HAPPY HALLOWEEN

From Halloween-website.com

Halloween History: Origin

Halloween is the one of the oldest holidays still celebrated today. It's one of the most popular holidays, second only to Christmas. While millions of people celebrate Halloween without knowing its origins and myths, the history and facts of Halloween make the holiday more fascinating.

Some people view Halloween as a time for fun, putting on costumes, trick-or-treating, and having theme parties. Others view it as a time of superstitions, ghosts, goblins and evil spirits that should be avoided at all costs.

As the Christian debate goes on, celebrating Halloween is a preference that is not always viewed as participating in an evil holiday. Halloween is often celebrated with no reference to pagan rituals or the occult.

Halloween History

Halloween is on October 31st, the last day of the Celtic calendar. It was originally a pagan holiday, honoring the dead. Halloween was referred to as All Hallows Eve and dates back to over 2000 years ago.

All Hallows Eve is the evening before All Saints Day, which was created by Christians to convert pagans, and is celebrated on November 1st. The Catholic church honored saints on this designated day.

Origin of Halloween

While there are many versions of the origins and old customs of Halloween, some remain consistent by all accounts. Different cultures view Halloween somewhat differently but traditional Halloween practices remain the same.

Halloween culture can be traced back to the Druids, a Celtic culture in Ireland, Britain and Northern Europe. Roots lay in the feast of Samhain, which was annually on October 31st to honor the dead.

Samhain signifies "summers end" or November. Samhain was a harvest festival with huge sacred bonfires, marking the end of the Celtic year and beginning of a new one. Many of the practices involved in this celebration were fed on superstition.

The Celts believed the souls of the dead roamed the streets and villages at night. Since not all spirits were thought to be friendly, gifts and treats were left out to pacify the evil and ensure next years crops would be plentiful. This custom evolved into trick-or-treating.

PARTY

My friends got married...

We threw a party!

Everyone was there...

No one was tardy!

The beer was cold, the food was great.

They even had a wedding dress cake!

USELESS INFO TUESDAY

~  A prairie dog, a guinea pig, and groundhog have something in common.  They are all rodents, though misnamed - there is not a dog, pig or hog among them.

~  In military jargon, an NBC suit is personal protective clothing designed to be worn in the event of a Nuclear, Biological, or Chemical attack.

~ There are only three sports films that have won Best Picture Oscars - Rocky (1976), Chariots of Fire (1981) and Million Dollar Baby (2004).

~  If you are suffering from amusia you are tone deaf - you have the inability to recognize or reproduce musical sounds.

~  Ice must be at least 2 feet thick so support a pod of walruses.

USELESS INFO TUESDAY

~  21 U.S. states end in the letter "a."  In alphabetical order:  Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Virginia, and West Virginia.

~  The oldest known written version of the Cinderella story is in Chinese, circa A.D. 850.  In this version, the heroine, Yeh-hsien, wins the prince with the help of a magical golden-eyed fish instead of a fairy godmother.

~  The Internet shorthand for high five is "^5."

~  About 60 percent of the human brain is comprised of fat.

~  The Boston Red Sox were the last major league baseball team to break the color barrier by signing an African American player.  In 1959, Elijah "Pumpsie" Green joined the team.

SHE SAID - SHE SAID

Memorable quotes from our Nash Vegas weekend.

We are funny people.
And we tip good...at least they do.

It's probably good that I am not that close to the stage.  (This was soon remedied)

Were we dancing?

I have irritable bowel syndrome.
No, you are just irritable and have a bowel.

That's a rash waiting to happen.

Chocolate Thunder.

If she needs to sit down, you just tell her so in your microphone.

That first beer went down hard.

I need the biggest glass of water that you have.

My heart can't take this.

You are going to have to help her in the car.

FP your FB.

I am not getting as crazy as I did last night.
Me either.  It is only Miller Lite for me.  (yeah right)

Are those the same socks you had on yesterday?

Act like you are passed out and let me take your picture?

Where's Lois?
We thought she was with you.

Are you getting married?
No, I am just wearing this veil for the free beer.

ODE TO NASHVILLE

There once was a girl named Beth.

Her bachlorette party - a hot mess!

Nashville was fun -

We drank a ton!

I can't wait to go back, I confess!




Oh, and she got to meet Curtis (Lowe).

We had a wonderful time in Nashville!  What a great send off for the bride to be!

FLOOD GIFT TO MYSELF...

...along with all new floors!

What do you think?

