Epilepsy Awareness Month - November 22, 2019

DIANE'S CORNER ... 

Celebrate Epilepsy Awareness Month

Epilepsy is a poorly understood condition, despite the fact that it is the 4th most common neurological disease. Statistics show that 1 in 26 people will develop epilepsy in their lifetime. Although epilepsy is prevalent, public awareness is low, and many people are unaware of the symptoms and signs of epilepsy and how it impacts sufferers.

November is Epilepsy Awareness Month. The aim of this campaign is to get people talking about epilepsy and raise awareness of a condition that affects thousands of people across the world.

The reality is that epilepsy can affect anyone, and learning about epilepsy and Epilepsy Awareness Month equips people with the knowledge and insight to support campaigns and assist those who display symptoms of seizures.

Epilepsy can impact anyone, and there are currently over 3.4 million people living with epilepsy in the US alone. Globally, epilepsy is considered the most common severe brain disorder by the World Health Organization.

History of Epilepsy Awareness Month

Epilepsy Awareness Month has been celebrated since 1969, and in 2003, the US Congress confirmed that November would be Epilepsy Awareness Month. The campaign has grown rapidly and is now celebrated across the world.

Initially launched to enable people to understand more about the condition and how it affects day to day life, more recently, the campaign has focused on preventing discrimination and eliminating myths and perceptions that permeate public thinking.

Over the years, more and more organizations have signed up to support Epilepsy Awareness Month, and this trend looks set to continue.

Epilepsy is a neurological condition, which is characterized by seizures, which cause involuntary movements, shaking, confusion and anxiety. Seizures vary, and coming across somebody who is having a seizure can be terrifying, especially for those with limited knowledge about epilepsy. This is why campaigns like Epilepsy Awareness Month are so important.

Happy Thanksgiving! 

Hope you will enjoy those vintage Thanksgiving menus designed by yours truly. Cecile and I began the tradition of hosting Thanksgiving dinners for our family and friends in our tiny basement apartment in Brooklyn in 1955. 

Our first Thanksgiving dinner took place about 3 weeks after we were married. Cecile had received a free turkey from the company where she worked and, without any previous experience she made a delicious Thanksgiving dinner. 

Unk Simon

Joke of the Day

DID YOU TAKE IT?

In court, the judge asked the accused, "Did you take Mr. Fred's wallet?"

The accused replied, "Yes, yes I did. I didn't want him to shoot himself."

Confused by the reply, the judge asks, "Why do you think he'd shoot himself with his wallet?"

"Because it was loaded, your honor."

Word of the Day

vulgarian

MEANING:

noun: A boor, lewd, and crude person who makes a conspicuous display of wealth.

ETYMOLOGY:

From Latin vulgus (mob, common people). Earliest documented use: 1833.

USAGE:

“Maxie, how can a clean-cut child such as yourself bear to be around such a vulgarian?”
Max Allan Collins; USS Powderkeg; Brash Books; 2019.

Idiom of the Day

HAVE EYES IN THE BACK OF ONE’S HEAD

To be able to see or sense what’s going on all around you, when you can’t physically see everyhing
You need eyes in the back of your head when you have two small children!

This Day in History

1880 - Lillian Russell made her vaudeville debut in New York City.

1906 - The International Radio Telegraphic Convention in Berlin adopted the SOS distress signal.


1909 - Helen Hayes appeared on stage for the first time. She was a member of the cast of "In Old Dutch."

1910 - Arthur F. Knight patented a steel shaft to replace wood shafts in golf clubs.


1913 - Composer Lord Benjamin Britten was born.


1928 - In Paris, "Bolero" by Maurice Ravel was first performed publicly.

1963 - U.S. President Kennedy was assassinated while riding in a motorcade in Dallas, TX. Texas Governor John B. Connally was also seriously wounded. Vice-President Lyndon B. Johnson was inaugurated as the 36th U.S. President.


1977 - Regular passenger service on the Concorde began between New York and Europe.


1984 - Fred Rogers of PBS' "Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood" presented a sweater to the Smithsonian Institution.


1985 - 38,648 immigrants became citizens of the United States. It was the largest swearing-in ceremony.


1998 - CBS's "60 Minutes" aired a tape of Jack Kevorkian giving lethal drugs in an assisted suicide of a terminally ill patient. Kevorkian was later sentenced to 25 years in prison for second-degree murder.


2005 - Angela Merkel was elected as Germany's first female chancellor.


