Tree at Last, Tree at Last

Westviewians’ “every silver lining has a cloud” mentality takes no holiday. Just as the summertime county fair comes with “an undercurrent of melancholy“, Christmas – Christmas, the Most Wonderful Time of the Year – ebbs away too soon. I guess that’s why Les and Cayla are taking down the Taj Moore-hal tree a little early this year (last year they left it up almost four weeks after Christmas). Of course, those greedy amoral morons who run the department stores manage to milk Christmas profits year round.

Snarkers, it’s been a pleasure as always bringing the FW commentary to you these last few weeks. Tune in tomorrow as Mr. Oddnoc steps up to the plate! Swinging a chainsaw!

Funky New Year

What a year 2014 has been in the Funkiverse. Les’ dream of bringing Lisa’s Story to filmic life culminated with him walking away from the project (while keeping the money). Jessica abandoned her aspirations of being a documentary filmmaker before even releasing her first film. Bull was teased with the prospect of a college coaching job which, by the time he decided to accept the offer, was yanked away. At least Holly achieved her goal (in the most preposterous fashion) of completing her son’s collection of Starbuck Jones comics.

Meanwhile our titular character has struggled in vain to improve his health, seen his ex-network anchor ex-wife move back to town, presided over the last remaining location of a once-successful pizza chain, and sought to connect with his distant soldier son and declining elderly father. Little wonder that he and his wife opt once again for a quiet, boring New Year’s Eve at home.

Hoping that your plans, dear reader, include a safe and happy celebration, and the best of everything in the coming new year!

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Turkey Meltdown

“Sitting on my mind” is a rather odd turn of phrase, and it’s a rather odd perspective in panel 1 that makes it appear that Cory’s face is smooshed into Funky’s backside. Today’s strip gives the answer to those of us puzzled by how a middle aged man who jogs regularly and goes to the gym manages to maintain the physique of a couch potato. He’s beaten booze, only to replace that addiction with one to food: he eyeballs that leftover turkey the same way he contemplated that leftover bottle of bubbly a few New Year’s Eves ago:

Merry ChristmAAs

“Nice to have you home son, even if it could potentially trigger an alcoholic relapse!” Props to Funky for being painfully candid with Cory about his condition (“…when my self-esteem bottoms out”? Lawd!). So ol’ Wade is still around…he was not looking so good when we last saw him at Christmas 2011.