If you've traveled overseas, especially in Europe, you are probably familiar with the abbreviation W.C. in public places. The letters stand for water closet (toilet). In Germany I was surprised to see that in some places they use the abbreviation 00 (double zero, or Null-Null in German, Null rhyming with pool). I read somewhere that it began in hotels with numbered rooms — the idea being that 00 would not be confused for a sleeping room. My mind always saw it as the letter "O" twice and I would think "uh-oh!"

Today's iv is the result of subject matters in two of my French classes this week. We just learned about the letter combination W.C. in my second semester French class yesterday. The initials W.C. always make me think of a classic bit of humor I first heard as a high schooler. When I asked my class if they had ever heard the story about the Wayside Chapel, I was surprised that only 2 of the 25 students admitted to having heard it before.

In my 17th Century French Literature class we are reading L'Avare (The Miser) by Molière. Some of Molière's comedy is based on quiproquo (from the Latin quid pro quod = something for something, the idea of one thing for another thing) in which a misunderstanding is caused by each person's talking about one thing while the other person is understanding something else. The result can be quite funny, as in today's blog post.

Just so you know before reading this, it is bathroom humor that is as close to the line as I want to get. I think, however, you will enjoy it for its quiproquo comedic qualities.

Where is the W.C.?

An English schoolteacher was in Switzerland looking for a room to rent in the area where she would begin teaching English the following fall. She asked the schoolmaster if he would recommend any rooms to her. He took her to see several, and she chose one she was certain would meet her needs. When everything was settled, she returned home to make final preparations for the move.

After arriving at home, the thought suddenly occurred to her that she had not seen a "water closet" (toilet) around the place. She immediately wrote a note to the schoolmaster asking him where the W.C. was located. Since the schoolmaster was a poor master of English, he asked the parish priest about the meaning of the letters W.C. Their part of Switzerland had small chapels in the countryside that they called wayside chapels, and so the only solution the priest could come up with for the letters was "Wayside Chapel." The schoolmaster then wrote the following note to the English lady inquiring about the location of the W.C.

My Dear Madam:

In our part of Switzerland there are not many W.C.'s. I take great pleasure in informing you, though, that there is a W.C. only nine miles from the house where you will be renting a room. Since you do not own a car, I trust that the distance will not be too great a hardship, especially if you are in the habit of going regularly. It is situated on lovely grounds in the centre of a beautiful grove of pine trees. It has a seating capacity of 229 people and is open not only on Sundays, but also on Thursdays if you find that more convenient. Since there is usually a great number of people there, especially during the summer tourist season, I suggest that you come early in the day, although there is usually plenty of standing room.

I would especially suggest that your ladyship go on Thursdays when there is an organ accompaniment. The acoustics are excellent and even the most delicate sounds can be heard by all. For the children, there is a special time and place so that they do not disturb the elders.

It may interest you to know that my daughter was married in the W.C. It was actually there that she and her husband first met. I can remember the rush there was for seats the day of their wedding. There were ten people to every seat normally occupied by only one. It was wonderful to see the expressions on the faces of all of those present.

The newest addition is a bell donated by a wealthy resident of the district. It rings every time a person enters. A bazaar is to be held to raise funds for plush seats for all, since the people feel it is a need of longstanding. My wife is rather delicate, so she cannot go regularly. It has been almost a year since she went last, and naturally it pains her greatly not to be able to go more often.

I shall be delighted to reserve the best seat for you, where you can be seen by all each time you go there.

Hoping to have been of some service to you, I remain

The Schoolmaster

I trust that you enjoyed the read. When you are in a foreign country, restrooms can be a daunting challenge. One of the young men on one of our teams to France counted 7 different ways to flush toilets there. Do you have an adventure you'd like to share?

quotation...

"It is difficult to produce a television documentary that is both incisive and probing, when every twelve minutes one is interrupted by twelve dancing rabbits singing about toilet paper." - Rod Serling

=^..^= =^..^=
Rob

The best way to forget all your troubles is to wear tight shoes.

Comments

• March 11, 2010, Bonnijean Marley writes: The most interesting toilet we saw in Germany was in a rest stop on the Autobahn. We had to pay to enter the stall (a foreign concept to my daughters). Nothing looked unusual till we flushed. Then the seat of the toilet rotated like a hula hoop so the entire surface could be covered with a sanitizing spray. My first thought was that the toilet was morphing. My second thought was to wonder how many time my girls would want to repeat the experience.
• March 11, 2010, Ron writes: I remember how enlightening my first exposure to the men's restrooms at the Frankfort airport was. You have to know that this was some years ago and we Americans were more naive than today. The first thing I noticed out of place when I entered was that there was a woman walking around in the restroom. The next thing I noticed was that there were no urinals but in its place was a line of men doing their business on the wall of all places (don't forget the woman walking around behind you). And then on the way out there was a table that the men were throwing change (money) on when they left. Needless to say after spending the next 2 years in Germany this and a lot more strange restroom adventures became common place.
• March 11, 2010, Laura writes: I've heard a slightly different variation of the W.C. story... essentially the same concept, except it was an elderly lady inquiring about a campground in Florida where she was considering spending the winter. She wanted to know about the "B.C." (bathroom commode) and the campground director mistook her abbreviation to mean the Baptist Church.
• March 11, 2010, Rob writes: @Bonnijean - Thanks for the story from Germany. It reminded my wife and me of the Formule 1 hotels in France where the bathroom on each hall lock and disinfect themselves between each occupant. Wonder if the Germans gave them that idea.... @Ron - Sounds like my first following of the 00 sign in a German restaurant. The wall situation was disturbing, but what are you going to do. And the woman attendant is a standard fixture in many French public restrooms also. @Laura - I had that version in my files. The only problem for me was that the initials W.C. are authentic and in current, widespread use. The B.C. thing didn't have the same appeal to me. Sorry. :-)
• March 11, 2010, Ellie Dygert Franklin writes: I grew up in Scotland as an MK and I can remember returning to to States after about 6 years on the field and finding the airport restrooms completely foreign. There was no handle for flushing the toilet. After looking around for a few seconds, it flushed by itself!! I was surprised and very impressed. Also, there was no way to turn the water on in the sink! That started when I put my hands under the tap. I'd never been in an automated restroom before. I remember running out to tell my parents all about it! LOL!
• March 11, 2010, Kathleen writes: As a current MK in Scotland, that last post is hilarious! Everything is much more automated now, but there are still the occasional weird experiences. Over here, the restrooms are also called the toilets (similar to French), which can also lead to some rather interesting cross-cultural interactions. Another missionary over here sent out an e-mail update to supporters, in which he mentioned that the water in the facility where they were meeting didn't work, so they had to get water from the public toilets next door. To those of us in the UK, it made perfect sense, but apparently some in the US were somewhat confused....

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This past week, in an assembly of all the university students and faculty, an administrator explained changes forthcoming in the basic core courses that all of our students must take at BJU. One of the new courses that will be required for graduation is Foundations of Economics. With all the difficulties people in today's world are having with debt, this should be a great course to give our young people information that could help them avoid personal financial disaster.

I find the world's economy far more mystifying than personal finances. The following picture from despair.com almost makes sense to me.

Today I'm posting some cartoons, informative pictures, and funny pictures on the subject of economics and the economy.

Many individuals and families are heavily in debt because, through credit, they have spent more than they earn. These personal financial crises are part of the cause for the current recession.

I'm not sure why doing the same unwise practice is supposed to work when the government does it. Here's a chart I found of the federal budget — where the government's money comes from and where it's going. You can click on it for a larger view.

If the president had ever run a business where he had to meet payroll and bill payment deadlines, he might have a better understanding of some of the realities that seem to be irrealities to him.

The Chicago Tribune published an editorial cartoon in 1934 that sounds as if it could have been written about what's going on today, almost in detail! You can click on it for a larger view.

It's rather ironic that that cartoon was in a Chicago paper....

The Obamacare debate is far from over, and if government health care is rammed through, against the will of the majority of Americans, it brings the potential for far more national economic woes and debt.

So far we are not experiencing large-scale inflation as we have in the past. However, I do hear the word coming up more and more often, and it seems like a distinctly possible result of our present economy. In my post What's a Billion?, I talked about how bad inflation became in Germany between the two world wars. Here's another aspect of that that makes me wonder how far off this might be for us.

I just hope people will be careful with their word choices in front of our nation's leaders.

I know that our government's overspending did not begin with Obama — George W. Bush and the congress during his terms spent way more than they should have, helping to create the economic woes of the "October Surprise" of 2008.

The people at Spendaholics Anonymous know that the road to true recovery is admitting that you have a problem, not shifting the blame while you're on your own federal spending spree. The deficit and our national debt are increasing exponentially with Obama and the current congress.

During the Reagan years we heard a lot about "trickle down economics" — the idea that when the wealthy have more money through lower taxes, they use it to start businesses that in turn provide jobs and thereby actually eventually bring in more money in taxes than would have come in by taxing the wealthy in the first place. Here's a flow chart of trickle down economics as it's currently happening in Washington DC.

Another bumper sticker states it differently.

When Ronald Reagan was president, we also had Bob Hope and Johnny Cash.

Now with Obama, we have neither Hope nor Cash.

It's no secret that unemployment is a huge problem right now, and it doesn't look as if it will get much better any time soon, all assurances to the contrary. Here's a sad story of one unemployed person.

I keep hearing of other countries whose governments are deep in debt and in financial difficulties. Who in the world (literally) owns all this debt?! How long can this kind of national economy and world economy go on?

Could someone please tell me what I'm missing in my understanding of economics?

quotation...

"No one can be so secure that calamity cannot take everything he has." - Drew Conley

=^..^= =^..^=
Rob

When the young electrician was broke, he wired for money.

Comments

• March 8, 2010, Julie Rich writes: A friend of mine explained Obamanomics to me like this: You order the entire menu at McDonald's and the person behind you pays for it. lol
• March 8, 2010, Rob writes: @Julie - I've heard a similar explanation, only it went like this: You order and pay and then give the meal to the person behind you.
• March 8, 2010, Vikki writes: These are great! Hard to pick out a favorite, but the Governmental Flow Chart and Obama thinking about how to increase the economy but taking money out and than putting it back in with tax are right at the top of my list. However, don't tell Obama what comes after trillion is also right up there!
• March 8, 2010, Laura writes: According to WorldNetDaily, they're considering a plan to finance T-Bills by making it mandatory that retirement accounts buy public debt ... so Uncle Sam is taking our money (income tax) to pay for stuff it does, only it doesn't do it as efficiently as the private sector, so it costs more -- more, in fact, than what it collects from our pockets. So then it gets a loan (via T-bills) that it must pay back with interest. We have to loan the money because the T-bills are forced into our IRAs (if the plan goes through) and THEN, we get to pay higher taxes to pay ourselves off. Is this a Ponzi scheme, or what??? Personally, I agree with the guy who said we should remember that "The government is a watchdog to be fed, and not a cow to be milked." Our kids have been reading Frederic Bastiat's 1850 classic, "The Law," for social studies this year. He does a GREAT job of exposing socialism for what it is ... legalized plunder. They've been remarking how much it reads like current events, even though it was written so long ago!
• March 9, 2010, David Rodger writes: I like the Obama scorecard t-shirt. But it's rather confusing to an outsider (non-American). We almost never hear of a current US administration blaming the previous one. In Australia, that happens all the time. A decade after Labor won power in Victoria, it's still blaming the previous Liberal government. (Don't let the names fool you. The Liberal Party really should be called The Illiberal Party and Labor hasn't served the interests of labour for about 30 years.) Still, I supposed it's a symptom of the obsequious tributes to the past. No one here would ever refer to an ex-Prime Minister as "Mr Prime Minister". Once he's out, he's no longer Prime Minister. So what's with this ridiculous "Mr President" thing?
• March 9, 2010, Bron writes: I have the following website bookmarked as handy reminder: http://www.usdebtclock.org
• March 10, 2010, Carrie writes: Yikes. I'm glad my (very responsible) husband takes care of our finances. Although, as my dad pointed out to one of his well-paid co-workers, when I was on a Christian school teacher's salary, I not only stayed out of debt, but bought a car and had money in savings. It's all about spending less than you make!
• March 11, 2010, Rob writes: @Vikki - It is hard to pick, isn't it?! :-) @Laura - Your observation about the Ponzi scheme is quite astute. I've heard that very term used in connection with this in several places ... not the mainstream media, though, for some reason.... @David - Thanks for chiming in from Australia. I hope you will come back to my blog often. While it is always possible to go back and blame a previous president and his administration for present difficulties, there comes a point when the current president needs to own some blame himself. Many have deemed that Obama has done so much to aggravate our economic difficulties that the time for blame shifting is past. @Carrie - It's like your dad's having said that people need to take in fewer cavities than they expend, only in the reverse when it comes to finances. :-)

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Kintai Bridge, Iwakuni, Japan

The original Kintai Bridge was built in 1673 but collapsed due to flooding. The rebuilt bridge survived for more than 200 years until a typhoon destroyed it in 1950. The bridge that stands now over the Nishiki River has five wooden arches displaying an incredible amount of detail and craftsmanship. Interesting fact — originally no nails or bolts were used to build the arches, achieved by the careful fitting of the wooden parts and by building up thick girders by clamping and binding them together with metal belts. The shape and weight of the bridge made it extremely strong from the top, but incredibly weak from underneath. Flood water rushing along the river would simply lift the bridge up and wash it downstream. In 1953, the bridge was once again reconstructed using very similar techniques to the original; however, they used metal nails to increase its durability. This 1953 reconstruction, partially restored in 2001 and 2004, still stands today.

Here's a picture of the Kintai Bridge at cherry blossom time.

Here's a picture of the underside of the Kintai Bridge, described above.

Juscelino Kubitschek Bridge, Brasilia, Brazil

The Juscelino Kubitschek Bridge completed in 2002 in Brasilia is a lesson in elegant bridge design. Inaugurated on 15 December, 2002, this bridge immediately became one more of Brasilia’s favorite landmarks. The deck of the bridge is supported by three 200-foot (61 meters) tall asymmetrical steel arches that crisscross diagonally. The 1,312 yard (1,200 meter) long bridge has a pedestrian walkway and is accessible to bicyclists and skaters. Beautiful from every angle, the bridge is particularly impressive illuminated at night.

Here's a side view of the Juscelino Kubitschek Bridge.

Here's a view of the Juscelino Kubitschek Bridge at night.

Rolling Bridge, London, UK

Thomas Heatherwick's curling bridge, built in 2004, is a unique and ingenious addition to the Grand Union Canal system in London and won the British Structural Steel Design Award back in 2005. Unlike regular movable canal bridges, the rolling bridge curls up to form an octagon by way of hydraulic jacks to let ships pass. The bridge consists of eight triangular hinged sections. When extended, it resembles a conventional steel and timber footbridge, and is 39 feet (12 meters) long. After some repairs in 2008, the bridge was fully operational again.

Here's an animated picture I found on Wikipedia, showing how this kind of bridge curls up.

Beipanjiang River Railroad Bridge, Guizhou, China

Beipanjiang River Railroad Bridge in Guizhou is an enormous railway bridge that was built as part of the Guizhou-Shuibai Railway Project. Connecting two mountains over a deep ravine, at its highest point the bridge's deck sits 918 feet (280 meters) above the bottom of the ravine. Parenthetically, the bridge connects two of the country's poorest areas.

Henderson Waves, Southern Ridges, Singapore

Henderson Waves is Singapore's highest pedestrian bridge and is at the Southern Ridges, a beautiful 6 mile (9 km) stretch of gardens and parks. The bridge is 900 feet (276 meters) long and is 120 feet (36 meters) above Henderson Road. From the side pictured above, it looks as if it would be horribly difficult to walk on. A view from the other side (see the picture below) reveals something else.

The bridge has a wave-form made up of seven undulating curved steel ribs that alternately rise over and under its deck. The curved ribs form alcoves that function as shelters containing seats. Thousands of slats of yellow balau wood, an all-weather timber found in Southeast Asia, perfectly cut and arranged, are used in the decking. The wave-forms are lit with LED lamps from 7pm to 2am daily.

Here's a picture of one of the alcoves inside one of the waves.

Here's a picture of the bridge at night.

