sandrewn

September 26th 2023 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast days: Canadian Martyrs (Catholic Church in Canada) Cosmas and Damian John of Meda Nilus the Younger Wilson Carlile (Anglican) September 26 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Day of the National Flag (Ecuador) Dominion Day (New Zealand) European Day of Languages (European Union) National Good Neighbor Day (United States) Petrov day Revolution Day (Yemen) Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) Better Breakfast Day Johnny Appleseed Day National Chimichanga Day National Family Day National Pancake Day Alpaca Day European Languages Day Human Resource Professional Day International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons Lumberjack Day National Amanda Day National Compliance Officer Day National Day of Praise and Worship National Dumpling Day National Hari Day National Law Enforcement Suicide Awareness Day National Mesothelioma Awareness Day National Situational Awareness Day Shamu the Whale Day World Day of Migrants and Refugees National Key Lime Pie Day Walker Bryant’s Birthday Serena Williams’s Birthday Ant Antixx’s Birthday Asuka’s Birthday Johnny Appleseed’s Birthday Killumantii’s Birthday Lilly Singh’s Birthday Sherri Gaskins’s Birthday Russ Diemon’s Birthday Landon McBroom’s Birthday Dat Boi T’s Birthday Chloe Burrows’s Birthday Linda Hamilton's Birthday Fun Observances Love Note Day September 26 is Love Note Day, an unofficial holiday that encourages you to write and send notes full of love to the special person in your life. A Forgotten Art Almost as old as the first written language, the love note has historically been one of the most romantic ways to tell that special person how you feel about them. However, with the fast pace of our modern day lives, the art of writing love notes and exchanging them with one's sweetheart is slowly dying. Love Note Day aims to change this. Conveys Many Emotions A love letter or note is a way to pen down one's deepest feeling about another person. It does not have to romantic or sappy. It can convey a vast selection of emotions, from adoration to anger, from joy to sadness, and from admiration to disappointment. How to Celebrate? Walk away from your computer screen, bring out the scented paper, the fanciest pen you have, and find yourself an inspiring place to sit and get cracking on that love note! Give it to your sweetheart, perhaps during a nice meal or while on a walk in the park. If you don't have time to handwrite your love note, maybe you could send your love a nice email that says how much you love and appreciate them? Leave some love notes around your home for your loved one to find. Hide them in their lunch or their gym bag, stick the note to the bathroom mirror, so that's the first thing they see in the morning, or quietly slip it into their pockets before they leave home. Don't have a special someone? Who says a love note can be only for a romantic partner? Send a note to a friend or a family member to tell them how much you love them! Read love notes and letters written by famous people - maybe they will inspire you to write one of your own. Did You Know... ...the oldest surviving Valentine's Day love letter in the English language dates back to 1477? Called the Valentine's Day Love Letter, the note was written by Margery Brews to her fiancé John Pasto. *** During a visit with my grandmother, my husband noticed a birthday card from a local funeral parlor. “That was nice of them,” he said. She was unimpressed. “They only want me for my body,” *** Colonoscopies are important medical procedures that have saved lives. And yet they’re as popular 
as, well, a colonoscopy. Here are 
comments purportedly made by 
patients to physicians during their procedures. “Now I know how a Muppet feels!” “Could you write a note for my wife saying that my head is not up there?” “Any sign of the trapped miners, chief?” *** 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.” *** After 12 years of therapy, 
my psychiatrist said something that brought tears to my eyes. He said, “No hablo Inglés.” *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** Picture with the family pet *** sandrewn

