WHAT'S AHREAD?

     MONDAY, JANUARY 1, 2024

          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 2023. 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, 2024 is bound to show

up so be prepared. Hope you have a

Happy New Year and that all your NEWS

is good! 

 

IT'S AN ARM AND HAMMER DAY!

  SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2023

   IT'S AN ARM AND HAMMER DAY!

   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 youN

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! 

 

TEMPUS FUGIT!

   FRI DAY, DECEMBER 29TH. 2023

              TEMPUS FUGIT!

       For those who don't know "Tempus

Fugit" is Latin for "time flies!" And today

is 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
2016. 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, 2023

          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 HOLIDAY TRADITION!

    WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2023

          A NUTTY HOLIDAY 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 FRIENDS!

    TUESDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2023

     IT'S NOT OVER YET FRIENDS!

     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!   

AND SO THIS IS CHRISTMAS!

        DECEMBER 25, 2023

   AND SO THIS IS 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 PERSONAL CHRISTMAS MIRACLE!

          DECEMBER 24, 2023

MY PERSONAL CHRISTMAS MIRACLE!

    It's Christmas Eve friends, and this

is my annual Christmas Present to all of

you. 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 more

than 30 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 Harding 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 models

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!     

 

HEAT UP THE MEATLOAF!

   SATURDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2023

      HEAT UP 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!

LIGHT EM UP!

  FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2023

          LIGHT EM UP!

    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! 

 

      

YULE DAY!

     THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2023

            YULE DAY!

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

donn'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!  

WRAP IT UP!!!

     WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2023

                    WRAP IT UP!!!

    Don't get worried. This isn't a wrap

song or verse. It's an observation, and

suggestion for retailers out there. You

sell us these swell presents then send

us home with them in a bag! That leaves

guys, like me, to wrap them for Christmas.

I'm not a very good wrapper! I end up with

bits and pieces of wrapping paper and tape

on me. Lots all over the floor too! Why

don't you pre-wrap the presents? Let us see

a sample of the product then send us home

with an already wrapped present. It would

help guys like me a lot. Of course bad as my

wrapping is I'm certain my wife will 

appreciate the bright can of SPAM I've  

just wrapped up in red paper and.....oh....

wait! I want it to be a big surpise. Don;t

say anything! Hope you're all wrapped

up and that all your NEWS is good!  

PLENTY TO CELEBRATE!

    TUESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2023

        PLENTY 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!

 

FOR ALL THOSE FLAKES OUT THERE!

     MONDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2023

  FOR ALL THOSE 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! 

OUR SUMMER CHRISTMAS IN CLEVELAND!

 

       SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17TH., 2023
OUR SUMMER CHRISTMAS IN CLEVELAND!

      You've probably heard of Christmas in
July. But one of our favorite Christmas
memories was made in June!
    If was June of 2009 and my wife and
I took a road trip that lead us to
Cleveland, Ohio!
    We passed by the Rock and Roll Hall
of Fame en route to our destination....the
"Christmas Story House."
     It's the home that was used in the movie
"A Christmas Story." A feature all about a
little boy whose only Christmas wish was to
get a Red Ryder BB gun. At one time or
another all little boys want a BB gun!
    If you haven't seen it yet...welcome back
to the United States from your monastery
in the mountains of Tibet or where ever
you've been isolated.
     The movie has become a Christmas
classic and we actually base all of our
Christmas cards on the story.
     It was such a treat to visit the house used
in several scenes! We got to see THE Leg
Lamp! I got to hide under the kitchen sink
just like Ralphie's brother Randy did in the
movie! We even we got to see the actual Red
Rider BB gun that co-stared in the feature.
     And though it was the middle of June
memories of the film made us feel just like
it was Christmas!
     When it comes right down to it a big
part of Christmas is the memories of
previous holidays....usually from the days
when we were kids! Remember those days
when you were a kid, couldn't get to sleep
Christmas Eve, then woke your folks up
about 6am to check and see what Santa left
under the tree!
      I wonder if its too late to sneak an ad
for a Red Ryder BB gun into the newspaper
near the Cross Word Puzzle my wife does
every day. Yea......I know exactly what
she'd say! You're saying the same thing!
      Hope your list to Santa has already
been mailed and that all your NEWS is
good!

