Good morning!
It’s Tuesday! For those not retired, it’s a “Ugh, four days to the weekend” kind of day. For those retired, it’s, “Ugh, four days before the kids take the time to call.”
But Tuesday has some interesting history. First of all, Tuesday is dedicated to Saint John the Baptist. There are hymns and chants and all sort of cool stuff involved. Alas, the Greeks and Spanish consider it an unlucky day, and especially so if it falls on the 13th day of the month (yep, that would be today). But fortunately, regardless of ancestry, we’re Americans and we get to shed that kind of stuff. Not to mention, for those Christian and Jewish, it is a particularly cool day, unlike any other: When discussing Tuesday, Genesis (the Old Testament) not once, but twice mentions that “it was a good day.” So make it your good day.
Today’s weather: Well, brace yourself….it’s going to rain today. I know, right? It’s been since….yesterday(!) that you’ve seen rain! This from the good folks (and crazy smart) folks at the National Weather Service Office in Ruskin:
“Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 2pm. Cloudy, with a high near 90. Heat index values as high as 98. East southeast wind 7 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.”
Yeah, we’re getting into the repetitive season. However, if you wake up before the sunrise (possibly shortly after or sometime thereabouts), you’ll get to enjoy the blissfully cool 74 degree low. And if you go to bed early enough for that, you may miss some scattered evening thunderstorms. Don’t worry, though. They’ll be back. For the next few days the weather forecast will effectively be a cut and paste job.
Personal forecast: Think peat bog. Think moor, wallow, fenland. And, when you leave work this evening, think, “umbrella.”
Eye on the tropics: Whoo hoo for those of us who have no desire to live without air conditioning and with snakes for two weeks after a tropical system hit! According to the National Hurricane Center:
For the North Atlantic…Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico:
Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 5 days.
What to do?
Looking for a good way to spend 20 minutes with your mini you? Head out to the Southshore Regional Library for 20 minutes of “Baby Time.” According to the library, “Bond with your baby through stories, bouncy rhymes and songs in this 20-minute lap-sit program that introduces early literacy skills and encourages language developments. Unfortunately for those of us who think “bouncy rhymes” sounds like a great way to spend a morning, it’s just for the true youngsters, newborn to 2o months (and their parents, of course). Visit: http://hcplc.evanced.info/signup/eventdetails?eventid=140092&lib=10&return=
Which, perhaps no coincidence (they grow up way too fast, don’t they?) is immediately followed by Toddler Time. The 20 minute program, from 10:30 to 10:50 a.m. includes all sorts of cool stuff for your 20 to 36 month old toddler. Visit: http://hcplc.evanced.info/signup/eventdetails?eventid=140116&lib=10&return=
And if your children continue to age in some weird space-time warp, stick around for “Story Time” for those 3 to 5 years of age. The program highlights early literacy skills, encourages reading readiness and social interaction. Visit: http://hcplc.evanced.info/signup/eventdetails?eventid=140145&lib=10&return=
And finally, for those 8-years-old and up (wow, time really does fly when you have kids), check out “Robotics with Ozobots” from 2 to 4 p.m. And please, PLEASE, make certain your kids don’t program them to take over the world. The program is limited to 20 participants. Visit: http://hcplc.evanced.info/signup/eventdetails?eventid=140083&lib=10&return=
MOSI, the Museum of Science and Industry, 4801 E. Fowler Ave. in Tampa is offering free admission to exhibit galleries to active duty military personnel and up to five immediate family members from today through Aug. 13. Proof of service is required. https://www.mosi.org/explore-mosi/plan-your-visit/special-offers/
Seriously — it’s Tuesday. Check out a blockbuster movie at the Ruskin Family Drive-In.
Happenings in Hillsborough:
Join the “Get Fit Walking Club” at the Ruskin Senior Center at 10 a.m. The Senior Center is located at 905 6th St. SE. I have a feeling they won’t be checking IDs so for the non-seniors looking to get fit, give it a shot. Visit: http://www.hillsboroughcounty.org/en/calendar/06-seniorcenters/ruskin/2017/20170613-walking-club
It’s Lectora Tuesday at Hillsborough County’s Entrepreneur Collaborative Center. I honestly have no idea what that means but the description is cool and it’s free! “Lectora Tuesday is a free networking event featuring a distinguished panel of biz/tech, media, and government related professionals.” Wait. Media? My invitation must have gotten lost in the mail. Regardless, it’s open to the public from 7:30 to 8:45 a.m. Visit: http://www.hillsboroughcounty.org/en/calendar/02-business/2017/20170613-lectora-tuesday
I’m reasonably certain there isn’t a single day that isn’t a National Something Day. I’ll search it out for you — the proof will be something like the “National Ink Jet Cartridge Refill Day.” But, anyway…it’s National Sewing Machine Day at the Brandon Senior Center, which is actually quite cool considering sewing machines have long been recognized as magical devices that somehow keep us clothed by using tiny threads. Honestly, no one really understands now it works. So it’s good they have a day. The event starts at 10:30 a.m. at 612 N. Parsons Ave. Visit: http://www.hillsboroughcounty.org/en/calendar/06-seniorcenters/brandon/2017/20170613-sewing-machine-day
Tomorrow for those who have served: The Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences Trauma Recovery Program will host the 6th Annual PTSD Awareness Day at the James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital (JAHVH) 2nd floor Auditorium, Wednesday, June 14, 2107 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to describe the various types of trauma-related treatment offered in the VA health care system and explain how to best access care at JAHVH. Subject matter experts will define traumatic stress and PTSD as it relates to military service.
As a nation, we need those leaders to break out of the pack and sometimes stand alone, even as dark clouds may swirl. But in the end, those men and women only begin what we as citizens have to see through to the end. Mitch Traphagen Photo
And, in the end:
Yesterday, June 12, was all about beginnings. And thus, it’s sibling day, June 13, has some history there as well: A civil rights act passed the House of Representatives. You may have thought this to be a ’60s thing — and you’d be right. Just not the 1960s.
On this day in 1866, The U.S. House of Representatives passed what would become the 14the Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, known then as the “Civil Rights Act of 1866.” The actual history and timeline is a bit more complicated because, you know, we don’t always get along and agree on things — you know, on things like what toppings to order on our pizza or on major legislation. But that act guaranteed citizenship without regard to race or color (nor previous slavery or involuntary servitude). The bill guaranteed “equal benefits and access to the law.”
Think about that for a moment. Only mere moments after the Civil War, we were advanced enough to realize that we are all humans on this planet doing our best to get by — and that we were equal in our quest in pursuit of life, liberty and happiness. Well, except for women. That would still take a while. Regardless, no doubt a few Founding Fathers put up some cosmic “high fives” at that one — it was a major step.
Although it must be said that a certain number of Democrats and Republicans were entirely bipartisan in…hating it. In the end, a group known as the “The Radical Republicans” were satisfied that they had secured civil rights for blacks, but were disappointed that the amendment would not also secure political rights for blacks; in particular, the right to vote. Fortunately, that last issue would be addressed by the Fifteenth Amendment, ratified in 1870 (and still in progress today in some parts of the nation).
Major legislation is rarely pretty in its own beginning. It takes time to get things right. We’re still working on a lot of things like that. But we’ll do it because we’re decent people.
So, c’mon, kids. All of the news that we are a divided nation…let the political theater turn off the lights. We’ve long been united on doing the right thing. We may not always agree on the means but we’ve long agreed on the end.
And so may we continue. And today is a good day for it. It’s Tuesday — let it be a “good day” at least twice over.
See you tomorrow!
