more than 25,000 views? let's celebrate!

Okay, remember, YOU asked for this!
Puns in the mroning, puns in the evening, puns for late night snacking!


Knock, knock!
Who's there?
To.
To who?
No, to whom.

What do you say when you're comforting a grammar nazi?
There, their, they're...

It's hard to explain puns to kleptomaniacs because they alwasy take things literally.

Sodium Sodium Sodium Sodium Sodium Sodium Sodium Sodium Batman!

What is a physicist's favorite food?
Fission chips.

They say a Freudian slip is when you say one thing, but you mean your mother.

What do you get when you cross a joke with a rhetorical question?

What's another name for Santa's elves?
Subordinate Clauses.

What do you call two crows on a branch?
Attempted murder.

Your mother is so classless, she could be a Marxist utopia.

When I was a kid, my English teacher looked my way and said, "Name two pronouns."
I said, "Who, me?"

There's a band called 1032MB.
They haven't had any Gigs yet.

A photon checks into a hotel and the bellhop asks him if he has any luggage.
The photon replies, "No, I'm traveling light."

Did you hear about the man who got cooled to absolute zero?
He's 0K now.

How many surrealists does it take to screw in a lightbulb?
A fish.

Why did Karl Marx dislike Earl Grey tea?
Because all proper tea is theft.

The first rule of Tautology Club is the first rule of Tautology Club.

Two kittens are on a sloped roof.
Which one slides off first?
The one with the lowest mew.

A biologist, a chemist, and a statistician are out hunting.
The biologist shoots at a deer and misses 5 feet to the left.
The chemist takes a shot and misses 5 feet to the right.
The statistician yells, "We got 'em!"

Einstein, Newton, and Pascal are playing hide and go seek.
It's Einstein's turn to count, so he covers his eyes and starts counting to ten.
Pascal runs off and hides.
Newton draws a one meter by one meter square on the ground in front of Einstein, then stands in the middle of it.
Einstein reaches ten and uncovers his eyes.
He sees Newton immediately and says, "Newton! I found you! You're It!"
Newton smiles and says, "You didn't find me, you found a Newton over a square meter. You found Pascal!"

A mathematician and an engineer agree to take part in an experiment.
They were both placed in a room and at the other end was a beautiful naked woman on a bed.
The experimenter said every 30 seconds they would be allowed to travel half the distance between themselves and the woman.
The mathematician said, "This is pointless!" and stormed off.
The engineer agreed to go ahead with the experiment anyway.
The mathematician exclaimed on his way out, "Don't you see you'll never actually reach her?"
To which the engineer replied, "So what? Pretty soon I'll be close enough for all practical purposes!"

A logician's wife is having a baby. The doctor immediately hands the newborn to the dad.
His wife asks impatiently, "So, is it a boy or a girl?"
The logician replies, "Yes."

Jean-Paul Sartre is sitting at a French cafe, revising his draft of Being and Nothingness.
He says to the waitress, "I'd like a cup of coffee, please, with no cream."
The waitress says, "I'm sorry, Monsieur, but we're out of cream. How about with no milk?"

Entropy isn't what it used to be.

how can you tell the difference between a chemist and a plumber?
Ask them to pronounce "unionized".

Why do engineers confuse Halloween and Christmas?
Because Oct 31 = Dec 25.

A Buddhist monk approaches a hotdog stand and says, "Make me one with everything."

A Higgs Boson walks into a church and the priest says, "We don't allow Higgs Bosons in here."
The Higgs Boson then replies, "But without me, how could you have mass?"

The programmer's wife tells him, "Run down to the store and pick up a loaf of bread. If they have eggs, get a dozen."
The programmer comes home with 12 loaves of bread.

Never trust an atom.
They make up everything.

Bonds: not just for molecules.

thirsty thursday

Weird science,
in the form of
puns and jokes,
sitting at a bar and
getting chummy.

Just ask my ex,
he will agree!

Here we go now,
as Ozzy would say.


Pavlov is sitting at a pub, enjoying a pint. The phone rings and he jumps up, saying "Oh, no! I forgot to feed the dog!"


A Roman walks into a bar and asks for a martinus.
"You mean a martini?" the bartender asks.
The Roman replies, "If I wanted a double, I would have asked for it!"

Helium walks into a bar and orders a beer.
The bartender says, "Sorry, we don't serve noble gases here."
He doesn't react.

Schrodinger's cat walks into a bar and doesn't.

What do you get when you put root beer into a square glass?
Beer.

Werner Heisenberg, Kurt Godel, and Noam Chomsky walk into a bar.
Heisenberg turns to the other two and says, "Clearly this is a joke. but how can we figure out if it's funny or not?"
Godel replies, "We can't know that because we are inside the joke."
Chomsky says, "Of course it's funny! You're just telling it wrong!"

Another Roman walks into a bar, holds up two fingers, and says, "Five beers, please!"

C, E Flat, and G walk into a bar.
The bartender says "Sorry, no minors."

The Past, the Prest, and the Future walked into a bar.
It was tense.

Three logicians walk into a bar.
The bartender asks, "Do all of you want a drink?"
The first one says, "I don;t know."
The second one says, "I don't know."
The third one says, "Yes!"

Descartes walks into a bar.
The bartender asks if he wants a drink.
"I think not," Descartes says.
And then he disappears.

water hazards and golf

The joke:
God, Jesus, and Moses are playing golf one day.
Things are going well until they get to the hole with the water hazard blocking the green.
How to best proceed?
Moses is first to tee off. Before he strikes the ball, though, he stands tall, back straight, arms at his sides. Then, slowly, he raises his arms and moves them far apart. As he does this, the water parts down the middle, roiling and rolling, but leaving a clear, dry path straight to the green. Moses then takes his shot, easily landing the ball within an easy putt to the hole.
God and Jesus give polite golf claps to acknowledge his skill.
Then Jesus steps up for his turn. The ball lands squarely in the water. No worries! He walked over and onto the water, then took a second swing. The ball sailed out of the drink and up to the green, landing mere inches from the hole.
Nicely played, the others agreed.
God then approached the tee for his turn. As his ball is sailing toward the hole, it lands in the water, too. But not for long! A catfish swims to the surface and spits the ball into the air! Then a hawk swoops down and catches the ball, carrying it over the green and dropping it - but just short of the hole. Then a mole burrows up from under the ball, tilting it and causing it to roll right in for a hole in one!!!
Moses and Jesus just stood there and looked at the green and their two balls perched upon it.
Then they looked at God.
"Dad," Jesus said, "it's just a game!"

