TGIF - 29 April 2016

Greetings from the Friday message guy from his usual spot. However, since I wrote last a few weeks ago, our Green Mountain state has been hit by the revelation of a major corruption scandal that has taken place up in the northeast of our state. It is linked to the special visa (EB-5) that is offered to foreigners who invest a large sum (at least ½ a million dollars) into projects that create employment and assets. So, as much as I would like to think that these things don’t happen here in Vermont, our state is apparently just as prone to corruption as anywhere else in the world, unfortunately. This reminds me of the old one that I heard when living in Pakistan. Several years ago, some agency started ranking the most corrupt countries in the world. In the first result, Pakistan finished in second place, just behind Nigeria. However, the word around Islamabad was that originally, Pakistan had ranked first, but that some high-ranking Pakistani officials bribed the Nigerians into accepting the top ranking!

The crazy weather fluctuations continue. We’ve had days of very warm weather throughout what was supposed to be our winter and now that it is spring, and we had very little snow when it was supposed to snow, Vermont received a few inches of the white stuff this week. And nights have been cold with temperatures below freezing and day-time temperatures lower than normal. However, I did manage to play 18 holes of golf today with temperatures in the high 40s. I played better than usual, with a half dozen pars and even one birdie. But I’m not too optimistic as the next time I’ll try harder and play worse.

Meanwhile, the U.S. presidential primary campaign has advanced to the stage where it looks like Donald Trump and Hilary Clinton will be the Republican and Democratic candidates, respectively.

What do I think about this? Well, read on!

Here are a few for the political season:

When asked what he thought about a politician’s speech, one man replied “He reminds me of the horns on a steer – a point here, a point there, and a lot of bull in between.”

A politician may change his views, not because he sees the light, but because he feels the heat.

The hardest job a politician has is to find a way to correct a mistake without admitting he has made one.

Remember now, we’re seeking a political candidate, not a product. We don’t have to worry about truth in advertising.

*            *            *            *            *            *            *            *

Job Opportunity

A retired man went into the Job Center in Downtown Denver and saw a card advertising for a Gynecologist's Assistant. 

Interested, he went in and asked the clerk for details.

The clerk pulled up the file and read; "The job entails getting the ladies ready for the gynecologist.  
You have to help the women out of their underwear, lay them down and carefully wash their private regions, then apply shaving foam and gently shave off the hair, then rub in soothing oils so they're ready for the gynecologist's examination.

The annual salary is $65,000, and you'll have to go to Billings, Montana." 

"Good grief", the man asked, "Is that where the job is?"

"No sir . . . that's where the end of the line is right now.

*            *            *            *            *            *            *            *

New Element Discovered

Scientists at CERN in Geneva have recently announced the discovery of the heaviest element yet known to science.

The new element is Governmentium (Gv). It has one neutron, 25 assistant neutrons, 88 deputy neutrons and 198 assistant deputy neutrons, giving it an atomic mass of 312.

These 312 particles are held together by forces called morons, which are surrounded by vast quantities of lefton-like particles called peons.
Since Governmentium has no electrons or protons, it is inert.  However, it can be detected, because it impedes every reaction with which it comes into contact.

When added to any procedure, a tiny amount of Governmentium can cause a reaction that normally takes less than a second, to take from four days to four years to complete.
Governmentium has a normal half-life of 2- 6 years.  It does not decay but instead undergoes a reorganization in which a portion of the assistant neutrons and deputy neutrons exchange places.
In fact, Governmentium's mass will actually increase over time, since each reorganization will cause more morons to become neutrons, forming isodopes.

This characteristic of moron advancement leads some scientists to believe that Governmentium is formed whenever morons reach a critical concentration. This hypothetical quantity is referred to as critical morass.
When catalyzed with money, Governmentium becomes Administratium, an element that radiates just as much energy as Governmentium since it has half as many peons but twice as many morons.  All of the money is consumed in the exchange, and no other by-products are produced.

Further news of radioactive decay of Governmentium with possible explosive effects is expected momentarily.

*            *            *            *            *            *            *            *

Witty One-Liners

Women spend more time wondering what men are thinking than men spend thinking.


Give me ambiguity or give me something else.


He who laughs last, thinks slowest.


Is it wrong that only one company makes the game Monopoly?

Women sometimes make fools of men, but most guys are the do-it-yourself type.