Pont Gustave Flaubert, Rouen, France

This incredible vertical lift bridge is in Rouen, France, whose spans weigh 1,200 tons each but can be hoisted 180 feet (55 meters) vertically in an impressive 12 minutes. The angular lift structures at the top of each tower weigh 450 tons each. The huge vertical lift allows even the largest cruise liners to sail through. When I got the e-mail and saw this bridge, I was a little suspicious because I didn't see this bridge when we were in Rouen. Doing my research for this post, though, I learned that it wasn't there when we were last in Rouen, in 2001. The construction which began in June 2004, with the bridge's opening officially 25 September 2008, is estimated to have cost about 60 million euros. The Rouen City Council decided to name the bridge in honor of one its native sons, Gustave Flaubert, a 19th century author.

Here's a picture of a ship passing under the raised bridge.

Hegigio Gorge Pipeline Bridge, Southern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea

This world's highest pipeline bridge (at least at the time of this post) is a suspension bridge with a spans 514 yards (470 meters). It supports two pipelines — one gas, the other oil — and is used for transporting petroleum across an extremely deep gap in Papua New Guinea. Some may argue that the Hegigio span is not a true bridge since it was not built for people, but this third of a mile long web of wire and steel is a structure capable of supporting several hundred tons of weight. If this were to be officially recognized as a vehicular or pedestrian bridge, it would rocket to the top of the world's highest bridge-span, with the pipelines at an impressive height of 1,290 feet (393 meters) above the bottom of the gorge. By comparison, the current highest bridge span belongs to the Royal Gorge Bridge in Colorado, hanging a mere 1,053 feet (321 meters) above ground level.

Two I-beams support a trolley maintenance car. Below are several pictures of structure up close, complete with several men crossing it in a maintenance car.

Do you like bridges? Do you have a favorite bridge that you've seen or would like to see?

quotation...

"Politicians are the same all over. They promise to build bridges even when there are no rivers." - Nikita Khrushchev

=^..^= =^..^=
Rob

"We build too many walls and not enough bridges." - Isaac Newton

Comments

• March 4, 2010, Chris Anderson writes: This was fascinating. Loved it. I grew up about an hour from the Royal Gorge Bridge. Amazing structure. (Did you say "mere 1053 feet"???) :) Saw something on the news a while back about elegant bridge design, which strives to make bridges that are beautiful, not just useful. Kind of a neat concept. As long as I'm not paying for it.
• March 4, 2010, Dallas Klemmer writes: I must confess that what I sent to you was a forward from a friend; however, I am pleased to see that I received credit in a blog before Leslie! Thanks for the acknowledgement! :-) I am going to have to do some web research to see if there is a video of the curling bridge actually working. It looks pretty fascinating!
• March 4, 2010, Carol 'Ro' writes: Hi Rob! I think bridges are cool! Love to look at them but I'm not so keen on crossing them. The Ambassador bridge and the Mackinac bridge are the two that I cross the most frequently. The Chesapeake Bay bridge-tunnel stands out in my mind as the scariest though. It is not high, but long and seemingly out in the middle of the ocean! GULP!
• March 4, 2010, Diane Heeney writes: I love the "Do Not Enter" sign on that last one. Obviously, they did not have me in mind when they decided to post it!
• March 4, 2010, b.j. writes: I for one enjoy reading about and viewing these bridges from the safety and comfort of my chair! (shudder) I wish I had my photos handy. I would attach a couple copies of some photos of some bridges I took from around here. Let me rephrase that: A couple copies of some photos I took of some bridges around here! There is one that is just a couple wooden tracks with wooden slats between, no guardrail or anything. Of course, it's not as far down as the bridges shown here....
• March 4, 2010, Karen M. writes: Hi Rob, Beautiful, informative piece on bridges!! My fav is Royal Gorge Bridge. My husband, son and I traveled there a few years back. We took the vertical open cage elevator to the bottom of the gorge. While down there only about 10 min. broiling black storm clouds rolled over us. The intercom told us all to get back on the lift, which we did. Half way up to the top lightening struck the cable and we jolted to a stop. Cold rain and wind made the cage shake. People in a cage above us were crying and worrying aloud. We decided to pray out loud. Couple seconds later, the motor on top groaned and the cable came to life. We were very cold and very wet, but very thankful. Still one or our favorite memories of time spent together.
• March 4, 2010, Michael writes: Driving over bridges can be fun as long as I'm not near the edge of the bridge. The old bridge in Charleston, SC was a real adventure when you're coming from the Mt. Pleasant side into Charleston. I felt like I was on a roller coaster since the bridge was so narrow. There was little room for error. One slight jerk of the steering wheel and you were over the edge and in the river. I would usually white-knuckle the whole way. So, I guess I'm not a big fan on high bridges. In other words there's very little chance I would ride that train in China.
• March 5, 2010, Donna writes: My favorite bridge has always been the Sciotoville Railroad bridge which was built in 1917 (the year my grandmother was born). I found out recently that it is moderately famous -- for a long time it was the "longest rivited truss bridge in the world" (its single truss stretches 1,550 feet across the Ohio river.) Of course, I always thought it was so beautiful because it meant we had arrived at Grandma and Grandpa's house. You could see it from their front porch (unless it was fog-bound which caused me great panic one day when I was about 5 -- I thought it had fallen in!) If I knew how, I'd send you a picture of it. :-)
• March 5, 2010, Laura writes: One of the most interesting bridges we get to see on the trip to may parents' house is the New River Gorge Bridge in WV - http://www.wvepostcards.com/new-river-gorge-bridge It doesn't look like much as you go *over* it, but the view *from* it is spectacular. Seen from below, it is a beautiful piece of work. I'm glad I didn't have to be on the construction crew, though!
• March 5, 2010, Jewel writes: Loved this post about bridges! Our favorite is the New River Gorge Bridge near Fayetteville, W.Va. Thank you so much for sharing all of these great pics and info. I'm sending the link to my son who is a drafter and loves this sort of thing! :-)
• March 5, 2010, Jeff writes: Again with the bridges! The odd thing is I re-read the original bridge piece today as I was stumbling over old items in my computer. This made me think to return to your Blague, and lo and behold...another bridge post! Have you see the Veteran's Glass City Skyway bridge in Toledo? Here is a wiki post about it. We travel over it often on our way back and forth to Michigan. My kids especially love when they have it lit up at night. Often it slowly changes colors and is quite beautiful. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veterans_Glass_City_Skyway
• March 5, 2010, Susan writes: I do NOT like bridges, but this was a very interesting read. The bridge is Brazil really is beautiful! I don't care for driving over high bridges, but we have a couple of suspension bridges in our area that you cross on foot. I've tried the smaller one, but I only made it a few steps out and had to turn around and go back to firm ground - sheer panic set in!
• March 6, 2010, Carrie writes: Laura and Jewel, my father-in-law helped build the New River Gorge Bridge! Mom took a picture of Dad holding my husband as a 1yo with the partially-constructed bridge in the background and 30 years later we took a picture of my husband holding our 1yo son w/ the bridge in the background. Neat!
• March 9, 2010, Rob writes: @all who have commented on this post - I'm sorry, but life has prevented me from replying to each of your comments as I normally do. I appreciate all the insights that have been added to this post as well as the reactions. I want to see in person the bridges for which you have posted links. Once again, sorry for this shotgun approach, but c'est la vie! :-(

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Life consists of a series of open doors and closed doors. That's one of the ways the Lord clearly leads us to our next stage in life. As I deal with students who are at the point of life where they are testing doors to see which will open for them, I love to remind them that a closed door is every bit as good as an open door — it prevents them from going where they aren't meant to go. I'm amazed that some people are eager to try to pry open doors that the Lord has closed — it seems to me as though it may just be asking for trouble. Lord, please keep the doors that are wrong for me closed!

Lately I've come across some door signs that are amusing or perplexing, and I share them with you today. Some times it helps not to be gifted so that you can read clear Pull or Push signs on a door, as in this classic Far Side cartoon.

I can't believe how many times I've done the same thing. Maybe I'm more gifted than I thought...? Probably not.

There's something very welcoming about knowing that an establishment is open, and that they are inviting you to enter.

Sometimes you have to wonder whether an open door is inviting enough to get you to go through.

Occasionally what looks like an open door isn't open at all.

As you approach this door, you see that there are many things you are not supposed to do, including "no nothing" (next the last sign in the string of "don't's").

I love the handwritten sign appended to what is a poorly worded warning.

I'm not sure I'd like to open the door below.

Another poorly worded warning....

Now here's a helpful sign!

I wonder, though, how blind people can read the braille at the bottom of that sign without peril.

There's a strange warning on this little door.

What do you do with this one?!

It's good to know the safe way to open some doors.

Some instructions are overly detailed ... maybe trying to avoid litigation?

If you decide to go through this gate, do so quickly!

I don't know what the words say on the sign below, but they don't seem necessary.

This whole last sign doesn't seem necessary, but it kind of takes us back to where we were at the beginning of this post.

Have you had some closed doors for which you were thankful in hindsight?

quotation...

"You can't pray for illumination if you're not in the Word." - Jeremy McMorris

=^..^= =^..^=
Rob

If some stores are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, why are there locks on the doors?

Comments

• March 1, 2010, Barbara H. writes: I agree that a closed door generally means the Lord is blocking off that route...but not always. I think of Gladys Aylward being told by the China Inland Mission that she could not be a missionary because of her lack of academic background -- they didn't think she could learn the language. Yet later she went on her own and had a wonderful ministry which we still read about today. In Isobel Kuhn's book, In the Arena, she tells of a time when they were just about to return to China after furlough when war broke out between China and Japan and their mission board canceled all missionary passages. Isobel brought up that the fighting was nowhere near the area in China where they were going, but her husband told her, "Now, Belle, don't try to run the mission! We must just submit and do it happily." But after they prayed and had their devotions for the evening -- which "just happened" to be in Psalm 91 -- they communicated with their mission director to find he had been thinking along the same lines and gave them the okay to go. On the other hand, we knew missionaries in Korea who for some inexplicable reason were not granted a renewed visa. They tried every way possible, every appeal, to get their visas, but the door was firmly shut. Somehow they became aware of a population of Koreans in Canada and ministered there for several years, and then the door to Korea itself inexplicably opened again, and they returned. I thought they were perfect examples of how to handle closed doors: to test them and make sure it really was closed and not just an obstacle to overcome, and then if it stays closed, to find another avenue of service. I'm more inclined to timidly try the knob and then satisfy myself that the door is closed and my obligations are met. :-) Sorry to take up so much space in your comment section! Loved these signs. Jason has a picture of a sign on a door somewhere at BJ that said, "NO EXIT: Caution Sudden Drop-off" which made us wonder why there was a door there in the first place!
• March 1, 2010, David writes: The yellow caution sign actually is showing a patent application for the process of opening a door carefully. I think it's a combination of caution sign and a humorous protest against overly broad patents or process patents. However, as bad as some patents are, I don't think I would be too surprised if this is taken from a real application. :-)
• March 1, 2010, Vikki writes: I can't help but wonder what lead to the squirrel sign on the trash can - but I'm sure it's a great story!
• March 1, 2010, Shannah writes: The squirrel sign really looks like it could have come from Middlebury College! The trash can even matches... the squirrels there are legendary for their boldness, size, and entrance into unusual places. I've been startled more than once by a squirrel suddenly exiting just such a trash can. The examples given in my subjunctive class last summer frequently featured tofu, UFO's, and squirrels. : )
• March 1, 2010, Rob writes: @Barbara - Thanks for those examples from the lives of real people who followed the Lord. Some doors closed at one moment open later, and sometimes a different door takes us to almost the same place we'd wanted to go in the first place. That sign your son saw would be a great one to have a picture of. I wonder where it is located.... :-D @David - Thanks for that explanation. @Vikki - You may have gotten your explanation in Shannah's comment. @Shannah - That interesting about the squirrels at Middlebury. We had crazy squirrels at Camp CoBeAc too. One summer Becka and I were the camp cooks up there. The squirrels would raid our dumpster for food. One day it was "raining" pancakes from a tree behind the dining hall — squirrels had dragged a bunch up the tree and were letting them drop on people as they passed by!
• March 2, 2010, Michael writes: I think the big closed doors that stick out to me are from my dating career when there were a couple of girls at different times that I wanted to continue having a relationship with but they called it off or some other circumstances blew up the relationship. I am thankful now as I think back to how things might be different today had those relationships resulted in marriage. I'm glad God made me wait a few years before He opened the door for me to marry the woman who is now my wife.
• March 2, 2010, Ann writes: The sign where you said that words don't seem necessary is in Portuguese. It is warning people to not try to get on or off an elevator whose door is closing. About the Lord closing doors... For the first three years after graduating from bj, I taught high school science in a Christian school. At the end of the third year, my contract was not renewed for unknown reasons. I was devastated and had no clue why the Lord would allow something like that to happen. The school year ended in June and in December of that year, I was hired by a large bank. Fast forward seven years...in June 1985, I became disabled by multiple sclerosis. Only then did I realize the WHY of what happened. The school did not provide benefits to anyone who become disabled. The bank had excellent disability benefits. I have not been able to work since that day in June 1985 and there have been two bank mergers since then. However, I am still classified as an active bank employee with employee benefits. Just one example...I am on Copaxone an injectible med for the MS. It costs $13,000/year. My out of pocket cost per year? $280. Learning the why behind something so huge has made it easier to trust the Lord when I don't know why.
• March 4, 2010, Rob writes: @Michael - Thanks for chiming in! I share your experiences. I didn't date extensively and dated only nice girls, but I'm so thankful that the Lord led me to Becka! @Ann - What's that about hindsight being 20/20? The Lord graciously allowed you to see His design in closing a door that was painful at the time. It's important that we trust Him, even when He doesn't give us a glimpse into the why's and wherefore's, simply trusting our all-wise, loving Father to do what's best. Thanks for sharing your insights on this.

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Many people reading this are doing so by e-mail, and a good number do so through a blog reader. Some of you have told me that the e-mails serve as a reminder to go read the post on the blog itself. But I'm sure there are many of you who rarely if ever visit the blog itself. You can easily get to my blog by clicking on the title of the blog post in the body of the e-mail. I hope you will visit the blog soon. The blog posts themselves look different on the blog — for some reason the pictures I float to the right in posts don't show up in the same place in e-mails and blog readers. Plus you miss all the hilarious and/or insightful comments that readers leave!

In previous posts — here and here — I've posted series of (de)motivational posters. I've run across many other funny ones since then, some fit for publication here and some not (another reason people have said they appreciate my blog....).

Some people aspire to loftiness....

Some look forward to retirement....

As a language teacher and as a grandfather, I especially appreciate the next one....

If I didn't enjoy being a teacher already, this next one makes me even happier for my job.

Speaking of "jobs," here's one I saw about the new iPad from Steve Jobs and his team at Apple.

Recently there was a billboard in Minnesota that caused a nationwide stir. I've had a picture in my files since September 25, 2009, of the same thing:

Some people would love to blend our two most recent presidents, and someone has....

It will be interesting to hear what comes out of today's "bipartisan healthcare summit."

You might enjoy listening to a speech on healthcare made in 1961 by Ronald Reagan, now on YouTube.

I'll end this post with one that makes me smile.

quotation...

"God knows about me what scientists have yet to discover." - Drew Conley

=^..^= =^..^=
Rob

Education is what you get from reading the fine print. Experience is what you get from not reading it.

Comments

• February 25, 2010, Terry Egolf writes: Re: The Jobs poster. Realize that the photographer was even higher than the workers! What was he/she holding on to? The George Obama poster is just plain scary.
• February 25, 2010, Teri writes: I'm not sure I was one of the originals, but I've been receiving ivman's emails for many, many years and enjoyed every one of them.... I hope they continue for many more years. Thanks Rob!
• February 25, 2010, Carrie writes: Thanks for 400 posts of humorous and serious perspectives! I'm one of the originals, and enjoy it just as much now as then. I love this post! I really like the sun shade, and I've missed President Bush for over a year now! He wasn't perfect, but at least I agreed with many of his principles.
• February 25, 2010, Jenny writes: I love the poster about Government's "solutions." SO true! And thanks for sharing your humor with all of us and giving us reason to laugh. :o)
• February 25, 2010, David Bonikowsky writes: Man, I've been getting iv's for I don't know how long! I remember as a little kid when my dad would print them off and bring the to lunch now and then...
• February 25, 2010, Rob writes: @Terry - That's a good point. Maybe the photographer is in a helicopter? I agree that the morphed face is eery. @Teri - I'm glad you're still enjoying my postings, after all these years. @Jenny - Glad to hear the humor is a source of laughs for you. I'm getting weary of government "solutions." @David - You've grown up on iv's ... or maybe groaned up?
• February 26, 2010, Claudia Barba writes: Thanks, Rob. You make us Laugh Out Loud!!
• February 26, 2010, A.H. writes: WOW! Congratulations!
• February 27, 2010, Rob writes: @Claudia - Thanks, Claudia. That's like saying "Sic 'em to a dog!" :-D @A.H. - Merci!

