TGIF - 26 May 2017



Greetings from the Friday guy who has been too busy to issue one of these messages every week. Hope you don’t mind terribly. Every other week is not bad for someone who is retired and has 5 part-time “jobs”. Lately I’ve been busy with church financial stuff (I am the treasurer this year) as we had our annual meeting on Tuesday of this week. Now that that event went well, I can focus on biking and golf and working with the Trout River beer guys a bit more. I do really love my church community though.

It looks like we’ve passed the point of possible dangerous frosts and can now plant some annual plants, which I will try to do tomorrow. It’s been raining and will continue through part of Friday, it seems. I also need to wash my windows. Hopefully, I can do that tomorrow as well. Everything is so green with all the rain we’ve had. Of course, it’s hay fever season and the dandelion’s abound and the pines have been dropping their yellowish pollen all around and I’ve been taking my allergy medicine.

I’m progressing in my golf game and feel like I’m on the verge of being good at it.
I need to get out on my bike a bit more as I’m determined to lose 25 pounds this summer. I know it’s diet as well as exercise. Wish me luck!

Let’s jump into our material for today.

Lost Words from Our Childhood Years

Heavens to Murgatroyd!

Would you believe the email spell checker did not recognize the word Murgatroyd?

Lost Words from our childhood: Words gone as fast as the buggy whip!

The other day a not so elderly (65) lady said something to her son about driving a Jalopy, and he looked at her quizzically and asked, "What the heck is a Jalopy?"
OMG (new phrase)!
He never heard of the word jalopy!
She knew she was old.... but not that old.

Well, I hope you are Hunky Dory after you read this and chuckle.

Some old expressions have become obsolete because of the inexorable march of technology.
"Don't touch that dial," 
"Carbon copy,"
"You sound like a broken record" and "Hung out to dry."

Back in the olden days we had a lot of "moxie."
We'd put on our best "bib and tucker" to "straighten up and fly right."
Heavens to Betsy! Gee whillikers! Jumping Jehoshaphat! Holy moley!
We were "in like Flynn" and "living the life of Riley," and even a regular guy couldn't accuse us of being a knucklehead, a nincompoop or a pill.
Not for all the tea in China!
Back in the olden days, life used to be swell, but when's the last time anything was swell?
Swell has gone the way of beehives, pageboys and the D.A.;
Pshaw,The milkman did it. Hey! It's your nickel. Don't forget to pull the chain. Knee high to a grasshopper. Well, Fiddlesticks! Going like sixty.

I'll see you in the funny papers. Don't take any wooden nickels.

See ya later, alligator!

Okidoki

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Jennifer’s Wedding

Jennifer's wedding day was fast approaching. Nothing could dampen her excitement - not even her parent's nasty divorce. 

Her mother had found the PERFECT dress to wear, and would be the best-dressed mother-of-the-bride ever! 

A week later, Jennifer was horrified to learn that her father's new, young wife had bought the exact same dress as her mother! 

Jennifer asked her father's new young wife to exchange it, but she refused. 

Absolutely not! I look like a million bucks in this dress, and I'm wearing it, she replied. 

Jennifer told her mother who graciously said, ''Never mind sweetheart. I'll get another dress. After all, it's your special day.'' 

A few days later, they went shopping, and did find another gorgeous dress for her mother. 

When they stopped for lunch, Jennifer asked her mother, ''Aren't you going to return the other dress? You really don't have another occasion where you could wear it." 

Her mother just smiled and replied, ''Of course I do, dear... I'm wearing it to the rehearsal dinner the night BEFORE the wedding.'' 

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An Adult Fairy Tale

Once upon a time there lived a King who had the most beautiful daughter.



But there was a problem. Everything the princess touched would melt.No matter what:Metal,Wood,Stone, -Anything she touched would melt.Because of this, men were afraid of her. Nobody would dare marry her.The King despaired. What could he do to help his daughter?



He consulted his wizards and magicians. One wizard told the King, 'If your daughter touches one thing that does not melt in her hands, she will be cured.'

The King was overjoyed and came up with a plan.The next day, he held a competition. Any man that could bring his daughter an object that would not melt would marry her and inherit the King's wealth.



