“
A kiss from the Captain would probably melt my central processor.”
Thorne winked at her. “Oh trust me. It would.
”
”
Marissa Meyer (Winter (The Lunar Chronicles, #4))
“
I passed out from stress? That’s it?”
“I believe the princess term is fainted,” said Thorne.
”
”
Marissa Meyer (Winter (The Lunar Chronicles, #4))
“
I am a Jew. Hath
not a Jew eyes? hath not a Jew hands, organs,
dimensions, senses, affections, passions? fed with
the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject
to the same diseases, healed by the same means,
warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer, as
a Christian is? If you prick us, do we not bleed?
if you tickle us, do we not laugh? if you poison
us, do we not die? and if you wrong us, shall we not
revenge? If we are like you in the rest, we will
resemble you in that. If a Jew wrong a Christian,
what is his humility? Revenge. If a Christian
wrong a Jew, what should his sufferance be by
Christian example? Why, revenge. The villany you
teach me, I will execute, and it shall go hard but I
will better the instruction.
”
”
William Shakespeare
“
The Friday before winter break, my mom packed me an overnight bag and a few deadly weapons and took me to a new boarding school.
”
”
Rick Riordan (The Titan’s Curse (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #3))
“
Lonely people have enthusiasms which cannot always be explained. When something strikes them as funny, the intensity and length of their laughter mirrors the depth of their loneliness, and they are capable of laughing like hyenas. When something touches their emotions, it runs through them like Paul Revere, awakening feelings that gather into great armies.
”
”
Mark Helprin (Winter's Tale)
“
Fall colors are funny. They’re so bright and intense and beautiful. It’s like nature is trying to fill you up with color, to saturate you so you can stockpile it before winter turns everything muted and dreary.
”
”
Siobhan Vivian (Same Difference)
“
You mean she doesn’t intend to blow me up before the ceremony?” said Kai, taking the box. “How disappointing.
”
”
Marissa Meyer (Winter (The Lunar Chronicles, #4))
“
Greenwich is a funny word, isn't it? All green and witchy. Like soup.
”
”
Marissa Meyer (Winter (The Lunar Chronicles, #4))
“
If you think I'm one of those people who try to be funny at breakfast you're wrong. I'm invariably ill-tempered in the early morning.
”
”
Daphne du Maurier (Rebecca)
“
In case you don't recognize me, I happen to be good friends with Princess Selene. I'm willing to guess you've heard of-"
"Apprehend her."
"I guess you have.
”
”
Marissa Meyer (Winter (The Lunar Chronicles, #4))
“
You have food?" Winter scolded. "I thought you said you were hungry."
I'm hungry for other things besides what I have," [Clover] argued.
”
”
Obert Skye (Leven Thumps and the Gateway to Foo (Leven Thumps, #1))
“
He gave Cress a quick farewell embrace,then pulled Iko into a hug. Iko squeaked, frozen.When Kai pulled away,Iko looked from him,to Cinder, then back.Her eyes suddenly rolled up into her head and she collapsed onto the floor.
”
”
Marissa Meyer (Winter (The Lunar Chronicles, #4))
“
No one wears buckles anymore, and I decided to get him some real boots next winter solstice.Some sexy guy boots. Yeah.
”
”
Kim Harrison (Black Magic Sanction (The Hollows, #8))
“
I am in love, and the river is beginning to ice over. I’d better go drown myself before I freeze to death.
”
”
Dark Jar Tin Zoo (Love Quotes for the Ages. Specifically Ages 19-91.)
“
What was that you gave me to eat?" Winter panicked.
A Filler Crisp," Clover said, his eyes seventy percent concerned and thirty percent mischievous.
”
”
Obert Skye (Leven Thumps and the Gateway to Foo (Leven Thumps, #1))
“
We're like Romeo and Juliet."
"We're both going to die?" he asks in alarm.
"Smart Romeo and Juliet."
"You're going to kill my cousin?" He seems less alarmed about this.
"I take it you don't like your cousin?"
"He's a bit of an asshole, if I'm being honest."
"I'm glad you've embraced being Juliet.
”
”
Alice Winters (A Villain for Christmas (Vexing Villains, #1))
“
Well, what do you want me to say?' The Doctor was so angry he was almost hovering. 'Well done on marrying the only male nurse not to have a full set of Barbara Streisand records? Why did you pick him, anyway? Were there no flight attendants in your village?'
'Only Jeff,' [Amy replied].
'Ah.'...
'I picked Rory, always Rory, because he is just like you,' I [Amy] yelled at him. 'He is sweet and understanding and funny and he always tries to do the right thing. Plus you both run the same way.'
'We do not.'
'Do so.
”
”
James Goss (Doctor Who: Dead of Winter)
“
All problems with writing and performing come from fear. Fear of exposure, fear of weakness, fear of lack of talent, fear of looking like a fool for trying, for even thinking you could write in the first place. It's all fear. If we didn't have fear, imagine the creativity in the world. Fear holds us back every step of the way. A lot of studies say that despite all our fears in this country - death, war, guns, illness - our biggest fear is public speaking. What I am doing right now. And when people are asked to identify which kind of public speaking they are most afraid of, they check the improvisation box. So improvisation is the number-one fear in America. Forget a nuclear winter or an eight-point nine earthquake or another Hitler. It's improv. Which is funny, because aren't we just improvising all day long? Isn't our whole life just one long improvisation? What are we so scared of?
”
”
Lily King (Writers & Lovers)
“
[Clover] secretly hitched a ride with a nice German couple and their new baby...Clover appeared to the baby, so as to be a delightful, soothing surprise. Well, the child did like Clover. In fact, she held him and cooed. When the parents turned around to look at her and saw their child holding a furry, living creature, they needlessly panicked.
”
”
Obert Skye (Leven Thumps and the Gateway to Foo (Leven Thumps, #1))
“
There was an edge to his expression, like he didn't trust anyone who was more attractive than he was.
”
”
Marissa Meyer (Winter (The Lunar Chronicles, #4))
“
It’s a funny old world. Once you realize that, you’re halfway there.
”
”
Maeve Binchy (A Week in Winter)
“
I was on a mission. I had to learn to comfort myself, to see what others saw in me and believe it. I needed to discover what the hell made me happy other than being in love. Mission impossible.
When did figuring out what makes you happy become work? How had I let myself get to this point, where I had to learn me..? It was embarrassing. In my college psychology class, I had studied theories of adult development and learned that our twenties are for experimenting, exploring different jobs, and discovering what fulfills us. My professor warned against graduate school, asserting, "You're not fully formed yet. You don't know if it's what you really want to do with your life because you haven't tried enough things." Oh, no, not me.." And if you rush into something you're unsure about, you might awake midlife with a crisis on your hands," he had lectured it. Hi. Try waking up a whole lot sooner with a pre-thirty predicament worm dangling from your early bird mouth.
