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February 25th 2024 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast days: Æthelberht of Kent Blessed Ciriaco María Sancha y Hervás Gerland of Agrigento John Roberts, writer and missionary (Anglican Communion) Hamburg Matthiae-mahl, feast of Hanseatic League cities on the mediaeval first day of spring Blessed Maria Adeodata Pisani Blessed Robert of Arbrissel, founder of Fontevraud Abbey Saint Walpurga (she was canonised on 1 May c. 870 and Walpurgis Night is celebrated 30 April) February 25 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Kitano Baika-sai or "Plum Blossom Festival" (Kitano Tenman-gu Shrine, Kyoto, Japan) Memorial Day for the Victims of the Communist Dictatorships (Hungary) National Day (Kuwait) People Power Day (Philippines) Revolution Day in Suriname Soviet Occupation Day (Georgia) Observances (click on the day, BD or week for details) Choiseul Province Day Let's All Eat Right Day National Billy Day National Chocolate Covered Nut Day National Jessica Day National Kathy Day National Nicholas Day Pistol Patent Day Quiet Day National Clam Chowder Day Nick Hounslow’s Birthday George Harrison’s Birthday Dutchess Lattimore’s Birthday Chelsea Handler’s Birthday Ric Flair’s Birthday James Phelps’s Birthday Rashida Jones Sean Astin Téa Leoni ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sun Feb 25th, 2024 - Sat Mar 2nd, 2024 Peace Corps Week *** Checking out of the grocery store, I noticed the bag boy eyeing my two adopted children. They often draw scrutiny, since my son's a blond Russian, while my daughter has shiny black Haitian skin. The boy continued staring as he carried our groceries to the car. Finally he asked, "Those your kids?" "They sure are," I said with pride. "They adopted?" "Yes," I replied. "I thought so," he concluded. "I figured you're too old to have kids that small." *** The board of education in a nearby town sold off a building that had been a one-room schoolhouse. The buyer converted it to a tavern. One day an elderly man was walking by the place with his grandson and pointed to the building. "That's where I went to school when I was your age." "Really," said the boy. "Who was your bartender back then?" *** It was the first day of basketball practice at Wingate high school in Brooklyn, N.Y. Coach Jack Kaminer handed a ball to each player. "Fellas," he said, "I want you to practice shooting from the spots you might expect to be in during the game." The No. 12 sub immediately sat down on the bench and began arcing the ball toward the basket. *** New to the United States, I was eager to meet people. So one day I struck up a conversation with the only other woman in the gym. Pointing to two men playing racquetball in a nearby court, I said to her, "There’s my husband." Then I added, "The thin one—not the fat one." After a slightly uncomfortable silence she replied, "And that’s my husband—the fat one." *** I was waiting at a small train station when a man put up a sign regarding my train: “30-Minute Delay.” “What happened?” I asked. “The train went off the rails,” he said. “How long will that take to fix?” “Quite a few hours.” “So why put up a sign saying it would take 30 minutes?” “It’s the only sign we have.” *** 'Happy Birth Year' to me! *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

(if you are still wondering why this is posted here, read the last stat and take heed)

February 24th 2024 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Blessed Ascensión Nicol y Goñi Lindel Tsen and Paul Sasaki (Anglican Church of Canada) Modest (bishop of Trier) Sergius of Cappadocia February 24 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Dragobete (Romania) Engineer's Day (Iran) Flag Day in Mexico Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Estonia from the Russian Empire in 1918; the Soviet period is considered to have been an illegal annexation. National Artist Day (Thailand) Sweden Finns' Day (Sweden) Observances (click on the day, BD or week for details) DiscoverE Girl Day Edward Dickinson Baker Day Guru Ravidas Jayanti I Hate Coriander Day Introduce A Girl To Engineering Day Lailatul Barat Floating Lantern Festival - 1 Lantern Festival - 2 Lantern Festival Taiwan - 3 Maghi Purnima Makha Bucha Day National Trading Card Day Navam Full Moon Poya Day Open That Bottle Night Tourism Day Twin Peaks Day World Bartender Day Steve Jobs’s Birthday Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s Birthday Earl Sweatshirt’s Birthday ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sat Feb 24th, 2024 - Tue Feb 27th, 2024 Whooping Crane Festival Fun Observances ( 2 ) Tortilla Chip Day Honor the tortilla chip – the carrier of delicious dips – on February 24, Tortilla Chip Day. Tortilla chips were first popularized as a way to reuse misshapen tortillas by Rebecca Webb Carranza whose family owned the Los Angeles-based El Zarape Tortilla Factory in the 1940s. Served With Dip Today tortilla chips accompanied by some form of a dip is now a staple party dish. Usually made of fried yellow corn tortillas, tortilla chips can be served with dips like salsa, guacamole, or spicy guacamole. It can be incorporated in a more elaborate dish with cheese and sour cream such as nachos. How to Celebrate? Have tortilla chips for all your meals today - have tortilla chip cereal for breakfast, crush them into your salad at lunch, and have nachos for dinner. Try making your own tortilla chips at home. Did You Know… …that tortilla chips and salsa are the state snack of Texas? ~~~~~~~ World Sword Swallowers Day If you enjoy seeing people do dangerous things, you will enjoy celebrating World Sword Swallowers Day on the last Saturday of February. This unofficial holiday was created by the Sword Swallowers Association International (SSAI) in 2008. It celebrates the ancient art of sword swallowing and honors those who practice it. 16 Inches Long The day also attempts to dispel myths about sword swallowing and to bring international attention to the medical and scientific contribution of sword swallowers. According to SSAI, sword swallowing is the act of passing a sword or solid blade at least 16 inches long through the mouth into the stomach. Contrary to popular belief, sword swallowing is not a magic trick or an illusion, but a real skill that requires a lot of hard work and practice. How to Celebrate? Find a sword swallowing event nearby and go watch them. Learn about the art and science behind sword swallowing. Did You Know… …that the art of sword swallowing is an ancient art that is thought to have originated in the southern part of India? *** The plane was only half-full. When an attractive young woman asked if the seat next to mine was free, my male ego soared. Soon we were chatting pleasantly, and she told me it was her first flight. "Mom said to sit next to someone I thought I could trust," she confessed nervously, "and you look just like my dad." *** While on the freeway in Los Angeles, I was behind a pack of cars. The last driver was on the phone and drifting all over the road. This did not escape the attention of a California Highway Patrol officer, who snuck up behind her and said over his loudspeaker, "If you can't stay in your lane while on the phone, pull over until the call is completed." Immediately eight cars pulled over. *** My husband and I, married 13 years, were dressing for a party. I'd spent all day getting a haircut and permanent, then as we were leaving, we met in the hall and he said nothing. I complained that he had not even noticed my hair. "You used to pay attention to every little thing, and now you don't notice anything! You take me for granted!" My husband stood there rubbing his face as he let me rant and rave. Then it hit me: He'd shaved off his six-month-old beard. *** Q: What do you call a boomerang that doesn't work? A: A stick. *** Q: What do you call four bullfighters in quicksand? A: Quattro sinko. *** Ed: The same bike tries to run me down every day. Fred: Sounds like a vicious cycle... *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

