Weather ~ Mike ~ Picture of the Day ~ Interesting About the Muppets ~ Skillet Chicken Oregano ~ Jimmy Duran ~ Richard Escalante ~ National Pizza Party Day

 

Good 40º cloudy morning.

 

Yesterday started off cold and cloudy.... we got a bit of rain and topped at 61º.

 

 

Mike came over and did some weed-eating....

 

Picture of the Day ... dog with kitty friend....

 

 

Interesting about the Muppets....

 

Jim Henson, creator of Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy and the other Muppets who entertained and educated millions of preschoolers around the world, died on this day in 1990.  Here are 5 things you may not know about Jim Henson and his Muppets...

Henson Invented The Name "Muppet"The term Muppet was invented by Jim Henson at the beginning of his career to describe his puppet act. It is sometimes claimed, and refuted, that Henson created the term as a combination of the words marionette and puppet. Henson used the Muppet name to define the characters in his productions, and to distinguish his act from those of other puppeteers.

 

The Muppet Show Wasn't Henson's First Television ProgramBefore he created "The Muppet Show," Jim Henson's first television venture was called "Sam and Friends," a puppet ensemble show that ran from 1955 to 1961. In addition to featuring the original version of Kermit the Frog, a wide array of early Muppets appeared on "Sam and Friends" including Harry the Hipster, Icky Gunk, and Pierre the French Rat.

 

Kermit Wasn't Originally A Frog

In the early days of the Muppets, the character Kermit was not a frog. His  body was made out of Jim Henson’s mother’s old coat, and his eyes were made out of ping pong balls. He was introduced in 1955 with roundish feet instead of flippers and no collar. He was more turquoise than his signature green. As Jim Henson described: "all the characters in those days were abstract"; Kermit was simply a lizard-like creature, and was not a specific species. Over the years, Kermit gained the frog collar, turned green, and grew webbed feet. As Henson put it: "We frogified him."

 

Henson Was a Consultant for The Empire Strikes BackGeorge Lucas consulted Jim Henson when he was creating the Yoda character for The Empire Strikes Back. Henson suggested that his colleague, Frank Oz, should perform and voice the character, and Oz nailed. it! Henson and Lucas stayed friends throughout the years. In fact, on the first day of shooting Labyrinth, George Lucas arranged for Darth Vader to hand Jim Henson him a good luck card.

 

Cookie Monster Evolved From a Character In An IBM Training VideoHenson created a training film for IBM in 1967 that featured "The Wheel Stealer," a character that suspiciously resembled Cookie Monster. In the film, the monster eats a coffee machine while identifying the parts. The character reappeared a few years later, minus the sharp teeth as "Cookie Monster" on Sesame Street. In a song in 2004, Cookie Monster revealed that, before he ate his first cookie, his name was Sid.

 

 

 

 

From Mr. Food

 

Packed with garlic flavor, our Skillet Chicken Oregano will tantalize the taste buds. Serve it over pasta or rice for a complete meal that's sure to please.

 

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter
• 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 6 garlic cloves, chopped
• 2 scallions (green onions), thinly sliced
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

 

 

1. In a large skillet, heat oil and melt butter over medium heat. Add chicken, and saute 6 to 8 minutes, or until browned on all sides.
    
2. Add remaining ingredients and saute 2 to 3 minutes, or until chicken is no longer pink inside.

 

 

***Serving suggestion: serve over hot cooked linguine or rice.

 

 

Two special birthdays today.... Jimmy Duran (LASD ret) is celebrating. HAPPY BIRTHDAY JIMMY!!

 

 

                          ^With his bride Olga

 

And Richard 'Rico Suavé' Escalante (LASD civilian ret.) is celebrating. HAPPY BIRTHDAY RICO!! Rico worked at the BC Range.

 

 

Historically this date.....

1881 – The American Red Cross is established by Clara Barton in Washington, D.C..

1917 – The Great Atlanta fire of 1917 causes $5.5 million in damages, destroying some 300 acres including 2,000 homes, businesses and churches, displacing about 10,000 people and leading to only fatality (due to heart attack).

1927 – Charles Lindbergh touches down at Le Bourget Field in Paris, completing the world's first solo nonstop flight across the Atlantic Ocean.

1932 – Bad weather forces Amelia Earhart to land in a pasture in Derry, Northern Ireland, and she thereby becomes the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean.

1976 – The Yuba City bus disaster occurs in Martinez, California. 29 are killed making it the deadliest road accident in U.S. history.

 

And births this date include...

1916 – Harold Robbins, American novelist (d. 1997)

 

1917 – Raymond Burr, Canadian actor (d. 1993)

 

 

 

 

All I know. Nuff said. Have a good Friday. Ciao.

xo Sue Mom Bobo

Each year on the third Friday in May, millions of pizza lovers across the nation join in extolling the qualities of pizza on National Pizza Party Day.

Since pizza is one of America’s favorite foods, it comes as no surprise we would celebrate a day that features a pizza party. Pizza parties bring friends together. They’re also an excellent way to reward a team or group for a job well done. Birthdays and some minor achievements are also celebrated with pizza parties, too. Although, just about any excuse can be used for a good pizza party.

• In ancient Greece, the Greeks covered their bread with oils, herbs, and cheese, which some attribute to the beginning of the pizza.
• In Byzantine Greek, the word was spelled “πίτα,” pita, meaning pie.
• The Romans developed a pastry with a sheet of dough topped with cheese and honey, then flavored with bay leaves.
• Our modern pizza had its beginning in Italy as the Neapolitan flatbread.
• The original pizza used only mozzarella cheese, mainly the highest quality buffalo mozzarella variant. It was produced in the surroundings of Naples.
• An estimated 2 billion pounds of pizza cheese was produced in the United States in 1997.
• The first United States pizza establishment opened in New York’s Little Italy in 1905.
• The largest pizza ever made, according to Guinness World Records, weighed 26,883 pounds. It was made in Norwood, South Africa, on December 8, 1990.
• As far as pizza eating contests go, the winner goes to Kelvin Medina, who ate a 12-inch pizza in 23.62 seconds on April 12, 2015.

HOW TO OBSERVE 

 

Celebrate by inviting friends and family to share a night of fun at your favorite pizzeria.  Another way to celebrate is with a homemade pizza with fresh toppings or by having one delivered. Make individual pizzas so everyone can enjoy their favorite pizza. Order gift cards for future pizza parties to support local businesses.