"Well to begin," Phone Therapist responded, "you have to learn to take care of yourself. To nurture and comfort that little girl inside you, to realize you are quite capable of relying on yourself. I want you to try to remember what brought you comfort when you were younger."
Bowls of cereal after school, coated in a pool of orange-blossom honey. Dragging my finger along the edge of a plate of mashed potatoes. I knew I should have thought "tea" or "bath," but I didn't. Did she want me to answer aloud?
"Grilled cheese?" I said hesitantly.
"Okay, good. What else?"
I thought of marionette shows where I'd held my mother's hand and looked at her after a funny part to see if she was delighted, of brisket sandwiches with ketchup, like my dad ordered. Sliding barn doors, baskets of brown eggs, steamed windows, doubled socks, cupcake paper, and rolled sweater collars. Cookouts where the fathers handled the meat, licking wobbly batter off wire beaters, Christmas ornaments in their boxes, peanut butter on apple slices, the sounds and light beneath an overturned canoe, the pine needle path to the ocean near my mother's house, the crunch of snow beneath my red winter boots, bedtime stories. "My parents," I said. Damn. I felt like she made me say the secret word and just won extra points on the Psychology Game Network. It always comes down to our parents in therapy.
”
”
Stephanie Klein (Straight Up and Dirty)
“
Funny, when i was a little boy I wanted to be good. But I could never seem to manage it somehow. And if you're not good, the good people will throw you to the wolves. So you might as well just be bad
”
”
C.J. Sansom (Winter in Madrid)
“
.....It's funny, but your parents can give you everything in the world, but they can't teach you what to do with it. That, you have to learn for yourself.
”
”
Amanda Carpenter (The Winter King)
“
Last winter, when so many Living joined the Dead and our prey became scarce, I watched some of my friends become full-dead. The transition was undramatic. They just slowed down, then stopped, and after a while I realised they were corpses. It disquieted me at first, but it’s against etiquette to notice when one of us dies. I distracted myself with some groaning.
”
”
Isaac Marion (Warm Bodies (Warm Bodies, #1))
“
Sir," returned Mrs. Sparsit, " I cannot say that i have heard him precisely snore, and therefore must not make that statement. But on winter evenings, when he has fallen asleep at his table, I have heard him, what I should prefer to describe as partially choke. I have heard him on such occasions produce sounds of a nature similar to what may be heard in dutch clocks. Not," said Mrs. Sparsit, with a lofty sense of giving strict evidence, " That I would convey any imputation on his moral character. Far from it.
”
”
Charles Dickens (Hard Times)
“
The denizens of Feyland find the absence of magic to be quite funny. I mean no offense. ”
“None taken.”
“For example – In the Land Over the Crystal River (for that's how we refer to humans), there was once a man and a woman. And the man was in love with the woman, and wanted her for himself. But because he had no magic, he couldn't feel whether or not there was a “pull” towards her or not, so he didn't know whether she loved him or not. So what did he do?”
“What?”
“He had to ASK her!” Kian couldn't help laughing.
“I don't get it!”
“Ask her!” said Kian. “It's funny – because he didn't have magic.” His laughter grew louder and less controlled, tinkling like bells in the winter snow. “He had to ask her!”
I realized that there were some cultural barriers Kian and I might never transcend.
”
”
Kailin Gow (Bitter Frost (Frost, #1))
“
I'll fight them for you. I always carry a book with me, and they fucking hurt when you get smashed in the face with one." He shuts the car off and we both get out.
"You know this from experience?"
"No, just by the sound my victims make.
”
”
Alice Winters (A Villain for Christmas (Vexing Villains, #1))
“
...life is a funny thing. We go through ups and downs, winters and summers, but somewhere, sometimes, it's good.
”
”
Ron McLarty (The Memory of Running)
“
MacRieve, you're on my cloak. Let up -. Give it back!"
"It was slowing you - and therefore me - down."
"If you had gone first - "
"I dinna. If you want it, why no' use magick to take it from me?"
"You really do not want me to do that."
"You really must no' want your cloak back. Come then, witchling, just take it from me."
"Keep the cloak. It'll be worth money one day."
"Doona fret, witch. You're no' so unbecoming from my angle. Bit scrawny where it counts, but no' too bad."
"Scrawny where it counts, MacRieve? Funny, I'd heard the same about you."
"No' likely. Maybe you're just too young to have heard the rumors about Lykae males. Tender wee ears and such.
”
”
Kresley Cole (Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night (Immortals After Dark, #3))
“
You're kidding, right?" Ezra barked. "We're not just going to wait." "I suppose we could help people clean up a bit," "Girl!" Ezra called out. "Big eyes!" Winter turned from what she was looking at. "Are you talking to me?
”
”
Obert Skye (Leven Thumps and the Ruins of Alder (Leven Thumps, #5))
“
We didn't think the library was funny looking in it's faux- Greek splendor, nor did we find the cuisine limited or bland, or the movies at the Michigan theater relentlessly American and mindless. These were opinions I came to later, after I became a denizen of a City, an expatriate anxious to distance herself from the bumpkin ways of her youth. I am suddenly consumed by nostalgia for the little girl who was me, who loved the fields and believed in God, who spent winter days home sick from school reading Nancy Drew and sucking menthol cough drops, who could keep a secret.
”
”
Audrey Niffenegger (The Time Traveler's Wife)
“
There was a zombie at my back door. Its eyes swung up, and they were blue, the whites already clouding with the egg rot of death. Its jaw a mess of meat and frozen blood; something had eaten half its face. Its fingertips already worn down to bony nubs, scraped against the window. Flesh hung in strips from it’s hand, and my stomach turned over hard. Black mist rose at the corners of my vision, and the funny rushing sound in my head sounded like a jet plane taking off. I’d know that zombie anywhere. Even if he was dead and mangled, his eyes were the same. Blue as winter ice, fringed with pale lashes.
”
”
Lilith Saintcrow (Strange Angels (Strange Angels, #1))
“
It’s funny how the same thing a man loves, is the same thing that he hates. What makes me stand out as a woman is that I have nonnegotiable principles, strength, and faith in my people. From the time that we shared you seemed to love that, admire it, even. Now you hate it because my ways have isolated you. The truth is, you’ve isolated yourself.
”
”
Sister Souljah (The Coldest Winter Ever)
“
It's early on a beautiful winter morning. The house is quiet. The sun is shining. I'm thankful. I'm happy. My cup runneth over. Now there's coffee everywhere.
”
”
Mindy Levy
“
I could still box your ears.”
“Nonsense,” he scoffed. “You couldn’t reach that high.
”
”
Anne Gracie (The Winter Bride (Chance Sisters, #2))
“
I remember when I left Hungary," Zoltan said, "understanding so completely that literature could save me as much as it could get me killed. Of course it's not like that here. But isn't it funny, that in some ways the price one pays for freedom of speech is ... a kind of indifference.
