quote:

I have such a HUGE crush on Colin Firth!

Who's Colin Firth? Does he look anything like me?

Well thanks, folks, for all your good wishes
And all three from ladies - such dishes!
And in six weeks or so
Affection might grow
As we drink fine Goose Island as if it were going out of fashion*

*I just couldn't find a rhyme for L5 ;-)

RE,

I'm sorry I missed your big day
But allow me to say it today
I wish you no sickness
in scrotum or dickness
and hope your good wife shouts HOORAY!

(You know I couldn't pass up the chance to talk about scrotii again!)

Many happy and beer-filled returns of the day, RE, and I'm terribly sorry I was late in wishing it so.

CW, that is wonderful!

OMG!

Those wishes from ladies (now five),
Have helped me, I say, to survive
This birthday auspicious
Which must be propitious
For our meeting in some Real Ale dive.

In a pub we shall meet someday soon
Though I bet it will be way past noon
We'll drink to our health
and we'll wish for more wealth
Just be sure not to act the Baboon.

What's wrong with a drink before noon?
Even breakfast may not be too soon!
A glass of Buck's Fizz
Is rather a whiz,
And helps start your day with a tune!

And so far as my simian act
Is concerned, let me say it's a fact
That it's never been found
That I monkey around --
Reputations should stay quite intact!

Oh, heck, we missed Jo's birthday, which was March 1st. Sorry, Jo, and especially since you've been ill. Therefore, my limerick will be more serious than usual:

We belatedly send you our wishes;
How could we forget...we're dumb fishes?
Happy birthday to you,
And get thee well, too!
We're emailing hugs and some kishes!

Take care, Jo, and we're so sorry we missed your birthday.

Whoops!

Sorry we missed your birthday, jo. Happy belated birthday, anyway, jo, and get well soon!

Happy belated birthday, Jo - and a speedy recovery, too.

Although Kalleh has mentioned celebrating Bob Hale's birthday in the Wordcraft gathering thread, those of us who couldn't make it to Chicago also pass on their best wishes for a happy birthday!

Yesterday (10th April) was also Cat's birthday! Many Happy Returns, Cat!

Happy birthday, CW and Bob!

Thanks arnie

Oh, it wasn't my bday, Z, it was Cat's - in the UK!

Happy Birthday my dear twin in Britain!

I was able to with Bob HBD while he was here, and I sent you a big hug via Bob, so make sure he pays you!

Sorry I missed the day, sweetie.

Sorry about that CW and Cat. Happy belated birthday, Cat.

Oh, darn, I missed Cat's birthday! How absolutely thoughtless of me. I am sorry. Please accept my apologies with this limerick:

Our Cat is another year older;
I wish on the 10th I had told 'er:
"Happy birthday, you cutie;
You're smart...and a beauty!"
Forgive me...without a cold shoulder?

Hehe - thanks Kelleh; what a fab limerick.

And thanks zmj and CW too. I wish I could've been at the convention, but alas money (or lack thereof) didn't allow it.

Still, I'm looking forward to seeing all the photos .

Happy Birthday, dear Cat.... (not CW)

Hope my English friend enjoyed a great day... I, too, look forward to all the Chicago antics...

You are only as old as you think you are!!

Thanks

At the moment I think I'm 88, lol.

But most of the time I'm young. I'll stay young, even as my body ages. Enough of my friends have been told to kick me up the backside if I start to get old-headed, lol.

Cat, what can I say? I'm a self-centred bugger who forgot your birthday even though you sent me a card AND it's the day after mine. Mea culpa. We'll have to think of a way I can make it up to you.

Far too late, happy birthday.

PS re staying young, if staying young means behaving like a six year old can I point out that on my birthday I was in a pub wearing bunny ears and reading an Alice In Wonderland Pop-Up Book while thanking Kalleh for the AiW cup and saucer she got me.

I just needed to be sat on the step outside with a bottle of Vimto for it to be perfect.

Bob, you are hilarious!

Can't say that I know what Vimto is, but I suppose that just points to my age.

Oh, Kalleh... just google it.

Vimto is Shlurple the Purple.. a juice drink made from grapes, raspberries and blackcurrants. It seems to be aimed at the kiddies..

How old is Bob now?

