Here we are at the beginning of September. It seems like yesterday that the kids were getting out of school and the long lazy summer stretched out before us. Most of the students have now gone back to school, employee vacations are over, and everyone...myself included...is looking forward to cooler weather. This summer has been extraordinarily hot everywhere! But just because summer is over, that doesn't mean the fun has to end. September promises us many great days with wonderful things to celebrate. So, without further ado, here's your September Calendar of Special Days, 2018.
SEPTEMBER
1.  World Beard Day, National No Rhyme No Reason Day, National Tailgating Day.
2.  National Blueberry Popsicle Day, National V-J Day.
3.  US Bowling League Day, Labor Day, and my dear friend Roddy H's birthday.
4.  National Wildlife Day, National Another Look Unlimited Day.
5.  National Cheese Pizza Day. (Cheese pizza is so wonderful that it gets a day all to itself!)
6.  National Coffee Ice Cream Day, National Read A Book Day (One of mine, perhaps?)
7.  National Grateful Patient Day, National Neither Snow Nor Rain Day, National Grandma Moses Day, National Acorn Squash Day, National Food Bank Day, National Lazy Moms Day.
8.  National Ampersand Day, National Pediatric Oncology/Hematology Nurses Day
9.  National Teddy Bear Day, Care Bears Share Your Cares Day, National Pet Memorial Day, National Hug Your Hound Day, National Grandparents Day.
10. National Swap Ideas Day, National TV Dinner Day, National Boss/Employee Exchange Day. 
11. National Make Your Bed Day, National Hot Cross Bun Day, Patriot Day and National Day of Service And Remembrance Day.
12. National Video Game Day, National Chocolate Milkshake Day, National Day of Encouragement. 
13. National Kids Take Over The Kitchen Day, National Peanut Day, Uncle Sam Day.
​14. National Live Creative Day, National Eat A Hoagie Day.
15. National Cleanup Day, National Tackle Kids Cancer Day, National Online Learning Day, National Felt Hat Day, Greenpeace Day, National Gymnastics Day, Puppy Mill Awareness Day, Responsible Dog Ownership Day. (Another jam-packed day of great things worthy of celebrating!)
16. National Play-Doh Day, National Cinnamon Raisin Bread Day (Yum!), National Step Family Day, Mayflower Day, Wife Appreciation Day.
17. National Apple Dumpling Day, Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, National Monte Cristo Day.
18. Aging Awareness Day, National IT Professionals Day.
19. National Butterscotch Pudding Day, Talk Like A Pirate Day.
20. National String Cheese Day, National Punch Day, National Pepperoni Pizza Day.
21. National Pecan Cookie Day, National Tradesman Day, National POW/MIA Recognition Day.
22. National Girls Night In, National BRAVE Day, National Centenarians Day, National White Chocolate Day. Car Free Day, Dear Diary Day, Elephant Appreciation Day, Hobbit Day, National Ice Cream Cone Day, National Public Lands Day, National Singles Day, Fall Equinox. (Whew! That's a lot of stuff crammed into one day.)
23. National Teal Talk Day, National Checkers/Dogs In Politics Day, National Pot Pie Day, Innergize Day.
24. National Punctuation Day, Schwenkfelder Thanksgiving.
25. National One Hit Wonder Day, National Comic Book Day, National Tune-up Day, Math Storytelling Day, National Voter Registration Day (Very important!)
26. National Situational Awareness Day, National Dumpling Day, National Johnny Appleseed Day, National Pancake Day (Perhaps celebrate with apple pancakes?), National Women's Health & Fitness Day.
27. National Scarf Day, National Chocolate Milk Day, National Crush A can Day.
28.  National Good Neighbor Day
29. National Coffee Day, National Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Day, National Family Health & Fitness Day, National Ghost Hunting Day. 
30. National Love People Day, National Chewing Gum Day, National Mud Pack Day, National Hot Mulled Cider Day, National Gold Star Mother's Day, National Save Your Photos Day.
