Aphorism, Aphorism, Who's Got the Aphorism...

An aphorism is a statement of truth or opinion expressed in a concise and witty manner.  Such as:

I read that 4,153,237 people were married last year.  Not to cause any trouble . . . but shouldn't that be an even number?

I find it ironic that the colors red, white and blue stand for freedom until they are flashing behind you.

When wearing a bikini, women reveal 90% of their bodies. Men are so polite they only look at the covered parts.

Relationships are a lot like algebra. Have you ever looked at your X and wondered Y?

Stay tune for more perspicacious precepts of personal perspectives . . .

Contributed by Barbara Bruno

Special Observances, July 31 – August 6

JULY 31: UNCOMMON INSTRUMENTS AWARENESS DAY

On Uncommon Instrument Awareness day, It’s time for a bit of music appreciation — only of the less-common variety. This unusual holiday motivates everyone to learn about — and try — a new and unusual musical instrument.

Music is integral to a society’s culture. Statues in ancient Cyprus show people playing the lyre. The ancient Cyprians also used animal-shaped rattles that might have been used to keep a beat, scare off evil spirits, or as a toy for young children. The ancient Romans invented the “hydraulis,” which worked when water pressure from a tank forced air up into the keys and pipes. Assistants worked the pumps, while it was played, to keep the water pressure high. Ancient Greeks were used the “auloi,” a pipe made of wood, bone, or metal with a reed inserted at its end to produce sound. In Asia, Buddhists used trumpets made of different materials — like conch shells — to call monks to services. The ancient Egyptians, too, had their own special musical instruments that looked like harps, lutes, and oboes.

Over the years, new and uncommon inventions have increased the wide variety of musical instruments. In the 12th century, a medieval instrument, called the “citole,” resembled a guitar, but was actually the precursor to the violin. In the 19th century, electric instruments started coming around. In the 20th century, the Soviet government sponsored research into “proximity sensors” which resulted in the theremin (named after its inventor), an electric instrument played without being touched. It has since been used in film scores, on television, and occasionally in pop and rock music.

AUGUST 1: NATIONAL PLANNER DAY

On National Planner Day planner lovers celebrate their devotion to these organizational tools, reflecting on how planners can change lives for the better. 2018 was the year National Planner Day launched. Not used to using a planner? National Planner Day can be the boost to starting to use one. Already a planner lover? Then you know its critical role in to stay organized and on track. National Planner Day is the best time to have well-prepared strategies written on a planner — about how to celebrate the day.

Planners have various formats, from digital to paper formats. The function is the same: to help keep track of things in your life. Planning is essential because, without it, life can get overwhelming. A planner serves a similar purpose as a personal assistant, helping you stay organized, focused, and motivated. (However, sadly, it will not bring you coffee.) If you’re not used to using a planner, start small, charting simple daily plans, leading up to more detailed plans for the year ahead. Having plans written down provides satisfaction as one thing is finished. It keeps you motivated to finish the others things on your list.

AUGUST 2: DINOSAURS DAY

Dinosaurs first appeared around 245 million years ago. It’s still a bit of a mystery why and how they became extinct. Dinosaurs Day is the day to remember them —and to note that human beings did not always rule the planet. The earliest known published record of dinosaur remains was in 1820. Dinosaur fossils have been found on all seven continents. The word Dinosauria was coined by Richard Owen, an English anatomist in 1842. The word comes from the Greek word “deinos”—meaning terrible or fearfully great—and “sauros,” meaning reptile or lizard. He applied the term to three animals whose fossilized bones had been found, both larger and with more vertebrae than any found before.

Dinosaurs first appeared at the beginning of the Middle Triassic Epoch, and existed for about 180 million years, going extinct about 66 million years ago at the end of the Cretaceous Period. The period they lived in is called the Mesozoic Era. During this time, there were many changes. Various dinosaur species replaced other species. There were at least 700 species of dinosaurs, and possibly more than 1,000. Some were bipedal — they walked on two legs — some were quadrupedal — they walked on all fours. Some switched back and forth. Some had feathers, others had what was almost body armor. Some ran fast, others were slow. Most were herbivores, but some were carnivores.

At the end of the Cretaceous Period, big biotic changes occurred. Many other animals and plants died at that time. Theories abound as to why dinosaurs died out: disease, heat waves, cold spells, changing sea levels, terrific volcanic activity, the emergence of egg-eating mammals, X-rays from an exploding supernova. One common theory is that an asteroid smashed to earth, spread ash widely, and shifted the earth's climate. All dinosaurs did not die out at the same time. Scientists also believe that some dinosaurs may have evolved into birds.