”
”
Daphne Kalotay (Russian Winter)
“
When did you get that?"
"The shirt? At Macy's. Winter sale.
”
”
Cassandra Clare (City of Ashes (The Mortal Instruments, #2))
“
That’ll be like catching Niagara fucking Falls with a fly net.
”
”
Cristin Harber (Winters Heat (Titan, #1))
“
[He] spat. Literally spat on this gorgeous tile floor.
"EW!" Iko cried, "You heathen!
”
”
Marissa Meyer (Winter (The Lunar Chronicles, #4))
“
Funny how I’d run from it all my life and it was so easy to give in to it now. I loved this woman to the galaxy and back. I always would. She was my wife. My esclave. And soon, we would have a family.
”
”
Pepper Winters (Je Suis a Toi (Monsters in the Dark, #3.5))
“
Well, what am I supposed to do?"
"Well, you can take a nap, read a little of my book, or close your eyes. Or you could stare--get the thrill of your life."
"She put her hands on her hips. "You really wouldn't care, would you?"
"Not really. A bath is a serious business when it's that much trouble. And it's pretty quick in winter." He started to chuckle.
"What's so funny?" she asked, a little irritated.
"I was just thinking. It's cold enough in here, you might not see that much."
Her cheeks went hot, so she pretended not to understand. "But in summer, you can lay in the tub all afternoon?"
"In summer, I wash in the creek." He grinned at her. "Why don't you comb the snarls out of your hair? You look like a wild banshee."
She stared at him a minute, then said, "Don't flirt with me. It won't do you any good."
-Marcie and Ian
”
”
Robyn Carr (A Virgin River Christmas (Virgin River, #4))
“
Evan to Bethany: "Just trust me."
"You say it like it's so easy."
"Of course it's not."
"Then how am I supposed to 'just trust' you?"
"Funny thing about trust...Sometimes you have to give it before you can experience it.
”
”
Katie Ganshert (Wildflowers from Winter)
“
This was Jonan's boat. She had helped Nan Seller dose his entire crew against the annual diarrhea outbreak known as the "winter runs
”
”
Sarah Zettel (Kingdom of Cages)
“
Sometimes we know people who are
too wonderful for words. I am not one of them.
Or you, for that matter, as you well know.
”
”
Michael Hogan (Winter Solstice)
“
Sasha was silent a long time. Finally, wearily, he threw a log on the fire and said, "I do not like him."
"I fear," said Sergei, "that he does not care in the slightest.
”
”
Katherine Arden (The Winter of the Witch (The Winternight Trilogy, #3))
“
A man, to use an old-fashioned phrase, of some twenty-eight summers, he gave the impression at the moment of having experienced at least that number of very hard winters
”
”
P.G. Wodehouse (A Pelican at Blandings (Blandings Castle, #11))
“
They’d be complaining about having to walk, and screeching at me to ‘do something, Freddy, do something!’”
“But what could you do?” she said, puzzled.
“Carry them, probably.” He gave her a hopeful look. “Do you want me to carry you?
”
”
Anne Gracie (The Winter Bride (Chance Sisters, #2))
“
You’ll be sewing all through winter. When the spring thaw comes, they will find your body with a needle still locked tight between your frozen fingers.” Arya didn’t think it was funny. “I hate needlework!” she said with passion. “It’s not fair!
”
”
George R.R. Martin (A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, #1))
“
I stood at the end of the street, catching snow in my mouth, and laughed softly to myself as I realized that without my insomnia and anxiety and pain I’d never have been awake to see the city that never sleeps asleep and blanketed up for winter. I smiled and felt silly, but in the best possible way.
”
”
Jenny Lawson (Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things)
“
Unicorns are bad. So, so bad.” I’m dying. I just slapped a unicorn.
“Your loss, baby. In case you haven’t noticed, I’m hung like a horse.”
Kyrin snorts disgustedly.
I clap my hands over my ears. But it’s too late. Unicorns are ruined for me. My childhood dream just got crushed by a unicorn’s boner.
”
”
Lily Archer (Bite of Winter (Fae's Captive, #3))
“
He had realized that she was all the joy in his world. If the weather was fine, he wanted to walk in the sunshine with her; if he saw something beautiful, he wanted to show it to her; if he heard something funny, his first thought was to tell her, and see her smile. His work gave him pleasure, especially when he came up with clever solutions to intractable problems; but it was a cold, cerebral satisfaction, and he knew that his life would be a long winter without Caris.
”
”
Ken Follett (World Without End (Kingsbridge, #2))
“
I unlocked the door and entered the familiar assortment of shadows. It was uncomfortably cool, almost like winter. The carpeting felt damp. It actually smelled like winter. Which was funny, since I hadn’t noticed it outside. Does that mean the smell was inside my apartment? When the temperature and intensity of the sunlight and the quality of night all met certain criteria, did that smell issue from the books and clothes and curtains and the other nooks and crannies all at once? Remembering something.
”
”
Mieko Kawakami (Breasts and Eggs)
“
It was freezing, but the cold effortlessly numbed my feet and aching hands. I walked quietly, barefoot, to the end of the block, leaving my shoes behind to remind me how to find my way home. I stood at the end of the street, catching snow in my mouth, and laughed softly to myself as I realized that without my insomnia and anxiety and pain I’d never have been awake to see the city that never sleeps asleep and blanketed up for winter. I smiled and felt silly, but in the best possible way. As I turned and looked back toward the hotel I noticed that my footprints leading out into the city were mismatched. One side was glistening, small and white. The other was misshapen from my limp and each heel was pooled with spots of bright red blood. It struck me as a metaphor for my life. One side light and magical. Always seeing the good. Lucky. The other side bloodied, stumbling. Never quite able to keep up. It was like the Jesus-beach-footprint-in-the-sand poem, except with less Jesus and more bleeding. It was my life, there in white and red. And I was grateful for it. “Um, miss?” It was the man from the front desk leaning tentatively out of the front door with a concerned look on his face. “Coming,” I said. I felt a bit foolish and considered trying to clarify but then thought better of it. There was no way to explain to this stranger how my mental illness had just gifted me with a magical moment. I realized it would have sounded a bit crazy, but that made sense. After all, I was a bit crazy. And I didn’t even have to pretend to be good at it. I was a damn natural.
”
”
Jenny Lawson (Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things)
“
Oh, a grenade. But where is the bamboo bazooka?
”
”
Cristin Harber (Winters Heat (Titan, #1))
“
I am a criminal mastermind,” she murmured, “and I’m here to take down this regime.”
Thorne grinned at her. “That’s my line.”
“I know,” she said. “I stole it.
