Either elope or stay single and live together. Of course you may not be able to adopt Shannon if you’re not married but since Toni is Shannons aunt it should be no problem to have her live with them. BTW, is she saying she can’t go thru with a big wedding, with marrying brad, or marrying at all? BTW2, I never did like brad.
I presume “this” in Toni’s comment refers to the wedding. She and Brad need to consider whether “this” actually means the marriage. A couple that can’t communicate and that wants such different things has deeper issues than a 6-page list of wedding decisions. Do these two people really share much in common, when they consider their future plans?
What is Brad really in love with? an elaborate wedding and a trophy woman…
Although Toni is quite a “prize” for Brad, she does not fit the definition of a “trophy wife”. Brad would have to be much older than he is now.^^Well, in this case, she’s not a trophy wife, because they love each other, but, a trophy wife, just means marrying a woman, who’s “out of your league”, for her beauty, only, age of the groom, regardless.
This happens to almost every wedding or pre-marriage. The dramatic redoubt. A retreat from too much pressure by one partner, shocking to the other, but usually, if the partners love each other, and these two do, and there is good communication, catching breath, listening, accommodation and compromise it should work out. There are a lot of issues here, but nothing that can’t be worked out and faced. This is the time to step up to the plate Bradley. You want this woman then you need to find out what she needs and give it to her. Good preparation for marriage by the way. I think he will do that, but Sunday I know it will be something on life foibles.
Toni has just done what apparently is necessary to really get Brad’s attention, and drive home to him that he has been living in his own world and not really confronting her.
He’ll undoubtedly be shocked by this. But this is where we find out if he really starts listening to her, or if he acts clueless and blames her. If the former happens, then he grows up some, their relationship gets better, and their marriage is salvaged.
At the level of metafiction, Brad can never marry Toni. Charlie Brown can’t make babies with the Little Red Haired Girl. It violates the laws of comicland.
Brad exists as a foil for Luann, a buffoon. As the strip has evolved away from broad to more nuanced humor it has made sense to clean Brad up. But take that too far, and the character loses most of his comic potential.
Toni originates as a femme fatale. Mysterious with dark secrets. As a character, she verges on the possession of agency, but she works best as a prop. Either we eventually get to know her…at which point she stops being capital T Toni Daytona…or she has to reestablish her distance, or even leave the strip (as Aaron Hill did).
Marry Brad and Toni and Brad turns into a responsible adult and Toni into a housewife with a career. That’s not the Luanneiverse.
Now Toni disappears and Brad and TJ wind up (somehow) with Shannon. That’s comic gold. Perhaps a girlfriend or wife down the road for one of them…but someone just as goofy as they are…someone who drive Luanne a bit crazy. Like I said, comic gold.
Minimum requirement for a wedding: If your religious, you make your vows to God in front of witnesses. If you’re not, you sign a contract. Everything else is a holdover from the days when this was the only day in a woman’s entire life that she would get honored in any way, so she wanted enough hoopla to last a lifetime. Toni’s not that woman in that time. If Brad wants more, he can take over the details for it. But the marriage is the thing, not the wedding.
Am I the only one who doesn’t care what her current drama at the moment is?She’s always been giving to others and dating losers while Brad pines… so he finally gets he to commit and she “Can’t do this?” So maybe she is just as self involved as her brother. Has she ever asked Brad if he wanted or needed a single thing? NopeI know he will go after her but seriously I think he should leave her walking in the park. She obviously needs some alone time.
It’s about the wedding. I’m with her. I do not understand this whole gazillion dollar wedding thing that goes on these days. Use the $ for a down payment on a house, or pay down your student loans. Elope!
Yeah, I think it’s the big wedding she doesn’t want. This doesn’t seem to be connected to Brad as a person. She could also be referring to her brother’s irresponsibility and having Shannon fobbed off on her all the time.
“She Blinded Me, With Silence” (♪)“Time And Space”“…You Just Turn Your Pretty Head And Walk Away” (♪)“Toni, With A Tiger In Her Tank”“Too Fast For Daytona”“A Straight, Clean Exhaust”“Tired And Treading”
“Blinded By The Light” (♬)“Mister Amiss”“What’s Going On?” (♬)“Into The Bewildered, Blue Eyed Yonder”“You Can Look At The Stars And Still Not See The Light” (♪)
“Stumped, Rootng For Triage”“If You Leave Me, Now” (♪♬)“Every Time You Go Away” (♪♬)or“Walk, Don’t Run” (♬)
Is anyone really surprised? I mean, after all the craziness she has dealt with this week, I’m surprised she didn’t just snap and start strangling Brad in the car.Unfortunately I don’t see the others helping her. Not that they don’t care about her. Not that they don’t care about her. But everyone will be too busy pointing fingers at each other. Especially Brad and Jonah. The question will be; Is their concern for her? Or for how her breakdown is affecting them?
Human relations are never simple and it’s realistic to have disagreements. Couples often have them and discuss them to some livable solution for both. Brad needs to relinquish his control some and ask her what she wants and not assume his way is it. Otherwise, this kind of shutdown by her will turn into a permanent push away. She seems far more casual about things which fits when you consider her brother. Brad seems to be very detail oriented which can annoy the heck out of casual types. We’ll soon see his maturity level and his dedication to including her in all decisions. Do this and she’ll be onboard for the wedding and more.
Toni got OUT and (GASP) WALKED Away! Didn’t See THAT ONE Coming! (Rolls Eyes)
Nice Going, Brad! Now Go Run to Old Smiley for some Predictably BAD Advice on how to ‘Patch Things Up’ and thereby Give Your Wedding Plans a Proper Viking Funeral.
Why does everyone keep bringing up elopement? How is that going to help anything? Chances are it will make things 10X worse. Toni’s got cold feet because she has commitment issues. She can’t name one relationship in her life that’s worked out or lasted so far and she’s afraid, this one with Brad won’t either.
