Weather ~ Full Moon ~ Picture of the Day ~ Brooklyn Bridge ~ Crunchy Cucumber Salad ~ Nan Onion ~ Johnny Boyko ~ Clouds ~ D-Day

Good 52º dark cloudy morning. 

Yesterday we started in the 40ºs with thin scattered clouds 

Here are the predictions...

So far the radar shows the rain is way up north of us.

Picture of the Day ... again, perfect timing

Interesting about the Brooklyn Bridge...

Though the Brooklyn Bridge was a feat of engineering for its time, it came with a cost. 27 people lost their lives during the 14 years that the bridge was under construction. Many died as a result compression sickness (otherwise known as the "bends"), contracted while constructing the bridge towers' foundations under the East River. However, the most bizarre death was actually the first one: John Roebling, the bridge's designer and chief engineer, died suddenly of a freak accident just weeks before construction kicked off. While he was taking a compass reading at the East River, a boat smashed into his foot and crushed some of his toes. Two weeks later, Roebling was dead from tetanus.

There's a Bunker And Wine Cellar Built Into The BridgeThose looming towers aren't just for show—inside, there are several secrets from the bridge's 135-year-long history. Up until World War I, the city rented out space within one of the towers for wine storage. And in 2006, maintenance workers discovered a Cold War-era fallout shelter still fully-stocked with supplies. Workers found large canisters of water, boxes of crackers, medical supplies, and paper blankets all intended to protect a select few in the event of a nuclear attack.

A Female Engineer Completed the ProjectEmily Warren Roebling, Washington Roebling’s wife, stepped in when her husband became ill and took over as a liaison of the project for her husband by overseeing the management, construction and design of the bridge. Progressive for times, she later earned a certificate in law from New York University, which didn’t allow women to attend law school. A plaque located on the bridge honors John A. Roebling, Washington Roebling, and his wife, Emily.

A Rooster Made the First Trip Across the BridgeEmily Warren Roebling, with a rooster in her lap, was the first person to travel across the Brooklyn Bridge. This was one week before the bridge was officially opened with attendees such as President Chester A. Arthur and the Governor of New York Grover Cleveland attending the ceremony. The rooster rode along as a symbol of luck and victory.

The Name of the Bridge Changed Over The YearsThe span across the river from Brooklyn to Manhattan was first called the Brooklyn Bridge back in 1867. It was also called the Great East River Suspension Bridge and the Great East River Bridge. In 1915, the name was officially changed to the Brooklyn Bridge.

In 2008 I went on a cruise from NY up the east coast. Here's the bridge viewed from our taxicab.... 

and then when the cruise ship went under the bridge.....

Only passenger vehicles and pedestrian and bicycle traffic are permitted. A major tourist attraction since its opening, the Brooklyn Bridge has become an icon of New York City. Over the years, the bridge has been used as the location of various stunts and performances, as well as several crimes and attacks. The Brooklyn Bridge has been designated a National Historic Landmark, a New York City landmark, and a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.

If you want to read more about the bridge... go here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brooklyn_Bridge

From Mr. Food

You'll be cool as a cucumber when you bring this one to the table! This Crunchy Cucumber Salad features extra-crispy cukes and bell peppers, making it a light 'n' tasty go-along for any springtime occasion.

 

• 3 cucumbers, peeled and thinly sliced
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 3 cups ice water
• 4 scallions, thinly sliced
• 1/2 small red bell pepper, chopped
• 1/3 cup sour cream
• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

 

1. In a large bowl, combine cucumbers, salt, and ice water. Cover and chill 1 hour, then drain and return cucumbers to the bowl.
2. Add remaining ingredients and mix until well combined. Cover and chill at least 2 hours before serving.

 

****We like to peel the cucumbers for this salad, but you can also use them unpeeled or run a fork across the peels before slicing to give them a ridged look.

Two special birthdays today.... 

Nan (Cipolla) Onion, wife of the infamous Mike, cousin to my travelin' pal Joan Petitclair(who gave me a guided tour of NY when we went on that cruise). HAPPY BIRTHDAY NAN!!! Cheers!!

And the other birthday is Johnny Boyko, former neighbor growing up in El Sereno on Stockbridge Avenue. HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOHNNY!!

 

Historically this date.....

1752 – A devastating fire destroys one-third of Moscow, including 18,000 homes.

1833 – The U.S. President Andrew Jackson becomes the first President to ride on a train.

1882 – More than 100,000 inhabitants of Bombay are killed as a cyclone in the Arabian Sea pushes huge waves into the harbor.

1889 – The Great Seattle fire destroys the entirety of downtown Seattle, Washington.

1918 – World War I: Battle of Belleau Wood – The U.S. Marine Corps suffers its worst single day's casualties while attempting to recapture the wood at Chateau-Thierry.

** My Dad was in the Navy in WWI and his ship went to Belleau Wood.

1944 – World War II: the Battle of Normandy begins. D-Day, code named Operation Overlord, commences with the landing of 155,000 Allied troops on the beaches ofNormandy in France. The allied soldiers quickly break through the Atlantic Wall and push inland in the largest amphibious military operation in history.

1981 – Bihar train disaster: a passenger train traveling between Mansi and Saharsa,India, jumps the tracks at a bridge crossing the Bagmati river. The government places the official death toll at 268 plus another 300 missing; however, it is generally believed that the actual figure is closer to 1,000 killed.

2005 – The United States Supreme Court upholds a federal law banning cannabis, including medical marijuana, in Gonzales v. Raich.

And births this date include...

1932 – David Scott, American astronaut

1956 – Björn Borg, Swedish tennis player

1967 – Paul Giamatti, American actor

Yesterday the cloud cover was interesting.... we started at 8:30am...

then at 9:30am....

then at 4pm...

5pm.....

and 7pm! I guess the wind was responsible! 

All I know. Nuff said. Happy Saturday. Ciao.

xo Sue Mom Bobo

June 6, 1944, is known most commonly by the term D-Day. It refers to the landing of Allied forces on the beaches of Normandy, France staging one of the pivotal attacks against Germany during World War II.

The codename Operation Overlord became known as the beginning of the end of World War II. Following the Battle of Normandy, which began on June 6, 1944, along a 50 mile stretch of beaches, including Utah and Omaha Beach, the attack became known as D-Day. While there are many explanations for the name, one reason may be due to the military countdown to the designated day and hour of the assault. D represented Day and H represented Hour in the military.

The battle liberated Northern France with more than 160,000 Allied troops from Britain, the United States and Canada under the leadership of General Dwight Eisenhower. The troops manned more than 5,000 ships and 13,000 aircraft the day of the initial landing.

HOW TO OBSERVE 

World War II museums, memorials, and ceremonies will be honoring the American, British, and Canadian forces who landed along the 50 mile stretch of beaches that day over 75 years ago. Learn more about the Battle of Normandy by exploring World War II museums. Read books about the Battle of Normandy.

D-DAY HISTORY

The landing of troops on the beaches of Normandy on June 6, 1944, known around the world as D-Day, was given the name Operation Overlord. Leading up to the attack, plans of deception were carried out to mislead Germany.