Big Top by Rob Harrell for May 10, 2009

Happy Mother’s Day to all of the moms amoung us! Orchid coursages for everyone!

Carmy and Doc: I hope you’re feeling better.

Dry: I hope you sons treat you well today. :-)

Brunch today, so wander in whenever you feel like it. We have freshly made omelets while you wait, and waffles and french toast. Also bagels and freshly made hot rolls. We have scrambled eggs and hash browns and ham. We have eggs benedict, and lots of home made pastries. We also have roast turkey, roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy, and assorted hot vegetables. Enjoy!

I answered some questions late last night on yesterday’s cartoon.

Oh marg you know the way to my heart. Food, baby, food. Okey, I will have waffles and omelets and hash browns and ham. Feed me baby, feed me!

Good morning everyone and a happy mothers day to all the tribal mothers. Ooooh marg thanks for all the food. I think I might try a little of everything with an extra helping of hash browns- tasty. From yesterday: JFri Bingo you got the right age. It is that sweet spot of knowing better, but still doing. I enjoy it very much, but most of the time I keep my clothes on– I just must be more modest than Cleo LOL.

johnnydoc, I am far from modest.

Don’t worry marg I am used to doing the dishes.

I don’t know if I am modest, or just shy, but I am going to bed. Peace and Love and a good night to all.

Aye, happy Mum’s day to all ye Mum’s out there! Even a scurvy pirate had a mum once!

Very funny comic today. I really miss this strip.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there!!

marg yes, it was one of those W’s that you listed. I know I could look it up in my address book, but it’s a small town and he’s even more private than I am. I’ll check with him on your town and see how close it is to him.

Marg Such a giver! Thanks for the tasty pastries!

I’ve been staying in the background but listening to the tribe chat about home yesterday made me homesick. Just enough to call Mom again and remind her of my first visit to camp where I cried the first day & then made her the craft of the day…which she still has.

Happy Mothers’ Day to all Moms & Moms-to-Be in the crowd. Thanks for making me feel at home!

OH…and Grandma’s too!

Thanks for all the welcomes! Don’t worry - I’ll stay away from your coffee, if you’ll stay away from my carbonated caffeine. Happy Mother’s Day to all us moms!

Diet Coke w/Lime for me, please.

Happy Mother’s Day to the usual motley crew and good morning dcguys and RRAmom. It is another beautiful sunny day in paradise. Steam is coming off the lake. We will be taking my wife’s mom on a hike today and then going to a little Italian restaurant up in the mountains. I don’t know what is up, but I am in a great mood today. Hopefully, I can spread this feeling around.

Whoa! Look at all the food!!! Ya’ll are giving me a virtual paunch! Happy Mom’s day to all that are, past and present. And you might visit Drabble today, on the “other” one… http://comics.com/drabble/ johnnydoc5- modesty is only skin deep. ;D

That was a great start at spreading the feeling, Cleo, and thanks for the welcome! Enjoy the day with mom-in-law in paradise. Oh…and thanks for the picture of the lake.

You are welcome dcguys. Come on over for a swim.

Visit today’s doonesbury if you want to see what I wake up to every morning.

marg Happy Mother’s Day to you as well! Thank you for the lovely spread! Doggone it! the gentlemen here should have taken care of us today!!!

doc just don’t fall asleep again! LOL

Dry you are so right. A big bouquet of spring flowers to all you lovely mothers along with a bottle of bubbly. May a ray of sunshine guide you through your special day.

cleo thank you!

Morning Mom’s and guys. This is a day to be out on a motorcycle. 78 degrees, high of 95 partly cloudy and breezy here in Houston, Texas. Just gimme a long shady, curvy, winding road. Listen to the engine “Bubida-Bubida-Bubida” wind in your hair. A-h-h-h-h! But FIRST, I get to polish the chrome before goin’ cruising.

Welcome RRamom & dcguys! dc*, our only rule is be nice & NO politics (to keep it nice!). We have a great group and I know you will like it here! (Just watch out for that *pirate!) Ohhhh, and thanks once again, marg!

Marg - thanks for the vittles but on Mother’s Day you’re supposed to let us guys do the cooking. You must have spent hours cooking up this spread!

to all, Thank you ladies for all you do!

nice to be appreciated, DF!

Whoa, Tiny person needs to take a tiny chill pill. Happy Mother’s Day! Marg, thanks for the orchids and all the delicous food. Yum!

