4 Jul

 

Weather Expectations         Week 21  Day 185      

Flag Today  78°/52°                             Wind 13 mph Gusts 23 mph

Active Fire: 22 miles away Risk of fire: Extreme  

Nearest Lightning: 446 miles away Humidity:  9%

Air Quality: Moderate Sunshine Smoky

July Averages: Temps: 82°\51°  9 days with rain

Today’s Observances:

Boom Box Parade Day
Fourth of July or Independence Day
Hop A Park Day (First Saturday)
International Day of Cooperatives
International Cherry Pit Spitting Day 
National BBQ  Ribs Day Link

National Corn Hole Day Link  
National Independent Beer Run Day Link 
National Play Outside Day Link 
Independence From Meat Day
International Hot Dog Eating Day
Indivisible Day
Lou Gehrig Day

Weekly Observances:

National Tom Sawyer Days: 1-5
National Independent Living Week: 1-7
National Unassisted Homebirth Week: 1-7
Roswell UFO Days: 2-4 Link
Fleet Week 2026 (New York): 3-8
Freedom Week: 4-10

National Marijuana Facts Week: 4-10
World Orienteering Championships: 4-12 Link
Tour de France: 4-26  Link

Monthly Observances:

Fireworks Safety Month
Fragile X Awareness Month Link
Fuel Safety Month  Link
Get Ready For Kindergarten Month
Hemochromatosis Screening Awareness Month Link
Herbal/Prescription Interaction Awareness Month
Independent Retailer Month Link
International Blondie and Deborah Harry Month
National Deli Sandwich Month
International Group B Strep Awareness Month Link

Fresh Quotation:

A clever person solves a problem. A wise person avoids it

~Albert Einstein

Today’s Reflection:

I continue to improve. My sleep time is much better. I did a quick blood draw this morning and it was easy.

It is another day of heavy smoke here. These fires are causing havoc for many in the area.

I’m looking forward to a great 4^th. I put up some door decorations to show my patriotism. I don’t care if the HOA reports me. The family American Flag is also out.

I hope everyone enjoys our country’s birthday wherever you may be. 

Historical events

During this difficult time in America, remember what this country dreamed of becoming:

We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

~preamble of the US Constitution

Keep that dream alive!

4 Jul

Good to know:

As they grow, tarantulas molt their exoskeleton. Until their new exoskeleton hardens — a process that takes several days — they are extremely vulnerable.

Picture of the Day:

 

Today’s Trivia:

 CRIB 

MTV's Cribs might have debuted in 2000, but William Shakespeare used crib to mean a dwelling in Henry IV: Part 2, written sometime in the 1590s. (Although admittedly the context suggests he likely meant the word to mean a fairly cramped and shabby hovel, not an MTV-style mansion.)  

Today’s Birthdays:

Post Malone Rapper 31 years old

Birthplace Syracuse, NY

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Malia Obama Family Member 28 years old

Birthplace Chicago, IL

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Calvin Coolidge  US President 1872+1933  @60

Birthplace  Plymouth Notch, VT

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Eva Marie Saint Movie Actress 102 years old

BirthplaceNewark, NJ

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That’s All for Now

3 Jul

 

Weather Expectations         Week 21  Day 184     Flag Today  74°/49° 

Wind 26 mph Gusts 16 mph

Active Fire: 22 miles away Risk of fire: Extreme  

Nearest Lightning: 436 miles away Humidity:  8%

Air Quality: Moderate Sunshine Breezy

July Averages: Temps: 82°\51°  9 days with rain

Today’s Observances:

American Sparkling Wine Day
Big Tech Day  Link 
Compliment Your Mirror Day
Drop A Rock Day Link  (aka Rock Painting)
International Plastic Bag Free Day
National Crown Day (aka Black Hair Independence Day)
National Deep Fried Clams Day Link 
Sparkling Wine Day
Stay Out Of The Sun Day; 3 Link
Superman Day Link 

Weekly Observances:

National Tom Sawyer Days: 1-5
National Independent Living Week: 1-7
National Unassisted Homebirth Week: 1-7
Roswell UFO Days: 2-4 Link
Fleet Week 2026 (New York): 3-8

Monthly Observances:

Air-Conditioning Appreciation Days (7/3 to 8/15)  Link
Alopecia Areata Month for Women
Bereaved Parents Awareness Month 
Bikini Month  Link
Bioterrorism/Disaster Education & Awareness Month
Cell Phone Courtesy Month 
Dog Days (7/3 to 8/11)   Link
Dry Eye Awareness Month
Eye Injury Prevention Month Link 
Family Golf Month

Fresh Quotation:

Success is getting what you want; happiness is wanting what you get.

