THE FISH DINNER!

   FRIDAY, AUGST 1, 2025

     THE FISH DINNER!

   For most of the many years we

have been vacationing in Wildwood

one evening has usually been set aside

for a fish dinner. So it is that two of

my grandsons, my son and I set out

(the second time this week for 3 of

us) to catch our meal. This time we

had a lot of luck. Well sort of. We

did reel in a number of fish. But

they were too big for our aquarium

at home and too small to feed any

one of those among us. Fortunately

we passed a Fish Market en route

back to our condo so there was,

indeed, a fish night for this year's

vacation! It probably worked out

better than our fishing efforts 

could of since the odds of us

catching a hundred clams, shrimp,

and long leg crabs were pretty

slim! Today's our last but we

plan to make the most of it.

Hope you're making the most

of your days too and that all your

NEWS is good! 

STILL TIME TO CELEBRATE!

  THURSDAY, JULY 31, 2025

STILL TIME TO CELEBRATE!

   Had to believe I know, but here we

are in the last day of July! We're still

on our family vacation in Wildwood,

New Jersey but I didn't want this day

to pass without reminding you there

are several month long celebrations

assigned to July so you've still got

time to celebrate. July is National

Ice Cream Month. It's National

Hot Dog Month, and if it has been

at  hot for you as it has been for

us here at the shore I know you'll

understand why this is National

Air Conditioning Appreciation

Month! I wasn't so sure what I'd

be celebrating till I reviewed the

full list. After doing so I took a

walk straight to the beach to

begin my celebration of National

Bikini Month! Hope you're

celebrating something and that all

your NEWS is good.

THIS STORY IS REEL!

   WEDNESDAY, JULY 30, 2025

      THIS STORY IS REEL!

     [FISHING REEL THAT IS!] 

   OK. Here's another BLOG from

our vacation in Wildwood, New Jersey.

There are so many things to do down

here. Most people go to the beach.

Most people  go to the Boardwalk/

And so people go fishing. One Tuesday

I went fishing with my son and my

grandson. We had a lot of luck.

Unfortunately it was all bad! My

grandson caught the only first. We

nearly caught two seagulls who were

trying to steal our bait. More about

bait in a minute. I expected a great

catch. I had my "Spiderman rod"

all ready for  action. But it didn't

happen. I think the real trouble,

other that the 100 degree sunshine

under which we fished, was the

bait. Or, rather, the lack of it.

We had some bacon left over

from breakfast. It probably would

have made great bait. But....I ate

it! Maybe we'll try again later this

week. Hope you're enjoying my

vacation ramblings, that you've

got enough bacon, and that all

your NEWS is goodQ!  

ANOTHER BEACH REPORT!

     TUESDAY, JULY 29, 2025

   ANOTHER BEACH REPORT

   Since I'm on vacation I fully expected

to release one of my "classic" blogs today.

But it was such an eventful day I figured

I better share it with you. Today I tackled

the Atlantic Ocean. The way I see it one

doesn't really swim in the ocean. One

just avoids drowning. I did that. I avoided

drowning  which I consider a pretty good

accomplishment! But not without a great

effort. And that effort doesn't even count

my time spent in the water. You see here

in Wildwood, New Jersey, at least where

we're staying, you get to the ocean on

the beach that runs from the sea to the

boardwalk. From the time your feet

him the sand just off that boardwalk

you've got at least a quarter mile walk

on the sand till your feet hit the water!

And after you've battled the waves and

the tide in the water, and the blazing

sun, you've got to walk that same quarter

mile back to the boardwalk. Then there's

the stroll back to the condo after that!

I'm proud to say I made it and still

have enough energy to walk back to

the boardwalk in the evening to watch,

and I stress the term "watch" two of

my grandkids on an amusement ride

called "The Slingshot!" Now I'm

tired. Hope you have a great Tuesday

and that all your NEWS is good!    

READY, AIM, SQUIRT!

       SATURDAY, JULY 26, 2025

         READY, AIM, SQUIRT!  

