Random Scandal Sheet for Sunday 5/13/18

What southern Florida is talking about this week:

... all the mommas out there.

Me personally, I've technically been a full-on orphan since the summer of 2015 (but let's be clear that I still have many strong mother types in my life, thankfully) ... and so for this year's celebration, I'm going to turn to the animal world for inspiration for this holiday this year.

Note -- you'll have to watch the whole youtube video to almost the end to see why this spider momma is getting credit for all those babies there on her back.  Happy Momma's Day to all those still in the game.

THE BEST ANIMAL MOMMAS:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NKFQvxap3s

YES BUT *WHO* IS THE *BEST*?:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/what-animal-is-the-best-mother-158591597/

LOCALLY, THIS MOTHERS' DAY IS KIND OF SAD:
http://miami.cbslocal.com/2018/05/13/emotional-mothers-day-for-mothers-who-children-in-parkland-school-shooting/

Random Soapbox for Saturday 5/12/18

I don't mean to go off on a rant here, but ...

... I have two wishes for the druggie that recently stole CDs out of our car:

My first wish is that you resist the urge to turn them in for a dollar or two to go towards your next fix, and that, instead you LISTEN to them.  Maybe 'The Night Will Only Know' from Garth Brooks' 'In Pieces' release will speak to you what with its tale of guilt that follows someone who witnesses a crime and doesn't report it.  Or maybe Billy Joel's 'Honesty' off of his '52nd Street' album ... since, you know, honesty is indeed so hard to find.  The bottom line is that both CDs gave me years of pleasure, and so I hope that they somehow speak to you at this time.

My second wish is that you overdose soon ... 'cause you a thief, yo!  Here's hopin' ...

MY DEDICATION TO THE CD THIEF:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuFScoO4tb0

MY *OTHER* DEDICATION TO THE CD THIEF (ONLY INSTRUMENTAL VERSION):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfjB79mTj4Q

I'M GUESSING THE THIEF IS DOING ONE OF THESE:
https://moneypantry.com/sell-cds/

Random Flashback for Friday 5/11/18

Tonight's timeless message is quite simple:

Be sure to stop and smell the flowers.

(Note:  this message is being brought to you via Mauler Jean, circa spring or summer of 1998, as seen here in the back yard of the second frat house on Walnut Street next to Big Bertha's in my hometown of Lebanon PA.  Although, actually, come to think of it -- she might have really jumped the fence into the *neighbor's* yard [that small white fence wasn't much of a barrier for a barely one year old kitty], because I don't remember me or any of the frat bros planting such pretty flowers on our side of that divider.)

The message worked twenty years ago in 1998 ... and it works tonight in 2018 ... and it will work again in 2038 (if we're all around to think about it then):  do as she did and don't pass the flowers by without giving them a sniff.

Random Memorial for Monday 5/7/18

Gone but not forgotten:  my time in Trier.

It's "gone" because it happened back in 1990, during my semester abroad, when our school group did a day long field trip from our home base in Koln.  (It's hard to believe that it will soon be the 30th anniversary of *that* trip.)

It's "not forgotten" because Trier was just in the news this past week, as it is the birthplace of Karl Marx and as Karl just had a 200th birthday.  The German city close to the border of Luxembourg (so close that we're pretty sure that John B and I accidentally crossed into it when we hiked up the hill looking for a bar -- and boy did we find a memorable one that was built around a green glowing golf-ball-looking-maybe-meteorite-thing), celebrated by installing a giant statue of Karl that China gave them ('cause communism).

Note:  I searched the interwebs and I did not see any plans to also raise statues to Groucho, Harpo, Chico, Zeppo, or Gummo (the other Marx bros).

Trier Germany (and my time spent there) -- even if you end up going full-on Marxist -- you are indeed missed.

ALL HAIL KARL:
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-marx/marxs-german-birthplace-unveils-controversial-statue-of-him-idUSKBN1I60J4

YOU SHOULD GO THERE:
https://www.german-way.com/travel-and-tourism/germany-for-tourists/city-guides-germany/trier/

EQUAL TIME FOR THE OTHER MARX BROS:
http://mentalfloss.com/article/73584/10-witty-facts-about-marx-brothers

Random Scandal Sheet for Sunday 5/6/18

What southern Florida is talking about this week:

Jewish-American Heritage Month.