I was going to give him a nasty look, but he already had one.


Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.


The grass may be greener on the other side but at least you don't have to mow it.


I like long walks, especially when they're taken by people who annoy me.


I was going to wear my camouflage shirt today, but I couldn't find it.


If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you.


Sometimes I wake up grumpy; other times I let her sleep.


If tomatoes are technically a fruit, is ketchup a smoothie?


Money is the root of all wealth.


No matter how much you push the envelope, it'll still be stationery.

*            *            *            *            *            *            *            * 

1966 ~ vs. ~ 2016 Vlntage Humor

1966: Long hair 
2016: Longing for hair 
   
1966: KEG 
2016: EKG   

1966: Acid rock 
2016: Acid reflux   

1966: Moving to California because it's cool 
2016: Moving to Arizona because it's warm   

1966: Trying to look like Marlon Brando or Liz Taylor 
2016: Trying NOT to look like Marlon Brando or Liz Taylor   

1966: Seeds and stems
2016: Roughage   

1966: Hoping for a BMW
2016: Hoping for a BM   

1966: Going to a new, hip joint
2016: Receiving a new hip joint   

1966: Rolling Stones 
2016: Kidney Stones   

1966: Screw the system
2016: Upgrade the system   

1966: Disco
2016: Costco   

1966: Parents begging you to get your hair cut
2016: Children begging you to get their heads shaved  

1966: Passing the drivers' test
2016: Passing the vision test   

1966: Whatever 
2016: Depends  
    
*            *            *            *            *            *            *            *

Just in case you weren't feeling too old today, this will certainly change things. Each year the staff at Beloit College in Wisconsin puts together a list to try to give the faculty a sense of the mindset of this year's incoming freshmen. Here's this year's list: 
   
The people who are starting college this coming fall across the nation were born in 1998.   

They are too young to remember the space shuttle blowing up.   

Their lifetime has always included AIDS.   

Bottle caps have always been screw off and plastic.

The CD was introduced 7 years before they were born. 

They have always had an answering machine.. 

They have always had cable. 

They cannot fathom not having a remote control.. 
   
Popcorn has always been cooked in the microwave


They never took a swim and thought about Jaws. 

They can't imagine what hard contact lenses are.  

They don't know who Mork was or where he was from.

They never heard: "Where's the Beef?", "I'd walk a mile for a Camel", or "de plane, Boss, de plane.."   

They do not care who shot J. R. and have no idea who J. R. even is.

Mc Donald's never came in Styrofoam containers.   

They don't have a clue how to use a typewriter. 
  

*            *            *            *            *            *            *            *

Florida woman saves herself in alligator attack using a small Beretta pistol

This is a story of self-control and marksmanship by a brave, cool-headed woman with a small pistol against a fierce predator. 

What is the smallest calibre that you would trust to protect yourself?  A Beretta Jetfire testimonial....

Here is her story in her own words:

"While out walking along the edge of a pond just outside of my home in Florida with my soon to be ex-husband discussing property settlement and other divorce issues, we were surprised by a huge 12-ft. alligator which suddenly emerged from the murky water and began charging us with its large jaws wide open.

The alligator must have been protecting her young and her home because she was extremely aggressive.  

If I had not had my little Beretta Jetfire .25 caliber pistol with me, I would not be here today!  

Just one shot to my estranged husband's knee cap was all it took....

The 'gator got him easily and I was able to escape by just walking away at a brisk pace.  

The amount I saved in lawyer’s fees was really incredible!!!

*            *            *            *            *            *            *            *

And here’s another one in the same vein.

A New Puppy

Below a photo of a cute little puppy was written this message:

“This is Fritzy, I bought him as a surprise present for my husband but it turns out he's allergic to dogs. So unfortunately I'm going to have to find a new home for him, and I'm just wondering if anyone out there can help.
His name is Don, he’s 73, great at DIY (Do It Yourself), bathes on a regular basis, and does light housework.

*            *            *            *            *            *            *            *

Time for the weekly TGIF Golden Classic

The Squirrel problem

There were four churches and a synagogue in a small town: a Presbyterian church, a Baptist church, a Methodist church, a Catholic church and a Jewish synagogue. Each church and the synagogue had a problem with squirrels.

