Friday Funnies

Sometimes, there is wisdom in comics and Peanuts has always been a favorite here.

American cartoonist Charles Monroe Schulz is widely regarded as one of the most influential cartoonists in history. His often sarcastic humor was shown in the thoughts of a group of children and the inner thoughts of a household pet.

Snoopy was said to have been modeled after his family dog, Spike, later Snoopy's brother. Charlie Brown, the principal character was named after a co-worker. In fact, most all of the children in the comic strip were named in reference to family and friends. The comic strip, Peanuts, made its first appearance on October 2, 1950, in 7 newspapers. At its height, Peanuts was published daily in 2,600 papers in 75 countries in 21 languages. Over nearly 50 years, Schulz drew 17,897 published Peanuts strips.

Did you know that the comic strip got its name from a children's program, Howdy Doody, broadcast on the NBC television network in the U. S. from December 27, 1947 tol September 24, 1960?

Schulz was said to dislike the name. He had first titled it, Li'l Folks, when he submitted it to United Features Syndicate (UFS). But, when UFS was ready to syndicate it. Tack Knight, creator of a retired 1930's comic strip, Little Folks, claimed exclusive rights to the title.  A different name for the comic strip was required after legal advice confirmed Little Folks was a registered trademark. A UFS production manager noted the popularity of Howdy Doody, and the audience of children seated in the Peanut Gallery and known as "Peanuts." This led to the comic strip being renaming, much to its creator's consternation.

 September 17, 1973  Charles M. Schulz

No, this is not about anything specific. It's just meant to bring a chuckle for the day. Please don't read anything else into it, there's no other motive other than humor. Smile.

This weekend, we're hauling out Christmas decos early since we're traveling to our native NJ to spend the Thanksgiving holiday visiting family and friends on a week-long road trip. This early decorating is a change this year. Usually, we would decorate the weekend following Thanksgiving, but that's the weekend we're back home and going to a concert. This year, we can enjoy the tree a while longer.

How about you — decorating early or later for Christmas?

Enjoy Your Weekend, Everyone

It's chilly enough for flannel sheets now and hot chocolate

They All Lean

The Piazza del Duomo (Cathedral Square) in Pisa, Tuscany, Italy, is one of the most visually striking squares worldwide. Additionally, it has been recognized as one of the finest architectural complexes in the world. Seeing these structures on our October trip to Tuscany was to put it simply, amazing.

Piazza Duomo (Square of Miracles) consists of Baptistry, Cathedral and Campanile

The Piazza Duomo in Pisa, which translates to plaza of the cathedral, was renamed the Piazza dei Miracoli (Square of Miracles) by writer Gabriele d’Annunzio in 1910 because of the amazing architectural masterpieces within this square considered by many to be "miraculous" feats of design and construction. Since 1987. it has been a UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) World Heritage Site. (Such landmarks and areas have legal protection under an international treaty for having cultural, historical, or scientific significance.)

More views of these amazing structures

There are three structures: Pisa Cathedral (the Duomo), Pisa Baptistery, and the free standing bell tower (campanile) more commonly known as the Leaning Tower of Pisa. There's also a cemetery, Campo Santo, which we did not explore on our tour.

The idea was to have an important religious centre symbolizing the main stages of life: birth with the Baptistery, life with the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and its Tower, and death with the Cemetery.

The tower is famous worldwide, in large part, because of its slant. Even after being stabilized, the Tower of Pisa still leans. It's not the only leaning structure in this complex.

The weather wasn't perfect this day

The Tower of Pisa is known for its nearly four-degree lean, the result of an unstable foundation. It isn't the tallest bell tower and stands less than 184 feet from the ground on the low side and about 186 feet on the high side. The width of the walls at the base is 8 feet. I'm not sure how a tower is weighed, but this one is estimated to be 16,000 tons. The tower has 296 or 294 steps which can be climbed to reach the top (there is no elevator). 

There are seven giant bells on the top. Each has a name and corresponds to each of the seven musical notes. At first, the bells were operated by ropes which allowed them to ring by swinging. This process as discontinued since the possible vibrations may affect and cause the tower to lean more. Today, the bells are operated by electronic hammers. 

