Let it snow,let it snow,let it snow

[arr&bee]

Hey gang,look out of the window,it's snowing and snowing stuff is closing and it's piling up and i gotta go to work,now where did i put that sled???

[moe]

Out by your shed. You used it to haul hooch in the snow. Your St. Bernard quit.....:o

[westgrandboulevard]

Barking mad. And I'm not talking about the St. Bernard.....:rolleyes:

[144man]

It may be winter outside, but in my heart it's spring.

[westgrandboulevard]

Interior sprung - just like your bed.

[Jerry Oz]

Dang, my fingers are too cold to ty

[arr&bee]

Thanks moe i'd forgotten,as for poor st bernard,he's been in a hooch induced coma for six months...oh he'll be ok come spring.

[westgrandboulevard]

Best let sleeping dogs lie. They're not going to tell you the truth.

[moe]

No.........all they want is to fed and let out occasionally......

[westgrandboulevard]

These 'virtual' pets seem a strange idea to me, but I suppose they are a good way of training children for the real thing.

[moe]

.....and adults, too, westgrand........:D

[westgrandboulevard]

Are there such things as 'virtual' partners?

[arr&bee]

I had some virtual hooch but i ran out faster than i could type it in.

[westgrandboulevard]

Well now, who would have guessed?! :rolleyes:

[moe]

You and I westgrand!

[westgrandboulevard]

Knowing looks were then exchanged.....

[roger]

Are there such things as 'virtual' partners?

There most certainly are westgrandboulevard ..

There was a BBC Documentary aired last October about Japan's "Demographic Timebomb" and one of the reasons given for their falling population and birth-rate was the popularity of "Virtual Girl-friends".

There is an article about this here ....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-24614830

I can't say it appeals to me too much ... :)

Arr&Bee's virtual hooch sounds more interesting, but from my experience even the real stuff can make people virtually legless!! :)

Roger

[144man]

I could cope with a virtual hangover.

[westgrandboulevard]

Roger...

'Virtually' legless after arr&bee's hooch is the only possible outcome - as no-one has yet to see any, let alone sample it.:rolleyes:

No, the idea of virtual partners doesn't appeal to me, either. If I talk to myself, at least I get the answers I want.

Which leads to me to ponder the existence of 'virtuous' partners, and how that would currently be defined.....:confused:

[westgrandboulevard]

144man, a virtual hangover does sound a most convenient idea but, to do that, I suppose you would have to imbibe virtual alcohol - and there's no taste in nothing, not even virtually.

Virtual fun, anyone?

[144man]

Maybe the whole universe is just a download on God's computer.

[westgrandboulevard]

Let's hope it's a lossless one.....

[Jerry Oz]

I always imagined we're just calculations on a celestial chalkboard...

And there have been virtual relationships for thousands of years [[as long as somebody had companionship to sell that another person couldn't obtain through charming personality and fresh breath... If you get my drift.) The beauty of those virtual relationships is that you're not paying for your time with the "partner", you're paying him/her to leave once the time is up.

[westgrandboulevard]

Understood! They're being paid to make up a shortfall in other people's lives, and there's a steady demand for it. It's essentially a negative situation, but that's people's choice, and I can understand that some people do not have such a lot of choice.

The best people we meet offer ongoing potential, not simply restoring our spirits to neutral for a short while.....

[Jerry Oz]

It won't be long before the only people we "meet" are on-line. Well, them and the pizza delivery guy.

[westgrandboulevard]

If he or she can find us.......

I don't use them myself, but I see them around ,undulating their way up and down streets,particularly after dark, parking on double yellows and running like mad. When they've delivered, they suddenly pull out of the line of parked vehicles, before circling and speeding off in the other direction....

That goes for the online grocery deliveries too. I've not tried that service either, but I believe it is a growing sector. I ac tually find the trip to the supermarket is often a social event in itself.

[arr&bee]

I'm thinking about deliveries too,just think it's late at night and you're thirsty you dial the secret code and the delivery buzzard is there with a special package...what,you think that i'd trust this cargo to a delivery person..besides people sometimes stiff delivery boys,have you ever seen a buzzard close up?ain't nobody gonna stiff a delivery buzzard.

[Jerry Oz]

Make sure he flies straight or he may have checked to make sure your hooch was the right brand by sampling it. Most of the old buzzards I know have no qualms about walking into someone's home, opening up the cupboard and helping themselves to a nip [[read: 6-8 ounces is a "nip" for them) without first being asked.

[westgrandboulevard]

They probably wear ID tags advising they are Hooch Meter readers.

They don't want you to update them online. They just must call on you, in person. If they leave a card saying 'sorry you were out', they really mean it....

[Jerry Oz]

They are my uncles, who were good for stopping by when they suspected my Dad wasn't in. They'd make small talk and almost unconsciously walk toward the cabinet beneath the kitchen sink to pull out the half-filled bottle of Old Granddad.

Without even looking at what they're doing, they would continue the banter, find a glass in a dish rack, pour a stiff drink, down it in one big gulp, and make sure my Mom knows to tell Pops that they came by before leaving. The whole theft lasted less than five minutes.

All Dad needs is to look at the level left in the bottle and trust me, he will know...

[westgrandboulevard]

Did/does he exhibit similar behaviour in their own homes?

[moe]

Whatever the behavior is: the snow has started!!!

[westgrandboulevard]

Are you all able to get about, albeit slower than usual - or is that not possible?

[moe]

At least 6 inches so far. Went out once; saw no plow trucks. Will be getting more here. When I was out it was a blizzard!!

[ralpht]

Pretty rowdy here today also, Moe.

[moe]

I'll bet, Ralph! Was supposed to go see my mother but what can you do with these conditions?

[Jerry Oz]

Four-wheel drive, moe. At least to get out of my condo parking lot... Who knows after that?

