Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for August 16, 2016

Yes you, doofus, your life is total chaos. You do not deserve to have shannon. Meanwhile, Toni can take Shannon with her to “Bwad’s” place. After wedding planning they can think about ways to legally take Shannon away from mr doofusberg.

I never noticed Toni’s tattoo before.

this sure is one harsh sibling rivalry that their [late] parents can’t stop

She shouldn’t have answered the door.

Luann!!!!!!!!!!!!! ;)

Read Jonah today’s Calvin and Hobbes.

Toni, call Luann. She’ll go swimming with Shannon, But Jonah knew far enough in advance to have made arrangements. Someone should give Jonah a list of babysitter’s phone numbers. He needs to grow into his Daddy pants.

Ironically, Jonah is right about one thing. His life is a lot smoother than Toni’s. Mainly because every time something happens, he dumps all his responsibilities on her and Brad.

I must say though; His barging in, and ordering her to change her plans for his benefit (not even really for Shannon’s) has got to be a new low.

I miss Quill. Wish he were back in the strip.

We may find out that Jonah is seeing a girlfriend sometimes when he claims there is an audition. I also note that Jonah doesn’t seem to ever have any other friends to help – or any money to get a sitter. Also – Jonah makes the plans – swimming this time. The type of activity should be up to the sitter – maybe even taking Shannon along for the wedding plans. She’s old enough to understand Brad & Yoni need to make wedding plans…

This was posted on my FB ticker tonight… real life Shannon!

What Toni should say: “Lack of planning on your part does not constitute a crisis on my part.”

Good pic, there, Mikey!^^Yeah, she’s even got the eyebrows!

Toni about to stab him or clobber him XD

Major explosion in 10, 9, 8,… Unfortunately Shannon will be in the blast zone.

Man this a mess between those two siblings with a marriage and the life of an innocent child in the balance. Nobody can’t say that this strip does not cover complicated subjects and interpersonal relationships. Jonah has the nerve to imply that Toni has a chaotic life, out of control. He is so selfish, and blind, and unwilling to take responsibility, and so used to dumping on his sister that all he is really doing is abusing Toni just as badly as Dirk ever did, but emotionally, while at the same time running away from the responsibility of dealing with his child because she is an impediment to his selfish life. This is Luannverse, with a clear analogue to real life issues. Makes it all so addictive doesn’t it?

Jonah is really starting to p*ss me off now. I’ve know selfish jerks like that IRL – my ex-wife, for one. Note to Evans – either redeem him quickly, or “ghost” him.

Does Jonah have a real job?

Appears Jonah is gonna get his way again. Toni won’t be able to turn down Shannon for a day at the beach, now that Shannon has already helped (with Jonah’s influence) make the decision by finding the swimsuit.

I know Sunday Strips are generally stand alone , but if this is one of the times it isn’t… then Luann can’t take Shannon to the pool b/c she is with the Kidz 1st group taking them to work in the garden. This all could be happening on the same day, whether it be a Sunday or Monday: The fire call, the audition, the meeting w/ the wedding planner and the Gardening outing.

“Has he….” (♪)

A) Lost his mind? (♪)B) Can he see, or is he blind? (♪)C) (Noticed) If Shannon rifles through Toni’s bureau drawers?Or…D) Does he even care, at all? (♪)

That’s only PART of the swimsuit, Shannon.

I thought Toni’s Tatoo was temporary.

yeah, and I’m sure Shannon came from one of those “auditions”

I hate it when losers are blessed with children!

Just..say…NO…Toni.

“Unconscious Decision”“Incensed And Insensibility”“Goofus And Gal- about -to -knock -you -out”“Turn Around, Look At Me Her” (♬)“Postcards From Oblivion”“An Acute Case Of Obtuse”“Unsuspecting At Large”“A Heedless Grape”“Ignorance Is Bliss Jonah”“An Unconcerned Citizen”“Impervious And Them”or“Indifferent Strokes”

I REALLY hope she makes a stand here!

Oh Good Grief, Toni! Just Give IN, Like You USUALLY Do and Take the Kid Swimming, for Cripes Sake! And When You Call and Tell Brad the ‘Good News’ and He Objects, Just Remind Him of what the Two Of You Agreed to in the August 3rd and 4th Strips.

