| Cold Enough to Freeze the Balls off a Brass Monkey |
[24 Dec 2003|02:59pm] |
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mood |
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 giddy |
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music |
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Sheryl Crow - if it makes you happy |
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A supply of 30 cannon balls could be stacked in a small area right next to the cannon. There was only one problem: how to prevent the bottom layer from sliding or rolling from under the others. The solution was a metal plate called a "Monkey" with 16 round indentions. But, if this plate of iron, the iron balls quickly would rust to it. The solution to the rusting problem was to make "Brass Monkeys." Few lubbers realize that brass contracts much faster than iron when chilled. Consequently, when the temperature dropped too far, the brass indentations would shrink so much that the iron cannon balls would come right off the monkey. Thus, it was quite literally, "Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey"
for all you folks whoever cared where the hell that came from.
(thanks Dandelion, but i already knew this :P)
*******
later that day...
Mommy: smile Alex, or santa won't bring you anything!!! we'll leave a note on the door for santa to just skip you entirely.
me: how about he just leave all her prezzies to me! :)
Mommy: you better not CRY *nudges Ra* you better not POUT *nudges again*
Ra/Alex: hmph.
me: she's telling you why!........she's telling you why!...........ahem! SHE'S TELLING YOU WHY!!!!
Mommy: oh...Santa Clause is coming to town. he's making a list, he's checking it twice.....three times in Catherine's case.
me: HEY! i covered my tracks! Santa ain't got NOTHING on me!!!!
:)!!!!
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