SUNDAY FUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2023

 SUNDAY FUNDAY

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 19, 2023

WARM-UP

Here we are more than halfway through February.  Many of us are still dealing with branches and tree limbs from the ice storm two weeks ago. 

The Super Bowl is over.  It was a good game with the winning field goal coming with only a few seconds left.  The ads were interesting (and I missed the half-time show - how was it)?  

Valentine’s Day is over. We should be started (and some are already done) with taxes.

The weather is still a little up and down.  (I check to see if I have to cover or bring my container garden inside - and the early prediction is for a night of 30 degrees last night), but with a prediction of 70s up to 80 in the coming week!!

NATIONAL DAYS
IWO JIMA DAY - February 19, 2023 - National Today

On February 19, 1945, the US Marines and the Japanese Imperial Army had a major battle on Iwo Jima.  The United States military wanted the island as an airfield for advancing on Japan.  The raising of the flag over Iwo Jima is historic.

NATIONAL CHERRY PIE DAY - February 20, 2023 - National Today

Thanks, George Washington!!!  

National Cherry Pie Day is on February 20. With all its fruity, buttery goodness, we have our forks ready to devour this delicious dessert in all its forms — homemade or store-bought everything is better with pie! With this holiday being celebrated only a few days after Presidents’ Day, it is believed that this pie flavor was chosen for its significance to George Washington and the myth created by his biographer about Washington’s honesty when he cut down his father’s cherry tree.

The old (I think it isn’t true) story was that the cherry tree was hewed down.  His father asked George if he cut it down, and George said “I cannot tell a lie, I chopped it down”).

From the old nursery rhyme:

Can she make a cherry pie, Billy Boy, Billy Boy, Can she make a cherry pie, charming Billy? She can make a cherry pie, quick as you can wink an eye, She’s a young thing and cannot leave her mother.

AND, February 20th is President’s Day - lots of government offices will be closed that day!!!  

(I remember Lincoln’s Birthday on February 12th and Washington’s Birthday on February 22nd.  I also remember the year George Washington was born - it is the same as the square root of 3!!!  (1.732)

MARDI GRAS - February 21, 2023 - National Today

Yes, “Fat Tuesday” is here. 

It’s Mardi Gras time, arguably one the biggest celebrations in the world. It stretches from Twelfth Night (the last night of Christmas) all the way until Ash Wednesday. Mardi Gras is French for “Fat Tuesday” to reflect the practice of eating rich, fatty foods before the ritual fasting of the Lenten season. I think Bridge is going to have a “King Cake” - we’ll have to remember who found the baby this year!!!

ASH WEDNESDAY - February 22, 2023 

The period of Lent starts today and goes until the Thursday before Easter.  While it tends to be a Catholic/Christian observation, some other Christian denominations do observe Lent and Ash Wednesday as well.  It is a period of fasting, praying, and almsgiving.  Some traditions emphasize giving up something (like chocolate) during Lent and others favor adding something (like more prayer time and sharing more with neighbors).  It is 40 days -not counting weekends, like the 40 days Jesus was in the wilderness after His baptism, or the 40 years the Hebrews were in the desert after escaping Egypt.  (Note, Lent, and Ash Wednesday are not in the Bible but are part of the traditions leading up to Easter).

DIGITAL LEARNING DAY - February 23, 2023

We can learn a lot (and also waste a lot of time) with digital devices (aka - computers and smartphones).  When COVID hit, many schools switched to digital learning - with Google Classroom as the standard platform.

I’ve taught with digital learning devices since the mid-1990s.  I was in South Dakota and our Dakota State University President at that time honored some of us with “Pioneer Seed Corn” hats - since we were pioneers in that new format.  (Hmmm - I wonder if my old COBOL I and II courses are still available online!!!)

Two Related Days for Friday, February 24th:

FRIDAY FISH FRY DAY - February 24, 2023 

NATIONAL TARTAR SAUCE DAY - February 24, 2023 

In the Catholic/Christian tradition, fasting on Fridays was expected - including meatless meals on Fridays (which generally meant eating fish or macaroni and cheese).

Our Cleveland Elementary School served fish sticks and/or macaroni and cheese on Fridays during Lent.  I can still remember the smell.  (It was about a year ago that I ate macaroni and cheese for the first time in “forever”).  I also learned to coat (drown) fish in Tartar Sauce.  To me - they just weren’t appetizing.  I do eat fish much more willingly these days and still, use tartar sauce!!!

INTERNATIONAL SWORD SWALLOWERS DAY - February 25, 2023

Here’s a day that I have never taken part in.  Maybe (or maybe not) - this could be the year I try sword swallowing!!!  

The blurb says: “Sword swallowers, a.k.a. Those guys who pass long, pointy, sharp instruments through their mouths into their stomachs, often don’t get the same level of fame and respect as other entertainers. This holiday was specially created to recognize and appreciate sword swallowers while educating people about their contribution to the world.

This day has another, higher purpose, too — it attempts to eradicate all myths surrounding sword swallowing and bring global attention to how the sword-swallowing community has helped both medically and scientifically.

The month of February also plays host to National Swallowing Disorders Month. This initiative was formed to raise money for esophageal cancer research and fund medical treatment of injured sword swallowers.

Hmmm - maybe I’ll have to think about trying sword swallowing next year!!!

WHAT'S GOING ON

Yes, the Bluebonnet Philharmonic Orchestra is on March 5th at 3:00 at Georgetown High School Auditorium.  (Yes, I am biased - but I want to encourage this group to keep having matinee performances in Georgetown. Some of my friends don’t like to drive at night AND, I think you will enjoy the music - Movie themes - Beauty and the Beast, Frozen, Lion King, Pirates of the Caribbean, and more.   And, it is about an hour long - and definitely NOT BORING!!!!                FREE

The Granny Basketball team played last week in Waco.  It was a good game (and lunch with the Waco team afterward) but we were a little short - 52 to 48) and will be scrimmaging a new team in Killeen/Fort Hood coming up.  

Karen White, February 19, 2023