I have long been a fan of the comic strip Tundra. The humor is often twisted and dark…but this unpublished strip takes the cake.

Chad Carpenter, the cartoonist, posted that on Facebook last week, looking for input. Most of the comments were like, No! Too much! That’s crossing the line! But I haven’t laughed out loud so hard in a long time, which begs the question: Is there something wrong with me?!

After plowing through 126 episodes of Dexter in less than six months, maybe I’m just desensitized to blood, guts, and gore now.

Besides, it’s not like Tundra isn’t already edgy.

I love Tundra so much, every year I buy a desk calendar, one of those dealios where every day features a new strip. And even though most of the comics are familiar to me, I still laugh out loud every. single. day.

IMHO, Tundra is right up there with classics like The Far Side, Calvin & Hobbes, and Bloom County.

Rockin’ on the Rock

Even though it feels like summer dragged on forever (and is still dragging on; it’s been in the mid-80s, very un-pumpkin spice-like weather, if you ask me), it feels like we ran out of time to enjoy a bunch of our favorite activities. Like chilling at our fave bar on the Rock River, enjoying live music, rum cocktails, and cheese curds.

So yesterday, we chilled at our fave bar on the Rock River, enjoying live music, rum cocktails, and cheese curds.

The same place, I might add, where my dear wife flipped me the bird while I was taking photos during a visit last year. Some things never change.

What the hell, babe?!

This is literally their final weekend for outdoor concerts and the tiki bar, so I’m glad we were able to squeeze in a last-minute visit. We ended up staying for close to four hours, so you can imagine our tab was on the high side. Those Shipwreck’d cocktails – rum, pineapple juice, and coconut, served in a mini plastic bucket – were mighty tasty! But it was totally worth the Ben Franklin and Andrew Jackson because we had a blast, found shady respite beneath an umbrella, and the singer (who really took a shining to us for some reason; could’ve been the $20 Tara dropped in her tip bucket, but it just as easily could have been our magnetic personalities and dashing good looks) even played our song, Gerry Rafferty’s “Right Down the Line,” which we danced to on the grass in front of the stage.

That is how you put a nail in summer’s coffin.

Unprompted

Thank you for weighing in on my question about blogging prompts. I got a lot of good feedback, the general consensus being, do them if you want – but you don’t need them. Even Tara said, “You hate to box yourself in.” She’s right; this is one bird who doesn’t like to be caged.

So, I’m scrapping the idea…with one exception: y’all seemed to like Wisco Wednesday. That’s my favorite, too. I won’t do it every week (see: box, cage), but it’ll be a recurring feature. Kind of like the Church Lady on SNL or Newman on Seinfeld or Carl Weathers on Arrested Development: you didn’t see them every week…just often enough that they became familiar favorites without wearing out their welcome.

What’s your favorite comic strip? Did you cross everything off your summer bucket list? Does it feel like fall where you live yet?


67 responses to “Yo-ho-ho and a bucket of rum.”

  1. I’ve yet to see a comic strip that lives up to Calvin & Hobbes. That one still holds up, and it’s probably even funnier to me after having a super energetic boy child. Kid literally carried around stuffed cats and then tigers and built his own transmogrifier-type creations. But that Tundra comic with the dog and the fire hydrant is pretty funny. So mean of you to post more cheese curds!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. For many years, I hoped Bill Watterson would come out of retirement and bring Calvin & Hobbes back. Hell, I still hope that, but alas…

      This is a Wisconsin-based blog. I would be remiss by not posting cheese curds on a regular basis!

      Liked by 1 person

  2. I’ve never heard of Tundra. I do not get out much. Even on my computer, apparently. I was just thinking about the Tara flip off situation the other day! Hilarious that she’s made it into a tradition! Was that seriously a year ago?? Wow.

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    1. Almost a year and a half ago (we went in May last year, and again in August(?) with my parents. There were no middle fingers during their visit.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Would’ve been AWESOME if it had been your parents giving you the bird. Haha. I hope your mom reads this and bears it in mind for their next visit.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Don’t encourage her!

        Liked by 1 person

  3. I’m a huge fan of The Far Side, but I’ve never heard of Tundra. Yeah, that one was dark, and you should take a break from blood and gore shows; it is dimming your light. 🤣

    See, I’m late commenting on the prompt post, and you’ve already made a decision. HA!!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Don’t sweat it. Most people voted for red paint in the kitchen and we went with blue, so not getting a say in the whole to-prompt-or-not-to-prompt question probably wouldn’t have mattered anyway, ha.

      I’ll be on the lookout for more fluff in an attempt to make my light shine a little brighter.

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      1. I voted for blue, so to quote the genius (🤣) Charlie Sheen: WINNING!

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Yay! You are MY PEOPLE!

