This classic A&J is from this week in 2001, 20 years ago. In this series, Arlo is experiencing that vague dissatisfaction and boredom we all feel from time to time. Yes, I know: he should volunteer at the local humane society or a homeless shelter. I am often tempted to draw a week of strips as I think commenters would have them. (Certain commenters! I don’t mean you for heaven’s sake.) However, I don’t think they’d be very funny, and newspapers are no longer hiring. Plus, to paraphrase Tommy Lasorda, I don’t argue with people who purchase pixels by the quadrillions. Anyway, little did Arlo know at the time that if he didn’t like his world, he’d be living in a very different one within a month.
Blue Horizon
By Jimmy Johnson
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54 responses to “Blue Horizon”
Yes, a very different world. And whole new something for Janis to worry about.
Childhood shattered regardless of one’s age.
Is Arlo checking to see if the grass is really greener on the other side? Or is that where the neighbor goes topless for suntaning?
Just looking to see if Wilson was around
Perhaps he lives in a better neighborhood for such bodily visuals.
In my own area, I wouldn’t want to see anyone topless.
Thank God for clothes and privacy fences.
Arlo got in trouble for mentioning one of the neighbors in specific one of the times Janis was talking with him about who he might want to run off with. If I remember correctly, it was Lois Flagston, and it was back in the “insecure Janis” era, when she thought he might actually do it (or try to do it).
I think that your memory is correct.
I also remember Arlo mentioning Lois after Janis shared her Paul Newman fantasy.
Now, Arlo could use Facebook, Nextdoor, Instagram, & Twitter.
What is the original Lasorda quote?
Speaking of sports writers, Sasorda said, “Don’t argue with anyone who buys ink by the tanker truck.” (It’s a very old quote.)
Original quote: “I never argue with a man who buys ink by the barrel.”
The earliest known citation was in a newspaper in 1962, crediting it to Indiana Attorney (and later Governor) Roger Branigin in a campaign speech in 1955 (he won in ’65).
It has been credited to numerous others at various times, but Branigin is widely considered the most likely (I myself have heard several attributions, most commonly Mark Twain, but never before LaSorda).
A version I have seen used by authors on FB, ” Don’t p*** off someone who writes for a living.”. The implication being that you might be turned into a character who has a very messy end.
My world was going through a very bad time then, and the memory is haunting me on the 20th anniversary. Nothing connected with national events, but personal.
I get it. That’s around the time became a single parent. The “parent” part goes back to 1995.
Different world in a month?
Nope.
Lately, it’s every day.
That reminds me of someone I worked with a long time ago. One of his favorite sayings about people who weren’t the sharpest tools in the shed: “He’s like a goose, wakes up in a new world everyday.”
Good one!
Copied from earlier today:
This has been a summer storms. Nearly every year my grass is burned to a crisp by August. However it’s a green as Dublin this summer.
We are in Northern Michigan this week at a spring fed lake 30 miles west of Alpena. Getting long walks in and relaxing. Spent all afternoon at the lake, then grilled a bit early. At about 6:50 a sudden storm blew in and knows out power. Which meant no water. Fortunately my wife and just finished the dishes (I cook she cleans)
So we went back down to the lake with a bucket to be able to flush and finally saw a sunset. We went back down later and saw the most beautiful sky imaginable. Power came back on at about 10:00. I was relieved because I use a CPAP.
Still no WiFi, but I brought books. Need to bring a radio and a lantern next year!
UPDATE: WiFi returned after lunch. I was interviewed by a Detroit radio station because I saw a guy charging his home with the generator on his F-150. I am friends with the morning anchor and tried to be funny. I really hope that I didn’t sound TOO stupid.
I just wanted to take a moment to thank everyone here the “old homepage”. I sincerely love and appreciate all of you. In a world where you can’t seem to say anything without it ticking people off, we have kept an amazing record of civility and respect! I’ve been following Jimmy since at least a year or two before Katrina and while there may have been a few flare-ups, we figured it out.
All of you bring your own unique spin on the world and quite often we all can relate to what you’re saying. Because A&j is a humorous strip, many of you are funny. It is even nicer when people actually laugh at my jokes and stories!!!!
I recently had a bad experience about a couple things that I posted on social media. I took each item down because frankly life is too short to get upset about unimportant matters.
