On Easing into a Return

Image from 123vectors.com

Image from 123vectors.com

Surprise, surprise … yep … it’s me, but I’m going to ease myself back into the swing. After all, I still have some writing to do. Being that the celebrations below only go through Thursday, that’s a sign there will be another post this week. So, the Play button is applicable.

Many of you know that my wife has been cruising the Caribbean with her sister and two friends … and you may also recall that my XY combination on the 23rd chromosome pair prohibited my inclusion. Long-time visitors here recall my trip to Italy several years ago to visit family – yep – it was done while the ladies were cruising. This year I stayed home and endured the weather, which was fine.

I danced a lot – let’s see … 5 of the first 7 evenings, and it would have been 6 if the weather didn’t force a cancellation. For those raising their eyebrows in marital disgust – shame, shame on you. (OK, I couldn’t resist.) Besides having fun, I was working on self-improvement in order to be a better dancer for when my wife returns. Many thanks to my ballroom friends for the company, especially the ladies with strong frames that helped me more than they realize.

Besides organizing a yet-to-be-displayed page here, my week also included work a few days at a part-time job for some extra cash, attending a college basketball game, initiating a neighborhood wine tasting committee, volunteering at a disabilities dance class, attending + volunteering at the Cincinnati International Wine Festival, and rehearsing for a quick-step formation. The formation just started, so once my wife returns, I will familiarize her with the routine to date.

Enough of me … What have I been missing from your life? Come on … don’t be bashful!

Celebrations for your calendar
(Week) Aardvark Week, Universal Women’s Week, Agriculture Week, Teen Tech Week, Girl Scout Week, Bubblegum Week, Music in Our Schools Week, Education Advocacy Week, Pediatric Nurse Practitioners Week, Older Persons Employment Week, Wildlife Week

(Mon) Bang-Clang Day, Get-Over-It Day, Meatball Day, Barbie Day, Napping Day, Preschoolers Day, Crabmeat Day, Panic Day, Canberra Day

(Tues) Bagpipe Day, Day of Awesomeness, Land Line Telephone Day, Pack Your Lunch Day, Mario Day, Organize Your Home Office Day, US Paper Money Day, Women & Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, Blueberry Popovers Day, Zoe (Sesame Street) Day

(Wed) Dream Day, Johnny Appleseed Day, Plumbing Day, Oatmeal Nut Waffle Day, Worship of the Tools Day, Frankenstein Day

(Thurs) Kidney Day, Baked Scallops Day, First Library Day, Dennis the Menace Day

Instead of sending you into the week with the traditional chuckle, I’m substituting some high-energy music. After all, my normal routine hasn’t fully returned – but it’s getting closer. Enjoy the music and video from Bond with an appropriate title – Explosive – which includes some tango.

Have a good week!

Opinions in the Short: Vol. 233

Embed from Getty Images

On Politics
Cheers to Congress for not doing something stupid this week … so not being in session is helpful.

As an independent with a small streak of Libertarianism, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) has the knack of getting my attention … then causing me to shake my head after he keeps talking.

Because Cincinnati borders Kentucky, we (in Ohio) get our share of news about Kentucky, including political ads for their contested Senate race. My anti-McConnell readers will appreciate this TV ad.

On This Week’s Headlines from The Onion
Police satisfied after drunk man assures them there’s no problem
7.1 billion demonstrate in favor of global warming
Teacher who learns more from her students than she teaches them fired
Johnson & Johnson hoping brand won’t be tarnished if they dip into lethal injection game
Too late now to switch from checkout lane with talkative cashier
NASA administrator resigns after leak of offensive anti-moon email

Interesting Reads
Why bitter makes food better
Germany’s renewable energy investment
An interactive: 100 legacies from World War I that continue to shape our lives today
George Schultz’s perspective about progress in America
Porcupine sex

On Potpourri
Our local pro football team (Cincinnati Bengals) made national news in early September when they kept a player who should have been cut. The player, Devon Still, had more important things on his mind as his 4-year-old daughter is battling stage 4 cancer … and by keeping the player on the roster, the family receives medical insurance. The Bengals also started a fund-raising effort by donating 100% of the sales of his jersey (#75) to a children’s cancer fund. To date, people across the country have bought over 1,000 jerseys … and at $100 each, that’s over $1 million dollars raised so far. By the way, the young girl had surgery on Thursday (yesterday), the same day Cyndi Lauper and Sara Bareilles released the Truly Brave video to raise money for the fight against pediatric cancer .. and yes, the young Miss Still is in the video.

