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

Est. 1985

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Subtle Distinction

By Jimmy Johnson


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Sorry to have been gone so long! I have been working on other projects. I guess there’s just no way to avoid the “remember when” factor on this site, try as I might. Today’s classic A&J is yet another example of swift cultural change. First, “casual Friday” was introduced, when white-collar workers were allowed to dress down from coats and ties and the equivalent ladies’ apparel. Today there are coats and ties still out there, but the daily norm for what remains of the white-collar work force is distinctly casual. I’m not saying it’s a bad thing. Hey, I’m a cartoonist! I can work in my underwear if I want, although I never do. Well, not in just my underwear. You know, I get asked that question a lot, which I think is kind of weird.

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233 responses to “Subtle Distinction”

  1. Flossie Avatar
    Flossie

    Working in your underwear is not weird, but asking about it is definitely off kilter. I, for one, read your blog in my jammies.

  2. domaucan1 Avatar
    domaucan1

    VILLAGERS,

    I DISCOVERED THIS ONE ONE OF MY AUBURN WEBSITES. OUR LEADER WILL BE TALKING AT AUBURN ON NOVEMBER 13. I WILL TRY MY BEST TO BE THERE.

    Jimmy Johnson ’74
    Creator of the comic strip Arlo & Janis
    Topic: Jimmy and Arlo and Janis

    Jimmy Johnson, creator of the nationally syndicated comic strip Arlo & Janis, will talk about how the former newspaperman and editorial cartoonist found a career depicting the life and times of Arlo and Janis, a middle-aged, middle class couple.

    Born and raised in the textile town of Lanett, Alabama, Jimmy Johnson attended college at the nearest place he could find – Auburn University. He graduated in 1974 with a degree in journalism and became a reporter and editorial cartoonist. The nationally syndicated comic strip Arlo & Janis was first published in 1985 and continues to appear in 500 newspapers across the country.

  3. Ghost Rider 6 Avatar
    Ghost Rider 6

    The only time I ever worked in my underwear was that time I had the gig as an underwear model.

    Hi, Flossie. New in town? 😉

  4. domaucan1 Avatar
    domaucan1

    ONE MORE THING. I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ATTEND DUE TO TIME CONSTRAINTS. JJ IS BEING HONORED BY AUBURN UNIVERSITY. WAR EAGLE, JJ!

    Jimmy Johnson and Bennie Adkins to conclude 2015 All-Star Lecture Series

    Auburn’s fourth annual All-Star Lecture Series, held on Fridays before home football games, will conclude with talks from Jimmy Johnson and Bennie Adkins.

    Jimmy Johnson, creator of the nationally syndicated comic strip Arlo & Janis, will talk about how he found a career depicting the life and times of Arlo and Janis, a middle-aged, middle class couple. Arlo & Janis was first published in 1985 and continues to appear in 500 newspapers across the country. Johnson’s talk will be held Friday, Nov. 13. Congressional Medal of Honor Winner Command Sgt. Maj. Bennie G. Adkins will speak on Friday, Nov. 20, prior to Saturday’s football game against Idaho, which will also serve as Auburn’s Military Appreciation Game. Adkins distinguished himself during 38 hours of close-combat fighting against enemy forces on March 9 to 12, 1966.

    The talks will take place at 3 p.m. at the Auburn Alumni Center, 317 S. College St., in either the Goodwin Room or the Galloway Atrium.

  5. Ghost Rider 6 Avatar
    Ghost Rider 6

    I don’t have a mermaid tie, but I do have some interesting Christmas ties it’s almost time to dig out of the closet. I’ve wanted one of these ties ever since I was a freshman in college and saw an upperclassman wearing one. I’m pretty sure he was a sophomore.

    http://p.cdn.ties.com/black-microfiber-bullsh*t-tie-229909-505-800-0.jpg

    The closest thing I have to that are the two ties from the Donald Trump Collection with which I was gifted for my birthday some years ago. Who knows…one day they may be collector’s items. Well, they are very nice ties, anyway.

