Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for October 12, 2020

Admittedly assignments like “something I learned today” are painful for people who find life boring, something I know from experience. So I feel for Luann.

At the same time I am astounished, absolutely flabbeeghasted that at 47 Nancy has not learned to never wear heels if you are expected to by standing much. Even Luann must know that flats are more confortable and I’m not ever sure Luann has ever worn heels.

Wearing sensible shoes would help! Even Tiffany wears black oxfords to work…

Stupid assignment. It’s not like we learn something new every day.

At a party, I was standing with a group of doctors and was introduced to one whom I had not met before. I asked his speciality and when he said, “Podiatrist”, I got a big laugh when I said, “Ah, you like women in high heels that.”

Many younger guys will not understand this one.

Maybe it’s time for Luann to share the workload at the Fuse.

Wait! Does this mean Nancy is 47 and she thinks Luann is 17?

Just another miserable night at the DeGroot household!

Why am I not surprised that the topic of an essay for Luann’s psychology course sounds like a high school English assignment, lol

Merrily we go along. One disjointed episode following another, no continuity, no conclusions. By comparison, the Sunday strips are looking pretty good lately.

You always have nothing, Luann. The story of your life.

I guess the veggies, Gunther, Bets and Les have been left to stew…

man do i feel old i just turned 42 last month who knew that Nancy is only a few years older than me YIKES!

Is the new outdoor area to The Fuse the cartoonists subtly catching up with the new normal? Yet I doubt we’ll see anybody wearing masks in this strip until the end of the month.

You are about to learn something else new today, Luann – the system drive in your laptop is about to suffer an irrecoverable failure in 3 … 2 … 1… …………………

2 words…“Sensible shoes”.

How about something new this MONTH. Give us half a chance…

“47”. Heck, I still got an Air Force safety razor that’s older than 47. Why? Good question, I don’t use it anymore, but it cleans up like new. A little WD-40, and the moving parts are really smooth. Point being: There are real life Nancys that are well built, clean up nicely, and have moving parts that are smooth as silk. Keepers.

I usually go in on story more than art or comic strip choreography, if I can use that term, but these two panels raise a couple points; first there are two panels instead of the usual 3, sometimes 4. Second the set-up in the first panel would (and this is also story) indicate that the covid-19 reality has or is becoming part of the weekly panels. Nancy talks about the new outdoor section of the Fuse, while Luann is working on her computer on her essay subject. Working on the computer is how work is done in college, but it could mean her class is remote, which means she does Zoom classes at home, or online, which means no classes but everything is done online. Or maybe nothing like that and she is still going to physical class. I can’t resist on the story; I predict, with some trepidation, that her essay might refer to issues of the day. Watch out.

How about this psych essay? “One doesn’t have to stay up early on Columbus Day morning writing an essay. The schools are closed today because of the holiday. Stay up late tonight instead.”

I have to laugh – I was 12 when this comic started, and Frank and Nancy were already adults with kids. Now I’m the same age as Nancy, apparently.

Every person I’ve ever seen at 47 has at least some gray hair.

BLACK SNEAKERS, Nancy! I see many service people wearing them. And besides, you are the owner…why are you working so many hours? You should be a fill-in for when someone calls in sick. And even THAT is a maybe. Just hire enough help. You can still be there as a manager, but not on your feet for a shift better suited to a teenager! —-I remember having retail jobs as a teen and being on my feet for 8 or more hours. And I wore very high heels. I must have been out of my mind.

Luann is living with a “new” housemate, Bernice. She should be learning that living with a long time friend 24/7 is a bit different than when said friend just comes over for the occasional visit. Maybe she could work up an essay on that.

And looks like Nancy’s aching feet is a cry for help. Perhaps it’s time young Ms DeGroot took a job at the Fuse as an employee or on stage “entertainment.”

“I learned the angst of recognizing that I can’t even identify anything I learned today!”

I’m trying to figure out an essay, too. It’s for transferring.

You’re right, Nancy, 47 isn’t 17— it’s far better!

You’re just out of shape now, do some stretches to get rid of that built up acid, take a warm bath, then do it again tomorrow. Yeah, in better shoes.

I did same thing at age 62, and after the first week my legs were back in shape. Plus, you have 30 years more of work experience than your teammates.

Nancy possibly reducing her time at the Fuse? Or completely opting out of the serving routine?

Two words Nancy: Tred-Safes.

I have another one. Heels hurt as much at 17 as at 47, but the memory failed.

Mom it gets worst trust me

Poor Luann. Her life is nothing more than repetitive days that are always identical. Like mine. Sigh… I hope that at least she can get out of this chain and experience new emotions.

Sure, “47 isn’t 17”; Luann isn’t 17, either (in college, unless she was a genius and skipped a grade or two—and she isn’t—, she has to be at least 18 or 19, maybe even 20, since she’s already had a year).

But the Outdoor Area at the Fuse is something new we all just learned about today, you dork! Write about that!

The first hint at COVID in this universe.

Wait til you’re 80, Nancy.

I felt great at 47. It’s after you retire that you have to keep busy or you feel lousy.

She learned that her father is a dork.

Wear sneakers, Toots! :-p

47 is the new 57?

Poor Nancy; I know the feeling of constantly working on your feet.

I’m confused, more than usual! It is Monday and this seems like a Sunday strip. I feel for Nancy though. Gave up heels years ago and my entire body appreciates it.Maybe Luann needs to get out more to learn something new? Perhaps help Dez with the gardening? ;-)

Joining the “sensible work shoes” train. Former server says: ditch the heels and get some Dr. Scholl’s.

