Today is Sunday, May 28 and there are only 211 days until Christmas.  Every once in a while play some Christmas music.  Today we remember the birthdays of John the Fearless, Eliza Ann Gardner and Billy Vera.  On this day in 1539 Hernando de Soto landed in Florida, in 1774 the first Continental Congress convened and in 1987 the Monitor, a Civil War warship, was discovered by a deep sea robot.  In Puerto Rico today is Memorial Day, in the US it is National Brisket Day and National Hamburger Day.  Also in the US tomorrow is Memorial Day.

I would like to take a few minutes to discuss Memorial Day.  Many people look at the day as the unofficial first day of summer.  They have parties and barbecues and walk around wishing people a Happy Memorial Day.  In the past I have suggested that we say Remember Memorial Day.  This is a day on which those who died in active military service are remembered.  It is important for Americans to take time to remember the sacrifices that bought their freedom.

Here are some ideas on how to commemorate this important American holiday:

·         Send a note of thanks to a veteran you know

·         If you know someone who has lost a loved one in battle, offer to help with a special project or help meet a special need they have

·         Visit a local cemetery and place flags on the graves of fallen soldiers

·         Fly the American flag at half-staff until noon

·         Participate in the National Moment of Remembrance at 3 PM.  Pause and think about the meaning of Memorial Day.

Yes, enjoy the day and look forward to the summer months.  Have cookouts and have fun, but take a moment to remember the meaning of the day.  Keep in mind that “all gave some, but some gave all.”  Thank you.

Well, I am back from my sojourn to the Southwest and have things to tell you about.  I travelled with my brother and two of our friends to the Grand Canyon, Albuquerque and Santa Fe.  We had a great time and saw a number of fantastic sights.  If you have never been to the Grand Canyon, you should go.  It is spectacular.  One thing I would recommend is that you pay attention to the rules and stay on the paths.  The days we were there it was rather windy, but that did not stop some people from going out onto ledges to take selfies.  I guess they thought the fences and railings were there to keep other people from coming out and messing up their pictures.  With the wind, it would have been very easy for someone to be swept over the edge.  Falling 3000+ feet onto rocks is not the best way to enjoy your trip.

While we were there the temperature was in the low 60’s and I was surprised at the number of people who were not dressed for the weather.  You would think that with all the ways you can check in advance, you might want to see what the temperatures were like.  There were a number of people who obviously thought that, because they were in Arizona, it was going to be hot.  It was, but not at the Grand Canyon.  I saw some interesting head gear while I was there.  I saw one couple that looked like they bought their hats from the French Foreign Legion.  I saw a number of different styles of cowboy hats, but none that were really good in the wind.  I saw one woman who had on a straw hat that would be good if she was working in her garden.  She had the hat tied on using a sweater she had with her.

While traveling from one city to another, we stopped at a fast food place for something to eat.  Just as we were carrying the tray to the trash, my brother opened the door and the wind blew the garbage off the tray and at a couple walking in the store.  One evening we had gone to a rooftop bar for drinks and a view of the sunset.  We got chips, salsa and guacamole with our drinks.  Our friend Dick had a couple chips with guacamole and some with salsa.  The wind was strong enough to blow the chips just with salsa off the plate.

We experienced quite a variety of temperatures.  When we left the airport in Phoenix, it was 81.  By the time we got to the Grand Canyon, it was in the 60’s. It stayed that way while we were in Albuquerque, too.  Dick and I were supposed to take a hot air balloon ride, but got cancelled two days in a row because of the wind.  When we were driving into Santa Fe it was windy, 38 and snowing.  When we got back to Phoenix the day before we left it was 106.

While in Albuquerque, we went to a winery.  The wines there were quite good and we bought a couple bottles.  Our plan was to go to a UPS store and ship the bottles home – except they would not ship them.  This was not a problem for some of us, but it was an issue for my brother.  His suitcase weighed 48 lbs. before he put the wine in.  They weighed the wine and told him he was going to have to lose at least 10 lbs. from his luggage so that he could pack the wine.  He ended up mailing home a couple books, a pair of sneakers and his dirty laundry so that he could get the wine home in his suitcase.

The stupidest question heard at one of the national parks – Why did the Indians build their ruins so far from the interstate highway?  Here is a question, how do you build ruins?  That question is an example of why you need to wear some kind of hat when you are out in the sun.

This week our fact tells us that there is a Massachusetts law requiring all dogs to have their hind legs tied during the month of April.  I am not even going to try and guess what that is all about.  Maybe that is when they paint the fire hydrants and don’t want the paint to get wet.

