sandrewn

Large wandering spider (Phoneutria cf boliviensis, Ctenidae), warning display Serere reserve, Bolivian Amazon

December 22nd 2023 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Dongzhi Festival Armed Forces Day (Vietnam) Christian feast day: Anastasia of Sirmium (Orthodox Church) Eimhin Ernan, Son of Eogan Frances Xavier Cabrini (outside US) Hunger O Rex Henry Budd (Episcopal Church (USA)) Lottie Moon (Episcopal Church (USA)) December 22 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Mother's Day (Indonesia) National Mathematics Day (India) Teachers' Day (Cuba) Unity Day (Zimbabwe) Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) Forefathers’ Day National Ashton Day National Betty Day National Cookie Exchange Day National Short Person Day National Flashlight Day Hennessy Carolina’s Birthday Guru Gobind Singh’s Birthday G Hannelius’s Birthday Denzel Dion’s Birthday Tanner Fox’s Birthday Nate Garner’s Birthday Moonbyul’s Birthday Meghan Trainor’s Birthday Luther Campbell’s Birthday Hobo Johnson’s Birthday Jean-Michel Basquiat’s Birthday Alexandria Everett’s Birthday Latto’s Birthday Bershan Shaw’s Birthday Madison Kennedy’s Birthday Big Tigger’s Birthday Mike Chen’s Birthday Bryce Gheisar’s Birthday Natalie Guercio’s Birthday Chris Hughes’s Birthday Srinivasa Ramanujan’s Birthday DaBaby’s Birthday Jordin Sparks’s Birthday Fun Observances Date Nut Bread Day On December 22 add date nut bread to your holiday baking list because it is Date Nut Bread Day. Made with different kinds of nuts like walnuts and pecans and dates that give it its distinct sweet flavor, date nut bread is thought to have been first baked in England. Ancient Fruit Grown in many parts of the world, dates are the fruit of the date palm. Food historians believe that the date palm was first cultivated for its fruit in the Middle East around 6000 BC. Farmers classify dates based on their texture and the sugar content into 3 types. These are soft, dry and semi-dry dates. Date Nut Bread Day is an unofficial holiday which is also known as National Date Nut Bread Day. How to Celebrate? Bake date nut bread and share with family, friends and coworkers. Remind them that it is a healthy treat. What about making little muffins instead of making a loaf of the bread? Experiment with the flavors of your date nut bread. What about adding strawberries to it? Or chocolate chips? Make a banana date nut bread or an orange date nut bread instead. Serve toasted slices of the bread with a pat of butter. Did You Know… …that contrary to popular belief, a peanut is not a nut, but is part of the legume family? *** My 90-year-old dad was giving 
a talk at our local library about his World War II experiences. During the question-and-answer period, he was asked, “How did you know the war was over?” He replied, “When they stopped shooting at me.” *** Wandering inside a pet store, 
I stopped in front of a birdcage to 
admire a parakeet. We watched each other for a few minutes before it asked, “Can’t you talk?” *** My son and I were checking out 
a house he was interested in buying. When the owner came to the door, she looked at me and said, “Larry? 
I know you. We went to school 
together. I’m Elaine. Don’t you 
recognize me?” I drew a complete blank. She took out our old yearbook and showed me her graduation picture—still nothing. “Let’s look at your 
picture,” she said. She flipped the pages until she came to me. Under my photo I 
had written, “Elaine, I will never 
forget you.” *** Shortly after we moved to rural South Carolina, we found out Clemson Ag Extension was selling all sorts of berry and fruit trees at great rates. We needed quite a few things because the property we bought was cleared cow pasture and, besides a huge pecan tree, had no other trees on it. So I ordered blueberry and blackberry bushes and apple, peach and pear trees. When it came time to pick up the order, my friend called to ask if I could pick hers up, too. I told her we’d better take two trucks. When I got to the extension office I was shocked to find the pickup area empty except for some little bundles of twigs tied with string. I asked where my order was and the attendant led me to one of those bundles. They were bare root cuttings, which take up very little space. 
I could lift mine in one hand. I mentioned to the attendant that I felt silly bringing a truck to pick up the order. It was then that I noticed a man behind me. He ruefully stated, “Don’t feel bad; I brought a trailer.” *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

Portia spider...smartest spider on earth. Portia spider...smartest spider on earth. -- Macro in photography-on-the.net forums Portia Spider Facts