~Ingrid Bergman 

Today’s Reflection:

Another day of healing. All good. I only woke up once during last night’s sleep. It was nice.

I had an appointment with my oncologist today. They got busy and forgot to call me that today’s appointment had been cancelled since I was in the hospital. I am going on Monday now. It’s OK.

I have not eaten cold cereal for breakfast for many years. When I was in the hospital and rehab, I had it every morning. It tasted good. On one of the Walmart deliveries, I got a pack of those individual cold cereals. I had one this morning at it tasted great. I’m not back to eating cold cereal at breakfast.

Living alone has its issues. One is having fresh salad fixings. They don’t last long in the fridge…especially lettuce. I had been buying the needed ingredients every three or four days. With Amazon Prime I found a hand-held vacuum sealer that is great. I bought a head of lettuce, a cucumber, and some fresh mushrooms. Using the new sealer, everything is still fresh and crispy 5 days later. I also bought some chicken breast, sealed them and no freezer burn. Outstanding find.

I have one living room large window, and nice windows in my old office and upstairs bedroom. I had bought and installed some venetian type blinds for the living room window and put curtains on the other ones. I have been looking for new blinds, and the prices are very high. The three windows with installation would be almost $1000. I’m still looking for a much cheaper way.

I’ve been thinking about how to celebrate our 250 birthday this weekend. Flag hasn’t had fireworks for decades, due to the dry forest. I’ve decided I will simply hang the family American Flag and watch patriotic parades on TV.

Historical events

July 3

 Good to know: Famous Native American Legends In History

The Great Peacemaker's Vision

Long before European settlers arrived, a spiritual leader emerged among the warring tribes of what is now New York state. The Great Peacemaker, alongside his spokesman Hiawatha, convinced five nations to bury their weapons beneath the Tree of Peace.

This legendary figure's teachings formed the foundation of the Iroquois Confederacy—one of history's oldest democracies. His message of unity resonated so deeply that former enemies became allies under a sophisticated governance system with checks and balances.

The Peacemaker's story reminds us that peace requires both vision and practical action. Many historians believe his democratic principles later influenced the framers of the United States Constitution.

Picture of the Day:

 

Today’s Trivia:

American Kestrels the smallest and most common falcon in the Americas, are very lightweight; in fact, they weigh just 3 – 6 ounces. That is roughly the weight of 34 pennies.

Today’s Birthdays:

Tom Cruise, 64 Movie Actor

Birthplace Syracuse, NY

Age 64 years old

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LaToya J. Jackson, 37 Reality Star

========================================== 

Thomas Gibson, 64 TV Actor

BirthplaceCharleston, SC

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Franz Kafka @40, TB Novelist [1883-1924]

BirthplacePrague, Czech Republic

==========================================                                      

Tommy Flanagan, 61 Movie Actor

Birthplace Glasgow, Scotland

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That’s All for Now

2 Jul

 

 

Weather Expectations         Week 27  Day 183      Flag Today  72°/47°                             Wind 15 mph Gusts 26 mph: blowing in some smoke for the fires

Active Fire: 21 miles away Risk of fire: ExtremeNearest Lightning: 386 miles away Humidity:  8%

Air Quality: Fair Moderate Sunshine Smoky

July Averages: Temps: 82°\51° 9 days with rain

Fresh Quotation:

All things are petty, easily changed, vanishing away

~Marcus Aurelius

 

Today’s Reflection:

I am sure happy to be doing this blog again. It’s been a minute since I last wrote.

Since getting home from rehab, I have learned that Amazon Prime and Walmart are great providers of ordering online and then delivering everything very quickly. I am still not able to carry stuff up the 2 steps to get to my front door. My landlord did install a hand rail who I can to the steps with little problems. The HOA has so many rules so it took some time, but now it is in and extremely useful.

I am still frustrated that our current government and the people of this great country are still so divided. During my rehab days, I saw that media is to blame for much of the division as they talk about the division, they offer no alternatives.

