Joined: May 20, 2006 Posts: 478 Location: In Cognito
Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 2:51 pm Post subject:
sinsboldly wrote:
I am that November baby, Chuck! I was born on Nov 20, 1950. Moon in Aries, sun in Scorpio when the Virgo constellation was rising above the horizon of 37 N 97 W.
Well, I was positive that yesterday or the day before you listed your age as 56, and now it's 57. It's all that riding on unicycling bears. Makes me dizzy.
Chuck wrote:
Admit it. This is what you truly wanted. Besides, had it not been for this little "incident', you never would have met Sonja the Fire Eater who later traveled with you through Borneo.
You do have a point here. I wouldn't have met Sonja.
Traveling through the swamp forests of Borneo with a fire breathing high society lady with the voice and attitude of Lady Bracknell, who insisted on tea and scones every afternoon at 5, in formal dinner wear, that will enrich my dreams for many years to come. Something to tell my grandchildren, if the experience hadn't made it impossible that there would be any. Ahhh, the memories...
How did you meet Sonja, Chuck? You were a bit vague when you introduced us. You left rather suddenly. Dust cloud on the horizon almost as soon as she reached for the paraffin (kerosene to you colonials). I never saw a bear pedal that fast. I couldn't follow, of course, not having finished my grass skirt.
Joined: Nov 22, 2006 Age: 57 Posts: 7033 Location: The Emerald Forest
Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 4:01 pm Post subject:
Spoiler Alert: this is not as lighthearted as the other fun topics in the Cafe today
they changed the payment system for insurance premiums at work. they sent out warnings that if people were not paid up to June 1st by May31 they would revert back to their original medicare. We have had thousands and thousands of angry, confused, irate, people demanding to be heard that they have paid the required premiums and we check and see that they did. They think they are losing ALL health insurance, because of the horrible wording in the original letters.
They decided to call people before they got the letters to clarify the issue, but the other day, an old lady dropped dead of the shock WHILE ON THE PHONE with the out caller. Thank the goddess it was not with me, but instead of addressing this as a company, or even as a team. . . it is not being talked about at ALL but through the back gossip in the break room. It is the last straw for me, unfortunately. I think my job is in jeopardy, because this is not what I signed on for two years ago.
I would not process or deal with this very well if it had happened to me, and I can't stand the constant harassment and anger and bare faced hatred spewing through the phone lines as I have become a bill collector and all of my callers are over 65 years old and on fixed pensions. Talking to a 90 year old woman who is in tears about being one month late for insurance premiums and being threatened with even MORE bills if they don't pay up is what my wonderful job has morphed into. And I am the only one that works the late shift (5 to 8PM) every single night when the greatest concentration of those calls come in.
I have been lulled into a false sense of security by the years of doing a great job and getting paid relatively well. I want to go part time so I can write this summer. I am having an annual review next week and am going to tell them then. If they can't do it. . well
I guess I am unemployed, then. But I can't be involved with someone dying at the moment I am giving information that might be momentous to them even if I am not 'responsible' for their actions, I certainly would not be able to convince MYSELF that!
Joined: Feb 26, 2007 Posts: 1822 Location: with you :)
Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 5:10 pm Post subject:
Gromit wrote:
...How did you meet Sonja, Chuck? You were a bit vague when you introduced us. You left rather suddenly. Dust cloud on the horizon almost as soon as she reached for the paraffin (kerosene to you colonials). I never saw a bear pedal that fast. I couldn't follow, of course, not having finished my grass skirt.
...Hmmm... ...let me refresh my memory... ....ah yes!:
I was alternately playing a trutruka (the strange-looking combination of vegetable-stem trumpet with an animal horn sticking out at a right angle, found in Chile and Argentina)...
...and an Alphorn...
...in an effort to disturb Europe. I thought that I was going into a trance - what with all that inhaling and exhaling, as everything was getting swirly and wavy, and there seemed to be two of me, and some cobra-piping swami suddenly appeared. Turned out, the view was actually being distorted by one of Sonja's heated exchanges with the swami (and his cobra) and some dude who looked an awful lot like me (and who possessed an Alphorn of his own). [They apparently meet on that particular hillock the third Saturday of May each year, and as luck would have it - there I was.] The story gets rather convoluted at this point, but suffice it to say that she kept mistaking "look-alike dude" for me, and her feelings toward him fluxed between "amore" and "flambe". To save my skin, I created a scarecrow out of my clothes, propped it up with the alphorn, and arrivederci-ed nekked (except for the trutruka) into France.
Who'd a thought she'd have shown up again just as we were departing Cahoots on bearcycles?!? That's why I made my (second) hasty escape. Besides, I figured you could use the company while you constructed your skirt. (Wrapping a trutruka around you like a loincloth is quicker, BTW).
