Watermelon Day, Weekly Odd News

~★~♥~♥~★~ El Morno! ♥~★~★~♥ ~
August 3, 2013

Watermelon Flower

★~ Today’s Quote:  “When one has tasted watermelon, he knows what the angels eat.” Mark Twain

★~ National Watermelon Day: 

watermelon

Watermelon goes back as far as the 12th Egyptian Dynasty, with seeds found in the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamen. Pioneer David Livingstone was also impressed by the abundance of watermelons he encountered throughout his missionary travels through Africa in the mid-19th century. It is believed that the watermelon originated somewhere in Africa.

You can celebrate “National Watermelon Day” by eating watermelon as a snack, or enjoying it as a side dish, a dessert, or adult beverage (when fortified with alcohol or made into wine).

Sesame-Chile Chicken With Gingered-Watermelon Salsa

Watermelon Lemonade

★~ Today in History:

♥~ 1933 – The world-famous Mickey Mouse Watch was introduced. The timepiece sold for $2.75. A Mickey Mouse Clock sold for $1.50. New models now sell for $25 or more and the original watches and clocks are worth hundreds of dollars.

♥~ 1958 – James Robert Sordelet of Fort Wayne, IN, became the first person to reenlist in the U.S. Navy while under the North Pole! He did so while serving on the submarine Nautilus as it crossed under the Arctic ice.

♥~ 1963 – Comedian Allan Sherman’s summer camp parody, Hello Mudduh, Hello Fadduh! (A Letter from Camp) was released on Warner Brothers Records. It went to number two on the pop charts (8/24/63).

♥~ 1963- the Beatles had to enter the Blackpool, England, concert hall where they were performing via a trap door on the roof. To get to that trap door, they had to climb up the scaffolding of the neighboring building. Fans had blocked all the other entrances to the concert hall.

♥~ 1971 – Paul McCartney formed a new band called Wings. Joining McCartney in the group were Denny Laine, formerly of The Moody Blues, Denny Seilwell and McCartney’s wife, Linda.

♥~ 1996 – “Give your body happiness, Macarena…” Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix), by Los Del Rio, hit #1 on Billboard. It stayed and stayed at the top — for 14 smash weeks — as dancers swayed and swayed. “Ehhhhhh, Macarena!”

★~Born Today:

Martha Stewart

♥~ 1926 – Tony Bennett (Benedetto) Grammy Award-winning singer: I Left My Heart in San Francisco [1962], MTV Unplugged [1994]; I Wanna Be Around, Who Can I Turn To, The Shadow of Your Smile, Because of You, Rags to Riches, Stranger in Paradise, In the Middle of an Island, The Good Life; appeared in film: The Oscar

♥~ 1940 – Martin Sheen (Ramon Estevez) actor: The West Wing, Apocalypse Now, J.F.K., Wall Street, Badlands, Ghandi, Gettysburg, The Final Countdown; father of actors Charlie Sheen & Emilio Estevez

♥~ 1941 – Martha Stewart cooking, craft, decorating, planting advisor; Martha Stewart’s Living [TV show and magazine]

♥~ 1951 – Jay North, Actor, “Dennis the Menace”

★~ Good to Know: Odd News 

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frxFH6A4LxQ[/youtube]

♥~ Take out?   You often hear of bears taking things from dumpsters, but this one just took the whole thing! The Edelweiss Restaurant in Colorado Springs had a security camera trained on the back alley, and Tuesday night they caught the bear in action. Reaching to the top of the dumpster, the bear backs up and takes the entire unit away. There is no information on where the dumpster was found, but the restaurant posted an update on Facebook in which you see the bear returning for more German food on Wednesday night.

♥~ Road Steal?  Such is the case in Russia, where a resident in the city of Syktyvkar confessed to doing just that and now faces two years in prison, reports RIA Novosti. He probably didn’t have much of a choice considering police had some pretty tangible evidence: They pulled over three trucks filled with 82 concrete slabs that used to be a road outside his city. They estimate the concrete was worth somewhere around $6,000.

♥~ RARE SIX-LEGGED OCTOPUS FOUND, EATEN: Labros Hydras of Washington, D.C. was vacationing in Greece when he caught an octopus. It only had six legs -not because of injury, but because it was a “hexapus,” which only grew six legs. Such an octopus is so rare that only one other specimen has ever been documented. Hydras did not know that when he killed the octopus and took it to a taverna to have it cooked.
The chef refused to cook it for him because it was so rare and told Labros he should have let the octopus live.

But the hungry father-of-two went and fried it for his supper anyway and served it up with a slice of tomato, lemon and a solitary salad leaf.

After finishing it off he decided to check out what the chef had said – and felt sick when he realised what he had done.

No-one had ever heard of a six-legged hexapus until five years ago when one nicknamed Henry was found off the North Wales coast.

Hydras then took photographs to Greek scientists to help document the hexapus. Scientists say it is not a new species, but is very rare.

