I love his color scheme: black walls. Tom must be third cousin to the Addams Family. Reminds me of an apartment I moved into many years ago--someone had painted the ceiling olive drab.
Has this strip jumped the shark? Mary used to be a covert snoop. She'd weave her way into people's lives like an undercover detective, and then -- BAM -- she was smugly pulling all the strings!
Now, she's less James Bond and more Gladys Kravitz.
I am a young man with a dilemma. I am falling in love with a much older woman! She lives in the same condominium complex I do, and I often encounter her in the parking area or at pool parties. I don't know what it is about "M", as I'll call her, but she's driving me crazy. She has really short snowy white hair, and she's really rocking a Judi Dench vibe. And her clothes! Sometimes she looks like a very stern cafeteria matron in pink, and at other times her lavender skirt matches her varicose veins exactly. I don't know what to do. My mother and my grandmother and my great grandmother think "M" is too old for me. Wendy, what should I do?
"Tim"
Dear "Tim":
Age is just a number if you really care for this lovely woman.
So, if you like early bird specials, and taking walks with a cane, If you're not into excitement, and you have half a brain. If you like waking up at midnight to go to the loo, Then she's the love that you've looked for, she's waiting for you. (at the door with soup)
The Charterstone design plan: claustrophobically narrow hallways, plastic wainscoating and distressed, institutionally green halls. The interior decorator's next job was a homeless shelter.
It's a challenge to make an amusing comment after a bravura one like @meg's at 7:59 AM (another home run, meg!). Anyway...a lot has happened to Tom Harpman and his apartment since yesterday! Look at all that facial stubble! Look at those black walls - you can't even see the blah framed artwork and orange lamp!
"I'm still feeling pretty miserable!...Would you like to come in so I can spread my virus to you?"
BTW, is anyone else having trouble with Comics Kingdom loading the strip? The gazillion ads and pop-ups are loading (ugh), but not the strip.
So, I was wondering why Mary was wearing black lipstick yesterday, but now we know that Tom has black walls. So, Mary was just trying to match his apartment.
@KitKat -- I am also having lots of trouble with Comics Kingdom. And as for Harpman's stubble, yes, he is starting to look a bit like Wayne the Kidnapper. Break out the Barbasol.
I agree, another grand slam home run indeed for Meg, by way of Rupert Holmes, who I thought I had banished from my mind forever along with England Dan and John Ford Coley.
Yeah, Mary is transcending into a whole new level of obnoxious intrusiveness. Not a positive development. But then, she was kind of out of commission for a while during the Wilbur/Dawn epic so she has a lot of time to make up.
Mary has turned creepy in this plot. It's really off-putting to have her put her agenda Right Out There like that.
I agree with Peggy Olson.
But we still need to figure out the plot. I respectfully disagree with Meg. That plot shaded John Dill's storyline.
Maybe Tom Harpman is miserable because he's unemployed. He can be the new Ask Wendy! After all, it's clear that overt meddling is a real Time Suck for Mary.
(wow. "testocil" is my word ver. sounds like an ointment for...well, you know.)
Mary has mistaken Tom's politeness for an open invitation to go in and "fix" whatever it is that's wrong with him. But Mary takes to heart that old saying, "Misery loves company".
Tom really looks like he's about to hurl into Mary's bowl, and though she seems totally unconcerned about catching his disease, THAT might take the wind out of her meddle sails.
[If I were writing this strip...] Next week, Dr. Jeff arrives at Charterstone to surprise Mary by taking her out to dinner. Finding Mary isn't in her apartment, he stops by Toby's apartment to see if Mary is there or knows where she is. Of course, Toby directs him to Tom Harpman's apartment, and he gets there just in time to see Mary coming out the door and Tom in a BATHROBE! As Mary tries to explain, Dr. Jeff storms off in a jealous rage.
Tom Harpman helped Mary carry some heavy packages (cases of Kelk from Costco), graciously accepted her mixing bowl full of soup, and even invited her in when she was clearly imposing -- he's the politest character ever. I'm sure glad Mary's investigating him immediately for his crime of tending to keep to himself.
Sadly though, after storming off, Dr. Jeff would return to apartment of Tom Harpman (I feel obligated to use his full name after John Dill) with an engagement ring to yet again propose to Mary (and to yet again be rejected by Mary). After this, Dr. Jeff will give us a palms up, sheepish "Oh well!" look, and the three will depart for dinner at the Bum Boat in Dr. Jeff's futuristic pink Oldsmobuick sports car.
I am quite surprised Mary needed help carrying "heavy packages." After all, she took no prisoners when heckled by a young whippersnapper as she helped lug a huge, leaden pinkcake straight from "design" station to finalists table. I think it was all just an excuse to trade chicken soup for Tom Harpman's soul. She must be quite hungry nowadays, what with making her cake and not eating it, too.
27 comments:
I love his color scheme: black walls. Tom must be third cousin to the Addams Family. Reminds me of an apartment I moved into many years ago--someone had painted the ceiling olive drab.
Has this strip jumped the shark? Mary used to be a covert snoop. She'd weave her way into people's lives like an undercover detective, and then -- BAM -- she was smugly pulling all the strings!
Now, she's less James Bond and more Gladys Kravitz.
Bring back the old 007 Mary!
Dear Wendy-
I am a young man with a dilemma. I am falling in love with a much older woman!