You Remember. All that CRAP About “Having Shannon Around MORE” and “Balancing Schedules of Firefighters and (SNORT) ‘Actors’ and Brad Giving Up HIS ‘Free Time Off’ to Look after the Munckin?” Yeah, THAT.

Well Lady, HERE It IS.

Sarcasm Off

Thanks for your work on trying to resolve the issue of where Toni was trying to take her shower. I figured that she was at home because the plot needed her to be there after today’s ‘toon, because (1) Shannon wouldn’t have been allowed back in employee’s quarters in a station, and (2) the ‘toon showed Shannon searching Toni’s clothes dresser to find her swimsuit while ignoring the angry discussion; that couldn’t have happened in the fire station.

To me, though, a more important issue is how many posters yesterday were assuming that there were no shower facilities in the average fire house, or at least none for women fire fighters, as if Toni were the first woman fire fighter in the US or something, or as if this issue had not been dealt with before.

In fact, the issue of whether to handle showers through unisex or gender specific facilities has been a continual discussion in that industry. Anyone interested can find some of the discussion at www.firehouse.com/article/12086477/fire-station=design-supplement-gender-the-fire-station.

Whatever the ultimate design decision of a jurisdiction, the point is, showers for fire fighters have been incorporated into fire house design for some time, and not only has the gender issue been part of the discussion, but also the transgender issue is part of the discussion.

So, for those who think that Toni would naturally have to go home to shower; not likely. She is at home because the plot needs her to be at home, not because there are no shower facilities in the fire house.

Jonah is either totally delusional, or a lying con man, or entirely egocentric. There is no evidence that he ever has been or ever will be an actual employed, working actor. In fact, I continue to doubt that these never-ending auditions even really exist. Maybe he just dumps Shannon and goes off to play pool and drink beer with some equally unsavory buddies.Toni needs to lay down the law to Jonah. Shannon is his RESPONSIBILITY, not just an occasional option as suits his convenience! Call the Law down on him, Toni. It’s for the best.

He is always going to auditions, that means that he is not good enough to get the role, maybe a change of career?

She needs to stop being an enabler. As long as she continues to drop all her plans whenever he shows up asking for something, he’ll continue doing it.

Just don’t use the tools in your hands against Jonah. Brad doesn’t deserve to have a jailhouse bride.

Toni, just tell him the truth: “Shannon’s more mine and Brad’s daughter than yours – and we aren’t even married yet!” If he still insists on the audition, there’s little hope.

Actually I believe Toni and Brad have more experience raising Shannon than Jonah. They can have custody while Jonah has visitation rights when decides to see his daughter. He needs to grow up and be an adult.

Hit him with the wrench, Toni. You’d be doing him a favor.

‘18" is behind Brad’s big head in the top strip, so they are counting down 18, 17 (nearer) … Toni must be in “16”in the bottom strip, because the angle is much larger, you see only the further door and not the nearer one.Actually, it’s very good continuity !

Stick to your guns, Toni. Betcha ol’ Jonah can find another sitter.

Cross-strip alert: Toni, check out what Susan says today in “Candorville”

Jonah will never give up custody

Man, this guy would be perfect as one of those irresponsible jerks that populate so many daytime soap operas. And all he’d have to do is play himself. Sad thing is, he’d think he is acting up a storm and wouldn’t see the connection between his role and his reality.

A fine job of solving that one! -Dr WatsonYou (hopefully) did put it to rest Brd.

Hit him with your towel, Toni!

Toni, pulling the screwdriver from Jonah’s chest, " OK Shannon, help me wrap up your daddy in the shower curtain, so we can take him to the city dump" ( aside: “my car’s trashed anyway since I had to drive home wearing those filthy fireman’s clothes!”). Back to Shannon: “Then we’ll go swimming, OK?”

Johan is a selfish jerk who doesn’t care about anyone except himself and doesn’t deserve to be a father since he’s always pushing his own daughter on his sister, and doesn’t care if he interferes with her life by doing so.

I do hope Luann can save the day, but she might also be part of the wedding planning meeting (Toni needing a “maid of honor”).

