Arlo and Janis by Jimmy Johnson for May 15, 2012

A working vacation in Arlo and Janis’ future? Hmmmmm…

Could be, could be you’ve hit the bullseye, rusty gate. Hope so. I have really enjoyed the strip for years but when Gene, Mary Lou & Meg are involved I find that I have an unexpected level of anticipation where I can’t wait until the next day’s strip. Hope LP doesn’t quit the strip for a very long time.

They’re looking at each other because it’s the same argument Arlo and Janis have had.

Gene – you just smile and nod, then go to the beach.

i agree with you Barry about seeing what will happen with Gene’s new adventure. i side with him on this issue. perfectionists and type A personalities can be tough on those of us who are more relaxed about things. i know! from experience. hope Mary Lou can be flexible or she will push Gene away. a relationship has to have give and take. he should wait for her call. if it never comes then she never cared for him. if he goes back without that call she will expect to always get her way.

I agree with Barry Hoskings and Paul Roese, I look forward to the semi-annual Gene plot since I returned to the strip back in 2008! I also agree with Doctor Toon about not being able to relax. I have to force myself to walk away!

There’s a difference between needs to be done and Has to be done.The living room needs new paint.The leaky hot water heater has to be replaced!

I’ve had trouble truly relaxing since becoming a parent several years ago. Add in the business needs, and she’s primed to always be working on something.

Hmmm… they’re worried their son is lazy, and Mary Lou is the one who’s got the right idea. Get to work, boy!

Sigh, I think this will be a long arc. When Gene enters, Humor exits this strip.

…they should appeal to Mary Lou on behalf of Meg – some of the best memories and best times of childhood are when they are at the beach, or the park, or the lake, etc, etc. – Mary Lou is going to turn around and that kid will be off to college…there is ALWAYS something that “needs” doing, but the kid is only a kid once! That’s the kind of logic that might work here…

Dunno – as I recall, Mary Lou didn’t want Gene to finish college before getting involved with the farm, etc., etc. Seems as though there’s a serious clash of values here. In a successful marriage, there needs to be give and take.

With Gene, JJ is entering into life issues areas that he never touched with A&J, who throughout the life of the strip have existed in a sealed bubble, separated from almost all of life’s issues.

Dave53 – yep; I missed it. For some reason, readers expect something new from comic characters rather than consistent behavior. I fell into that trap today as well, even after 30 years of reading A&J; thanks for setting me straight (and for the laugh I finally got from today’s strip).

Us males are not equipped to understand the female nest-building drive.

Fair warned is forewarned.

@kea do you have a Browncoat i could use sometime?

Sounds like my wife: if it doesn’t go 100% as planned, it’s ruined. At least that’s how it was in the beginning. She’s relaxed a bit now. I think she’s ok with 98.9%