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I agree that sometimes Coffee Talk is tiringly negative. But I have to say that I think a lot of us would defend John if the shoe were on the other foot. I remember when Lynn played a rerun (I think it was a rerun) of the strip where she was criticizing John's folding of the towels, and quite a few people wrote to defend him. It is sad how often we fall prey to sexism, though, on both sides.

Angela, PA, USA

Is it just I, or are people take the comics waaaaay too seriously? It's the comics in the FUNNY pages. It isn't in the op-ed column with the political cartoons. Maybe poeple don't think John and Elly's behaviours are funny, but I see everything with tongue and cheek. Honestly, I highly doubt that all men and women are enlightened and/or equitable. So, Lynn stretches the truth a bit (or a lot). Nevertheless, the comics are for entertainment, not a critial social commentary on North American life.

Min, Chicago, IL, USA

To Jon in Detroit: Even in today's world, when a child is sick, it's usually falls to mom to stay home. Dad might help out more around the house, but when it comes to missing time off from work, mom gets stuck with that. And when men do take the time off, they get patted on the back for stepping in and helping out. If men would take a truly equal role in raising the kids, you'd see men off from work just as often.

Angela, IN, USA

Jon in Detroit, you would feel differently if you worked in my office, where most of the men leave at noon on Fridays to go to the beach, are out Mondays because they've been to Vegas, or leave early to play golf mid-week. I'm not condemning or condoning anyone's absenteeism, just saying that everyone has lives outside of work.

AS, NJ, USA

When I read the comment from Nilsa L in Pisgah Forest, NC, USA, I had to write. When was that strip about how to change a toilet paper roll? I think I will print it off and put it in the bathroom as well. In my house, it's not only my son, but my husband who seems to not understand how to replace the toilet paper roll. What he does is just sits a new roll on top the empty roll on the holder. On the rare occasion he does actually place a new roll on the toilet paper holder he places the old roll on the back of the toilet, not in the garbage can that is placed conveniently underneath the holder next to the toilet. AAAAAAUUUUUGGGGHHHH! Is it just a man thing? Perhaps any man out there can be man enough to write in and let me know why they do that. :) :) Thank you Nilsa.

Lynn, I love reading your strip everyday. Lots of laughs that I can obviously relate to my family. Continued success.

Lise C, Lakeville, NB, Canada

It was a Sunday strip published May 15, 1988

Today is my 30th birthday. Growing up, I always thought it was fun that there was a girl in the comics with the same name as me - Elizabeth. Being born two weeks after the premier of FBOW meant that the "other" Elizabeth and I were hitting all of our milestones together: the teenage years, high school, college, first jobs. Each time, there was someone in the comics section who was going through the same thing as me, but with a much better sense of humor about it, of course.I was sad to see the strip end last year, just one year shy of this day when we would both be 30. But I wanted to let you know that I was thinking about that "other" Elizabeth today, and celebrating for both of us.PS. This Elizabeth had a happy ending as well, by the way. I also became a teacher, and as luck would have it, also married an Anthony!

Elizabeth S, Phoenix, AZ, USA