December 21st 2023 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Armed Forces Day (Philippines) Christian feast day: O Oriens Peter Canisius Thomas the Apostle (Anglicanism) December 21 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Earliest usual date for the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere and the summer solstice in the Southern Hemisphere, and its related observances: Blue Christmas (some modern American liberal Protestant groups) Dongzhi Festival (Asia) Sanghamitta Day (Theravada Buddhism) Yule in the Northern Hemisphere (Neopagan Wheel of the Year) Ziemassvētki (ancient Latvia) Forefathers' Day (Plymouth, Massachusetts) São Tomé Day (São Tomé and Príncipe) The first day of Pancha Ganapati, celebrated until December 25 (Saiva Siddhanta Church) Gravy Day (Australia), celebrated in honour of the song How to Make Gravy by Paul Kelly Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) Anne and Samantha Day Don’t Make Your Bed Day Humbug Day Look On The Bright Side Day National Armagnac Day National Coquito Day National Crossword Puzzle Day National French Fried Shrimp Day National Homeless Persons’ Remembrance Day National Lee Day National Maine Day Phileas Fogg Win a Wager Day Short Girl Appreciation Day World Snowboard Day Winter Solstice Ribbon Candy Day National Re-Gifting Day International Energy Drink Day Mike Vitar’s Birthday Mario Selman’s Birthday Mickey Singh’s Birthday Jinger Duggar’s Birthday Kiefer Sutherland’s Birthday Jessie James Combs’s Birthday Jane Fonda’s Birthday Hubert Keller’s Birthday Nick Davis Weinstein’s Birthday Samuel L. Jackson’s Birthday Chris Heria’s Birthday Frank Zappa’s Birthday Fun Observances International Dalek Remembrance Day December 21 is International Dalek Remembrance Day, a day to remember the extraterrestrial cyborgs called Daleks in BBC's Doctor Who universe. Considered to be one of the biggest enemies of Doctor Who, the time travelling lord, the robotic Daleks made their debut on December 21, 1963 in a 7 part serial aptly called The Daleks. These salt and pepper shaker shaped creatures were created by another enemy of the Doctor - Davros, who genetically modified his own people, the Kaleds and removed all emotions from them. The Daleks were then left to operate just on hate and vengeance. Frightening Villains Known for repeatedly saying exterminate and for wanting to destroy every other race in the universe, the metal covered, aggressive Daleks are popularly considered by science fiction fans as one of the most frightening villains ever shown on television. A 2010 survey by the sci-fi magazine SFX found that the Doctor's arch-enemies were the most popular fantasy creatures on television and the big screen. Today, Daleks are easily recognized icons in popular culture especially in the United Kingdom. Being or sounding like a Dalek is sometimes used as a way to refer to someone who's behavior or voice sounds mechanical or robotic. Remembrance of Daleks Remembrance of Daleks is a 4 part serial in the 25th season of the British science fiction show. In the serial, Doctor Who returns to 1963 to retrive the Hand of Omega, a device that can fuel time travel by converting stars into supernovas. Another popularly celebrated Doctor Who inspired holiday is Impossible Astronaut Day. How to Celebrate? Spend the day doing a Doctor Who marathon. Host a Doctor Who party. Decorate the venue with Doctor Who inspired decorations and invite all the Whovians in your life. Did You Know… …that originally Daleks could not go up stairs? This lack of stair-climbing abilities was one way that Doctor Who characters could save themselves from these monstrous creatures. In a more recent avatar of the Daleks, the creators of the TV show have given them hovering capabilities, which they employ while uttering escalate in the same tone as they say eliminate. *** The last year I entered a marathon. The race started and immediately I was the last of the runners. It was embarrassing. The guy who was in front of me, second to last, was making fun of me. He said, "Hey buddy, how does it feel to be last?" I replied, "You really want to know?" Then I dropped out of the race. *** A man came in to give his application to the manager. But the manager asked, "Why is there a four-year gap in your application?" And the man responded, "Yale." The manager hired him and the guy said, "Thanks. I needed a yob." *** An elderly farmer had an old bull that lost its usual desire and no longer went near the cows. The farmer called the vet, who prescribed a pill to stimulate the bull’s interest. A few weeks later, the farmer ran into a friend, who asked, “How’s that bull?” “Great!” said the farmer. “The bull is back to his former frisky self.” “That’s fantastic. What miracle drug did the vet prescribe?” “I don’t know,” said the farmer. “But it tastes like licorice.” *** I took our 4-year-old granddaughter, Halle, to the corral on pregnancy testing day to watch as the veterinarian did ultrasounds on our cows. After a positive test, the vet shouted out, “Call it good!” I explained to Halle this meant there was a baby in the cow’s tummy. She replied, “I don’t want to call the baby Good; I want to call it Queen Elsa.” *** *** *** *** *** (Thanks for the nightmares) *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

Don't know about you, but this one gave me a shiver or two!

