Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for August 10, 2016

Don’t even bother trying to educate Brad’s palette.

specially the food… riiiiiight

I see problems here.

Judging by Brad’s half-hidden grin, he know they weren’t burritos. He’s just needling TJ.

what’s in a name?a dolma by any other name wolud tast just as good

At least there’s no battle over evicting anyone. That leaves a good taste in my mouth, anyway…

That arrangement will end about five minutes after Shannon starts living there enough to need her own room.

Nah, that was yesterday’s problem. Today’s will be ‘how do we divide up the expenses’…

First panel/Brad: “What? No, TJ! Toni’s moving in WITH US”

TJ is gonna lose rights and get edged out of the house, stop it now TJ, dont just give in like that

TJ, reverse your initials and you’re the new JT = Jack Tripper.IIRC, Jack was also a culinary artist.

So I guess both Brad and Toni are thrifty types. They can’t be that poor – both firemen.

“Wind Up Dolmas”“Dr. Sous”“TJ Hears A WHO??? "“Chef Boy, Oh Boy!”“The Even Couple”“Baklava And Forth”“Olive A Sudden”“Chain, Chain, Chain…..(♪)”“Party Of The First Apartment”“Mr. Belvedere, In Headlights”“Mushroom For Rent”“Rattle And Hummus”“Hummus A Few Bars, Please”“Make A New Set Of Souvla-kis”

or“Five’ll Getcha Tenants”

Brad is a culinary Neanderthal in the world of gourmet and TJ knows that he is trying to educate his best friend who is a cretonne. Does he go for it even though he would have liked the whole house for himself?

Up next: ravioli vs potstickers vs pelmenis.

Don’t forget the burrito in between.

Good grief, Brad! You can’t even tell the difference between burritos and dolmades? Maybe the restaurant scene in Pitts is more insular than I had thought. And no big supermarket with international food selections?!

Nothing better than being newlyweds and living with another guy. It will be really cozy if TJ brings a date home for the evening. They both have a career. They need a place of their own.

So TJ’s getting all sensitive about why they want him to stay? The user gets used.

Of course this is about the finances. TJ should know a thing or two about that.

When will you tell TJ about the Shannon plan?

Even if TJ was being asked to move out – which he should have offered to do – He would be able to move into Toni’s apartment. And if that was not possible, Frank is always eager to try to make a buck on Brads old room.

What did TJ expect? It’s Brad’s house.

“Yeah TJ. The THREE of Us staying here together is Toni’s Idea, since I’m NEVER allowed to have ANY say-so in this Strip and Expected to Blindly Go along with Everybody Else’s Silly Ideas. Anyway, Toni says that Since She And I have REAL Jobs, it would be Nice to have Someone Around the House to Cook, Clean, answer the Door, take Of Little Shannon, and Any Other Menial Task She can Think of, While We’re Out Working or doing the Newly Wed Thing. What I Can’t Figure Out is WHY She wants YOU to Wear this Butler Uniform and Answer to the Name ‘Jeeves.’ Do You Know What She’s Talkin’ about TJ? TJ?” -—Brad, as it Slowly Dawns Upon Him that He MIGHT have Said too Much.

Haha,nice Mordock.

I don’t think TJ SHOULD have offered to move out. Why does he have to alter his plans because Toni and Brad are just now thinking about their living arrangements as a couple? Now he may end up wanting to move out if it becomes more than he bargained for, an extra adult and possibly and extra child.

Well, this is interesting…

Come and knock on my door

First off, I’ve never heard greek dolmas either. Some of us are just “poor ignorant saps. Who plan their menus paycheck-to-paycheck”. Didn’t know there were so many culinary snobs out there (Be honest. Most of you googled ‘Greek dolmas’, didn’t you)?Second, the other day T.J., trying to to be his usual smooth-talker self, was telling Brad that a young couple starting out are better off in a small apartment. And letting him have the house to himself. Now that he sees it won’t work, he has a piss-poor attitude. Brad and Toni at least want to find a way for them all to coexist. T.J. is the one demanding his own way.Coupla quick thoughts. Wasn’t Toni’s apartment originally T.J.‘s? Nah, I’m probably remembering it wrong. Also, whoever suggested T.J. move into Brad’s old room? I don’t think Prudence would appreciate that.

just google to see what dolmas were. disgusting looking things.

Dolmas are just greek halupki

Warning Bradley DeGroot! Warning!

In case no one else has yet said it:“A dolma by any other name tastes just as sweet.”