”
”
Marissa Meyer (Winter (The Lunar Chronicles, #4))
“
life was absurd, down to the deepest foundations of it, so there was always something funny in the middle of whatever hell was blowing up around you at the moment.
”
”
Dean Koontz (Winter Moon)
“
If you think I’m one of those people who try to be funny at breakfast you’re wrong. I’m invariably ill-tempered in the early morning
”
”
Daphne du Maurier (Rebecca)
“
Reality, as frightening as it is, is very very funny.
”
”
Jonathan Winters
“
He put a dramatic hand on his heart. 'Your concern warms me more than any winter fire, my love.
”
”
Sarah J. Maas (A Court of Frost and Starlight (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #3.5))
“
The last time they had been together, they'd waltzed in a winter garden. Now, they were de-lousing a pestilent street urchin.
”
”
Lisa Kleypas (Chasing Cassandra (The Ravenels, #6))
“
If you told me today that you wanted to become a cow and roam the fields, I would buy you a little cowbell for that scrawny neck of yours.
”
”
Alice Winters (A Villain for Christmas (Vexing Villains, #1))
“
Are you afraid the Ender Dragon is coming after you?” Lucy joked. “I’m looking at the moon,” Steve said quite seriously. “I think I want to explore the moon. Are you guys in?” “Funny,
”
”
Winter Morgan (The Quest for the Diamond Sword (An Unofficial Gamer's Adventure, #1))
“
Eight dragons in one small cave, all thinking at the same time. How was she going to get through this? “Let’s go around and introduce ourselves,” Tsunami said. “I mean, maybe it’s unnecessary, but that’s what Sunny said to do. And then she said I probably wouldn’t listen to her anyway, so I am proving her wrong, so there. I’m Tsunami, if anyone didn’t know. I was going to give myself a title like Commander of Recruitment, but then for some reason everyone voted that I would be terrible at recruiting, whatever that is all about, so they made me Head of School instead. So I’m pretty much the boss. And I’m running your first small group-discussion class, which was Glory’s big idea, so I figure we’ll figure it out together. Any questions?” “Yeah,” said Carnelian. “Are we stuck with this group?” “That’s not quite how I would put it,” said Tsunami. “But yes.” “What if we would prefer to be in a group with other IceWings?” Winter asked. “Such as my sister?” “That’s not how the winglets are set up,” Tsunami said. “But you’ll be in some bigger group classes with her and have plenty of time to make other friends as well.” “I love our winglet,” Kinkajou volunteered. “When do we eat?” Umber asked. “Just kidding. Pretending to be Clay.” He grinned, then shot a look at Qibli. Did he think that was funny? I hope that was funny. Did I sound like an idiot?
”
”
Tui T. Sutherland (Moon Rising (Wings of Fire, #6))
“
Let’s put to rest one cliché. You can sell refrigerators to Eskimos. The people of Savoonga are Yupiks, the westernmost of the Eskimo tribes, closer to Siberians than American Eskimos in their appearance, and their customs, and their distinctive, liquidly sibilant native language. And, yes, they all have refrigerators. In the winter, food gets freezer burn if left out in the elements. Eskimos need refrigerators to keep their food warm.
”
”
Gene Weingarten (The Fiddler in the Subway: The Story of the World-Class Violinist Who Played for Handouts. . . And Other Virtuoso Performances by America's Foremost Feature Writer)
“
In movies, people pretend to be sick to get their jailers to let them out,” Aaron told them. “Maybe one of us could try throwing up — or frothing from the mouth.”
“Like we’re rabid?” Call asked.
“We don’t have time to argue,” Tamara said, reaching into her satchel, clearly completely panicked, and coming out with a little bottle of clear liquid. “I have hand soap. Quick, Jasper, drink it. You’ll definitely froth.”
“I am not drinking that,” Jasper said. “I am a deWinter. We do not froth.
”
”
Cassandra Clare
“
Tildy warned us the Winter King could identify a person by scent,” Summer said. “Since he thinks you’re Autumn, Tildy said the wedding night should take place here, in Autumn’s bedroom, where her scent is already absorbed into everything.”
“She added the flowers and incense to help mask your own scent,” Spring added, “and deliberately arranged the candles so he won’t be able to get a good look at your face so long as you keep to the bed.”
“Where’s Autumn?” she asked.
“Here.”
Khamsin turned. Her sister emerged from the connecting wardrobe room wrapped in a forest green satin robe. Her long auburn hair spilled around her shoulders in ringlets.
“Scenting up your nightclothes.” Autumn grimaced. “I know I’m clean. I bathed this morning, but there’s still something wrong about rolling on sheets and rubbing myself on clothes all day. It just seems so . . . so . . . dirty.”
Despite everything, Khamsin laughed. For some reason, Autumn’s complaint struck her as funny. “You rolled on the sheets?”
“Tildavera suggested it.
”
”
C.L. Wilson (The Winter King (Weathermages of Mystral, #1))
“
As I sat there on that winter afternoon, feeding the birds, laughing and rejoicing at the way they come again and again, flying one after another and fighting for every piece, I realised how funny and simple life truly is in these simple moments. We always have someone to provide for us, but we try to make up excuses for the lack of it, instead of trusting in divine timing. What if in reality, our Creator is a simple man on a chair, laughing kindly at our carelessness and worries, joyfully handing us another piece of bread to wake us up from our wondering..
”
”
Virgil Kalyana Mittata Iordache
“
No one in this palace is as beautiful as you think they are. It’s all just mind control.” Thorne grinned and squeezed her closer against his side. “I’m fairly certain there’s at least one exception to that rule.” Cress rolled her eyes. “Yeah. Thaumaturges.” He laughed and dropped his arm, though she wasn’t sure what was funny.
”
”
Marissa Meyer (Winter (The Lunar Chronicles, #4))
“
Speaking of body decorations, I luuhhhvv your belly piercing!” Heeb said, looking at the gold ring in the center of her slim, tan waist. Despite the artic cold, Angelina had opted for a skin tight, black tube top that ended just above her belly, on the assumption that a warm cab, a winter coat, and a short wait to get into the club was an adequate frosty weather strategy. Heeb was still reverently staring at her belly when Angelina finally caught her breath from laughing.
“Do you really like it? You’re just saying that so that you can check out my belly!”
“And what’s so bad about that? I mean, didn’t you get that belly piercing so that people would check out your belly?”
“No. I just thought it would look cool…Do you have any piercings?”
“Actually, I do,” Heeb replied.
“Where?”
“My appendix.”
“Huh?”
“I wanted to be the first guy with a pierced organ. And the appendix is a totally useless organ anyway, so I figured why the hell not?”
“That’s pretty original,” she replied, amused.
“Oh yeah. I’ve outdone every piercing fanatic out there. The only problem is when I have to go through metal detectors at the airport.”
