Frazz by Jef Mallett for July 10, 2024

The air is fine.

Actually, it does have an engine — the original engine that tools have had since the first caveman pounded some critter over the head with a tree branch.

Frazz is missing the point of a “crummy air” day.

Do they still make those unpowered reel mowers?

Mowing builds character.

Must be nice to have a flat, even lawn. Around here, lawns are too uneven, rocky and rooty for a reel mower. At least you can adjust the height of a rotary mower. And I’ve been using a battery mower for years.

I don’t understand lawns. If I had a yard, I’d make it more like a little park – trees, bushes, flowers – with a small section of lawn for sitting and reading. I don’t understand why so many people with yards just want a 50×100 green carpet.

When my dad was in the Navy, and we lived on base, you could go over and pick up a mower to use. Dad always picked this type for ME to mow grass. Yeah, it wasn’t a big yard or anything but when you’re a 7 year old kid who is allergic to freshly cut grass, it was a nightmare. I’d be out there, sneezing like crazy, legs covered in hives, eyes swollen but it was still my job to finish to dad’s satisfaction, and heaven help me if it wasn’t just right!

I hope not.

I guess all of Frazz’s physical activity and clean living is going to spare him the effects of breathing in that air quality alert?

Just thinking about the level of exertion needed to mow even the smallest lawn when there’s an air quality alert makes my lungs ache.

I’m really happy using my electric lawnmower. I never have to go to the gas station and fill up those tiny gas containers anymore. And my mower is kind enough to let me know it doesn’t like for me to over exert myself and refuses to mow any more of the lawn after about an hour, and insists I sit down and get some rest for a while before continuing. Some may think the batteries need to be recharged, but I know better.

better have a pretty small yard

Reel men never get tired.

I guess the formula for this strip is to have one of the kids start off with a bad assumption.

Not a good idea to do heavy exercise on an “air quality alert” day.

When I was a kid, my curiosity got the better of me when I saw my dad using one and I asked if I could try it. That was the only grass cutter we owned. He was very happy to show me how to use this machine…imagine that! I’m still haven’t quite forgiven myself for my lack of awareness.

I used a reel mower in my youth (1950s, 60s), and it was a LOT of work.

Then when we got a place w/ a pocket hankie lawn, I bought one (12? 15?) years ago to use on it. It was a LOT of work… and even more work on the parts of the lawn that were “lush”. I got an electric mower the next year and used it up until about 3 years ago. Now it’s battery powered (got tired of dragging and untwisting the cord)… but the “lawn” no longer has much oomph. No lush places, many that are downright balding. I could probably go back to a reel mower, but then I’d feel I wasted a few $100s on my current mower.

I mowed my Gramma’s half acre lawn with a hand mower back in the 70’s. Sucked, but do ’er, I did! Blisters and sweat, abounding!!

What’s that symbol on Frazzie’s shirt?

I got tired of using a mower like that and converted the front and back yards to flagstone with drought-tolerant plants. No more mowing!

An air quality alert day is all the more reason not to be mowing (and breathing) outdoors.