TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Highlands Today

Who is that woman in white?

ADVERTISEMENT

By Norm Cukras | Highlands Today

Published: September 25, 2009

I love those Progressive Insurance commercials. Not that I would switch insurance companies just because of them. I just get a kick out of the woman-in-white who is the company spokesperson. Kinda like the gecko that is the spokes-lizard for the Geico Insurance Company.

I'm not sure where they get these people or animals (like the Taco Bell chihuahua) but they always seem to endear themselves to us.

For the purpose of the Progressive Insurance commercial the saleslady is named Flo. More appropriately Flo Flair. But the real person behind the persona is Stephanie Courtney. Courtney is an actress who also performed as a stand-up comedian. At 39-years-old she is a bit younger than Grandma Lee of America's Got Talent fame. The pitch lady was born in New York and currently resides in Los Angeles with her husband.

For some inexplicable reason every time I see Flo/Stephanie I'm reminded of Abby Sciuto, the lab lady, on the hit show NCSI. Even though it has not been revealed if Flo sleeps in a coffin as Abby reportedly does.

Abby, or actually Pauley Perrette, is another mature woman of 40. She was born in New Orleans and found her way to Los Angeles by way of New York City where she tended bar in between commercial jobs. By the way, some of Abby's tattoos are real and others are added for effect.

A reader, who is a self-proclaimed student of commercials, once wondered why Flo wears an apron. Good question. I wonder if it has anything to do with the sterile setting of the commercial.

The man in white

I went to my getting-more-frequent check-up from my primary care doctor Vernon Murphy earlier this week. When he asked if I needed any prescriptions I said, "Yeah." I needed one for a couple of bathtubs to set out in the backyard so Ruth and I can lay in them, hold hands, watch the sun set and enjoy our senior years like all those happy people on the telly.

"Medicare doesn't cover bathtubs," the kindly medical man said bursting my bubble. Neither of us would speculate if they would be included in Obamacare.

Anyway, my request brought to his mind the story of a patient who was convinced that he had a problem. It seems that the 30-something man had none of the manly malfunctions depicted in all the drug ads. "I can watch a complete football game and play a round of golf without going to the bathroom," he bemoaned. "And I have a satisfactory sex life. What's wrong with me?"

Perennials mean more than once

I like orchids. Of course when I was growing up one did not buy them at a five and dime store. They had a reputation of gracing the homes of a higher-class society than I belonged to, except of course for the senior prom. If you didn't get your date an orchid (specifically a cattleya) you were a nerd.

Today orchids are common and you frequently see them as decorations in movies. They still add that touch of class. But they are not the easiest flower in the world to grow. They have needs. And a lot of would-be gardeners will take a pass at trying to cultivate them. Anyway we bought a few plants recently and have them decoratively placed around the house.

Orchids are perennials and most come with instructions on their care and feeding. Our delicate dendrobium was no different. Except. These words were offered to those disinclined to tend to them. "Plants can also be discarded when no longer flowering…It's okay, we'll grow more!"

Would their replacement qualify me for reimbursement under one of the many stimulus packages?

How close is near?

To come near. That's an acceptable definition of the word "approximate." How near is near doesn't really matter.

Anyway in a recent newspaper article an item of interest was said to cost "approximately $499.69." Wow. That's pretty near. To me $500 or even $495 would be an approximation. I can't help but wonder if $499.69 is an approximation how much the thing really cost?

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT