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Showing posts from August, 2023

Day 243 - EOM August version

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 Today is the 5th day of the 35th week, the 31st day of the 8th month, the 243rd day of 2023 [with only 115 shopping days until Christmas], and: Eat Outside Day Independence Day - Malaya from the UK in 1957, Trinidad and Tobago from the UK in 1962, and Kyrgyzstan from the Soviet Union in 1991 International Day for the People of African Descent - actually this is all of homo sapiens, neh?  International Overdose Awareness Day Love Litigating Lawyers Day National Diatomaceous Earth Day - all hail the diatom National Matchmaker Day National Trail Mix Day Thoughtful Thursday We Love Memoirs Day World Daffodil Day and Voyager 1 is 22h 17m 20s of light travel time from Earth  Quote of the day: " Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. " ~ Arthur C Clarke Sometimes Google doesn't work.  There is a passage in a book that I have read that has stuck with me through the years that goes roughly something like this  " Land an airplane nea...

Day 242 - the last Wednesday of the month

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 Today is the 4th day of the 35th week, the 30th day of the 8th month, the 242nd day of 2023, and: Frankenstein Day Independence Day - Tartarstan from Russia [not formally recognized] International Cabernet Sauvignon Day International Day of the Disappeared International Whale Shark Day National Beach Day National Grief Awareness Day National Holistic Pet Day National Toasted Marshmallow Day Slinky Day Willing-to-Lend-a-Hand Wednesday the moon is full at 9:37PM EDT, a rare blue moon and a super moon , a combination that won't be seen again for 14 years   and Voyager 1 is 22h 17m 08s of light travel time from Earth  Quote of the day: " Daily life may seem trivial and routine, but in fact it contains a multitude of incidents, at once rich, expansive, and touching. " ~ Yu Hua,  China in Ten Words Wednesday is supposed to be the day that everyone is in the office, but between vacations, meetings, and other needs, we have only managed to all be here a few times ...

Day 241 - does writing make one feel better?

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 Today is the 3rd day of the 35th week, the 29th day of the 8th month, the 241st day of 2023, and: "According to Hoyle" Day Chop Suey Day Individual Rights Day International Day Against Nuclear Tests Lemon Juice Day More Herbs, Less Salt Day National Sarcoidosis Awareness Day National Sport Sampling Day National Swiss Winegrowers Day National Whiskey Sour Day Potteries Bottle Oven Day Touch-a-Heart Tuesday Voyager 1 is 22h 16m 56s of light travel time from Earth  Quote of the day : " A great deal of intelligence can be invested in ignorance with the need for illusion is deep. " ~ Saul Bellow,  American novelist and playwright who wrote about modern urban life, and won many prizes and awards  I was asked this morning if blogging was therapeutic.  There were two things I noted in my reply to the query:  first, this was a public blog not a private journal and there is a difference; and second, one result has been that my fund of small talk seems to atrophied....

Day 240 - back to school

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 Today is the 2nd day of the 35th week, the 28th day of the 8th month, the 240th day of 2023, and: Crackers Over the Keyboard Day - despite being told it isn't a good idea, many of us continue to eat lunch at our desk, and that makes regular cleaning of your keyboard necessary Dream Day Quest and Jubilee - a celebration of Martin Luther King's famous " I have a dream " speech International Read Comics in Public Day Motorist Consideration Day National Bow Tie Day National Cherry Turnovers Day National Power Rangers Day National Thoughtful Day National Weed Out Hate Day Race Your Mouse Around the Icons Day - always fascinates me how crowded some folks keep their desktops  Radio Commercial Day - the first radio commercial aired in 1922 for a real estate developer in New York City advertising apartments for rent Red Wine Day Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day As a kid, being allergic to animal hair, I had parakeets and goldfish - and I still fondly remember the first little...

