Good morning and welcome to another fabulous Saturday of fun facts, musings and other interesting bits here at the Wannaskan Almanac. Today is the 25th of August.
Since I had success googling "significance of 8-18-18" last week, I thought I would give it another try this week. Happily, I scored a big cha-ching.
10 Mind-Blowing Things That Happened This Week
If you haven't been following the news, this convenient Top 10 list over at LISTVERSE pretty much sums up all you need to know this week in current events. I took a look and, yupper (as Wannaskan Writer would say), looks pretty complete to me.
#7 on the list, The Eagles Overtook Michael Jackson With The Biggest-Selling Album Of All Time, was celebrated personally this week. A friend of mine gifted me the Eagles', Their Greatest Hits CD in commemoration of this significant feat. Furthermore, one of the kids listened to it on his own and said, "Hey you know that Eagles CD? It's pretty good."
#6, The US Deported America’s Last-Known Nazi Collaborator, was meaningful because the day I heard this news, Tuesday, August 21, I had a meeting with a Polish Holocaust survivor who is in the process of preparing her memoir for publication.
#4, Measles Cases Skyrocketed In Europe, is a touchy subject among parents in our area. While most parents DO vaccinate their children, there are those who choose not to and, well, the numbers speak for themselves.
While I have plenty to say about #10, Paul Manafort Was Convicted Of Fraud, and #1, Trump’s Ex-Lawyer Implicated The President In A Federal Crime . . . Or Did He?, for the sake of keeping the neighborly peace, it's probably best not to.
What "mind blowing" news do you have to share?
Over at our house we have just completed Week #13 of Summer Vacation! Woohoo!
This week, at least three mothers remarked, "Are you ready for kids to go back to school?" That's momspeak for, "I am ready for the kids to go back to school."
Despite summer winding down, there were still adventures to be had. Hubby continues his tramping across the Czech countryside, making his way to Teplice nad Metují, famous for the Adršpašské skály rock formations. I'm making it sound more glamorous than it is. He actually went up to this lovely northern Bohemia region to do repairs on babička's house.
Speaking of grandmothers and this region, there is a wonderful book by Czech author, Božena Němcová, called Babička that is set near this area. If you can get a copy in English, I highly recommend it. (I looked! You can! Click the link!)
Fun Fact: Božena Němcová is on the 500 Czech crown note.
Stateside, the other kids went up to the Northwest Angle for Cross Country camp (read more below by our kid writer-in-residence) which meant I had nearly 3 WHOLE DAYS to myself. That happens as frequently as a solar eclipse.
So, I took the opportunity to plan my own trip.
I spent two days in the Twin Cities for both business and pleasure. One of the highlights was, of course, food. (Something people understand when you live up here in da Wannaska region. Uff da!)
I breakfasted at The Neighborhood Cafe near Macalester College. (The early bird is served until 8:30 a.m. consisting of 2 eggs, 2 meat, toast and beverage of your choice.)
I lunched at The Red Cow. (Proof a hamburger doesn't need ketchup.)
I supped at Rah'MN. (A noodle shop! Fresh veggies, hot broth and chopstick practice. The spring rolls were bright and the peanut sauce a great contrast. My dinner mates have been to Japan many times and graciously guided me through Japanese chopstick etiquette. Here are some useful Chopstick Etiquette tips.)
I heartily recommend all three.
During those two days, I shook a lot of hands. I noticed that the women offered only their fingers which made it awkward when I went in for a full grip. I've been researching etiquette for quite awhile now and I was sure I knew the rule. So, I googled and checked my books again. Ladies, I am right. Unless you're attending a Southern cotillion, "lady fingers" - also known as "fish hand" - is out.
Whether you're female or male, here's a "handy" (har-har) article:
10 Tips on How to Shake Hands With Confidence
Or a quick YouTube video: The Biggest Mistake Women Make Shaking Hands?