Brad will step up to the plate. He will follow her and they will discuss the problem. Because he is now listening, they will be able to resolve their differences and come up with a solution that both of them will like.
You are correct. I don’t see this as the end of the relationship. Their problems aren’t that they aren’t compatible or in love. It’s just too much pressure right now.
My husband and I took remarriage class given by a couple who had been married for a while. They had us explore what easy christmas of us expected from marriage and realities of marriage. That was over thirty years ago and we are still married.
“I think she means she can’t handle the planning meeting right now.” .I think sallymargaret has a better interpretation. If Brad wants to get married he will need to give up the big wedding..Sallymargaret: “I don’t believe she’s rejecting Brad. She’s simply not going to have a big fancy wedding. She’s definitely getting Brad’s attention.”
This was really painful today. And it felt real. Also I am not so sanguine that she just means the big wedding assault when she says she can’t do this. She has a pressure cooker job, a brother who wants her to be his daughter’s mom, and potentially complex new living arrangements with remodeling decisions (??) . Who hasn’t had this “Stop the world, I want to get off” kind of feeling? Nonetheless she needs to trust Brad enough to open up about what she can and cannot do. This is why I read Luann. How do young people learn to understand and process their emotions?
Toni is beautiful, but she is a no frills woman. She handles responsibility well, and has from a young age. Others tend to take her for granted because she does things calmly without making a big fuss. It is good to see her take a stand, since she doesn’t do it often. She may be my favorite character in this comic strip.
Toni is a little overwhelmed at the moment. And there are too many details for the wedding that are compounding the problems.Simplify the problems.Elope or move on.After that you can resolve the issues with Shannon.
Brad doesn’t know it, but he just dodged a bullet. If Brad marries Toni, he’s getting her brother as part of the package. You know that he’ll never let them adopt Shannon, but will expect them to raise her for him (because he has to audition, travel, etc.). I also can’t help but think that Toni really still wants a bad boy.
Go find a nice, stable girl without baggage, Brad. Marry her and have kids of your own, instead of raising her deadbeat brother’s daughter. What’s with cartoonists these days having their characters raise other men’s children? Do they have some kind of cuck fantasy?
Or better yet, Brad; just stay a bachelor and avoid the drama altogether.
Such poor communication between 2 people who plan on spending their lives together. Brad really has no idea why she is upset, and instead of telling him, Toni just walks away.
Today is a cliffhanger. The solution is communication. The question of what will eventually happen is based on communication – on feeling safe enough finally to talk thoroughly, and calm enough to listen.Of course, some here will mention the worst as if it were inevitable, and jump before the tale is done to precipitous conclusions rather than to tentative hypotheses. Or at least word their posts that way… Some do so for entertainment, but be warned that treating hypotheses as firm conclusions all too often causes problems in any of life’s arenas. Make it a habit at your own peril in your private life.Meanwhile, Poem for a Day today has a fitting poem today in one regard:https://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poem-dayLongfellow’s Endymion
Just took a look at the last month’s strips. Now I remember why I dropped reading this. Nothing is ever resolved. No one grows. They all get older, but they don’t grow up.
It’s hilarious they want to take Shannon in more, they can’t even handle wedding stress. They’re going to be in for a world of hurt as Shannon gets older. Then again they can shove her off on TJ and keep up the fine tradition of passing the responsibility.
some people can’t grasp why Brad wants so eagerly such a big wedding but suddenly came to me that there is a difference between Toni and Brad when it comes to cars………….. Brad takes his time, always wanting to “make sure everything is perfect” before saying is done, meanwhile Toni has always being the “oh, everything points to this, so let’s just do this, and will be ready to go”
Toni was affected by her parent’s death just like Jonah, and she did not take responsibility of Jonah……………. in 2010 she told Brad that her mom’s sister took them for a while and also that both her and Jonah moved to Pitts from another city (one like 2 to 5 hours away I assume ) and she is about same age as Brad (maybe 1 or 2 years older at most ) so she is around 22 to 25? if I remember correctly, Brad was originally 4 years older than Luann (13 and 17)
I’m willing to wager that those pontificating that Brad should dump Toni or otherwise give up on their relationship, do not themselves have a long-term stable one.
Read “The Revolt of Mother.” It’s a short story, and is written in full on the internet. It’s a classic story about men not listening, despite being told something repeatedly. Sometimes, women have to take a stand (such as walking away) to get a man’s attention when years of talking have gotten them nowhere.
My ex-wife was the opposite. It was HER big party. She took over the planning, the whole freakin’ day. Nobody noticed at the reception that I had slipped out back part way through the meal and crept back in for the cake and one or two dances. She, and her mother and sisters totally took over the day. I am so very glad the annulment went through and even more thankful I took that trip Scotland and met my present wife there. (27 years next Feb. 14th)
@locakeBrad really has no idea why she is upset, and instead of telling him, Toni just walks away.Does Brad really have no idea? For me that’s an interesting question. In my less enlightened days, I recall simulating surprise at how upset my wife was. Like “Hey I am all innocent here and suddenly you’re getting all weird on me.” He couldn’t possibly be that clueless, or is he? As for walking away, she is just taking a short mental health break. No biggie…
A few days ago, when I said “She’s going to bail”, I meant that she was going to get out of the car and start walking. So this may be the only time I have ever predicted anything in this strip correctly.Still a lot of people are very invested in the Brad/Toni relationship & don’t want to see it end. Me too.And lot of us were invested in the Luann/Quill relationship and it was possible (maybe even necessary) for team Evans to kill that.I’m hoping that Brad and Toni can reach an understanding and the wedding (in some form) will happen.
