Can you be too optimistic?

In response to last week’s question, "Can you be too optimistic?," my cable marketing friend Megan declared, "Yes, that’s when you call it denial!"    To this,  my equestrian friend Royce observed, "If you happen to be Rick Perry."

My birthday bud Jon concluded, "I’m absolutely sure you can," to which my writing and sailing friend Rich added, "just look at pretty much any bubba who has ever said, 'Hey watch this'”.

My temple friend Richard explained, "Optimism is way overrated. It is far more efficient to be a pessimist. If one expects the worst, any surprises will be pleasant ones, and negative outcomes will not lead to disappointment."    My Utah friend Bruce expounded on this, "Please define an optimist...I hold to the truth that a "true optimist" (one who always wants a bright and happy existence), continually looks at things pessimistically. Example: he doesn't feel well, so he goes to the doctor thinking he will be told he has the rarest decease and will die a very long and painful death. If that is the outcome - then he's already accepted it and goes on life; however, if he is told by the doctor that he merely has a cold, he leaves the office totally relived of his painful death sentence and feels great...     The inverse is true as well - a "true pessimist" ( one who always wants a dark and bleak existence), continually looks at things optimistically...he goes to the doctor thinking everything is fine, merely to be told of his impending doom...    To your point...no, or yes."

My collaboration friend Andy shared, "Not if you're a cat. 

And my marketing friend Mark D wrote, "Too Optimistic?   Be...or not be. There is no 'Too'".

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

         Is a mistake repeated more than once a decision? 
 

Lord, give me a sense of humor; give me the ability to understand a clean joke; to get some humor out of life, and to pass it on to other folks. 

 Hal

My family's thanks and appreciation to my cousins Barbara, Jamee and Steve for organizing this past weekend's family reunion, and to all of the family who traveled from CO, MD, NJ, NY and PA.  It was full of good times and good stories -- and ice cream; it is what family is all about!

Thanks to Demetri Martin, Steven Wright and George Carlin for the inspiration for Hmmm.  Stop by www.nichelabs.com to see what else I'm up to.

     

How many smidgens are in a scooch?

In response to last week’s question, " How many smidgens are in a scooch?," my birthday bud Jon asked, "Full-size or mini smidgens?"

My transportation friend Chris surmised, "I can't say for sure but I believe that the number of smidgens that are in a scooch are equal to the number of licks that it takes to get to the center of a tootsie roll pop."

My running and construction friend Matthew recalled, "I was always taught that RCH is the smallest measurement and that 2 RCHs equals a smidgen and 2 smidgens equals a scooch and 2 scooches equals you screwed up your measurement.  Of course, I learned this from the same superintendent that asked me why this board that he measured once and cut twice was still too short.  So, take the information for what it is worth."

My equestrian friend Royce noted that "it depends on how many schooches you have."  Yet my writing and sailing

Rich explained, "Two thousand, two hundred and twenty two, unless of course it is a left handed scooch."

My sailing friend Kurt confessed, "I thought it was scootches to a smidgen."  And my dad's beach buddy Bob shared, "I have no idea.  Is it something you eat in school?"             

My equestrian friend Royce noted that "it depends on how many schooches you have."  Yet my writing and sailing

Rich explained, "Two thousand, two hundred and twenty two, unless of course it is a left handed scooch."

My sailing friend Kurt confessed, "I thought it was scootchs to a smidgen."  And my dad's beach buddy Bob shared, "I have no idea.  Is it something you eat in school?"       

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

Can you be too optimistic?

Lord, give me a sense of humor; give me the ability to understand a clean joke; to get some humor out of life, and to pass it on to other folks.

Hal

Thanks to Demetri Martin, Steven Wright and George Carlin for the inspiration for Hmmm.  Stop by www.nichelabs.com to see what else I'm up to.

     

Is ice cream cake really cake?

In response to last week’s question, "Is ice cream cake really cake?," my dessert-living desert-loving Utah friend Bruce recalled, "Someone brought one home, but it's gone - so I can't tell."