A very fuzzy sparassid,or huntsman spider A Mothers love

September 25th 2023 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Armed Forces Day or Revolution Day (Mozambique) Christian feast day: Abadir and Iraja and Companions (Coptic Church) Aunarius (Aunacharius) Anathalon (Archdiocese of Milan) Cadoc Ceolfrith Cleopas Euphrosyne of Alexandria Finbarr Fermin of Amiens Lancelot Andrewes (Church of England) Sergius of Radonezh (repose) Vincent Strambi September 25 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Day of National Recognition for the Harkis (France) National Research Administrators Day (United States) National Youth Day (Nauru) Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) National Daughters Day National Lobster Day Yom Kippur Binge Day German Butterbrot Day International Ataxia Awareness Day Math Storytelling Day National Cooking Day National Food Service Employee Day National John Day National One-Hit Wonder Day - 1 One-Hit Wonder Day - 2 National Psychotherapy Day National Quesadilla Day National Roadkill Day National Tune-Up Day National Wade Day National YogaFit Day World Dream Day World Pharmacists Day National Family Day Better Breakfast Day Will Smith’s Birthday Michael Douglas Birthday T.I.’s Birthday Jesse Wellens’s Birthday Mark Hamill’s Birthday Heather Locklear’s Birthday Jayda Cheaves’s Birthday Donald Glover’s Birthday David S. Jones-snowboarder’s Birthday Christopher Reeve’s Birthday Catherine Zeta-Jones’s Birthday Barbara Walters’s Birthday ~~~~~~ Mon Sep 25th, 2023 - Fri Sep 29th, 2023 International Week of Happiness at Work Mon Sep 25th, 2023 - Sun Oct 1st, 2023 National Inclusion Week Fun Observances Comic Book Day September 25 is Comic Book Day. The holiday celebrates the art and science behind comic books and encourages people to read and share comic books. A comic book is a book that tells stories through pictures or illustrations and text. The story is usually divided into sequential panels and dialogs and thoughts of the characters are presented in a stylized graphic called a speech bubble or balloon. From Strip to Book While stand-alone and series comic strips have been around for a very long time – the earliest recorded comics can be traced back to 113 AD on Trajan’s Column located in Rome – historians believe that the first comic book ever published was in 1837 in Europe. Called The Adventures of Mr. Obadiah Oldbuck, the book was written by Swiss writer, Rudolphe Töpffer. Superheros By the 1930s comic books had become a big business in the United States. Known as the Golden Era of comics, the late 1930s and 1940s saw a surge in the genre of superhero comics starting with the publication of Superman in Action Comics #1 in 1938. This period saw the debut of other comic book heros that we are all very familiar with today. Some examples include: Wonder Woman, Batman and Captain America. During and after World War II, the popularity of superhero comics took a hit. It was only in 1956 when a more modern version of Flash made his debut that the Silver Age of Comics was ushered in. The 1970s and 1980s are known as the Bronze Age of Comics. Comics became darker and plot lines included real world problems like corruption, environmental disasters and alcoholism. This trend has continued in recent years. Comic historians also sometimes call it the Dark Age of Comic Books. How to Celebrate? Have a favorite comic book character party where guests come dressed as their favorite comic book character. Visit your local comic book store and pick out a new comic book to read. Lend your favorite comic books to your friends so they can also get interested in reading them. Did You Know… …that the Incredible Hulk, a comic book character known for growing in size and becomes more powerful when he is angry, was originally drawn as a gray by its creator Stan Lee? However, because of printing issues, Marvel, the publisher of the comic decided to change him to green. *** We disbar lawyers and we defrock clergy, so why don't we: Delight electricians? Derange cowboys? Depose models? Debark tree surgeons? Depress dry cleaners? *** ‘Where is everybody?" the cowpoke asks. "They've all gone to see Brown Paper Pete hang," says a bystander. "Why do they call him that?" the cowboy asks. "Well, he always wears a brown paper hat, a brown paper shirt, and brown paper trousers." "Really?" says the cowboy. "And what are they hanging him for?" "Rustling." *** The gladiator was having a rough day in the arena—his opponent had sliced off both of his arms. Nevertheless, he kept on fighting, kicking and biting as furiously as he could. But when his opponent lopped off both feet, our gladiator had no choice but to give up, for now he was both unarmed and defeated. *** The checkout clerk at the supermarket was unusually cheerful even though it was near closing time. “You must have picked up a ton of groceries today,” a customer said to the checker. “How can you stay so pleasant?” “We can all count our blessings,” the clerk replied. “The hardest part of this job is the turkeys and the watermelons. I just thank God that Thanksgiving doesn’t come in July.” *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** Snowman's Funeral *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

Sorry for the confusion! I didn't have all the facts when I posted this one. This is a picture of a Crab Spider Lovely fluorescence exhibited on the carapace and legs under ultraviolet. fluorescent spiders - Google Search

All those mentioned are interesting. I for one have used brouhaha(hubbub, uproar) to describe similar situations. The English language borrowed brouhaha directly from French in the late 18th century, but its origins beyond that are uncertain—not quite the subject of noisy brouhaha but perhaps more modest debate. What’s less arguable is that brouhaha is fun to say, as are many of its synonyms, including hubbub, williwaw, hullabaloo, bobbery, and kerfuffle. And many of these, also like brouhaha, tend to suggest a certain judgment that the reason for all the foofaraw is a bit silly, or at least not worth getting all worked up about. A dad joke, for example, might raise some brouhaha, even though it’s really no reason for an uproar to brew. Haha! I liked this example given: The clubs logged a combined 39 minutes in the sin bin during Thursday’s meeting, turning a weekday tilt in the dog days of March into a vintage brouhaha.

Luminous Beauty All around you, an amazing show is going on. Many arthropods have a secret: they glow under ultraviolet light. Spiderlings?

