Monday, March 16, 2026

You Can't Make Me Nap if I'm Hiding (Awww Monday), Inspiring Quote of the Week, and Poetry Monday, Obsidian

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Awww Monday is hosted by Sandee at Comedy Plus.


Join us every Monday for Awww...Mondays.  Post a picture that makes you say Awww... and that's it.


Make sure you get the code from Sandee's site, linked above, and leave a link to your post so we can visit you.  What better way to start the week than with a smile!


I told our little lady it was time for her nap and she said, "No," and ran to hide behind the steps she uses to get on the couch.








If i can't see her, i can't put her to bed, right?






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Sparks is the brainchild of Annie of McGuffy's Reader, who wanted us to post something positive and uplifting at the start of the week.  While she no longer blogs, i like to post an Inspiring Quote of the Week in her honor.     






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Our dear friend Diane is taking a break

accommodations we must make

we miss her poetry and wit

so carry on as Poetry Monday's a hit!


Poetry Monday was started by Diane at On The Alberta/Montana Border.  Charlotte/Mother Owl and i are keeping it going while she takes a blog break, we hope temporarily.  Anyone else is welcome to join in the fun, just let us know!


This week the theme is Obsidian.               


The volcano's career blew up

created a lot of obsidian,

but he said at his life's work

he was only at the meridian!


*******


deep

shiny black

glass from volcanoes

a jewel among the rocks

obsidian


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Future themes are:


March 16 Obsidian (Today!)

March 23 Croissant

March 30 The Moon Tonight

April 6 Passover


(All themes are from the 365 Days of Drawing Prompts and Other Arts Facebook group.)


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Today is:


Act Happy Week begins -- acting happy releases the body chemicals that aid health, mental and physical


Birthday of Sparky the Fire Dog -- can't confirm the exact date, but Sparky became an official fire prevention mascot in Mar. 1951


Brain Awareness Week begins-- the global campaign to increase public awareness of the progress and benefits of brain research    


Curlew Day -- Umatilla National Wildlife Refuge, OR, US (traditional date the long-billed curlew arrives, with up to 500 reported during their nesting season)


Day of the Book Smugglers -- Lithuania (recognizing the brave people who smuggled Lithuanian language books in the Latin alphabet into the country from 1866-1904, when the Russian Empire had banned such books)


Dia de Benito Juarez -- Mexico (una Fiestas Patrias)


Elaphebolia -- Ancient Greek Calendar (festival of Artemis; date approximate)


Everything You Do is Right Day -- another internet generated holiday designed to get you into trouble if you aren't careful


Feast of Heru and His Companions -- Ancient Egyptian Calendar (date approximate)


Festival of Bacchus / Bacchanalia -- Ancient Roman Calendar (through tomorrow)


Freedom of Information Day -- on the birthday of James Madison, Father of the US Constitution and an advocate for openness in government


Latvian Legion Day -- Latvia (no longer a formal national holiday, still celebrated by many in the region)


Lips Appreciation Day -- after all, where would you be without them, and how would you give kisses?  sponsored by Wellcat Holidays


National Artichoke Hearts Day


St. Heribert of Cologne's Day (Patron against drought)


St. Urho's Day -- Finnish communities in Canada and the US (a made up saint, the Finns answer to St. Patrick, who supposedly drove the grasshoppers out of Finland)


Wellderly Day -- and the start of Wellderly Week, focusing on the health of the elderly



Anniversary Today:


The United States Military Academy at West Point is established, 1802




Birthdays Today:


Judah Friedlander, 1969

Lauren Graham, 1969

Kevin Tod Smith, 1963

Isabel Huppert, 1955

Alice Hoffman, 1952

Kate Nelligan, 1951

Erik Estrada, 1949

Victor Garber, 1949

Chuck Woolery, 1942

Bernardo Bertolucci, 1940

Jerry Lewis, 1926

Mercedes McCambridge, 1916

Patricia Nixon, 1912

Henny Youngman, 1906

Rosa Bonheur, 1822

Georg Simon Ohm, 1787

James Madison, 1751

George Clymer, 1739



Debuting/Premiering Today:


"The Gumby Show"(TV), 1957

"1776"(Musical), 1969

"Der Unbestechliche"(Comedy), 1923

"In the South / Alassio"(Elgar, Op. 50), 1904

"Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen"(Mahler Song cycle), 1896

"Thaïs"(Opera), 1894

"Freedom's Journal"(first African American newspaper in the US, in New York), 1827



Today in History:


The Babylonians capture Jerusalem and replace Jehoiachin with Zedekiah as king, BC597

Caligula becomes Roman Emperor after the death of his great uncle, Tiberius, 37

The Jews of York England commit mass suicide rather than submit to baptism, 1190

Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan reaches Philippines, 1521

Samoset, a Mohegan, visits the settlers of Plymouth Colony and greets them, "Welcome, Englishmen! My name is Samoset," 1621

The US Army Corps of Engineers is established to found and operate the United States Military Academy at West Point, 1802