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The cartoon of the USDA guidelines made me think of some of the wild notions out there about how people should eat. Low-this, low-that, no-this, no-that! There's always some new "diet craze" — is "craze" related to "crazy"?! Many people have a hard time sorting through all the (mis)information. It seems that we're constantly hearing we should start eating what we've previously been told not to eat because it would kill us, and we should stop eating what we were only recently encouraged to consume freely. Today's iv pokes fun at several dietary myths.

What Food Choices?

Can't eat beef ... mad cow
Can't eat chicken ... bird flu
Can't eat eggs ... salmonella
Can't eat pork ... trichinosis or swine flu
Can't eat fish ... contaminated by heavy metals in the water
Can't eat fruits and veggies ... insecticides and herbicides

Hmmmm! I believe that leaves chocolate!

Calories that don't count

A report released by the prestigious Southern California Association of Medicine (SCAM) documents the fact that the following foods and situations have no calories to speak of. You may consume all you wish with a clear conscience!

1. FOOD ON FOOT — All food eaten while standing has no calories. Exactly why is not clear, but the current theory relates to gravity. The calories apparently bypass the stomach flowing directly down the legs, and through the soles of the feet into the floor, like electricity. Walking appears to accelerate this process, so that an ice cream bar or hot dog eaten at the state fair actually has calorie deficit.

2. TV FOOD — Anything eaten in front of the TV has no calories. This may have something to do with radiation leakage, which negates the calories in food, plus all recollection of having eaten it.

3. UNEVEN EDGES — Pies and cakes should be cut neatly, in even wedges or slices. If not, the responsibility falls on the person putting them away to "straighten up the edges" by slicing away offending irregularities, which have no calories when eaten.

4. BALANCED FOOD — If you drink a 12 ounce diet soda with a candy bar, they cancel each other out.

5. LEFT-HANDED FOOD — If you have a drink in your right hand, anything eaten with the left hand has no calories. Several principles are at work here. First of all, you're probably standing up at a party (see "Food on Foot", above) Then, there's the electronic field: a wet glass in one hand forms a negative charge to reverse the polarities of the calories attracted to the other hand. It's not quite known how it works, but the reverse is true if you're left-handed.

6. FOOD FOR MEDICINAL PURPOSES — Food used for medicinal purposes never counts. For example: M & M's, hot chocolate, or Sara Lee Cheesecake.

7. WHIPPED CREAM, SOUR CREAM, and BUTTER — These all act as a poultice that actually "draws out" the calories when placed on any food, leaving them calorie free. Afterwards, you can eat the poultice, too, since all the calories have been neutralized by it.

8. CHILDREN'S FOOD — Anything produced, purchased, or intended for minors is calorie free when eaten by adults. This category covers a wide range, beginning with a spoonful of baby food custard, consumed for demonstration purposes, up to Oreo cookies and including Toll House cookies baked to mail to your college student.

9. FOOD ON TOOTHPICKS — Sausage, cocktail franks, and crackers are all fattening unless impaled on frilly toothpicks. The insertion of a sharp object allows the calories to leak out the bottom.

10. CHARITABLE FOODS — Girl Scout cookies, bake sale cakes, ice cream socials and church strawberry festivals all have a religious dispensation from calories.

11. CUSTOM MADE TREATS — Anything somebody makes "just for you" must be eaten, regardless of the calories, because to do otherwise would be uncaring and insensitive. Your kind intentions will not go unrecognized, except by the calories.

Happy guilt-free / guilt-laden eating

quotation...

"Humanity's idols make horrible masters." - Drew Conley

=^..^= =^..^=
Rob

Because of the low-fat craze, the Mayo Clinic has changed its name to the Balsamic Vinaigrette Clinic.

Comments

• February 22, 2010, Sam Schnaiter writes: That food on foot minuses the calories idea: is that, we eat it while it is standing? :-0
• February 22, 2010, Laura writes: I think that one reason for all the confusion about what we should eat and what we shouldn't stems from the government's mentality of "one size fits all." People are different ... some face diabetes in their family tree and some face cancer. Some have other problems. We all have our individual weaknesses, so when somebody is sick copies the diet of somebody who is well, it *may* work, but then again, it may not. We cannot assume that the particular diet of the healthy person is the cause of their lack of a certain illness, because their genetics may play a larger role. I thought the claims of the low carb camp were kind of kooky at first (go ahead and eat meat, then watch your cholesterol go down), but that kind of eating really helped me control my severe hypoglycemia (hopefully preventing diabetes in my future). I don't eat vegetarian myself, but I can fully support friends who have cancer and eat vegetarian because I've seen time and again that it really seems to help folks with that kind of problem. I'm a big fan of Rule #3, but I think that you left out a rule you mentioned in the past ... "Broken cookies have no calories . . . the calories fall out." Last time my husband (who works with quality) brought home leftover cookies from a meeting at work, I found some broken ones and told the kids the cookies were defective, and Daddy has enough defects each day at work without a few more popping up at home. Gulp! Goodbye defects!
• February 22, 2010, Carrie writes: Whew! I guess I'm safe from all those calories. My dad (a doctor) gives this easy tip: take in fewer calories than you use.
• February 22, 2010, Vikki writes: Broken cookies are also perfectly fine to eat. Once broken, all the calories leak out. Anything you finish off someone else's plate doesn't count as your own calories. Anything whipped or mashed has no calories - they've been beaten out!
• February 22, 2010, Ron writes: I have also heard that white foods have no calories, i.e. whipped cream, mashed potatoes, vanilla ice cream, white chocolate, etc. Maybe I should do some research on this, now where did I put that ice cream, frig or freezer.....maybe a little whipped cream on top.....oh my:)
• February 22, 2010, Beth writes: My mom has a "Magic Piggy Wand" that you wave over food. It will take away any calories. The directions state that it's suggested to wave twice over desserts. :) We've rarely used it, but it's a nice conversation piece.
• February 22, 2010, Susan writes: Laura is correct about the "one size fits all" mentality of the government guidelines. I'm diabetic, and I've found that my blood sugar is better controlled if I don't eat the amount of carb servings the government considers necessary, and I probably eat a lot more protein than the guides say to eat! The South Beach Diet is my friend! I love the cartoon with the doctor giving the choice of 1 hour a day of exercise or 24 hours a day dead. Sounds like something my doctor would say! ;) Any problem I have, his first advice is ... exercise! Ugh.
• February 23, 2010, Kathleen writes: As a left-handed reader, I am thrilled to learn that everything I eat is perfectly healthy! One other thing you forgot - quality control. The first cookie from each batch is calorie free, as consuming it is an act of charity to ensure that others do not unexpectedly eat anything from a failed batch.
• February 24, 2010, Rob writes: @Sam - You could try eating food while it is standing. If you do, please let us know how it works for you. :-) @Laura - You've said a mouthful there! Genetics indeed plays a huge role. I think knowing what we've inherited through our genes should move us to making wiser choices in what we eat, but wise eating alone is not always enough. Both my parents had/have high cholesterol. My wife and I have eaten low fat foods for years and exercise. My doctor finally urged me to go on cholesterol lowering medicine because my levels were still too high. Wanting to avoid dying of a massive heart attack as my dad did at 42, I followed the doctor's advice. I'm taking the medicine, eating low fat, and exercising. My cholesterol levels are now in the normal range, and the only difference was the meds. @Laura, Vikki, and Ron - Thanks for the tip about the broken cookies and other calorie-free foods! I didn't realize there were that many choices! @Carrie - Your father is a wise man. When I had my first knee surgery at Barge, he helped them open me in prayer. @Beth - Your mom's "Magic Piggy Wand" sounds like a great conversation piece. If only.... @Susan - I'm glad you're using your own good sense in controlling your diabetes. Being prediabetic now, I really try to watch my carb intake. And ah yes, that exercise thing! :-D @Kathleen - I'm cripplingly right-handed, but I seem to be able to read ambidextrously ... and eat ambidextrously too. ;-) I like your suggestion about the quality control ministry. My wife often asks me to "help" her by licking beaters and bowls and by doing quality control on her test cookie. It's tough, but someone has to do these things!
• February 24, 2010, Kathleen writes: I must agree that being right-handed would be crippling....
• February 24, 2010, A.H. writes: I am a firm believer in the Chocolate Diet.

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They come in a variety of colors — here's a picture of a stack of them at a dealership.

Though I had heard of Smart Cars, a recent e-mail from a friend in Germany who reads my blog put me on to the fact that they are highly customizable. Tuning kits available from Carlsson Products allow you to change rather significantly the look of your Smart Car. The kits include alloy wheels, an aluminum pedal set, a fog light, front spoiler, grill inlet, handbrake lever, rear skirt, sport rear silencer, and wiring harness.

Never satisfied with the status quo, though, others have come up with body kits that totally change the look of the Smart Car. Here's what they've come up with so far.

The Smorvette!

The Smaudi A3 AWD!

The Smamborghini!

The Smorsche!

The Smorsche Targa!

The Smerrari!

and last, but not least...

The Smustang!

An interesting look, to be sure, but it's not as spacious as the "surprisingly roomy" Smart Car Fortwo, and not as powerful — less than one horse.

Are you tempted to look into the Smart Car for your automotive needs? Do you already own one and want to tell us how great it is? Would you never consider one? Share your thoughts in the comments.

quotation...

"Delay is not indifference. It's God's exercising His wisdom." - Chris Barney

=^..^= =^..^=
Rob

Did you ever notice when you blow in a dog's face he gets mad at you? But when you take him in a car he sticks his head out the window!

Comments

• February 18, 2010, Cathy Cockrell Lane writes: I would consider the Smorvette. RED! David, on the other hand, at 6'5" would need two, one for each foot. Therefore, not a good choice for him. Maybe he could use it as a golf cart.
• February 18, 2010, Vikki writes: Really cute baby cars - wonder what they'll look like when they grow up?
• February 18, 2010, Donna writes: It just looks like a single roller skate! I guess you would not have to worry about being hurt in a wreck because you would just be killed instantly ...
• February 18, 2010, Lara writes: My husband and I call the SCs "fleas". We're both short, but neither of us wants one. I survived getting hit by a truck in my Focus. No chance of that happening in the SC!
• February 18, 2010, b.j. writes: I agree with Donna, wouldn't want to get in a wreck in one of those! There is someone who has a yellow smart car local here. I still do a double take every time I see it! I have no idea how they drive on these roads around here. Many of the roads are dirt/gravel, and the potholes are big enough to swallow that car whole! You see a lot of pickups and SUV's 'round these parts. Those light bulbs get my blood boiling every time I see them! (well, maybe not boiling exactly...) They have mercury in them, and are not to be vacuumed or swept up if broken, but handled very carefully. So, years down the road, I can see all the turmoil about the mercury seeping into the water supply from the landfills, and how irresponsible the past people were (us). That, and the strobe-effect of those bulbs makes it hard for some family members I know who have seizures. It's making it harder for them to enter some stores, one of which they can't enter at all! it even gives me bad headaches. Grrr. Done with my ranting now. :-P oh, yeah, Where's the blue Smurf car? :-)
• February 18, 2010, Kathleen writes: Those cars shrunk in the car wash....
• February 18, 2010, Cindy C. writes: So, would a blue one be called a Smurfvette? I wonder if they have add on rooms for the top? You know, like the stack, only w/o the frame? Just weld them all together so the fam can drive together.
• February 18, 2010, Rob writes: @Cathy - LOL! I could see David with one of those on each foot. @Vikki - I think they are SUV wannabes. @Donna, Lara, and b.j. - I don't want to get into any kind of wreck, but much of a wreck in a Smart Car would be a death sentence. I'm glad I gave you a platform for a rant, b.j. I'm glad you spared me having to do the same rant, especially since I put a link to my previous rant on the light bulbs. :-) @Kathleen - Honey, I shrunk the car! @Cindy - Our daughter Nora is nanny to 4 children, all of whom are still in car seats. A family with kids would not be able to use this virtuous car.
• February 18, 2010, Ron writes: I'm afraid I would end up as a hood ornament on a Dodge Ram or a Toyota Tundra. Ouch:)
• February 18, 2010, Laura writes: We REALLY enjoyed this post! The Reader's Digest version of the Mustang was the BEST. HILARIOUS. I had one of those mercury bulbs blow up in my face a year or two ago. Haven't bought any since. [@ b.j.~ We have kids in our family that react to fluorescent lights, and tinted glasses helped. They don't help everyone, but it is worth looking into since that lighting is so prevalent. Visit www.irlen.com (especially the testimonials) and www.essex.ac.uk/psychology/overlays/ (real research). If you want more info beyond that, ask IVman for my email.] As far as cars & families go, we once decided between 2 possible vans by which one we could buckle 3 car seats into side-by-side (Aerostar won over Windstar on that one). When that one got old, we upsized to a real van because we needed more cargo space in the back to feed the young'uns that outgrew those car seats! It was funny . . . until I was driving on back campus and went around a tricky telephone pole corner not realizing just how much the back wheels tracked inside the front ones. Thankfully, the damage was not too bad, and the van and I are now good friends. I'd rather drive that gas guzzler in town than my husband's "tin can" because even though I'm not an aggressive driver, I appreciate the aura a bigger vehicle projects, preventing people from running me over the way they do in the Civic.
• February 22, 2010, Rob writes: @Ron - So you don't want to adorn the front of a larger vehicle?! :-) @Laura - Yikes! I've never heard of one of those bulbs blowing up before. That makes them even more endearing! :-/ Thanks for the links and for your family's insights. I think there's probably a definite niche in the market for the Smart Car, but it's probably quite limited. Vikki asked me to post the comment and picture below: Oh wait - it is grown up! Poor thing . . . Maybe it shrunk in the wash. Shoulda had it dry cleaned. At least it's bigger than this little bubble car.

  

• February 22, 2010, Carrie writes: My son fell in love with the SC on Mr. T's desk at the AHE. We even have seen one up here in Fairbanks!
• February 22, 2010, A.H. writes: Don't get me started on light bulbs. The government can come up with some ridiculous ways to use the Interstate Commerce Clause.
• February 22, 2010, Carrie writes: Oh, and here's "the world's only stretch Smart car:" http://www.greencarsite.co.uk/GREENNEWS/stretch-Smart-car.htm ivman adds: In case the interesting article ever disappears, here's the picture at least:

  

• February 24, 2010, Sarah writes: Re: Carrie's stretch Smart Car: That one kind of defeats the purpose, doesn't it?
• February 26, 2010, Sue writes: Once while traveling (and in the passenger seat), I started laughing when I spotted a Smart Car sporting a vanity plate "ITSMYSUV" -- riding on the back of a flat bed tow truck! If only I'd been able to get the camera out and turned on in time, before the truck exited. I could've put the caption "SUV battery low," or something like that.
• February 27, 2010, Rob writes: @Sue - That's funny! I wish you could have photographed that scene also. I will say, though, that regular cars have occasional breakdowns also and have to be towed, so maybe it was something other than low battery. :-)
• March 1, 2010, Jenni writes: I saw a Smart Car at Costco on Saturday. Didn't think the driver would be able to fit much in it. But then again, I was on my bicycle... :-) However, I have a longtail bike with lots of cargo room, so I might have have more carrying capacity than the SC!
• March 4, 2010, nickand writes: It just looks like a toy, and I don't drive a toy around.

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Happy Presidents' Day! It might seem strange to give the title "Long Live the Queen!" to a Presidents' Day blog post and to start off with a picture of Queen Elizabeth II of England, but I think my doing so will make more sense to you as you read the post. Many people know the expressions, "God Save the King!" or more recently "God Save the Queen!" He seems to have done just that with Queen Elizabeth II.

In February 1952, at the age of 25, Elizabeth ascended the throne to become the queen. Time magazine named her its Woman of the Year for 1952. That was a long time ago, and that young queen is now in her eighties. I hope this post of pictures with little commentary will document at least one aspect of her 58 years as queen, so far.

For Presidents' Day 2010 I would like to do a tribute to the presidents through the eyes of Queen Elizabeth II.

Below is a picture of Queen Elizabeth with Barack and Michelle Obama at Buckingham Palace on 1 April 2009.

Here is a picture of Queen Elizabeth with George and Laura Bush at the White House.

