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

Est. 1985

Extra, Extra!

Redoing the Redux

By Jimmy Johnson


Buy the new book, "Beaucoup Arlo & Janis!"Today's "Arlo & Janis!"
As promised, here’s the earlier version of the Sunday A&J comic from last November, that reran here yesterday. It wasn’t quite as old as I remembered; it was from 1993. I included the two bonus panels at the top, which are designed to be disposable, because I wanted you to see the store shopping bag. In the recent version of the strip, you’ll notice a cardboard box. In the strip from 2014, most of us would conclude Janis purchased the skirt online, and it had been delivered. I think that’s probably the single biggest difference in the strips, drawn 21 years apart. There’s something else that sticks out, something that bedeviled me for many years. In the older strip, Arlo and Janis are roughly the same height. By most reckoning, this would put Janis on the tall side or Arlo on the short side or a little of both. It just seemed to be that way. For no particular reason other than creating visual contrast (think “Mutt & Jeff”), I consciously reminded myself for years to make Arlo a little taller than Janis. Now, it comes kind of naturally, but it took awhile. I now think of Arlo as average in height and Janis perhaps a little taller than average. But not much. There, have I written enough for today?

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182 responses to “Redoing the Redux”

  1. Evan Avatar
    Evan

    Once Our Humble Author drew some attention to the relative heights of our Happy Couple, I went back and looked a little closer. Note in Frames 3 and 4 that Janis’ and Arlo’s heads pop above the black line of the frame just a tad. That is actually a very nice little touch.

    Our Humble Author’s artwork has always been enjoyable. Both the original and the current depictions of Ludwig are very expressive in their own manner… so too with all of the cast, actually.

  2. galliglo in Ohio Avatar
    galliglo in Ohio

    Nancy: will be trying to look you up on FB tomorrow. My little notebook doesn’t work great on FB. Or probably just me! On the other hand, you can look me up – Gloria Ryan, Gallipolis, OH.
    Note all!

  3. galliglo in Ohio Avatar
    galliglo in Ohio

    Oops! Nite… Jimmy,get us an edit button!

  4. Jerry in Fl Avatar
    Jerry in Fl

    Mindy, When I adopted Spunky to provide a little sister to Cilla she was named Tatiana. Well, that had to go of course. How did you come up with Blacklight? I like it. Cilla is black with gold scattered throughout and cream and orange on her chest and stomach. She has always been a diva and walked like a model. Spunky is black with gold scattered and, since you can’t see her chest, you can’t see that she doesn’t have the creamy chest and stomach. You can tell them apart because Spunky is and will always be smaller. She must have been the runt, but dynamite comes in small packages, hence her name. Of course Elvis, Cilla’s brother, is my bobcat, my big orange boy cat, weighing in at about 19 pounds. That stretches out so he can stand up and reach the door knobs. which he does.

  5. Jerry in Fl Avatar
    Jerry in Fl

    delete period, add comma.

  6. Jerry in Fl Avatar
    Jerry in Fl

    I just watched the video of Haley Reinhart singing House of the Rising Sun on American Idol. Why in the world was that never on the radio?

  7. Jackie Monies Avatar
    Jackie Monies

    Don’t have time to read all the comments right now but I will. I have been without internet for a few days because I frankly don’t know how to open the darned web on that new Smart phone and I have been too sick to even try. I am back home in Eufaula for the night and I promise I will read them.

    My friend graciously took me to the hospital in Longview, TX who just as graciously took care of me and my gastric virus which I was totally relieved was NOT a recurrence of my pancreatitis as I feared, treated me and through the miracle of modern medicine I recovered after 24 hours of round the clock sleep and drove myself home. Much to the relief of my friend who was not wanting a dead female to account for!

    New plan for Florida is I drive to St. Louis and pick up my daughter and grandson and take them along. I would imagine they are totally suspicious of their mother at this point. Can’t say I blame them actually.

    Much love, Jackie

  8. Jackie Monies Avatar
    Jackie Monies

    Ghost, the Lee Valley zester for limes/lemons/oranges, etc. and catches it in a little drawer that fits on the back of said implement, all in stainless steel, is the cat’s meow. Best zester I ever owned, will do nutmegs too or anything else you want very, very finely grated. It began life as a man’s tool for shops before turning into a kitchen tool.

  9. Ghost Rider 6 Avatar
    Ghost Rider 6

    OK, Jackie is alive and talking about zesters. I on the other hand, have to make do with regular old Microplanes, so apparently she is better off than I.

    Did I mention I’m glad you’re alive, Jackie?

  10. Mark in TTown Avatar
    Mark in TTown

    Jackie, great to hear you are home. Why should they be suspicious of someone wanting to take them away from the awful winter in the Midwest and to “Sunny Florida” ,we hope, for a few days? Better get a quick start though. It is supposed to be in the 70’s here tomorrow, and then drop quickly on Wednesday.

  11. Charlotte in NH Avatar
    Charlotte in NH

    Thank goodness, Jackie, you are home at last and feeling better! We were all so concerned — anything might have happened. Bless your friend who took good care of you! Take it easy — if you possibly can!
    Love, Charlotte

  12. Mark in TTown Avatar
    Mark in TTown

    Jackie, if this is your phone, here is how to get to the internet: http://www.att.com/devicehowto/?make=samsung&model=galaxys4active%28i537%29

  13. Jackie Monies Avatar
    Jackie Monies

    Ghost, I bought it at a wood working show in St. Louis, MO several years ago when Lee Valley had a booth there. Probably cheapest thing in booth?

