THE DARE!

   SUNDAY, JUNE 1, 2025

           THE DARE!

  It's June first my friends and

June first is "Dare Day." Now

D.A.R.E these days is assictated

with anti drug and drug eduation

programs. And that's great. But the

Dare we're observing today is the

old fashion one. It's a challange

often offered by a friend and

usually a challenge to get you

to don something risky or

something you wouldn't

usually do. My wife dared me

to cut the grass. Fortunately it

was raining so I didn't have to

accept the challenge. I'll wait

for a "Double Dog Dare" before 

I even think about getting the

mower out! So enjoy the

day my friends. I dare you

to. And I hope all your NEWS

is could whether you accept or

not!  

OUTLOOK OUTCOME!

   SATURDAY, JUNE 31, 2025

       OUTLOOK OUTCOME!

  Here's an unofficial "holiday" you

probably never knew about. May 31st

is "What You Think Upon Grows Day!"

It's a day to encourage good mental

health and positive thinking. You see

if you think about smiling, you're more

apt to think about things that make you

smile, hence things that make you

feel good. That's the way your day

tends to go. If you're thinking about

things you have to or should do but

don't want to do it's likley guilt

about those things will get you

down and that's the way your

day is likely to go. I gave those

tasks a quick thought and, all of

a sudden, my wife yelled to me

"I think you sjould cut the grass!"

I should have kept thinking about

smiling! I hope you are and that

all your NEWS is good!

  

REMEMBERING MEMORIAL DAY!

           FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2025

   REMEMBERING MEMORIAL DAY!     

   Through most of my growing up

years May 30th was Memorial Day.

Although I first knew it as "Decoration

Day." But this "rose by any other name"

was always observed on the 30th. Then

somebody made the decision to give

Federal workers a few long weekends

and Memorial Day was added to the

list. This year it was observed on May

26th. So, what now? Well, as it happens,

May has a long list of unofficial

holidays and all we have to do is choose

the one we'd like to celebrate. It is, for

instance, Clean Air Month. But, ironically,

it's also Allergy Month.I'm not so sure

just how clean the air is because my

allegories have been acting up. It's

Safe Electrical Month but after looking

at all the appliances I've go plugged

into the outlets in our spare room I'm

not sure I'd qualify for any safety

certificates. My wife said she told 

me this was National Hearing Month,

but I never heard her! It's High Blood

Pressure Awareness Month but I'm

not so sure I want to win the award

for the highest pressure!  May is also

Mystery Month. Why? I don't know.

If I did it wouldn't be a mystery!

Well, there you have a few choices

from which to choose. Don't waste

May 30th. Pick a holiday and celebrate.

Hope you do and that all your NEWS

is good!

GET IT TOGETHER FOLKS!

   THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2025

   GET IT TOGETHER FOLKS!

   Welcome to "National Paper Clip Day!"

That small twisted piece of metal that

is so very valuable in offices throughout

the globe! There have been various

devices, even metal ones,used to hold

pieces of paper tigether for hundreds

of years. But the modern paper clip,

the 'Gem' clip, was patented in 

1899. It would be tough to run a

business without them! In fact,

the paper clip is a "staple" of the

work place! Hope you've got some

around in case they're needed and

that all your NEWS is good!

STICK AROUND FOR THIS HOLIDAY!

                    MAY 27, 2025

STICK AROUND FOR THIS HOLIDAY!

   Here's an unusual "holiday" that should

stick in your mind! May 27th is "National

Cellophane Tape Day!" Cellophane tape.

often know by its most popular brand,

Scotch Tape, was invented in 1930 by

Richard Drew who worked with the 3M

Company.  It's hard to imagine a holiday,

especially Christmas, without Drew's

wonderful invention. And at a time

when so many people are apart on

so many issues, it's nice to celebrate

a product that brings things together!

Hope you've got a good supply on

cellophane tape and that all your

NEWS is good!

THE SKY'S THE LIMIT!

    SUNDAY, MAY 25, 2025

     THE SKY'S THE LIMIT!

      Who's Whining? Well, for one,

I am. And why not? May 25th is

"National Wine Day!" Believe it

or not it's one of more than 20

unofficial holidays devoted to

wine each year! There are 4 in

May alone! National Wine Day,

which is today, World Moscato

Day, National Chardonnay Day,

and National Homebrew Day!

