MAROONED!

   MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1st, 2021

                  MAROONED!

           I'd like to start your day and this month

out on a high note by informing you that
this is Crusoe Day!
     Wait! Before you start singing his praises,
it's Crusoe not Caruso! Not Enrico. Robinson!
      The sailor. Not the singer. Got it?
      You'd think this would be celebrated on
a Friday wouldn't you?
       Well, anyway, every February 1st is
observed as Robinson Crusoe Day.
        You see, like so many of today's popular
movies, the story of the marooned sailor
Robinson Crusoe is based on actual events!
         A Scottish sailor named Alexander
Selkirk was rescued from a uninhabited
island on this date in 1709 and his tale was
the basis for the book "Robinson Crusoe"
written by Daniel Defoe.
         What Defoe didn't tell us was that
Selkirk asked to be put ashore after getting
into a quarrel with his Captain. Maybe he
thought it was a resort!? He was there for
five years!!!!!! With only Friday around!
       At least Gilligan had associates like
 Ginger and Mary Ann!
       Ideally you are to observe Robinson
Crusoe Day by being "adventurous and
self-reliant." Realizing there are things to
be done around the house however, I intend
to note the day by......"getting lost!"
       Hope you survive the day and that all
your NEWS is good!

















      
      

        

ART AND YOUR HEART!

   SUNDAY, JANUARY 31st, 2021

        ART AND YOUR HEART!

  It's January 31st. It's" Inspire Your Heart

With Are Day!" Art can certainly be

inspiring! I've seen some great works of

art in the Vatican Museum and the National

Gallery in Florence, Italy, But then, upon

thinking about it, I realized I have a

personal  collection with far more value.

At least personally. There's a painting in

our hallway I gave to my wife on our

1st anniversary. It depicts a bench, we

called it "our bench" at Niagara Falls.

It was painted by a High School student.

There's a painting my wife did herself at

a wine and painting party. There's a

photograph of my Grandpa DeCosmo.

I never met him. He passed before I was 

born. Most recently I've added a crayon

colored rainbow presented by my 5 year

old grandson. I've got a drawer full of

similar paintings and drawings done by

each of our grand kids! There's a treasure

beyond financial measure! Chances are

you've got a similar collection around

your house that brightens your eyes and

warms your heart. This would be a great 

day to review your own treasures! Hope

you do and that all your NEWS is good!

TRAGEDY AT SEA!

    SATURDAY, JANUARY 30th, 2021

                TRAGEDY AT SEA!

    Today marks the anniversary of a tragedy

at sea that most people don't know about. Ask

most people what they think was the greatest

sea disaster and you can expect most will answer

the Titanic. Some 1500 lives were lost when it

struck an iceberg and sank in 1912. But all too

few people have ever heard of the Wilhelm Gustloff.

The armed German transport ship was originally

supposed to be named the Adolf Hitler. But Hitler

himself ordered the name changed to honor the

Swiss head of the NAZI party who was

assassinated in 1936. On January 30th of 1945

the Gustloff was carrying German refuges and

soldiers fleeing the Russian advance when a

soviet submarine fired a number of torpedoes

at the vessel. The Gustloff sunk in a short time

and an estimated 9,400 people died!  The

surprising lack of care or knowledge about

the incident may stem from the fact that most

virtually all the victims were German and

most of the world was at war with Germany

at that time! The Wilhelm Gustloff...the largest

 loss of life in a single ship sinking in history.

Just thought, on this anniversary, you ought to

know! Hope you're well and that all your NEWS

is good.

ship sinking in history

IN THE BOOK?

  FRIDAY, JANUARY 29th, 2021

             IN THE BOOK?

   We've heard a lot of complaints lately

about the snail like pace of mail deliveries.

When I checked our mail yesterday I was

quite surprised by what I found. It was a

Telephone Directory. Anybody else remember

them? Time was when these once thick books

listed all the telephone numbers of people in

your town supplemented by an equally think

section of Yellow Pages listing all the local

businesses. There was a time when someone

tried to prove their strength by ripping a New

York City Telephone Directory in half. I, with

an injured right arm and age against me, could

easily tear this new one in half. In fact I'm

tempted to do just that because I'm not listed!

I've had a hope (land line) telephone since

before some of the people who are listed were

ever born! I used to tell people it was easy

to reach me. I'd say "I'm in the book." But

now I'm not! Guess you'll have to reach me

right here or on Facebook. Hope you're well,

that you made the bood, and that all your NEWS

is good! 

