Jannie loves this bench...spring to summer!
If you follow this blog, you know I host the Front Porch, a JBN series about everyday stories—just stories friends exchange on front porches, back yards, or in break rooms in snippets during our days. Today I’m excited to share laughter with my blogger buddy Jannie Funster.
When Jannie was born the mold was broken. She’s an original in every way! She takes photos framed by doughnut holes while flowing with musical whimsy. Be sure to check out her blog for laughter and fun.
After the photo AND the munch...
Everyone knows Jannie writes songs (and sings!) for beer and doughnuts, so as I pour Jannie a tall, frosty cool one (with perfect foam), please put up your feet and join us on the Front Porch.
Jannie and "The Pea"
Jannie and "The Pea"
Jannie, I’m excited to have you here with me. Knowing you, I’m sure you’ve seen times that were so funny and, well, just plain goofy! 
Can you tell me about an incident that sticks out in your mind?
Yes! I wore my motorcycle boots and lucky powder-blue prom gown to compete in the lawn mowing race of 1982. Traditional garb was jeans and sneakers. But I won!!
That’s winning in style, girl! I’m loving it! You’re such a sweetheart, too, and I know you have soft spots, too.
Care to share a sweet spot, a time you’ll never forget?
Sure, the first time I held my husband’s hand, it fit like a glove, and we’ve never looked back. That was on July 30th, 1990. So glad he took a chance on me!
I’m sure he feels the same way, about you taking a chance on him, too. I bet you two are fun! Want to come over for dinner some time? In fact, maybe I’ll have a party and have you break out your bongo drums. Hey, can you tell our lovely readers about the bongo solo you once told me about—you know the one? (It’s a hoot!)
Oh yes! During my bongo solo in the middle of a particularly rousing rendition of one of my earlier tunes — “Groove Shock Monkey Love,” people were so moved they started a conga line through the house, out the front yard, around the block and down to the convenience store. By the time we returned we’d added 20 neighbors to our celebration. Good times!
You are a riot, Jannie. I miss living in the Midwest. I remember the craziest things happening, seemingly all the time! I remember lots of animal-related mayhem, too. Everything from raccoons, coyotes, deer, and snakes would seems to show up at the craziest times. Especially our farm kittens, they were fat with mice and seemed to lead a life all their own, what? Who? Me? Just let me sleep in the sun, ma’am. Know what I mean—jelly bean? What about you, have any stories up your sleeve about animals?
Yes, I can relate! When I was about 10 the cat had had kittens up in the attic and stored them between the bedroom walls, 8′ down. (Took me 2 days of walking in and out of my parents’ and my adjacent bedrooms to figure out where the mewling was coming from.) Mom’s rescue plan was to remove the power nozzle from the old Electrolux vacuum, add on an extension and lower the hose shebang down to suck up those little kitties one at a time by the top of their cute little heads,with me shining the flashlight down. Jane-be-Lori-be-nimble-and-quick… you haven’t lived until you’ve seen a seen a wee kitten’s head sucked onto a vacuum cleaner hose, with their sweet little ears sticking out on either side. Fun fun times I’ve had! Fun good times!
Well, there you have it folks, your parting shot mental image of Jannie at Lori’s Front Porch is irreplaceable, me thinks. Thanks to Jannie for humoring my questions and emails, to all my past guests (sweet souls), and for all your participation in my posts and comments.
Step on up to the Front Porch and join us in the comments!
What’s the kookiest thing you’ve ever seen or done? Do you have a story to share about a surprise animal incident?
C’mon, show us you’re human!
[Photos courtesy Jannie Funster. I created the top image by overlaying Jannie's pre- and post-summer bench photos [the images on the left and right] to make the central image. Thanks, Jannie, for letting my goof around with your photography! 
]
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Previous (random) Front Porch Posts:
Front Porch: The Series
Front Porch: Not A Typical Day In The Park (With Tim Piotrowski)
Front Porch: George and the Power of the Human Spirit (With George Angus)
Front Porch: Of Bands, Explosions, and Cattle Auctions—Laughter (With Jay Schryer)
Front Porch: Brave, Bold Tess (With Tess Marshall)
Front Porch: Only in Lance World (with Lance Ekum)
Front Porch: My Sensory Deprivation Experiment
Front Porch: Dreams, Laughter, and Comic Inspiration(with Tony and Cassy Single)
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Hey Lori!
What fun today…you AND Jannie!! Woo-doubleluckyfun-hoo!!!
