Leisure & Lifestyle

 The Leprechaun: A Tiny, Mischievous, and Elusive Creature of Irish Folklore[source: History Cooperative]A leprechaun is a mythical creature in Irish folklore, typically depicted as a tiny, mischievous old man dressed in green with a red beard and a hat. According to legend, leprechauns are cobblers by trade and are known for their love of gold and their skill in making shoes. They are also said to be very secretive and elusive, often leading people on wild goose chases in search of their treasure. In Irish mythology, it is believed that if you catch a leprechaun, he must grant you three wishes in exchange for his release. However, leprechauns are notoriously difficult to catch, as they are quick and clever. What is a Leprechaun? Usually classed as some kind of a fairy, leprechauns are small supernatural creatures that are specific to Irish folklore. Depicted as little bearded men, they might play the role of mischievous sprites or helpful shoemakers, depending

It’s Great to Be Out and AboutMy damaged big toe has healed sufficiently so that yesterday I was able to amble about (with minor discomfort) from the Elks Club to my condo, a thirty-minute walk that always manages to entertain and edify me. No longer relegated to shuffling in the corridor, I resumed my outdoor jaunts, stepping stones for people watching, one of my hobbies after retiring 20 years ago.Yesterday afternoon, I was not disappointed. An emaciated, haggard middle-aged woman near the bus-stop bench where I was seated was affording hand signals to the passing traffic. Sometimes, her gestures were obscene as she contemptuously gave selected drivers and passengers the finger. Occasionally her gesticulations were inspirational, almost a benediction, as her cupped hands indicated a Namaste moment.The woman was a contradiction. Unaccountably and abruptly, she switched from being friendly to being fiendish, from offering a beatific hello punctuated with a one-way ticket to Hell. More

 

Australian astronomers identify the brightest object known to humanity and it has a Black Hole at its heart https://www.astronomy.com/science/this-quasar-eats-one-sun-a-day-for-breakfast/   

 

AARP's Guide to Pickleball! Learn all about the joy of the sport — how to score, tips for playing, ways to win and more. It’s a fun way to connect with friends, stay fit and support your brain to help your health and happiness live as long as you do. https://www.aarp.org/health/healthy-living/pickleball/ 

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  There Are So Many Possibilities I Don't Know Where To Start.

 National Send A Card To A Friend Day on February 7th reminds us to send friendly cheer through the mail. We do that by sending a note or message on a card to the friends we hold dear. Throughout the year, we often think about our friends. We wonder how they are, miss them, and remember fond memories of times shared. Sending a card to someone for a variety of reasons dates back to ancient times. The Chinese would send elegantly designed messages as well as the Egyptians, though on different types of paper. During the Renaissance, greeting cards gained popularity for specific holidays and events. Victorian times increased the use of the greeting card for Valentine's Day, Christmas, birthdays, and more. While our more digital era may turn away from the flowery language of greeting cards, a surprising 80 percent of adults still purchase them.  [source: National Day Calendar] HOW TO OBSERVE SEND A CARD TO A FRIEND DAY[source: National Day Calendar] &

Hello. 🥢? Anyone? Each year on National Chopsticks Day, people worldwide celebrate the humble and ancient utensils on February 6th. Around 1200 B.C., Chinese cooks began using chopsticks to prepare food. These tools were likely long enough to reach into hot cooking pots. Then about 400 B.C., when fuels for cooking became scarce, food was prepared in smaller pieces reducing the number of resources needed to cook it. At the same time, the need for sharp eating utensils faded, and shorter chopsticks entered the scene. The Chinese term for chopsticks is, 'kuai-tzu.' Once these handy eating tools found their way to the dinner table, they spread around the world. Portable and elegant in their design, they also vary in style from region to region. Today chopsticks may be made from wood such as bamboo or aspen. Elaborately carved chopsticks may be cut from jade, ivory, or wood, and artisans may ornately paint some chopsticks with miniature scenes. [source: Nation

