Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for June 26, 2014

Usually, people think there are only two choices in a matter. One or the other. Sometimes, there is the forgotten choice: right down the middle. – Whether in the form of trade-offs, or a list of pros v. cons, or compromises, one can find that it’s not always a struggle (at least in terms of choices available) if one truly evaluates what is/should be “non negotiable”, and what we perhaps didn’t realize could be “things for give and take”. – In the end, these experiences help open our eyes as to helping us to “reexamine” ourselves, and perhaps to see if we have been a little too inflexible in certain areas, or if we truly do need to stiffen up in others. All in all, our lives, relationships, etc. could be better served by realizing that there could be a middle ground.. … there could be something we missed… that’s what learning and living is all about…

Flip-flops are a good fit here… ;)

“Whirled Piece”“A Revolution In G Major”“Catch A Waver”“Metronome On The Range”“Flip Flops In Summer”“Something Happens, And I’m Head Over Heels” ♫“You Spin Me Round, Round, Baby, Right Round” ♫" Are You Reeling In The Years?" ♫or“A Fish Named Gunther”

Speaking of flip-flopping, when I was in my late 20s, I had a chance to move from one coast to almost another coast. At the time I had a Really cool job with a Good salary and benefits. I also had a 2-year-old son whom I was supporting. At the same time, my sister decided to go to State B from State A where I was also living. I couldn’t make up my mind (I’d always said if I was able to save x amount of money, I would leave State A to move to the area not far from State B). Kept telling my boss I was leaving, and then the next day I would tell him I was staying…did this a couple of times…finally he said I Had to make up my mind. So, I took a Big Step out of that really neat job, and headed to State B with a car that already had at least 88,000 miles on it. To make a long story short, I met my future hub there and the rest is history…best decision I ever (Finally!) made… ;)

Actually, there are “foreign learning” programs ( with scholarships available) and other programs schools have in place (even with tuition) for kids who would like to travel, and learn abroad (including learning a new language!)….

Isn’t this the part where you should ask your mother?I mean, she’s had SOME experience in romance.

Gunther, for your own sake, don’t throw your future away. Feel free to go to Peru for the summer, but come back and study here at Moony. Are you really going to travel thousands of miles for a high school love you’ve known for a year? Rosa is a great catch, but she’s not worth your future.

As a resolution to this fli-flopping between 2 plans of action, Gunther needs his own “Plan C”. How about : attend Muni, get a valuable education and a professional degree, and maybe meet a nice girl who’s better suited to your personality and life choices than Rosa ever was? Chances are that Rosa will forget all about Gunther one month into her new life in Peru. It won’t be long now before Gunther receives that “Dear John” letter (although Rosa will be so adjusted to Peru by then that it will be a “Dear Juan” letter!)

Besides, I doubt that Gunther’s mother would be okay with this charade of nonsense. If Gunther is still 17 years old, his mom has jurisdiction over him.

No, Gunther, they actually do have maps of Peru.

A perfect solution for Gunther is to move to the San Francisco Bay Area, where the average engineer starting salary nears 100k. He could easily transfer to UC Berkeley with his GPA. There, the money he makes will give him confidence, which will allow him to find a girlfriend who isn’t crazy. (C’mon, Rosa couldn’t wait four more years?)

Who’s to say that years from now, this particular couple isn’t one of those ones who pair up with longevity in view? Or as if this couple couldn’t be the start of a long-term relationship? And furthermore, who’s to say that they can’t already have talents that can be put to use now in their young lives, with room to add more now and later? Sometimes, some of us either don’t have that ability, or we don’t conceive that such is possible….. but there are people out there who do have that capacity to learn and grow in what they do, and are not “one trick ponies” in terms of vocation/occupation/career, or in terms of their ability to travel and learn…..– And just because many teens are “fickle” in terms of “romance” doesn’t mean that all are. Gunther is sheltered, but he* is* loyal . Rosa is not sheltered, but she too is loyal . – Some people treat romances as if they were items to replace on next weeks’ grocery trip. Some treat it as a “playing for keeps” and some are in between. But “one size does not fit all”… it doesn’t always happen, but yet it does happen, nonetheless….

“I guess that would work if Gunther wanted to go to Peru and do something completely different from what Rosa is doing” ^He could still work at Engineering there. Many kids from India, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Japan, China, Korea, Australia and a few others come over here for their schooling, then go right back to their country of origin to do business, open their business or establish whatever vocation they are pursuing. Gunther could do this by going overseas, then coming right back….

