Ballard Street by Jerry Van Amerongen for March 10, 2025

Philip needs to get out more.

Good morning, Ballard Dears!

The day begins to probe Philip.

/// When Philip’s morale starts to waver,

he will seek out a sunrise to savor.

Poet Homer goes on

about “Rose fingered Dawn,”

and Phil’s probe is returning the favor.

Just as long as the day doesn’t probe him

In his elder years, Philip looked forward to early Monday morning when he could sneak a peek at the Ballard Street ladies, wearing curlers and clad in dressing gowns, putting out the Hefty® trash bags in the cans at their curbs. His standard of feminine pulchritude had rather changed over time.

Philip resigned from his work,

And drove home in a green Merc.

The next day he woke,

And thought it a joke,

I am not a number – l’m a jerk!

There’ll be no seizing without a thorough probing!

(Gosh, that sounded dirty!)

The cartoonist is hatching a plot.

Marge is already in the kitchen making breakfast. She’s ruing the day she fell for his line “let me Philip your life with joy.”

Philip begins to probe the day… with little success.

Good morning Balladeers!

Philip is wise to carefully probe the new day, after-all he does live on Ballard Street. Someone could come barreling down the sidewalk in roller skates with a propeller on his back. Look out!

He’s probing very cautiously, as well he should.

That’s me today. I will get out of the house in a few hours, but no rushing.

From behind the scene

There’s nothing more screwy than Philip’s head.