Prince Willem of the House of Orange-Nassau proclaims himself King of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands, the first constitutional monarch in The Netherlands, 1815

New York Stock Exchange slowest day ever (31 shares traded), 1830

Susan Hayhurst becomes the first woman to graduate from a pharmacology college, 1830

Edward Clark became Governor of Texas, replacing Sam Houston, who was evicted from the office for refusing to take an oath of loyalty to the Confederacy, 1861

Joseph Lister's article outlining the discovery of antiseptic surgery is published in The Lancet, 1867

Hiram R Revels makes the first official speech by an African American in the US Senate, 1869

The Barnum and Bailey Circus debuts, 1881

Sir Arthur Evans discovers the ancient city of Knossus, 1900

Robert Goddard launches the first liquid-fueled rocket, at Auburn, Massachusetts, 1926

The Ford Motor Company produces its 50 millionth automobile, the Thunderbird, averaging almost a million cars a year since the company's founding, 1958

Gemini 8 is launched, the 12th manned American space flight and first space docking with the Agena Target Vehicle, 1968

General Motors produces its 100 millionth automobile, the Oldsmobile Toronado, 1968

Demolition of the radio tower Ismaning, the last wooden radio tower in Germany, 1983

Associated Press newsman Terry Anderson is taken hostage in Beirut; he will be held for 6 1/2 years, 1985

Pope John Paul II asks God for forgiveness for the inactivity and silence of some Roman Catholics during the Holocaust, 1998

Israel officially hands over Jericho to Palestinian control, 2005

Voters in Crimea vote overwhelmingly to leave Ukraine and rejoin Russia amid international condemnation of its design, 2014

Apple announces it will begin a web TV service in September, carrying 25 channels and including networks like CBS, Fox, and ABC, and costing less than most cable TV packages, 2014

A beached, dead whale in Mabini, Philippines, is found to have 88 pounds of plastic inside it, including 40 pounds of plastic bags, 2019

Global numbers of cases and deaths from Covid19 overtake the numbers in China for the first time, 2020

US Federal Reserve raises interest rates for the first time since 2018, 2022

The Houston Zoo announces their oldest resident Mr. Pickles (90) is finally a father, with Mrs. Pickles (53), the parents of three rare baby radiated tortoises, named Dill, Gherkin and Jalapeño, 2023

Sunday, March 15, 2026

Fit to Be Tied (Cajun Joke), Sunday Selections and Sunday Selfie

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Just because Sandee of Comedy Plus is no longer hosting a Silly Sunday blog hop, do not expect me to quit telling Cajun jokes, especially as it has now become a habit.



Grandma has finally quit pretending to care so much about how much she weighs and about her blood sugar.  She has no signs of diabetes, never has, and Grandpa has told her for years to just eat what she likes and enjoy it and no worries.


Boudreaux done be fussin' at de scale, an' Clothile done say, "You like you food so much, you's not goin' be givin' dat up, so maybe you should exercise.  You need to try you de new exercise dey call de cross fit."


An' Boudreaux say, "Mais, I's doin' cross fit, I cross my fingers an' hope my clothes fit!"



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Sunday Selections was started as a way for bloggers to use photos that might otherwise just languish in their files.  The rules have been relaxed, and it is now simply a showcase for your photos, new or old, good or bad, although nothing rude, please.  Our friend River is hosting, and other participants often include Charlotte/Mother OwlAndrew, and WiseWebWoman.  


St. Patrick's Day decorations, some on the parade route (the parade was yesterday, it's always the Saturday before the 17th).

























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This week, Jack wants to join the Kitties Blue at The Cat On My Head for their Sunday Selfies Blog Hop.  


Jack says, "I like lying on the cool floor in a dim room!"





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Today is:


1848 Revolution Day -- Hungary


Ag Day, Celebrating Our Bountiful Food Supply -- according to a foodie website


Brutus Day -- for obvious reasons; watch for backstabbers today, because they are as numerous now as they were in ancient Rome


Camp Fire USA Birthday Week


Constitution Day -- Belarus


Everything You Think is Wrong Day -- begun by someone who wants you to keep an open mind, apparently


Fallas de Valencia -- Valencia, Spain (a five day carnival/fiesta of partying that ends with turning off all the city lights and setting fire to hundreds of massive papier-mache statues stuffed with fireworks to celebrate St. Joseph's Day; sometimes called Fallas de San Jose)


Honen Matsuri -- Tagata-jinja Shrine, Inuyama, Japan (festival for a good harvest and fertility)


Ides of March -- Ancient Roman Calendar; other observances

     Day Sacred to Anna Parenna and River Nymphs -- goddess of the returning year

     Day You Don't Want to Go Out if Your Name is Julius Caesar

     Festival of Attis and Cybele

     Guild Festival -- for guilds practicing the arts of Minerva, with weapons purified at her temple on this day


International Day Against Police Brutality


Joseph Jenkins Roberts' Birthday -- Liberia


Kashiram Jayanti -- UP, India (birth anniversary of politician Kashi Ram)


