Fun in April 2013

I decided to do something fun for my blog entry this week and see what Fun and Strange Holidays/Days of Recognition April has in store for us to celebrate.  We all need to relax and have some fun throughout the month so why not see what is already scheduled for the first half of April 2013.

In honor of my friend John Z. and his family, Monday, April 1, 2013 is Dyngus Day. Also spelled Dingus Day, it is a Polish Holiday.  It is very popular in Poland, and in Polish communities in America. After the long Lenten holiday, Dyngus Day is a day of fun and, perhaps a little romantic fun. It is always celebrated on the Monday after Easter.

There are all sorts of ways for boys to meet girls. But, this one takes the cake.  

Guys, on this day you get to wet the ladies down. Sprinkling or drenching with water is your goal. Chase after the ladies with squirt guns, buckets, or other containers of water. The more bold and gallant boys, may choose to use cologne. Hitting (gently, please) the ladies on the legs with switches or pussy willows is also common.

Yes ladies, you can strike back. Ladies, you get your revenge on Tuesday, when tradition has it that you throw dishes or crockery back at the boys. It has become increasingly popular for the ladies to get their revenge on Monday, tossing water back at the boys.

Dyngus Day is also called Wet Easter Monday. Hmmm, I wonder why!?  It is also John Z Birthday, how appropriate for a man of Polish decent to be born on April fool’s day... sorry John had to say it...

April 7th is World Health Day. Sponsored by United Nation's World Health Organization (WHO), World Health Day focuses upon a different health theme each year. It is an international event to emphasize and work on important health issues or problems. Many countries around the world participate.

Major activities on world health Day focus upon, awareness, education programs, and fund raising activities to help with the health issue for the year. Countries also work on resolving problems related to the theme.  The World Health Organization (WHO) of the United Nation's sponsors World Health Day each year. Annually, a different country is selected to host World Health Day events.

April 10th, is National Sibling Day. This day is to appreciate and cherish your brothers and sisters. Siblings are truly a special blessing that we probably all too often take for granted. They are often our best friends and supporters through life. Another reason to celebrate is that not everyone is lucky enough to have siblings. Their lives are significantly different growing up, and throughout life.

Celebrate National Sibling Day in a variety of ways. It's a great time to be thankful for your sibling. But, most importantly get in touch with your siblings. Visit them if they live nearby. Call them, if they live far away. Send them a card, a letter, gifts, or flowers.    

Then on April 11^th, it is Eight Track Tape Day, Who among you remembers those... Eight Track Tape Day brings back fond memories of the sixties and seventies. During this era, eight track tapes ruled the music world. America's love of the automobile was a driving force in creating the demand for musical cassette formats. For those who grew up in this era, an eight track tape player in your home and your car was an essential. It was eventually replaced by cassette and other formats for storing music.

Eight Track Tape Day is a day to bring back fond memories of the sixties and seventies. If you still have tapes and a player, by all means enjoy the day listening to some great music. If not, just spend a few minutes looking back in time to when you loved your eight track tapes!

To finish out the first half of April 2013, I have to tell you about the Best Day of the Month. April 14^th.  It is “The Kid’s Birthday” Or better known as “Cindy’s Birthday”. Yes this day was created back in 196? To commemorate my Kid sister’s Birth... I keep trying to push her into her fifth decade she keeps correcting me. But that is okay, she will never forget the start of her fifth decade I guarantee that.

So Happy 40something Birthday, Kid on 4/14...

Keep Dancin’ Larry B

 

 

 

Thanksgiving 2012

What a difference a year makes, one year ago today, I was sitting in our Little House on the Bluff typing a similar blog entry.  Today I am sitting in our new home which I have dubbed Orchard Hills Big House. We have been in the house for 90 days and it seems like a lot longer time has passed. Luckily, I was able to take much needed time off from work so we could get everything settled before the cold weather hit.

