Sunday, July 31, 2011

Good Morning! Sunday July 31, 2011

Good morning! It's a wonderl morning. It's very overcast, and I think there might be chances of rain today. It won't be as hot .. "only" low 90s. :) I've got watering going, just in case. It's very humid out and feels like it could rain ... but that can be misleading.
Yesterday: It sure was a busy day, with so much driving. And it was one of those days where things just kept going wrong. After picking DH up from dialysis, we had an early dinner out - it seemed the best thing to do on a day like that! LOL! After dinner I went in Big Lots for some light bulbs; and when I came out it was pouring!! Of course, it stopped before my house. Maybe today. :) Last night was a do-nothing night until time for bed.
Today: I *allowed* myself to sleep later, so I do feel a bit more rested. Now I'm trying to play catch-up! LOL! I have a lot of things to try to get done today; and I expect the garden will get a bit of attention too. Of course, if we actually do get rain ... scrap that plan and start a new one! LOL!

Today is "Feast of Saint Ignatius of Loyola" ... "Anniversary - US Patent Office".

Quotes of the Day:
"Never take the advice of someone who has not had your kind of trouble.
-- Sidney J. Harris

"A writer is a writer not because she writes well and easily, because she has amazing talent, because everything she does is golden. In my view, a writer is a writer because even when there is no hope, even when nothing you do shows any sign of promise, you keep writing anyway."
-- Junot Diaz

"People who are always making allowances for themselves soon go bankrupt."
-- Mary Pettibone Poole

Today in history:
In 1498, on his third voyage to the New World, Christopher Columbus discovered the island of Trinidad.

In 1792, director David Rittenhouse laid the cornerstone in Philadelphia for the U.S. Mint, the first building of the federal government.

In 1964, Ranger 7, an unmanned U.S. lunar probe, took the first close-up images of the moon.

Today's birthdays include
- Author and jurist James Kent in 1763
- Confederate Army guerrilla leader William Quantrill, in 1837
- Pollster Elmo Burns Roper Jr., in 1900
- Economist Milton Friedman and former TV talk-show host in 1912
- Columnist Irv Kupcinet in 1912
- Sports announcer Curt Gowdy in 1919
- Recording industry executive Ahmet Ertegun in 1923
- Actor Don Murray in 1929
- Actor Ted Cassidy in 1932
- Actor France Nuyen in 1939
- Actor Geraldine Chaplin in 1944
- Musicians Gary Lewis in 1945
- Actor Bob Welch in 1946
- Australian tennis player Evonne Goolagong in 1951
- Businessman and NBA team owner Mark Cuban in 1958
- Actor Wesley Snipes in 1962
- Actor Dean Cain in 1966
- Writer J.K. Rowling in 1965

Everyone have a Great Sunday!

Friday, July 29, 2011

Good Morning! Friday July 29, 2011

Good morning! It's a beautiful morning. It's bright and clear, and today may possibly set yet another heat record. The prediction is for 104 (which makes it .. what, 106 or 107 here maybe?). The heat index is "only" around 110 (possibly up to 115) because the humidity is lower. Really??? LOL! Still no rain in sight.
Yesterday: With going to dialysis and work, as usual, not much got done at home. We did stop to pick up one last refill (for this week). I got a bit more tweaking done in the project room; I'm pretty much ready to leave it now and start another. :) Last night, just before dark, my wonderful neighbor came over and cut all the grass (weedeater and lawn tractor). And I have a LOT of yard! It looks so very nice (and green since I've been doing so much watering!).
Today: I have a very busy day! I'm rushing this morning to get watering, laundry, and other stuff done. Then late morning a friend and I are doing a bit of shopping (groceries!!). Then, late afternoon DH and I are heading for the coast. Our granddaughter is in a "rock concert" tonight, so we're going to that, spend the night, and head back home early in the morning.

Today is "National Chili Dog Day" ... "Anniversary - NASA".

Quotes of the Day:
"A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner, so if one's life is cold and bare he can blame none but himself."
-- Louis L'Amour

"Oh, I don't blame Congress. If I had $600 billion at my disposal, I'd be irresponsible, too".
-- Lichty and Wagner

"The shortest distance between two points is under construction."
-- Noelie Altito

Today in history:
In 1836, the Arc de Triomphe in France was inaugurated.

In 1914, the first transcontinental telephone linkup was completed between San Francisco and New York City.

In 1981, Prince Charles, heir to the British throne, married Diana Spencer at St. Paul's Cathedral in London.

Today's birthdays include
- Novelist Booth Tarkington in 1869
- Italian dictator Benito Mussolini in 1883
- Actor Theda Bara in 1885
- Composer Sigmund Romberg (Lover Come Back to Me, When I Grow Too Old to Dream), in 1887
- Second U.N. Secretary-General in 1905
- Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Dag Hammarskjold in 1905
- Actor William Powell in 1892
- Actor Clara Bow in 1905
- Actor Richard Egan in 1921
- Bluegrass star Henry D. Homer Haynes, member of the Homer and Jethro musical duo, in 1920
- Former U.S. Labor Secretary and Sen. Elizabeth Dole, R-N.C., in 1936
- TV anchorman Peter Jennings in 1938
- Actor David Warner in 1941
- Documentary filmmaker Ken Burns in 1953
- Rock musician Patti Scialfa in 1953
- Country singer Martina McBride in 1966
- Actor Wil Wheaton in 1972

Everyone have a Great Friday!

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Good Morning! Thursday July 28, 2011

Good morning! It's a beautiful morning. We're going into a 3 day onslaught of excessive heat (for here that is), with a high today of 100 ... meaning possibly as much as 103 where I live. The morning started out looking overcast, but now it's clear and bright; and there's only a slight chance of rain. But, that's because the humidity is a bit lower, which is good! :)
Yesterday: I had a fairly busy day, although it got off to a slow start. I got pretty much all on my "to do" list done, and even took time for a phone conversation with a friend! :) I also took a bit of time to take some things over to another friend's house (that's how "recycling" works .. you take things you don't need any more to someone else's house! LOL!). This week's room project is 95% done; I only have to find homes for a few odds and ends, and give it a good dust-and-vacuum. I'm already planning out the next room! Just before dark I braved the heat and went out to the garden ... and in a very few minutes managed to find 6 giant cucumbers and a basket full of tomatoes! Wow.
Today: It's dialysis and work, so I don't know if I'll get anything done or not. We do have to stop and pick up one refill; it's nice that it is now right on the way home instead of making a detour. Hopefully tonight I'll finish tweaking stuff in here ... and maybe, finally, be able to sit down and sew a bit! :)

Today is "National Chili Dog Day" ... "Anniversary - Singing Telegram" ... "Anniversary - World War I Begins" ... "Independence Day (Peru)".

Quotes of the Day:
"One half of the world cannot understand the pleasures of the other.
-- Jane Austen, Emma

"A man is not idle because he is absorbed in thought. There is a visible labor and there is an invisible labor.
-- Victor Hugo

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and it may be necessary from time to time to give a stupid or misinformed beholder a black eye."
-- Miss Piggy

Today in history:
In 1868, the ratified 14th Amendment was adopted into the U.S. Constitution, guaranteeing citizenship and all its privileges to African-Americans.

In 1984, U.S. President Ronald Reagan opened the Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

Today's birthdays include
- Beatrix Potter, author and illustrator of the Peter Rabbit stories, in 1866
- Surrealist artist Marcel Duchamp in 1887
- Comedian Joe E. Brown in 1892
- Singer/actor/band leader Rudy Vallee in 1901
- Conductor Carmen Dragon in 1914
- Former U.S. first lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis in 1929
- Peter Duchin, pianist, bandleader, in 1937
- Former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori in 1938
- Former U.S. Senator and basketball star Bill Bradley in 1943
- Rock musician Mike Bloomfield in 1943
- Garfield creator Jim Davis in 1945
- Actor Linda Kelsey in 1946
- Actor Sally Struthers in 1947,
- Actor Georgia Engle in 1948
- Activist Terry Fox, who ran across Canada after his right leg was amputated because of cancer, in 1958
- Actor Lori Loughlin in 1964

Everyone have a Great Thursday!

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Good Mornnng! Wednesday July 27, 2011

Good morning! It's a beautiful morning. It was a smidgeon overcast earlier, but now seems to be bright and clear. The temps will be edging back up again. The forecast for today in upper 90s, which will put me at high 90s. No rain in sight, but the watering continues.
Yesterday: With work and dialysis, I don't count on getting much done, but it wasn't too bad anyway. We've changed pharmacies, and I'm really glad to no longer stand in line at Wal-Mart! LOL! I also did manage a little bit of working on organizing the project room, and it's coming along nicely now.
Today: I got a late start, but hope to have a busy day anyway. I *plan* to make significant progress on the room (need to finish by this weekend); today is an on-line class day; and I have afternoon errands to run. I hate having to go out in the heat, but I just can't work my schedule any other way. At least I can wait until late, since I know I won't do anything afterwards! LOL!

Today is "National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day" ... "Take Your Houseplants for a Walk Day" ... "Walk on Stilts Day".

Quotes of the Day:
"Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will eat for a lifetime. Teach a man to create an artificial shortage of fish and he will eat steak. "
-- Jay Leno

"Sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast."
-- Lewis Carroll

"The creative is the place where no one else has ever been. You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. What you'll discover will be wonderful. What you'll discover will be yourself."
-- Alan Alda

Today in history:
In 1866, the Transatlantic Telegraph Cable was completed.In 1909, Orville Wright set a record by staying aloft in a plane for 1 hour, 12 minutes, 40 seconds. In 1921, at the University of Toronto, Canadian scientists Frederick Banting and Charles Best successfully isolated insulin -- a hormone they believed could prevent diabetes -- for the first time.

In 1986, Greg LeMond, 25, of Sacramento, Calif., became the first American to win cycling's most famous contest, the Tour de France.

In 2003 sports, Lance Armstrong became the second cyclist to win the Tour de France for a fifth consecutive year.

Today's birthdays include
- French novelist Alexandre Dumas the Younger, author of Camille, in 1824
- Baseball Hall of Fame member Leo Durocher in 1905
- Actor Keenan Wynn in 1916
- Television producer Norman Lear in 1922
- Actors Jerry Van Dyke in 1931
- Actor Don Galloway in 1937
- Singer/songwriter Bobbie Gentry in 1944
- Figure skater Peggy Fleming in 1948
- Actor/director Betty Thomasin 1948
- Singer Maureen McGovern in 1949
- Actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers in 1977

Everyone have a Great Wednesday!

