We got to the church this morning to clean the Sunday School building, as usual. We don't do it on Friday when we do the rest of the church, it would make it very difficult to get the kids to school on time if we did.
Nothing unusual when we first walked in, but about an hour after we got there, as we were finishing up, Little Girl noticed a box on a bench.
"Mom, this has your name on it!"
Glancing over, i said that since it was just a first name, there was no way to be sure it was for me, to simply leave it alone.
Miss Gail, the Sunday School Superintendent, was running in and out, and we just had a moment to discuss the lesson, and some editing she wanted to do to it. Then she left, i thought to go make copies of something. She came back in a moment later, with the wrapped box.
"Here, this is for you," she said.
The students started yelling, "Rip it open!" Instead i opened the card, and told them to wait a moment, that the card always comes first.
It was a note telling me how much she appreciated my work on the event for the girls from the week before, and signed by herself and her husband.
Opening the gift, it was a very nice, very big, crock pot! During the evening of the event, i had noted that i would have brought mine, had i known we needed it, though it was a very old model in sad shape. When the lady who was supposed to bring hers finally showed up, late, it was just the kind i have always wanted to save up for, but just haven't ever gotten there. In passing, i mentioned that it was a good one, and that it was so big you could cook a huge roast, something mine wasn't big enough for.
So Miss Gail, to show her appreciation, bought me a new crock pot, of just the kind i've been wanting for a long time. Even though i hadn't planned a roast or anything like that this week, i may pick one up just to give it a whirl.
From now on i will know, when i plan a crock pot supper for The Mouth and the whole family, i will be able to cook enough.
Thank you, Miss Gail, it was a wonderful surprise.
Today is:
Floral Design Day
Kalevala Day -- Finland (Finnish Culture Day)
National Chocolate Souffle' Day
National Science Day -- India
National Tooth Fairy Day - and/or August 22
Peace Memorial Day -- Taiwan
Public Sleeping Day
St. Romanus' Day (patron against drowning, insanity)
Teacher's Day -- many Arab nations
Birthdays Today (Also includes Feb. 29 Birthdays)
Robert Sean Leonard, 1969
Gilbert Gottfried, 1955
Bernadette, Peters, 1948
Brian Jones, 1942Mario Andretti, 1940
Tommy Tune, 1939
Gavin MacLeod, 1930
Charles Durning, 1923
Zero Mostel, 1915
Earl Scheib, 1907
Vincente Minnelli, 1903
Linus Pauling, 1901
Michel Eyquem de Montaigne, 1533
Antonio Sabato, Jr., 1972
Tony Robbins, 1960
Gretchen Christopher, 1940
Jack Lousma, 1936
Dinah Shore, 1916
Jimmy Dorsey, 1904
William Wellman, 1896
Herman Hollerith, 1860
Anniversaries Today:
University of Pittsburgh is chartered, 1787
Today in History:
Coronation ceremony of Liu Bang as Emperor Gaozu of Han takes place, initiating four centuries of the Han Dynasty's rule over China, BC202
The first edition of Henry Fieldings' "Tom Jones" is published, 1749
John Wesley charters the Methodist Church, 1784
The first commercial railroad in US, Baltimore & Ohio (B&O) is chartered, 1827
Robert Nelson, leader of the Patriotes, proclaims the independence of Lower Canada (today Québec), 1838
Regular steamboat service from the west to the east coast of the United States begins with the arrival of the SS California in San Francisco Bay, 4 months 22 days after leaving New York Harbor, 1849
The Bulgarian Exarchate is established by decree of Sultan Abd-ul-Aziz of the Ottoman Empire, 1870
The American Telephone and Telegraph Company is incorporated in New York State as the subsidiary of American Bell Telephone, 1885
The USS Indiana, the lead ship of her class and the first battleship in the United States Navy comparable to foreign battleships of the time, is launched, 1893
Queen Ranavalona III, the last monarch of Madagascar, is deposed by a French military force, 1897
Egypt regains independence from Britain, but British troops remain, 1922
DuPont scientist Wallace Carothers invents Nylon, 1935
Basketball is televised for the first time, 1940
In Taiwan, civil disorder is put down with the loss of 30,000 civilian lives, 1947
James D. Watson and Francis Crick announce to friends that they have determined the chemical structure of DNA; the formal announcement takes place on April 25 following publication in April Nature (pub. April 2), 1953
The first-ever color television sets using the NTSC standard are offered for sale to the general public, 1954
The United States and People's Republic of China sign the Shanghai Communiqué, 1972
Andalusia approves its statute of autonomy through a referendum, 1980
GRB 970228, a highly luminous flash of gamma rays, strikes the Earth for 80 seconds, providing early evidence that gamma-ray bursts occur well beyond the Milky Way, 1997
First flight of RQ-4 Global Hawk, the first unmanned aerial vehicle certified to file its own flight plans and fly regularly in U.S. civilian airspace, 1998
Over 1 million Taiwanese participating in the 228 Hand-in-Hand Rally form a 500-kilometre (300-mile) long human chain to commemorate the 228 Incident in 1947, 2004
Jupiter flyby of the New Horizons Pluto-observer spacecraft, 2007
Pages
▼
Monday, February 28, 2011
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Spread the Kitty Love
Our foster kittens Ashfur, Ferncloud, and Shockolate all got adopted at the adoption event this weekend.
Bitsy, the beautiful half grown very sweet cat that was positive for feline leukemia, went back to the nice lady who found her. Turns out the woman picked her up off the street, and has no cats of her own, and was willing to just go ahead and keep her. So that worked out well, Bitsy can live out her life there and not have any worries about the illness spreading.
Francie, Gidget, Mally, and Smokey Joe were all adopted this week, too.
Baby seems to be intimidating Cali with lots of constant growling. Cali just stays in her box, which is not good for her.
Little Girl was on the ball and noticed that Cami is on Zen, a medication, and asked for help with the room that held her, Samantha, and Zsa-Zsa.
Lucky, as typical, tore into both his medicine held in a pill pocket, and his Fancy Feast. Frieda snoozed in comfort, and Clint actually was in the window and not hiding when we drove up, so i didn't have trouble locating him.
The cages are full with Mitzy, Frisco, Woody, Snazzie, Tabitha, Blaze, and Dudley.
The big room has Clint, of course, and Grady, Candy, Zoe, Katy, Sophia, and Ginny.
Portia, Gulliver, Pitty Pat, Molly, Flip, Devon, Rosie, Alex, Mackey, Joey, Jimmy, Cheri, Angel and Dustie are in various rooms, mostly in pairs, and doing great. A note has been added to Angel and Dustie's door to remind caregivers to only use water for cleaning that room, and it is helping Angel's paws.
Now all we need is for Ming and Gladys to find a home from the adoption center at the pet store so we don't have to get a different foster home for them before we leave for vacation.
Today is:
Equirria -- Ancient Roman Calendar (Cavalry Horse Festival)
Feast of St. Gabriel Possenti (patron of college students)
Independence Day -- Dominican Republic
Majuba Day -- South Africa (celebration of the Boers victory at Majuba Hill)
Meatfare Sunday -- Orthodox Christian Calendar (begins Meatfare Week, a time of abstaining from meat in preparation for Lent. Some Orthodox communities call this Butterweek)
National Kahlua Day
No Brainer Day - this day is for me!
Open That Bottle Night
Polar Bear Day
Runic Half Month Tyr commences (cosmic pillar)
St. Galmier's Day
Threepenny Day -- Eton College, England (By the last will of two Provosts in the 16th century, each boy receives a threepenny piece on this day -- enough to buy half a sheep back then.)
Birthdays Today:
Josh Groban, 1981
Chelsea Clinton, 1980
Rozanda "Chili" Thomas, 1971
Mary Fran, 1943
Howard Hesseman, 1940
Ralph Nadar, 1934
Elizabeth Taylor, 1932
Joanne Woodward, 1930
Ariel Sharon, 1928
John Connally, 1917
John Steinbeck, 1902
Marian Anderson, 1897
David Sarnoff, 1891
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, 1807
Constantine I, 272
Today in History:
The first Russian Embassy arrives in London, 1557
The Treaty of Berwick, which would expel the French from Scotland, is signed by England and the Congregation of Scotland, 1560
Yuan Chonghuan is appointed Governor of Liaodong, after he led the Chinese into a great victory against the Manchurians under Nurhaci, 1626
Jews are expelled from Austria by order of Leopold I, 1670
The Pacific island of New Britain is discovered, 1700
Poet Lord Byron gives his first address as a member of the House of Lords, in defense of Luddite violence against Industrialism in his home county of Nottinghamshire, 1812
The Dominican Republic gains independence from Haiti, 1844
Composer Robert Schumann is saved from a suicide attempt in Rhine, 1854
Russians shoot at Poles protesting Russian rule of Poland, 1861
The current flag of Japan is first adopted as the national flag for Japanese merchant ships, 1870
Charlotte E. Ray becomes the first African American woman to earn a law degree, from Howard University, 1872
Lord Kitchener opens Khartoum-El Obeid (Nyala) railway, 1912
Martin Kamen and Sam Ruben discover carbon-14, 1940
The government of Italy asks for help to keep the Leaning Tower of Pisa from toppling over, 1964
The American Indian Movement occupies Wounded Knee, South Dakota, 1973
People magazine is published for the first time, 1974
U.S. President George H. W. Bush announces that "Kuwait is liberated", 1991
A Muslim mob kills 59 Hindu pilgrims returning from Ayodhya, 2002
The Shanghai Stock Exchange falls 9%, the largest drop in 10 years, 2007
Central Chile is hit with an 8.8 magnitude earthquake, 2010
Bitsy, the beautiful half grown very sweet cat that was positive for feline leukemia, went back to the nice lady who found her. Turns out the woman picked her up off the street, and has no cats of her own, and was willing to just go ahead and keep her. So that worked out well, Bitsy can live out her life there and not have any worries about the illness spreading.
Francie, Gidget, Mally, and Smokey Joe were all adopted this week, too.
Baby seems to be intimidating Cali with lots of constant growling. Cali just stays in her box, which is not good for her.
Little Girl was on the ball and noticed that Cami is on Zen, a medication, and asked for help with the room that held her, Samantha, and Zsa-Zsa.
Lucky, as typical, tore into both his medicine held in a pill pocket, and his Fancy Feast. Frieda snoozed in comfort, and Clint actually was in the window and not hiding when we drove up, so i didn't have trouble locating him.
The cages are full with Mitzy, Frisco, Woody, Snazzie, Tabitha, Blaze, and Dudley.
The big room has Clint, of course, and Grady, Candy, Zoe, Katy, Sophia, and Ginny.
Portia, Gulliver, Pitty Pat, Molly, Flip, Devon, Rosie, Alex, Mackey, Joey, Jimmy, Cheri, Angel and Dustie are in various rooms, mostly in pairs, and doing great. A note has been added to Angel and Dustie's door to remind caregivers to only use water for cleaning that room, and it is helping Angel's paws.
Now all we need is for Ming and Gladys to find a home from the adoption center at the pet store so we don't have to get a different foster home for them before we leave for vacation.
Today is:
Equirria -- Ancient Roman Calendar (Cavalry Horse Festival)
Feast of St. Gabriel Possenti (patron of college students)
Independence Day -- Dominican Republic
Majuba Day -- South Africa (celebration of the Boers victory at Majuba Hill)
Meatfare Sunday -- Orthodox Christian Calendar (begins Meatfare Week, a time of abstaining from meat in preparation for Lent. Some Orthodox communities call this Butterweek)
National Kahlua Day
No Brainer Day - this day is for me!
Open That Bottle Night
Polar Bear Day
Runic Half Month Tyr commences (cosmic pillar)
St. Galmier's Day
Threepenny Day -- Eton College, England (By the last will of two Provosts in the 16th century, each boy receives a threepenny piece on this day -- enough to buy half a sheep back then.)
Birthdays Today:
Josh Groban, 1981
Chelsea Clinton, 1980
Rozanda "Chili" Thomas, 1971
Mary Fran, 1943
Howard Hesseman, 1940
Ralph Nadar, 1934
Elizabeth Taylor, 1932
Joanne Woodward, 1930
Ariel Sharon, 1928
John Connally, 1917
John Steinbeck, 1902
Marian Anderson, 1897
David Sarnoff, 1891
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, 1807
Constantine I, 272
Today in History:
The first Russian Embassy arrives in London, 1557
The Treaty of Berwick, which would expel the French from Scotland, is signed by England and the Congregation of Scotland, 1560
Yuan Chonghuan is appointed Governor of Liaodong, after he led the Chinese into a great victory against the Manchurians under Nurhaci, 1626
Jews are expelled from Austria by order of Leopold I, 1670
The Pacific island of New Britain is discovered, 1700
Poet Lord Byron gives his first address as a member of the House of Lords, in defense of Luddite violence against Industrialism in his home county of Nottinghamshire, 1812
The Dominican Republic gains independence from Haiti, 1844
Composer Robert Schumann is saved from a suicide attempt in Rhine, 1854
Russians shoot at Poles protesting Russian rule of Poland, 1861
The current flag of Japan is first adopted as the national flag for Japanese merchant ships, 1870
Charlotte E. Ray becomes the first African American woman to earn a law degree, from Howard University, 1872
Lord Kitchener opens Khartoum-El Obeid (Nyala) railway, 1912
Martin Kamen and Sam Ruben discover carbon-14, 1940
The government of Italy asks for help to keep the Leaning Tower of Pisa from toppling over, 1964
The American Indian Movement occupies Wounded Knee, South Dakota, 1973
People magazine is published for the first time, 1974
U.S. President George H. W. Bush announces that "Kuwait is liberated", 1991
A Muslim mob kills 59 Hindu pilgrims returning from Ayodhya, 2002
The Shanghai Stock Exchange falls 9%, the largest drop in 10 years, 2007
Central Chile is hit with an 8.8 magnitude earthquake, 2010
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Happiness Is...
Happiness is a new inspection sticker! Or, as we call it around here, a brake tag.
For many years, with our old vehicles, we have had to sweat out every inspection, sometimes having to get repairs in advance just to make sure. It was nice to be able to just take a minute, run up to where Kid Next Door, who mows our lawn, works at an inspection place, and just get it done.
Happiness is lots of books gone!
The Friends of the Library are 12 boxes of books richer, as we made a run there yesterday with a donation. We are keeping best loved books, and letting the library store the rest of them for us.
Happiness is Sweetie's back feeling better!
He stayed home a day, and went back not feeling so great because there was just so much to do. Now he's not hurting any more, which is a good thing.
Happiness is having someone to take care of the cats while we are gone!
Sue has agreed to do it. It will only be our 5 cats, and will be easier because...
Happiness is an automatic cat box and cat waterer!
There was an automatic box and the waterer donated to the shelter, and they had been sitting around for weeks with a note saying, "For anyone who wants it." Well, after 4 weeks, i figure i've given everyone else a chance, and i took them.
Anybody else have something making them happy today?
Today is:
Ayyam-i-Ha (Intercalary Days) -- Baha'i, through March 1
Dance of the Known Places -- Fairy Calendar
Day of Nut -- Ancient Egyptian Calendar
For Pete's Sake Day
International Sword Swallower's Day
Katsuyama Sagichosai -- Katsuyama, Fukui Prefecture, Japan (music fest and burning of the new year decorations)
Levi Strauss Day
Liberation Day -- Kuwait
National Personal Chef's Day (Heaven knows we all have one of those!)
National Pistachio Day - what a nutty day!
Rooks Nesting Day -- England (traditional date on Julian Calendar Feb. 14)
Showa-Shinzan International Yukigassen Tournament -- Japan; snowball fighting (yukigassen) at its best, through tomorrow
St. Alexander's Day
St. Porphyrius' Day
Swamp Cabbage Festival -- LaBelle, Florida, through tomorrow
Tell a Fairy Tale Day
Birthdays Today:
Erykah Badu, 1972
Mark Dacascos, 1964
Michael Bolton, 1953
Johnny Cash, 1932
Fats Domino, 1928
Betty Hutton, 1921
Tony Randall, 1920
Jackie Gleason, 1916
Margaret Leighton, 1922
Tex Avery, 1908
Madeleine Carroll, 1906
William Frawley, 1887
Herbert Henry Dow, 1866
John Harvey Kellogg, 1852
William "Buffalo Bill" Cody, 1846
Levi Strauss, 1829
Victor Hugo, 1802
Today in History:
Origin of the Epoch of Ptolemy's Nabonassar Era, BC747
An earthquake in Lisbon leaves 20,000-30,000 dead, 1531
Christiansborg Castle, Copenhagen burns down, 1794
The Bank of England issues its first banknotes, 1797
Vice-admiral William Bligh ends the siege of Fort Amsterdam, Willemstad, 1804
Napoleon Bonaparte escapes from Elba, 1815
In New York City a demonstration of the first pneumatic subway opens to the public, 1870
HMS Britannic, sister ship to the Titanic, is launched at Harland & Wolff, Belfast, 1914
The Original Dixieland Jazz Band records the first jazz record, for the Victor Talking Machine Company in New York, 1917
Robert Watson-Watt carries out a demonstration near Daventry which leads directly to the development of RADAR in the United Kingdom, 1935
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill announces that his nation has an atomic bomb, 1952
Vincent Massey is sworn in as the first Canadian-born Governor-General of Canada, 1952
National Public Radio incorporates as a non-profit corporation, 1970
Egypt and Israel establish full diplomatic relations, 1980
The Sandinistas are defeated in Nicaraguan elections, 1990
On Baghdad Radio Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein announces the withdrawal of Iraqi troops from Kuwait, 1991
In New York City, a truck bomb parked below the North Tower of the World Trade Center explodes, killing 6 and injuring over a thousand, 1993
Mount Hekla in Iceland erupts, 2000
Republic of Macedonia President Boris Trajkovski is killed in a plane crash near Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2004
For many years, with our old vehicles, we have had to sweat out every inspection, sometimes having to get repairs in advance just to make sure. It was nice to be able to just take a minute, run up to where Kid Next Door, who mows our lawn, works at an inspection place, and just get it done.
Happiness is lots of books gone!
The Friends of the Library are 12 boxes of books richer, as we made a run there yesterday with a donation. We are keeping best loved books, and letting the library store the rest of them for us.
Happiness is Sweetie's back feeling better!
He stayed home a day, and went back not feeling so great because there was just so much to do. Now he's not hurting any more, which is a good thing.
Happiness is having someone to take care of the cats while we are gone!
Sue has agreed to do it. It will only be our 5 cats, and will be easier because...
Happiness is an automatic cat box and cat waterer!
There was an automatic box and the waterer donated to the shelter, and they had been sitting around for weeks with a note saying, "For anyone who wants it." Well, after 4 weeks, i figure i've given everyone else a chance, and i took them.
Anybody else have something making them happy today?
Today is:
Ayyam-i-Ha (Intercalary Days) -- Baha'i, through March 1
Dance of the Known Places -- Fairy Calendar
Day of Nut -- Ancient Egyptian Calendar
For Pete's Sake Day
International Sword Swallower's Day
Katsuyama Sagichosai -- Katsuyama, Fukui Prefecture, Japan (music fest and burning of the new year decorations)
Levi Strauss Day
Liberation Day -- Kuwait
National Personal Chef's Day (Heaven knows we all have one of those!)
National Pistachio Day - what a nutty day!
