tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post1039549909290357456..comments2023-10-21T11:44:45.588+01:00Comments on ResidentAlien: Spoken In JestMary Witzlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06458299046574564155noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-33088290037874676802009-03-13T19:00:00.000+00:002009-03-13T19:00:00.000+00:00Barbara -- It's so awful to do this when you are C...Barbara -- It's so awful to do this when you are CERTAIN that what you say will be interpreted as a joke. I love deadpan humor myself, so I strive to dish it out. After all these years, I ought to know that not everyone can digest it.Mary Witzlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06458299046574564155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-12742074565465465852009-03-13T17:39:00.000+00:002009-03-13T17:39:00.000+00:00Another wonderful post on life. I've put my foot i...Another wonderful post on life. I've put my foot in my mouth many a time. Thanks, Mary.Barbara Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00610140328527165017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-91393429015915340812009-03-05T17:56:00.000+00:002009-03-05T17:56:00.000+00:00Laura -- That is such a great comment that I hones...Laura -- That is such a great comment that I honestly wish I could wait on tables again, just to try it. And I am absolutely going to garnish my salads with nasturtiums, then sit back and wait for the inevitable. I can hardly wait!Mary Witzlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06458299046574564155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-15946931170612051642009-03-05T03:14:00.000+00:002009-03-05T03:14:00.000+00:00I love it! I do the same thing while waitressing (...I love it! I do the same thing while waitressing (which is dangerous considering I depend upon those damn tips). Our chefs add lovely flower garnishes to their entrees and customers frequently ask me if they're edible. I realize this is a reasonable question but I can't help myself and frequently say, "Oh, no, that's deadly nightshade I wouldn't eat it if I were you!" I'm always guaranteed a reaction.laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17174697892947430149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-8034787619904739742009-03-02T05:56:00.000+00:002009-03-02T05:56:00.000+00:00Merry -- I'm beginning to see that the reason so m...Merry -- I'm beginning to see that the reason so many of my attempts at humor go over like lead balloons is because the people they're aimed at don't know me well enough. This is probably why I just leave people staring in amazement. Which means I must look even more clueless than I really am. Still, I'm betting you and I would find each other funny. We wouldn't have to keep reminding people that we were only joking.<BR/><BR/>Debra -- That is absolutely a comment I would have made, and it's refreshing and reassuring to know that other people do this too. And my second daughter is usualy the one who takes things literally. Come to think of it, so am I -- I might have gotten snagged on your shared immune system lozenge remark myself. <BR/><BR/>Kappa -- The problem is, they usually don't catch on! Still, I can't stop myself. It's just in my nature to keep at it.Mary Witzlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06458299046574564155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-15831848972672497162009-03-01T11:00:00.000+00:002009-03-01T11:00:00.000+00:00Ha ha, I love it. I love deadpan humor. Keep it up...Ha ha, I love it. I love deadpan humor. Keep it up. Sooner or later they'll catch on.Kappa no Hehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00909580462578058631noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-24000256916459494932009-02-28T13:28:00.000+00:002009-02-28T13:28:00.000+00:00#2 daughter usually "gets it" when my sarcasm rear...#2 daughter usually "gets it" when my sarcasm rears its head. One time, though, I had bought a jar of an immune system supplement. The directions said to suck on a lozenge. I suggested that there was only one lozenge and that when she was done sucking on it, she put it back in the jar. She wanted to know if er <I>had</I> to share.debrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17676300309029588465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-51748627801294756012009-02-27T23:36:00.000+00:002009-02-27T23:36:00.000+00:00I do this kind of thing all the time... mostly it'...I do this kind of thing all the time... mostly it's because my mouth moves faster than my brain and I say things without thinking... sometimes I'm trying to be funny. <BR/><BR/>There've been a number of times where I've said things meant to be funny/silly and they just thought I was an idiot... ah well... perhaps I am.Merry Monteleonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09435956005780500310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-67577490053900144202009-02-27T19:43:00.000+00:002009-02-27T19:43:00.000+00:00Kim -- Thank you! I'm so glad you think I've got o...Kim -- Thank you! I'm so glad you think I've got one!<BR/><BR/>Danette -- I've approached a few agents, but I've been told that I'm not famous and thus not a good risk. I'm seriously thinking of doing something a la David Blaine to advance my cause. (That is a joke, by the way...)Mary Witzlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06458299046574564155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-73236226317311139352009-02-27T19:15:00.000+00:002009-02-27T19:15:00.000+00:00OMG, LOL! Mary--you need to get these stories in p...OMG, LOL! Mary--you need to get these stories in print!Danette Haworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13220718895967380788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-18693489341943297342009-02-27T11:54:00.000+00:002009-02-27T11:54:00.000+00:00I've always loved your sense of humour, Mary :)I've always loved your sense of humour, Mary :)Kim Ayreshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02656677501116622953noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-19221095657746332272009-02-27T06:12:00.000+00:002009-02-27T06:12:00.000+00:00Tabitha -- How reassuring it is to learn that I'm ...Tabitha -- How reassuring it is to learn that I'm not the only one who does this! I'm sure people think that I'm a very muddled sort, given all the things I've joked about. Personally, I think we just have superior senses of humor. I think we'd find each other enormously funny.<BR/><BR/>Anne -- What a great story! Did you end up tutoring her, and if so, how did you go about teaching her sarcasm? I had to explain the terms 'sarcasm' and 'cynicism' to my pre-intermediate class and I had my work cut out for me there. Apparently, 'cynicism' isn't a concept easily translatable into Turkish. <BR/><BR/>Perhaps I should advertise for a joke-delivery instructor. (Uh...that was a joke.)