The original hen comment is also amych.

It helps a lot if you have Theodosia's setup:

It is sometimes difficult to identify correctly the sex of birds ready for caponizing. This is especially true of Brahmas, Giants, Orpingtons, and Reds. Four points of difference between the cock- erels and the pullets which can usually be depended upon are the head, back, tail, and voice. The head of a male is usually broader above the eyes and deeper from crown to throat, with a slightly larger comb and wattles which usually show some red. The cockerel’s beak is somewhat stouter and more arched. The back and shoulders, as a rule, are not so well covered with feathers, which, if present, are not so far advanced as in the pullet. (Fig. 2.) The tail of the cockerel is bushy and rounding, consisting of down-like feathers, while the feathers on the pullet’s tail are well formed, giving a more definite point to the shape of the tail. Finally if still in doubt after considering these three characters, one should swing the bird through the air until the voice can be heard. The high-pitched voice is associated with the cockerels, while the low voice is usually that of a pullet.

billytea in Bitches. The context itself is beautiful, but it's somehow even better roaming free of it's preamble:

But I think we can all agree just by looking at them that keebler elves taste like ass.

In Bitches...

Susan W.: It's all about eyes on the page. It reminds me of the coverage of the flu and the vaccine shortage--you know all the stuff they had recently about how this flu isn't a PANDEMIC, not like the 1918 PANDEMIC, and here's why it's not a PANDEMIC, but it's inevitable that someday a PANDEMIC FLU will come again?

amych: And this makes me think of the mid-70s War On Swine Flu. Why, oh why, can't we have a leader with the boldness and clarity of vision of Gerald Ford?

ita:

Our NYE mountain plans were cancelled due to lack of wishing to be 3,500 feet up in the dark and cold with people we hardly know.

connie neil in Bitches, for the visual and the last line:

I have a sweet Hubby. Two days ago, when the latest snow began to fall, he had a neighbor build a snowman for me. See, several years ago--the last time we had real snow--I discovered the joys of dismembering snowmen with a sword. Ever see a hand and a half broadsword decapitate a frozen snowman? Makes a neat crunching noise, and the neighbors cross the street to go past your house.

The past two days I've been too tired when I got home from work to dismember Mr. Snowman. But Hubby was determined that I give Sting a proper workout. So, tonight, in the spirit of "I don't have to work tomorrow!" I pulled Sting off its wallhanger and said, "There's a snowman in the front yard that needs decapitating." Hubby, who has been in bed a lot dealing with the pain of surgery recuperation, blinked and said, "Not before I get my shoes on." "Then best get moving."

Mr. Snowman was a little soft, but Sting is a sweet blade to swing. It's a tad light, but it's balanced beautifully for my hand and it slices very nicely through blocks of snow. Being short, you can turn it in the air quickly and get some nice one-two combinations. Need more snowmen.

Fay:

I could really get into this whole Goddess thing, actually. I like the idea of being a Heavenly Body. My Grandmother's always urging me to treat my body like a temple; in this instance, I'm guessing that would mean I should let all my worshippers come inside and have epiphanies. Although I don't think that's quite what Nana meant. Bless her.

In Natter...

Theodosia:

I have to pack. Somebody tell me to pack, okay?

kat perez:

A little inspiration, courtesy of the Village People:

P-A-C-K
It's fun to put all your
Clothing away
You can get organized
Roll your socks up in balls
You'll be able to fit it all

P-A-C-K
You'd better do it right now
Don't delay
May your suitcases hold
All the jackets you fold
And be very easy to load

P-A-C-K

From Natter a couple days back:

Rick V.: Lutefisk. The piece of cod that passeth all understanding.

The eternal question in LotR

Sean: I know I'd be more cocky when riding a giant elephant, though I'd worry if I saw a girlie elf-dude anywhere on the battlefield.

ita: He was NOT girlie.

Sean: Whoops, sorry...
Metrosexual elf-dude.

Plei: You can't be a metrosexual when you're crushing on the King to Be and accepting the marriage proposal of your dwarven lovemuffin.
IJS.
Big *gay* elf-dude, but not girly.

Deena brings in the profound (rather than the funny), in Bitches:

When my parents went to Israel, they visited the Wailing Wall. They said the physical presence of the place was intense, the tangibility of the prayers fluttering out of the wall, the people. The expression of faith and the strength of the experience inspired awe.

Sometimes, when we all vibe, I'm reminded of their description of that experience, and I imagine this as the somewhat tangible expression of our own version of the wailing wall, with our good wishes, hopes and prayers, and it seems very powerful to me.