Wednesday, May 28, 2014

FINISH THE PHRASE QUIZ




Here's some fun for the day…..

TRIVIA:
Which U.S. state is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" state?

BRAIN RIDDLE:
I was framed and didn't commit a crime, yet the person who framed me committed no crime.  How is this possible?

JOKE:  
Q:  What did the hot dog say when he crossed the finish line?
A:  "I'm the wiener!"




COMIC FUN:





TRICIA'S TWEET OF THE DAY:
When things happen that knock the breath out of you, use that as a signal to check if you are building your life on rock or sand?



FINISH THE PHRASE QUIZ

Can you finish the second part of these well known sayings?






1.  The early bird…….

2.  A penny saved is…..

3.  A bird in the hand is worth…..

4.  A fool and his money are…..

5.  A house divided against itself…..

6.  A picture is worth…..

7.  Ask a silly question and …..

8.  The darkest hour is…..

9.  The pen is mightier….

10.  There's no such thing as...




Our sweet Maddie posing for the camera (& adding space between the answers)



PHRASE ANSWERS:

1.  The worm
2.  is a penny earned
3.  two in the bush
4.  soon parted
5.  cannot stand
6.  a thousand words
7.  you get a silly answer
8.  just before the dawn
9.  than the sword
10.  bad publicity


That's all for this quiz, but there's lots of sayings so I'll have a part 2 in the future

==============


TRIVIA ANSWER:
Virginia

BRAIN RIDDLE: 
I am a picture and I was put in a picture frame

Until next time…...

Sunday, May 18, 2014

HAND ME THAT WHATCHAMACALLIT…DOOHICKEY….THINGABOB…..





Here's some fun for the day……..
TRIVIA:
Who was pictured on the first U.S. adhesive 5 cent stamp? 10 cent stamp?

BRAIN RIDDLE:
I am pronounced with only one letter but written with three letters.  Two different letters are used to write me.  My color varies from black, blue, green, brown, grey etc..  What am I?

JOKE:
Q:  Why did the tomato blush?
A:  It saw the salad dressing. 


QUESTION TO PONDER:
If an orange is an orange, why isn't a lime a green or a lemon a yellow?


COMIC FUN:






TRICIA'S TWEET OF THE DAY:
The only way trial, loss, frustration, illness, or heartache can win in our lives is if we fail to cherish Jesus through it.


PASS ME THAT DOOHICKEY…THINGAMABOB

A lifelong friend of mine (Hi Wendy!) recently sent me a text mentioning how she loved the word Doohickey and suggested it as a tidbit for my blog.   There's lots of words that many of use like this when we know what it is we want but have a brain freeze on the specific word.   Here's a look at just a few of these type of words and how we use them.



1.  DOOHICKEY

** Definition: The name of an object (or person) you either can't remember or never knew the name in the first place.

Here it is used in a sentence:

"Hey honey, there's ice on my windshield.  Can you hand me the doohickey?" 



2.  WHATCHAMACALLIT

**Same use as Doohickey

"Hey honey, there's ice on my windshield.  Can you hand me the whatchamacallit?  It's right next to the doohickey"




3.  THINGAMABOB

**Same use as Doohickey & Whatchamacallit

"Hey honey, there's ice on my windshield.  Can you hand me the Thingamabob.  It's under the Whatchamacallit that's next to the doohickey."


4.  THINGAMAJIG

**Same use as Doohickey, Whatchamacallit & Thingamabob.   Often used interchangeably with Thingamabob.

"Hey honey, there's ice on my windshield.  Can you hand me that Thingamajig, you know, it's the Thingamabob.  It's under the Whatchamacallit that's next to the doohickey.



5.  DOODAD

**More specific term.  It's an item you can't think of the name of, but it is generally smaller than a doohickey, whatchamacallit, thingamabob, thingamajig.


"Hey honey, while you're getting the the thingamabob that's under the whatchamacallit next to the doohickey, will you also bring that little doodad?  


6.  GIZMO

**A little more technical term.   It's an item you can't think of the name of, but it's usually mechanical or electronic device

"Hey honey, while you're bringing me the doodad & the thingamabob that's under the whatchamacallit next to the doohickey, watch out for that gizmo.  It breaks easily. 


