Big Top by Rob Harrell for December 10, 2010

Hummmm, Your poetry is more of jangle, tumble, plop. After a cheerful start, it sort of………… ummm…..pretty bad, actually. Dusty, but you tried.

HopeandJoy! I just finished replying to you yesterday!

Good Early Morning?

Ummm….. Stuff

Hot Cocoa Candy Canes Cinnamon Rolls Scrambled Eggs Bacon Tangerines Mixed Nuts Apple Cider Almond Tea Cakes Ham, Turkey or Roast Beef Sandwiches

I like it Dusty.

Hi Big Sister, HopeandJoy, and everyone :-)

Big Sister can I have a Roast Beef Sandwich with hot Cocoa?

Good Evening Little Sister,

Of course you may. I hope you enjoy it. So when are you out of school?

Soon I hope. At least for the holidays.

December 24 - 29 is my Winter break. Campus will be open, but there are no classes until after the New Year.

Ah Christmas! Gotta love it. :-)

Kind of makes me miss high school where I always got two weeks of vacation.

Good night everyone and thank you for breakfast, Big Sister. :-)

Good Night Little Sister

I didn’t reealize you only got one week off for the holiday. : (

More Stuff… BIG TOP ALTERNATE BREAKFAST LIST

Courtesy of Hilo & Audrey’s Restaurant, Earthlight Gardens, Selene Your chef: Johanan Rakkav

A LA CARTE Eggs any style Hilo’s You-Build-‘Em Omelets Hilo’s You-Build-‘Em Grilled Sandwiches Breakfast steak All-beef breakfast links A wide list of organic cereals Hash browns (with sea salt and Tabasco sauce on request) Bagels (every kind Einstein Bros. offers) Philadelphia Crème Cheese Einsten Bros. Schmears (all varieties) Nova Scotia lox (with or without bagels, no limit)

BREAKFAST BEVERAGES

Milk (whole, lowfat, nonfat) Lifeway Kefir (all varieties) V-8 (because you could’ve had one) Orange Juice (just like Mishkenot Sha’ananim in Jerusalem makes it) A wide variety of Ocean Spray and Langer’s fruit juices (see list) Odwalla’s Superfood beverages

COFFEE, COCOA AND TEA (We use only Godiva Belgian Chocolate in our cocoa-based products) (We use only Mount Hagen Organic Coffee, leaving aside Doctor Toon’s secret recipe) (We proudly serve Celestial Seasonings herbal teas and the best caffeinated green and black teas available)

Tea (see list) Hot chocolate (any style) Coffee (any style) Chris Alan Starbright’s Divine CocoMocha (made fresh with either So Delicious Coconut Milk or Blue Diamond Almond Breeze – as a float with Godiva Belgian Chocolate ice cream, $1.50 extra) Hilo Whitemoon’s Radically Best Coffee (you won’t believe such a thing could ever grow on a plant) Doctor Toon’s World Famous Nuclear Coffee (unobtanium collector’s mug, $2.50 extra) Bmonk’s Heavenly Mint Mocha (as a float with our in-house Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream, $1.50 extra)

AUDREY’S PI PIES We have an enormous selection (see menu); the house specialty is pumpkin pie

You mean we’re not going to hear more about Dusty’s biological clock? Too bad, that could’ve been fun.

Good morning, Tribe!

I’ve been struggling with “sleep issues” much of this week. Too much at the wrong times, actually. So here I am in the wee hours, attempting to do something while I’m still awake.

Hope your day and your weekend go better than my week has gone so far…

Who else has seen the online announcement about comments concerning Pibgorn? It probably is a smart thing, but as someone pointed out over at The Legend of Bill before said ban happened, it’s inconsistent of GoComics to print Pibgorn and not print certain editions of The Legend of Bill.

