On Toasting April

Embed from Getty Images
April is here. For us in the northern hemisphere, it’s a time for showers and spring flowers. Leaves return to the barren trees and green grass emerges from its slumber. Migrating birds return to the summer home they share with year-round residence, and day and night air fills with familiar sounds that have been absent.

April is also a time for celebrations – a month to increase awareness about cancer control, Cesareans, irritable bowels, alcohol, autism, math, habitats, multiple births, heartworm, Parkinson’s, stress, pet first aid, testicular cancer, sexually transmitted diseases, DNA, genomics, & stem cells.

April is a time for month-long promotions about greyhound adoption, amateur radio, car care, welding, community spirit, home improvement, card & letter writing, facial protection, landscape architecture, safe digging, and rebuilding.

April is a month to appreciate couples, frogs, military children, decorating, holy humor, guitars, jazz, humor, kites, poetry, straw hats, and smiles.

April is a time to celebrate Food Month while cherishing culinary delights as soft pretzels, cranberries & gooseberries, grilled cheese sandwiches, BLTs, tomatillos, Asian Pears, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, pecans, and soy foods.

April celebrates Knuckles Down and provides 30 opportunities to issue a Twit Award.

April always starts with All Fools Day. I love this classic video that aired in the UK on April 1, 1957. (Start at 30 seconds) Enjoy – and good luck with finding a fool today.

On the Way to Rebalancing

Greetings to you on one of Cincinnati’s favorite days – Opening Day for baseball. No city embraces the season’s start as Cincinnati, and weather should be warm. Until Major League Baseball decided to focus on money over tradition, Cincinnati always opened the season. I’m contemplating taking time away from the task at hand to spend some time downtown, but only time will tell if I follow through with that thought.

How was your weekend? Come on now …. tell us about it.

We had an evening on the ballroom floor and attended a going-away party for a friend. Sandwiched between those two events was our continuing effort of unpacking and organization.

A huge thank you to those who participated in my extended Exploring series that took readers on a journey from the far reaches of the universe, then toward Earth, and finally landing on our planet with a trip around the world. It was fun to put together. Although I wasn’t replying to comments, I kept up with the reading, so thanks for the smiles you caused.

I will ease myself back into posting this week with at least three posts. Then again, I leave the door open to more.

Celebrations this week

• (Week) Week of the Ocean, Root Canal Awareness Week, Be Kind to Spiders Week, Publicity Stunt Week, Scoop the Poop Week, Golden Rule Week, Laugh at Work Week, Testicular Cancer Awareness Week, Straw Hat Week
• (Mon) Sleep Apnea Day, Orange & Lemons Day, Clams on the Half Shell Day, Tater Day, She’s Funny That Way Day, Bunsen Burner Day
• (Tues) April Fools Day, Boomer Bonus Day, Myles Day, Library Snap-Shot Day, Fun at Work Day, Reading is Funny Day, St. Stupid Day, Sliced Bread Day, Sourdough Bread Day, Poetry & the Creative Mind Day
• (Wed) Ferret Day, Children’s Book Day, Day of Hope, Whole Grain Sampling Day, Walking Day, Peanut Butter & Jelly Day, Autism Day, Love Your Produce Manager Day
• (Thurs) Party Day, Find a Rainbow Day, Tweed Day, Pony Express Day, Weed Out Hate – Sow the Seeds of Greatness Day, Don’t Go to Work Unless It’s Fun Day, Chocolate Mousse Day

The past six weeks have been a whirlwind, but we are working toward the normal balance in our life … however, no way I will ever be this balanced. Have a good week!

On a Time Lapse Across America

This is the last of this installment of Exploring as I hope to return toward my normal routine with the next Monday Morning Entertainment.

I love time-lapse photography, especially ones involving the sky as it moves over the stillness of land. Please share the thoughts that this video stimulates in your mind.

Enjoy this trip across America from National Geographic. For those desiring a guide, below is your itinerary.

00:00 – Badlands National Park, South Dakota
00:16 – Yosemite National Park, California
00:26 – Zion National Park, Utah
00:37 – Mount Rainier National Park, Washington
00:44 – Crater Lake National Park, Oregon
01:06 – Monument Valley National Park, Arizona
01:20 – Marysville, Ohio
01:31 – Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
01:58 – Central Florida
02:03 – Flagstaff, Arizona
02:09 – Bruneau Dunes State Park, Idaho
02:13 – Holbrook, Arizona
02:21 – Marysville, Ohio
02:25 – Monument Valley, Arizona
02:29 – Texas
02:32 – Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
02:36 – Bandon Beach, Oregon
02:39 – White Sands National Monument, New Mexico
02:43 – Big Sur, California
02:46 – Santa Barbara, California
02:53 – Crater Lake National Park, Oregon
03:26 – Bruneau Dunes State Park, Oregon
03:51 – Zion National Park, Utah
04:03 – Yosemite National Park, California
04:19 – Zion National Park, Utah
04:34 – Monument Valley National Park, Arizona
04:46 – Yosemite National Park, California

On Exploring a Northern Island

Like many, I first learned about Iceland when studying the Vikings in elementary school. As an island nation in the North Atlantic Ocean, today I don’t think of the Vikings, but genetics is my prime thought. Although there is some disagreement on the matter, some consider Icelandic genes to be more homogeneous (less diverse) than other lands. Given the mobility of humans today and because isolation is one important aspect of evolution, the thought is intriguing.

Being that we enjoy cruising, cruise ships do go to Iceland … and my wife has mentioned an interest in visiting the mountainous place with hot springs.

Enjoy this National Geographic video about Iceland.

On Exploring Around and Above a Volcano

How you ever been to Indonesia? When I picture Indonesia, images of lush tropical rain forests come to mind … but not volcanoes – although I realize that area is volcanic. The Exploring series continues with another stunning time lapse with wonderful music, so sit back and enjoy.