February 23rd 2024 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Polycarp of Smyrna Serenus the Gardener February 23 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) The Emperor's Birthday, birthday of Naruhito, the current Emperor of Japan (Japan) Mashramani-Republic Day (Guyana) National Day (Brunei) Red Army Day or Day of Soviet Army and Navy in the former Soviet Union, also held in various former Soviet republics: Defender of the Fatherland Day (Russia) Defender of the Fatherland and Armed Forces day (Belarus) Armed Forces Day (Tajikistan) (Tajikistan) Observances (click on the day, BD or week for details) Curling Is Cool Day Diesel Engine Day International Stand Up to Bullying Day National Banana Bread Day National Hospitality Workers Appreciation Day National Play Tennis Day National Rationalization Day National Rudy Day National Tile Day National Tootsie Roll Day Pinocchio Day Skip the Straw Day World Peace and Understanding Day Yukon Heritage Day Emily Blunt’s Birthday Desiree Montoya’s Birthday Dakota Fanning’s Birthday W. E. B. Du Bois Fun Observances International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day February 23 is Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day. Show your appreciation for your furry canine friends by spoiling them with their favorite dog biscuits. Dog biscuits, or dog bread as they were known then, have been part of human-canine history since Roman times. Bad Bread For a large part of history, dog bread was considered bad, low-quality bread unfit for human consumption. It is thought that modern day dog biscuits were created by American inventor James Pratt sometime in the 19th century. Toothbrush Today, there are hundreds of types of dog biscuits, many of which claim that they can help maintain your dog's oral health by acting as a "toothbrush" cleaning the dog's teeth. The origins of this holiday are unknown, and it is also known as Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day or National Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day in the U.S. How to Celebrate? They say that a dog is a man’s best friend – they shower you with unconditional love and are always there for you. So, give your dog all your love on Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day. Treat your dog with his or her favorite biscuits. Better still, bake them at home – they will surely appreciate it! Did You Know… …that dogs can express about 100 types of expressions using mostly their ears? *** As a professor at Texas A&M, I taught during the day and did research at night. I would usually take a break around nine, however, calling up the strategy game Warcraft on the Internet and playing with an online team. One night I was paired with a veteran of the game who was a master strategist. With him at the helm, our troops crushed opponent after opponent, and after six games we were undefeated. Suddenly, my fearless leader informed me his mom wanted him to go to bed. "How old are you?" I typed. "Twelve," he replied. "How old are you?" Feeling my face redden, I answered, "Eight." *** While my friend Emily was visiting her mother, they went for a walk and bumped into an old family acquaintance. "Is this your daughter?" the woman asked. "Oh, I remember her when she was this high. How old is she now?" Without pausing, Emily's mother said, "Twenty-four." Emily, 35, nearly fainted on the spot. After everyone had said their good-byes, Emily asked her mother why she'd told such a whopper. "Well," she replied, "I've been lying about my age for so long, it suddenly dawned on me that I'd have to start lying about yours too." *** An acquaintance of mine was hired as a research assistant by the physics department of a West Coast university to investigate the thermodynamic properties of wood. Two weeks after starting work he was approached by an encyclopedia salesman who explained that purchase of the encyclopedia entitled the buyer to have any three special questions answered completely. To save himself a great deal of work, the researcher bought the encyclopedia, stipulating for his first free question a full dissertation on the thermodynamic properties of wood. Three weeks later the head of the physics department called the research assistant into his office and said, "We have a request from an encyclopedia company. One of their customers has asked for a report on the thermodynamic properties of wood. Please prepare the report for them." *** While serving in Vietnam, my friend and his buddies were hunkered down in a mud-filled hole that had been dug into the side of a berm and covered with lumber for protection. Their one extravagance: a bare light bulb they’d hung from the “ceiling.” One guy was reading a newspaper article from back home about a congressional investigation into why some troops were living in relative luxury. The guy put down the paper, turned to my friend, and said, “Well, there goes the light bulb.” *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

Turns Out, Spiders Have Tiny Paws, And It May Change The Way You Look At Them Aren't spiders just adorable? Well okay, in most cases they're bloody terrifying, but that image might change when you take a closer look. As close as to where their feet should be, where you'll find that spiders have paws! Turns Out, Spiders Have Tiny Paws, And It May Change The Way You Look At Them | Bored Panda