We did not walk up to the top of the tower

Construction to complete the tower took a really long time — nearly two centuries. The tower began to lean during construction in the 12th century, due to soft ground which could not support its weight. Construction continued and the builders tried to offset the mistake. By the time they reached the fourth story (out of a planned eight), they had to make the arches on the south side two inches taller than those on the north. The tower continued to lean. Unsure of what to do, construction was halted for almost a century.

The tower in relation to the cathedral, a short walk

By the time, the tower was completed in the 14th century, it leaned even more. By 1990, the tilt had reached 5.5 degrees. Between 1993 and 2001, the tower was stabilized by remedial work, which reduced the tilt to less than 4 degrees. In 2008, engineers declared that the tower had not only been stabilized, but had stopped moving for the first time in its history. They further stated that it would be stable for at least 200 years.

Ironically, Pisa gets its name from a Greek word meaning “marshy land” because of the terrain which is mainly made of clay. 

During WW II, the Allies suspected the Germans were using the tower as an observation post. A U.S. Army sergeant sent to confirm the presence of German troops in the tower was so impressed by the beauty of the cathedral and campanile that he refrained from ordering an artillery strike. All the structures were spared from possible destruction.

The baptistry is in the rear of the cathedral

The Pisa Baptistery of St. John is not only the largest baptistery in Italy but in the world. It was built to replace an older baptistry. Construction started in 1152 and when completed in 1363, it became the second building, in chronological order, in the Piazza dei Miracoli, near the Duomo di Pisa and the cathedral's free-standing campanile, the  Leaning Tower of Pisa. Like the cathedral and the campanile. the Baptistery is built of Carrara marble. Constructed on the same unstable ground as the tower and cathedral, the Baptistery leans 0.6 degrees toward the cathedral. 

Interior view of the baptistry ceiling

While the interior lacks any ornamental decoration, its acoustics are remarkable. Every half hour, the attendant on duty enters, stands next to the font, and sings a few notes that echo around the internal walls. Sounds reverberate long enough to the singer to form a 3-part harmony.

The very large baptismal font and pulpit

The focal point of the baptistry is the baptismal font built by Guido Bigarelli. . The bronze sculpture of St. John the Baptist at the center of the font was done by Italo Griselli. The famous pulpit was sculpted between 1255-1260 by Nicola Pisano. The scenes on the pulpit demonstrate his talents as the most important precursor of Italian Renaissance sculpture.

The long wall is part of the cathedral

The baptistry was positioned beside the cathedral because unbaptized people were not allowed inside the church until they had been baptized. In medieval times, this was done by full immersion, which is why the font is so large. The word "baptism" derives from the Greek word for immersion.

Another view of the cathedral

Pisa Cathedral (Cattedrale di Pisa) is one of the largest churches in Europe and it measures over 328 feet long by 229 feet wide. This medieval Catholic cathedral is dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary is the oldest of the three structures in the plaza followed by the Pisa Baptistry and the campanile. The cathedral, like the bell tower, is also sinking visibly into the ground.

A partial view of the cathedral roof

The dome of the cathedral has an octagonal shape. The cathedral is a notable example of Romanesque architecture. Construction which began in 1063 was completed in 1092 and was funded by spoils received fighting against the Muslims in Sicily. As one of the superpowers of the Mediterranean, Pisa needed a Duomo to reflect its prestige. Consecrated in 1118, it is the seat of the Archbishop of Pisa. Additional enlargements and a new facade were built in the 12th century. The roof was replaced after it was damaged by a fire in 1595.

Interior views of the cathedral

The interior architecture includes various stylistic elements: classical, Lombard-Emilian, Byzantine and Islamic, which reflects the international presence of Pisan merchants at the time. This style which has become known as "Pisan Romanesque."

Ceiling of the cathedral was truly amazing

After entering the cathedral, one of the most impressive sights is the gilded coffered ceiling. It displays complex geometric designs and religious symbols as well as the stem of the Medici family.

Souvenirs abounded in the local shops, but we abstained

There was no shortage of souvenirs in the Pisa shops. Anyone so inclined could bring home a leaning tower. We bypassed all of these.

After lunch, we indulged with a gelato treat. Although the weather was not the best on the day of our Pisa visit, seeing these magnificent structures was a definite highlight of this Tuscany trip, most likely a once-in-a lifetime visit.

Parading for Veterans

Nashua, NH, held its annual Veterans Day parade yesterday. It started at 11:11 am, which marks the exact time and date when WW I official ended with the signing of the armistice on November 11, 1918 on the 11th hour of the 11h day of the 11th month. 

