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February 10th 2022 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Austrebertha Charalambos José Sánchez del Río Scholastica February 10 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Feast of St. Paul's Shipwreck (Malta) Fenkil Day (Eritrea) Kurdish Authors Union Day (Iraqi Kurdistan) National Memorial Day of the Exiles and Foibe (Italy) Observances (click on the day or week for details) Plimsoll Day National Cream Cheese Brownie Day Fun Observances Umbrella Day February 10 is Umbrella Day, so honor the humble umbrella for shielding you from the elements all year long. Umbrellas have always been a part of human history, though in ancient times they were used only by the nobility and by the rich. In many cultures, umbrellas were used as part of religious ceremonies and rituals. Fashion Accessory In the 18th century, umbrellas became a popular women's fashion accessory and by the end of the 19th century, umbrellas had become a household item. It is thought that Englishman Jonas Hanway was the first male Londoner to carry an umbrella and that he was responsible for the popularity of umbrellas as an accessory among men in Europe and elsewhere. More Practical Today, with advances in technology, umbrellas have become smaller, lighter, easier to carry and more resilient to wind and strong rain. A majority of umbrellas on the market these days are manufactured in China. Although umbrellas are sometimes also called parasols, parasols may not always be waterproof and are usually intended to shield people from sunshine rather than rain. The holiday is also known as National Umbrella Day in the United States. How to Celebrate? Check the weather in your location and bring out your coolest umbrella to accessorize your outfit. Go to the beach, and relax under your beach umbrella while having a drink with an umbrella in it. Learn more about the history and the science behind umbrellas. Did You Know… …that some people believe that opening an umbrella indoors is considered to bring bad luck? *** At an art gallery, a woman and her ten-year-old son were having 
a tough time choosing between one of my paintings and another artist’s work. They finally went with mine. “I guess you decided you prefer an autumn scene to a floral,” I said. “No,” said the boy. “Your painting’s wider, so it’ll cover three holes in 
our wall.” *** As the hostess at the casino 
buffet showed me to my table, I asked her to keep an eye out for my 
husband, who would be joining me 
momentarily. I started to describe him: “He has gray hair, wears glasses, has a potbelly ...” She stopped me there. “Honey,” she said, “today is senior day. They all look like that.” *** 5 Lies Job Applicants Tell Gilding the lily is a job seeker’s birthright. Here are a few doozies, where the applicant claimed … ... to be a former CEO of the company to which he was applying. ... to be fluent in two languages—one of which was pig Latin. ... to be a Nobel Prize winner. ... to have worked in a jail when he was really in there serving time. ... he was fired “on accident.” *** *** *** Walmart Sued For Collecting Life Insurance on Employees | WFSU News *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

February 9th 2022 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Further information: February 9 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Alto of Altomünster Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich Ansbert of Rouen Apollonia Bracchio Einion the King (Western Orthodoxy) Blessed Leopold of Alpandeire Maron (Maronite Church) Miguel Febres Cordero Nebridius Sabinus of Canosa Teilo (Wales) February 9 is the earliest day on which Clean Monday can fall, while March 15 is the latest; celebrated on the first Monday of Great Lent. (Eastern Christianity) February 9 is the earliest day on which People's Sunday can fall, while March 15 is the latest; celebrated on the first Sunday of Lent. (Malta) St. Maroun's Day (public holiday in Lebanon) Observances (click on the day or week for details) National Pizza Day Chocolate Day Fun Observances ( 2 ) Toothache Day February 9 is Toothache Day. It is admittedly not a fun holiday, especially if you are suffering from, or have bad memories of, a toothache. Today is a good day to remind us that toothaches are never fun and that maintaining oral health is very important to keep painful toothaches away. Created by Dentists? While the origins of Toothache Day are a mystery, we suspect that it was a dentist who created this unofficial holiday to remind people that taking care of one's oral well-being is very important to live a happy, healthy and long life. The holiday is also called National Toothache Day in the United States. How to Celebrate? Celebrating Toothache Day is an oxymoron, but there are ways you can celebrate toothache-free days by giving your teeth and oral health attention on this day. Make an appointment with your dentist for a checkup. Take advantage of this day to resolve to brush and floss your teeth at least twice every day. Avoid food items that are bad for your oral health. Did You Know… …that the phrase I would give my eye-teeth refers to the fact that our canine teeth, also sometimes known as eye-teeth, are incredibly valuable to us? The phrase indicates a person’s want of something. ~~~~~~~ Bagel and Lox Day Bagel and Lox Day is an unofficial holiday dedicated to the quintessential Jewish American dish made of bagels, cream cheese, and lox or cured salmon. This holiday of unknown origins is also often known as National Bagel Day or Bagel Day. In 2018, Thomas', a division of Bimbo Bakeries USA, decided to move the date of National Bagel Day from February 9 to January 15 to avoid competing with National Pizza Day. Despite this, many people still prefer to celebrate this holiday on the original date of February 9. Ring Shaped Bread Popularized first by Jewish immigrants in New York City, bagels and lox is a classic combination and is a dish usually eaten during breakfast or for brunch. Traditionally from Poland, bagels are ring-shaped bread made out of wheat dough that is first boiled and then baked to give it its distinctive chewy texture. The hole in the middle is thought to make it easier for the bagel to cook as well as easier for bakers to transport and store lots of bagels at one time – all they need to do is to string a rope or thread through the bagel holes. Lox and Schmear The word lox is derived from the Yiddish word for salmon, laks. In the United States, lox is brined and cured salmon that has been sliced very thinly. On a bagel, it is usually served with cream cheese, popularly called schmear, from the German word for spread. How to Celebrate This one’s easy. Just go to your closest deli and get yourself a bagel with cream cheese and lox. Don’t have a deli close to you? Make the sandwich yourself at home – all you’ll need is some cream cheese, a bagel, and some lox. Add a slice of tomato or onion and you have a delicious meal ready! Did You Know… ...that the shape of a bagel – a ring with a hole – is technically called a torus? The word torus comes from the Latin word for cushion. *** Hoss drove over to the next county to buy a new bull for the farm. It cost more than expected, and he was left with only one dollar. This was a problem, since he needed to let his wife, Sue, know that he'd bought the bull so she could come get it with the truck—and telegrams cost a dollar per word. Hoss thought hard for a minute. Finally he said, "All right. Here's my dollar. Go ahead and just make it this one word: Comfortable." "How's that going to get your point across?" the clerk asked, scratching his head. "Don't worry," Hoss said. "Sue's not the greatest reader. She'll say it real slow." *** A man is pulled over by a police officer for a broken headlight. The cop looks in the car and sees a collection of knives on the backseat. "Sir," he says. "Why do you have all those knives?" "They're for my juggling act," the man replies. "Prove it," says the cop. The man gets out of the car and begins juggling the knives just as two men drive by. "Man," says one guy. "I'm glad I quit drinking. These new sobriety tests are hard." *** During a business trip to Boeing's Everett, Wash., factory, I noticed several 747 and 777 airliners being assembled. Before the engines were installed, huge weights were hung from the wings to keep the planes balanced. The solid-steel weights were bright yellow and marked "14,000 lbs." But what I found particularly interesting was some stenciling I discovered on the side of each weight. Imprinted there was the warning: "Remove before flight." *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** (That's two or three sharks per second) *** *** *** sandrewn

February 8th 2022 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Cuthmann of Steyning Elffled of Whitby Gerolamo Emiliani Josephine Bakhita Juventius of Pavia Meingold of Huy Stephen of Muret February 8 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Earliest day on which Feast of Orthodoxy can fall, while March 14 is the latest; celebrated 42 days before Easter; the first Sunday of Lent.[77] (Orthodoxy) Parinirvana Day (some Mahayana Buddhism traditions, most celebrate on February 15) Prešeren Day (Slovenia) Propose Day Observances (click on the day or week for details) Safer Internet Day National Molasses Bar Day World Opera Day National Kite Flying Day Extraterrestrial Culture Day National Boy Scout Day Fun Observances Laugh and Get Rich Day February 8 is Laugh and Get Rich Day. A day for enriching your life with happiness. While the origins of this unofficial holiday are not known, it seems that the unknown creators of the holiday wanted to encourage people to spend the day laughing and being happy. Happy and Healthy While being happy won't make you laugh all the way to the bank, it will certainly help improve your mood and your health. Studies have shown that people who are happy and laugh often tend to have less stress, lower blood pressure, and a better immune response. Laughing and sharing jokes can also have social benefits. Happy people tend to have more friends and are easily accepted by social groups. More Productive Being happy can also help a person professionally. Joyful workers are more productive and liked by their co-workers compared to cranky and unhappy professionals. Other happy days to celebrate are Happiness Happens Day, Let's Laugh Day, I Want You to be Happy Day, and International Moment of Laughter Day. How to Celebrate? Laugh, laugh, and laugh! Tell jokes and solicit jokes from friends and co-workers to put you in the mood to think up of money making ventures. Watch the 1931 American comedy movie, Laugh and Get Rich starring Edna May Oliver and Hugh Herbert with family and friends. Did You Know… …that laughing can burn calories? Scientists have found that 15 minutes of laughter can burn as many as 50 calories. *** Q: What's a good holiday tip? A: Never catch snowflakes with your tongue until all the birds have gone south for the winter. *** I once wanted to become an atheist but I gave up ... they have no holidays. *** A New Year's resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other. *** A Holiday Quiz “Pretend to be someone you’re 
not, and receive candy.” Quick: 
Halloween or 
Valentine’s Day? *** In fourth grade, my son had a huge crush on a classmate. So for Valentine's Day, he bought her a box of chocolates and took it into school. When I returned home from work, I found him on the couch eating the same box of candy. "What happened?" I asked. "Well, I thought about it for a long time," he said between chews. "And I decided that, for now, I still like candy more than girls." *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** Arena - Wikipedia *** *** *** sandrewn