In case you’re wondering what my menu’s header is all about…

Hilo and Audrey are respectively, one of my characters and one of another author’s characters in a collaboration that in its last third of work (in terms of material, not necessarily time to work and rework the material). Chris Alan Starbright is my principal character in that novel; my collaborator has one or two of her own, depending on how you reckon her plot structure.

The restaurant and locale are a projection into the considerable future from the POV of our novel: just a dream on the part of Hilo and Audrey, both of whom are formidible chefs.

How about a hint, Johanan ? where would this Pibgorn announcement of which you speak be?

Good morningTRIBANDALL and GROG!

The ad makes me want to go catch something.

Never mind… found it @ Pib

Good Morning, HopeandJoy, LuvH8, Little Sister, Johanan and…

Runs with Nog!!!!

Good Morning, Tribeandall!

Running late this morning. Gotta go, gotta go, gotta go!!! LOL

Good Morning, Runs with Nog, Grog, Doc, LuvH8, HopeandJoy, Li’l Sister & Johanan

Have a great day everyone!

P&L

One more thing!!!

TGIF!!!

Heat wave!!! 29 degrees! Woohoo

Good Morning, & have a good day, ♠Lonewolf♠

Good morning all. I’m disappointed about the Pibgorn comments going away. I always used to use the link to 9CWL to jump to that comic off of Pibgorn’s comments. Now, I’ll have to actually search for it and make it a favorite. Life is so tough :-(

Mornning, MisngNOLA

I never went to Pibgorn. The comments were not my cup of tea. Then again, I can take or leave most of the comments @ Non Sequitur too.

LuvH8Cinnamon Rolls are sure to be tasty!!! Thanks for the heads up on yesterday. I’m sure your efforts let the Monkeys know you care…… My sleep pattern (and day pattern) is messed up recently and rather than toss and turn, I get up again, read, stir around, then I usually get sleepy and snooze the rest of the night.

Morning everyone and MNola

Morning, HopeandJoy

Morning All!

Morning, Digital Frog

@MisngNOLA RE: 9CWL newsdotyahoodotcom/comics It’s the first one on the list.

≡≡ P O P ! ≡≡ ♪ Good Morning TRIBE! ♪

Hello to all those here!

Hello Doc Toon and Sojourner and I am out of here yet again!

Hi and Bye HopeandJoy!

Good morning, Tribe…..

It’s Marguerita Friday tonight!! Woo Hoo…!

(and pizza for those who wish)

Good Morning Montana Lady - Yesterday they had some blue sky at Yellowstone! In the morning the live cam zoomed in on a herd of bison for awhile and you could watch them moving the snow to get to the grass under it to eat.

Good Morning Doctor Toon - Enjoy your sleep!

Sojo….thanks for the Yellowstone update! I haven’t visited the website as often as usual. Glad you got to see the majestic beasts doing their thing! They have got to be the most beautiful things around!

Doc and Lonewolf….I read the Pibgorn comic strip a while back to see what it was all about.

Didn’t care for it……MADE NO STINK ABOUT IT…..and moved on. Isn’t that the mature thing to do????

Too bad others have spoiled it for the fans and friends in that group!!

Good Morning, Doctor Toon, sojourner & Montana Lady!

Sleep well, Doc.

Doc…..I agree with you about Big Top being too busy to keep up. I only check in 2 or 3 times during the day, and really miss out on some of the antics of the Tribe.

But, I DO love the Tribe. :-)))

Good Morning Grog!

Greetings TRIBE.

I too miss the fun that used to be here. The water fights. The snow fights. The food fights.

Hmm, we seemed to spend a lot of the time fighting, didn’t we?

Hello serenasakitty - Perhaps you could do something about that?

Serenasakitty,

You could always throw a German Chocolate Cake at Sojo. It is his favorite : )

Good Morning Everyone!

It is a balmy 42° here with a high expected of 46°! Plenty of rain to keep things nice, clean and green!

He did eat all the ice cream this morning. Threw out the containers and everything.