    It is the last Saturday of July. That

makes this "National Water Gun Fight

Day!" I didn't know that either! But I

fondly remember being a kid with a

25cent water pistol, taking on other

neighborhood kids similarly armed!

When you stop to think about it wouldn't

it be great to pull the kids away from

their smart phones and computer 

games, get them outside, and into a

water gun battle? Lots of running

around, a good supply of "ammunition"

and nobody gets hurt! I 'm not a kid

anymore. But I bought my grandson

a huge water gun rifle that holds

about a  gallon of water and can shoot

a stream a good 20 yards! Since I

keep it here I may just fill it up and

go outside to celebrate the day! 

Hope you're armed, ready, and that

all your NEWS is good!   

WHO'S CALLING?

    FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2025

         WHO'S CALING?

  Several years ago my wife and I

joined thousands, probably millions

of people who happily put our phone

numbers on the governments "Do Not

Call List." It was an effort to limit

unsolicited sales calls to out home and

cell phones. Of course the government

allowed for a few exceptions including,

of course, political calls. Well it seems

as though the Do Not Call system has

come down with the covid virus or

it's communications equivalent! On

Thursday, for instance, we received

no less than 15 of these spam calls.

The actual number may have hit 20!

So please Uncle Sam, take a minute

away from the "Big Beautiful Bill"

and tariffs and give us a vaccine,

or some other solution to stop this

very real invasion of our daily

lives! If we could kill the calls

our NEWS would good! 

KNOCK, KNOCK, WHO'S THERE?

        THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2025

   KNOCK, KNOCK, WHO'S THERE?

July 24th is "Tell an old Joke Day!' Don't confuse it 

with "Tell A Joke Day!" That's in August! This day

 was set aside to tell the classic jokes that have stood 

the test of time.You know, like Why did the chicken 

cross the road? That's an oldie but goodie. Some of

 the old ones were very simple, thus easy to remember.

That may be why they survive! I asked my wife if she 

knew any old jokes."Know one," she replied. "I live with one!"

 I think she was joking! I have to go now. Somebody's 

knocking at the door! Hope you're well and all your

 NEWS is good!

GORGEOUS GRANDMAS!

    WEDNESDAY, JULY 23, 2025

     GORGEOUS GRANDMAS!

   "Gorgeous Grandma Day" is celebrated

annually on July 23rd to honor women of

all ages, regardless of whether they are

grandmothers or not. The day encourages

appreciation for the beauty, vitality, and

contributions of grandmothers, challenging

outdated perceptions of aging and promoting

a positive image of older women. Alice 

Solomon created the day in 1984. Unfortunately

in my case both of my grandmothers passed

away when I was very young. But, my wife 

is also a grandmother and she certainly is

gorgeous so I guess I get to celebrate too!

Hope you do as well and that all your NEWS

is good! 

WHAT DID HE SAY?

             TUESDAY, JULY 22, 2025

                 WHAT DID HE SAY?  

   Welcome to July 22nd! Otherwise known

as "Spoonerism Day!" Spoonerisms are

verbal errors in which a speaker accidentally

transposes the initial sounds or letters of

two or more words! It can be very humorous!

Here's an example/ "Is it kisstomary to cuss

the bride?" That, or course, should have

been "It it customary to kiss the bride?"

One of my camermen once heard a collie

yalping and said "Listen to that darking

blog!" Sometimes they're so funny that

while initially offered accidentally the

speaker tends to use them over and

over! Most everyone comes up with a 

spoonerism from time to time. I, of course,

am an exception being such a professional.

I seldom get my mix all talked up! Hope you're

well and that all your NEWS is good!

WARM ENOUGH FOR YOU?

       MONDAY, JULY 21, 2025

    WARM ENOUGH FOR YOU?

  Temperatures around here have been

hovering around 80 degrees for several

days. Definitely summer like weather.