The other holidays, mainly

dedicated to various types of

wines, are scattered throughout

the year.  A number of our

family members will be

gathering at Blue Ridge

Winery today to celebrate the

occassion AND drink a

toast to our daughter and

several grandchildren who

have decided to go to a

nearby airstrip where they

will be SKY DIVING!!! Happy

landings all. Hope all your

NEWS is good! 

TREASURE HUNT!

 SATURDAY, MAY 24, 2025

      TREASURE HUNT!

    

   May 24th is "National Scavenger

Hunt & National Treasure Day!" 

Who doesn't like searching for

treasure?! My great uncle searched

for treasure in Alaska. He had a gold

mine there and was lucky enough to

find some of that precious metal! I

never had a gold mine but I have 

used a medal detector to search

for treasures in the grass or on the

beach at the seashore. Never really

turned up much other than pull tabs

from soda cans. Today however,

will be different. In honor of this

special holiday my wife tells me

she has hidden a treasure somewhere

on the floor of our house and she's

given me a broom to help me with

my search. I can't wait to see what

I'll turn up! Hope you find your

treasure and that all your NEWS is

good! 

HIT THE ROAD JACK!

   FRIDAY, MAY 23, 2025

   HIT THE ROAD JACK!

  Here's an unofficial "holiday"

that's right up my alley! This

is "Take A Road Trip Day!"

Is was created in 2019 by the 

folks that operate the Pilot

Travel Centers and it's always

observed on the Friday before

Memorial Day when many people

will be taking to the roads anyway.

But you're encouraged to be

spontaneous and to explore roads

you've never travled before. There

so many great places to see and

experience not all that far from

home. I'm all set for the day. I've

checked all the fluids, and filled

uop the gas tank. I've even got a

brand new air freshner to make

the car smell good. Of course you

won't need that if you draive a

Tesla. They come with a sort of

Elon "Musk!" Hope you drive

safely and that all your NEWS

is good!

THE GREATEST SLEUTH!

    THURSDAY, MAY 22, 2025

     THE GREATEST SLEUTH!

      Today celebrates my favorite character

in literature! This is "Sherlock Holmes
Day!"
    Of all the interests my late brother and
I shared the adventure of that super
detective Sherlock Holmes would surely
be at or near the top of our list!
     Holmes had keen powers of observation
which would allow him to know almost
everything about a person the minute
he laid eyes on him or her.
     Alas, my wife continues to remind
me that the crumbs I've left behind on
the floor near the couch where I've
nibbled my snacks proves, conclusively,
that I lack Holmes' powers of observation!
      Ironically, she seems to have them!
      Before I've removed a shirt worn
for an hour or two I hear her utter the
words "that goes in the laundry." That
pronouncement comes as she's detected
a tiny spot unseen by my eye!
       Holmes, of course, was a fictional
character. The day actually celebrates
the Birthday of his creator, Sir Arthur
Conan Doyle who penned many stories
about the detective. He, Doyle, was
born on May 22ud of 1859.
        One of the highlights of a trip
my wife and I hosted to Scotland a
couple years back was enjoying
Fish & Chips at the Conan Doyle
Restaurant in Edinburgh overlooking
a small park where stood a statue of
Sherlock Holmes!
         As we left I thought of
that line "Elementary by dear Watson"
so attributed, though never actually
spoken,in a Doyle novel by Holmes
to his faithful assistant
        My wife  interjected a thought of her
own. " That shirt goes in the laundry."
         Happy Birthday Sir Arthur
Conan Doyle. May all those who
continue to enjoy your writings
enjoy good NEWS as well!

GET A HORSE!

    WEDNESDAY, MAY 21, 2025

           GET A HORSE!

    

  If you wanted to get a really good

deal on a horse you should have been

around anytime after May 21st of

1819 in New York City! That's the

day the transportation scene began

to change! Horse power suddenly

had a challenger. That's the day

the velocipede showed up in the

"Big Apple." It was a revolution 

in the field of transportation and

the sale value of horses fell immediately

afterwards! By the way, you can still

get a velocipede of your own if you're

interested. Only these days they're

called bicycles. Just thought you ought

to know. Hope you're a safe rider and

that all your NEWS is good! 

BY JOVE I THINK SHE'S GOT IT!

      TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2025

BY JOVE I THINK SHE'S GOT IT!

