~★~♥~♥~★~ El Morno! ♥~★~★~♥ ~
December 12, 2012

★~ Today’s Quote: “A bell’s not a bell ’til you ring it A song’s not a song ’til you sing it Love in your heart wasn’t put there to stay Love isn’t love ’til you give it away!” Oscar Hammerstein

★~ 12-12-12:

According to Chinese numerology, the number one is a yang number which is ruled by the sun and represents independence and individualism. Two is a yin number which is ruled by the moon and represents symmetry and balance. When placed together, the number 12 brings harmony to the yin and yang, balancing the feminine energy of the moon with the masculine energy of the sun. In other words today may be one of the few times men and women speak the same language.  More 12-12-12 facts coming up under ‘Did You Know.’

★~ Poinsettia Day:

All year long there’s hardly a poinsettia to be found, and then suddenly the holiday season rolls around and POOF! these bright red plants are showing up in homes and offices all over the country. Where do they all come from? Well, Mexico and Central America, actually. (And you thought that was a rhetorical question.) They are native to that part of the world, and were first introduced to the United States by a minister named Joel Roberts Poinsett, who also gave the plants their common name. If you haven’t already jumped on the poinsettia bandwagon this year, take today to buy one for yourself or a friend for a little flowerpot-ful of merry fun. Last night I was gifted a white poinsettia. It is very glittery and pretty. I love it.

★~ Ding-a-Ling Day:

A ding-a-ling is a wonderful, loving, intelligent, friendly, and most desirable kind of person to know . . . a real bell ringer. Even though they may be a bit odd, they often live the motto of the Ding-A-Ling Club: “Less wiles, more smiles; less tears, more cheers; less shove, more love.” Do you think it is a coincidence that the Ding-A-Ling Club, which offers card-carrying membership, is in Melrose Park, Il.  not far from me? It is about 600 members strong.

Every time a bell rings the world becomes a better place, so consider celebrating Ding-a-Ling Day by dropping your spare change into the Salvation Army’s red kettle and supporting the Salvation Army’s efforts to help more than 34 million Americans recovering from all kinds of personal disasters.

Last Ding-A-Ling Day I started to listen for bells and it amazed me how often I hear them. I always take it as a good sign when I hear a bell ding-a-linging. This past year I started to collect a few to hang on our bird Christmas tree and the result is lovely, if I do say so myself. I will post pictures later so you can say so too!

★~ Ambrosia Day:

A fruit salad is a wonderful thing all naturally sweet and delicious, but when you toss in some sour cream, whipped topping, and mini marshmallows, you have ambrosia: the food of the gods, a heavenly tasting fruit salad.

★~ Today in History:

♥~ 1850 – Wide, Wide World, the novel by Elizabeth Wetherell (Susan Warner), was published. The book the first bestseller in America. There were 14 editions printed during the first two years of publication.

♥~ 1937 – The Federal Communications Commission was a bit upset with NBC radio. The FCC scolded the radio network for a skit that starred Mae West. The satirical routine was based on the biblical tale of Adam and Eve. As she flirted with Charlie McCarthy, ventriloquist Edgar Bergen’s dummy, West said, “Charles, I remember our date and have the splinters to prove it.”  The FCC, NBC banned Miss West from its airwaves for 15 years.

♥~ 1953 – U.S. test pilot Chuck Yeager reached Mach 2.4 in his Bell X-1A rocket plane. At an altitude of 70,000 ft. the aircraft suddenly rolled out of control and tumbled for 36,000 ft. It eventually went into an inverted spin, knocking Yeager into semiconsciousness. Fighting the controls, he managed to pull it out at 30,000 ft.

♥~ 1957 – 22-year-old rocker Jerry Lee Lewis secretly said “I do” for the third time. Lewis married 13-year-old Myra Gale Brown, his third cousin, in Hernando, Tennessee.

♥~ 1980 – Oil tycoon Armand Hammer bought a notebook of writings by Leonardo da Vinci for $5.28 million at auction in London. It was the highest price ever paid for a manuscript. It was 36 pages long and dated back to 1508.

♥~ 2003 –  Mick Jagger (The Rolling Stones) was knighted in London, England.

★~Born Today:

♥~ 1915 – Frank (Francis Albert) Sinatra Born at Hoboken, NJ, Frank Sinatra matured from a teen idol to the premier singer of American popular music. Known as the “Chairman of the Board” to his fans, he made more than 200 albums. His signature songs included “All the Way,” “New York, New York” and “My Way.” His film career included musicals (On the Town and Pal Joey) and two gritty films: From Here to Eternity (Oscar for Best Supporting Actor) and The Man with the Golden Arm (Oscar nomination). Died May 14, 1998, at Los Angeles, CA.

