Click the video for background music for this post.
The day before I was born, baseball great Ted Williams safely landed his damaged jet – for which he earned an Air Medal
One month before I was born, Tito became the first president of Yugoslavia – a position he held for 27 years
One year before I was born, a nor’easter blanketed New England
4 years before I was born, Chaim Weitzman elected first president of Israel
6 years before I was born, Voice of America began broadcasting to the Soviet Union
10 years before I was born, Sergei Rachmaninoff performed his last concert
15 years before I was born, first public experimental demonstration of Baird color TV occurred in London
20 years before I was born, the US Senate passes the Blaine Act to end Prohibition and first issue of Newsweek magazine appeared on newsstands
30 years before I was born, British Egyptologist Howard Carter found the sarcophagus of Tutankhamun (King Tut)
40 years before I was born, New York Armory Show introduced Picasso to American public
42 years before I was born, General Motors installed the first electric starter for a car into a Cadillac
49 years before I was born, opera Madame Butterfly debuted in Milan
52 years before I was born composer Gustav Mahler conducted the premiere of his Second Symphony
70 years before I was born, A. Ashwell patented the free-toilet in London
75 years before I was born, first telephone exchange in San Francisco opened with 18 phones
77 years before I was born sardines were first canned in Eastport, Maine
86 years before I was born, chocolate manufacturer William Cadbury was born and the first ship passed through Suez Canal
88 years before I was born, Union forces regained Fort Sumter (US Civil War)
117 years before I was born, the HMS Beagle and Charles Darwin left Tasmania
277 years before I was born, Kings Charles II (England) and Louis XIV (France) signed a secret treaty
355 years before I was born, Boris Godunov chosen tsar of Russia
1,589 years before I was born, Roman Emperor Jovian died
The day I was born was 17 February 1953
65 years after I was born, I celebrate another birthday with a historical look at February 17th – so the number salute to 65 will be soon.
And weren’t you the little cutie! ❤ Happy Birthday Frank – I hope your 66th year will be filled with many events worth celebrating and blogging about. I was kind of hoping you were working towards a big event exactly 100 years before you were you, but it just didn't work out that way…. But I'll happily take Mr Cadbury,'s birth, Mr Carter's momentous discovery and that first performance of Madame Butterfly as being great prescient announcements of your imminent arrival!
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Pauline,
Greetings from New Zealand make my day even better. 🙂 Thank you. In terms of stopping at 100, I initial hoped to do something more even (such as 5, 10, 15, 20, etc) – but finding good information wasn’t easy. So I selected some of the more interesting factoids about this day in history. This was a fun post for me to do.
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Happy birthday!
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Life,
Many thanks for stopping by and taking the time to pass along a greeting. 🙂
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Happy Birthday dear Frank. Have a wonderful day!
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Holly,
Greetings from the Sunshine State always deliver warmth … especially this time of year!
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Hope your day was great Frank. I was out enjoying the sun earlier today.
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Nice … let’s see … Cincinnati started with snow changing to rain.
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Cancelling plans to fly to Cincinnati… 🙂 there’s lots of room in the sunshine state.
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LOL … well played!
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Stay warm by all and any means!
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Happy Birthday Frank and what a novel way of remembering Time before you.. 🙂 and what a cute happy smile… 🙂
Have a wonderful Day and weekend Frank.. 🙂
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Sue,
One of the best things about blogging is receiving greetings from across the globe … and I welcome England to the day! I usually salute the day with a number tribute, but this idea came to me … and it was fun to do. Glad you enjoyed it …. and the baby pic too! 🙂
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Hope you’re having a great weekend also.. 🙂
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It’s been a good one … thanks!
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Happy Birthday, Frank! What an adorable baby photo 🙂
This is birthday month at our house–so you fit right in. Hope you have a wonderful day–and a special birthday weekend.
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Merril,
Thank you … and now that you mention it, I recall the special role February plays in your family. Happy Birthday to all there!
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Thank you, Frank! Hope you had a great birthday!
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A wonderful day indeed! Thank you!!!!
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Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday dear AFA,
Happy birthday to you.