Heheheheh…! ;)

Gunther is right to be flip flopping here, since the idea only just entered his head. I hope he will choose to take the plunge and head to Peru, at least for a couple months. He doesn’t have to go so far as to give up all his Moony plans. A short trip would be enough to hold on to Rosa’s heart, but he might also find that there is a life there he wants to pursue. He is old enough to make these choices himself.

No, I’m saying that Gunther could be at University there while she is at the clinic. If he chooses a longer stint, the programs in place could allow for that. Or if he were to choose only a semester, then he could return, scholarship funded….

Rolling up the sidewalks here…plus, my beautiful little IS (Irish Setter) girl is ready to go upstairs… ;)-——————————————————————————“I had never had a piece of toast Particularly long and wide, But fell upon the sanded floor, And always on the buttered side.”(James Payn, 1830-1898)

Do we know how Gunther will be paying for his years of schooling at Moony Uni? I don’t get the impression that he is particularly well off, he has only one parent (unemployed?), and he has had only a low-paying job at the library. Is he relying on student loans? Is Mrs. Berger going heavily into debt? Does he really want to throw all that away on a whim, to pursue a casual high-school romance? And even if he is that irresponsible, could he even afford the trip?

Hopefully, their experience did turn out to be romantic! – Sad to say, a few of them, when they had the experience, only had… the experience part….

“Ah. He could to that, but it would mean he would be doing something different from Rosa was doing. They might get a few moments together during their time off.” ^….And thus, the “compromise”….. – Or at least one possible form of compromise….

Old ways die hard.

“Especially if you eat the sandy toast and the sand scratches on the way out.” ^Mama always said you need a little roughage in your diet…..

Or at least give the butterflies in your stomach a nice beach to build some property on..

It’s unmapped, it’s spontaneous adventure…and it’s ENTIRELY Rosa’s point.

Just let her…make a MAN…out of you…

Quill being his advisor here actually suggests Gunther will go. At any time, Quill can point out, “Besides, I came HERE from Australia for Luann. Why should you do any less for Rosa?”

Also, this being a comic suggests Gunther will go.

“Peru is a little more than spontaneous adventure.”

Right . . . for the average person, it’s not spontaneous. Now for Gunther, it’s complete and utter spontaneity. He’s got his courses mapped out for the next five years? I mean, make your momma proud!

I think this non-relationship is more ludicrous by the day. I have no idea why I read this anymore, none of it makes sense!

@Dave53

“. . . but I would also argue that he hadn’t really “planned” the alternative ( attending Moony U and getting his engineering degree) so much as acquiescing to it as sort of an expected thing to do. I saw no real passion for that from him.”

I beg to differ. (From yesterday, just catching up :)

In the real world it is not a bad thing to have a plan and stick to it. The older brother of one of my son’s friends went to an Ivy League school but never did anything with his life. Last I heard he was working in a music shop.

didn’t Rosa ask him to join her in some sort of South American adventure? It was quite a while ago, but I have a vague memory of it…

5 YEARS? What kind of degree is he going for?

I haven’t read all 42 comments.But one thing Gunther hasn’t said, was to ask Rosa if she wants him to come along..Sometimes things will come to a head.

Calm down a bit, Gunther Then, face up to reality. Consult with both Rosa and your mother. See what cards are on the table before taking this big, potentially important, step. Then, if it still seems right, do it!

Maybe the look he’s going for is this.

5 years at Moony Uni ?

go to Peru for the summer and then decide. If you are undecided after the summer then you need to come home and go to Monny Uni. I believe that indecision is Gods way of requesting you to pray for guidance.

Hey Gunther?

If You REALLY wanna Do something “Spontaneous” how about COMBUSTING?

Then, when the “Fire” is out, SHOCK Us All and DO what YOU Really wanna DO, You increasing ANNOYING, Unbearably Spineless, Nearly Impossible to Defend Anymore, MilkSop!!!!!

Like Juan2099 stated, and if he and his Mom could afford it, let Gunther go with Rosa to Peru for the summer before school. Who knows, maybe the whole Peru thing isn’t what Rosa thought it to be. She is still only a teenager with optimistic, idealistic thoughts. It probably is her calling to be there, but then again it might not. If not, then Gunther was there for her. If so, she will thank Gunther for seeing her start her dream and kiss him goodbye and wish him well also.

@IamJayBluE

You actually just helped me make a major life decision I had been stressing about. This is the very last place I would expect to find that kind of insight, lol! Thanks!!

Dude, you are EIGHTEEN!!! Go to college, meet some chicks who put out and forget about the hippie chick who wants to save the world. Once you have a degree and settle into a job, start dating until you’re 25. Any deciisions made about a permanent relationship before age 25 are garbage.

