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Wednesday, February 21, 2018

Beckett vanquishes Castle based on her knowledge of Girl Scout cookies.

Oh, that Castle, making bets on who can solve a crime the fastest. He keeps it on the DL from Beckett. He’s not stupid. But he does get caught nonetheless. She confronts him in the break room when she sees his envelope full of money. Castle claims that the money is for Girl Scout cookies. Beckett snatches it away, scolding, “Girl Scout cookies are sold in February!” 

And Beckett returns to the murder board.
 

How to Commemorate
  • Buy Girl Scout cookies!
  • Deconstruct everyone’s grammar.
  • Pick someone and call them Honeymilk all day.

*Share your photos and celebrations on our Facebook or twitter pages.

Works Cited
Castle, S2E2, The Double Down
Amazon     Barnes & Noble      Public Libraries

Monday, February 19, 2018

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (President's Day: Feb 19)

Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter Cover.jpgWhat if the Civil War wasn’t just about North and South but about… vampires! Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter tells the tale of our 16th president’s life with an additional interwoven element of the living dead. It’s a very fun read, and if you enjoy it, you’ll also enjoy Pride & Prejudice & Zombies.

How to Commemorate


  • Read aloud Lincoln’s 2nd Inaugural Address. Because everyone should.
  • Find aspects of your town or its history that could be due to vampire involvement.
  • Make plans with your loved ones about what you would do if attacked by vampires. And if becoming one would be preferable to death. Your call.

Works Cited
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (book)
Amazon     Barnes & Noble     Public Libraries

Sunday, February 18, 2018

Max Skinner inherits a bad winery in Provence. (National Drink Wine Day: Feb 18)

A Good Year novel.jpgAuthor Peter Mayle has a thing for southern France, but I can’t say I blame him. Several of his novels are set there, and the place is so gorgeous and full of charm and personality, that I always, always commit to visiting after I finish one of his books. In A Good Year, Max is a trader in London who gets weaseled out of his job just as he inherits a run-down vineyard in Provence. The wine produced at Le Griffon is of a somewhat poor quality (cat piss is mentioned), but Max tries to make some improvements, eventually getting caught up in an elaborate scheme to sell extremely rare wines. The story is fun, the characters endearing, and it shows the tight-assed bunch of us Westerners how we just need to relax and sit in the sun and have some good food and wine once in a while.

Of course, National Drink Wine Day is February 18th, and I thought this would be a good time to mention this book. So, you’re welcome. Go read this book and drink some wine. Or drink some wine while reading this book.

How to Commemorate

  • Drink wine.
  • Drink wine.
  • Drink wine.
*Share photos of your favorite wines on our Facebook or twitter pages.

Works Cited
A Good Year
Amazon      Barnes & Noble     Public Libraries



Wednesday, February 14, 2018

Ash/Ashe Wednesday

Army of Darkness poster.jpgOk, now let's just acknowledge that it's weird that Ash Wednesday and Valentine's Day are the same day this year. 

Shew. 

 Now, you’ve got a choice for this holy day. You can either watch Ash Wednesday--about two brothers (Edward Burns and pre-LOTR Elijah Wood) in Hell’s Kitchen trying to evade the Irish mob --or Army of Darkness--featuring a modern guy named Ash with one hand who finds himself transported into a ghoul-infested year 1300 with only his boom-stick and his know-how to get him back home. Your call.

How to Commemorate
  • Go to church and get ashes on your forehead.
  • Reconnect with forgotten Irish relatives.
  • Quote Bruce Campbell. For example:
    • Hail to the king, baby.
    • This is my boom stick!
    • Groovy.
    • Good. Bad. I'm the guy with the gun.
Works Cited
Ash Wednesday
Amazon     Barnes & Noble     Public Libraries

Works Cited
Army of Darkness
Amazon     Barnes & Noble     Public Libraries

Happy Anna Howard Shaw Day! (Feb 14)

Yeah, yeah, love is in the air and all that other stuff. Romantic love is fleeting, but you know what isn’t? Being able to vote! And that was one of the things that Anna Howard Shaw helped accomplish. (Also, Liz Lemon celebrates Anna’s birthday instead of Valentine’s Day because ...Liz.)

How to Commemorate
  • Go to the dentist.
  • Learn about Anna Howard Shaw (women’s civil rights leader, born 1847).
  • Flirt with someone while debating politics. (That’s what Jack does during this episode.)
*Share your photos and celebrations on our Facebook or twitter pages.

Works Cited
30 Rock (Season 4, Episode 13)
Amazon     Barnes & Noble     Public Libraries