[marv2]

I am sooooooo friggin tired of snow already this year! Clean it up and here more comes!

[westgrandboulevard]

The UK is warned to expect some to drift in this direction in the next few days, to affect Scotland and Northern England.

Here in the south, still it rains - but like your snow, it's 'clean it up, and here more comes!'. Some poor souls are flooded out of their homes.

[moe]

I have a 4 wheel drive Jerry but if they don't plow & it's a white out YOU come & take me to Pittsburgh to see my mother! I'll be waiting.......

[westgrandboulevard]

Hurry Jerry. If Moe doesn't get there very soon, there will be such a shout from Pittsburgh way, y'all hear it....!

[moe]

And westgrand knows...............my mother doesn't wait for anyone!!!

[Jerry Oz]

I just came back in from a "quick" trip to the library and grocery. It took an hour longer than it should have... Sorry moe, but Mama might have to wait after all.

[moe]

I rest my case, Jerry!

[moe]

OK...........snowfall in your area?? What's the total so far??

[ralpht]

Broke every record, Moe. somewhere in the area of 33 inches, I think

[Jerry Oz]

!!?

We got buried in Columbus, but I think we're around 5-7". My truck got me to church this morning and over to Mom and Dad's this afternoon, so it's not so bad if you have the right vehicle and determination to get where you want to go.

[moe]

Wow Ralph, that's a lot!! Jerry, so far we're around 10-12 inches.

[Jerry Oz]

Well, it warmed up a bit... Just enough to thaw enough snow to create a solid sheet of ice by the time I go to work tomorrow morning.

[arr&bee]

SERIOUSLY FOLKS[did i just type that???]ANYHOW THE ICE IS WORST THAN THE SNOW.

[westgrandboulevard]

It's OK with me if it comes with a slice of lemon.....

[Jerry Oz]

The kind of ice I'm driving through to get to work comes with polar bears, amigo.

[marv2]

The kind of ice I'm driving through to get to work comes with polar bears, amigo.

Jerry you're in Ohio right? How bad is it now in Columbus?

[Jerry Oz]

We received eight inches over the weekend. Temperatures are now in the single digits and headed for -10 degrees tomorrow with wind chills up to -30 degrees. Thank God, the city of Columbus does an excellent job of clearing streets in even the worst snowfalls. I made it to work and home without incident after a couple of the scariest drives that I can recall this past weekend.

[westgrandboulevard]

Here in mild and wet [[but about to become very cold) UK, I'm trying to visualise what it must be like to experience those 30+ inches of snow in Detroit, and wonder if there are any problems once it starts to thaw.

[marv2]

We received eight inches over the weekend. Temperatures are now in the single digits and headed for -10 degrees tomorrow with wind chills up to -30 degrees. Thank God, the city of Columbus does an excellent job of clearing streets in even the worst snowfalls. I made it to work and home without incident after a couple of the scariest drives that I can recall this past weekend.

I remember in the 70's we would boast that Ohio and Michigan were snow removal experts! It would take a monster blizzard to stop everything. Otherwise it was business as usual.

[dinelle_watson]

I'm REALLY hating this weather. It's the worst that since I've been here in New York. I mean, sure, the last storm shut down post for two days in a row, but when you have to drive in it the mess it's WAY worse. Take this morning for example. I had to run an errand, and the wind was blowing really bad this morning that it made seem like the temperature was in the negatives again. What made it worse was the blowing snow. It made the white out conditions worse than what they were, especially when you can't see two inches in front of your car. I wanna say I'll be happy when I move to Georgia, but the South is getting snow too. I mean, there's just no end to it.

[westgrandboulevard]

The weather this winter does seem exceptionally extreme. Maybe the pattern of the weather is a result of nature balancing itself. We seem to have had drier seasons in recent years here in UK.

The experts keep referring to global warming, which isn't exactly helpful when we need to get around.:[[

[144man]

I hope the weather will improve enough to have "Nightflight" tonight.

[Methuselah2]

It May Be Shelley Winters Outside But In My Heart It's Spring Byington

[westgrandboulevard]

[[Meth2 : :D)

"No Matter How Long The Winter, Spring Is Sure To Follow"

Fine. Now hurry....

[Jerry Oz]

The thermometer in my truck read minus 12 this morning. Sad to think that there are some who are scrambling to get off the streets on a day like today... A few weeks ago, I went to the post office at 5:30 AM [[before going to work) on another bitterly cold day and saw a homeless man sleeping on the floor of the lobby. Two weeks later, there was a sign notifying everyone that the post office would be closing during non-business hours until further notice. I'm positive that somebody probably complained about him. I hope that it wasn't just because he was there, though.

[arr&bee]

Of course you all realize that in six months we'll be writing about a heat wave...haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.

[Jerry Oz]

The question is, would we rather have the 110 degree heat in Australia or the minus 10 degree freezing cold in the US? I'd rather take 72 degrees and sunny where ever I can get it...

[westgrandboulevard]

Snow and cold temperatures mean darker, shorter days.

Sunshine and higher temperatures mean lighter, longer days so, of course, I agree with you, Jerry :)

[moe]

Seasonal affect disorder!! Look at R&B: doesn't matter what the season [[he still affects us!!!);)

[Methuselah2]

Of course you all realize that in six months we'll be writing about a heat wave...haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.

And--arguably--the First Lady of Motown Records. [[But I ain't goin' there now. Or then.)

[Jerry Oz]

And--arguably--the First Lady of Motown Records. [[But I ain't goin' there now. Or then.)
http://www.quickmeme.com/img/09/09df5cbbbcc216e8981e293ab921e30a13d7d45a85a942b311 cfc46bb40dece3.jpg

[westgrandboulevard]

Ha! Change the subject quick - or discuss by way of personal messages ;)

[Methuselah2]

"We take the personal public. We have to. We're Soulful Detroit."