On February 4th, National Hemp Day proudly weaves a celebration surrounding an industry with a long and innovative history. Did you know hemp has been a part of human civilization for thousands of years? The world's earliest civilizations used hemp fibers to make fabric for clothing and other materials. Even America's founding fathers drafted early documents on hemp paper. During the last century, leaders used a "Hemp for Victory" campaign during WWII to encourage farmers to grow hemp for military use. Since then, hemp has been an essential material in the innovation of several industries. For example, shipping, construction, and textiles rely on hemp for numerous products. The construction industry started using hemp in place of concrete (known as hempcrete) since it is windproof and offers a lower carbon footprint. The Industrial Hemp Pilot Program allowed several states to grow, cultivate, and process hemp for agricultural purposes. These programs brought thousands of new

 

 And, Feb 29, 2024 is 'Leap' Day. That's 29 days this February, which only happens (approximately) every 4 years. What is leap year? Once every four years, our 365-day rotation around the sun becomes 366. 2024 is a leap year, meaning we will add one day to the end of February and therefore extend the year by one. Since leap year happens every four years, our last leap days were in 2020 and 2016, and the next leap year will happen in 2028. [source: miscellaneous media] When is leap day?Leap day is on Feb. 29, 2024. February, our shortest month of the year, typically has 28 days on the calendar. But in a leap year, we add one more day to February, making it 29 days long. The last leap day was in 2020, and the next one will be in 2028. [source: USA Today] 𓆏  Leap Year  [source: WIKI]𓆏  13 Unexpected Leap Year Facts  [source: ThoughtCo]𓆏  What 2024's Leap Year Status Means  [source: CBS News]𓆏  Leaplings! T

Unexpected CamaraderieWhen I am driving in Honolulu, I get frustrated with the intermittent static that occurs on public broadcasting FM classical music stations. But if I stop my car and keep it running, I can listen to my favorite music without any interference at all.I did so yesterday while I was waiting for my wife to finish shopping. What I heard was an unfamiliar energetic and entrancing rhythmic piano piece. It seemed, however, that I was not the only one enjoying this entertainment. I happened to see a young man skirting around some gas pumps. Although he was many feet away from me, he swayed his shoulders and rotated his hands in sync with the melodic music on the radio. It was a treat to watch him.  What harmonies he was actually responding to didn’t matter. I felt that we had engaged in an uninterrupted like-minded interlude that lasted until my wife returned ten minutes later.My connections with strangers may be a little offbeat, but they are enriching. 

 ⏪  !yaD drawkcaB lanoitaN eb tsum tI ?siht daer uoy naC  ⏪ January 31st honors everything backward with National Backward Day. The day provides an opportunity to reverse our ways, our direction or simply our shirt. There are many ways to celebrate this fun day, so just let your imagination be your guide. HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL BACKWARD DAY[source: National Day Calendar] ⏪  Go out the back door.⏪  Have dinner for breakfast and breakfast for dinner.⏪  Instead of coming unglued when you're upset, get glued.⏪  Add coffee to your milk.⏪  Add ice cream to your chocolate.⏪  Do your work in reverse order.⏪  Say, "Goodbye," instead of "Hello," when answering the phone.⏪  Twiddle your pinkies, not your thumbs.⏪  Wear your sweatshirt backward.⏪  Write your name backward.(aka 'Mirror Writing' - Check to see if it's written correctly by holding it up to a mirror)⏪  Write an entire sentence backward.(aka 'Mir

 

 While I was taking a walk yesterday on a warm muggy day, a woman tightly wrapped in a coat and weighed down with a back pack approached me. Immediately, she babbled about much she loved feeling the refreshing gust of wind that had just begun to drape itself over us. I agreed with her—I too have always welcomed and celebrated the delectable breezes on the Island, especially the trade winds. As I started to walk past her, the woman kept pace with me, obsessively riffing about how much she appreciated windy days in Waikiki. I again chimed in as before. Once again, I tried to continue my walk. This time as I strode along, I outdistanced the eccentric woman. Although she was a bit annoying, I am thankful that she reminded me how gratifying it is to luxuriate in the omnipresent breezes throughout Oahu. It shouldn’t matter that to me the Kona winds aren’t as invigorating as the trade winds. All I have to do is recall how excited the woman was when a wave of wind enveloped her. One of th

 ...Having a bit of fun with this one.

