Why is he showering with the door open???

Is anyone else traumatized by today's strip? I really, really never want to see that much skin from anyone in the land of TDIET again. But it's like a car wreck; I can't look away. This is horrible. There...I can't even comment on that. It hurts my brain.

I also refuse to believe that Migraina would ever be silent for hours. Well, unless she's watching tv. Maybe then. But in general, she's a chatterbox. Anyway, I kind of sympathize. Sometimes something pops into your head and you want to ask before you forget. And honestly, people, they're married. She could just go into the bathroom and ask if it's that important.

...I'm sorry. I can't look at it anymore.

Carrying the golf bag probably isn't good for his back

Anyone else think that today's strip should've appeared either in December or in April? I mean, Al could've held on to this for a month, and it would've been better. (Much better would be holding onto it until April, but I'll let that slide.) There's also a real disconnect between what Annoya is saying and her expression. If someone just included the dialogue box, I'd just assume a low level of passive-aggressiveness, trying to keep Arfo at home. (It's the "take it easy" that's throwing me off.) But her expression...that's blatant hostility. I guess I just wish I knew why she wants him home. Is she just trying to stop him from having fun, or is there more to it than that?

It was the poor schools that led to the vandalism

Clearly I've just been trying to avoid TDIET lately.

I feel like I'm the one missing something about Wednesday's strip. I guess it's upsetting that schools need money? More money than they received from a lottery? Are we supposed to get worked up about asking for more money for schools?

Yesterday's strip just completely blows me away. I'm kind of gobsmacked. Have we ever seen juvenile delinquency like this before? Al is clearly still in the 1950s--when was the last time anyone had to write lines? (Other than Harry Potter in Order of the Phoenix.) Seriously, the vandalism. It just keeps throwing me off. It's idiotic, though; Hekkie should be using a pseudonym (like the rash of "Borf" graffiti in the DC area a while back) (hmm, I should look to see whether "Borf Hates Bush" is still up next time I Metro into the city). What's getting to me is the color, honestly. The bright red and yellow of the graffiti just really stands out. I definitely think Al should do more criminal-themed strips.

I'm not sure what to make of today's strip. Clearly we're supposed to take Fignewt's side. It looks like Annoyia is wearing a robe--but it could be anything, really. And she does go back on saying that she wouldn't care. It looks like she very well may be the type of woman that you look at and go, "Well, no wonder he wants to stay late at the club." (And are there "clubs" like this anymore? I'm sure it's where Fignewt hangs out with other members of the Loyal Order of the Caribou, but why not just say "bar"? ...Because bar = bad and club = respectable, of course. What was I thinking?) Does he go out every night? Why? And how late is late? I really feel like I need the full history here. And also, don't use "friend wife."

Except Brian IS perfect

Today's strip illustrates why people who are infatuated shouldn't marry anyone. No sane person believes that they like everything about a potential mate. And what is it with introducing a fiance/husband to the parents so late in the game? But really. If you seriously think "I love everything about this person," you're not mature enough to get married. Nobody's perfect. I mean, I'm sure that even though I currently think Brian Roberts is perfect** (cutest boy in the world!), when the day comes that we actually meet, then proceed to fall in love, etc., I'll find out that he has some habits that bug me. (Probably.) And I know that my parents each do things that annoy the other, but they're coming up on 40 years of marriage.

Anyway. I understand that Al is going for the contrast with "love everything about him" but all of those "hate"s in the bottom panel are a bit disturbing. I guess I should just be happy that she isn't telling him directly that she hates him--just all of his habits.

I can't feel too much sympathy for Nudnik, though. Clearly this was rushed, and he should've paused at his fiancee using the "love everything about him" line. He was just as deluded, and doesn't get any sympathy.

**I'm kidding. I know that he isn't perfect. If he were, the Orioles would probably be doing a bit better. Not that a .314 BA is something to scoff at. That being said, if any of you know him or have ties to the O's, send him my way! We're clearly Meant To Be.

What kind of home office doesn't have a stapler?

