Good news: In the wake of the devastating brush fires where so much wildlife was lost, the Australian Reptile Park in New South Wales, has welcomed its first baby koala of the season, baby girl named Ash. The video is super sweet.
New Zealand has now moved to level one, the lowest of a four-tier alert system for COVID-19. Social distancing is now not required, there are no limits on public gatherings, but it is still encouraged, and their borders will remain closed to foreigners. They have not reported a new case for 7 days.
If I remember correctly, I may have mentioned that the kids and I have eaten a lot of potatoes during the past 3 months. Mostly mashed, with lots of real butter and real cream, then we take the leftovers and make potato cakes, which was a staple in my family when I was growing up. Add an egg, a little flour, some baking powder if you want, some corn and chopped green onions, then place scoops in a greased pan. Flip when brown. Delicious. You can also scrub potatoes (because you’ll want to eat the skins), slice them in half, add a pad of butter with a big slice of fresh onion, some garlic, a little lemon pepper with salt, inside and out, then wrap them in foil and bake. Make sure you place them so the butter doesn’t drip out or it messes up your oven – yes, I know this from experience. You can also place them on your grill before you cook your meats. Easy, and I promise you will love them this way.
When I was a kid, the Crayola box had flesh (later renamed peach) and a brown color in it. The flesh wasn’t used often because it didn’t show up very well on white paper. Last month, Crayola announced they will have a new set of hues representing over 40 global skin tones that “authentically reflects the full spectrum of human complexions,” in both 24 and 32-crayon packs. For the project, Crayola brought in the CEO of cosmetics line MOB Beauty, Victor Casale. He said, “I have spent my life trying to create truly global shade palettes because I know what it’s like to be with a person who has finally found their exact match…Growing up, I remember mixing the pink and dark brown crayons to try and make my shade, so I was thrilled when Crayola asked for my help to create the Colors of the World crayons.” It will be available in July. A different Crayola set, called Multicultural, came out 20-years ago with colors of black, sepia, peach, apricot, white, tan, mahogany, and burnt sienna.
Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family. Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one. Jane Howard
Flashback to your Childhood: Summer is around the corner and it is nearly time for the cicadas to emerge for their once-in-17-year mating season. Parts of Virginia, North Carolina and West Virginia could see as many as 1.5 million cicadas emerging PER ACRE. It is an amazing event, but noisy. The males are trying to find a mate and try to out-noise each other. I watched a YouTube video (Return of the Cicadas) and the sounds that filled the trees brought back childhood memories of playing outside way past dark…until our moms made us come in. Researchers say the breeding cycle is still something of a mystery. Could it be tied to avoiding predators (nah, a bunch still get eaten.) Climate change was listed a possible cause. They are truly, beautiful creatures, and sadly, only live for about 6 weeks.
ActionS is packing boxes for homebound senior citizens throughout the county. Inexpensive cleaning products, small bottles of water, coffee, soup, Boost, oatmeal, canned milk, non-refrigerated juice, canned meats, and non-perishable snacks. Any non-perishable food item is great. Also, any donations of money can be sent to ActionS, 1524 E. Mulberry, Suite 135, Angleton, Texas. This will be spent on specialty items that are requested.
RECENT BIRTHDAYS: Singer Janet Jackson is 54. Actor Rami Malek is 39. Actress Tina Fey is 50. Actress Barbara Barrie is 89. Actress Joan Collins is 87.
Found on Facebook: People are still shocked Texas wants to open back up. Let me try to explain it. Five years ago, Blue Bell literally killed us with contaminated ice cream and all we cared about was when we would get our next half-gallon. It’s what we do.
Oops. I spelled ‘Legally Blonde’ wrong, a few weeks back. My son noticed that I left off the ‘e’ on the end of Blonde. Sorry, Reese. Congratulations to Brazoria County District Attorney Jeri Yenne, who is retiring. She became an assistant DA 32 years ago, then was elected DA in 1999. Thank you. A community midwife, a train driver and a supermarket worker are British Vogue’s latest cover stars…true beauties inside and out. If by chance, we must evacuate for a future storm (thank you for leaving us alone, Cristobal), don’t forget to put disinfectant, face coverings and gloves in your to-go bag.
