Fog ~ Sun ~ Dude & Bruiser ~ Woodpecker ~ New Year's Eve Celebration ~ Tournament of Roses Parade History ~ Frank Mize ~ New Year's Day ~ National Hangover Day ~ National Bloody Mary Day

Good 30º foggy morning.

Wow, 2019!

We have looked like this seems like forever. The fog just hung around all day yesterday like it has been doing .....

Then yesterday just after 1pm we got SUN!!! YIPPEEEEE! 

Dude and Bruiser were happy too....

By then we had left the 32º and warmed to 49º! Heat wave! LOL

While I was out enjoying the sun, Mr. Woodpecker seemed to be enjoying it too... poking holes in my utility pole.....

Last night it was chair, wine, cat napping in my lap, and TV. I watched the ball drop in New York at Times Square....

Snoop Dogg, Sting and Christina Aguilera welcomed in 2019 in a packed Times Square last night along with revelers from around the world who come to see the traditional crystal ball drop, fireworks and a blizzard of confetti. 

Spectators started assembling in early afternoon for the made-for-TV extravaganza. As has been the case for years, the celebration took place under tight security, with party goers checked for weapons and then herded into pens, ringed by metal barricades, where they waited for the stroke of midnight.

People who arrive early enough to grab a standing spot in Times Square itself may have had a good view of the stages where the entertainers performed. The rest of the throngs, stuffed into pens stretching several blocks north toward Central Park, were able to follow the action on viewing screens.

There are no public toilets in the pens, backpacks are banned and there are no garbage cans either, so picnicking for the event can be rough. But revelers had plenty of companionship, though experts say probably well short of the 1 million to 2 million spectators claimed by city officials and organizers.

Thousands of police officers were on hand to provide security, with the help of bomb-sniffing dogs, 1,225 security cameras and 235 "blocker vehicles" used to stop any potential vehicle attacks.

The ball dropped during the midnight countdown. This year, the ball was a 12-foot (3.5-meter) diameter geodesic sphere covered with 2,688 Waterford crystal triangles lit by 32,256 LEDs. The numerals "2019" burst into light at midnight accompanied by pyrotechnics and the release of 3,000 pounds of confetti.

You know what...... watching it on TV was much better! No public bathrooms? Locked inside a fenced area? My comfy chair, wine, and a bathroom close by was the BEST! 

The Tournament of Roses Parade, typically shortened to Rose Parade, is a parade held annually on the morning (8:00 am Pacific Time) of New Year's Day in Pasadena, California. 

It is produced by the non-profit Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association and includes flower-covered floats, marching bands, and equestrian units. The parade, whose route is mostly along Colorado Boulevard, is followed by the Rose Bowl collegiate football game in the afternoon. When New Year's Day falls on a Sunday, the parade and the Rose Bowl game are moved to the next day, Monday.

First produced on January 1, 1890, the Rose Parade is watched in person by hundreds of thousands of spectators on the parade route, and is broadcast on multiple television networks in the United States. It is seen by millions more on television worldwide in more than 100 international territories and countries. The Rose Bowl is a college football game that was added in 1902 to help fund the cost of staging the parade. Since 2011, the parade has been sponsored by Honda. Accordingly, the company has the parade's first float, which like all floats, follows the parade's theme.

Rose Parade 2018 featured 44 floats, 20 equestrian units with approximately 400 horses, and 21 marching bands. The theme of this 129th Rose Parade was "Making a Difference" and the Grand Marshal of the parade was Gary Sinise.

Members of Pasadena's Valley Hunt Club first staged the parade in 1890. Since then the parade has been held in Pasadena every New Year's Day, except when January 1 falls on a Sunday. In that case, it is held on the subsequent Monday, January 2. This exception was instituted in 1893, as organizers did not wish to disturb horses hitched outside Sunday church services. (This event was held even during both World War years.)