Eiffle tower?l

Jay, Thank you (yesterday). No further word yet.

(From the Department of Cringe-Inducing Lyrics)

I think Brad is slowly creating a situation where TJ will think that moving out is his own idea.

I really think since TJ cooks that his share of the rent should be less.

actually no.apparently you never heard the joke I referenced..http://www.familyfriendjokes.com/joke/your-cat-died-joke

No, no, and no to your questions. Sorry.They are grape leaves (in the Greek nomenclature the cabbage leaf ones have a different name) which are stuffed with a mixture rich in herbs and typically served with spevial versions of yogurt sauces. There are meat ones and there are vegetarian ones.Toni and Brad were separated into different stations in the town when it became clear that their romance was taking off. When fires large enough to need multiple companies happen they can wind up fighting fires together, and historically they do educational events together on fire prevention and fire safety for the town.The house belongs to BRAD’S PARENTS, not TJ’s. Go back to yesterday’s comments and scroll through for more details on that score. People answered you and a few others yesterday.

Living with your girlfriend/fiance with a third party is a bad idea.

Hope the house is soundproofed…

It just doesn’t seem proper for newlyweds to be ‘bunking’ with TJ.

Besides Toni’s apartment being too small, I think Brad wants to stay in his parents house for a variety of reasons, one being TJ’s cooking. If he moved in with Toni, neither would likely eat at home. Another reason being the split rent for several more months. Or at least until B&T could venture out on their own or TJ decides to do so. And yes, TJ certainly is contributing something to the rent. How they split up the living expenses is anyone’s guess.

I predict disaster for this arrangement.

7As I have been away a week, my take on the story may be a bit different as I have only read the comics and not (yet) gone back and read comments over the last week or so. My apologies for any redundancies if anyone finds them annoying:1. I am glad that Toni and Brad plan to move into the house that Brad & TJ are currently renting from the DeGroots. From a story set point, I think that it will serve well for future plot developments, more so than Toni’s apartment would have.2. I am also very glad that Greg has decided to NOT have TJ leave the house…. for the very same reason as in (1) above… it is IMO going to be a much more “energetic” sort of backdrop for future story arcs. With this set-up, there is IMO more opportunity for Greg in the story arcs than if Toni and Brad were in a separate apartment, and this is also good for TJ’s character… he will be able to be part of arcs more easily both at K2 and in this home setting. 3. Like Make Mine Marvel said above, I TOO think that Brad knows those were not “burritos” and that he was purposefully playing dumb to tease/aggravate his friend. IMO, if he had seriously thought they were burritos his grin would not have been as prominent…. what Greg drew as Brad’s grin seems to me to read both that Brad liked them but ALSO that he was teasing TJ by calling them burritos. 4. Small aside…. to me, it seems odd that the chair TJ is sitting in is white. It does not seem like it would be the color of the furniture (hand-me-down or otherwise) that Brad and TJ would have. I wonder if the colorist may have “overlooked” coloring the chair? It could have been beige like the table. Not an Earth-shattering detail, but just interesting to contemplate. Perhaps Sheriff, if he reads this, could comment? It may also be that it was left white because it was felt it would blend in TOO much with the rest of the background.

Maybe TJ could teach Shannon to cook…

Don’t the Degroot’s own that house and lease it to their son Brad, and TJ?

Yes, I now see that the chair was white yesterday too. So, the colorization is consistent. So, while I still think IMO that Brad and TJ would likely not have had white chairs (even if hand-me-downs) in their kitchen area, it does appear that they DO. So, my prior comment about the colorization of the chairs is mute.

-A lot of people answered your question about whether Brad and TJ are living in TJ’s parent’s house yesterday. Apparently you are one of those people who repeatedly post the same question and don’t bother to read answers.

Maybe someone other than me will continue to respond to you, but it’s not a good use of my time since you just keep ignoring answers.

No

Tj thinks he’s being kicked out while Brad is smiling away. The O’Jay’s had a song for that:

Yup…. Another one being:

♫♪ Smiling Faces…. Smiling faces somtimes… They don’t tell the truth…"

Smiling Faces…> Smiling Faces tell lies… and I got proof…

Beware of the handshake… that hides the snake… (can you dig it.. can you dig it)…

Beware of the pat on the back… it just might hold ya back…

Jealousy… Misery…. Envy… Well you can’t see behind smiling faces… ♪♫

Yeah, I don’t know how this is going to work out. I don’t think they’ll last long as a triple. Either Brad or Toni will get frustrated when either want a little “privacy,” or TJ might get frustrated with Shannon there all the time…. I just don’t know. I expect this to fall apart shortly after it begins.