December 20th 2023 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Abolition of Slavery Day, also known as Fête des Cafres (Réunion, French Guiana) Bo Aung Kyaw Day (Myanmar) Christian feast day: Dominic of Silos O Clavis Ursicinus of Saint-Ursanne Katharina von Bora (Lutheran) December 20 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Earliest date for Winter solstice's eve (Northern Hemisphere), and its related observances: Yaldā (Iran) International Human Solidarity Day (International) Macau Special Administrative Region Establishment Day (Macau) Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) Cathode-Ray Tube Day Dot Your I’s Day Games Day Go Caroling Day Mudd Day National Greg Day National Steven Day Sacagawea Day Sandra Lee’s Birthday Pouya’s Birthday Peter Criss’s Birthday NAO’s Birthday Mystic Inscho’s Birthday Zack Carpinello’s Birthday Melanie Scrofano’s Birthday Lucia Zambetti’s Birthday Kylian Mbappé’s Birthday Jonah Hill’s Birthday JoJo’s Birthday De'Aaron Fox’s Birthday Christmas Abbott’s Birthday Taimur Ali Khan’s Birthday Tori Bates’s Birthday Ashleigh Wendrock’s Birthday Mya Nicole Johnson’s Birthday Todd Phillips Fun Observances Sangria Day December 20 is Sangria Day. This unofficial holiday encourages people around the world to enjoy the day with a tall glass of the delicious alcoholic beverage. Typically made of red wine, sangria is a beverage that originated from Spain and Portugal. Usually, the wine is steeped with a variety of that is infused with a variety of chopped fruits and sugar for a few days before being consumed. How to Celebrate? If you are in the Northern Hemisphere, chances are that you are dreaming of a warm sunny day and a cool drink, and if you are in the Southern Hemisphere, you are probably looking for a cold drink to cool you down. No matter where you are on Earth, here are some ways you can celebrate Sangria Day: Make a huge batch of sangria and share with family and friends. Experiment with different kinds of wine and fruits to change the flavor profile of the Sangria you make. Don't drink alcohol? No problem. Make yourself a batch of non-alcoholic sangria with ginger ale or any other sparkling fruit juice of your choice. Did You Know… …that the term Sangria comes from the Spanish word for bleeding? This is because the beverage is typically made of red wine, which is deep red in color. *** I was picking up my letters at the post office when I heard a boy ask his mother if they had gotten any mail. She said, “No, just bills.” Then he asked, “Why do we always get his mail?” *** While on patrol, I arrested a burglar who’d injured himself running from a home. He told me he’d broken in and unhooked the phone before searching for valuables. But he’d panicked when he heard a woman’s voice. I entered the house and heard the same voice: “If you’d like to make a call, please hang up and try your call again.” *** We were an Air Force family, but our son could not grasp that 
fact. Anytime someone asked what his father did, he’d say, “He’s in the Army.” I told him umpteen times, “Stop telling people I’m in the Army!” It finally seemed to hit home because on the admittance form 
for kindergarten, under “father’s 
profession,” the teacher wrote, “He doesn’t know what his father does, but he’s not in the Army.” *** One day when my son David was 5 years old, he informed me that he no longer wanted to go to day care because the other kids were all babies. He said he was a big boy and could stay home alone while I worked. So I asked him, “Who will make your lunch? You can’t reach the stove.” He quickly replied, “I’ll make a salad.” *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** Bang Zoom ...You're Going to the Moon! - YouTube *** *** *** *** sandrewn

Ogre-faced spider (Deinopis sp.) Just for fun. Ogre-faced spider (Deinopis sp.). Very clearly a male (apart from the swollen pedipalps also the grumpy expression)

December 19th 2023 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Lillian Trasher (Episcopal Church) O Radix Pope Anastasius I Pope Urban V December 19 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Saint Nicholas Day Goa Liberation Day (Goa, India) National Heroes and Heroines Day (Anguilla) Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) Look for an Evergreen Day National Emo Day National Hard Candy Day National Harry Day National Oatmeal Muffin Day Jenelle Evans’s Birthday Janet Guzman’s Birthday Jasmine Sorge’s Birthday Ines de Ramon’s Birthday Jake Gyllenhaal’s Birthday Hawkeye Huey’s Birthday Hey.lexie’s Birthday Delta Shepard’s Birthday Elaine Joyce’s Birthday Criss Angel’s Birthday Cicely Tyson’s Birthday Ashley Flowers’s Birthday Nico Hiraga’s Birthday Souline McBroom’s Birthday Alkaline’s Birthday Alyssa Milano’s Birthday Ronan Farrow Fun Observances ( 0 ) *** The DMV was as crowded and noisy as ever. When I finally got to the 
window, I asked the clerk, “Does the never-ending line of loud people ever drive you crazy?” She shook her head. “We call it job security.” *** There is No Such Thing as a Dumb Question, Except for These: • I work in IT. A customer asked me if a string of numbers I'd read off was upper- or lowercase. • Someone once asked, “Is this the museum?” I work at a pool. • A few of the things customers have asked for at our art-supply store include disco balls, trees, and crucifixion wood. • I'm a butcher. A woman asked if she could sleep in our freezer to test out a heavy-duty sleeping bag before a trip to the Himalayas. *** Conversation With A Customer-Service Representative: Me: I have a Roundup Multi Purpose Sprayer that is defective. Customer Rep: Ma’am, we’ll need the exact name of the item. Do you have the box? Me: No, but it’s the Roundup Multi Purpose Sprayer. Customer Rep: Ma’am, we’ll need the box so we can have the exact name of the product. Me: Hold on. I’ll run out to my garage and get the box. [Long pause ... ] 
OK ... [huff ... puff] I have it. It says ... Roundup Multi Purpose Sprayer. Customer Rep: Thank you for that information, ma’am. *** Several years ago, our grandson Andrew slept at our house overnight. For breakfast I made pancakes, and I gave him one that was browner than the others. He told me he didn’t want that one because it was too ripe. *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** (Be careful of what you wish for) *** *** sandrewn

Gandanameno sp. Not only are some species nearly eusocial, female Velvet spiders exhibit a remarkable type of maternal care among arachnids. Upon the birth of her brood, the mother spider liquefies her internal organs and regurgitates this material as food. Once her capability to liquefy her insides is exhausted, the young sense this and consume the mother. Now that's the ultimate sacrifice!