February 22nd 2024 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Birthday of Scouting and Guiding founder Robert Baden-Powell and Olave Baden-Powell, and its related observance: Founder's Day or "B.-P. day" (World Organization of the Scout Movement) World Thinking Day (World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts) Christian feast day: Baradates Eric Liddell (Episcopal Church (USA)) Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter (Roman Catholic Church) Margaret of Cortona February 22 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Crime Victims Day (Europe) Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Saint Lucia from the United Kingdom in 1979. Founding Day (Saudi Arabia) Washington's Birthday, federal holiday in the United States. A holiday on February 22 as well as the third Monday in February. National Cat Day (Japan) Observances (click on the day, BD or week for details) 2Twenty2 Day Day of Fraternity and Cohesion Great American Spit Out National California Day National Chili Day National Cook a Sweet Potato Day National Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day National Margarita Day National Walk Your Dog Day Play More Cards Day Recreational Sports & Fitness Day Supermarket Employee Day Tex Avery Day Woolworth's Day World Thinking Day World Yoga Day Introduce A Girl To Engineering Day Robert Kardashian’s Birthday Drew Barrymore’s Birthday Matt FamilyFunPack’s Birthday James Blunt’s Birthday Baby Kaely’s Birthday George Washington ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thu Feb 22nd, 2024 - Sun Feb 25th, 2024 EDSA People Power Commemoration Week Thu Feb 22nd, 2024 - Wed Mar 28th, 2024 Hong Kong Arts Festival Fun Observances ( 2 ) Single Tasking Day You may have been praised for your multitasking skills, but have you ever tried single tasking i.e. doing only one thing at a time? Try it on February 22, Single Tasking Day. The made-up holiday clearly wants to encourage people to devote all their time and energy on accomplishing one task at a time. Some people also celebrate it on February 19. Multitasking Lowers Productivity Recent studies have shown that multitasking - the ability to focus on more than one task at any given time, can be less effective and productive than previously thought. Multitasking can also decrease the accuracy of certain tasks. This is because when one shifts from one task to another, the brain needs time to change focus. This can lead to a waste of time and can cause a lot of stress. Time management can also become an issue for multitaskers. Increase Accuracy and Productivity Productivity experts suggest that the best way to accomplish something well is to direct all of one's energy and time on the task. Single tasking increases engagement and helps reduce errors. By improving productivity and accuracy, single tasking can help reduce stress and other health problems that are stress-related. How to Celebrate? Make a list of all the tasks you want to accomplish and go down the list one at a time. Cut off all distractions. Switch off your phone, block the Internet, close your office door, and get started on your list. It may be hard now, but when you are done, you will be proud of yourself! Did You Know… …that according to research only about 2% of people can effectively multitask? The rest tend to be less productive when they multitask. ~~~~~~~ Be Humble Day Practice humility on February 22 or Be Humble Day. Cultures, religions, and philosophies around the world stress the importance of practicing humility in our daily lives. The holiday promotes the idea that accepting our errors and our faults makes us better human beings. So, take this day to listen to others, not boast about one’s own life and achievements, and to accept that we have faults that we need to work on. How to Celebrate? Appreciate other people's achievements. Take the day to introspect and think of ways to make your life better and to move towards perfection. If you have children in your life, give them a lesson in humility and teach them that humility is a good virtue to have. Did You Know… …that the term humble pie, meaning to apologize after a serious error, comes from a mispronunciation of the world umble pie? Umble pie was a type of pie popular among people with little means in medieval times. *** Working as a secretary at an international airport, my sister had an office adjacent to the room where security temporarily holds suspects. One day security officers were questioning a man when they were suddenly called away on another emergency. To the horror of my sister and her colleagues, the man was left alone in the unlocked room. After a few minutes, the door opened and he began to walk out. Summoning up her courage, one of the secretaries barked, "Get back in there, and don't you come out until you're told!" The man scuttled back inside and slammed the door. When the security people returned, the women reported what had happened. Without a word, an officer walked into the room and released one very frightened telephone repairman. *** My older son loves school, but his younger brother absolutely hates it. One weekend he cried and fretted and tried every excuse not to go back on Monday. Sunday morning on the way home from church, the crying and whining built to a crescendo. At the end of my rope, I finally stopped the car and explained, "Honey, it's a law. If you don't go to school, they'll put Mommy in jail." He looked at me, thought a moment, then asked, "How long would you have to stay?" *** I was on duty as an emergency-room technician when a father brought in his son, who had poked a tire from one of his toy trucks up his nose. The man was embarrassed, but I assured him this was something kids often do. I quickly removed the tire and they were on their way. A few minutes later, the father was back in the ER asking to talk to me in private. Mystified, I led him to an examining room. "While we were on our way home," he began, "I was looking at that little tire and wondering, how on earth did my son get this thing stuck up his nose and…" It took just a few seconds to get the tire out of Dad's nose. *** While serving as chief medical officer at Fort Ritchie in Maryland, I attended a nearby wedding. Since it was a formal affair at a country club, I went in my officer’s dress blue uniform. Once at the club, I drove up to the entrance, where the doorman promptly came to the passenger door and assisted my wife out of the car. He then made his way to my side. But before I could get out, he pointed to the other end of the building and said, “The band entrance is that way.” *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** Swansea Uni study: African wild dogs 'sneeze to vote' - BBC News *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

February 21st 2024 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Armed Forces Day (South Africa) Birthday of King Harald V (Norway) Christian feast day: Felix of Hadrumetum Pepin of Landen Peter Damian Randoald of Grandval February 21 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Father Lini Day (Vanuatu) Language Movement Day (Bangladesh) International Mother Language Day (UNESCO) The first day of the Birth Anniversary of Fifth Druk Gyalpo, celebrated until February 23. (Bhutan) The first day of the Musikahan Festival, celebrated until February 27. (Tagum City, Philippines) Observances (click on the day, BD or week for details) Card Reading Day Language Day National Grain Free Day National Sticky Bun Day Robert Gabriel Mugabe National Youth Day Sophie Turner’s Birthday Solar’s Birthday Nina Simone’s Birthday Wendy’s Birthday John Lewis’s Birthday Giveon’s Birthday Blanket Jackson’s Birthday Alan Rickman’s Birthday Jordan Peele’s Birthday Jennifer Love Hewitt Kelsey Grammer *** Which windshield wiper blade always quits first? That's right—the driver's side. This happened to me one day while driving home in the middle of a blinding storm. Unable to see, I pulled over and tried to figure out a quick fix. I found it in a yellow cotton work glove that was lying on the floor. I wedged the cloth hand under the wiper arm. It did a great job keeping my windshield clear. Not only that— you'd be surprised at how many people waved back. *** Our Lamaze class included a tour of the pediatric wing at the hospital. When a new baby was brought into the nursery, all the women tried to guess its weight, but the guy standing next to me was the only male to venture a number. "Looks like 9 1⁄2 pounds," he offered confidently. "This must not be your first," I said. "Oh, yes, it's my first." "Then how would you know the weight of a baby?" He shrugged. "I'm a fisherman." *** We purchased an old home in northern New York State from two elderly sisters. Winter was fast approaching, and I was concerned about the house's lack of insulation. "If they could live here all those years, so can we!" my husband confidently declared. One November night the temperature plunged to below zero, and we woke up to find interior walls covered with frost. My husband called the sisters to ask how they had kept the house warm. After a brief conversation, he hung up. "For the past 30 years," he muttered, "they've gone to Florida for the winter." *** Our company gives out Thanksgiving turkeys to retired employees. All they have to do is stop by the plant to pick them up. A few days before the holiday, a retiree called to ask, “What time do the turkeys get in?” The receptionist, without thinking, responded, “Everyone starts at eight.” *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** A brief history of the Molotov cocktail *** How a British Officer Disabled A German Armored Vehicle With An Umbrella in the Heat of Battle *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