(And many more.)
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Mudge,
Because you are who you are, some would say your singing lacks sincerity … but I know better!!! Thanks.
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I quote George Burns:
“I like to sing. I like to drink Scotch. People would rather hear me drink Scotch.”
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Perfect! 😀
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Happy Birthday!
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Carrie,
Thank you … and for my celebration, you get an extra Stella tonight.
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I usually just have beer on either Friday or Saturday night, not both, but…if you insist… 🍻
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Of course I insist … Cheers … Clink!
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Happy Birthday, Frank. Sixty-Five is such a good age.
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John,
Thank you … and I know you are basing your statement on experience. 🙂
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Happy Birthday! 🙂
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E R,
Thanks for stopping by all the way from Wales just to pass along a greeting. 🙂
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Interesting stuff….how quickly all passes. Happy 65th, Frank!!
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George,
I wanted to celebrate the occasion in a different way than I normally do here. Glad you enjoyed it … and thanks for the greeting!
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Happy 65th and what a great age to be!
I read the other day a retirement planner say: “There are three stages of retirement: from 65 to 75 it’s GOLF, GOLF, GOLF, from 75 to 85 it’s GOLF, GOLF, and from 85 and afterward it’s GOLF.
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Tim,
Thank you for the greeting and thoughtful advice.
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*♪ღ♪Happy★Birthday ♪ღ♪* Best wishes for a fantastic day filled with loads of smiles and a few sweet treats shared with friends and family. 🎂
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Monika,
Thank you … and this post alone has delivered and created many smiles. … and now you know the answer to the age discussion. 🙂
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I suspect Italians are much like Germans in that birthday celebrations are a big deal and we enjoy them fully. 🎉
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Birthday celebrations in my family have never been big celebrations … and to this day, I haven’t had many parties. Heck, yesterday 7 of us went to dinner.
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We are a very close family and make time for celebratory get-togethers. Nothing formal, but a raucously large crew enjoying one another marked with loads of laughter (mostly at each other) and a close collegiality than warms my heart and provides comfort with the whole nutty tribe. That closeness got us through some rough times this year when my mom was dangerously ill (thankfully she is recovering, no doubt in part to the love of her family).
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Wonderful … How old is your mom?
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She turned 87 on Christmas day.
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Awesome! …. So … now that you see my age, do you still stand by the fact that you are a few years older than me? 😉
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I do because I am. By 5 years. 😇
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Cheers to you!
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👍🏻
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Happy birthday, Frank! Celebrate another year of life in your usual style! Cheers!
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Jo,
Thank you … and cheers to you and John Howell representing Texas on this day. Cheers … Clink!
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What? A song to be sung? That Happy Birthday one? You know the words…I’ll start the tune….let’s put a Tango spin on it! Ready! Set! Watch us go!!!! Happy Birthday my celebrated Friend! XoxRRR
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Raye,
Hooray … a birthday greeting from the Rose Queen in the City of Roses. 🙂 I received your gift that this gift that you sent but forgot to put in your comment.
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YOU ARE THE TOOT’S POTATOES!!!! (A very good thing!) Well….now I’ve got to find those red Tango dancing shoes…….!
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I knew you would appreciate that … 🙂 … unfortunately I don’t have a video for Toot’s Potatoes. …. but I have this worthy substitute. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvViXPEwPOU
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Me too! Man they are gorgeous!
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Dale … As a culinary person, is Toot’s Potatoes on your available menu?
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Well now. I just have to do a search or make one up!
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Make one up … an original!
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Will work on it!
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I’m picture a potato salad variation.
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Hmmm…. I’ll keep you posted.
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… but I also sense a roasted version. .
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…. thinking….
It’ll have to wait. I am having my sisters and their hubbies over for Italiano Notte on Saturday. I’m making all sorts of stuff I learned in Toscana! (About time, dontcha think?)
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With Italian Night on the horizon, it sure can wait! Lucky sisters!!!!! … and I’m sure plenty of wine will flow that night! Wish I could be there!
