Sunday Funday - December 13, 2020

 SUNDAY FUNDAY - DECEMBER 13, 2020

Twelve days until Christmas!!!

And, a week until the days start to get a little longer (it will be slow to recognize!!)

And nineteen days until New Year’s Eve!!  

All these opportunities to get together - but we still need to be careful and isolate!!

LOGIC PROBLEM

Last week’s logic problem was well received, so, let’s try another one.

Four of my friends went jogging in San Gabriel Park.  Nobody ran on the same path, or at the same speed, or the same length or time, or in the same jogging suit.

• Paul was slower than the person in the green jogging suit

• Lynette ran fewer minutes than the person in the red jogging suit

• Lynette was 1 kilometer per hour faster than Kristof

• The person who ran at 9 kilometers per hour ran twice as long as the person in green

• Lynette was either wearing the black suit - or ran for 30 minutes

• Lynette was either wearing the pink or the black jogging suit

• The slowest person (in terms of running speed) was wearing the pink or the red running outfit

• Kristof either had the pink jogging suit - or ran for ten minutes

The four people are: Paul, Lynette, Kristof and Lynette

The four running paces were 7 kilometers per hour; 8 km per hour; 9 km per hour; and 10 km per hour

The four running suits were black, green, red and pink

The time the people ran were 10 minutes; 15 minutes; 20 minutes or 30 minutes

If you figure it out, send your answer just to me at karenwhite06517@gmail.com - so the others can do their own analysis!!!  (Aside, I can’t picture Kristof in a pink jogging suit - and running slower than Lynette!!!)

IDIOMS

I know I use idioms a lot - I think most of us do.  I was thinking about this with death the other day.  It seems like we don’t want to say “Mrs. Smith died”.  Instead we say “Mrs. Smith passed away”, “Mrs. Smith went to her heavenly reward”; “Mrs. Smith is the Pearly Gates” (and probably more).

One that came up in a communication was pets dying.  “The vet had to put poor Rover down”.

There is a joke on that one.  Rob took his black lab to the vet for a checkup.  The vet picked up the lab to look in his ears, eyes, check her fur, and more.  Then he said to Rob, “I’m going to have to put your dog down”.  Rob was distraught.  “But doctor, what’s wrong?”  The vet answered “She's too heavy for me to hold much longer” (not having her killed, but putting her back on the floor).

So, let’s look at some common idioms:

1. Under the weather

I suppose we are all “under the weather” - whether sunny, rainy, hot, or cold.  But, under the weather means we are sick.  “Did you hear about Suzie?  She’s under the weather”.

2. The ball is in your court

I’m not in a court, and I don’t have a ball - what stupidity is this?

Well, it means you get to make the decision.  I suppose it is like tennis and your opponent hit the ball into your section of the tennis court - so you get to decide what to do with it - a lop back across the net, a smash to her backhand, it is your choice. In bridge this might mean you and your partner have bid three suits, your opponents have passed and the last bid coming to you was 2 spades.  “The ball’s in your court” - you can pass at two spaces (maybe a part score can make game); you can bid 2 no-trump; you can bid three, you might go to game with four spades.  The ball (that is, the decision) is in your court.

 

3. Spill the beans

I was cooking some pinto beans a few weeks back and some fell on the floor (I didn’t “spill” the beans)!!.  To spill the beans means to tell a secret.  (Another version is that you ‘let the cat out of the bag”).  So, if I’m talking to Setta and the rest of the bridge group is planning a surprise birthday party, and I say “I’m going to be late to your party”, I just spilled the beans!!

4. Break a leg

I learned this one as an actor in high school plays.  (I even acted more later - like the time I was an “acting dean” until I got selected as the ‘real’ dean).  In the theater it means “good luck”.  I read it was from the applause at the end of a performance that you broke your leg bowing (or curtseying) from the standing thirty-minute ovation!!!

5. I’m pulling your leg

I’m kidding you.  When my daughter’s twins were about three years old, I was joking with them and then said “I’m just pulling your leg”.  They, of course, were mystified as that was a new term for them.  (They will learn more idioms than that one, I’m sure!!!)

WHAT’S COMING UP

Sunday, December 13, US National Coast Guard Day

Of the branches of the US Military Service, I’m guessing the Coast Guard is the smallest.  

I lived in Connecticut for thirteen years, and one Fourth of July saw that the Coast Guard band was going to have a concert for Independence Day.  It was a good concert.  One of the pieces was a medley of the military songs:  Wild Big Yonder - Air Force; The Caissons go marching along (Army),  Anchors aweigh (Navy), From the Halls of Montezuma (Marines), and Semper Paratus, the Coast Guard song.  As they do with such medleys, anybody that had served in that branch of the military stood up.  I wasn’t quite thinking - but all of a sudden almost all the audience stood up - as the Coast Guard Band played the Coast Guard song (Semper Paratus)!

(It also is Taylor Swift’s birthday on Sunday, December 13th)

Tuesday, December 15th International National Tea Day

I drive a lot of iced tea. I have three containers in my refrigerator at almost any time - so, just in case I’m really thirsty and drink two containers up, the third is ready.  I do drink hot tea, once a month (maybe)

Tuesday, December 15th, National Wear your Pearls day

So, guys, what are you going to wear your pearls with?  I have several LBD (little black dresses) that do look good with pearls (although mine are probably all plastic pearls)

Friday, December 18th, National Ugly Sweater Day

Yup - it is a national day now.  Dig out your ugly sweater.  I have two Christmas sweaters - not necessarily ugly - but I'll wear one of them for this wonderful day!!!  

Saturday, December 19th, National Hard Candy Day

It does seem like Christmas is a big season for hard candy.  I’m not really a big fan of hard candy.  

LOVE WINS!!!

HUGS!!!

Karen