Jinxed

When I got up this morning and made my way to the computer after starting the coffee I was greeted with no internet. I did all the usual checks but nothing seemed to bring it up. I decided I would deal with it a little later in the day when the lighting was better,plus I didn't want to get tied up on the phone with tech support until after I got back from grocery shopping. Next I am on my way to the store and hear a commercial on the radio for appliance insurance and think to myself what a waste of money to insure appliances because by the time you have paid your premiums for several years you would have the cost of the appliance in most cases...and that is the thought that I jinxed myself with! After I got home I called tech support and spent about 1/2 hour going through the same steps I had tried earlier,the guy finally decided I had a bad cord and told me how to temporarily bypass the router,so I unplug the cord and my dear cat had chewed it nearly in half! I am always getting after him for chewing on cords and am beside myself trying to figure out how to discourage him. If anyone has any suggestions PLEASE feel free to tell me!

The Phil Fallacy

I always thought there was something a little off about Punxsutawney Phil's weather predictions but couldn't quite put my finger on it. For awhile I thought it was because Phil resided on the east coast so his predictions didn't extend to the west coast,then I found Groundfog a local (Washington) frog whose prognostications were usually in opposition with Phil,but I still wasn't 100% satisfied with either of their predictions. Now to further muddy the waters it comes to my attention that hedgehogs were the original weather predictors but since they weren't indigenous to North America the early settlers turned to groundhogs for their weather predicting needs. Finally it has come full circle and Whiskers J of the Oregon Zoo has thrown his hat into the weather predicting ring indicating that winter is over for this year! Hedgehogs have a 40% accuracy rate where groundhogs are at a measly 39%. One more thing...why do they have to be hedgehogs? Why can't they share the hedge??

Go Quackers!

Today is National Lame Duck Day,so I thought a brief explanation of the unofficial holiday and suggestions for ways to celebrate were in order. Lame Duck Day is always on February 6th as that date is when the 20th Amendment (known as the Lame Duck Amendment) went into effect in 1933. The phrase Lame Duck mainly is used for politicians who are leaving office,but can also refer to other people experiencing career or even life changes. Being creative when planning your Lame Duck activities is the most important step but some suggestions are: If you are a Lame Duck reflect back on what you have learned. If you know a Lame Duck thank them for their service and show support for their future. If you don't fit into either of those two categories you can share what you have learned about Lame Duck Day. If you have children you could take them on a nature outing in search of a real Lame Duck,or you could boil up some duck eggs and share them with friends while consuming moderated amounts of your favorite beverages!

Say Ah

There are a few things about dentists that could lead a person to think they are less than trustworthy. The most disconcerting among their nefarious inventions is the electric chair...kind of makes you wonder what treatment they had in mind. Then in 1897 a dentist co-invented the cotton candy machine (then known as fairy floss),not to jump to conclusions but it seems to me like the plan was to feather his nest. They introduced the fairy floss at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair where it was sold for $.25 a box,keeping in mind that at that time the average U.S. worker only made $200-$400 yearly. By the end of the fair the partners had grossed $17,163.75,equal too $410,000 in today's dollars. Actually cotton candy isn't all that bad for a person as it is mostly air,a serving contains about 115 calories and has no sodium or fat,just the sugar and sometimes food coloring and added flavors. I haven't had cotton candy for decades,but I can't really say I miss it that much.

Somewhat Disabled

Robberies are never a laughing matter however it is hard not to at least smile when you hear about the 25 year old blind man who tried to rob a bank in London brandishing his white cane as a weapon. He walked up to the teller and handed her a note that read "Give me 2,000 pounds (about $2,800) in 50s. If you make a sound you're a dead girl. I am standing in queue with a gun." The  teller rang the security alarm,the man panicked and fled running into the glass doors. He then stumbled to the street and was arrested. He later plead guilty and was sentenced to a year in jail which the judge suspended allowing the man to remain free. Not to be nit picky but isn't that a form of discrimination? plus how did he write the note,and how would he have known if the teller handed over money or just some paper? I know that paper and money would feel different,but given the circumstances would he have been too nervous to tell if he had the cash as per his request? I feel a certain amount of respect for the guy for trying even though he was breaking the law.

An Amazing Vessel

Today's post is one of my accidental ones,a little something I came across while searching for something else.
The following are some interesting facts about the human body. The average person produces enough saliva in their lifetime to fill two swimming pools. The muscles that control your eyes contract about 100,000 times a day,the equivalent of giving your legs a workout by walking 50 miles. Over the course of your lifetime,you'll shed about 40 lbs. of skin (more for people with certain skin conditions). Your brain uses about 20% of your oxygen and caloric intake. If you've ever wondered why your stomach doesn't digest itself,it's because stomach cells are created faster than they are destroyed. I saved my favorite for last...people who dream frequently are correlated with having a higher I.Q.!
I have earmarked tomorrow as the day to tackle my taxes,so I may or may not have a post,depending on how much time I end up devoting to that task.

Spunky

When most people think of February they think of Valentine's Day which in turn leads to thinking of hearts. With that in mind I will list a few more heart related things that belong to February: American Heart Month,International Boost Self Esteem Month,Library Lovers Month,National Condom Month,Spay/Neuter Awareness Month and my favorite Spunky Old Broads Month!
2//1 G.I. Joe Day
2/2 Sled Dog Day
2/3 The Day The Music Died
2/4 Facebook's Birthday
2/5 World Nutella Day
2/6 Lame Duck Day
2/7 Ice Cream For Breakfast Day
2/8 Laugh and Get Rich Day
2/9 Stop Bullying Day
2/10 Extraterrestrial Culture Day
2/11 Satisfied Staying Single Day
2/12 Safety Pup Day
2/13 Get a Different Name Day
2/14 Quirky Alone Day
2/15 National Hippo Day (Yikes!)
2/16 National Almond Day
2/17 My Way Day
2/18 Pluto Day (The planet,or X planet,not the dog)
2/19 Chocolate Mint Day
2/20 Love Your Pet Day
2/21 International Mother Language Day
2/22 National Margarita Day
2/23 National Dog Biscuit Day
2/24 World Bartender Day
2/25 Inconvenience Yourself Day
2/26 National Bacon Day
2/27 Read Me Day
2/28 Open That Bottle Night

As always,enjoy your month!