Jannie,
You are quite the kitten rescuer! That reminds me of one time we were at a function, and they were raising money to send a team of people to help build a house. They called it the “Suck a Buck” fundraiser, and had a guy running a shop vac – and you could just hold your money by it and have it sucked in. We sent our daughter (about 5 at the time) to put some money in. Her whole arm was sucked in (and you might imagine…not a completely happy child when that happened).
And – seeing about your lawn mowing race garb….it reminds me of a few weeks back, when our oldest had just got his driver’s permit. I was going to drive with him for the first time, and was picking him up and then going to put him behind the wheel. When he got in, I reached behind me and put on my bike helmet and wore it our entire time out. Quite funny!! (although I’m not sure he saw the same humor in it!!).
Ahhh….so good to know even more about you, crazy Jannie!!!
Lance´s last [type] ..Music For The Soul
Hi Lance,
What’z up????
Yes, we had funzies wunzies. Thanks for popping by! I’m lovin your stories. Crazy about the arm being sucked into the Shop Vac! Yow!
Sooo funny about wearing your cycling helmet, I wish I could’ve seen that!
Have a great weekend!
~xo
Hey Jannie!!!
Ok, I did get the full visual of the kitty-head-stuck-in-a-vacuum incident. I must admit, I laughed a little (maybe a lot). Great story, second only by a small margin to the lawn mower race outfit!
Ok, you asked to tell a kooky story and I am hesitating on telling the first one that comes to mind….. screw it..why not?
Ok, I spent seven years in the construction business. Not houses, but heavy duty stuff like bridges, flood walls, paved ditches etc. We also did grass seeding on large jobs. After seeding you have to cover everything with straw. There is a machine for doing this called a straw blower. It is powered by a diesel engine and is pulled behind a truck. This machine also sprays the straw with hot tar, this keeps the straw from blowing away. We were on a airport job, straw-blowing a few thousand acres. Flat land as far as you can see, nothing but dirt. The straw-blower caught fire, we didn’t have an extinguisher. we finally threw enough dirt on it to kill the flames, but occasionally, because of the hot tar, flames would pop back up again…..well, I put these pop up flames out by peeing on them.
Can’t believe I just told you that….
Keith´s last [type] ..What Are You Believing
Hi Keith,
HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!
Now that’s what I’m talking about! YOU ARE HUMAN! I mean, really, who hasn’t peed on a fire?
(Er, uh, um, wait a minute…I won’t answer that question. ha ha!)
I love the story, Keith. Sooo good! A keeper!
Thanks for hanging out with us, my friend.
~xo
Lori — You do a great interview and I loved your comments after Jannie spoke. Thanks for this post and a new view of Jannie:~)
Jannie — While I laughed at lots of your comments, the one about the the kittens really got to me. I know I shouldn’t laugh about kittens being vacuumed, but I imagine that was quite a sight. Cats are strange about where they put their babies.
We used to get squirrels in our walls. After my brother and sister left home, I was the only one upstairs and not the bravest soul. Before I knew it was squirrels in the wall, I’d go get my stepfather because I was scared of the scratching noises. He’d stomp up the stairs to SILENCE, of course…the squirrels heard him coming! When he’d leave after admonishing me, the squirrels would start up again. For ages, I just thought we had a ghost and learned to live with it. I found out it was squirrels when I was an adult and had left home:~)
Sorry for that long story. I really enjoyed the interview:~)
Sara´s last [type] ..Book Review- the lives and times of archy & mehitabel
Hi Sara,
You’re sweet, I appreciate your comment to me. I sometimes go back and forth about my commentary, do people really want to hear my peanut gallery comments? I decided to go for it because I really want this to feel like a porch discussion, you know? Thanks for being here.
Your story about the squirrels had me laughing. That kind of stuff used to happen to me all the time. Remember the frog on Bugs Bunny that would sing, but when the circus owner tried to get him to perform, he’d only say, “Ribbit ribbit…” I feel like that was my life. (LOL)
Anyhoo, no worry about long stories here. Let ‘er rip! That’s the whole point. I love your stories, feel free to share them any time.
~xo
Oh, Lori! This is magnificently done — thank you so much. Beautiful creative, job! I am smiling inside and out. What you did with “My” bench is awesome!!
I just posted on my blog last night and may not be posting again until tomorrow night, but I will for sure direct my friends over here when next I post.
