Riff and Raff (Feline Friday), Friendly Fill-Ins, Nature Friday and Flashback Friday

***********************************

Feline Friday was originally started by Steve, The Burnt Food Dude (may he rest in peace), and i'm going to believe it's because he liked cats.

He handed hosting duties off to Sandee at Comedy Plus, and now she's entrusting it to me.

Feline Friday is simple to join.  All you have to do is: Post a picture, drawing, cartoon or video of a cat (they may be silly or cute).  Then add your link!

One thing for sure is this is a fun and easy meme to do.  So come and join us in Feline Friday.

What better way to start the weekend than with a feline!

Riff and Raff are a bonded pair of half-grown cats, and they are quite a pair.  Whoever adopts them will be highly entertained.

Wrasslin' in the litter box!

***********************************

Friendly Fill-Ins are easy to do. There are four statements: the first two statements are provided by Ellen of 15AndMeowing, and the final two are offered by Lorianne The Menagerie Mom of Four-Legged Furballs. They try to make sure the statements will be fun to both answer and share. The linky will be posted at or about 12:00 AM on Friday. Please head over to one of their sites, link up, and share your thoughts!      

Here are this week's statements with my responses underlined:

1. My _________ is _________ because _________.

2. I stopped _________ because _________.

3. I'm _________ away from _________.

4. _________ is the scariest experience I've ever had in my own home.

1. My   back  is   sore  because   Ms. SE had a huge mountain of laundry yesterday.

2. I stopped   eating meat  because   of health reasons (and i'll still cook it for others to eat).

3. I'm   at least two days  away from   catching up on all the blogs i got behind on over the wedding weekend.

4. A washing machine, two dishwashers, a refrigerator, and a coffee maker catching fire  (is the scariest experience) are some of the scariest experiences I've ever had in my own home.   Also all the times we had to bail water out because of storms.  If you are guessing our home has some trouble, you'd be right.

Please note, if it has a motor or is plugged into the wall, it can burn or catch fire and start a fire in your home.  The coffee maker even spit sparks at me.  Be careful with appliances!

***********************************

Nature Friday is hosted by LLB in Our Backyard.  Simply post a picture of the natural world, and link up!   

Whatever this is, it's blooming at Mr. BA's house.  He keeps his garden colorful.

***********************************

Flashback Friday is hosted by FiveSibes.  Come hop along memory lane with us!  

A couple of flashbacks from several years ago.  First, a litter we were bottle raising, and then a snap of Wee Jimmy, the cat who belonged to one of my clients.

***********************************

Today is:

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)

Dessalines Day -- Haiti

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

Loyalty Day -- Argentina

Mammography Day -- the third Friday of Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Mulligan Day -- C. Daniel Rhodes wants you to give yourself or someone else a free do-over today

National Pasta Day

National Police Day -- Thailand (Wan Tamruat)

Paint a Mural on a Sidewalk Day -- let your inner child go a bit wild, but please use paint that will wash away so you don't get in trouble!

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)

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

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 high-rise, 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

Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch muppeteer Caroll Spinney leaves "Sesame Street" after 50 years, 2018

Canada legalizes the sale of recreational cannabis, the second country after Uruguay, 2018

Shehan Karunatilka becomes the second Sri Lankan author to win the Booker Prize with his novel The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida, 2022

Teen smoking in the US falls to its lowest level in 25 years, 2024

Mr. Jimmy (Feline Friday), Friendly Fill-Ins, Monthly Poetry Post, and Birthday Wishes

***********************************

Feline Friday was started by Steve, The Burnt Food Dude, and i'm going to believe it's because he likes cats.

He has handed hosting duties off to Sandee, of Comedy Plus, and it's simple to join, just follow the link to Sandee's page for the rules and the code.

Mr. Jimmy was sitting in the middle of the driveway when i arrived last Tuesday, and he posed for a photo, then moved out of the way when i asked him to so i could pull in.

***********************************

Friendly Fill-Ins are easy to do. There are four statements: the first two statements are provided by Ellen of 15AndMeowing, and the final two are offered by Lorianne The Menagerie Mom of Four-Legged Furballs. They try to make sure the statements will be fun to both answer and share. The linky will be posted at or about 12:00 AM on Friday. Please head over to one of their sites, link up, and share your thoughts!      

Here are this week's statements with my responses underlined:

1. I find it easy to choose a gift for _________.

2. I find it difficult to choose a gift for _________.

3. Now that I've _________, I can _________.

4. I'm especially looking forward to _________ this holiday season.

1. I find it easy to choose a gift for   Grandpa, just make him more hojaldras.  

2. I find it difficult to choose a gift for   Grandma, because mostly what she wants is art supplies and only she knows exactly what she wants and where to find it.

3. Now that I've   gotten the big Thanksgiving meal cooked,   I can   start concentrating on what i need to do for Christmas.

4. I'm especially looking forward to   seeing all the lights and decorations  this holiday season.

***********************************

Today is the Monthly Poetry Post, hosted by Karen at Baking in a Tornado.  The theme is Animals.

Each day i spend with animals

At the places where i work.

It's not a bit of trouble,

In fact it's a bit of a perk.

Each Sunday i get to take

Mr. Cal for a very nice walk,

He shakes with the excitement,

Becca and i get a chance to talk.

On Monday Ms. PA's cat Li'l Bit

Comes out to say hello.

She used to hide all day

But has now grown more mellow.

Mr. Jake the dog at Ms. RW's house

Has started a new trick,

He steals any food he can,

His waist is getting thick!

She also has Mr. Jimmy,

Her very sweet older cat.

