The Last Straw: Browse The Strips

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Lynn's Comments: Nothing is worse than not knowing where your child is. Even though this was a story that quickly resolved itself, readers were anxious and a bit angry with me for doing it. In a sit-com, there is an outcome within minutes. In a comic strip, you have to wait a day or more to find out what happens.

Friday, August 16, 2013

Lynn's Comments: Aaron did bring a gift for each one of us--fortunately, there were no crabs. This idea came from one of my own attempts to keep wildlife. Trips to the beach on the west coast often included digging in the tide pools, where we'd find all kinds of neat sea creatures. One day I brought home a pail full of crabs, which I left in the trunk of the car. I didn't remember them until my mom said there was a horrible smell coming from the trunk. That smell stayed for weeks ... and so did Mom's anger!

Monday, August 26, 2013

Lynn's Comments: The quote "my lungs sound like a barn full of owls" came from my dad. He was a pack-a-day smoker whose health was steadily deteriorating. Cigarettes were a staple for many musicians, but Dad's declining health and Alan's growing maturity made him see that he had to quit before he couldn't play the trumpet any more.

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Lynn's Comments: The quote "my lungs sound like a barn full of owls" came from my dad. He was a pack-a-day smoker whose health was steadily deteriorating. Cigarettes were a staple for many musicians, but Dad's declining health and Alan's growing maturity made him see that he had to quit before he couldn't play the trumpet any more.

Saturday, August 31, 2013

Lynn's Comments: This was an actual quote from my brother. I whooped when he said it. Not only was it funny, it was a punch line I didn't have to come up with!

Monday, September 2, 2013

Lynn's Comments: Boredom is the thing that drives kids to get into all kinds of mischief. It was hard to find stuff for my kids to do that wasn't electronic or fattening! This is where being "artsy-craftsy" came in handy. As long as I had art supplies, my kids had a project. I credit my mom for inventing many of the things we did!

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Lynn's Comments: I remember being so bored, I thought the day would never end. I'd lie on our old blue sofa and wish I could see into the future so I could know what to prepare for. I wanted to get started as soon as possible. Art came so easily for me (I never expected it to provide a living), so I worried about not being smart enough, not being liked, and not fitting in. Being a kid had so many limitations. I wanted to be grown up and gone! I felt imprisoned in a kid's body.

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Lynn's Comments: I have always been at least ten pounds over the weight I want to be. When my brother was in the agonizing throes of nicotine withdrawal, I likened it to not being able to have a second helping of spuds and gravy, and he said it was not the same. I argued. I thought it was exactly the same. He just had to practice a little self-denial. He said I was completely out to lunch. Having never been a smoker, I really had no idea what he was going through.

Monday, September 9, 2013

Lynn's Comments: The first day of school was always exciting for me, and a new teacher was fresh meat. The ones who were most successful in taming our classes began by setting down the rules. They were strict, no-nonsense people who could stand up to the most irritating kids. If they also turned out to be creative, entertaining, funny, and fair, they had us in the palms of their hands, and we learned--just to earn their praise.

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Lynn's Comments: Artificial cigarettes were newly on the market when I did this strip. As a non-smoker, I was fascinated by the idea. Could a placebo smoke really take the place of the real thing? Friends and family were eagerly testing this possibility, but couldn't get past the image of the pacifier to take it seriously!

Friday, September 13, 2013

Lynn's Comments: Alan bought and tried a cigarette substitute. It was a plastic inhaler with a nicotine hit. He wandered about the house trying to look nonchalant, but like all the other "quit the habit" innovations, this too was destined for failure. I had to give him credit--at least he tried. And when he flung the bogus butt into the woods one day, he didn't swear in front of the kids.

Saturday, September 14, 2013

Lynn's Comments: When my dad tried to quit smoking, he got rid of his cravings, he said, by going for a walk. We knew it was an excuse to grab a fast cigarette, 'cause Dad didn't like exercise and rarely walked anywhere!