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If there's one thing Santa Royale is known for... it's the varied landscape that people drive for miles to see. Here are a few of my favorite examples:

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All sorts of dating tips in Mary Worth this week. Two sure fire suggestions for impressing your blind date: Casually ask her, "What are your interests?" Also, a clever party trick, such as throwing your voice while drinking a full glass of water, goes a long way toward establishing a long-term relationship.

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I love that in Santa Royale, a maître d' with a neatly trimmed moustache still shows you to your table. But then again, in Santa Royale, men still impress their blind dates with phrases such as "likewise," and "shall we." Unfortunately, we can't tell from today's strip where Maître d'McSnooty is working now. Could it be the Three Trees, La Rosa's or even the Golden Corridor? Hopefully, we'll find out soon.

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This is an AWESOME story. The key element of any great story is it's major dramatic question - the question that propels the story right through its climax. In this case, the major dramatic question is clearly, "Will Mike like Jenna?" I haven't seen such a compelling MDQ since the seventh grade when Kurt Hipp and Margaret Potts went steady. And we all know how that turned out.

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"OoooOOOoooo... I like the way he types my name: Jenna. He typed my name! And soon I'll sign my own emails, 'Mrs. Doctor Mike Roberts.' Although I've long been one who sneered at love, knowing it wasn't for me, I have to say, I am totally and utterly smitten. I just can't wait to see what my soul mate looks like. Thank you, Mary Worth, thank you."

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"I also like small chidlren, dogs and parakeets. Between bights of oatmeal, I enjoy reorganizing my bookshelves. Gosh, I hope we have something in common."

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People sometimes claim this strip moves slowly without revealing anything about character or story. But this single panel is the perfect counter argument to that accusation. In just one panel we learn that in addition to his advanced medical degree, Doctor Roberts is either a financial counselor, or he knows nothing about constructing a sentence. Also, we discover that Jenna's table has two legs that are shorter than the others and she's had to duct tape her laptop to the tabletop. I suspect she's used Velcro to keep the beer glass from toppling over. Also, she seems to have scoliosis in her cervical spine. Yes, we've learned a lot. I'm glad I have 24 hours to assimilate all this information before the next wave of story development hits tomorrow morning.

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"Allow me to further introduce myself. I have feathered auburn hair, and opal blue eyes. I enjoy psychoanalyzing my girlfriends, balancing my budget, and eating warm bowls of porridge while I check my email. I have attached a photo of Dr. Drew Corey. Now allow me to tell you all about one of my favorite patients, Bonnie Johnson..."

Here we go...

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Now that Mary is referring to Doctor Roberts as Doctor Mike, things may get confusing. Just remember, Doctor Roberts is his professional name, but socially he is called Doctor Mike.

Poor Doctor Mike (Roberts), his love life is in the same emergency condition as the body of the man being wheeled into E.R. who just drove off Aldo's Curve into the canyon. Hopefully, Mary will be able to save them both.

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Mary Worth: February 28, 1949

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Aha! It was a slide rule. How awesome is that? Joolz, TeacherPatti, and Diving off a Cliff are all eligible to recommend Charterstone Jukebox songs just for participating in our Not-A-Real-Contest contest. Remember, the condo board must approve all suggestions.

This may be the last old time strip for a few days. At this point in the collection that Phoebe of Santa Fe sent me, there is a two month break in continuity. I'll scan the next set after my in-laws head home. Sorry to leave it on such a cliff hanger! Will Donn use the slide rule for some brilliant scheme to screw up the blue print's for TNT's construction project and save Sonora Canyon? We may never know!

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"Just some planning I'm doing... and the fact that everyone at the pool party has been smelling my finger. I haven't bent my finger all day, and it smells great, and people are just so excited to smell it. Jenna smelled my finger, Wilbur smelled my finger, even little children want to know what my finger smells like."

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Mary Worth: February 26, 1949

New Not-a-Real-Contest contest: Guess what Donn has pulled from the handsome stranger's pocket. Here's a clue. It is not dynamite: First to guess right can select a song for the Charterstone Jukebox, subject to condo board review as usual.

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Mary Worth: February 25, 1949

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Mary Worth knows Wilbur Weston, and Wilbur Weston ate a ham and Kevin Bacon sandwich.

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Doctor Drew Corey M.D.???? I thought for sure it was going to be Doctor Mike Roberts, L.P.

But I understand why Mary Would set Jenna up with Drew, rather than Doctor Mike Roberts. Could you imagine Jenna's first date with Doctor Roberts?