Joined: Jan 29, 2008 Age: 27 Posts: 1039 Location: Arizona
Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 5:44 pm Post subject:
Chuck wrote:
morning_after wrote:
... LET ME OUT!!
At least I'm in one of them. Why did you have to lay out so many traps?
Ineptitude? Testing the theory "more is better"? Anyhoo, the idea was
I didn't want you to get away without wishing you "Happy 1000th post!"
Guess I could have done it in a more civilized way, however.
But where's the fun in that?!
Happy 1000th post Sam!
Thank you.
And happy birthday, Merle.
Who here wants to throw Merle a birthday party? _________________ Bill Cosby: Dad is great! Give us the chocolate cake!
Joined: Jan 29, 2008 Age: 27 Posts: 1039 Location: Arizona
Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 5:47 pm Post subject:
blessedmom wrote:
morning_after wrote:
I fixed the link. You will now find a picture of me on the previous page.
I knew Chuck, Postie and Gromit were contagious!! Oh well, too late now. There is no cure.
And you didn't catch it?
Ok, ok. So how would you like to be the beautiful blond fairy playing the flute at Merle's 39th birthday party.
That is the rule, right? You turn 39 and stay that age for life (like Jack Benny)? _________________ Bill Cosby: Dad is great! Give us the chocolate cake!
Joined: Jan 29, 2008 Age: 27 Posts: 1039 Location: Arizona
Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 5:52 pm Post subject:
sinsboldly wrote:
Chuck wrote:
sinsboldly wrote:
Chuck wrote:
I thought Merle was born November 20th? (My circuits may be fried ) Well Merle, I was thinking you a Scorpio. Happy belated Birthday, m'dear! (...and if early, well then, Surprise!!!)
I am that November baby, Chuck! I was born on Nov 20, 1950. Moon in Aries, sun in Scorpio when the Virgo constellation was rising above the horizon of 37 N 97 W.
I didn't see where it was in question, actually. . .what else might I be missing?
I wonder
Merle
Well. Perhaps 'twas whispered in my dreaming ear that today was your birthday. Anyhoo ...you get to celebrate your birthday twice this year then!
Happy Preliminary Birthday, Merle!
A very merry unbirthday
To me
To who?
To me
Oh, you
A very merry unbirthday
To you
Who, me?
To you
Oh, me
Let's all congrulate us with another cup of tea
A very merry unbirthday to you
Now statistics prove
Prove that you've one birthday
Imagine just one birthday every year
Ah, but there are 364 unbirthdays
Preciselywhy we're gathered here to cheer
A very merry unbirthday
To me?
To you
A very merry unbirthday
For me?
For you
Now blow the candle out, my dear
And make your wish come true
A very merry unbirthday to you
I own that movie on DVD.
Look, the white rabbit!!! Don't go running after him, cause you'll never catch him. _________________ Bill Cosby: Dad is great! Give us the chocolate cake!
Joined: Jan 29, 2008 Age: 27 Posts: 1039 Location: Arizona
Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 5:57 pm Post subject:
sinsboldly wrote:
Spoiler Alert: this is not as lighthearted as the other fun topics in the Cafe today
they changed the payment system for insurance premiums at work. they sent out warnings that if people were not paid up to June 1st by May31 they would revert back to their original medicare. We have had thousands and thousands of angry, confused, irate, people demanding to be heard that they have paid the required premiums and we check and see that they did. They think they are losing ALL health insurance, because of the horrible wording in the original letters.
They decided to call people before they got the letters to clarify the issue, but the other day, an old lady dropped dead of the shock WHILE ON THE PHONE with the out caller. Thank the goddess it was not with me, but instead of addressing this as a company, or even as a team. . . it is not being talked about at ALL but through the back gossip in the break room. It is the last straw for me, unfortunately. I think my job is in jeopardy, because this is not what I signed on for two years ago.
I would not process or deal with this very well if it had happened to me, and I can't stand the constant harassment and anger and bare faced hatred spewing through the phone lines as I have become a bill collector and all of my callers are over 65 years old and on fixed pensions. Talking to a 90 year old woman who is in tears about being one month late for insurance premiums and being threatened with even MORE bills if they don't pay up is what my wonderful job has morphed into. And I am the only one that works the late shift (5 to 8PM) every single night when the greatest concentration of those calls come in.
I have been lulled into a false sense of security by the years of doing a great job and getting paid relatively well. I want to go part time so I can write this summer. I am having an annual review next week and am going to tell them then. If they can't do it. . well
I guess I am unemployed, then. But I can't be involved with someone dying at the moment I am giving information that might be momentous to them even if I am not 'responsible' for their actions, I certainly would not be able to convince MYSELF that!
Merle
Merle
It's also possible what you need is a vacation, some time off. _________________ Bill Cosby: Dad is great! Give us the chocolate cake!