Rooks Nesting Day -- England (traditional date on Julian Calendar Feb. 14)
Showa-Shinzan International Yukigassen Tournament -- Japan; snowball fighting (yukigassen) at its best, through tomorrow
St. Alexander's Day
St. Porphyrius' Day
Swamp Cabbage Festival -- LaBelle, Florida, through tomorrow
Tell a Fairy Tale Day
Birthdays Today:
Erykah Badu, 1972
Mark Dacascos, 1964
Michael Bolton, 1953
Johnny Cash, 1932
Fats Domino, 1928
Betty Hutton, 1921
Tony Randall, 1920
Jackie Gleason, 1916
Margaret Leighton, 1922
Tex Avery, 1908
Madeleine Carroll, 1906
William Frawley, 1887
Herbert Henry Dow, 1866
John Harvey Kellogg, 1852
William "Buffalo Bill" Cody, 1846
Levi Strauss, 1829
Victor Hugo, 1802
Today in History:
Origin of the Epoch of Ptolemy's Nabonassar Era, BC747
An earthquake in Lisbon leaves 20,000-30,000 dead, 1531
Christiansborg Castle, Copenhagen burns down, 1794
The Bank of England issues its first banknotes, 1797
Vice-admiral William Bligh ends the siege of Fort Amsterdam, Willemstad, 1804
Napoleon Bonaparte escapes from Elba, 1815
In New York City a demonstration of the first pneumatic subway opens to the public, 1870
HMS Britannic, sister ship to the Titanic, is launched at Harland & Wolff, Belfast, 1914
The Original Dixieland Jazz Band records the first jazz record, for the Victor Talking Machine Company in New York, 1917
Robert Watson-Watt carries out a demonstration near Daventry which leads directly to the development of RADAR in the United Kingdom, 1935
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill announces that his nation has an atomic bomb, 1952
Vincent Massey is sworn in as the first Canadian-born Governor-General of Canada, 1952
National Public Radio incorporates as a non-profit corporation, 1970
Egypt and Israel establish full diplomatic relations, 1980
The Sandinistas are defeated in Nicaraguan elections, 1990
On Baghdad Radio Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein announces the withdrawal of Iraqi troops from Kuwait, 1991
In New York City, a truck bomb parked below the North Tower of the World Trade Center explodes, killing 6 and injuring over a thousand, 1993
Mount Hekla in Iceland erupts, 2000
Republic of Macedonia President Boris Trajkovski is killed in a plane crash near Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2004
Friday, February 25, 2011
Can We Say "ARGH!!!"
Frustration comes in many forms.
One frustration, people who adopt kittens and haven't thought it out well.
Ashfur is back with us because the nice young lady didn't think it out well. It didn't occur to her that a kitten that is used to having litter mates and other kittens and lots of people to play with would lean totally on her for attention, since she lives alone and has no other pets. She should have adopted two together, but didn't like that idea. She did donate all the stuff she had bought, and her adoption fee is now a donation, too, but still. Kittens are babies and need attention and someone to play with. If you live alone, and have no other pets, that means you're elected.
Another frustration, people who think their young children are welcome when they have been told they are not.
This one comes from church, of all places. Yes, children are welcome at church. Yes, i'm willing to listen to the sermon while your child babbles next to me, i'm a mom, i can ignore it. Yes, i'm willing to be in the nursery so you can sit in the service, and i'll get a cd or watch the YouTube video Dave so kindly posts the next day.
When we are having a children's event for kids 4 years through 5th grade, and you are told that your just turned 3-year-old may not attend because she is too young, and you bring her anyway, however, that child is not welcome.
When you also bring the baby, after you were told there would be no nursery provided and to let her father take care of her for once, that child is not welcome, either.
When you expect other people to clean up after the 3 year old,
expect others to keep her entertained when she becomes bored (as you were told would happen),
let her make messes and don't clean up after her,
expect someone else to take care of the younger baby,
come late with needed equipment and make everyone else late, too,
decide you don't want to do your portion of the event the way you were told and hide the supplies and lie so you won't have to do the things you don't want to do,
buy extra supplies you were told not to buy because they weren't in the budget and leave the Sunday School pastor to take the fall for going over budget,
and let your 3-year-old break her items and keep giving her more even though some other kids didn't get one at all,
Your Child Is Not Welcome!
Should kids come to church? Yes. Should there be times and places that are for adults, or even just older kids, where young children are not welcome? Yes. Should you be offended by that? No.
End frustrated rant.
Today is:
Dance of the Secret Places -- Fairy Calendar
Februaristaking -- Netherlands (commemoration of a strike against the Nazis)
Goa -- Iceland
Kitano Baika-sai (Plum Blossom Festival) -- Kitano Tenman-gu Shrine, Kyoto, Japan
National Chili Day
National Chocolate Covered Peanuts Day
National Day -- Kuwait
People's Revolution Day/People Power Day -- Philippines
Pistol Patent Day
Revolution Day -- Suriname
St. Tarrasius' Day
St. Walburga's Day
Soviet Occupation Day -- Georgia
Quiet Day (Can't find the history behind this one, but mommy wants one!)
Birthdays Today:
Sean Astin, 1971
Carrot Top, 1965
Lee Evans, 1964
Ric Flair, 1949
George Harrison, 1943
Tom Courtenay, 1937
Bob Schieffer, 1937
Sally Jessy Raphael, 1935
Bobby Riggs, 1918
Anthony Burgess, 1917
Jim Backus, 1913
Adelle Davis, 1904
Zeppo Marx, 1901
Meher Baba, 1894
Enrico Caruso, 1873
Pierre Auguste Renoir, 1841
Xuande, Emperor of China, 1398
Today in History:
The First Bank of the United States is chartered, 1791
The German Midiatisation is enacted, taking over 1,000 German sovereign states into about 40 larger entities, 1803
Samuel Colt patents the first revolving barrel multishot firearm, 1836
The first US electric printing press is patented by Thomas Davenport, 1837
Hiram Rhodes Revels, a Republican from Mississippi, is sworn into the United States Senate, becoming the first African American ever to sit in the U.S. Congress, 1870
The US Steel Corp. is organized under J P Morgan, 1901
The Stanley Cup: Ottawa Silver 7 sweep Toronto Marlboroughs in 2 games, 1904
Marie-Adélaïde, the eldest of six daughters of Guillaume IV, becomes the first reigning Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, 1912
Oregon places a 1 cent per U.S. gallon tax on gasoline, becoming the first U.S. state to levy a gasoline tax, 1919
Diplomatic relations between Japan and the Soviet Union are established, 1925
Glacier Bay National Monument (now Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve) is established in Alaska, 1925
Francisco Franco becomes General of Spain, 1926
Charles Jenkins Laboratories of Washington, D.C. becomes the first holder of a television license from the Federal Radio Commission, 1928
The USS Ranger is launched. It is the first US Navy ship to be built solely as an aircraft carrier, 1933
In occupied Amsterdam, a general strike is declared in response to increasing anti-Jewish measures instituted by the Nazis, 1941
The first Pan American Games are held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, 1951
Cassius Clay defeats Sonny Liston, 1964
The first unit of the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station, the first commercial nuclear power station in Canada, goes online, 1971
President Ferdinand Marcos of the Philippines flees the nation after 20 years of rule; Corazon Aquino becomes the first Filipino woman president, 1986
One frustration, people who adopt kittens and haven't thought it out well.
Ashfur is back with us because the nice young lady didn't think it out well. It didn't occur to her that a kitten that is used to having litter mates and other kittens and lots of people to play with would lean totally on her for attention, since she lives alone and has no other pets. She should have adopted two together, but didn't like that idea. She did donate all the stuff she had bought, and her adoption fee is now a donation, too, but still. Kittens are babies and need attention and someone to play with. If you live alone, and have no other pets, that means you're elected.
Another frustration, people who think their young children are welcome when they have been told they are not.
This one comes from church, of all places. Yes, children are welcome at church. Yes, i'm willing to listen to the sermon while your child babbles next to me, i'm a mom, i can ignore it. Yes, i'm willing to be in the nursery so you can sit in the service, and i'll get a cd or watch the YouTube video Dave so kindly posts the next day.
When we are having a children's event for kids 4 years through 5th grade, and you are told that your just turned 3-year-old may not attend because she is too young, and you bring her anyway, however, that child is not welcome.
When you also bring the baby, after you were told there would be no nursery provided and to let her father take care of her for once, that child is not welcome, either.
When you expect other people to clean up after the 3 year old,
expect others to keep her entertained when she becomes bored (as you were told would happen),
let her make messes and don't clean up after her,
expect someone else to take care of the younger baby,
come late with needed equipment and make everyone else late, too,
decide you don't want to do your portion of the event the way you were told and hide the supplies and lie so you won't have to do the things you don't want to do,
buy extra supplies you were told not to buy because they weren't in the budget and leave the Sunday School pastor to take the fall for going over budget,
and let your 3-year-old break her items and keep giving her more even though some other kids didn't get one at all,
Your Child Is Not Welcome!
Should kids come to church? Yes. Should there be times and places that are for adults, or even just older kids, where young children are not welcome? Yes. Should you be offended by that? No.
End frustrated rant.
Today is:
Dance of the Secret Places -- Fairy Calendar
Februaristaking -- Netherlands (commemoration of a strike against the Nazis)
Goa -- Iceland
Kitano Baika-sai (Plum Blossom Festival) -- Kitano Tenman-gu Shrine, Kyoto, Japan
National Chili Day
National Chocolate Covered Peanuts Day
National Day -- Kuwait
People's Revolution Day/People Power Day -- Philippines
Pistol Patent Day
Revolution Day -- Suriname
St. Tarrasius' Day
St. Walburga's Day
Soviet Occupation Day -- Georgia
Quiet Day (Can't find the history behind this one, but mommy wants one!)
Birthdays Today:
Sean Astin, 1971
Carrot Top, 1965
Lee Evans, 1964
Ric Flair, 1949
George Harrison, 1943
Tom Courtenay, 1937
Bob Schieffer, 1937
Sally Jessy Raphael, 1935
Bobby Riggs, 1918
Anthony Burgess, 1917
Jim Backus, 1913
Adelle Davis, 1904
Zeppo Marx, 1901
Meher Baba, 1894
Enrico Caruso, 1873
Pierre Auguste Renoir, 1841
Xuande, Emperor of China, 1398
Today in History:
The First Bank of the United States is chartered, 1791
The German Midiatisation is enacted, taking over 1,000 German sovereign states into about 40 larger entities, 1803
Samuel Colt patents the first revolving barrel multishot firearm, 1836
The first US electric printing press is patented by Thomas Davenport, 1837
Hiram Rhodes Revels, a Republican from Mississippi, is sworn into the United States Senate, becoming the first African American ever to sit in the U.S. Congress, 1870
The US Steel Corp. is organized under J P Morgan, 1901
The Stanley Cup: Ottawa Silver 7 sweep Toronto Marlboroughs in 2 games, 1904
Marie-Adélaïde, the eldest of six daughters of Guillaume IV, becomes the first reigning Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, 1912
Oregon places a 1 cent per U.S. gallon tax on gasoline, becoming the first U.S. state to levy a gasoline tax, 1919
Diplomatic relations between Japan and the Soviet Union are established, 1925
Glacier Bay National Monument (now Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve) is established in Alaska, 1925
Francisco Franco becomes General of Spain, 1926
Charles Jenkins Laboratories of Washington, D.C. becomes the first holder of a television license from the Federal Radio Commission, 1928
The USS Ranger is launched. It is the first US Navy ship to be built solely as an aircraft carrier, 1933
In occupied Amsterdam, a general strike is declared in response to increasing anti-Jewish measures instituted by the Nazis, 1941
The first Pan American Games are held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, 1951
Cassius Clay defeats Sonny Liston, 1964
The first unit of the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station, the first commercial nuclear power station in Canada, goes online, 1971
President Ferdinand Marcos of the Philippines flees the nation after 20 years of rule; Corazon Aquino becomes the first Filipino woman president, 1986
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Doctors Rounds
So, it's back to the doctors again. This time it was the rheumatologist with a difficult to pronounce name. Very nice young man, looks almost exactly like my brother.
There were 6 pages to fill out for him, and he spent almost an hour with me, asking about lots of things. Details are the key to figuring out these odd ball diagnoses, and rheumys deal with lots of oddball stuff.
He poked and prodded a bit, checked lymph nodes all over me, looked very closely at the blood vessels in my fingers, and ordered tests.
Good thing i had my puzzles with me, it took over an hour for the chest x-ray and the 12 vials of blood to get drawn. Yes, 12. When you are looking for oddball stuff, you have to really look, for everything.
So, in 3 more weeks, we should be closer to knowing...something. Right now, i'm going to continue to just bandage the worst areas with lots of antibacterial cream, wear gloves when doing dishes or cleaning with liquids, and otherwise ignore the situation as much as possible. Our upcoming vacation is of much more interest than a meeting with a doctor that is going to be after we are back.
Today is:
Dragobete -- Romania (lover's day, and the day birds choose a mate, also considered by locals as the first day of spring)
Flag Day -- Mexico
Gregorian Calendar Day
Inconvenience Yourself Day
Independence Day -- Estonia
Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day
National Artist Day -- Thailand
National Tortilla Chip Day
Regifugium -- Ancient Roman Calendar (flight of the king)
St. Matthias' Day
Anniversaries Today:
The American University is chartered by an act of the Congress of the United States of America, 1893
Western Washington University is established, 1899
Birthdays Today:
Billy Zane, 1966
Kristin Davis, 1965
Eddie Murray, 1956
Steven Jobs, 1955
Alain Prost, 1955
George Thorogood, 1950
Edward James Olmos, 1947
Joe Lieberman, 1942
James Farentino, 1938
Michel Legrand, 1932
Abe Vigoda, 1921
Chester W. Nimitz, 1885
Honus Wagner, 1874
Wilhelm Karl Grimm, 1786
Ibn Battutah, 1304
Emperor Toba of Japan, 1103
Today in History:
St. Francis of Assisi, age 26, receives his vocation in Portiuncula, Italy, 1208
In the first imperial coronation by a pope,Charles V is crowned by Clement V, 1530
Pope Gregory XIII, by decree, institutes what is now known as the Gregorian Calendar, correcting the older Julian Calendar, 1582
L'Orfeo by Claudio Monteverdi, one of the first works recognized as an opera, receives its première performance, 1607
The London première of Rinaldo by George Frideric Handel, the first Italian opera written for the London stage, 1711
The US Supreme Court first declares a law unconstitutional (Marbury v Madison), 1803
London's Drury Lane Theatre burns to the ground, leaving owner Richard Brinsley Sheridan destitute, 1804
The Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek, the first removal treaty in accordance with the Indian Removal Act, is proclaimed. The Choctaws in Mississippi cede land east of the river in exchange for payment and land in the West, 1831
William Otis of Pennsylvania patents the steam shovel, 1839
The first parade to have floats is staged at Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Louisiana, 1868
Andrew Johnson becomes the first President of the United States to be impeached, 1868
The SS Gothenburg hits the Great Barrier Reef and sinks off the Australian east coast, killing approximately 100, including a number of high profile civil servants and dignitaries, 1875
China and Russia sign the Sino-Russian Ili Treaty, 1881
Chicago is selected to host the Columbian Exposition, 1890
Rudolf Diesel receives a patent for the diesel engine, 1893
Hudson Motor Car Company is founded, 1909
National Public Radio is founded in the United States, 1970
The United States Olympic Hockey team completes their Miracle on Ice by defeating Finland 4-2 to win the gold medal, 1980
Buckingham Palace announces the engagement of The Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer, 1981
A special commission of the U.S. Congress releases a report that condemns the practice of Japanese internment during World War II, 1983
Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini offers a USD $3 million bounty for the death of The Satanic Verses author Salman Rushdie, 1989
The last occurrence of February 24 as a leap day in the European Union and for the Roman Catholic Church, 1996*
Japan launches its fourth spy satellite, stepping up its ability to monitor potential threats such as North Korea, 2007
Fidel Castro retires as the President of Cuba after nearly fifty years, 2008
*The Romans counted Feb. 24 twice in leap years, instead of adding Feb. 29; that continued in many places until 1996
There were 6 pages to fill out for him, and he spent almost an hour with me, asking about lots of things. Details are the key to figuring out these odd ball diagnoses, and rheumys deal with lots of oddball stuff.
He poked and prodded a bit, checked lymph nodes all over me, looked very closely at the blood vessels in my fingers, and ordered tests.
Good thing i had my puzzles with me, it took over an hour for the chest x-ray and the 12 vials of blood to get drawn. Yes, 12. When you are looking for oddball stuff, you have to really look, for everything.
So, in 3 more weeks, we should be closer to knowing...something. Right now, i'm going to continue to just bandage the worst areas with lots of antibacterial cream, wear gloves when doing dishes or cleaning with liquids, and otherwise ignore the situation as much as possible. Our upcoming vacation is of much more interest than a meeting with a doctor that is going to be after we are back.
Today is:
Dragobete -- Romania (lover's day, and the day birds choose a mate, also considered by locals as the first day of spring)
Flag Day -- Mexico
Gregorian Calendar Day
Inconvenience Yourself Day
Independence Day -- Estonia
Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day
National Artist Day -- Thailand
National Tortilla Chip Day
Regifugium -- Ancient Roman Calendar (flight of the king)
St. Matthias' Day
Anniversaries Today:
The American University is chartered by an act of the Congress of the United States of America, 1893
Western Washington University is established, 1899
Birthdays Today:
Billy Zane, 1966
Kristin Davis, 1965
Eddie Murray, 1956
Steven Jobs, 1955
Alain Prost, 1955
George Thorogood, 1950
Edward James Olmos, 1947
Joe Lieberman, 1942
James Farentino, 1938
Michel Legrand, 1932
Abe Vigoda, 1921
Chester W. Nimitz, 1885
Honus Wagner, 1874
Wilhelm Karl Grimm, 1786
Ibn Battutah, 1304
Emperor Toba of Japan, 1103
Today in History:
St. Francis of Assisi, age 26, receives his vocation in Portiuncula, Italy, 1208
In the first imperial coronation by a pope,Charles V is crowned by Clement V, 1530
Pope Gregory XIII, by decree, institutes what is now known as the Gregorian Calendar, correcting the older Julian Calendar, 1582
L'Orfeo by Claudio Monteverdi, one of the first works recognized as an opera, receives its première performance, 1607
The London première of Rinaldo by George Frideric Handel, the first Italian opera written for the London stage, 1711
The US Supreme Court first declares a law unconstitutional (Marbury v Madison), 1803
London's Drury Lane Theatre burns to the ground, leaving owner Richard Brinsley Sheridan destitute, 1804
The Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek, the first removal treaty in accordance with the Indian Removal Act, is proclaimed. The Choctaws in Mississippi cede land east of the river in exchange for payment and land in the West, 1831
William Otis of Pennsylvania patents the steam shovel, 1839
The first parade to have floats is staged at Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Louisiana, 1868
Andrew Johnson becomes the first President of the United States to be impeached, 1868
The SS Gothenburg hits the Great Barrier Reef and sinks off the Australian east coast, killing approximately 100, including a number of high profile civil servants and dignitaries, 1875
China and Russia sign the Sino-Russian Ili Treaty, 1881
Chicago is selected to host the Columbian Exposition, 1890
Rudolf Diesel receives a patent for the diesel engine, 1893
Hudson Motor Car Company is founded, 1909
National Public Radio is founded in the United States, 1970
The United States Olympic Hockey team completes their Miracle on Ice by defeating Finland 4-2 to win the gold medal, 1980
Buckingham Palace announces the engagement of The Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer, 1981
A special commission of the U.S. Congress releases a report that condemns the practice of Japanese internment during World War II, 1983
Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini offers a USD $3 million bounty for the death of The Satanic Verses author Salman Rushdie, 1989
The last occurrence of February 24 as a leap day in the European Union and for the Roman Catholic Church, 1996*
Japan launches its fourth spy satellite, stepping up its ability to monitor potential threats such as North Korea, 2007
Fidel Castro retires as the President of Cuba after nearly fifty years, 2008
*The Romans counted Feb. 24 twice in leap years, instead of adding Feb. 29; that continued in many places until 1996
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Well, That Was Sudden
We went from freezing at night, to suddenly not having any more freezing weather in the forecast.
It's strange. Usually the weather changes seasons slowly. The daily weather can change quickly, but the general trend is usually not this abrupt. Each cold snap is a little less cold than the one before in the normal pattern, each warm up a little warmer, until finally it's obvious spring has sprung.
Not this year. A week ago we were concerned about the pipes bursting from a hard freeze. Now we are close to needing air conditioning some afternoons. The forecast is for temps to stay moderate for the foreseeable future, and since we generally don't have freezing weather in March, i'd say winter is over here.
Truly i didn't expect it this soon, or so abruptly. No, i won't complain.