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I am finally breaking out the bottles I got on my personal tour of Castel Giocondo… That’s why I practiced my pasta last week… I had almost forgotten how.
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Good … wine isn’t for a special meal, but it makes the meal special!
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Well the cost of these two bloody bottles will make it especially special!!
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I know the feeling … but got to drink them sometime. … (which reminds me what I have to do with my stash.)
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Exactly. I was just waiting to have loved ones over who would appreciate them…
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How cool are you for finding this?
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I’m very cool. 😉 … and did you see the video I left in my reply?
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I did, and, with all the back and forth, did respond to it but it (my response) might be jumbled in the mix!
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Bottom line … glad you saw it … and I don’t think someone else has seen the second one!
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Yeah, but not everyone stalks you and RRR like I do… 😉
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LOL … and thankfully!
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I’ll pretend that doesn’t sound bad…
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Say something bad???? Me?????
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Of course not…
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🙂
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In my best Leonard Elmore . . .
“On the day Frank was born, Vegas started sweating up aces to the comped big shots while sweating bullets at the thought of what Arizona felt like in springtime . . .”
Best to you, good man.
Peace
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Marc,
Oh my … now there’s a unique birthday greeting! … Wonderful! … and thank you.
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Well, that was in lieu of wishes for a Reds postseason berth, lol.
Peace and Joey Votto
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The closest the Reds will come to the post-season is if they use it in a sentence.
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Haha!
I believe they are suffering from the curse of “Not Being The First Game Of The Year Anymore”. Not a very catchy name for a curse, I realize.
But in all seriousness, I used to love that the Reds were the traditional first game. It was like Cincinnati was the center of the baseball universe for that one day.
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Definitely a lost tradition. On the other hand, the city and fans ignore the other games, so Opening Day in Cincinnati remains as Opening Day like no place else! …. A special day!!!!
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As it should be!
Fun fact. I was gifted a white Reds jersey when I was a boy by my Aunt’s boyfriend at the time. He knew I loved baseball but he didn’t know what team I liked so he guessed, lol. I mean, we lived in NY! But it was fine with me. Johnny Bench, Number 5. This Yankees fan wore it with pride, especially considering the sting of that WS sweep at the hands of the Big Red Machine years earlier had dissipated after the Yanks broke through and won a couple titles. 🙂
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Wow … and that was 1976. Do you know that the Reds have won 9 World Series games in a row!
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True!
Game 7 Boston. Four against the Yanks and then their sweep of the A’s in 1990. Lou Piniella showed the Boss the what’s what after having been fired by him, lol.
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Right on … but unfortunately no games in 27 years … and not many post-season appearances every since … well, aside for the 3 out of 4 year spurt 2010-2013.
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I had high hopes for them when Davey Johnson was the skipper. Then again when Dusty took over.
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Only went to one game last year … and that was for a special occasion … no games the year before.
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This years Yankee team has me excited, if only because of that lineup. Showing up early to catch BP is going to be worth the price of admission. Alas, the title still goes through Houston. Man, they are good.
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This Yankee lineup is off the charts. A friend who is a Boston fan just shakes his head.
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Yeah well, I’ve a feeling Boston will somehow muddle through, lol.
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He’s hopeful for a wild card spot.
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I don’t know, there’s a ton of talent there. And nobody’s paying much attention to them. That’s a dangerous combination.
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Starting pitching is deep … bullpen has been refurbished. Losing Cozart will affect offense. Votto is a premier player – a professional batsman. Hamilton plays a great center, unfortunately, he can’t steal first when at the plate.
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Lol.
I kinda wondered if they might trade Votto since it’s a rebuild. It’s a tough situation. Hopefully they make some progress this year.
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Votto has a big contract … I think the last two seasons have delivered the same record (but not sure).
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Hmmm. But after what the Padres gave to Hosmer as a free agent, I can;’t imagine the Reds couldn’t get some value back if they absorbed some of that money. I realize it’s a trade and not a FA we’re talking, but Votto is a better player.
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One of the beauties of long-term deals is that as time goes on, comparing them to the current deals getting done make it look reasonable … that’s also crazy!