Tuning Webs Spiders tune each strand of their web to a specific frequency by making some strands tighter than others so that when something is caught in it, the spider can easily pinpoint where it is. This is also used for determining whether the source of the sound is a food or a potential mate. Spiders Tune In To Web's Music To Size Up Meals And Mates : NPR

February 20th 2024 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Eleutherius of Tournai Eucherius of Orléans Francisco Marto and Jacinta Marto Frederick Douglass (Episcopal Church (USA)) Wulfric of Haselbury February 20 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Day of Heavenly Hundred Heroes (Ukraine) World Day of Social Justice Observances (click on the day, BD or week for details) Clean Out Your Bookcase Day Hoodie Hoo Day Mizoram State Day National Cherry Pie Day National Comfy Day National Day of Solidarity with Muslim Arab and South Asian Immigrants National Handcuff Day National Leadership Day National Love Your Pet Day National Muffin Day National Student Volunteer Day National Whistleblower Reward Day No Politics Day Statehood Day of Arunachal Pradesh Women in Blue Jeans Days International Lego Classicism Day International Pipe Smoking Day Rihanna’s Birthday Trevor Noah’s Birthday Olivia Rodrigo’s Birthday Kurt Cobain’s Birthday Elmo O'Dwyer’s Birthday Cindy Crawford’s Birthday Charles Barkley’s Birthday Mitch McConnell Chelsea Peretti Ivana Trump Sidney Poitier ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tue Feb 20th, 2024 - Mon Feb 26th, 2024 National Chip Week *** At the busy dental office where I work, one patient was always late. Once when I called to confirm an appointment, he said, "I'll be about 15 minutes late. That won't be a problem, will it?" "No," I told him. "We just won't have time to give you an anesthetic." He arrived early. *** As a promotional gimmick for my restaurant, I send out coupons offering people a free dinner on their birthdays. One day an anxious-sounding man called. "I got your card. How did you find me?" "From a mailing list I purchased from a supplier," I told him. "Why?" "It used my real name, and I'm in the Witness Protection Program. What's the name of the company?" I didn't want to say it, but I had to tell him the truth: Moving Targets. *** My musical director wasn't happy with the performance of one of our percussionists. Repeated attempts to get the drummer to improve failed. Finally, in front of the orchestra, the director said in frustration, "When a musician just can't handle his instrument, they take it away, give him two sticks and make him a drummer!" A stage whisper was heard from the percussion section: "And if he can't handle that, they take away one of his sticks and make him a conductor." *** It was our first day on the rifle range at Lackland Air Force Base. I felt confident as I aimed and squeezed the trigger of my carbine for my first shot. “Good news and bad news,” my instructor said. “The good news: You got a bull’s eye.” Before my head could swell too much, he added, “But it was in somebody else’s target.” *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** Egyptian authorities detained a stork last week on suspicion of espionage, mistaking its migration tag for spying equipment. In fact the stork was innocent - like a number of other animals falsely accused over the years of undercover work, writes Mohamed Madi. In 2011, Saudi authorities arrested a high-flying vulture on suspicion that it was flying missions for Israel's famously ingenious Mossad agency. And a spate of shark attacks near the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh in 2010 was blamed by one TV station on GPS-controlled predators planted by Israel in order to harm the Egyptian tourism industry. Iran has also felt threatened by animal agents. In 2007 the Iranian army arrested a team of 14 "spy squirrels" found near a nuclear enrichment plant. Officials said they succeeded in apprehending the suspects "before they were able to take any action". However, not all reports of pets on patrol are as far-fetched as they seem. Animals have been serving in the military as early as 1908, when Germans first attached cameras to pigeons to take aerial photographs. Some programmes have been more successful than others. The CIA's attempt to implant listening devices into a cat - dubbed Operation Acoustic Kitty - ended in failure on day one, when the kitty was run over by a car outside the Soviet embassy in Washington DC. The project was estimated to have cost more than $14m. Another failed project was the equally outlandish Bat Bomb, tried by the US in WWII, where bats were strapped to mini-incendiary devices and dropped over Japan. The idea was for them to roost inside wooden Japanese buildings before bursting into flames. The atomic bomb ultimately proved more effective. Perhaps the most successful recruits from the animal world have been dolphins. The US and Russia have confirmed the existence of marine mammal training programmes, where dolphins and seals are trained to identify underwater mines and disable enemy swimmers. But just like young soldiers, dolphins have hormones, and can go awol. In March this year Ukraine's Defence Ministry had to deny reports that three military dolphins had escaped and were roaming the Black Sea in search of sex. *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