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Here’s an interesting graph, which is in the article above about Germany.

From the US Dept of Energy as published in the Wall Street Journal

From the US Dept of Energy as published in the Wall Street Journal

I’m bummed because Sharna’s partner was booted from Dancing with the Stars this week.

For golf fans, it’s Ryder Cup weekend! Wow … the Europeans are very strong.

Hooray … the last day of the regular baseball regular season ends Sunday, thus no more misery for Reds fans

There will be a Saturday Morning Cartoon post for your Saturday!

Your weekend celebrations

  • (Fri) Hug a Vegetarian Day, Love Note Day, Shamu the Whale Day, Save the Koala Day, Native American Day, Pancake Day, Johnny Appleseed Day
  • (Sat) Goose Day, Ancestor Appreciation Day, Rabbit Day, Family Health & Fitness Day, Fish Amnesty Day, Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, Kids Day, Hunting & Fishing Day, Museum Day, Public Lands Day, Tourism Day, Sport Purple for Platelets Day, Rabies Awareness Day, Crush a Can Day, Chocolate Milk Day, Corned Beef Hash Day
  • (Sun) Fish Tank Floorshow Night, Drink Beer Day, Good Neighbor Day, Right to Know Day, World Heart Day, Gone-ta-Pott Day, Ask a Stupid Question Day, Marshmallow Twisters Day, Strawberry Cream Pie Day

To send you into the weekend, here’s a hit from 1971 by a Canadian band. Enjoy One Fine Morning by Lighthouse, and I hope this weekend brings you three fine mornings. Have a safe weekend and in the words of Garrison Keillor, Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.

On a Curly Monday

Another weekend down, actually our next to the last in this home. How was your weekend?

Ours was a mix of packing and events to get me away from the task at hand, so I did get some fun in as the wonderful wine tasting event and dinner at the home of friends – plus it was a handbell Sunday (of which we played well). The wine event is an annual fundraiser in which attendees as given a glass  and put into a room with 700+ wines for 2 1/2 hours. No … we don’t try to sample all!!!

A special thanks to all who visit and comment during my absence!

This coming week is a big one on for us as it includes

  • the bank’s appraisal and inspection of our next home (as the results could delay the closing
  • our inspection of the new location
  • the closing of our current home

Celebrations for you week (10-16)

  • (Week) Save Your Vision Week, Camp Week, Pancake Week, Celebrate Your Name Week, Return Borrowed Books Week, Chocolate Chip Cookie Week, Procrastinators Week, Brain Awareness Week, Bubble Gum Week, Music in Schools Week
  • (Mon) Fill Our Staplers Day, Middle Name Pride Day (I’m a Paul), Day of Awesomeness, Mario Day, Land-Line Telephone Day, Napping Day, Blueberry Popovers Day
  • (Tues) Dream Day, Oatmeal-Nut Waffles Day, Johnny Appleseed Day, Plumbing Day, Home Office Day
  • (Wed) Dennis the Menace Day, Baked Scallops Day
  • (Thurs) Donald Duck Day, Earmuffs Day, Good Samaritan Involvement Day, Coconut Torte Day, K-9 Veterans Day, Mothering Day, Open an Umbrella Indoors Day, Smart & Sexy Day, Kidney Day
  • (Fri) Ask a Question Day, MOTH-ER Day, Potato Chip Day, Scientists Day, Organize Your Home Office Day, Check Your Batteries Day, Save a Spider Day, Sleep Day, Learn About Butterflies Day, Pi Day (here’s a place to celebrate)
  • (Sat) Buzzard Day (one of my favorite days, so here’s the history), Brutus Day, Ides of March, Quilting Day, Corn Dog Day, True Confessions Day
  • (Sun) Artichoke Hearts Day, Curfew Day, Lips Appreciation Day, Vitamin C Day, Quilt Day, Everything You Do is Right Day

Last week I showed the first Monday Morning Entertainment, so in that spirit, here’s the second. Have a good week.