WOWZERS! That sure is a lot of great stuff to celebrate! But how to choose which days...
After I give this calendar some careful thought, I'll hop on over the Land of Lily Pad Party Store and pick up my supplies. And with all the great food celebrations this month, too, I guess I'd better add a trip the grocery store as well. Have a wonderful month and be sure to join me at the end of September for the October Calendar of Special Days. I'm taking Monday off so hop on back here Tuesday (9/4) for another interesting (I hope) blog. Until then, enjoy your weekend and please stay safe!

There are many stories about animals...myths if you will...that humans have believed for many centuries. I thought it might be fun to take a look at a few of them to see whether or not there's any truth in them. We could say that these myths are stereotypes of certain critters that are often thought to include the entire species...not a simply a critter or two.
1,  The wise old owl.  Owls are believed to be wise for the same reason that humans who wear glasses are thought to be smart; big eyes are seen as markers of intelligence. Owls not only have big eyes, they are unusually big.  They are so big that these birds can't move their eyes in their socket, they have to turn their whole head to look around. The myth of owls being wise dates back to Ancient Greece where an owl was the mascot of Athena, the goddess of wisdom. It turns out that owls aren't any smarter than any other bird and, in fact, both crows and ravens possess more intelligence. If big eyes was really an intelligence indicator, then every frog who ever lived would be a genius!
2.  An elephant never forgets. Do elephants really have good memories? In this case, there is a bit of truth to the myth. Elephants do have comparatively bigger brains than do other mammals. They also possess advanced cognitive abilities. Elephants can 'remember' the faces of their fellow herd members and recognize individuals they have met, even briefly, years before. "The matriarchs of elephant herds have also been known to memorize the locations of watering holes, and there is anecdotal evidence of elephants "remembering" deceased companions by gently fondling their bones." Another elephant myth is that they're afraid of mice. It's not really mice, per se, that elephants are afraid of, it's any sudden movement. Elephants are simply spooked very easily.
3.  Crocodile tears. Do crocodiles really shed tears? When humans are said to shed crocodile tears, it means that they're insincere about another's misfortune. If you watch any reality TV you've probably seen plenty of fake crocodile tears. This saying is believed to stem from a 14th-century description of crocodiles written by Sir John Mandeville. 'These serpents slay men, and they eat them weeping, and when they eat they move the over-jaw, and not the nether jaw, and they have no tongue.'  But do crocodiles really "weep" insincerely when they devour their prey? Believe it or not, the answer to this question is yes.  Crocodile, like other animals, secrete tears to keep their eyes lubricated; this is especially true when they're on land. 'It's also possible that the very act of eating stimulates a crocodile's tear ducts, thanks to the unique arrangement of its jaws and skull.'
4.  The peace dove. Are doves really peaceful? When it comes to their behavior in the wild, doves "aren't any more or less peaceful than other seed-and-fruit eating bird." They are, however, easier to get along with than your average crow or vulture! So how did doves come to symbolize peace? It is believed it is because of their white color; the same color as the flag of surrender. It is also a color that isn't shared by many other birds. "Ironically, the closest relatives of doves are pigeons, which have been used in warfare since time immemorial."
5.  Lazy as a sloth. We know that sloths are unbelievably slow. In fact, some species of microscopic algae grow on the coats of some sloth species, making them virtually indistinguishable from plants. But are they lazy, too? The short answer is no. In order to be called "lazy" one has to be capable of another behavior, i.e. industrious or energetic. Sloths weren't "smiled on by nature" when it comes to having different speeds. The metabolism of sloths is very slow and their internal body temperatures are low as well, ranging from 87 degrees to 93 degrees Fahrenheit. So, technically, sloths aren't lazy. They're just built that way.
I hope you enjoyed learning a little about these common animal myths. Please come back tomorrow for the September calendar of Special Days. Can you believe how fast this year is going? Until Friday, dear readers, I wish you all  a day filled with  
                                                                     PEACE.

