Watercooler Stories

Couple marry at home building site

SAN ANTONIO, June 30 (UPI) -- A Texas couple say they were happy to celebrate their wedding at a Habitat for Humanity home building site where they both volunteered.

The couple, who met on eHarmony and say they have been in love since the first day they met, wanted their wedding Saturday to be a celebration of the importance of service for them. As devout Christians, they wanted their wedding to reflect their faith and the spirit of service, the San Antonio Express-News reported.

"We wanted to do a wedding that represented us," said Edwin Tamayo, 35, a physician, who nevertheless insisted that his bride, Loree Elliott, 38, not work on the roof that day.

"I need her for the ceremony," he joked.

The newlyweds said they plan to work on more Habitat projects.

"I'm going to get on the roof next time," Elliott said.

Personalized drill leads to arrests

SUMMERFIELD, Fla., June 30 (UPI) -- A Florida man was arrested after police found his name etched on the drill he allegedly used to put holes in gas tanks to steal fuel.

Authorities say the Summerfield, Fla., man and his girlfriend are accused of draining several tanks, the Ocala (Fla.) Star-Banner reported.

John Oldenburg, 44, and Darlene Kimbriel, 39, face grand theft, burglary of a conveyance and criminal mischief charges, Marion County Sheriff's Office records show.

Deputies allege they found a methamphetamine lab at the couple's home, so they also face drug charges.

Deputies say they found a drill with "J. Oldenburg" etched in the tool at the scene of the latest gas heist. Asked why his drill was at the scene, Oldenburg blamed his girlfriend, the newspaper reported.

Kimbriel, meanwhile, accused her boyfriend of drilling for gas while she acted as a lookout.

Top dogs compete on surfboards

IMPERIAL BEACH, Calif., June 30 (UPI) -- Canines of all types showed their stuff Saturday at a California surfing contest that owners claim their pets love as much as the audience.

The third annual Loews Coronado Bay Resort Surf Dog Competition in Imperial Beach drew about 60 four-legged participants looking for prizes, medals and bragging rights. The dogs wore everything from swim trunks and Hawaiian leis to sunglasses, life vests and wet suits, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported.

The event drew an estimated 1,500 to 2,000 spectators as well as news photographers fighting for positions in the surf near the animals.

"It goes to show that dog surfing is part of the San Diego lifestyle," said Anne Stephany, a spokeswoman for the resort. "The best thing about this event is that no particular breed seems to do better than others. I've seen poodles, a bulldog, (a) Chihuahua. As long as your dog loves the water, they're a great candidate for this sport."

English soon to include 1 million words

AUSTIN, Texas, June 30 (UPI) -- English is close to adding its 1 millionth word, with well over 1 billion speakers worldwide, experts say.

Author Paul J.J. Payack, founding president of the Global Language Monitor, estimates English will hit the vocabulary milestone April 29, 2009, MetaNewswire reported Sunday. Currently, the English language counts about 1.35 billion speakers as a first, second or auxiliary language.

With 25 percent of the world speaking English, that's a lot of sources for new words, suggests Payack.

The latest addition found by his tracking service is "e-Vampire." It is a noun referring to electric equipment that consumes energy while in standby mode.