In a study published in the journal NeuroImage, researchers found that there are major differences in the way male and female brains process voice sounds. Different brain regions are activated in men, depending on whether they’re hearing a male or female voice. Apparently, the vibration and number of sound waves in our voice makes it harder for men to decipher what we’re saying. When it comes to processing a woman’s voice, they use the more complex auditory part of the brain that processes music, not human voices. But the guys in the study could easily hear and understand other mens voices as speech because that uses a simpler brain mechanism at the back of the brain.
So, next time you want to get angry and yell at a guy for “not listening,” cut him a little slack. His brain just wasn’t made to hear you.
Well she has left her niece in the back seat. At some time she will have to claim her. I think she is overwhelmed with people bombarding her with questions and ultimatums. I think that She and Brad may be living at her place to squelch one bit of controversy.
Today’s winner of the “Out Of Left Field With No Logical Relationship To How The Strip Has Developed In The Past Several Years” award!You get a better prize than just standing in the corner. You get Greg and Karen’s contempt as soon as they read your comment.
For those being ultra negative about these two “not communicating”, please remember this is all happening in just a few minutes ( their time). Give them TIME to talk to each other, which may take a few days or even weeks our time. Everything doesn’t happen in 3 panels!
guys………………….. found screenshot of the cartoonist studio site where GE himself said he was open to idea of making the 2 Shannons “same person” http://archive.is/http://www.thecartooniststudio.com/Blogs/Greg/Archives/2011/1/17/SomethingInterestingAboutShannon just days after he said they were not
96 Shannon is highly unlikely to be Shannon Lewis because Shannon was established in 96 as the daughter of the sister of Mrs. Lewis in one strip so unless Lindy “full name” in Latin American style is Lindy Lewis Lewis ( both mom and dad are from unrelated Lewis like if Eva Longoria married Evan Longoria and had kids ) there is no way her last name is Lewis, Mrs Lewis and Shannon’s mom would have different surnames when single
Here is the blog, in its entirety (bold/italics for emphasis):
I promised something interesting about “The Shannon Mystery” and here it is.
As I was looking through old strips to answer the question “Is the current Shannon the same person as the Shannon of 1996?” (she’s not; see previous blog) I discovered something that surprised me: she very well could be. Here’s why.
A four year old girl named Shannon was introduced on January 8, 1996 as the daughter of the sister of Mrs. Lewis (mother of Lindy, who Luann babysat). So Lindy Lewis and Shannon are cousins (although over time I believe I began to think of them as siblings. These things are hard to determine because the occurrences of Shannon and Lindy are spread over several years and it would take me hours to sleuth out how I ended up portraying them).
Point is, Shannon isn’t Shannon Lewis.
Eventually, Shannon and Lindy disappeared from the strip – until April 7, 2008, when Toni introduced a five year old girl – who looks exactly like the old Shannon – as “My cousin Shannon.” Here, I made the first of several goofs I’d make over subsequent strips, writing “cousin” instead “niece.” Shannon is Toni’s niece (see blog of 1/11).
When Brad asks Toni about Shannon, Toni explains that after some personal family tragedies, her brother “just went wild,” met a girl and fathered Shannon. The mother “was even wilder” and took off, leaving the brother to raise Shannon. The brother and the mother weren’t married.Could this wild mother be the sister of Mrs. Lewis? It’s not impossible.
In July, 2010, when Luann and the new Shannon meet, Toni introduces her niece this way: “Shannon, remember Luann?”She sure does. She babysat Shannon years ago.So it turns out that I inadvertently set the stage so that the Shannon of ‘96 could be the very same Shannon of today.
There are inconsistencies, of course. Luann has aged three years since ’96 (she was 13 then, she’s 16 now) but Shannon’s aged just one year. I’m sure sharp readers could find other mismatches in the story.
Still, I’m happy to think of myself as an incredibly clever and prescient master of plotting.
Even though I’m not.-————So, in effect, he’s saying he could see how readers could come to “The Conclusion Of Confusion”. Yet, his point was more so that though his inadvertent goofs made it seem possible, these are not the same person. And his method of delivery is admitting that even being in the business of creativity, he was humorously pointing out his mistakes and setting the record straight that it was not the same person.
Our solution:Get into a complex theatrical production (in our case, Verdi’s opera, “Don Carlo”).Get the bride’s mother to take care of everything.Show up in time for the service.
The ability of a couple to plan their wedding TOGETHER is emblematic of their ability to plan other more critical things down the road… like raising children. There have been red flags going back weeks and even months, and Brad’s angry rants over Jonah (some of them needless and silly) have not been a source of comfort to Toni. She and Jonah went through a lot in life together and there is a bond between them regardless of the problems over Shannon. Brad needs to realize that Jonah will be his brother in law and start reaching out, and in a civil manner.
yes… Toni looks resolute in the 1st panel above. She plans to say what she thinks. She says ‘give me a minute’ so she can gather her strength and thoughts. Then out it comes, albeit with her back turned. But she finally did it.
Emergency, emergency, those who think this is a perfect comic strip can only accept Jonah as a source of conflict! They must feel so conflicted about this!
when we talk “re-cannons of the same character and age differences” Shannon, is small potatoes compared to soap operas, where we got (just fictional examples but based on what actually happened ) that in the soap opera “Valentine Broadcasting News” we have 19 years old Jack Valentine carry the baby Jennifer Lords to his best friend Susan Diamond from the hospital crib to her arms so she can hug her daughter before she dies, than 12 years later (real time) we have 31 years old (same actor ) Jack propose to get married to him 22 years old Jennifer Lords (obviously a different actress than one who played baby Jennifer ) as suddenly instead of 19 years difference, it is only 9 years
My own wedding could not have been simpler—at the courthouse, and then our apartment, with about a dozen family and friends there. Two people who were late getting into town took us out for pizza afterwards.There was a lot of champagne left over. That was 47 years ago and we are doing great.
