Pibgorn by Brooke McEldowney

Tags: Where’d that come from?, emerald, city, volcano, field, flowers, round and round we go. Add Tags

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fear-ciuil said, 5 months ago

If you are new to Pibgorn, start with The Old Wolf’s Pibgorn Tribute Page, which gives story and character info:
http://home.comcast.net/~ccdesan/Pibgorn/Pibgorn.html

The Old Wolf has also created a GoComics comments posting guide to special formatting: italic, bold, indents, large fonts, etc.
http://home.comcast.net/~ccdesan/Pibgorn/StyleGuide.html

A number of resources have been provided by members of the Order of the Couch, and links can be found here:
http://www.talkaboutcomics.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=45301
For registration assistance, go to: http://marmoe.livejournal.com/34590.html

Come one and come all, de-lurk and join in! Add your own voice to our great, joyous din!
Just one bit of wisdom ere joining our game: Read all of the comments, or you’ll miss something! (Shame!)
(No trolls need apply.)
Please do not feed the cuisine-challenged bridge substructure symbionts. Just flag them.
http://picayune.uclick.com/comics/pib/2002/pib021218.gif
Mr. McEldowney’s Pibgorn blog: http://officialpibgorn.livejournal.com/
Mr. McEldowney’s 9 Chickweed Lane blog: http://chickweedcafe.blogspot.com/
The Pibgorn books are available at: http://pibpress.blogspot.com/

Today’s 9 Chickweed Lane can be found at:
http://www.chron.com/apps/comics/showComic.mpl?date=2009%2F6%2F24&name=9_Chickweed_Lane

Links to the strips that comprise the Borgia Cantus arc can be found here:
http://tinyurl.com/borgia
Margueritem said, 5 months ago

Funny, it doesn’t look emerald to me, not even chartreuse.
StradMan37 said, 5 months ago

Emerald Lava City??? Looks kind-a like the view from the northern edge of town, down in these here parts(EDIT: see new avatar).

This just gets whackier & whackier……..
VicTR said, 5 months ago

THIS…is The Emerald City ? ? !
Sisyphos said, 5 months ago

So, the peculiar logic of the Dreamscape prevails, and suddenly we see the Volcano, which to Nat’s eye is the Emerald City! Curiouser and curiouser!
MurphyHerself said, 5 months ago

Is New York under all that? What goes around comes around (or is it vice-versa??:))

Margueritem, your avatars have been so wonderful. But this????? Surely a better Doonesbury character, no???

Sleepy Time Tea for all who have had too much caffene and are way too wired for bed.
Heavenly said, 5 months ago

LOL…you know I thought that if I started at the beginning of this arc I wouldn’t be as lost as I was with the last arc.

Sigh….
Sisyphos said, 5 months ago

Is, then, the Field of Poppies a dream-analogue of Central Park (NYC)?
StradMan37 said, 5 months ago

OK, Sisyphos. Anything ya say - at this point……..
AliKzam said, 5 months ago

Well, my goodness. Do you suppose the volcano will want them to do something or retreive something from someone? I wonder if that will explain why Geoff was frozen in a glacier?
JonD17 said, 5 months ago

Nahhh, can’t be Seattle. It’s not even raining
Gweedo Murray said, 5 months ago

This iz nutz !
I’m gone a few hours and yesterdays comments go and blow out like toadstools after a rain.

It got so bad that Joe blew a gasket ‘n’ everything. Sep. 05; I got flooded from an all day running, overflowed toilet upstairs. I had left town for a week and came back to the aftermath. The landlord and I got busy on repairs and made a number of improvements along the way, which I enjoy to this day.
UncaAlby is a cruel, cruel man. Do we want him back that bad…. be careful what you wish for and all that tommy rot.

Nice find on the family Cobass. That Wapsi whutzzername was so much funny that I forgot to get horny.
Gweedo Murray said, 5 months ago

ToniAnne I got both your emails and responded directly to one. If you didn’t get my reply then I will suck it up and leave my phone # here, and brace for the krazy kallz.
Saskfan said, 5 months ago

Well, we’re starting to get somewhere; full circle, perhaps?
ejcapulet said, 5 months ago

MurphyHerself, I LOOOOOOVE Sleepy Time Tea! Hope you brought honey.
StradMan37 said, 5 months ago

What is SIR MAC smokin’ these days, ‘cause I could really use some! (I don’t think it’s Sleepy Time tea leaves, either)
ejcapulet said, 5 months ago

So this is Oz noir, like we thought. Weird. Is Nat seeing something we’re not? Or are we seeing what’s really there? And is Grinder (Geoff) the “broom” and who’s the wizard? So we have on question answered but that brings on a whole flood of others.
Sisyphos said, 5 months ago

