Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for December 13, 2023

That’s cute and pretty realistic. There does come a time when the ‘kids’ become better drivers than their parents are.

With the heavy snow, I think there’s a chance they end up at the wrong place. For one reason or another, the cabin will not be how Frank is expecting it will be.

It really doesn’t make sense that Nancy and Frank wouldn’t have Googled the place, so they’d know what they were in for. But if they did that, you wouldn’t have this story arc. ;)

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I like the way the snow is drawn. It’s really well done.

I can’t relate to this, because December snow is rare in these parts.

Siri has helped me find my way many times, but she has also been abysmally wrong other times, like the time she had me drive into a road closed detour. So I keep a backup paper map in the jockey box because you never know when the electronics will fail.

What’s wrong with sport mode?

This reminds me of a ski trip to Monarch Pass, December 24, 1968. It was snowing just like that. We finally found a radio station that came in fairly clearly. The Apollo 8 astronauts read from Genesis. We weren’t expecting that. I’ll never forget that trip.

I hope they remembered to bring chains. That distance of 7.2 miles can make a big difference when traveling in the mountains when it snows.

What’s sport mode?

They’ll probably spend the holidays digging the cabin out of the snow.

I welcome information from anyone with extensive experience driving and hiking in out-of-the-way areas, but my understanding is that relying on a smartphone could be dicey. One possible issue is that it could make a difference whether you have an app that uses downloaded maps for the whole area vs. whether you’re relying on interaction with a server. If you lose connectivity and all you have on your phone is the specific planned route to your destination, then any time you miss a turn or have to take a detour, your phone may not give you any help getting back to the route. There’s also the issue that if you get into an area with no connectivity, then even if you’re successfully staying on the planned route or making use of stored maps, your phone could be quickly draining its battery as it hunts for a cellular signal, unless you’re in airplane mode or have a charging cord that plugs into an outlet in your car.

Again, the remarks above are based on limited experience plus my possibly faulty interpretation of stuff I’ve read. I welcome commentary from people with real knowledge.

I’m wondering if there should be title cards with the day of the week, like the Shining.

My boys prefer to drive in my car so I let them. They don’t like the way I drive.

Frank is getting revenge.

Greg will now cater to all of his rugged outdoors loving fans. Bless you boys and girls but I prefer a big lodge with a big fireplace and a little cappuccino bar close by.

Role reversal-cool idea? A future Degroot icon?

This arc looks like we’re headed to a comedy of unmet expectations of the cabin and a Christmas strip of them having figured it all out and white Christmas in the woods. I’m sure Greg had fun drawing it.

It looks like Nancy was reading written directions to the cabin that was likely given to Frank by the cabin owner. That would be more accurate than a paper map. Luann navigating with a phone may work but won’t necessarily get them there especially if there is limited map info for the address for where they are going. I love that the kids are taking over but it seems more likely they will end up lost now that they are using a phone, instead of instructions.

Where’s Toni?

The road trip from hell.

Frank’s always in Sport mode.

He likes to ‘Frank it up’ and puts that $#!+ on everything

in Bavaria we had heavy snow now in Dezember: 50 cm within two days. So with climate changing and getting more crazy (thats my personal impression) the scenario is not that strange. And I am looking forward my kids taking over. My elder son this year the first time drove with snow and ice, not far, only to town, and afterwards he said: “I expected this to be cool – but it was exhausting” – lesson learned.

Gee.

Nice of CFO Zed to let Frank use his “lodge” and give him absolutely NO details about it or how long it takes to get there.

Methinks Zed is angling for Frank’s job if he doesn’t return.

Hope they packed water, snacks and blankets.

Karma, but you do know where this is heading, right?

I have a hunch this vacation trip will carry us through Christmas.

Let’s hope the cell service holds up.

If they REALLY want to re-live some early memories, then either the parents, or the siblings, should get into a raucous argument.

Luann really had a great idea. I like the symbolism of parents who accept to be guided by their adult children during difficult times. Now the question is if they will make it to the cabin or get stuck in the snow. But I believe less and less in the possibility that the cabin is in ruins, probably it’s a really nice place.

“Sport” mode?

Thank goodness they didn’t bring you know who.

Glad I got the Jeep. I don’t worry about the snow as much anymore. Also, I don’t have to go out in it if I don’t want to most of the time.

Nice job on the snow and facial expressions!

