What's the opposite of rehab?, and a Santa Claus question

In response to last week’s question, "What's the opposite of rehab?," my temple friend Richard replied, "Reelection" while my social media friend Mark suggested, "Rebinge."

Both my neighbor Al and sailing friend Norm declared, "Baher."   Not the  Palestinian neighborhood near East Jerusalem, they noted that spelling rehab backwards would be its opposite.

My collaboration friend Andy explained, "Retox: Verb. The act of doing all the things your nutritionist and trainer tell you not to do.  I think it's better as an antonym for detox, but heck, close enough.  :)      Used in a sentence: "Hey, we've been eating spinach smoothies all week, let's go have a burger and beer at Highland Tap to retox."

When my birthday bud Jon called out "Prefab," my cousin Valarie added, "Instead of habbing again, this is before habbing in the first place. But who habs anymore anyway, right?  : ) "   To this, my cycling friend Ted concurred, "It would be Prehab, or simply "Hab".  But my official answer is 'College,' which is what got you in to Rehab to start with!"

My PR friend Stan declared, "Unhab – especially easy to do at this time of year."

My sailing friend Angie commented about last week's post script, and then answered the question, "OMG - LMAO on sergeant......  I would participate but I am not that funny:  Opposite of rehab would probably be Happy Hour or a two martini breakfast."  (Yes, Angie, you are funny.)

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

How old is Santa Claus?

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

Hal

Wed is the shortest day of the year.  December Solstice (Winter Solstice) is Dec. 21, 2016 at 5:44 am in Atlanta. With just 9:54:31 of daylight,  Dec. 21 is 4 hours, 30 minutes shorter than on June Solstice,.  So make the most of your night!

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.

What don't you want for a gift?

In response to last week’s question, "What don't you want for a gift?," my product management friend Doug called out, "I don't want any gift that I can't give away, i.e. can't get rid of like non-curable venereal disease)," to which my writing and sailing friend Rich added, "I don't want the gift that just keeps giving.  Once is enough."

My managed IT friend Kosol replied, "Tickets to the Dallas Cowboys.  You can keep those" while my social media friend Mark  responded, "What I gave you last year, especially in the same gift bag."

My temple friend Richard announced, "The gift of 'gab.'  My observation is: 'When all is said and done, a lot more gets said than done.'  I prefer not doing the talking."

My cycling friend Ted recalled, "One of my daughter's favorite movies is 'Ella Enchanted'  If you watch it, you will agree that you don't want the "Gift" of Obedience (except if you are a Canine American)."

When my equestrian friend Royce declared, "My AMEX statement," and my sailing friend Norm said, "Clothes," my dad's beach buddy Bob shared this advice for the season, "Money or material things.  At my age, they are temporary.  We prefer a visit by a son, daughter, or a grandchild.  Everything else is less."

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

What's the opposite of rehab?

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

Hal

In response to last week's answers, my temple friend Bob noted, "I haven't heard the term tallywacker in many years.  When I was at Fort Knox for basic training, the sergeant said, "Don't let me catch any of you maggots in the shower washing your tallywacker for more than 10 seconds."  My hiking friend Kelly who provided the initial response, replied to Bob, "Or the sergeant could have said, “Don’t let me catch any of you tallywackers in the shower washing your maggots!”

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.

What is Victoria's secret?

In response to last week’s question, "What  is  Victoria's  secret?," my writing and sailing friend Rich determined it was, "That less is more." My gemologist friend Bill concurred, "From what I have seen not much," to which my temple friend Kevin added, "That people are willing to spend large sums of money on tiny, little outfits (not that I'm here to complain about that)."

My collaboration friend Andy put it simply, "Photoshop!" which led my sailing friend Norm and social media friend Mark to call out, "There not real!"  My engineering Steve friend added, Strong responded, "The fun is finding out on your own!"  (Editor's note:  Steve's response could go at the end of most other responses.)

My temple friend Tracey replied, "If she told you, it wouldn't be a secret" but then my cycling friend Ted disclosed, "She begged me not to tell anyone, but I can tell you that Victoria is anything but Victorian!"