But July 21st has the distinction of

being the day the lowest temperature 

ever recorded was logged! It was July

21st., 1983 when the Russian Vostok

station in Antarctica reported a

temperature of 128.6 degrees below

zero (F)!!! So, compared to that

measurement we should all be 

feeling pretty comfortable about

now! Hope you do and that all

your NEWS is good!!

WORLD JUMP DAY

   SUNDAY, JULY 20, 2025

      WORLD JUMP DAY

   We're looking for volunteers

today. July 20th is "World Jump

Day" and the supporters of this

unofficial holiday are looking for

600 million people to participate.

According to their logic, if 600

milion people all jump up at the

exact same moment the impact

of their landing will change the

orbit of the earth, end global

warming and lengthen the day!

Now scientists dispute this

theory. In fact scientists say that

if one billion people jumped at 

the same time the impact of

their landing would be the

equivalent of 500 tons of TNT.

Sounds like a lot but it isn't in the

total scheme of things and certainly

not enough to change the orbit of

Earth! Still, if you'd like to join in

the experiment check on line to see

just when the jumpers will be "taking

off." I believe I'll just watch! Hope

you have a happy landing and that

all your NEWS is good! 

 

WHAT'S YOUR VERDICT?

  

   SATURDAY, JULY 19TH., 2025
        WHAT'S YOUR VERDICT ?
    Everyday I see anniversary photos
on Facebook and I always like to
congratulate the couples involved.
     Today's message is aimed at
those who are noting their first year
of matrimony.
      You see today, July 19th., is
"National Fitch Day."
        I'm not pretending to be an
expert on this subject (Fitch Day
that is) so I'm going to share this
information from anydayguide.com.
        National Flitch Day is an informal
holiday dedicated to an ancient English
custom that dates back to at least the 14th 
century. A flitch is a measurement of bacon,
now known as a slab. In England, married
couples were awarded a flitch of bacon if 
they did not repent on their marriage for a 
year and a day.  A couple would come to monks 
and  stand a mock trial to prove they had been 
loving and faithful to one another for one year
         They also had to convince the jury they
wanted to remain married.
          I guess, in a sense, it was a sort of
"Escape Claus" for anybody who felt he or
she had made a mistake.
          But those who remained loyal got
themselves a slab of bacon. That eventually
became a half a pig!
          The custom actually made it here
to America. But it didn't catch on! I wonder
why?

          I kind of like it! My wife and I have been
loyal for 65 years and I always enjoyed
a good pork roast!
           Hope you'd survive the trial too and that
all your NEWS is good!

       

.

HEAR THAT?

    FRIDAY, JULY 18, 2025

           HEAR THAT?

  July 18th is "World Listening Day!"

You are encouraged to take in all the

sounds of life around you. Things

we don't always think about but are

apart of our lives. The raindrops on

your roof, the footsteps nearby, perhaps

somebody laughing in the distance.

Take a few seconds to listen to the

world around you today. World

Listening Day celebrates acoustic

ecology. Listening with intent is

an art that requires undivided

attention and needs to be practiced!

My wife told me I should listen

more. Actually she told me twice.

I wasn't listening the first time!

So "Listen Up!" Hope your

hearing the world around you

and that all your NEWS is

good!

THE WINNING NUMBERS!

        THURSDAY,  JULY 17, 2025

         THE WINNING NUMBERS

  July 17th is "Lottery Day!" It's easy to

see how popular the lottery is here in

Pennsylvania. Just try to get your gas

receipt while waiting behind a line of

people buying Powerball tickets. Or

any of the other lottery games just

waiting for winners! Pennsylvania

makes 1.22 Billion dollars each year

from its lottery sales. That's profit.

It pays out over 3.2 Billion dollars

in prizes. And Pennsylvania uses

that profit money to fund services

to Senior Citizens. I can't complain.

Out of that 3.2 Billion paid out

I made two dollars last year!!!

Hope you're a winner too and 

that all your NEWS is good!

SPEAKING FRANKLY!

