Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson for February 08, 2011

I see someone with NASCAR in his future.

Won’t even entertain the thought, huh?

Great!

Don’t you love Dad’s expressions!

Monday, sky1946 wrote this at the end of Sunday’s comments, so you may not have seen it:

<< I am awed by the intelligent and insightful comments posted here by folks who know and use the English language well. I have read so many comments elsewhere on other subjects, by seemingly ignorant people who cannot spell or use proper grammar, and worse, offer hateful or obscene comments. I was starting to think that the English language and the ethics of America was going down the toilet until I read the comments here. Thank you everyone for restoring my faith in humanity! >>

Thanks, sky1946, on behalf of all of us – especially since we have so many contributors here for whom English is a second language. It is a pleasure for us to read your English and your comments, as well.

This is a remarkable group, albeit inclusive of a highly eclectic assemblage of the perspicacious, sagacious, and humorously adroit, who nevertheless always judiciously avoid using too many big words.

In our better moments, we do what we can to further each other’s appreciation for both humor and humanity. However, I should warn you that, in spite of our best efforts, we are still human – with the exception of Hobbes and Space-man_Spiff, of course.

Hobbes tends to just follow his instincts, when he isn’t feeling totally inanimate. And Space-man_Spiff’s writing seems like…. well….. pure fantasy.

Oh, and I forgot to mention Grog. He seems to have wandered in from some other comic strip (and an ancient one, at that). Nevertheless, his Hart is in the right place.

– Hobbes

I like Calvins idea, but we all know dad don’t we. His sense of excitement is to drag the family off to some camping trip.

That shovel seems to be longer than Calvin is tall - at what age can parents send their kids out to shovel snow by themselves?

PANAMA!

Dad your missing out on a lot of fun here. I think?

not NASCAR but Snake River Canyon is in his future

I have to agree with Calvin on this one. If you can’t have fun, why own the car? If you can’t be adventurous, sell the car and walk - it is healthier and will extend your days. On the other hand you could get yourself a dog team and really have fun and exercise.

Come on Dad! Calvin’s volunteering to do most of the work and let you have the fun.

Dad seems to be considering it in the 3rd panel, but then the idea of the wrath of mom kicks in and the thought goes out the window. Go to work boy.

Poor Calvin, nothing seems to go his way and the world is safer for it. Sheesh!

Calvin, Calvin, Calvin…just where DO you come up with these ideas???? LOL

Calvin’s endless energy is what worries Dad. If he had the crazy idea and had the energy of a normal 8-year-old (and there’s no reason why you can’t send an 8-year-old out to shovel for a few minutes), there’d be no problem. But Calvin will bring to fruition whatever nefarious scheme he concocts. If I were Dad, I’d keep very close watch on that boy - especially with a shovel.

I like Calvins idea. I think Dad should give some thought. Just don’t tell Mom.

Calvin clearly suffers from “Dukes of Hazzard” syndrome. The irrational belief that vehicles can make multiple jumps of dozens of feet into the air without suffering any sort of damage.

The size of the shovel, like Hobbs, varies in size according to Calvin’s perspective … as does the job itself.

Calvin, you should let Hobbes do the shoveling. Many of us at this site know how good he is at shoveling it.

sky1946, that should be “…English language and the ethics of America were going down the tubes…” I’m sorry, I tried for five minutes to resist, but in the end, I had to say it. You’re right: C&H has the most literate and (usually) civil comments. Brewster has the funniest comments (best puns). The Frog Applause comments are best at getting into the spirit of the comic and its author’s blog.

Calvin, you wouldn’t have a car for long if you drove it like that.

Good Morning, Marg, Mike & ♠Lonewolf♠!

Hobbes: Your comments about your devoted and slightly demented readers? Thank you…I think?

It is possible that Calvin grew up and moved to Massachusetts. Police responded to a house where a man was clearing snow from his yard with homemade bombs.

If Dad got rid of the car, you’d have to walk EVERYWHERE Calvin! I don’t think you’d like that.