For those of you with snow still on your doorstep, take heart of grace, spring is real, and it is coming your way. May it been soon.
Today is:
Curling Is Cool Day
Defender of the Fatherland Day (formerly Red Army Day) -- Russia and some former Soviet Republics
International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day
Iwo Jima Day (flag raising)
National Banana Bread Day
National Day -- Brunei
Republic Day (Mashramani) -- Guyana
St Milburga of Shropshire's Day
St. Polycarp's Day
Terminalia -- Ancient Roman Calendar (festival for Terminus, god of land boundary markers)
Birthdays Today:
Michael Dell, 1965
Howard Jones, 1955
Patricia Richardson, 1951
John Sanford, 1944
Johnny Winter, 1944
Peter Fonda, 1939
Donna J. Stone, 1933
Paul Tibbets, 1915
Victor Fleming, 1889
W.E.B. DuBois, 1868
George Frederic Handel, 1685
Tokugawa Tsunayoshi, 1646
Samuel Pepys, 1633
Today in History:
Emperor Diocletian orders the general persecution of Christians, 303
Traditional date for the publication of the Gutenberg Bible, the first Western book printed with movable type, 1455
France begins its fifth "holy war" against the Huguenots, 1574
Baron von Steuben arrives at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania to help to train the Continental Army, 1778
The first US raw-cotton-to-cloth mill is founded, in Waltham, Massachusetts, 1813
The first US pharmaceutical college is organized, the College of Apothecaries in Philadelphia, 1821
Santa Anna begins his siege of the Alamo, 1836
John Newman leaves the Anglican Church and is welcomed into the Roman Catholic Church, 1846
In Mexico, American troops under General Zachary Taylor defeat Mexican General Antonio López de Santa Anna, 1847
Great Britain formally recognises the independence of the Boers in the area between the Orange and Vaal rivers, signing the Bloemfontein Convention with the Orange Free State, 1854
The London Times publishes the world's first classified ad, 1886
Charles Martin Hall, assisted by his sister Julia Brainerd Hall, produced the first samples of man-made aluminum, 1886
The French/Italian Riviera is struck by an earthquake that leaves 2,000 dead, 1887
The Tootsie Roll is introduced by Leo Hirshfield, 1896
In France, Emile Zola is imprisoned for writing his "J'accuse" letter accusing the government of anti-Semitism and wrongly jailing Alfred Dreyfus, 1898
The Cuban state of Guantanamo is leased to the US, 1903
The US acquires control of the Panama Canal Zone for $10 million, 1904
The Rotary Club International is founded in Chicago, 1905
Russian Tsar Nicholas II dissolves the Diet of Finland, 1909
The US state of Nevada enacts a convenient divorce law, 1915
The February Revolution begins in Russia, 1917
Plutonium is first produced and isolated by Dr. Glenn T. Seaborg, 1941
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is founded, 1847
The first mass inoculation with the Salk vaccine begins in Pittsburgh, 1954
First meeting of the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO), 1955
The United States Environmental Protection Agency announces its intent to buy out and evacuate the dioxin-contaminated community of Times Beach, Missouri, 1983
Supernova 1987a is seen in the Large Magellanic Cloud, 1987
A small fire occurs in the Russian Space station, Mir, 1997
An avalanche destroys the Austrian village of Galtür, killing 31, 1999
Unknown criminals pour more than 2.5 million liters of diesel oil and other hydrocarbons into the river Lambro, in Northern Italy, causing an environmental disaster, 2010
It's strange. Usually the weather changes seasons slowly. The daily weather can change quickly, but the general trend is usually not this abrupt. Each cold snap is a little less cold than the one before in the normal pattern, each warm up a little warmer, until finally it's obvious spring has sprung.
Not this year. A week ago we were concerned about the pipes bursting from a hard freeze. Now we are close to needing air conditioning some afternoons. The forecast is for temps to stay moderate for the foreseeable future, and since we generally don't have freezing weather in March, i'd say winter is over here.
Truly i didn't expect it this soon, or so abruptly. No, i won't complain.
For those of you with snow still on your doorstep, take heart of grace, spring is real, and it is coming your way. May it been soon.
Today is:
Curling Is Cool Day
Defender of the Fatherland Day (formerly Red Army Day) -- Russia and some former Soviet Republics
International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day
Iwo Jima Day (flag raising)
National Banana Bread Day
National Day -- Brunei
Republic Day (Mashramani) -- Guyana
St Milburga of Shropshire's Day
St. Polycarp's Day
Terminalia -- Ancient Roman Calendar (festival for Terminus, god of land boundary markers)
Birthdays Today:
Michael Dell, 1965
Howard Jones, 1955
Patricia Richardson, 1951
John Sanford, 1944
Johnny Winter, 1944
Peter Fonda, 1939
Donna J. Stone, 1933
Paul Tibbets, 1915
Victor Fleming, 1889
W.E.B. DuBois, 1868
George Frederic Handel, 1685
Tokugawa Tsunayoshi, 1646
Samuel Pepys, 1633
Today in History:
Emperor Diocletian orders the general persecution of Christians, 303
Traditional date for the publication of the Gutenberg Bible, the first Western book printed with movable type, 1455
France begins its fifth "holy war" against the Huguenots, 1574
Baron von Steuben arrives at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania to help to train the Continental Army, 1778
The first US raw-cotton-to-cloth mill is founded, in Waltham, Massachusetts, 1813
The first US pharmaceutical college is organized, the College of Apothecaries in Philadelphia, 1821
Santa Anna begins his siege of the Alamo, 1836
John Newman leaves the Anglican Church and is welcomed into the Roman Catholic Church, 1846
In Mexico, American troops under General Zachary Taylor defeat Mexican General Antonio López de Santa Anna, 1847
Great Britain formally recognises the independence of the Boers in the area between the Orange and Vaal rivers, signing the Bloemfontein Convention with the Orange Free State, 1854
The London Times publishes the world's first classified ad, 1886
Charles Martin Hall, assisted by his sister Julia Brainerd Hall, produced the first samples of man-made aluminum, 1886
The French/Italian Riviera is struck by an earthquake that leaves 2,000 dead, 1887
The Tootsie Roll is introduced by Leo Hirshfield, 1896
In France, Emile Zola is imprisoned for writing his "J'accuse" letter accusing the government of anti-Semitism and wrongly jailing Alfred Dreyfus, 1898
The Cuban state of Guantanamo is leased to the US, 1903
The US acquires control of the Panama Canal Zone for $10 million, 1904
The Rotary Club International is founded in Chicago, 1905
Russian Tsar Nicholas II dissolves the Diet of Finland, 1909
The US state of Nevada enacts a convenient divorce law, 1915
The February Revolution begins in Russia, 1917
Plutonium is first produced and isolated by Dr. Glenn T. Seaborg, 1941
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is founded, 1847
The first mass inoculation with the Salk vaccine begins in Pittsburgh, 1954
First meeting of the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO), 1955
The United States Environmental Protection Agency announces its intent to buy out and evacuate the dioxin-contaminated community of Times Beach, Missouri, 1983
Supernova 1987a is seen in the Large Magellanic Cloud, 1987
A small fire occurs in the Russian Space station, Mir, 1997
An avalanche destroys the Austrian village of Galtür, killing 31, 1999
Unknown criminals pour more than 2.5 million liters of diesel oil and other hydrocarbons into the river Lambro, in Northern Italy, causing an environmental disaster, 2010
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Sweet Potato Pancakes
For co-op, a variation on potato pancakes, because i have lots of sweet potatoes that aren't getting eaten.
Grate a pound of peeled sweet potatoes, and let them drain in a colander for a few minutes.
While they drain, mix 1/2 C flour, 1 t baking powder, 2 t sugar, 1 t brown sugar, and spices like cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, and ginger to taste.
Add 1/2 C milk and 2 beaten eggs to the flour, mix well, and add the grated potatoes.
Make into patties and fry.
I'm going to let the kids top it with brown sugar.
Today is:
Be Humble Day
Concordia/Caristia -- Ancient Roman Calendar, Festival of Goodwill
Feast of the Chair of St. Peter -- Roman Catholic Church
Festival of the Perpendicular Sun/Illumination of the Inner Sanctum of Ramses II's Abu Simbel Temple -- Ancient Egyptian Calendar
Girl Guides Day -- UK
Handing Back of Goblin Orphans Day -- Fairy Calendar (You know, the goblin orphans they adopted 2 days ago! No fairy can tolerate a goblin longer than that.)
Independence Day -- St. Lucia
International World Thinking Day -- a/k/a "B.-P. day" or "Founder's Day" -- World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
National Margarita Day (How is that going to help with the thinking?)
Single Tasking Day (Concentrate! One thing at a time.)
Spay Day USA (Sit! Stay! Spay! Good Owner.)
St. Joseph of Arimathea's Day
Walking the Dog Day
Washington's Birthday -- US
Anniversaries Today:
Washington University in St. Louis is founded, 1853
Pennsylvania State University is founded in State College, Pennsylvania, 1955
Birthdays Today:
Drew Barrymore, 1975
Michael Chang, 1972
Lea Salonga, 1971
Clinton Kelly, 1969
Jeri Ryan, 1968
Vijay Singh, 1963
Steve "Crocodile Hunter" Irwin, 1962
Julius "Dr. J" Erving, 1950
Dan Millman, 1946
Sparky Anderson, 1934
Edward M. Kennedy, 1932
Robert Wadlow, 1918
John Mills, 1908
Sheldon Leonard, 1907
Robert Young, 1907
Luis Bunuel, 1900
Edna St. Vincent Millay, 1892
"Chico" Marx, 1891
Lady Baden-Powell, 1889
Lord Baden-Powell, 1857
Frederic Chopin, 1810
George Washington, 1732
Today in History:
Jews are expelled from Zurich, Switzerland, 1349
Galileo's Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems is published, 1632
The English House of Lords rules that authors do not have perpetual copyright of their material, 1774
Jews are expelled from the outskirts of Warsaw, Poland, 1775
The first US ship to trade with China, the "Empress of China," sails from New York, 1784
The Last Invasion of Britain by the French begins near Fishguard, Wales, 1797
Spain signs the Adams-Onis Treaty, renouncing its claim to the Oregon territory and west Florida, 1819
Spain sells east Florida to the US, 1821
Edward Payson Weston, "The Father of Modern Pedestrianism," who gave lectures on the health benefits of walking, first comes into the public eye by leaving on this date to walk to Lincoln's inauguration, a distance of 478 miles, 1861*
Frank W. Woolworth opens the first US chain store, his "Woolworth's" 5 and 10 cent store, in Utica, NY, 1879
John Reid of Scotland establishes a 3 hole golf course near Yonkers, New York, thus introducing the game to the US, 1888
Hawaii becomes a US territory, 1900
Due to drought, the US side of Niagara Falls runs short of water, 1903
The Great White Fleet, the first US fleet to circumnavigate the globe, returns to Virginia, 1909
Calvin Coolidge gives the first US presidential radio address, 1924
Bert Hinkler successfully completes the first solo flight from England to Australia, 1928
Australian swimmer John Konrads sets 6 world records in two days, 1958
Lee Petty wins the first Daytona 500, 1959
Following United States President Richard Nixon's visit to the People's Republic of China, the two countries agree to establish liaison offices, 1973
In Lake Placid, New York, the United States hockey team defeats the Soviet Union hockey team 4-3, in what is considered to be one of the greatest upsets in sports history, 1980
In Roslin, Scotland, scientists announce that an adult sheep named Dolly had been successfully cloned, 1997
*Yes, he got there in 10 days, in time for the inaugural ball!
Grate a pound of peeled sweet potatoes, and let them drain in a colander for a few minutes.
While they drain, mix 1/2 C flour, 1 t baking powder, 2 t sugar, 1 t brown sugar, and spices like cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, and ginger to taste.
Add 1/2 C milk and 2 beaten eggs to the flour, mix well, and add the grated potatoes.
Make into patties and fry.
I'm going to let the kids top it with brown sugar.
Today is:
Be Humble Day
Concordia/Caristia -- Ancient Roman Calendar, Festival of Goodwill
Feast of the Chair of St. Peter -- Roman Catholic Church
Festival of the Perpendicular Sun/Illumination of the Inner Sanctum of Ramses II's Abu Simbel Temple -- Ancient Egyptian Calendar
Girl Guides Day -- UK
Handing Back of Goblin Orphans Day -- Fairy Calendar (You know, the goblin orphans they adopted 2 days ago! No fairy can tolerate a goblin longer than that.)
Independence Day -- St. Lucia
International World Thinking Day -- a/k/a "B.-P. day" or "Founder's Day" -- World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
National Margarita Day (How is that going to help with the thinking?)
Single Tasking Day (Concentrate! One thing at a time.)
Spay Day USA (Sit! Stay! Spay! Good Owner.)
St. Joseph of Arimathea's Day
Walking the Dog Day
Washington's Birthday -- US
Anniversaries Today:
Washington University in St. Louis is founded, 1853
Pennsylvania State University is founded in State College, Pennsylvania, 1955
Birthdays Today:
Drew Barrymore, 1975
Michael Chang, 1972
Lea Salonga, 1971
Clinton Kelly, 1969
Jeri Ryan, 1968
Vijay Singh, 1963
Steve "Crocodile Hunter" Irwin, 1962
Julius "Dr. J" Erving, 1950
Dan Millman, 1946
Sparky Anderson, 1934
Edward M. Kennedy, 1932
Robert Wadlow, 1918
John Mills, 1908
Sheldon Leonard, 1907
Robert Young, 1907
Luis Bunuel, 1900
Edna St. Vincent Millay, 1892
"Chico" Marx, 1891
Lady Baden-Powell, 1889
Lord Baden-Powell, 1857
Frederic Chopin, 1810
George Washington, 1732
Today in History:
Jews are expelled from Zurich, Switzerland, 1349
Galileo's Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems is published, 1632
The English House of Lords rules that authors do not have perpetual copyright of their material, 1774
Jews are expelled from the outskirts of Warsaw, Poland, 1775
The first US ship to trade with China, the "Empress of China," sails from New York, 1784
The Last Invasion of Britain by the French begins near Fishguard, Wales, 1797
Spain signs the Adams-Onis Treaty, renouncing its claim to the Oregon territory and west Florida, 1819
Spain sells east Florida to the US, 1821
Edward Payson Weston, "The Father of Modern Pedestrianism," who gave lectures on the health benefits of walking, first comes into the public eye by leaving on this date to walk to Lincoln's inauguration, a distance of 478 miles, 1861*
Frank W. Woolworth opens the first US chain store, his "Woolworth's" 5 and 10 cent store, in Utica, NY, 1879
John Reid of Scotland establishes a 3 hole golf course near Yonkers, New York, thus introducing the game to the US, 1888
Hawaii becomes a US territory, 1900
Due to drought, the US side of Niagara Falls runs short of water, 1903
The Great White Fleet, the first US fleet to circumnavigate the globe, returns to Virginia, 1909
Calvin Coolidge gives the first US presidential radio address, 1924
Bert Hinkler successfully completes the first solo flight from England to Australia, 1928
Australian swimmer John Konrads sets 6 world records in two days, 1958
Lee Petty wins the first Daytona 500, 1959
Following United States President Richard Nixon's visit to the People's Republic of China, the two countries agree to establish liaison offices, 1973
In Lake Placid, New York, the United States hockey team defeats the Soviet Union hockey team 4-3, in what is considered to be one of the greatest upsets in sports history, 1980
In Roslin, Scotland, scientists announce that an adult sheep named Dolly had been successfully cloned, 1997
*Yes, he got there in 10 days, in time for the inaugural ball!
Monday, February 21, 2011
Something to Enjoy
A link to one of the funniest writers i know here.
Enjoy.
Today is:
Card Reading Day (greeting cards can be fun to just stop and read, can't they?)
Family Day -- Canada
Feast of the Feralia -- Ancient Roman Calendar, final day of the Parentalia
International Mother Language Day -- UNESCO
Lesser Eulusinia -- Ancient Greek Calendar
Musikahan Festival -- Tagum City, Phillipines (through the 27th)
National Sticky Bun Day
Presidents Day -- US
Shaheed Dibosh -- Bangladesh (Language Martyr's Day, for those who died in the Bengali Language Movement in 1952)
St. Peter Damian's Day (patron against headaches)
Anniversaries Today:
The Washington Monument is dedicated, 1885
Birthdays Today:
Charlotte Church, 1986
Jennifer Love Hewitt, 1979
Alan Trammell, 1958
Kelsey Grammer, 1955
Tyne Daly, 1946
Alan Rickman, 1946
David Geffen, 1943
John Lewis, 1940
Barbara Jordan, 1936
Rue McClanahan, 1935
Nina Simone, 1933
Roberto Gomez Bolanos, 1929
Erma Bombeck, 1927
Sam Peckinpah, 1925
Ann Sheridan, 1915
Anais Nin, 1903
Andres Segovia, 1893
Charles Scribner, 1821
John Henry Cardinal Newman, 1801
Antonio Lopez de Santa Ana, 1794
Today in History:
England begins the trial against Joan of Arc, 1431
John Wilkes is thrown out of the English House of Commons for his pornographic poem "An Essay on Woman," a satire of Pope's "An Essay on Man," 1764
Freedom of worship is established in France under its Constitution, 1795
The first locomotive, Richard Trevithick's, runs for the first time, in Wales, 1804
The first Native American Indian newspaper, the "Cherokee Phoenix", begins publication, 1828
The first known sewing machine in the US is patented by John Greenough of Washington, D.C., 1842
Sarah G Bagley of Lowell, Massachusetts becomes the first US woman telegrapher, 1846
Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels publish the Communist Manifesto, 1848
The US Congress outlaws foreign currency as legal tender in the US, 1857
Edwin T. Holmes installs the first electric burglar alarm, in Boston, Massachusetts, 1858
The first Roman Catholic parish church for blacks in the US is dedicated, in Baltimore, Maryland, 1864
Lucy B. Hobbs becomes the first US woman to earn a DDS degree, 1866
Benjamin Disraeli replaces William Gladstone as English premier, 1874
The first telephone book is issued, to 50 subscribers in New Harbor, Connecticut, 1878
Oregon becomes the first US state to declare Labor Day a holiday, 1887
The North Carolina legislature adjourns for the day to mark the death of Frederick Douglass, 1895
Dr. Harvey Cushing, the first US neurosurgeon, performs his first operation, 1902
Gustav Mahler conducts his last concerto, 1911
The Battle of Verdun (WWI) begins, will last until Dec. 18; over a quarter of a million casualties, half a million injuries, 1916
The last Carolina parakeet, Incas, dies in the Cincinnati Zoo, in the same cage that had held Martha, the last passenger pigeon, 4 years earlier, 1918
The Constituent Assembly of the Democratic Republic of Georgia adopts the country's first constitution, 1921
Great Britain grants Egypt independence, 1922
The first issue of "New Yorker" magazine is published, 1925
The first instant developing camera is demonstrated in NYC, by E H Land, 1947
The British government, under Winston Churchill, abolishes identity cards in the UK to "set the people free", 1952
Watson and Crick discover the structure of the DNA molecule; according to legend, they walk into the Eagle Pub in Cambridge and Crick announces "We have found the secret of Life," 1953
The Peace symbol is designed and completed by Gerald Holtom, commissioned by Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, 1958
Malcolm X is assassinated, 1965
The Convention on Psychotropic Substances is signed at Vienna, 1971
The Soviet unmanned spaceship Luna 20 lands on the Moon, 1972
Former United States Attorney General John N. Mitchell and former White House aides H. R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman are sentenced to prison, 1975
Steve Fossett lands in Leader, Saskatchewan, Canada becoming the first person to make a solo flight across the Pacific Ocean in a balloon, 1995
Enjoy.
Today is:
Card Reading Day (greeting cards can be fun to just stop and read, can't they?)
