AUNTS, FLOWERS AND CLUSTERS

Happy Thursday Guys and Dolls:

Here we are and it is already March 8 and I guess I can truly say time is Marching along. Today is "AUNT DAY" those loveable sisters of your parents whom you either love or hate. To me there were two kinds of aunts the fussy and the cool. I had both in my years of growing up. Being Polish even your parent’s aunts you officially called aunt so there were plenty of aunts running around. All my parent’s sisters have passed away but I do have a special aunt I would love to hear from one day. We’ve lost touch since I moved to Florida and she and my uncle were my favorite. Hope you read this one day Aunt Louise and post a comment. So if you have any aunts still alive give them a call and wish them a “Happy Aunt Day.”

PLANT A FLOWER is happening today. I love flowers and have a little bed devoted to my granddaughter. I have to get started soon with some new flowers, mulch and a fresh spread of rich planting soil. One of my favorite flowers is the Purslane which blooms every spring even though they look dead in the winter. The picture posted is what the flower looks like. Try planting some, they spread like crazy and are beautiful flowers. You can grow them in pots or just plant some in the earth and watch them take off.

For my foodies out there today is “PEANUT CLUSTER DAY.” Personally I’m not a cluster fan of anything. I like chocolate and peanuts but by themselves. Speaking of peanuts I’m getting in the mood for some boiled peanuts. We had them at work several years ago and I really acquired a taste for them. I have to put a plea out for someone to boil a batch.

Have a great day and a wonderful evening, stay safe and be good.

THE NAME GAME

Happy Hump Day Speakies:

Abbe, Babur, Dagobert and Fabron, what does this mean? That’s easy for it is "UNIQUE NAME DAY” and those are boys names picked at random by Joey Z. I thought about a little fun with some boys names that begin in Z being I’m a Joey Z. So here’s a few to have some fun with and if they are your names tough.

ZEFIRINO – Means Wind of Spring. To me it sounds like a bottle of sparkling water or wine.

ZDENEK – Strong. Could be a character like in one of those Conan movies.

ZEMAR – Meaning Lion, good enough I’ll go with the lion.

ZENOA- An evil planet that is planning to take over Earth.  Could be a planet of pleasure too.

ZERO – It is a Greek name meaning seed. Don’t want to poke fun at the Greeks on this one.

ZIV – Meaning very bright. I haven’t heard this said in a long time, “Boy that kid Ziv is very bright.”

ZOLT – Means chief. To me Zolt sounds like the evil leader from the planet Zenoa planning to conquer Earth.

ZOMBAR –Refers to buffalo. Okay by me now we have Zombar “The Buffalo Boy.”

ZOWIE – Just ask the question how are you today? My name is Zowie and I’m feeling just Zowie today. Boy that’s enough of this stuff for today.

It is also “NATIONAL BE HEARD DAY”, so for those who want to speak their piece today is the day to do and be heard.

FILL YOUR BRAINS AND YOUR SWEET TOOTH TODAY

Happy Tuesday Speakies:

Well it’s March 6, 2012 and Happy Birthday and Happy Anniversary to all my Guys and Dolls celebrating theirs today. Let’s see what other famous bozo’s alive or dead celebrate their birthday today:

1619 – Cyrano de Bergerac – The big nose guy.

1785 – Karol Kazimierz Kurpinski – Good old Polish composer.

1831 – Philip Henry Sheridan – Yankee General he just kept on marching.

1906 – Lou Costello – Famous half of Abbott and Costello, Hey Abbott. I had a nun in 3rd grade as my teacher who was my mother’s teacher and also taught Lou Costello, no lie. Sister Gabriella at St. Hedwig’s.

1923 – Ed McMahon – Here’s Johnny.

1937 – Merle Haggard – Country Singer.

1951 – Stedman Graham – Oprah’s main squeeze.

1959 – Tom Arnold – To me the world’s worst comedian.

Let’s Say Good Bye To Those Who Left Our Earth Today:

1836 – Davy Crockett – Killed at the Battle of the Alamo, maybe, maybe not, great History Channel Special on that theory.

1932 – John Philip Sousa – US composer.

1933 – Anton J. Cermak – Chicago Mayor bumped off by one of the Chicago gangs.

1973 – Pearl Buck – Author “The Good Earth.”

1976 – “Slapsie” Maxie Rosenbloom – Boxing champion.