February 19th 2024 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Armed Forces Day (Mexico) Brâncuși Day (Romania) Christian feast day: Barbatus of Benevento Boniface of Brussels Conrad of Piacenza Lucy Yi Zhenmei (one of Martyrs of Guizhou) February 19 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Commemoration of Vasil Levski (Bulgaria) Flag Day (Turkmenistan) Shivaji Jayanti (Maharashtra, India) Observances (click on the day, BD or week for details) Daisy Gatson Bates Day Family Day Islander Day Iwo Jima Day Louis Riel Day National Airboat Day National Arabian Horse Day National Lash Day National Vet Girls ROCK Day Nova Scotia Heritage Day Presidents' Day Prevent Plagiarism Day The Day of Illustrious Puerto Ricans Tug of War Day U.S. Coast Guard Reserve Birthday National Hickey Day Royalty Johnson’s Birthday Millie Bobby Brown’s Birthday Smokey Robinson’s Birthday Cynthia Bailey’s Birthday Benicio del Toro ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mon Feb 19th, 2024 - Fri Feb 23rd, 2024 America Saves Week Take Your Family to School Week Mon Feb 19th, 2024 - Sun Feb 25th, 2024 National Eating Disorder Awareness Week National Pancake Week Cancer Prevention Action Week Fun Observances Chocolate Mint Day Chocolate Mint Day on February 19 is devoted to the classic combination of chocolate and mint Chocolate goes well with almost everything, but there is one chocolate pairing that is classic – chocolate and mint. So, it is only fair that the United States National Confectioners Association has declared February 19 to be Chocolate Mint Day in honor of this hugely popular flavor pairing. Chocolate Every Day Chocolate is a very popular theme for a fun holiday. Other chocolate flavored holidays are Chocolate Pudding Day, Milk Chocolate Day, Chocolate Pecan Pie Day, Chocolate Milkshake Day, Chocolate Cupcake Day, Chocolate Covered Anything Day, and Chocolate Cake Day. How to Celebrate? Introduce chocolate and mint pairings in each of your meals. Have a chocolate mint latte for your morning cup of coffee, or add chocolate chips and some mint to your cereal. Replace your main course with a big slice (or two) of chocolate mint cake, and follow it with chocolate mint ice cream. Did You Know… …that there is an herb called mint chocolate whose leaves taste like chocolate mint? *** While walking through a Dallas airport, my dentist ran into a group of folks from his hometown. Among them was one of his patients. When he said hello, she gave him a curious look, saying he looked familiar but she could not quite place him. "Lean back and look up at me," he suggested. She did. "Oh! Dr. Harrison!" *** My father’s secretary was visibly distraught one morning when she arrived at the office and explained that her children’s parrot had escaped from his cage and flown out an open window. Of all the dangers the tame bird would face outdoors alone, she seemed most concerned about what would happen if the bird started talking. Confused, my father asked what the parrot could say. “Well,” she explained, “he mostly says, ‘Here, kitty, kitty.’ ” *** Some newly married friends were visiting us when the topic of children came up. The bride said she wanted three children, while the young husband demurred, saying two would be enough for him. They discussed this discrepancy for a few minutes until the husband thought he'd put an end to things, saying boldly, "After our second child, I'll just have a vasectomy." Without a moment's hesitation, the bride retorted, "Well, I hope you'll love the third one like it's your own!" *** Concerned that he might have put on a few pounds, my husband exited the bathroom and asked, “Do you think my chin is getting fat?” I smiled lovingly and replied, “Which one?” *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

As soon as I saw today's word my first thought was of Allan Sherman. Why you may well ask? Well, for several reasons. My Hungarian background, my love of Hungarian Goulash, that I have and still play his LP 33 Vinyl record album(that I bought in the sixties) entitled 'My Son the Nut'. Most of the songs on it, were and still are some of my favorites, I think many of you would enjoy hearing them too. But I digress, one song on there is entitled 'Hungarian Goulash'. Give it a listen and at (2:18) all will be revealed. Hungarian Goulash No. 5 - YouTube

(Was not able to enlarge this one)

