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June 14, 2015
More graphics and buttons, courtesy of VacaDude, coming soon!
Broadcast Schedule |
Channel Links |
Important News |
Broadcast Schedule |
Today!!! Sunday, June 14, 2015 |
3 PM PST/6 PM PST |
No Story Writing We'll write again on July 5 |
6 PM PST/9 PM EST |
No VacaChat Broadcast.
The chatroom will be open at 6:00 PM PST (9:00 PM EST; 8:00 PM CST) |
Upcoming!!! Sunday, June 21, 2015 |
3 PM PST/6 PM PST |
No Story Writing We'll write again on July 5 |
6 PM PST/9 PM EST |
No VacaChat Broadcast.
The chatroom will be open at 6:00 PM PST (9:00 PM EST; 8:00 PM CST) |
Channel Links |
Channel Links |
The pop-out chat link still uses the old style chat.
If you do not like the changes Ustream has made to chat, use the pop-out
link. The easiest way to do this is to open the pop-out chat in a browser window. Log in. (Type a period in the chat line—hit enter. This will open the login screen.) Size this chat window to equal about 1/3 of your desktop space. Then open a new window or tab (Ctrl-T or Ctrl-N in most browsers) and use it to open the pop-out video. If you opened a new tab, you can then click on the tab and drag it to an open space on your desktop. Size it to about 2/3 of your desktop space beside the chat. Now you have both open and can refresh one without disturbing the other. You can resize either without resizing the other. I hope this helps. |
VacaChannel |
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/vacadude |
Pop-Out |
If you want to view the chat or video in pop-out screens, use the links below. Some find that this places less stress on their computer and/or its memory. |
Video: http://www.ustream.tv/channel-popup/vacadude |
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If you use the pop-out links, it is recommended that you open two browser windows. That way, if one needs to be refreshed, the other is not affected. |
Important News |
Our Furred, Feathered, and Scaled Babies |
We will soon have a new feature on the VacaNews
website. Send us pictures of you and your pets. We'll have a page
featuring all our animal family members. Send them to
vacachatb@gmail.com. Make sure
you include your chat name and your pet's name. You can also include
your real name and location if you want to. I've only gotten photos from a few people. (The new page will be posted soon—just waiting on some graphics from TheDude.) Surely more chatters have pets that they'd like to show to the world! |
It's REALLY Gonna Happen |
The 5th Anniversary International MOD Meet!!! It has been confirmed! Carlos and Donna will be attending. http://www.modmeet.com/ |
VacaChat Broadcast Changes |
Look here for any changes to upcoming broadcasts. |
Chatter News |
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A Note from the Dude | Chatter News |
Prayer Requests |
Vaca Blog |
Hello Vriends, | ||
I hope everyone is having a wonderful Sunday. Mine has gotten
off to a fairly rocky start. The temperature is due to clear the
century mark again today, so I thought I would try to do some
tree trimming in the morning before the heat set in. I have been
battling a flare-up of gout in my right foot the last few days,
so I was limping around out front with the tree pruner--then I
stepped down off the porch and because my walk is so gimpy, I
had not gotten my foot leveled before I put weight on it, and I
rolled the ankle all the way over. And there's nothing to grab
onto for support out there, so I went into the hedge. So
completely unassisted, I managed to take myself out of the game
with an open-field tackle. Let's just say that every weekend
warrior has to lose the occasional battle...that was me today.
So I'm spending the day with ice packs and lots of Advil.