Thank you for reading and Remember Memorial Day.

I am away on vacation this week so I am presenting an encore performance of a previous post.  I hope you enjoy it.  I will see you next week.

It is Sunday, June 28 and there are only 87 days until Good Neighbor Day, so cut your grass and clean up the weeds.  Today we remember the birthdays of Peter Paul Rubens, Richard Rodgers and Mel Brooks. On this day in 1770 Quakers opened a school for blacks in Philadelphia,in 1820 the tomato was proven to be non-poisonous and in 1971 Filmore East closed.  In Malta it is Mnarja Day and in Iowa it is Independence Sunday.

I was in our local grocery store recently and wanted to get some cold cuts.  They have a section that has some of the standards pre-cut so you don?t have to take a number and wait in line.  I was looking for ham and knew they would have it in the pre-cut section. I went over, picked up the ham and read the label to be sure I had what I was looking for.  The label told me that I had selected "Store-sliced Domestic Ham."  I wondered where else it would have been sliced.  Maybe at the bowling alley across the street or at the motorcycle store down the block.  Why did they feel it was necessary to tell me where it was sliced?  Were they afraid I wouldn't buy it if I wasn't told?

My bigger issue with them is not so much where it was sliced as how it was sliced.  The store has a machine that allows you to order your cold cuts when you first come in.  You select what you want, how much you want and how you want it sliced.  The "how you want it sliced" is where I have an issue.  There are no standards and the thickness is determined by who is preparing the order. The choices are thick, regular (?), thin and very thin.

I usually choose thin. What I actually get is a crap shoot. Occasionally, I get it the way I want it.  Sometimes I get what I would suppose is regular because it is slightly thicker than I want.  Sometimes it is so thin that I can see through it.  Once it was so thick that I ordered a half pound and got six slices. I could tell by the feel that this was wrong and had it re-done.  One time, as I was picking up my order from the case, one of the deli workers came over and proudly told me that he had done my order.  I looked at his name tag and said, "Good. At least now I know who to blame if it is wrong."  He disappeared quickly.

The other evening, the lovely Elaine and I were watching TV and I did something I don't usually do. I listened to a commercial.  It was for the medication of the week.  You know what I mean.  Just about every week there is a new medication for some ailment or another.  Sometimes I think they create a condition just so they can push another drug on the unsuspecting public ... but I digress.

As I listened to the commercial, they started to go into the side effects.  I often wonder how most of these drugs get on the market.  It takes them longer to list all the problems than it takes to tell you what the drug is for.  Why is it that almost every drug requires that you be tested for tuberculosis? Another question is why do almost all drugs make you have suicidal thoughts?  How is this reaction a good one when you take the pill to battle depression?  And, do I really want to take a drug for arthritis that can cause cancer?  When my son was younger, he had a congestion issue and the doctor prescribed a medication for him.  One of the side effects was that it could cause nasal congestion. I?m sorry, what was that?  But I am digressing again.

The specific commercial I listened to said that the drug should not be given to children under six and was not recommended for children ages six to 17.  Wouldn't it have been easier to just say that children under 17 should not take it?  Is it me or do others hear this stuff and wonder the same things?  That was rhetorical so don?t worry about getting back to me on it.

As a result of listening to that commercial, I started listening to others.  There is a tea that claims that their drink is made from tea that is mountain grown.  My issue with this is how do we prove it?  Maybe they have a field of plants in the mountains that they show to people who ask and the rest of the tea is grown in climate-controlled sheds in the desert somewhere.  In any event, would most consumers be able to tell the difference?  Probably not, but they will buy the beverage simply because they are told it is better having been mountain grown.

I find some commercials interesting because they claim their product is better than their competitors, naturally.  Then you see the competitor's commercial and they claim their product is the best for the same reasons.  There are always demonstrations that show the advertising product to its best advantage while showing the competition as totally ineffective.  Then you flip to the competitor and they show the same comparison, only this time their product wins.

I think the lovely Elaine has the best solution.  Buy what you think will do the job you want done.  If it doesn't, return it!  Her attitude is that if your product doesn't deliver as advertised, then take it back and give me my money back.  I usually make the returns because I have more fun with it.  The person doing the job asks why I am returning it and I tell them, "Because my wife told me to."  Or I say, "Because I thought it was a better idea than she did."  That type of response usually cuts down on the chit chat and makes the process go much quicker.