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Good Morning! uesday July 26, 2011

Good morning! It's a beautiful morning. It's dreary and gray and damp - how wonderful! LOL! Today will be mostly cloudy and "only" low to mid 90s. The increased humidity means a fairly good chance of continued rain. Since the "hot stuff" will be back in a few days, I'm very grateful for what ever rain we can get now. :) The gardens are all very happy right now; and the weeds even more so ... the big garden in back is very nearly now a "secret garden", lurking behind a screen of weeds! LOL!
Yesterday: I had a very busy day, and actually managed to accomplish my main goals for the day. YAY! While the "room project" is not completed, I'm now down to filtering things into where they should be, which I can do a little at a time. I've very nearly removed everything from the living room that was temporarily in there ... now I'm very encouraged to finish this and move on!
Today: It's a dialysis and work day, plus there are refills to be taken care of. This evening I'll likely work on the room a bit more ... I'm (finally) motivated to get the sewing area organized. I probably should let that wait ... so I won't be tempted to sew instead of finish the organizing and cleaning that's still needed! LOL!

Today is "One Voice" ... 'Anniversary - Americans With Disabilities Act" ... "Ratification Day (New York)" ... "Curacao Day (Curacao)" ... 'Independence Day (Liberia)" ... "Independence Day (Maldives)" ... "National Day (Cuba)".

Quotes of the Day:
"Often we don't even realize who we're meant to be because we're so busy trying to live out someone else's ideas. But other people and their opinions hold no power in defining our destiny.
-- Oprah Winfrey

"Outer space is no place for a person of breeding.
-- Lady Violet Bonham Carter

'Beginning today, treat everyone you meet as if they were going to be dead by midnight. Extend them all the care, kindness and understanding you can muster. Your life will never be the same again."
-- Og Mandino

Today in history:
In 1788, New York becomes the 11th state of the United States upon ratification of the U.S. Constitution.

In 1847, Liberia became a republic and Africa's first sovereign, black-ruled democratic nation.

In 1908, the Federal Bureau of Investigation was born when a group of newly hired investigators were ordered to report to the Justice Department. It didn't become the FBI officially until 1935.

In 1984, "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" became the first network television show to be broadcast in stereo. In 2005, the United States roared back into space as the shuttle Discovery lifted off from Cape Canaveral in the first launch since the 2003 Columbia
tragedy.

Today's birthdays include
- Artist George Catlin, painter of American Indian scenes, in 1796
- Playwright George Bernard Shaw in 1856
- Carl Jung, founder of analytic psychology, in 1875
- Novelist Aldous Huxley in 1894
- Comedian Gracie Allen in 1895
- U.S. Sen. Estes Kefauver, D-Tenn., who led the 1950-51 Senate investigation of organized crime, in 1903
- Actor Vivian Vance in 1909
- Erskine Hawkins, trumpet virtuoso, band leader, in 1914
- Storyteller Jean Shepherd in 1921
- Actor Jason Robards in 1922
- Movie producer Blake Edwards in 1922
- Children's author Jan Berenstain in 1923
- Baseball Hall of fame member Hoyt Wilhelm in 1923
- Filmmaker Stanley Kubrick in 1928
- Rock star Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones in 1943
- Actor Helen Mirren in 1945
- Tennis player Vitas Gerulaitis in 1954
- Olympic gold medal skater Dorothy Hamill in 1956
- Actor Kevin Spacey in 1959
- Actor Sandra Bullock in 1964
- Actor Kate Beckinsale in 1973

Everyone have a Great Tuesday!

Monday, July 25, 2011

Good Morning! Monday July 25, 2011

Good morning! It's a beautiful morning. Although the forecast says "motly cloudy", so far it's mostly clear and bright. Today will be much "cooler" than the record-setting last 5 days ... only upper 90s! LOL! It's already humid, and there's again the chance of afternoon storms.
Yesterday: Once I finally made myself concentrate, I really got busy. I put together 4 cabinets, and began a bit of the daunting task of putting things back in their new homes. I still have more cabinets to do, but at least I'm seeing a glimmer of light in the tunnel! :) I also managed to do a bit of laundry, although I still put off folding sheets. Late in the afternoon, just before dark, I went out in the yard and filmed puppies playing. They were having a lovely time until they spotted me! LOL!!
Today: I plan to tackle the last of the cabinets and continue getting everything put back together. If I can finish re-organizing this room (this week's "project room"), I can stay on my self-imposed schedule. At some point I'll have to go do all the "regular" boring stuff like mopping and vacuuming. But once I finish the current project, I *should* be able to get back to doing some sewing!! :)
And ... just for those of you who *want* to know this ... Christmas is 5 months from today!

Today is "Birthday - 1st Test Tube Baby" ... "Constitution Day (Puerto Rico)" ... "Saint James Day (Spain)" ... "Republic Day (Tunisia)".

Quotes of the Day:
"Associate yourself with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation, for 'tis better to be alone than in bad company."
-- George Washington

"Who knew that dog saliva can mend a broken heart?"
-- Jennifer Neal

"Associate yourself with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation, for 'tis better to be alone than in bad company."
-- George Washington

Today in history:
In 1909, French pioneer aviator Louis Bleriot became the first person to fly a "heavier-than-air machine" across the English Channel. It took him 36 minutes.

In 1952, Puerto Rico became a self-governing U.S. commonwealth.

In 1965, folk legend Bob Dylan performed for the first time with electric instruments, so upsetting his fans they booed him.

In 1978, the world's first "test-tube" baby, Louise Brown, was born in Oldham,England.

In 1999, cyclist Lance Armstrong, having overcome cancer, became the first American on a U.S. team to win the Tour de France.

In 2004, Lance Armstrong won the grueling Tour de France bicycle race for a record sixth consecutive year.

Today's birthdays include
- Revolutionary War Gen. Henry Knox in 1750
- Artists Thomas Eakins in 1844 and Maxfield Parrish in 1870
- Actor Walter Brennan in 1894
- Actor Jack Gilford in 1908
- Actor Estelle Getty in 1923
- Actor Barbara Harris in 1935
- Folk singer/songwriter Steve Goodman in 1948
- Model/actor Iman Abdulmajid in 1955
- Actor Matt LeBlanc in 1967
- Louise Joy Brown, the first test-tube baby, in 1978
- Actor Brad Renfro in 1982

Everyone have a Great Monday!

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Good Morning! Sunday July 24, 2011

Good morning! It's a beautiful morning. It's supposed to be over 100 again today, and early this morning it was already very muggy out. Yesterday we *finally* got some rain (real rain, not just a passing sprinkle). It cooled things down at least 20 degrees, but right back up today. Another afternoon storm would not be so bad here, but I do hope there are no more of the damaging storms other people had!
Yesterday: I actually had a pretty busy day, and got nearly everything done I had hoped. I got to the farmer's market (corn is harder to come by now, because it's been so dry); I got caught up on my class work; and all the little decluttering chores around the house got done. The rain that brought the temps down made the evening nice even though still a bit steamy.
Today: I really hope today I'll get work done on my room project. It keeps getting put off for other things, but I really don't think anything else should be happening today. :) Gardening is sadly overdue, but that simply will not happen in triple digits heat.

Today is "Anne Hutchinson Memorial Day" ... "Cousin's Day" ... "National Drive-Thru Day" ... "National Tell An Old Joke Day" ... "Parents' Day" ... "Pioneer Day" ... "National Day of the Cowboy".

Quotes of the Day:
"My home is not a place, it is people."
-- Lois McMaster Bujold

"It is characteristic of all deep human problems that they are not to be approached without some humor and some bewilderment."
-- Freeman Dyson

"Don't simply retire from something; have something to retire to."
-- Harry Emerson Fosdick

Today in history:
In 1679, New Hampshire became a royal colony of the British crown.

In 1847, After 17 months and many miles of travel, Brigham Young led 148 Mormon pioneers into Utah's Valley of the Great Salt Lake.

In 1956, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis performed together for the last time.

In 1969, Apollo 11 returned to Earth after the historic moon-landing mission.

in 2005 sports, cyclist Lance Armstrong won his seventh consecutive Tour de France.

Today's birthdays include
- South American revolutionary and statesman Simon Bolivar in 1783
- French novelist Alexandre Dumas the Elder, author of The Three Musketeers, in 1802
- Poet/author Robert Graves in 1895
- Air pioneer Amelia Earhart in 1897
- Actor Chief Dan George in 1899
- Artist Zelda Fitzgerald in 1900
- Writer John D. MacDonald in 1916
- Feminist and former U.S. Rep. Bella Abzug, D-N.Y., in 1920
- Comedian Ruth Buzzi in 1936
- Actor Chris Sarandon in 1942
- Actor Robert Hays in 1947
- Actor Lynda Carter in 1951
- Basketball Hall of Fame member Karl Malone in 1963
- Actor/singer Kristin Chenoweth in 1968
- Actor/singer Jennifer Lopez in 1969
- Actor Rose Byrne n 1979
- Actor Anna Paquin in 1982
- Television host Bindi Irwin in 1998

Everyone have a Great Sunday!

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Good Morning! Saturday July 23, 2011

Good morning! It's a beautiful morning. It's going to be yet another very hot day. It seems we're about to set an all-time record for number of days in a row with temps of 100 or higher. This is not necessarily a record we're happy to break! For years I've been hearing the term "global warming". Is that what this is? There will be chances of afternoon storms; there were some yesterday, but nothing at my house, so the watering continues!
Yesterday: I started out well, got all the things done I wanted in the morning. I made a bit of progress on my "homework". But, my plans of not going out got changed. I didn't need to take trash; but then DH decided he had to have a haircut. So, we went into town anyway. While he was at the barber shop I went on and got groceries. But by the time we got home and I got everything unloaded and put away, I was too hot and tired to do anything else.
Today: It's a dialysis day, but since I don't work today perhaps I'll get a bit done. I have no errands to run except a stop by the farmer's market (hoping for some more fresh corn!). I think perhaps my long stretch of afternoon to myself will be a good time to work on the class. I'll have to take the trash that didn't get done yesterday. I'd like to think by tonight I'll work on my project room - but I know having to go in and out will zap us, so I will just wait and see, do what I can. :)

Today is "Gorgeous Grandma Day" ... "Hot Enough For Ya Day" ... "Leo Begins" ... "National Day of the Cowboy" ... "Saint Apollinaris Feast Day" ... "Revolution Day (Egypt)".

Quotes of the Day:
"Money doesn't always bring happiness. People with ten million dollars are no happier than people with nine million dollars."
-- Hobart Brown

"There are several good protections against temptations, but the surest is cowardice."
-- Mark Twain

Today in history:
In 1829, William Burt of Mount Vernon, Mich., patented the "typographer," believed to be the first typewriter.

