(Because some people like Blogger and some like WordPress, i am putting the same content at both. If you would prefer to read this on the other site, it is linked here.)
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It's thankful day, and i have a doozy. At least, i think of it as a doozy.
Not long ago i mentioned to a friend of mine that i often end up at the laundromat.
She works with a non-profit organization that likes to put books, especially children's books, in laundromats. Did you know that is a thing?
Anyway, the idea is to make it easy for parents to read to their kids while waiting for the laundry to be done.
Thus i am thankful...
that i mentioned i go to the laundromat,
that my friend works with this non-profit,
that the laundromat owner was indeed happy to participate,
that my friend sent books,
that she sent more books,
that she sent even more books,
that i had the idea to buy a laundry basket to hold the books (it seemed to go with the library at the laundromat theme),
that when i bought the laundry basket, i asked the nice clerk if he had packing tape (so i could tape the sign they sent with the books to the basket),
that the nice clerk said he was out of tape to sell, but he had the very end of a packing tape roll for the store that he just let me have (he was tired of trying to find the end, and he said, if you can find the end of it, you may have it!),
that there are a lot of nice books in the bin, and i have plenty more to bring to replenish as needed,
that one of the workers at the laundromat was kind enough to bring her car around and let me jump start Talulah, Little Girl's car (because you know i can't have an adventure like this and not end up with some kind of crazy thing happening)
that Little Girl had good jumper cables (that's my army medic, always ready!),
that Kevin and Lenny had a new battery in Talulah in about 20 minutes (and they tested her to make sure the alternator is still good, it is),
and that i got some pictures:
Please write up your own list and link up to Ten Things of Thankful, where Kristi and her co-hosts always have a warm welcome waiting.
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Today is:
Arafat Day -- Afghanistan; Bahrain; Djibouti; Kuwait; Libya; Saudi Arabia; United Arab Emirates
Banana Split Day
Bud Billiken Parade -- Chicago, IL, US (second largest parade in the US, as well as the oldest and largest African-American parade in the US, begun in 1929)
Celebrate Your Lakes Day -- originally a senate resolution in the US state of New Hampshire to celebrate local lakes and ponds, now more widely observed; go enjoy some recreation at a pond, lake, or even river or stream near you!
Chemistry Set Volcano Day -- beat summer boredom, make a chemistry set volcano!
Cowes Week begins -- Cowes, Isle of Wight, UK (the largest, longest-running and most prestigious international sailing regatta in the world; through August 17)
Coupeville Arts and Crafts Festival -- Coupeville, WA, US (one of the longest-running arts festivals in the Pacific Northwest, with only the best artisans, lots of entertainment, and proceeds donated to the community; through tomorrow)
Crater Lake Rim Runs and Marathon -- Crater Lake National Park, OR, US (one of the toughest and most spectacular runs ever, around the deepest lake in the US)
Day of Wandering -- Fairy Calendar
Dejada de Santo Domingo de Guzeman -- Managua, Nicaragua
Feast of San Lorenzo -- San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Spain
Ferry Fair Day -- South Queensferry, Edinburgh, Scotland (centuries old fair, the biggest day of the modern festival that was originally a way for farmers to find labour for harvest, but is now just for fun)
Horse Racing Festival -- Nagchu, Tibet (through the 16th)
Independence Day / National Day -- Ecuador(1822)
Lazy Day -- internet generated, since it's so hot, though, make it a lazy day!
