Friday, January 30, 2009

...and the mome raths out grabe.

I thought about making this last question really difficult, but judging from the way people quickly dropped out from guessing at the last two, I'll make it a little easier.  Before we get to it, though, I want to mention Lewis Carroll one more time.  If any of you are interested in reading his works there is a fantastic book out there called Lewis Carroll: The Complete, Fully Illustrated Works.  It comes in one large, hardcover, leather bound, gold-edged volume with nearly all of his works inside.  It even has the reproduction of his original hand-written version of Alice in Wonderland as well as a number of his mathematical and logical equations (which are way beyond my understanding).  My mother-in-law got it for me for Christmas a few years ago and the kids and I have really treasured it.  There's something very special about pulling this large important-looking volume off the shelf and hear the wonderful stories about Alice.  Even the kids can tell it's particularly nice...nicer than a semi-toddler-chewed paperback, anyway.  Alright, I've gone on enough.  Here's your last riddle.  Thanks for having fun with us this week.  We'll be sure to do this again next year.  Now, on to...


Riddle #5:


Twenty-four red socks and twenty-four blue socks are lying in a drawer in a dark room.  What is the minimum number of socks I must take out of the drawer which will guarantee that I have at least two socks of the same color?

Thursday, January 29, 2009

...all mimsy were the borogoves...

Want another reason to like Lewis Carroll?  He was also left-handed!  Ah, those lefties…so brilliant…so creative…so handsome…

Ahem.

So onto…

Riddle #4

…which is a little more complex. 

It comes from the Shakespearean play The Merchant of Venice.  There were three caskets – gold, silver, and lead – inside one of which was a portrait of Portia, a wealthy heiress who is bound by a clause in her father’s will that forces her to marry whichever suitor chooses correctly among three caskets.  The suitor was to choose one of the caskets, and if he was lucky enough (or wise enough) to choose the one with the portrait, then he could claim Portia as his bride.  On the lid of each casket were inscriptions to help the suitor choose wisely.

Portia explained to her suitors that the casket lids would each contain two statements and that no lid contained more than one false statement.  She had the following inscriptions put on the caskets:




GOLD:

(1)   The portrait is not in here.

(2)  The artist of the portrait is from Venice.

 

SILVER:

(1)   The portrait is not in the gold casket.

(2)  The artist of the portrait is really from Florence.

 

LEAD:

(1)   The portrait is not in here.

(2)  The portrait is really in the silver casket.

 

Which casket contains the portrait of Portia?

Extra credit: In the actual play, who chose the right casket?

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

...did gyre and gimble in the wabe...

So far so good...I think. Lisa has been on a real winning streak so far. I, however, discovered that that I can rearrange the letters in my name spell "Jane Sparrow Heading." So if I ever become a famous children’s’ book author, I'll be sure to use that as my pseudonym. 

For today's riddle we're going to do an old one that’s still good. It involves lies and truth telling again. The problem is about knights and knaves.

Riddle #3:

There is a certain island in which all the inhabitants are either "knights" or "knaves." Knights always tell the truth and knaves always lie.
You visit this island one day and see three men - we'll call them Moe, Larry, and Curly - standing together in a garden. You ask Moe, "How many knights are among you?" Moe answers but rather indistinctly, so you ask Larry, "What did Moe say?" Larry replies, "Moe said that there is one knight among us." At this point the third man, Curly, says, "Don't believe Larry; he is lying! Nyuk nyuk nyuk."

The question is, what are Moe, Larry, and Curly?
(Hint: the answer is not "The 3 Stooges")

Good luck!

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

...and the slithy toves...

Happy Birthday Lewis Carroll!

