National Day of …….

Fighting Evil

It’s National Superhero Day. I love to see little kids, and even big ones, emulate or dress up as their favorite super hero. I think it’s a healthy thing to want to be strong and have the desire to fight evil. Superheroes can be positive role models for children in that they show the improbable is possible. I say, let the children believe they can, and they will grow up with a desire to do so.

Now, we not only have superheroes, but also transformers, ninja turtles, and video game heroes I’ve never heard of. It seems there is one thing in common among all these heroes, and that is a cool costume. I have to smile when I see a mother in the store and her child is dressed in a superhero costume. I wonder if it’s the color that they like, or if it is the TV show or movie they have seen and they want to “feel the power” by dressing up as their favorite.

My grandson went through a prolonged Spider-Man phase. Everything was Spider-Man: sheets, sneakers, coat, shirts, and hat. I sort of miss that because now he is becoming more aware of the real world and how it isn’t always nice out there. But, he has found some real superheroes to emulate and respect. He is into his second year of Karate lessons and has gained self-esteem, manners, and an interest in doing things to the best of his ability. His black-belt instructors, called sensei, are teaching him those things. And one of them, Mike, is often wearing a Batman t-shirt under his ghee (karate uniform).

A superhero post wouldn’t be complete without mentioning our military, police forces or firefighters. These people serve their communities and country on a daily basis. They are the strong ones that protect us from evil often putting themselves in harm’s way. We owe them a lot and should respect their uniform. I also think we should include medical staff in the superhero category. Where would we be without modern medicine and the facilitators of it.

The next time you see a superhero, remember who you wanted to be like when you were little and evaluate if you’ve come close. I’m sure you have in some way.

04/28/2017 0

Love My Birds

It’s National Audubon Day. Audubon was a French-American ornithologist, naturalist, and painter noted for his extensive studies of American birds and his detailed illustrations of the birds in their natural habitats. Audubon’s greatest work was The Birds of America which is considered one of the finest ornithological works ever completed. His work in this book contains more than 700 North American bird species with 435 hand-colored, life-size prints of 497 bird species.

I have an ongoing love affair with back yard birds. I have feeders and water out for them and suet for the woodpeckers, most of the time. I like to watch them and enjoy their unique colors; the red of the cardinal and the blue of the blue-jay. We had company for dinner one day and the question was, “Do I have birds that color where I live?” We chuckled and said, “Of course.”

I know most of the names of my back-yard birds, but I have can never remember if it’s the cat-bird or cow-bird that has the iridescent eggplant colored head. I mentioned those two birds to give you a nudge to go to the library and borrow an Audubon book so you can see the difference. Oh, never mind, look them up on Google.

My house is decorated with birds; figurines and pictures in the family room, pictures in the living room, curtains and matching quilt in the bedroom, shower curtain in the bathroom. Some might think I have gone overboard with the birds, but I like them. I am also a realist, if I buy a bird, it has to be the correct colors and size, or I don’t want it. Just a little anal, but don’t tell anyone.

Sometimes I miss my back-yard birds because they aren’t coming around because we also have a pair of hawks that live in the woods behind our house. When you are out driving, or enjoying a walk, look for birds if you never have. Make a game out of learning their names and thank James Audubon for the wonderful lifelike pictures of them in their natural habitat.

04/26/2017 0

Text Me

It’s National Telephone Day. The telephone was introduced at the World’s Fair in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on May 10, 1876. In the crowded Machinery Hall a man’s voice was transmitted from a small horn and carried out through a speaker to the audience. One year later, the White House installed its first phone. The telephone revolution began.

Bell Telephone Company was founded on July 9, 1877, and the first public telephone lines were installed from Boston to Sommerville, Massachusetts the same year. By the end of the decade, there were nearly 50,000 phones in the United States. In May of 1967, the 1 millionth telephone was installed. [Courtesy National Day of Calendar]

And now, the landline numbers are dwindling and the cell phone has become the reigning king of communication, game playing, child soother and camera. What is the world coming to? We can even look at each other while we talk. I’m not sure the new technology, especially the game playing, is a good thing. I only say that because we tend to look at our gadgets, rather that the human we are with. Yes, I am guilty.

Recently, due to weather problems, cell phone service was knocked out in the locale my sister lives. Her neighbor had an old rotary phone in the basement that had been her fathers. She took that up and plugged it into the still existing wall plug and voila, they had phone service. Her grandchildren had never seen a rotary phone so were entranced. They went to school and told their friends. Now it is part of every family gathering to have the privilege of using that phone to call someone. My how times have changed.

I think we take our ability to communicate with each other, no matter how near or far, for granted. It has certainly made the world a smaller place and so much less mysterious. People don’t dream of what it would be like to move west, or sail the ocean because they can watch videos about it on their phone. We don’t check the mail each day in hopes of news from our cousin in another state, we just text them. The telephone has evolved into more than just a form of communication. It’s a hand-held entertainment center with both good and not so good aspects for the human’s daily life.

04/25/2017 0

Little Piggies

It’s National Pigs in a Blanket Day. My thoughts went to sausage links wrapped in pancakes that I served repeatedly when I worked at a Denny’s. Then I looked at the picture provided and saw mini-hotdogs wrapped in pastry. My husband likes both items; I don’t care for either one.