Leadville Trail 100 Bike Race -- Leadville, CO, US (100 miles of off-road bike racing over Colorado's high peaks)
National Duran Duran Appreciation Day -- anniversary of the 1985 near fatal accident of lead singer Simon Le Bon, when his yacht capsized during a race; the band acknowledges the declaration of this day on their website, and many years offer a free download of a song from one of their albums
National Garage Sale Day -- US (the goal, according to C. Daniel Rhodes, is to turn the nation into a giant shopping mall on the second Saturday of August each year)
National S'mores Day
National Stationery Show -- NYC, NY, US (if you love beautiful paper, or quirky cards, or all forms of stationery, this is a show for you; through Tuesday)
Opalia -- Ancient Roman Calendar, festival of Ops (date approximate, there were several celebrations of Ops through August and September)
Puck Fair -- Killorglin, Ireland (one of Ireland's 3 oldest fairs, with a wild goat caught and crowned the Puck, and let go on the 3rd day, Aug. 12)
Prisoner's Justice Day -- Canada (prisoners fast and refuse to work in memory of those who have died in prison of murder, suicide, or neglect)
Skyscraper Appreciation Day -- birth anniversary of architect William Can Alen, the genius behind the Chrysler Building
Stillaguamish Festival of the River and Pow Wow -- Arlington, WA, US (sponsored by the Stillaguamish Tribe, activities for everyone; through tomorrow)
St. Lawrence of Rome's Day (Martyr roasted on a gridiron; Patron of archives and archivists, armories and armourers, brewers, butchers, chefs, comedians, confectioners, cooks, cutlers, deacons, glaziers, laundry workers, librarians and libraries, paupers and the poor, restauranteurs, schoolchildren, seminarians, stained glass workers, students, tanners, vine growers and vintners; of over 25 cities around the world; against fire and lumbago)
Streetscene -- Covington, VA, US (car show, open to all types of vehicles; come show off your ride!)
Tisha B'Av -- Judaism (begins at sundown, through tomorrow; fast in remembrance of the destruction of the First Temple in 586BCE and the Second Temple in 79AD)
Watermelon Festival -- Rush Springs, OK, US (fun all day and free watermelon for all)
Anniversaries Today:
The Smithsonian Institution is chartered, 1846
Missouri becomes the 24th US state, 1821
Birthdays Today:
Angie Harmon, 1972
Antonio Banderas, 1960
Rosanna Arquette, 1959
Schim Schimmel, 1954
Ian Anderson, 1947
Betsey Johnson, 1942
Bobby Hatfield, 1940
Rocky Colavito, 1933
Jimmy Dean, 1928
Eddie Fisher, 1928
Rhonda Fleming, 1923
Leo Fender, 1909
George Crockett, 1909
Norma Shearer, 1902
Henri Nestle', 1890
Herbert Hoover, 1874
Debuting/Premiering Today:
"Candid Camera"(TV), 1948
Today in History:
Nineveh is destroyed and Sinsharishkun, King of the Assyrian Empire is killed, BC 612
Temple at Jerusalem is burned, 70
Ferdinand Magellan sets out with 5 ships to circumnavigate the globe, 1519
The foundation stone of the Royal Greenwich Observatory in London is laid, 1675
Word of the US Declaration of Independence reaches London, 1776
Mozart completes "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik", 1787
First ascent of Finsteraarhorn, the highest summit of the Bernese Alps, 1829
Candid Camera makes its television debut after being on radio for a year as Candid Microphone, 1948
The Magellan space probe reaches Venus, 1990
The highest temperature ever recorded in the UK – 38.5*C (101.3*F) in Kent; it is the first time the UK has recorded a temperature over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, 2003
New Zealand's highest mountain, the south ridge of Aoraki/Mount Cook, is renamed Hillary Ridge after Sir Edmund Hillary, first to conquer Mt. Everest, 2011
Google announces it is restructuring as Alphabet, a holding company with Google, YouTube, Android and Chrome as subsidiaries, 2015
WONDERFUL things - and what a great idea to have books at a laundromat.
ReplyDeleteMy laundromat does something similar, except the book swap shelf is for adults. Cool idea to have a reading basket for kids!
ReplyDeleteOh so delightful to hear about the children's books in the laundromat and your creative 'basket' ^_^
ReplyDeleteHappy Day to You,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
That was a great list and we love the book idea!
ReplyDeleteI just heard about that organization recently, and thought it was such a brilliant idea! I'm glad you were able to get involved!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE that idea. I am going to get some kid books at the next book sale I go to and do this at our laundromat.
ReplyDeleteCool idea. Fun TToT. (competing visuals: the old stock market ticker tape, character reading each entry and (equally old) movie trope of newspapers being thrown from back of truck, headline magnified).
ReplyDeleteExcellent to have a happy ending to the week.
That is a fantastic idea of having books available for parents to read to their kids, or for the kids to read while they are at the laundromat. I haven't needed to use a laundromat in years, so I have no idea if laundromats here have books available for children.
ReplyDelete