messymimi's meanderings

(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.)

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!

While i am not a Roman Catholic (in fact, i’m a Presbyterian with strong conservative Quaker leanings, go figure that if you can), there are several saints i admire greatly. So here are saints (and an almost saint) for whom i am thankful because they set such a good example.

First is, of course, St. Patrick himself. He is an excellent example of forgiving your enemies and then turning around and doing them a great kindness, serving them with love.

St. Francis of Assisi was not just kind to animals and someone who loved to tend this beautiful garden planet of ours. It is said he was once tending his beloved roses and was asked by a brother, “What would you do if you knew the Lord was coming back in ten minutes?” He responded, “I would finish tending my roses.” That’s a man who knows that you should always being doing what is right and good, what you are supposed to be doing, so there is no rushing around at the end of life trying to cram in all that was missed.

St, Maria Gorretti’s story fascinated me from the first time i heard it. She died at age 12 defending herself from the unwanted sexual advances of a young man, which taught me that you are never too young, or too old, to stand by your convictions and not back down or give in.

St. Monica of Hippo prayed constantly and continuously for her husband, mother-in-law, and son, eventually seeing all of them come to faith. She is my reminder to never give up praying for the ones i love who are the furthest away from G-d.

St. Augustine, the son for whom St. Monica prayed, was a prodigal if ever there was one. I am grateful for his example that no one is ever too far away to turn around. He also reminds me that there is hope for those who are “too smart.”

St. Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus, has a scant record in the Scripture, but reading between the lines, i see a man who was willing to stand up for his wife and be the best husband and father he could be under very difficult circumstances.

St. Teresa of Calcutta (Mother Teresa) is the most beautiful example of how to serve the desperately poor that i believe the world will ever see.

St. Damien of Molokai (Father Damien) is the example that there is no one who is “beneath” us, spending his life with lepers and outcasts.

St. Martha, whose brother Lazarus was raised from the dead by Jesus, was also the center of a controversy when her sister Mary chose to sit and listen to Jesus teach instead of helping with the housework and cooking. She is my reminder to not get so caught up in the doing that i forget the time i need to spend being.

Blessed Oscar Romero is an example of an outspoken activist who never deviated from his spiritual beliefs to serve his activism.

Ten revered Catholics whom i admire and see as fabulous examples, and for whom i am thankful.

Ms. Josie Two Shoes is the very special hostess of Ten Things of Thankful. If you have some thankful things (it doesn’t have to be ten, no one will fuss), list them and join in. It lifts all of our days when we get to see your list, too.

Finally, you can’t let St. Patrick’s Day get past you without a traditional Irish blessing:

Here's to your coffin!

May your coffin have six handles of finest silver!

May your coffin be carried by six fair young maids!

And may your coffin be make of finest wood

from a 100-year-old tree,

that I'll go plant tomorrow!

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Today is:

Birkebeinerrennet -- Rena to Lillehammer, Norway (54km ski marathon commemorating the 1205 rescue of infant prince Hakon Hakonsson by ski over this route)

Ennensai -- Kyoto, Japan (festival and traditional performances)

Evacuation Day -- Suffolk County, Massachusetts, US (day the British troops left the city in 1776)

Festival of King Amenhotep I -- Ancient Egyptian Calendar (rituals dramatizing his death and burial, held in the Valley; date approximate)

Girl Scout Sabbath -- US (encouraging Girl Scouts to wear their uniforms to synagogue services and represent their troop to their congregations; the final day of Girl Scout Week in the US)

Ghode Jatra -- Kathmandu Valley, Nepal (Horse Festival)

Hindu New Year -- Hindu (local custom/date may vary)

Hari Raya Nyepi Tahun Baru -- Indonesia (New Year in the Balinese Saka calendar)

Nyepi Day -- Bali, Indonesia (Day of Silence, Balinese New Year/Saka New Year celebration on which everything is closed, even the international airport)

Ougadi -- Mauritius and some regions of India (the Telugu New Year)

Kustonu Diena -- Ancient Latvian Calendar (no planting today, to ward off insects)

Liberalia -- Ancient Roman Empire (fertility festival in rural areas)

Natchez Spring Pilgrimage -- Natchez, MS, US (tour of 25 antebellum mansions, some of which are private homes; through Apr. 17)

National Corned Beef and Cabbage Day

National Quilting Day -- US, sponsored by the Quilt Alliance

Rubber Band Day -- patented in England this date in 1845 by Stephen Perry

Saint Patrick's Day (Patron of engineers, excluded people, ophidiophobics; Ireland; Nigeria; over 20 other towns/dioceses around the world; against fear of snakes, snakes and snake bite)

a public holiday in the Canadian Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Montserrat, and Ireland, and widely celebrated throughout the world, especially with parades

Trefuilnid Treochair (Feast of Triple Bearer of the Triple Key) -- Ireland (Ireland's National Day)

Saint Patrick's Day Parades -- various cities around the English speaking world hold their celebrations on the Saturday or Sunday nearest the Saint's day

Save the Florida Panther Day -- FL, US

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's Birth Anniversary -- Bangladesh

St. Gertrude's Day (Patron of cats, for accomodations and lodging while traveling, gardeners, mentally ill people, pilgrims, poor people, sick people, suriphobics, travellers, widows; Nivelles, Belgium; against fear of mice and rats, fever, insanity and mental disorders, mice and rats)

St. Joseph of Arimathea's Day (Patron of funeral directors, morticians/undertakers, pallbearers, tin miners, tin smiths; Glastonbury Cathedral)

Submarine Day -- the sandwich or the submersible, your choice

Wild Azalea Festival -- White Springs, FL, US

Anniversaries Today:

Wellesley Female Seminary is established, 1870

Franklin D. Roosevelt marries Eleanor Roosevelt, 1905

Birthdays Today:

Caroline Corr, 1973

Mia Hamm, 1972

Rob Lowe, 1964

Arye Gross, 1960

Vicky Lewis, 1960

Gary Sinise, 1955

Lesley-Anne Down, 1954

Kurt Russell, 1951

Patrick Duffy, 1949

John Sebastian, 1944

Paul Kantner, 1941

Rudolf Nureyev, 1938

Paul Horn, 1930

Nat "King" Cole, 1919

Bayard Rustin, 1910

Bobby Jones, 1902

Shemp Howard, 1895

Jim Bridger, 1804

Roger B. Taney, 1777

Debuting/Premiering Today:

"Camino Real"(Play), 1953

"Kiss and Tell"(Play), 1943

"Welded"(Play), 1928

"The Girl Friend"(Musical), 1926

"Wilhelm Tell"(Play), 1804

Today in History:

In his last victory, Julius Caesar defeats the Pompeian forces of Titus Labienus and Pompey the Younger in the Battle of Munda, BC45

Marcus Aurelius dies leaving Commodus as the sole emperor of the Roman Empire, 180

Led by Muhammad, the Muslims of Medina defeat the Quraysh of Mecca in the Battle of Badr, 624

Edward, the Black Prince is made Duke of Cornwall, the first Duchy made in England, 1337

Saint Patrick's Day is celebrated in New York City for the first time (at the Crown and Thistle Tavern), 1756

George Washington grants the Continental Army a holiday "as an act of solidarity with the Irish in their fight for independence," 1780

The Italian Republic, with Napoleon as president, becomes the Kingdom of Italy, with Napoleon as King, 1805

Henry Jones of Bristol patents "self-raising" flour, 1845

Stephen Perry of London patents the rubber band, 1845

John Joseph Montgomery makes the first glider flight, in Otay, California, 1884

The first practical submarine leaves the dock at NYC and submerges for one hour forty minutes, 1898

A showing of seventy-one Vincent van Gogh paintings in Paris, 11 years after his death, creates a sensation, 1901

Luther Gulick and his wife Charlotte found Camp Fire Girls (now Camp Fire USA), 1910

Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley announce the creation of element 98, which they name "Californium", 1950

Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, flees Tibet for India, 1959

Golda Meir becomes the first female Prime Minister of Israel, 1969

A referendum to end apartheid in South Africa is passed 68.7% to 31.2%, 1992

President Bush delivers an ultimatum to Saddam Hussein: leave Iraq within 48 hours or face an attack, 2003

Scientists discover that a large number of bacterial life forms live in the deepest part of the world's oceans, the Mariana Trench, which is about 6.831 miles, 2013

(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.)

Just because Sandee of Comedy Plus is no longer hosting Silly Sunday does not mean i am going to quit telling Cajun jokes.

Only this time i have to slip in a military joke first. Little Girl now works for her military Unit, and was on orders for this weekend. When she came by and i wished her a happy St. Patrick's Day, she said, "Oh, yeah, no wonder everyone was wearing green today. Wait, they wear green every day!" She and i giggled over that.

Sweetie was yelling at the headlines again, fussing about politicians and their ways. He reminded me of Boudreaux.

Boudreaux be takin' Tee out to go fish one day. Dey done dug up dey bait, an' dey stop at de store by de pier an' Boudreaux done sen' Tee in to get dem some snacks.

Tee come out de store a few minute later wit' de snack an' he be shakin' his head. Boudreaux ax, "What be wrong?"

An' Tee say, "You know dat politics guy you allus be yellin''bout when you read de paper in de mornin'?"

An' Boudreaux say, "Mais yah. what 'bout him?"

An' tee say, "He be in de store, an' he be axin' what bait to get so he can go fish today! He don' even know what bait to use to get him de catfish!"

An' Boudreaux say, "Mais, dat don' surprise me none. He be de politico, de only bait he know be de ol' bait an' switch!"

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Sunday Selections was started as a way for bloggers to use photos that might otherwise just languish in their files. It is now hosted by River at Drifting Through Life.

While i only bottle raise kittens once in so often now, i have plenty of pictures from back in those days:

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Today is:

Awkward Moments Day -- harness the power of humor in life's more uncomfortable situations

Asklepieia -- Ancient Greek Calendar (festival of Asklepios; date approximate)

Bindus Diena -- Ancient Latvain Calendar (believed to be the day bears woke from hibernation)

Birthday of Sparky the Fire Dog -- can't confirm the exact date, but Sparky became an official fire prevention mascot in Mar. 1951

Buzzard Day -- Hinckley, OH, US (a day to celebrate the returning buzzards)

Camp Fire USA Birthday Week

Celtic Tree Month Fearn (Alder) begins

Cheikh Al Maarouf Day -- Comoros

Electric Razor Day -- Schick, Inc., marketed the first one today in 1931

Feast of Tou Tei -- Macau (earth god; celebrated on the second day of the second lunar month, so if i've mixed up the date in Gregorian, i'm sorry, i tried)

Forgive Mom and Dad Day -- because we all make mistakes; sponsored by Wellcat Holidays

Goddess of Fertility Day -- a modern celebration of all goddesses of fertility

Grandparents' and Grandchildren's Day -- Michigan, US

Jacques de Molay's Day -- death anniversary of the last Grand Master of the Knights Templar

Men's and Soldiers Day -- Mongolia

National Anthem and Flag Day -- Aruba

National Biodiesel Day -- birth anniversary of Rudolph Diesel, who unveiled his engine at the World Fair in 1900

National Lacy Oatmeal Cookie Day

Oide Matsuri -- Hakui, Japan (horse-back archery; through the 23rd)

Ramayana Week -- Hindu (through March 26th; local customs/celebratory dates may vary)

Sheelah's Day -- Ireland (probably Sheela Na Gig, goddess of fertility; celebrated the day after St. Patrick's Day by those who say she was either his wife or his mother)

Sheep and Goats (Separation) Day -- Fairy Calendar

St. Anselm of Lucca's Day (Patron of Mantua, Italy)

St. Edward the Martyr's Day

Supreme Sacrifice Day -- an internet generated holiday now used to honor those who have made a supreme sacrifice, all who have given their lives for others

Usajingu Reitaisai -- Japan (offerings to the Kami from the Imperial Household are shared in this very important festival)

Zhonghe/Longtaitou -- China (Double Second Festival and Blue Dragon Festival, the time to wake the dragons that control the rains; celebrate the 2nd day of the 2nd lunar month the modern way now by cleaning the house, getting a hair cut, and eating popcorn, pancakes, and noodles)

Anniversary Today:

Eddie Murphy marries Nicole Mitchell, 1993

Birthdays Today:

Alexei Yagudin, 1980

Dane Cook, 1972

Queen Latifah, 1970

Bonnie Blair, 1964

Vanessa Williams, 1963

Irene Cara, 1959

Brad Dourif, 1950

Kevin Dobson, 1944

Wilson Pickett, 1941

Charlie Pride, 1938

Sashi Kapoor, 1938

F.W. deKlerk, 1936

John Updike, 1932

George Plimpton, 1927

John Kander, 1927

Peter Graves, 1926

William H. Johnson, 1901

Edward Everett Horton, 1886

Rudolph Diesel, 1858

Grover Cleveland, 1837

John Caldwell Calhoun, 1782

Debuting/Premiering Today:

"Do I Hear a Waltz?"(Musical), 1965

"Tovarich"(Musical), 1963

"Tales of Wells Fargo"(TV), 1957

The New Babylon(Silent Film), 1929

"Verklarte Nacht"(Schonberg, Op. 4), 1902

Today in History:

Crusaders kill 57 Jews in Bury St Edmonds England, 1190

German emperor Frederick II crowns himself king of Jerusalem, 1229

Kraków is ravaged by Mongols, 1241

According to legend, Tenochtitlan is founded on this date, 1325

John Berkeley, 1st Baron Berkeley of Stratton sells his part of New Jersey to the Religious Society of Friends, commonly known as Quakers, 1673

Henry Wells and William Fargo form American Express in Buffalo, NY, 1850

Former Governor General Lord Stanley pledges to donate a silver challenge cup, later named after him, as an award for the best hockey team in Canada, 1893

Mohandas Gandhi is sentenced to six years in prison for civil disobedience (he served only 2 years), 1922

The first public celebration of Bat mitzvah, for the daughter of Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan, is held in New York City, 1922

The Tri-State Tornado hits the Midwestern US states of Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana, killing 695 people, 1925

The eruption of Mount Vesuvius in Italy kills 26 and causes thousands to flee their homes, 1944

Cosmonaut Aleksei Leonov, leaving his spacecraft Voskhod 2 for 12 minutes, becomes the first person to walk in space, 1965

The U.S. Congress repeals the requirement for a gold reserve to back US currency, 1968

In Egypt, a 4,400-year-old mummy is found nearby the Pyramid of Cheops, 1989

White South Africans vote overwhelmingly in favour, in a national referendum, to end the racist policy of Apartheid, 1992

Bosnia's Bosniaks and Croats sign the Washington Agreement, ending warring between the Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia and the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and establishing the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, 1994

British Sign Language is recognised as an official British language, 2003

For the first time, a woman served as imam, leading a public, mixed-gender, Muslim congregation in Jum'ah prayer and delivering the sermon, 2005

The Messenger spacecraft enters orbit around Mercury, 2011

Transnistria formally requests to join the Russian Federation, 2014

(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.)

Awww Monday is hosted by Sandee, of 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!