You are so, so sweet. Thank you!!
And such fun comments so far — squirrels, bike helmets, and hot tar! What a lively, kooky bunch indeed!!
Love to all,
me
xoxo
Jannie Funster´s last [type] ..Song Baby a flash 55 poem
Hi Jannie,
I’m happy you like how things turned out. You were quite patient with my questions and back-n-forth emails. I very much appreciate you, Jannie! I had a blast.
No problem with posting a link. This post will be live a couple more days. Not a problem with me at all — I’m chillax, remember?
I agree, Jannie. I love the people who visit here ~ I’m blessed, and get such a kick out of everyone. I love having their (and your) company!
Enjoy your weekend, Jannie.
~xo
Hi Lori,
Hi Jannie, nice to meet you
Those were funny stories about the lawnmower race and the kitten being vacuumed, did you tell them it was this or the bath tub?
The only story related to creatures I remember is when I was about 4 years old and we were living in an old house that had many mice. One night I heard my older sister screaming and jumping to the diner table followed by my mother after seeing a little, cute mice going around.
I didn’t have problems with mice, and since my father still haven’t come home from work, I had to assume the place of “man of the house” so dive under the table and started chasing those little creatures while mom and sister gave a concert in screaming. They were terrified while I was playing with the mice.
Alien Ghost´s last [type] ..Our New GOD!
Hi Raul,
Thanks for being here again. I rarely post back-to-back let alone more than once or twice in a week, so I hope I’m not wearing you out.
(Ha ha — funny about the bathtub! tee hee)
I can see you as the man of the house, Raul. I’m a pretty tough farm gal, but two things I never did like or get used to: 1) snakes and 2) mice!
Next time I see a mouse around, can I call you to catch it for me?
~xo
Hey Lori Luv,
And I do love kitties….
But, you know mums and their keen sense…she found them, and let us keep them later…but those three days hiding the kitties was so awesome..we felt like such saviors and the thrill was amazing!
What a fantastic view of kitties being sucked in the vaccuum
I remember one time when I was about 11 and my brother 9 and 7 at the time found 3 stray kittens while playing outside. They were so small and cute, so we brought them home. My mum had a strict no pets int he house policy, but the kitties were so small na. So we little musketeers decided to hide them form mum…ha! And we managed to hide them in a duffel bag, hanging on the side of the cupboard for 3 days. Only when mum went to the loo or went for a nap, we would hurriedly close the door and give them milk
Jannie and Lori Luv, I loved this so so much! What a fun read…but where there is Jannie, there has got to be fun fun fun and roll that with lori luv…what a superb combo!wow!
Lots of love to both you gorgeous gals!
Z~
Zeenat{Positive Provocations}´s last [type] ..What is in Your Happiness Checklist
Hi Zeenat (love it that you’ve been calling me Lori Luv ever since I can remember — you’re awesome, Zeenat!)
You adventurous kitten, Zeenat! What funny story about your little kitties. I can totally see you doing that, and even more so you feeling like little musketeers. Great story, Z!
Your comments are so sweet, they made my day. Yes, Jannie is a fun chicha, I’m so glad she gave me so much time and patience (it was a lot).
~xo
Hi Lori and Jannie .. I have to say when I read the mowing contest garb first time round – the scan through .. I read ‘porn’ not prom .. oh dear!
I have to say I can’t remember animal stories – I wasn’t too much into mud, dirt and work … we had a cat and a kitten .. but all was well as far as I remember .. we even took them on holiday with us – six weeks .. they took a while to adjust.
My mother dressed up as skeleton to raise charity funds .. walked through Penzance .. no-one recognised her though – so she could with impunity go up to everyone & rattle her bucket for more funds!
There must be things I’ve done .. but I can’t remember – not good at making a fool of myself as I saw it in those shy days – would now though!
Happy days – great to hear more about Jannie’s life .. your comment about Jim’s hand fitting yours like a glove .. forever more .. is just wonderful … and your photo of the two of you .. lovely ..
Great Lori .. such fun – thank you!
Hilary´s last [type] ..Seven Sisters – what would these mean to you
Hi Hilary,
I’m already in stitches after your first sentence. Now that you’ve mentioned ‘porn’ I have to go into my settings and change the “PG” rating of my blog to the next level. You’re so funny, Hilary. (he he he)
I can’t imagine you as being shy — graceful, yes — but shy? It’s always fun to learn more about people, don’t ‘cha think?
