Christmas time is an especially wonderful time of year because people seem freer and somehow more open to showing their love for others. We so appreciate that. We enjoy thoroughly all kinds of expressions of love from every corner and sector of the world. So today we share a sweet expression and symbol of love we had never seen or heard of before.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
“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”.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
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”.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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…
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.
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.
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”.
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…
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.
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…
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Bernini’s “David” ca. 1623-1624 in the Borghese Gallery, Rome. Perfection in marble, David is posed in the process of slinging the stone that killed Goliath.
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.
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.
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.
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”.
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…
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.