Nov 22
Even though Sense and Sensibility now ranks as one of the most beloved novels in English literature — and Jane Austen as one of the most famous writers of all time — the book’s first edition, released as three volumes in 1811, was originally published without the author’s name.
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We came across a post on social media that was just too good, too profound, too wise not to share with you, our chums.
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Today, we remember the wonderful people, both men and women, who gave their lives for freedom. It is indeed a solemn day and begets our wholehearted thought, prayer and love.
But, we are left with a lot of good things from World War II.
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We came across this message sent to us by a dear chum from 1970. It is as pertinent to us today as it was 54 years ago. We think moving forward we can focus on all doing good for this country and for each other.
Read moreOct 29
World Series and Dodger “Blue” history was made last Friday night in game 1 of this year’s World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees. First baseman Freddie Freeman, came up to bat in the 10th inning with the Dodgers down with a score of 2-3, and with 2 outs and the bases loaded, he made history by hitting the first ever walk off grand slam home run to beat the Yankees with a final score of 6-3! For those who may not know, a “walk off home run” is a home run hit in the final inning of a game that scores enough runs to beat the opponent.
Read moreOct 18
And to end our week, we want to share another wonderful dog story!
Judy, a purebred pointer, began her service as a ship’s mascot on board the gunboat HMS Gnat in 1936.
Read moreOct 17
Being a military homing pigeon during World War I was incredibly dangerous.
Read moreOct 16
When General Jack Seely left his home in 1914 to take command of the Canadian Cavalry Corps, his beloved thoroughbred stallion, Warrior, went with him to the Western Front. So began one of the most amazing animal stories of World War I.
Read moreOct 15
Humans and animals have fought side by side since prehistoric times.
Read moreOct 4
People have always used trinkets to show their love, whether in the form of jewelry, locks of hair, or even fancy spoons. In the Victorian era, love tokens — ordinary coins that were engraved for a loved one — were a popular choice.
Read moreOct 2
“Make my day” is a line synonymous with legendary actor Clint Eastwood in his iconic film role as Dirty Harry. It means something different to us here. He offers up some very profound “words of wisdom”.
Read moreSep 26
Sep 23
Ferrets, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears. I have come to tell you about one of ancient Rome’s most surprising pets: ferrets, whose small size and playful nature belie their fierce hunting abilities. These wily weasels were primarily kept to hunt rabbits and keep pest populations under control, including by soldiers.
Read moreSep 19
Sep 17
A Lady asked an old street vendor: “How much do you sell your eggs for?” The old man replied “0.50¢ an egg, madam.” The Lady responded, “I’ll take 6 eggs for $2.00 or I’m leaving.” The old salesman replied, “Buy them at the price you want, Madam. This is a good start for me because I haven’t sold a single egg today and I need this to live.”
Read moreSep 16
Its power is in its simplicity. With only six notes, six words, and four lines — three of them the same — “Happy Birthday” is one of the most universal songs on the planet. Yet for something so straightforward, the celebratory tune has a surprisingly complicated history.
Read moreSep 13
It can seem as though everywhere we turn there is bad or difficult news both in our own families and communities, and across the world. With news of wars, earthquakes, fires, shootings, and tragic accidents or illness, we all can use some good news.
Read moreSep 10
What animal in our world exhibits activity more than the common squirrel? When children wiggle incessantly or move around frenetically we sometimes refer to them as being “squirrely”.
Read moreAug 30
If you saw a Jeep with a rubber duck on its dashboard, you probably wouldn’t think anything of it — until you saw several other Jeeps with ducks on their dashboards, too.
Read moreAug 29
Aug 28
King Charles III has some new feathered friends joining him on royal grounds!
Read moreAug 27
I saw this article and could not help but copy it to you, our chums. My darling mother loved this film and watched it all the time. She loved everything about it ~ the love, the historical value, the beautiful scenes….and so, it could be seen and heard all of the time at our home in Pasadena.
Read moreAug 26
Aug 21
We came across a quote that was so profound we needed to share it with you our chums.
Read moreAug 19
Aug 15
Every now and then, someone is truly inspired when called on to give a response to a tough question. Today we want to share just such a response in the hopes that someone will be inspired or take comfort from it.
Read moreAug 9
You may not recognize this man but by many respected accounts, he truly is the GOAT!
