Banking on Tomorrow

Rainbow Aurora over Icelandic Waterfall Image Credit & Copyright:  Stefano Pellegrini  

 Today is the 6th day of the 52nd week, the 30th day of the 12th month, the 364th day of 2023, and: Bacon Day Falling Needles Family Fest Day - ah the joys of a real tree! Festival of Enormous Changes at the Last Minute National Bicarbonate of Soda Day  Peeps Day the fifth day of Kwanzaa - creativity, showing up and out  the sixth day of the Twelve Days of Christmas - six geese a laying or facing my in-laws if you are into the 12 Pains of Christmas  or six rubber duckies according to Sesame Street and Voyager 1 is 22h 34m 24s of light travel time from Earth Quote of the day: " An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves. " ~  Bill Vaughan, American columnist and author Today has been a quiet day for the most part.  I changed the sheets on my bed and did the laundry.  You know, laundry would be a whole heck of a lot easier, and faster,  if you didn't have to fold the stuff and put it away afterwards.  

 Today is the 6th day of the 52nd week, the 29th day of the 12th month, the 363rd day of 2023, and: National 'Get on the Scales' Day National Pepper Pot Day No Interruptions Day Still Need to Do Day Tick Tock Day YMCA Day - and you have just dated yourself if you started singing   the fourth day of Kwanzaa - cooperative economics the fifth day of the Twelve Days of Christmas - five golden rings if you are still singing and Voyager 1 is 22h 34m 22s of light travel time from Earth Quote of the day: " I think the tiniest little thing can change the course of your day, which can change the course of your year, which can change who you are. " ~  Taylor Swift, Time's Person of the Year 2023 I moved into this apartment in July of 2009, the month after starting a new job.  I was sick and worn with untreated MRSA which finally was treated in September.  The boxes were everywhere, not just in the Disaster Area, and I didn't have the energy to unpack.  In fact, those box

 Today is the 5th day of the 52nd week, the 28th day of the 12th month, the 362nd blog post this year, and: Call a Friend Day Endangered Species Act Day Holy Innocent's Day or Childermas - in Spain and Latin American countries the festival is celebrated with pranks (inocentadas), similar to April Fools' Day (Catholic Church, Church of England, Lutheran Church) National Card Playing Day National Chocolate Candy Day National Download Day National Short Film Day Pledge of Allegiance Day the third day of Kwanza - collective work and responsibility  the fourth day of the Twelve Days of Christmas - or ' four calling birds ' if you are singing along and Voyager 1 is 22h 34m 20s of light travel time from Earth Quote of the day: " One faces the future with one's past ." ~  Pearl S Buck, American writer and novelist The turmoil online in that one social network that I wrote about two days ago has continued to percolate through our little community.  The person who p

 Today is the 4th day of the 52nd week, the 27th day of the 12th month, the 361st day of 2023 [ to my amusement, I actually encountered another post online that gave the number of shopping days to next Christmas (which is 363 days incidentally) ], and:   Howdy Doody Day - celebrating the birthday of Buffalo Bob in 1917  International Day for Epidemic Preparedness Make Cut Out Snowflakes Day National Fruitcake Day Radio City Music Hall Day Visit the Zoo Day the 2nd day of Kwanzaa - self-determination  the 3rd day of the Twelve Days of Christmas   and Voyager 1 is 22h 34m 17s of light travel time from Earth Quote of the day: " Kwanzaa is a special time to remember the ancestors, the bridge builders, and the leaders. "  ~  Dorothy Winbush Riley, editor of a series of textbooks on African-American history  *sings*  on the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me.... I really like that Kwanzaa quote/idea as we come up on the year end - remembering those who are gone now, th

