...druggist

"Take two and call me in the morning." That is probably what Dr. Pemberton said after this day in 1886, when on this day in 1866 he brewed the first batch of Coca-Cola in a backyard in Atlanta, Georgia. Coca-Cola has had many successful ad campaigns over the years, including one that became a hit 'pop' ( get it) song for The New Seekers entitled, "I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing". Coke is also featured heavily on American Idol, perhaps in homage to that ad. Have a Coke and a smile everyone, or skip the Coke and just smile.

"A #2 pencil and a dream can take you anywhere." Joyce A. Myers

....drive and be driven

If you drive, you probably remember the new found freedom that it gave you. On this day in 1934 the driving test was introduced in the United Kingdom.It must be a very different test than the one here in the United States. I experience all kinds of dare-devilry on the roads and am quite sure that these instructions were not found in that handbook. Baby, you can drive my car? Not with those roadway antics. Also on this day, but in 1942,the first female prisoners arrived at Auschwitz. Removing all of their freedoms, and in most cases, their lives, this was one of the worst acts in world history. Hmmm, come to think of it, maybe that a**hole who made a left turn from the right lane was not so bad after all. I wish that he were an anomaly, but whatever. Pictured today in an anemone.
"Hate is more lasting than dislike."
Adolf Hitler

...I can hear music

Vocalist Kathy Troccoli gives me goosebumps. Whether she is singing religious or secular tunes, she has a unique voice that does it for me. Music has always been my sanctuary, and I never take that gift for granted. On this day in 2003 British Sign Language was recognized as an official British language. There are 125,000 deaf adults in the UK who use BSL plus an estimated 20,000 children. The language makes use of space and involves movement of the hands, body, face and head. Many thousands of people who are not deaf also use BSL, as hearing relatives of deaf people, sign language interpreters or as a result of other contact with the British deaf community. If you cannot hear music, make your own kind. If you can hear the music, be thankful and give this a listen. It is Kathy Troccoli and the Beach Boys singing, and what else, "I Can Hear Music."

"All the world is full of suffering. It is also full of overcoming."
Helen Keller

...golden

Nolah has grown tired of whacking alligators and has taken a brief respite. Smiling for the camera, she is golden. On this day in 2008 gold prices on the New York Mercantile Exchange hit $1,000 per ounce for the first time. A picture is worth a thousand words...this one is priceless.

"I'm three" a small 3 year old child said upon meeting Nolah

"I AM THREE" Nolah

...case closed.

...how to handle an abusive phone call

Handling Abusive Phone Calls 101

•1 Try to calm the idiot in the initial phases of the phone call. Once it escalates you will have to follow your company's policies. Many companies do not allow you to call the person a fucking moron. If they start right out of the gate acting like a prick, hold the phone in the air to get others to witness their asinine behavior.

•2 Some companies allow you to hang up as long as you warn the person first with, "If you continue to call me a fucking faggot, I am going to hang up." The next four-letter word spoken, or six-letter word, hang up. The person may call back. Ask if they are prepared to be calm. If they say they are, remind them again, you will hang up if they repeat the foul language and then continue your discussion. Usually, one hang up is enough. If the person is married to an asshole, a second phone call will definitely arrive.

•3 Sometimes, the angry person will ask to speak to your Supervisor. Again, follow company procedure, but in most places, you will refer the call, explain a little of what has transpired then pass the call through. Once a Supervisor is on the line the foul language usually ends.

•4 If your company has a policy of you will complete the call no matter what the person calls you, you must remain calm. When foul language is used, just become silent. Do not respond in anger. Simply, do not respond. This usually quiets the foul language. Sometimes, nothing works and you just must get through the conversation. Repeating back what they have said such as, "you said that I am a fucking moron because I did not approve your application, is that correct?" may stop the foul language. But use this method as a last resort and be sure you are perfectly calm as you repeat the sentence. It is often good, at this point, to Google the callers phone number or perform a 'Reverse Phone Lookup'. In many cases this will provide you with their home address. You can take it from there. Wearing black and arriving after dark is best.
On this day in 2005 Terry Ratzmann shot and killed six members of the Living Church of God and the minister at Sheraton Inn in Brookfield, Wisconsin before killing himself. Whether he was provoked by an abusive phone caller I do not know.

"Nobody can give you wiser advice than yourself."
Marcus Tullius Cicero

...it's not nice to fool with Mother Nature

Chiffon Margerine had an excellent ad campaign in the 1970's. " it's not nice to fool with Mother Nature" and it is still relevant today. Mother Nature is no one to f*ck with! We may worry about a raise, whether gas prices will escalate or if our hair looks good in wind. When reality hits, those things really don't matter as much. Be kind to your friends, work hard, make time for fun and celebrate the abundance that you have right now, and will have in the future. I am not minimizing life's concerns, because they are day to day real. Maybe I am suggesting a quick attitude adjustment. Oh, yeah, on this day in 1888 " The Great Blizzard of 1888" began along the eastern seaboard of the United States, shutting down commerce and killing more than 400.

