Arlo and Janis by Jimmy Johnson for March 28, 2021

Nice doggie!

They say that time flies when you’re having fun. What was Arlo doing while Janis was out walking?

Kind of looks like fall has arrived

It often felt when someone come into the office (back when they weren’t open plan) looking for a colleague they should have passed each other in the corridor – in reality they could have been gone for a while but because there was no other events between them leaving and the person seeking them while you worked it seemed just an instant.

Arlo you dumb A. you tell her you were worrying it seemed like she was gone longer this time and you were missing her.

Couch potatoes do not live by the clock as they were born to sit free of human constraints…so long as food and beverage continue to magically be resupplied.

Let’s just hope that the toon doesn’t suddenly jump to an ambulance being called. Janis should be using the carrot and stick to get him off that couch as often as when she goes out.

What is she frowning about in panel 3?

Wonder what happened to the neighbor that looked much like Janis? Argo said she sorta came and went.

Maybe if the panels were made into teeny tiny squares and then have Arlo ask in a more compact panel he would think she was gone to long.

On yesterday’s walk, I saw a bald eagle feeding its brood.

Happiest. Dog. Ever.

Looks like a pretty dreary world out there. Just a friendly dog in a weedy yard, no people. Panel 2, cracked sidewalk, silhouette free and blackbirds, chill windblown hair. Just a cold late winter cold snap needing scarf and mittens. None of the friendly faces of past walks. No wonder she cut it short.

Arlo never says how was your walk?

Polishing. It was his big chance.

what a sad commentary today. a cold grey lonely walk- that must have seemed long if not in time; the greeting not one to lift up [where have you been, missed you!] rather leaves one feeling even more isolated. not in the spirit of arlo and Janis alas, miss the warmth that usually brightens even a cold grey morning

I have a dog who likes to walk far every time we go out. First thing every morning around dawn we hit the streets, walk 2-5 miles depending on weather, and even with rain this morning we just shrug it off. Ice, wind, cold, it all can have some charm if you look for it. Plus, I don’t have a choice. Now that it’s warming up, we go back out later in the afternoon and do it again. In between, it’s a long lead with me standing on the porch so she can take care of whatever needs to be handled.

Here’s what it looks like (which may not be Johnson’s intention). Panel 1: Janis is enjoying her walk. Panel 2: Janis is pensive. Panel 3: Assuming that the mailbox is theirs, Janis is returning home and not really happy about that. Panel 4: Arlo was happy that Janis was away so her walk seemed short to him. Janis definitely has an unhappy look on her face due to being back home and Arlo’s remark. Now, given the relationship that we’ve observed between the two of them, that interpretation seems unlikely. But it sure looks to be that way.

Why does coming home make her sad ?

Disappointed with the joke-free strips of Arlo and Janis these days. Even Luddie, when he appears less frequently is bland. Johnson seems to be going through the motions. Maybe he needs to do a story arc to liven things a bit. None of his readers seem to care. They merely try to relate it to something that has happened to them, or develop their own plot points. Or maybe I’m just missing the point? I know this strip can be subtle if you aren’t in on the gag.

This makes 2 days in a row I don’t get A and J.

OK, a little help here?

Watching the games makes time slip away.

Wrong thing to say, if you love someone.

When I get back from the post office, I get the comment Arlo gave. It sort of seems like an accusation that I didn’t go. So, I just say, you always says that. Seems like a harmless answer considering the possibilities.

Isn’t the real “joke” that’s going on here the happy welcome she gets from a strange dog vs. the shrug she gets from Arlo when she gets home?