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

Est. 1985

Extra, Extra!

Insect Aside II

By Jimmy Johnson

Buy the new book, "Beaucoup Arlo & Janis!"Today's "Arlo & Janis!"
I suppose the good news here is, the nuclear-war plan has trended upward since 1997. I’m traveling today. I am in Demopolis, Alabama, “City of the People.” You should Google it. It has a very interesting history. It was founded in the early 19th century by Bonapartists, political exiles from France after the return of Royalist government there. The settlers in west Alabama established what became known as “the vine and olive colony.” They thought they would be able to grow these crops, because the soil and climate reminded them of Bordeaux. They were wrong about that. There was a John Wayne movie supposedly set in French Demopolis that bore no relation whatsoever to anything that ever really happened.

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240 responses to “Insect Aside II”

  1. DaveP Avatar
    DaveP

    ok, this “buggy” strip arc is starting to freak me out!

  2. Jackie monies Avatar
    Jackie monies

    Lucky me to find a man who likes wind blown hair, natural fingernails and little makeup. Opinion still out on face lift since weight loss has left a lot of unfilled skin?

    Still exercising, walking despite needing that new knee.

  3. Start Up L Jackson Avatar
    Start Up L Jackson

    The only thing Americans like better than a get rich quick scheme, is a lose weight without trying scheme.

  4. TruckerRon Avatar

    My wife is now home and things are almost back to normal… or as close to it as we ever manage here.

  5. TruckerRon Avatar

    Debbe, that was an interesting typo in your last message regarding my wife. Or was it a typo? We guys are usually clueless about things, but I’d think I’d know about that one.

  6. Nancy Kirk in AZ Avatar
    Nancy Kirk in AZ

    Hello, Start Up L Jackson. I don’t remember seeing you post here in the Village before. Welcome–and that was a great comment!!

  7. Steve from Royal Oak, Mi Avatar

    Trucker Ron:

    Don’t let the Supreme Court read Debbe’s message!

  8. Ghost Rider 6 Avatar
    Ghost Rider 6

    Good report on your wife, TR. One of my favorite (and oft-used) expressions at work is “back to what we laughingly refer to around here as normal”.

    Accuracy kudos also due to Jimmy for today’s cartoon in re the fact that the female sales associates in Cosmetic & Fragrance departments very much tend to pair push-up bras with low-cut dresses, producing noteworthy décolletages. I know this because I regularly shop one of the local up-scale department stores, looking for a rare fragrance for a demanding (but, alas, imaginary) lady friend; they never have it in stock, so I have to keep checking back.

  9. Galliglo from Ohio Avatar
    Galliglo from Ohio

    Ghost: What will you do if they ever have it in stock?

  10. Galliglo from Ohio Avatar
    Galliglo from Ohio

    I can hardly believe it, but I forgot to check today’s strip until just a few minutes ago! But I had a good reason. One of my sisters fell Wed. evening and broke her hip. She had surgery today and I spent almost all day at the hospital. The surgeon said she came through it OK, but of course, she will have a lengthy recuperation. I just hope everything heals well, for she is 79.

    The anesthetic did a number on her. In recovery, she thought that she was being held against her will and that everyone around her was brainwashed. She has probably been watching the current news too much!

    TR: Glad your wife is on the mend. I just recently started taking a thyroid medication and have felt much better. Not nearly as sluggish as I was…

  11. Jackie monies Avatar
    Jackie monies

    The local food coop here has incredible and imaginative foods, most of it organic and very healthy. An old fashioned hippy type coop, not as slick as Whole Foods but beautiful produce, creative deli. Had an African peanut soup with chicken and vegs, another was s Chilean veg soup with ground lamb I think, hazelnut shortbread, a TexMex quinoa and corn pudding. I could eat all my meals there but bring lunch down to Maritime Center.

    No one wants to eat healthier and smaller portions oe God forbid, exercise.

    Thank you Ghost for inspiration. I am still far from perfect but you know what? Who is?

    Love Jackie

  12. Ghost Rider 6 Avatar
    Ghost Rider 6

    Gal: Invent a new lady friend with different scent preferences, of course. 🙂

    I hope your sister continues to do well. Even though the anesthesia knocked her for a loop, at least she didn’t have a life-threatening reaction to it, and she should be past the risk of throwing a clot pretty quickly. i don’t envy her her recuperation, though.

