Blue Moon

Blue Moon in the sky tonight - so guess what is on the shopping list -

along with an orange to slice!


Happy wrapping up and clearing away 2009

and best wishes for a happier and healthier 2010!

Lady Suzzz

Final Fantasy Football Report: MULES WIN!

Not wishing to disappoint my Bikini wearing fans...I coached the "Mules" through the Fantasy Football Playoffs and won the Championship, defeating the Will County Bears.

Here's the screen shot announcing the Championship. It says...

CHAMPION!

Dec. 29, 2009 Mules won the Freakin Bring It Championship by a score of 125 to 89 over will county bears. Tom Brady led the team in scoring in the championship round and he also led the team in scoring for the season. Congrats once again toMules on a terrific Fantasy Football Season. Hope to see you all next year!

Also in that screen shot was a dejected Peyton Manning after being pulled by Coach Caldwell in the third quarter to "rest" his starters and give up the opportunity for Football History.

Piss Off! In the words of Vince Lombardi, who's trophy we all play for, "There's only one important thing...winning!"

Colts fans are lobbying hard to have Sir Hook lead the Colts in the playoffs. Hell, I didn't even rest Dallas Clark in my final championship game, knowing the risk of him being benched later in the Jets game that day.

Coach Caldwell's decision is like pulling out before climax...leaving everyone unfulfilled and frustrated! Like General George S. Patton said, "The only good defense is offense." Play to win, instead of playing to avoid being hurt.

Let's Play Ball Boys...and WIN!

Sir Hook the Fantasy Football Coach of the Year of Warrick

No Place Like Frome

Regular Readers of the blog will have heard about the FF's and femmes trip to the Old Country..and seen the Pictures of us playing Pub games in a Pub called the Lamb and Fountain in the town of Frome in the county of Somerset.

So You can imagine my delight when on my own travels... I came across this article in today's national newspaper, the Daily Express................

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/148445/We-re-the-golden-workers

about some of the oldest and longest serving employees in the country, and amongst them was the landlady of the Lamb and Fountain; Freda Searle aka "Mother".

I reprint the article below:-

Freda Searle, 87, has been landlady of The lamb and Fountain pub in Frome, Somerset, for 43 years and has owned the pub for 34 years. She has been widowed since 1975 and has four children, 15 grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren and a great great grandchild. She says:

Before we had the pub, I worked in a hospital and my husband Harry was an engineer. My friend and I did bar work in the evenings too, getting paid £1 a night. The Lamb And Fountain was one of the pubs I worked in. When the landlord died, the brewery said to me: “You’re taking over!” I told them there was no way Harry and I could do that but they arranged for us to have an interview and appointed us in 1966.

At the time you never saw a woman in a pub unless she was a prostitute there to pick up men. You never saw a child either. Pubs were for drinking not for eating. Who wants to go into a pub and see someone eating fish and chips at the bar? Not me.

When Harry died I thought they’d throw me out because he was the landlord. So it was a surprise when the brewery said they wanted me to stay. But then they trebled my rent and I just couldn’t afford it. I went to see my solicitor who looked through all my accounts and told me: “Freda, you can do this. You can buy that pub and make a living from it!” Within two years I’d bought it.

I’ve kept the Lamb And Fountain as a drinking pub. We’ve got stone floors, a shove ha’penny board, bar skittles and traditional separate bars. A lot of pubs have had their bars knocked into one now but I think that spoils them. You need the other bar as an escape if someone is boring you or if one person doesn’t get on with another. The bars caused us a problem once years ago when we had a funeral party in one and then a wedding party arrived without warning in the other and they all started singing.

But pubs just aren’t the same any more and the atmosphere has gone from most of them because so many are managed, not privately owned.

Once upon a time you had to put your name down to get a game of darts or shove ha’penny in a pub but all that’s gone now. There won’t be any pubs left in this country in 10 years’ time. A lot of managers don’t even talk to their customers. They just want their money.

