I have all sorts of tools and have done all sorts of things with them I never thought of it as “playing around.” I remember pulling a muscle in my face trying to hold a gearbox in position while my son got a bolt started. I remember replacing a speaker in an airplane when the windowless cabin was somewhere above 170F. Life is a wild ride!
My husband had a ‘77 Firebird when we were dating. After we got married, some of the “old biddies” I worked with told me that, now that we’re married, I could make him “get rid of his ‘toy’.” I answered, “First of all, I don’t ‘make’ him do anything & he doesn’t ‘make’ me do anything; we’re partners. Second, if he gets rid of the ‘toy’, I’LL kill him!” (I loved driving that thing as well & even helped a little in the restoration. It was a sad day a few years later when we were indeed forced to part with it.)
It reminded me of when my mother said that her sitting down by her sewing machine and making a dress for one of my girls was her “puttering around” with odds and ends from left over pieces from materials of custom made clothes for her clients.
Calvin is thinking of “Girly- girls”. I’ve been married (at different times of course) to a “tomboy” and a “girly-girl”. Tomboys love the toys and getting things done by manipulation of power tools and physical effort. Girly-girls enjoy getting things done in a light-hearted but effective manner using personality and brains.
I loved them both and would not have had either change.
yes, we girls get to do everything you guys do plus the shopping the only drawback is 1) if you’re married you can’t borrow money like a male can and 2) you have to clean and cook and wipe up after all the kids – no matter the age.
I was something of a tomboy, but I also played with dolls. When I had two my real-life “dolls,” feeding and dressing them, reading and singing to them, was the most fun ever!
I don’t know Calvin, I enjoy playing with my 1968 383 Formula S Fastback and my 1970 Challenger R/T SE. For Christmas I got a really nice battery-powered chainsaw. Last year I got a battery-powered tire inflator. I like my toys. As for shopping, meh, someone else can do that, it is not for me.
BE THIS GUY 10 months ago
I know girls who play with all the things that Calvin mentioned. Then they go shopping for clothes and shoes.
dadthedawg Premium Member 10 months ago
Different strokes…..for different folks.
codycab 10 months ago
Calvin played with all of those things. And he hasn’t grown up at all!
Spacehog 10 months ago
It is a matter of preference
Robin Harwood 10 months ago
Girls have no appreciation for the finer things in life. Spaceships, giant squids, desert islands with pirate treasure mean nothing to them.
The Calvinosaurus That Calvin Wanted To Discover 10 months ago
I guess he’s still salty about getting socks for Christmas instead of the nuclear weapon he asked for.
californiamonty 10 months ago
Wasn’t this basically the entire premise of Tim Alan’s “Home Improvement” TV series?
sirbadger 10 months ago
She’ll steal all that stuff just before filing for divorce.
Frog-on-a-Log Premium Member 10 months ago
Maturity ain’t all it’s cracked up to be!
STEPUP 10 months ago
You have to be at least 60 to “putter around”.
The dude from FL Premium Member 10 months ago
It’s GREAT Calvin!
cracker65 10 months ago
Calvin is stuck in the past.
snsurone76 10 months ago
Is Calvin using his parents as an example?
The Duke 10 months ago
Girls get to play with the boys things!
hariseldon59 10 months ago
Calvin’s a little young to know about the ‘toys’ that some women play with.
Dr. Quatermass 10 months ago
Nigel Tufnell on sexism: “What’s wrong with being sexy?” smh
Zykoic 10 months ago
I recall a women at work that owned Dodge Viper. She liked to go 140 mph commuting home. She was different.
Herman2mris7 Premium Member 10 months ago
And you get to play with girls. (some time boys)
flagmichael 10 months ago
I have all sorts of tools and have done all sorts of things with them I never thought of it as “playing around.” I remember pulling a muscle in my face trying to hold a gearbox in position while my son got a bolt started. I remember replacing a speaker in an airplane when the windowless cabin was somewhere above 170F. Life is a wild ride!
win.45mag 10 months ago
And when he finally matures, he can go dinking around
sheilag 10 months ago
I have all of that little Cal… ;-)
Huckleberry Hiroshima 10 months ago
Actually we’re all doing fine.
sandpiper 10 months ago
Susie gave that one up too easily. Things had already change a great deal by the ’90’s.