In 1962, Telstar relayed the first live trans-Atlantic signal.

In 1999, U.S. Air Force Col. Eileen Collins became the first woman to command a space shuttle flight with the launch of Columbia on a 4-day mission.

Today's birthdays include
- Detective novelist Raymond Chandler in 1888
- Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie in 1892
- Actor Michael Wilding in 1912
- Broadway restaurateur Vincent Sardi Jr. in 1915
- Baseball Hall of Fame member Pee Wee Reese in 1918
- Actor Gloria DeHaven in 1925
- Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Don Drysdale in 1936
- U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy in 1936
- Actor Ronny Cox in 1938
- Radio talk show host Don Imus in 1940
- Actor Edie McClurg in 1951
- Actor Woody Harrelson in 1961
- Actor Eriq La Salle in 1962
- Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman in 1967
- Film director Theo van Gogh in 1957
- Former White House intern Monica Lewinsky in 1973
- Singer Alison Krauss in 1971
- Actor Daniel Radcliffe in 1989

Everyone have a Great Saturday!

Friday, July 22, 2011

Good Morning! Friday July 22, 2011

Good morning! It's a beautiful morning. It's extremely hot today - we're under an "excessive heat warning" today. I never even heard of that before! The"official" high predicted is 102, and could be a bit higher here (my house). Perhaps the humidity will spark some showers, but I'm not getting my hopes up! LOL!
Yesterday: As usual, on a dialysis and work day, I didn't get much done. I tried to work on a bit of decluttering ... and I wonder how I keep manage to get *cluttered*? LOL!
Today: There are a lot of things that need to be done, but other than getting rid of some trash I'll avoid going outside. I've got the morning watering going, and it will soon be done. No more watering will be done until late evening. The poor plants are looking wilty even with lots of water. I hope to get some "homework" done, and work on my current "room project". I sure hope I don't get a lazy spell today! :)

Today is "Pied Piper Day" ... "Rat Catcher's Day" ... "Spooner's Day".

Quotes of the Day:
"You've achieved success in your field when you don't know whether what you're doing is work or play."
-- Warren Beatty

"Just the knowledge that a good book is awaiting one at the end of a long day makes that day happier."
-- Kathleen Norris

"The reason lightning doesn't strike twice in the same place is that the same place isn't there the second time."
-- Willie Tyler

Today in history:
In 1587, the Colony of Roanoke was re-established.

In 1620, Dutch pilgrims started for America. Their ship -- called the "Speedhaven" -- set sail from Delfshaven, Holland.

In 1793, Canadian explorer Alexander Mackenzie reached the Pacific.

In 1933, Wiley Post completed his first solo flight around the world. It took him 7 days, 18 hours and 45 minutes.

Today's birthdays include
- Poet Emma Lazarus in 1849
- Painter Edward Hopper in 1882
- U.S. political family matriarch Rose Kennedy in 1890
- U.S. psychiatrist Karl Menninger in 1893
- Poet Stephen Vincent Benet in 1898
- Sculptor Alexander Calder in 1898
- Former U.S. Sen. Robert Dole, R-Kan., in 1923
- Actor Orson Bean in 1928
- R&B singer Keith Sweat in 1961
- Fashion designer Oscar de la Renta in 1932
- Actor Louise Fletcher in 1934
- Actor Terence Stamp in 1939
- Jeopardy! game show host Alex Trebek in 1940
- Actor/singer Bobby Sherman in 1943
- Actor Danny Glover in 1946
- Comedian/actor Albert Brooks in 1947
- Rock musician Don Henley in 1947
- Composer Alan Menken in 1949
- Actor Willem Dafoe in 1955
- Comedian John Leguizamo in 1964
- Comedian David Spade in 1964
- Actor Colin Ferguson in 1972
- Singer Rufus Wainwright in 1973

Everyone have a Great Friday!

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Good Morning! Thursday July 21, 2011

Good morning! It's a beautiful morning. It's going to be an extraordinarily hot day here (as apparently it is over much of the country, and even up into Canada). The prediction for today is 101, and as I've said before, we're normally 3 to 5 degrees higher than that. There is of course the possibility of afternoon storms when it's so hot and humid; but I'm not really counting on that happening! :)
Yesterday: It didn't turn out anything like I thought it would. I started out OK, getting "normal" morning things done; and I did make a start on my on line class. I got a refill picked up, and some grocery shopping. But after that, a good friend needed a ride and none of her family were available to help out. So, DH and I took her, waited, we all went to McDonalds, and then home. That took up all of the rest of the day!!
Today: It's dialysis and work today. I have no after work errands (how did that happen? LOL!), so hopefully I can get into the class tonight. :)

Today is "Liberation Day (Guam)" ... "Independence Day (Belgium)" ..."Legal Drinking Age Day".

Quotes of the Day:
""I have noticed that the people who are late are often so much jollier than the people who have to wait for them."
-- E. V. Lucas

"A moment's insight is sometimes worth a lifetime's experience.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.

"All of us failed to match our dreams of perfection. So I rate us on the basis of our splendid failure to do the impossible."
-- William Faulkner

Today in history:
In July 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first person ever to walk on the moon; and astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin lifted off from the surface of the moon.

In 1970, after 11 years of construction, the massive billion-dollar Aswan High Dam across the Nile River in Egypt was completed.

In 2003, physicians at Vienna General Hospital in Austria say they performed the world's first successful tongue transplant on a human, a 42-year-old man.

In 2007, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," the seventh and final installment in the best-selling series, sold more than 8.3 million copies on its first day on the bookshelves.

Today's birthdays include
- Composer Chauncey Olcott (When Irish Eyes Are Smiling) in 1860
- Author Ernest Hemingway and poet Hart Crane, both in 1899
- Professional golfer Harold Jug McSpaden in 1908
- Canadian communications theorist Marshall McLuhan in 1911
- Violinist Isaac Stern in 1920
- Singer Kay Starr in 1922
- Actor/comedian Don Knotts in 1924
- Producer Norman Jewison in 1926
- Former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno in 1938
- Actor Edward Herrmann in 1943
- Singer Yusuf Islam, formerly known as Cat Stevens in 1948
- Cartoonist Garry Trudeau (Doonesbury) in 1948
- Actor/comedian Robin Williams in 1952
- Actor Jon Lovitz in 1957

Everyone have a Great Thursday!

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Good Morning! Wednesday July 20, 2011

Good morning! It's a beautiful morning. It's quite warm already, and going to be very hot today. They're calling for high 90s, which will more than likely be over 100 here. The humidity is also higher, but that does give a greater chance of afternoon storms (prefer just the rain, but we'll take what we can get! LOL!)
Yesterday: Since it was dialysis and work, very little got done at home beyond "routine" stuff. I had to make 2 stops after work, but neither one took very long. I did not get the burst of energy I was hoping for! LOL! (for dinner, I cooked DH some chicken breasts ... but I had tomato sandwiches! Yum!)
Today: I have a lot of stuff I need to try to do today. I'd prefer not to have to go out in the heat; but the refills weren't ready last night so I'll have to go back (thinking of changing pharmacies!!). And, since my friend is "stuck" at home while her dad is in the hospital, I'll be taking some things to her. I hope to make at least a small chunk of progress on the current "room project". And ... like I needed something else ... today I start an on-line class (creative writing - maybe the newsletters will get better! LOL!)

Today is "Moon Day (Man's First Lunar Landing)" ... "Independence Day (Colombia)".

Quotes of the Day:
"I have always found that mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice."
-- Abraham Lincoln

"Statistics: The only science that enables different experts using the same figures to draw different conclusions."
-- Evan Esar

Today in history:
ToIn 1940, Billboard magazine published its first "Music Popularity Chart," topped by "I'll Never Smile Again" by the Tommy Dorsey orchestra with Frank Sinatra.

In 1968, the first Special Olympics Games were contested at Soldier Field in Chicago.

In 1969, U.S. astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin became the first men to set foot on the moon.

In 1976, the Viking 1 lander, an unmanned U.S. planetary probe, became the first spacecraft to successfully land on the surface of Mars.

In 1985, treasure hunter Mel Fisher located a Spanish galleon sunk by a 1622 hurricane off Key West, Fla. It contained $400 million worth of treasure.

Today's birthdays include
- Austrian monk and pioneering botanist Gregor Johann Mendel in 1822
- New Zealand explorer Edmund Hillary, who in 1953 conquered Mount Everest, in 1919
- Elliot Richardson, U.S. attorney general under U.S. President Richard Nixon, in 1920
- Actor Sally Ann Howes in 1930
- Actor Diana Rigg (age 72) in 1938
- Actor Natalie Wood in 1938
- Singer Kim Carnes in 1945
- Guitarist Carlos Santana in 1947
- Actor Donna Dixon in 1957
- Actor Sandra Oh in 1971
- Actor Omar Epps in 1973

Everyone have a Great Wednesday!

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Good Morning! Tuesday July 18, 2011

Good morning! It's a beautiful morning. Even though the intense heat is coming back, so far it's very nice out. I've been outside several times moving the sprinkler, and it's sunny but not hot yet, and just a touch breezy. The forecast is for upper 90s today (where I live, it could even go as high as 100), and with higher humidity so there's a chance of afternoon storms.
Yesterday: It was actually quite nice to not have to leave the house for anything. :) I spent too much time just "playing" on the computer. But, I also got the one big project I planned for done. I got "ordinary" stuff caught up too, so it was a pretty good day.
Today: It's dialysis and work, plus 2 errands to run after work. I'm hoping for enough of a spurt of energy to start the next phase of the current "room project". I'll just have to do the best I can. :)

Today is "Feast of Tammuz (Jewish)" ... "National Liberation Day (Nicaragua)" ... "National Get Out of the Doghouse Day" ... "National Hug Your Kids Day".

Quotes of the Day:
"Progress is the product of human agency. Things get better because we make them better. Things go wrong when we get too comfortable, when we fail to take risks or seize opportunities."
-- Susan Rice

"After the last of 16 mounting screws has been removed from an access cover, it will be discovered that the wrong access cover has been removed."
-- De La Lastra's Law

Today in history:
In 1848, "bloomers," a radical departure in women's clothing, were introduced to the first women's rights convention in Seneca Falls, N.Y. They were named after Amelia Jenks Bloomer.

In 1911, Pennsylvania became the first U.S. state to pass laws censoring movies.

In 1946, Marilyn Monroe was given her first screen test at Twentieth Century-Fox Studios. Even without sound, the test was enough to earn Monroe her first contract.

In 1969, John Fairfax of Britain arrived at Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to become the first person to row across the Atlantic alone.

