Friday, October 05, 2007

The Friday Groaner

Today's groaner is an old favorite of mine as well as a classic from my long time 'Net friend and fellow punster, Paul Thatcher. He doesn't have a blog -- but he should if he ever stops being the busiest retiree I know! He's the guy we sports fans love to hate as he still runs around football and baseball fields refereeing and umpiring around California and even was selected to umpire at the Little League World Series in Williamsport, New York. Please give him a hearty grooooooooaaaaaaaannnn of welcome!

Quasimodo, the noted keeper of the bell tower of Notre Dame, decided to retire. In the weeks before his final day on the job, interviews were conducted to select a suitable replacement. It seems they were going well, until around the third week, a gentleman applied who had last both arms in an accident (you could say he was . . . disarmed). Naturally, the question arose among the interviewers as to just how this armless man would effect the ringing of the bells, which required the pulling of heavy ropes to swing the bell so the clapper would strike the sides.

The man exclaimed "Allow me to demonstrate," at which point he walked to the far side of the bell tower, turned, and ran full speed into the bell with his nose leading the contact. Amazingly, the sound emanating from the bell was every bit as clear as the clapper makes when the bell is rung in a conventional manner. The interviewers were so amazed and astounded, and not just a little skeptical, that they requested another demonstration.

Unfortunately, the man's timing was off on this next attempt, and he missed the bell entirely, falling all the way down the tower to the floor. Death was immediate. (It wasn't the fall, it was the sudden stop at the bottom.) The police of course were summoned by those on the ground who had witnessed this unfortunate incident. About the time the chief detective arrived, the interviewers made it down the long flight of stairs, panting with exhaustion at the trek. The chief detective asked the gathered crowd, "Does anyone know this man?" The response came from the lead interviewer . . .

"I don't know his name, but his face rings a bell."

GROOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAANNNNN!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Blogging!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kay

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