I’ve reviewed the strips following from June 7, 2010, and I still don’t see where it says Aunt Gertrude is from Momma Daytona’s side of the family. Nor do I know whether the uncle who gave Toni her car is the husband of this aunt (whoever’s sister she may be), or the brother of one parent or the other.
Pretty clearly, both the uncle and aunt are out of the picture (if they’re even living), but I don’t know why we should assume they’re married to one another.
My prediction is that the wedding is still on, though it may be postponed again. My hope is that Toni will be able to communicate with Brad about her feelings about the wedding, not just about her crappy day.
I line up pretty closely with those who think Brad is too wrapped up in a “look what I got!” mind set, and wants to make a big, loud statement about his hot babe. I don’t think that makes Brad a complete jerk, but I do think he needs to spend some time thinking about this from Toni’s point of view. He has developed into a pretty solid father-figure for Shannon, but I think he needs to work on his husband skills.
This bs has been going on for 10 years now. Walk away toni, walk away bwad. Give the rest of us a freaking break. C’mon and get some new material funny book artist.
I hope that Toni quickly realizes she is frazzled from all the craziness she has experienced this day… and that she also realizes that if she dumps all her anger & frustration onto Brad… that she is actually hurting and being unkind to the one person who IS on her side. For her own sake, she needs to think before she speaks right now. Communication (both giving AND receiving communication) is the key to success.
Yep, she’s bailing. She’s out of Brad’s league, anyway. What did Jimmy Soul tell us? If you wanna be happy for the rest of your life…never make a pretty woman your wife! From his personal point of view…get an ugly girl to marry you!
Mikeyj over 7 years ago
ohh Someone said that yesterday~~!!!
Templo S.U.D. over 7 years ago
She so needs that breather.
Flash Gordon over 7 years ago
Either elope or stay single and live together. Of course you may not be able to adopt Shannon if you’re not married but since Toni is Shannons aunt it should be no problem to have her live with them. BTW, is she saying she can’t go thru with a big wedding, with marrying brad, or marrying at all? BTW2, I never did like brad.
Wilde Bill over 7 years ago
♪ These Boots are made for Walking ♪I don’t know, luannfan1212, but it looks like she’s bailing to me.
Namrepus over 7 years ago
Welcome to the Saturday Cliffhanger.
Mikeyj over 7 years ago
This won’t be permanent, but… it could mean we don’t see a wedding for some time, maybe until April 1rst (Which would match with the engagement!)
31768 over 7 years ago
about time, Toni! stop the insanity, Bwad!
RDT64 Premium Member over 7 years ago
I was wondering when she’d hit her limit…
sallymargaret over 7 years ago
I don’t believe she’s rejecting Brad. She’s simply not going to have a big fancy wedding. She’s definitely getting Brad’s attention.
Mikeyj over 7 years ago
I expect we will be going to a new arc on Monday
seismic-2 Premium Member over 7 years ago
I presume “this” in Toni’s comment refers to the wedding. She and Brad need to consider whether “this” actually means the marriage. A couple that can’t communicate and that wants such different things has deeper issues than a 6-page list of wedding decisions. Do these two people really share much in common, when they consider their future plans?
Mikeyj over 7 years ago
JPuzzleWhiz said, about 3 hours ago
@rhelburn
What is Brad really in love with? an elaborate wedding and a trophy woman…
Although Toni is quite a “prize” for Brad, she does not fit the definition of a “trophy wife”. Brad would have to be much older than he is now.^^Well, in this case, she’s not a trophy wife, because they love each other, but, a trophy wife, just means marrying a woman, who’s “out of your league”, for her beauty, only, age of the groom, regardless.
SactoSylvia over 7 years ago
I trust “this” is the wedding, not the marriage.
I had friends who decided postponed their wedding last minute – and got married about six months later – and are still married a decade or two later.
luann1212 over 7 years ago
This happens to almost every wedding or pre-marriage. The dramatic redoubt. A retreat from too much pressure by one partner, shocking to the other, but usually, if the partners love each other, and these two do, and there is good communication, catching breath, listening, accommodation and compromise it should work out. There are a lot of issues here, but nothing that can’t be worked out and faced. This is the time to step up to the plate Bradley. You want this woman then you need to find out what she needs and give it to her. Good preparation for marriage by the way. I think he will do that, but Sunday I know it will be something on life foibles.
Chrisdiaz801 over 7 years ago
Aren’t they supposed to get married in September? Shannon is going to be mad.
Argythree over 7 years ago
This must be the drama that we were promised…
Airman over 7 years ago
Take a deep breath Brad and Toni. At this stage of your relationship you are still a long way from understanding each other. Talk.
Wizardgoat over 7 years ago
Toni has just done what apparently is necessary to really get Brad’s attention, and drive home to him that he has been living in his own world and not really confronting her.
He’ll undoubtedly be shocked by this. But this is where we find out if he really starts listening to her, or if he acts clueless and blames her. If the former happens, then he grows up some, their relationship gets better, and their marriage is salvaged.
A R V reader over 7 years ago
Hearts are about to shatter.
MathProf2 over 7 years ago
At the level of metafiction, Brad can never marry Toni. Charlie Brown can’t make babies with the Little Red Haired Girl. It violates the laws of comicland.
Brad exists as a foil for Luann, a buffoon. As the strip has evolved away from broad to more nuanced humor it has made sense to clean Brad up. But take that too far, and the character loses most of his comic potential.
Toni originates as a femme fatale. Mysterious with dark secrets. As a character, she verges on the possession of agency, but she works best as a prop. Either we eventually get to know her…at which point she stops being capital T Toni Daytona…or she has to reestablish her distance, or even leave the strip (as Aaron Hill did).
Marry Brad and Toni and Brad turns into a responsible adult and Toni into a housewife with a career. That’s not the Luanneiverse.
Now Toni disappears and Brad and TJ wind up (somehow) with Shannon. That’s comic gold. Perhaps a girlfriend or wife down the road for one of them…but someone just as goofy as they are…someone who drive Luanne a bit crazy. Like I said, comic gold.