THREE YOUNG PRINCES TOOK UP THE CHALLENGE.The first brought a sword of the finest steel. But alas, when the Princess touched it, it melted. The prince went away sadly The second prince brought diamonds.He thought diamonds are the hardest substance in the world and would not melt. But alas, once the Princess touched them, they melted.

He too was sent away disappointed.

The third prince approached. He told the Princess,'Put your hand in my pocket and feel what is in there.'

The Princess did as she was told, though she turned red.She felt some thing very hard. She held it in her hand.And it did not melt!!!   

The King was over joyed. Everybody in the kingdom was over joyed.And the Prince married the Princess and they both lived happily ever after.



Question: What was in the Prince's pants?


M&M's of course! They melt in your mouth, not in your hand.

What on earth were you thinking? I DO WORRY ABOUT YOU AT TIMES!

 
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WHY?

Why?

1. Why do men's clothes have buttons on the right while women's clothes have buttons on the left?

BECAUSE  When buttons were invented, they were very expensive and worn primarily by the rich. Since most people are right-handed, it is easier to push buttons on the right through holes on the left.  Because wealthy women were dressed by maids, dressmakers put the buttons on the maid's right! And that's where women's buttons have remained since.

WHY?

2. Why do ships and aircraft use 'mayday' as their call for help?

BECAUSE  This comes from the French word m'aidez - meaning 'help me' - and is pronounced, approximately, 'mayday.' 

WHY?

3. Why are zero scores in tennis called 'love'?

BECAUSE  In France , where tennis became popular, the round zero on the scoreboard looked like an egg and was called 'l'oeuf,' which is French for 'the egg.'  When tennis was introduced in the US, Americans (naturally), mispronounced it 'love.' 
  
WHY?

4. Why do X's at the end of a letter signify kisses?

BECAUSE  In the Middle Ages, when many people were unable to read or write, documents were often signed using an X. Kissing the X represented an oath to fulfill obligations specified in the document. The X and the kiss eventually became synonymous.

WHY?

5. Why is shifting responsibility to someone else called passing the buck'?

BECAUSE  In card games, it was once customary to pass an item, called a buck, from player to player to indicate whose turn it was to deal.  If a player did not wish to assume the responsibility of dealing, he would 'pass the buck' to the next player. 

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Texas Speeding Ticket

Two Texas Highway Patrol Officers were conducting speeding enforcement on Highway 77, just south of Kingsville, Texas.

One of the officers was using a hand-held radar device to check speeding vehicles approaching the town of Kingsville.

The officers were suddenly surprised when the radar gun began reading 300 miles per hour and climbing.

The officer attempted to reset the radar gun, but it would not reset and then it suddenly turned off.

Just then a deafening roar over the mesquite tree tops on Highway 77 revealed that the radar had in fact, locked on to a USMC F/A-18 Hornet which was engaged in a low-flying exercise near its Naval Air home base location in Kingsville.

Back at the Texas Highway Patrol Headquarters in Corpus Christi the Patrol Captain fired off a complaint to the U. S. Naval Base Commander in Kingsville for shutting down his equipment. 

The reply came back in true USMC style:
"Thank you for your letter.”
"You may be interested to know that the tactical computer in the Hornet had detected the presence of, and subsequently locked on to, your hostile radar equipment and automatically sent a jamming signal back to it, which is why it shut down."

"Furthermore, an air-to-ground missile aboard the fully armed aircraft had also automatically locked on to your equipment's location."

"Fortunately, the marine pilot flying the Hornet recognized the situation for what it was, quickly responded to the missile system alert status and was able to override the automated defense system before the missile was launched to destroy the hostile radar position on the side of Highway 77, south of Kingsville."

"The pilot suggests you cover your mouths when swearing at them, since the video systems on these jets are very high tech."
"Sergeant Johnson, the officer holding the radar gun, should get his dentist to check his left molar. It appears the filling is loose. Also, the snap is broken on his holster." 
Semper Fi.

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Another Texas one


A young Texan grew up wanting to be a lawman.

He grew up big, 6' 2", strong as a longhorn, and fast as a mustang.  He could shoot a bottle cap tossed in the air at 40 paces.

When he finally came of age, he applied to where he had only dreamed of working: the West Texas Sheriff's Department.

After a series of tests and interviews, the Chief Deputy finally called him into his office for the young man's last interview.