December 18th 2023 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Expectation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Flannán Gatianus of Tours O Adonai Sebastian (Eastern Orthodox Church) Winibald December 18 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) International Migrants Day National Day (Qatar) Republic Day (Niger) UN Arabic Language Day (United Nations) Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) Answer The Telephone Like Buddy The Elf Day Bake Cookies Day Flake Appreciation Day Guru Ghasidas Jayanti National Crime Junkie Day National Deborah Day National Jeremy Day National Roast Suckling Pig Day National Twin Day Wear a Plunger on Your Head Day Katie Holmes’s Birthday Joseph Stalin’s Birthday Franz Ferdinand’s Birthday DMX’s Birthday Christina Aguilera’s Birthday Stone Cold Steve Austin’s Birthday Ronald Acuna Jr.’s Birthday Rachel in Wonderland’s Birthday Maria Brink’s Birthday Keith Richards’s Birthday Lyrica Anderson’s Birthday Ashley Benson’s Birthday Paul Klee’s Birthday Ayaka Iida’s Birthday Ray Liotta’s Birthday Brad Pitt’s Birthday Steven Spielberg’s Birthday Bridgit Mendler’s Birthday YBN Nahmir’s Birthday Chris FamilyFunPack’s Birthday ZaZa Bean’s Birthday Billie Eilish *** A few of us were discussing the perils of drinking and driving when my five-year-old granddaughter threw in her two cents. “I can see why it would be dangerous to drink and drive,” she said. “The straw could go up your nose.” *** I’m a nurse in a hospital’s children’s ward. One night, I was at the nurses’ station when I heard a little boy in his room talking. He kept the patter up for some time. Finally, I got on the intercom and said softly but firmly, “All right, Johnny, it’s time to go to sleep now.” There was quiet in the room, and then he said, “OK, God, I will.” I didn’t hear a peep from him until morning. *** My 35-year-old son and I had just finished our meal when I realized I’d left my wallet in my truck. As I headed out the door, I told the waitress what had happened. “But don’t worry,” I said with a grin. “I’m leaving my son for collateral.” She looked at him. He winked at her. She turned back to me. “What else you got?” *** When someone asks me if I quit my diet... not only did I fall off the diet wagon, I dragged it into the woods, set it on fire, and used the insurance money to buy Twinkies. *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

(This one is a male) Eresus sandaliatus is a species of spider found primarily in northern and central Europe. Like other species of the genus Eresus, it is commonly called ladybird spider because of the coloration of the male. Eresus sandaliatus - Wikipedia

December 17th 2023 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Daniel the Prophet Josep Manyanet i Vives Lazarus of Bethany (local commemoration in Cuba) O Sapientia Olympias the Deaconess Wivina Sturm December 17 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Accession Day (Bahrain) International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers Kurdish Flag Day (Global Kurdish population) National Day (Bhutan) Pan American Aviation Day (United States) Wright Brothers Day, a United States federal observance by Presidential proclamation Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) National Device Appreciation Day National Maple Syrup Day - 1 National Maple Syrup Day Canada - 2 Saturnalia Nat Wolff’s Birthday Michael Cashman’s Birthday Milla Jovovich’s Birthday Manny Pacquiao’s Birthday Manu Ríos’s Birthday John Abraham’s Birthday Jessi’s Birthday Ivar Ivask’s Birthday Pope Francis’s Birthday Ramriddlz’s Birthday Ashley Jordyn’s Birthday Duff Goldman’s Birthday Sarah Paulson ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sun Dec 17th, 2023 - Mon Jan 1st, 2024 Festival Of Winter Walks *** Q: What's A Snowman's Favorite Breakfast? A: Frosted Flakes! *** A New Year's resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other. *** Q: Why did the Christmas tree go to the barber? A: It needed to be trimmed. *** On New Year’s Eve, I’ll join my friends to toast the days ahead. We’ll all stay up until it’s late, then eat a tasty spread. At midnight, though, I might just wish that I were home instead, sleeping very peacefully in my warm, cozy bed. *** Just before Easter I remarked to my husband that, with the children grown and away from home, this was the first year that we hadn't dyed eggs and had an Easter-egg hunt. "That's all right, honey," he said. "We can just hide each other's vitamin pills." *** My granddaughter was discussing the expected arrival of a new brother for her 4-year-old son, Matthew. She told Matthew that you can’t predict the exact date of birth. “You were expected on Aug. 19,” she said, “but arrived on Aug. 11.” Matthew thought for a moment and then said, “Oh! I’m so lucky I was born on my birthday!” *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