Next is a picture of the Clinton family with the queen. The expression on her face makes me wonder what she's thinking ... or what he's saying.

Here is a picture of Queen Elizabeth with George H. W. Bush.

Here is a neat picture of the queen and Ronald Reagan riding horses together.

Below is a picture of Queen Elizabeth with Jimmy Carter.

Here is a picture of the queen dancing with Gerald Ford.

Here is the queen with Richard Nixon.

As odd as it may seem, the queen never met Lyndon Johnson in person. She would have met LBJ at JFK's funeral, but she was expecting at the time and didn't make the trip.

Here she is with the Kennedys.

Below is a picture of Queen Elizabeth with Ike — Dwight Eisenhower. (We're back into my elementary school days with this one!)

There were several instances of her meeting with US presidents when either they were no longer president or she was not yet queen.

Below is a picture of the queen with former president Herbert Hoover at a luncheon at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York on 1 October 1957. She had been Queen Elizabeth II for 5 years by then, and it had been over 24 years since the end of his presidency.

Here is a picture of a meeting with Harry Truman when Elizabeth was still Princess Elizabeth in October 1951 — the month after I was born. Wow! We're going back in time!

Although Elizabeth was not along on the trip, her parents visited the USA in 1939. The meeting between her father and FDR was historic — George VI had been king for only a little more than two years, and no reigning British monarch had ever set foot on American soil, not even in colonial times. Here's a picture of King George VI and FDR from that visit.

There have been 12 presidents of the United States since the Queen Elizabeth II ascended to the throne, 6 February 1952:

1. Harry S Truman
2. Dwight David (Ike) Eisenhower
3. John Fitzgerald Kennedy
4. Lyndon Baines Johnson
5. Richard Milhouse Nixon
6. Gerald Rudolph Ford
7. James Earl Carter
8. Ronald Wilson Reagan
9. George Herbert Walker Bush
10. William Jefferson (Blythe III) Clinton
11. George Walker Bush
12. Barack Hussein Obama

Her reign has coincided with 12 presidencies, yet her life has coincided with the lives of 16 presidents. The four who were president before her ascendancy were William Howard Taft, John Calvin Coolidge Jr., Herbert Clark Hoover, and Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Of those four, she met only Hoover (see above). Taft had been an ex-president for 13 years when Elizabeth was born in 1926, and he died before she was age 4. After Taft's presidency two presidents died before Elizabeth was born — Thomas Woodrow Wilson died in 1924 and Warren Gamaliel Harding died in 1923. As mentioned earlier, the only sitting president she never met during her reign was Lyndon Johnson.

To say that Queen Elizabeth has had a long reign would be an understatement. Below is a short video clip where George W. Bush makes a slip that majorly overstates the length of her reign.

I wonder if she was thinking, "We are not amused!" Actually the queen teased GWB about this when, at a banquet at the end of her US visit, she said, "I wondered whether I should start by saying, 'When I was here in 1776....'"

In 2012, she will celebrate her Diamond Jubilee, as did her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria. May the year 2012 give Queen Elizabeth II the promise of meeting yet another President of the United States! I hope the American voters do not deprive her of that pleasure — it would be a pity to make Her Majesty wait until 2016.

I look forward to the comments on this post. I know there are readers for whom Queen Elizabeth II is "my queen" and some history buffs as well.

quotation...

"In an age that idolizes novelty, we must not despise history." - Eric Newton

=^..^= =^..^=
Rob

All I ask is that you treat me no differently than you would the Queen of England.

Comments

• February 15, 2010, b.j. writes: There was a lot of controversy around the Obama's visit to the Queen. One was about Michele Obama putting her hand on the queen's back. I guess it is taboo to touch the queen. I told my husband about it, and he was shocked, saying "oh yeah, when D-- (his step dad) met the queen, he was told not to touch her, and there were people there to make sure he didn't. I wonder why they didn't warn the Obamas?" Meanwhile, a record player screech to a halt sound goes off in my head, at which point I say "What?! He met the queen? what for?" and Hubby says "I don't remember, something about horse eventing, maybe about when he was invited to the Olympics" where another screeching halt goes off in my brain and I say "Invited to the Olympics? I thought you had to pay big bucks to get tickets to the Olympics." where hubby then says "No, he was supposed to be IN the Olympics. He was the substitute if the other guy got hurt or couldn't do it." Where at this point I give up, because what else am I about to find out, his grandpa helped land on the moon or something? Funny how some things take so long to just pop up in conversation, and so nonchalantly too! Wonder what else I'm going to find out in our years together....
• February 15, 2010, marianne mckillop writes: I thought the same thing of the Obama trip but HM QE II had put her hand on Michelle's back apparently. I was aghast at first. Yes she is my Queen, being born in Jamaica to Canadian parents. She came to our elementary school in Montego Bay and we sang to her, "Carry me Ackee go to Linstead Market," I even remember the song. It was St James Prep School associated with the Anglican church there. Dad took some great pictures. Long live the Queen.
• February 15, 2010, A.H. writes: When I was beginning to read, I received a 1971 Canadian penny with Queen Elizabeth's profile as a "prize." I always wanted to look like that profile.
• February 15, 2010, Rob writes: @b.j. - I was cracking up at your story about your step-father-in-law's claims to fame, that your husband found not newsworthy to share with you until now. :-D From what I can find online, it all started when Queen Elizabeth told the first lady she hoped they could stay in touch. The queen actually touched Michelle on the back first as they stood and talked. Michelle in return gave the Queen a back pat. Touching the Queen of England is definitely a protocol no-no. I'm sure the queen, as gracious a hostess as she is, was able to roll with it and not cause an international scandal. @Marianne - That's a neat story about her visit to your school in Jamaica. What a great remembrance to take through life and to be able to relate to your descendants. @A.H. - I've seen Canadian pennies ... we often got them as change in Ohio and Michigan. It is a striking profile.
• February 15, 2010, Karen M. writes: Rob, What a wonderful tribute to the Queen and to our presidents! Currently I'm reading David McCullough's John Adams which recounts the 11+ year struggle to free ourselves from England and the Monarch of that day, King George. I found it interesting that no king or queen had set foot on American soil for so many years. Thanks for the walk down memory lane! Karen
• February 15, 2010, Sue writes: Wow, these are great pictures. I particularly like the one with President Reagan. Thank you for putting this post together, I'm sure the compiling took some time.
• February 15, 2010, Susan writes: I enjoy reading anything about the Queen and her late mother. My husband and I are American transplants to Canada. I was shocked at first to find that Her Majesty is still considered the queen of Canada, although Canada was granted its independence in 1867. Being steeped in American history, my first thought was, "If you're independent of Britain, she's not your queen anymore." But apparently Canadians don't feel that way, I suppose because they didn't fight for their independence! It's also a bit confusing to hear 'My Country Tis of Thee' played at official Canadian events (including the Opening Ceremony of the Olympics when the Governor General arrived!) - until you get over being American and realize it's 'God Save the Queen.' ;) I very much admire the Queen, especially the grace she shows when visiting First Ladies breach protocol! LOL
• February 16, 2010, Carrie writes: I love this post too! The royal family has an official website: http://www.royal.gov.uk There is lots of neat stuff there. My kids and I watched part of the coronation movie. Very impressive. I wonder what the next one will be like, whether people will wait in the rainy street overnight to see the procession. My daughter's name is Elizabeth, so we love her especially. Such a lovely lady. On her 80th birthday she invited 80 people who shared her birthday to her party!
• February 16, 2010, Marilyn writes: Say, Rob, I think that the photo of Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Phillip and the Kennedys was the same one featured on the Weekly Reader front page back when we were in grade school.
• February 16, 2010, Rob writes: @Karen - I'm glad you enjoyed the post. The American Revolutionary period is definitely an interesting time in history. I'm glad we were eventually able to become allies with England again and continue to be. @Sue - I really liked the picture of Reagan and the queen too. I found a closer shot in black and white. A picture you usually see of the queen and Reagan is with her speaking and his laughing his head off. That's also a neat image - he was definitely a neat person. @Susan - Thanks for the interesting perspective of an American transplanted into Canada. I think people mistakenly think that our two cultures are more similar than they actually are. Very different perspectives on many things. Then factor in the Québecois viewpoint also, and you have something altogether different. @Carrie - Glad you enjoyed the post. Thanks for the link. I've had students through the years who were great fans of the royals. It is fascinating that the royalty still exists in tandem with the various forms of governance in the British Commonwealth. @Marilyn - Weekly Reader? What in the world are you talking about?! (Says Rob in utter denial....)
• February 16, 2010, Gaye Wynn writes: As a certified Anglophile, I loved this post! England has had some remarkable queens and the top two in my opinion have shared the same name! There's a lovely poem by Robert Graves called "Coronation Address" that captures the spirit of serving a queen.
• February 17, 2010, Rob writes: @Gaye - How does one become a "certified Anglophile?" I know I'm "certifiable," but I don't know if it would apply to what you're talking about. :-D
• February 18, 2010, Susan writes: Canada is indeed a very different culture than the US. Just try to come and live here without changing any of your American mindset! ;) And the Quebecois?! Oh, dear. There's an entire political party just for them. By the way, I am originally from Greenville, SC. My family attended Tabernacle Baptist Church, and my husband and I married there. Uncle Sam moved us to several states via the US Air Force. We landed in Texas for 14 years, and from there God called us to Canada. One reason I enjoy your blog so much is I know the area where you live; it's like hearing from "home" a few times a week!

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The picture above is a satellite view of the Washington D.C. area earlier this week from NASA. Look at all that snow-covered ground! And that part of the country is supposed to be getting even more snow. It's neat to see the Appalachians highlighted by the snow. I bet some people in D.C., Philly, and NYC are hoping that whoever upset Al Gore will apologize to him so that he'll give them back their global warming. As the Lord dumps tons of snow on some of the hotbeds of the global warming hoax, He is proving that He has a delightful sense of humor. Fill-in-the-blank test item: "Professing themselves to be wise, they became ___."

How much snow is too much? Growing up in NW Ohio and living for about a decade in the Detroit area, my wife and I came to regard heavy snows and months of dirty snow and ice as just a normal part of life. Now that we've lived in South Carolina for over a quarter of a century, we love the idea of normalcy here — little to no snow, year after year, with the occasional French-toast-comfort-food scares where everyone empties the grocery stores of milk, bread, and eggs. (BTW, our crocuses are blooming here today.)

Did you know that snowmen can find too much snow depressing? Below is a picture a friend sent me yesterday to prove it:

With all the snow lately and with the Winter Olympics beginning soon, I thought I'd post a classic that I sent out as an e-mail iv a few years ago.

Top ten ways to prepare for your skiing vacation

10. Visit your local butcher and pay $30 to sit in the walk-in freezer for half an hour. Afterwards, burn two $50 dollar bills to warm yourself up again.

9. Go to the nearest hockey rink and walk across the ice 20 times in your ski boots carrying two pairs of skis, accessory bag and poles. Pretend you are looking for your car.

8. For ski boot simulation at home, put a pebble in your street shoes and tighten a C-clamp around your toes.

7. Buy a pair of gloves and immediately throw one away.

6. Go to McDonald's and insist on paying $6.50 for a hamburger. Be sure to wait in the longest line.

5. Clip a lift ticket to the zipper of your jacket and ride a motorcycle fast enough to make the ticket lacerate your face.

4. Drive slowly for five hours — anywhere — as long as it's in a snowstorm and you're following an 18 wheeler.

3. Fill a blender with ice, hit the pulse button and let the spray blast your face. You'd almost believe you're skiing in front of a snow maker!

2. Dress up in as many clothes as you can and then proceed to take them off because you have to go to the bathroom.

1. Repeat all of the above every Saturday until you go on your ski vacation.

How is the snow situation where you live? Will you be following the Winter Olympics closely? Now that the government has improved our lives with mandated DTV, we can no longer pick up WYFF-4, our local NBC station, because Paris Mountain blocks the signal for us. Oh well, we'll just read online who wins what or catch news highlights on the Spartanburg station.

quotation...

"Being missions-minded is more than paying someone else to make disciples somewhere else." - Drew Conley

=^..^= =^..^=
Rob

I've heard it said that cleaning your house while your kids are still growing is like shoveling the driveway before it has stopped snowing.