One of the advantages of working at a veterinarian's office is you get to take your dog with you to work. Our vet's secretary has Rico:

The vet tech has Hank the Tank:

The best part is, Rico is the boss and Hank the Tank is afraid of his Chihuahua attitude!

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The wonderful Annie of McGuffy's Reader has started the blog hop called Sparks as a way to put more positive energy into the world. Join her in combating the often negative influence of social media by adding your own Spark!

I believe we are meant to be lights in this world. If we allow our light to shine, we can see where we are going. It is then that we can begin to truly see each other clearly. Together, we can light up the entire world! ~ McGuffy Ann Morris

My "Spark" for the day was inspired by a concert at church yesterday by the local concert band:

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Today is:

Act Happy Week begins -- acting happy releases the body chemicals that aid health, mental and physical

Birthday of Wenchang Wang, the God of Literature -- China

Commemoration of the Victory over Kadhafi -- Libya

Corn Dog Day -- some sites say the 20th; #2 Son will celebrate both days, if i can afford that many corn dogs

Dia de Benito Juarez -- Mexico (a Fiestas Patrias)

Greater Dionysia -- Ancient Greek Calendar (largest festival to Dionysos, lasting five days; date approximate

Kashubians' Unity Day -- among Kashubians in northern Poland

Let's Laugh Day -- a holiday spread by ecard companies, because any day is a good day for a laugh

Mojoday -- Discordianism

National Chocolate Caramel Day

Oil Nationalization Day -- Iran

Pet Passport Day -- today in 2000, the UK passed the pet passport law, allowing pets into Great Britian without quarrantine if they met certain criteria

Poultry Day -- a day to honor the role poultry plays in our lives

Quinquatria -- Roman Empirical Calendar (celebration of Minerva and Mars, especially the birthday of Minerva today; through the 23rd)

See If You Can Find Someone Who Remembers Honey West Day -- internet generated trivia question

Swallows Return to San Juan Capistrano Day -- despite what you think, the bird you saw there yesterday was not a swallow, the natives will tell you

St. Joseph's Day (Patron of bursars, cabinetmakers, carpenters, civil engineers, confectioners, craftsmen, dying people, emigrants, expectant mothers, families, fathers, happy death, holy death, house hunters, immigrants, interior souls, laborers, married people, Oblates of St. Joseph, people in doubt, people who fight communism, pioneers, protection of the church, social justice, travellers, unborn children, wheelwrights, workers; Universal Church; over 50 cities, diocese, and countries; against doubt and hesitation)

As Patron of fathers, his day is also Father's Day in Belgium, Bolivia, Honduras, Italy, Portugal, and Spain.

Valencia, Spain has it's biggest day of the Las Fallas Festival today, with the fireworks.

Time Zone Day -- US Congress passed the Standard Time Act to sort out the fact that different states and cities used different times, with no rhyme or reason

Wellderly Day -- and the start of Wellderly Week, focusing on the health of the elderly

Zimbor-Quattor's Revenge Week begins -- Fairy Calendar

Birthdays Today:

Michael Bergin, 1969

Bruce Willis, 1955

Glenn Close, 1947

Clarence "Frogman" Henry, 1937

Ursula Andress, 1936

Phyllis Newman, 1935

Renee Taylor, 1935

Phillip Roth, 1933

Ornette Coleman, 1930

Patrick McGoohan, 1928

Brent Scowcroft, 1925

John Joseph Sirica, 1904

Earl Warren, 1891

Edith Nourse Rogers, 1881

Charles M. Russell, 1864

William Jennings Bryan, 1860

Albert Pinkham Ryder, 1847

Wyatt Earp, 1848

Sir Richard Burton, 1821

David Livingstone, 1813

Thomas Mckean, 1734

William Bradford, 1590

Debuting/Premiering Today:

"Kate and Allie"(TV), 1984

"A Child of Our Time"(Oratorio), 1944

"Amos and Andy"(Radio), 1928

"Faust"(Opera), 1859

"Die Braut von Messina"(Schiller Play), 1803

Today in History:

A Mongolian victory in the Battle of Yamen ends the Song Dynasty in China, 1279

Explorer Robert Cavelier de La Salle, searching for the mouth of the Mississippi River, is murdered by his own men, 1687

The SS Georgiana, said to have been the most powerful Confederate cruiser, is destroyed on her maiden voyage with a cargo of munitions, medicines and merchandise then valued at over $1,000,000, 1863

Pluto is photographed for the first time but is not recognized as a planet, 1915

Eight American planes take off in pursuit of Pancho Villa, the first United States air-combat mission in history, 1916

The U.S. Congress establishes time zones and approves daylight saving time, 1918

Willie Mosconi sets a world record by running 526 consecutive balls without a miss during a straight pool exhibition at East High Billiard Club in Springfield, Ohio. The record still stands today, 1954

Gumby makes his debut, 1957

The wreck of the SS Georgiana, valued at over $50,000,000 and said to have been the most powerful Confederate cruiser, is discovered by then teenage diver and pioneer underwater archaeologist E. Lee Spence exactly 102 years after its destruction, 1965

Texas Western becomes the first college basketball team to win the Final Four with an all-black starting lineup, 1966

India and Bangladesh sign a friendship treaty, 1972

The United States House of Representatives begins broadcasting its day-to-day business via the cable television network C-SPAN, 1979

Argentinian forces land on South Georgia Island, precipitating the Falklands War with the United Kingdom, 1982

Zimbabwe is suspended from the Commonwealth on charges of human rights abuses and of electoral fraud, following a turbulent presidential election, 2002

A cosmic burst, GRB 080319B, that is the farthest object visible to the naked eye is briefly observed, 2008

After two decades of being closed due to civil war, the Somali National Theater reopens in Mogadishu, 2012

The papal inauguration ceremony for Pope Francis is held in St. Peter's Square, 2013

(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.)

It is once again time for random musings and linking up with Stacy's Random Thoughts at Stacy Uncorked.

We had frost last week, and i think that was the last of it. This week is muggy and spring has popped back out, even the pet geranium is happy.

The pet geranium that has somehow managed to survive in spite of having me as an owner.

The sago palm, however, is looking rather drab.

It is recommended to cut back all of the brown branches, and a friend lent me a clipper so i could do that. The following weird picture was taken at night, and shows how i’ve been working away at it.

Someone i do not know in our neighborhood, who lives around the corner and up the street a ways, is having something odd going on at the house. There is always an unmarked police car there from dusk to dawn keeping watch. It’s a bit eerie, and also interesting to wonder what’s up. Is that where the new member of the local council lives (he moved into our neighborhood late last year) and this is just a normal security detail? Did they win the lottery and are hiring off duty officers for protection? Is someone threatening to kidnap a family member there? If i ever find out, i will post it, and meanwhile, i simply pray for their protection whatever the situation.

This coming Sunday is the Palm Sunday processional at church, with the picnic after. The powers that be at church have finally heard our cries and are serving Tex-Mex this time. Don’t get me wrong, we love our jambalaya and gumbo and other Louisiana staples, but sometimes you crave something different, and this time we are getting it.

#1 Son has a friend at work with skills. Driving past there, if the young man is loading a delivery car, you can watch him skateboard while carrying the pizzas. If someone at a nearby workplace has ordered pizza, he just skates it over to them, no need to load it in the car. At night, the wheels on the skateboard light up, too. If someone delivered a pizza to me by skateboard, i would probably give him an extra tip!

It’s getting very close to the time for A to Z. Because i meander, i don’t do any theme, but i participate because it’s just fun.

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Today is:

American Diabetes Association Alert Day -- a day to remind people about how serious the illness is, and what the risk factors are

Ann Arbor Film Festival -- Ann Arbor, MI, US (independent digital, 16mm and 35mm films, including experimental film; through Sunday)

Big Bird Day -- it's his birthday, and he's still only 6 years old! (wish i could figure out that trick)

Bockbier/Bock Beer Day -- bock is the German word for strong, so a day to honor very strong, very dark, sweet, heavy beer

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Day -- birth anniversary of children's author Bill Martin

Einmanudur Month Begins -- Traditional Icelandic Calendar (Lone Month, the month dedicated to young men)

Yngismannadagur -- Young Men's Day

Equinox -- related celebrations (16:15 UTC)

Akitu Festival begins -- Ancient Sumerian Calendar

Chunfen -- China

Festival of Dumuzi -- Ancient Sumerian Calendar (return of the god of life and death to be with the goddess of life and bring the spring)

Festival of Iduna -- Ancient Norse Calendar (goddess of spring, keeper of the apples of youth for the gods)

Haru-no-Higan -- Japanese Buddhist

Harvest Festival and Coming Forth of the Great Ones from the House of Ra -- Ancient Egyptian Calendar

Jare -- Old Slavic Calendar

Kukulcan Snake God in Chichen Itza -- Yucatan (the snake shadow appears only at the equinox, and celebrations are held before and after)

Maslenitsa -- Asatru/Slavic Pagan Calendar

Ostara/Mabon -- Wicca/Pagan, Ancient Norse Calendar, Old Anglo-Teutonic Calendar

Pacha Pucuy -- Ancient Inca Calendar ("Earth Ripening")

Shunbun no Hi -- Japan

Taoist festival of Shen -- Deities of water, East, and Spring

Extraterrestrial Abductions Day -- another silly made up one, but try telling that to the people who believe in it!

Great American Meat Out Day -- go vegetarian today!

Independence Day -- Tunisia

International Day of the Francophonie / Journée internationale de la Francophonie

International Day of Happiness -- UN

International Earth Day -- the traditional date, still observed in many countries

Kiss Your Fiance Day -- do you really need to be reminded to do this? a wedding planner thinks so, that you should stop today and focus on each other, not the wedding

Lajos Kossuth Day -- Hungary

Martyrdom of Sibghatullah Shah Rashidi -- Pakistan

National Agriculture Day -- US (if you eat, thank a farmer!)

National Cherry Blossom Festival -- Washington, DC, US (through April 14; Sakura Matsuri Japanese Street Festival and parade on April 13)

National Native American HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

National Jump Out! Day -- sponsored by Discovery Girls Magazine and Fundex Games; encouraging kids to get out and get active

National Ravioli Day

Nowruz/Nauruz/Novruz Bairam/Norooz (begins at sunset) -- Iranian diaspora, Kurdish diaspora, Zoroastrians; Afghanistan; Azerbaijan; Georgia; Iran (Persian New Year); Iraq; Kazakhstan; Kyrgyzstan; Tajikistan; Turkmenistan; Uzbekistan

celebrations go on for up to seven days or more

Naw Ruz -- Baha'i (New Year, and an end of the time of fasting; begins sunset)

Proposal Day® -- a day for singles to propose to their true love; on the equinox, equal night and day symbolizing equal commitment

Smile Rejuvenation Day -- another one from the ecard companies, make someone smile today

Snowman Burning Day -- Lake Superior State University, Sault Ste. Marie, MI, US (celebration of the start of spring)

St. Cuthbert of Lindisfane's Day (Patron of boatmen/mariners/sailors, shepherds; England; Durham, England; Lancaster, England; Northumbria, England; against plague and plague epidemics)

Won't You Be My Neighbor Day -- in honor of Mr. Rogers' birth anniversary

World Frog Day -- an initiative, on the first day of spring, to remind people of our fragile ecosystems and the disappearance of our amphibian friends

World Storytelling Day -- to celebrate the tradition of oral storytelling

Zipper Day -- the 'Separable Fastener' by Gideon Sundback was patented this day in 1917

Birthdays Today:

Louis "Louie" Vito, 1988

Fernando Torres, 1984

Kathy Ireland, 1963

David Thewlis, 1963

Holly Hunter, 1958

Spike Lee, 1957

Theresa Russel, 1957

Jimmie Vaughan, 1951

William Hurt, 1950

Bobby Orr, 1948

Pat Riley, 1945

Paul Junger Witt, 1943

Brian Mulroney, 1939

Lois Lowry, 1937

Hal Linden, 1931

Fred "Mr." Rogers, 1928

Carl Reiner, 1922

Marian McPartland, 1920

Bill Martin, Jr., 1916

Ozzie Nelson, 1906

B.F. Skinner, 1904

Frederick Winslow Taylor, 1856

Henrik Ibsen, 1828

Ovid, BC43

Debuting/Premiering Today:

Uncle Tom's Cabin(Publication date), 1852

Today in History:

Sixth recorded perihelion passage of Halley's Comet, 141

Maximus Thrax, who never set foot in Rome, becomes the first of the Foreign or Barracks Emperors of the Roman Empire, 235

A Saturn/Jupiter/Mars-conjunction is thought to be the "cause of plague epidemic," 1345

Sir Walter Raleigh is freed from the Tower of London after 13 years of imprisonment, 1616

France and Spain sign an accord for fighting protestantism, 1627

Nadir Shah occupies Delhi in India and sacks the city, stealing the jewels of the Peacock Throne, 1739

The Great Fire of Boston destroys 349 buildings, 1760

After escaping from Elba, Napoleon enters Paris with a regular army of 140,000 and a volunteer force of around 200,000, beginning his "Hundred Days" rule, 1815

US and Siam sign commercial treaty, 1833

Harriet Beecher Stowe's "Uncle Tom's Cabin" is published in Boston, 1852

An earthquake completely destroys Mendoza, Argentina, 1861

The first AC power plant in the US begins commercial operation, in Massachusetts, 1886

In the first known intercollegiate basketball game, Yale beats Penn 32-10, 1897

The first international figure skating championship takes place, in New Haven, Connecticut, 1914

Albert Einstein publishes his general theory of relativity, 1916

The Arts Club of Chicago hosts the opening of Pablo Picasso's first United States showing, 1923

A test of a practical radar apparatus is made by Rudolf Kuhnold in Germany, 1934

The precursor of the European Space Agency, ESRO (European Space Research Organization) is established, 1964

Libby Riddles becomes the first woman to win the 1,135-mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, 1985

Ferdinand Marcos's widow, Imelda Marcos, goes on trial for bribery, embezzlement, and racketeering, 1990

Stephen Harper wins the leadership of the newly created Conservative Party of Canada, becoming the party's first leader, 2004

A magnitude 6.6 earthquake hits Fukuoka, Japan, its first major quake in over 100 years, 2005

Cyclone Larry makes landfall in eastern Australia, destroying most of the country's banana crop, 2006

In Morocco, thousands rally to demand and end to corruption and more civil rights for the Moroccan people, 2011

(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.)

Linking up with Wordless Wednesday.

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Words for Wednesday is a moveable feast of word or picture or music prompts that encourages us to write stories, poems, or whatever strikes our fancy. This month, the prompts are being posted by Delores at Mumblings.

As of the time i am preparing this, the words are not up yet. As soon as they are, and i am done with work, i will update.

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Today is:

Aizu Higan Shishi/Sanbiki Shishimai -- Aizu Wakamatsu, Japan (lion dances to mark the end of winter)

Back Badge Day -- Gloucestershire Regiment, British Army

Birth of Benito Juarez, a Fiestas Patrias -- Mexico (trad.)

Common Courtesy Day -- commonly listed on this day on many sites, with no origin given, but it's not a bad idea!

