National Bugs Bunny Day is observed each year on April 30. Bugs Bunny is the famous cartoon character best remembered for his roles in Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies produced by Warner Bros. He …
s I love bubble tea (aka boba tea) and I’m so glad there’s a day for it. At one point, I considered buying a machine to make my own. Amazon now sells premade boba …
The Battle of Culloden was the final confrontation of the Jacobite rising of 1745. On this date, 16 April 1746, the Jacobite army of Charles Edward Stuart was decisively defeated by a British government force …
National Barbershop Quartet Day is observed annually on April 11. Barbershop quartets have a way making the heart flutter. Very often they transport us back to a simpler time or at the least make it …
We were in NYC April 6, 2019 for our daughter-in-law’s birthday and the Tartan Day Parade. Look who the Grand Marshall was! I am so sorry we missed 2015 when Sean Connery was Grand Marshall …
I don’t know why geese fascinate me but they have for years. I love how the father stands watch over the family-to-be and when they’re crossing the street – mom in front, babies, then dad.
Lately, I’ve been seeing goose families everywhere.
When I went to an appointment last week, I noticed a goose family had set up a home on the verge across from Harris Teeter.
Several years ago, I took this picture of a goose waiting outside the emergency room. I’d taken my mom to an appointment and saw him there. I dropped her off and circled back. The goose was still there. Was he waiting for a friend or what?
Naturally, I have been fascinated by the story coming out of Cincinnati this week: “Clever Mother Goose Calls Cincinnati Police To Help Trapped Baby Bird”
Cincinnati police responded to an unusual distress call on Monday… from a mother goose.
The bird was pecking on the door of a police cruiser in an apparent bid for some attention.
“It kept pecking and pecking and normally they don’t come near us,” Sergeant James Givens told WKRC. “Then it walked away and then it stopped and looked back so I followed it and it led me right over to [a gosling] that was tangled up in all that string.”
The baby bird was caught in string from a balloon.
Givens and specialist Cecilia Charron called the SPCA for backup, but when no one was available they decided to help the gosling themselves.
With Givens recording and mother goose honking, Charron freed the baby bird from the balloon.
The baby animal promptly ran off to join the rest of the family
I know a lot of people think geese are a nuisance crossing the street, pooping all over but I think that they’re cute and I love that they mate for live.
A few weeks before that surgery, I had returned to Johns Hopkins to be retested for Growth Hormone. There’s a whole lot of info on my past experiences with HGH in my bio at https://cushingsbios.com/2013/04/29/maryo-pituitary-bio/ This excerpt is from that blog post:
Wow, what a nightmare my argenine retest started! I went back for that Thursday, April 27, 2006. Although the test was shorter, I got back to my hotel and just slept and slept. I was so glad that I hadn’t decided to go home after the test.
Friday I felt fine and drove back home, no problem. I picked up my husband for a biopsy and took him to an outpatient surgical center. While I was there waiting for the biopsy to be completed, I started noticing blood in my urine and major abdominal cramps. I left messages for several of my doctors on what I should do. I finally decided to see my PCP after I got my husband home.
When Tom was done with his testing, his doctor took one look at me and asked if I wanted an ambulance. I said no, that I thought I could make it to the emergency room ok – Tom couldn’t drive because of the anaesthetic they had given him. I barely made it to the ER and left the car with Tom to park. Tom’s doctor followed us to the ER and became my new doctor.
They took me in pretty fast since I was in so much pain, and had the blood in my urine. They thought it was a kidney stone. After a CT scan, my new doctor said that, yes, I had a kidney stone but it wasn’t the worst of my problems, that I had kidney cancer. Wow, what a surprise that was! I was admitted to that hospital, had more CT scans, MRIs, bone scans, they looked everywhere.
My open radical nephrectomy was May 9, 2006 in another hospital from the one where the initial diagnosis was made. My surgeon felt that he needed a specialist from that hospital because he believed preop that my tumor had invaded into the vena cava because of its appearance on the various scans. Luckily, that was not the case.