"STUPID TOY DAY!"

    SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2023

               "STUPID TOY DAY!"

   So, as it turns out, somebody designated

December 16th as "Stupid Toy Day." We

don't know who, only that it began in 2017.

Now "stupid" is a relative term. What some

people consider stupid or silly, others consider

"classic." There were a couple of toys, however

that may qualify in today's category. "The Head

Shirking Kit" for kids for instance. Or the

"Atomic Lab" that actually contained some

radio active material! There are some very

interesting facts about toys you may know

know. The facts. not the toys of course. 

 Play-Doh for instance was originally

invented as a compound to clean wall

paper. Everybody knows Barbie. She's

even got a movie going around these days.

But did you know Barbie has a full name?

It's Barbie Millicent Roberts!!! The spinning

top may have been considered stupid when

it first turned up. But that was thousands

of years ago and you can bet a top or two

can be found spinning today! GI Joe has

been around for a few years too. But he's

got a new classification. He's now "an

Action Toy!" Boys didn't like being told

they were playing with "dolls." In the

end I think we should let the kids decide

what's "stupid", "silly," or, in their

minds, just plain fun. We've still got

our Mr. Potato Head!  Have fun!

Hope all your NEWS is good!

y  

A CHRISTMAS "FASHION?"

    FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2023

      A CHISTMAS "FASHION?"

   Christmas time is filled with traditions!

Caroling, decorations, presents, and parties

to name just a few. But today, December

15th 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 YOUR TREE!

         FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2023

      THE ELEPHANT UNDER YOUR TREE!

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

My wife joined some fellow church women this

time last year 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!

 

WELL I'LL BE A MONKEY'S UNCLE!

   

    THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14TH., 2023
    WELL I'LL BE 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!

HOLD YOUR HORSES!

      WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2023

                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 honor the horse with a win today!

Hope you do and that all your NEWS is good!

YOUR DING A LING!

    TUESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2023

          YOUR  DING A LING!

        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. The 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!  

HAVE A DICKENS OF A CHRISTMAS!

     MONDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2023

     HAVE A  DICKENS OF A CGRISTMAS!

    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!

     SUNDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2023

         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!

      SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2023

                LOST AND FOUND!   

        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! 

   

2,4,6,8, WHAT DO WE APPRECIATE?

      FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2023  

 2,4,6,8, WHAT DO WE APPRECIATE?     

   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, there's

plenty now so, no worries. Hope you appreciate 

your supply and that all your NEWS is good.

BEANO???

      THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2023

                 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!

      WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2023

     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! 

SALUTE!

       TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5th, 2023

                       SALUTE!

  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!

 

HIS CHRISTMAS LIST!

    MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2023

         HIS CHRISTMAS LIST!

       Before you start jotting down a

numerical list of all the things "he" 

wants for Christmas or the things

you're considering buying, allow me

to explain that December 4th is  "Santa's

List Day," It's the day when Santa and

his elves begin their final review of

his "Naughty Or Nice list." Ironically

I mention it just after I've completed 

a lengthy afternoon drive taking my

wife to various spots she had or wanted

to visit. Which, by the way, comes after

last evening when I prepared her supper

and put all the tray tables away nicely.

Not that those efforts should put me on

his "Nice list." Although he may want

to consider them. (Might as well let

him know, just in case!) Hope you're

nice, well, and that all your NEWS is

good! 

THE CHRISTMAS PARTY I DIDN'T ATTEND!

            SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2023

THE CHRISTMAS PARTY I DIDN'T ATTEND!