The West is on fire. Flagstaff has been filled with smoke from various fires for about 2 weeks. At 7000’ we don’t need to breathe smoke every day. It is hard for the elderly and those with lung issues. Hopefully the monsoon will help douse the fires and the wind will die down soon. 

Historical events

July 2 History 

Good to know:

DUDE 

No one is entirely sure where the word dude came from, but given that it first emerged in America as far back as 1883-and originally referred to a dandyish fop-it's not unconvincingly been suggested that it might be a shortening of Yankee Doodle. Another theory, though, claims it might be clipped from attitude, or else extended from duds, meaning clothing, which dates back to the 16th century.  

Today’s Birthdays:

Lindsay Lohan Movie Actress

BirthdayJuly 2, 1986 Birth SignCancer

BirthplaceThe Bronx, NY Age40 years old

Larry David TV Producer

BirthdayJuly 2, 1947 Birth SignCancer

BirthplaceBrooklyn, NY Age79years old

 

That’s All for Now

Update

 

 

A little history about my blogs

When I became a supervisor, I started doing a one page morning bulletin for the staff. It included the days events, procedures, and some interesting stuff for the staff. I did it on a computer and then printed copies for the staff to pick up when they signed in each day. Most staff appreciated the updates. Over the years it became available on the school website and saved many trees and ink.

When I retired from the Bureau of Indian Affairs after 33 years, I missed doing the morning bulletin. Blogs were just getting started; I found a free one and continued posting my ideas about retirement.

At the end of May, I had a medical issue, my kidneys quit working and I ended up in the ER. The first question they asked me was if I wanted to be resuscitated if my heart stopped. Very scary for sure. For decades, I had told family members that I wanted to be cremated and not have a service. My ashes could be kept or sprinkled somewhere. When confronted with the possibility that I might die, I knew I was not ready and that I still had lots to do.

This was certainly a wake-up call. So, my newest blog is A New Chapter Begins.

I hope people enjoy it.

Modern medicine is unbelievable. To get my kidneys to work, they placed a port in my upper chest and gave me dialysis. Another scary word. They said that several treatments usually get the kidneys working again. The dialysis was done for three days, about 3 hours each time. It worked and my kidneys are now back to where I was before this episode.

After the kidneys started working, I was moved to a rehab center. That is where is spent 27- days. The rehab place was very nice. I had a private room, daily PT and OT, great staff, good food, and everyday I got stronger. On June 27 I was finally discharged. I am home now.

I am so thankful for my brother, Faith and Andy, and many others for their help during this crisis. Richard was in Chicago, after over a month in Spain when I called. He came to Flag right away. This was his first trip to Flagstaff. He didn’t say I liked to hoard stuff, but he and a friend from Denver brought in a crew of cleaners (walls, floors, carpet, and cabinets) and a crew of haulers to the house. They all did an amazing job. I feel like I’m in a brand-new place. I have been here 18 years and never had a deep cleaning…so it was long overdue.

Each day I am getting stronger. I have been living downstairs but go upstairs several time a day to search for stuff I need. I’ve found most everything. Richard may come back for a short visit to insure that this next chapter will be done right.

Thanks to everyone who called, visited me, and made nice comments on social media. It is all appreciated.

I will be posting again starting today.

 

18 May

 

 

Week 21  Day 138 Flag Today  68°/38°                             Wind 17 mph Gusts 30 mph

Active Fire: 36 miles away Risk of fire: ExtremeNearest Lightning: 250 miles away

Air Quality: Fair Sunshine Windy Red Flag Warning

May Averages: Temps: 70°\37°  8 days with rain

 

Monthly Observations

Skin Cancer Awareness Month  Link Spiritual Literacy Month Strike Out Strokes Month Sturge-Weber Awareness Month Link Teen CEO Month Tennis Month Tay-Sachs and Canavan Diseases Month Textile Month  Link Tourettes Syndrome Awareness Month (5/15 - 6/15) Link Toxic Encephalopathy and Chemical Injury Awareness Month Link