Female Lady Bird spider Eresus sandaliatus

December 16th 2023 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Adelaide of Italy Haggai Ralph Adams Cram, Richard Upjohn and John La Farge (Episcopal Church (USA)) December 16 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Day of Reconciliation, formerly celebrated as Day of the Vow by the Afrikaners (South Africa) Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Kazakhstan from the Soviet Union in 1991. National Day, celebrates the withdrawal of United Kingdom from Bahrain, making Bahrain an independent emirate in 1971. National Sports Day (Thailand) The beginning of the nine-day celebration beginning December 16 and ending December 24, celebrating the trials which Mary and Joseph endured before finding a place to stay where Jesus could be born (Hispanidad😞 The first day of Las Posadas (Mexico, Latin America) The first day of the Simbang Gabi novena of masses (Philippines) Victory Day observances, celebration of the Indo-Bangla allied victory over Pakistan armed forces and the Liberation of Bangladesh. (Bangladesh and India) Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) Barbie And Barney Backlash Day National Wreaths Across America Day National Underdog Day Stupid Toy Day Theo James’s Birthday Ludwig van Beethoven’s Birthday Park Seo-joon’s Birthday Jane Austen’s Birthday Kai Cenat’s Birthday Hozumi Hasegawa’s Birthday James Reynolds’s Birthday Ethan Dolan’s Birthday Grayson Dolan’s Birthday Daniel Preda’s Birthday Billy Gibbons’s Birthday Bill Hicks’s Birthday Berleezy’s Birthday Zara Larsson’s Birthday Alana Kern’s Birthday Fun Observances Chocolate Covered Anything Day December 16 is all about chocolate because it is Chocolate Covered Anything Day. And we are not complaining because it is the one-day where no one can question our obsession. Want to drizzle chocolate over your salad? Go right ahead, it is Chocolate Covered Anything Day! Add chocolate to your morning cup of coffee? That is a brilliant idea! Eat chocolate covered fruits for lunch? You are in the spirit of the holiday! Celebrating Chocolate Around the Year Chocolate is a very popular theme for a fun holiday. Other chocolate themed holidays are Chocolate Pudding Day, Milk Chocolate Day, Chocolate Pecan Pie Day, Chocolate Milkshake Day, Chocolate Cupcake Day, and Chocolate Cake Day. How to Celebrate? Eat only chocolate covered items on this day. Chocolate covered donuts for breakfast, chocolate covered fruits for lunch and a chocolate rubbed steak for dinner. Get creative and try to experiment by pairing chocolate with dishes and food items you may never think about putting together. Did You Know… …that the earliest record of humans consuming chocolate dates back to 1700 B.C.? *** Since the coronavirus outbreak, my 47-year-old son has been washing his hands religiously. In fact, he said, “I’ve been washing my hands so much, I found the answers to an old eighth-grade math quiz.” *** An utterly confused woman called our local fire station about getting a haircut. “I’m sorry, you have the wrong number,” I said. “Is this the salon near the fire station?” she asked. “No, this is the fire station.” “Oh! Are you cutting hair in there now?” *** I work in the front office of a housing complex that supports people living with mental illness. On one particularly hectic day, a tenant came in to pay her rent. Frazzled, I said, “Ever have one of those days when you feel everyone is out to get you?” She smiled and replied, “I take medication for that.” *** A man goes to a job interview and the interviewer begins with the question, "What do you think is your biggest weakness?" The man thinks for a moment, then says, "I think my biggest weakness is my brutal honesty." The interviewer says, "I don't think that's a weakness." The man then says, "I don't give a #%^& what you think!" *** When my grandson, Jimmy, was 4 or 5, we asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up. “I want to be a machine,” he said without hesitation. When we asked him why, he explained, “Well, you can replace the parts in a machine when they wear out.” *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

December 15th 2023 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Bill of Rights Day (United States) 2nd Amendment Day (South Carolina) Christian feast day: Drina Martyrs Drostan (Aberdeen Breviary) John Horden and Robert McDonald (Episcopal Church (USA)) Maria Crocifissa di Rosa Mesmin Valerian of Abbenza Virginia Centurione Bracelli December 15 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Homecoming Day (Alderney) Kingdom Day (Netherlands), moves to December 16 if the 15th is on a Sunday Zamenhof Day (International Esperanto Community) Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) Cat Herders Day International Tea Day National Cupcake Day National Lemon Cupcake Day National Regifting Day National Wear Your Pearls Day Skyler Aboujaoude’s Birthday Ronnie Radke’s Birthday Meredith Marks’s Birthday Maya Henry’s Birthday Kim Porter’s Birthday Jeff Wittek’s Birthday Erika Tham’s Birthday Emilia Fart’s Birthday Don Johnson’s Birthday Daniel Ezra’s Birthday Antonio Garza’s Birthday Tim Conway’s Birthday Josh Norman’s Birthday Fun Observances (2) Underdog Day Underdog Day is celebrated every year on the third Friday of December. This unofficial holiday owes its name to the term “underdog” popularly used in sports and competitions and refers to someone who is popularly expected to lose. All of us know of someone who works very hard but never gets recognized for their hard work. In addition, they are usually expected to fail in their efforts. Maybe, you have been in a situation like that? Celebrate all such underdogs and unsung heroes on Underdog Day. How to Celebrate? Remember that it is sometimes ok to be an underdog. It may be frustrating sometimes, but when underdogs win, they tend to upset the expected order of things. If you know of an underdog, tell them to persevere on. If you feel you are an underdog, work harder and shatter everyone’s expectations. Watch the American animated series, Underdog. The series, which aired on NBC in the 1960s, detailed the adventures of Underdog, a superhero who spoke in rhyming verse and wore a caped costume. Did You Know… …that the opposite of an underdog is a top dog and in if an underdog wins in a competition, the outcome of the event is known as an upset. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ugly Sweater Day The third Friday of December is Ugly Sweater Day. On this day, get in the holiday spirit and flaunt those ugly holiday sweaters (thanks, Grandma!) you have been too embarrassed to wear in public. In many countries, the holiday is associated with fundraising events for children’s charity. A similar holiday, Christmas Jumper Day, is celebrated every year as part of a fun raising event by Save the Children, a not for profit organization. In 2017, it is on December 15 as well. How to Celebrate? Take that ugly sweater out and wear it in public, chances are, you won’t be the only one wearing the Rudolph sweater grandma made for you ten years ago. Don’t have an ugly sweater? Make one of your own. Bedazzle an old or thrifted sweater, add embroidered holiday motifs and some sequins, and voila, you are ready for Ugly Sweater Day. Host an ugly sweater party. Have your guests contribute to charity and hold an ugly sweater competition. The person flaunting the ugliest sweater goes home with the top prize. Did You Know... ...that the word cardigan, which is a type of sweater that is open from the front, comes from James Thomas Brudenell, the 7th Earl of Cardigan? The English general was thought to have worn such as sweater while leading a cavalry charge at Balaclava in 1854. *** On our commute to work, my husband stopped at a convenience store for coffee. As he got back into the car, I noticed something odd. "Turn your head and look at me," I said. "You have a Q-tip sticking out of your ear." As he pulled it out, he replied, "No wonder the guy in there asked me if I was getting good reception." *** A patient came to the hospital with a burned right hand. As the doctor took down his medical history, he asked the injured man, "Do you smoke?" "Yeah, a pack and a half a day," said the patient. Concerned, the doctor told him, "You should consider quitting." "No, it's OK," said the patient. "I smoke with my left hand." *** A defendant isn’t happy with 
how things are going in court, so he gives the judge a hard time. Judge: “Where do you work?” Defendant: “Here and there.” Judge: “What do you do for 
a living?” Defendant: “This and that.” Judge: “Take him away.” Defendant: “Wait; when will I get out?” Judge: “Sooner or later.” *** Been reading up on the 
thesaurus lately because a mind is a terrible thing to garbage. *** The first time my husband and I took our 3-year-old son to visit his grandma in Arkansas, he went with her to gather eggs. The next morning, he watched her fry some up for breakfast and put them on his plate. He looked at me and said in a serious tone, “Mama, these eggs came from chickens!” *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

