A pithy comic strip about life, love, lust and puthy cats.

Est. 1985

Extra, Extra!

Chicken Solitaire

By Jimmy Johnson

April 7, 2002


Today’s antique cartoon is from this date in 2002, and it is based on a true story. Doing something like this is exactly how I found myself in Paris in September of 1997, my first trip abroad. The Worldwide Web was a relatively new cultural phenomenon at that time, and I wasn’t motivated so much by brazen caprice as ignorance. Half of me didn’t believe the airlines would really sell me a ticket over my computer. Of course, they did, and it was the best stupid thing I’ve ever done. I have been back to the old country several times since but not as many times as I’d like. I am a different and better person for it. Sometimes, it works out.


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58 responses to “Chicken Solitaire

  1. Llee Avatar
    Llee

    Games of all kinds, today! 🙂

  2. Ghost Avatar
    Ghost

    That’s how I sometimes pass the time. I call it “window shopping”. (Anyone else old enough to remember when there were real stores, with real real windows, one could walk down a sidewalk and look into?) But yes, be careful with that mouse.

    1. Jon in Denver Avatar
      Jon in Denver

      How about Christmas windows? We would drive downtown in our old 36 Dodge, park right on the main drag and run up and down looking at all the clever and beautiful displays.

  3. Mark in TTown Avatar
    Mark in TTown

    Good morning all. Jimmy, I never saw this one, and I like it a lot. It reminds me of my vacation planning, because I like to browse around for the timing and price that suits me best. My second job after moving to Tennessee was working for a company providing travel services to its customers. I had to get a travel agent’s license, learn airport codes, etc. Then I was on the phone with people doing live what Arlo is doing on the computer. It was fun, I learned a lot I hadn’t known, and I got to use the travel agent discount on a cruise for my honeymoon.

    And the site’s identity crisis continues. Ghost, now I’m you, but not for long.

  4. Philippe/Symply Avatar
    Philippe/Symply

    Symply tribes to get back some lost money yesterday on a cruise that got cancelled…airlines give a one year credit when there is no traveling for a year, some Fargone deal for the consumer….Ah well stay safe; 2 shots down.

  5. MontanaPhil Avatar
    MontanaPhil

    Thanks for sharing that bit of personal experience. It’s becoming a tempting idea after being cooped up for a year

  6. TruckerRon Avatar

    The past few days I haven’t been anyone. Now I’m MontanaPhil!
     
    The company I drove for was HQ’d in Montana; I miss that beautiful state! However it’s now a subsidy of Schneider and is no longer one of the largest privately-held trucking companies. Also, their website now boasts of 100% of its fleet having (gasp!) automatic transmissions! Double-clutching, floating gears, and having total control on those mountains was half the fun!

  7. Steve From Royal Oak, MI Avatar

    I have been feeling rather miserable and I think that I have tracked it to all of the Easter candy that I have been eating as well as the dairy products. I switched my milk to Lactose-free about a year or so ago, but my half and half, sour cream, ice cream and cottage cheese have lactose in them. So I will try going lactose free and see if that helps with the discomfort and with losing weight. I have been walking (1500+ miles in a year) and eating smart but have not budged the scale down.

    I also put sugar on my strawberries, so I am going to try coconut sugar. I don’t like coconut but was told that it doesn’t taste like that. I have been reading Giada DeLaurentis’ new book and she has had similar issues as I have been having.

    1. Sideburns Avatar

      If memory serves, coconut sugar is also called palm sugar. It tastes almost the same as cane sugar, but with a little bit of vanilla in the background.

  8. Galliglo from Ohio Avatar
    Galliglo from Ohio

    Here I am Jackie Monies and I popped up as Galliligio again this morning.

  9. Jackie Avatar
    Jackie

    Steve I went lactose free and chocolate and sugar free and caffeine free. My A1C dropped to 6.2 and my blood sugars to 100 or less most times. My stomach issue disappeared.

    I am not perfect but I am much better and losing weight. Ghost has to fix and bring me food.

    1. Steve From Royal Oak, MI Avatar

      I have had very little caffeine over the years. With my restless legs, it really messes things up. I have not been diabetic, but my Dad and one of my brothers were in later life, so that is why I lost 35 lbs. In the last year the weight has stabilized, even though I am taking in less calories. I am not looking more at the nutritional side of what I eat and not just the # of calories. All I know is that I feel bloated and my muscles have been sore for 20 + years.

  10. Ginger in Auburn Avatar
    Ginger in Auburn

    I am envious. Lived there for 3 months, and expected to return with my soon to be husband. That was 42+ years ago, and we still have not been. It is still on my bucket list. Hope springs eternal!

