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[Guest guest]

Hi - I havn't posted in more than a month. I've been very busy at

work and just havn't kept up with the group. In the last month I've

had a colonoscopy, a sigmoidoscopy, and an MRCP. I'm trying to

resolve conflicts with my HMO who don't wan't to pay for all of the

above. I guess they must think that someone would want to have these

tests for fun.

Anyway, here's a cute St. s day joke I picked up:

An Irishman moved into a tiny hamlet in County Kerry, walked into the

local pub, and promptly ordered three beers. The bartender raised his

eyebrows, but served the man three beers, which he drank quietly at a

table, alone.

An hour later, the man had finished the three beers and ordered three

more. This happened yet, again. The next evening the man again

ordered and drank three beers at a time, several times. Soon the

entire town was whispering about The Man Who Orders Three Beers.

Finally, a week later, the bartender broached the subject on behalf

of the town. " I don't mean to pry, but folks around here are

wondering why you always order three beers at a time? "

" Tis odd, isn't it? " the man replied. " You see, I have two brothers,

and one went to America, and the other to Australia. We promised each

other that we would always order an extra two beers whenever we

drank, as a way of keeping up the family bond. "

The bartender and the whole town were pleased with this answer, and

soon the Man Who Orders Three Beers became a local celebrity and a

source of pride to the hamlet, even to the extent that out-of-towners

would come to watch him drink.

Then, one day, the man came in and ordered only two beers. The

bartender poured them with a heavy heart. This continued for the rest

of the evening:

" Each time he orders only two beers, " the word flew around town.

Prayers were offered for the soul of one of the brothers.

The next day, the bartender said to the man, " Folks around here, me

first of all, want to offer condolences to you for the death of your

brother. You know - the two beers instead of three, and all... "

The man pondered this for a moment, then replied, " You'll be happy to

hear that my two brothers are alive and well. It's just that I,

meself, have decided to give up drinking for Lent. "

Happy St. s day to all.

- D