Since I had success googling "significance of 8-18-18" last week, I thought I would give it another try this week. Happily, I scored a big cha-ching.
10 Mind-Blowing Things That Happened This Week
If you haven't been following the news, this convenient Top 10 list over at LISTVERSE pretty much sums up all you need to know this week in current events. I took a look and, yupper (as Wannaskan Writer would say), looks pretty complete to me.
#6, The US Deported America’s Last-Known Nazi Collaborator, was meaningful because the day I heard this news, Tuesday, August 21, I had a meeting with a Polish Holocaust survivor who is in the process of preparing her memoir for publication.
#4, Measles Cases Skyrocketed In Europe, is a touchy subject among parents in our area. While most parents DO vaccinate their children, there are those who choose not to and, well, the numbers speak for themselves.
While I have plenty to say about #10, Paul Manafort Was Convicted Of Fraud, and #1, Trump’s Ex-Lawyer Implicated The President In A Federal Crime . . . Or Did He?, for the sake of keeping the neighborly peace, it's probably best not to.
What "mind blowing" news do you have to share?
Over at our house we have just completed Week #13 of Summer Vacation! Woohoo!
This week, at least three mothers remarked, "Are you ready for kids to go back to school?" That's momspeak for, "I am ready for the kids to go back to school."
Despite summer winding down, there were still adventures to be had. Hubby continues his tramping across the Czech countryside, making his way to Teplice nad Metují, famous for the Adršpašské skály rock formations. I'm making it sound more glamorous than it is. He actually went up to this lovely northern Bohemia region to do repairs on babička's house.
Speaking of grandmothers and this region, there is a wonderful book by Czech author, Božena Němcová, called Babička that is set near this area. If you can get a copy in English, I highly recommend it. (I looked! You can! Click the link!)
Fun Fact: Božena Němcová is on the 500 Czech crown note.
Stateside, the other kids went up to the Northwest Angle for Cross Country camp (read more below by our kid writer-in-residence) which meant I had nearly 3 WHOLE DAYS to myself. That happens as frequently as a solar eclipse.
So, I took the opportunity to plan my own trip.
I spent two days in the Twin Cities for both business and pleasure. One of the highlights was, of course, food. (Something people understand when you live up here in da Wannaska region. Uff da!)
I breakfasted at The Neighborhood Cafe near Macalester College. (The early bird is served until 8:30 a.m. consisting of 2 eggs, 2 meat, toast and beverage of your choice.)
I lunched at The Red Cow. (Proof a hamburger doesn't need ketchup.)
I supped at Rah'MN. (A noodle shop! Fresh veggies, hot broth and chopstick practice. The spring rolls were bright and the peanut sauce a great contrast. My dinner mates have been to Japan many times and graciously guided me through Japanese chopstick etiquette. Here are some useful Chopstick Etiquette tips.)
I heartily recommend all three.
During those two days, I shook a lot of hands. I noticed that the women offered only their fingers which made it awkward when I went in for a full grip. I've been researching etiquette for quite awhile now and I was sure I knew the rule. So, I googled and checked my books again. Ladies, I am right. Unless you're attending a Southern cotillion, "lady fingers" - also known as "fish hand" - is out.
Whether you're female or male, here's a "handy" (har-har) article:
10 Tips on How to Shake Hands With Confidence
Or a quick YouTube video: The Biggest Mistake Women Make Shaking Hands?
 |
| photo credit (link) to: www.flazingo.com |
Fun Facts from the Kids
Latest experiment - UPDATE: (Still) Collecting sweat in a jar.
Latest challenge - UPDATE: To run 85 miles in 9 days. ACCOMPLISHED
Favorite food of the week - UPDATE: Clif bars (Thank you to the W.A. reader who mailed our kid writer-in-residence a stash of said bars.)
#8 from the aforementioned Mind-Blowing List, Water Ice Was Detected On The Moon’s Surface, was indeed - a mind blower. (The older teens, however, weren't surprised.)
