by Debbie Walker

I am sure there are facts about some foods that I would rather not know about. The ones that follow weren’t too bad:

There was a time when I would not ask what a buffalo wing was. I was afraid of finding out! You see I have lived a sheltered life. Little did I know the dish was invented in the 1960s? It was chicken! A restaurant owner fried some chicken wings and served them with hot sauce and bleu cheese for dipping. They were called Buffalo wings because the restaurant was in Buffalo, New York.

Most people know honey is the only food that never spoils. It has been said honey buried in an Egyptian tomb, after thousands of years, still tasted sweet.

Chocolate chip cookies started out as Toll House cookies because they were made in a Massachusetts Inn called Toll House. One of the owners ran out of nuts so they decided to add pieces chipped from a chocolate bar. Ta-Da – chocolate chip cookies!

Hot dogs have quite a history. They started as frankfurters because they started out in Frankfurt, Germany, in the Middle Ages. Next they were known as hot dachshund sausage; of course, people were reminded of long bodied pooches. They are now known as hot dogs. Whatever the name they are pretty popular. I’ll have relish with mine!

As we all know popcorn explodes before it becomes edible. Kernels of popcorn contain a small amount of water which turns to steam when heated. The steam can’t escape from a kernel’s hard shell. So pressure builds inside the kernel until – pop – it explodes! Would you like more butter!

I like this one about Swiss cheese; not sure I will ever eat it again though. With all the holes it looks like it was hit by bird shot! Those holes are actually caused by bacteria. This kind of bacteria isn’t harmful. It helps ripen the flavor of the cheese. As cheese ripens, the bacteria give off gases that make bubbles, creating the holes in Swiss cheese. I wonder how much of the charge by the pound includes the holes………’just saying.’

Okay, that is enough about food, not because it is making me hungry. It’s because I am wondering what else I don’t know about food and don’t want to know!

If you have ever been in a vehicle accident maybe you will understand my feelings about the whole mess. First, I am aggravated that my favorite auto was “totaled” and the insurance company doesn’t figure value quite like I do. Second, I am aggravated because the person at fault evidently figured he was in more of a hurry then the rest of us on the same road. He pulled out into our lane….. Guess what. His “hurrying” cost him a lot more time than the waiting he might have experienced behind that car. As for us, we went on quite a roller coaster ride what with going up on the snow banks and just missing stationery mail boxes. So, I am just curious if you will be conscious of your own patience or lack of…

Reach me at dwdaffy@yahoo.com for all your questions or comments. Thanks for reading and don’t forget we are on line too.

by Debbie Walker

This column’s information came from Reader’s Digest “Extraordinary USES for ordinary things.” Some evenings I get caught up in the little bits of info and can’t wait to pass it on….. to you!!!!

My favorite “Did you know?” is in the 1920s when an employee of Johnson & Johnson, because of his accident prone wife, invented Band-Aids. He came up with the idea of sticking gauge pads to tape, covering with crinoline then rolling them back up. If his wife got cut or burned she could cut one off…ta-daaa a Band-Aid!!!

My mom says “tin foil” and I say “aluminum foil.” Household foil was made of tin until 1947 when aluminum foil was brought home. Did you know that one?

I knew baking soda had a lot of uses. Recently, I was educated on how to make “Slime” by my niece Haliegh. That’s one use and there are all the known uses. What I had never realized was its usefulness in putting out fires. Keep baking soda near the stove, barbecue, a box or two in the garage, and I am keeping a couple boxes in my truck from now on.

There has always been talks about beers in the past proclaiming New England or Rocky Mountains as their homes, oh and “Milwaukee’s finest,” and, of course, now we have all kinds of new beers right here in Maine! But did you know Pennsylvania has been home to more breweries than any other state?

Bubble Wrap wallpaper? They may have been thinking of padding cells that would make more sense than thinking I want that on my wall for decorating. My niece and I would have a ball breaking the bubbles! And yes, the inventers eventually went into packing supply business.