Day 239 - the final #SilentSunday of August

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Day 238 - the final Saturday of summer

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 Today is the 7th day of the 34th week, the 26th day of the 8th month, the 238th day of 2023 [ with only 120 shopping days until Christmas ], and: Burnt Ends Day  - you'd be surprised how few people go for these at the BBQ and I always ask for them Got Checked Day International Bat Night Make Your Own Luck Day Musical Yoga Day National Cherry Popsicle Day National Dog Day National Toilet Paper Day - first time it was sold on a roll by Scott in 1871 National WebMistress Day Play Music on the Porch Day Pony Express Day Speak Kind Words Saturday Women's Equality Day - finally the 19th Amendment is officially added to the Constitution and women are allowed to vote and Voyager 1 is 22h 16m 21s of light travel time from Earth Quote of the day : " Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability. "  ~ Sam Keen, an American author, professor, and philosopher who is best known for his exploration of questions regarding love, life, wonder, religion, and being a male The ...

Day 237 - finally it's Friday

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Today is the 6th day of the 34th week, the 25th day of the 8th month, the 237th day of 2023, and: Daffodil Day [down under] Forgive Your Foe Day Independence Day - Uruguay from Brazil in 1825 Kiss and Make Up Day National Banana Split Day National Park Service Founders Day - the US Department of the Interior formed the National Park Service in 1916 National Second-hand Wardrobe Day National Whiskey Sour Day and Voyager 1 is 22h 16m 10s of light travel time from Earth  On this day in.... 1543 – António Mota and a few companions become the first Europeans to visit Japan. 1609 - Galileo demonstrates his first telescope to Venetian lawmakers, including to the Doge (ruler) of Venice, Leonardo Donato 1768 - Captain James Cook departs from Plymouth, England, on his first voyage on board the Endeavour, bound for the Pacific Ocean 1835 - New York Sun publishes Moon hoax story about John Herschel 1875 - Captain Matthew Webb makes the first observed and unassisted swim across the English...

Day 236 - just two

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Today is the 5th day of the 34th week, the 24th day of the 8th month, the 236th day of this experiment in babbling [ with 122 shopping days left until Christmas ], and: Can Opener Day Independence Day - Ukraine from the Soviet Union in 1991 International Day Against Intolerance, Discriminations, and Violence Based on Musical Preferences, Lifestyle and Dress Code International Strange Music Day - celebrated since 1997, but I don't think there are any offerings of Klingon opera this year.   Kobi Bryant Day - a reference to his two jersey numbers and the day after his birthday National Burger Day National Knife Day National Maryland Day National Peach Pie Day - they used to sell small pies at the MD State Fair; that was one of the things Frank and I would always buy there.  Didn't see them the last time I went, but that was well before the pandemic  National Waffle Day or Waffle Iron Day Pluto Demoted Day Shooting Star Day Vesuvius Day - on this day 1,944 years ago, th...

Day 235 - not quite all in

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 Today is the 4th day of the 34th week, the 23rd day of the 8th month, the 235th day of 2023, and: Black Ribbon Day AKA European Day of Remembrance for Victims of Stalinism and Nazism Buttered Corn Day Find Your Inner Nerd Day -  back in 2007, Christopher Reaves Messina posted the tweet that created the hashtag Hug Your Sweetheart Day International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and Its Abolition Internaut Day -  Tim Berners-Lee is credited with the invention of the worldwide web in 1989 and he posted a proposal for the WWW on the alt.hypertext newsgroup in 1991, using the world's first website that went live 17 days earlier as an example.  The source code was not released into the public domain until April 1993.    National Cheap Flight Day National Cuban Sandwich Day National Sponge Cake Day Ride the Wind Day - the first human-powered flight was able to fly a figure eight course of a half mile back in 1977 Valentino Day  - marks the day...

Day 234 - it is what it is

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 Today is the 3rd day of the 34th week, the 22nd day of the 8th month, the 234th day of 2023, and: Be an Angel Day International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief National Bao Day National Eat a Peach Day National Pecan Torte Day National Surgical Oncologist Day National Tooth Fairy Day Never Bean Better Day Southern Hemisphere Hoodie Hoo Day Take Your Cat to the Vet Day - this is not a day of celebration, at least not for any of the cats that I have had!  It usually involves quite an elaborate chase thru the apartment and a cat who complains loudly during the entire drive to the vet World Plant Milk Day Quote of the day : " Do not take life too seriously.  You will never get out of it alive ." ~ Elbert Hubbard,  American [ who moved to Ireland ] writer, publisher, artist, and philosopher who's first job was as a traveling salesman for a soap company [ he was apparently very good at it ]  Construction update: It appear...