This week our fact tells us that lightning strikes the earth6000 times per minute.  6000 times per minute!  And there are still people walking around that I have wished would get struck and haven?t.  You would think the odds would be more in my favor.Have a good week and watch out for lightning.

 Today is Sunday, May 14.  Happy Mother’s Day!  There are only 180 days until my birthday.  Get in touch with me if you need ideas.  Today we remember the birthdays of Gabriel Daniel Fahrenheit, Otto Klemperer and George Lucas.  On this day in 1607 the first permanent English settlement in the new world, Jamestown, was established, in 1804 Lewis and Clark set out from St Louis for the Pacific Coast and in 1980 the Department of Health and Human Services began operations.  In Liberia it is Unification Day, in Malawi it is Kamuzu Day and in the US it is Mother’s Day, National Buttermilk Biscuit Day and National Dance Like a Chicken Day.

Since it is Mother’s Day, it is time to open your trivia folder.  In the US, the celebration of Mother’s Day began in the early 20^th century.  Feel free to go into the archive section of the blog for previous years to learn more about how it all started.  It is a celebration honoring the mother of the person, as well as motherhood, maternal bond and the influence of mothers in society.  It is not related to the many celebrations of mothers and motherhood that have occurred throughout the world over thousands of years, such as the Greek cult to Cybele or the Roman festival of Hilaria.

While the US holiday has been adopted by over 80 countries, existing celebrations have been described as “Mother’s Day”, such as Mothering Sunday in Ireland, Nigeria and the UK.  Many countries, including Albania, Kosovo and Uzbekistan observe it as part of International Women’s Day.  In South Korea it is observed on Parents’ Day.  That should fill your need for holiday information for now.

Speaking of mothers, I saw a sign recently that has me puzzled.  The sign was for a church.  The name of the church was “Mary Mother of God” and that is what confuses me.  If Mary is the mother of God, then that would make God the brother of Jesus.  In that case then who, in fact, was the father?  More to the point, if God is the creator of everything, why would he need a mother?  When I mentioned this to Barbara, she asked me if I am like this with everything.  I said yes and she just shook her head.

As you may recall, I mentioned that the grocery store I go to all the time had removed all the cart corrals and I wondered what the plan was.  As it turns out, the reason they had been removed was because the lot was being repaved.  This made it more exciting the other day when I went and found that they had repaved, but the parking spaces had not been repainted yet.  So now, in addition to the carts being left all over, people were parking wherever they felt like it and however they felt like parking.  Suddenly there were four foot spaces between cars and cars straddling what would have been two spaces had lines been there.  In addition, carts were being collected and then left in long lines, blocking two or three spaces, or what would be that many if lines were painted.  

I was there yesterday and they had painted the spaces.  The corrals are not back yet and the carts are still left all over the lot.  They are still collecting them and leaving them in lines, blocking spaces.  But here is where it gets better.  The handicap spaces have not been painted yet.  The signs are there, but no one seems to be paying any attention to them. 

The topper is in another section of spaces.  This store allows you to order on line and then come pick up your groceries.  They have special spaces, with signs, for those pick ups.  The spaces are painted a different color and apparently, the space painters only had white with them the day they were there.  When I got to the parking lot yesterday, I was walking to the store and I noticed several cars in the pick up area.  What made it interesting was that the cars were parked at an angle.  Every other car in the lot was parked straight in, except for these three cars.  There were no lines for them and there were signs indicating that these spaces were reserved, but there was nothing that would make someone think they should park at an angle.  Except, of course for those three cars.  Sometimes you look at people like that and you have to wonder who ties their shoes.

This week our fact tells us that in York, Pennsylvania you can’t sit down while watering your lawn with a hose.  Why?  Does this mean that if a hose is being used, for example a hose attached to a sprinkler, you cannot sit down?  What if you go inside?  Or does it just mean if you are standing outside, holding a garden hose and spraying water on your lawn?  For that matter, what difference does it make whether you are standing or sitting? You are still using the same amount of water.  Yes, Barbara, I am like this with everything.

If you can, call your mother and wish her a Happy Mother’s Day!  Now go have a buttermilk biscuit and dance like a chicken.  Film the dance, if possible.  I am sure we would love to see it.

Today is Sunday, May 7 and Mothers Day is only seven days away.  Start buying those cards, flowers and jewelry and making dinner reservations.  Today we remember the birthdays of Sir Francis Beaufort, Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky and Willard Scott.  On this day in 1660 Isaack B Fubine of Savoy, in the Hague, patented macaroni, in 1847 the American Medical Association was organized and in 1970 “Long and Winding Road” became the Beatles’ last American release.  In Scotland it is Spring Day, in Thailand it is State Ploughing Ceremony Day and in the US it is National Lemonade Day and National Roast Leg of Lamb Day.

