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

Est. 1985

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Stray Thoughts

By Jimmy Johnson


Buy the new book, "Beaucoup Arlo & Janis!"Today's "Arlo & Janis!"
I’ve been dreading this post. Seriously! I feel bad about this. I saw it coming a few weeks back, but I thought as late as last week there would be hope. Alas. There will be no t-shirts in time for Christmas this year. I apologize. Everything became balled up in the new Web-page design; there is a lot going on around here, too much for me to devote the time necessary to successfully rolling out the t-shirt sale. The news isn’t all bad: there will be t-shirts by spring. I suspect some of you already were suspecting this, and the regulars among you will not be surprised. It’s just a slight delay!

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56 responses to “Stray Thoughts”

  1. Steve from Royal Oak, Mi Avatar

    No T-shirts??? Next thing you know, you will tell me that there is no Santa Claus? No worries. Stuff like that has be be figured out before Labor Day any more. Thanks for letting us know.

  2. Ghost Rider 6 Avatar
    Ghost Rider 6

    It’s getting too cold for t-shirts in most parts of the country, anyway. Except perhaps down here in the Deep South, where I call this “Pokie Season”.

    Besides, isn’t there something else you have to do? Oh, yeah…write and draw cartoons to make a living. 🙂

  3. Jackie Monies Avatar
    Jackie Monies

    Jimmy, when I was in import business/sales we put up the new products for the FOLLOWING season one full year in advance, which meant they had to be selected and designed about a year to six months before that, so by the time the customer actually got it the product had been in production or on a freighter for about two years, unless the container fell off the ship!

    Don’t worry about the tee shirts, we will get them when we get them! Unless the container falls into the Gulf of Mexico down in Biloxi and sinks. (I know you aren’t going to order from China)

    Love, Jackie

  4. Jackie Monies Avatar
    Jackie Monies

    Forgot to say I was hoping for a cat in the window! That Arlo was watching.

    Stray thought, you could toss us a bone with some original cartoons we might purchase and you’d have seed money for the new web site and the tee shirts or Christmas?

    Love, Jackie

  5. Sylvia in MS Avatar
    Sylvia in MS

    Just whenever you get-around-to-it! Too much going on in my life right now to add any more to it….Spring will be fine….can enjoy showing it off without the coats and scarves around my neck!

  6. sandcastler™ Avatar
    sandcastler™

    Jimmy, delay on. Christmas is always great, Birthdays are always better; you’re the only one getting presents.

  7. Denise in Michigan Avatar
    Denise in Michigan

    John and Jackie, you and your spouses are in my prayers. Steve, thanks for the update on your sister; your family is in my prayers, too.

  8. Denise in Michigan Avatar
    Denise in Michigan

    Jimmy, anticipation is half the pleasure! Now, our pleasure has been increased!

  9. Evan Avatar
    Evan

    *hat tip for 1994 Sunday strip* Thank you, good sir.

    To have T-shirts ready to go on December 9th for Christmas distribution after your recent decision to offer them would have been a feat akin to a labor of Hercules. If you were capable of pulling off that sort of logistical and bureaucratic train wreck so that it actually happened on time, on target and under budget… well, you would need to be in Washington, setting things more important than T-shirts into good order. As it is, you made a good effort. Let things come as they will and do not involve your ticker in any stress over it.

    As Bromhead said to Chard in “Zulu”, “We need you! Understand?”

  10. Galliglo from Ohio Avatar
    Galliglo from Ohio

    We love you, Jimmy – and just thankful for all the chuckles you give us…

  11. minnesotadon Avatar
    minnesotadon

    I thought by Christmas was an agressive timeline. Besides “t-shirt” by their design are better worn in the spring and summer.

  12. Trapper Jean Avatar
    Trapper Jean

    Up here on The Mountain it is definitely too cold for t-shirts any more. I will be happy to get mine in time for next summer.

    “Pokie season”, Ghost Sweetie? HA! Not with all the coats, sweaters, and down vests I’m seeing.

  13. Ghost Rider 6 Avatar
    Ghost Rider 6

    Yes, Jean dear, but when they come indoors, the coats sweaters and vests come off. And many women, I’ve noticed, once they decide it is cold outside, continue to feel cold regardless. If you get what I meant. 😉

    Besides, I’m deeper in Ye Olde Deep South than you are. 🙂

  14. Jim in TN Avatar
    Jim in TN

    Spring is a better time of year for T-shirts anyway.