AUGUST 3: NATIONAL WATERMELON DAY

On National Watermelon Day, we celebrate this ancient berry in a feast of juicy deliciousness.

The watermelon we enjoy today is the result of mutations over the course of a thousand years of cultivation. It — watermelons, that is — all started in Ancient Egypt. Watermelon cultivation began in the Nile Valley as early as the second millennium BC. Paintings of different types of watermelon have been found in ancient Egyptian inscriptions. Watermelon seeds were even found in King Tut’s tomb.

Watermelon seeds were sold to traders passing through the trade routes in the Kalahari Desert in Africa. From there, the cultivation of the watermelon spread across Africa, then onward into Mediterranean countries and other parts of Europe. By the end of the 9th century, watermelon cultivation became common in China and the rest of Asia.

The word “watermelon” first appeared in the English dictionary in 1615. The watermelon is commonly known as a type of melon, but it is not in the genus Cucumis. While the word “watermelon” refers to both the fruit and the plant, to botanists the plant is a “pepo.” The pepo is a berry — a really big berry — with a thick rind and fleshy center. Watermelons produce a juicy, sweet interior flesh ranging from deep red to pink. However, sometimes it comes in orange, yellow, or white. Over 300 varieties of watermelon are available in the US, ranging from red to white, and come in different shapes and sizes. With proper growing conditions, watermelons grow to enormous sizes — 92% of which is water. Around the world, competitions award prizes each year for the largest one. The Guinness Book of World Records lists the heaviest watermelon weighing in at 262 pounds.

AUGUST 4: INTERNATIONAL BEER DAY

Beer: one of the oldest drinks ever known. International Beer Day gives fans worldwide an extra reason to raise a mug to this refreshing beverage. Beer manages to do what politicians have tried to do for centuries: unite people in a common cause for good. With a frosty mug or stein, we relax, sit down and converse. Convivial or not, calm or animated, somehow beer makes it possible to agree to disagree and still walk away friends. Plenty of us have no doubt solved many of the world’s problems over a few pints of beer.

Humans throughout the globe have been fascinated with beer since the first fermeneted grains were accidentally discovered, producing a bubbly aromatic product someone dared to taste, then drink, felt a lovely buzz, smiled, and said, “More, please.” Mankind has been obsessed ever since with perfecting beer recipes and brewing processes.

The oldest evidence of brewing beer dates back to ancient Babylonia and Mesopotamia. Archaeologists have unearthed recipes for beer written on clay tablets in 4300 BC. Ceramic vessels from 3400 BC are still sticky with beer residue. Everyone drank beer in ancient Egypt as part of their everyday diet: pharaohs, peasants, priests, even children. By the Middle Ages, Christian monks introduced the use of hops. Until then, beers were brewed with local additives like dates and olive oils to add flavor. Today’s beers continue to be brewed with hops, herbs, or fruits. Macro, micro, or craft, the art of brewing beer today employs age-old techniques carefully perfected over centuries and millennium.

Jesse Avshalomov founded International Beer Day back in 2007. His reasons?

·      Gather with friends and enjoy the taste of beer

·      Celebrate those responsible for brewing and serving beer

·      Unite the world under the banner of beer by celebrating beers of all nations together on a single day

AUGUST 5: NATIONAL MUSTARD DAY

Ground from the seeds of the mustard plant, mustard is one of America’s favorite condiments. We can all celebrate this versatile topping on National Mustard Day. The National Mustard Museum (yes, there is one) started the observance and celebrates the day every first Saturday in August. Of course, you don’t have to go to the museum to take part. On your own you can try out as many mustards as possible: the standard yellow American style, French Dijon mustard, Bavarian sweet mustard, tangy beer mustard!

Mustard has been in the world for centuries. Believed to have originated in ancient Egypt, it was used for medicinal purposes as well as for a spice. The Greeks and Romans followed suit, using mustard for both flavoring and as an herbal remedy, a cure for a range of ailments, from snakebites to hysteria.

Next stop, Northern France, where it was cultivated by monks. The word “mustard” is derived from the word “mosto” or “grape muss,” a type of unfermented wine the monks mixed with mustard seeds. Monasteries started producing large amounts of mustard in the 9th century. It turned into quite a money-maker. Dijon, France, is the home of prepared mustard, or modern mustard as we know it, created in the 13th century. Pope John XXII of Avignon, who loved mustard, created a special post of Grand Moustardier du Pape or the Grand Mustard-Maker, to which he appointed his nephew.

At the beginning of the 19th century, mustard became an industrial-level food. The British were the first mustard millers, finely milling mustard into a powder. In 1904, the modern yellow mustard was introduced in Rochester, NY, paired with the classic American hot dog.