Marg, I am feeling better today. I got to sleep late again, so that was really nice. Doc, I hope you have a nice day with your special ladies. Everyone, thank you for the Mother’s Day wishes, etc.

dcguys, RRAmom and Goodquestion, Welcome to the Big Top!

Hey all, I hope I’m not ruining a such a beautiful day, but I just noticed that Thom Blumel (Birdbrains) lost his son to a bicycle accident. I think it would be nice if we all left him a note. . http://tinyurl.com/orrurp

*DF* - Thanks for the heads-up there.

Fri Thanks for the tips. DF Thank you for passing on that notice. And you’re right about the ladies. My apologies for just jumping into Marg’s wonderful offerings without providing a special something for her and you other Mom’s/Grandmom’s.

Thank you all for all you do!

Oh, ladies, where are my manners, allow me to clean up the breakfast dishes, and you enjoy this day. Goodquestion: Modesty might be skin deep, but that is deeper if you are wearing something over your skin. ;)

*JD* I’ll dry.

*JD* and I’ll put the dishes away. . Modesty - if ya got it, flaunt it!

Akenta says:

marg yes, it was one of those W’s that you listed. I know I could look it up in my address book, but it’s a small town and he’s even more private than I am. I’ll check with him on your town and see how close it is to him.

~ Could it have been Wonder Lake?

Did anyone put the bouquet back on the table?

Modesty seems over-played unless it’s in someone who’s truly humble. I haven’t decided if that’s fits *JD* yet, but I will.

RRAMom Best wishes to you & your mom on this special day!

Marg My mom says thanks for sharing the corsages. She loves Orchids!

Welcome to the new comers, and I’m glad you all enjoyed the spread. What’s Mother’s Day without brunch? For Father’s Day it will have to be BBQ!

I made breakfast for the family and no one died!! Went to the hospital with severe stomach cramps but nobody died! Got instructions from the EPA on hazmat cleanup so it’s all good!

I made French toast w/bacon, but this aft. I’m bbqing steak w/ corn on the cob, sweet potatoes, fresh green beans, ceasar salad, and apple carmel cheescake…. dang, now I’m hungry again…

DigFrog: Can I come over to your house?

Rad: Enjoy that ride!

sso guys i am home and alive, BUT i am leaving again in about 4 min. so i wont be on here till about 9 tonight if not later. also i will have Ana come that time. Lord help me i am going to go crazy. lol bye guys.

Doc: Happy Mother’s day to your Mom!

We are off to spend the day with my wife’s mom. Hope all you ladies are treated well by your children today. Enjoy!

*DC*, no offense, but I do not worry too much about what others think of me. It can be stressful to do so. Besides, how does one judge modesty? Tabby, good luck. *DF*, now I am hungry too.

Hey, Tabby. Glad you’re well. *DF* I forgot the bacon w/our FT, but it was good. I can almost smell the steaks…mmm. Me hungry too. JD* I don’t think I considered my comment very well. No offense intended and I’m glad you don’t sweat the small stuff. *Cleo is a bit more bold than I;and more power to ya, man!

Heading out to enjoy some of this sun and 70’s weather. See all y’all later.

No, no. I was not offended, I was just saying. Don’t worry about that. I really should learn to do italics so I can show sarcasm.

dcguys and goodquestion welcome to the group. *DF* thanks for letting us know about Thorn.

tabby welcome back.

I’m still learning itallics and bolding as you can tell from my last comment. Your patience is appreciated, all.

Thanks for the welcome, Akenta.

Johnnydocs5 and dcguys - This guide may be of some assistance in gocomic.com text style. .

http://home.comcast.net/~ccdesan/Pibgorn/StyleGuide.html

bolding doesn’t seem to work on DF for some reason bold *DF* italic DF

Just makes DF even more special :-)

Let’s try those w/ RK* - Thanks for the link. That was how I found out why my *snicker was italicized rather than the asterisks. But you’re right about DF**.

OK…maybe it’s just initials, but thanks for the pointers. The weather is sunny & 70 so I’m heading back out again. Wish I had a bike also, Rad.

Wonderful ride, not as long as I would have preferred but had some yardwork to do. A short ride is even better than none.

One note about bolding and italics here: it only works on three or more characters. so “DF” will not bold properly, it will act as “*DF*” plus the asterisks that make it italic.

well, don’t matter much. As long as they ain’t granny panties, heh heh!!!

Doc: Just don’t wear yourself out. You’d better get some rest tomorrow. When do you have to go back to work?