I love it when I actually have an answer for you, but to be honest, the answer was already at your fingertips. It was in the blurb (first paragraph) of..... Mouse Spider (Missulena bradleyi) Description Female Mouse Spiders are all black and male spiders are black with a bluish-white patch on the front of their abdomen. Females are larger than males. The common name of the mouse spider arises from the mistaken belief that they dig a deep burrow like a mouse. Mouse spider fangs move in and out sideways, and not up and down like Funnel web spiders.

Mouse Spider (Missulena bradleyi) Mouse Spider : Female Mouse Spiders are all black and male spiders are black with a bluish-white patch on the front of their abdomen. Females are larger than males.... Mouse Spider (Missulena bradleyi)

December 14th 2023 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Folcwin John of the Cross John III of the Sedre (Syriac Orthodox Church) Matronian Nicasius of Rheims Nimatullah Kassab (Maronite Church) Spyridon (Western Church) Venantius Fortunatus December 14 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Alabama Day (Alabama) Forty-seven Ronin Remembrance Day (Sengaku-ji, Tokyo) Martyred Intellectuals Day (Bangladesh) Monkey Day Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) Free Shipping Day Halcyon Days More Good Today Day National Bouillabaisse Day National Energy Conservation Day Roast Chestnuts Day National Screwdriver Day Sustainable Entrepreneurship Day Offset’s Birthday Mike Fuentes’s Birthday Nostradamus’s Birthday Lisa Barlow’s Birthday Mason Disick’s Birthday James Comey’s Birthday Kate Bogucharskaia’s Birthday George VI’s Birthday Ciel Star’s Birthday Candiace Dillard’s Birthday Reign Disick’s Birthday Ryland Storms’s Birthday Alex Gaskarth’s Birthday Vanessa Hudgens’s Birthday Benjamin Haggard’s Birthday ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thu Dec 14th, 2023 - Thu Jan 5th, 2024 Christmas Bird Count Week Fun Observances Monkey Day December 14 is Monkey Day. The day celebrates monkeys and all other primate cousins of humans such as apes, chimpanzees, and gibbons. While the origins of Monkey Day are not known, there are many theories as to why this holiday was created. Some sources suggest that it started as a prank by some college students, while others suggest that it was started by people who wanted to raise awareness about monkeys, their habitats, and their role in the environment. Many Different Species Monkeys are primates that usually live in trees and are active during the day. There are about 260 different species of monkeys around the world. Scientists classify monkeys into two different categories - old world monkeys found in Asia and Africa and new world monkeys found in the Americas. Believed to be highly intelligent animals, monkeys can vary in size. The smallest monkey, the pygmy marmoset is about 5 inches (13 cm) tall, while the largest, the mandrill can grow up to 3 feet (1 m) in height. Special Status in Many Cultures In many parts of the world, monkeys are revered and worshiped as gods. The monkey is the animal representing the 9th year in the 12 year cycles of the Chinese Calendar. How to Celebrate? Learn more about monkeys and non-human primates. Donate your time and money to a non-profit organization that works to conserve and preserve monkey and simian environments. Visit your local zoo to observe monkeys, apes, and other primates. Watch Planet of the Apes and other movies with simian characters. Did You Know… …that monkeys went into space before humans did? The first primate to go to space was called Albert II, a rhesus monkey. *** Forget about the past, you can't change it. Forget about the future, you can't predict it. Forget about the present, I didn't get you one. *** Statistics show that those who have the most birthdays live the longest. *** You know you're getting old when you have more candles on your cake than friends at your birthday party. *** If you feel a bit lonely, forgotten, or just need someone to cheer you up remember...You can always change your birthday on Facebook! *** Q: What do George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Christopher Columbus all have in common? A: They were all born on holidays. *** Every year on my birthday, I looked forward to my aunt's gift—a scarf, hat, or sweater knitted by hand. One year, she must have had better things to do because I received a ball of yarn, knitting needles, and a how-to-knit book. Her card read "Scarf, some assembly required." *** As a single, never-married woman in my 40s, I have been questioned endlessly about my status by friends, relatives and co-workers. Over the years I've noticed a subtle change in the nature of their inquiries. In my teens, friends would ask, "Who are you going out with this weekend?" In my 20s, relatives would say, "Who are you dating?" In my 30s, co-workers might inquire, "So, are you dating anyone?" Now people ask, "Where did you get that adorable purse?" *** Q: What's the easiest way to remember your wife's birthday? A: Forget it once! *** Pollen and allergies got the best of Liam, my 9-year-old son, so he stayed home from school with his grandma. When I got home from work, he said he had brushed our dog, Abby. Knowing that I kept the dog’s brush up out of reach so she couldn’t chew on it, I asked, “How did you know where I keep Abby’s brush?” He gave me a puzzled look and said matter-of-factly, “I didn’t. I used your brush.” *** *** *** *** *** (It is a repeat, but I think worth showing you again) *** Fresh Out Of The Store We don't know about you, but we can't stop staring at the walking chicken in this photo. Before reading the rest of the ad, we're already thinking about chickens taking over the world. But seriously, this ad from Artizone is a Chicago grocery company that offers fresh meat and produce delivered to your home. Sounds yummy to us! *** The Internet Is A Scary Place The internet is scary, and when it comes to online dating, no one really knows if the person you're talking to is lying or even real at all! O Fio Bier Bar makes a really great ad telling people to get off their computer and meet other humans in real life. In today's world of online dating, fewer people are meeting each other in person, and human interaction is important. And after seeing this ad, we might be too scared to date online ever again! *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

