Pearls Before Swine by Stephan Pastis for January 19, 2021

He’s too tired to get upset after smashing a rock.

Please, hammerer, don’t hurt him!

What we’ve got here…is failure…to communicate!

It’s good exercise.

Peter Gabriel lives that time since the 80’s .

At least Rat only takes the sledgehammer to a rock, Goat!

Rat’s version is probably better for my health than what I actually do. Long range snipe Skyrim bandit with a bow. At least Rat’s version of stress relief would get me some of the exercise that I need and am not getting. Of course in the current situation trying to go buy a 12-15lb sledge might just get you in trouble too. Will we start needing permits to have or carry/transport one?

I am so sick of Goat these days. He reminds me of the time I went to a spa and was forced to listen to tinkly-wink chimey-wimey “music” that came from hidden speakers! He needs to wake up, man!

MC hammer is on the line.

How did Pastis pass up the opportunity to have Rat just say “We’re living in Hammer Time”?

The sledgehammer takes care of your anger until … you hit your toes.

Illegitimi non carborundum, Rat…

What did Dwayne Johnson do to Rat?

Sledgehammer times…I can dig it.

Inspired by Willie Stargell and Gallagher.

Its rat’s world, we are just living in it

I go on to Twitter and chew people out!

Then he follows the sledgehammering with a few relaxing breakfast beers.

Hopefully he never runs out of rocks.

I have a friend who hung up an Everlast punching bag on his lanai. Says hitting it does wonders for working off stress.

“If I had a hammer, I’d hammer in the morning, I’d hammer in the evening, all over this land”!

Everything looks like a nail to Rat when he is angry.

He should find some Russian spies. Then he could wack a mole.

Hard to believe Rat would use that Hammer for smashing up rocks for now he is doing work ;-) … Croc Power !

Local place features axe throwing!!

I used to play video games to deal with morning stress. Now I have arthritis, so it takes me a while to work through all the kinks before I can play. Life is difficult.

Stop, Hammer time

YEEET

Sskrrt

Trust me. I know what I’m doing.

Yeeet

Also rat has his own little mind in a big world

You meditate your way. I’ll meditate mine.

“If I had a hammer, I’d hammer your head, but I don’t have a hammer, so I’ll kick you instead.” (Teenager’s lyrics mutulating an old folk song)

Sounds like therapy to me.

Beats… Me.

Yes, we live in hammer times. Either take up hammering or get hammered.

John Henry would have a field day with him.

When I started college (in the 60’s) my older brother gave me a very large stuffed bulldog. He said that whenever I got frustrated or angry, to take it on on the stuffed animal rather than a human. Still have the bulldog. Stitched and patched, but still here. Maybe we all need something to quell the hatred and tone down the animosity.

I’d like to hammer whoever was responsible for my phone to be ringing in the middle of the night, just to tell me “We have noticed some unusual activity on your Visa account”. IDIOTS! I don’t use Visa! …..and wouldn’t be dumb enough to fall for it anyway!

I’m glad the days of “smashing a perfectly good guitar” are long gone.

There are many kinds of meditation, Sitting, Walking, Working, Making Spaghetti with something other than hamburger. Whatever you are doing can be a meditation if you are fully present and of course do it with love.

Get into a rhythm swinging that hammer and it could be a form of meditation.

One man’s rage is another’s meditation.

I am deeply pained that the condition of my back now precludes splitting wood; thoroughly enjoyable and quite therapeutic! (Plus, smaller pieces of wood fit in .my firepit; I have no use for smaller rocks

I tend to agree with RAT! I had to replace a TV…..

Splitting wood with a maul and wedges uses frustration energy and provides split wood for a good hot fire. Chainsaws are fun, too.

Heavy repetitive exercise is very similar to meditation. It only works if you focus on the physical activity. No symbolic aggression allowed.

An old pair of bongos and a recording of “I Can See for Miles” played loud work wonders for me.

Not with MY 20-Pounder, you won’t! Anyway, there are more stars in the universe than grains of sand on earth.

“If I had a screwdriver…”

Ooop. Sledgehammer break. Be right back.

A metaphor for political comments? (I know, I just made one…kind of…)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fu1cLv5j248

Sledgehammering a big rock can be a form of therapy and meditation in my book. Whatever clears the mind.

whatever works

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJWJE0x7T4Q

I like to spend a few minutes with my buddies, Jim and Jack. They’re mellow.

All the while Peter Gabriel was singing in the background.

Rat is an escapee from a chain gang.

As good a way as any that I have ever heard to release tension….

Don’t be so sure it’s not meditative.

Where I used to work the fitness center had a speed-bag.

Whomping on that for a little while not only worked off a lot of pent-up anger & stress it was a killer arm workout!

I’ve done that. It’s excellent therapy.

I used to go home from work sometimes and chop down a small to mid-sized tree that shouldn’t be there. These days I get up and walk my dog for 2-4 miles in the cold – very cold here. I dress appropriately and meet up with a neighbor only half a mile away, and we walk and chat and it really makes me feel better during the pandemic, since I am high risk. My dog is a hunter by birth and first career, now a therapy dog, and she loves the walk and enjoys greeting anyone else outside at dawn. She isn’t getting many takers in January here, but she still loves garbage day. We come home relaxed and happy.

I have in the past purchased cheap glassware on clearance. This was the stuff that I would through against the wall to vent my frustrations. Seriously, smashing something is very therapeutic. My frustrations were gone and nothing of value was damaged. Thankfully, my life is less stressful now and I haven’t had the need to employ my therapy.

I’m with Rat on this one. Sometimes you need to pound the crap out of an inanimate object.

College housemate would make a batch of cookies after every Physical Chemistry exam to destress. Knowing I was planning to take it the next year, she said, “It’s a good thing you do leathercraft for a hobby. It’s a nice excuse to pound things.”

Sledgehammers can be very satisfying, Rat. Go for it; it worked well enough for Triple H in WWE….

Under the circumstances, this is a very good choice, Rat.

Bamboo stick to the mattress.

nother rerun??