Doctor Roberts: How are YOU?
Jenna Thomas: I haven't yet found love.
Doctor Roberts: Well, love isn't meant for everyone.
Jenna Thomas: I feel the same.
Doctor Roberts: You know who I hate?
Jenna Thomas: Bonnie? Bonnie Johnson?
Doctor Roberts: And Mary Worth.

At least Drew would be interesting.

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Mary Worth: February 24, 1949

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This isn't the first time we've seen star crossed lovers channel one another's sentiments to indicate for better or for worse that Mary Worth must get involved. The same thing happened to Drew Corey and Dawn Weston, way back on my twentieth Mary Worth post. Let's hope Mary does a little better at uniting two souls than she ever did with the whole Dawn-Drew-Vera love triangle.

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Mary Worth: February 23, 1949

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Oh, if we could only read Jenna's thoughts. If only there were some sort of comic strip literary convention that would allow us such a privilege. Perhaps some kind of "thought balloon" in which we are able to read what she is thinking. It might read something like this:

"She knows. But who could have told her about the my deep rooted psychological issues with agoraphobia? Thanks to the help of an outside professional, I've been able to venture out of my home for the first time in years. But now, I'm not sure it was such a good idea. I certainly hope Doctor Roberts didn't tell her about me!"

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Mary Worth: February 22, 1949

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I'm sorry to have arrived so unfashionably late to the pool party! I had a huge project out by the new freeway behind my home. I was trying to whack down all the vines and brush taking over the trees, and I got a bit exhausted in the heat. I was as red as a bottle of pool party ketchup. Did I miss anything? Apparently nobody fits in their swimsuits this year because they all either grew or shrunk to a different size.

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Mary Worth: February 21, 1949

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So how do Mrs. Wanders and I know whether we are a couple who benefits from outside support, or a couple who is harmed by outside support if we can't know until after it's too late? In our case, a need for outside support is not immediately apparent, so maybe that's a telltale sign. Do we risk it? Do we call Jenna Thomas for some outside support, or will our world fall apart around us if we do? Maybe if she stares at our file for a week or two, she can discern whether or not we need outside support. I think I'm going to go outside. A little yard work and fresh air are probably the best supports I can get.

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Mary Worth: February 19, 1949

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Hmmm... Do you think there's a chance that... No, it couldn't happen... But, maybe... I mean, what are the odds that Doctor Roberts comes to the pool party as well? I can only think of a few couples who have met at the pool party... Wilbur and Iris, Drew and Vera... So, no, I shouldn't get my hopes up. That sort of thing just couldn't happen again... or could it!?

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Mary Worth: February 18, 1949

Mary Worth: February 17, 1949

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Mary Worth: February 16, 1949

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And nothing in this world is easier than sticking to a budget. Especially if you have spent the last ten years suffering from a compulsive shopping disorder. But if Bonnie runs into trouble, at least she has a financial planner who can stare at a sheet of paper for an entire week thinking thought balloons about what a great situation she's in.

Mary Worth: February 15, 1949

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It's not how much you make, but how much your husband makes that matters. So, look out Doctor Roberts.

When Jenna stops thinking and starts talking, I imagine it will be like that woman in Singing in the Rain and we'll all say, "Ewww, what a horrible sounding voice!"

Mary Worth: February 14, 1949

Today's flashback installment is the first skip in this story, since I'm missing the February 13th strip. But I need to give you fair warning: In a week or so, I'm going to hit a two month gap. So don't get too hooked on the old stuff. I have a lot that I hope to share with you over the summer (courtesy of dear reader "phoebes from Santa Fe"), but continuity is not guaranteed.

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Could Jenna Thomas possibly look any more disdaining? Clearly she has hatched some sort of nefarious plot against Bonnie. I'm not certain what it is, but it probably involves a $125 hourly billing rate.

On a personal note, Mrs. Wanders spent a few hours on the Grocery Game website that she read about in a book (written by Jenna Thomas perhaps?), and ended up reducing our average grocery expenses by a couple hundred dollars a month. No joke. I just thought you might be interested.

Mary Worth: February 11, 1949

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Is that the beginning of a box hoarding complex I see on Jenna's desk? Maybe she should set an appointment with Doctor Roberts! Oh, the romance and ethical dilemmas that could bloom from that!

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Mary Worth: February 10, 1949

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Today Mary Worth offers a quote largely attributed to Bill Russell, one of the greatest NBA stars of all time! How awesomely obscure. She's clearly struck a nerve with Doctor Roberts, but I'm mostly concerned about the bodies hanging on the hospital wall.

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Mary Worth: February 9, 1949

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Doctor Roberts desperately tries to play ignorant to Mary Worth's obvious advances.

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