Wondering About This...

 

Things I Don't Understand: Sheer Cattiness

 I've headed this direction before, to the chagrin of Charles and Ruby. But what would we do without the silly actions, lordly sneers and bored resistance of El gato?

Actually, I can relate to the lefthand meme...

    Charley and Ruby have the same suggestion.

'Mom, who cares if you've got work to do? You'd let all this cuteness go to waste?? Pet me!'

Ha.

Is Fungie Back?

     Fungie, in case you're wondering, is a wild bottlenose dolphin who was seen in Ireland's Dingle Harbor for decades. In fact, the friendly fish became so popular that tourist boat tours set out, just to see him. If people swam out, he would also come visit. Although other dolphins visited occasionally, they never stayed -- nor did Fungie go with them. He seemed to enjoy the company of his human friends more.

 By the way, he was named for 'Fungus,' a local fisherman with an especially "patchy beard."

I know. Ewwww.

     Most wild bottlenose dolphins live for up to 20 years, though one has been documented at 67 years. Fungie was first seen in Dingle Harbor in 1983; by 2019, he was thought to be at least 40 years old.

Then he disappeared. As of last October, he hasn't been seen in the Dingle area.

BUT --

A dolphin resembling him has suddenly shown up in Galway Bay! 

Did Fungie relocate? (It has happened before, at least twice, to other known dolphins, according to Irish Central.)

Is it really him?! His many admirers certainly hope so.

Benedict Does the 'Uptown Funky Walk'

 I really admire this guy -- he's not afraid to act a little goofy now and then, in spite of his 'serious' demeanor. (Sherlock Holmes, take that.)

So here are some of Benedict Cumberbatch's sillier moments, put together:

And in case you're wondering, Bruno Mars' original 'Uptown Funk' -- which is pretty silly, too.

(But I like it.)

Happy St. David's Day, March 1st!

 I am having so much fun announcing this, considering that the Brick's first name is... well, you know. 

St. David's Day celebrates the birth (actually the death) of the only native-born patron saint of both Wales and England: David, born around 500 A.D., the grandson of Ceredig ap Cunedda, king of Ceredigion. David became a monk, and founded settlements and churches all around the U.K.; by 569, he was the leader of the Synod of Caerleon. 

Here he is, in the flesh, so to speak.

(thanks, Wikipedia.)

   David was a humble and ascetic man, said to subsist on leeks and water. (One way to celebrate him on this day is to wear a leek pinned to your shirt. Yes, a member of the onion family. If you're too wussy to do that, fine -- wear a daffodil, instead.) He also performed miracles, including bringing a dead child back to life. He even supposedly caused the ground to rise beneath his feet -- so people could see and hear him delivering a sermon! A white dove landed on his shoulder while doing this; now he is often depicted with one sitting there. (Like the stained-glass window shown above.)

    David died on March 1, 589 and was buried in the cathedral named for him. After the Vikings raided his tomb centuries later, his bones were deposited in a new shrine in 1275. But another set of bones were found in the Holy Trinity Chapel of St. David's Cathedral...and thought to be his. (Probably not, since they were carbon-dated at 12th century.)

St. David is the patron saint of Wales -- something equally interesting, since I am part-Welsh. ( But the Brick is not.) You're supposed to eat something Welsh to celebrate his special day -- cheese rarebit was suggested. The good Saint would never have eaten that himself, though... and I forgot to buy leeks during our last grocery run. 

So I fixed scrambled eggs with cheese and green onions for the Brick, instead, for breakfast. Green onions look like leeks...kinda, sorta, don't they?

Hopefully St. David will forgive me. 

                     From nationaltoday.com 

UPDATE:  Be sure and read this, too -- it could have a connection.

Monday Stuff On the Way to Other Stuff: Volunteering

 We're just starting week #3 in McNeal, AZ, working for Ethnos360. Although the desert space all around sometimes gets to me, I'm starting to enjoy it for what it's worth -- miles and miles of land dotted with brush and the occasional tree. Now it's starting to wake up -- one bush viewable out our window has suddenly greened up. Could it be spring? 

