An interesting side effect of my mother being deaf was that she didn't understand sarcasm at all. Sarcasm is all in tone, and well, that was something she couldn't hear. I have to say, it kept me honest out of guilt on occasion. A friend was having a keg party and brought the bucket for the keg to my house. My mom asked what it was for and my response was "It's for bobbing for apples, ma." Her reply? "Oh, how many apples do you need?"
I couldn't let that one continue. I'm not that shameless.