Fifty readers, plus 24 of Diane Anderson's students at Landisville Middle School, submitted captions for last month's "Pass the Word" photo of a pelican on a pier.

The photographer, Jeff Ruppenthal, snapped the image when he was on vacation in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Some participants submitted identical or similar captions; in those cases, even if the captions are not word-for-word, we've grouped them together.

This month's "Pass the Word" photo, also taken by Ruppenthal, shows a bear at ZooAmerica in Hershey.

Guidelines:
Send an original, amusing caption to LIVING@LNPNEWS.COM.

Please put this in the subject line of your e-mail: "Pass the Word" [Insert your last name].

You are also welcome to send a caption to us via the U.S. Postal Service: "Pass the Word," Living, Sunday News, P.O. Box 1328, Lancaster, PA 17608-1328.

We must receive your submission no later than Monday, May 18.

Be sure to include your full name and town of residence (as well as a daytime telephone number, which will not be published).

Please limit your caption submissions to three or less per month, and submit all on one page or in one e-mail.

We reserve the right to edit your work.

Share your wit! Send us those captions!


"Oops! Forgot my pelican briefs."

— Patti Grabowski, Lancaster


"Don't be a big mouth."

— Richard Green, Leola


"So, Jeff, I normally charge 10 clams for this pose. But if you put me in 'Pass the Word,' I'll do it for a fin."

— Robert M. Johnson, Manheim


Peli want a cracker?

— Mark Steller, Leola


"Welcome to my Web site."

— Donald Steller, Leola


"Ready for takeoff."

— Philip Lafferty, Mount Joy; Robert E. Rhoads, Ephrata; and Marie Warfel, Lancaster


"No, I'm not looking down my nose at you."

— Susan Dolla, Denver


(Groan) "I thought that shrimp tasted a little funny."

— Nora Nolt, Ephrata


A face that only a mother could love.

— Virginia L. Joline, Lancaster


"Footing the bill was no easy task; it's good to be back on my feet."

— Roxie Sarroff, Lancaster


"You want to talk about big bills?"

— Linda Bloom, Lancaster; Kamille K. Beittel, Manheim; Shirley J. Orfanella, Quarryville; and Amanda K. Wolgemuth, Mount Joy


"Just put it on my bill."

— Joann Garvin, Manheim, and Patti Pope, Akron


"Why the long face?"

— Ehab Alies, age 13, Landisville Middle School


"Last week's fish is STILL stuck in my beak."

— Shaina Montez, age 13, Landisville Middle School


And there's more!
Here are some more captions submitted by Sunday News readers. (Although many sent multiple options, we are only posting one caption per contributor.)


"I am hungry for the fish in your backyard pond."

— Janice Weaver, Akron


"What?! I AM smiling."

— Linda W. Eck, Columbia


"Of course my shoes are Prada!"

— Lucy Rankin, Columbia


"I can't wait to fill this pouch with that Pennsylvania Dutch home cooking."

— Roy Weik, Denver


"I think this is the place where the BIG fish are."

— Marianne Gibble, East Petersburg


"I needed a quiet vacation!"

— Al Orth, Ephrata


"It's lonely out here. Come join me!"

— Karen Orth, Ephrata


Nice chin, Mr. Pelican.

— Susan J. Cosgrove, Holtwood


"Where's Polly?"

— Mildred M. Bahn, Lancaster


"Where is that darn water taxi?"

— Linda DeWald, Lancaster


"Ready or not, here I come!"

— Laura Gingrich, Lancaster


Pelican, pelican, on the pier,

There's fish for dinner, never fear!

— Gurley M. Manners, Lancaster


"Fa ged about it."

— Katherine J. Manners, Lancaster


"Gulp! That fish was a real belly buster!"

— Mary Robb, Lancaster


"It's not as lonely as it looks. I know the fish are coming!"

— Kenny Sarroff, Lancaster


"Good morning, homo sapiens. I am here to discuss Intelligent Design."

— Nell Sieber, Lancaster


"I am going to keep an eye on you."

— Doug Wiker, Lancaster


"Stimulus. Help. I may be losing my home, too."

— Mary Margaret Sager, Landisville


"You were expecting Daffy Duck?"

— Anna C. Buch, Lebanon


"Who are you calling Flat Foot?"

— Bob Hill, Lititz


"His beak holds more than his belly can?" "But it's a stretch."

— Jack Reilly, Lititz


"As a matter of fact, I am holier than thou!"

— Nancy Witmer, Manheim


"I'm settin' on the dock at the bay, watching the tide roll away."

— Jerry Edwards, Mount Joy


"LISTEN UP! I'll only say this once!"

— Betty Henny, Mount Joy


"You think my beak is long ... you should see my father's!"

— Lois Garloff, Myerstown


"Seriously, do you think this bill makes my feet look big?"

— Jami S. Karr, New Holland


"Oh, NO! This is the wrong beach."

— Joan Alexander, New Providence


"Where is everybody? I thought there was a party going on here."

— Tom Alexander, New Providence


"Got fish?"

— Dennis Filson, Strasburg


"Is it true that a pelican's mouth can hold more than its beli-can?"

— Nancy L. Rintz, Strasburg


"Anyone know a good plastic surgeon?"

— Bev Musser, Willow Street


"Give me my fish back."

— Ava Wagner, age 6, Norfolk, Va. (submitted by her grandmother, Christine Wagner, Lititz)


And these Landisville Middle School students: 


"Ugh! I need to get some Rogaine formula."

— Troy Beinhauer, age 12


"How fast do you think I can lift off."

— Brigitte Breault, age 13


"Duck. Duck. Duck. Pelican."

— Nic Engle, age 12


"Just chillin' and billin' "

— Brenda Gainer, age 13


"Beak-a-boo"

— Kyle Gander, 12


"Just because my beak is long doesn't mean I've lied."

— Zane Harnish, age 13


"Don't even start with me about having a big bill."

— Jamie Herman, age 13


"I'm kind of hungry, and you're looking yummy!"

— Maddie Hermann, age 13


"Don't laugh. I am going to win the breath-holding contest."

— Amy Hershey, age 13


"It's the new hairstyle — The Fluff."

— Kelsey Hostetter, age 13


"Gotta have a big mouth for fly fishing."

— Noelys Martinez, age 12


"I can see you down there, little fishy."

— Janae Metzler, age 12


"Wanted: Big Bird's understudy"

— Tess Miller, age 12


"Ouch! There's a giant fish in my mouth and it's got teeth!"

— Paul Myers, age 12


"Does anyone know where Jenny Craig went?"

— Aalea Ray, age 13


"I DO have the body for a swimsuit model."

— Chloe Reist-Cowell, age 13


"Do these feathers make my beak look big?"

— Ally Reitzel, age 13


"And you complain about the economy ... try living with this beak."

— Josh Rhoads, age 13


"Do these feathers make me look fat?"

— Jesse Sherlock, age 13


"Pelican. James Pelican. At your service."

— Aaliyah Simione, age 13


"My belly may be big and my head small, but I can take you any day."

— Tatyana Stewart, age 13


"Well,  you're no prize either."

— Roth White, age 13