* * * * *

I have a problem with this joke.
You know, similar to the problem I had with the joke about the physics of hell.
On the surface or to someone uninformed, the above is funny.
However, the receiver of the joke is being asked to believe that Moses, by his own power, was able to control the movement of water.
Moses did not part the sea on his own, folks. Right?
Moses was just a man. He was only able to perform that feat because he was acting as the vessel for God's power.
God parted the sea.
The receiver of the joke is also asked to believe that Jesus had the power to bypass gravity and density in order to walk on water.
Jesus was not able to perform that feat on his own, folks. Right.
Jesus was just a man. He was able to walk on water because God circumvented physical laws and enabled his doing so.
God was there, holding Jesus up.
If that was all true in the ancient world, then it would certainly still hold water on a modern golf course.
Right?
Any incredible acts performed by either Moses or Jesus would be by the grace of God.
I really think I'm right on this one.
Please, do feel free to comment, though.

twice in a single summer!

To tell you the truth, I was trying to hold off until the weekend.
You see, at Dragon*Con, LifeSouth will give me a really cool T-shirt for donating blood and participating in the Robert A. Heinlein "Pay It Forward" blood drive.
Outstanding reason to donate! Right?
Then again, the American Red Cross will give me a really cool T-shirt at the end of the year, as they have for several years now.
Why?
I'm a VIP LifeSaver, Silver Level, which means I have pledged to donate whole blood at least three times per year.
This was my second donation this year. I had a fairly late start, as I was a bit under the weather in January and February. Then, when I showed up in early March to donate, I was hijacked by the folks in the plasmapheresis department. I did donate that day, but it was plasma, so that did not count toward my annual obligation.
Time progressed. I kept dodging the calls asking me to come back and donate again. I always had a ready excuse for why I could not make it there.
To donate plasma.
Finally, I worked up the nerve. No more Ms. Nice Girl! I explained how I had felt that one time I had been hooked up to the plasmapheresis machine and how exhausted I had been afterward. I explained that I actually enjoy giving whole blood and would prefer to only donate whole blood in the future.
By this time, a couple of months had passed.
My birthday arrived.
I always liked to give blood around the time of my birthday. Not only does my special day coincide with Memorial Day weekend, but I like to give back for all I have received.
Eventually, almost a month later and after two ill-timed visits to the donation center, I succeeded in my quest to give whole blood.
Woohoo!
My first VIP LifeSaver donation was completed!
Now, today, I donated the second pint toward that contract.
Only one more pint to go and I have plenty of time to do so. Every 56 days, I can donate whole blood. If I really try, I can make two donations before year's end.
Maybe LifeSouth will give me a T-shirt anyway this weekend...
Hey! A girl can dream!!!

five-day shirt

Hooray for laundry day!
This shirt is again clean and ready to wear!
I don't know if I'll wear it for five days again... but I might.
One of the benefits of living single is being able to wear the same clothes over and over and no one complains.
Well, as long as they smell okay.
I wore this shirt for five days, even with the weather being typical of Southern summers, and not one person ever noticed a smell of sweat or funk. Nice, right?
I wore it to birthday parties and to the bfe's house for dinner. I wore it to movies in Savannah and movies in Pooler. I wore it to "Chicago" as well as the 48-Hour Film Project.
I even wore it to Fall Convocation.
It really helped that I didn't wear it around any of the same people from one day to the next. Folks assume everyone has a washer and dryer at home, so even if they saw me twice during the five days, they most likely would have thought I had washed it in between those viewings.
How did I keep it nice and fresh in this heat?
I go around the house topless until it's time to go somewhere. Then, everywhere I went, there was air conditioning, so the shirt stayed nice. As soon as I got home, off it went!
I know, you're probably thinking "too much information"!
I'm just stating an observation I have made during my life AD.

I should also mention that I call this my "yes, I'm a wench" top. It's rather flattering for a big-busted gal like myself, if you catch my drift.
So, maybe, just maybe, it's the exposed cleavage that distracts folks from any possible funky smells.
(smile)

all of me, body and soul

The alliteration
certainly was
a drawing factor,
but I came
to hear
Lady Day sing the blues.

I hadn't realized
I would be transported
to a speakeasy
when I stepped through the church doors.
All that was needed
to make the transition complete
would have been
the clinking of glasses
and the billows
of cigar and cigarette smoke.

A little time travel is to be expected at a church built in 1848. The old-fashioned microphone stand contributed to the illusion, as did the onstage quartet accompanying the singer. Such a fabulous singer she was, too, capturing the heart and the ache of the songs written by, and for, the incredible Billie Holiday.
The Southern Holiday Jazz Band was formed by songstress Jane Ogle for the express purpose of performing Lady Day's songs. But that's not all there is to the show. The audience is treated to the story of Billie Holiday, warts and all, with her songs enhancing that tale and bringing the woman back to life before our eyes and ears.
If you get the opportunity, definitely go.
It'll be one of the best shows you'll ever see.

if i only had the nerve

Oh

my

sweet

God!!!

Is that not delicious???

The man from PA (no, not the same as "The Man From U.N.C.L.E."), had posted the picture on his fb page.
I immediately stole it!
I am quite taken with the haircut.
What an awesome way to have a pet! Though, of course, if the furry beast was on my head, it would certainly be multi-hued, with silver shining throughout.
That said, I might opt to not have a real type of creature as a head-pet.
No, I just might have to choose some type of monster.
You know... like Sulley.

I already have such a keen attraction to him and very nearly had him in my life a few years ago.
(smile)

My thanks to one of my favorite films, "The Wizard of Oz", for today's title. Specifically, my thanks to Bert Lahr's completely cuddly Cowardly Lion.

you gotta keep 'em separated

I took this photograph the last time I washed clothes.
That was the day I left for the AXE Conclave in Virginia.
Sheesh... that was on July 25th!
No wonder I'm running out of underwear!
Yes, only now is it starting to get dicey for me in that department.
Go ahead, I'll wait while you do a quick calculation.
26 days and counting...
Either Thursday or Friday, I really must venture out in the heat to Wash Plus and rejuvenate my panties!
The other clothes could use a good washing, too.
Especially the bras.
Oh, my!

"The Laundry Prayer

God grant me the serenity to accept the stains I cannot get out,

the courage to bleach the ones I can,

And the wisdom to remove that one red sock from the load of whites."