   

   May 20th, is "Eliza Doolittle Day."
    For those who may not recall
Eliza was the lead female character
in the musical "My Fair Lady." She
was a Cockney flower girl who took
speech lessons from Professor Henry
Higgins. It was based on George
Bernard Shaw's play "Pygmalion and
both the play and the musical explore
the benefits of learning how to speak
properly.
     You see a lot of folks who speak
English really don't speak it very well!
     When I was just starting out in
broadcasting all of the employees at
the radio station where I worked were
required to take classes from a Penn
State professor who taught us to say
"creek" instead of "crick" and "again"
instead of "agin." 
      Those are just a couple common
mispronunciations around these
parts. Add "slang" to the mix and
there's a lot of "English speaking
people" I can't understand at all.
       Perhaps before we panic too much
about hearing another language we
might want to check to see how well
we're speaking "our own."
        Heyna? Hope all your NEWS is
good!
        
      
       

HURRAY FOR THE RAYS!

    MONDAY, MAY 19, 2025

   HURRAY FOR THE RAYS!

   Two very good "holidays" to

note today. First, May 19th is

"May Ray Day!" It's a day to

celebrate the rays of the sun that

are leading us ever closer to Summer!

It;s a great time of the year with longer,

warmer, summer days just ahead. It's

also "Scooter Day." You're encouraged

to get out your scooter to ride to work.

I was just pulling my grandson's

scooter out of the back of my

Suburban when I realized...I don't

work anymore! So I don't really need

to try the scooter. For those of you who

dom good luck! Hope wyour day is

sunny and all your NEWS is good!  

FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT "TWO TIRED!"

             SUNDAY, MAY 18, 2025

FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT "TWO TIRED!"

  It's here everybody! The week, and even the day,

you've all been waiting for. Or maybe not! May

18th begins "National Unicycle Week" and this

is "National Unicycle Day!" A unicycle, as its

very name describes, is a one week vehicle

which is peddle powered by its rider1 You've

probably seen one in the circus. Other than

those balancing experts the only person I

know who has ever been able to ride one,

even for a short distance, is our grandson

Ryan Boub. A friend of mine from the

YMCA gave me a unicycle to give to

Ryan. That friend is probably upset with

himself this special week. In any case,

the Unicycling Society of America

(yes, there is one) suggests that you

try riding one today or sometime this

week! If you're daring enough to take

the challange I can only suggest you

dress well. Attire is the most important

thing about a unicle! Hope your

balance is perfect and your NEWS

is good!33333333333333333333333333332  

 

  

ANCHORS AWEIGHT!

         SATURDAY, MAY 17, 2025

           ANCHORS AWWIGHT!

     It's Maya 17th everybody which begins

"National Safe Boating Week!" I have a

boat. It actually the last of the "fleet" I once

owned having three different vessles at one

time. The last survivor is my 8 foot Jon Boat!

I call it "Jon Buoy!" I learned all about

boating safety abaord these crafts, unfortunately,

by experience. I had a pontoon boat we kept

at Lake Wallenpauck. I remember taking 

several people from our church for a cruise

only to discover one of the pontoons was

taking on water! We were gradually sinking!

Fortunately I was aable to get back to the

dock before anybody got their feet wet!

Then there was the time my late cameraman,

Bob Dennis, and I decided to take my canoe

on a voyage down the Susquehanna River.

Did I mention is was a "one man canoe?"

We promptly sunk! After readjusting the

gear we were taking along we wwere able

to complete the journey WITH our life

jackets on at all time!!! So, boating 

safety is very important. But before

you get too involved with it  Boating

Safety Week may I suggest you observe 

the day we're celebrating today! May

17th is "Learn To Swim Day!" Hope

your're swimming and/or boating 

safely and that all your NEWS is

good!

FOUL BALL!

      THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2025

             FOUL BALL!

     For those who didn't already know,

"National Foul Ball Week!" begins

this Sunday! Allow me to explain.

When you go to a ballgame and a

foul ball comes your way the natural

instinct is to try to catch it or grab it 

after it lands and then you get to keep 

it!  But that hasn't always been

the case! Up until 1921 if you got a 

foul ball the team made you give it

back! But on May 16th of 1921 a

31 year old businessman, Reuben

Berman, went to the Polo Grounds to

watch the Giants play the Reds. He

caught a foul ball that came his way.

But when an attendant came to retrieve

the ball he tossed it towards other

spectators. Nobody knows who ended

up with the ball. But we do know that

Berman was escorted from the ballpark!