Fragrance Day and Flower Day -- the first full day of spring

Harmony Day -- Australia (managed by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship)

Human Rights Day -- South Africa

Independence Day -- Namibia(1990)

International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination -- UN

Kids Kick Butts Day -- Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids

Memory Day -- internet based, to examine the use of memory aids throughout history

Mother's Day -- most Arabic nations

National Common Courtesy Day -- guess it's not so common any more, someone had to declare a holiday to try to foster some

National French Bread Day

National Single Parent Day -- US (by Presidential designation in 1984)

National Tree Planting Day -- Lesotho

Paper Dress Day -- the paper dress was introduced as part of an ad campaign by the Scott Paper Co. on this day in 1966

Shunki-Korei-Sai -- Shinto (rite to honor ancestral spirits, around the vernal equinox)

Single Parents' Day -- sponsored by Parents Without Parners, on the date of their inception in 1957

Spring Fairy Fun Day -- Fairy Calendar

St. Nicholas of Flue's Day (Patron of councilmen, difficult marriages, large families, magistrates, parents of large families, Pontifical Swiss Guards, separated spouses, Switzerland)

World Down Syndrome Day -- UN

World Forest Day/International Day of Forests and the Trees -- UN

World Puppetry Day

World Poetry Day -- UNESCO

Youth Day -- Tunisia

Birthdays Today:

James T. Kirk, 2233

Ronaldinho, 1980

Kevin Federline, 1978

Matthew Broderick, 1962

Rosie O'Donnell, 1962

Ayrton Senna da Silva, 1960

Gary Oldman, 1958

Eddie Money, 1949

Timothy Dalton, 1944

Peter Brook, 1925

Julio Gallo, 1910

John D Rockefeller III, 1906

Bascom Lamar Lunsford, 1882

Florenz Ziegfeld, 1867

Modest Mussorgsky, 1839

James Jesse "King Strang" Strang, 1813

Benito Juarez, 1806

Francis Lewis, 1713

Johann Sebastian Bach, 1685

Debuting/Premiering Today:

Annie(Film), 1982

"Stop the Music"(Radio show), 1948

Today in History:

The Byzantine emperor Heraclius restores the "True Cross" to Jerusalem, 630

Accession to the throne of Japan by emperor Antoku, 1188

3,000 Jews are killed in the Black Death riots in Efurt, Germany, 1349

n Oxford, Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Cranmer is burned at the stake, 1556

Czar Peter the Great begins his tour through West, 1697

Fire destroys 856 buildings in New Orleans, Louisiana, 1788

With the church leadership driven out of Rome during an armed conflict, Pius VII is crowned Pope in Venice with a temporary papal tiara made of papier-mâché, 1800

Code Napoléon is adopted as French civil law, 1804

The Bahá'í calendar begins, 1844

An earthquake in Tokyo, Japan kills over 100,000, 1857

The Zoological Society of Philadelphia, the first in the US, is incorporated, 1859

Journalist Henry Morton Stanley begins his trek to find the missionary and explorer David Livingstone, 1871

Loretta Walsh becomes the first female US Navy Petty Officer, 1917

Charles Lindbergh is presented the Medal of Honor for his first trans-Atlantic flight, 1928

Shah Reza Pahlavi formally asks the international community to call Persia by its native name, Iran, which means 'Land of the Aryans,' 1935

Alan Freed presents the Moondog Coronation Ball, the first rock and roll concert, in Cleveland, Ohio, 1952

Martin Luther King Jr. leads 3,200 people on the start of the third and finally successful civil rights march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, 1965

The first Earth Day proclamation is issued by San Francisco Mayor Joseph Alioto, 1970

Canadian paraplegic athlete and humanitarian Rick Hansen begins his circumnavigation of the globe in a wheelchair in the name of spinal cord injury medical research, 1985

Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones become the first to circumnavigate the Earth in a hot air balloon, 1999

The first full face transplant is performed by surgeons at the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, 2011

Australia's Prime Minister Julia Gillard formally apologizes to people affected by forced adoptions during the 1950s through 1970s, 2013

(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.)

"Wonder Twin powers, activate!" came blaring from the TV.

"What in the world are you children watching now?" she asked.

"It's the Justice League, mom, they fight crime!"

"Yeah, it's Superman and Batman and Wonder Woman and the Wonder Twins and all that!"

"Well, when this show is over, how about you two go fight some sedentary couch potato-ing and activate yourselves outdoors."

"Okay, as soon as it's over."

Linking up with Girlie On The Edge Blog, where she hosts Six Sentence Stories, and the cue is Activate.

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Gosia, of Looking for Identity, has taken over Good Fences, and it's now Good Fences Around The World. Post a picture of a fence or gate, link back to her blog, and go visit others to see what interesting fences there are out in this big world.

From our yard, we can see the tennis court fence at the clubhouse.

It's nice to have the swim club/tennis court within walking distance.

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Today is:

As Young As You Feel Day -- sponsored by Wellcat Holidays, which encourages you to stop acting your chronological age and go act peppy!

Banned in Boston Day -- see history for 1630 for explanation of why today

Coq Au Vin Day

Crane Watch Festival -- Kearney, NE, US (80% of the world's sandhill cranes congregate on the Platte River during March and April; what better reason to throw a 10 day party?)

Día de la Abolición de la Esclavitud (Emancipation Day) -- Puerto Rico

International Goof-off Day -- sponsored by Monica A. Dufour and A.C. Vierow, who think everyone needs a special day each year to goof off.

International Day of the Seal -- drawing attention to a disappearing species

Laser Day -- the first patent on a laser was granted this day in 1960 to Arthur Schawlow and Charles Townes

National Bavarian Crepes Day

National Letting Go of Stuff Day -- see lettinggocafe.com for details

National Sing-Out Day -- begun by an anonymous person who must love singing; and yes, i promise, i won't sing where anyone has to listen to me

Savannah Tour of Homes and Gardens -- Savannah, GA, US (tours of Savannah's historic homes; through Sunday)

St. Darerca's Day (reportedly the sister of St. Patrick; Patron of Valentia Island, Ireland)

World Day for Water -- UN

Anniversary Today:

The Tuskegee Airmen are activated, 1941

Birthdays Today:

Cristen Powell, 1979

Reese Witherspoon, 1976

Elvis Stojko, 1972

Matthew Modine, 1959

Stephanie Mills, 1957

Lena Olin, 1955

Bob Costas, 1952

Andrew Lloyd Webber, 1948

James Patterson, 1947

George Benson, 1943

Bruno Ganz, 1941

Marvin Yagoda, 1938

M. Emmet Walsh, 1935

J.P. McCarthy, 1933

William Shatner, 1931

Pat Robertson, 1930

Stephen Sondheim, 1930

Allen Neuharth, 1924

Marcel Marceau, 1923

Karl Malden, 1912

Louis L'Amour, 1908

Chico Marx, 1887

Debuting/Premiering Today:

"Conversations with My Father"(Play), 1992

"Brighton Beach Memoirs"(Play), 1983

"All You Need is Cash"(TV movie), 1978

"I Can Get It For You Wholesale"(Musical), 1962

"Mr. Wonderful"(Musical), 1956

"This Year of Grace"(Musical), 1928

"El maleficio de la mariposa/The Butterfly's Evil Spell"(Play), 1920

Today in History:

Hugo de Groot escapes imprisonment in Loevenstein Castle in a book case, 1621

The Pilgrims of Plymouth Colony sign a peace treaty with Massasoit of the Wampanoags, 1621

Algonquian Indians kill 347 English settlers around Jamestown, Virginia, a third of the colony's population, 1622

Massachusetts Bay Colony outlaws the possession of cards, dice, and gaming tables, 1630

Joseph Priestly invents carbonated water (seltzer), 1733

The Parliament of Great Britain passes the Stamp Act, which introduced a tax to be levied directly on its American colonies, 1765

The Emerald Buddha is moved with great ceremony to its current place in Wat Phra Kaew, Thailand, 1784

The three protecting powers (Britain, France and Russia) establish the borders of Greece, 1829

Cornstarch is patented by Orlando Jones, 1841

Slavery is abolished in Puerto Rico, 1873

The Edmunds Act adopted by US to suppress polygamy in the territories (especially aimed at the Mormons), 1882

August and Louis Lumiere privately screen the first "motion picture" ever made, of workers leaving their factory three days earlier, 1895

World's first airline, St Petersburg Tampa Airboat Line, begins, 1914

The Arab League is founded when a charter is adopted in Cairo, Egypt, 1945

Arthur Leonard Schawlow and Charles Hard Townes receive the first patent for a laser, 1960

Karl Wallenda of The Flying Wallendas dies after falling off a tight-rope between two hotels in San Juan, Puerto Rico, 1978

The Intel Corporation ships the first Pentium chips, 1993

Cosmonaut Valeriy Polyakov returns after setting a record for 438 days in space, 1995

The Comet Hale-Bopp has its closest approach to earth, 1997

Tara Lipinski, age 14 years and 10 months, becomes the youngest women's World Figure Skating Champion, 1997

ETA, the armed Basque separatist group, declares a permanent ceasefire, 2006

Mount Redoubt, a volcano in Alaska began erupting after a prolonged period of unrest, 2009

The Brazilian government begins auctioning part of the nation's television bandwidth spectrum to mobile phone companies, providing much-needed capacity to meet wireless demand, 2014

The remains of Richard III, King of England from 1483 to 1485, are escorted in a royal funeral procession, 2015

(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.)

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.

Dansig is a master snoozer:

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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 McGuffy Ann Morris of McGuffy's Reader. 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!

My fill-ins for the statements are underlined:

Week 98: March 23, 2018

1. I am the __________________ in my family.

2. I have ______________ siblings.

3. I am looking forward to this Spring.

4. The first sign of Spring this year was .

1. I am the firstborn and only daughter in my family.

2. I have two siblings, my two younger brothers.

3. I am looking forward to watching the pet geranium bloom this Spring.

4. The first sign of Spring this year was the Japanese magnolias (tulip trees), which have already bloomed and dropped. They bloom, then grow their leaves, and they are all green now.

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Today is:

American Crossword Puzzle Tournament -- Stamford, CT, US (puzzle lovers, unite! through Sunday)

Ancient Roman Calendar Celebrations on this date

Day of Mouring -- leading up to the festival for Hilaria

Invocation Day of Mars and Saturn

Tubilustrium -- Ancient Roman Calendar (ceremony to purify the trumpets used in sacred ceremonies)

Cuddly Kitten Day -- because the cats can't let the dogs get all the attention

Dandelion Dance -- Fairy Calendar

Daylight Saving Time begins -- Israel

Day of Hungarian-Polish Friendship -- Hungary and Poland

Day of the Sea -- Bolivia (Dia del Mar)

Liberty Day -- today in 1775, Patrick Henry said, “I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death.”

Lieldienas -- Ancient Latvian Calendar ("Big Days" or "Long Days", four day celebration of spring, each day devoted to a different deity)

National Chip and Dip Day

National Melba Toast Day

National Puppy Day -- encouraging you to adopt a shelter pup today

Near Miss Day -- commemorates the mountain sized asteroid that was a near miss on this day in 1989

Pittsburgh Arts & Crafts Spring Fever Festival -- Monroeville, PA, US (fun way to break up the spring fever blues; through Sunday)

Rally for Decency Day -- Commemorates the first Rally for Decency, prompted on this day in 1969 by Jim Morrison

Republic Day -- Pakistan

St. Turibius de Mongrovejo's Day (Patron of Latin American bishops, native rights; Peru)

Tempe Festival of the Arts -- Tempe, AZ, US (hundreds of artists and craftspeople, continuous entertainment, children's area; through Sunday)

Toast Day -- supposedly for the invention of Melba toast; a recent article says it takes 6 steps to toast bread "right"; i say if you can't put bread in the toaster and butter it when it comes out and need long sets of instructions, you shouldn't be let loose in society!

World Meteorological Day -- UN

Anniversaries Today:

The University of California is founded in Oakland, California, 1868

Birthdays Today:

Michelle Monaghan, 1976

Keri Russell, 1976

Richard Grieco, 1965

Amanda Plummer, 1957

Chaka Khan, 1953

Louie Anderson, 1953

Roger Bannister, 1929

Wernher Von Braun, 1912

Akira Kurosawa, 1910

Joan Crawford, 1905

Debuting/Premiering Today:

"The Bold and the Beautiful"(TV), 1987

"Detective Story"(Play), 1950

"Truth or Consequences"(Radio), 1940

Today in History:

Eighteenth recorded perihelion passage of Halley's Comet. 1066

The first dated edition of Maimonides "Mishna Torah" published, 1490

George Frideric Handel's oratorio "Messiah" premieres in London, 1743

Patrick Henry delivers his famous speech – "Give me Liberty, or give me Death!"– at St. John's Church in Richmond, Virginia, 1775

After traveling through the Louisiana Purchase and reaching the Pacific Ocean, explorers Lewis and Clark and their "Corps of Discovery" begin their arduous journey home, 1806

Elisha Otis's first elevator is installed at 488 Broadway New York City, 1857

The Boers and Britain sign a peace accord that ends the First Boer War, 1881

President Benjamin Harrison opens Oklahoma to white settlement starting on April 22, starting a Land Run, 1889

The Wright Brothers apply for a patent on their invention of one of the first successful airplanes, 1903

Pakistan becomes the first Islamic republic in the world, 1956

NASA launches Gemini 3, the United States' first two-man space flight (crew: Gus Grissom and John Young), 1965

Archbishop Óscar Romero of El Salvador gives his famous speech appealing to men of the El Salvadoran armed forces to stop killing the Salvadorans, 1980

Taiwan holds its first direct elections and chooses Lee Teng-hui as President, 1996

The Russian Mir space station is disposed of, breaking up in the atmosphere before falling into the southern Pacific Ocean near Fiji, 2001

In Tokyo, the Metropolitan Government Bureau of Waterworks reports that radioactive iodine in city tap water is two times the recommended level for infants, 2011

The African Union suspends Mali's membership following a coup, 2012

Lee Kuan Yew, founder of the nation of Singapore and prime minister for 31 years, dies at the age of 91, 2015

(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.)

This week, there is a lot at the cat shelter for which i am very thankful.

The kitten cages are, for the moment, empty, so...

Lots of adult cats are getting adopted, so...

So we are able to help with hard luck cases.

When we ask volunteers for old pill bottles, they bring bags full.

We are caught up on laundry because...

A donor gave us another washer!

The toilet is repaired!

Sweetie helps clean floors!

Free cat litter from Fresh Step!

Easter decor, and stickers for the children.

More Easter decor.

Hibiscus is mostly behaving, and has lost weight! (Even though it's hard to tell.)

Sweetie is very diligent about getting every scrap of garbage out.

The wonderful Josie Two Shoes is the hostess of Ten Things of Thankful. Please feel free to link up and share your list (it does not have to be ten, we are not picky). The more who share, the more fun it is!