Good Morning, serena & LuvH8

I hate to duck & run, but I’m going out for lunch today.

Hello LuvH8 - No rain here, supposed to get above 50 today.. I need to run a couple of errands this afternoon. A cold front is due to come through tonight and it will be too cold for a bit to get out easily. Please feel free to throw any German Chocolate toward me you want!

Gee! I knew you would like that! I got a different idea!  

Mua Ha Haa Haaa Haaaaaa!

Good thing I can duck quick!

I don’t have any cake to throw but since it is snowing here again [BOOOO, HISSSSSSS!!!!!!!] ……….

Pack Pack

Fling!!!!!!

This is a delayed reaction snowball so it is just as good for any who come in later as it is for any who are here now.

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA.

Good Morning, All!

Late is better than never, right?

Looks like we will be having weather soon. (3-5 inches of weather…)   ;^)

Dusty tried–and you gotta give him extra credit for being efficient: promotion and disclaimer in one stanza…

Hmm: I’ll have: Hot Cocoa Scrambled Eggs Bacon Ham Sandwiches–if you can fry the ham, toast (and butter) the bread, and hold the rest of the sandwich.

Hello bmonk!

Hi all at BT for me on just two topics wrap up is 15 then no classes until next year. I have two finals and at technical there where no finals just tests per chapter. About time for me to leave for part time work. Very cold here and Sat. night won’t be very great weather.

Hi, LuvH8, Sojo, & serenasakitty!

Yeah, fling those snowballs. We are getting a nice order of fresh snow soon. By tonight, we should have plenty of ammo–either new and (relatively) soft, or old and hard and crusty.

I’ve got the minions oiling up the snow trebuchet as I speak.

Pop W.O.W. Weekend!!

WooHoo!! BFF is doing well enough that she wanted to try being on her own for the weekend, so I’m going to my southern abode (Son’s house) to play the new Cataclysm expansion pack for the weekend. So….

PLAY NICE - STAY SAFE ((((TRIBE))))

Type at ya next week…..

POOPH!!

Here you go Bmonk. With a side of sliced tomatoes (they are good for you).

Thanks! Gotta run–bells are ringing!

Not that fast Sojo! You are all wet!

Serenasakitty! you got me on the chin! Kab!!! You are here! Good Luck!

Bye Bmonk and Runs With Nog

I bet he still has his minions preparing for battle. He is a sneaky one!

Well, as long as I can get dry before going outside!

Hello Kab - Hope you do well on finishing up courses!

Hello RwN - Good report! Enjoy your weekend.

Bye to all leaving.

Thanks for the 9CWL link, runswithnog

Hello MisngNOLA!

Sun is out, temp up, wind low - errand time.

BBL - P&L

Bye Sojo

Don’t squirt anyone with grape jelly!

Great news RwN

Hi, everyone! Great news, Runs! Serena - We don’t have snow here, but I don’t want it either. A cold front is moving in this weekend, that’s bad enough. Lil’ Sis - Only ONE week? At least the colleges around here end the fall semester around this time each year. Then the new semesters don’t start until after the first of January - usually the 2nd or 3rd week. Today’s the last day for my sons’ college until Jan. 18.

Hi, Rmom When I went to University, the Christmas break started when the last of the exams were done. Sometimes that date was earlier earlier than others, but I do remember having exams on the last day of the examination period.

Grog - That’s basically what happens here. This is “finals week” at their college. Grades will be posted (on-line) next week, but this is the last week for the students to show up until next year.

Hello again people of the tribe Been out watering rose bushes, some pruning work and other outdoor things in lovely 55 or so in temps before leaving for a couple of Christmas obligations…really looking forward to them as they help raise money for the Regional Health Care Clinic which offers free service to people who need help.

NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO THE COLD COMING IN! I am barricading our small property against it….Rmom and Sojo draw a circle around your house and the cold wouldn’t dare cross over….Right????

Grog were you born in Canada or England? I know you talk about having worked in Canada.

