31 Dec

  

Dec. Averages: Temps: 43°\20° Moisture:4 Days moisture 0.7” Flagstaff Today 46°: 31° Week 52 Day 365 Wind: 12 mph Gusts 17 mph                    Nearest lightning: 1252 miles away Active Fire: 433 miles away Risk of Fire: Moderate Air Quality: Fair  Sunshine

 

 

 

 

 

Weekly Observations

25-31 It's About Time Week

26-1/1 Kwanzaa

 

Daily Observations

Returns later 

My Thoughts for the day

I'm still working on my workaround to do this blog. Some of the regular features are not available on my sick computer. Sorry.

The American Battle Monuments Commission, a federal agency, has removed two panels of a monument honoring Black Soldiers in the Netherlands. News reports say the locals are angry over the removal. What is really happening within our Federal government? 

If I don't post everyday, I'm doing fine, it's my computer that is seriously ill. I'm waiting until the new year begins before I take it in to Geek Squad. They will either fix it, or I'll get a new computer. 

 

Today’s Quotes                                                             

 

Today’s Memes

 

Classic songs that unlock deep nostalgia…

Returns soon

 

Cities that changed their names…

Return soon

 

Random Thoughts…

Returns soon

 

Historic Events

Dec 31 History

 

Birthdays

Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud(90 years old) 1935 King of Saudi Arabia (2015-present), born in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Anthony Hopkins(88 years old) 1937 Welsh actor (Elephant Man, QB VII, Magic, Bounty),  born in Port Talbot, Glamorgan, Wales Ben Kingsley(82 years old) 1943 English actor (Gandhi, Betrayal), born in Scarborough, England Diane von Furstenberg(79 years old) Belgian-born American fashion designer (wrap dress), born in Brussels 67 Bebe Neuwirth, American stage and screen actress (Chicago; Cheers & Fraser - "Lilith"; Damn Yankees), born in Princeton, New Jersey Jennifer Higdon(63 years old) American classical music composer (2010 Pulitzer; 3 Grammy Awards) and educator (Curtis Institute of Music, 1994 - 2021), born in Brooklyn, New York 48 Donald Trump Jr., American businessman and son of Donald Trump and Ivana Trump, born in New York City Gabby Douglas(30 years old) 1995 American gymnast (Olympic gold all around, team 2012; team 2016), born in Newport News, Virginia

Charles Cornwallis(1738-1805) 1st Marquess Cornwallis, British general and colonial administrator (leading British general in the American War of Independence), born in London Henri Matisse(1869-1954) French impressionist painter (Odalisque), born in Le Cateau-Cambresis, France George C. Marshall(1880-1959) American general and US Secretary of State (1947-49) who authored the Marshall Plan (Nobel 1953), born in Uniontown, Pennsylvania 1908 Simon Wiesenthal, Jewish-Austrian holocaust survivor & Nazi hunter (Wiesenthal Center), born in Buchach, Ukraine (d. 2005) 1914 Pat Brady [Robert Ellsworth O'Brady], American actor (The Roy Rogers Show, Man from Music Mountain), born in Toledo, Ohio (d. 1972) 1920 Rex Allen, American actor and singer-songwriter known as the "the Arizona Cowboy" (Dr Baxter-Frontier Doctor), born in Willcox, Arizona (d. 1999) 1938 Rosalind Cash, American actress (Omega Man, Wrong is Right), born in Atlantic City, New Jersey (d. 1995) John Denver(1943-1997) American pop songwriter ("Leaving On A Jet Plane"), country-pop singer ("Sunshine On My Shoulders"; "Calypso"; "Thank God I'm A Country Boy"), and actor (Oh, God!), born in Roswell, New Mexico Donna Summer(1948-2012) American disco and pop singer-songwriter ("Love to Love You, Baby"; "On the Radio"; "Last Dance"), born in Boston, Massachusetts Val Kilmer(1959-2025) American actor (Iceman in "Top Gun"; Batman in "Batman Forever"), born in Los Angeles, California

…The End for today…

           

30 Dec

 

 

Dec. Averages: Temps: 43°\20° Moisture:4 Days moisture 0.7” Flagstaff Today 40°: 37° Week 52 Day 364 Wind: 11 mph Gusts 16 mph                    Nearest lightning: 1043 miles away Active Fire: 319 miles away Risk of Fire: Moderate Air Quality: Fair  Sunshine

 

 

 

 

 

Weekly Observations

25-31 It's About Time Week

26-1/1 Kwanzaa

 

Daily Observations

Returns later 

My Thoughts for the day

I found a workaround so I could still post this blog.  I may have to take my computer in to Best Buy to get it working properly. I'll wait till the new year to decide what to do.

