Inga and Irene (Awww Monday), Inspiring Quote of the Week, and It's a Good Life (Poetry Monday), an A to Z Post

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To enjoy more blogs participating in the A to Z Challenge, click here.     

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Awww Monday is hosted by Sandee at Comedy Plus.

Join us every Monday for Awww...Mondays.  Post a picture that makes you say Awww... and that's it.

Make sure you get the code from Sandee's site, linked above, and leave a link to your post so we can visit you.  What better way to start the week than with a smile!

Two new tortoiseshell kitties came to the shelter last Friday.

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Sparks is the brainchild of Annie of McGuffy's Reader, who wanted us to post something positive and uplifting at the start of the week.  While she no longer blogs, i like to post an Inspiring Quote of the Week in her honor.    

 

photo source

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Poetry Monday was started by Diane at On The Alberta/Montana Border.  Jenny at Procrastinating Donkey is on a blog semi-break and her poetry is sorely missed, we hope she comes back soon.   Charlotte/Mother Owl participates, and now Karen at Baking in a Tornado is jumping in at least once a month, too.  Anyone else is welcome to join in the fun, just let Diane know!

This week the theme is Pets.                       

It's A Good Life

It's a good life,

being your pet.

You feed me well,

and the treats I get!

It's a good life,

you clean my mess,

and comfort me if

I'm in distress.

It's a good life,

I can molt or shed

and you still don't

banish me from your bed.

It's a good life,

everything I need

is always provided

with all due speed.

It's a good life,

we walk or play,

you love to include me

in your every day.

It's a good life,

when I get sick,

I may not like the vet

but you get me there quick.

It's a good life,

don't ever forget,

I love you Mom, Dad!

Signed, Your Pet

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Today is:

Barbershop Quartet Day -- founding day of the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America

Buchenwald Liberation Day -- 3:15pm local time, by the Third Army

Eight Track Tape Day -- do you remember those; someone who fondly does has a day to honor them

Festival of Unmediated Play -- just go out there and have fun, like kids do

International "Louie Louie" Day -- a song that caused such a stir it deserves a day; on the birth anniversary of its composer, Richard Berry

Juan Santamaria Day -- Costa Rica (commemoration of the hero of the Battle of Rivas)

Liberation Day -- Uganda (fall of Idi Amin)

M&M Crisis in Space Day -- on this day in 1996, American astronaut Shannon Lucid reported from Space Station Mir that she was out of M&Ms; it was the only thing she regularly requested for resupply in her 188 days there!

National Cheese Fondue Day

National Pet Day / Pet Day USA -- US (it's about the love, so adopt, don't shop!)

St. Antipas' Day (spiritual student of St. John, mentioned in the Book of the Revelation of St. John)

St. Stanislaus' Day (Patron of soldiers in battle; Cracow, Poland; Plock, Poland; Poland, where he is celebrated on May 8)

World Parkinson's Disease Day

Anniversary Today:

Spelman College is founded, 1881

Birthdays Today:

Joss Stone, 1987

Tricia Helfer, 1974

Vincent Gallo, 1961

Bill Irwin, 1950

Ellen Goodman, 1948

Meshach Taylor, 1947

Peter Riegert, 1947

Louise Lasser, 1939

Richard Berry, 1935

Tony Brown, 1933

Joel Grey, 1932

Ethel Kennedy, 1928

Oleg Cassini, 1913

Jane Matilda Bolin, 1908

Dalia "Dale" Messick, 1906

Percy Julian, 1899

Lizzie “Lillie” Bliss, 1864

Charles Evans Hughes, 1862

Debuting/Premiering Today:

"On Your Toes"(Musical), 1936

"Matthäus-Passion/St. Matthew's Passion"(Bach BWV 244), 1727

Today in History:

William III and Mary II are crowned as joint sovereigns of Britain, 1689

The last execution for witchcraft in Germany takes place, 1775

President Abraham Lincoln makes his last public speech, urging a spirit of concilliation during reconstruction, 1865

The Shogunate is abolished in Japan, 1868

The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks is organized, 1876

Ellis Island is designated as an immigration station, 1890

Spain cedes Puerto Rico to the United States in the treaty ending the Spanish American War, 1899

The US Navy aquires its first submarine, designed by John P. Holland, 1900

Albert Einstein announces his Special Theory of Relativity, 1905

The International Labour Organization is founded, 1919

The Stone of Scone, the stone upon which Scottish monarchs were traditionally crowned, is found in Arbroath Abbey where Scottish nationalist students had taken it from Westminster Abbey, 1951

Britain agrees to Singaporean self-rule, 1957

Apollo 13 is launched, 1970

The Apple I is created, 1976

Ugandan dictator Idi Amin is deposed, 1979

The London Agreement is secretly signed between Israeli Foreign Affairs Minister Shimon Peres and King Hussein of Jordan, 1987

Australia beats American Samoa in a 31-0 win, the biggest ever in an international match of football, 2001

The French ban of Islamic women's face coverings goes into effect, 2011

Fossilized dinosaur eggs complete with embryos are found in China, 2013

European Union leaders agree to allow a six month extension for Brexit after UK leaders fail to reach a consensus, 2019

Ten Pets of Thankful (Ten Things of Thankful)

(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 finally occurred to me that this is 10 Things of Thankful, and there are 10 critters that either live here or are around much of the time.

First, because they have been here longer and they insist on it, the cats.

Little Girlie, Bigger Girl's cat, is 14; Bigger Girl claims she is a great editor when you are writing, but i can't get her near my screens to tell me if i'm doing well or not:

She also demands to be petted at 2am sometimes.

Tripod SissyCat is also 14.  She lost her leg several years before we got her.  (She was sure she could take that German Shepherd.)  When she first arrived, she would scratch and bite at everyone who came near her.  Now she is a snuggler and very friendly:

When we got her, she'd have never sat near me without biting.

Horizon is our third 14 year old cat.  #1 Son's first girlfriend picked him up off the streets and her mother said they had to many, to get him a new home.  She knew we also had too many cats and so she gave Horizon to #1 Son as a birthday gift, knowing we couldn't say no that.  He has since decided that Sweetie is his person and is still as shy and retiring as when he was a half-feral kitten:

He is scared of everything, even his shadow.  He is especially scared of me, i am the dispenser of medicines.

Mikey is about 7, belongs to #1 Son and is at least half Maine coon, and all sweetheart.  He understands just enough English to get himself into trouble (don't say the word "outside" near him) and if his kibble bowl is not full, he will let you know in no uncertain terms that this is unacceptable:

My shoe is a size 7.  When he sits on the table, he covers the table.

Dansig is also 7, belongs to #2 Son and has never met a stranger, whether person or cat:

Like all orange tabbies, he's an attention hound.  He also snores, loudly.

Charismatic Enigma SissyCat, at age 6, also belongs to #1 Son.  She was part of a litter we bottle-raised that were named Anomaly, Perplexity, Conundrum and Enigma, because i figure that's what cats are anyway.  She is fiercely independent and her paw is against every dog and most other cats:

She's quite the diva, too.

Link, a/k/a Linker Stinker, is the baby of the bunch, only 5.  He belongs to Little Girl.  He is beyond doubt the smallest kitten we ever bottle fed, and Dansig helped raise him so they are brothers and very, very close:

Link acts like he's still a kitten, and has a play fight with Dansig every morning after their catnip.

Then there are the dogs.  Pepe the Chihuahua belongs to Daughter-in-Law Becky and has very deformed back legs, but he doesn't let that stop him from running and playing:

Pepe really is a funny little dude, and wears himself out.

Coda the German shepherd was a tiny pup when Little Girl brought her home, and because Coda was raised with Pepe,  she is very gentle with the small dogs.  Coda actually, technically, belongs to Little Girl and her Boyfriend Alston, but she mostly lives here.  She wants to be friends with the cats, but only Dansig and, surprisingly, Tripod SissyCat, will let her come near:

She is one well trained dog.

Jezzie is another Chihuahua, and belongs to #2 Son.  Her favorite toy is Coda.

Jezzie, pawing at my leg and being photobombed by her bestie, Coda.

Our pets add so much to our lives, even when they are fussing with each other or making messes, so i am glad they are in my life.  My world would be a poorer place without them.

Please join us and our gracious and wonderful hostess Kristi from ThankfulMe, write up your own list and link up to Ten Things of Thankful.  