<BR/><BR/>Lily -- How nice to know that I'm in good company here. Now I'm wondering what you said that ended up in a doctor's charts. Whenever I have to fill in one of those patient history forms, I'm always tempted to play around with 'sex' and 'substance abuse' myself.Mary Witzlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06458299046574564155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-41208986396675407582009-02-27T02:22:00.000+00:002009-02-27T02:22:00.000+00:00Oh no, this is me! I can't help myself. I've even ...Oh no, this is me! <BR/>I can't help myself. <BR/>I've even made some comments to the nurse at the Dr's office- and one time it ended up on my chart!Lily Catehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17732112345439595471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-39935075421883362009-02-26T18:02:00.000+00:002009-02-26T18:02:00.000+00:00There was a job advertised in the college where I ...There was a job advertised in the college where I work - it was tutoring a practicing doctor in the US who spoke ESL - American sarcasm. I had to read it three times before I was sure I got the ad right. The ad said she needed to understand her patients better, and sarcasm puzzled her. She was afraid of making a mistakek in not understanding it, so maybe it is a cultural hallmark.Anne Spollenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12915171740680350711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-78557244142009882662009-02-26T15:58:00.000+00:002009-02-26T15:58:00.000+00:00Oh no! I've gotten myself into those situations b...Oh no! I've gotten myself into those situations before, too, and it's so strange trying to get out of it, isn't it?<BR/><BR/>A collegue of mine once engaged me in friendly banter, so I chimed in. Apparently, he couldn't tell that I was joking along with him and huffed off, saying I couldn't take a joke. To this day, I think he still believes this. :)Tabithahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420910182752981979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-48086383375763627272009-02-26T13:23:00.000+00:002009-02-26T13:23:00.000+00:00Charlie -- I always have every intention of being ...Charlie -- I always have every intention of being funny, but apparently my wit is just a little bit too dry to go down well. And as beauty is in the eye of the beholder, wit obviously pre-exists in the funny-bone of the interlocutor.<BR/><BR/>Christy -- This is good advice and I would take it. The problem is, though, my challenging students just don't get it! If they got the joke, it would be great, but it sails over their heads every single time. <BR/><BR/>Eryl -- I hope I never did this to you! Actually, this has happened to me. Sometimes I think I need lessons on body language, inflection, and eye control.<BR/><BR/>Adrienne -- Somewhere there is bound to be an entire country populated by people who get our humor. It would be great to find it, wouldn't it?<BR/><BR/>Robin -- (Sniff) Thank you. I think I should have asked the vampire and pirate to take off their masks. Then I could have told them that it was just a joke, and that the town dentist and I had no evil plans to promote their cavities.<BR/><BR/>Charles -- I'm glad you know how I feel. It's so frustrating when I see other people succeeding in the humor department. I know that I have certain gifts; I just wish they were appreciated.<BR/><BR/>Bish -- Thank you, I won't give up. I'll keep plugging away gamely at the humor thing until someone finally gets it and laughs. Until then, I'll have to rely on unintentionally amusing others by slipping on banana peels, etc.Mary Witzlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06458299046574564155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-19977322221981291532009-02-26T12:18:00.000+00:002009-02-26T12:18:00.000+00:00Youth and culture differences can be hazardous to ...Youth and culture differences can be hazardous to your humor. <BR/><BR/>Do not give up the battle of bringing a little laughter into the world!Bish Denhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13359927719391990534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-60094399522563135522009-02-26T04:58:00.000+00:002009-02-26T04:58:00.000+00:00I've been known to mess up where humor is concerne...I've been known to mess up where humor is concerned myself.Charles Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-22757109207675877692009-02-26T04:32:00.000+00:002009-02-26T04:32:00.000+00:00Those stories are adorable. I think you're funny! ...Those stories are adorable. I think you're funny! For the record, I would have laughed - even if I were a vampire.Robinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12396540555696283171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-46863283486553799692009-02-26T01:03:00.000+00:002009-02-26T01:03:00.000+00:00Oh, I get in trouble for those kinds of comments t...Oh, I get in trouble for those kinds of comments too. I've heard that some cultures don't get the humor in sarcasm/irony at all...it's not a universal form of humor. I just wish I could realize where it is appreciated.Adriennehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05583029102450754497noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-14738839512959067802009-02-25T22:03:00.000+00:002009-02-25T22:03:00.000+00:00I have the opposite problem: I say something in al...I have the opposite problem: I say something in all seriousness and people fall about laughing. It's most disturbing.Eryl Shieldshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01818102006775827503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-84680327411806789552009-02-25T21:38:00.000+00:002009-02-25T21:38:00.000+00:00Oh, the straight man of the comedy team is where a...Oh, the straight man of the comedy team is where all the talent lies! Be proud of your deadpan delivery and spot-on timing. Then employ someone else to be your funny sidekick. I'm sure one of your more...challenging students would be up to the task.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15426194809023361882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-69582824399551141832009-02-25T19:17:00.000+00:002009-02-25T19:17:00.000+00:00Boy, do I know that feeling of open mouth, insert ...Boy, do I know that feeling of open mouth, insert foot, and swallow.<BR/><BR/>It's a curse we share, Mary. We're witty as hell, but the populace cannot tell if we're kidding or not. <BR/><BR/>In my case, I'm usually not.Charliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00722567671925063706noreply@blogger.com