February 7th 2022 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian Feast Day: André Bessette (Canada) Canute Lavard Charles of Sezze Felix and Januarius Lucian of Antioch Raymond of Penyafort Synaxis of John the Forerunner & Baptist (Julian Calendar) January 7 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Christmas (Eastern Orthodox Churches and Oriental Orthodox Churches using the Julian Calendar, Rastafari) Christmas in Russia Christmas in Ukraine Remembrance Day of the Dead (Armenia) Distaff Day (medieval Europe) Earliest day on which Plough Monday can fall, while January 13 is the latest; celebrated on Monday after Epiphany (Europe). Nanakusa no sekku (Japan) Pioneer's Day (Liberia) Tricolour day or Festa del Tricolore (Italy) Victory from Genocide Day (Cambodia) Observances (click on the day or week for details) Play More Cards Day Wave All Your Fingers At Your Neighbors Day World Ballet Day Independence Day Grenada National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day National Fettuccine Alfredo Day National Periodic Table Day National Sickie Day Rose Day ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mon Feb 7th, 2022 - Mon Feb 14th, 2022 Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week Mon Feb 7th, 2022 - Fri Feb 11th, 2022 Feeding Tube Awareness Week School Counseling Week Pride In Foodservice Week Fun Observances ( 2 ) e-Day e-Day celebrates the mathematical constant e, which has a value of 2.7182818. It is celebrated on February 7 in countries that follow the month/day (m/d) date format. This is because the first two digits of the date - 2/7 - correspond to the first two digits of the constant. People living in countries that follow the day/month (d/m) format celebrate it on January 27. The first three digits of this date - 27/1 - match up with the first three digits of e (2.71). Euler’s Number Also known Euler’s number, after the Swiss mathematician Leonhard Euler, e is an irrational number that represents the idea that all continually growing systems are a scaled version of a common rate. It is mostly used in logarithms, exponential growth, and complex numbers. It is one of the most important numbers in mathematics, including 0, 1 and pi (π). e is also sometimes called the Napier's Constant and is often incorrectly referred to Euler's Constant. Euler's Constant is denoted by lower case gamma (γ) and has a value of 0.57721. Other e Days Many European countries celebrate Euro Day, sometimes also called e Day. The day is observed on January 1 and celebrates the anniversary of the adoption of the Euro, Europe's common currency in 2002. In New Zealand, eDay is a day where people can get rid of e-waste or old electronics such as computers and old appliances so they can be recycled rather than being placed in a landfill. Engineer’s Day is observed in Paducah, Kentucky on February 21, where many people participate in an egg drop contest, create edible cars, and tape people to walls. Other Mathematical Holidays The year is full of mathematical and scientific holidays. Some of these include: Yellow Pig Day, Mole Day, Fibonacci Day, Palindrome Day, and Pi-Day. Use our Date Pattern Calculator to find out other interesting calendar dates during the year. How to Celebrate? Celebrate this fun mathematical holiday by learning more about Euler's number and its importance in mathematics and science. Eat foods that begin with e - make eggs, eggplant, or eclairs. Make eggnog as a before dinner refreshment or eggs benedict for breakfast. Did You Know... ...that there is an island in northern Scotland called Eday? ~~~~~~~ Send a Card to a Friend Day February 7 is Send a Card to a Friend Day. The unofficial holiday encourages people to send a card to a friend to let them know that they haven't been forgotten. Stay Connected While we all love our friends and would like to keep in touch with them all the time, daily life can sometimes make it hard to stay connected. If you are unable to keep up with the lives and times of your friends, then Send a Card to a Friend Day is the prefect excuse to take some time during the day to write a note to a dear friend to let them know you are thinking of them. How to Celebrate? Celebrating this holiday is very simple. Take some time out of your busy day and write notes to your friends. Everyone loves a handwritten note, but if you can’t do that send them an e-card or even an email. No one will judge you as long as they hear from you. Did You Know… …that the earliest known greeting card is a Valentine’s Day card thought to have been sent sometime in the 1400s? *** My dog was my soul mate; we both took naps, we both skipped lunch, we both hated the vacuum... *** Comedian Daniel Tosh is no fan 
of the expression “The worst day 
of fishing is better than the 
best day at work.” “I’ve watched The Deadliest 
Catch on Discovery,” 
he said. “I’ve never once 
been at work, capsized in 
40-degree water, watched all my coworkers die, and been like, ‘Hey, at least we’re fishin’.’” *** It’s important to have a good vocabulary. If I had known the difference between the words antidote and anecdote, one of my good friends would still be living. *** Some sad news from Australia … the inventor of the boomerang grenade died today. —Johnny Carson *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

February 6th 2022 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Armed Forces Day (Iraq) Christian Feast day: André Bessette (Roman Catholic Church)[277] January 6 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Christmas: Christmas (Armenian Apostolic Church) Christmas Eve (Russia) Christmas Eve (Ukraine) Christmas Eve (Bosnia and Herzegovina) Christmas Eve (North Macedonia) Epiphany or Three Kings' Day (Western Christianity) or Theophany (Eastern Christianity), and its related observances: Befana Day (Italy) Little Christmas (Ireland) Þrettándinn (Iceland) Pathet Lao Day (Laos) Observances (click on the day or week for details) National Yorkshire Pudding Day Dump Your Significant Jerk Day National Frozen Yogurt Day Bob Marley's Birthday National Chopsticks Day Pay a Compliment Day Pork Rind Appreciation Day Ronald Reagan Day Time to Talk Day Waitangi Day ~~~~~~ Sun Feb 6th, 2022 - Sat Feb 12th, 2022 National Secondhand Wardrobe Week International Networking Week Boy Scouts Anniversary Week Burn Awareness Week Fun Observances Lame Duck Day February 6 is Lame Duck Day. The unofficial holiday honors anyone who is on their way out of their jobs or their elected office. Contrary to popular belief, a lame duck is not an injured or an uncool duck. Political Term Lame duck is a term usually reserved for politics in many democratic countries in the West and in Australia. It refers to a person or a group of people who are nearing the end of their elected term and will not be running for political office again. Risky Decisions Because their time in political office is limited, lame ducks are thought to have a freer hand in making decisions. Studies have shown that elected politicians towards the end of their tenure tend to make risky decisions. This is because they do not need to worry about the political consequences of their actions anymore. Stock Exchange The term lame duck however, originated in a field far from politics. Etymologists trace the first usage of the word to the London Stock Exchange in the 18th century. The term was used to refer to a defaulter - 'someone who couldn't pay his or her debts and then waddled off like a duck'. The usage of the term to refer to an elected official on his or her way out dates back to the late 19th century in the United States. How to Celebrate Honor any lame ducks you may have around you. If you personally know of one, throw them a going away party. If you are in the United States, learn more about the 20th Amendment to the U.S. constitution, also sometimes known as the lame duck amendment. Did You Know… …that a group of ducks is called a team or a raft? *** An exercise for people who are out of shape: Begin with a five-pound potato bag in each hand. Extend your arms straight out from your sides, hold them there for a full minute, and then relax. After a few weeks, move up to ten-pound potato bags. Then try 50-pound potato bags, and eventually try to get to where you can lift a 100-pound potato bag in each hand and hold your arms straight for more than a full minute. Once you feel confident at that level, put a potato in each bag. *** Things I overheard at my health club: “I’m only taking this class so I don’t eat for an hour.” “Who knew 40 years of neglect would have repercussions?” “Does this body make me look fat?” *** Could a ... ... librarian be called a bookkeeper? ... referee be a game warden? ... dairyman be a cowboy? ... cabinetmaker be the president? *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