Read moreAug 8
1. The Paris Metro has several “ghost stations” that are no longer in use. One of the most famous is Arsenal, which was closed in 1939.
Read moreAug 7
Aug 6
As we all know, Henry VIII had many wives, six to be precise. He desperately wanted a son to take over the throne.
Read moreAug 1
The French medals are, as one would imagine, unique to France! Each medalist will take home a small part of the Eiffel Tower!
Read moreJul 30
For most people who have visited Paris, it is a city like no other filled with deliciousness, both to eat and to look at!
Read moreJul 29
Well, we will suffice it to say that we imagine that most of you have been watching the Olympics, starting with the amazing Opening!
Read moreJul 26
Amazing Sculpture! David by Michelangelo which stands in Florence. We found some facts to add to those we already have posted.
Read moreJul 25
We talked about acting “normal” yesterday and today we are going to talk about “going way above” normal!
Read moreJul 24
Jul 22
The single thing that can change everything, is that one thing that is always within our control to exercise…GRATITUDE.
Read moreJul 18
We can all use a good chuckle from time to time. In that spirit we offer this to you today 🙂
Read moreJul 15
The Mondays seem to roll around so very quickly and here we are at a new one! Remember to treat it as “new”!
Read moreJul 10
The “words to live by” we would offer to you today really have to do with kindness and empathy.
Read moreJul 9
Jun 28
Do you recognize this gentleman? We would guess probably not. He likely doesn’t mean anything to you. But he did to two young Stanford students many years ago. And his story may touch and inspire you too.
Read moreJun 27
If you have been around Two Chums for long you must certainly know that we have great affection for the British royal family. So when we came across a wonderful photo that was published last week in honor of Prince William’s birthday, we wanted to share it immediately with you our chums.
Read moreJun 26
We’ve all done it. Made ourselves a promise that by this time next year something would be different. And then before you know it, this year rolls around and…
Read moreJun 20
You know your Two Chums believe in laughter as being the best medicine…so today here’s a chance to at least chuckle and make everything look brighter.
Read moreJun 18
Jun 12
It’s the middle of the week and most of us could use a good laugh right about now. Cartoonist Gary Larson always comes through…
Read moreJun 6
Image “Courtesy of The National WWII Museum.“
It was on a beach across the sea, in Normandy, France, that thousands of brave young soldiers mustered up the courage to do what they believed would end WWII and secure the freedom and liberty of those back home for good.
Read moreJun 4
Jun 3
We all know Clark Gable in his signature roll as Captain Rhett Butler in the classic film of 1939, Gone With The Wind. But that was certainly not Gables first film. Did you know? Clark gave his Oscar for It Happened One Night (1934) to a child who admired it, telling him it was the winning of the statue that had mattered, not owning it. The child returned the Oscar to the Gable family after Clark’s death.
Read moreMay 27
We set aside this day each year as a country to remember those who have, as Abraham Lincoln so eloquently put it at Gettysburg, “gave their lives that this nation might live…they gave the last full measure of devotion”.
Read moreMay 23
May 22
No matter who you are, chances are you have lost someone you love at one time or another. In the English language, as full and expressive as it can be, we don’t have a word or phrase that fully and truly encompasses the feeling of missing someone dear to us. But the French do…
Read moreMay 20
Have you ever contemplated miracles…what they are…where they come from?
Read moreMay 17
We all have rough days. Are you feeling a little mentally unstable today?
Read moreMay 8
We trust that your week is going really well with lots of laughter, lots of love and lots of understanding and compassion.
Read moreMay 1
We came across this story on social media and thought it a very good way to start the month…such wise advice to be sure!
Read moreApr 29
At the recommendation of a music coach, Marilyn Monroe spent hours listening to Ella Fitzgerald recordings while trying to train her own voice. After Monroe first saw Fitzgerald, her favorite singer, perform live in 1954, the pair rapidly became friends, sharing a common bond through their life experiences. A year later, when the “First Lady of Song” had trouble booking a gig at legendary L.A. nightclub Mocambo — the owners thought Fitzgerald wasn’t svelte and glamorous enough to draw a crowd, if you can imagine— Monroe used her star power to step in.