In 1984, U.S. Rep. Geraldine Ferraro, D-N.Y., was chosen as Walter Mondale's vice presidential running mate at the Democratic National Convention. She was the first woman on a major ticket.

In 1996, the Summer Olympics opened in Atlanta with a record 197 nations taking part.

Today's birthdays include
- American firearms inventor Samuel Colt in 1814
- French painter Edgar Degas in 1834
- Accused ax murderer Lizzie Borden in 1860
- Dr. Charles H. Mayo, co-founder of the Mayo Clinic, in 1865
- Author A.J. Cronin in 1896
- Former Sen. George McGovern, D-S.D., in 1922
- Former CIA agent-turned-author Philip Agee in 1935
- Singer Vikki Carr in 1941
- Former tennis star Ilie Nastase in 1946
- Actor Anthony Edwards in 1962

Everyone have a Great Tuesday!

Monday, July 18, 2011

Good Morning! Monday July 18, 2011

Good morning! It's a beautiful morning. Again it's comfortably cool outside, and sunny. Today the heat will start edging back in with low to mid 90s. The humidity will be up but only a little bit, so it won't be uncomfortable ... yet. That's coming! Still no rain in sight, but a lovely morning so far to go outside and water the garden. :)
Yesterday: It was a very busy day with a lot of running around; but in the end, a lot got done here too. Some gardening got done, and a lot more produce harvested. I finished the room project (my part at least .. DH has a lot of stuff to sort, but it's all "contained" in plastic bins for now). Last evening we took my friend again to visit her dad, and then we got some dinner before taking them back home.
Today: I actually don't know what today will hold. I have laundry drying and hope to get a lot of things put away. I have "ordinary" cleaning and decluttering to do, but not too much since a lot got done yesterday. I plan to start the next "room project"; but I may end up going to the hospital to wait with my friend while her dad has surgery (that simply might depend on how much "notice" I have, since it will be a bit over an hour away from here; and she will have family with her). Meantime, I'll keep plugging away at what I can. :)

Today is "Global Hug For Your Kids Day" ... "Mandela Day" ... "National Get Out of the Doghouse Day" ... "Constitution Day (Uruguay)".

Quotes of the Day:
"All power corrupts, but we need the electricity.
-- Unknown

"The secret of being a bore is to tell everything.
-- Voltaire

"It's kind of fun to do the impossible."
-- Walt Disney

Today in history:
In 1939, after a sneak preview of "The Wizard of Oz," producers debated about removing one of the songs because it seemed to slow things down. They finally decided to leave it in. The song: "Over the Rainbow."

In 1976, Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci became first person in Olympic Games history to be awarded a perfect 10 in gymnastics.

Today's birthdays include
- English novelist William Makepeace Thackeray in 1811
- Actor Chill Wills in 1903
- Playwright Clifford Odets in 1906
- Actor/singer Harriet Hilliard Nelson in 1909
- Composer, arranger, pianist Lou Busch (a.k.a. Joe Fingers Carr) in 1910
- Actor Hume Cronyn in 1911
- Comedian Red Skelton in 1913
- South African leader Nelson Mandela in 1918
- Astronaut-turned-Sen. John Glenn, D-Ohio, in 1921
- Gold medal ice skater Dick Button in 1929
- Singer Screamin' Jay Hawkins in 1929
- Journalist/author Hunter S. Thompson in 1937
- Pop singer Dion DiMucci in 1939
- Actor James Brolin in 1940
- Baseball Manager Joe Torre in 1940
- Singer Martha Reeves in 1941
- Publisher Steve Forbes in 1947
- Businessman Richard Branson in 1950
- Village People singer Glenn Hughes in 1950
- Country singer Ricky Skaggs in 1954
- Actor Elizabeth McGovern in 1961
- Actor Vin Diesel in 1967
- Actor Kristen Bell in 1980

Everyone have a Great Monday!

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Good Morning! Sunday July 17, 2011

Good morning! It's a beautiful morning! It is again, so comfortably cool out, with just a touch of breeze. Today should be mostly clear and bright, a little warmer (upper 80s); but also more humid, though no mention of rain again.
Yesterday: I had a busy day, though a lot of it was running around taking care of errands. I made it to the local farmer's market ... they had fresh corn this week. Yay! I did a few other errands, then came home and actually made a lot of progress on my "project room". When I went back again to pick up DH from dialysis, I went and picked up a refill. Last night I got some laundry finished, and even a tiny bit of decluttering.
Today: I got a lot of cleaning done early, and hope to finish the room this afternoon so I can start on another. Gardening will get done today, since the excessive heat is coming back quickly. I keep up with the watering every day, but when it's hotter I move the sprinkler more often to make sure everything gets a good soaking as early as possible. :)

Today is "National Ice Cream Day" ... "Wrong Way Corrigan Day" ... "Anniversary - Disneyland Opening" ... "Constitution Day (South Korea)".

Quotes of the Day:
"Economics is extremely useful as a form of employment for economists."
-- John Kenneth Galbraith

"When you are kind to someone in trouble, you hope they'll remember and be kind to someone else. And it'll become like a wildfire."
-- Whoopi Goldberg

"Even if you do learn to speak correct English, whom are you going to speak it to?"
-- Clarence Darrow

Today in history:
In 1938, Douglas Corrigan took off from Floyd Bennett Field in New York for a return flight to California but lost his bearings in the clouds, he said, and flew instead to Ireland. He became an instant celebrity and was forever after known as "Wrong Way" Corrigan.

In 1955, Arco, Idaho, a town of 1,300 people, became the first community in the world to receive all its light and power from atomic energy.

In 1955, Disneyland opened in Anaheim, Calif.

In 1975, three U.S. and two Soviet spacemen linked their orbiting Apollo and Soyuz spacecraft for historic handshakes 140 miles above Earth.

In 2008, the U.S. Library of Congress named Kay Ryan as the nation's poet laureate. Ryan, succeeding Charles Simic, is noted for philosophical yet humorous poems.

Today's birthdays include
- English clergyman and author Isaac Watts in 1674
- Financier John Jacob Astor in 1763
- Mystery writer Erle Stanley Gardner in 1889
- Actor James Cagney in 1899
- TV personality Art Linkletter in 1912
- Comedian Phyllis Diller in 1917
- Olympics movement official Juan Antonio Samaranch in 1920
- Actor Donald Sutherland in 1935
- Actor Diahann Carroll in 1935
- Musician Peter Schickele in 1935
- Supreme Leader of Iran Ali Khamenei in 1939
- Rock musician Spencer Davis in 1941
- Basketball Hall of Fame member Connie Hawkins in 1943
- Actor Lucie Arnaz in 1951
- Actor David Hasselhoff in 1952
- Singer Nicolette Larson in 1952
- Singer Phoebe Snow in 1952
- German Chancellor Angela Merkel in 1954

Everyone have a Great Sunday!

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Good Morning! Saturday July 16, 2011

Good morning! It's a beautiful morning! Really really lovely out, comfortably cool, breezy, sunny. If it would stay like this all day, I think I could just move the computer right out! LOL! It's only supposed to go to mid to upper 80s; the forecast is for "partly" cloudy, but no sign of rain.
Yesterday: It turned into a day with more "running around" than anything, but sometimes that just can't be helped. I got my hair done, took trash to the dump, picked up my friend. We got a bit done (she was in the garden, I was working on the room project), then went to visit her dad. (turns out he needs a triple by-pass ... prayers would be welcome!). Then we all went to Chick-Fil-A, and a quick bit of grocery shopping. By the time we got home, it was late .. again. Oh well.
Today: It's a dialysis day, which dictates a bit of the coming and going. I hope to fit things in between: I want to get by the farmer's market; drop off a new prescription to be filled; and get some more work done at home (while DH isn't here to be coughing in the dust I'll be stirring up! LOL!). I don't know if we'll be visiting the hospital again tonight or not, so trying to just "go with the flow" today. Y'all know that's hard for me! LOL!

Today is "National Woodie Wagon Day" ... "Toss Away the "Could Haves" and "Should Haves" Day" ... "Anniversary - District of Columbia Established" ... "La Paz Day (Bolivia)".

Quotes of the Day:
"Ninety-eight percent of the adults in this country are decent, hard-working, honest Americans. It's the other lousy two percent that get all the publicity. But then--we elected them."
-- Lily Tomlin

"As an adolescent I aspired to lasting fame, I craved factual certainty, and I thirsted for a meaningful vision of human life - so I became a scientist. This is like becoming an archbishop so you can meet girls."
-- M. Cartmill

"Those that think it permissible to tell white lies soon grow color blind."
-- Austin O'Malley

Today in history:
In 1769, Father Junipero Serra founded Mission San Diego de Alcala in California.

In 1790, the U.S. Congress designated the District of Columbia as the permanent seat of the U.S. government.

In 1935, world's first parking meter installed in Oklahoma City.

In 1951, J.D. Salinger's "The Catcher in the Rye" published.

In 1969, Apollo 11, the first moon-landing mission, was launched from the Kennedy Space Center, carrying astronauts Neil Armstrong, Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin and Michael Collins.

Today's birthdays include
- English painter Joshua Reynolds in 1723
- Mary Baker Eddy, founder of the Christian Science Church, in 1821
- Rights activist Ida Bell Wells-Barnett in 1862
- Norwegian polar explorer Roald Amundsen in 1872
- Baseball great and Black Sox scandal figure Shoeless Joe Jackson in 1888
- Actor Percy Kilbride (Pa Kettle) in 1888
- Vaudeville great Blossom Seeley in 1886
- Popcorn businessman Orville Redenbacher in 1907
- Actor Barbara Stanwyck in 1907
- Actor/dancer Ginger Rogers in 1911
- Actor Barnard Hughes in 1915
- Former Miss America/TV personality Bess Myerson in 1924
- Actor Corin Redgrave in 1939
- Tennis Hall of Fame member Margaret Court in 1942
- Former football coach and television commentator Jimmy Johnson in 1943
- Singer/actor Ruben Blades in 1946
- Violinist Pinchas Zukerman in 1948
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Stewart Copeland in 1952
- Playwright Tony Kushner in 1956
- Cyclist Miguel Indurain in 1964
- Football Hall of Fame member Barry Sanders in 1968
- Actor Phoebe Cates in 1963
- Actor Will Ferrell in 1967
- Actor Rain Pryor in 1969
- Actor Corey Feldman in 1971

Everyone have a Great Saturday!