    It is a micro planer with an attached/removable sliding steel drawer to catch all the goodness and juices along with the grated peels.

    I suspected I was near death with that gastric flu, it was actually worse than a pancreatic attack, which is saying something. Just heard from another friend with it who said he just moved into bathroom. I would have done that but my friend I visited was remodeling and had scraped off the bathroom flooring. Even then I considered it! Bad stuff.

    Sorry to have worried you all. Not sure if I will get to Mississippi on this trip now which cuts out several great restaurants I wanted to hit in Miss-Ala area and Louisiana for that matter.

    Good news is weight is peeling off dramatically, can’t wait to get on scales in morning. That’s a weird feeling!

    Love, Jackie

  14. David from Austin Avatar
    David from Austin

    Still here! I had to do dialysis Saturday night due to high potassium, but we still have reason to hope for improved kidney function in the long run. More labs and a doctor visit tomorrow. Should get the staples out then as the external incision is substantially healed.

  15. Ghost Rider 6 Avatar
    Ghost Rider 6

    Mine are designed and machined a bit differently, Mark…

    http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2011/01/12/dining/12united-span/12united-span-articleLarge.jpg

    Well, well. More good news. Welcome back, David.

  16. Ghost Rider 6 Avatar
    Ghost Rider 6

    Good for you, Jackie, on your weight loss. This morning when I got dressed, I had to use the last notch in my belt. This is the third belt I’ve owned since I started Weight Watchers. A while back, I realized I could buckle the first belt in the notch I wore it when I started WW and pass it over my body from head to feet and step out of it. They got a kick out of that at WW meetings.

    I suppose I should have kept the belt as a memento, but I left it at Bad Mindy’s house, and I no longer speak to her, so bad cess, that.

    And of course, as my surgeon told me after I mentioned some welcomed weight loss following major surgery, “Yeah, but that’s a hell of a way to do it.”

  17. galliglo in Ohio Avatar
    galliglo in Ohio

    Our prayers are being answered – first Jackie and then David! Praise the Lord! Keep us posted, friends.

  18. Ghost Rider 6 Avatar
    Ghost Rider 6

    Yep, found it, Jackie.

    http://www.leevalley.com/US/garden/page.aspx?p=32458&cat=2,40733,44734,32458

    Oh, well, I can just list Lee Valley, along with Amazon, as creditors on my Chapter 13 filing, I suppose.

  19. Jackie Monies Avatar
    Jackie Monies

    Ghost, I had a microplaner too but I wonder if it didn’t migrate out to the Boat Palace? I haven’t seen it in ages. I love the zester and mine doesn’t shoot the zest out like that, I keep it in the “drawer” until I am ready to scrape it out as it catches all the oils too.

    I actually own a nutmeg grater too but not sure where it is, I don’t grate much nutmeg now. I love the zester for fresh ginger too and garlics, as it catches the oils, juices. Naturally I have a number of bartenders implements as well, even though I do not drink. Good for other uses. If I would stay home some I might be able to organize kitchen a bit better.

    Housekeeper is feeding my guest in back apartment whenever she gets the chance. He is a big “boy” and I suspect has a healthy appetite. I love having him back there. We never see each other but he calls to check on me and I can get accurate road and driving condition reports whenever I need them. And frankly, I sleep a darned sight better knowing he is back there most of the time. Even when I am gone.

    Love, Jackie

  20. Jackie Monies Avatar
    Jackie Monies

    David, glad you are doing well and may it continue. I will take your abundant potassium, as I am always potassium deficient when I get tested and have to take huge amounts to supplement.

    You will improve, I know it. I am sending most positive thoughts and prayers your way.

    Love, Jackie

  21. Ghost Rider 6 Avatar
    Ghost Rider 6

    Yes, barware repurposes well. I have a long-handled bar spoon I liberated many years ago when I played relief bartender I now use to stir my chai tea in its tall cup.

    Yep, must be nice to have your own live-in security. I have to make do with Gaston. (That’s what I named my GLOCK.)

  22. Jackie Monies Avatar
    Jackie Monies

    You knew the position was open, Ghost! Didn’t get your application for live-in security guard.

    Among many things it does is amuse me that I moved a county deputy in because it should slow down some drug activity in neighborhood too unless they get po’d and burn the house down. It happens in Oklahoma, unfortunately, not just Faulkner novels.

    Love, Jackie

  23. Old Bear Avatar
    Old Bear

    Debbe
    Had to do what you do when I did plumbing job at a coop that raised fertile
    eggs for lab work.

    Had been away from FIL birds for awhile so was not worried about contagion.
    When we moved back we did not worry about moving flock to flock or Salmonella.
    We had free birds – I think I already said.

    But that was 20 years back

  24. Old Bear Avatar
    Old Bear

    Welcome back the prodigals, prayers and hugs.

    emb
    Passed on your comment about overlapping carts to MPR
    If it continues let me know times.