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Today is:

All-Northwest Barbershop Quartet Contest -- Forest Grove, OR, US (quartets from throughouth the Pacific Northwest compete in an 1890s setting)

Commonwealth Covenant Day -- Northern Mariana Islands

Day of Remembrance for Truth and Justice -- Argentina

Dies Sanguines -- Ancient Roman Calendar (sacrifices to the war goddess Bellona)

Earth Hour -- 8:30pm-9:30pm, your local time; turn off your lights to take a stand against climate change

Houdini Day -- see if you can pull a disappearing act in his honor

International Day for the Right to the Truth concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims -- UN

Kazimiras Diena -- Ancient Latvian Calendar (return of the larks)

Komoeditsi -- Asatru/Slavic Pagan Calandar (honors the great Bear God, Meveshii Bog and includes sacrifices to the Great God of Honey)

Left-of-Field Fanciers' Fortnight begins -- Fairy Calendar

Maple Syrup Saturday -- Appleton, WI, US (please note that, starting now, almost every Saturday has a maple syrup festival or demonstration somewhere in Canada or the US where maple syrup is produced)

National Chocolate Covered Raisins Day

National Revolution Day -- Kyrgyzstan

Pandia -- Ancient Greek Calendar (festival of Zeus that immediately followed the Greater Dionysia; date approximate)

St. Catherine of Sweden's Day (Patron against miscarriages)

St. Gabriel the Archangel's Day (traditional date, now usually celebrated in September; Patron of childbirth, diplomats, messengers, postal workers, stamp collectors, telephone workers)

St. MacCairthinn of Clogher (St. Patrick's "Strong Man" and fellow worker; Patron of Clogher, Ireland)

World Tuberculosis Day -- UN & WHO

Birthdays Today:

Peyton Manning, 1976

Alyson Hannigan, 1974

Lara Flynn Boyle, 1970

Sharon Corr, 1970

Mase, 1970

Mark "The Undertaker" Calaway, 1965

Annabella Sciorra, 1964

Star Jones, 1962

Donna Pescow, 1954

Louie Anderson, 1953

Alan Sugar, 1947

R. Lee Ermey, 1944

Bob Mackie, 1940

Steve McQueen, 1930

Byron Janis, 1928

Lawrence Ferlinghetti, 1919

Dorothy Height, 1912

Joseph Barbera, 1911

Clyde Barrow, 1909

Ub Iwerks, 1901

Dorothy Constance Stratton, 1899

Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle, 1887

Edward Weston, 1886

Harry Houdini, 1874

Andrew W. Mellon, 1855

William Morris, 1834

John Wesley Powell, 1834

Fanny Crosby, 1820

Debuting/Premiering Today:

"Nightline"(TV News), 1980

"Cat on a Hot Tin Roof"(Play), 1955

"Native Son"(Play), 1941

"Letter from America"(Radio), 1946

Today in History:

Turko-Mongol emperor Timur sacks Damascus, 1401

James VI of Scotland becomes James I of England, 1603

The first game law passed in American colonies, by Virginia, 1629

Roger Williams is granted a charter to colonize Rhode Island, 1664

Britain enacts Quartering Act, required colonists to provide temporary housing to British soldiers, 1765

Benjamin West of the US becomes president of Royal Academy of London, 1792

In Hiram, Ohio a group of men beat, tar and feather Mormon leader Joseph Smith, Jr., 1832

Canada gives African men the right to vote, 1837

Robert Koch of Germany announces the discovery of the bacterium responsible for tuberculosis (mycobacterium tuberculosis), 1882

Oscar Straus is appointed the first Jewish ambassador from US (to Turkey), 1887

A. A. Popov makes the first radio signal transmission in history, 1896

"Census of the British Empire" shows England rules 1/5 of the world, 1906

Greece becomes a republic, 1923

U.S. Congress passes the Tydings-McDuffie Act allowing the Philippines to become a self-governing commonwealth, 1934

The longest game in NHL history is played between Detroit and Montreal; Detroit scored at 16:30 of the sixth overtime and won the game 1-0, 1936

In an event later dramatized in the movie The Great Escape, 76 prisoners begin breaking out of Stalag Luft III, 1944

The British Cabinet Mission arrives in India to discuss and plan for the transfer of power from the British Raj to Indian leadership, 1946

Elvis Presley joins the army (serial number 53310761), 1958

NASA spacecraft Ranger 9, equipped to convert its signals into a form suitable for showing on domestic television, brings images of the Moon into ordinary homes before crash landing, 1965

The United Kingdom imposes direct rule over Northern Ireland, 1972

In Argentina, the armed forces overthrow the constitutional government of President Isabel Perón, 1976

Archbishop Óscar Romero is killed while celebrating Mass in San Salvador, 1980

In Prince William Sound in Alaska, the Exxon Valdez spills 240,000 barrels (42,000 m³) of petroleum after running aground, 1989

Discovery of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9, 1993

Apple Inc. releases the first version of the Mac OS X operating system, 2001

Bhutan officially becomes a democracy, with its first ever general election, 2008

A series of emergency meetings is undertaken in Brussels to resolve Cyprus’ financial situation, 2013

The Opportunity rover becomes the first to complete a Martian marathon, 2015

(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.)

Just because Sandee of Comedy Plus is no longer hosting Silly Sunday does not mean i will quit telling Cajun jokes.

This past week has been difficult. One of my paychecks bounced, causing a chain reaction that has me down $228 and counting.

Since you can only laugh or cry, i choose to laugh (while hoping we have enough to cover the insurance payment that is coming up).

One time when Boudreaux be leadin' a fishin' tour in de bayou, he get to talkin' to one de men an' fin' out de man be rich from de oil on his land.

So Boudreaux ax him 'bout why oil cost so much, an' de man say, "My oil isn't that expensive. Now Van Gogh, he has the most expensive oil in the world!"

Boudreaux decide he goin' get him a job wit' de bill collector. De man tell him if he can get de worst debtor to pay, he can have him de job.

So Boudreaux go him to de debtor, an' he come back wit' wads o' cash, an' de owner de collectin' agency say, "How did you get him to pay, I've been trying to get money out of him forever!"

An' Boudreaux say, "Mais, I jes' tell him if he don' pay us, I's goin' to all de udder people he owe dat he paid us!"

Boudreaux be goin' over his stock portfolio an' it don' be lookin' so good. He done tol' de investin' advisor, "Mais, dis be worse dan a divorce because I done lost half my net worth an I still have the wife!"

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Sunday Selections was started as a way for bloggers to use photos that might otherwise just languish in their files. It is now hosted by River at Drifting Through Life.

Even Grandma's most mundane household items are decorative:

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Today is:

Anniversary of the Arengo and the Feast of the Militants -- San Marino

Annunciation of the Virgin Mary -- Roman Catholic Christian

Lady Day/Quarter Day -- England; Ireland; Wales (traditional New Year's Day)

Varfrudagen -- Sweden (waffle day)

Daylight Saving Time begins -- Albania; Andorra; Austria; Belgium; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Bulgaria; Croatia; Cyprus; Czech Republic; Denmark; Estonia; Faroe Islands; Finland; France; Germany; Gibraltar, Greece; Greenland (some areas); Holy See (Vatican City); Hungary; Ireland; Isle of Mann; Italy; Jersey; Kosovo; Latvia; Lebanon; Liechtenstein; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Macedonia; Malta; Moldova; Monaco; Montenegro; Morocco; Netherlands; Norway; Poland; Portugal; Romania; San Marino; Serbia; Slovakia; Slovenia; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland; Ukraine; United Kingdom; Western Sahara

European Union: Daylight Saving Time (Summer Time) Begins

Day of the Shining Ones of Heaven move Upstream -- Ancient Egyptian Calendar (date approximate)

Festival of King Amenhotep I -- Ancient Egyptian Calendar (rituals depicting his death and burial, performed for the Deir-el-Medina workforce; date approximate)

Hilaria -- Ancient Roman Empire ("Day of Joy", honoring Attis)

Independence Day -- Cyprus; Greece(1821)

International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade -- UN

International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members -- UN

International Waffle Day -- based on Sweden's tradition of having waffles on Annunciation Day

Medal of Honor Day -- US (first one awarded this date in 1963)

Mother's Day -- Slovenia

National Day of Celebration of Greek and American Democracy -- Greece; US

National Lobster Newburg Day

National Pecan Day -- anniversary of George Washington's planting of Pecan trees at Mt. Vernon in 1775

National Waffle Day -- possibly also International Waffle Day, depends on the site you search

Numbskulls and Clodhoppers' Dance -- Fairy Calendar (i know a couple of people who qualify on both counts; i need to find out how to buy tickets!)

Old New Year's Day -- until 1751, British Empire

Revolution Day -- Greece (anniversary of the revolt against the Ottoman Empire in 1821)

Sacrifice to Kronos -- Ancient Greek Calendar (private sacrifices to Kronos; date approximate)

St. Dismas' Day ("Dismas" is the name given to the unnamed "Thief on the Cross", crucified next to Jesus according to Biblical accounts, and who repented; Patron of condemned/death row prisoners, funeral directors/undertakers, penitent criminals, prisoners, reformed thieves; Merizo, Guam)

Struggle for Human Rights Day -- Slovakia

The Tichborne Dole - in Alresford, Hampshire, UK; since 1150, a gallon of flour is given to every resident by the Tichborne family head on this day, to avoid a curse

Tolkien Reading Day -- sponsored by The Tolkien Society on the anniversary of the fall of Sauron

Birthdays Today:

Danica Patrick, 1982

Lee Pace, 1979

Sheryl Swoopes, 1971

Sarah Jessica Parker, 1965

Marcia Cross, 1962

John Stockwell, 1961

Mary Gross, 1953

Paul Miles, 1952

Bonnie Bedelia, 1948

Elton John, 1947

Bonnie Bedelia, 1946

Paul Michael Glaser, 1943

Aretha Franklin, 1942

Anita Bryant, 1940

Gloria Steinem, 1934

James Lovell, 1928

Eileen Ford, 1922

Simone Signoret, 1921

Howard Cosell, 1920

Norman Borlaug, 1940

David Lean, 1908

Bela Bartok, 1881

Arturo Toscanini, 1867

Gutzon Borglum, 1867

Debuting/Premiering Today:

"Barrymore"(Play), 1997

"Cagney & Lacey"(TV), 1982

Today in History:

The first Easter, according to calendar-maker Dionysius Exiguus, 31

According to legend, Venice, Italy is born today at noon, 421

Richard I is wounded by a crossbow bolt while fighting France, leading to his death on April 6, 1199

Robert the Bruce becomes King of Scotland, 1306

Sir Walter Raleigh renews Humphrey Gilbert's patent to explore North America, 1584

Henry Hudson embarks on an exploration for Dutch East India Co., 1609

Lord Baltimore founds Catholic colony of Maryland, 1634

Saturn's largest moon, Titan, is discovered by Christian Huygens, 1655

Mount Etna in Sicily erupts, destroying Nicolosi, killing 20,000, 1669

The Slave Trade Act becomes law, abolishing the slave trade in the British Empire, 1807

The Swansea and Mumbles Railway in England, then known as the Oystermouth Railway, becomes the first passenger carrying railway in the world, 1807

Percy Bysshe Shelley is expelled from the University of Oxford for publishing the pamphlet The Necessity of Atheism, 1811

Greeks revolt against the Ottoman Empire, beginning the Greek War of Independence, 1821

In New York City, the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire kills 146 garment workers, leading to factory reform laws, 1911

The Georgian Orthodox Church restores its autocephaly abolished by Imperial Russia in 1811, 1917

The first successful tornado forecast predicts that a tornado will strike Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, 1948

The European Economic Community is established (West Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg), 1957

Canada's Avro Arrow makes its first flight, 1958

Civil rights activists led by Martin Luther King, Jr. successfully complete their 4-day 50-mile march from Selma to the capitol in Montgomery, Alabama, 1965

The first fully functional space shuttle orbiter, Columbia, is delivered to the John F. Kennedy Space Center to be prepared for its first launch, 1979

The world's first wiki, a part of the Portland Pattern Repository, is made public by Ward Cunningham, 1995

The European Union's Veterinarian Committee bans the export of British beef and its by-products as a result of mad cow disease, 1996

Protesters demanding a new election in Belarus, following the rigged Belarusian presidential election, clash with riot police, 2006

In southwest China, environmental and health concerns among residents are raised when 1,000 dead ducks pulled from the Sichuan River, 2013

(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.)

Awww Monday is hosted by Sandee, of 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!

Daughter-in-Law Becky has some new additions for the farm:

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My "Spark" for the day

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And on a personal note, Happy Birthday to Bigger Girl!

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Today is:

Day to Mourn Victims of Biological Weapons -- commemorates the day they were outlawed in 1975

End of Zimbor-Quattor's Revenge Week and Day of Reconcilliation with All Those Whose Hats Have Been Damaged -- Fairy Calendar

Fiesta del Arbol -- Spain (Tree Festival or Arbor Day)

Independence Day and National Day -- Bangladesh(1971)

Khordad Sal -- Zoroastrian (Birth of the Prophet Zaranhushtra)

Labour Day -- Christmas Island

Legal Assistants' Day

Make Up Your Own Holiday Day -- Wellcat Holidays, which has made up a bunch, wants you to do the same today!

Martyr's Day / Democracy Day -- Mali

National Nougat Day

Otago Provincial Anniversary -- Otago, New Zealand

Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianole Day -- Hawaii, US (Hawaiian Royal who worked to preserve the Hawaiian culture)

Purple Day -- International (supporting epileptics around the world)

Seward's Day -- Alaska, US

Spinach Day -- on this day in 1937, spinach growers in Crystal City, Texas, erected a statue of Popeye in honor of their favorite veggie

St. Braulio's Day (Patron of Aragon, Spain)

St. William of Norwich's Day (Patron of kidnap and torture victims)

Synaxis of the Archangel Gabriel -- Eastern Orthodox Christianity (celebration of his role is the Annunciation)

Anniversaries Today:

Ricki Lake weds Rob Sussman, 1994

Founding of the University of Utrecht, 1636

Birthdays Today:

Keira Knightley, 1985

Amy Smart, 1976

T.R. Knight, 1973

Josh Lucas, 1972

Leslie Mann, 1972

Kenny Chesney, 1968

John Stockton, 1962

Marcus Allen, 1960

Jennifer Grey, 1960

Catherine Keener, 1960

Leeza Gibbons, 1957

Curtis Sliwa, 1954

Teddy Pendergrass, 1950

Martin Short, 1950

Vicki Lawrence, 1949

Steven Tyler, 1948

Diana Ross, 1944

Bob Woodward, 1943

Erica Jong, 1942

James Caan, 1939

Alan Arkin, 1934

Leonard Nimoy, 1931

Sandra Day O'Connor, 1930

Pierre Boulez, 1925

Tennessee Williams, 1911

Viktor Frankl, 1905

Robert Frost, 1874

Jane Arminda Delano, 1862

Nathaniel Bowditch, 1773

Debuting/Premiering Today:

"Fences"(Play), 1988

"The Young and the Restless"(TV), 1973

"Cannon"(TV), 1971

"Funny Girl"(Musical), 1964

"Die Ehe des Herrn Mississippi/The Marriage of Mr. Mississippi"(Play), 1952

Today in History:

William Caxton prints his translation of Aesop's Fables, 1484

The first British Sunday newspaper is published (British Gazette & Sunday Monitor), 1780

The US Congress orders removal of Indians east of Mississippi to Louisiana, 1804

An earthquake destroys 90% of Caracas, Venezuela, leaves 20,000 dead, 1812

The Book of Mormon is published in Palmyra, NY, 1830

Eastman Film Co manufactures the first commercial motion picture film, 1885

New Delhi replaces Calcutta as capital of British-Indies, 1931

William H. Hastie becomes the first black Federal Judge in the US, in the US Virgin Islands, 1937

Jonas Salk announces the first successful test of his polio vaccine on a small group of adults and children, 1953

East Pakistan declares its independence from Pakistan to form People's Republic of Bangladesh, 1971

Anwar al-Sadat, Menachem Begin and Jimmy Carter sign the Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty in Washington, D.C., 1979

The "Melissa worm" infects Microsoft word processing and e-mail systems around the world, 1999

A jury in Michigan finds Dr. Jack Kevorkian guilty of second-degree murder for administering a lethal injection to a terminally ill man, 1999

The Taiwanese government calls on 1 million Taiwanese to demonstrate in Taipei, in opposition to the Anti-Secession Law of the People's Republic of China, 2005

Canadian filmmaker James Cameron becomes the first person to visit Challenger Deep, the deepest point on Earth, in over 50 years, 2012

Carrie Lam becomes first woman elected to lead Hong Kong, 2017

(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.)