OK, back to the weather. How are things today?

[144man]

It's raining men!

[westgrandboulevard]

I'd better turn my umbrella upside down, and have a party.

[Methuselah2]

Hallelujah!

[144man]

There is a campaign to get "It's Raining Men" back in the UK charts as a protest against the Winter Olympics being held in Sochi.

[westgrandboulevard]

To show what good sports they really are, the Mayor of Sochi and his supporters could offer to open the Winter Olympics as the first, and only competitors at Russian Roulette.

[Jerry Oz]

It's okay. We here in Mother Russia will not necessarily harrass you for being gay during the Olympics.

But please, leave the children in peace... Wait, WTF?!

[westgrandboulevard]

I'm by no means a militant by nature, and everyone else has their own story. I just need to be sure of what I can fairly claim as my right, if I feel I have to do so.

Some say all politics are 'local'. If I were a gay athlete, and was told I was welcome to participate in a local championship event, but only if I would agree not even to look at the adult male sons of the spectators and other competitors, I would feel I would have to decline.

I would feel the same about going to the Winter Olympics in Russia. It's their country, and their laws. Easier not to go if there is a potential for being viewed as unacceptable, but not to attend would harm my career chances.

[Jerry Oz]

Not attending also makes more difficult for the next one, WGB. Every step toward progress leads to the next and to put it off for someone else in four years makes it take that much longer. That is enough time for thousands to give up on their dreams.

[westgrandboulevard]

Mary Wilson once said : 'Dreams don't die, people just stop dreaming'.

People do that all the time, and sometimes it is for the best, but perhaps that is better than never having a dream at all.

I suppose it depends on how much a person wants something, and how hard they have to fight to get it.

I'm not an athlete, so imagining myself not competing in the Winter Olympics won't present such a problem, will it....

[Jerry Oz]

The dreams of youth become the regrets of maturity. ​That it's one of my favorite quotes to ponder. After finding out where the fences of our possibilities are, we sometimes stop looking beyond. Sad, because the only fences to possibility are placed there by the dreamer.

[westgrandboulevard]

Maybe dreams are carried through life as a form of reassurance, there simply to add softer edges to the harsh realities.

[Jerry Oz]

I'm dreaming of warm, sunny days at the beach right now instead of the frozen wasteland that I'm seeing every day...

[ralpht]

The weatherman says we are getting 6 more inches of snow on Saturday.

[arr&bee]

Hey ralph you're in michigan,i know you're having a good laugh at us wimps in d.c.closing down over two inches,it wasn't always that way though,back in the day nothing closed especially schools,we put on those rubber boots and made out way[laughing through it all]being kids we weren't bothered by a little snow[about a foot or more]but these new folks[millenials?]wimps.

[Jerry Oz]

Hah! Remember when old folks used to tell us about how bad it was "back in my day..."? Now, we're the old folks! I remember having to walk two miles to school, no matter the weather because our school never shut down for "calamity days" like they do now. The only time that I can recall being shut down was during the blizzard of '77 and the day that we had threat of tornadoes in 1978. Instead of assembling in the basement, they told all the kids to go home.

Now, circle back to when I said that I walked two miles to get to school. Guess how I had to get home when the tornadoes were swirling and school was dismissed early that day?

[dinelle_watson]

I feel really sorry about what happened in Atlanta. I have a sister down there so I know how it is, even though I live in New York and I've grown accustomed to driving in snow.

[westgrandboulevard]

In many ways, we're more fortunate here in the UK, as the weather this month has broken the all-time record for January in any year - but,for rain.

Still, very bad for people being completely flooded and had to move out of their homes, or lost power - or even lost their lives.

Here's to a beautiful Spring for all - which I hope might arrive a little earlier this year:)

[Jerry Oz]

Let's all consider those who have witnessed tragedy and appreciate the fact that we [[hopefully) have been blessed with another day looking at it from the outside. We all experience it eventually, so we might as well be grateful if today was another uneventful day.

[westgrandboulevard]

Yes, absolutely.

But you made me pause to reflect. I guess you mean a day that could seem uneventful to any of us, at some time.

Can a day be truly uneventful?

[Jerry Oz]

Most see there to be two types of days: remarkable and mundane. I see everyday to be miraculous, so although it may be boring, I submit that there are only remarkable days.

[westgrandboulevard]

Yes, there's always something good to note in every day.

If there isn't, that's probably our own fault :)

[Jerry Oz]

Every time I catch somebody sulking at work, I bug them by asking them to get over it. From a logical standpoint, think about it: You're not going to be upset forever over whatever it is that someone said or did, so do yourself a favor and put it aside now. They usually consider it, but they feel like they owe it to themselves [[and the other guy) to stay mad for some undetermined amount of time.

I'm working hard to get to the point that I won't permit somebody else to ruin my day and the reason is as you stated: If they spoil my day, it's because I let them do it. So, it's more my fault than theirs.

[westgrandboulevard]

Yes, the time you spend on people who are acting negatively, could be time wasted on trying to act positively yourself.

Though I might perhaps not actually tell them to get over it [[i.e. an instruction), but either ask them if I can help them get over it - or at least act as if I can [[as in working together with a problem)

But then, I haven't met the people at your place of work, have I....:)

[Jerry Oz]

I don't exactly give them orders. Actually, I ask them to do themselves a favor. Usually, it goes like this:
"Do you think that at this time tomorrow, you'll be upset over this? Probably not. It's more likely that you'll have forgotten it before you go to bed tonight, so it's obviously not something that should dominate your day. Now, since we both know that you are going to move on from this issue, do yourself a favor and just do it now. Get over it because you're going do it anyway."

Sometimes I get a reaction that's positive, but a few times, they consider it, realize that I'm right, but then start their response with "Yeah, but..." I guess we sometimes are happier when we are unhappy.

[westgrandboulevard]

It could depend on exactly what's making them unhappy - and the degree of inability [[or reluctance?) they are feeling, in dealing with it??

At home, they might go about their daily routine quietly while mulling it over.

At work, surrounded by colleagues, that is tricky. Work comes first, but hard to put worries aside, and disguise feelings without appearing totally withdrawn.

[moe]

Snowing here in NE Ohio............

[westgrandboulevard]

Everyone able to get back and forth to work OK?

[Jerry Oz]

Most of the snow in Columbus has melted...

[westgrandboulevard]

Would that be due to warmer temperatures at times, but sky remaining cloudy and overcast, with perhaps ice - or because you've had sunshine?

Here, it remains grey and overcast - and more heavy rain is forecast over the next couple of weeks...

[Jerry Oz]

It warmed up to the 40s [[fahrenheit) on Saturday, but it dipped back down today. There was another winter storm that belted the state two counties south of mine last night. We're expecting another heavy blanket of snow in my area tomorrow night, so the fun never ends...

[moe]

Oh, it's coming!!!!!!!!!!!

[westgrandboulevard]

This hibernation thing has a lot going for it.

[Jerry Oz]

Hoo boy... Predicting 1-2" per hour between 8:00 PM and midnight. That should be followed by a mild uptick in temperatures which will turn into just enough rain to cover everything in ice by the time I wake up tomorrow morning.

Winter olympics? I might need a gold medal if I can safely navigate my way to work...

[arr&bee]

Well gang we're preparing for an ice storm...which means it will barly cover the sidewalks and the federal government will declare a state of emergency for d.c. And all cities within 500 blocks.

[moe]

I'll ski jump over to Columbus [[by way of 30 and 71) to pick you up Jerry!!:D

[arr&bee]

WELL GANG THERE'RE TALKING EIGHT INCHES FOR D.C. IN A COUPLE DAYS[YEAH RIGHT]MORE LIKE[EIGHT TENTHS OF AN INCH]WELL THE PANIC IS ALREADY SPREADING THE SHELEVES ARE EMPTYING AS I TYPE THIS...[there's a dude selling bags of salt,but out of paper bags]WELL I SEE A GOOD SPOT DOWN ON THE CORNER A GOOD SPOT TO SET UP MY HOOCHSTAND..OPPS-ER-AHEM-HEHE...EMERGENCY REFRESHMENT CENTER..OPPS ARE THOSE SIRENS I HEAR,GOTTA RUN.

[moe]

Better check the toilet paper & bread. Those are the first things to go! Now, after living near the DC/Baltimore area I know how they'll panic so your hooch might correct that situation!!

[Jerry Oz]

We wound up with 10+ inches last week. That was bad enough, but the 2 or so inches that fell on Sunday must have fallen quickly because the city couldn't plow the streets fast enough. My 10 minute commute to church took twice as long and my tiny little car wondered why I didn't take the 4-wheel drive truck instead. As did my wife... And my parents... And the people at church...

Anyway, we're going to be at sub-freezing temps at least until the weekend and there's no opportunity in the forecast for the snow to thaw for another week. Happy happy, joy joy!

[westgrandboulevard]

The welcome we will all give to Spring this year will be especially heartfelt.

It is likely to be glorious - but we've just got to get there. There are signs already....

[Jerry Oz]

We may not live to see the Spring, amigo. Best to look outside, see the pouring rain, and be thankful that you have another day [[today; any day). I hope that my detailing of how bad our weather has been this winter is not taken as a complaint.

[westgrandboulevard]

Don't be so dreary, Jerry LOL

You shall almost certainly live to see another Spring, and still see good in every day before that Spring arrives :)

I, for one, do not see your or anyone else's reporting of the weather as a complaint - as you are reporting on weather conditions which have most certainly been phenomenal. Our UK winter rainfall is now officially the worst since 1766......

[Jerry Oz]

I saw that on the evening news. I hope you have your inflatable raft at the ready, along with a can of Fix-A-Flat...

[westgrandboulevard]

This is your roving correspondent, posting to you from the top branches of a very tall tree...

[Jerry Oz]

"...From where I can tell you that after having to urinate, I dropped my zipper and let "Mr. Happy" fall into the water. I can tell you beyond a doubt that the water here is quite cold. And also very deep."

[[To borrow from an old Richard Pryor joke...)

[westgrandboulevard]

In this cold weather, there is nothing to brag about, that's a fact.

And, in the top of this tree, any time it starts to rain again [[which seems to be all the time) I'm the first to know...:[[

[arr&bee]

Hey west i'm coming over there...i'll be the one in the [yellow submarine].

[westgrandboulevard]

Then I will keep an eye out for you arr&bee, with my long range telescope, trained out to the English Channel.

I will tell everyone else to watch out for you. If I don't, they will think we are, once again, being threatened with invasion.....

[moe]

The yellow submarine probably runs on his hooch!!!

[westgrandboulevard]

It will be a hooch guzzler, of that I have no doubt!

[144man]

In Somerset, a Red Cross boat reached a family stranded by the floods. The father shouts, "Have you come to save us?". They reply, "No, we're here collecting donations for Syria".

[westgrandboulevard]

It was reported today that a family in Somerset, stranded by the floods, were able to escape by floating to safety on an upturned Red Cross boat.

They were unable to give any information on the whereabouts of the crew.

[144man]

There is a serious point to make here, however, namely the assignment of priorities when resources are limited. It is a constant balancing act between the urgent and the important.

[westgrandboulevard]

If you mean using financial resources for UK residents in crisis situations such as the flooding, instead of to foreign aid, I think the whole country would be in agreement.

[Jerry Oz]

Of course what is "urgent" and what is "important" depends on what side of the street you happen to be standing when the situation arises. Here in the states, public welfare support for individuals is constantly debated by conservatives and progressives. Many of those who think that those "lazy people should get off their *sses and get a job" are up in arms over any reduction in farm subsidies or corporate tax breaks. Many who complain that we should be much more considerate of when to use public money to help those affected by hurricanes complain about the time taken to consider how much should be given to them when they're affected by tornadoes or floods.

[arr&bee]

Well we actually got more than two inches the other day and today it's 50 degrees and the flooding will begin..hey west i'll be the one floating down the thames with a keg o hooch,a drunk parrot and a wooden keg...yo ho ho.

[144man]

£21.2 billion has been allocated to HS2, a transport system affecting 8 out of the 10 largest cities in the UK. The main benefits will be a transport hub for the Midlands and a reduction of the journey time between London and Birmingham by a mere half-hour. This could be considered necessary, but it's not particularly urgent. Costs are bound to spiral out of control. The money would be much better spent on urgent projects such as repairing flood damage, dredging and improving flood defences.

[westgrandboulevard]

.....and, no matter what it costs, the Thames must be protected and defended against the threat of arr&bee floating down it,, like something out of 'Treasure Island'.

London would have to be evacuated!

[arr&bee]

Um excuse this dumb yank but,can't ol queen whatshername just ya know go into petty cash and help ya'll out?

[arr&bee]

.....and, no matter what it costs, the thames must be protected and defended against the threat of arr&bee floating down it,, like something out of 'treasure island'.

London would have to be evacuated!westgrand i have just one word for you...haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaa...

[Jerry Oz]

"Hoochbeard the Pirate"... Coming soon to theatres everywhere.

[144man]

Um excuse this dumb yank but,can't ol queen whatshername just ya know go into petty cash and help ya'll out?

The Queen is well known to keep a tight reign on her petty cash.

[westgrandboulevard]

And the rest goes on racehorses.

[moe]

........and her Corghis

[westgrandboulevard]

Yes, those dogs are a real indulgence of HM!

[Jerry Oz]

I wonder if royal mutts ask each other "excuse me, but do you have any Grey Poop?"

[moe]

"No....mine is Brown like the rest of us." LOL

[westgrandboulevard]

Those corgis [[and there was at least one 'dorgi', at some point) don't always remember their house training.......

[Jerry Oz]

And that must be where the record rainfall comes into the picture... One seriously royal flush to give the butlers a break...

[westgrandboulevard]

In terms of longevity, it has certainly been a record reign.:)

[moe]

Of that there is no dispute!!;)

[Jerry Oz]

Her grip on the throne is more like a royal Pit Bull than a Corgi...

[westgrandboulevard]

Ha! Well, I'd say perhaps more like a dutiful, faithful retriever.

The Queen continues her life's work on behalf of 'The Firm' with great dedication, maintaining a steady pace, often accompanied by Prince Philip. I expect she will do so, as and when the time comes when she will be without him.

Next year, she is set to surpass Queen Victoria's record as longest reigning British monarch.

Long overseas tours will probably be curtailed, but Charles is more often attending in her place.

[Jerry Oz]

Your first sentence made me laugh just as a co-worker walked up and picked something from my desk... I sometimes wonder if she feels she's better suited to sit on the throne than Prince Charles and wants to make sure his rule is as short as possible. Perhaps if she had a more-worthy heir, she would have retired long ago.

I say this with zero knowledge of his worthiness or her thought process. Just speculation on my part...

[westgrandboulevard]

Well, the real truth is something akin to the following :

The Royal Family lives a life quite unlike the rest of us.

The Queen and her family appear to live with real privileges - which is true, compared to the vast majority of the people.

They are often quoted as having great wealth and, again, they certainly do, when compared to everybody else. That is the life, either into which they were born [[for example, The Queen) or into which they marry.

In many ways, they are custodians, and are responsible for carrying out their duties, the same as the rest of us - except they are responsible to the nation. They can't be anonymous, if and when it suits them, as can the rest of us.

It is often discussed that The Queen should abdicate in favour of her eldest son Charles - in a similar process as happened recently the Netherlands.

It isn't going to happen in the UK. The Queen gave a solemn promise to do her best for her people, and that's what she's done, and will continue to do, for as long as she lives. Only death, or an Act of Parliament [[because she wishes to abdicate), would release her from her duties, and it's not in her character to do that.

The Queen's official duties will be increasingly shared until she passes away, then Charles will become King, as is his right.

As is often mooted, the throne will not pass to William until Charles passes away, if only because it cannot. It would take a huge amount of legal and constitutional upheaval [[Acts of Parliament etc).

The Queen does not have the option of retirement in the sense which we understand the word. Retirement is a word used by ordinary people like us - but, as I said, their's is an extraordinary life, and not one I would wish to lead.

It's interesting that you say 'if she had a more worthy heir', which does sound less than positive. I think I could guess one good reason, but am curious as to what may have influenced your thoughts on that...:)

[Jerry Oz]

There is a sense over here that she could step down but simply chooses not to. [[What does the rabble know of higher things?) That leads to thoughts that perhaps she doesn't because he wouldn't be a better king than she is a queen. Of course, I have no knowledge of the propriety of a royal abdicating her title.

With that being said, I'd prefer her as my queen to him as king. She seems stuffy, but I think that she appears to appreciate her subjects more than Charles does even if she cannot relate to them. I hate to make character judgments, but I'd prefer to have an audience with her than him... She's kind of cool to me.

[westgrandboulevard]

HM The Queen is of a different generation from us, and I think that makes a real difference. She comes from a different time, with a different set of values. And she, simply by birth, has been put into an extraordinary position.

She is a conservative woman, with an eye towards tradition. Being royal, that has to be formal. I know exactly what you mean by 'stuffy', as she's a stickler for protocol - but maybe you've not yet seen her really laugh, or excited.

Charles is just a little older than me. If I had the chance to walk around his garden and farm, and listen to him, I am certain he would be fascinating company. In that way, he is more approachable, and reflects his own generation.

