Sunday - Funday - Sunday, September 13, 2020

 SUNDAY FUNDAY - SEPTEMBER 13, 2020

Did you know that it has been about ½ year that we have been isolated due to COVID-19?

How about a little St. Louis Trivia?

In Major League Baseball, the most World Series have been won by the New York Yankees - but the second most World Series titles belong to the St. Louis Cardinals.

Have you been to a St. Louis baseball game? 

Notable Cardinals achievements include manager/owner Branch Rickey's invention of the farm system, Rogers Hornsby's two batting Triple Crowns, Dizzy Dean's 30-win season in 1934, Stan Musial's 17 MLB and 29 NL records, Bob Gibson's 1.12 earned run average (ERA) in 1968, Whitey Herzog's Whiteyball, Mark McGwire's single-season home run record in 1998, and the 2011 championship team's unprecedented comebacks. The Cardinals have won 105 or more games in four seasons and won 100 or more nine times. 

(Growing up in Eastern Iowa, I could be a Cardinal Fan or a Cub fan.  My father was a Cardinal fan (as one of my uncles), and two other uncles were Cub fans - so I became a Cardinal Fan!!!)

One of the most notable sites in St Louis is the Gateway Arch.  

• It is the World’s Tallest Arch; it is as wide as it is tall; 

• The arch was purposely placed at the site of St. Louis' original founding on the west bank of the Mississippi River.

• The Gateway Arch was designed by Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen in 1947.

• Although the location was chosen for the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial as early as 1935, the arch was not completed until 1965.

• The deceptively small observation deck at the arch’s top can actually hold up to 160 people.

• There are 16 windows on each side of the observation area.

• The Gateway Arch weighs 43,220 pounds, and was designed with an allowance of an 18-inch sway and to withstand an earthquake.

• There are six 1/2 by 20-inch lightning rods plus an aircraft light on the top of the arch.

Have you been to the Gateway Arch?  Did you ride the tram to the top? Did you tour the underground museum?

INTERESTING PHOBIAS

(From https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/mental-health/phobias/related/weird-phobias/)

We looked at some phobias last week - how about a few more?

Arithmophobia (Fear of numbers)

Many people grow up dreading math class, but people with arithmophobia have a genuine fear of numbers. People with this fear usually experience anxiety associated with doing math.  (As a former math teacher, I knew students with this phobia)

Octophobia (Fear of the number eight)

Octophobia is a fear of the number eight. Interestingly, there are few other known phobias to specific numbers, except for the fear of numbers themselves (arithmophobia) and the fear of the number thirteen (triskaidekaphobia). People with octophobia not only fear the symbol eight as it appears written down, on addresses, or in advertisements, but they also can fear objects present in groups of eight.  (At least this isn’t related to “October” - which is generally a nice month)

Omphalophobia (Fear of belly buttons)

Omphalophobia is a fear of belly buttons. People with omphalophobia will avoid seeing or touching belly buttons, even their own. They might even put a bandage over their belly button to avoid looking at it. They will sometimes avoid places where belly buttons might be exposed, like the beach.  (I have one - and I will show it on occasion - like at the swimming pool)

Linonophobia (Fear of string)

Linonophobia is a fear of string. A person with linonophobia will have an extreme reaction when even thinking of string, let alone seeing it in person. People with linonophobia will avoid string or anything having to do with string, such as sewing or tying shoes.  (Hey, my preference is “no strings attached”!!)

Pogonophobia (Fear of beards)

Pogonophobia is a fear of beards. This usually stems from an alarming incident with a bearded person. It could also arise from a person not liking that a beard hides someone’s face.  (I’m done with beards!!!)

Vestiphobia (Fear of clothing)

Vestiphobia is a fear of clothing. For many people, this manifests as a fear of a specific garment. For others, it might come from a fear of tight-fitting clothing that causes them to feel restrained. In other cases, it is a fear of all clothing.  (At age 73, I don’t think anybody would want to see my nude body!!)

Decidophobia (Fear of making decisions)

Decidophobia is a fear of making decisions. Making any kind of decision can seem impossible for someone with decidophobia, as they do not trust their own opinions. A person with decidophobia may excessively rely on others to help them with decision making.  (Hmm - what topic should I write on next week?)

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We’ve done some old adages.  Let try a few more:

(https://www.southernliving.com/culture/southern-grandma-sayings/) 

I took this from Southern Living - so they might be different than you Yankees (like me) remember;

1. You’re the ________  knees

2. Many __________ make ________ work

3. __________ is as _________ does (same word)

4. You’ll catch more flies with __________ than with ___________

5. It was like herding ___________

6. One man’s __________ is another man’s _____________

7. Don’t take any wooden _________________

8. An __________ a day keeps _____________________ away

9. This isn’t my first _____________

10. I love you a ____________ and a ___________ and a hug around the neck

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NATIONAL DAYS:

(We missed) Tag der Deutschen Sprache - Saturday, September 12, 2020.  If you can read the word then you know what day it is!!  (I’m doing Duolingo German language - and in an online Meetup German Discussion group)

National Grandparent’s Day - Sunday, September 13,2020

I think this pretty much applies to all of us (and I think some of you have Great-grandchildren!!!)

National Peanut Day - Sunday, September 13, 2020

Peanuts are a weakness of mine - I generally have the large jar of peanut butter and a can of peanuts.

National Guacamole Day - Wednesday, September 16, 2020

On National Guacamole Day every September 16, we elevate this tasty green blend into the spotlight.  Guacamole is made of avocados, which are well-known for the health benefits related to their high vitamin content and lots of cholesterol-lowering healthy fats. 

National Talk Like a Pirate Day - Saturday, September 19, 2020

Created by two friends in 1995 as a joke, Talk Like a Pirate Day, on September 19, has become a beloved faux-holiday that lets everyone channel their inner Jack Sparrow.

** My best memories of Talk like a Pirate Day go back a few years when Krispy Kreme Donuts gave a FREE dozen box of donuts to anyone who was in costume who stopped in and said “arghh - give me some donuts or walk the plank matey” (or something like that).  I’m sure that got out of hand.  There was a family of six in front of me - Mom, Dad, and four kids - all dressed as pirates and all got a dozen donuts!!!  (Maybe they were taking them to school???)

More next week

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So, one more week of social distancing and isolation.  

Answers:

11. You’re the BEE'S knees

12. Many HANDS make LIGHT work (I like to say that in a power outage)

13. PRETTY is as PRETTY does (same word)

14. You’ll catch more flies with HONEY than with VINEGAR

15. It was like herding CATS

16. One man’s TRASH is another man’s TREASURE

17. Don’t take any wooden NICKELS

18. An APPLE a day keeps THE DOCTOR away

19. This isn’t my first RODEO

20. I love you a BUSHEL and a PECK and a hug around the neck

LOVE WINS!!!

Karen