Circus Duck

Home

   I'm finally home from all my travels. You might find this hard to believe but I am glad my trips are over. It's so good to be in California. I missed my friends, family and even my clients.

   Home is such a relative term. I used to think it was where my parents lived. And then, when I was in college, it used to be where my aunt lived. Then it used to be in the general area where all my friends lived --- it didn't matter where I lay my head as long as my friends were nearby. Then when I got married it was where my wife and kids lived. In every situation, it didn't really have to do with the physical location, it was always where I felt safe, loved and needed.

   As I've aged I'm realizing that we all want to hold on to people we love yet it's hard to face the reality that people have their own lives and have their own plans and suddenly home isn't "home" anymore. Suddenly, "home" can never be what we would like it to be. But thanks to technology, a semblance of home can still be enjoyed through video conferences. I know it's not the best but, you know what? It's the best for all our different lives. Our true home is yet to follow in heaven. Then, it'll all be good!

   Glad to be back. TGIF!

Wisdom from Norm
the Arcadia Accountant

The Circus Comes To Town
Sent in by Russ of Monrovia of California

A duck walks into a pub and orders a pint of beer and a ham sandwich.

The bartender looks at him and says, "Hang on! You're a duck."

"I see your eyes are working," replies the duck.

"And you can talk!" exclaims the bartender.

"I see your ears are working, too," says the duck. "Now if you don't mind, can I have my beer and my sandwich please?"

"Certainly, sorry about that," says the bartender as he pours the duck a pint. "It's just we don't get many ducks in this pub. What are you doing around this way?"

"I'm working on the building site across the road," explains the duck. "I'm a plasterer."

The flabbergasted bartender cannot believe the duck and wants to learn more, but takes the hint when the duck pulls out a newspaper from his bag and proceeds to read it.

So, the duck reads his paper, drinks his beer, eats his sandwich, bids the barman good day and leaves.

The same thing happens every day for two weeks.

Then one day the circus comes to town. The ringmaster comes into the pub for a pint and the bartender says to him, "You're with the circus, aren't you? Well, I know this duck that could be just brilliant in your circus. He talks, drinks beer, eats sandwiches, reads the newspaper and everything!"

"Sounds marvelous," says the ringmaster, handing over his business card. "Get him to give me a call."

So the next day when the duck comes into the pub the bartender says, "Hey Mr. Duck, I reckon I can line you up with a top job, paying really good money."

"I'm always looking for the next job," says the duck. "Where is it?"

"At the circus," says the bartender.

"The circus?" repeats the duck.

"That's right," replies the bartender.

"The circus?" the duck asks again. "With the big tent?"

"Yeah!" the bartender replies.

"With all the animals who live in cages, and performers who live in caravans?" says the duck.

"Of course," the bartender replies.

"And the tent has canvas sides and a big canvas roof with a hole in the middle?" persists the duck.

"That's right!" says the bartender.

The duck shakes his head in amazement, and says, "What would they want with a plasterer???"

Videos of the week:

Boxing Orangutans
Contributor: Charlie of New Jersey

Manny Pacquiao fans, here's a boxing match you will enjoy.

Water Art
Contributor: Rey of Simi Valley, CA

I bet the Japanese were inspired by the dot matrix printers of years past when they created this beautiful moving artwork.

Jump Rope Queen
Contributor: Don of Kelowna, B.C.

I could never do this. Even at the prime of my youth, I could never do this. I wonder how long she can keep this up. I mean, how do you even begin to practice for something like this. An amazing woman!

Police Dogs
Contributor: Tom of Pasadena, CA

In one of the airport lines I went through we had to wait for an inspector to show up before we could move through customs. It turned out that the inspector was a dog. It was so cool to see the dog sniff through all our carry ons. This last video reminds me of the efficiency of our 4 legged friends. TGIF people!