Sorry Doesn’t Always Cut It

Based on a true story…

It was a typical Sunday morning, as I lay in bed in a deep sleep. My wife had been up for quite a while I guess, taking care of the dogs. I was startled awake as she burst into the bedroom. “I’m making pancakes for breakfast” she said, “but I’ve run out of milk. Go to Wegman’s and buy some.”

I lay in bed for another few minutes, trying to rouse myself. Her second call finally got me out of bed. I threw on some clothes and went downstairs. There on the counter was the half made batter. I started to leave, but was stopped by my mother-in-law, who asked me to pick up a cup of coffee for her while I was out. I graciously agreed. It was the least I could do.

I arrived at the supermarket a few moments later, briskly walking to the refrigerated section where I found the 1% milk. I grabbed a half gallon container, and proceeded to the coffee bar. I purchased a large cup, you know, the fill it yourself type which I began to fill with decaf. The coffee just trickled out, as if the container was just about empty. A closer examination showed that there was plenty of coffee left, so I pressed harder on the lever. The coffee began to fill at a normal rate.

As the cup filled to the top, I released the lever, but to my surprise, the coffee continued to fill the cup. The cup soon began to overflow, and despite all my efforts, I could not get it to stop. I was still holding the cup, and the hot coffee began to burn my hand.

There was a very cute blonde girl behind the counter, and I asked her for help. “Press harder on the lever and then release it,” she said. I was assured that this would stop the flow of coffee. I followed her instructions, but to no avail. My hand was once again placed in the path of the hot flow, and for the second time I was burned. “The coffee is still pouring out,” I told her, and she finally came to assist.

After some hardship, she got the coffee to stop pouring out. She turned to me and said: “Sorry for the inconvenience. Would you like me to empty some of the coffee out of the cup?” I asked her to just put it in a new cup altogether, as the old one was quite soaked on the outside. She did, and I left.

I walked to my truck, got in and began to back out of my parking spot. As I did, it felt like I had rolled over a speed bump. Since there were no speed bumps where I was parked, I got out of my truck to see what I had rolled over. There on the ground, under my truck, was the same young girl who had just a few minutes ago so “graciously apologized” for my inconvenience. She seemed quite injured, and looked at me pleading with her eyes for help. I knew instinctively that there was only one thing to do.

“Sorry” I said, looking back at her. I got in my truck, and drove home.

allan
jai guru deva

Mike’s Birthday

Yesterday was Michael’s birthday.  He bowled in a tournament at Shore Lanes, went to a strip joint, and then we took him out to dinner.  When we came home, Jayne surprised him with a cake.  He wasn’t very good at blowing out the candle, and Jayne wasn’t very good at asking questions.

allan
jai guru deva

An Unexpected Surprise

I have gotten better at solving my crossword puzzles, thanks to my following the Rex Parker blog that I have mentioned in the past.  I occasionally click on another blogger’s name, just to get a sense of what they are all about.  Call it curiosity.

Today, I clicked an a blogger whose screen name is “fikink”, which took me to her profile.  In viewing her profile, I saw that she was posting to two blogs of her own.  My curiosity got the best of me again, and I checked one of them out.

What I discovered was some of the most beautiful photographs I have seen in a long time.  Honestly, when I think about blogging, I think about people writing about their experiences or opinions.  But here were just beautiful photos.

I then checked out her other blog, figuring this one would reveal the written word, but I was again mistaken.  More photos! Equally beautiful!  I have no idea if this lady is a professional, or just takes pictures for the sheer joy of it.  Whatever the reason, I direct you to her two blogs, and hope that you enjoy her work.

The first is called Cherry Picking the Reticulum.

The second is Fik Ink.

allan
jai guru deva

The Klingon Kemal Ataturk

To all of you uninitiated, here is a very short explanation of this post. In today’s NY Times Crossword, a clue was “_____ Ataturk, founder of modern Turkey”. The answer was Kemal. Crossword puzzle guru, Rex Parker stated the following in his blog:

“Today, accuracy was nearly compromised when I ended up at my final square: the KEMAL (52D: _____ Ataturk, founder of modern Turkey) / ELY (60A: English cathedral city) crossing. I'm sure I've seen both (particularly the latter) before, but intersecting at a vowel as they do here, they both may as well have been Klingon.”