Depending on the kind of mustard, flavors and color vary. There’s white or yellow mustard known as Sinapis hirta. Brown or Indian mustard comes from Brassica juncea. And black mustard comes from Brassica nigra. The mustard seed can be used in cooking, too: whole, ground, cracked, or bruised. When mixed with liquids such as water, lemon juice, or broth, mustard produces different textures and flavors. As a paste, it is used as a sauce or even a marinade. And then there are dry rubs for roasts, chicken, or chops, made by mixing mustard with other seasoning.

AUGUST 6: WIGGLE YOUR TOES DAY

National Wiggle Your Toes Day, simply put, is a fun day for showing off your nether digits. Let your toes breathe in open sandals and indulge in some public wiggling adventures on this day. Toes simply don’t get the attention they deserve. After all, they’re responsible for helping us stand straight, provide gripping, and help make walking effortless. National Wiggle Your Toes Day offers us the chance to show off our toes, encouraging us to give our feet (and toes) a little extra attention. Go ahead: indulge in a pedicure to celebrate!

There seems to be no real information on who, how, or when National Wiggle Your Toes Day came into existence. Well, surprise, surprise. What we do know is that the easiest way to celebrate the day is by simply letting your “ten little piggies” see the light of day. The poem, “Ten Little Piggies” nursery rhyme dates back to 1728 when it was first featured in a medley known as “The Nurses’ Song.” The first full version was published in London in 1760.

So, take a walk in the fresh grass and give your phalanges a little vacation. Another thing naked toes like to do is dangle in the water. Take them for a swim. Afterward, give them a gentle massage. Can’t reach them? That’s what friends and spouses are for.

In and Around Kendal

Dining Rockwood Park Style, by Edward Kasinec

Free Salad Bar

Omelet, Anyone?

White caps after the rain

The Small World Around Us, by Harry Bloomfeld

Spotted Lanternfly

Swallowtail Butterfly

The Plant and Pollinator Garden seems to be working. The Swallowtail came a-callin’.

The Surprises Continue on the Bender Balcony

Update from the Benders: The nest beneath there balcony rubber tree leaf now has four tiny eggs. Stay tuned!

Hudson River Sunset, by Barbara Bruno

Food for Thought

Turns out that being a "senior" is mostly just googling how to do stuff. 

I want to be 18 again and ruin my life differently. I have new ideas 

I'm on two simultaneous diets. I wasn't getting enough food on one. 

I put my scale in the bathroom corner and that's where the little liar will stay until it apologizes. 

My mind is like an internet browser. At least 18 open tabs, 3 of them are frozen, and I have no clue where the music is coming from.

 Hard to believe I once had a phone attached to a wall, and when it rang, I picked it up without knowing who was calling.   

There is no such thing as a grouchy old person. The truth is that once you get old, you stop being polite and start being honest.

Contributed by Barbara Bruno

Thought About Food . . .

It was a Friday. Hot and swelter. Pizza Day in the Bistro. As we began to consume this most perfect of foods (grain, protein, dairy, vegetable), our thoughts turned to its lineage. Later in the day, we tripped over a New York Times article on just that subject that may shed a bit of light on the mystery of pizza’s history.

A Proto-Pizza Emerges from a Fresco on a Pompeii Wall

That doughy disc with delectable toppings seen in a 2,000-year-old painting is not a pizza, experts insist. But can we get one delivered anyway?

By Elisabetta Povoledo

It may have been no pepperoni with extra cheese, but it still caught the eye of archaeologists working on the ruins of Pompeii, and not because they were hungry.

The researchers were excavating the site earlier this year when they ran across a fresco depicting a silver platter laden with wine, fruit — and a flat, round piece of dough with toppings that looked remarkably like a pizza.

Proto-pizza might be more like it, given that the city of Pompeii was buried by a volcano in 79 A.D., nearly 2,000 years before anything modern civilization might recognize as a pie came into existence.

In a statement published on Tuesday, the archaeologists were insistent that the dish portrayed in the fresco did not mean that the History of Pizza is about to be rewritten. “Most of the characteristic ingredients are missing, namely tomatoes and mozzarella,” they said.

Originally published June 27, 2023, The New York Times; updated June 29, 2023

Contributed by Peter Sibley

Quotable Quotes

“Age is an issue of mind over matter.  If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.”  Mark Twain

Contributed by Marianne Bloomfeld

Summertime, Summertime, Sum, Sum, Summertime . . .

