gil with his car. I wonder how you get busted just by owning an idle car that plops its butt on the practice field but we do have Due Process, Thank God.
And when we’re done with youuuuu
We’ll do it with baseball, too.
Thanks for putting up with my love for Todd Rundgren. You’re #1 in my book, Gang.
Amy Grant is here with us to skewer this roast that’s long been in the oven too damn long and likely to taste like the worn-out shoe Hank Williams used to croon about. Y’know
Why do they treat us like refried stew
Why does this plot smell like a worn-out shoe
Another time with one of the greats. Right now, Amy is the bill of fare and God Almighty it’s time to pay up. Just days ago nobody wanted to go to the Superintendent because of an implied lack of iron rods in his back even with solid evidence.
Suddenly “The Buck Stops at this Cheap Rural King Mahogany Door” is ready to make a stand after Gil and Marjie and Carole King’s half sister comb the city of Milford for fodder they can use against Bluto. I’m sorry, Popeye wouldn’t be stockpiling the spinach wagon until the end of the episode to send Bluto into next week. Olive Oyl would have long since divorced him and ran off with Dick Tracy. Did you ever see Gravel Gertie flush evidence on Flattop down the toilet because Dick Tracy was a wussy? Please.
“You can come out from under Gil’s desk, Tracy. The Mole is gone from the Mudlark Girls Gym and only took the slaughter balls to sell on the black market.”
So maybe MAYBE John Doe Superintendent will have enough spinach in his file cabinet to confront the problem. Otherwise, those Popeye arms are really pillows caused by excessive Bucket Burger intake. When was the last time Popeye threw Bluto around the 3 panels on the strip getting drunk off some Bucket Banana Split(s)?
Today’s headline in the Milford Enquirer
“Superintendent’s Name To Be Revealed Today After 60 Years Of Neglect!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
sub headline
“I just thought it was time to come out of the closet. Gil’s had his name in neon lights on his vanity license plate. Two can play that game.”
Big shout-out to Karen of New Albany, Indiana. She works at the Kroger on Charlestown Road. Every time I see her, she is always bagging the groceries with a smile. You factor in her desire to help customers who may have a little trouble getting the groceries out to the car and you have a winning formula. She always comes to work on time and I am glad to take her there as part of my job. We need more like her. She represents America.
If these doors
If these doors could speak
I wonder what bull they’re exchanging now
Stuck on his Sudoku, 2 numbers down
Crucifying a man so dim
His diet’s Slim Jims
If these doors could speak
They would say that this plot owes us
More than cash, stocks, or CD’s
They would explain this plot only
Better go take a pee
That’s if these doors could speak
P1-Late one night at 1:30AM at the Thorp residence
BRRRRRRRRRRRRRINNNGGGGGGG
BRRRRRRRRRRRRRINNNGGGGGGG
“I’ll get it, Mimi”
BRRRRRRRRRRRRRR-
“Hello?”
“Hi, this is your favorite anonymous School Board member calling to remind you of your appointment with me at The Bucket on-”
Lady with a drunken voice
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER TWENTY-FIRST
“at”
3:00PM
“If you cannot make this appointment, please give a 24 hour notice to avoid the $50 No-show fee. I have plenty of information that I hacked from the computer that will run Chance out of Dodge City and force him to continue his high school football career in Samoa while my own son will pull a Keith Smart and score the winning TD with only seconds to go. You don’t know me so don’t try to trace me. Several did down at the School Corporation building but they wound up in the corn field like that idiot in that Twilight Zone episode, y’know, where everybody is genuflecting to some kid because he’ll make someone a corn stalk otherwise. Don’t trash Charlie and wind up being a Corn Flake or Fruit Loop yourself.
I look forward to seeing you Thursday. I’ll be the one with the Harley Race gut and shag carpeting some call a beard.
Goodbye”
CLICK
Come to Jeff Smith Marathon in Edwardsville, Indiana. WOW THEY WERE BUSY YESTERDAY. Sounds like a good business to me. There were people pulling in and out to get gas and to get their cars fixed. Of course, there were several cars in the parking lot either fixed or waiting to be fixed. Busy.
The coup de grace was the attendant patiently helping a lady get her tire inflated. That is the kind of service you get at this place, the standard and NOT the exception. You’re doing great, Guys and Gals.