Friday, July 15, 2011

Goo Morning! Friday July 15, 2011

Good morning! It's a beautiful morning. Today will be even "cooler" than yesterday, a balmy mid to upper 80s. It's wonderful out right now, makes me wish for time to play in the garden. :) The humidity is very low, so it'll be quite comfortable for a few days before the hot stuff returns.
Yesterday: It was dialysis and work, and not much of anything else. I'm very good at planning things on paper. But my energy level seldom matches up to the plans! LOL!
Today: I'm hoping to accomplish a lot while the weather is so great. I have a hair appointment mid morning; but in the afternoon I'm wanting to get some garden stuff done (pick a bale 'o 'maters! LOL!) and also, hopefully, some significant progress on the room project of the week (which my time is nearly up on!). :)

Today is "Buck Moon" ... "Saint Swithin's Day".

Quotes of the Day:
""It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.
-- Mark Twain

"Computers can figure out all kinds of problems, except the things in the world that just don't add up.
-- James Magary

"Humor is a rubber sword - it allows you to make a point without drawing blood.
-- Mary Hirsch

Today in history:
In 1799, the Rosetta Stone, which helped decipher ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics, found in an Egyptian village by French soliders.

In 1806, Zebulon Pike began an expedition to explore the American Southwest.

In 1912, led by all-round athlete Jim Thorpe, the U.S. team took more medals than any other nation at the Summer Olympic Games in Stockholm, Sweden.

In 1965, the unmanned spacecraft Mariner 4 passed over Mars at an altitude of 6,000 feet and sent to Earth the first close-up images of the red planet.

In 1968, a Soviet Aeroflot jetliner landed at New York's JFK Airport, marking the beginning of direct commercial flights between the United States and the Soviet Union.

Today's birthdays include
- Dutch painter Rembrandt van Rijn, in 1606
- Poet Clement Clarke Moore, author of A Visit from St. Nicholas ( 'Twas the
Night Before Christmas ) in 1779
- Roman Catholic nun Frances Xavier Cabrini, the first U.S. citizen to be made a saint, in 1850
- British suffragist Emmeline Pankhurst in 1858
- Lyricist Dorothy Fields in 1905
- Country singer Cowboy Copas in 1913
- Irish author Iris Murdoch in 1919
- Writer Clive Cussler in 1931
- Actor Alex Karras in 1935
- Actor Ken Kercheval in 1935
- Actor Patrick Wayne in 1939
- Actor Jan-Michael Vincent in 1944
- Actor Terry O'Quinn in 1952
- Singer Linda Ronstadt in 1946
- Former pro wrestler and Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura in 1951
- Rock musician Marky Ramone in 1956
- Supermodel Kim Alexis in 1960
- Actor Willie Aames, in 1960
- Actor Lolita Davidovich in 1961
- Actor Forest Whitaker in 1961
- Actor Brigitte Nielsen in 1963
- Actor Brian Austin Green in 1973
- Actor Diane Kruger in 1976

Everyone have a Great Friday!

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Good Morning! Thrsday July 14, 2011

Good morning! It's a beautiful morning. Today will be dramatically "cooler" than the last few, only in the upper 80s. When I went out early to move a sprinkler, it was perfectly gorgeous! It's comfortable, sunny, breezy. We got a little bit of rain last night, but not much predicted for today.
Yesterday: We were all day long at clinics, mostly just waiting! When we did finally see the doctor (first appointment), it was at least our "favorite" of several. She's very pleasant, courteous, and actually remembers unimportant things about us (like that I have a lot of Christmas trees! LOL!). It was after 6:00 when we finally headed home, and we stopped for dinner (having had nothing but one chicken sandwich in the middle of the day!).
Today: It's a dialysis and work day, so still not much will get done around the house or yard. There's an over abundance of tomatoes out there, which I hope to at least grab a few of to share at work. Tomorrow will be a big harvest day again! LOL! Maybe tonight I'll start getting caught up on laundry. Or, maybe not. :)

Today is "Bastille Day (France)"

Quotes of the Day:
"An ignorant person is one who doesn't know what you have just found out."
-- Will Rogers

"Love is the big booming beat which covers up the noise of hate."
-- Margaret Cho

"When I was young, my ambition was to be one of the people who made a difference in this world. My hope still is to leave the world a little bit better for my having been here."
-- Jim Henson

"Lord, when we are wrong, Make us willing to change. And when we are right, Make us easy to live with."
--Peter Marshall

Today in history:
In 1914, Robert Goddard was granted the first patent for a liquid-fueled rocket design.

Today's birthdays include
- Austrian Art Nouveau painter Gustav Klimt in 1862
- Baseball Commissioner A. B. Happy Chandler in 1898
- Writers Irving Stone in 1903 and Isaac Bashevis Singer in 1904
- Cartoonist William Hanna in 1910
- British comedian Terry-Thomas in 1911
- Folk singer Woody Guthrie in 1912
- Gerald Ford, 38th president of the United States, in 1913
- Swedish film director Ingmar Bergman in 1918
- Actor Dale Robertson in 1923
- Actor Harry Dean Stanton in 1926
- Actor Polly Bergen in 1930
- TV news commentator John Chancellor in 1927
- Football star-turned-actor Roosevelt Rosey Grier in 1932
- Political activist Jerry Rubin in 1938
- Evangelist Franklin Graham in 1952
- Actor and director Eric Laneuville in 1952
- Film producer Joel Silver in 1952
- Punk rocker Bob Casale in 1952
- Actor Jane Lynch in 1960
- Actor Matthew Fox in 1966

Everyone have a Great Thursday!

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Good Morning! Tuesday July 12, 2011

Good morning! It's a wonderful morning. The forecast for today is "mostly sunny", but so far it appears overcast. It may be only hazy. It will be extraordinarily HOT today. The prediction is 101, and it's usually a few degrees warmer where I live, plus add in heat index. Wow! A good day to NOT be outside.
Yesterday: We had a great day! A lot of progress was made in the "project room of the week". In the afternoon we went down the road to a discount furniture store and found a pair of discontinued night stands for 2/3 off. So much better storage! We ate a late lunch/early dinner while in town. Then last night the neighbor mowed the yard for us.
Today: It's a dialysis and work day, plus I have an early eye appointment. After work we'll need to pick up refills. I hope to have the energy to do a bit more in the room ... lots still to sort ... but I'm not really counting on it! LOL!

Today is "Independence Day (Kiribati)" ... "International Town Criers Day".

Quotes of the Day:
"To succeed in the world it is not enough to be stupid, you must also be well-mannered."
-- Voltaire

"To get the best out of a man go to what is best in him."
-- Daniel Considine

"We laugh a lot. That's for sure. Sure beats the alternative, doesn't it?"
-- Betty White

Today in history:
In 1862, the U.S. Congress authorized a new award, the Medal of Honor highest military award for valor against an enemy.

In 1933, a U.S. industrial code was established to fix a minimum wage of 40 cents an hour.

In 1962, the Rolling Stones gave their first public performance, at the Marquee Club in London.

In 1984, Democratic presidential nominee Walter Mondale named Rep. Geraldine Ferraro, D-N.Y., as his running mate. She was the first woman to share a major U.S. political party's presidential ticket.

Today's birthdays include
- Roman leader Julius Caesar in 100 B.C.
- American writer Henry David Thoreau in 1817
- Photography pioneer George Eastman in 1854
- Scientist George Washington Carver in 1864
- Italian painter and sculptor Amedeo Modigliani in 1884
- Composer Oscar Hammerstein II in 1895
- Author-architect R. Buckminster Fuller, inventor of the geodesic dome in 1895
- Comedians Milton Berle in 1908 and Curly Joe DeRita in 1909
- Bandleader Will Bradley in 1912
- Painter Andrew Wyeth in 1917
- Pianist Van Cliburn in 1934
- Comedian/actor Bill Cosby in 1937
- Musician Christine McVie in 1943
- Exercise and diet guru Richard Simmons in 1948
- Movie producer Brian Grazer in 1951
- Actor Denise Nicholas in 1944
- Actor Cheryl Ladd in 1951
- Actor Mel Harris in 1956
- Actor Rolonda Watts in 1959
- Olympic gold medal figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi in 1971

Everyone have a Great Tuesday!

Monday, July 11, 2011

Good Morning! Monday July 11, 2011

Good morning! It's a beautiful morning. It's bright and clear ... and hot! Wow, today will be upper 90s, with a heat index well over 100. There doesn't seem to be much chance of afternoon showers, either. Hello Summer! :)
Yesterday: I did not accomplish as much as I hoped, but it still wasn't too bad. The project I was working on is done, though of course a new one (in the same room!) awaits. I got stuff like dishes and laundry done, some cleaning, some decluttering. There's a long way to go, but at least I'm starting to see progress in a few areas. :)
Today: It has certainly started out a lazy day, so I don't know what will get done. I *allowed* myself to sleep late. Everything is pretty much on track for the morning, and the 2nd rotation of the sprinkler is going. I hope we'll make good progress on the next phase of the project room. It'll be a very hot humid day (and a/c can only do so much - after all, the silly electric company wants to get PAID for all that a/c! How foolish of them! LOL!), so work, even in a room with fan and window unit, has to be in short spurts. Thank goodness there's still left over chicken, and veggies to steam in the microwave - not heating up the kitchen! LOL!

Today is "Bowdler's Day" ... "International Town Criers Day" ... "UN World Population Day" ... "Anniversary - Day of the Five Billion".

Quotes of the Day:
"Well-timed silence hath more eloquence than speech."
-- Martin Fraquhar Tupper

The excellence of a gift lies in its appropriateness rather than in its value."
-- Charles Dudley Warner

"Wisdom is what's left after we've run out of personal opinions."
-- Cullen Hightower

Today in history:
In 1847, songwriter Stephen Foster's first major hit, "Oh! Susanna," was performed for the first time, in a Pittsburgh saloon, and soon became a standard for minstrel shows.

In 1859, Charles Dickens' "A Tale of Two Cities" published.

In 1955, the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado was dedicated with 300 cadets in its first class.

In 1960, Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird" published.

In 2009, the space shuttle Endeavor was launched.

Today's birthdays include
- Scottish King Robert the Bruce in 1274
- John Quincy Adams, sixth president of the United States, in 1767
- Author E.B. White in 1899
- Actors Yul Brynner in 1920
- Critic Harold Bloom in 1930
- Actor Tab Hunter in 1931
- Fashion designer Giorgio Armani in 1934
- Former heavyweight boxing champion Leon Spinks, in 1953
- Actress Sela Ward in 1956
- TV host John Henson in 1967

Everyone have a Great Monday!

