02/27/2008: "Reflections on living alone"

Back in 2005, I wrote a post titled Dangers of too Much Leesee Time where I confessed that after three years of living alone, I'd found myself talking to the food in my refrigerator.

That's what I was reminded of after reading through this hilarious comic strip (thanks Sean!) called Garfield Minus Garfield.

"Who would have guessed that when you remove Garfield from the Garfield comic strips, the result is an even better comic about schizophrenia, bipolor disorder, and the empty desperation of modern life?

Friends, meet Jon Arbuckle. Let's laugh and learn with him on a journey deep into the tortured mind of an isolated young everyman as he fights a losing battle against lonliness and methamphetamine addiction in a quiet American suburb." (btw, as a librarian I am honor bound to mention this strip is an obvious copyright violation...so view it fast before it's gone)

Now, I was never a fan of Garfield, and I'm not a fan of comic strips in general...but reading through these had me laughing out loud and some of them hit a little too closely to home. Of course, I'm not living alone anymore but I still identify myself internally as a single person. I'm guessing that will go away eventually?

If you do check them out (and you really should), let me know which one you liked the best. I think my favorite was the one where he says "I'm an empty grocery sack", or..."How about giving me a BIG SMILE!". Oh...I also love "You forgot my birthday".

Replies: 9 Comments

on Wednesday, February 27th, Brian said

I was huge Garfield fan as a kid. I even had a Garfield clock in my bedroom, complete with swinging tail.

The site is a trip, but what really struck me were the strips that were genuinely sad - growing old is sad, my life isn't turning out like I planned, etc.

But the one where he can't taste his tongue is hilarious!

on Wednesday, February 27th, LEE_RYDER_2000@yahoo.com">dad said

In laters years there has only been one decent comic strip with great hummor sadly it is no more who you got to be thinking, Calvin &Hobbs esp the ones where he made all the freeky snowpeople :laugh:

on Wednesday, February 27th, Bob said

I never thought of reading Garfield the way you described. I will most definitely give it a try. Thanks.

on Thursday, February 28th, Elise said

Hi Brian, your right that the strip is sad. i didn't realize that it was so sad. i'd kind of like to see what they look like with garfield in them...would they still be so sad?

and dad, you're right, i love calvin and hobbes and also dilbert.

and bob, let me know what you think of it...(the garfield minus garfield comics)...

on Thursday, February 28th, Daniel North said

That feeling does not go away.

on Thursday, February 28th, Elise said

hmmm, is that right Daniel? Well, I don't think it's necessarily a bad feeling so I guess it's ok if it never goes away. I'm just so incredibly used to being alone that it has become my factory default setting. And being single was great in a lot of ways that had nothing to do with dating (because I never did) it was mostly great to have that sense that you were the only one who could really have an impact on your own happiness. And you get to make all the decisions without having to consult with anyone.

sigh...

but, there are good and bad things about all states of life. And I'm not giving up my honey for any amount of leesee time.
:satisfied:
and it seems like your family is pretty damn cool too!

on Thursday, February 28th, Phillip said

Oh my gosh, Garfield without the cat. Jon has an imaginary cat. That makes sense. It explains a lot if you think about it.

on Monday, March 3rd, hannigansean@hotmail.com">sean said

i like the one where he sits and dreams about the movie they oughta make about his life--soooootrue!

on Monday, March 3rd, Elise said

You too eh?
:blush: