no cup of joe

Thursday Aug 17, 2017 - coffee cup crisis 
Apparently sometime during the daylight hours yesterday my favorite coffee cup was set down somewhere unusual in this house. I’m frustrated in my inability to locate this excellent coffee cup. After looking in a few obvious places like next to this computer I took a break from the search and drank some coffee with a backup cup.

I feel more upset than if this coffee cup had been dropped and broken. That would have be upsetting but at least I would have known what happened to it. Not knowing if it is still intact or broken somewhere increases the stress.

last seen 8/16/17 answers to "smell the coffee"

Our house is smaller than most so after the few rooms I would expect to see it sitting on table/shelf/box/something. Also, bothering me is how a missing coffee cup could upset me. Just adds yet another dimension to the dilemma. How could I misplace a useful clearly visible object like this? I’m one of few in the family that even drinks coffee. Hopefully writing about it will help me to move on.

That coffee cup has warmed my hands on countless mornings. The thick sides and well rounded rim keeps the coffee warm and flowing easily.

What will I misplace next?

I regularly derail my train of thought. I’ve gotten use to that. However I'm typically OCD about putting things back in the same place.

Oh, on a brighter note - did you see these cool eclipse stamps? My nice brother-in-law alerted me to this post office offering. I ran out to the post office to pick-up a sheet. These forever stamps ($0.49 ea) are sensitive to heat. The black moon clears to reveal the moon’s face after you hold your thumb on them. Also, so far I have not misplaced them. (I know I didn't bring my coffee cup to the post office)

sun moon stamps

BREAKING NEWS - Lisleman’s treasured coffee cup has been found. The cup is in fine condition. After a day long search by as many as 3 adults, the cup was discovered abandoned inside the microwave.

I was just about to publish this when she-who-found-it announced the news. I can’t believe I didn’t reheat leftovers today and found it myself. I'm feeling dumb now.

In celebration here’s a song about losing it by Lucinda Williams.

I think I lost it
Let me know if you come across it
Let me know if I let it fall along a back road somewhere.

did you see the fragment section

I couldn't find the fragment section of the paper this morning. I blame she-who-knows for misplacing it. Oh well, I still have blogs to read. If you are interested in reading fragments of posts/thoughts click over to Mrs. 4444's blog where fragments are mixed and linked.

this guy could light up a street corner

(I found this picture over at the National Geographic blog called "Found".)

Last night, we enjoyed one of our Christmas presents, Premium tickets to the taping of the Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me radio show. I discovered in the past a few blog followers who also listen to the show. We had mentioned our gift to neighbors who replied, “people still listen to radio shows?”. They are missing out in my opinion.

When the show is not on the road, it is taped in the auditorium of Chase Bank in downtown Chicago. Years ago we went to a taping. Back then the tickets were easier to get. Now the shows are sold out well in advance.

Since you pay the same for 2 hrs or 6 hrs at some of the parking garages we went early and looked around the cultural center (took in some Tiffany glass culture).  Later had pizza at a favorite place.  Somehow, I scored a free beer at the pizza place (bartender poured an extra one?).

It was a great show with Doris Kearns Goodwin, who wrote the historical Lincoln book, (among others) as the guest player. Being at the taping we got to hear parts of her interview which are edited out for the radio show. In her twenties, she had worked in the LBJ White House. I learned (some knew this apparently) that LBJ would carry on conversations while doing his business on the toilet. She was witness to such a conversation. I can only imagine.

Local gun nut news - recent headline read, “Cops stop man from shooting at icicles”. Did the polar vortex overcome this 80 yr. old man? Police arrived to find him shooting at icicles on his home (suburbs not far from me) with a 22 caliber revolver. I wonder if he put any holes in his house.

I have enjoyed shooting guns at targets and even some hunting (long ago). I don’t own one but have used ones my brother owns. Also, had a little bit of shooting practice in the USAF.  So, I’m not anti-gun but I’m anti-gun-nut. Don’t know how we do it, but there should be a way to keep guns away from certain people.

Thin mints do not make you thin. (just saying)

Last fragment to leave you with - in my previous post I suggested that shoe polish would an item that disappears from our daily life, as did, buggy whips for example. My question is, when is the last time you bought shoe polish?

February fragments fluke

I mean fluke as in stroke of luck not part of a whale tail. Writing and posting your thought fragments can bring a bit of serendipity to your world. Please browse through the collection of Friday fragments offered by the most serendipitous blogger I know, Mrs. 4444.

Jeremiah was bull frog, was a good friend of mine.

Back in the day when I mistakenly thought Boone’s Farm wine was actually good wine there were times talking to a bull frog didn’t seem strange at all to me. (how many of you have talked to a cat or dog?)

Next Novice Pope - I was surprised by the Pope giving his two week notice. No matter who becomes the next Pope. You won’t be able to ask him “Hey, who died and made you Pope?”.

Did you happen to see the BBC report about the lightning strike the day the pontiff made the announcement? Within hours of the announcement St Peter's Basilica was struck by a bolt of lightning. Was that a fluke?

I want a new smell. Winter just doesn’t offer many great smells with exception of a few weeks of Christmas trees. If I could add botanicals scents to my blog what ones would you like? 

• rainforest 
• spiced apple 
• mango 
• sandalwood 
• jasmine 
• freesia (have no clue what smell this is)

It’s better that blog readers are not smelling my blog  because sitting here all I’m smelling is sweat-dried slippers with hint of mint.

In the what-do-I-know-but-I’ll-tell-you-anyway category (do you categorize your opinions?), I think fathering a baby at age 67 is dumb. To me it seems like you are only going to be a biological sperm donor dad and not the emotionally supporting dad a kid deserves. It’s tiring just being a grandpa in my 50’s. I enjoyed his movies and comedy and hope to see more but I will not be looking for any inspiring life examples from Steve Martin, a new dad at 67.

It’s been a really long time since I’ve enjoyed a good corn dog. Thinking of a long time since, here’s a song I’ve not heard spinning in long time.

dumb and dumber go boating

Just a quick post about a funny/stupid/strange youtube clip I stumbled on.

I have never been to this beach.  In fact, I had to replay the video to pickup where this fun in the sun took place.

It takes place in Grand Bend Canada (being just over the border don't assume dumb and dumber are Canadian but it does seem that they may have grown up in the back woods wilderness) which is on Lake Huron.  Apparently they have never heard of a boat ramp or why people use them.

I thought oh maybe there are no boat ramps nearby.  Well just a few minutes (maybe they don't know about internet searching) of searching and I found a few marinas with boat ramps.  Clicking around I even found a web cam of one of the boat ramps (you'll never see these idiots on that web cam).

This clip is long.  About 9-10 minutes.  But the action starts right away and plot thickens quickly.  I suggest you stick around for the tractors to show up.  They are really the stars of the show.

Also if you start to go numb in the brain while watching, fast forward to the end part which has a good view of the first SUV that started the whole thing.

Confused?  Just watch the clip.

another circus 

boyfriend ex-boyfriend what do you have on

Excuse me while I ponder how I got so far behind. In the world of fashion there exists a loop that if you get far enough behind you’ll be trendy again. I can only hope I am in that loop.

I read ad wording after moving my eyes off the cleavage, that described the pants as boyfriend jeans. I’m totally out on limb here, but the jeans didn’t look like any boy had ever put them on (maybe taken them off - but I’m losing my focus).

Really - do you find boyfriend jeans in the women’s or men’s section of the store?

Also, are there girlfriend jeans for guys? I doubt it but I believe there is a niche market for girlfriend underwear.

It wasn’t long into my searching that I discovered yet another type of jeans. Women apparently buy ex-boyfriend jeans. Must be lots of fights going on in some closets. (hey look who’s getting off the hanger tonight, suckers)

If a couple (probably not married) were shopping together and the lady went looking for ex-boyfriend jeans would the guy know what's going on?  Probably not since we are typically clueless.

Do women wear any other ex-boyfriend stuff beside emotional scars?

This just convinces me even more that most marketing departments are a-few-clowns-short-of-a-circus. I might have just called them relaxed rolled up jeans.

So boyfriend, ex-boyfriend, whatever you are wearing, I suggest you not ask your husband (or current guy). “How do I look with my ex-boyfriend on me?” might not get the respond you were expecting.

I know not everyone has a brother, but do you think they ever thought of “brother” jeans? It would probably be shorten to “bro” jeans.

Oh BTW, I have some old jeans. Any takers? You can call them anything you like. I would like to call them sold.

things dumb and dumber

Just in case you forgot this is a blog and of course the following is my opinion. You can express your opinion in the comments and if you are respectful (most everyone is) I’ll leave your opinion up here.

