Tag Archives: humor

Roman Elvis?

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Is it just me or does he look a little like Elvis? I am ashamed to say that I have no useful context for this picture. It’s a close up of a relief on a larger piece at the Cleveland Museum of Art. I snapped the picture because he resembled the King of Rock and Roll but didn’t think to photograph the card that talks about it.  Luckily, Google Image Search came to the rescue with a few basic details.

It’s from a sarcophagus made of Greek marble. Did you know that sarcophagus is the Greek word for “flesh-eating” and is now used generically for coffin? 

Note the somewhat curled lip and sort of pompadour hairstyle. He looks very Elvis-like to me and as though he could break out into a rousing chorus of Burning Love any minute now. This piece is magnificent in detail and massive in size. It’s certainly a focal point in the museum’s Roman room. I guess you could say it’s the rockstar of the Romans. 

Speaking of Elvis Presley, he died on this day in 1977. Incidentally, it was the day my parents brought me home from the hospital. I have always enjoyed his music and the shock waves he sent through pop culture across the world. The ‘68 Comeback special was my favorite era but I also really liked his early music and style before Colonel Tom Parker got ahold of him. 

If you’ve never been to his Memphis home, Graceland, it’s worth a visit even if you aren’t an Elvis fan. It ain’t the Cleveland Museum of Art but it’s a fun little slice of the extravagant, over-the-top life of one our most famous people.

Side Eye

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Someone at the Cleveland Museum of Art has a sense of humor. Zoom in on the picture and note the painting on the right. This woman appears to be giving the side eye to the sculpted woman in the middle who is doing the same to the painted lady on the left.

Look closer and you’ll notice the side eye being returned by the painted lady on the left!

These pieces are not part of a collection but they sure do go together. Evidently, women have been a little catty for a long time and some curator has great fun at work.

Oppe og ikke gråter

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Under the heading “Learn Something New Every Day,” there is the the Norwegian phrase oppe og ikke gråter.

The internet claims that this is a response to the common question “how are you?”

If you aren’t from Norway or familiar with the language, “oops og ikke gråter” translates to “up and not crying.”

And now my day is made. Never in my life have I felt a phrase more appropriate.

In America, when you ask someone how they are doing the standard answers are things like “fine” or “busy, busy!”

The asker rarely expects or wants to hear how you really are. So these boilerplate responses work pretty well. However, “up and not crying” may be my new go-to answer! It speaks volumes and is hilarious!

Note: the daffodils pictured above are the first of the season to bloom in my hard. There’s a story to go with the first daffodils that you can read here.

As Seen From The Road

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You just never know what you’ll see when you venture outside and into public. I got a kick out of this company’s creative marketing as we traveled somewhere outside Lakewood, Colorado.

Sleeping with a drip?

Humor is a terrific sales technique and it worked on me. I would absolutely give them a chance if I lived closer and needed their services.

After The Storm

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We had some excitement last night, waiting for severe weather to move through the area. We were under a tornado watch for most of the evening until it got ramped up to a tornado warning.

Everything turned out fine where I live but it sounds like a tornado touched down in an area where I often hike and where I had intended to hike last night.

When my phone started buzzing with notice to take cover, I packed up Scout in his backpack carrier and we headed to my parents house where I spent the evening in a small bathroom with my folks, a German Shepherd named Fritz, and Scout’s carrier strapped to me while I relaxed in the bathtub.

Fritz and Scout didn’t understand what was happening but they were troopers. The other three cats who live with my parents hid out under the bed.

As of this writing, I’m unclear as to the damage elsewhere but the power outage map is pretty comprehensive.

Since I tend to find humor at inappropriate moments, I’ll tell you that I had to giggle at one point. I went to meet a tornado dressed in hiking clothes and a sun hat with my cat and a big purse filled with snacks, water, a book and my journal.

Clearly, my priorities are straight. At least I had a book and cat.

When the tornado warning was downgraded to a severe thunderstorm warning, Scout and I headed home to our dark house. While we don’t know how long the power will be out, I was happy to just have a home to return to when others may not be so lucky.

It was then that I saw a good omen- a rainbow so large I couldn’t capture it all in one photo.

Here’s one more look.

What’s the old saying? Don’t fear the storm for the rainbow’s never far behind.

Use Your Young Legs

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This sign hangs near the elevator inside the Blennerhassett Museum in Parkersburg, West Virginia. It made me giggle. You really have to appreciate museum people who have a sense of humor!