One word – ‘Crocs’

Only dumb people do not learn something new everyday. They are not observant. Today I leaned a new Palindrome — Dammit I’m mad.

*@ Luann 1212 * Here’s my reason for making the disjoint strips comment, above. We’ve been two and a half months of one-week-wonder arcs. That is, no continuing story so far.

July 18th – The Ann Eiffel Vs Tiffany Ferrell melodrama/saga finally comes to an end with the slamming of a door. Subsequently, the newly resurrected Tom Ferrell disappears; the newly introduced McMansion disappears. What happened to them?

July 26th begins an arc of Bernice moving in with the DeGroots ‘cause Ben York returns with kids and there’s no room at the for her at the Halper residence. Plus, Mooney takes her, RA job and “full ride free” dorm room from her. There follows a nice arc of her taking up residence foibles. We haven’t seen Ben or kids since. Except for Dez, we haven’t seen any dorm residents either.

August 17th one week of Bernice meets Jack at the dog park. They seem to interact while dissing Luann who normally doesn’t act that stupid.

August 24th one week of Bets, Les and Gunther doing the “cosplay online expo show.” Les looks silly; again against norm. No follow-up.

August 31st one week of a rare follow-up of Jack brings Bernice a goldfish. Bernice is smitten with the gift and (apparently) Jack. No follow-up.

Sept. 7th one week of Dez introduced into the DeGroot house. First nod to the COVID world of canceled classes, lost jobs, boredom and fishy crystals.

Sept. 14th one week of Luann visits Bwad and Shannon. Shannon acts her worst, cuts finger. Luann says Brad would make great dad. No follow-up so far.

Sept. 21st one week of Dez appears at The Fuse with Tiffany. TJ gets amped over mention of McMansion’s kitchen. TJ gets promise of veggies from Dez’ garden, want to exploit McMansion kitchen. Tiffany inappropriately dressed but looks great in the Community Garden. Gets some kind of “business” idea. TJ collects and exits with veggies off strip.

(continued)

October 5th one week of Les and Bets pretend they don’t know what veggies from the garden are. Dopey cucumber statement by Bets (at last it wasn’t an eggplant). Bets and Les demonstrate food prep skills they denied earlier for late-arriving G-man. Fresh from studying some “DUANDUM CONUNDRA" text. Why did TJ give up the veggies he seemed to want? And why to Les of all people?

Now we switch back to Nancy arriving home from a tough shift at work while lethargic-of-late Luann mulls an on-line class assignment. This appears to be the beginning of another COVID induced boredom week.

Two and a half months of seemingly disjoint strips leaving us with teasers and unanswered questions.

All I want to know is, why did Luann get Franks lips and not her mothers?

♪ When I was 17, it was a very good year … ♪

I cannot compose directly onto the computer (Word). I have to have a pen in my hand and a yellow pad to start a document, to make the words and ideas flow. Staring at a blank screen (like Luann) is no good.

TYGE’s timeline is really on target. I would quibble that Jack bring Bernice a fish was a continuation of the dog park and the TJ wants to cook wandered over three weeks. However since he never got to cook that story seems abandoned rather than finished. Moving Bernice into the DeGroot place ought ti have been the spring board for a bunch of stories but it see,s to have fizzled out. Why make such a major change in the strip like that unless you have a year’s worth of ideas to go with it? It makes me appreciate the early Luann strips because Greg know how to use conflicts. Karen on the other hand seems allergic to conflicts. Gunther returned to the strip as an angry man with mother issues. But when she remarried he was like “whatever” Tiffany was eating herself to death because of her father’s new girlfriend but after a few visits to Mrs Foget nee Phelps, she was all serene about the girlfriend, being fat and everything. Luann has become a passive observer so who knows if she have issues about anything. Gunther was angry about Bets posting stuff about them on her website but seems over that now. Leslie used to be a jerk and a theft but he’s all mellow now. It’s hard to create stories when everyone is so blissed out and happy.

Essay Topic: Mom gets really Cranky when her feet hurt.

A good essay is 10% inspiration, 15% perspirations, and 75% desperation.

Why on earth are you wearing heels, Nancy?

I am too busy to be bored.

More proof the people writing this comic have never been to a college psych class in their lives

Looks like someone needs a little foot rub. Get in there, Frank!!!

Where is Bernice Halper?

“Those were the days my friend

We thought they’d never end

We’d sing and dance forever and a day

We’d live the life we choose

We’d fight and never lose

Those were the days, oh yes those were the days"

Those Were the Days" Written ByGene Raskin & Борис Фомин

After a while, though, you get used to losing.

A young woman in the post-high-school-pre-adulthood stage of life who’s trying to find answers to “Why am I here? Who should I be? Where do I belong? Who do I belong with? Why is my hair orange?” Luann has enjoyed a nurturing upbringing in a normal family; she’s funny, moral, sincere, upbeat and fun. She’s in junior college and has a knack for teaching, singing and stage design. Luann is a romantic – she believes a life of love, fulfillment and perfection is possible. All she needs is a passion to pursue. But what (and who) IS that? Luann Degroot

Could be those shoes…

“Sweet 16 turned 31.”

Nancy!!!

DUH!!!!

Good Lord. I just realized I’ve been reading this strip from when I was younger than LuAnn was when it started and now I’m older than the Mom!