Facts learned this past Saturday

This past Saturday, our church volunteers got within rock throwing distance of finishing our Habitat for Humanity house for Ms. M.  Pastor W is going to go over there on Wednesday and make a list -- it's just a few places that need baseboards finished and some painting -- and get a group together next Saturday to knock it out.

Since i will be at a paying job, i won't be able to be there for that last day, but i'm hoping to go to the dedication on Sunday after church.  While there, i want to get a picture of the finished product, since some people who are good with plants were putting in flowers and trees.

Flowers, soon to grace the front entrance.

Tree, ready to be planted.

While there this past Saturday, painting baseboards and windowsills, i learned several things about Habitat houses that i did not know.

Yes, i knew that the people who end up living in the houses had to put hours and hours of sweat equity into other people's Habitat houses to show they mean business and really want this and will take care of it.  No, i did not know that they end up with a mortgage.  While there are many volunteer hours put in, and donations pay for much of the materials, the house is sold by Habitat to the new owner.  Now, there is no profit made, in fact, it costs Habitat a good bit more to build than they sell it for, but they do make the new owner pay some for the house.

Also i learned that Habitat has two basic house plans, at least around here, a 3 bedroom and a 4 bedroom, each with two bathrooms.  Both floor plans come in a left-hand version and a right-hand version.  This makes ordering cabinets and other materials easy, and makes it much easier for the Habitat staff, they only need to know if it's a 3 or a 4, with the kitchen on the right or the left.

They do, however, have 10 different roof lines they use.  This way, when they are building several houses in a row, as where this house is, just the change in roof line from one to the other keeps it from looking like a row of exact duplicates.

The final things i learned are that when the staff say mandatory break time, they mean it, and that yes, i can be of help in building houses, which are very good things to know for next time.

Today is:

Birth of the Bab -- Baha'i

Feast of Agios Gerasimos -- Kefalonia, Greece (celebration of the patron saint of this Ionian island, with religious services followed by dancing and feasting)

Feast of No Excuse For A Feast Day -- internet generated, if you have no other excuse to celebrate something today, use this one

Festival of Ebisu -- Japan (the laughing god, who is the only one available this month, as the 8 million other gods of the pantheon gather at the Grand Shrine of Izumo; traditionally on 20th day of 10th month of the lunisolar calendar)

Information Overload Awareness Day -- we all get bombarded, take stock of how it affects you; sponsored by the Information Overload Research Group

Installation of Scriptures as Guru Granth -- Sikh

International Juan Valdez Appreciation Day -- internet generated, yet as we sip our morning wake up brew, let's remember the hardy souls who pick the beans for us!

Mashujaa Day -- Kenya (National Day/Kenyatta Day)

Miss American Rose Day -- with online only pageants devoted to high achievement and community service for girls and women of all ages, Miss American Rose suggests treating all women in your life like beautiful roses and performing community service with them

National Brandied Fruit Day

National Day on Writing -- US (sponsored by National Council of Teachers of English)

National Pharmacy Technician Day -- because pharmacy technicians "Help America Feel Better" 

Pro-Life Day of Silent Solidarity 

Revolution Day -- Guatemala

Seeking of King Look Under Your Mattress -- Fairy Calendar

St. Acca's Day (Patron of learning)

Suspenders Day -- probably begun by the same people who wanted to see if you would observe Wear Something Gaudy Day and Dress Like A Dork Day

World Osteoporosis Day -- International Osteoporosis Foundation 


Anniversaries Today:

Clint Black marries Lisa Hartman, 1991
William Shatner marries Marcy Lafferty, 1973
The Sydney Opera House opens, 1973
Aristotle Onassis marries Jacqueline Kennedy, 1968


Birthdays Today:

John Krasinski, 1979
Dann Gillen, 1967
Viggo Mortensen, 1958
Danny Boyle, 1956
Keith Hernandez, 1953
Tom Petty, 1953
Melanie Mayron, 1952
Tom Petty, 1950
Jerry Orbach, 1935
William Christopher, 1932
Mickey Mantle, 1931
Joyce Brothers
Art Buchwald, 1925
Fayard Nicholas, 1914
Bela Lugosi, 1882
Charles Ives, 1874
Charles Dewey, 1859
James Robert Mann, 1856
Arthur Rimbaud, 1854
Christopher Wren, 1632


