Friday March 20th, 2015 – First official day of Spring
SPRING –
Today is the first day of spring. For you folks up North, here at Stocking Island that translates into; winds light and variable, temperature 30, beer temperature 2, partly cloudy, UV index – sizzling bacon. We were all taught that the first day of spring is the 21st of March but not exactly. Another steadfast, respected scientific journal…the Old Farmers Almanac says that Spring begins at 6:45pm this evening. The Vernal equinox, the amount of light equals the amount of dark. I did look at the almanac’s predictions for weather for this spring. In the Great Lakes area it will be warmer than average except on the days when it is cooler. Rainfall will be slightly above average except in areas hit by drought. There will be several clouds that look like characters from the Simpsons on the 13th of April around noon and I’d have an umbrella ready on April 1st.
Yesterday
We made a couple of runs for water. As I mentioned earlier the water is free at the Exuma market location in Lake Victoria. The water there tests 320 ppm so at least for dissolved stuff it is in the normal range. The proper way to get water is to move your boats closer to the source and make the dinghy run less to get water and supplies. We are still new here so we will do it wrong for a while longer.
We had lunch in town and then the heat hit and we had to get back to the boat. We had a short nap and then it was time for the Whitby’s to gather on Just Desserts. We had sundowners with Just Desserts, Anneteak, and Pearl. We had a nice visit and compared notes and ML made notes for cupboards. It was nice to meet everyone and thank your for their hospitality.
International Happiness Day???
So in 2012 some United Nations wonk sitting around likely on a Monday decided that we needed a day to be happy…world wide. So lets be happy. For your info here are some of the details. I am going out of my way to be happy today.
*From Wikipedia (the encyclopedia of the internet (where the truth is not allowed to impede fact(s)))
The International Day of Happiness is celebrated throughout the world on the 20th of March. It was established by the United Nations General Assembly on 28 June 2012.
Assembly Resolution A/RES/66/281 states in pertinent part:
The General Assembly,[…] Conscious that the pursuit of happiness is a fundamental human goal,[…] Recognizing also the need for a more inclusive, equitable and balanced approach to economic growth that promotes sustainable development, poverty eradication, happiness and the well-being of all peoples, Decides to proclaim 20 March the International Day of Happiness, Invites all Member States, organizations of the United Nations system and other international and regional organizations, as well as civil society, including non-governmental organizations and individuals, to observe the International Day of Happiness in an appropriate manner, including through education and public awareness-raising activities[…]
—United Nations General Assembly, Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 28 June 2012[1]
The International Day of Happiness Resolution 65/309 was the result of the effort the Kingdom of Bhutan and its Gross National Happiness Initiative. [2]
This UN resolution marked the historical milestone of globalizing the Happiness Development Movement that started in 1972. [3]