Good Morning! Happy Friday to everyone! Even while I’m not working, I am up in the morning with Hubby and spend it doing things around here. Today I am very late because I had a telephone interview this morning, which turned into an in-person interview. The company isn’t putting anyone new to work until the end of August but promised they would let me know. I have a good feeling about this though. I spent some time wandering around Wal-Mart and another store, taking my time and finally getting home a bit ago. It’s a beautiful day to be enjoying air-conditioning!
Update: After getting most of this going when I got home yesterday afternoon, I got busy and distracted, and didn’t get back to it. As a result, you are getting three days of celebrations all at once! I know, it’s a lot of ready, but there are some good ones!
Did you catch the Blood Moon or the Lunar Eclipse last night? Get this, Friday’s total lunar eclipse (not visible everywhere) was the longest blood moon visible this century, until 2123. Fascinating!
Verse of the Day
July 27, 2018
Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
Thoughts on the Verse of the Day
With all the great heroes of the Bible, both big and small, we can do God’s work with confidence. But to boldly go where he wants us to go, we must first be willing to let go of the sin that entangles our lives, distorts our vision, enlarges our doubts, and robs us of our spiritual vitality and stamina.
July 28, 2018
I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Thoughts on the Verse of the Day
The way to walk a tightrope is to keep ones sight on the goal, never looking down to the ground nor over our shoulder at what is behind. The way to walk with Jesus is to keep our eye on the goal, his victory waiting for us when he returns, not on the ground (our failures) and not what is behind (our accomplishments). The goal of the Christian walk is to keep walking toward Jesus until we walk with him in heaven.
July 29, 2018
I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have preserved my life.
Thoughts on the Verse of the Day
Much like the rules parents have for young children — don’t drink what’s under the cabinet, don’t play in the street, don’t walk out from behind parked cars… — God’s guidance is not to restrict us, but to protect us. His commands, both positive and prohibitive, are for our protection and perfection. By them we find life, and have it preserved. (The Old Testament Law had all sorts of cleanliness laws that did not make any sense at all until thousands of years after they were written when we began to understand bacteria and viruses. All through these years, the Israelites were preserved by God’s command when they had no real understanding why God had given the laws in the first place.)
Food for Thought
At the risk, which I don’t give one fig about, of triggering low-information, give-me-something-free idiots in this country – I watched our President this morning, I heard the great news of the deficit coming down by 52 billion dollars in a short year, and the great employment numbers, the manufacturing businesses re-opening and all of the happiness going around regarding our amazing economic recovery and I have to say, GO TRUMP! I am proud to call him President and proud of the job he is doing.
July 27 –
Barbie-In-A-Blender Day – Though I comprehend the point of this one, I do find it to be disturbing. The gist of this whole celebration is that someone who labels themselves as an artist decided to do an odd work of art featuring a Barbie doll in a blender. Mattel didn’t appreciate it, sued the “artist”, the “artist” won the suit as he was merely exercising his right to free speech and Mattel had to pay out big bucks. Fine – we all have the right to free speech and there are many people who don’t care for Barbie, but seriously there are many children who LOVE Barbie and grow up playing with their Barbie dolls and all of Barbie’s friends. This imagery is highly disturbing to children, so for that reason I question the sanity and the artistic talent of the individual who created (and created is a loosely used word in this instance) the art in the first place.
National Get Gnarly Day – This last Friday in July gives us a chance to grab on to new ideas, get rid of old ways to do things, and just “get gnarly”. I have no idea what that means for you, but from what I have been reading that though the word gnarly can have some negative connotations, sometimes it is used to describe something that is exciting – for example when a surfer says a wave is gnarly, they really mean it’s a good one. Apparently, we can get gnarly in our lives by embracing the challenges and holding on tight – living life to the fullest without letting any exciting opportunities pass us by. Well, OK! Let’s get that started, shall we?
National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day – I never made any secret that I didn’t care for our previous President, however I have always had a great deal of love and respect for our veterans, so to that end, let’s give our thanks to our veterans today, and honor those who served in the Korean War. Below is a copy and paste of the Presidential Proclamation for this special day.