CCC
Cross
Country Camp
2012 - First Spacecraft to Enter Interstellar Space
NASA’s Voyager 1, which was launched on September 5, 1977, left the heliosphere – the part of space that is not influenced by our Sun on this day. In February 1990, the spacecraft took the first overview picture of the solar system. It is the most distant man-made object in space.
1991 - Michael Schumacher Makes His Formula One Debut
The German race car champion competed in his first Formula One race in the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa Francorchamps. While he did not win that race, he would go on to win 91 Formula One Grand Prix races. (NOTE: At our house, Schumacher is probably best known for his guest appearance as Himself in the animated film CARS. "Guido, punch me now. A REAL Ferrari!")
1944 - Liberation of Paris
The battle to liberate Paris, which had been under Nazi control since 1940, began on August 19, 1944, and ended on this day. The battle was fought between Nazi soldiers and members of the French resistance group, who were helped by the American Armed Forces headed by General George Patton. The Germans provided little resistance and did not carry out Hitler’s orders of razing Paris to the ground. The Nazi Commander of Paris, General Dietrich Von Choltitz surrendered to the French and American troops. On August 26, General Charles de Gaulle entered Paris and headed a liberation march on the Champs d’Elysees before declaring the Provisional Government of the French Republic.
Book Recommendation of the Week: The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah.
1835 - First Installment of the Great Moon Hoax is Published
The New York-based newspaper The Sun published a series of articles, starting on this day, that detailed the discovery of civilization on the Moon.
Fairytale Recommendation of the Week: There's a Vietnamese folktale about the man in the moon. Enjoy the story of Chú Cuội here.
1825 - Uruguay Declares Independence from the Brazilian Empire
The Empire consisted of present-day Brazil and Uruguay and had declared its independence from Portugal in 1822. Despite the declaration of independence, Uruguay's independence was not recognized by the Empire until August 1928, when the Treaty of Montevideo was signed.
1954 - Elvis Costello, English singer-songwriter, producer
1949 - Gene Simmons, Israeli/American singer-songwriter, bass player, producer, actor,
1930 - Sean Connery, Scottish actor, producer
1530 - Ivan the Terrible, Russian Tsar
There is only 1 week left of summer vacation! Make the most of it and make it a great Saturday!
Kim
#8 from the aforementioned Mind-Blowing List, Water Ice Was Detected On The Moon’s Surface, was indeed - a mind blower. (The older teens, however, weren't surprised.)
Yes. Like I said many blog posts ago, I said that I’d be in
Cross Country. Lots of people thought that I wouldn’t be in it because I’m not
the sports kind of person. Well, they thought wrong. I’m in CC and
that’s it. Anywho, I started going to practice last Monday, and I liked it.
Sure, it’s hard, but it’s fun.
So, after a week of Cross Country practice, there is a camp
at the Angle Outpost. Camp is hard work. Literally two hours after we got to
the Angle, we went on a run. The run was long. Let me tell you that. It was
long and hard. Since I wasn’t used to the area, the two-mile run that I ran,
was hard. But at least after the run, there was food waiting for us. I ate with
my friends, played nine square and then, about six hours after hour first run
(which was at 11:30) at five-thirty, everyone had to do three miles. Guess
what? I had only run three miles only twice
before. So, after that grueling
run, we had good food. It was very good food (or what I like to call that,
fooad). Spaghetti. So, after I ate, I played nine square and then we went to
the lodge (where people buy stuff), to watch Prefontaine. It was awesome. I also ate about half of a 1.9 lb bag
of sour patch kids.
Next day!!! Run at 8:30. Be there. The options were, five
miles or three miles. I took three miles. Some people could only do two, but
they had problems with running (shin splints, burning rashes, etc.). After the
run, I had a big bowl of cereal. It was good. Oh, and did I tell you that I was
sleeping in a tent with a five-gallon bucket of snacks? I consumed a lot of
sugar at camp. I played nine square again, and then one of my friends and I,
were catching frogs and seeing if they were a “hopper.” We did that til it was dark out. We also did a
two-mile run. Then we went to the bonfire. We made smoritos, which are a smore
inside a burrito, and then some of us went to the Shrek summoning. That was fun. Ok. This day is done.
