Friday's Odds and Ends

It seems the very cold winter we've been having has frazzled the nerves of lots of people across the country. I snagged this quote from Becky Lewellen Povich's blog and just had to share it. In commiserating with a friend here in Texas about our cold weather, I told her I couldn't wait for summer, but then we'd probably complain about the heat and wish it was winter. Then I visited Becky's blog and found this.

"Winter is the season in which people try to keep the house as warm as it was in the summer, when they complained about the heat." ~Author Unknown

We can all use a cup of hot Chocolate. Who want's brandy in theirs?

Since I have waited until practically the last minute to get ready for a book signing later today, I must keep this short, so we will skip any rants on news items and go straight for the jokes.

This one is from the comic strip Shoe:

Shoe walks into an ice cream store and two guys behind the counter say, "Welcome to Two-Guys Ice Cream Shop."

Shoe says, "Thanks, but couldn't you guys come up with a better name."

"Nope. All the good names were taken. I'm Ben Baskin and he's Jerry Robbins."

This one is from Drabble:

The kids are looking in the freezer and Norman, the oldest boy says, "Hey what happened the all the other frozen ice pops that were in here? Wwe used to have a whole bunch of them."

Little sister, Penny, says, "I wanted the blue one."

The kids walk into the living room where dad is sitting in his easy chair reading a paper. Norman asks, "Dad did you eat the rest of the ice pops?"

Dad looks up. "Of course I didn't eat them. They're right here. I needed to put ice on my lower back so I stuck him down my pants."

Dad pulls out the ice pops to hand them over and Patrick, the younger brother, says, "I think I'll have a cookie instead."

That's it for today, folks. Have a great weekend. Stay warm if you can, and if you are in a temperate climate, I am so jealous right now. 

Don't Get Lost

Humorist Slim Randles is back with another story from his syndicated column, Home Country. While I always highlight the funny side of his writing, he has also got a special way with the poetic and poignant and there is some of that mixed in with the humor in his books. I especially liked Sun Dog Days. A story of two friends and a special journey they take. 

It's very cold here this morning in East Texas, so I am having hot chocolate. Grab yourself a cup to sip while you enjoy Slim's story.

Courtesy of the Hot Chocolate Website

I was invited recently to join Bob Milford, manager of the prestigious Diamond W Ranch, on a drive-around tour of the place. It’s a huge, private ranch, with tiny ex-logging roads winding around through 13,000 acres of pine trees and rocks. A real paradise.

But I was horrified to see wooden street signs nailed to trees wherever two of these old logging trails came together.

“Oh no,” I said, out loud.

“What’s the matter?” Bob asked.

“I see you’re planning a subdivision here.”

Courtesy of the PSD Website

Bob started laughing when I pointed at the signs. “Those are for the owners,” he explained. “They live Back East and visit here one weekend a year. When they get out here, they take the pickup and drive around and get lost.

“Once I got a call on the cell phone from the owner, who said he was lost and couldn’t find his way back to the house. So I asked him where he was and he said he was right there, sitting on a rock and close to a pine tree.”

He chuckled. “That narrowed it down to about 13,000 acres. Well, I managed to find him, and after that, I put these signs up. I tell them now, if they get lost, to drive until they come to Home Road and then head downhill. It solved the problem.”       
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If you like what Slim shares here, you would enjoy his books. Check out his author page on Amazon if you have a moment. His books are a delight. 

Slim has sponsors for all of his columns, and this month it is Beltone Hearing Aids,  so we do have to do this little ad: Give the gift of hearing this Christmas. Start your loved one off with a free hearing test at BELTONE. Call 1-866-867-8700.