My entire left kidney and the encapsulated cancer (10 pounds worth!) were removed, along with my left adrenal gland and some lymph nodes. Although the cancer (renal cell carcinoma AKA RCC) was very close to hemorrhaging, the surgeon believes he got it all. He said I was so lucky. If the surgery had been delayed any longer, the outcome would have been much different. I will be repeating the CT scans every 3 months, just to be sure that there is no cancer hiding anywhere. As it turns out, I can never say I’m cured, just NED (no evidence of disease). This thing can recur at any time, anywhere in my body.
I credit the argenine re-test with somehow aggravating my kidneys and revealing this cancer. Before the test, I had no clue that there was any problem. The argenine test showed that my IGF is still low but due to the kidney cancer I cannot take my growth hormone for another 5 years – so the test was useless anyway, except to hasten this newest diagnosis.
So, how am I “celebrating” my cancer anniversary? Yes, I’m retesting to see if I can go back on growth hormone, the drug that either helped my cancer to grow or helped diagnose it.
If you see it, you probably know what it is because you installed a browser extension called something like “X-Clacks-Overhead” in memory of Terry Pratchett. If you click on it, it says “GNU Terry Pratchett”
What in the world?
The GNU Terry Pratchett plugin transmits an “X-Clacks-Overhead” header reading, “GNU Terry Pratchett” so that Terry’s name is whispered forevermore in the Internet’s “overhead”.
In Pratchett’s book “Going Postal”, workers who die in the line of duty have their names transmitted up and down the Discworld’s telegraph system as a tribute.
From Going Postal:
“We keep that name moving in the Overhead,” he said, and it seemed to Princess that the wind in the shutter arrays above her blew more forlornly, and the everlasting clicking of the shutters grew more urgent. “He’d never have wanted to go home. He was a real linesman. His name is in the code, in the wind in the rigging and the shutters. Haven’t you ever heard the saying: ‘A man’s not dead while his name is still spoken’?”
What does the GNU stand for?
In Going Postal, the G means that the message should be passed on, the N means “Not Logged”, and the U means that it should be turned around at the end of the line.
Summer in Edinburgh, Scotland, kicks off with an evening of whimsical revelry. Colorful characters parade atop a hill, dancing and marching to the beat of pounding drums. Fires blaze, warming the air with their bright, smoky flames.
Beltane or Beltain is the Gaelic May Day festival. Most commonly it is held on 1 May, or about halfway between the spring equinox and the summer solstice.
Also known as Cétshamhain (“first of summer”), it marked the beginning of summer and was when cattle were driven out to the summer pastures. Rituals were performed to protect the cattle, crops and people, and to encourage growth.
Special bonfires were kindled, and their flames, smoke and ashes were deemed to have protective powers. The people and their cattle would walk around or between bonfires, and sometimes leap over the flames or embers. All household fires would be doused and then re-lit from the Beltane bonfire.
These gatherings would be accompanied by a feast, and some of the food and drink would be offered. Doors, windows, byres and livestock would be decorated with yellow May flowers, perhaps because they evoked fire.
Our wonderful daughter-in-law is Chinese, so we are celebrating, too.
Embark on a vibrant journey into the heart of Chinese culture with the Chinese New Year, also revered as the Spring Festival or Lunar New Year. This exuberant celebration stands as a cornerstone of Chinese heritage, heralding the commencement of the lunar new year. It’s a kaleidoscope of family joy, rich cultural festivities, and an infusion of hope and optimism for the new year.
What’s Stirring in Chinese New Year 2024?
The upcoming Chinese New Year 2024 unfurls under the majestic banner of the Dragon, as per the fascinating Chinese zodiac. This revered year isn’t just a mark on the calendar; it’s an embodiment of strength, courage, and fortune. Embrace an era where ancient Chinese traditions come alive, tantalizing culinary delights adorn tables, and wishes of prosperity and joy dance in the air.
When Does the Dragon Soar in 2024?
The Chinese New Year, a lunar marvel, graces us on varying dates annually. In 2024, this grandeur takes flight on February 10th, unfolding over 15 days of jubilation, culminating in the enchanting Lantern Festival.
How to Revel in the Chinese New Year 2024?
Plunge into the heart of Chinese New Year celebrations with these enriching traditions:
– **Family Reunions:** This festivity mirrors the Thanksgiving spirit, drawing families to reunite and feast together in harmony and joy.
