Sunday, July 15, 2007

* "Care for a Jar Opener?"

Crowds @ the Clark Street Fair


Boxing Tomboy said.....> "A man in a red shirt and walking a dog passed the booth for Rogers Park Baptist Church early Saturday afternoon during the Celebrate Clark Street festival. The pastor offered him a jar opener, and the guy replied, "No thanks, I don't use jars." Another church member and I were sitting behind the booth. He told me the guy was you, Craig, and that he had met you some time ago. By that time, the guy had gone up the block and was gone. Was it you?

BLOGNOTES: I must confess. That was me. So, the pastor didn't like my warped humor response? He caught me off-guard with the trick question. Plus, I'd been cornered a half dozen times prior to that.

And really, who hands out jar openers anymore? Or is there a hidden message or symbolic meaning in this kitchen utensil?

17 comments:

Fuzzy Logic said...

That's sad. Now I'm bummed I didn't go.

Jason said...

Just got back from Pitchfork with my WLUW jar-opener. They must be all the rage these days.

Mark Fletcher said...

fuzzy_logic -

Its ok, you're not missing anything. Judging by the photograph it was early in the morning...

8am Craig?

the.dub said...

Bahahaha!

That's a great way to shut someone down without being rude.

I owe you a beer.

Hillari said...

Pastor Bolander probably didn't think it was amusing, but John, who was sitting next to me, thought your response was hilarious.

A few months ago, when Pastor was hunting around for something to pass out at the festival, he mentioned toothbrushes to me. I told him that would be a good idea, as that would be something that people would use. I guess he changed his mind, which was why we were giving out jar openers instead. We gave out a childrens' DVDs, too; those went fast. However, too many other vendors/organizations at the festival had the jar opener idea, too. I wouldn't be surprised if the church has a lot of those left over.

Hillari said...

Oh, I forgot. . .the church's jar openers had a Scripture printed on it.

Craig Gernhardt said...

Boxing Tomboy, Indulge me, please print the worded scripture here. Maybe that'll make it up to the Pastor?

It'll be my thought of the day.

Fargo Woman said...

I married my jar opener 28 years ago. They were giving out jar openers at the festival? With scripture tatooed on them? Wow, sure wish I had gotten one, I could have sent him to my niece - the little heathen.

been there said...

and once again, craig misses an opportunity to post about something good happening in rogers park.

Anonymous said...

Once again "been there" misses the point that he just did.

DorothyParker007 said...

since when is asking if you want a jar opener a trick question?

Veronica said...

People in Chicago are basically trained not to accept anything that anyone is passing out, because usually it is nothing but StreetWise magazine, or some other crap that nobody needs.

Veronica said...

Also, the response "I don't use jars" was really great, Craig... I'll have to remember that one!

Hillari said...

Craig,

Here is the Scripture verse that was on the jar openers my church, Rogers Park Baptist, was passing out during the festival on Saturday:

Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him." John 14:23

The church's address and the web site, www.rogersparkbaptistchurch.org, was also printed on the jar opener.

Craig Gernhardt said...

Thanks Boxing Tomboy.

DorothyParker007 said...

""People in Chicago are basically trained not to accept anything that anyone is passing out""

gee, I grew up here and whenever I go to any festival I expect freebies, baby and lots of them. Its probably a RP thing, like you said they are
"untrained" therefore I can deduce they are undeveloped and highly emotional to normal everyday actions of a big city.

DorothyParker007 said...

your blockng me again, does this mean we won't be dancing at Ollies, sigh my love.

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