Well, a little research revealed that Kemal Ataturk was indeed a Klingon (see photo at right). This photo is a detail of the one posted on Mr. Parker’s blog. As further evidence, please note for yourselves other similarities with a known Klingon, General Koord (oddly enough, pronounced kurd).

Well, Mr. Parker, once again you are correct. At least one of them was speaking Klingon.

QaQ ram 'ej QaQ poHmey

allan

jai guru deva

Here’s to New Friends

As I’ve said before, I have gotten into blogging thanks to the one I follow regularly, Rex Parker Does the NY Times Crossword Puzzle. This past weekend, some of the regular posters to the blog met in Westport CT for a CWP competition.

Since I didn’t have the courage to compete, I didn’t go. But one of the bloggers was kind enough to forward some pictures of the group to me (shout out to chefbea). Rex was a little slow in posting the pictures, as he wanted some commentary on them before he put them up on his blog. I offered to put them up here, but by the time I got them, Rex had posted them.

I’ve decided to post them anyway, so that those involved in the blog will have a place to come to comment their hearts out without breaking Rex’ rules. So without further adieu, I present the Westport 5:

NYT Puzzle Editor Will Shortz		Beet salad at the restaurant
	Rexites at Mac's house. From left to right : Ulrich, Mac, Karen, IMSDave, and chefbea in front wearing t-shirt featuring puzzle by IMSDave
Beet brownies (a la chefbea)		chefbea enjoying the beet salad

Looks like a splendid time was had by all; wished I was there.

allan

jai guru deva

The Rodriguez Conundrum

It comes as absolutely no shock that Alex Rodriguez’ name has now been linked with steroid use. Does anyone really think that there are any major league baseball players in this day and age that have not used any performance enhancing substances? One would have to be awfully naive to still believe that.

So how will Arod respond to these allegations? Hopefully, he will take a different route than that travelled by Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens. I expect that he will have no choice but to own up to his mistake.

Judging from the trouble that Bonds and Clemens find themselves in, maybe causing them to be denied entrance into the Hall of Fame, Rodriguez will be smart enough to follow in the footsteps of Andy Pettitte. Pettitte , of course came clean, apologized for his poor judgment, and went on with his life.

So Alex, be smart. Just admit it, apologize and try to move on. Sure you’ll get booed a little more; maybe even at home. But it’s your best shot at keeping that door open. And believe me, no one will be booing when you get some clutch hits in October.

allan

jai guru deva

The Bishop Richard Williamson II

The New York Times reported today that the Vatican has called for an immediate recanting of the remarks that Bishop Richard Williamson made in an interview last month. (See January 25, 2009 post)

The article states that Bishop Williamson “must absolutely, unequivocally and publicly distance himself from his positions on the Shoah”. The Vatican representative went on to say that the Bishop’s positions were “unknown to the Holy Father at the time he revoked the excommunication.”

Recant? You mean do over? This man made these statements last month!!! Does His Holiness really believe that recanting will mean anything??? Oh, yeah, like “C’mon you zilly Juuuden and Mooslims you know he vas only kidding.” (an attempt to get you to read in a heavy German accent, with some Bela Lugosi intonations).

He is kidding, right? He went ahead and revoked an excommunication based upon the fact that he had rehabilitated the Bishop without verifying that the Bishop was in fact rehabilitated. Now he wants us to believe that he is stepping up; that he is doing the right thing. Are we buying this?

The only thing the Pope can do at this point is to say: “Oops! I made a mistake. I am reinstating Bishop Williamson’s excommunication.” (No accent or intonations required here.) This of course, would make the Pope look like a fool, but not as big a fool and bigot as he appears now.

A special thanks to Nat for sending the on-line article to me. I missed it in today’s paper. Ok, it wasn’t short.

allan

jai guru deva