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It’s all very crazy. My first critique of the Padres deal for Hosmer- who I like as a player but who is NOT a guy I would be giving this kind of money to either- was that San Diego was nuts. That this is why teams like the Padres don’t win. But, the reality is that San Diego ain’t getting Hosmer if St Louis or New York are close in their offers, probably not anyway.
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Yep – also a good example why the Bengals don’t go crazy on free agents.
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Or . . . Elmore Leonard.
Haha!
Either or . . .
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Absolutely … that’s what happens to people with two first names!
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I do it ALL the time. You would think I would’ve gotten the hang of it by now, having read so much of his work.
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When something sticks, it sticks.
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You speak the truth.
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Happy Birthday dear Frank, another wonderful post, Blessing and Happiness, Thank you, Love, nia
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Nia,
A birthday greeting from my favorite person in Turkey is simply wonderful! Thank you!!!!!
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Happy birthday…just a week or so before my 65th birthday.
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Debra,
Thank you … and now that you mention it, I recall you are also February. A toast to our month! … Clink!
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What an adorable baby photo! Happy birthday (+1)! And man, it looks like it took a while to collect all that data!
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Betsy,
LOL … a glad you enjoy the pic of Mini Me. … I like researching stuff … or as my wife would call it – useless information …. and thanks for the birthday greeting!
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It’s always nice to get belated greetings, right? It extends the birthday celebration. 🙂
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Absolutely … besides – I did two posts on my birthday … so in that sense, your greeting isn’t belated.
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Happy Birthday! I hope you celebrated for at least 65 hours! Great approach to celebrating your date of birth.
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Patti,
LOL … that’s 5+ days! Me celebrating over an entire weekend is outside of my norm, but that long? Thanks for visiting my celebration. 🙂
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That’s a very Frank birthday post! Happy 65th to you and many more! (You were a super cute baby!)
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Kerry,
Oh yes … I normally do the number tributes – which I still did on the next post – but this idea come to me so I went with it knowing that it still fit my style. Thanks for the birthday greeting and glad you enjoy my pic.
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Happy Birthday, Frank! 🍰🌹🍷💋🍷🍷
Love the tune!
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Resa,
Thank you! … Great selection here, and with given your design history, I’m not surprised the song that you are singing!
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Clever … Clever … Clever … I enjoyed your breakdown of events.
Wishing you a beautiful day filled with good health and happiness.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY 🍷🍷🎂🍨🍰🍷🍷 Cheers Isadora 😎
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Isadora,
Thank you … the big day was Saturday and all it was a good day. I got the idea months ago, then did the research – but it did come together until I had to turn it into a post. … and it worked! 🙂
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👍😎
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Dang it. Talk about being late to the party. I had a crazy weekend and didn’t check my emails. OR this one slipped by me. My bad.
So three days late, I wish you a most happy and belated birthday, mi amico!
You are the best and we love you for who you are! xoxo
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Dale,
That’s OK … Just so you know I was about to pull your chain to RRR. … but now you caused me to blush!
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Haha! Well now…😘
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After all, we know about her cyber-ears!
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True dat
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Happy B-Day Frank! Hope you had a great day…and we’ll see you after the “blog break.”
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Bruce,
A good day it was … and thanks for the greeting!
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We are but specks in time! We might do well to remember that from time to time! I keep this Pink Floyd CD in my car and play it frequently. A favorite! Great photo…
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Debra,
“Speck of time” is a great way to describe our life. Sometimes at the grocery store I continually pass someone who is on their phone aisle after aisle – and even through the checkout lane. I want to tell them, “You aren’t that important.” Meanwhile, why am I not surprised you have that Pink Floyd CD in the car!
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Happy birthday! So special way to celebrate the wonderful day of your life in connecting our world’s history. With the excellent song of Pink Floyd.
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Velvet,
Welcome first-time commenter. Thank you. The idea for this post came to me late last year, so I’m glad I did it. I normally celebrate my birthday by saluting the number, which I did on the next post. Cheers to you enjoying Pink Floyd!
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Thank you for the reply. I think that we are all created by our world, all human history and with the present…
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