My hiking friend Kelly though this would be called, "Tallywackergate" explaining that "She’s a dude!" to which my friend Bob expounded, "Victoria's secret is that she used to be Victor, and if you see her in the locker room at the gym, she still is."  Then my temple friend Richard shared an alternative version, "Victoria’s secret is that 'she' is actually a 320-pound cigar-smoking guy in the Bronx named Victor.   Victoria’s other secret is that the merchandise will not look anything like what appears in the catalog on any woman weighing more than 120 pounds, and even then only if she has not eaten in at least 3 days."

My dad's beach buddy Bob counseled, "A cleaver woman may tease a bit, but the ultimate price for a very smart woman is wearing a bridal gown."

My cousin Wes suggested, "Being able to help women be sexy for their men. What a secret trick."

And my networking friend Andrew proclaimed, "Google John Brown."  He was referring to John Brown with Queen Victoria saying 'We are not amused' and not referring to fantasy football info about Cardinal's John Brown).

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

What don't you want for a gift?

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.

In response to last week’s question, "You can be full of thanks.  Can you be full of grate?,"  my temple friend Richard replied, "Depends. Are people who grate on your nerves full of grate? I know one can be an ingrate. Can one also be an exgrate?"

My neighbor Al  concluded, "My ego says that I can," while my cycling friend Ted cautioned, "If a man tells you he is full of Grate, he is really full of s---!"

My dad's beach buddy Bob advised, "To do so, you must reflect upon the blessings that have been bestowed upon you and your family."  And to that, I say "Amen.".

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

What  is  Victoria's  secret?

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.

How can you tell who your friends are? plus a Thanksgiving question

In response to last week’s question, "How can you tell who your friends are?," my cousin Greg Faber proclaimed, " They are the people who laugh with you in the back seat of the cop car versus the people who bail you out."  

My collaboration friend Tricia replied, "This one is so easy. Friends are those who stay by your side even when you have absolutely nothing to offer them. I, for one, am grateful to call you my friend."  My neighbor Al went further, "The ones who don't ask me to pay back the money I owe them......"   My compliance friend  Karla shared, "I think you can tell who your friends are when things aren't going well and you might need help or encouragement.  And my artist friend Fred added, "My friends are those who don’t make me feel 'marginalized' or 'disenfranchised.' "

My writing and sailing friend Rich wrote based on experience, "In the sailing world, it is pretty easy.  If someone has spent a week on a boat with you and is willing to get on a another one with you, they are a friend." 

My temple friend Kevin explained, "They are the ones who know I am crazy, sometimes obnoxious, but would be there to help me at a moment's notice.  Kinda like you and Alison."

My birthday bud Jon replied, "Facebook?  At least it helps me know who my friends were in high school" while my equestrian friend Royce countered, "It certainly isn't the ones you see on Facebook."

My hiking friend Kelly revealed, "Tell them you’re gay.  That worked for me.  I am by the way.  You really find out who your real friends are."

My dad's beach buddy Bob recalled, "The wise person keeps them a little further from him than his enemies."

My temple friend Richard noted, "Echo location."

My social media friend Mark  announced, "They make you laugh once a week. Hmmm."

And my interfaith friend Debby pointed out, "I think last Thursday's celebration is just what we all need--it is one big example to show how diversity is fun, good, and a blessing. I love coming to the Ecumenical Thanksgiving Celebration every year and looking around the room at people from all cultures, religions, backgrounds.  The diverse faces are beautiful to behold, especially as we sing, reflect and later share food and make friends with one another. We all need to be able to be friendly, welcoming, kind and compassionate to everyone we meet. And a good laugh together helps too! I'm so thankful I was part of the planning committee this year--I learned so much and made some new friends."   Note:  Click here to watch the celebration on demand.

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

You can be full of thanks.  Can you be full of grate?

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

Hal

Wishing you and your family a memorable Thanksgiving holiday.  May it be a time to enjoy your family, friends, good food and good times with excess of only good times..

Thanks to Demetri Martin, Steven Wright and George Carlin for the inspiration for Hmmm.   I invite you to call or email me so  I can share what  I'm up to.