2013 - The discovery of Siats meekerorum was announced. The dinosaur skeleton, more than 30 feet long, was found in eastern Utah.

thanks, Winnie



DAILY SQU-EEK

If You Were Born Today, November 22

You are headstrong yet warm and playful. Very active, you don't like to feel caged in by anyone or anything! You carve your own unique path in life, playing by the rules when necessary, but refusing to give up your individuality in the process. Although ambitious in many ways, you don't feel the need to play games in order to win approval. Straightforwardness is important to you, but you are not an open book either. Your opinions are as strong as your will and determination. </em>Famous people born today:

1744 Abigail Adams, 2nd US First Lady (1797-1801) (11/11 O.S.), born in Weymouth Massachusetts (d. 1818)

1819 George Eliot [Mary Anne Evans], English author (Middlemarch, Silas Marner), born in Nuneaton, Warwickshire (d. 1880)

1869 Andre Gide, French writer (Lafcadio's Adventures-Nobel 1947), born in Paris (d. 1951)

1890 Charles de Gaulle, President of France (1958-69), born in Lille, France (d. 1970)

1921 Rodney Dangerfield, [John Cohen], comedian (Caddyshack), born in Babylon, New York (d. 2003)

1924 Geraldine Page, American actress (Interiors, Beguiled), born in Kirksville, Missouri (d. 1987)

1943 Billie Jean King, American tennis player (12 Grand Slam singles titles, 39 Grand Slam titles), born in Long Beach, California

1958 Jamie Lee Curtis, American actress (Halloween, True Lies), born in Los Angeles, California

1967 Boris Becker, German tennis player (Wimbledon 1985, 86, 89), born in Leimen, Germany

1984 Scarlett Johansson, American actress (Lost in Translation, Avengers), born in NYC, New York

thanks, Marge

READERS INFO

1.

1963 -

John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy (May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963)

2.

Christmas at Meeker Mansion 2019

Nov 29 - Dec 22, 2019 | Puyallup, WA 

Meeker Mansion|312 Spring St

Set in a 17-room Victorian compound, Christmas at Meeker Mansion in Puyallup, Washington, is an opulent holiday celebration. Held of the course of a few weeks, the engagement features tours of the home built in 1890, each room festooned with holiday trees and arts and crafts decorating the picturesque antique furniture.

further information: Christmas at the Mansion 2019

3.

Argosy Christmas Ship Festival 2019

Nov 29 - Dec 23, 2019 | Seattle, WA

Lake Union Park & Other Puget Sound Communities|860 Terry Ave N

For fans of Christmas cheer and brisky Northwestern seaside breezes, the Argosy Christmas Ship Festival comes to town each year to delight thousands of revelers aboard a floating parade festooned with lights. Travelling along the Puget Sound and making stops to various waterfront towns and cities, the ship features a variety of holiday festivities to keep revelers on board smiling and dancing to a variety of performances by choirs and other live musical acts. What’s more, when revelers are guided back to shore, they can enjoy complimentary bonfires and fireside treats.

further information: Christmas Ship™ Festival Schedule | Argosy Cruises

4.

Sawdust Art & Craft Festival 2019

Nov 23 - Dec 22, 2019 | Laguna Beach, CA 

Sawdust Art Festival Grounds|935 Laguna Canyon Rd

You don’t need “expert” judges to tell you what’s good art and what isn’t. All kinds of art are on display here without a jury to grade them; instead, it is all about consumption and appreciating the local talent for their ability to create something beautiful. There are art demonstrations, workshops and other events available to get you inspired to create.

further information: Sawdust - Art & Craft Festival

FRIDAY'S INTERESTING FACTS

PATTERN BOOK FRIDAY

Yarn 2014 35

Pictures of the day

Guion Bluford (born November 22, 1942) is an American aerospace engineer, retired U.S. Air Force officer and fighter pilot, and former NASA astronaut, who is the first African American and the second person of African descent to go to space. Before becoming an astronaut in 1978 as part of NASA Astronaut Group 8, Bluford was an officer in the U.S. Air Force, where he remained while assigned to NASA, rising to the rank of colonel. He participated in four Space Shuttle flights between 1983 and 1992. In 1983, as a member of the crew of the Space Shuttle Challenger on the mission STS-8, he became the first African American in space, as well as the second person of African ancestry in space, after Cuban cosmonaut Arnaldo Tamayo Méndez. This picture of Bluford is his official NASA portrait, taken in 1992, the year of his final mission, STS-53. He is depicted in his Launch Entry Suit and holding the helmet.

Old Man Bowler

A man, taking respite from playing lawn bowls in the hot November sun. Location: North Stradbroke Island.

knit
thanks, Sheri 

Rainbow Road

knit
thanks, Leah 

Sweater knitting pattern and chart free

knit ... Christmas

Festive Reindeer Stocking

knit

Cross Stitch Scarf

knit

Marvin the Mouse Knit Puppet

Knit Pattern of the Day: 

thanks, Valerie, Canadian Correspondent

Christmas Stampede

crochet
thanks, Kay

Appealing apron

crochet
thanks, Helen

Quick Gift Pom Hat

crochet

Linen pattern by Bernadette Ambergen

crochet

So Easy It's Sinful Scarf pattern by Anastacia Zittel

crochet ... Christmas

Ruffled Tree



RECIPE ... Thanksgiving

thanks, Shelley, New York Food Correspondent

Corn Casserole Recipe

CROCKPOT RECIPE
thanks, Jane 

Crockpot Horseradish Pot Roast

SWEETS ... Thanksgiving

thanks, Sally

Cranberry Jalapeño Nantucket Pie (vegan, gluten free)

COOKBOOK FRIDAY

Culinaire #5 (October 2012)

ADULT COLORING ... Thanksgiving

CRAFTS ... Christmas

thanks, Kris

How to make yarn scrap Christmas wreaths

CHILDREN'S CORNER ... Thanksgiving

PUZZLE

Mediterranean Wall Jigsaw Puzzle

WORD SEARCH

bright build caller cling crave despair disdain extreme

flange frame fresh friendship gash hood issue

leak libel missile model obsession paint palace parole

past pier river same satellite secret shame short spank

sporting state sword tear tension touch trusty water

SUDOKU ... easy

solution:

QUOTE

CLEVER 

Best Ways to Prep a Turkey

ehow

Want to “wow” your family and friends with a knock-out feast featuring a freshly roasted turkey? Before you think you’ve gotten in over your head, know that it's easier than you think to get your bird prepped. We've put together a few helpful basics that will lead to one tasty turkey, from brining to removing the innards (don't want to forget this step!). Let's get started.

Tip

• It is recommended that you wear disposable, food-handling gloves when working with raw turkey.

1. Defrosting the Turkey

There are a number of ways to properly defrost a turkey, but the safest way we recommend is thawing it inside the fridge to prevent any bacteria growth. Plan to thaw the turkey for 24 hours for every five pounds of turkey. If you’re pressed for time, you can also do a cold water soak or on the counter, as long as the surrounding temperature remains below 40 F.

 Defrosting the turkey completely is important to ensure even cooking. 

2. Removing the Turkey Neck and Giblets

After you’ve safely thawed the turkey, it’s time to set aside the turkey neck and giblets. This task should be fairly easy to do since the bird is no longer frozen, and the innards are usually neatly packed in a pouch inside the bird’s main cavity. You can either toss the giblets or save them to cook a traditional Thanksgiving gravy.

 The giblets include the turkey liver, gizzard and heart, and are traditionally used to make turkey gravy.

3. Brining the Turkey in the Refrigerator

Brining the turkey before roasting ensures a juicy and flavorful finished product. All it takes is some kosher salt, sugar, water and your choice of herbs. It’s a very simple process, but be sure to reserve eight hours of brining time in the refrigerator before popping the bird into the oven.

 Brining the turkey for hours seals in a savory flavor that's enhanced during baking. 

4. Brining the Turkey in an Ice Chest

For an exceptionally moist roasted turkey and to save on refrigerator space, brine your bird inside an ice chest. The brine-filled cooler will fully submerge the turkey at a constantly chilled temperature, ensuring that the meat is absorbing all of the necessary flavors.

 Keeping the turkey in an ice chest keeps the environment insulated for even brining. 

5. Preparing the Turkey

With these turkey prep directions, you will find that cooking the poultry from start to finish is much simpler than it looks. All you need are basic cooking skills and time to baste the turkey every 15 to 20 minutes to achieve a savory Thanksgiving bird.

 Stuffing the turkey with vegetables while cooking sets off a fragrant and delicious aroma. 

6. Inject Turkey Marinade

Injecting raw turkey with marinade takes the turkey’s flavor profile to the next level. Penetrating the meat with this fragrant and tangy mixture will result in masterfully flavored and succulent turkey meat that will be far from dry.

 Keep the turkey meat moist and flavorful by injecting a marinade into the meat.

7. Trussing the Turkey

While it’s not necessary, trussing a turkey right before cooking will help the turkey cook evenly and make for an presentable Thanksgiving centerpiece. The steps vary slightly between trussing a stuffed and unstuffed bird, so make sure to follow the appropriate steps depending on what type of turkey you prepare.

 Remove the twine.

EYE OPENER 

thanks, Patsy

Best Thanksgiving Songs: 20 Essential Tracks For Your Holiday Playlist

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

Oh, would that my mind could let fall its dead ideas, as the tree does its withered leaves! -Andre Gide, author, Nobel laureate (22 Nov 1869-1951)

OPTICAL ILLUSION

So this is an incredibly trippy tattoo. I’m not too sure what the meaning behind it is, but I could definitely find myself staring at it for days.

It really makes his arm look hallow, and I’m not entirely sure if that was the intended purpose. Regardless, it’s eye-catching, and that’s all that matters.