The Chief Deputy said, "You're a big strong kid and you can really shoot.  So far your qualifications all look good, but we have, what you might call, an "Attitude Suitability Test," that you must take before you can be accepted.   We just don't let anyone carry our badge, son."

Then, sliding a service pistol and a box of ammo across the desk, the Chief said, "Take this pistol and go out and shoot:
six illegal aliens, 
six ambulance-chasing lawyers, 
six meth dealers, 
six muslim extremists, 
six far-left Democrats, 
and a rabbit."

"Why the rabbit?" queried the applicant.

"You pass," said the Chief Deputy.  "When can you start?"

I LOVE TEXAS!

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Trafficking

The flight attendant sees a suspicious looking couple on board, so she reports it to the Captain immediately. 

“Sir, I think we have a case of human trafficking! There is a very pretty, hot and sexy, female passenger on board, who looks quite frightened and the man she is with is a fat old slob who looks like a lecher, very sullen, mean and dangerous!”  

The captain responds, “Patricia, I’ve told you this before. This is Air Force One!!!

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It is now time for the TGIF Golden Classic:

The Garden of Eden

Adam and Eve said, 'Lord, when we were in the garden, you walked with us every day. Now we do not see you any more. We are lonesome here, and it is difficult for us to remember how much you love us.'

And God said, I will create a companion for you that will be with you and who will be a reflection of my love for you, so that you will love me even when you cannot see me. Regardless of how selfish or childish or unlovable you may be, this new companion will accept you as you are and will love you as I do, in spite of yourselves.'

And God created a new animal to be a companion for Adam and Eve.

And it was a good animal and God was pleased. 

And Dog lived with Adam and Eve and was a companion to them and loved them.

And they were comforted.

And God was pleased.

And Dog was content and wagged his tail.
  
After a while, it came to pass that an angel came to the Lord and said, 'Lord, Adam and Eve have become filled with pride. They strut and preen like peacocks and they believe they are worthy of adoration. Dog has indeed taught them that they are loved, but perhaps too well.'

And God said, I will create for them a companion who will be with them and who will see them as they are. The companion will remind them of their limitations, so they will know that they are not always worthy of adoration.'

And God created CAT to be a companion to Adam and Eve. 
 And Cat would not obey them. And when Adam and Eve gazed into Cat's eyes, they were reminded that they were not the Supreme Beings. 

And Adam and Eve learned humility. 
And they were greatly improved.


And God was pleased..

And Dog was happy. 
And the Cat . . . 

didn't give a shit one way or the other.

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I love dogs – but I also like cats and they seem to like me. And they are like that!

I wish you all a fantastic Friday and a wonderful weekend!

TGI-Jeff

TGIF - 12 May 2017



Greetings from what is still a bit chilly, Vermont. You know, that state where someone once said that it has 11 months of winter and one month of really bad sledding! That is a variation on the state with “8 months of bad weather and 4 months of road construction”, where some of you others live. Having lived in humid-tropical or very hot and dry countries during my WFP career, I never really got to witness the change of seasons like I can now here in Vermont. And each Spring, I’m amazed as I see the reborn plants coming out of the ground! It’s magical! I appreciate more and more the mysteries and wonder of Mother Nature! I only wish that some of our government officials felt the same. We may end up using up our planet before we get all this sorted out. And the current administration seems to have no interest in protecting the environment – only allowing business and industry to exploit it. Sad. Enough said.

Each day I hear some more northward-bound geese flying overhead. Nice sight! And sounds. The other day I even saw a bald eagle fly over my house. One or two have been nesting in recent years near the dam which is not far away. We also have some hawks in the neighborhood now. And a few weeks ago, I had an early evening visitor to my backyard on 5 or 6 consecutive days of a raccoon. I’ve also had some wild turkeys walk through and a red fox. I haven’t yet seen a skunk – but I’m not holding my breath – or sense of smell for that!

My oldest son (Jonathan) is coming up from Brooklyn for this weekend and I’m looking forward to that. It is also Mother’s Day on Sunday here in the USA and so I tip my hat to all of you hard-working moms who manage to juggle so many balls in the air at the same time.

Since I last wrote, daughter Joya and husband Christopher have moved into their new house in DC, about a mile or so north of where they were before. And Chris’s parents were there last week to help build a deck and plant some plants in the yard, and more.
And now, I can’t leave out Phil, who is back in San Diego and doing several jobs as well as growing a vegetable garden in his back yard! Well done! 

