CANNON BALLS

 
It was necessary to keep a good supply of cannon balls near the cannon on old war ships.  But how to prevent them from rolling about the deck was the problem.  The best storage method devised was to stack them as a square based pyramid, with one ball on top, resting on four, resting on nine, which rested on sixteen.  Thus, 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/rolling from under the others. 
The solution was a metal plate with 16 round indentations, called, for reasons unknown, a Monkey.  But if this plate were made of iron, the iron balls would quickly rust to it.  The solution to the rusting problem was to make them of brass - hence, Brass Monkeys.
Few landlubbers realize that brass contracts much more and 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. 
And all this time, you thought that was just a vulgar expression, didn't you?

Your a nut, otherwise known as a ball !!!  hey, how you doing on all your testing and appts?  any progress on anything for your WLS??

G'morning...

All my pre-approval appt's are done and I have an app't with my surgeon on Wednesday (Sept. 3rd)...after that I guess I'll just be waiting for my "date" !! 

Enjoy your day ~

deb

awesome, are you having RNY?  I can't wait for you to join everyone on their weight loss and journey to good health.  I can't wait to join them all too.  hehe  I'm waiting for the Sun to come out, right now I just made a blueberry cake for my Dad, he isn't well, but loves to eat, he is so funny, he hoards food from my mom, he cracks everyone up.  he is this little skinny guy, who eats like its his last meal, loves deserts and makes every smile.  then I want to fertleize all my outside and inside plants, (NOW the sun has been visiting us, i'm starting to get flowers again), and finish stainning my new stair spindles.  No little man tonight, so DH and I are visiting my mom and dad and then going out to supper.  I really need to go shopping, I used to go on a daily basis, and now I only go when I need something.  Damn I want a new outfit... I hate being on a budget.... grrrrr 

Yes...I am...with Dr. Clough...so it will be "open" instead of Laprascopic as he doesn't do Lap. but that's OK...I'm just excited to get started !!

You're dad sounds like a very comical man   now I know where you get it from {lol}

I hope you and hubby have a nice time...and I just want ya to know...
it's nice to see you back !!! 

I'm headed back to school for my afternoon run...and then off to pick up my DH...he's coming home from NH for the week~end !! 

Enjoy your 3-day week~end...and again ~ it's good to see you back !!

Very interesting story...hmmmmmm 

Yeah Cheryl...I have to agree with Deb....it IS great to see you back!!!!