SHOULD HAVE, WOULD HAVE, COULD HAVE.

             TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2022

SHOULD HAVE, WOULD HAVE, COULD HAVE/

          I had just completed a couple errands

and was thinking about other things that

need to be done when I realized it was

November 1st. This marks the annual

"Give Up Your Should Of Day!" The idea

is simple. You give up things like "I should go

to the gym. I should lose weight. I should help

clean up the house." Toss them all out the window!

After last year's  "Give Up Your Should

Of Day" participants reported feeling a lot better

about themselves! Some of them felf so much

better they gave up their "Should of''s" for the

following day too! I think it's a great holiday

that we should celebrate more often. And one

we shouldn't put off! Hope you're well and that

all your NEWS is good. 

HAVE YOU HEARD FROM HARRY?

        MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2022

    HAVE YOU HEARD FROM HARRY?  

        One of the stories closely associated

with Halloween is true! World renowned

magician and escape artist Harry Houdini

died on Halloween day in 1926, For years

after his dearth his wife held a seance every

Halloween in the hope of  ringing his spirit

back. She eventually stopped but Houdini

fans continue the practice. They're hoping he

can pull off his greatest trick and escape

the grave! In reality, his spirit lives on!  It's

Halloween. Let me know if he visits you!

Hope all your NEWS is good! 

    

COLD GHOSTS!

    SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2022

            COLD GHOSTS!

    

       Halloween is still a day away. But you don't have to wait

for a good scare!
   You may have a chill in store tonight...IF....you observe a
bizarre "holiday" that's scheduled for this pre-Halloween Eve!
   So you're thinking "Mischief Night". right?
   Wrong!
   The chill tonight will be coming from something lurking
right in your own house! It may be behind you as you read
this essay!
    You see October 30th is "Haunted Refrigerator Night!"
     Ruth and Thomas Roy came up with this unusual
observance.
     They suggest there's no need to go out to one of those
"Haunted Houses" when you could have the scare of a
lifetime waiting right there in your Fridge or Freezer!
      You may or may not have been keeping your
refrigerator closed just in case there's a power outage
in your neighborhood.
      But even if you occasionally reach in for a snack or
a beverage there's a good chance it's been quite awhile
since you really checked all of the items buried inside
that cold vault!
      So here's the plan.
      Turn out the lights.  Perhaps a couple of candles
 would be appropriate.
      Gather around your refrigerator this night…open the door
slowly and take in a deep breath…slowly move things around
and see what is lurking in that container or box buried in there!
      With a little luck you're discover a forgotten treat that's
been safely maintained in its cold surroundings.
       Of course there's also the chance you may be growing
your own penicillin on some leftover that's been forgotten
far too long ago. And that, my friends, is SCARY!
       Either way this is a great setting (and excuse) for a
Haunted Refrigerator Party!
       And mark the date on your calendar for next year so
you don't miss it!
       Hope that little light inside is working and that all
your NEWS is good!








































 

HAPPY ALLENTIDE!

 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2022

          HAPPY ALLENTIDE!

    It's October 29th. The date of an old

Cornish Festival known as "Allentide."

It's observed the Saturday cloest to

Halloween and, in fact, it's closely associated

with ghosts and such just like Halloween.

But Allentide features a couple traditions

that are, to say the least, unique! Apples

were given out as gifts on Allentide. But

young girls didn't eat them. Instead they

placed them under their pillows, Tooth

Fairy style, in the belief they would then

dream of the man they were to marry!

Another unusual Allentide tradition involved

hanging apples from a suspended board with

candles on top of the plank. You "bobbed"

for the apples by reaching up rather than

dunking into a pail of water. Proble is, if

you tilted the board as you stretched for your

apple you were likely to get some hot candle

wax on your head! I think I'll stick with

Hallowen's Trick or Treat traditions! Hope

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

WHAT TO CELEBRATE?

    FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2022

      WHAT TO CELEBRATE?

   Decisions, decisions! It's October

28th and there are two unofficial, but

interesting, holidays being observed

today. It is "National Chocolate Day."