Tuesday means linking up with Stacy's Random Thoughts at Stacy Uncorked.

Monday night i got a text from Dr. D asking me to meet her at 7:30am at her favorite car repair shop. When i got there Tuesday morning, she promptly handed me a sterling silver spaghetti stirring spoon, a Swiss army knife, a gallon jug of water, a note to herself about something she wanted to do, a pair of pants in a plastic bag, and a business card from someone who calls herself "The Pie Lady" (whom we later called to order pies -- chicken pot pies, to be specific).

After giving the key to her truck to the mechanic and a note about what she wanted done, we stopped at the cleaners, then went to the locally owned bookstore where she used to have a small office. Five crates of papers from her former office overloaded into Lunceford the Land Yacht later and we were on our way to the donut shop for her pig-in-a-blanket.

Dr. D has now got me involved in stealth gardening. Up the street from where she lives is the home of an elderly gentleman she knows who loves plants but cannot tend them much any more on his own. She has secretly planted five tomato plants right at the servitude that adjoins his house, and on the way to her house we stopped and used the Swiss army knife to open the packet of fertilizer she left over there (under the bucket by the back window) and used the sterling silver spaghetti stirring spoon to mix the fertilizer into the dirt. After all, what else do you use a sterling silver spaghetti stirring spoon for? She showed me how to water the plants and gave me a schedule to keep while she is out of town. Her ultimate plan is to surprise him with garden fresh tomatoes in a few months.

My spaghetti stirring spoon, most assuredly not silver but you can see how the business end would do well digging in the dirt.

Back at her house, most of the day was spent going through the papers from her former office and looking for one specific file which we never did find (after hours of looking everywhere, she has finally decided it is at the attorney's office). She also sent me to make copies of a very rare book about Huey Long.

Near the end of the day, we loaded all the files into her storage building, went to the post office to mail the copies of the Huey Long book to her friend in France, then stopped at a fried chicken place to buy apple pies to take to the nice men who had fixed her truck. Her van is still over there, by the way. They found an engine for it, and will be installing it soon.

From the van we retrieved two canes (no, at age 80 she still does not use a cane, why would that matter?), two umbrellas, books, clothes, moon pies, boxes of crayons, her favorite hat, leg weights, and some glassware, along with other things i cannot remember. Sometimes by the time i leave that house my brain is so full it is reeling.

She is leaving town soon to go visit her daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughters, and she is taking the cats with her. There will be a list waiting for me next Monday of things i can take care of while she's gone. Wish me luck.

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Today is:

Armed Forces Day -- Myanmar

Cherry Blossom (Sakura) Viewing and Celebrations begin -- Japan (the festivities get started around now, and vary by region depending on when the trees bloom in that area over the next 6 weeks)

Commemoration of Sen no Rikyu -- Omotesenke School of the Japanese Tea Ceremony, Japan (remembering the influential master in The Way of Tea)

Corkscrew Day -- M.L. Byrn of New York patented "covered gimlet screw with a 'T' handle" on this date in 1860

National "Joe" Day -- no, it isn't official, but today you can make everyone call you "Joe" if you want, and call them the same; probably started by someone who had no memory for names

National Spanish Paella Day

Quirky Country Music Song Titles Day -- after all, they do need their own day; sponsored by Wellcat Holidays

St. John Damascene's Day (Patron of pharmacists, icon paiting, theology students)

St. Rupert of Salzburg's Day (Patron of Salzburg; celebrated on the 24th in the rest of the Church)

World Theatre Day

Anniversaries Today:

Mary Pickford marries Douglas Fairbanks, 1920

Birthdays Today:

Brenda Song, 1988

Stacy "Fergie" Ferguson, 1975

Nathan Fillion, 1971

Mariah Carey, 1970

Quentin Tarantino, 1963

Xuxa, 1963

Maria Schneider, 1952

Austin Pendleton, 1940

Michael York, 1942

David Janssen, 1931

Anthony Lewis, 1927

Mstislav Rostropovich, 1927

Sarah Vaughan, 1924

Harold Nicholas, 1921

Gloria Swanson, 1899

Thorne Smith, 1892

Ludwig Mies Van Der Rohe, 1886

Edward Steichen, 1879

Patty Smith Hill, 1868

Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen, 1845

Nathaniel Currier, 1813

Debuting/Premiering Today:

"Starlight Express"(Rock musical), 1984

Funky Winkerbean(Comic strip), 1972

Singin' in the Rain(Film), 1952

"La Rondine/The Swallow"(Puccini Opera), 1917

"The Colleen Bawn"(Play), 1860

Today in History:

Ptolemy V ascends to the throne of Egypt, BC196

Pope Clement V excommunicates the entire population of Venice, 1309

Juan Ponce de Leon discovers Florida, 1513

The first English child born in Canada at Cuper's Cove, Newfoundland to Nicholas Guy, 1613

The dike at Hardinxveld breaks, causing the Alblasserwaard flood, 1709

Spain losses Menorca & Gibraltar, 1713

John Parker Paynard originates medicated adhesive plaster, precursor to the band-aid, 1848

First reported sighting of the Yosemite Valley by Europeans, 1851

M L Byrn patents "covered gimlet screw with a 'T' handle" (corkscrew), 1860

The first international rugby football match, England v. Scotland, is played in Edinburgh at Raeburn Place, 1871

Famous Apache warrior, Geronimo, surrenders to the U.S. Army, ending the main phase of the Apache Wars, 1886

The first Japanese cherry blossom trees planted in Washington, D.C., 1912

The first successful blood transfusion takes place in Brussels, 1914

Typhoid Mary, the first healthy carrier of disease ever identified in the United States, is put in quarantine, , 1916

Charlie Chaplin receives France's distinguished Legion of Honor, 1931

Nikita Khrushchev becomes Premier of the Soviet Union, 1958

The Good Friday Earthquake, the most powerful earthquake in U.S. history at a magnitude of 9.2 strikes South Central Alaska, killing 125 people and inflicting massive damage to the city of Anchorage, 1964

The Concorde makes its first supersonic flight. 1970

Construction of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System begins, 1975

The Norwegian oil platform Alexander L. Kielland collapses in the North Sea, killing 123 of its crew of 212, 1980

The Solidarity movement in Poland stages a warning strike, in which at least 12 million Poles walk off their jobs for four hours, 1981

The US FDA approves Viagra, 1998

HMS Scylla (F71), a decommissioned Leander class frigate, is sunk as an artificial reef off Cornwall, the first of its kind in Europe, 2004

The UN General Assembly condemns Russia's annexation of Crimea, 2014

Russia's Soyuz TMA-16M launches to deliver three crew members to the international space station to research the long-term effects of micro gravity, 2015

(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.)

Linking up with Wordless Wednesday.

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As of the time i am preparing this, the words for today have not been posted. As soon as they are, and i get off work, i will update.

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Today is:

Children's Picture Book Day -- while i can't find a sponsor for this day, starting kids on a lifelong love of books is as good an excuse for a holiday as any

Commemoration of Sen no Rikyu -- Urasenke School of the Japanese Tea Ceremony, Japan (remembering the influential master in The Way of Tea)

Feast of Artemis -- Ancient Greek Calendar (as protector of wild animals, vegetation, and places, begins at sundown; date approximate)

Festival of the Sacrifice at the Tombs -- Ancient Roman Calendar (to honor the ancestors)

"Greatest Show on Earth" Day -- Barnum and Bailey merged their circuses on this day in 1881

Hot Tub Day -- because we all need one!

Invasion of Loaming Shores Beyond the Certain Sea Anniversary -- Fairy Calendar

Khordad Sal (Birth of the Prophet Zarathushtra) -- Zoroastrianism (Fasli Calendar)

Komamorijinja Reisai -- Nakaedo, Kashi-sh, Gifu, Japan (festival of the the Kosazukeishi "child-granting stone")

National Black Forest Cake Day

Ragnar Lodbrok's Day -- Asatru/Slavic Pagan Calendar (remembrance of this Viking's sack of Paris)

Respect Your Cat Day -- anniversary of King Richard II's edict in 1384 forbidding the consumption of cats

Serfs Emancipation Day -- Tibet

Something on a Stick Day -- something edible, of course, what were you thinking? never mind; almost everything tastes better on a stick

St. Guntramnus' Day (Patron of divorced people, guardians, repentant murderers)

Teachers' Day -- Czech Republic; Slovakia

Weed Appreciation Day -- at last, for those of us with black thumbs, since this is all we can grow! "Weeds are flowers once you get to know them!" A.A. Milne

Birthdays Today:

Lady Gaga, 1986

Julia Stiles, 1981

Annie Wersching, 1977

Kate Gosselin, 1975

Scott Mills, 1974

Juliandra Gillen, 1971

Vince Vaughn, 1970

Reba McEntire, 1955

Dianne Wiest, 1948

Ken Howard, 1944

Conchata Ferrell, 1943

Jerry Sloan, 1942

Freddie Bartholomew, 1924

Dirk Bogarde, 1921

Irving "Swifty" Lazar, 1907

August Anheuser Busch, Jr., 1899

Maxim Gorky, 1868

Frederich Pabst, 1836

St. Teresa of Avila, 1515

Fra Bartolomeo, 1472

Debuting/Premiering Today:

"Hair"(Rock musical), 1968

"Philadelphia Story"(Play), 1939

Today in History:

Roman Emperor Pertinax is assassinated by Praetorian Guards, who then sell the throne in an auction to Didius Julianus, 193

Viking raiders sack Paris, who leave in exchange for a huge ransom, 845

The origin of the Fasli Era in India, 1556

Juan Bautista de Anza finds the site for the Presidio of San Francisco, 1776

Nathaniel Briggs of NH patents a washing machine, 1797

Heinrich Wilhelm Matthäus Olbers discovers 2 Pallas, the second asteroid known to man, 1802

The US Salvation Army is officially organized, 1885

Henri Fabre becomes the first person to fly a seaplane, 1910

Jews are expelled from Tel Aviv & Jaffa by Turkish authorities, 1917

Constantinople and Angora change their names to Istanbul and Ankara, 1930

The McGill français movement protest occurs, the second largest protest in Montreal's history, 1969

Operators of Three Mile Island's Unit 2 nuclear reactor outside of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania fail to recognize that a relief valve in the primary coolant system has stuck open, leading to a partial meltdown, 1979

In South Africa, Zulus and African National Congress supporters battle in central Johannesburg, resulting in 18 deaths, 1994

The 2005 Sumatran earthquake rocks Indonesia, and at magnitude 8.7 is the second strongest earthquake since 1965, 2005

At least 1 million union members, students, and unemployed take to the streets in France in protest at the government's proposed First Employment Contract law, 2006

Australian diplomat Peter Woolcott's draft for the first-ever treaty to regulate the conventional arms trade is discussed by members of the United Nations, 2013

(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.)

This is one of those times where i just have to vent, so i will.

The person whose check bounced last week has made good on almost all of it, with the remainder to come this Monday, and the cause was outside of her control.

My biggest complaint is how the bank, where we both do business, handled everything.

First, they took so long approving her check when i deposited it that i was late for my next job, then they bounced it even though they had approved it and she had overdraft protection.

After that, they did not give me credit for two more deposits until after they had taken out their pound of flesh and charged me overdrafts.

If Sweetie was not enamored of this particular institution, and if it were not actually one of the better banks in town (yes, the horror stories from other banks are worse), i think i would take my business elsewhere after this.

Linking up with Girlie On The Edge Blog, where she hosts Six Sentence Stories, and the cue is Vent.

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A local playground fence:

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Today is:

Barthelemy Boganda Day -- Central African Republic

Borrowed Days begin -- old English/Scottish/Irish legends about how March borrowed the next 3 days from April; these are still seen as weather prognostication days based on several different legends

Day of Redress -- Fairy Calendar

Knights of Columbus Founders Day

Little Red Wagon Day

Martyrs' Day -- Madagascar

Maundy Thursday -- Christian (a/k/a Holy, Green, Chare, Sheer, or Shere Thursday; commemoration of the Last Supper)

Procession of the Addolorata -- Taranto, Italy

National Lemon Chiffon Cake Day

National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day -- as recognized by AICPA

Smoke and Mirrors Day -- some sites call it "Festival of Smoke and Mirrors Day," but appropriately no one knows who started it

St. Armogastes of Africa's Day (Patron of the poor and torture victims; against poverty and torture)

St. Gladys' and St. Gwynllyw's Day (the Welsh "Bonny and Clyde", who led a life of crime before their conversion)

Wear a Hat Day -- UK (a brain tumour awareness event and fundraiser)

Youth Day -- Taiwan

Anniversaries Today:

Harry Hamlin weds Lisa Rinna, 1997

Yeshiva College (now University) is chartered in New York, 1928

Birthdays Today:

Hideaki Takizawa, 1982

Jennifer Capriati, 1976

Lucy Lawless, 1968

Elle Macpherson, 1964

Christopher Lambert, 1957

Kurt Thomas, 1956

Earl Christian Campbell, 1955

Karen Ann Quinlan, 1954

Bud Cort, 1950

George Blaha, 1945

Eric Idle, 1943

John Major, 1943

John Joseph McLaughlin, 1927

Pearl Bailey, 1918

Sam Walton, 1918

Eugene Mccarthy, 1916

Philip Ahn, 1905

Denton True "Cy" Young, 1867

Isaac Mayer Wise, Rabbi and Founder of Reform Judaism, 1819

John Tyler, 1790

Carlo Buonaparte, father of Napoleon Bonaparte, 1746

Debuting/Premiering Today:

"Woman of the Year"(Play), 1981

"The King and I"(Play), 1951

"Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Combined Shows"(circus), 1919

"Mutt and Jeff"(Comic strip), 1908

"Jevgeni Onegin/Eugene Onegin"(Opera; Tchaikovsky Op. 24), 1879

Today in History:

The city of Salvador da Bahia, the first capital of Brazil, is founded, 1549

Treaty of Saint-Germain is signed, returning Quebec to French control after the English had seized it in 1629, 1632

Swedish colonists establish the first settlement in Delaware, 1638

Ludwig von Beethoven, age 24, debuts as a pianist in Vienna, 1795

Construction is authorized of the Great National Pike, better known as the Cumberland Road, becoming the first United States federal highway, 1806

Niagara Falls stops flowing for 30 hours due to an ice jam, 1848

The United Kingdom annexes the Punjab, 1849

Ohio makes it illegal for children under 18 & women to work more than 10 hours a day, 1852

Queen Victoria gives Royal Assent to the British North America Act which establishes the Dominion of Canada on July 1, 1867

Queen Victoria presides over the opening of Albert Hall in London, 1871

The Knights of Columbus are established, 1882

Dr. John Pemberton brews the first batch of Coca-Cola in his back yard, 1886

The North American Radio Broadcasting Agreement goes into effect at 03:00 local time, 1941

Ethel and Julius Rosenberg are convicted of conspiracy to commit espionage, 1951

NASA's Mariner 10 becomes the first spaceprobe to fly by Mercury, 1974

The Canada Act 1982 (U.K.) receives the Royal Assent from Queen Elizabeth II, setting the stage for the Queen of Canada to proclaim the Constitution Act, 1982

Catherine Callbeck becomes premier of Prince Edward Island and the first woman to be elected in a general election as premier of a Canadian province, 1993

Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia join NATO as full members, 2004

The Republic of Ireland becomes the first country in the world to ban smoking in all work places, including bars and restaurants, 2004

Thirty-five countries and over 370 cities join Earth Hour for the first time, 2008

A transistor-like transcriptor is built out of DNA and RNA molecules by American bioengineers at Stanford University, 2013

(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.)