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Good Morning! Snday July 10, 2011

Good morning! It's a beautiful morning. It's not too hot out, and bright and clear. We never got any storms or rain yesterday; today is a smaller chance of afternoon showers. It'll still *only* be low 90s, maybe not quite as humid.
Yesterday: It was a very busy day, but in the end quite nice. The "normal" household stuff got done, and errands got done. A project got finished, a lot of produce was harvested, and we had company for dinner and the evening.
Today: I don't plan to leave the house today! :) We're going to work on finishing the current project room, now that I have a storage solution for some of it. Of course, there will always be dishes, laundry, and cleaning. Oh goody. LOL!

Today is "Clerihew Day" ... "Don't Step on a Bee Day" ... "Admission Day (Wyoming)" ... "Independence Day (Bahamas)".

Quotes of the Day:
"You can't do anything about the length of your life, but you can do something about its width and depth."
-- Evan Esar

"Let no man pull you low enough to hate him."
-- Martin Luther King Jr.

"A Christian is never in a state of completion But always in the process of becoming."
--Martin Luther

Today in history:
In 1890, Wyoming was admitted to the United States as the 44th state.

In 1925, the so-called Monkey Trial, in which John Scopes was accused of teaching evolution in school, a violation of state law, began in Dayton, Tenn., featuring a classic confrontation between William Jennings Bryan, the three-time presidential candidate and fundamentalist hero, and legendary defense attorney Clarence Darrow.

In 1938, industrialist Howard Hughes and a crew of four flew around the world in 91 hours, setting a speed record.

In 1962, the pioneer telecommunications satellite Telstar began relaying TV pictures between the United States and Europe.

in 1999, the U.S. team won the Women's World Cup in soccer, defeating China in the final on penalty kicks.

Today's birthdays include
- Protestant theologian John Calvin in 1509
- British judge William Blackstone in 1723
- American painter James Whistler in 1834
- Brewer Adolphus Busch in 1839
- Inventor Nikola Tesla in 1856
- French novelist Marcel Proust in 1871
- Black educator Mary McLeod Bethune in 1875
- TV news anchor/commentator David Brinkley in 1920
- Social activist Eunice Kennedy Shriver in 1921
- Boxer Jake LaMotta in 1921
- Author Jean Kerr in 1922
- Actor Fred Gwynne in 1926
- Former New York City Mayor David Dinkins in 1927
- Musician Ronnie James Dio in 1942
- Tennis star Arthur Ashe in 1943
- Actor Ron Glass in 1945
- Actor Sue Lyon in 1946
- Folksinger Arlo Guthrie in 1947
- Baseball Hall of Fame member Andre Dawson in 1954
- Actor Jessica Simpson in 1980

Everyone have a Great Sunday!

Saturday, July 9, 2011

Good Morning! Saturday July 9, 2011

Good morning! It's a beautiful morning. It was overcast earlier, but seems to be clearing and is nice and bright now. The forecast is for mostly cloudy and low 90s. We seem to be in a pattern of a lot of storms. There were quite a few last night, though as usual none at my house. There's a greater chance for late this afternoon - we'll see. I'm watering this morning anyway! :)
Yesterday: It was a fairly busy day, and we did good for it being so hot and humid. I got several small errands taken care of in town. At home, we harvested a big basket of tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, and beans. Wow!! A lot of tomatoes were put aside for canning, and I peeled and froze a bag full. I still have a lot on my table for eating! :) One more of the cabinets got put together - getting closer to my organization goal. In the evening I even managed a little bit of decluttering.
Today: It's a dialysis day, so it will involve a bit of coming and going, and fitting errands and projects in between. I also have hopes that my son and his family may come by today (possibly to help catch some wayward puppies that need homes!). I've done a quick bit of decluttering this morning, but altogether the house isn't *too* bad! LOL!

Today is "Bald In-Bald Out" ... "Martyrdom of the Bab (Baha'i)" ... "National Hop-A-Park Day" ... "Flag Day (Alaska)" ... "Independence Day (Argentina)" ... "Youth Day (Morocco)".

Quotes of the Day:
"Television has done much for psychiatry by spreading information about it, as well as contributing to the need for it.
-- Alfred Hitchcock

"Love thy neighbour as yourself, but choose your neighbourhood.
-- Louise Beal

Today in history:
In 1877, the first Wimbledon tennis tournament was contested at the All-England Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club.

In 1893, Chicago surgeon Dr. Daniel Hale Williams performed the first successful open-heart surgery.

In 1947, Florence Blanchard, a nurse, was appointed lieutenant colonel in the Army, becoming the first woman to hold a permanent U.S. military rank.

In 1955, Bill Haley and the Comets' "Rock Around the Clock" hit No. 1 on Billboard magazine's best-seller records chart, marking what some consider the beginning of the rock 'n' roll era.

In 1968, the Hayward Gallery on London's South Bank was opened.

In 2002 sports, the All-Star baseball game ended in an 11-inning, 7-7 tie when Commissioner Bud Selig halted proceedings saying the teams had run out of pitchers.

Today's birthdays include
- MY SISTER - HAPPY BIRTHDAY BARBARA!
- Elias Howe, inventor of the sewing machine, in 1819
- Nikola Tesla, inventor of the electromagnetic motor, in 1856
- Historian Samuel Eliot Morison in 1887
- English romance novelist Barbara Cartland in 1901
- Actor/singer Ed Ames in 1927
- English artist David Hockney in 1937
- Actor Brian Dennehy in 1938
- Actor Richard Roundtree in 1942
- Writer Dean R. Koontz in 1945
- Football star/actor O.J. Simpson in 1947
- Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych in 1950
- Entertainer John Tesh in 1952
- Actor Chris Cooper in 1951
- Actor Tom Hanks in 1956
- Actor Kelly McGillis in 1957
- Actor Jimmy Smits in 1955
- Actor Fred Savage in 1976
- Singer/actor Courtney Love in 1964
- Rock musician Jack White in 1975

Everyone have a Great Saturday!

Friday, July 8, 2011

Good Morning! Friday July 8, 2011

Good morning! It's a beautiful morning. It's overcast, which *could* mean more rain. It will be low 90s today, and with all the clouds it will probably be fairly humid. It's nice to walk outside early and find wet grass (from morning dew, although we did have a little bit of rain last night)! LOL!
Yesterday: It was a rather odd day at work. The department I work in is relocating to another area of the office. Since I won't be there when the move occurs, I moved all of my desk stuff yesterday (note: everyone has to move their own desk, all but computer and phone, but without losing productivity. Really?? LOL!!) I was amazed at how much *junk* I have accumulated! LOL! Not to mention how much dust - eewww. Anyway, it's done, and when I next go in my computer and phone *should* all be set up and working.
Today: I really hope to finish the cabinet project today, so I can finish the "room project of the week". :) But there will have to be time for playing in the garden first, as there are a LOT of tomatoes waiting to be harvested! I'm thinking I might spend part of the afternoon freezing tomatoes! If I can get those 2 "biggie" things done, it will be a good day. :)

Today is "SCUD Day (Savor the Comic, Unplug the Drama)"

Quotes of the Day:
"A tough lesson in life that one has to learn is that not everybody wishes you well.
-- Dan Rather

"There's no secret about success. Did you ever know a successful man who didn't tell you about it?
-- Kin Hubbard

"Few things are more satisfying than seeing your own children have teenagers of their own.
-- Doug Larson

Today in history:
In 1497, Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama sailed from Lisbon on a voyage that would lead to discovery of a sea route to India around the southern tip of Africa.

In 1776, the Declaration of Independence was read in public for the first time, to people gathered at Philadelphia's Independence Square.

In 1835, the Liberty Bell cracked while being rung during the funeral of U.S.Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall in Philadelphia.

Today's birthdays include
- Dirigible inventor Ferdinand von Zeppelin in 1838
- Oil magnate John D. Rockefeller in 1839
- French psychologist Alfred Binet in 1857
- Grandson of J. D. Rockefeller, former U.S. Vice President Nelson Rockefeller in 1908
- Band leader Louis Jordan, in 1908
- White House journalist Sarah Newcomb McClendon in 1910
- Drama critic Walter Kerr in 1913
- Jazz singer Billy Eckstine in 1914
- TV executive Roone Arledge in 1931
- Singer Jerry Vale in 1932
- Singer Steve Lawrence in 1935
- Actor Jeffrey Tambor in 1944
- Ballet dancer Cynthia Gregory in 1946
- Actress Kim Darby in 1947
- Children's singer Raffi (Cavoukian) in 1948
- Chef Wolfgang Puck in 1949
- Actress Anjelica Huston in 1951
- Actor Kevin Bacon in 1958
- Actor Billy Crudup in 1968

Everyone have a Great Friday!

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Good Morning! Thursday July 7, 2011

Good morning! It's a beautiful morning. We got rain last night, and this morning everything is bright and fresh, and cooler. Today will only go to the upper 80s (wow!); but clouds may move in again by the afternoon with more chances of storms. It's been an odd year; and on the news they were mentioning how strange the weather has been this year everywhere!
Yesterday: We had a busy afternoon, and got everything done. Yay! All the bills are paid, the car is "legal" (actually have to wait for mail, but I have a receipt), and I'm now allowed to dump my trash for another year. :) I got to the grocery store, finally. Just as I was checking out, a strong storm came through. I had to wait for it to slack a bit, then loaded the car in the rain! LOL! Oh how nice it was to get home and find it rained here too!!
Today: I don't even have any sprinklers running this morning; though if we don't get storms this afternoon, they'll be back on tomorrow morning. It's a dialysis and work day, so nothing planned. Well, except, since it's a bit cooler I might try tonight to do a bit of searching upstairs. :)

Today is "Father & Daughter Take a Walk Day" ... "Tell the Truth Day" ... "Independence Day (Solomon Islands)" ... "Running of the Bulls (Spain)" ... "Saba Saba Day (Tanzania)" ... "Tanabata/Star Festival (Japan)".

Quotes of the Day:
"I was a vegetarian until I started leaning toward the sunlight."
-- Rita Rudner

"Nothing is easy to the unwilling."
-- Nikki Giovanni

Typos are very important to all written form. It gives the reader something to look for so they aren't distracted by the total lack of content in your writing."
-- Randy K. Milholland

Today in history:
In 1846, U.S. Navy Commodore J.D. Sloat proclaimed the annexation of California by the United States.

In 1898, U.S. President William McKinley signed a joint resolution of Congress authorizing the annexation of Hawaii by the United States.

In 1930, construction of the Hoover Dam was begun.

In 1946, Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini (1850-1917) became the first American to be canonized a saint in the Roman Catholic Church.

In 1981, Sandra Day O'Connor was chosen by U.S. President Ronald Reagan to become the first woman on the U.S. Supreme Court. She was unanimously approved by the Senate.