This Sunday I am leading our service in the UU church on growing old and how to deal with it. Really, we have no choice - do we!?! One of the quotes I am using is this: “we need less publicity on how to stay young and more information on how to grow old”!

Time to see if you all have contributed anything useful to use this week. If not, I’ll just wish you all a pleasant weekend!


SIX LITTLE STORIES

1. Once all villagers decided to pray for rain.

On the day of prayer all the people gathered, but only one boy came with an umbrella.

That's FAITH.


2. When you throw babies in the air, they laugh because they know you will catch them.

That's TRUST.


3. Every night we go to bed without any assurance of being alive the next morning, but still we set the alarms to wake up.

That's HOPE.


4. We plan big things for tomorrow in spite of zero knowledge of the future.

That's CONFIDENCE.


5. We see the world suffering, but still we get married and have children.

That's LOVE.


6. On an old man's shirt was written a sentence : 'I am not 80 years old;
I am sweet 16 with 64 years of experience.'

That's ATTITUDE.


Have a happy day and live your life like the six stories.

When I was a child, I thought naptime was punishment. Now it's like a mini-vacation.

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"GOOD FRIENDS ARE THE RARE JEWELS OF LIFE...
DIFFICULT TO FIND AND IMPOSSIBLE TO REPLACE  ...............

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The Cynical Philosopher

 I  read that 4,153,237 people got married last year. Not to cause any trouble, but shouldn't that be an even number?

 Today a man knocked on my door and asked for a small donation towards the local swimming pool. I gave him a glass of water.

 I want to die peacefully in my sleep, like my grandfather. Not screaming and yelling like the passengers in his car.

 I find it ironic that the colors red, white, and blue stand for freedom until they are flashing behind you.

 When wearing a bikini, women reveal 90% of their body... men are so polite they only look at the covered parts.
  
 A recent study has found that woman who carry a little extra weight, live longer than the men who mention it.

 Relationships are a lot like algebra. Have you ever looked at your X and wondered Y?

 America is a country which produces citizens who will cross the ocean to fight for democracy but won't cross the street to vote.

 You know that tingly little feeling you get when you like someone? That's your common sense leaving your body.

 Did you know that dolphins are so smart that within a few weeks of captivity, they can train people to stand on the very edge of the pool and throw them fish?

 My therapist says I have a preoccupation with vengeance. We'll see about that.

 I think my neighbor is stalking me as she's been googling my name on her computer. I saw it through my telescope last night.

 Money talks ... but all mine ever says is good-bye.

 You're not fat, you're just ..... easier to see.

 If you think nobody cares whether you're alive, try missing a couple of payments.

 I always wondered what the job application is like at Hooters. Do they just give you a bra and say, “Here, fill this out?”

 I can’t understand why women are okay that JC Penny has an older women’s clothing line named, “ Sag Harbor.”

 My therapist said that my narcissism causes me to misread social situations. I’m pretty sure she was hitting on me.

 My 60 year kindergarten reunion is coming up soon and I’m worried about the 175 pounds I’ve gained since then.

 Denny’s has a slogan, “If it’s your birthday, the meal is on us.”  
BUT, If you’re in Denny’s and it’s your birthday, your life sucks!

 The pharmacist asked me my birth date again today. I’m pretty sure she’s going to get me something.

The location of your mailbox shows you how far away from your house you can be in a robe before you start looking like a mental patient.

 I think it's pretty cool how Chinese people made a language entirely out of tattoos.

 Money can’t buy happiness, but it keeps the kids in touch!

 The reason Mayberry was so peaceful and quiet was because nobody was married. Andy, Aunt Bea, Barney, Floyd, Howard, Goober, Gomer, Sam, Earnest T Bass, Helen, Thelma Lou, Clara and, of course, Opie were all single. The only married person was Otis, and he stayed drunk.

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FACEBOOK FOR SENIORS - A SENIORS PERSPECTIVE OF FACEBOOK

For those of my generation who do not, and cannot, comprehend why Facebook exists:

I am trying to make friends outside of Facebook while applying the same principles. Therefore, every day I walk down the street and tell passersby what I have eaten, how I feel at the moment, what I have done the night before, what I will do later and with whom.
I give them pictures of my family, my dog, of me gardening, taking things apart in the garage, watering the lawn, standing in front of landmarks, driving around town, having lunch, and doing what anybody and everybody does every day. I also listen to their conversations, give them the 'thumbs up' and tell them I like them. And it works just like Facebook.