As soon as the thermometer hits 80, we start humming, then singing, “Summertime.” No, no, not the glorious song from Porgy and Bess, but the teen hit of 1958. Who, once they’ve heard it, could ever forget the “It’s summertime, summertime, sum, sum, summertime” beginning? And so we include it below

CLICK HERE for Summertime, Summertime

Meanwhile, a bit of information about the song and its songsters . . .

The Jamies

"Summertime, Summertime," the group's 1958 single for Epic Records, reached #26 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Both "Summertime" and its b-side, "Searching for You," are often described as doo-wop because of their time period and their a cappella harmonies. However, both songs may also be described as pop versions of Sacred Harp styles, as the group started as church singers, or possibly as an early example of baroque pop.

Several singles followed "Summertime, Summertime" (many written by Tom Jameson), but none of these were hits. In 1962, "Summertime, Summertime" was re-released and became a hit again, this time peaking at No. 38.

The song's fame far eclipsed the band's; The Fortunes, the Doodletown Pipers, Hobby Horse, Jan and Dean, and Sha Na Na all covered the tune, and it was used in commercials for Buick, Ken-L Ration Burger Time Dog Food, Applebee's and McDonald's. It was also featured in the 1978 film Fingers.

Members:

Thomas Earl "Tom" Jameson (1937-2009)

Serena Jameson (Thomas Jameson's sister, who sang alto

Jeannie Roy

Arthur Blair (1937-2020)

Sherman Feller (1918-1994) (Group manager, later became more famous as the public-address announcer for the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.) He did not co-write "Summertime, Summertime,” as is commonly thought, but took co-writing credit, half of the songwriting royalties, and the publishing rights, as was common practice by managers at the time.

Tom Jameson was the sole writer/arranger of "Summertime, Summertime."

Contributed by Peter Sibley

Special Observances, July 24 – 30

JULY 24: TELL AN OLD JOKE DAY

“Knock-knock!”

“Who’s there?”

“Boo”

“Boo who?”

Don’t cry! National Tell an Old Joke Day is here! A day for keeping old jokes alive and kicking. Like every endangered species, old jokes need to be periodically revitalized. Spread cheer, share laughter, and reminisce about those old jokes everyone loves.

Some people say the joke was invented in Greece. Others even believe it originated in mythological legend by a person called Palamedes. Since he was also credited with inventing numbers, the alphabet, lighthouses, dice, and the practice of eating meals at regular intervals, we won’t hesitate to adopt this particular theory as the truth. Facts verify that the Greeks, were, in fact, a humorous lot. In the Athens of Demosthenes, there existed a comedians’ club called the Group of Sixty. They met in the Temple of Heracles and traded wisecracks. Apparently, Alexander the Great’s father, Philip II of Macedon, commissioned a book of their jokes. The very first joke book ever found was also from Greece. Titled “Philogelos,” or “Laughter-Lover,” it contains 264 jokes. The jokes in this book are famously spare and include gems like, “How shall I cut your hair?” a talkative barber asked a wag. “In silence!” the wag answered. The Ancient Romans, too, had their ‘jestbooks.’ The playwright Titus Maccius Plautus often referenced these in his plays, while the Roman historian Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus mentions a professor of the emperor Augustus, who compiled more than 150 jokes anthologies. “Philogelos” was misplaced during the Dark Ages and humor was kept alive only in the Arab world. As they spread around the world, so too did their satirical folktales and humor. As these folktales reached Europe, they split into two: one, the novel; the other, a shorter, more humorous anecdote. The early Renaissance brought the joke back with the help of one man — Poggio Bracciolini. Secretary to eight popes, this Italian humanist was a passionate bibliophile, traveling throughout Europe in search of lost works. This influenced his satirical writing, which was compiled in a book called “Facetiae.” Filled with 273 jests, bons mots, puns, and humorous anecdotes, this book was heavily influenced by another club called the Bugiale, which functioned as a jokes club of sorts. The first English jestbook even had a sample of Poggio’s jokes and, by the time Shakespeare came around, jestbooks were very popular. One more nudge was all the world needed to turn funny tales into a joke. It came when 28 jokes from “Philogelos” were accidentally published in an edition of “Commentary on the Golden Words of Pythagoras.” This mistake meant the ancient jokes soon circulated throughout Europe. Thanks to their popularity, jokes became shorter and punchier. The Georgian era brought gems like “Joe Miller’s Jests” — based on a notoriously gloomy London stage actor. By the 19th century, joke books began to be cleaned up and ribald language was removed. They became fillers in older forms of printed books and provided a source of enjoyment for anyone who read them.