MEMORIES

   THURSDAY, JANUARY 28th, 20221

                    MEMORIES!

   Seems memories are showing up for me 

everywhere lately. I took my wife to the

Eye Doctor yesterday. I took one look at

the building and remembered when the

business in there years back was trying to

catch the eyes of prospective Cadillac buyers!

The other evening I was unloading some

old boxed Plasticville buildings to adorn the

train layout in my daughter's basement and

uncovered a few I had forgotten including, of

all things, my Plasticville TV Station! But

there was another totally forgotten treasure.

It was an official Lone Ranger Pedometer! 

I probably got it when I was about 10 or so

by sending in a couple cereal box tops and

a quarter or so. I wonder how many memories

of one sore or another I've got stashed away

here or there? I wonder how many you might

have as well? Hope you find some, that you;re

well, and that all your NEWS is good.   

COMING CLEAN!

    WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27th, 2021

                 COMING CLEAN!

   Hope you;'re sitting down for today's Blog!

It's time you know the truth. We usually mark the 

life of a famous man by celebrating his birthday.

Today, however, we note the day a famous man

passed. This is "Thomas Crapper Day!" Crapper

is regarded by many as the man who invented

the fluse toilet. Trouble is, that isn't true! The

flush toilet was invented way back in 1596 by a

man named John Harrington. Crapper did make

major renovatyions to bathroom fixtures many

years later including the invention of the ball cock

which keeps the water from overflowing when the

toilet tank is filled. And how about the word "crap?"\

Most people assune iut evolved from Thomas Crapper's

name/ But it didn't! It's a very old Middle English

word meaning refuse. So, yoi can flush those other

stories right down the drain! Hope you're well and

that all your NEWS is good!

GET AWAY!

   TUESDAY, JANUARY 26th, 2021

                   GET AWAY!

     You don;t have to be a bank robber to

plan a get away! In fact you should be

planning one right now! This in "National

Plan A Vacation Day!" We've all been

penned up a lot thanks to the pandemic

making our travel plans extremely limited.

But now that there's a light at the end of the

tunnel as the vaccine is making the rounds

it's not only feasible but very practical to 

start thinking about a get away later this

year. Perhaps summer. Maybe Fall. By the

way planning your vacation is half the 

fun. So get with it! Think of places you'd

like to go and things you want to see and

call a good travel agency, like Travelworld

to begin making your plans! Hope you're

well and that all your NEWS is good!

TO SEE OURSELVES AS OTHERS SEE US.

       MONDAY, JANUARY 25th, 2021

TO SEE OURSELVES AS OTHERS SEE US.

   This is one of those unusual holidays generally

not observed here in the United States. It is

celebrated in certain areas of Europe and

certainly in Scotland! This "Robert Burns

Day" marking the birthday of that world know

Scotish poet Robert Burns. The title of today's

Blog recounts a noted line from one of his

verses which suggests it would be good to have

the gift of seeing ourselves as others see us.

In Scotland the day is celebrated with a big

feast similar to our Thanksgiving. Burns wrote

many poems all in a thick Scottish dialect when

recited as written. You probably don't know most

of them. But you should be familiar with at least

at least one. Chances are you sing it every New

Year's Eve. "Auld Lang Syne," A Robert Burns

poem set to music! Hope you have a great day

and that all your NEWS is good! 

THESE 7 DAYS MAKE ONE WEAK!

     SUNDAY, JANUARY 24th, 2021

  THESE 7 DAYS MAKE ONE WEAK!

     Well the way I read it I thought this was

"Idiots Week!" No, said my wife! It's "Idioms

Week!" You know, words or phrases that aren't

meant to be taken literally. Saying someone has

"cold feet" doesn't mean their feet are actually

cold but, rather, that they're hesitant to do something.

I hadn't remembered that! Guess I just missed the

boat. But don't jump the gun, I'll hang in there, Cut me

some slack, I won't beat around the bush. I'll bite

the bullet and learn all about idioms all over again

this week to celebrate. By the way, my wife says

she thinks I'm an idiom! I think that's what she said.

Hope you're well and that all your NEWS is good! 

WRITE ON!

   SATURDAY, JANUARY 23, 2021

             JANUARY 23rd, 2021

                    WRITE ON!