 Today is the 3rd day of the 52nd week, the 26th day of the 12th month, the 360th day of 2023, and: Boxing Day  - which is, I will point out, celebrated by MOST of the English speaking world....  Here we have to wait until 2026 before we get off the day after again National Candy Cane Day National Thank You Note Day National Whiner's Day - this is in recognition of those who have to go to work today ST Stephen's Day the first day of Kwanzaa The second day of the Twelve Days of Christmas [AKA Twelvetide] - apparently   it has nothing to do with 2 turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree. the Cold [or Long Night"] full moon at 7:33 PM EST and Voyager 1 is 22h 34m 14s of light travel time from Earth, or 24,359,000,000 km / 15,136,000,000 miles / 162.83 AU Quote of the day:      “ Only twenty-seven people in Britain can explain why the day after Christmas Day is called Boxing Day, but that doesn't stop millions from marking it by staying home from work. An intriguing si

  this year's family PJs! totally dressed for the occasion!  had a little cleaning up to do after 'opens'.... I hope you all had a great day, and that the joys of the season lightened your spirit and healed your heart. and now? "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a Good Night."

 

 Today is the 7th day of the 51st week, the 23rd day of the 12th month, the 357th day of 2023, and: Festivus  - going strong for 57 years now [before Seinfeld even]  Christmas Adam  - the day before Christmas Eve HumanLight  - celebrated by humanists Metric Conversion Day National Bake Day National Pfeffernusse Day - for a long time I couldn't understand why they didn't taste like Grandmom Hughes' snowballs, and then I found out she didn't make them, she did Russian Teacakes.    National Roots Day Super Saturday - always the last Saturday before Christmas, still a huge shopping day and grocery stores will be particularly busy and Voyager 1 is 22h 34m 06s of light travel time from Earth Quote of the day: " He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree. " ~  Roy L. Smith, American clergyman and syndicated newspaper columnist Decorations in Second Life: Christmas Cabin in Nowhereville Bela coming home from shopping Decorating in world i

 Today is the 6th day of the 51st week, the 22nd day of the 12th month, the 356th day of 2023 [ with only three sleeps between us and Christmas, you had better have your shopping and wrapping done! ], and: Abilities Day Be a Lover of Silence Day Dongzhi Festival National Cookie Exchange Day National Date Nut Bread Day and Voyager 1 is 22h 34m 03s of light travel time from Earth Quote of the day: " I understand that it's the thought that counts, but receiving money is so great, so if you're in a position to give an employee a bonus, just do that. " ~  Leandra Medine, American author, blogger, and humor writer [ who apparently is not at all found of make-up ] In some industries, bonuses are considered part of the yearly compensation, and are usually totally performance based [ unless you have some sweetheart contract deal that is,as far too many in the C-suite do ].  The management theory behind them is that what you reward and recognize is what you get.  That's wh

 Today is the 5th day of the 51st week, the 21st day of the 12th month, the 355th day of 2023 [ only 10 more days to go?! ], and: Anne and Samantha Day Celebrate Short Fiction day  Crossword Puzzle Day - invented by a British journalist and published for the first time in 1913 by the New York World  Don't Make Your Bed Day Forefathers' Day Global Orgasm Day Go Caroling Day Gravy Day - celebrated in honor of the song 'How to Make Gravy ' by Paul Kelly  Humbug Day International Dalek Remembrance Day Make Music Day in Winter National Coquito Day National Flashlight Day National French Fried Shrimp Day National Hamburger Day National Homeless Persons' Memorial Day National Kiwi Fruit Day National Look at the Bright Side Day National Maine Day National Regifting Day National Short Story DAy Phileas Fogg Win a Wager Day Ribbon Candy Day Short Film Day Short Girl Appreciation Day Shorts Day [AKA Shake and Freeze Day] The First Day of Winter [ in the norther hemisphere ] Wi

 Today is the 4th day of the 51st week, the 20th day of the 12th month, the 354th day of babbling, and: Cathode-Ray Tube Day Dot Your I's Day - and cross your t's   Games Day Go Caroling Day International Human Solidarity Day Mudd Day - celebrating the birthday of the man who's name was mud after 1865.  But if you are a Star Trek: The Original Series fan, you might've been thinking about Harcourt Fenton  National Sangria Day Poet Lauriat Day earliest date possible for the Winter Solstice's Eve [Northern Hemisphere] and Voyager 1 is 22h 33m 56s of light travel time from Earth Quote of the day: " Forgiveness is the final form of love. " ~  Reinhold Niebuhr, an American Reformed theologian, ethicist, commentator on politics and public affairs, and professor Today was the office Christmas party.  Well not actually a party, bossman just closed the office and we all went to a nice place for lunch, socialized and ate for a couple of hours, then headed home.  Bos

