Comments on: Hey, Bud, Let’s Party!

By: Zbicyclist

Zbicyclist — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 00:31:09 +0000

My college-age daughter has been out of the country on a 10 day trip, and if all we get when she gets back is a TEXT MESSAGE both her mother and I are going to be pretty steamed.

Plus the fact that Gene is texting about being near Mary Lou — something he knows Mom would grill him about.

By: Mitch4

Mitch4 — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 19:34:17 +0000

I haveta say it’s both (what he’s doing and how he’s communicating it). Yes, Janis is miffed that he texted. But also “beach” means Mary Lou.

By: bookworm

bookworm — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 18:20:30 +0000

Shows how out-of-touch I am — I thought buds meant immature boobs.

By: ctd

ctd — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 14:28:31 +0000

Agreed. It’s not _what_ he’s doing, it’s _how_ he told her.

By: Lessa

Lessa — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 21:42:02 +0000

#27 Jeff has it. Janis needs to cut the cord and let her little boy grow up.

By: Todd

Todd — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 18:41:45 +0000

I was initially thinking the reference was Budweiser, but upon further consideration, I don’t think Arlo would begrudge Gene a few beers after exams, even if Gene isn’t quite 21. Certainly wouldn’t be any worse than my sister serving her under-21 daughter and her daughter’s under-21 friends booze.

By: Jeff in Ann Arbor

Jeff in Ann Arbor — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 13:26:37 +0000

As Hunt wrote, not only is this the first they’ve heard from Gene after exams, he adds insult to injury (in Janis’ mind) by only sending a text. She hasn’t seen him since the holidays, and she was hoping he’d come home. Instead, he’s gone to the beach with friends.

Her baby is growing up and becoming more independent, and she is having trouble accepting it.

Of course, Gene could have been more considerate, but that would be an exceptional 20 year old. I sure wasn’t one.

By: Hunt

Hunt — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 12:39:31 +0000

Janis is mad because this is the first they’ve heard about what he’s doing after exams, and it’s only a text message. As for what “buds” means, it’s clear that Gene means buddies. Arlo must be what, about 50? He could mean either Budweiser or weed, I guess.

By: Annie Benson

Annie Benson — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 04:03:50 +0000

Ok, the slang word “Bud” can obviously mean either pot or beer. But which is more likely for this strip? Is it at all likely that Arlo thinks that Gene would send a text saying that he is enjoying a some marijuana at the beach rather than some beer? As pointed out above, a young man having a few beers at the beach is hardly a major scandal, but the revelation might upset his obviously tightly wound mother.

By: Liggo

Liggo — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 02:20:32 +0000

Buds = Budweisers.