Crap Every Time

End of an era

noreply@blogger.com (Barb) — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 02:06:00 +0000

It seems somewhat appropriate that the last regular TDIET strip would be a repeat--from last October. OK, maybe less a "repeat" and more a "sequel," as this does seem to be what the previous strip implies. That being said, this is totally valid; I remember being sighed at more than once by my mother because of how I had my stuff spread out over the table when she was trying to put food on it.

That being said, if you kick the kids out of the kitchen, it seems natural they would've disappeared for a bit. For all we know, they're simply dumping their stuff in their rooms...although perhaps that's supposed to be the door to outside that's open in the bottom panel?

If you go to the Times-Intelligencer TDIET page, you'll notice that it says that last strip is actually today's...though I can't seem to access it. Evil! With the strip over, I may go through the archives and add in the strips themselves so we don't lose them, and add tags to the older entries, but I imagine it'll just be housekeeping-type activities from here on out.

So thanks for following along. If you're particularly bored, you can check out my sort of normal blog...though I should warn you, with the baseball season starting, there will likely be a fair bit of posting about the Orioles. (And I am aware that the comments there don't work. It just looks like they should work, and thus they taunt me.)

Is that a green slip?

noreply@blogger.com (Barb) — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 17:05:00 +0000

You know what's awesome about today's strip? The kid actually making a comment about "growing cobwebs" instead of actually seeing Chumply sitting there, covered in cobwebs. Though, pst, kid--you don't "grow" cobwebs. There's this whole process involving spiders. I do like that we're seeing the beginning of this process.

When I first glanced at the strip, I thought that it was the morning; in my mind, robe = morning or night. It wasn't until I noticed that Chumply was in a tux that I got what was going on. However, this is one of those situations where I can't feel too bad for the husband, because he's obviously been married to this woman for a while; by this point, he should know how long it takes her to get ready for a night out. So Chumply, go grab a book or something while your wife prims up (I always use "primp," but whatever). And stop looking so surprised.

Rhett Butler is dreamy

noreply@blogger.com (Barb) — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:37:00 +0000

Wow. iPods, plasma tvs. Today's strip is just crazy! I can't imagine anyone watching Gone With the Wind on an iPod. My eyes hurt just thinking about it, but then, I don't particularly like watching movies on my computer, which has an 18" screen (yes, making it bigger than the actual television I have sitting next to it).

In fairness, though, it appears that Mom and Junior are watching something else on the 60" tv, so it's not like Dimwitty could watch GWTW on that. And I wonder how much of this is the novelty factor, too. The follow-up to this would be showing that 2 weeks later, Dim's iPod is gathering dust.

Other notes: Why is the salesman in the top panel wearing a ribbon? And shout out to Highlands, NJ. I used to go to a restaurant there somewhat regularly (hey, Bahrs!).

To catch a thief

noreply@blogger.com (Barb) — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 18:29:00 +0000

I...wow. Is the police brutality in the top panel of today's strip a first? Al did a good job in qualifying it with "wild, resisting villain," but at that point...man, it looks like the cop is just beating the thief about the head with a billy club for no apparent reason. I can't believe that that's the most effective way to subdue someone. (I'd suggest a taser, but don't want to get into that debate again.) Anyway, I always assumed that the way people are put into the police cars is just a continuation of making sure the person doesn't make any sudden movements. Part of it might be to avoid the person bumping his or her head, but part of it was a control issue. I thought, anyway. And really, should we be rooting for the suspect to become even more injured?

Barb embraces technology

noreply@blogger.com (Barb) — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 17:33:00 +0000

You may have noticed (if you haven't...you're blind) that I realized what the little Blogger icons mean in my "Create a Post" window and have added the actual strip for today. My knowledge of the Interwebs clearly knows no bounds. I was spurred on to this by gallagher's comment yesterday, wondering whether the archives would disappear, rendering my blog completely moot. (Or moo, like a cow's opinion.) I hope that if they do disappear, it takes a while, as I'll make an attempt to go back and add the actual comics. And maybe even add tags for the older entries. We'll see.