Wren Fahel 10 months ago
My husband had a ‘77 Firebird when we were dating. After we got married, some of the “old biddies” I worked with told me that, now that we’re married, I could make him “get rid of his ‘toy’.” I answered, “First of all, I don’t ‘make’ him do anything & he doesn’t ‘make’ me do anything; we’re partners. Second, if he gets rid of the ‘toy’, I’LL kill him!” (I loved driving that thing as well & even helped a little in the restoration. It was a sad day a few years later when we were indeed forced to part with it.)
gantech 10 months ago
Is this sexist person the same Calvin who oft times waxes poetic and contemplates the meaning of life?
Ol' me 10 months ago
I’m old enough to putter around. I wish I had time to.
Egrayjames 10 months ago
The ’’Calvin’’ in me knows I’m puttering around all the time. Retirement has worked well into my plans for thirteen and a half years now.
jagedlo 10 months ago
But by then, will you have enough money to putter around, Calvin?
Redd Panda 10 months ago
Puttering ain’t all it’s cracked up to be.
goboboyd 10 months ago
We all need black holes to throw our money down.
Mediatech 10 months ago
Puttering is overrated.
(never mind how I know this)
ilovecomics*infinity 10 months ago
Ah yes, puttering around. I’m not even that old and it’s one of my favorite things.
ladykat 10 months ago
Girls can do all those things too, Calvin!
Skeptical Meg 10 months ago
Yet your only friends are imaginary and a girl. Hmmm…
John Jorgensen 10 months ago
Pretty sure there’s nothing unusual about a woman owning any of the things Calvin’s mentioned in Panel 2.
Wizard of Ahz-no relation 10 months ago
when I was a kid i hated going to the hardware store with my dad, but now it’s a big toy shop
old_geek 10 months ago
Puttering isn’t all it’s cracked up to be…
The Wolf In Your Midst 10 months ago
Calvin’s gonna be mighty upset when Susie blows his doors off on the quarter-mile.
Bruce1253 10 months ago
Sorry Susie, guys never really grow up, they just get more expensive toys. This is as good as it gets. . . .
dv1093 10 months ago
I truly hope Calvin and Suzie marry when they grow up, and live happily ever after.
g04922 10 months ago
Calvin confirmed it… boys never grow up.
swanridge 10 months ago
I’ve finally reached that age. It’s actually pretty good!
Calvins Brother 10 months ago
Retired 4 years ago, been puttering around ever since.
KageKat 10 months ago
If I have my way, my daughter will get to do whatever combo of what she wants!
basspro 10 months ago
Funny thing, I think Arnold Palmers wife used to play around with his putter.
1JennyJenkins 10 months ago
That last panel made me LOL.
It reminded me of when my mother said that her sitting down by her sewing machine and making a dress for one of my girls was her “puttering around” with odds and ends from left over pieces from materials of custom made clothes for her clients.
mistercatworks 10 months ago
Calvin is thinking of “Girly- girls”. I’ve been married (at different times of course) to a “tomboy” and a “girly-girl”. Tomboys love the toys and getting things done by manipulation of power tools and physical effort. Girly-girls enjoy getting things done in a light-hearted but effective manner using personality and brains.
I loved them both and would not have had either change.
Imhungry 10 months ago
Today’s strip leaves a lot of openings for comments, but the censors would probably shoot me down by the second or third word that I wrote.
metagalaxy1970 10 months ago
Still a tomboy at the age of 53.
willie_mctell 10 months ago
I have my mom’s circular saw and a set of sockets. Someone got to her Yankee drill before me.
Angry Indeed Premium Member 10 months ago
If Calvin doesn’t change his mindset, he’ll be puttering around the streets with the homeless. :(
GKBOWOOD Premium Member 10 months ago
Better hope your Mind and Body are still in working order by that time.
bjminnis 10 months ago
yes, we girls get to do everything you guys do plus the shopping the only drawback is 1) if you’re married you can’t borrow money like a male can and 2) you have to clean and cook and wipe up after all the kids – no matter the age.
jfikse Premium Member 10 months ago
I was something of a tomboy, but I also played with dolls. When I had two my real-life “dolls,” feeding and dressing them, reading and singing to them, was the most fun ever!
ephraim.haritonov 10 months ago
cavln and Hobbes is the best
pchemcat 10 months ago
I don’t know Calvin, I enjoy playing with my 1968 383 Formula S Fastback and my 1970 Challenger R/T SE. For Christmas I got a really nice battery-powered chainsaw. Last year I got a battery-powered tire inflator. I like my toys. As for shopping, meh, someone else can do that, it is not for me.
hagarthehorrible 10 months ago
Mars and Venus arguing on the school bus pavement.