Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for April 30, 2022

Bernice calling anyone “so odd” really takes the cake. I’m glad she sees breaking up with Nil is the right thing to do. Truth is, he’s too good for her. LOL

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So what’s coming up on Monday? Shannon? The Moonie Roomies? Toni and Brad?

The best counselors are those who listen.

Stress transfer complete

I hope Nil breaks up with Bernice first—and tells her it’s because she’s too odd.

Talked herself out of continuing with Nil!!! This was about the only dynamic thing happening around here! I was really starting to root for the boy.

Jeez! What next!? 8^ (

Romance novels are about finding the one, not throwing yourself on some dork because you are desperate.

“Obviously, I need to snap out of this romance novel mentality.” Yes; filtering a little nonfiction into your mind would be most beneficial for you.

Yikes or Wow? Is the Storyline over?

While Nil does deserve better, it’s still annoying that after all this Bernice thinks the best course of action is to double down on being an uptight Puritan.

But it tracks with what I said before: Bernice absolutely will not ever grow as a person.

After listening to that Nancy can probably use a drink.

Bernice, you are too young to be looking for Mr. Right. Have fun with Mr. Right Now. Maybe that will help you get over your outdated Victorian beliefs about dating. Then you’ll be ready when the real Mr. Right comes along.

Plot twist, the next time Bernice meets Nil she will start kissing him

he might not be Mr Right but it is okay if he is Mr Right Now!

This says nothing about solving her PDA fetish! Where’s Nancy on that!

Translation: She isn’t going to break up with him. Beyond that it’s up to Evans.

We’re not getting a lot of responses on this arc. Yesterday less than 200. Where’s Ann Eiffel?

She’s completely forgetting that they wound up in each other’s arms because of the thought-provoking conversations they had before then. Who else did she ever share conversations like that with?

And rejecting someone for being “odd” makes me strongly suspect an “I’m not supposed to like him” in there rather than an authentic look at her feelings. “Odd” is just the recognition that someone doesn’t fit what our culture says is “normal”. It says nothing about that person’s actual merits or demerits.

So now the relationship is Nil and void!

Riiiight, it’ll be instant lip lock when they meet.

LOL, I did mention a few days ago that Bernice will make the decision to go into spinsterhood. There will never be anyone good enough for her. In her eyes, anyway…

No we still have Monday the breaking of poor Nil heart.

Nils was SOOOO close. Brave on, good soldier. There will be better battles to be won.

Watch ou there, Berenice! You may think that Nil is not T H E O N E, but he is smitten with you and willing to put up with your over reactions. You’re not gonna find another one like that real soon.

They can agree to just be friends….with benefits.

Nil is too good for her.

Honey, if you wait for The One you will spend most of your life desperate and lonely. There might not be a Mister Right. But there’s a bunch of perfectly goid Mister Right Nows.

Two thoughts here: 1- So Bernice knew the answers RE Nil along. 2- So what is the point of this arc? That we can reason out our problems if we only stop and logically reason them out? That redundancy is called a tautology and it is circular logic. Not impressive.

Didn’t Nancy start all this by loaning Bernice a romance novel? Well, seeing that Bernice is so influenced by fiction, Nancy should try a little non-fiction, maybe like The Kama Sutra.

You sure? Nil sees something in you that nobody else ever has, not even Luann.

THERE!

_ See?_

Here We have yet another example in this Strip where what the Guy thinks, and how HE feels about it, simply doesn’t enter into the equation.

It’s all about Bernice. What SHE feels and how SHE thinks.

(Reminds anyone of another young lady in the Strip?)

But hey, fine, Bernice.

Now that you’ve gotten your “Cheap Trills,” and led him on, go ahead and “break another little piece of his heart.” And discard Nil like so much used Kleenex.

BOTTOM LINE: Secretly, Bernice still wants Jack.

Or an “Edgy” guy like Piro or the long lost Zane.

Bernice doesn’t want a guy that she’s apparently ashamed o be seen in public with.

So let that sink in and be a “lesson” to you Nil. And don’t waste your time with “basket cases.”

Bernice needs to be a little more honest with herself. There can be a big difference between what matches with the pretty picture in your head of what you are supposed to want and what you actually need. She has a thing for the artsy avant garde types. Wasn’t his name Pyro or something like that she was crushing on when she was living at the dorms. Nil actually gets her. I think if she actually just tried having fun with him instead of trying to to maximize for 10yr, it could work out.

