What do you do with an extra day in your year (i.e. Leap Day)?

In response to last week’s question, "What do you do with an extra day in your year?,"  my writing and sailing friend Rich wrote to no one's surprise, "Call in sick and go sailing.  If they are not going to pay me any more for working an extra day, then I think the day is better spent sailing."  My DISH and dog-loving friend Mark concurred with Rich, "What do I do with an extra day this year? Work for free."

My Parrothead friend Samantha added poetically, "In an ideal situation, an extra 24 hours would be spent on a boat, floating nowhere on the waves.  Since I am on my way to work, I will board that boat in my mind instead.  May the waves keep all of our dreams afloat!"

My dad's beach buddy Bob surmissed, "Make up for all the things I forgot to do yesterday or didn't have time to get to for lack of time.  I need one of those every month."   And my PR friend Stan concurred, "I'd get realigned – and put an end to that old saying: 'If only I had more time…' ”

My temple friend Richard lamented, "Same as any other day:  I try to cram 2 or 3 days’ work into that day!"

My networking friend Andrew shared some fun factoids about Leap Day, "Did you know that there is no Leap Day in years divisible by 100, except for years divisible by 400? What this means is that 1900 had no Feb. 29, and 2100 will not have one, but the year 2000 did have a Feb. 29. For most of us alive right now, this exception is irrelevant, but curious nonetheless. Growing up, this was always the day when girls could ask boys out (back when that sort of thing didn't occur regularly)."

While my equestrian friend Royce challenged, "You really don't want to know ," my cousin Wes suggested, "Maybe something I don't what to commemorate for another 4 years.  Like saying, 'Happy Leap Day.' "

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

Have you said "yes I can" but thought what's the point?   from my friend Jim C

Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably And never regret anything that made you smile!    Hal

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

Is someone telling the truth when they say "I've always tried to tell the truth?"

In response to last week’s question, "Is someone telling the truth when they say 'I've always tried to tell the truth?,' "  my writing and sailing friend Rich replied, "Show me a man who has always told the 100% truth and I’ll show you a man who has never been asked, 'Do these pants make my butt look big?'"

My temple friend Richard observed, "The key word is 'tried.' That doesn’t mean they are successful. Also, telling the truth is at times hazardous to one’s health or marriage (answering in the affirmative to the question 'Does this make me look fat?' for example).  and this week’s question did cause me to propose a new campaign strategy for the current Republican presidential front-runner: George Washington could not tell a lie.  Richard Nixon didn’t tell the truth. Donald Trump can’t tell the difference.”

My collaboration friend Tricia explained, "I believe in telling the truth - even when inconvenient. If I have to convince someone I'm telling the truth, I might not be. Right?  Just the same as when mean people say, 'I really try to be nice to everyone, but they don't deserve it.'"  In support of this, my cousin Greg wrote, "In the words of the great Jedi Master Yoda, 'There is no try, only do.' "

When my PR friend Stan share, "Technically, yes," my social media friend Mark pointed out, "Let me be honest (negating everything else I have ever said without the "let me be honest" preamble). No. They are not telling the truth. Nor am I being truthful when I end a compliment with "bless your heart".

My dad's beach buddy Bob pointed out, "The appropriate response would should have been 'When convenient,' " to which my equestrian friend Royce replied, "Only a politician."

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

What do you do with an extra day in your year?

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

Happy Birthday Leaplings.  You are special although the rest of us get 4 times  more birthday cake than you do.

The tradition for today, according to an old Irish legend, or possibly history, is that St Brigid struck a deal with St Patrick to allow women to propose marriage to men on this date.   Leap day is also St Oswald’s Day, named after the archbishop of York who died on February 29, 992.

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

Can something be epically stupid and not regretted?

In response to last week’s question, "Can something be epically stupid and not regretted?," my birthday bud Jon declared, "First love," to which my dad's beach buddy Bob added, "Oh yes....like the girl I didn't marry because......she has since been divorced 3 times."

My writing and sailing friend Rich generalized, "If you're still alive to laugh about it later. Signed Too Stupid to Live."