He got his ticket price back but he said

the team had humiliated him. So, he

sued the Giants for $20,000! The case

ended up in the Supreme Court. Berman

won! Bu he didn't get the $20,000, The

court awarded him $100. Still the team

realized that if each foul ball into the

stands cost then $100, it was cheaper

to let the fans keep the balls! So head

on out to the old ball game and if you

should happen to grab a foul ball, you

can thank Reuben Berman! Hope you

do, that you're well, and that all your

NEWS is good

  

MUSIC FOR ALL OCCASIONS!

       WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2025

       MUSIC FOR ALL OCCASIONS!

  It's May 14th and a great day to

celebrate. This is  "Stars And Stripes

Forever Day!"  That famous march

was written on Christmas Day

in 1896 by John Phillip Susa! And

it was first preformed in public on

May 14th of 1897 in Willow Grove,

Pennsylvania near Philadelphia.

Perhaps a serenade would be in

order? If you're not the "marching type:

there is an alternative to consider.

You see May 14th is also "National

Chicken Dance Day!" Whichever

you choose celebrate and dance

(or march) to the music! Have a great

time either way and may all your, NEWS

be good!

UPTIGHT!

   TUESDAY, MAY 13, 2025

             UPTIGHT!

  You know I'm always trying to make 

you aware of unusual "holidays" or

special observances that probably 

aren't on your calendar. There are

plenty to choose but today I'm

suggesting one of my own. My

idea was prompted by my wife's

love of  "Snapple," a bottled ice

tea beverage. Before she gets her

drink I get the assignment to open

the bottle. The tops are installed

so tight one might think they

were glued in place. And how

about you prescription bottles!

You used to be able to just turn

the top to open them up. These

days some containers require

special instructions. Some require

you to press down on the top

before you can unscrew it. You've

got to get just the right leverage

or it won't open. I can almost

picture someone dropping dead

before he or she manages to get

their medicine! Then, there's

peanut butter. If you're lucky

enough to be able to unscrew

the top you're greeted with an

aluminum-like top with three

or four small tabs that have to

be removed before you can get

to the product. It seems to have

been installed with a device

like they use to tighten the

lugs on your car wheels! Ever

try to get those loose as fast as

the Grand Prix pit crews? Come

to think of it we also  have a

lot of people who seem to be uptight

these days. Come on producers

and individuals! Loosen up!!

Hope you and they do and that

all your NEWS is good!

THEY JUST KEEP ROLLING ALONG!

       MONDAY, MAY 12TH. 2025

THEY JUST KEEP ROLLING ALONG!

Time for an oldie from my library of blogs.
May 12th is one of those unofficial holidays
most people don't know about but I figure it's
my job to keep you informed. It's odometer
day! The odometer is that little cluster of
numbers right below your speedometer
that tells you how man miles your vehicle
has traveled since it was built.
The odometer has been around a long time!
There are records showing a primitive
odometer type device being used during
the Roman Empire. Makes you wonder if
pre owned chariot dealers rolled the things
backwards to take off a few leagues!
When I started driving, which was not in
chariots by the way odometers had only
5 digits. We all longed for the day we'd
hit 99,999 miles then drive one more
to set everything back to zero. It was
like having a new car!
Now-a-days the odometers just keep
rolling along, much to the disappointment
of many used car dealers.
 Anyway if you'd like to celebrate the
occasion I'd suggest a drive along the
block at least to turn over a didgit or
two. Hope you'l; enjoy the drive
and that all your NEWS is good. 

THERE IS A 5TH DIMENSION!

 

    SUNDAY, MAY 11TH., 2025
  THERE IS A 5TH DEMENSION

  "There is a 5th dimension beyond that

which is know to man."

    So begins the narration that took

viewers into the middle ground between

light and shadow and into "The Twilight

Zone.! 

     May 11th. is  "The Twilight Zone Day."

     For those too young to remember, or

who miss the annual TV marathon, The

Twilight Zone was a science fiction/

mystery program that ran between 1959

and 1964.

     It was created by the late Rod Serling,

a neighbor, who hailed from Binghamton,

New York. Serling often used the names

of places and streets from the northeast

in his scripts.

      And it seems this day leaves us with

a mystery fit for one of his episodes.

There is no oblivious connection between

The Twilight Zone and May 11th!

