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

Est. 1985

Extra, Extra!

Saint Somebody

By Jimmy Johnson

March 17, 2003


Winter comes in with Christmas and goes out with St. Patrick’s Day, bookends of the harshest season. Other than that, they don’t have a lot in common, but St. Patrick’s Day comes up in the current A&J today, so I thought that would be sufficient excuse to look back in the archives for another St. Patrick’s Day cartoon to show here on arloandjanis.com. I selected a Sunday from 2003. Now, I’m going to give you some real inside cartoon stuff. I did not draw all the little shamrocks. I created what’s called a “pattern” in Photoshop and filled pre-selected spaces with the pattern—a simple click of the mouse. Speaking of St. Patrick’s Day, why are the Irish considered so lucky? With all respect and admiration, they historically have been a rather put-upon population. Maybe they consider themselves lucky to be here. I think we can all relate to that.


Recent Posts

Ghost of Christmas Past

This holiday Arlo & Janis comic strip from 2022 is similar in concept to the new strip that ran yesterday. I thought the latter ...

Spearhead

I have produced a number of comic strips related to Veteran’s Day. Especially in latter years, I have tried to emphasize the universal experience ...

Dark Passage

Remember: it’s that weekend. The return to standard time can be a bit of a shock in the late afternoon, but I rather enjoy ...

What’s old is old, again

You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to build a web site, but there are similarities. Everything needs to be just right, or ...

Back to the ol’ drawing board

I don’t have a lot of time this morning. I wasn’t going to post anything, but I’m tired of looking at that old photograph ...

Thursday’s Child

On Sunday, I teased you with the suggestion there are more changes coming here. There are. They will appear soon, and I think you’ll ...

73 responses to “Saint Somebody”

  1. Jackie Avatar
    Jackie

    My family is Irish. We came to America in early 1700s before the Revolutionary War, three McCarty brothers. Most of the McCartys in America are their descendants.

  2. joe d Avatar
    joe d

    Great cartoon for a snowy day in Boston area

  3. TruckerRon Avatar

    If anyone back East can find a way to do it, reroute your storm to Utah’s mountains. We revel in snow! Our ski resorts love it, and the rest of us enjoy the water entering our aquifers and being caught in our reservoirs!

  4. Matt Avatar
    Matt

    2003, 2002… what’s a year among friends?

    1. Dawn Avatar
      Dawn

      Astute! 🙂

  5. Philippe Gut or Symply Fargone (u pick) Avatar
    Philippe Gut or Symply Fargone (u pick)

    Could Symply do with a bit less of the white stuff heah in Massachusetts…the nasty is all cold and buried, was going to slog through to Maine to hide out for the holidays, think I will wait a Fargone bit until the roads are cleah again.

    Still hidin in the village on occasion.

    @Jackie, hope your rehab is continuing well, wishing you an Ghost all the best for the season…

    Catch you on the other side of the stawm (All typos sic)

    1. Galliglo from Ohio Avatar
      Galliglo from Ohio

      Good to he Bear from you, Simply! Be safe.

      1. Symply Fargone/Philippe Gut Avatar
        Symply Fargone/Philippe Gut

        Thank you (Gallipoli) Glowing gal) staying isolated and safe either in MAS or Chillingin ME.

  6. TruckerRon Avatar

    This morning a guy on the radio here in Utah played a montage of reporters warning about the states back east facing a storm with perhaps a foot of snow. Then he played crickets chirping about all the panic over our incoming storm today. He denounced the eastern panic as “Flake News!”

  7. Steve From Royal Oak, MI Avatar

    9 days ago it was St. Patrick’s Day…or was it 9 months to day? Time has become frozen

  8. TruckerRon Avatar

    Let’s see if this image posts:
    .
    https://image.politicalcartoons.com/246668/600/repost-winter-driver.png
    .
    Those of us who grew up with or learned to drive in harsh winter conditions can easily spot those who are new to the realities of heavy snow.

    1. Sideburns Avatar

      This is only our third winter in snow country, but except for insisting on a clear windshield, that could be me. My sister insists on cleaning off all of the snow, even from the roof, because she thinks it’s against the law not to.

      1. TruckerRon Avatar

        I can tell you that truck driving schools warn you to be careful about snow buildup because, as the cartoon shows, snow off the roof of your trailer is a danger to other people. That’s why many truck terminals in northern tier states have devices (often just a horizontal bar on 2 pylons) to knock snow off the exiting trailers. And there are plenty of lawyers willing to sue trucking companies for you if snow or ice from a truck causes damage or injury. Finally, there are no exceptions to weight limit laws for snow or ice on your truck.

    2. Rusty Avatar
      Rusty

      Pretty much how it was in Alaska as well… 🙂

  9. Bob Avatar
    Bob

    Sideburns, your sister could be correct – PA, NH, DE are just a few.

    1. Sideburns Avatar

      We live in CO, and I’ve seen lots of cars driving down the Interstate with loads of snow on the roof, so I don’t know.

  10. Judy in Conroe Avatar
    Judy in Conroe

    @Trucker Ron “Those of us who grew up with or learned to drive in harsh winter conditions can easily spot those who are new to the realities of heavy snow.”