Hi Marg Hope your Mother’s Day was nice! My oldest is away but he called me. My youngest got me a lovely card and gift!

bmonk That explains much! And Hi to you, Dry. Hope everyone’s day was and continues to be special!

Hello All, I hope everyone had or is having a lovely Mother’s Day. Mine was nice and quiet and that’s all right with me.

I saw JFri’s comment on how he made breakfast and no one died. That was very funny, thanks for the laugh.

carmy Trust me! He wasn’t kidding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL!

Dry, LOL! He did seem surprised that no one died.

Hi dcguys I don’t believe I have welcomed you to our tribal family yet, so welocme! :-)

dcguys what is your avatar? It looks like a messy room!!

Marker 79

Hey Rad you hit it right on the button Marker *79*! You win the goldfish in the bowl!!

Okay I have edited my post to Rad 3 times, HIGHLIGHTING 79 and it doesn’t come out that way! And I do know what I’m doing, most of the time! LOL

Thanks Radical-Knight! I was wondering what the trick was, and so I appreciate the help. I just responded on FBFW regarding my (expected to be) last Mother’s Day with my Mom, so if you want to hear more, that’s where to look. Even though I’m usually quite willing to discuss politics or religion, I hate getting in arguments about it, because I don’t believe that is the best way to change someone’s heart & mind. I admit that the main attraction about this tribe meeting is the way everyone is nice to each other, and I hereby resolve to “play nice”. Since I didn’t describe the menu at FBFW, we had: BBQ brisket, hot links, roast beef, mashed potatoes, gravy, potato salad, baked beans, homemade rolls, harvard beets, apple pie, brownies, and ice cream. (I think that’s all - my sister cooked some, I cooked some, and my hubby stirred the gravy.) *My * Mother’s Day will be later - I decided a few years back that I couldn’t relax AND see that we had a nice dinner in my Mom’s honor, too. Easier to make a homemade meal for my side of the family (my in-laws live out of state) on the traditional day, and celebrate mine a different day. Until Mom’s strokes, she came over here for Mother’s Day, which she seemed to love - no crowded restaurants, and she didn’t have to clean. Of course since then, she’s not been able to cook or clean, so even eating at her house, she’s relaxing now. DigitalFrog your menu sounds close to the plans for my Mother’s Day - at least I know my hubby will grill steaks, and I asked if he could get our sons to peel & cut the potatoes for french fries. I LOVE the month of May - usually not too hot, not too cold, and everything greening up nicely.

Dry, I read here on the comments that there has to be at least 3 characters for the bold to work. So 79! should work.

RRAmom, I went and read the comments on FBFW. What a blessing that your whole family was able to spend Mother’s Day with your Mom. I’m sure your Mom was able to feel all the love from each one of you, bless her heart!

Hope everyone had a good day today. It seems like it from most of the posts.

Good night :-)

Goodnight, Akenta

RRAmom I kind of know where you’re coming from! No one can know anothers circumstances, but I can empathize! My mother was an RN for many years, saw many sad (and happy) things. She started to have heart problems, things went from bad to worse, her mind was always alert, you could tell, when she saw her grandsons her eyes would light up like stars! Things came to a place where she had to go to a nursing home, and for years she always said she would never go there if it came to that, but we had no choice. She was there 6 days and passed. I don’t mean to make you feel bad, I want you to feel good that she is at home where she is familiar, surrounded by family. She was a very devout Catholic and her Patron Saint was Saint Joseph. It is never easy to lose your mom! I am so glad you were all able to be together today! God Bless!

Hi All, Dinner went well, even managed to have everything ready at the same time. RRAMom and Dry, sorry to hear about your mothers. My parents are still living on the farm I grew up on, but may have to sell and move in the next couple of years. Makes me sad as it’s the last remaining piece of my great-grandfather’s homestead from the 1800’s that has stayed in the family. They still live in the house my dad was literally born in. I don’t think they would last long without the farm and yard to take care of. . Dry’s Situation reminded me of some words of wisdom for today: Be nice to your kids, they’re the ones that will choose your nursing home…

*DF* I hope your parents can stay in their home. 1800’s, you should see if it can be declared an historical sight, not sure how that works!

Your quote, I’m sure my kids appreciate all I do for them, but you know kids! I was the same way, then when I got old enough to know better, I REALLY appreciated everything! I hope my kids will too, and I think they will! Eventually!

Thanks for your kind words. I’m sure RAAmom thanks you too, in case she signed off for the night!

Dry, thanks for sharing your story. It was sad, yet sweet at the same time. I hope you had a lovely Mother’s Day.