I picked up on the sentence structure of “When I went to University….” Makes sense to me that way rather than “Went to THE university” Just wondering.

Gone and will check in much later.

My brain doesn’t function so well sometimes. Have fun Runs With Nog

Happy BFF Dance!!!

   

LuvH8 said, about 2 foiled curses ago

I bet he still has his minions preparing for battle. He is a sneaky one!

Don’t you know that’s the secret of all successful villains? Minions! Preferable at least one able one. Two is better–then they can keep an eye on each other.

I went to a University on the quarter system–Fall ended mid-December or so, Winter didn’t start until Jan. That was nicer than the Semester system (at a College), where they either carried over the end of the Semester into January, or had to push much closer to Christmas.

HopandJoy, I was born in Canada…..and I didn’t go to school at the place they refer to as “The U” (University of Miami.) I went to Concordia University in Montreal.

Hope&Joy - It sure would be nice to build a barricade to keep the cold weather at bay. In order to circle both my house & Sojo’s, it would be a pretty large barrier. We live about 40 miles apart. Kab lives about 10 miles on the other side of Sojo. So, our weather isn’t usually much different. Well, I’m heading off on another errand.

Good Afternoon Peoples!

Hmmm… my minions have no snow, and they won’t stop dancing! I am thinking of using them as ammunition.    

I’ve found that minions, especially stick minions, don’t make good ammo.

Not unless you can pack them really tight, maybe.

(ROFL at the good animation, though…)

As an afterthought, I don’t think there are many Universities that are named after Provinces or cities, unlike here in the States.

Time to head home. Yay!

I suppose I could launch water balloons? They might freeze on impact! Imagine Doc T with an icicle hanging from his nose!

Hurray for Grog! Luv - At least Doc likes cold!

@Grog, I wish it was that time!

Soon, though.

Hey! LuvH8–ice balloons are not fun!

They wouldn’t be ice when they left here. I just thought that it was so cold where some of you are the might freeze when they land. (Of course with my aim they will probably all land in Brazil and California.)

But…… just in case. (sigh) No water balloons, I wouldn’t want to create an ice patch and hurt someone.

Rmom if you open all your windows, you could heat up the outdoors?

He he he he!

That’s one advantage of the SnowTrebuchet–you can aim it! Calibrate the range!

Swooosh!

POP!

Done with errands!

Hi and Bye Doctor Toon - Have a quick and easy fix!

Luv - I don’t think our furnace is up to that challenge. I know our finances don’t want to pay the electric bill that would result from trying!

It was an idea.

Hmmm…… wonder where that landed? Think he got Serenasakitty?

Phfft!

Hello everybody.

Hello Little Sister!

LuvH8 Back from the party and there is a stick creature dancing on my driveway….did you fire one anyway? Maybe he/she will frighten the cold away (if he/she doesn’t freeze first) I am on my way to keep it company and dance

woo hoo

Rmom and everyone The end of the Fall Semester for me is December 30th.

Our final exams for this semester are December 11th to December 18.

Sojo - I’m keeping my eye on the sunset. It looks very promising tonight!

Evidently, I missed Sojo, DocT, Rmom, LuvH8& Little Sis!

Where did it go?

I’m here bmonk

Rmom - It’s beautiful right now!

Maybe, Li’l Sis–but you are not under a sudden accumulation of snow, roughly 1 foot thick and, oh, 10-15 feet in diameter….

Hi bmonk, Sojo, Little Sister

The heaviest snow that I have ever been in was waist deep.

Hello HopeandJoy. :-)

Lil’ Sis - I’m confuzolled! How can you keep having classes after the finals?

Okay that was weird. I posted a hello but gocomics sent me to some weird HTML format page. I then come back to see three of my same post when there should only be one.

bmonk - I think you hit PA where a feisty Italian woman lives. (I just happened to check the nationwide watch & warnings map.) Boy, is she gonna be mad at you!