GEORGIA FAMILY FINDS GIANT KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN BUCKET IN YARD: Aleena Headrick of Waynesboro, Georgia, arrived home a week ago Thursday to find a seven-foot-tall Kentucky Fried Chicken bucket in her front yard! Having no clue where it came from, she took a picture and posted it on Facebook, where it went viral. The mystery was cleared up later when Headrick’s landlord admitted he bought the bucket and left it on the property. He plans to permanently display the bucket, which is at least forty years old.  The bucket spells the company name out instead of using the acronym KFC. The local KFC, glad for the publicity, has offered to cater a picnic for Headrick’s family and friends.

♥~TURTLE-BURGER: A Chinese man going through airport security in Ghuangzhou was stopped because officials noticed something unusual in the fast food bag going through an x-ray machine. When they asked Mr. Li to show them his KFC hamburger (which actually exists in China), he finally relented and opened the bun. Inside was a live turtle! Mr Li  said he just wanted his beloved pet to travel with him. After airport staff explained flight policies, he made arrangements for a friend to take care of his turtle while he was gone.

♥~ FALLING DENTURES REVEALED DRUG SMUGGLER AT JAILHOUSE WEDDING:  Brita Lee West was going to marry Willard Tinch at the Scott County Jail in Tennessee, where Tinch was incarcerated. Instead, she ended up in jail herself!

According to a report filed by the Scott County Sheriff’s Department, West inquired about being able to kiss her groom during the marital ceremony as she was being searched prior to entering the facility. Corrections Sgt. Tiffany Byrge reportedly noticed that West’s “false teeth kept falling down while she was talking and noticed a package in her mouth,” according to the report. The package turned out to be a gum wrapper containing two strips of suboxone — an addictive pain relief narcotic — and an amount of crystal methamphetamine.

More drugs were found in West’s vehicle, and she was charged with several drug violations. The wedding was cancelled.

♥~ STOWAWAY SURVIVED 3 WEEKS WITHOUT FOOD OR WATER: An illegal immigrant from the Philippines who stowed away on a container ship will be allowed to stay in the United States. A female cat, later named Pinay, apparently wandered into a shipping container in Manila, which was loaded and crossed 6,400 miles to Los Angeles. The cat was found when the shipping container was opened, over three weeks later. Pinay was weak and dehydrated, and was taken to the Baldwin Park Animal Care Center. Pinay is now available to be adopted into a good home, preferably one that won’t let her roam.

#

I’m dealing with a rat issue in the alley and back in the car port area (home of the VW Bug). I’m not amused and have called the city, and Orkin. Orkin promised to come today, the city is coming out next week.  This whole ordeal reminds me about a garden run by Cole’s school. The garden was about 6 blocks from Lake Michigan and a mecca of fresh veggies so obviously it  drew a far amount of “wildlife.” Each week, one the teachers would take the younger children out to the garden,  and after school one day, Cole jumped in the car bursting with a story about going to the school garden, and seeing a rat as big as a pig, with teeth like bore. I was appropriately horrified,  and then he told me his teacher hit it on the head with a shovel and KILLED IT DEAD. Impressive and true. Although, it was never confirmed if she killed the rat or simple stunned it. The lesson  learned: Never interrupt  a Waldorf teachers gardening lesson.

I’m off to kill a few rats, what are your plans for the day?

Odd Loves Company!

17 thoughts on “Watermelon Day, Weekly Odd News

  1. Morno,
    Watermelon is always tasty. Wonder if my sister wants me to bring one tomorrow night. I could even offer to cut it up.
    Funny about the bear. I sure wouldn’t stop him from taking whatever he wanted.
    Hope your varmints are under control soon. Nasty and destructive.
    Playing golf and dinner with friends.
    Have a good one.

    • Yep, that Bear can have whatever he wants and more. Good idea about the Watermelon since I think the food of the day tomorrow is Cat fish 😀
      Working the rat problem.

  2. Good Morno,
    Funny story about your school teacher. She clearly knew how to take care of a rat problem. Bet her class did not have a lot of “talkers.”
    Love watermelon. One of the best summer foods.
    That bear took “take out” to a new level.
    I’m off to a street festival and lunch with friends.
    Enjoy your day and good luck.

    • Hahaha. Waldorf teachers seem mild mannered with a lulling voice, but they know how to get the job done.
      Hope you enjoyed your day!

  3. Good Morno,
    Every day is watermelon during the summer at our house. Great snack for the kids, inexpensive, versatile and so yummy!
    You are very brave to handle your rat problem. I know, what choice do you have? But still, I might just crawl under the bed and stay there.
    Funny odd news. Who steals a road? And why?
    Rare lazy day for us, I’ll take it! Have a wonderful day.

    • We eat a lot of watermelon too. So good.
      I’m not brave, I just don’t have a lot of options. Hard to ask a friend to come over and handle your rat problem…even a very good friend.
      Maybe the guy needed a road? Very odd.
      Hope your enjoyed your lazy summer day.