The Presbyterian church called a meeting to decide what to do about their squirrels. After much prayer and consideration they determined the squirrels were predestined to be there and they shouldn't interfere with God's divine will. 

At the Baptist church the squirrels had taken an interest in the baptistery. The deacons met and decided to put a water slide on the baptistery and let the squirrels drown themselves. The squirrels liked the slide and, unfortunately, knew instinctively how to swim so twice as many squirrels showed up the following week. 

The Methodist church decided that they were not in a position to harm any of God's creatures. So, they humanely trapped their squirrels and set them free near the Baptist Church. Two weeks later the squirrels were back when the Baptists took down the water slide. 

But the Catholic Church came up with a very creative strategy. They baptized all the squirrels and consecrated them as members of the church. Now they only see them on Christmas and Easter. 

Not much was heard from the Jewish synagogue, they took one squirrel and circumcised him. They haven't seen a squirrel since.

*            *            *            *            *            *            *            *

Wonder what the Unitarian Universalists would have done!?

The spring is springing and I hope the weather warms up a few degrees. We could use a little more rain too. After all, how can we have May flowers if we don’t get the April showers? Ah, yes : and what do Mayflowers bring? Pilgrims.

Looking forward to May Day on Sunday. Have a great weekend!


TGI-Jeff

TGIF - 15 April 2016


Greetings from your Friday guy, reporting in once again from his nice spot in the Green Mountain State. I’ve spent much of this week looking out at the forlorn lawn and thinking it would be nice if it warmed up a bit and the grass started to turn green. But then I’d have to fix my lawnmower. But at least it warmed up enough for me to play 18 holes at Crown Point CC, my local club, on Thursday in temperatures in the 50s.

It seems like we’ll not have much of a mud season this year as the snow has long since melted and there hasn’t been much rain. The golf course was fairly dry today except for the first hole which has tended to be a bit slushy in the early season in recent years.

The NBA and the NHL regular seasons came to an end this week and the playoffs will begin in a few days. My Boston Bruins have missed out this year, while my Celtics are in it and might do well. However, the Golden State Warriors won a record 73 games (out of 82!) in the NBA and will likely repeat as champions. The Euro Champions league is down to the final four and the draw is today for the next pairings. Good luck to my friends who are ManCity supporters!

I’m waiting for the Town to do some street sweeping and cleaning before I get out on my road bike, as there is a lot of sand and gravel all over them from the winter treatments of them – even though we got only about a total of 15 inches of snow.

It's April 15th and tax day here in the USA. Ugh!

I might take a few weeks off from this duty as I just don’t have the material to share. It’s getting harder and harder to find enough stuff to put together one of these. There is one thing you all can do about this and I think you know what that is!

This edition seems to be mainly about rednecks and Yiddish humor, with a few others and oldies thrown in.

A New Definition of E. D.

Someone finally found a name for our election process for this year:

ELECTILE  DYSFUNCTION:    The inability to  become aroused over any of  the choices for President put forth by either party in  the 2016 election year.

*            *            *            *            *            *            *            *

Wal-Mart Senior Greeter

You just have to appreciate this one. 
Young people forget that we old people had a career before we retired.....
   
Charley, a new retiree-greeter at Wal-Mart, just couldn't seem to get to work on time.
Every day he was 5, 10, 15 minutes late. But he was a good worker, really tidy, clean-shaven, sharp-minded and a real credit to the  company and obviously demonstrating their "Older Person Friendly" policies.

One day the boss called him into the office for a talk.

"Charley, I have to tell you, I like your work ethic, you do a bang-up job when you finally get here; but your being late so often is quite bothersome." 

"Yes, I know boss, and I am sorry and am working on it." 

"Well good, you are a team player. That's what I like to hear."  

"Yes sir, I understand your concern and I will try harder."

Seeming puzzled, the manager went on to comment, "I know you're retired from the Armed Forces. What did they say to you there if you showed up in the morning late so often?"

The old man looked down at the floor, then smiled.
He chuckled quietly, then said with a grin, "They usually saluted and said, Good morning General, can I get your coffee, sir?”

*            *            *            *            *            *            *            *

Two Simple Truths and Two Rules to live by

SIMPLE TRUTH 1: 

Lovers help each other undress before sex.
However, after sex, they always dress on their own.
        

Moral of the story - - - In life, no one helps you once you're screwed.
 

