It's Hump Day? Already?!?

Oh my gosh... it's Wednesday? Seriously?

I'm a little behind getting started on the new year. 

It's not exactly my fault. Instead of spending a nice relaxing week at home between Christmas and New Year, on the day after Christmas my hubby and I boarded a bus for a five day trip to Disney World with our grandson's high school music groups (band, orchestra, and choir). We'd chaperoned trips like these when our sons were in high school and remembered them as fun excursions with a great bunch of kids. Well, the great bunch of kids part was still the same but we didn't account for the twenty plus years of aging we'd done since then. My arthritic knees alone did me in. By the time we recovered from our fun excursion, we'd totally missed New Year's and still had to "take down" Christmas.

Then, just as I was getting ready for things to return to normal - adults going back to work, kids back to school - the cold wave hit. Our low on Monday was -14. I think the high was -6.  I don't even want to talk about the wind chill.  Schools were closed. The AF Base where hubby works was closed.  Instead of the first "normal" week of the new year, we were still on Christmas break. The kids still are (schools are closed again today).

So, I'll admit it. The first hump day of the new year caught me completely unprepared. But let's see what I can come up with for you...

In keeping with our weather, here's a news bulletin:

The federal government has issued a travel warning to seniors due to the cold weather...

Anyone traveling in the current blizzard conditions should carry the following:

Shovel 
Blankets or sleeping bag 
Extra clothing, including hat and gloves
24 hours' worth of food 
De-icer 
Rock salt
Flashlight with spare batteries
Road flares or reflective triangles 
Full spare gas can

First aid kit
Booster cables

I looked like an idiot on the bus this morning!

I forgot to ask...did you have a good New Year's Eve? As good as these guys?

Speaking of New Year's Eve...

With the Holidays celebrations here, I must share a personal experience with you, my family and friends, about drinking and driving.

As you know, at this time of year, many of us tend to celebrate from time to time with a "social session" out with friends.   Well, two weeks ago, I was out for an evening with the guys and had several beers followed by some vodka & soda. Feeling very happy, I still had the sense to know that I may be slightly over the limit.

That's when I did something that I've never done before ----- I took a cab home.

Sure enough, on the way home, there was a police check point, but since it was a cab, they waved it past.   I arrived home safely without incident.

This was a real surprise as I had never driven a cab before, I don't know where I got it, and now that it's in my garage, I don't know what to do with it.

  

Um, I hope you didn't have that good a time.

 

I do have a cold weather tip for you.  Extra socks at night. Really, they make all the difference.

 

I've got something a little different for your "aw" today. Maybe it's a leftover from being at Disney World and seeing Mickey but I thought this little guy was worth an "aw".

 

What do you think?

 

Well, that's it. Did we do it? Are you over the hump? Sliding toward Friday? Excellent.

And so starts a great new year. 

 

Question for Today:

Why isn't the number 11 pronounced onety-one?

Last Hump Day Post of 2013

Happy Hump Day

What was I thinking? I should have known I'd forget to do this post the week before Christmas. I'm always ridiculously behind this time of year.  But I won't leaving you to struggle over the mid-week hump without a few laughs to give you a boost, so here's goes...

This isn't the least bit Christmassy but it cracked me up. 

Look at those faces. Ever felt like that? Come on now, fess up.

While Christmas shopping I ran across some great t-shirts. Here are a few of my favorites.

For the English majors/writers among us:

and

 

Prefer Math class to English?

I like this one.

 

Oh, you're not worried about dragons. How about cats?

 

Here's one we can all agree on.

 

How about a visit to our friends the church ladies and their wonderful bloopers.

 

The eighth-graders will be presenting Shakespeare's Hamlet in the Church basement Friday at 7 PM. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.
 

This evening at 7 PM there will be a hymn sing in the park across from the Church. Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin.
 

Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person you want remembered.
 

I guess you need a pretty envelope. 

This next picture is just so I add in something for Christmas.

 

 

Now for your "aw".

This one worked for me even without the words.

Did it work for you?

Okay, that's it. Hope we're all over the hump and heading for the weekend.