Today's birthdays include
- Composer Gustav Mahler in 1860
- Painter Marc Chagall in 1887
- Film director George Cukor in 1899
- Film director Vittorio De Sica in 1901
- Baseball pitcher Leroy Satchel Paige in 1906
- Zither player Anton Karas (The Third Man) in 1906
- Science fiction author Robert Heinlein in 1907
- Composer Gian Carlo Menotti in 1911
- Chicago 7 defense lawyer William Kunstler in 1919
- Ezzard Charles, heavyweight boxing champion, in 1921
- French fashion designer Pierre Cardin in 1922
- Bandleader Doc Severinsen in 1927
- Singer Mary Ford in 1924
- Historian David McCullough in 1933
- Former Beatle Ringo Starr in 1940
- Film critic Joel Siegel in 1943
- Actor Joe Spano in 1946
- Actor Shelley Duvall in 1949
- Actor Bill Campbell in 1959
- Figure skater Michelle Kwan in 1980

Everyone have a Great Thursday!

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Good Morning! Wednesday July 6, 2011

Good morning! It's a wonderful morning. Lat night we actually got a little bit of rain. Very little, of course; but it's still overcast this morning, and damp. (I went on and ran sprinklers anyway!) It will be lower 90s today, and a *chance* of afternoon storms again.. I do hope for some, to wash the smoky smell from the air!
Yesterday: It was a fairly ordinary dialysis and work day. I ended up deciding against the stop at the grocery store; and also will wait for a bit cooler day (maybe today?) to begin my search upstairs. I settled for some laundry and a small bit of decluttering. :)
Today: Today is an errand day ... several annual items (car inspection, trash sticker) to take care of as well as paying rent, and the ever-elusive groceries! LOL! I hope the rain holds off until we're done; but then, I'd rather drive in it than not get any!

Today is "Take Your Webmaster to Lunch Day" ... "Day of Statehood (Lithuania)" ... "Independence Day (Comoros)" ... "Republic Day (Malawi)".

Quotes of the Day:
"Attempt easy tasks as if they were difficult, and difficult as if they were easy; in the one case that confidence may not fall asleep, in the other that it may not be dismayed."
-- Baltasar Gracian

"In real life, I assure you, there is no such thing as algebra."
-- Fran Lebowitz

"I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship."
-- Louisa May Alcott

Today in history:
In 1785, the dollar was unanimously chosen as the official currency of the United States.

In 1854, the Republican Party was formally established at a meeting in New York City.

In 1885, French bacteriologist Louis Pasteur inoculated the first human being, a boy who had been bitten by a rabid dog. The youngster didn't develop rabies.

In 1919, a British dirigible landed at New York's Roosevelt Field to complete the first airship crossing of the Atlantic.

In 1923, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was formed.

In 1933, the first Major League Baseball All-Star Game was played at Comiskey Park in Chicago. The American League beat the National League, 4-2.

In 1957, Althea Gibson became the first black athlete to win Wimbledon championship.

In 1957, while attending a church picnic near Liverpool, 15-year-old Paul McCartney met 16-year-old John Lennon. Lennon's band was playing at the picnic and by the end of the day McCartney had joined the group.

In 1958, Alaska became the 49th U.S. state.

In 1976, women were first admitted to the U.S. Naval Academy. The other military academies soon followed suit.

In 1997, the Mars Pathfinder deployed the remote-controlled Sojourner to explore the surface of Mars.

In 2005, London was chosen for the site of the 2012 Olympic Games in a close decision over Paris.

Today's birthdays include
- John Paul Jones, founder of the U.S. Navy, in 1747
- Mexican painter Frida Kahlo in 1907
- Singer Laverne Andrews, of the Andrews Sisters, in 1911
- Actor Sebastian Cabot in 1918
- Former U.S. first lady Nancy Reagan in 1921
- TV entertainer, producer Merv Griffin in 1925
- Rock 'n' roll pioneer Bill Haley (Rock Around The Clock) in 1925
- Actor Janet Leigh in 1927
- Singer/actor Della Reese in 1931
- Actor Ned Beatty in 1937
- Actor Burt Ward in 1945
- Actor Sylvester Stallone in 1946
- Former U.S. President George W. Bush in 1946
- Actor Shelley Hack in 1947
- Actor Geoffrey Rush in 1951
- Actor Allyce Beasley in 1954
- Singer Nanci Griffith in 1953
- Rapper 50 Cent in 1975


Everyone have a Great Wednesday!

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Good Morning! Tuesday July5, 2011

Good morning! It's a beautiful morning. It's mostly clear so far, though the forecast is for cloudy. It'll be low 90s, but humid and a chance of afternoon storms. There were a lot of storms last night, some even very close by - but not a drop of rain here.
Yesterday: I didn't have a lot planned to do, and that's what I did! LOL! A lot of the assorted junk taken off shelves got sorted, and I was able to "reclaim" the dining room (stuff is back in the bedroom, though not properly stored yet). I decided against going into town for fireworks (and glad I did, since it rained there) .. but I watched fireworks in DC, New York, and Boston on TV! Lovely! :)
Today: As all the mornings lately, it's starting out with getting everything watered (even if it ends up raining, it would be hard to get too much water at this point!). After dialysis and work, I'll probably stop at the grocery store, since I keep putting that off! LOL! Tonight I need to start looking for something upstairs .. I don't know how long it'll take to find what I need, but it's too hot to open more than 2 or 3 boxes at a time. Otherwise, it'll be a quiet night as usual. :)

Today is "Anniversary - Bikini" ... "Independence Day (Algeria)" ... "Independence Day (Venezuela)" ... "Unity Day (Zambia)".

Quotes of the Day:
"It is a far, far better thing to have a firm anchor in nonsense than to put out on the troubled sea of thought."
-- John Kenneth Galbraith

"I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies.
-- Thomas Jefferson

"A girl phoned me the other day and said "Come on over, there's nobody home." I went over. Nobody was home. "
-- Rodney Dangerfield

Today in history:
In 1687, Isaac Newton's "Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy" published.

In 1865, William Booth founded the Salvation Army in London.

In 1935, U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt signed the National Labor Relations Act.

In 1937, Hormel Foods introduced canned meat product Spam.

In 1946, French designer Louis Reard introduced the bikini swimsuit.

In 1947, Larry Doby became for African-American player in baseball's America League by signing a contract with the Cleveland Indians.

In 1954, newcomer Elvis Presley recorded "That's All Right (Mama," a song he had not intended to do when he began his first recording session at Sun Records in Memphis and it became an instant local sensation.

In 1975, Arthur Ashe became the first black man to win Wimbledon singles title.

In 1997, Martina Hingis, 16, of Switzerland became the youngest in 100 years to win the women's singles tennis championship at Wimbledon.

In 2009 sports, Roger Federer defeated Andy Roddick in the Wimbledon men's singles finals. It was Federer's record 15th Grand Slam title.

Today's birthdays include
- My niece Lindsay!! Happy Birthday!!
- David Farragut, the first U.S. Navy admiral, in 1801
- Showman P.T. Barnum in 1810
- British colonialist Cecil Rhodes, founder of Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), in 1853
- Dwight Davis, founder of the Davis Cup tennis tournament, in 1879
- French writer and film director Jean Cocteau in 1889
- Politician and diplomat Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. in 1902
- Actor Milburn Stone in 1904
- Football coach John McKay in 1923
- Actor Warren Oates in 1928
- Actor Katherine Helmond in 1928
- Robbie Robertson, composer, musician, member of The Band, in 1943
- Julie Nixon Eisenhower in 1948
- Rock singer Huey Lewis in 1950
- Baseball Hal of Fame member Richard Goose Gossage in 1951
- Actor Edie Falco in 1953

Everyone have a Great Tuesday!

Monday, July 4, 2011

Good Morning! Monday July 4, 2011

Good morning! It's a beautiful morning! The forecast says partly cloudy, but for now it's more clear, and very pleasant out. One of the nice things about the early watering is to enjoy the yard before the day gets so hot and sticky! :) It's to go to the upper 90s today (prediction is a bit down from high 90s originally forecast!), and a chance of storms.
Yesterday: While I didn't get done what I hoped, it was still a very productive day. I got all the watering and "household" stuff done early. I even washed a load of sheets and tablecloths to hang on the clothesline (I just love the smell of line-dried sheets!). I went to town to pick up med refills, and also got a few cleaning items. I had planned to go to the grocery store, but decided I had too much at home to do so that can wait. At home one cabinet got assembled, and I just love it! Unfortunately, it took 3 hours instead of the "1 hour" the directions claim. LOL!! It's ok, it'll get done. For dinner we had some snap beans fresh from the garden! Yum!!
Today: I'll keep working on getting junk sorted and back into the one cabinet. I may or may not tackle assembling another ... well, ok, probably not! LOL! But there's lots of other stuff I need to be doing. Tonight we'll most likely go into town to watch fireworks. Our little local show is pretty good ... and I just love fireworks! :)
To my American friends: Happy Independence Day!!!! Thank a soldier!!

Today is "Caribbean or Caricom Day" ... "Earth at Aphelion" ... "Fourth of July" ... "Independence Day, USA" ... "Independence-From-Meat Day" ... "Indivisible Day" ... "Anniversary - America the Beautiful (song) Published" ... "Anniversary - "American Top 40" (radio)" ... "Fil-American Friendship Day (Philippines)" ... "Heroes Day (Zambia)".

Quotes of the Day:
"History teaches us that men and nations behave wisely once they have exhausted all other alternatives."
-- Abba Eban

"Nurture your mind with great thoughts; to believe in the heroic makes heroes."
-- Benjamin Disraeli

"Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort".
-- Franklin D. Roosevelt

Today in history:
In 1776, the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, proclaiming U.S. independence from Britain.

In 1817, construction began on the Erie Canal.

In 1826, in one of history's notable coincidences, former U.S. Presidents John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both died 50 years to the day after the Declaration of Independence was adopted.

In 1895, the poem "America the Beautiful," by Wellesley College Professor Katherine Lee Bates, was published.

In 1914, director D.W. Griffith began filming his controversial film "Birth of a Nation," which introduced important new filmmaking techniques and influenced many other directors.

In 1986, more than 250 sailing ships and the United States' biggest fireworks display honored the Statue of Liberty in its 100th birthday year.

In 1997, NASA's Pathfinder landed on Mars to become the first U.S. spacecraft to land on the planet in more than two decades.

In 2005, NASA's "Deep Impact" spacecraft wound up an 85 million-mile journey by intentionally slamming into the Tempel 1 comet to learn more about comets and other aspects of the solar system.

In 2006, the first U.S. space shuttle flight in almost a year began when the Discovery was launched from the space center at Cape Canaveral.