Makes you almost want to sing it, doesn't it!
Instead, I recommend you sing along with Freeze Ray, one of my favorite laundry-day tunes.
You might enjoy this Weird Al Yankovic mockery, too. He is such a hoot!

left dangling

photo source

I have to believe he would have smiled at my title for this post.
I had thought of several other possibilities, like "shazbot". But none of them quite expressed the great loss I feel.
That i feel.
I had never met him, I had never been to any of his shows. I have only seen him on large screens in darkened cinemas, on small tv sets in living rooms, in movies, in television shows.
True, I have been watching him for most of my life. Ever since he was 26 years old, on "Laugh-In" and I was a mere teen, on the cusp of twenty, I have been gladdened by his company.
Now, there will be no more new movies sharing him with the world. I am so grateful that the next "Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb" will still have him as President Teddy Roosevelt, striving to keep the museum alive once more.
I will probably have to sit there in tears, in the cinema, after the movie's credits have rolled.
I know me.
But I am grateful to have that bright spark to light the night once more.

I know that part of the reason his death has hit me as it has is his age.
He was only 63 years old, as was my mother when she died.
His birthday had been less than a month before his death.
That coincidence is also shared with Mama.
The Parkinson's Disease was something he shared with my Uncle Bob.
My Uncle lived with the ever-increasing ill effects of the malady for more than twenty years. My mother's sister was by his side all the way, watching the man she loved lose his ability to officiate at barbeques and participate in camping trips, seeing his quick smile and glib tongue brought nearly to a halt.
I'm sure Mr. Williams could not bear the thought of his family having to watch his wit become trapped in an unresponsive body.
I have to believe he shared that concern with his wife and grown children.
I know too well of the link between depression and illness. As I wrote to my youngest brother, I suspected a physical ailment was behind Mr. Williams' death by suicide. I've seen two die who would still be living if their doctors had performed complete physical exams instead of applying anti-depression medications as a quick fix.
Depression should be considered, always, as a foreshadowing of serious, life-threatening, physical disease.
Always.

it's MORE than okay to be Takei!

That's the message in "To Be Takei", the last of three films screened as part of the mini Human Rights Watch Film Festival. Many thanks to Jim Reed, of the Psychotronic Film Society of Savannah, and to Muse Arts Warehouse, for sharing this with me - and others! - on this sweltering August day and evening!!!
Oh, and thanks for not making me feel like a fool for pronouncing the man's name wrong all these years.
That would be George Tah-KAY, not Tah-KIGH.
That's okay, the man has a great sense of humor and I'm sure he, himself, would be the first to forgive me. He would probably pronounce my name correctly.
(smile)
I was definitely in the right place tonight!
If you get the opportunity, please do see this documentary.
This one'll give you a new attitude.
In fact, I'll write this on the list of "life-changing" films the bfe wanted.

It's okay to be Takei because...
... a positive attitude through hard times will keep the bitter edge from taking over your mental outlook.
... you can still love and respect your parents, foibles and all, even long after they've died.
... true love should not be hidden from the world and deserves your best efforts.
... getting older doesn't mean you're dead yet and should just fade away.
... a sense of humor will help soften criticisms, loosen others' attitudes, and open minds to new ideas.
... it's never too late to start standing up for better treatment of yourself and other people, no matter how old the injustice.
... it's especially never too late to stand up for the rights of children and youth, here and now.
... it isn't a "lifestyle", it's an orientation. (Spoken by a Japanese-American with a definite tone in his voice, there seems to be an implied pun, doesn't there?)

My little sister Sue is so fortunate. She lives in San Diego, home of the production of his musical play, "Allegiance". So, she would have been able to attend its World Premiere in 2012. Maybe she would like to accompany me to see it on Broadway when it opens??

batter up!

Summer must be drawing to a close.

Proof positive?

This morning,
we Season Ticket Holders
gathered at the ballpark
for Batting Practice
with the Savannah Sand Gnats,
the 2013 SAL Champions.

Yep, one last hurrah for us and the boys of summer!

Some folks brought their gloves.
Some brought their own bats.
I brought my sweet, silly self!

Hey, I'm no ball player! Not even close!
(smile)
That poor pitcher had to throw several balls before my Louisville Slugger actually made contact. Even so, the ball skittered off the bat and onto the righthand rim of the batting cage, sending its foul tip over toward the first base fence.
But I was thrilled! Contact!!!
Then he threw several more pitches to me.
Swoosh! Swoosh!! SWOOSH!!!
Then, lo and behold, I managed to tap one over the pitcher's head!!!
Woohoo!
Elation!!!
And with that, I was done.
D. O. N. E.
Done!
Best to go out on a high note, n'est-ce pas?
(Think "pop fly" and you'll get it...)

Funny, right?
hahahahaa!!!

We were then treated to a wonderful game,
enjoying the breeze
from the overhead fans
while the boys
sweated it out
on the field,
in that hot sun.
Honestly, I don't know
how the umpires could bear it,
out in that sun for the entire game.
At least the Gnats and the Drive were able to take refuge in the shade of the dugouts when they were not on the field.

And, when all was
said and done,
the Sand Gnats emerged
victorious!
Woohoo!
Little kids lined up
at the third base gate
were eager to take the field,
then, and run those same bases.
Me?
I was off to a film festival!

little copper messengers!

Tonight, as I was entering Savannah Smiles, a penny fell from the sky, right at my feet, and I immediately bent to pick it up.
"You are meant to be here."
That was its message.
The bouncer at the door looked sharply at me, to determine what I was doing with my quick motion.
"I always pick up pennies," I told him. "I regard them as messages from my mother."
He visibly relaxed and returned to watching the rest of the crowd.
I was there with friends I had not seen since about this time last year. Again, it would have been for Angela's birthday, as it was tonight.
That's too long to not see each other, but life intervenes, you know?
Danny has a partner now and lives down at the beach.
Shelley is leaving Tuesday, due to job changes much like those of the peace Guy. Where is she going? Atlanta, of course, just as he did.
Donna has a new man in her life and stays right busy with him.
And the birthday girl? Well, she has a little girl of her own, a little girl who is quite smart and quite busy with school, thank you very much! That will make for another birthday party later this month, granting me another opportunity to see these folks that I knew through Sam and his days as the Karaoke Jock at Steed's.

