IMAGINE WHAT'S AHEAD!

    SUNDAY, JANUARY 1, 2023

    IMAGINE WHAT'S AHEAD!

   Well here we are friend, with a

brand new year on our hands. Sort

of like a blank slate on which we'll

fill in details for each new day. And

who knows what awaits us? Perhaps

fun and excitement. Certainly challenges.

We always have a few of those. And

what about miracles? They may very

well be on the calendar as well. For

many years my Dad, a movie

projectionist, had to work on New

Year's Eve. But just after the ball

dropped in Times Square our phone

would ring at home. It would be

Dad with his Happy New Year

greeting. My Dad passed away

just before Thanksgiving in 1994.

That New Year, just after the  ball

dropped in Times Square, our

telephone rang. I picked it up and

said "Hello" but heard nothing on

the other end. Out Caller ID read

"Out Of The Area" or something

like that. But I knew from whence 

the call was coming and who was

on the other end. It was undoubtedly

my Dad calling to say Happy New

Year and assure us that all was well.

Often we receive miracles like that

without stopping to see them for what

they are. Watch for them in this new

year and perhaps you'll recognize

them! Happy New Year and may all

your NEWS be good!

   

BACK TO THE FUTURE!

    SATURDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2022

          BACK TO THE FUTURE!

   Well friends, December is about to be

gone as is 2022. New Year's Eve is

traditionally a time for celebration,

parties, and fun. But it is also an

opportunity for Time Travel! Don't

laugh! I've done it! Here's the trick.

Just before the ball falls at Times

Square in New York, call someone

in Europe. Ask them what year it

is and you'll find out you've just 

called into the future! We have family

in California. If we call them right

after Midnight arrives here we'll

discover we're calling into the past!

Now that's something worth boasting

about! Of course when and where

ever you call, 2023 is bound to show

up so be prepared. Hope you have a

Happy New Year and that all your NEWS

is good! 

 

NOT JUST FOR BAKING!

    FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2022

        NOT JUST FOR BAKING!

   There's an unofficial holiday today

you just may have missed. This is

"Bicarbonate of Soda Day!" If you'd

rather you can call it Baking Soda Day!

This common household product has

all kinds of uses! You can brush your

teeth with it, use it in your laundry,

remove odors from your refrigerator,

and bake with it (just to name a few.)

I'm not sure if there's any intended

connection, but bicarbonate of soda

is also closely associated with dealing

with indigestion problems that stem

from drinking a bit too much. Since

New Year's Eve is close at hand you

may want to stock up on baking soda.

Just in case! If you don't need it after

celebrating you can always brush

yoru teeth! Hope you're well and

that all your NEWS is good! 

TICK TOCK!

    THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2022

                  TICK TOCK!

    

       December is so great. So many special days
to celebrate.
   Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's
Eve, and Tick Tock Day!
    Yep! Tick Tock Day. It comes around every
29th of December. Two days before the end of
the year!
    The day is celebrated by completing tasks on
hand, like ensuring all holiday gifts are delivered.
Better make sure UPS and FEDEX are aware of
this "holiday!"
     It's a day to complete unfinished business so
nothing that should have been done is carried
over into the new year. In my case I may have
to apply for an extension. My unfinished
business may well take me into February!
      But back to Tick Tock Day.
      It's a perfect day to take stock of yourself
and your situation and to come up with those
New Year's Resolutions to improve your lot in
2023. Maybe I'll resolve to finish my unfinished
business. Well, some of it anyway.
      The "Tick tock" of course, is the sound of
this year's time running out. So get to it while
there's time to get things done!
      Hope your clock is on time and that all your
NEWS is good!

YOUR DEAL!

     DECEMBER 28, 2022

          YOUR DEAL!

   This is one of those "unusual holidays"

specifically designed, I believe, to fall

between Christmas Day and Newgetear's

Day. December 28th is "Card Playing Day."

It's a time when many families get together

and supporters of this "holiday" believe

a good old fashioned game of cards is a

great recreational activity for everyone.

There is, in fact, a card game designed for

just about anyone. War, Old Maid, and 

Fish are just a few examples of card games

for the kids. Adults may find pleasure in a

game og Gin Rummy, Poker, or Bridge.

I'm not especially interested in any kind

of card game. Seems like everytime I try

to draw the high card I end up with the

Joker! Maybe somebody's trying to tell

me something? So, deal me out. But

enjoy your game and I hope all your NEWS

is good. 

A NUTTY TRADITION

    TUESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2022

          A NUTTY TRADITION!

       It is probably the most maligned gift of

Christmas yet one of the most historical. It's
the Fruitcake! And December 27th is
National Fruitcake Day!
    For those who may not know it is a cake
made with dried fruit, nuts and spices. If that's
not enough, some are soaked with spirits and
we're not talking about the kind of spirits
Dickens wrote about in "A Christmas Carol!"
     The earliest known receipt comes from ancient
Rome and there are those who suggest some
of the Fruitcakes being sold or served today
were probably made about that time.
      My wife enjoys a good Fruitcake and I'll
usually have a slice or two myself after she's
cut the first. There's no hurry! They tend
to last a long time.
       If you don't like them they're prefect as
a re-gift to someone else or keep them long
enough and use them as a door stop! Keep
those options in mind Iris! (Iris is one of
my regular Blog readers who has expressed
a dislike for Fruitcakes!)
        Hope you'll enjoy the "holiday" one
way or another and that all your NEWS
is good!

IT'S NOT OVER YET FOLKS!

   MONDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2022

     IT'S NOT OVER YET FOLKS!

     These days Christmas comes early.

You begin seeing Christmas decorations

in many stores about the same time the

Halloween outfits are going on sale. And

by Thanksgiving the turkeys are being pushed

aside by bells and elves and Christmas trees.

       That said, by December 26th and 27th

some folks are looking at the 25th as the

ghost of Christmas past! I was disappointed

to tune into by XM radio channel and hear

an announcement from the channel I've been

listening to for holiday tunes that it's seasonal

programming has ended. Isn't the holiday

season that stretch of time generally between

Christmas eve and New Year's day? What 

about the "12 days of Christmas?" And how

about Orthodox Christmas in January? We're

too quick in some cases to ditch that Christmas

spirit that makes the world so much better.

I'm hanging on as long as possible. Hope you

do too and that all your NEWS is good!   

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

       DECEMBER 25, 2022

      MERRY CHRISTMAS!

      Hello my friends and welcome

to December 25th. Christmas, The

day we observe the birth of Jesus.

Now to be honest Biblical scholars

say it is very unlikely Jesus was born

in December. As a matter of fact, a

few have calculated his birth on

9/11   in the year 3BC/ Around the

4th century December 25 became the

popular date to observe Christmas 

and that, ironically, stemmed from a

Pegan custom associated with the

winter solstice. The date has seen

some wonderful events. In 1914,

during World War I, British and

German troops actually called a

Christmas truce and played soccer

together! In took until 1831 that the first

few states officially recognized

Christmas as a legal holiday.  And in

1818, in a small Austrian village, a

famous Christmas tune was born."