It's also "International Champagne

Day!" I know one observes Chocolate

Day by consuming chocolates. The

instrictions for Champagne Day are

in French so I'm not sure exactly what's

expected. I would think, however, that

drinking champagne would be a logical

part of any celebration. Not wishing to 

offend anyone I've decided to celebrate

both. I have one full bottle and one box

of chocolates. I should be able to get

observe both in fairly short order. Hope

you'll be celebratinh too and that all your

NEWS is good! (With enough champagne

and chocolate it should be!) 

WHERE HAS THIS YEAR GONE?

    THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2022

    WHERE HAS THIS YEAR GONE?

   You hear it asked all the time! "Where

has this year gone?" The summer seems

to have whizzed by! It seems like we should

still be in September instead of near the end

of October. But a visit to a local supermarket

today may have provided the answer. I found

the hall where the shopping carts are kept

fully stocked with snow shovels and small

children's sleds! Halloween decorations

could be seen in many shops even before

Labor Day. So now I think I get it. 

Marketing is forcing us to be absorbed 

into holidays and seasonal changes long

before they actually happen! Perhaps it's

time to relax a bit and let time slide by

slowly! Hope you do, that you're well,

and that all your NEWS is good!   

SENIOR FITNESS!

     WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2022

                 SENIOR FITNESS!

   This is "National Senior Fitness Day!" 

It's a time to encourage those of us who

have "logged a few miles" to be aware

of the importance of exercise! It can help

live a few more of those Senior years! I'm

a firm believer in exercise so I decided to

join in the day's efforts. I sat on my porch

rocking chair, rocking back and forth while

holding a 3 pound weight in each hand!

Pretty impressive I'd say. My wife disagrees.

But, what does she know? Even as she watched

me she insisted there were three dumbells on

the porch! Hope you're fit and that all your

NEWS is good!  

WHAT'S "SHAKEN?"

    TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2022

             WHAT'S "SHAKEN?"

    Our Travelworld "Leaf Peepers Tour"

wrapped up Monday with a visit to the

Hancock Shaker village in Handcock,

Massachusetts. It's a living history museum

dedicated to the preservation of the legacy

of the Shakers, a utopian religious sect

that was self sufficent but did not allow

marriage. Since there were no childrren

the sect haad to depend on recruiting

believes from outside their community.

Eventually those efforts failed and the

sect pretty much died out in this

location. Visitors can tour the large

building that served as a warehouse,

kitchen, religious meeting room, and

dormitory which required a seperation

of men and women members. There's

also a large stone and wooden round banrn

which allowed "the brothers" to move

hay from their storage area to the livestock

simply my turning from the grain bin to

the cows. Interesting sights, lessons, as

well as food and entertainment on our

tour. I hope you enjoyed tagging along

by way of this Blog and that all your NEWS

is good!

 

SWEET TREATS AND MEMORIES!

        MONDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2022

    SWEET TREATS AND MEMORIES!

   Our Travelworld Leaf Peepers Tour concluded

the New Hampshire part of our journey with two

great stops. The first was Kellerhaus Candies. A

Candy Store that would make Willy Wanka jealous!

We found plenty of sweet treats and fantastic ice

cream. An unusual "breakfast." But. hey, we're on

vacation! Next we stopped at the Wright Museum

of World War Two in Wolfeboro. This museum

isn't limited to the "military side" of WWII but,

instead, includes exhibits showing what life was

like on the homefront while the war was going

on overseas! There are all kinds of exhibits

including a 1940's/50's era model of a Malt

Shop dedicated in memory of a soldier from

Scranton who died in combat. There's also

two Stuart tanks manufactured in Berwick

during the war. The day concluded with

time to eat and shop in Wolfeboro, a town on

the banks of Lake Winnipsaaukee! Another

wonderful educational and entertaining

adventure filled day thanks to Travelworld.

Glad you're coming along via my Blog and

hope we''l actually see you on board some

time in the future. Meanwhile be well, and

may all your NEWS be good!