After a couple of hours there, watching the two piano players have all the singing fun, we were off to sing songs ourselves! Danny had suggested Chuck's, just down two wicked flights of stairs from the dueling pianos - and so we went!
The place filled up pretty quickly with our large group and the KJ was only too glad to have us down thre singing. Oh, yeah!
And guess what I found?
A glistening penny.
Right there on the dance floor, in front of the karaoke stand.
Sah-weet!
Angela and Shelley sang two - or was it three? - duets.
Danny and I sang "Picture", a Kid Rock song we once performed regularly at Steed's. That was fun! It was his suggestion, too, and the crowd really liked it!
Then I did "Flying High Again" and I think I may have confused some folks when I was singing about being "a bad, bad boy". Like, really? In a gay bar, I was going to confuse folks???
Now, that is a hoot!
But best was when all of us girls got up to Sir Mix-a-lot's one hit. We got big butts and we cannot lie!
Such a fun evening, shared with people dear to me!

Yes, I was definitely in the right places - twice.
Not a coincidence at all!

warning: cheerful message ahead!

Right there in front of me was the message of the day.

"Life is good"

Just to make sure I "got it",
it was attached to the
"alert yellow" vehicle ahead...

at a red light...

...so I had nothing better to do than look at it...

... and allow it to sink in.

Nicely played, universe!


I had been to the university for the CST fall pep talk by our new college dean. I was about thirty minutes late, so I missed partaking of the lunch spread, but that's okay.
I was there for the talk.
THAT was the important thing.
THAT was the reason I was there.
I wanted -
no, strike that -
I needed to know what the new philosophy was to be. Everyone having equal rights or some being a privileged few?
Well, lemme tell you, pardner!
There's a new sheriff in town and her name is Jane Wong.
She's also a psychologist, so she knows how games are played.
She let us know the only game in play was how to better serve the students.
All of the students, not just the paltry few which matriculate through the six departments of our one college in the university.
All of the students enrolled in the many classes taught by our college.

THAT may well be a different modus operandi for my department.
Not for everyone in the department, of course.
Certainly not for me, as my students have demonstrated time and time again. *

Interesting times certainly lie ahead.
Life is good!

* The students have nominated me as an "Empowering Woman" for the past two years.

I am so proud of that accomplishment!

After all, I am a chemistry professor and my students are scared to death of chemistry when they first walk in.

So, I am very proud of that award given to me by the students.



Only one other professor in my college received that award and she is in the Biology Department.
I must be doing something right!

my umbrella-ella-ella

Granted, it doesn't look like all that much.
One of the rib stanchions is missing.
The material is stained and faded in various places.
Several of the ribs frequently fly free of their moorings and must be coaxed back into place.
None of that matters.
The umbrella had belonged to Mama.
I already gave away the "good" one, the rainbow umbrella, to my first niece, when she was caring for baby Dominique Zoey and needed shelter.
This beat-up rain deflector is mine.

This afternoon, I saw "Guardians of the Galaxy" again, after convocation and lunch. During the luncheon, I sat with people I didn't know, as I did in Virginia. I did that twice, too, so I'm pretty pleased to be continuing that habit. Who knows? I might become more socialized yet!
Anyway, I had planned to see "I Origins" after the festivities at the school.
Sadly, the film had left midweek, no doubt due to poor attendance.
That was okay, though. It had been a week already since I last saw "GOTG", so I was ready for a repeat!
It was almost like seeing a new version of it.
You see, I had missed the intro, the part with him as a boy and his mother dying. I had come in when he was stomping in puddles and dancing in the cave.
This time, I appreciated the significance of his cassette player.
I appreciated his response to it being taken away, too.
His mom had made that mix tape for him.
His mom.

On Sunday, after the 48 Hour Film Project Film Festival, I had gone, in the pouring rain, to another event. The Bay Street Theatre was performing "Chicago", and that would be the only time I would be able to go for the next three weeks. So, rain or no, it was go or forget about it.
I went.
The dripping umbrella was placed with others in the box downstairs.
Then, upstairs I went for the sold-out show!
Much fun! Much gaiety!! And they even had a live orchestra!!!
After the show, and after congratulating cast members and musicians, I went downstairs to retrieve my umbrella before proceeding into the still-dripping night.
The box office was locked up tight.
Okay. I would just wait a few minutes. Someone would surely come.
Fifteen minutes passed.
Not good.
I had not had time for dinner before the show, so lunch had been my last meal. I'm borderline hypoglycemic, so I needed protein and I needed it soon. I would not be getting it there, as they eschewed the use of credit cards at their basement cafe.
Definitely not good.
Now, all I could think about was retrieving my umbrella and getting food.
Especially that first part.
No one came to unlock the office.
Back I went upstairs in search of those I knew.
None were in sight.
Back down the stairs I came.
Mark, JinHi's dear husband, had just arrived and asked what was wrong.
So I told him.
"I can't get food because they won't take plastic and I need to retrieve my umbrella and it's in the locked box office. I need to get my umbrella. It had belonged to my mom. I need to get it back."
I think I may have had a crazed, desperate look in my eyes, a desperate edge to my voice.
He immediately went into action on my behalf.
And he located my umbrella.
The soggy box had been moved upstairs, to make it easier for play attendees to retrieve them on their way out. The trouble was, the box was in a dark area and people were overlooking it.
As I had.
I grabbed my umbrella, gave him a hug and thanks, and fled down the stairs and into the night.
I was so relieved, I had almost burst into tears.

Yes, I completely understand Peter Quill's need to get his cassette player back from the guard.
Yes, I do.

Now, off I go to watch my boys of summer. Later, y'all!

at the end of his rope

Dear Tony,

I'm at the school, passing a bit of time between events, so I planned ahead and I brought this.

This morning, the Faculty and Staff Convocation was held. That's all university-speak for "Pep Rally". President Bleicken's speech was to encourage us "to lead our students to inspiration" this school year. Oddly, my department head was not here for the message. Actually, that is not odd. The only students he is interested in leading are the 15 (or less) who will be chemistry majors each year. There are hundreds that he teaches, but if they are not chemistry majors, he believes he is wasting his time.

The university presented a very nice luncheon after the pep talk! Lots of fresh veggies that I did not have to wash or cut up - just enjoy! There were also little sandwiches: roast beef and cheddar on a mini pretzel bun; Tuscan chicken salad on croissant; grilled mushroom and onion wrap. Such good variety!

Isn't it so sad about Robin Williams? I find myself thinking about him, and how much life he seemed to have, rather frequently. I first heard he'd died on Monday evening. I have to wonder if he might have had a long-suffering disease he was trying to shorten. Many times, depression is caused by a physical ailment, like cancer. That's how it was for Daddy and for Jeff's mom.

Well, that is certainly not the direction I had thought I was going! But it feels good to get it off my mind, so I thank you for listening.

with much love!

name change swag!