"Adapt or perish, now as ever, is nature's inexorable imperative."
H. G. Wells

...a phone call away

There once was a backstabbing b*tch,
Who had an incurable itch.
It came back and bit her,
She knew not what hit her,
The Universe sure knows how to pitch!

On this day in 1876, Alexander Graham Bell made the first successful telephone call by saying "Mr. Watson, come here, I want to see you."
Left out of the History books was their long lasting relationship. To think that it was only a phone call away.

"Don't be afraid of missing opportunities. Behind every failure is an opportunity somebody wishes they had missed."
....the brilliant Lily Tomlin

...imitation is the

Have you ever seen a photograph is an Interior Design magazine and thought, "I have to own that room?" On this day in 1959 the Barbie doll made its debut at the American International Toy Fair in New York. The story gets more interesting tho'. There once was a German cartoon character named Lilli, created by Reinhard Beuthien for the tabloid Bild-Zeitung in Hamburg, Germany. In 1953 Bild-Zeitung decided to market a Lilli doll and contacted Max Weissbrodt from the toy company O&M Hausser in Neustadt/Coburg, Germany. Weissbrodt designed the prototype of the doll, which was on sale from 1955 to 1964, when Mattel acquired the rights to the doll and German production stopped. Pictured today is 'Lilli', not Barbie.

"I don't have to be an imitation of a white woman that Hollywood sort of hoped I'd become. I'm me, and I'm like nobody else."
Lena Horne

...cologne

My favorite cologne is Vetiver Bourbon, not that you asked. It has been my favorite for years and years. Vetiver is a grass from tropical India and this cologne is fused with oakmoss, patchouli and amber which I find earthy and pleasant. I have yet to have someone approach me and tell me otherwise. Interestingly, on this day in 1945 cologne was captured by American Troops. I have Googled and cannot find which cologne it was, or if it was many different scents and I find this act of violence reprehensible. My plan is to keep on wearing it and hope that I don't too get captured. Have fun, use good sense and keep the faith.

"Common sense is genius dressed in its working clothes."
Ralph Waldo Emerson

...revolution

A revolver is a repeating firearm that has a cylinder containing multiple chambers and at least one barrel for firing. On this day in 1836 Samuel Colt made the first production-model revolver, the .34-caliber. I find this model to be quite attractive in design. I am not at all for violence, but I am all about protection. If one is going to protect oneself, why not do it in style? Black goes with virtually everything. Chester County, PA is slowly creeping out of a snowy, cold Winter and signs of Spring are showing themselves nicely. Have fun today, protect yourself and those around you and keep thinking that the best will happen. That's how it works.

"A people free to choose will always choose peace."
Ronald Reagan

...sex, drugs & rock and roll

Shown today is beautiful Nolah, whacking at a li'l cutie in the alligator infested waters of SC! She lives a clean, happy life. Not like others! Please read on...

Sex: On this day in 1873 censorship in the United States was alive and well as The U.S. Congress enacted the Comstock Law, which made it illegal to send any "obscene, lewd, or lascivious" books through the mail.
Drugs: On this day in 2005 the Mayerthorpe Incident occurred when James Roszko murdered four Royal Canadian Mounted Police constables during a drug bust at his property in Rochfort Bridge, Alberta. He then committed suicide.
Rock and Roll: On this day in 1951 Jackie Brenston, with Ike Turner and his band, recorded "Rocket 88", often cited as "the first rock and roll record", at Sam Phillips' recording studios in Memphis, Tennessee.
There you have it folks! What will you do with this day?
"It is better to offer no excuse than a bad one."
George Washington

...rock and roll heaven

On this day in 1950, Karen Carpenter, my favorite singer was born. On this day a year prior, the first automatic street light was installed in New Milford, Conn. Karen Carpenter was born in Connecticut and when she decided to record a solo album, her favorite singer at that time was Donna Summer. "Hot Stuff" and "Bad Girls" by Summer, were high on the charts. That wasn't even 6 degrees of separation, if it made any sense at all! Happy Birthday Karen! I hope your Heavenly Jam Session rocks.

"It's kinda nice to be remembered by your peers and your fans, because you can achieve a lot of success and be a creep too! But we try to be nice, just normal people."
Karen Carpenter

...lions and lambs

We have all heard the old weather saying "March comes in like a Lion and goes out like a Lamb." The winds of March encourage an exploration of contrasts. From fierce gales to gentle breezes, pelting rains to soft mists, March is the time of transition from winter to spring.
Lions and lambs also invite comparison. Lions are called the king of beasts, and are presumably the predators at the top of the food chain. Lambs blindly follow the herd and can easily become the lion's prey.
Are you a lion or a lamb? My guess is that it depends on the situation. Enjoy the first day of March, and be the kind of lion or the kind of lamb that people want to be around. It makes for a much happier day.
"Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go." - Oscar Wilde