RAILS AND "SAILS!"

 Sunday, October 23, 2022

      RAILS AND SAILS!

 Our Travelworld Leaf Peepers Tour' kept us busy and excited Saturday! First we got back on board the Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad for a wonderful ride to and from "The Common Man Restaurant" where we enjoyed lunch. We passed by a huge deer farm on the way and we're greeted my members of the Ashland Historical Society ( Ashland NH) wearing clothing you would have seen when their station opened in the 1800's! During the evening we sailed on the Mount Washington tour boat on Lake Winnipesaukee. It was a Halloween Dinner Dance cruise with most everyone dressed in costume for the occasion! Lot of food, music, and dancing. Fun for all! Hope you're enjoying this tour via my blog and that all your NEWS is good!

THE "OTHER COUNTRY!"

    SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2022

       THE "OTHER COUNTRY!"

   Day two of our Travelworld Leaf Peepers

tour found us in Old Bennington, VT. at the

local museum. There's a fantastic collection

of area history there including a "Wasp" the

only automobile ever manufactured in VT!

It was hear we learned that for some 14 years,

before finally being admitted to the United

States, Vermont was, in essance, its own

country! It only became a state when West

Virgina was being considered for admission

to the Union as a "Slave state!" To strike a

balance, Vermont was admitted first as a

"Free state."

 Our travels also took us to NH where we

boarded the "Turkey Train" on the 

Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad. Here

he sat and rode in a comfortable 1920's

era dinning car and were served a full course

turkey dinner as we enjoyed views of the

lake and colorful leaves!

Hope you're enjoying the tour via my

Blog and that all your NEWS is good!  

PEEKING AT LEAVES! DAY 1

    FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2022

          PEEKING AT LEAVES!

 We just couldn't sit still! After escorting

90 wonderful people on a Travelworld

cruise to New England and Canada just

last week my wife and I are now taking

a bus load of adventure seekers to NH.

We've come to look at the beautiful leaves

but that's just a small part of this excursion.

On Thursday we visited Chesterwood. It's

the home, garden and studios of Daniel

Chester French in Stockbridge, MA. If you

don't immediately recognize his name you

should certainly recognize his work! French

was the sculptor of the statue of Abe Lincoln

sitting in the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, 

the Minuteman statue in Concord and about a

hundred other monuments! We saw the clay

and plaster forms used as the basis for the

the finished cast monuments and the beautiful

gardens surrounding his home. Afterwards we

toured the nearby Norman Rockwell Museum.

Best known for his Saturday Evening Post

magazine covers Rockwell's treasured art work

pieces on on display here year round. A real

look and feel of Americana today! I'll try to

include a couple photos but you're got to get

yourself on one of these Travelworld tours

to truly enjoy our country's treasures. I'll

try to keep checking in, internet permitting!

Hope all your NEWS is good!

you do and that all your NEWS   

INTO THE WOODS!

    THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2022

              INTO THE WOODS!

    Here we are more than half way throug

the month and the week and I nearly forgot

to tell you this is "National Forest Products

Week!" We depend of forests for more than

you might know. Air, water, habitat for

wildlife, and lumber for all sorts of things!

But at this time of the year, around these

parts, we also count on another forest

product! It's the colorful autum leaves that

help our economy by bringing tourists around

and ease our minds with those beautiful colors.

On our Travelworld cruise to New England

and Canada last week we saw the change 

beginning. And now that I've been home

for all of four days I realize it's time to head

out again to see the colors north of us! So,

by the time many of you read this, my wife

and I will be escorting another Travelworld

ggroup to NH to check the forests there!

Hope you'll get into the woods to enjoy the

leaves and that all your NEWS is good!  

TOO MUCH INFORMATION!

    WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2022

         TOO MUCH INFORMATION!

    We've all had it happen. Example. You ask

someone what kind of apples are on a certain

tree and you end up getting a lecture on how

many kinds of apples exist, how long it took

to grow the tree, and how many wars its lived

through. I cite this example because October

19th is "Information Overload Day!" These

days we are bombarded with information.

