In the Spring, what does a young man’s fancy turn to?

In response to last week’s imponderable question, “In the Spring, what does a young man’s fancy turn to?,”  my ethics executive friend Blair declared, “Baseball. Or March Madness,” to which my PR friend Stan clarified, “Baseball’s Opening Day! Valentine’s Day was for pitchers and catchers reporting. 

My dad’s beach buddy Bob concluded, “Fertilizer, lawn seed, miracle grow and potted flowers followed by a martini and a nap.”

My sailing friend Scott declared the obvious, “Sailing!” to which another sailing friend Norm explained, “My fancy turns to more sunshine and more sailing time.  However, my spouse's fancy turns to ‘let's clean up the house and complete some yard chores.’ " 🙁

My cousin Wes called out, “Motorcycles and convertibles and any fringe benefits that go with these.”

My equestrian friend Royce cautioned, “And you are asking this questions to a bunch of "olde pharts" who only have vague memories?” to which my cycling friend Ted was possibly displayin his vague memory by responding, “Come on!! We all know the answer to that!! Although in my case it was year round!”

Please send me your thoughts about this week's "things that make you go 'Hmmm' ":

What does the Easter Bunny do for the other 364 days of the year?

Live well...laugh often and heartily.... have a good week and never regret anything that made you smile!

Hal

My Balmore (Baltimore) based sister Ilene pointed out that the UMBC Retrievers, who beat a #1 ranked UVA last week, are Chesapeake Bay Retriever, a cousin of the golden retriever.  Various media outlets failed to notice this difference because their coats are similar, while the Labrador Retriever, party animals that they are, look substantially different.  OK, so I’m partial to goldens…..

To my birthday buds and contributors Adam and Jon, Happy Day on us on Tue…..And Mariah Carey, hmmmm.

               

Thanks to Demetri Martin, Steven Wright and George Carlin for the inspiration for Hmmm.   I invite you to call or email me to catch up.

Why do people want to be Irish?

In response to last week’s imponderable question, “Why do people want to be Irish?,” my writing and sailing friend Rich called out, “The Blarney Marketing Agency’ while my college roomie John believed it is “to look for Erin go Bragh(less).”

My cycling friend Ted concluded, “To dress up in Green, put on a thick brogue, and not feel guilty about having another Guinness!” as my equestrian friend Royce agreed, “It's a good excuse to drink heavily in mid-March. Sort of like a rite of spring.”

As my sailing friend Kurt suggested, “Why don’t we discuss this over some Jamison,” another sailing friend Norm explained, “I've never understood why American's are so fond and proud of their (sometimes dubious) Irish heritage, whereas you don't get many claiming to be English at all. Heck, you even get more people who are proud to say that they're German-American, or 25%/50%/75% German, than there are people who are proud to have an English heritage. Obama recently went to Ireland to celebrate his ancestry, following in the footsteps of a good number of presidents before him. Though I thought Obama was part African and part Hawaiian. Me, I'm Jewish/Irish (or Irish/Jewish) on March 17th!”

My cousin Sunny, and author of Flow Formula, shared, “A funny story about me, I had my DNA done and no surprise that I’m 98% eastern European Jewish. The other 2%?   Irish. Now how did that guy get off the island and all the way over there?   ;-)  ”

My temple friend Bob replied, “So they'll have an excuse after waking up in the drunk tank and then standing before the judge the day after St. Patrick's Day.”

And my social media friend Mark offered, “A toast back at ya: ‘To your enemies’ enemies’ and congrats on the new grandchild. We’ll all drink to her long and happy life on Saturday. And on yours too.”

Please send me your thoughts about this week's "things that make you go 'Hmmm' ":

In the Spring, what does a young man’s fancy to turn?  (with due respect to Lord Alfred Tennyson’s poetry)

Live well...laugh often and heartily.... have a good week and never regret anything that made you smile!