       As we get into December a host of
holiday memories begin to fill our minds.
Most are pleasant although, perhaps,
sentimental.
    That first visit with Santa. Maybe yours.
Maybe your kids or grandkids. That
Christmas wish list. Christmas shopping.
     I've got a host of them too. Right now
I'm thinking back to December of
1959 and a very important office Christmas
party!
     Before you get the wrong idea that
often gets associated with office parties
allow me to point out this was a party I
did not attend! And that's what made it
so special to me!
      I was an Errand Boy at my local
radio station, WAZL in Hazleton.
Most everyone at the station was invited
to attend the Christmas party. The DJ's
pre-recorded their shows that evening
so the music would go on.
      But somebody had to play those
tapes! And, once each half hour, somebody
had to go on-the-air with the station
identification! And that December evening
(the exact date escapes me) I was the guy
who got to do that! It was my first time on
the air!
       Between radio, and television, and with
pauses between jobs here and there,  I've been
on the air somewhere ever since! As o this

 December that makes 64 years! That's the kind 

of a Christmas memory that keeps

on giving! Hope you're heard or seen me
somewhere along the way and that all your
NEWS is good!
       

     
   

EXTRA BUTTER PLEASE!

  SATURDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2023

      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 way! Enjoy your

popcorn! Hope all your NEWS is good!

FORD AND FUEL!

    FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2023

            FORD AND FUEL!

    December 1st is a very big day in 

automotive history! On this day in 1913

Henry Ford introduced the automobile

assembly line to the world. The industry

would never be the same afterwords! 

And, on that very same day, Gluf Oil

Company oped the first drive up gas

station in the United States. It was in

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania! Ford is still

making cars and you can still get a

fill up in Pittsburgh! But some things

have changed. Ford's Model T sold

for 525 dollars! And gas at that first

service station went for 27 cents a gallon!

And, by the way, they sold 30 gallons

that day! Hope you're all filled up and

that all your NEWS is good!

JAR HEADS!

    THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2023

                        JAR HEADS!

    I suppose my title is a bit misleading since

it's really about jars rather than cans and

its got nothing to do with Marines! 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!  

A FORGOTTEN HOLIDAY!

    WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2023

      A 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!

  

WHY I MISSED THE HUNT!

 

   TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28TH., 2023
         WHY I MISSED THE HUNT!

    While thousands of my fellow males\and
a lot of women enjoyed a day in the beautiful,
though cold and rainy, forests of Pennsylvania
on the first day of deer hunting season I found
myself otherwise occupied.
      I missed the hunt. But I have several
good reasons!
      First, the call never came! What call
you may ask? I'm glad you did.
      On Sunday I and several members
of our family attended the annual Pancake
and Sausage dinner at the Fire Company in
Unityville. In addition to the great meal

the volunteers hold their annual raffle.
      The first three prizes were firearms
of various sorts. I didn't recognize the
makes or specifics. I figured they'd fill me
in when they called to tell me which I
had won. Imagine my surprise when no
one called! I know I wrote my number
very clearly!
       So, obliviously, I couldn't go hunting
because I had no gun! I don't think you're
allowed to throw rocks at the bucks.
        Admittedly there were other reasons.
I wasn't fond of the idea of sitting or
standing out in the cold all day. 

Then there is the fact I don't have
a license. That played into it as well!
         If I had won one of those neat
weapons it would have been a different
story. I would have spent the day inside
bragging about me finally winning
something.
          I have never been a hunter. Even
back in the days when I used to teach
Archery!
          But hunters please note, although
I do not hunt I do enjoy a good venison
steak! Let me know if you need my
address!
           Hope you're all dry by now and
that all your NEWS is good!

CIDER MONDAY!

     MONDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2023

              CIDER MONDAY!

    No, I haven't spelled it wrong. Read on.

Today is one of our nation's modern

"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!   

A NEW UNUSUAL "HOLIDAY!"

   SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2023

   A NEW UNUSUAL "HOLIDAY!"

   Now that Thanksgiving has come

and gone we've got a whole list of

special "shopping holidays" to observe.

