My Kentucky Adventure: Underground

Just the name "MegaCavern" conjured up images in my mind of the times i've been in caves, which i really enjoyed.

This was fun and interesting in that it's a totally man made cavern, not a cave.  Formerly a limestone quarry, it now has businesses in it.  One of those is a zip line, which Grace, Blossoming and Eagle went on, and another is the tram, which the rest of us enjoyed.

They also do vermiculture, raising worms to make great fertilizer.  The tour guide proves the worms are edible and healthy by eating one!

This cavern was a designated bomb shelter at one time, with plans to house 50,000 people if the need ever arose because of nuclear attack.  Only people on the list would be accepted, with politicians topping the list because, of course, you can't rebuild civilization without a glut of politicians.

After being in a cavern for a few hours, we emerged to a wet world where our picnic lunch plans had to change.  A restaurant filled the bill, and since it was a quintessentially local place it gave us a special memory.

Our plan was to visit the Louisville Zoo for the afternoon, maybe look up some relatives in the gorilla house (haha), but by the time we finished lunch, it was only going to be open for another two hours or so because they close early in fall and winter.  All of us were a bit tired and ready for rest and quiet, so Fivecat headed home and the rest of us went to the resort or hotel.

We did meet back up in the evening for leftovers and a fun evening of talk, laughing, and the game Taboo.  Not as much done as we had actually planned, but just an all around good day, with enough activity to keep us busy and enough down time not to wear us slap out.





Today is:

Bathtub Day -- can't confirm this one, but it's as good a day as any to be glad you have one!

BOL Foundation Day -- Laos

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

Feast Day of Ma'at -- Ancient Egyptian Calendar (date approximate)

Festival of the Deerk Toes -- Fairy Calendar (celebrating the toes on a fairy's "deerk", for which there is no human equivalent)

Lepanto Day -- Greece

Nagasaki Kunchi -- Nagasaki, Japan (harvest festival, through the 9th)

National Flower Day -- US (anniversary of President Reagan signing the bill, in 1986, that made the rose the US National Flower)

National Frappe Day

Nobel Conference 50 -- Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, MN, US (annual two-day science symposium)

Nones of October -- Ancient Roman Calendar; other observances
     Festival of Juno Cutitis and Jupiter Fulgor
     Victoria, Lady of Victories Day a/k/a Pallas Athena -- also celebrated by the Ancient Greeks

Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary -- Catholic Christian

St. Justina of Padua's Day (Patron of Padua, Italy; Santa Giustina, Italy)

Try To Start An Argument Over Which Is the Best Muppet Day -- Kermit, hands down (argue below, if you wish)(Possibly started by the International Association of People without a Life)

You Matter To Me Day -- because the phrase "you matter to me" can make a profound difference in someone's life


Anniversaries Today:

Larry King married Julie Alexander, 1989
Dow Jones makes the first report, in the Wall Street Journal, of an average of the prices of 12 industrial stocks, 1896



Birthdays Today:

Toni Braxton, 1967
Simon Cowell, 1959
Michael W. Smith, 1957
Yo-Yo Ma, 1955
Vladimir Putin, 1952
John Cougar Mellencamp, 1951
Joy Behar, 1943
Charles Dutoit, 1936
Thomas Keneally, 1935
Amiri Baraka, 1934
Bishop Desmond Tutu, 1931
Al Martino, 1927
R. D. Laing, 1927
June Allyson, 1917
Vaughn Monroe, 1911
Andy Devine, 1905
Niels Bohr, 1885
Thomas J. Wise, 1859
James Whitcomb Riley, 1849
Caesar Rodney, 1728(O.S. date)


Debuting/Premiering Today:

The Independent(Newspaper, first issue), 1986
"Cats"(Musical), 1982
"Route 66"(TV), 1960
"Your Hit Parade"(TV), 1950
"One Touch of Venus"(Musical), 1943
"Eve of St. Mark"(Play), 1942


Today in History:

The epoch of the modern Hebrew calendar (Proleptic Julian calendar), BC3761
The first public burning of books in Louvain, Netherlands, 1520
Ralph Wedgewood patents carbon paper in London, 1806
The first chartered railway in the US, the Granite Railway, begins operations, 1826
Spain abolishes slavery in Cuba, 1886
Henry Ford institutes the moving assembly line, 1913
Georgia Tech defeats Cumberland college in the infamous 222-0 football game, 1916
160 consecutive days of 100*F+ temperatures begin at Marble Bar, Australia, 1924
Beat poet Allen Ginsberg reads his poem "Howl" for the first time at a poetry reading in San Francisco, 1955
U.S.S.R. probe Luna 3 transmits first ever photographs of the far side of the moon, 1959
Nigeria joins the United Nations, 1960
Oman joins the United Nations, 1971
Cats opens on Broadway and begins a run of nearly 18 years, 1982
The Great Flood of 1993 ends at St. Louis, Missouri, 103 days after it began, 1993
Matthew Shepard, a gay student at the University of Wyoming, is found tied to a fence after being savagely beaten, 1998
The U.S. invasion of Afghanistan begins, 2001
A Southampton University research fellow discovers a long lost Antonio Vivaldi flute concerto at the National Archives of Scotland in Edinburgh, 2010

My Kentucky Adventure: "Lazy" Sunday

Sunday morning i was lazy.  At home i get dressed before i walk out of my room and start working around the house the moment i'm out.  There's no time to be lost if i'm going to get things done before i have to take Little Girl to school or run errands or go to work or get to church on time.

This Sunday morning was different.  Grace and Script and i were going to go to the 11am service at the local United Methodist Church, so i decided i wasn't going to put on my regular day clothes and then change into church clothes and then change back.  Instead i just stayed in my robe and no slip socks, in fact we all sort of lounged around in our night clothes and had a nice brunch, then got dressed.

While getting ready and dressed, i had an oops moment -- i knocked into the ironing board and the iron fell off and broke.  This would necessitate a trip to a MallMart at some point, but it was just one of those little happenings you deal with and don't worry about it.

Church was a blessing, as it was World Communion Sunday.  The people were so very friendly, and the pastor at this small church has a special ritual i had never seen.  As each person takes communion, s/he goes to the rail and kneels and prays, and he goes to each person and puts his hand on your shoulder and silently prays for you.  The sermon was about Sodom and Gomorrah, and he pointed out how much of their judgment was from their lack of care for the poor.

After church, we met back up at the resort and all of us went to My Old Kentucky Home State Park.  The tour reminded me of the plantation tours back home, but this  house still has almost all of the original furnishings!  It seems it was only owned by the same one family, and when the last owner sold it to the state so it could become a state park, she donated most of the furnishings so it would look as it did in the 1840's and 1850's.

