For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for April 17, 2010

The words of wisdom. Follow what he says and you will be Elly’s Hero! (or Hereo?)

John as a dentist should not tell the patient all about his wife and marriage. Because it was none of our businesses. John should see the marriage counselor.

What does that patient know, he was on Novocaine

“I think you should take back the stereo-that should fix things up.” Nah, just buy her the electric can opener…

The gentlemen said, take the stereo back, that should fix everything.

Chocolate!!!! Roses!!!!! Dinner for two at a romantic place!!!! abject groveling!!!!

Nah, keep the stereo. He’ll gets his money’s worth out of it. (I spent $1600 for a stereo system back in the 90’s and I’ll take it over any iPod … though I love that my iPod is portable).

Then do what Paul345 and furnituremaker said. They’ll both make out in the end. (And making out would not be a bad idea either).

It’s a rubber dam, with a hole in it so that only the tooth being worked on is exposed. It keeps water and debris from going down the patient’s throat. (Not just Canadian – I’ve had dental work like that myself in Texas.)

actually, I believe that John was talking to his dental assistant, not his patient. His patient simply listened as well, and came up with a solution, and offered it.

I took this one as John talking to his assistant, not the patient, who just chimed in with his opinion.

I would return the stereo. All the joy of the purchase and future listening pleasure has been robbed by the ranting of the wife.

After what Elly pulled yesterday, she should be sent to sleep in the garage for a few days.

I have defended Elly before. I have also told people to lightenup and leave their issues behind and enjoy the comedy.

However, Lynn, I know you are trying to create that slice of life that comics represent, but——this is getting tedious. Please, find a way for these wonderful people to resolve their issues and regain the focus of their marriage.

Thanks for listening.

“take the stereo back, that should fix everything.”

You think Elly is upset now? Take “her” new stereo back and see how she screams at you then John!

Hmm. In “real life” didn’t Lynn Johnston’s dentist husband actually take up with his dental assistant … . ?

Give her $2000 to spend any way she wants and make an agreement that in the future any purchase over a certain amount, excluding groceries they will consult the other person first.

Susan – some dentists use that plastic covering – so that only the tooth is exposed – it’s kind of suffocating and my current dentist doesn’t use it, but I’ve had it used with other dentists. (It probably blocks a lot of bad breath). For those that think this is tedious – remember it’s a comic – this was probably all one night and he is complaining (just like she does) to his captive audience the next day.

@ Teresa You say Lynn. You mean Ellie, I presume. Lynn based this strip on her life though, so you may be right on both counts.

LOL, GEE1G!!!

Lynn Johnston should have just retired the strip. This reboot is neither funny nor entertaining. Every day it looks more and more like a series of rejects from Andy Capp and The Lockhorns.

if john had never gotten marry in the fist place he could keep the stereo

I get my best ideas when I’m on novacaine

Under absolutely NO circumstance should John be discussing his marriage and what goes on in it with anybody, whether it’s his dental assistant and/or a patient (who may or may not be a marriage counselor – and he’s probably not)! What goes on between them is supposed to be private and nobody else’s business except his and Elly’s (and to be fair, that goes for Elly talking to Anne and Connie too!). If things are that bad between them, then the two of them should be in marriage counseling, talking to someone qualified to listen and give advice as to what they should do to repair the damage (if it’s even possible to repair).

This is how a workplace affair can begin. You’ve got a man, probably lonely in a basically disrespectful, uncommunicative marriage (unless you count yelling, screaming, cursing and manipulation!), who seems a little fearful of his shrew-of-a-wife’s berating temper-tantrums and who he most likely thinks “doesn’t understand him” … and then here she is, someone he works with, someone who talks to him kindly and treats him respectfully, who’s compassionate and is a good listener. Next thing you know … lunch-time sex romps!

To those proposing that John return the Stereo you seem to be forgetting the basic tenants of Human nature (your such a funny race of beings) Firstly he can return the stereo but that will not end the discord. He obliviously shopped around for the equipment and may have even gotten a recommendation from friends on what was the best brand/ model then weighed the cost & effect on the bank balance. If he caves into wifely harping and returns the stereo then every time he has to turn on the old one his resentment will be made manifest and the object of his unhappiness will be transferred not to the inanimate Stereo but to the cause of him having to use it.. namely his wife. Oh he may smile and say ok but that old stereo becomes a white elephant in the marriage

of the many causes of marital failure I’d say one of the worst is unreconciled resentment. Since neither of these characters seems to be all that emotionally mature they will continue to fume to friends instead of talking to each other until (in real life at least) they find that somewhere out there someone of the opposite sex is actually listening to them and agreeing with their point of view… then the real troubles begin .

Susan, I had an endodontist who used a rubber dam like that. He had a problem setting it up, though. The little spring clip that goes around the tooth was brand new and very tight. He tried to clamp it on my tooth and it slipped. It flew clear across the office and they couldn’t even find it. The next attempt was with a slightly older one that wasn’t so tight. (They’re stainless steel and sterilize along with the other dental instruments.)

It strikes me, with all the excellent advice that people are giving about going to a marriage counsellor (I’m not being sarcastic), that 30 years ago this was not considered a normal thing to do. It wouldn’t automatically cross their minds. if it did, they would automatically reject the idea, thinking, “No - we’re not that badly off that we need counselling.”

What if to try and get Elly into the stereo, he buys her a couple of her favorite albums (thinking ‘81) and they listen together with a bottle of wine and a fire in the fireplace? That would certainly cheer me up!

Teresa? Lynn? She’s the writer. The character is named Elly. t’s not real people.

It’s not about the stereo – it’s about the remark that it was his money. She would have gotten over the stereo a lot quicker if not for the stupid insensitive remark.