Risitas, is that avatar a photo you your-own-self took?
StradMan37 said, 5 months ago

@Sisyphos:

No, but it’s a photo which a friend took while the volcano was erupting, back in 2002 (when I was still toiling away in FLA). He e-mailed it to me about a year ago, just to scare the livin’ cr@p outta me…….it worked!
Ladywolf17 said, 5 months ago

Hmmm! Nat sure seems to know where they’re going. I think you ladies better keep your guard up. This story seems to get weirder by the moment. Luckily I’m into weird.
But when are they going to encounter any living people or animals?
Margueritem said, 5 months ago

*MurphyHerself *: He is hideous, isn’t he? He won’t last long!
wolfbyte36 said, 5 months ago

(WTF) I have awaken from a long slumber read all the comments and even found out from ladywolf that this is some recreation of the Wizzard Of Oz.. (yawn)! O.K. I’ll go along with this. Hmm! I see there are people here that I have yet to meet. To those I haven’t met, I am wolfbyte36, proud loving father of ladywolf17. It is a pleasure to meet you all. I also notice that some of you have changed your avatar look. (NICE). Truth be told, I have never really liked the Wizzard Of Oz movie or it’s remakes, so I hope that this one will be different and surprising.
waycyber said, 5 months ago

The Reverand’s Horse
A cowboy has been wandering the Nevada desert for a week and a half, surviving on whatever he can find. Hungry, tired and exhausted he sees a light in the distance. As he approaches he sees a ramshackle house out in the middle of nowhere.

He struggles to the door, each step more agonising than the last. Eventually he gets there and knocks weakly.

An old man answers the door and, seeing the cowboy, drags him in, sitis him down and gives him a tall pitcher of water and a piece of dry bread.

The cowboy thanks the old man and says “I’m a deputy. I need to warn the next town that the Gaunty Gang is a-coming. Can you help me?”

The old man scratches his stubbly beard, looks to the ceiling for inspiration and says “Waall, I don’t rightly know.”

He thinks some more and adds “I do have a horse you could borrow, but it’s a strange varmint. Owned by a reverend.”

The cowboy’s eyes brighten with hope and curiosity. “Thank you, but what is so strange about it?”

“Well, ya see,” the old man began “This reverend was very worried someone would steal his horse, so he trained it only to go when the rider says ‘Thank God’ and to stop when the rider says ‘Praise the Lord.’”

The cowboy thanks the old man for all his help, and with promises to remember what he had said and to return the horse, he starts off.

Absent-mindedly he presses his spurs into the horse’s side. It doesn’t move.

“Got to say the words.” the old man calls out.

“Thank God” the cowboy says and the horse starts trotting. “How do you make him go faster?” He calls to the old man.

“Just say it again.”

“Thank God.” The horse breaks into a canter.

“Thank God.” It begins to gallop.

“Thank God.” It gallops so swiftly, the cowboy has to wrap the reins around his hands to keep a grip.

As day dawns, he looks into the distance through sleepy eyes and sees a chilling sight.

About half a mile ahead is a cliff edge.

And the horse gallops closer and closer.

The cowboy sees the canyon opening up ahead of him.

He pulls the reins up, but the horse does not stop.

“The words.” He thinks. “What are the words.”

“Hallelujah.” The horse gallops on, not turning right or left.

“Amen.” The cliff edge appears to rush toward him.

“Hosanna.” The horse is almost at the cliff edge and shows no sign of stopping.”

“Praise The Lord.” The horse stops so fast it almost throws the cowboy off. He holds on to the horses neck and looks down the canyon, 200 feet to the floor below. He watches as the odd stone kicked up by the horse tumbles and rolls down the cliff side.

Getting his composure back, he sits up on the horse, wipes his brow and says:

“Thank God!”
VicTR said, 5 months ago

Emerald City is really going downhill…the Smog has got to be awful !
Ladywolf17 said, 5 months ago

Pibgorn is the best! I enjoy the comic and the comments and the stories that are told. This is better than reading my cousin’s boring manga. well I guess it’s time for me to turn in now. See you all later.
Gunnr said, 5 months ago

@JOE MINOTAUR – Please, if at all possible, have your place cleaned up by people who specialize in cleaning up water damage, and make sure they treat the areas with a biocide for MOLD PREVENTION. Typically, the mold grows on the side of the sheetrock you don’t see, and on the studs, insulation, carpet padding, etc. You can have a bad mold problem and not even be aware that it is there. Mold is a serious health hazard for everybody, but particularly for babies and young children, the elderly and those with compromised immune systems.
Gunnr said, 5 months ago

Ref the pix of Hilary, Brooke and Snark – evidently, McE is on the tall side and Ms. Snark is on the short side. Quite a marked difference in height between Dad and tad.