On Sunday, I rotated the mattress and did 3 loads of laundry. I have no idea how one person living alone can make so much laundry every single week.  I also half-watched the Bengals wipe out the Cards. It's been a horrible season for the Cards. 

Today the sun is shining, it is chilly and a bit windy. No moisture in the forecast. 

I have watched several news channels and all are 'looking back' to the all the news...politics, entertainment, weather, and on and on. I've had a good year with my life and my health. All these news channels remind me that this has been a crazy year for so many. 

 

Today’s Quotes                                                             

 

Today’s Memes

 

 

Classic songs that unlock deep nostalgia…

Returns soon

 

Cities that changed their names…

Return soon

 

Random Thoughts…

Returns soon

 

Historic Events

Dec 30 History

 

Birthdays

Sandy Koufax(90 years old) American Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher (7 × MLB All-Star; World Series 1955, 59, 63, 65; perfect game 1967; Cy Young Award 1963, 65, 66; Triple Crown 1963, 65, 66; LA Dodgers), born in Brooklyn, New York ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^  88- (Noel) Paul Stookey, American singer, songwriter and musician (Peter, Paul, & Mary - "The Wedding Song (There Is Love)"), born in Baltimore, Maryland Mike Pompeo(62 years old) 1963 American politician, US Secretary of State (2018-21), born in Orange, California ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Tiger Woods(50 years old) 1975 American golfer (15 major titles; 81 PGA Tour titles; 41 European Tour titles), born in Cypress, California ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 48- Laila Ali, American boxer (WBC, WIBA, IWBF, IBA female super middleweight titles, IWBF light heavyweight title) and TV personality, born in Miami Beach, Florida ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ LeBron James(41 years old) 1984 American basketball forward (NBA C'ship & MVP 2012, 2013, 2016, 2020; 16 × NBA All-Star; Olympic gold 2008, 12; Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, LA Lakers), born in Akron, Ohio

1850 John Milne, British geologist (developed the first modern seismograph), born in Liverpool, England (d. 1913) ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Rudyard Kipling(d.1936; @70, perferated ulcer English author (Jungle Book, Gunga Din-Nobel 1907), born in Bombay, British India ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Hideki Tojo(d.1948; @ 63; executed) Japanese Prime Minister during WW II (1941-44), born in Tokyo ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ @77 Bert Parks [Jacobson], American TV host (Miss America), born in Atlanta, Georg^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ia (d. 1992; lung cancer) ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ @77, American actor (Steve McGarrett in Hawaii FIVE-O, God's Little Acre), born in New York City (d. 1998; dementia, heart failure) ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Bo Diddley {Ellas Bates McDaniel} (d.-2008, @79,heart failure) American rock `n' roll pioneer guitarist ("Bo Diddley"), born in McComb, Mississippi ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ @72  Skeeter Davis [Mary Penick], American country-pop singer-songwriter ("(I Can't Help You) I'm Falling Too"; "Set Him Free"; "The End Of The World"), born in Dry Ridge, Kentucky (d. 2004; breast cancer) ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ @55 Del Shannon [Charles Westover], American rock guitarist, singer and songwriter ("Runaway"), born in Grand Rapids, Michigan (d. 1990; suicide) ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ @78 Michael Nesmith, American rock guitarist (The Monkees; First National Band), singer-songwriter ("Different Drum"), and music video pioneer, born in Houston, Texas (d. 2021; heart failure)  ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Davy Jones(d. 2012; @66, heart attack) British singer and actor (The Monkees - "Daydream Believer"), born in Manchester, England

…The End for today…

           

27 Dec

 

 

Dec. Averages: Temps: 43°\20° Moisture:4 Days moisture 0.7” Flagstaff Today 48°: 37° Week 52 Day 361 Wind: 7 mph Gusts 15 mph                    Nearest lightning: 552 miles away Active Fire: 495 miles away Risk of Fire: Low Air Quality: Fair Mostly Cloudy Sunshine

 

 

 

 

 

Weekly Observations

11-1/1/26 Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over Link  14-1/5/26 Christmas Bird Count Week Link  14-28 Halcyon Days

25-31 It's About Time Week 26-1/1 Kwanzaa

 

Daily Observations

Howdy Doody Day International Day for Epidemic Preparedness

Radio City Music Hall Day Visit The Zoo Day Link

 

My Thoughts for the day

Today, like yesterday, is mostly cloudy. A little precipitation is expected later today.