September 24th 2023 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Armed Forces Day (Peru) Christian feast day: Anathalon (in Brescia) Antonio Gonzalez Blessed Émilie Gamelin (Canada) Gerard of Csanád Our Lady of Mercy and its related observance: La Mercè (Barcelona) Our Lady of Ransom (Mercedarians) Our Lady of Walsingham (Church of England) Pacificus of San Severino Rupert of Salzburg September 24 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics). Constitution Day (Cambodia) Earliest day on which Maple Leaf Day can fall, while September 30 is the latest; celebrated on the last Wednesday in September. (Canada) Heritage Day (South Africa). Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Guinea-Bissau from Portugal in 1973. Mahidol Day (Thailand) New Caledonia Day (New Caledonia) Republic Day (Trinidad and Tobago) Observances (click on the day or week for details) National Cherries Jubilee Day Bluebird of Happiness Day Gold Star Mother’s and Family Day Innergize Day Lash Stylists’ Day National Horchata Day National Mofongo Day Schwenkfelder Thanksgiving World Bollywood Day World Day of The Deaf World Rivers Day Sierra Furtado’s Birthday Kyle Sullivan’s Birthday Hannah Brown’s Birthday Kandy Ho’s Birthday DJ Ghost’s Birthday F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Birthday Daisy Márquez’s Birthday Ben Platt’s Birthday Fun Observances Punctuation Day Do you find yourself correcting punctuation while reading a restaurant menu? Do you see red anytime you see an incorrect usage of the apostrophe? Then, Punctuation Day on September 24 is your kind of holiday. Punctuation Day is the brainchild of the American professional speaker Jeff Rubin who launched it in 2004, and is also known as National Punctuation Day in the United States. The unofficial holiday aims to spread awareness and educate people on proper punctuation and the virtues of using the appropriate punctuation in any kind of writing. Punctuation Conveys Meaning Punctuation is the use of typographical signs, spaces and other mutually agreed upon symbols in a language that help the understanding of written text. The main purpose of punctuation is to convey the correct meaning and intent of the text. Every language has its own punctuation rules and symbols - what conveys one message in one language can convey another in a different language. For instance, in Greek, the semicolon (;) is used to indicate a question, while in English, it is used to connect two sentences that are close in meaning; or to separate elements in a series, where the series has a comma; and to connect two related sentences. How to Celebrate? Learn more about punctuation and the appropriate ways of using them. If you do any type of writing in your job, spend some time going through your work and make sure your writing has all the appropriate punctuation. Did You Know… …that the hashtag or pound sign (#) is also formally known as the octothorpe? *** One of my wife’s third graders was wearing a Fitbit watch, which prompted my wife to ask, “Are you tracking your steps?” “No,” said the little girl. “I wear this for Mommy so she can show Daddy when he gets home.” *** We Uber drivers never know whom we’re going to end up with as a passenger. One day, I was driving over a new bridge, the design of which was very confusing. Completely confounded, I muttered, “I’d love to meet the genius who designed this mess.” With that, my passenger extended his hand in my direction and said, “Well, today is your lucky day. My name is Mike, I work for the county engineer’s office, and I’m the genius who designed this!” Surprisingly, he still gave me a tip. *** At an event famous for giving out awards in bizarre categories, the emcee enthusiastically announces, “The next prize will go to the laziest person in the audience. If you think you qualify, raise your hand.” Everyone raises their hands except a middle-aged man who seems to show little interest. “Congratulations! You are the winner,” says the emcee to the man. “Your prize is this $100 bill!” Still showing no emotion, the man replies, “Would you mind coming over here and putting it in my pocket?” *** A child psychologist had twin boys—one was an optimist; the other, a pessimist. Just to see what would happen, on Christmas Day he loaded the pessimist’s room with toys and games. In the optimist’s room, he dumped a pile of horse droppings. That night, the father found the pessimist surrounded by his gifts, crying. “What’s wrong?” the father asked. “I have a ton of game manuals to read … I need batteries … and my toys will all eventually get broken!” sobbed the pessimist. Passing the optimist’s room, the father found him dancing for joy around the pile of manure. “Why are you so happy?” he asked. The optimist shouted, “There’s got to be a pony in here somewhere!” *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** (Forrest Gump would of said " Buttocks") *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