In 2007, the Russian resort city of Sochi was selected to host the 2014 Winter Olympics, marking the first time the country has been the site of the Winter Games.

Today's birthdays include
- Author Nathaniel Hawthorne in 1804
- Songwriter Stephen Foster ("Oh! Susannah," "Beautiful Dreamer") in 1826
- Circus operator James Bailey (Barnum and Bailey) in 1847
- Calvin Coolidge, 30th president of the United States, in 1872
- Innovative cartoonist Rube Goldberg in 1883
- Louis B. Mayer, film mogul and co-founder of MGM, in 1885
- Actor/politician George Murphy in 1902
- Conductor Mitch Miller in 1911
- Ann Landers, advice columnist, in 1918
- Abigail Van Buren, advice columnist, Ann Landers' twin, in 1918
- Former hotel executive Leona Helmsley in 1920
- Actress Eva Marie Saint in 1924
- Playwright Neil Simon in 1927
- Actress Gina Lollobrigida in 1927
- Al Davis, Oakland Raiders owner, in 1929
- New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner in 1930
- TV reporter Geraldo Rivera in 1943
- Tennis player Pam Shriver in 1962


Everyone have a Great Monday!

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Good Morning! Sunday July 3, 2011

Good morning! It's a beautiful morning. Even though it will be in the upper 90s later today, it's quite nice outside right now. It's clear and bright now, will be humid, and maybe a possibility of afternoon storms. I'm not hoping for that (sprinklers going!)
Yesterday: It was a busy but mostly unproductive day. I got the "basics" done. I was supposed to spend the afternoon helping a friend take a load of trash to a landfill. It turned into a comedy of errors (involving people - not me!! LOL!! - who can't tell time and also don't know to watch the GAS level!) that took up all afternoon and accomplished nothing. Oh well, at least I wasn't *working* (not that driving is that much better).
Today: Today will be a better day, I just know it! :) I'll have to go pick up the refills I forgot yesterday, and some groceries. But after that I get some help with an assembly project, and hopefully start getting some **junk** out of here! :)

Today is "Air Conditioning Appreciation Days (07/03-08/15)" ... "Compliment Your Mirror Day" ... "Dog Days (07/03-08/11)" ... "Stay Out of the Sun Day" ... "Admission Day (Idaho)" ... "Independence Day (Belarus)".

Quotes of the Day:
"People don't have to like or support you, so you always have to say thank you."
-- Ruben Studdard

"Then give to the world the best you have. And the best will come back to you."
-- Madeline Bridges

"Chess is as elaborate a waste of human intelligence as you can find outside an advertising agency."
-- Raymond Chandler

Today in history:
In 1608, French explorer Samuel de Champlain founded the Canadian town of Quebec.

In 1890, Idaho admitted as the 43rd state in the United States.

In 1928, the first color television transmission was accomplished by John Logie Baird in London.

In 1986, U.S. President Ronald Reagan re-lit the Statue of Liberty's torch in New York Harbor after a $66 million restoration of the statue was completed during the 100th anniversary year of its dedication.

Today's birthdays include
- Actor, singer, composer George M. Cohan in 1878
- Welsh poet and writer William Henry Davies ( The Autobiography of a Super-Tramp ) in 1871
- Czech novelist Franz Kafka in 1883
- Actor George Sanders in 1906
- Journalist and columnist Dorothy Kilgallen in 1913
- Jerry Gray, band leader, arranger for Glenn Miller, in 1915
- English filmmaker Ken Russell in 1927
- Jazz clarinetist Pete Fountain in 1930
- English playwright Tom Stoppard in 1937
- Singer Fontella Bass in 1940
- Humorist Dave Barry in 1947
- Actor Betty Buckley in 1947
- Exiled Haitian dictator Jean-Claude Baby Doc Duvalier in 1951
- Talk show host Montel Williams in 1956
- Pop singer Laura Branigan in 1957
- Actor Tom Cruise in 1962
- Actor Thomas Gibson in 1962
- Voice actor Yeardley Smith in 1964

Everyone have a Great Sunday!

Saturday, July 2, 2011

Good Morning! Saturday July 2, 2011

Good morning! It's a beautiful morning. I've been out to start rotating sprinklers, and it was very pleasant - as long as I didn't have to breathe! LOL! Eastern fires plus wind from the east makes for a strange air qualify! It's going to be a bit hotter again today, mid 90s, and a bit more humid; but no mention of the typical afternoon storms.
Yesterday: I didn't do quite what I had hoped, but it was a fairly busy day none the less. I discovered I'll need help with some unassembled cabinets; but one corner that was full of junk has been cleaned out. Of course, the "junk" is now spread out all over the house! LOL! But over the next few days it will be sorted before going back into cabinets. I also fit in a bit of the never-ending laundry. :)
Today: I had thought today would be a day to "sneak away" and play, since I don't have to work during dialysis. But, it looks like instead I may be helping take a trailer full of junk to the landfill. Well, that's not a bad thing either. And maybe we'll even fit in some gardening - there's bound to be more tomatoes and other yummy stuff ready. :)
To my Canadian friends ... I apologize for missing saying "Happy Candada Day" yesterday! Oops, my bad. I hope you all, as well as my American friends, have a happy and SAFE holiday weekend.

Today is "Halfway Point of 2011" ... "UN International Day of Cooperatives" ... "Palio (Italy)" ... "Tour De France (France)".

Quotes of the Day:
"Everyone rises to their level of incompetence."
--Peter McWilliams

"Live in such a way that you would not be ashamed to sell your parrot to the town gossip."
--Will Rogers

"To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk".
-- Thomas A. Edison

"If you would be known, and not know, vegetate in a village; If you would know, and not be known, live in a city."
-- Charles Caleb Colton

Today in history:
In 1788, it was announced in the U.S. Congress that the new Constitution had been ratified by the required nine states, the ninth being New Hampshire.

In 1900, the world's first rigid airship was demonstrated by Ferdinand Graf von Zeppelin in Germany.

In 1934, 6-year-old Shirley Temple signed a contract with Fox Film Corp. and went on to become one of the biggest movie stars of the day.

In 2002, after five unsuccessful attempts, American Steve Fossett completed a round-the-world solo flight in a balloon, reaching Queensland in the Australian outback to finish a 13-day, 19,428-mile trip that began in Western Australia.

Today's birthdays include
- German novelist Hermann Hesse in 1877
- King Olav V of Norway in 1903
- Tennis champion Rene Lacoste in 1904
- Former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall in 1908
- Singer/actor Ken Curtis ( Gunsmoke's Festus) in 1916
- Civil rights activist Medgar Evers in 1925
- Imelda Marcos, wife of former Philippine President Fernando Marcos, in 1929
- Wendy's fast-food restaurant chain founder Dave Thomas in 1932
- Actor Polly Holliday in 1937
- Former race car driver Richard Petty in 1937
- Actor/director Ron Silver in 1946
- Writer/actor Larry David in 1947
- Actor Jimmy McNichol in 1961
- Former baseball star Jose Canseco, first to hit 40 home runs and steal 40 bases in the same major league season, in 1964
- Actor Lindsay Lohan in 1986

Everyone have a Great Saturday!

Friday, July 1, 2011

Good Morning! Friday July 1, 2011

Good morning! It's a beautiful morning. It's clear and bright, and today will still be fairly nice. It'll be low to mid 90s but the humidity won't be "too" bad. There doesn't seem to be any of the "scattered" showers on for today. It's been a strange year so far ... we've broken the "heat record" ... that was just set last year! And more on the way.
Yesterday: With dialysis and work, not much else ever gets done of course. I did go after work and get the new battery; but it's too hot for my "gardener" to come over today! LOL! I did get a very small start on the next big project on my cleaning list.
Today: I hope today I will make serious progress on that project. There's a series of mis-matched shelf units that need to be decluttered (I hope), and switched out for cabinets with doors. Of course, I have to assemble the cabinets. This could be interesting! LOL!

Today is "Second Half of the New Year Day" ... "Anniversary - Battle of Gettysburg" ... "Anniversary - First Postage Stamp" ... "Anniversary - First US Zoo" ... "Anniversary - Medicare" ... "Anniversary - Zip Codes Inaugurated" ... "Canada Day (Canada)" ... "Half-Year Day (China)" ... "Independence Day (Burundi)" ... "Independence Day (Rwanda)" ... "Republic Day (Ghana)".

Quotes of the Day:
"Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities. Truth isn't."
-- Mark Twain

"The past is not dead. In fact, it's not even past."
-- William Faulkner

"So, let us not be blind to our differences - but let us also direct attention to our common interests and to the means by which those differences can be resolved.
-- John F. Kennedy

Today in history:
In 1847, the first U.S. postage stamps were issued.

In 1859, the first intercollegiate baseball game was played in Pittsfield, Mass. Amherst beat Williams, 66-32.

In 1862, the Russian State Library was founded.

In 1867, Canada was granted its independence by Great Britain. It consisted at the time of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and future provinces of Ontario and Quebec.

In 1874, the Philadelphia Zoological Society, the first U.S. zoo, opened to the public.

In 1941, NBC broadcast the first FCC-sanctioned TV commercial, a spot for Bulova watches shown during a Dodgers-Phillies game. It cost Bulova $9.

In 1979, Sony introduced the Walkman, known as the Soundabout, in U.S. stores. It sold for about $200.

In 1997, Hong Kong was returned to China after 99 years as a British territory.

Today's birthdays include
- German philosopher Gottfried Leibniz in 1646
- French novelist George Sand, a pseudonym for Amandine Dupin, in 1804
- Grammarian William Strunk Jr. in 1869
- Pioneer aviator Louis Bleriot in 1872
- Actor Charles Laughton in 1899
- Blues, gospel musician, composer Thomas Dorsey in 1899
- Film director William Wyler in 1902
- Cosmetics executive Estee Lauder in 1906
- Blues musician Willie Dixon in 1915
- Actor Olivia de Havilland in 1916
- Actor Leslie Caron in 1931
- Filmmaker/actor Sydney Pollack in 1934
- Actor/writer Jean Marsh in 1934
- Actor Jamie Farr in 1934
- Choreographer Twyla Tharp in 1941
- Actor Karen Black in 1939
- Actor Genevieve Bujold in 1942
- Singer Deborah Harry in 1945
- Actor/comedian Dan Aykroyd in 1952
- Britain's Princess Diana in 1961
- Nine-time Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis in 1961
- Actor Andre Braugher in 1962
- Actor Pamela Anderson in 1967
- Actor Liv Tyler in 1977
- Rapper Missy Elliott in 1971

Everyone have a Great Friday!