I already have four people following me: two police officers, a private investigator and a psychiatrist!

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Another Sign of the Times

And in somewhat of the same vane:

We had a power outage at our house this morning and my PC, laptop, TV, DVD, iPad & my new surround sound music system were all shut down.

Then I discovered that my mobile phone battery was dead and, to top it off, it was raining outside, so I couldn't play golf.

I went into the kitchen to make coffee and then I remembered that this also needs power, so I sat and talked with my wife for a couple of hours.

She seems like a nice person.

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The Everlovin’ Truth!

BEAUTY PARLOR
A place where women curl up and dye.

CHICKENS
The only animal you eat before they are born and after they are dead.

COMMITTEE
A body that keeps minutes and wastes hours.

DUST
Mud with the juice squeezed out.

EGOTIST
Someone who is usually me-deep in conversation.

HANDKERCHIEF
Cold Storage.

INFLATION
Cutting money in half without damaging the paper.

MOSQUITO
An insect that makes you like flies better.

POLITICAL CORRECTNESS
A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority.

RAISIN
A grape with a sunburn.

SECRET
A story you tell to one person at a time.

SKELETON
A bunch of bones with the person scraped off.

TOOTHACHE
The pain that drives you to extraction.

TOMORROW
One of the greatest labor saving devices of today.

YAWN
An honest opinion openly expressed.

WRINKLES
Something other people have....similar to my character lines.

OLD
I very quietly confided to my friend that I was having an Affair.
She turned to me and asked, "Are you having it catered?"
. . . and that, my friend, is the definition of 'OLD'!!!
In youth, the days are short and the years are long.
In old age, the years are short and days long

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Confused

I became confused when I heard the word "Service" used with these agencies:



Internal Revenue  'Service' 
U.S. Postal  'Service' 
Telephone  'Service' 
Cable / TV  'Service' 

Civil  'Service' 
City, County & State Public  'Service' 
Customer  'Service' 

This is not what I thought 'Service' meant. 



But today, I overheard two farmers talking, and one of them said he had hired a bull to 'Service' a few cows. 



BAM!!!  It all came into focus.
Now I understand what all those agencies are doing. 


I hope that you are now just as enlightened as I am.

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Coffee with Jesus  

A Republican, in a wheelchair, entered a restaurant one afternoon and asked the waitress for a cup of coffee. The Republican looked across the restaurant and asked is that Jesus sitting over there?" The waitress nodded "yes! So, the Republican requested that she give Jesus a cup of coffee, on him.

The next patron to come in was a Libertarian, with a hunched back. He shuffled over to a booth, painfully sat down, and asked the waitress for a cup of hot tea. He also glanced across the restaurant and asked, "Is that Jesus, over there?"

The waitress nodded, so the Libertarian asked her to give Jesus a cup of hot tea, "My treat."

The third patron to come into the restaurant was a Democrat on crutches. He hobbled over to a booth, sat down and hollered, "Hey there honey! How's about getting me a cold mug of Miller Light!

He, too, looked across the restaurant and asked, "Isn't that God's boy over there?

The waitress nodded, so the Democrat directed her to give Jesus a cold beer. "On my bill," he said loudly so everyone in the restaurant could hear.

As Jesus got up to leave, he passed by the Republican, touched him and said, "For your kindness, you are healed." The Republican felt the strength come back into his legs, got up and began to praise the Lord. Jesus passed by the Libertarian, touched him and said, "For your kindness, you are healed." The Libertarian felt his back straightening up, he raised his hands and he, too, began to praise the Lord.

Then, Jesus walked, with a huge smile on his face, towards the Democrat. The Democrat jumped up and yelled, "Don't touch me....... I'm on disability."

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It’s been a few weeks since I issued one of these Friday messages. And in those 2 or 3 weeks I have only received material from four of you! Four! That means that about 600 of you are coasting and NOT paying your TGIF dues! Shame – shame! You’ll have to do better or this will be shut down!

In any case, do have a nice Friday and a great weekend! I look forward to mine even if it is supposed to rain.

TGI-Jeff