This one's for the sports fans.

 Another bit of information from my Page-a-Day Trivia Calendar: "What was the first sports game to be televised in the United States?" I guessed the sport correctly, baseball, but the date surprised me.  A baseball game between Columbia and Princeton, at Baker Field, aired in May of 1939.  It was used to demonstrate that athletic events could be successfully televised.  1939??? My family didn't own a TV until 1956.  We did, however, occasionally go to my Aunt Ida's house to watch their television.  This would have been in the early '50s.  What I remember most was that the reception was often very snowy and the small screen was almost round.  

My father, who was a little skeptical of new inventions, decided that we would not have a television until Fort Wayne had at least three TV stations.  And so, in 1956, he brought home our first TV.  It's good that he was strong because that 13 inch black and white Zenith 'portable' (meaning it wasn't built into a cabinet) weighed a ton.  Once it was hooked up, with cables running from the tv to the butterfly antenna on the roof, we actually got good reception; pretty amazing because we lived 20+ miles from Fort Wayne.

Since he brought it home and hooked it up in the late afternoon the first shows we watched were Howdy Doody and Buck Rogers.  You can't imagine how excited we were.  Or perhaps you can if you're of a certain age.  

where in the world??

 I am surprised and interested by the fact, presented by BBC America and other news agencies this evening, that the current Prime Minister of Great Britain has resigned after only six weeks in office.  What's even more interesting is that they expect to replace her within two weeks. How can they do that? Where are the months and months of political ads, talking heads, debates and poll predictions?  My impression is that, even if they decide on a general election, it will happen fairly quickly.  We certainly get a lot more drama with our elections.  We are also stuck with our decisions for two to four years.  Speaking of which, our mid-term election is coming up fast.  So get out there and vote.  

But if you're suffering from political message overload, here's something more fun to ponder.  From today's entry on my trivia calendar - Where in the world can you find a museum exclusively dedicated to watermelons?  I immediately assumed that this would be somewhere in the southern US, but not so.  The China Watermelon Museum is located in the countryside just south of Beijing, an area known for its watermelon production.  It explores the history of watermelons, watermelon growing methods, and the role the watermelon plays in Chinese culture.  So now I'm wondering where watermelons actually originated.  Evidently not in my childhood back yard.

printer solutions

 Yesterday, when I was printing out some pages, the ominous "low ink" message showed up on my computer screen, so I checked and I'm evidently very low on black ink.  So today, while I was out and about, I stopped at Office Depot, where I've always bought my ink, scanned the shelf for the number I needed, couldn't find it, asked a clerk for help and was told that 'they' don't make that cartridge anymore.  It wasn't on his inventory list. Now I'll admit my printer isn't new, it's at least nine years old, but it still prints very nicely in black and color and I don't really want to buy a new one.  

So, because I have learned something about on-line shopping (I'm old but not that old) and because I questioned the clerk's information, I went on line this evening, googled Epson ink cartridges (it's an Epson printer) and, surprise, surprise, there was the exact cartridge I needed (they do still make them) so I ordered two.  I love a happy ending.

too many answers?

 First the answer I know you've been waiting for.  What's the  difference between a hippo and a zippo?  One is very, very heavy and the other is just a little lighter.  

On a slightly heavier note today is "Information Overload Awareness Day."  Case in point, just this evening, listening to the news, I've been made aware of problems in Iran, China, Russia, Ukraine, Africa and, of course, US politics.  Not to mention there's still a formula shortage.  Don't get me wrong, I like to have some idea of what's going on in the world, but maybe I should take it in smaller doses.  In September, when I went on the river cruise on the Rhine, I learned something about how the French fought battles all up and down the Rhine during the late 17th century.  However, I didn't turn on my TV at all, and survived very nicely without any current news for ten days.  I know, hard to believe but true.  

On the other hand, today is also "National Chocolate Cupcake Day." So do yourself a favor, turn off the news and go eat a cupcake (or anything chocolate as far as I'm concerned).

new beginnings

 First, and this is from my west coast brother, the riddle of the day: What's the difference between a hippo and a zippo?

Answer tomorrow.  Feel free to send me your guesses.  If you scroll to the bottom of this entry you should see a place to respond.  

The other first, I was all ready to meet my new student for the year.  This will be my seventh year of tutoring with the Fort Wayne Community Schools Study Connection program.  Today was our first meeting with our new students, and this year I'm supposed to have a first grader.  I say supposed to, because I haven't met him yet.  At noon I got the message that he wasn't at school today so I didn't need to come to the school.  At 12:20 I got a call from our group leader that one of the teachers couldn't be there today so could I come and work with her student for the afternoon.  Of course I said yes since I was ready to go anyway.  Now here's my quandary.  I really liked the third grader I worked with today.  Do I ask to trade or take my chances with my first grader next week?  Would they even let me trade if I wanted to?  Decisions, decisions...

bravo!

 I saw the current play at First Presbyterian Theater this afternoon.  Very funny but, in my opinion, not really for children, although the three little girls with their magic wands sitting two rows ahead of me seemed to be having a good time.  I think it's rated PG13.  "Disenchanted" is the story of several Disney princesses and what happened to them after they married their princes.  Was it really "happily ever after?"  Lots of fun lines and good songs, but also some thought provoking elements.  I recommend it.

On another topic, today is "Global Cat Day."  This has to be a day invented by a person because, based on personal experience, cats consider every day to be their day.  There's a lot of truth in the old joke "Dogs think they're human, cats think they are god." 

another great day...

 

Today is Bridge Day.  I don't know if it refers to the card game or the over the river type but since I've been watching the construction work on the bridge over the St. Mary's River, I will celebrate that bridge.

Here's my most recent picture.  I'm enjoying the changing of the colors as well as the bridge work.

In addition, today is also "I Love Yarn Day" and "Sewing Lovers Day."  These are days many of my friends can celebrate.  I belong to a yarn group that meets once a week, and everyone in the group loves yarn.  The proof is in how quickly we accumulate more and more of it.  While most of the members crochet or knit, some are quilters - obviously sewing lovers.  I am the only weaver in the group.  I do like to weave, but I must admit that I also weave because I can't knit or crochet.  I've tried, I've really tried, but for whatever reason, my fingers just don't want to make those fiddly little stitches.  It probably goes back to my lack of coordination.  Ah well, we all have our burdens to bear, and mine is my little New Zealand lap loom.