February 18th 2024 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Bernadette Soubirous (France) Colmán of Lindisfarne Flavian of Constantinople Geltrude Comensoli Simeon of Jerusalem (Western Christianity) February 18 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Dialect Day (Amami Islands, Japan) Independence Day, celebrates the independence of the Gambia from the United Kingdom in 1965 Kurdish Students Union Day (Iraqi Kurdistan) National Democracy Day, celebrates the 1951 overthrow of the Rana dynasty (Nepal) Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) Cow Milked While Flying in an Airplane Day Daytona Pole Day National Crab Stuffed Flounder Day National Drink Wine Day NBA All Star Game Pluto Day Thumb Appreciation Day World Whale Day National Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Day Yoko Ono’s Birthday Vanna White’s Birthday John Travolta’s Birthday Hansol Vernon Chwe’s Birthday Dr. Dre’s Birthday Damien Prince’s Birthday Gary Ridgway ~~~~~~~~~ Sun Feb 18th, 2024 - Sat Feb 24th, 2024 Bird Health Awareness Week National Engineers Week National Justice for Animals Week Through with the Chew Fun Observances Battery Day February 18 is Battery Day. It is a day to acknowledge the device that makes it possible for the smallest household items to the largest heavy-duty equipment to work smoothly. The unofficial holiday of unknown origins is also known as National Battery Day in the United States Converts Energy A battery is a device that converts chemical energy to electrical energy. It is thought that the term battery to describe such a device was first used by Benjamin Franklin because the setting of the capacitator he saw reminded him of a battery of cannons. How to Celebrate? Celebrate the day by swapping out old the old, dead batteries from your household items. Take all the old batteries to the recycling center. Check your smoke alarm and fire alarm batteries and replace them if needed. Learn the history and science behind batteries. Did You Know… …that according to some archeologists and historians, the earliest known battery in recorded human history can be traced back to as far as 2000 years ago? Known as the Baghdad Battery, the battery is a clay pot containing a metal tube and a metal rod. It is thought to have been discovered in the basement of the Baghdad Museum by German painter and archaeologist Wilhelm Konig, who suggested that the artifact was probably used as a battery. *** Exchange your shivers for some giggles as we celebrate the spring season with some of our silliest reader submissions: Stop and Smell the Softener I had spent the late winter months waiting impatiently for signs of spring. When the first warm, sunny Saturday arrived, I eagerly unlocked the storm door and stepped onto our patio deck. I was pleased by the sight of green sprouts and the sounds of singing birds. More than anything else, I delighted in the sweet aroma of the spring air. Knocking on the kitchen window, I beckoned to my wife to join me in enjoying the pleasures of the season. She quietly brought me back to earth when she reminded me that I was standing over the dryer vent, inhaling the scent of fabric softener. Your Sunday Best Our daughter, an ROTC cadet, was ordered to Fort Indiantown Gap in Pennsylvania for field exercises. Since it was the Easter season, she requested permission to attend church services on Palm Sunday. The troops were in the field at the time, so the commanding officer agreed only if there happened to be a church in the vicinity of their maneuvers. When a small country church was seen along the road, our daughter entered quietly, hoping to be unnoticed in spite of her leaf-and-branch camouflage. But all eyes turned upon her as a small child cried in amazement, "Look, somebody came as a palm!" Spring Fever One spring day I was taking the roll in my secretarial class at our local technical college. One of the sun worshipers was absent. "Cindy won't be here this afternoon?" I asked. "She went home to lay in the sun," a young woman in the front row answered. Trying to correct her grammar without embarrassing her before the class, I whispered, "Lie." Okay," she replied in astonishment. "Cindy got sick and went home." Standby, Soldier Every Easter our church stages an elaborate pageant. Last year the man who played Pontius Pilate had to work on the night of the dress rehearsal, and a chorus member substituted for him. As we began rehearsing Pilate's solo, the conductor stopped the orchestra. "Pilate, I don't hear you," he called out. "You're not loud enough." "Pilate is at work," a voice on the stage shouted back. "We've got our co-Pilate tonight." Signs of Spring In Ohio, spring is always eagerly awaited after the long, cold winters. When I arrived at work one day in mid-March, I noticed a sign gaily decorated with flowers and butterflies. It read: "Think Spring." The first day of spring blew in with a snowstorm and freezing temperatures, however, and another flowery sign was posted. This time the message read: "Forget Spring. Think Summer." Sleepless Saving Time Twice a year, we change the clocks for daylight-savings time. And twice a year, my normally punctual assistant arrives late to work the Monday after we do so. I finally had to find out why. "Do you have a problem remembering to spring forward or fall back?" I asked. "Oh, no," she said, pouring herself a cup of coffee. "What gets to me is staying up until 2 a.m. to change my clock." *** I admit it—I have a tendency to exaggerate, and I was afraid when I joined the Navy that my “creativity” might get me in trouble. But my fears were put to rest one day while getting into formation, which was determined by height. Now, I was shy of six feet tall, but when our drill sergeant called for all six-footers to line up, I stepped forward anyway. I instantly knew I was in the right outfit when I looked around. I was the tallest guy in line. *** Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers were dining in New York. Ginger was resplendent in a ball gown and pearls, and Fred also sported evening wear. But the meal was marred when the waiter bringing their desserts tripped and covered Fred from head to toe in treacle sponge. “I’m terribly sorry,” said the waiter. “So you should be,” replied Fred. “Thanks to you, I’ve pudding on my top hat, pudding on my white tie, pudding on my tails.” *** When the box with my Halloween costume arrived, it was empty. I called the company and asked where my Maid Marian costume was. “We’re sorry, ma’am. We’ll send your costume tomorrow,” the representative said. “In the meantime, feel free to keep the Lady Godiva costume you got by mistake.” *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

White-banded crab spider

February 17th 2024 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Seven Founders of the Servite Order Alexis Falconieri Constabilis Donatus, Romulus, Secundian, and Companions Fintan of Clonenagh Janani Luwum (Anglican Communion) Lommán of Trim February 17 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Independence Day, celebrates the independence declaration of Kosovo in 2008, still partially recognized. Revolution Day (Libya) Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) Analog to Digital TV Day Champion Crab Races Day February 17th Revolution My Way Day National Cabbage Day National Cafe au Lait Day National Public Science Day National Tennis Pro Day Who Shall I Be Day World Human Spirit Day World Pangolin Day Michael Jordan’s Birthday David Goggins’s Birthday Bonnie Wright’s Birthday Billie Joe Armstrong’s Birthday Alex Vargas’s Birthday Rene Russo’s Birthday Paris Hilton’s Birthday Denise Richards Joseph Gordon-Levitt ~~~~~~~~~ Sat Feb 17th, 2024 - Mon Feb 19th, 2024 Simplot Games Sat Feb 17th, 2024 - Sat Feb 24th, 2024 National FFA Week Sat Feb 17th, 2024 - Sun Mar 25th, 2024 Real Bread Week Fun Observances Random Act of Kindness Day February 17, is a day to practice kindness and pay it forward. The unofficial holiday is also known as National Random Act of Kindness Day in the United States. One-Sided Concern Considered to be a core value of most religions and cultures, kindness is the act of showing concern for others, loved ones and strangers, without any expectations of any consideration in return. Spreads Happiness and Health Studies have shown that being compassionate not only helps other people, but also makes one happy and healthier. People who are kind are thought to have lower risk for heart and blood pressure-related diseases. September 1 in New Zealand In New Zealand, Random Act of Kindness Day or RAK has been celebrated on September 1 since 2004. Other kindness related holidays one can celebrate during the year include Be Kind to Lawyers Day and World Kindness Day. How to Celebrate? Every day should be a day to be kind, but here are some easy ways to spread kindness around on this day. Smile at a stranger at your bus stop. Say "thank you" to your bus driver for driving you safely. Compliment a friend. Buy your co-worker their favorite snack. Help your neighbor mow their lawn. Pay for the groceries of the person behind you in the checkout line. Did You Know… …that randomness is a mathematical concept? In statistics and probability, a random event means that it cannot be predicted. *** I worked at a boarding kennel where people leave their dogs and cats while on vacation. One morning I had taken a cat out of his cage, and after playing with him and replenishing his food and water, I put him back in. A few minutes later, I was surprised to see the feline at my feet, since the cage doors lock automatically when they’re shut. I couldn’t figure out how the cat escaped, until I bent down to pick him up and spied his nametag: “Houdini.” *** Living in a household with eight indoor cats requires buying large amounts of kitty litter, which I usually get in 25-pound bags—100 pounds at a time. When I was going to be out of town for a week, I decided to go to the supermarket to stock up. As my husband and I both pushed shopping carts, each loaded with five large bags of litter, a man looked at our purchases and queried, “Bengal or Siberian?” *** One night while I was cat-sitting my daughter’s indoor feline, it escaped outside. When it failed to return the following morning, I found the beast clinging to a branch about 30 feet up in a spindly tree. Unable to lure it down, I called the fire department. “We don’t do that anymore,” the woman dispatcher said. When I persisted, she was polite but firm. “The cat will come down when it gets hungry enough.” “How do you know that?” I asked. “Have you ever seen a cat skeleton in a tree?” she said. Two hours later the cat was back, looking for breakfast. *** My 85-year-old grandfather was rushed to the hospital with a possible concussion. The doctor asked him a series of questions: “Do you know where you are?” “I’m at Rex Hospital.” “What city are you in?” “Raleigh.” “Do you know who I am?” “Dr. Hamilton.” My grandfather then turned to the nurse and said, “I hope he doesn’t ask me any more questions.” “Why?” she asked. “Because all of those answers were on his badge.” *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn (Todays' blog would not let me add any new jokes or pictures, sorry.)