Family Day -- Canada
Feast of the Feralia -- Ancient Roman Calendar, final day of the Parentalia
International Mother Language Day -- UNESCO
Lesser Eulusinia -- Ancient Greek Calendar
Musikahan Festival -- Tagum City, Phillipines (through the 27th)
National Sticky Bun Day
Presidents Day -- US
Shaheed Dibosh -- Bangladesh (Language Martyr's Day, for those who died in the Bengali Language Movement in 1952)
St. Peter Damian's Day (patron against headaches)
Anniversaries Today:
The Washington Monument is dedicated, 1885
Birthdays Today:
Charlotte Church, 1986
Jennifer Love Hewitt, 1979
Alan Trammell, 1958
Kelsey Grammer, 1955
Tyne Daly, 1946
Alan Rickman, 1946
David Geffen, 1943
John Lewis, 1940
Barbara Jordan, 1936
Rue McClanahan, 1935
Nina Simone, 1933
Roberto Gomez Bolanos, 1929
Erma Bombeck, 1927
Sam Peckinpah, 1925
Ann Sheridan, 1915
Anais Nin, 1903
Andres Segovia, 1893
Charles Scribner, 1821
John Henry Cardinal Newman, 1801
Antonio Lopez de Santa Ana, 1794
Today in History:
England begins the trial against Joan of Arc, 1431
John Wilkes is thrown out of the English House of Commons for his pornographic poem "An Essay on Woman," a satire of Pope's "An Essay on Man," 1764
Freedom of worship is established in France under its Constitution, 1795
The first locomotive, Richard Trevithick's, runs for the first time, in Wales, 1804
The first Native American Indian newspaper, the "Cherokee Phoenix", begins publication, 1828
The first known sewing machine in the US is patented by John Greenough of Washington, D.C., 1842
Sarah G Bagley of Lowell, Massachusetts becomes the first US woman telegrapher, 1846
Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels publish the Communist Manifesto, 1848
The US Congress outlaws foreign currency as legal tender in the US, 1857
Edwin T. Holmes installs the first electric burglar alarm, in Boston, Massachusetts, 1858
The first Roman Catholic parish church for blacks in the US is dedicated, in Baltimore, Maryland, 1864
Lucy B. Hobbs becomes the first US woman to earn a DDS degree, 1866
Benjamin Disraeli replaces William Gladstone as English premier, 1874
The first telephone book is issued, to 50 subscribers in New Harbor, Connecticut, 1878
Oregon becomes the first US state to declare Labor Day a holiday, 1887
The North Carolina legislature adjourns for the day to mark the death of Frederick Douglass, 1895
Dr. Harvey Cushing, the first US neurosurgeon, performs his first operation, 1902
Gustav Mahler conducts his last concerto, 1911
The Battle of Verdun (WWI) begins, will last until Dec. 18; over a quarter of a million casualties, half a million injuries, 1916
The last Carolina parakeet, Incas, dies in the Cincinnati Zoo, in the same cage that had held Martha, the last passenger pigeon, 4 years earlier, 1918
The Constituent Assembly of the Democratic Republic of Georgia adopts the country's first constitution, 1921
Great Britain grants Egypt independence, 1922
The first issue of "New Yorker" magazine is published, 1925
The first instant developing camera is demonstrated in NYC, by E H Land, 1947
The British government, under Winston Churchill, abolishes identity cards in the UK to "set the people free", 1952
Watson and Crick discover the structure of the DNA molecule; according to legend, they walk into the Eagle Pub in Cambridge and Crick announces "We have found the secret of Life," 1953
The Peace symbol is designed and completed by Gerald Holtom, commissioned by Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, 1958
Malcolm X is assassinated, 1965
The Convention on Psychotropic Substances is signed at Vienna, 1971
The Soviet unmanned spaceship Luna 20 lands on the Moon, 1972
Former United States Attorney General John N. Mitchell and former White House aides H. R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman are sentenced to prison, 1975
Steve Fossett lands in Leader, Saskatchewan, Canada becoming the first person to make a solo flight across the Pacific Ocean in a balloon, 1995
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Yee Haw!
Yippee! Yahoo! Yee Haw!
Mike and Nightpelt went to a great home together!
Ashfur had hardly been put in a cage at the store and a young lady came in and picked her up. "I'll take her!" she said after about 2 minutes of Ashfur's purring and making biscuits on her.
Ming and Gladys have been put into the cage now vacated by Mike and Nightpelt.
For the first time in forever, we are down to only 2 kittens at home!
I'm going to pray and hope that Shockolate is over his sneezing by next week so both of them can go to adoption day.
It's looking like we may have all of the fosters to new homes before we leave for vacation. That would be a huge load off my mind.
Fingers crossed and prayers said, please.
Today is:
Adopt a Goblin Orphan Day -- Fairy Calendar
Blessed Wulfric's Day
Cherry Pie Day
Clam Chowder Day
Hoodie Hoo Day (Northern Hemisphere)
Love Your Pet Day
St. Mildred's Day
Student Volunteer Day
World Day for Social Justice -- International
Birthdays Today:
Andrew Shue, 1967
Cindy Crawford, 1966
French Stewart, 1964
Charles Barkley, 1963
Patty Hearst, 1954
Gordon Brown, 1951
Ivana Trump, 1949
Jennifer O'Neill, 1948
Sandy Duncan, 1946
Buffy Sainte-Marie, 1941
Nancy Wilson, 1937
Bobby Unser, 1934
Sidney Poitier, 1927
Robert Altman, 1925
Gloria Vanderbilt, 1924
Gale Gordon, 1906
Ansel Adams, 1902
Today in History:
Orkney and Shetland are pawned by Norway to Scotland so King Christian I can pay his daughter's dowry, 1472
The first recorded wine auction is held, in London, 1673
The Postal Service Act, establishing the United States Post Office Department, is signed by President George Washington, 1792
Austria declares bankruptcy, 1811
Concepcion, Chile, is destroyed by an earthquake, 1835
The US Congress prohibits dueling in the District of Columbia, 1839
Luther Crowell patents a machine to manufacture paper bags, 1872
In New York City the Metropolitan Museum of Art opens, 1872
The first minor league baseball association is organized, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1887
King O'Malley drives in the first survey peg to mark commencement of work on the construction of Canberra, 1913
A new volcano, Paricutin, erupts in a farmer's cornfield in Mexico, 1943
The Avro Arrow program to design and manufacture supersonic jet fighters in Canada is canceled by the Diefenbaker government amid much political debate, 1959
While aboard Friendship 7, John Glenn becomes the first American to orbit the earth, making three orbits in 4 hours, 55 minutes, 1962
Ranger 8 crashes into the moon after a successful mission of photographing possible landing sites for the Apollo program astronauts, 1965
The Southeast Asia Treaty Organization disbands, 1976
Texas industrialist Ross Perot's U.S. presidential campaign begins, 1992
Spain becomes the first country to vote in a referendum on ratification of the proposed Constitution of the European Union, passing it by a substantial margin, but on a low turnout, 2005
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Four kittens are going to the adoption event this weekend. Shockolate, bless his little heart, is still sneezing and it isn't pretty. The others will be able to show off how lovable they are, and if the Good Lord so wills and Fortune smiles and the stars line up correctly, Ming, Ferncloud, Ashfur, and Gladys will have new homes after today.
Then maybe i can cut it down to 5 litter boxes instead of 10.
Today is:
Army Day -- Mexico
Birthday of Shivaji -- Maharashtra, India
Chief Leschi Day -- Native American
Choes Day -- Ancient Greek Calendar, Day of the Jugs (Second day of Anthesteria)
Flag Day -- Turkmenistan
Fly-By for Goblins and others -- Fairy Calendar
National Chocolate Mint Day (because every day needs chocolate in some form)
Pusiuraura -- Melanesia (god of the dart game)
Solar System Day
St. Conrad of Piacenza's Day
Temporary Insanity Day
Vassil Levski Day -- Bulgaria
Birthdays Today:
Justine Bateman, 1966
Seal, 1963
Jeff Daniels, 1955
Margaux Hemingway, 1955
Smokey Robinson, 1940
Lee Marvin, 1924
Willam III, 1817 (last king of the Netherlands -- there have only been queens since)
Nicolas Copernicus, 1473
Today in History:
Emperor Lucius Septimius Severus' defeats beats Clodius Albinus at Lyon, 197
Emperor Constantius II shuts down all pagan temples, 356
The second Medieval Iconoclastic Controversy ends as a council in Constantinople formally reinstates veneration of icons in the churches, 842
Jews of Tyrnau, Hungary (then Trnava, Czech) are expelled, 1539
The Peruvian stratovolcano Huaynaputina explodes in the most violent eruption in the recorded history of South America, 1600
Britain and the Netherlands sign the Peace of Westminster, and New Amsterdam formally becomes New York, 1674
British explorer William Smith discovers the South Shetland Islands, and claims them in the name of King George III, 1819
The first practical coal burning locomotive in the US makes a trial run, in Pennsylvania, 1831
Tin-type camera is patented by Hamilton Smith of Gambier, Ohio, 1856
Daniel E. Sickles is acquitted of the murder of his wife's lover, Phillip Barton Key (son of Francis Scott Key), on the grounds of temporary insanity, the first time this defense is successfully used, 1859
Tsar Alexander II abolishes serfdom in Russia, 1861
Thomas Edison patents the gramophone (phonograph), 1878
Kansas becomes the first US state to prohibit all alcoholic beverages, 1881
WK Kellog and Charles Bolin found the Battle Creek Toasted Corn Flake Co., 1906
The first prize is inserted into a Cracker Jack box, 1913
Ed Wynn becomes the first talent to sign as a regular radio entertainer, 1922
Ezra Pound is awarded the first Bollingen Prize for poetry, 1949
Bill Keane's "Family Circus" comic strip makes its debut, 1960
Artificial heart recipient William J. Schroeder becomes the first such patient to leave hospital, 1985
The Soviet Union launches its Mir spacecraft, 1986
NASA's Mars Odyssey space probe begins to map the surface of Mars using its thermal emission imaging system, 2002
Then maybe i can cut it down to 5 litter boxes instead of 10.
Today is:
Army Day -- Mexico
Birthday of Shivaji -- Maharashtra, India
Chief Leschi Day -- Native American
Choes Day -- Ancient Greek Calendar, Day of the Jugs (Second day of Anthesteria)
Flag Day -- Turkmenistan
Fly-By for Goblins and others -- Fairy Calendar
National Chocolate Mint Day (because every day needs chocolate in some form)
Pusiuraura -- Melanesia (god of the dart game)
Solar System Day
St. Conrad of Piacenza's Day
Temporary Insanity Day
Vassil Levski Day -- Bulgaria
Birthdays Today:
Justine Bateman, 1966
Seal, 1963
Jeff Daniels, 1955
Margaux Hemingway, 1955
Smokey Robinson, 1940
Lee Marvin, 1924
Willam III, 1817 (last king of the Netherlands -- there have only been queens since)
Nicolas Copernicus, 1473
Today in History:
Emperor Lucius Septimius Severus' defeats beats Clodius Albinus at Lyon, 197
Emperor Constantius II shuts down all pagan temples, 356
The second Medieval Iconoclastic Controversy ends as a council in Constantinople formally reinstates veneration of icons in the churches, 842
Jews of Tyrnau, Hungary (then Trnava, Czech) are expelled, 1539
The Peruvian stratovolcano Huaynaputina explodes in the most violent eruption in the recorded history of South America, 1600
Britain and the Netherlands sign the Peace of Westminster, and New Amsterdam formally becomes New York, 1674
British explorer William Smith discovers the South Shetland Islands, and claims them in the name of King George III, 1819
The first practical coal burning locomotive in the US makes a trial run, in Pennsylvania, 1831
Tin-type camera is patented by Hamilton Smith of Gambier, Ohio, 1856
Daniel E. Sickles is acquitted of the murder of his wife's lover, Phillip Barton Key (son of Francis Scott Key), on the grounds of temporary insanity, the first time this defense is successfully used, 1859
Tsar Alexander II abolishes serfdom in Russia, 1861
Thomas Edison patents the gramophone (phonograph), 1878
Kansas becomes the first US state to prohibit all alcoholic beverages, 1881
WK Kellog and Charles Bolin found the Battle Creek Toasted Corn Flake Co., 1906
The first prize is inserted into a Cracker Jack box, 1913
Ed Wynn becomes the first talent to sign as a regular radio entertainer, 1922
Ezra Pound is awarded the first Bollingen Prize for poetry, 1949
Bill Keane's "Family Circus" comic strip makes its debut, 1960
Artificial heart recipient William J. Schroeder becomes the first such patient to leave hospital, 1985
The Soviet Union launches its Mir spacecraft, 1986
NASA's Mars Odyssey space probe begins to map the surface of Mars using its thermal emission imaging system, 2002
Friday, February 18, 2011
Good Report
For the most part, a good cleaning session at the shelter this week.
Heathcliff, Monty, Marcel, Conan, Jerry, Johnny, Perry, and Zeke were all adopted in the past week!
The big room is back up to 8, as Ginny, who was moved to the adoption center at the pet store, had to come back because of "tummy upset" (read "nasty diarrhea"). Katy is new in there, and there's a note on her card to make sure she is eating. She was eating while i was in there. Sophia, Gidget, Zoe, Candy, and Grady are all well. Although Grady seems to be getting very mellow, and didn't even try to make a run for it. As for Clint, well, he has found a new hiding place. It took me 10 minutes to find him, instead of under a chair that has a blanket draped over it, wrapped in the blanket on the chair itself. He gave me a very dirty look when i found him, too. Seems he thought he was unfindable.
Frieda was quiet, and it's noted on her card that she has been very quiet for quite some time. She did let me pet her, and then went right back to sleep.
Lucky is his usual skin and bones self. He has decided to sleep on the cleaning cart, and i had to bribe him off with his medicine in the pill pocket. He will do anything for a pill pocket, or for canned food. He's also making a good dent in his regular dry food bowls.
A few new residents are in the cages. Mally is so playful! The half grown ones always are. Snazzle is one of the soft ones, the kind of cat with fur that feels more like rabbit than cat. Emmie is such a love that she was lying on her bed making biscuits and purring and waiting to be petted. Only Big Red was upset, and hissed. He may just be confused and upset, you can't really always tell personality in the cages.
Baby is still hissing while Cali is sweet, and they don't fight only because Cali doesn't take Baby personally. Angel and Dustie are both healthy again. Gulliver and Portia are playing well together, and i hope they move Mally in with them. She is right at their age and they would probably have a 3 ring circus going in there.
Molly, PittyPat, Joey, Bootsie, Alex, Marky, Devon, Rosie, Flip, Cheri, Samantha, Cami, and Zsa Zsa -- all getting along, eating well, not fighting, ready to move on out, if the people will come.
The only sad note is Bitty. She is also new, and in an isolation cage. Her initial feline leukemia test came back positive, so she is to be retested in a couple of weeks. A lovely 5 month old calico, she sits in the corner of her cage, looking dejected. We hope the next test is negative.
So, one more weekly cleaning in the books.
Today is:
Anthesteria, Feast of Flowers* -- Ancient Greece (Three day feast to Dionysus, god of wine, to celebrate the maturing of the wine stored from the previous vintage.)
Celtic Tree Month Nuin (Ash) begins
Day of Spenta Armaiti -- Zoroastrian (goddess of earth and fertility, especially celebrated by women)
Festival of Women -- Persian (traditional, it has been kept even amont those who are no longer Zoroastrian)
Full Snow Moon
Fly-By for Fairies and Elves -- Fairy Calendar
Independence Day -- Gambia
National Battery Day
National Crab Stuffed Flounder Day
Pluto Day
Rashtriya Prajatantra Divas (National Democracy Day) -- Nepal
St. Bernadette of Lourdes' Day
St. Fra Angelico's Day (patron of artists)
Tanigumi Odori -- Tanigumi-mura, Gifu Prefecture, Japan (dance festival)
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity -- Christian
*Some people put this on other days, but since this feast is celebrated at the full moon in January or February, as near as my research can get -- and i figure by February, you're so sick of snow, you want a little something ! -- i've put it here.
Anniversaries Today:
Ohio State University is chartered as the first US land-grant college, 1804
Birthdays Today:
Jillian Michaels, 1974
Molly Ringwald, 1968
Dr. Dre, 1965
Matt Dillon, 1964
Vanna White, 1957
John Travolta, 1954
John Hughes, 1950
Cybill Shedherd, 1950
Andrea Dromm, 1941
Yoko Ono, 1933
Milos Forman, 1932
Toni Morrison, 1931
Gahan Wilson, 1930
George Kennedy, 1925
Helen Gurley Brown, 1922
Bill Cullen, 1920
Jack Palance, 1920
Hans Asperger, 1906
Enzo Ferrari, 1898
George "The Gipper" Gipp, 1895
Boris Pasternak, 1890
Nikos Kazantzakis, 1883
Sholem Aleichem, 1859
Louis Comfort Tiffany, 1848
Ernst Mach, 1838
Count Alessandro Volta, 1745
Uesugi Kenshin, 1530 (Japanese samurai and warlord)
Mary I Tudor, 1516
Saint Jadwiga of Poland, 1374
Today in History:
Origin of the Kali Yuga Epoch ("age of vice" or Dark Age) of the Hindu/Buddhist calendars, BC3102
Jerusalem is taken by Emperor Frederik II, 1229
Amda Seyon I, Emperor of Ethiopia, begins his campaigns in the southern Muslim regions, 1332
Henry Tudor (Henry VIII) created Prince of Wales, 1503
Zeeland falls to Dutch rebels, 1574
John Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress" is published, 1678
Fort Saint Lewis, Texas, is founded by Frenchmen under LaSalle at Matagorda Bay, the basis for France's claim to Texas, 1685
Quakers conduct their first formal protest of slavery in Germantown, Pennsylvania, 1688
The premiere of George Frideric Handel's oratorio, "Samson" takes place in London, 1743
Trinidad is surrendered to a British fleet under the command of Sir Ralph Abercrombie, 1797
The Detroit Boat Club (still in existence) forms, 1839
The first continuous filibuster in the US Senate begins, lasts until March 11, 1841
The first regular steamboat service to California begins, 1849
A direct telegraph link between Britain and New Zealand is established, 1876
Mark Twain's "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" is published, 1885
The Cave of Winds at Niagara Falls goes almost dry for the first time in 50 years, 1896
Winston Churchill makes his first speech in the British House of Commons, 1901
H. Cecil Booth patents a dust removing suction cleaner, 1901
The first official flight with air mail takes place in Allahabad, British India, when Henri Pequet delivers 6,500 letters to Naini (a distance of about 10K), 1911
The US and Canada begin formal diplomatic relations, with the appointment of Vincent Massey as the first Canadian ambassador to the US, 1927
The first Academy Awards are announced, 1929
While studying photographs taken in January, Clyde Tombaugh discovers Pluto, 1930
The first Church of Scientology is established in Los Angeles, California, 1954
The Space Shuttle Enterprise test vehicle is carried on its maiden "flight" on top of a Boeing 747, 1977
Snow falls in the Sahara Desert in southern Algeria for the only time in recorded history, 1979
Heathcliff, Monty, Marcel, Conan, Jerry, Johnny, Perry, and Zeke were all adopted in the past week!
The big room is back up to 8, as Ginny, who was moved to the adoption center at the pet store, had to come back because of "tummy upset" (read "nasty diarrhea"). Katy is new in there, and there's a note on her card to make sure she is eating. She was eating while i was in there. Sophia, Gidget, Zoe, Candy, and Grady are all well. Although Grady seems to be getting very mellow, and didn't even try to make a run for it. As for Clint, well, he has found a new hiding place. It took me 10 minutes to find him, instead of under a chair that has a blanket draped over it, wrapped in the blanket on the chair itself. He gave me a very dirty look when i found him, too. Seems he thought he was unfindable.
Frieda was quiet, and it's noted on her card that she has been very quiet for quite some time. She did let me pet her, and then went right back to sleep.
Lucky is his usual skin and bones self. He has decided to sleep on the cleaning cart, and i had to bribe him off with his medicine in the pill pocket. He will do anything for a pill pocket, or for canned food. He's also making a good dent in his regular dry food bowls.
A few new residents are in the cages. Mally is so playful! The half grown ones always are. Snazzle is one of the soft ones, the kind of cat with fur that feels more like rabbit than cat. Emmie is such a love that she was lying on her bed making biscuits and purring and waiting to be petted. Only Big Red was upset, and hissed. He may just be confused and upset, you can't really always tell personality in the cages.