The stately Italian Renaissance-style mansion (391 Orange Grove Avenue, Pasadena) of William Wrigley Jr. (the maker of Wrigley's chewing gum) was offered to the city of Pasadena after Mrs. Wrigley's death in 1958, under the condition that their home would be the Rose Parade's permanent headquarters. 

Tournament House is the name given the former home where the organization is headquartered.

The first associated football game was played on January 1, 1902. Originally titled the "Tournament East-West football game," it is considered to be the first Rose Bowl. The next game was not played until New Year's Day 1916; they have been played annually since then. The game derives its modern name from Rose Bowl Stadium, which was built for the 1923 game.

Special birthday today... my great neighbor Frank Mize is celebrating. HAPPY BIRTHDAY FRANK! Hope your day is super!! xo

Historically this date......

1890 – The Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California, is first held.

1908 – For the first time, a ball is dropped in New York City's Times Square to signify the start of the New Year at midnight.

1954 – NBC makes the first coast-to-coast NTSC color broadcast when it telecast the Tournament of Roses Parade

1962 – United States Navy Seals established.

1971 – Cigarette advertisements are banned on American television.

And births on this first day of the year include....

1735 – Paul Revere, American patriot (d. 1818)

1752 – Betsy Ross, American seamstress (d. 1836)

1895 – J. Edgar Hoover, American FBI director (d. 1972)

1930 – Ty Hardin, American film actor (d.2017)

 Wow, 8 wives!! The last one he married in 2007!

1935 – B. Kliban, American cartoonist (d. 1990)

   "Love to eat them mousies. Mousies what I love to eat.

    Bite they little heads off and nibble on they tiny feet."

1938 – Frank Langella, American actor

All I know. Nuff said. Happy New Year. Ciao.

xo Sue Mom Bobo

Today we're celebrating 3 National Days..........

Probably one of the most recognized holidays around the world, New Year’s Day is observed January 1.

Celebrations will begin in the Pacific Ocean with Samoa celebrating the New Year before the rest of the world.  The latest stroke of midnight will occur in the middle of the Pacific Ocean near Baker Island which is halfway between Hawaii and Australia.

HOW TO OBSERVE

Traditions around the world:

• Kiss at midnight the one person you hope to keep kissing the rest of the year.
• Making noise, either in the form of fireworks, ringing bells, horns blasting or pistol shots are traditional around the world.
• Toasts to the new year are made with spiced wine in Holland, wassail in England or champagne in the United States.
• Resolutions are not a modern tradition. The Babylonians made commitments to return borrowed objects and to pay old debts.

HISTORY

The new year has been celebrated for millennia. The earliest record of new year’s celebrations occurred during Babylonian times and was celebrated on the first new moon after the vernal equinox. These festivities occurred in Martius (March), the first month in the early Roman calendar which only had ten months.

King Pompilius later added the months Januarius (named for Janus, the pagan god of gates, doors and beginnings) and Februarius bringing the calendar to 12 months. It was Julius Caesar who created the Julian calendar which most closely resembles the Gregorian calendar a majority of the world follows today.

Romans celebrated January 1 in honor of Janus, offering sacrifices, giving gifts and decorating with laurel branches. With his two faces, the god Janus was able to look toward the past and forward to the future. Celebrating the first day of the year in the appropriately named month of January, Romans made sacrifices to Janus, giving gifts and general revelry.

National Hangover Day is observed annually on January 1st.  The day follows New Year’s Eve, a day that traditionally is spent celebrating to bring in the New Year.

Symptoms of a Hangover

• Feeling tired: Alcohol is a toxin. Our bodies are designed to metabolize toxins (alcohol) at a certain pace.  When the pace of consumption exceeds the pace the liver can process it we become intoxicated and at a substantially higher risk for a hangover.  As the liver breaks down alcohol, it produces the toxic chemical acetaldehyde.  One of the substances the body produces to counter these toxins is glutathione.  The body can only make so much at a time and can be quickly depleted during a night of drinking.  Glutathione is a stimulant and when it’s depleted, we feel tired.
• Upset stomach:  Alcohol promotes secretion of hydrochloric acid in the stomach.  Excessive amounts of hydrochloric acid can lead to a queasy stomach, diarrhea or vomiting.
• Headache or muscle aches: Alcohol is a diuretic.  Dehydration can lead to aches and pains as well as the upset stomach listed above.