       The program first aired on October

1st., of 1959. May 11th is neither the

birth or death date of Serling. And

although the date is listed on several

wed sites designed to recognize

strange "holidays", no one has as

yet identified the founder of The

Twilight Zone Day.

       There's something strange here!

       Hope we're not trapped in the

Zone....and that all your NEWS is

good!

  

ALL ABOARD!

   SATURDAY, MAY 10, 2025

           ALL ABOARD!

  Today is "National Train Day." It's a day

to honor the history and importance of

railroad transportation in the United

States. I made my first long distance

train ride with my brother, mother, and

father in the 1940's aboard "The

Liberty Limited" bound for Chicago

and a convention my dad was attending.

My first solo long distance train trip

saw me traveling from Hazleton to

New York City in my Cub Scout

Uniform. My dad met me there at

the old Penn Station! As escorts for

Travelworld my wife and I have

ridden trains in Europe and some

great train excursions in New

Hampshire (We'll be hosting that

one again this October!). If you

live around these parts thhere's

plenty of opportunity to take a

train ride. There's an excusion

from Pittston to Jim Thorpe and,

of coure, the great Steamtown

Historical Site in downtown

Scranton. It's a great Railroad

Museum. I stil have and operate

my own Lionel collection too.

Hope you like trains too. Those

who do are always "on the right

track" in my book! All Aboard!

Hope all your NEWS is good! 

WHERE DID IT GO?

   FRIDAY. MAY 9, 2025

   WHERE DID IT GO?

      Yesterday was "No Socks Day."

Today we should all pause for a moment
to observe "Lost Sock Memorial Day."
      I'm sure that most of you, like me,
have witnessed that moment when you're
placing your freshly washed socks into
their drawer when you suddenly find
one lone sock without a partner!
       I have three separate piles in my
sock drawer. One is for almost new
socks. One is for those with holes in
various spots (that's the largest stack).
And one with, well, just one sock.
      I tend to believe this phenomena
is more masculine then feminine but
I'm not sure why.
      It has been suggested you spend
some time today searching for that
missing sock. As little time as possible.
      It's also been suggested you toss
the single sock if its mate can't be
located but I'm not one to give up
hope.
      I know it will turn up somewhere
someday! So I'll probably hang on to
my single sock just in case.
      Hope you've got all your socks
in order and that all your NEWS is
good!

  

  

RED CROSS DAY!

    THURSDAY, MAY 8, 2025

          RED CROSS DAY!

   It's May 8th. "Red Cross & Red

Crescent Day!" The date honors the

birthday of Henry Dunant, a Swiss

businessman who founded the agency

to promote humanatarian aid throughout

the world. Clara Barton founded the

American Red Cross in 1881. But did

you know that one of the fundemental

services offered and taught by the

Red Cross at its birth right here in

northeastern Pennsylvania in the

Lackawanna County Community

of Jermyn! In 1899 Dr. Matthew

Shields began teaching First Aid

training at the Windson Hotel in

Jermny. The Hotel is still there!

The American Red Cross recognized

Dr. Shield's work and involved him

in a national First Aid movement

from 1910 to 1917. I'm a big

believer in first aid. I frequently

put it to use when I'm trying to 

use tools of any sort and have

learned to keep bandaids close

at hand. So let's pay tribute to

the Red Cross and Red Crescent

today  and remember our area's

roll in one of the agency's most

important services and training

programs! Hope you're well,

don't need a bandaid, and that

all your NEWS is good!

THE GREAT AMERICAN GRUMP OUT!

            WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2025

 THE GREAT AMERICAN GRUMP OUT!

   Yes my friends, today we observe "The Great

American Grump Out!" On this day people are

encouraged to refrain from grumbling and

complaining. Your focus today should be on

positivity, humor, and activities which promote

laughter and positive behaviors! It's a day to

lighten the mood and prompt smiles from

others while displaying one yourself. Of

course the day has not been endorsed by

Oscar The Grouch from Sesame Street.

But I do hope you're observing it so that

all your NEWS will be good!

         

SNAP AWAY!

    TUESDAY, MAY 6, 2025

           SNAP AWAY!

   Just in case you didn't already

know, May is "National Photography

Month!" Everybody takes pictures

these days even if it's just an

occassiona "Selfie!" But photography

has come a long way! It really was

bore in the very early 1800's and

made a lot more practicle for a

lot more people in 1888 when George

Eastman came out with the Kodak

camera. In 1948 we saw the development

of the so-called "instant" Polaroid

camera which produced a printed

picture in just a minute. These days

we all have a camera in our pocket

with our smart phones. Ironically

we take a lot more pictures today

than ever before but print a lot fewer.