The smoking ban had a bad impact on us too. I lost seven regulars because they could no longer smoke here but I didn’t gain any new customers. I think the Government should have given publicans a choice whether they operated a smoking or non-smoking pub.

As for 24-hour drinking, we only open from 11 in the morning till 11 at night, I can’t be having late nights these days. I refuse to serve alcopops or to have a jukebox, that’s not what pubs are about.

When I started out they were the hub of the community and that’s how I’ve tried to keep mine. Everyone around here knows me as “mother”, the local taxi drivers, the customers, even the regulars in their 80s. They all call me mother. I have no intention of retiring, I love the pub and my son John and my staff help me to look after it.

So I raise a toast tonight to Freda, from all in the KMSA...for presiding over a little slice of heaven, deep in the English countryside, Long may she be surrounded by friends and wellwishers.... and fresh glasses of fine English Ale.

Sir Dayvd ( the rover ) of Oxfordshire.

Yesterday I shared with you the Christmas gifts I made this year. Today, I'd like to share with you two of the many awesome gifts I received:

From Sir Cock of the Walk, I received a six-pack of Weihenstephan Original.

According to their web site and other sources, The Weihenstephan Brewery can trace its roots at the abbey to the year 768 as a document from that year refers to a hop garden in the area paying a tithe to the monastery. A brewery was actually licensed in 1040 (the founding date claimed by today's modern brewery). The brewery thus has a creditable claim to being the oldest working brewery in the world -- though I don't believe that they are alone in that claim.

I do love their motto / philosophy: Class, not mass.

You can check them out at: http://www.brauerei-weihenstephan.de/index2.html?lang=eng

Now, if only I had a delicious snack to wash down.

Lady Amy and Sir Mark of Riley (daughter and son-in-law) to the rescue.

Christmas morning I opened a package that included three boxes of...

CRICKETS! Yes, real deep fried crickets (three different flavors).



Sir Bowie "It was a merry, crunchy Christmas" of Greenbriar

Endeavor to Create

I've been feeling rather uninspired at work these past months; actually the downturn in the economy as trickled down to the company I work for and I'm downright scared.

So, to help relax my anxiety and fertilize my creative garden, I endeavored to create Christmas gifts this year. Here are a few items that miraculously got finished and Santa helped deliver under trees.

First up is a simple plate stand. This is zebra wood (I also made one of black walnut)

The plate is one that Lady Suzanne made for our girls.

Those of you familiar with the movie A Christmas Story might recognize this packaging.


I built the crate -- complete with a Western Union Cable tag. Sir Hook then helped me by calling Christmas morning and playing the role of a Western Union Delivery dispatcher who told Lady Suzanne that a package had been delivered earlier that morning in the dark and left near the front door (which I had placed earlier).

Inside is a perpetual calendar roughly based on one we had seen in a German beer hall here in town (designed to be decorated for the season).

And finally, Sir Hook and Sir Dayvd both received Nine Men's Morris game boards with inlay. Nine Men's Morris is a game that we kept seeing referenced in our travels across southern England. So, I decided to give the game boards a whirl. Having never before done any inlay work, it was a challenge (one I may never do again). Anyway, here is Sir D's comments yesterday:

Hey Re the Pope.... I thought you just had to touch his garment to be blessed ....??? LOL...

Its called Boxing Day here in the UK.... wanna fight??? LOL

Hope you all had a great time...Mine was a doozzyyyy

Bowie Cheers for the 24 man Morris Board (Bowie's note: I provided extra game pieces)...it got a good workout... here I am getting a pasting by my nieces husband Paul...who soon worked out that he who gets the corners gets the game...lol... excelllent

I blame the Brakespears Triple beer 7.2 % lol....

Sir D

- - -

I hope you all enjoy playing with your new toys.
Happy New Year,

Sir Bowie "now, what to do with all that scrap wood I cut too short, or too narrow" of Greenbriar

If you look through the rolls of Knights at the bottom of this blog, you'll see a one Sir Francis of Church, HM (d.1906).

