Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for January 07, 2019

thanks, TJ, for butting in

Stuffed pork chops sound delicious, TJ.

RE-LAX, everyone. Frank won’t care what Smiley did. Nancy won’t care. Remember when Old Smiley darn near burned the joint down years ago? Rather than give him “Da Boot,” they felt sorry for him and let him stay at Casa DeGroot until the rental house was rebuilt. Anybody else would have kicked Smiley out for good and sued for damages. Not this Pushovers. They let Smiley stay where he “accidently” walked in on Nancy taking a bath: (https://www.gocomics.com/luann/2009/03/12: The DeGroot’s have never heard of Locks or know how to use them) and where he made playful “advances” toward Luann.

That Fire Story starts here: https://www.gocomics.com/luann/2008/06/16

Years later, when Smiley made “upgrades” to the rental again WITHOUT-PERMISSION, did Frank get mad? Oh No. Here, see for yourself:

https://www.gocomics.com/luann/2016/11/22

See? Frank Wimped out. Frank like the rest of the “Nice Guys” in the Strip ALWAYS Wimp out. Which is why, with the exception of BRAD, “Nice Guys” NEVER “Win” in the Strip.

And by the way, TJ never offered the DeGroots on single dime to pay for the damages HE did to the rental. At least not on Strip where it counts…….,

My sensors indicate that there is something about to come down. In more ways than one…

Uh oh—going from a two-bedroom to a three-bedroom house will have consequences for property taxes. Mom and Dad are not going to be pleased…

I believe the proverb goes; “It is easier to beg forgiveness, than ask permission”. Or something to that effect.

Did someone mention stuffed pork chops? Stuffed with what TJ? I know you’re a good cook but really what do you stuff them with? and what are the side dishes? I can practically taste them now…. :-P

The obvious solution is to buy the house from the DeGroots Senior.

I swear, TJ could resuscitate Mother Teresa and there would still be people who would criticize him for it.

Nancy might care.

This makes no sense. They’re spending their own money on a house they don’t own to build a room for a child who is not their own. Why does it matter if they’re “under budget”? How are they reaping the benefits if they don’t own the house? Why didn’t they save the money to buy their own house instead of throwing it away on someone else’s house? How is their nest egg “inching closer to a home of their own” when they are foolishly spending it on something that is not theirs? Why didn’t they ask the owners of the house if they could remodel it? What if the owners of the house didn’t want a third bedroom, but preferred the laundry room where it was originally?

I don’t think the parents will be too displeased about a property improvement, under the circumstances.

That’s TJ, reminding us all once again why he’s still in the strip after Delta, Rosa, Aaron Hill and countless others have been sent packing.

(Oh, and brownie points to Shannon for her design ideas being the reason they were able to keep the remodel under budget.)

Sounds like this is moving towards them buying the house. I would not enjoy having someone else hear my conversations with my husband about our plans.

These panels have answered one question I had, or I should say clarified it, which is that they are still looking for their own house, and are thriftily saving money toward that goal. I doubt if the DeGroot’s will be upset about the redecoration, although I am more and more impressed with how Toni is being shown to be practical, and they do amicably discuss things. TJ? Well the haters love to hate because that is what they do, but I think he is a real friend, meant to be funny, will come to their aid if necessary, and has become a much better person being around Brad and the DeGroots. People can get better, and TJ is drawn as a very good example.

When you’re living in someone else’s property, I think the saying is, “Ask permission rather than forgiveness, unless you don’t mind looking for somewhere else to live.”

Plus – seriously – if one of my kids were to do something similar, we talk often enough that I’d almost certainly know what they were doing (the only exception being the son who lives halfway around the world in a timezone that makes regular chats tricky).

And to think that every time I brought up the fact that they hadn’t asked permission, someone on here would angrily say “it’s not important; I’m sure they were granted permission off-panel anyway.” Looks like I’m vindicated here, but I don’t expect those people to admit that.

Oh, and Thank You G&K for not abandoning that plot point. I’m annoyed that it took the characters this long to remember it, but it looks like that’s gonna be the point of it anyway (I for one kinda hope that Frank smacks Brad down hard for that idiotic mindset)

TJ to the rescue! Umm… why don’t I sound as confident as I should?

It could be high time for someone with this level of commonly uncommon sense (albeit belated) goes and visits the gulag. I’m still not sure that Mrs. Gray is aware of where all of her sentimental heirlooms went off to.

Where my wife and I live if you add another room to a house you better get a builder’s permit if you know what is good for you.

Permits are real and everybody needs them before a huge remodel like that.

“TJ! I forgot you still lived here…”

Never got permission from the owners about the just-completed re-model?!? What a bunch of dopes!

Tj seems to only pop up when they need quick answers for a problem.

My ex-boss used to say, “I don’t ask for permission, I ask for forgiveness,” and he was one of the biggest jerks in the whole world.

ah, but should the stuffing for the chops use sage or rosemary?

