~★~♥~♥~★~ El Morno! ♥~★~★~♥ ~
January 23,2015

★~Today’s Quote: Keep your eyes on the stars, and your feet on the ground. ~Theodore Roosevelt

★~ Handwriting Day: 

OK. You’re probably saying to yourself: “What the heck is this ‘handwriting’ ?”

Basically, handwriting is what we did before we had texting. In order to perform handwriting you first would have to purchase a cylindrical instrument usually made out of plastic. Commonly referred to as a “pen,” this cumbersome device contained a blue liquid called “ink.” But wait. It gets even more confusing.

With pen in hand, you would point the inky side toward a piece of paper, slowly lowering it until it touched. The pen would then be dragged across the paper, forming squiggly lines that would turn into words. After several minutes a sentence would appear. This process would be repeated until eventually you’d have made enough squiggles to create what we used to call a “paragraph.”

As we can see, handwriting required an immense amount of skill and patience. And unlike texting, there was no instant response. You’d put your squiggly sentences on the paper, stick them in an envelope, and give them to a mail carrier. Several days later you’d receive a similar-looking envelope back containing a response consisting of even more squiggles. At this point you’ve probably forgotten what you were writing about in the first place.

(Side note: Adding an “attachment” was a huge problem. You’d have to drive to a store and buy scotch tape or maybe even a stapler to add a photo to your squiggly-sentenced-paper.)

In any case, today we give handwriting its due and perhaps pen a letter or sign a card. It might also be a good idea to encourage schools to continue teaching children cursive writing so they can read handed down recipe cards and letters from the olden days.

★~ Measure Your Feet Day:

Maybe it’s a smart winter alternative to weighing yourself. Perhaps it’s a way to encourage a green attitude by measuring your carbon or ecological footprint. In any it’s not a bad idea to always be ready for an impromptu visit to the local ice skating rink, a last-minute ski trip, or for that pair of boots that’s on sale.

Measure Your Feet Day originates in ancient Iceland of all places. As most anyone can tell you, ancient Icelanders spent their free time doing one of two things: Bowling, or High-Fiving with their feet, which they called “Shelbing”. In the Spring, when Iceland has it’s notorious rain storms, the natives would gather in their huts, measure their feet, and pair off. They would then celebrate the rains by Shelbing until the sun went down. It was customary to measure ones feet again after the celebration though that part of the tradition has not been practiced since the late 80’s. Before long, the other world leaders heard the tale of the fun-loving Icelanders and emailed each other on ways to commemorate such a joyous event. So it was written that, January 23rd would forever be Measure Your Feet Day…

So unsheathe your hooves and mark down the size because Measure Your Feet Day only comes but once a year.

★~ Pie Day: 

Which pie will you choose for your National Pie Day? The pie-sibilities are endless! Will it be one of the 231 varieties of apple pie, the favorite of 36 million Americans?

★~ Today In History:

[youtube]http://youtu.be/tH09QWyhekw?list=PLG0W27j3Wle3UPTQfPJeys9K2h5q0gUJQ[/youtube]

♥~ 1849 – English-born Elizabeth Blackwell became the first woman in America to receive a medical degree, from the Medical Institution of Geneva, N.Y.

♥~ 1971 – It was a cold day in Prospect Creek Camp, Alaska. The lowest temperature ever recorded in the U.S. was reported as the mercury fell to a minus 80 degrees Fahrenheit. My teeth chatter and my car battery dies at the mere thought of it…

♥~ 1977 – Carole King’s  landmark album, Tapestry, became the longest-running album to hit the charts, as it reached its 302nd week on the album lists.

♥~ 1983 – The A-Team one of television’s most intellectual, sophisticated and classy shows came into American homes. It was full of action and drama and starred Mr. T, wearing a ton of gold jewelry. He played the not so mild-mannered Sgt. Bosco B.A. Baracus, and George Peppard took the lead role as John Hannibal Smith. Yes, The A-Team debuted.  Go ahead and use the line, “I will rip your face off, sucka!” at least once today compliments of Mr.T. 

★~Born Today:

♥~ 1737 – John Hancock  American patriot and statesman, first signer of the Declaration of Independence. Hancock served as president of the Continental Congress from 1775–77 and served as Massachusetts governor for nine terms beginning in 1780. Because of his conspicuous signature on the Declaration, Hancock’s name has become part of the American language, referring to any handwritten signature. Born at Braintree, MA, he died at Quincy, MA, Oct 8, 1793. National Handwriting Day is also celebrated today ad we are all encouraged to write legible. Treat yourself to a new pen!

♥~ 1957 – Princess Caroline of Monaco royalty: daughter of Prince Ranier and Princess Grace of Monaco

♥~ 1964 – Mariska Hargitay Emmy-winning actress: Law & Order: Special Victims Unit [2006]; Plain Truth, Perfume, Lake Placid, Night Sins, Leaving Las Vegas, Gambler V: Playing for Keeps, The Perfect Weapon, Prince Street, ER, Tequila and Bonetti

Gallimaufry Odds and Ends:

(I don’t think I will try this with Solstice)

Meet The 80 People Who Are As Rich As Half The World– Well there is always next year….

The McDonald’s Theory –

Born to be Wild (Camp-Run-A-Pup) video.

[youtube]http://youtu.be/x4pUNiJGK_U[/youtube]

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Happy Friday. Before El Morno turns into El Nighto I had better hit publish! Wait! Late breaking OMG news!!  The sun (at least I think it’s the sun) just broke through the clouds and shined down on my desk. I’m okay with the cold but I sure miss the sun when it does not shine for days on end. I hope it sticks around for awhile.

Odd Loves Company,