Mar 14

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Mar. 14, 2020 Week: 11 Day: 74

86004: H 49° \ L 32° \ Average Sky Cover: 50%

Nearest lightning: 81mi.; Nearest active fire: 833mi.

Wind: 4mph\Gusts: 5mph Visibility: 10 mi

Record High: 69°[2007] Record Low: -4°[1990]

Mar. Averages: 53°\19° (6 days with moisture)

Today’s Quote

As you slide down the banister of life,

May the splinters never point the wrong way.

Always remember to forget

The troubles that passed away.

But never forget to remember

The blessings that come each day.

If you're lucky enough to be Irish...

You're lucky enough!

Random Tidbits

The French Foreign Legion is a military service wing of the French Army established in 1831, unique because it was exclusively created for foreign nationals willing to serve in the French Armed Forces.

The original purpose of the Foreign Legion was to remove disruptive elements from society and put them to use fighting the enemies of France. Recruits included failed revolutionaries from the rest of Europe, soldiers from the disbanded Swiss and German mercenary regiments of the Bourbon monarchy, and troublemakers in general, both foreign and French.

Observations This Week

Orthodox Lent: 2-4/10
Campfire USA Birthday Week: 8-14
Girl Scout Week: 8-14 Link
No More Week: 8-14 Link
Teen Tech Week: 8-14Termite Awareness Week: 8-14

Observations for Today

International Ask A Question Day
International Day of Action for Rivers:  Link
International Day of Mathematics  Link
International Fanny Pack Day  Link   
Learn about Butterflies Day

MOTH-ER Day: 14
National Corn Dog Day  Link 
Potato Chip Day
Pi Day (as in the math pie = 3.14159265 etc.) Link
Save a Spider Day  Link
Write Your Story Day 

My Rambling Thoughts

It's been a busy few days, but all is well. I flew to Denver, checked in to my motel, and got ready for Tahiti. Got to the airport 7a yesterday and met up with our group of about 20. Most I knew, so we started catching up. Then at 7:15 Ellie, our tour leader announced that Tahiti's government has stopped all cruise ships from entering their waters. After a couple more phone calls, we learned that the entire adventure had been canceled. Many offered to put up with me until I could get back to Flag. We visited a few more minutes...not nearly long enough, and I headed to SouthWest for a new ticket. The lady and her supervisor were very kind and understanding, the computer, not so much. The computer wanted $225 more for the last minute ticket. They worked on it a good 45 minutes, talking to several people who kept saying 'it is not Southwest's fault, so pay'. Finally the supervisor hung up, punched a whole bunch of keys and out popped at boarding pass and luggage tag. It was only one hour till the flight left, so I headed to the gate. Called the shuttle to change my reservation. They couldn't give me home delivery, because I hadn't asked 24 hours in advance. They didn't care about my story. I got to Phoenix. There was only one empty seat on the flight up to Denver, but this flight had 30 empty seats...unheard of before the virus. The guy with the window seat told me he was an environmental scientist and got a call that morning to return to his home and that all work and travel was canceled for the next six weeks. He has two kids in college, his wife is an exercise instructor at a local community center and all her classes were canceled on Monday with no start up day expected soon. The shuttle driver, whom I knew from previous trips, took me home...but got chewed out by his supervisor for doing it. I learned they are one of the only companies in the states that have rules that can NEVER be broken, or bent without consequences. I got home about 4p. I unpacked this morning. It was quite a day for sure, but all worked out just fine.

All of us are very disappointed, but all believe it is better to be safe than sorry. Can't imagine what it would be like to be stuck for 2 weeks in quarantine somewhere outside the US. Can't imagine what it would be like to finish our trip, only to learn we can't return to the US.

Every aspect of our economy is being tested with this virus. The travel industry has been hit very hard. Tumlare is busy getting us refunds, but it will take a few days. I feel for the many families that are suffering through this...especially those who need tourism, in and outside the US...think Indian Reservations. For our small group of travelers, there are canceled hotel reservations, canceled meals, canceled tour guides, canceled vehicles, and much more. These people need those tourist dollars to pay for housing, buy groceries, get fuel, and care for their families. In the tourist industry, our trip is multiplied many times over. A special thanks to all those are working tirelessly to make this virus cause the least amount of disruption to so many. Such awesome people.

On the home front, colleges are going on-line, but many students don't have internet access from their home. Restaurants are losing customers. With public gatherings being canceled, vendors, security, parking lots, hotels, and many others are also without revenue. There are many behind the scenes workers at schools, colleges, and other business who have no work it the venue is closed. And finally, for now, about 25% of public school kids depend on the free breakfast and lunch programs that are done at schools. What will they eat when the school closes due to this virus?

America is strong, and now is the time for everyone of us to do whatever we can to help.

Today’s Puzzle

Answer at the bottom of the page

A man is the owner of a winery who recently passed away. In his will, he left 21 barrels (seven of which are filled with wine, seven of which are half full, and seven of which are empty) to his three sons.

However, the wine and barrels must be split, so that each son has the same number of full barrels, the same number of half-full barrels, and the same number of empty barrels.

Note that there are no measuring devices handy.

How can the barrels and wine be evenly divided?

Puzzle Answer:

Two half-full barrels are dumped into one of the empty barrels. Two more half-full barrels are dumped into another one of the empty barrels. This results in nine full barrels, three half-full barrels, and nine empty barrels. Each son gets three full barrels, one half-full barrel, and three empty barrels.