​Strauss, Bob. "12 Animal Stereotypes and the Truth Behind Them." ThoughtCo, Jan. 2, 2018, thoughtco.com/animal-stereotypes-4136106.

Ahhh, here we are again at another Wednesday. I'm happy that Dharma is coming today. You see, I've been having a few problems and I don't know how to "fix" things. Nothing I've done is making things better. Because there's been a lot on my mind, I got up extra early and the breakfast made and the tea steeping when Dharma hopped onto my pad a little before sunrise. I explained to him what was going on in my life and my inability to fix the problems I was encountering. What he said, not only gave me pause to think but also turned out to be my lesson for the week.
"Irwin, trying to fix your problems, as you put it, can often cause us more frustration and can actually make the problems seem worse. A wise frog adapts himself to his circumstances just as water shapes itself to the vessel that contains it. I believe your human friends might say, going with the flow." I hadn't really thought about it in that light, but it did make sense and, too, would make my life easier if I wasn't struggling to make it conform to MY wishes. "Dharma, learning to go with the flow doesn't come naturally to some of us, I'm speaking about me specifically. How do I learn to let go of trying to control the outcome of the things that are troublesome to me?" Dharma smiled and replied, "It isn't easy for anyone, Tadpole, to let go...even me, but here are a few helpful tips that I hope will ease your struggle. It starts with remembering these three facts; 1. Like it or not, circumstances are always changing. 2. Other frogs (people, too) are always changing. 3. We, ourselves, are always changing. Knowing that change is inevitable, here are a few things to ponder that can make "going with the flow" a little easier.
1.  Recognize your biological predisposition to change. Frogs start out as an egg, Then we become tadpoles. Finally, we mature into adult frogs. We don't think about these changes. They just happen and we take them for granted. Human change and evolve too, plus their brains a moldable, as well. it's called neuroplasticity. People learn habits, both good and bad. This means that their brains can also learn new and better ways of doing things, of looking at their problems. frogs can do that, too. We are, all of us, adaptable to change; physically and mentally. if we weren't. We wouldn't have it hard-wired into us.
2.  Learn to make adaptability a habit in itself. Adaptability is, really, only thinking. Neural pathways get formed when we do and think the same things repeatedly, We can, however, take a new path. It's as easy as doing something that's out of our comfort zone a little. If old ways of dealing with problems aren't working for us. Then wouldn't it be wise to try something else? We can call it intentional thinking. And all that means is thinking before acting. It's easy for frogs and humans to run on autopilot. it's not so easy to stop and think about what we are doing or what we are thinking. But that, my boy, is how we escape our bad habits and poor judgment. So, becoming more adaptable requires recognition of its possibility, a change in attitude and finally, a commitment. Think of it as clearing a new path to hop on. While it can take time and effort to clear away the debris, once it's completed we can see and experience a world of new things....new possibilities spring up before us.
3.  Commit to time and repetition. Everybody can change. That means you, too.  It's a fact that some people have a harder time with change that do other. Our thinking affects our behavior and our behavior influences our thinking. It's an endless loop that will continue to play unless we consciously choose to change it. We must learn to work consciously to change our thought processes. We can, in time and with a little effort, change those neural pathways and thus become more adaptable. Adapting to change requires time and repetition. You will fail, of that you can be sure. But failure simply means another opportunity to get it right. A piano students just sit down one day and flawlessly play a difficult piece. they struggle and practice day after day, correcting their mistakes until they get it correct. The we think and act in specific and conscious ways, the stronger your neural pathways become. Adapting to change becomes easier. maybe even pleasurable! Adaptability is really about adopting the attitude that we can change. Once we do this, life becomes easier and less stressful. We can flow with the situation presented to us, just as water can adapt to some very strangely-shaped containers.
Dharma isn't just wise. he is also a wonderful guest. For after my lesson this week, he stayed and helped me tidy up my kitchen. After he hopped away, I made a promise to myself that I wouldn't automatically freak out when I was presented with an uncomfortable situation or problem. I would choose to look at it as an opportunity to evolve and grow. I can adapt to new situations. I can do it! (And so can you.)
