So, do Arlo and Janis still work? Yes, they do. They’ve been luckier than many over the years; they’ve had stable employment, maybe not with the same companies the entire time but in similar fields and environments. There is no doubt they’re in that winding-down phase of employment, when the management would love to get rid of them and replace them with someone younger and cheaper or, more likely today, outsource their work entirely, but they just know too damn much about how things work. Perhaps one of them will be offered the “consultant” track soon, where they’re paid half the money to clean up after a workforce making even less. Speaking of money, they like the money, of course, but they would leave for a new challenge and less remuneration in a heart beat, say helping run a fun little local-food enterprise, but the benefits are the trap, especially the insurance. See? You don’t really want to hear all this. They have modern jobs, sure, but they still are modern cartoon jobs. It’s nice work if you can get it.
240 responses to “Harpe Diem”
Since my bypass last year I have several scars. Got one down the inside of each thigh, one down the center of my chest and 3 circular ones in my chest where they had the drains in. If I go in a pool this year I will probably get some funny looks.
Courtesy of LLee, who posted it to FB. http://www.gocomics.com/strangebrew/2017/05/15
Good link, Llee. Apparently Jackie’s left knee was covered, and hopefully her right one will be, also.
Yesterday, while sitting in the pharmacy at Wally World waiting for Jackie’s discharge meds, a tall and tanned young lady walked by, wearing workout togs. Although I of course normally don’t pay much attention to things like that, I noticed she was wearing a T-shirt with “Pain is Weakness Leaving the Body” printed on its back. I told Jackie about that and suggested she remember it while doing her post-op exercises.
I can’t remember if I also told her the T&T young lady was also wearing the shortest short-shorts I’ve seen off of a ladies’ volleyball court.
Ghost you were very close to a college at that Walmart so she may have been on a volleyball team.
No one warned me about projectile vomiting, nausea and gaseous discharges. Luckily Ghost missed most of that. Kidneys are working extremely well and I am getting lots of exercise with walker in room.
Lest you think I am nuts, this is brand new La Quinta and ice and laundry room just outside room. Clean sheets and towels, cleaning services. The aisles are easily navigated and perfect height and width for the Walker.
No room service but Ghost is going for Vietnamese sandwiches and iced tea. The nurse staff here is loving and sweet and facility better and cleaner. And MUCH cheaper than a rehab facility after surgery.
Mark, wanted you to know I had a laugh many hours after the fact, and need to credit you for it. While it has long been true that no one expects the Spanish Inquisition. It is also true to say, Absolutely Nobody expects …
A SECOND INQUISITION!
When your second link resolved to the same address, my inattentive mind assumed glitch in the blog service, or simple re-paste from the same clipboard item, possibly bad name resolution by my browser/service. I shrugged, and went on with my day, glad you shared a bit of humor by including the comfy chair reference. Wink-wink, nudge-nudge, say no more, Bob’s yer uncle, and all that.
A long while later, at an inauspicious moment of poor timing (because apparently that’s the only time my brain dusts itself off to pay attention), I failed to stifle a laugh when it occurred to me: Mark might have done it on purpose! Just for the laugh! [it may have involved a porpoise as well, but I fixed that]
Whether you intended or not, you gave good humor. Thanks for that.
No actual embarrassment suffered. Those near me are kind of used to it.
Just took a turn through GoComics, and because the top of this page talks about careers, I gotta say, Thanks, Jimmy for doing your part.
Other artists may have interests that take them somewhere else, suffer from block, choose not to make vacation arrangements, or treat it as a part-time job. J.J. may have taken time off somewhere along the way, it just doesn’t spring to mind when. It’s really nice to see a new strip, every day. A blank space would be like an empty coffee can with the scoop rattling around. It wouldn’t shatter my world, but the disappointment would be noticed.
The way my mind skips, I went and looked up: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cal_Ripken_Jr.
about one-third down the article. Remember the way you felt watching the game on 6Sep1995? I know that’s a really high bar. But it is the outstanding ones that show us what is possible.
Arlo and Janis probably is not your whole life. But your commitment to getting one out for every day, is a service to the Days and to us, your readers.
Thanks.
Good evening Villagers….
Still haven’t put my ‘mater plants in the ground, been raining here most of day.
Getting ready for graduation party…hate crowds.
