Ed and Elvis

Ed said it wouldn't happen, but it did. On this day in 1956, Elvis made his first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, the longest running variety show, airing 24 years. At the time, Elvis said the appearance was the "greatest honor of his life."

Visit here to see a clip.

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Have You Heard? It's Election Time

Of course you know it's an election year!

If you are not registered to vote, you still have time, but not much. Check here to find registration deadlines as well as other voter laws and information for your state.

technorati tags: vicki'sblog, voterregistrationdates

Read a Book Today

Today is Read a Book Day, so start reading.

If you don't already have a book, you can get one free from your local library. Here is another idea -- read on your computer.

Try Page By Page Books, a site that provides online reading. Books offered are in the public domain for your personal reading pleasure, but not for commercial use or publishing on your own site without written permission. Is that a problem?

Try Project Gutenberg, the largest collection of free electronic books. It was started by the inventor of ebooks, Michael Hart who began by typing in a hundred books with expired copyrights. You can even download a book to your telephone. Check it out.


Happy Reading!

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What's That About Mary?

You know about Mary. She had a little lamb. The verse we all learned as small children was first published on this date in 1830 in Juvenile Miscellany.

It later became a song, you know, but this lovely little tune was not exclusive to preschool. Listen to this version by no less than Paul McCartney and Wings.

technorati tags: mary, maryhadalittlelamb, paulmccartney, paulmccartneyandwings, vicki'sblog

Happy Birthday, James

38!

Ready To Vote?

On this date in 1920, after a long struggle, the 19th Amendment was certified as ratified.

The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.

Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

Women have the right to vote in local, state, and federal elections. In 1971, a Joint Resolution of Congress designated August 26 as Women's Equality Day.

Remember to exercise your right this November 4th and vote for your choice.

Barack Obama or John McCain
(presumptive candidates)

technorati tags: 19thamendment, women'sequalityday, women'svote, Vicki'sBlog

Finally!

On this day in 1866 President Andrew Johnson formally declared the Civil War over. Now, that may seem a bit late since fighting had stopped months earlier.

Lee surrendered in Virginia April 9, 1865, and Johnston surrendered in North Carolina April 26, 1865. The Confederate naval force was slow to respond, but surrendered November 4, 1865, in Liverpool, England.

Communication took longer then, so I guess it's understandable. My state of Texas was somewhat reluctant to join the Confederacy, but did. Texas participation was largely as a supplier of troops and supplies and was also a victim of that slow communication. Of course, slaves were actually freed with the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation in January of 1863. However, the Texas slaves learned they were free the day Union soldiers sailed into Galveston, Texas, and announced the end of the war. That was June 19, 1865, known and still celebrated in Texas as Junteenth.

As slow as Texas was to learn of the war's end, it still beat President Johnson's declaration by more than a year!

technorati tags: PresidentAndrewJohnson, leesurrenders, confederatenavalforce, emancipationproclamation, junteenth, texasinthecivilwar

Happy August

Admit it. You are happy. And that is no coincidence. August is Admit You're Happy Month. The Secret Society of Happy People designated August as the month to finally admit it, and several governors issued proclamations making it official.

If you need help, try visiting The Happiness Project. Gretchen Rubin is collecting facts about happiness, making a study of it, and she is willing to share her findings as she continues her book project. Here is a simple example, where she talks about the relationship between happiness and enthusiasm while celebrating a friend's birthday.

Do you still need help admitting it? Luckily, there's help. The month also has been designated for other celebrations.

Family Fun Month is the perfect time to fit in a few more activities before school starts again. Yes, it is that time and you had better take advantage of these weeks. Need any ideas?

What about a picnic? I read that August also happens to be National Picnic Month. Well, it seems that July is actually the picnic month, but July is over so go ahead and plan a picnic this weekend. Be sure to take some fruit because it is also Peach Month. Here are some practical pointers and some safety tips. Don't forget that ants like to dance at picnics.


When the kids finally do go back to school, take some time with your special sweetheart. August is Romance Awareness Month. Speaking of romance, my parents had a lovely romance. My mother said my dad was the only man for her.

August is also the month they were born. My father's was August 15, and today is my mother's 83rd birthday. Happy Birthday. I'll be thinking special thoughts of you today.

technorati tags: birthdays, admityou'rehappymonth, happiness, familyfunmonth, nationalpicnicmonth, peachmonth, romanceawarenessmonth, vicki'sblog