A little interesting fact about Lewis Carroll: he came up with his name by rearranging the letters in his real name, Charles Lutwidge Dodgson. Another marginally sane person did that later in the 1960's; Jim Morrison rearranged his name to spell Mr. Mojo Rising. Anyone out there want to give it a try with their own name?
In the meantime here's…

Riddle #2:

When Alice entered the Forest of Forgetfulness, she did not forget everything; only certain things.  She often forgot her name, and the one thing she was most likely to forget was the day of the week.  Now, the Lion and the Unicorn were frequent visitors to the forest.  These two are strange creatures.  The Lion lies on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays and tells the truth the other days of the week.  The Unicorn, on the other hand, lies on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, but tells the truth on the other days of the week.

One day Alice met the Lion and the Unicorn resting under a tree.  They made the following statements: 

Lion: Yesterday was one of my lying days.

Unicorn: Yesterday was one of my lying days too.

From these two statements, Alice (who was a very bright girl) was able to deduce the day of the week.

What day was it?

Monday, January 26, 2009

'Twas brilling...

Tomorrow (January 27th) is the 177th birthday of one of my most favorite authors: Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, better known as Lewis Carroll. Besides being a brilliant writer Carroll was an accomplished mathematician and a logician. One of his favorite pastimes was writing and solving logic puzzles. 

In honor of his birthday, we here at Meatball and Ravioli are going to make this week “Riddle Week.” Each day we’ll post a new riddle. Be sure to weigh in with what you think is the right answer. We’ll post answer a day or two after we give the riddle…we don’t want to make it too easy.

Without further ado, here it is…

Riddle #1:

You walk into a room and see a man looking at a portrait on the wall. You ask him who the man in the painting is. He answers:

“Brothers and sisters have I none, but that man’s father is my father’s son.”

Who is the man in the painting?

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

National Hugging Day

Today, January 21st, is National Hugging Day.  In honor of that, here's one of our favorite Shel Silverstein poems:

Hug O' War
I will not play at tug o' war.
I'd rather play at hug o' war,
Where everyone hugs
Instead of tugs,
Where everyone giggles
And rolls on the rug,
Where everyone kisses,
And everyone grins,
And everyone cuddles,
And everyone wins. 


Friday, January 16, 2009

Andrew Wyeth


























Today is a sad day for artists.  Andrew Wyeth passed away in his sleep this morning.  He was 91.  Wyeth was an incredible painter and should certainly be counted as an American treasure.


















































Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Christmas in New York 2008

The holiday season always starts with Joe's birthday December 23rd. Jeanna surprised him with her homemade cannolis! On the Eve we were off to the Saccente's house to eat (alot) and play Mexican train.





































Jessie Dog still loves that wrapping paper!


Then it's off to Grandma's house for Christmas Day!














Christmas weekend at the Sinagras!











Our trip to the Aquarium Christmas week was great!








Once again we had a wonderful holiday with our family. We hope everyone has a happy and healthy new year!



Love, Joanna and Joe (aka Grandma and Papa; Mom and Dad)







Monday, January 12, 2009

Boooorrrriiiinnngggg!

So...uh...not much going on here...
...haven't updated the blog in a while...
...January is a really boring month...

Anybody got anything interesting going on?

Monday, January 5, 2009

Happy January

Well it's January.  The holidays are safely behind us and just when you thought there's nothing to look forward to celebrating...behold!  January's strange and obscure holidays:

January Monthly Observances 

Book Blitz Month
California Dried Plum Digestive Month
Cervical Cancer Screening Month
Financial Wellness Month
Get Organized Month
International Change Your Stars Month
International Creativity Month
International Wayfinding Month
International Wealth Mentality Month
National Be On-Purpose Month
National Clean Up Your Computer Month
National Hot Tea Month
National Lose Weight, Feel Great Month
National Mail Order Gardening Month
National Mentoring Month
National Personal Self-Defense Awareness Month
National Radon Action Month
Oatmeal Month
Thyroid Awareness Month  