Anyway, today's strip. (Yes, I feel the need to link it. I don't know why.) I kind of love it because of the woman in the lower right corner. Her expression makes me happy. Also, that is a tiny pool, which amuses me. I do wonder whether this visitor to Palm City actually heard these people say they were going for a "swim" or just a "dip in the pool." Did these guys actually talk about getting exercise? And maybe they are swimming around a bit. Or it could be therapeutic! My grandmother swims every week because she has a bum hip, but I doubt she's doing laps. Who knows.

Love the guy asking the others where they're going for "early bird." I really hope that people actually do call it that. It would totally make my day.

Her purse isn't even that big!

noreply@blogger.com (Barb) — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 18:52:00 +0000

Today's strip totally hit home, mostly because I commute to and from work on the bus. I cannot cope with people who don't have their money/farecard ready. I actually have my SmarTrip card in my pocket when I close my front door. Seriously, there is no excuse for these people. I hate being behind them in line, I hate sitting on the bus and watching them take forever. At least most of the time, if they need to search, they do try and step aside and let people ahead of them.

OK, I guess on occasion, I can see not having change ready. But this just speaks to me. Right on, Al and Susan!

Well, if the cartoons are shown in HD, why not?

noreply@blogger.com (Barb) — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 16:56:00 +0000

Today's strip was another that I had to read a few times to understand. I guess I underestimated how helpful those exposition boxes are. Anyway, looks like we're supposed to be down on Hekkie for suggesting a new, high-def television. I'm not really sure about the snide comments. If his dad is having problems getting a good picture on a tv that's only 5 or 6 years old, then there's a problem. (My tv is about 7 years old now and is just fine, thanks.) And HD is how things are moving; at this point, if you're getting a new tv, it makes sense to buy HD. The prices are coming down and everything's going digital. You're just setting yourself up for becoming obsolete if you go non-HD. (Here I mean for something like the family room's tv. I'd have no hesitation to buy a small, non-HD television for my bedroom or something.) (But really, you shouldn't take technology-buying advice from me. I have the very bad habit of buying this sort of thing impulsively.)

Anyway. Widescreen is a bit much, but what kid wouldn't pull for that? And Hekkie looks older than 8; I'm sure he's watching more than just cartoons. As for the "wrecking crew" comment, I have no idea where that came from. Who are those people in the other room, anyway? Random commentators?

Politeness starts at home

noreply@blogger.com (Barb) — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 19:15:00 +0000

The thing throwing me off in today's strip is the "(Really)". I guess it's just to set us up for the bottom panel? Or is it just to say that he's super polite only to hot women? Anyway, Lulula, leave him. He clearly has anger issues. If you bump someone and he starts swearing and freaking out, that counts as verbal abuse. Get out.

Bonus points for the "Oh, yeah!" though. Man, I'm going to miss that.

Go Grandma, with the environmentally sound grocery bag

noreply@blogger.com (Barb) — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 17:34:00 +0000

Today's strip is from the suggestion of pogoer! I'm sure you're pumped to see it, and that you're treasuring the interaction with Al. Do you remember how your worded the suggestion? Honestly, I find that conversion fascinating. Al generally kept things pretty close to the suggestion.

Is the word "wagon" for a grocery cart common? I've always said "shopping cart" and have never heard "wagon." (Well, obviously, I've heard the word "wagon" before. But not in this context.) And really, by the time they've reached the parking lot, I think both Grandma and Biff Biceps have realized that there'd be no wagon/cart. (Side note: I hate those grocery stores that don't allow carts in the parking lot. Insanely inconvenient.)

It is a crap situation, but maybe Grandma should've asked someone when she was checking out. That's normally when you encounter the question of whether you need help. Though I do acknowledge that my purchases are more along the line of Biff's than Grandma's when the issue arises.

