AN "UPLIFTING" HOLIDAY!

   WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2023

         AN "UPLIFTING" HOLIDAY!

    Welcome to February everyone and another

of those unusual "holidays" well worth

observing, This is "National Get Up Day!"

I don't believe its just coincidence this day

follows "National Skating Month." When

one skates one often falls. But skaters will

tell you  "We all fall. It's how you get up

that matters." And that's the theme behind

this day. The idea that we succeed when we

don't quit. We get up and keep on going!

And that's true whether it's skating or 

anything else in life. I sat down with my

7 year old grandson Anthony to discuss

the importance of perseverance. How it's

important to get back up and  move ahead.

He agreed. Then, he helped me get back up

from the floor where we were siting!!! Up

you get back up and keep going and that

all your NEWS is good! 

RUNNING OUT OF TIME!

   TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2023

      RUNNING OUT OF TIME!

   It seems hard to believe. This is already

the last day of the first month of the new

year! I'm missed telling you about so

many celebrations and now we've only

got hours left to observe them. So, let's

get to it! January was Adopt a Rescued

Bird Month. It was California Dried Plum

Digestive Month and Ginuary (a time to

drink your Gin)! January National Be On

Purpose Month. I have no idea what

that's suppose to mean. It was National

Soup Month and National Walk Your

Pet Month. I'v got a problem with that

one because our only pets are fish. Even

if I could get a leash on them I have no

place we could "walk" Well, for the rest

of you, take your dog out for a walk now

then come back and have some soup.

That way you'll get at least a couple

of these important celebrations in before

it's too late. Hope you do and that all

your NEWS is good!  

I SHOT AN ARROW INTO THE AIR!

    MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2023

I SHOT AN ARROW INTO THE AIR!

    I joined my son D.J., his wife Charlotte,

and my grandson Anthony on an Archery

Adventure Sunday. The adventure took us

back in the woods on my son's property

and back in time in my mind. Years back,

many years back, I taught archery at the

Hazleton YMCA. The sport has changed

a lot since then as technology caught up

with and passed equipment that's been

around since 10,000BC! Still, it's basically

a bow and arrows. I found my old bow a

little harder to pull than I remember. And

the feathers on my home made arrows look

a bit worn after sitting in our shed for many

years. I was still able to hit the target a few

times and my grandson seems to be picking

up on the sport fairly quickly. It was great

to be outdoors and we were able to get my

lesson and target practice done in plenty of

time to get home and watch the Eagle's

Playoff Game!  Our granddaughter was

visiting a friend for the day but she's got

her own bow now too so I suspect we'll

be out there on our range again soon! I need

the practice too. I'm not as good as I used

to be but...I AIM to improve! Hope you're

right on target and that all your NEWS is

good!

  

TODAY WE'RE ALL PUZZLED!

    SUNDAY, JANUARY 29, 2023

   TODAY WE'RE ALL PUZZLED!

           As a newsman I usually enjoyed a good

challenge. That said there were exceptions.
     Those challenges could generally be found
in the daily newspaper or in boxes marked
100, or 500, or one thousand pieces.
      I write of the challenges contained in the
daily crossword puzzle or the jigsaw pieces
that make up a picture puzzle!
      It can't be a matter of patience. I've often
used up as much time playing games of
chess.
       My wife works a crossword puzzle as
she enjoys her breakfast. Often I find myself
participating without intending to join in.
If she comes across a question that's sports
related or involves old movie stars there's a
pretty good chance I'll be asked. Of course
sometimes my answers don't fit either the
first letter she needs or the number of
letters to fit the empty blocks.
         Picture puzzles are a whole other
matter! I stay as far away from those as
possible. That's especially true since at least
one of the grandkids decided it would be
fun to remove one piece from the assortment
to tease my wife.
           But don't let me stop the rest of you!
           January 29th is National P___le Day.
Hope you enjoy it and that all your NEWS
is good!