Who is he? Well, for those who don't know, he is the answer to a trivia question.

In 1897, Dr. Philip O’Hanlon, an assistant on Manhattan's Upper West Side, was asked by his then eight-year-old daughter, Virginia (1889–1971), whether Santa Claus really existed.

Dr. O’Hanlon suggested she write to the New York Sun, a prominent New York City newspaper at the time, assuring her that "If you see it in The Sun, it's so."
While he may have been passing the buck, he unwittingly gave one of the paper's editors an opportunity to rise above the simple question, and address the philosophical issues behind it.

That editor, a war correspondent during the American Civil War, a time which saw great suffering and a corresponding lack of hope and faith in much of society, wrote one of the most famous editorials in history. More than a century later it remains the most reprinted editorial ever to run in any newspaper in the English language.

So, the trivia question? Who wrote the famous "Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus!" editorial?
Our very own Sir Francis of Church ( Francis Pharcellus Church). The work of veteran newsman has since become history's most reprinted newspaper editorial, appearing in part or whole in dozens of languages in books, movies, and other editorials, and on posters and stamps.

I love this so much that I'm presenting again this year. All I ask is that you read it carefully, becauase the words can still ring true in our hearts today:

"DEAR EDITOR: I am 8 years old.
"Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.
"Papa says, 'If you see it in THE SUN it's so.'
"Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus?

"VIRGINIA O'HANLON.
"115 WEST NINETY-FIFTH STREET."

VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except [what] they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You may tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, VIRGINIA, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

Francis Pharcellus Church

Sir Bowie "Thanking God that Santa lives forever" of Greenbriar

It's for the Rest of Us!

While doing a little research for a project for my daugher Lady Amy, I ran across an interesting web site that lists, among other things, Bizarre and Unique Holidays. For example, did you know that today is "Festivus"?

According to the web site:

Are you feeling a little left out!? You don't celebrate Christmas or Chanukah. Kwanzaa just isn't your thing. And, you don't even know what Ramadan is.

Then, come and experience the joy and the Miracle of Festivus. One might say that the Festivus holiday is a miracle in itself.

Still not sure if Festivus is for you? It's non-denominational. So, everyone can partake. The Festivus slogan is "A Festivus for the rest of us!" And, that means you, too. So...........

Happy Festivus to you!

The Origin of Festivus Holiday? First, let me say that our family can't get together for an extended period of time without someone saying, "That reminds me of a Seinfeld episode."

As it turns out, we can thank Seinfeld for this wonderful holiday. The Festivus holiday was created by Seinfeld show scriptwriter Daniel O'Keefe. His dad, also named Daniel, had found reference to an obscure holiday called Festivus, which was first celebrated in 1966.

Frank Costanza, the character played by Jerry Stiller, says that the December 23 observance calls for "little more than the erection of an aluminum pole, the airing of grievances and the demonstration of feats of strength -- which preferably culminate in wrestling down to the ground and pinning the head of the household."

"People want something that's nothing," said Salkin, author of "Festivus: The Holiday for the Rest of Us," a book that chronicles the birth and flourishing of this oddly sacred day. "All the traditional holidays exclude somebody," but with this one, "everyone's in on the joke."

It seems that there is now a Festivus following that gathers across the globe and comes together in places as various as seedy bars, campus squares and corporate boardrooms. CNN reports that citizens, with varied degrees of success, have petitioned to raise Festivus poles beside public nativity scenes. Social networking sites and holiday-specific venues -- like festivusbook.com and festivusweb.com -- are go-to places for those who want to share the cheer, or jeers.

Festivus Traditions:

No, there isn't a Festivus Tree. Rather, an unadorned aluminum pole is the symbol of Festivus.

The Festivus holiday is celebrated with a dinner. Meatloaf is the suggested main course (I would think Mac and Cheese would be a great side).

Dinner is followed by a "Feats of Strength".

So, Happy Festivus to you today.