Dad why don’t you get up and help shovel with Calvin instead of sitting there and being lazy.

He may possibly have off-road SCORE racing in his future, but in NASCAR, it is never a good idea for your wheels to leave the ground, unless you like to wreck!

Sorry, Kab Buch, but Dad seems to be doing work (mental, not physical) either the house accounts or working at home.

Further, giving children the opportunity to participate in the household chores helps build the concept of family - the sense of duty, responsibility, and obligation that extends to the community in later life.

I remember shoveling snow as a child. Yes, I hated it. I still do. But I learned from it.

Being lazy ? I don’t think so !

Oh. And thank you Hobbes for the kind words for the C&H community.

My wife and kids suggested something similar this year. We live on a farm so they suggested that I take all the snow from the drive (about 500 ft long) and use the snow blower to put all of it on top of a small hill at the end of the drive (away from the road). Then they would pack it all down and use it for a sledding hill…… my 12 year old boy was planning ramps on the down side for jumping barrels….with the amount of snow we have it would be about 50 ft high right now.

Yukoner said, about 10 long walks ago

I have to agree with Calvin on this one. If you can’t have fun, why own the car? If you can’t be adventurous, sell the car and walk - it is healthier and will extend your days. On the other hand you could get yourself a dog team and really have fun and exercise.

Of course, that only works in medium to large size cities–like ones with a variety of stores and other amenities, like health care.

What are we supposed to do without bus service when the nearest clinic with specialists, or with stores (other than drug store and a quickymart) is 20+ miles away? Walking, or even biking, 40 miles is a pretty good round trip. Never mind when it’s raining, or when there’s ice and snow on the roads. In short: some of us really need access to a car.

From Dad’s expression, it seems clear that he got interrupted while working on his Federal Income Tax. Lucky, Calvin is deductible! Sorry, Hobbes, you’re not.

That’s OK. Calvin taxes his Dad’s patience a lot more than I do.

Dad’s patience is over-taxed when it comes to Calvin, Hobbes. I hope at some point he’ll get a tax break.

Travis Pastrana would do it!

Calvin Chitwood!!

Reminds me of my cousin (in his pre-driving age days). He assured me that HIS car would be modified to have bumpers from a tank so he could bash everyone else out of his way.

Evil Calvin-al! Evidently, Calvin has forgotten that if the car goes right out the driveway, it ends up in the ditch. Airborn or not!

When I was a kid I had to shovel snow at our house in Westchester County, N.Y. I had excercise/cold induced asthma so it was really a chore. I have lived in a condo here in SLC for nearly thirty years and haven’t shoveled a lick. I wonder if Calvin’s dad is thinking about what his beloved child did with the car (winding up in a ditch) earlier. Calvin at sixteen with a learner’s permit and the keys to the car - stay off the road, everybody….

LX013 said (yesterday), By my side must have walked Jesus and must have rescued me, but I don’t think he has two-ton bird feet, who knows, perhaps for I am so heavy. Magnamax said (yesterday) Jesus doesn’t care how heavy you are, but I don’t think he would have bird feet either.

“He shall cover you with his feathers, and under his wings shall you trust: his truth shall be your shield and buckler.” Psalm 91:4 Other similar verses are ‘afoot’ in the Bible.

How about Luke 13:34: “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how many times I yearned to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were unwilling!”

OK, it doesn’t quite say Jesus is a mother hen, but it uses the image…

Enjoyed all the comments and puns. They make me laugh and that’s what I need at the moment. Goodnight all….

Wow! Dad’s such a kill joy!

bmonk, you are right; you didn’t lay an egg. You got right to the ‘core’ of it. “Keep me as the apple of the eye; hide me under the shadow of your wings…” Psalm 17:8 “Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me, for my soul trusts in you. Yes, in the shadow of your wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.” Psalm 57:1 “I will abide in your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the covert of your wings.” Psalm 61:4 “Because you have been my help, therefore, in the shadow of your wings will I rejoice.” Psalm 63:7 Take comfort, quanticobaby!

I’m all for it, Calvin!