It's not for me to say how you feel, but the image you may have received of Charles via the media is very likely to be a direct result of the extremely unfortunate, sad situation which arose from his first marriage to Diana and, more particularly, the tragic outcome.

We should rename this thread "let it reign! let it reign! let it reign!" :)

[arr&bee]

AHHH ROYALTY,I REMEMBER WHEN I INHERITED THIS WONDERFUL ELIXUR FROM HE WHO PASSED OUT BEFORE ME...[hey he passed out and times being what they were I excepted the job]AND LUCKILY TO THIS DAY HE WHO PASSED OUT BEFORE ME HASN'T WOKE UP YET,YES HEAVY IS THE HEAD THAT WEARS THE HANGOVER...AND SOMEDAY HE WHO IS WAITING FOR ME TO PASS OUT WILL STAGGER IN AND RULE.

[westgrandboulevard]

Beware poisoned chalices!

There are over 2000 members of Soulful Detroit.

Arr&bee, on present showing, I'm certain you will pass out before every one of us........that leaves only one thing.

Mob Rule.:)

[Jerry Oz]

I suddenly imagine King Arthur looking for arr&bee's Holy Moley Grail! [[exclamation point intended), which is the only cup strong enough to withstand the bubbling tempest tempest that he's perfected.

The king is somewhat peeved that the knights believe he sampled it before the royal festivities. "Well, you majesty," Sir Lancelot begins, "perhaps the fact that there is smoke billowing from your ears would be our first clue..."

[westgrandboulevard]

"We're looking, Sire, for The Sword In The Stone".

Too late, for it has dissolved.

And the Round Table was once square, before the hooch was used to test its efficacy as furniture polish.

[arr&bee]

You two might land a gig as court jesters yet.

[Jerry Oz]

And may we consider you the Clown Prince, my lord?

[arr&bee]

Yeah you jesters will need someone to look down to.

[westgrandboulevard]

Not if we've ALL fallen on the floor, we won't...:)

[Jerry Oz]

Best to be the last to land if we're all falling down... I prefer falling on my peers rather than be on the bottom when the peeing starts...

[westgrandboulevard]

Ha! There will be no peeing on MY bottom - by order of the Court!

[Jerry Oz]

Drinker #1, as he wakes up naked in the penguin cage at the zoo, smeared with animal excrement and his own vomit, with unknown names tattooed inked on his backside: "What happened last night? I can't remember a thing."
Drinker #2, similarly dissheveled: "It beats me, man. After we started drinking, I think we passed out."

The look at each other amazed before coming to the same conclusion and shouting [[in unison): "BEST NIGHT EVER!!!!!"

[westgrandboulevard]

Sounds like an average Saturday night out in many towns and cities!

I'd rather stay in, and start earlier on the Sunday morning......

[Jerry Oz]

I am sure that scenario plays out every weekend at the Ohio State University [[and a few others).

[arr&bee]

Saturday night,who waits that long,as that great poet wilbur shookpear once said...to hooch or not to hooch that's not the question is it better in the minds of men that they partake or be partooken be bold my forbidden ones for we are the dead already of a frozen thaw...what a poet.

[westgrandboulevard]

There's nothing like a good poet.

And 'Wilbur Shookpear' sounds nothing like one:rolleyes:

[144man]

"A hooch. A hooch. My kingdom for a hooch."

[westgrandboulevard]

Might make a good TV ad.......

[Jerry Oz]

A great poem could be written about hooch. So many words rhyme with it including "pooch", "cooch", "couch" [[look it up), "smooch", and "mooch". Perhaps Wilbur Shookpear could put his touch on it one day...

[westgrandboulevard]

Wilbur Shookpear sounds like a specialist in slang, so would love any word ending in 'ooch'.

I bet every one of his anthologies is personally signed with 'X'.

[arr&bee]

Remember that great one he wrote...i think that i shall never see anyone else as drunk as me,me who in winter may wear the same suit for a week but who shall care,me who shall invest all my savings in hooches sweet caress,i sure ain't giving it to my wife to waste on some silly dress,poems are made by fools like me but only jai can make hooch......what a poet!

[westgrandboulevard]

All it needs is a little gentle lute playing, some birdsong and a large bottle of Poet & Chandon.

[arr&bee]

I once asked a lady for a little lute and she slapped me.

[westgrandboulevard]

With the type of ladies you hang around with, isn't it normally them asking YOU for the money??!

[arr&bee]

NO WOMAN IN HER RIGHT MIND...[with the exception of my wife,whose mind is keep sealed up]WOULD EVER ASK ME FOR MONEY,WHY I HAVEN'T CARRIED CASH SINCE,SINCE..SINCE...SINCE....SINCE.....SINCE..... .SINCE.......SEE EVEN I CAN'T RECALL...AS A MATTER OF FACT IT HAS COME TO MY ATTENTION THAT I'VE NEVER ACTUALLY HAD ANY CASH.

[westgrandboulevard]

Your mother must have kept it all, since when you were a baby.

[arr&bee]

Nope my dear mom had her right mind and never let me near cash...it was kept in a glasscase and i could look at it on sundays after lassie.

[westgrandboulevard]

Why did Lassie want to look at cash in a glasscase before you, on Sundays??

[Jerry Oz]

Well, that explains what my great uncle Briscoe meant when he used to tell me not to "trust dem b*tches with your money."

I thought that it was his meth addiction talking, but after finding out about Lassie, he clearly once owned a collie.

[moe]

Did he get his meth from Walter White and Jesse?

[Jerry Oz]

Nah, he cooked his own because he thought that he was a natural when it comes to cooking. He cooked it mostly on the grill while his ribs were in the marmalade.

[westgrandboulevard]

Where were his fingers, I wonder....