Sir Bowie "off to look for an aluminum poll to raise" of Greenbriar

Christmas Carols from the KMSA

I, Sir Hook of Warrick, as a Founding Father of the Knights of Moleskine, Spirit and Ale...have taken the liberty to "TWEAK" this post, originally from Sir Dayvd of Oxfordshire. As you can see from the Christmas Card above...there is an upside to Caroling!

Sir Dayvd; however, is sharing some ingenious parody with his original post...AMERICAN INSURANCE GUIDE TO CHRISTMAS CAROLERS:

Guide to Health & Safety and Equality Considerations for Christmas Songs

The Rocking Song

Little Jesus, sweetly sleep, do not stir; We will lend a coat of fur, We
will rock you, rock you, rock you, We will rock you, rock you, rock you:

Fur is no longer appropriate wear for small infants, both due to risk of

allergy to animal fur, and for ethical reasons. Therefore faux fur, a

nice cellular blanket or perhaps micro-fleece material should be

considered a suitable alternative.

Please note, only persons who have been subject to a Criminal Records

Bureau check and have enhanced clearance will be permitted to rock baby

Jesus. Persons must carry their CRB disclosure with them at all times

and be prepared to provide three forms of identification before rocking

commences.

Jingle Bells

Dashing through the snow
In a one horse open sleigh
O'er the fields we go
Laughing all the way

A risk assessment must be submitted before an open sleigh is considered

safe for members of the public to travel on. The risk assessment must

also consider whether it is appropriate to use only one horse for such a

venture, particularly if passengers are of larger proportions.

Please note, permission must be gained from landowners before entering

their fields. To avoid offending those not participating in

celebrations, we would request that laughter is moderate only and not

loud enough to be considered a noise nuisance.

While Shepherds Watched

While shepherds watched
Their flocks by night
All seated on the ground
The angel of the Lord came down
And glory shone around

The union of Shepherd's has complained that it breaches health and

safety regulations to insist that shepherds watch their flocks without

appropriate seating arrangements being provided, therefore benches,

stools and orthopaedic chairs are now available. Shepherds have also

requested that due to the inclement weather conditions at this time of

year that they should watch their flocks via cctv cameras from centrally

heated shepherd observation huts.

Please note, the angel of the lord is reminded that before shining his /

her glory all around she / he must ascertain that all shepherds have

been issued with glasses capable of filtering out the harmful effects of

UVA, UVB and Glory.

Rudolph the red nosed reindeer

Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer
had a very shiny nose.
And if you ever saw him,
you would even say it glows.

You are advised that under the Equal Opportunities for All policy, it is

inappropriate for persons to make comment with regard to the ruddiness

of any part of Mr. R. Reindeer. Further to this, exclusion of Mr R

Reindeer from the Reindeer Games will be considered discriminatory and

disciplinary action will be taken against those found guilty of this

offence.

A full investigation will be implemented and sanctions - including

suspension on full pay - will be considered whilst this investigation

takes place.

Little Donkey

Little donkey, little donkey on the dusty road Got to keep on plodding
onwards with your precious load

The ASPCA have issued strict guidelines with regard to how heavy a load

that a donkey of small stature is permitted to carry, also included in

the guidelines is guidance regarding how often to feed the donkey and

how many rest breaks are required over a four hour plodding period.

Please note that due to the increased risk of pollution from the dusty road, Mary and Joseph are required to wear face masks to prevent inhalation of any

airborne particles. The donkey has expressed his discomfort at being

labelled 'little and would prefer just to be simply referred to as Mr.

Donkey. To comment upon his height or lack thereof may be considered an

infringement of his equine rights.

We Three Kings

We three kings of Orient are
Bearing gifts we traverse afar
Field and fountain, moor and mountain
Following yonder star

Whilst the gift of gold is still considered acceptable - as it may be

redeemed at a later date through such organisations as 'cash for gold'

etc, Gifts of frankincense and myrrh are not appropriate due to the potential

risk of oils and fragrances causing allergic reactions. A suggested gift

alternative would be to make a donation to a worthy cause in the

recipients name or perhaps give a gift voucher.