Ruth Brown over 7 years ago
She asked for a minute. Give it to her.
wiselad over 7 years ago
what if they elope in 15 days?
wiselad over 7 years ago
“walking out of the Brad stress”
reatta45 over 7 years ago
Live together At Least 2 years Before you get married…
Dreamdeer over 7 years ago
Minimum requirement for a wedding: If your religious, you make your vows to God in front of witnesses. If you’re not, you sign a contract. Everything else is a holdover from the days when this was the only day in a woman’s entire life that she would get honored in any way, so she wanted enough hoopla to last a lifetime. Toni’s not that woman in that time. If Brad wants more, he can take over the details for it. But the marriage is the thing, not the wedding.
rimshot22 over 7 years ago
Good, now go find your brother and tell him to hire a babysitter.
AKHenderson Premium Member over 7 years ago
I know the feeling – burnout from having more chores dumped in one’s lap that one is capable of mentally processing.
RandomLeeme over 7 years ago
Am I the only one who doesn’t care what her current drama at the moment is?She’s always been giving to others and dating losers while Brad pines… so he finally gets he to commit and she “Can’t do this?” So maybe she is just as self involved as her brother. Has she ever asked Brad if he wanted or needed a single thing? NopeI know he will go after her but seriously I think he should leave her walking in the park. She obviously needs some alone time.
goodrich33 over 7 years ago
It’s about the wedding. I’m with her. I do not understand this whole gazillion dollar wedding thing that goes on these days. Use the $ for a down payment on a house, or pay down your student loans. Elope!
SF1972 over 7 years ago
Yes. All of this.
After all, Toni did say she needed a minute.
“I can’t do this” = “I can’t plan a big wedding. I don’t want a big wedding. Let’s elope.”
kenhense over 7 years ago
Brad – How can you come home to somebody you don’t know at all?
kenhense over 7 years ago
I’m afraid Brad needs a dominating type woman – like Alice in “Dilbert.” She’d give him a clue he can’t forget.
imagenesis over 7 years ago
Yeah! I was afraid of this! She’s getting cold feet.
sueb1863 over 7 years ago
Yeah, I think it’s the big wedding she doesn’t want. This doesn’t seem to be connected to Brad as a person. She could also be referring to her brother’s irresponsibility and having Shannon fobbed off on her all the time.
meillered over 7 years ago
Elope?
JayBluE over 7 years ago
“She Blinded Me, With Silence” (♪)“Time And Space”“…You Just Turn Your Pretty Head And Walk Away” (♪)“Toni, With A Tiger In Her Tank”“Too Fast For Daytona”“A Straight, Clean Exhaust”“Tired And Treading”
“Blinded By The Light” (♬)“Mister Amiss”“What’s Going On?” (♬)“Into The Bewildered, Blue Eyed Yonder”“You Can Look At The Stars And Still Not See The Light” (♪)
“Stumped, Rootng For Triage”“If You Leave Me, Now” (♪♬)“Every Time You Go Away” (♪♬)or“Walk, Don’t Run” (♬)
seanyj over 7 years ago
I can’t believe Toni got cold feet and is backing out now!
ericbrower over 7 years ago
Is anyone really surprised? I mean, after all the craziness she has dealt with this week, I’m surprised she didn’t just snap and start strangling Brad in the car.Unfortunately I don’t see the others helping her. Not that they don’t care about her. Not that they don’t care about her. But everyone will be too busy pointing fingers at each other. Especially Brad and Jonah. The question will be; Is their concern for her? Or for how her breakdown is affecting them?
tom_wright over 7 years ago
Elope. Use the money you save as a down payment on a house. Or pay off the house completely at the cost of some weddings.
trspence over 7 years ago
Uh oh…
electricpostcard over 7 years ago
Human relations are never simple and it’s realistic to have disagreements. Couples often have them and discuss them to some livable solution for both. Brad needs to relinquish his control some and ask her what she wants and not assume his way is it. Otherwise, this kind of shutdown by her will turn into a permanent push away. She seems far more casual about things which fits when you consider her brother. Brad seems to be very detail oriented which can annoy the heck out of casual types. We’ll soon see his maturity level and his dedication to including her in all decisions. Do this and she’ll be onboard for the wedding and more.
becida over 7 years ago
The wedding stuff or being married? I’m hoping it’s the"stuff" & they just go down to the courthouse.
Schrodinger's Dog over 7 years ago
we wish!
gcaldwel over 7 years ago
I told you Brad was an idiot.
Mordock999 Premium Member over 7 years ago
OH-MY-GAW!!!!
Toni got OUT and (GASP) WALKED Away! Didn’t See THAT ONE Coming! (Rolls Eyes)
Nice Going, Brad! Now Go Run to Old Smiley for some Predictably BAD Advice on how to ‘Patch Things Up’ and thereby Give Your Wedding Plans a Proper Viking Funeral.
oakie817 over 7 years ago
I simply think he surprised her with how much thought he had put into it all already
eclark over 7 years ago
Why does everyone keep bringing up elopement? How is that going to help anything? Chances are it will make things 10X worse. Toni’s got cold feet because she has commitment issues. She can’t name one relationship in her life that’s worked out or lasted so far and she’s afraid, this one with Brad won’t either.
sallymargaret over 7 years ago
Brad will step up to the plate. He will follow her and they will discuss the problem. Because he is now listening, they will be able to resolve their differences and come up with a solution that both of them will like.
Rocknaww over 7 years ago
You are correct. I don’t see this as the end of the relationship. Their problems aren’t that they aren’t compatible or in love. It’s just too much pressure right now.
sallymargaret over 7 years ago
Toni doesn’t have cold feet. She just wants to be heard.
sue.meacham over 7 years ago
My husband and I took remarriage class given by a couple who had been married for a while. They had us explore what easy christmas of us expected from marriage and realities of marriage. That was over thirty years ago and we are still married.
