Duhs Nos. 42-45

Robert EbsenOP-ED

Duh No. 42 – If It Fits

For years I have been trying to fit a 5½-inch x 8½-inch popup card into a 5¾ x 8¾-inch greeting card envelope. Quite tricky. I made the fit easier by chopping off about a 1/8-inch strip at the bottom of the card.

Fast forward to yesterday. While looking for a new box of card envelopes at Office Depot, something caught my eye, a box of 6 x 9-inch booklet envelopes. Duh – Where have you been all my popup life? The opening to these envelopes is at the top. Dimensions of the envelopes are just ¼-inch greater than greeting card envelopes on each side. What a difference: My popups fit in them beautifully!

Duh No. 43 –Finding Nemo, and Other Printouts

It was a bit of a mess. All my Disney-related glossy color pictures were stored in one file. All my sports pictures were in another file. Where were my superhero pictures? Yes – in another file. What’s so bad about that? Dumping out a file to locate a Spiderman picture took a while, if there was one in there to begin with.

So, duh – with my handy label maker and a bunch of file folders, I solved the problem. Now when I am ready to make three Tarzan popups, the pictures are literally at my fingertips.

Duh No. 44 – A Simple Sign Once Again Does the Trick

After I barbeque my delicious salmon strips, or yummy boneless chicken thighs, I like to leave the fire going on the barbeque for 20 to 30 minutes to burn off the food residue (and avoid cleaning the barbeque). Last night I awoke at 5:50 a.m. with the recollection that I neglected to OFF the gas. Duh – off I ran to my computer to make a sign: Turn Off GAS Barbeque. I put the sign next to the matches I use to light the barbeque. Then I explained to my wife why our gas bill might be a bit higher next month.

Duh No. 45 – I Like It

How do I know if my latest popup card is any good? Easy. I am always talking to myself, and duh – if I hear myself excitedly saying, “I like it!” I know it is GOOD.
Maybe we should all talk and listen to ourselves – we might improve our lives!

Mr. Ebsen may be contacted at robertebsen@hotmail.com