However, here is a story that lifted my spirits. Remember the saga of the European Space Agency's Rosetta mission to orbit a comet? And how it had the little lander Philae to set down on the comet? It bounced a few times and then went silent because it had come to rest in shadow, and its solar cells were not getting enough sunlight to re-energize it. They said at the time that if the conditions changed, it might just wake back up. Well, guess what--it woke up! The ESA is reporting that they started getting signals from the lander, and they are seeing a marked improvement in the power levels. There are a number of factors that could be at play here. The rotation of the comet nucleus may have shifted, resulting in something akin to "seasons" on Earth. What's more, the comet is getting closer and closer to the sun (its nearest approach will be in August), so the angles may be different, and lastly if it did come to rest underneath an overhang of rock or ice, that overhang may have melted back and is no longer shading the lander. In any event, it looks like the little fellah is still with us! I spent this week doing a lot of work on my project for a client--that is going rather well. I have not yet sent the printer back to XYZprinting, so I was finishing up some last-minute print jobs as well. Other than that, not much else new is going on. So I hope you all have a great week to come, and we'll talk with you later! |
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Cheers, VacaDude | ||
Chatter News |
Sharoot | Sharoot's featured pictures can be found
at the end of each newsletter, under Photos of the
Week. She says that since they are located at the end, then "Sharoot's
the Caboose!" Today Sharoot shares pictures of visitors to her backyard. She has also shared more about her Harris's Sparrow that visited a few months ago. You can read about that here. |
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Elsalynda | Elsalynda's latest column entitled Nature in the
City: Close to Home, Far and Wide, Large and Small, is available online here: http://waltham.wickedlocal.com/article/20150603/NEWS/150609862 Elsa also tells us that she has had a poem selected for publication. She says she is very excited to be a part of this book and feels like a poet in good company, with known authors. Her poem on Great Horned Owls has a page with a beautiful photo opposite. Her writing group helped her with this piece. The book, Secrets of Wisdom by Joyce Gerrish, is now available at Amazon. |
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Ketaki | Ketaki shares a new story and photos with us. | ||
Momma Snapper
On south side of house on the slope to the field, Momma is in the
center of the photo.
Digging her nest 2nd egg (missed the first one) She catches it in her back foot and gently lays it down, covering it with sand.. Another egg about 45 sec to a minute later. Egg size is about that of a ping pong ball, slightly smaller, I'd say. Her carapace is about 18 inches long. Doing some reading, puts her about 15-20 years old. Eggs will start to hatch come around August, about 75-95 days after laying. If the summer is cool they will hatch as males, if hot then females. Snappers are not endangered, but are protected in MA.
Yay, Momma Snapper! You go girl!
All life is precious, I will watch and not disturb the nest. I'm not greatly fond of Snappers, but she was so intent on what she was doing, I could get pretty close to her, probably about 5-6 feet from her to take these pix. About an hour after she started laying, she covered the nest, sort of haphazardly, then she ambled down the slope, and I lost her in the field. I suspect she headed for the river, or maybe back around to the pond about 500 yards towards other houses near the main road. |
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Jes (and Miss Bailey | Miss Bailey is on the web. She was featured on Jes' favorite bookstore's weekly page! Jes says, "Eric Blem just spoke at the store last week for his new book "Legend". It's the oldest family owned bookstore in the U.S. I go weekly to visit and they have treats for the furkids. Dudek always loved to visit and would dash behind the counter looking for his treat." | ||
Wolfgirl | On Saturday, June 6, our Wolfgirl graduated with a BA in Ecology and a minor in Psychology. Congratulations! | ||
We'd love to include more news of VacaChatters. If you have something you'd like to share (something about you or your family) or if you know of exciting news about another chatter that they're just too shy to share, please send it to us! (We won’t run it without that chatter’s permission, however.) | |||
KSBorn |
KSBorn has sent us an update. She writes, "I’m still in the midst of
chemo and hormone blocker every day. In 2008 I had breast cancer and it
returned July 2014 same breast cancer in my lung now and 2 lymph nodes
positive. I’m getting ready to have a surgery to get a port. I will