I invite you back tomorrow for another blog. Until then, I wish each of you a glorious day, filled with love and                                    PEACE.

Whenever we say something nice to someone, not only do they feel better...we feel better, too. Showing a little kindness for our fellow frogs...and fellow humans doesn't really require a ton of energy. Here are a few really nice and kind things you can say to just about anyone.
"Take your time. I'm not in a rush."  Just imagine saying that to an older person checking out ahead of you as they are rushing to find that one last coupon they know they brought with them but has somehow managed to disappear right now. This can also work for the person ahead of you that's trying to wrangle not only their purchases but a bunch of rambunctious children, as well. It's such a relief to know that the next person in line isn't standing there, glowering at you and tapping their impatient foot. That one little statement can give someone a 3-minute mini-vacation...not from work or their life, but from the stress of hurrying. And that can be even better.
How many times have you been eating lunch with friends when another's friend's name comes up in conversation? Everyone is bestowing them with kind words and admiration but they aren't there to hear them. What do you do? You go back to that absent friend and say this, "Three different sources have confirmed that not only are smart and funny, you're also kind to animals." Just imagine how hearing these words might make them feel. Try it sometime!
Again at the grocery store or other public places, when you see someone being kind to another, don't hesitate to go up to them and acknowledge what they did. "Pardon me, but I couldn't help noticing what you did just then. Please don't think me crazy, but I had to let you know that seeing it, has helped restore my faith in humanity." They'll walk with their feet ten feet off the ground for a week! And, I bet it encourages them to do other nice things. Maybe you, too?
And then there's this. The next time you encounter someone doing something simple in a new but unusual way, like making a sandwich or lacing their running shoes, you can say this, "You have a genius that is not understood by mere mortals." Let them know you think their new-fangled way of doing something is both cool and innovative.
Not everyone is blessed with a melodic voice. Frogs are a great example. Some of us croak in a lovely lilting way, while others of us can sound like fingernails on a chalkboard. The next time you hear someone singing or speaking who does have a nice voice, say something! Let them know. A simple "You have a lovely voice," will do just fine.
Finally, and this one is the absolute BEST (and most important) one. Don't forget to tell those you love, "You make me happy. You bring joy into my life." Frogs and humans too, I bet, often think these things but rarely do we say them out loud. And unless our loved ones are psychic, they'll never know how much we really care about them if we keep these precious thoughts to ourselves. If someone brings you joy, if someone makes you happy...PLEASE let them know. This goes for our animals, too. Animal friends makes humans happy all the time. So don't forget to tell them, "Good boy!" or give them a nice pet. Perhaps give them a treat for no reason other than you love them and want them to be as happy as they make you.
Showing kindness takes a small amount of effort and only a tiny bit of creativity. Every day we have countless ways we can show kindness to others. The above statements are only suggestions. I'm sure you can think up a bunch of great ones all on your own. Everybody wants others to be kind to them. And that can start with you. Kindness is one of those wonderful things that spread quickly. Go ahead and be a catalyst today!
I invite you back tomorrow for what will surely be another wonderful lesson from Dharma Frog. Until then, I wish you all
                                                                       PEACE.

August 27th of each year is a very special day. Why? Just because. Today is National Just Because Day; a day set a aside for all of us to do things we may want to do but haven't...for whatever reason. Today we can do them...just because. No questions asked. 
We can do things for others, like buy them flowers...just because. Or we can something nice for ourselves...just because. The whole point of today is that we don't need rhyme nor reason to do things. We can do them simply because we want to. And as long as they're legal, I might add!