….projectile vomiting, thanks for the image Jackie!
but, allow me to leave this image with ya’ll: titled ‘jerk of the week’ 🙂
http://imgur.com/gallery/2E3c3
Here’s a blue healer Maine coon cat duo that you can never tell which is which to counter Debbe’s.
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1672616159432326&id=100000518746522
Debbe 😉 That happened after I’d gone back to the hotel for the night. Also, unfortunately, after Jackie had gone to sleep. I think it’s pretty safe to say that’s not the way anyone would wish to be awakened. Not to be too graphic, but I understand it was one of those “decorate the walls” moments.
Gaseous discharges? Well, let’s just say this experience has included “sound effects”.
Yeah, I know she’s gonna kill me when she reads this…the disadvantage of commenting from the same room. At least I know I can outrun her for the time being. 🙂
Consider it part of the physical therapy. You are encouraging her to get up and move!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSdNMRtvq5g
Morphy, I thought I had linked two different videos. Whoops!
Another funny from FB: https://scontent-dft4-3.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-0/s480x480/18555915_1528306533859820_7682688187404629489_n.jpg?oh=efae41a9c4b39e95d1d4c99b52668dee&oe=59C243EB
Mark, oh well, still funny, even if only in my own head.
Every door I open, more cardinals.
Here it is 3 a.m. and I need to walk to bathroom. This is not a casual decision.
Elephants at the river. Peace,
http://explore.org/live-cams/player/african-safari-camera
Article from the Sunday Bemidji Pioneer. Also, today is the anniversary of Clara Barton’s founding of the Am. Red Cross. Sobering.
http://www.bemidjipioneer.com/news/local/4270582-near-front-lines-may-macgregor-given-wwi-nurse
Peace,
Nobody else is up early?
http://www.gocomics.com/herman
Anyway, even though 4B is more accurate, the next [natural] problem is only 1B years away: Sol’s increasing heat will boil off our oceans in less than that.
But, to the pt., I’ve run into students and others who worry when they learn such items, but still throw aluminum cans in the trash, see no problem in having a half dozen kids, and drive gas-guzzlers. Sometimes, same folks may insist the univ. is only 10,000 yr. old, or at least be consistent and say it matters not, since the ‘end times’ are just around the corner. That was Interior Secy. Watt’s line, I believe. God wanted us to use it all up first.
Peace,
Wrens were under the hood?!? 🙂
I have been debating about posting this and finally decided to do so.
I turned 64 last Sunday (no Beatles references, please), and Jimmy’s comments struck home and struck hard.
Although the board and president say that they want me to work until I’m eighty, I’m usually in a slight state of paranoia, wondering if someone will find some way to ease me out.
I am concerned because the company has fired a couple of people as a cost-cutting measure, and I think that some of my responsibilities could be given to others, even though they are overburdened as it is. Also, my other tasks can be outsourced.
I think what’s saving me right now is that I am immediately available and have some knowledge and abilities that cannot be fully replicated. Some things come only by experience.
Additionally, I’m in better health and overall physical condition than all but one of my younger coworkers. For example, I have not had a sick day in three years.
So, Jimmy, well done! In one dependent clause, you summarized a major portion of my life, as well as that of many other persons my age, I’m sure.
Rick, as a salesman it was always my observation that one of surest ways to get yourself fired was to be the top selling salesman. It seemed to gall them to see how much commission they were paying you and it seemed so efficient a way to cut costs.
Idiots.
Rick and Jackie: and every experienced person that walks out the door, or is shown to it, takes invaluable knowledge that can only be replaced by working at the job just as long as the person who left. lncreases frustration for customers and employees, and causes large decrease of efficiency in the running of the business.
https://scontent-dft4-3.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/18582216_10155251142463764_1786659023419755017_n.jpg?oh=3d7522455b8551274eabf0592e8977d0&oe=59BB2958
Just did leg exercise for Nurse Ghost who is replacing ice machine on my leg. I get a pain pill in ten minutes. He is tough.
He says he is going to apologize for being mean the first time we go dancing. Which will be Christmas or New Years after second knee. I intend to take dance lessons.
**I was composing the below while Jackie was posting the above. So it must be true. 🙂 **
I just finished “helping” Jackie though a set of knee and leg exercises. She says she hates me. I said, Good, that means I’m doing my job.
I also said I would apologize for being such a mean SOB the first time we go dancing together. She said that was a deal.
GE Debbe
Yesterday I did nothing and today I’m finishing what I did yesterday.