How to Prevent that Hangover

• Eat – A fat and protein loaded meal before or during the first round of drinks will slow the absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream. No, the food doesn’t act a sponge, soaking up the alcohol, but it does slow down the digestive process. Fats and especially proteins, take longer to digest and the alcohol will be released more slowly into the bloodstream.
• Drink water – Keep hydrated between beers or shots by drinking a glass of water in between.  This will dilute the alcohol, give the liver time to keep up and replace the fluids lost.
• Avoid diet cocktails – According to WebMD studies show cocktails mixed with fruits, fruit juices or other sugar-containing beverages lessen the intensity of a hangover.
• Pace yourself – The saying, “Beer then liquor, never been sicker. Liquor then beer, have no fear” has more to do with the amount of alcohol consumed than the type. Beer tends to be consumed more quickly than hard liquor and as the night goes on, each successive drink tends to go down easier. Starting with liquor and then switching to beer half way through, one might drink more beer, but less total alcohol than if the process is reversed.

Hangover Cures

The only sure fire cure for a hangover is time and lots of fluids.  There are some common remedies that may help ease the symptoms, and there are others that only delay recovery.

• The most common ‘cure’ is called “a hair of the dog that bit you”.  This suggests that having some of what caused the hangover will help cure it.  This will only delay recovery as it will further tax the liver, increase the secretion of hydrochloric acid and will not replace any of the fluids already lost to last night’s revelry.
• Eat a banana.  Bananas are high in potassium.  This is nutrient that is lost while consuming alcohol.  Potassium loss contributes to muscle aches and cramps.  Eating a banana will help ease these symptoms.
• In the movies, a strong cup of coffee is often shoved into the hands of the hangover victim in hopes of bringing some life back into them.  Coffee is a diuretic and while it may stimulate the body temporarily, the effect doesn’t last and will only delay recovery.
• Drinking plenty of water* during the party and replacing fluids after can help ease the symptoms of a hangover. Rehydrate with water or also try fruit juices and sports drinks.  These will replace electrolytes which have been lost and also help recover from low blood sugar.  Studies have shown that alcohol consumption has a direct correlation to an increase in insulin.
• Pain relievers may be the logical choice for that pounding headache which is a common symptom of a hangover. However, they also tax the already overworked liver.  If a pain reliever is necessary, aspirin will have the least effect on the liver but can irritate the stomach.  Either way, pain relievers may delay recovery more than ease the symptoms.
• Over-the-counter miracle cures may seem too good to be true, and they probably are.  Most of them require each pill to be taken with large quantities of water.  See * above about re-hydration.  These products may help ease the symptoms, but at an unnecessary expense.
• Eating a meal with complex carbohydrates, protein and a little fat can help ease the symptoms of a hangover.  Whole wheat toast can absorb some of the acid the stomach is producing.  A fried egg can give the stomach something else to do instead of producing acid and also replaces some nutrients the body lost during the party binge.

HISTORY

At a get together at the Oven and Tap, a restaurant in Bentonville, Arkansas in October 2015, people were talking about National Days.  The conversation then turned to what day on the calendar had little or no National Days attached to it.  When it was announced that January 1 was only known as New Year’s Day, Keegan Calligar and Marlo Anderson both stated simultaneously that it should be National Hangover Day.

National Hangover Day was submitted by Keegan Calligar and Marlo Anderson in October 2015.  The day was approved by the registrar of National Day Calendar in November of 2015.