  11. Jackie Monies Avatar
    Jackie Monies

    Here I am anonymous and Gallilgio hzs vanished.

    I play with shoes and clothing, clicking them when they have run prices to rock bottom below $10
    I rarely buy but hit purchase accidentally recently. It entertains me and educates.

  12. Neal H Sanders Avatar

    I read the strip this morning (April 7) and broke out laughing, startling my spouse who is not easily startled. This is truly classic and timely A&J. The best ‘grownup’ strip in the business. Thank you, JJ.
    P.S. I got my second (Moderna) shot over the weekend; she got her ‘one-and-done’ J&J shot two weeks ago. We celebrated with Champagne, and look forward to traveling as soon as other countries will take us in.

  13. Mark in TTown Avatar
    Mark in TTown

    I Am Mark in TTown now instead of Jackie Monies as I had corrected earlier.

    I would live with Arlo. Janis is lucky.

    1. Mark in TTown Avatar
      Mark in TTown

      Well, at this rate we can learn each other’s email addresses, if we want. Does this count as talking to myself? Hi Jackie. Good to see the posts here from you. I miss what you had to say on Facebook and hope you will return there someday.

  14. Rick in Shermantown, Ohio Avatar
    Rick in Shermantown, Ohio

    Jimmy:

    Are you French via your mother or father?

    In my case, I have a little French through my paternal grandmother.

    Otherwise, I am all English.

  15. Ghost Avatar
    Ghost

    Re 4-7-21 real-time cartoon: A pick-up line that basically boils down to “You’d only have a 50% chance of contracting a possibly serious and potentially fatal disease from me, so why not give me a tumble,” needs work. A lot of work.

  16. KanadaKen Avatar
    KanadaKen

    Oh to travel again. I long to return to Scotland with my family. One day soon, more new cherished memories.

  17. Mark in TTown Avatar
    Mark in TTown

    Weii .Mark in TTown I am back as you despite changing to me, Jackie Monies.

    If you get a chance go eat at Kai Vietnamese Restaurant down by BOK on 5th Street. On weekends they have not on menu specials. There are items on menu no one else has. We had shrimp crepes, pork dumplings, Ghost had his usual beef pho and I had a spicy beef noodle soup with no English name.

    The sisters from Viet Huong sold the old shop and opened a new trendy locale. I intend to eat All the new dishes. Tuesday calamari, the bo (puffy buns) and a stirfry with shrimp.

    Ghost is disappointed that Marie the beautiful (hot legs) is working kit hen manager. Iove her, have k own her since 1996. They opened during COVID-19 and the theater district is still shut down.

  18. HyperTay Avatar
    HyperTay

    I didn’t realize Arlo is left handed!

    I bought a chicken coop online years ago and swore I’d never do it again, shoddy quality, bad instructions etc.
    Yesterday I found myself buying 2 more. I’ve learned how to read reviews before clicking in the time since.

    1.  Avatar
      Anonymous

      I believe Arlo is ambidextrous.

  19. Mark in TTown Avatar
    Mark in TTown

    Still Mark (says Jackie) today. No idea why.

  20. Jon in Denver Avatar
    Jon in Denver

    We are throwing caution to the wind and daring to travel, all the way to Lincoln, Nebraska. It happens to be half way between us and some very dear old friends so we are meeting there for 4 wonderful days of adventure. Hey they have a Tractor Museum, a Quilt Museum and a Ice Skating Museum. What more could you ask?

  21. Mark in TTown Avatar
    Mark in TTown

    Removed Mark in TTown and removed Remember Me. I came back later and Mark in TTown is back too!

    This is Jackie erasing Mark again!

  22. Mark in TTown Avatar
    Mark in TTown

    And Mark is back again@ Jaxkie Monies!

  23.  Avatar
    Anonymous

    And again! I erase .Mark but he keeps returning!

    Jackie

  24. Mark in TTown Avatar
    Mark in TTown

    I seem to be very busy this afternoon, and I haven’t even posted anything till now! Thanks for the tip on the Vietnamese restaurant Jackie, but I’m not too much into their food. Now the India Palace, just up the road from me, has a very good lunch buffet. And there seem to be a lot of Chinese places around, too.

  25. TruckerRon Avatar

    This time I’m myself, but had no email address. 😉
     
    Early in our marriage my wife and I went bowling with friends. Of course I was watching her closely and thus able to catch her ball when it came rolling back at me. This gal had an even wilder throw…
     
    https://www.ksl.com/article/50142727/have-you-seen-this-the-boomerang-bowling-ball