My PR friend Stan explained, "Most definitely, especially when the coach of a football team I am rooting against makes a call that fails epically. We can call him 'stupid' and not regret our revelry in his  really bad call – and all the vitriol on social media and talk radio."

My cycling friend Ted  observed, "Yes! I just saw the movie "Deadpool" which was filthy. violent and almost porn! However, it was hilarious! No regrets!"

As my equestrian friend Royce wrote, "Now that is something to cogitate over," my social media friend Mark lamented, "The first thing that comes to mind is being a Republican."

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

Is someone telling the truth when they say "I've always tried to 'tell the truth?' " in memory of birthday boy George Washington saying "I can not tell a lie," Jimmy Carter saying "I will never lie to you" and Hillary Clinton making the above quote.

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

Today is the 284th anniversary of the birth of our first president, George Washington, which is also my PR friend Stan's son’s and son-in-law’s birthday.  Thanks to Demetri Martin, Steven Wright and George Carlin for the inspiration for Hmmm.  Stop by NicheLabs to see what else I'm up to.

Is there a reason that red connotes love and is the color of a teacher's correction notes?

In response to last week’s question, "Is there a reason that red connotes love and is the color of a teacher's correction notes?," my PR colleague Stan noted that, "both make your face turn red."

My dad's beach buddy Bob concluded, "It is elementary..  Have you ever met a teacher who didn't just love to correct you," which my equestrian friend Royce added, "Could be a reminder of the crush I had on my 3rd grade teacher, Miss Rambonet..."

My temple friend Richard observed, "Red is the color of blood, which makes sense when you are discussing a teacher’s corrections. How does the color of blood relate to love? Well, as Nazareth noted many years ago in a song, “Love hurts. Love scars. Love wounds and marks.”

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

Can something be epically stupid and not regretted? from my cousin Marc

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

Today is the 284th anniversary of the birth of…….the owner of "I can not tell a lie; I cut down the cherry tree" who also said

·         Observe good faith and justice towards all nations; cultivate peace and harmony with all.”

·         “We should never despair, our situation before has been unpromising and has changed for the better, so I trust, it will again. If new difficulties arise, we must only put forth new exertions and proportion our efforts to the exigency of the times.”

….our first president, George Washington.

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

Did you just ask me if I ever had déjà vu? + a Valentines Day question

In response to last week’s question, " Did you just ask me if I ever had déjà vu?,"  my cousin Greg replied, "I could have sworn I've already asked you......" and my sailing friend Norm    queried, "didn't we answer that question before. It seems we did."  To this, my videographer friend Ivan added, "No, but I'm going to yesterday."

My equestrian friend Royce noted, "No, but Yogi Berra had it 'all over again,'  so evidently it repeats itself."

My dad's beach buddy Bob complimented, "No Hal, I know you haven't.  According to the definition:  involves having that feeling of knowing in a situation in which you are experiencing something totally new.  You have it all...Much like your father."

My temple friend Stuart "did  not recall much about déjà vu. I will ask if you ever had that feeling of vujà dé, that feeling that you've never been someplace before?" which another temple friend Lesley concurred, "The question is not familiar to me.  Is this a case of vujà dé?"

My friend Richard explained, "I’m at the age now where I have a sense of déjà vu when I can’t remember something and I suddenly realize I had forgotten the same damned thing at least once before.  There are, however, some advantages to losing one’s memory. For example, there is no such thing as leftovers. I also recall Groucho Marx’s great line:  'I never forget a face. However, in your case I’m willing to make an exception!' ”

And my cycling friend Ted suggested, "Crosby Stills Nash and Young know the answer to that."

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

Is there a reason that red connotes love and is the color of a teacher's correction notes?  

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

Make this a sweetheart of a week and show appreciation to the ones you love.  While chocolate is a popular way, expressing your appreciation, and explaining why goes a long, long way.  And in my case, along with my wife, my son, my dad and family who are so supportive and helpful, I'm fortunate to have some many friends who take time to reply to Hmmm and brightens my day.

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