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA A PROCLAMATION
In 1950, when Communist armies from the North stormed across the 38th parallel, brave American men and women though weary of combat in the wake of World War II stepped forward to defend their brothers and sisters on the Korean Peninsula. Over the course of 3 years, through unforgiving weather and severe danger, nearly 1.8 million Americans joined in the fight and faced down Communism pushing the invading armies back and protecting a people on the other side of the world. As we mark the 63rd anniversary of the Military Armistice Agreement that brought an end to this war, we pause to honor the strength and resilience of our Korean War veterans, whose spirits and stories serve as an inspiration to continue advancing freedom’s cause.
Rising from occupation and ruin, the Republic of Korea today shines as a thriving, modern country, whose people can take comfort in knowing that the commitment of the United States to their stability and security will never waver. Fifty million South Koreans now live in freedom, reaching for their dreams and pursuing opportunities in a vibrant democracy and dynamic economy always realizing they have a partner who will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with them in defense of peace and prosperity. Our lasting friendship and unbreakable alliance are sustained by the beliefs we hold in common and the values we cherish.
As we pay tribute to the Americans who gallantly helped forge this bond, we know our solemn responsibilities to our fallen and their loved ones persist long after the battle ends. More than 7,800 Americans are still missing from the Korean War, and we will not stop working to live up to our obligations to their families. We owe all our service members an enormous debt of gratitude. To honor the full weight of the sacrifices made by those who serve, we must uphold our Nation’s promise to our veterans when they return home, and fulfill our commitment to all who wear the uniform in our name.
On National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day, we pay tribute to the American patriots who fought for freedom and democracy throughout the Korean War, leaving behind everyone they loved to secure the blessings of liberty for a country they never knew and a people they had never met. For the heavy price they paid, we will forever honor the legacy of their service and uphold the ideals they secured through this hard-won victory.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim July 27, 2016, as National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day. I call upon all Americans to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities that honor our distinguished Korean War veterans.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-fifth day of July, in the year of our Lord two thousand sixteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-first.
BARACK OBAMA
Now, as of what I heard this morning (Friday – 7/27) the agreement reached between President Trump and Chairman Un of North Korea is coming to pass – Un is sending some of the remains of our fallen military from the Korean war home. Some should have been arriving today. Their families will be able to have closer, and our soldiers will be laid to rest, at last. Thank you, President Trump.
Take Your Houseplant for a Walk Day – I admit it. I am lousy with houseplants. Mine are quite fortunate if I remember to water them. And I’m not kidding. Somehow, I did not inherent my Grandmother’s and Mother’s abilities with them. The folks at Wellcat.com apparently have a good sense of the silly too, and maybe they are better with plants than I am and have a better idea of what makes them happy enough to grow. They’ve designated today as the day to take your houseplants for a walk! They say on their site that this allows your plants to become familiar with their surroundings and help them be healthier, happier plants. For those of us who don’t feel like taking the philodendron for a stroll, you can take them for a walk another way – but repotting any that are root bound. Let them stretch their roots and give them a new home. They really will be happier and healthier, and you don’t have to feel silly in front of the neighbors.
Apparently, houseplants are not the only things in our homes that need a walk today . . . keep reading!
Take Your Pants for a Walk Day – This one gave me a giggle. The person who set this one up has a great imagination and a sense of the silly. Every day is a great day to get some exercise, and it’s an easy one to celebrate. You simply go for a walk! Unless you are wearing a dress or a skirt, then you are probably wearing pants, so by logical deduction they will be going with you as you take your walk. So, give your pants some exercise. If they are like so many people’s pants, they are probably a little tight around the middle and could use a good workout.
Walk on the Stilts Day – Have you ever watched someone in the circus or in a parade walk on stilts? I suffer from awful balance, so I always marveled at someone who was really confident and stable on stilts. I didn’t realize that walking on stilts was an ancient art though – I just figured it was something that they came up with for entertainment purposes a few centuries ago. I was incorrect. In the 19th century stilt walked started in Landes, France. The people who lived in that marshy area began walking on stilts as a way to get around on the wet terrain. It is said that the people performed all of their daily outdoor tasks on stilts. That’s pretty coordinated! If you want to learn how to walk on stilts, just get some long, strong sticks and strap them to your feet! I’m sure it’s a bit more complicated than that, but it’s the general idea, right?