It is not unusual for a high school senior to map out their entire schedule for the duration of their college years like they did for their high school years when they were leaving the eighth grade. ~An engineering degree takes five years. Both University of the Pacific and Chico State University have five year programs for engineering majors.~About Peru, there is nothing wrong with taking a year to go to Peru or any place else right after graduation as long as it is looked at as a learning opportunity. It would be only a year out of his life, and if Gunther lives in a state bordered by Mexico, he probably took two years of Spanish in high school. Along with doing charity work in Peru, he would strengthen his Spanish language skills which would be valuable when he returns to his home town. ~Now to work on his plans of spending weeks, months or a year in a Peru, and he will be on his way unless he feels that he could not live without his mother.

Okay, here again are the strips that showed (in order) Rosa’s “coming to grips” with her own ordeal, and how she did try to communicate it to Gunther (a man who rarely goes outside of “meticulous planning” to the “Nth” degree, a fact which she also spoke with him about)… -

And this (during the new years’ dance): -

This is the one area that Gunther realized she was talking about, though he is now “putting it all together”: –

Gunther is a aspie.

[Insert your least-favorite politician], the early years

Do what makes you happy and don’t worry about others or let them influence your plans.

Gunther dear boy, the University is still an option – when you get back! You don’t have to go there straight out of high school, it’s not going to run away and hide from you if you take a few years to try something else.

I wonder if Gunther will mention his plans to Rosa at any point. She will be mighty surprised when he shows up unannounced in Peru.

Gunther, you could just go to Peru for the summer and see what happens. It can be a “Senior Trip” to a foreign country and have a fabulous adventure without sacrificing your engineering degree!

Yes Gunther, listen to the people here who want you to take the nice safe option and live your life according to other people’s expectations.

Be warned though: when you’re an old man you won’t be thinking how wonderful it was that you did the safe thing, you’ll be wondering what could have happened if you’d been bold and taken a chance and a trip to Peru.

Well, Rosa appears to be a girl who has never worried about supporting herself. Her parents are rich, so she has never wanted for anything. She is a very hard worker though to get herself into Yale. Rosa go get that degree first, then you can travel the world, etc.

I know it is a comic, but Gunther, Rosa is putting herself first.You are both too young. Have an adventure for the summer, but both of you should go to your colleges for the four year degree, or further.

“The Superman stance is fists on hips, but Gunther has a nice wrist on hips look for his arms akimbo.”*HtD – In the last frame, he looks like he’s erupting into the Incredible Hulk.

“I’ve sailed the world and seen its wondersFrom the Dardanelles to the mountains of PeruBut there’s no place like…”~ Sweeney Todd

I guess it’s still a “picnic” compared to law and med!, LOL!

@RB:

At first glance, it would seem so… but look at it closely…the tone of her dialogue didn’t mean criticism….. – She used his speaking about planning for a car to segue into a much bigger topic… that’s why the words were as they were… – He was focused on the specific thing at hand, but she was using even then to bring things up….

LOL! That looks like the wires in my entertainment center!

As meticulous as you are, you’d probably have this straightened out in a jif…

Actually, as an IT professional,. I prefer GPEG! ;-PPPP

[BOO/HISS]/GROAN {Ducking/Running} :-)))

That’s it! Summer in Peru, and then……

More like for the gas that comes out of the sink (or whatever comes out of it!)….

Unless it’s a “heat sink” (Haw haw!!)…

“…That’s how long it took me to get mine. Well, in my dreams anyway.” ^But now when you go to bed, you have a decent chance of finding your dream job!

"A shot of the back of my home theater system rack:…..those two wall – warts in the lower left. " ^Ha ha ha!!!

To quote James Taylor, “That’s why I’m here!”

I would rather see Gunth go to Peru, but he is still like the boy he was when he rolled up his pant legs to cross a creek but forgot to take off his shoes and socks if he doesn’t rush to get that passport and start the ball rolling. ~Gunth is known for giving his time, so I expect him to take the opportunity to do some good for people in Peru.

Umm…has he considered Rosa may not WANT him to come visit her in Peru?

“Cartels were created after the Drug War started. A natural out growth. End the some Drug War and the Cartels will disappear too.”

