A Rare “G”-Rated Post

Posted on by under animals, Bits 'n Pieces, Global Issues, Good people doing good things, Humour

I seem to be unable to write anything news-worthy without a rant that includes a large number of four-letter words.  And yet, today is National Let’s Laugh Day, so it hardly seems proper to start the day with my usual grousing fare.  And so instead of an X-rated rant, I’ve decided to eschew the socio-political scene just for this post (don’t get used to it!), and go with a few things that might make you smile in this #$%@-ed up world of today.

Another good people …

Most of my readers on ‘the other side of the pond’ are likely familiar with the name Gary Neville.  Neville, for the rest of us, is an English football coach and former football player.  Now, remember that when the Brits refer to ‘football’, what they mean is what we call soccer, played with a round ball that is black & white, rather than a brown ovoid pigskin.

soccer-football

Anyway, back to Gary Neville … he also happens to be the co-owner of two hotels … hotels that he is closing during the coronavirus pandemic in order to give the rooms to health workers fighting the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.  In addition, he has promised that the staff will retain their incomes, with no layoffs on the horizon and no one being asked to take unpaid leave.

Another of many good people who care more about humanity than their own profit.  Thumbs up, Mr. Neville!

Tree of the Year!!!

This lonesome little pine tree …lonely-pine… believed by superstitious locals to act as sentinel over a flooded Czech village has been chosen as Europe’s tree of the year, beating stiff competition from a Croatian gingko tree, a Portuguese chestnut and an English oak.

The Guardian of the Flooded Village has grown for 350 years on a rocky height near the village of Chudobin, said locally to play host to a devil that sat under it at night, playing the violin and warding off intruders – though in reality the eerie sounds are more likely to have come from the strong winds blowing over the valley.

Supernatural powers attributed to trees ranked multiple times in this year’s competition: another guardian tree, from Romania, took fifth place and two witch trees – in the Netherlands and Ireland – also scored highly.

The UK’s entry, the Allerton Oak, came in seventh place. Growing in Liverpool’s Calderstones Park, the oak tree was where judges would meet to hold trials in medieval times, instead of a courthouse. A large crack in the tree is said to date from 1864 when a ship carrying gunpowder exploded on the Mersey – the explosion was heard 30 miles away and shattered thousands of windows.

Who knew there was even such a thing as a “Tree of the Year” contest?  Rather a cool idea, though … honouring trees instead of chopping them down!

Watch da penguins!

Many entertainment centers and places of business around the globe have closed their doors (temporarily, we hope) in the past month.  Our local Barnes & Noble sent out an email today saying they are, for the time being, still open, but that they have removed all the chairs.  🤷

One such business is the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago.  But, not to waste a rare opportunity, they allowed the penguins free run of the place …

And another aquarium, Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town, South Africa, did the same …

national-laugh-dayAnd in honour of National Let’s Laugh Day, I give you a couple of quotes:

“Laugh at yourself first, before anyone else can.” — Elsa Maxwell

“We don’t laugh because we’re happy — we’re happy because we laugh.” — William James

Try it and let me know how it feels, okay?

Okay, friends, that’s as much ‘fun’ as I can handle for one day, so I will now return to being my usual snarky, curmudgeonly self.  Until later …

44 thoughts on “A Rare “G”-Rated Post”

  1. Pingback: A Rare “G”-Rated Post — Filosofa’s Word – SHOWERS OF BLESSINGS COVENANT HOUSE

  3. I never knew there was a contest between trees and until now I had no idea about the National Laugh Day. Sounds like something decided first thing this morning as they got up.I shall laugh at some stage.
    Cwtch

    Liked by 1 person

    • The tree contest is your idea … well, not yours personally, but Europeans. It’s the European Tree Contest, after all. And the Laugh Day is … yeah, likely something somebody thought up on a dreary day when they were trying to figure a way to make themselves think life is worth living. Still … not a bad idea.
      Cwtch

      Liked by 1 person

  6. Pingback: Fun in Texas | Nuggets of Gold

  7. Well my stars, I was so busy stuffing myself with a yumalicious Zeppole for St. Joseph’s Day, welcoming the first day of Spring and sending emails to celebrate “Absolutely Incredible Kid Day” that I totally missed National Let’s Laugh Day! No matter really, as I had a resounding 15-second belly laugh at 6:30 AM this morning with the bleary eyed stranger in my mirror in an effort to maintain my Wellderlyness and all is well! This lovely G-Rated post is a welcome addition to the day’s numerous celebrations. Rest assured that a goblet of Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio will be raised in your honor before the day ends! Tree of the Year contest, now that is something new to me, but I love it. Thank-you for the respite from some of the harsher news that is ever present these days, at least for a little while. To all of the adults, because everyone is someone’s kid, allow me to tell you that you are an Absolutely Incredible Kid always and forever. “Adults are just outdated children.” – Dr. Seuss.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Well, in all honesty, I was a bit shocked that you hadn’t reminded me of National Let’s Laugh Day! But, the Zeppole explains it! I’m glad you liked the G-rated post, and I will be honoured when you raise a glass of the Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio to me … I would only wish I were there to share the bottle with you and maybe a few laughs as well! Happy Let’s Laugh Day, my friend!

      Liked by 1 person

  9. I managed a smile. Our footballer philanthropists are a really welcome Bright spot in otherwise depressing news about further deaths and further lock downs.

    Those rock hopper penguins likely thought that they were finally ‘free’…. Yes we do need the smiles. I am contacting isolated friends and family most days with one or two funnies and some interaction… ❤️ It makes it all feel better if people can share.

    Liked by 2 people

  10. Pingback: Revisiting Heroes | hughcurtler

    • Glad you loved the penguins … they’re always good for a chuckle. Yep, I know exactly where my ‘large shaker of salt’ is … on the back of the stove, for I just used it while I was searing a beef roast to put into the crock pot! 😉

      Liked by 1 person

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