Debuting/Premiering Today:

"The Six Million Dollar Man"(TV), 1973
"No Time for Sergeants"(Play), 1955
"Vor Sonnenaufgang/Before Sunrise"(Hauptmann play), 1889


Today in History:

The first Crusaders arrive at Antioch, 1097
The city of Nuestra Senora de La Paz (Our Lady of Peace), Bolivia, is founded, 1548 
Battle of sekigahara sets Tokugawa clan as Japan's Shoguns, 1600
Maria Theresa of Habsburg becomes ruler of Austria, Hungary, and Bohemia, 1740
Patent of Toleration, providing limited freedom of worship, is approved in Habsburg Monarchy, 1781
US Senate ratifies the Louisiana Purchase, 1803
The U.S. and U.K. sign the Convention of 1818, which, among other things settles the U.S. - Canada border at the 49th parallel for most of its length, 1818
First Edition of London Sunday Times, 1822
Lincoln formally establishes Thanksgiving as a national holiday in the US, on the 4th Thursday of November each year, 1864
P.T. Barnum's Hippodrome featuring "The Greatest Show on Earth" opens in NYC, 1873
The hull of the RMS Olympic, sister-ship to the ill-fated RMS Titanic, is launched, 1910
The first Negro League World Series is held, the KC Monarchs shut out the Hilldales, 5-0, 1924
United States of America and Pakistan establish diplomatic relations for the first time, 1947
The Nepal Stock Exchange collapses, 1971
The Sydney Opera House opens, 1973
BM-PC DOS Version 2.1 released, 1983
US accuses Microsoft of violating law by forcing IE browser on computers, 1997
European astronomers announce the discovery of 32 extrasolar planets, 2009
Atronomers announce that galaxy UDFy-38135539 is the most distant object observed from Earth, around 30 billion light-years, 2010
Muammar Gaddafi, and his son Mutassim Gaddafi are killed shortly after the Battle of Sirte, 2011

About Done

We are winding down, today we are supposed to finish the Habitat for Humanity house.  (All but a few touch ups, like the carpet installers coming, and the major appliances being delivered.) 

It started like this:

This is how you start.

Then like this:

 Sorry about the glatre.

Now we really have a house:

About done, now it needs paint.

And today we finish the painting, indoors and out.

After i leave there, i will be going to Ms. P's house to babysit Only Daughter.  She was on the homecoming court, decided to get too big for her britches and went to a party after the game that she wasn't supposed to go to, and got stumbling drunk.  She isn't allowed to go to the home team football game (or anywhere else but school for a few weeks, in fact).  Instead, she has to stay home with me and work on her ACT prep.

 

Today is:

A Community Affair -- Menomonee Falls, WI, US (country lunch, arts, crafts, and collectibles, quilt raffle, and more)

Adai Caddo Indian Nation Pow Wow -- Robeline, LA, US (a fabulous way to learn about Native American culture in north Louisiana)

Autumn Historic Folklife Festival -- Hannibal, MO, US (Tom Sawyer's hometown celebrates the heritage and traditions of the 1800s; through tomorrow)

Black Poetry Day -- birth anniversary of the USA's first published black poet, Jupiter Hammon (some sites say this is on the 3rd Friday each year)

Bridge Day -- New River Gorge Bridge, Fayetteville, WV, US (world's biggest extreme sports event)

Dessalines Day -- Haiti

Deutsch Country Days -- Marthasville, MO, US (authentic recreation of early German life in Missouri; through tomorrow)

Doburoku Matsuri -- Oita Prefecture, Japan (one of the few sake festivals at a shrine; through tomorrow)

Festival of Hengest -- Asatru (approximate date of the Norse celebration of Hengest and Horsa, who fought to establish Norse settlements in Eastern Britain)

Four Prunes Day (only if you dare!)