Ah HO! Count ❤️ers One and All… and The❤️Count does mean “All”… We sure as Boy Howdy know where that thingy is programmed for… Darling Ann❤️Eiffel’s massive secluded Hunting Lodge in the forest! Where God’s Woodland Children are only shot with cameras, of course. Roaring fires in oversized fireplaces… delicious real hot cocoa with marshmallows or whipped cream… Tommy❤️Hilfinger over sized sweaters… a totally silent stealth snowstorm outside the windows… Radio Classics channel on the SiriusXM channel… All Celebrating Dearest Ann❤️Eiffel’s Taylor❤️Swift Birthday Party today! It is, of course, a NSA (No Swines Allowed) Birthday Party meaning NO Pedro the Perv, UseLess, and Definitely NO Travis “The Dupe” Felch! Sounds like fun to The❤️ Count, boy howdy! Can’t wait! But… alas… No Lowly Unworthies Allowed. That’s the way the gingerbread cookie crumbles. Tough Toodies, lowly unworthies… Eat your black little ❤️s out. But… cheer up, lowly unworthies… you all know how kind your Be❤️ed Count and Benevolent Ann❤️Eiffel are… We’ll come up with something for you for the Christmas season. BTW… speaking of Birthdays… Only Two More Shopping Days until Our Hero The❤️Count’s Birthday so… Take a Clue, Lu and Hubba Hubba to a Mall near you. With that… Outta Here, Deer… Do Something Nice for yourselves (and The❤️Count) and Have a Wonderful Ann❤️Eiffel Hump Day. TTFN… Count…OUT! Spoiler Alert! On The❤️Count’s Birthday, Sexy Ann❤️Eiffel will give a sultry oral interpretation of Dr Seuss’s “If I Ran the Zoo” in defiance of the PC Woke Gestapo! Can’t wait, lowly unworthies, can’t wait! Also… the NSA policy does not apply to Pearls Before Swine’s Pig and Pigetta.

Many years ago, when my Mom was still around, I was driving Moms mini van with her and Dad in the back seat. They started arguing about something and my wife said that she’s going to separate them if they couldn’t behave. It was quiet for a bit, then the arguing started again.I looked in the rear view mirror and in my best Dad voice, “If you two don’t knock it off, I’m stopping this car and you can both get out and walk home.” It was silent for about 30 seconds, then we all busted out laughing. I can’t count how many times I heard that as a kid in the back seat of the Rambler.

no you should not be in sport mode, that’s great for paved roads for improved handling and gear shifts not on snowy roads

Now that’s what I call switching places.

most excellent

“Don’t drive like my brother”

For sure – I let my wife drive all the time. First of all because she wants to, and secondly because I like to look at the cows.

I remember well the day I had to tell my dad I thought I should do all the driving from now on. I was dreading it! At the end of my speech about concern for his safety and well being he marched over to sit in the passenger side seat of the car, snapped his seat belt closed and said “well? Let’s get this show on the road!” What a class act. I miss him every day.

Enjoy it now, folks. They’ll be picking your retirement home before you know it.

Please not a 3 week story of the family trying to find the cabin. These filler panels are not interesting.

Dad sure did when my brother could drive. He played his game as we drove for church. :}

Sooner or later, parent/child roles reverse.

When did Brad become competent?

this is funny.

Are we there yet?

Wow, I take back what I said about it never snowing in the strip before. Today’s a historic day.

And it looks like they didn’t all leave their phones at home after all (which would’ve been a monumentally stupid decision); so now it makes me wonder once again why nobody has researched this cabin at all. They know how to get there but don’t know what it looks like?

interesting how all the complaints by commenters the first day of this arc ( where’s the snow?, why aren’t they using GPS? Who should be driving? etc etc etc ) are all being dealt with in time. TRY LEARNING A LITTLE PATIENCE, PEOPLE!!!!!!

All is well with cell phone tower coverage, and your app doesn’t lead you to a very remote cell-less road to save 3% fuel….been there.

Who doesn’t use GPS nowadays? I’m a sexagenarian boomer and use it all the time.

GPS? What could possibly go wrong?

GPS navigation is great, but part of me misses going to AAA (not AA) and setting up a TripTik as my trusty guide. However, real time updates and audio prompts far exceed that feel good nostalgia. I did not have to advise Greg on heavy snow automotive scenes, but I could have made this a lot easier on him and me. As a crusty veteran of driving through Lake Erie effect snow squalls just south of Buffalo, NY, I would have made the first and last panels solid white with just word balloons. No drawing. No color. E-Z P-Z!