While Stephen Foster, who wrong the song "My Old Kentucky Home" never lived there, the original owner, John Rowan, was his cousin and this was Foster's favorite place to visit.

From there we went about a mile up the road into Bardstown.  We walked and saw some of the sights, and tried to visit the cathedral.  It was supposed to be open until 5pm, but at 4:30 when we got there, it was already locked up.  Apparently someone wanted to knock off early!

Dinner was at the Old Talbot Tavern, which has been in continuous operation since 1779.  We laughed and talked and ate and probably overstayed our welcome, and then went back to the resort where some of us enjoyed the hot tub.

It may not sound like we did much, but for a Sunday, it was plenty.


Today is:

Armed Forces Day -- Egypt

Blue Shirt Day / World Day of Bullying Prevention -- bullying hurts all of us

California Rideshare Week -- California, US (designed to encourage commuters to take personal responsibility for reducing traffic and smog by pledging to rideshare); it all started with
     Ride-Share Week 2014 -- Ventura County, CA, US (encouraging car dependent Californians to drive less, save money, keep the air cleaner, and carpool)

Child Health Day -- US

Country Inn, Bed-and-Breakfast Day -- across North America (special events to introduce people to the wonderful world of country inns and bed-and-breakfasts)

Earthquake Remembrance Day -- Turkmenistan

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)

Labour Day -- ACT, NSW, QLD, & SA, Australia

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 Education Day -- Kiribati

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

Peat-Cutting Day -- Falkland Islands (Spring Holiday)

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

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

Territory Day -- Christmas Island

Thanksgiving Day -- Saint Lucia

Tishreen Liberation War Day -- Syria

World Day of Architecture -- with a Facebook page

World Habitat Day -- UN (Habitat for Humanity)


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 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

My Kentucky Adventure: Downs and Falls

It is such a shame, i thought to myself, that i didn't realize we would be in Indiana!

At 7:45 that morning, as we pulled into the parking lot of the grocery store in town, we were set.  My ice chests were in the back of Cicero, we had packed a picnic lunch, and we were on our way to Churchill Downs.

Script stayed at the resort to rest and enjoy a quiet day and prepare our supper, and the rest of us, Fivecat, Grace, Little_Ninja, Eagle, Blossoming, and this mimi went to see the sights that Fivecat had arranged for us to enjoy.

While i know there is such a race as the Kentucky Derby, and that it is held at Churchill Downs, and that it's fun to watch every year, i didn't know that the Derby itself is a race put on by a certain race club and it happens to be held at Churchill Downs, but they are separate "entities."  This and more can be learned by going on the tour and going through the museum and watching the film in the amphitheater.

We were lucky to get to take a morning tour, as there were horses out being exercised, and we got to watch that as well, and talk to a few jockeys who were willing to stop and answer questions.  There's a lot to see in the museum, and if i ever get a chance to go back, i want to explore the second floor further.

We couldn't stay long enough for me to do that this time because we were going to meet up with Irisbloom, another friend from our online group who lives locally.  Our meeting location was at the Falls of the Ohio State park, and that is in Indiana.  We crossed the beautiful Ohio River from Louisville into Indiana, and met her in the parking area.  She is a writer, and is as sweet in person as i thought she would be.

The Falls is where there are exposed fossil beds from when this area was a tropical sea.

 In other words, i said to the docent, this used to be the Gulf of Mexico!  

"Just about!" was his answer.

The day was sunny and the temperatures had dropped and the wind was so wicked it made one of the metal fences "sing."  Really, this fence line makes a musical tone when the wind cuts through it like that.  It's the kind of briskly cold day that usually hurts me, but i wanted to get out on that fossil bed, and cold wasn't going to stop me.

In fact, it didn't.  Our docent guide led the way to where we had to climb rocks and driftwood and he showed us what to look for in the fossil beds.  It was so cold my hands were numb but nothing could numb the delight in getting right down there on the limestone flats and spotting coral and snail and trillobite fossils.  Going back up was harder to do, as we took a steeper route, but i wouldn't have missed that for the world.

Our picnic lunch plans did pose a problem, as the wind and cold would have made it a miserable thing to try to eat outdoors.  The ranger in charge graciously let us have our picnic in a lookout room in the back of the museum!  We picked up after ourselves and wiped down the tables, and i asked if there was a vacuum cleaner so i could sweep the floor, but the ranger declined, saying she would do that later.

This state park has a really neat museum and a lovely view of the river and those amazing fossil beds, but it does have one problem; if the water pressure goes down, you can't use the restrooms.  We'd just had lunch, and so we had to trek to the facilities at one of the outdoor areas.  It was just like what i've seen at public swimming pools, but at least it's not an outhouse where you have to check for spiders.

Irisbloom's time with us was way too short, as her husband and daughter came to get her just as we were done at the park.  It would have been nice to get to spend more time with her, i really liked her way with words.

Next on the agenda was back to Louisville for a riverboat ride.  Again, the wind was wicked and it was very cold, but i did go stand outside for a while and all of us enjoyed the trip.  Looking down at the river and looking up to the shores from the river are two completely different things.

We got back to the resort tired and happy, and Script had been busy.   Fivecat headed home for a bit and Blossoming and Little_Ninja went to the hotel to freshen up, and when we all got back together at the resort for dinner, it was a delight.  Mr. Fivecat joined in again, and we had a cold Italian meal that nourished the soul as well as the body.

Script thinks of everything, including the wine.  Though i don't normally drink, this wine was a dessert wine that you only drink out of a cup about the size of the ones you have for communion at church.  That much i can have, and it was like drinking liquid nectar.

We spent another evening in laughing and talking and enjoying our time together, and if i weren't so sleepy, i would have wanted it to go on all night.



Today is:

Apple Festival -- Old Prairie Town, Topeka, KS, US (celebrating apples and Topeka's turn of the last century heritage)

Armed Forces Day -- Indonesia (Hari Tentara Nasional)

Blessing of the Fishing Fleet -- there are two that i can find:
     Church of Saints Peter and Paul and Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco, CA, US (a blessing is offered on the first Sunday of October each year)
     North Wharf, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town, South Africa (a festival, and Portuguese food, and a blessing from the local Catholic Archbishop)

Constitution Day -- Vanuatu

Do Something Nice Day -- internet generated; make someone's day brighter, it will brighten your own

Erntedankfest -- Germany (Thanksgiving/Harvest fest, on the first Sunday in October)

Festival of the Five Toes -- Fairy Calendar

Festival of Mania -- Ancient Roman Calendar (held to placate the Manes, on dates when it was believed the doors to the underworld were open and the dead were free to roam)

Fire Prevention Week begins -- Canada; US (and a great idea everywhere, feel free to join in)

Great Books Week begins -- previously sponsored by Excellence in Literature; this year, their website doesn't mention it, but it's always the first full week of the month

International African Diaspora Day

International Day of No Prostitution -- information here

Long Walk Day -- David Kunst finished his walk around the world on this day in 1974; go for a long walk in his honor

Most Common Birthday -- US (yes, according to Anybirthday.com, on average, more people are born in the US on this day than any other; wonder if it has anything to do with today being 9 months after New Year's Eve?)

