catch up - September 15 - Old Glory

1775 - An early and unofficial American flag was raised by Lieutenant Colonel Isaac Mott after the seizing of Fort Johnson from the British. The flag was dark blue with the white word "Liberty" spelled on it.

I love our flag!  I love seeing the flag billowing in the wind.  The beautiful red, white, and blue shining in the sun.  I also love for all it stands.

catch-up September 14 - Oh Say, Can You See?

September 14  -  1814 - Francis Scott Key wrote the "Star-Spangled Banner," a poem originally known as "Defense of Fort McHenry," after witnessing the British bombardment of Fort McHenry, MD, during the War of 1812. The song became the official U.S. national anthem on March 3, 1931.

One of the most rewarding aspects of the show I directed this summer is that part of the show was the Star Spangled Banner.  My then-four-year-old niece still knows every word.  It's great to hear her sing it.  She can also recite the Pledge of Allegiance and all five military hymns.  It's awesome.  On the 4th of July I got to stand between her and my nephew at the Stadium of Fire concert as they presented the flags of each branch.  It was so touching to hear them sing the great anthems of our country.  God Bless America!

catch-up September 13 - You will have a great day.

My trip to New York was lots of fun, but didn't allow much blogging time.  I'm home now, back to work, and somewhat awake.  Here are the days I missed:

September 13 -  Fortune Cookie Day
From holidayinsights.com  :  This day celebrates the creation of the Fortune Cookie. What a great cookie. A little slip of paper inside of it brings you good luck, a whimsical saying, or a philosophical thought. (we favor good luck...we can use all we can get).
Its pretty clear that the Fortune Cookie did not originate in China. Rather, it was invented in California. There appears to be some uncertainty over who invented it. Some historical references suggest it was Makoto Hagiwara who invented the fortune cookie at the Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco in 1914. Others believe that David Jung, founder of the Hong Kong Noodle Company, was the first to make fortune cookies in Los Angeles in the 1920s.

I enjoy the randomness of fortune cookie messages.  We had Chinese takeout for lunch at work a few days before my trip to New York.  My fortune was "You will travel to many exotic places in your lifetime."  I love it!  The perfect fortune for an airline employee. : )   I slipped the paper into my ID holder behind my employee ID badge.  It makes me smile.

Do you keep fortunes from Fortune Cookies?  Have you gotten odd or funny fortunes?  

catch-up - September 12 - Here, Lassie!

My trip to New York was lots of fun, but didn't allow much blogging time.  I'm home now, back to work, and somewhat awake, so I'm backtracking a bit today. 

September 12 - 1954 - "Lassie" made its television debut on CBS. The last show aired on September 12, 1971.

I don't remember watching "Lassie" much as a kid.  But who doesn't know about Lassie?  This show that hasn't aired original episodes for 39 years is still referred to in movies, tv shows, etc.  It makes me wonder what tv characters that are popular now will still be loved 39 years from now.

September 11 - the day the world changed

2001 - In the U.S., four airliners were hijacked and were intentionally crashed. Two airliners hit the World Trade Center, which collapsed shortly after, in New York City, NY. One airliner hit the Pentagon in Washington, DC. Another airliner crashed into a field in Pennsylvania. About 3,000 people were killed.

I'm writing today's post from a hotel room in Long Island City, New York, looking over the Manhattan Skyline.  The Empire State Building is lit up in Red, White, and Blue.  The sun is setting, and the scene is breathtaking.  Nine years ago today the skyline changed drastically.  I know that I will never forget that day. 

I think about 9/11 every day.  Working for an airline, I've dealt with the changes and the challenges that have come from that day.  The events of 9/11 changed our world. 

My friend Chris worked at the world trade center.  He's wearing his ID today.  He should have been there, but had decided to go in a few hours late that morning.  He was on the subway on his way to work when the plane hit the building. 


I was working the overnight shift, usually getting home from work around 7:00 in the morning.  Business had been slow all night, and around 3:30am operations started letting people go home early. I turned down the offer, but about 4:30 had a really strong feeling that I needed to go home.  I called and the offer was still open, so I left.  My normal morning routine was to watch the morning news, and then go to bed.  For some reason that morning I went right to bed.  Around noon I woke up, and that's when I learned of the events of that morning. 

I still remember feeling numb.  Feeling nothing and everything all at once.  As I look over the skyline right now the feeling comes back.  It's still unbelievable.

I'm glad I got to come to New York this weekend, to be here on this day.  The light towers are on, and I can see them from my room.  The lights reach the clouds.  It's beautiful.  A great tribute to the thousands that lost their lives that day.

September 10 - ...it's what's for dinner

1953 - Swanson began selling its first "TV dinner."

I remember as a kid having TV dinners occasionally.  Usually when Mom and Dad were going out for the night, or if there was a movie on TV we wanted to watch as a family.  I liked the compartment-plates, and remember the brownie being good.   It was fun to get the TV trays out and sit on the couch as we enjoyed our dinner. 

Now I occasionally have TV dinners for lunch if I can find one that a) looks appetizing and b) doesn't include 200% of the daily recommended sodium intake.

I wonder if they still make the ones with the brownie...

September 9 - turntables turning

2008 - The iTunes Music Store reached 100 million applications downloaded.

2009 - The iTunes Music Store reached 1.8 billion applications downloaded. 

 My how time has changed.  I have a large record collection that I inherited from my grandparents.  I also have their 8-track player and tapes.  I have cassette tapes from my childhood.  And CDs from my teenage years.  I now also have an iPod that holds about 2 hours of music (it's a tiny 2GB one).  I can go from listening to a record or cassette tape at home, to a CD in the car, to my iPod on an airplane.   Gotta love technology.

In the show I directed this summer one of the characters, a teacher, talks about how her students chose a Taylor Swift CD as their contribution to a time capsule.  The teacher laughs that she brought in her Beatles' 45, and that they'd never seen a record before.  Ah, the joys of being born before 2000.  I can't wait for the day that my nieces and nephews realize that their parents (and their aunt) weren't even born in this century.  And I wonder what else they won't recognize in the future.  


What's your favorite way to listen to music?

September 8 - Illerately Literate. Literally.

Happy International Literacy Day, friends!  This holiday was created by the United Nations in 1946 and is promoted by the UN's UNESCO. 

Here's a quote from unesco.org regarding International Literacy Day (emphasis added):

Literacy


Today one in five adults is still not literate and tabout wo-thirds of them are women while 67.4 million children are out of school. 

Since its foundation in 1946, UNESCO has been at the forefront of global literacy efforts and is dedicated to keeping literacy high on national, regional and international agendas. However, with some 796 million adults lacking minimum literacy skills, literacy for all remains an elusive target.

UNESCO’s literacy programmes aim to create a literate world and promote literacy for all.

Why is literacy important?

Okay, first of all, I hate to make light of something as important as literacy.  But....UNESCO really needs to partner with a good editor that knows how to spell. And use commas. And proof read.  I really do feel bad for the one in five adults that is still not literate, especially the "tabout wo-thirds" of them that are women.  It's just sadly ironic that these documents are so full of errors. 
 
Literacy is important, though.  I've loved reading since I was a small child.  My older sister helped me learn how to read when I was four.  Mom would have to take flashlights away from us at night so we couldn't stay up reading under the covers.  I've always loved books and can still get lost in the pages of a good novel. 
 
Have you read a good book lately?
 
 

September 7 - saving babies

1888 - Edith Eleanor McLean became the first baby to be placed in an incubator

This first time I remember seeing an incubator was right after my baby brother was born.  He was in one for the first several days of his life after being born with the spinal cord wrapped around his neck.  I remember going with my sisters to the hospital, washing our hands really good, and wearing robes over our clothes, and hairnets. The nurse led us into the room, and we took turns reaching in and touching his foot. 

I was watching an episode of History Detectives a few months ago.  A lady had a silver cup that she had been told was given to her parents at the World's Fair, where she had been on display in an incubator.  Through the episode the "Detective" learned that this was how incubators were proven to be beneficial.   Apparently the inventor couldn't convince the medical community of the benefits, and offered parents of babies that would have otherwise died to let him display them.   Here's an interesting read about it.

I am blessed to have several volumes of personal histories from many of my ancestors.  One account tells of a baby that was born prematurely and very tiny.  The parents placed the infant in a shoe box near the fireplace. 

I am so thankful for the technology of incubators.  My brother is now 24 years old and has a baby of his own.  He may drive me bonkers sometimes, but I love my brother.  I know he wouldn't have lived without being in an incubator for those first few days of his life.

September 6 - Happy Anniversary, Barbie!

1959 - The first Barbie Doll was sold by Mattel Toy Corporation.

 I loved playing with Barbies growing up.  My sisters and I would set up huge Barbie cities.  I had an amazing 3-foot high dollhouse with an elevator, and for my 12th birthday my mom gave me the ultimate Barbie car- a turquoise and silver 57 Chevy.  I loved that car.  My younger sister and I played with it until it fell apart.   A few years ago I found one on eBay in mint condition - it's still in the box!  I couldn't resist it. 

I think Barbies are great - they work fine motor skills to dress them, and cognitive skills to create their "lives."  Our Barbies were musical superstars and would put on concerts frequently.  I know a lot of people really don't like Barbie and what they feel she stands for - an unreal body type and need for perfection.  I never felt that I had to grow up to be just like Barbie.  And I never felt less than perfect.   Instead, I learned to use my imagination and talk out ideas. 