Weekly Observations

National Seat Belt Reinforcement Week:11-31  Link Wound,Ostomy and Continence Nursing Week: 12-18 Link Cannes Film Festival: 12-23 National Foul Ball Week: 16-21 National Safe Boating Week: 16-22 Neuroscience Nurses Week: 17-23 Link  EMS Week: 17-23Link  Link  Link Link Healthcare Documentation Integrity Week: 17-23 Link Healthy and Safe Swimming Week: 17-23 International New Friends, Old Friends Week: 17-23 National Backyard Games Week: 17-23 National Eosinophil Awareness Week: 17-23 Link  National Medical Transcription Week: 17-23 Link  National Unicycle Week: 17-23  World Trade Week: 17-23

Daily Observations

Buy A Musical Instrument Day Link  (Honor of The Music Man Creator) CSCMP's Supply Chain Professionals Day HIV Vaccine Awareness Day Link I Love Reeses Day Link  Link International Museum Day Link Mother Whistler Day National Speech Pathologist Day: Link Send An Electronic Greeting Card Day Link Supply Chain Professional Day Victoria Day Link Visit Your Relatives Day

Today’s Quotes                                                             

Friendship is certainly the finest balm for the pangs of disappointed love. ~Jane Austen

Today’s Memes

Today’s Thoughts

 It’s another nice spring day. A little more windy than I like.

In my years at Shonto on the rez, 8^th grade graduation was a huge milestone. This song was done at every graduation. It is from the Mormons but it outlines our goals as educators. I hope you enjoy it. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1EwMNcjsHx/ 

 Science Fact of the Day 

Unlike many of Saturn’s moons, Hyperion is not tidally locked. Instead, it rotates chaotically, tumbling through space unpredictably as it orbits Saturn from a mean distance of 933,000 miles away. Not only does the moon follow an eccentric orbit, but it is heavily affected by Saturn’s largest moon, Titan, which orbits the planet at a relatively close distance to Hyperion. The two moons speed up and slow down as they pass each other. This perpetuates Hyperion’s chaotic orbit and rotation.

Slang words and phrases

 CELEB 

As a word for fame or renown, celebrity itself is perhaps older than you think, and was first recorded in the writings of Canterbury Tales author Geoffrey Chaucer. It first came to be used of a famous person in 1831, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, and was then shortened to celeb way back in 1907. 

Historic Events

 Today in History

Birthdays Today

Reggie Jackson (80years old) American Baseball HOF right fielder (14 x MLB All Star; World Series 1972, 73 [MVP], 74, 77 [MVP], 78; AL MVP 1973; Oakland A's, NY Yankees,), born in Wyncote, Pennsylvania ∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙ George Strait (74 years old) American country singer ("All My Exes Live in Texas"), born in Pearsall, Texas ∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙ Yun Fat Chow (71 years old) 1955 Hong Kong actor (Better Tomorrow), born in Lamma Island, British Hong Kong ∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙ Tina Fey (56 years old) American actress and comedian (Saturday Night Live; 30 Rock), born in Upper Darby Township, Pennsylvania ∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙ Travis Hunter, (32 years old) American football wide receiver/cornerback (Heisman Trophy 2024; University of Colorado), born in West Palm Beach, Florida

Gone but not forgotten 1048 Omar Khayyám, Persian mathematician (cubic equations), astronomer (Jalali calendar, basis of the Persian calendar), poet (quatrains), and philosopher, born in Nishapur, Khorasan (now Iran) (d. 1131) ∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙ Nicholas II(1868-1918) last Tsar of Russia (1894-1917), born in Saint Petersburg, Russia ∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙ Bertrand Russell(1872-1970) English mathematician and philosopher (Nobel 1950), born in Trellech, England ∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙ Frank Capra(1897-1991) Italian-American Academy Award-winning film director (It's a Wonderful Life; It Happened One Nigh; Mr. Smith Goes to Washington), born in Bisacquino, Italy ∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙ 1902 Meredith Willson, American composer for stage (The Music Man), and screen (The Great Dictator; Little Foxes), born in Mason City, Iowa (d. 1984) ∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙ 1904 Jacob K. Javits, American politician (Sen-R-NY), born in New York City (d. 1986) ∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙ John Paul II(1920-2005) 264th Roman Catholic Pope (1978-2005), born in Wadowice, Poland ∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙ 1931 Robert Morse, American Tony and Emmy Award-winning stage and screen singer and actor (How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying; Mad Men), born in Newton, Massachusetts (d. 2022) ∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙

 

…The End for today…