 WEDNESDAY JULY 16, 2025

      SPEAKING FRANKLY

  It's Wednesday, July 16th. This is

"National Hot Dog Day!" July is a

popular month for hot dogs what

with 4th of July picnics beginning

the summer season. Most everybody

likes hot dogs but probably not as

much as Joey Chestnut. He won the

annual Hot Dog Eating Contest at

Coney Island consuming 70 1/2

hot dogs in ten minutes! Hot dogs

continue to be at the center of an

age old debate. Are they sandwiches

or not? The hot dog is meat and it's

eaten in a bun which is basically

specially shaped bread. But many

people insist  they don't qualify as

a sandwich because it's not the

same as a flat slice of meat placed

between two slices of bread. Well

whatever camp you're in with regard

to the debate, have a hot dog today

just to celebrate the occasion. Hope

you've got your condiments ready and

that all your NEWS is good! 

GIVE AWAY DAY!

    TUESDAY, JULY 15, 2024

         GIVE AWAY DAY!

   This is the day you've been waiting for!

Well, some of you. This is "National Give

Something Away Day." This is not a day

for pack rats. It is a day to brighten someone

else's day by giving them something you

don't really need. Something that will bring

a smile to someone's face and make their

day brighter. I started thinking about things

I might give away in observance of this

special unofficial holiday. But every time I

thought of something I seemed to come up

with a reason I should keep the thing I

thought of, just in case. I did find a small

key ring for which I have no key. I think

I'll give that aay today. Hope you're

participating too and that all your NEWS

is good!

REMEMBERING "BRUCE!"

              MONDAY, JULY 14, 2025

               REMEMBERING "BRUCE!"         

  As you have probably heard, this year is

the 50th anniversary of the blockbuster movie

"JAWS!"  You'll remember the huge mechanical

shark the crew called 'Brue!"And July 14th 

happens to be  "Shark Appreciation Day."

Better mark it on your calendrer so you'll

remember next year. Scientists say this is a day

to study sharks and realize how important they are

 to the earth's eco system! Those same

scientists tell us sharks have been around for

about 420 million years. If that's correct, sharks

were here about 200 million years before the

dinosaurs! Sharks can certainly be scary. There

have been a number of reported shark bites

along the eastern seaboard over the past couple

of weeks. But, generally, sharks have more

reason to fear humans than humans have to

fear sharks! There are an average 70 shark

attacks reported around the world each year.

About 7 prove fatal. In the same one year

span, however, humans kill an estimated 

100 million sharks!! Of course that's little

consolation if you're one of the 70 people

attacked! I feel pretty safe in the ocean.

The lifeguards are watching as well as

the Coast Guard! But, if I get one hint

of that scary music from "Jaws," I'm outta

there! Hope you stay safe in the water and

that all your NEWS is good 

 

SAY WHAT?

   SUNDAY, JULY 13, 2025

            SAY WHAT?

    July 13th is "Oxymoron Day!"

Just in case you forgot or missed that

day in English class, an oxymoron

is a figure of speech or a combination

of words spoken or written together

which contradictory. For instance

"Climb down.: The act of climbing

is a movement upward so the suggestion

that you "climb down" is contradictory.

Here are a few others. Freezer burn,

unbiased opinion, icy hot, civil war, or

good grief (that's Charley Brown's

favorite. Ever hear anyone who loves

winter say "I hope the snow keeps up."

But if the snow 'keeps up' then it won't

come down! A lot of these things are

spoken or written without much

thought. But feel free to spread them 

around today in honor of Oxymoron

Day! Maybe you just like using them

and are deceptively honest. Hope all

your NEWS is good!

BAG IT!

    SATURDAY, JULY 12, 2025

                   BAG IT!

  July 12th is "Paper Bag Day!" The

paper bag has been around since the

19th century. It was invented by an

American. Francis Wolle came up with

the invention in 1852. But he got his

patent on July 12th of 1859, hence

the observance on this particular date.

