Ballard Street by Jerry Van Amerongen for December 16, 2010

Just the thought of numbers puts me to sleep…

Can this be claimed as a medical deduction?

I misread that as ‘sedition accountancy’.

“Blue Velvet” accounting..

courtesy Dennis Hopper..

When you need it is later when you are audited. Alas the IRS does not believe in painless wealth extraction.

Cleo on Santa’s knee? Well, she will do anything for a treat:

http://www.comicssherpa.com/site/feature?uc_comic=cscwy

It is a real game by the way.

What Ben is really selling is plausible deniability. “I didn’t see what he put on the tax return. I just signed where he said to sign and wrote a couple of checks.”

http://www.comicssherpa.com/site/feature?uc_comic=cscwy

Cleo, dear, I think it’s a French card game. You know those French …. they have a different word for everything. {TY: Steve Martin}

And Calvin wants to smack Suzy Derkins with a slushball upside the head. You’ll both get coal in your stockings if your dreams come true.

He may not feel the same after seeing that time docked from his pay check.

Hello Christmas Eve-eve-eve-eve-eve-eve-eve-eve-eve-eve, my little (and big) Cleo elves…

and welcome to the Dec 16th  2020 “CLEO and COMPANY” on Sherpa

 

Ah… a younger Cleo… not waaay younger, cos she’s sitting upright, and speaking aloud.

But she’s walking on a leash… or maybe she still does sometimes… and more telling, she didn’t ask Santa for WMD’s.

She might just figure he won’t bring them anyway…

He’s kind of a peace-y Lovey type, and her aspirations go way beyond a Red Ryder BB gun.

Besides, the squirrels might have asked for a safe and peaceful Christmas…

and Cleo knows that Santa tries hard to moderate differences, and please everybody.

 

For us… it’s the day to realise Christmas is actually coming, and if you’re going to shop at all, it might be time.

I admit, it’s not been the most Christmas-y year I can remember…

but if you can muster enough spirit to put aside the gloom, and bring someone else a little joy…

not many years have needed it more.

 

A small indulgence for yourself is also recommended….

I’m not saying blow through your budget and set yourself up for financial stress…

but just something to bring you a little comfort.

 

For me, it was some nice dark chocolate…

Not totally on my recommended plan…

but one ounce a day will let me ignore holiday junk food, get me through the season in better cheer.

BTW… I couldn’t get back on GoComics after my first Monday comments…

or at all last night, after catching a quick glimpse of the Tuesday strip.

Nothing but time-outs and error messages, till I got on for a bit on my phone, in the wee hours.

At first it was just the comics… then my email stopped working… gradually the rest of my wifi connection gave out.

 

Last night there was nothing…. I thought I was doomed.

Tonight started out that way… but now it’s inexplicably back.

Except… every page or refresh takes 3 tries.

two that fail, and the third one works.

 

My comments just sit there till the page times out.

I have to copy them, apparently, and then re-post them, after long minutes and three tries at a page refresh.

I can only selectively view any replies… some won’t open at all.

 

Nothing happens when I click “like.”

Maybe they’re posting but I can’t see them…

in which case, each new click may cancel out my effort or replace it, since it’s a toggle.

Just letting you know…

I’m sorry if I couldn’t “like” your comments.

At least I got here!

http://www.comicssherpa.com/site/feature?uc_comic=cscwy&uc_full_date=20201216

Play “Lemmings”. Not exploding kittens, but rodents.

Good morning, Ballardeers! Q Date: 278.98558.41

I need what’s in that tank. A little nap might help.

Cleo. What a card. Always kidding around…

..

What? She wasn’t?

..

.

Never mind.

Y’all keep your explosives to yourselves. Snerks. (((((HUGS!)))))

And a groaner from GIRTH. http://www.comicssherpa.com/site/feature?uc_comic=csbjw

I’m not really up… all appearances to the contrary not withstanding.

I should still be sleeping, but the Wi-Fi is working, so I had to peek.

 

I’ve been able to read the replies, and give some likes…

But I must say goodnight again….even though it’s morning.

Santa sure is an optimist! (And pretty cute. too.)

Santa doesn’t know Cleo very well. But, Cleo knows what she likes.

I’m waiting for the evil cat to give Cleo some fake kittens that will explode when she touches them and covers her in kitty poo.