February 5th 2022 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian Feast day: Charles of Mount Argus[276] John Neumann (Catholic Church)[277] Pope Telesphorus[278] Simeon Stylites (Latin Church)[279] January 5 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival (Harbin, China)[280] Joma Shinji (Japan)[281] National Bird Day (United States)[282] The Twelfth day of Christmas and the Twelfth Night of Christmas. (Western Christianity)[283] Observances (click on the day or week for details) World Nutella Day Western Monarch Day Take Your Child To The Library Day National Lace Day National Shower with a Friend Day International Pisco Sour Day Kashmir Solidarity Day Fun Observances (3) Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Day Make ice cream the breakfast of champions on the first Saturday of February, also known as Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Day. It is thought that the unofficial holiday was first created in the 1960s by Florence Rappaport in Rochester, New York as a way to entertain her children on a cold and snowy morning. Her brilliant idea took root and has now become a holiday celebrated by people around the world. Similar holidays include Vanilla Ice Cream Day, Ice Cream Day, Ice Cream Sandwich Day, and Strawberry Ice Cream Day. How to Celebrate? Replace your oats and cereal with ice cream. Have fruit ice cream instead of breakfast fruits. Top your pancakes and crepes with ice cream. Used to having bacon for breakfast? What about making bacon ice cream for breakfast instead? Organize an ice cream charity brunch. Serve your guests different flavors of ice cream and raise money for your favorite childhood cancer awareness charity. Did You Know… …that according to some estimates, the United States is the leading consumer of ice cream in the world? New Zealand comes a close second. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ National Weatherperson's Day National Weatherperson’s Day is celebrated every year on February 5. On this unofficial holiday, honor the women and men who keep an eye on the weather so that you don’t get caught unawares by changing or extreme weather. The First Weatherman Primarily celebrated in the United States, the holiday commemorates the birth anniversary of John Jeffries, thought to be America's first weatherman. A physician by profession, Jeffries started collecting weather data in Boston in 1774. Ten years later, in 1784, he became the first person in the world to collect weather data from a weather observation balloon over London. Celebrates the Science This day celebrates the science of meteorology and encourages people to pay tribute to the women and men who forecast and broadcast weather related information and warnings every day of the year. The day also honors volunteers, storm chasers, and meteorologists who sometimes risk their lives in order to collect climate and weather data and to alert the public and businesses about severe weather conditions. The holiday is also known as National Weatherman’s Day. How to Celebrate? Know a meteorologist or a weatherperson? Thank them for all their hard work. If you are a science teacher or have young adults in your life, encourage them to look at meteorology as a career option. Learn more about weather patterns and meteorological events. Visit a weather or meteorology museum. Did You Know… …that the first weather forecast was printed in The Times of London on August 1, 1861? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Chocolate Fondue Day February 5 is Chocolate Fondue Day, a made-up holiday that encourages people to get together with family and friends and enjoy a fondue pot of delicious and gooey melted chocolate. Chocolate fondue is the dessert version of the traditional fondue – pieces of bread and vegetables dipped in melted cheese. In chocolate fondue, pieces of fruit, cake or cookies are dipped into sweetened melted chocolate. Bringing People Together Fondue is a communal dish eaten out of a pot that is kept warm with a candle or lamp. The heat keeps the cheese or the chocolate melted and warm. Diners use skewers, toothpicks, or special fondue forks to dip the bread or fruit in the melted cheese or chocolate. Etiquette requires that the dipping instrument is only used to bring the food from the fondue pot to the diner’s plate and that diners never double dip their morsels of food in the cheese or chocolate. An American Invention With Swiss Roots Thought to be the national dish of Switzerland, fondue is thought to have originated in the country as a way to use up leftover cheese. Original cheese fondue recipes called for the cheese to be mixed with wine and herbs. Rumor has it that chocolate fondue was first created in the United States, where this holiday is also known as National Chocolate Fondue Day, sometime in the 1950s. How to Celebrate? With chocolate fondue, of course! Get your friends and family together and indulge in some delicious chocolate fondue. To keep it healthy, offer an array of fruits – apples, strawberries, oranges, bananas – to the diners. In addition to fruits, you can also serve cake, cookies, waffles, marshmallows, and ice cream cubes for everyone to dip in the chocolate. Have a chocolate fondue party. Set up a fondue station with different kinds of melted chocolates and chocolate flavors. May we recommend dark chocolate with bacon bits, salted caramel chocolate, mint chocolate, and white chocolate with sprinkles? Did You Know… ...that fondue bourguignonne is a type of fondue where diners dip pieces of uncooked meat into hot oil? *** Author Cindy Chupack coined these useful neologisms to help those dating today. Man-me-downs: Men who are passed on from one woman to another after a failed attempt at romance. Cupidity: The faulty logic that leads a well-meaning but clueless third party to believe that two random singles are perfect for each other. DNRR (Do Not Resuscitate Romance): A directive that you are not, under any circumstance, allowed to revive a past relationship. *** I met my husband while I was working in a science library. He came in every week to read the latest journals and eventually decided to take out the librarian instead of the books. After a year and a half of dating, he showed up at the library and started rummaging through my desk. I asked what he was looking for, but he didn't answer. Finally he unearthed one of the rubber stamps I used to identify reference books. "Since I couldn't find the right engagement ring," he said, "this will have to do," and he firmly stamped my hand. Across my knuckles, in capital letters, it read "NOT FOR CIRCULATION." *** Driving through Southern California, I stopped at a roadside stand that sold fruit, vegetables and crafts. As I went to pay, I noticed the young woman behind the counter was painting a sign. "Why the new sign?" I asked. "My boyfriend didn't approve of the old one," she said. When I glanced at what hung above the counter, I understood. It declared: "Local Honey Dates Nuts" *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