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.

Sometimes Tripod SissyCat and i sit on the porch swing together.

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My fill-ins for the statements are underlined:

Week 99: March 30, 2018:

1. For Easter (or Passover), I .

2. My favorite Easter (or Passover) treat is .

3. Lately, the song is stuck in my head.

4. The A-Z Blogging Challenge .

1. For Easter, i go to the sunrise service (and generally freeze), then we head to NOLA to go out to dinner with the whole family.

2. My favorite Easter treat is (was) Elmer’s Gold Brick Eggs. Although i generally eschew refined sugars now, i used to love those, they are a NOLA product and much beloved here.

3. Lately, the song _________ is stuck in my head. There is no one song. Every morning, i wake up and think of a hymn or praise chorus, and if anything gets stuck it is that, and it is a different one each day.

4. The A-Z Blogging Challenge is fun, i’m sorry it took me a couple of years to discover it.

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Today is:

Alcohol-Free Weekend 2018 -- US; sponsored by National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (this year's theme is "Changing Attitudes: It's not a 'rite of passage.'"

Check for Change in Every Coin Return You Pass Day -- because someone has a sense of humor and put it on the internet

Culture and Traditions Day -- Micronesia

Daylight Saving Time begins -- Jordan; Syria

Doctors Day -- US (begun by Eudora Almond in 1933 because she thought her husband, Dr. Charles B. Almond deserved recognition for his hard work; www.doctorsday.org for ideas on how to thank your doctor)

Fairies of the First Wand Reunion Dinner -- Fairy Calendar

Feast of Janus and Concordia -- Ancient Roman Calendar

Festival of Bast -- Ancient Egyptian Calendar (cat goddess; date approximate)

Festival of Reality Fabrication -- internet holiday to celebrate your imagination

Festival of Salus -- Ancient Roman Calendar (god of health)

Good Friday/Passion Friday -- Christian (remembrance of the crucifixion of Jesus)

National Hot Cross Bun Day -- US (always on Good Friday)

Procession of the Mysteries -- Taranto, Italy

Via Crusus (Way of the Cross) -- San Fernando, Philippines (reenactment of the Passion)

Grass Is Always Browner On The Other Side Of The Fence Day -- remember how good you have it; sponsored by Wellcat Holidays

I am in Control Day -- remember Alexander Haig's words on this date in 1981? well today, if you find the phones won't stop ringing, the kids got into the glue again, the coffee maker is on the fritz, and somebody dyed the poodle purple, stand up and declare that you are in control!

Land Day Commemoration -- West Bank/Palestinian remembrance

Limited Liability Day -- because no one can be responsible for everything

Pencil Day -- the pencil with an eraser top was patented this day in 1858 by Hyman Lipman

Pesach/Passover -- Judaism (begins this evening, through the evening of April 7)

Runic Half-Month Ewhas (Horse) begins

Spiritual Baptist/Shouter Liberation Day -- Trinidad and Tobago

St. Leonard Murialdo's Day (Patron of apprentices)

Take a Walk in the Park Day -- begun by someone who wanted to get out of the office

Turkey Neck Soup Day

Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day -- US (information here)

World Marbles Day (always on Good Friday)

Birthdays Today:

Scott Moffatt, 1983

Jason Dohring, 1982

Norah Jones, 1979

Matt Doran, 1976

Mark Consuelos, 1971

Celine Dion, 1968

Ian Ziering, 1964

Tracy Chapman, 1964

M.C. Hammer, 1962

Paul Reiser, 1957

Robbie Cotrane, 1950

Eric Clapton, 1945

Astrud Gilberto, 1940

Warren Beatty, 1937

John Astin, 1930

Rolf Harris, 1930

Peter Marshall, 1930

Richard Dysart, 1929

Peter Marshall, 1927

Frankie Laine, 1913

Sean O'casey, 1880

Anna Sewell, 1820

Vincent Van Gogh, 1853

Francisco Jose De Goya, 1749

Debuting/Premiering Today:

"Agnes of God"(Play), 1982

"Applause"(Musical), 1970

"Jeopardy"(TV), 1964

"Verkaufte Braut/The Bartered Bride"(Comic opera), 1866

Today in History:

The first recorded perihelion passage of Halley's Comet, BC240

Ketsugan, Zen teacher, performs exorcisms to free aizoji temple, 1422

Henry VIII divorces Catherine of Aragon, 1533

British and coalition forces march into Paris after the defeat of Napoleon, 1814

Dr. Crawford Long of Georgia, US, performs the first operation with anesthesia (ether), 1842

A pencil with attached eraser is patented by Hyman L Lipman of Philadelphia, 1858

Alaska is purchased from Russia by US Secretary of State William Seward, for $7,200,000 (about 2 cents per acre), 1867

Amelia Earhart becomes the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic, 1932

Einstein announces his revised unified field theory, 1953

The Yonge Street Line, the first subway in Canada, opens in Toronto, 1954

President Ronald Reagan is shot in the chest outside a Washington, D.C., hotel by John Hinckley, Jr., 1981

The oldest copy of Codex Holmiensis, dating from 1280, is returned to Denmark from Sweden after 300 years, and 45,000 Inca artifacts are returned to Peru's Machu Picchu after spending 100 years at Yale University, 2011

Uhuru Kenyatta is declared the rightful winner of the Kenyan presidential election by the Supreme Court, 2013

Slovakia sets a new precedent by electing Andrej Kiska, a millionaire, as president; Mr. Kiska is the first president without ties to the Communist party to be elected since the breakup of the former Czechoslovakia, 2014

North Carolina repeals its controversial bathroom law that restricted transgender use, 2017

(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.)

Sometimes, quite thankfully, things fall into place at just the right time.

Just in time, i noticed the spinach in the fridge was about two days away from not being usable, so i finished it off.

We finished work yesterday and Sweetie, when we got home, said it was just in time, his back was just beginning to give him a twinge. He was able to head it off with sitting down and taking a naproxen.

Just in time, i realized we were going to be out of cat food and the vet's office would be closed for the weekend, then someone stepped in and gave me a bag.

One of my clients handed me an extra $20 (he said, "Thanks to you, I don't have to stay home and clean before my mother-in-law shows up!"), and that was just what we needed for gas money to finish out the week.

Just in time, i remembered that i do have a card for nephew Dre for his big celebration this evening, so i didn't go out and spend money on another one.

Mike-Next-Door found the chain saw and agreed he will help us finish cutting back the stump when he mows the lawn, just as i was about to start making calls about renting one.

Just in time, i managed to trick Hibiscus (a/k/a Biscuits, because she is at least two biscuits shy of a Pillsbury tube) to get back in her room at the shelter, no need to run the risk of being bitten. (Biscuits is the perfect cat if you have always wanted to have an abusive relationship with a feline -- she never means to bite, and she's always sorry and promises it will never happen again.)

Dr. D is going out of town, and called me to give me her list of what she wants done just as i was sitting at the table and had both pen and paper handy. (How often does that happen, by the way? It doesn't!)

Just in time, i received word about a friend's loss of a sibling. If i hadn't heard when i did, i would have put my foot in it by asking her how he was doing instead of being able to call and offer help.

Finally, in my mind, the best "just in time" or "at the right time" of all time, i am very thankful that "You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly" (Romans 5:6) and "But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship." (Galatians 4:4-5)

The wonderful Ms. Josie Two Shoes hosts Ten Things of Thankful. If you have some thankful things to share, post them and link up, we would love to have you.

An InLinkz Link-up

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Today is:

Bunsen Burner Day -- on the birth anniversary of its inventor, Robert Wilhelm Eberhard von Bunsen, in 1811

Buy Some New Socks Day -- because all the websites that list it agree you are worth it

Cesar Chavez Day -- Arizona, California, Colorado, Michigan, New Mexico, Texas, Utah,& Wyoming, US

Culture and Traditions Day -- Micronesia

Day Everyone Says "31" a Lot -- Fairy Calendar

Daylight Saving Time begins -- Palestinian Territories

Edinburgh International Science Festival -- Edinburgh, Scotland (a massive celebration of science and technology; through Apr. 15)

Eiffel Tower Day -- inaugurated this day in 1889

Festival for Luna -- Ancient Roman Calendar (moon festival)

Full Sap Moon -- this is a variation of the Full Worm Moon, and in 2018 is also the Paschal Full Moon (the first full moon of spring, the very next Sunday after this moon is Easter); also called the Full White Moon or Full Virgin Moon

Holy Saturday -- Christian (a/k/a Black Saturday, Holy Saturday, Easter Saturday, or Easter Eve)

Hot Guitar Day -- the day Jimi Hendrix first set fire to his guitar in 1967

Jum il-Helsien (Freedom Day) -- Malta

King Nangklao Memorial Day -- Thailand

Lazarus Saturday -- Orthodox Christian

Lazarovden -- Bulgaria (along with celebrating the raising of Lazarus, there are fertility rituals, especially involving young maidens, and honoring the goddesses of spring and love)

Lord's Evening Meal -- Jehovah's Witness

Magha Puja Day -- Buddhist (celebrations of the teachings of Buddha to an assembly of holy men)

National Clams on the Half Shell Day

Oranges and Lemons Day -- St. Clement Danes Church, London, Enlgand (traditional children's service based on the rhyme that begins "Oranges and lemons/say the bells of St. Clement's)

Pesach/Passover -- Judaism (began yesterday evening, through the evening of April 7)

"She's Funny That Way" Day -- pay tribute to the women in your life, and how they keep you laughing; sponsored by Brenda Meredith of Dahomey Publishing, Inc.

St. Balbina's Day (Patron of those with scrofulous diseases or stroma)

Thomas Mundy Peterson Day -- New Jersey, US (the first African-American to legally cast a vote in the US, this date in 1870)

Transfer Day -- US Virgin Islands

Vigil to Mourn China's Annexation of Tibet -- anniversary of the day in 1959 when the Dalai Lama fled to India

Birthdays Today:

Pavel Bure, 1971

Ewan McGregor, 1971

Marc McClure, 1957

Angus Young, 1955

Edward Francis "Ed" Marinaro, 1950

Al Gore, 1948

Rhea Perlman, 1948

Gabe Kaplan, 1945

Christopher Walken, 1943

James Earl "Jimmy" Johnson, 1938

Herb Alpert, 1935

Richard Chamberlain, 1935

Shirley Jones, 1934

John Jakes, 1932

Gordie Howe, 1928

Cesar Chavez, 1927

William Daniels, 1927

Leo Buscaglia, 1925

Henry Morgan, 1915

John "Jack" Johnson, 1878

Andrew Lang, 1844

Mary Boykin Miller Chesnut, 1823

Edward Fitzgerald, 1809

Nikolai Vasilevich Gogol, 1809

Joseph Haydn, 1732

Andrew Marvell, 1621

Rene Descartes, 1596

Debuting/Premiering Today:

"'night, Mother"(Play), 1983

"The Shadow Box"(Play), 1977

"The Best Man"(Play), 1960

"The Glass Menagerie"(Play), 1945

"Oklahoma!"(Musical), 1943

"Le Chasseur Maudit/The Accursed Huntsman"(Symphonic poem), 1883

Today in History:

Bernard of Clairvaux preaches his famous sermon in a field at Vézelay, urging the necessity of a Second Crusade; Louis VII is present, and joins the Crusade, 1146

King Ferdinand & Queen Isabella sign decree ordering Jews to convert or be expelled from Spain, 1492

Jews are expelled from Prague, 1745

Commodore Matthew Perry signs the Treaty of Kanagawa with the Japanese government, opening the ports of Shimoda and Hakodate to American trade, 1854

Thomas P Mundy of Perth Amboy, NJ, becomes the first African American to cast a vote, 1870

The Eiffel Tower, commemorating the French Revolution, opens, 1889

Richard Pearse allegedly makes a powered flight in an early aircraft, 1903

Serbia accepts Austrian control over Bosnia-Herzegovina, 1909

Construction begins on the RMS Titanic, 1909

Construction of the RMS Titanic is completed, 1912

The United States takes possession of the Danish West Indies after paying $25 million to Denmark, and renames the territory the United States Virgin Islands, 1917

Daylight saving time goes into effect in the United States for the first time, 1918

The Royal Australian Air Force is formed, 1921

The Dominion of Newfoundland joins the Canadian Confederation and becomes the 10th Province of Canada, 1949

Remington Rand delivers the first UNIVAC I computer to the United States Census Bureau, 1951

In the Canadian federal election, 1958, the Progressive Conservatives, led by John Diefenbaker, win the largest percentage of seats in Canadian history, with 208 seats of 265, 1958

The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, crosses the border into India and is granted political asylum, 1959

The Soviet Union launches Luna 10 which later becomes the first space probe to enter orbit around the Moon, 1966

Explorer 1 re-enters the Earth's atmosphere after 12 years in orbit, 1970

The USS Missouri, the last active United States Navy battleship, is decommissioned in Long Beach, California, 1992

Netscape releases the code base of its browser under an open-source license agreement; the project is given the code name Mozilla and is eventually spun off into the non-profit Mozilla Foundation, 1998

Amid unrest in the Mideast, activists claim China has launched the largest crackdown on dissenters in recent years, 2011

(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.)