 
    Are you celebrating? After all, this is
"National Handwriting Day!"
    I would have sent you a formal notice
but, chances are, you wouldn't be able to
make out my.....well....my handwriting!
    Seems sort of.....wrong....to be
typing this blog to tell you about it. But
if you've ever seen my handwriting you
know it's better I use my keyboard!
    It's not just that others can't read my
writing. After a couple of hours, when
I begin to forget the original message,
I can't read it either!
    According to the website "Holiday
Insights", National Handwriting Day
was established in 1977 by the Writing
Instruments Manufactures Association.
    The idea was to promote the consumption
of pencils, pens, and writing paper.
    I've never eaten any of them!
    But I still use all of them!
    I think I try to write too fast when
I'm taking notes and, unless I print or type
the message over right away, I forget
what I've written!
     I've been making an effort to improve
my handwriting.
     But you try to be neat.....even with your
own signature.....when you're signing you
name on a Walmart check out screen!
     The "pencils" or whatever they call
those things don't have points. You see
your signature as you sign the screen.
    But you're lucky if two or three letters
are actually recognizable.
     Maybe it's because the little
signature screen is on an angle and
you're trying to keep one hand on your
cart while you're holding your credit
card and wallet in the same hand you're
using to sign.
      It doesn't seem to make much
difference. I suspect your card would be
approved even if you scribbled John Wilkes
Booth!
    And you'd still get the bill!
    Hopefully you're signing for your
purchase of new socks or shoes because
January 23rd is also "Measure Your
Feet Day!" 
     I'm also hoping this "holiday" survives!
     Some schools have stopped teaching
Cursive all together! I've got to wonder
how those students will react when they
see something like the Declaration
of Independence. Will they even be able
to sign their own name? Or will the old
fashion "X" come back into style?
     I believe we should all be trying to
encourage the continued teaching of
Cursive and trying to improve our own
handwriting!
    Hope you're doing just that and that
all your NEWS is good!

SAME TIME, LAST YEAR!

    FRIDAY, JANUARY 22nd, 2021

       SAME TIME, LAST YEAR!

  It's January 22nd, 2021. I wonder if you

remember what was going on this time last year?

I don't. I know January 22nd was a Wednesday

and our high temperature was around 36 degrees.

We had nothing on our calendar. In New Hope,

however, the annual Winter Festival was under

way and Longwood Gardens was showcasing

an Orchard extravaganza! Otherwise it seemed

like a normal, quiet day. Unless you looked

half way around the world! To China, where

the 11 million residents of the city of Wuhan

were put on lockdown because of a disease

most of us knew little or nothing about, Covid

19! Imagine, just one year ago today! What a

difference a year makes! Hope you're well and

that all your NEWS is good!

PRECEDENTS FOR PRESIDENT.

    THURSDAY, JANUARY 21st, 2021

     PRECEDENTS FOR PRESIDENT.

   Our newest President took his oath of

office yesterday. I have had 15 during my

lifetime and 2, a full one third, were not

initially elected to that office! Harry Truman

took office upon the death of Franklin

Roosevelt. Lyndon Johnson became President

the day John Kennedy was assassinated. Gerald

Ford, the only one I actually met, became

President as Richard Nixon resigned. (You

might also recall that Ford was not initially

Nixon's Vice President. He replaced Spiro

Agnew when he resigned in the midst of a

scandal!) I've got some experience when it

comes to being a President. As a teen I was

President of my YMCA's Air Rifle, Archery,

and Model Train Clubs. As an adult I served

a couple terms as President of our local and

State News Media Association. I never gave

any thought about the possibility of national  

office and the new President is 78-years-old.

Hey!v Wait a minute! I'm 78 years old! I

wonder if in 2024.....of well....I'll have to 

think a bit about that! Hope you're well and

that all your NEWS is good!

SMILE! YOU'RE ON.....

   WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20th, 2021

              SMILE!    YOU'RE ON....

    It's January 20th, 2021. It's "National

Camcorder Day." A date to salute that great

video device that's helped us to preserve so

many family memories. I used to do that with

an 8mm movie camera back on the day. But

those, originally only in black and white, didn't

include that valuable element of sound! When

VHS tapes finally came along you got motion,

color, and sound. But you had to carry a fairly

heavy video camera to get all that. Newer

formats solved that problem with camcorders

recording on electronic chips instead of bulky

tapes. And now, most everyone carries there

own camcorder as part of their Smartphone!

So, dust off the old home movies today, or

shoot some new ones and enjoy the memories!

