What other time of the year do people sit in front of a dead tree and eat candy out of your socks?

In response to last week’s question, "What other time of the year do people sit in front of a dead tree and eat candy out of your socks?", my friend Richard concluded, "For most of us, I think the answer is probably “Never.”  Not sure about Druid customs and practices."  To this, my neighbor Al shared, "That must be a Jewish thing.  We eat a dead pig that we threw in a fire.  It's covered with old dried grapes and the sap from a cane plant.  Then we sing songs about some woman who gave birth to an illegitimate child in a barn. Happy Festivus for the Rest of us!"

My engineering friend Steve replied, "What, people don't do that every day?" which my cousin Wes added, "There is nothing like Christmas.  Yummy candy canes."

My writing and sailing friend Rich responded, "Only once.  The rest of the year we drink the juice of grapes crushed beneath our bare feet under a dying sun."

And my dad's beach buddy Bob described his tradition, "Dead tree?  Never. Either a live tree to plant after Christmas or an artificial tree that we return to its box for another year.   Candy???? Well, Chocolates are something else, and we like them out of a box.....and we only use other peoples long red stockings that we hang on the fireplace mantle.  All of this is followed by a Prime Rib Roast in the afternoon with a French cut green bean casserole, whipped potatoes and an au jus gravy.  Next is a long nap   Life is good!"

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

What's the next thing on your bucket list?

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

Hal

My marketing friend David Taylor-Klaus shared an attitude to make the most of everything, "Celebrating success AND failing forward."

Here's wishing you, your family, and your business endeavors a year of health, wealth and wisdom.  May every day be a blessing.

    

Thanks to Demetri Martin, Steven Wright and George Carlin for the inspiration.

Is there enough daylight in your life? (Winter solistice was Sat, 12/21)

In response to last week’s question, "Is there enough daylight in your life?,"  my friend Richard replied, "Never enough daylight. In fact, sometimes I feel like a mushroom. I’m kept in the dark, and every once in a while, a bunch of sh-t (natural fertilizer) is piled on top of me."  My equestrian friend Royce concurred, "I'm still trying to find the light of day."

My colleague Matt  responded, "No, there isn’t enough daylight.  Under 10 hours daylight to celebrate my birthday is definitely not enough time. And too cold at night…brrrr   More daylight = more time to get things done. Did you know plants release less oxygen during the night? That’s why everyone is so sleepy. Those who stay up all night are just…weirdos.  ;-)   "   My college roomie John remembered "Bill Withers sang, "Ain't no sunshine when she's gone"?  I think we can all use more sunshine."

My birthday bud Jon suggested, "If there's not, can we take it out from the bank where we put all that daylight we saved during Daylight Savings Time?  I mean, what’s the use of saving it if we can’t use it when we need it?

My engineering friend Steve solved this, "There is enough now since I put daylight LED’s al over my house."

My cycling friend Ted noted, "With my wife Carey in my life, there is eternal sunshine!!  And my dad's beach buddy Bob explained, "For me, toujour l'amour as soon as the sun goes down, but I don't like to barbeque in the dark."

My running friend Lesley observed, "There used to be enough daylight in my life because I never broke a bone in my body which means I was getting enough vitamin D from sun exposure. Now I'm not so sure as I broke a bone a few months ago. Or perhaps I am simply getting old."

My sailing and ecumenical friend Asif recalled, " driving in late to work on Friday, I saw the morning sky for the first time in 2 weeks.  Yes, day light, and not just a harried glimpse from the confines of thick glass walls of the hospital's walkway, but bathing me in its rays was the sun with only the air above me between me and it! It almost brought tears to my eyes. Not enough, is my answer."

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

What other time of the year do people sit in front of a dead tree and eat candy out of your socks? 

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

Hal

My IT friend from our 'bubble days in Silicon Valley' Eric replied to the earlier question about the duration of fruitcakes, "I would say that a fruitcake lasts as long as I leave it untouched on the counter."