This is so true generally, how many times do us Baby Boomers, late to the electronic Information superhighway of the Internet, have to default to our Millennial and Gen Z youngers to think of electronic solutions. I can say as a BB that GPS devices have been very good, although since the information can change on the ground, I’ve gone to places that were not where I wanted to be, and in some cases scary. I still believe in maps and street guides and carry the Chicago CTA street guide in my car. So the last panel was really funny. Where is it leading too though, only the DeGroots, other than Toni, who is on assignment at work. Oh nd the sport mode reference? Reminded me to call my daughter to be careful of sport mode or rear wheel, high torque cars. They have to be driven differently in snow and slip, but Millinnial’s and Gen Z are used to front-wheel drive.

I’m 63 and I can use my phone for navigation as well as change my driving mode to snow. Not all old people are helpless.

I was on a very dark road in the rain looking for my hotel. My GPS told me to turn onto a rather narrow and twisty road. It got me there but it turned out to be the golf cart path

Intergenerational turnabout is fair play.

I drove a Ford truck and a Bronco for years. We get pretty heavy snow in winter and I thought I had the best vehicles for it, but then I got a used Subaru Outback and that thing drives circles around those Fords in the snow!

Superior technology to the rescue!…oooopsnosignalwherarewe???

(See also xkcd no. 461)

I still have folded up paper maps in my car. My 20-ish daughter laughs at that. But if I’m ever trapped in the cold I can use them to start a fire for heat. She can’t do that with her phone GPS.

I was thinking of Brdsht who used to post here. Does anyone ever hear from him? He would comment about all the Christmas trees he put up every year.

Snow camping

nice revenge, Dad

If you have children, use them. Most will appreciate the appreciation.

I love this. The parents in the back seat while the young adults take the lead. A nice bit of maturity for both Brad and Luann. And love it that Frank has to get that little comment Are we there yet? in? He’s probably been waiting years to say that!!!!!!!

So as usual the parents of no clue on how to drive in the snow and kids come to save the day.

I think I was a bit older than Luann when my dad started asking me to drive.

Not to be a spoil sport, BUT didn’t we already do this story where they show up and the place is a decrepit cabin??

I’ll take the backseat anytime. As a teen we’d all yell shotgun. Now if I’d have to yell I’d call caboose.

Good one Frank.

Sneaky one, that Mr. Degroot.

Will Rogers quote — ‘When I die, I want to die like my grandfather who died peacefully in his sleep. Not screaming like all the passengers in his car.’

De-lightful!

Be sure to take a screenshot of the directions in case there’s a dead zone.

“Are we there yet?” (ad infinitum)

Crawling through the snow….with the windshield frozen ice….which we should we all go…let’s just roll the dice!

I couldn’t. Ever since I learned to drive, I haven’t been an easy passenger, no matter who was driving. I knew too much.

When I got my license at 16, some 50 years ago, everyone I knew who was my age never drove unless it was only them and their mom. Dads did not surrender the driver seat.

So that night I drove to pick my dad up and instinctively got out of driver seat. He said “you passed right?” Yep I can legally drive now. “Then get back in the driver’s seat… my driving days are over!”

Crashing through the toll….in a beat up Chevrolet….over the bridge we go….in to East L.A. Hey!

Dingle balls, dingle balls….the cops are on our a$$….put 53 cents worth in two days ago….now we’re almost out of gas Oh!

Don’t forget to kick the seat

I don’t know if this reversal of roles has turned out to be fun for Brad, and, Luann. It certainly has for Frank and Nancy.

The tables have turned — LOLOL

Fourth panel. Brad responds to Dad with “Don’t make me turn this car around!”

Turned the tables…….

This is the first really funny strip in quite a while. As in universally funny – a joke even those who aren’t familiar with the story line or characters could get.

Kudos Greg n Karen. This one is a winner.

I hope Frank has snow tires or snow chains if not they are going to get stuck in the snow

Ah, that’s better. Brad will do okay driving. Frowny-face Luann may or may not help navigate, But, most of all, Frank and Nancy get to relax in the back seats!

It seems strange that a Christmas sequence would be offered away from the DeGroot household. Especially with Toni and Bernice AND Puddles missing. PLUS the seeming role reversals about to happen. PLUS the different anticipation of what awaits them as far as lodging. Etc., etc.