Gypsy Rose Blanchard became famous in 2015 when she, along with her then-boyfriend, planned the murder of her mother, after years of medical child abuse. She became the subject of an HBO documentary titled Mommy Dead and Dearest and a HULU miniseries called The Act. Her parole hearing is scheduled for 2024. Gypsy admits to experiencing more freedom in prison than she ever did in real-life with her mother. Munchausen syndrome by proxy is a mental health problem in which a caregiver makes up or causes an illness or injury in a person under their care. Her mother had over 100 doctors that had provided consultations and treatments – organizations like Make-a-Wish Foundation and even Gypsy’s own father, believed that she was a paraplegic battling muscular dystrophy, leukemia, epilepsy, and had a history of mental retardation, operating at the same level as a 7-year-old. Her mother controlled everything. I find it hard to believe that she was given 10 years in prison after that kind of abuse. It’s hard to realize that she never had a normal family day in her life. Was she the victim or the villain? Watch the shows. They are intriguing.
Tuesday Morning was calling my name, so I put on my garden gloves and mask, and ventured out for the first time, ‘for fun’ instead of groceries, bird seed or cat litter. Tuesday Morning stores have been so good to me. My current dishes came from every Tuesday Morning store within a 60-mile radius. I love the chase. I adore the Peacock Alley bedding (the softest cotton ever) and waited for over a year for them to mark down a Coursistan rug that I was in love with. I am very patient when there is a deal involved. Well, on this day, very few people were obeying the direction arrows on the floor and even fewer were wearing masks. I shopped in record time and informed two individuals along the way, that they were going the wrong direction. Hmmm. Sorry, but this isn’t rocket science. The rules are in place and the stickers are on the floor for all of us, not just me. Then on Sunday, I ventured to Costco because I was out of all the BIG things. My last trip there was three months ago, and I needed laundry soap, paper plates for the office, toilet paper, paper towels and wine. Yes, wine. I was relieved when I got there, to see that EVERYONE had on a mask and they were kind and friendly, spraying, then wiping down the carts. Everyone there was behaving like we were having a pandemic and they were still happy. (There were two individuals that were cruising through the store without masks and without baskets, looking like they were daring someone to call them down, but I did not. My basket was like a puzzle. I could not have fit in one more item. It was great. Yes, I am good for another 2-3 months but everyone in my office may have to ration their toilet paper use. As Dr. Oz says, “2-3 squares because you’re going to wash your hands afterwards anyway, aren’t you?”
In the mid-20th century, our hygiene changed because of access to clean water. The average life expectancy a hundred years ago was mid-40’s, and today it is 78.6 years as an average, with women (81.1) living about five years longer than men (76.1). Our homes now all have indoor bathrooms with running water to wash our hands. Miryam Z. Wahman has written a book about handwashing called “The Hand Book: Surviving in a Germ-filled World,” where she explains because of world travel, we need to learn how to live in a germ-filled world because it is here to stay, and we need to do a much better job than we have in the past.
Families are about love overcoming emotional torture. Matt Groening
As I trudged through another pile at my office that I had not touched or seen in a while, I came across something that the late Mike Lowrey once said. These words of wisdom were given to me when I helped with his funeral, after his unexpected death on August 31, 2014. It has always spoken to my heart, more so now, than ever. “We are who/what we are. We are gifted for something…and we must identify and pursue this gift…so…start where you are…use what you have…do what you can…Now! Mike Lowrey
In two local neighborhoods that I am aware of, uninvited strangers have been making the rounds of the houses, knocking on doors, selling webworm/caterpillar cocoon removal and pesticide control. Lucky for us, we all talk. These guys (and girls) gather information from each house that they visit, then casually drop bits of that information in conversation, making the person think that they know more than they rightfully should. They remember your name, your children’s names and then they make use of that information at the next house. They also tell you that “everyone in the neighborhood is doing this.” Then they get your payment information. Watch out. Scammers everywhere now.
It is a disgrace to grow old through sheer carelessness. Socrates
I have run this before, but it is so funny, so here it is again.
Doug Smith is on his deathbed and knows the end is near. His nurse, his wife, daughter and 2 sons are with him. He asks for 2 witnesses to be present and a camcorder be in place to record his last wishes, and when all is ready, he begins to speak:
“My son, Bernie, I want you to take the Mayfair houses.”
“My daughter Sybil, you take the apartments over in the east end.”
“My son, Jamie, I want you to take the offices over in the City Center.”
“Sarah, my dear wife, please take all the residential buildings on the banks of the river.”
The nurse and witnesses are blown away as they did not realize his extensive holdings, and as Doug slips away, the nurse says, “Mrs. Smith, your husband must have been such a hard-working man to have accumulated all this property”. The wife rolls her eyes and replies, “The old goat has a paper route.”
Readers: after 21 plus years together, we still think the world of you. Help us… Small businesses need your help. We need your help. Sell something. Give something away. Buy something that someone is selling in this paper today. It will take more than a village to pull some of us out of the great, big, dark hole that we are in. Thank you.
Lisa