I agree, the comment about Jim’s hand made me melt. I loved that.
Happy weekend, Hilary, and thanks for stopping by for a glass of sweet tea.
~xo
Great bleating heavens! I’m going to be dreaming about kitties being sucked up by vacuum cleaners now! I don’t think I have a single story that could beat that for way out there stuff!
Yup, Jannie, you and Lori are a pair alright. Out there and fun fun FUN! Great chat!
Hi Tony (Mr. T., T-Bone, Trotteronie, Singleular Sensation),
HA! I want to borrow that one, Tony (“Great bleating heavens!”). Three words in and I’m already laughing my arse off. You’re funny!
I think that’s the biggest compliment I could ever receive, that Jannie and I are a pair and “out there”. Woot! (Well, maybe the second best, another friend referred to me as a “bad ass” the other day and I was quite honored. ha ha)
Have fun during the remainder of your weekend and tell that lovely Cass hello from her chum.
~xo
Lori, Jannie.
Heck I don’t even know where to begin.
I hope you are saving some fun for the rest of us!
Kokky, goofy, a blast. Quite possible my new heroine
Oh yeah.
George
George Angus´s last [type] ..A Grand Grand
Hi George (GC),
I’m with you there! Jannie is hilarious. I didn’t know where to begin with our Front Porch chat, either to be honest. Where do you start with a woman whose blog tag line is “writing songs & singing for donuts & beer”?
Hope your weekend is going swimmingly up there in AK, Mr. Awesomeness.
~xo
Lori and Jannie,
OMG you guys are hysterical. And Lance in the bike helmet and Keith peeing. The kitties and the vacuum. I can’t take anymore or I’ll be peein in my pants!
Jannie, I love donuts and beer just don’t tell Evita and Robin or I’ll have to go hide in the barn and miss all the action on the front porch!
This is so fun…just how bloggin should be. Why the hey do I have to be intense and serious…well maybe that’s why I balance that with Lori, Jannie, donuts and beer;)
Tess The Bold Life´s last [type] ..March of a Blogger- What Penguins Can Teach Us
Hi Tess,
I know, aren’t these folks a hoot? I had to go to the store and buy some diapers to finish answer these comments because I was thinking I was going to pee my pants, too. Want me to send you some? (LOL)
I just got a visual of you hiding in the barn with donuts and beer and Evita and Robin looking at each other saying, “Hey, where’d Tess go? She was just here?” You’re so funny, Tess. You made my day with this comment. (As usual!)
You’re right, this is fun. But, you have to be serious and intense sometimes to build a solid, respectable blog, too. Tess, you’re going places. Me, well, I’m just trying to heal my damn brain.
Hello, hello, Ms. brain, will you please stop being goofy and make the boat stop rocking? Oh, and could you give me a warning next time you make my legs numb? I’d really appreciate it.
~xo
Hi Lori and Jannie:
I really enjoyed this front porch post and I’ve still got the image of the kitten’s head in the vacuum cleaner hose. Wow! I’ve done and seen plenty of kooky, bizarre stuff in my days. One that is animal related is when I used to have a cat. A big, fat black cat. One day I was using the flashlight and she was chasing the light all over the living room. I guess I worked her so hard, my poor cat was panting and out of breath from chasing that little light. Mercifully, I stopped so she could rest, but I’ll never forget that! Jannie, I enjoyed what I saw on your blog – I especially like all the songs you seem to write. Lori, thanks for allowing us to share a lemonade and getting to know Jannie on your front porch! Have a great weekend!
Tim´s last [type] ..The Magic of Diagramming Sentences
Hi Tim,
Hey, I totally agree, I think I read that section about a dozen times already it’s so funny. Such a visual picture, don’t you think?
Okay, wait a minute, I’ve never in my whole life heard a cat pant. I’ve lived with dozens of cats (not all at once) and never seen it. That’s funny! Your cat must have been having a ball!
Thanks for popping by for some lemonade, Tim. It’s always a blast to have you here.
Happy weekend!
~xo
[...] Angel of Delight — Lori of the Jane Be Nimble blog garden, has an interview guest post about me up – a post with all-new Jannie tidbits, and one that beautifully showcases the entire donut [...]
Hey, you play bongos? I play tumbal, djembe, ashikos, and sometimes djun-djun. Except for a couple thousand miles of road between us, we could get together and jam.