Stiille Nacht." You know it as

"Silent Night!" Merry Christmas to

all and may all your NEWS be good!

MY CHRISTMAS MIRACLE

   DECEMBER 24, 2022

MY CHRISTMAS MIRACLE!

    I've shared this story many times

but it's always worth retelling. My

video BLOG includes a re-creation

of this true story that happened 34

years ago this very day. I had a bad

habit of doing my Christmas shopping

on Christmas Eve. There was a time 

when that added to the Christmas spirit

for me. But that year, 1988, my wife

had asked for a somewhat unusual gift.

It was a lawn decoration that looked

like a lamb. I already had plans to pick

up a present for one of my daughters

at a shop in Montrose which is about

an hour and a half from our home. I

decided I'd better look for that lamb

first. I visited a number of Lawn &

Garden shops. A couple of the owners

were familiar with the decoration but

didn't have any in stock. The hour was

getting late with that drive ahead of me

so I decided I'd make up a gift certificate

for my wife and find the lamb after

Christmas. It was dark and getting late

when I finally set out for Montrose.

I was driving along Route 92 near the

Susquehanna River. I was, I believe,

in the area of Jarding when I passed a

house off to my right that had one of

those lamb decorations in the front

yard. They had to know where they

bought it! My dilemma was trying to

decide if I should stop and bother the

homeowner on this dark Christmas Eve

to ask where they bought the lamb. Since

this was a special gift my wife wanted I

decided to take a chance. I got out of my

car and walked up to the house then

knocked on the front door. A woman

answered. The woman who MADE THE

LAMBS!!!! Her name was Madeline Woods.

She once owned an area flower shop. Madeline

had two of the newly made lamb onimants

in her house. One was a gift for a friend. The

other was available! Coincidence? Somehow

I doubt that. Madeline passed away many

years ago but she left my wife and I with

a wonderful craft that we regard as a

Christmas Miracle! Merry Christmas to

you all and may all your NEWS be good!     

 

READY THE MEATLOAF!

   FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2022

      READY THE MEATLOAF!

      It's December 23rd friends. A day also

knows as "Festivus!" This unofficial holiday

was born in 1966 on the Jerry Seinfield TV

show. It's a "festival for the rest of us." A day,

that is, for folks who have nothing else to celebrate.

It's marked with a thin, bare. aluminium pole,

a meatloaf dinner, feats of strength, and airing

of grievances. Aside from waiting a long time

in a line of fellow last minute shoppers I've got

nothing to grieve and have no feats of strength to

show off. Think I'll just stick with Christmas!

Hope you do too and that all your NEWS is

good!

HOLIDAY LIGHTS!

    THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2022

                 HOLIDAY LIGHTS!

      It's December 22nd, a date that changed

Christmas forever! Christmas trees, of course,

have been around since the 16th century. They

originated in Germany. They eventually made

their way into American Christmas tradition. But

a big change came along in 1880! That's when

Thomas Edison an his associate, Edward Johnson

came in 1880 when they strung 80 red, white, and

blue electric lights around the Christmas tree in

front of their New Jersey laboratory. Passengers

traveling by train on a nearby rail line were thrilled

to see the sight! Of course, electric lights on most

home Christmas trees didn't become popular till

many years later. Back in the 40's and 50's we

had light sets that offered a real challenge. If one

bulb burned out; the whole string went dark! You

had to get a new bulb and try in in places of

others until you found the socket which allowed

the rest of the string to re-light! These days entire

strings seem to burn out between one Christmas

and the next. Still, when they're all working, it's

a beautiful sight! Hope you're lit up, and that

all your NEWS is good! 

 

      

THE FIRST DAY OF CHRISTMAS!

    WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2022

        THE FIRST DAY OF CHRISTMAS!

    It's December 21st! It's Yule Day! I

don't know if you've heard of it before

or not. But you've certainly heard of the

12 days of Chrfistmas. Yule Day is the

start of that 12 day period. It's always on

the Winter Solstice. In years past farmers

would gather in their crops for the holiday

meals. And folks would begin trimming

their Christmas trees. It's the day you

begin gathetring presents for those 12 days

of Christmas. The first one could be the

hardest. A Partridge in a Pear Tree! Wait

a minute. I know where there's a Pear tree!

In fact it's right across the street frpom my

house. I've got myself a Pear tree. Now...

all I have to do is wait for a Partridge to

show up. I wonder what a Pafrtridge looks

like? This may be tougher than I thought!

Hope your 12 gifts are all ready and wrapped

and that all your NEWS is good!  

ME ME ME ME!

 

    MONDAY, DECEMBER 20TH., 2022
                  ME ME ME ME!

        No! I'm not singing my own praises.
But I am warming up to sing. You see
December 20th is "Go Caroling Day."
         I can remember a time when we
could usually expect a group of carolers
to visit our front porch around Christmas
time. It was always a group from our
church making the rounds. I'm not sure
if they still do it from time to time or
not.
        I sang plenty of Christmas carols
when I was a kid. But I'm not sure if I
ever went door to door. You see was in
the Junior Choir in the church back in my
old home town. We always put on some
kind of Christmas concert filled with
those every popular Christmas carols.
          Of course my singing voice was
"concert ready" back then. My soprano
rendition has been gone for a long time
now leaving me with a voice suited for
speaking....not singing!
            And these days I only know a
few of our neighbors. I'm not so sure
they'd react well to my version of
Rudolph!
            But don't let that stop you!
Get your family and or friends
together ....try a few "me-me-me's"
and start making e rounds.
             Hope you get some hot
chocolate and that all your NEWS
is good!

  

TIME TO CELEBRATE!

   MONDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2022

        TIME TO CELEBRATE!

   Christmas is still six days away but

we might just as well begin the celebrations

today. It's a very big day. It was on

December 19th, 1843 that Charles

Dicken's "A Christmas Carol" was

first published. It's also "Look For An

Evergreen Day." The day you are suppose

to pick out your Christmas tree (if you

haven't done so already.) December 19th

is "National Hard Candy Day!" Hard

candy has been around since the 17th

century! But here's the real big one in

my book! December 19th is our son

D.J.'s Birthday! He hasn't been around

as long as hard candy or Christmas trees

but his day is the one we'll be celebrating

most of all. Happy Birthday D.J.! Hope

you get some hard candy, enjoy your

Birthday, and that all your NEWS is

good!

 

TO ALL THE FLAKES OUT THERE!

     SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2022

  TO ALL THE FLAKES OUT THERE!