The marchers gathered in Holman Stadium then proceeded a short distance to the main parade route on Main St. The parade had been cancelled in 2023 due to bad weather. It usually lasts about 15 minutes with a luncheon for participants afterwards.

Start of the parade down Main Street, Nashua, NH

There is no apostrophe in Veterans Day as this day doesn't belong to a single veteran (veteran’s) or multiple veterans (veterans’) as a possessive apostrophe would signify. It is a day for honoring all veterans, no apostrophe is required.

Local police and fire members are always in the lead 

Veterans Day (originally Armistice Day) is a federal holiday in the U.S. observed annually on November 11th to honor military veterans. It was renamed in 1954 after President Dwight Eisenhower signed a bill rededicating it after the return of service personnel from WW II and the Korean War. Federal and state offices are closed as are post offices and banks. Most schools are also closed although it's not a requirement.

These participants dressed in period costumes 

The widespread use of the poppy flower to commemorate veterans began in WW I. Moina Michael, an American woman, was inspired by the 1915 poem In Flanders’ Fields, written by Canadian soldier and physician, Major John McCrae. In this poem, McCrae described the poppies that blow between the crosses, row on row, a reference to the blood-red flowers that sprang up among the soldiers’ graves. Michael sold poppy flower corsages to raise money for veterans and their families.

School bands from Nashua schools 

The first Veterans Day celebration took place in Birmingham, AL, in 1947 when Raymond Weeks, a WW II veteran, organized a National Veterans Day celebration. This event which took place on November 11 included a parade and other festivities to honor veterans.

The parade included several vehicles, but is mostly a pedestrian event 

It wasn't always celebrated on November 11. In 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Holiday Bill. This bill assigned the fourth Monday of October as the date for Veterans Day, but many states disapproved of this decision. In 1975, President Gerald Ford returned Veterans Day to November 11.

This young lady received a lot of applause as she twirled down Main St 

In 2016, President Barack Obama signed the Veterans Day Moment of Silence Act. Each Veterans Day at 2:11 p.m. EST, the current president will order a moment of silence lasting two minutes.

Parade viewers included family groups, local schools closed for the day 

NYC hosts the nation's largest and oldest Veterans Day parade with a procession along Manhattan's Fifth Avenue. An estimated 20,000 marchers were expected to participate this year. The city hosted the first parade to honor veterans on September 10, 1919. It was called the Victory Parade and celebrated Army Gen. John J. Pershing and 25,000 soldiers. 

Just a couple of the various youth organizations 

Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, DC, is the central location for official and national ceremonies dedicated to Veterans Day. Ceremonies are held at the memorial amphitheater, where the Tomb of the Unknowns is located.

Muskets were fired several times along the parade route 

Other countries including the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia also honor veterans on or near November 11 where this day of commemoration is called Remembrance Day. There are similarities and differences between these observances and America's Veterans Day.

Your turn — Did any observances take place in your state or country ?

Friday Funnies

We went bear hunting on Halloween this year. It involved an overnight trip to nearby VT.

For the record, no humans or bears were injured in this quest.

The bear and puppy below and all the others in this post are from the Vermont Teddy Bear Company in Shelburne, VT. We've been there several times to purchase gifts, including a bear for ourselves years ago. 

These two didn't travel back to NH alone as they had these ↓ back-seat companions.

Here they are — an owl, penguin (of course) and a dinosaur. All of these, including the bear and puppy, are going to new young owners within the next few weeks. (Admittedly, we did consider getting a second penguin for our NH home; but did not.)

All of these are from the Vermont Teddy Bear Company

The puppy will be gifted to a NH friend expecting a baby boy in early 2025. The others will be go to family members. One of these book ↓ will be included with each "animal."

A children's book will be included with each toy.

The bear is a gift for our future great niece (Willow) whose arrival is expected in December. We will be seeing her parents an "older" sister at Thanksgiving in NJ. 

The dinosaur will be going to our 3-year old great nephew (Nicholas) who lives in FL and will be visiting NJ at Thanksgiving with his parents and "older" sister. 

The two "older" sisters mentioned above are 5-year old great nieces, Autumn, future big sister of Willow and Savannah, big sister of Nicholas. 