Most of the time, i would do a Cajun joke on Sunday. For this beautiful Easter Day, i have a true story instead, and it is rather funny and i hope touching.

Some of my extended family are Catholics, and yesterday, my nephew Dre was making his First Communion at the Easter Vigil Mass. There was a sweet young girl sitting in front of us who was there for the same reason. Those receiving for the first time got called up ahead of everyone else, of course.

Then, as the rest of the congregation started to go up pew by pew, when her parents got up she asked her father, “Can I go again?” You could hear the excitement in her voice, and he said, “Sure!” His wife looked at him a bit oddly, and he said, “Well, you can’t have too much of Jesus!”

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Sunday Selections was started as a way for bloggers to use photos that might otherwise just languish in their files. It is now hosted by River at Drifting Through Life.

“Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.” — Ephesians 5:14

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Today is:

APAWS International Pooper Scooper week -- The Association of Professional Animal Waste Specialists believe every dog should have its day, but not on someone else's lawn!

April Fool's Day a/k/a Huntingowk Day or Gowkie Day in Scotland, because an April Fool is called a gowk; in England it is All Fools Day or April Noddy Day, as an April fool is a "noddy"

Azalea Festival -- Muskogee, OK, US (month long celebration with citywide events throughout)

Capture of Brielle Remembrance -- Brielle, Netherlands

Civil Service Day -- Thailand

Community Spirit Days -- an open invitation, all month long, for any town or community to involve itself in a special service project

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

Easter -- Christian (remembrance of the resurrection of Jesus)

National Baked Ham with Pineapple Day -- US (always on Easter Sunday)

Paskar -- Iceland (Easter, the day trolls and evil beings sleep through the day, so an auspicious day to look for the wishing stone)

Edible Book Day -- Sponsored by the Edible Book Festival, Austin, TX, US (celebrating books and culinary creativity by making edible representations of books, then eating them)

Fossil Fools Day -- part of the conservationist movement of many organizations that want us to decrease reliance on fossil fuels and stop corporate polluters

Greek Cypriot Day -- Cyprus (EOKA Day)

International Fun at Work Day -- originally sponsored by Playfair, which encourages non-foolish humor that is non-toxic

International Tatting Day

Investiture of the New Captains Regent -- San Marino (sometimes listed as National Day)

Kalends of April -- Ancient Roman Empire; also

Festival of Fortuna Virilis -- Fortune in her role of bringing luck to women who want better relationships with men

Veneralia -- ritual yearly washing of the statue of Venus

Kanamara Matsuri -- Kanayama Shrine, Kawasaki, Japan ("Festival of the Steel Phallus", a phallic symbol festival, now a big tourist draw and used to raise money for HIV research)

Kha b-Nisan -- Assyrians (traditional New Year celebration)

Loki's Day -- by some calculations, but more likely it was moved to this date to celebrate the trickster of all time on the trickiest day of the year

Miyako Odori -- Kobu Kaburenjo Theatre, Kyoto, Japan ("Dance of the Old Capital", the highly anticipated geisha dance and music festival, through the 30th)

National Sourdough Bread Day

Orissa Day -- Orissa, India

One Cent Day -- no history on this, just noted on several sites

Pigasus Award Announcement Day -- by James Randi, awarded to parapsychological, paranormal or psychic frauds

Reading is Funny Day -- a day to read riddles, jokes, and fun things with kids to show them how great reading can be

School Year Begins -- Japan, most schools and universities

Sizdeh Be-dar -- Iran (Nature Day, an ancient Persian celebration to get out and joyfully spend the day outdoors)

Skagit Valley Tulip Festival -- Skagit Valley, WA, US; through the 30th

Sorry Charlie Day -- a day to recognize Charlie the Tuna, always rejected but never giving up, and anyone who has ever been rejected and lived to tell about it

St. Gilbert de Moray's Day (Patron of Caithness, Scotland)

St. Stupid's Day (First Church of the Last Laugh)

Tree Loving Week begins -- South Korea (always the week that includes April 5, their Arbor Day)

Uzupis Day -- Uzupis District, Vilnius, Lithuania

Anniversaries Today:

Nunavut becomes Canada's third independent territory, 1999

Jim Bakker marries Tammy Faye LaValley, 1961

Birthdays Today:

Randy Orton, 1980

Jon Gosselin, 1977

Rachel Maddow, 1973

Susan Boyle, 1961

Libby Riddles, 1956

Annette O’Toole, 1953

Samuel A. Alito, Jr, 1950

David Eisenhower, 1947

Daniel Joseph “Rusty” Staub, 1944

Ali MacGraw, 1938

Gordon Jump, 1932

Debbie Reynolds, 1932

Jane Powell, 1929

Anne McCaffrey, 1926

Toshiro Mifune, 1920

Abraham Maslow, 1908

Clara "Mother" Hale, 1905

Lon Chaney, 1883

Sergei Rachmaninoff, 1873

Otto von Bismarck, 1815

William Harvey, 1578

Emperor Go-Saga of Japan, 1220

Debuting/Premiering Today:

"The Will Rogers Follies"(Musical), 1991

"General Hospital"(TV), 1963

"The Doctors"(TV), 1963

"Der blaue Engel/The Blue Angel"(Film; premier of Marlene Dietrich), 1930

Today in History:

The ruins of the city of Pompeii are found, 1748

Japan's volcano Unsen erupts, killing about 53,000, 1793

Samuel Morey patents the internal combustion engine, 1826

Cincinnati becomes the first US city to pay firefighters, 1853

Singapore, Penang & Malakka become British crown colonies, 1867

The London-Paris telephone connection is opened, 1891

The Wrigley Company is founded in Chicago, Illinois, 1891

The Royal Air Force is created by the merger of the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service, 1918

The Royal Canadian Air Force is formed, 1924

Generalisimo Frederico Franco announces the end of the Spanish Civil War, 1939

A 7.8 magnitude earthquake near the Aleutian Islands creates a tsunami that strikes Hawai'i, killing 159, 1946

The twenty-six counties of the Irish Free State become the Republic of Ireland, 1949

The Canadian government repeals Japanese Canadian internment after seven years, 1949

The BBC broadcasts the spaghetti tree hoax on its current affairs programme Panorama, 1957

Project Tiger, a tiger conservation program, is launched in the Corbett National Park, India, 1973

Apple Inc. is formed by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, 1976

The Halifax Regional Municipality in Nova Scotia is created, 1996

Comet Hale-Bopp is seen passing over perihelion, 1997

Nunavut is established as a Canadian territory carved out of the eastern part of the Northwest Territories, 1999

Croatia and Albania join NATO, 2009

The world’s first smelling TV screen is unveiled in Japan, 2013

(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.)

Awww Monday is hosted by Sandee, of 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!

Baby Lee came for a visit, and his daddy, Red-headed Alec, tried to help him take a selfie.

Trying.

Trying again.

He's ready for his close-up, Mr. DeMille!

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My "Spark" for the day:

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Today is

Easter Monday -- Christian; related observances

Dyngus Day

Egg Races -- Rural Northwestern Switzerland (traditional Easter Monday races with competitors carrying large numbers of eggs from village to village)

Emaishen -- Luxembourg (traditional market)

Family Day -- South Africa

Hallaton Hare Pie Scramble & Bottle Kicking -- Hallaton, Leicestershire, England (traditional celebrations dating back at least 600 years)

Memorial Day -- Republic of Georgia

Seu Harvest Parade -- Curacao

Sham el-Nessim -- Egypt (Smell the Breezes Day, a spring celebration for all religions; celebrated by getting outside, greeting neighbors, enjoying spring, and eating salty raw fish)

Feast of Acan -- Ancient Mayan Calendar (god of wine, whose name means either "belch" or "groan", depending on your source -- although both seem apt, one during the celebration, the other after; date approximate)

Great Lovers Day -- you don't have to be a Cassanova to celebrate the great lovers in your life!

International Children's Book Day -- on the birth anniversary of Hans Christian Andersen, sponsored this year by the USA division of IBBY (International Board on Books for Young People); this year's theme is "The Small is Big in a Book"

Malvinas Day -- Argentina (honors veterans of the Falklands War)

Mule Day Celebrations -- Columbia, TN, US (the "mule capital of the world" has mule shows, entertainment, dancing and music, food, and fun; through Sunday)

National Ferret Day -- US (The American Ferret Association)

National Love Your Produce Manager Day -- with its own Facebook page

National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day

Reconciliation Day -- as recommended by columnist Ann Landers, use today to reach out and mend a broken relationship

Sizdehbedar -- Iran (Nature Day)

Spring Fever and Medical Aid Appeal -- Fairy Calendar

St. Francis of Paloa's Day (Patron of boatmen, mariners, naval officers, sailors, travellers, watermen; Amato, Italy; Calbria, Italy; Fossato Serraita, Italy; Sant'Agata di Esaro, Italy; against fire, plague, and sterility)

St. Urban of Langres' Day (Patron of barrel makers/coopers, gardeners, vine dressers/vine growers/vintners; Dijon, France; Langres, France; against alcoholism, blight, fainting, frost, storms)

Taily Day, Scotland (engage in pranks related to your tail end, a second day of April fooling)

Thai Heritage Conservation Day -- Thailand

Unity of Peoples of Russia and Belarus Day -- Belarus

World Autism Awareness Day -- UN

Anniversaries Today:

Napoleon Bonaparte marries the Archduchess Marie Louise of Austria, 1810

Birthdays Today:

Bethany Joy Galeotti, 1981

Christopher Meloni, 1961

Pamela Reed, 1953

Ron "Horshack" Palillo, 1949

Camille Paglia, 1947

Emmylou Harris, 1947

Linda Hunt, 1945

Leon Russell, 1942

Dr. Demento, 1941

Marvin Gaye, 1939

Jack Webb, 1920

Charles White, 1918

Alec Guinness, 1914

Buddy Ebsen, 1908

Max Ernst, 1891

Walter Chrysler, 1875

Emile Zola, 1840

Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, 1834

Hans Christian Anderson, 1805

Giovanni Giacomo Girolamo Casanova, 1725

Charlemagne, 742

Debuting/Premiering Today:

Nickelodeon(TV Cable Channel), 1979

"Dallas"(TV), 1978

"2001: A Space Odyssey"(Film), 1968

"As the World Turns"(TV), 1956

"The Edge of Night"(TV), 1956

Symphony No. 1 in C major(Beethoven Op. 21), 1800

Today in History:

Mehmed II begins his siege of Istanbul/Constantinople, 1453

Juan Ponce de Leon becomes the first European to set foot in Florida, 1513

"American Farmer," the first successful agricultural journal, begins publication, 1819

Victoria Woodhull becomes the first woman nominated for president of the US, 1870

The first Easter egg roll is held on the White House lawn, 1877

Puerto Rico is given limited self rule by the US Congress, 1900

The first full time movie theater, the "Electric Theater," opens in Los Angeles, 1902

The Titanic undergoes sea trials under her own power, 1912

President Woodrow Wilson asks Congress to declare war on Germany, 1917

Haile Selassie is proclaimed emperor of Ethiopia, 1930

Charles Lindbergh turns over the $50,000 ransom for his kidnapped son, 1932

The first official Panda crossing is opened outside Waterloo station, London, 1962

Argentine forces sieze the Falkland Islands, beginning the Falklands War, 1982

Rita Johnston becomes the first female Premier of a Canadian province (British Columbia), 1991

Israeli forces surround and besiege the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem into which armed Palestinians had retreated, 2002

Three widows and two daughters of Osama bin Laden were charged with illegally living in Pakistan; they were sentenced with 45 days in jail and fined $114 each, 2012

The Arms Trade Treaty, the first-ever bill to regulate the global trade in conventional weapons, is passed by the U.N. General Assembly, 2013

(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.)

It's Tuesday, and that means linking up with Stacy's Random Thoughts at Stacy Uncorked.

It's said that not all cats are affected by catnip, and i'm sure that is true for some households.

Here, the rate of catnip love is 100%. #2 Son is the one who taught me that there are different varieties of catnip, with some being more desirable than others.

The best i can afford.

They all line up every morning to get their share, and Link and Dansig, best buddies, have a play fight after. Yes, every single morning i am treated to this.

Once they are done, they usually wander off in a daze to sleep.

Yesterday was another copy day for Dr. D. She is out of town, and phoned me while i was at the house working. We searched for files, figured out what she needed, and i went to copy and scan it all and send it to her in an email. She needed to review some reports so she could call her attorney and instruct him to be certain to ask specific questions in the deposition he is doing later this week of one of the witnesses to the fire. She's not an attorney, but she knows her stuff, researches things and brings them to her attorney's attention. Yes, she has run through several attorneys, they have a hard time keeping up with her.

Today is the Ladies Circle meeting, we are on Chapter 12 of The Reason for God by Timothy Keller, and i can highly recommend it. Read it with a group, discuss it, and have finger sandwiches and petit fours after. You won't regret it, i promise.

(Check out other A to Z participants here.)

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Today is:

American Circus Day -- the first circus in the US opened this day in Philadelphia in 1793

Anniversary of the Second Republic -- Republic of Guinea

Day Sacred to Bona Dea and Day of Proserpina's Rise from the Underworld -- Ancient Roman Calendar

Don't Go to Work Unless it's Fun Day -- and unless you have a really great job, we know your decision

Easter Tuesday -- TAS, Australia; Cyprus; Nauru

Find-A-Rainbow Day -- a day to paint bright and colorful wishes for your friends, family, and sweetheart; if you actually find a rainbow in the sky, that's a plus, send a pic to the RainbowBrite site

Hanshi a/k/a Cold Food Festival -- China (second day of the Quingming Festival)

National Chocolate Mousse Day

Overcome a Handicap Day -- on the day, in 1981, when one-legged Canadian high jumper Arnie Boldt cleared 6 feet 8¼ inches, only about a foot under the world record at the time

Pony Express Day -- US; inaugurated this day in 1860

Second Republic Day -- Guinea

Shower Dance -- Fairy Calendar

St. Irene of Thessalonica's Day (Patron of girls, peace)

St. Richard of Chichester's Day (called Ricardus, ri for ridens meaning "laughing", car for carus meaning "dear", dus for dulcis meaning "sweet"; Patron of coachmen and of the Diocese of Chichester, Sussex, England)

Tweed Day -- a day to consider the costs of political corruption, on the birth anniversary of "Boss" Tweed

World Party Day -- anyone and everyone is invited to join the party

Anniversaries Today:

Isle Royale National Park is established in Michigan, US, 1940

Edward the Confessor is crowned King of England, 1043

Birthdays Today:

Amanda Bynes, 1986

Leona Lewis, 1985

Cobie Smulders, 1982

Jamie Bamber, 1973

Jennie Garth, 1972

Picabo Street, 1971

Robert Chapin, 1964

Eddie Murphy, 1961

David Hyde Pierce, 1959

Alec Baldwin, 1958

Bernie Parent, 1945

Tony Orlando, 1944

Leona Lewis, 1943

Marsha Mason, 1942

Wayne Newton, 1942

Jane Goodall, 1934

Calvin "Baby Vet" Graham, 1930

Max Frankel, 1930

Virgil "Gus" Grissom, 1926

Jan Merlin, 1925

Marlon Brando, 1924

Doris Day, 1924

Herb Caen, 1916

Sally Rand, 1904

Henry Robinson Luce, 1898

Leslie Howard, 1893

John Burroughs, 1837

William Magear "Boss" Tweed, 1823

Edward Everett Hale, 1822

Washington Irving, 1783

Debuting/Premiering Today:

"Endgame"(Play), 1957

TV Guide(Publication), 1953

Today in History:

Edward the Confessor is crowned king of England, 1043

The US Pony Express begins its first run, 1860

Gottlieb Daimler receives a German patent for his engine, 1885

Trial of the libel case instigated by Oscar Wilde begins, eventually resulting in his imprisonment on charges of homosexuality, 1895

The US House of Representatives accept the "American's Creed," a patriotic contest winner by William Tyler Page, as the official creed of the US, 1918

The building of the RMS Queen Mary is commissioned, 1929

President Harry S. Truman signs the Marshall Plan, 1948

Martin Luther King Jr. delivers his "I've Been to the Mountaintop" speech, 1968

The first portable cell phone call is made in New York City, 1973

Bobby Fischer refuses to play in a chess match against Anatoly Karpov, giving Karpov the title of World Champion by default, 1975

Conventional-Train World Speed Record: a French TGV train on the LGV Est high speed line sets an official new world speed record, 574.8 km/h (357.2 mph), 2007

Australia formally adopts the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, 2009

Following the News International phone hacking scandal, James Murdock resigns as Chairman of BskyB, 2012

(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.)