What's in a name?
Quite a bit, as you well know.
Armstrong Atlantic State University is no more.
Long live Armstrong State University!
Everyone calls it simply "Armstrong" anyway, and have since the school's inception as Armstrong State College. That is evidenced nowhere more strongly than in the name of its website, predating its promotion from college to university.
That promotion in status was the impetus for the name change, about fourteen years ago. You see, a geographical locator was deemed mandatory for all state universities in the Georgia system.
Now, of course, that has been repealed, no doubt because of a change in the membership of the Board of Regents.

I was on campus for the Fall Convocation. As I've said before, I do enjoy these pep talks!
This time was a little different.
This time, President Linda Bleicken was reiterating to one and all that we are, always have been, and will continue to be, a teaching university.
Believe me, there are tenured instructors here who think we are primarily research oriented.
No.
The students are not here to perform research for the instructors' benefit.
The instructors are here to encourage the students to explore a different dimension of the learning process, to better serve the sutdents.
The instructors are here for the benefit of the students.
Period.
This is not a new message from her.
However, this time, she means to get tough on violators.
She has enhanced communication between her office and the deans, between her office and the student government, between her office and the faculty senate, between her office and the department heads.
That's a two-way communication along those avenues.
She intends for the deans to have better intracollegiate communication, too. In other words, any faculty member who insists that they are "special" might want to look for work elsewhere.
As have some of the deans and administrators already.
Me?
I fully support her, as I always have.
I believe in what she wants to accomplish here.
Why?
Because she is restoring the school to the one I so loved attending, to the one I have so enjoyed as an instructor.
Well, except for the past few years, after the current department head took over. I still enjoy teaching, but not my interactions with him or with the "department" secretary. Primarily, she acts as his guard dog, there to drive away all but the staunchest applicants for his favor. That's not how she started out, but it is something that developed over the past few years. You know, ever since he became department head.

Today, as part of the celebration of a new school term and a new name, gifts were being bestowed upon attendees.
A lunch bag or a drink mug?
Lunch bag, please!
Now, I will have two to choose from!
Oh!
Even better!
I can use the Armstong bag to keep cool items cool and the Red Cross bag for the hot ones!
(Think about it. You'll get it...)
Makes sense to me!
(smile)

cool reward for donating blood!

Look what I received in today's mail!!!
I now have a cool lunchbag for school, thanks to the American Red Cross.
Thanks!
I had entered the drawing in early July, after I donated in June.
I had not expected to win, of course, as I do not seem to have that particular kind of luck.
Still, I entered the "100 Days of Summer. 100 Days of Hope." drawing.
You can't win if you don't play, n'est-ce pas?
And I won!!!

Here's the congratulatory email I received last month.

"American Red Cross Sweepstakes Winner - Lunch Bag Cooler
Summer Stories On:Jul 07/17/14 9:13 AM

Thanks for choosing your day to participate in the American Red Cross summer promotion, 100 days of Hope. You submitted an online entry through redcrossblood.org on July 2, 2014 to enter to win a Red Cross Lunch Cooler. We are happy to notify you that you were selected at random as a winner!

Attached you will find the Promotional Release Form required to claim your prize. Please review the form and complete the required information on the form. You can find a full version of the prize terms and conditions posted on our website (http://rcblood.org/winner). Please complete your form and return it to us by email at Summer.Stories@redcross.org by July 28, 2014. Failure to receive your form by that date will result in forfeiture of your prize. Your prize will be mailed to you within 2 weeks of receiving your completed form.

Every day this summer is a chance to give hope. And due to a recent decline in donations, your help is urgently needed. Summer is a time when blood donations drop, but you can help prevent a summer shortage. Please help us spread the word and encourage friends and family members to choose their day this summer to donate blood or platelets!

Jenny Lamping | Donor Marketing
American Red Cross
Blood Services
4050 Lindell Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63108
(314) 658-8558 (p)
Jenny.Lamping@redcross.org | redcrossblood.org "

I look forward to using it to keep cold things cold and hot things hot!

I'm a Trivia winner!!!

I had forgotten to mention in yesterday's post that I won a prize, too!

How sweet is THAT?!?!

Especially when you consider that I do not usually win in contests, most especially in trivia contests in which the fastest person with the correct answer prevails.

Seriously.

But I did yesterday!


The questions all concerned the 48 Hour Film Project and could easily be found on their website. So, perhaps I had looked at the site prior to viewing the films?
No way. I couldn't look at it during the trivia game at intermission, either. After all, no smart phone, right?
So, the first question ("How long has the 48HFP been around?") was not one I knew.
The next question ("The 48HFP is active on how many continents?"), my guess was "seven". Yeah, I am sure Antarctica has lots of submissions!
(smile!)
But the third was "Which city had the most submissions this year?"
After receiving guesses for several cities in the United States, Anthony Paderewski, the go-to guy here, had to clarify. "No, not in this country. The City of Lights?"
Immediately I responded with "Paris!!!"
And I won!!!
Incredible!!!
Even more incredible, the prize was, to me, the grandest prize of the game!
One of the sponsors, Savannah Smiles had provided the above swag, tailor-made for me!
Incredible!!!
The four passes will be put to good use on Saturday! My karaoke friend, Angela, is celebrating her 35th birthday that day and part of the plan is a trip to see the dueling pianos!
I had wondered what to give her for her birthday. Wonder no more!
Coincidence?

i thank You, God!