        Like

  4. It feels like summer again today and I hate it. 80 degree temperatures do not belong alongside autumn leaves. Ugh.
    I’ve never heard of Tundra… and though I don’t think that cartoon is too far, I also don’t think it’s very funny. Liked the other examples better.
    Glad you ended your summer with a bucket of rum. Finger flips et al.
    😉

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I’m with you on the summerlike temps! We had a cool stretch to start out the month, and a lot of the leaves started turning colors…but then it got hot and the whole process stalled. Mother Nature is a big fat tease.

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      1. We were hot, then cool, then hot, then frost, then hot again. Weather whiplash.

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  5. cheers to the Wisco Wednesday and also cheers to the approach to do it when the muse leads a topic!
    I love those huge chairs they have at various places – and still smiling at Tara’s gestures – hahaha
    I am still smiling at the dancing and just overall refreshing time.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Trust me, without the rum, there would not have been any dancing. Liquid courage and all that.

      Liked by 1 person

  6. I don’t know about Tundra. The other comic strips you mention I like so I’ll look for it. I’m fond of Pearls Before Swine that has humor like the ones you mentioned.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. So few people have even heard of Tundra. I’m glad I can help spread the word! I think we have Pearls Before Swine in our newspaper (yes, I subscribe), so I’ll look for that one.

      Liked by 1 person

  7. Now Tundra is my favorite comic strip. Even the pinata donkey is frowning.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I love that there are two different pinata comic strips. It’s rare to see even one.

      Liked by 1 person

  8. Not too far (side) for me, hilarious.

    My wife has weaponized her middle finger too.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. What is it with women and their middle fingers?!

      Like

  9. I love the Far Side. That wouldn’t be a half bad page-a-day calendar to get.
    Gorgeous weekend here – definitely summery, but the mornings are starting to get cool.
    I always put way more stuff on my summer list (it’s not a bucket list, it’s a to do list) than I could ever hope to accomplish in one season.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Yes, mornings are our saving grace. It was 52° today, which is downright cool. Makes my 5:15 a.m. walks bearable.

      Liked by 1 person

  10. Tundra is new to me, but I admittedly haven’t read comic since I was a kid…. so maybe I need to visit that. Welp, here in Phoenix we’ve had two days of cold water, hail, and torrential downpours–which has been nice–but we’ll be stuck in sweat-er weather until late November.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. “Sweat-er weather.” Clever! And I saw your storms on the news. Pretty wild!

      Liked by 1 person

  11. I do like Tundra except that gory one. I don’t enjoy the thought of innards.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Most of his Facebook followers didn’t either. Leave it to me!

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  12. Calvin & Hobbes is my fave.

    BTW: We didn’t even last 1 episode of Dexter . . . too much “blood, guts, and gore” for my sensitive sensibilities.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Oh, well…at least you gave it a try! It’s definitely not everyone’s cup of tea. I’m guessing you’re not a fan of the pinata guts strip either then!

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      1. Actually, in the context, I thought the piñata was quite funny. 😀

        Liked by 1 person

  13. Never heard of Tundra but my Far Side replacement comic was The Argyle Sweater…i also really dig Pearls before swine

    Liked by 1 person

    1. You’re the second person to mention Pearls Before Swine. I need to check that one out.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. The cartoonist of that started his career as lawyer

        Liked by 1 person

  14. I honestly have never seen tundra but as a huge piñata fan, I love any comic that features a piñata and I’m fine with this one. I tend to enjoy dark humor but I know it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. My all time fave is the far side and I’ll never get over it , though I do love Calvin as well. Glad you guys had a chance to do a last summer fling

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I don’t think I’ve ever taken a whack at a piñata in my life. Too bad: I’ve always thought that would be fun! (Though I’d prefer candy to entrails.)

      Liked by 1 person

      1. same as far as the entrails option

        Liked by 1 person

  15. Hey humor that pushes the limits. All good. I might not like it, but someone else might. “Tomato, tomahto.” It’s choice. That’s what I love about humor. Of the five you included, my favorite is the Tickle one. Ha, ha. Don’t tickle me. I told you.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It was tough narrowing it down to five. I was tempted to do a much longer post with a couple dozen Tundras, but then I wouldn’t have had room for anything else.

      Liked by 1 person

  16. I just typed a huge comment and then it deleted. Oh, well. My fall bucket list is to go pick out pumpkins to carve, do a corn maze, and repaint the front porch. I suspect zero of these things will actually get done.

    Also, I would argue that the weather here hasn’t been that unusual. August and September are the hottest months of the year here and have been since I moved here. It is getting cooler at night. Why are people complaining?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Ugh…I hate when that happens. CONTROL+Z often restores what was lost. That little trick has saved me many times.

      I agree that the weather isn’t unusual; every fall that we’ve lived here, we’ve experienced an Indian Summer. I’m just personally ready for cooler temps so I can turn off the A/C and start going through that cord of wood we have! (The mornings have been very nice, at least.)

      Like

  17. I like comics that stereotype old people. I really shouldn’t, given that I’m one of them and think ageism is wrong along with stereotyping and implied bias but I suppose I can relate so why not embrace the humor. Low 40’s in the early morning, mid 70’s to mid 80’s in the afternoon. I’m not complaining. The high country did get some snow already. I survived the road trip here to CO which means I may actually get to make a Summer bucket list for next year.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Does this mean you’re a “Pickles” fan? That’s one of three I read in my daily paper (“Peanuts” and “Zits” being the others).