National Apple Betty Day

National Metric Week -- US (yes, it's no fun to switch; get over it and learn, it's good for your brain!)

Noisy Munching Day -- a fun day for kids, or your own inner child; munch chips, celery, pickles, anything loud, to annoy others

Nubaigai -- Pagan Lithuanian Calendar (harvest festival; can't get independent confirmation that it's always on this day)

Pulaski Day Parade -- Philadelphia, PA, US (honoring the Polish patriot known as the "Father of the American Cavalry")

Republic Day -- Portugal

St. Placid's Day

Thesmophoria -- Ancient Greek Calendar (start of a 3 day women's festival of Demeter; date approximate)

Unicorn Questing Season begins -- as established by the late W. T. "Bill" Rabe, get your official license here

World Communion Sunday -- Christian

World Teachers Day -- UN


Birthdays Today:

Jesse Eisenberg, 1983
Kate Winslet, 1975
Parminder K. Nagra, 1975
Josie Bissett, 1970
Mario Lemieux, 1965
Laura Davies, 1963
Michael Andretti, 1962
Maya Ying Lin, 1959
Bernie Mac, 1957
Bob Geldof, 1954
Clive Barker, 1952
Bob Geldof, 1951
Karen Allen, 1951
Jeff Conaway, 1950
Steve Miller, 1943
Vaclav Havel, 1936
Bill Dana, 1924
Glynis Johns, 1923
Bil Keane, 1922
Donald Pleasence, 1919
Allen Ludden, 1917
Larry Fine, 1902
Robert Hutchings Goddard, 1882
Louis Lumiere, 1864
Chester A. Arthur, 1829
Denis Diderot, 1713
Jonathan Edwards, 1703


Debuting/Premiering Today:

"Monty Python's Flying Circus"(TV), 1969
"Love Me Do"(Single release), 1962
"Zane Grey Theater"(TV), 1956
"You Bet Your Life"(TV), 1950
"Secret Service"(Play), 1896
"Orfeo ed Euridice/Orpheus and Euridice"(Opera), 1762


Today in History:

Founding of the city of Concepcion, Chile, 1550
The Gregorian calendar is introduced in Italy and other Catholic countries, 1582
March on Versailles by the women of Paris, 1789
Shawnee Chief Tecumseh killed in the battle of the Thames, 1813
Founding of the City of Anaheim, 1857
Destruction of most of Calcutta by cyclone, approximately 60,000 die, 1864
A strong hurricane devastates the Bay of Fundy region of Maritime Canada, 1869
The surrender of Chief Joseph, after the 1,700 mile retreat, marks the end of the Nez Pierce War, 1877
The first individual time trial for racing cyclists is held on a 50-mile course north of London, 1895
Sir Samuel Griffith is appointed the first Chief Justice of Australia and Sir Edmund Barton and Richard O'Connor are appointed as foundation justices, 1903
First appearance of the Little Orphan Annie comic strip in the NYC Daily News, 1924
Suffrage is extended to women in France, 1944
The 1948 Ashgabat earthquake kills 110,000, 1948
The first documented recovery meeting of Narcotics Anonymous is held,
1953Dr. No, the first in the James Bond film series, was released, 1962
The first episode of the famous comedy show Monty Python's Flying Circus aired on BBC, 1969
Signature of the European Patent Convention, 1973
Raoul Wallenberg is made an honorary US citizen, 1981
Marc Garneau becomes the first Canadian in space, aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger, 1984
The first official version of the Linux kernel, version 0.02, is released, 1991
The Bulldozer Revolution begins in Belgrade, eventually leading to the resignation of Slobodan Milosevic, 2000
A new, though threatened, language known as Koro, is discovered by a team of linguists on an expedition to Arunachal Pradesh, in northeastern India, 2010

My Kentucky Adventure: All Together Now

How in heaven's name, i asked myself, do you get all of the way up here and into the middle of making gumbo and forget the green onion!?!?!

That was the question as i got back to it.  At the resort cottage on Thursday, i worked on making roux and chopping veggies and making stock.  The rental people say the kitchens are fully outfitted, and for the most part they are if you don't need a really sharp knife or any type of measuring cup or spoon or pot holders.  While i do travel with my good knives when i bring the cast iron, i didn't have measuring utensils or pot holders, and had to guess at some stuff that needed measuring and wing it to work with hot pots.  It worked out.  Then Fivecat and Little_Ninja came back and we went into Louisville.

Fivecat was born and raised in this area, and actually lived in Louisville at one time, so we got a nice tour of areas i wouldn't have known to look for, with a bit of history thrown in.  We were heading for the science museum, which was to have an exhibit about beer, complete with tastings of the work of local breweries.  No, i don't drink, but i went along to be with my friends.

Eagle was in the area, stuck in traffic, so we met up with her and decided to get some dinner before going to the museum.  There was a very nice place that had a lovely vegetable stir fry.  Funny how i manage to always find something i can have!  After dinner, because i just don't drink (half a beer and i'm asleep) and Eagle was staying at the resort and was tired from her drive, she and i went back and Fivecat and Little_Ninja stayed for the museum.

It was nice to have a late hour to just sit with Eagle and talk over a cup of Sleepytime tea, after we got all of her stuff in.

The next morning, bleary-eyed, i got up to finish the gumbo so it would be ready for dinner.  We had a busy day planned, and i stood there sipping a very strong cup of my favorite dark roast asking myself how you forget the green onion.  Then  i just added it to the list of stuff to get, and made what had been a beautiful, clean resort cottage kitchen into a mimi-mess.  (Yes, i've earned my screen name honestly, even if i do clean stuff up well.)

Little_Ninja came over, while i was cooking, to bake pecan pies for dessert.  There were no measuring cups, and she hadn't been able to buy any at the store, so she bought funnels that had ounce marks on them, and made it work.  She is a great cook and can bake!  She stayed behind to tend to them while they were in the oven, while Fivecat, Eagle and i went to meet up with Mr. Fivecat and go into Shelby.