September 23rd 2023 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Adomnán Cissa of Crowland (or of Northumbria) Padre Pio Pope Linus Sossius Thecla (Roman Catholic Church) Xanthippe and Polyxena September 23 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Grito de Lares (Puerto Rico) Holocaust Memorial Day (Lithuania) Kyrgyz Language Day (Kyrgyzstan) National Day (Saudi Arabia) Teachers' Day (Brunei) Celebrate Bisexuality Day (bisexual community) International Day of Sign Languages Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) Fall Equinox - 1 September Equinox - 2 The September Equinox - 3 National Singles Day Education Technology Day First Day of Autumn Fish Amnesty Day International Rabbit Day - 1 National Bunny Day - 2 Martyrdom of Imam Hassan Asgari National AFM Day National Apple Cider Vinegar Day National Baker Day National Dogs in Politics Day National Field Marketer’s Day National Go With Your Gut Day National Great American Pot Pie Day National Hunting and Fishing Day National Public Lands Day National Seat Check Saturday National Snack Stick Day National Temperature Control Day Porthcawl Elvis Festival Redhead Appreciation Day Restless Legs Awareness Day Seed Gathering Season Teal Talk Day World’s Largest Pet Walk Za’atar Day Matt Hardy’s Birthday Key’s Birthday Kimberly Woodruff’s Birthday Jordyn Woods’s Birthday Kalani Hilliker’s Birthday Jermaine Dupri’s Birthday John Coltrane’s Birthday J.I.’s Birthday Darcey Silva’s Birthday Chris Sails’s Birthday Bruce Springsteen’s Birthday Anthony Mackie’s Birthday Fun Observances (2) Astronomy Day Astronomy Day is celebrated twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall. ©iStockphoto.com/m-gucci In the spring, the holiday is held on the Saturday closest to the First Quarter Moon between the months of April and May, while in the fall (autumn) it occurs on a Saturday closest to the Quarter Moon between September and October. Created in 1973 Astronomy Day was created in 1973 by Doug Berger, then president of the Astronomical Association of Northern California. The unofficial holiday is an attempt to raise the interest of the general public in astronomy by giving them easy access to astronomical instruments such as telescopes. The holiday also seeks to bridge the knowledge gap by giving the public a chance to interact with astronomers and space scientists. Observe the Sky On the day, museums, observatories, universities, and astronomy clubs around the world set up easily accessible telescopes in public spaces including schools, parks, and shopping malls to allow people to observe the skies during the day and night. Other events include lectures and conferences, educational outreach, exhibitions, and essay competitions. An Ancient Science Astronomy is the study of celestial bodies and non-Earthly phenomena. It deals with objects like the planets, stars, and asteroids as well as events such as eclipses and meteor showers. Studied since ancient times, the field of astronomy originated and evolved over millennia due to the need for humans to understand the history and science of the Earth and to comprehend the causes of celestial events. Until very recently, astronomy and astrology were seen as related fields of study. It was only in the 17th century that they separated ways. Today, astrology is seen as a field that deals with spirituality rather than science. How to Celebrate? Attend a local Astronomy Day event. Bring family and friends with you and spend some time gazing at the sky through the lenses of a telescope. Learn more about astronomy and how to study it as an amateur astronomer. You can start here. If you have children in your life, today is the perfect day to introduce them to the magic of astronomy. Who knows, they may grow up to become the next Carl Sagan or Carolyn Shoemaker! Did You Know... ...that we can actually see the past? Light from distant stars take a very long time to reach the Earth, so when we look at a star through a telescope we are looking at the light that left the star several hundred, thousands or even million years ago! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Checkers Day September 23 is Checkers Day. The unofficial holiday is not about the board game but has a political origin. The holiday commemorates a speech given by American President Richard Nixon on this day in 1952 as a Vice Presidential candidate. In the now-famous speech, Nixon denied taking political gifts. It is popularly called the Checkers Speech or the Fund Speech because during the address he announced his intention of keeping Checkers, a dog given to his kids as a gift. In addition to helping boost Nixon's political position in the upcoming presidential elections, the 30 minute long Checkers speech marked the beginning of the involvement of the television in American politics. The address was aired live all around the country and was watched by an estimated 60 million people. The holiday is also sometimes known as National Dogs in Politics Day. How to Celebrate? Wear checkered clothing. Even though the holiday itself doesn't have anything to do with the game, no one will judge you if you decided to observe it by playing a game or two of checkers. Read more about Nixon’s life and his Checkers Speech. If you have children and young adults in your life, Checker's Day is a good day to introduce them to American politics and the role of television in politics around the world. Did You Know… …that Richard Nixon was the only president in the history of the United States to have resigned from office? *** Q: What happens if you play a county song backwards? A: Your wife returns to you, your dog comes back to life, and you get out of prison. *** True Stories From Comic History 1940s "Once in Virginia," said a speaker who had received an introduction that promised more than he felt he could deliver, "I passed a small church displaying a large sign. It read 'Annual Strawberry Festival' and, below in small letters, 'On account of the Depression, prunes will be served.'" --Boston Transcript 1950s The best advice I ever received came to me from my ensign when I was a Wave at boot camp. She told me, "To stay out of trouble, say 'Yes, sir' all day and 'No, sir' all night." --Anonymous 1960s A friend and I were hitchhiking, but no one would stop. "Maybe it's our long hair," I joked. With that, my friend scrawled on a piece of cardboard: "Going to the barber's." Within seconds we had our ride. --Raymond Butkus 1970s A male friend of mine, an engineer at an aircraft company, works for a woman supervisor. An active member of women's lib groups, she often shows up at work wearing buttons featuring feminist slogans. One day, her latest button, "Adam was a rough draft," proved too much for my friend. The next day, he showed up at work sporting his own button: "Eve was no prime rib." --Phyllis Reely 1980s While I was shopping in a pharmacy, a couple of teenagers came in. They were dressed in leather, chains, and safety pins. The boy had blue and purple spiked hair and the girl's hair was bright yellow. Suddenly the boy picked up a pair of sunglasses and tried them on. "What do you think?" he asked his girlfriend. "Take them off!" she howled. "They make you look ridiculous."--Audrey Kelly 1990s My brother Jim was hired by a government agency and assigned to a small office cubicle in a large area. At the end of his first day, he realized he had no idea how to get out. He wandered around, lost in the maze of cubicles and corridors. Just as panic began to set in, he came upon another employee in a cubicle. "How do you get out of here?" Jim asked. The fellow smiled and said, "No cheese for you." --Christine Probasco 2000s I am five feet three inches tall and pleasingly plump. After I had a minor accident, my mother accompanied me to the emergency room. The triage nurse asked for my height and weight, and I blurted out, "Five-foot-eight and 125 pounds." "Sweetheart," my mother gently chided, "this is not the Internet." *** Can’t believe the National Spelling Bee ended in a tye. *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** Info & Update on Stubbs The Mayor) Since Talkeetna is only a census-designated place, it is unincorporated. Talkeetna has a Community Council and its mayor was a cat named Stubbs from 1997 until his death in 2017. It is located in Matanuska-Susitna Borough's District 7, which is represented by Assembly Member Vern Halter, who succeeded borough mayor Larry DeVilbiss. Stubbs, Honorary "Mayor", held office from 1997 to 2017 A popular rumor states Stubbs was elected following a successful write-in campaign by voters who opposed the human candidates. However, according to NPR, the cat could not have been elected as a write-in candidate because "The tiny town has no real mayor, so there was no election." Stubbs' position is honorary as the town is unincorporated. On August 31, 2013, Stubbs was attacked and mauled by a dog while roaming the streets and after treatment at the local veterinarian returned home on September 9. Stubbs died on July 21, 2017, at the age of 20 years and 3 months. R.I.P. Stubbs *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

I can't see it, but if it works for you, who am I to disagree on your sweet tooth fantasies.