Breaking up with Nil isn’t “snapping out of the romance-novel mentality,” it’s completely surrendering to it. Romance-novel mentality is believing that there is such a thing as “the one.”

I’m confused at why she thinks she’s in a romance-novel mentality. Then again I don’t read romance novels, so perhaps those are full of girls that make-out with guys at the park. Is that what she regards romance as? So far their relationship hasn’t HAD any romance. It’s had make-out sessions.

Let’s just do a quick check here in case I missed anything: Has Nil shown any interest in Bernice’s life outside of their makeout sessions? (For that matter other than judging Luann and making out with Nil, what HAS she been doing?) Has she shown any active interest in Nil’s artwork? I know that Nil showed his art to her before, but I don’t feel like she tries to even engage with him about his artwork.

Now I’m not saying that there is anything wrong with what Bernice and Nil are doing, but their behavior feels more akin to erotic stories than romantic stories. Perhaps that’s what’s confusing Bernice so much. She associated erotic fantasies with romantic fantasies, and this is why she is such a prude to others. Because to her, the Erotic and Romantic are the same when she hears about the love life of someone (like Luann) she fixates on the potential erotic behaviors and gets all judgy (even though it’s not her business) instead of appreciating the romantic behaviors.

Nil definitely deserves better than her

Bernice, you’re being a little shallow about this “The One” concept. Ideally, your “one” should be someone enough like you to have common ground, and enough "unlike* you that you each bring something to the relationship that the other is lacking.

Think back to high school. At first glance, who would have figured Crystal and Knut for a couple?

I really don’t want to witness that tedious “we’re done” conversation, and hope it happens off panel if it happens at all.

SIMPLE OKRA IN TOMATO SAUCE

Select about 14 to 16 fresh okra, try to avoid ones with dark spots. Cut off about 1/2 inch of the end with the stem.

Cut the remaining okra into 1/4 inch pieces and place the okra into a small sauce pan with two tablespoons of virgin olive oil.

Sautee the okra in the olive oil for about 2 to 3 minutes at low to medium heat. Add an 8 oz. can of tomato sauce.

Salt and pepper to taste, and let simmer for about 25 to 30 minutes. Enjoy!

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Oops, wrong board…

No Bernice, it’s Nil who is too kind and patient for you! Plus, that romance-novel mentality is the real you finally being able to come out layers of rules and blocks. Unfortunately, I don’t think she will really be able to break up with him. But if that happens, she will regret it very soon and very, VERY MUCH!

It really does help to have a listener nearby when one is venting.

It certainly worked for me!!

Of course, nowadays, people have to rely on damned social media!!

OK, so why are we spending so much time on Bernice’s love life? What about Luann? She’s supposed to be the main character.

A few days ago she was called a teen. A teen looking for “the one” instead of just enjoying the moment is beyond silly.

Never seen someone so determined to commit to a lonely, misery-wrapped trip through her 20s. Can anyone recall if Bernice ever had any fun in this strip?

Nil will be the last one Bernice ever dates!

5 bucks Nil dumps her before she gets the chance

Nil told her he found her to be one of the most interesting, fascinating people he ever met. She kissed him and ran home. He came back, because he was intrigued. He stuck around, hoping for the main event, which was not just possible sex.

I have known a few women who were obsessed with ‘the one’ and kept destroying theor relationships like the cast of Seinfeld. Any little flaw was enough to sabotage it. Often the right one was right there, but they were too stupid to see.

Many got married, about 7 out of ten got divorced. The others never got married but went on and on eventually alone. And yes some got married and either learned to adapt, or at least take a leap, the worked out.

“Romance novel mentality”? If that was what you’re experiencing, Bernice, why are you spending time on Nil, when the cover image of many a “bodice ripper” seems to be always at the dog park.

I’m rooting for Bernice. I’m rooting for Nil. Not necessarily as a couple. Nancy is a great listener — take note, Bernice.

So is yet ANOTHER budding romance about to fizzle out here? Okay, back to Gunther and Bets!

So glad Bern took out advice and talked with a “counselor:”

Bernice doesn’t deserve love at all. Not with that attitude.

Nil has probably already dumped YOU, Bernice..

Vaya con Dios Nil.

Nil is the best thing to ever happen to Bernice. He’s stirred emotions and caused questions she’s long repressed.