BUYING TIME!

    SATURDAY, JANUARY 28, 2023

                 BUYING TIME!      

   I suppose to be totally accurate I

really should have entitles this Blog

"Renting Time." You see I've finally

figured out how to use the new parking

meter system the city of Pittston, and others

I'm sure, now have in place. It's not like the

old days when I started driving. Back then

you could pull up at a parking meter, put a

few pennies in and shop for a half hour or

so. These days the meters don't take pennies.

The ones I use do take nickels, dimes, quarters,

and credit cards! If you want enough time to

shop you'll probably need the card, Nobody

carries that many coins! You can call in your

license number to buy some time but you'll

need your license number and I never remember

any of my license numbers. In the municipal lot

I use there are no separate meters. Just the machine

which collects your money and issues a piece of

paper with the time marked when your time

expires. You put it in your windshield and hope

the meter reader can read it when he or she shows

up. Stay too long and, just like in the old days,

you get a ticket! Ironically downtown parking

meters were one of the main reasons people

started going to malls to shop. There they could

park for free. Now, the malls are dying and the

meters, although in a new technical form, seem

to have survived! Hope your meter is filled and

that all your NEWS is good1

  

    

FLUSHING OUT THE TRUTH!

    FRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2023

     FLUSHING OUT THE TRUTH!

    We usually honor heroes and other special
people by celebration their birthdays.
   Today, however, we remember a man who
has influenced all of our lives on the date of
the day he PASSED away!
    I guess, in a sense, that's appropriate.
    He was important and we wouldn't want
to WASTE his memory.
    He died on January 27th., 1910.
    And today is "Thomas Crapper Day."
    For those of you who never heard of him
old Tommy is the man credited with
inventing the flush toilet!
    Actually, he didn't! But he did increase the
popularity of "the Throne" and came up with
improvements to make it more efficient.
    I found the day listed on a web site
dedicated to Bizarre and Wacky Holidays!
And this one certainly fits!
    Think about it! How does one "celebrate"
Crapper Day? I'm not going to touch this
one!
    Still, I thought I ought to tell you about
it so you wouldn't get caught with your....
well you know the rest!
     Enjoy the day.......maybe with a good
book. Maybe you can find a good place
to sit and read. And remember Thomas
Crapper!
     Hope it all works out in the end and
that all your NEWS is good.



Thomas Crapper

    

MIX AND MATCH!

   THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2023

                MIX and MATCH!

    Just in case you didn't already know

January 26th is "Clashing Clothes Day!"

Now clothes have been around forever.

Adam and Eve had the first sets. Probably

from the same Fig tree so they were

coordinated! The Cavemen were said

to wear fur from the various animals

they caught. Of course over the years

colors became available in fabrics and

various "styles" began to evolve. But

this is a day to set traditional fashions

aside. Go ahead, wear poka dots with

stripes. Put on that yellow shirt with

the green slacks or skirt! It's a day to

break away from what is considered

the norm! My wife took one look at

my outfit today and said "You're right

in style." Given the day I'm now

wondering what she means? Well,

whatever you're wearing, have a great

day filled with good NEWS! 

THE APPLE OF STEVE'S EYE!

   WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2023

       THE APPLE OF STEVE'S EYE!

        

    This is "Macintosh Day", although

some will insist it's January 24th. That's

the day, in 1984, that Steve Jobs introduced

the world to the first Macintosh computer.

It actually went on sale, however, on the

25th. Since then Apple has come up with

all kinds of products from computers to

IPads, IPhones, and such. There's even an apple

watch now. I must admitt to having several

laptop computers including the one on which

I produce this daily blog/ Truth is, however,

the only apple I have is not a Macintosh and

it's in the refrigerator ready for a snack! Hope

whatever you're using you're using it to check

out my blog and that all your NEWS is good!

DON'T" SKIP-PY" THIS DAY!

    TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2023

     DON'T "SKIP PY" THIS DAY!