There are so many, I can not recall a specific occasion or person I used one on. However, I think all of us(be honest now) have said someone is or is being 'silly', not as fancy, but means pretty much the same. My all time favorite has to be, thank you Archie Bunker, 'dingbat'. All in the Family - The Origin of the Name "Dingbat" (1973) - YouTube R.I.P. Jean Stapleton (born Jeanne Murray; January 19, 1923 – May 31, 2013)

Kochiana brunnipes juvenile

September 22nd 2023 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) American Business Women's Day (United States) Baltic Unity Day (Lithuania, Latvia) Christian feast days: Candidus Digna and Emerita Emmeram of Regensburg Felix and Constantia Ignatius of Santhià (Lorenzo Maurizio Belvisotti) Laud of Coutances Maurice (Western Christianity) Paul Chong Hasang (one of The Korean Martyrs) Phocas (the Gardener, or of Sinope) Phocas, Bishop of Sinope Sadalberga Saintin (Sanctinus) de Meaux Septimius of Iesi (this date since 1623) Theban Legion Thomas of Villanova Philander Chase (Episcopal Church) September 22 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Earliest date for the autumnal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere and the vernal equinox in the Southern Hemisphere: Autumnal Equinox Day (Japan) Mabon in the Northern Hemisphere, Ostara in the Southern Hemisphere. (Neopagan Wheel of the Year) The first day of Miķeļi (Latvia) Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Bulgaria from the Ottoman Empire in 1908. Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Mali from France in 1960. Resistance Fighting Day (Estonia) Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) American Indian Day - 1 Native American Day - 2 Michigan Indian Day - 3 Car-free Sunday Chainmail Day Dear Diary Day Falls Prevention Awareness Day Hug A Vegetarian Day International Day of Radiant Peace National Centenarian's Day National Dante Day National Elephant Appreciation Day National Girls’ Night In Day National Khalid Day National Legwear Day National White Chocolate Day World Car-Free Day World Rhino Day National Ice Cream Cone Day International Astronomy Day Love Note Day National Doodle Day Moneybagg Yo’s Birthday Mystikal’s Birthday Mark Johnson’s Birthday Michael Faraday’s Birthday Joan Jett’s Birthday Jinyoung’s Birthday Jeremy Harrington’s Birthday Billie Piper’s Birthday Andrea Bocelli’s Birthday Tom Felton’s Birthday Nayeon’s Birthday Fun Observances Hobbit Day Fans of JRR Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings (LOTR) and the Hobbit epic celebrate September 22 as Hobbit Day. The week containing Hobbit Day is also celebrated as Tolkien Week. Hobbit Day and Tolkien Week first began in 1978 by the proclamation of the American Tolkien Society, an organization whose goal is to further the study and spread the appreciation of the works of JRR Tolkien and his son, Christopher JR Tolkien. Hobbit Birthday September 22 is designated as Hobbit Day because it is the birthdate of two of JRR Tolkien's main characters - Bilbo Baggins and Frodo Baggins. Bilbo Baggins, the protagonist of Tolkien’s hugely popular 1937 children's novel, The Hobbit, was born on September 22, Third Age 2890. Frodo Baggins, the central character in the LOTR trilogy, on the other hand, is 78 years younger than Bilbo, having been born in the Third Age year of 2968. There is some debate whether Hobbit Day is on September 22 or September 12, as the LOTR and Hobbit calendar does not synchronize with the Gregorian Calendar. How to Celebrate? Host parties and feasts like the ones held in the books. Don’t wear shoes on this day because the hobbits in the books are always barefooted. Attend marathon viewing sessions of the movie version of the books and participate in Hobbit and LOTR quizzes. If you have young adults in your life, encourage them to read Tolkien’s work. Did You Know… …that the Fellowship of the Rings, the first book in the Lord of the Rings series, opens with Bilbo Baggins announcing his eleventy-first birthday? *** My wife likes to keep the mystery in our relationship. For example, I never know what is going to arrive for her from Amazon today. *** {On the phone with my mom} Me: What’s your secret to 55 years of marriage? Mom: We never hated each other on the same day. *** My husband surprised me with a night out to celebrate the anniversary of our first date. I was reminded of the man I fell in love with. We arrived at the theater and learned the movie was playing at a different location a full hour earlier. I was reminded of the man I married. *** The only time to eat diet food is while you’re waiting for steak to cook. —Julia Child *** I’d like the window that says “Are you sure you want to do this? OK/Cancel” to pop up less often on my computer and more in my real life. *** I think the expression “It’s a small world” is really a euphemism for “I keep running into people I can’t stand.” *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

I agree with you about 'Kudzu'. The worst part is, we have only ourselves to blame for it being here. It was originally government sanctioned and actually paid farmers to plant it. If only we knew then, what we know now. Truth is often stranger than fiction! Kudzu - Wikipedia

To be honest, when I first looked at this photo and saw the name given, 'Pelican Spider', I had to agree! It reminded me of a pelican( I guess it is true, great minds do think alike).

And then there are the other, 'Periwinkles'. Meaty like clams and as sweet as oysters, periwinkles are a delicious seafood option that often goes unappreciated. Common periwinkle - Wikipedia Periwinkles I have shucked (and slurped) my fair share of oysters in my time, but was never enamored with regards to snails. Even if I like this ones name (Periwinkle).

These newly discovered pelican spiders will make you want to visit Madagascar In 1854, a curious-looking spider was found preserved in 50 million-year-old amber. With an elongated neck-like structure and long mouthparts that protruded from the “head” These newly discovered pelican spiders will make you want to visit Madagascar | Smithsonian Institution

