Monsoon

Sunday is a day of rest. I didn’t need rest, but I sure didn’t get to be outside much either. The morning, like most recently, began with clouds moving in. It warmed up, just like always. Then about 1:30 the clouds opened and we got a hard rain. Then it slowed to a gentle rain. Just like most monsoonal days. Soon the gentle rain turned into a wave of hard rain. This cycle continued for almost an hour. I’m sure this is the most rain we have had in one afternoon in many a day. Now the sky is basically clear here, but it looks like the horizon clouds are just waiting for tomorrow.

Sara Palin really quit. At a picnic. In Fairbanks…not the capital. Guess she showed them politicians by golly. She also proved she was a maverick…to all those who trusted and voted for her. Guess she showed everyone she was a soccer mom and not a pit bull.

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Random Fact…
The cruise liner, Queen Elizabeth II, moves only six inches for each gallon of diesel that it burns.

The Amazon rainforest produces more than 20% the world's oxygen supply. The Amazon River pushes so much water into the Atlantic Ocean that, more than one hundred miles at sea off the mouth of the river; one can dip fresh water out of the ocean. The volume of water in the Amazon river is greater than the next eight largest rivers in the world combined and three times the flow of all rivers in the United States.

Estimated total, in pounds, of explosives dropped by Israel on Gaza during the first week of this winter’s attack: 40,000. Estimated total fired into Israel by Palestinians last year: 40,000


Crazy Stuff In The News…
MIAMI - A suburban Miami woman said a bee removal specialist destroyed about 250,000 bees inside the walls of her home. Mary Olarte of Miami Shores said she was not concerned when dead bees began appearing outside of her house but she was shocked when a contractor discovered three thriving hives within the walls of her home, the Miami Herald reported. Willie Sklaroff, proprietor of bee removal service Willie the Bee Man, said all of the bees were destroyed Tuesday due to fears they may have been Africanized honeybees, also known as killer bees. However, analysis of the bees after they were killed with pesticides indicates they were not Africanized, the Herald reported..Olarte said she collected more than 100 pounds of honey and wax from the now-vacated hives in her walls. “I have lots of friends,” she said, and “everyone wants to try some.”

July is…

…Air Conditioning Appreciation Month…Blueberries Month…Cell Phone Courtesy Month…Family Reunion Month…Herbal/Prescription Awareness Month…Nat’l Doghouse Repair Month…Nat’l Grilling, Nat’l Hot Dog, Nat’l Horseradish, and Nat’l Ice Cream Month…Smart Irrigation Month…Social Wellness Month…Tour de France Month…Women’s Motorcycle Month…

Week of July 27…World Hacky-Sack Week

July 26…
208 days so far this year…157 days remain in 2009

Nat’l Korean War Veterans Armistice Day
Barbie-in-a-Blender Day
Take your Houseplant for a Walk Day
Walk on Stilts Day
*Finland: Nat’l Sleepy Head Day
* N. Korea: Victory Day
*Puerto Rico: Jose Celso Barbosa Day [The Father of ‘Statehood for Puerto Rico Movement’]

BIRTHS ON THIS DAY…
1870
Joseph Hilaire Belloc England, author (Path to Rome)
1880
Donald Crisp Scotland, actor
1899 Harl McDonald near Boulder Colorado, composer (Santa F‚ Trail)

1906
Leo Durocher Mass, baseball manager
1916
Kennan Wynn NYC, actor
1922
Norman Lear TV writer/producer
1931
Jerry Van Dyke Danville Ill, actor
1933
Nick Reynolds folk singer: group: The Kingston Trio
1944
Bobbie Gentry Grammy Award-winning singer [1967]: Ode to Billy Jo
1948
Peggy Fleming San Jose Cal, ice figure skater
1949
Maureen McGovern Youngstown Oh, singer (Got to be a morning after)

IT HAPPENED ON THIS DAY…

1501
Copernicus formally installed as canon of Frauenberg Cathedral

1694
Bank of England chartered

1775
Benjamin Church began his service as the first Surgeon General of the Continental Army

1837
US Mint opens in Charlotte, NC
1844
Fire destroys the US mint at Charlotte, NC
1974
John Denver’s biggest hit song reached the top of the Billboard singles chart. Annie’s Song, written for his wife
1991
TV Guide publishes it's 2000th edition .

Category Puzzle

Each of the three words can be made into a common word or two word phrase

Example: play, beef, rocky
Answer: ground

1. Key, wall, precious
2. Corn, winner, sweet
3. Top, inner, test
4. Go, there, seen
5. Back, crawl, work
6. Read, child, water
7. Blue, lands, roots
8. Butter, maid, run
9. Hot, strong, arrow
10. Sore, witness, buck
*Bonus: battle, work, play
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Answers”
1. Stone
2. Bread
3. Tube
4. Fore
5. Space
6. Proof
7. Grass
8. Milk
9. Head
10. Eye
*Bonus: Ground
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