Another scary road!

noreply@blogger.com (Barb) — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 19:11:00 +0000

Today's strip is, not surprisingly, a repeat. And honestly, I don't have much new to add to what I said then. And I'm pretty sure it wouldn't be a driver's license on the moon. Astronaut license?

All good things...

noreply@blogger.com (Barb) — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 04:10:00 +0000

I'm sure many of you saw at the Comics Curmudgeon that King Features is ending the strip after the final Al-drawn TDIET runs on February 2. Like Josh, I have mixed feelings. I think it would've been fascinating to see someone else draw it...but at the same time, a more modern sensibility would take away so much of what makes the strip awesome. So it'll be a sad day, and, I suppose, the end of this blog. Well, it's been a good run.

I'm now high-tailing it out of town for a few days...I'll be back on Tuesday to cover the last two weeks of TDIET.

Mmm, meat.

noreply@blogger.com (Barb) — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 18:34:00 +0000

Looking at today's strip, I again find myself thinking that something about the eyes looks weird. Look at Lulula and Sonny's eyes. Don't they look off? Anyway, the mom is clearly smoking something if she thinks that her son looks "drawn." I mean, honestly. He's hardly wasting away. Are mothers-in-law really like this? I suppose some are, but it's really not something I have any experience with. Does the mother live in the same town as them? If not, why is she talking about her butcher? It's not like Lulula can go there. It's nice, though, if she lives in a place that even still has a butcher's shop...unless she means that he's set up in a grocery store. Hmm.

I could live without the guy spelling out for us what's going on. I got it, OK?

I'm rambly, I know. My apologies.

A thoughtful-ish husband, for once

noreply@blogger.com (Barb) — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 18:08:00 +0000

Today's strip marks the return to the Great Dishwashing Debates. I can't say I'm surprised; while I haven't been married, I do recall that who washed the dishes was quite an issue when I had roommates and no dishwasher. Anyway. Clearly the problem is that Fauna shouldn't be that nice to her husband. (And honestly, can we take a moment to acknowledge that Nudnik actually does the dishes? It's one of those things that's complained about so often, and I know I shouldn't praise him for something that he should do, but still.) Anyway. If that's how he is, that's how she should be. I know that sometimes I wash dishes as I cook...but sometimes I don't.

But hey, he did cook. And clear off the table. Though, again...what are these people making that they dirty this many dishes??? And what did they have in the top panel that they had so few?

Why is he showering with the door open???

noreply@blogger.com (Barb) — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 19:36:00 +0000

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.

Well, it IS cold in here

noreply@blogger.com (Barb) — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 18:32:00 +0000

I can kind of get behind today's strip. I get the concept of if you think you're cold, you assume others are cold. Most of us learn that this isn't the case; particularly a woman being cold while two men aren't. Usually, however, this simply results in one person whining about the temperature--something I'm definitely guilty of. The hungry thing...I don't know. She's probably making food less because she thinks others are hungry than the fact that she's hungry and wants food. The dad and kid will probably whine if she makes herself something but doesn't whip up something for them, so she makes a bunch so everyone can eat. Honestly, I don't know. That's not something I've encountered.

Return of the cowboy movie

noreply@blogger.com (Barb) — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 17:23:00 +0000

Today's strip delves into the world of dating while being a single parent. I love how Winona is a widow, not a divorcee. Because then, apparently, she would be immoral, and not worthy of the eligible bachelor from her office.

I'm having problems getting a feel for this family. It looks like her kids are maybe 10, 13, and 15. I can see a 15-year-old being out of the house a lot, but are 10-year-olds and 13-year-olds really out that much? Is this a weeknight? Because I can see them being out doing various extracurricular stuff (sports, clubs) on weeknights...but if that's the case, then Winona should know their schedules. It seems like those kids have a lot of autonomy. And it's not like she can't control how much they're home; there's this word called "No" that I've heard a lot about.

And really, there's a pretty basic solution: Just go it. Clearly she doesn't keep that close track of her children, so a couple of hours of them alone in the house isn't that bad. And kudos to the youngest kid for sitting between his mom and her date. Well played.

