Whenever things get real in the strip, someone inevitably chimes in with something like, “Arlo sure is being mean!” Or, “Arlo’s not being very sensitive to Janis.” When I was in the 5th grade, seriously, our teacher introduced us to the two essential elements of fiction: conflict and resolution. If you’re going to write fiction, any kind of fiction, things are liable to get testy. Then, things are put right, or they aren’t. Either way, a story is told. Admittedly, a comic strip is not the ideal vehicle for complex narrative. It unfolds so slowly, and readers, for whatever reason, seem to have well-formed expectations of how the characters should act. Of course, my advice to those who become unsettled by events in A&J is always the same: be patient.
232 responses to “Great Expectations IV”
So, Anonie, you’re saying it’s not just the OTC pheromones that count? 😉
Earlier this week, I drove out to a community water association office on my lunch hour to straighten out a problem with a water bill (that of my friend who is temporarily living out of state due to illness) and found myself alone there with a slightly-chubby-but-not-unattractive clerk. I don’t have much experience with that sort of thing, of course, but I’m pretty sure she was hitting on me.
That has happened on occasion when I was wearing my signature fragrance (Gray Flannel), but I always assumed it was the cologne. And no, I’m not a metrosexual. I just believe men should be well-groomed, well-dressed, and wear a pleasant-smelling scent when appropriate.
My oil royalty check came in the mail today. Gross owner net for the plot was $5.5 million. Before anyone gets too excited, let me hasten to sat that my portion of that is a *very* small percentage of the total. In fact, due the drop in the price of crude oil, I’ll probably celebrate by using my check to buy a cup of Starbucks coffee.
By the way, a considerable chunk of the gross went to pre-pay taxes. So when the gobermint tells you it’s trying to reduce or eliminate our use of petroleum for energy, you can probably take that with the same 50-lb bag of salt recommended for use with news media reports.
Fifty moons ago I paid those royalty shares to heirs for a big company in NE Orleans. Many were so miniscule it wasn’t worth the cost of my salary or paper and postage.
My mom got a royalty check so tiny she refused to cash checks and made them keep sending to annoy them.
Had my 320 calorie snack, 1/2 toasted cheese and tomato sandwich with 16 grapes and iced tea.
A little number for your Halloween evening listening pleasure…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DC6UtsPa13o
If I get real brave, I may post Voltaire’s “Zombie Prostitute” later.
For your additional Halloween listening pleasure, the classic chiller-thriller video…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOnqjkJTMaA
MJ looked just about as scary before the change. Dude could dance, though.
I may have told (part of) this story before; a long-time tradition at work is that admin, department directors, and management always perform a skit or play or something for employees at the company Christmas party. One year, we went full zombie…makeup, costumes and all…and performed the group dance routine to the music of “Thriller”. Not sure whose idea that was, but of course nothing says “Spirit of Christmas” like The Walking Undead™.
Also, I made up several squirt bottles of fake blood (that looked remarkable real) and volunteered to apply it to the arms, faces and necks of my fellow managers (all female, if you recall). I warned them the food red coloring in the concoction might stain garments, but they all said not to worry about it. So when the “blood” ran down their necklines, I ended up ruining more bras than I ever have in my life…at least at one time. 😉
p.s. I thought the best costume was a fellow manager who wore a moldy bridal gown and white-face makeup with lots of back eye shadow and a fake gunshot wound to her right temple. Apparently the honeymoon wasn’t all the bride expected it to be.
Ah, cheesy horror movies from the 50’s and 60’s…you had to love ’em.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2PoSljk8cE
I myself have on occasion felt like I’ve barely survived an “Attack of the 50 Ft. Woman”.
It’s a pity some of the Villagers are not on Facebook; Jackie has posted photos to die for, of her lush, beautiful vegetable and flower garden, and what she has picked — green beans, different kinds of squash. Lovely stuff.
Jackie, I’m so sorry that the kitty did not survive. Your vet is a wise man and a good person.
I hope Debbe is okay.
Interesting factoid: An irrational fear of Halloween is known as “samhainophobia”.
Charlotte, I am going to order seeds for spring g tonight if they are still on sale from seed companies. I love to do so many varieties and if they cost little it is so much fun to pick, purple, green, yellow, cream and even mottled green beans. Ditto greens, lots of fun colors and leaf patterns.
Thank you for kind words. I am going to get garden spruced up if it quits raining here but it stays pretty clean with raised beds and trellises. Those trellis are made out of industrial plastic netting the highway department uses on construction and rock slide areas. Had that genius idea from staring at side of road, it doesn’t rot or burn plants either from heat.
Cooking green beans and squash for dinner with tilapia almondine.
In the midst of everyone enjoying Halloween, a cousin on my dad’s side posts about her fourteen year old niece who was in a nasty auto accident today, and was airlifted, unresponsive from the scene. A bit of history: my dad’s youngest sister was killed in an auto accident in ’93. She had four children, the youngest was with her at the time. They were passengers in car that got broadsided. She died protecting her daughter (who still ended up with severe injuries, but made a full recovery.) The oldest daughter is a year younger than me and was fourteen at the time of her mother’s death. Her daughter was in the accident. I’m sure this fact has not escaped her as she sits in the surgery waiting room at the children’s hospital in Dayton. Last update has added to the injuries, but she is mercifully stable with no apparent brain trauma. My thoughts are with them tonight. We are not close, but no one deserves that much tragedy.
Mindy, that is true and none of us deserve tragedy. Unfortunately life doesn’t work that way it seems. You are a good, kind and generous soul who deserves so much more. I wish I really were a fairy godmother or an angel, I would try to reward the deserving.
But it just doesn’t work that way. I am going to claim my right eye dripping is allergies.
Thinking of you, dear Mindy, and hoping she will recover from this awful crash. If only our good deeds were really rewarded … wouldn’t it be fine! You would have lots of rewards.
Hugs and prayers, Mindy.
How about the dark side of cats?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3297923/Cats-neurotic-probably-trying-work-kill-say-researchers.html
Prayers for the best possible outcome for your family member, Lady Mindy.
Debbe 😉 Who you gonna call?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fe93CLbHjxQ
Don’t cross the streams, hon. It would be bad.
Do enjoy your day off.
Sorry to read of that tragedy, Mindy/Indy…prayer coming up.
Good morning Villagers….
Took yesterday off. Andrew and I miscommunicated, he thought it was Sunday I was taking off. So, I get a phone call at 9:30 from one of the teens asking if I was coming in…said no, I was taking the day off and Andrew had discussed it Friday afternoon. I was taking Saturday off because I was sick and tired…got my antibiotics and cough syrup Friday afternoon
So ‘Skittles” had to work alone…hey, I’ve done that before, and Andrew said maybe he’ll learn what real work is about….told Andrew I’d be in today.
So I spent the day, lounging and sleeping, medicating myself with antibiotics and cough syrup. Feeling some what better, I guess.
Didn’t log in here until now…..and just now caught up on all the posts.
Can’t believe it’s November already….Sorry about the babbling above…nothing more exciting that an upper respiratory infection….
Ya’ll have a Blessed Lord’s Day
GR 😉 no song today….I’ll make up for it later 🙂 but you could post his “Lawyers, guns and money” song….
=^..^-=
Strip of The First Day of Slow Time:
Sorry, Arlo, but I don’t think you are getting up.
It looks as if you are actually getting down.
This is a first, and would have fitted better yesterday.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1e0OtWYNfXo
Peace, emb
Arlo and Janis can be said to be, at the very least, educational. Again, I was forced to go to Google to understand the strip. Keep up the good work, JJ..
Debbe 😉 Yep, you did say on Friday you were taking “tomorrow” (Saturday) off, which my brain converted to taking today (Sunday) off. I suppose that was because you so seldom take off any day but Sunday, if that. That’s logical, right? 🙂
Anyway, glad you had a day off, no matter which day it was. Did you pull a Janis and “run out of candy”? Or something. 😉
One of the blogs I follow is called “No Lawyers – Only Guns and Money”. (I understand that the proprietor of the blog is an attorney.) Lest there be any doubt about the origin of his blog title, he has the line from the Warren Zevo song as part of his masthead: “Send Lawyers, Guns and Money. The $#!+ Has Hit the Fan.”
Which reminds me…
Thought for the Day: “Never underestimate the ability of $#!+ to find a fan.” – F. Paul Wilson
If you want to learn about circadian rhythms (the hard way), spend some time above the Arctic Circle in the winter.