“She personally called the owner of the Mocambo, and told him she wanted me booked immediately, and if he would do it, she would take a front table every night,” recalled Fitzgerald. “She told him — and it was true, due to Marilyn’s superstar status — that the press would go wild. The owner said yes, and Marilyn was there, front table, every night. The press went overboard. After that, I never had to play a small jazz club again.”
Fitzgerald wasn’t the only singer with whom Monroe had a close connection: Crooner Frank Sinatra had a deep affection for Monroe, and the pair were close friends for years. Some speculate that the pair dated — perhaps because she stayed at his home for a period after her divorce from playwright Arthur Miller in 1961 — but, according to Sinatra’s close friend and road manager Tony Oppedisano, their relationship never got romantic.
Close to the end of Monroe’s life in 1962, Ol’ Blue Eyes presented her with a cherished gift: a fluffy white Maltese terrier, sometimes referred to erroneously as her poodle. Feeling cheeky, she named the pup Mafia, or “Maf” for short. Monroe loved animals and had canine companions throughout her life, including her childhood dog Tippy, a chihuahua named Josefa, and Hugo, a basset hound she shared with Miller during their marriage.
Just a little “fluff”!
Apr 26
Apr 22
Because we don’t wish to waste this day, or any day for that matter, we encourage you to laugh everyday and as often as possible. To that end we offer this to bring a chuckle to you today…
Read moreApr 17
There are few creatures more majestic than the elephant. The African savanna elephant, also known as the African bush elephant, is the largest living land mammal in the world, weighing between 4 and 7 tons each and measuring up to 13 feet high. The other two species aren’t exactly tiny, either; Agrican forest elephants and Asian elephants tend to be just a ton or so smaller.
Despite their mighty size, elephants are at risk — decades of poaching and ivory trading have taken a toll on their populations. But plenty of people have fallen in love with these highly social creatures and are working to save them.
Why are some elephants evolving at lightning speed? What itty-bitty creature absolutely terrifies them? Here are seven interesting facts about elephants you’ll never forget.
Read moreApr 15
If you were to ask a child from the era of Britpop and Brosnan’s Bond about romance, reigning top of their increasingly disenfranchised list would be Jack and Rose – the main characters from James Cameron’s 1997 re-telling of the Titanic disaster.
We won’t need to tell you about their story arc or downbeat yet highly romanticized ending; you’ll know it already. Their fate is now engrained into our cultural DNA, and in contrast to the humanitarian casualties of the onscreen suffering, the love between Jack (Leonard DiCaprio) and Rose (Kate Winslet) has become the basis for an entire culture.
Read moreApr 12
What are the health benefits of having a close friend — like identical twins close — for your entire life?
Read moreApr 11
We have a very very dear friend who is struggling with that beast Alzheimers. He recently needed a trip to the ER and was there long hours, only leaving in the early hours of the morning. His wife relayed the following story as they drove home at sunrise.
Read moreApr 9
While most adults with jobs, kids, and other responsibilities have little time to play with toys, chances are these same busy folks can easily recall their favorite playthings from childhood. That’s because the best toys — whether a doll, sporting item, video game, or other novelty — pack a certain timeless appeal and leave lasting memories. But as much fun as these cherished items can be to play with, it’s also fun to learn about the unique ways they came into existence. Discover how breakthrough experiments, bold innovation, and even bizarre accidents created some enduringly popular classic toys.
Read moreApr 2
Sometimes the hardest thing in life is letting go of what’s holding you back. It could be a painful situation you have to overcome, the loss of someone you love, the consequences of a poor choice, a deflating job, or even just a negative mindset you can’t shake. We can get stuck in a holding pattern where we focus on the things that we struggle with, and wind up in a cycle of stress, frustration, and sadness.
But there’s good news: once you let go of whatever hurt, anger, or regret you’re holding on to, you’re able to move forward freely. You have the ability to start out on a new path, unencumbered by the weight of what you’ve left behind. If you’re standing on the precipice of that new start, these 11 quotes will inspire you to let go, and move forward.
Read moreApr 1
Dr. Archibald Hart…aka Arch Hart… was on the faculty of the School of Psychology and Marriage and Family Counseling at Fuller Seminary in Pasadena, California for over 40 years. For many of those years he not only taught but was the Dean of the the School of Psychology.
Read moreMar 29
As we enter this Easter weekend, go with joy knowing that He is actually risen.