Baby is still hissing while Cali is sweet, and they don't fight only because Cali doesn't take Baby personally. Angel and Dustie are both healthy again. Gulliver and Portia are playing well together, and i hope they move Mally in with them. She is right at their age and they would probably have a 3 ring circus going in there.
Molly, PittyPat, Joey, Bootsie, Alex, Marky, Devon, Rosie, Flip, Cheri, Samantha, Cami, and Zsa Zsa -- all getting along, eating well, not fighting, ready to move on out, if the people will come.
The only sad note is Bitty. She is also new, and in an isolation cage. Her initial feline leukemia test came back positive, so she is to be retested in a couple of weeks. A lovely 5 month old calico, she sits in the corner of her cage, looking dejected. We hope the next test is negative.
So, one more weekly cleaning in the books.
Today is:
Anthesteria, Feast of Flowers* -- Ancient Greece (Three day feast to Dionysus, god of wine, to celebrate the maturing of the wine stored from the previous vintage.)
Celtic Tree Month Nuin (Ash) begins
Day of Spenta Armaiti -- Zoroastrian (goddess of earth and fertility, especially celebrated by women)
Festival of Women -- Persian (traditional, it has been kept even amont those who are no longer Zoroastrian)
Full Snow Moon
Fly-By for Fairies and Elves -- Fairy Calendar
Independence Day -- Gambia
National Battery Day
National Crab Stuffed Flounder Day
Pluto Day
Rashtriya Prajatantra Divas (National Democracy Day) -- Nepal
St. Bernadette of Lourdes' Day
St. Fra Angelico's Day (patron of artists)
Tanigumi Odori -- Tanigumi-mura, Gifu Prefecture, Japan (dance festival)
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity -- Christian
*Some people put this on other days, but since this feast is celebrated at the full moon in January or February, as near as my research can get -- and i figure by February, you're so sick of snow, you want a little something ! -- i've put it here.
Anniversaries Today:
Ohio State University is chartered as the first US land-grant college, 1804
Birthdays Today:
Jillian Michaels, 1974
Molly Ringwald, 1968
Dr. Dre, 1965
Matt Dillon, 1964
Vanna White, 1957
John Travolta, 1954
John Hughes, 1950
Cybill Shedherd, 1950
Andrea Dromm, 1941
Yoko Ono, 1933
Milos Forman, 1932
Toni Morrison, 1931
Gahan Wilson, 1930
George Kennedy, 1925
Helen Gurley Brown, 1922
Bill Cullen, 1920
Jack Palance, 1920
Hans Asperger, 1906
Enzo Ferrari, 1898
George "The Gipper" Gipp, 1895
Boris Pasternak, 1890
Nikos Kazantzakis, 1883
Sholem Aleichem, 1859
Louis Comfort Tiffany, 1848
Ernst Mach, 1838
Count Alessandro Volta, 1745
Uesugi Kenshin, 1530 (Japanese samurai and warlord)
Mary I Tudor, 1516
Saint Jadwiga of Poland, 1374
Today in History:
Origin of the Kali Yuga Epoch ("age of vice" or Dark Age) of the Hindu/Buddhist calendars, BC3102
Jerusalem is taken by Emperor Frederik II, 1229
Amda Seyon I, Emperor of Ethiopia, begins his campaigns in the southern Muslim regions, 1332
Henry Tudor (Henry VIII) created Prince of Wales, 1503
Zeeland falls to Dutch rebels, 1574
John Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress" is published, 1678
Fort Saint Lewis, Texas, is founded by Frenchmen under LaSalle at Matagorda Bay, the basis for France's claim to Texas, 1685
Quakers conduct their first formal protest of slavery in Germantown, Pennsylvania, 1688
The premiere of George Frideric Handel's oratorio, "Samson" takes place in London, 1743
Trinidad is surrendered to a British fleet under the command of Sir Ralph Abercrombie, 1797
The Detroit Boat Club (still in existence) forms, 1839
The first continuous filibuster in the US Senate begins, lasts until March 11, 1841
The first regular steamboat service to California begins, 1849
A direct telegraph link between Britain and New Zealand is established, 1876
Mark Twain's "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" is published, 1885
The Cave of Winds at Niagara Falls goes almost dry for the first time in 50 years, 1896
Winston Churchill makes his first speech in the British House of Commons, 1901
H. Cecil Booth patents a dust removing suction cleaner, 1901
The first official flight with air mail takes place in Allahabad, British India, when Henri Pequet delivers 6,500 letters to Naini (a distance of about 10K), 1911
The US and Canada begin formal diplomatic relations, with the appointment of Vincent Massey as the first Canadian ambassador to the US, 1927
The first Academy Awards are announced, 1929
While studying photographs taken in January, Clyde Tombaugh discovers Pluto, 1930
The first Church of Scientology is established in Los Angeles, California, 1954
The Space Shuttle Enterprise test vehicle is carried on its maiden "flight" on top of a Boeing 747, 1977
Snow falls in the Sahara Desert in southern Algeria for the only time in recorded history, 1979
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Interesting Question
Several years ago, i was playing a board game in which you are asked questions, most of which have to do with integrity and character.
Suldog has been writing about insects, and that brought it back to my mind.
The question was, "Would you pull the wings off of a roach for a million dollars? Why or why not?"
My answer at that time was an unqualified and emphatic no, and still is. Do i squish roaches as disease carrying critters that don't belong in my house? Yes. Would i do it as a professional exterminator for a reasonable fee? If that was my line of work, yes.
To torment a living thing just for money is repugnant to me. To torment it for any reason is repugnant to me.
In this game, the questions had more than one part, and someone else read the questions to you so that you couldn't read ahead and spoil it. So the second question was, "Would your answer change if it was a beautiful butterfly?"
Again, my answer was and still is, not going to do that.
Third question was, "What if you were only going to get a dollar?"
The amount doesn't change my answer. If i absolutely have to kill something, whether for food or to keep it out of my food, i'm going to do everything in my power to make sure it goes quickly and doesn't suffer. My lack of willingness to kill for my own survival is one reason why i try to eat totally vegan, and think long and hard before ordering fish a couple of times a year in a restaurant.
There are probably people out there who would do it to a roach and not a butterfly, citing beauty as giving meaning to life, and considering the other vermin. Some would do it to either, just because there is money involved. For some, the amount wouldn't matter, they would have no problem tormenting a bug.
Suldog's recent musings reminded me of the game and question, and i'm glad he did. Since he rescues most of the bugs he runs across in his home, as i do, i decided to elaborate on the idea.
This reminds me, too, of a joke i once quoted, but since i'm getting old and forgetful, allow me to repeat myself.
Did you hear about the three churches in town that got overrun with squirrels?
One church prayed about it, and decided these were G-d's creatures, too, and they were put there for a reason, and G-d allowed it for a reason, and so did nothing. The squirrels did a great deal of damage in the attics of the buildings and made themselves a huge nuisance.
The second church prayed about it, decided these were G-d's creatures, too, and had them humanely trapped and relocated. The squirrels were back within 3 days, and did a great deal of damage in the attics of the buildings, and were a huge nuisance.
The third church prayed about it, decided these were G-d's creatures, too, so they baptized them and made them members and now they only see them at Christmas and Easter.
Today is:
Champion Crab Races Day
Feast of Shesmu -- Ancient Egyptian Calendar (god of the winepress)
Fornacalia -- Ancient Roman Calendar (bread festival)
Hachinohe Enburi begins -- Hachinohe, Japan (festival with prayers for a good harvest)
Lantern Festival -- China; Taiwan
Last day of Celtic Tree Month Luis
My Way Day
National Cafe Au Lait Day
National PTA Founders Day
Quirinalia -- Roman Empirical Calendar
Random Acts of Kindness Day
St. Romulus the Martyr's Day
Tanis Diena -- Ancient Latvain Calendar (To honor pigs)
World Human Spirit Day
Anniversaries Today:
Miami University is chartered by the State of Ohio, 1809
Birthdays Today:
Jerry O'Connell, 1974
Bryan White, 1974
Billie Joe Armstrong, 1972
Denise Richards, 1972
Michael Jordan, 1963
Rene Russo, 1954
Jim Brown, 1936
Alan Bates, 1934
Barry Humphries (Dame Edna Everage), 1934
Hal Holbrook, 1925
Arthur Kennedy, 1914
Red Barber, 1908
Dorothy Canfield Fisher, 1879
William Cadbury, 1867
Friedrich A Krupp, 1854
A. Montgomery Ward, 1844
Today in History:
Miles Standish is appointed the first commander of the Plymouth colony, 1621
The first volume of Gibbon's "Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire" is
published, 1776
The first ship passes through the Suez Canal, 1867
Women's suffragist Esther Morris is appointed the first female justice of the peace in the US, in South Pass City, Wyoming, 1870
Sardines are first canned, by Julius Wolff of Eastport, Maine, 1876
Madame Butterfly receives its première at La Scala in Milan, 1904
The first minimum wage law in the US takes effect, in Oregon, 1913
Johnny Weissmuller sets the 100-yard freestyle record (52.4 seconds), 1924
The first telecast of a sporting event in Japan, a baseball game, 1931
The first issue of "Newsweek" magazine is published, 1933
Vanguard 2 – The first weather satellite is launched to measure cloud-cover distribution, 1959
Sales of the Volkswagen Beetle exceed those of the Ford Model-T, 1972
Garry Kasparov beats the Deep Blue supercomputer in a chess match, 1996
Kosovo declares independence, 2008
Suldog has been writing about insects, and that brought it back to my mind.
The question was, "Would you pull the wings off of a roach for a million dollars? Why or why not?"
My answer at that time was an unqualified and emphatic no, and still is. Do i squish roaches as disease carrying critters that don't belong in my house? Yes. Would i do it as a professional exterminator for a reasonable fee? If that was my line of work, yes.
To torment a living thing just for money is repugnant to me. To torment it for any reason is repugnant to me.
In this game, the questions had more than one part, and someone else read the questions to you so that you couldn't read ahead and spoil it. So the second question was, "Would your answer change if it was a beautiful butterfly?"
Again, my answer was and still is, not going to do that.
Third question was, "What if you were only going to get a dollar?"
The amount doesn't change my answer. If i absolutely have to kill something, whether for food or to keep it out of my food, i'm going to do everything in my power to make sure it goes quickly and doesn't suffer. My lack of willingness to kill for my own survival is one reason why i try to eat totally vegan, and think long and hard before ordering fish a couple of times a year in a restaurant.
There are probably people out there who would do it to a roach and not a butterfly, citing beauty as giving meaning to life, and considering the other vermin. Some would do it to either, just because there is money involved. For some, the amount wouldn't matter, they would have no problem tormenting a bug.
Suldog's recent musings reminded me of the game and question, and i'm glad he did. Since he rescues most of the bugs he runs across in his home, as i do, i decided to elaborate on the idea.
This reminds me, too, of a joke i once quoted, but since i'm getting old and forgetful, allow me to repeat myself.
Did you hear about the three churches in town that got overrun with squirrels?
One church prayed about it, and decided these were G-d's creatures, too, and they were put there for a reason, and G-d allowed it for a reason, and so did nothing. The squirrels did a great deal of damage in the attics of the buildings and made themselves a huge nuisance.
The second church prayed about it, decided these were G-d's creatures, too, and had them humanely trapped and relocated. The squirrels were back within 3 days, and did a great deal of damage in the attics of the buildings, and were a huge nuisance.
The third church prayed about it, decided these were G-d's creatures, too, so they baptized them and made them members and now they only see them at Christmas and Easter.
Today is:
Champion Crab Races Day
Feast of Shesmu -- Ancient Egyptian Calendar (god of the winepress)
Fornacalia -- Ancient Roman Calendar (bread festival)
Hachinohe Enburi begins -- Hachinohe, Japan (festival with prayers for a good harvest)
Lantern Festival -- China; Taiwan
Last day of Celtic Tree Month Luis
My Way Day
National Cafe Au Lait Day
National PTA Founders Day
Quirinalia -- Roman Empirical Calendar
Random Acts of Kindness Day
St. Romulus the Martyr's Day
Tanis Diena -- Ancient Latvain Calendar (To honor pigs)
World Human Spirit Day
Anniversaries Today:
Miami University is chartered by the State of Ohio, 1809
Birthdays Today:
Jerry O'Connell, 1974
Bryan White, 1974
Billie Joe Armstrong, 1972
Denise Richards, 1972
Michael Jordan, 1963
Rene Russo, 1954
Jim Brown, 1936
Alan Bates, 1934
Barry Humphries (Dame Edna Everage), 1934
Hal Holbrook, 1925
Arthur Kennedy, 1914
Red Barber, 1908
Dorothy Canfield Fisher, 1879
William Cadbury, 1867
Friedrich A Krupp, 1854
A. Montgomery Ward, 1844
Today in History:
Miles Standish is appointed the first commander of the Plymouth colony, 1621
The first volume of Gibbon's "Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire" is
published, 1776
The first ship passes through the Suez Canal, 1867
Women's suffragist Esther Morris is appointed the first female justice of the peace in the US, in South Pass City, Wyoming, 1870
Sardines are first canned, by Julius Wolff of Eastport, Maine, 1876
Madame Butterfly receives its première at La Scala in Milan, 1904
The first minimum wage law in the US takes effect, in Oregon, 1913
Johnny Weissmuller sets the 100-yard freestyle record (52.4 seconds), 1924
The first telecast of a sporting event in Japan, a baseball game, 1931
The first issue of "Newsweek" magazine is published, 1933
Vanguard 2 – The first weather satellite is launched to measure cloud-cover distribution, 1959
Sales of the Volkswagen Beetle exceed those of the Ford Model-T, 1972
Garry Kasparov beats the Deep Blue supercomputer in a chess match, 1996
Kosovo declares independence, 2008
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Forgetting
Something is going on, and i'm not sure what gives. The last few days, i have been forgetting things almost as much as Brother-in-Law, The Mouth.
First, it was my stainless steel water bottle at the church after we cleaned. Then, on Sunday, i reclaimed the bottle and forgot my coat instead. I also forgot to make copies that i needed.
Got a different coat to use for a couple of days, and then forgot both it and the water bottle at co-op! Then went back for the water bottle, but forgot to look for the coat.
This morning, on the way to co-op, i stopped at the store to buy some of the ingredients for cooking, and when it was time to pay realized i had forgotten my wallet. I had to go back to get it, then take the kittens to the vet, then go pay for the groceries, then on to co-op. A few minutes late, but we got set up done. What i didn't get done until very late was paying our rent to the church -- i forgot it was time to do it.
So i have two coats left behind at two different churches. My water bottle keeps getting put down and not picked up, which is just not like me. This is the first time i haven't had a rent check ready ahead to drop at the office first thing.
Bigger Girl has offered me one of her coats, but i'm almost afraid to take her up on it.
Shaking my head in amazement by now.
For the bottle, i've never left it before these two times, it's like part of me because i am drinking water all of the time. For the coat, all i can figure is the mornings are starting cold, and the day is warming up, so i take it off, and when it is time to go it's not cool enough for me to remember to pick it back up again.
So i hope this forgetting phase doesn't last too long.
One thing i won't forget quickly is my 2nd co-op class finally getting excited about making something. They liked the bean and cheese quesadillas. Class one liked home made mac and cheese. It's an easy recipe, one pound macaroni, cooked, make a sauce with flour and butter and milk, when that's thick add as much shredded cheese of your choice as you want. Stir the macaroni in and bake a little if you can wait. They couldn't.
Also, i didn't forget to take the kittens to the vet. That's something.
Mike is apparently lonely in the adoption center. Miss W called -- one of a record 5 calls i got during co-op! -- to tell me he is meowing incessantly. She wanted to know if any of my others were ready to go, so it could keep him company. Nightpelt was at the vet at that moment getting his rabies vaccine and microchip, so she picked him up from there to take him over.
That means we only have 5 kittens in the house, the fewest we've had since kitten season started back last April! These 5 will go to adoption day this weekend, so after that it might even be fewer. We hope they all have forever homes before March. By the end of March, or early April, we will start over.
Today is:
Bumper Car Day
Do a Grouch a Favor Day
Kyoto Protocol Day
Mule Day
National Almond Day
Respectable Tales of Kelp-Koli -- Fairy Calendar (5 minutes only)
Restoration of Lithuania's Statehood Day -- Lithuania
St. Onesimus' Day
Birthdays Today:
John McEnroe, 1959
LeVar Burton, 1957
Sonny Bono, 1935
Vera-Ellen, 1921
Patty Andrews, 1920
Jimmy Wakely, 1914
Hugh Beaumont, 1909
Richard McDonald, 1909
Edgar Bergan, 1903
Johann Strauss, 1866
Nichiren, 1222
Emperor Yingzong of China, 1032
Today in History:
9th recorded perihelion passage of Halley's Comet, 374
Pope Gregory the Great issues a decree saying that "God bless you" is the correct response to a sneeze, 600
English king Charles I accepts Triennial Act, requiring the king to assemble Parliament at least once every 3 years, 1641
The first known check (cheque) is written, for 400 English Pounds Sterling (currently on display at Westminster Abbey), 1659
Kentucky passes a law permitting women to attend school under certain conditions, 1838*
Weenen Massacre: Hundreds of Voortrekkers along the Blaukraans River, Natal are killed by Zulus, 1838
American Charles Wilkes discovers Shackleton Ice Shelf, Antarctica, 1840
The Battle of Sobraon ends the First Sikh War in India, 1846
Studebaker Brothers wagon company, precursor of the automobile manufacturer, is established, 1852
The French Government passes a law to set the A-note above middle C to a frequency of 435 Hz, in an attempt to standardize the pitch, 1859
The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks forms, 1868
The "Ladies Home Journal" begins publishing, 1883
The first Chinese daily newspaper in the US, Chung Sai Yat Po, begins publication in San Francisco, 1900
The first US Esperanto Club organizes in Boston, 1905
The first synagogue in 425 years opens in Madrid, Spain, 1917
Howard Carter unseals the burial chamber of Pharaoh Tutankhamun, 1923
The first patent is issued for a tree, to James Markham for a peach tree, 1932
Wallace H. Carothers receives a United States patent for nylon, 1937
Canadians are granted Canadian citizenship after 80 years of being British subjects. Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King becomes the first Canadian citizen, 1947
Britain abolishes the death penalty, 1956
Fidel Castro becomes Premier of Cuba after dictator Fulgencio Batista was overthrown on January 1, 1959
In Haleyville, Alabama, the first 9-1-1 emergency telephone system goes into service, 1968
The first computer bulletin board system is created (CBBS in Chicago, Illinois), 1978
The trial of John Demjanjuk, accused of being a Nazi guard dubbed "Ivan the Terrible" in Treblinka extermination camp, starts in Jerusalem, 1987
The Kyoto Protocol comes into force, following its ratification by Russia, 2005
*This is the same US state that still has a law on its books requiring every resident to take a bath at least once a year, whether the person needs it or not!
First, it was my stainless steel water bottle at the church after we cleaned. Then, on Sunday, i reclaimed the bottle and forgot my coat instead. I also forgot to make copies that i needed.
Got a different coat to use for a couple of days, and then forgot both it and the water bottle at co-op! Then went back for the water bottle, but forgot to look for the coat.
This morning, on the way to co-op, i stopped at the store to buy some of the ingredients for cooking, and when it was time to pay realized i had forgotten my wallet. I had to go back to get it, then take the kittens to the vet, then go pay for the groceries, then on to co-op. A few minutes late, but we got set up done. What i didn't get done until very late was paying our rent to the church -- i forgot it was time to do it.
So i have two coats left behind at two different churches. My water bottle keeps getting put down and not picked up, which is just not like me. This is the first time i haven't had a rent check ready ahead to drop at the office first thing.
Bigger Girl has offered me one of her coats, but i'm almost afraid to take her up on it.
Shaking my head in amazement by now.
