Tuesday

10 shopping days remain until Christmas
347 days so far this year…16 days remain in 2009
***Provocative Quote***
"If reality wants to get in touch with me, it knows where I am." ~unknown
***Free Ramblings***
I spent some time shopping today. Probably a good thing since there is only ten shopping days left. I was very successful, for the most part. My mom had two friends she always sent Fruit of the Month. Last year, I continued the tradition. They both had been such good dedicated friends who were always there for her. They both called and said, “You don’t have to do this.” So today I didn’t do it, instead I sent them each a nice one-time Hickory Farms thing. I want them to know my brother and I still appreciate their friendship with the family, but don’t want to overwhelm them with fresh fruit every month—so I opted to overwhelm them with meat and cheese and chocolate. Hmmm...probably should have stuck with the fruit. I have used Hickory Farms before—I really enjoy their cheese balls. I usually go to the local mall, pick out a few cheese things for me and have some boxes sent out around the country to friends. Ah, this year, HF changed their policy. If you buy the stuff at the mall, and have it shipped, you have to fill out a card and mail the order to Hickory Farms, somewhere across this great continent. No email for the poor vendor, no other help from the local vendor. Many of these people only open a kiosk during the Christmas season. A little extra money for the family. The guy told me he has lost a lot of sales with this new policy. So I came home, got on line, and did my order. They even had free shipping. Good for me, but bad, very bad for the poor vendor who is just trying to make a few bucks. If I were him, I would have a computer at the kiosk and let the customer use it to order. But then, I’m not now or will ever be a business person.

Today my sister-in-law turned 40. A big deal, especially in her business. My brother planned a great evening, but wouldn’t tell me doing what…guess he doesn’t trust my ability to keep a secret. I usually just send a card but since it is the big 40 I sent her balloons, chocolate, and a stuffed bear. The card read “40 isn’t old…if you are a tree.” The phone guy I ordered it from couldn’t quit giggling when I gave him the message. I guess Laura really enjoyed it too. She said it was at her business first thing this morning. She said the card gave her a good laugh, and helped her accept the inevitable. I wish I could take credit for the quote, but I did steal it. When I turned 40, I was called to the Tonalea school gym about 2pm. There were about 250 kids and staff sitting in the bleachers and a huge sign across the court with the saying. Then the staff and students sang Happy Birthday. They used “Dear Old Man” at the end. Cute. Not true…but cute. I’ve always remembered that day, and use the quote whenever someone has reached 40. It always brings a smile.

Today became another slush day. We only made it to 38° but that was enough to melt yesterday’s snow and some of the two feet left by the previous storm. Parking lots around town were slush rivers between the parking space and the store entrance. The one thing I dislike about my Xterra is the carrier on the roof. It is great for holding stuff but that means snow and ice in the winter. As the snow melts, small pieces of ice slide around the roof every time I speed up, slow down, stop or go. Finally I either climb up and get rid of them, or I hit a bump or pothole and they bounce out onto the pavement. Today it was warm enough for all the snow/ice to find its way to the pavement. Not a bad day overall. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

± Quotes from Values.com—Sacrifice
“We must be willing to get rid of the life we’ve planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us. ” ~Joseph Campbell Mythologist, Writer

± Unusual Wizard of Oz Trivia…
-"Over the Rainbow" was nearly cut from the film; MGM felt that it made the Kansas sequence too long, as well as being too far over the heads of the children for whom it was intended. The studio also thought that it was degrading for Judy Garland to sing in a barnyard. In 2004, the song was ranked #1 by the American Film Institute on the 100 Greatest Songs in American Films list.
-The horses in Emerald City palace were colored with Jell-O crystals. The relevant scenes had to be shot quickly, before the horses started to lick it off.