tabula rasa

One of the actors in this afternoon's slate of short films expressed surprise that I was there. I wasn't in any of the films, I had no role of any kind with any of the films, and, as far as I had known when I arrived, I did not even know anyone who had made or acted in any of the sixteen films.
So, why was I there?
Good question.
And, right off the top of my head, I had replied, "I enjoy going to films and I especially enjoy going to new films that no one yet knows. I try not to read reviews, because they can give you a predisposition toward a film. If I don't know anything about it, I can let the film lead me where it will and then make up my mind as to whether I liked it or not."
The young man was a bit surprised by my answer.
Truth to tell, I was, too.
But I wasn't too surprised.
After all, I once wrote film reviews for a local entertainment paper, until they wanted me to rate the movies. Like my opinion should carry that much weight - how preposterous!
And, yet - many people won't go to a movie if its star rating is too low.
Or if a cetain website threw decaying fruit at it.
Really.
It's very disappointing to me that so many would allow the opinions of a few to dictate their tastes.
Not just in movies, but in stagecraft or music or books or clothing... I realize that in today's world of instant gratification, using shortcuts is commonplace. However... why put trust into a stranger's opinion over one's own?
Yeah, I realize I've strayed a bit off topic.
You see, I came here to talk about the films I saw at Muse Arts on a stormy Sunday afternoon.
The sixteen films were made last month for submission to the 48 Hour Film Project, Savannah division. The judges were well-known folk, not locals, but people in the business with lots of experience and awards to go along with their names.
Each film had three criteria to meet. First, a towel must be used as one of the props. Second, one of the characters had to be an author named Woodrow or Wendy Willamer. Third, a character must utter the line, "I guess that's okay."
As for film genre, those were selected at the meeting in July. Each group was then tasked with staying within that type of fillm.
This project has been active in Savannah for about ten years, I think.
I try to make it a point to attend. New material, never before seen, featuring a cast which may also be new to the world of acting?
You bet I'll be there!
(The same is true of the 24 Hour Play Festival, held twice yearly since 2011. Why do I attend? See my above rant.) {smile}
The photographs below are of my (unmarked) voting ballot.
Yes, I did make my three choices and submit them for the Audience Choice Award.
No, I will not tell you what I those choices were!
You can look up the videos on youtube. Hopefully, they will soon be there.
I will provide a basic synopsis or general background information, much as I did in the movie reviews I once wrote.
Oh! One more thing!
The group that won Best Overall, as well as two (or was it three?) other awards, was a family. That's right. Dad, Mom, kids, Grandma - they were all involved, either in front or behind the camera. This was their second year of being in the 48HFP: Savannah. Their video, "Say Yes" should be pretty easy to spot: it's probably had 100,000 views by now.
Oh! Just one more thing! I promise!
The group that came in Second for Best Film, as well as First in two other awards (!) were complete novices. That's right, starting with just a couple of drinking buddies who roped in some support along the two-day process last month.
Amazing! I don't think anyone was more surprised than they were.
Look up "Write of Passage" while you're clicking youtube channels...

The first is a new twist on the classic Grimms' tale about Hansel and Gretel. Keep in mind that witches have families, too!
The second brings to mind a sweet song by George Strait. Perhaps you know it?
The next cautioned against letting a teenaged boy babysit your young'n's. The stunning thing about this one? It was completely filmed and edited using a CELLPHONE, by a group of kids UNDER THE AGE OF 15. I'll be looking forward to their next one! I didn't see the trailer until now, so I completely missed the towel creation, Ed The Donkey. My guess is the judges missed it, too.
"Fatal" was about a damsel most decidedly not in distress.
Then we had a musical! Most impressive, too, considering the script incorporated at least four songs composed specifically for the film. All in less than two days, y'all! Yes, I must admit, this was my favorite! It didn't hurt that it was Part 2 of the many tales of a rockstar gone old called Slick Sneed. (This homage was brought by the folks who gave us "The Long Vacation" last year.)
Towel Convention, anyone? LOL! (I hope to have a link for this soon. They don't seem to have it up just yet.)
Then there was this poor fellow who kept trying to warn the world, but his time machine was setting him down in all the wrong places. Yikes! Perhaps it set the video link into an old locale as well!
And you just gotta love a superhero who hangs out at the beach!!! Oh, yes, you do! Especially if he is dorky sweet and brings to mind simple childhood dreams...
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Intermission!
Get up and stretch your legs!
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And we're back...

This first one was by that bunch of drinking buddies I told you about. The towel was the real star of the film: it was a Three Dog towel! All it really needed was a blacklight and some poker cards to make it perfect. The story line featured a Write-Off for best description of the towel. Quite funny, and be sure to watch the credits for out-takes!
"Book Deadline" was, of all things, a silent film! The action was moved along with the aid of a couple of text messages on the author's cellphone. Just a few was all it took, as the young man starring was quite expressive! So much so, in fact, that he took the award for Best Actor for this year's films! Bravo, T.J.!
This next one featured both characters, Wendy and Woodrow, and was the only one to do so. Thank God this horror film was short! Here's a word of caution: be careful cleaning out the home of a dead relative - you never know what secrets they might have had hidden away!
Then we have the case of the author who's character, brought to life in his previous book, insists that she be given a larger universe! Very convincing she was, too, winning the Best Actress award for her efforts. Brava!
Film noir! Yeah!!! Now, change up the scene with a female lead, add a couple of twists, and stir: "Case Closed"! (No film clip yet, but stay tuned.)
"You Got A Pen?" is an "on the road" pic with two definitely nonbuddy guys. Their deadpan interactions are a hoot as they seek to fulfill their delivery quest. Check it out!
Like something Robbin Graves might have dug up for the late-night, Saturday-night "B" movies of my youth, "Night of the Mossman" is a creature feature designed to thrill and chill! I especially enjoyed the last line - most excellent!
Now, I'm sure you're thinking this: "hey! She skipped one!"
Well, I'm keeping my discourse in the same order in which the films were actually shown. You see, there was some kind of issue with a missing five seconds of sound, so they shifted "Back to One" to the back of the line so they could insert the corrected version.
As the gypsy says, "Second chances ... it's a shame to waste 'em." Foretelling the future, was she? Perhaps! But fear not, gentle reader, they most certainly did not waste their do-overs, whether literal or figurative. Killer Fish Productions ran with the concept, garnering some awards along the way! Woohoo, y'all! Where can I get one of those shirts?
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I'm already making a note to reserve the first part of August for next year's films. I hope you can join me!

sometimes the wrong train will get you to the right station

(My thanks to this site for the above photograph.)

This is going to be more fun with movie quotes, so buckle up!
As before, I've pulled some random quotes from films viewed this week. It's up to YOU to match them with the correct films.
This time, however, the movies are not "kid" movies, per se. I certainly do not mean the films below cannot be viewed, and enjoyed, by children of various ages. No, not my meaning at all. I simply mean they are not part of my Summer Kid Film Festival.
Now that we have that straight, are you ready?
Get set!
GO!
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The movie choices are:

4) On Tuesday, at Spotlight, I fell in love with the "Guardians of the Galaxy"! , No, I lie - I fell in love with Groot. He/she/it is truly a magical being!
5) Also on Tuesday, at the home of friends, I was treated to "Bowfinger", along with Byrd Cookie Company's Black and Whites.
6) On Wednesday, at the Sentient Bean, I was reminded, once more, of the many charms of George Hamilton, in his dual star-turn in "Zorro: The Gay Blade"!
7) Last night, at JAVAFlix Savannah, I saw "The Lunchbox" with ten other folks, discussing the film's themes afterward.
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And here are the random quotes!

D) "Two bits, four bits, six bits, a peso!"

E) "I think sometimes we forget things if we have no one to tell them to."

