Consecutive Christmas Caroling

My family sings Christmas carols at the hospital where my wife works.
We do this every year and since we started, have not missed a single year.
The next time we do this will be the 18th consecutive Christmas.
My 15 year old daughter has been every time.

How is this possible?

She was born in March 1999 so the first year she came was December 1999 (before her 1st birthday).
Her first time was when she was 0, second time when she was 1, third time when she was 2, etc…

Now that she is 15, she has been 16 times. Oh and of course she was also present in December 1998 in her mum’s belly, due to be born the next March.

So, a total of 17 times and next time will be the 18th.

Thanks to Michael for submitting this real-life brain teaser about his family.

Posted in Brain Teasers

Hidden Gems

Find the names of 10 gems or precious stones hidden in the following story. Each one spans at least two words.

Sir Gade rode toward a castle atop a zebra at a steady gallop, a long way from home. He arrived at the gate and the keeper knelt in shame. “Thy steed must be tired.” Sir Gade replied, “I am on direct orders from the King. Let me through.” A cougar, nettled by the noise, emerged from a shrub. “You must save me!” cried the gate man. Sir Gade, eyes filled with rancor, alighted and gazed toward the sky. An item fell from his cloak as drove his sword into the cougar’s spine. “Let me pass!” cried Sir Gade. The gate keeper, stunned from his saga, tentatively opened the gate, then retrieved the fallen item.

1. topaz – “atop a zebra”
2. opal – “gallop, a long”
3. amethyst – “shame. Thy steed”
4. diamond – “replied, I am on direct”
5. garnet – “cougar, nettled”
6. ruby – “shrub. You”
7. coral – “rancor, alighted”
8. kyanite – “sky. An item”
9. spinel – “spine. Let”
10. agate – “saga, tentatively”

Sir Gade rode toward a castle atop a zebra at a steady gallop, a long way from home. He arrived at the gate and the keeper knelt in shame. “Thy steed must be tired.” Sir Gade replied, “I am on direct orders from the King. Let me through.” A cougar, nettled by the noise, emerged from a shrub. “You must save me!” cried the gate man. Sir Gade, eyes filled with rancor, alighted and gazed toward the sky. An item fell from his cloak as drove his sword into the cougar’s spine. “Let me pass!” cried Sir Gade. The gate keeper, stunned from his saga, tentatively opened the gate, then retrieved the fallen item.

Posted in Riddles

Plane Crash Off Coast of Mexico

A plane crashed off the coast of Mexico and every single person died, yet there were two survivors. How could that happen?

There was a married couple.

Posted in Brain Teasers

An Attorney for a Brother

The defendant testified, “The attorney is my brother,” but the attorney took the stand and denied having a brother under oath. Who is lying?

Neither one of them lied. The defendant was the attorney’s sister.

Posted in Brain Teasers

A Long Bicycle Ride

Hester goes out for an afternoon bicycle ride. She rides for one hour at five miles an hour, then three hours at four miles an hour and finally two hours at seven miles an hour. How many miles did she ride in total?

31 miles.

1 hour at 5 mph = 5 miles
3 hours at 4 mph = 12 miles
2 hours at 7 mph = 14 miles

5 + 12 + 14 = 31 miles

Posted in Brain Teasers

Wolves and Owls

You are in the woods with owls and wolves. There are 22 eyes and 32 legs. How many owls and wolves are there?

5 owls and 5 wolves, (not 6 owls because 2 of the eyes and legs are yours).

2 * owls + 2 * wolves = 20 eyes
2 * owls + 4 * wolves = 30 legs
owls + wolves = 10 eyes → owls = 10 – wolves
owls + 2 * wolves = 15 → 10 – wolves + 2 * wolves = 15 → wolves = 5
owls + 5 = 10 → owls = 5

Posted in Brain Teasers

Can Only Be Given, Not Taken Or Bought

It may only be given,
Not taken or bought,
What the sinner desires,
But the saint does not.

Forgiveness.

Posted in Riddles

Has a Mouth But Cannot Drink

Has a mouth but cannot drink.
Has a head but cannot think.
Has a tongue but not a lung.
Some are held and some are hung.

A bell.

By Sef Daystrom

Posted in Riddles
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Two More Seconds

Ida puts her coffee into the microwave, as she does every morning, for exactly two minutes. When the microwave goes off, she opens the door, but then closes the door again and sets the microwave for two more seconds. What good would two more seconds be?

To rotate the handle on the mug so she can comfortably remove it.

Posted in Brain Teasers

Yellow Rock into a Purple Stream

What happens when you throw a yellow rock into a purple stream?

It makes a splash.

Posted in Riddles