± Random Fact
75% of Honda vehicles purchased in the U.S. are manufactured in North America
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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 12 December
Chanukah (Hanukkah) Week 12th-19th
Gluten-free Baking Week (week 12th -18th )
Halcyon Days—week Dec 14th -28th

§ 15 December Observances
Bill of Rights Day since 1791
Cat Herders Day—not an easy task
National Lemon Cupcake Day—Lemon Queen Cakes in the 1700’s
-Alderney, Channel Islands: Homecoming Day – celebrates the return of evacuated citizens after World War II.
-Zamenhof Day: Esperanto League (1859) in honor of L. L. Zamenhof, the creator of Esperanto
-Netherlands Antilles : Kingdom Day/Statute Day (since 1954)
-Pakistan : Quaid-i-Azam's Birthday (founder of Modern Pakistan)
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± Holy Mackerel: On this day in 1992…A Haitian priest who is Roman Catholic claimed that President Bush was the victim of a voodoo hex. The priest claimed that the president could undo the curse by changing the U.S.’s foreign policy to Haiti. He said that the proof of Bush’s curse was the fact that the president vomited on the Japanese prime minister

± BIRTHS ON THIS DAY
~ The Arts
Jeff Chandler [Ira Grossel] in 1918 actor (Broken Arrow)
Charles Cowden Clarke in 1787 English editor/Shakespearean critic
Dave Clark in 1942 rock drummer (Dave Clark 5-Glad All Over)
Tim Conway in 1933 comic
Edna O'Brien in 1932 Irish writer (Fanatic of Heart, Casualties of Peace)
Betty Smith in 1906 novelist (A Tree Grows in Brooklyn)
~Athletics
Jerry Ball in 1964 NFL defensive tackle (Raiders, Vikings)
Don Johnson in 1949 actor (Miami Vice)
Walter Reeves in 1965 NFL tight end (Browns)
Dan Williams in 1969 NFL defensive end (Broncos)
~Business / Education / Politics
Edwin Howland Blashfield in 1848 decorated the dome of Library of Congress Alan Freed in 1922 DJ, accepted payola/intro term "rock-n-roll"
J Paul Getty in 1892 oil magnate
Helena Rubinstein in 1882 US cosmetic manufacturer
~Science/Religion
Antoine Henri Becquerel in 1852 discovered radioactivity (Nobel 1903)
Charles Edgar Duryea in 1861 inventor (1st auto built & operated in US)
Gustave Alexandre Eiffel in 1832 engineer: designed Paris’ Tower & helped design Statue of Liberty
Arthur D Little in 1863 chemist (patented rayon)

± In Remembrance
Sitting Bull (Thatháŋka Íyotake )Hunkpapa-Sioux chief killed by US Army @ 59
Walt Disney animator of cancer @ 65 *cremated, Urban legend says he was put in suspended animation.
Glenn Miller US band leader/jazz composer, in plane crash @ 40
Thomas W "Fats" Waller jazz pianist of pneumonia @ 39
Chill Wills actor (Frontier Circus, Rounders), @ 75

± Historical Events on this day
1593…State of Holland grants patent on windmill with crankshaft
1791…Bill of Rights ratified when Virginia gave its approval
1791…1st US law school established at University of Pennsylvania
1792…1st life insurance policy issued in US (Philadelphia)
1810…1st Irish magazine in US, The Shamrock, is published
1874…1st reigning king to visit US (of Hawaii) received by President Grant
1939…World premiere of "Gone With The Wind" in Atlanta GA
1944…Hizbu'allah (Arm forces for Allah) forms
1952…Christine Jorgenson is 1st person to undergo a sex-change operation
1961…Adolf Eichmann convicted of crimes against humanity in Israel
1962…The first record album to poke fun at a U.S. President became the #1 LP in the country. Vaughn Meader’s The First Family made the humorist a household word. The album stayed at #1 for three months.
1964…Canada adopts maple leaf flag
1964…1st time 4 people in space
1973…American Psychiatric Association declares homosexuality is not mental illness
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§ Rhyme & Reason
Answer the following clue in two rhyming words (e.g. an obese feline is a fat cat) If only one number is given, the answer is a word featuring internal rhyme (e.g. voodoo)
1. motionless window shelf (5,4
2. poorly done work in the land of the dense underwood (6,6)
3. 17th century ball/mallet game (4 4)
4. lovers' meeting in the fog (4,5)
5. booted fish (4,3)
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ANSWERS
1. motionless window shelf (5,4) still sill
2. poorly done work in the land of the dense underwood (6,6) jungle bungle
3. 17th century ball/mallet game (4 4) pall mall
4. lovers' meeting in the fog (4,5) mist tryst
5. booted fish (4,3) shod cod