I know I have told you in the past that I eat most anything. For whatever reason I have never liked breakfast sausage. I have tried to figure out which spice it is that turns me off, to no avail. Generally nobody knows of my dislike, or comments, because when you go out for breakfast you can always order bacon or ham instead. That works for me.

We often go out to breakfast. I order a vegetable omelet, with artichokes if they have them, and my husband orders sausage patties, eggs over easy and pancakes. He puts the sausage on top of the pancakes, the eggs on top of both, covers it with pepper and maple syrup then breaks the yolks before he starts eating. I don’t mind my food touching, or the flavors blended, but the pepper mixed with the syrup keeps me from stealing bites.

At a party, my husband goes for the mini-hotdogs first, wrapped in pastry or just floating in bar-b-q sauce. I bypass them and go for the chips. Potato chips are one of those things I rarely buy. Too dangerous to have in the house. They disappear very rapidly, then I wonder, just for a second, why I never lose any weight.

I guess the visual attached to some food names depends on where you live and what you like to eat. Did you know that in England, sausages are called bangers? Bangers in a blanket doesn’t sound quite the same. Where ever you live and what ever connotation Pigs in a Blanket has for you, if you like them, I hope you have some soon.

04/24/2017 0

Thank You Veterans

I’m sharing the post from the National Day of Calendar about National Yellow Bat Day. It was information I didn’t know. Thank you to all our veterans from any time period. The U.S. might not be perfect, but it sure is a grand country and I am proud to be part of it.

April 21st honors National Yellow Bat Day. On this day in 1967, the 265th Army Security Agency Company (Airborne) with the 101st Airborne Division was activated at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

The official insignia of the 265th is a bat with outstretched wings on a full moon rising with the motto Through the Night below. Symbolically the bat represents mystery and secrecy due to its nocturnal nature, which well describes the intelligence support provided by the Army Security Agency Battalion.

Before deploying, all the military vehicles and equipment were painted with a yellow bat symbol which was clearly visible from a distance and aided in the identification of all unit equipment.

On November 19th of the same year, they were deployed to Vietnam with the designation 265th Radio Research Company (Airborne) to provide intelligence support to the 101st Airborne Division. Arriving a few weeks ahead of the Viet Cong Tet Offensive, they soon learned of the of the North Vietnamese campaign, but few commanders would believe the intelligence.

January 31st on the Vietnamese calendar, Tet, is the celebration of the lunar new year and is considered a most important holiday. During the conflict between North and South Vietnam, there had been a long-standing, informal truce on this day.

General Vo Nguyen Giap, commander of the North Vietnamese, was prepared to ring in the lunar new year with a series of coordinated attacks, to break the informal truce.

Doug Bonnot, who was assigned to the 265th RRC (ABN) Operations NCOIC in the spring of 1970 and author of The Sentinel and the Shooter says,”The offensive would come as a surprise to many but personnel of the 265th RRC (ABN) were manning their sector defensive perimeter of Bien Hoa Air Base, along with the very few small units that believed their intelligence reports, some 12 hours before the Tet Offensive was launched.”

The Viet Cong never breached these positions, and the Battle Flag of D: 275th Viet Cong Battalion hangs in the Sentinel Museum today.

The Sentinel Museum is a traveling museum which is designed to provide insight into the Vietnam conflict and awareness of the contributions of the 265th Radio Research Company. The 265th’s activities were highly classified, and the sacrifices of these honorable men cloaked in secrecy until decades after the end of the war. Even today the general public is unaware of these men who worked in the shadows providing silent and ceaseless support to the infantry soldier during the Vietnam War. The Yellow Bat is a symbol of their secrecy and their service, through the night.

HISTORY

National Yellow Bat Day was submitted by Doug Bonnot, President of the Sentinel Chapter of the 101st Airborne Association. He and the chapter members are all 265th RRC (ABN) personnel. The Registrar at National Day Calendar approved the day in 2016. For more information on National Yellow Bat Day or the Sentinel Chapter of the 101st Airborne Association, please write to Sentinel Chapter, PO Box 205, Telford, TN 37690.

04/21/2017 2

No Thank You

It’s National Lima Bean Respect Day. In my opinion, they need a day to demand respect. I eat most anything, but lima beans are at the bottom of my list, and I avoid them if possible. They are that childhood vegetable that would keep me sitting at the table for hours because I wouldn’t eat just three.

According to the National Day of Calendar, lima beans are an excellent source of protein, iron, magnesium, potassium and zinc. They can increase energy levels by helping to restore more iron. Most of us tried them as a child and didn’t like them. They advise it’s time to give them a second chance as adults. They can be delicious in soups, stews, salads, casseroles, by themselves or mixed with other vegetables.

I have to admit, as a child, I didn’t like the texture of lima beans as I chewed them. They were gritty and made my teeth squeak. Now I will eat them in soup or a package of mixed vegetables and pretend they aren’t there. If they are such a healthy food, maybe I should give them a real chance to change my opinion by trying them with nothing else, and an open mind. Well, maybe not. Some parts of me haven’t matured enough to go that route.

It just hit me, if there is a day of respect for them, I must not be the only one that doesn’t like them. That makes me feel better. If you like lima beans I’ll give my respect to you.

04/20/2017 0

Sue Spitulnik

Writing, Sewing, Travel, and Thoughts

Tag