Thankfully my mom was not one of those “Castor Oil” mothers. Not only fed to kids, it’s also was used in paints, varnishes, lipstick, hair tonic, and shampoo. It was also used in plastics, soap, waxes, hydraulic fluids and ink. Thank you, Mom, for never feeding that to us.

Okay, we are switching now to my OMG Facts calendar for last year for just a note or two. I have no idea if any of it is true; however some seem funny enough to be true:

The Statue of Liberty wears a size 879 sandal.

The meaning of the phrase “Pipe Dream” refers to ideas thought up while smoking opium.

The Barbie doll’s full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts. (I had no idea!)

Barbie’s life-size measurements would be 39-23-33, standing 7 feet, 2 inches tall with a neck twice the length of a normal human’s neck.

For my Florida friends: there are more plastic flamingos in the United States than real ones (and most of those are in Florida! Ha Ha!!)

As usual, I am just curious what tidbits you might have tucked away. Please contact me at dwdaffy@yahoo.com with your questions or comments. Don’t forget to check out us online!

by Debbie Walker

I have to tell you that I am permitted to carry a concealed weapon. I went through the check on who I am and do I have mental health problems that would interfere with practical use of a weapon.

I can buy a gun in local shops because I’m not in a big hurry, so I could wait a few days for approval, all done legally.

I really don’t understand what happened or who decided it was open season for school shootings. Shootings of all sorts, country concerts, etc., what was the reason? At any rate it is hard to understand any of it. However I have a story to tell you:

There was a time in Florida that I had a front row seat to life with a violent teenager. I believe he honestly didn’t know how to behave when his questions were answered with the word “NO.”

I followed the process through trying to get some help. The shocker was when I was told, “when he gets arrested they will get him some help.” Getting arrested was not my idea of “help” for a 15 year old. I figured he’d get quite an education from the more experienced! Can you imagine a parent being told, oh yeah, go ahead, and call the police on your teenager. “That’s the only way he/she will get help.”

I was at a NAMI meeting one night. NAMI is group support for these kinds of, mental health issues. We were all pretty depressed after we sat through this meeting. It was quite a letdown that day. These people had been in similar situation and things didn’t sound helpful.

Can you imagine the fear and frustration of a parent who tries again and again to get help for their child? Again and again they hear, “We’d like to be able to help but we don’t have ….”

So, you are a parent who knows their child is really in trouble (he/she is a mental health mess!). They keep trying to get help but there just isn’t anyone with an answer. After years of looking for mental health help for your child:

Now you have a phone call: your child’s school is in lockdown. You couldn’t get in if you went there. You have to wait and wait, quietly wondering if it is your child causing the lock down.

There really isn’t much relief when it’s announced this was a false alarm. The parent has already had those thoughts.

This is only about one type of situation and we all know there are many more. Just please don’t assume those parents haven’t gone through every avenue they could think of.

I know this cannot cover all the situations, it wasn’t intended to; just keep an open mind as you are looking for answers. I’m just curious how many other situations there are.

Thank you for reading, contact me a dwdaffy@yahoo.com. And don’t forget we are online too!

by Debbie Walker

1895 8th Grade Final Exam…

Take this test and pass it on to your more literate friends.

What it took to get an 8th grade education in 1895…

Remember when grandparents and great-grandparents stated that they only had an eighth grade education?

Well, check this out. Could any of us have passed the eighth grade in 1895?

This is the eighth-grade final exam from 1895 in Salina , Kansas , USA …

It was taken from the original document on file at the Smokey Valley Genealogical Society and Library in Salina, and reprinted by the Salina Journal.

