Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Lord Have Mercy

Angie Ledbetter tagged me with a book meme. the rules are to grab the nearest book, turn to page 56 and then cite 2 to 5 lines. Here goes.

The customer, 91-year-old Shirley Lykes, testified that Shreave was "a slick talker, but clumsy as a blind mule."

The six member jury deliberated less than an hour. The foreman later explained that the panel decided to $1 to Shreave "so he could go out and buy some tweezers" -- an apparent reference to the lingering cactus thorns that the salesman had complained about.

The passage comes from Carl Hiassen's Nature Girl.



Carl Hiassen is quite humorous and in other "funny" news I have just found out my wife signed me up to participate in a mile long fun run. Far as I'm concerned fun and run do not belong in the same sentence. Ever! Not even for a fundraiser. I don't care how good the cause is. It's going to be pure torture.

The event goes down Saturday as part of the school carnival. Maybe since it's associated with a Catholic school God will take pity and not punish me for a lifetime of double cheeseburgers with every step.
at

31 comments:

  1. Angie LedbetterOctober 7, 2008 at 8:04 PM

    There is only one sentence in which "fun" and "run" should be found together -- "I'll be right back. I'm gonna run to the 'fridge and get me some _____. Don't that sound fun?" LOL

    Can you just walk the charity event? eww! But you'll get stars in your heavenly crown for doing it.

    PS. New blogger here, but what's a "meme"???

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  2. yellowdoggrannyOctober 7, 2008 at 8:41 PM

    well, you know in texas our favorite word is fixing to...
    so tell her 'your fixing to think about running'..

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  3. MonnikOctober 7, 2008 at 9:39 PM

    You can do it, Travis!

    "fun runs" usually mean there are a lot of walkers too. you'll do great.

    just have one of those cheeseburgers waiting for you at the finish line and you'll get there in no time.

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  4. Alyssa GoodnightOctober 7, 2008 at 9:48 PM

    I've not yet read anything by Carl Hiassen--it's on my to-do list.

    Best of luck with the run--I'll cheer you on with a cheeseburger of my own.

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  5. Lana GramlichOctober 7, 2008 at 11:33 PM

    Aw, heck...I'm sure "fun walk" is better than nothing. ;) I'm just so glad my better half doesn't sign me up for things! *whew*

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  6. AngieOctober 8, 2008 at 4:28 AM

    Or you could get a cheeseburger -- or better yet, a double cheeseburger with bacon -- and eat it while you walk. Gotta keep your energy up, right? And a cheeseburger that awesome might even distract you from what you're doing until you cross the finish line. I'll bet everyone else in the event will envy you. :D

    Angie, who doesn't run unless someone's chasing her with a weapon

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  7. Kathryn MagendieOctober 8, 2008 at 6:44 AM

    Aw now....running is fun, ain't it? NOT...I detest long distance running - gawd! give me a quick sprint and it's over with....

    or a long walk on me mountain...yah.

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  8. Melissa AmateisOctober 8, 2008 at 8:59 AM

    I agree - fun and run don't belong in the same sentence! But maybe you'll enjoy it - never know!

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  9. AnonymousOctober 8, 2008 at 9:04 AM

    I don't care for running in public either. And certainly not in Texas heat!

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  10. UnknownOctober 8, 2008 at 9:23 AM

    OH please, I'm begging that someone take your picture before, during and after. PLEASE!!!!!!!

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  11. Charles GramlichOctober 8, 2008 at 10:10 AM

    Can you at least walk through the run?

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  12. Charles GramlichOctober 8, 2008 at 10:10 AM

    Oh, btw, Lana, I've signed you up for some snuggling today.

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  13. Melanie HooyengaOctober 8, 2008 at 10:47 AM

    Good luck with the run! My husband runs marathons so I decided to do a 5 mile/8K one year. Good lord that was hard, but I'm happy I did it. I'm even happier that I never have to do it again.

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  14. PattiOctober 8, 2008 at 12:40 PM

    holy cow!!! instead of giving me a shiner i hereby offer you that same shiner....when you finish.

    run travis run!

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  15. PattiOctober 8, 2008 at 2:54 PM

    Hey! Husband just called...he's in Amarillo for the day and said he'd drop by and pick up my promised Shiner. I told him I gave it back to you cause you're gonna need it way more than me.

    D'oh!

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  16. AnonymousOctober 8, 2008 at 3:20 PM

    Completeing that run means you can enjoy a double cheeseburger anytime for the rest of your life. Trust me. Its in the rules.

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  17. LyzzydeeOctober 8, 2008 at 4:03 PM

    Travis I am seriously impressed, It would be a fun walk for me.

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  18. Clare2eOctober 8, 2008 at 8:37 PM

    I understand they have handy portable defibrillilators now. You'll be great!

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  19. UnknownOctober 8, 2008 at 8:56 PM

    I agree with Angie's comment - "fun" and "run"? Has to be something to do with running to the buffet.

    Good luck. You are insane. Personally, I'd just write a check.

    BTW - I got a message for you from Vegas. They said they miss your money. Time to visit.

    SL

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  20. ChickOctober 8, 2008 at 10:26 PM

    I read his book "Skinny dip"...very funny & I've seen him interview...funnier still.

    Good luck on your run.

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  21. RobinOctober 8, 2008 at 10:46 PM

    Yeah, fun run is an oxymoron! I got stuck on the page 56 and two to five lines though!

    "I tasted the wine gratefully and felt in enter my body to begin the night's long siege against the migraine. I knew I should not drink but I wanted to. I was supposed to thell this woman my story in order to help my sister. But I have decided to on a different strategy: I would tell her my story to save me from myself."

    Okay, so it was 4 sentences..but it was Pat Conroy, page 56, "Prince of Tides".

    Now, I'm going to go open a vein because try as I might (and I do....oh do I!) I can never reach quite capture a pivotal moment with the mastery he does.

    Might as well try a fun run!

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  22. the walking manOctober 9, 2008 at 3:09 AM

    Is your insurance policy paid up? The run may make it come into play.

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  23. AnonymousOctober 9, 2008 at 10:55 AM

    "I love your wife. I can't tell you how many times she's made me laugh out loud. Picturing you doing that is...priceless.

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  24. alex ketoOctober 9, 2008 at 11:03 AM

    Travis,
    I noticed in the comments section somewhere that you might go by the name Traviola. Is this true?

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  25. Travis ErwinOctober 9, 2008 at 12:20 PM

    Alex, be careful of listening to the thing my wife says. You know she's crazy and has poor judgment. She married me didn't she?

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  26. MaryOctober 9, 2008 at 2:31 PM

    Start praying, now.

    And... good luck!!!

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  27. PhatsOctober 9, 2008 at 6:43 PM

    This is a pretty cool tag, they used to have one going around like but with your blog going to your so many number post and so many number sentence

    You'll like my Husker prediction Travis!

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  28. Vodka MomOctober 10, 2008 at 5:53 AM

    run?? fun?? No, the two should never be uttered together in the same sentence.

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  29. Cheryl WrayOctober 10, 2008 at 9:33 AM

    Good luck with the run!! ("Fun" and "run" really don't sound right together!)

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  30. AnonymousOctober 10, 2008 at 11:52 AM

    I like your blog. Wasn't tagged but posted the meme with a menion here:

    http://lisaalber.wordpress.com/2008/10/10/free-for-all-friday-fun-bookish-meme/

    As for running: I recently took it up, just two slow miles, mind you. Can we say "hell"?

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  31. Mom In ScrubsOctober 14, 2008 at 2:00 PM

    I did the Meme!

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