Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson for January 25, 2011

Creative shoveling…

In the town where I life, they made an ice-skating place, it looks like this, what Calvin shoveled!

That’s what you get for letting him read Family Circus on Sunday mornings.

At least Calvin is shoveling, Dad.

G’Morning, Grog, Marg & Mike!

He’s getting paid by the metre!

Hey! He’s short, if you are on your way to work it is early. He probably is just feeling a little disoriented still, honest mistake.

A little roundabout way for reaching work!

Inspired by Family Circus, no doubt!

Ditto, JFri!

So what? A little excercise in the morning won’t hurt…..

:p Lovely shovelling calvin!!

Sometimes i wish my kids, if i have any, would be like calvin.. I would love to have calvin !!!

He’s fighting the snow goonies,dad.

You’ve got to be more specific in your requests Dad.

You sent this tiny kid out to shovel snow that’s over his head? Bad Dad, CYS is going to get a call.

When I was a kid I wanted to help with the shoveling. My Dad said if I wanted to help I could shovel a path to the car. He had meant for me to shovel from the front door to the driveway so he could get to the garage to get the snowblower out to do the driveway. It had snowed so much during the night that he had parked the car in front of the house by the street when he got home from work and walked through the snowbank. To make a long story longer he went to bed after he talked to me for awhile before tackling the driveway because he was tired after working all night. He awoke to find that I shoveled through the front yard to the car on the street. He laughed so hard he almost wet his pants and told me thanks he needed that.

Given the time and effort he must have put into the project compared to what would have been needed to complete the intended task, one has to admire his perseverance and his dedication to principle….

Do not stop this boy,hes getting a work out that even foot ball players envy.

My kids like shoveling, too. They shoveled a path to forest gate so they could go sledding. :) I bought a shovel for them that was originally meant to be kept in car for emergencies - smaller, but a working shovel, not a toy - just the right size!

With obvious apologies to Family Circus and Ross Bagdasarian …

It’s to confuse the snowgoons!

**Good morning Marg! Good morning Fran! Good Morning L’Wolf! Good Morning Grog!**

At his age, I’d be surprised if he got 10 feet.

Having said that, my son (a bit older than Calvin) shoveled a path (14” deep snow) all around the house then with a long track with criss-crossing paths circling our very large back yard – so our dog could have some place to run (he’s very small).

Calvin’s father rarely understands the path that Calvin chooses to take.

Neither do I Hobbes, but his path usually gives me a laugh or two.

When he isn’t struggling with math problems, Calvin seems like a highly gifted kid who is terribly bored with mundane tasks and must constantly express himself through creativity.

One feels sorry for Calvin’s father, who doesn’t have much of a sense of humor and doesn’t seem to be able to enjoy Calvin’s “imaginational overexcitability” the way that we do. But then, the fact that his dad is that way, only adds to the humor for us.

Here is a very brief article on “imaginational overexcitability” in highly gifted kids:

http://giftedkids.about.com/od/gifted101/qt/imagination_oe.htm

See whether you think it sounds like Calvin.

My husband gets the snow blower & makes a few long & winding paths in our very large back yard for our dogs. Our older dog ignores the paths & loves to go bounding thru the biggest snow drifts. Our younger dog is a little Diva & if there isn’t a path with a patch close to the house cleared for her, she refuses to go until she has her little patch cleared.

That’s a nice straight line to the car, Calvin.

Good Morning, Marg, Mike & ♠Lonewolf♠

If we had ever recieved that much snow, I would have done the same.

creativity makes people walk through some distances….LOL

Mike Firesmith

Confuse the snowgoons, that’s a good idea!

It’s the journey Dad, not the destination. Sheesh!

Calvin’s sense of direction should make him a shoe-in for Congress.

A stroll through one’s front yard is a good thing. It gives dad a chance to appreciate what he’s got before facing his workday.

A good exercise trail.

LXO13 Sounds like a creative way to build a place to skate! Better than going round and round.

If Dad actually makes it to his car following that path, he’ll probably get stopped for DUI-C. But the cops would be correct. He does influence pops a lot.

I surmise that Ritlan has been prescribed for the lad?