      January 24th is National Peanut Butter

Day!
     Peanut Butter has helped many
people survive disasters of one sort
or another. When my Dad's job took
him and my Mom on the road while
I was still in High School, Peanut
Butter and Tuna alternated in providing
the makings for many of my daily
sandwiches.
     And I wasn't alone! The average child
will eat 1,500 peanut butter and jelly
sandwiches before he/she graduates high
school. And they're really easy to make
if, as I have cautioned before, you apply
the peanut butter first and the jelly second!
     You just can't go wrong with
Peanut Butter! Peanuts have more protein
and niacin than any other nut. They are
naturally cholesterol-free. And rumor has
it there’s enough mental stimulation in
one peanut to produce 30 minutes of serious
thinking. I probably should have eaten more
when I was in school! Lot's more!
      Perhaps, in order to celebrate this
special day, you might consider replacing
your traditional roast with some great
Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches.
      Unless, of course, you suffer from
Archibutyrophobia which is the fear of
getting peanut butter stuck to the roof of
your mouth.
     Hope you're in the Peanut Gallery and
that all your NEWS is good!

     

THE WRITE STUFF!

  SUNDAY, JANUARY 22, 2023

        THE WRITE STUFF!

   Today begins "National Handwriting 

Week" which focuses attention on the

benefits of handwriting analysis. It's

always observed the week of John

Handcock's birthday. He was the

gentleman who signed his name in

very large letters on the Declaration

of Independence so King George would

be sure to notice it. Our handwriting

does tell a lot about us. How organized

and precise we are. How outgoing or

timid. It can be used in criminology

to make up a likely profile of the

person doing the writing. I even

considered doing today's blog in

a handwritten form. But my said

nobody would be able to read it!

Guess I don't have the "write" stuff.

Hope you do and that all your NEWS

is good! 

A MAN CALLED OTIS!

      SATURDAY, JANUARY 21, 2023

             A MAN CALLED OTIS!

   If you've ever found yourself in the position

of having to go up multiple flights of stairs to

get to an appointment or even to do some

shopping it's likely that a guy named Otis

made life a little easier for you. You see

Otis invented the elevator! We should all

probably thank Otis! But...which one?  Otis

Tufts filed a patent for what he called a

"vertical railway" in 1859. It was used in

New York's 5th Avenue Hotel. But that 

same year another man came up with a

much similar design which included a

safety break to stop the elevator should

it happen to fall. It quickly became the

standard. That "other man" was also

named Otis. But, in his case, Otis was

his last name! Elisha Otis. He's the Otis

who also founded the Otis Elevator

Company...still the largest manufacture

of elevators in the world. Hope you're

getting up in the world and that all

your NEWS is good!

HOME VIDEO!

   FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2023

             HOME VIDEO!

        There are those who might suggest I

originated this unique "holiday." I did not!
But I have observed it for a long as I can
remember.
      You see January 20th., is "Camcorder
Day!"
       I got my first video tape camcorder
in the 1980's. It was a gift from a good
friend of mine. He was an attorney who
bought the thing but never used it. After
borrowing it twice for family events he
decided it should belong to someone who
would actually use it. And that was me!
       The camera only photographed in
black and white. And it wasn't portable.
It had to be plugged into a wall outlet
to work.
      I've had a lot of camcorders since
then. Most of the old ones recorded
on VHS video tape.
      For many years friends and
relatives must have thought I had a
machine attached to my head! I used
to get teased for taking so much video.
     But now, looking back at scenes that
include movement and sound, I and
others realize I have a treasure of
memories that go beyond a single
picture.
      I've converted most of my tapes,
even old movie film, onto dvd disks
now so they're better preserved and
easier to play!
       I suppose the ultimate irony is
that the one person you won't see in
all these movies....is me! 99% of the
time I'm behind the camera. Interesting
for a guy who spent so much time on
television!
        The Camcorders keep changing.
But I keep shooting cause the memories
keep coming! Don't miss yours!
         Hope all your NEWS is good!