Hope you;re well and that all your NEWS is

good! 

"CAN" DO!"

   TUESDAY, JANUARY 19th, 2021

               "CAN" DO!
  Today we salute a true unsung hero!
The Tin Can! January 19th is National
Tin Can Day!
       Just think of the major impact the
tin can has made in our lives! I for one
have enjoyed the benefits in many ways.
       When I was a kid my friends and
I would go for a hike in the woods. I
would often take a can of Campbell's
Chicken Noddle Soup along. We'd
build a fire, open the can and heat it
up for lunch.
        I think you're suppose to add an
additional cup of water to the brew but
the can was already filled so we just
enjoyed a stronger soup!
        After you were done you could
get a game of Kick the Can going.
We didn't have cell phones with aps
or IPods back then. A simple tin can
could keep us going for an hour or so!
Besides, with two tin cans and a long
string you had your own communications
system!
        I don't play Kick the Can these
days but I can enjoy my SPAM thanks
to the tin can in which it's packed so
the can still serves me well.
        The tin can has an amazing
story that still leaves me just a little
puzzled.
        You see the tin can was invited
in about 1800. The can opener didn't
come along until 1858! And it's much
harder to kick the can when it's full of
something! The game must have been
tough during those 58 years!
        Hope you're got a can opener and
that all your NEWS is good!
       
     

THREE CHEERS FOR THE THIRD!

   MONDAY, JANUARY 18th, 2021

 THREE CHEERS FOR THE THIRD!

  Specific dates don't mean as much to some

holidays as they used to. A few have been

altered just a bit to fit our Uniform Monday 

Holiday Act!

That's good because it means more long

weekends. But, as we find out, the third Monday 

in January as been a holiday for some longer

that most of us knew.  Martin Luther King Jr

was born on January 15th., 1929. He became

know world wide for him non violent civil

rights campaign but was assassinated in 1968.

Shorty after his death efforts began to make

his birthday a national holiday. President Reagan

signed a bill to that effect in  1983 and it was first

observed three years later. It wasn't until 2000,

however, that all 50 states recognized the holiday! 

It is, as I pointed out, one of those holidays observed

on a Monday whatever the actual date. But, perhaps

ironically. some of the United States had been

observing the third Monday in January as a set date

long before Martin Luther King Jr was ever born!

It was date set aside to honor the birthday of........

Robert E. Lee! Hope you've got the day off and

that all your NEWS is good!

I LEFT...THOSE CARS...IN SAN FRANCISCO!

       SUNDAY, JANUARY 17TH

I LEFT...THOSE CARS...IN SAN FRANCISCO!       !

   I'm heading back to Double Dee's

Dusty Dungeon for today Blog because,

after all, it's January 17th and that's
"Cable Car Day!" They're a San

Francisco attraction with a Pennsylvania

connection!
     A guy named Andrew Smith Hallidie 
got tired seeing horses falling over, sometimes
dying, while trying to pull trolleys up the
steep streets of the City by the Bay!
    So he got a patent for a moving cable to
pull the cars along. And, by the way, for a
number of years the cables that did the job
were manufactured in Sunbury, Pennsylvania!
    I got a chance to ride the Cable Cars back
in 2007 when my wife and I hosted a train
trip out to San Francisco.
     A guy directing the cars at a turn around
point pulled one aside especially for our tour
group and off we went!
     I got to stand at the right front of the car
which allowed me to get some great video...
but also had me ducking out of the way of
trucks parked along the tracks. Their mirrors
were at just the right height to knock any
inattentive passenger half way to the stars!
     Since we don't have any Cable Cars 
around here maybe you can head out to
one of the ski slopes and ride the lift all
day. It's just another version of Hallidie's
idea and no horses are at risk!
     Hopefully that "Golden Sun" will shine
on you and all your NEWS will be good!

 

NOTHING TO IT!

   SATURDAY, JANUARY 16th, 2021

            NOTHING TO IT!

    It's January 16th which, as you probably

know, is do nothing day! It's the brainchild

of a newspaper man, Harold Pullman Coffin,

who "established" the day in 1973. The idea,

as the name suggests, is to do nothing! I wasn't

sure I should tell you because bu doing so I

was actually doing something on Do Nothing Day!

Be careful if you're trying to observe the day at

work. The boss may not be a fan of this unusual

"holiday." But if you can, enjoy the day by doing

as nothing as possible! Hope you're well and that

all your NEWS is good! 