Read moreMar 28
As a child, Lucille Ball was reserved, but she knew she wanted to try her hand at show business. At age 14, she enrolled in Manhattan’s John Murray Anderson School for Dramatic Arts, where her classmates included some future leading ladies. “I was a tongue-tied teenager spellbound by the school’s star pupil, Bette Davis,” Ball once said. The school wasn’t so convinced of Ball’s own talents, though; teachers told her mother that Ball was “too shy” to ever be successful.
Read moreMar 27
Mar 18
Musical virtuoso Miles Davis assembled some of history’s most venerable jazz ensembles. Unbeknownst to audiences, he could also mentor his fellow musicians midway through a world-famous trumpet solo.
Read moreMar 13
For very many years Paul Newman was the heart throb of women everywhere. This story of a woman who randomly encounter the handsome actor might just give you a giggle today.
Read moreMar 7
The week is nearly over…we thought maybe a funny truth would bring some humor and a welcome chuckle to your day 🙂
Read moreMar 6
If you are tempted to think that prayer is not effective or important this story may give you reason to rethink the power of prayer. This is a testimony written by a doctor who worked in Africa.
Read moreMar 4
Well, here we are beginning a new week and we, your Two Chums, want to remind you of something very important!
Read moreFeb 20
If you’ve been our chum for a while you know that for a number of years now we have regularly brought you posts entitled “Words Of Wisdom”. Starting today we want to add a new category that we will bring from time to time called “Words of Encouragement”.
Read moreFeb 16
By the time the weekend rolls around many parents are done in from all the demands and activities of a long, and sometimes hard, week. Mustering up more interest and attention for a child with seemingly boundless energy can be hard, but remember…
Read moreFeb 14
Feb 8
The thoughts which you hold dear and wonderful “Savvy Secrets”, to be sure. Here are a few that we have found.
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Feb 7
In the bustling streets of Paris in the year 1945, a French woman named Marie embarked on a journey that would soon become a story whispered among the locals. With her trusty baguette tucked under her arm and six bottles of wine clinking in her basket, Marie set out to navigate the post-war city.
Read moreFeb 5
Just imagine the ability to render solid stone transparent. Giovanni Strazza possessed this incredibly rare artistic talent. His masterpiece, “The Veiled Virgin,” carved from flawless Carrara marble, stands as one of the most astounding achievements in the history of sculpture.
Read moreJan 26
Jan 25
The famous question uttered by Pilate in the Bible that many years ago, continues to be asked today.
Read moreJan 24
In the United States, fortune cookies and their mysterious notes are a beloved part of paying the bill at Chinese restaurants. With hidden messages ranging from cryptic predictions to sage advice, these cookies have piqued our curiosity for decades.
But where do they come from?
Read moreJan 19
We started off this week sharing some words of wisdom from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Let’s finish this week with some wise words from one of our favorite very wise people…Corrie ten Boom
Read moreJan 17
Jan 16
We all know the benefits of using rosemary in our cooking. So many things taste delicious with the addition of a little rosemary. Today we have another use to share.
Read moreJan 15
Today, as a nation, we celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and what we learned from him and are still learning from him about love and justice. Today also happens to be his actual birthday. Had he lived, Dr. King would be 95 years old today.
Jan 11
Possibly the Most important thing you’ll read this Year…
The Charles Schulz Philosophy
Read moreJan 8
Jan 3
We’re back! You may have noticed that your Two Chums have been MIA for a few days. There is a reason for that.
Read moreDec 28
Rolling into the very New Year, we thought you would enjoy reading this.
Read moreDec 26
December 25th, the official day we celebrate Christmas has passed. But Christmas and the celebration of the birth of Christ is more than a day.
Read moreDec 19
As these precious days flow on, let’s be sure to remember why we celebrate Christmas and the true meaning.
Read moreDec 13
The Holidays can be a lot on everyone and sometimes it doesn’t take much to put us “over the edge”, so to speak. You are not alone – to be sure.
Here are some wonderful quotes to keep you on “full”!
Read moreDec 12
Yes! Santa Claus IS coming to town but we are not talking about Santa’s list!
Read moreDec 11
Katherine Hepburn once told a story from her childhood that taught her a very valuable lesson about giving. During this holiday season, amidst the hustle and bustle of shopping, it would do us all well to remember the real joy of giving.
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