Jake also steals Mr. Jimmy's food,

Another reason he's getting fat.

Ms. G my Wednesday lady was down

From five cats to just Angel and Buddy,

But an outdoor stray adopted her,

Making the waters more muddy.

Cookie is at Ms. SE's house,

She rips and runs like a pup,

As soon as we get the house together,

Crazy dog is tearing it up.

Ms. GA does cat rescue,

As cats seem to wander up there,

Right now there's 5 indoor and four out,

Or maybe the other way, i couldn't swear.

When i go to Grandma's,

Dog Lulu makes my day,

It's especially fun when i can take

Coda over there to play.

Then of course the shelter cats,

Of all sizes and shapes, feisty or meek,

The come, then get adopted,

There's new ones every week.

Even if i had none,

And i've five cats of my own,

I've plenty of animal entertainment,

And fond of them all i've grown!

Don't forget to go read poems by the other participants:

Karen at Baking in a Tornado 

Diane at On the Border   

***********************************

Wishing many happy returns of the day to Uncle J (my brother, my children's uncle).

***********************************

Today is:

Black Friday or Buy Nothing Day -- US, and i will observe the latter

Buy Nothing Day -- UK (Shop Less, Live More)   

ClauWau: Santa Claus World Championship -- Samnaun, Switzerland (Santa Claus aspirants compete in in such things as the chimney climb with toys, a geography bee, and the sledge race with timed gift giving to be crowned the world champion Santa; through tomorrow)

Constitution Day of the Republic of Abkhazia -- Abkhazia

Day of the Covenant -- Baha'i

Day of the Tan-Wallopers -- Fairy Calendar

Family Day -- Nevada, US; Palau

Fur-Free Friday -- originally sponsored by The National Humane Education Society, trying to make it a world-wide movement     

Good Grief Day -- birth anniversary of Charles Schultz

Independence Day -- Mongolia(1924)

National Cake Day

National Day of Listening -- US (sponsored by StoryCorps, encouraging sharing family stories during the holidays; learn how to interview and record those special stories here) 

National Day of Thanksgiving -- Turks and Caicos Islands

National Flossing Day -- US, but a great idea everywhere; help spread peace of mouth!   

Native American Heritage Day -- US; related observance

     Maize Day -- US; celebrating the First Nations of the Americas and the role maize/corn played in their cultures

Plan Your Dagwood Sandwich Day -- admit you've always wanted to, so build one with your Thanksgiving leftovers!

Sinkie Day -- sponsored by SINKIE, The International Association Of People Who Dine Over The Kitchen Sink www.sinkie.com, which urges you to combine your Christmas shopping with enjoying a quick meal of Thanksgiving leftovers and become a SINKIE convert!

Sojourner Truth Day -- died this day in 1883

St. John Berchmans' Day (Patron of alter servers, Oblate novices, young people)

Anniversaries Today:

Founding of Sigma Alpha Mu in the City College of New York, by 8 Jewish young men, 1909

The first official Thanksgiving in the US, by presidential proclamation, 1789

Founding of the University of Notre Dame, 1842

Founding of Kappa Alpha Society, the oldest surviving US college fraternity, 1825

Birthdays Today:

Natasha Bedingfield, 1981

Shannon Dunn, 1972

Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon, 1966

Dale Jarrett, 1956

Tina Turner, 1939

Rich Little, 1938

Robert Goulet, 1933

Charles Schultz, 1922

Eugene Ionesco, 1912

Eric Sevareid, 1912

Lefty Gomez, 1908

Mary Edwards Walker, 1832

Sarah Moore Grimke, 1792

John Harvard, 1607

Emperor Go-Daigo of Japan, 1288

Debuting/Premiering Today:

"Anarchy in the UK"(Sex Pistols single release), 1977

"The Price is Right"(TV), 1956

"Twenty Questions"(TV), 1949

Casablanca(Film), 1942

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland(Publication date), 1865

Today in History:

The Second Triumvirate alliance of Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus ("Octavian", later "Caesar Augustus"), Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, and Mark Antony is formed, BC43

Vlad III Dracula (Vlad the Impaler)defeats Basarab Laiota with the help of Stephen the Great and Stephen V Bathory and becomes the ruler of Wallachia for the third time, 1476

The first lion exhibited in the US makes his debut in Boston, 1716

Captain James Cook becomes the first European to visit Maui, 1778

The Catholic Apostolic Prefecture of the United States established, 1784

The first national US Thanksgiving is celebrated, 1789

The first streetcar railway in the US begins operation in NYC, fare 12 cents, 1832

The refrigerated railway car is patented by J.B. Sutherland of Detroit, Michigan, 1867

The first photograph of a meteor is taken, 1885

The National Hockey League is formed, with the Montreal Canadiens, Montreal Wanderers, Ottawa Senators, Quebec Bulldogs, and Toronto Arenas as its first teams, 1917

King Tut's tomb is opened by English archaeologist Howard Carter, 1922

Four young lads from Liverpool have their first recording session under the interesting name "The Beatles", 1962

Tony Blair becomes the first Prime Minister of the United Kingdom to address the Republic of Ireland's parliament, 1998

Concorde makes its final flight, over Bristol, England, 2003

A male Po'ouli (Black-faced honeycreeper) dies of Avian malaria in the Maui Bird Conservation Center in Olinda, Hawaii before it could breed, making the species in all probability extinct, 2004

NASA launches the Mars Science Laboratory, its largest rover ever, 2011

UK nonprofit Raspberry Pi releases its $5 Zero computer and sells out in a day, 2015

The WHO announces the first multidrug randomized control trial to treat Ebola has started in the Democratic Republic of Congo, 2018