We would not advise that the traversing kings rely on navigation by

stars in order to reach their destinations and suggest the use of AAA

routefinder or satellite navigation, which will provide the quickest

route and advice regarding fuel consumption. Please note as per the

guidelines from the ASPCA for Mr Donkey, the camels carrying the three

kings of Orient will require regular food and rest breaks. Facemasks for

the three kings are also advisable due to the likelihood of dust from

the camels hooves.

Away in a Manger

No Crib for a bed - Social services???????

And to end this fine Christmas Post...in the Spirit of a gift that keeps on giving...and a gift given to me last night by Lady Suzanne and Sir Bowie of Greenbriar, which they said, "Personified me perfectly"...I give you, once again, Sir Fartsalot and His Merry Band of Perfumed Air Carolers....

Sir Dayvd from the Grinch Department of Oxfordshire & Sir Hook aka Sir Fartsalot of Warrick

Fantasy & Football

Fantasy and Football go together....well, like a Hot Dog in a Bun! Finger lickin' good! I Relish the idea of Mustarding up the troops each week to accomplish the impossible.

Fantasy Football is like picking Moses to be your Quarter Back against the best swimmers in the world. Not highly likely, extremely amusing and guaranteeing victory.

It gives Old Jocks like me superhuman powers as we drink beer and cheer on our team mates and destroy our opponents! It's like being 17 all over again, after catching the game winning touch down and deciding which cheerleader you're going out with tonight!

In honor of my old high school team, the Fairfield Mules...more profoundly known by our opponents as the "Jack Asses"...I named my winning team for 2009, the Mules!

I have to admit that I miss the days on the gridiron, running slants, outrunning defenders once I caught the ball...and on those special occasions...scoring a touchdown! Fantasy Football gives me the opportunity to be part of the game again. As you can see from the logo above...the Mules Kick ASS!

This morning I learned that the Mules head into the championship game this weekend after beating a team, the Heavy Hitters, that we lost to twice before the playoff game. We face the Will County Bears from Joliet, Illinois, a team that we have beaten twice. Feeling confident, but preparing just the same.

Here's my VP of Recruiting...Miss 69! Wearing the colors of the Mules..."Red, White, Black, Fight Them Back!" This is one of the reasons the Mules do so well every year. Who wouldn't want to play for a team that has "69"!

Like I said, "It's Fantasy Football Boys....Play with your Balls!"

Sir Hook (Who as A Wide Receiver for the Mules was called "Sticky Fingers"...I'll Let You Decide How I Got That Name) of Warrick

Sign of the ( Past ) Times

As much a comment (as a new blog ) , on yesterdays interesting piece by the Bowster, as signs are my stock in trade, especially the history of signage, I was wowed by the porcelain piece in the blog.... and can well understand the value put on it...by the sheer fact it didn't get broken in the last 100 years.

Colourful mass produced, long lasting , cheap, signs almost had to wait for Industry to invent itself to be able to happen. as signs if they are to carry an effective message from a building, with all the loss of size in perspective that that entails, have to be larger than you think.

The ability to create Tin sheets that could be coated with enamel and painted with enamel lettering were a giant step forward in advertising in this country, tho Brewers didn't take these up as much as did the Tobacco, Chocolate and Newspaper industry, ( usually placed en-mass around the doorways of Newsagents, ) and the most common relics from the past that you come across on visits to architectural reclamation sites are examples of these and for household goods.. They fetch very high prices ( $200 upwards ) for even the simplest and bad condition ones, and I always snap them up and restore them.


The one at the top of the page is an old advert for The Sunday People which still exists today.




Enamelled Tobacco Ads


War time Chocolate ads. ( Modern Note: Cadbury our most famous chocolate maker is in talks with Hershey in PA regarding being taken over...so one up to the USA there. )


More signs from my Collection waiting to be restored or sold.

As I have said beer ones are extremely rare and hard to find as they tended to stick with Wooden, painted signs till plastic came in.