So there goes my quiet Mother’s Day. My girls are in the kitchen making “special” treats. Pray for me please!

carmy thanks! Everybody is safe and healthy, so yea, it was a wonderful day! My oldest is in NY, but he called and it was nice!

I hope yours was nice also, even though your hubby wasn’t home! But, I tell my husband, don’t buy me anything, I’m not your mother! LOL But he always does!

hunny im home lol i had to do that. so *Happy mothers day to all of you fine ladys and that includes grannys and great grannys etc.

so im going for a couple of days and we get new people. welcome on and all as long as our party dosen’t change i am happy to have more.

Ps ana fell asleep at 9 tonight. Heaven on earth thank you God.

Jfri i am glad that you did not kill anyone. hope the tummy aches are not to bad.

going catch up on the older post be back soon…… maybe not…… i hope so.

RRAmom Thank you for sharing. It sounds like, among other things, you’ve inherited your mother’s sweet spirit. I’m sure the time you & the family spend with her is appreciated by all.

Rad Glad the ride went well. I imagined feeling the wind on my face & through my hair.

Dry The title of my avatar is “The Doberman did it!” It’s a small mutt (said with love) in the middle of a messy room as you said. I thought it was appropriate for Mother’s Day…’I didn’t make the mess.’ For me, there was no one else to blame. And don’t let anyone tell you only children are NOT spoiled…we are!

Good night, all!

My surprise was milk and toll house chocolate chip cookies. I also got handmade cards and notes. I got a check for 1 million hugs, which I mistakenly thought was for 1 million dollars. The girls got a good laugh when I was gathering up all my stuff and I dropped my “check”. I screamed, MY CHECK! as it was hitting the floor. Alas, the check is still good. ;)

Catch you on the mañana, dcguys.

Honeys I’m home!!! We had a wonderful day. We picked up my wife’s mother and went out to a nursery to pick up a special Japanese maple that we bought a couple of months ago. They kept it in their nursery until the end of evening frosts. We then took a drive into the mountains and up to the town of Glacier where we had a wonderful meal. Nebbiolo wine and I had a pork tenderloin wrapped in prosciutto and served with sauteed peachs and marsala wine, with a roasted vegetable risotto. I could only eat a third and my doggie box felt like it still weighed 2 pounds. We then hiked Horseshoe Bend trail where we watched and talked to whitewater kayakers. Fun day, beautiful, sunny and both my wife and her mom had a wonderful mother’s day.

Dry, I guess you KNOW how bad my cooking indoors is, huh?

dcguys, I too am an only child. Spoiled, not me. Just a slight case of B.O. LOL

JFri I suspect your cooking is just as bad OUTDOORS! LOL But I’ll take the chance cuz I’ll try anything once if no tree nuts are involved! LOL!

cleo so as far as we know there are 3 onlys here! I hated being an only, how ‘bout you?

Awww c’mon no more sad stories, you make me remember mia nonna. she passed last year, but I know she is in a better place. JFri, it is May, you shouldn’t be cooking inside anyway.

I am not an only child, I have a couple of siblings.

Dry I liked being an only child. Although, I outdid Calvin, I had two imaginary friends, both bears. I also spent every summer vacation on my grandpa’s farm in Alberta. My two female cousins from Vancouver also spent the entire sumer there. So, for two months of the year I had the equivalent of two sisters and we remain close like siblings today.

Cleo was that Glacier, MT you drove up to? . I’m anything but an only. Middle child syndrome to the max, had 4 brothers and sisters, one of each.

Boy, I don’t think I could live as an only child, it would be much too quiet.

From last night. if i remember rigth i think jdoc is 20 or 21 he is a few years older then me.

so i must be going 3 days of comments to cathc up on done. now time to share be back later or tomorrow. quiet tired. so peace and love welcome one and all. good night sleep tight dont let the bed bugs bite. :D

*DF*, no sorry not Glacier, MT, but the town of Glacier, WA. It is a snowboarder’s town on the way up the Mt. Baker ski area. I don’t know if you caught my question yesterday, if so I missed it. Do you live in Canada? You made a comment about bilingualism and French.

I see the tribe is doing quite a nice job of spreading the news of my love of life sans clothes around gocomics. I had to answer back on Non Sequitur a few minutes ago. Pretty soon they will slap an NC17 sticker onto my behind. LOL

Goodnight all! I’m off to hopefully a good night’s sleep!! Sweet dreams and God bless us all, everyone!