Holdup

As Sweetie says, if you are standing in a long line at the bank, you don't ever want to ask, "Hey, what's the holdup?"

Around here, the holdup, though, is generally kitten related.

"Mama, you aren't going anywhere!" says Appleblossom.

In other news, the big oops is finally being repaired.  The holdup on that was, at first, being unable to find a contractor, then the usual contractor shenanigans in which dates were set and broken, and, yesterday, rain.

It is getting done, though.  Poor #1 Son had water pouring into his room when the tarp they put over the front wall came loose, and ended up with wet bedding and almost with a wet power strip that was on the floor.  Then, the bedding got washed and hung in the sun to dry, only to have sunshine pouring down on it along with a rain storm only over our neighborhood!  Really, i set his stuff out to dry, took Little Girl and her friend Annie to the movies, and when i got back, it was pouring rain in our neighborhood while the sun was shining beautifully down, seeming to laugh at the whole thing.

So now that you've suffered through one of our bad family jokes and been treated to yet another kitten photo, i won't hold you up any longer.


Today is

Arrephoria -- Ancient Greek Calendar (ceremony for the two girls chosen to weave the new robe for Athena's Statue and care for her sacred olive tree during the next year; date approximate)

Bali Arts Festival -- Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia (a full month of daily performances, handicraft exhibitions, and cultural activities showcasing all Bali has to offer in dance, music, art, food, and more; through July 9)

Birthday of Prince Henrik -- Denmark

Corn on the Cob Day

Fandens Fodselsdag(The Devil's Birthday) -- Denmark (traditional date when contracts between masters and servants expired, making them free to renew or renegotiate or sever ties; it was also considered The Devil's Birthday because taxes and rents came due!)

Holiday of the Happy Gnomes -- Fairy Calendar (grumpy Gnomes are not allowed to attend this holiday!)

Hug Holiday -- some internet sites have this one, and since hugs are good for mental health, indulge!

King Kamehameha Day -- Hawaii, US

Midnight Sun Film Festival -- Sodankyla, Lapland, Finland (one of the world's most unique film festivals; through Sunday)

National German Chocolate Cake Day

National Time Out Day -- US, sponsored by The Association of Operating Room Nurses, which want everyone involved in surgeries to take time out before the procedure to verify the surgery site, type, and patient and decrease OR errors

Rites of Matralia -- Ancient Roman Calendar (honoring of Mater Matua, goddess of dawn and childbirth, by women who had been married once) related observance:
     Day Sacred to Fortuna Virgo (Fortune the Virgin, the day marriage robes of girls were dedicated to this goddess)

St. Barnabas the Apostle's Day (Patron of Antioch; Cyprus; Marbelia, Costa del Sol, Spain; Marino, Italy; invoked as a peacemaker; against hailstorms) a/k/a Barnaby Bright Day or Long Barnaby*

Windsurfing Regatta/Unvarnished Music Festival -- Worthington, MN, US (windsurfing, swap meet, and music on the beach; through Sunday)


*Under the Julian calendar, June 11, St. Barnabas' Day, was the longest day of the year --
Barnaby Bright, Barnaby Bright,
The longest day
And the shortest night


Anniversaries Today:

Henry VIII marries Catherine of Aragon, 1509


Birthdays Today:

Shia LeBeouf, 1986
Joshua Jackson, 1978
Caroline Quentin, 1961
Dr. Mehmet Oz, 1960
Hugh Laurie, 1959
Joe Montana, 1956
Peter Bergman, 1953
Adrienne Barbeau, 1945
Jackie Stewart, 1939
Chad Everett, 1936
Gene Wilder, 1933
William Clark Styron, Jr., 1925
Vince Lombardi, 1913
Jacques Cousteau, 1910
Jeannette Pickering Rankin, 1880
Richard Georg Strauss, 1864
John Constable, 1776
Ben Jonson, 1572


Debuting/Premiering Today:

"American Idol"(TV), 2002
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial(Film), 1982
"Main Street Electrical Parade"(Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Florida), 1977
"Rock 'n' Roll Music"(Beatles' UK album release), 1976
A Day at the Races(Marx Brothers film), 1937


Today in History:

Troy is sacked and burned, according to calculations by Eratosthenes, BC1184
Philip II recognizes the rights and privileges of the local nobles and chieftains in the Philippines, which paves way to the creation of the Principalía, 1594
The Continental Congress appoints Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston to the Committee of Five to draft a declaration of independence, 1776
Russian  explorer Gerasim Izmailov reaches Alaska, 1788
The first American stove patent is granted to Robert Haeterick, 1793
The Limelight Department, one of the world's first film studios, is officially established in Melbourne, Australia, 1892
New Zealand annexes the Cook Islands, 1901
Sir Barton wins the Belmont Stakes, becoming the first horse to win the Triple Crown, 1919
Frank Morris, John Anglin and Clarence Anglin become the only prisoners to escape from the prison on Alcatraz Island, 1962
Anna Mae Hays and Elizabeth P. Hoisington become the first women to receive the rank of general in the U.S. Army, 1970
Cassini-Huygens makes its closest flyby of the Saturn moon Phoebe, 200
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper makes an official apology to Canada's First Nations for residential school abuse that isolated native children from their homes, families, and cultures for a century, 2008
Ancient Korean royal books looted by French troops in 1866 are returned to South Korea; 1,000 officials and locals celebrate the return of the 297-volume 'Oegyujanggak' books, 2011
Winds in southwestern Western Australia of up to 140km/h batter the area and leave more than 170,000 homes without power, 2012