Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for September 14, 2013

“Shields Up!”or “I Can’t Hear You With All This Tea”

Red Alert Teas…. “Don’t let stress cling on… with Red Alert, it’s as good as gone”… “Try the #! Tea, and you’ll soon be in your own space….”… J.L.Pickurd Brewing Co…. – Tripper Teaware… “Don’t let stress knock on your door!… Relax with tea brewed in the finest wares from Santa Monica…”

What’s the big deal about being the 1st poster? To me, it seems like it’s just screaming “I HAVE NO LIFE, SO I’LL KEEP CHECKING EVERY 2 SECONDS FOR THE FOR THE NEW STRIP TO BE POSTED.” I seriously doubt if anyone would here bother doing that. Not even the Dim Wit.

Ooops, meant to say anyone here would have bothered doing that.

WHAT?!!? No COFFEE????

THIS Is an OUTRAGE!!!!!

ATTICA, ATTICA!!!!!

Bernice is getting a wonderful laundry list of things to never do.

Yeah, I was kind of hoping for that myself, but Greg Evans has a very low opinion of school counselors, so as long as he feels that way, we’ll never see anything redeeming about Ms. Phelps.

Wake me up when the arc is over…

I hope we get back to the terrific trio next week (Brad Toni & Shannon), the last few weeks have been subpar for this strip.

I would like to think that this is just the “gag a day” thing, here… the irony of Phelps answering the question in the third panel, after not listening in the other two… I’d also like to think that Miss Phelps was just “going through the motions” of her enjoying her tea, to help her de-stress…. maybe she called Bernice in when it was a break in the day for her (not counting lunch)… Well, that is what I am thinking….

Greg – Come on – We’re ready for something funny…

Tenure. Tenure will make it not matter, apparently.

I think it is about time that Miss Phelps has a redeeming moment. Haven’t we had enough of dissing teachers, even Mr Fogerty is put down, and hey, are there only two teachers in Pitts HS? Also I am really tired if Bernice’s arrogant, angry, smart ass attitude. If I had known a kid like her in school I would have avoided her like the plague. It is very hard to believe that she has any friends with her constant put downs and snide comments. I know i know, i am not being a good heart but this arc is not funny.

If Margo were a pusher for some tea company, such as Twinings, her comments might carry some weight. As it is, they are just the personal opinions of a flopped (Greg’s editorial comment in panel 3, not mine) counselor.Jasmine is okay for the mornings, I guess, though I think of it as more a Special Occasion tea; for afternoonsies, I prefer Lapsang Souchong….

Yup!Love the wolf, BTW!

Phelps is one blasted idiot.

I don’t know. Greg wants his characters to grow. I’m looking forward to seeing Bernice as a bona-fide school counselor in twenty years.

Fathergod you are on it! This strip IS Phelps redemption. She is modeling the first best trait of any counselor (got it this time!). Listening. And being centered and calm (the tea). I think Evans will show her crazy like a fox, wait and see. After my disappointments of late with Tif, some character has to show some dimension and hidden, but essential strengths.

Listen to her, Bernice. When your time comes and you have the job, you WILL need tea!

I think Greg/Karen were trying to “buffoon up” Ms. Phelps a little. And when Bernice called her on it, she got defensive. I’d really like to know where Greg/Karen are going with her (Phelps). It doesn’t seem to be looking good for her as a GC mentor.

Hey I’m sorry for some of my comments being over the top and semi-inappropriate, especially for a family strip. As for this arc: Listening is a key in life but Evans seems to split his strip between the exaggerated and the more realistic. And maybe Mrs. Phelps is based on someone from his real life. Maybe Bern won’t go into counseling now or be determined to be a lot better at the field- learn by example. Who knows? As stated many times already Brad’s potential family is a good arc to look forward too now… And who knows what will happen with TJ? That is a major ?

“Bernice, luv ya girl, really do, but you are going to have to make some changes. First, that headband has to go. You have worn it since 03-02-92, and by now it has to be getting dirty. Next, go to a salon, a good one, and do something with your hair.”*Levi – Breaking News! Bernice is learning to be a counselor, not a model for Teen magazine.*Yes, these are jokes about Ms. Phelps. But note that Bernice is sitting up straight and looking at Ms. Phelps in the eye. Perhaps after rolling her eyes in disgust, Bern is actually listening & learning.*BTW, it’s gross to drink tea with the bag still in the cup. I learned first semester in college to put the bag on a spoon and wrap the string around the bag/spoon to squeeze the bag dry. It then can be calmly deposited on the saucer.