Comments

• February 11, 2010, Joy writes: You'd think all this snow would cause everyone to realize global warming is a hoax, but not so - I've actually heard some media folks claiming these snow storms are brought on by global warming!!!
• February 11, 2010, Melanie writes: I live in southwest VA, so we've gotten the same snowstorms the DC area gets. However, we haven't gotten nearly as much as they have. We have over a foot on the ground from the last few weeks. I teach in the public schools, and so far we've had school one day in February (and that was with a 2 hour delay). It is also VERY cold here with the windchill in the single digits!
• February 11, 2010, Terry Egolf writes: It's not global warming, or even global cooling. It's El Niño. One of the strongest in recent decades.
• February 11, 2010, Heather writes: I live right smack in the middle of that satellite photo. We in the Baltimore area have gotten between 3 and 4 feet of global warming in the last six days. I was born and raised in the South, and I still can't believe what my eyes insist is there. It makes me remember some of your older posts about Northern winters!
• February 11, 2010, b.j. writes: My hubby used to be an avid skier, even competing in slalom races, though not in a large scale, famous capacity. I had to laugh at this post, reminicent of my one time skiing. I am sure he is really going to get some laughs out of it! We have gotten a lot more snow here in MO than usual, too. It is funny to see how schools are out here, where in Ohio it would have been laughable, but then again, the roads here are pretty bad. I've really enjoyed the snow, regardless of the roads though! Of course, it is still being blamed on all this human made global warming.
• February 11, 2010, laura writes: I love that little dig you stuck in about your crocuses blooming. SC is great. I planted my peas on Tuesday, along with more radishes & turnips. We have Swiss chard, radishes, turnips, carrots, oregano, and parsley in the garden . . . what more could I ask for :-) ? We don't have TV, either, but we don't miss it. With good books and a bunch of kids, we have all the entertainment we can handle! Snow & housework are a lot alike . . . if you put it off until later, it is a lot harder than dipping in and doing what you can along the way. My dad says in PA, they don't plow until it stops falling, and the roads are a MESS until it is all caught up. When we lived in MA, though, the plows were out as soon as the first flakes started floating down, and the only thing that kept us from going anywhere anytime was an ice storm, which might hit once a year or less . . . and that only held us up because we lived on a mountain (hard to get home straight uphill on smooth ice). Of course, we still had to shovel the driveway twice a day, to get out to those nice, clear roads . . . much better in SC!!! El Nino contributes to the weather (especially precipitation), but sunspot activity is also a BIG factor, and it looks as though it may be depressed for a while yet. Guess we'd better get used to cold weather again. So much weather is cyclical . . . but the politicians can ignore that to push their efforts to control the world. Hmmm . . . all this "cold talk" is getting me thinking about cocoa . . . have a great week!
• February 11, 2010, Susan writes: My husband and I live in Vancouver, BC, and we have been enjoying God's sense of humor in dumping all the snow on the east coast instead of here, where the Winter Olympics begin tomorrow. The Olympic Committee took over Vancouver, but they couldn't take over the weather! ;) My husband said yesterday that we put in the order for snow for BC, but the message got mixed up and God thought we said DC! I enjoy your blog tremendously!
• February 11, 2010, Laura writes: My parents live in the southeast corner of Maryland, about 1 1/2 hours south of D.C. As of yesterday they had approximately 2 feet of snow on the ground (it would be closer to 3 with all the snowfall they've had, but there were a couple of days that actually got warm enough to melt some). The last time there was anything close to that amount of snow was over 20 years ago, when it snowed 18 inches the weekend before and another 18 inches the weekend after we moved in to the house where my parents still live. I was less than a year old at the time, so unfortunately I don't remember it, but my parents say it was quite the experience. :)
• February 11, 2010, Jason Harper writes: I'm from South Carolina as well and I'm actually enjoying the snow up north a lot! I work for a call center that gets calls from all over the states, but especially the North East.... it's been pretty slow in the mornings the past week or two. :-) It picks up a lot in the afternoon when California wakes up... they've been having weather in the 50's to low 60's lately.... Concerning the Olympics, I've heard that they've had to order snow for the slopes, and instead of having snow banks on the sides of the slopes, they've stacked up hay bails and covered them in snow because they don't have enough... maybe Susan can verify that...
• February 12, 2010, Ellen writes: This has nothing to do with your post, but I just wanted to say it was nice to see you earlier this week. Just sorry that it had to be for such a sad reason -- well, for us at least. I'm sure Sandy is VERY happy to be where she is! I am a transplanted Northerner as well, and I do have to admit that I miss the snow! I'm not sure that I would want it months on end, but a few nice snowfalls (at least 6" or more) would be nice. My kids would be ecstatic!
• February 12, 2010, Rob writes: @Joy - It's funny that you say that. I just ran across an article in Time about how global warming makes blizzards worse. @Melanie, Heather, and Laura T. - Thanks for the news of people affected by these heavy snows. They are for sure getting hammered by an unmerciful side of global warming! @Terry - I heard El Niño mentioned earlier this year in connection with the heavy rains and I remember the heavy rains of our last El Niño year. It stands to reason that heavy rains can become heavy snows. It seems to me that the "warming" thing still should be part of the mix, though, in that if it's warmer, the heavy rains should still be heavy rains instead of snows. @b.j. - Thanks for the snow report from Missouri. That's interesting about your husband's skiing past. I'd be interested to know if he got a kick out of the suggested preparations for his next ski vacation. @laura b. - When you comment, you always bring not only good information and things to ponder, but also more humor. Thanks for your balanced comment! I wasn't even planning to say anything about our crocuses, but just before I hit the publish button, my wife asked me if I had seen out our back window that our crocuses were blooming. It seemed too good not to add — maybe as a little dig, or just as another bright side of life here in SC. Nothin' could be finah.... :-D Thanks for insights from PA and MA, past and present. We remember a couple of big snows here — we're talking 10-12 inches! — our first couple of years here, and Greenville County's having only 3 trucks with snow plows for the whole huge country. They just did what they could with the small amount of sand they had ... at intersections and on overpasses and bridges. @Susan - Wow, news from someone in Vancouver, BC!!! Your husband's comment made me LOL! Thanks for sharing it. @Jason - Good to hear from you ... from the frozen tundra of the USA. Your insights as a worker in a call center are interesting, as the clock moves through the day and non-snowy areas wake up differently from those snowed under. I heard the same thing about the Olympics and the lack of snow. I do hope Susan will chime in on that from Vancouver. @Ellen - It was good to see you Monday evening, minus the circumstances, and to meet your adorable little girl. I don't mind snows here, even our rare heavy snows, because I know it's not going to go on for months and months. So, I'll join you in hoping for a good 6 inches yet this season. :-)
• February 12, 2010, Vikki writes: Being raised in WI, I know only too well what lots of snow means. I love a good blizzard - as long as everyone is home and the power doesn't go out. However, I didn't like the looooooong winters and the bitter cold up there. Here in Greenville, SC the winters are just the right length. I just wish we saw more snow. I love to watch the students here on campus when it snows. Those from the south who never saw snow before just go nuts. Half an inch of it on the ground and they want you to take pictures of them standing in it to send to their parents and they make little bitty 1-2 foot snowmen. I would love to see a good 6" of good packing snow once each year for these kids to experience. It could be the highlight of their whole college experience.
• February 12, 2010, Rob writes: @Vikki - You should have seen my students this afternoon when it began to snow. Right now, as I type this reply, we have an inch of snow ... and it's still coming. Things look really pretty with the snow. So nice that most of it will be gone in a day or so.
• February 12, 2010, A.H. writes: I would love to have 6" of snow. Actually, I would love to have all of D.C.'s snow! However, I am elated with what we have now.
• February 13, 2010, jhr writes: Baseball spring training begins in 4 days
• February 13, 2010, Rob writes: @A.H. - Hope you enjoyed the 3 inches we got over night. It was so beautiful, and it's even more beautiful to see it melting today. Love not having long-term dirty snow! @ jhr - Hope it's not in the panhandle of FL ... heard that they became state #49 to have snow right now. The only one that doesn't is Hawaii. My wife and I, in Southern crisis mode, had French toast for lunch today. Delish!
• February 15, 2010, b.j. writes: In response to the olympic comments, my mom heard that they were trucking snow from the blizzard overrun east to the canadian border, where canadian trucks picked it up and hauled it to Vancouver for the games. Thought that was funny, yet interesting.
• February 15, 2010, Rob writes: @b.j. - Wow! That would be a long way to truck snow. Are you sure she heard that right? ;-) Must be one of those urban legends....
• February 15, 2010, Sue writes: Actually, they did transport snow via both helicopter and truck, but I don't think it came from as far away as the east coast. According to the NY Times (link below), it was "snow from hundreds of miles away" and "Some of the 160 loads hauled in the past week were brought by trucks that made a three-hour trip." I'm assuming that the "hundreds of miles" were transversed by helicopter, as three hours by truck through the mountains hauling snow, would probably only be about 120 miles if the driver were traveling at safe speeds! http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/10/sports/olympics/10olysnow.html
• February 15, 2010, Susan writes: Concerning the hay bales covered with snow: the Olympics organizers did have to make some wooden forms for some of the runs, line them with hay, and truck in snow from farther in the interior of BC for the events on Cypress Mountain, which is 10 minutes from our house. We live on the North Shore, across the harbor from Vancouver. Our North Shore mountains usually get plenty of snow, while we down near the water just get the infamous rain all winter. This year, though, El Nino made an appearance and our mountains didn't get much snow at all. Even as late as Friday morning, helicopters were still bringing snow over from the interior! Our family has noticed that the sides of the runs on Cypress are just dirt - when we heard an NBC commentator point that out I felt like our dirt was being exposed! LOL
• February 16, 2010, Rob writes: @Sue and Susan - Thanks for the insights concerning the snow for the Olympics in Vancouver. Who would have ever guessed that this would be an issue at all? And it's not that pesky "climate change" thing....
• February 16, 2010, Faith writes: It seems as if some here would like to project their own slightly vindictive sense of humor onto God. Our God is just, but He doesn't take pleasure in punishing sinners. Let's remember that. Global warming is a reality, but nothing to panic about since it is simply part of our earth's natural climate cycles (which we have only been measuring for about 300 years). And yes, the snow is a natural result of that climate change and of the cold weather zones shifting. Nothing to be concerned about, but definitely a scientific fact that shouldn't be ridiculed, either. We Christians sometimes over-compensate when trying to distance ourselves from secular science -- and as a result we end up looking silly.
• February 17, 2010, Rob writes: @Faith - Thanks for taking the time to comment. You have been reading my blog long enough to know that most of my readers and I have the absolutely highest esteem for the Lord and would not knowingly seek to make Him look anything less than the wonderful Person He is in the eyes of others. To say that He has a sense of humor in dumping snow on people who say that the planet is getting perilously warmer and warmer is a far cry from saying He is being vindictive. I recommend to you Psalm 2 where the Lord laughs at those who have no regard for Him. Psalm 59:8 tells us, "But thou, O LORD, shalt laugh at them; thou shalt have all the heathen in derision." If the world is undergoing "global warming," that's not what we're seeing going on in most parts of the world this winter or in the past year or so. In my lifetime I have lived through the hype from "scientists" about our going into a new Ice Age in the 1970s. Climate does indeed change, but when puny man claims to be the cause of worldwide disastrous climate change, he is assuming he is more powerful than the One who controls all the climates. I believe that the current hype about "global warming" and/or climate change is agenda-driven by people who want to control others and who want to gain financially from others. I alluded to the verse "Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools" recently. In that passage (Romans 1) you have a description of most of the people who have as part of their agenda making themselves "god." The Lord holds just that kind of thing in derision. I believe He is currently gently laughing at these people through unusually heavy snowfalls all over the globe and extremely frigid temperatures. Those weather patterns, along with what "Climategate" uncovered, have caused these "scientists"-so-called to change their terminology to "climate change," rather than global warming, which they know is a hoax (read: a shell game). Please do not be duped by all this. The only global warming that will destroy this world is the extreme global warming the Lord will do when He destroyed the world with fire, as He has prophesied in the Bible. I appreciate your desire for people to speak carefully, but I fear that you may be buying into an agenda that is ungodly and fallacious.
• February 17, 2010, Vikki writes: If global warming was the cause of all this snow, than why is Texas (multiple times) and Florida seeing snow storms? Shouldn't they be too warmer for snow - especially if the earth is getting warmer? BC and not DC should be the ones snowed under. Just a thought . . .

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Many adults enjoy taking evening and weekend classes to continue learning, to pursue special interests, or to fulfill requirements for their work. Enjoyment, of course, may depend on the reason/s for taking the classes and the mix of individuals present. With Valentine's Day this next weekend I thought I would share some classes I have heard about — one list for men only and one list for women only.

New training courses for men:

1. Introduction to Common Household Objects I: The Mop
2. Introduction to Common Household Objects II: The Sponge
3. Dressing Up: Beyond the Funeral and the Wedding
4. Refrigerator Forensics: Identifying and Removing the Dead
5. Design Pattern or Splatter Stain on the Linoleum?: You Can Tell the Difference!
6. Accepting Loss I: If It's Empty, You Can Throw It Away
7. Accepting Loss II: If the Milk Expired Three Weeks Ago, Keeping It In the Refrigerator Won't Bring It Back
8. Going to the Supermarket: It's Not Just for Women Anymore!
9. Recycling Skills I: Boxes that the Electronics Came In
10. Recycling Skills II: Styrofoam that Came in the Boxes that the Electronics Came In
11. Bathroom Etiquette I: How to Remove Beard Clippings from the Sink
12. Bathroom Etiquette II: Let's Wash Those Towels!
13. Bathroom Etiquette III: Five Easy Ways to Tell When You're About to Run Out of Toilet Paper!
14. Giving Back to the Community: How to Donate 15-Year-Old Levis to Goodwill
15. Retro? Or Just Hideous?: Re-examining Your 1970's Polyester
16. Knowing the Limitations of Your Kitchenware: No, The Dishes Won't Wash Themselves
17. Strange But True!: She Really May Not Care What "Fourth Down and Ten" Means
18. Going Out to Dinner: Beyond the Pizza Hut
19. Yours, Mine, and Ours: Sharing the Remote
20. "I Could Have Played a Better Game Than That!": Why Women Laugh
21. Adventures in Housekeeping I: Let's Clean the Closet
22. Adventures in Housekeeping II: Let's Clean Under the Bed
23. "I Don't Know": How to Be the First Man to Say It
24. The Gas Gauge in Your Car: Sometimes Empty Means Empty
25. Directions: It's Okay to Ask for Them
26. Listening: It's Not Just Something You Do During Halftime
27. Accepting Your Limitations: Just Because You Have Power Tools Doesn't Mean You Can Fix It

New training courses for women:

1. Silence, the Final Frontier: Where No Woman Has Gone Before
2. The Undiscovered Side of Banking: Making Deposits
3. Social Events: New Outfits Are Not Mandatory
4. Man Management: Minor Household Chores Can Wait Till After The Game
5. Bathroom Etiquette I: Men Need Space in the Bathroom Cabinet Too
6. Bathroom Etiquette II: His Razor Is His
7. Communication Skills I: Tears — The Last Resort, Not the First
8. Communication Skills II: Thinking Before Speaking
9. Communication Skills III: Getting What you Want Without Nagging
10. Telephone Skills: How to Hang Up
11. Driving a Car Safely: A Skill You Can Acquire
12. Introduction to Parking a Car
13. Advanced Parking: Backing Into a Space
14. Water Retention: Fact or Fat?
15. Cooking I: Bringing Back Bacon, Eggs, and Butter
16. Cooking II: Bran and Tofu are Not for Human Consumption
17. Cooking III: How Not to Inflict Your Diets on Other People
18. Compliments: Accepting Them Without Reading Into Them
19. PMS: Your Problem ... Not His
20. Classic Clothing: Wearing Outfits You Already Have
21. Household Dust: A Harmless Natural Occurrence Only Women Notice
22. Integrating Your Laundry: Washing It All Together
23. Oil and Gas: Your Car Needs Both
24. TV Remotes: For Men Only
25. Combating the Imelda Marcos Syndrome: Do You Really Need Those New Shoes?
26. Introduction to Petrol: You Too Can Fill the Tank
27. Advanced Petrol: How to Remove the Gas Cap!!!

Obviously those courses are not for real ... maybe.... Do you have a favorite Adult Ed class you've actually taken? Maybe you have other ideas for course suggestions for men, for women, or for both? Just remember, we may ask you to teach any course/s you suggest.

quotation...

"Why can't women ever put the seat back up when they're done?!" - anonymous man, still living

=^..^= =^..^=
Rob

Her husband does the work of three men — Larry, Moe and Curly.

Comments

• February 8, 2010, John T writes: my comment starts with a question: all the women i know never know where they last put their keys, and can never find the one thing they're looking for in their purse. is this a common estrogelogical complaint? i'd be happy to offer a course on that! 8-)
• February 8, 2010, Ron writes: I noticed Rob that you had an equal number of items under each category, smart move:) I found your quote on the toilet seat interesting, while not a problem at our house, I have always wondered this same thing when I hear woman complain about it. Guys want it up then they lift it up, vice versa, if woman want down why shouldn't they do their part and put it down. Again, this is not an issue at our house, I have been properly trained for years.
• February 8, 2010, Hannah Joy writes: I just say you can leave the seat up, as long as you put the lid down so the cat won't drink out of it ... I could certainly use classes 12 and 13 - I'm terrible at parking!
• February 8, 2010, Vikki writes: Here's the rule I learned years ago on toilet seats: Men - up/down Women - down/down 3 to 1 - PUT IT DOWN!! Here's one for the men: Flowers: they're not just dead vegetation.
• February 9, 2010, Kathy Sorensen writes: My 11 year old granddaughter wants you to add this one to the men's list: "For your tiny daughters: learn how to change the little dresses and the little footies and learn how to braid her hair!" FWIW, though, my husband could tie the big bows on a little dress so much prettier than I ever could!
• February 12, 2010, Rob writes: @John - I think that's a good course to offer. I think there's a potential of having enough students so that the course isn't canceled. @Ron - I compiled those lists quite a while back, and to even things up, I deleted a few that were too harsh and created a few of my own. I can't remember which is which any more. @Hannah, Vikki, and Ron - Our cats have been one of our main reasons for putting the lids down. It's sickening to go in the bathroom and find one of them drinking after a guest has left the lid up! @Vikki - I'm wondering what the various lessons in your suggested course might be. Would this simply be a flower-arranging class? @Kathy - Your granddaughter has made a great suggestion. I struggled with some of those things since our two daughters came first, followed by our son. I did eventually learn to tie a decent bow on the back of a dress, but in our house Mom's always looked better than Dad's.
• February 12, 2010, Vikki writes: Flower-arranging would be fine - as long as it includes presentation to the female half of the partnership.
• February 12, 2010, Rob writes: @Vikki - Would you teach this course, or would it be more effective to have a man teach it ... just to show the men that what he's teaching is possible? :-D
• February 14, 2010, Vikki writes: A man - hands down! It would also prove that flowers are safe to touch by someone other than a female.
• February 15, 2010, Rob writes: @Vikki - LOL!

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When I looked in that folder, I found some great signs I had forgotten about. Hope you enjoy them.

This picture was sent by a reader who found the combination of businesses next to each other amusing. You can click on the picture below to see a larger version.

The situation below looks confusing for anyone dependent on the bus system.

Parking near this group of signs may just be asking for a parking ticket.

(for those who don't speak French, the signs read, from top to bottom: No Parking 10 a.m - 11 a.m. Tuesdays and Fridays from April 1st to Dec. 1st; Two-hour parking from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Except for those with resident permits from Sector 31; Except during forbidden times) So......... who can safely park there, and when?!

I'm surprised there aren't more slips of paper missing from the sign below!

It would be fun to see the following sign right next to the sign above.

The next sign lacks specificity, but still gets the message across.

This restaurant's name gives ample warning.

With many receding hairlines, this next place is trying to be recession proof.

I wonder if this sign is selling baldness or offering treatment for it.

This next sign will probably not draw too many shoppers.

The customers might be flocking to this Walmart instead.

The following sign used to protrude even more.

The following sign needs a protrusion ... or maybe better planning, as the sign suggests.

Thanks to many readers who send me pictures and stories. Please keep 'em coming!

quotation...