September 21st 2023 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Autumnal equinox observances in the Northern Hemisphere, vernal equinox observances in the Southern Hemisphere (see September 22): Spring Day (Argentina) Christian feast day: Ephigenia of Ethiopia Laurent-Joseph-Marius Imbert (one of the Korean Martyrs) Matthew the Evangelist (Western Church) Nativity of the Theotokos (Eastern Orthodox Church, Julian calendar) September 21 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Arbor Day (Brazil) Commemoration of the Declaration of Martial Law (Philippines) Customs Service Day (Poland) Founder's Day and National Volunteer Day (Ghana) Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Armenia from the Soviet Union in 1991. Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Belize from the United Kingdom in 1981. Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Malta from the United Kingdom in 1964. International Day of Peace (International) Student's Day (Bolivia) Victory over the Golden Horde in the Battle of Kulikovo (Russia) Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) National Cat & Dog Gut Health Awareness Day Escapology Day Get Ready Day Mabon Day National Brittany Day National Chai Day National Garage Condo Day National Hannah Day National Kristina Day National Opioid Awareness Day National Pawpaw Day National Pecan Cookie Day Telegraph Pole Appreciation Day Wales International Film Festival World Alzheimer’s Day World Gratitude Day World Mini Golf Day Shay Shariatzadeh’s Birthday Stephen King’s Birthday Megan Everett’s Birthday Nicole Richie’s Birthday Jena Frumes’s Birthday Liam Gallagher’s Birthday Jason Derulo’s Birthday Faith Hill’s Birthday Elsy Guevara’s Birthday Chen’s Birthday Bill Murray’s Birthday Fun Observances Miniature Golf Day On September 21 head on over to your local miniature golf course with your family and friends for a day of fun and adventure, because it is Miniature Golf Day! An offshoot of golf, miniature golf is a leisure sport that focuses on putting and includes artificial turf and obstacles. It is believed that miniature golf was first invented, sans their characteristic obstacles and windmills, in Scotland in the late 19th century as a way to allow women to golf. Because it was unseemly for women to use a full sized golf club, the Ladies' Putting Club of St. Andrews decided to miniaturize the sport. "This'll Do" Miniature golf or put put as it is also sometimes called made its commercial debut in the early 20th century in North Carolina under the name of Thistle Dhu. The name was derived from the Scottish pronunciation of the words "this'll do". The holiday is also sometimes celebrated on the second Saturday of May. How to Celebrate? Round up your family and friends and visit your local miniature golf course and play a few rounds of golf. What about having a miniature golf course crawl? Instead of spending the whole day at one course, visit as many miniature golf courses in your area and play a round at each one of them Install a miniature golf course in your backyard. Then, you'll be able to celebrate this fun holiday all year long! Did You Know… …that miniature golf is sometimes also known as crazy golf? *** Q. What did the hot dog say when his friend passed him in the race? A. Wow, I relish the fact that you've mustard the strength to ketchup to me. *** Every morning I think I’m going to make pancakes, but I keep waffling. *** Q. Why did the dinosaur cross the road? A. Because chickens didn't exist yet! *** Q: How do you fix a damaged jack-o-lantern? A: You use a pumpkin patch! *** Q: Where do ghosts like to travel on vacation? A: The Dead Sea! *** As I was treating my daughter and her family to the buffet at a casino, all the bells and whistles for a winning slot machine began to go off. My seven-year-old grandson was awed. "Wow!" yelled Casey. "This is like Chuck E. Cheese for old people." *** I’m convinced my cockroaches have military training. I set out a roach bomb—they defused it. *** *** *** *** *** *** *** While on a road trip, an elderly couple stopped at a roadside restaurant for lunch. After finishing their meal, they left the restaurant, and resumed their trip. When leaving, the elderly woman unknowingly left her glasses on the table, and she didn’t miss them until they had been driving for about forty minutes. By then, to add to the aggravation, they had to travel quite a distance before they could find a place to turnaround, in order to return to the restaurant to retrieve her glasses. All the way back, the elderly husband became the classic grumpy old man. He fussed and complained, and scolded his wife relentlessly during the entire return drive The more he chided her, the more agitated he became. He just wouldn’t let up for a single minute. To her relief, they finally arrived at the restaurant. As the woman got out of the car, and hurried inside to retrieve her glasses, the old geezer yelled to her, While you’re in there, you might as well get my hat and the credit card. *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

There are over 3000 species of Australian spiders. Learn about spider anatomy and the basic facts about these important predators. Spiders - Minibeast Wildlife