7.  KNICKKNACK

**This is a small decorative object

"Hey honey, what do you mean you can't find the doodad & thingamabob that's under the whatchamacallit next to the doodad?   It's probably because you've got too many knickknacks everywhere.  Remember, watch out for the gizmo near the thingamajig."


8.  WHATNOT

Growing up, my family used this interchangeably with Knickknacks.   I've still got some of the whatnots that I grew up with.    This term can also be used in a way to include various objects you don't feel like listing.

For example:

"Hey honey, maybe the whatchamacallit & doodad aren't under the doohickey next to the thingamajig near the gizmo.   Move your knickknacks & whatnots near the drawer that has the pens, paper clips & whatnot and check there."


HONORABLE MENTION:


9.   WHOZITS & WHATZITS

I wasn't familiar with these 2 terms growing up, but later in life,  Ariel from "The Little Mermaid"  uses them in her song 'Part of That World"    

"…..I've got gadgets & gizmos aplenty.   I've got whozits & whatzits galore…..you want thingamabobs…..I've got 20….."



Well, I'd type more, but I need to go look for the doohickey under the whatchamacallit near the thingamajig close to the doodad that sits next to the gizmo under the whatnots & knickknacks.   Now…just where did I leave those whozits & whatzits?

Have a great day!

================


TRIVIA ANSWER:
Benjamin Franklin; George Washington

BRAIN RIDDLE ANSWER:
eye

Until next time…….

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

5 INTERESTING TIDBITS YOU MAY NOT KNOW


Here's some fun for the day…..

TRIVIA:
What is Europe's longest river?

BRAIN RIDDLE:
The capital of Turkey is a long word.  Can you spell it?

JOKE:
Q:  What washes up on tiny beaches?
A:  Microwaves

COMIC FUN:




TRICIA'S TWEET OF THE DAY:
Making sense of God's call is not a prerequisite for following it.  His word & His promises are enough.




5 TIDBITS YOU MAY NOT KNOW



1.  Adding 1 tsp of baking soda to water for easy-to-peel hard-boiled eggs.



I read this about a month ago and recently gave it a whirl.   It really works!   Usually when I peel an egg the shell comes off in 50,000 sections and my egg looks like the moon.   Now it's slick as a whistle.

**here's another tip for hard-boiled eggs.   This will give you that nice yellow look and not the ugly green business.

put your egg in the water before it boils.   Once the water reaches a rapid boil, set the timer for 3 minutes.    Then remove the pan from the heat, cover and wait about 8 minutes and you have a perfectly cooked hard-boiled egg



2.  Why is Rx the abbreviation for pharmacy?



I wondered this recently when passing a pharmacy.   So I looked it up.  Here's what I found.

Rx is an abbreviation for the Latin word "recipere" or "recipe," which means "Take, thou." In the days before manufactured drugs, apothecaries (who were also doctors) would write out a formula for medications. They would mix up and compound ingredients to make drugs or remedies. Not until the 19th century was the distinction between the apothecary/pharmacist as a compounder of medicines and the physician as a therapist generally accepted. According to the Pharmaceutical Handbook, the Latin abbreviation Rx is completed by some statement such as "fiat mistura," which means "let a mixture be made," sometimes abbreviated to f. m. or ft. mist. or fait mist.). Pharmacists required a knowledge of compounding until recently. In 1920, 80% of prescriptions were compounds mixed in the shop. In the 1940s the number of prescriptions requiring compounding had declined to 26%, and then to 1% or less in 1971.

3.  Who coined the phrases "The customer is always right' & "only ____ more shopping days until Christmas"

Harry Selfridge is the answer.  If you are a Masterpiece Classic watcher then you have heard of him from the show Mr. Selfridge (which I really like)  Harry Selfridge got his start at a young age at Marshall Field's department store and eventually moved to London to open his own department store called "Selfridges".    
I was watching this show for awhile before realizing it was based on a real person.  I got to googling cast members, as I often do, which led me to seeing he was a real person with a very interesting story.   I've always loved big department stores too.   Goes back to my fond memories of a child of shopping at Pogue's in Cincinnati, Ohio.   Look up Harry Selfridge's bio.   It is very interesting.

4.  When did the automatic car wash begin?


As I've mentioned before, I'm always pondering things.   I was recently going through the automatic car wash at Shell gas station and asked myself this question.   As a kid, I always thought the automatic car wash was the coolest thing.   I loved riding through it and watching the car go through it by looking through a glass window.  Looked it up…..and found out 1930 was the first one.  There ya' go.

