Sunday

333 days so far this year…32 days remain in 2009

***Provocative Quote***
“Keep your nose away from other people's grindstones.” ~unknown

***Free Ramblings***
The holiday weekend is just slipping by. We have been told to prepare for a small winter storm. It isn’t here yet and I guess I’m ready. An inch or two of snow will certainly put me in the holiday mood. It isn’t here yet, and the way the weather people are in our little community, it may not even happen. It did get up to 44° today, there was some wind, some clouds, and it looked like it might snow, but alas, not yet.

I’m healing quite well from my minor surgery. I keep it covered and keep it moist with Vaseline. It is starting to look a lot better. The bandage still has a small stain, but nothing like the first day. Guess I’ll be ready to lose the stitches on Wednesday. Actually I am ready to lose the little buggers right now, but I guess my nose needs a few more days.

I worked on some of my African video today. I have a cute movie of elephants that lasts way too long. All together it’s about ten minutes. Elephants are so amazing. They are huge. They are so family-oriented. They love the water, and they like playing. We were so lucky to have seen a huge herd of them walking to and then playing in the water. I also had video of smaller parades of elephants. I didn’t do any video while riding the elephant, but got some nice still shots. I still haven’t figured out how to combine still shots and video yet. That’s my next task.
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± Good New from Values.com
Forest Park resident Betty Pritchard understands the concept of “special needs.” When her great grand-nephew, Owen Gilliam, was born with hydrocephalus almost two years ago, it was essential that his body temperature remain stable. To achieve this, his head needed to stay warm. But because his head was enlarged, ready-made baby hats were too small.
Owen’s mother, Sara, and her mother began making hats for him from soft, stretchy cotton fabric, and quickly realized that other babies with hydrocephalus had “special needs” too. They started a web site, and soon had a network of volunteers to help sew the hats.
Pritchard, a member of Forest Park Women’s Club, got club members involved in the charity, which now sends hats to hospitals all over the country. This compassionate effort is one of several community service projects the club has undertaken.
“We’ve been making hats for about 18 months now, and have made over 100,” Pritchard said. “We send them to my niece (Sara’s mother) in New Harmony, Indiana, and she distributes them.”
Pritchard said that hydrocephalus occurs in approximately one out of 500 births.
The G.O. Hats organization (named for Owen Gilliam) is based in the Gilliams’ home town of St. Louis, Missouri. It is growing steadily – which is also true of Owen, who is happily overcoming the obstacles his condition presents.

± Unusual News
NEW YORK - A New York pub owner said his Thanksgiving turkeys are soaked in vodka, covered in vodka gravy and prepared with reservoirs for vodka shots. Paul Hurley, owner of O'Casey's Tavern, said the booze turkey, which is injected with 100-proof Georgi vodka before cooking, was inspired by his mother 15 years ago in Ireland, the New York Post reported Monday. "On Christmas, my mom said, 'Why not try some vodka in the turkey?'" Hurley said. Paul Loftus, a chef at the restaurant, said a lot of the alcohol from the vodka evaporates in the oven, so extra vodka is added to the gravy. He said the turkey is also served with a reservoir filled with a fruit-flavored vodka shot and a straw. Hurley said the $29.95 meal comes with a taxi cab ride to anywhere in New York's Manhattan borough.

± Random Fact
Wipe the blinds with a sheet of Bounce Fabric Softener to prevent dust from resettling.
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§ November Month Long Observances
Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month ~ American Diabetes Month ~ American Indian Heritage Month ~ Lung Cancer Awareness Month ~ Military Family Appreciation Month ~ National Adoption Month ~ National Homeless Youth Awareness Month ~ National Inspirational Role Models Month ~ National Novel Writing Month ~ Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month ~ Transgender Awareness Month ~ Vegan Month

§ Week of 24 November
Church / State Separation Week

§ 26 NOV Observances
Square Dance Day
Electronic Greetings Day
Internat’l Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People since 1978

-Albania: Liberation Day (Dita e Çlirimit)
-Israel: Kaftet be-November (commemoration of the U.N. decision in 1947 to partition Palestine)
-Liberia: President Tubman’s birthday—Father of Modern Liberia
-Former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia: Republic Day (1945-1990 when Yugoslavia disbanded)
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~ Holy Mackerel: On this day in 1956 as a result of the Suez crisis, petrol rationing is to be introduced in Britain for four months, and will be controlled through books of coupons.

BIRTHS ON THIS DAY
~ The Arts
Louisa May Alcott in 1832 author (Little Women)
CS(Clive Staples) Lewis in 1898 writer/scholar (Chronicles of Narnia)
Howie Mandel in 1955 comedian & game show host
Chuck Mangione in 1940 jazz composer/horn blower
Garry Shandling in 1949 comedian

~Athletics
Suzy Chaffee in 1946 US, skier/chapstick user (Olympics-1968)
Don January in 1929 pro golfer
Dick (Richard John) McAuliffe in 1939 baseball: Detroit Tigers
Vin Scully in 1927 sportscaster (NBC Baseball & Dodgers)

~Business / Education / Politics
Frank Reynolds in 1923 news anchor (ABC Evening News)
John Harvard in 1607clergyman, scholar: Harvard College named for him
Jacques Chirac in 1932 President of France

~Science / Religion
Christian Doppler in 1803discovered Doppler Effect (color shift)
Dr David Reuben in 1933 writer (Everything You Wanted to Know about Sex)

In Remembrance~
Ralph Bellamy actor, @ 87
Cary Grant actor @ 82
George Harrison English singer, guitarist, songwriter, and Beatle cancer @ 58
Giacomo Puccini Italian composer cancer @ 66
Howard Pyle (Gov-R-AZ, 1951-55), @ 81
Natalie Wood actress drowns @ 43

Historical Events on this day
1825…1st Italian opera, Barber of Seville, produced in US (NYC)
1890…1st Army-Navy football game, Score: Navy 24, Army 0 at West Point

1944…John Hopkins hospital performs 1st open heart surgery
1963…The Warren Commission led by the Chief Justice of the United States Earl Warren established
1994…The city of Seoul celebrated its 600th anniversary as the capital of Korea.
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§ Whitewash
Complete the following words or expressions featuring the color 'white'.

1. A government report
2. A minor untruth
3. A leukocyte
4. Residence of the Presidents
5. Milk thickened with a butter and flour roux
6. A symbol of cowardice
7. A valuable which is expensive to keep
8. A piece of cloth waved in surrender
9. Caucasian
10. A northern cetacean
11. A sale of household linen
12. A kayaker's paradise
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ANSWERS
1. A government report: white paper or white book
2. A minor untruth: white lie
3. A leukocyte: white blood cell
4. Residence of the Presidents: White House
5. Milk thickened with a butter and flour roux: white sauce
6. A symbol of cowardice: white feather
7. A valuable which is expensive to keep: white elephant
8. A piece of cloth waved in surrender: white flag
9. Caucasian: white man
10. A northern cetacean: white whale
11. A sale of household linen: white sale
12. A kayaker's paradise: whitewater