Gaudy Day a/k/a Wear Something Gaudy Day 

International Day for the Eradication of Poverty -- UN

Large Fairies Come First Day -- Fairy Calendar (because the rest of the year they let the little ones go first)

Loyalty Day -- Argentina

Monster Mash Day -- Bogue Falaya Park, Covington, LA, US (annual fundraiser for the St. Tammany Parish Hospital Parenting Center, with a day of fun for everyone)

Mulligan Day -- C. Daniel Rhodes wants you to give yourself or someone else a free do-over today
                                            
Nagoya Festival -- Nagoya, Japan (biggest festival in the city; through tomorrow)

National Pasta Day

Old Farmers Day -- Loranger, LA, US (through tomorrow; learn how farmers used to live)

Paint a Mural on a Sidewalk Day -- let your inner child go a bit wild

Quincy Preserves Fall Architectural Tour -- Quincy, IL, US

Rattlesnake Festival and Gopher Races -- San Antonio, TX, US (wild animal fun, Texas style; through tomorrow)

Roseland Cottage Fine Arts & Crafts Festival -- Woodstock, CT, US (one of the leading juried shows in New England; through tomorrow)

Saint Mary's County Oyster Festival -- Leonardtown, MD, US (oysters served every style; through tomorrow)

St. Ignatius of Antioch's Day (Patron of the Church in the Eastern Mediterranean and North Africa; against throat diseases)

St. Richard Gwin's Day (Patron of large families, parents of large families, torture victims)

Sweetest Day -- begun by Herbert Birch Kingston, a candy company employee who decided it would be wonderful to distribute candy to the sick, shut-ins and orphans in Cleveland, OH; today is the day to do something for someone that makes him/her say, "Oh, that is so sweet!"

Texas Book Festival -- Austin, TX, US (one of the nation's most prestigious literary festivals, especially celebrating renowned Texas authors; through tomorrow)

Woolly Worm Festival -- Banner Elk, NC, US (woolly bear caterpillars race up 3-ft pieces of string, winner gets to predict the severity of the upcoming winter; through tomorrow)

Work on Your Charisma Day -- because what else are you going to do on a Saturday?

World Toy Camera Day -- originally sponsored here, but they seem to not have updated since 2013 

Yorktown Victory Day -- VA, US


Anniversaries Today:

Radio Corporation of America (RCA) is founded, 1919
Composer Johann S. Bach marries his niece Maria Bach, 1707
Crown Prince Fernando of Aragon marries Princess Isabella of Castile, 1469


Birthdays Today:

Eminem, 1972
Ermie Els, 1969
Norm MacDonald, 1963
Richard Roeper, 1959
Alan Jackson, 1958
Mae Jemison, 1956
Howard Rollins, 1950
Margot Kidder, 1948
George Wendt, 1948
Michael McKean, 1947
Ronn Owens, 1945
Evel Knievel, 1938
Beverly Garland, 1926
Jimmy Breslin, 1930
Tom Poston, 1921
Montgomery Clift, 1920
Rita Hayworth, 1918
Arthur Miller, 1915
Albino Luciani, Pope John Paul I, 1912
Jean Arthur, 1905
Spring Byington, 1893
Buck Ewing, 1859
Jupiter Hammon, 1711


Debuting/Premiering Today:

"Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical"(Musical), 1967
"The Hollywood Squares"(TV), 1966
"On a Clear Day You Can See Forever"(Musical), 1965
Jailhouse Rock(Film), 1957
"Chayka/The Seagull"(Chekhov play), 1896
"Don Sanche"(Liszt opera), 1825


Today in History:

King Cyrus the Great of Persia marches into the city of Babylon and releases the Jews from their 70 years of exile and making the first Human Rights Declaration, BC539
Battle of Neville's Cross, the defeat of King David II of Scotland by Edward III of England, 1346
German astronomer Johannes Kepler observes a supernova in the constellation Ophiuchus, 1604
Boston blacks petition the legislature for equal school facilities, 1787
The political rights of Jews are suspended in the Duchy of Warsaw, 1808
Thomas Edison files a patent for the Optical Phonograph (the first movie), 1888
Guglielmo Marconi's company begins the first commercial transatlantic wireless service between Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, Canada, and Clifden, Ireland, 1907
Albert Einstein arrives in the US as a refugee from Nazi Germany, 1933
The first commercial nuclear power station is officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II in Sellafield,in Cumbria, England, 1956
Prime Minister of Australia Robert Menzies opens the artificial Lake Burley Griffin in the middle of the capital Canberra, 1964
Botswana and Lesotho join the United Nations, 1966
Quebec Vice-Premier and Minister of Labour Pierre Laporte murdered by members of the FLQ terrorist group, 1970
OPEC starts an oil embargo against a number of western countries, considered to have helped Israel in its war against Syria, 1973
Mother Teresa is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, 1979
The pinnacle is fitted on the roof of Taipei 101, making it the World's tallest highrise, 2003
Australia's first Saint, Mary MacKillop, is canonized by Pope Benedict XVI, 2010
Astronomers confirm the identification of the nearest planet outside of our solar system, orbiting Alpha Centauri B, 2012

Better than a football game.

