An Alarm Clock – My Gag Gift

So we had our holiday party today, and guess what I got?


Yes, a Sharp Twin Bell Alarm Clock!


Of course, with each gag gift came a mini-speech by some of the managers as why they choose this gift for you.


So of course, I am consistently the first one in every morning and the person who opens up for everyone else–reliable, dependable, and hard-working Andy! 🙂


Some of my other colleagues got a hula hoop, a toy toolkit, a mini teapot, a little school bus, coffee mugs with funny sayings, a rock and roll trophy, mini boxing gloves, stuffed pillows with smileys, and more. 


Each came with its own unique story.


Pizza, beer, and bowling were part of the festivities. 


It’s nice when people appreciate each other and can have some fun. 


Thanks for the holiday party and the alarm clock.  😉


(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

How Much Can You Love Something?

Bowling Ball House.jpeg

Bowling 2.jpeg

Notice that the title of this blog is not how much can you love G-d or someone…


Those can be virtually infinite. 


I remember my dad was so devoted to G-d and his family. 


He used to say:


“I would go through fire for my family [and of course G-d].”


And we all knew from his daily actions that he meant it! 


But how about for things–how much do some people love their things?


I read today in the Wall Street Journal how David Rockefeller’s estate of paintings, porcelain, and silver was slated to sell for $700 million!


That’s a lot of prized possessions of [lovely] material things!


But even things that aren’t so pricey are incredibly beloved to many people. 


In these photos, someone who must really love bowling has adorned their home and property with dozens of bowling bowls. 


Literally on the fence and in big piles as decoration in the yard all around the home. 


True, it’s colorful, novel, and sort of interesting, but really you love bowling that much!


Yes, we are want to be comfortable with our special things especially when they provide good memories and sentimental feelings.


But whether a bowling bowl house or a Rockefeller estate, it’s only truly worth something if there is G-d and loving people in it with you. 😉


(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Your Bowling Help Desk At Your Service

Bowling Help Desk
This was the sign in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building Bowling Ally that I mentioned in a post yesterday.



[Note: I’ve removed the phone number so don’t try calling.] 



Yeah, I’ve heard about a help desk for a lot of things, especially for Information Technology, but for bowling???



Thinking about calling a help desk for trouble with bowling [equipment], I couldn’t help imaging how this may go and chuckling a little:



“Hello, this is the bowling help desk at your service–what is the nature of your bowling emergency?”



Or



“Press 1 if your bowling shoes are too tight.



Press 2 if you’ve dropped the bowling ball on your foot.



Press 3 if you’ve bowled 2 or more gutter balls in a row.



Press 4 if the bowling machine is in a frustratingly stuck position.



Press 5 if you’ve lost your bowling ball or need a replacement.



Press 6 if you need additional scoring sheets.



Press 7 if you’re a lousey bowler and need bumpers to help your game. 



Press 8 if your fingers are caught in the ball and you can’t get them out. 



Press 9 if you’d just rather be ice skating or going to the movies. 



Press the # key, if you need to speak to a bowling representative.”



Lastly, I wonder if they open a help desk ticket for the bowling challenged and what their response time is. 



Yep, help is only a call away when you’ve got a bowling problem in the works. 



Now, if only they could fix the highly troubled DC Metro system–there should definitely be a robust help desk for that!  😉



(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Bowling With The Prez

Bowling
Tonight, we went bowling at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building.



It is just to the West of the White House and is occupied by the Executive Office of the President.



It was very exciting to go there and be surrounded by all the action. 



The bowling is in the basement–just 2 lanes and a lot of beat of balls and smelly shoes. 



There was a weird sign that said “For trouble with bowling equipment, please call the GSA Help desk”–whose ever heard of a help desk for bowling (that really is service!)? 



There were pictures of many of the presidents bowling, including Obama, Bush, and even Nixon. 



It was funny that the bowling ally is called the Harry S. Truman Bowling Ally even though it is in the Eisenhower building.



I learned that AMF Bowling company donated the lanes to the Federal government. 



There are also a couple of lanes in the White House as well. 



Well back to my game–no gutter balls please. 😉



(Thank you National Institute of Standards and Technology and Dannielle Blumenthal for a terrific evening.)



(Source Photo: Rebecca Blumenthal)