5.  What's the difference between perfume, eau de Parfum, eau de Toilette & eau de Cologne

I've listed them in the order of strongest to weakest as far as purity, concentration and lasting scent.   Perfume is the most expensive and lasts the longest.   It took me awhile to go with the more expensive perfume/eau de Parfum, but eventually I did.   What's the point of spending money of something that lasts on you for about 30 minutes.   It's extra, but if you don't want to spray yourself all the time, it's worth it.  
=================

TRIVIA ANSWER:
Volga

BRAIN RIDDLE ANSWER:
I T


Until next time…….

Sunday, May 4, 2014

THE 411 ON SNEEZES & HOW TO STOP THEM


Here's some fun for the day…..

TRIVIA: 
What do you need two of to play 'Double Dutch'?

BRAIN RIDDLE:
You walk onto a bridge and see a boat full of people and yet there's not a single person on board.   How is this possible?


JOKE:
Q:  Why don't the animals in the forest play Poker anymore?
A:  There's just to many Cheetahs.


COMIC FUN





TRICIA'S TWEET OF THE DAY:
We should fear displeasing God more than we fear society's rejection.







THE 411 ON SNEEZES


I have a tendency to wonder about random things.  Once that curiosity kicks in I have to look it up and learn about it.   I've done that since I was a kid.  Back then I'd grab an encyclopedia.  These days I google the topic and see what I can find.    Just in case you've ever wondered basic info about sneezes….today is your lucky day.   Here you go….




1.  WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU SNEEZE?



A sneeze is a semi-autonomous, convulsive expulsion of air from the lungs through the nose and mouth, usually caused by foreign particles irritating the nasal mucosa.  The powerful nature of a sneeze is attributed to its involvement of numerous organs of the upper body – it is a reflexive response involving the face, throat, and chest muscles. 

Tricks to stopping a sneeze:
a.  Hold your breath while counting to 10
b.  gently pinch the bridge of your nose for a few seconds
c.  tap dance to a Broadway song while eating a twinkie with your left hand while wearing gloves.   (ok, just kidding there, but give it whirl)
d.  My trick:  I pretend I see a cat and watch it walk around the room etc.   (no joke) It seems to help me.  I think it's a focus issue.
e.  Pinch your upper lip
f.  press your tongue hard behind your 2 front teeth where they meet your gum.
g.  tickle the roof of your mouth with your tongue.
h.  Use your nails and pinch the flap of your skin between your thumb and forefinger.
i.  Grab the spot between your eyebrows.  ( this is a pressure point that works for headaches too)
j.  wiggle your earlobe gently

On a personal note, I find it pretty cool that it is virtually impossible to sneeze with your eyes open.


2.  SNEEZES START IN YOUR NERVES
It's a nerve transmission that tells your brain something in your nose needs to come out.

3.  SNEEZING KEEPS YOUR BODY SAFE
Sneezing protects the body from viruses and bacteria

4.  SNEEZES ARE QUICK
Sneezes travel at about 100mph 

5.  SNEEZES SEND CLOSE TO 100,000 GERMS INTO THE AIR
Yuck.  Please cover your mouth & nose when you sneeze

6.  YOU DON'T SNEEZE IN YOUR SLEEP

7.  SUNSHINE MAY MAKE YOU SNEEZE
1 out of every 3 people sneezes when exposed to bright light
(Now I'm stuck singing John Denver's  "Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy" with changing the 'happy' with snee---eezze"

8. GESUNDHEIT 

This is commonly spoken after a sneeze and means 'Be Healthy' or "Good Health!" in German.

Wishing someone good health after a sneeze dates back to thousands of years ago.  The Romans would say "Jupiter preserve you".    The phrase "God bless you" is attributed to Pope Gregory the Great who uttered it in the 6th century during the bubonic plague epidemic.   Sneezing was seen as a sign of the plague.  

Sneezes seem to get special treatment (people don't say 'God bless you' after a cough very often) because there was a school of thought that sneezes precede illness.



In honor of sneezes…….I extend to you a "God bless you"



==========

TRIVIA ANSWER:
Jump ropes

BRAIN RIDDLE:
They're all married.

Until next time…...