PASS THE TURKEY PLEASE!

   SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2023

     PASS THE TURKEY PLEASE!

     Wow! How time flies! Seems like just

yesterday we were noting the arrival of
Autumn. Now here we are September

24th and it's Thanksgiving!
      You probably thought it was scheduled
for November! Well, you're partially right.
      Today is Thanksgiving. But only for
about 3,000 people. Most of them are right
here in Pennsylvania. And they're all
Schwenkfelders! For the record, that's
not some sort of hot dog!
     The Schwenkfelders are the descendants
of a small Protestant sect that sprang up in
Germany around the time of the Reformation.
One group arrived in September of 1734. They
spent one day,  September 24, expressing their
gratitude to God for having delivered them from
persecution. Since then they have observed
September 24th as Thanksgiving!
      I, for one, am all in favor of an extra day
of Turkey, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin
pie! And, since the Schwenkfelders ranks
seem to be dwindling, I 'd like to suggest the
rest of us come to their aid by joining in the
celebration!
     Hope there's lots of leftovers and that all
your NEWS is good!

    

    

DEAR DIARY!

    FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2023

                 DEAR DIARY!

     Today is "Dear Diary Day." It is a

day to appreciate, and perhaps, re-read

all those daily thoughts and happenings

that marked your life. Diaries are usually

associated with women, especially young

women. But for all my years in Television

news I kept a daily record of the stories I

covered. Unfortunately in many cases

each story was noted with a general title

like "Fire in Scranton." I didn't have

enough space to list specifics. (Of course

the scripts from each story are buried

somewhere in the newsroom.) My other

problem was legibility, or the lack there of!

Some of my writing is hard to read. I can

tell you, however, that on September 22,

of 2006 I did a story about the Department

of Environmental Resources planning to

clean up areas where illegal dumping was

taking place as well as a story about 

Governor Ed Rendell coming to Scranton

to announce an educational grant. There 

was also a story about  fight at an area 

Hot Dog stand. Wish I knew more about

that one. Anyway take a lesson from

me. If you're keeping a Diary write

legibly and be specific so you'll be

able to remember what you were

writing about 14 years later! Hope

you do and that all your NEWS is

good!  

remembered more about that one!

SEW WHAT?

    THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2023

                      SEW WHAT?

    September is National Sew At Home

Month! It's official! It was proclaimed by
President Ronald Reagan in 1982. The month
is designed to honor those who retain the craft
of sewing which has been so important in our
country's history.
    My wife is quite a hand with her sewing
machine. She made her own wedding dress
for our marriage and she still gets requests to
mend or repair things that need to be sewn.
     I have, on occasion, attempted to repair
the holes I'm prone to creating in my socks.
Of course I'm not allowed anywhere near the
sewing machine so I usually, unannounced,
sneak into the sewing room and grab a needle
and thread. If I'm lucky I can find a color thread
that actually matches the socks. Then comes the
hard part, threading the needle! It takes a number
of attempts and can sometimes resould in a few
minor wounds.  But, usually, in the end, I mend
the hole with just a few feet of thread.
      It's my way of celebrating the month! Hope
you're celebrating too and that all your NEWS is
good!

HARD TO "TOP" THIS ONE!

   WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2023

       HARD TO "TOP" THIS ONE!

      September 20th is "National Pepperoni
Pizza Day!"
      This is a holiday I truly endorse! I've
always liked Pizza. My hometown was
Hazleton.  I always thought pizza was
invented there.
       And I've always loved Pepperoni. I
think it was the first food I ever "cooked."
Some would say what I did was "heat"
the meat. But as far as I'm concerned it
was on the stove, in a pan, with a flame
underneath. So I "cooked it."
       I don't remember exactly when I
learned how well those two basic foods
tasted together but I've been ordering them
that way for many years.
        Apparently I'm not the only one.
Nationally, Pepperoni is the most
popular topping, preferred by
36% of the people.
        My wife, however, likes mushrooms!
Since I don't we usually end up ordering
a half and half pie. There's usually one
slice left over. But it always has mushrooms
on it!
        The first pizza is said to have been
sold in Naples, Italy in 1738. If it was
topped with Pepperoni you might still
be able to eat the meat. It keeps very
well.
         I don't suppose I have to tell you
how to celebrate this unusual holiday.
Hope you enjoy your meal and that all
your NEWS is good!
     