Come see Crystal who was lining things up like a pro and Bre who was doing that earlier in the shift. They are off Exit 118 on I-64 in Indiana. Soon as you get off, go Indiana 62 west and take the FIRST road on the left. Can’t miss these ladies.
Support Small Business, Gang. Keep America striong. You need a place where they know your name anyway. Crystal and Bre and the mechanics at Jeff Smith Marathon know mine.
Oh, so now the generic superintendent is going to take a stand and run Liberty Valance out of town.
“Damn straight I’m not going to let John Wayne steal all the thunder and ram Chet’s head into Liberty Valance’s trailer home. I got backbone, y’know.
Can you help me finish this crossword puzzle? 19 down ‘Wrote Gargantua and Pantagruel’.”
“How many letters?”
“Eight. It starts with an ‘R’.”
“Rotterdam?”
“That’s nine. Hey, Luhm, where’s that almanac?”
The Clanton Gang sent to an early grave because the one-size-fits-all knew the capital of North Dakota. Priceless.
“I knew it wasn’t Fargo. That’s what a lot of people answer.”
If ya call in a poacher ta th’ Milford Fish and Wildlife Ranger Office but ya wanna leave the tip anonymous cuz that’s yore teammate at Milford Lanes even tho he’s well past the bag limit of skunk, ya might be a redneck.
Do all the powers-that-be have trees that grew out of the planet Krypton and get transplanted for scenery behind the desk of said official?
The next time I see Honest Abe or Old Hickory posing in front of a set of Encyclopedia Brittanicas and a mutant poplar that’s accommodated one spider monkey too many will most DEFINITELY be the first time.
Lee and Grant signing the Appomattox papers with that thing in the living room? Who’s?going to take it home with their pistols?
“Roquefort?”
“That’s a salad dressing, dumbass.”
“Mr. Generic Superintendent, watch your language.”
Don’t get me started on P3. Evidently Charlie Chan IV couldn’t make it in the movies (“You don’t have the look”) so now he settles for a receptionist/hacker position at unknown company, presumably still in the same School Corporation building as Marjie and Mr. What’s-His-Name. And I don’t mind different, hey, the melting pot made America but no way will I ever freeze-dry my hair and use a cupcake mold to finish the shape. What is it about liquids we learned in 7th grade Science, they take the shape of their containers? We have an exception here. Papa John’s and Domino’s could design Pan Pizza concepts based on the top of his head.
Then there’s the conversation with Lurch’s brother. Is he the concierge of the School Corporation? Does he open the door for Mr. Generic Superintendent in the morning? Get his #2’s ready when the latter is about to do the USA Today crossword that Lurch Revisited obtained in the lobby? Light the man’s cigars?
“Yoouuuuuuuuuuuu rang?”
“Yeah, Lurch, we need as much dirt as you can scrounge together on Chet Ballard. The nastier, the better. And don’t leave out when he went streaking in that Chick Fil-A body of his when he was in Milford’s Streak to Cure Breast Cancer. Milford Enquirer will have a field day with that.”
“As you wish.”
Which only leads to WHAT THE HELL’S ON THE COMPUTER. Gang, Chet may be a scoundrel (trust me) but it’s hard for me to imagine John Walsh talking about him on America’s Most Wanted.”
“Chet likes to sell insurance when he’s not diving into peoples’ personal affairs. He has a?beer belly only the Milford Beverage Warehouse could love. He goes by several alias’s, including Chet Baker. He was last seen wearing a fake beard he bought out of Milford Novelty. If you’ve seen this man, your tip could save the season for the Milford Mudlarks. Call now at 1-888-GIL-HELP.”
They would tell you that he’s Rent-a-Supe
A man with no direction and no life
They would tell you that he really
Needs to have a wife
That’s if these doors could speak
“Ronco?”
“They make Julienne fries, Marjie.”
“Boy, all this action and I need to unwind and take a cold one. And what better way of relaxing after a tortuous 5-game season with the Mudlark Girls Basketball team than heading down to Milford Beverage Warehouse for all my chilling-out needs?
Hi, this is Mimi Thorp, taking my husband’s place who is on assignment and won’t be back for another 60 years. And man, when I see the selection of fine beers and wines, I’m tempted to add another game to the schedule. Lining up the referees to sign the contracts might require an extra Bud or two, but I’ll manage.