Once there, we walked through some of the shops.  The place reminded me of Jennifer's in Pensacola, before it closed.  Tons and tons of booths with old and new and amazing things for sale by individual dealers.  There was even a green marble rolling pin, just like the one my kids broke.  For a split second i thought of buying it, but then i realized, why should i do that?  They'll just break another one!

By this time we all wanted lunch, and Little_Ninja had finished her pies and was in.  Script got there just in time for lunch.  It was so good to finally see her again!

At lunch we discussed what we want to do over the next couple of days, and got in touch with Grace and Blossoming.  We agreed to meet up at the farmer's market, which is actually a local farm that sells a lot of their own produce, and produce from other farms in the vicinity.  They had apple butter, which Sweetie loves, so i got some for him.

While there, i heard from Dayeanu, who couldn't come on this trip even though she wanted to, because her mother had just passed away.  She was asking if i could drive through on my way home and visit her.  That took a few phone calls, but i arranged to get back home a day later than originally planned.

Speaking of calls, by the end of Friday it was official!  Every member of my family had called me at least once!  Over the phone i had given instructions for locating postage stamps, a formal jacket, and birth certificates, explained to Sweetie how to get a copy of a check that someone is claiming we never gave him but which the man cashed, reassured Bigger Girl that Jalopy's dash lights don't mean a thing, and told Little Girl how to package the food for the event that evening.

No wonder i need time away.

After the market/farm, with all of us in one place at one time finally, we called and finished making reservations for the rest of our activities, and we went to Kroger for groceries.

Going to the store with this many people can be like herding cats, so we simply set a rule -- meet back at the door with the pumpkin display in 45 minutes, no exceptions.  We did so, amazingly, and went back to the resort cottage for gumbo and pumpkin pie and a film of Fivecat's stand up comedy routine, which had me laughing harder than anything i've seen in a long time.  She loves being in entertainment, and she has talent.



Today is:

Albuquerque International Balloon Festival -- Albuquerque, NM, US ("Spirit of the Winds" is the theme for 9 days of fun)

Buttering-Up Final -- Fairy Calendar

Cohocton Fall Foliage Festival -- Cohocton, NY, US (with the world famous tree-sitting contest; through tomorrow)

Durga Puja -- Hindu (celebration of the goddess Durga, final and biggest day of celebration)

Eid al-Adha -- Islam (Festival of Sacrifice, a three day commemoration of Abraham's obedience and willingness to sacrifice his son; began at sunset yesterday, local customs of date and official government days off in many places will vary)

Fall Astronomy Day -- Bringing Astronomy to the People (local astronomical societies, planetariums, museums and observatories sponsor public viewings, presentation, workshops, etc., to increase public awareness of astronomy and our amazing universe)

Feast of the Hunters' Moon -- Fort Ouiatenon Historic Park, West Lafayette, IN, US (a re-creation of French and Native American life of the mid-1700s at a fur trading outpost; through tomorrow)

Festival of Hathor -- Ancient Egyptian Calendar (date approximate)

Golf Lovers' Day -- internet generated, enjoy if you love golf

Ieiunium Cereris -- Ancient Roman Calendar (fast for the goddess Ceres)

Improve Your Office Day -- and water that plant while you are at it!

Independence Day -- Lesotho(1966)

Inter-American Water Day -- begun in 1992 by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the Inter-American Association of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering (AIDIS) and the Caribbean Water and Wastewater Association (CWWA)

International Frugal Fun Day -- created by Shel Horowitz, author of The Penny-Pinching Hedonist; some of his ideas for how to celebrate are here

International Toot Your Flute Day -- an internet generated day for shameless self promotion

Issaquah Salmon Days Festival -- Issaquah, WA, US (celebrates the return of the spawning salmon to the hatchery; through tomorrow)

Johnny Appleseed Days -- Lake City, MN, US (two days of apples and fun)

Kanelbullens Dag -- Sweden (cinnamon roll day)

Knox County Scenic Drive -- Knox County, IL, US (drive through up to 100 miles of scenic rural Spoon River Valley, with attractions at every stop; this weekend and next)

Morro Bay Harbor Festival -- Morro Bay, CA, US (a working waterfront at play; through tomorrow)

National Apple Harvest Festival -- Gettysburg, PA, US (this weekend and next)

National Ship in a Bottle Day -- another one i can't find a source for, but it's listed everywhere

National Taco Day

Nihonmatsu Lantern Festival -- Nihonmatsu, Japan (one of Japan's 3 largest lantern festivals; through the 6th)

Peace and National Reconciliation Day -- Mozambique

Pumpkin and Apple Celebration -- Woodstock, VT, US (lots of hands on fun with apples and pumpkins; through tomorrow)

Spoon River Valley Scenic Drive -- Fulton County, IL, US (15 villages participate in arts and crafts, antiques, collectibles, demonstrations, and showing off the beauty of the fall foliage; through tomorrow and again next Saturday and Sunday)

St. Francis of Assisi's Day (Patron of animal welfare societies, animals, birds, ecologists, ecology, environment and environmentalists, families, lace makers/lace workers, merchants, needle workers, peace, tapestry workers, zoos; Italy, especially Assisi, as well as several other cities around the world; against dying alone, fire)
     Blessing of the Animals Day -- at many Catholic Churches, in honor of the Saint

St. Petronius' Day (Patron of Bologna, Italy)

10-4 Day (C.B. 'ers) -- fourth day of the tenth month, ten-four, good buddy, etc.

Tewa Deer Dance -- Tewa Native Americans (celebrating the cosmic duality of the feminine and masculine, and honoring male and female ancestors; through the 7th)

Vodka Day -- internet generated

Woofstock -- Wichita, KS, US (celebrate peace, love and pets; bring your pup and participate as all proceeds go to the Kansas Humane Society)

World Animal Day -- International
     "If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow man." ~ St Francis of Assisi  

World Card Making Day -- Paper Crafts Magazine suggests you have fun and make a card today

World Space Week begins -- International

Yom Kippur -- Judaism (began sundown yesterday, ends sundown today)


Anniversaries Today

The Soviet Union launches Sputnik 1, 1957
The Soviet Union launches Luna 3, 1959 (first satellite to photograph the moon's distant side)


Birthdays Today:

Rachael Leigh Cook, 1979
Alicia Silverstone, 1976
Abraham Benrubi, 1969
Christoph Waltz, 1956
Anita DeFrantz, 1952
Armand Assante, 1949
Susan Sarandon, 1946
Clifton Davis, 1945
Anne Rice, 1941
Jackie Collins, 1937
Alvin Toffler, 1928
Charlton Heston, 1924
Buster Keaton, 1895
Damon Runyon, 1884
Edward Stratemeyer, 1862
Frederic S. Remington, 1861
Rutherford B. Hayes, 1822
Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine, 1807