Ah, I well remember the days of my childhood when, while my parents were in the warmth of the public bar of the Golden Lion* drinking their mild (pint for Dad, half for Mom), I would sit outside on the step in the cold with my bag of crisps (the new-fangled ready-salted, not the old-fashioned ones with the little blue paper full of salt) and a bottle of Vimto...

...ah, happy days.

(Actually, I'm not sure how I ever drank it. Nowadays I think it's a ghastly drink. Not as ghastly as Coke but ghastly enough.)

*That was the old Golden Lion in Bradley, a Victorian pub with nice architecture that sadly was demolished in the late sixties or early sevnties and a new pub with the same name built on the site. The new pub was, and still is, a horrid seventies style shoe box shaped place with less architectural merit than the pile of rubble that the old pub was turned into and an interior that was perfectly horrible. I'm told it's recently been refurbished for the umpteenth time but as no previous refurbishment has significantly improved it I suspect this one won't either.

And, you poor thing, how old were you when your parents stopped leaving you on the steps and allowed you to come inside and have a mild with them? What is/was the legal drinking age in Britain? Those were the days, when the world was gentle enough that it wouldn't be seen as negligence to leave your kid sitting on the steps of a bar--though I think this practice is/was more common in Europe, right? My teetotaling Ohio parents never did it, but my husband's father would leave his sons and sometimes all four of his kids and his wife out in the car while he ran into the men-only bar for a cold one, or a "growler" to take home.

Wordmatic

quote:

Originally posted by wordmatic:
And, you poor thing, how old were you when your parents stopped leaving you on the steps and allowed you to come inside and have a mild with them?

I was twenty six.

My dad belonged to a nearby sports club (he was a keen [and good] tennis player). He'd rarely go in the local, but preferred the club bar. The great thing was that kids were allowed in as it was a private club, so we could all drink in comfort.

I think I was 17 when he bought me my first pint of beer there; the legal age for drinking alcohol was and still is 18. I'd been drinking elsewhere for about a year, though. I'm pretty sure he knew, but chose not to make an issue of it.

quote:

I was twenty six. Big Grin

ROFL

quote:

Originally posted by BobHale:
Cat, what can I say? I'm a self-centred bugger who forgot your birthday even though you sent me a card AND it's the day after mine. Mea culpa. We'll have to think of a way I can make it up to you.

Far too late, happy birthday.

Lol - I'm sure we'll think of something suitably fitting.

I am sure you will!

Today is my dear, lovable husband's birthday!

Today of all days Shu is sick;
It's really a very mean trick.
We'd planned to have beer
With RE, though I fear
7-Up and saltines he will pick.

Darn! Richard and Margaret come into Chicago today from Canada and will stop by before flying back to England tomorrow. We had hoped to have some celebratory beers tonight. Shu is sicker than a dog, and that absolutely won't happen.

Happy birthday, Shu.

Happy Brithday shu.

Not well on your birthday? Can't bare it?
Eat some broccoli, spinach, and carrot.
You're bound to get well
But when no one can tell.
If the shoe fits, my friend, you must wear it.,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHU

Shu,

If feeling as old as a comet
is causing your stomach to vomit
Let your birthday go by
skip your parties, don't cry
if they bring you a cake, just bomb it.

I hope your many returns of the day are happier in the future.

My birthday admittedly sucked a lot:
I was sick to my stomach, upchucked a lot.
But I finally felt right,
And later that night
Went to bed with my wife and we … … [cuddled].¹

So I thank you all for your good wishes.
My fete, though deferred, was delicious.
And the presents unwrapped,
So thoughtful and apt,
Satiated my tastes avaricious!

---

¹Actually, it took me more than just that one day to recover, but I took poetic liberties. (And other liberties too )

Belated happy birthday, Shu! And so glad you are feeling better--that's a happy day for Kalleh too!

Wordmatic

Well, I did it again! First I missed Jo's birthday; then I missed Cat's; now I've missed Wordmatics! So very sorry!

It's 25 lashes with noodles!
I'm mad and I hate myself oodles!
How could I forget?
A big day...I fret!
Happy birthday...I wish you canoodles!

So sorry we forgot your birthday, Wordmatic!

Oh dear. I confess that I am very bad with birthdays. If they're not in my organiser (thank you, Psion) then they slide gaily by, unnoticed by me.

Calm down, my dear friends; it's no biggie--
My birthday's no cause to go wiggy.
My years are so numerous,
I find them quite humorous;
Forget it: I don't care a figgy!