JULY 25: MERRY-GO-ROUND DAY

Merry-Go-Round Day spotlights the fun ride known as a merry-go-round or carousel. A highlight of amusement parks, these circular rides are still widely popular not only across America but the world. The word carousel originated from the Italian Carosella and Spanish Carosella ("little battle"). The modern carousel emerged from early jousting traditions in Europe, introduced at the time of the Crusades from earlier Arab traditions. Knights would gallop in a circle while tossing balls from one to another, an activity requiring great skill and horsemanship.

By the 17th century, the balls had disappeared. Instead, riders had to spear small hanging rings from poles overhead and rip them off. Commoners began to play the game. Carousels soon sprung up at fairgrounds across Europe. At the Place du Carrousel in Paris, an early make-believe carousel was set up with wooden horses for children. By 1803 John Joseph Merlin had a carousel in his Mechanical Museum in London, where gentry and nobility liked to gather on winter evenings. It was connected to a "big musical instrument that played a fully orchestrated concerto." By the early 18th century carousels were being built and operated at various fairs and gatherings in central Europe and England, often powered by animals walking in a circle or people pulling a rope or cranking.

With large-scale immigration to America, the carousel came to the US. Mass production of carousels boomed with the Industrial Revolution, and they quickly spread around the country. Another benefit of this revolution was the extra leisure time people now had, making having fun on a carousel ride possible. Steam-power fully replaced animal power in the 19th century. Merry-go-rounds got bigger and heavier.

By the next century, carousels were being manufactured for amusement parks by many industries. The Great Depression put a lot of them out of business. As World War II came around, all resources were directed for war efforts, pushing the carousel to the wayside. They rebounded again as the economy improved, and units began to be made from synthetic materials.

JULY 26: BAGELFEST DAY

Okay, Bagelfest Day. Now, we usually rely on the good old Internet to describe a “special observance” day. For July 26, we take exception. We were delighted that July 26 is Bagelfest Day, but then learned it began with the folks from Lender’s Bagel. Hold on! No, no, no, no, no. No bagel should be frozen. Ever. Those people who have introduced the mass-produced, frozen, homogenized hideous object bearing the otherwise near-holy thing called a bagel have, yes, expanded the world of bagel-eaters while, at the same time, dealing the world of bagels a dastardly blow. We will include here the basics on Bagelfest Day. However, we also include a serious—and timely (July 11, 2023, no less) article from the “Serious Eats” website entitled “The Good Bagel Manifesto.” ( We encourage you to go above and beyond the usual and read this excellent piece, which celebrates the true bagel, rather than that thing pushed relentlessly and cynically  on the bagel-eating public.) Okay, that’s our rant. (Now click here for the link to the article we suggested).

And on to Bagelfest:

National Bagelfest Day is celebrated on July 26 to recognize the scrumptious bread that is light and tasty. Did you know the bagel is the only bread that is boiled before being baked? Well, it’s facts like these and more that National Bagelfest Day is all about. All you need is an empty stomach, caffeine, and an endless interest in bagels. But first, a bit of history. Bagels are a bread product that originated in the Jewish communities of Poland. The spread of bagels across the world took time. Bagels did not reach England until the 19th century. They were brought to America by Polish Jews who immigrated. It is also important to note that the sizes of bagels have evolved over time and have greatly increased. For instance, an average bagel was three ounces in 1915 but weighed around six ounces by 2003.

JULY 27: BAGPIPE APPRECIATION DAY

Bagpipe Appreciation Day celebrates an ancient musical instrument that dates back thousands of years and has become a part of Scottish tradition. Bagpipes have been used during battles, funerals, parades, weddings, and royal occasions. Although central to Scottish identity — like kilts, haggis, and whiskey — bagpipes did not originate in Scotland. Rather, they have an ancient history tracing back to Mesopotamia, where shepherds were said to play them for leisure. There are speculations the pipes were in ancient Egypt, but no supporting evidence exists. A Hittite wall carving from around 1000 BC displays a bagpipe, suggesting that bagpipes were used in western Asia, too. Since the Hittites traded with Egypt, the instrument could have been passed on to them from the Egyptians. That leaves the Egyptians and the Hittites as the two possible inventors of the bagpipe.

The instrument was later introduced to the Greeks by the Romans when they conquered Greece. The bagpipes became popular in Britain after the Roman invasion. The first reference to the Scottish Highland bagpipes is from French history that mentions their use at the Battle of Pinkie in 1547. By the 18th century, they had become an icon of Scottish national identity. Bagpipes were for communication during battles to signal movements, attacks, and retreats. They were also played before a battle to inspire the army. When the Scottish uprising of 1745 failed, military training was banned, and bagpipes were no longer used for war. However, they were kept for other uses.

