Saturday, July 25, 2026

Dinnertime Is Made For Romance

 A short-lived but no less passionate romance unfolded during the Saturday evening dinner at the Manchester (NH) Sasha Festival...

Helen: Oh, my!  Who is that charming new boy??

Oops! Esther has momentarily thwarted her big sister's attempt to sidle up to Diego Luis. 

Diego Luis: Er, hello there?
Esther: Me Esther!  Who is you?

Esther's sudden focus has drawn the attention of the rest of the Minnesota kids.

Diego Luis: >Gulp<
Pete Dakota: Where'd all these kids come from?

Watching from afar, Auntie Laura is amused while 
Auntie Diane finds the whole situation scandalous.


Even Curly seems entranced!  
Although, to be fair, he could just be looking for his whiskey.


Biding her time, a patient Helen spots her chance 
and cozies up to her new intended beau.

Helen: Well, hello there!  ♫ My name's Helen, what's yours? ♫
Diego: Buenos noches, señorita.  I am Diego Luis.  At your service.

Diego Luis: Would you care to go for a paseo around the atrium?
Helen: Divine!  Do let's, handsome.
Daddy John: Oh no you don't!  Get back here you two!

Cruelly parted by Fate, the two paramours spend the rest of the dinner in sulky silence.

Soon, dinner is over and goodbyes must be bid.  

Helen: >Sob< Must you go?  Shall we ever see each other again?
Diego: Cry not, mi corazón.  We will meet again, I am certain.  
Adiós, Helen.
Helen: Farewell!



Saturday, July 18, 2026

Meeting the New Boy IX, Part 2

 Pete Dakota and Diego Luis are at the Manchester (NH) Sasha Festival. They've been tasked with escorting home their new brother as adopted by Daddy Steve.  First, however, they've got to find him!

Diego Luis: This certainly is not him.
Pete Dakota: No, I don't think so either.
Esther: Bzzzzzzzzzzzz

Diego: ¡Ay caramba!  What is that?
Pete: Oh, that's just Curly.  Hi, Curly.
Curly: Peety.

Pete: Well, we're getting closer. She is a ginger.
Diego: But not the one we are looking for.
Ginger: Leave me out of your plans, you little weirdos...

Dejected that they cannot find their new brother, the boys return to the hotel room.  Just what are they to do?  Suddenly, there's a knock on the door and a mysterious package appears...


Mysterious package: Mmmmf!  Mmmmm! Mmmrgggle!
Pete: Could it be?
Diego: ¡Díos mio, it's him!  He's alive!

Pete: Quick, we've got to get him out of there before he suffocates!


New Boy: Ahhhhh!  Free at last!  Thank you!

Diego: What is your name, hermano?
New Boy: Please, let me stretch my legs a bit first.
I'll tell you all about it on the plane ride home.


Ready to bring their new brother home and introduce him
to the rest of the Gregoropolis family.




Saturday, July 11, 2026

Meeting the New Boy IX, Part 1

 

Dan Ryan: >Ahem< Thank you for being so prompt, gentlemen.
Now, we all know why we are here...
Pete Dakota: Er...
Dan Ryan: Yes, Pete?
Pete Dakota: I don't know why I'm here.
Diego Luis: Nor do I, amigo.
Dan Ryan: >Sigh<

Dan Ryan: You're here on a matter of vital importance to Gregoropolis.
Pete Dakota: Yikes!
Diego Luis: ¡Ay caramba!

Dan Ryan: Daddy Steve is adopting a new boy from a foreign power.  
As you two will be our representatives at the Manchester Festival, 
it falls on your shoulders to assist with the transfer, ensure the exchange goes smoothly, 
and escort him home without incident.  

Diego Luis: ¿Qué? 'Foreign power'?  You mean, Inglaterra?
And I thought we were just meeting our new hermano?
Pete Dakota: You make it sound so...'frightfully perilous', as Nicholas would say.

Dan Ryan: I'm trying to make it sound more exciting
than it really is.  Work with me here!

Dan Ryan: Here's a copy of his passport photo so you recognize him.
Pete Dakota: Well, he looks like a nice boy.
Diego Luis: Sí, he has a kind face.

Dan Ryan: Look, just bring him back in one piece, okay?!
Pete Dakota: Can do, boss!
Diego Luis: ¡You can count on us, capitán!


TO BE CONTINUED!

Saturday, July 4, 2026

Feeling The Heat

 Daddy Steve: Here in Gregoropolis, we were having a cool (almost chilly) summer until suddenly we were not...

Luke: Gosh, it's hotter than blazes!
Oliver: Hey, it's my turn now!
Uli: Shut ice box door at vonce, bitte!
Serena: I guess we know why the ice cream has been so soft lately.

Dan Ryan: Annabelle doesn't like this heat either.
Annabelle: >pant, pant, pant<
Harriet: With all that fur, I can't blame her.  Here, girl, have some cool water.

Meghan: Good grief, it's hot!

Holly Belle: How can we live in a place that's so cold in the winter,
and yet so hot in the summer?!  It's ridiculous!

Patrick: Actually, the answer is simple.  It's because we are landlocked in the geographic center
of the continent.  Without any large bodies of water to act as a buffer, the region becomes 
a funnel for extreme hot air masses from the south, and frigid arctic air from Canada.

Holly Belle: Hmmpf, typical man.  You ask a question and they come right back with an answer.
Meghan: Don 't they realize we just need to be heard?

Patrick: Hmmm, apparently not.
Ravi: Well, I loved your explanation.
Patrick: Thank you!


Saturday, June 6, 2026

Rainy Day Fund / Blogcation

 

Luke: Bwah-ha-ha-ha!
I'm going to be rich!  Faaaaabulously wealthy!

Nicholas Sahara: I say, Lukas old chap, whatever are you up to?

Luke: I overheard Daddy John talk about 'pennies from heaven.'
The weather guy on Channel 11 said it's supposed to rain tonight, so I thought I'd 
just get out the buckets and watch them overflow with money-money-money!

Nicholas: Oh, dear...
Scot-Michael: Don't look at me.  You asked.


While Luke awaits untold riches, the rest of Gregoropolis is taking
a brief summer holiday.  We'll be back in July as we prepare for the
Manchester (NH) Sasha Festival!  See you soon!  

Saturday, May 30, 2026

Saturday, May 23, 2026

By Any Other Name...

 

Natalie: Ooooh, so pretty!

Paul: You know, lots of girls' names are inspired by flowers.
Natalie: You don't say.

Paul: Well, there's Iris, obviously, but also Lily, Rose, Violet, Daisy, Hyacinth...

Natalie: And Cupcake.  Don't forget that one.

Paul: "Cupcake"?!?  I've never heard of a girl with that name!
Natalie: Perhaps you just lead a very sheltered life.

Paul: Besides, cupcakes don't grow like flowers.
Natalie: >Sigh< No, no they don't.

Natalie: But in a perfect world, they would!