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

Est. 1985

Extra, Extra!

Gratuitous Gratuity

By Jimmy Johnson


Buy the new book, "Beaucoup Arlo & Janis!"Today's "Arlo & Janis!"
Hooray! It seems the EarthLink servers are up and running, again. I was getting worried after two days of “This Page Cannot Be Displayed” error messages. I will say, I have been with EarthLink since I launched my first Web site back in the 90s, and the reliability has been outstanding—with only the occasional hiccup. Today, I have another Sunday A&J from 1994. This is a mild example of the insecurity that characterized Janis in the early years. Janis since has mellowed and enjoys life and marriage much more these days. In reality, the waiter or waitress who hovers constantly around me and pesters me with ceaseless questions and attention is not ingratiating himself. But reality is what insecurity is all about, is?

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257 responses to “Gratuitous Gratuity”

  1. Jackie monies Avatar
    Jackie monies

    So no one is envious I have been in warm sunny Florida with continuation of stomach whatever and a sick puppy And a major boating news event going on which arouses the old news hound in my soul and it wants to be in the hunt

  2. emeritus MN biologist Avatar
    emeritus MN biologist

    Yay, David! emb

  3. Ghost Rider 6 Avatar
    Ghost Rider 6

    Good report, David.

    Fair report, Jackie. 🙂

  4. Granny Carol Avatar
    Granny Carol

    So glad to hear this David!

  5. domaucan1 Avatar
    domaucan1

    Sorry to be absent so much. Just not much to say. Just wanted everyone to know that I am NOT anti-gun or anti-hunting, just never did it or even owned a gun, except a souvenir from my cousin from WWII, which I gave to my son. My favorite French saying is, “Chacun a son gout.” Translation: “Everyone to his own taste”! That’s what the old lady said when she kissed the cow.

    Prayers for everyone who needs them and I know we all do. My way of coping with daylight “saving” time is to go to bed an hour earlier than usual for the first few days. Funny, but it works.

    God bless us every one.

  6. sideburns Avatar

    David, I understand what you’re going through with dialysis about as well as anybody can who hasn’t been through it. Years ago, I spent some time as a caregiver for a diabetic who’d gone blind. Then his kidneys failed and he went on dialysis three times a week. It was a very exhausting experience for him. Next he lost a foot to an ulcer and ended up in a nursing home and died within a year. Weep Wail!

  7. Old Bear Avatar
    Old Bear

    Debbe

    A chicken crossing the road is poultry in motion.

  8. Old Bear Avatar
    Old Bear

    You go David – Pun intentional

  9. emeritus MN biologist Avatar
    emeritus MN biologist

    Not bad. Someone can wait for the next prediction. I gotta run. emb

    http://www.nps.gov/features/yell/webcam/oldFaithfulStreaming.html

  10. Jackie Monies Avatar
    Jackie Monies

    New motel but they are beginning to look the same or else I have stayed in every La Quinta in Florida, entirely possible, Has anyone tried the new broth bowls at Panera Bread? Daughter has me on broth based soups, crackers and jello diet. Broth bowl was a lot like pho and no doubt spicier than I should have eaten. I ate chicken and broth, saved noodles and veggies. Either I was starving (possible) or it was pretty tasty. Expensive I thought compared to real pho.

    My normal spirits seem to be returning. David, the tough like you get going. Charlotte, the sweet ones like you sit and sip. Debbe, Mindy, we know you are tough women. And I think that applies to all of us women here. No girls, but a lot of women!

    Love, Jackie

  11. emeritus MN biologist Avatar
    emeritus MN biologist

    The men, on the other hand, . . ..?

  12. TruckerRon Avatar

    Clearly we guys are manly men, studly studs, and playful boys, all depending on the time of day the the company we’re keeping.

  13. David in Austin Avatar
    David in Austin

    A Texas A & M engineer, Calvin Rickson, has designed a new bra that stops womens’ beasts from jiggling, bouncing up and down, and that keeps nipples from protruding through clothing fabric when it is cold.

    After a news cconferene announcing the invention, a large group of men took Rickson outside and beat the crap out of him!

    (Ghost… were you there?) 😉

  14.  Avatar
    Anonymous

    cxp: I totally agree about Argyle Sweater. I cut it out to send to my son.

  15. sandcastlerâ„¢ Avatar
    sandcastlerâ„¢

    David, his only mistake was not holding his press announcement in Montana.

  16. Charlotte in NH Avatar
    Charlotte in NH

    David, so glad for you. You sure are tough! I like what Jackie said. Just now I’m getting to the Village for the first time today. My daughter Nancy, she of the long, curly blonde hair, drove me to the Bank and to the orthopedic surgeon’s office. They sawed off the cast from lower leg and put on a new cast. Well, to my dismay, it feels horrible! The first cast was very comfortable, no pain, quite easy to walk in. This one, just the opposite. The same woman did the work, she’s very competent and professional and pleasant. I was talking and asking questions, maybe I distracted her; now I’m thinking, I should have kept my mouth shut; not for the first time!

  17. Ghost Rider 6 Avatar
    Ghost Rider 6

    Charlotte, get on the horn to the doc’s office the first thing in the morning and make them aware you are having a problem with the new cast.

  18. Ghost Rider 6 Avatar
    Ghost Rider 6

    No, David, but if I could have made it there, I’d have cheerfully joined in. Some things are just wrong. 🙂

  19. Ghost Rider 6 Avatar
    Ghost Rider 6

    “Within our company, we strive to create Panera Warmth. This warmth means bakery-cafes where customers and associates feel comfortable and welcome. To this end, we ask that guns not be brought into this environment unless carried by an authorized law enforcement officer. Panera respects the rights of gun owners, but asks our customers to help preserve the environment we are working to create for our guests and associates.” – Panera Bread CEO Ron Shaich

    And I respect Panera Bread’s right, as a private company, to make that decision. As I’m sure they respect my right to take my business elsewhere. Which I do.

    Ever notice that almost all mass shootings occur in “Gun Free Zones”? I avoid them as much as possible, as a matter of personal policy, and therefore would feel neither welcome or comfortable in a Panera Bread store.

  20. Nancy Kirk in AZ Avatar
    Nancy Kirk in AZ

    Oops. Anon re Argyle Sweater was me. My computer dumped all ID’s recently. I don’t know why….