 

This year we decided to break tradition of cooking and spending most of the day in the kitchen instead we took Dad and Sister to Lake Barkley for a Thanksgiving feast. It was  a beautiful day in Middle Tennessee with 70 degree temperatures and beautiful sunshine.  The only thing missing is our loved ones that have passed and our Florida Family.  

Growing up it in Southeast Missouri, Thanksgiving was always a family event, I am fortunate enough to remember everyone meeting at our Great Grandparents house for the day. The Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, and cousins all gathering for a day of home cooking, games and just being together as a family.

Those were special times; the extended family unit was together as one clan. As our society moved forward, it seems to have lost this one important aspect of the family.  The family unit is more nuclear in nature today than in the past.  We move further from the family to pursue careers and then everyone becomes so involved with their own lives that taking the time to be with extended family does not seem as important.

This happen to our family clan, as the great and grandparents passed on, my generation was the one that moved further away from the homestead. We were the ones that pursued those careers and just never seem to have any time to make it home for the holidays. I, for one, realized this but only after the passing of my Mother.

Thanksgiving was always a special holiday for her. She called it her mid holiday.  Halloween was the first because of my birth, then Thanksgiving and ending with Christmas. She always wanted the family together for the holiday and for so many years it was just never possible for all of us to be in on location for this weekend. 

 We made the decision a year ago to move so we could be closer to family and it has been the best decision. This past year has proven that point, being able to spend more time with Dad and my sister is priceless and it means so much to me. Every day and every month that passes I know I am only a few hours from Dad and only a few minutes from my Sister, it just feels right.

 Dad is splitting his nights between our house and sister's this year. It is the family joke now that we have to share custody on the holidays. It is just wonderful to have that opportunity each holiday. Tonight, he is back at her house and it is our turn for the last night of his visit this trip.

My Mother would be so proud to see her family finally together for the holidays.  I can hear her now, saying “I would love another cup of coffee but I have babies (dogs) on my lap” and of course, I or Paul would be the ones getting that cup of coffee.    I am thankful to be backing home with the family.   Now it is time for a cup of coffee in honor of Mom...  Happy Post Thanksgiving 2012.

Keep Dancin'

 LB

 

Yahoo!

New Beginnings

Yahoo!

Nearly 11 months ago, Paul and I made the decision that it was best for us and family to relocate to Clarksville, TN. After much discussion and mental anguish, I approached my boss to request a transfer and was rewarded with the knowledge that she was not about to lose me to another State or office. So with the security of being employed remotely, we put the house on the market, thinking we might have to leave and deal with a long distance sale. Fortunately, that was not the case and the Florida house sold in two days.

So with a month to pack, deciding what went with us in our two vehicles and what would be placed in storage, our path was clear to make the final move to Tennessee. We had purchased the Little Condo on the Bluff a couple of years prior as our getaway location and now it would be our new home.

The Condo is a great little house, quiet and peaceful but the goal of moving to Tennessee was to eventually convince Dad it was time to retire and that we wanted him to live with us. Dad is the only surviving parent that my sister, Paul and I have and it is our goal to ensure he takes care of himself. So even though we loved living in the condo, it was not going to be our ultimate location.

After spending months roaming Montgomery County, we looked at multiple re-sells but no matter what we liked it was going to take thousands to make it suitable for ourselves. Our wonderful realtor passed on a link regarding a new subdivision approximately 3 miles from the condo. After touring the spec. homes in the community we found the perfect model. It had a Dad Suite and a bonus room that we could convert into 2 man caves. Plus starting from the ground up we could make all the modifications that we wanted from the start.

So after 5 months, we are now in the Orchard Hills house. We have spent the week moving, unpacking and purchasing to our bodies and credit card are totally exhausted. We are now awaiting the delivery of the Florida Storage and few items that we had to order to arrive. The Dad Suite is nearly complete and now the real work of convincing the Old Missouri Mule to think about retiring will begin in earnest.