For the bottle, i've never left it before these two times, it's like part of me because i am drinking water all of the time. For the coat, all i can figure is the mornings are starting cold, and the day is warming up, so i take it off, and when it is time to go it's not cool enough for me to remember to pick it back up again.
So i hope this forgetting phase doesn't last too long.
One thing i won't forget quickly is my 2nd co-op class finally getting excited about making something. They liked the bean and cheese quesadillas. Class one liked home made mac and cheese. It's an easy recipe, one pound macaroni, cooked, make a sauce with flour and butter and milk, when that's thick add as much shredded cheese of your choice as you want. Stir the macaroni in and bake a little if you can wait. They couldn't.
Also, i didn't forget to take the kittens to the vet. That's something.
Mike is apparently lonely in the adoption center. Miss W called -- one of a record 5 calls i got during co-op! -- to tell me he is meowing incessantly. She wanted to know if any of my others were ready to go, so it could keep him company. Nightpelt was at the vet at that moment getting his rabies vaccine and microchip, so she picked him up from there to take him over.
That means we only have 5 kittens in the house, the fewest we've had since kitten season started back last April! These 5 will go to adoption day this weekend, so after that it might even be fewer. We hope they all have forever homes before March. By the end of March, or early April, we will start over.
Today is:
Bumper Car Day
Do a Grouch a Favor Day
Kyoto Protocol Day
Mule Day
National Almond Day
Respectable Tales of Kelp-Koli -- Fairy Calendar (5 minutes only)
Restoration of Lithuania's Statehood Day -- Lithuania
St. Onesimus' Day
Birthdays Today:
John McEnroe, 1959
LeVar Burton, 1957
Sonny Bono, 1935
Vera-Ellen, 1921
Patty Andrews, 1920
Jimmy Wakely, 1914
Hugh Beaumont, 1909
Richard McDonald, 1909
Edgar Bergan, 1903
Johann Strauss, 1866
Nichiren, 1222
Emperor Yingzong of China, 1032
Today in History:
9th recorded perihelion passage of Halley's Comet, 374
Pope Gregory the Great issues a decree saying that "God bless you" is the correct response to a sneeze, 600
English king Charles I accepts Triennial Act, requiring the king to assemble Parliament at least once every 3 years, 1641
The first known check (cheque) is written, for 400 English Pounds Sterling (currently on display at Westminster Abbey), 1659
Kentucky passes a law permitting women to attend school under certain conditions, 1838*
Weenen Massacre: Hundreds of Voortrekkers along the Blaukraans River, Natal are killed by Zulus, 1838
American Charles Wilkes discovers Shackleton Ice Shelf, Antarctica, 1840
The Battle of Sobraon ends the First Sikh War in India, 1846
Studebaker Brothers wagon company, precursor of the automobile manufacturer, is established, 1852
The French Government passes a law to set the A-note above middle C to a frequency of 435 Hz, in an attempt to standardize the pitch, 1859
The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks forms, 1868
The "Ladies Home Journal" begins publishing, 1883
The first Chinese daily newspaper in the US, Chung Sai Yat Po, begins publication in San Francisco, 1900
The first US Esperanto Club organizes in Boston, 1905
The first synagogue in 425 years opens in Madrid, Spain, 1917
Howard Carter unseals the burial chamber of Pharaoh Tutankhamun, 1923
The first patent is issued for a tree, to James Markham for a peach tree, 1932
Wallace H. Carothers receives a United States patent for nylon, 1937
Canadians are granted Canadian citizenship after 80 years of being British subjects. Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King becomes the first Canadian citizen, 1947
Britain abolishes the death penalty, 1956
Fidel Castro becomes Premier of Cuba after dictator Fulgencio Batista was overthrown on January 1, 1959
In Haleyville, Alabama, the first 9-1-1 emergency telephone system goes into service, 1968
The first computer bulletin board system is created (CBBS in Chicago, Illinois), 1978
The trial of John Demjanjuk, accused of being a Nazi guard dubbed "Ivan the Terrible" in Treblinka extermination camp, starts in Jerusalem, 1987
The Kyoto Protocol comes into force, following its ratification by Russia, 2005
*This is the same US state that still has a law on its books requiring every resident to take a bath at least once a year, whether the person needs it or not!
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Valentine's Delivery Suggestions
It's been a very long day, my hands hurt so it's harder to type, therefore i will wait to tell the delivery stories.
Instead i will give suggestions for those who order flowers for their loved ones on Valentine's Day.
First, for delivery people of every stripe, not to mention emergency services people, please put numbers on your house or mailbox, and make sure they can be seen easily from the road. This can't be stressed often enough.
If you live in a place where they are building a new subdivision, petition them to put up the street signs sooner rather than later. It's a pain having to guess whether this is the right street, much less the right house.
When an apartment complex is involved, give us the apartment number. Many complexes refuse to tell us where you live for security purposes, and they often will not let us leave it at the office for you, since they don't want to be responsible for it.
If you live in a gated community, for Pete's sake tell us that we have to get a gate code to even get near your house. Then, also, make sure you give us a phone number where you can be reached so we can call and get that number. Better yet, have us deliver to your spouse's work, instead of leaving us frustrated at the gate with no way to get in touch with you because no one is home.
That leads to the tip about phone numbers. Leave us a cell phone number, not just the house number. If no one is home, i can call you, get the gate code if i need it, and even if i don't i can get permission to leave your flowers on the back porch or another safe location.
If your sweet heart works in a secure building that needs special access, let us know that, too. That person's direct cell or business number will help, too. We can call and get them to come let us in.
Yes, you want it to be a surprise. Well, it is still a surprise when a stranger calls and says, "Hi, i'm Jane with XYZ Flowers, and i have a delivery for you. I understand you have a secure building, could you tell me the best way to get them to you?" The recipient is still surprised and delighted, and there is no disappointment of us not even being able to get it to him/her.
Give us your phone number, too. That way, if we can't get in touch with the recipient, we can call you for instructions.
If you really want those flowers to arrive on time and with a happy driver, give us more info, not less.
High School kids, do not have flowers delivered to the school. Let your darling get home to find them there. Trust me, much easier on us, and easier on them than trying to drag a huge balloon bouquet and flowers sloshing water all over on the bus.
If your Valentine is at a business, give us the business name as well as the address. It helps to know it is at SoSo Furniture or Max's Dress Shop, and not have to guess or try to find addresses on the buildings.
In short, think about how a person who knows the town in general, but doesn't necessarily know every street and every business, will find you or the one you love quickly and easily. It will save you being disappointed.
Today is:
Battleship Day
Burger Lover's Day
Candlemas -- on the Julian Calendar, and in the Orthodox Church
Decimal Day -- UK
Flag Day -- Canada
John Frum Day -- Tanna Island, Vanuatu
Kamakura Matsuri -- Yokote, Akita Prefecture, Japan (Snow Cave Festival)
Kariwano Otsunahiki -- Kariwano, Akita Prefecture, Japan
Kuromori Kabuki -- Kuromori, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan
Mawlid an Nabi -- Islam
National Day -- Serbia
National Gum Drop Day
Nirvana Day -- Buddhism, Jain
Remember the Maine Day
Singles Awareness Day
St. Sigfrid's Day (patron of Sweden)
Susan B. Anthony Day -- US
Total Defense Day -- Singapore
Birthdays Today:
Renee O'Connor, 1971
Jane Child, 1967
Chris Farley, 1964
Matt Groening, 1954
Melissa Manchester, 1951
Jane Seymour, 1951
Claire Bloom, 1931
Harvey Korman, 1927
Cesar Romero, 1907
John Barrymore, 1882
Elihu Root, 1824
Susan B. Anthony, 1820
Cyrus McCormick, 1809
Henry Engelhard Steinway, 1797
Galileo Galilei, 1564
Babur, 1483 (founder of Mughal dynasty in India)
Claudius Drusus Germanicus Caesar Nero, 37
Today in History:
Philosopher Socrates is sentenced to death, BC399
Khosrau II is crowned as king of Persia, 590
Ho-tse Shen-hui, Zen teacher, disputes the founder of Northern Ch'an line, 732
The city of St. Louis, Missouri, is founded by Pierre Laclade Ligue as a French trading post, 1764
The first US printed ballots are authorized, in Philadelphia, 1799
Sarah Roberts is barred from attending a white school in Boston, 1848
Great Ormond St Hospital for Sick Children, London, admits its first patient, 1852
A fire in Rotterdam, Netherlands, damages the Museum Boymans, 1864
American President Rutherford B. Hayes signs a bill allowing female attorneys to argue cases before the Supreme Court of the United States, 1879
Nine inches (23cm) of snow falls on New Orleans, Louisiana, 1898
The USS Maine sinks in Havana harbor, cause unknown-258 sailors die, 1898
The first Teddy Bear is introduced in America, made by Morris and Rose Michtom, 1903
Gerald Lankester Harding and Roland de Vaux begin excavations at Cave 1 of the Qumran Caves, where they will eventually discover the first seven Dead Sea Scrolls, 1949
The Soviet Union and the People's Republic of China sign a mutual defense treaty, 1950
Canada and the United States agree to construct the Distant Early Warning Line, a system of radar stations in the far northern Arctic regions of Canada and Alaska, 1954
A new red-and-white maple leaf design is adopted as the flag of Canada, replacing the old Canadian Red Ensign banner, 1965
The decimalisation of British coinage is completed on Decimal Day, 1971
The 1976 Constitution of Cuba is adopted by the national referendum, 1976
The drilling rig Ocean Ranger sinks during a storm off the coast of Newfoundland, killing 84 rig workers, 1982
The Soviet Union officially announces that all of its troops have left Afghanistan, 1989
At the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in China, a Long March 3 rocket, carrying an Intelsat 708, crashes into a rural village after liftoff, killing an unannounced number of people, 1996
First draft of the complete Human Genome is published in Nature, 2001
YouTube, the Internet site on which videos may be shared and viewed by others, is launched in the United States, 2005
Instead i will give suggestions for those who order flowers for their loved ones on Valentine's Day.
First, for delivery people of every stripe, not to mention emergency services people, please put numbers on your house or mailbox, and make sure they can be seen easily from the road. This can't be stressed often enough.
If you live in a place where they are building a new subdivision, petition them to put up the street signs sooner rather than later. It's a pain having to guess whether this is the right street, much less the right house.
When an apartment complex is involved, give us the apartment number. Many complexes refuse to tell us where you live for security purposes, and they often will not let us leave it at the office for you, since they don't want to be responsible for it.
If you live in a gated community, for Pete's sake tell us that we have to get a gate code to even get near your house. Then, also, make sure you give us a phone number where you can be reached so we can call and get that number. Better yet, have us deliver to your spouse's work, instead of leaving us frustrated at the gate with no way to get in touch with you because no one is home.
That leads to the tip about phone numbers. Leave us a cell phone number, not just the house number. If no one is home, i can call you, get the gate code if i need it, and even if i don't i can get permission to leave your flowers on the back porch or another safe location.
If your sweet heart works in a secure building that needs special access, let us know that, too. That person's direct cell or business number will help, too. We can call and get them to come let us in.
Yes, you want it to be a surprise. Well, it is still a surprise when a stranger calls and says, "Hi, i'm Jane with XYZ Flowers, and i have a delivery for you. I understand you have a secure building, could you tell me the best way to get them to you?" The recipient is still surprised and delighted, and there is no disappointment of us not even being able to get it to him/her.
Give us your phone number, too. That way, if we can't get in touch with the recipient, we can call you for instructions.
If you really want those flowers to arrive on time and with a happy driver, give us more info, not less.
High School kids, do not have flowers delivered to the school. Let your darling get home to find them there. Trust me, much easier on us, and easier on them than trying to drag a huge balloon bouquet and flowers sloshing water all over on the bus.
If your Valentine is at a business, give us the business name as well as the address. It helps to know it is at SoSo Furniture or Max's Dress Shop, and not have to guess or try to find addresses on the buildings.
In short, think about how a person who knows the town in general, but doesn't necessarily know every street and every business, will find you or the one you love quickly and easily. It will save you being disappointed.
Today is:
Battleship Day
Burger Lover's Day
Candlemas -- on the Julian Calendar, and in the Orthodox Church
Decimal Day -- UK
Flag Day -- Canada
John Frum Day -- Tanna Island, Vanuatu
Kamakura Matsuri -- Yokote, Akita Prefecture, Japan (Snow Cave Festival)
Kariwano Otsunahiki -- Kariwano, Akita Prefecture, Japan
Kuromori Kabuki -- Kuromori, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan
Mawlid an Nabi -- Islam
National Day -- Serbia
National Gum Drop Day
Nirvana Day -- Buddhism, Jain
Remember the Maine Day
Singles Awareness Day
St. Sigfrid's Day (patron of Sweden)
Susan B. Anthony Day -- US
Total Defense Day -- Singapore
Birthdays Today:
Renee O'Connor, 1971
Jane Child, 1967
Chris Farley, 1964
Matt Groening, 1954
Melissa Manchester, 1951
Jane Seymour, 1951
Claire Bloom, 1931
Harvey Korman, 1927
Cesar Romero, 1907
John Barrymore, 1882
Elihu Root, 1824
Susan B. Anthony, 1820
Cyrus McCormick, 1809
Henry Engelhard Steinway, 1797
Galileo Galilei, 1564
Babur, 1483 (founder of Mughal dynasty in India)
Claudius Drusus Germanicus Caesar Nero, 37
Today in History:
Philosopher Socrates is sentenced to death, BC399
Khosrau II is crowned as king of Persia, 590
Ho-tse Shen-hui, Zen teacher, disputes the founder of Northern Ch'an line, 732
The city of St. Louis, Missouri, is founded by Pierre Laclade Ligue as a French trading post, 1764
The first US printed ballots are authorized, in Philadelphia, 1799
Sarah Roberts is barred from attending a white school in Boston, 1848
Great Ormond St Hospital for Sick Children, London, admits its first patient, 1852
A fire in Rotterdam, Netherlands, damages the Museum Boymans, 1864
American President Rutherford B. Hayes signs a bill allowing female attorneys to argue cases before the Supreme Court of the United States, 1879
Nine inches (23cm) of snow falls on New Orleans, Louisiana, 1898
The USS Maine sinks in Havana harbor, cause unknown-258 sailors die, 1898
The first Teddy Bear is introduced in America, made by Morris and Rose Michtom, 1903
Gerald Lankester Harding and Roland de Vaux begin excavations at Cave 1 of the Qumran Caves, where they will eventually discover the first seven Dead Sea Scrolls, 1949
The Soviet Union and the People's Republic of China sign a mutual defense treaty, 1950
Canada and the United States agree to construct the Distant Early Warning Line, a system of radar stations in the far northern Arctic regions of Canada and Alaska, 1954
A new red-and-white maple leaf design is adopted as the flag of Canada, replacing the old Canadian Red Ensign banner, 1965
The decimalisation of British coinage is completed on Decimal Day, 1971
The 1976 Constitution of Cuba is adopted by the national referendum, 1976
The drilling rig Ocean Ranger sinks during a storm off the coast of Newfoundland, killing 84 rig workers, 1982
The Soviet Union officially announces that all of its troops have left Afghanistan, 1989
At the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in China, a Long March 3 rocket, carrying an Intelsat 708, crashes into a rural village after liftoff, killing an unannounced number of people, 1996
First draft of the complete Human Genome is published in Nature, 2001
YouTube, the Internet site on which videos may be shared and viewed by others, is launched in the United States, 2005
Monday, February 14, 2011
Sole Food, and Good Things
Stuffed sole for dinner, along with an Italian style soup and browned sausage and every leftover in the fridge. The Mouth is great for getting rid of leftovers.
Sweetie decided he wanted his fish warmer than it was, and popped his plate in the microwave. He overdid it, unfortunately, and came to me with a frown. "The microwave fried my sole!" he cried, and we both laughed. Well, maybe you had to be there.
Good things! Fuzz and Hummingbird did get adopted this weekend! Fuzz went to the same family that adopted Cosmo a little bit back. Hummingbird went to a couple who wanted a sweet cat that was young enough to get used to a dog, and would be good with the grandkids.
Their adoptions opened a space in the adoption center at the pet store, so Mike is there now. He was the oldest kitten we had, and the ringleader. Loving, loud purr, into everything. The smaller kittens followed him around and did what he did. Any time we needed him, all i had to do was open the closet he wasn't allowed into, and he would come running to slip in. He's a character, and i hope he gets a home that is not here.
Another good thing. Delivery driving for Valentine's Day for a florist. With the exception of one lady whose flowers were sent by an ex she really didn't want to contact again, it's been a very positive thing in the past. People are happy to be getting flowers.
Depending on how it goes, there might be a few delivery related adventures to report tomorrow.
Today is:
Bird Mating Season begins
Clean out Your Computer Day
Feast of Vali -- Norse Calendar (archer god, a celebration of family)
Ferris Wheel Day (see Birthdays if you want to know why)
Fjortende Februar -- Denmark (Danish lovers send each other snowdrop flowers.)
International Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Day
League of Women Voter's Day -- US
Library Lover's Day
National Call In Single Day (What a lot of men who feel pressured to be romantic on this day wish they could do, I'm sure!)
National Cardiovascular Technologists Recognition Day
National Cream-Filled Chocolates Day
National Have a Heart Day
National Organ Donor Day
National Random Acts of Kindness Day
National Women's Heart Day
Quirky Alone Day
Race Relations Day
Read to Your Child Day
Sts. Cyril & Methodius' Day (patrons of Czechoslovakia, Europe, the Slavs)
Trifon Zarezan -- Bulgaria (Viticulturists' Day)
Valentine's Day
Anniversaries Today:
Oregon becomes the 33rd US state, 1859
Arizona becomes the 48th US state, 1912
Birthdays Today:
Drew Bledsoe, 1972
Meg Tilly, 1960
Gregory Hines, 1946
Carl Bernstein, 1944
Michael Bloomberg, 1942
Florence Henderson, 1934
Vic Morrow, 1932
Hugh Downs, 1921
Mel Allen, 1913
Jimmy Hoffa, 1913
Jack Benny, 1894
George Washington Gale Ferris,Jr., 1859
Frederick Douglass, 1817
Today in History:
The annals of the monastery of Quedlinburg make the first known mention of Lithuania, 1009
Approximately 2,000 Jews are burned to death by mobs or forcibly removed from the city of Strasbourg, 1349
Roman Catholic emperor Leopold I chases the Jews out of Vienna, 1670
The United States Flag is formally recognized by a foreign naval vessel for the first time, when French Admiral Toussaint-Guillaume Picquet de la Motte rendered a nine gun salute to USS Ranger, commanded by John Paul Jones, 1778
James Cook is killed by Native Hawaiians near Kealakekua on the Island of Hawaii, 1779
John Jervis and Horatio Nelson lead the British Royal Navy to victory over a Spanish fleet in action near Gibraltar, 1797
The apple parer is patented by Moses Coats of Downington, Pennsylvania, 1803
US Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall declares that any act of the US Congress that conflicts with the Constitution is void, 1803
The original Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is formed in Kirtland, Ohio, 1835
In New York City, James Knox Polk becomes the first serving President of the United States to have his photograph taken, 1849
A.G. Bell and Elisha Gray both apply for a patent for a telephone; Bell first by only 2 hours, and is ruled the rightful inventor, 1876
The first trainload of California grown fruit, oranges, leaves L.A. for the east,1889
Voting machines are approved by the U.S. Congress for use in federal elections, 1899
The Soviet Union adopts the Gregorian calendar, 1918
The League of Women Voters is founded in Chicago, Illinois, 1920
The Bank of England is nationalized, 1946
ENIAC, the first general-purpose electronic computer, is unveiled, 1946
The Knesset (Israeli parliament) convenes for the first time, 1949
Element 103, Lawrencium, is first synthesized at the University of California, 1961
The first of 24 satellites of the Global Positioning System are placed into orbit, 1989
Sweetie decided he wanted his fish warmer than it was, and popped his plate in the microwave. He overdid it, unfortunately, and came to me with a frown. "The microwave fried my sole!" he cried, and we both laughed. Well, maybe you had to be there.
