Friday

338 days so far this year…27 days remain in 2009
21 shopping days remain until Christmas
***Provocative Quote***
"A closed mouth gathers no foot." ~unknown
***Free Ramblings***
What an amazing day. Jerry picked me up about 6:15 this morning and we were off to TCBS. It sure isn’t the Tuba Boarding I remember. It is a beautiful school. Both Jerry and I were honored at the event. Former student Pete Zah gave a great speech. Some of my former students then took us on a tour. Got to hug and shake hands with many, many, many teachers, and see many students, who surprisingly remembered me. The school now has the some very up-to-date technology in every classroom. That alone made the trip worthwhile. After waiting over 100 years, TCBS now has its own real gym—one big enough to hold all 1200 students in the bleachers. It was strange to see how much older most of the teachers I knew have gotten in the three years since I have been there. It was a great visit. Very nice to see how positive and happy most of the staff is, and seeing that while many things change, some never do. I was very disappointed to see that the tenants in the house I lived in for about 15 years have let the beautiful lawn, trees and flowers go to waste. I really enjoyed the lawn, the trees, and the flowerbeds. The new tenants obviously didn’t. I am really glad I took the day to do this. I was also very glad that I could walk out of the school, get in a vehicle, and return to my retirement.
Tuba was a little chilly all day today. The cold wind didn’t help much. The weather guy says Tuba made it to 38°. It was nice that the wind did not have very much sand in the air. Flag was also cool. It only got to 34° and as I got in the car this morning, it was only 13°. The wind dropped the temperature here by about 10°. Our strongest winter storm so far is on the way. It is scheduled to hit us Monday.
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± Quotes from Values.com—Class & Grace
“Life is mostly froth and bubble; Two things stand like stone: Kindness in another's trouble, Courage in our own.” ~Adam Lindsay [Lionel Gordon] Gordon (1833-1870) Australian Poet

± Unusual News
BROCKTON, Mass. - Organizers of a Massachusetts party said more than 400 twins, triplets, siblings and parents attended the holiday celebration. Keeping Pace with Multiple Miracles, which organized Sunday's party at Shaw's Center in Brockton, said dozens of families with twins and triplets came out to pose for pictures with Santa and socialize with families faced with similar situations, the Boston Globe reported Monday. "No one's going to say, 'Oh, my God. How do you do it?' It's like you're anonymous," Donna Baker, co-founder of Keeping Pace with Multiple Miracles and mother of 15-year-old triplets and a 19-year-old, said of the party's comforting atmosphere for parents of multiples.

± Random Facts on The Grinch Who Stole Christmas
The live-action movie ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’ features more than 52,000 Christmas lights, about 8,200 Christmas ornaments, and nearly 2,000 candy canes.
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For many years the line "You're a rotter, Mr. Grinch" was censored because it was considered too vulgar for television.
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§ December Month Long Observances
Birthstone: Blue Topaz…Flower of the Month: Narcissus
Colorectal Cancer Education and Awareness Month + Hi Neighbor Month + National Write A Business Plan Month + National Tie Month + Rising Star Month + Safe Toys and Gifts Month + Spiritual Literacy Month + Stress Free Family Holiday Month + Universal Human Rights Month + Read A New Book Month+ World Aids Month

§ Week of 1 December
Cookie Cutter Week ~ Tolerance Week ~ Recipe Greetings for The Holidays Week ~ Operation Santa Paws Week ~ Hand Washing Awareness Week

§ 4 December Observances
National Dice Day
Wear Brown Shoes Day
-Poland: Barbórka – Miners' Day
-India: Navy Day
-México: Day of the Artisans
-Tonga: Proclamation Day
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~ Holy Mackerel: On this day in 1934 All uniforms were forbidden by Turkey’s government – even Boy Scout uniforms from other countries. Also prohibited were Nazi brown uniforms and Fascist black military dress.

BIRTHS ON THIS DAY
~ The Arts
Max Baer Jr in 1937 actor (Jethro-Beverly Hillbillies)
Tyra Banks in 1973 model/actress/TV Host
Thomas Carlyle in 1795 Scottish essayist/historian (French Revolution)
Freddy Cannon [Picariello] in 1940 rocker (Palisades Park)
Wink [Winston Conrad] Martindale in 1934 TV game show host

~Athletics
Jeff Blake in 1970 NFL quarterback (Cincinnati Bengals)
Alex Delvecchio in 1931 Hockey Hall of Famer

~Business / Education / Politics
Pappy (Gregory) Boyington in 1912 aviator: USMC

~Science / Religion
John Cotton in 1584 Puritan clergyman in Massachusetts Bay colony
Pope Julius II in 1443 patron of Michelangelo, Bramante, Raphael

In Remembrance~
Richard Hunne English "heretic" commits suicide
Armand-Jean Duplessis Richelieu religious figure, headaches @ 57
Bert Lahr [Irving Lahrheim] US comic (Wizard of Oz), @ 72
Frank V Zappa music/composer (Mothers of Invention), cancer @ 52

Historical Events on this day
1598…Spanish and ACOMA forces engage in a fight.
1791…Britain's Observer, oldest Sunday newspaper in world, 1st published
1843…Manila paper (made from sails, canvas & rope) patented, Massachusetts
1867…Grange organized to protect farm interests

1906…Alpha Phi Alpha, 1st Black Greek Letter Fraternity, forms
1918…President Wilson sails for Versailles Peace Conference in France, 1st chief executive to travel outside US while in office
1923…Cecil B DeMille's 1st version of "Ten Commandments" premieres
1942…FDR orders dismantling of Works Progress Administration (Tuba Boarding has five buildings still standing that were built by WPA)
1955…As part of an NBC-TV special, mime artist Marcel Marceau appeared on television for the first time.
1961…The birth control pill an oral contraception will now be available on the National Health Service
1982…China adopts its constitution
1998…The first 6 astronauts are taken by Space Shuttle Endeavour to Attach the Unity Module to Zarya FGB to begin the assembly in space of the International Space Station
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§ The Black Whole

Complete the following expressions featuring the color BLACK.
1. angry or threatening stare:
2. Bruised:
3. obvious and clear, as in print:
4. judo expert:
5. a flight recorder on aircraft:
6. widespread epidemic in 14th century:
7. a collapsed star:
8. livid with strangulation or exertion:
9. illicit traffic in scarce commodities:
10. formal evening dress:
11. black sausage with pork, dried pig's blood and suet:
12. unsatisfactory member of the family:
13. something extremely rare:

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ANSWERS

1. angry or threatening stare: black look
2. Bruised: black and blue
3. obvious and clear, as in print: black and white
4. judo expert: black belt
5. a flight recorder on aircraft: black box
6. widespread epidemic in 14th century: Black Death
7. a collapsed star: black hole
8. livid with strangulation or exertion: black in the face
9. illicit traffic in scarce commodities: black market
10. formal evening dress: black tie
11. black sausage with pork, dried pig's blood and suet: black pudding
12. unsatisfactory member of the family: black sheep
13. something extremely rare: black swan