For all those who celebrated more than they should have, National Bloody Mary Day serves up one of the world’s most popular hangover cures on January 1.

It would seem the Bloody Mary is the product of several hard day’s nights, lackluster cocktails and seemingly tasteless liquor.

When the Russian Revolution pressed fleeing men into Paris and to Harry’s Bar at The Ritz Hotel, bartender Ferdinand “Pete” Petiot mixed up a cocktail that eventually made its way to post-prohibition America.

According to Food and Drink in American History: “Full Course” Encyclopedia by Andrew F. Smith, the Bloody Mary made its debut in Paris at The Ritz Hotel in 1921. Originally named the Bucket of Blood, it also went by the name Red Snapper. Petiot later left Paris and introduced the vodka, tomato juice, lemon juice, Worcestershire, cayenne and salt cocktail to the New York King Cole Bar scene when prohibition ended.

Some attribute the name to notorious Queen Mary Tudor who executed hundreds of Protestants in the name of Catholicism during her short five-year reign from 1553 to 1558. Others claim Petiot’s girlfriend of the same name receives the credit.

Today’s Bloody Mary’s include a variety of ingredients from pickles, olives and celery to bacon, horseradish, Tabasco, and peppers.

Weather ~ Famous People Who Died in 2018 ~ Picture of the Day ~ New Year's Eve

Good 32º heavy heavy foggy morning and the last day of this year!

Famous people who died this year.... my list doesn't include all of them, just the ones I cared about and/or liked.... some of these deaths I didn't even know about. :0(

Actor/director Penny Marshall died on Dec. 18 at age 75 from complications due to diabetes. Marshall debuted as an actress and made her mark on TV's "The Odd Couple" as a secretary, then exploded on the scene after getting her own show with Cindy Williams, "Laverne and Shirley." She later became a high-powered director with movies such as "Big," "A League Of Their Own," and "The Preacher's Wife."

Actress Sondra Locke, who received an Oscar nomination for her role in "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter", died Nov. 3 at age 74 of breast and bone cancer. It wasn't announced until Dec. 13. Locke appeared in several movies, many with Clint Eastwood such as "Outlaw Josey Wales," "The Gauntlet," and "Bronco Billy" during a 10-year relationship.

Actor Ken Berry, famous for roles in "F-Troop," "Mayberry R.F.D.," and "Mama's Family," died on Dec. 1 at age 85. Berry, also a song and dance man, appeared in several Disney movies as "Herbie Rides Again," and guest roles on TV shows such as "Love Boat," "Fantasy Island," and "The Golden Girls."

Former President George H.W. Bush died on Nov. 30 at age 94. The 41st president and father of President George W. Bush had been in failing health; his wife Barbara Bush died on April 17 at age 92. He was a career public servant, as UN ambassador, CIA director and vice-president under Ronald Reagan.

Betty Grissom, wife of Original 7 astronaut Gus Grissom, died on Oct. 7 at age 91. After her husband's death in the 1967 Apollo 1 fire, Betty Grissom successfully sued a contractor for wrongful death.

Actor Burt Reynolds died on Sept. 6 of cardiac arrest at age 82.Reynolds, the former Florida State football player turned actor, was a Hollywood icon for his work in action films and comedies such as "Semi-Tough," the "Smokey and the Bandit" trilogy, "Deliverance," "Hooper," and more. He received his only Oscar nomination for the 1997 film "Boogie Nights."

Playwright Neil Simon, who wrote 30 plays, had 17 Tony Nominations and three wins, died on August 27 at age 91. It was reported that he had a failing kidney, along with Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Simon wrote such classic plays or movie scripts such as "The Odd Couple," "The Goodbye Girl," "The Sunshine Boys," and "Biloxi Blues." He had also won two Emmys and the 1991 Pulitzer Prize for drama.

Nancy Sinatra, first wife of singer Frank Sinatra, died on July 13 at age 101. They married in 1939 as Frank started his career in Jersey City, N.J.; the marriage ended in 1951 after having three children together -- including daughter Nancy, and son Frank Jr.