Keep the Faith, keep being the people that make this a better world
As another “old-timer” here, “Amen”.
From another “old-timer” – Amen! And I agree with Steve… you guys are my friends and I love you!
Steve:
I know what you mean about social media.
I quit Facebook seven years ago and quit Twitter two years ago.
Except for this site and the A&J GoComics forum, I use no social media.
By the way, I have found that all but two of the posters on the GoComics forum are polite and respectful.
Happy Friday the 13th, and try to take it easy, all you triskaidekaphobia sufferers out there.
Steve & Ghost, I agree. A pretty decent place to hang out.
Another amen to kudos to our villagers. And Happy Friday the 13th indeed. I worry about lots of things, but that’s never been one of them. (I’m shortening my name since I seem to have to type it every time. Lazy I am )
I started one of my best jobs ever on Friday the13th!
No comments for quite a while – are we stuck again?
It’s been awhile since I’ve read about any good recipes from this group. I’m going to be attending a salad luncheon (bring some to share) next month, Covid permitting. Any suggestions for a good salad to take?
Potato salad – but made with blue cheese dressing in place of mayonnaise.
A Recipe from Ghost’s Kitchen
CHINESE CHOPPED SALAD
1 head green leaf or iceberg lettuce, chopped
3 green onions, chopped (green and white parts)
1 red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded and chopped
6 oz. fresh or frozen snow pea pods, stemmed and julienned
2 c. chopped cooked shrimp, lobster, chicken, turkey, or roast pork
1 (3 oz.) package spicy-flavored instant ramen soup mix
1/4 cup rice vinegar
1 Tbsp. soy sauce
6 Tbsp. peanut or vegetable oil
1 Tbsp. sesame oil
2 Tbsp. toasted sesame seeds
Salt, pepper
Combine lettuce, onions, bell pepper, pea pods, and shrimp in large bowl. Crumble dry noodles from soup mix over mixture.
Combine seasoning packet from soup mix with vinegar and soy sauce in small bowl; whisk to blend. Whisk in peanut oil and sesame oil. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Pour dressing over salad; toss to thoroughly mix. Pile mixture onto 4-6 salad plates and sprinkle each serving with sesame.
NOTE: For milder flavored dressing, substitute chicken, shrimp, or pork flavored instant ramen soup.
A Recipe from Ghost’s Kitchen
MY SISTER’S ITALIAN SALAD
1 Large red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded and coarsely diced
1 Large green bell pepper, stemmed, seeded and coarsely diced
1 Large sweet onion, coarsely diced
1 Large cucumber, peeled, sliced and slices quartered
2 Large stalks celery, coarsely diced
1 Cup grape tomatoes
1 Medium jar stuffed green olives
1 Small jar artichoke hearts
Combine all ingredients in a sealable half gallon glass jar. Cover with Italian dressing and seal. Refrigerate overnight before serving. Serve as a side salad or over chopped romaine lettuce.
Good morning Ghost. How are you and Jackie getting along? Hope she is recovering without any issues.
Hi, Mark. Yes, Jackie seems to be making very good progress, although she of course has a way to go to fully recover her mobility. She saw her surgeon’s PA this past Thursday for her first post-op visit. He was very pleased with how her incision has healed (a big concern due to her other health issues and some of the medications she is taking) and the flexibility she has regained in the replaced knee. Her surgical staples were pulled. It seems she will be able to skip at-home physical therapy, and we are looking into her returning to do that at an out-patient clinic. She also saw her oncologist last Wednesday, and he was very pleased with her current state of health.
Fantastic! Thank you, Ghost. Tell her we miss her here, and on Facebook too.
Thanks for the update! I’ve been missing her positive attitude. The village made a difference for me that almost-a-year that I was in the wheelchair due to my knees. Jackie’s perseverance with the things she faced then encouraged me. The perseverance she continues to display encourages me further.
David
YAYAYAYAY to Jackie. Thanks, Ghost.
Great news about Jackie! I too really appreciate the friendliness of the community here. I am not well known, don’t often post (mostly lurk, or “read the mail” as we hams call it), but have been fortunate enough to meet a couple of you “in real life”. It’s good to check in every once in awhile. Have a good evening!
Rusty
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