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

Est. 1985

Extra, Extra!

Travel Alert

By Jimmy Johnson

I am traveling this morning, on cartoon business. I’ll bet you didn’t think such a thing was possible. There won’t be a regular post today, but when I return I will begin showing you some of the old work I have chosen to submit to the Billy Ireland archive of comic art at THE Ohio State University. The old work goes all the way back to 1985 and includes something from every year since. Many we’ve seen here and some not. You probably can deduce, we’ll be talking a lot more about this. I hope your new year is going well so far. By the way, I am in Asheville, NC, today. Tonight, I will be attending a meeting of the southeastern chapter of the National Cartoonists Society. No, that is not the reason for my travels, just serendipity, but I’ll tell them all you said, Hello!

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157 responses to “Travel Alert”

  1. emeritus minnesota biologist Avatar
    emeritus minnesota biologist

    Here’s a controversial topic I can report on without stating my position [though I’m not ashamed of it]. IMO, one side is stronger than the other.

    http://www.mprnews.org/story/2015/01/07/daily-circuit-genetic-privacy

    As to the Second amendment, its interpretation is a matter of legitimate controversy. So with the First. It’s a different country, but I don’t think the killers in France were simply practicing their freedom of religion.

    One of these days, the high is supposed to be a + temp. It’s not too bad when the wind dies down, but it hasn’t, lately.

    Peace, emb

  2. Denise in Michigan Avatar
    Denise in Michigan

    cep, sounds like a good night to cuddle up in socks and between flannel sheets in northern Illinois. We’ll be +2 and windy in southeast Michigan, so a windchill about -18.

  3. Jackie Monies Avatar
    Jackie Monies

    I went and bought yet ANOTHER pair of fleecy blanket like material pj’s and plan to run water through all faucets tonight. I am hoping to the heavens that the pipes outside are all wrapped and boxed for the season or the water turned off or the pipes already frozen/burst and need repairing anyway. It is disheartening to realize you have no idea how to do any of the above for yourself, only know that it SHOULD be done.

    Will add a comforter to the bed and cuddle with the cats and dog back there. I am worried about the feral kitties, as I did not get any kitty beds or heat set up this year.

    Dickens is lying in arm chair in his red quilted vest with a fake fur hood over his ears, which is pretty cute actually. Went and had my hair done while I was out stocking up cat and dog food for the arctic express heading our way. If we get ice we become trapped in place, can’t even get out of subdivisions and I live only two blocks from highway!

    And no, I am not a blue haired little old lady who has a set “do” every week on the same day. I am always a shock to my hairdresser, who bless her heart does almost nothing but walkins. I am still doing the long windblown locks look a la natural. Which means I have the frosted look I once paid dearly to achieve, only it is free.

    Love, Jackie

  4. Ghost Rider 6 Avatar
    Ghost Rider 6

    Hopefully, our government will never decide the Thirteenth Amendment is subject to interpretation.

  5. Jackie Monies Avatar
    Jackie Monies

    Think of our own history of satirical cartoonists/magazines. This is like killing the staff of Mad Magazine.

  6. Jackie Monies Avatar
    Jackie Monies

    Sand, are you old enough to remember when Houston, Dallas area restaurants with an upscale clientele used to turn the A/C way down so ladies could wear their furs now and then?

    I remember those days and when Neiman’s and Sakowitz had fur departments with fur storage where you could check your furs in for the summer season? Not that I had any. Closest thing I ever had was a raccoon collared trench coat. Now that I know a few raccoon’s and possums I am ashamed of that and my kids rabbit coats.

    My oldest daughter used to go dive head first into the fur coat racks and hide from us, have fits when we tried to get her out without buying a coat. I once went off and left her in the fur rack of short length minks and just took younger daughter and walked out. She came out yelling “Child abuse and abandonment” at the top of her lungs.

    Wonder if anyone else ever got so fed up they left their kid in the mink stroller rack?

    This is on subject of tropical weather in Houston, TX specifically. It is cold enough for a bear skin rug in OK right now.

    Love, Jackie

  7. Charlotte in NH Avatar
    Charlotte in NH

    Good thinking, Jackie, you are so right with your comparison to Mad Magazine. I’m going to pass it on to my family and friends on Facebook, if I may. I’ll credit you with the thought.

  8. Ghost Rider 6 Avatar
    Ghost Rider 6

    Jackie, actually one could wear furs in most any fast food restaurant around here in the summertime. i think that comes from letting the guy or gal in the back working over the grill control the thermostat.

    “Mink stroller.” That’s a phrase I haven’t heard in many years. And yes, I once had a boss lady with a collection of minks that had to be cold-stored in a department store vault over the summer.

    My sister had a full-length rabbit (faux) fur coat that she loved.

  9. curmudgeonly ex-professor Avatar
    curmudgeonly ex-professor

    For those who enjoy watching eagles hatch and grow up – and cannot wait for the Decorah pair to act – Google up “Berry” and “Eagles” and take your choice of hits including streaming video. The pair at Berry College in GA has just produced an egg (yesterday), so can serve the purpose. I must confess that eagle-watching is habit-forming.