I have to admit that I had no idea of what the hell you were talking about! Yes I looked it up, yes it is funny, thank you for replying.

December 13th 2023 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Further information: December 13 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Christian feast day: St Antiochus of Sulcis St Judoc aka St Joyce St Lucy St Odile of Alsace Acadian Remembrance Day (Acadians) National Day (Saint Lucia) Martial Law Victims Remembrance Day (Poland) Nanking Massacre Memorial Day (China) Nusantara Day (Indonesia) Republic Day (Malta) Sailor's Day (Brazil) Saint Lucia Day (mainly in Scandinavia) Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) National Cocoa Day National Cream Cheese Frosting Day National Horse Day National Ice Cream Day National Violin Day Pick A Pathologist Pal Day U.S. National Guard Birthday Morris Day’s Birthday Matt Ox’s Birthday Maisy Stella’s Birthday M. Maggie Miller’s Birthday Jasmine Mir’s Birthday Jamie Foxx’s Birthday Harry Raftus’s Birthday Emma Corrin’s Birthday Ella Baker’s Birthday Dorinda Medley’s Birthday Taylor Swift’s Birthday Steve Buscemi’s Birthday NeNe Leakes’s Birthday Stampy’s Birthday Amy Lee’s Birthday Tanya Sam’s Birthday Tom DeLonge’s Birthday Ted Nugent’s Birthday Dick Van Dyke’s Birthday Dermot Kennedy’s Birthday *** The Law of Coffee If you sit down to enjoy a hot cup of coffee, then your boss will ask you to do something that will last until the coffee is cold. *** Q: Why do they call coffee mud? A: Because it was ground a couple of minutes ago. *** Q: Why are Italians so good at making coffee? A: Because they know how to espresso themselves *** If the local coffee shop has awarded you "Employee of the Month" and you don't even work there, you may be drinking too much coffee. *** New Life Rule Coffee is the most important meal of the day *** Q: Where do birds go for coffee? A: To the NESTcafe *** There are two types of people in this world: People who love Starbucks and liars. *** Q: How are men like coffee? A: The best ones are rich, hot, and can keep you up all night. *** Q: What’s the technical name for a pot of coffee at work? A: Break fluid *** As I was driving the other day, I saw a sign on a business that read “Whistlepig Alley Antiques.” It reminded me of an event that happened many years ago when I was living in the community of Granny Squirrel, near Andrews, North Carolina. While watching TV one day, 
I heard strange sounds. I tried to not overreact, but in my mind I thought it could be ghosts, or that maybe I was hearing things. 
The noise was the craziest high-pitched whistling sound. That went on for a week; then one day my landlord told me three groundhogs had crawled under the home. Now I know why Appalachian folks call them whistle pigs. Once you hear groundhogs "speaking," you will never forget it. *** *** *** *** 🤞????? *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** What??????????????????? *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

Mum 'scared to death' when she finds venomous seven-inch tarantula Huge purple arachnid scuttled out of Lyndsey Herlihy's utility room. The terrified mother-of-two called the RSPCA to her Ruislip home to trap it. The beast legged it but was finally caught. Ruislip mother 'scared to death' when she finds venomous 7" tarantula | Daily Mail Online

