Humor Brief

These proven techniques are antidotes to the everyday stresses of work and life. Feel free to share them with others.

1. Take tuba lessons. Bring it to work and practice during your breaks.

2. Make a list of things to do today that you have already done.

3. Forward phone calls to your fax machine and vice versa.

4. While shopping, announce over the intercom that you are today's Grand Prize Winner. Go to the manager and demand your prize.

5. Pick a day to have everyone speak to the boss in gibberish.

6. Replace the filling of a Twinkie with sour cream. Leave it on the break room table.

7. Put your garbage can on your desk and label it "IN."

8. Leaf through a National Geographic and draw underwear on the natives.

9. Dye your hair hot pink and see how many people pretend not to notice.

10. Sing along at the opera.

11. Wear pink slippers and a fluffy bathrobe to work on casual dress day.

12. Stare at people through the tines of a fork and pretend they are in jail.

13. Park at the side of the road and point a hair dryer at passing cars to see if they slow down.

14. When you get money from the ATM, scream "I won! I won! Third time this week!!"

15. Launch watermelons from high places.


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For the Health of It:  Now, we don't actually recommend trying all of the above things... unless you have another job lined up... and a good lawyer too. But are you stuck in a rut? Then do something fun or out of the ordinary! Because the only difference between a rut and a grave is the depth.

This Jest In:  Curtain Up! kicked off the theater season where there's something for everyone. (www.buffalonews.com/entertainment/arttheater) The BBQ Blast festival and cook-off runs Sept. 22-23 10am-7pm in LaSalle Park at Buffalo's Water Front. (www.buffalo.com) The Great Pumpkin Farm 2007 Fall Festival runs Sept. 28-Oct. 31 on Main St. in Clarence with great food, games, rides, and special events on the weekends. (www.greatpumpkinfarm.com)

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Humor Briefs are provided by the Humor & Health Association of WNY, an affiliate of The Wellness Institute. It's only about 4.3 laughs per month, but we hope it makes a difference. Have a fun(ny) joke, quote, idea, or event? Please reply to let us know!