Friday, February 22, 2013

Signs of the Times











Signs of the Times


During my recent trips I saw a number of signs that puzzled me.

At one storage facility I saw a sign that offered, “Free Rent.” Fair enough, I understand that. A 

customer can get storage space for a specified time rent-free.


At a second storage facility that had a sign reading:   

“Free Rent

20% off.”

So… the facility pays you to rent a space?  Maybe the renter pays 8/10ths of the original price. You get 

a reduction of 20% in price.  0$ reduced is still 0$. I think. I’m about 80% certain it is.


In a restaurant there was a sign on a door.  “Keep This Door Closed At All Times” Really? At all

times? Why not just take the door and doorframe down and brick up the opening?

I saw an apartment building that advertised, “Distinctive Apartment Living.” Apparently if you want

vague apartment living, you have to look elsewhere.


In the men’s room at a bookstore I found literary graffiti written between the wall titles. I found, the

words “Grout Expectations,” “All Creatures Grout and Small” and “The Grouts of Wrath.” 


Arriving back in Kansas City at approximately 10:00 PM. the description of the weather included the 

temperature and the notation: “Sunny.” This is Kansas City, Missouri not Juno, Alaska.  We don’t get 

sunshine at night. Shouldn’t the description be: “Moony?”


Have you seen any interesting signs lately?

9 comments:

  1. Funny, Warren. I especially loved the "grout" comments. I guess I'll have to look closer at signs, or at least write them down so I'll remember them.

    ReplyDelete
  2. In my hometown in PA, we had an animal clinic with the name "Moist Animal Hospital." Gives you a bit of a visual.

    However, the vet's name happened to be Dr. Moist.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Gloria,

    You only find that level of writing on bathroom walls in in really good bookstores and colleges.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Fun examples, Warren!

    I saw a budget moving van (can't remember the exact name of the company) that had crashed into a wall of an underpass. Furniture and boxes spilled out the side and back. The slogan on the van read something like, "We move you for less."

    ReplyDelete
  5. Kara, Maybe they meant to say, "We move less of your property."

    ReplyDelete
  6. Yes, Warren, I may be doing that--but it's so much fun.

    Dr. Moist retired and the new vet who took over changed the name. It just isn't the same. I think half the community pouts every time they drive by and can't read that sign anymore. Who wants a dried out pet? Moist animals are so much better!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Reminds me of a commercial for a hardware store here in Columbia. "That kind of loyalty is hard to find, and so are the staff at Mann Tool."
    I imagined going in the store and all the workers hiding under desks!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Reminds me of a commercial for a hardware store here in Columbia. "That kind of loyalty is hard to find, and so are the staff at Mann Tool."
    I imagined going in the store and all the workers hiding under desks!

    ReplyDelete