From two days ago, still catching up (sorry, but I just have to respond :)

I wouldn’t bet on that. The cartels are extremely rich and powerful and have infiltrated the Mexican government to such an extent that I believe most of the government officials are on their payroll. Even if the illicit drug trade does dry up, they’ll only find other avenues to pursue, and which they have already done. For example, they’ve taken over the illegal immigrant routes, they deal in arms, kidnappings, extortion, and there are rumors of the kidnapping of children and adults for the sale of their organs. They’ve taken over entire farming areas, such as the lime industry in Michoacán, demanding payment from the pitiful salaries of the workers. That is why the price of limes skyrocketed recently. The cartels have completely taken over the city of Juarez for many years now and the government has done nothing. The cartels will never go away. Besides the government being on their payroll, the cartels are better equipped with weapons than the Mexican military. I’m not familiar with the situation in other Latin American countries, however, it’s probably similar.

“you’d probably have this straightened out in a jif…”

Wow, that looks like a nice place to visit! Do you know where it is?

I followed that link about Peru, the other day, that I believe you posted. With the rampant crime, Peru is probably not the safest or best place for our sweet Gunther.

Here’s an interesting link about the cartels entitled, “What Should I Know About Mexico’s Drug Cartels: Mexico’s Drug Cartels Are Everyone’s Problem.”http://kosmo.hubpages.com/hub/What-Should-I-Know-about-Mexicos-Drug-Cartels

I suspect the direction we are really headed is that at some point Rosa will tell Gunther she is breaking up with him and he doesn’t need to follow her to Peru. I can’t see Evans pulling Gunther out of the cast as he did the tiresome Aaron Hill. My guess it that is important to show Gunther was willing to do it, even though it doesn’t happen.

But what will Evans do with Gunther here at Moony Uni while Lu is at Pitts CC? Unless we’re in for a bunch of interaction at WW or Cafe TJ, or both continue to work at the library, Gunth & Lu won’t have much interaction time together.

I think Gunther will leave, at least for the foreseeable future. This, to enable Lu to meet other guys at Pitts CC and elsewhere, and finally determine what she really wants in life. Perhaps it is Gunther as the Lu/Gunth shippers desire. In which case, I think Gunth can always return…. perhaps a little better off and more mature, having had a few experiences with girls himself. Just because he is with Rosa now and, perhaps, going to Peru with her, doesn’t mean they’ll be “2 gether 4 ever,” or that Gunther can’t return to Pitts to claim Lu, someday.

No wonder it takes so long for Customer Service to answer my calls! – One could only wonder if the company I’m calling C.S. about is traced to “Dubai” or “New Dehli”…..

Gunther needs to be focused!

Right now, Gunther is confused.

Focus = Engineering Degree

It’s okay to have a girlfriend, that’s considered a bonus!But don’t confuse a bonus with your focus, Gunther!

If Gunther pursues his Engineering Degree, he will most likely meet someone nice because they will have much more in common.

The bonus of a girlfriend is not a guarantee in life.But don’t be so ignorant to exchange your focus for a bonus, Gunther!!

The same could be said for virtually every member of the cast. As near as I can tell, Luann is the only one going to Pitts CC. I can’t see Evans wiping the slate clean on the other characters.

He won’t wipe it completely clean, but he will spruce it up a bit. I believe the Moony Uni people (Bernice, Tiff, Quill etc.) will still be in play, as will Gunther, if he stays. I would also like to see Knute and Crystal have a role… maybe Ox as well. TJ I think will be there as he might provide the means for the group to gather at the truck (since the HS is no longer there). Obviously, the DeGroot family will remain (Frank, Nancy, Brad, Toni and, hopefully, Shannon).

But the other Pitts HS people I believe will depart (Delta, Rosa, Les, Elwood, Ms. Phelps, and Fogarty (as we already knowy)). Some temporarily, some permanently.

I honestly hope Gunther is among them, if only temporarily. He needs to get away and experience new things and new people. Again, he can always return (hopefully older, wiser, and more mature), and, if it’s meant for him and Lu to happen, be much better prepared for it. Right now, I’d say he’s not (neither is Lu, for that matter), and I think they are doomed to failure if they try at this point. They both need more experiences and “practice” with other people, first.

The Pitts H.S. graduates attending Moony Uni (including Quill as well as Gunther, remember) don’t have to disappear completely from the strip. They can just be largely ignored, in favor of story lines centered around Luann and her new friends at the Community College. This strip works like that. After all, we saw very little of Quill during the last year (presumably because there was nothing interesting to do with the character, after bringing him back), and other characters (e.g., mini-Elvis) presumably still exist out there somewhere, but we just have no reason to encounter them.

@Brd:

The old dilemma: ^Surrender to Mothra? Or let Godzilla walk all over you? My vote would be for whomever has the better breath….

Yes, I have not read any other comic that stttrrreeeccctttccchhhheeeessss out the storyline for so long! (Re: 9CWL)

Re: your wired pic…is this for Real?! =-O

Re: the yellow wire…hahahahah! ;)