For those celebrating Jesus's birth, have a Merry Christmas.  And for those that are not, think about going out for Chinese or Persian food.

Thanks to Demetri Martin, Steven Wright and George Carlin for the inspiration.

For how long does a fruitcake last?

In response to last week’s question, "For how long does a fruitcake last?", my dad's beach buddy Bob observed, "some live to be 100" to which my cycling friend Ted added, "Most fruitcakes stay fruitcakes for a lifetime."  My wise friend Richard quantified this, "Whether human or dessert, the average lifespan of a fruitcake is approximately 78 years."  And then my birthday bud Jon recalled, "Depends who he's with!   (Reminds me of a great Hollywood Squares bit--when they asked Paul Lynde if a date was a fruit or a nut, he said "Ask me in the morning.")"
 

My friend Royce concluded, "For as long as you want it" to which my jeweler friend Bill who believes diamonds are forever, replied, "No one knows. We're waiting to find the answer. Claxton has fruitcake with serial #1 still on the shelf." 

My college roomie John replied, "My question is, does anyone know someone who eats fruitcake?  I believe only one has ever been made.  It is re-gifted each year, since no one ever eats it." My engineering friend Steve concurred, "I've heard there is really only one fruit cake in the world that keeps making the rounds, so I guess no one really knows yet."

My Parrothead friend Samantha,  responded, "Fruitcakes are like the Energizer bunny, they keep going and going and going..."  My writing and sailing friend Rich quoted "the words of Rod Temperton and Heatwave 'Always and Forever'," to which my social media friend Mark shared, "No one knows yet...it is like nuclear waste."

My friend Randy was a little more positive, writing, "I have had this in my fridge for over a year. I got it from someone when Jill passed; they had a sense of humor like my little wife. I plan to keep it or rotate it among friends. I will need to find a way to tag it and track dates and times for future archeologists. I do know one certain fact. Honey Bee honey will last for thousands of years.  This Fruit Cake was best to sell by 4/13/13 but I'm sure that was only a suggestion. I dare say they are good for 10,000 years and when petrified could build another Stonehenge.

My project mgmt friend KJ shared, "I’m told they last forever. I’ve tried them once or twice and have never understood why anyone would want a fruitcake to last forever. I’m sure there must be a good tasting fruitcake out there somewhere, perhaps, it’s in Claxton, GA. I’ve heard about them, but never tried theirs."

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

Is there enough daylight in your life?                     .

Winter Solstice is Saturday, which means only 9h 54m 31s of daylight in Atlanta

                                                                                                                 .

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

Hal

I invited www.claxtonfruitcake.com to respond and even offer a coupon; they chose to pass on the opportunity.  Until they do, here's Jimmy Buffett video Fruitcake:  http://youtu.be/wneCa_yIuzg

Great stats for Winter Solstice throughout the US at  http://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/december-solstice.html

 Thanks to Demetri Martin, Steven Wright and George Carlin for the inspiration.

Can you consistently be random?

In response to last week’s question, "Can you consistently be random?", my birthday bud Jon replied simply, "Sometimes" while my friend Royce wrote, "Randomly yes."   To this, my friend Tracey added, "Have you met my high school aged son who is involved in the performing arts? The answer is a resounding YES!"

My cycling friend Ted concluded, "One is consistently random when one stops being consistent!"

My wise friend Richard noted, "According to Ralph Waldo Emerson, 'A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.'  So one can be consistent at anything, including randomness, but this may only be an indication of one’s foolishness."

And my social media friend Mark advised, "It is far easier and more beneficial in the long run to be randomly consistent."

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

For how long does a fruitcake last?  (prompted during my visit last week to the fruitcake capital of the US (and possibly the world), Claxton, GA:  www.claxtonfruitcake.com)

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

Hal

Congrats to Auburn Tigers.  Who wrote the script about returning a field goal attempt for a touchdown and then having Mich St beat Ohio State?

Thanks to Demetri Martin, Steven Wright and George Carlin for the inspiration.