Laetare Sunday -- Western Christianity, 4th Sunday of Lent; related Observances

     Carnaval de la Laetare -- Stavelot, Belgium

     Mothering Sunday -- UK (fourth Sunday of Lent, originally a day to visit your "mother church" in the parish where you were raised, now celebrated as Mother's Day)


Lailat al Kadr (Lailat al Qadr) -- Islam (Night of Destiny; began at sundown yesterday, through sundown tonight, although local observances may vary and governmental days off vary from country to country)


National Pears Helene with Chocolate Sauce and Brandy Day


Offerings to Ra, Osiris, Horus, Ptah, Sokar, and Atum -- Ancient Egyptian Calendar (date approximate)


St. Clement Mary Hofbauer's Day (Patron of Vienna, Austria)


St. Louise de Marillac's Day (Patron of disappointing children, loss of parents, people rejected by religious orders, sick people, social workers, widows; Vincentian Service Corps)


Tagata Honen-Sai/Honen Matsuri -- Inuyama, Japan (fertility festival)


True Confessions Day -- sponsored by Wellcat Holidays, because confession is good for the soul; if you are afraid to confess to the world, there's always your mirror


Turkey Buzzards Day -- Hinckley, OH, US (Two theories about why the turkey buzzards return on this date each year have to do with either witchcraft of a hunting story; festival in honor of them will be held this coming Sunday)


World Consumer Rights Day -- International   


Youth Day -- Palau



Anniversaries Today:


Richard Burton marries Elizabeth Taylor, 1964

The University of Toronto is chartered, 1827

Maine becomes the 23rd US state, 1820



Birthdays Today:


Kellan Lutz, 1985

Sean Biggerstaff, 1983

Eva Longoria, 1975

Kim Raver, 1969

Mark McGrath, 1968

Bret Michaels, 1963

Fabio, 1961

Mary Carillo, 1957

Park Overall, 1957

Dee Snyder, 1955

Craig Wilson, 1954

Sly Stone, 1944

Mike Love, 1941

Phil Lesh, 1940

Judd Hirsch, 1935

Ruth Bader Ginsburg, 1933

Alan Bean, 1932

Norm Van Brocklin, 1926

Harry James, 1916

Joe E. Ross, 1914

Macdonald Carey, 1913

Samuel "Lightnin" Hopkins, 1912

Andrew Jackson, 1767



Debuting/Premiering Today:


"The Wonder Years"(TV), 1988

"Eight is Enough"(TV), 1977

"Three's Company"(TV), 1977

"The Godfather"(Film), 1972

"Purlie"(Musical), 1970

"Lady Madonna"(Music single), 1968

"My Fair Lady"(Musical), 1956

"Rapsodie Espagnole"(Ravel's Orchestral rapsody), 1908

"Caesar and Cleopatra,"(Play), 1899

"She Stoops to Conquer"(Comedy), 1773



Today in History:


Julius Caesar, Dictator of the Roman Republic, is stabbed to death by Marcus Junius Brutus, Gaius Cassius Longinus, Decimus Junius Brutus and several other Roman senators on the Ides of March, BC44

Liu Bei, a Chinese warlord and member of the Han royal house, declares himself emperor of Shu-Han and claims his legitimate succession to the Han Dynasty, 221

A Jew hating Monk in Seville, Spain stirs up people in that city to attack Jews, 1391

Christopher Columbus arrives back in Spain after his first trip to the New World, 1493

The first meeting of the Council of Trent, 1545

South Carolina becomes the first American colony to declare its independence from Great Britain and set up its own government, 1776

In an emotional speech in Newburgh, New York, George Washington asks his officers not to support the Newburgh Conspiracy; the plea is successful and the threatened coup d'état never takes place, 1783

A revolution breaks out in Hungary, and the Habsburg rulers are compelled to meet the demands of the Reform party, 1848

Jesse W. Reno patents an "inclined elevator" (escalator), 1892*

Rolls-Royce Limited is incorporated, 1906

Czar Nicholas II of Russia abdicates the Russian throne and his brother the Grand Duke becomes Tsar, 1917

Symbolics.com registers the very first Internet domain name, 1985

Mikhail Gorbachev is elected as the first President of the Soviet Union, 1990

French President Jacques Chirac signs the law on secularity and conspicuous religious symbols in schools, commonly known as the "headscarf ban", 2004

Lazarus Project scientists reveal that they successfully recovered frozen tissue from the 1970's and rejuvenated the cells of Rheobatrachus silus, a species of frog that has been extinct since 1983, 2013

French fashion house Givenchy appoints it first female designer, Englishwoman Clare Waight Keller, 2017

Toys ‘R Us announces it will close all of its stores, 2018

More European countries impose restrictions on travel and borders to try to combat Covid19, while the US Federal Reserve slashes interest rates to near zero in an attempt to support the economy, 2020

Deb Haaland becomes the first Native American to lead a cabinet agency after being confirmed by the Senate as the new US Secretary of the Interior, 2021

An atmospheric river creates a storm across California, bringing widespread flooding and power outages, 2023


*The first actual working model, at Coney Island, was built four years later.