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

Est. 1985

Extra, Extra!

“I’m figuratively dyin’ here!”

By Jimmy Johnson


Buy the new book, "Beaucoup Arlo & Janis!"Today's "Arlo & Janis!"
I limp to the end of this week with a rather generic offering from 1993. However, I’m beginning a project which should have an indirect affect on what we do here. “The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum” at the Ohio State University has accepted my donation of several dozen original Arlo & Janis comic strips, going back to when the strip began. In the next few weeks, I’ll be rooting through pretty much everything I’ve drawn since 1985. I’m going to pick out a couple of strips from each year to give to the folks in Columbus, but I’ll keep an eye out for anything that might interest us here, as well. Who knows what lurks? I certainly don’t remember. Now, somebody please explain what Boxing Day is.

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158 responses to ““I’m figuratively dyin’ here!””

  1. John in Richmond Texas Avatar
    John in Richmond Texas

    three up “remember the war to eliminate Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction?”
    yes and people forget it was one of the several reasons for going therehttp://hotair.com/archives/2010/10/24/wikileaks-documents-show-wmds-found-in-iraq/

  2. Mark in TTown Avatar
    Mark in TTown

    John, since you accidentally ran your sentence into the link and deactivated it. I will repost it for you: http://hotair.com/archives/2010/10/24/wikileaks-documents-show-wmds-found-in-iraq/

  3. Jerry in Fl Avatar
    Jerry in Fl

    Now that there has been more back and forth about a certain movie and who may have done or not done something, I’ve changed my opinion a bit on that issue but we’ve known for some time that politics is a minefield that devours good will voraciously so I won’t get into it. Believe it or not, I completely agreed with Rodney King when he said “Can’t we just all get along?”

  4. emeritus minnesota biologist Avatar
    emeritus minnesota biologist

    OF erupted about 10 min. ago. Decent crowd was leaving, clothed sensibly for the season, +/- as people here should dress for stargazing, if the clouds ever clear. Next Sunday, 4 Jan., I think, will be the latest sunrise.

    Brown Christmas, temps only single digits above today, night, and Sunday. Little dusting on lawns/streets this morning, but mostly sublimed courtesy of a partly cloudy day. Bleak now, scattered snowflakes, time to run down to Qdoba for a burrito, tonight’s and Monday’s supper. [They are humungous.] Also will steam some veggies. Peace, emb

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

  5. Symply Fargone Avatar

    Just want to Symply wish everyone a healthy safe prosperous and most importantly a happy new year(yeah yeah the holiday too), I hope your Hannukahs and Christmas’ brought you much joy and family together(whether a joy or not 😉 ). I’m hoping to have one of the most Fargone years ever. Y’all do the same!

  6. Galliglo from Ohio Avatar
    Galliglo from Ohio

    {Hugs} Symply!

  7. Ghost Rider 6 Avatar
    Ghost Rider 6

    {Handshake} Symply! 🙂

  8. emeritus minnesota biologist Avatar
    emeritus minnesota biologist

    Flu is worse than last yr. in MN. One reason is that the virus has mutated enough that the vaccine devised for ’14-’15 is not as close a match as was hoped. It STILL is better protection than none. Local hospital is restricting visitors and asking them to wear masks, wash hands, use hand sterilizers [mounted at many door ways and all patient rooms].

    I’m playing hooky from UMC tomorrow to hear a favorite preacher at FLC tomorrow, on a sad anniversary for both of us. [She did wife’s eulogy, the hardest job at that UMC funeral. Our UMC pastor also officiated; he did well. She and wife were close friends.]

    I don’t envy her preaching two services tomorrow; her dad is dying. As soon as her second service is over, she and her husband will be driving 160 or so miles to be with him. Roads should be better than they often are in late Dec. Prayers.

    Peace, emb

  9. emeritus minnesota biologist Avatar
    emeritus minnesota biologist

    Forgot to mention that, ideally, people in crowds [e.g., at church] should avoid the hugs and handshakes bit. Fist bumps, or better, the stereotypical Japanese bow, would be more appropriate in flu season.

  10. Galliglo from Ohio Avatar
    Galliglo from Ohio

    True emb, but cyber hugs are safe!

  11. Charlotte in NH Avatar
    Charlotte in NH

    Dear Jackie, so very glad that you are at home. It must seem like a refuge after all that’s happened. No wonder your dog and cats are relieved at your return. How are your mama’s dogs doing?

    Also glad your good nature is still shining through. You can bend, but can’t be broken. I’ve thought of you and Mike so much these last few days, and so have all the Villagers, I’m certain.

    With much love, Charlotte

  12.  Avatar
    Anonymous

    Daughter, son in law, Jack and I went to Tulsa to pick up Mike’s ashes and hand carry them to Louisiana, plus a lot of other errands connected to services, like a suit for SIL who came hurriedly. There were all marching around Garden Ridge Pottery’s big box store, shopping for cherry wood large plant stands to put the large urns of roses on either side of coffin and lovely bronze urns to hold them, a cherry stand for Mike’s ashes and flowers.

    I know Mike was laughing at us because it was just like we have always been. We dragged down stands off displays, compared them, haggled the manager down for a discount since there were scratches, shopped entire store to find the urns on “red line” markdown, 50% off. We decided what to order from florist, called her to let her get in a rose order in time, warning her we were all retired florists and show designers. This is a good thing to tell a shop, it is disconcerting to find this out later. We try to be gracious, not overbearing. I know I cannot do this personally, so they must be my hands.

    Getting through is hard. I am trying to keep diabetes and other issues under control, stay hydrated, eat regularly and sensibly, get some sleep. Sounds simple but I have decided to focus on most basic issues.

    Love, Jackie

  13.  Avatar
    Anonymous

    Wilma. my pet caretaker loves those animals. Blue is in laundry room, Brownie in mama’s room.
    They are grieving I know.

    My “staff” bought me beautiful flowers for my desk. They all got Boxing Day gifts today, except the ones who will get them Monday.

    Love, Jackie

  14. Charlotte in NH Avatar
    Charlotte in NH

    Jackie, you are keeping your friends here up to date, bless your heart. The love and the interest in life shines through your thoughtful messages. We have to smile at picturing you and the family shopping and bargaining for the things you need. I’m awfully glad you are taking such good care of yourself; that’s reassuring. And thanks for telling us about the animals. What a wonderful bunch of helpers you have!

    Lovingly, Charlotte

  15. Trapper Jean Avatar
    Trapper Jean

    Jackie, knowing the way you’ve talked about your “staff” here before it doesn’t surprise me they’re doing anything they can to help you now, Boxing Day gifts or not. It’s obvious you adore them, and they you. They will take good care of you, I have no doubt. Thank you for letting those of us in the Village know how you are doing since we can’t be there with you. We do worry about you.

  16. Trapper Jean Avatar
    Trapper Jean

    Symply, cyber {{hug}}!

  17. Debbe Avatar
    Debbe

    Good morning Villagers….

    Have to go into work today…..it’ll be just me and ‘Skittles’….and the four men will be babysitting “Little Fire Chief” (which is the nickname they have given two year old Kyler. (Kind of glad I’m working 🙂

    Visited with Mom yesterday, told her about my friend in Oklahoma and the loss of her mother and husband….my Mom said to tell Jackie that she had her sympathy. It seems that Mom threw a little hissy fit the other day at the nursing home and that is why she was given a 24 hour leave. Mom said no one knows what it’s like to be stuck in a room all day long. She fell, and they had her attached to an alarm that when she got out of bed or the recliner the alarm went off. As I left, my other sister, Jacquie, came to visit. Visits will be more frequent this year.

    Got to go……

  18. Debbe Avatar
    Debbe

    Jackie……glad you are home and have a great support system….two legged and 4 legged.

    Love to you.

    My Mom sends her sympathy. I told her about you.

  19. Debbe Avatar
    Debbe

    Thank you Simply….and best wishes for a bountiful year for you too.

  20. emeritus minnesota biologist Avatar
    emeritus minnesota biologist

    We had a colder / usual Nov., but a mild Dec. Cold now, -2 or so, temps for year’s end predicted single digits above and below, well w/in normal range for now. Peace, emb

  21. Jerry in Fl Avatar
    Jerry in Fl

    Rain predicted today. It’s just all gray at the moment. Nap time.

  22. Jerry in Fl Avatar
    Jerry in Fl

    Today’s strip is Spunky and Elvis.

  23. Denise in Michigan Avatar
    Denise in Michigan

    Jimmy, today’s real-time strip is a great twist on the classic theme!

    Jackie, Mike and your Mom must have loved watching that shopping trip. My Dad has been gone almost 44 years, yet he is here every day for me. That’s one of the few comforts upon which we can rely in life: that the people we love can always be a part of our present. You said that “getting through is hard.” It really is, hon, and all we can do is grit our teeth and keep loving.

  24. sandcastler™ Avatar
    sandcastler™

    Did Ludwig get a new companion for Christmas?

  25. Ursen Avatar
    Ursen

    Sympathies Jackie. Hope the hard times are made lighter by the good friends around you. Prayers for you.