A GOOD DAY TO COVER UP!

   FRIDAY, JANUARY 15th, 2021

   A GOOD DAY TO COVER UP!  

       Now that we have evidence
that Winter really does exist, it's
time to put a lid on it! And today
is the perfect day! You see January
15th is "National Hat Day!"
     Hats have been making a comeback
in recent years. They nearly vanished
back in 1960 because of the public's
fascination with President John Kennedy
who seldom wore one.
      I always liked them and still have
an interesting collection. Most of mine
are "baseball hats" with logos of the
teams I've played for, the stations I've
worked for, the places I've visited or
the firms that handed them out for
free! Free was always a nice feature.
You'll probably be able to spot me in
a baseball cap. I'll be the one wearing
it with the brim facing forward!
      I've got a couple Western style hats
that I really like but can't always wear.
I've found, on my summertime top down
rides, that hats with large brims tend to
catch the wind and threaten to leave my
head with little notice. I would hate to
think I had caused somebody traveling
behind me to have an accident because
his or her vision was suddenly blocked
by a flying Stetson!
       Fedoras are pretty much in the
same boat or, in this case, car. I do have
an Ivy cap that works well in the wind.
Generally though I tend to favor my
Greek Fishing cap for my open air
cruising. Even if I'm not going fishing!
       Even with the sports car
covered for winter you'll still probably
see me sporting a hat....and not just on
National Hat Day. More body heat is
lost from your head than other parts of
the body. So, wearing a hat goes a long
way towards staying warm on a cold
winter's day (or night).
        Hope you'll put a lit on it, and
least through the winter, and that all
your NEWS is good!

   

   

FIDO'S FINEST?

  THURSDAY, JANUARY 14th, 2021

                FIDO'S FINEST?

   Thursday, January 14th is "Dress Up Your

Pet Day!"  This unique "holiday" was the

brain child of pet style expert and animal

advocate Colleen Paige. A local TV station

often features photos of viewer's pets and

many of those picture show pets dressed

up. It's usually in holiday garb, especially

around Christmas and Saint Patrick's Day.

Some pet owners dress their pets in weather

related outfits on a regular basis. The idea

of participating in this event has left me with

a bit of a problem. You see, we have fish and

it's rather hard to get them into a tux! Hope

the rest of your enjoy the day with your dog,

of cat, or whatever, and that all your NEWS

is good!

s very hard to   

A DAY TO BE SKEPTICAL!

 

   WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13TH., 2021
         A DAY TO BE SKEPTICAL!             

     You may find this hard to believe but
January 13th is "International Skeptic's
Day!"
      I already wonder if this unusual day
is really observed around the world. Or
along the world for those who question
whether the earth is truly round.
      I have been a skeptic for many
years. Remember, my role as a news
reporter frequently had me asking
questions to,and hearing answers from,
people in politics.
        Of course there's nothing wrong
with some skepticism. If more people
were skeptics far fewer would have
bought that extended car warranty 

or sent their social security number to

that fellow in Africa who needs it to

unlock your inheritance from some 

uncle you never knew you had. Or

bought the Brooklyn Bridge!
          So celebrate by raising an
eyebrow when you're given "the
facts" by anyone today and don't
hesitate to carry an umbrella if the
forecaster is promising sunshine!
           Hope I can resell that bridge
to somebody and that all your NEWS
is good!

RHYME TIME!

  TUESDAY, JANUARY 12th, 2021

             RHYME TIME!

  This is National Poetry at Work Day! I

don't suppose many people take the time

to read or write poetry at work. That's a

shame. It can be so relaxing! I speak from

experience. Years back when I was the

WYOU Bureau Chief in Scranton a

security guard and maintenance worker

in our building would join me for about

5 or 10 minutes when we could at lunch

time to trade our hand written two to four

line pomes. We voted on the best which

usually meant we were voting of the fumiest! 

You'd be surprised how we came to look

forward to that short break in the day! Of

course I don't work anymore. But wait! I

do work at this blog! So, let's give this a

try!  I thank you all for checking in to see

what I might say. Remember that I write

a blog each and every day! If you'd care to,

leave a comment. I really think you should.

And until tomorrow's version, I hope all

your NEWS is good!

GOT MILK?

MONDAY, JANUARY 11th, 2021

            GOT MILK?