Tip One: Good listening!Tip Two: No inappropriate laughing!

As for Bern’s hair- obviously that is now her signature look like the scribble on Charile Brown’s forehead. It is probably meant to stay the same until she moves to a new phase of life. But it’s Evansverse so I can’t say on developments…

Always listen to Ms. Phelps. And whatever she says to do, you do something else.

Iam:No flop-house sponsoring the strip this week?

..how many to change a bulb..

The point of this journey may be that Bernice comes to the conclusion that the position of being a school counselor is beneath her and she needs to consider other career choices.

ISTR Bernice having a negative image of Phelps (if not GC in general) prior to her interview for the position. Makes me wonder why she went through with it though, when she discovered Ms. Phelps would be her mentor.

Yoy guys are missing the point! Being a good “listener” is probably the most important function of a counselor!

ZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzz…. What about the Aussie???? I thought he was supposed to be back for the beginning of the school year… What about Brad and Toni and their wedding? What about TJ and his food truck? Anything would be better than this!

Miss Phelps needs to follow her own advice a bit more.

I hope she has a bathroom nearby.

Thanks forgot about her.

Cuckoo, cuckoo…someone needs to retire….

Once Evans turns against a character, he will twist logic to avoid a shot at redemption. Ask Tiffany.

I’d like to know what happened to Quill? He was hoping to do his senior year in the USA, and I haven’t heard anything! Did I miss something?

Crystal Lite, or Crystal Lynn.

Ms Phelps..please come with these two nice men..They have a home for you and some medication..

Exactly! That’s what I keep saying!… before me, it was other posters being first… and for a long time, it was JellyBelly… come to think of it, haven’t seen them post in a long time… hope they’re okay!…

Wesley_B :

for those of you wondering what Crystal’s surname is; I’m surprised that you’ve not figured it out. It’s clear to me. There’s a pun in there. Think about it. Her name is Crystal Clear.^ JPW: Others have suggested surnames for her on this board. Some posters have quipped that her full name might be Crystal Blue Persuasion or Crystal Lake.

Myself, I surmised that might be Crystal Chantelle Lear.

^^Personally, I like Crystal Blue (without any Persuasion)… Crystal Chantelle Lear is a great pun though, and a great signal to her being and feeling classy and sort of above others… Lev’s is also good, and some others, as well!

"Knott N. Idiot” ^Her great aunt has a berry farm?

“Next Window, Please »”^That’s the name of every Bank Teller, Municipal Clerk and Customer Service rep in town! Strange coincidence!

Crystal Lake…..

Ernest and Julio Gallo? ^With a side of Jack Daniels Baby Back Ribs….

“…but the Mrs. and I had been finishing up our move into our new digs…”Hoping you and the Mrs. enjoy your new home… ;)

50 Shades of Earl Grey?

I wish I’d thought of that! And I’ll bet Iam does, too.^Actually, I considered it, but I didn’t know if it would be taken in a “family friendly” way, given the contents of the book…. so I left it alone… Personally, if I could have turned it into something other than the book, I would have… but the Mrs. and I had been finishing up our move into our new digs (which we are extremely fond of!) and I didn’t get to let too much really “brew” (another thing I was considering, along with tease/teas…. The Captain Picard “Ear Grey Tea… hot” thing jumped out at me first, so I went with that..) Of course, the words do cleverly play out well, to Ashburn’s credit!

I wish Greg would flesh out Ms. Phelps…then she wouldn’t come across as such a dummy. Drink relaxing tea, but put your entire focus on Bernice and not on yourself. Oh, and I really like Lemon Lift tea…helps me wake up in the morning… ;)

“…or least the Luann board:’ Constant Comment’” Hahaha! :)

Crystal Shippe

Crystal Gaye Zingh

Ha ha ha ha!!!!…

Since Crystal brings out the image of Elvira and the mystical “Crystal Metaphysical Properties and Crystal Healing Meanings”, it seems that her last name is most probably – Ball.

Wow… great wordplay!…

But how about “Crystal I. Zingh”?

*

Sweet!

*

How about Crystal I. Zaytion?

“I” standing for Imogene, probably.

My high school guidance counselor (Mr. T. BOYLAN) guided me to my greatest profession. Recently retired from MI6.

Irony.

Bernice, I recently did a major in Sociology and your major psychology as my minor.