July 28 –
Buffalo Soldiers Day – This holiday was declared by Congress in 1992. But do you know who the Buffalo Soldiers were? I didn’t either! They were the U.S. Army regiments of African American soldiers, first formed on this date in 1866. The first of these regiments fought bravely for the Union during the Civil War. It is important to note that at that time the regiments were racially segregated. The black and white soldiers didn’t live together, or even fight together in the same regiment until the armed forces were integrated in the 1940s and 1950s. Though most of the segregated regiments had white officers, there were some black officers even during the Civil War. Henry O. Flipper is one example. Times have obviously changed greatly in the years since, as in 1989 Army General Colin Powell was appointed as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff – which meant he was the highest-ranking officer in the entire U.S. military. The term Buffalo Soldiers was a name given to the black soldiers by some Native Americans that they fought during the Indian Wars. The name could have been praise for the toughness of the soldiers, or just a comment on the soldiers’ curly black hair. Some historians thought it was a disparaging racial term meant to insult the soldiers, but there isn’t any proof of that and historically Native Americans were seen to appreciate attributes over skin color. Today there are reenactments, dedications and special programs set up to pay tribute to the Buffalo Soldiers. Love for our nation isn’t about race, it’s about being patriots to the core and fighting for what we believe in. The Buffalo Soldiers are wonderful examples of patriotism and love of this country and should be remembered as the heroes that they were.
National Dance Day – Dancing is so much fun, isn’t it? I am personally not very coordinated and dance like a chicken having a seizure, but when I am all alone and the music is playing, sometimes I can’t help myself and twitch and wiggle my way through doing my housework. This day was started by Nigel Lythgoe – the guy who co-created and is a judge on the TV program “So You Think You Can Dance”. He started it in 2010 to encourage Americans to embrace dancing as a way to improve health and fight obesity. It doesn’t matter if you are good or bad at it, just move! It will make you feel good, be good for you and put a smile on your face.
National Day of the Cowboy – Is there anything more all American than Cowboys? I remember sitting with my Grandma (yes, the wonderful woman I talk about so much) listening to her stories of when she was a young teen, riding the range with her brothers rounding up cattle. She, and men and women like her, epitomize the cowboy way of life and all that it represents. Hard work, dedication and the drive that carved this nation out of the wilderness. This holiday started in 2004 when American Cowboy magazine began lobbying for a national resolution to preserve America’s cowboy, the cowboy’s courageous pioneering spirit and the nation’s Western heritage. This cause was taken up by Wyoming’s late U.S. Senator Craig Thomas. He sponsored resolutions in the U.S. Senate in 2005, 2006 and 2007. This year is the 9th annual Day of the Cowboy. Six states have passed the National Day of the Cowboy bill – Wyoming, California, New Mexico, Arizona, Oklahoma and Oregon. There have also been either proclamations or resolutions from Kentucky, Indiana, Texas, Tennessee and Washington. Eventually it is hoped that the rest of the states will also jump on board. So, what do you do to celebrate this one? Well, you could check the American Cowboy’s Magazine’s website to find out of there are any activities going on in your area. Some communities sponsor events that will feature picnics, campfires for cooking food or just sitting around, lessons in how to saddle horses, roping, pitching horse shoes, cowboy crafts, etc. Honoring the cowboy and the cowboy way of life is definitely something to celebrate. (This handsome cowboy is my Hubby – I talk about him all the time.)
July 29 –
Army Chaplain Corps Anniversary – This year marks the 243nd Anniversary of the U.S. Army Chaplain Corps. Their legacy of selfless acts of service that have been completed over the last 242 years taking care of soldiers and their families is not only impressive, but a necessary part of healing and help for all that our military goes through when they are serving our country. They must have knowledge of all faiths represented by service members, they must be able to serve God and all military members, give comfort and support in difficult situations and locations. God bless our chaplains and chaplain assistants and we thank you for all of the years of wonderful service.
International Tiger Day – Tigers are amazing, aren’t they? They are the largest of the world’s big cats and are gloriously beautiful. With their orange and black stripes and faces with the distinctive markings, they deserve this day dedicated just to them. This celebration first started in 2010 (and somehow, I’ve missed it for the last 8 years) and was started at an international summit called in response to the news that 97% of all wild tigers have disappeared over the last century with only about 3,000 in existence. They are on the brink of extinction and this day is an attempt to bring attention to this and to try to stop the horrible decline of their numbers. Many things have contributed to the loss of tigers. The loss of their habitats, hunting and poaching are three things that have reduced their numbers, so by working to expand their habitats and raising awareness of the need for conservation, perhaps we can reverse the damage that has been done and rebuild the numbers of tigers, so we don’t lose them from our planet, for their loss would be incredibly sad, tragic actually!
