Reality Check by Dave Whamond for February 24, 2023

Well then I’ll build a stairway to Paradise, with a new step every day.

It should be roped off, some lady bought it.

Oh no… here comes the forbidden riff, the scourge of every guitar store!

Where did the saying Cloud Nine come from?

This saying, which dates back to the early 1800s, was coined during a time when clouds were a topic of conversation. It was during this time that scientists and seafarers, including amateur meteorologist Luke Howard, first began organizing clouds. By observing cloud appearance and height above ground level, they were able to categorize all clouds into the ten basic cloud types we use today: cumulus, stratus, stratocumulus, nimbostratus, cumulonimbus, altostratus, altocumulus, cirrus, cirrostratus, and cirrocumulus.

To make recording cloud observations easier, Howard and others also assigned a number from 0 to 9, to each of these ten cloud groups. According to their code abbreviations, zero represented the lowest clouds (stratus), and nine, the tallest clouds (cumulonimbus, or thunderstorm clouds). It’s from this that the expression “cloud nine” was likely born! (If you’re on cloud nine, you’ll be extremely high up, which also describes the sensation you may feel when overjoyed.)

I wouldn’t trust the elevator. I’m listening to the Rolling Stones at the moment. Get Off My Cloud just played.

Good thing it’s going up…..OY VEY! ☺️

Question: Was he Led there by a Zeppelin?

Cloud nine, eh? Going up 420 feet?

Whose bustle is in the hedgerow?

What’s this dark horse doing in here?

I’m too lazy this morning to look up who sung “Stairway to Heaven”. But I’ll be singing or humming it all day today.

The name of the stairs… Stairway to Heaven. The name of the elevator… Last Rides.

But there is a highway to hell based on relative usage.

Wait- the elevator works but the stairway doesn’t???

Ooh, it makes me wonder

Ooh, it makes me wonder ….

( classic rock ensues )

I’m doin’ fine on Cloud 9.

Led Zeppelin are upset, very upset.

Goin ’up?

That is elevating and inspiring…

Stairway closed due to cloud cover, Please use elevator or wings. Sorry for the inconvenience

As long as they have an alternate way of getting up there. Hate to think of a bunch of angels hanging around in the lobby for any length of time, waiting for the stairs to be repaired. Gives Heaven a bad name.