by Hal Bent
Yes, I know, its been a while since I posted. Thank you all for sticking with the site and coming back. Between trying to get ready for vacation with a stressful week at the regular 9-5 job, and then being away with family time, I somehow had not posted in a few days. Then, Marathon Monday happened. As you can see from my Blogger ID, the greater Boston area is my home. While on vacation, I was glued to twitter, the television news outlets, and just shocked by what took place just one block away from where I had worked in Boston for almost ten years. Thinking about how I had annually taken a break from work to go out and stand and applaud the many runners crossing the finish line far after the winners on television. Standing and applauding at the same approximate time in the same approximate place where the first explosive device detonated and hurt so many innocent people. How lucky I was that I no longer was in the city for Patriots Day, that I was no longer at the finish line of the Boston Marathon, where I was for so many years without incident. Somehow, after that fateful day, I had a hard time finding the motivation and energy to write about anything, let alone humor, with this hanging over my head. At that time, I just needed to be where I felt safe, with those I love, and that was where I was, with my family with me.
There are still no answers as I write this, no delusional reason given, no culprit in custody, no someone to point our collective fingers at and wonder WHY so much pain was deliberately delivered on a day and event about community, togetherness, and accomplishment. Just like all the other tragedies in our lifetime, life does go on. Whether the Oklahoma City bombing, 9-11, Hurricanes, flooding, tsunamis, or whatever disaster, be it man-made or a natural force, there is a time of mourning that does not end, but rather just gets pushed down deeper until life continues: The sun rises, the calendar moves forward, and another day and its unique challenges face us all. In that, we as a people require something more to get through each day, and part of that is humor. The Daily Comics Review is a very small part of that, but one that is important to me, and helps me get through each day with the small bits of humor it imparts (some would say very, very small amounts of humor...). In that, it is necessary as part of moving forward in my regular life to share these thoughts on the site, if only to escape reality for a brief period of time. With that, thank you for the indulgence, and as always, thank you for allowing me to snark on these comic strips and give me that brief laugh that helps life go on.
Thank you, Keith Knight.
Now, onto the Thursday Quickies:
Bliss by Harry Bliss:
That is simply the funniest comic strip I have read all year. The look on his face, the gorilla's arm around his shoulders, that is priceless.
Close to Home by John McPherson:
Wait, fishermen are sexually attracted to the fish that they catch? Is that the point? I fish, I am not attracted to fish. This is wrong. Soooooo wrong.
Shoe by Chris Cassatt and Gary Brookins:
I was groaning in mock horror before I got through the first panel. Way to mail it in, Shoe.
The Other Coast by Adrian Raeside:
My dog would agree: That would be cruel and unusual punishment.
Legend of Bill by David Reddick:
I have no clue what the heck is going on here, but figured it can't be all bad and a great way to end the Thursday Quickies. (Actually, Warrix is fighting the Wizard in the past, it's been building up for four months and now Shiarra is interrupting to try and get her dragon back from Warrix. Gnomes are freaking everywhere in the comic strip, just because. What a great comic!)
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