Well, I’m no longer unemployed (whew!) – I’m supposed to start telecommuting Monday, and I have to use my own puter to work on. I’m going to use my old one because they’re supposed to do a remote link and configure it, and I don’t want them jickying with my new ‘puter. So tonight I was trying to clean up the old puter, taking nonessential programs off it, and every time I tried to access add/remove programs, it would reboot. So I have spent the last 8 hours dealing with a trojan, a corrupted copy of Windows 2000 (for which I have no CD), and the computer equivalent of Alzheimer’s. Took me 4 hours to finally figure out a way to get a backer-upper program on it and get my non-Windows drivers backed up– file size was 19+ MB, too big to go on floppies, and the computer couldn’t remember where it’s CD drives were or how many it had (2) and when it did, it wouldn’t write to either drive – that is, when it wasn’t locking up. Finally got them saved to a San “Cruzer” and I’ve spent the last 2 hours wiping the drive and installing windows XP, for which I do have a legit CD and the serial #. I’ve still got five of my personal programs to put on, plus the umpteen I’m supposed to download from their site. Been quite a bit of free-hand cussin’ going on tonight… .good thing cats can’t talk… .no danger they’ll repeat any of the earful they’ve gotten tonight…
Gunnr said, 5 months ago

OK, here’s you one from left field, via Walt Kelly’s “Pogo.” – (Who else would have a snake oil salesman played by a snake named Snavely, who is the best of pals with a cigar-smoking mouse in a derby hat ?)

Earlier in the plot, Albert the Alligator and an octopus (a guest star) were involved in a complicated bit of business which featured hollering, falling overboard, a discussion of the finer points of grammar, a bugle, a carrot hound, and creatures of the deep, all of which prompted Snavely to regale Mouse with the story of a former vaudevillian acquaintance, also an octopus, who fell in love with a set of bagpipes. Alas, it was an unignited love. Heartbroken, the octopus went off and got a job as a string quartet, but the act fell flat on its octameter because it didn’t have a leg to stand on.
ThatCat said, 5 months ago

Dorothy was sure Emerald City held all the answers. But does Dru even know she is Dorothy? I keep wondering if she will find her soul. And if it will graft to her or reject.
chairump said, 5 months ago

Gweedo Murray said, about 6 hours ago

ToniAnne I got both your emails and responded directly to one. If you didn’t get my reply then I will suck it up and leave my phone # here, and brace for the krazy kallz.

Don’t do it, Gweedo …. I have unlimited Long Distance! I can’t afford the time! KK
Moe A. said, 5 months ago

Good morning everyone, enjoying the postings as usual. Gunnr congratulations on the job hit!
In honor of today’s beautiful strip, I suggest chocolate Munchkins® all around the couch.
Yours, Mine and Oz,
-MOE hisownself
invisifan said, 5 months ago

Maybe the volcano god will want a sacrifice … if so I think only Oognat/TeauTeau might have a shot at qualifying …
bhandraoijo said, 5 months ago

@Gunnr - I remember that Pogo episode! I pull my Pogo books off the shelf occasionally and sit and giggle for hours!
invisifan said, 5 months ago

And I’m a bit suspicious of that smoke coming off the top of it …
DeathDealer said, 5 months ago

That volcano must be depositing a whole lot of olivine somewhere to make an Emerald City.
DeathDealer said, 5 months ago

With the gate of Hell open, could it be time for another infernal game show with Tom Torquemada?
Captain Smokeblower said, 5 months ago

Gunnr said,
OK, here’s you one from left field, via Walt Kelly’s “Pogo.” – (Who else would have a snake oil salesman played by a snake named Snavely, who is the best of pals with a cigar-smoking mouse in a derby hat ?)

You failed to mention this same Snavely, the snake oil sales snake, failed as a snake oil sales snake because he bit himself so he could drink the snake oil and drank up all the product.
Story Teller said, 5 months ago

The Old Wolf said: “Don’t forget that Baum loved puns, hence the scarecrow spoke in a rather husky voice…

All hail the punsters of Oz!”

Okay, even I had to groan at that one!

Anyone have their copy of “Lady Slings the Booze” handy (I think it was in that book) or remember right off the top of their heads what Mike Callahan said the technical term for a punster was?
Joe Minotaur said, 5 months ago

Joe Minotaur is back in da house!