I accept your good wishes and reject your guilt!!! No more guilt, self-flagellation, wailing or gnashing of teeth--especially you, Kalleh! Yes, you!!! If anyone is keeping score, and I'm not, but if you are, you've probably noticed I hardly ever wish anybody else a happy birthday (because I always forget to check the list myself) and therefore, I certainly don't expect others to be checking for my birthday either. In fact, happy birthday in advance to all of you out there.

Hey, when I've stashed away a few more years I may forget my own!

thanks again--

The older and (much) wiser Wordmatic

Happy Belated Bday, WM! So glad you're here to chat with us! Many happy returns of the day!

And belated thanks, CW!

Oops, your birthday's gone by now, TrossL;
And soon will be Dunc Howell's, as well!
Our record is poor--
So show us the door!
But we wish both the best! Ring that bell!


[pffffft--my limerick gears are rusty. Time to get out the oil.]

Happy Birthday to you both--hope it was and will be a good one!

Wordmatic

Thanks word girl. My birthday was swell. I got 2 swing chairs to replace the ones my dog ate. Life is good...

Happy birthday Duncan!

Good heaven's, we are bad, aren't we. We really need someone in charge of birthdays. It used to be Jerry, but I think he has gotten tired of it. Wordmatic, would that be something you'd be willing to do? The pay isn't that great, but the benefits are fabulous!

TrossL, your dog and ours should meet. Flirt ate our couch cushions when she was a puppy!

I have always loved this limerick of Hic's. I still say he is the most talented of all the limerick writers, including everyone on OEDILF. A review of that thread is fun, too!

Wordmatic, I don't think you'd get far in the workshops with "poor" and "door."

Dear TrossL we all wish you well,
Though our memories are not very swell!
Happy birthday to you!
And I'll give you a clue...
We all love our divine southern belle!

When my forthcoming birthday comes I'll be seventy-seven years old, an age at which I've earned the right to be irresponsible and to have steadily diminishing ambition. I've lost some of my senses -- such as the sense of hearing, the sense of vision, ... and sometimes I worry about my sense of humor.

I think Wordmatic is an excellent choice for Birthday Librarian.

As Kalleh pointed out, the pay isn't great but you sure meet a lot of nice people.

~~~~ jerry

huh. This is the story of my life. Skip a meeting and get elected to run the next conference or committee! This once happened to me when I was absent because I had had surgery! Eau de humanity!

OK--I'll "do" it, but don't expect me to be reliable!

Happy Birthday to everybody who reads this, (this message is good for 12 months!)

OK, that's my CYA position. More later.

Wordmatic

quote:

Wordmatic, I don't think you'd get far in the workshops with "poor" and "door."

They are perfect rhymes in UK English.

quote:

["Poor" and "door"] are perfect rhymes in UK English.

In my dialect (General American) "poor" rhymes with sewer, doer, screwer, newer, knew her, brewer, fewer, gluer, hewer, cure, lure, moor, manure, pure, endure and others ...

....... and "door" rhymes with bore, more, score, shore, Thor, sore, store, four, fore, floor, gore, whore, core, lore, implore, before, wore, pour, outpour, adore, nevermore, and others
.

quote:

Wordmatic, I don't think you'd get far in the workshops with "poor" and "door."

I don't want you to think it took me all day to read your entire message...but then you might realize I'm too incompetent to be the Birthday Librarian! The truth is, I only read the first paragraph this a.m. and had to reply instantly. Then just now, I read the comments about "poor" and "door" and thought, "What are they talking about?" scrolled back and found the line above.

Well, I am not familiar with Wisconsin pronunciations of these words, nor do I know where Jerry is from, but "poor" and "door" are perfect rhymes in my hometown, Cincinnati. To my ear, "do-er" rhymes with "poo-er."

quote:

This is the story of my life. Skip a meeting and get elected to run the next conference or committee!

I had a huge initiative dropped on my lap at work because I missed a meeting. It is ongoing & takes a lot of my time.

Wow...while I could understand that the British might rhyme "poor" and "door," I'd never think an American would. However, I see that "poor" is pronounced a number of different ways. While Jerry lives in Hawaii now, he is from Kansas, and I am from Wisconsin. We must be pronouncing it the midwest way. "Door" seems to be more straightforward. Do those of you who rhyme "door" and "poor" say "poor" like "pohr?" That's how I say "door," but I say "poor" to rhyme with "doer," as Jerry does.