    I sat with a close friend after she had shoulder surgery a few years ago, and her reaction to the anesthesia was much the same. She thought her family, the surgeon, and I had all lied to her just to get her into the hospital, because there was never anything wrong with her shoulder (she was sorely disappointed in me for deceiving her), along with about forty other conspiracy theories. The hard part was not laughing at her at the time. But you can believe I made up for it after she left the hospital.

  13. Ghost Rider 6 Avatar
    Ghost Rider 6

    Jackie, if you ever alight in one place long enough, and in the absence of a knee fix, see if you can find yourself an aqua Zumba class, water yoga class, aqua aerobics class, aqua jogging class, or something of that nature. (They will, however, likely insist you wear a swimsuit for class. 🙂 )

    Speaking of fitness, former Special Forces weapons man Hognose quoted this on Weaponsman.com this morning, an explanation from a “rotund” 1980s-era military intelligence NCO with whom he served as to why it didn’t matter that said NCO could not come within hailing distance of a passing score on a PT test: “You run your two miles. I’ll stand and fight!”

  14. Denise in Michigan Avatar
    Denise in Michigan

    Gal, I’m curious to know whether she remembered later what happened in recovery. Will she be recuperating at home or in a rehab facility? I’ll keep her in my prayers, along with Mrs. TruckerRon (and the rest of the Village, as well as Our Peerless Leader).

  15. Denise in Michigan Avatar
    Denise in Michigan

    Hi, sand!

  16. sandcastler™ Avatar
    sandcastler™

    Hi Denise!

    I am able to resurface; we have new ID cards, passports, and paperwork. Almost feel like changed people. 😉 Only have domestic travel on the itinerary through the end of the year. Maybe a Cuba trip should things fall just right.

    GR6, should they ever have your “ladies” fragrance in stock be certain you do a sniff test.

    TR, see your household is busy. Glad to hear the Mrs. is ok.

  17. Galliglo from Ohio Avatar
    Galliglo from Ohio

    Denise: Sis is not completely free of the effects of the anesthetic. But she should be tomorrow when I visit. I’ll let you know! The hospital has a rehab unit and she will probably be there for a period. Medicare will OK 28 days but we will have to see.

  18. Galliglo from Ohio Avatar
    Galliglo from Ohio

    And thanks for the prayers!

  19. Ghost Rider 6 Avatar
    Ghost Rider 6

    “Organic genderless gingerbread figures”? Sounds about right. Remember when there were lots of actual Alpha Males™ that could Get Things Done™? I fear for our future.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JWt4M_GpX0

    “My kayak is sinking! I don’t know what to do. Oh, nooo!”

  20. TruckerRon Avatar

    GR6: My 17 yo daughter announced, “What a wimp… Sarah should just let him sink!”

  21. Ghost Rider 6 Avatar
    Ghost Rider 6

    Then there’s hope, after all. Good for her.

  22. Ghost Rider 6 Avatar
    Ghost Rider 6

    Debbe 😉 Walking Playlist – Song #5…Good tempo, even if I was apparently actually born to be mild.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMbATaj7Il8

    I always thought Peter Fonda looked too Hollywood-actorish for the role, but maybe that was just me. I still miss Karen Black, though.

  23. Jerry in Fl Avatar
    Jerry in Fl

    Two places no sane person would make a movie-“Frogs” at Eden State Park (close to Destin) and Peter Fonda in ” Euley’s Gold” at Wewahitchka, reasonably close to Appalachicola.

  24. Old Bear Avatar
    Old Bear

    Prayers for all those in need.

    On a more tragic note – about 40ya as I recall a couple drowned when a man went to rescue
    his wife and she dragged him down – they were in 3 feet of water.

    emb
    Was it you that requested On The Mall from MPR Friday Favorites?
    The requester listened to it at NYC Central Park mid 50s, likes Gilbert & Sullivan,
    comes from Bemidji.

    I asked for Butterfly Lover’s Concerto – it is 28min long – by Gil Shahan
    This is not walking music- more like sit and enjoy your meal or just unwind.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvLcgL5RnQY