Today's strip alerts to the fact that it's apparently "Strips about working at home" week in TDIETland. It's almost like Al has only recently been alerted to the fact that people work at home now (though I'm fairly sure there have been strips here and there about it in the past).

Well, at least the bottom panel indicates that Al does realize that women have careers and such nowadays, though I can't help but notice the haircut of the wife. I almost feel like Al is making a statement, but I could very well be overanalyzing.

Again, this is a case where the guy working at home needs to say something. I know that it's hard to convince someone dropping by or your wife that you need to do work--it's very easy to say, as I sit in an office, right? I would hope, though, that Fondue pointing out that he's trying to, you know, make money, might help him persuade his wife to leave him alone for a while. I feel more sorry for him than I do for the woman in the top panel. I know that it's insanely frustrating to do housework while someone's just lounging around, but him watching tv doesn't stop her from doing what she needs to do. And she could, you know, tell him to get his own lunch if he's so hungry. And also maybe do chores of the sort mentioned in the bottom panel?

Make your own calls, dude

Sorry about the belated posting...work, life, etc., etc.

I'd like yesterday's strip a lot more if it reflected my life--I was totally with Al in the top panel. Sick on weekend? Check. It only lasting a day? Check. I always seem to get sick on the weekend, but be well enough to go to work. He lost me in the bottom panel. I cannot imagine calling in sick on a Monday and saying that I wouldn't be back until Wednesday or Thursday unless I was in the hospital or something. And I cannot imagine calling in sick for my husband if he were just lying in bed, talking to me. Good God. And who would say "72-hour virus"? Also, it's "sniff," not "snif." Clearly Dragbutt hasn't learned the art of the mental health day.

Today's strip takes us into the world of Catastra and Wimpo's dining preparation. What's really scary is Wimpo's "U-ulp!" at the end of his dialogue bubble. He's clearly frightened of Catastra. I don't particularly blame him; she's scary. At least the dinner sounds decent--roast, potatoes, garlic. There's no bad there. No squid, either. Really, Cat should just say that she's tired, period. She's trying to get sympathy from someone who clearly won't give it (understandably). What's particularly confusing is that it looks like the kitchen is totally clean. I'm trying to figure out whether Wimpo is unrolling his sleeves, signifying that he also cleaned up. Then why would Cat have been in the kitchen? Just telling him how to clean? It's a mystery.

The urge to live on the edge

I'm so excited about the twofer in today's strip--both "living on the edge" and "the urge to"! And not only that, but that "the urge to" is ALSO a twofer--"two-coat paint her" and "send her to the moon"! Man, does it get any better? It's like a "Happy Friday!" present from Al.

(Though doesn't one kind of imply the other?)

I'm pretty sure we've seen this strip before, though I'm having problems finding it. There was definitely another "tired husband comes home from work and wants to rest, but his wife just won't let him!" strip at some point. I do feel for Rembrush (*sigh*); Nagella (and I realize Al was going for a play on the word "nag," but it just makes me think of Nigella Lawson, which totally isn't the right image here) isn't helping with the way she's talking to him.

But honestly, this isn't a situation I can get worked up about. Maybe when there are a few strips about a husband coming home from work and making a comment about his wife--who stayed home with the kids--must've been bored or something. But I can't get behind "Poor guy, worked so hard all day! Just let him drink his beer and nobody bother him" as a concept. Though at least being a housepainter does involve some physical activity.

Free that kid!

I'm not sure I get today's strip. Well, I get it, in the sense that I see that a fight morphs from being about taking out the garbage to being about something else entirely. And I guess this is a "do it every time" situation, because yeah, that's pretty much how fights go. Once the floodgates are open, anything goes. I guess what I don't understand is why this is even a strip. Are we supposed to think, "How wacky! They started talking about one thing and wound up talking about something else!"? Because...honestly, that's pretty much every conversation. I just feel bad for the kid. This is obviously something he's seen before. He looks like he wishes his parents would just get divorced already.