            Welcome to "Flake Appreciation Day!"  And, no,

I'm not referring to any of those "weird people"you

may know. This day is dedicated to the appreciation

of snowflakes! You know, water vapor that freezes

into those ice crystals that create a winter wonder

land around most of our area between December

and May. We've always been told that no two snow

flakes are identical but in 1998 Nancy Knight, a

scientist at the National Center for Atmosphere

Research in Boulder, Colorado, found two

identical samples while studying snow crystals

from a storm in Wisconsin. I always wondered 

who was checking all those snowflakes! In any

case, this is the day we are suppose to appreciate

each flake. It's probably a lot easier to do if you're

watching, rather than shoveling them. If you haven't

checked any of the snow from our storm this past

week you may have to spend the day appreciating 

some of your weird friends! Hope you'll appreciate

one or the other and that all your NEWS is good! 

CHRISTMAS IN THE CARDS!

  SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2022

     CHRISTMAS IN THE CARDS!

   My wife and I began a new Christmas

tradition of our own back in 2009. We

were in Cleveland visiting the house used

in the movie A Christmas Story. You know.

The one about the little boy (Ralphie) who

wants a Red Rider BB Gun for Christmas.

We had our picture taken in front of the

infamous Leg Lamp in the window and

decided to use that photo as part of our

annual Christmas card. Then we had an

idea. Why not do all our Christmas cards

based on a scene from that movie! And

so it began. Me with a bar of soap in

my mouth. Leona with her tongue stuck

to a flagpole. Me eating "like the piggies

eat. And so on. It's been fun but also a

challenge. So today I offer our 2022

version as a Christmas card to all of

you! "Oh FUDGE!!!" I spelled poison

wrong! Think I'll just blame Ralphie!

Hope you remember the scene, like

the card, and that all your NEWS is

good!

 

AN UGLY CHRISTMAS TRADITION!

   FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2022

AN UGLY CHRISTMAS TRADITION!

   Christmas time is filled with traditions!

Caroling, decorations, presents, and parties

to name just a few. But today, December

16th marks what is probably the newest,

and ugliest, tradition of the holiday. It's

"Ugly Christmas Sweater Day!" My wife

and I attended an Ugly Christmas Sweater

a couple years back. And as I look at the

photos from that event I can't believe I

didn't win! I looked about as ugly in that

sweater as anyone could be. But it's not

really a laughing matter. Ugly Christmas

sweaters have become a really big business!

They're sold everywhere and plenty of people

are buying them. So you might as well

join in the fun.Get one and head to one of

those parties. Do your best or, in this case,

your worst! Hope you win and that all your

NEWS is good!

THE ELEPHANT UNDER THE TREE!

        THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2022

      THE ELEPHANT UNDER THE TREE!

    It's December 15th. "National Regifting Day!"

My wife joined some fellow church women earlier

this week for a Christmas party. Their celebration

included "White Elephant gifts." For those who

don't already know a "White Elephant gift" is 

usually an exchange of a gift you were given by

someone else and are now giving to another

person. Regifting has become somewhat

common. You get something you don't need

or can't use. Of a duplicate of something

you already have. A toaster for instance.

You already have a toaster, can't use two,

so you give one to someone else. There are

a couple basic rules to follow when

regifting. First, don't give the gift to the

same person who gave it to you in the

first place. You should rewrap the present.

And don't use the gift before giving it

away. That last rule stopped my from

giving a bottle of wine as a White Elephant

gift. You see, I had already emptied it! Oh

well. Hope you get or give a cool White

Elephant gift, and that all your NEWS is

good!

 

A MONKEY'S UNCLE~

  

        WENDSDAY, DECEMBER 14TH., 2022
                 A MONKEY'S UNCLE!

   December 14th is "International Monkey Day!"
   It was created and popularized in 2000 by two
art students at Michigan State University. Their
art work spread the word around the world to the
extent this "holiday" is celebrated in at least 14
countries!
     My most unique experience with monkeys
came more than a few years ago when my wife and
I entered a drive through zoo in Canada. Half
way through the place we found our car nearly
over run with Baboons! They climbed all over
the vehicle and left a bit of a mess behind. Our
next stop was a Canadian car wash!
      My wife tells me her sister used to get a
stuffed monkey nearly every year for Christmas.
Once though my wife received one of the
cloth primates. We didn't learn, until this year,
that her sister was always annoyed by that
delivery. She believed the monkey was really
meant for her. So,three years ago, we got her
one from eBay. She seemed pleased but some
of her friends were wondering why a Senior
Citizen was so happy over a stuffed monkey.
      I never had the pleasure of owning a
monkey, stuffed or otherwise. But I do have
a six-year-old grandson who seems to be
a reasonable facsimile! He even likes
bananas!
      I'm not sure how you're suppose to observe
this "holiday" although Hallmark Cards
describes it as a day when Monkey business is
actually encouraged! Enough said!
      Hope you'll have fun monkeying around
and that all your NEWS is good!

DON'T HOLD YOUR HORSES!

     TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2022

      DON'T HOLD YOUR HORSES!

    If you're looking for a reason to celebrate

today I've got a dandy for you! December 13th

is "The Day Of The Horses!" It may not be a

day off but it is a "holiday" proclaimed by

the United States Congress in 2004. The idea

is to celebrate the contribution of horse power

in building this country. Horses were brought

here by the Spanish and they did, indeed, have

a major effect on early America. They provided

transportation and cleared much of the land

while farming our country before the advent

of machine power. So today we honor the

horse. Since most of us don't have one around

I've come up with an alternative way to

commemorate the day! Head to the track and\put

a couple bucks down on your favorite philly!

Maybe you can horor the horse with a win today!

Hope you do and that all your NEWS is good!

PARTY MEMORIES

 

    MONDAY, DECEMBER 12TH., 2022
                   PARTY MEMORIES!

    Every now and then, on special

occasions, I pull out a classic Blog

from "Double Dee's Dusty Dungeon."

    December 12th is one of those days!

    It is "National My Ding-A-Ling Day!"

    According to the web site Holiday Insights

it's a day you "should brace yourself for bizarre

and crazy behavior, from all of the people you

encounter. Even normally conservative people

have been known to go a little crazy on this day."

    The title brings to mind one of the most

memorable Christmas parties I ever attended

when I and my radio partner went a little

crazy!

     It was 1972. In addition to being the News

Director of WILK I wrote a daily comedy skit

about a nutty inventor I called "Mr. Chemistry."

    My buddy Bill Dennis acted the part of the

accident prone professor  while I provided the

voice of his inquisitive next door neighbor kid

Bobby.

    That same year Chuck Berry released the

popular novelty record "My Ding-A-Ling."

    The song tells of how the singer received a toy

consisting of "silver bells hanging on a string" from

his grandmother, who calls them his "ding-a-ling."

    You didn't hear it much on WILK (which

was a Top 40 music station back then.)  One of

our owners, Leon Schwartz, ordered it

pulled from the air as being "objectionable."

     That year, at the Christmas Party, Bill,

dressed as Mr Chemistry, and I, dressed as

Bobby, unveiled the professor's newest

invention. It was an Automatic Gift Selector

Machine!