 Today is the 3rd day of the 51st week, the 19th day of the 12th month, the 353rd day of 2023 [ you really don't want to know how many shopping days are left until Christmas if you haven't finished yet ], and:  Holly Day Look for an Evergreen Day National Emo Day National Hard Candy Day National Oatmeal Muffin Day the moon at first quarter at 1:40 PM EST and Voyager 1 is 22h 33m 53s of light travel time from Earth On this day in.... 1487 - Opening ceremony of the sixth Great Temple of Tenochtitlan (modern Mexico City) 4,000 prisoners of war are sacrificed to Aztec gods over four days 1606 – The ships Susan Constant, Godspeed, and Discovery depart England carrying settlers who founded, at Jamestown, Virginia, the first of the thirteen colonies that became the United States. 1686 - Robinson Crusoe leaves his island after 28 years (as per Daniel Defoe's famous novel) 1835 - HMS Beagle with Charles Darwin aboard arrives in New Zealand 1843 - 'A Christmas Carol' by Charl

Today is the 2nd day of the 51st week, the 18th day of the 12th month, the 352nd day of this waning year, and:  Answer the Phone Like Buddy the Elf - remember the celebrity phone answering machine tapes?  I rather miss having Boris Karloff, John Wayne, or Jean Luc Picard answer my incoming calls... Arabic Language Day Bake Cookies Day Flake Appreciation Day Give a Wine Club Day  International Migrants Day National 'I Love Honey' Day National Ham Salad Day - it really is very hard to find a good ham salad these days  National Roast Suckling Pig Day National Twin Day National Wear a Plunger on Your Head Day - no.  Just no.   and Voyager 1 is 22h 33m 49s of light travel time from Earth Quote of the day : " To invite a person to your house is to take charge of his happiness as long as he be beneath your roof. " ~  Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin, The Physiology of Taste The Monday morning after the end of your vacation is always a tough one.  There were 259 emails to plow t

  Geminids over China's Nianhu Lake Image Credit & Copyright:  Hongyang Luo

 Today is the 7th day of the 50th week, the 16th day of the 12th month, the 350th day of 2023, and: Barbie and Barney Backlash Day Boston Tea Party Day Day of Reconciliation Independence Day - Bahrain from the UK in 1971 and Kazakhstan from the Soviet Union in 1991 National Chocolate Covered Anything Day National Wreaths Across America Day Posadas - the beginning of the nine-day celebration beginning December 16 and ending December 24, celebrating the trials which Mary and Joseph endured before finding a place to stay where Jesus could be born Pinot Meunier Day Stupid Toy Day Zionism Day and Voyager 1 is 22h 33m 41s of light travel time from Earth, or 24,349,000,000 km / 15,130,000,000 miles / 162.77 AU Quote of the day : " He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree. " ~  Roy L Smith, American clergyman and syndicated columnist  At Security Mall in Woodlawn, starting in 2004 and lasting for several years afterwards, there used to be a lone tree deco

 Today is the 6th day of the 50th week, the 15th day of the 12th month, the 349th day of this babble experiment, and: Bill of Rights Day Cat Herder's Day International Tea Day National Cupcake Day National Gingerbread Latte Day National Lemon Cupcake Day National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day National Wear Your Pearls Day Underdog Day Zamenhof Day and Voyager 1 is 22h 33m 38s of light travel time from Earth Quote of the day : " The whole point of getting things done is knowing what to leave undone. " ~ Oswald Chambers, Scottish Baptist evangelist and teacher aligned with the Holiness Movement Today the list of things I haven't done is much longer than the list of things I have accomplished.  I need to rest after vacationing   I mean, I liked traveling [ well accept for dealing with getting to and home from BWI which always stresses me out ] and I loved seeing my kids together, even while acknowledging that we don't know when we will be able to all be together again.