Hal

It took Golden Retrievers to break the NCAA spell of a 16^th ranked team to beat a #1 ranked team.  Congrats to my hometown UMBC Golden Retrievers for shocking the UVA Cavaliers.  Another reason to love goldens as we have foster dog #79 at home now.  And can alma mater Syracuse be considered Cinderella for making it to the Sweet 16?

Happy Milestone Birthday to my writing and sailing friend Rich.  He is a true treasure.

               

Thanks to Demetri Martin, Steven Wright and George Carlin for the inspiration for Hmmm.   I invite you to call or email me to catch up.

Why are a "wise man" and a "wise guy" opposites?

In response to last week’s imponderable question, “Why are a "wise man" and a "wise guy" opposites?,” my dad’s beach buddy Bob observed, “Because a Wise Man will avoid talking to or meeting a Wise Guy.”

My social media friend Mark pointed out, “You ask a man his opinion; you hire a guy to do your crap.”

And my equestrian friend Royce explained, “ ’Man’ and ‘guy’ share the same definition,  ergo, a moot question, unless you are speaking of men from Italy.”

Please send me your thoughts about this week's "things that make you go 'Hmmm' ":

Why do people want to be Irish?

Live well...laugh often and heartily.... have a good week and never regret anything that made you smile!

Hal

Twin brother Paul had a follow-up to his response last week about ‘Do twins ever realize that one of them is unplanned?,’ adding “Did you see the interview with the twin girls on the hockey team?  They were mirror image twins also. Maybe that is the answer.  Neither one of us were after-thoughts.  We are both reflections.   Whoa....too early on Monday for this...

In honor of St Paddy’s Day on Saturday, here are 3 toasts we wish for you:

• May your home always be too small to hold your friends.
• May you never forget what is worth remembering or remember what is best forgotten. –Irish blessing
• May you live as long as you want and never want as long as you live

               

Thanks to Demetri Martin, Steven Wright and George Carlin for the inspiration for Hmmm.   I invite you to call or email me to catch up.

Do twins ever realize that one of them is unplanned?

In response to last week’s imponderable question, “Do twins ever realize that one of them is unplanned?,” (which is answered by both twins at the end of this message), my temple friend Paul shared, “To answer your question, I posed this to identical twins. Hmmmmm, not a good move on my part. I’m just saying.”

My Utahan friend Bruce quipped, “They both understand it - for their counterpart😀” which my social media friend Mark concurred, “Yes, and it is always the other one.”

Although my equestrian friend Royce believed, “This is one of those chicken and egg questions,” my dad’s beach buddy Bob concluded,”No, that is why the get along so well.

My cousin Wes  contemplated, “Really, I need to ask my identical twin in DR Missouri which of us is the unplanned one.”

Twin brother Henry replied, “Every time the older one reminds the younger one that they were just an afterthought!  Not that I would identify with this question.

And by the way, when our parents found out they were having twins, they picked out the names Paul and Susan.  The fact that Paul ended up marrying a girl by the name of Susan adds a little irony to that, don’t you think?”  Henry’s twin brother replied, “Hmmm, maybe you are a Susan.......Of course these days parents do sometimes plan to have twins, or triplets, or quads.........wasn't that an ice skating move?  Now about the other conundrum.  When I was a twinkle in my parents eyes (and Henry was a Susan), we celebrated the birth of two of the greatest leaders of this great country.  In today’s PC world, we couldn't leave anyone out, so we celebrate the good, the bad, and the ugly.  Who wants to celebrate the bad and the ugly?  So now no one cares.”

Please send me your thoughts about this week's "things that make you go 'Hmmm' ":

Why are a "wise man" and A "wise guy" opposites?

Live well...laugh often and heartily.... have a good week and never regret anything that made you smile!

Hal

Thanks to Demetri Martin, Steven Wright and George Carlin for the inspiration for Hmmm.   I invite you to call or email me to catch up