      That phrase, "Got Milk?," was part of

an advertising campaign to promote the
consumption of that healthy beverage
throughout the United States.
      It comes to mind today because
January 11th., is National Milk Day.
A New York Dairy company claims it
made the first home delivery of milk in
a glass container on this date in 1878.
      We used to have milk delivered
to our door in Hazleton in a horse
drawn wagon. And that was much later
that 1878! In fact at least one Dairy in
my old home town was using its fleet
of horse and wagons to deliver milk as
late as 1970 as far as I know.
       I've always liked milk. I've been
drinking it since I was a baby. I find
it especially useful as a chaser for
chocolate chip cookies!
        I don't get milk delivered anymore.
I usually just buy a half gallon or so
when I buy my groceries. But that's
getting harder!
         My choice used to be limited
to quart, gallon or half gallon and
white or chocolate.
         Next came Skim milk, and 1
or 2% choices.
         Now the shelf is stocked with
about a half dozen types of Almond
Milk in addition to the regular cartons.
         My Grandson seems to like the
new choice although I still have no
idea how your milk an almond!
          I'll give it further thought
over a cold glass of 100% whole
milk as I dunk a couple Oreos!
          Hope you've Got Milk and
that all your NEWS is good!

      
       

TAKING DOWN CHRISTMAS!

  SATURDAY, JANUARY 9th, 2021

    TAKING DOWN CHRISTMAS!

  Tough day around my house. The 

process of taking down our Christmas

decorations and lights has begun. I

insist we wait until after Russian/Orthodox

Christmas each year but since it's over 

and my grandson and granddaughter were

available to help the take down has been

started. The packing boxes have been

moved from the shed to the porch. Jesus,

Mary, and Joseph. their outside statues

that is, have been moved from their bed

of straw and our inside nativity set has

been safely repacked. The outside lights

will be the next project as they'll have to

be unwrapped from the trees and bushes 

where they've been strung. I tries to convince

my wife to wait till the last of the Christmas

related holidays. That's Candle-mass, Jesus'

presentation in the Temple, which is set for

February 2nd. She wouldn't go for it, especially

since that date is also Groundhog Day! Hope

you had a great Christmas season and that all

your NEWS is good!

 

WAIT A SECOND!

   FRIDAY, JANUARY 8th, 2021

           WAIT A SECOND!

    We've all heard it said! Time flies by.

Well this year it seems to be flying by

quicker than ever. You see we all live on

planet earth which rotates on its own axis.

Generally that spin takes 24 hours. We

call it a day. Now today is "Earth Rotation

Day."  But my old buddy Rusty

Fender who now does some work for

NASA says, for the first time in recorded

history, the earth's rotation has increased

speed a bit! As a result scientists may have

to take one second off the world atomic

clock to sync it with the rotation of the

planet. There's a lot of science involved

but the bottom line for you and me is....

don't waste a second! Hope you're well

and that all your NEWS is good!

a bit~ 

ON THE ROCKS!

    THURSDAY, JANUARY 7th, 2021

               ON THE ROCKS!

  First. Merry Christmas to those of you

of the Orthodox faith! If any of you got

coal for your Christmas don't complain!

This also happens to be "Old Rock Day!

Most of us don't give very much thought

to rocks. I've got them scattered all over

my driveway. But, there are rocks and,

there are rocks! Quartz, for instance,

can be beautiful. A diamond is a rock

but they've been pretty important to

woman for a very long time. We have

simple rock samples here at home.

One of them looks about as plain as

those on my driveway. But there are

speckles of gold it it! More impressive

that you might imagine! Rocks can

be amazing. Hey, they've even got an

old Fossil like me looking at them!

Hope you're well and that all yours

NEWS is good!

IT AIN'T OVER...

   WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6th, 2021

                 IT AIN'T OVER.....

   A wise man, a great philosopher, Yogi

Berra, once observed "It ain't over till it's

over." Well that's the case with Christmas!

Many have already taken down their tree

and decorations but, it's to early! We celebrate

Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and still

think Christmas when we mark New Year's

Eve and New Year's Day.Then, around

January 2nd ut all seems to come to an

abrupt end! But Christmas hasn't ended!

Today, for instance, is Three King's Day.

This is the day the three Wise men found the

baby Jesus in the manger. And tomorrow,

January 7th is Russian or Orthodox

Christmas, so there's still time to celebrate!

Merry Christmas and may all your NEWS

be good!  

DO NOT PASS GO!