What else did i do this weekend?  Well, i'm so glad you asked, because i did not go to the home team football game, as i noted that i wouldn't a couple of days ago.  And i'm glad, because i had more fun with what i did do.

On Saturday, i learned how to put siding on a house!

It's not nearly as hard as it looks, as long as you measure accurately.

Measure out a piece of siding:

Those boards of siding are long!

Cut:

Measure twice, mark well, cut once.

Measure up the wall in increments of 7", and nail it on:

Be careful on the ladder and don't drop the hammer!

Also, i painted, and banged my finger really well with a hammer (you should see the lovely purple bruise! wait, no, you shouldn't!), and i had the best home made tortillas i've ever eaten at the build site, standing around with friends and ignoring the primer and other heaven-knows-what on our hands.

We only have one more weekend of work, not this coming up weekend, but the one after.  By then the plumbing and electric and HVAC and drywall and inspections will be done, so we will just paint and hang cabinets and finish stuff out. 

Then comes the dedication, and after all the paperwork is done the homeowner (who is the lady who taught me to hang the siding) can move in with her children, and we will have the "pounding," where you bring staple foods for the pantry and cleaning supplies and paper goods (so named because way back when you welcomed people into their new home by supplying things that were sold by the pound, like flour and sugar and beans and nails and soap and etc.).

There's so much to look forward to!

Today is:

Armed Forces Day -- Egypt

Child Health Day -- US 

Earthquake Remembrance Day -- Turkmenistan

Face Your Fears Day -- Stephen Hughes(hityourstride.com) encourages you to use this as a day to try to do something you've always been afraid to do

Festival of the Other Five Toes -- Fairy Calendar

Garlic Lovers Day -- internet generated, unofficial, and delicious

Ivy Day -- Ireland (death anniversary of Irish nationalist leader and Home Rule advocate Charles Stewart Parnell)

Jackie Mayer Rehab Day -- Sandusky, OH, US (anniversary of renaming the local rehab hospital after Sandusky's "favorite daughter", Jackie Mayer, Miss America 1963 and stroke survivor, now advocating on behalf of stroke survivors)

Mad Hatter Day -- US (second crazy day in the year, to balance April Fool's Day, and based on the 10/6 on the Mad Hatter's hat in Tenniel's drawing; in English-speaking countries where the day preceeds the month in notation, it is celebrated on June 10)

National German-American Day -- US (anniversary of the disembarking of the first German immigrants to Pennsylvania in 1683)
     German Pioneer Day -- Pennsylvania

National Noodle Day

National Physician's Assistant Day -- US (anniversary of the first graduating class of physician assistants from Duke University on this day in 1967

Nobel Conference 51 -- Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, MN, US (annual two-day science symposium)

St. Faith's Day (Patron of pilgrims, prisoners, soldiers)

St. Bruno's Day (Founder of the Carthusian Monks; Patron against demonic possession)

Tishreen Liberation War Day -- Syria


Anniversaries Today:

Elizabeth Taylor marries Larry Fortensky, 1991
American Library Association founded in 1876


Birthdays Today:

Jimmy Sisto, 1974
Elisabeth Shue, 1963
David Zucker, 1947
Britt Ekland, 1942
Thor Heyerdahl, 1912
Carole Lombard, 1908
Janet Gaynor, 1906
Helen Wills Moody, 1905
Florence Seibert, 1897
Le Corbusier, 1887
Karol Szymanowski, 1882
George Westinghouse, 1846
Jenny Lind, 1820


Debuting/Premiering Today:

"CSI: Crime Scene Investigation"(TV), 2000
"The Gin Game"(Play), 1977
"I Hear a Symphony"(Supremes single release), 1965
"The Mousetrap"(Mystery play), 1952 (still being performed)
The Jazz Singer(Film, the first "talkie"), 1927