A few years ago I had two good-sized dogd, brothers, and they enjoyed the paths I blew for them when we had significant snow, but it was a little startling to look out and see turkey heads following my paths. Had to keep then clear after that.

Of course, Cal should answer, “I’m almost finished, Dad, just be patient. I’ve even given you a shortcut …” It’s not often the little guy gets to (almost) legitimately determine the path his father will take.

Calvin is very creative……yes Hobbes that article is Calvin all the way!

Having a heart condition a few years ago, I was not able to shovel snow.

I saw a couple of boys working on a neighbors drive. When they were finished and walking down the sidewalk, I yelled at them, “Are you guys hiring yourselves out?”

“Yep.”

“How much?”

“$10 and $15.”

“What do I get for $10?”

“We shovel your sidewalk and driveway.”

“What do you do for $15?”

“We REALLY shovel your sidewalk and driveway!”

I hired them for the $15 job, two sets of red noses and ears worked two hours. I gave them a $20 to cover the chuckle. Don’t know what they went on to become in their careers.

rayannina, JFri, rumplesnitz, Wiseguy411

Please remember this strip was drawn 15, maybe 25 years ago. I seriously doubt that Bill Watterson is guilty of plagiarism.

Calvin was looking for me! I blend in with snow, good chap that Calvin. Whoo yea

He is planning on his excape route from Hobbs when he come home. Shhh! I didn’t say that! Either that or Spaceman Spiff paid his front lawn a visit and is out lining a secret mesage to the world.!

You want a job done very efficiently, hire a lazy person.

You want it done enthusiastically, hire Calvin–or get him interested in it somehow.

What’s his favorite cereal? Sugar frosted sugar something? Blame that…

Hi fran650

Where does one draw the line between inspiration and plagiarism? Sounds like an interesting discussion, perhaps for another time. The Family Circus predated Calvin and Hobbes, but Billy left dashed-line “footprints” in curving paths on the ground – he wasn’t shoveling snow.

Yes, there is a short-cut up there at the top of the frame. Will save at least four steps.

I wonder why he’s shoveled that shortcut…to be nice??

yuvrajhanspal, I often think the same when I read those comic strips..but then I REALLY think about it……..and it gives me the creeps :D

whims, you’re so right!

Hobbes, I have seen many instances where a comic strip will incorporate a character from another strip with a funny result. I have never seen one that was uncomplimentary. I’m fairly sure the authors are usually friends and talk to each other and have a good laugh if one gets a good dig into the other. Plus, most are members of the same syndicate (kinda like NASCAR drivers). LOL

One of Watterson’s few drawing errors. Tire tracks behind the car with fresh snow every where else!!! oops

ar eyou the real bill waterson or some faker?

Interesting that the car in the driveway seems to be ok, or did Calvin’s parents use the insurance money to buy a new one?

i wanted to do this when i lived in Utah but now im in California what a shame

Snow man funeral

The path looks like a level from Sonic the Hedgehog.

Well, dad, maybe you should have been a little more specific as to how you wanted Calvin to clear the path of snow from the front stoop to the car.

Meanwhile, why not walk the path your son has cleared for you? It’s not only good exercise but it’ll also make Calvin happy and proud that all the hard work he put into doing this for you wasn’t a waste of his time! (Plus, there’s the added benefit that the walk will warm you up a little bit as you’re driving into work and waiting for the car’s heater to finally kick in).

Umm Dad? How are you paying him for this? Flat rate for the job or hourly?

Sheesh… Dad is such a party poop.

The shortest distance between two points is a straight (but boring) line. The funnest distance between two points is as abstract as you can get it.

Enjoy the walk, Dad! You can at least be thankful that there are no snow goons blocking your way out!

Hobbes, thanks for the link about gifted children, etc. I have to disagree on one item, and that is that Calvin doesn’t have imaginary friends. He has real “friends” like Susie, and bullies like Moe, but when his imagination goes into overdrive, it’s based upon real people in his life like his teacher or his parents that he’s escaping from.

Well, Calvin’s parents seem to think that I’m his imaginary friend, but then, they have never read my GoComics postings.

dad, walk the path, it builds your character!

Looks fun to me!