18 Dec

 

 

Flag Today  53°/35°   Week 51  Day 353 Air Quality: Fair Light Clouds   Sunshine Wind 7 mph Gusts 12 mph Gentle Breeze Active Fire: 67 miles away Risk of fire: High   Nearest Lightning: 1911 miles away Dec. Averages: Temps: 45°\18° Moisture:  5 Days

Weekly Observations

4-24 Andisop (Meteorological Fiddling) Link 14-1/5/25 Christmas Bird Count Week Link  14-28 Halcyon Days: 14-28 (Always 7 days before and 7 days after the Winter Solstice) 15-21 Gluten-free Baking Week

16-24 Posadas 16-20 Cookie Exchange Week 17-23 Saturnalia

Daily Observations

Answer the Phone like Buddy the Elf Day Arabic Language Day Link Bake Cookies Day

Give A Wine Club Day  Link International Migrants Day

Today’s Seasonal Quote                                                                

 

Today’s Meme

 

Thoughts for the day

Sunshine with high clouds today.

The stats of the Madison School shooting have changed: 2 killed and the female shooter shot herself.

Good news: 1^st: the WEP on Social Security may end. My $75/ month check will be closer to $250/month. 2^nd: Trump wants to end National Daylight time. During my career I had to live in Daylight time all week, and standard time on weekends. After retiring, its has been nothing but standard time. I really enjoy not having to adjust to the time changes.

Sad news: My friend and colleague from Tuba Boarding has been diagnosed with dementia. I met Cheryl when she was a SpEd teacher, and her new husband also taught SpEd. They have one son, Joey, and were divorced when Joey was still young. Cheryl left Tuba after the divorce and worked for an Insurance Company. She returned to Tuba soon after I became Dept. Head. After we both retired we had weekly lunches with other retired colleagues.  A little over a year ago she went to visit Joey and his family in California. She had several falling incidents and no longer felt comfortable driving long distances. She stayed with her Joey at his house. After almost a year, she moved into a retirement complex near Joey. I talked to her on her May birthday and once during the summer. I called her yesterday. She was talking about how Joey retired and moved his family to Phoenix and that she was driving between her place in Williams and his place in Phoenix. We had a good conversation, but it seemed a little off. Later last night I called Joey to see what was going on. He didn’t retire and didn’t move. Cheryl is still at the retirement place. He said her dementia has gotten worse and that she has good days and bad days. I’m glad I called on a good day. He thanked me for checking and asked that I call every so often. So very sad. I'm glad she is happy in her own little world.

Trivia Time

 

Christmas Traditions

Trim a banana tree

In India, fir trees are not as prevalent, so celebrants there make do with what they have: banana and mango trees! These trees are adorned with lights and ornaments on the street and their leaves decorate inside people’s homes.

Random Thoughts…

A friend is someone who will help you move. A BEST friend is someone who will help you move a body.

Due to the mild temperatures in 1949, the Rockefeller Christmas Tree was spray-painted with hundreds of gallons of silver paint in efforts to look more winter-like.

Old Quaker Oats advertising identified the “Quaker man” as William Penn, but today he is referred to as “Larry”.

Biggest film of 1916: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (Action/Adventure) earned ~ $8,000,000

US President #40 Ronald Reagan (1981-1989) Reagan was the oldest president elected to office (aged 69). His favorite all-time job? As a teenage lifeguard!

The dinner I was cooking for my family was going to be a surprise, but the fire trucks ruined it.

Ancient Roman Life

Emperors were fed grapes but at what cost

Roman emperors led lives marked by extravagance, luxury, and often bizarre behaviors. They rose to power through various means, such as conquest, political expertise, or military support, and once they were in power, they generally ruled for life. The emperors had no term limits or retirement plans, and their tenure often ended with their death, frequently through assassination or forced suicide.

Historic Events

18 Dec History

Birthdays

Billie Eilish, 23 Pop Singer Brad Pitt, 61 Movie Actor Christina Aguilera, 44 Pop Singer Stone Cold Steve Austin, 60 Wrestler Steven Spielberg, 78 Director Keith Richards, 81 Guitarist

@87 – Raiford Chatman "Ossie" Davis , American actor (d. 2005)   @80 – Charles Wesley, English missionary, composer (d. 1788) @78 – Willy Brandt, German politician (d. 1992; colon cancer) @74 – Joseph Stalin, Georgian-Russian politician, 4th Premier of the Soviet Union (d. 1953) @74 – Ty Cobb, American baseball player (d. 1961; diabetic coma) @59 – Joseph Grimaldi, English clown, known as “The Greatest Clown in History” (d. 1837; alcoholism) @56 – Betty Grable, American actress (d. 1973; lung cancer) @50 – Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria (d. 1914; assassinated)

…The End for today…

               

17 Dec

 

 

Flag Today  56°/17°   Week 51  Day 352 Air Quality: Fair Sunshine Wind 6 mph Gusts 8 mph  Light Breeze Active Fire: 66 miles away Risk of fire: High Nearest Lightning: 987 miles away Dec. Averages: Temps: 45°\18° Moisture:  5 Days

Weekly Observations

16-24 Posadas 16-20 Cookie Exchange Week 17-23 Saturnalia

4-24 Andisop (Meteorological Fiddling) Link 10-17 Human Rights Week 14-1/5/25 Christmas Bird Count Week Link  14-28 Halcyon Days: 14-28 (Always 7 days before and 7 days after the Winter Solstice) 15-21 Gluten-free Baking Week

Daily Observations

A Christmas Carol Day (Story) Clean Air Day National Maple Syrup Day

Pan American Aviation Day Wright Brothers Day

Today’s Seasonal Quote                                                                

 

Today’s Meme

 

Thoughts for the day

The day started off very chilly but has warmed up nicely.