ARRR YOU ON BOARD?

      TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2023

               ARR YOU ON BOARD?

     Another one of those "Big Days" is here! It's one of
those "holidays" most people don't know about. And
they're missing all the fun!
     September 19th is "International Talk Like A Pirate
Day!" I kid you not!   It's the brainchild of two guys,
John Baur and Mark Summers.
     Neither is a Pirate or, as far as I know, even a fan of
Pittsburgh's Baseball team.
     They were playing racquetball one day when they
suddenly had an inspiration to....well.....you know.....talk like
a pirate! It's probably happened to you at one time or another.
Anyhow they had so much fun they decided the world
needed a new holiday and "Talk Like A Pirate Day" was
born.
     They picked September 19th because it was Summers'
ex-wife's birthday and because they couldn't think of any
other date that wasn't already being used for some other
observance!
      Through another friend the duo got an email address for
nationally syndicated columnist and Pulitzer Prize winning
writer Dave Barry who published a column about the day.
And that's all it took! Response began coming on from all
over the world (hence the idea that's it's an "International Day!)
       I've been a bit of a Pirate myself from time to time.
I have my own vessel....although it is just an 8-foot-rowboat.
I even buried a "treasure" on a small island many years ago.
It was a small tin containing a few coins. I'm wondering if any
of them were old enough to be valuable.
        I'd like to check. But I'm not exactly sure where I buried
them! Guess I should have made a neat map with a big X to
mark the spot! Maybe I did.......but I can't remember. I should
probably make myself walk the plank!
        I've provided all this background information so......
after you've walked around your place of business using terms
like...."Arr" or "me hearties" or "shiver me timbers"......they
won't try to take you away in a white jacket that ties in the back!
        Hope you're Jolly (Roger) and that all of your NEWS is
good!

RESPECT!

 

    MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 18TH., 2023
                         RESPECT!

      This unusual holiday seems especially
appropriate since I just celebrated my
Birthday yesterday!
       September 18th is "Respect For The
Aged Day."
       We're always been told to respect our
elders and that's exactly what you're suppose
to do today.
        Now it's a little easier for me than many
of you. Since I just turned 81 I don't have
near as many "elders" as you do.
        On the other hand, at 81 I should expect
all you "kids: would want to show your
respect to me to celebrate the day!
        Oh. Wait a minute. This is only a
holiday in Japan!!!!! Ah heck!
        Maybe they'll start a similar
holiday here. Hope they do while I'm
still around to enjoy it......and that all

your NEWS is good!

STILL IN THE GAME!

   SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2023

         STILL IN THE GAME

    Well I've done it again my friends!

I've circled the sun! Today is my Birthday!

A lot has changed since I came into this

world! When I was born the average house

cost under $4,000. A new car sold for less

than a thousand and you could gas it up

for about 15cents a gallon! Of course

to have the same buying power of $100

back then you'd need $1900 today!

When I turned 75 I wrote about being in

"the last quarter" of this game of life. I

thought you might like to see it again.

      STILL IN THE GAME

  I still here in the line up

  as my game of life goes on.

  I realize it's 4th quarter.

  And the time is nearly gone.

  There's been a lot of sunshine

  and, of course, a little rain.

  But I still look forward to each play.

  Cause I really love the game!

  I miss some fellow players

  who have left the field of play.

  But in my heart I'm certain

  that we'll meet again someday!

  I've got to do the best I can

  For a Win is not a lock.

  And I can't afford to waste my time

  For I cannot see the clock!

  I don't know if there's minutes left

  Or years, or months, or days.

  But I'll give the game the best I can

  In each and every play.

  And when my game has ended

  I'm hoping you can tell

  Not only just the final score.

  But if I've played it well! 

   When I first published my poem

an old friend, Taylor Sappe, decided

to put it to music. You can hear it by

going to Music For World Peace Records.

My Thanks to each and every one of

you for the Birthday wishes you have

been sending. They are much

appreciated! And my wish for all of

you continues....may all your NEWS

be good!