JimT8 over 7 years ago
“I think she means she can’t handle the planning meeting right now.” .I think sallymargaret has a better interpretation. If Brad wants to get married he will need to give up the big wedding..Sallymargaret: “I don’t believe she’s rejecting Brad. She’s simply not going to have a big fancy wedding. She’s definitely getting Brad’s attention.”
GirlGeek Premium Member over 7 years ago
Why does Greg and his daughter have put to drama in the comic at every turn? I would like some non-drama.
Queen of America over 7 years ago
I’m with the “no big wedding” group.
Luanaphile over 7 years ago
This was really painful today. And it felt real. Also I am not so sanguine that she just means the big wedding assault when she says she can’t do this. She has a pressure cooker job, a brother who wants her to be his daughter’s mom, and potentially complex new living arrangements with remodeling decisions (??) . Who hasn’t had this “Stop the world, I want to get off” kind of feeling? Nonetheless she needs to trust Brad enough to open up about what she can and cannot do. This is why I read Luann. How do young people learn to understand and process their emotions?
3pibgorn9 over 7 years ago
They do eventually………..more or less.
sallymargaret over 7 years ago
Toni is beautiful, but she is a no frills woman. She handles responsibility well, and has from a young age. Others tend to take her for granted because she does things calmly without making a big fuss. It is good to see her take a stand, since she doesn’t do it often. She may be my favorite character in this comic strip.
Mongo over 7 years ago
Toni is a little overwhelmed at the moment. And there are too many details for the wedding that are compounding the problems.Simplify the problems.Elope or move on.After that you can resolve the issues with Shannon.
w16521 over 7 years ago
Uh oh…Looks like the relationship may be coming to an end.When a woman says “I can’t do this”, that is never a good sign.
InColorado over 7 years ago
Looks like flakiness runs in the Daytona family!
Brad doesn’t know it, but he just dodged a bullet. If Brad marries Toni, he’s getting her brother as part of the package. You know that he’ll never let them adopt Shannon, but will expect them to raise her for him (because he has to audition, travel, etc.). I also can’t help but think that Toni really still wants a bad boy.
Go find a nice, stable girl without baggage, Brad. Marry her and have kids of your own, instead of raising her deadbeat brother’s daughter. What’s with cartoonists these days having their characters raise other men’s children? Do they have some kind of cuck fantasy?
Or better yet, Brad; just stay a bachelor and avoid the drama altogether.
jbacoachjay over 7 years ago
I saw this coming. Talk about delay delay delay.
locake over 7 years ago
Such poor communication between 2 people who plan on spending their lives together. Brad really has no idea why she is upset, and instead of telling him, Toni just walks away.
locake over 7 years ago
I agree that she means she can’t handle the fancy wedding, not getting married to Brad.
SukieCrandall Premium Member over 7 years ago
Today is a cliffhanger. The solution is communication. The question of what will eventually happen is based on communication – on feeling safe enough finally to talk thoroughly, and calm enough to listen.Of course, some here will mention the worst as if it were inevitable, and jump before the tale is done to precipitous conclusions rather than to tentative hypotheses. Or at least word their posts that way… Some do so for entertainment, but be warned that treating hypotheses as firm conclusions all too often causes problems in any of life’s arenas. Make it a habit at your own peril in your private life.Meanwhile, Poem for a Day today has a fitting poem today in one regard:https://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poem-dayLongfellow’s Endymion
sallymargaret over 7 years ago
Toni has turned Brad into a man. If it weren’t for her influence, he’d still be lying on the couch covered with Oreo dust.
Durak Premium Member over 7 years ago
Just took a look at the last month’s strips. Now I remember why I dropped reading this. Nothing is ever resolved. No one grows. They all get older, but they don’t grow up.
Night-Gaunt49[Bozo is Boffo] over 7 years ago
People grow up all of the time, just that their behavior doesn’t change.
thebigboot over 7 years ago
It’s hilarious they want to take Shannon in more, they can’t even handle wedding stress. They’re going to be in for a world of hurt as Shannon gets older. Then again they can shove her off on TJ and keep up the fine tradition of passing the responsibility.
wiselad over 7 years ago
some people can’t grasp why Brad wants so eagerly such a big wedding but suddenly came to me that there is a difference between Toni and Brad when it comes to cars………….. Brad takes his time, always wanting to “make sure everything is perfect” before saying is done, meanwhile Toni has always being the “oh, everything points to this, so let’s just do this, and will be ready to go”
Aqsnt over 7 years ago
I think she’s searching for Brigadoon.
loubarra over 7 years ago
I called that one.
wiselad over 7 years ago
Toni was affected by her parent’s death just like Jonah, and she did not take responsibility of Jonah……………. in 2010 she told Brad that her mom’s sister took them for a while and also that both her and Jonah moved to Pitts from another city (one like 2 to 5 hours away I assume ) and she is about same age as Brad (maybe 1 or 2 years older at most ) so she is around 22 to 25? if I remember correctly, Brad was originally 4 years older than Luann (13 and 17)
Irvingj over 7 years ago
Brad is making the fundamental guy mistake: he’s not listening.
Schrodinger's Dog over 7 years ago
I’m willing to wager that those pontificating that Brad should dump Toni or otherwise give up on their relationship, do not themselves have a long-term stable one.
ron over 7 years ago
Now she knows Brad is clueless, especially about non-verbal clues.
Ordinary Average Guy over 7 years ago
Women! (AMIRITEGYUZORWUT?!?)
sallymargaret over 7 years ago
Read “The Revolt of Mother.” It’s a short story, and is written in full on the internet. It’s a classic story about men not listening, despite being told something repeatedly. Sometimes, women have to take a stand (such as walking away) to get a man’s attention when years of talking have gotten them nowhere.
winston49 over 7 years ago
What about his benefits?
