This is information for which there is NO PRACTICAL USE. None/ None whatsoever. Stop looking for it. From the outset, flower language experts—floriographers—had no illusions. Elizabeth W. Wirt, author of the second flower language book published in the United States, wrote, “The lady who has given her leisure hours to this little playContinue reading “Ranunculus To You, Pt. 1”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Dogs of Doom
I suppose one ought to TRY to be fair, even if one is posting material for the Interwebs. This column, some months ago, did suggest that dogs on postcards are primarily concerned with indiscriminate urination. Although you can find a lot of postcards to demonstrate this (I have plenty more you haven’t seen yet),Continue reading “Dogs of Doom”
Sun ‘n’ Fun
I am, of course, the first philosopher in the history of mankind to observe this but, man, things used to be easier. In grade school, I was taught every year that autumn began on September 22. This was not especially, um, true, as it depends on certain phases of the moon and other usefulContinue reading “Sun ‘n’ Fun”
Old Jokes Go On Forever
And so we come, butternut squash latte, to the klast of our Old Joke Quizzes. I know there are a lot of jokes we did not cover: the book I wrote way back in, well, the twentieth century, did not make space for really old joke poems, or really old dirty jokes, or anyContinue reading “Old Jokes Go On Forever”
Fries With That?
There was a time, avocado sherbet, when people avoided eating “out”. They dined at home or, like my grandmother, packed large lunches when a trip might require being on the road over lunch time. Fast food did not exist, local inspection of dining establishments did not exist, and people tried to avoid any mealContinue reading “Fries With That?”
Return of the Ruff Rider
I may be doing my civic duty, waiting for jury duty, so I am preparing an emergency blog to keep you entertained while I am helping decide the fate of some fellow citizen. (Unless I use my mother’s suggestion and just say, “Sure, I can serve on a jury. Anybody who gets accused oughtaContinue reading “Return of the Ruff Rider”
The Shaggy Dog Rides Again
I see that a great deal of what is left in my Old Joke Quizbook are the shaggy dog stories. Bennet Cerf once explained, in one of his joke collections, where this phrase came from, but it didn’t make a lot of sense, which is the essence of a shaggy dog story. I justContinue reading “The Shaggy Dog Rides Again”
Drips In Love
Not long ago, we blogged together in this space about the mishaps of lovers who had to operate under the watchful eyes of a parent or two True to the belief that the course of true love runs never smooth, postcard cartoonists were cheerfully willing to admit that those who got out into theContinue reading “Drips In Love”
The Flipside
Once upon a time at the Book Fair, I would get calls from potential donors asking whether we’d be interested in a donation of old postcards. And perhaps half the time, I would be told all the postcards were in really great condition because “I threw away all the ones that had messages onContinue reading “The Flipside”
And a Bag of Quips
We honestly do, alas, creep closer and closer to the last jokes in my Old Joke Quizbook. Yes, I heard some of you sigh with relief, but reflect on this, Turnip Taco. I have already decided which of my books I will serialize next. We can hold that sorry fate off only so longContinue reading “And a Bag of Quips”
Blogsy Babbles 