     When Mr. Schwartz's name was fed into our

apparatus it produced a gold copy of Berry's

recording! With our hearts in our throats we

presented it to our boss!

      Fortunately for us,  though he hated the song,

he loved the joke!

      Isn't Christmas Spirit wonderful!?

     Coincidentally it was our last Christmas at

the station. We both left for "greener pastures"

by 1973. No! It had nothing to do with our gift

presentation!

     But one of my favorite "Ghosts of Christmas

Past" will always feature a little gold record by

Chuck Berry, a DJ in a Lab coat, and a usually

dignified newscaster in short pants and a Beanie

hat with a propeller on top!

     Regrettably I don't have a photo of the affair.

You'll just have to use your imagination!

      Hope you've got some great Christmas

memories, and that all your NEWS is good!

IT'S A DING A LING DAY!

   MONDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2022

        IT'S A DING A LING DAY!

        It's December 12th. "Ding A Ling Day!

The same year that Chuck Barry released

the song "My Ding A Ling," Franky Hyle

established My Ding A Ling Day. It was

1972. Franky started a club asking members

to donate one dollar to join. Some 871 people

signed up. Now thousands of people are on

board. Th whole idea is to think about people

you haven't talked with in a long time, Then,

on December 12th, call them up to say Hi and

ket them know you;ve been thinking about

them. It's a ding a ling that will make you

both happy! Hope you get a call or two as

well and that all your NEWS is good!  

A TALE OF TWO DICKENS!

    SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2022

        A TALE OF TWO DICKENS

    Christmas is a time for traditions. One

of mine involves watching various versions

of the movie "A Christmas Carol" based on

the Charles Dickens novel. My tradition

began over 70 years ago at my home in

Hazleton where, each Christmas Eve, my

Mom, Dad, brother, and I would gather

around a record player and listen to actor

Lionel Barrymore narrate the classic story

of Scrooge and the four ghosts he encountered

on his way to personal redemption as a decent

human being. These days it's the movie versions

I watch and there's no shortage of those. Some 

135 movie/tv versions of the story have been

made over the years the first beng produced

in 1901. Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol

in 1843. It was ready by December 19th and

sold more than 6,000 copies by Christmas!

Unfortunately Dickens agreed to pay to have

his novel published so he really didn't make

much money from those successful sales.

Seems he was a great writer but no so good

a businessman. In fact generations of his

surviving family get virtually nothing from

all the versions of A Christmas Carol that

have been made since 1843! Hope you have

some great Christmas traditions and are

enjoying them with family and friends

this year. God bless us, everyone! And

may all your NEWS be good!   

A SWEET LITTLE HOUSE!

    SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2022

         A SWEET LITTLE HOUSE!

   December 10th is "Gingerbread House Day!"

My wife and grandson just worked om a

Gingerbread house a couple weeks ago. These

day they come in kits. But it wasn't always so.

Gingerbread came to Europe during the 11th

century when the Crusaders reintroduced the

desire for flavored breads to the world.

Gingerbread was a favorite because it not only

tasted good, but lasted for a long time.

The Germans picked up on Gingerbread big time

and Gingerbread houses were very popular there!

Just for the record, the biggest Gingerbread house

ever "built" was 60 by 42 feet and weighed in at

over 36,000 calories. I didn't do anything to help

my wife and grandson put their Gingerbread

house together but given the chance I will be

very happy to help them "take it apart" (If you

catch my meaning!) Hope your Gingerbread is

sweet and all your NEWS is good!

LOST AND FOUND DAY!

     FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2022

        LOST AND FOUND DAY!   

        December 9th is 'Lost and Found Day!"

Ever since humans first walked the face of

this earth they have been losing and finding

things! It's more a matter of when it happens

to you as opposed to "if" it happens!

     The very first Lost and Found Department

opened in Paris under the order of Napoleon

Bonaparte! That gives you an idea how long 

people have been concerned about lost items.

     This is a day when you are encouraged to

make an extra effort to find those items you

have "missplaced" or actually "lost."

     I don't have the problem. I keep things

wwell organized. My wallet is always in my

right pocket and my keys are right here in

my,,,,,,hey.....that's funny. I thought I had 

me keys right here in this pocket. But they're

not here. I wonder if I put them on my desk.

No. Not there either. I wonder if Napoleon  

opened a branch anywhere near here! Oh well. 

hope you know where everything is and that

all your NEWS is good! 

   

APPRECIATION DAY!

     THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2022

            APPRECIATION DAY!

   This is an important day you may know

nothing about! December 8th is "Toilet

Paper Appreciation Day!" This date was

selected because it was on December 8th

of 1857 when Joe Gayetty first sold toilet

paper in the U,S. It should not be confused 

with a similar observance on August 26th

which is "Toilet Paper Day" marking the

date in  1871 when the Scott Company first

sold toilet paper on rolls! Today is strictly

a day to appreciate toilet paper. You may 

recall just how appreciated it was when the

pandemci began. It was hard to find any on

store shelves as everyone tried to stock up in

case they found themselves locked up in their

homes for an extended period! Well, it's in\

plentiful supply now so, no worries. Hope

you appreciate your supply and that all your

NEWS is good.

BEANO!?

     WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2022

                 BEANO!?

     The beginning of December has most

people focused on the countdown to
Christmas. Things get so busy it's easy
to forget some of the other special
occasions that show up in the weeks
and days leading to the 25th.
   For instance, December is "Bingo's
Birthday Month.:
   That designation had me just a little
confused. My first thought was we were
celebrating that Farmer's dog all the kds
sign about. You know."BINGO was his
name oh."
     Not!
     December is considered the birth
month of the game BINGO!
     I'm surprised but I really shouldn't
be. There's so little I really knew about
the game.
     As a kid growing up in Hazleton I
always assumed BINGO was invented
by the Catholic church and that you had
to be 65-years-old or older to play.
      Now I come to find out BINGO has
been around for a very long time! It was
started in Italy in 1530. It was called
"LoGiucoc del Lotto D'Italia." That
must have been a very large BINGO
card!
      It's still a very big game in Italy
played almost every Sunday.
      The game showed up in the U.S.
in 1929 and was originally called
BEANO! I wonder if there's any
connection with the Stock Market Crash
that year!
       I got pulled into a game in Florida
during a visit a couple years ago. That's sort
of the "Big Leagues for BINGO down
there. I saw women playing ten cards
at one time and holding "lucky charms"
as they played!
        Anyway it's an appropriate day to
play a game or two and I understand
there's still a lot of places, including
churches, where this popular form of
gambling is readily available!
         Hope you're a winner and that
all your NEWS is good!
     


 

WHY WE HANG STOCKINGS!

     TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2022

     WHY WE HANG STOCKINGS!

       December 6th is "Saint Nicholas Day!"

Long before Santa came along there was a

very devoted priest who loved to give away

all his possessions in a true Christian way.