We all know about Black Friday, Small

Shopping Saturday, and Cyber Monday.

But as of 2022 you can add a new one

to the list. The first Sunday after

Thanksgiving is now "Second Hand

Sunday." It's a day when you are

encouraged to do your shopping at

second hand stores. You can usually

find some great bargains and in some

cases you can help out a charity at

the same time. Salvation Army and

Goodwill Industries both operate

Second Hand stores. More than70% of

people in a recent survey said they

would have no objection to receiving

a gift that came from a second hand

store. Ironically only about 30%  of

those in that survey said they would

give a gift from such an outlet. But

give it a try! You can find some nice

merchandise at very reasonable 

prices. The only caution I might

offer would be to beware of buying

a garment from a second hand store

in Bangalore. You might end up

with a "Who is Sori now?!"

Hope you find some good bargains

and that all your NEWS is good! 

HATS OFF TO HATS!

       SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2023

           HATS OFF TO HATS!

     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 gentlemen 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 your NEWS is good! 

I'M STUFFED!

FRIDAY , NOVEMBER 24TH., 2023

               I'M STUFFED!
   Wow! Another great Thanksgiving meal
is in the books (and in me as well!).
    Every year I look forward to the turkey
the mashed potatoes, and, of course, the
desserts! I am a meat and potatoes man!
    In years past I might have scoped a 
very small portion of filling on my plate
just to be sociable. I doubt that more than
a forkful every found its way into my
mouth.
     There was an exception. It was years
ago when my Dad was still around. He
often made an Italian stuffing that
featured hot Italian sausage and a nice
Italian cheese.
      Just a couple years ago my wife

remembered helping my dad make

the stuffing and she believed she

could duplicate the recipe.
      Well, she got it right! Wow! It was
fantastic. It's become my favorite

Thanksgiving dish!
         Dad would be proud!

         The only problem is, between

the turkey,ham, potatos, special dishes

everyone brought, desert, and that

Italian filling, it's me, not the turkey,

that's stuffed! 
         Hope you are too, had a nice

Thanksgiving, and that all your NEW

is good! 

A SHARP IDEA!

    THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2023

                 A SHARP IDEA!

   Today we are remembering a man who

most of you have never heard of but who

had a major impack in the world of

education. He wasn't a professor. He was,

by trade, a carpenter! But he was also an

inventor! His name was John Lee Love.

 And on this day, in 1897, he

patened an invention that has been used

in the educational system ever since. It

was the hand cranked pencil sharpener!!

I've used one many a time. But I must

admit is was another invention, by

scientist Joseph Priestley, that helped

me get through school. It was on the other

end of those pencils. The eraser! Hope

you're sharp as ever and that all your

NEWS is good.

REMEMBERING CAMELOT!

         WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2023

           REMEMBERING CAMELOT!

Sorry friends. I've got to be serious

today.
     If you were alive in 1963 and older
than 10 you probably remember just
where you were and what you were doing
on this day that November.
    Thanksgiving was just a few days away.
    Then came the news flash..
     President Kennedy had been shot while
riding in a motorcade in Dallas Texas!
     I was working as a DJ/Newsman at
WNAK in Nanticoke and was on my way
home when I heard the first report that

shots had been fired at the Presidential  

motorcade. 

   I turned around and headed back to the
station as fast as possible.
     We had no network, just an Associated
Press teletype machine set up in a closet.
      I found an extra long microphone
cable and ran it into the closet where I read
every word as it was printed in front of me.
      That included the official announcement
that President Kennedy was dead.
       Much of the world as we knew it
changed on that day.
       A lot of us, around the so-called "Baby
Boomer Generation", saw our image of
"Camelot" come crashing down on November
22nd and in the immediate days and weeks
that followed. Many of the images will be
with us forever!
        We saw the alleged assassin shot down
on live TV as he was being escorted through
a Police Station.
         We saw a beautiful first lady standing
by her late husband's successor as he was
sworn into office. The blood stains were
still on her dress.
           And we saw a young boy, too little
to have any real understanding of what had
happened, stand at attention and salute as
the flag draped casket of his father came
by in the funeral procession.
            The country was not without its
problems in 1963.
             But we had a lot of hope for the
future! Many of us really believed we
were living in a sort of  "Camelot"
and that right would prevail!
             A lot of that hope was dashed on
November 22nd., 1963.
             A lot of younger people today
don't know much about that "Camelot"
             And that's too bad!
             I hope you're sharing your memories
 of that time with those that didn't live through
 it........and that all your NEWS is good.

