For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for June 08, 2017

that’s a real drag you got there, Doctor

ANYONE that has EVER bought a sports cars KNOWS the TRUTH of that statement

Damn straight you are. At least she wants something practical, and you were just being selfish.

I was right! Bwahahahahahaha!!

PS: See yesterday’s comments.

Elly wants to remodel the kitchen, Jean … Why would she want to do that?

My response: Oh, John. If you want sympathy, you are talking to the wrong person. Your assistant Jean Baker always sides with Elly, every single time.

John told Jean that Elly never even flinched when he paid for that sports car last fall!

My response: “never even flinched”!! I seem to remember several comic strips featuring a whole lot of flinching. For some reason, John seems to be intent on painting his wife in the best possible light when he spends money, but in the worst possible light when she spends money.

John is going to pay for that sports car for the rest of his life.

My response: Oh, John. This is nothing. Your life could be much worse. Imagine you were married to a cartoonist who did not approve of your car purchase (kind of like Lynn Johnston’s real life husband Rod). What would your cartoonist wife do to let you know she was unhappy with your car? Hmm!

Correcting my second response above (Thanks DENISE.WOLFF!), Elly told Jean that John never flinched purchasing the sports car.

I know that Lynn Johnston’s perspective is that Jean Baker is supposed to represent Elly’s viewpoint in these kinds of situations, but there is something odd about Jean’s relationship with Elly. It’s like Elly is using Jean as a person to hear her personal complaints about her husband. Is this the sort of thing people talk about with with their husband’s employees? I would think it would put the employee in a difficult position.

Would not be unusual in a small office setting for a spouse to chat with a long time employee, who has also become a friend over the years. They share stories, jokes, photos of children, life events. That’s the situation in this strip.

You got it, brother!

Even if John approves all remodeling ideas, it sounds like Elly is going to get persnickety and micromanage everything. That could also be reason for his hesitancy.

Lynn’s Notes:

This was the truth. It seemed that no expense was spared on things outside the house….but, the kitchen, where so much of my life was spent, didn’t need improvements.

John, get Ellie’s kitchen remodeled. She’ll be happy and you’ll live longer.

It’s terrible when you reach the age and stage of life, where you’d prefer a remodeled kitchen over a sports car. At least I can fit easily and comfortably into one !

today you became a little wiser, John

It’s a comic strip.

One thing is for sure, when it comes to shopping we women always get a bad rap for being spendthrifts. Recalling a time when hubby went to far with a splurging spree for something and in this case a car, is money for the wife. Now all we have to do is hope that she is in communication with his wife. That way she can use her trump cards when she wants to purchase new appliances to go with the remodel. Let’s just hope she is at least generous enough to donate the old stuff to a Thirft Store for us regular folks who can not afford a major remodel and new appliances.

You bet u will John and then some

Remodeling a kitchen will bring a much better ROI than a sports car. Cars (sports or not) lose value as soon as you buy them. Sure, get the one you want, but expect to lose money on the deal. Meanwhile, a remodeled kitchen will bring a higher sales price for your house, plus you get to enjoy it.

Last summer we tore out the kitchen that was original to our house which was built in 1962. While there was more than a little cringing on my part at the expense, there is at least one hour out of every day where I think that it was worth every penny.