Inlinkz Link Party

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Today is:

Arizona Renaissance Festival -- Apache Junction, AZ, US (the official sister event to the Robin Hood Festival in Sherwood Forest, England; Saturdays, Sundays, and President's Day through March 31)

Farm Toy Show and Auction -- Sauk Centre, MN, US (come watch the kids have fun with farm toys, and be one yourself again!)

Feast of Apollo -- Ancient Roman Calendar

Ice Fishing Derby at Hell Creek -- Fort Peck, MT, US (subject to cancellation if there is no ice, so Hell has to freeze over for them to have this tournament!)

Narvik Sun Pageant (Vinterfestuka) -- Norway (annual festival held since ancient times to honor the sun goddess)

National Bagels and Lox Day

National DAV (Develop Alternative Vices) Day -- internet generated, in hopes that bad habits will be altered to positive coping mechanisms

National Read in the Bathtub Day -- yes, at one time the day has its own Facebook page; just don't try it with a digital book, please    

Orchid Festival/Tropical Extravaganza -- Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew, London (through March 10)

Pizza Pie Day

Remembrance for Eyvind Kinnrifi -- Asatru/Slavic Pagan (martyr)

Royal Hobart Regatta -- Queens Domain Hobart and Derwent River, Tasmania, Australia (Australia's largest aquatic event, includes an Australian Wooden Boat Festival; through Monday)

Scout Sabbath -- BSA (Boy Scouts are encouraged to wear their uniforms to synagogue and represent scouting to their congregations)

St. Apollonia's Day (Patron of dentists; Achterbos, Belgium; Ariccia, Italy; Cuccaro Monferrato, Italy; against toothaches, tooth disease)

St. Maroun's Day -- Lebanon (Syriac Maronite Church of Antioch, an Eastern Catholic Church)

Tales of Kelp-Koli begin -- Fairy Calendar (through the 16th)

Toothache Day -- and someone thought this needed a day because...?  Okay, I guess because there is a patron saint for it.  Or against it.  However that works.

Weather Day -- US (Weather Service Founding)

Birthdays Today:

David Gallagher, 1985

Ziyi Zhang, 1979

Mena Suvari, 1979

Shakira, 1977

Travis Tritt, 1963

Charles Shaughnessy, 1955

Judith Light, 1949

Mia Farrow, 1945

Alice Walker, 1944

Joe Pesci, 1943

Carole King, 1942

Janet Suzman, 1939

Roger Mudd, 1928

Brendan Behan, 1923

Kathryn Grayson, 1922

Bill Veeck, 1914

Gypsy Rose Lee, 1914

Ernest Tubb, 1914

Carmen Miranda, 1909

David Dean Rusk, 1909

Ronald Colman, 1891

Amy Lowell, 1874

William Henry Harrison, 1773

Debuting/Premiering Today:

"Falstaff"(Verdi Opera), 1893

"Venice Preserv'd"(Otway Play), 1682

Today in History:

The Synod of Breslau orders Jews of Silesia to wear special caps, 1267

The first recorded race meet in England in Roodee Fields, Chester, 1540

The British ex-premier Walpole becomes the Earl of Oxford, 1742

After no presidential candidate receives a majority of electoral votes in the election of 1824, the United States House of Representatives elects John Quincy Adams President of the United States, 1825

The U.S. Weather Bureau is established, 1870

The first Japanese immigrants arrive in Hawaii, 1885

The Davis Cup competition is established, 1900

The first forestry school is incorporated at Kent, Ohio, 1909

Snow falls on Mauna Loa, Hawaii, 1922

Brazil becomes a member of the Berne Convention copyright treaty, 1922

Year-round Daylight saving time is re-instated in the United States as a wartime measure to help conserve energy resources, 1942

Joanne Woodward receives the first star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, 1960

Jamaica becomes an independent nation within the Commonwealth of Nations, 1962

The Beatles make their first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, performing before a "record-busting" audience of 73 million viewers, 1964

First test flight of the Boeing 747, 1969

Satchel Paige becomes the first Negro League player to be voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, 1971

Space Shuttle astronauts Bernard A. Harris, Jr. and Michael Foale become the first African American and first Briton, respectively, to perform spacewalks, 1995

A storehouse of thirty Egyptian mummies is unearthed inside a 2,600-year-old tomb, 2009

Australian National University scientists discover the oldest known star at 13.6 billion years old, 2014