    I Love this cartoon BTW! We have reached a mile stone of sorts on the Facebook fan page: 480 members! Tell your friends!

  15. sideburns Avatar

    Just to make all of you feel better about the weather, where I live it’s 72 and sunny, heading for a high of 75.

    Ghost, if it’s Pokie Season, does that mean it’s time to dance the Hokie Pokie?

  16. David in Austin Avatar
    David in Austin

    Posted on yesterday, AGAIN! Another request for new website… comments on previous days should close when a new (old) comic goes up. That will keep me (and possibly a few others) on the right day with current discussion…

  17. NealinBawstun Avatar

    Could I get a prototype to sample, evaluate and provide feedback?

  18. emeritus minnesota biologist Avatar
    emeritus minnesota biologist

    Big geyser on the far side of the upper geyser basin, now.

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

  19. Ghost Rider 6 Avatar
    Ghost Rider 6

    Dancing the Hokie Pokie is a year-round activity. As is “pokie spotting”…there are just more targets of opportunity in the more lightly clothed months.

  20. John in Richmond Texas Avatar
    John in Richmond Texas

    thanks what everyone said, taking it to heart and I’m spreading my work around to the other people in the office, I read everything here, just don’t post a lot, I’m not that interesting, I mean like a highlight of my life is when another batch of old Mystery Science Theatre 3000 episodes is released on DVD. Sometimes I catch up after a day, so it’s to late to respond or I want to say SO Much to respond to something I can’t even start.

  21. emeritus minnesota biologist Avatar
    emeritus minnesota biologist

    John, Jackie, other Villagers we may not know about, and locals I know of: Thoughts and prayers. Losing a spouse is hard, and stays with you. I was seeing things that worried me in summer and fall ’10, but the time btw. actual diagnosis and death was only 13 days [16-28 Dec., 4 yr. ago], in a hospital in the next state, ND. Basically, I went into numb robot mode, doing necessary things, spending most of my time in her room, with breaks because one son, his wife, our one daughter, and friends were there. Today, we could do it all in our local hospital.

    But, yes, as others have said, spend the time you can together. But also take care of yourselves, and accept whatever reasonable care others offer. You decide what’s reasonable, not they. Some will bother you too much, basically to deal with their own problems, I guess. I still run into some of that, and simply routinely but gently dismiss it. Also run into others’ [well-meaning but shallow] theology, an area wife and I were much interested in. I still pursue that interest, but have more questions than answers. She may now have more answers. Peace, emb

  22. Jackie Monies Avatar
    Jackie Monies

    Just went and did part of my Christmas shopping downtown at the local feed and seed store, the Ace Hardware and the Braum’s ice cream shop. That is keeping the money local. And paid my national debt bill at the vet’s and feed store, to help them out.

    It is that and the internet this year. I doubt I will go into a store unless it is in town or a nearby small town. Hate to go to Walmart but I must for a few things. They better have my autistic friend scheduled today, he has been helping me at one store or another for 20 years. I have more meaningful conversations with him than I do with many supposedly “gifted” people. And he is a joy.

    They are all worried about cut hours and benefits. But he stays upbeat and cheerful. I love people like that.

    Love, Jackie

  23. Debbe Avatar
    Debbe

    having not read any of the above or previous page…………………stop right there……………

    GR 😉 is this on your playlist? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUIAkGLbSNc

    🙂

    cleaning and putting a few things out that are festive to the holiday. and put on Sirius on D!!!! Mark, do you ever listen to their “Deep Tracks” or “Vinyl” channels?

    My Native American Nativity Scene comes out on Christmas Eve………there’s even an American Bald Eagle sitting on a desert tree stump, a donkey, and Baby Jesus is wrapped up papoose style…My Dad gave it to me….it belonged to my Stepmom….miss her too.

    good night….supper’s almost ready

  24. Ghost Rider 6 Avatar
    Ghost Rider 6

    Debbe 😉 Nope, but this is the one for today…chosen especially for you, hon. Enjoy…

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SBWVx8s5Ks

  25. Mark in TTown Avatar
    Mark in TTown

    Debbe, those two tracks are my favorite on Sirius on D. Don’t have a home theater system but do have my stereo connected to the tv and that music sounds mighty nice on it.

    Jackie, did you have a chance to check that link I posted for you yesterday? Know you said you were going to be very busy today.