  4. will need to pick up some watermelon the next few days. not sure about a watermelon drink though.
    i was proud of my mickey mouse watch as a kid. probably my 1st watch.
    hello mudduh, hello fadduh is a summer classic! why is it that i can remember most of the lyrics of this song yet can’t remember squat of other more important things???
    that bear moved the dumpster like it was nothing!
    oh man…….rats. good luck & hope they’re eradicated post haste! good for the shovel swinging teacher!
    have a successful day!

    • I had a Spiro Agnew watch (which is why I was so excited over your comment about the Janis Joplin glasses). When I told my dad the watch didn’t work he said, ‘Figures, neither did Spiro Agnew.” We were Odd.
      Memory is Odd, isn’t it? Although they say singing helps your memory so try singing, ” I wrote that check too…..” to the tune of Yellow Submarine.
      Always helpful me. 😀

  5. I recently heard that soaking cotton balls in peppermint oil and placing them in the garage and shed will get rid of varmints.
    Liz, I eat watermelon everyday in the summer too.
    TTFN
    MJ

  6. Count us among the watermelon fans. We must buy a couple each week. I cube it up and the kids snack on it all day. It’s also really good frozen.
    Funny Odd stories this week. Sad for the Henry, tho.
    Oh Rats! Hope Orkin and the city take care of the problem for you without delay.
    Slow weekend for us too. Enjoy the yard, and the mild temps.

    • I’ll have to try frozen watermelon. Sounds very refreshing.
      Very sad for Old Henry. Like he didn’t have enough problems being a 6 legged octopus.
      Orkin came out yesterday so hopefully we are on the way to solving the problem.

  7. Do you not have any rat terriers in your flock?? Dogs will go after rats like no body’s business. They hate them as much as we do. Just a thought. OF course I wouldn’t want any puppers to get bitten. Carry a big shovel whenever you wander outside. Ready for battle. OR…have on good running shoes!!

    • Rat terriers, Jack Russells, Beagles….worthless all of them. Rascal would never in a million years bite a rat or a mouse for that matter. The last mouse she saw, she stood by me and barked. My Beagle points towards the scent but that is about it. Spoiled and to well fed all of them! Of-course, like you said I really don’t want any of them to tangle with a mouse or a rat. But they could at least notice them before I do. I’m thinking of renting a coyote, keeping him out on the carport and letting him take care of the problem. They are excellent ratters. Of-course I will have to be careful when I let my small dogs out. It’s always something.
      Buying new running shoes today and I told Cole to take a shovel when he goes out to work on the car.
      Orkin was here yesterday, and the city is suppose to come early this week…from my mouth to God’s ears.

  8. I hate watermelon, and here’s why. When I was in elementary school my Mom used to send us to school with a snack for recess. I never had to bring lunch since we lived close and just went home for lunch. Our recess snack usually consisted of something healthy like a box of raisins or a piece of fruit. One day when I was in grade 3 she gave each of us kids a Baggie filled with cut up chunks of watermelon. I had it in my desk awaiting the recess bell. But as I sat listening to the teacher drone on I kept wondering how I was going to be able to eat those chunks of watermelon while playing jump rope at recess. We used to play double dutch and I remembered it was my turn to be one of the “ever enders

    • (continued…) How could I hold two ropes while eating a bunch of wet, juicy, dripping watermelon chunks? So I figured, why not just eat them in class before recess? It was a quiet snack. In a class of 30 students the teacher would never catch me, nor would she even suspect me – I was one of those goody two shoes in school.

      So, I quietly opened the bag and started to slip chunks of watermelon into my mouth and slowly eat them. It was when I was nearly done that I made a bold move. I looked down while I removed the last five wet, juicy, dripping chunks from the bag so it would be easier to slip them into my mouth since the recess bell was set to ring soon. As I looked up I saw first the shoes, then skirt, then very angry face of my teacher. Oops. Busted. I was petrified. She just stood there, in front of my desk, held out her hand, and asked, what do you have there? Give it to me. I just shook my head, and said “no.” I thought she was going to blow a gasket. “Give – it – to – me.” she enunciated each word as she spoke. The entire class was agog. Again, I shook my head no, but was too afraid to speak. Once more, with clenched jaw, she commanded me to give whatever I had to her. Her quivering hand was right under my nose. And so, I removed my hand holding those five wet, juicy, dripping chunks of watermelon and slapped them into her outstretched palm. I’m not sure what she was expecting, but it wasn’t that!

      Needless to say, my jump rope friends had to find another ever ender that day, and for the rest of the week. I spent those recesses in the principal’s office writing out, “I shall not eat watermelon in class.” to this day I can’t abide even the smell of the stuff because of the memory. Though looking back now it makes me smile remembering the howl of laughter from the class and the look on my teacher’s face as she stared aghast at the wet, juicy, dripping mess in her hand.

      • I am glad you continued your story…I was going to write back and say and…… Too funny! The teacher asked for it and she “got it.” Poor little girl all stressed out about keeping her obligation to be an ever ender, and please her mama by eating her snack. Teacher was an old bag. I’m glad she spent the rest of the day all sticky!

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