February 4th 2022 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Angela of Foligno[260] Elizabeth Ann Seton[261] Ferréol of Uzès[262] Mavilus[263] Pharaildis of Ghent[264] Rigobert[265] January 4 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) The eleventh of the Twelve Days of Christmas. (Western Christianity)[266] Independence Day (Myanmar), celebrates the independence of Myanmar from the United Kingdom in 1948.[267] Colonial Martyrs Repression Day (Angola)[268] Day of the Martyrs (Democratic Republic of the Congo)[269] Ogoni Day (Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People)[270] Tokyo Dome Show: The annual Wrestle Kingdom event run by New Japan Pro-Wrestling[271] World Braille Day[272] Observances (click on the day or week for details) National Thank A Mail Carrier Day World Cancer Day National Sweater Day National Stuffed Mushroom Day National Wear Red Day National Homemade Soup Day National Bubble Gum Day Give Kids A Smile National Quacker Day Fun Observances (4) Work Naked Day Do you dream of working from home in your most comfortable attire? Then Work Naked Day on the first Friday of February is the holiday for you. Created by author and home office expert, Lisa Kanare, the holiday is not about working without clothes (though you certainly can, if you would like to), but is about working from the comfortable confines of your home. Working from home not an option? In April, you can wear your pajamas to work. How to Celebrate? Ask your boss or supervisor if you can work from home. Remember, you don’t have to work naked from home if you do not want to. Wear your most comfortable pajamas and work in your home office or your backyard or from your couch. If you do decide to work naked, make sure you do not have any official teleconferences. If you run a company, what about instituting a work from home program? Did You Know... ...that research has shown that those who work from home offices tend to be more productive and happier than those who are forced to come to work every day? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thank Your Mailman Day Thank Your Mailman Day is celebrated on February 4 every year. The unofficial holiday honors people who deliver mail or post directly to people's homes and places of business. Old Mail Historians believe that people were hired to deliver royal letters and decrees as early as 2000 BC. The oldest recorded postal document is from Egypt and dates back to 255 BC. This is a day to acknowledge and thank your mail person and postal worker for bringing your mail to you everyday, rain or shine, and also for not being intimated by your neighbor’s mean looking dog. Thank Your Mailman Day is also known as National Thank Your Mailman Day in the U.S. How to Celebrate? Say hello to your postal worker and thank them for their service. If you are unable to meet them in person, what about leaving a little thank you note for your mail carrier in your mailbox? Even better, add a small homemade treat or a bar of candy with the note to show your appreciation. Did You Know… …that in 1920, the United States Post Office banned sending children by post? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Create a Vacuum Day They say that nothing ever happens in a vacuum, but this holiday - Create a Vacuum Day, on February 4 - seems to have emerged from one. The source, or even the purpose, of this fun and geeky holiday are unknown, so we can only guess that the holiday calls for people to learn more about the science behind a vacuum and experiment with it (as much as they can with common household equipment). The word, vacuum comes from the Latin word vacuus, meaning empty or vacant, and is used by scientists to refer to a space that does not have any matter or where the pressure is lower than atmospheric pressure. No Perfect Vacuum While theoretically, a perfect vacuum can exist, practically creating one is almost impossible. This is because of, what scientists call virtual particles – particles that can enter and exit a vacuum. Such particles include photons and quarks. Outer space is considered by scientists as being closest to a state of perfect vacuum as there can be, even though it is not completely devoid of matter. Apart from space debris that includes comets and asteroids, outer space has stray atoms of gases and different forms of radiation. Household Applications In addition to its theoretical applications, the concept of vacuum has led to many industrial and household items that we find indispensable today. In our homes, a vacuum can be used to suck up dirt through the vacuum cleaner and even light up our rooms through incandescent light bulbs. Outside, vacuum is used to pack food and other items, in vacuum pumps, and to build electron microscopes. Even car brakes work by creating a form of vacuum. How to Celebrate? Learn more about the science behind vacuum, a space completely empty of matter, and its practical uses. Take out the vacuum cleaner from the closet and use it - you are due to clean your home anyway. Did You Know… …that the world’s first vacuum cleaner was invented in 1866 by Ives W. McGaffey in the United States? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Stuffed Mushroom Day February 4 is Stuffed Mushroom Day. Also known as National Stuffed Mushroom Day in the United States, this made-up holiday clearly encourages people to make and consume lots and lots of stuffed mushrooms. A popular party dish, stuffed mushrooms are made by removing the stems and stuffing the resulting hollow space with meat and vegetable filling. Stuffed mushrooms are usually savory and are typically sprinkled with breadcrumbs and cheese and baked before being served. Meat for Vegetarians Mushrooms are the fleshy parts of fungi that bear spores. In many cultures, they are an integral part of the cuisine and are a prominent source of dietary minerals and vitamin B. Mushrooms are low calories and have low amounts of carbohydrates, making them an ideal diet food. While mushrooms are botanically neither fruits or vegetables, in many parts of the world, they are considered safe for vegetarians to consume and are often considered to be a meat substitute. How to Celebrate? Make a huge batch of stuffed mushrooms and have them for all your meals of the day. Start will egg and bacon stuffed mushrooms for breakfast, have sausage stuffed mushrooms for lunch, and end the day with sweet potato and parmesan stuffed mushrooms. Host a stuffed mushrooms party. Have your guests bring their favorite stuffed mushrooms to share. Did You Know… ...that a person or an animal who eats mushrooms and fungi for nutrition is called a mycophagist? *** Once there was a guy named Bill who wanted a horse. On Craigslist, Bill saw a Christian horse so he went to check it out. When Bill got to the ranch, the horse's owner said "It's easy to ride him. Just say 'praise the Lord' to make him go, and 'amen' to make him stop." Bill got on the horse and said "praise the Lord." the horse started to walk. "Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, praise the Lord" and the horse is running. Now Bill sees the cliff and says: "AMEN." The horse stops and Bill says: "Whew! Praise the lord!" *** A man came through my lane at the grocery store with a jug of wine and a bouquet of roses. But before paying, he set the two items aside and said, “I’ll be right back.” He ran off, only to ­return a minute later with a second jug of wine and another bouquet of roses. “Two girlfriends?” I asked. “No,” he said. “Just one really angry one.” *** A customer walked into the post office wanting to mail a package. “Two-day shipping will cost $12.95 to get it there by Friday,” my coworker Billy told her. The customer, clearly looking to save a few bucks, said, “The package doesn’t have to get there till Saturday. Is there any way to make that happen?” Billy nodded. “Sure. You can bring it back tomorrow.” *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

February 3rd 2022 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Anniversary of the 1966 Coup d'état (Burkina Faso) Christian feast day: Daniel of Padua Genevieve Holy Name of Jesus Kuriakose Elias Chavara (Syro-Malabar Catholic Church) Pope Anterus William Passavant (Episcopal Church) January 3 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Ministry of Religious Affairs Day (Indonesia) Tamaseseri Festival (Hakozaki Shrine, Fukuoka, Japan) The tenth of the Twelve Days of Christmas (Western Christianity) Observances (click on the day or week for details) Optimist Day World Read Aloud Day National Golden Retriever Day Doggy Date Night National Women Physicians Day Elmo's Birthday Feed the Birds Day Four Chaplains Day National Missing Persons Day The Day the Music Died Fun Observances Carrot Cake Day Celebrated annually on February 3, the holiday celebrates this cake made with carrots. Eaten since the Middle Ages, it is thought that carrot cake came about because of the high prices and rarity of sugar. To get around this problem, inventive bakers and cooks used sweet vegetables to sweeten their cakes and voila, the humble, but oh, so delicious carrot cake was born. Healthier Cake Carrot cake is considered a tad bit healthier than your average sugary cake. Carrots are full of fiber and packed with health-promoting beta carotene, that promote good vision, especially night vision, and help combat health-damaging free radical activity. It is usually made with less sugar, healthy oils, and sometimes has healthy nuts in it. Similar holidays include Cake Day, Chocolate Cake Day, and National Cheesecake Day. How to Celebrate? With lots and lots of carrot cake, of course! Bake some carrot cake and share with family and friends. Did You Know... ...that according to the Food and Agriculture Organization, almost half of all carrots meant for human consumption come from China? *** Have You Ever Been Insulted And Complimented At The Same Time? It’s amazing how a person can compliment and insult you at the same time. Recently, when I greeted my coworker, she said, “You look so gorgeous, I didn’t recognize you.” *** I’ve been working on my PhD 
in engineering for the past five years, but my kids don’t necessarily see that as work. As we were driving past Walmart one day, my son spotted a Now Hiring sign and suggested that I could get 
a job there. Hoping to make a point, I asked, “Do you think they’re looking for an engineer?” “Oh, sure,” he said. “They’ll hire anybody.” *** The average age of people living in our military retirement community is 85. Recently, a neighbor turned 100, and a big birthday party was thrown. Even his son turned up. “How old are you?” a tenant asked. “I’m 81 years old,” he answered. The tenant shook her head. “They sure grow up fast, don’t they?” *** In the hardware store, a 
clerk asked, “Can I help you find 
anything?” “How about my misspent youth,” joked my husband. The clerk shot back, “We keep that in the back, between world peace and winning lottery tickets.” *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** You think you're having a bad day!?? *** *** sandrewn

February 2nd 2022 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Groundhog Day Anniversary of Treaty of Tartu (Estonia) Christian Feast Day: Adalbard Cornelius the Centurion Martyrs of Ebsdorf February 2 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Constitution Day (Philippines) Day of Youth (Azerbaijan) Earliest day on which Shrove Monday can fall, while March 8 is the latest; celebrated on Monday before Ash Wednesday (Christianity), and its related observances: Bun Day (Iceland) Fastelavn (Denmark/Norway) Nickanan Night (Cornwall) Rosenmontag (Germany) Feast of the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple or Candlemas (Western Christianity), and its related observances: A quarter day in the Christian liturgical calendar (due to Candlemas). (Scotland) Celebration of Yemanja or Our Lady of Navigators (Candomblé) Le Jour des Crêpes (France) Our Lady of the Candles (Filipino Catholics) Virgin of Candelaria (Tenerife, Spain) Victory of the Battle of Stalingrad (Russia) World Wetlands Day Observances (click on the day or week for details) National Tater Tot Day National Sled Dog Day Marmot Day National Hedgehog Day Lung Leavin’ Day National Signing Day National Brown Dog Day National Girls and Women in Sports Day National Heavenly Hash Day Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ~~~~~~ Wed Feb 2nd, 2022 - Sun Feb 6th, 2022 Snow Sculpting Week Fun Observances ( 2 ) Day of the Crepe February 2 is celebrated as the Day of the Crêpe in France. Called jour des crêpes, the holiday is associated with the Catholic feast of Candlemas. On this day households all over France make crêpes. This is because it is believed that crêpes symbolize prosperity. Thin Pancakes Crêpes are thin pancakes made from a batter of flour, eggs, milk or water, and butter. Thought to have originated in Brittany, France, they were traditionally made with buckwheat flour, though these days they are made with a variety of different flours including white flour, chickpea flour, and almond flour. Don't Drop the Coin In many French households, it is customary to make crêpes while holding a coin in your hand. The belief is that if you flip the crêpe in the air and catch it in the pan without dropping the coin, the upcoming year will be a prosperous year for you. How to Celebrate? Make crepes, of course! Not French or Catholic? That shouldn’t stop you from celebrating this delicious dish which is perfect for any meal of the day. Have crêpes for all your meals of the day – sweet crêpes for breakfast and dessert and savory crêpes with savory fillings for lunch and dinner. Did You Know... ...that the word crêpe comes from the Latin word crispus, meaning wrinkled and curled? ~~~~~~~ Play Your Ukulele Day On February 2 bring out your ukulele and strum it all day long because it is Play Your Ukulele Day. The holiday was first celebrated in 2011. Since its inception, the holiday is celebrated all around the world under the slogan bring the world together, four strings at a time. Hawaiian Instrument A ukulele, also sometimes called a uke, is a four-stringed instrument that was first popularized in Hawaii in the late 19th century. The instrument was a version of the machete, a four-stringed instrument native to the Madeira region of in the Portugal. It is thought that the ukulele was created by Portuguese immigrants to Hawaii. Popular Again Today The ukulele found its way to mainland United States in the early 20th century, where it became an important instrument in the jazz music and dance scene during the 1920s. It fell out of favor as the instrument of choice for musicians until the early 2000s, when the proliferation of online music and instructional videos made the ukulele a popular musical instrument again. The holiday is also known by several other names including International Play Your Ukulele Day, World Play Your Ukulele Day and World Ukulele Day. It is sometimes also celebrated on May 2. How to Celebrate? Know how to play the instrument? Take out your ukulele and entertain friends and family by playing it. If you have always wanted to learn how to play one, now is the time to make a trip to the music instrument store and get one and start learning how to play it. Start a band that showcases your ukulele playing skills. Did You Know... ....that the word ukulele in Hawaiian means jumping flea? It is thought that the instrument was so named because of the way the players fingers jumped around the strings. *** Louie and his wife are listening to the radio when they hear the weather report: "A snow emergency has been declared. You must park your cars on the odd-numbered side of the street.” So Louie gets up and moves his car. Two days later—same thing. "A snow emergency has been declared,” blares the radio. "Park your cars on the even-numbered side of the street.” Louie gets up and does what he’s told. Three days later: "There will be a foot of snow today. Park your cars on the ...,” and then the power goes out. "What should I do?” a confused Louie asks his wife. "This time,” she says, "why don’t you just leave the car in the garage?” *** A coworker stormed into my friend's office, yelling, "Did you tell Joan I was a witch?!" Stunned, my friend sputtered, "No! I don't know how she found out." *** One of our visiting Italian students at Sheppard Air Force Base said he wouldn't be able to fly that day. "Why?" his teacher asked. Marshaling all the English he knew, the student pointed to his ears and explained, "It's my fallopian tubes." *** When a body was brought to her funeral home, my friend contacted the next of kin. Per previous instructions, the deceased would be cremated, she told him, so he needed to come in to identify the body. Considering the task at hand, the relative asked, "Does this need to be done before or after the cremation?" *** *** The great-great-great grandchildren of Dickens take a selfie with him on his 202nd birthday. *** *** *** This Is the Last Image the Spirit Mars Rover Ever Saw *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