  10. Jackie Monies Avatar
    Jackie Monies

    I like osprey as well, but we have lots of eagles to watch on cliffs of Lake Eufaula.

    Ghost, I keep telling you I harken WAY back to gloves, hats, matching purses and shoes and theater suits! And theater hats, too.

    Just found a photo of me which must be from college? I had blonde hair and look so angelic, sort of my Sandra Dee period I think? My dog sitter was looking at photos of Mike and me today from the late 70’s I would guess and the 60’s, early 70’s during our living rich and fashionably period as wine aficionados. First she looked at Mike and said, “My gosh, he looks like a movie star!”

    Then she looked at some of me with him and she said, “You both looked like movie stars!”

    I told her when you were hawking the most expensive wines and liquors in the world, that was the image the company wanted to project. Kind of like the guy who does the commercials as “the most interesting man in the world.” You’re supposed to just ooze charm and good looks.
    Funny, that concept seems to have escaped the current generation I think?

    Along with good manners.

    Anyway, I am supposed to be searching for the lost wills, but found a couple of earlier documents that will probably be relevant. If you had any idea how many boxes I need to open and search! I did find a copy of my fathers and stepfathers wills but of course that’s no where as important as the current ones I need.

  11. Ghost Rider 6 Avatar
    Ghost Rider 6

    Debbe 😉 What’s the temperature there, hon?

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6r9mAs6Uj5A

  12. Jerry in Fl Avatar
    Jerry in Fl

    It’s colder than a witches—ah, now I get the reference to Margaret Hamilton.

  13. Debbe Avatar
    Debbe

    Good morning Villagers…

    Mark, we reuse our plastic bags, so they get put up immediately. I actually had that happen with one of my cats, getting caught in a plastic bag handle and thought…..the consequences would devastate me if they would get caught on something and hang themselves. If I bring home something in a paper sack, I tuck the edges and throw it on the floor for them to play in….they like paper sacks.

    GR 😉 It’s a bitter zero out there and even colder in Kokomo for Indy Mindy. And, yes, new boots when I make it to town either today or definite tomorrow. Wearing wool socks today.

    Kept the temp in the hen house at best around 68 degrees….the other hen house at around 63 degrees. They are eating more feed to stay warm. Which leads to drinking more water. Still curious about the size of the cages….today, I’m going out there with a measuring tape.

    I can’t believe it’s going to get that cold in Florida…..stay warm Jerry.

    Ya’ll have a thermally warm day.

  14. Rick in Shermantown, Ohio Avatar
    Rick in Shermantown, Ohio

    The mouse strip:

    Our cat used to share his mice with us, too – it was his way of showing that he was doing his part to support the family.

    Usually, though, he kept the good stuff for himself and gave us the mouse’s head.

    That was always interesting to see on the back porch early in the morning.

  15. Mindy from Indy Avatar
    Mindy from Indy

    My great aunt did not need a heart catheterization, no blockage. The doctors then looked into the possibility of a clot in the lungs. Nothing there either. Not sure what is wrong, so they sent her home with strict orders to reduce stress and rest. Possibly gallbladder related. Had no idea the gallbladder could present with issues mimicking heart attacks.

    Her son has a talented hunter of an outside kitty. She is always leaving gifts of food on the step. I once pointed out cats bring food back to family who they think can’t provide for themselves. I told him at least he is loved by his cat, but she thinks he’s a bit of a dork. He didn’t find it nearly as funny as I did.

  16. Ruth Anne in Winter Park Avatar
    Ruth Anne in Winter Park

    Speaking of mice, I came across a reference to “mouse melons” in Horticulture magazine yesterday. Evidently they’re extremely easy to grow and very tasty. Couldn’t find a link to that article but here’s another one: http://www.motherearthnews.com/real-food/mouse-melons.aspx#axzz3OEar3yte

  17. Jerry in Fl Avatar
    Jerry in Fl

    17 degrees with wind chill of 5 degrees.

  18. Jerry in Fl Avatar
    Jerry in Fl

    I let Cilla out of the back door. She went about 3 feet and came back in.

  19. Denise in Michigan Avatar
    Denise in Michigan

    Oh my goodness, Jerry, down there do folks even have clothes to deal with those temps? Or do you layer, layer, layer? Smart Cilla. It’s 7 here, -7 with windchill. Still wouldn’t trade it for hot weather, but I could mostly do without the snow.

    Debbe, I hope you have staff today.

    Mindy from Indy, I find that a very funny story. A friend’s cat recently left a mouse in his slipper—guess she thinks he’s a dork AND that he couldn’t find it unless she spoon-fed (or slipper-fed) him.

  20. Ghost Rider 6 Avatar
    Ghost Rider 6

    Debbe 😉 Been a while since I’ve seen 0 degrees, but I remember that means “Cold” wherever you are. 14 degrees at sunrise at the EMA office downtown at sunrise and probably a degree or two lower out here in the ‘burbs.

    And, Jackie, as I recall, you also harken back to the days of garter belts, stocking and high heels. 😉 Good luck with your document search; I’ve had to do a bit of that, also.

  21. Ghost Rider 6 Avatar
    Ghost Rider 6

    And no, the sun didn’t come up twice here today, I just reported it twice. Gonna be one of those days.