National for Lipstick Day – We have all heard of Avon, right? Many of us have either had an Avon lady of our own or been one at one time or another. Well, Avon started this celebration just this year, for the very first time. Avon has over 40 shades of lipstick, with two finishes, and sells 4 lipsticks every minute across the country! I had no idea that Avon lipstick was this popular! Wow! The easiest way to celebrate this one, well the only way really, is to put on some lipstick!
Rain Day – This is a pretty interesting and entertaining story. Because it’s a little long and I don’t want to lose anything in the translation, I’m going to copy and paste the link from the Rain Day Festival website, from their history page. It’s a pretty great story!
“Story by John Owen, Chairman Special Events Commission, (1979-2005)
Rain Day got its beginning in the Daly & Spraggs Drug Store, located in the center of Waynesburg. Legend has it that one day a farmer was in the drugstore and mentioned to Byron Daly that it would rain the next day, July 29. Mr. Daly asked him how he knew, and he replied that it was his birthday and that it always rained on his birthday. He had a journal for several years in which he recorded the weather and always had noted rain on July 29th. Mr. Daly thought this was too sure a thing to let pass, so he started betting salesmen who came into his drugstore that it would rain in Waynesburg on July 29. The bet was usually a new hat, which of course he would win.
In later years, Byron Daly’s son, John, continued the tradition of wagering a hat on Rain Day. John was an attorney in Waynesburg, a very gentlemanly individual, who always tipped his hat to the ladies he passed on the street and spoke with a kind soft voice. Although he had fun with Rain Day, he also took it very seriously. He liked the idea of keeping it as a local phenomenon.
John Daly was the Rain Day Prophet, who kept the tradition alive that was started by his father Byron, when he bet a hat that it would rain on Rain Day. In keeping up the night vigil (usually in a yellow slicker, hat & umbrella) sitting on the courthouse wall waiting for the first drop of rain to fall. He was almost always rewarded for his efforts and would give a gentle smile, put up his umbrella and head for home after the first drips fell.
John Daly had won hats from such notables as Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Johnny Carson, Cassius Clay and Arnold Palmer just to name a few. He also would bet local TV personalities from the Pittsburgh Area. In 1967, he bet Del Miller, who owned the Meadows Race Track in Washington, PA. That year not only did Mr. Miller give John Daly a hat, he gave him a complete set of racing silks.
John Daly kept a box under his bed of the hats he had collected over the years. Many years ago, a non-profit talked Mr. Daly into donating his hat collection for a fund- raising auction. The hats were sold to the highest bidders! Special Events Commission has tried several times to determine the purchasers of the memorabilia unfortunately, to no avail, and none of the hats have never been recovered.
In more recent years, the Special Events Commission has won hats from people like Jay Leno, Fran Drescher, Mario Lemieux, Jaromir Jagr, Troy Aikman, Mr. Rogers and Mr. McFeely, The Dixie Chicks and Chubby Checker. Harry Anderson, star of TV’s Night Court, was the unsuspecting bettor in 1988; that year it didn’t rain, so the commission sent Harry a hat. The hat appeared on the bookshelves behind his desk on the set for several episodes next to his armadillo. “
How fun is that?
This Day in History –
July 27, 1940 – Bugs Bunny debuts in Warner Brothers animated cartoon “A Wild Hare”.
July 28, 1914 – World War I began.
July 29, 1928 – Walt Disney’s “Steamboat Willie” premieres.
Food Celebration of the Day –
July 27 –
National Scotch Day – I am not a huge fan of scotch. I know a lot of people are, but I just happen to not be one of them. So, what exactly IS scotch? Single Malt Scotch Whisky is made from 100% malted barley, and it is distilled at a single distillery. You get blended scotch when you blend together a number of single malts and grain whiskies – well, that make sense. I had to go back and correct my post a moment ago because as I was writing this I found out that the word “whisky” in Scotch Whisky doesn’t have an e in it, and that feels so wrong, but I fixed it!
