200th Post With Mark Twain

Pardon this break in the 100-word-rule. This is a 200-word-post, 100 each for myself and Mark Twain. Now, he and I had something in common – a watch that needed repair because one day, it stopped. The uncanny resemblance in our state of affairs is narrated by Mark Twain himself:

“The regulator wants pushing up” sayeth the repairman as told by Twain. “And my watch begin to gain. It gained faster and faster day-by-day. At the end of two months it was thirteen days ahead of the almanac….” Unsatisfied, he consulted another. “It needed cleaning and oiling besides regulating” says him. “And my watch slowed down. It gradually drifted back…. until the world was out of sight. And had this fellow-feeling for the mummy in the museum, and a desire to swap news with him.” Not wanting to give up he went on to another. “There’s something the matter with the hair-trigger” it diagnosed. “It did well now,” says Twain “except that always at ten minutes to ten the hands would shut together like a pair of scissors, and from that time forth they would travel together....”

Together, in celebration of this 200th milestone, I share this post with Mark Twain.
=============================================================================
100 anecdotes 100 anecdotes 100 anecdotes 100 anecdotes 100 anecdotes 100 anecdotes 100 anecdotes 100 anecdotes 100
=============================================================================

Of Divers And Drivers

On The Road

Or In The Water

A seasoned driver has his speed checked by using the accelerator, except when it’s raining when roads are slick and visibility is poor, then he uses the breaks - in the same way that a new diver has one finger on the inflator all the time to go up and down the water. As he gets more accustomed to diving, he uses breathing: out - gets him down, in - buoys him up. In everything else, experience economizes use of facilities, which the naïve clings to his full advantage.
=============================================================================
100 anecdotes 100 anecdotes 100 anecdotes 100 anecdotes 100 anecdotes 100 anecdotes 100 anecdotes 100 anecdotes 100
=============================================================================

Stones

Somewhere South

Philippines

We came to this old man who can heal the sick or so we’re told. One by one he unwrapped several stones for us. “I will soak this in water and let your Dad drink it for free.” I said, “Can you come see him?” No he can’t - as it would be unfair to those who come and not find him there. Then he brought out gold rings with stones. “These stones transmit energy and heal. I can come with you to fit just the right ring size. But the price depends on the gold. Do you prefer 18k?”
=============================================================================
100 anecdotes 100 anecdotes 100 anecdotes 100 anecdotes 100 anecdotes 100 anecdotes 100 anecdotes 100 anecdotes 100
=============================================================================

Wreck It Ralph!

AMC Theater

Burbank

Wreck It Ralph gathers all villains in arcade games who are fed up at being - always the bad guy! The result is one serious hilarity that tugs at the heart. I thought it was going to be one of those boring-for-kids-only cartoon flick. I was wrong. It’s a film for all ages, for the whole family, or by yourself and not feeling guilty about it. Hooked to the screen, curled up, wide eyed, no fidgeting, no itching to go out before the credits roll, that's my 4-year-old and for that alone – TWO THUMBS UP!
=============================================================================
100 anecdotes 100 anecdotes 100 anecdotes 100 anecdotes 100 anecdotes 100 anecdotes 100 anecdotes 100 anecdotes 100
=============================================================================

The Vow

N Los Angeles Ave
Los Angeles

The immigration officer said she made a vow to give her child a name which means Gift from God but, changed her mind. Her conscience bothered her so much she changed back the name. I said, "I made a pact like that with my Grandpa, I’m afraid something like that will happen to me." She gave me a look as if I was trying to put up my story against her story and that mine doesn’t even come close to hers. Finally she said, “I don’t know about your Grandpa but he doesn’t have powers like God….”
=============================================================================
100 anecdotes 100 anecdotes 100 anecdotes 100 anecdotes 100 anecdotes 100 anecdotes 100 anecdotes 100 anecdotes 100
=============================================================================

Being Jerk

Smart & Final

La Crescenta

A woman suddenly stopped then left her cartful of groceries blocking my way. In annoyance I honked! She was jolted, looked in my direction, but continued walking leaving the cart smack dab in the middle of the road! I blew my horn again! She reluctantly came back to her cart and pushed, and pushed some more, but it wouldn’t budge - as the wheels were locked! I realized she was going towards a pile of carts to get another in which to transfer her goodies into. Just then, a portly man nearby came in to help, while I watched, embarrassed….
=============================================================================
100 anecdotes 100 anecdotes 100 anecdotes 100 anecdotes 100 anecdotes 100 anecdotes 100 anecdotes 100 anecdotes 100
=============================================================================

Bike Ride On A Sunny Day

Pacific Bluff
Big Sur

In one of those lookout bluffs facing the Pacific at Big Sur was a man on his bike rigged with miniature luggage. He's obviously not your typical local out on a bike ride on a sunny day but a serious traveler. His name is Loek, a French guy from Strasbourg on his way to South America. He’s done Europe and Asia, and now the Americas, and then Africa, “Maybe.” he said, and all these trips by mere leg power! "I'm jealous." I said. As he pedaled away, he looked back and shouted “Life is a bike ride Jun!”

=============================================================================
100 anecdotes 100 anecdotes 100 anecdotes 100 anecdotes 100 anecdotes 100 anecdotes 100 anecdotes 100 anecdotes 100
=============================================================================

Outrage

Cove 2
Seattle, Washington

A diver caught a giant octopus at a dive spot in the presence of other divers. Outrage followed. I say it’s brazen and selfish. An octopus is one of the more exciting inhabitants in any coral reef. Sightings are rare and far between. For one diver to kill it for himself is totally outrageous! Dive spots are usually protected ecosystems. They are marine sanctuaries for spawning, and divers are trained to protect and conserve the marine environment. But by the looks of it, this lad is not licensed, if he has one, he does not deserve it.

=============================================================================
100 anecdotes 100 anecdotes 100 anecdotes 100 anecdotes 100 anecdotes 100 anecdotes 100 anecdotes 100 anecdotes 100
=============================================================================

Dad

Dad was a friendly guy. If somebody chanced to even glance at him he starts talking and there is no letting up. I remember his first visit when I was away for university, he was gone for a while in the morning, afternoon came and somebody knocked at the door. “Is your father there?”  I quizzically asked, “You know my father?” “Yes.” he said. “We had lunch by the eatery across the street, so where’s he?” Now he’s in the hereafter, and maybe today hovering above everybody who’re gathered by his tomb since it’s All Souls’ Day. I miss the man….
=============================================================================
100 anecdotes 100 anecdotes 100 anecdotes 100 anecdotes 100 anecdotes 100 anecdotes 100 anecdotes 100 anecdotes 100
=============================================================================