February 1st 2022 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Abolition of Slavery Day (Mauritius) Air Force Day (Nicaragua) Christian feast day: Blessed Candelaria of San José Brigid, patron saint of Ireland (Saint Brigid's Day) Verdiana February 1 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Earliest day on which Constitution Day can fall, while February 7 is the latest; celebrated on the first Monday in February. (Mexico) Federal Territory Day (Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya, Malaysia) Heroes Day (Rwanda) Imbolc (Ireland, Scotland, Isle of Man, and some Neopagan groups in the Northern hemisphere) Memorial Day of the Republic (Hungary) National Freedom Day (United States) The start of Black History Month (United States and Canada) Observances (click on the day or week for details) National Baked Alaska Day National Serpent Day Decorating With Candy Day Car Insurance Day Chinese New Year Korean New Year National Dark Chocolate Day National Get Up Day Robinson Crusoe Day Spunky Old Broads Day ~~~~~~ Sat Jan 29th, 2022 - Sat Feb 5th, 2022 Cordova Iceworm Festival Week ~~~~~~ Tue Feb 1st, 2022 - Mon Feb 7th, 2022 Cheerleading Week Solo Diners Eat Out Week National Patient Recognition Week African Heritage and Health Week Observances (click on the month for details) National Black History Month International Vegan Cuisine Month North American Inclusion Month National Cherry Month National Bake For Family Fun Month National Bird Feeding Month National Hot Breakfast Month National Library Lover’s Month Fun Observances ( 0 ) *** Funny Things That Parents Say "You shouldn't be eating candy so early. We have doughnuts." "The key is to put the mousetrap outside the house. That way, the mice don't come in." "Your aunt couldn't make it, so I brought the cat." "Don't do drugs. They're hell on your body, and I may need one of your organs someday." *** Our 25-year-old son moved back home with an eye toward socking away money to buy a condo. We never bothered asking how long he'd planned to stay, but I got a pretty good idea when I walked into his room recently. In the corner was a milk jug with a few coins in it and a label that read "Condo down payment." *** People’s parents actually give them sage advice, like “Do what you love, and the money will follow” or “The early bird gets the worm.” All I remember is “Don’t fill up on bread.” *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

January 31st 2022 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Domitius (Domice) of Amiens Francis Xavier Bianchi Geminianus John Bosco Julius of Novara Blessed Ludovica Máedóc (Mogue, Aiden) Marcella Samuel Shoemaker (Episcopal Church (USA)) Tysul Ulphia Wilgils January 31 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Amartithi (Meherabad, India, followers of Meher Baba) Independence Day (Nauru), celebrates independence from Australia in 1968. Street Children's Day (Austria) Observances (click on the day or week for details) National Bubble Wrap Day National Gorilla Suit Day Inspire Your Heart With Art Day National Hot Chocolate Day Appreciate Your Social Security Check Day Brandy Alexander Day Eat Brussel Sprouts Day Grammy Awards Day Hell is Freezing Over Day Hug An Economist Day Scotch Tape Day Fun Observances Backwards Day Bored with doing the same thing in and out? On January 31, take a break from the rut by doing everything backwards, because it is Backwards Day. While it is unclear who created this holiday, it is evident that they wanted it to be a day for celebrators to break all rules and to do things their way. A popular fun holiday among school going children, it is also sometimes called National Backwards Day in the United States. How to Celebrate? Celebrating Backwards Day is easy—do everything backwards or sdrawkcab. Wear your outfit backwards and if you can, talk and write backwards. Go to bed in the morning and start working in the evening, have dinner in the morning and breakfast in the evening, and have dessert first during all your meals. Talk to people with your back towards them. Just make sure you let them know you are celebrating Backwards Day, so they don't think you are rude. Say goodbye to people when you meet them, and hello when you depart. Did You Know… …that penguins cannot walk backwards? *** Back at my high school for the tenth reunion, I met my old coach. Walking through the gym, we came upon a plaque on which I was still listed as the record holder for the longest softball throw. Noticing my surprise, the coach said, "That record will stand forever." I was about to make some modest disclaimer that records exist to be broken, when he added, "We stopped holding that event years ago." *** 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."l *** As a high-school football coach, I'm aware that student athletes tend to focus too much on sports. A fellow coach, Bob, was talking about one such player, who called him at home one night. When his wife informed the kid that Bob wasn't home, he became frantic and said he had to speak to the coach right away. "Just calm down, and I'll have him call you as soon as he gets home," the coach's wife told him. "What's your number?" The flustered kid replied, "Three." *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

January 30th 2022 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian Feast Day: Adelelmus of Burgos Aldegonde Anthony the Great (Coptic Church) Armentarius of Pavia Balthild Charles, King and Martyr (various provinces of the Anglican Communion) Hippolytus of Rome Hyacintha Mariscotti Martina Matthias of Jerusalem Mutien-Marie Wiaux Savina Three Holy Hierarchs (Eastern Orthodox), and its related observances: Teacher's Day (Greece) January 30 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Day of Azerbaijani customs (Azerbaijan) Day of Saudade (Brazil) Fred Korematsu Day (California, Florida, Hawaii, Virginia) Martyrdom of Mahatma Gandhi, and its related observances: Martyrs' Day (India) School Day of Non-violence and Peace (Spain) Start of the Season for Nonviolence (January 30 – April 4)[63] Observances (click on the day or week for details) National Inane Answering Message Day National Draw A Dinosaur Day National Escape Day School Day of Non-violence and Peace World Leprosy Day Yodel For Your Neighbors Day Fun Observances Croissant Day On January 30 wake up and head straight to your favorite bakery to get a croissant for your breakfast, because it is Croissant Day. The crescent shaped flaky and buttery pastry made by layering and rolling out leavened dough. While it is usually consumed plain, many variations of the pastry exist. In many parts of the world, bakeries bake croissants with chocolate, fruits, meat, vegetables, and cheese. Many people use croissants to make sandwiches. Some popular croissant sandwiches include egg salad sandwich, tuna sandwich, and cheese and ham sandwich. Not French Contrary to popular belief, croissants are not French in origin. Food historians believe that the Austrian kipferl is the ancestor of the present-day croissant. Legend has it that kipeferl, which is the German word for crescent, was created by some Viennese bakers as a way to celebrate the defeat of Ottoman invaders by the soldiers of Vienna. The bakers according to the story, fashioned their new creation in the form of the crescent they saw on the enemies flag. It is thought that the pastry was popularized in France by Marie Antionette, the last queen of France. How to Celebrate? Have croissants for all your meals. Start with a plain croissant for breakfast, a croissant sandwich for lunch, and end the day with a chocolate or custard-filled croissant. Try making croissants at home from scratch. Don't forget to share with friends, family, and co-workers. Did You Know… …that a cronut is both a croissant and a doughnut? The pastry was created by New York Chef Dominique Ansel. *** Me: What’s the Wi-Fi password? Bartender: You need to buy a drink first. Me: OK, I’ll have a Coke. Bartender: Three dollars. Me: There you go. So what’s the Wi‑Fi password? Bartender: “You need to buy a drink first.” No spaces, all lowercase. *** One day, a fourteen-year-old weasel went down to the local dance hall. The bartender took one look at him and says, “You are under-aged. I can’t serve you beer.” The weasel asks, “What can I have?” The bartender replies, “I have bottled water, juice, energy drinks, and pop.” “Pop!” goes the weasel. *** Some Texans are mingling at the bar when an Oxford graduate walks in. "Howdy, stranger," one Texan says. "Where are you from?" The Oxford graduate answers, "I come from a place where we do not end our sentences in prepositions." "Oh, I'm sorry," replies the Texan. "Where are you from, jackass?" *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