Debuting/Premiering Today

"The Alvin Show"(TV), 1961
"Leave It To Beaver"(TV), 1957
Snoopy, in the Peanuts Comic strip, 1950
Dick Tracy(Comic strip), 1931



Today in History:

One of the largest naval battles in history, the Battle of Lake Poyang, ends when the Chinese rebel forces of Zhu Yuanzhang defeat Chen Youliang, 1363
The first full English translation of the Bible, sometimes called the Matthew Bible, which contained the work of translators William Tyndale and Miles Coverdale, is printed in Switzerland, 1537
Pope Gregory XIII's calendar adjustment that bears his name takes effect, with tomorrow being not Oct. 5, but Oct. 15, 1582
Plymouth Colony in Massachusetts drafts its first code of law, 1636
Peter Stuyvesant establishes America's first volunteer fire department, 1648
Christian Huygens patents the pocket watch, 1675
The state of Belgium is created after separation from the Netherlands, 1830
The New Orleans Tribune becomes the first black daily newspaper, 1864
The Orient Express, linking Turkey to Europe by rail, makes its first run, 1883
Norman Rockwell's Willie Gillis character debuts on the cover of the Saturday Evening Post, 1941
The Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty is opened for signature, 1991
The Rome General Peace Accords ends a 16 year civil war in Mozambique, 1992
NATO confirms invocation of Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, 2001
SpaceShipOne wins Ansari X Prize for private spaceflight, by being the first private craft to fly into space, 2004
What is believed to be the oldest high-altitude human settlement is found in Kokoda, Papua New Guinea, 2010

My Kentucky Adventure: Settling in.

Getting out of the house was made even more interesting, i forgot to say, because Bigger Girl tried to get me to take the taser her friend the EMT lent her.  When i refused, she said, "But, mom!  You are going to Tennessee!  It's full of Tennesseans!"

When i told her that i was actually going to Kentucky, she said, "That's even worse! It's full of Kentuckians!"

Laughing, i still refused.

Part of the adventure of the driving itself which made it fun for me was the roller coaster nature of the roads.  Living in the swamps, it's all flat.  (Sometimes i jokingly say it goes downhill both ways, but that's an exaggeration, even though we are at or just below sea level.)

Also, i got to see rocks!  As much as i could, i took glances at the beautiful valleys, the hills above me, and the rocks.  It is also so nice to be seeing trees besides the typical pulp pines that line our roads.  The variety is nice, and some of them are starting to just barely get the tinge of autumn.  That's something else i don't see back home.  Yes, i'm a tourist, and i wear a badge.

Last year, driving with Little_Ninja, she swore that she never gets a ticket for speeding because she says hello to the cows and horses whenever she sees them, and it brings her luck.  While i do enjoy exclaiming over seeing the cows and horses and rocks, i swear by setting my speed at the speed limit, and only going a bit faster if i have to pass someone, then slowing back down.  It served me well, as i did see officers out, and even saw a couple of people pulled over.

The motel was the only one in the small town.  Eighteen rooms, clean, comfortable, owner operated, and very reasonably priced.  When i finally got in to stay for the evening, i didn't piddle around much but went to bed, and it was around midnight.

The next morning, my abnormal brain woke me at 4am as usual, so i got up and read and prayed and showered and went to the local McD's for coffee.  Then i searched out the local grocer, and found a place very similar to our MomAndPop Store back home.  They had a bargain price for grapes, and i got a few things i needed, and wandered back to the motel, where i rested and talked to the owner and talked to Little_Ninja.

The owner of the motel was quite a character.  He saw me eating my dried seaweed snack, and tried some.  He liked it!  He said that when he first took a bite, he didn't think he would, but the stuff is tasty.

Fivecat came and we met her dogs, Paisley and Her Glorious Highness Cinnamon Barks-a-lot.  The latter is a Pomeranian, and she lives up to her name.  We went down to the marina for a while  then Fivecat took the dogs home.  We got to feed the fish cat food at the marina, which is always.  For lunch we tried a small local restaurant, and by the time we were done, the resort called.  Our resort house was ready.

It was time to move in to where i will be staying with Grace, Eagle, and Script for the rest of the trip.  Gads but Cicero had a lot of stuff packed in her, which i actually finally realized when we got there to unload.  Fivecat and Little_Ninja went to freshen up at their own places, while i got settled in and started the gumbo preparations.


Today is:

Arafat Day -- Afghanistan; Bahrain; Djibouti; Kuwait; Libya; Saudi Arabia; United Arab Emirates

Bayfest Mobile -- Mobile, AL, US (world class musical entertainment and fun, with thousands of dollars earned going toward giving young people musical scholarships; through Sunday)

Buttering-Up Semi-Finals -- Fairy Calendar

Children's Day -- Singapore

Come and Take It Festival -- Gonzales, TX, US (celebrating the cry of Texans fighting for independence when the Mexican military demanded a cannon be returned; through Sunday)

Eid al-Adha -- Islam (Festival of Sacrifice, a three day commemoration of Abraham's obedience and willingness to sacrifice his son; begins at sunset, local customs of date and official government days off in many places will vary)

Fell's Point Fun Festival -- Baltimore, MD, US (a festival in Baltimore's original seaport; through Sunday)

Festival of Bacchus/Dionysus -- Ancient Roman Calendar (tasting the old and new wine and celebrating the harvest)

Independence Day -- Iraq

Kae Chun Jul -- Korea (National Foundation Day, BC 2333)

Kentucky Apple Festival -- Paintsville, KY (apples, music, arts and crafts, antique cars, rides, food, and fun; through tomorrow)

Lee National Denim Day ® -- US (but i'm sure they want this one celebrated anywhere jeans are sold and worn!)www.denimday.com/

Morazan Day -- Honduras (Soldier's Day, trad.; will be observed on Monday)

National Butterfly and Hummingbird Day -- internet generated; celebrate these beauties today, no matter where you are

National Carmel Custard Day

National Diversity Day -- US (vow tolerance, embrace how differences make the world a better place)

National Storytelling Festival -- Jonesborough, TN, US (a three-day celebration of storytellers, stories, and oral tradition from around the country and around the world, all in Tennessee's oldest town)

Oschophoria -- Ancient Greek Calendar (in honor of the return of Theseus after killing the Minotaur; deities celebrated were Dionysius and either Athena or Ariadne, depending on the source cited; date approximate)