TV TIME!

    TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21st, 2023

                      TV TIME!

  This is World TV Day! I like TV. I made

a living on TV for many years. But it has

changed a lot over the years! When I was

growing up it was a radio, not a TV that

held the center spot in our living room. We

didn't get a television set until I was about

10 or 12. That TV received 3 channels. You

had to actually walk up to the set to turn it

on or off or to change the channel. A little

later we got cable which brought in about an

additional 10 channels! Remote controls came

a year years later. Now with cable or satellite

service most of us have access to over a

hundred stations. Ironically I find myself

watching re-runs of some of the shows

that were produced back when we had just three

channels. Well whatever you're watching (perhaps

my video blog) I hope you're enjoying it and

that all your NEWS is good.    

STOP AND GO!

   MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2023

               STOP AND GO!

  Today we're remembering Garrett Morgan

whose invention changed our driving habits

forever. It was on this date in 1923 that

Garrett secured a patten for his new

invention, the traffic light! Now, to be

fair, traffic signals came along well before

Garrett's device. And they were all pretty

standard in that a Red signal made you 

stop while a Green one allowed you to

proceed. But Garrett's signal added a

third color. An Amber or Yellow between

the red and the green. Soon it became the

standard. The Amber or Yellow light was

a warning that the signal was about to

change between Red and Green. Of course

to many of us it became a signal that you

had about two seconds to speed through that

signal until the Red popped up!  Good luck

with that! Happy motoring and thanks for

handing us that challenge Garrett! Hope

you're all driving safely and that all your

NEWS is good.

  

BAD DAY DAY!

     SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2023

                   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 greeting a good day. Have a

bad day and I hope all you NEWS is good!

lol

LODGING?

    SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2023

                LODGING???

     You may remember 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! 

OUT FOR A WALK!

    FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2023

            OUT FOR A WALK!.

  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!   

LET'S MAKE IT QUICK!

 

  THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16TH.,2023
          LET'S MAKE IT QUICK!

     OK. Here it is in a nutshell gang. This is
National Fast Food Day!
      The pace of live in America is fast and
during the 1950's the food industry began
to address that pace by developing Fast
Food Restaurants.
      Ironically many of the outlets that
lead the way vanished nearly as fast as
they arrived. Remember Carrols or
Stop and Go? When those chains were
around you could pick up a burger,
fries, and a soft drink, give the clerk a
dollar and get change! Hamburgers at
the original McDonalds were 15 cents!
For 3 cents more you could add a slice
of cheese!
       Of course McDonalds, Burger
King and a host of other fast food
places are around these days so you
should have no trouble celebrating
the day. But you will need a little
more than 15 cents!
       Hope you still get some change
and that all your NEWS is good!

     
    

LOOK SHARP!

      TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2022

               LOOK SHARP!

    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!

PICKLED!

     TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2023

                     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!


   

SOME THNGS NEVER CHANGE!

     SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2022

   SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGE!

     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!

REMEMBERING JULES

        SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2023

        REMEMBERING JULES!    

  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!  

SALUTING OUR VETERANS!

     SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2023

         SALUTING OUR VETERANS!

       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.  

I'VE GOT YOUR NUMBER!

      FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2023

         I'VE GOT YOUR NUMBER!

     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!

HAM IT UP!

    THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2023

                 HAM IT UP!

