Arlo and Janis by Jimmy Johnson for June 05, 2022

And there it is

Should have just said yes and left it at that. Gives you time to think of something like needing to go to the big box hardware for supplies.

Trap sprung!

Janis, you’re not terrible, you’re the nicest nag I know!

There’s the ideal world, and then there’s reality. And never the twain shall meet.

When you hear that question, you know something’s coming.

No correct answer to that question when it comes from a spouse or from parents to a minor child.

“You’re a terrific nag, dear.”

Walked into that.

Maybe she wants to know if the Bathroom Sommelier is available today.

John Fogerty summed it up nicely back in 2004. :-) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qixNg3-juJ0

He said six months ago that he’d take care of that.

About as subtle as a train wreck !

Sounds familiar…

Best way to answer this “innocent” little question: “I was hoping to spend the day making passionate love to the most beautiful and sexiest woman I know.

When she responds with “yeah right, not with me!” You respond “What part of that sentence made you think I was talking about you?”

Now you still end up doing whatever she wanted you to do, but at least now you can do it with a smile. (On the inside of course)

Frank the farmer had a nagging wife. She made his life miserable. The only real peace he got was when he was out in the field plowing.

One day while in the field, Frank’s wife brought him his lunch. Then while he quietly ate she berated him with a constant stream of nagging and complaining. Suddenly, Frank’s old donkey kicked up his back legs, struck her in the head killing her instantly.

At the funeral, the Priest noticed that when the women offered their sympathy, Frank would nod his head up and down. But when the men came up and spoke quietly to him, he would shake his head from side to side.

After the mourners left, the Priest approached Frank and asked, “Why did you nod your head up and down to all the women and shook from side to side to all the men?”

Well, Frank replied, “The women all said how nice she looked, and her dress was so pretty, so I agreed by nodding my head up and down. And all the men asked, “Is that donkey for sale?

Well, I planned to rock and roll all night, and party all day…

If nothing else…she is persistent!

If the bridle fits…

Not nice at all, Janis.

This is what you call “marriage politics”. In transactional analysis, Janis first plays the role of parent, Arlo responds as an adult, and then Janis plays the role of the child.

The correct start would be Janis asking Arlo if he would have time today to lay the garden path stones.

But then their would be no today’s strip.

Happens every time.

As I always say to my wife, Jimmy has a camera somewhere in our place!

Women never mean what they say, there is always a hidden agenda.

Wait for it…

Janis has to be related to my wife, Nancy! They both have the same Modus Operandi!

Hook, Line & Sinker. Fish On!!

Wife does the same thing. Just tell me upfront, so I can it over with. Don’t like the game….

Do I dare show this to my Wife?

Mr Johnson captures moments in a long-time marriage perfectly. This strip is a prime example! :)

MY wife and I have NEVVVVER had this exact conversation! LOL

She’s made some plans for you…

her eyes look bizare, alien , today

I tell my husband that work needs to be done around the house every day and that if he is not doing it, someone else is (ME). I usually tell him what needs to be done and let him pick an easy job. He is retired but I still do 95 percent of the work.

Some men don’t even realize what work needs to be done. So knowing what needs to be done is extra work for the woman.

Arlo doesn’t have a job to go to. Why does he seem to think Janis should do all the work around the house? It is his house too.

Telling a wife you don’t have plans is the grown-up version of telling a parent you’re bored. It’s a mistake you don’t make more than once unless you’re really, REALLY stupid.

And there it is! Janis can’t hold herself accountable for being a terrible nag. She has to put it on Arlo.

Rookie mistake, Arlo.

And that, ladies and gentlemen is the sound of the other shoe dropping.

It’s pretty sad that there are spouses, or partners, that can’t seem to understand the concept of the occasional need for “down time.” I worked 2 jobs for almost 30 years, and nights, for about 35, yet, the “we needs” still boiled down to me.

Don’t you just hate the “…”?

I have some for you

The honey do list…

Arlo’s eyes should be rolling

I have this problem in reverse. Husband quit his job/took early retirement when he was in early 50s (at my suggestion as he was terribly burned out and I was still working full time and figured we would be okay on my income – ha ha).

He does not like to be on his own.

As part of the discussion about this idea I told him “This is not vacation. We cannot eat every meal out. We cannot be together all the time.” and similar – and he agreed. For a few years we went our separate ways during the day then the gas prices went crazy and he pointed out that it was crazy for me to drive to the supermarket to shop and then he would drive, separately in our vehicle, to the same shopping center to go to Home Depot and spend the money twice.

Before the pandemic started we had reached the point where there were only 2 days a month we were separated – the day I went to my embroidery group and the trip to a client in Manhattan once a month. We ate lunch out daily and dinner out or take in 3 nights a week.

We have now been together every day since March 4, 2020 when I last went to my embroidery club – this due to Covid. Neither of us has killed or even tried to kill the other – yet.