Ozark Fall Farmfest -- Springfield, MO, US (largest agricultural trade show in the Ozarks; through Sunday)

Relief of Leiden Day -- Netherlands

Reunification Day /Unity Day-- Germany

Springs Folk Festival -- Springs, PA, US (Amish crafts and food at the height of fall foliage; through tomorrow)

Sts. Ewald the Black and Ewald the Fair's Day (Patrons of Westphalia)

Swappin' Meetin' -- Cumberland, KY, US (through tomorrow; celebrating the rich heritage of mountain people)

Techies' Day -- give your techies some well deserved appreciation

Tennessee Valley Old-Time Fiddlers Convention -- Athens, AL, US (200 contestants, 18 catagories, all crammed into two music filled days; if you love old time fiddle music, this is the place for you)

Thimphu Tsechu -- Thimphu, Bhutan (Drukpa Buddhism festival, the last days of the Drubchen; through Monday)

World Smile Day -- do one act of kindness, help one person smile, in honor of Harvey Ball, who created the Smiley face
     some sites tag this as Send A Smile Day, or have it on different days

Yom Kippur -- Judaism (begins at sundown)


Birthdays Today:

Neve Campbell, 1973
Gwen Stefani, 1969
Janel Maloney, 1969
Clive Owen, 1964
Jack P. Wagner, 1959
Dennis Eckersley, 1954
Stevie Ray Vaughan, 1954
Dave Winfield, 1951
Lindsey Buckingham, 1949
Roy Horn, 1944
Chubby Checker, 1941
Erik Bruhn, 1928
Gore Vidal, 1925
James Herriot (James Alfred Wight), 1916
Harvey Kurtzman, 1902
William Crawford Gorgas, 1854
George Bancroft, 1800


Debuting/Premiering Today:

"L.A. Law"(TV), 1986
"Scarecrow and Mrs. King"(TV), 1983
"Quincy"(TV), 1976
"The Dick Van Dyke Show"(TV), 1961
"The Andy Griffith Show"(TV), 1960
"The Pat Boone Show"(TV), 1957
"The Real McCoys"(TV), 1957
"Captain Kangaroo"(TV), 1955
"The Mickey Mouse Club"(TV), 1955
"Father Knows Best"(TV), 1954
"Our Miss Brooks"(TV), 1952
"The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet"(TV), 1952


Today in History:

The state of Gojoseon (modern-day Korea) is founded by Dangun Wanggeom during the reign of the Chinese emperor Yao, BC2333
The siege and battle of Alesia is ended by the surrender of Vercingetorix, leader of the Gauls, to Julius Caesar, BC52
Julius Caesar's assassins suffer a decisive defeat at the First Battle of Phillipi, BC42
Jews are expelled from Eger, Bohemia, 1430
The Duke of Montrose issues a warrant for the arrest of Rob Roy MacGregor, 1712
British Captain James Cook anchors in Alaska, 1778
General Napoleon Bonaparte first rises to national prominence being named to defend the French National Convention against armed counter-revolutionary rioters, 1795
George Washington proclaims the first national Thanksgiving Day will be held on Nov. 26, 1789
American author Edgar Allan Poe is found delirious in a gutter in Baltimore, Maryland under mysterious circumstances; it is the last time he is seen in public before his death, 1849
J.S. Thurman patents a motor-driven vacuum cleaner, 1899
The first conference on wireless telegraphy agrees to adopt SOS as the warning signal and sign of distress, 1906
Leon Trotsky, Adolph Joffe, Matvey Skobelev and other Russian exiles in Vienna, Austria, found the Pravda newspaper, 1908
Mrs. W.H. Felton, of Georgia, becomes the first woman seated in the US Senate, 1922
A V-2 /A4-rocket from Test Stand VII at Peenemünde, Germany is the first man-made object to reach space, 1942
The United Kingdom successfully tests a nuclear weapon, 1952
Germany is reunified, 1990
Roy Horn of Siegfried & Roy is attacked by one of the show's tigers, 2003
Archaeologists on the Egypt-Gaza border find the first evidence of a 2,000-year-old city, 2010

My Kentucky Adventure: Getting there is half the fun.

As opposed to My Kentucky Home, which name is taken and would be silly, because i don't live there.

Anyway, as was typical for me, i didn't get out of the house as smoothly as i had hoped.  It took a lot longer to pack the the car than i thought, and i left behind my raisins, and the vegan mayonnaise.  Also, i think i left all of the roux i made, but that's just oil and flour and time, and i'll make more.

But after telling everyone good-bye at least twice, and getting Bigger Girl to show me what to do when it won't shift out of park, i started on my way.

When i travel, i like to say that my favorite thing to do is take my time, stop every two hours, enjoy the ride, etc.  Well, the fact is, i had a long drive, over 11 hours even without traffic and construction zones, so i surprised myself.  This drive i went further without any stops at all than i ever have before, and the few i made were all short and sweet, and it was great.

Of course, i'm an old bat church lady, so i like to listen to Christian radio stations, and i had a list of them planned on the route.  When i couldn't get those, i found others, and so i got to sing and pray a lot on the way.  Traffic wasn't bad at all, except that i hit Nashville right at 5pm, but even that was more annoying than difficult.

One thing that always confuses me and my sense of time is time zone changes.  It looked like i was going to make it into the area i was going by around 8pm, and then i crossed into Eastern time, and so anyway, it was 9pm when i met up with Fivecat and she showed me how to get to the hotel.

Boy am i glad she did!  The back country roads are very windy, with deer crossings being frequent.  If i hadn't been following her, i would have been lost.  She got me checked in safely and then took me to a local pizza place where they not only had a gluten free crust, but didn't bat an eye when i said that i'm a vegan, could they make it with just sauce and veggies and no cheese!  As i hadn't stopped to eat all day, just snacking on a few things in the car, it was wonderful.

Little_Ninja was already at the hotel, but had been out visiting another friend she has in the area when i checked in.  She was back when Fivecat and i got in from the pizza place, and we sat and talked a while.

All in all, a good first day, even if i did get several calls from Sweetie about how the dishes weren't doing themselves and how they couldn't find the trash bags i had left right on top of the can.

Thank heaven i'm away for a few days!



Today is:

Batik Day -- Indonesia (UNESCO designated Indonesian batik as a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage)

Buttering-Up Quarter Finals -- Fairy Calendar (I have no idea what this means, but anything to do with butter sounds good.)