Today in History:

The Cimbri inflict the heaviest defeat on the Roman Republic army of Gnaeus Mallius Maximus in the Battle of Arausio, BC105
Founding of Germantown, Pennsylvania by 13 Mennonite families from Germany, 1683
The Americans and French begin the siege of Cornwallis at Yorktown, which becomes the last battle of the American Revolutionary War, 1781
Benjamin Hanks patents a self-winding clock, 1783
Louis XVI accedes to the demands of the women of Paris and returns to that city, 1789
Great Fire of Newcastle and Gateshead begins shortly after midnight, leads to 53 deaths and hundreds of injuries, 1854
The American Chess Association is organized and holds the first major US chess tournament, in NYC, 1857
The American Library Association is organized in Philadelphia, 1876
Thomas Edison shows his first motion picture, 1889
Nabisco Foods debuts its Cream of Wheat, 1893
Beatrix Van Rijk becomes the first licensed Dutch woman pilot, 1911
Opening of The Jazz Singer, the first prominent talking movie, 1927
Egypt launches a coordinated attack against Israel to reclaim land lost in the Six Day War, 1973
Massacre of students gathering at Thammasat University in Bangkok, Thailand to protest the return of ex-dictator Thanom, 1976
Pope John Paul II becomes the first pontiff to visit the White House, 1979
President of Egypt, Anwar al-Sadat is assassinated, 1981
51 Pegasi is discovered to be the first major star apart from the Sun to have a planet (and extrasolar planet) orbiting around it, 1995
Jason Lewis completes the first human-powered circumnavigation of the globe, 2007

If you ever wonder...

...if they have anything for you to do at a Habitat for Humanity build when the only use you make of tools is minor repairs or hanging pictures, the answer is yes.

They will find something for you to do. 

For example, they might have you mark the slab/floor so that, once the drywall goes up, they will know where the studs are:

A long red line pointing out a stud cannot be missed.

Be sure to get them all, whether alone or with buddies, front and back.

Be sure you mark where pipes are, so no one drives a nail into one!

Or they may have you on the ladder with the aluminum tape, taping seams for waterproofing.

While i don't know exactly what is in store at the build site today, i do know that the Methodists will be there working on the house next to us, which they started a couple of weeks ago and have almost finished.

There have been rumors of a pot luck dinner challenge between the Methodists and the Presbyterians.  While i'm not sure how that would turn out, i think the winners would be the people eating all of that good food!

Today is:

Aloha Festivals Floral Parade -- Oahu, Hawai'i (part of the larger Aloha Festival celebrations this month and next on all the islands, celebrating native Hawai'ian culture)

Bureflux -- Discordian Calendar

Cabrillo Festival -- San Diego, CA, US (reenactment of Cabrillo's landing, a Spanish soldier and sailor encampment, Native Kumeyaay demonstrations, dances, crafts, and food; through tomorrow)

Chusok -- South Korea (start of the Harvest Moon Festival)

Cobweb Pie Making Day -- Fairy Calendar

Dia de la Bandera Nacional -- Ecuador (Day of the National Flag)

Dominion Day -- New Zealand (trad.)

Eldon Turkey Festival -- Eldon, MO, US (top producer of turkeys has the top turkey festival in the world)

European Day of Languages -- European Union

Everybody's Day Festival -- Thomasville, NC, US (and they do mean there's fun for everybody)

Family Health and Fitness Day USA -- www.fitnessday.com/family/

Feast of the Ingathering -- UK traditional (also called Harvest Home; in Scotland, Kirn; in northern England, Mell-Supper.  Celebrations will be held in rural areas for the next few weekends, celebrating the end of the harvest.)

Festival of Venus Genetrix -- Ancient Roman Calendar

Fish Amnesty Day (same as National Hunting and Fishing Day in the US, because it hurts fish to be caught!)