July 28 –
National Hamburger Day – There are so many days to celebrate hamburgers that I feel like we keep doing this, but how about some facts about hamburgers this time, rather than a rundown of how much we love them, since we all know we do?! The first hamburgers were served in 1900 in Louis’ Lunch Diner in New Haven, Connecticut. That’s a long time ago! The oldest fast food restaurant in the world is the White Castle franchise, which opened in 1921. I’ve never eaten at a White Castle, but someday I’d like to try it. Americans eat more burgers in restaurants or from drive throughs than they do at home. I can believe that. The largest hamburger ever made was over 8,000 pounds and was made for a burger festival in Wisconsin. This brings up MANY more questions than not, doesn’t it? The HOW of it would be #1 for me.
National Milk Chocolate Day – what is not to love, right? Milk Chocolate is sweet, creamy and delicious, and to me, so much more delicious than dark chocolate. Granted, dark chocolate is said to have more health benefits, but it always tastes chalky to me. Milk chocolate you can put on your tongue and let it melt slowly, bringing on a sense of taste bud bliss. As much as I love chocolate though, this little fact is a bit disturbing. Americans eat 2.8 billion pounds of candy each year, about half of which is chocolate. That explains a LOT doesn’t it?
July 29 –
National Cheese Sacrifice Purchase Day – Huh? I bet you said that too, didn’t you? This is NOT about tossing out some delicious cheese, though that is what it sounds like. This one is abut sacrificing cheese to mouse traps, so mice are no longer in your home. I wasn’t aware that that many people have mouse issues. Hm, maybe they do, and I just didn’t know about it! Some people buy a cat, but t hen of course they have the expenses of having that cat. My cat isn’t a mouser – since she’s never actually SEEN one, but I bet she could if necessary. There must be a better way – I heard peanut butter works nicely – I just can’t get behind wasting cheese!
National Chicken Wings Day – Have you ever watched eating competitions on TV? I get a stomach ache just watching them. It’s absolutely beyond me how anyone can eat THAT much. Well, this past week, in anticipation of National Chicken Wing Day today, competitive eating champion Joey Chestnut defeated 15 other competitors from around the world to win back to back Hooter’s World Wing-Eating Champion titles in Clearwater, Florida. He down 179 Hooters wing! He beat Miki Sudo of Las Vegas, who took 2nd place with 155 wings. Adrian “The Rabbit” Morgan of Baton Rouge, LA took third, with 149 wings. Michelle Lesco of Tuscon, AZ took fourth with 131 wings, and Sonya” The Black Widow” Thomas of Alexandria, VA placed fifth with 128 wings eaten. Now I don’t know how big the Hooter’s wings are, never having eaten at a Hooter’s in my life, but I don’t care if they are Cornish Game Hen wings, that’s a LOT of food! Now, as if all of that competing to eat all of those wings wasn’t enough, Hooters has posed a challenge to Americans. They want Americans to consume one million chicken wings today. Well, I know they can’t track how many wings are actually eaten, but they are doing their part by offering at all of their locations across the country a $12.99 all-you-can-eat wing deal. They are hoping that their wing fans will come out and reach the one million wing goal.
National Lasagna Day – Yum! Lasagna! I love lasagna. There is something so satisfying about a plate of hot, cheesy, meaty goodness with a big piece of garlic bread on the side. When I make it, I never just make one tray. It’s enough work that since the kitchen is already messed up, I make three or four trays, so I have plenty to freeze. If you do them up in disposable foil loaf pans you can get 6-8 pans of it, and it’s the perfect amount for dinner for two people, with possibly enough left over for lunch the next day. As it is cooking the wonderful aroma wafts through the house, and by the time you sit down to eat your tummy is grumbling in anticipation. I read about a place in New York today – Del Posto restaurant – that has a lasagna with 100 layers – 50 coatings of sauce between 50 sheets of handmade pasta. It would be amazing to see, but I’m struggling to figure out how one would eat such a tower of pasta!
I have a list of projects to get done this weekend, so I think I should get started. I just realized that Miss B will be here to spend a week with us just 3 short weeks away and I have so much to do to get things ready for her! All of these projects will be done with a LOT of love and happy anticipation. I’ll get my chores and projects started, you get yours started, and don’t forget to take some time to celebrate. I’m thinking that celebrating hamburgers could just be on the list for the day! Yippee! God bless you and I’ll see you on Monday.
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Celebration list sources:
www.verseoftheday.com www.brownielocks.com www.holidayinsights.com www.thenibble.com www.foodimentary.com