probably be on chemo for life. I have numerous tests monthly. Thank you so much for the prayers and please continue." |
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Marilyn Crabb | UPDATE:
Hi! I survived six months of chemotherapy. I'll have my breast
tumor and left axillary nodes removed on Friday, Feb. 13. Radiation will
be next. Please pray that the surgeon does a good job and all my cancer
is removed! My screen name was/is MarilynLA on UStream. (Marilyn from Los Angeles) |
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Littleguys | UPDATE: Littleguys', aka Carlynne's, recovery has gone well. She sends her apologies for missing VacaChat but Ustream won't allow her to chat...or even see chat. She gets to post in MollyMovieNight on Fridays in Ustream, but that uses the Social Stream part of Ustream. And occasionally she posts in the Social Stream part of VacaChat, just to say hi. So we may not see her, but she does think of us. | ||
Elsalynda | Keep Elsalynda in your prayers as she struggles with health, computer and weather related issues. | ||
GentleDoe | Latest update from GentleDoe (as of 6/14). As of this past Thursday, DSS has moved my parents to Summer's Landing assisted living sharing a room together. This coming Thursday, June 18th, there will be a merit hearing. I have sent my South Carolina lawyer the Care Plan for my mother to be returned to me. Ms McDaniel with DSS and the judge will be reviewing it. My sister continues to keep making allegations against me which keeps me busy answering them all of the time. South Carolina does not require a person to prove their allegations but the person who is accused must prove their innocence! Guess South Carolina law is you are guilty until you prove your innocent! Please keep me in prayer with the merit hearing. My lawyer has recommended that I be there for that hearing to be able to talk to the judge on my behalf. Also, please be in much prayer that somehow my sister will stop with all of this. I only want my parents to be able to live the rest of their lives in their own home or at least with me and all of us to have peace and stop all of these legal battles. Prayer is also needed that I can find someone to care for my birds until I can return. There is so much I have to do and so little time to do it. I have to get all of my documentation for both the allegations my sister has against me and for DSS with the care plan for my mother (and possibly my father). Love you all, GentleDoe |
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Shari in Memphis | Has anyone gotten any updates from Shari? | ||
Thank you for your prayers and good thoughts for owl our wonderful VacaFamily members! If you have any prayer requests, updates or news of answered prayers, please let us know. Email us with the information so it can be included in the next newsletter. | |||
Check out VacaDude's blog! Don't forget to send VacaDude your comments to let him know how much you appreciate him, his time & his talent! |
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http://vacadude.wordpress.com/ |
A
Message from Zorro |
StoryTime News |
StoryTime Archives |
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Recipe of the Week |
A Message from Zorro |
Hello there, Everbuddy! | ||
Zorro the Mouse, here. I have got a very relaxing day
planned out here. I shall settle in front of the
television with my bowl of cheesy popcorn, and other
assorted snacks, and watch Ratatouille for the zillionth
time. It is going to be too hot outside to do anything
else.
It looks like the second 3D printer loaner period has come to a close, and I never did get my Roman battle helmet. Oh well--that will be one of the first things to get printed when the Dude finally buys his own printer. That should be fun! I have already made all the other critters here jealous with my football helmet. I can't wait until the Dude and I get a chance to paint it with the red & gold of the San Francisco 49ers. So many fun things to print...can't wait to get the new printer! Maybe the Dude can make me a space suit and helmet, and then I can take the Steampunk rocket ship and zoom out to the comet and visit my old buddy Philae! I hear he has finally awoken from his long winter's nap. That little guy must have been really sleepy! Speaking of which, I think it is about time for my nap in front of the TV. So I'll see you all next week. |
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Yours Most Whiskerly, Zorro |
StoryTime News |
Next StoryTime | Sunday, July 5 3:00 PM PST/6:00 PM EST |
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Title | Hotter than … | ||
Invitation | We need story writers! Please consider dropping in and checking out the fun we have writing the stories. Honestly, it's not at all difficult to join in and you'll surely be glad you did. | ||
If anyone wants to request a recipe or a recipe category, just email me.
It's too hot to heat up the kitchen so how about a couple of slow-cooker recipes?