When my equestrian friend Royce declared, "Who cares?," my birthday bud Jon replied, "No.  But who cares?  It is still an effective ice cream delivery system."  And my jeweler friend Bill added, "Cake or not, anything is a good reason to have your favorite ice cream."  And my dad's beach buddy Bob added, "Only if you don't know the difference."

My Indian-food friend Andrew first had to respond to last week's What the Hell comment from Andy, "Whether I am on the "Highway to Hell" or "Stairway to Heaven", I agree with Sammy Hagar and "I can't drive 55!" (this is relevant as my 55th birthday is coming up soon)."  Andrew then added, "Of course ice cream cake is not "cake". It is ice cream designed and shaped to LOOK like cake. Real cake has batter, and is baked in an oven. There is no batter in ice cream "cake", and baking it in an oven is pretty ugly (and messy)."   My temple friend Richard continued Andrew's line of thinking, "Sort of. It’s really ice cream and cake together, but the problem is that, in order to keep the ice cream from melting, it must be kept in a freezer, which means the cake is very hard. Perhaps it should be called 'ice cream on a brick.' "

My Parrothead friend Sam called out, "Ice cream cake is cold, it's melty anti-cake.   Where cake is crumbly, ice cream cake is sticky.  Obviously I have a slight preference :)  "

My temple friend Lon shared, "Don't ask me how my warped mind came up with this one: That's like asking if Bruce Jenner/Caitlyn is a boy or a girl, and the answer is "Yes."  It is both a cake and ice cream. (I used to work for Baskin Robins in High school and made about a million of these.)"

And my marketing friend Mark  queried, "Is ice cream really cream? Is it really ice? Should your question say 'really' or 'actually'? Yikes...I'm going to go have some pie."

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

How many smidgens are in a scooch?  (from my Habitat for Humanity measure-twice, cut -one friend Matt)

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

Hal

Happy Birthday to my wife and best friend, Alison this Sunday. 

My ISP Channel colleague Jim shared this outstanding version of Stairway to Heaven that he said "always brings a smile. I have watched it numerous times and it is still my favorite musical video."  Whether you like Led Zeppelin, Heart or simply good music, it's worth the 6 minutes.

Thanks to Demetri Martin, Steven Wright and George Carlin for the inspiration for Hmmm.  Stop by www.nichelabs.com to see what else I'm up to.

     

Ever notice how 'What the hell' is always the right answer? plus ice cream

In response to last week’s question, "Ever notice how 'What the hell' is always the right answer?,"  extremely hat the heck" is a better choice. But sometimes "what the hell" doesn't capture the emotion quite like "WTF"!"

My temple friend Tracey replied, "I usually go with WTF... but it's the same sentiment," to which my neighbor Al declared, "F--in "A" it is. "

My dad's beach buddy Bob noted, "I always thought it was "What In Hell" in which case it could include many of the events of late."

My equestrian friend Royce called out, "This expression has been replaced by a sigh and the word "Whatever !"

My Utah friend Bruce observed, "Nope...never noticed that, but what the hell..."

My marketing Mark  D wrote, "So is  'You are right.'  BTW:  I really loved last week's response from Royce about freedom ' on sale at WalMart and/or Target?"...a fabulous answer on so many levels. I'm still chuckling about it! Your friends are all very clever."

And my TAG friend Andy shared, "Around Atlanta the GDOT's answer to every question is build a highway, AC/DC told us about those highways (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEPmA3USJdI), and this is why so many drivers in Atlanta find "What the Hell." is the correct answer twice a day.    At least GDOT is paying attention in traffic demand patterns and building highways instead of pedestrian paths.  AC/DC explained there would be a highway to hell, but Led Zepplin told us there would only be a stairway to heaven (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcL---4xQYA).

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

Is ice cream cake really cake? from my friend Lesley

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

Hal

Wishing you a great scoop on Sunday (7/19), which is National Ice Cream Day.  I'm a fan of Brusters.  Where will you be Sunday?

Thanks to Demetri Martin, Steven Wright and George Carlin for the inspiration for Hmmm.  Stop by www.nichelabs.com to see what else I'm up to.