Learning to honor our own inclinations can make us happier. Most of the time, we instinctively know what's right and good for us, But how often do we listen to those "gut" feelings. We dismiss them, usually, and go on the facts. While facts can be important, we also need to do what we feel. I'm referring to the inner "yes" list that we each have. Doing the things on our yes list accomplishes several goals:
1.  It brings us closer to our interests.
2.  It can make it "okay" to talk to someone or reach out to others.
3.  Allows you to take a nap when you're tired.
4.  It lets you trust your inclinations.
This is the same inner voice that tells you to "Go for it!" and the voice that says "I really don't want to hang out with that negative 'friend' anymore." We do really know what's good for us and what can make us happy. Some might say that it is our wise selves that are talking to us. We hear that voice say, "You've been told don't do this and don't do that" for your entire life. Yet your wise self says, "Just do it!" Inner conflict and unhappiness occur when we listen to the voice of others. We need to that as a child but once we can hop on our own two flippers, as it were, we can make up our own mind about things. 
Believe it or not, as adults, we are allowed to have and do the things we want.  We are important. We do matter. Let that sink in for a while. 
Once you believe these statements and accept them as truth,  it is the "first and crucial" step toward inner fulfillment and happiness. Go ahead and do stuff today...Just because! 
I have my own list of things I've postponed doing...and none of the reasons were good ones. I am giving myself permission to today to be happy, to do the things that bring me joy. Rather than make this just an annual occurrence, perhaps we make it a daily thing; a new way of living. What if we could be happier and do more of the things we truly want to do? Would that have a positive impact on the world? I believe it would.
I invite you back here tomorrow but until then, be happy, do something you really want to do, and may you find much
                                                                      PEACE.

Lots of us enjoy cars. We like to look at them. We like to drive them. Some of us even collect them. I admit that I enjoy attending classic car shows and wander around imaging who might have owned these now antique car to begin with. Keeping the car theme going, I thought it might be kind of fun to wrap up the week by looking at some of the world's most expensive cars. These automobiles are in a class by themselves and are known as hypercars. And they're not for the average frog...or human!
Here are the top seven priciest cars...at least by my research!
7.  The Lefarri FXXK. This sweet little ride will only set you back a mere $2.7 million. It is the upper end  in the italian automaker Ferrari family. As for the all-important 0 to 60 measurement, this little Italian job has the other hypercars on our list beat, coming in at 2.4 seconds on the track. 
6.   Next up, is the Bugatti Chiron priced at $2.9 million. These French cars have a 1500 horsepower engine. And unlike some hypercars, the Chiron's exterior design is a model of restrained elegance rather than no-holds-barred flamboyance. What else would expect from the always classy French?
5.   Comin in at a cool $3.2 million is the Aston Martin Valkyrie. It may bear the classic Aston martin name but this British car bears little resemblance to the tradidional james Bond-style chassis. it was developed in conjunction with Red Bull Racing and blurs the line between street vehicle and road racer. The driver and passenger sit in a reclined position that mimics Formula One drivers. Red Bull does have wings!
​4.   In fourth place is the Lykan Hypersport, priced at $3.5 million. This vehicle claims the title of the first luxury auto built entirely in the Middle East. It is manufactured by W Motors of Dubai. It's target customers are "ultra high net worth individuals."  They seem to have used the diamond as inspiration for the car's design. "Not only is its futuristic exterior characterized by a series of multi-faceted angles, no less than 220 diamonds and other precious stones ring its headlights. It also boasts a beast of an engine that easily achieves 0 to 60 in 2.7 seconds."
3.   The Lamborghini Veneno sells for only $4.5 million. It is an open-air car (no top) that barely qualifies as  street-legal racer. The exterior is drop-dead gorgeous while the engine is a 740 horsepower dynamo. It is named for a famed fighting bull.
2.   The Koenigsegg CCSR Trevita is for those with very fat wallets. The price tag for this Swedish beauty is $4.8 million. Sweden is known mostly for their "breadbox" shaped Volvos. This vehicle is definitely not that! Roughly translated, the car's name is "three whites" and refers to "a unique coated fiber solution that transforms traditional black carbon fibers used in automobile manufacturing to a silvery white, which sparkles when the sunlight hits the body." But it isn't just another pretty car. The Trevita goes from 0 to 60 mph in a scary 2.9 seconds.