The last day of camp. 8:30 run. Options: 5 miles, 4 miles, 3
miles, or, 2 miles. I ran two. Then my tent mates and I cleaned the tent out
and put it away because it was the last day at camp. I got a bag of sugar that
day. It was nice. Burgers were for lunch and then we packed the bus up and
left. What a sad day. I went to sleep on the bus, and then when I woke up, my
same friend that I caught frogs with, sang a song that he made up, called
“Bullets are Flying.” It had a nice rhythm to it. Then we got back to the
school, and that my friends, was the amazing, Cross Country camp.
David
On This Day
Historic Highlights (credits)2012 - First Spacecraft to Enter Interstellar Space
NASA’s Voyager 1, which was launched on September 5, 1977, left the heliosphere – the part of space that is not influenced by our Sun on this day. In February 1990, the spacecraft took the first overview picture of the solar system. It is the most distant man-made object in space.
1991 - Michael Schumacher Makes His Formula One Debut
The German race car champion competed in his first Formula One race in the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa Francorchamps. While he did not win that race, he would go on to win 91 Formula One Grand Prix races. (NOTE: At our house, Schumacher is probably best known for his guest appearance as Himself in the animated film CARS. "Guido, punch me now. A REAL Ferrari!")
1944 - Liberation of Paris
The battle to liberate Paris, which had been under Nazi control since 1940, began on August 19, 1944, and ended on this day. The battle was fought between Nazi soldiers and members of the French resistance group, who were helped by the American Armed Forces headed by General George Patton. The Germans provided little resistance and did not carry out Hitler’s orders of razing Paris to the ground. The Nazi Commander of Paris, General Dietrich Von Choltitz surrendered to the French and American troops. On August 26, General Charles de Gaulle entered Paris and headed a liberation march on the Champs d’Elysees before declaring the Provisional Government of the French Republic.
Book Recommendation of the Week: The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah.
1835 - First Installment of the Great Moon Hoax is Published
The New York-based newspaper The Sun published a series of articles, starting on this day, that detailed the discovery of civilization on the Moon.
Fairytale Recommendation of the Week: There's a Vietnamese folktale about the man in the moon. Enjoy the story of Chú Cuội here.
1825 - Uruguay Declares Independence from the Brazilian Empire
The Empire consisted of present-day Brazil and Uruguay and had declared its independence from Portugal in 1822. Despite the declaration of independence, Uruguay's independence was not recognized by the Empire until August 1928, when the Treaty of Montevideo was signed.
Happy Birthday to You!🎶
1958 - Tim Burton, American director, producer, screenwriter1954 - Elvis Costello, English singer-songwriter, producer
1949 - Gene Simmons, Israeli/American singer-songwriter, bass player, producer, actor,
1930 - Sean Connery, Scottish actor, producer
1530 - Ivan the Terrible, Russian Tsar
There is only 1 week left of summer vacation! Make the most of it and make it a great Saturday!
Kim
Mind blowing news? I guess, that the world is still here, still spinning. That blows my mind.
ReplyDeleteAlso, that Paris, on this day, was liberated. Hitler, they say, wanted to blow it up. Paris is the antithesis of of all that Hitler was. Paris is fun, is beautiful, in a kind of a irresponsible, but magical way...
Although it's historical fiction, Kristen Hannah does a great job showing how France was naive in thinking they could avoid the Nazis and how the country got inhaled into WWII.
DeleteCross Country: No half times, no time outs, no substitutions. True sport.
ReplyDeleteLove it! Kids have a great coach, too, so it ends up being a wonderful teambuilding experience.
Delete