After receiving the patent Francis and

his brother started the Union Paper

Bag Company which is still in operation

today! Paper bags are both handy and

environmentally friendly. Not sure I'd

want to use one in a tough situation

though. They always "fold" under 

pressure! Hope you're using paper

bags for your groceries and that all

your NEWS is good.

KEEP IT CIVIL?

   FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2025

        KEEP IT CIVIL?

  July 11th is "Bowdler's Day."

Never heard of it? Me neither.

This unusual "holiday" honors

the birthday of Thomas Bowdler,

an English physician and 

philanthropist who took it upon

himself to "clean up" literature

and make it more "family friendly."

He is know for having published

a censored version of William

Shakespeare's writings editing

out anything he considered

vulgar or offensive. He even 

edited parts of the Old Testament!

To be "Bowdlerized" was to be

censored! For those of us who

oppose censorship the only positive

aspect of his works was that it

did make various writings more

assessable to more people. But on

this day our focus should be on

the value of free speech and

expression. This BLOG is

presented as written aand with

the hope that all your NEWS

is good!

PLEASE 'BEAR' WITH ME!

 

  THURSDAY, JULY 10TH., 2025
       PLEASE  "BEAR" WITH ME!

   Some of you may remember the tune
"The Teddy Bear's Picnic." Well July
10th is "Teddy Bear's Picnic Day!" I'm
not sure why July 10th was selected. The
tune was not published on that date and it
is not the birthday of Jimmy Kennedy, its
writer. We know little about the origin of
the song. But we know plenty about the
origin of the Teddy Bear!
      In 1902 President Teddy Roosevelt was
hunting in Mississippi where he refused to
shoot a small bear. The Washington Post
did a story about the incident which
included a popular cartoon. A husband and
wife toy maker team, Morris and Rose
Michtom, saw the cartoon and wrote to
thg President asking permission to name
their toy stuffed bear "Teddy." The President
gave the OK and the :Teddy Bear" became
an instant hit with boys and girls everywhere.
 The Michtom's did pretty well too. Their
little firm became the Ideal Toy Company!
So, take the kids or grandkids and their
Teddy Bears out for a picnic today even if
just in the backyard! Enjoy this special
day. Hope you're well and that all your
NEWS is good!

JUST LIKE SHIRLEY TEMPLE!

   WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2025

JUST LIKE SHIRLEY TEMPLE!

   July 9th is "National Dimple Day!"

Dimples. You know, those little

indentations usually on the cheek 

that tend to make someone look,

well, cute! I know they're cute

when you see them on babies!

And there are a lot of guys who

seem to think dimples on a young

lady and especially attractive

too! One in every five people

are likely to have dimples. So

on this special day, if you've

got them show them off. But

just remember what Pope Paul

VI said. "Dimples on the chin,

the devil within!" Have a great

National Dimple Day and I hope

all your NEWS is good!

JUST CHILLING!!

   TUESDAY, JULY 8, 2025

         JUST CHILLING!

  Welcome to July 8th, "National

Freezer Pop Day!" What a wonderful

treat on a hot summer day! But did

you know the Freezer Pop was the

result of an accident? Back in 1905

an 11-year-old boy named Frank

Epperson decided to mix some powered

soda in water. He mixed up the batch

but left it sitting outside overnight!

It was frozen to the mixing stick when 

he found it the next morning. But it

tasted great and he decided to market

the idea. He originally called named it

after himself but it quickly became

know as the Popsicle! Various brands

have different names but they all

evolved from Frank's accidental

invention. Enjoy one today. It's

an idea now frozen in time. Hope it

tastes delicious and that all your 

NEWS is good.

HONESTLY!

  MONDAY, JULY 7, 2025

          HONESTLY!

 It's July 7th my friends. And

this is "Tell The Truth Day!" The

conflict between truth and lies has

existed since the beginning of time.

Greek philosophers like Plato and

Aristotle discussed the concept in

their writings. Plato looked for

circumstances where telling a

like might be acceptable while

Plato concluded that all forms of

lying should be condemned. Telling

the truth is accepted as a virtue.