[Jerry Oz]

Usually wiping the marmalade off of his ribs. He should have worn a shirt when he cooked because he constantly passed out while cooking and fell into the marmalade. He'd get it on his ribs, belly button, and chest. It was very unappetizing if you ask me...

[westgrandboulevard]

And so much more appetising when spread on bread and butter....

[arr&bee]

LET ME SEE IF I GOT THIS...YOUR UNCLE ON METH COOKED HIS OWN RIBS WITH MARMALADE...[I'm afraid to ask what else he cooked].

[westgrandboulevard]

Were there, perchance, any members of his family who disappeared under mysterious circumstances....??

[Jerry Oz]

Only those who were stoopid enough to touch his meth when they thought that he wasn't looking...

[westgrandboulevard]

Sounds like it might have been a common occurrence.

[Jerry Oz]

Not after the baseheads realized what was going on. If you ever heard of people sleeping with their eyes open, uncle Briscoe could go for hours with his eyes shut but fully conscious. They thought he was sleeping but he was so tweaked, he only slept a couple of hours per week. Very creepy...

[westgrandboulevard]

Uncle B. spent more time on standby than a TV set.

[Jerry Oz]

My Mom tells of the time when the "we are exeriencing technical difficulties, please stand by" ​message on the television back in the days. My big brother asked what it meant and why the image was gone. When the message was read, he walked across the room and stood by the TV.

[westgrandboulevard]

Ha! :)

We used to hit our TV sometimes, when the reception was bad - or twiddle knobs on the back to correct the 'vertical', or 'horizontal hold', encouraged by those sat across the room, until the screen was back to normal.

What about the woman who brought some orange juice home, put in on the kitchen table, and then noticed it said 'concentrate'. She was sat there for hours, just staring at it.....

[Jerry Oz]

Was she the same woman fired from her job in Quality Control at the M&M factory because she kept rejecting all of "w"s that came down the line?

[westgrandboulevard]

The very same!

Her husband worked on a boating lake, taking the money and, when the punters had their money's worth, calling them back.

"Come in, number 99, your time is up...!"

A momentary thought struck him. "Wait a minute, we don't have a 99.....", followed by...

"Are you in trouble, 66????"

[Jerry Oz]

I know her! I was her relief during her break periods in the secretarial pool. I spent almost the whole time scraping dried correction fluid off her computer monitor...

[westgrandboulevard]

I'm surprised it wasn't also on her spectacles!

[Jerry Oz]

Me too. I saw her husband, who was dressed in a tuxedo as he walked into a doctor's office for a vasectomy. I asked why he was dressed thusly, and he told me that if one wants to be impotent, he must first look impotent.

[westgrandboulevard]

Quite understandable, but also strange just how strong those first impressions of appearance can be.

[Jerry Oz]

You don't get a second chance to make a first impression, eh?

[westgrandboulevard]

Ha! but, yes, I'd say definitely that we all do. We have to get past that first visual impression, and second impressions can form almost instantly after the first ones.

Sometimes the perception then becomes more positive, or more negative.

Unless, of course, it's voice only, as on the phone. First impressions count a lot there, but that does, again, depend on the preferences of the recipient. A strong dislike held by someone can be particularly harder to overcome, by both parties.....

[Jerry Oz]

I find it scary that you sometimes don't know who harbors that "strong dislike". Someone you may care for and/or trust could be the one stabbing you in the back unbeknownst to you. And God forbid that you should tell them something about a mutual acquaintance that they will run quickly to share with that person in order to put a wedge between you. You never know who that person might be...

[westgrandboulevard]

That's true, but it's important to maintain at least enough self-confidence to keep those self-doubting thoughts at bay.

If we don't, people who are less talented in some areas will begin to prevail in our mind - and that really does need to be firmly resisted :)

[arr&bee]

I used to keep all my self doubts at the bay but those pesky environmental folks got wind of it so i had to dump em in the ocean.

[westgrandboulevard]

Best place for them, arr&bee. Bottom of the ocean.

I don't have any self-doubts at eBay, either....

[Jerry Oz]

Self-doubts are tricky. They can roll in on low-tide and settle on the beach until somebody finds them and either throws them back or asks you what your major malfunction is for you to let that something like THAT be your hangup...?

[arr&bee]

Of course this wonderful elixur[it's good for america]took care of those pesky self doubts...and my kidneys..bladder..brain matter[did it really matter???]central nervous system[now i'm on eastern nervous system]ahhh insanity ain't it grand??

[westgrandboulevard]

If we know the answer deep down, then really we'd best not pretend with ourselves..and should get right on and deal with it.

Often, we don't.......and 'insanity' is a good enough word to describe it :)

[Jerry Oz]

"Insanity" is weird because it seems like being in sanity is a good thing. Being out of sanity, well that's an altogether different matter. They should call crazy - oops, bad word in 2014 - nutty - uhhhh, ditto - loopy - dang it! -

...people with with problems connecting with reality "outsane", not "insane". It just makes sense.

[westgrandboulevard]

Quite. Anyone saying any different is not being inrageous.

[Jerry Oz]

We need to slow down with the heady concepts or arr&bee's dog will stop drinking hooch in favor of dropping acid to figure it all out. And who knows if he can pay the high prices of that stuff?

[arr&bee]

My dog will never stop drinking,why it's made him the dog he is today.

[144man]

I don't have any self doubts...or do I?

[westgrandboulevard]

Do I do...? Do I don't...? Don't I do...?? :confused:

[Jerry Oz]

We're dying to find out. I think.

Let me know when you work it out.

[westgrandboulevard]

Working something out often seems more enjoyable than reaching the point when the answer finally becomes clear .

I don't know why.

I must work it out....

[Jerry Oz]

It's like a good movie. The fun is being able to figuring out who the killer is before he's revealed. Unfortunately, that also ruins the movie because it sucks if it doesn't keep you guessing.