The first full moon of 2024 is upon us - rising. The time is nigh for howling — and healing. It's the longest moon phase of the year! In the zodiac sign of Leo, known as the 'Wolf Moon,' this lunar event gets its name from Native American tribes who said wolves would howl outside villages during the cold winter month. After the new year begins, the skies will start to brighten as the days gradually lengthen. By the time the Wolf Moon rises, you’ll have an extra half hour of daylight compared to early January. The increasing illumination means you’ll have more opportunities to spot the moon rising in the east around sunset. When the Wolf Moon becomes completely illuminated, it will shine brightly all through the night, casting shadows on the ground below. Gaze up at the glowing orb to appreciate its pearly radiance and striking craters. The sight is a peaceful respite during a month when temperatures are often at their lowest. When will the Wolf Moon Appear?[source:

National Compliment Day on January 24th offers a wonderful way to brighten someone's day or to give credit for a job well done! Give an extra compliment annually on January 24th and any time one is deserved. A compliment has a powerful effect. It can instill confidence in a child, or validate someone's hard work. A compliment not only improves the receiver's mood, but it also says something about the giver. It tells them you noticed. Whether we recognize someone's achievement or their classic style, a compliment can go a long way. To give a great compliment, first be sincere. People have a way of knowing when we are fake. If you don't mean it, it's worse than getting a thoughtless birthday gift. Complimenting character versus a new haircut are different rewards. The first says you respect the person and the other tells them you paid attention. Sometimes the receiver needs to hear one or the other, or both. Human beings like to be unique, original. Strive to give a c

GratitudeRecently I spent a couple of dreary days in the hospital because of blood clot concerns. If I happened to look through my bedside window, the most that I could see were the drab facings of adjacent medical buildings.After I was released, I entered the valet parking area.  While waiting for my car to arrive, I gazed up. What an inspiration! Overarching trees with glistening leaves that I hadn’t noticed before beckoned to me as if they were celebrating my recovery. It was a canopy of comfort.Later that day, I had lunch at the oceanfront Waikiki Elks Club. Before I had a chance to sit down, I was mesmerized by the wind-driven foaming waves, the bobbing and bucking multicolored sail boats, and the majestic cruise ships in the distance. I have always enjoyed this tableau; but it had special meaning for me after I left the confines of the hospital.Now that I am medically stable, I appreciate even more than ever the sensuous delights that nature offers me every day in Hawaii.I a

 

National Handwriting Day (January 23rd) encourages us to put pen to paper and write out our thoughts. HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL HANDWRITING DAY[source: National Day Calendar] Out of practice? Here are a few ideas to try: ✍  Start a journal.✍  Send a handwritten letter to a friend or family member.✍  Write a short story or poem.✍  Take a calligraphy class.✍  Write a to-do list.✍  Leave a love note for someone dear to you.✍  Compliment someone with a handwritten sticky note.✍  Pay with a check - if you dare.✍  Leave your server a tip and a handwritten word of thanks for their service. Work on your handwriting and use #NationalHandwritingDay to post on social media._____________________________________________________________________________Express yourself. Jot it down. Use your favorite writing instrument. Improve your handwriting. Get creative. Get fancy, if you wish. Most importantly, have fun. 

Waikiki Can Be Amusing or AppallingThe other day during my afternoon walk in the neighborhood, I noticed a burly, scraggly bearded man a block away. Determined to forge ahead, he soon strode by me as if he were on a mission. In his left hand, he tightly carried oversized crumpled-up blankets. In his other hand, he clutched massive rolls of unwrapped toilet paper, the tops of which unraveled and then billowed into the air. The man seemed oblivious to the unspooling. Nothing was going to stop him from barreling onward.Wherever he was going, he at least was prepared to rest comfortably and secure his bodily needs, precautions that many street people ignore.And the man was fully clothed. That is a plus, considering what I saw that evening as I strolled along the main drag in Waikiki. A zonked-out grizzled man stumbled toward me. His pants were so low slung that almost his entire groin was exposed. Whoa! An unselfconscious public display of pubic hair. Mercifully, he didn’t linger in front