Today I heard about a few dumb things and thought you might want to know about them.

These ideas are candidates for my a-few-clowns-short-of-a-circus hall of fame which I have not started yet but should real soon.

Whisky in a can.

I don’t know if it is on the shelves at my local liquor store yet but I will skip past it. I don’t think beer should be in can. Certainly 12 ounces of whisky makes little sense in a pop-open can.

Most people drink whisky in a mix. If you do drink shots you still should use a shot glass. Hey did you notice, I just wrote “glass”. Whisky belongs in a glass that you can reseal.

(the link for more)

Having your wedding at a funeral home

I could write many a post (note to self another to-do item) on the wasted money related to weddings. So don’t misunderstand, I am all for saving some money. There are other ways to save on wedding costs than booking your reception in a funeral home. Really.

A bizarre reception like this could run into problems. Most funeral homes I have visited have multiple rooms. What if there was a wake going on at the same time as your wedding reception? Weddings tend to be much louder than wakes.  You can't wake up the dead but you sure could bother their family.

"At first, when I pulled up and saw it was a funeral home, it did concern me," she admitted. "But when we walked in and saw everything, it was overwhelming. I fell in love and thought it was the perfect place. It was breathtaking ..."

Yeah that corpse in the next room isn't taking a breath.

Maybe you could get a great deal on slightly used flowers?

(the link for more)

Finally - don’t text while walking in the mall

Look what can happen
(update 1/24/2011 - looks like youtube took the video down) 

Seriously nobody gets out alive

Death - do we discuss it much?

Depends on the situation.

Discussing living is usually more enjoyable, but death comes around and reminds us it’s still there.  If I think about what I just wrote, I conclude that I’m just stating the obvious.  I feel obliged to ease into this subject, but death itself is not so obliged to come on a slow easy track.

Lighten up - I’m OK and so is my family.  A close friend of my mother-in-laws recently passed away and maybe that brought up the subject in my mind.

But today, I found another death related story that shows the wrong thinking about death IMHO.

Catholic Church bans footy theme songs at funerals

(footy theme songs - unless you’re an Aussie you probably need a translation - football/soccer team songs)

This headline and story comes from Perth Australia.  Now it makes no difference to me since neither I nor my family plan any funerals over there.  But if this dumb restriction spreads through the church it may ruin my plans for my funeral theme song.  What doesn’t everyone have a funeral theme song?

C’mon, where’s the “fun” in “funeral” if you don’t have a little music?

Actually my funeral theme song is not related to any sports.  I just like the song and think the lyrics are very appropriate.  It’s “Spirit in the Sky “ by Norman Greenbaum.  If you don’t recall it (or you’re too young) I’ve included a youtube clip below.

What song would like to be played at your funeral?

The Aussie story list the top requested songs.  I’ll just list a few notable ones.

• My Way, Frank Sinatra
• Unforgettable, Nat King Cole
• Over the Rainbow, Judy Garland
• Stairway to Heaven, Led Zeppelin
• Another One Bites the Dust, Queen
• Ding Dong the Witch is Dead, The Wizard of Oz

(the last one just cracks me up)

Don’t you think your funeral should be a celebration of your life.  I enjoy music so celebrate with some music.  I enjoy jokes but bringing in a stand-up comedian might be too expensive.  But hey, if you can get a good one to stop by for free - go for it.

I love humor which is why "Wait Wait Don't Tell Me" is a favorite radio show (yes I listen to a radio show).  It was that show that alerted me to the funeral music story and the following story.  

Barbarba Sue Manire is a great example of offering humor even after you have expired.

That parking meter flag is up on her tombstone and it reads EXPIRED.  Her family honored her wish of having an expired parking meter on her grave.  I do believe "her humor lives on".  Here's a bit about her story (also a few more pics of it).

a few clowns in the news

Do you shake or tilt your head after hearing or reading a story about some dumb thing?

I just think a-few-clowns-short-of-a-circus example.

Here's a few stories that exemplify the meaning of  a-few-clowns-short-of-a-circus.

Lindsay Lohan slaps baby with lawsuit

(that's the way I would write the headline)

Is she being the baby in this or what?

The e-trade commercial which is really going to benefit from this used the phrase "that milkaholic Lindsay".  She claims it refers to her - oh cmon.  The baby is way way cuter than that Lindsay lawsuit Lohan.

Very dumb lawsuit that should be thrown out.  