    This is one of those unusual "holidays"

I'll wager you don't have on your calendar.

November 9th is "National Scrapple Day!"

Scrapple is recognized as the first pork

product invented in America. In fact, it

was created by German immigrants who

settled in Pennsylvania. It is, traditionally,

a mush of pork scraps and trimmings

combined with cornmeal, wheat flour and

spices. The mush is then formed into a semi-

solid loaf, sliced and pan fried. Seems there's

no "half way" when it come to Scrapple. You

either like it or hate it! My wife and some of

her sibblings love it. Me, I'd prefer something

more substantial. Give me Spam any day!

Hope you're well, whatever's on your menu,

and that all your NEWS is good!  

READING IS FUNDAMENTAL!

       WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2023

      READING IS FUNDAMENTAL!

    November 8th kicks off a very important

week in the world of literature! There's

nothing like sitting back and taking in a good

book. I realize it's easy to enjoy a story on TV

or taking in a great motion picture. But there's

something very satisfying in allowing your

mind to paint the pictures as you did into a

great novel. Like the one I'm reading right

now. It's filled with excitement, adventure,

and some very colorful characters. It's called

"The Little Engine That Could." Oh, did I mention

this is "Children's Book Week?" But, you know,

there are some reall great stories written with

kids in mind. I'm still wondering if this little

engine will be able to pull those cars filled

with toy sna dgood things to eat over the

mountain! I think he can. I think he can!

Hope he does, and that all your NEWS is

good!

TIME TO LOAD UP!

 TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2023

            TIME TO LOAD 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. We

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!

INTO THE WOODS!

   MONDAY, NOVEMBER 6th, 2023

           INTO THE WOODS!

   You know I love to tell you about those

unusual holidays I find throughout the year.

Most are just fun. But, every now and then

there's one than can be useful. That's the case

today! It's "Marooned Without A Compass

Day!" I walked into the woods near my house

and imagined I was there without a compass

trying to find my way out. My first thought 

was to find moss at the base of a tree, Moss

always grows on the North side so once I

found the moss I could figure out my 

directions. One problem. No moss!!! Then

I realized the sun comes up in the east in the

morning and sets in the west at night. Just

check the position of the sun and, again, I'd

know which way was which. But wait! I

didn't know what time it was. Could have

been Noon for all I knew with the sun right

over head. Next time I'll drop breadcrumbs!

And, bring a phone! Hope I find my way

out and that all your NEWS is good!

c

HEY KIDS! WHAT TIME IS IT?

 

     SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 5TH., 2023
                RIGHT ON TIME!

         Well here we are. It's the first full
day of Eastern Standard Time (if you
live here in Pennsylvania) and all of our
clocks are set to the right time. Well
pretty close anyway. One of our clocks
is set about 5 minutes fast to........well....
I'm really not sure exactly why. But I
think there once was a good reason.
            My wife set the clock in her
car. It's the easiest one we've ever had
with an hour and minute button you
can actually set with your finger.
             The "main clock", the one in
our kitchen has to be turned manually.
If you follow the rules you're suppose
to turn it ahead 23 hours to the proper
EST. Hopefully this isn't a law because
if it is I'm going to jail. I defy the rule
and turn it back one hour.
              The VCR or DVR or whatever
you call them set themselves these days.
The signal actually is transmitted to the
units through your cable or satellite
signal.
              Unfortunately I've got one
VCR that isn't connected to cable or
satellite and it's time reading is always
incorrect. I have corrected the problem
with a piece of black electrician's tape
which now covers the reading.
              It's times like these I really
appreciate my Miata. It doesn't
have a clock!
            Hope you're right on time
and that all your NEWS is good!

CURSE OF THE BOY KING!

          SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2023

           CURSE OF THE BOY KING!      