Hi Alice,
Wow, that would be awesome to hear you jam with Jannie. Can I come, too? What’s a few thousand miles? (he he)
Hope all is well in your world and thanks for coming over to join the fun.
I’m dying laughing just picturing those poor kittens!
Mama Zen´s last [type] ..Todays Stock Tip
Hi Mama Zen,
Thanks for popping over to say hello. Jannie has a way of describing situations, doesn’t she? So funny…
Have a great day!
lol @ the kitty-vacuum! Loved the interview, Lori, and who couldn’t love Jannie’s lovely energy?
Talon´s last [type] ..Susie One and Susie Two
Hi Talon,
Great to meet you — I’ve seen your avatar around the interwebs and glad to see you. Hello!
And, yes, I’m so happy that Jannie agreed to spend some time with me. I love her sense of humor!
Happy Sunday and enjoy the approaching week!
Hi Jannie and Lori, it seems there is a party mood all over the blogs and seeing Jannie here with kittens and boots and lawn mowing races is just hilarious. Hmm, not a piedpiper but a drummer who has all the people following her in the neighborhood, that image makes so much sense when you know Jannie. xox Wilma
Wilma Ham´s last [type] ..Learning takes courage and you knew that- didn’t you
Hi Wilma,
Love that smile! (Ahhhh, thank you.)
Now, that’s a new image for me — the piedpiper/drummer girl with neighbors in tow. I like that visual, Wilma!
I hope all is well across the world.
Love to you.
~xo
Oh, these comments and this party spirit have me grinning ear-to-ear.
Hope Tess doesn’t pee her pants, but sometimes it happens.
My “porn” dress, lol, Hilary.
@George — Oh yes, saving lots and lots more fun for you all. Indeed!!
Lori, this has been a blast. Again, thanks for your creative energy and sweet, fun soul.
And YOU were the patient one in this.
xxoxoo
Jannie Funster´s last [type] ..Angel Of Delight In The Garden
Hi Jannie,
You are so sweet! Sweeter than pie! Thanks for your comments. I very much appreciate your kind words about my creative thingies. You inspire me.
Have a great week and thanks a gazillion, again, for being so cool about this.
~xo
There’s something I’ve never heard of – sucking kittens out of a crevice with a vacuum cleaner hose. Nice interview with our friend. Thank you, Lori!
Lynn´s last [type] ..Not in Macon anymore- fixed and shadow
Hi Lynn,
Thanks for taking the time to pop on over. I know how precious our time is and don’t take it for granted. Thank YOU for being here with us. It’s makes it so much more fun!
~xo
Lori,
Hi! I just had to stop over and say hello because, umm… well, I follow Jannie wherever she goes online. I don’t mean that in a weird, stalker-type fashion.
It’s just hard not to want to follow all of Jannie’s adventures. I can’t seem to help myself. She’s just too funny and special not to have garnered my great appreciation.
Thanks for the interview!
Jeanne
P.S. So, what did it take to get Jannie to agree to be interviewed? Did you bribe her with lots of donuts? Did you have to feed Blue Bunny too? How did you get so lucky to lasso her for a day?
Jeanne´s last [type] ..Endometriosis Advocacy VIDEO
Fun interview! Liked all the visuals- Jannie always knew how to put on a show, n looked good getting that prize ribbon!
Still got the bongo Cunga line around the block going thru my head! (Even tho it’s not sucked up in the vac) n can picture the kitten rescue too-
I bet all those kittens were forever afeared of the vacuum noise their entire lives…
Drawing a blank on good animal stuff, must need sleep, an hour past my bedtime- May return later if I can remember a good one! Mischief lives up to her name occassionally, n the squirrels eat my deck plantlings.
SnaggleTooth´s last [type] ..Troll Alien
Hey SnaggleTooth (funny name!
),
Thanks for saying hello and having fun with Jannie and me. Yes, sure, come back anytime if you think of a funny story you’d like to share.
Nice to meet you and enjoy your day.
i popped over from tony’s and find jannie…lol about the kitten…you know that is what i love about jannie is she is all personality…much like her music…smiles.
brian´s last [type] ..160 – count it all joy
Hi Brian,
Jannie is just great — I’m so glad she agreed to spend some time with me over here on the porch.
That personality rubs off and helps to power me though my day.
Have a good one!
[...] and a Beach with John Anyasor Front Porch: Dreams, Laughter, and Comic Inspiration with Tony Single Front Porch: A Gown, a Glove, Bongos, and a Vacuum with Jannie [...]