Actor Tab Hunter died at age 86 on June 8 after a blood clot caused cardiac arrest. Hunter was a leading man in the 1950s and 60s with movies such as "Damn Yankees," and "Battle Cry." But his career cooled after rumors he was gay surfaced. Hunter came out in his 2005 autobiography.

Koko the gorilla, who learned how to communicate with humans, died in her sleep at age 46. Koko was chosen at an early age to work on a language research project and picked up American Sign Language to communicate with humans. She also became fast friends with the late Robin Williams.

Food writer and celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain was found dead of an apparent suicide in a French hotel room on June 7 at age 61. Bourdain was filming part of his CNN series "Parts Unknown" in Strasbourg.

Veteran actor Clint Walker died on May 22 at age 91 of congestive heart failure. Best known for his title role in the TV series "Cheyenne" in the late 1950s and early 60s, Walker also appeared in "The Dirty Dozen," "The Ten Commandments," and as a voice actor in "Small Soldiers." .

Actress Margot Kidder died at her home in Montana on May 13.Kidder starred in several movies, including "The Amityville Horror," but was best known for her 1970s and 1980s role as Lois Lane in "Superman" and its sequels.

Barbara Bush, wife of President George H.W. Bush and mother to President George W. Bush, died on April 17 at age 92. She had been in failing health with congestive heart failure, and had gone home to live out her days in comfort. Barbara Bush met her husband when she was 18 and he was 17. They married two years later and had been married for 73 years. She was one of two women in American history to be the wife and mother of a president.

R. Lee Ermey, a former Marine turned actor, died on April 15 at age 74from complications of pneumonia. Ermey made his mark in "Full Metal Jacket" playing Gunnery Sgt. Hartman, and was often cast in military roles. He also appeared in such films as "Se7en," "Texas Chainsaw Massacre," and "Saving Silverman." He also had voice roles in the "Toy Story" movies, as well as "Family Guy," "The Simpsons," and "SpongeBob SquarePants."

Stephen Hawking, the renowned British astrophysicist, died on March 14 at age 76. Hawking had suffered from a degenerative motor neuron disease since he was 21. His book "A Brief History of Time" brought science to the masses; he also described how Albert Einstein's Theory of Relativity traced the beginning of the universe to the Big Bang, some 13.7 billion years ago.

Actress Nanette Fabray, who won three Emmy and one Tony award over the course of her long career, died on Feb. 22 at age 97. Fabray appeared in several movies andd TV shows over the years, such as "One Day At A Time", "The Mary Tyler Moore Show", and "Your Show of Shows"; she also appeared in Broadway's "No, No Nanette" among others.

Evangelist Billy Graham died in North Carolina on Feb. 21 at age 99. "America's pastor" preached in 185 countries around the world to an estimated 200 million people in his career and was on American's "Most Admired" list of men and women 60 times in his career. Graham long suffered from cancer, pneumonia and other ailments.

Comedian Marty Allen, best known for his pairing with Steve Rossi in the 1960s, died Feb. 12 at age 95 from complications of pneumonia.

Singer Vic Damone, considered one of the best singers of the 1940s and 50s, died in Miami Beach on Feb. 11 of complications from respiratory illness at age 89. Damone supposedly got his start at age 14 by singing to Perry Como in an elevator; Frank Sinatra once said he had the best pipes in the business. He reach No. 1 on the charts with "You're Breaking My Heart" and had several other top 10 hits.

Former National League Rookie of the Year Wally Moon died at age 87 in Bryan, Texas on Feb. 9. Moon was the top NL rookie in 1954 with the St. Louis Cardinals; after playing for the Cards from 1954-58, he played for the Los Angeles Dodgers and was part of three World Series winners from 1958-65.