"The chief value of jars of clay is not what they are, but what they contain." - Drew Conley

=^..^= =^..^=
Rob

Bumper sticker I saw yesterday: Drive now. Talk later. (from CarTalk)

Comments

• February 4, 2010, b.j. writes: I found the first sign funny, but even more ironic considering the name of the company buying "God"! That engineering phone number sounds like something my brothers would do. And, there is just too much wrong with that meat and sausage shop being in the same complex as the other businesses! Funny stuff! Keep it coming... Are you going to do anything regarding valentine's day? I love printing off your blog for each of the holidays and bringing the page to work. The farmers get a lot of laughs in the morning from them!
• February 4, 2010, Jenni writes: ha ha! The Soon Fatt sign reminded me a couple I saw on Guam. Sadly, I never took pictures. One was a Chinese restaurant called Big Stomach. The other was 25 Hour Mart. (Which was closed the entire 2 years I lived there!) -Jenni
• February 4, 2010, Richard writes: Might be my son's bumper sticker. He has a white jeep with that on it. We all are tired of drivers that drive erratically only to see them yapping on their phone oblivious to the world around them!
• February 5, 2010, Rob writes: @b.j. - That was rather ironic about Lord Jewelers, wasn't it? :-) As far as a Valentine's Day post, I will look through my files to see if there's anything I haven't posted yet. In the meantime, you can click on Valentines in the tag cloud and print out any of the past posts. @Jenni - That name "Big Stomach" conjures up all kinds of images in my mind.... The closed store 25 Hour Mart is pretty funny too. Thanks for sharing those. @Richard - It was in the church parking lot Wednesday evening, but I don't remember what the car looked like. It may well have been Spencer's....
• February 5, 2010, Vikki writes: Talking about crazy names for restaurants. We found on right here in Greenville when we moved here 4 years ago that caught our attention - Fatz Cafe. Why would anyone pick a name like Fatz for an eating place? It's like naming a buffet restaurant Hog Heaven!
• February 5, 2010, Carrie writes: You heard about the guy with a bumper sticker reading, "Hang up and drive" and he was shaving as he drove? It looks like the guy hanging the 0% off sign is having a little trouble!
• February 5, 2010, Michael writes: I want to know what the rest of the protruding sign said when it protruded more. The whole concept seems ridiculous.
• February 6, 2010, Rob writes: @Vikki - That was my reaction to the name Fatz when I first heard of it. I guess they're putting it all out there, so to speak.... @Carrie - That's quite a mental image you just painted with the guy shaving and disapproving of people who multitask behind the wheel. @Michael - I guess the portion remaining wasn't sufficient warning to hapless drivers passing by too closely.

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I heard on the news the other evening that the Boy Scouts of America will soon be celebrating its 100th anniversary. I looked online to find out the exact anniversary date and learned that the BSA was founded February 8, 1910, by Chicago publisher William D. Boyce after discovering scouting during a visit to England the previous year. If you are interested in learning about scouting, there is a lot of information on Wikipedia. There I found this neat old poster done for the 50th anniversary of the BSA:

Ideas for my blog posts are frequently the result of the collision of several ideas in my head. Today's is one of those. Last week I received a joke that made me laugh out loud and I knew I wanted to share it soon. Also last week I was "friended" on Facebook by a guy I was close to in junior high school. We both sang alto in the school choir and enjoyed camping. His family moved away at the end of junior high, we did not keep in touch, and this is the first I've heard from him in almost 40 years. Thoughts of a bunch of old scouts celebrating the anniversary of BSA, reconnecting with John on Facebook, and the joke I received made me think of the theme of old friends. Here's the joke I received:

A group of 40-year-old buddies get together and discuss where they should meet for dinner. Finally it is agreed that they should meet at the Gasthof zum Löwen restaurant because the waitresses there are beautiful.

Ten years later, at 50 years of age, the group meets again, and once again they discuss where they should meet. Finally it is agreed that they should meet at the Gasthof zum Löwen because the food there is very excellent.

Ten years later, at 60 years of age, the group meets again, and once again they discuss where they should meet. Finally it is agreed that they should meet at the Gasthof zum Löwen because they can eat there in peace and quiet, and the restaurant is smoke-free.

Ten years later, at 70 years of age, the group meets again, and once again they discuss where they should meet. Finally it is agreed that they should meet at the Gasthof zum Löwen because the restaurant is wheelchair accessible and they have an elevator.

Ten years later, at 80 years of age, the group meets again, and once again they discuss where they should meet. Finally it is agreed that they should meet at the Gasthof zum Löwen because they have never been there before.

Here are several more jokes along the same lines.

While on a road trip, an older couple stopped at a roadside restaurant for lunch. After finishing their meal, they left the restaurant and resumed their trip. When leaving the restaurant, the woman unknowingly left her glasses on the table and didn't miss them until they had been driving about twenty minutes.

By then, only to add to the frustration, they had to travel quite a distance before they could find a place to turn around in order to return to the restaurant to retrieve her glasses.

All the way back, the husband became the classic grouchy old man. He fussed and complained and scolded his wife relentlessly during the entire return drive.

The more he chided her, the more agitated he became. He just wouldn't let up one minute.

To her relief, they finally arrived at the restaurant. As the woman got out of the car and hurried inside to retrieve her glasses, the old man yelled to her, "While you're in there, could you get my hat?"

Senior pick-up line...

A well dressed gentleman in his mid-eighties enters a local diner. When he spots an immaculately groomed lady in her mid-seventies seated at the lunch counter, he goes directly to the counter and sits down on the stool beside her. He looks at her slyly and says, "Say, do I come here often?"

Ray had just reached his 150th birthday. Surrounded by reporters, he was asked, "Excuse me, sir, but how did you live to be 150?"

Ray answered, "It was easy. I just never argue with anyone."

The reporter shot back, "That's crazy. It had to be something else — diet, exercise, or something. Just not arguing won't keep you alive for 150 years!"

The old fella stared hard at the reporter for several seconds. Then he shrugged and said, "Hmmm. Maybe you're right."

Several women, each trying to one-up the other, appeared in court, each accusing the others of causing the trouble they were having in the apartment building where they lived.

The judge, with Solomon-like wisdom, decreed, "Okay, I'm ready to hear the evidence. I'll hear the oldest first."

The case was dismissed for lack of testimony.

This is ivman man again ... I always wanted to be a scout, but there was never money in the family budget for that. I attended some meetings and even a campout with friends, but I was never officially a Boy Scout. Do you have great memories from scouting or are your kids scouts? Have you reconnected with old friends lately? We'd enjoy hearing about your experiences.

quotation...

"To lengthen thy life, lessen thy meals." - Benjamin Franklin

=^..^= =^..^=
Rob

You do not grow old — you become old by not growing.

Comments

• February 1, 2010, Julie Rich writes: I was a Girl Scout in elementary school. I remember going to GS Camp for a week in the summer. We learned how to pitch a tent, build a fire, and make a sit-upon (among other things). But, one of the fondest memories I have is cooking breakfast over an open fire and singing our GS songs. We made eggs and bacon in a paper bag and doughboys-tube biscuits cooked over the fire like hotdogs. When the biscuit was done and taken off the stick, we put butter and jam in the hole created by the stick. Ahhh...such fun memories! ;-)
• February 1, 2010, Ron writes: Scouting Team Work The loaded van pulled in to the only remaining campsite. Eight Boy Scouts leaped from the vehicle and began feverishly unloading gear and setting up the tents. Some of the boys rushed to gather firewood, while the others set up the camp stove and cooking utensils. A nearby camper marveled to the Scoutmaster, "That, sir, is some display of teamwork!" The Scoutmaster replied, "I have a system; no one goes to the bathroom until the camp is set up."
• February 2, 2010, Rob writes: @Julie - Sounds like fun memories indeed. Thanks for sharing them. @Ron - I would call that an experienced Scoutmaster! :-D

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The week before final exams last semester, I did a blog post called "How to Fail a Test with Dignity," about some hilarious answers students have written on tests. One of my readers sent me an e-mail with more test questions and answers. I'm a little suspicious as to the authenticity of these for several reasons — none of the questions have a number in front of them, the font looks about the same on all the "tests," and the handwriting in several appears to be the same. Maybe the originator had a list of test questions and the answers given, and then tried to re-create them. Whatever, they are funny and I pass them on to you, my dear readers.

In one of the answers in the previous post, a students drew an elephant and said the object in the test question would not continue to move because an elephant was in the way. Another student tried to use that same dumb answer, but with even less success — the teacher noticed a missing (de)tail:

WARNING: As you continue to read this post, be sure you are somewhere where you can laugh out loud, in case some of these strike you really funny. These read almost like a series of one-liners.

Spelling can be so important — don't doubt the power of a single letter....

Teachers need to word their questions very carefully.

Some students draw more on their own common sense and experience than on the facts discussed in class.

Other students try to use their deductive powers, which often results in wrong conclusions.

Some students are masters of evasion.

Being a child of the 60's, I can't help smiling at the following evasive maneuver.

I'm eager to read your reactions to some of these test answers.

quotation...

"But for God, hopeless. With God, nothing is impossible." - Drew Conley

=^..^= =^..^=
Rob

What do you call a male ladybug?

Comments

• January 28, 2010, Sarah writes: I enjoyed these! I always enjoy students' writing -- ESL students usually come up with some good ones. Yesterday I read a paper of a 3rd grader who was describing the trip that a train took through the countryside - my favorite part of her description was "threw a lake."
• January 28, 2010, Zina writes: I think Philip and Michaela would agree with the one about the Roman's early achievement being to speak Latin...not an easy language ;-)
• January 28, 2010, Michael writes: Unfortunately, I don't get to enjoy answers like this since the vast majority of my test questions are multiple choice or matching. However, I do have my students write a paper each year and those can have some funny expressions. One of the most memorable was a student who wrote about Joan of Arc. The student claimed that Joan of Arc was an obedient girl since she did what the voices in her head told her to do.
• January 28, 2010, Teri writes: Too funny! I should have heeded your warning to read this in a private place. Thanks Rob!
• January 28, 2010, Rob writes: @Sarah - Sum of those homonyms still throe mi a curve bawl two. I pity ESL students. You might enjoy my post called Spelling and Pronunciation Woes, The English Lesson, and English is Tough Stuff. Or just click on language in the tag cloud in the sidebar. @Zina - If I could live high school over again, I would take Latin. I had no idea I'd become a language teacher as a squirrelly high school student. My school offered 4 years of Latin! If I had known and been directed into taking it, it would have been an immense help to me! Oh well! @Michael - I'll bet you do see some great things in student papers. You should keep track of them and pass them on for my readers' enjoyment. @Teri - I won't say, "I told you so...." :-D
• January 28, 2010, Michael H writes: Great Humor. Thanks for sharing!
• January 28, 2010, Nancy writes: I remember some elementary school oral reports had their fair share of unusual pronunciations. The one that came immediately to mind was the student who stated, "You will know you are in Europe because of all the cathedrals around." Apparently the approved pronunciation for twelve-year-olds is *CATH u-drulls*. It took me a minute to realize she was not referring to something medicinal in nature.
• January 28, 2010, Jonathan writes: These are hilarious. I remember taking elementary Greek years ago, and having to identify the "moods" of different words. Drawing a complete blank on what the options actually were, my Greek words were "sad," "melancholy," "happy-go-lucky," etc. My Greek teacher was less than amused at the time. Thankfully I didn't feel the need to try this with my enlightening French teacher the following year :-)
• January 29, 2010, Amy writes: Amazing how creative students can get on tests. . . if only they'd apply that much thought during class! On a recent geography paper a 3rd grader in my class labeled the southernmost continent (the one where the penguins live) as "Aunt Artica."
• January 30, 2010, Rob writes: @Michael H - Glad you enjoyed them and left a comment to say so. Hope all's well with you out there on the "left coast." @Nancy - Yikes, that pronunciation does sound vaguely medical. When I taught Jr. High English, one girl did an oral book report about one of the Narnia series. Her pronunciation throughout was nar-NEE-uh. I have thought of her recently with the new sweetener Truvia, which is pronounced in the ads tru-VEE-uh. Hmm.... @Jonathan - Wasn't your Greek teacher pleased that you at least remembered the Greek words for “sad,” “melancholy,” “happy-go-lucky”? @Amy - I love Aunt Artica. What a nice woman! :-D

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Then the other day I stumbled upon a picture of a cat with an interesting set of markings on its back:

As I ruminated on Hal's birthmark and the cool cat with the black cat marking (which looks to be authentic), I decided to see if I could find any other pictures of animals with interesting markings. Here are two where I'm certain the markings are not something the animals were born with.

This has to be a photoshop job:

Do you remember Petey from the Little Rascals?

I'm sure there were different dogs in that role, but the circle was undoubtedly an addition. From various pictures I found, though, it seems they weren't able to keep it straight concerning which eye was supposed to have the circle painted around it!

But I was able to find some other animals whose markings I feel confident are real.

This animal is called a piebald squirrel:

This puppy has an interesting face.

This marking puts a whole new twist on "holy cow!"

As a harbinger of Valentine's Day coming in about three weeks, here are some animals I found with heart-shaped markings.

Yet another cow picture....

Here's a piglet with a heart-shaped marking.

Now a puppy with the same kind of marking.

I don't know if this next one is the same puppy grown up, only to have its own puppy with a similar marking.

Now back to cats — one of the ideas that got me thinking about animal markings to begin with. Here's a kitten with a heart-shaped marking.

Here's a full-grown cat with a large heart on its side.

I'll end with two kittens who, when lying back to back at the time this shot was taken, have markings that make a heart.

Have you seen or owned any animals with interesting markings? If you have a picture you'd like me to post in the comments, you can find my e-mail address on the contact link on my blog.

quotation...

"Finding your inner princess can be such a royal pain." - Sandy Stock

=^..^= =^..^=
Rob

What do little birdies see when they get knocked unconscious?

Comments

• January 25, 2010, Megan writes: Salut! It's been a while since I've read your blog, but I noticed you mention it on FB, so I popped over to take a looksie. This post is really neat. :) Of course you remember Wilbur from Charlotte's Web was a pig with very unique markings. I love the piebald squirrel, the pig with the heart, and of course all the kitties with hearts. :) If you'd like to see a white rabbit with a heart check this link: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=38633161 ;) all zee best dreary mouse aka megan http://www.mossmountain.blogspot.com
• January 25, 2010, Nancy writes: Nice post. I suspect that Atlas, the cow, may have taken his identity from Chester the Worldly Pig by Bill Peet, 1980. Maybe he should add a tattoo of a copyright disclaimer with pertinent text. He could get advice on this from the law firm of Diddee, Cheatham, and Cow, an offshoot of the company that advises the CarTalk guys.
• January 25, 2010, Carrie writes: I have always loved the Far Side, especially the index in the back of one of the books. All the letters were blank, except T, which read, "The one about the alien in the mirror, The one about the birthmark, etc." Worth the price of the book. And the hearts. . . adorable! Makes me want a cat! :o) I'll have to check our guinea pigs for heart markings. .-= Carrie's most recent blog post ... Ajimi =-.
• January 27, 2010, Vikki writes: It's a toss up between the cat with the cat on its back and the piebald squirrel. I wonder where those squirrels are found. You would have thought they would have at least gotten the same eye consistently circled on Petey. The different dogs aren't even close in their markings. Just goes to show how much they used to get away with back then. Even watching the old TV shows, they had so many bloopers and no one ever noticed. Like how the Lone Ranger rode his horse around the same rock chasing someone with his gun drawn each and every week. With all the hearts, this would have been a good Valentine's Day blog.
• January 28, 2010, Rob writes: @Megan - There's a link about the piebald squirrel in my post — you might want to follow it up. They are definitely interesting looking. @Nancy - Thanks for the suggestions about Atlas the cow and the CarTalk credits. You make me smile. @Carrie - Did you discover any interesting markings on your guinea pig? @Vikki - They were not nearly so careful back then about consistency. When my friend Phil and I did the BoJonics commercials, there was one person on hand just to make sure we were in about the same positions when delivering lines that we had been in previous takes. And that was just for those little commercials. I know, though, that the folks at HomeSat do things right.

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As newspaper subscriptions decline and as newspapers either lay off workers or publish only online, we will be losing a great source of humor. Some writers for our local newspaper seem to take great delight in writing headlines that are puns. It's more fun, though, when bloopers appear. Online news can have its comedic moments too, like earlier this week when the Boston Globe had a Chicago-Tribune-type "Dewey Defeats Truman" blooper when they posted an election map Tuesday evening declaring Coakley the winner over Brown — before the polls had even closed in Massachusetts! Oops!

The humor in many of today's clippings is the statement of the obvious — not exactly breaking news. Here are some bloopers from newspapers and some corrections they've published later.

The redundancy in this one makes me scratch my head:

This one was news to me — I did not know that there were people out there who might try this!

Here are several corrections newspapers have published.

Looking forward to reading your comments on this post.

quotation...