September 20th 2023 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Agapitus (Western Christianity) Eustace (Western Christianity) Evilasius Fausta of Cyzicus Glycerius of Milan Jean-Charles Cornay (one of Vietnamese Martyrs) John Coleridge Patteson (commemoration, Anglicanism) José Maria de Yermo y Parres Korean Martyrs, including Andrew Kim Taegon and Laurent-Marie-Joseph Imbert Theodore, Philippa and companions Vincent Madelgarius (Maelceadar) September 20 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Constitution Day (Nepal) Independence Day of South Ossetia (not fully recognized) National Youth Day (Thailand) Oil Workers' Day (Azerbaijan) Universal Children's Day (Germany) Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) International NFT Day National Queso Day National Care For Kids Day National Crime and Intelligence Analyst Appreciation Day National Fried Rice Day National School Backpack Awareness Day National String Cheese Day National Pepperoni Pizza Day National Fitness Day (UK) Tara Wallace’s Birthday Yung Joc’s Birthday Sophia Loren’s Birthday Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Birthday Katrina Stuart’s Birthday Katrina Stuart’s Birthday Jack Hemmings’s Birthday Ellie Louise’s Birthday Michelle Visage's Birthday Fun Observances Punch Day September 20 is Punch Day. Celebrate this unofficial holiday of unknown origins by drinking a tall glass of this delicious party beverage. Typically made by mixing a variety of fruit juices, a punch can be alcoholic or non-alcoholic. Food historians believe that the beverage originated in India - its name comes from the Hindi word paanch meaning five. It is thought that the original punch in India included five ingredients. From India In the 17th century, the drink made its way to England via those who worked for the British East India Company and then spread all over Europe, soon becoming a popular drink served at parties and family gatherings. While no longer a popular drink, punch is still served occasionally at college parties and large events. Punch is served in a large bowl called a punch bowl. In 17th and 18th century Europe, punch bowls were a common household item. Many bowls came with ornate stands and were passed down as heirlooms. How to Celebrate? Make your favorite punch and share it with family and friends. Experiment with flavors of your punch - try new combinations of alcoholic and non-alcoholic additions to the beverage. Did You Know... ...that a similar sounding drink, punsch, is a traditional liqueur in Sweden? Unlike punch, which is a mixture of multiple fruit juices and alcoholic beverages, punsch is made from arak - the fermented sap of coco palm or rice. Arak was brought to Sweden by the Swedish East India Company through Indonesia. Like punch, the name punsch also comes from the Hindi word paanch meaning five. *** After hearing a sermon on Psalm 52:3-4 (lies and deceit), a man wrote the IRS, “I can’t sleep knowing that I have cheated on my income tax. Enclosed is a check for $150. If 
I still can’t sleep, I’ll send the rest.” *** E-mail Addresses It Would Be Annoying To Give Out Loud MikeUnderscore2004@yahoo.com MikeAtYahooDotCom@hotmail.com Mike_WardAllOneWord@yahoo.com AAAAAAThatsSixAs@yahoo.com 1OneTheFirstJustTheNumberTheSecondSpelledOut@hotmail.com *** These words are so joining our vocabulary in 2016! Chairdrobe (n.): piling clothes on 
a chair in place of a closet or dresser. Epiphanot (n.): an idea that seems like an amazing insight to the conceiver but is in fact pointless, mundane, stupid, or incorrect. Internest (n.): the cocoon of blankets and pillows you gather around yourself while spending long periods of time on the Internet. Textpectation (n.): the anticipation felt when waiting for a response to 
a text. Unkeyboardinated (adj.): when you’re unable to type without repeatedly making mistakes. *** If a company’s most valuable 
resource is its people, how come 
the employees aren’t locked up, 
but the toilet paper is in a 
reinforced steel box with a lock, bolted to the stall? *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

Peruvian Amazon’s Roly Poly Spider

September 19th 2023 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Alonso de Orozco Mena Emilie de Rodat Goeric of Metz Januarius (Western Christianity) Feast of San Gennaro Our Lady of La Salette Theodore of Tarsus (Anglican Communion, Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church) Trophimus, Sabbatius, and Dorymedon September 19 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Armed Forces Day (Chile) Day of the First Public Appearance of the Slovak National Council Second day of Fiestas Patrias (Chile) Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Saint Kitts and Nevis from the United Kingdom in 1983. International Talk Like a Pirate Day Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) National Meow Like a Pirate Day Aortic Dissection Awareness Day National Butterscotch Pudding Day National Cat DNA Day National IT Professionals Day National Jude Day National Voter Registration Day National Woman Road Warrior Day Get Ready Day Sky Days’s Birthday Sabrina Claudio’s Birthday Jimmy Fallon’s Birthday Freddie Dredd’s Birthday Eva Marie’s Birthday Erica Ash’s Birthday Fun Observances National Gymnastics Day September 19 is National Gymnastics Day, an unofficial celebration of the graceful sport that tests everything from physical strength to agility to balance and coordination. National Gymnastics Day was created in 1998 in the United States as a way to promote the sport among young people and to honor the sportspeople, coaches, and clubs who have kept the gymnastic tradition alive and thriving for centuries. Originated in Greece Gymnastics originated as an activity in ancient Greece. Then, it was a way for people to exercise, stay healthy and remain ready for battle. It wasn't until the late 19th century that it took on a competitive note. In 1881 the Federation of International Gymnastics (FIG) was created in Liège, Belgium. In 1896, men's gymnastics was part of the first modern Olympics held in Athens, Greece. The Amsterdam Olympics in 1928 featured the first female gymnastics events. Today, gymnastics is a popular sport around the world with many prestigious competitions and contests held throughout the year. How to Celebrate? Attend a gymnastic meet or competition in your area and cheer for your favorite gymnast and team. If you have always wanted to learn gymnastics, today is the perfect reason to begin. Find yourself a club or a gym and get started! Encourage the children and young adults in your life to consider gymnastics as a sport to pursue. Who knows, they may soon become Olympic level gymnasts. Know a gymnast? Send them a message or a note letting them know that you are proud of them and their achievements. Did You Know... …that Friedrich Ludwig Jahn, a German educator is considered the Father of Gymnastics? He was responsible for promoting some of the most popular gymnastic routines today. These include the parallel bar and the ring. *** Q: Poor people have it. Rich people need it. If you eat it, you'll die. What is it? A: Nothing! *** Q: I have a head but no body, a heart but no blood. Just leaves and no branches, I grow without wood. What am I? A: Lettuce! *** Q: A man is pushing his car along, and when he comes to a hotel he shouts, "I'm bankrupt!" Why? A: He’s playing Monopoly. *** Q: If a red-house is made of red bricks, has a red wooden door, and a red roof, and a yellow-house is made of yellow bricks, has a yellow wooden door, and a yellow roof, then what is a green-house made of? A: Glass. *** “What’s a hipster?” asked my four-year-old cousin. “Someone who will wear something just to look different,” I said. “They’ll often buy clothes in thrift shops and wear thick glasses.” “Is Grandma a hipster?” he asked. *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** How grapes are made *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