Chung Yeung Festival -- China; Hong Kong; Macau (Double Nine Festival/Ancestors' Day; date differs in other parts of Asia)

Cowboy Hall of Fame Ceremony and Banquet and Rex Allen Days -- Willcox, AZ, US (the kickoff for Rex Allen Days, includes the Cowboy Hall of Fame induction ceremony, and celebrates Willcox's own silver screen cowboy; through Sunday)

Dalton Defenders Days -- Coffeyville, KS, US (honoring those who defended Coffeyville's banks against the Dalton Gang in 1892; through Sunday)

Dashain Festival -- Hindu (also called Dussehra, Dashera, Phulpati/Fulpaati, or Navratri, a celebration of victory of Lord Rama over evil; official government holidays for this multi-day festival vary throughout India, Nepal, Bhutan, and other countries with large populations of Hindus)

Day of Appearance of the Primordial/Eight Great Netjers -- Ancient Egyptian Calendar (date approximate)

Gandhi Jayanti -- India (Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary)

Go for a Stroll After Dinner Night -- because it's healthy

Great American Beer Festival -- Denver, CO, US (festival that holds the Guinness World Record for most beers tapped in one location; through Saturday)

Guardian Angels Day -- recognize and thank your own Guardian Angel
     Feast of Guardian Angels -- Spain (patrons of the police force)

Independence Day -- Guinea(1958)

International Day of Non-Violence -- UN, in honor of Gandhi's birth anniversary

Mehregan -- Iran (pre-Muslim Zoroastrian festival of Persia to honor Mehr, which means friendship, affection, and love; also called Persian Festival of Autumn)

Name Your Car Day (and i hope you don't have to name it "Old Unreliable")

National Custodial Workers Day -- US

National Fried Scallops Day

Old Man's Day -- Braughing, Herts, England (in honor of a 16th-Century man's escape from premature interment; he left money for a street sweeping and celebration on this day which is still observed)

Phileas Fogg's Wager Day -- he made his famous wager, according to Jules Verne, this day in 1872

St. Leger's Day (a/k/a Leodegar; Patron of blind people, millers; against blindness and sore eyes)

World Farm Animals Day


Anniversaries Today:

Redwood National Park is established in CA, US, 1968


Birthdays Today:

Paul Teutul, Jr., 1974
Kelly Ripa, 1970
Lorraine Bracco, 1955
Sting, 1951
Annie Leibovitz, 1949
Donna Karan, 1948
Don McLean, 1945
Rex Reed, 1938
Moses Gunn, 1929
George "Spanky" McFarland, 1928
"Sheriff John" Rovick, 1919
Alex Raymond, 1909
Graham Greene, 1904
Bud Abbot, 1895
Ruth Cheney Streeter, 1895
Groucho Marx, 1890
Cordell Hull, 1871
Mahatma Gandhi, 1869
King Richard III of England, 1452


Debuting/Premiering Today:

"Moon Over Buffalo"(Play), 1995
"Ben Casey"(TV), 1961
"The Twilight Zone"(TV), 1959
"Alfred Hitchcock Presents"(TV), 1955
"The George Gobel Show"(TV), 1954
"The Jimmy Durante Show"(TV), 1954
"Comedy in Music"(Victor Borge one man musical), 1953
Peanuts(Comic strip by Charles Schultz), 1950
"Ah, Wilderness"(Play), 1933
Volkskrant(Dutch newspaper, first edition), 1919


Today in History:

Saladin takes Jerusalem from the Crusaders, 1187
Jacques Cartier discovers Mount Royal (Montreal), 1535
Kazan is conquered by Ivan the Terrible, 1552
Jan Lippershey completes a prototype of the modern reflecting telescope, 1608
George Washington transmits the Bill of Rights to the States for ratification, 1789
The Texas Revolution begins with the Battle of Gonzales against Mexican troops attempting to disarm the people of Gonzales, Texas, and meeting with stiff resistance, 1835
J Osterhoudt patents the tin can with key opener, 1866
John Logie Baird performs the first test of a working television system, 1925
The "Prelature of the Holy Cross and the Work of God", commonly known as Opus Dei, is founded by Saint Josemaría Escrivá, 1928
Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz is first published, 1950
The anthology series The Twilight Zone premieres on CBS television, 1959
Thurgood Marshall is sworn in as the first African-American justice of United States Supreme Court, 1967
NATO backs US military strikes following 9/11, 2001
American Samoa joins the North American Numbering Plan, 2004
NFL plays first regular season game outside United States when the Arizona Cardinals defeat the San Francisco 49ers 31-14 in Mexico City, Mexico, 2005
The parliamentary election in Georgia is determined by the OSCE to be "fair and free", 2012

On the road again..

Just can't wait to get on the road again!

Okay, okay, i'll stop singing!  Yes, i know what my voice sounds like, i won't let it happen again.

It's just that i get so excited.

Yesterday was long, and began with a hurried run for some last minute things.  Then i got a call to please get to work as early as possible and i did, which turned out good.  There was lots of laundry at work, and that always means a long workday, but i also managed to get the spills from the fridge and freezer and clean the ledge i've been eyeing for quite a while and never had time to get to.

While there, i placed an order for stuff Sweetie will pick up while i'm gone, and i got a reservation settled, and i came home worn out and cleaned all of my cleaning supplies.

Then it was time to pack, although i'd been gathering stuff for what seems like ages.

So today i'm heading for Kentucky in Cicero, and i have a nice motel room awaiting, and a cottage tomorrow.

Just remind me not to drink too much coffee (a big temptation on the road), and no one should have to peel me from the ceiling anytime soon.




Today is:

Armed Forces Day -- South Korea

Balloons Around the World -- balloon artists around the world are encouraged to donate an hour or more to a charity of their choice in their community, entertaining children everywhere with balloon sculpture

Bat Appreciation Month -- hooray for Bat Conservation International!

Change a Light Day -- US (was originally sponsored by EntergyStar, promoting energy saving light bulbs; although they don't seem to be running this particular campaign any more, it's a great idea to switch to the highest efficiency bulbs you can)
     while the original dates were on Wednesdays, some websites list this on the first Sunday

Children's Day -- Singapore

Christmas Seal Campaign begins

Chuuk Constitution Day -- Chuuk, Micronesia

Cut Out Dissection Day -- let's find alternatives for school kids!