A couple other notes: Again with the mention of the husband's sister! It's such a recurring theme in this strip that it makes me wonder whether Mrs. Al has issues with Al's sister. And who keeps the garbage can like that in their dining room? Even assuming that the kitchen is on the other side of the cans, that's just a bit too much. Those cans look like they belong outside. And lastly, submitted by "You know who"? No, I don't know who.

Memory like an elephant

Today's strip raises an interesting question for me. The submitter chose to be "Pul-leeze no name, no address" because he knew that his wife would read the strip and recognize herself. Now, we know that Al is very good about giving the submitter a copy of the strip. In cases like this, does the submitter get a copy? He couldn't display it or anything. Sometimes a "No Name" submitter could still get one; those are the ones where the person is whining about a neighbor. But whining about a spouse? I can't imagine that the submitter could have the strip around.

Anyway. The strip itself. I don't understand why there's something noteworthy about a husband having a bad memory and a wife having a good one. I guess we're just supposed to think, "Yes, that is frequently the way it is!" And...I guess it kind of is. In most couples I know, the woman has a better memory than the husband. So, um, good job, anonymous submitter?

Except that this is much more about a nagging wife than a woman having a good memory. She retains all of Fignewt's transgressions (and those of his stuck-up sister, who, by the way, seem to be rampant in the TDIETverse). That still has nothing to do with Fignewt having a crappy memory. It would've been better if it had been something like "Migraina never remembers when Fignewt tells her important information [picture of Fignewt bringing home the Big Boss for dinner, while Migraina has nothing prepared], but when it comes to remembering something Fignewt did wrong, heh heh, need I say more? Ohhh yeah! [bottom panel]"

Ha ha, Daffia called Arfo's sister a big mouth! Funny.

Today's strip is yet another about people who talk too much. First it was a teenager who did it; now a wife. I...am sense a stereotype here. Anyway. I would like to point out that it is an issue if Daffia feels that Arfo isn't communicating with her. I mean, my grandmother (...and father) is a huge talker; she talks way more than my grandfather. But it's not an issue, because he gets his point across when he needs to. And she knows that and knows where he stands on things.

Who knows. It's possible that Arfo legitimately doesn't have much to contribute, and thus doesn't speak up. Then I guess it would be annoying. This strip frustrates me, because I can't tell if Arfo thinks they don't communicate. Here's a tip, Al and N. Teany--Talking doesn't equal communicating. I know! And if Arfo does have something to say, speak up, dude. You know your wife is a talker, so force your way in and say something. (And psst, Al, it's "Arfo can't get a word in edgewise" not "sideways.")

Mind you, if I were Arfo, I'd probably have shot either Daffia or myself by this point. "Y'know, I love to watch my tv soap program"?

Don't taunt me with retirement on a Friday

Today's strip is a return to the topic of retirement after almost 4 months; I opened the page and it was like a flashback to early November. The thing that intrigues me about this strip is that Migraina is clearly in the wrong--she complained before, she's complaining now. Not surprising, really. What makes it intriguing is that the strip was submitted by "A number of wives all over U.S.A." I doubt that they were trying to make themselves look bad. I really can't imagine how they could've worded their complaint to make their husbands seem wrong. He was never around before, but now he won't go away! Well, you got what you asked for, so...

Which is not to say that I don't understand. I live by myself and often think that it'd be nice to have someone else around, but I know that when I do live with someone, I like holing myself up in my room. (This worked best with my last roommate, who was the same way.) But complaining to Al about this is not the way to handle it.

Also, "Give an earful" as a way to say "Listen in"? Doesn't work. Unless he's saying that "wifey's gripe" is giving an earful...which I guess it is. But the whole is worded very strangely. Which...right. This is TDIET. I shouldn't act surprised.

I do like the kickin' big-screen tv in the background.

Seriously, doesn't Mr. Olaf look really nice?

I love that the carpenter/builder-type person in today's strip is named Mr. Olaf. I don't know why, but for some reason, that just totally makes me happy. Yes, I need help, but you already knew that.