Here are your facts for your May trivia file.  May is named after the Greek goddess, Maia who is also identified Bona Dea (the Roman goddess of fertility), May is the time of spring in the Northern Hemisphere.  Sоmе Nаtіvе Amеrісаn tribes called the Mау full moon The Full Flower Mооn, The Corn Planting Mооn or the Milk Mооn.  The Anglo Saxon word for Mау wаѕ Trі-Mіlсhі mеаnіng 3 milks because the grаѕѕ had become ѕо lush and grееn that уоu соuld milk the соwѕ thrее tіmеѕ a dау!  Memorial Day is сеlеbrаtеd on the lаѕt Sundау in Mау.  Armed Fоrсеѕ Dау іѕ the third Sunday in Mау.  May 5th іѕ Cіnсо De Mayo, соmmеmоrаtіng the Mеxісаn dеfеаt of the French at Puebla.  The Kеntuсkу Derby takes place the first Saturday in May.  That should give you plenty to talk about at the Memorial Day picnic.

I have noticed that people seem to be going out of their way to affect a certain fashion look, regardless of how they actually look or what the weather is like.  Here are two examples of what I mean.  A week or so ago, it was warm in this area.  I was sitting in my car in a parking lot and saw a taxi pull up. The door opened and a man got out.  He was wearing a sport jacket, slacks, dress shirt and a tie.  This was not unusual.  What made it strange was that he had a scarf wrapped around his neck several times.  There was so much scarf that he had to tilt his head back.  I have to be honest and say that I have no idea what look he was going for.  If it was goofy guy wearing a big scarf, he nailed it.

On that same day, in that same parking lot, I also saw a young woman walking across the lot wearing a light blouse, shorts and fur-lined boots.  What was the thought process that went into that outfit?  “It’s kind of warm out so I am going to wear a blouse and shorts, but my feet are cold so I’d better put on my fur boots.”  I am pretty sure that we have seen that brand of boot enough that you don’t need to show them off when the temperature goes above 70.  

I continue to be amazed by what people do in the name of fashion.  Recently, I have noticed several  things that have me puzzled.  One was a girl wearing denim shorts.  The shorts were cut offs that were so short that the pockets extended down below the end of the shorts.  I have seen that a number of times and cannot understand what that look is all about.  Another thing I have seen is women walking around with ripped jeans.  I guess there is some sort of cache to that look, but I am also pretty sure they paid big bucks for jeans that they could have ripped themselves.  Why do they want to walk around looking like they just went through a clothing bin for their outfit?  Speaking of big bucks for jeans, have you seen the jeans that are selling for over $400?  They are pre-muddied!  I’ll make you a deal – buy a regular pair of jeans and bring them to me.  For 10 bucks I will make them as muddy and dirty as you want.  Throw in an extra $5 and I will rip them, too.

One final issue and then I will move out of the world of fashion.  I was in the grocery store the other day and saw a guy walking along wearing a t-shirt, jeans and brown wing tips.  This is something I see often.  Why do guys wear dress shoes with jeans?  I’m not saying you have to have a wardrobe of shoes that go with the different types of slacks you wear (I do, but that’s a story for another time).  But don’t you have a pair of sneakers you could use?  Jeans and dress shoes just don’t seem to go together.  That’s like wearing an athletic t-shirt with a dress suit.  Okay, moving on.

I have always had an issue with people who don’t put their shopping cart in the cart drop-off when they are done with it.  I have gone on about this subject here a number of times.  The grocery store I go to has decided to do something about it.  They have removed all the cart corrals from the parking lot.  Now people have an excuse for just leaving their carts.  In the past they would leave the cart at the end of the space or against the fence in front of their car.  Now with the corrals gone, they don’t even move the cart.  I saw one woman empty her cart, leave it where it was and then get in her car and pull through the space in front of her.  I would love to know the store’s reason for this move.  I can’t wait to see what they are going to do instead.  So far, collecting the carts doesn’t seem to be an alternative.

This week our fact tells us that there is a sea squirt that digests its own brain.  When the sea squirt is mature it permanently attaches itself to a rock.  At this point it does not need to move anymore and has no need for a brain.  Sounds like a number of senators and congressmen we’ve been reading about.