January Weekly Observances

Celebration of Life Week: 1-7 
Diet Resolution Week: 1-7 
Silent Record Week: 1-7
Someday We'll Laugh About This Week: 2-5
Dakar Rally 2009: 3-18
New Year's Resolutions Week: 4-10
Elvis Presley Week: 8-11
Universal Letter Writing Week: 8-14 
Cuckoo Dancing Week: 11-17
International Printing Week: 11-17
Kid Film Week: 12-25
National No Tillage Week: 14-17
Slam Dance Week: 15-28
Hunt For Happiness Week: 18-24
National Activity Professional Week: 18-23 
National Fresh Squeezed Juice Week: 18-23
No Name Calling Week: 21-25 
National Nurse Anesthetists Week: 25-31
National Take Back Your Time Week:26-30
National Cowboy Poetry Gathering Week: 24-31
World Leprosy Week: 24-30  

January Daily Observances

New Year's Dishonor List Day: 1
Saint Basil's Day: 1
Z Day: 1
Happy Mew Year for Cats Day: 2
55-MPH Speed Limit Day: 2
Fruitcake Toss Day: 3
Memento Mori "Remember You Die" Day: 3
National Chocolate Covered Cherry Day: 3  
Dimpled Chad Day: 4
Earth at Perihelion: 4
World Hypnotism Day: 4  
Epiphany or Twelfth Night: 6
Three Kings Day: 6
Harlem Globetrotter's Day: 7
I'm Not Going To Take It Anymore Day: 7
National English Toffee Day: 8  
National Joy Germ Day: 8
Positively Penguins Day: 10
National Clean Off Your Desk Day: 12
Get to Know Your Customers Day: 15
Women in Blue Jeans Day: 15-16
Appreciate A Dragon Day: 16
Nothing Day: 16
Do Dah Parade Day: 18
Pooh (Winnie The) Day: 18
Camcorder Day: 20
National Hugging Day: 21
Answer Your Cats Questions Day: 22
National Handwriting Day: 23
National Pie Day: 23  
Snowplow Mailbox Hockey Day: 23
Belly Laugh Day: 24
National Compliment Day: 24
A Room of One's Own Day: 25
Chinese New Year: 26
National Peanut Brittle Day: 26  
Toad Hollow Day of Encouragement: 26
Better Business Communication Day: 26
Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day: 26
Thomas Crapper Day: 27
Freethinkers Day: 29
Fun at Work Day: 30
Inane Answering Message Day: 30 
Inspire Your Heart with Art Day: 31
National Seed Swap Day: 31

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Merry Christmas

Here is a quick Bible study about the prophecy, birth, death, resurrection, and fulfillment of Christ Jesus.  I know it's long, but read it!  It what we're celebrating and it will do you some good!

Isaiah 9:6-7

For to us a child is born, 
       to us a son is given,
 
       and the government will be on his shoulders.
 
       And he will be called
 
       Wonderful Counselor,
 [a] Mighty God, 
       Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

  Of the increase of his government and peace 
       there will be no end.
 
       He will reign on David's throne
 
       and over his kingdom,
 
       establishing and upholding it
 
       with justice and righteousness
 
       from that time on and forever.
 
       The zeal of the LORD Almighty
 
       will accomplish this.

 

Luke 2:8-12

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ[a] the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 
 "Glory to God in the highest, 
      and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

 

Matthew 27:33-50

They came to a place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull). There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots.[b] And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. Above his head they placed the written charge against him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS. Two robbers were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, "You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!"

 In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. "He saved others," they said, "but he can't save himself! He's the King of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, 'I am the Son of God.' "In the same way the robbers who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

 From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi,[c] lama sabachthani?"—which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"[d]

 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, "He's calling Elijah."

 Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink. The rest said, "Now leave him alone. Let's see if Elijah comes to save him."

 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.

 

John 20:1-18

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!"

 So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus' head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)

Then the disciples went back to their homes, but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus' body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.

 They asked her, "Woman, why are you crying?"