Ironically it is often illustrated by

a story which, itself, may be untrue.

It's been told that a young George

Washington chopped down a cherry

tree but choose to tell his father the

truth rather than lying. On the other

hand we all know what happened to

Pinocchio when he told a lie! So be

like me. I never ever told a lie and,

wait a minute, my nose is beginning 

to hurt! Hope you're always truthful

and that all your NEWS is good!

  

LABELS FOR LUNCH?

    SUNDAY, JULY 6, 2025

       LABELS FOR LUNCH?

   They say an apple a day keeps the

doctor away. You should know that does

not apply to those little labels you find

on your apples, or oranges, or other fruits!

And yet, thousands of people end up

accidentially eating one of those little

stickers every year! I always wondered

how they grew those labels on the fruit

buy my 6-year-old grandson informed me

they are actually placed on the fruit by

machines. They are valuable and include

information about the exact variety of

fruit and the growing method used to

produce the product. Consuming the

sticker shouldn't cause any harm.....

usually! I prefer taking them off even

though it's another item that will have to

go in the garbage. Better into the garbage

than into me! Enjoy your fruit! Hope it's

tasty and that all your NEWS is good!  

FIRSTS ON THE FORTH!

  FRIDAY, JULY 4, 2025

   FIRSTS ON THE FORTH!

   It's a big day of celebration here in

the United States. And for a lot of

good reasons! Independence Day of

course resulting from our 1776

Declaration of Independence from

England. Ironically the nation

didn't begin its annual celebration of

July 4th until 1796! In 1802 the U.S,

Military Academy at West Point opened

its doors on July the 4th.  The following

year, 1803, the Louisiana purchase added

828, 00 square miles to the United States.

That was announced on July 4th. In 1831

the song "America (My Country Tis Of

Thee) was song for the very first time on

July 4th. Then, in 1862, Lewis Carrol 

choose Independence Day to publish

"Alice In Wonderland." The following

year General Robert E. Lee pulled his

troops out of Gettysburg on July 4th

effectively marking the beginning of the 

end of the Civil War!  On July 4th 1876

the first electric light was demonstrated 

in San Francisco and in 1884 France gave

us the Statue of Liberty of the 4th of July.

Our flag has changed a lot since 1776. On

July 4th of 1959 we saw a new 49 star

banner as Alaska was added to the union.

That flag didn't last very long though as

Hawaii became the 50th state and another

star was added on July 4th of 1960. A lot

of July 4th history for a fairly young nation.

Wonder what the future hold in store? Hope

it's all positive and that all your NEWS is

good!   

HERE'S LOOKING AT YOU KID!

     THURSDAY, JULY 3,2025

HERE'S LOOKING AT YOU KID! 

   July 3rd is one of those unusual

"holidays" I like to tell you about. It

is "Compliment Your Mirror Day!"

This is a day to remind yourself about

what a great person you are. Appreciate

that image that looks back at your

from your mirror each day! You're a

good person. Don't let anyone tell you

anything different. Appreciate your

own self worth! I decided to celebrate

by picking up my own mirror. But all

I saw was an image of Brad Pit with

gray hair! (Hey, that's not so bad!)

Have a great day and I hope all your

reflective NEWS is good!

WORTH RMEMBERING!

 WEDNESDAY, JULY 2, 2025

   WORTH REMEMBERING!

 Today we note another unusual

unofficial holiday. July 2nd is "I

Forgot Day!" We all forget things

from time to time. Perhaps it's

somebody's birthday or anniversary.

Or maybe it's just that quart of milk

you forget to pick up when you were

getting all the other groceries. It's a

day to make amends in some cases.

You might, for instance, send a 

belated card to those whose birthdays

or anniversaries slipped by unnoticed.

Or you might make a call to apologize

for your forgetfulness. My wife deals

with the issue by writing down

important dates and even appointments

on our calendar. Now if I can only

remember to check that calendar!

Hope you remember not to forget

and that all your NEWS is good!