Teto85 Premium Member over 7 years ago
My ex-wife was the opposite. It was HER big party. She took over the planning, the whole freakin’ day. Nobody noticed at the reception that I had slipped out back part way through the meal and crept back in for the cake and one or two dances. She, and her mother and sisters totally took over the day. I am so very glad the annulment went through and even more thankful I took that trip Scotland and met my present wife there. (27 years next Feb. 14th)
Callie Ray over 7 years ago
As the saying goes: I’ve got a bad feeling about this.
torkzilla over 7 years ago
Julia Roberts…Lyle Lovett…lasted how long?
Luanaphile over 7 years ago
@locakeBrad really has no idea why she is upset, and instead of telling him, Toni just walks away.Does Brad really have no idea? For me that’s an interesting question. In my less enlightened days, I recall simulating surprise at how upset my wife was. Like “Hey I am all innocent here and suddenly you’re getting all weird on me.” He couldn’t possibly be that clueless, or is he? As for walking away, she is just taking a short mental health break. No biggie…
Wilde Bill over 7 years ago
A few days ago, when I said “She’s going to bail”, I meant that she was going to get out of the car and start walking. So this may be the only time I have ever predicted anything in this strip correctly.Still a lot of people are very invested in the Brad/Toni relationship & don’t want to see it end. Me too.And lot of us were invested in the Luann/Quill relationship and it was possible (maybe even necessary) for team Evans to kill that.I’m hoping that Brad and Toni can reach an understanding and the wedding (in some form) will happen.
sallymargaret over 7 years ago
In a study published in the journal NeuroImage, researchers found that there are major differences in the way male and female brains process voice sounds. Different brain regions are activated in men, depending on whether they’re hearing a male or female voice. Apparently, the vibration and number of sound waves in our voice makes it harder for men to decipher what we’re saying. When it comes to processing a woman’s voice, they use the more complex auditory part of the brain that processes music, not human voices. But the guys in the study could easily hear and understand other mens voices as speech because that uses a simpler brain mechanism at the back of the brain.
So, next time you want to get angry and yell at a guy for “not listening,” cut him a little slack. His brain just wasn’t made to hear you.
Bonita Voigt over 7 years ago
I nailed that yesterday with my comment!
ToetagProductions over 7 years ago
Well she has left her niece in the back seat. At some time she will have to claim her. I think she is overwhelmed with people bombarding her with questions and ultimatums. I think that She and Brad may be living at her place to squelch one bit of controversy.
Kymberleigh over 7 years ago
Today’s winner of the “Out Of Left Field With No Logical Relationship To How The Strip Has Developed In The Past Several Years” award!You get a better prize than just standing in the corner. You get Greg and Karen’s contempt as soon as they read your comment.
Schrodinger's Dog over 7 years ago
so, you like to just go around to various strips being a tool, huh ?
Schrodinger's Dog over 7 years ago
For those being ultra negative about these two “not communicating”, please remember this is all happening in just a few minutes ( their time). Give them TIME to talk to each other, which may take a few days or even weeks our time. Everything doesn’t happen in 3 panels!
Schrodinger's Dog over 7 years ago
or 2 panels like today!
RSH over 7 years ago
Whatever ‘this’ is and what Toni is trying to say she’s saying it facing away from Brad….
wiselad over 7 years ago
guys………………….. found screenshot of the cartoonist studio site where GE himself said he was open to idea of making the 2 Shannons “same person” http://archive.is/http://www.thecartooniststudio.com/Blogs/Greg/Archives/2011/1/17/SomethingInterestingAboutShannon just days after he said they were not
Train 1911 over 7 years ago
Stupid cartoon
Sisyphos over 7 years ago
You brought this on yourself, Brad. So, wise up and shut up about your plans for her wedding—or else, be prepared to call the whole thing off!
wiselad over 7 years ago
96 Shannon is highly unlikely to be Shannon Lewis because Shannon was established in 96 as the daughter of the sister of Mrs. Lewis in one strip so unless Lindy “full name” in Latin American style is Lindy Lewis Lewis ( both mom and dad are from unrelated Lewis like if Eva Longoria married Evan Longoria and had kids ) there is no way her last name is Lewis, Mrs Lewis and Shannon’s mom would have different surnames when single
JayBluE over 7 years ago
Here is the blog, in its entirety (bold/italics for emphasis):
I promised something interesting about “The Shannon Mystery” and here it is.
As I was looking through old strips to answer the question “Is the current Shannon the same person as the Shannon of 1996?” (she’s not; see previous blog) I discovered something that surprised me: she very well could be. Here’s why.
A four year old girl named Shannon was introduced on January 8, 1996 as the daughter of the sister of Mrs. Lewis (mother of Lindy, who Luann babysat). So Lindy Lewis and Shannon are cousins (although over time I believe I began to think of them as siblings. These things are hard to determine because the occurrences of Shannon and Lindy are spread over several years and it would take me hours to sleuth out how I ended up portraying them).
Point is, Shannon isn’t Shannon Lewis.
Eventually, Shannon and Lindy disappeared from the strip – until April 7, 2008, when Toni introduced a five year old girl – who looks exactly like the old Shannon – as “My cousin Shannon.” Here, I made the first of several goofs I’d make over subsequent strips, writing “cousin” instead “niece.” Shannon is Toni’s niece (see blog of 1/11).
When Brad asks Toni about Shannon, Toni explains that after some personal family tragedies, her brother “just went wild,” met a girl and fathered Shannon. The mother “was even wilder” and took off, leaving the brother to raise Shannon. The brother and the mother weren’t married.Could this wild mother be the sister of Mrs. Lewis? It’s not impossible.
In July, 2010, when Luann and the new Shannon meet, Toni introduces her niece this way: “Shannon, remember Luann?”She sure does. She babysat Shannon years ago.So it turns out that I inadvertently set the stage so that the Shannon of ‘96 could be the very same Shannon of today.