Day 233 - yup, it's Monday

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Today is the 2nd day of the 34th week, the 21st day of the 8th month, the 233rd day of 2023, and: Cupcake Day International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism Internet Self-Care Day National Brazilian Blowout Day National Spumoni Day Poet's Day - you'll have to ask William Sieghart as to why he chose today back in 1994 Stay Home with Your Kids Day World Senior Citizen's Day and Voyager 1 is 22h 15m 23s of light travel time from Earth Quote of the day: " I think and think for months and years.  Ninety-nine times, the conclusion is false.  The hundredth time, I am right. " ~ Albert Einstein  The weekend slipped away from me - I am getting too old and too aware of the preciousness of time not to be dismayed when I lose a couple of days just laying still and feeling lousy, even while enjoying the fact that I have the option of relaxing in this way.   The good news is that I finally figured out that I was having a mild vertigo attack, do...

Day 232 - #SilentSunday

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  20 August 1977 - launch date for Voyager 2 - launched 46 years ago today.

Day 231 - a rare respite for August

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 Today is the 7th day of the 22rd week, the 19th day of 8th month, the 231st day of 2023, and:' Black Cow' Root Beer Float Day Break the Monotony Day Chef Appreciation Day Clear the Shelters Day Coco Chanel Day Independence Day - Afghanistan from Britain in 1919 International Bow Day International Geocaching Day International Homeless Animals' Day International Orangutan Day International Talk Like Jar Jar Binks Day National Aviation Day National Hot and Spicy Food Day National Potato Day National Sandcastle and Sculpture Day National Soft Ice Cream Day Popsicle Day World Honey Bee Day World Humanitarian Day World Photo Day and Voyager 1 is 22h 15m 00s of light travel time from Earth I've spent the day curled up with an audio book, just resting and letting the hours slide past.  Every time I move off the couch I head right back to it... Altho it is warm today, it is far below our usual dog days heat and the humidity is low.  It actually cooled off nicely last night a...

Day 230 - finally Friday

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today really is the 6th day of the 33rd week, the 18th day of the 8th month, the 230th day of 2023, and: Birth Control Pills Day Helium Discovery Day Mail Order Catalog Day National Bad Poetry Day National Badge Ribbon Day National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence [used to be in March] National Fajita Day National Ice Cream Pie Day National Kool-Aid Day National Men's Grooming Day Never Give Up Day Pinot Noir Day Serendipity Day and Voyager 1 is 22h 14m 49s of light travel time, or 14,919,000,000 miles, from Earth Quote of the day: " We forget all too soon the things we thought we could never forget. " ~ Joan Didion, " On Keeping a Notebook I have been trying since June 27th to get an appointment with a nephrologist - or at least that was the date I filled out the 11 page new patient form for them and said my GP had referred me.  Two months later, I am still going back and forth with them because apparently the "review doctor" hadn't decided ...

Day 229 - NOT Friday

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 Today is the 5th day of the 33rd week, the 17th day of the 8th month, the 229th day of  2023, and: Baby Boomers Recognition Day Balloon Airmail Day Independence Day - Indonesia from Japan in 1945 National #2 Pencil Day National Black Cat Appreciation Day National Hazy IPA Day National I LOVE My Feet Day National Massachusetts Day National Meaning of "Is" Day National Nonprofit Day National Thrift Shop Day National Vanilla Custard Day Quote of the day: "This must be Thursday.  I never could get the hang of Thursdays." ~ Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy The social media sneer " OK Boomer " never fails to make me grit my teeth.  Born in 1950, I am definitely one of them.  Growing up in the 1950's was not the idyllic family scene you here about in memoirs or saw in situation comedies!  Back then?  a woman could either get married or work as a teacher, nurse, or secretary.  We weren't allowed to vote until we were 21, altho the ...