Bernice shouldn’t forget to thank Nancy DeGroot for her “romance novel mentality”. Nancy was the one who gave Bernice the steamy book that started this whole stupid thing. Nancy has shown extremely bad judgement throughout this whole episode.

Bernice would like it if Nil passed her name around and told other guys that she was good for a thrill, no strings attached.

So, will Bernice follow through with her kick Nil to the curb strategy, or get in a few kisses for the road. I think they’re both kinda odd. Which could be a great match.

Tell him you wanna bang it out a couple of time, then call it quits. You’ll both get some practice in, and he’ll dodge an annoying bullet. Speaking of, use condoms.

Bernice will definitely NOT break up with Nil. Too bad for him. He deserves someone who is NOT a nutcase.

And just when it was getting fun….Boom!And you know, I am not even a little bit surprised.

At least Nil is interesting, if odd. Bernice is odd and boring.

See, I told you. This comic strip needs to be renamed “Bernice”.

Ha! We’ll see how long that thought lasts! ;-)

Monday: Bernice tries to break up with Nil, but before she can he suggests they move in together. :-O

Phew! Another relationship is going nowhere. I was so worried Greg might actually advance a plot rather than his usual play out a red herring for two months technique.

Poor Nils…never got past first base?

Short on time so I haven’t read above comments, but it would appear the Evans’ DO read our comments.

And on Monday (or the next day we see Bernice) we’ll go right back to her character before all this.

I married my odd and interesting one. 30 years later, never bored!

She dreams about Jack anyway

I wonder if waaay back when they had Berniece acting all wrought up at the idea of seeing Ben again and meeting his kids and hiding out behind the dumpster, etc. wasn’t all just a big setup to showcase how repressed she actually is in this Nil arc? At the time I thought her behavior was over the top even for Berniece!

Who says he has to be “the one”? Have fun with Nil, ya big dummy.

I got a quarter that says Nil breaks up with her, saying he can’t deal with her up tightness

Ahhh back in HS, I was dating a Jewish girl and I’m Christian. We werent in love but necking in the car was “practice” :)

I’m kind of sorry to see this end in a break-up, if it in fact does, but something needs to happen. The status quo has been played out as far as it can go.

well, that fixed things, right?

Methinks the true Bernice is a hybrid of both. Focused and intellectual, yet can cut loose at times.

Nancy is a wise mother, and just what poor Bernice needs. Someone she can talk to. Who listens.

Anyone still awake out there? Does anyone “really” care about Bernice/Dill or are will all just filling the void with cold porridge and Taylor Swift music.

Sometimes you just have to talk things through.

Of one thing I’m quite sure, Bernice does not have a clue about how she really feels about Nil, she never gice herself time to find out.

Nancy is quite the listener. Probably comes from ignoring all of Luann’s rants and raves.

I like Nil

Nil will dump her first. As he should.

YOU are so odd! Nil can do better.

There isn’t any substance to their relationship anyhow. They caught each other, but they don’t know what to do now that they have. Nil is the one who is aware, and as he grows older and more responsible, he will be a great catch for some woman. Bern has a ways to go. She is too unsure of herself and would do better after being self supporting for awhile.

I hope Nil remains a prominent character in the Luann strip. I’d rather lose Bernice than Nil.

Nil, may not be Mr Right, but they’re Mr & Ms “Right-Now” for one another…..

Story of my life, just a woman’s plaything.

This fine body is a curse!!

Don’t know why anyone she dates at this stage has to be “the one” as if enjoying friendship and love has to be about a mission in life. Frankly I think they are well matched.

Bernice is a lunatic. Avoid at all costs!

Let me tell you something, girl. The One doesn’t exist!! I think you re scared of the passion and libido Nil made you discover.

Question: What happened to Bernice’s earrings in Panel Two?

Bet it doesn’t happen, knowing Bernice.

Sometimes that’s all it takes.

Run, Nil, run, as fast as you can!

Bernie is as mad as the proverbial hatter! Her self-diagnosis and cure (with just a smidgeon of help from Nancy) will not last long….

She doesn’t deserve Nil.

more times than I can count, just listening and NOT lending advice was the wisest and most helpful thing by far

That woman is not only a drama queen, she is absolutely crazy, so it is better that she is alone!

A waste of a comic week.

Ah, Poor Nil. He’s her First Bad Boy.