Clarksville has become our new home town and we could not be happier. A new home, new neighborhood and starting Monday September 10^th; Larry B resurfaces with an International Line Dance class at the Clarksville Athletic Club. It is always stressful starting out on a new beginning but having family and support from friends it has been a great adventure. Granted it is one we do not plan to do again, Clarksville is the final stomping ground.

Till next time, LB.

Labor Day 2012

Depending on whether you count from the first Labor Day or from when it became a Federal Holiday. ThisLabor Day is the 130th or 118^th. It was originally intended that the day would be filled with a street parade to allow the public to appreciate the work of the trade and labor organizations. After the parade, a festival would be held to amuse local workers and their families.

In later years, prominent men and women held speeches. One of the reasons for choosing to celebrate this on the first Monday in September was to add a holiday in the long gap between Independence Day and Thanksgiving.

It is largely a day of rest in modern times. Many people mark Labor Day as the end of the summer season and a last chance to make trips or hold outdoor events. This year I will be celebrating Labor Day by moving into our new home and helping my sister prepare to move into our condo. 

Seems like it was just a year ago that I was packing up our house in Florida and getting ready to move to Tennessee. Oh wait, it was a year ago.  It has been a great year and we have definitely established Clarksville as our home. So yes in one year we have sold a house in Florida, moved to our condo on the bluff and had a new house built.   

The funny thing is I wrote 2 years ago here in my blog about how the Condo on the Bluff was my place to get away to a slower pace of life.  I talked about how tired I was of the metropolitan area of South Florida and how when I was here I slowed down, became more productive and creative.

It is a slower pace of life here but this year has not been that slow paced for us. Perhaps once this move is complete we will be able to slow down and enjoy our new home and the surrounding area.

It feels like we are starting over just as it did a year ago.  This time I know it is the last time I am going to pack up totes.  Luckily instead of 18 hours of driving, it is only 5 minutes from door to door.

Till next time LB

Celebrating Dad’s Birthday

Dad came over for a 4 day weekend today, to celebrate his birthday with us in Tennessee.  Sister had told him she was coming to Missouri for his birthday. He told her he had decided to come here to be with all of us. Of course, Paul and I told him, we knew the real reason for his decision was the fact here he will be fed and pampered.  If Sister visited him it would be take out and diners all weekend. He got a good laugh out of that reasoning but he did not deny it either.

After his arrival today, Paul took him to his first stop during every visit, the local Library to pick up his weekend supply of books. It is always a reading marathon when Dad visits. He can read on average 5 novels during a weekend.  He will have read at least one book by the time this gets posted. (Make that two novels)

Tonight, we will take him out for a light dinner then go harass Umpire Richards for a couple of hours. (That was the plan before the games were called due to wet fields, so Sister and our Friend Kris met us for Chinese). We have to keep Dad up past 7 p.m. or he will have the household up by 3 a. m.  Saturday, Paul will make him his favorite breakfast of eggs, sausage, biscuits and gravy. We will show him the progress on the new house and again describe his future Dad Suite. Although, we all know getting him to finally move and retire will take an act of God.

We will stop by Sister’s place for a while then head back to the little house on the bluff to relax. I plan to make my mouth watering, fall off the bone baby back ribs for Saturday dinner. Paul will make his famous baked beans and homemade Cole slaw. 

Sunday, for his birthday, Paul will make Dad a great breakfast. We will relax, read and watch Storage Wars, Swamp People and Storage Hunters. Sister will be over so better throw in some Olympics to that mix as well.  We plan to take him out to the New Catfish House so Dad can have “all you can eat catfish”.

Then it will be back to the little house on the bluff for a great home-made banana pudding, one of Dad’s favorite desserts.

Yes, it will be a nice quiet weekend pampering the old man and celebrating his 74^th Birthday.   Happy Birthday, Pop...

Till next time. LB