For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for December 15, 2009

A pearl necklace? Oh… oh dear…. :ox

Typical Ted.

Gotta say, “quite lovely” just sounds weird coming out of Ted’s yap…

That is pretty good as far as gifts go.

Is there something wrong with me as I would be thrilled with a pearl necklace?

If Elly at first likes it, she wont as soon as she finds out Ted was behind all this!

Who wants to wager she flys off the handle? - THEN feels guilty for the new shirt & tie SHE gave HIM?

I’m with TravelerMarjorie on this one. A pearl necklace is a lovely gift and one that has the potential of being a family heirloom. It’s strange to see Ted actually getting it right two strips in a row! He may be a creep, but apparently he has good taste.

I cannot imagine a woman that would not want a pearl necklace. That special pearl shop has some beautiful strings.

I also think a pearl necklace would be quite lovely, but I do agree with OpenWings that it is strange to hear it from Ted.

TrapperJohn, this is what we *do* down here… comment on everything in the strip, not just the punch line. Especially in FBOFW – we will comment on anything from how frumpy John looks to how Elly will complain that he did the wrong thing.

John is always taking advice from a man, who can’t keep a woman a lives with his mother… (if some of you guys live with your mother and for other reasons than being a mama’s boy like Ted, then NO OFFENSE)

@arsmall

I finally became old enough to be a problem to my son. I moved in with him

I think I would strangle my hubby over a pearl necklace for Christmas. This is the time of the year I can get all the big “practical” gifts that is way to expensive during the year. This year trying for the dishwasher or maybe a new vacuum

Maybe optimistic, but I’m voting that Ted did the right thing and so did John. Surely John can be allowed a triumph once in a while. :)

Hey, cynbof3:

I was warned years ago by my wife to never buy anything practical as a gift. These are the times to buy those things you don’t need but would like to have, like jewelry. From where I sit, I know my wife would love a beautiful pearl necklace. Now how the check do I pay for it?

Can’t be outta money if you still have checks!

Yes you can be outa money with lots of checks called over spending. Oh I’m sorry I guess the comment is made as a joke sorry I didn’t get it and jumped to the wrong type of comment my mistake. I wish John had spoken up and not let Ted take over on buying for Elly.

I think I’d like a pearl necklace but it’s something I’d rather choose myself. If my husband was gonna spend that much money it should be something I’ll really like. But I hope John isn’t stupid enough to tell Elly Ted helped him pick it out.

rac0308 if you look anything like your avatar, I’m sure your son wishes you did NOT live with him!

cynof3 in our poorer days I’d get my husband things we couldn’t afford the rest of the year too, like new tee shirts. I kid you not. We didn’t have money for that stuff through the year, not to mention vacuum cleaners and stuff.

is this teds way of hitting on elly?

after all ted picked it out and got the clerk to wrap it.

pearl necklace

http://rutube.ru/tracks/1085453.html

I loved it when my husband gave me pearls one year. Who cares who wrapped it….. the store does a much better job than he ever could.

Different women have different ideals on what makes a good gift for any occasion, Christmas, birthday, anniversary etc. In our culture though it seems that no matter what the man gives her it is all too often not the ‘right’ gift or it is either too expensive or more likely not expensive enough. The majority of women seem to enjoy making their husbands feel bad no matter what they do. Perhaps it’s the influence all the TV shows have on them? Personally, I think this is one of the major reasons for the large number of divorces today. FBOFW appeals to many readers because it expores the facets of everyday life in a typical family that a majority of people can identify with.

Every male reader can sympathise with John’s plight, and every female reader can sympathise with Elly’s on whether or not to like the gift. I think a lot of married people see this comic as a reflection of their own lives to some extent. That is why it is so popular.

Money is tight this year so if I get anything from my hubby I’ll be lucky. He knows not to get practical but get me something that I really want and have said so all year but wouldn’t dare buy for myself, he will usually have the store wrap it because he hates to wrap things. For him I get something that wants and has hinted at but I do the wrapping myself.

This year is about our 3 Grandkids one of which we have not seen yet, Ryne is 3 and the only grandson Addison will be 2 and Bailey is 7 months. (All to the same mom and dad). As well as our 2 daughters.

Was this strip written back when you could say “pearl necklace” in public?

My problem is somewhat different… Mrs. Goaler is an Olympic-class shopper; she is constantly researching products/items that we MIGHT want, given the proper price. So, no matter what idea I might come up with for a present for her, the odds are she’s ALREADY found it (and at a price I couldn’t find!)

Our “fallback” presents are books… Mrs. Goaler isn’t “into” jewelry. (Yes, I’m a lucky, lucky netminder, and I know it!)

Look at Ted’s face. He’s being nice. Even a jerk is nice once in a while. Practical women should let their husbands get them something beautiful and impractical sometimes. Keeps the romance burning in the marriage.

Is this Ted or was there a body snatcher pod involved?

A girl can NEVER have too much jewelry no matter how “practical” the husband thinks she is!!!!!

Take note guys: unless a wife SPECIFICALLY requests something practical (as in exercise equipment or some household appliance with a cord), the husband has a guaranteed place “in the doghouse” if he dares buy her such a gift for Christmas!!!!!

Hmmm….only one reference to a “pearl necklace” joke, so far.

(now, two ; )

Susan: No doubt whatsoever.

My wife usually gives me a list of the “right gifts”, often even circled in red in the catalogs. I usually get her something from this list but then I pick out my own idea of the “right gift”. My choice is usually correct, something she really likes but would not have thought of for herself. Not that I mind the list, but after 20 years together she should know I rarely get it wrong.

well, I must be from the sticks…why can’t one say pearl neckalce in public……don’t get the wrong of it.

TrapperJohn said, OpenWings, looked like you missed the point of the whole strip. (…sigh)

TrapperJohn should re-read lightenup’s post :o)

rowena28 I would say yes to that one….

I don’t believe Lynn intended any such reference, but since you asked: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=pearl+necklace

ZZ Top live http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EePu5aWHCw

Why does Elly have the problem of whether to like it or not? She should be honest with John, and tell him what she thinks. If she’s really worried about the money she could always return it, after explaining to him why she feels she cannot keep the necklace.

‘Pearl Necklace has a Totally Different meaning today” It does???? guess I’ll have to google that and hope my blocker doesn’t get upset.

man, I used to enjoy this comic the first time around, now I just find it lame.

…but I keep reading it so it must still work!

ewwwww. wish I hadn’t, I was better off not knowing.

bleech.

Downundergirl look at it this way - forewarned is forearmed; knowledge is power, and all that. So next time some grub asks you if you want one, you know where to kick him…. ;o)

Good cartoon.

Of course, we know that Elly is giving John a shirt and tie… . duh-oh.