This will be my last post until after the holidays so I leave you with my warmest wishes for a

Very Merry Christmas

Happy Holidays

and a

Healthy and Prosperous New Year.

Quote for the Day: 

Let there be Peace on Earth and let it begin with me.

(Okay, it's a song lyric, but it works. See you next year.)

It's a (Mostly) Dog Day

Happy Hump Day

I know we're a week closer to Christmas so I should stay with my Christmas theme of last week but a friend just sent me some great - but not Christmassy - pictures so I'm sharing them instead.

For my friends who are runners.

Puts things in perspective, doesn't it?

Can you relate to this one?

Yeah, so can I.

I may be pushing it a little with this one but it made me laugh.

An old man, Mr. Goldstein, was living the last of his life in a nursing home.  One day he appeared to be very sad and depressed.  Nurse Tracy asked if there was anything wrong.

"Yes, Nurse Tracy," said  Mr. Goldstein, "My Private Part died today, and I am very sad."

Knowing her patients were forgetful and sometimes a bit odd, she replied, "Oh, I'm so sorry, Mr.Goldstein, please accept my condolences.

The following day, Mr. Goldstein was walking down the hall with his Private Part hanging out his pajamas, when he met Nurse Tracy. "Mr. Goldstein," she said, "You shouldn't be walking down the hall like that. Please put your Private Part back inside your pajamas."

"But, Nurse Tracy," replied Mr. Goldstein, "I told you yesterday that my Private Part died."

"Yes, you did tell me that, but why is it hanging out of your pajamas?"

"Well...today's the viewing."

So bad. 

(hee hee hee)

I couldn't decide if this was a funny or an "aw" but I've got another "aw" for you so I'm putting this here.

Be honest - did it make you laugh or "aw"?

It's been a while since we heard from our friends, the church ladies.

How about a couple Church Bulletin Bloopers?

The sermon this morning: "Jesus Walks on the Water."  The sermon tonight: "Searching for Jesus."

Barbara remains in the hospital and needs blood donors for  more transfusions. She is also having trouble sleeping and requests tapes of Pastor Jack's sermons.

At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be "What Is Hell?" Come early and listen to our choir practice.

Gotta love those church ladies.

And here's that "aw" I promised you.

You know you said it.

That all for today. Did we do it? Are you over the hump and on the easy slope to the weekend? 

I sure hope so.  Did you have a favorite?

I'm going to be off line today. A good friend and I are doing our annual Christmas shop-till-you-drop. 

But I'll be around to see everyone tomorrow.

Have a good one.

Quote of the Day:

My luck is so bad that if I bought a cemetery, people would stop dying.
 -- Rodney Dangerfield

My Dream Destination

Hi. As I mentioned on Wednesday, I'm doing an extra post this week to take part in this fun blog hop - Dream Destination, hosted by Julie Flanders and Lexa Cain.

Both Julie and Lexa are celebrating release days this week so be sure to stop by and wish them well.

I'm cheating a little on my dream destination. I want to travel not only through space but also through time. Not far, just a month or so back. 

My dream destination is Fenway Park, Boston. Home of my beloved Boston Red Sox. 

 Sure, I've been to Fenway before. I make the pilgrimage from Ohio every few years. But that's where the time travel comes in. 

I want to be there on October 30 for game six of the 2013 World Series.

I want to see the Sox win the Championship at home for the first time in 95 years.

I want to be there for this.

And this.

See that cheering crowd. That's where I want to be.

Okay, can't happen. I know. But this blog hop is all about dreams, right? 

Believe me, I've been there in my dreams.

Now stop by here or here for a complete list of those particiapating in the blog hop and check out some other bloggers' dream destinations.

Do you like mine?

Quote of the Day:

“Fenway is the essence of baseball”  ― Tom Seaver

Looking Ahead to Christmas on Hump Day.

Happy Hump Day

I don't know about you, but this time of year I'm not trying to get over the midweek hump to get to the weekend faster - I'm trying to stretch the week out as long as possible to get all my Christmas preparations done.

Every year I have great plans to get a jump on things. Shopping in done in October.  Christmas letter and cards started in November. All the decorations up on Thanksgiving weekend.

It's not really my fault. I've been badgering the kids (both generations) to give me their wish lists for weeks. And if I write the Christmas letter too early, something wonderful might happen after I'm done that won't get included.  And, of course, there's that painstaking process of making sure both sons' families get equal space (in pictures and in text) so neither can pull the "you like him best" routine.  Yes, I know they only do it to make me crazy, but it always works.

So since I'm in a Christmas frame of mind, I'm going with a Christmas theme today. Some of these have been making the rounds for years but even so, they still make me laugh. Hopefully, they'll work for you, too.


The Politically Correct Twelve Days

On the 12th day of the Eurocentrically imposed midwinter festival, my Significant Other in a consenting adult, monogamous relationship gave to me...
 
TWELVE males reclaiming their inner warrior through ritual drumming,
ELEVEN pipers piping (plus the 18-member pit orchestra made up of members in good standing of the Musicians Equity Union as called for in their union contract even though they will not be asked to play a note)
TEN melanin deprived testosterone-poisoned scions of the patriarchal ruling class system leaping
NINE persons engaged in rhythmic self-expression
EIGHT economically disadvantaged female persons stealing milk-products from enslaved Bovine-Americans
SEVEN endangered swans swimming on federally protected wetlands
SIX enslaved Fowl-Americans producing stolen non-human animal products
FIVE golden symbols of culturally sanctioned enforced domestic incarceration. 
[NOTE: after members of the Animal Liberation Front threatened to throw red paint at my computer, the calling birds, hens and partridge have been reintroduced to their native habitat. To avoid further Animal-American enslavement, the remaining gift package has been revised.] 
FOUR hours of recorded whale songs
THREE deconstructionist poets
TWO Sierra Club calendars printed on recycled processed tree carcasses
and
ONE Spotted Owl activist chained to an old-growth pear tree.
 
Merry Christmas. Happy Chanukah. Good Kwanzaa. Blessed Yule. Oh, heck!  Happy Holidays!!!! *
 
*Unless, of course, you are suffering from Seasonally Affected Disorder (SAD). If this be the case, please substitute this gratuitous call for celebration with suggestion that you have a thoroughly adequate day.

The "enslaved Bovine-Americans" cracked me up.

I think most everyone has seen some version of this video but I still love it. Take a couple minutes and enjoy:
The Silent Monks performing the Hallelujah Chorus.



Running a little long already so how about we just add in a little mischief.  Grab this and go get someone.

Oh, don't worry - I didn't forget your "aw".  In fact, I couldn't decide on one picture today so you get two.

This one just felt Christmassy to me. Must be the lamb.

This one reminded me of all the dogs who have been part of our family, and who made and kept this promise so well. 

By the way, I'll be posting twice this week. I'm joining in Lexa Cain's and Julie Flander's Destination Blog Hop.

My plan is to post on Friday. Please stop by.

Okay, that's it. Hope we got you over the hump - if you were trying to get there - or at least gave you a short break from the holiday stress.  Did you have a favorite?


Quote for Today:

Christmas Shopping: Wouldn't it be wonderful to find one gift that you didn't have to dust, that had to be used right away, that was practical, fit everyone, was personal and would be remembered for a long time? I penciled in "Gift certificate for a flu shot."  ~ Erma Bombeck

Hump Day and Thanksgiving Wishes

Happy Hump Day

Before I get into our hump day funnies, I just have to show you what I found at my local library last week. I was totally surprised.

If you can't read the small print at the bottom, it mentions the title of my story.  How cool is that?

Now, since I like my hump day post to give you a lift, here are some pictures of friends giving friends a lift.

I'm not really sure on that last one if the dog is giving the cat a boost or trying to pull her down. But we'll give him the benefit of the doubt.

Here's your joke of the week. This one may be just a touch risque but I don't think it will bring a blush to anyone's cheek.

A farmer stopped by the local mechanics shop to have his truck fixed. They couldn't do it while he waited, so he said he didn't live far and would just walk home.
             

On the way home he stopped at the hardware store and bought a bucket and a gallon of paint. Then he stopped by the feed store and picked up a couple of chickens and a goose.  However, as left the store, the farmer was struggling to carry all his purchases.
             

He sat down to ponder his problem when a little old lady came by and told him she was lost.

'Can you tell me how to get to 106 Rose Cottage Lane?'
             

The farmer said, 'Well, as a matter of fact, my farm is very close to that house. I would walk you there but I can't carry this lot.'

 The old lady suggested, 'Why don't you put the can of paint in the bucket.  Carry the bucket in one hand, put a chicken under each arm and carry the goose in your other hand?'

'Why thank you very much,' he said and proceeded to walk the lady home.

On the way he says 'Let's take my short cut and go down this alley. We'll be there in no time.'

The little old lady looked him over cautiously then said, 'I am a lonely widow without a husband to defend me. How do I know when we get in the alley you won't hold me against the wall, pull up my skirt, and have your way with me?'
             

The farmer said, 'Holy smokes, lady! I'm carrying a bucket, a gallon of paint, two chickens, and a goose. How in the world could I possibly hold you up against the wall and do that?'

The old lady replied, 'Set the goose down, cover him with the bucket, put the paint on top of the bucket, and I'll hold the chickens.

I love little old lady jokes.  

Of course it wouldn't be Thanksgiving if I didn't include my all time favorite turkey day cartoons.

 Cracks me up.

Okay, this post is running a bit long so let's cut straight to your weekly "aw".

Somebody's waiting for a little push.

Don't you want to help? 

(Come on, you know you said it.)

Before I wrap up, I have to thank my friend and blog buddy, Father Dragon, for this very special award. I'll try to be worthy of it.

 

 Happy Thanksgiving for all my friends here in the U.S.and

Happy Hump Day to everyone. 

Thought for Today:

At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us. - Albert Schweitzer 

Hump Day Funnies - What's the Weather?

Happy Hump Day

Here are your hump day funnies to help you over the mid-week hump and on to the weekend.

But don't party too hard this weekend. You don't want to end up with this problem.

Aw, come. You know you've been there.

Um, not that I ever...I mean, maybe... 

Moving right along - here's a tip for the coming winter.

It's late fall and the Indians on a remote reservation in Mattawa asked their new chief if the coming winter was going to be cold or mild. Since he was a chief in a modern society, he had never been taught the old secrets. When he looked at the sky, he couldn't tell what the winter was going to be like.  To be on the safe side, he told his tribe that the winter was indeed going to be cold and that the members of the village should collect firewood to be prepared.

Then, being a practical leader, he went to the phone booth, called the Weather Network and asked, 'Is the coming winter going to be cold?'

'Yes, it looks like this winter is going to be quite cold,' the meteorologist at the weather service responded.

So the chief went back to his people and told them to collect even more firewood in order to be prepared.

A couple weeks later, he called the Weather Network again. 'Does it still look like it is going to be a very cold winter?'

'Yes,' the man at Weather Service again replied, 'it's going to be a very cold winter.'

The chief again went back to his people and ordered them to collect every scrap of firewood they could find.

Two weeks later, the chief called the Weather Network again. 'Are you absolutely sure that the winter is going to be very cold?'

'Absolutely,' the man replied. 'It's looking more and more like it is going to be one of the coldest winters we've ever seen.'

'How can you be so sure?' the chief asked.

The weatherman replied, 'Because the Indians are collecting a sh*tload of firewood.'

Explains a lot about our weather forecasts, doesn't it? 

Speaking of weather...wind can be a problem, too.

I hate to admit that I found that funny but it looks like they were all okay.

Here's a headline I found interesting.

I wonder why?

Remember the Honey Badger craze last year? How about this one?

Sorry, I probably found that funny because that squirrel lives in our yard and makes my Sophie crazy.

Okay, let's get to everyone's favorite - the "aw".

I had a couple to choose from this week but I just loved the faces in this one.

Did it work for you, too?

Okay, that's it. Hope you found a funny in here that lifted you over the hump and you can coast through the end of the week. Did you have a favorite?  

Have a great weekend and I'll see you next Wednesday.

Definitions for Today:

SECRET: Something you tell to one person at a time.

SKELETON: A bunch of bones with the person scraped off.

YAWN: An honest opinion openly expressed.