SIMPLE TRUTH 2: 

When a lady is pregnant, all her friends touch the stomach and say, "Congrats".
But, none of them comes up to the man - touches his penis and say, "Good job".
 

Moral of the story - - - Hard work is rarely appreciated.
 
                       

TWO RULES TO REMEMBER IN LIFE:

1. Money cannot buy happiness - but it's far more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than on a bicycle.

2. Forgive your enemy - but remember the asshole's name.

*            *            *            *            *            *            *            *

Three Rednecks

Three rednecks were working up on a cell phone tower: Cooter, Ronnie and Donnie. As they start their descent, Cooter slips, falls off the tower and is killed instantly. As the ambulance takes the body away, Ronnie says, 'Well, shucks, someone should go and tell his wife.

Donnie says, 'OK, I'm pretty good at that sensitive stuff, I'll do it.'

Two hours later, he comes back carrying a case of Budweiser.

Ronnie says, 'Where did you get that beer, Donnie?'

'Cooter's wife gave it to me,' Ronnie replies.

'That's unbelievable, you told the lady her husband was dead and she gave you beer?'
'Well, not exactly', Donnie says. 'When she answered the door, I said to her, "you must be Cooter's widow."

She said, 'You must be mistaken. I'm not a widow.'

Then I said, 'I'll bet you a case of Budweiser you are.' 

Rednecks are good at sensitive stuff.

*            *            *            *            *            *            *            *

You’re an EXTREME Redneck when ....  

1)  You let your 14-year-old daughter smoke at the dinner table in front of her kids.

2) The Blue Book value of your truck goes up and down depending on how much gas is in it.

3) You've been married three times and still have the same in-laws.

4) You think a woman who is out of your league bowls on a different night.

5) You wonder how service stations keep their restrooms so clean.

6) Someone in your family died right after saying, 'Hey, guys, watch this.'

7) You think Dom Perignon is a Mafia leader. 

8) Your wife's hairdo was once ruined by a ceiling fan.

9) Your junior prom offered day care.

10) You think the last words of the Star-Spangled Banner are 'Gentlemen, start your engines.’

11) You lit a match in the bathroom and your house exploded right off its wheels.

12) The Halloween pumpkin on your porch has more teeth than your spouse.

13) You have to go outside to get something from the fridge.

14) One of your kids was born on a pool table.

15) You need one more hole punched in your card to get a freebie at the House of Tattoos.

16) You can't get married to your sweetheart because there's a law against it.

17) You think loading the dishwasher means getting your wife drunk.

And in closingTwo good ol' boys in an Alabama trailer park were sitting around talking one afternoon over a cold beer after getting off work at the local Nissan plant.  After a while the first guy says to the second, "If'n I was to sneak over to your trailer Saturday and make love to your wife while you was off huntin' and she got pregnant and had a baby, would that make us kin?"The second guy crooked his head sideways for a minute, scratched his head and squinted his eyes thinking real hard about the question. Finally, he says, "Well, I don't know about kin, but it would make us even!"

*            *            *            *            *            *            *            *

Yiddish humor

I just got back from a pleasure trip. I took my mother-in-law to the airport

*            *            *

I've been in love with the same woman for 49 years. If my wife finds out, she'll kill me!

*            *            *

Someone stole all my credit cards, but I won't be reporting it. The thief spends less than my wife did.

*            *            *

We always hold hands. If I let go, she shops.

*            *            *

My wife and I went to a hotel where we got a waterbed.
My wife calls it the Dead Sea.

*            *            *

My wife and I revisited the hotel where we spent our wedding night.
This time I was the one who stayed in the bathroom and cried.

*            *            *

My wife was at the beauty shop for two hours. That was only for the estimate. She got a mudpack and looked great for two days.
Then the mud fell off.

*            *            *

The Doctor gave a man six months to live. The man couldn't pay his bill, so the doctor gave him another six months.

*            *            *

The Doctor called Mrs. Cohen saying, "Mrs. Cohen, your check came back."
Mrs. Cohen replied, "So did my arthritis!"

*            *            *

Doctor: "You'll live to be 60!"
Patient: "I AM 60!"
Doctor: "See! What did I tell you?"

*            *            *

A doctor held a stethoscope up to a man's chest. The man asks,
"Doc, how do I stand? The doctor says, "That's what puzzles me!"