"Sometimes it's harder to endure than to make a new start." - Drew Conley

=^..^= =^..^=
Rob

Copywight 2010 Elmer Fudd. All wights wesewved.

Comments

• January 21, 2010, Tony writes: As I read this, I was reminded of what is known in the publishing business as "tombstoning" (not to be confused with cliff-diving and similar sports), which is defined on about.com as follows: "In multi-column page layouts, tombstoning occurs when two or more headlines or subheads appear horizontally adjacent to each other on the same line. Designers consider tombstoning undesirable." While the result of this is often merely confusing, it can sometimes also be humorous. An example of this appears in your blog post Extra! Extra! Read All About It! where the articles "Lakes hit critical levels" and "Trout asks for damages" appeared next to each other. I also saw something many years ago in our local paper The Oakland Press, which I wish I had cut out and saved: there was an article announcing a visit by Santa Claus to a local business, and placed next to it was a photo of Ayatollah Khomeini. Cruel perhaps, but still humorous in a dark sort of way.
• January 21, 2010, Michael writes: Newspaper bloopers are hilarious. I normally don't watch late night television, but I do enjoy Jay Leno's segment each week on "Headlines".
• January 21, 2010, Sharon writes: Little known fact is that urine has been used medically for centuries, and that it is more sterile than many other liquids. Never tried it myself, but there's an interesting book that has a whole chapter on it. Now if only I could remember the title!
• January 21, 2010, Rob writes: @Tony - Thanks for the explanation and examples of "tombstoning." You mentioned its being "humorous in a dark sort of way" so I guess the name tombstoning may be appropriate. @Michael - Glad you enjoyed them. I've heard Leno do that several times in my life since I rarely stay up late enough to catch shows like that. @Sharon - Don't try too hard to remember the title of that book ... I'm not sure I'd race out to locate it. :-)
• January 22, 2010, Jenny writes: Thanks for the great laughs!!! :)
• January 28, 2010, Rob writes: @Jenny - Glad you enjoyed the post.

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If I were to lead off this blog post telling you that Art Clokey had passed away, you might be wondering, "Yeah, ... um ... Art Who?!" That name is not well known to most of us. If I said that the creator of Gumby, Pokey, Davey and Goliath had passed away, most of you, recognizing those names, would still be hard pressed to pull the name Art Clokey out of thin air.

Well, anyway, Art Clokey, creator of Gumby, Pokey, Davey and Goliath, passed away on January 8, 2010. He and his wife Ruth were pioneers in making stop motion clay animation popular. Clay animated films, now better known as claymation, were produced in the United States as early as 1908, but the work of the Clokeys beginning in about 1955 helped popularize the medium.

I'm by no means an expert on Clokey or claymation, but I do like Gumby and have more recently enjoyed Wallace and Gromit, by Nick Park of Aardman Animations, not by Clokey. You can check out the articles on Wikipedia about Art Clokey and claymation if you'd like to learn more.

So why Semper Gumby!?

Becka and I have taught two summers in China. After the first summer there we learned and adopted the motto Semper Gumby! (= Always flexible!) If you've had a Gumby, you know about Gumby's flexibility. Americans teaching in China must learn to be flexible because anything and everything can change drastically, and at the drop of a hat. Here's our experience with that.

Our first summer there we were hired to teach courses in French Culture (me) and Interior Decorating (Becka). We carried on lively e-mail exchanges with the people at the university there who were responsible for the summer program. They asked us for a list of the topics we planned to cover in our classes and urged us to be sure to bring lots of pictures and videos so that our classes would be interesting. And we did. We took lots of pictures, realia, and videos.

Ten minutes before our first classes began that Monday morning in July 2005, the teacher in charge of us asked, "Now you know that most of your students have signed up for American culture and English conversation, don't you?" You could have knocked us over with a feather! All I could think was, "Wow! Anything we could have brought along to help us is literally on the other side of the planet!"

I asked my class of 35 college students how many of them had signed up for French Culture. Four hands went up.... Then I knew that I needed to adjust my lesson plans for the summer session. I taught the French cultural information each day along with the American counterpart, and then got my students to talk by asking them if and how things were different in China. It ended up being a far better course than I had originally planned. Things go so much more nicely when we let God be God.

We never asked the university officials, but we figured that when registrations for French Culture and Interior Decorating were lagging, the university simply advertised the classes as American Culture and English Conversation instead. Same thing, right?

We had a wonderful summer, connected well with our students, and went back the next summer to teach again. That summer we simply planned on teaching American Culture and English Conversation. We joked that they would probably tell us at the last minute that we would end up teaching Diesel Engine Maintenance or something else we could never have planned or prepared for. There were no big switches the second summer, but we were ready to be as flexible as Gumby himself.

If you're new to my blog, you can read about our summers in China by looking at the July and August posts in 2005 and 2006 in the archives or by clicking on China in the tag cloud in the sidebar and looking at the earlier posts.

As I read up for this post, I found a fun pie chart about Gumby:

I'll end with a picture of our Gumby onour laptop, with this post open for editing in WordPress.

Are you a Gumby fan? Do you have experiences to share from teaching in China?

quotation...

"Big can stay big only if we force the little things to stay little." - J. D. Crowley

=^..^= =^..^=
Rob

Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape.

Comments

• January 18, 2010, beth writes: My boyfriend grew up on Davey and Goliath, and even has a tie! He will be sad when he hears this. Thanks for the post, Mr L!
• January 18, 2010, Shannah writes: I have fond memories of Davey and Goliath... in fact, I used to have (and maybe still have in my attic??) a little stuffed dog named Goliath-- named after Davey's dog. I'm also a fan of Wallace and Gromit! : )
• January 18, 2010, Andrew writes: (posted for Andrew by ivman) This picture popped up on a gun-related FB group. The guy in the picture is a soldier named Bradley H.

  

• January 18, 2010, Rob writes: @beth - A Davey and Goliath necktie!? I didn't even know there was such a thing. @Shannah - Our daughter-in-law had a dog named Goliath. I'll have to ask her if it was named in honor of Goliath from the claymation. @Andrew - Thanks for sharing that. Not that really is Semper Gumby!!!
• January 18, 2010, Ellen writes: I remember having a Gumby. The last picture posted by Andrew was pretty cool!
• January 18, 2010, Laura writes: I never saw much of Gumby when I was a kid, but I did enjoy Davey and Goliath. I enjoyed Andrew's picture as well.
• January 20, 2010, Diane Heeney writes: Davey and Goliath was an every Sunday morning thing for us. But we had to be ready for Sunday school or we couldn't watch! I found DVD's of it at Dollar Tree, and now my kids enjoy it. :) I watched Gumby too (had my very own Gumby and Pokey!)...can still sing the song: "He was just a little green ball of clay...Gumby! You should see what Gumby can do today...Gumby!"

  Things go so much more nicely when we let God be God.

  Some of the deepest truths do not appear so profound on paper, do they? This is so very true.
• January 20, 2010, Rob writes: @Ellen and Laura - Even though I enjoyed Gumby on TV when I was a child, I didn't have a Gumby until my adult years. I simply was a Gumby myself. I thought people who checked out the comments would enjoy Andrew's picture when he sent it — that's why I posted it for him. @ Diane - I don't remember seeing many of the Davey and Goliath series, but they looked like they might be good for kids to watch. Thanks for commenting on the lesson I learned. After I was done having a little pity-party and got about the business Someone had sent me to do, I could see that 1) none of my preparations had gone to waste and 2) what I ended up doing was so much better for opening discussions. The teacher learned as much as the students did that summer.

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Just last week I had run across a picture online of how the earthquake epicenters are where the tectonic plates are located and pondered several regions. Here's a smaller version of the picture. You can click on it to see an enlarged version.

One thing I noticed last week was that there's a huge band going through the Caribbean, right where Haiti sits. When I heard about the earthquake, my thoughts went back to the map I had just seen. My heart goes out to the people in Haiti who are going through this. If you know of other specific needs, please add them to the comments to this post so that we can join you in praying for them.

school update...

The semester is off to a good start ... at the point of this posting, two classes down this morning, two to go this afternoon, and I will have met all my students for this semester.

quotation...

"Vision without action is a day dream; action without vision is a nightmare." - Johannes Mutzke

=^..^= =^..^=
Rob

Most people want to serve God, but only in an advisory capacity.

Comments

• January 15, 2010, Bobby Ewing writes: New high resolution pictures on the destruction from the 2010 Haiti Earthquake have been posted from on the ground in Port-Au-Prince and Jacmel http://www.jlaforums.com/album.php?search=haiti&search_cond=Pic%20Description&sort_order=&start=0 http://www.jlaforums.com/album.php?search=haiti&search_cond=Pic%20Title&sort_order=&start=0
• January 15, 2010, NathanatBJU writes: I was so relieved to hear that Dr. Garlock and the other missionaries from BJ had been accounted for and were safe.
• January 15, 2010, Ann writes: I, also, was relieved when I got word that Dr. Garlock, Sarah Bennett, and Dieupie Cherubim were found and were fine. I learned from the Heritage Bible Church website that the three of them were found on the SECOND floor of the house. The people were safe and so was the building. Pics of all three are posted at: http://heritagegreer.wordpress.com/ Yesterday when people were saying, "God is good," I realized that if He had taken Dr. Garlock, Sarah, and the pastor home, He would still be good and they would be with Him. Obviously, the Lord still has work here on earth for them to do.
• January 18, 2010, Rob writes: @Bobby - Thanks for the links to the images. Wow! What devastation! @Nathan and Ann - I share your relief! It was comical on the news here. We learned that one of the first things Frank Garlock said was something about his car being in long-term parking at ATL, and Mrs. Bennett expressed regret that she couldn't babysit as she had promised. Thanks for the link, Ann, to the pictures on Heritage's website.
• January 20, 2010, Diane Heeney writes: Thanks, Rob for getting the word out about Bibles International. Hantz leaves today for Haiti. I can't imagine his emotions when he arrives. There is a further update here: http://www.biblesint.org/biweb/latest-news-leftnav-164/187-haiti-update.html
• January 20, 2010, Rob writes: @Diane - Thanks for sharing the link in the first place. I hope some of my readers availed themselves of the opportunity to direct some funds where it would go to the people in need, and not to corrupt leaders.

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Filling out forms ranks right up there on the list of things people hate to do. Accident insurance claim forms can be frustrating because they ask for a brief statement about how the accident happened. Attempting brevity can lead to some curiously-phrased explanations.

We were relieved not to hear of any serious accidents involving our students or faculty returning from Christmas break. Thanks to all who prayed for their safety.

Now, on to the humorous statements from actual accident reports....

The other car collided with mine without giving warning of its intentions.

As I approached the intersection, a stop sign suddenly appeared in a place where no stop sign had ever appeared before. I was unable to stop in time to avoid the accident.

A truck backed through my windshield into my wife's face.

A pedestrian hit me and went under my car.

I started to slow down but the traffic was more stationary than I thought.

I pulled off the road with smoke coming from under the hood. I realized the car was on fire, so took my dog and smothered it with a blanket.

After an insurance customer collided with a cow, two of the questions and answers on the claim form were as follows:
Q - What warning was given by you?
A - Horn
Q - What warning was given by the other party?
A - Moo

On approach to the traffic lights the car in front suddenly broke.

I didn't think the speed limit applied after midnight.

The car in front hit the pedestrian but he got up so I hit him again

I thought my window was down, but I found out it wasn't when I put my head through it.

I pulled away from the side of the road, glanced at my mother-in-law, and headed over the embankment.

The guy was all over the road; I had to swerve a number of times before I hit him.

I had been driving my car for forty years when I fell asleep at the wheel and had an accident.

To avoid hitting the bumper of the car in front I struck the pedestrian.

An invisible car came out of nowhere, struck my vehicle, and vanished.

I told the police that I was not injured, but on removing my hat, I found that I had a skull fracture.

I was sure the old fellow would never make it to the other side of the roadway when I struck him.

The indirect cause of this accident was a little guy in a small car with a big mouth.

The telephone pole was approaching fast. I was attempting to swerve out of its path when it struck my front end.

The pedestrian had no idea which direction to go, so I ran over him.

My car was legally parked as it backed into the other vehicle.

Coming home, I drove into the wrong house and collided with a tree that I don't have.

I was unable to stop in time and my car crashed into the other vehicle. The driver and passengers then left immediately for a vacation with injuries.

In my attempt to kill a fly, I drove into a telephone pole.

I was thrown from my car as it left the road. I was later found in a ditch by some stray cows.

I was driving along the motorway when the police pulled me over onto the hard shoulder. Unfortunately I was in the middle lane and there was another car in the way.

Going to work at 7am this morning I drove out of my drive straight into a bus. The bus was 5 minutes early.

The accident happened because I had one eye on the lorry in front, one eye on the pedestrian and the other on the car behind.

I knew the dog was possessive about the car but I would not have asked her to drive it if I had thought there was any risk.

Q: Could either driver have done anything to avoid the accident?
A: Traveled by bus?

I collided with a stationary truck coming the other way

I had been shopping for plants all day and was on my way home. As I reached an intersection a hedge sprang up obscuring my vision and I did not see the other car.

I had been learning to drive with power steering. I turned the wheel to what I thought was enough and found myself in a different direction going the opposite way.

I was backing my car out of the driveway in the usual manner, when it was struck by the other car in the same place it had been struck several times before.

When I saw I could not avoid a collision I stepped on the gas and crashed into the other car.

The accident happened when the right front door of a car came round the corner without giving a signal.

No one was to blame for the accident but it would never have happened if the other driver had been alert.

The pedestrian ran for the pavement, but I got him.

I saw her look at me twice. She appeared to be making slow progress when we met on impact.

The accident occurred when I was attempting to bring my car out of a skid by steering it into the other vehicle.

I was on my way to the doctor's office with rear end trouble when my universal joint gave way, causing me to have the accident.

I saw the slow-moving, sad-faced old gentleman as he bounced off the hood of my car.

Please pray for Dr. Frank Garlock (father of Shelly Hamilton), Mrs. Sarah Bennett (sister of Dr. Bob Bell) and others, as well as for their families awaiting word. Dr. Garlock and the mission team are in Haiti right now and were in the area where the earthquake was the worst. Communications are almost impossible. He is scheduled to fly back to the US today, but his family has had no word from him since the quake.

I look forward to hearing your reactions and comments to the accident report statements.

quotation...

"God is not threatened by developments like we see today." - Drew Conley

=^..^= =^..^=
Rob

If 75% of all accidents happen within 5 miles of home, why not move 10 miles away?

Comments

• January 14, 2010, b.j. writes: This is funny! As far as Haiti, and Dr. Garlock, can you keep us updated? or give a place for us to go for updates? There is a seminary and a couple Haitian pastors there that I am worried about, too, if you don't mind also including them in your prayers.
• January 14, 2010, Elizabeth writes: I read this at work, and this morning my stomach hurt from trying not to laugh out loud. It reminded me of all the excuses I gave my dad for the numerous fender benders I caused throughout college. I've been a much more careful driver now that I'm paying for my own insuance and car repairs! When I was in college, I backed out of a spot and was hit by another driver. I claimed that she was going to fast, she claimed that I wasn't watching; since neither vehicle was damaged we just let it go. Many years later, I was hanging out with my soon-to-be-husband and some of his friends. One of the women present told a story about how she was carefully driving down the road and some irresponsible student backed into her. That reminded me of my story, so I shared how someone had been flying down the road and then tried to pass all the responsibility. Suddenly we realized we were telling the same story! She was the student driving the other car, and we hadn't recognized each other. It was an awkward moment. I've been praying for Dr. Garlock and Mrs. Bennett. Please keep us updated!
• January 14, 2010, Rob writes: I'll reply to the two comments later. This is just to give an update. My wife heard on BBN that they have found the people we've been praying for, and they're fine. Here's the update posted on Majesty Music's site: ****Thursday, January 14—Dr. Frank Garlock Update**** Dr. Frank Garlock, Sarah Bennett and Pastor Dieupie Cherubin of Hosanna Baptist Church have been found and are fine. We will post more details later. Thank you all for praying. God is good. I would add that God would still be good, even if the outcome were different, but that's another discussion. :-) Thanks to all who prayed. There are still many more who need our intercession.
• January 15, 2010, Rob writes: @b.j. - Glad you enjoyed it. Hope you saw the update already. @Elizabeth - Bonjour! Sorry I didn't put in some kind of disclaimer that you need to be sure are somewhere where you can LOL when reading this. Sorry also to hear about your experiences / mishaps. We had one fender bender when the kids were little which has resulted in an oft-repeated sentence in our family. The next time we got in the car, one child said, "Don't have a wreck, Dad. It will take an hour." I've tried to remember that admonition, and my wife and I say it to each other often.
• January 15, 2010, Carrie writes: To see they way many people drive, these excuses are not surprising . . . but still very funny. I love Elizabeth's story! How embarrassing! And Mr. Loach -- kids have such a practical way of thinking. Sometimes. .-= Carrie's most recent blog post ... Sly =-.