Sojo - I got several gorgeous pictures - at least I think I did. I haven’t downloaded them yet. Burrr, that cold front is starting to move in now. It was calm and almost pleasant a couple of hours ago. I thought I was warmly dressed enough, but I ended up going back in and grabbing my heaviest winter coat to wear while I was finishing up.

No, I think I saw the snowball head south from here. Unless it got a wicked curve, or hit the jetstream, or something…

Rmom Here is my Schedule for the remainder of this month.

December 10 Last day of classes before final examinations. December 11-18 Final examinations. December 24-29 Holiday – Winter recess. Faculty/staff holiday. Campus closed. December 30 Campus open. No classes. December 30 Grades due from instructors. (11 p.m. deadline.) December 30 Last day to apply for a leave of absence for fall semester 2010. December 30 Last day of fall semester. December 31 Holiday– New Year’s Day observed. Faculty/staff holiday. Campus close

There is no classes scheduled until after the New years holiday. Just open campus, which of course I’ll attend

After the 30th of December I’ll be off from school until January 18.

bmonk - Isn’t this where she lives?

Good afternoon/evening, Fellow Tribesters

Super long day for me! Glad it’s over! And now I get ready for ………………………………………………………………………………………….

PIZZA NIGHT!!!

HI, Li’l Sister

Hi again, Li’l Sister!!

LOL

Awwww, you erased the double print!

Hi Big Brother. :-)

Lil’ Sis - What happens in classes Dec. 20-23rd? It seems like if the final has already been given, there wouldn’t be anything left to do. Your instructors get more time to post grades than my sons’ instructors. They have to post them by Monday, at least that’s what the college bookstore told me. What happens at “open campus”? Is that just socializing and students staying in the dorms?

Hi, Wolfie! Yummm, pizza sounds really good right now. I guess that’s because I’m hungry. Hubby called, he’s running late thanks to work crises, which means we’ll be going to the restaurant later than usual.

Hi, Rmom!!!

Good Evening ♠Lonewolf♠ - PIZZA!

I’m sure it’s probably about what to expect next semester.

Now here’s a quote I like:

“A common mistake people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools.” Douglas Adams, Mostly Harmless

I would hope that open campus is for socializing, but I don’t know. This is my first year so it is all new for me.

Or maybe open campus is just another way of saying Study Hall for those who need it.

Good evening, Sojo &

Bmonk!

Evening, ♠Lonewolf♠

Time for supper–might BBL, likely not.

:^(

poit!

bmonk - Good quote. I think I’ve heard it expressed that “Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool.”

Lil’ Sis - I know that for incoming freshmen carrying a full load, that they’re required to take orientation or something like that at the school my sons attend. But they’re only going part-time, so didn’t bother. I can believe the registration, bookstore, etc. would have to be open for students to get everything ready for the spring semester. I’ll probably have to make a trip to the bookstore, as I don’t think I can get the book & access code needed for one of our classes through any other place. Well, I can order it on-line through their bookstore, but it might be better to avoid the shipping costs. I usually pay the tuition & fees on-line.

Sure is quiet for a Friday night. Eerie to say the least.

Hellooooooooooooooooo…………………………………………

Sure is … .

Quiet!

Well then It’s time to make some……..

NOISE!

Ouch … my ears!

Hi Lonewolf and Sojo Noisy one is back from her 2nd “event” Lonewolf do you know of Joe Posnanski?, the sports writer…Has a book out on Buck O’Neill a couple of years ago and is senior writer for Sports Illustrated. I have enjoyed his columns for years in the KC Star.

I’m pretty sure Sojo knows who he is because of where you live. Anyway, he was the speaker (without charge) where we were raising money for the Free Regional Health Care Clinic at a casual buffet dinner. Fantastic speaker…funny and knowledgeble. So glad we got to hear him in my town of 20,000 max when he is such a busy man and in demand everywhere else.

