I'm struggling to understand why Saul isn't grumpy anymore. The only thing different is that instead of a bowtie-wearing chihuahua, he owns a bowtie-wearing dachshund. So unless Tommy is dealing again to the lonely residents of Charterstone, I can't figure it out.
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Today's Boldface Haiku is titled
"Sometimes, All You Need Is More Dog"*.
Take care!
You too!
Grumpy not!
Proud and!
*It's like More Cowbell, only quieter and with a bowtie.
As Bella's grand mausoleum goes neglected.
Also, I wonder if Saul has dismantled the Bella Museum in his apartment. Or at least if he's replaced some of Bella's portraits with Greta's.
-- Scottie McW.
You think it's over now, right? You think Saul's problems are all solved, and Mary's done congratulating herself, and there's nothing more to be said about it, don't you? Well, just remember who's telling this story and what day of the week it is.
It is not over until we see Bella's paintings in the Charterstone trash, or hanging in Mr. Allora's break room.
Just to get my mind of off the dreariness of this storyline, I turned to Wanders’ admirable archives and discovered that Dawn Weston embarked for a three-month study abroad semester in Beautiful Italy on March 16. Eight months ago almost to the day. Will she come home for the holidays? Will she be changed in any way? And by that, of course, I mean a better haircut. I’m hoping she and Harlan show up for Thanksgiving dinner wearing matching bow ties. And that Mary makes muffin-and-salmon stuffing for the turkey.
So Bella was not enough to make Saul happy but Greta is? Poor Bella. I dislike Saul even more now. Trying to figure out my range of dislike; there are so few sympathetic characters in the Worthiverse. Mr. Allora tops my Like list.
I have to agree with you Sandi Ego. I am hating Mary for her smugness and Myster Wynter for moving on thanks to Mary. Bella is just a bad memory. I think I hate Mary more because she takes credit for anything slightly happy happening to others and is a complete sociopath.
Maybe Saul is pretending not to be grumpy, otherwise, Mary may kidnap him again and force him to take in more animals from the shelter until he "transforms" (whatever that means).
The smart residents of Charterstone all fake happiness around Mary to prevent an invasive and unrelenting meddling onslaught - once through that hellish process is enough for anyone.
If this were in Canada, I'd suggest the change in Mr Wynter's demeanor was due to legalization of what Tommy may be dealing.
Greta sure is cute, though.
Saul addresses Toby as the formal "Mrs. Cameron" and she never says "Call me Toby?".
No wonder her only friend is Mary.
Am trying to reason through the following question - Who is older: Toby or Iris?
Has this been revealed anywhere?
Wanders, I asked Dr. Sweatervest this very question.
"Saul had been grumpy because he realized Bella couldn't live much longer. Bella had helped him through the annoyance of losing a wife he didn't like much anyway. Now that Mary has taught Saul that he can form creepy fixations on other animals, it's OK that Greta will someday bite the big salmon cake. In fact, after Greta he can order a Japanese robot dog. Roses all around. "
I wondered why Mary should be proud of Saul. Then I read @Regina Wolfe-Park's comment above that Mary's a sociopath and BINGO! By Jove, Regina, you got it!
Maybe Saul is not on a first-name basis with Toby because he can't stand her.
Monday at Charterstone
Mary is deadheading her roses.
Toby rushes up.
Mary, did you hear? Old Man Wynter dropped dead!
Oh, no.
Toby, will you do me a favor? You’re so artistic. Can you come with me to the florist and help me choose a funeral wreath?
I’ll pick you up in a few minutes.
Of course, I’ll be glad to help. You do so much for others, etc, kind...thoughtful.. generous...
Mary drives up and Toby gets in the car. She sees that Greta is in the back seat, wearing a black bow tie. (How thoughtful of Mary to think of Greta, she thinks.)
I have to make a stop before we go to the florist.
She stops in front of Animal Shelter.
Toby, there’s no place to park. Will you be a dear and take the dog inside. Tell them it just didn’t work out. Thanks.
Mary zooms off in a cloud of exhaust.
The Wynters Tale is finished.
Lie much, Mary?
@meg yesterday, you described that scenario perfectly (especially Mary zooming off without Toby).