Most he gave to the poor and very often to

poor children. He, of course, became a Saint.

Saint Nicholas. Ironically December 6th marks

the day that he died. But his spirit lives on,

partly through Santa Clause,  as does a Christmas

tradition he accidentally started. One of his habits

was to toss gold coins through the open windows

of poor family's houses. One one occasion, as the

story goes, the coins he tossed ended up in a

child's stocking. Work got around and, since then,

a popular Christmas tradition is to hang up stockings

hoping some goodies will find their way into them!

I've got mine in place already...but I'm thinking of

moving it close to the window.,,,,just in case.

Hope your stockings are up and that all yoru NEWS

is good! 

CHEERS!

     MONDAY, DECEMBER 5th, 2022

                       CHEERS!

  Welcome to December 5th. This is "Repeal Day!"

  Back in the early 1900's a lot of people were

blaming alcohol for most of the troubles in

America. The lobbying efforts came hard and

fast and the result was passage of the 18th

amendment.  People were not suppose to

drink or manufacturer alcoholic beverages.

We called it Prohibition! After awhile, a long 

while, people began to realize it did not cure the

 problems. In fact, it created some! Bootleggers

made the booze, gangsters sold and distributed

it and speakeasies served it to willing, very

willing, customers. On this date in 1933

Congress repealed  the 18th amendment and

Prohibition was over. People have been free

to drink up since then. I'm celebrating with

a glass of wine. Hope you're well and that

all your NEWS is good!

 

THE CHRISTMAS LISTS!

   SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2022

       THE CHRISTMAS LISTS!

   This is a very important date in the

Christmas season! December 4th is Santa's

Christmas List Day. Most of us have a

Christmas list. We've been making them

since we were kids. That's all well and

good but it's not the list I'm writing about!

This is Santa's Christmas List Day. He

has two lists and you've probably heard

about them. There is the "Naughty List"

and the "Nice List." December 4th is the

day Santa gets the first draft of those lists/

They are updated right on up till Christmas

Eve. The "success" of your Christmas may

very well depend on which list includes your

name!!! Maybe I'd better give Santa a call

to check on my status. Stand by just a

minute while I give him a call...............

...................OK. I wonder what he

means when he says "Decision Pending.:?

Gee I hope all my, and your, NEWS is good!  

A WINTER WEARER!

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2022

        A WINTER WEARER!

.  I suppose many of you are thinking about
Chester Greenwood today! And rightfully
so!
  Old Chester's invention came in pretty
handy for some of us over the years and
many a mom will be celebrating the man
today! It's Chester Greenwood Day."
   Maybe you just didn't hear about it
because your ears were covered?
   December 5th is Chester's Birthday!
And he's the guy who invented earmuffs!
 Chester Greenwood patented the
"Champion Ear Protector." Later they
became known as ear muffs."
   I've know my wife to carry and
wear a par in mid summer when I've
got the Miata top down and there's a
cool breeze towards dark.
    If you see anyone wearing ear
muffs today you should probably
congratulate them for their knowledge
of history and the importance of this
anniversary. Or, maybe their ears
are just cold!
    I think Chester would be glad to
know his invention has survived and
prospered over the years....at least in
some climates! I know it's about to
get a lot colder. But I hope you won't
be needing your ear muffs all the time
and that all your NEWS is good!

EXTRA BUTTER PLEASE!

   FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2022

      EXTRA BUTTER PLEASE!

    Now here's a special day you probably

never heard of! December 2nd is "Business

of Making Popcorn Day!"  For years

people made popcorn by placing unpopped

kernels in a wire basket with a long handle.

They held the basket over an open flame

until those kernels popped. But in December

of 1885 a fellow named Charles Cretors

secured a patent for a steam powered

popcorn maker which could produce large

quantities of popcorn in a very short time.

Suddenly popcorn making became a

profitable business! It still is! Just check

your area movie theater where popcorn

is made for pennies and sold for dollars

every day! I still enjoy my popcorn. But

these days I pass on the wire basket and

the modern version of Cretor's machine 

in favor of a microwave bag! 3 minutes

and I've got all the popcorn I need. With

extra butter by the waya! Enjoy your

popcorn! Hope all your NEWS is good!

AN APPLE A DAY!

  THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2022

              AN APPLE A DAY!

    It's December first everybody and

this is "Eat a red apple Day!"  I suppose

any color apple will actually do. December

first was selected for this unusual "holiday"

to counter the vast amounts of sweets that

confront us from Thanksgiving through

New Year's Day. There's the after

Thanksgiving feast pies. Then the candy

canes and other sweets so associated with

Christmas. Apples are good for us. They're

nutritious and you can eat them anywhere.

Even on a nice walk. I love apples and

try to keep a supply on hand. There

are thousands of varieties.  I don't know

all of their names although I know I've

had Red Delicious and Cortland

recently. I also haven't yet figured

out how they grow apples with those

little stickers on them. Must be some

special kind of seed. Anyway, enjoy an

apple today, reed or otherwise, and I

hope all your NEWS is good!

CAN IT!

   WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2022

                            CAN IT!

    I suppose my title is a bit misleading since

it's really about jars rather than cans, You see

November 30th is "National Mason Jar Day!"

People have been finding ways to preserve

food for years but the process was revolutionized

forever when John Landis Mason received his

patent for a glass jar with a rubber ring and a

screw on top. That was November 30th of 1858.

The Mason jar has enabled people to preserve

food. It's need used as a handy storage unit for

everything from buttons to loose coins. And

the Mason jar proved a double edged benefit

for an industry in the Appalachian mountains

where they "bottled" and drank "White lighting

from those trusty containers. Today we're

preserving the heritage of the Mason jar!

Hope you're well and that all your NEWS

is good!  

THE FORGOTTEN HOLIDAY!

   TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2022

      THE FORGOTTEN HOLIDAY!     

   It's a holiday few people ever heard of,

let alone remember, It's "Catterntide!" It

was a day to celebrate Saint Catherine as

the Patron Saint of Lacemakers. It was a

big celebration every November 29th up

until around 1890 when the Lace industry

began to decline. The annual celebration

featured spongy cakes and a pie made with

mincemeat covered with melted honey.

And then there was "Leap candle!" The

women lfted up their skirts and jumped

over a lighted candle! I was thinking of

reviving the holiday and even had a

candle picke dout for the occassion. My

wife declined the invitation and suggested

that I shoud,do the jumping......in a lake!  

Oh well. Hope you're well and that all

your NEWS is good!

  

CYBER OR CIDER?

    MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2022

             CYBER OR CIDER?

     Today is one of the nation's newest

"unofficial holidays." It is "Cyder Monday."

