Why Is There a Flamingo in the Cat Shelter Fridge? (Wordless Wednesday) and Words for Wednesday

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Linking up with Wordless Wednesday, Catsynth, Keith, and Sandee at Comedy Plus.     

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Words for Wednesday was begun by Delores and has become a moveable feast of word or picture or music prompts to encourage us to write stories, poems, or whatever strikes our fancy.    

This month the words/prompts are supplied by Hilary Melton-Butcher and can be found right here at River's blog.

This week's words/prompts are:

1.smoking  

2.culture  

3.popular  

4.decade  

5.soft

and/or:

1.consumption  

2.stretch  

3.ripen  

4.fields  

5.cavern

and an extra set of words:

1.jumper  

2.multiple  

3.oven  

4.disprove  

5.support

6.bound  

7.rural  

8.swathes  

9.poverty  

10.pop

use any list or all, or mix and match, just have fun.

Charlotte's  colour of the month is Razzmatazz

She stood at the OVEN with her Razzmatazz pink apron on, gloved hands ready to remove the MULTIPLE dishes in which was supper, when it hit her.

With SMOKING hot pans of good smelling meats and veggies being shuttled out and the bread being shuttled in was a terrible time for her writer's block to break.

Like SWATHES of RURAL POVERTY sweeping over a landscape between bustling cities, her block would come on on her and sometimes STRETCH for hours into days.

The list of words she went to for inspiration would leave her flat.  She'd immerse herself in the CONSUMPTION of POPULAR CULTURE for a time until she'd feel she could go a DECADE without bothering with it again.

The CAVERN of emptiness, where ideas just don't come, would lead her to do MULTIPLE things to end it, BOUND and determined it wasn't going to get the better of her.

Sometimes she'd go to the library and read children's books, or try to learn enough math to DISPROVE a theorem her husband would throw at her.  As a scientist, he'd try to show SUPPORT where he could, and he figured distracting her literature brain with higher math just might do the trick.

Eventually, though, with a SOFT POP, her dry bubble would burst and her mind would be like a swirling FIELD of grain which had decided to RIPEN at just this exact moment.

Standing in a hot kitchen trying to put together a meal was about the worst time for it to happen, though.  She set the hot dishes down, grabbed the pencil and grocery list from the side of the fridge and scribbled notes frantically so as to catch every last bit, and then, with a lopsided grin of triumph, called for her husband and kids to come eat.

Once supper was over, they would clean, she would write.

(Note:  I could not for the life of me think of a story for today, so i got online and looked up a site offering short story ideas.  One was, "You have a writer's block breakthrough at the worst possible time."  Bingo.)

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Today is Cat World Domination Day!  They've already taken over the internet, they're going to finish their takeover of the whole world as soon as they're done with their naps.

Thanks to Barb Kowalik and The Cat Blogosphere for the event badge.         

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Today is:

Araw ng Maynila -- Philippines (Manila Day)

Bannockburn Day -- Scotland (decisive battle of the first Scottish War of Independence, led by Robert Bruce)

Burning of the Lamps in Egypt at Sais -- Ancient Egyptian Calendar, a celebration of Isis and Neith (date approximate)

Calcio Fiorentino -- Florence, Italy (reviving 16th century style football in period costumes, through the 28th)

Carabobo Day -- Venezuela (battle commemoration)

Cat World Domination Day

Celebration of the Senses -- Wellcat Holidays urges you to enjoy all five (six?) of your senses today

Countryman's Day -- Peru (one of Peru's three Fiestas Patrias Peruanas)

Day of the Caboclo -- Amazonas State, Brazil

Feast of Rahmat (Mercy) -- Baha'i

Flying Saucer Day -- anniversary of Kenneth Arnold's 1947 sighting, while flying near Mt. Rainier, of 9 metallic, circular objects he could not identify

Fors Fortuna -- Ancient Roman Calendar (rites and festival for the goddess of good luck and fortune)