January 29th 2022 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Andrei Rublev (Episcopal Church (USA)) Aquilinus of Milan Constantius of Perugia Dallán Forgaill Gildas Juniper Sabinian of Troyes Sulpitius I of Bourges Valerius of Trèves January 29 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Earliest day on which Fat Thursday can fall, while March 4 is the latest; celebrated on Thursday before Ash Wednesday. (Christianity) Kansas Day (Kansas, United States) Observances (click on the day or week for details) Curmudgeons Day National Seed Swap Day National Corn Chip Day Freethinkers Day National Carnation Day Cordova Iceworm Festival Week (Sat Jan 29th, 2022 - Sat Feb 5th, 2022) Fun Observances Puzzle Day What is 24 hours long, all about solving problems, and is one of the best unofficial holidays of the year? Puzzle Day, of course. Celebrated every year on January 29, the holiday honors puzzles of all stripes - jigsaws, riddles, science, math, mechanical, and word puzzles, and of course, real life puzzles. Develops Skills Puzzles are problems that are difficult to solve or require special skills to resolve. They can take various forms and emphasize different expertise. For example, crosswords, word search, and anagrams put a person's vocabulary and skills with a language to test. Games like Sudoku and Rubik's Cube, on the other hand, test the player's logical thinking and mathematical skills. Jigsaws develop patience and visual skills. Beneficial to Health In addition to being entertaining and fun, puzzles have distinct health and social benefits, especially in early childhood. Collaborative puzzles help children learn how to work together while learning other spatial, motor, and problem-solving skills. Studies have shown that doing puzzles can help enhance brain activity in adults. It also increases creativity and concentration, and it improves memory. Puzzle Day is also known as National Puzzle Day in the United States. How to Celebrate? Host a puzzle party and solve puzzles with family and friends. Send out invites in the form of a crossword, decorate the venue with puzzles and serve a Rubik Cube shaped cake. Learn about the history of puzzles and about the science behind creating them. Spend the day solving puzzles of all kinds. Did You Know… …that the world’s first crossword was published on December 21, 1913 in the Sunday newspaper, New York World? The puzzle was created by journalist Arthur Wayne. *** My doctor took one look at 
my gut and refused to believe that 
I work out. So I listed the exercises 
I do every day: jump to conclusions, climb the walls, drag my heels, 
push my luck, make mountains out of molehills, bend over backward, run around in circles, put my foot 
in my mouth, go over the edge, and beat around the bush. *** 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?” *** Phlebotomist: I’m here to draw some blood. Patient: But I just received blood yesterday. Phlebotomist: You didn’t think you’d get to keep it, did you? *** Three guys are fishing when an angel appears. The first guy says, “I’ve suffered from back pain for years. Can you help me?” The angel touches the man’s back, and he feels instant relief. The second guy points to 
his thick glasses and begs for 
a cure for his poor eyesight. When the angel tosses the lenses into the lake, the man 
gains 20/20 vision. As the angel turns to the third fellow, he instantly recoils and screams, “Don’t touch me! I’m on disability!” *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

January 28th 2022 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Joseph Freinademetz Julian of Cuenca Thomas Aquinas January 28 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Army Day (Armenia) Data Privacy Day Observances (click on the day or week for details) International Lego Day Global Community Engagement Day National Kazoo Day National Blueberry Pancake Day National Daisy Day Big Garden Birdwatch Christa McAuliffe Day National Blueberry Pancake Day Fun Observances (2) Data Privacy Day January 28 is Data Privacy Day. It is observed every year in the United States, United Kingdom, and many other European countries. Also known as Data Protection Day in Europe, the day celebrates the anniversary of the signing of the Council of Europe's Convention for the Protection of Individuals with Regard to Automatic Processing of Personal Data in 1981. The holiday was first celebrated in 2007 and promotes the need for data privacy. It also helps raise awareness about how people can protect their data and their privacy, online and offline. How to Celebrate? On this day, companies and governments hold events and seminars that talk about issues of online security, privacy, and data protection. Attend one of these events. If you work for a company that works with data, why not suggest holding a data protection workshop? Shred important paperwork containing personal information that you no longer need. Educate the children and teenagers in your life to be careful about giving out their personal information to strangers. Did You Know… …that the United States Congress passed a resolution declaring January 28 as Data Privacy Day in 2009? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Fun at Work Day Have double the fun on April 1, because it is not only April Fool’s Day but it is also Fun at Work Day. Sometimes celebrated on January 28, the day encourages people to add some fun to their workday. How to Celebrate? Here are some ideas on what you can do to make work fun on Fun at Work Day or any other day: Bake goodies and bring them for your colleagues. Play harmless pranks on your colleagues and coworkers. Watch Office Space or a few episodes of The Office at work. With the consent of your supervisor, spend some time playing board games at work. Did You Know… …that studies have shown that a person's perception of time changes when they are having fun? According to these studies, having fun can help pass the time faster. *** My teenage patient’s mother was concerned. “He must have a temperature,” she said. “He hasn’t taken our motorcycle out all day.” “Let me ask you,” I said. “Do you have a thermometer?” “No,” she said. “A Kawasaki.” *** Professionals at the staffing agency Robert Half International have seen a lot of peculiar résumés. Here are some favorite gaffes, followed by wisecracks from the pros: • Education: “I have a bachelorette degree in computers.” (The pajama party starts at 7 p.m.) • Tools: “Human brain 1.0.” (We’ll wait for the upgrade.) • References: “My landscaper.” 
(A reference who will give you two green thumbs up.) • Date of Employment: “2002–9999.” (She’s earned her gold watch!) • Experience: “Worked successfully on a team of one.” (I assume you all got along?) *** A friend was ordering her meal at a drive-through when she noticed she could get a side dish gratis. “And I’ll take the free wiffie also,” she said. “What?” asked the clerk. “The free wiffie,” she said, pointing to the sign. “Ma’am, that’s ‘Free Wi-Fi.’ ” *** *** *** Crypt of Civilization - Wikipedia *** *** Mountain Dew - Wikipedia *** *** *** *** Why Our Mouth Waters Before We Puke | by Sam Westreich, PhD | Sharing Science | Medium *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** Scorpion Venom Is the Most Expensive Liquid in the World sandrewn

