Posted on 07/24/2006 4:19:28 PM PDT by pcottraux
And now, for tonight’s Dinklemeyer, I bring you an all new story.
At this point, the Dinklemeyers became pretty much stories done in a serial form, instead of just singular cartoon strips. This one begins the “Class fieldtrip” story.
I drew this story not long after a field trip (the story is loosely based on that very trip). When you’re in Elementary and Middle school, field trips are the most fun, exciting things imaginable. Unfortunately, once you enter High School, they suddenly become few and far-between, and the ones that you go on are excruciatingly lame. No more going to Washington, D.C. to meet a Senator for you: from now on, it’s landfills and secluded swamps.
The first panel shows that the main character, Freddy, is thoroughly uninterested in whatever’s going on. You got to love the dialogue here (if you can read it). The second panel shows what strangely happens during fieldtrips; the class students (even the seniors) suddenly become insanely hyperactive, and the teachers all transform into screaming sadists (probably sudden insanity from trying to keep the kids in order).
I think my favorite, however, is the third panel. Believe me, school buses are the most unpleasant things in the world. Too small, cramped, and with no breathing room whatsoever. The claustrophobia is overwhelming; I always loved to make Freddy’s classmates bizarre and colorful-looking.
I would ask him on one of my long shifts, but every long shift I have to work is on his days off.
You know, I'm really not going to let it bother me. I'm not any kind of grudge holder. Come tomorrow, I'll probably forget all about it.
Ok then.
Back to our happy place....
Speaking of happy place...I'm going out for a stogie. The weather has been cool all day. I AM SO HAPPY.
bbl
I'll be here when you get back.
Must be some stogie.
I'm back. You still around? Sending you PM...
Can't wait!
Phil?
I'm here.
K.
YIPPEEE!
And...
unfortunately, I'm going to have to go now. Got to get up early tomorrow to get a quick car inspection. RRRGHHH...I hate annoying distractions.
Goodnight!
Night!
Blehh...what a horrible day.
Hey there.
What?! Again?!?!
What happened?
I had an interview today with a networking company. I TOTALLY ACED the interview. I hit it off with the my interviewer. We were like two peas in a pod.
Two peas in a pot full of carrots...that's my version, anyway.
Except then you get cooked and eaten.
Anyway, the inspection sticker on my car expired, so I had to go get a quick inspection and get a new sticker, and I was good.
Well...
So I got up early this morning, and drove to a mechanic shop. They were closed. So I drove to another place. They didn't do my particular model car (have no idea why). So then I drove to the place I USUALLY go for those things (I didn't this morning because it's farther). They said they couldn't get to it until 2:30...so much for that. So THEN I drove to ANOTHER place..."It'll be an hour before we can get to it, but the place down the street'll do it for you." So then I drove to the WRONG place, and they pointed me to the right one.
(There are small mechanic shops all over town around here).
FINALLY, I was at a place that took me right in and gave me the inspection. Usually it's no big deal; a 30-minute lookover, a little sticker, a 30 dollar payment, and you're out of there.
Well, this is where the story REALLY starts to go downhill...
Oh no! Poor Phil...what happened next (I dare ask...)
Well, after a few minutes, I'm sitting there in the waiting room, and he comes in and says...
"We can't pass you on the inspection. Your 'Check Engine Soon' Light is burned out."
Greeeaatt...
He asked me if I wanted to go ahead and do the rest of the inspection. The deal was, they'd do the rest, and then I'd pay for it, and come back to get the light fixed, and it would only cost 6 dollars.
But then...
He comes back a few minutes later, and the problem has snowballed. Turns out, I had a whole host of problems with my car...break light messed up, all kinds of lights and switches not working, etc.
But here's the real draw. Much to my surprise, the connection between the steering wheel and left front wheel was about to break...just driving my car was extremely dangerous! So dangerous, I couldn't even drive home. The mechanic gave me a lift home, and then would call me later to give me an estimate on what it would cost to fix (I think it's going to be a fortune).
Mom wasn't there, she was at the grocery store, and Dad was at work. I had Mom's cell phone. And I don't know Dad's work number. AND I had to be at work at 12 (I got home at 11:45).
So I had no way to contact anyone, so I sent Dad an e-mail, and call in at work, and hope Mom would be home soon to drive me there. She was gone for 2 more hours, and I was stranded at home, waiting anxiously for something to happen. Dad eventually called, but the Mechanic never called with an estimate, and he still has my car. So hopefully he'll call tomorrow, or we'll call and he'll still be there.
Mom finally got home, I told her the whole thing, and I helped her carry the groceries in, and then she drove me to work. I was two hours late, and I'm not going to have a car for a long time.
My.
God.
Wonder why they didn't call you later with an estimate. I would call them first thing tomorrow and find out what's going on. Did they show you the actual damage?
OOPS. My last message was for you.
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