As we get older we tend to get more stuck in our ways. To break the mold, we try new stuff. For Al (and for John), it might mean getting at those stubborn weeds with a literal flame thrower. It gets to weeds between rocks and pebbles by burning the hell out of the weeds. Of course I wouldn't know about this device since I live in an apartment (and let’s face it, I wouldn’t buy one if I still lived in a house). I’d end up burning myself instead of the weeds. But John has one and it feels sort of cool and macho. So we got the idea to dress up Al as Rambo, complete with the bandana-around-the-head thing. When I did live in a house I tended a vegetable garden, hoeing soil, going to the nursery, weeding, etc. I liked getting my hands dirty, literally, by planting the new vegetables. There were only two things wrong with this. One, the deer and rabbits liked to help themselves to our harvest. And two, I don’t care much for vegetables. My other idea (actually my wife’s) for expanding our horizons is to go on a hiking trip to Bhutan, which we will embark on next week. There are only two things wrong with this (what is it with me and two things…). One is that my left foot is killing me. And two, Bhutan is a vegetarian county. And I don’t care that much for…

Our second comic deals with something John and I are both experiencing: sleeping granddaughters. When my granddaughter sleeps over, my wife is telling me to turn the tv down. I patiently explain that when she and I watch a show together, the volume is at level 42. When I am watching something by myself, the volume is at 14. 14!!!(and I hate the overuse of exclamation points, but sometimes they fit). My reply is usually, I know she can’t hear it in her crib in the back bedroom because I can’t hear it and I’m sitting right here (again, time for another exclamation point)! John and I wondered what would happen if a great grandma were to come over. If you’re in your 90’s chances are you’d be hard of hearing and how can you make yourself heard to great grandma while being unheard by your grandchild. It’s pretty tough skating, but I’m pretty sure I’d accomplish the triple axel…yelling to great grandma, waking up the baby, and getting yelled at by my wife. In short, this comic was an easy one. It practically wrote itself.

Have a great weekend and we’ll see you again next Friday.

Andy and John

A huge thank you to everyone who has already bought our book and a request (not an “ask,” because “ask” is not a noun) to those of you who haven’t yet purchased one to do so. The New York Times book review called it “the must-have comic collection of the century.” Okay, they didn’t say anything like that at all, but we’re just trying to lure you in. C’mon, we’re ex ad-guys.

Have a great weekend,

Andy and John