1. Topping off our list of most-expensive cars is the Rolls Royce Sweptail. The priciest car in the world is another English beauty. This one, however, costs $13 million. The car began as a custom-order and could take five years to build. each one is still made by hand...no assembly line production here.  It offers the kind of British craftsmanship that people have come to expect from a Rolls Royce. But the Sweptail bears little resemblance to other Rolls Royce Phantom coupes. "Its front end is decidedly more muscular, thanks to an oversized grille and squared off corners, while the back end bears the kind of slick streamlining usually reserved for sports cars—hence the model's name." Owner's of a Sweptail can expect their car to reach a top speed of 150 miles per hour. Now that's a lot of bang for your buck!
I know I'll never have to worry about owning one of these cars but it is still loads of fun to learn about the cars of the rich and famous. I hope you have some wonderful plans for the weekend and can take advantage of the wonderful end-of-summer weather. But whatever you wind up doing, please have fun and stay safe.
                                                                      PEACE.

Mankind has always wanted to fly like birds do. Some squirrels and even a few frogs glide deftly between trees. But man has been stuck on the ground until the advent of the first flight by Orville and Wilbur Wright in 1903. There were, of course, many attempts before that. It wasn't until August 23, 1977, however, that man took his first successful human-powered flight. Today marks the 41st anniversary of that achievement. It is National Ride The Wind Day.
It was on this day that the Gossamer Condor 2, built by Dr. Paul McCready, flew the figure-eight course specified by the Royal Aeronautical Society, at Minter Field in Shafter, California.  Slowly cruising at only 11 mph(17.7 mph), it traveled a distance of 2,172 meters (2,375 yards). This human-powered flight was piloted by Bryan Allen, an amateur cyclist, and hang-glider. "The Gossamer Condor 2 aircraft is preserved at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum."
In the early 1970's Dr. Paul McCready and Dr. Peter Lissaman took a fresh look at human-powered flight and came up with an unorthodox aircraft, named the Gossamer Condor. Their inspiration came from hang gliders, "increasing wing area so that the drag of the wire bracing needed would be reduced. The Gossamer Condor is built around a large wing with a gondola for the pilot underneath and a canard control surface on a fuselage extension in front, and is mostly built of lightweight plastics with aluminum spars."
The Gossamer Condor evolved over time and had three distinct versions. The first version was called the Passadena version and flew only once over the parking lot of the Rose Bowl. The second version was named the Mojave version was flown at Mojave airport and was piloted by McCready's son. The record-breaking version was the Shafter version and was capable of taking off under human power. 
The success of McCready and the AeroVironment Company to carry on making experimental aircraft including the Gossamer Albatross which crossed the English Channel; the Solar Challenger, a solar-electric-powered version that also made the English Channel crossing; and NASA's Pathfinder/Helios series of unmanned solar-powered aircraft.
Man has been flying for many years now but I suspect he'll never give up making new and better improvements, like jetpacks. I give credit to humans for never giving up on their dreams or their quest to conquer the unknown.
If you'd like to celebrate this day, all you need do is use #RideTheWindDay and post on all your social media platforms. I invite you back again tomorrow for a fun blog that will close out the first week of my fourth year of blogging. Where does the time go? Until then, as always, I wish you joy and much                     
​                                                                       PEACE.

Hello everyone, and thank you for stopping by. Today is Wednesday and that means my dear friend and wise teacher The Dharma Frog stopped by for my weekly life lesson, as he has nearly every week for a few years now. He arrived right on schedule and I hardly had time to pour our tea or serve breakfast when he began my lesson.
"Tadpole, do you have trouble keeping a secret?" He asked. "Not usually, Sir. But sometimes a friend will tell me something so amazing that I can hardly wait to tell others the big news." "You know that's not the right thing to do, Son. I thought I'd taught you better than that. Your parents, too. What is told in the ear of a frog often is heard 100 miles away. That might be said of you, at least in some instances. Irwin, everybody has secrets. Some are funny, some are scary, and some might even be sad. We share some secrets with friends while others we dare tell no one. They're kept deep within us.  It is important for us to remember that secrets told to us aren't meant to be shared. For if they were, the teller of the secret would have done so themselves. If you're the type of frog whom others confide in, then you carry a burden on your little shoulders. This is true for humans, too. When someone tells you a secret, my boy, they are confiding in you something that is troublesome to them. it may be some part of themselves that others don't see. It is a huge responsibility...and an honor...for them to have enough trust in you to share something that's so personal. It can be hard to keep a secret."