      I know we're just past Halloween, but

today marks the anniversary of a Halloween-

like story that lingers on. It's the Curse of King

Tut! It was on November 4th of 1922 that a

team of archaeologists lead by Howard Carter

discovered the tomb of Egypt's "Boy King,"

Tutankhamen. There was a belief that those

who dared defile a pharaoh's grave would 

die for their actions. In fact the man who

financed the expedition and was there

with Carter for the discovery, Lord Carnarvon,

was dead within two months from an insect

bite that became infected. He died from blood

poisoning! So did his half brother who was

also a member of the team. Another member

died from some mysterious illness as well!

But Carter himself lived on and died at age 64

suggesting that all curses have their "limit!" 

Just ask the Boston Red Sox! Hope you're

well and that all your NEWS is good

A LUNCH TIME HERO!

   FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2023

         A  LUNCH TIME HERO!

   Today is John Montagu's Birthday! The

name might not mean anything to you

immediately. After all he was born way

back in 1718. But John was very well

know during his lifetime! And he was

primarily know as a gambler! A very

serious gambler! So much so that he

didn't want to leave the gambling table

once he was seated. During one very

serious game he was faced with the

choice of leaving for lunch or going

hungry while he remained and played.

But John had an idea of his own. He 

asked someone to bring him a loaf of

bread and some meat. He sliced to pieces

of the bread and put the meat in between

the two slices. Hence was born what was to

become a very popular menu item. Created

by John Montagu, an Englishman who held

the title "The 4th Earl of Sandwich!" For

whom the sandwich was named! Hope you

enjoy one from time to time and that all

your NEWS is good!

    e  

A FINE FEATHERED FRIEND or FEAST?

    THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2023

A FINE FEATHERED FRIEND or FEAST?

    I just discovered that November is "Adopt

a Turkey Month!" It actually spans November

and December. It seems there's an

organization called Farm Sanctuary that is

encouraging people to "rescue" turkeys

rather than eating them. I've heard of

rescue agencies before but they usually

involve efforts to save abused or

abandoned cats or dogs. This one

encourages people to rescue or adopt

turkeys. I've seen rescued dogs in

homes of out for a walk with their

new owners. I must admit I've never

seen anyone walking with a turkey on

a leash. I guess I can understand

the sympathy some may have for

a bird headed for Thanksgiving

dinner. But I must admit I look

forward to having a turkey on our

holiday menu. So, thanks to my

wife, we have a turkey in our yard.

It's not real but we like having it

there. This way we can have our

turkey and eat it too! You'll have 

to decide for yourself. Hope all

your NEWS is good!

 

SHOULD I?

 WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2023

                SHOULD I?

             

          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. 

FRIGHTING FURNITURE!

 

   TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31ST., 2023
       FRIGHTENING FURNITURE!

    It's Halloween! A time for Witches,
Ghosts, and Scary stories!
    I've covered a lot of scary stories
during my days as a reporter. Of course
some of the most frightening dealt with
politics. They still scare me!
     I also covered a few stories just
perfect to be retold on Halloween.
One involves "the stone couch."
     There's a back road that runs
between the Weatherly area and
Eckley Miner's Village over what
most people know as Buck Mountain.
      In an appropriately desolate
stretch of that road travelers will
come across a huge rock formation
(or carving) that looks very much
like a couch.
      The story of the couch has
numerous versions depending on
who's telling it.
       The one I first heard suggests
that one sitting on the couch will
become ill. If one sits upon it a
second time he or she, or their
family will be involved in a serious
accident.
       The ultimate curse, according
to the legend, awaits those who sit
on the couch a third time. In that
case they will die!
        As an objective reporter I
usually put no stock in these type
of horror stories.
        I can say without question,
however, that part of this story is
real! If you sit on the stone couch,
whether it be once, twice, or a third
time, you will die.
        In fact even if you don't sit on
the couch you will die. The only
question is when?
        I haven't bothered to sit on it
anyway. Just in case!
        Happy Halloween! Hope all
your NEWS is good.

ONE COLD SCARE!!!!

     

     MONDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2023

           ONE COLD SCARE!

     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!