In these days of high-stress, it'd be great to sit down and let Barbie and Ken and Skipper and all of their friends work out real-life problems.  I think that's why Second-Life type video games are so popular.  I guess playing with dolls isn't dumb if they're images on a computer screen.

September 5 - Diddy Dum Diddy Do

1964 - "Do Wah Diddy Diddy" by Manfred Mann's was released.

Ah - Childhood memories...

One thing my dad has always disliked about his house is the lack of a garage.   Dad loves to build things, and hasn't always had a convenient place to do his handy work.  I remember him working on projects in our kitchen, and the project I remember most is the entertainment center he built.  I vividly remember the smell of the wood glue and saw dust as he assembled the large tv stand/bookcase.  He'd have the radio on while he worked, and I remember "Do Wah Diddy Diddy" playing.  He must have been listening to an oldies station, because the song was over 20 years old then.

I also remember dancing around and singing this and many other 60's songs with my sisters.   I'm so thankful to have aso many happy childhood memories.  I know a lot of people aren't so lucky.

September 4 - Goodnight, Sweetheart....

1971 - "The Lawrence Welk Show" was seen for the last time on ABC-TV.

My mom grew up being forced to watch the LWS.  She hated it.  Probably because she wasn't given a choice. I love it, and often have it on on Sunday afternoons.   Yes, the songs are cheesy, as is the "acting."  But I love the costumes!  I've always dreamed of wearing flowy dresses like the girls wore. And singing cheesy songs with my sisters.  I'll pass on the big hair, though. 

September 3 - Happy Högertrafik

1967 - In Sweden motorist stopped driving on the left side of the road and began driving on the right side.

Whoa!  Can you imagine if you'd missed the memo?  I leave for work around 5:15am, and some days - especially on the weekend - I don't see other cars much.  And since most people aren't exactly coherant early in the a.m. I can so picture driving along, minding my own business, and then suddenly seeing a car coming towards me in my lane.  Aaaaaaaa!!!!

Reading about the Sweden change, I learned that the change was about 12 years in the making, and had been voted on.   The changeover took place at 5am on Sunday, 3 September 1967, which was known in Swedish as Dagen H (H-Day), the 'H' being for Högertrafik or right traffic.

I wonder how long the change took to get used to.  Change can be difficult, especially when you don't know what the results will be.  At work right now we're going through some changes.  We just found out that my department is moving to another part of the building.  We're not exactly happy about it, but it'll be okay.  We've been through it before.  There's always a period of adjusting as we go about our duties in the new space.  Inevitably a few people walk into the wrong bathroom, stopping short (and embarrassed) when he/she sees urinals - or lack thereof...  

It could be worse... There could be a car coming the other way.

Happy Högertrafik to you, my friends!   Enjoy the drive!

September 2nd - Unsinkable

1985 - It was announced that the Titanic had been found on September 1 by a U.S. and French expedition 560 miles off Newfoundland. The luxury liner had been missing for 73 years.

The Titanic - the Unsinkable!   More like the big lesson in pride!  And how not to act during an emergency.  So many people unnecessarily lost their lives that day!  Lifeboats - of which there were enough to meet British requirements of the day, but not enough for the number of people on board - were launched only half full.  1,253 people drowned or froze to death.  What a horrible day!

I can't image the agony that family members went through - waiting for word from their loved ones and not hearing anything.  Then to find out if their child, sister, brother, parent, or friend was one of the 705 survivors.   Such a tragic experience.   All of those passengers trusted the makers of the ship and their claims of safety and invincibility.

I'm glad that the Titanic was found.  I've seen documentaries about the ship.  I'm sure it was a beautiful ship.  So tragic that the pride as big as an iceberg got in the way.

September 1 - doo do doot doo da doo doot

1970 - The last episode of "I Dream of Jeannie" aired on NBC-TV. The show premiered was on September 18, 1965.

I grew up watching this show. I remember several hot summer days that we'd take a break from playing outside to watch Jeannie. And I never knew that we were watching reruns! lol

"I Dream of Jeannie" inspired many daydreams... (Not that I needed much help in that department.. I am a Pisces after all...) Anyway... I remember thinking how awesome it would be to be able to clean, move furniture, iron clothes, mow the lawn, do the dishes, etc with just a nod and blink. Actually, that would be pretty awesome!

What are your dreams of Jeannie?

The Idea

The past few days I've been looking up "this day in history" and odd/funny holidays for my sister to use as journal topics for her 6th graders. It's been fun to see all the daily happenings from history! I remember doing a daily journal in my creative writing class in high school, and I think it'd be fun to do it again.

I get my topics mostly from the site www.on-this-day.com.

Here I go!