There will be some serious cleanup going on around here this morning. Laundry as well. I know about the dangers of water damage/mold. All standing water has been sopped/sucked up and blowers are circulating air to dry things out.
I may be far to busy to post much today.
I stayed at a hotel last night. It wasn’t a fleabag hotel, because even the fleas have higher standards.
I just needed someplace to crash and take a shower. They did have a computer with internet access in the lobby, but I didn’t dare log onto any site requiring a password. Even I could tell their computer had been hijacked. Their “Homepage” was for a company advertising programs for fighting adware and an anti-virus. I was able to scan the comments last evening and appreciate all of the sympathy and suggestions.
BikeNBoatN said, 5 months ago

From the way the road disappears in the distance, it looks like they’ve got a loooong way to go….
Story Teller said, 5 months ago

2devildogsmom said: “…laced with double, triple, and sometimes quadruple entendres.”

Whiplash! Whiplash!

;)
Story Teller said, 5 months ago

wsfn said: “Hey Storyteller… on the cheescake front, if you are taking your meds and have things decently under control, do yourself a favor and have a nice salad and sandwich and then share a piece of the cheesecake with a friend. Not only is there less sugar in cheesecake than regular cake, it is full of protein from all the cream cheese and eggs. Now, this also means it is a no-no from the cholesterol front, but as I’ve told my dr many times. I can focus on one thing. You pick! I always choose trying to get just a bit more exercise and better meals in order to have the occasional nosh of my favorite offenders.

~Good luck! and off to the yellow brick road! ”

Ya, well, the VA docs (socialized medicine is already here!) were giving me cr@p about not losing weight, then I found that the side effect of one of my meds is weight gain! Needless to say, the next time I get together with that quack we will have a little cuss-and discuss!
TiggerLeBounce said, 5 months ago

Wow, Joe Minotaur! I’m sure glad I’m not in your shoes! Here, have an iced tea: You’re probably going to need something cool.

As for Emerald City- well, that is where the yellow brick road goes, after all! So now, what leads to the glacier?
Garrulous said, 5 months ago

I have a feeling we’re not anywhere near Frank Baum’s OZ. It was a quest for a heart, a brain, a home and courage. I wonder what this group is looking for.

We have four on the yellow bricks but one has a name that suggests Toto. So, are we missing someone? Geoff ?

This story could last for years. I love it.
DreamScourge said, 5 months ago

This all started with a volcano, is it the same one, and does it mean there is some resolution looming on the horizon???

Or is it just a smoked red herring?

And which one is Toto?
Story Teller said, 5 months ago

Gunnr said: “(The llama’s name is Llefty. Did we ever name the goat?)”

Indeed. Gruff is our lookout for bridge symbionts.

“(If not, I suggest “Disraeli.” )”

Hmm. Gonna have to look that one up.

RockHouse said: “Puns seem to be spreading everywhere. Check out today’s BC: http://comics.com/bc/”

It’s worse than the swine flu, it’s a…PUNDEMIC!!!

(BTW, is the chimney in a ham and bacon smokehouse a swine flue…? Just wondering…)

gg015879: “DonTomasoAquino said: OOoohh! Thorax as the Wizard - good ! REAL GOOD!!! ”

I had much the same reaction, but, as good a joke as it would be, I suspect the Honorable Master is a better story teller than to use the same Deus ex Machina more than once.

maeverin said,: “RE: cheesecake, Doesn’t Brooke provide enough cheesecake to satisfy?”

Cheesecake is like garlic in that it is difficult for there to be too much. Not impossible, just difficult.

PegNPegasus said: “Now that we’re on the Yellow Brick Road movie I am willing to sit back and hope Bing and Bob show up for a cameo. Pass the popcorn, please!”

I would not put it past Prof. McE, though it is more the style of Phil Foglio, in fact, in his works it’s practically a requirement.
MermaidStitcher said, 5 months ago

TiggerLeBounce if I remember Oz had a yellow brick road in the munchin city spiral out with a red brick road it spiraled with.
gg015879 said, 5 months ago

Joe Minotaur -
Friends had a toilet valve break while in Austin visiting family for the weekend. Nearly all houses in Houston are slab contruction, no foundations. The whole house flooded, water was draining out under the front door. All the carpet was ruined and the lower part of the drywall ended up needing replaced. Even some furniture was ruined! BIG UNHOLY MESS!

as was said by others be very aware of the mold issue. During tropical storm Allison we had some water damage, when my husband saw the inside of the drywall and studs covered with mold, he did much additional work himself that insurance wouldn’t have covered.

Hope all are well on the couch. I bring my most favorite breakfast to share. Fresh steamed tamales wrapped in white paper and tied with string, beef or pork, mild and spicey, and a large thermos of fresh Kona coffee, cream and sugar on the side.

gg0
MermaidStitcher said, 5 months ago

maybe nat and dru are Dorethyand toto because they are the fist in oz then pib would be scarecrow the next character and Oognat would be tin man . I better sit down
Radical-Knight said, 5 months ago

Marker