There are many types of bagpipes today. The most popular is Scotland’s Great Highland bagpipe. On Bagpipe Appreciation Day, we celebrate all variations of bagpipes and their contribution to culture and music. Though bagpipes are perhaps most commonly linked to the Scottish, the largest producer in the world of this aerophone instrument is Pakistan.

JULY 28: NATIONAL TALK IN AN ELEVATOR DAY

On the last Friday in July, National Talk in An Elevator Day encourages us to strike up a conversation with someone in an elevator. While many use this time to check a smart devices, this day points us in another direction. Whether we ride with a stranger or someone familiar to us, start a discussion. You might meet someone new.  If you’re riding with someone you know, try to learn something new about them. Riding in an elevator can be a short, mundane experience inside a box. From another perspective, the short vertical trip could be a laughter break. Try out your stand-up comedy. Share your udderly moo-tivational cow puns you’ve been saving up. If comedy isn’t your style, break the silence with a miniature spelling bee. For example, see if you can get a consensus on how to spell consensus. Does everyone spell it with the correct number of Ss?

The best way to strike up a conversation in an elevator is to mention the national day. Did you know that elevators have been around since 200 B.C.? Elevators were invented by Archimedes, the famous Greek mathematician, scientist, and engineer. His invention included the usage of pulleys that were operated by either people or animals. Almost 800 years later, Ibn Khalaf al-Muradi, an Andalusian scientist, wrote about elevators in his book called “Book of Secrets.” The book described the anatomy of an elevator and how it can be used to lift animals to great heights. The modern-day elevator wasn’t invented until the 1800s. Elisha Graves Otis established the Otis Elevator Company in the mid-1850s. He debuted his invention in New York City at the Crystal Palace Convention. Before Otis’ invention, many avoided using an elevator due to safety concerns. The cables/ropes hoisting an elevator up and down would at times snap, bringing all of the elevator’s occupants down, too. This safety hazard was soon solved by Otis’ ingenious idea of installing spring technology into the elevator.

JULY 29: NATIONAL LASAGNA DAY

You don’t have to be Italian to celebrate National Lasagna Day. Tomato sauce, cheeses, meat, and vegetables — all separated by wide flat noodles: what’s not to love? Lasagna first showed up in Naples, Italy, during the Middle Ages and made it to America in the 19th century. Since then, Americans have made it all their own.

The word “lasagna” originated from ancient Greece. Essentially, the name stems from the word “laganon,” the earliest form of pasta: flattened sheets of dough sliced into thin strips. Of course, the original form was very different from the assembled lasagna dish we enjoy today. Layers of pasta slathered with sauce were present but without the essential Italian ingredients. A similar dish was commonly prepared in ancient Rome, called “lasanum,” which means pot or container in Latin. So, the word ‘lasagna’ actually comes from the method of cooking it, not the ingredients. 

The lasagna cooked in Northern Italy uses flat noodles, while the noodles used in Southern Italy are rippled. The ingredients Italians use in the recipe depend on their family’s tradition and heritage.

JULY 30: PAPERBACK BOOK DAY

Paperback Book Day is an ode to the paperback bookend the journey it’s made since its inception. Many people think of the English publishing house Penguin when they think of paperback history. While it is true paperbacks’ popularity on a large scale took place when Penguin started with the idea in the 20th century, the history of paperbacks goes further back to the 17th century. European countries like Germany and France were already publishing stories and papers in the paperback-like format then. James Fenimore Cooper published frontier stories in a similar style. The publishing world’s “dime novels” and “penny dreadfuls” are, in fact, products of the same business phenomena.

But back to Penguin. During the Depression, its owner, Allen Lane, was going bankrupt in his publishing business. While waiting for his train, he browsed a station stall for something to read, but found nothing good except for magazines and low-quality paperback fiction. Aha! He came up with the idea of high-quality paperbacks, which would automatically raise profits by allowing more people to access good fiction at lower prices. From then on, paperbacks became a favorite with publishers and readers. Paperback Book Day is celebrated on July 30 because that was when Penguin published its first paperback. Paperback books became very popular during World War II. They were easy to carry around, and they were cheaper. After the war, paperback books became even more popular. Today, paperback books are still very popular.

Who I Am, Poem and Sculpture, by Sheila Benedis

Who I Am    

a wrinkled orange peel

a soft smooth aromatic pear

 

I’m sinuous

a delicate fragile dandelion

carried by the wind

carried by the spirit

 

a gentle breath

planting seeds of life

planting seeds of hope

 

tough as nails

tenaciously forcing through rock

growing roots in crevices

surviving

 

going round and round

inside becoming outside

turning twisting on the road of life

wanting to find love

wanting to belong

 

being a creative person

seeing challenges as opportunities

as gifts

 

needing a solitary quiet space

for an aesthetic impulse

to become an intuition

to make art

to write poetry

 

showing the world and myself

who I am

I am wabi sabi

healing repairing

transforming

In and Around

Surprises in and around Kendal

Whoa . . . Mom! What’s that ?!