Angelina burst into laughs again, and then managed to say, “Don’t you have to take it out occasionally for a cleaning?”
“Nah. I figure I’ll just get it removed when my appendix bursts. It’ll be a two for one operation, if you know what I mean.
”
”
Zack Love (Sex in the Title: A Comedy about Dating, Sex, and Romance in NYC (Back When Phones Weren't So Smart))
“
It was all the same every year. And that’s how I liked it. I never wanted it to be different, not even a little bit. It’s funny. When you’re young, you always want things to change. You want to grow up. You want to go to new places, do new things. But in the end, it’s the things like Christmas, the things that are always the same, that you love the most.
”
”
Andrew Klavan (When Christmas Comes (Cameron Winter #1))
“
He laughed with a mix of amusement and surprised appreciation. She couldn’t win. She had to know that. Yet still she fought. He hadn’t known there was a Summerlander alive still willing to confront him with such spirited defiance. Entire armies had fallen before him, yet this slight wisp of a girl dared to grapple, barehanded and defenseless, with the Winter King, a man who could slay with a glance.
He dodged a fist meant to break his nose and laughed again, enjoying himself for the first time in a very long while. How lucky for him so few of Verdan’s soldiers had possessed such raw, reckless courage! A thousand like her in their ranks, and the war might have ended quite differently.
His humor apparently didn’t sit well with her. She snarled and aimed another blow at his chin, which he blocked, as well as a vicious kick to his groin. He managed to block that, too—barely—but the hard toe of her boot still came close enough, with enough force, that his balls tingled from the near miss.
He quit laughing. There were some things a man just didn’t find funny.
”
”
C.L. Wilson (The Winter King (Weathermages of Mystral, #1))
“
I slammed down on my hip first, followed by my shoulder, followed by my ego. It’s not often that I crash like this, but often enough that I’ve recognized a series of reactions that occurs by instinct rather than reason, which explains why they are so ridiculously misprioritized.
1. First thought: “I’m never riding a bike again.”
2. Pop quickly onto my feet, and then scan for bystanders to assess embarrassment level.
3. Check bike for damage.
4. Check body for damage.
”
”
Tom Babin (Frostbike: The Joy, Pain and Numbness of Winter Cycling)
“
Then he said the funny thing was the old man himself had left home when he was a kid, after a fight with his own father. The father lit into him for using the wheelbarrow.
"It was this way. They always carried the feed to the horses, pail by pail. In the winter, when the horses were in the stalls. So my father took the notion to carry it to them in the wheelbarrow. Naturally it was a lot quicker. But he got beat. For laziness. That was the way they were, you know. Any change of any kind was a bad thing. Efficiency was just laziness, to them. That's the peasant thinking for you.
”
”
Alice Munro (A Wilderness Station: Selected Stories, 1968-1994)
“
It was soft, tickling. The liquid was cold going on, like dipping her pinky into a winter river's icy slurry. A thrill shot through her neck. Then, everything on her finger closed up., tightened, stopped breathing. She felt it being suffocated. She almost yelped, leapt up to run away. She hated it.
"Okay", Celeste said, "go like this." Agnes opened her eyes, saw Celeste blowing on her own hands, and looked down. The pink was catching light she hadn't even know was present in the dark forest. It looked as thought it moved on her nail, breathed more and more color into itself. She saw the speckles of glitter, not too much, just enough. It was alive, and perfect.
”
”
Diane Cook (The New Wilderness)
“
The newspapers came out every day with horror stories of sheep buried in snowdrifts, of song-birds frozen to the branches on which they perched, of fruit trees hopelessly nipped in the bud, and the situation seemed dreadful to those who, like Mrs Heathery, believe all they see in print without recourse to past experience. I tried to cheer her up by telling her, what, in fact, proved to be the case, that in a very short time the fields would be covered with sheep, the trees with birds, and the barrows with fruit just as usual. But though the future did not disturb me I found the present most disagreeable, that winter should set in again so late in the spring, at a time when it would not be unreasonable to expect delicious weather, almost summer-like, warm enough to sit out of doors for an hour or two.
”
”
Nancy Mitford (Love in a Cold Climate: The wickedly funny sequel to The Pursuit of Love)
“
Jase and I asked Mia what she wanted to do before her surgery. “How about a family party?” she suggested. So the invitation went out. It’s interesting when you mention to family members that they are going to be on TV--schwoom, they are there. As Willie said, “I didn’t know we had this much family.”
Mia had always heard the funny stories about Jase wrestling with his brothers and cousins growing up, particularly how cousin Amy beat up Willie, so that’s what she requested for the special entertainment. As Jase said, “It’s the ultimate redneck dinner theater.” A wrestling ring was delivered, and the warmup act was the Robertson boys clowning around, performing their best wrestling moves. Willie surprised everyone with guest professional wrestlers, including Jase’s favorite, “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan.
I felt kind of bad for them, wearing only their little wrestling pants, while the rest of us were bundled up in winter coats. Yes, it was January, but it was unusually cold in Louisiana--about twenty degrees. The wrestlers had to keep moving fast; otherwise, they would have frozen to death!
At the end of the party, Mia took the stage between Jase and Willie, thanking everyone for coming and then sharing from her heart: “My favorite verse is Psalm 46:10: ‘Be still, and know that I am God!’ God is bigger than all of us, and He is bigger than any of your struggles, too.” I think I can say that there was hardly a dry eye in the crowd. Going into her surgery, Mia was being brave for all of us. In the end, seeing the final version of the episode, I thought the network did a great job of including enough humor to make people laugh but also providing a tender glimpse into the love our family shares with one another and the love we all have for Mia.
When Duck Dynasty fans saw it on March 26, 2014, they agreed completely!
”
”
Missy Robertson (Blessed, Blessed ... Blessed: The Untold Story of Our Family's Fight to Love Hard, Stay Strong, and Keep the Faith When Life Can't Be Fixed)
“
If you were to name a sword, what would you call it?'
Gwyn answered, thought she hadn't been asked, 'Silver Majesty.'
Emerie snorted, 'Really?'
Gwyn demanded, 'What would you call it?'
Emerie considered. 'Foe Slayer, or something. Something intimidating.'
'That's no better!'
Nesta's mouth tugged upward at their teasing. Gwyn looked to her, teal eyes bright. 'Which one is worse: Foe Slayer or Silver Majesty?'
'Silver Majesty,' Nesta said, and Emerie crowed with triumph. Gwyn waved a hand, booing.
'What would you call it?' Cassian asked Nesta again.
'Why do you want to know?'
'Humour me.'
She lifted a brow. But then said with all sincerity. 'Killer.'
His brows flattened.
Nesta shrugged. 'I don't know. Is it necessary to name a sword?'
'Just tell me: If you had to name a sword, what would you call it?'
'Are you getting her one as a Winter Solstice present?' Emerie asked.