But modern Drinking signs are making a comeback in metal and the example below may amuse and entertain you over the festive season as we relax and forget all about Advertising Selling things for a while .


Sir Dayvd ( who can just be downright impossible when he is drunk ) of
Oxfordshire.

Only 5 Shopping Days Left...

While searching eBay for the perfect Christmas gift for Sir William of Keglers, I decided to do quick "Beer -- All Categories" search.

Among the 58,906 items, I found some prety interesting stuff.


So, for all you Knights looking for last minute Christmas Gift items, check out these:


The five most expensive items were:


1. Thriving "C" license Beer/Soda Wholesales/Retailer in rockland county New York for a mere $250,000.

2. A collection of Neon Porcelain & Tin sign including beer signs for $125,000.


3. A sports bar starting at $42,500.

4. VERY RARE Important Historic Beer Hall Putsch Letter! (in German) starting at $9,875

5. Marklin VERY RARE Handpainted Early Beer Wagon (car7b) starting at $9,000



You'll also find signs, mugs, advertsing, poster... you name it, eBay might have it.



Oh, and from the "Small World but I Wouldn't Want to Bid on It" department:



Number 6?
How about a 1890's curved porcelain sign from my home town of Evansville, Indiana for just $6,500.



Sir Bowie "I Bid You Merry Christmas Shopping" of Greenbriar

Assholeology

In the category of, "It takes one to know one!"...this book, placed in the Humor section, caught my eye yesterday during a break in the day at Barnes and Noble.

First, I found it clever in creating a theology out of being an asshole...being fond of creating theologies myself. (See Enthology in my KMSA blog...Stardate-February 8, 2009) But even more interesting is the subtitle of the book, "The science behind getting your way - and getting away with it."

It's a quick read and formatted brilliantly...with side bars throughout the book like, "The Quotable Asshole"..."The Ten Demandments"...and "The Hole Truth". Example: In showing how it takes time to develop into a true asshole, the book states the fact that "Rome wasn't built in a day." The Hole Truth: Probably because it was impossible to get work done in togas. Hell, it's hard enough just trying to party in them!

Basically, assholeology states that there is a difference between being an asshole (someone who gets what they want without being a douche bag) and a douche bag (someone who even their mother hates). The key ingredient is "LIKABILITY". A quality a person has that allows his actions to be excused because people enjoy being around him.

I'm actually surprised that the authors didn't think about the L as the gene that makes the difference...because without the L you have "IKABILITY"...the byproduct of a true "Douche Bag"!

Finally, in grand KMSA tradition, the book ends in drink recipes because, "An asshole knows his way around the bar."

In this section you'll find two gems in the form of Quotable Assholes:

"I never drink anything stronger than gin before breakfast."

-W.C. Fields

"I like my whiskey old and my women young."

-Errol Flynn

So, if you're gunning for that promotion, promoting your next great idea, looking to get laid, or want everyone's attention...get the HOLE Truth! And remember, the next time someone calls you an asshole...it's a complement!

Sir Hook Who puts a Capital "A" in Asshole and "L" in Likability of Warrick

Perspective

A philosophy professor stood before his class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks, about 2″in diameter. He then asked the students if the jar was full? They agreed that it was. So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open areas between the rocks. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He then asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous - yes.

The professor then produced two cans of beer from under the table and proceeded to pour their entire contents into the jar - effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

“Now,” said the professor, as the laughter subsided,”I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The rocks are the important things – your family, your partner, your health, your children — things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, your car. The sand is everything else. The small stuff.”

“If you put the sand into the jar first,” he continued “There is no room for the pebbles or the rocks.” “The same goes for your life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out dancing. There will always be time to go to work, clean the house, give a dinner party and fix the disposal. Take care of the rocks first –the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.”

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the beer represented. The professor smiled. “I’m glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there’s always room for a couple of beers.”

Sir D ( who prefers Glenfiddich Whiskey on the Rocks ) of Oxfordshire