LARGE, WITH EXTRA BUTTER!

  THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2023

  LARGE, WITH EXTRA BUTTER!

    Just in case you didn't already know, January

19th is "National Popcorn Day!" One of America's

favorite snacks! Popcorn has an impressive history!

Burnt kernels of popcorn were found inside a cave

in New Mexico. They dated back to 3600BC!

      The first commercial popcorn making machine

was patened in 1881. But perhaps the biggest

advancement in popcorn making came about in

1981 with the introduction of microwave popcorn!

My favorite popcorn always comes from the movie

theater. It just seems that movies and popcorn are 

a natural. Which makes me wonder what those

cave dwellers were watching in 36ooBC?! Hope

you're enjoying some with extra butter and that all your

NEWS is good!

SPINNING THE HITS!

       WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2023

                SPINNING THE HITS!     

  This is "National Disc Jockey Day!" I

used to be a DJ. For most of the first few

years of my broadcasting career I played

all the latest (at the time) hits and some

golden oldies as well. But that was a time

when most communities, even smaller ones,

had their own local radio stations. Though

it's National DJ Day they guys and girls

that really made an impact were the local

DJ's. The ones who knew their own

community and the life styles of their

audience. Unfortunately most of those

local stations are gone now or, if not,

bring you a DJ by satellite broadcasting

from a studio far away from your maain

street. They don't know the local news,

weather, or anything else about your

community. And that shows when a

local disaster strikes. I'll take my

"good old days" as a DJ way over today's

offerings. But for those of you still on

the air and spinning the hits, keep up

them coming! Hope all your NEWS is

good!

WE ARE..THE PICNIC PEOPLE!

     TUESDAY JANUARY 17, 2023

    WE ARE...THE PICNIC PEOPLE!

   Monday proved to be a fairly mild

winter day but in spite of the sweltering

40 degree temperatures our family set out

for its annual Winter Picnic! We returned

to the Loyalsock State Park in Sullivan

County where, some 85 to 90 years ago

workers in the Civilian Conservation

Corp constructed two beautiful pavillions

complete with picnic tables and huge

fireplaces just perfect for a roaring blaze.

We bring the hot dogs, hamburgers, and

all the makings for s'mores plus a bit of

hot chocolate in case it gets colder. It's

a great family fun time together and

proves, at least to me, that adventures

are really easy to find IF you take the

time to look for them! Our gang is

very used to adventures like this. We

even have our own song composed

by yours truly and everyone who

claims to be in this family is expected

to know it and sing out together.

"We are the Picnic People, the Picnic

people are we.

Oh we jump in the car, and go real far,

just to see what we can see.

Oh, we afre the Picni People, The Picnic

People are we! Hay!

Hope you work on having family

adventures, song or not! If so I'm

fairly certain all your NEWS is good!

     

NOTHING DOING!

    MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2023

            NOTHING DOING!

    It's January 16th which, as you probably

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

of a newspaper man, Harold Pullman Coffin,

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

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

sure I should tell you because by doing so I

was actually doing something on Do Nothing Day!

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

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

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

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

all your NEWS is good! 

PUT A LID ON IT!

    SUNDAY, JANUARY 15, 2023

              PUT A LID ON IT!

           

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

   

DRESS YOUR PET!

   SATURDAY, JANUARY 14, 2023

            DRESS YOUR PET!           

       Saturday, January 14th is "Dress Up Your

Pet Day!"  This unique "holiday" was the

brain child of pet style expert and animal

advocate Colleen Paige. A local TV station

often features photos of viewer's pets and

many of those picture show pets dressed

up. It's usually in holiday garb, especially

around Christmas and Saint Patrick's Day.