In re: “adopting Shannon” I agree that it would be difficult to prove Jonah “unfit” as a parent, since he does ensure that someone takes care of Shannon when he’s not around. It’s not like he’s leaving her alone or “abandoning” her in that context. I think the only way it will happen is if they can convince Jonah to give her up voluntarily. And I’m not sure he’ll do that so easily.

Get ready for the wedding “drama and trauma.”

If Toni does anything but say “no” to Jonah then she is still the doormat she was for Dirk. The brat takes after her father (it’s all about me) so it would be good if Shannon hears why Toni will not be looking after her. That way she can start learning about responsibility. SOMEONE has to teach her, and it won’t be her dad.

Your lack of planning does not make it my emergency..

Too bad, so sad. I’m going to Brads. Make other arrangements. Perhaps you need to miss the audition, because I am NOT giving up this for you. Face up to your responsibilities.

Stab him with the screwdriver Toni! Make him suffer! MUHAHAHAHA!!!!!…..Um…sorry about that.

finally she takes a stand, although I have a feeling she’s still gonna end up bringing shannon along who will make a mess of things

Toni could do the usual — pawn the kid off on Luann.

There are ways to fix this…where doofus gets his way as well. However, I agree…he is a not so great dad. It might be in the best interest for all if Shannon permanently stayed with Toni and Brad…Jonah could visit in between auditions.

Dude.. I wouldn’t have answered the door.

It’s not chaotic, it’s thoughtless and irresponsible.

Anyone else notice the squiggly line on the left side of the dresser drawer? Was there something warm on it and Shannon bumped it while finding Toni’s swim suit?

I bet you there isn’t even a audition, he just goes and hangs out with his friends and get high.

If they decide to take Jonah’s behavior into actual pathology, which i kind of doubt, then Borderline Personality Disorder will be one possibility. Should he ever totally freak if he realizes that Brad comes before him for Toni (which will have to happen if their relationship is to work), or – worse – wants to tell Toni how to write her Will or insurance to favor him over Brad then you will know they decided to go there… (In Borderline Personality Disorder the people honestly do believe that others should place them first and that no matter how badly they treat those others that should still be the natural response. It can be a little hell at times interacting with such individuals.)

Hit him with the wrench and knock some sense into the creep.

The point isn’t about Jonah’s life being chaotic, it’s about his inconsideration and irresponsible parenting. He is allowed to believe that Toni has to adjust her life to suit his needs. He needs to take Shannon along with him wherever he needs to go instead of her dong so. And Shannon may be an innocent victim, but she will grow up to be manipulative and guilting people if she isn’t allowed to be disappointed once in a while. Toni has her hands full and needs to tell him her life counts too.

Great catch w the doors!

It’s unfortunate that Shannon has to pay the price, but using her as leverage is emotional blackmail. It’s not Toni’s problem, and whatever happens is not her fault.

That is a heavy wrench Toni is holding. Jonah might not want to anger her right now.

Oh, i see that squiggly line. It is ABOVE the pulled out section of the top dresser drawer. You are right. A person has to wonder what it might be.

Toni’s mistake is to get emotionally involved in Jonah’s problems and argue whit him. She should calmly tell him one time that she has other plans, then go take her shower and get dressed. Then leave and lock her door behind her. If Jonah has left Shannon there she can take the child with her to her meeting. A child at a wedding planning meeting would be a little distracting, but not enough to cancel the meeting.

Toni could report Jonah to Child Protective Services for abandoning Shannon, but that would be a little drastic. She could leave Shannon alone in her apartment and claim she didn’t know that Jonah left her there, since she already told him she could not watch the child. Neither of those choices would be best for Shannon.

Time to call Child Services. Take the kid away from Jonah for a while until he takes responsibility.

i Think the squiggly line in the third panel is symbolic of things settling back in after Shannon’s rummaging.