Buck the hair trends, Hek!

noreply@blogger.com (Barb) — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 18:52:00 +0000

I have to say that in the top panel of today's strip, I kind of agree with Hekkie' mom. It's not that Hekkie's hair is disgusting, but it needs something. Just hanging there, it looks stupid. But may that's how the kids wore it in the 60s. Honestly, though, I think Hekkie should just blaze his own trail and not follow the current hair trends, because they do not work for him. Some guys look great with shaved heads, but he isn't one of them. And is it really a trend? Maybe amongst guys who are balding, but we have no way of knowing whether that's the case when it comes to Hekkie.

That all being said, it did make me laugh. Which is good, particularly for a Monday.

Way too deep thoughts for a Friday night

noreply@blogger.com (Barb) — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 01:45:00 +0000

Today's strip provides an interesting dichotomy (...or something; I have a headache). Al and his readers acknowledge that nurses no longer dress like Florence Nightingale...but that seemingly hasn't prevented him from drawing them as such. Is it because the typical TDIET reader feels more comfortable with it? Is it just easier to have nurses in the strip wear those outfits, because having to distinguish various color scrubs is a challenge in a one-panel strip? Probably a combination of the two, actually. I wonder if a number of the people writing in aren't ol' time patients, but rather people pointing in the anachronism of the way nurses are portrayed.

I will say that while I can see the scrub top having a design like that, I can't imagine those pants and striped socks like that.

Doctor Cutup would be a surgeon, wouldn't he?

noreply@blogger.com (Barb) — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 17:18:00 +0000

There are some questions I have about today's strip: Is the surgery elective or not? Is surgery actually elective if you know you have to get it done eventually? Why does a doctor need to come in if he's on vacation to do a surgery, unless it's some rare surgery that only he knows how to do? And if that's the case, is that surgery something that would really be optional for a while? I admit that most of my knowledge in this area comes from the early days of ER and Grey's Anatomy, so I'm hardly an expert, but something about this just doesn't seem to add up.

I would like to point out that the doctor is taking a staycation, which is very "in" for 2008.

I wonder what Woopee Magazine is about

noreply@blogger.com (Barb) — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 02:00:00 +0000

I hope everyone had a nice holiday and fun new year.

I love today's strip if only because it introduces us to Barfo Magazine. How cool is that? That being said, I can't imagine being that excited about a new magazine at the doctor's office. Though since spending time in doctors' waiting rooms seems to be a big part of the lives of the average TDIET reader, I shouldn't be too surprised. Again, I will simply say that this is why I always bring my own reading material.

Kudos for having the magazines in the top panel actually say 2008. And now I'm depressed because Al didn't make it to 2008. *sigh*

Good luck at the tolls, everyone!

noreply@blogger.com (Barb) — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 17:08:00 +0000

Lugbutt's problem in today's strip is obvious--he's used to throwing a horseshoe. As we all know, horseshoes are much heavier than quarters, so he overestimated the effort it would take. Poor guy. But hey, at least he has a first name now! So that's nice. I do admit that this is one of my great fears. Luckily it's not a situation I encounter often, but when I have...yeah, paranoia sets in. At the point Lugbutt's in now, you just give up the quarter you lost and toss in a new one. Very carefully. I'd also like to point out that this strip is timely. AAA estimates that today will actually be the busiest travel day of the year in my area (which doesn't really make sense, but anyway).

Also, I wanted to let you all know that I'm heading across the country tomorrow to visit the folks. I may try and check in next week, but I can't make any guarantees. I will definitely be back January 2. Have a great break, for those of you getting one. And happy new year!

I'm a loser, baby

noreply@blogger.com (Barb) — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 17:20:00 +0000

First, I wanted to acknowledge reader D.B. Echo, who managed to get an acknolwedgement of Al's passing into his newspaper as a letter to the editor. From him (as originally commented on CC):

I’m still rather pissed about the mainstream media generally ignoring Al Scaduto’s passing. So much so that I decided that if my local paper (which carries They’ll Do It Every Time) was not going to mention it on their own, I would make them mention it.