*            *            *

Patient: "I have a ringing in my ears."
Doctor: "Don't answer!"

*            *            *

A drunk was in front of a judge. The judge says, "You've been brought here for drinking. The drunk says, "Okay, let's get started."

*            *            *

A man called his mother in Florida. "Mom, how are you?"
"Not too good," said the mother. "I've been very weak."
The son said, "Why are you so weak?"
She \said, "Because I haven't eaten in 38 days."
The son said, "That's terrible. Why haven't you eaten in 38 days?"
The mother answered, "Because, I didn't want my mouth to be full in case you should call."

*            *            *           

A Jewish man said that when he was growing up, they always had two choices for dinner - Take it or leave it.

*            *            *

A Jewish boy comes home from school and tells his mother he has a part in the play.
She asks, "What part is it?"
The boy says, "I play the part of the Jewish husband."
The mother scowls and says, "Go back and tell the teacher you want a speaking part."

*            *            *            *            *            *            *            *

It’s time for this week’s TGIF Golden Classic:

Nursing home test

During a visit to my doctor, I asked him, "How do you determine whether or not an older person should be put in a nursing home?"

"Well," he said, "we fill up a bathtub then we offer a teaspoon, a teacup and a bucket to the person to empty the bathtub."

"Oh, I understand," I said. "A normal person would use the bucket because it is bigger than the spoon or the teacup.”

"No," he said, "a normal person would pull the plug. Do you want a bed near the window?"

*            *            *            *            *            *            *            *

Time to warp this one up and wish my little sister Noreen a happy birthday tomorrow!

I’m also looking forward to going to our churches’ coffee house tomorrow night and hearing the Woodchuck’s Revenge folk band. They are from Vermont and are really good! I listened to their CD during my recent southern car trip.

And remember: It's not whether you win or lose; but how you place the blame!

Unless I got a lot of new material in the next 7 days, it may be a few weeks before  you hear from me again. Have a nice spring!


TGI-Jeff

TGIF - 08 April 2016


Greetings from your TGIF editor for the first time in four weeks, but from his usual spot in Vermont after being away on my second annual southern trip for three weeks. It’s good to be home! I’ve learned that most Vermonters enjoy traveling but really miss our Green Mountain State while away and just love to get back home! Although having gotten used to the daily temperatures down in the Carolinas in the 60s and 70s, it was a shock to come back up north and have temperatures in the 30s (and less) and have to deal with the cold wind still a blowin’! We even had about 2 inches of snow on Monday of this week. But the sun on Tuesday melted a lot of that. I didn’t even bother shoveling my driveway this time. I’ll let Mother Nature take care of it! On Thursday it rained most of the afternoon and early evening and now all the snow is gone.

One good thing about not producing a TGIF message in one month is that it allows some material to build up in my tgif mailbox – not necessarily “new” material, though. So, today I have some funny stuff – but most of it qualifies as TGIF golden oldies. And there seems to be common theme in most of the material – which is improper language or poor communications.

Have you all been following the crazy presidential primary campaign? I know that a lot of folks are getting fed up with it. Not only on this side of the pond, it seems. Queen Elisabeth has decided to take action.

A Message from the Queen 

To All the Citizens of the United States of America from Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

In light of your failure in recent years...to nominate competent candidates for President of the USA and thus to govern yourselves, we hereby give notice of the revocation of your independence, effective immediately. (You should look up 'revocation' in the Oxford English Dictionary.)

Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will resume monarchical duties over all states, commonwealths, and territories (except North Dakota, which she does not fancy).

Your new Prime Minister, David Cameron, will appoint a Governor for America without the need for further elections.

Congress and the Senate will be disbanded. A questionnaire may be circulated next year to determine whether any of you noticed.

To aid in the transition to a British Crown dependency, the following rules are introduced with immediate effect:

1. The letter 'U' will be reinstated in words such as 'colour,' 'favour,' 'labour' and 'neighbour.' Likewise, you will learn to spell 'doughnut' without skipping half the letters, and the suffix '-ize' will be replaced by the suffix '-ise.' Generally, you will be expected to raise your vocabulary to acceptable levels. (look up 'vocabulary').

