Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for June 30, 2011

I’m with Brad on this one …

TJ makes sense…unemployed Bwad marries employed Toni and becomes Mr. Mom to the dreaded Shannon!

It’s scary how much the dialogue looks as though it were based on last night’s Comments rather than written weeks ahead. …Brad is correct: TJ is an idiot, at least as far as these suggestions are concerned.

Brad will talk with Toni. In real life 12 hours went bye. Next day talk with Toni. Move in with Toni.

Brad did everything required to become a Fireman, including getting back on track after falling on his butt on his first attempt, which in some ways is a more difficult thing than getting it right the first time.But he did nothing that would cause him to stop being a Fireman. He does feel a little ashamed, but so do most victims.It may be good natured banter between these two, but it is very heartening to see how he is not tolerating any abuse, even though he is very vulnerable.In the past, I learnt a lot about dealing with abusers through this strip, in particular, Toni’s experience with Dirk. This episode is another slant on not being a passive victim.

Nope, family first, especially since he pays them rent. Toni sooner than later, though.

TJ. For the LOVE of ALL that Holy, will someone PLEASE step on this COCKROACH?

What makes y’all think Toni doesn’t already know? News travels fast in small towns.

Riiinnngggg.

“Hi Toni. Uh, before you find out I was layed off due to budget cuts because the city council won’t raise property taxes on homes worth more than $1Million, will you marry me?”

Yeah, works for me.

I can’t understand why Brad is so afraid to tell Toni. It’s not like it’s his fault. Besides when he does tell her I think she will be very understanding .

All this will end in the Fireman’s Uniform Caper I’ll bet. Why is Brad not out looking for work? How is finding a job the “easy part”?

Toni and Brad were hired at the same time at different stations. Odds are, if Brad was laid off – Toni was too.

Haha! This is great! I wonder if we will have a week or to of TJ/Brad hijinks while Brad temporarily considers TJ’s suggestion to propose marriage? It could be wonderfully funny! ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ That said, I also am hopeful that the story line does not actually end up having Toni and Brad REALLY become engaged. To me, it seems too early in the relationship for that and I think there is still far too much comic potential left in their budding boyfriend/girlfriend relationship to waste having it so quickly move to marriage

Obviously, in my comment above, I meant “a week or TWO” not “to”. My apologies.

Maybe if Brad gets a job working with Dirk… hmm now that would be interesting. Not sure how Greg would segway that one though…

Is TJ a person of color ?

I’d like to see Toni return to Dirk. At least he has a job!

TJ has being in Sunday strips, and Greg colors the Sunday strips himself

This just proves that Brad is still attached to the “cord” cuz there is no way he should have told “Mommy and Daddy” the bad news before he tells the person he wants to spend the rest of his life with.I hope she does dump him.

I completely agree with Brd Tj is an idiot… but at least he’s a friend…. of sorts…..lol

Technically, ivor and clark, EVERYONE is a person of color…. there are no clear individuals. [grin] However, I do know what you mean. I do not have any definitive knowledge of TJ’s ancestry, but I have always presumed he had at least in part, some Hispanic heritage from the way Greg has drawn him and from his skin tone in colorized editions of the comic.

TJ, with his absurd plans and calculating manner, would make a perfect match with Tiffany.

Fanolio and Ivor, I believe his is from S. America aka Brazil

Brad’s “friend” TJ may be a T-ricky J-okester, but his nutty plots identify him as a Twit/Jerk. Brad rightfully identifies him as an idiot – synonym of a jerk. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Also, we may criticize Brad for not calling Toni right away, but we must remember that she has been wary of the “marriage talk” that he had earlier explored with her. I think she will be happier (next week?) to have had him work through his feelings with family and TJ, than to seek her out for solace and comfort before he had attempted to deal with it himself. I think she will feel he is more mature and reliable than if he had run to her right away. Many women look to a man to “be a man” instead of having her solve his problems. NOW she will be ready to work with him, in love and support, to consider his next steps. Adversity should draw them together, and I think that’s what Greg has in mind. Yes, it IS a comic, but it’s a viable commentary on real life, and the comic nature of real life makes it attractive to many of us.

Well, two more days of this arc, will we ever see Toni?

I’m starting to believe it would be best if they were laid off together. Getting laid -off can have advantages.

Wonder if Toni got laid off too?

It’s not a surprise we have never seen TJ or Brad play chess or pool. Each of these games require that you be thinking several moves ahead of your current position. Neither of them think of more than their very next move, and then deal with the consequences of that move as their next move.TJ acts like this is the beginning of a life-long unemployment for Brad. Within a few weeks, Brad will probably score another fire fighter job in another town. He was not planning to ask for Toni’s hand in that time period, so what’s the dif’? Whether or not Toni is also on the cutting block does not matter. She will be completely supportive of Brad – IF, and only if, he is straight up with her. She will stand by her man.

It appears, on the surface, that Brad has grown immune to TJ’s methods of persuasion. Brad aught to tell TJ that if Brad does not get a job, and soon, the landlord is looking to evict both of them back into the Degroot house. Perhaps TJ will be less scheming and more supportive.

I have this strange feeling that, somehow, Dirk is going to play into this arc. We haven’t seen him since last fall – Nancy’s fall. Perhaps Brad will be looking out the window and notice Dirk working and feel a pang of jealousy that even Dirk has a job while he does not.

Is TJ really that much out in left field. Come on it is a comic but no one is that dumb. Hope the story does not go this way too long.

Ok after reading all the comments can any one tell me how TJ gets his money to live on. Has he ever worked?

TJ has Italian background. As I recall his Italian grandmother ,taught him to cook.

He is supposed to be rather dark complected.

Sad that we do not have the archives.

Does anyone know if we are liable to get the archives again?

Finding another job used to be the easy part when I was a lot younger. For some strange reason, employers choose not to hire seniors (even though we have Medicare so they have one less benefit to provide).

tj isn’t an idiot…he’s trying to get brad to LIGHTEN UP, ALREADY!

You lighten up already firedome