She lives in the same condominium complex I do, and I often encounter her in the parking area or at pool parties. I don't know what it is about "M", as I'll call her, but she's driving me crazy. She has really short snowy white hair, and she's really rocking a Judi Dench vibe. And her clothes! Sometimes she looks like a very stern cafeteria matron in pink, and at other times her lavender skirt matches her varicose veins exactly. I don't know what to do. My mother and my grandmother and my great grandmother think "M" is too old for me. Wendy, what should I do?
"Tim"
Dear "Tim":
Age is just a number if you really care for this lovely woman.
So, if you like early bird specials, and taking walks with a cane, If you're not into excitement, and you have half a brain. If you like waking up at midnight to go to the loo, Then she's the love that you've looked for, she's waiting for you. (at the door with soup)
Good luck!
Wendy
The Charterstone design plan: claustrophobically narrow hallways, plastic wainscoating and distressed, institutionally green halls. The interior decorator's next job was a homeless shelter.
It's a challenge to make an amusing comment after a bravura one like @meg's at 7:59 AM (another home run, meg!). Anyway...a lot has happened to Tom Harpman and his apartment since yesterday! Look at all that facial stubble! Look at those black walls - you can't even see the blah framed artwork and orange lamp!
"I'm still feeling pretty miserable!...Would you like to come in so I can spread my virus to you?"
BTW, is anyone else having trouble with Comics Kingdom loading the strip? The gazillion ads and pop-ups are loading (ugh), but not the strip.
@Peggy Olsen,
This strip jumped the shark several decades ago. But like the undead, it keeps on going and going.
Good thing! It wouldn't be quite as mockable if it actually had merit.
Mary's stroking her chin. I love it when people let you know they're thinking. Or maybe Tom's stubble has reminded her she needs a shave, too.
So, I was wondering why Mary was wearing black lipstick yesterday, but now we know that Tom has black walls. So, Mary was just trying to match his apartment.
@KitKat -- I am also having lots of trouble with Comics Kingdom. And as for Harpman's stubble, yes, he is starting to look a bit like Wayne the Kidnapper. Break out the Barbasol.
I agree, another grand slam home run indeed for Meg, by way of Rupert Holmes, who I thought I had banished from my mind forever along with England Dan and John Ford Coley.
They're really pushing this whole "age is just a number" thing to a disturbing new level.
@fauxprof and Peggy Olson--loved your comments.
Yeah, Mary is transcending into a whole new level of obnoxious intrusiveness. Not a positive development. But then, she was kind of out of commission for a while during the Wilbur/Dawn epic so she has a lot of time to make up.
Mary has turned creepy in this plot. It's really off-putting to have her put her agenda Right Out There like that.
I agree with Peggy Olson.
But we still need to figure out the plot. I respectfully disagree with Meg. That plot shaded John Dill's storyline.
Maybe Tom Harpman is miserable because he's unemployed. He can be the new Ask Wendy! After all, it's clear that overt meddling is a real Time Suck for Mary.
(wow. "testocil" is my word ver. sounds like an ointment for...well, you know.)
Mary has mistaken Tom's politeness for an open invitation to go in and "fix" whatever it is that's wrong with him. But Mary takes to heart that old saying, "Misery loves company".
Tom really looks like he's about to hurl into Mary's bowl, and though she seems totally unconcerned about catching his disease, THAT might take the wind out of her meddle sails.
Remember to sneeze into your elbow Tom Harpman; you have company.
Mary looks around and thinks, "I can help with more than the cold. This place just needs a little salmon colored paint."
WOW. Right after breaking poor John Dill's heart-- this. I am shocked. Shocked I tell you.
I should write to my newspaper and tell them this "family-friendly" strip features a woman entering a man's apartment!
[If I were writing this strip...]
Next week, Dr. Jeff arrives at Charterstone to surprise Mary by taking her out to dinner. Finding Mary isn't in her apartment, he stops by Toby's apartment to see if Mary is there or knows where she is. Of course, Toby directs him to Tom Harpman's apartment, and he gets there just in time to see Mary coming out the door and Tom in a BATHROBE! As Mary tries to explain, Dr. Jeff storms off in a jealous rage.
@Thorpnotized at 1:23 PM, I like the way you think! I think Karen Moy should go on vacation and turn the writing over to you.
Tom Harpman helped Mary carry some heavy packages (cases of Kelk from Costco), graciously accepted her mixing bowl full of soup, and even invited her in when she was clearly imposing -- he's the politest character ever. I'm sure glad Mary's investigating him immediately for his crime of tending to keep to himself.
Tom, don't eat that so-called chicken soup!!! It's made with that popular current European ingredient found in many foods- horse meat.
@ Thorp:
Sadly though, after storming off, Dr. Jeff would return to apartment of Tom Harpman (I feel obligated to use his full name after John Dill) with an engagement ring to yet again propose to Mary (and to yet again be rejected by Mary). After this, Dr. Jeff will give us a palms up, sheepish "Oh well!" look, and the three will depart for dinner at the Bum Boat in Dr. Jeff's futuristic pink Oldsmobuick sports car.
Hmm, @Sunny Kumar at 3:50 PM must be trying to reach Toby.
"Maybe I Can Help You With More Than Your Cold?"
Ladies and gentlemen, I rest my case.
I am quite surprised Mary needed help carrying "heavy packages."
After all, she took no prisoners when heckled by a young whippersnapper as she helped lug a huge, leaden pinkcake straight from "design" station to finalists table.
I think it was all just an excuse to trade chicken soup for Tom Harpman's soul. She must be quite hungry nowadays, what with making her cake and not eating it, too.
Want to make Pina Colada or three now. Not know why.
Also, Mary does the really difficult, single-handed soup bowl hand off. With her left hand (la sinistra). Clearly, she is evil.
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