2. Using the same twenty-seven words interspersed with filler noises such as ''like' and 'you know' is an unacceptable and inefficient form of communication. There is no such thing as U.S. English. We will let Microsoft know on your behalf. The Microsoft spell-checker will be adjusted to take into account the reinstated letter 'u'' and the elimination of '-ize.'

3. July 4th will no longer be celebrated as a holiday.

4. You will learn to resolve personal issues without using guns, lawyers, or therapists. The fact that you need so many lawyers and therapists shows that you're not quite ready to be independent. Guns should only be used for shooting grouse. If you can't sort things out without suing someone or speaking to a therapist, then you're not ready to shoot grouse.

5. Therefore, you will no longer be allowed to own or carry anything more dangerous than a vegetable peeler. Although a permit will be required if you wish to carry a vegetable peeler in public.

6. All intersections will be replaced with roundabouts, and you will start driving on the left side with immediate effect. At the same time, you will go metric with immediate effect and without the benefit of conversion tables. Both roundabouts and metrication will help you understand the British sense of humour.

7. The former USA will adopt UK prices on petrol (which you have been calling gasoline) of roughly $10/US gallon. Get used to it.

8. You will learn to make real chips. Those things you call French fries are not real chips, and those things you insist on calling potato chips are properly called crisps. Real chips are thick cut, fried in animal fat, and dressed not with catsup but with vinegar.

9. The cold, tasteless stuff you insist on calling beer is not actually beer at all. Henceforth, only proper British Bitter will be referred to as beer, and European brews of known and accepted provenance will be referred to as Lager. South African beer is also acceptable, as they are pound for pound the greatest sporting nation on earth and it can only be due to the beer. They are also part of the British Commonwealth - see what it did for them. American brands will be referred to as Near-Frozen Gnat's Urine, so that all can be sold without risk of further confusion.

10. Hollywood will be required occasionally to cast English actors as good guys. Hollywood will also be required to cast English actors to play English characters. Watching Andie Macdowell attempt English dialect in Four Weddings and a Funeral was an experience akin to having one's ears removed with a cheese grater.

11. You will cease playing American football. There is only one kind of proper football; you call it soccer. Those of you brave enough will, in time, be allowed to play rugby (which has some similarities to American football, but does not involve stopping for a rest every twenty seconds or wearing full kevlar body armour like a bunch of nancies).

12. Further, you will stop playing baseball. It is not reasonable to host an event called the World Series for a game which is not played outside of America. Since only 2.1% of you are aware there is a world beyond your borders, your error is understandable. You will learn cricket, and we will let you face the South Africans first to take the sting out of their deliveries.

13. You must tell us who killed JFK. It's been driving us mad.

14. An internal revenue agent (i.e. tax collector) from Her Majesty's Government will be with you shortly to ensure the acquisition of all monies due (backdated to 1776).

15. Daily Tea Time begins promptly at 4 p.m. with proper cups, with saucers, and never mugs, with high quality biscuits (cookies) and cakes; plus strawberries (with cream) when in season.

God Save the Queen!

TGIF Editor: I was asked to only share this with friends who have a good sense of humour (not humor)!

*            *            *            *            *            *            *            *

I saw a good one on a bumper sticker during my trip. He went something like this:

“Every family has a weird person in it. If you can’t think of one in yours, it’s probably you!”

I guess that’s about right.

*            *            *            *            *            *            *            *

Was It Something I Said?

I was at the bar the other night and overheard three very hefty women talking at the bar. Their accent appeared to be Scottish, so I approached and asked, "Hello, are you three lassies from Scotland?"


One of them angrily screeched, "It's Wales, Wales you bloody idiot!"


So I apologized and replied, "I am so sorry. Are you three whales from Scotland?"


And that's the last thing I remember.

*            *            *            *            *            *            *            *

Another Miscommunication

A man checked into a hotel. There was a computer in his room, so he decided to send a mail to his wife.  He accidentally typed the wrong email address, and without realizing he sent the mail to a widow who has just returned from her husband's funeral.

The widow decided to check her mail, expecting condolence messages from relatives and friends. After reading the first message she fainted and crashed to the floor. Her son rushed into the room, found his mother on the floor and saw the computer screen which read: "To my loving wife, I know you are surprised to hear from me, they have computers here and we are allowed to send mails to loved ones. I've just been checked in. How are you and the kids? This place is really nice but I'm lonely here. I have made necessary arrangements for your arrival tomorrow. Expecting you darling. I can't wait to see you."

