Helpful advice

Timeless words of wisdom from Roald Dahl, illustrated by Quentin Blake.

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The winner every time!

Spring has sprung!

Today is the Spring Equinox for 2018, when day and night are equal length. Let’s celebrate by honoring the most famous spring of all. We’re looking at you, Slinky!

True

Wolves are such majestic creatures pic.twitter.com/ksKWIqDggw

— Stripe Dog (@fauxlacine) January 25, 2018

Yadiloh greetings!

Dan’s Mom writes:

Dear T,

I would like to tell you about a fabulous new holiday celebration. It’s called Yadiloh, the Festival of Brooms and Mice, and it happens on the second Sunday of December, right before the traditional holidays begin. I had an artist friend of mine make up a card for it.

Yadiloh begins early in the morning as each and every kid in the family sweeps (or vacuums) their room and then cleans the whole house. Then, in the spirit of Yadiloh fun, they hide the broom (or vacuum).

After that, for even more fun, they sit quietly together and draw a picture of an adorable mouse. The fun doesn’t stop there! At this point, Mom or Dad takes on the role of Atnas, the Yadiloh Broom Finder. Atnas asks the kids (the Mice) where the broom (or vacuum) is. They tell him (or her), and then go outside to quietly play while Atnas takes a much-deserved Yadiloh nap.

Let’s get cracking and help make Yadiloh a part of every family’s holiday tradition! Here are a couple of rousing Yadiloh carols to get everyone in the mood.

Oh, Yadiloh!

(Sung to the tune of Oh, Tannenbaum)

Oh, Yadiloh! Oh, Yadiloh!

My favorite time of year.

Oh, Yadiloh! Oh, Yadiloh!

I’m glad you’re finally here.

I cleaned my room

and swept the house,

then hid the broom

and drew a mouse.

Oh, Yadiloh! Oh, Yadiloh!

You fill us all with cheer.

And:

Here Comes Atnas

(Sung to the tune of Here Comes Santa)

Here comes Atnas, here comes Atnas,

looking for the broom.

Here comes Atnas, here comes Atnas,

checking every room.

Searching twice and asking mice for any little clue,

Atnas knows a broom hunt is the funnest thing to do!

T replies:

Hey, Dan’s Mom. Yadiloh sounds like a real hoot, but if I didn’t know better, I’d think you made it up to get Dan to clean the house before the regular holidays begin. If so, you get credit for a very crafty plan. Let’s see if Dan (or anyone else) falls for it!

Happy first day of fall!

Today the sun crosses the plane of the earth’s equator, making night and day of approximately equal length all over the earth. It’s the autumn equinox, the end of summer and the start of fall. From here on out, nights will be longer and days will be shorter. And hibernation will start to sound pretty good!

Perspective

You looking at me?

Pareidolia is the word that describes the way we see meaningful things in ordinary objects. Such as faces. Sinks especially bring out the pareidolia in me.

What would these sinks say, if they could talk? “Wash your hands!” of course.

Science!