Oh oh…….(not to the above comment, but to the panel)

Look on the bright side TJ, at least Brad appreciates something about you.

I knew what a Greek Dolma was without looking it up. I’ve never made them but I have a friend who does. The rest of my family would probably not know what they are. I think about 20-25 percent of average Americans would know what a Greek Dolma is.

A Dolma and a Burrito would not taste alike at all. A burrito has a flour or corn tortilla wrapped around a filling, usually meat with a Mexican flavor. A dolma has a grape leaf wrapped around a filling with Greek flavor. A grape leaf and a tortilla do not look, feel or taste similar at all.

That is something that is on my list if we ever have something larger than our almost-galley style condo kitchen. As it is we have to lug up the icecream maker from the basement any time we want to use it. It is not alone.

TJ’s going to really enjoy hearing Brad and Toni have sex. Except no he won’t. Because Brad and Toni are going to adopt Shannon and have a family without sexual reproduction, because morality in comic strips doesn’t allow it.

Because Brad and Toni are going to adopt Shannon and have a family without sexual reproduction, because morality in comic strips doesn’t allow it.

Except that they do. Just don’t have to be CRASS about it.

http://www.gocomics.com/luann/2016/05/22

Each pays 1/3 of rent? If Brad & Toni are comfortable with it, they might even want to SHARE a room and pay only half.

Maybe I was a little too generous in praising TJ’s magnanimity in receiving Brad’s news about the living arrangements. It could be that a bit of crossness is just the usual colloquy between friends, where one friend is a petit gourment chef, and his best friend is clueless, but enjoys the food, or it could be that there will be real drama coming. I will withhold judgment for now though, this ought to be interesting.

@ SukieCrandallRe: Your reply to my comment on yesterday’s strip.I love “The Secret Garden” too! I first read it as a child and still have it in my library today.

I agree with RoseHawke that if TJ has to cook for everyone, then he should receive a substantial cut in his share of the rent. That said, I sense this arrangement may not last. If TJ likes quiet and privacy, he will get the complete opposite especially when Shannon is around where TJ may even get drafted into looking after her so Brad and Tony could go out together. TJ might just self-eject.

I’m sure once TJ gets over the initial surprise at this development, he’ll throw himself into supporting it full heartedly in typical TJ fashion.

I’m getting a feeling of déjà vu here. (See yesterday’s comments.)

Ok, Brad, you’d better start appreciating and understanding TJ’s art form of cooking if you want a happy household!

“Three of us splitting rent here is cheaper than two of us…”*Sounds like a 1/3 split to me (though my fingers first typed 1/2)

Reminds me of the old 1980’s sit-com style. Mildly funny, not raunchy, deserves a B – or C +. It’s okay.

TJ works for the Fuse which is owned by Brad’ s parents, he lives in the house that’s owned by Brad’s parents. You’d think he’d have some rights he could exercise. PLEASE don’t have the predictable ending where Brad easily gets what he wants.

Why on earth don’t they let TJ change his hair to something more up to date?

TJ works AT “The Fuse” which he owns along with the DeGroots.

His hair must meet conditions of his work/release program, and cannot be changed.

:-p

Depends on where you live. I grew up in a very Greek area in NY state. In most places there are foods people are used to and might even take for granted that are unusual elsewhere.

In real life, this kind of situation, often winds up in cheating, especially if the couple works long, conflicting hours

Sometimes, JPW, you’re no fun at all!

I think TJ needs to move out and get his own place.And I wish Brad would get pinched and wake up from this ridiculous impossible relationship he has with Toni and her annoying niece

TJ does have the potential to rock a jheri…

I really get the feeling that TJ was looking forward to having his own place…..

SPOILER, but maybe no one will be all that interested

And the conversation (and eating) goes on…

Great pic! It’s got my taste buds already savoring some tomatoes and guac! Though I could also go for Oriental. Guess it’ll be “Guac vs. Wok”…think that pic is the tie breaker, though…

“Athenian Rhapsody”“A Few Good Menus”“Greece Is The Word” (♪♫)^These ‘take the cake’!

Yes, if you see the context of the slyly disguised and provacative statement, you’d find Dog did a marvelous job in humorously pointing out the flaw in the ‘heavily panning’ nature of that comment!

I like very much ντολμάδες! (dolmades is plural). The regular version with vine leaves and also the cabbage leave version. My brother-in-law’s mother makes dolmades to die for!