7Again, interesting on a variety of levels to me:1. Jonah is being made to look like an even worse jerk than usual today. His smarmy reply of “Mine?” to his sister really irks me. 2. It appears to me that Greg has written Jonah’s utterance of “MAJOR” in the “But this is a major audition, sis!” line in italics. If it is really meant to be italics, as it appears, this is a very interesting and subtle technique Greg used…. to me it suggests that Jonah views everything concerning himself as “MAJOR”, but that we readers (and presumably Toni) realize that most of Jonah’s “MAJOR” events are really minimally important.3. From the odor curl in the last panel, it appears that Toni must put some of her dirty clothes back into her chest-of-drawers. This seems really odd to me, but perhaps in a small apartment putting odoriferous clothes back into a dresser is a common approach as she likely has to use a clothes washer either at a laundromat or some distant location.4. From what my wife tells me, most folks with blond hair and a very light complexion would not typically buy a lot of yellow clothes as it would not be typically very “flattering”. So, it is interesting that Toni appears to have a stereotypical yellow, polka-dot bikini. :) 5. I am probably too much of an old fuddy-duddy about such things, but I am not overly fond (read as, I dislike) that Toni sports a tattoo. Yes, I realize that a sizable percentage of young people her age sport tattoos, many of them ENORMOUS. But, unfortunately, I still am not fond of them at all. In my OPINION, tattoos never ADD class to a person’s appearance. The best one can hope for is that the tattoo is neutral in terms of affecting a person’s appearance, IMO.

This is a “major wedding planning meeting”, because if Toni fails to attend, or is even much later than she already is, Brad might well conclude that Toni’s actively avoiding the wedding. She hasn’t shown many signs of enthusiasm.

“Stringing the mark along” is the phrase that pops into my mind.

===

Toni must no show up to a wedding planning date with a another man’s child in tow—even her niece.

Brad would be absolutely within his rights to demand that Toni chose, on the spot, between him and Shannon.

He needs to know, if he’s smart, that she is in fact marrying him and that she intends to start a family with him, instead of hiring him as a live-in nanny for her niece.

===

Of course, I’m still not sure why Toni needs to marry Brad in the first place. She seems perfectly competent and willing to run her own life.

Love Shannon in the 2nd panel— unlike her dad, she’s a real go getter. Makes plans and gets things going! Must have gotten that from her mom’s genes.

All,I have to admit with all of the edgier arcs lately, this one, to me, is the edgiest. Not in content but in the larger and deeper themes of parenting and being a good one.

Hey, I forget… which Daytona sibling is the older?

Jonah is not a totally irresponsible person. He apparently keeps Shannon well clothed, fed, and healthy. Remember that Shannon’s Mom took off as soon as the child was born, so in all likelihood she and Jonah had only a brief relationship, never a marriage, and the baby was almost certainly unplanned. In those circumstances, how many young, single guys would even have kept the baby that their girlfriend abandoned? Surely most would simply have put the child up for adoption, but Jonah apparently did feel responsibility for the child, and having lost both his parents, perhaps he also wanted a family. So he is not a totally irresponsible person.Jonah needs someone to straighten him out on how single parents arrange day-care or their children, but instead we are being led to demand that it would be in everyone’s best interest – especially Shannon’s – if he were no longer her Dad, since Brad and Toni have done such as great job as babysitters. Sure, there are some chomped fingers and holes smashed into the wall with sledgehammers that we are asked to overlook, but even if we do that, is it really in Shannon’s best interest to uproot her from the only home she’s known, from the father whom she clearly loves, and from the person who has in fact cared for her for most of her life? Obviously, that is what will happen here (when some audition does in fact lead to Jonah’s getting an acting job far, far away), but it seems like overkill for addressing a straightforward childcare problem, and I cannot see it as actually being a good thing for the child.

I am beginning to think that Jonah is a wasted zygote.Let’s just suppose he makes it as an actor. He would be required to put in all kinds of weird hours, possibly travel to locations, etc. so he would have even LESS time for his kid.

security “blanket”

Exactly! Very well put!

Maybe don’t have this argument right in front of the child

.Brad got his matching one the next day.

So far I am giving Toni a B+. She is keeping her anger in check, and has explained that she has a prior commitment, every bit as important as Jonah’s audition. Bringing up the “chaotic” bit, however true, precludes an A-. Jonah manipulates his sister by raising Shannon’s expectations. Sadly, there may be no way to maintain healthy boundaries without disappointing Shannon.