– **Adorn in Auspicious Red:** Drench your surroundings in red, the color of luck and joy. Embellish with lanterns, couplets, and festive flair to invite good fortune.
– **Culinary Delights:** Indulge in symbolic Chinese delicacies like dumplings, spring rolls, and rice cakes, each a bearer of wishes for prosperity.
– **Red Envelopes (Hongbao):** Spread blessings and goodwill with red envelopes filled with money, a cherished gesture among friends and family.
– **Dragon and Lion Dances:** Witness the streets come alive with the dynamic dragon and lion dances, legendary for ushering in luck and warding off malevolent spirits.
The Saga of Chinese New Year
Traversing over 3,000 years, the Chinese New Year is steeped in myth and folklore. It began as a celebration of winter’s end and spring’s awakening. Over centuries, it has transformed into an opulent festivity, a testament to China’s rich cultural tapestry and enduring legends.
I think the first time I ever came across anything related to Calloway was in the late 1960s when I was watching That Girl on TV – Ann’s father (Lew Parker) sang Minnie the Moocher for a talent show. The song stuck in my head. I wish I could find a video of that performance.
“Minnie the Moocher” is a jazz song first recorded in 1931 by Cab Calloway and His Orchestra, selling over a million copies. “Minnie the Moocher” is most famous for its nonsensical ad libbed (“scat”) lyrics (for example, “Hi De Hi De Hi De Hi”).
In performances, Calloway would have the audience participate by repeating each scat phrase in a form of call and response. Eventually Calloway’s phrases would become so long and complex that the audience would laugh at their own failed attempts to repeat them.
“Minnie the Moocher” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999.
Lots of others have sung this song, as well including Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie in “Jeeves and Wooster”.
and the Three Mo’ Tenors performed it in 2001
Calloway appeared in the 1980 film The Blues Brothers and sang a shortened version “Minnie The Moocher” in the film, in the original style of big band.
Cabell “Cab” Calloway III (December 25, 1907 – November 18, 1994) was an American jazz singer and bandleader. He was strongly associated with the Cotton Club in Harlem, New York City, where he was a regular performer.
Calloway was a master of energetic scat singing and led one of the United States’ most popular big bands from the start of the 1930s through to the late 1940s. Calloway’s band featured performers including trumpeters Dizzy Gillespie and Adolphus “Doc” Cheatham, saxophonists Ben Webster and Leon “Chu” Berry, New Orleans guitar ace Danny Barker, and bassist Milt Hinton. Calloway continued to perform until his death in 1994 at the age of 86.
An old Paramount short film of Cab Calloway singing many of his hits.
“The Old Man of The Mountain” is non-stop Cab from beginning to end. He appears first as an owl, singing the title song. The words have been changed for the cartoon, in which the Old Man is a villain. In the original song, the Old Man is a benevolent character. Next we see Cab as the Old Man himself, rotoscoped and singing, “You Gotta Hi-De-Hi,” followed by “The Scat Song.”
The cartoon begins with live footage of Cab and his Orchestra playing around with the tune of Minnie the Moocher while Cab scats mildly and grins at the camera. Whereas Cab may have been caught by surprise when they used live footage of him in the earlier cartoon, “Minnie the Moocher”, this time he is ready. He and his band are in dress white uniforms, Cab’s hair is slicked back, and he pays attention to the camera. (The drummer, Leroy Maxey, is still playing with his drumsticks, though!)
Of the three cartoons starring Cab Calloway, this one has the least interesting and least surreal plot, and the animation is the crudest. Never-the-less, the very early live footage of Cab is a treasure, and this cartoon showcases his music from beginning to end, featuring three of his songs. He does some of his most remarkable ever scat singing in this version of The Scat Song.
In all of the Fleisher cartoons, Cab’s characters are set in caves with menacing and ominous background illustrations: skeletons, skulls, ghosts, leering faces, and gambling, alcohol and drug paraphernalia. People have claimed that the Fleischers were unaware of the drug references in Cab’s songs (for example, “kicking the gong around” meaning “smoking opium”), but the imagery in the animations suggests otherwise.
Cab’s scat singing, dancing, comedic personality and flashy elegance had made him a star and a million-selling recording artist. He continued to perform right up until his death in 1994 at the age of 88.