'No.'
Nesta hid her smile. She loved this- when the three of them ganged up on him, like lionesses around a very muscled, very attractive carcass.
'Then why keep asking?' Gwyn said.
Cassian scowled, 'Curiosity.'
But his jaw tightened. It wasn't that. There was something else. Why would he want her to name a sword?
”
”
Sarah J. Maas (A Court of Silver Flames (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #4))
“
If you aren't in love, Willow Vaughn, then my name isn't Miriam Brigham."
Willow started out of her daydreaming and glanced up from the laundry tub. Miriam stood before her with her fists planted on her hips. "Now, Miriam, I-"
"No sense denying it, young lady. You've got that dreamy dazed glow about you. Rider Sinclair isn't much better, the way he hangs around you,like a bee drawn to honey. He's always holding your hand or throwing his arm around you when he thinks I'm not looking."
"Well,even if I were in love, it wouldn't change anything. I still don't want another man to look after, and I don't need one looking out for me either. I can take care of myself!"
"Course, you can!" Miriam agreed, picking the last sheet out of the rinse water and wringing it out. "Most women can. Look at me, I run a boarding house and support myself just fine. But let me tell you something. That lonely bed of mine is mighty cold on winter nights, even here in the territory."
Willow blushed and concentrated on her hands where they rested on the edge of the tub.
"Willow," Miriam continued, "you've been managing your pa just fine since he got home. A husband isn't any more difficult to manage than a father, unless, of course, you're married to a no-good lout."
Willow dried her hands on the wide white apron around her middle. "But, Miriam, if I don't marry, then I don't have to bother finagling a man to my way of doing things. Staying single makes a hell of a lot more sense!"
"Watch the cursing, young lady."
Miriam slung the sheet over the line and returned to help Willow with the wash tub. They each grapped a handle and carried it a few feet before setting it down to rest their arms a moment.
"Willow, use your noggin, will you? Part of the fun of being a woman is wrapping some big, handsome hunk of a man around your little finger. You do have to use your good sense, though, and realize when you're wrong and he's right. Of course"-Miriam chuckled-"that won't be too often.
"And you have to be careful not to hurt a man's feelings overly much. Men are funny creatures. They seldom let their emotions show because they think it isn't manly. But you can tell when they're upset.They start pouting like a little boy.I've always thought that was rather curious.
”
”
Charlotte McPherren (Song of the Willow)
“
Winter’s come and I’m miserable. I hate depression. This self-pity. I’m rather drowning in it. We always get posh when we’re miserable. I’m rather empty. Looking outside, the morning is drowning in rain. Is my mind so easily dictated by the weather? What am I, a plant? I have legs to move me inside. Feet to dance. A voice to sing. That tree isn’t moping about. Although, if you don’t have a mind to mope with, you’ll hardly mope in the first place. But all mindful beings mope. Even that tabby cat huddled under the neighbour’s car looks miserable.
”
”
F.K. Preston (Goodbye, Mr. Nothing)
“
How cool,” she says, directing a melting stare at Luca. “I’d love to live in a place like this--just pull a cord when you need someone to bring something…”
“It is very old and falling down,” Luca says depressingly, propping his shoulders against the wall and crossing his legs at the ankles. “And it costs so much to heat, in the winter we live in one small room.”
“Oh, I’m sure that’s not true!” she coos.
“Si, invece. In the peasants’’ houses, they have the big fireplace,” he informs her. “With the stone panchini--” He looks at Catia, who provides him with the word “benches.”
“Ecco,” he continues. “With the stone benches to sleep next to the fire, to stay warm. Often I say to my mother, we need them here too.”
Paige giggles.
“You need an American heiress,” she says teasingly. “Like in the nineteenth century in England. Kendra and I saw the miniseries. These American girls with tons of money went to England and married the dukes and earls ‘cause those guys needed money to keep up their stately homes, and the girls wanted to be duchesses. Or princesses,” she adds pointedly.
“Subtle, Paige,” Kendra says. “Subtle like a Mack truck.”
Paige giggles again. “I’m just saying,” she points out, tossing her blond curls. “I’d looove to be a princess.”
“There are many princes in Italy,” Luca says. “And almost all of them are very poor.”
“Awesome,” Paige says with relish.
“We’re not all this bad,” Kendra says to me and Kelly in an undertone. “Honestly.”
“I think she’s funny,” Kelly says back. “I mean, she’s only saying what everyone’s thinking. I sort of admire her for coming straight out with it.
”
”
Lauren Henderson (Flirting in Italian (Flirting in Italian #1))
“
It's funny to think that the wind has a shape but it does. It becomes visible every once in a while - in rain being driven to the ground in sheets, or in the snow on the fields behind our house. I remember looking out the window of my room in the winter, watching the wind blow on the surface of the white fields, lifting and whipping the snow into spirals, and in a flash you could see the force that was always there come to life and reveal itself. I think it is this way with children and parents. They are always there and then suddenly through some shock or disappointment or great gesture or obscene the child sees this person who was there all the while - invisible to them beyond their function to provide.
”
”
Bill Clegg (Did You Ever Have a Family)
“
Luna wasn’t bothered by Ivy’s attitude. “I happen to have it on good authority that I am downright hilarious.” “Whose authority?” “I believe you call him ‘dad.’” “Dad doesn’t count,” Ivy protested. “He has to tell you that you’re funny.” “He has to tell me that?” Luna arched a dubious eyebrow. “Since when is that the rule?” “Since the first man met the first woman and she did hand puppets by the first fire and he faked a laugh,” Ivy replied, not missing a beat.
”
”
Lily Harper Hart (Wicked Winter (Ivy Morgan, #8))
“
The cold bites my face,
The wind softly whines,
I'm standing in this place,
needing your lips to warm mine
The clouds, they are glowing
a delicate rouge
It's funny how this beauty,
makes me think of you
”
”
-L.S.
“
We cannot go to your home. It's not even good enough for rats."
Aumont snorted out a laugh. "Oh, that is untrue, sir! The rats are quite at home there! They are my dearest friends. I was going to knit them little scarves for the winter."
Darling couldn't hold back his own laugh. "You never were!"
"I swear it. I was." Aumont's smile was a rare and wonderful thing, and Darling had so rarely seen it without a sharp tinge of bitterness in the curl of his mouth. "I was going to sit there hunched over like a tricoteuse at the foot of the guillotine, needles clacking together as I made all my little rat scarves."
Darling didn't know whether to laugh again, or to kiss him.
Aumont snapped his twig in half, and mimed knitting. "You're just jealous that I did not offer to knit you one."
"I'm not a rat, sir, and I am not jealous!