Slow-Cooker Teriyaki Wings |
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Ingredients | |||
¾ cup granulated sugar ½ cup packed brown sugar 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon ground ginger 1 cup soy sauce ¾ cup water ¼ cup pineapple juice ¼ cup vegetable oil 4 pounds chicken wings (about 24)
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Directions | |||
In very large bowl, mix all ingredients except
chicken wings. Add chicken; toss gently to coat. Refrigerate at least 2
hours to marinate. |
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Cheesy Chicken Tater Tot Casserole |
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Ingredients: | |||
1 (32 ounce) bag frozen tater tots* |
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Ingredients: | |||
Spray slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray. |
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Owl Cams | Other Nature Cams | Video Picks of the Week | Inspiration | |||||||
Other Bird Cams |
Owl Cams |
Puffins | |||||
Shetland Islands Puffins | http://www.shetland.org/puffincam/ | ||||
Sea Island, Maine |
http://explore.org/live-cams/player/puffin-burrow-cam | ||||
Sea Island, Maine |
http://explore.org/live-cams/player/puffin-loafing-ledge-cam These pages also contain links to numerous other nature cams. |
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Eagles | |||||
Southwest Florida Eagles
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mi6DdvVbbi8 | ||||
Black Eagle |
http://www.africam.com/wildlife/black_eagle_webcam We have a new chick!!! |
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Decorah Eagles |
http://www.ustream.tv/decoraheagles | ||||
Berry College Eagle Cam |
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/berry-eagle-cam | ||||
http://www.pixcontroller.com/eagles/index.htm | |||||
Peregrine Falcons | |||||
PA Falcon Cam |
http://www.pacast.com/players/falcon.asp | ||||
Commerce Tower Peregrines |
http://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/wildlife-cameras/peregrine-falcon-web-camera Cam not live now but should be returning soon. |
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Pitt Peregrine Falcon |
http://www.aviary.org/PF-NestCam1 | ||||
Gulf Tower Peregrine Falcon |
http://www.aviary.org/PF-NestCam2 | ||||
Emily
Falcon Cam |
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/emily-falcon-cam | ||||
RFalconCam |
http://rfalconcam.com/rfc-main/ | ||||
Talking Birds | |||||
Watch the Birdie |
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/Watch-the-Birdie | ||||
Disco |
https://www.youtube.com/user/MsJumpinJude/videos | ||||
Other Birds | |||||
California Condor San Diego Zoo Safari Park San Diego, California |
http://zoo.sandiegozoo.org/cams/condor-cam | ||||
KC Zoo Penguin Cam |
http://www.kansascityzoo.org/penguincam |
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Whidbey Island Back Porch other assorted birds |
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/katersch | ||||
Hellgate Ospreys |
http://cams.allaboutbirds.org/channel/27/Hellgate_Ospreys/ | ||||
Ostrich Chicks |
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http://www.ustream.tv/channel/ostrich-egg-cam-live | |||
Streaming Bird Cams |
http://www.beakspeak.com/ | ||||
Other Nature Cams |
Pandas | |||||
San Diego Zoo Pandas |
www.sandiegozoo.org (click
on live cams)
or
http://www.ustream.tv/sandiegozoo. Zoo's
blogs: http://blognew.sandiegozoo.org/category/animals-and-plants/giant-pandas/ |
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Twin Pandas at |
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Giant Panda Cam |
http://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/webcams/giant-panda.cfm | ||||
Bears | |||||
Kansas City Polar Bears |
http://www.kctv5.com/category/244581/nikita-berlin-polar-bear-cam | ||||
Brown Bears and Salmon |
http://explore.org/#!/live-cams/player/brown-bear-salmon-cam-brooks-falls (lots of other cams at this site, as well) |
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Black Bears |
http://www.bear.org/website/live-cameras/live-cameras/holly-bears-den-cam-live.html | ||||
Other Animal and Nature Sites | |||||
Golden Paw-Prints Classic Golden Retrievers Oshkosh, Wisconsin |
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/golden-retriever-puppy-cam We've got NINE beautiful puppies! |
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San Diego Zoo and Safari Park |