      TUESDAY, JANUARY 5th, 2020

               DO NOT PASS GO!

   It's January 5th, 2021. It's Monopoly Day!

Who hasn't, at one time or another, been caught

up in a game of Monopoly? You may be surprised

to learn the game was the creation of a young

lady. Elizabeth Magie came up with the game

as a way to teach the economy. She called it

"The Landlord Game" and got a patent for it

on this date in 1904. Of course the game eventually

became Monopoly. It's been customized a bit 

over the years, including special versions for

communities that wished to have their own

shops included on the board. But, basically,

it's the same game that "Lizzy" came up with

all those years ago. Might be a good day to get

your version out and play a round. Just don't

get the GO TO JAIL card!!!! Hope you're well

and that all your NEWS is good!

 

A FORGOTTEN HOLIDAY!

   MONDAY, JANUARY 4th, 2021

     A FORGOTTEN HOLIDAY!

   I'm fond of talking about unusual

"holidays" that mark virtually everyday

of our calendars. Most are unofficial

celebrations. But now and then I run

across one that was actually celebrated

widely and then fell into disuse for one

reason or another. This is one of those

days. In the 1800's January 4th was

celebrated as "Handsel Day! It was observed

on the first Monday of January following

New Year's Day. It was a Scottish tradition

where masters would give their servants

a gift and, often, the day off. It usually

ended up in a rather loud, long, and often

wild celebration which may lead to the

reason we don;t hear about it anymore these   

days. Still, if there is someone who's rendered

good service to you this day offers a great

opportunity to show your appreciation,,,,

perhaps with a nice tip. Nothing wrong

with that. In fact it may be time to bring

this holiday back! Hope you'll find a

way to celebrate and that all your NEWS

is good!

I'LL DRINK TO THAT!

 SUNDAY, JANUARY 3rd, 2021

       I'LL DRINK TO THAT!

 It's January 3rd 2021! This is National

Drinking Straw Day! It marks the date in

1888 when Marvin C. Stone got a patent

on his paper drinking straw. Now drinking

straws have actually been around for a much

longer time. A drinking straw was discovered

in the tomb of a  Samaritan dating back to

about 3,000 years BC! It was a gold tube

adorned with a blue jewel. Stone's paper

version may be making a come back. Environmental

concerns have produced an effort to abandon

our traditional plastic versions. Of course straws

can also be made of medal, glass, or silicone. 

So, whatever happens, we're no where near the

last straw! Hope you're well and that all your NEWS

is good!

A SUNNY DAY...SORT OF!

     SATURDAY, JANUARY 2nd, 2021

        A SUNNY DAY...SORT OF!

    It's January 2nd, 2021. the second day of

our new year. Chances are some resolutions

have already been tossed out the window and

we've probably written the date once or twice

incorrectly! But there's reason to celebrate! It's

World Perihelion Day! I had to look it up too!

It is the day when the earth is closest to the sun!

I was about to revel. I was about to get out ny

swim trunks and suntan lotion. Then, suddenly

and most unexpectedly, I remembered something

I learned in Science class all those many years

ago. When the sun is close to the earth its light,

basically, is on us (here in the northeast anyway)

for a shorter period of time. So it isn't any brighter

or any warmer. Oh well. At least my old science

teacher would have been proud I remembered.

Hope you have a great day, no matter how sunny

and warm, or not, that you're well, and that all your

NEWS is good!

MY NEW YEAR'S IDEA!

        FRIDAY, JANUARY 1st,2021 

          MY NEW YEAR'S IDEA!

    Happy New Year friends! 2021 showed

up right on schedule but, unfortunately, some 

of our annual traditions came in tarnished by

2020's pandemic! The ball drop on Times 

Square was for a TV audience only this year.

It was the same with the Tournament of Roses

Parade. The annual Polar Bear Plunge at Coney

Island was cancelled as was Philadelphia's

traditional Mummer's Parade.  So many events

cancelled last year so avoid large social

gatherings and the possible spread of the

virus. So here's what I'm thinking. Three to

six months from now the vaccines should 

have been administered to the vast majority

of people who want them. Somewhere at

that point in time I believe we should have

a special brand new holiday (or holiday

week or at least a weekend) to celebrate!

We can call it Survivor Days  or Victory

Days! We are due, in fact owed, a major

celebration. Let's start the planning now!

It will give us something to look forward

to! Hope you'll come up with some great

thoughts and that all your NEWS is good.