Is It Spring Yet?/Celebrating World Poetry Day

Good afternoon on the official first day of Spring! It looks like Old Man Winter wants to hang around a bit longer since we are getting 4 to 6 inches of snow here in NYC today.

Spring is officially called the Vernal Equinox. The name "Vernal Equinox" comes from the Latin language: "vernal" means "spring" and "equinox means "equal night." At 6:45 p.m. EDT tonight, the sun will appear overhead at the Earth's equator. There will be exactly 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness. While we welcome spring here in the northern hemisphere, it is the first day of autumn in the southern hemisphere.. This year, it has an unusual distinction of coinciding with both a supermoon and a total solar eclipse. This phenomenon hasn't happened since 1662!

It is said that you can stand a raw egg on its end during the first day of spring? Is this true? Most experts say yes, but you can try this (with patience) any day of the year.

I enjoy the warm weather that spring (eventually) brings, but it wreaks havoc on my allergies. Although the flowers of spring--daffodils, dandelions, lillies, tulips, irises, and lilacs--are pretty to look at, I am highly allergic to the pollen they produce.

You're a Poet and You Know It. Tomorrow, we celebrate World Poetry Day. Poetry is one form of writing I could never master, but I enjoy reading works by others. This celebration is an initiative of UNESCO and was first proclaimed in 1999. The organization recognized the importance of poetry in the arts and wanted to promote the efforts of small publishers who produce poetry books and magazines, as well as the reading, writing, and teaching of poetry. Poetry is strongly associated with other forms of art such as dance, music, and painting. The combination of music and poetry is especially beneficial to children.. Both teach children to develop rhyming skills and notice rhythim in language. To celebrate this day, here will poetry readings at local bookstores, cafes, and schools.Check your community calendars for more information. For an introduction to poetry, along with a list of recommended resources, check out the website Poetry 101.

The second round of the NCAA tournament started last night and will conclude tonight. There have been some surprising upsets and a lot of drama. Today's Freebie Friday is called "March Madness Matchup," where you will match 20 college teams with their nicknames. As usual, just right-click and print. This game is for personal use only and not for resale. Answers will be published next week.

We unveiled a new game for graduation-themed parties at the shop today. For just $7.00, the customer will get two games in one! In the first game, party guests will match famous people with the high school he/she attended. In the second game, guests will try to figure out whether 20 celebrities were either valedictorian or salutatorian of their high school class. 

Celebrating milestone birthdays next week are:

Happy 25th!

Lincoln Parrish (3/22)

Keisha Castle-Hughes (3/24)

Taylor Atelian (20)

Happy 30th!

Keira Knightly (3/26)

Happy 40th!

Guillermo Diaz (3/22)

Melanie Blatt (3/25)

Juvenile (3/26)

Fergie (3/27)

Happy 50th!

Richard Grieco (3/23)

Sarah Jessica Parker (3/25)

Happy 60th!

James House (3/22)

Reba McEntire (3/28)

Happy 65th!

Martin Short (3/26)

Ronnie McDowell (3/26)

Tony Banks (65)

Happy 75th!

Anita Bryant (3/25)

James Caan (3/26)

Austin Pendleton (3/27)

Happy 80th!

M. Emmett Walsh (3/22)

Julian Glover (3/27)

Still Going Strong!

Stephen Sondheim (85 on 3/22)

William Shatner (84 on 3/22)

Marty Allen (93 on 3/23)

Alan Arkin (81 on 3/26)

Rosie the Riveter

Women's History Month Fun Fact of the Day: During World War II, many American women entered the workforce to support their families while their husbands were in combat. "Rosie the Riveter" was the star of a government campaign to recruit female workers for the manufacturing industry and is still an iconic image today.

In addition to my addiction for word puzzles and trivia games, I am an avid postcard collector. Tomorrow, I will be attending the Mary Martin Postcard Expo at the Holiday Inn on West 57th Street.

Update: I've just learned from a very reliable source that today is National Proposal Day. This holiday is set aside for one who truly knows his/her partner and is prepared to pop the question. There are a number of creative ways one can propose marriage. This coincides with the first day of spring, the season for love. For a unique card idea, check out the wedding/bridal shower section of our shop, or you can order a custom crossword for your intended.

Next week's topics will include baby showers and the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament.

Have a PRINTASTIC weekend!

Kathy