And more and more of it somes from the world

wide web! You'd be surprised to know the huge

number of people who depend on social media

such as Facebook for their "News!" And yet

Facebook is media filled with people passing

along their opinions as though those opinions

were certified facts. So take a step back today

and remember that the title of my daily blog

is sometimes worth remembering. "No news is

....good news." Still, I hope all your NEWS is

good!

 

LOOKING SHARP!

 TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2022

         LOOKING SHARP!

   This is truly a day for looking sharp

gentlemen. October 18th is "International

Necktie Day!" Ties date back as far as the

30 Years War in 1618 when soldier's uniforms

included a type of tie as neck protection. It

evolved, of course, into a common piece of

attire for gentlemen. I have an extensive

collection of neckties. I wore one nearly

everyday when I was in broadcasting. Even

when I was in radio! These days I only wear

them for special occasions like weddings

and funerals. I suppose I ought to wear

them more often. People seem to miss

them on me. Just last week when I was

singing Karaoke on our cruise I heard a

lot of people shouting about throwing

a necktie party for me, Unfortunately

the cruise was coming to an end so I

couldn't stick around for that. Anyhow

today is the perfect day to "tie one on"

so I hope you will, and that all your

NEWS is good!  

PLEASE TAKE ONE!

   MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2022

        PLEASE TAKE ONE!

 It's October 17th friends. It is

"Mulligan Day!" Mulligan is a

action usually associate with the

game of golf. To "take a Mulligan"

is an accepted form of cheating.

You have a bad shot and you ignor

it and shoot again. There are a number

of stories as to how the Mulligan came

aabout and they all involve golf and,

as you'd suspect, people named Mulligan.

But Mulligans are not limited to golf!!!

You can, especially on this special day,

take a free "do-over" for something else

you may have done wrong and wish to

correct. The only problem is this! You

are only allowed one Mulligan! Since my

list of errors is rather substantial I'll have

to decide on which I use my Mulligan!

Hope the choice is easier for you and that

all your NEWS is good1  

 

IN HONOR OF NOAH!

   SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2022

        IN HONOR OF NOAH!

   Hi gang! I'm taking a break from vacation

(a very short break) to make sure you are 

aware this is "Dictionary Day!" October

16th was selected as the perfect date as it

was the birthday of Noah Webster, considered

to be the father of the American Dictionary.

Mr. Webster began work on his dictionary

when he was 43-years-old. It took him 27

years to complete his work. But, in reality,

work on the dictionary never really stopped.

New words continue to be added every

year. "Zoom" is a good example. The

new use for the word Zoom has to do with

computer generated meetings between

various people as opposed to "zoom"

as in very fast speed. 15 new words have

been added to the 2022 dictionary already.

I'd tell you what those words are but I 

can't. I can't look them up because I

don't know who to spell them! I've been

telling my teachers that for years. But

they kept sending me to the dictionary.

Maybe I'll just Goggle them! Hope you're

up to date on your words and that all

your NEWS is good! 

     

TWO IF BY SEA!

    TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2022

             TWO IF BY SEA! 

   Had we come into town a couple

hundred years ago I suspect there

would have been two lanterns showing

in the Old North Church tower. But,

in fact, we sailed into Boston Harbor

Monday aboard the Enchanted

Princess Cruise ship. Our tour of New

England and Canada continues through

the week. Monday was, of course,

Canadian Thanksgiving so signs aboard

the ship all saluted our Canadia passengers.

Boston is America;s oldest city so many

of our passengers went ashore to see

some of the historic sights. Most of

the shore tours were fully booked so

some set out on their own walking tour.

Meanwhile there were shops, restaurants,

a movie, and other entertainment right

on board for those staying behind to

enjoy. Tomorrow we'll be docked at

Bar Harbor. Hope you're coming

along via my posts, having a good time,

and that all your NEWS is good!

 

SETTING SAIL!

    SUNDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2022

              SETTING SAIL!