1981 – Klaus Grabowski – I like this one “Child Molester”, shot by a parent.

There’s a little info for your brains today.

For you Foodie Speakies today is “CHOCOLATE CHEESE CAKE DAY.” Sounds good to me, love cheese cake not in big portions to rich but I do enjoy it when it is served. Have a great Tuesday and be careful out there.

DOODLE, DOODLE, DOODLE ALL DAY

Happy Monday Morning Guys and Dolls:

Another Monday is upon us Speakies but have no fear for today is “CHEESE DOODLE DAY.” Yes Cheese Doodles those crunchy, cheesy, orange treats of delight that taste so good and get you in trouble for leaving orange crumbs on everything you touch. Those words still echo in my head today from mom “Joey, are you eating those things again, clean up the crumbs and wash your fingers.” I like Cheese Doodles both the regular and the crispy crunchy ones, love the way they snap when you bite into one and the lingering cheese taste that remains after you down them. Roe likes the crunchy ones and the white cheese flavored. So to all you Cheese Doodle fans today is the day get those quarters out and raid the snack machines at work or hit the local stores and buy the big bag. Enjoy tonight with the Doodles and the one you love.

Here’s a monthly celebration I never heard of “NATIONAL FEMININE IMPROVEMENT MONTH.” Seems to me women don’t need improvement physically they are fine the way they are, I like women for what they are creatures of beauty no matter what shape, looks as long as they are not crazy. Improvement should be up to them personally whether it is physical, educational or just anything they want to improve themselves as a person. Ladies of the world have at it the month belongs to you.

In this first full week of March we also celebrate Autograph Collecting Month. Back in the 1980’s I was out of work for several months due to a disability and with my sons being in grammar school, I started a sports autograph collection for them and I guess for the old man too. I started by writing to different teams and requesting team logo material and with some of the teams you would not believe what they sent me. Pens, key chains, cards, and schedules you name it. I then started to find addresses of various players and wrote to them personally. I have a great collection and something I’m still proud of but also from the looks and excitement I saw in my son’s eyes when the mail came each day. Have a great day.

JUST CHECKING UP

HI SPEAKIES:

JUST CHECKING UP ON WHO VISITED THE OLD SITE OVER THE WEEKEND.  THANKS TO ALL MY VISITORS MAKES HAVING THIS SITE FUN.  PRETTY WINDY IN CENTRAL FLORIDA TODAY, HAD A BRIEF THUNDERSTORM, NO DAMAGE AND ALL IS WELL.  THE SUN IS COMING OUT AND I HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A GREAT DAY.

WEEKEND WISHES SPEAKIES

Happy First Friday in March Speakies:

Weekend wishes are here from Joey Z along with some great weekend celebrations. So let’s get started with some of the ones I picked up to raise a pint to.

SILLY PUTTY’S BIRTHDAY – I loved that stuff when I was a kid, bounced it all around the floor, made copies of the comics on it and stretched that sucker as far as I could. I say get some Silly Putty and play today.

A couple of birthday wishes go out today to Elmer Fudd and Porky Pig those loveable cartoon characters who came out in 1937 to make us laugh.

SALES PERSON DAY – I worked in sales for a number of years but my idea of salesmanship was never to be pushy. I can’t stand pushy sales people, especially car salesman or those door to door duds. We have a no solicitation rule where we live however once in a great while a slime ball sneaks through the cracks. Last year two guys were walking up the driveway and started their spiel when I responded in Polish confusing the heck out of them and later came my Polish curse words in a loud tone and off they went, only later to be arrested for bilking senior citizens.

HUG A SOLDIER DAY – If you know one give them a hug if not grab one in public and shock the hell out of him or her, just like that famous WWII photo taken at Times Square in NYC.

Finally for food “NATIONAL POUND CAKE DAY.” Pound cake is one of my favorite cakes but it has to be moist and I don’t care what kind, white, yellow, chocolate or marble as long as it’s moist. Well Guys and Dolls have a great weekend and be careful out there and be good to each other.

PLAY BALL

HELLO BASEBALL FANS:

Joey Z reporting that Spring Training games officially start tomorrow in the Sunshine State. We have 3 Major League teams who have their stadiums and play Spring Training games in Central Florida.

THE ATLANTA BRAVES PLAY AT CHAMPIONS STADIUM LOCATED ON DISNEY PROPERTY AT ESPN SPORTS COMPLEX OFF OF I-4.