December 12th 2023 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Corentin of Quimper Jane Frances de Chantal Edburga of Minster-in-Thanet Finnian of Clonard Thomas Holland Ida of Nivelles Peter the Aleut Vicelinus Constitution Day (Russia) Day of Neutrality (Turkmenistan) Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) Constitution Day in Thailand Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe Festival of Unmentionable Thoughts Gingerbread Decorating Day Guadalupe Day International Day of Neutrality International Universal Health Coverage Day - 1 Universal Health Coverage Day - 2 Jamhuri Day National Ambrosia Day National Clayton Day National Ding-A-Ling Day National Poinsettia Day Pa Togan Nengminza Sangma Regina Hall’s Birthday Mariela Fernández’s Birthday Mayim Bialik’s Birthday Lincoln Melcher’s Birthday Lucas Hedges’s Birthday Jennifer Connelly’s Birthday John Jay’s Birthday Hila Klein’s Birthday Frank Sinatra’s Birthday Erika Diane’s Birthday Sheila E.’s Birthday Shy Glizzy’s Birthday Bob Barker’s Birthday Crainer’s Birthday Fun Observances Gingerbread House Day Take out all your baking supplies, unleash your imagination and build a gingerbread house on December 12 or Gingerbread House Day. This unofficial holiday celebrates the tradition of making houses and architectural models out of gingerbread cookies. The tradition can be traced back to the 1600s. How to Celebrate? Make your own gingerbread house. Maybe try and recreate a architectural landmark with gingerbread? Take part in your local gingerbread house competition or hold one of your own! Did You Know… ….that according the Guinness Book of World Records, the World’s largest gingerbread house was made in 2013 by the Traditions Club in Bryan, Texas, United States? The house was 60 ft (18.23 m) long and 10.1 ft (18.28m) tall. *** Q: What's a good holiday tip? A: Never catch snowflakes with your tongue until all the birds have gone south for the winter. *** FYI: By the end of the Twelve Days of Christmas song, your home is crammed with 23 flying Birds and 50 hyperactive Humans. *** Greeting Cards: When you care enough to send the very best but not enough to actually write something. *** Spending more time with family: Families are complicated enough, but things became even more confusing after my father decided to get married to my brother's mother-in-law. "Now I can't make up my mind whether he's my dad or my father-in- law," says my brother, "or if my mother-in-law is now my stepmother, or whether my child is my daughter or my niece." Getting in shape: A friend of mine had resisted efforts to get him to run with our jogging group until his doctor told him he had to exercise. Soon thereafter, he reluctantly joined us for our 5:30 a.m. jogs on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. After a month of running, we decided that my friend might be hooked, especially when he said he had discovered what "runner's euphoria" was. "Runner's euphoria," he explained, "is what I feel at 5:30 on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays." Starting that diet: My friend Kimberly announced that she had started a diet to lose some pounds she had put on recently. "Good!" I exclaimed. "I'm ready to start a diet too. We can be dieting buddies and help each other out. When I feel the urge to drive out and get a burger and fries, I'll call you first." "Great!" she replied. "I'll ride with you." Quitting smoking: I discussed peer pressure and cigarettes with my 12-year-old daughter. Having struggled for years to quit, I described how I had started smoking to "be cool." As I outlined the arguments kids might make to tempt her to try it, she stopped me mid-lecture, saying, "Hey, I'll just tell them my mom smokes. How cool can it be?" Eating healthier: The teacher in our Bible class asked a woman to read from the Book of Numbers about the Israelites wandering in the desert. "The Lord heard you when you wailed, 'If only we had meat to eat!' " she began. "Now the Lord will give you meat. You will not eat it for just one day, or two days, or five, or ten or twenty days, but for a month—until you loathe it." When the woman finished, she paused, looked up, and said, "Hey, isn't that the Atkins diet?" Reducing your debt: Neighbors of ours had a terrible disagreement over a patio they wanted for their backyard. The wife had rather grand ideas, while the husband wanted costs kept to a minimum. The wife won out, and the construction bill climbed higher and higher. I dropped by one day, when the patio was near completion, and was surprised to find the husband smiling from ear to ear as the workmen smoothed over the surface. I remarked how nice it was to see a grin replace the frown he had been wearing lately. “You see where they’re smoothing that cement?” he replied. “I just threw my wife’s credit cards in there.” Learning new things: I was trying to decide what to do for a talent show I planned to enter. Trusting my mother to help me out, I asked, "For the show, what do you think I should do, sing or put on a comedy act?" Glancing up from her paper, she said dryly, "What's the difference?" Better teeth care: Just because one owns a business doesn't mean it has to be all business. This sign in a dentist's office proves that point: "Be True to Your Teeth, or They Will Be False to You." Becoming more organized: My friend’s husband is always telling her that housekeeping would be a snap if only she would organize her time better. Recently he had a chance to put his theory into practice while his wife was away. When I popped in one evening to see how he was managing, he crowed, "I made a cake, frosted it, washed the kitchen windows, cleaned all the cupboards, scrubbed the kitchen floor, walls and ceiling and even had a bath." I was about to concede that perhaps he was a better manager than his wife, when he added sheepishly, "When I was making the chocolate frosting, I forgot to turn off the mixer before taking the beaters out of the bowl, so I had to do all the rest." Drinking less: I was waiting tables in a noisy lobster restaurant in Maine when a vacationing Southerner stumped me with a drink order. I approached the bartender. "Have you ever heard of a drink called 'Seven Young Blondes'?" I asked. He admitted he'd never heard of it, and grabbed a drink guidebook to look it up. Unable to find the recipe, he then asked me to go back and tell the patron that he'd be happy to make the drink if he could list the ingredients for him. "Sir," I asked the customer, "can you tell me what's in that drink?" He looked at me like I was crazy. "It's wine," he said, pronouncing his words carefully, "Sauvignon blanc." *** When my daughter, Brooxie, was 5 years old, she’d stay with my husband’s parents while we were at work. One day Brooxie was helping Papaw gather eggs. While putting the eggs into the basket she was carrying, she asked, “Papaw, where do these eggs come from?” Papaw then explained in detail the delicate process of making an egg. Brooxie put her hands on her hips and exclaimed, “Papaw, I don’t eat anything that comes out of a chicken!” And for many years, she didn’t. *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn