When It Rains, It Pours Pennies from Heaven

The saying "When it rains, it pours" is usually meant to mean something bad--the fact that Brutus and Wilberforce are seemingly happy here makes me think they wanted it to snow. The only definition I found that included good things was the Urban Dictionary and no where did I see that this saying could be relevant to actual weather because rain can fall at any speed.

I've heard people use "when it rains, it pours" to mean good things but none of the definitions take it that way. It is interesting to learn that Chip uses Urban Dictionary on a regular basis though.

"I Think I've Got Myself On the Phone!"

It was someone spoofing you, Brutus. Now they know someone will pick up that phone when it rings and now you are going to spammed and phished out the bunghole. You should just unplug that phone, turn off the ringer, or something because that number is now useless to you and everyone who has it for it the next ten years.

Hattie Quinn

There are many possible origins for the Batman villain The Joker--the most known one is that The Joker was originally a failed comedian who took to a life of crime as The Red Hood. While being persued by Batman, the Hood falls into a vat of acid which disfigures him. There are holes in Joker's origin so future writers can add their own spin to the origin but I'm sure no writer would've come up with The Joker just putting on whatever lipstick Hattie is wearing here and then robbing a bank after murdering his next door neighbor.

Never Order Food With Market Prices

Is it me or does anyone else want to punch this waiter in the face? I usually tip pretty well even when you do a bad job but this is one server where under tip I'd write: "Stop looking and acting like a douche" and then give him the low 10% tip instead of 12-15% like I usually do.

Tauy Creek Digest #41: Blakely Court

In the summer of 1922, a new development was planned in western Topeka. On land donated to the city by Franklin Monroe Washburn, the development was going to be called Washburn Park and cover the area between MacVicar and Oakley and 10th and Munson. The land had been in the Washburn family since 1857 when Jabez Avery Washburn settled there with a land grant signed by President James Buchanan. A park in the northwestern corner of the neighborhood, on either side of Ward Creek, was created. On either side of the park were going to be two new streets, both named after World War I heroes from Topeka who died in France during the Great War. The first was Louis Philip Billard, born to a prominent Topeka family in 1891. Billard was an early advocate of aviation and was one of the earliest pilots in Kansas. In 1916, he enlisted as a test pilot and died when his plane disintegrated on July 24, 1918.

The other was Victor Blakely. Victor Kenney Dodge Blakely was born in 1897 to Charles Graham and Mattie Victory Kenney Blakely. Charles Blakely was a prominent insurer in Topeka. Victor attended Topeka High School where he played football, attended Washburn College, and was one of the first Topekans to enlist in the military when the United States entered World War I. Over his time in the army, Blakely was promoted to lieutenant and led the 4th Platoon, A Company during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, the last major battle of World War I that lasted from September 26 until the war ended on November 11th of 1918. His battalion suffered heavy losses during the second phase of the Offensive and he died October 15, 1918. Lt. Blakely was buried in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery in France although a cenotaph rests in Mount Hope Cemetery in the Blakely family plot back home in Topeka.

Topeka and the local developers promoted the Washburn Park neighborhood extensively throughout 1922 and 1923. Washburn Park was bordered by 10th Street on the north; Webster, 11th, and Franklin (now Collins), and Blakely on the east; Munson on the south; and Oakley and Billard on the west. Ward Creek divides the park in half and the land is covered in large older trees. Blakely Court was a short one block curved street that went from Munson at the intersection with Warren Avenue to about halfway through Collins Avenue. Based on maps, it appears that Blakely was never opened to traffic. The Sanborn Fire Maps of 1944 label Blakely as "not open" and a 1950 topographic map has Blakely labeled an un-maintained dirt road.

After the Flood of 1951, flood prevention measures were installed all over Topeka including the levees along the Kansas River, the Shunganunga Creek, and Ward Creek. Ward Creek was rerouted slightly, the sides were built higher to control flooding, and Blakely Court--whatever form it was in--was demolished and by 1955, it was no longer included on maps. Today, houses sit where Blakely Court would've connected to Munson and Collins. You can almost see where the road might have been based on the location of the trees but all evidence of it is gone.

City map of Topeka, Kansas, 1938 showing Blakely Court.

Brutus' Gut Does Look Bigger Today

Just change the way you eat. Go outside and walk around the block. You have a dog--take Kewpie out for walks. Standing around the watercooler at work isn't helping anything either--but at least you are on your feet. Go walk around the building or the parking lot. Don't just wallow about it.

And That Sly Smile

Look at Veeblefester in that last panel. He totally gets off on acting like this. Giving us those angry bedroom eyes. WEIRDO!!

2018🔪 💀7💀

Random Observations:

• The party hats are just adorable but it's clear that they are trying too hard.
• Considering it's already nighttime, it's clear they didn't make plans so why didn't they figure out their evening before now?
• Did Chip really think 'toot' was a better choice of word than, say, 'blow'?
• Considering that nothing really changes when there is a new year, going to bed early is a pretty good idea.
• I didn't really have a problem with 2017, as I've mentioned. Now 2016? That year can burn in the fires of the past.
• As with many celebrations, Brutus and Gladys are doing this one without their beloved son, Wilberforce. That kid doesn't get to do anything.

I will be taking the next week off to finish up some writing and get back into the habit of work. I will return January 8th (although Point of Beginning #6 will post before that). Hope you all have a wonderful new year and I will see you all in 2018.

#NeverForget

Tea Tea Resolution

I've never been a fan of New Year's resolutions. Look, you either change some aspect of your life or you don't, who really cares? But I do like Gladys' advice here. Take up something you hate only to give it up in less than a week. Makes perfect sense.

Are They Watching Static Or a Spinning Cube?

Forget worrying about how boring you are or that your cable is out, I'd be worrying about the rising water behind you. Here's hoping that this marks a shift in the comic where the Thornapples are the last family on a rapidly eroding island and they try to appease each other and their god before the winds and rising water destroy their home and kill them all.