Do you maybe forget to celebrate?  Well don't worry -- it's kind of a new-ish thing, only becoming a nationally endorsed designation back in 2005 when Bush the younger made it so (to be celebrated for the first time in May of 2006).

But even if it hasn't taken off like other "Heritage Months" (there are officially ten of them -- provided for you in the first link below so you can check to see if you and your people have one), it IS a real thing.  It could be that, as a non-Jew, I'm learning about it for the first time down here in the SoFlo because of the large population of Jews in the area (almost 150,000 in Broward County according to a 2016 study) ... or maybe because the whole fact that it exists can be traced back to the efforts of local well-known (though slightly controversial) politician Debbie Wasserman-Schulz -- with an assist from the late Arlen Specter, who was my home state of PA's senator back when I was a young'un.

So now that you know -- go forth and celebrate.  The theme for the 2018 edition is "Jewish contributions to American music" ... so maybe go sing a little 'God Bless America' OR 'Over the Rainbow' OR, for a little more slightly ironic fun, and of these CHRISTMAS tunes (all written by Jews):  'White Christmas', 'Silver Bells', 'The Christmas Song' a.k.a. 'Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire', 'Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!', 'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer' OR 'I’ll Be Home for Christmas' (disclaimer:  one of the three who wrote that song was a Gentile -- not that there's anything wrong with that).

THE LIST OF TEN OFFICIAL HERITAGE MONTHS:
http://www.diversitycentral.com/calendar/heritagemonthguide.php

THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE FOR ALL THE DETAILS:
https://www.jahm.us/

COMMENTARY ON THE POPULARITY (OR LACK OF IT) OF THE CELEBRATION:
https://forward.com/news/national/309091/why-no-one-cares-about-jewish-heritage-month/

Random Soapbox for Saturday 5/5/18

I don't mean to go off on a rave here, but ...

[remember -- I rave once a month instead of ranting every Saturday because it's better for your health - and with my winter weight gain, anything I can do healthier is a good thing]

... for the third year in a row, it's time to celebrate World Naked Gardening Day!

We covered proper watering techniques the first year we participated ... and provided a reminder to trim your bushes last year ... so for year three, we're giving you encouragement to get your box in order.

Our flower box in the back yard is too far away from the irrigation system, so the weeds have taken over -- BUT that didn't keep us from making sure we still had flowers a-growin' in it (as shown).

On this day in particular but also all summer long -- may your gardens grow beautifully and may your box soon look spectacular!

THIS *IS* A REAL THING:
http://www.holidayscalendar.com/event/world-naked-gardening-day/

GET YOUR BOX IN ORDER:
https://www.diyncrafts.com/36927/decor/20-gorgeous-diy-window-flower-box-planters-beautify-home

IN CASE YOU NEED SOME FLOWERS FOR YOUR BOX:
https://www.etsy.com/market/metal_garden_flowers

JUST ONE MORE ... meditation (May 2018)

JUST ONE MORE ... meditation.

It's a new month!  But, at least with regards to this ongoing concept to embrace incremental change in order to empower folks (or just me) to stay positive and solution-focused in a day and age where problems often seem insurmountable, control often seems out of reach and apathy often seems to be running rampant ... it's kind of like a continuation of sorts of *last* month's challenge about coping mechanisms.

Admittedly, all of those coping mechanisms last month were hyper-focused on the e-world and the social media madness that seems to have infiltrated every nook and cranny of modern times.  What with how the e-world can, in turn, creep into the *real* world all too easily -- and note that the use of creep there as a verb may also become relevant as a noun when discussing the online troll community -- it just might be that you're looking for something a little less drastic than developing full blown agoraphobia in order to avoid human interaction.

Therefore, and with the knowledge that May just so happens to be National Meditation Month, let's all clear our heads and get hella mindful and find our foci by layerig in -- on a frequency that works best for you -- just one more ... meditation.