Once again this year, Grenville donned his now-annual Halloween costume. This $5 t-shirt was purchased in a Walmart many years ago. It never fails to receive positive comments.

After voting this week, we celebrated at this local ice cream stand on a 75-degree afternoon in NH. Unbelievably for us, this was the first 2024 visit here.

Enjoy Your Weekend, Everyone

A holiday craft show is Saturday's outing; 'tis the season 🌲

Same View, Different Day

As in many other states, Nashua, NH, has enjoyed a surge of warm weather days the past couple of weeks. Although, daily highs were in the mid-70s several days the past few weeks,  there's been a lack of significant rainfall.

In recent days, the views have been overly dramatic. We're fortunate in having great views from our living room window. These were seen yesterday (late afternoon) and today (early morning) from our apt windows.

The images are straight out of camera (SOOC) from basically the same location.

These views from our 5th floor window show the Nashua River looking towards downtown Nashua. The construction work on the right side is what will be the new Parc de Notre Renaissance Française (French Park) with completion expected by the fall of 2026.

These views look directly across from the river to another apt building, Lofts 34. This former manufacturing facility now houses 200, 1-4 bedroom rental apartments. (By comparison, our former textile mill, Clocktower Place apartments, houses 326, 1-3 bedroom apartments.)

Although we're now apartment dwellers living in a large city compared to our former NJ and VA residences, there's always something to see (and share) from the window. 

Thanks to all for your comments on the recent Mine Falls Park fall foliage post. We're going on another walk this weekend to see if any colors remain.

Fast Fading Fall

This post is short on words and shows off the fall colors viewed on recent walks in Mine Falls Park, a 325-acre park in Nashua, NH, that's close to the mill apartments. It is bordered on the North by the Nashua River and the south by the Mill Pond canal system. These images were taken on both canal and river sides of our walk. (None are AI generated.)

Photos were taken 2+ weeks ago, when there was still fall color in the park. Due to some recent windy days, most of the leaves are on the paths now.

Even when a tree is bare, it's still a beautiful sight attested to by poet Alfred Joyce Kilmer, like ourselves, a NJ native. Kilmer (1886-1918), the fourth and youngest child in his family, was named after two priests at Christ Church in New Brunswick, NJ: the curate, Alfred R. Taylor, and the rector, the Rev. Dr. Elisha Brooks  Kilmer's father, Dr. Frederick Barnett Kilmer, a physician and analytical chemist, who worked for the NJ-based Johnson and Johnson Company, is credited as inventing the company's famous baby powder.) 

Joyce Kilmer (1908)

Joyce Kilmer was a journalist, literary critic, lecturer, and editor, who also taught Latin in Morristown, NJ, defined words for the Funk and Wagnalls dictionary and later wrote for The New York Times. In 12917, shortly after the U.S. entered WW I in 1917, Kilmer enlisted in the New York National Guard. At the time of his deployment to Europe, he was considered the leading American Catholic poet and lecturer of his generation. He was deployed to France with the 69th Infantry Regiment (the famous Fighting 69th). Tragically, he died at the age of 31, killed by a sniper's bullet at the Second Battle of the Marne in 1918 leaving behind a widow and several children. He is famously remembered for a 1913 short poem, Trees, first published in the August 1913 issue of Poetry: A Magazine of Verse.

I think that I shall never see

A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest

Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,

And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in Summer wear

A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;

Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,

But only God can make a tree.

Time to Reset

It's that time  ⏰ — Clocks fall back this weekend in most U.S. states.

In 2024, daylight saving time (DST) ends at 2 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 3, returning most states to standard time.

Many devices, such as phones and computers, will automatically change, but non-smart devices, including microwaves, ovens, coffee makers, wall clocks with hands and some car clocks will need to be changed manually. 

We will be manually resetting at least 12 clocks in our apartment, some are wall clocks, others on appliances. It does become a chore, a few are reset in advance. Like so many others, we would be happy if there was no twice-yearly resetting.

The end of DST means that while will be more light in the morning, it will get dark earlier in the evening. The only states not changing time this weekend are Arizona and Hawaii. Also, the territories of American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands do not observe DST.

Another clock to be reset is this one at the mill apartments, it's one of two that will be manually reset this weekend by maintenance staff.

Enjoy Your Weekend, Everyone

We're sleeping in this weekend 😴