These days most photos are shared via

social media. I take so many I sometimes

forget what I've got stashed away. It's

good to review your collection from

time to time and, perhaps, print a

few photos that have special meaning

to you or others. But whether it's a

film camera (yes, they're still around),

or your smart phone, it's a good month

to "snap away!" Get the picture?

Hope your photos are in focus amd 

all your NEWS is good!

SEE SPOT RUN!

   MONDAY, MAY 5, 2025

        SEE SPOT RUN!

  It's May 5th everybody. It's

the first day of "Children's Book

Week!" It is an observance that

traces its roots to 1913 when

the Librarian for the Boy Scouts

of America began a campaign to

get books to kids.  In 1919 it became

an official "unofficial holiday." The

campaign seeks to get more kids

and their parents interested in reading

uniting them with books and the authors

that write them. I'm partial to that concept!

I've written a number of stories for kids

based on a character I call "Prince Claud."

Last year my wife and a granddaughter

actually took my first story and published

a hard copy with illistrations by another

of my granddaughters. Of course there's

only two copies and I have both. I've

aways loved kids stories. I even love

reading them because they're

usually so simple even I can

understand them! Hope you're

celebrating by reading to your kids

or grandkids and that all your 

NEWS is good!

   

WEATHER OR NOT!

    SUNDAY, MAY 4, 2025

     WEATHER OR NOT!

   May 4th is "National Weather

Observer's Day." It is a day to

honor all the people and

organizations that provide data

to the National Weather Service

which produces forecasts all

around the country. These days,

of course, there are private

agencies that produce their

own forecasts as well. I have 

some basic weather instruments

on my front porch that give

reaadings on things like the

tempreaturem baromatic pressure,

and humidity, If you check on

those every so often you can make

your own guess on how the weather

may be changing, hence, allowing

you to predict clear skies or

clouds and rain.  Personally

I turn to a friend of mine know

as "Weather Bob" on Facebook

who gathers data and produces

very accurate forecasts for my

local area. Of course you can

always look out the window and

check the weather too. But that

would be a weather report, not a

forecast! So let's salute those

who gather data so the rest of

us know if we'll b  need a warm

coat or umbrella over the next

few hours. Hope your weather

is great and that all your NEWS

is good!

MEMORIES IN BITS AND PIECES!

        SATURDAY, MAY 3, 2025

MEMORIES IN BITS AND PIECES!

  May third, in case you didn't already

know is "National Scrapbooking Day!"

It's a day to get out that old scrap book

to review old memories or to get out

the scrapbook that's been gathering

dust and update it! I started a 

Scrapbook in my early teens. I got

it our in preperation for this BLOG

and reviewed pages of photos and

newspaper clippings from my days

at the old Hazleton YMCA heading

the Archery and Rifle Clubs. Score

cards from the days when my Dad,

my brother, and I played golf, usually

at one of those "pitch and putt courses."

There's a certificate there from the Air

Force for my service in the Ground

Observe Corps, and photos of some

of the talent I worked with during

my early days in radio. I don't keep

a scrapbook these days. Maybe I

should get a new one going. If I

knew then what I know now I would

have made mine a lot neater. But

like the glue I used to put it together

I'm "stuck" with what I've got. Hope

you've got a scrapbook filled with

memories or, better yet, are still

working on yours. Hope you're

well and that all your NEWS is

good!    

PUZZLED?

      FRIDAY, MAY 2, 2025

               PUZZLED?!

   According to a report the COVID 

pandemic, which stopped

people from doing so many things

starting in 2019. actually prompted 

an increase in other activities. One of 

them was picture puzzles. My wife didn't

need the pandemic to prompt her interest in

puzzles. She does them all the time.

One, a 1,000 piece picture of a black bear

took a couple days of her attention. 

And, when she got done she found 4 pieces

missing! That's more common than you

might imagine. It's another reason I don't 

do puzzles! But when some suggested I

couldn't do them I decided to prove myself.

So, I literally put one together in about 70

seconds! Admittedly it was one my grandson

got before he even went to preschool

and only had 4 pieces. But I still think

it proves my ability! Hope you've got

all your puzzle pieces and that all your 

NEWS is good!