That is Priceless by Steve Melcher for March 16, 2022

As he waited for the reply, all Samuel could think was: ”She’s probably telegraphing some other guy.”

/// Many men gathered close on a boat

for the Morse coded news of the vote.

The telegraph’s cable

curled out from the table

connecting to regions remote.

/// All was silence (save watery splashes),

as they strained to hear dim dots and dashes.

Every man held his breath

waiting news— life or death.

If it’s war all their dreams turn to ashes.

Are you certain you set the detonator right, Earl?

“I’ll now close the curtain and when I reopen it the artist will have to call out who changed position.”

the speaker crackled with the message, “we have been trying to reach you about your cars extended warranty…”

Wire they all waiting there?

“Your call is very important to us..all operators are busy serving other customers..”

/// The caption Steve Melcher is using,

I find, (as an old guy), confusing.

Is “Wait for the drop,”

the other shoe’s plop?

Or the penny, or techno fans shmoozing?

As I gaze upon this cluttered painting, I’ve come to the conclusion that this should sound the Knell for the artist’s career. It is something Dudley couldn’t Do-right!

/// They’re so serious! I wonder why.

They’re Awaiting (we know) the Reply.

If we had some suggestion

as to what was the question,

we might know if they ought to comply.

What does this mean? It just started clicking like Carmen Miranda in a banana hat. Damn it man, make it stop.

The actual title is “Waiting for a reply” They are looking at a telegraph.

Perhaps it is a Telegraph for Monsieur Verne.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeOPnnGmZLk

as you can see, the ronco veg-o-matic not only slices and dices vegetables, it’s also a handy night light…

Waiting to find out if they got any Likes on there “That is Priceless” comment.

Waiting for 56K modem to connect.

“This series of six paintings (92.10.42–47) illustrates the laying of the first trans-Atlantic telegraph cable. After unsuccessful attempts in 1857, 1858, and 1865, the cable was finally laid and brought into use in 1866.” This one is number five. They’re all in the Met.

As if waiting for lightning and thunder/ Great tension their souls did encumber / Then, as if from the sky / Came the fatal reply, / "I’m sorry, you have the wrong number. "

“This is taking forever. Let’s go hit the buffet.”

Our lives would be all rearranged / And our souls would be deeply estranged / As these words from the wire / fear and terror inspire / “Listen closely, our menu has changed.”

It was an election of note / So they assembled to hear of the vote / But the ship ran aground / And everyone drowned / Because no one was steering the boat

Early internet connections were slow and cumbersome, but definitely suspenseful!

Running a continuity check on the telegraph wire and ordering a pizza for when they get back.

????

“Where’s Waldo” – the earliest known example.

“Wait, I think I’ve got it. The answer is…….42.”

They’re all waiting for the results of the paternity test. She really “got around”.

?

“Is…your…refrigerator…running?”

Awaiting the Reply: 

Paste (including the quote marks) 

"File:Awaiting_the_Reply_MET_DT318073.jpg" site=commons.wikimedia.org 

(syntax supported by the Google and Yandex search engines) in the address bar (or search for it using one of those search engines, would highly doubt in either case the search causes ads to pop up) for info and links that point to more info about this roughly jumbo envelope size painting. Source has a description of the painting (in Notes there).

Again, a larger strip image is shown by (Ctrl- or right-) clicking the image in Mr. Melcher’s MASTERPIECE #2896 (March 16, 2022) blog entry, accessible by the Check out the blog! box after the last comment, and using the dropdown menu (even larger if you trim what’s after .png from the URL). I have added a comment there (awaiting Mr. Melcher’s approval) pointing to the artist info I used to point to here. First work by this artist used here.

Better than watching paint dry!

shipboard life was boring until they discovered light.

The fellows are milling around/for they thought it would be “drink and drown”/but so far the beer/ has failed to appear/and they’re all feeling pretty darn down.

Awaiting the last basketball team to be named; so they can fill in their March Madness bracket.

That the show would succeed they had to be certain

They couldn’t go on with the box office hurtin’

But their only stage crew

couldn’t follow his cue:

“Wait for the downbeat to open that curtain!”