Does anyone honestly think Brad’s parents would be upset about them remodeling a room for Shannon?

Well this is one aich-e-double el of a time to think of that Toni!

If Frank and Nancy were real parents, three people would be taken to the proverbial woodshed when they find out. Verbally or financially.

But noooo. GnK will have them sitting around a pork chop dinner table, being informed of the new bedroom, and then (mistakenly) go gaga over the assumption that their first grandchild is the on the way. And I don’t mean Shannon.

And there’s TJ again. For the third time in this episode he pops up. First he initiates a major room project then foments a Brad-Toni spat over decoration. And, as in most cases, he quickly exits “page right,” never to be seen again until it’s time to cause more trouble or come up with a weasel-out-of-trouble plan.

I guess we should accept and embrace him as the episode set up character in the strip. That seems to be his role now as far as I can tell.

6

Several somewhat unintegrated points from me today as I indulge in a deep, robust, beautifully bitter, 24 oz dark roast this morning:

1. It looks like we will have a fun week featuring TJ! I think that will be quite enjoyable.

2. I think Toni’s sudden issue about the remodel and Brad’s parents…. is pretty much a “paper tiger”. The room is finished… it is too damn late to bring up that issue now. To me, it is just adding to the sour feeling I have had budding about Toni from last week’s comics. I have generally really liked Toni as a character, but IMO last week was not Toni being her best. IMO, she needs to do a bit of self evaluation here.

3. My opinion about Brad has become even better than before from last week’s panels… he is being shown to be even more caring and kind and careful than before.

4. It is my opinion that Brad did a skillful job at the remodel, and he knows in his heart and mind that his parents would be perfectly “ok” with the remodel and that they trust Brad to do good things. That Toni is questioning that now too late in the game to be helpful, makes me think she is not as aware of the DeGroot Family interplay as she should be.

5. From a real estate perspective, it is likely that the adding of a bedroom to the rental house increased the value of the home (at least every HGTV television program I have ever seen suggests that), so the parental DeGroots will find the effort financially beneficial as well…. even after Brad, Toni & TJ move out (if they do).

Look at it this way Brad, Toni. You have improved the property out of your own pocket, maybe it’s time to talk to Mom and Dad, about a Rent to Own deal?

Stop miss-quoting it – It is “Is it better to beg for forgiveness or ask for permission” or “It is easier to beg for forgiveness than ask for permission”

Looks like B&T are going to offer to buy Frank & Nancy’s house from them. Question is: What do we do with TJ? We being Greg. Two men and one wife in the house? Not good, relationship-wise; unless we have a “Three’s Company” situation. Then throw in a six-year-old and a potential pregnancy.

Makes one almost wish for a nice, calm Tiffany and Ann cat spat. :o)

Listen to the expert.

People – IT’S A COMIC STRIP! lol. Actually I find it wonderful that so many people get so involved in the characters and their lives, but this is a comic or as we old folks used to call them when they were in the Sunday paper “the funnies”. No one is getting sued, no home is being sold, no permits are needed to make a modification to a house that isn’t real.

If the room turns out great i don’t think Nancy & Frank will care that much.

Wait! Hold the strip! Which parents? Brad’s? they made up a room for Shannon in Brad’s parent’s house? Have they ever met Shannon!?!

grape soda? yech !!!!

Does TJ look more chocolate than usual?

Wow! TJ just made me hungry!

Good idea TJ.

If Brad and Toni plan on buying the house, go for it! But if not, I think I’d have fixed up a little “snuggle area” for Shannon around the couch—maybe put up some temporary room dividers so that Shannon could feel that she has a place when she visits. It could be anything—small bookshelves—a curtain—a folding dressing screen—anything. Shannon even complained once that she WANTED to sleep on the couch. Then when she’s not there, remove the barriers.

A neighbor two houses down had put an extra room on the back of his house about 10 years ago. His neighbor on the other side did not like the look of the finished product, and let the building inspector’s office know of the structure as he was pretty sure they did not pull a permit. Sure enough, the inspectors came out, they saw it, and had to be stripped back to the frame and foundation so it could be inspected at certain stages of construction. I’m not sure what legal maneuvers had to be made for the inspectors to gain access, but whatever they were, it stuck.

On the Bright Side, they just Increased the house’s Value.

so where did they put the washer and dryer that used to have hook ups in that little room? in the garage? did I miss something? surely it would be nice to be able to do laundry w/o having to do it all by hand in a tub.

As I recollect, the parents live very close. They would have to be very out-of-touch to have missed this renovation going on and Brad’s parents are not that….Right. I forgot. They are that clueless.

Brad and Toni don’t need your interference, TJ. It’s time you got a life of your own. Preferably out of Pitts….

What exactly is he planning on stuffing the pork chops with? Ice Cream? I’m just curious how stuffed pork chops isn’t a savory meal?

Dang it, Brad!! Not asking Mom & Dad was not a smart move. Unless, they sell the house to you.