Linking up with Wordless Wednesday.

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This weeks prompts are:

1. game

2. bag

3. torch

4. queen

5. fit

6. pardon

And/or

beach
shadow
orb
chilly
collision
desperate

“PARDON me!” she said with a lilt in her voice. “Sorry!” She knocked her little sister’s GAME piece back to start as the rules allowed.

The younger child stifled a sigh, as she knew that was just what big sister wanted. As DESPERATE as she was to be just like the bigger girl, she knew better than to show it. Carry her TORCH out in the open and her older sister would be running to tell mom that “She won’t leave me alone, she’s trying to be my SHADOW!” Show too much disappointment that she was losing the game and the older girl would put on what their father called her QUEEN act and things would get quite CHILLY between them.

The younger girl had learned early not to throw any kind of FIT when she lost. The only time they played together like this was when it was raining on a summer afternoon and they could not go to the BEACH, as they called the small strip of sand at the pond behind the house, and she didn’t want to ruin her chances of getting in a full game.

Several draws of the cards and moving of game pieces later, there was a COLLISION. The younger girl, eyes round as the ORB of the moon hanging low over the ocean, realized she had finally caught up and needed only one more draw to best her sister.

“Sorry!” she said, trying to imitate the bigger girl’s tone of voice when that card came up and she sent her sister’s last piece back to start, while her own move, to her infinite delight, put the game in the BAG.

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

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Today is:

Ballroom Dance Day -- dance with your sweetheart today in honor of the birth anniversary of Arthur Murray

Bonza Bottler Day™

Children's Day -- Taiwan

Cold Food Day -- China (especially celebrated in the Shanxi Province, a commemoration of Jie Zitui, a loyal servant; no fires are to be lit and all food is too be served cold)

Homogenized Milk Day -- a machine to homogenize milk was patented this day in 1892 by Auguste Gaulin

Hug a Newsman/Newswoman Day -- an internet holiday, and be careful, no more fiascos like the gropings in 2009, please, just a nice hug

Independence Day -- Senegal(1960)

International Carrot Day

International Day for Mine Awareness & Assistance in Mine Action -- UN

Matsuyama Haru Matsuri -- Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture, Japan (Spring celebrations incorporating the Matsuyama Castle festival and the Dogo Hot Springs festival)

Megalesia, a/k/a Festival of Magna Mater -- Ancient Roman Calendar (great mother festival for Cybele; through the 9th)

National Cordon Bleu Day

National Reading a Roadmap Day -- another internet holiday that some sites call "Learn to Read A Roadmap Day”, but a good one to observe; you need to know how to read one when your GPS battery dies, after all

Ose Matsuri -- Ose Shrine, ShizouKa Prefecture, Japan (men dressed in women's clothes dance a lively jig on board a boat afloat in the harbour which is festooned with flags and streamers while taiko groups play drums on shore in this festival thought to date back to a wife wanting to protect her fisherman-husband by giving him a kimono)

Peace Day -- Angola

St. Benedict the African's Day (Patron of African missions; African-Americans; Palermo, Sicily, Italy)

St. Isidore of Seville's Day (Patron of computer technicians, computer users, computers, the Internet, schoolchildren, students)

Sun 'n Fun International Fly in & Expo -- Lakeland, Florida, US (preserving and enhancing the future of flight; through Sunday)

Swedish-American Friendship Day

Tell a Lie Day -- an internet generated holiday; the only day it is acceptable! make sure, after today, to clear it up, trust me

Victims of Violence Day -- anniversary of the assasination of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Vitamin C Day -- the vitamin was isolated on this day in 1932 by C.C, King at the University of Pittsburgh

Walk Around Things Day -- fun to do, it makes people look at you funny

World Rat Day -- pet rat lovers everywhere, unite and introduce your friends to your pet rats

ZAB Death Anniversary -- Pakistan (38th anniversary)

Anniversary Today:

Bill Gates and Paul Allen found Microsoft Corporation, 1975

Birthdays Today:

David Blaine, 1973

Dave Mirra, 1972

Jill Scott, 1972

Barry Pepper, 1970

Nancy McKeon, 1966

Robert Downey, Jr., 1965

David Gavurin, 1963

Gary Moore, 1952

Christine Lahti, 1950

Craig T. Nelson, 1946

Kitty Kelley, 1942

Angelo Bartlett "Bart" Giamatti, 1938

Michael Parks, 1938

Anthony Perkins, 1932

Maya Angelou, 1928

Muddy Waters, 1915

Frances Langford, 1914

Ernestine Gilbreth Carey, 1908

John Cameron Swayze, 1906

Arthur Murray, 1895

Isoroku Yamamoto, 1884

Linus Yale, Jr., 1821

Dorothea Dix, 1802

Today in History:

Francis Drake is knighted for completing a circumnavigation of the world, 1581

Sir Robert Walpole becomes First Lord of the Treasury of England, and is so influential in the Cabinet that he is considered the de facto first Prime Minister of England, 1721

Napoleon abdicates for the first time, 1814

Casparus van Wooden of Amsterdam patents chocolate milk powder, 1828

William Henry Harrison dies of pneumonia becoming the first President of the United States to die in office and the one with the shortest term served, 1841

Bryant's Minstrels debut the song "Dixie" in a blackface minstrel show, 1859

Susanna Medora Salter is elected the first US woman mayor, in Argonia, KS, 1887

Cecil Rhodes scholarship fund is established, 1902

An earthquake in India's Kangra Valley kills 20,000, destroys most of three cities, 1905

Vitamin C was first isolated by C.C. King at the University of Pittsburgh, 1932

Twelve nations sign the North Atlantic Treaty, creating NATO, 1949

Martin Luther King, Jr., is assasinated, 1968

Dr. Denton Cooley implants the first temporary artificial heart (the patient survived for 65 hours), 1969

The World Trade Center in NYC is dedicated, 1973

Bill Gates and Paul Allen form Microsoft, 1975

Space Shuttle Challenger makes its maiden voyage into space, 1983

Marc Andreessen and Jim Clark found Netscape Communications Corporation under the name "Mosaic Communications Corporation", 1994

Comet Hyakutake is imaged by the USA Asteroid Orbiter Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous, 1996

The Angolan government and UNITA rebels sign a peace treaty ending the Angolan Civil War, 2002

15 British Royal Navy personnel held in Iran are released, 2007

The most distant supernova on record is found by the Hubble Space Telescope, 2013

(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.)

She walked into the house to find her husband engrossed in a game on TV and both boys coloring themselves, every limb, every inch, with markers.

The sound she made came out like a strangled gurgle, and when she caught her breath she asked, “What in the world are you doing?” even though it was rather obvious what they were doing — making a mess of themselves.

“It’s okay, mom!” the older boy said, grinning, “we’re using the washable markers!”

“No, you aren’t,” she answered, “the washable markers are in the car, those are the non-washable ones!”

An hour of soaking and scrubbing in the tub later, they gave up as the older boy realized he was going to have to let the colors just fade, and he would have to go to school that way; the younger one did not care a whit, but his big brother knew he was in for some teasing.

He learned to check the labels better, every time.

Linking up with Girlie On The Edge Blog, where she hosts Six Sentence Stories, and the cue is Limb (and yes, this is a true story, it happened to a church friend).

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Today i wanted to post elegant fences for the letter E on the A to Z Challenge. Some of these i have posted before.

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

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Today is:

Babu Jagivan Ram's Birthday -- Andhra Pradesh, India

Bell Bottoms Day -- remember those? apparently so did someone who wanted to celebrate the fact

Easter Island Day -- anniversary of the "discovery" of the Island in 1722, on Easter Sunday of that year

Fringe Fairies Welcome Party -- Fairy Calendar

Go for Broke Day -- take a risk, and make it count! step out and do something extraordinary; anniversary of the day in 1945 that a US Army unit made up of almost all Japanese-Americans, the 442nd Regimental, went for broke and managed to break through the Nazi Gothic line in Italy in one day

Lady Luck Day -- in honor of the Roman festival of Fortune held each year on this date

Nafels Pilgrimage -- Canton Glarus, Switzerland (commemoration of the Battle of Nafels in 1388, observed with processions, prayers, sermon, and a reading of the names of those killed in battle)

National Alcohol Screening Day® 2018 -- US (if you or a loved one need help, find a way to get screened here)

National Caramel Day

National Deep Dish Pizza Day -- anniversary of the day in 1979 that Uno Chicago Grill, originator of the deep dish pizza, first opened a restaurant outside the Chicago area

National Raisin and Spice Bar Day

Nones of April -- Ancient Roman Calendar; also

Fortuna Publica -- festival of Fortune in her role as the Luck of the People

Quing Ming Jie -- China; Hong Kong; Macau; North Korea; Taiwan (Tomb Sweeping Day, last day of the Quingming Festival)(a/k/a Festival of Clear Brightness, Festival for Tending Graves, Grave Sweeping Day, Chinese Memorial Day, Tomb Sweeping Day, Spring Remembrance, and All Souls Day (not to be confused with the Roman Catholic holiday of the same name); the festival includes kite flying and rituals to call the spring rains, as well as cleaning the graves of ancestors and offering them gifts)

Saint Vincent Ferrer's Day (Patron of brick makers, builders, construction workers, pavement workers, plumbers, tile makers; of Calamonaci, Italy; Casteltermini, Agrigento, Italy; Leganes, Philippines)

Sikmogil -- South Korea (Arbor Day)

The Masters Tournament -- Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, GA, US; the matchup for the Green Jacket is the first of golf's major championships in 2018, running through the 8th

Anniversary Today:

John Rolfe marries Pocahontas, 1614

Birthdays Today:

Mitch Pileggi, 1952

Agnetha Faltskog, 1950

Max Gail, 1943

Michael Moriarty, 1942

Judith A. Resnik, 1949

Colin Powell, 1937

Frank Gorshin, 1934

Roger Corman, 1926

Gale Storm, 1921

Gregory Peck, 1916

Bette Davis, 1908

Spencer Tracy, 1900

Booker T. Washington, 1856

Joseph Lister, 1827

Elihu Yale, 1649

Debuting/Premiering Today:

"The Secret Garden"(Musical), 1991

"Married . . . with Children"(TV), 1987

"Secret Agent"(TV), 1961

"Fireside Theatre"(TV), 1949

"Pavane pour une infante défunte"(Ravel piano solo, Pavane for a Dead Princess), 1902

"Die Fledermaus"(Operetta), 1874

The Symphony No. 2 in D major(Beethoven Op. 36), 1803

Today in History:

St. Patrick returns to Ireland as a missionary bishop, 456

Two hundred Dutch noblemen petition to have the Spanish Inquisition suspended in the Netherlands, 1566

The Daimyo (Lord) of the Satsuma Domain in southern Kyushu, Japan, completes his successful invasion of the Ryukyu Kingdom in Okinawa, 1609

The Native American Indian princess Pocahontas, daughter of Chief Powhatan, marries Englishman John Rolfe, 1614

Jacob Roggeveen discovers Easter Island, 1722

The first recorded meteorite in Scotland falls in Possil, 1804

Helen Keller learns her first word, "water," from Anne Sullivan, 1887

The Greco-Turkish War, also called "Thirty Days' War", is declared between Greece and the Ottoman Empire, 1897

Archaeologists in Knossos, Crete, discover a large cache of clay tablets with hieroglyphic writing in a script they call Linear B, 1900

Firestone Tire and Rubber Company begins production of balloon-tires, 1923

In an act of civil disobedience, Mohandas Gandhi breaks British law after marching to the sea and making salt, 1930

In the Dominion of Newfoundland, 10,000 rioters seize the Colonial Building leading to the end of self-government, 1932

Ethel and Julius Rosenberg are sentenced to death for espionage, 1951

Winston Churchill resigns as Prime Minister of the UK because of failing health, 1955

Ripple Rock, an underwater threat to navigation in the Seymour Narrows in Canada is destroyed in one of the largest non-nuclear controlled explosions of the time, 1958

In Japan, the Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge linking Shikoku with Honshu, the largest suspension bridge in the world, opens, 1998

North Korea launches its controversial Kwangmyongsong-2 rocket, 2009

SkyNews admits it illegally hacked emails that belonged to members of the public on two separate occasions, 2012

Saints Alive! (Ten Things of Thankful)

Baiting Us Along (Cajun Joke) and Sunday Selections

Who’s In Charge? (Awww Monday) and Sparks!

Really Random Tuesday

How i spend my Tuesday evenings (Wordless Wednesday) and Words for Wednesday

Activity (Six Sentence Story) and Good Fences

Master Snoozer (Feline Friday) and Friendly Fill-ins

Gimme Shelter (Ten Things of Thankful)

Money Matters (Cajun Jokes) and Sunday Selections

Farm Friends (Awww Monday) and Sparks!

Dr. D is Random Enough for Tuesdays

Little Girl's Boy(friend) and His Dog (Wordless Wednesday) and Words for Wednesday

Letting It Out (Six Sentence Story) and Good Fences

Swinging Good Time (Feline Friday) and Friendly Fill-ins

Timely (Ten Things of Thankful)

A to Z: Again (A True Easter Story) and Awake (Sunday Selections)

A to Z: Baby! (Awww Monday) and Believe (Sparks!)

A to Z: Catnip, Cats, Copies, and Circle, a Random Tuesday Post

A to Z: Dr. D’s Stealth Tomatoes (Wordless Wednesday) and Delight (Words for Wednesday)

A to Z: Every (Six Sentence Story) and Elegant (Good Fences)