Fukuro Matsuri -- Ikebukuro, Tokyo, Japan (a fun-for-tourists way to learn about Japanese culture, through tomorrow, and next weekend)

Geneva Area Grape Jamboree -- Geneva, OH, US (grapes, wine tasting, entertainment, rides, and food; through tomorrow)

Gettysburg Fall Antique Show -- Gettysburg, PA, US

International Rabbit Day -- learn to care for these wonderful pets

International Tool Day -- internet generated, now gladly embraced by toolmakers

Johnny Appleseed Day -- birth anniversary of John Chapman

Kiwanis Kids' Day -- local clubs sponsor events for kids on the fourth Saturday of September

Love Note Day -- take pen and paper and send that special someone a love note today, the idea of Leona Hamel of QC, Canada

Marion County Country Ham Days -- Marion, KY, US (for those who love ham, and a PIGasus parade, and a Pokey Pig 5k, among other events; through tomorrow)

Mesothelioma Awareness Day -- bringing to light this cancer caused by asbestos exposure  

Museum Day -- The Smithsonian has information 

National Hunting and Fishing Day -- US 

National Pancake Day

National Public Lands Day -- US (Helping Hands for America's Lands -- a day to volunteer on America's Public Lands) 

Old Holy Rood Day -- OS calendar (the day blackberries become unsafe for picking) related observance
     Mid-Autumn Day -- Scottish Highlands (traditional; considered the day harts begin to mate and a weather prognostication day)

Search for Your Baseball Cards Again Day -- on lots of trivia sites; recommended because you never know

September Revolution Day -- Yemen

Sts. Cosmas and Damian's Day (Patrons of apothecaries/druggists/pharmacists, barbers, blind people, chemical industry/manufacturers, doctors/physicians/surgeons, hairdressers, midwives, people with hernias; Alberobello, Italy; Ossimo, Italy; against blindness and pestilence) related observance:
     Begin now to lay in supplies for your Michaelmas supper on the 29th

Taste of Morgan Hill -- Morgan Hill, CA, US (fine arts, entertainment, and plenty for the kids to do, too; through tomorrow)

Tri-State Band Festival -- Luverne, MI, US (high school bands from Minnesota, South Dakota, and Iowa compete in four categories)

United States Postal Service Day -- US (the first postmaster general under the current constitution, Samuel Osgood, was appointed this day in 1789)

World Contraception Day -- International


Birthdays Today:

Serena Williams, 1981
Lawrence Leritz, 1962
Melissa Sue Anderson, 1962
Linda Hamilton, 1956
Jane Smiley, 1949
Mary Beth Hurt, 1948
Olivia Newton-John, 1948
Lynn Anderson, 1947
Brian Ferry, 1945
Anne Robinson, 1944
Kent McCord, 1942
Julie London, 1926
Jack LaLanne, 1914
George Gershwin, 1898
T.S. Eliot, 1888
Edmund Gwenn, 1877
John "Johnny Appleseed" Chapman, 1774
St. Francis of Assisi, 1181


Debuting/Premiering Today:

George(Magazine), 1995
"Knight Rider"(TV), 1982
"The Brady Bunch"(TV), 1969
"Hawaii Five-O"(TV), 1968
"Gilligan's Island"(TV), 1964
"The Beverly Hillbillies"(TV), 1962
"West Side Story"(Musical), 1957
"Lucia di Lammermoor"(Opera), 1835
"The Gladiator"(Play), 1831


Today in History:

In keeping a vow he made at the Battle of Pharsalus, Julius Caesar dedicates a temple to his mythical ancestor Venus Genetrix, BC 46
Sir Francis Drake returns to England with Spanish treasure, 1580
In a battle between Venetians and Turks in Athens, the Parthenon and Acropolis are seriously damaged, 1687
New Jersey passes a bill requiring a license to practice medicine, 1772
Thomas Jefferson is appointed the first Secretary of State of the US, 1789
Colonel Robert Gibbon Johnson proved tomatoes weren't poisonous by eating several on the steps of the courthouse in Salem, New Jersey, 1820
The Diamond Match Company patents book matches, 1892
New Zealand and Newfoundland each become dominions within the British Empire, 1907
Indonesia is admitted to the United Nations, 1950
Concorde makes its first non-stop crossing of the Atlantic in record-breaking time, 1973
The United Kingdom agrees to the handover of Hong Kong, 1984
An earthquake strikes the Italian regions of Umbria and the Marche, causing part of the Basilica of St. Francis at Assisi to collapse, 1997
Swiss pilot and inventor Yves Rossy becomes first person to fly a jet engine-powered wing across the English Channel, 2008
Georgia changes its second language from Russian to English, 2010