Where was I?

Not as in 'where was I?' since I was right here on Culebra, but...it got a little whirlwindy around here, 'here' being my life, but in the good, busy way. So rather than bore you with a detailed account of activities not so terrifically interesting, except to me, I'll show you what I saw while I was away from the screen. If photos bore you, stop NOW!

Ooops!!! I guess I will be stopping now. I just ran out of storage space for my photos, so they tell me. Processing can take awhile...so!

Must have had enough room for this one!

I'll be back when  I'm back with photos...damn, there are some good ones too!

In the meantime, have a marvelous Monday! Do something magnanimous

National Hugging Day (no, really, it is!) Culebra style

We do a lot of hugging here on Culebra. Pretty much...all the time, in fact. I've had visitors at the cart ask how long it has been since I've seen so and so, who just came up for a hug, and I say...oh, yesterday afternoon? The look of slight puzzlement fades into a smile. Yes. This is a good thing!

A not unusual hug fest goin' on...ok, maybe a little unusual

The hugs go on, in the post office, on the street, waiting for the ferry, sitting at the bar. And trust me, it's not just me at all, we're a bunch of huggers. Ok, there are a few that aren't but, that's fine too. We all figure it out as we go along...but if you need a hug, there is someone who will oblige, and don't we all need a hug sometime?

So I was happy to find out that today is National Hug Day! Either I knew this and forgot it, or I didn't know it at all, but I like that there is a day dedicated to hugging, even if it's a normal part of our slightly askew lives. Even if, scanning over the material, somehow Disney is involved. I skipped a detailed reading because I prefer not to know about that part, sorry. If you are a big Disney fan, the information is out there for your perusal.
Factoids of the day are: National Hug Day was first celebrated Jan. 21, 1986. The Rev. Kevin Zaborney of Michigan created the holiday, which is meant to help people understand the benefits of hugging. It is not only celebrated in the United States. Other countries, such as Canada, Russia and China also "embrace" this yearly holiday. Events in schools, nursing homes, hospitals and libraries have been held yearly ever since this holiday was founded. 

The benefits of hugging are big, on many levels of health; both mental and physical. How about this one?  Research has found that hugging stimulates brain cells. According to intelligence researcher Jay Gordon, M.D., co-author of "Brighter Baby," new studies show that children who get some SUSTAINED form of touching, such as a LONG HUG EVERYDAY, are SMARTER. "The more physical contact a little one gets, the more the brain cells are stimulated, creating stronger, faster brain synapses and boosting IQ."  So we should all be smart as hell around here, but mainly I think we all smile a lot from our hugs. Good enough.

So go hugging today! Hugging, not mugging...there's a difference, so use some discretion, people! Remember I have no liability so I cannot be responsible for any hugging situations that don't go with a flow. Example: if you go to hug someone and are confronted with both hands held up, palms outward, from arms stiffly extended and a major frowny face on your intended huggee, it would be best instead to give a cheery wave and walk jauntily away with a tip of your hat. If you have a hat on. On the other...er...hand, if the intended huggee opens his or her arms widely with a crazed, rolling eye look and drool starting to form, perhaps you also want to move along. We're aiming for happy mediums here. Hugs are meant to show affection and the goodness of human contact, a nice, brief hug, a smile and done is just fine with most people.

Consider yourself hugged. Don't you feel smarter now? I do.

p.s. If you are curious about the other holidays in January you had no idea existed, here you go. I got the list from here, so you can check out the upcoming months and prepare accordingly! Don't despair over the days you've missed, Thomas Crapper Day is right ahead! Unfortunately we missed Peculiar People Day, though no doubt it was somehow being celebrated around here...in some peculiar way.

p.s.s. Doug is going to be doing some of his fine guitar pickin' and singing at Dinghy Dock this afternoon, around 5 to 7-ishy. A good chance to do some friend hugging and hear some great music! See you there.