I will watch the Bulls and Lakers and see what happens.

Stomp your feet……clap and shout!!!!

If the snow trebucket was aimed at me, you were close. It has been snowing here all day. Not hard but steadily. BOOOOO. HISSSSS. So if anyone is in the mood for a snowball fight, I’ve got lots of ammunition.

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA

If not I can put it all in the freezer for next year. We have three extra freezers so I have lots of space.

HopeandJoy - I’m not that familiar with some things in sports.

(Looks at food and groans)

“Gee! I wonder if I can make my food a work of art like Calvin from Calvin and Hobbes does. ”

Well, I’m going to try for another good nights sleep.

Time for my zzzzzz’s.

♪ P&L ♪ ≡≡ POOF! ≡≡

Good night, Soujourner and good evening everyone else. Had some trouble connecting tonight, but I’m here for a little bit anyway.

Hello everyone at BT.

Hello, Kab

I have already started reviewing for 100 true and false questions for Psychology. Now no pressure of 2 hour limit on multiple choice questions I have been going over all questions and now I am finding them. Wish I could’ve earlier. I just felt too much pressure. When this one is done then the next one I need to work on language of medicine. I’ve hardly had time to look at any comics. 15th is deadline.

Hello Kab and Grog and anyone else

Hope you get a good night’s sleep Sojo and I certainly am not familiar with a LOT of things in sports.

(yawn) I will see if I can get some normal sleep tonight at a normal time for me. *: )

Hello Grog things have changed where I work at. I finally figured I got fired from one type of job. Strange it was my idea to make this particular work assignment run better with approval then the powers that be jerked it away and gave assignment to someone else exactly what I came up with. Then someone else changed something else.

Good night, HopeandJoy. Sleep well.

Hello HopeandJoy I finally managed get some normal sleep. For a while I have been up late and getting up early. My daughter has some stuff from same Jr. college to see if this will help. After these tests are done I plan to do something real special.

I miss everyone on strips and BT. Next few days I will be studing hard.

But you still have a job, Kab? Good luck with the finals. Bet you’ll be glad when they’re over….and hopefully happier when you see the results.

Grog yes I still have a pt time position. For some who say to me at least you still have a job and they work full time I tell them you try working pt and very limited hours. I know Doctor Toon works pt but he gets more hours then I though 3rd shift.

My hope is if all works fine at Jr. college not a waste of money and gets me some where. As most employer’s do not hire someone 55+ and I am getting closer to that age. Very close to turning older. I am just frustrated. Seeing in this area I work at others getting to move on and I am stuck/trap same area. I will say this much and I don’t think I will give to much away. The dept is within county work.

In KS there are different county’s per township.

I have been 8 long years of pt and hardly any vacation time and if there where to be vacation would be consider time off no pay. Okay enough venting. With unemployment so bad and extreme high. I am still looking I hope for future.

Good night all. Like I said earlier back to studies for next few days. Then GC and a small life. Until Jan.

Sleep well, Kab and good luck!

BULLS BEAT THE LAKERS!!!!

Good evening to those Tribesters still here.

Good Night to Sojo & Kab. Rest well!

2 comments short of a full page on BB, ♠Lonewolf♠. Not bad at all. Almost as good as one of Thom’s dedicateion strips.

That’s what I was referring to, Grog. Pretty cool.

Grog, I just posted a comment at BB, and it was at 51 on the count until I refreshed. It then dropped to 49!

Well, as long as we’re having fights of various kinds here…

Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam - I have a catapult. Give me all your money, or I will fling an enormous rock at your head

Substitute “snowball” or “cake” if your prefer (and if you know Latin)…

♠Lonewolf♠, the same thing happened to me. My comment was initially the 50th when I posted it.

Hello, Johanan. What’s shakin’?

And now it is the 50th unless someone’s gets deleted.

Okay, I forced the issue! Take that! LOL

Right back atcha!