[westgrandboulevard]

I find all manner of thoughts cross my mind when I'm watching a movie, which can be distracting - especially commercial breaks on TV...

[arr&bee]

Yep,it's like a good batch of this wonderful elixur...did i put in all the ingredients...gun powder...olive oil...gasolene,that's enough of the good stuff you get the idea.

[westgrandboulevard]

Remembering not to smoke while preparing your 'wonderful elixur' sounds essential!

[Jerry Oz]

Shoot! I think the static that is produced while combing your hair might take you to a whole new level while prepping it.

[arr&bee]

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE SNOW THREAD[HEHEHE]ANYHOW WE GOT SOME LAST NIGHT...[no,no pay attention you two]SNOW THAT IS.. ABOUT 2INCHES.

[moe]

We got it this morning!! around 2, too!:D

[arr&bee]

Around two too,there was a song about that once by that great lyricist zanzippi monotone.

[moe]

In stereo?

[Jerry Oz]

It might sound like stereo if one of your hearing aid batteries is bad... We got just a little bit of snow, thank goodness. We're set to get ours on Sunday night and Monday morning.

[westgrandboulevard]

Last day of Winter tomorrow - in my book anyway.

First day of Spring on Saturday. For the last few weeks, I've been buying bunches of daffodils, to keep indoors just for a bit of cheer.......while the bad weather continues outdoors...

[Jerry Oz]

Eh? Spring doesn't arrive for us for three weeks... I thought there was only a five hour time difference between you guys and us?

[westgrandboulevard]

I did say 'in my book anyway' and I think you're going by the 'official' calendar days, which can seem strange to me [[for example, 'midsummer', in June)

Rather than the astronomical seasons, I do tend to follow the meteorological calendar seasons which are :

Spring : Mar/April/May
Summer : June/July/August
Autumn : September/October/November
Winter : December/January/February

Of course, the weather can vary a lot, from year to year.

June 1st can be a lot colder than some days were in April and May - and December 1st can be warmer than many were in autumn - but generally, it catches up, so I like to be ready.

So, if I'm sat here at midnight tomorrow, February 28th, watching what is happening on SDF, I'll be quietly celebrating the first day of Spring, and awaiting the new Season with interest:)

[Jerry Oz]

I understand. Most of us on this side of the divide won't call it Spring until it proves itself with two weeks of sunshine and 70 degree temperatures, regardless of the date. The World is angry at us and we don't trust it until it starts by being nice again.

[arr&bee]

Daffodils?????...do they still make those???

[westgrandboulevard]

Jerry, I'd certainlyexpect Spring to start cold, with a nip in the air,and then get steadily warmer.

Daffodils make themselves, arr&bee, by a method that you would call 'Proper Gation'

[Jerry Oz]

If you water daffodils with hooch, will they become dandelions?

[westgrandboulevard]

With the added hooch, they wouldn't be cowardlylions, though might blend just as well with burdock.....

[Jerry Oz]

Interesting, if only because in my experience, hooch makes one unnaturally bold when cowardice would be the best course of thought...

[westgrandboulevard]

Bold, or just a temporary lack of usual caution, I wonder - ?

[arr&bee]

It's called temporary insanity,but we aren't responsible for that either,it written in small pprint down at the bottom.....no further down in the back,what do you mean you can't see it???

[Jerry Oz]

It looks like it's in English and I only read American...

[westgrandboulevard]

Imagine there is an 's', where you'd usually expect to see 'z' .

Or, that there is a 'u' between 'o' and 'r', where you'd usually not expect it to be.

Then, imagine it being read aloud by someone with a very tense bottom jaw, and a stiff upper lip.

That's English.

[moe]

Whatever.........................

More snow coming!!

[westgrandboulevard]

Not good, in any language.

[arr&bee]

No more snow, i think i saw a robin the other day...[of course with that parka and snow boots maybe it was an owl]

[144man]

No snow here, but it's raining again.

[westgrandboulevard]

Do you remember 'Down Came The Rain' , by 'Mr. [[Mitch) Murray'.....

[144man]

Terrible record.

[westgrandboulevard]

Just like this winter's rainfall......

[arr&bee]

It will be summer soon and i'll start a post about the sun.

[Jerry Oz]

Can you start one about the foot of snow we're e expecting on Sunday? Oh, that's this one...

[westgrandboulevard]

Snow in Springtime is not unusual, but I hope it melts away quickly for y'all :)

[Jerry Oz]

This accumulation should put our total at the third highest on record for a season [[dating back 150+ years). We expect snow in the springtime, but c'mon!

[westgrandboulevard]

Yes, it's adding insult to injury. Nature is fighting back. Bad winter all round.

Not warm, but the temperatures seem much milder here in the south and south-west of England, where most of the excessive rain has appeared to have fallen. I recall only once needing the de-icer on the windscreen in the morning.

[Jerry Oz]

Did you see the Northern Lights last night? I heard that they were brilliant in many parts of the UK.

[westgrandboulevard]

I didn't witness them in person [[I'm not sure I could even see them here on the south coast), but the images captured of the Northern Lights [[ Aurora Borealis) and shown on the BBC'Breakfast' programme yesterday morning [[Friday) were quite remarkable.

I didn't know they were expected, but most of the images were experienced in the northern part of the country - and apparently that is still a little too far south to see them at their best.

[144man]

The BBC said they could be seen as far south as Essex.

[westgrandboulevard]

Oh! That's hopeful, maybe for next time. Nothing to stop me travelling up country a little, I guess - although, for some quite unfathomable reason, your words 'as far south as Essex' made me chuckle....:D

[Jerry Oz]

The snow came again. It's stopped and is already mostly melted. If the weathermen are to be believed, it'll start again shortly and dump a ton on us by tomorrow morning. But to look outside, it doesn't look like there's a lot more coming anytime soon. Keep your fingers crossed...