      I’m eagerly awaiting your first HEY-IT-SNOWED! post.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. I don’t purposefully set out to read comics but enjoy the old folks ones if I run across them. Jane Fritz often has some hilarious ones on her blog. Won’t say that I’m anxiously waiting for that first snowfall. The family managed well their first two years here but they were 1000 feet lower. I hope I won’t be posting a whining rant about the stupid snow in Colorado… 😉

        Liked by 1 person

  18. You got a laugh out of me, Mark!💖📚

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Great! My work here is officially done.

      Liked by 1 person

  19. We had a day last week that was cold and rainy, but now we’re back up into the 80s as well. However, the leaves are very much turning. It’s clearly trying to be fall, the weather just hasn’t gotten the memo…

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Cold and rainy sounds absolutely delightful.

      Liked by 1 person

  20. The Far Side is definitely tops. But, my goody-two-shoes side also loves Peanuts comics. I mean, Snoopy……what can I say?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Ha…I just replied to another comment above that “Peanuts” is one of three I still read regularly in my daily paper. I was/am a huge Charlie Brown and Snoopy fan. You can never go wrong with the classics!

      Liked by 1 person

  21. Clearly I share your dark sense of humour ‘cos, once I worked out what it was, I literally LOL’d 😀 Mind you, I LOL’d even harder at the dog and the fire hydrant, so clearly I can also be purile.

    Peanuts is my all time favourite. I read them as a youngster and never grew out of them.

    I’m with Autumn, the photo of those cheese curds look soooo yummy. I wish we got them here…

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Dark and purile sense of humor? Clearly, we are two peas in the same pod…especially since you love “Peanuts,” as I do as well. The holidays don’t officially kick off until I’ve watched the “Peanuts” specials!

      You do get spotted dick though, so there’s that.

      Liked by 2 people

  22. Peanuts has stood the test of time for me, but when it comes to trashing the workplace Dilbert wins the day. Nice shout-out to Bloom County. One my faves as well. I need to check out Tundra. Even though the summer bucket list is completed (which wasn’t a lengthy one at that), we haven’t quite gotten to Fall just yet in terms of weather feel, but we’re oh so close. Wisco Wednesday sounds great.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Few can ever compare to Charles M. Schulz! I’m glad they still rerun “Peanuts” in most papers to this day. Great way to honor a cartoon legend!

      Liked by 1 person

  23. The same thing that’s wrong with you is wrong with me -I thought that cartoon was funny too.

    I love that photo of Tara. You should frame it.

    I don’t have a bucket list, but I like that you do. It’s fun to read other people’s hopeful lists. They’re inspiring.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I need two frames then; they’re both great!

      I know I talk about a bucket list a lot, but it’s not like I actually have anything written down and hanging on the new fridge with a couple of magnets. They’re really just loose ideas, things we know we want to do someday. I guess this is another example of that don’t-fence-me-in mentality, huh?

      Liked by 1 person

  24. I don’t read comics. I’m sorry. I didn’t even know comic strips were still around. I was comfortable with the amount I crossed off my summer bucket list. I did the most important things. We had some cool weather to be replaced by weather way too warm!!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Comic strips will never go away! Charles Schulz has been dead for 20+ years and there’s still a “new” Peanuts strip every day.

      Liked by 1 person

  25. That’s the way to put the nail in the summer coffin. You two sure know how to get max enjoyment from a day, a place, a season. Love it!

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    1. Wait’ll you see what we have lined up for winter…

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  26. I don’t have a current favorite comic strip, but I always loved The Far Side and Calvin and Hobbes. (I’ve never heard of Tundra.) I did come across a post the other day that said “If you fill a piñata with ketchup, you’ll never have to host a child’s birthday party again.” I haven’t been home in three weeks, but I’m looking forward to getting back and enjoying whatever the weather is.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. The ketchup trick is genius! Totally something I would do. Which is probably why I’m not invited to many children’s birthday parties, come to think of it…

      Liked by 1 person

  27. I’m never able to cross everything off the summer bucket list, but we dine outdoors for as long as possible. Going to our favorite party street tomorrow night!

    I don’t read comics any longer, but in college, I loved Bloom County.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Judging by your recent IG summer photo dump, I’d say you had a pretty busy and fun past few months even if you didn’t do everything you wanted to!

      Like

  28. Summer DRAGGING on? What is wrong with you guys? You wait until winter…that’ll show you a drag! How does a Shipwreck’d differ from a Pina Colada? And I said I wanted some Tipsy Tuesdays…:-)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I’m tired of the heat and especially the mosquitoes. Snow sounds fantastic right about now!

      Traditionally a Shipwreck’d has bourbon and rum, vs. just rum in a Pina Colada, but otherwise they’re very similar.

      Like

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