Joined: Jan 29, 2008 Age: 27 Posts: 1039 Location: Arizona
Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 6:05 pm Post subject:
Chuck wrote:
Gromit wrote:
...How did you meet Sonja, Chuck? You were a bit vague when you introduced us. You left rather suddenly. Dust cloud on the horizon almost as soon as she reached for the paraffin (kerosene to you colonials). I never saw a bear pedal that fast. I couldn't follow, of course, not having finished my grass skirt.
...Hmmm... ...let me refresh my memory... ....ah yes!:
I was alternately playing a trutruka (the strange-looking combination of vegetable-stem trumpet with an animal horn sticking out at a right angle, found in Chile and Argentina)...
...and an Alphorn...
...in an effort to disturb Europe. I thought that I was going into a trance - what with all that inhaling and exhaling, as everything was getting swirly and wavy, and there seemed to be two of me, and some cobra-piping swami suddenly appeared. Turned out, the view was actually being distorted by one of Sonja's heated exchanges with the swami (and his cobra) and some dude who looked an awful lot like me (and who possessed an Alphorn of his own). [They apparently meet on that particular hillock the third Saturday of May each year, and as luck would have it - there I was.] The story gets rather convoluted at this point, but suffice it to say that she kept mistaking "look-alike dude" for me, and her feelings toward him fluxed between "amore" and "flambe". To save my skin, I created a scarecrow out of my clothes, propped it up with the alphorn, and arrivederci-ed nekked (except for the trutruka) into France.
Who'd a thought she'd have shown up again just as we were departing Cahoots on bearcycles?!? That's why I made my (second) hasty escape. Besides, I figured you could use the company while you constructed your skirt. (Wrapping a trutruka around you like a loincloth is quicker, BTW).
And look, here she is again.
*whispers* I'll save you Chuck.
*Walks up to Sonja, chatting with, amazed by how beautiful she is, and walks back*
I think plans have changed a little, Chuck. She told me if I don't join her for dinner she will try to eat me up after she has a little "hottie"
I think that's what she calls the flames she eats. _________________ Bill Cosby: Dad is great! Give us the chocolate cake!
Number Two Son saw this picture and shouted "Ree-coh-LAW!!!"
@Merle: You've worked as a professional shock absorber – and a darn good one, too – for a long time. The fact that you feel as you do proves that your essential humanity and decency is still intact.
@Sam: You ought to sack that portrait photographer, and get Chuck to do a painting of you.
Joined: May 20, 2006 Posts: 478 Location: In Cognito
Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 6:11 pm Post subject:
Chuck wrote:
To save my skin, I created a scarecrow out of my clothes, propped it up with the alphorn, and arrivederci-ed nekked (except for the trutruka) into France.
...
Wrapping a trutruka around you like a loincloth is quicker, BTW
On your picture, it does look rather solid, so the only way I can imagine wearing it is in the West Papuan Style. I won't show that in a picture, so as not to impose the rather disturbing sight on unsuspecting visitors to the Cafe. Sonja did find that style rather offensive, or so she said. Perhaps that partly explains her reaction to you?
Anyway, I think I'll rather stick to grass skirts. If you ever try that, here's a handy hint. Do not copy the style of your tutu, unless you have underwear respectable enough to be seen in public. A trutruka doesn't count.
Joined: Jan 29, 2008 Age: 27 Posts: 1039 Location: Arizona
Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 6:15 pm Post subject:
I don't know. Does Chuck do good portraits of horse's body parts?
Does anyone know what I could get Sonja for dinner? I asked her where she likes to go, and she said "anywhere that's on fire". _________________ Bill Cosby: Dad is great! Give us the chocolate cake!
Joined: Nov 22, 2006 Age: 57 Posts: 7033 Location: The Emerald Forest
Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 6:18 pm Post subject:
morning_after wrote:
Chuck wrote:
morning_after wrote:
... LET ME OUT!!
At least I'm in one of them. Why did you have to lay out so many traps?
Ineptitude? Testing the theory "more is better"? Anyhoo, the idea was
I didn't want you to get away without wishing you "Happy 1000th post!"
Guess I could have done it in a more civilized way, however.
But where's the fun in that?!
Happy 1000th post Sam!
Thank you.
And happy birthday, Merle.
Who here wants to throw Merle a birthday party?
By the time you read all the way to my post, Sam, you will realize that the sweeties that realize Mother's Day for me is a very difficult holiday, they decided to make some fun and celebrate my UN birthday.
I am still waiting for my Hummer Limosine to pick me up for my day at the spa. . .
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
Besides, had it not been for this little "incident', you never would have met Sonja the Fire Eater who later traveled with you through Borneo.
To save my skin, I created a scarecrow out of my clothes, propped it up with the alphorn, and arrivederci-ed nekked (except for the trutruka) into France.
) Well Merle, I was thinking you a Scorpio. Happy belated Birthday, m'dear! 
(...and if early, well then, 
