Barb Best

 JOAN RIVERS was a force of nature. Early on especially, Joan bubbled over with playful, hyperbolic, self-deprecating humor. Fresh and feminine. Clever. Smart. I was thrilled to have written, sold one-liners to her for over 5 years. She was an amazing performer, writer, editor, author of 12 books. She’ll be funny always. Like Robin Williams, she is also being remembered for her kindness and generosity.

https://www.facebook.com/BarbBestHumor

“My mother’s greatest joy in life was to make people laugh. 

Although that is difficult to do right now, I know her final wish would be that we return to laughing soon.”

Ball posing with a selection of Smiley merchandising (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Smiles to Go

In honor of World Smile Day coming up on October 3rd,

we celebrate Harvey Ball, the graphic artist and creator of (ta-da)

THE smiley face.

Harvey drew the original smiley face 50 years ago.

Pain and misery are out there… but, guess what? […]

The New Yorker (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I was weaned on The New Yorker Magazine cartoons.

Who doesn’t have a special place in their heart for Charles Schultz and Peanuts?

Do you love cartoons?

Do you miss the Sunday “funnies” you read as a child? […]

Writer Stacey Gustafson has a funny blog.

This fall, she will have a funny book out…

Hop into your minivan and get ready to cruise through the crazies of Suburbia! […]

Listening to and LOVING this audiobook!

ICYMI – Lisa Scottoline and daughter Francesca Serritella at the Erma Bombeck Writers’ Workshop:

Related articles

• BOOK REVIEW: My Nest Isn’t Empty (It Just Has More Closet Space), by Lisa Scottoline and Francesca Scottoline Serritella
• On the Scene: At Lisa Scottoline’s Book-Club Party
• Mary Scottoline, 90, ‘Mother Mary’ to author Lisa Scottoline
• Book Review: Think Twice by Lisa Scottoline

Do you like puns?

Do you enjoy punning?

Is it true that a pun is the lowest form of wit?

Is a pun fun?

I love the wordplay involved, and even if the pun is a painfully obvious one… I appreciate the intent and the effort.

It’s my observation that most boys/men tend to appreciate punning more than most girls/women, or say, your average cocker spaniel.

Why is this? Perhaps because the male species is accustomed to playing with… their food?  Their cars? Or whatever?

At The Reel Inn restaurant in Malibu, CA they celebrate the pun on their “Special of the Day” menu board out in front.

Fun Signs I have spotted:

“Catfish In The Rye”

“Grouper Therapy”

“Go ahead. Mako my day!”

“Weapons of Bass Destruction”

and

“Tuna Guitar.”

Here’s to more restaurants with a sense of play! Bon appetitter.

Home cocker spaniel (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Join me on Twitter where anything – including all kinds of pun – goes! I’m @HaBarb

Related articles

• Amusing Puns in Illustrations by Nabhan Abdullatif
• Without ComPUNction
• A good pun is its own reword | Mind your language
• Kids with Puns
• The Art of the Pun is Thriving on Twitter

You’re in the right place, friends.
This is the weekly meeting of HA – Humoraholics Anonymous.
Welcome, all!
Well, I see many horrified new faces here tonight.
No fear. We have enough caffeine and sugar on the back table to blow your frazzled minds – and most likely feed a few additional addictions. Ha, Ha.
Sorry, I  joked in a compulsive way. I’m working on that. […]

By popular demand… THE interview with Tracy’s DOG (April 1st, 2013)

Tracy will be a workshop session presenter at The Erma Bombeck Writers’ Workshop on April 10 -12.

Author Tracy Beckerman & Her Puppy Monty

Funny new book by popular columnist Tracy Beckerman!  Lost In Suburbia: A Momoir  How I got Pregnant, Lost Myself, and got My Cool Back in the New Jersey Suburbs

Tracy gave us an exclusive… an interview with her fetching puppy Monty.

“The Scoop” with Monty B.

Monty, you’re even cuter than Tracy’s cell phone pics and Facebook videos. How do you maintain your playful, perky, puppy style? How old are you?

I turned 7 months old on March 26.  I maintain my youthful glow through a combination of diet (puppy chow and chewing on smelly sneakers) and exercise (I like to grab socks from the laundry basket and then Tracy chases me through the house to get them back).

What’s it like to sleep at Tracy’s feet while she writes her popular syndicated humor column Lost In Suburbia? Are you her real inspiration?

As a puppy, I have a lot of energy. So I find it hard to just sleep at her feet when she is writing. Instead, I’m inclined to jump up and pound the keys with my paws. This makes her column look like this:

afjkasdkfjweoi tjkrvms,d mas,c.kasjfakjfoipewj!!

For some reason, Tracy seems to find this very annoying.  However, I’ve read her column, and i think this is an improvement. Just kidding.  That’s a little retriever humor. […]

Valentine’s Day is an excellent occasion to demonstrate some self-love.

Scan of a Valentine greeting card dated 1909. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Give yourself a hug. Indulge your senses. Treat yourself.

The pressure is on!  Satisfy yourself!

Need a quickie fun gift for YOU (okay… or a loved one) for Valentine’s Day?

How ’bout My Funny Valentine paperback or ebook?

* Less calories than a box of luscious chocolate truffles.

* Funnier than fudge.

* Cheaper than French champagne.

* Stays fresh longer than a bunch of sagging, flaccid grocery store flowers.

* More invigorating than a hot oil massage.

* Perfect for regifting.

* Women love books, dude!

* So many entertaining writers are in it.

* Number #1 (self-love) reason – I’m in it!  “Hilarious bits by Barb Best”

* Amazon reviews are unanimous – My Funny Valentine is a lot of laughs!

“To learn to love, you must laugh.”

To laugh, you can buy this “treasure of a book” at  Amazon

Related articles

• 5 Funny Valentine’s Gifts from Stupid.com
• A Few Valentine’s Day Picture Books from Harper Collins
• Our Changing Meanings of Valentine’s Day
• Valentines Crafts, Kids Valentines Crafts