Mary Worth 3318

Hugo, it won't be long before you've taken the long walk to oblivion, like so many other men in Dawn's life. I'm not counting, but how many boyfriends did YOU have in college?

Mary Worth 3173

More than anything, I wish we could see the Floating Heads that Mary is remembering:

Mary Worth 2890

I'm just wondering where these words are that Wilbur is reading. Maybe it is just subtext that Wilbur is able to comprehend by looking at this picture. The subtext continues: "... I haven't been this happy in a long time. Not since before Mom left you. Now I understand."

Mary Worth 2871

One thing Weston's have in common: Oddly strong arms.

Harlan is just the coolest professor ever, isn't he? He really is a star at the discotheque. All the co-eds want to dance with him.

Mary Worth 2843

Wow! Karen Moy has really set herself up with a new challenge! Instead of the nearly impossible task of telling a story two panels a day, she's doubled down and is telling two stories with just one panel each day! The next three months are going to be AMAZING!

And June Brigman's forced perspective in panel 2 harkens back to Leonardo da Vinci's "The Last Supper." And we all know how Harlan and Dawn feel about Leonardo Da Vinci.

Mary Worth 2842

Let's parse this out panel by panel...

I have to admit, I groaned out loud when I saw this morning's first panel thinking this story might actually be about Wilbur's sense of abandonment, and not an elaborate tour or June Brigman's Beautiful Italy. Because making this a story about Wilbur would be about the worst thing that could ever possibly happen in the Worthiverse.

But then...

Thank you June Brigman for not even attempting to recreate Botticelli's Birth of Venus in ink, but only rendering the most minimal representation. Unlike this image from the Phantom last week.

Perhaps June thought she would have made this blog un-family friendly. But here at MW&M, we fear no art:

Mary Worth 2503

"See, Harlan? This is why I don't date. Thanks for driving me home after our Not-A-Date night out together. Would you like to come in and do yoga?"

Mary Worth 2499

"And, Dawn, I'm going to mix the drinks myself because I've been studying mixology. I've invented several new drinks this week alone. Also, do you like my shirt? I designed and sewed it myself because I've been taking a class in fashion design. Next semester, I plan to teach it."

Mary Worth 2337

I must admit that I have been feeling a lot like Alfie, the dog that's never there, even though we've felt tantalizingly close when we see a leash dangling from Harlan's hand. Wanders, the blogger that's never there. It seems I've had less opportunity to post as we are neck deep in a move after 16 years in Maryland. So, hopefully, in a month or so, you'll see more posts here... but for now, it may remain a bit sporadic. I'm here every day to read your comments, but time available for posting has really diminished.

Mary Worth 2332

It's a good thing Dawn has other plans. Also known as the "handstand scorpion," the taraksvasana is physically impossible for Joe Giella to draw.

Mary Worth 2331

Dawn's gone all out on this Taking-Mary's-Advice-to-Heart thing. The scarf is sure to help her patch things up with her friends.

Today's full strip

Mary Worth 2321

Because doubles aren't hard on the body at all... do them everyday!

After yesterday's sighting, I can't tell you how massively disappointed I am that I didn't get to see how Aunt June is going to render Toby and Ian on Sundays!!!

Today's full strip

Mary Worth 2319

So, I guess this is the story about how mean and cruel it is to gossip, and how unfair it is that spending all of your social and academic time with your ruggedly handsome professor at museums, restaurants and on his living room floor, can lead to such unjustified rumor and speculation.

Today's full strip

Mary Worth 2315

There's a word that only college students would use, "Fawning." As in, "Oh, Professor Jones, your mustache is so thick and lustrous. It reminds me of Leonardo Da Vinci. Would you like another bite of my sandwich?"

Today's full strip

Mary Worth 2314

Wait a minute... Are those students actually accusing Dawn of procrastination?

Mary Worth 2313

Yesterday's Ask Wendy letter submitted by RockDoc (aka Renaissance Man) was just awesome, especially now that we stop to consider how Dawn's classmates might feel about her dating her professor. And, yes, Dawn, meals together, museum trips and private yoga practicing sessions between a single man and a single woman is dating, no matter how much your father may approve. Why study for tomorrow's quiz when you can have lunch with the teacher instead?

Today's full strip

Mary Worth 2310

Meanwhile, at the Slum of Art...

My father always says, "The easiest thing in the world is to be a cynic." I guess that's why I started this blog. I saw how many people seemed to criticize this strip, failing to appreciate how amazingly difficult it must be to tell a story two panels a day (seven on Sundays). Then when my local paper, the Washington Post, stopped printing it, I knew something had to be done. I think of this blog as my own version of the Santa Royale Museum of Art, a place to preserve a great masterpiece, epic in its scope, infinitesimal in its execution, so that it may be preserved and celebrated, if not in this generation, perhaps in my grandchildren's.

Today's full strip

Mary Worth 2309

Just one more thing these two won't have to worry about...

Today's full strip

Mary Worth 2308

Leonardo was a genius, but I'm not convinced he was a genius artist. Michelangelo was definitely a genius artist. He was insane. The Sistine Chapel? Three thousand square feet on his back? Mammoth marble statues? There's a cute little quote attributed to Michelangelo saying something like when I see a block of marble, I see the statue inside it, and all I do is chip away until it is free. Something like that. But where did he get the marble? He quarried it himself! It's not like he went down to the marble store like you or I would. He got a team of laborers and they went into the mountains and they risked life and limb for years actually finding the marble and bringing it to his studio a hundred miles away. Over two dozen major sculptures, including the David and the Pietà. Plus some pretty impressive paintings. Did I mention the Sistine Chapel? Oh, and he was an architect with buildings all around Florence and Rome. So forgive him if he isn't all that impressed with Leonardo Da Vinci, the toast of the town, the belle of the ball, and his tiny little Mona Lisa, and unfinished Last Supper. Sure he had genius ideas, but did he actually ever make that flying machine? He was a genius dreamer who could sketch up big ideas. Go dream some big ideas while sitting in the Laurentian Library and explain to me why Michelangelo should adore Leonardo Da Vinci.

Today's full strip

Mary Worth 2307

"Reminds me of Dave."

Today's full strip