   As most of you are aware from my

 "regular" Facebook poata, my wife 

and I was escorting a group of people

on a Travelworl cruise to New England

and Cannada. We're aboard the beautuful

Enchanted Princess, a two year old vessel

with all the comforts of home/ The entertainment

is fantastic and I even got to fo a little karoke

last night with one of my favorite Neil Sadacka

songs! But even before we actually set said

the views of the New York skyline had

everyone thrilled. Hope you'll come along

by way of my posts and a Blog when I have

time to put one together. Hope all your NEWS

is good! (And that you'll come along on one

of our Travelworld adventures!)

IT FOR CHASIE!

       FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2022

               IT FOR CHASIE!

     October 8th is "American Touch

Tag Day!" It's a game you should

remember. Most everybody played it

as children although the name of the

game varied from place to place. Around

our neighborhood it was called "It For

Chasie!" But whatever you called it

the general rules were probably

pretty much the same. Whoever was

"It" had to find and chase an opponent

them tag him or her. Sometimes various

places were designated as Safe spots 

where you were not allowed to be

tagged. Something like standing on a

base in Baseball. Move off and you could

be tagged. The game even inspired a

movie called "Tag" about a group of

adult men who spent one month a year

continuing the game they played as kids!

It's a true story! So celebrate yourself

today by joining in a good old fashion

game of tag with the kids, neighbors,

or anybody else to wants to join in.

TAG! You're it! And I hope your NEWS

is good! 

HEISMAN'S BIG WIN!

       OCTOBER 7, 2022

   HEISMAN'S BIG WIN!

         

    October 7th was a milestone day for Johnny

Heisman in 1916. If you don't know much about

the man you probably do know about the trophy

that bears his name. The Heisman Trophy is awarded

to the most outstanding college football player each

year. John Heisman was a well know and very successful

coach. Not just in football! He coached basketball and

baseball too. Additionally, he was a sports writer and...

an actor! His coaching on the football field was the

trait that probably made him most notable. He was,

for instance, one of those who lobbied, successfully,

to make the forward pass a legitimate move in the game

of football. As to October 7, 1916, it was on that day that

Heisman, coaching Georgia Tech, had the most lopsided

win in the history of the game. His team defeated Cumberland

222 to 0! Bet he had them pass a lot in that contest! Just

thought you ought to know! Hope you're well and that all

your NEWS is good!

NO WONDER HE WAS MAD!

    THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2022

     NO WONDER HE WAS MAD!

    Today, October 6th., is "Mad Hatter

Day!" Most of you probably remember

that strange character from Alice In

Wonderland. He drove everybody mad

including Alice! He wore a top hat with

a huge tag reading 10/6. That was the size

of the hat and, coincidentally, the numbers

representing October 6th. That's the main

reason why this is "Mad Hatter Day." While

that seems innocent enough the story behind

the expression "Mad as a hatter" is really quite

serious. In the 1800's many hats, especially

Top Hats were made with a process involving

lead. Once injested into one's system, lead

can cause someone to go insane. Hence "Mad!"

But the character is a colorful one and the 

story is worth reading or watching again and

again. Just don't let it drive your crazy!!! Hope

you're sane and that all your NEWS is good! 

RHYME AND READ!

     WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2022

                RHYME AND READ!

   It's October 5th. That means this is

"Random Acts of Poetry Day!" It is

observed annually on the first Wednesday

in October. It's a day when people are.

encouraged to come up with their own

poems at random and share them with 

others. It gives me an excuse to read one

of my own poems that I wrote awhile 

back. It's about the thousands of pictures

I've been taking through the years, I call it

       "The Stories My Pictures Tell!

       I find myself looking at photos

   of times that I call "used-to-bes."

   They carry me back to days now long gone.

   And revive loving memories.

   Some that I see show small children.

   That now stand much taller that I.

   Some are of family no longer around

   that may well bring a tear to my eye.

   All make a treasure more precious than gold. 

   But don't lock it away in some case!

   They're meant to be shared and meant to be seen

   So those memories cannot be erased.