 Today is the 5th day of the 50th week, the 14th day of the 12th month, the 348th day of 2023. And we made it back home I had quality time with both of my kids - the best Christmas present in the whole wide world.   But altho Triscuit came to greet me, she wouldn't let me pick her up.  She is staying close by but is making it clear that I am not forgiven for leaving her like that

 Today is the 4th day of the 50th week, the 13th day of the 12th month, and the 347th day of 2023. The day started out with the news that Dick Van Dyke is 98 years old today.  The news story featured a picture of him riding a bike and clowning around.  The man is 25 years older than I am and has more mobility than I do! Today we sat and talked and covered a wide range of topics from what we thought of the afterlife to the best components for a high-end gaming computer with many digressions throughout. Tomorrow will only be a half day as we have to be at the airport by 2 PM.  We are due into BWI sometime  after 6PM and have only the rigamarole of getting ourselves out of the airport and home left to contend with.  It has been a poignant visit.  It was good to meet the two guys who are caring for and about my son as he determinedly fights against the cancer.  My daughter and I like them both and it is obvious they are doing a very good job.  And equally fortunately, the two of them seem

Today is the 3rd day of the 50th week, the 12th day of the 12th month, and the 346th day of 2023. Today my son tried to get me to drive his car from the motel to their house.  I did it, but between driving a different car, and trying to follow a Garmin’s directions while driving on an unfamiliar road with traffic all around who thought the speed limit was a suggestion, we decided I should not do that again. The visit is going great otherwise!

 Today is the 2nd day of the 50th week, the 11th day of the 12th month, and the 345th day of 2023. The storm was a bit later arriving yesterday than originally anticipated, and so continued longer thru the night and the rain turned briefly to snow.  The roads are, of course, too warm for it to lay, but there will be an unpleasant surprise for those who do not have a garage  Not exactly what you want to see when you have a flight out, but according to both BWI and SW, all flights are on time.  Traffic, on the other hand, is not doing as well.  There was already before 7AM an alert informing me that three lanes of 495 were being shut down due to an accident. This will be my first foray into an airport since December 2019, and the first time traveling with my daughter since she was disabled.  I've prepared as much as I can, and all that remains for me to do today is decide on some odds 'n ends [ like whether I am going to wear boots or shoes ], to clean the litterbox, and to pack

  Fog blankets the evergreens at sunrise  is a photograph by EZ Lorenz Imagery which was uploaded on December 6th, 2023. https://pixels.com/featured/fog-blankets-the-evergreens-at-sunrise-ez-lorenz-imagery.html

 Today is the 7th day of the 49th week, the 9th day of the 12th month, the 343rd day of 2023, and: Anna's Day - time to start preparing the lutefisk for Christmas Eve Christmas Card Day Cremation Day Gingerbread Decorating Day Independence Day - Tanganyika [AKA Tanzania] from Britain in 1961 International Anti-Corruption Day International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and The Prevention of this Crime  International Day of Veterinary Medicine International Shareware Day National Day of the Horse National Llama Day National Opal Apples Day National Pastry Day Weary Willie Day World Techno Day and Voyager 1 is 22h 33m 11s of light travel time from Earth  Quote of the day : " Grief is like a stream running through our life, and it’s important to understand that it doesn’t go away. Our grief lasts a lifetime, but our relationship to it changes ." ~  Martha Beck, “ Elegy for Everything ” A few years [ and a couple jobs ] ago, I had a m

 Today is the 6th day of the 49th week, the 8th day of the 12th month, the 342nd day of 2023, and: Bodhi Day Feast of the Immaculate Conception - never could figure the timing on this one out since we celebrate the birthday of Jesus born  17 days later... . National Brownie Day National Christmas Tree Day National Crossword Solvers Day National Lard Day National Salespersons Day Official Lost and Found Day Pretend to be a Time Traveler Day Take It in the Ear Day Toilet Paper Appreciation day -  first sold in the United States by Joseph C Gayetty back on this day in 1857 and Voyager 1 is 22h 33m 06s of light travel time from Earth Quote of the day: " I think that gadgets make for good gifts ." ~  Diana Penty, Indian actress So I'm actually rather pleased with myself - the wrapping is done! First I started out yesterday checking my list and making sure everything had come in.  I had the Christmas music playing and took my time Some things had been bagged [or wrapped by Amaz