   "They have taken my Lord away," she said, "and I don't know where they have put him." At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

 "Woman," he said, "why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?" 
      Thinking he was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him."

 Jesus said to her, "Mary." 
      She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher).

 Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.' "

 Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: "I have seen the Lord!" And she told them that he had said these things to her.

 

Revelation 21:1-7

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

 He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."

 He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son.

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Happy Birthday Papa!


Happy Birthday Papa!
We love you and we'll see you soon!

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Solstice

So today is the shortest day of the year.  According to the U.S. Naval Observatory Astronomical Applications Department there will be 9 hours and 11 minutes of daylight today; compare that to the 15 hours and 22 minutes on June 21st!
In keeping with our little tradition, we've changed the look of our blog again to a more wintry look.
Also, if you're bummed about the daylight being so short today...cheer up!  Tomorrow it will be brighter for a whole 1 minute longer!

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

New Poll

So blogger seems to be having some trouble with the post feature. I was going to put a new one up today and it doesn't seem to be working.
I am interested, though, to see who voted for "needles for leg hair" and who voted for "magnetic head." We actually had a tie!

Monday, December 15, 2008

Merry What?

This is a poem written by Douglas Wilson. He's a very faithful man and I have read a lot of his literature. I even had the privilege of hearing him speak once at a Classical Christian Education conference in Kentucky. He tends to be a little extreme at times, but I think, for the most part, he makes some really good points.
Anyway, after attending and then teaching in public schools, I found this poem very accurate.

The Night Before Whatsit
'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the land,
We still mark the birth of the One who is banned
From public discussion or public display.
"Get rid of the Christ child--but still keep the day!"

So public school children must practice with stealth
Those carols which threaten our strange commonwealth,
And now and again someone's runaway creche
Will abruptly appear in some government place,
Right out in the open where children can view
This threat to the folks at the ACLU.

So drink to the health of our once happy nation,
And deck all the halls with strange litigation.
Then eat all you want to, drink rum by the quart
But don't say that name, or you'll wind up in court.

Pretend that this holiday just always was.
Don't ask whence it came like a smart child does.
Just talk about Rudolph or Santa's small elves,
Or sing little ditties of days bunched in twelves.

Now this is all right because (please get this straight)
There's no separation of North Pole and state.
So sing all you want of this sort of stuff
In the public arena, folks can't get enough.

If you do sing the carols, then please, just be careful.
Look over your shoulder, keep watch and be prayerful.
Edit those carols, avoid our law's curses,
(You'll have to leave out quite a few of the verses.)

So you won't get the secular humanists riled
With songs about sinners and God reconciled.
"Be near me Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay,"
Angers the People for the Humanist Way.

But if you believe the time is now ripe
To stand up for Christmas, don't sit there and gripe.
The secular Scrooges and Grinches will hear
If you say, "Merry Christmas," with all the right cheer.

It's time to be counted for what's good and right,
To all, Merry Christmas! To all, a good night!

Monday, December 8, 2008

Christmas Kids

Here's some more pictures of the kids. We had just finished putting up the tree and they were excited. It took a little while to get a smile out of Carmellina, though.

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Thanksgiving in New York 2008


Another Thanksgiving in New York - what a great time we all had!
Take a look at our proud Mom/Grandma/Great-Grandma with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren!







Carmellina (and Aunt Jeanna) enjoyed their meatballs made especially for them by Great-Grandma!

The turkey was delicious too!





Here is Joey posing with Ernie, his (and his father's) favorite Sesame Street character.

The Sinagra family is growing!

Who is Who??


Rosemary and Joe helping Papa put up the Christmas lights!
And we're off!! Let the shopping begin!!