Eighth Grade Final Exam: Salina, KS – 1895

Grammar (Time, one hour)

1 Give nine rules for the use of capital letters.
2. Name the parts of speech and define those that have no modifications
3. Define verse, stanza and paragraph.
4. What are the principal parts of a verb? Give principal parts of ‘lie,’ ‘play,’ and ‘run’.
5. Define case; illustrate each case.
6. What is punctuation? Give rules for principal marks of punctuation.
7 – 10. Write a composition of about 150 words and show therein that you understand the practical use of the rules of grammar.
Arithmetic (Time,1 hour 15 minutes)
1. Name and define the Fundamental Rules of Arithmetic.
2. A wagon box is 2 ft. Deep, 10 feet Long, and 3 ft. Wide. How many bushels of wheat will it hold?
3. If a load of wheat weighs 3,942 lbs, what is it worth at 50cts/bushel, deducting 1,050 lbs for tare?
4. District No. 33 has a valuation of $35,000. What is the necessary levy to carry on a school seven months at $50 per month, and have $104 for incidentals?
5. Find the cost of 6,720 lbs. Coal at $6.00 per ton.
6. Find the interest of $512.60 for 8 months and 18 days at 7percent per annum.
7. What is the cost of 40 boards 12 inches wide and 16 ft long at $20 per metre?
8… Find bank discount on $300 for 90 days (no grace) at 10 percent.
9. What is the cost of a square farm at $15 per acre, the distance of which is 640 rods?
10. Write a Bank Check, a Promissory Note, and a Receipt.

US. History (Time, 45 minutes)

1. Give the epochs into which U.S. History is divided
2. Give an account of the discovery of America by Columbus.
3. Relate the causes and results of the Revolutionary War.
4. Show the territorial growth of the United States.
5. Tell what you can of the history of Kansas.
6. Describe three of the most prominent battles of the Rebellion.
7. Who were the following: Morse, Whitney, Fulton, Bell, Lincoln, Penn, and Howe?
8. Name events connected with the following dates: 1607, 1620, 1800, 1849, 1865.

This is the first section of the test. I have split the information into two columns for the sake of space. Hope you enjoy it as I did. NO I did not pass.

As usual I AM JUST CURIOUS what your thoughts are. Second part next week. No questions (I don’t have the answers!) Contact me at dwdaffy@yahoo.com.

by Debbie Walker

Before I forget it, I have to tell you that my car was so icy this morning, every window, the mirrors and the windshield, covered with ice. Okay, so I had read about putting rubbing alcohol (91 percent) in a spray bottle and spraying the ice surfaces and you shouldn’t have to use your scraper at all, I didn’t need to. Alcohol worked great. And you can leave it in the car, it won’t freeze!

Oh, and if your home windows frost up, yes it happens, just spray the window and this may also do away with future frost. Just use the alcohol in a spray bottle.

Well, I found what follows when I was going through my notebook of good ideas. If you know these already, maybe it will just serve as a “reminder:”

You can use some buttons as a holder for pierced earrings, wires or posts.

Really handy for traveling.

Shower curtain holders work for hanging scarves.

A&D ointment (in the baby section for shopping) for cracked heels.

You know those little round paper reinforces? Cut some in half. Great for doing your own French manicure. (Used myself, works great!)

Key rings can be used as zipper pulls. You can get different sizes.

If you have trouble with your chains getting knotted at home or traveling, insert one end through a straw and hook it. No knots.

Mess from boots by the door? Get a shallow kitty litter box, possibly a cover from a storage crate, a few rocks to lift the boots to drain. Lost one of a pair of post earrings? Use it as a push pin.

Wicker spruce-up: Mix 3/4 cup of ammonia and one gallon of water, into a spray bottle then spritz. It gets into difficult spots.

Sparkle your diamond – soak in 1/2 cup of ammonia, 1/2 tsp. dish soap and one cup of warm water for 10 minutes then buff up with a cloth.

Smoke smell? Fill three bowls with ammonia and set them around anywhere you can smell it. It will neutralize the smoke.

Store cords in empty toilet paper rolls. Mark tube with info about cord.

Binder clips work to hold clothes on hangers.

On each end of a clothes hanger wrap a rubber band. It helps keep clothes from sliding off.

For whiter fingernails: Use a whitening toothpaste – scrub with tooth brush, let set five minutes and rinse.

Sticking a bag of charcoal in your basement should get rid of a musty smell.

A micro fiber cloth is more effective than a feather duster.

‘Til next week, I Am Just Curious, still. Find me at dwdaffy@yahoo.com. Don’t forget, we are online too.