Month: July 2023

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Therapy

The New Yorker now has a “Therapy Issue.” As you may or may not know, this is a topic near and dear to my heart. Below are relevant NYer cartoon selections on therapy from various decades across the past century. Got a favorite? I’ll tell you mine at the bottom.

 

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2020s

Therapy - asteroid.
“Would you worry less about your relationship if I told you we’re about to get hit by a giant asteroid?”

 

2010s

“I guess I want what everyone wants: A billion dollars for being a jerk.”

 

2000s

Therapy - Gershwin.

 

1990s

“I like to think that each generation will need a little less therapy than the generation before.”

 

1980s

 

1970s

Therapy - clown.

 

1960s

“My father and mother were very much in love, and quite wealthy. Our home was a radiant, joyous place. And everything was done to give us children a happy childhood. That, in a nutshell, Doctor, is my problem.”

 

1950s

“Like most people, I’ve been worried about Russia and the atom bomb. About China and Egypt and the missile gap. About juvenile delinquency and the national debt and lots of other things. But that’s not the reason I’m here, Doctor. I’m here because last week I felt I’d come up with perfectly marvelous solutions for all of them.”

 

1940s

“I don’t know how long she’ll be with us. She’s just working her way through her psychoanalysis.”

 

1930s

Therapy - Miss my doc.
“Now I’m well, I miss my doctor.”

 

1920s

“Really, Lionel, I think you philosophize away your happiness.”

 

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Although many of you may think of me as “Old School,” I find that I like the most recent one the best. Perhaps because it combines the Therapist’s Couch with another of my favorite tropes, The Dinosaurs? Could be, could be….

Lots more NYer therapy cartoons can be found by scrolling through the decades at the link, here.  But of course, that would require you to have a subscription. And that, in a nutshell, is why you pay me the big bucks. Am I right? You can schedule a follow-up with my receptionist on your way out.

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Far Side

Looks like it’s gonna be an almost all “Far Side” day today.

Just remember, it’s all fun and games until somebody gets hurt.

 

Far Side - Sven

Far Side - Fun 'n Games.

 

 

Notice I said “almost?”

 

Bonus Star Wars, since you’ve been good.
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Broad Street

Many have likely already seen and heard this, but for those outside the loop, this news just in from Harrisburg, PA:  End of an era.  Broad Street Market burned last night. Pennlive stories are here and here. Update: The Fire Chief says the fire was electrical in origin beginning from a faulty ceiling fan. The City says they will rebuild.

 

Harrisburg’s Broad Street Market – begun in the 1860’s – was the oldest continuously operating farmers market in the country.

 

Broad Street Market burning.
From the 1970’s: My mom in foreground, Uncle Wayne in background.  Sweet corn, 4 for a dollar.  Get ’em while they’re still fresh!

 

Every Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday @  4AM: Load up the truck for market.
Irrigate that sweet corn so it’s nice and juicy.
Broad Street Market sign.
Proud of the new sign.
Grandma Wolf (in apron) at Uncle Ken’s stand.
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Hmmmmmmm

It’s Monday morning and time for another installment of Things That Make You Go “Hmmmmmmmm.” From The Flintstones to Honest Abe, c’mon folks, all together now, say it with me…

 

Hmmmmmmmm

 

Hmmmmmmm.

 

And last but not least:

 

Hmmmmmmmm.
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Leftovers

You know what’s the best thing about the day after a holiday? Leftovers. No, not the half burnt burgers and half eaten watermelon taking up half the space in the fridge. I mean leftovers like these.

 

Leftovers from the 4th of July
They left out ‘World Series.’ Oh well.
From July 3rd, but still worth sharing!

 

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OK, now that we’ve beaten up on the U.K. a little bit, you wanna know what’s the second best thing about the day after the 4th? If you said “going back to work,” think again.  Rather, it’s remembering all the fun we had yesterday. And here’s hoping the trails will be clear by Labor Day. (At least this time there was no whiteout). For those  interested, I have posted on FB some video reels of spring runoff plus a trail hailstorm. Also, Anne has more (and better) pix on Instagram.

 

Leftovers - end of the line.
End of the line for me:  Hip deep snow on the 4th of July. Believe it.

 

 

RMNP – It’s a whole different world up here  on the tundra above tree-line (12,000′ ).
Intelligent design
The best argument for Intelligent Design:   Yes, friends, we are truly blessed here. I mean, c’mon: How ELSE does a perfectly split log fall like this in just the right spot in the middle of the freakin’ forest.  Am I right?  🙂

 

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Invasive Species

On my hike in Elk Valley this morning I didn’t find any actual Elk. But I did see tracks. That’s a size-15 boot for comparison, just to give you an idea that these are no dainty-toed mule deer we’re talking about here.

 

Invasive species - elk tracks.

 

At first I was going to say that, besides me, there was not one other mammal on the trail this morning – only insects, wildflowers, and birds – just how I like it. But then a teenager on a mountain bike zoomed past, so that blew that assertion right out of the water. At least it was just one mountain biker and not 217 mountain bikers like yesterday in Bear Creek Canyon above Morrison. I swear, mountain bikers have become just as much of an invasive species as the 7′-tall Musk thistle pictured below.

 

Invasive species - thistle.
Carduus nutans

 

But, not to worry: I survived unscathed in any case. And I say that even after encountering the Black Beauty below alongside Douglas County Rte. 5 on my way back into Roxborough Park proper. Lucky for me, I came prepared with my “Awakening of the Bears” t-shirt, along with my trusty can of pepper spray. I guess maybe I’m the invasive species as far as this bear is concerned? Could be, could be….

 

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Fourth Of July Weekend

We live in what FEMA calls the “wildland-urban interface” (or, WUI) of the arid Mountain West. Accordingly, we celebrate Fourth of July weekend around here by flying the flag, but not by setting off fireworks.

Fourth of July Weekend - fly the flag.

 

And lest anyone forget, below is a photo taken in our neighborhood on July 1 , 2012 – eleven years ago today – after the Waldo Canyon Fire burned down much of Mountain Shadows. A remembrance is here.

Let’s all be careful out there.

Happy 4th, y’all.