Good things! Fuzz and Hummingbird did get adopted this weekend! Fuzz went to the same family that adopted Cosmo a little bit back. Hummingbird went to a couple who wanted a sweet cat that was young enough to get used to a dog, and would be good with the grandkids.
Their adoptions opened a space in the adoption center at the pet store, so Mike is there now. He was the oldest kitten we had, and the ringleader. Loving, loud purr, into everything. The smaller kittens followed him around and did what he did. Any time we needed him, all i had to do was open the closet he wasn't allowed into, and he would come running to slip in. He's a character, and i hope he gets a home that is not here.
Another good thing. Delivery driving for Valentine's Day for a florist. With the exception of one lady whose flowers were sent by an ex she really didn't want to contact again, it's been a very positive thing in the past. People are happy to be getting flowers.
Depending on how it goes, there might be a few delivery related adventures to report tomorrow.
Today is:
Bird Mating Season begins
Clean out Your Computer Day
Feast of Vali -- Norse Calendar (archer god, a celebration of family)
Ferris Wheel Day (see Birthdays if you want to know why)
Fjortende Februar -- Denmark (Danish lovers send each other snowdrop flowers.)
International Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Day
League of Women Voter's Day -- US
Library Lover's Day
National Call In Single Day (What a lot of men who feel pressured to be romantic on this day wish they could do, I'm sure!)
National Cardiovascular Technologists Recognition Day
National Cream-Filled Chocolates Day
National Have a Heart Day
National Organ Donor Day
National Random Acts of Kindness Day
National Women's Heart Day
Quirky Alone Day
Race Relations Day
Read to Your Child Day
Sts. Cyril & Methodius' Day (patrons of Czechoslovakia, Europe, the Slavs)
Trifon Zarezan -- Bulgaria (Viticulturists' Day)
Valentine's Day
Anniversaries Today:
Oregon becomes the 33rd US state, 1859
Arizona becomes the 48th US state, 1912
Birthdays Today:
Drew Bledsoe, 1972
Meg Tilly, 1960
Gregory Hines, 1946
Carl Bernstein, 1944
Michael Bloomberg, 1942
Florence Henderson, 1934
Vic Morrow, 1932
Hugh Downs, 1921
Mel Allen, 1913
Jimmy Hoffa, 1913
Jack Benny, 1894
George Washington Gale Ferris,Jr., 1859
Frederick Douglass, 1817
Today in History:
The annals of the monastery of Quedlinburg make the first known mention of Lithuania, 1009
Approximately 2,000 Jews are burned to death by mobs or forcibly removed from the city of Strasbourg, 1349
Roman Catholic emperor Leopold I chases the Jews out of Vienna, 1670
The United States Flag is formally recognized by a foreign naval vessel for the first time, when French Admiral Toussaint-Guillaume Picquet de la Motte rendered a nine gun salute to USS Ranger, commanded by John Paul Jones, 1778
James Cook is killed by Native Hawaiians near Kealakekua on the Island of Hawaii, 1779
John Jervis and Horatio Nelson lead the British Royal Navy to victory over a Spanish fleet in action near Gibraltar, 1797
The apple parer is patented by Moses Coats of Downington, Pennsylvania, 1803
US Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall declares that any act of the US Congress that conflicts with the Constitution is void, 1803
The original Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is formed in Kirtland, Ohio, 1835
In New York City, James Knox Polk becomes the first serving President of the United States to have his photograph taken, 1849
A.G. Bell and Elisha Gray both apply for a patent for a telephone; Bell first by only 2 hours, and is ruled the rightful inventor, 1876
The first trainload of California grown fruit, oranges, leaves L.A. for the east,1889
Voting machines are approved by the U.S. Congress for use in federal elections, 1899
The Soviet Union adopts the Gregorian calendar, 1918
The League of Women Voters is founded in Chicago, Illinois, 1920
The Bank of England is nationalized, 1946
ENIAC, the first general-purpose electronic computer, is unveiled, 1946
The Knesset (Israeli parliament) convenes for the first time, 1949
Element 103, Lawrencium, is first synthesized at the University of California, 1961
The first of 24 satellites of the Global Positioning System are placed into orbit, 1989
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Using Up The News
So, here i stand, staring at a blank screen, with a blank brain again.
It was no go on the adoptions this weekend. At least at one adoption event, we had zero. Haven't had the heart to ask about the other two venues.
It should prove to be a busy Sunday, beginning with a fundraiser pancake breakfast for The Mouth's Boy Scout troop. Then clean the Sunday School building at our church, teach a lesson (Valentine lesson), cook a big dinner, make sure Bigger Girl gets to the church she works at on Sunday evenings.
Of course, Sunday afternoon attendance at Bedside Baptist is mandatory, at least for a one hour service.
Monday should prove somewhat interesting -- delivering for the florist again this year. I'll have to stop in the middle of the day to take my kids to school, but it's a flexible schedule, you take as many runs as you want, and stop when you need to.
One of those things you wish would never have to show up came in the mail this weekend, too. Our Bestest Ever CPA, old family friend, sent out our packets so we could get ready for "that time of the year" again. Yuck! Double yuck! Don't want to deal with it.
The aluminum foil roasting pans that i've been using as disposable and cheap litter boxes are getting to be too small. Bought a couple of bigger ones to replace those that are wearing out. We are now up to one permanent and 10 disposables, all of which have to be scooped daily. Twice a day would be better, but don't push it. It's gone from being one 28 pound box of scoopable litter every 3 weeks, when it is just our 5 cats, to being three boxes every two weeks.
Well, i guess the news is all used up around here. A blessed Sunday to all.
Today is:
Blessing of the Salmon Nets -- Northumberland
Dream of Your Sweetheart Day
Get a Different Name Day
Ides of February -- Ancient Roman Calendar
Employee Legal Awareness Day
Lupercalia begins -- Roman Empirical Calendar (to rid the city of evil spirits), through the 15th
Madly in Love With Me Day
Namahage Sedo Matsuri -- Akita Prefecture, Japan
National Tortini Day
Parentalia -- Ancient Roman Calendar (honoring divi parentes -- the deified ancestors), through the 21st
St. Catherine dei Ricci's Day
Trndez or Tearnandarach -- Ancient Armenian Calendar (fire celebration, begins in the evening)
World Marriage Day
Birthdays Today:
Mena Suvari, 1979
Robbie Williams, 1974
Kelly Hu, 1968
Peter Gabriel, 1950
Stockard Channing, 1944
Jerry Springer, 1944
Peter Tork, 1942
George Segal, 1934
Kim Novak, 1933
Chuck Yeager, 1923
Eileen Farrell, 1920
Tennessee Ernie Ford, 1919
Grant Wood, 1892
Alvin York, 1887
Bess Truman, 1885
Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Perigord, 1754
Today in History:
Baghdad falls to the Mongols, and the Abbasid Caliphate is destroyed, 1258
Jews are expelled from Burgsordf, Switzerland, 1349
The Disfida di Barletta (Challenge of Barletta); Frenchman Charles de la Motte accused Italians of cowardice, and thirteen Italians proceeded to rout 13 Frenchmen in a chivalrous horseback tourney, 1503
St. Augustine, Florida, is founded, becoming the oldest continuously occupied European established city, and the oldest port, in the continental United States, 1566
Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei arrives in Rome for trial before the Inquisition for professing belief that the Earth revolves around the sun, 1633
Treaty of Lisbon: Spain recognizes Portugal, 1668
The Massacre of Glencoe: 78 members of the clan Macdonald are murdered for not promptly pledging allegiance to the new king, William of Orange (William III), 1692
Cholera appears in London, 1832
Work begins on the covering of the Zenne, burying Brussels's primary river and creating the modern central boulevards, 1867
The feminist newspaper La Citoyenne is first published in Paris by the activist Hubertine Auclert, 1881
Painter Thomas Eakins resigns from Philadelphia Academy of Art after controversial over use of male nudes in a coed art class, 1886
Auguste and Louis Lumière patent the Cinematographe, a combination movie camera and projector, 1894
English suffragettes storm British Parliament and 60 women are arrested, 1907
The Negro National League is formed, 1920
A jury in Flemington, New Jersey finds Bruno Hauptmann guilty of the 1932 kidnapping and murder of the Lindbergh baby, 1935
France tests its first atomic bomb, 1960
Black Sabbath, arguably the very first heavy metal album, is released, 1970
A series of sewer explosions destroys more than two miles of streets in Louisville, Kentucky, 1981
An agreement is reached on a two-stage plan to reunite Germany, 1990
The last original "Peanuts" comic strip appears in newspapers one day after Charles M. Schulz dies, 2000
The Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics announces the discovery of the universe's largest known diamond, white dwarf star BPM 37093. Astronomers named this star "Lucy" after The Beatles' song "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds", 2004
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd makes a historic apology to the Indigenous Australians and the Stolen Generations, 2008
It was no go on the adoptions this weekend. At least at one adoption event, we had zero. Haven't had the heart to ask about the other two venues.
It should prove to be a busy Sunday, beginning with a fundraiser pancake breakfast for The Mouth's Boy Scout troop. Then clean the Sunday School building at our church, teach a lesson (Valentine lesson), cook a big dinner, make sure Bigger Girl gets to the church she works at on Sunday evenings.
Of course, Sunday afternoon attendance at Bedside Baptist is mandatory, at least for a one hour service.
Monday should prove somewhat interesting -- delivering for the florist again this year. I'll have to stop in the middle of the day to take my kids to school, but it's a flexible schedule, you take as many runs as you want, and stop when you need to.
One of those things you wish would never have to show up came in the mail this weekend, too. Our Bestest Ever CPA, old family friend, sent out our packets so we could get ready for "that time of the year" again. Yuck! Double yuck! Don't want to deal with it.
The aluminum foil roasting pans that i've been using as disposable and cheap litter boxes are getting to be too small. Bought a couple of bigger ones to replace those that are wearing out. We are now up to one permanent and 10 disposables, all of which have to be scooped daily. Twice a day would be better, but don't push it. It's gone from being one 28 pound box of scoopable litter every 3 weeks, when it is just our 5 cats, to being three boxes every two weeks.
Well, i guess the news is all used up around here. A blessed Sunday to all.
Today is:
Blessing of the Salmon Nets -- Northumberland
Dream of Your Sweetheart Day
Get a Different Name Day
Ides of February -- Ancient Roman Calendar
Employee Legal Awareness Day
Lupercalia begins -- Roman Empirical Calendar (to rid the city of evil spirits), through the 15th
Madly in Love With Me Day
Namahage Sedo Matsuri -- Akita Prefecture, Japan
National Tortini Day
Parentalia -- Ancient Roman Calendar (honoring divi parentes -- the deified ancestors), through the 21st
St. Catherine dei Ricci's Day
Trndez or Tearnandarach -- Ancient Armenian Calendar (fire celebration, begins in the evening)
World Marriage Day
Birthdays Today:
Mena Suvari, 1979
Robbie Williams, 1974
Kelly Hu, 1968
Peter Gabriel, 1950
Stockard Channing, 1944
Jerry Springer, 1944
Peter Tork, 1942
George Segal, 1934
Kim Novak, 1933
Chuck Yeager, 1923
Eileen Farrell, 1920
Tennessee Ernie Ford, 1919
Grant Wood, 1892
Alvin York, 1887
Bess Truman, 1885
Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Perigord, 1754
Today in History:
Baghdad falls to the Mongols, and the Abbasid Caliphate is destroyed, 1258
Jews are expelled from Burgsordf, Switzerland, 1349
The Disfida di Barletta (Challenge of Barletta); Frenchman Charles de la Motte accused Italians of cowardice, and thirteen Italians proceeded to rout 13 Frenchmen in a chivalrous horseback tourney, 1503
St. Augustine, Florida, is founded, becoming the oldest continuously occupied European established city, and the oldest port, in the continental United States, 1566
Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei arrives in Rome for trial before the Inquisition for professing belief that the Earth revolves around the sun, 1633
Treaty of Lisbon: Spain recognizes Portugal, 1668
The Massacre of Glencoe: 78 members of the clan Macdonald are murdered for not promptly pledging allegiance to the new king, William of Orange (William III), 1692
Cholera appears in London, 1832
Work begins on the covering of the Zenne, burying Brussels's primary river and creating the modern central boulevards, 1867
The feminist newspaper La Citoyenne is first published in Paris by the activist Hubertine Auclert, 1881
Painter Thomas Eakins resigns from Philadelphia Academy of Art after controversial over use of male nudes in a coed art class, 1886
Auguste and Louis Lumière patent the Cinematographe, a combination movie camera and projector, 1894
English suffragettes storm British Parliament and 60 women are arrested, 1907
The Negro National League is formed, 1920
A jury in Flemington, New Jersey finds Bruno Hauptmann guilty of the 1932 kidnapping and murder of the Lindbergh baby, 1935
France tests its first atomic bomb, 1960
Black Sabbath, arguably the very first heavy metal album, is released, 1970
A series of sewer explosions destroys more than two miles of streets in Louisville, Kentucky, 1981
An agreement is reached on a two-stage plan to reunite Germany, 1990
The last original "Peanuts" comic strip appears in newspapers one day after Charles M. Schulz dies, 2000
The Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics announces the discovery of the universe's largest known diamond, white dwarf star BPM 37093. Astronomers named this star "Lucy" after The Beatles' song "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds", 2004
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd makes a historic apology to the Indigenous Australians and the Stolen Generations, 2008
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Too Many Kittens, Not Enough Territory
The kittens are getting really big.
Yes, they are still cute. They are still fun and playful and loving. They are also getting bigger and into and onto everything.
They have learned the joy of climbing on counters and trying to sneak food. My one plant seems to be a source of sincere pleasure, as i find dirt dug out of it each morning. One of them decided that my dishrag smelled delicious and snagged it, running with it and growling as if he had caught his favorite prey.
They take up more "territory" in the house when they get this big and this numerous -- 7 of them, with Fuzz and Hummingbird at the adoption center but slated to return home if they aren't adopted soon.
So the big cats, our 5, are not happy. They don't like it when their "territory" in the house shrinks and there are babies everywhere. They show their displeasure by messing on my bed.
This weekend is a huge adoption event, citywide. If the 4 that are up for adoption could all get a forever home, that would leave us with the 5 that will be spayed/neutered next week. That would be much more manageable.
Keep your fingers crossed.
Today is:
Abraham Lincoln's Birthday -- US
Borrowed Days (through the 14th) -- Scottish Highlands (Gaelic Faoilteach, days supposedly borrowed from January, and if the weather is bad, the rest of the year will be good.)
Darwin Day -- International
Daytona Pole Day
Downers Grove Ice Sculpting Festival, through the 13th
Feast of Diana/Artemis (goddess of the hunt)
Festival of Pitooyage -- Oaxaca, Mexico (god of gaming and chance)
Georgia Day -- Georgia, US
Lost Penny Day -- collect all those pennies you have hanging around and donate them to a good cause
Oglethorpe Day
Plum Pudding Day
Red Hand Day -- UN (Drawing attention to the plight of child soldiers.)
Royal Hobart Regatta Day -- Tasmania (through the 14th)
Runic Half Month of Sigel (Sun) begins
Safety Pup Day
St. Julian the Hospitaler (patron of travelers, innkeepers, boatmen, circus performers)
St. Meletius' Day
Toka-machi Yukimatsuri -- Tokamachi, Niigata Prefecture, Japan (snow fest and kimono festival)
Union Day -- Myanmar
Birthdays Today:
Jennifer Stone, 1993
Christina Ricci, 1980
Naseem Hamed, 1974
Arsenio Hall, 1955
Joanna Kerns, 1953
Michael McDonald, 1952
Steve Hackett, 1950
Ray Manzarek, 1939
Judy Blume, 1938
Bill Russell, 1934
Joe Garagiola, 1926
Franco Zeffirelli, 1923
Dom DiMaggio, 1917
Lorne Greene, 1915
Ted Mack, 1904
Omar Bradley, 1893
John Graham Chambers, 1843
Charles Darwin, 1809
Abraham Lincoln, 1809
Cotton Mather, 1663
John Winthrop the Younger, 1606
John Winthrop the Elder, 1588
Kujo Yoritsune, Japanese shogun, 1218
Anniversaries Today:
Maria Therese Habsburg marries Emperor Francios I, 1736
Michigan State University is founded, 1855
Today in History:
Vasco da Gama sets sail from Lisbon, Portugal, on his second voyage to India, 1502
Santiago, Chile, is founded by Pedro de Valdivia, 1541
A year after claiming the throne of England for nine days, Lady Jane Grey is beheaded for treason, 1554
The Onderlinge van 1719 u.a., the oldest existing life insurance company in the Netherlands is founded, 1719
Englishman James Oglethorpe founds Georgia, the 13th colony of the Thirteen Colonies, and its first city at Savannah, 1733
The first US fugitive slave law, requiring the return of runaway slaves, is passed, 1793
The Teatro di San Carlo, the oldest working opera house in Europe, is destroyed by fire, 1816
The Creek Indian treaty is signed, requiring the tribes to turn over all of their land in Georgia to the government and migrate west by Sept. 1 the following year, 1825
Ecuador annexes the Galapagos Islands, 1832
Official proclamation sets April 15 as last day of grace for US silver coins to circulate in Canada, 1870
The US Congress abolishes bimetallism and authorizes $1 and $3 gold coins, 1873
King David Kalakaua of the Sandwich Islands/Hawaii becomes the first king to visit the US, 1874
The first news dispatch by telephone takes place, between Boston and Salem, Massachusetts, 1877
News of the Battle of Isandlwana, the single greatest defeat for the British Army at the hands of a native army, reaches London, 1879
The New York to Paris auto race, via Alaska and Siberia, begins; George Schuster wins after 88 days behind the wheel, 1908
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) forms, 1909
The last Ch'ing (Manchu) emperor of China, Hsuan T'ung, abdicates, 1912
A meteor creates an impact crater in Sikhote-Alin, in the Soviet Union, 1947
U.S.S.R. launches Venera 1 towards Venus, 1961
Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, winner of the Nobel Prize in literature in 1970, is exiled from the Soviet Union, 1974
Carmen Lawrence becomes the first female Premier in Australian history when she becomes Premier of Western Australia, 1990
NEAR Shoemaker spacecraft touchdown in the "saddle" region of 433 Eros becoming the first spacecraft to land on an asteroid, 2001
The city of San Francisco, California begins issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples in response to a directive from Mayor Gavin Newsom, 2004
Yes, they are still cute. They are still fun and playful and loving. They are also getting bigger and into and onto everything.
They have learned the joy of climbing on counters and trying to sneak food. My one plant seems to be a source of sincere pleasure, as i find dirt dug out of it each morning. One of them decided that my dishrag smelled delicious and snagged it, running with it and growling as if he had caught his favorite prey.
They take up more "territory" in the house when they get this big and this numerous -- 7 of them, with Fuzz and Hummingbird at the adoption center but slated to return home if they aren't adopted soon.
So the big cats, our 5, are not happy. They don't like it when their "territory" in the house shrinks and there are babies everywhere. They show their displeasure by messing on my bed.
This weekend is a huge adoption event, citywide. If the 4 that are up for adoption could all get a forever home, that would leave us with the 5 that will be spayed/neutered next week. That would be much more manageable.
Keep your fingers crossed.
Today is:
Abraham Lincoln's Birthday -- US
Borrowed Days (through the 14th) -- Scottish Highlands (Gaelic Faoilteach, days supposedly borrowed from January, and if the weather is bad, the rest of the year will be good.)
Darwin Day -- International
Daytona Pole Day
Downers Grove Ice Sculpting Festival, through the 13th
Feast of Diana/Artemis (goddess of the hunt)
Festival of Pitooyage -- Oaxaca, Mexico (god of gaming and chance)
Georgia Day -- Georgia, US
Lost Penny Day -- collect all those pennies you have hanging around and donate them to a good cause
Oglethorpe Day
Plum Pudding Day
Red Hand Day -- UN (Drawing attention to the plight of child soldiers.)