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Have you ever been stranded? You read or hear stories about people who are stranded in all sorts of situations — along a highway, in the woods, on a mountain, in a boat, in the snow, on an island, and many other scenarios. Just recently on the news there was a story of young boy who spent a night in the woods after getting lost while skiing. Once found, he was facing losing several toes from frostbite. Being stranded has been romanticized in literature and on film, but the difficulties, fear, loneliness, and necessities of life would quickly crowd out any dreamy notions.

One time in France we shared a train compartment with an American man and his child. While in Italy the father had been pickpocketed and lost all his money, their tickets, and any form of identification. He didn't speak the language and had to try to rebuild his identity and to come up with enough money to obtain food and lodging and to get themselves back to the USA. He said that beyond the frustrations of his situation was the terror of being stranded and feeling utterly helpless. We shared his horror as he recounted their experience, and I was able to share with him what would have been our Confidence in such a situation.

Today I'm posting three fictitious stories about people stranded on islands and what happened to them.

Two men crashed in their private plane on a South Pacific Island. Both survived. One of the men brushed himself off and then proceeded to run all over the island to see if they had any chance of survival. When he returned, he rushed up to the other man and screamed, "This island is uninhabited, there is no food, there is no water. We're going to die!"

The other man leaned back against the fuselage of the wrecked plane, folded his arms and responded, " No we're not. I make over $100,000 a week.

The first man grabbed his friend and shook him. "Listen, we are on an uninhabited island. There is no food, no water. We are going to die!"

The other man, unruffled, again responded, "No, we're not. I make over $100,000 a week."

Mystified and taken aback with such an answer again, the first man repeated, "For the last time, I'm telling you we are doomed. There is no one else on this island. There is no food. There is no water. We are, I repeat, we are going to die."

Still unfazed, the first man looked his friend in the eyes and said, "Don't make me say this again. I make over $100,000 per week, and I tithe 10%. My pastor WILL find us!!!"

A man was shipwrecked on an island. For several days he scanned the horizon for the rescue ships that he was sure would be coming soon.

Being a survivor by nature the man began working feverishly to make his new home as comfortable as possible. He immediately built a sturdy house to keep the elements out and began teaching himself how to hunt and forage for food.

After several years a passing ship saw of signs of life on what they had understood to be a deserted island. They sent a small craft to shore with a rescue team to assess the situation.

Upon arrival the crew was greeted enthusiastically by the shipwrecked man. As they filled him in on all that he had missed in world affairs, their attention was drawn to the three buildings along the shoreline.

Upon examining the structures and ascertaining that the first was a home, one of the rescue crew members said, "That first building is obviously your home, but what are the second and third buildings?"

The man replied, "Oh that one is my church"

"And the third hut?" asked another curious rescuer.

"That's the church I used to go to."

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed fervently for God to rescue him. Every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect himself from the elements and to store his few possessions.

But then one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky.

The worst had happened — everything was lost. He was stunned with grief and anger.

"Dear Lord, how could you do this to me!" he cried.

Early the next day, however, he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him!

"How did you know I was here?" asked the weary man of his rescuers.

"We saw your smoke signal," they replied.

It is easy to get discouraged when things seem to be going badly. But we shouldn't lose heart since God is at work in our lives, even in the midst of pain and suffering. He sees the big picture and He does not desert His children.

Remember, next time your little hut is burning to the ground, it just may be the smoke signal that is summoning the grace and help that you need.

Second semester at school begins this Wednesday. Please pray for many who will be traveling today and tomorrow to get back. That pesky global warming has caused all sorts of travel hazards.

Our daughter Megan has several blog posts about our visit up there, complete with some great pictures. You can check them out at The Happy Little Hawkins Family.

I look forward to reading your thoughts about this post.

quotation...

"You speak in your letter of the possibility of one place being safer than another; I think, dear Eva, from the human standpoint all are equally unsafe, from the point of view of those whose lives are hid with Christ in God all are equally safe! ...'A mighty fortress is our God,' and in Him we are safe for time and eternity. Shall we murmur if we have less of time than we expected?" - Edith Searell, in one of her last letters before being martyred in the Boxer rebellion

=^..^= =^..^=
Rob

Some people think it's holding on that makes one strong ... sometimes it's letting go.

Comments

• January 11, 2010, Brian writes: In the summer of 2007 I went on a mission team from my church to Zambia in Africa. The airline changed the date of our return flight without telling anyone so we arrived at the airport a day late. They weren't all that helpful in finding more flights. We ended up in Zambia an extra week but had some of our best times of ministry then, being able to accomplish a lot of extra little things and talking to more people. African airlines sometimes do that so tourists will pay extra to get back with no reimbursement for the missed flight, but the Lord provided almost the entire amount extra we had to pay. He certainly knows how to care for his own.
• January 11, 2010, Matt writes: You write: "Remember, next time your little hut is burning to the ground, it just may be the smoke signal that is summoning the grace and help that you need." And yet, all I can think of is: http://www.despair.com/mis24x30prin.html
• January 11, 2010, Carrie writes: I don't remember being stranded anywhere--I know, a boring life! My kids and I are flying in a few weeks, and I sincerely hope that we don't get stranded! Eek!
• January 12, 2010, Sue writes: I guess the closest I've ever been to being stranded would be the Halloween when I was 15. Eight other kids and I, ages 5-14, were out hiking an unfamiliar mountain, and were told by our guide to follow the trail back down the way we came. Somehow it didn't work out that simply. We lost the trail and weren't able to get back to it. After having a brief prayer meeting, we decided to work/fight our way down, trail or no trail (we figured as long as we were getting off the mountain we'd find road eventually). It must have been a good plan, we found a house with a phone after an hour and half of losing the trail, and were told that the last kid to get lost on that mountain required a two-day search party!
• January 15, 2010, Rob writes: @Brian - What an interesting way and place to get stranded! It was obvious that the Lord had plans other than yours. Glad you responded well and trusted Him. @Matt - Don't you just love some of those demotivational posters from despair.com ?! @Carrie - There are some interesting life events that I hope I miss out on completely. I hope you won't get your first experience with being stranded any time soon. @Sue - Have they banned Treat or Treating on that mountain yet?! :-D

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Do you remember a milkman bringing milk in glass bottles to your home? Milkmen were still doing that during my childhood in Fostoria, Ohio, the town where my wife and I grew up. My parents did not get our milk through the milkman, but my wife's parents did. She has vivid memories of going out to pet his horse and of the cardboard tops being pushed off milk bottles that had frozen on the doorstep.

Something I do remember was having a milk break during the morning in early elementary school. The milk came in little glass bottles and cost us two or three cents a day.

Here's a picture of such a milkman's cart of that era:

What I'm posting today is supposed to be notes left for milkmen in England, where milk is still being delivered to homes. I did some checking online to see if milkmen still deliver milk in England. Here is an excerpt of what I found at icons.org/uk

The early morning chink-chink of the milkman or woman and the hum of the electric float is declining in 21st-century England though – despite efforts to extend the range of products on offer to include eggs, bread, juice and more. Despite rumours to the contrary, there is no threat to UK milk deliveries from the European Union, but there might just be one from lack of domestic interest.

Notes left for milkmen in England

"Milkman please close the gate behind you because the birds keep pecking the tops off the milk."

"Dear Milkman, I've just had a baby, please leave another one."

"Please leave an extra pint of paralysed milk."

"Cancel one pint after the day after today."

"Please don't leave any more milk. All they do is drink it"

"Milkman, please could I have a loaf but not bred today."

"Please cancel milk. I have nothing coming into the house but two sons on the dole."

"Sorry not to have paid your bill before, but my wife had a baby and I've been carrying it around in my pocket for weeks."

"Sorry about yesterdays note. I didn't mean one egg and a dozen pints, but the other way round."

"When you leave my milk, knock on my bedroom window and wake me because I want you to give me a hand to turn the mattress.

"Please knock. My TV's broken down and I missed last nights Coronation Street. If you saw it, will you tell me what happened over a cup of tea."

"My daughter says she wants a milkshake. Do you do it before you deliver or do I have to shake the bottle."

"Please send me a form for cheap milk, for I have a baby two months old and did not know about it until a neighbour told me."

"Please send me details about cheap milk as I am stagnant."

"Milk is needed for the baby. Father is unable to supply it."

"From now on please leave two pints every other day and one pint on the days in between, except Wednesdays and Saturdays when I don't want any milk."

"My back door is open. Please put milk in 'fridge, get money out of cup in drawer and leave change on kitchen table in pence, because we want to play bingo tonight."

"Please leave no milk today. When I say today, I mean tomorrow, for I wrote this note yesterday."

"When you leave the milk please put the coal on the boiler, let dog out and put newspaper inside the screen door. PS. Don't leave any milk.

"No milk. Please do not leave milk at No. 14 either as he is dead until further notice."

It seems that difficulty in expressing oneself in English happens even in the land where the language began.

Do you remember milk deliveries to your home? Do you live in a place where milkmen still deliver milk?

quotation...

"There's risk with change, but the status quo may be the greatest risk of all." - Marty Marriott

=^..^= =^..^=
Rob

Strange Law: In Texas, it is illegal to milk anybody else's cow except your own.

Comments

• January 7, 2010, Vikki writes: You got glass bottles when you were in school? We got cartons, usually left out since being delivered earlier in the morning leaving the milk warm. Oh, and that "straws" they gave us (at least they said they were straws). One sip and they turned soggy and the insides stuck together, making for one flat piece of paper sticking out of a warm carton of white stuff we were expected to drink. We had a milk man when I was growing up and even after we were married some 30+ years ago we had milk delivered to the house. Glass bottles with cardboard tops that were left in a wire wrack outside the back door. Not good if you forgot to bring it inside until late morning on a warm day . . . I also remember the ice man delivering ice blocks for the frig when I was a kid.
• January 7, 2010, Kristi writes: My grandmother lived in Worcester, MA until about 5 years ago. I remember the glass bottles with cardboard tops being delivered to her house well into the 80's. When I visited as a young teenager, I thought that was the funniest thing. I had never seen it anywhere else. I'm not sure when they finally lost that milk delivery though.
• January 7, 2010, Dale Michaels writes: I have a scar on my right wrist to this day because when I was 4 years old I was carrying in the glass bottles of milk from the English milkman and tripped over the step up to the back patio, broke the milk bottle and slit my wrist on the glass. I was 4 years old and clearly remember having to get stitches. ...Milkmen are a bad idea!
• January 7, 2010, Ann writes: Are you old enough that your milkman delivered milk with a horse and wagon (i.e. you talk about your experience and then say "of that era" about the picture)? Our milkman drove a truck. The bottles were left in a thinly insulated metal box on the back porch. I don't remember much other than that. At some point after that, my mom started buying raw milk...straight from the cow. I hated drinking milk with globs of cream in it. Then the state of New Jersey made it illegal to sell raw milk. However, the farmer had it legally set up so that each customer owned part of a cow. The money paid was not for "buying the milk," but rather for "having the farmer care for our part of the cow." That farm is now protected by the Municipally-Approved Farmland Preservation Program.
• January 7, 2010, Carrie writes: Rats! I missed out on milkmen! .-= Carrie's most recent blog post ... What's Up? =-.
• January 8, 2010, Rob writes: @Vikki - I remember both bottles and little cartons. And your comment made me remember the lame excuses for straws that we were given ... must have come from the same company yours did! Ha! I told my wife that I remember the milk sometimes being warm, but she said hers was always cold. We did go to different elementary schools, though, so maybe the personnel at my school just let the milk sit while hers refrigerated it. @Kristi and Carrie - You younger folks really did miss out on that slice of Americana from our youth. @Dale - I want to see that scar in choir practice on Sunday. I still remember my little sister riding her tricycle down our basement stairs and landing on glass (soda) pop bottles. She was fortunate to have just a small cut by her one eyebrow. It could have been very nasty. Maybe it's not milkmen, but just glass bottles that are the bad idea? @Ann - I found that picture online and it said it dated from 1950. My childhood was only a few years after that. Becka is the one who petted the milkman's horse, not I, in our small town. And raw milk? I've heard upsides and downsides of that. I think I prefer mine pasteurized.
• January 8, 2010, Guillaume writes: We didn't have milkmen, but we did have the bread man who would drive his truck by every morning to buy fresh baguettes from. That's France for you :-)
• January 8, 2010, Michael writes: The British always sound so refined and distinguished when they speak. It is comforting to see that the language gives them the same fits it does to us. Misplaced modifiers are hilarious. I don't have any memories of milkmen or anything else like that. It was fun as a kid to be outside when the mailman came by and to have him give the mail directly to me rather than to just leave it in the mailbox.
• January 8, 2010, Diane Heeney writes: I think Vikki and I went to the same school. :) The tops opened with little circular "plug-like" caps. On special days we got warm orange drink...same straws. My best friend down the street had milk delivered to her house. They kept a special insulated metal box on the porch for that purpose...made a great extra bedroom for our Barbies when not in use. "Please leave no milk today. When I say today, I mean tomorrow, for I wrote this note yesterday." This reminds me of a gem from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory: "I've moved Friday's test to Monday, which means that the test we normally take on Friday over what we've learned during the week will take place on Monday before we've learned it. But since this is Tuesday, it doesn't matter in the slightest." ps I have a cat-related piece of humor on my blog today which you might enjoy. =^..^=
• January 10, 2010, Kathleen writes: We still have milk delivered to our doorstep over here in freezing Scotland. Britain is NOT equipped for the kind of winter weather we've be getting, and they are running out of salt, but the milkman is still managing to get through with our milk. We don't usually have glass bottles (though we do occasionally get them), most of the time it is larger plastic jugs. Ours is not delivered by horse and cart, though, sadly.
• January 11, 2010, Rob writes: @Guillaume - Thanks for sharing the French perspective. Many readers may not know that the French do not usually drink milk as a beverage. They get their milk in the form of cheese, yogurt, and other dairy products. But a day without bread?!? Quelle horreur! :-D @Michael - I agree that many Brits sound refined, but some are hard for me to understand ... like the Cockney accent. @Diane - I remember the same memories. Thanks for sharing them! @Kathleen - Thanks for chiming in from Britain. I'm glad to know that they still do deliver milk there.
• January 11, 2010, b.j. writes: I never got the milk from a milkman, but in Texas, they had a company that sold organic milk. (I think it was organic, anyway) Promised Land Dairy. They had the glass bottles and the round cardboard top. It came in chocolate, regular, and strawberry. YUM! It was the best milk.... We used to get fresh milk from an Amish neighbor and make butter out of the cream. We didn't have a churn, so I shook the cream in a jar until it made butter. I wish it wasn't law that you can't sell raw milk anymore. I think everyone should have the choice to buy raw or pasteurized. But, I won't get on that soapbox! :-P
• January 12, 2010, Marilyn writes: I certainly wish I could buy shares in a living cow. The money paid to "our farmer" to maintain its health would be well spent in my opinion!
• January 12, 2010, Sharon Klenk writes: Even in the Detroit suburbs, we had a milkman in the 60's. He brought the milk to the back door, but I'll have to ask my mom what kind of bottles we got. I do remember that he used to tease us kids about how we ate our cereal: "Every time you bend your elbow, your mouth opens!"
• January 15, 2010, Rob writes: @b.j. - Promised Land Dairy, huh? Sounds great, almost like Milk and Honey Dairy might. I never have tried raw milk, but I think I might like it. That's cool too about making the butter! @Marilyn - It wouldn't pay for us. Now that we are empty-nesters, we don't go through enough milk to make it worth the cost of even a share in a living cow. @Sharon - Thanks for sharing your experience. I wonder when home deliveries ended in Detroit.
• January 18, 2010, Sandy writes: Hey! Just a note of interest. My brother lives in Denver and they have a cooler outside their front door and the milkman still delivers milk to their house. So, this is not totally a thing of the past:-)
• January 18, 2010, Rob writes: @Sandy - That's very interesting! Thanks for sharing that about deliveries still being made in Denver. Who woulda thunk it?

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