Some pet owners dress their pets in weather

related outfits on a regular basis. The idea

of participating in this event has left me with

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

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

the rest of your enjoy the day with your dog,

of cat, or whatever, and that all your NEWS

is good!

 

       

    

OH THE DO DA DAY!

   FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 2023

         OH THE DO DA DAY

   Don't be surprised to see me with my

harmonica today playing a few bars of

"Oh Susanna!" You see this is Stephen

Foster Day! It was so designated by the

President in 1951 although not officially

observed until 1967. Stephen Foster was

know as "The Father of American Music."

He turned out hit after hit with tunes such

as Beautiful Dreamer, I Dream of Jeanie

With the Light Brown Hair, and After The

Ball to name just a few. The State of Kentucky

adopted one of his tunes, My Old Kentucky

Home, as its official state song! But Stephen

was a Pennsylvania boy! He was born in

Lawrenceville which is now a part of

Pittsburgh but lived and studied in the

Towanda/Athens area for several years.

His brother William worked in Towanda,

right along Route 6. He was living with

his brother when he composed Camptown 

Races, Camptown is just a few miles outside

of Towanda and they still hold races there.

These days, however, they are foot rather

than horse races. It's kind of ironic that

Stephen Foster Day is observed on the date

of his death. January 13th. He was only 37!

I guess they felt is birthdate was already too busy

That was July 4th! Hope you're humming

some Stephen Foster tunes today and that

all your NEWS is good! 

TODAY IS...WHAT?!!!

   THURSDY, JANUARY 12, 2023

        TODAY IS...WHAT?!!!

    I have been telling you about unusual

holidays for a long time now but I've

finally come across one about which I

know nothing! January 12th is the

"Feast of Fabulous Wild Men Day!"

Although this "occasion" is listed on

the Holidayinsights website there is

absolutely no information about what

it's all about or how it even came to

be. Maybe you can tell me!! Just

going by that title I'm tempted to get

celebrate at a wild party while eating

a turkey leg. My wife suggests I forget

any illusions this "holiday" may evoke

in my mind. So be it! Hope you find a

way to celebrate and that all your NEWS

is good! 

MILK!

   WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2023

                            MILK!

         January 11th is "National Milk Day!"

I like milk! I've been drinking it since I

was a babu. As it happens the first home

delivery of milk in glass bottles took place

on this very day in 1878. Milk has changed

a bit throught the years. You can still find

it in glass bottles. But you're most likely

see it in plastic containers at most stores

these days/ You'll also find a choice of 1%, 2%, 

and whole milk. I like whole milk. But our

grandson has pretty much grown up on

Almond milk. (I still haven't learbed how

one milks an almond!  But my favorite

milk product only comes around a couple

times of year. I just picked up a bottle

yesterday. It's called Egg Nog and it's

probably good that it isn't available

all the time. It's got about as many

calories in one glass as a double cheeseburger!

Think I'll have a sip right now! Hope you've

"got milk" and that all your NEWS is good! 

TAKING DOWN CHRISTMAS!

    TUESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2023

   TAKING DOWN CHRISTMAS!

    Well I fought it off as long as I could

but my wife won out. On Monday, with

some much appreciated help from our

granddaughter Jenna, the annual sad project

got started.

We began to take down the Christmas

decorations. They did most of the taking

down while I hauled the storage containers

out of the shed and onto our porch, then

back out to the shed once she had each

one filled. The tree still has to be covered 

and carefully taken out for storage, it's

OK.it's artificial. But Leona and Jenna

got it covered and Jenna haued it to the

shed. I tried to convince my wife to keep

everything up since the last holiday actually 

connected with Christmas.  But Candlemass

isn't till February 2nd. She insisted she'd rather

gets things packed away and celebrate

Groundhog day instead. Oh well, you can't win

them all! Hope you're well and that all your

NEWS is good!

is good.

IN MY BEAUTIFUL BALLOON!

    MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2023

  IN MY BEAUTIFUL BALLOON!

   Looking for something to celebrate?