January 27th 2022 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Angela Merici Blessed Paul Joseph Nardini Devota (Monaco) Enrique de Ossó y Cercelló John Chrysostom (translation of relics) (Anglican, Lutheran, Eastern Orthodox) Sava (Serbia) January 27 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Day of the lifting of the siege of Leningrad (Russia) Liberation of the remaining inmates of Auschwitz-related observances: Holocaust Memorial Day (UK) International Holocaust Remembrance Day[49] Memorial Day (Italy) Other Holocaust Memorial Days observances Observances (click on the day or week for details) World Breast Pumping Day National Geographic Day Clashing Clothes Day Fun Observances (2) Chocolate Cake Day Chocolate Cake Day on January 27 celebrates everyone’s and their grandma's favorite cake Take a break from healthy eating and indulge in chocolate cake by having it for every meal on this awesome food holiday. A New Invention While cake as a sweet treat and chocolate as a drink have been around since ancient times, chocolate cake is a fairly recent invention. It is believed that the world's first chocolate cake was baked around the late 1800s after Bostonian Dr. James Baker discovered that one could grind cocoa using a water powered mill. Many Kinds Since then, chocolate cake has rightfully become its own category of cake, with many different styles of chocolate cakes baked and consumed around the world. Some of the more popular types include German chocolate cake, Black Forest cake, chocolate fudge cake, and molten lava cake. Chocolate Cake Day is also known as National Chocolate Cake Day in the United States. Chocolate is a very popular theme for a fun holiday. Other chocolate flavored holidays are Chocolate Pudding Day, Milk Chocolate Day, Chocolate Pecan Pie Day, Chocolate Milkshake Day, Chocolate Cupcake Day, and Chocolate Covered Anything Day. How to Celebrate? With lots of chocolate cake, of course. Have chocolate cake for all your meals. Instead of bread to make French toast, use a slice of chocolate cake. Bake chocolate cake and bring it with you to work and celebrate this dessert with your co-workers and friends. Did You Know… …that the word chocolate comes from the Aztec word xocotal, meaning bitter water? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ e-Day e-Day celebrates the mathematical constant e, which has a value of 2.7182818. It is celebrated on February 7 in countries that follow the month/day (m/d) date format. This is because the first two digits of the date - 2/7 - correspond to the first two digits of the constant. People living in countries that follow the day/month (d/m) format celebrate it on January 27. The first three digits of this date - 27/1 - match up with the first three digits of e (2.71). Euler’s Number Also known Euler’s number, after the Swiss mathematician Leonhard Euler, e is an irrational number that represents the idea that all continually growing systems are a scaled version of a common rate. It is mostly used in logarithms, exponential growth, and complex numbers. It is one of the most important numbers in mathematics, including 0, 1 and pi (π). e is also sometimes called the Napier's Constant and is often incorrectly referred to Euler's Constant. Euler's Constant is denoted by lower case gamma (γ) and has a value of 0.57721. Other e Days Many European countries celebrate Euro Day, sometimes also called e Day. The day is observed on January 1 and celebrates the anniversary of the adoption of the Euro, Europe's common currency in 2002. In New Zealand, eDay is a day where people can get rid of e-waste or old electronics such as computers and old appliances so they can be recycled rather than being placed in a landfill. Engineer’s Day is observed in Paducah, Kentucky on February 21, where many people participate in an egg drop contest, create edible cars, and tape people to walls. Other Mathematical Holidays The year is full of mathematical and scientific holidays. Some of these include: Yellow Pig Day, Mole Day, Fibonacci Day, Palindrome Day, and Pi-Day. Use our Date Pattern Calculator to find out other interesting calendar dates during the year. How to Celebrate? Celebrate this fun mathematical holiday by learning more about Euler's number and its importance in mathematics and science. Eat foods that begin with e - make eggs, eggplant, or eclairs. Make eggnog as a before dinner refreshment or eggs benedict for breakfast. Did You Know... ...that there is an island in northern Scotland called Eday? *** Although I’d been dating a woman for several months, I guess I didn’t know her as well as I thought. One day I called, and her ten-year-old son answered. “Hi,” I said. “It’s Tom. Can I speak with your mom?” He responded, “Are you Tom One or Tom Two?” Needless to say, his mother is now down to one Tom. *** I’m lucky that my wife and mother are very close. I realized just how close the time I drove my mother to her doctor, which my wife usually does. When the doctor came into the room, my own dear mother introduced me as her “daughter-in-law’s husband.” *** I was really embarrassed when my wife caught me playing with my son’s train set by myself. In a moment of panic, I threw a bedsheet over it. I think I managed to cover my tracks. *** My wife said she was leaving me because of my obsession with wearing different clothes every half an hour. I said, “Wait, I can change.” *** During a conference, I was pleasantly surprised to be seated next to a very handsome man. We flirted casually through dinner, then grew restless as the dignitaries gave speeches. During one particularly long-winded lecture, my new friend drew a # sign on a cocktail napkin. Elated, I wrote down my phone number. Looking startled for a moment, he drew another # sign, this time adding an X to the upper-left-hand corner. *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

Well there you have it! An intro, plus five chapters of ignorant bliss. Now, chapter six taking place in three locations. Spencer's office (where all is revealed, sort of) , George's coach ( Robert's side of the story) and George's study room at Portland Place with Daventry (and his revelations). Many answers given, giving rise to so many more questions of problems yet to come. So much food for thought, more please Sir.

January 26th 2022 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Alberic of Cîteaux[95] Blessed Gabriele Allegra[96] Paula Timothy and Titus January 26 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Australia Day (Australia)[97] Duarte Day (Dominican Republic) Engineer's Day (Panama) International Customs Day Liberation Day (Uganda) Republic Day (India)[97] Observances (click on the day or week for details) National Peanut Brittle Day Lotus 1-2-3 Day National Green Juice Day Fun Observances Spouse's Day January 26 is Spouse's Day, a day to celebrate your spouse, better half, or significant other. The unofficial holiday encourages people to let their spouses know how much they are loved, respected, and appreciated. Not Only Marriage While the term spouse is traditionally used to refer to individual bound by law through marriage, these days it can be used to refer to people who may be in a common-law marriage, domestic partnership, or civil union. The holiday is also known as National Spouse's Day in the United States. How to Celebrate? While gifts are always nice, the best and the most meaningful gift is the gift of time. Spend some quality time with your partner. Maybe take the day off and surprise them with a picnic. Do their errands and chores for them. Make their favorite foods and treats. Whatever you do, make sure you tell them that you appreciate everything they do for you. Did You Know… …that Denmark was the first country in modern times to recognize same-sex marriage in 1989? *** When my local barista handed me my change, one coin stood out. “Look at that. You rarely get one of these old wheat pennies nowadays,” I said, tapping the sheaf of-wheat design. I handed her the penny. Turning it over and over in her hand, she said, “You know, I always thought they were made of copper.” *** My dad and uncles were all in the Army during wartime, but only two of the three served overseas. One day, at an event honoring veterans, a young man asked where they had been stationed. “I served in Japan,” said Uncle Sid. “I served in Korea,” said Uncle Jerry. “Baltimore,” said Dad. “Keeping it safe for democracy.” *** During a combat medical training class, the topic was blast injuries. At one point, our very intimidating instructor pointed at me and said, “There’s been a jeep explosion. What would you do if you came upon an injured man with a steering wheel embedded in his chest?” Nervous and unsure, I blurted out, “Drive him to the hospital?” For some reason, the rest of the room found this hilarious. *** Everyone else, except for the above, thinks Adwaita was a he not a she. Adwaita - Wikipedia *** *** Knocking on wood - Wikipedia *** *** *** *** 30 years ago, Prophet Daniel Abodunrin Was Killed By Lions When He Tried To Recreate The Story Of Daniel In The Bible - AmazingTimesGH *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

January 25th 2022 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Burns Night (Scotland) Christian feast day: Dydd Santes Dwynwen (Wales) Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul (Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Anglican and Lutheran churches, which concludes the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity) Gregory the Theologian (Eastern (Byzantine) Catholic Church) The last day of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (Christian ecumenism) January 25 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) National Nutrition Day (Indonesia) National Police Day (Egypt) National Voters' Day (India) Revolution Day 2011 (Egypt) Tatiana Day or Russian Students Day (Russia, Eastern Orthodox) Observances (click on the day or week for details) A Room Of One’s Own Day National Irish Coffee Day National Florida Day National Plan for Vacation Day Observe the Weather Day Speak Up and Succeed Day St. Dwynwen's Day Fun Observances Opposite Day Ever wanted to be a rebel? Now is your chance. Don’t celebrate Opposite Day on January 25 by doing everything the wrong way. While it is unclear who created this Opposite Day and for what purposes, rumor has it that the unofficial holiday comes from a playground game, where children trick each other by asking silly questions and then reversing the answers. The holiday is also sometimes called National Opposite Day in the United States. How Not to Celebrate? Celebrating Opposite Day is not an easy task - you'll just have to do the opposite of everything you do on any normal day. If you can, why not start the day by ending it – go to bed in the morning and work at night? Have dinner for breakfast and breakfast for dinner. Say right when you mean left and vice versa. Let your family, friends and colleagues know that you are celebrating Opposite Day. Otherwise, it could get very confusing for everyone around you. Did You Know… …about the Opposite Day Paradox? Technically, Opposite Day cannot exist. If you say today is Opposite Day, then because of the rules of the game, today would be the opposite of what you just said i.e. not opposite day or a normal day. Instead, if you said it was a normal day, then it would be a normal day. *** A judge tells the defendant, “You’re charged with attacking your boss with a hammer.” “You jerk!” yells a voice from 
the back of the courtroom. “You’re also charged with attacking a bartender with a hammer,” 
says the judge. “Jerrrrkkkk!” bellows the same man. “Sir,” says the judge, “one more outburst, and I’ll charge you with contempt.” “I’m sorry, Your Honor,” says the man. “But I’ve been this jerk’s neighbor for ten years, and every time I asked to borrow a hammer, he said he didn’t have one.” *** New and Improved Names for Boring Everyday Things • Couch = People Shelf • Books = Manual Films • Bracelets = Clockless Watches • Air Horn = Spray Scream • Bottled Water = Snowman Blood • Feather = Bird Leaf *** Mike walked into a post office just before Valentine's day, he couldn't help noticing a middle-aged, balding man standing in a corner sticking "Love" stamps on bright pink envelopes with hearts all over them. Then the man got out a bottle of Channel perfume from his pocket and started spraying scent over the envelopes. By now Mike's curiosity had got the better of him, and asked the man why he was sending all those cards. The man replied, "I'm sending out 500 Valentine cards signed, 'Guess who?'" "But why?" asked Mike. "I'm a divorce lawyer," the man replied. *** "You came home early from your date," John observed to his roommate. "What happened?" "Well," said the flatmate, "after dinner she invited me up to her flat. We had a couple of drinks and she put on some soft music. Then she reached over and turned out the lights." "So, what next?" asked John, eyebrows raised. "I can take a hint," said his flatmate. "I came home." *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