Monday, December 1, 2008

Happy December

It's December at last and as our little hour glass continues to count down to the 25th, everyone's mind is focused on what they're buying me for Christmas. But as the marginally insane would have us remember, there's so more to December than buying me presents. Here's another list of questionable hoidays to celebrate:

December Monthly Observances:
Bingo's Birthday Month
Identity Theft Prevention and Awareness Month
National Drunk & Drugged Driving Prevention Month
Choose A Summer Camp Month
National Write A Business Plan Month
National Tie Month
Safe Toys and Gifts Month
Spiritual Literacy Month
Take a New Year's Resolution to Stop Smoking (TANYRSS)

December Weekly Observances:
National Aplastic Anemia Awareness Week: 1-7
Tolerance Week: 1-7
Recipe Greetings For The Holidays Week: 1-8
Operation Santa Paws Week: 1-22
National Handwashing Awareness Week (hand what?): 7-13
Clerc-Gallaudet Week: 7-15
Human Rights Week: 10-17
Gluten-free Baking Week: 14-20
Posadas: 16-24
It's About Time Week: 25-31

December Daily Observances:
Bifocals at the Monitor Liberation Day: 1
Special Kids Day: 3
Chase's Calendar of Events Birthday: 4
Extraordinary Work Team Recognition Day: 4
National Dice Day: 4
Bathtub Party Day: 5
International Volunteer Day for Economic & Social Development: 5
Miners' Day: 6
National Pawnbrokers Day: 6
Skywarn Recognition Day: 6 (First Saturday in December)
International Civil Aviation Day: 7
National Cotton Candy Day: 7
Weary Willie Day: 9
International Mountain Day: 11
Poinsettia Day: 12
International Shareware Day: 13
Day Of The Horse: 13
Cat Herders Day: 15
Barbie and Barney Backlash Day: 16
National Chocolate-covered Anything Day: 16
Clean Air Day: 17
Wright Brothers Day: 17
International Migrants Day: 18
Day for South-South Cooperation: 19
Underdog Day: 19
International Human Solidarity Day: 20
Sacagawea Day: 20
Mudd Day: 20
Forefathers Day: 21
Humbug Day: 21
Phileas Fogg Win A Wager Day: 21
National Haiku Poetry Day: 21
World Peace Day/Winter Solstice: 21
Festivus (the holiday for the rest of us): 23
A'Phabet Day or No "L" Day : 25
National Candy Cane Day: 26
National Whiner's Day: 26
National Chocolate Day: 28 & 29
Tick Tock Day: 29
Falling Needles Family Fest Day: 30
Leap Second Time Adjustment Day: 31
Make Up Your Mind Day: 31
No Interruptions Day: 31

Oh yeah...I think there's some other holiday in there somewhere...Christmas, or something like that...I'm not sure.

Monday, November 24, 2008

Breaking the Mold

Okay faithful readers...today (November 24th) is Celebrate Your Unique Talent Day!

So this is your chance to tell the world (or at least the other half dozen people who actually read this blog) what unique and special talent you posses.

Don't be shy. Can you lick your nose? Can you burp the national anthem? Do you know the names of all of "Hogan's Heroes"? Can you draw a life like picture of Ernest Borgnine with ketchup and tissue paper? I don't care what it is, just as long as it's unique and as long as it's clean then go ahead and post it! I'll celebrate it with you by playing Amazing Grace on the harmonica with my nose.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Sugar and Spice


...and speaking of Jeanna, today (November 18th) is Married to a Scorpio Support Day!
According to astrology-online.com, a Scorpio:

LIKES
Truth
Hidden Causes
Being involved
Work That is Meaningful
Being Persuasive

DISLIKES
Being Given Only Surface data
Taken Advantage of
Demeaning Jobs
Shallow Relationships
Flattery and Flattering

Also, some possible health concerns for a Scorpio:
Scorpio governs the pelvis and reproductive and urinary systems and its subjects are said to be prone to ailments of the liver and kidneys, stones and gravel in the bladder or genitals, and other genital ills such as priapism. Abscesses, boils, carbuncles, fistulas, piles, ruptures and ulcers may also affect the Scorpions.

Sounds like fun! Those wacky scorpions.