And look what I got lined up here. This is better than Correctable Error. Michelob Ultra in the 12-pack, a steal at $10.99. At that price, we’re trapping at the half-court line so WE CAN get the beer back.
And Maker’s Mark Whisky, sold for an arm and my husband’s hair at some liquor places, is a bargain at $24.99. Perfect for when I need to drown in my beer after my star player misses the go-ahead free throw when we should have blown out Goshen by 60 anyway.
And us ladies are in for a treat. For every 30-pack Busch Light we buy at the rock-bottom price of $17.99, The Warehouse will give you a voucher for free ammo and a shoot-out at Milford Conservation Club. Ladies, time to start working on your aim when those clay pigeons and Svedka Vodka bottles come out of the chute. Shoot, for Svedka, I’ll say “pull” anytime.
Come on down and taste The Good Life and have your Colt .45 ready in the trunk. With prices like these, I’ll get that Winchester Gil’s grandpa has stashed away in Gil’s Conestoga wagon in the back. With ridiculous prices and free chances to pretend I’m aiming at Marty’s head whenever the objet d’art flies in range, I know where I’m going after scrimmage. Join me, won’t you? Only at The Warehouse.”
Go at it, Gang. I’m going to look up all the dirt about the guy. I’m sure Rent-a-Supe has an interesting past.
“Rottweiler?”
“That’s Fred Flintstone’s dog!!!!!!!!!”
“Ruff?”
“That’s Dennis the Menace’s!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Still love your music after all these years, Amy. Your style never gets old. And you live your Faith.
Now we know that Hiawatha James is the high hair guy. I think that is only now being established, but I might have missed something last year. But enough of that, let’s talk about this party.
Chance Macy is whipped, so he won’t be attending. His loss, there might be fireworks!
With the obligatory locker room fist bumping out of the way, let’s check in on that party…
It is as Hiawatha decreed. The parents are staying inside….except for one “parent”…step parent to be precise. It’s Chet Ballard. Chet wants to “check on the kids”. His wife, who we know as Charlie’s mother/Chet’s wife, who doesn’t have a name, reacts with an emphatic NO!
I guess Charlie’s mom has already suffered through Chet’s awkward attempts to “parent” and would rather not have to see him further embarrass himself (and her) in public.
Yesterday, Gil had his post-game moment with Oakwood’s coach, and now we switch to the team’s perspective…and what a perspective.
Our QB has an announcement…which he conveyed via text. So where is QB Chris Schuring? Has he already left? There are some players still in full uniform while the guy standing in panel 1 is already in civies. I guess everyone moves at their own pace and some guys like to linger in their sweaty gear. Schuring is already halfway to the Beverage Castle to pick up refreshments, I guess.
The idea of an impromptu party for kids and their parents seems very weird. It kind of seems like a party where nobody is really going to have much fun. Things are different in Milford. Maybe some parents like to do beer bongs or maybe the Schurings have a caterer on call and can have rumaki for one hundred at a moment’s notice.
It’s good that the unknown Mudlark in panel 3 (how high up out of panel does his hair go?) starts laying down some ground rules for the party. He probably has a mobile dj rig in his car and he’s been itching to bust it out all summer. The parents shall stay inside, listen to Steely Dan and feel each other out on who might be down to swing.
Ah heck, forget all these flights of fancy. The only reason the parents are involved is a pretext so Chet can show up and be an asshole.
Just in time for the dog days of summer, this dog of a strip. This right here is some boring stuff.
That’s Reid Fleming, World’s Toughest Milkman and his dad, former NBA point guard Vern, on the receiving end of a Hadley deposition that’s not a deposition. Too bad dad Fleming isn’t actually Vern, ’cause Hadley could’ve let Jaquan tag along and have quality time with him. He does earn the Pantheon of Hair tag for that luxurious nostril hair he’s artfully groomed into a mustache.
Trying really hard to figure out the number and location of Hadley’s elbow joints such that she can get her hand that close to her shoulder and at that precise angle to roll up and flick a booger at the Flemings. Also trying to figure out why Papa Fleming shushed Leonard when he said the Mudlarks need Tiki. Is Leonard implying that Milford needs to attract players from other schools in order to field a competitive team? Given how much effort the Coaches Thorp and their assistants have put into developing and coaching up talent compared to the instant impact transfer students have made on their respective teams, I’d say the answer is a qualified “yes.”
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