It's a day when you are encouraged to do

all your shopping on line. Small business

owners tried to lure shoppers into their

local store on Saturday. But they haven't

surrendered to those on line merchants

just yet. In fact they've countered Cyber

Monday with Cider Monday! Cider Monday

is the brainchild of bookstore owner

Willard Williams. He led a campaign to

get small business owners to offer cider

and donuts to customers who come into

their stores on Cyber Monday. It's your

choice of course. But cider and donuts

always appealed to me! Have a great

day. Hope all your NEWS is good!   

OF TURKEY DAYS GONE BY!

    SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2022

     OF TURKEY DAYS GONE BY!

   The Thanksgiving holiday is filled

with traditions, The turkey dinner. Shopping

on Black Friday, left overs, more shopping

on Cyber Monday, and holiday parades. But

there's one Thanksgiving tradition that is now

pretty much limited to our memories. It was

the annual High School Thanksgiving Day

Football game. Every town had its own

High School back in the day and usually

it played its game with its biggest rival

on Thanksgiving Day. In my case it was

Hazleton vs. West Hazleton. Thosd Turkey

Day games started to disappear as school

district mergers brought the traditional

opponents under the same roof at a new

High School. I was only on the field for

one of those Thanksgiving Day games.

Actually I was on the sideline for the

most part. I was a Manager for the Football

team. One of thsoe guys who took water

to the players during time outs. And on more

than one occasion I was one of those guys

to carried an injured player off the field

on a stretcher. One "tradition" I truly

don't miss. Hope you've got some good

Thanksgiving tradition memories and

that all your NEWS is good!  

IT AIN'T OVER TILL IT'S OVER

    SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2022

     IT AIN'T OVER TILL IT'S OVER

   The late famous New York Yankee Yogi

Berra gets the credit for the old saying that

serves as the title for today's blog. And when

applied to the Thanksgiving holiday it fits oh

so well. That's one of the neat things about

Thanksgiving. It's a holiday that goes well

beyond 24 hours! Thanksgiving Day is

immediately followed by "Black Friday"

which many consider the greatest shopping

day of the year. Then there's a weekend.

And in some areas, like here in northeastern

Pennsylvania, the Monday after Thanksgiving

is usually a day off! So many things to do!

Today I'm celebrating with leftovers. It's

another Thanksgiving holiday tradition.

And they're great! Especially when they

include left over deserts!!! So go right

on giving thanks and celebrating! Hope

you do and that all your NEWS is good! 

LIDSVILLE!

      FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2022

                   LIDSVILLE!

     Today is "International Hat Day!" It's

a day to dawn your favorite hat and show it

off. Not to be confused with "National Hat

Day" which, I suppose, is strictly an American

thing. The day, I'm told, celebrates the day the

so called Top Hat was first introduced to

society. I like hats, especially western ones

which shade the neck and the face at the

same time. In the early 1960's hats weren't

so popular. Probably because President John

F. Kennedy seldom wore one. I like baseball

hats when they are worn the correct way.

That is, brim facing forward. They were

designed that way to keep the sun out of

the player's eyes. Some kids think

its cool to wear them backwards but I don't

agree. And I like gentelmen to remember

to take whatever hat they have on...off

when they're inside. About the only place

I see that happen these days is in church!

Anyhow, enjoy your hat today and remember

what one hat said to the other..."I'll stay here,

you....go on ahead~" Have a great day. Hope

all yoru NEWS is good! 

UNCLE MONKEY DAY!

   THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2022

            UNCLE MONKEY DAY!

      I know everybody is celebrating Thanksgiving.

And rightfully so. But there's another "holiday"

listed on this date that gets little or no attention.

November 24th is "All Our Uncles Are Monkeys

Day!" It's also known as "Evolution Day." So

noted because it marks the anniversary of

Charles Darwin's book about the "Origin of

the Species." Is theory, as you may know,

suggests that humans eveoled from monkeys.

An interesting thought. But as a good friend

of mine once asked....."If humans evolved

from monkeys.....why are there still monkeys?"

Interesting question if you stop to thing about

it. Anyhow we probably ought to combine 

the day with Thanksgiving! That way you

can "Monkey around!" Hope you do and

that all your NEWS is good!

TIE ONE ON!!!!

    WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2022

                    TIE ONE ON!

    It's Thanksgiving Eve! Today is "Tie One

On Day" so get to it! No! Not the booze! Tie

one on refers to that age old household helper,

the Apron! They've been around in one form

or another as far back as anybody can remember.

They've protected our clothes from food and art

paint spills. They've carried things like eggs to

the stove and lifted hot items out of the oven.

Now and then they may have dried some tears

or sheltered a child underneath and next to his

or her mother when a stranger came to the house.

We don't think about aprons very much but they

are a valualbe tool in many many ways. So now,

wit h Thanksgiving preperations under way, go

ahead! Tie one on! Hope you do, that you're well

and that all your NEWS is good!

HIT THE ROAD!

   TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2022

                 HIT THE ROAD!

     This is an unusual  holiday I personally

 celebrate all year long! It's "Go For A Drive

Day." There's a reason it's schedued late in

November. You see the holidays can, and

often do, get hectic! Going for a quiet drive,

especially out in the country, can help calm

your nerves as you enjoy the scenery along

the highways and by ways. If you aren't

into drives far away from home and happen

to live in my area around Wilkes-Barre and

Scranton I might suggest heading out towards

our regional airport. There are two back to

back roundabouts there that will allow you

to drive as long as you want and never get

far from home. Happy motoring! Hope you

drive safely and that all your NEWS is good!

FUN GUN FACTS.

    MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2022

               FUN GUN FACTS!

   There has been a lot of talk about gun

control lately. I don't know what will or

will not happen or what should or should

not happen. But I do know a few "funny

facts" about laws already on the books

and some strange instances of gun use,

For instance, in Kennesaw, Georgia all

households are required to have a gun!

People attending political conventions

who have a concealed carry permit are

usually allowed to bring their guns. But,

squirt guns are not allowed! Russian

cosmonauts were issued three barrel

shotguns for their space travel! Not to

fight off aliens but to defend themselves

against bears should they crash land in

Siberia! And how about that Daisey BB

Gun?! It was originally given away for

free to customers who bought other

products from the company. It became

so popular it outsold all those other

products! It's still on the market and

Mothers keep insisting it should come

with a warning lable so kids won't

"shoot their eyes out!" I juts thought

you ought to know! Hope you're well

and that all your NEWS is good! 

WHERE IS EVERYTHING!?

        SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2022

            WHERE IS EVERYTHING!?

     You've heard it said. The holidays are

hectic! Well I can bear witness to that fact

from personal experience1 Yesterday I had

the chore of doing some Thanksgiving

shopping. We needed some groceries and

a few other small items. I went to the Y

first and managed to get 4 and a half miles 

in on the treadmill before I headed over to

the market. Then I got about another two

or three miles in inside the market! You

see the operators of the market I happen

to pick just went through a major

revamping of the store! Nothing seems

to be where it used to be or where I knew

things to be! I'm told this is a marketing

ploy to get customers to look all around

the store in the hope they'll find things to

buy they didn't know they wanted or

needed. In my case it simply managed

to add an hour and a half to my usual 

half hour visit! Things have changed

so recently, and just in time for holiday

shopping by the way, that many of the

clerks don't have any idea where things

are. I looked for bandaids near the

pharmacy. No sign of them. Half

way across the store I asked a clerk if

she knew where I could find them.