    Speaking of birthdays, I believe I have one coming up sometime soon. Let me check my calendar…hey, it’s tomorrow.

  6. Flossie Avatar
    Flossie

    Not new, just relatively quiet.

  7. emb Avatar
    emb

    Flossie: What about “sometimes in the springtime and sometimes in the fall”? Peace, emb

  8. sandcastler™ Avatar
    sandcastler™

    People have this false belief that home workers are anti-social loners with poor personal hygiene. We are really normal folks who run about the house topless, wear our hair in a pony tail, have a house full of cats, and two days of Chinese take out boxes littering the table. 😉

    There is a small collection of Dr.Suess hanging on a tie rack. I keep the ties only because I attend the occasional funeral.

  9. Ghost Rider 6 Avatar
    Ghost Rider 6

    And nothing says solemnity like a Dr. Suess tie, right? 😀

  10. Trapper Jean Avatar
    Trapper Jean

    Ghost Sweetie, I have one of those ties! It was my Dads, and my Mom never let him wear it, mostly because it is bright orange, with the design in a dark cream color.

  11. John in Richmond Texas Avatar
    John in Richmond Texas

    The only ties I’ve ever gotten positive comments on are my Rush Limbaugh ties.

  12. Ghost Rider 6 Avatar
    Ghost Rider 6

    Well, Jean dear, as I always say, if you’re going to be scatological, you might as well be ostentatious about it. 🙂

  13. Evan Avatar
    Evan

    You know, “Do you work in your underwear?” is not the first question that I would be motivated to ask should I ever meet Our Humble Author in person. I also think that question moves beyond “kind of weird” into “fully weird.”

    But it calls to mind the story of Tom Wilson, who portrayed Biff Tannen (and his various relatives) in the “Back To The Future” trilogy of movies. In one of them, he famously drives a drop-top convertible car into a manure truck, which of course drops its entire load into his open vehicle. He says he gets asked the same questions not only “a lot” but “all the time,” prompting him to write a song about his experiences:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwY5o2fsG7Y

    So stop asking him already! 😉

  14. Mark from Maine Avatar
    Mark from Maine

    I work at home and people ask me that all the time. And I do – it’s very comfortable when it’s warm enough. Just a personal preference . . .

  15. dAVE Avatar
    dAVE

    When people start asking me ‘those kinds of questions’ I turn it around and ask if they have holes in their underwear. They almost always respond with “No! Of course not!”, to which I ask “Then how did you get your legs through?”

  16. Evan Avatar
    Evan

    Mark from Maine:

    “I work at home and people ask me that all the time. And I do – it’s very comfortable when it’s warm enough.”

    So, that’s like a two-week period in July in Maine, right? 😉

  17. Evan Avatar
    Evan

    Good one, dAVE!

  18. Jerry in Fl Avatar
    Jerry in Fl

    Evan, Funny video. Thanks.

  19. Steve From Royal Oak, MI Avatar

    My wife will wear my underwear when she put vaporub on her chest…

  20. Jerry in Fl Avatar
    Jerry in Fl

    Not a question, just an observation. The Ghost Riders is the name of a drum and bugle corp. In the videos that I looked at they were not wearing kilts although they may on occasion.

  21. Jerry in Fl Avatar
    Jerry in Fl

    TMI, Steve.

  22. sandcastler™ Avatar
    sandcastler™

    My take on GR6’s name, https://youtu.be/Mynzbmrtp9I

  23. Flossie Avatar
    Flossie

    emb: The weather dictates the type of jammies. Right now it’s cool when I awaken, but during July/August – whew!!!

  24. sandcastler™ Avatar
    sandcastler™

    Weather looks lovely for tonight’s bonfire and rebellious acts. Celebrate Guy Fawkes Day, it comes but once every year.