8/29/25 - Juggling, Grimace, and A Day Off Work Excuse

Saturday 8/9/25

Sunday 8/10/25

Celebrate:

Saturday

Book Lovers Day

Celebrate Your Lakes Day

International Coworking Day

National Bowling Day

National Garage Sale Day

National Hand Holding Day

National Model Aviation Day

National Polka Day

National Rice Pudding Day

National Veep Day

Sunday

Guncles Day (Gay Uncles)

International Vlogging Day

Melon Day

National Duran Duran Appreciation Day

National Lazy Day

National S'mores Day

National Shapewear Day

National Spoil Your Dog Day (isn't that every day?)

Smithsonian Day

World Lion Day

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"The New York Post" did a story on how more and more studies have found juggling can boost brain health.  It can even count as exercise.

It helps with everything from hand-eye coordination to balance.  Or as one neuroscientist explained, it "changes how quickly you react to objects, how well you coordinate between two hands, and how you keep your posture under control."

Just juggling two balls can have a positive effect, so you don't have to be crazy good at it.  But a study in 2022 found that all 20 seniors in a group were eventually able to juggle three balls.  It just takes practice.

On top of the brain boost, it can also help keep you fit.  "The New York Times" did a story a while back that said juggling can burn up to 280 calories per hour.  That's roughly what you'd get from an hour-long walk.  

(yea..in my case..lots of chasing balls and bending over to pick them up)

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A lot of tourist attractions charge admission and parking fees.  And now, even remote, picturesque countrysides are looking to capitalize.

There's a rural area in the mountains of northern Italy where local farmers have set up turnstiles . . . like the ones at amusement parks . . . to charge people who are there to take photos.

That seems silly, but they aren't targeting regular tourists and retirees. Apparently, the area has been overrun by travel influencers who are flooding the area in droves for their social media "content."

These turnstiles charge around $6 to access several "Instagrammable" spots . . . and they can do this because the land people are passing through is private.

Of course, this publicity and "exclusivity" is just making influencers MORE interested, especially if they can get a shot at these turnstiles.  (Which look like this.)  One person said, "People go where everyone else goes.  We're sheep."

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Starting next Tuesday, McDonald's will be selling an "Adult Happy Meal" called "The McDonaldland Meal."  And it'll feature a limited-edition Mt. McDonaldland Shake in a "surprise flavor." (it's berry flavored)

It also comes with your choice of a Quarter Pounder or 10-piece Chicken McNuggets . . . fries . . . and a "collectible souvenir," like postcards, stickers, and other treats.

McDonaldland is the place all its characters come from, and it was originally introduced in 1971, but was phased out in the early 2000s.

By the way, the Daily Mail says that a former McDonald's advertising exec confirmed previous reports that Grimace is NOT a random purple blob . . . or a purple milkshake . . . Grimace is supposed to be a tastebud.

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What is a valid reason to take a day off from work? Sick, family emergency..."my energy is a little off."

Someone who works at an A.I. startup posted a screenshot on Reddit after a Gen Z intern called off work . . . because her "energy [felt] a little off."

It was a last-minute request . . . or, not even a request.  She just sort of told her boss it was happening.

Quote, "Feeling a bit overwhelmed with all the work, and my energy feels a little off, so not getting that vibe." 

She said she'd be out July 28th to the 30th, and ended it with, "Will talk soon, Bye."  The 28th was a Monday, so she basically took a super-long weekend.

So is "my energy feels off" a valid excuse to call off work?  You could argue it's basically the same as a mental health day . . . or you could argue Zoomers don't know how jobs work.

The guy who posted it titled the post, "Corporate world is not ready for Gen Z" . . . but he said he did ultimately approve the request. 

(someone check her Facebook feed to see what she's doing)

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Nationwide Insurance released its 2025 Hambone nominees, or the strangest ways pets have injured themselves in the past year.  Here are the highlights.  Thankfully, they all made a full recovery.

Wash:  A mutt in Tennessee that got sick because he wouldn't stop eating cicadas.  His owner doesn't know how many he ate, but it's all he did every time they let him outside.

Maddie:  A bulldog in Virginia that ate a preserved alligator. Taxidermists use toxic chemicals, so her owner had to take her in.

Ziya:  A dog in California that came nose to nose with a loose BULL while out for a walk.  He defended his owners and lost a tooth when it kicked him.

Hazel:  A Great Dane-St. Bernard mix in New Jersey that picked a fight with a groundhog and lost.  A bite on her paw earned her a trip to the vet.

Salem:  The only cat in the running this year.  Her owner in New York couldn't find one of their AirPods and thought she ate it.  The AirPod still hasn't turned up, but she's okay.

Foxtrot:  A Great Dane in Texas that stole a full turkey leg from her owner on Thanksgiving and swallowed it whole.  The bone had to be removed.

Duke:  A lab-retriever mix in Ohio that licked some peanut butter off a spatula and ended up swallowing the spatula head.

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MLB is calling up its first female umpire, Jen Pawol, this weekend.  She's been working in the minor leagues for almost 10 years.  By the way, the NBA got its first female official 28 years ago.

(and no surprise, I saw this on Facebook and the comments were just awful.)

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