She said she thought she had seen them

"a few rows down that way" when she

walked by that area recently. Well at 

least her recollection was good because

I went "down that way" and did come

across bandages. Some time back I

floated an idea and it may be time to

get it out there again. We all have

GPS devices in our cars. Even in our

cell phones. Maybe the markets should

start offering apps that tell us where

everything is!? We could scan a bar

code on their front door and go right

to anything we need. Like bandages!

They could even give their employees

the app for people who come in without 

a phone! It would sure make things a

lot less hectic! Hope you're finding

everything you need, quickly, and that

all your NEWS is good!  

BAD DAY-DAY.

    SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2022

                   BAD DAY-DAY.

 I suppose of all the unusual "holidays" I

tell you about this may be the most unusual.

You see November 19th is "Have A Bad Day-

Day." I believe the creators of this observance

were trying to point out how insincere some

people, especially sales people, can be when

they say "Have a good day." It has become

something said without any true meaning 

behind it. You see a sales clerk who seems 

to be in a bad mood before you even get to

her. There's little or no eye contact. You get

your receipt and listen as she looks elsewhere

bur says "Have a nice day." So today, you

turn it around. You say "Have a bad day."

But do it with a smile to give away your

true intent which, of course, is to wish who

ever you're greetinga good day. Have a

bad day and I hope all you NEWS is good!

lol

A PLACE TO STAY.

    FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2022

            A PLACE TO STAY.

     You may remembeer yesterday's blog.

It was "Take A Hike Day." So I headed out

in the woods and kept walking. And, here I

am. Still in the woods. I didn't know when

to stop. But I figured a day goes till Midnight.

Right? Only now it's very dark and very cold.

I'm wondering if.........of wait......I see a light

up ahead by the side of that rural road. It's

says...."Bates Motel." And there's a vacancy!!!

I'll just check in and grab a shower before

retiring! How great. See you tomorrow...I

guess. Hope all your NEWS is good!

A WALK IN THE WOODS.

    THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2022

            A WALK IN THE WOODS.

  It's November 17th and that means it's

"National Take A Hike Day!" We're all

encouraged  to do some walking today.

It may be along a trail or, perhaps, just

around your neighborhood. Supporters

of this special day tell us walking does

us a lot of good in several different ways.

It's good for us physically because of the

exercise and walking can also ease your

mind and improve your mental health.

Many doctors prescribe walking for

those reasons. I find myself walking

through the woods today but, in my

case, it's not doctor's orders. My wife

just told me to "take a hike!!" Enjoy

your stroll. Hope you're well and that

all your NEWS is good!   

JUST A QUICK BITE!

   WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2022

              JUST A QUICK BITE!

   November 16th is "National Fast Foods

Day!" Who among us has not stopped in

a fast food restaurant at one time or another.

You could say the industry was born in 1921

when White  Castle opened its first drive 

tru restaurant. But the fast food craze really

took off after World War II when many

Americans began buying their own cars.

As of last year there were 197,653 fast

food restaurants just here in the United

States! You can get burgers, hot dogs,

chicken, pizza, donuts, and just about

anything else you'd like. Some people

shy away from fast food places. But I'll

bet they're glad to see one when they're

on a long road trip and looking for a

restroom! Have some fast food to

celebrate the day and add an order of

fries! Hope you enjoy your quick bite

and that all your NEWS is good!    

A SHARP IDEA!

     TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2022

               A  SHARP  IDEA!

    His name was King. And I suppose you

could say because of his invention he actually

became a king... of sorts. The year was 1904 

King had a sharp idea and on November 15th,.

he secured a patent for his invention. That invention,

by the way, bears his name. Gillette! King Cole

Gillette. Inventor of the Gillette razor blade!

Look sharp! Feel sharp! Be sharp!

Hope you're clean shaven, feeling well, and

that all your NEWS is good!

     MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2022

                 GETTING PICKLED!

    Veteran's Day has passed and Thanksgiving

is still over a week away but don't fret! There's
plenty of reasons to celebrate!
     November 14th., is "National Pickle Day!"
     Cucumbers, which came from India, were
first pickled  way back in 2030 B.C.,  I
suspect they'd be pretty tart if you could find
one of those!
      Still there are plenty of pickles to be
found. According to the people who should
know  Americans eat about 9 pounds of pickles
per person every year. Of course they sneak
some of those to you in little pieces hidden
under the buns at places like McDonalds.
      I nearly had a pickle, well a quarter of
a pickle, with my Ruben on Sunday but my
grandson thought it looked good enough to
eat, so he did!
       Cleopatra ate pickles because she believed
they helped make her beautiful. Caesar and
Napoleon thought they built muscle. I only
know they have been known to make you
burp!
        But get this! During a hot game in Texas
in 2000, when temperatures on the field reached
109 degrees, Philadelphia Eagle players drank pickle
juice and credited the briny solution for their 41-14
win!. They may be drinking it again this season
from the look of things!
        Baseball fans certainly know what it means
to "get in a pickle." They may not know, however,
that the phrase came from Shakespeare who used
it to refer to finding oneself in a difficult position
in The Tempest. 
         So before you get yourself in a pickle, eat
one, get strong, look good, and put a dent in your
9 pound yearly quota!
          Hope your pickle and all your NEWS is
good!


   

OLD BEN'S WISDOM!

    SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2022

            OLD BEN'S WISDOM!

     Our world is constantly changing!

It's difficult to be certain of anything

because of that changing cycle. That's

why it seems somewhat amazing that

the words uttered by one of this country's

best known statesmen, and a Pennsylvania

boy by the way, still ring true more than

200 years after he spoke them. It was on this

very date in 1789 that Ben Franklin observed

"The only things certain in life are death and

taxes." Seems old Ben hit the nail on the head

with that one. Hope you're well, that all your

taxes are paid, and that all your NEWS is good!

NEWS is good!

GETTING HIGH!

       SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2022

                FLYING HIGH!

  It's November 12th, an historic day in

the world of entertainment. It was on this

day in 1859 that a crowd of onlookers

saw the worlds very first Trapeze act!

A preformer, high above the audience,

swinging from one trapeze to another

with "the greatest of ease!" Or so he

made it look! The place was Paris, France.

And since that day the Trapeze act has become

a standart thrill with circus acts all around

the world. The man who did it first all

those years aho was Jules Leotard! And,

yes, the clothing you can still buy today

is named for him! He wore the first set!

Hope you're flying high and that all your

NEWS is good!  

LEST WE FORGET!

    FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2022

               LEST WE FORGET!