Day 228 - everyone in

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 Today is the 4th day of the 33rd week, the 16th day of the 8th month, the 228th day of 2023 [with only 130 shopping days until Christmas], and:  Congressional Startup Day Gozan no Okunibi Independence Day - Gabon from France in 1960 Joe Miller's Joke Day National Airborne Day National Bratwurst Day National Medical Dosimetrist's Day National Roller Coaster Day National Rum Day National Tell a Joke Day Surveillance Day True Love Forever Day World Calligraphy Day the new moon as of 5:38 AM EDT Quote of the day: " Who included me among the ranks of the human race?" ~ Joseph Brodsky, poet and essayist  I worry.   Goes along with the tendency to overthink things.  Not that worry changes anything, mind you, nor does it particularly help my wellbeing or balance, but it is an activity I find myself doing even when I determinedly declare I am not going to do. I worry about my family.  Both kids are going through so much and there doesn't seem to be anything I ...

Day 227 - in the office alone

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 Today is the 3rd day of the 33rd week, the 15th day of the 8th month, the 227th day of 2023, and: Assumption of Mary - a feast day and a holy day of obligation for Roman Catholics that is a public holiday as well in 33 countries  Chant at the Moon Day - pretty hard to do when it is only 1% of a waning crescent today, even if there isn't any cloud cover Chauvin Day Green Data Day I love Cowboys and Cowgirls Day Independence Day - Korea from Japan in 1945 and the Republic of the Congo from France in 1960 Mom's Equal Pay Day National Acadian Day National Best Friends Day National Check the Chip Day National Failures Day - found by Jack Gilbert [ an American poet ] forty years ago  National Leathercraft Day National Lemon Meringue Pie Day National No SpongeBob Day National Relaxation Day National Thrift Shop Day and Voyager 1 is 22h 14m 15s of light travel time from Earth  Quote of the day : " Happiness is not a goal, it is a by-product" ~ Eleanor Roosevelt Bossman...

Day 226 - a Monday off

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 Today is the 2nd day of the 33rd week, the 14th day of the 8th month, the 226th day of 2023, and: Coloring Book Day - I had always enjoyed coloring books, and had looked forward to coloring with my granddaughters.  Turns out neither of them are that fond of the activity.  I moved from coloring books to cross stitch at a fairly young age, though now and then I still took up coloring with markers.  Today?  I landscape different areas in world, and take great pains with dressing my avatars the way that I want them to look. Military Marriage Day Falklands Day - celebration of the first sighting of the islands by John Davis in 1592 Independence Day - Pakistan from the UK in 1947 National Creamsicle Day National Financial Awareness Day National Navajo Code Talkers Day National Lizard Day National Tattoo Removal Day National Wiffle Ball Day Romance Awareness Day Social Security Day - the Social Security Act became law in 1935, to be implemented by 01.01.1937. ...

Day 225 - a very silent Sunday

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  #theviewfromthebalcony The sunlight fades from the eastern skies this warm and peaceful summer evening

Day 224 - Saturdays lost a little of the magic

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Today is the 7th day of the 32nd week, the 12th day of the 8th month, the 224th day of 2023, and: Home Sewing Machine Day - after a tumultuous history , and lawsuits over patents, the Singer cast iron treadle machine hit the market after being patented on this day in 1851.  The home sewing machine is deemed one of the most important inventions of the Industrial Revolution  IBM PC Day - released in 1981, Model 5150, the least expensive model cost $ 1,565 [that would be about $ 5,253 today] and it was not sold directly to customers, but to retailers ComputerLand and Sears.  They lost the market after about five years, then sold their PC business to Lenovo in 2004.   International Youth Day Middle Child Day Milkman Day - what happens when we forget Murray ?  Yes, for those of you who are too young to remember, milk used to get delivered to your porch daily or however many times a month you wanted it.  Indeed, back in the day, it was the only way to get...