”
”
J.A. Rock (An Affair for Aumont (The Lords of Bucknall Club, #5))
“
Most politicians are pigs...It's a funny thing about pigs...They have an odd way of keeping warm in winter if they find themselves outside. You see, pigs don't know if they're cold, provided their nose is warm. So they stand around in a circle with their nose between the hind legs of the pig in front of them. Would you call that a curious relationship?...I would call that a Satanic relationship.
”
”
Norman Mailer (Miami and the Siege of Chicago)
“
AND SO THE shadow fell across us that winter afternoon in 1937, but it rested lightly. Nobody dreamed that this tiny cloud would grow until it blocked out the sky. And nobody dreamed that in this darkness each of us would be called to play a role: Father and Betsie and Mr. Kan and Willem—even the funny old Beje with its unmatching floor levels and ancient angles.
”
”
Corrie ten Boom (The Hiding Place)
“
There is something pathetic about crying within the first minute of therapy
”
”
Molly Roden Winter (More: A Memoir of Open Marriage)
“
In this instance, she’d not heard him count. He’d not hit a wall, unless the brick-headed stubbornness of Dmitri’s face counted.
Thwack!
“Yay.” Yes, that was her cheering for her Pookie aloud. Since it seemed he hadn’t heard, she said it louder, yodeled it as a matter of fact. “You get him, Pookie. Show him who’s the biggest, baddest pussy around.”
Leo turned his head at that, narrowing his blue gaze on her. Totally annoyed. Totally adrenalized. Totally hot. “Vex!” How sexy her nickname sounded when he growled it. She could tell he totally dug the encouragement. She waggled her fingers at him and meant to say, “You’re welcome,” but instead shouted, “Behind you!”
During that moment of inattention— which really Leo should have known better than to indulge in— Dmitri threw a mighty hook.
Had she mentioned just how sigh-worthy big her Pookie was? The perfectly aimed blow hit Leo in the jaw, and the force snapped his head to the side. But it certainly didn’t fell him. Not even close.
On the contrary, the punch brought the predator in him alive. As he rotated his jaw, Leo’s gaze flicked her way, his eyes lit with a wildness, his lip quirked, almost in amusement, and then he acted. His fist retaliated then his elbow, snapping Dmitri in the nose.
Any other man, even shifter, might have quickly succumbed, but the Russian Siberian tiger was more than a match for the hybrid lion/ tiger.
Put them in a ring and they’d have brought in a fortune. They certainly put on a good show.
Blood trailed from Dmitri’s lip from where Leo’s fist struck him. However, that didn’t stop the Russian from giving as good as he got.
Size-wise, Leo held a slight edge, but what Dmitri lacked in girth, he made up for in skill.
Even if Meena wasn’t interested in marrying him, it didn’t mean she couldn’t admire the grace of Dmitri’s movement and his uncanny intuition when it came to dodging blows.
Leo wasn’t too shabby either. While he’d obviously not grown up on the mean streets of Russia, he knew how to throw a punch, wrestle a man, and look totally hot in defense of his woman. Sigh. A man coming to her rescue.
Just like one of those romance novels Teena likes to read.
Luna sidled up alongside her. “What did you do this time?”
Why did everyone assume it was her fault? “I didn’t do anything.”
Luna snorted. “Sure you didn’t. And it also wasn’t you who put Kool-Aid in Arik’s mom’s shampoo bottle and turned her hair pink at the family picnic a few years ago.”
“I thought the short spikes she sported after she got it shaved looked awesome.”
“Never said the outcome wasn’t worth it. Just like I’m totally intrigued about what’s happening here. That is Leo laying a smackdown on that Russian diplomat, right? Since I highly doubt they’re sparring over who makes the better vodka or who deserved the gold medal in hockey at the last winter Olympics, then that leaves only one other possibility.” Luna fixed her with a gaze. “This is your fault.”
Meena’s shoulders hunched. “Okay, so maybe I’m a teensy tiny bit responsible. Like maybe I made sure my ex-fiancé and current fiancé got to meet.”
“Duh. I already knew about that part. What I’m talking about is, how the hell did you get Leo to lose his shit? I mean when he gets his serious on, you couldn’t melt an ice cube in his mouth. Leo never loses control because to lose control is to lose one’s way, or some such bullshit. He’s always spouting these funny little sayings in the hopes of curbing our wild tendencies.”
Pookie had the cutest personality. “What can I say?” Meena shrugged. “I guess he got jealous. Totally normal, given we’re soul mates.
”
”
Eve Langlais (When an Omega Snaps (A Lion's Pride, #3))
“
Calypso, Goddess of the Sea. your request has been granted. You shall keep Hades within your Kingdom for the nest fortnight. He cannot be allowed into the Above for any reason while we follow the evidentiary trail toward the true culprit. Should he escape, he will be lashed a thousand times by Athena's whip, chained to a rock, and have his eyes picked on by vultures for the next thousand years."
"Oh, is that all?" Hades growled.
My lips twitched. He was funny.
”
”
Jovee Winters (The Sea Queen (The Dark Queens, #1))
“
Physically, too, he is funny—never more so than when indulging his passion for eccentric exercise. Senator Henry Cabot Lodge has been heard yelling irritably at a portly object swaying in the sky, “Theodore! if you knew how ridiculous you look on top of that tree, you would come down at once.”53 On winter evenings in Rock Creek Park, strollers may observe the President of the United States wading pale and naked into the ice-clogged stream, followed by shivering members of his Cabinet.54 Thumping noises in the White House library indicate that Roosevelt is being thrown around the room by a Japanese wrestler; a particularly seismic crash, which makes the entire mansion tremble, signifies that Secretary Taft has been forced to join in the fun.
”
”
Edmund Morris (The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt)
“
Wow,” she said. “That’s sure generous, that you’d do all that for me…” “For us, Marcie. I’ll get a bath after you. And tomorrow I’ll stop at the coin laundry and wash up the dirty clothes. I’ll take any of yours you’d like me to. Just because you haven’t been feeling too good…” She shifted from foot to foot, chewing on her lower lip. “What’s the matter? You don’t want a bath?” “I’d die for a bath,” she said. “It’s just that…I couldn’t help but notice, there doesn’t seem to be a separate room with a door that closes… And I also noticed that doesn’t seem to bother you too much.” The corners of his lips lifted. “I’ll load the truck with tomorrow’s wood while you have your bath,” he finally said. She thought about this for a second. “And I could sit in my car during your bath?” she suggested. “I don’t think so—your car is almost an igloo now. Just a little white mound. Not to mention mountain lions.” “Well, what am I supposed to do?” “Well, you can take a nap, read a little of my book, or close your eyes. Or you could stare—get the thrill of your life.” She put her hands on her hips. “You really wouldn’t care, would you?” “Not really. A bath is a serious business when it’s that much trouble. And it’s pretty quick in winter.” He started to chuckle. “What’s so funny?” she asked, a little irritated. “I was just thinking. It’s cold enough in here, you might not see that much.” Her cheeks went hot, so she pretended not to understand. “But in summer, you can lay in the tub all afternoon?” “In summer, I wash in the creek.” He grinned at her. “Why don’t you comb the snarls out of your hair? You look like a wild banshee.” She stared at him a minute, then said, “Don’t flirt with me. It won’t do you any good.” Then she coughed for him, a long string of deep croaks that reminded them both she had had a good, solid flu. Also, it covered what happened to be amused laughter from him. While
”
”
Robyn Carr (A Virgin River Christmas (Virgin River #4))
“
Winter has come to Maui. Time to get out the plaid board shorts...