John Gavin, who appeared in such films as "Spartacus," "Psycho," and "Imitation of Life," died in California on Feb. 9. Gavin, who came close to playing James Bond in "Diamonds Are Forever," served as the Screen Actors Guild president in the early 1970s and as U.S. Ambassador to Mexico for President Ronald Reagan from 1981-86.

Actor John Mahoney, known for his work in the TV comedy "Frasier", died on Feb. 4, in Chicago at age 77. Mahoney, who played father figure Martin Crane for 11 seasons and had two Emmy nominations, also won a Tony Award and appeared in movies such as "Tin Men," "Eight Men Out," "Say Anything" and "Barton Fink."

Actress Dorothy Malone died on Jan. 19 of natural causes at age 93. While she was best known for her role on ABC's soap opera Peyton Place, she also won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role in the 1956 film Written On The Wind.

Dan Gurney, the first driver to win in NASCAR, Formula One, and Indy Car, died of complications from pneumonia on Jan. 14. Gurney also teamed with A.J. Foyt to win the 24 Hours of Daytona. In 1990, he was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame at Talladega Superspeedway.

Actor and comedian Jerry Van Dyke died Jan. 5 at 86. Van Dyke, the younger brother of Dick Van Dyke, was best known for his portrayal of the slow-witted assistant football coach Luther Van Dam in the ABC comedy "Coach." He also starred in the short-lived comedy series "My Mother the Car" in 1965 and made guest appearances on shows such as "Yes, Dear," The Middle," and "The Dick Van Dyke Show."

Picture of the Day... LOL....

Historically this date......

1862 – American Civil War: Abraham Lincoln signs an act that admits West Virginia to the Union, thus dividing Virginia in two.

1879 – Thomas Edison demonstrates incandescent lighting to the public for the first time, in Menlo Park, NJ.

1907 – The first New Year's Eve celebration is held in Times Square (then known as Longacre Square) in New York City, New York.

1909 – Manhattan Bridge opens.

1960 – The farthing coin ceases to be legal tender in the United Kingdom.

................OMG, I first thought this said "farting" coin!

1983 – The AT&T Bell System is broken up by the United States Government.

1999 – Boris Yeltsin, the first president of Russia, resigns as President of Russia, leaving Prime MinisterVladimir Putin as the acting President.

And births this date include...

1920 – Rex Allen, American actor, singer, and songwriter (d. 1999)

1930 – Jaime Escalante, American teacher (d. 2010)

1943 – John Denver, American singer and songwriter (d. 1997)

1943 – Sir Ben Kingsley, English actor

1947 – Tim Matheson, American actor

1958 – Bebe Neuwirth, American actress

1959 – Val Kilmer, American actor

1965 – Nicholas Sparks, American author

1974 – Tony Kanaan, Brazilian racing driver

All I know. Nuff said. Happy New Years Eve. Ciao.

xo Sue Mom Bobo

Also known as Old Year’s Day or Saint Sylvester’s Day, New Year’s Eve is celebrated annually on December 31st.  

HOW TO OBSERVE

As we count down the last hours and seconds of the old year, it is a good time to look back at the year and reminisce with friends and family.   

In Spain and other Spanish-speaking countries, it is tradition to eat 12 grapes during the countdown to midnight symbolizing hopes for the new year. Around the world, eating anything in the form of a circle or ring symbolizes coming full circle and is considered good luck.

As a Christian observance, it is traditional to hold an evening Mass the night before a Holy Day. New Year’s Day in the Roman Catholic Church honors the Virgin Mary. In some countries, St. Sylvester, Pope of the Catholic Church from 314 to 335, is celebrated on New Year’s Eve.

Ring in the New Year with Jody’s Gourmet Popcorn.  It makes the perfect snack to count down the last seconds of 2018 and start 2019 off right!

HISTORY

New Year’s Eve has been celebrated for millennia.  Honoring the end of one year goes hand in hand with celebrating new beginnings in the new one.