Photo by Hubert Herring

Are those . . . Yes they are! A house wren sets up a nursery in a prime spot (under a rubber tree leaf) on Ginny and Bob Bender’s patio. Stay tuned for the next chapter!

Photo by Ginny Bender

The Magical Beauty of the Mushroom, by Emil Bahary

The Magical Beauty of Kendal Sunsets, by Laura Burkhardt

Food for Thought

  1. I'm responsible for what I say, not for what you understand. 

  2. Common sense is like deodorant. The people who need it the most never use it.

  3. My tolerance for idiots is extremely low these days. I used to have some immunity built up, but obviously, there's a new strain out there. 

  4. It's not my age that bothers me. It's the side effects. 

  5. I'm not saying I'm old and worn out, but I make sure I'm nowhere near the curb on trash day. 

  6. As I watch this generation try and rewrite our history, I'm sure of one thing: it will be misspelled and have no punctuation. 

  7. As I've gotten older, people think I've become lazy. The truth is I'm just being more energy-efficient. 

  8. I haven't gotten anything done today. I've been in the Produce Department trying to open a stupid plastic bag. 

  9. If you find yourself feeling useless, remember: it took 20 years, trillions of dollars, thousands of lives and four presidents to replace the Taliban with the Taliban. 

Contributed by Barbara Bruno

Special Observances, July 17 – 23

JULY 17: WORLD EMOJI DAY

Internet-age Communication now goes far beyond pressing send on a simple text message. Check your social media feeds or text messages. How many smiley faces, flying hearts, avocados, and unicorns do you see? These iconic little images, known as emojis, are more popular today than ever before — so, naturally, they have their own special day: World Emoji Day. While sometimes they may seem silly, according to various psychologists and researchers, they may play a vital role in the way we communicate today. In fact, Oxford Dictionary’s Word of the Year for 2015 was the 😂 emoji.

Before the emoji, there were emoticons (emotion + icon), developed as an expression of emotions in cold hard texts. “Emoji” was coined by Shigetaka Kurita in 1990 while working for the Japanese telecom company NTT Docomo. It is a Japanese expression, roughly meaning “picture word.” The first Apple iPhone (2007) had an emoji keyboard to nab the Japanese market. While not intended for US users, Americans quickly found it and figured out how to use it. Every year new emojis are developed. Over 1800 emojis cover much more than just emotions. From transportation, food, an assortment of wild and domesticated animals to social platforms, weather, and bodily functions, emojis virtually speak for themselves.

JULY 18: WORLD LISTENING DAY

Shhh . . . hear that? It’s the sound of World Listening Day. World Listening Day is hosted every year by the World Listening Project, a nonprofit organization “devoted to understanding the world and its natural environment, societies, and cultures through the practice of listening and field recording.” They explore acoustic ecology, a discipline that studies the relationship between humans and the natural world as mediated through sound.

Listening is indeed an art that requires undivided attention and patience from a person and benefits another who is in need of it. Listening is also beneficial for the listener, improving their listening skills and sharpening their awareness of their surroundings. As important as our sense of hearing is, we often don’t use it effectively, blocking out most sounds and voices, and not really listening to the message.

World Listening Day falls on July 18 to honor the birthday of Raymond Murray Schafer, a Canadian composer and environmentalist who is the founder of acoustic ecology. Born on July 18, 1933, he developed his World Soundscape Project, laying the fundamental ideas and practices of acoustic ecology in the 1970s. Established in 2010, each year the holiday has a specific theme tied to it. Past themes include “H2O,” “Sounds Lost & Found,” and “Listen to You!” The theme for World Listening Day 2023 is “Listen to the Sounds of Nature.”

JULY 19: NATIONAL HOT DOG DAY

National Hot Dog Day celebrates a summertime staple on a bun. Enjoy one piping hot and add some relish and mustard to go! This day pays homage to the frankfurter, the footlong or wienie, wiener, wienerwurst or even “red hot.” It tastes just as great no matter what we call it. And Americans love it. Each year, over 25 million hot dogs are sold at baseball stadiums, alone.