I’m glad your “I’d have been born with it” attitude doesn’t apply to clothing… at least as far as your avatar photo is concerned! ;)

Brdshtt… I am not sure if you were specifically replying to me or not, but the “squiggly line” above the clothes…. to me…. looked like it represented odors. That is why I was wondering about it. I do not think I would not have interpreted it as “upheaval” as others have suggested….. without the suggestions. So, I am still glad I asked the question and made suppositions about it, otherwise I would not have gotten the insight of others. But, to me, your comment at the end “I mean, it is critical to the story, and all that, you know…” seems a bit on the biting and mean side to me. I am not sure why the idea of talking about what the squiggly line meant would provoke that sort of response in you. You usually do not respond in a biting or mean fashion. So, if I misinterpreted your intent, I apologize. If, however, your intent was to be mean and biting towards my questioning of the “squiggly line”… now at least you have a better understanding of why I think it was something useful to comment on, even if you personally do not think it was appropriate to discuss.

say no and let him watch his own child.

He trying to keep them from a wedding

Whatever happened to Aaron Hill?

And it seems that he regards Toni as his security “blanket”!Perhaps this time she will decide to be a “wet blanket”

Brdshtt…. ok…. I am sorry. I just wasn’t sure this time what your comment meant. BTW, I am very glad you wrote a reply back to me. It was helpful.

A lot of people here seem to be furious with Fishbait for being an irresponsible parent, always taking Toni for granted. I don’t disagree, and I’m willing to believe that some of his “auditions” are really no such thing.

I do think it’s fair to point out, though, that Toni’s been enabling this situation for most of Shannon’s six years. While it’s certainly wrong for Fishbait to treat his sister as he does, it’s partly her fault that he’s never really thought about building up a network of backups.

There are more than one guilty party in this situation. I’d like to see this arc result in some serious growth for all three Daytonas, but I wouldn’t bet money on it.

And as a PS, I’ll repeat what I’ve said before, that B&T have already made a place in their relationship for Shannon, she knows it, and has benefited greatly from their love and support. Shannon herself will have something to say about all this, you just watch!

And the squiggly line is clearly a swaloop, indicating recent motion, rather than a waftarom, indicating aroma. Any fool can see that!

I really, really want to kick Jonah in the head. What a clueless, inconsiderate ass. Poor Shannon.

Frank, in a past strip Jonah took Shannon to a party of adults and had her keep to herself to a bedroom in the host or hostess’ home.

He needs a major boot to the head.

Or swallowed by a whale?

Bryan and spread,Trilogy is not new here and neither am i. I also do not consider Shannon to be a brat. She has had a bad example, but when given a chance she was willing and able to become a much kinder childer, something you also mention, Bryan. Perhaps it is a definition thing. If she did not try to grow and become a better child then i coukd see using that word, but not with her growth in personality.

I thank everyone for the various interpretations about the “squiggly line”. To me I would have not considered the line to represent anything BUT an odor without your suggestions. To my manner of thinking, a “mini tornado” would have been drawn to show dishevelment. Now, with your help, I can see the squiggle in that same sort of “disheveled” fashion.

Jonah is fascinating to me. He is some kind of primordial force. Self-assured, clear about his passions, distressing anyone close, but centered, together. What’s the answer to these kind of people?

What??!!! It’s a joke !!!!!

God forbid !!!! ouch !!!!!

Hey, anyone who enjoys beach volleyball: the first set was great and the second set will start soon. INCREDIBLE playing! It is 11:40 EST now

I have to say that Jonah has gotten to the point where he is annoying me as a reader. (By contrast, TJ might be annoying to deal with if I had to deal with him personally, but as a character in a comic strip he is more entertaining than annoying.)Even if Jonah was sure he could impose upon Toni to take care of Shannon during his audition, why would he specifically promise Shannon a trip to the pool if he couldn’t take her there himself?

SPOILER

Someone is whining about not achieving a desire because of inadequate ‘help’. Hint: the whiner’s name is not Shannon.

LOL!!

security “blanket”!^Yep!

I want to see her in that swimsuit! I have been waiting for years!! Let’s get it on!