A good football day for my teams: Cards beat the Patriots, Broncos beat the Colts, and the Cowboys had a win over the Panthers.

CNN is reporting that 4 students, 1 shooter have all died in a school shooting at a Christian school in Madison, Wisconsin. Five more have been rushed to the hospital with life-threatening wounds. This violence only happens in America and hot war zones around the world. Politicians need to listen to the experts and stop this kind of violence.

The ’mysterious’ drones are now being seen in 5 states. This must be very frustrating for those living in those areas.

Trivia Time

 

Christmas Traditions

Watching Donald Duck

In Sweden, a show called Kalle Anka och hans vänner önskar God Jul or Donald Duck and His Friends Wish You a Merry Christmas is must-see TV every Christmas. The tradition started in the 1960s and more than 40% of Sweden still tunes in.

Random Thoughts…

Now You Know: When you stop believing in Santa Claus you start getting clothes for Christmas!

Shania Twain – Real Name: Eileen Regina Edwards

The reason the taste of artificial banana flavoring and artificial banana flavored products doesn’t taste like bananas is because it is based on a type of banana that was wiped out by a plague in the 1950s.

Ancient Roman Life

Roman baths included just about everything someone could need

Over the years, archeologists have discovered amazing things that help to tell the story of life in Ancient Rome. Roman baths are one of many discoveries. But what was their purpose? They were much more than a place for communal bathing with the rest of the city.

Because they covered areas as small as little towns, the baths had all the necessary amenities. The largest was the Baths of Caracalla. The baths could accommodate 1,600 people and included a library, gym, and two fountains measuring 19 feet. The baths also featured a gentleman’s residence, marble statues, artwork, and mosaics.

Historic Events

Dec 17 History

Birthdays

Pope Francis, 88 Religious Leader Sarah Paulson, 50 TV Actress Manny Pacquiao, 46 Boxer Jacqueline Wilson, 79 Children's Author Milla Jovovich, 49 Movie Actress Eugene Levy, 78 Movie Actor

@84 – Arthur Fiedler, American conductor (d. 1979) @54 – Burt Baskin, American businessman, co-founded Baskin-Robbins (d. 1967; heart attack) @52 – Eddie Kendricks, American R&B singer-songwriter (d. 1992; lung cancer)

…The End for today…

               

16 Dec

 

 

Flag Today  48°/24°   Week 51  Day 351 Air Quality: Fair Sunshine Wind 4 mph Gusts 5 mph Active Fire: 132 miles away Risk of fire: Moderate Nearest Lightning: 1522 miles away Dec. Averages: Temps: 45°\18° Moisture:  5 Days

Weekly Observations

16-24 Posadas

4-24 Andisop (Meteorological Fiddling) Link 10-17 Human Rights Week 14-1/5/25 Christmas Bird Count Week Link  14-28 Halcyon Days: 14-28 (Always 7 days before and 7 days after the Winter Solstice)

Daily Observations

Barbie and Barney Backlash Day Link National Chocolate-covered Anything Day  Link Pinot Meunier Day Link

Posadas Stupid Toy Day  Zionism Day

Today’s Seasonal Quote                                                                

 

Today’s Meme

 

Thoughts for the day

Another nice late fall day. Not a cloud in the sky.

Congratulations to Travis Hunter, the CU Buffs Heisman Trophy winner. Go Buffs.

ABC settled with Trump for $15 million for using the word ‘rape’ numerous times in interviews when legally he was only found guilty of ‘sexual battery’ in the court. That money goes to the Trump Library Fund. ABC will pay $1 million to Trump’s lawyers. Good to know that words still matter.

Trivia Time

 

Christmas Traditions

Taking a holiday sauna

In Finland, where many homes have a sauna, it’s customary on Christmas Eve to take a sauna with the family. Here you thought discussing politics over dinner could be awkward! After the sauna, Finns continue the evening celebrations—presumably clothed.

Random Thoughts…

Astronauts Wally Schirra and Thomas Stafford made Jingle Bells the first song performed in space. They played it on a harmonica with bells (and implied spotting Santa) while orbiting Earth on Gemini 6 on Dec. 16, 1965.

Three sports movies have won the Oscar for best picture: Rocky (1976), Chariots of Fire (1981), and Million Dollar Baby (2004)

The 1960 Italian film La Dolce Vita was the origin of the term ‘paparazzi’, named after a character in the film, Paparazzo.

Many people who win the lottery end up bankrupt. Few financially responsible people win the lottery, because buying lottery tickets is not a financially responsible thing to do.

Ancient Roman Life

Wine was central to Roman dining, often diluted with water. Posca, watered-down wine with spices, was common among soldiers and the lower classes. Fruits like apples, figs, and grapes were integral and often preserved. The diet evolved over time, incorporating new ingredients as Rome expanded​​​​​​.

Historic Events

16 Dec. history

Birthdays

Theo James, 40 Movie Actor Sebastian Croft, 23 TV Actor Benjamin Bratt, 61  TV Actor Anna Popplewell, 36 Movie Actress

@90 – Arthur C. Clarke, British science fiction writer (d. 2008) @76 – Margaret Mead, American anthropologist and author (d. 1978) @73 – Noël Coward, English actor, playwright, composer (d. 1973; heart failure)   @59 – Hans Bol, Flemish artist (d. 1593) @56 – Ludwig van Beethoven, composer (d. 1827; dropsy)

…The End for today…