In today’s strip, Mary’s using “impulsively” as a euphemism for “I lied to and bullied that old buzzard.”
I'm starting to hate Toby as much as I hate Mary (Maybe even more). She is so disrespectful calling Myster Wynter "Old man Wynter". How would she like it of someone called her drunken boor of a husband "Old man Cameron"? (Which I am sure everyone does. No wonder Mary's her only friend. She hates dogs, people who know she hates dogs and hates anyone who has a bromance with her pompous husband.
BTW, as far as we know, Mary never got those "new tires". "We impulsively stopped at the animal shelter." It's more like "I kidnapped that old fool and made him get a new dog." Mary is so despicable.
Saul isn’t the only one who was taken for a ride. I was really looking forward to the exchange among Mary, the tire purveyor, and Saul... Also, it appears Santa Royale is not at all close to California’s wildfires...
Correction: Mary is proud of herself; she is utterly indifferent to Mr Wynter.
Arrrggh, we're still doing the victory lap? Can Mary get any more smug? Ugh. And Toby is thinking, "Note to self: be very careful when getting in the car with Mary, in case she gets another one of her "impulses."
Wanders, you make a very good point. Why is Saul less grumpy? Here are some thoughts about this:
1) He is so emotionally destroyed that he finds it touching that someone "cared" enough to constantly hassle him, and then trick him into getting a new dog.
2) He's realized that Mary reminds him of his long-lost love, who he now sees was also a controlling, smug, meddling woman, and he's no longer sad about not marrying her.
of
3) Mary reminds him of his not-so-dear departed wife, the one who got the crappy tombstone, and he has finally come to realize that, hey, at least he doesn't have to live with a controlling, smug, meddling woman.
4) The reason Greta came out of her shell is that, once he got her home, Saul had this talk with her: "Listen, Greta, I know you've had it rough, but you have to pull it together. If we don't act like we're both happy and well-adjusted, that old biddy will never, ever leave us alone. We're going to go out there and put on a brave face, and maybe she'll finally stop pounding on my door. Also, don't EVER eat her salmon squares."
So, this story line is going to wrap up soon, right. RIGHT??
COMING MONDAY:
As bliss permeates Charterstone, Toby carelessly backs her car over Greta in the parking lot.
-- S. McW.
Toby must have been nurtured with something other than love because her nature is awful.
You know this story ain't over yet. Next, as Toby's heading out to her next art show, where she's exhibiting a new collection of miniature ceramic dogs, Greta takes a nip out of Toby's leg. Toby trips and the ceramic doggies go flying, breaking into hundreds of pieces. Toby, of course, is devastated. She demands an apology from Saul, who is back to his curmudgeonly ways. There's no way he's apologizing to a bitter harpy like Toby. An incensed Toby decides to sue Saul in small claims court but Ian has a better idea. Why not take her case and try it with TV's curmudgeonly Judge Rudy? Toby, Saul, and Greta appear on TV with Judge Rudy. Of course, Mary appears as an expert witness on dog behavior. Judge Rudy rules in Saul's favor. Meanwhile, Mary uses The Google to learn more about Judge Rudy. She discovers that Rudy's mother was so obsessed with the late actor Rudolph Valentino that she named her newborn daughter Rudolph in honor of the actor. Mary strikes up a friendship with Judge Rudy and learns that Rudy's husband died just a few weeks earlier. Mary invites Rudy to join her as she needs to go to the auto mechanic to get new tires. But as fate would have it, Mary and Rudy "impulsively" decide to stop at Charterstone where Rudy observes Saul playing with Greta and sees the man in a whole new light. Saul and Rudy fall in love. Rudy tells Mary she's never been happier in her life. Saul and Rudy get married. They settle in to wedded bliss at Charterstone. Toby and Mary look on and Toby remarks, "Thank goodness Old Man Wynter's new wife is friendlier than the previous one" as Greta growls at her.
Oh, Robb C. Sewell, if only!
SUNDAY: Summary and recap, check. Victory lap, check. Inane remark from Toby (complete with her tired “Old Man Wynter” bon mot), check. Sentimental picture of big-nosed man and cute little wiener dog, check. Fade to purple. We’re done here, right?
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