Portia fimbriata (fringed jumping spider) Portia fimbriata - Wikipedia

September 18th 2023 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Constantius (Theban Legion) Edward Bouverie Pusey (Episcopal Church) Eustorgius I Joseph of Cupertino Juan Macias Methodius of Olympus Richardis September 18 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Day of National Music (Azerbaijan) Island Language Day (Okinawa Prefecture, Japan) National Day or Dieciocho (Chile) National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day (United States) Navy Day (Croatia) World Water Monitoring Day Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) National Cheeseburger Day National Day of Civic Hacking National First Love Day Chiropractic Founders Day Ganesh Chaturthi Gedaliah Fast Global Company Culture Day Hug A Greeting Card Writer Day International Equal Pay Day Locate An Old Friend Day National Cartonnage Day National Colton Day National Report Kickback Fraud Day National Respect Day - 1 Respect for the Aged Day - 2 Purple Bra Day Read An eBook Day U.S. Air Force Day Xzibit’s Birthday Lance Armstrong’s Birthday Towanda Braxton’s Birthday Joji’s Birthday Curtis Cook’s Birthday Jada Pinkett Smith’s Birthday John McAfee’s Birthday Fitz’s Birthday Jackson Robert Scott’s Birthday Ewok’s Birthday Ellie Rae Dobleske’s Birthday Candy Godiva’s Birthday Angela Simmons’s Birthday Aidan Gallagher’s Birthday ~~~~~~ Mon Sep 18th, 2023 - Sat Sep 23rd, 2023 National Parent Teacher Home Visits Week Mon Sep 18th, 2023 - Sun Sep 24th, 2023 Thinking of You Week Fun Observances Rice Krispie Treat Day September 18 is Rice Krispie Treat Day, an unofficial holiday dedicated to the no-bake, quick to make yummy gooey sweet treat. Thought to have been invented at the Kellogg Company in the late 1930s, the treats are made of Rice Krispie cereal and melted marshmallows, though sometimes the marshmallows can be substituted with caramel or syrup as the binding agent. Rice Bubbles Rice Krispies is a popular breakfast cereal made by Kellogs since 1928. While Rice Krispie treats were usually homemade, Kellogs trademarked the brand name Rice Krispie Treats and started selling a pre-packaged version of the treat in 1995. Today, any sweet treat that uses Rice Krispies and some form of sweet binding agent is called a rice krispie treat. In Australia and New Zealand, where the cereal is marketed as Rice Bubbles, the sweet treat is called rice bubble slices or rice bubble cakes. How to Celebrate? Make Rice Krispies treats and share them with your friends and co-workers. Add gourmet twists to the snack by adding nuts, saffron and cardamom. Make your Rice Krispies treats more colorful by crushing some candies or adding some sprinkles to them. Make Rice Krispies pops. Mold the treat into a shape of your choice, insert a stick in the treat and when it hardens, serve as is or decorate with melted sugar, icing or sprinkles. Staying away from sugar? What about making a savory version of the treat? Just substitute the marshmallows with cheese, flour and butter. Did You Know… …that rice is the seed of the rice plant? *** You measure my life in hours and I serve you by expiring. I’m quick when I’m thin and slow when I’m fat. The wind is my enemy. Hard riddles want to trip you up, and this one works by hitting you with details from every angle. The big hint comes at the end with the wind. What does wind threaten most? You have to stretch your brain to come up with a something tiny and unexpected. Answer: A candle *** Q. A prisoner is forced to go into one of three rooms, but he can choose which room. The first room is ablaze with fire. The second one is rigged with explosives that will go off as soon as he enters. The third contains a pair of lions who haven't eaten in years. Which room should he choose to survive? A. The third room—any lions who hadn't eaten in years would be dead! *** Q. What five-letter word becomes shorter if you add two letters to it? A. "Short" (add +"er")! *** Q. A man was driving a truck. His headlights weren't on, and the moon wasn't out. Ahead of him, a woman dressed in all black started crossing the road. Fortunately, the man braked so she could cross. How did he see her? A. It was the middle of the day! *** I’m thinking of opening a firing range where all the targets are shaped like computers with screens full of pop-up ads. Comedian Dan Burt *** Just a boy and his elephant. *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** An Artist Left A Dress In The Dead Sea For Two Years *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

On Tuesday last, I posted..."It is so darn easy to get off track with these daily words. " Then today, you go and post that the 'Word of the Day' is Orioles. Giving us choice between a bird or a baseball team. In digging I Found that Orioles were also a Sicilian noble family. The following joke was not meant to offend any of the members of GA. I think it is rather funny. A man from Baltimore dies and goes to hell... He had been a bad man his entire life and therefore the devil made sure to give him extra work in the hottest fiery pit of hell. After a week goes by, the devil stops by to see how miserable the man is, but instead finds the man happily going about his work. He asks the man: "Why are you so damn happy? Shouldn't this be miserable for you?" The man replies "This isn't any worse than May in Baltimore. I'm used to this." The devil, enraged that his attempt to punish the man were for naught, decided to increase the temperature. Another week goes by, and he checks in again, only to find the guy merrily whistling while tending a garden. The Devil again asks him. "Why are you so damn happy? It's hotter than hell in here." The guy again replies "Summer in Baltimore is much worse. This is nothing." The devil tries a different tactic, lowers the temperature to just above freezing and makes it rain. Still the guy doesn't seem fazed. Finally, he lowers the temperature to about 15 degree Fahrenheit. Suddenly, the guy starts jumping for joy. The devil asks "Why are you celebrating, it's colder than hell in here?" The man replies "Hell has frozen over, the Orioles have won the World Series!" ( To be fair, they have won the World Series, 3 times - 1966/1970/1983 )