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. Ghost Rider 6 Avatar
    Ghost Rider 6

    “Cray-cray epic photobomb fail while merked.” = “An ill-advised attempt by someone to insert himself/herself into someone else’s photograph malfunctioned disastrously due to the perpetrator being under the influence of alcohol/recreational drugs.”

  2. Old Bear Avatar
    Old Bear

    Jackie some of us have gone through what you are experiencing now – it is never easy nor exactly the same. I never know what to say, so just HUGS.
    We have a tradition that helps – whenever the family gathers or there is a significant day
    we set a place at the table for those “that have stepped on the rainbow”. They are with us.

    emb:
    8 inches here west of The Cities.
    About that article you posted – there was a TV program about that situation.
    I was going to say something stereotypical but I don’t need anyone showing up at my door
    clothed or not. Just say that FF in my area in NE knew most of the final findings 20 years before.

  3. Ghost Rider 6 Avatar
    Ghost Rider 6

    Debbe?

  4. Jerry in Fl Avatar
    Jerry in Fl

    Misty morning rain, keep on falling.-Ray Price

  5. emeritus minnesota biologist Avatar
    emeritus minnesota biologist

    Q: Do you know why no one in (name of central European country people tell jokes about) knows how to call 911?

    A: They can’t find the “eleven” on their phones.

    In this area, it would be a northern European country. On the Iron Range [‘da Rainche’], you’d have to add a southern European country. The Range, BTW, includes a city named Virginia, so around here, you have to add ‘state of’, if appropriate.

    Peace, emb

  6. Old Bear Avatar
    Old Bear

    emb:

    Down this way it is a state just south of MN.

    In seriousness – Nine One One is stated that way so kids and panic ed people don’t waste time
    looking for the elusive 11.

    OB

  7. Symply Fargone Avatar

    Hoping you all had as nyce a holidays as I did…had Hannukah with the Old Lady and her daughter, it’s nyce to have folks with the same traditions as you around again… after 26 years, then it was off to my middle son for Christmas and yesterday to my oldest son’s house for more of the same and again it is nyce to celebrate the holidays the way we used to(funny to say that about both Judaism and Christianity, if only I’d adopted a Muslim I’d have all three in my immediate family lol)….saw 7 of the 8 grandkids and headed to TX to Symply visit with my daughter and youngest grandchild for a few daze(from what I hear about Ryan (1.25 yrs), I better have my track shoes on) in January…..and I’m still Fargone limping from the back surgery Oh well. It is good to read about you all, sorry I am as distant as I am now, but times are busy. If you are in central Mass. for January try to come by one of our shows and let me know…got a lot of good shows coming up if you like blues…..so nice to visit here in the village when time allows.

    To all, the most healthy, happy, safe and prosperous year in 2015.

    Oh anybody like my new project(Dr. said I can ride agian, so it is nyce to know I am not building it for someone else!

    https://scontent-b-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/1912312_10204612992278035_4394075523409280048_n.jpg?oh=4b5ad51296c2bd165cd085169ba914fc&oe=552E7E24

  8. Trapper Jean Avatar
    Trapper Jean

    Mark, I think at one time or another I’ve said most of those phrases, and a few they’ve missed. In the “How Ugly Is He?” category my Dad had this one: He’s so ugly that as a child his parents had to tie a pork chop around his neck so the puppy would play with him”. For more Southernisms try Sh*t Southern Women Say- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUFL2GT1-2g

  9. Jackie Monies Avatar
    Jackie Monies

    I always had heard hissy fit and conniption fit but a good friend always talked about being a catirumptious fit, if I spelled that right. I had heard about cat fits and dog fits as expressions but I thought all the cat loveers here might not know what a catirumptious was?

    Love, Jackie (who loved the article too)

  10. Nodak Wayne Avatar
    Nodak Wayne

    Symply, I want your shop!

  11. Ghost Rider 6 Avatar
    Ghost Rider 6

    I once heard a “Southerner” defined as one who knows the difference between a hissy fit and conniption fit.

  12. Ghost Rider 6 Avatar
    Ghost Rider 6

    I went to grammar school with a girl who was so orthodontically-challenged that she could eat an apple through a picket fence. [PC version]

  13. sandcastler™ Avatar
    sandcastler™

    I visit a website that is so Southern that I can’t stop visiting it. 😉

  14. Mark in TTown Avatar
    Mark in TTown

    Jackie, I haven’t heard of a catirumptious fit, but I have heard cattywampus.

    Debbe and Mindy from Indy, (I can’t remember who asked), I found out that my niece is at Indiana University.

  15. Jerry in Fl Avatar
    Jerry in Fl

    A large crowd standing in the snow at OF.

  16. Jackie Monies Avatar
    Jackie Monies

    Mark, that is it. I couldn’t spell it!

  17. Mark in TTown Avatar
    Mark in TTown

    Here’s a definition, Jackie: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/cattywampus

  18. Ghost Rider 6 Avatar
    Ghost Rider 6

    Debbe 😉 You OK, hon?

    Everyone seemed to have a one-track (“California Dreaming”) mind over on TDS today. Well, might as well join them, but with an alternate (and, I think, a more appropriate) song. I don’t think that Janis is thinking of California on her walk.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxrwImCJCqk

  19. Galliglo from Ohio Avatar
    Galliglo from Ohio

    Symply: I am not a rider, but that is awesome!

  20. Galliglo from Ohio Avatar
    Galliglo from Ohio

    Trapper Jean: I have heard the pork chop saying many times! Although I grew up in Ohio, I am still Southern!

  21. Jerry in Fl Avatar
    Jerry in Fl

    Some of my 2 generations back south Alabama country relatives used to say “Well, I swan”. I don’t think that I ever heard it anywhere else.

  22. Jerry in Fl Avatar
    Jerry in Fl

    I found one reference on the net from the same part of the country. Apparently it was a very regional expression.

  23. sandcastler™ Avatar
    sandcastler™

    Symply, nice ride. Want to see the finished machine, please.

  24. DellaMae Avatar
    DellaMae

    Hello to all! Life has had me by the ears lately (or is it that I’ve had the wolf by the ears?) but I wanted to stop in to wish everyone a splendid New Year. I’m more than ready to let go of the old one.

    I just read all of Jackie’s latest posts — oh, Jackie, I am so sorry for all you have been through and will continue to face. I can only wish you strength and peace. Please do take care of yourself. You will endure, and do it bravely. I know that you already know this, but I wanted to say it in writing. Many hugs to you.

  25. curmudgeonly ex-professor Avatar
    curmudgeonly ex-professor

    I heard “I swan” from my father, who was born, raised and lived in New York City for 62 years. However, it was cited (by him) in a little ditty referring to rural America, so ought not be termed a NYC-ism. Just which part of rural America was not obvious. Other lines referred to “I’ll be switched, the hay ain’t pitched.” and a farm.