USELESS INFO TUESDAY

THANKS BTUT AND LISA TUTB!

 

Stuff you didn't know - you didn't know!    Men can read smaller print than women can; women can hear better. ------------ --------- --------- --------- ---- The State with the highest percentage of people who walk to work: Alaska ------------ --------- --------- --------- ---- The percentage of Africa that is wilderness: 28% (now get this...) ------------ --------- --------- --------- ---- The percentage of North America that is wilderness: 38% ------------ --------- --- ------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ------ The cost of raising a medium-size dog to the age of eleven: $ 16,400 ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ------ The average number of people airborne over the U.S. in any given hour: 61,000 ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ------ Intelligent people have more zinc and copper in their hair.. ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ------ The first novel ever written on a typewriter, Tom Sawyer. ------------ -- ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- - The San Francisco Cable cars are the only mobile National Monuments. ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ------ Each king in a deck of playing cards represents a great king from history: Spades - King David Hearts - Charlemagne Clubs -Alexander, the Great Diamonds - Julius Caesar ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ------ 111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987, 654,321 ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ------ If a statue in the park of a person on a horse has both front legs in the air, the person died in battle. If the horse has one front leg in the air, the person died because of wounds received in battle. If the horse has all four legs on the ground, the person died of natural causes ------------ ------ --- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ------ Only two people signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, John Hancock and Charles Thomson. Most of the rest signed on August 2, but the last signature wasn't added until 5 years later. ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ------ Q. Half of all Americans live within 50 miles of what? A. Their birthplace ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ------ Q. Most boat owners name their boats. What is the most popular boat name requested? A. Obsession ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ------ Q.. If you were to spell out numbers, how far would you have to go until you would find the letter 'A'? A. One thousand ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ------ Q. What do bulletproof vests, fire escapes, windshield wipers and laser printers have in common? A. All were invented by women. ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ------ Q. What is the only food that doesn't spoil? A. Honey ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ------ Q. Which day are there more collect calls than any other day of the year? A. Father's Day ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --- In Shakespeare's time, mattresses were secured on bed frames by ropes. When you pulled on the ropes, the mattress tightened, making the bed firmer to sleep on. Hence the phrase...'Goodnight , sleep tight' ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ------ It was the accepted practice in Babylon 4,000 years ago that for a month after the wedding, the bride's father would supply his son-in-law with all the mead he could drink. Mead is a honey beer and because their calendar was lunar based, this period was called the honey month, which we know today as the honeymoon. ------------ --------- --------- --------- ---- In English pubs, ale is ordered by pints and quarts... So in old England , when customers got unruly, the bartender would yell at them 'Mind your pints and quarts, and settle down.' . . . It's where we get the phrase 'mind your P's and Q's'           Many years ago in England , pub frequenters had a whistle baked into the rim, or handle, of their ceramic cups. When they needed a refill , they used the whistle to get some service. 'Wet your whistle' is the phrase inspired by this practice.           YOU KNOW YOU ARE LIVING IN 2013 when... 1. You accidentally enter your PIN on the microwave. 2. You haven't played solitaire with real cards in years. 3. You have a list of 15 phone numbers to reach your family of three. 4. You e-mail the person who works at the desk next to you. 5. Your reason for not staying in touch with friends and family is that they don't have e-mail addresses. 6. You pull up in your own driveway and use your cell phone to see if anyone is home to help you carry in the groceries... 7. Every commercial on television has a web site at the bottom of the screen 8. Leaving the house without your cell phone, which you didn't even have the first 20 or 30 (or 60) years of your life, is now a cause for panic and you turn around to go and get it 10. You get up in the morning and go on line before getting your coffee 11. You start tilting your head sideways to smile. : ) 12 You're reading this and nodding and laughing. 13. Even worse, you know exactly to whom you are going to forward this message. 14. You are too busy to notice there was no #9 on this list. 15. You actually scrolled back up to check that there wasn't a #9 on this list . ~~~~~~~~~~~AND FINALLY~~~~~ ~~~~~~~ NOW you're LAUGHING at yourself! Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused!" (Unknown Author)

USELESS INFO TUESDAY

~  The pinky, or little finger, is fractured twice as often as any other finger.

~  According to ufologists, an alien abduction is a close encounter of the fourth kind.

~  The first author to hit one million in Kindle e-book sales was the late Swedish crime writer Stieg Larrson in 2010.  His three best sellers were "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo,"  "The Girl Who Played With Fire," and "The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest."

~  The Washington National Cathedral, on its northwest tower, has a gargoyle of Darth Vader, the evil "Star Wars" villain.

~  Legendary singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder endorses his contracts with a fingerprint.

ODE TO A BIRTHDAY

It was happy, it was great.
We all ate some birthday cake. (not)

It was fun, in the sun,
When J Big Dawes turned 41. (not)


...and by the not I only mean we did not eat cake and he is older than 41...all other statements are true.

LO AND MURMUR

My friend Lois can to tricks.
On her back Merle Kitty sits.

My friend Lois is wearing black,
The color of the kitty on her back.

My friend Lois can be fun.
Having Friday night on Tuesday has begun!

USELESS INFO

~  Legendary rock musician John Lennon ahs an international airport that bears his name.Liverpool Airport in England was officially renamed Liverpool john Lennon airport in 2002.
~ 

~  The only person prominently pictured on U.S. currency that was not born in the continental United States is Alexander Hamilton.  He was born on the island of Nevis, in the West Indes.

~  The only three grapes authorized for use in producing authentic French champagne are Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier.

~  An otter's den is known as a holt or a couch.  the holt is its main lair;  the couch is a temporary resting place.

~  The popular children's book "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" features characters named Agustus Gloop, Violet Beauregarde, and Veruca Salt.

SEE RACHEL GRADUATE

See Rachel graduate,

And then we eat at Brio!

Wait a week for a special treat.
Good things come in trio!

Add a keg, add some food,

Good friends are a must!

A drinky here and a drinky there.
"To Rachel!  Job or Bust!"

BEAUTIFUL SATURDAY

We all were so privileged to witness the wedding of Brittney and Joey this Saturday!  It was a lovely ceremony, in a lovely setting, and with Brother Brakfield officiating, no less!

Beautiful bride Brittnaynay and her beautiful friend Rayray (AKA Boo Boo Kitty)!  These girls have been friends for so long!

Uh-Oh!  Can you say TROUBLE?  It always is when these three get together!  Love you girls!  Thank goodness Washaway was there to keep an eye on us!

CARPORT!

Once again, had another great night on the carport!  All the gang was there except the Wicked Witch.  Unfortunately, she is on her broom somewhere in Saskatoon!  Miss you L BigDawes! 

Dorothy, the Cowardly Lion, the Tinman and me enjoyed a little friendship time.  We also had a Toto (Clickety-Clack) and a Booboo kitty!

Good Times!

SOUTHERN FRIED THURSDAY

Only a Southerner knows instinctively that the best gesture of solace for a neighbor who has trouble is a plate of hot fried chicken and a big bowl of potato salad.  If the neighbor’s trouble is a real crisis, they also know to add a large banana pudding.

THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS OF BLOGGING

Yes, I have gotten behind on blogging.
Yes,  I have had a lot going on.
Yes, I am sorry and will try to do better.

In the mean time....


EMAIL

TutB:  Helur....It is time to show the blog-ee's a little attention!!!  If you need a Guest Blogger, I am   sure I could come up with something.  Miss ya - LOVE.

LL:  Miss you too!  Right in the middle of employee evaluations!  Can you say STRESSED!

Btut:  Hell no she doesn't need a guest blogger!  She's had plenty of stuff going on lately but just hasn't blogged!  (can you feel the love?)

TutB:  She is stressed - Leave her alone -

Btut:  We're all stressed............




How's that for blogging?  Thanks ladies!  LOVE!

SOUTHERN FRIED THURSDAY

A Southern lady walks into a bar and sits by another woman.

"Hello.  Where are you from?" she asks.

The other woman replies (in a very distinct, haughty Yankee accent), "Where I am from, we do not end a sentence or question with a preposition."

Southern lady replies, "Oh, excuse me.  Where are you from, Bitch?"

USELESS INFO TUESDAY

 ~  A kakistocracy is a kind of government with the worst of a society's citizens in power.  (Sorry, I just had to!)

 ~  The computer mouse was first referred to as an "X-Y position indicator for a display system" in its inventor's patent application.  Inventor Douglas Engelbart received a patent in 1970.

 ~  Flamboyant Hall of Fame quarterback Joe namath donated a pair of pantyhose to Planet Hollywood.  He wore them on the field on cold days.

 ~  Zoologists believe it is likely that Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer is female.  Male reindeer usually shed their antlers before mid-December.  Female reindeer don't drop their antlers until spring when their claves are born.

~  There were four cabinet positions during George Washington's presidency:  Secretary of State, Secretary of the Treasury, Secretary of War, and Attorney General.