    Take new ones whenever the chance comes along.

    So that someday when "this time" is old,

    Others may look at the memories you've shared,

    And learn from the stories you've told.   

    My photos will be here long after I'm gone.

    Please look at them once in awhile.  

    Remember the Love that went into each one.

    Then remember me too, with a smile!   

     That's it! Hope you like it and will enjoy

a poem or two of your own today. I also hope

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

GREETINGS FROM......

   TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2022

          GREETINGS FROM....

    It's the first full week in October

which means this is "National Postcard

Week!" Postcards have been around

since the 1700's but they didn't go over

very well initially. Many people rejected

them because they didn't like the idea of

other people "reading their mail" just by

looking at the back of the cards. Eventually,

of course, they became very popular as

people sent scenes of their favorite vacation

spots or attractions to family and  friends

back home. For many years they could

so that for just a penny. A penny postage

that is. These days social media has made

a dent on the postcard industry.  You can

send those greetings and pictures instantly

through venues like Facebook and the

like. Still, a lot of people like to but a

postcard from time to time. Some

collect them and a lot end up pasted

on refrigerators. You can still send them

the old fashion way but don't expect

to send them for a penny anymore.

Celebrate by picking up a postcard

and sending it to a family member

or a friend. And include a message!  

"Wish you were here" still works!

Hope you're well and that all your

NEWS is good!  

AGNES GOES TO THE DRIVE IN!

   MONDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2022

AGNES GOES TO THE DRIVE IN!

   I spent a lot of time at Drive In Theaters

as I was growing up. My Dad was a

projectionist who worked at several. I

wonder how he would have felt to be on

the job at the Moonlight Drive In in West

Wyoming Sunday night to see me on the

big screen?! The feature attraction was

the brilliant documentary on the 50th

anniversary of the tropical storm Agnes

flood which destroyed homes and businesses

in Wyoming Vally in 1972. I played a roll in

the movie recounting my work as Public

Information Officer for Luzerne County

Civil Defense during the emergency. I

was interviewed for the documentary which

was produced by Alan Stout and Directed by

Bob Savakinus with editing by Tim Novotney

and included historical consulant Tony Brooks.

After the showing one of those who attended

told me "I thought it was good and you were

nice and you did a job job when you were, like,

in the movie so, that was pretty cool!"

I thought that was a very kind statement

coming from my 7-year-old Grandson who

attended the showing with his Dad, my son.

Neither, of course, were actually around when

Anges hit! I explained to my grandson that

I had to play myself in the mivie because

Brad Pitt wasn't available! Hope you got 

to see it and that all your NEWS is good! 

CLEANING UP!

    SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2022

               CLEANING UP!

   I want to join the millions, or

thousands, or hundreds, or handful

of people who realize that October

2nd. is National Custodial Workers

Recognition Day!

   Well, at least YOU know now!

   This day has special meaning to

me because I was once in the ranks

of those who clean up after everybody

else has gone home for the day. I was

a janitor!

    In fact, I got my big start in radio

as a custodial worker. After my clean

up work was complete at WTHT in

Hazleton, and the station was off the

air for the day, I used to play around

with the control board and the

turntables. Then, when someone got

sick, I was the only other person other

than those with existing shifts, that

knew how to work the equipment!

   That's how I got on the air......after

the restrooms were cleaned of course!

To this day I can't stand to see a paper

towel tossed on the floor. I've just got

to pick it up!

    Area radio actually featured another

custodial worker. Remember "Emerson,

the Main-tain-ence Man" from WARM?

Voiced by radio veteran Stan Neishel.

Unfortunately, we just lost Stan awhile

back. A real loss!

Emerson's humor cleated laughs all

over WARMland. I'm not sure if he,

like me, however, ever really had to

use a mop and the dustpan!

     So let's hear it today for the men

and women who scrub the floors and

the toilets and make sure there are

plenty of paper towels for the rest of

us to dispose of properly.

     Hope I can make my wife understand

I retired from that job many years ago,

and that all your NEWS is good!