What a wonderful change from the last few (many) returns home. Caroline and George as full partners once more. All of his children (3+1) healthy, loved and cared for. Finally, news of why he was called back from the fleet and what to expect. Not sure of the why exactly, but he gets his ship and crew back. All of his past junior officers (especially those that were not killed) seem to be doing great. Now there remains only Freddy to worry about, Granger to the rescue, I hope! Now we (and George of course) need details, and so the adventure begins, ' tally-ho '.

January 24th 2022 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Babylas of Antioch Cadoc (Wales) Exuperantius of Cingoli Felician of Foligno Francis de Sales Pratulin Martyrs (Greek Catholic Church) January 24 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Day of the Unification of the Romanian Principalities (Romania)[46] Earliest day on which Saturday of Souls can fall, while February 27 (or 28 during Leap Year) is the latest; observed 57 days before Easter (Eastern Orthodox) Feast of Our Lady of Peace (Roman Catholic Church), and its related observances: Feria de Alasitas (La Paz) Uttar Pradesh Day (Uttar Pradesh, India)[47] Observances (click on the day or week for details) National Beer Can Appreciation Day National Peanut Butter Day Global Belly Laugh Day National Talk Like A Grizzled Prospector Day Community Manager Appreciation Day Macintosh Computer Day National "Just Do It" Day National Lobster Thermidor Day Fun Observances (2) Compliment Day Compliments - they are free, easy to give and receive, they make people happy and build trust. So give someone a compliment someone on January 24, Compliment Day. This unofficial day was started in 1998 by Debby Hoffman and Kathy Chamberlin as a way “to tell the people in our lives how much we appreciate them.” Sincerity is the Key In the hustle bustle of our daily lives, it is easy to start taking our loved ones and people around us for granted. Compliment Day attempts to change that. It encourages people to make a conscious attempt to praise and acknowledge the little (and big) things others do for them. Complimenting does not have to be intimidating or hard. For it to be sincere and sound heartfelt, it must come from the heart. To give a genuine compliment, experts suggest finding something that you admire about the person you want to compliment. It could be about a job well done, a skill that they have, a dress they have worn or something they have done recently to impress you. What Goes Around, Comes Around Compliments not only help spread joy, they also help create bonds. Research has shown that people tend to gravitate towards other positive people in both personal and professional settings. Appreciating others also creates an atmosphere of mutual admiration - praise someone genuinely once or twice, and you are bound to get a compliment or two back. The bottom line is this: giving compliments not only makes the other person happy, it can also make you happy, boost your self-esteem and help you make friends. World Compliment Day A similar holiday called World Compliment Day is celebrated every year on March 1. This holiday is also sometimes called International Compliments Day. How to Celebrate? While we believe that every day of the year should be Compliment Day, be extra complimentary on January 24. Don’t be stingy about giving compliments. You don’t lose anything by appreciating a friend, co-worker or a family member. Did You Know… … that the word compliment is derived from the Latin, complere, which means to fill up? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Macintosh Computer Day January 24 is Macintosh Computer Day. On this day in 1984, the very first Macintosh computer, the precursor of today’s Apple computers or “Macs” as they are lovingly called, was introduced to the consumer market. Super Bowl Commercial The computer was first introduced to the world at the Super Bowl commercial directed by Ridley Scott. The commercial referred to George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-four, a dystopian novel published in 1949. When introduced, the computer came with only two programs - MacWrite and MacPaint. How to Celebrate? If you are in the market for a new computer, why not use this day to consider getting a Mac? Learn more about the history and science behind the Macintosh computers. Read more about the life and times and business philosophies of Apple founder Steve Jobs. Did You Know… ...that the Macintosh was named after the McIntosh, an apple variety? The name was changed to Macintosh because McIntosh was the name of another company. *** On his way to perform at a graveside service, the bagpiper gets lost. After many wrong turns, he finally arrives, but the minister and mourners have already gone. Only the grave diggers remain, and they're eating lunch. Not knowing what else to do, the bagpiper begins to play. The workers put down their lunches and weep as the man plays "Amazing Grace." When he finishes, he packs up his bagpipes and heads for his car. As he opens the door, he hears one of the workers say, "I've never seen anything like that before, and I've been putting in septic tanks for 20 years." *** Tourists say some odd things when they charter my boat in Key West. "How many sunset sails do you have at night?" asked one. Another wondered, "Does the water go around the island?" But the most interesting came when I asked a customer why she'd brought along a dozen empty jars. She answered, "I want to take home a sample of each color of water that we'll be going in." *** While I was planning a trip to Nova Scotia, a Titanic-related tour caught my eye. The description: "Learn of the Titanic tragedy along with a guided visit to the Fairview Lawn Cemetery, where 121 victims are still buried on a deluxe air-conditioned motorcoach." *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

Almost like old times, a leisurely cruise towards home, a couple of prizes along the way, but of course. With the warnings St. Vincent gave him, giving back command to Sawyer, while distasteful, left him some hope for the crew's future. Now it was time, time to go home. Then on to the Admiralty, to see what adventures await him (and us, YAY).

January 23rd 2022 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Bounty Day (Pitcairn Islands) Christian feast day: Abakuh Marianne of Molokai Emerentiana Espousals of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ildefonsus of Toledo Phillips Brooks (Episcopal Church (USA)) January 23 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's Jayanti (Orissa, Tripura, and West Bengal, India) World Freedom Day (Taiwan and South Korea) Observances (click on the day or week for details) National Pie Day National Measure Your Feet Day National Rhubarb Pie Day Fun Observances Handwriting Day January 23 is Handwriting Day, a day to get your hands on a pen or pencil and paper and practice and revive the elegant art of handwriting. The unofficial holiday is sponsored by the Writing Instrument Manufacturers Association and commemorates the birth anniversary of John Hancock, the first person to sign the American Declaration of Independence. As Unique as the Person Handwriting is the act of writing by hand using an instrument such as a pen, pencil or brush. It is thought that a person's handwriting is as unique as his or her fingerprint - no two people have the same writing style or handwriting. Because of this, handwriting is often used by many forensic experts and historians to test the authenticity of documents. How to Celebrate? Pick up a pen and write a note to a friend and family member. Resolve not to use the computer to write anything – carry a notepad and a pen with you wherever you go and use them whenever you need to write anything. Use post-its to remind yourself of tasks instead of online task reminders. Did You Know… …that you can draw a 35-mile long line with a single pencil? *** 10 Funny Jokes About New Year’s Resolutions 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.” -- R. Horn 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." *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

I was worried that Jacobs got lost in the shuffle, glad to see him around (have to keep Joshua happy). So, a one month command and then? You have to feel for the crew, a reprieve, and then probable return of Capt Sawyer(even I'd be depressed). Last time it was the crew's food, this time gun powder. Good thing his hearing is still sound(heh, heh). Still no closer to what 'Northern Exposure' means. That's okay, a good chapter and no midshipmen were killed or maimed in the telling (keep it up). Please Sir, another chapter.

The Wilcoxes and Mann, then Campbell and now Sawyer, is there no end them and their minions? More fleet politics and a temporary command, but going in the wrong direction. Still, command of a ship, any ship is better than his present job. Perhaps now he will be able to look into helping with the pickle Cavendish is in. 'Northern Exposure' what the hell does it mean?????? I know the drill, thank you for the chapter and I hope all will be revealed when next we hear from you, pretty please.

More back ground(filler), odds and ends about the fleet (all squadrons), faces from the past of family and friends. All of it interesting, but still no idea, as to what awaits for our hero. I have to wonder if the letter from Freddy at chapters' end, is some sort of clue???? Okay, I'm ready and primed, please. please, please let the adventure begin, what ever the hell it may be.