”
”
Tom Althouse
“
Septa Mordane will surely be lurking. The longer you hide, the sterner the penance. You’ll be sewing all through winter. When the spring thaw comes, they will find your body with a needle still locked tight between your frozen fingers.” Arya didn’t think it was funny. “I hate needlework!” she said with passion. “It’s not fair!
”
”
Anonymous
“
Is the weather nice?”
“Yeah, we’re in Austin. Got here about an hour ago. It’s probably 80 degrees.”
“Wish I could say the same for here.” I sigh. “Get this: it snowed last night. Like real, motherfucking snowflakes.” I’m trying to act pissed, but I can’t bring myself to it because I’m so happy to be talking to Gus right now. I know I don’t have long, so I need to make the most of it.
He laughs. “No way?”
“Yeah, it’s October. Isn’t snow against the rules or something until at least December?”
“You’re asking the wrong dude that question. Is it cold?”
“Yeah, I had to buy a winter coat today. Though for the locals this is probably still T-shirt weather. I swear Minnesotans have some sort of mutant gene that makes them immune to hot and cold. It’s freaky.”
He laughs again but then turns serious. “What about boots? Did you buy some boots? You’ll need boots.” It’s funny when he acts parental.
I over-exaggerate a full body shiver. “Stop. Buying the coat was bad enough. I don’t want to give in to the snow boots yet. I need time to work up to that. Maybe next month, or the one after that.” The truth is, I’ll need to buy the boots new, because used shoes skeeve me out, and I need to save up for them. That will take a while.
“You’re right, you’d better pace yourself.” He’s teasing me.
I tease him right back. “Need I remind you that you’re touring the United States this winter? That includes the northern frigid states. You’re going to need to buy a winter coat too, you know.”
He exhales through gritted teeth. “I know. I’m still in cold-weather denial.”
“It’s a nice place to visit, denial, but you can’t live there forever, dude.” Maybe I should take my own advice.
“Bright Side, are you quoting Confucius or JFK? That sounds so familiar.” I know without seeing him that he’s wearing this dumb, mocking expression that makes me laughevery time.
“Dude, I think it was Yoda, in The Empire Strikes Back. It was part of Luke’s Jedi training or something.
”
”
Kim Holden (Bright Side (Bright Side, #1))
“
Whether blustery in words or weather, there’s no putting on airs in Chicago. It’s too cold in the winter and too hot in the summer to walk around with any pretenses. You’ve got to be as real and solid as one of those bone-in rib eyes served at Gibsons Steakhouse. It’s a city where you say what you mean, mean what you say, and, most importantly, where you must be able to back up what you say. All in all, this makes it a great place for comedians to sharpen their acts.
”
”
Bob Newhart (I Shouldn't Even Be Doing This!: And Other Things That Strike Me as Funny)
“
The carnival was a wandering band of gypsies with funny accents who lived in Florida during the winter and hit the small farming towns in the fall, when the harvest was in full swing and folks had money in their pockets.
”
”
John Grisham (A Painted House)
“
No one in his family could remember talking about it. Must have been dreadful, they agreed. And, being Walkers, and Bushes, they didn't bring it up.
It was only years later, when he got into politics and had to learn to retail bits of his life, that he ever tried to put words around the war.
His first attempts, in the sixties, were mostly about the cahm-rah-deree and the spirit of the American Fighting Man. The Vietnam War was an issue then, and Bush was for it. (Most people in Texas were.) He said he learned "a lot about life" from his years in the Navy—but he never said what the lessons were.
Later, when peace was in vogue, Bush said the war had "sobered" him with a grave understanding of the cost of conflict—he'd seen his buddies die. The voters could count on him not to send their sons to war, because he knew what it was.
Still later, when he turned Presidential prospect, and every bit of his life had to be melted down to the coin of the realm–character–Bush had to essay more thoughts about the war, what it meant to him, how it shaped his soul. But he made an awful hash of it, trying to be jaunty. He told the story of being shot down. Then he added: "Lemme tell ya, that'll make you start to think about the separation of church and state .
Finally, in a much-edited transcript of an interview with a minister whom he hired as liaison to the born-again crowd, Bush worked out a statement on faith and the war: something sound, to cover the bases. It wasn't foxhole Christianity, and he couldn't say he saw Jesus on the water—no, it was quieter than that.... But there, on the Finback, he spent his time standing watch on deck in the wee hours, silent, reflective, under the bright stars...
"It was wonderful and energizing, a time to talk to God.
"One of the things I realized out there all alone was how much family meant to me. Having faced death and been given another chance to live, I could see just how important those values and principles were that my parents had instilled in me, and of course how much I loved Barbara, the girl I knew I would marry…”
That was not quite how he was recalled by the men of the Finback. Oh, they liked him: a real funny guy. And they gave him another nickname, Ellie. That was short for Elephant. What they recollected was Bush in the wardroom, tossing his head and emitting on command the roaring trumpeted squeal of the enraged pachyderm; it was the most uncanny imitation of an elephant.
Nor were "sobered" or "reflective" words that leapt to Bar's mind when she remembered George at that time. The image she recalled was from their honeymoon, when she and George strolled the promenades, amid the elderly retirees who wintered at that Sea Island resort. All at once, George would scream "AIR RAID! AIR RAID!" and dive into the shrubs, while Bar stood alone and blushing on the path, prey to the pitying glances of the geezers who clucked about "that poor shell-shocked young man."
But there was, once, a time when he talked about the war, at night, at home, to one friend, between campaigns, when he didn't have to cover any bases at all.
"You know," he said, "it was the first time in my life I was ever scared.
"And then, when they came and pulled me out ..." (Him, Dottie Bush's son, out of a million miles of empty ocean!)
"Well." Bush trailed off, pleasantly, just shaking his head.
”
”
Richard Ben Cramer (What It Takes: The Way to the White House)
“
distance. “Stay close, little hellion.” He yanks my hand into his and pulls me against him. “People will look at us funny.” His jaw clenches. “Let them. I want everyone to know you’re mine.
”
”
Selena Winters (Welcome to Carnage)
“
It is so cold. Even those that have been married for over twenty years sleep together.
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Ljupka Cvetanova (Yet Another New Land)