International Fairy Day/Faerie Day -- day for collectors, believers, and artists to share their love for the little folk   

Museum Comes to Life Day -- another fun and funny day someone came up with

National Creamy Pralines Day

St. John the Baptist's Nativity Day and related Midsummer celebrations (Patron of baptism, bird dealers, converts, children with convulsions, epileptics, farriers, French Canadians, lambs, monastic life, motorways, printers, tailors; against convulsions, epilepsy, hail and hailstorms, and spasms; Patron of over 60 cities and countries around the globe)

    Inti Raymi -- Peru (Incan Sun Festival)

    Jaanipaev -- Estonia

    Jani -- Latvia

    Jónsmessa -- Iceland (feast of St. John the Baptist, considered a magical night when cows can speak, seals take on human form, finding magical stones and herbs is propitious, and rolling naked in the dew is healing.)

    Macau Day -- China (celebrating the defeat of Dutch invasion forces in 1622 and paying homage to St. John as the port's Patron Saint)

    Midsummer Day -- England

    National Holiday -- Quebec, Canada (Sant Jean-Baptiste)

    Saint John the Baptist Day -- Andorra

    Saint Jonas Festival or Jonines -- Lithuania

    San Juan -- CT and GA, Spain

    Surinal -- North Korea

    Zuni Buffalo, Corn, and Comanche Dances -- Zuni Native Americans (for fertility of land and people; Vespers is also observed, as San Juan is their Patron Saint)

Swim a Lap Day -- just for fun!

Swing a Kid Day -- if swimming isn't right for you, go play on the swing set

Anniversaries Today:

Eton College is founded by Henry VI, 1441

Birthdays Today:

Sherry Stringfield, 1967

Joe Penny, 1956

Nancy Allen, 1950

Phyllis George, , 1949

Peter Weller, 1947

Mick Fleetwood, 1947

Ellison Shoji Onizuka, 1946

Jeff Beck, 1944

Michele Lee, 1942

Claude Chabrol, 1930

John Anthony Ciardi. 1916

Phil Harris, 1904

Jack Dempsey, 1895

Roy O. Disney, 1893

Ambrose Bierce, 1842

Henry Ward Beecher, 1813

Debuting/Premiering Today:

Catch-22(Film), 1970

"Hopalong Cassidy"(TV), 1949

"American Mercury Presents:  Meet the Press"(Radio), 1945

Today in History:

Battle of Cedynia, the first documented victory of Polish forces, takes place, 972

A sudden outbreak of St. John's Dance causes people in the streets of Aachen, Germany, to experience hallucinations and begin to jump and twitch uncontrollably until they collapse from exhaustion, 1374

John Cabot lands in North America at Newfoundland; the first European 

exploration of the region since the Vikings, 1497

Miguel Lopez de Legazpi founds Manila, the capital of the Republic of the Philippines, 1571

Samuel de Champlain discovers the mouth of the Saint John River, site of Reversing Falls and the present day city of Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, 1604

The colony of New Jersey is founded, 1664

Kingston, Jamaica is founded, 1692

The Premier Grand Lodge of England, the first Masonic Grand Lodge in the world (now the United Grand Lodge of England), is founded in London, England, 1717

The first republican constitution in France is adopted, 1793

The decisive battle in the war of independence of Venezuela from Spain, the Battle of Carabobo takes place, 1821

First performance of O Canada, the song that would become the national anthem of Canada, at the Congrès national des Canadiens-Français, 1880

The first exhibition of Pablo Picasso's work opens, 1901

Mary Pickford becomes the first female film star to get a million dollar contract, 1916

The first airmail service in Canada from Montreal to Toronto begins, 1918

Siam is renamed Thailand by Plaek Pibulsonggram, the third prime minister, 1939

The Soviet Union makes overland travel between the West with West Berlin impossible, 1948

The United Kingdom grants Zanzibar internal self-government, 1963

Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud completes his first mission, becoming the first Arab and first Muslim in space, as a Payload Specialist, 1985