Dharma went on to explain to me why it is so important that we learn to keep secrets when they are entrusted to us. First, and maybe most importantly, secrets mean that the teller has trust and confidence in us to keep their secret a secret. Trust and confidence are important in the building of all worthwhile relationships. The next important reason for secret-keeping is staying out of trouble. In today's fast-paced world filled with social media and all the gossip that goes along with it can make staying out of trouble more difficult. The simple rule is "See no evil. Hear no evil. Speak no evil." For the purpose of this blog, it's the "say no evil" that we're concerned with. Most rumors start out as a secret. If you enjoy "sharing" rumors then you are, in fact, helping to spread someone's secret. The best thing to do is simply "say no evil." Dharma pointed out that sometimes secrets are given to us as a test of our ability to be loyal to our friend. If we spill the proverbial beans, then the secret-teller knows that we cannot be trusted. They lose faith, trust, and confidence in us, damaging that relationship, sometimes permanently. remember, too, that some humans have gone to jail for talking about things they shouldn't have! The final reason for secret-keeping is self-control. Keeping secrets is a very effective way to build self-control. In many cultures, gossiping is for children. Adults aren't expected to waste their time in idle gossip. Keeping someone's secret helps us to think before we speak. It is easy to blurt things out. But learning to think before speaking not only teaches us better self-control, it keeps the secret intact and out of the public's ear. And, just think about the burden you place on the one you tell the secret to. it places them in a position of either telling someone else, or sitting on a secret that wasn't meant for them in the first place!
​when humans and frogs, too, decide to share a secret with another, it is done with the hope and the belief that the other can be trusted. It can be devastating to learn that our trust has been broken. The only time we should ever betray someone's secret is if someone's life may depend on our telling. But those instances are very rare. Secret-keeping can often feel like a burden but it is also an opportunity for us to help a friend who may need to "unload" his conscience. If you are the secret-teller, be as certain as you can that the whoever you choose to tell will keep your secret. And if you are the secret-keeper, you have a moral obligation to keep that secret to yourself. Spilling it will hurt everyone.
After Dharma left his morning, I thought long and hard about what he said. I promised myself that I would be a better friend and keep any secret that was entrusted to me. I also felt that I owed an apology to those that I may have hurt with my big mouth. It's not a pleasant chore, but I know I will feel better after I do.
I wish you a pleasant day, one that's filled with love, joy, and
                                                                   PEACE.

It's rare that I dedicate my blog to anyone. But today I am dedicating this blog to my two sets of grandparents. They've been visiting me for a couple of days and it was so nice to spend quality time with them. Today is also Senior Citizens Day and it seemed like the perfect time to honor my grandparents.
If you're not old yourself, you no doubt know a few older people. Life expectancy is going up and that means that more humans (and, dare I say, more frogs too) will live longer and healthier lives.
Senior citizens have a great deal to offer. Here's a list of some of the ways that our older citizens contribute to the betterment of our world.
1.  Seniors are important because they have a wealth of experience to share with us, given that opportunity.
2.  Seniors can be helpful in applying life lessons on a variety of subjects like self-esteem, self-discipline, and self-respect. 
​3.  Seniors are important because of the practical experience they can offer us. They've been around the block a few times and we can learn much from what they've learned. I mean, why reinvent the wheel if we don't have to!
4.  Seniors are important because they've learned the lesson of humility. They know the things that are really important.  They've learned that me, myself and I don't make the world spin.