My plan worked, and my letter made it into their Letters to the Editor page. Unfortunately, some good stuff was trimmed at then end. Here is the letter in its original format, with the edit shown in bold. Please feel free to copy and revise for your own local papers.

Al Scaduto died on Saturday, December 8 at the age of 79.

If you don’t know who Al Scaduto is, turn to the comics section of the weekday version of the Citizens’ Voice and look at the lower left-hand corner. Al Scaduto has single-handedly written and illustrated the one-panel comic They’ll Do It Every Time for the past eighteen years, and prior to that co-wrote it as part of the team of Dunn and Scaduto.

Al Scaduto was a gem of a man, gentle, kind, and polite, as noted on the blog The Comics Curmudgeon (joshreads.com) in comments by his many fans, correspondents, and even several family members. Sadly, his passing has gone almost completely unnoticed by the mainstream media. He was loved, and will be missed.

Thanks for sharing, and great job.

On to today's strip. I'm fine with the premise of the strip (guy never wins anything, but the one time he is chosen randomly, it's to find something bad in his food) (he probably also gets chosen to sit on the jury of the trial that lasts forever, and his employer won't pay him for that time, so he only gets the $15/day or whatever). It's the specificity of him finding a stone in his food. That just seems so bizarre, that I have to wonder whether L. Gerner suggested it. I mean, of anything to find in his food, I wouldn't think "stone." But hey, maybe he can be a winner in the end. I bet that since he obviously needs dental work, he can probably sue the caterer (maybe even the location of the event) and get the money for that, and probably damages to boot. I'd tell him to look on the bright side, but that has to be tough when your name is "Loozer."

10 a.m. isn't sleeping TOO late

noreply@blogger.com (Barb) — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 17:22:00 +0000

I admit that I don't understand today's strip at all. The mother says that the kid doesn't get enough sleep on school nights because he goes to bed late. (I don't really know what to make of the "And don't stay in bed long enough and sleep"...implying that he gets up too early? Huh?) And when the kid doesn't have to get up...she wakes him up. Which will make him cranky. Which she complains about. So she should let him sleep in, I guess. My question is whether the mother actually wants the son to be doing something, or whether she's just waking him up on the principle that he shouldn't sleep late. If she's just waking him up so he's up, that's stupid. But if he has to do something...well, get up.

Yeah, I don't know.

Reunionate? Really?

noreply@blogger.com (Barb) — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 17:28:00 +0000

Today's strip provides a nice continuation from last Friday's strip. Sure, Loopina appears to have changed outfits, but that's OK, as apparently this reunion lasted well over a weekend. Such stamina!

I do feel bad for Loopie here, but then, that's the risk you take when hosting people. It's common courtesy to offer to help clean up when you're a guest, but it's something I wouldn't necessarily count on, if that makes sense. You'd think, though, that if people brought food, they'd at least want their dishes back, right? Maybe they used disposable containers, which would make Loopie's job a bit easier, at least.

In the end, I can sympathize with the hostess, but can't back her anger in the end. One of those "Plan for the worst, hope for the best" situations--hope that people will help you clean up, but don't expect them to.

Mind you, I can say this because I rarely have people over, much less host any sort of large dinner.

It's no worse than the "Armada"

noreply@blogger.com (Barb) — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 17:02:00 +0000

Today's strip confronts the issue of the environment. Huzzah for being topical, I say. It does play into my guilt that I don't use reusable bags. However, I drive a Prius. I'm hoping that makes me better than Gus Greenearth, who hopefully realized the irony of his name when he bought his "'conservation' gas-guzzling huge SUV." I...don't understand the "conservation" there. It's not an adjective. Unless...the SUV is called a "Conservation"? Wow. That'd take some balls on the auto-maker's part.

I also think the kid would've seen the problem in the top panel. He did, presumably, drive to the grocery store in that SUV.