F) "If I had a black light, this place would look like a Jackson Pollock painting."

G) "Would you be willing to cut your hair?"
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Okay, come on, I'm sure you were able to guess at least two of them right away. "Am I right or am I right or am I right?" (Quoting Ned, the insurance guy.)
But, of course!
So, let's see the correct answers!

4) F
Star-Lord, aka Peter Quill, is practically bragging about his many conquests, in this sexual innuendo. (Gamora has just complained about the surface filth of his spaceship.)
Consider the painting shown above, titled "Convergence", with said black light...
Oh, my!!!

5) G
Bowfinger's question as he interviews Jif, a bit of a doofus, but easily a double for the star (Kip) he cannot afford for his film.
Much hilarity ensued!

6) D
Okay, a peso is a mexican unit of money, so...
That's right!
Bunny Wigglesworth prances through the verse, finishing with "All for Zorro, stand up and say so!"
Thoroughly delightful swashbuckler!

7) E
Mr. Fernandes, a widower and lunchbox recipient, is relating the tale of his auto rickshaw ride through his childhood neighborhood to Ila, a young mother and lunchbox preparer. It's quite a poignant moment in the film, but may easily be overlooked.
It clearly speaks of this man's trip back from the edge of the deep, dark sadness of the world, thanks to her accidental kindness to him.
I know, only too well, about that edge.
I am fortunate to have so many who love me, so many to hear my tales.
But I am also fortunate to have this beach.
Sometimes, I find it reassuring to be able to review those times when I stray too close to that drop off.
When I need to be reminded of who I am.
When a moment in a film strikes too closely at the patched black hole in my heart.
When the rationale behind a special trip needs to be recalled.
When a kick to my damaged heart is needed to restore it to life.
It's good to be able to know I've been there and made it through to the other side.

In case you were wondering, the title of this post is also a quote from "The Lunchbox". This quote actually makes three appearances in the film, twice by the same character, a young man being trained as Mr. Fernandes' replacement at work.
Quite a nice line, isn't it?

living on the edge

...of my frayed nerves, living my life in accordance with other people's schedules.
Shite.
For more than a week, no less.
Yes, I am rather spoiled, aren't I?
Most people live the majority of their lives in accordance with other people's schedules.
I most definitely am spoiled.
As the bfe would say, mine is a first-world problem.
A pretty minor problem, at that.

So, what am I grousing about?
Well, from Monday to Saturday of last week, I had to get up around 7 AM.
This morning, too.
Yeah, I know, waah waah.
You should realize that I am not a morning person. Generally, my mind does not waken until 9 AM, so there is hardly any point in my rising earlier, is there?
No, no, there isn't.
I have known this about myself since I was in my early twenties, doing the 2-2-2-80 shiftwork in the United States Navy. Fortunately, during that eight-day schedule, I only had to rise early for two (that first "2") of those days. The other two refer to two mids (graveyard shifts) and two evenings, followed by 80 hours off.
(Aside: As I was writing that, the Beatles' "Eight Days A Week"popped into my head. Feel free to go have a listen! I did.)

Why was I rising early on those days last week and today?
Well, let's start with last week, shall we?
On Monday through Thursday, breakfast was scheduled for 7:00 AM to 7:45 AM.
No, not by me.
I was in Virginia for the 52nd Biennial Conclave of Alpha Chi Sigma, my chemistry fraternity. They are the ones who scheduled breakfast at that insanely early time.
You see, the first meetings began sharply (all double entendres, indeed) at 0800, 8:00 AM for civilians. I was not a delegate, thank God, so I was allowed to arrive whenever I choose.
For two of the four days, I was there about 9 AM.
(See what I was saying?)
For the other two mornings, I arrived in time for the 10 AM coffee break.

Breakfast?
For me, that was generally from 8 to 8:30.
Oh, yeah.
Once I found out the breakfast hours for the Observatory Hill Dining Hall, I was good.
I especially enjoyed those omelets, made to order with bacon, spinach, and tomatoes!

There was also a very nice view,
looking through the treetops at a lovely, lush green lawn.
That made the trip down the hill
and up two flights of stairs
for coffee and breakfast
almost
worth the hassle every morn.
Almost.

Why was I even there?
For the past two years, I've been trying to be more active in AXE, probably because I was more active in the American Chemical Society. That, no doubt, was a direct result of my working full-time as a teacher at Armstrong.
While I was married, I had let my memberships in both chemical groups wane. I was in Savannah and there are no local chapters of Alpha Chi Sigma here, either collegiate or professional. I paid my dues each year, as I did with ACS, which is the reason I am still regarded as "active", but that's been it.
Two years ago, as my 25th Anniversary with AXE approached, I attended the local district conclave. Held at George T. Bagby State Park, in the wilds of west Georgia, I tried to connect with folks I didn't know. I take that back. I knew one person, an older teacher, like myself, who had been at FSU for the 40th Biennial Conclave of AXE. (I had largely sat that one out, having graduate school duties to attend.)
Between that one person (shout out to Gary Anderson) and the SouthEast District Professional Representative (shout out to Matt Schnippert), I was encouraged to pursue a better relationship with my brothers in chemical arms. So, having new money to invest, I became a Brother For Life.
That may not sound like a real big deal to you, but it has given me more of a sense of family with these folks I don't know. After all, our first Fraternal Object is To bind its members with a tie of true and lasting friendship. With that in mind, I registered to attend every day of this Conclave, for the full immersion experience. I should add that the essay from D. Mitch helped with that decision.
For that, I am glad.
I had forgotten how much fun the initiations are. We were treated to two rituals, one a re-enactment from 1910 (!!!) and the other an Honor Initiation, using the wording and rituals from around 1928. That second one is fairly close to the one currently used.
I had forgotten about motions from the Levity Committee during the General Meetings. True to their name, the members added a much needed lighter touch to the more somber rhetoric.
I had forgotten how good it was to get to know folks who shared the same experiences. Through the birth process of initiation, we were truly family for having that shared entry into the world. Sure, we had grown apart over the years, but the prussian blue and chrome yellow running in our veins still united us.
We had all been admonished to take part in the meetings, to strengthen our knowledge of AXE, and "to be outgoing and friendly, to mix and mingle and to get to know your Brothers from other parts of the country."
I took that last part to heart. I sat with different people at each and every meal, engaging them in conversation. I sat with different people at almost all of the meetings. I conversed with different people during the morning and afternoon breaks. I sat with different people at the two "Night Out on The Corner" events I attended, ending the first and third evenings at Trinity, a Chicsgo/Irish pub.
I've now added quite a few of my chemistry brethren to my facebook group of friends and family. I look forward to learning more about them and adding more as time proceeds.
That said, I'm very glad I had a room of my own at Conclave.
I need to be able to have a space of my own at the end of a day, a place that allows my head time to sort the bits and bytes acquired. As I told someone there, I essentially grew up as an only child, in that I was the only girl and always had my own room, my personal space. My three brothers always had to share a room.