Well you've come to the right place!

January 9th is "Balloon Ascension Day!"

It marks the day, in 1793, when a Frenchman,

Jean Pierre Blanchard, launched a balloon

from the area which is now Independence

Square in Philadelphia thus becoming the

first aerial voyage in the history of the

United States of America! President

George Washington was on hand to witness

the flight! Balloon rides have become a

popular attraction for many these days.

I saw one launched at Blue Ridge Winery

a couple weeks ago by a new company 

that's just, if you'll excuse the expression,

getting off the ground. I was showing my

wife the video I captured, prompting her

to ask "What makes those balloons go up?"

"Hot air" I replied. Then she said. "What's

holding you down?" Talk about getting

deflated! Hope you're flying high today

and that all your NEWS is good!

YOUR TURN LADIES!

   SUNDAY, JANUARY 8, 2023

        YOUR TURN LADIES!

   It's January 8th. Another of those

unusual "holidays" most of you know

little or nothing about. This is "Male

Watcher's Day." And I don't mean it's

a day to watch the Mailman. No. Rather

it's a day to give women a chance to do

what man are often accused of. That is

watching members of the opposite sex.

It's your turn to do the watching today

ladies. Actually, yesterday I ran across a

woman who got a head start of this holiday.

She walked, accidentally I'm sure, into the

Men's locker room at the YMCA. I was

headed for the shower at the time with

just a towel in hand, hopefully draped

in a somewhat protective position. I'm

not really sure since it happened so fast.

She said "Oh. I think I'm in the wrong

place." I agreed and she turned and

exited through the door she came in.

I'm not sure if she left very embarrassed

or, perhaps, impressed thinking she had

just seen Brad Pitt at his finest. Who

knows? Well, in any case, good luck

with your watching today ladies. I hope

all your views....I mean NEWS...turns

out to be good!

HAIL CEASAR AND MERRY CHRISTMAS!

           SATURDAY, JANUARY 7, 2023

  HAIL CAESAR, AND MERRY CHRISTMAS

     Julius Caesar was a pretty important guy

in Rome back in the day. How many other

people lived over 2000 years ago and still

have a salad named after them?

    He's remembered on coins and even in

famous works of literature.

    But what's important today is the fact

that this guy had his own calendar! It was

used by everybody up until 1582 when this

other guy, Pope Gregory XIII decided to

change things around!

     But Caesar's calendar wasn't complete

discarded. The Eastern Orthodox Church

still uses it and, in it's book, that makes

today CHRISTMAS! Many refer to the

day as "Russian Christmas." At least I do!

     Now most of us have already observed

the big day back in December. But my

take on the whole thing is....what's wrong

with celebrating twice?!

      So, although my closest connection to

Russia is an occasional visit to Moscow

in Lackawanna County and an old James

Bond movie, my wife and I welcomed

Santa once again with some

small gifts for immediate members of our

family none of whom are Russian!

     And I heard him exclaim as he drove

out of sight, Merry Christmas to all, and

may all your NEWS be good!

THE 12TH DAY OF CHRISTMAS!

     FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2023

THE 12TH DAY OF CHRISTMAS!

     Welcome to January 6th otherwise known

as "Three Kins Day!" It makes the day when

the three kings, or three wise men, found

Jesus in the manger after following the bright

star to his birthplace. It is also. technically

speaking, the 12th or the final day of Christmas.

Some people mark this day with special feasts or

by giving gifts. For those who fabor the gift 

giving I can send you my address in case you'd

like to add me to your list! And though it may be

the 12th day of Christmas I would remind you

that Russian or Orthodox Christmas will be

celebrated tomorrow! So don't dump those

decorations just yet! Hope you're still in the

spirit and that all your NEWS is good!

HE WHO LAUGHTS LAST....

    THURSDAY, JANUARY 5, 2023

       HE WHO LAUGHTS LAST...