We make them a variety of ways. They’re portable and easy to make. While many of us prefer them grilled or toasted over a fire, we also boil, pan-fry, and rotisserie-cook them. The list of toppings is numerous – from the basic ketchup, mustard or relish to onions, mayonnaise, cheese, bacon, chili and sauerkraut. And the list keeps growing. Adults and children love them.

JULY 20: NAP DAY

Humans are monophasic sleepers, meaning they devote one part of the day to sleep, and the other part to being awake. The one exception: naps! Nap Day was invented by William Anthony, Ph.D., and his wife Camille Anthony in 1999. The couple wanted to help educate people about the power of a good nap and how getting just a little extra rest could be important to health.

Naps provide numerous benefits, as long as they aren't too long. Naps that are about 10 to 30 minutes in length improve mood, alertness, and performance — both mentally and physically. The alertness that naps provide can last for a few hours. Naps of 10 minutes in length provide the most benefit of improved cognitive performance and reduced sleepiness. Naps also provide relaxation and rejuvenation.

Not all naps are beneficial, though. If the length of a nap is too long, it can make a person groggy or disoriented. This may last up to a half an hour, and be particularly bad for those who need to do a task immediately after waking up. Naps that last too long can also negatively impact nighttime sleep, as can naps that are taken too late in the day.

JULY 21: INVITE AN ALIEN TO LIVE WITH YOU DAY

Get ready to boldly go where no human has gone before on Invite an Alien to Live with You Day! This quirky and fun holiday was created to celebrate our curiosity about extraterrestrial life and the possibilities of intergalactic relationships. It's a great opportunity for science fiction fans to have a bit of fun, but also serves as an important reminder that there may be more out there in the universe than we can imagine.

Invite an Alien To Live With You Day is celebrated every year on July 21 to remember the four-year-long Pam Dawber and Robin Williams show “Mork & Mindy.” The show is about an alien from the planet Ork named Mork, played by Williams, on a mission to Earth to study human behavior. Mork travels to 1970s Boulder, Colorado after his egg-shaped spacecraft lands there. Here, he meets up with Mindy, played by Dawber, who is a young journalism graduate who lets him live in her house. The episodes revolve around Williams’ hilarious portrayal of a bumbling alien trying to get a handle on Earth culture along with his frequent dispatches back to his home planet. Storylines are usually centered around Mork’s attempts to understand human behavior and American culture, while Mindy helps him adjust to life on Earth. Fifty-five to  sixty million people tuned in each week to watch it “Mork & Mindy”'s four year run.

JULY 22: SPOONERS (SPOONERISM) DAY

Spoonerism Day honors “Spoonerisms,” tongue slips that most of us make regularly. The term ‘spoonerism’ refers to the practice of switching the initial letters of words as you speak. Say swy flutter instead of a fly swatter, or runny babbit instead of a bunny rabbit. They earned their name from Reverend William Archibald Spooner — a prominent Oxford don and, eventually, Warden (or president) from 1903 to 1924. One of his most famous “Spoonerism” was "It is kisstomary to cuss the bride," which he apparently said while performing a wedding ceremony for a couple.

Long before Spooner was born, the Greeks had a term for this sort of impediment — “metathesis,” which refers to the act of rearranging items. So, Reverend Spooner is far from the only person who has made this mistake. It is, in fact, fairly frequent. Spoonerisms are often said by accident, just as they were done by Spooner, but nowadays they are often said on purpose as well, for their humorous effect. No matter why they are said, celebrate them today.

JULY 23: HOT ENOUGH FOR YA DAY

Summer is slowly reaching its peak, and so is everyone’s patience with the weather. Hot Enough for Ya Day is a way to make light of the balmy and muggy heat. Summer days and nights are usually filled with hot and humid atmospheres with very high temperatures. During this time, people tend to lose interest in their daily activities because of how over-whelmingly hot it is. As peak summer hits, heat stroke, suffocation, high blood pressure, and muscle cramps go on the rise.

But all is not doom and gloom. You can plan interesting activities that revolve around making the most of the summer, and you can start all this by asking the question, “Hot enough for ya?”.

It is uncertain who or when the first Hot Enough for Ya Day was started — it’s been around since 1989 — but one thing is clear: Someone somewhere was so fed up with the hot weather that they went around asking people “Hot enough for ya?” for the fun of it. You can start your day with things that will cool you down. It could be eating a bowl of ice cream [Editor’s note: it’s also National Vanilla Ice Cream Day] or drinking a cold glass of lemonade. Swimming is another great option. For centuries now, people have been making a beeline for water bodies to cool themselves down. A splash in the water does the trick when nothing else works. If all else still fails, do not worry, just do whatever floats your boat within the cool vicinity of your homes.

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Photographs of life at Kendal on Hudson are by residents.