    I grew up in northern Oklahoma, which was too dry back then for much snow, but during winter we had our share of ice (black ice was the most treacherous). I won’t claim to be the greatest winter driver, but I knew how to approach and clear an intersection in icy weather. Fast forward 25 years and I’m living in a suburb of New Orleans, where snow and ice are only an occasional happening. What a different experience when the rare freeze hit! Mostly my family and I stayed home on those occasions or, if we were away from home, we got back home as soon as possible.

    For instance – one time I was on my way to work on a morning when the weather was dry but the temperature was freezing. As I approached a sharp curve, I saw a car down the road suddenly swerve and spin, so of course I slowed down to keep out of the way. The car got back in control and left. Imagine my surprise when I got to the curve and saw a small patch of ice – about the size as though someone had dumped a drink out the window and it froze. I easily steered around the little patch and shook my head in amazement – I don’t think I could have spun on that patch if I tried. I hope that driver stayed in New Orleans and never went somewhere there is REAL ice and snow!

  11. Ken from Framingham Avatar
    Ken from Framingham

    John and Yoko sang of “The Luck of the Irish.”

  12. Rick in Shermantown, Ohio Avatar
    Rick in Shermantown, Ohio

    I’m English, and my surname has been traced back to the early 1100s.

    I guess, then, that I am an example “Erin go Bragh-less.”

  13. Jackie Avatar
    Jackie

    My father’s surname is Hodgson. That ancestor came to America in 1600s with a shipload of religious refugees from England. By pre Revolutionary War days they had settled in North Carolina in a community named Harmony as Methodists. They are still there marrying and burying.

    1. Rick in Shermantown, Ohio Avatar
      Rick in Shermantown, Ohio

      My family experienced its own diaspora, unfortunately.

      As a result, I still feel as if I have no true home, even though I am 67 and have lived here since I was six.

  14. Ghost Avatar
    Ghost

    When I got in last night from visiting Jackie in Broken Arrow, I found my new phone case had been delivered, as promised. I just opened the package, and an enclosed notice from the seller explained the great low price. It was a refurbished item. I am fine with that, because…
    1) Great low price!
    2) I cannot find a single scratch or blemish on it.
    3) Recycling!

  15. Jackie Avatar
    Jackie

    They are working me in rehab in learning to get up to dress myself, get in and out of bed, in and out of wheelchair, in and out of toilet, how to bath, shampoo hair, dry hair, exercise.

    Normal life in wheelchair.

  16. Ginger in Auburn Avatar
    Ginger in Auburn

    Jimmy, I think today’s newspaper comic is one of your cleverest. I love Arlo’s efforts!

    1. Ghost Avatar
      Ghost

      Yes, that was clever of Arlo (and, of course, Jimmy). Other than having probably convinced Janis that Arlo has finally “gone ’round the bend”.

  17. Jackie Avatar
    Jackie

    I miss my cats. I know Ghost is probably making the Garfields stay out in yard with other cats and possoms. They are well fed. Skipper is no doubt still sleeping with Ghost and Dickens. He has decided he is Ghost’s cat and cuddles with him. Skipper came to live with me when his previous owner who had dementia sent him to be killed. Skipper was brought to live with me by the care giver sitter of the ill man. One of most elegant and off cats I have ever owned.

  18. Jackie Avatar
    Jackie

    Odd cats. Spellcheck just kept changing over and over.

    1. Oldbear Avatar
      Oldbear

      And as we had 20+ at times we should know.

  19. Oldbear Avatar
    Oldbear

    Jackie – Odd and Cat are redundant. 😀

  20. Jackie Avatar
    Jackie

    Big Foot in mountains.

  21. Jackie Avatar
    Jackie

    Spending my spare time in hospital raising $$$ and toys for over 200 needy children on Angel Tree, 30 to go.

    Raising baking, donations and attendance for my and Ghost’s friend for her birthday Celebration at http://www.huskyhalfwayhouse.org this afternoon.

    Trying to help get dogs and cats adopted out of multiple shelters for Christmas before they are killed.

    Suddenly trying to raise $$ and food donations for families and children with no food or Christmas dinner.

    Coordinating pet food for those with nothing to feed their pets.

    Waiting in hospital for help getting out of bed, dressed and wheelchair.

    Merry Christmas 2020!

  22. David A Lombardi Avatar
    David A Lombardi

    Whenever we read your comic strip, my wife and I comment “This is us”. Thank you for entertaining us each morning.

  23. Ghost Avatar
    Ghost

    Murphy’s law: “Anything that can go wrong will go wrong”.
    Should we survive it, I’m convinced that 2020 will evermore be known as “The Year of Murphy.”
    Unless 2021 is. 🙁

    1. Mark in TTown Avatar
      Mark in TTown

      Yes, indeed. And what has gone wrong for me is some low-life seems to have stolen the catalytic converter off my car overnight. So I am stuck at home all weekend now, and will only have three days to arrange getting it fixed, or having to wait till after Christmas.

      1. Dawn Avatar
        Dawn

        Oh . . . ::inarticulate muttering::! “Low-life” indeed, to do such a thing. Sheesh. Here’s hoping you can get it replaced quickly!

  24. Jackie Avatar
    Jackie

    No one ever got me out of bed today. I slept all day or begged on Facebook for donations. Too late for getting dressed, I already had dinner!

    Hope your last Saturday before Christmas was better than that! Ghost and Dickens are coming to see me tomorrow and while brief, wonderful. I am tearing up.