    We' ve all been so busy with the

holidays it's easy to overlook some

of the lesser known reasons for having

a celebration. This week, for instance,

is "Someday We'll Laugh About This

Week." I'm sure you get the idea. We've

all done something that was pretty much

a disaster at the time it happened. But

when we look at it years later it becomes

the subject of humor. It's a week to

forget those mistakes and turn them 

into a reason to smile. In my case, for

instance, there was the time I put Dish

washing detergent in the dish washing

machine only to find the kitchen floor

covered in soap suds minutes later.

Best part is...I repeated the mistake

several month later. I look back on

it now and I laugh. Ironically, for

some reason, my wife still doesn't think 

it's funny! Maybe if I try it again she'll

see the humor? Hope so, and that all

your NEWS is good!

For some reason Ican't t

LOOK INTO MY EYES!

   WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4, 2023

         LOOK INTO MY EYES!

     January 4th is World Hypnotism Day!

   I've never celebrated the day. In fact, fo r
years, I was terrified of hypnosis!
    Thoughts of being put into a trance
brought back visions of Dracula (aka Bela
Lugosi) overpowering his victims just
before he drained their blood!
      Stage hypnosis wasn't any better!
Who wants to be put under only to learn,
afterwards, that you've acted like a monkey
or reveled some deep dark secret that should
have remained secret!
       Still I've heard testimony from people
who swear hypnosis has helped them quit
smoking or lose weight. If they're telling
the truth I suppose the "science" does have
a place.
        I found myself using hypnosis a few
years back. I was spending the day with
our then three-year-old grandson and realized
it was nap time. The little guy didn't really
want to sleep. But once I talked him into
reclining on the bed "just for two minutes"
I began to capture his attention with a story
I made up on the spot.
       The subject involved a giant who was
scaring people in a small town .He'd go
house to house. But people quickly learned
if they pretended to be asleep he simply
passed them by! I delivered each line a
little soften until my voice was just a
whisper.
       Next thing I knew the little guy was
out cold, a victim of my hypnotism (or
boredom). To be completely honest, I
may have put myself out for awhile too!

      If you'll celebrating hope you'll

avoid any hypnotist with a dark cape
and long teeth, and that all your NEWS
is good!

LOTS TO DO DAY!

  TUESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2023

          LOTS TO DO DAY!

    So much to do today. As I've

told you before it's Fruitcake toss

day. Those of you who don't like

fruitcakes are invited them to toss

them today. Some communities

actually schedule fruitcake tossing

competitions. January 3rd is also

"Chocolate Covered Cherries Day."

That's easy enough to celebrate!

But here's one you might not be

aware of. This is "Festival Of

Sleep Day!" The creators of this

unusal "holiday" believe it's a great

day to rest up from all the hectic

actuvities surrounding Christmas

and New Year's. They suggest you

get some extra sleep today. At the very

least a cat nap! Think I'll take one....in

between getting up late and to bed

early. Hope you get some rest and

that all your NEWS is good!

    

OUR EXTRA HOLIDAY!

    MONDAY, JANUARY 2, 2023

      OUR EXTRA HOLIDAY!

   With New Year's Day falling on a

Sunday this ylear a lot of people,

certainly Federal workers, are getting

an extra holiday. Hopefully you are

as well. It's a big day! Perhaps a little

bigger than usual. The Rose Bowl Parade

and the Rose Bowl College Football

game are usually held on January 1st.

But not if the first is a Sunday! So,

both of those popular events will take

place today. That's especially big around

these parts since Penn State is in the

game. January 2nd also features two

"unusual holidays" that will likely

force you to make a decision. It's

"National Buffet Day" saluting

those all you can eat meals so many

people enjoy. But it's also "National

Weigh In Day," encouraging everyone

to step on their scale to see what they

weigh. Let's see.......all you can eat,

or a weigh in. Some choice! Well,

which ever you select, I wish you

well and hope all your NEWS is

good!