Lindsay and her law team = a few clowns short

Next -

Puppet cleavage banned from advertising posters

First off - WTF - what's puppet cleavage?

I guess you know it when you see it.  Apparently, a conservative approach is taken in Colorado Springs.  Poster ads for "Avenue Q" off broadway show had too much fuzzy cleavage showing.

This has me wondering - would you use a hand puppet to grope puppet cleavage?

Also, Lindsay lawsuit Lohan could sue the puppet for cleavage resembling her.  

Next -

Laboratory in North Yorkshire invents meat crisps

(for the Brit slang challenged - crisps = chips)

Does the world need bags of meat crisps?

Maybe everyone will be munching their meat crisps while watching puppet cleavage dancing. If these meat crisps become anything like the WOW chip - watch out.  I don't know how to tie Lindsay into this one. IMHO Lindsay is about as useful as a meat crisp.

spin a scratchy record

what's worst than spinning that?

Over at the spin cycle control the assignment this time is reposting your worst post from the past.


I accept the challenge and I hope you'll read on.

I've had this blog since 2006 so there are plethora of posts (now that phrase should grab the reader in you, right?) available for selection. It was hard to pick the worst one.

The biggest loser is (oh BTW I don't care for that show):
from Oct. 2008





Another study on our food and health. Has anyone done a study on how studies on food have been done?

Well some Swedish study reports that drinking coffee reduces women's breast size.

So Hooters and Starbucks don't mix. I'm sure there are some women that worked in both places.

I don't know anything about these Swedes but I heard that back in 2003 a popular mens magazine did a feature called the "Women of Starbucks". Maybe those women just sold the coffee and didn't drink it.

Well if you are a coffee drinking woman flirting for some attention - don't worry - beer has the opposite effect - just give the guy enough beer and he can't tell the difference.



Other ones under consideration were:
supermodels and virgins
greasy butt fast
naked question

Please let me know in the comments if I selected the worst one.

step ladder to a mistake

My definition of a mistake
A mistake can vary from the tragic type that breaks a bone, removes a limb to one that just breaks wind (some in my family consider that tragic too).

A mistake requires some human decision involvement For example, like the tree falling in the forest question (oh if you are married - it's the husband's mistake) there needs to be some human interaction. I don't think nature makes mistakes. However nature offers us the opportunity to make mistakes. Ever jump into a lake expecting it to be deeper and less filled with rocks?

I have.

Serious mistakes might land you here:





Hopefully, I didn't make the mistake of too much explanation and you're still reading so I can tell you my story of a funny mistake.

My goal that day - replace my garage door opener (motor unit part) single handed.

The tricky part of the assembly was getting the chain on the pole and connecting the gear in the motor unit. After some attempts, I found a brilliant solution, use a step ladder to hold the motor unit up with the other end of the pole attached to the wall. The top of the ladder was too high and the pole would easily slip off so I used a middle rung/step of the ladder to hold it.

It worked!!

Well kinda, my mistake was not checking sizes. The motor unit would not fit between the rungs of the ladder and I could not slide the ladder off the assembled opener.

Now the step ladder was part of my opener. I wish I had taken a picture. Maybe I would have been on the cover of DIY magazine. The fix was to remove one rung of the ladder (easier than taking the opener apart).

Here's a couple of pictures of an opener and a ladder. Picture the motor box part NOT attached to the ceiling BUT stuck between the rungs of the ladder.

Poor planning == mistake





Almost forgot to mention this post idea comes from the spin cycle.

======= update =====
a friend sent me this link to a brilliant garage door opener idea.
Check this out

quick grieving period

Story I heard on NPR's show "Wait Wait Don't Tell Me".




So this sixty something guy dies in New York, his roommates decide he doesn't need that last social security check. So they wheel his body down (using an office chair?) to the nearby check cashing service to cash the check. These buddies (a true friend will move a body) of the decreased must have had a QUICK grieving period. Hey maybe they were going to use the money for the funeral expenses (??). Well that dead body slumped in an office chair on the sidewalk drew TOO much attention (even in the city). The two were arrested. The man was dead less than 24 hours. Maybe some febreze would have help.

Ok, what's with the picture? - It was difficult to match up a good picture with this story. I stumbled on picture related to dead bodies and robots. This Japanese rescue robot that among other things can pick-up dead bodies. New York should look into this (yeah maybe Chicago too). Links to the story MSNBC New York Times Boston Herald Here's the link to the background on this picture.