♥~ 1941 – Dionne Warwick Grammy Award-winning singer: Do You Know the Way to San Jose [1968], I’ll Never Fall in Love Again [1970], I’ll Never Love This Way Again [1979]; Then Came You [w/Spinners], Walk on By, I Say a Little Prayer, Promises, Promises, Anyone Who Had a Heart

♥~ 1949 –  Bill Nighy actor: Pirates of the Caribbean” movies

♥~ 1952 – Cathy Rigby gymnast: 1968 & 1972 U.S. Olympic Team, World Champion silver medalist [1970]; TV commercials; actress: Peter Pan

♥~ 1956 – Ana Alicia actress: Falcon Crest, Romero, Coward of the County

♥~ 1970 – Jennifer Connelly actress: Mulholland Falls, The Rocketeer, Labyrinth, Once Upon a Time in America

♥~ 1977 – Erica Dahm, Jaclyn and Nicole Dahm identical Dahm triplets; actress: Juwanna Mann, Robocop: Prime Directives; Playboy model

★~ Did You Know:

♥~ Wedding bells will be ringing in Hong Kong and Singapore, where couples are keen to tie the knot on a day which they say symbolizes love. But it’s not just Asia which will see an increase in love birds heading to the altar. A survey conducted by US-based David’s Bridal estimates that around 7,500 brides will be getting hitched in America – a 1,446 per cent increase from the less significant 12/12/11.

♥~ For some, the day will be anything but joyful. Many doomsdayers believe 12/12/12 will be the end of the world, thanks to an interpretation of the Mayan calendar. But,  many of the end-of-the-world believers are convinced that the actual doomsday is on 12/21/12, when the Mayan calendar is set to end.

♥~ In response to “end of the world” preparations taking place across the globe, the Astronomical Society of the Pacific has declared 12/12/12 “Anti-Doomsday Day,” in celebration of rational thinking and reasoned discourse.

♥~ Palindrome lovers will rejoice in the fact that at 1:21:02 am, they can celebrate the second which marks a date-time combination which will be read the same both backwards and forwards. 2012-12-12 1:21:02 = 201212-1-212102.

♥~ Those who wish to take part in yet another time-based phenomenon but find themselves snoring away at 1:21:02  they will be given a second chance. At 12:12:12 pm, the number 12 will be given a “sixer” – 12/12/12 12:12:12.

♥~ Number crunchers have a profound respect for the number 12, mainly because of its divisibility capabilities. After all, it can divided into halves, thirds, fourths, sixths, and twelfths. So it can only be assumed that mathematicians will find 12/12/12 to be three times more exciting than a normal “12” day.

♥~ Three is generally considered a heavenly number and often represents the soul or godhead. Four is the number of earth and mankind – for example, there are four elements (earth, air, fire, and water) and four cardinal directions (north, south, east, and west). Because of this, the product of the two numbers, 12, has been said to encompass both the secular and the sacred. So 12/12/12 should mean that both sides will be represented more than usual.

♥~ December 12, 2012 is exactly 6 years, 6 months, 6 days from June 6, 2006, or 06/06/06.

♥~ From culinary cuisine to calendars, 12 has been a significant number since its creation. Just think about it – 12 months in the year, 12 hours of night and day, 12 astrological signs, 12 Olympic gods and goddesses, 12 days of Christmas, and Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. Oh, and let’s not forget about eggs – which are cheaper by the dozen! With so much significance on its side, 12/12/12 was seemingly destined to be a meaningful day.

♥~ Kiam Moriya of Birmingham, Alabama will turn 12 at 12:12pm on 12/12/12. Since approximately 267 babies are born every minute, many other people will share the same moment – in their respective timezones, of course!

♥~ Students at Moscow State University have been given motivation to study after their professor posted a sign on his door stating, “The last chance to retake your History of Foreign Literature exam will be 12/12/12. If you choose not to take it, it will not only be the end of the world…but also the end of you.”

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It’s time for the Ding-A-Ling Song. I know some of you look forward all year to hearing this song again.

Speaking of songs and bells tonight is Cole’s holiday concert at school. Cole has done nothing but complain about the concert and really awful it will be…insufferable. I can’t wait to go. Send me strength and I promise to share just how bad it was with you tomorrow.

♥