http://animals.sandiegozoo.org/ | ||||
Wild Earth Safari Cam | http://www.ustream.tv/channel/wildearth-safaris | ||||
The Pet Collective |
http://www.thepetcollective.tv/livestreams/ | ||||
Critter Chat Cams |
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Friends of Felines Rescue
Center |
www.ustream.tv/ffrc | ||||
Little House |
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CC's Page of Links (scheduled for updating) |
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Other Sites of Interest | |||||
Mother Owl Takes On Snake—and Wins | |||||
Ketaki sent this in. She says, "I saw it live when it happened and it was so fast. It's too bad she didn't kill it and feed to the owlets. They could have used the food, and the snake, a rat snake, is non-venomous. But she was intent on protection. They run it in slow motion at the end so you can see her, and the inset window shows the snake coming down from the top." | |||||
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/05/150514-owl-snake-video-animals-fight/ | |||||
This Bird Song Collection Will Get You In Tune With Nature | |||||
http://www.ba-bamail.com/content.aspx?emailid=15112 | |||||
Help in Identifying Birds | |||||
Try www.whatbird.com It's helps identify lots of birds. | |||||
Secrets of the Snowy Owl | |||||
http://goo.gl/P0trt0 | |||||
Meet Zeus | |||||
http://kittensdaily.com/meet-zeus-blind-owl-gorgeous-eyes/ | |||||
Some Interesting Information About Someone We All Know Well | |||||
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1511369/ | |||||
International Space Station Links | |||||
During a recent
broadcast the Dude talked about the websites where one can view the
spacestation and the view that the astronauts have. Here are the links: This one has the map, but no chat. http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/HDEV/ This site has a chat room. http://www.ustream.tv/channel/iss-hdev-payload |
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A Swimming Owl | |||||
This came to us
from windbeneathwing. Swimming owl caught on video http://www.foxnews.com/science/2014/12/05/swimming-owl-caught-on-video/ |
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Video Picks of the Week |
Baby Weasels Following Mom
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOw0f8OO-_s
Freaky Flowers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hwDdE0Gu4E
Jack!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wNK1Jt4JLg&app=desktop
Nat Geo Wild
https://www.youtube.com/embed/Hodomt6bBOw
Are Crows the Ultimate
Problem Solvers?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVaITA7eBZE
The Burrowing Owl's Cozy
Home
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4u5p1FgMPk
Inspiration or Things to Make You Think |
Plankton. A Thank You Would Be Nice
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLNe3TutnNM
One Decision
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNDWN8KDVSM
Saved
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMUi6H22918
Burrowing Owls
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gp_aQdBPQmY&feature=em-uploademail
The Backwards Brain Bicycle
http://viewpure.com/MFzDaBzBlL0?ref=bkmk
Magic of the Snowy Owl
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilShUkPwk4U
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/magic-of-the-snowy-owl-full-episode/7963/
Finding The Speed Of Light With Peeps
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwREvdUWSKE
Fun Animations and Pictures |
Photos of the Week |
Zorro's Word of the Week | ||||||||
Just for the Fun of It |
Kyle's Jokes of the Week |
Animal Snacks to Make With Kids
http://www.buzzfeed.com/rachelysanders/easy-adorable-animal-snacks-to-make-with-kids#.lpqBxbp1B
Cheesy Meaty Owls
http://www.tablespoon.com/recipes/owl-meat-cheese-tray/c9a49b90-255d-4cba-b4e5-5679a89aff19
Felt Fabric Owl
http://www.jandofabrics.com/newsletters/its-a-hoot-felt-fabric-owls/
Lil' Hoot
http://inspirationlaboratories.com/owl-craft-and-play-scenes-virtual-book-club-for-kids/
Lavender Owl Sachets
http://www.gingermelondolls.blogspot.ca/2014/02/free-pattern-little-lark-lavender-sachet.html
Felt Owl Pencil Holder
http://www.jandofabrics.com/newsletters/felt-owl-pencil-holder-craft-and-fabric/
Fun Animations and Pictures |
(even lazier and laziest will follow)
Photos of the Week |
From the Dude
One of the Dude's bee photos
"I've been trying for three days, and that was from this morning.