And I'm totally distracted from the content of the strip by the fact that they're putting in built-in bookshelves. I dream of having a place with built-in bookshelves. My ideal house has a library. It would be so lovely. In movies or tv, if I see a place with built-in bookshelves, I start to fantasize about living there. There's this house on my way to the Metro that has them and now I totally want that house. When I lived in Richmond, our family room had them, but it was filled with my dad's books. My room when I lived in Connecticut had them, but I was too young to truly appreciate them.

(Shouldn't it be "bookshelves," not "book cases"? I think of book cases as being stand-alone pices of furniture.)

Where was I? Oh, the content. Whatever. Henpecked husband, domineering wife. Blah blah blah.

Mmm, cookies

My absolute favorite part of today's strip is that the husband's name is Fignewt. As in the cookie, I suppose, though I don't understand what that might mean about his character. Anyway, I don't remember seeing him before, butI'm tagging this entry with his name in the hope that some day, we will see Fignewt again.

I can't imagine that Pestina and Fig made it to marriage before discussing previous relationships. Isn't that the sort of thing that starts to come out when people are dating? Not necessarily in depth, of course, but most people would at least mention an ex or two. Those relationships help shape future relationships. It is fantastic how she seems to be asking him in passing, as she wanders through the room.

What's not plausible is that he's all, "Oh, I don't remember." Suuure, Fig. I can understand not really wanting to talk about it (and being confused as to why Pestina is asking now). The correct thing to do here is to say, "Only a couple, honey, and they were nothing compared to you." Then go back to watching your commercials in peace.

And why does the expo box assume that Lula Patoot is an old flame? Fig only mentions her name. Pestina's reaction is obviously over-the-top, but I probably wouldn't be too pleased if my husband had been that evasive after I asked about his old girlfriends.

Also of note is the fact that either the chair is a swivel chair, or Fig and Pestina got matching chairs for all the televisions in the house.

A dinner dance doesn't seem like a formal affair to me

One of the most interesting things (OK, the most interesting thing) about today's strip is that the submitter's female. Is this something that she does herself and knows that it annoys her husband, or is this something she sees her friends do? Or...maybe she's gay and her girlfriend/wife/life partner does this! That would be awesome, because I somehow doubt that Al's too fond of homosexuality.

Anyway. I'm having mixed feelings about the top panel. On the one hand, with certain people--particularly people in the land of TDIET--it's probably a good idea to get a second opinion an on outfit, and I think most women wouldn't mind their husbands asking for an opinion about a tie. On the other hand, if he always asks for her approval, that is annoying. Asking about which tie to wear is one thing; constantly seeking validation is quite another.

And the bottom panel. I...don't know. I can't get upset about it. It seems like she's asking about a specific event (the "club dinner dance"), and part of her questioning is logical; is it an event for some sort of formal gown, or a regular dress? Plus, and I hate to stereotype, but a lot of times, it is easier for guys to figure out what to wear. As long as Migraina doesn't call Elpie for fashion tips every day, I don't thing there's a huge problem.

My big question here is, why is the husband named Anvil?

Leadbutt's retirement plan sounds good to me

I totally have Leadbutt's back in today's strip. When I retired, darn tootin' I just want to sit around all day and watch tv. That sounds awesome. But look at the devil eyes his wife is giving him! I mean, I can understand how it'd be annoying, but that's not just annoyance or even disgust--that's full-out loathing.

And really, I'm with him in the bottom panel, too. I might not go on and on about my plans, but I'd probably say something other than, "Great! I sit around all day and do nothing, kids. It's awesome." And notice that Leadbutt never actually says that he's keeping busy with travel and hobbies and bowling; he just says that it's the key to a happy retirement. It's classic. It sounds like you're talking about yourself, but you're technically not. And perhaps someday he will do those things; if he's recently retired, maybe he just wants to relax for a while before formulating any big plans.

So, basically, shut up, Mrs. Leadbutt. (And your shirt in the bottom panel is awful.)