5.  Seniors are fun to be around. They have a great sense of humor and know a whole bunch of wonderful stories. They've lived through history and can give us first-hand accounts of what life was really like in those "good ol' days."
6.  Seniors can help us deal with disappointment, sadness, and grief. They've had their own fair share of it. They've learned well, "This too shall pass."
Not everybody gets to become old. Old age is a gift. But senior citizens need care, attention, and comfort to lead a healthy and happy life. We can, and should, offer that to them. Even if your own grandparents are no longer around, there are plenty of elderly humans out there that you can "adopt." Maybe today is a good day to call a nursing home and volunteer a little of your time to read to them. Perhaps you have an elderly neighbor that would appreciate a visit from you. Whoever they are and wherever they might be, be a ray of sunshine in their life. It's not hard. Simply stopping by now and again to say hi, to check in and see how they're doing, to remember their birthday...these small acts can make a huge difference in an older person's life. 
If you have your grandparents or great-grandparents still around, be grateful. Treasure them. Spend time with them. Learn from them. And if you don't have any older folks in your life, please think about adopting some. Older citizens have much to offer. And really require very little in turn; just a little time and attention. Everyone wants to feel needed and everyone wants to feel useful. And if you're lucky, you will one day be old yourself.
And to my own wonderful and loved grandparents, Happy Senior Citizens Day! Thank you so much for all the love, knowledge, and care you've given me. I hope that one day, I'll be lucky enough to be just like you because you guys are TOAD-ally Awesome!
Tomorrow is Wednesday and that means a visit from Dharma Frog. I hope you'll plan on stopping by tomorrow. Dharma's life lessons are always helpful, whether you're a frog or human. Until tomorrow, I wish you all
                                                                  PEACE.

Front row: Grandpa and and Grandma Gorf;
Back row:  Grandpa and Grandma Wart

I always try to spend a little of my weekend time catching up on my reading and this weekend was no exception. I read an interesting article about African wild dogs that I found fascinating. This morning, I'll condense down what I read.
The African wild dog is also known as the African painted dog. This fiercely predatory species can be found living in the dense forests of sub-Sahara Africa. The animal's coat is mottled, giving it a splatter-paint look. They have long legs and huge, rounded ears. Their fur in texture, is stiff an course, resembling bristles on a brush. They have no undercoat. Like many dogs, they communicate vocally but these guys lack facial expressions and the body language you typically see in most dogs.
What I found most interesting about these critters is that they "sneeze" to vote on pack decisions. "The sneeze is a sharp exhalation through the nostrils that signals assent or agreement. When a pack gathers and the dominant mating pair sneeze, departure for hunting is likely. If a less dominant dog sneezes, hunting may occur if enough members of the group also sneeze." Or they could just have allergies. (Just kidding!)
Their diet consists of 70% meat. They can give chase to their prey for up to 60 minutes and can run at speeds of up to 66 kilometers...that's 41 miles per hour. No wonder they have such long legs! Wild dogs have strong social bonds and form permanent packs. Normally, only the dominant female and the dominant male breed, having only one litter of pups each year. But, those litters can have anywhere from 6 to 26 babies!
At one time, wild dogs roamed all of sub-Saharan Africa, except for the very driest parts. Now, most of the remaining dogs live in East and South Africa. As few as 6600 adults remain, divided into 39 subpopulations.  This species is categorized as endangered. Most packs are widely separated from each other causing some of the declines in population. But disease and habitat destruction are also reasons why their numbers are shrinking. 
Just in case you're thinking these critters might make a good addition to your family. You might want to reconsider adopting one. They cannot be domesticated.
I hope you enjoyed learning about these fascinating animals as much as I have. They are another example of one of Earth's animal residents that we will lose if something isn't done to protect them.
I invite you back again tomorrow for another informative and interesting (I hope) blog. Until then, I wish everyone a day filled with kindness and
                                                                       PEACE.

​Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "African Wild Dog Facts: Diet, Behavior, Habitat." ThoughtCo, Jul. 5, 2018, thoughtco.com/african-wild-dog-facts-4171975.