What was the deal with Friday and Saturday?
Friday was checkout from the Balz-Dobie dorm at the University of Virginia. Knowing there would be no coffee and no breakfast, I had, at least, planned ahead. I had taken all of my belongings to my car the night before, as I would wear the same clothes twice. (New panties, of course.) I had also set aside a banana and a granola bar from the previous day's morning break.
No, no coffee.
But all of that tended to work in my favor.

After driving for forever in the rain, I came upon this delight:
the Pink Cadillac Diner.
Located near Natural Bridge, it was out in the middle of nowhere, shimmering in all of its blue-trimmed pink glory between an auto repair shop and an old-fashioned motel.
It was like a mirage, beckoning through the raindrops!

And the coffee?
Piping hot and tasty fresh,
served in their signature pink mug -
you know I bought one!
And the food?
I had Steve's Big Breakfast:
lots of crisp bacon, two slabs of country ham, two eggs, perfect grits, potato bits, a huge biscuit, and sausage gravy.
Sure made me forget about that drive in the rain!
I bet I sat there for an hour, too, enjoying the old movie posters, the LP's and 45's on the wall, the statue of Elvis, that beautiful old jukebox...
Shout out to my ex for encouraging me to look for the local eats when on the road!

That was Friday morn. Why the early rise on Saturday?
I had told my youngest brother I was coming to see him for visitation on that day. I had let him know about a month ago.
You know, at Hays State Prison.

I had stayed the night in Dalton, about an hour and a piece away from Summerville, or Trion, or thereabouts.
Visitation would begin at 9 AM and I wanted to be there as close to that time as possible.
So, up at 7 AM I was, again.
Sigh.
At least that Quality Inn has good coffee!
And off I went, even arriving early! The guard took my information, to alert the dorm that my brother had a visitor. Yeah!
Then I had to wait in line to go through the security checkpoint.
That took almost thirty minutes. I signed in at 9:26 AM.
I passed through security and walked over to the Visitation Center. I turned in my visitation sheet, surprised to find Tony was not yet there. I aettled in to wait. It was already 9:40 AM.
And I waited. And waited. And waited.
After a little over thirty minutes, I asked what was going on. They told me we had to wait for him to get ready. I told them I was sure he was already ready, as he knew I was coming.
I let another ten minute pass. Then I asked again. Where was he?
Well, as it turns out, the runner had called the wrong Smith up from his dorm. I guess "Anthony" and "Shawn" sound alike, right???
Finally, a little after 10:30 AM, Tony walks through the door.
We were both a bit "grumpy", as the guard called it, and it took three long hugs to set things right, but... things did get set right. We had a very good visit for the next four hours, sharing buffalo pretzel bites and Butterfingers, dining on "Big AZ" cheeseburgers and chicken sandwiches - the vending machines were well stocked.
Then, we had two hugs of farewell and I was off to Hiram to see my BFF's darlin' dancin' daughter.
She and I shared "Transcendence", several episodes of "The Big Bang Theory", and "West Side Story". Why that last movie? It had been mentioned in one of TBBT's episodes and she had never seen it. Plus, I totally love that musical!

And on Sunday morning?
I slept in!
So did she. We neither of us stirred until about 10 AM. Ah, blessed sleep, with no alarm clock to startle the morning air!
We took our sweet bippy time, too, just puttering around until we set off to see "Guardians of the Galaxy". Sadly, it was sold out, so we watched "Hercules" instead. My second time, her first, but totally enjoyable! Then we picked up my BFF at the airport, retrieved her car and headed back to the house.
Why was the BFF aboard a plane?
Why was it necessary that I see her this weekend, instead of heading straight home after conclave and my visit to Tony?
Long story. For the short version, start here.
Same song, different verse.
Sigh.

I see.
You also mentioned rising early today. Why was that?
I was asked to take the BFF's daughter, and her twirling flag, to school that morning. It would be easier on her if she didn't have to haul it there on the bus. She would be getting her parking permit that day, so she would have an assigned space for her car after that.
So, I agreed to do so.
Even though it meant rising at 7 AM.
Shudder.
After dropping her off, I readied my car and headed into Atlanta.
The peace Guy had arranged to meet me for brunch on his second day off.

He had recommended The Flying Biscuit, Midtown, for our rendezvous. Good suggestion!
A very nice place to wind down and eat up before the drive home!
Creamy dreamy grits, eggs with ham and collards, and, of course, a flying biscuit!
Well, not literally.
smile

Now my rant is done.
I plan to sleep until noon tomorrow.

rock paper scissors lizard spock!

Who would have thought a decision-making game created in the 1990's would have such lasting power?
Well, for starters, consider all the folks who attend Dragon*Con, ComiCon, and all of the other fantasy, science fiction, science, and role-playing gaming conferences all over the world.
I can see the question in your eyes: Even at science conventions?
Yes, indeed.
Even those who are not familiar with the game created by Sam Kass and Karen Bryla close to two decades ago, can enjoy its similarity to grade-school activities. The game has recently gained a new life, a second wind. My many thanks to the writers of The Big Bang Theory for bringing this into my world!
Not only into my world, but into that of my chemistry fraternity brothers! Yesterday, as the 52nd Biennial Conclave was winding down, a talent show was held.
No, I'm not refering to Scott Wilson and his bagpipes, though the man certainly does deserve props for the entertainment he provided at various interludes. Yep, he would whip out his bagpipes and lay down some tunes!!! Da iawn! Dea ceol!
But he did not incorporate "rock paper scissors lizard Spock" into a talent performance. That was done by one of the nine (mostly) collegiate groups. That was fun!!!
So, for those not in the know, here's how it goes.

Scissors cut Paper.
Paper covers Rock.
Rock crushes Lizard.
Lizard poisons Spock.
Spock smashes Scissors.
Scissors decapitate Lizard.
Lizard eats Paper.
Paper disproves Spock.
Spock vaporizes Rock.
And, as always, Rock crushes Scissors.

I am so glad to not be alone in my adoration of this game... and also of my boys of physics, science nerds that they are.
Wa Hoo Wa!!!