THE DETROIT TIGERS PLAY AT JOKER MERCHANT STADIUM LOCATED IN LAKELAND, FL, OFF OF I-4 HEADING TOWARDS TAMPA.

THE HOUSTON ASTROS PLAY AT OSCEOLA COUNTY STADIUM LOCATDED IN KISSIMMEE, FL OFF OF US 192.

All the stadiums are neat to see and feature a great view of all the action. I’ve been to both the Braves and Astros ballparks. So if you are planning a spring trip to Central Florida check out the teams schedules and ticket prices.

AS HARRY DOYLE WOULD SAY, " HERE'S THE FIRST PITCH, JUST A LITTLE OUTSIDE."

OINK OINK DAY

Happy March 1st Speakies:


Let’s see what we can celebrate of this first day of March 2012.

GO BOWLING DAY – For all you Guys and Dolls that are in league play today you are all set. For the rest of my Speakies, if you have nothing to do today or this evening how about some bowling. I first started bowling when I was in grammar school at the Polish Falcon Lanes on Olden Ave. They had a Saturday morning junior league and the place only had 4 lanes with pin boys yet. I bowled in high school and on several leagues in the Trenton area. Roe and I use to love bowling on a Saturday night when they had Midnight Bowling and you could win cash prizes when certain pins came up in different positions. Bowling is a fun game so go out sometimes and enjoy a few.

SHARE A SMILE DAY – There is something we need more of and I’m just as guilty as anyone else. Why be a grump put on a smile make yourself happy and those around you.

NATIONAL PIG DAY – I guess we honor the old porker today or do we honor ourselves for pigging out? I think it’s the Porky Pig himself we pay tribute to today. Have to say thanks for all that good BBQ meat that the pig provides. Pigs include the domestic pig, the wild boar and other relative. Pigs are highly social and intelligent animals. So there you have some background about Mr. or Mrs. Pig.

For you food lovers it’s “PEANUT BUTTER DAY.” Peanut butter best known for half of that famous sandwich Peanut Butter and Jelly loved by millions. I was never a big fan of peanut butter but I sure do like those Tasty Kake Peanut butter cakes that came 3 to a pack. Funny Bones was another great peanut butter and cake snack food. So today the world is coming up peanut butter go out and get your favorites and enjoy. Have a great day and evening gang. See you tomorrow.

THANKS FOR THE PACZKI GRANNY

It’s Punch Keys Speakies:

Today we have reason to celebrate, yesterday was a really dud of a day. Today we honor the Polish Paczki or as it is pronounced (Punch Key). What is this great Polish word, mean simply a pastry or doughnut but not just any doughnut? It is a deep friend piece of dough shaped like a jelly donut and covered with powder sugar, icing or pieces of orange zest. Even some sneaky cooks place a small amount of Spiritus (pure grain alcohol) to the dough before cooking. You can stuff them with jelly, cream, blueberries and apples if you like. There was only one Paczki baker in our family and that was Granny Orlowski, my grandmother. As a kid I watched her throughout the entire preparation and baking procedure. She had all of her ingredients but never gave out her secret way of making them. All I know is that I watched them boil in the oil and float to the top of the pot golden brown and light as a feather. She then set them aside covered them in powder sugar and told me to wait till they cooled. They were so light and that powder sugar made them a treat from heaven with a glass of milk to wash them down. I’m glad I was subject to a great Polish treat that’s been around since the Middle Ages in Poland.

It’s a great day for food lovers for today is also “CHILI DAY.” A few weeks ago we had our annual Chili Cook-off at work and I’m proud to say Roe’s chili took first place and a 3 time champion since I’ve worked here. No matter what kind of chili you prefer with beans or no beans, today is the day to enjoy that bowl of warm rib sticking stuff.

Get this holiday “National Sleeping Day”, what a way to celebrate this one, eat a bowl of chili for lunch and after that take a nap at work or if you are off today plop down on that easy chair close those eyes and take a snooze for a few hours. Tomorrow is the last day of February so I think I’ll start getting ready for March and just wish all my Guys and Dolls “Happy Leap Year Birthdays and Anniversaries.” See you in March.

WELCOME

I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME A NEW VISITOR TO THE BLOG FROM VRABLE NITRA.  VRABLE IS A SMALL TOWN IN THE NITRA DISTRICT, OF WESTERN SLOVAKIA.  ONCE AGAIN WELCOME SPEAKIE