     The Brick spent last week learning to hang drywall, including taping and mudding. He came home covered with white speckles and splotches. I did some quilting stuff, babysat and made supper for a group of 15. This week, the Brick is back to working on renovations -- but I don't have much, so far. Another meal (for our landlord friends, who are coming to visit), perhaps some babysitting. But I do plan on reviewing a lot of lectures from Williamsburg's recent Antiques Forum -- and working on some quilts while I do it. 

No daffodils here -- it's too dry. I wonder if the ones I planted at our old house are blooming.

Meanwhile:

More than 300 schoolgirls kidnapped en masse in Nigeria...still missing. Could some Navy seals be loaned to solve this ongoing problem in Africa?

The DNA on a Vanilla Coke can solves a Colorado murder case gone cold since 1981.

Skiing Yosemite's Half Dome?? (Well, you have to rappel down the rocky spots.)

Three huge 'balloon cysts' removed, thanks to Dr. Pimple Popper. (Warning -- gross alert. Yes, I am one of those weird people who occasionally enjoys a good pimple pop. Disgusting, I know.)

Conservative returns and a steady income -- that's how to make an 'ideal' retirement, accd to Financial Samurai.

"Why we hid a message in Perseverances's parachute." A NASA engineer explains. 

Are there black panthers prowling the hills in Wales? This video suggests that they do exist.

"The pandemic purchases we most regret." An informal survey of women by Jean Chatzsky. Also (and this is important):

Many of your tax questions answered for 2020.

Five Oregon counties are voting whether to secede from the state in the next election -- and join Idaho, instead!

"Finding Motherland." A thoughtful essay from Colorado's ex-First Lady, on working, scheduling -- and trying to fit being a mom into all that. Working women everywhere will understand her struggles...and she had help!

Ten foods invented by accident.  (Or to solve a problem. From Listverse) If you liked that, you'll also enjoy the strange stories behind the invention of ten kinds of candy.

"Angels Day:" some Really Nice scrappy quilt ideas here!! (Thanks for the inspiration, News From Jude)

Four shirts, remade four ways.  (From Tea Rose Lavender)

The entire California school board caught mocking parents resigns -- good.

A very funny (vulgar, too) reminder of where sexiness can take you...a smart-alec friend reminded me of this silly song.

Holly leaves make a tasty tea??? ('Yaupon' is an American/British classic.)

A near-coup attempt in Armenia. 

Are men being abused just as much as women in relationships? This blogger says no...it should be pointed out that she has a stake in this argument, having divorced in recent years from what she at least hinted was an abusive marriage.  (From Penniless Parenting)

"Mistakes I made when buying my first house."  (From Making Sense of Cents) Also extremely helpful:  "Seven lessons learned from my short sale." Sometimes you have to learn the hard way.

Dinners with only 3 ingredients -- 18 of them.  (From Pillsbury)

San Francisco cancels its plan to rename racist-named schools...leaving intact horrible names like Abraham Lincoln, etc. 

Why a passenger plane's engine exploded over the Denver area -- thankfully, the plane was able to land safely. Amazing.

A delivery driver who ended up staying with her recipients, thanks to the Texas storm. This one's sweet and a little funny, thanks to the couple's rambunctious dogs.

What was that Thing that zoomed past a plane in New Mexico? (The plane was traveling an estimated 460 mph at the time.) The pilot's report: ‘I hate to say this but it looked like a long cylindrical object that almost looked like a cruise missile type of thing - moving really fast right over the top of us.’

What are the two cheapest days of the week to fly? 

How to sew a turtleneck-style t-shirt. 

A very funny look at the Snowstorm of 2021.  (Thanks for the entertainment, Get Me to the Country)

Images of Denver's recent snowstorm -- the biggest in a while...

Bloopers left in movies -- a slideshow.

Have a great week. Sniff a daffodil or two for me.

Colorado's 16 Weirdest Hikes

 One thing about the Centennial State, it's chockful of unusual places, people and things. It makes for unusual stories -- and books. And including:

Colorado's strangest hikes -- 16 of them. I notice this list missed a few we've thought odd, like the Chinese Wall, in an area frequented by the Woodknockers,** and the Flattops, a well-exposed trail used originally by the Indians to move quickly through the Rockies. But they managed to include one in our old neighborhood on the list: up to the burst dam in Castlewood Canyon State Park!

Enjoy...and take a hike.

**Yes, we're talkin' about Bigfoot.