January 1 is …First Foot Day and Z Day
January 2 is …Run Up the Flagpole and See if Anybody Salutes It Day
January 3 is …Festival of Sleep Day
January 4 is …Trivia Day and Humiliation Day
January 5 is …Bird Day
January 6 is …Bean Day
January 7 is …Old Rock Day
January 8 is …National JoyGerm Day and Man Watcher's Day
January 9 is … Play God Day
January 10 is … Peculiar People Day
January 11 is … National Step in a Puddle and Splash Your Friend Day
January 12 is … Feast of Fabulous Wild Men Day
January 13 is … Make Your Dream Come True Day and Blame Someone Else Day
January 14 is … National Dress Up Your Pet Day
January 15 is … Hat Day
January 16 is … Hot and Spicy Food International Day and National Nothing Day
January 17 is … Blessing of the Animals at the Cathedral Day
January 18 is … Winnie the Pooh Day
January 19 is … National Popcorn Day
January 20 is … National Buttercrunch Day
January 21 is … National Hugging Day
January 22 is … National Answer Your Cat's Question Day and National Blonde Brownie Day
January 23 is … National Handwriting Day, National Pie Day, and Measure Your Feet Day
January 24 is … Eskimo Pie Patent Day
January 25 is … Opposite Day
January 26 is … Australia Day
January 27 is … Punch the Clock Day and Thomas Crapper Day More Info on Thomas Crapper Day
January 28 is … National Kazoo Day, Clash Day, Rattle Snake Round-Up Day
January 29 is … National Cornchip Day
January 30 is … Escape Day
January 31 is … National Popcorn Day and Child Labor Day

The Wolf Moon and other ramblings

Last night was the apex of the Wolf Moon. I got a message from Dakity that it was big, it was beautiful and that I should be in my yard taking photos. In my yard, there was no moon in the sky. A long wait of  about 30 more minutes saw la bella luna crest my hill in its glory. By then it was only barely tinged with yellow, but it was still beautiful. Very beautiful. I did a little moon dance and howled a bit in honor of being lunarly blessed.

A fitting ending for a day that started like this:

Well, it wasn't really quite like that, but by the time I got to that shot, I was a little retina sun blasted and couldn't really see to adjust the settings - so what the camera took wasn't truly what was going on. It was more like this; lovely but not as dramatic. 

Hey, I'm only the person behind the curtain...

In other big Culebra news (to me; and being the center of my own universe and all...it's big news) my hot sauce is finally back on the cart again, making it look a lot more normal to me. You know how you might take out a favorite chair or piece of well used kitchen equipment for some reason, the gaping hole it leaves, even if it goes unnoticed by many others? That's how the cart has been feeling to me. Now its balance is back~! And pssssst...all you people with orders? They really will be in the mail either today or tomorrow!

Aren't they pretty?

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Don't forget to mark your calendar for this Sunday and the Trae tu Silla event. Trae tu silla means Bring Your Seat and that is for real. This is going to be held at the theater by the airport...you get there by driving down the RUNWAY side of the airport road. After the speed bump, you'll go about a half a block, keeping an eye to your left. There are entrance gates and that's where you'll turn in. Bring your seat or something to put your seat on, beverages, snacks, whatever you like and spend an afternoon with friends and neighbors watching a variety of performances. What sort? I'm not exactly sure, but I'm ready to be surprised. All I know is I've heard it is going to be good, it's free and it's different. What's not to like?

Sunday January 23 ~ 2:00 - 4:00

I'm not at all sure how it got to be this late in January already. The year is almost 1/12 over with...wow! I know it really is winter because I'm eating Mary Jane's. And that means George and Jane are here. Because I, who never ate a Mary Jane in my life - because the package and candy itself sort of scared me (this is from the same company that makes Necco wafers, those off true colors discs that taste like flavored chalk and...well, just take a close look at Mary Jane) will eat them when they come from George. He makes them friendly and somehow, they don't taste anything like they look, if handed to me by George. Otherwise, don't even try to get me to eat one.

And no, my name is not Mary Jane

There, now you know everything I know. Yes, sometimes it really is as simple as it seems to live here. And so am I.

Have a thankful Thursday! Do something timely.