*            *            *            *            *            *            *            *

CAN YOU GET MARRIED IN HEAVEN?

On their way to get married, a young Catholic couple is involved in a fatal car accident.

The couple find themselves sitting outside the Pearly Gates waiting for St Peter to process them into Heaven. While waiting, they begin to wonder: Could they possibly get married in Heaven?
                        
When St Peter shows up, they asked him.

St Peter says, 'I don't know.  This is the first time anyone has asked.  Let me go and find out,' and he leaves.

The couple sat and waited, and waited.  Two months passed and the couple were still waiting.  As they waited, they discussed that if they were allowed to get married in Heaven, what was the eternal aspect of it all.  'What if it doesn't work?' they wondered, 'Are we stuck together forever?'

After yet another month, St Peter finally returns, looking somewhat bedraggled.  'Yes,' he informs the couple, 'you can get married in Heaven.'

'Great!' said the couple, 'but we were just wondering, what if things don't work out? Could we also get a divorce in Heaven?'

St Peter, red-faced with anger, slammed his clipboard onto the ground.
                        
'What's wrong?' asked the frightened couple.

'OH, COME ON!', St Peter shouted.  'It took me three months to find a priest up here! Do you have any idea how long it’ll take me to find a lawyer?!'

*            *            *            *            *            *            *            *

An 86-year old senior named Bob was stopped by a police officer at 2 a.m. He asked Bob where he was going at that time of night.

Bob replied, "I'm on my way to a lecture about alcohol abuse and the effects it has on the human body, as well as smoking and staying out late."

The officer asked, "Really? Who's giving a lecture at this time of night?"

Bob replied, "My wife."

*            *            *            *            *            *            *            *

A Love Story....

An elderly couple were having dinner one evening when the husband reached across the table, took his wife's hand in his and said, "Martha, soon we will be married 50 years, and there's something I have to know. In all of these 50 years, have you ever been unfaithful to me?"

Martha replied, "Well Henry, I have to be honest with you. Yes, I've been unfaithful to you three times during these 50 years, but always for a good reason.

Henry was obviously hurt by his wife's confession, but said, "I never suspected. Can you tell me what you mean by 'good reasons?'"

Martha said, "The first time was shortly after we were married, and we were about to lose our little house because we couldn't pay the mortgage. Do you remember that one evening I went to see the banker and the next day he notified you that the loan would be extended?"

Henry recalled the visit to the banker and said, "I can forgive you for that. You saved our home, but what about the second time?"

Martha asked, "And do you remember when you were so sick, but we didn't have the money to pay for the heart surgery you needed? Well, I went to see your doctor one night and, if you recall, he did the surgery at no charge..."

"I recall that," said Henry. "And you did it to save my life, so of course I can forgive you for that. Now tell me about the third time." 

"Do you remember when you ran for president of your golf club, and you needed 73 more votes………?

*            *            *            *            *            *            *            *
If it had only been 72, it would have been “par for the course”.
Speaking of golf, this is the weekend of the Masters at Augusta. It doesn’t look like the weather there is going to be very good, though. A lot of young players are capable of winning this one. I think that Jason Day, Jordan Spieth and Bubba Watson have good chances to win the green jacket this year. We’ll see! (I am drafting this before it begins!)
This week also was the conclusion of the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments. UNC and Villanova had a great game and an exciting last 5 seconds in the men’s and the UCONN Lady Huskies swept their way to their fourth national title in a row. What a team this is/was!
Just want to thank the following family and friends for their hospitality during my trip south: Joya and Chris; Jill and Richard; Dave and Robyn; Dale and Marie; Evelyn; Bill and Cynthia; Bill and Phyllis; Peter; Martha; Kevin and Pat; and Jonathan. It was a great trip! I put about 3,600 miles on my Honda Accord, which now has 105,000 miles on it. But it was nice to only have to spend under $2 per gallon of gas (errrr, I mean petrol).
The local ski areas have closed and I’m looking forward to getting out on my bike, as well as on the local golf course.
I’m thinking and hoping that the mud season this year won’t be too bad. Have my fingers crossed! 
Time to wish older brother Nate a happy birthday on Saturday the 9th!
Until next week, take care and remember not to do anything I wouldn’t!


TGI-Jeff