Monday, April 2, 2012

They don’t know s#@! from …

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This is a picture of something that has always been one of my favorite additions to peanut butter on toast: apple butter.  We used to have it as a kid and I had not eaten any for years.  Until last week visiting with my daughter, Lafawnda Fossil.

Apple butter, besides its great taste, was also the source of one of the handiest sayings offered for assessment of a significant portion of humanity.  Out here is California and most of the country, the phrase is, “These people don’t know s#@! from Shinola!”  In case you haven’t figured it out, the s#@! is my way of ever-so-deftly referring to a vulgar term for … well, you know.  If you don’t, send me a stamped, self-addressed envelope and I will let you in on it.

This past week, I was on emergency call, but otherwise vacationing.  Well, my daughter’s computer decided to die, so we had to go out and get her a new laptop.  My daughter also needed a plane ticket to come back for the memorial service for my father-in-law.

Fortunately, one company TOTALLY screwed up a transition to a new data import structure and threw the switch on the new structure 10 days early.  We were left with a mess.  When informed, they decided to switch back, but it took several phone calls and finally they pulled it off.  It also meant fixing up the mess they created in the meantime.  Long story short, these guys ended up paying for Lafawnda’s new laptop AND her plane ticket last week.

So, back to the original topic.  As we used to say in Kansas when I was growing up, “These guys don’t know s#@! from apple butter!”  For that, I am thankful.

13 comments:

  1. How fortuitous! And good progress on the puzzle, too. I always used jigsaw puzzles to develop more efficient thinking strategies with my students--a great task for it.

    So, I'm a Kansan too, and I've never heard "apple butter" instead of "shinola" in that saying. Just saying!

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    1. Roni, might have just been a family thing. Maybe it was just my Mom!

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  2. "Self addressed stamped envelope"? I see: Lazy and mean to boot.

    And, yes, I too am very fond of anything apple.

    U

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  3. I never heard of Apple Butter, but it sounds waaaay better than peanut butter which I find to be clawy in my mouth.

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  4. Apple butter is WOMDERFUL! Was a staple in my Colorado upbringing but I never comingled it with peanut butter - just regular butter. Loved spreading that thick gooey paste on my toast.

    As to those ill-informed clients - oh darn. Hope Lafawnda is enjoying the new laptop.

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    1. Lafawnda's laptop is working great. As for clients, these were suppliers for my client. I'm pretty fiercely loyal to my clients.

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  5. Will you be kind enough to prepare a manual that will teach us all how to get some companies here to replace equipment with new ones and to pay for at least one air ticket?

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  6. Since you and Shackman are fascinated with Apple butter and I am an Apple freak including the Mac version, I asked my restaurateur friend Meeta if she could hustle up a batch for me and she says yes. Shall report in due course my own take on it. My own favourite toast topping is peanut butter with chilli flakes (like you get with pizzas) and oregano. Try it.

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  7. @Ramana - That toast topping sounds completely off the wall, never mind outside the box.

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  8. I have found a few recipes for Apple Butter and like the sound of it even more.... I might even have a go making it! :D

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