Feast of St. Therese of Lisieux a/k/a Therese of the Child Jesus or The Little Flower of Jesus (Doctor of the Church; Patron of African missions, AIDS patients, air crews/aircraft pilots/aviators, florists/flower growers, missionaries, sick people, those who have lost parents, tuberculosis; Australia; France; Russia; several cities around the world; against bodily ills and tuberculosis)

Festival of Penha -- Rio de Janiero, Brazil (through the 31st; pilgrimages to the Church of Our Lady of Penha)

Firepup's® Birthday -- have fun learning fire safety from Firepup

Flattering Finals -- Fairy Calendar

Global Diversity Awareness Month begins -- to foster and further our understanding of the value of people of all races, genders, nationalities, ages, religions, sexual orientations, classes, and physical disabilities

Guoqing Jie -- China; Hong Kong; Macau (National Day/Founding of the Republic)

Homemade Cookies Day

Independence Day -- Cyprus(1960); Nigeria(1960); Palau(1994); Tuvalu(1976)

International Day of Older Persons -- UN

International Music Day -- information from the International Music Council

Investiture of the Captains Regent -- San Marino

Kalends of October -- Ancient Roman Calendar; also
     Day Sacred to Fides -- (goddess of faithfulness and keeping your word)
     Festival of Juno Sororia -- Ancient Roman Calendar (Juno the Sister, protector of young women at puberty)

Little Golden Books Day -- the first twelve were published on this day in 1942 (Baby's Book of Objects, Bedtime Stories, Mother Goose, Nursery Songs, Prayers for Children, The Alphabet from A to Z, The Animals of Farmer Jones, The Golden Book of Fairy Tales, The Little Red Hen, The Poky Little Puppy, This Little Piggy and Other Counting Rhymes, Three Little Kittens)

Month of Freethought -- inspired by Freethinkers who emigrated to the US in the 19th century

National Book It! Day -- teachers across the US can join together with Pizza Hut to encourage the love of reading

National Lace Day -- US (a day for lace fanciers share their love of lacemaking!)

National Walk Your Dog Week begins -- a campaign to bring awareness of and fight the increasing problems in the US with canine obesity

Nottingham Goose Fair -- Nottingham, England (dating back to at least 1284, what began as a fair market so people could stock up on food supplies for winter is now a fun festival with rides and games; through Sunday)

O'qituvchi va Murabbiylar Kuni -- Uzebekistan (Day of Teachers and Instructors)

Pageantry in Oslo -- Oslo, Norway (Storting [Parliament] convenes to decide the date for its ceremonial opening, which is usually the following weekday, when the King opens the session in the presence of the Corps Diplomatique, preceded and followed by a military procession between the Royal Palace and the Storting.)

Pancasila Sanctity Day -- Indonesia

Popcorn and Tears Movie Appreciation Night -- go see a tear jerker; if guys don't want to go, make them stay home and vacuum

Pudding Season begins (Time to preserve meat from slaughtering for the winter by making meat puddings.)

Ram Mating Ceremony -- various towns and villages in Turkey (through the 20th, each village setting its own date; after being separated from the females for two months, the rams are returned with ceremonies to ensure good luck and lots of babies next spring)

Right-Brainers Rule Month begins (because left handers / right brainers are in their "right" minds)

St. Remigius of Rheims' Day (Patrn of France; Rheims, France; against epidemics, fever, plague, religious indifference, snakes, and throat pain)

St. Romanos the Melodist's Day (hymn writer of the early 6th Century whose surviving works are still sung)

Unification Day -- Cameroon

US Fiscal Year begins (Why in October?)

World Vegetarian Day


Anniversaries Today:

EPCOT opens, 1981 (Experimental Prototype City of Tomorrow, or, if you work there, the insider title, Every Person Comes Out Tired)
Walt Disney World opens, 1971
Stanford University opens, 1891
Yosemite National Park and Yellowstone National Park are founded, 1890
South African College is founded, 1829 (Now University of Cape Town)


Birthdays Today:

Zach Galifianakis, 1969
Mark McGwire, 1963
Esai Morales, 1962
Grete Waltz, 1953
Randy Quaid, 1950
Stephen Collins, 1947
Tim O'Brien, 1946
Rod Carew, 1945
Stella Stevens, 1936
Julie Andrews, 1935
Albert Collins, 1932
Richard Harris, 1932
George Peppard, 1928
Tom Bosley, 1927
Jimmy Carter, 1924
William Rehnquist, 1924
James Whitmore, 1921
Walter Matthau, 1920
Bonnie Parker, 1910
Vladimir Horowitz, 1903
James Lawrence, 1781
Richard Stockton, 1730
Henry III, King of England, 1207


Debuting/Premiering  Today:

Compact Discs, 1982 (Billy Joel's "52nd Street" Album)
"Remington Steele"(TV), 1982
"Kung Fu"(TV), 1972
Night of the Living Dead(Film), 1968
"The Merv Griffin Show"(TV), 1962
"The Honeymooners"(TV), 1955
"This is Your Life"(TV), 1952
"Tom Corbett, Space Cadet"(TV), 1950
"Best Foot Forward"(Musical), 1941
Ford's Model T, 1908
World Series Baseball, 1903 (the Boston Americans beat the Pittsburgh Pirates)
Postal Special Delivery, 1885 (USPS began special delivery services)
Postcards, 1869 (in Vienna, Austria)


Today in History:

Alexander the Great defeats Darius III of Persia, BC331
The Russian Parliament accepts the annexation of the Ukraine, 1653
First session of the new French legislative assembly is held, 1791
Spain cedes Louisiana to France in a secret treaty, 1800
The first steamboat to sail the Mississippi River arrives in New Orléans, Louisiana, 1811
Maria Mitchell discovers a non-naked-eye comet, 1847
A cyclone strikes Calcutta, India, killing 70,000, 1864
Karl Marx' "Das Kapital" is published, 1867
The world's first postcards are issued, in Vienna, Austria, 1869
John Philip Sousa becomes the new director of the USMC Band, 1880
Thomas Edison opens the first electric lamp factory, 1880
The USPS begins special delivery mail service, 1885
Jews are expelled from major Russian cities, 1898
Arab forces under T.E. Lawrence, a/k/a Lawrence of Arabia, capture Damascus, 1918
An oil field accident cost aviator Wiley Post his left eye, but he used the settlement money to buy his first aircraft, 1926
The Pennsylvania Turnpike, often considered the first superhighway in the United States, opens, 1940
Mensa International is founded in the United Kingdom, 1946
First broadcast of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, 1962
The Concorde supersonic transport plane breaks the sound barrier for the first time, 1969
Walt Disney World opens near Orlando, Florida, United States, 1971
The United States returns sovereignty of the Panama canal to Panama, 1979
EPCOT Center opens at Walt Disney World, 1982
William Gibson's groundbreaking novel Neuromancer is published, introducing the word "cyberspace" to the English language, 1984
Denmark introduces the world's first legal modern same-sex civil union, 1989
The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom takes over the judicial functions of the House of Lords, 2009
A dedicated 3D TV channel, Sky 3D, launches in the UK, 2010