I learned a bit about bees in the process--they don't like to hover in the sun
(probably overheat), but they will do it more in the early morning.
So I went out this morning so when the sun was shining, but the air was still cool.
Then they were a bit more likely to hover over the flowers."
Sharoot's Caboose
Sharoot shares,
"
Kyle's well known among his friends for his "triple
groaner" riddles and jokes. Now he shares them with VacaFamily. Enjoy! |
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“What do you get when you cross an elephant and a rhino?”
“Ell if I know.” |
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What phrase is represented by "ENTURY'? "Long Time No “C" |
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As Reynoldo lit the votive candle at the
grotto for San Jose de los Platanos and prayed for the healthy delivery
of his first child, he heard a disembodied voice say, "Your daughter
will be 17 inches long," to which Reynoldo replied, "Do you know the weight too, San Jose?" |
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On a busy Friday night at the restaurant where I'd recently started
waiting tables, the owner suddenly emerged from the kitchen and
handed me money. "We're in trouble!" He said. "We're out of
quarters, and customers are waiting. Go next door and get me $40
worth."
I ran to the supermarket next door, but a cashier said she wasn't allowed to give out that many quarters. Determined, I sprinted to a convenience store two blocks away, but it was closed. At a gas station farther down the road, the clerk took pity and gave me the four rolls of quarters. Twenty minutes after I'd left, I handed the coin rolls to my boss. "Where are the quarters?" he asked. "Right here," I said breathlessly. His face sank. "I meant chicken quarters." |
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Upcoming Holidaze! | |||
June 14 Pop Goes the Weasel Day Blood Donor Day Flag Day June 15 Nature Photography Day Flip-Flop Day National Lobster Day National Smile Power Day June 16 National Hollerin' Contest Day Fudge Day World Juggler’s Day June 17 Fresh Veggie’s Day National Eat Your Vegetables Day National Apple Strudel Day |
June 18 National Splurge Day International Panic Day Go Fishing Day DotRot’s Birthday Sushi Day June 19 World Sauntering Day National Martini Day Juneteenth June 20 National Ice Cream Soda Day National Vanilla Milkshake Day American Eagle Day
|
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Zorro's Word of the Week |
PANJANDRUM
Pronunciation: \pan-JAN-drum\
noun
Definition of FATIDIC
a powerful personage or pretentious official
EXAMPLES
Little gets done in this town without the approval of the
local panjandrums on the board of selectmen.
"Unexpectedly, this private sector panjandrum launched into a paean of praise
for the public service ethos."
— David Walker, The Guardian, January 30, 2015
DID YOU KNOW?
Panjandrum looks like it might be a combination of Latin and Greek roots, but in fact it is a nonsense
word coined by British actor and playwright Samuel Foote around 1755. According to the
Oxford English Dictionary, Foote made up a line of gibberish to "test the memory of his fellow actor
Charles Macklin, who had asserted that he could repeat anything after hearing it once." Foote's made-up line was,
"And there were present the Picninnies, and the Joblillies, and the Garyulies and the Grand Panjandrum himself,
with the little round button at the top." Some 75 years after this, Foote's passage appeared in a book
of stories for children by the Anglo-Irish writer Maria Edgeworth. It took another quarter century before
English speakers actually incorporated panjandrum into
their general vocabulary.
Test Your Vocabulary: Fill in the blanks to create an alliterative
hyphenated name
for an important and often arrogant person: _ u _ ke _ y - _ u _ k.
The answer is …
Muckety-muck
VacaShopping for Father's Day
Wouldn't Dad love a new Vaca shirt, hat or other gift?
VacaDude’s creations are sure to be treasured gifts for those special people in your lives.
Check them all out at VacaDude's CafePress store! Support our beloved
artist/broadcaster/friend!
http://www.cafepress.com/vacadude
MollyTheOwlBooks
Eric has discontinued the sales of all his books and merchandise.
of that and want one, let DotRot know
and she'll do what she can to make it available to you.