Gunther Schuller sums up Calloway’s brilliance as an entertainer: “People still remember Cab Calloway as a dancer and vaudevillian with his wonderful white tuxedos and all of that — and, as a great, great showman.”
#3– DO NOT MAKE IT “PRETTY” OR “NOT SO OBVIOUS”. I can not stress this enough. Ladies I know that you want the cute ones that look like normal bracelets, and have pretty charms, etc on them… THE ENTIRE point of a medical alert bracelet is that someone needs to see it and know that […]
Today is the final day of the Cushing’s Awareness Challenge and I wanted to leave you with this word of advice… To that end, I’m saving some of what I know for future blog posts, maybe even another Cushing’s Awareness Challenge next year.
Please add your bio. Your information will help others. If anyone would like to do something for the Cushing's Awareness Challenge but you don't have (or want to have) a blog, why not consider adding your bio?
Adrenal Insufficiency United’s Lunch & Learn Events are one day mini-conferences located in different cities in the USA. We find great local speakers to lead sessions and give presentations about issues affecting those with adrenal insufficiency. These one day events will be packed full of opportunities giving attendees more chances to ask questions, share their […]
Cushing's Disease is a rare condition caused by excessive production of cortisol, a hormone essential for various bodily functions. It is a specific form of Cushing's Syndrome, where the overproduction of cortisol is due to a tumor in the pituitary gland. The condition affects 10 to 15 people per million each year, predominantly women between […]
This narrative nonfiction novel chronicles my son’s twenty-year journey to get his Cushing’s disease diagnosed—a journey that took far too long. Throughout the book, I highlight opportunities for testing that could have been done according to endocrinologist guidelines. The core message is clear: early diagnosis is crucial for people to live vibrant lives. Read Surviving […]
Cushing’s syndrome is a rare disorder that occurs when the body is exposed to too much cortisol. Cortisol is produced by the body and is also used in corticosteroid drugs. Cushing's syndrome can occur either because cortisol is being overproduced by the body or from the use of drugs that contain cortisol (like prednisone)…
Adrenal insufficiency is a condition where the adrenal glands don't produce enough of certain hormones, primarily cortisol and sometimes aldosterone. This disorder can be categorized into primary (Addison's disease) and secondary forms.
I’ve been thinking about this since the article I posted on doctors not understanding what it was like for a post-op Cushing’s disease patient – ME! I’m updating this for Cushings Awareness Month 2025.
Cushing’s disease (CD) is associated with phenotypic traits and comorbidities that may persist after the normalization of cortisol levels. Medical therapy is usually given in recurrent or persistent CD after transsphenoidal surgery. We aimed to investigate the impact of long-term normalization of daily cortisol secretion on clinical picture and cardiometabolic comorbidities, comparing surgical remission to […]
Discover a supportive space for new beginnings! Join us every Wednesday at 6:00 PM, in the serene ambiance of Pender UMC's Library. At 5:00 PM there will be a time of casual chat, known as the "meeting before the meeting". Engage in meaningful conversations and find camaraderie at our AA meetings, guided by the experienced […]
Freehand embroidery involves creating designs and patterns directly on fabric without using a pre-printed pattern or template. It allows for creativity and flexibility, as the embroiderer can freely create and experiment with different stitches, colors, and designs. Every 2 weeks until May 28
The Pender United Methodist Church congregation joined together in singing the powerful hymn “The Church’s One Foundation”as the closing hymn of our Traditional Service. This classic expression of unity and faith was beautifully accompanied by: Heidi Jacobs on piano Brian Stevenson on organ With heartfelt voices and rich harmonies, the congregation lifted up this timeless […]
Centreville Regional Library is starting a seed library! Donate your vegetable, ornamental, or native plant seeds to Centreville Regional Library’s information desk. The first of every month through April 2026
Celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month at the Centreville Library with a scavenger hunt highlighting foods from Jewish culture. Stop by the children’s area to pick up a scavenger hunt and search the library for the hidden clues to match up the food items with their names. Daily through May 12
Enhance your mental fitness with “Train Your Brain” activities! Sudoku, crosswords, Color Me Happy, and word searches. Each activity is aimed at stimulating cognitive function and supporting memory improvement.