February 16th 2024 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Abda of Edessa Elias and companions Juliana of Nicomedia (Catholic Church) Onesimus Charles Todd Quintard (Episcopal Church (USA)) February 16 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Day of the Shining Star (Kim Jong-il's Birthday) (North Korea) Restoration of Lithuania's Statehood Day, celebrate the independence of Lithuania from Russia and Germany in 1918 (Lithuania) Elizabeth Peratrovich Day (Alaska) Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) Friday Fish Fry Day Innovation Day Kyoto Protocol Day National Almond Day National Caregivers Day National Tartar Sauce Day No One Eats Alone Day Tim Tam Day Lupe Fiasco’s Birthday Brittney Atwood’s Birthday Ice T’s Birthday Elizabeth Olsen’s Birthday Ava Max’s Birthday The Weeknd Mahershala Ali ~~~~~~~~~ Fri Feb 16th, 2024 - Sun Feb 18th, 2024 Girl Scout Cookie Weekend Fun Observances Do a Grouch a Favor Day On February 16 or Do a Grouch a Favor Day, make someone’s day by doing something nice for them and getting them out of their funk. How to Celebrate? If you see someone who is grumpy, do something nice for them. Something as simple as a cheerful greeting and a smile can make someone’s day. If you know of someone who is having a hard time, make their day by taking them out for lunch or treat them to their favorite dessert. Be cheerful, remember happiness is contagious and your cheer may just rub off. Did You Know… …that Sesame Street, a children's TV show, has a number of characters called grouches? Grouches are always grouchy and unhappy, and usually live where there is trash. *** My boss yelled at me the other day, “You’ve got to be the worst train driver in history. How many trains did you derail last year?" I said, "Can’t say for sure, it’s so hard to keep track!" *** The public safety officer came up to a large mob of people outside a department store and asked, “What’s happening?” A mall officer replied, “These people are waiting to get the new Barbie doll.” The public safety officer shook his head and muttered, “Who can resist a Barbie queue?” *** Two antennas met on a roof, fell in love and got married. The ceremony wasn't much, but the reception was excellent. *** Did you hear the news about that Chinese restaurant that got vandalized? It was an act of wonton destruction. *** “What’s wrong, Bubba?” asked the pastor. “I need you to pray for my hearing,” said Bubba. The pastor put his hands on 
Bubba’s ears and prayed. When he was done, he asked, “So how’s your hearing?” “I don’t know,” said Bubba. “It isn’t until next Tuesday.” *** Anyone wanting to take pictures on our base’s airfield needs a letter from public affairs, which happens to be me. One day, while out snapping photos, I was stopped by the military police, who asked for my letter from public affairs. “But I am public affairs,” I said. “Without a letter from public affairs, we’ll have to take your camera.” I did the only thing I could do: I pulled a notepad and pen from my bag and wrote a letter giving myself permission to take photos. The MPs read the letter, saluted, and left. *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** Frank "Rocky" Fiegel | Popeye the Sailorpedia | Fandom *** *** *** Ancient Egyptian Pregnancy Test Survived Millennia Because It Worked | HowStuffWorks *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

instagram.com (click on the 'instagram.com' to see the actual clip) Camel spider on the hunt Paragaleodes sp. from Egypt This specimen recently molted, now it is hungry and looking for food.