John Isner of the United States defeats Nicolas Mahut of France at Wimbledon, in the longest match in professional tennis history, 2010

The last known Pinta Island Tortoise, Lonesome George, is found dead in the Galapagos Islands, 2012

British Prime Minister David Cameron resigns after the UK votes to leave the EU, 2016

Saudi Arabia lifts its ban on women driving, 2018

The US Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, 2022

According to the UN, Sudan has the largest number of displaced children in the world after a year of civil war, 2024

NATO summit takes place in The Hague, Netherlands, with all 32 NATO members expected to attend, 2025

Having It Both Ways, a Random and Happy Tuesday Post

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It's time once again for a random and happy Tuesday, linking up with Stacy's Random Thoughts at Stacy Uncorked and Sandee at Comedy Plus.  

Ms. G, like so many, goes to Cramco, by which i mean one of those bulk buying stores, in fact, we have two in the area and she belongs to both, as each carries certain products she uses the other does not have.

Also, like so many, she goes in and we go through the store, grabbing copious quantities of whatever she needs at the time, stopping to look at items and compare both prices and carb quantity per serving (she is, after all, diabetic).  All the while she is muttering and debating with herself about certain things, especially the food products.

If something is on sale, she will often buy more to stock up while it's a good price, which i understand.

Then comes the moment of revelation, checking out and paying the total.  It always comes as a big shock because it's always a bigger number than she thought it would be.

After she recovers her breath a bit from fussing about it, and pays, and we head to the doors, she goes over her receipt to make sure they didn't overcharge her for anything based on the price she remembers on the shelf.

This is where having it both ways comes in.  She wants a lower bill, but then she will notice something she purchased was on sale without her knowing it.

After fussing about the total, she will then remark, "I wish I'd known it was on sale I would have gotten more!"

Ms. G, which you do you want?  More of the sale item, or for the total cost not to go up any more than it has?

People are funny.

How about some other funnies.

Have a blessed and beautiful Tuesday, everyone!

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Today is:

Anubis Ceremony -- Ancient Egyptian Calendar (date approximate)

Father's Day -- Nicaragua; Poland

Festival of the Purple Void -- only one internet reference, and not explained there, either, but since purple is my favorite color, and a Purple Void sounds like something fun to celebrate, i'm including it!

Festivals of Het-Hert and Bast, and Great Feast of the Southern Heavens -- Ancient Egyptian Calendar (date approximate)

Grand Duke's Birthday & National Day -- Luxembourg

Kupala -- Asatru/Slavic Pagan Calendar (Summer Solstice celebration, always on St. John's Eve, as the pagans hid their celebration by naming it "Ivan Kupala", their name for John the Baptist)

Let It Go Day -- sponsored by Wellcat Holidays; whatever you are holding on to, just let it go and the day will get better

National Columnists' Day -- US (on the fourth Tuesday of June each year, set aside some time to thank your favorite newspaper columnists, whether local or syndicated)

National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism -- Canada

National Pecan Sandy Day

National Pink Day -- the color or the flower, your choice, because the creator didn't leave a trail explaining it

Pink Flamingo Day -- honoring Don Featherstone, creator of the original pink plastic flamingo lawn ornament; decorate your lawn with at least four pink flamingos, the minimum number needed for a flock

Poop Out Early Day -- act pooped out, see if you can cut out early; your success at pooping out early may vary

Public Service Day -- UN

SAT Math Day -- birth anniversary of Alan Turing

St. Agrippina (Patron against bacterial diseases and infections, evil spirits, leprosy, storms and thunder; of Mineo, Italy)

St. Ethelreda's Day (Patron of those with neck and throat ailments, widows; University of Cambridge)

St. John's Eve -- start or culmination of many midsummer festivals, including:

     Dragaica Fair -- Buzau, Romania

     Golowan Festival -- Cornwall

     Jaaniohtu -- Estonia   

     Kupala Days begin -- Belarus; Poland; Russia; Ukraine

     Ligo / Lani -- Latvia (pagan midsummer celebration originally dedicated to the god Janis

     Midsummer Eve -- Denmark; Sweden

     Midsummer Festival -- Portugal

St. Joseph Cafasso's Day (Patron of captives, prisoners, prisons, and prison chaplains)

Typewriter Day -- patented this day in 1868 by Christopher Latham Sholes

Victory Day -- Estonia

Birthdays Today:

Bridget Sloan, 1992

Chellsie Memmel, 1988

Jason Mraz, 1977

Selma Blair, 1972

Louis Van Amstel,1972

Frances McDormand, 1957

Clarence Thomas, 1948

Bryan Brown, 1947

Ted Shackelford, 1946

James Levine, , 1943

Wilma Glodean Rudolph, 1940

June Carter Cash, 1929

Bob Fosse, 1927

Alan Turing, 1912

Edward VIII, King of England, 1894

Alfred Kinsey, 1894

Johannes Gutenberg, 1400 (estimated)

Ptolemy XV Philopator Philometor Caesar, BC47 (Son of Cleopatra VII and Julius Caesar)

Debuting/Premiering Today:

Batman(Film), 1989

"The Breakfast Club"(Radio), 1933

Today in History:

The world's oldest parliament, the Icelandic Althing, is established, 930

First Battle of Uji, starting the Genpei War in Japan, 1180

First War of Scottish Independence: The Battle of Bannockburn, south of Stirling, begins, 1314

The mutinous crew of Henry Hudson's fourth voyage sets Henry, his son and seven loyal crew members adrift in an open boat in what is now Hudson Bay; they are never heard from again, 1611

The French residents of Acadia are given one year to declare allegiance to Britain or leave Nova Scotia, Canada, 1713

Empress Catherine II of Russia grants Jews permission to settle in Kiev, 1794

Christopher Latham Sholes receives a patent for Type-Writer, 1868

The Rocky Mountains Park Act becomes law in Canada, creating the nation's first national park, Banff National Park, 1887

The International Olympic Committee is founded at the Sorbonne, Paris, at the initiative of Baron Pierre de Coubertin, 1894

The College Board administers the first SAT exam, 1926

Wiley Post and Harold Gatty take off from Roosevelt Field, Long Island in an attempt to circumnavigate the world in a single-engine plane, 1931

The 1946 Vancouver Island earthquake strikes Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, 1946

The Antarctic Treaty, which sets aside Antarctica as a scientific preserve and bans military activity on the continent, comes into force, 1961

Title IX of the United States Civil Rights Act of 1964 is amended to prohibit sexual discrimination to any educational program receiving federal funds, 1972

Himmy, of Australia, weighs in at domestic cat record 20.7 kg (45 lb) , 1982

Nintendo 64 goes on sale in Japan, 1996

Japan's Iwate prefecture experiences a 6.7 magnitude earthquake, 2011

Nik Wallenda completes a high wire walk across a Little Colorado River Gorge near the Grand Canyon, 2013

A ceasefire agreement is signed between the Colombian government and Farc rebels ending more than 50 years of conflict, 2016

The United Kingdom votes to leave the European Union, 2017

Indian chess prodigy Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa becomes the second-youngest grandmaster at 12 years, 10 months, 13 days, 2018

Twelve boys and their coach are stranded in Tham Luang Nang Non cave, Thailand by monsoon flooding, prompting an international rescue effort, 2018

Rembrandt's masterpiece "The Night Watch" is finally seen in its entirety for first time in 300 years after AI is used to fill in pieces that were trimmed off, 2021

According to Saudi Arabian authorities, more than 1300 people have died during this year's Hajj pilgrimage as temperatures rose over 46 degrees C (117 degrees F), 2024

The Thai Department of Special Investigation seizes 2.4 metric tons of methamphetamine disguised as corn flour, 2025