       This is Veteran's Day. A day to honor

the men and women who served and are

serving our country by their military service.

The day was originally known as "Armistice

Day" marking the date in 1919 when World

War I came to an end. It became a national

holiday in1938. In 1954 it was officially

renamed "Veterans Day."

     And here's a bit of trivia tied to the

date. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

was dedicated on November 11th., 1921.

And on November 11th of 1938, Kate Smith

sang Irving Berlin's "God Bless America"

for the first time on national radio. Most

folks have the day off today. Take a moment

to reflect on those who served and are

serving our nation. Hope you do and that

all your NEWS is good.  

THE NUMBERS GAME!

     THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2022

               THE NUMBERS GAME!

     November 10th is "Area Code Day." It

was November 10th., 1951 where the use of

area codes for telephone exchanges became

the norm. AT&T actually came up with the

area code idea in 1947. I, of course, am old

enough to remember when you made a call

by picking up your telephone and waiting

for the operator to say "Number please."

You would give her the number you wanted 

to call and she would connect you. Of course

most of the operators gave way to rotary and,

later, push button dial telephones which allowed

the caller to reach his or her own party. But as

more and more people needed telephones the

telephone company (now companies) needed

more telephone numbers. That 2 or 4 digit 

number you use to call suddenly became a

7 digit number. Then came still more telephones

are area codes. You've got to use them to make

a call these days even with a cell phone. So now

it's a 10 digit call and more, or course, if you're

calling another country. And you can expect

still more as the number of telephones continues

to grow. Folks in the Erie and State College areas

of Pennsylvania just had another area code added

to one already in use in those parts.  By the way,

if you happen to catch anyone using the area code

555 you can be pretty sure that person iis an actor!

The 555 area code is reserved for fictional use. You

know, television and the movies! And so we

observe if not celebrate Area Code Day. Hope

you've got all the right numbers and that all your

NEWS is good!

I HAVE APPROVED THIS BLOG.

    WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2022

       I HAVE APPROVED THIS BLOG

  Regular followers of this blok know how fond

I am of telling you about unusual "holidays" that

are observed every single day of the year. Today,

however, I'd like to suggest a new one. One that

I've come up with. I'd like to establish "Take

Down Your Signs Day." It would be held twice

each year on the day following elections. We have

put up with political commercials on radio aand

TV for at least the past two  months. Last night

at least one ran an hour after the poles closed!

They, hopefully, will be over for the time being.

But the political signs that litter our roadsides seem 

to linger long after the elections have ended. Some

people are still displaying signs for a Presidential

candidate and his running mate who, last I heard,

pretty much hate each other these days!  I had heard

there was a regulation requiring the cleanup of

political signs but I either heard wrong or, if it

does exist, it's not being enforced.  It's now time

to take them down/ I'd be OK with giving the

candidates two weeks so they could post "Thank 

you banners" over the existing signs for a week.

After that I'd prefer to see more positive sights

like brush, or grass, or even weeds ! Hope the

signs are all down soon and that all your NEWS

is good. I'm David DeCosmo and I have approved

this blog!

DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS!

   TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2022

  DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS!

   I'm thinking of this 1988 comedy today!

The title anyway. You see this is Election

Day! By tonight or tomorrow we should

know which candidates have been

successful. By successful I mean which

candidates have done the best job

convincing us that their opponents were

dirty rotten scoundrels not to be trusted

in office. Most political ads this time

around seem to be focused on how bad

the other guy is! It's been said if you can't

say anything nice you shouldn't say

anything at all. Had that philosophy been

employed during this election it's likely

we wouldn't have heard any political

commercials!   Congratulations to all

the winners. Your first task will be to show

us all you're not the dirty rotten scoundrels

your opponents told us you were!  Hope

everyone voted and that all your NEWS is good! 

FILL HER UP!

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2022

             FILL HER UP! 

   In this case my title has nothing to

do with putting gas in your car! It's

November 7th and this is "Fill your

stapler day!" The stapler is a great

invention widely used in offices,

schools, and even in the home. He

have the stapler thanks to King Louis XV

who wanted a better way to hold papers

together. You'd like the original stapler

better than today's models!  True, it only

held one staple at a time. BUT, they were

made of gold!!!!! Hope your stapler is

filled and that all your NEWS is good!

GO AHEAD, BACK UP!

   SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2022

        GO AHEAD, BACK UP!

    It was a great comedy routine done

by the team of Abbot and Costello. They

would be sitting in a car parked in a drive

way with Lou Costello at the wheel. They

had to back up to get out. Bud Abbot would

tell his partner..."Go ahead" and Lou would

start to pull forward. Abbot would yell, "No,

back up!" The two would then go through the

same thing several times as Costello argued

about "going ahead" to back up! Well it was

funny at the time. And, speaking of time,

if you're reading this on Sunday November

6th you should have already "gone forward

to back up!" You see Easter Standard Time

went into effect here on the east coast at 2am

this morning. We have about 6 clocks in our

house and all of them had to be reset. But

three of them are the old fashion kind of

clock. You know, the one with a big hand 

and a little hand. I was also told never to

turn those hands counter clockwise! Some

say you can damage the mechanism by

doing that. If that's the case the correct way

to reset the clock one hour earlier is to go

eleven hours ahead! Do the math! Next

project...trying to remember how to set

the clocks in our three vehicles. I suspect

I'll spend most of the extra hour we're

suppose to be getting re-setting all our

clocks!!! Hope you're right on time and

that all your NEWS is good!  

GO GET 'EM GIRLS!

   SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2022

            GO GET 'EM GIRLS!

    Single men. On your mark, Get set!
RUN!!!!!!!!!
     It is November 15th, also know in
some parts as "Sadie Hawkins Day!"
     According to holidayinsights.com
This holiday originated in a cartoon.
     It all began in Al Capp's "Lil Abner
Cartoon in the 1930's. In the cartoon series,
the mayor of Dogpatch was desperate to
marry off his ugly daughter. So he created
Sadie Hawkin's Day.
     On this day, a race is held and all the
single men were given a short head start.
Then, all the single women, including the
mayor's daughter, chased the boys. If a girl
catches her man, he had to marry her.
     Sadie Hawkins races and related events
were a bid deal for many years. But they
generally died out when the comic strip
was discontinued.
     There are still some events today,
usually on college campuses.
      And there's still a town in Ireland
where matchmakers get together one
day each year to get try to get couples
together! Of course in that case it's the
men chasing the women!
     After the harvests in September,
young farmers from all over Ireland would
shuffle into Lisdoonvarna to find themselves
a potential wife, with the help of the
matchmakers.
     Sadie Hawkins Day is still specifically
for the women!
     So, if you're male and single, this
is a good day to keep looking over your
shoulder!
      You may want to walk a little faster.
Or, maybe, just stop!
      That Depends on what, or who, you
 see!
      Hope you meet your Sadie, and that all
your NEWS is good!