Royal Hobart Regatta Day -- Tasmania (through the 14th)
Runic Half Month of Sigel (Sun) begins
Safety Pup Day
St. Julian the Hospitaler (patron of travelers, innkeepers, boatmen, circus performers)
St. Meletius' Day
Toka-machi Yukimatsuri -- Tokamachi, Niigata Prefecture, Japan (snow fest and kimono festival)
Union Day -- Myanmar
Birthdays Today:
Jennifer Stone, 1993
Christina Ricci, 1980
Naseem Hamed, 1974
Arsenio Hall, 1955
Joanna Kerns, 1953
Michael McDonald, 1952
Steve Hackett, 1950
Ray Manzarek, 1939
Judy Blume, 1938
Bill Russell, 1934
Joe Garagiola, 1926
Franco Zeffirelli, 1923
Dom DiMaggio, 1917
Lorne Greene, 1915
Ted Mack, 1904
Omar Bradley, 1893
John Graham Chambers, 1843
Charles Darwin, 1809
Abraham Lincoln, 1809
Cotton Mather, 1663
John Winthrop the Younger, 1606
John Winthrop the Elder, 1588
Kujo Yoritsune, Japanese shogun, 1218
Anniversaries Today:
Maria Therese Habsburg marries Emperor Francios I, 1736
Michigan State University is founded, 1855
Today in History:
Vasco da Gama sets sail from Lisbon, Portugal, on his second voyage to India, 1502
Santiago, Chile, is founded by Pedro de Valdivia, 1541
A year after claiming the throne of England for nine days, Lady Jane Grey is beheaded for treason, 1554
The Onderlinge van 1719 u.a., the oldest existing life insurance company in the Netherlands is founded, 1719
Englishman James Oglethorpe founds Georgia, the 13th colony of the Thirteen Colonies, and its first city at Savannah, 1733
The first US fugitive slave law, requiring the return of runaway slaves, is passed, 1793
The Teatro di San Carlo, the oldest working opera house in Europe, is destroyed by fire, 1816
The Creek Indian treaty is signed, requiring the tribes to turn over all of their land in Georgia to the government and migrate west by Sept. 1 the following year, 1825
Ecuador annexes the Galapagos Islands, 1832
Official proclamation sets April 15 as last day of grace for US silver coins to circulate in Canada, 1870
The US Congress abolishes bimetallism and authorizes $1 and $3 gold coins, 1873
King David Kalakaua of the Sandwich Islands/Hawaii becomes the first king to visit the US, 1874
The first news dispatch by telephone takes place, between Boston and Salem, Massachusetts, 1877
News of the Battle of Isandlwana, the single greatest defeat for the British Army at the hands of a native army, reaches London, 1879
The New York to Paris auto race, via Alaska and Siberia, begins; George Schuster wins after 88 days behind the wheel, 1908
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) forms, 1909
The last Ch'ing (Manchu) emperor of China, Hsuan T'ung, abdicates, 1912
A meteor creates an impact crater in Sikhote-Alin, in the Soviet Union, 1947
U.S.S.R. launches Venera 1 towards Venus, 1961
Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, winner of the Nobel Prize in literature in 1970, is exiled from the Soviet Union, 1974
Carmen Lawrence becomes the first female Premier in Australian history when she becomes Premier of Western Australia, 1990
NEAR Shoemaker spacecraft touchdown in the "saddle" region of 433 Eros becoming the first spacecraft to land on an asteroid, 2001
The city of San Francisco, California begins issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples in response to a directive from Mayor Gavin Newsom, 2004
Friday, February 11, 2011
Easier Week
It was an easier week at the shelter.
Teddy, Scottie, Bowie, and Rocky have all been adopted! So has Zeke, a new half grown kitten resident, but he won't be picked up until Saturday.
Cali and Baby, both calicoes, are in a room together, hissing at each other, but other than that Baby is being her growly self, and Cali is allowing lots of petting.
Angel is off the medicine. Not sure they ever figured out what was wrong, especially why she was limping, but she and Dustie both seem to be doing well.
When i got to the 3rd room, i saw only one room card with Mamie on it. Peeked in the room, and there is a second cat -- Tyler, of course. It seems someone heard Tyler growl and moved him to a cage, and someone else moved him back without moving his room card back, or his food, either. We took care of that, he didn't growl at all while we were there.
The "feral five", orange tabbies Johnny, Jimmy, Jerry, Alex, and Bootsie, are doing great. Actually, one of them (not sure which) is friendly, the rest are staying on the shelves. They don't need eye medicine any more, so no need for the ladder to haul them down and the Grady Gloves to keep them still.
Lucky is being his usual sweet and voracious self.
Flip, Pitty-Pat, and Zsa Zsa are in cages, and poor Pitty is so fat she isn't cleaning herself well. After brushing her, i dampened some paper towels and cleaned her bum.
Frieda must have been exhausted, she slept and didn't even open her eyes when i tried to talk to her. I've never seen her just totally ignore us.
Tonight i noticed, yes, i am slow, that Grady and Clint are the only boys in a room full of girls! Candy, Sophja, Zoe, and Gidget are as usual, but poor Ginny had so many knots in her fur that she has been shaved! She looks rather like a lion, with a huge knob of fur on the end of her tail, and all around her head and neck.
Perry, who still gets eye salve for his cloudy right eye, is as friendly as ever after you are done with his medicine. He, Gulliver, and Portia are playing well together.
Iggy, Francie, Conan, Roxanne, Rosie, Bobby, and Tigerlily round out the head count, and everyone is happy.
Today is:
Armed Forces Day -- Liberia
Be Electrified Day (for Edison, maybe?)
Don't Cry Over Spilled Milk Day
Evelio Javier Memorial Day -- Panay Island, the Philippines
Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes -- Roman Catholic Church
Grandmother Achievement Day
Independence Day -- Vatican City (a/k/a Lateranensi Pact Day, for the pact that established it as an independent state)
Kenkoku Kenen-no-hi -- Japan (also called National Foundation Day or Empire Day)
Make a New Friend Day
National Inventors Day -- US
National Peppermint Patty Day
National Shut-In Visitation Day
Nelson Mandella Day -- South Africa
Pro Sports Wives Day
Satisfied Staying Single Day
St. Caedmon's Day (Oldest English poet known by name.)
White Shirt Day
World Day of the Sick
Youth Day -- Cameroon
Anniversaries Today:
The founding of London University, 1826
Birthdays Today:
Kelly Rowland, 1981
Matt Lawrence, 1980
Brandy, 1979
Mike Shinoda, 1977
Jennifer Aniston, 1969
Sarah Palin, 1964
Sheryl Crow, 1963
Sergio Mendes, 1941
Bobby "Boris" Pickett, 1938
Burt Reynolds, 1936
Tina Louise, 1934
Leslie Nielsen, 1926
Eva Gabor, 1921
Sidney Sheldon, 1917
Max Baer, 1909
Thomas Alva Edison, 1847
Today in History:
Traditional date for the founding of the Japanese empire under Emperor Jimmu, BC660
Tiberius Claudius Caesar Britannicus, heir to the Roman Emperorship, dies under mysterious circumstances in Rome, which clears the way for Nero to become Emperor, 55
Henry VIII of England is recognized as supreme head of the Church of England, 1531
The Pennsylvania Hospital opens, the first in the US, 1752
Religious Society of Friends, also known as Quakers, petitions U.S. Congress for abolition of slavery, 1790
Anthracite coal is burned experimentally as fuel for heating a home for the first time, by Jesse Fell in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, 1808
Robert Fulton files a patent for improvements to steamboat navigation, 1809
Massachusetts Governor Elbridge Gerry signs a redistricting bill that leads to the first use of the term "gerrymander," 1812
The first public toilet facilities for women opens in London, on Bedford Street, 1852
The Meiji constitution of Japan is adopted, 1889
Emma Goldman is arrested for lecturing on birth control, 1916
BBC Television produces the world's first ever science fiction television program, an adaptation of a section of the Karel Capek play R.U.R., which coined the term "robot", 1938
Glenn Miller is awarded the first ever gold disc for selling one million copies of "Chattanooga Choo Choo," 1941
Eighty-seven countries, including the US, UK, and USSR, sign the Seabed Treaty outlawing nuclear weapons in international waters, 1971
The People's Republic of China lifts a ban on works by Aristotle, Shakespeare and Dickens, 1978
Nelson Mandela, a political prisoner for 27 years, is released from Victor Verster Prison outside Cape Town, South Africa, 1990
Teddy, Scottie, Bowie, and Rocky have all been adopted! So has Zeke, a new half grown kitten resident, but he won't be picked up until Saturday.
Cali and Baby, both calicoes, are in a room together, hissing at each other, but other than that Baby is being her growly self, and Cali is allowing lots of petting.
Angel is off the medicine. Not sure they ever figured out what was wrong, especially why she was limping, but she and Dustie both seem to be doing well.
When i got to the 3rd room, i saw only one room card with Mamie on it. Peeked in the room, and there is a second cat -- Tyler, of course. It seems someone heard Tyler growl and moved him to a cage, and someone else moved him back without moving his room card back, or his food, either. We took care of that, he didn't growl at all while we were there.
The "feral five", orange tabbies Johnny, Jimmy, Jerry, Alex, and Bootsie, are doing great. Actually, one of them (not sure which) is friendly, the rest are staying on the shelves. They don't need eye medicine any more, so no need for the ladder to haul them down and the Grady Gloves to keep them still.
Lucky is being his usual sweet and voracious self.
Flip, Pitty-Pat, and Zsa Zsa are in cages, and poor Pitty is so fat she isn't cleaning herself well. After brushing her, i dampened some paper towels and cleaned her bum.
Frieda must have been exhausted, she slept and didn't even open her eyes when i tried to talk to her. I've never seen her just totally ignore us.
Tonight i noticed, yes, i am slow, that Grady and Clint are the only boys in a room full of girls! Candy, Sophja, Zoe, and Gidget are as usual, but poor Ginny had so many knots in her fur that she has been shaved! She looks rather like a lion, with a huge knob of fur on the end of her tail, and all around her head and neck.
Perry, who still gets eye salve for his cloudy right eye, is as friendly as ever after you are done with his medicine. He, Gulliver, and Portia are playing well together.
Iggy, Francie, Conan, Roxanne, Rosie, Bobby, and Tigerlily round out the head count, and everyone is happy.
Today is:
Armed Forces Day -- Liberia
Be Electrified Day (for Edison, maybe?)
Don't Cry Over Spilled Milk Day
Evelio Javier Memorial Day -- Panay Island, the Philippines
Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes -- Roman Catholic Church
Grandmother Achievement Day
Independence Day -- Vatican City (a/k/a Lateranensi Pact Day, for the pact that established it as an independent state)
Kenkoku Kenen-no-hi -- Japan (also called National Foundation Day or Empire Day)
Make a New Friend Day
National Inventors Day -- US
National Peppermint Patty Day
National Shut-In Visitation Day
Nelson Mandella Day -- South Africa
Pro Sports Wives Day
Satisfied Staying Single Day
St. Caedmon's Day (Oldest English poet known by name.)
White Shirt Day
World Day of the Sick
Youth Day -- Cameroon
Anniversaries Today:
The founding of London University, 1826
Birthdays Today:
Kelly Rowland, 1981
Matt Lawrence, 1980
Brandy, 1979
Mike Shinoda, 1977
Jennifer Aniston, 1969
Sarah Palin, 1964
Sheryl Crow, 1963
Sergio Mendes, 1941
Bobby "Boris" Pickett, 1938
Burt Reynolds, 1936
Tina Louise, 1934
Leslie Nielsen, 1926
Eva Gabor, 1921
Sidney Sheldon, 1917
Max Baer, 1909
Thomas Alva Edison, 1847
Today in History:
Traditional date for the founding of the Japanese empire under Emperor Jimmu, BC660
Tiberius Claudius Caesar Britannicus, heir to the Roman Emperorship, dies under mysterious circumstances in Rome, which clears the way for Nero to become Emperor, 55
Henry VIII of England is recognized as supreme head of the Church of England, 1531
The Pennsylvania Hospital opens, the first in the US, 1752
Religious Society of Friends, also known as Quakers, petitions U.S. Congress for abolition of slavery, 1790
Anthracite coal is burned experimentally as fuel for heating a home for the first time, by Jesse Fell in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, 1808
Robert Fulton files a patent for improvements to steamboat navigation, 1809
Massachusetts Governor Elbridge Gerry signs a redistricting bill that leads to the first use of the term "gerrymander," 1812
The first public toilet facilities for women opens in London, on Bedford Street, 1852
The Meiji constitution of Japan is adopted, 1889
Emma Goldman is arrested for lecturing on birth control, 1916
BBC Television produces the world's first ever science fiction television program, an adaptation of a section of the Karel Capek play R.U.R., which coined the term "robot", 1938
Glenn Miller is awarded the first ever gold disc for selling one million copies of "Chattanooga Choo Choo," 1941
Eighty-seven countries, including the US, UK, and USSR, sign the Seabed Treaty outlawing nuclear weapons in international waters, 1971
The People's Republic of China lifts a ban on works by Aristotle, Shakespeare and Dickens, 1978
Nelson Mandela, a political prisoner for 27 years, is released from Victor Verster Prison outside Cape Town, South Africa, 1990
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Pink Elephants
"Mom, guess what i just did!" #2 Son loves to come up behind me with these words, and i never know what will follow.
What now?
"I blew out the speakers on the stereo system Uncle P sent!"
Already? It's only been two days.
"Yeah, already! I was playing the song "Pink Elephants" and it blew the subwoofers and the woofers."
Well, what are you going to do now?
"I'll start saving up for more. Oh, and i told E [#1 Son] what I did, and he asked if I was playing "Pink Elephants" because that one always blows everyone's speakers."
Hmmm, maybe that means you shouldn't play that song? Or play it at a lower volume?
"Yeah, it has a kicking bass that blows speakers. But once i have new ones, they should be able to handle it."
Glad to hear it. Note: sarcasm is still lost on that boy.
Today is:
Berlin International Film Festival -- through the 20th
Feast of Saint Paul's Shipwreck -- Malta
National Cream Cheese Brownie Day
National Memorial Day of the Exiles and Foibe -- Italy, especially in Trieste
Plimsoll Day (Honoring Samuel Plimsoll, the "Sailor’s Friend," who persuaded Parliament to have a maximum load limit on ships.)
School Day
St. Scholastica's Day (patron of children in convulsions, nuns, and bringing rain)
Umbrella Day
Anniversaries Today:
Queen Victoria marries her cousin Albert von Saxe-Coburg, 1840
Tom Thumb marries Mercy Lavinia Warren, 1863
Poland is symbolically married to the Baltic Sea by Jozef Haller de Hallenburg, celebrating the restitution of Polish access to the water, 1920
Birthdays Today:
Lance Berkman, 1976
Laura Dern, 1967
Glen Beck, 1964
Cliff Burton, 1962
George Stephanopoulos, 1961
Greg Norman, 1955
Mark Spitz, 1950
Roberta Flack, 1939
Robert Wagner, 1930
Leontyne Price, 1927
Lon Chaney, Jr., 1906
Bertolt Brecht, 1898
Jimmy Durante, 1893
Boris Pasternak, 1890
Samuel Plimsoll, 1824
Charles Lamb, 1775
Today in History:
St. Paul is shipwrecked on the island of Malta, 60
Crusaders defeat Prince Redwan of Aleppo at Antioch, 1098
The St. Scholastica's Day riot breaks out in Oxford, England, leaving 63 scholars and perhaps 30 locals dead in two days, 1355
Wampanoag Indians under King Philip kill all the men in Lancaster, Massachusetts, 1676
Edmund Halley is appointed the second Astronomer Royal of England, 1720
The Treaty of Paris ends the French and Indian War, surrendering Canada
to England, 1763
Simon Bolivar is named dictator by the Congress of Peru, 1824
The first US fire extinguisher patent granted to Alanson Crane of Virginia, 1863
The YWCA is founded in NYC, 1870
Nearly 11,000,000 acres of land, ceded to the US government by the Sioux Indians, is opened for settlement, 1890
The New York Times begins using the slogan, "All the news that's fit to print," 1897
Japan and Russia declare war after Japan's surprise attack on Russian fleet at Port Arthur disabled 7 Russian warships, 1904
Britain's first modern and largest battleship "HMS Dreadnought" is launched, 1906
Baseball outlaws all pitches that involve tampering with the ball, 1920
New Delhi becomes the capital of India, 1931
The first singing telegram is delivered, by the Postal Telegram Company of NYC, 1933
Captured American U2 spy-plane pilot Gary Powers is exchanged for captured Soviet spy Rudolf Abel, 1962
Ron Brown is elected chairman of the Democratic National Committee becoming the first African American to lead a major American political party, 1989
The IBM supercomputer Deep Blue defeats Garry Kasparov for the first time, 1996
What now?
"I blew out the speakers on the stereo system Uncle P sent!"
Already? It's only been two days.
"Yeah, already! I was playing the song "Pink Elephants" and it blew the subwoofers and the woofers."
Well, what are you going to do now?
"I'll start saving up for more. Oh, and i told E [#1 Son] what I did, and he asked if I was playing "Pink Elephants" because that one always blows everyone's speakers."
Hmmm, maybe that means you shouldn't play that song? Or play it at a lower volume?
"Yeah, it has a kicking bass that blows speakers. But once i have new ones, they should be able to handle it."
Glad to hear it. Note: sarcasm is still lost on that boy.
Today is:
Berlin International Film Festival -- through the 20th
Feast of Saint Paul's Shipwreck -- Malta
National Cream Cheese Brownie Day
National Memorial Day of the Exiles and Foibe -- Italy, especially in Trieste
Plimsoll Day (Honoring Samuel Plimsoll, the "Sailor’s Friend," who persuaded Parliament to have a maximum load limit on ships.)
School Day
St. Scholastica's Day (patron of children in convulsions, nuns, and bringing rain)
Umbrella Day
Anniversaries Today:
Queen Victoria marries her cousin Albert von Saxe-Coburg, 1840
Tom Thumb marries Mercy Lavinia Warren, 1863
Poland is symbolically married to the Baltic Sea by Jozef Haller de Hallenburg, celebrating the restitution of Polish access to the water, 1920
Birthdays Today:
Lance Berkman, 1976
Laura Dern, 1967
Glen Beck, 1964
Cliff Burton, 1962
George Stephanopoulos, 1961
Greg Norman, 1955
Mark Spitz, 1950
Roberta Flack, 1939
Robert Wagner, 1930
Leontyne Price, 1927
Lon Chaney, Jr., 1906
Bertolt Brecht, 1898
Jimmy Durante, 1893
Boris Pasternak, 1890
Samuel Plimsoll, 1824
Charles Lamb, 1775
Today in History:
St. Paul is shipwrecked on the island of Malta, 60
Crusaders defeat Prince Redwan of Aleppo at Antioch, 1098
The St. Scholastica's Day riot breaks out in Oxford, England, leaving 63 scholars and perhaps 30 locals dead in two days, 1355
Wampanoag Indians under King Philip kill all the men in Lancaster, Massachusetts, 1676
Edmund Halley is appointed the second Astronomer Royal of England, 1720
The Treaty of Paris ends the French and Indian War, surrendering Canada
to England, 1763
Simon Bolivar is named dictator by the Congress of Peru, 1824
The first US fire extinguisher patent granted to Alanson Crane of Virginia, 1863
The YWCA is founded in NYC, 1870
Nearly 11,000,000 acres of land, ceded to the US government by the Sioux Indians, is opened for settlement, 1890
The New York Times begins using the slogan, "All the news that's fit to print," 1897
Japan and Russia declare war after Japan's surprise attack on Russian fleet at Port Arthur disabled 7 Russian warships, 1904
Britain's first modern and largest battleship "HMS Dreadnought" is launched, 1906
Baseball outlaws all pitches that involve tampering with the ball, 1920
New Delhi becomes the capital of India, 1931
The first singing telegram is delivered, by the Postal Telegram Company of NYC, 1933
Captured American U2 spy-plane pilot Gary Powers is exchanged for captured Soviet spy Rudolf Abel, 1962
Ron Brown is elected chairman of the Democratic National Committee becoming the first African American to lead a major American political party, 1989
The IBM supercomputer Deep Blue defeats Garry Kasparov for the first time, 1996