I added a new logo. I can’t change the name of the blog, but the ‘gooder’ logo reflected back to my Rez Days where ‘gooder’ was often substituted for better. I guess I’m just moving ahead.

It was very nice to watch the Broncos beat the Chiefs a couple of days ago. I hope they continue their winning ways much longer.

Over the holiday’s I had a very good time. I had dinner with Faith, Andy, and a few others…Kayla, Andy’s stepdaughter, her boyfriend Manson, her son Logan, his girlfriend Michelle, and Stephanie, Andy’s niece. We had a huge dinner, with turkey, and all the fixin’s, about 5 deserts to choose from, along with great conversation. Kayla works for State Farm Claims, my insurance company, and taught me quite a bit. Many snowbirds spend a few months in AZ and since AZ has lower insurance, they use AZ as their home state year-round. State Farm says this is fraud and is now refusing to pay claims until the insured person proves legal residence here in AZ. Stephanie works for NAH, our local hospital. She sure had some good insights for getting a new hospital. Many facilities at the hospital are from the 1950’s and renovations to current standards of care are very expensive. It seems that most employees and community people want a new facility, but the board has not been good neighbors when it comes to selling the idea.

I had several Facetimes with my brother and his wife during the week. They decided to have a small dinner on Christmas, with only about 25 people, all Ex-Pats now living in nearby Yucatan. They had a good Christmas even though no relatives were able to make the trip.

 

Today’s Quotes                                                             

 

 

Today’s Memes

 

 

Classic songs that unlock deep nostalgia…

“Imagine” inspires hope while evoking longing for a kinder world

Hummed on coffee shop radios and during long drives through suburban streets, “Imagine” layers idealism with gentle piano chords. Its message calls for unity and simplicity without shouting.

For Boomers, its resonance often lay in what hadn’t yet materialized. The promise of a peaceful world, even if illusive, became a quiet ambition—a north star glinting beyond the reach of war, politics, and personal divides. 

 

Cities that changed their names…

Ciudad Trujillo → Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic)

For three decades, Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo filled his country with his own name. Streets, schools, and even the capital city bore it. After his assassination in 1961, citizens quickly restored the original (Santo Domingo), returning faith and dignity to their nation’s oldest settlement. The act was as much catharsis as correction.
The city thrives again as the Caribbean’s historic heart, its name once more tied to saints, not tyrants. 

 

Random Thoughts…

Are you strong or weak if you hit yourself and it hurts?

Is there anyone who has ever died from laughter?

The only time you clean your skeleton is when you brush your teeth.

Do various animal species interact with one another or do they require a translator? 

 

Historic Events

Dec 27 History 

 

Birthdays

Larisa Latynina(91 years old) 1934 Ukrainian gymnast (winner most Olympic medals in her sport [18]; 9 x gold USSR 1956, 1960, 1964; World C'ship gold x 9), born in Kherson, Ukraine <><><><><><><>  Mick Jones (81 years old), English rock guitarist (Foreigner - "I Want to Know What Love Is"), born in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England <><><><><><><>  Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce(39 years old) Jamaican athlete (Olympic gold 100m 2008, 12; 9 x World C'ship gold), born in Kingston, Jamaica <><><><><><><>  Timothée Chalamet(30 years old) French-American actor (Call Me By Your Name; Dune; Bones and All), born in New York City

Johannes Kepler (d.1630; @58) German astronomer (discovered laws of planetary motion), born in Weil der Stadt, Holy Roman Empire <><><><><><><>  Louis Pasteur (d. 1895; @72; strokes) French bacteriologist (invented pasteurization), born in Dole, France <><><><><><><>  William Henry Hadow, British educational reformer and musicologist (Oxford History of Music, Studies in Modern Music), born in Ebrington, Gloucestshire, England (d. 1937; @77) <><><><><><><> Marlene Dietrich (d.1992; @90) German American actress (The Blue Angel; Shanghai Express), and singer ("Falling in Love Again"), born in Berlin, Germany <><><><><><><>  John Amos, American actor (Good Times; Roots; Coming to America; The West Wing), born in Newark, New Jersey (d. 2024; @84)  <><><><><><><>  Corrine "Cokie" Roberts, American journalist, pioneering newscaster (ABC; NPR; PBS), and author, born in New Orleans, Louisiana (d. 2019; @75, breast cancer) <><><><><><><>  Heather O'Rourke, American actress (Happy Days, Poltergeist), born in San Diego, California (d. 1988; @12, congenital stenosis of the intestine)

…The End for today…