There are inconsistencies, of course. Luann has aged three years since ’96 (she was 13 then, she’s 16 now) but Shannon’s aged just one year. I’m sure sharp readers could find other mismatches in the story.
Still, I’m happy to think of myself as an incredibly clever and prescient master of plotting.
Even though I’m not.-————So, in effect, he’s saying he could see how readers could come to “The Conclusion Of Confusion”. Yet, his point was more so that though his inadvertent goofs made it seem possible, these are not the same person. And his method of delivery is admitting that even being in the business of creativity, he was humorously pointing out his mistakes and setting the record straight that it was not the same person.
John W Kennedy Premium Member over 7 years ago
Our solution:Get into a complex theatrical production (in our case, Verdi’s opera, “Don Carlo”).Get the bride’s mother to take care of everything.Show up in time for the service.
fathergod over 7 years ago
I’m waiting for Luann and Toni to bond as sisters.
RSH over 7 years ago
The ability of a couple to plan their wedding TOGETHER is emblematic of their ability to plan other more critical things down the road… like raising children. There have been red flags going back weeks and even months, and Brad’s angry rants over Jonah (some of them needless and silly) have not been a source of comfort to Toni. She and Jonah went through a lot in life together and there is a bond between them regardless of the problems over Shannon. Brad needs to realize that Jonah will be his brother in law and start reaching out, and in a civil manner.
RSH over 7 years ago
yes… Toni looks resolute in the 1st panel above. She plans to say what she thinks. She says ‘give me a minute’ so she can gather her strength and thoughts. Then out it comes, albeit with her back turned. But she finally did it.
Caldonia over 7 years ago
Emergency, emergency, those who think this is a perfect comic strip can only accept Jonah as a source of conflict! They must feel so conflicted about this!
wiselad over 7 years ago
when we talk “re-cannons of the same character and age differences” Shannon, is small potatoes compared to soap operas, where we got (just fictional examples but based on what actually happened ) that in the soap opera “Valentine Broadcasting News” we have 19 years old Jack Valentine carry the baby Jennifer Lords to his best friend Susan Diamond from the hospital crib to her arms so she can hug her daughter before she dies, than 12 years later (real time) we have 31 years old (same actor ) Jack propose to get married to him 22 years old Jennifer Lords (obviously a different actress than one who played baby Jennifer ) as suddenly instead of 19 years difference, it is only 9 years
JimT8 over 7 years ago
My own wedding could not have been simpler—at the courthouse, and then our apartment, with about a dozen family and friends there. Two people who were late getting into town took us out for pizza afterwards.There was a lot of champagne left over. That was 47 years ago and we are doing great.
JimT8 over 7 years ago
From the advice columns I read I conclude that there is probably nothing more stressful than a fancy wedding with hordes of people there.
Schrodinger's Dog over 7 years ago
I suspect TJ won’t allow it to be a simple affair ….
Make Mine Marvel over 7 years ago
I’ve reviewed the strips following from June 7, 2010, and I still don’t see where it says Aunt Gertrude is from Momma Daytona’s side of the family. Nor do I know whether the uncle who gave Toni her car is the husband of this aunt (whoever’s sister she may be), or the brother of one parent or the other.
Pretty clearly, both the uncle and aunt are out of the picture (if they’re even living), but I don’t know why we should assume they’re married to one another.
My prediction is that the wedding is still on, though it may be postponed again. My hope is that Toni will be able to communicate with Brad about her feelings about the wedding, not just about her crappy day.
I line up pretty closely with those who think Brad is too wrapped up in a “look what I got!” mind set, and wants to make a big, loud statement about his hot babe. I don’t think that makes Brad a complete jerk, but I do think he needs to spend some time thinking about this from Toni’s point of view. He has developed into a pretty solid father-figure for Shannon, but I think he needs to work on his husband skills.
schrocknik1 over 7 years ago
Wish something like that had happened before my wedding and was permanent (1974-1981 — close enough).
David Huie Green LosersBlameOthers&It'sYOURfault over 7 years ago
Too much is too much.My dreams are that your dreams be achieved.
drewpamon over 7 years ago
and next week we find out what Rosa has been up to.
lindz.coop Premium Member over 7 years ago
I think she just means she can’t do the big wedding bit…elopement is much easier.
Devonshade over 7 years ago
This bs has been going on for 10 years now. Walk away toni, walk away bwad. Give the rest of us a freaking break. C’mon and get some new material funny book artist.
Pipe Tobacco Premium Member over 7 years ago
I hope that Toni quickly realizes she is frazzled from all the craziness she has experienced this day… and that she also realizes that if she dumps all her anger & frustration onto Brad… that she is actually hurting and being unkind to the one person who IS on her side. For her own sake, she needs to think before she speaks right now. Communication (both giving AND receiving communication) is the key to success.
Argythree over 7 years ago
SPOILER
Meanwhile, back on the homefront, Bernice warms up her snarking muscles…
Brdshtt Premium Member over 7 years ago
Spoiler Alert II: Luann reverts to her toddler years and is saying “Da Da Da Da…”
Gleetard over 7 years ago
Let her go.
Terminal Frost Premium Member over 7 years ago
She just wants to slut around a little more with another badboy unlike brad
^^that was really classy there… NOT
bravechow over 7 years ago
Yep, she’s bailing. She’s out of Brad’s league, anyway. What did Jimmy Soul tell us? If you wanna be happy for the rest of your life…never make a pretty woman your wife! From his personal point of view…get an ugly girl to marry you!
sjsczurek over 7 years ago
If the wedding, and the love between Toni and Brad go bust, then I’m certain that Luann will lose so many of its fans that IT will go bust!
phxhocking over 7 years ago
Time to wake up, Brad. Typical male. Clueless.