Greetings here at the end of another year – 2011 is almost gone and 2012 looms at us in just a couple of days.
It is time for the tree to come down, for the unwanted gifts to be returned to the store; and then the doldrums of waiting to see if the streets in Atlanta are going to freeze up.
After the first of January, Atlanta is not noted for much; but paying Christmas bills, watching Ken Cook to see if the schools will be closed – and avoiding going to the mail box as long as you can .
“Ken Cook is one of the south's best known and trusted weather forecasters, as well as one of FOX 5 Atlanta's most recognizable faces. When weather takes center stage, viewers know they can 'Depend on Ken' to deliver an accurate forecast, free of unnecessary hype.”
Icy weather and snow are not all that common here in Atlanta and a bad storm usually shuts the city down. Kids just love it because there is no school.
People react like the end of the world is coming when they hear the news and run to clean out the grocery stores, fill up with gas, and then hunker down and get ready.
Picture this – the snow is all of five inches deep, schools closed, a nice fire going in the fireplace, and lots of good warm food to warn the insides. Most everyone has a doo dad of some kind they got for Christmas and the texting, and e-mailing, and Facebook entries just fly from place to place. But this could be great time to spend with family by interacting with one another and not everyone minding everyone else’s business on the Internet.
Families can be drawn together by so many things like weddings and funerals; but there should be other times as well. Playing games together can help family members grow closer and to understand one another more.
What if there were no hand held electronic devices; or what if the power goes off and you can’t even boost those hand held devices? Then it is time to bring out the board games or a good book to read. Taking a long winter’s nap is good too.
Scrabble is a good word game to play and crossword books are fun as well. If you ever came across this definition in a crossword puzzle would you know what it meant?
“A figure of speech where the last part of the sentence or phrase has a surprising or unexpected ending.” These are often used by stand up comedians for a laugh.
Or what if you could add to a word on the Scrabble board that would make you a thousand point spelled “paraprosodokian?” You would likely be challenged; but it is a real word and means the definition in the previous paragraph.
What if you made up a new game for the family to play – by having them put the ending on a famous quote like:
The famous quote could be: “It never rains; but it pours.” The ending might be changed to: “It never rains; but what the dog doesn’t have to pee!”
Fill in the blanks with what you think the paraprosodokian might be - by playing charades or by writing the first half on a piece of paper and the rest on another piece of paper. Have everyone around the table scramble to find the appropriate ending.
The ending should be humorous if possible.
1. Do not argue with an idiot. He will…
2. The last thing I want to do is hurt you.; but…
3. Light travels faster than sound that is why…
4. If I agreed with you, we’d…
5. We never really grow up we only learn….
6. War does not determine who is right….
7. Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit but wisdom is…..
8. Evening news is where they begin with ‘Good Evening’….and then….
9. To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism. To steal from many is…
10. A bus station is where a bus stops. A train station is where a train stops. On my desk….
11. I thought I wanted a career…..
12. Whenever I fill out an application, in the part that says, ‘In case of emergency, notify:’ I put….
13. I didn’t say it was your fault, I said…
14. Women will never be equal to men until they can walk down the street with a bald head and a beer gut, and still think they are….
15. Behind every successful man is his woman. Behind the fall of a successful man is usually…
16. A clear conscience is the sign of a ….
17. I asked God for a bike, but I know God doesn’t work that way. So I stole a bike and asked for….
18. You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to…
19. Money can’t buy happiness, but it sure makes misery….
20. There’s a fine line between cuddling and holding…
21. I used to be indecisive. Now I’m not….
22. You’re never too old to learn something…
23. To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first and…
24. Nostalgia isn’t …
25. Change is inevitable, except from…
26. Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage…
27. Hospitality is making your guests feel at home even when you wish …
28. When tempted to fight fire with fire, remember that the Fire Department usually…
You can paraprosdokian and find more of come up with your own.
Happy New Year to all my readers, may God bless you with joy, happiness, and good health in this new year of 2012.
I will post the original answers in the comment window below in a couple of days. See how close you can come to answers – or how well you did not making up your own.
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