February 15th 2024 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Blessed Michał Sopoćko Claude de la Colombière Faustinus and Jovita Oswiu Quinidius Sigfrid of Sweden Thomas Bray (Episcopal Church) Walfrid February 15 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Earliest day on which Family Day can fall, while February 21 is the latest; celebrated on the third Monday in February. (parts of Canada) Earliest day on which Washington's Birthday can fall, while February 21 is the latest; celebrated on the third Monday in February. (United States) International Duties Memorial Day (Russia, regional) John Frum Day (Vanuatu) Liberation Day (Afghanistan) National Flag of Canada Day (Canada) Parinirvana Day, also celebrated on February 8. (Mahayana Buddhism) Singles Awareness Day Statehood Day (Serbia) Susan B. Anthony Day (Florida, United States) The ENIAC Day (Philadelphia, United States) Total Defence Day (Singapore) Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) Annoy Squidward Day Day of Ashakalia International Angelman Day International Childhood Cancer Day Love Reset Day Lui-Ngai-Ni National Black Girl Magic Day National I Want Butterscotch Day National Marcus Day National Wisconsin Day Remember the Maine Day St. Skeletor's Day World Anthropology Day World Cholangiocarcinoma Day World Hippo Day Megan Thee Stallion’s Birthday Susan B. Anthony’s Birthday Jane Seymour’s Birthday Chris Farley ~~~~~~~~~ Thu Feb 15th, 2024 - Wed Apr 17th, 2024 Make Mine Chocolate Fun Observances Gumdrop Day February 15 is Gumdrop Day. Celebrate this day by treating yourself to a bowlful of the colorful, chewy, and delicious candy. This unofficial and fun holiday is also called National Gumdrop Day in the United States. Bright Colored Candy Gumdrops are brightly colored candy or sweets made of pectin or gelatin. The cone-shaped treats are typically covered in sugar and are usually fruit flavored. Gumdrops that are flavored with artificial spices like cinnamon and mint are called spice drops. Decoration for Cakes Generally cone shaped, gumdrops are often used to decorate cakes and gingerbread houses during Christmas time. Similar sweet tooth holidays are Gummi Worm Day and Candy Corn Day. How to Celebrate? It’s easy to celebrate this day. Just get a bag full of delicious gumdrops and enjoy them to your heart's content. Try and make gumdrops in your own kitchen. Share them with your family and friends. Did You Know… …that the world gelatin comes from Latin gelat, which means to freeze? *** My young son declared, “When 
I grow up, I’m going to marry you, Mommy.” “You can’t marry your own mother,” said his older sister. “Then I’ll marry you.” “You can’t marry me either.” He looked confused, so I explained, “You can’t marry someone in your own family.” “You mean I have to marry a total stranger?!” he cried. *** We had just finished tucking our five kids into bed when three-year-old Billy began to wail. Turns out, he had accidentally swallowed a penny and was sure he was going to die. Desperate to calm him, my husband palmed a penny that he had in his pocket and pretended to pull it from Billy’s ear. Billy was delighted. In a flash, he snatched it from my husband’s hand, swallowed it, and demanded, “Do it again!” *** My sister is a know-it-all who bristles at anyone's well-intentioned advice. But when our older sister gave her several clever tips, she was impressed. "I have to hand it to Pat," she told me. "She really is smart. Not Jeopardy! smart; more Wheel of Fortune smart." *** As A.J. and his platoon of recruits were marching, their sergeant slipped and tumbled down a ravine. The irate sergeant scrambled back up amid guffaws and barked, “Those who laughed, get down and give me 20!” A.J. and some others fell to the ground quickly and did their push-ups. Meanwhile, the sergeant glared at the others. “As for the rest of you, get down and give me 40 for lying!” *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

February 14th 2024 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Cyril and Methodius, patron saints of Europe (Roman Catholic Church) Manchan Valentine (see also Valentine's Day) February 14 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Statehood Day (Arizona, United States) Statehood Day (Oregon, United States) Presentation of Jesus at the Temple (Armenian Apostolic Church) Parents' Worship Day (parts of India) Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) Ash Wednesday Basant Panchami Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Day Frederick Douglass Day Gold Heart Day Have a Heart Day International Book Giving Day League of Women Voters Day Lui-Ngai-Ni Festival Madly In Love With Me Day National Black Literacy Day National Boone Day National Call in Single Day National Chance Day National Christine Day National Condom Day National Cream-Filled Chocolate Day National Donor Day National Football Hangover Day National Impotence Day Organ Donor Day Pet Theft Awareness Day Quirkyalone Day Rafik Hariri Memorial Day Read to Your Child Day Valentine's Day Vasant Panchami World Bonobo Day World Sound Healing Day Tati Westbrook’s Birthday Koharu Sugawara’s Birthday Karol G’s Birthday Companiondish’s Birthday Michael Bloomberg Jimmy Hoffa Frederick Douglass ~~~~~~~~~ Wed Feb 14th, 2024 - Tue Feb 20th, 2024 Random Acts of Kindness Week Wed Feb 14th, 2024 - Mon Feb 21st, 2024 Nest Box Week National Condom Week Love Teaching Week Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care Staff Education Week Wed Feb 14th, 2024 - Sun Mar 31st, 2024 Lent Fun Observances ( 2 ) Ferris Wheel Day February 14 is Ferris Wheel Day, a day to honor the life and time of Ferris wheel inventor George Washington Gale Ferris, Jr. Now a mainstay of theme parks and fairs, the Ferris wheel debuted at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, United States. How to Celebrate? Visit your closest theme park and spend time riding the Ferris wheel. Since it is also Valentine’s Day, why not take your loved one with you on a Ferris wheel? Learn more about the science and technology behind Ferris wheels. Did You Know… …that the world’s largest Ferris wheel is 167.6 m or 550 feet tall? The High Roller, as it is called, can be found in Las Vegas. ~~~~~~~ Library Lovers Day February 14 is not only Valentine’s Day, it's also Library Lover’s Day. It is a day to honor libraries, librarians, bookworms, and library lovers in your life. How to Celebrate? Show your appreciation for your library and your librarian by volunteering your time helping out at the library or by donating money to your local library to add to their collections. Visit your local library and check out books or films. If you know someone – a friend or a family member – who does not have a library membership, now is the chance for you to encourage them to get one. Did You Know… …that the Library of Congress in Washington DC, United States, is the largest library in the world? *** My dad used to sing little ditties. This was my favorite: There was a young lady named Mabel. She danced on the dining room table. Her face grew red, When the gentleman said ... “Look at the legs on that table!” *** Here's my favorite dad joke, with me as the dad: Every Sunday on the way to church, we would have to stop at a railroad crossing. And each time, I’d tell my 12-year-old daughter, “A train just went by. Know how I can tell? It left its tracks.” I got a moan the first couple of Sundays. After a while, every time we’d pull up to the crossing, all I had to do was look in the rearview mirror and she would smile. My daughter is now a college graduate and lives out of state, but every time I cross those tracks, I think of her. *** My dad was not a jokester, but his fun side did come out once in a while. When I was 12, he took me to a Chicago White Sox game with a group from a local tavern. The game between the Sox and the Indians was in the ninth inning, with the Sox ahead by a run. I was having so much fun, I said, “I hope the Indians tie the game in the ninth.” The die-hard Sox fans we were with were horrified, but not Dad. He started cheering for the Indians to score, even as the men yelled, “Cut it out; you’re a Sox fan!” The Sox ended up winning, everyone was happy, and my dad and I laughed all the way home. I miss him tremendously. *** (I needed a break from purple, back to normal tomorrow) *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

Watch A Giant Spider Terrorize People Who Don't Know It's Really A Dog Watch A Giant Spider Terrorize People Who Don't Know It's Really A Dog | News | MTV