2018: By The Numbers

The 120th day of 2018 was 4/30/2018 and we are now 1/3 of the way through the year.  What a long 1/3 it has been.  Hoping for a lot better in the next 2/3.  1/3 will be the number of the day and, for our song, I found this Simon and Garfunkel song about Spring.  GOODNIGHT! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYD-DIggB2k

Day 119 of 2018 was a great day.  And every great day has a great start,  4/29/18 started off at Old First Reformed UCC and, as often happens, Pastor Michael delivered an inspiring message.  At the core were two messages.  1) We must not be afraid (in fact we are called) to talk about why and how we do God's work in our communities.  And 2) we need to love one another.  I agree with both, but the idea of loving all really resonates with me.  I do my best, in my life, to express love to all.  Be nice to others, help others when we can, no matter what.  As is written in today's inspirational scripture passage (1 John 4:21):       "The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also" So let's take that to heart, listen to the Beatles singing in agreement, and honoring the scripture with the number 421.  As we say at OFR: LOVE FIRST! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csyHN...

It was the 118th year of 2018 today and 4/28/18 was the 13th Little League Picture Day that I have been a part of.  Ever since Alexa started, we have been present at Picture Day and this was the first year we were at Picture Day and none of our kids were being photographed.  But the Snack Stand was hopping and we had a lot of fun.  So it's day #2 for 13 as our number of the day.  Maybe Lucky 13 was the reason we had such great weather.  And, for our song, this Def Leppard classic! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZ5bS3_BCDs

Whelp, tonight, 4/27/2018, was the last dance at Oaklyn Public School that a Sherr child will attend.  The 117th day of 2018 was the date of the Spring Fling Dance at OPS.  Driving the kids from the school to the diner, I realized that this is the first of many lasts that we will be experiencing this year and through the next few years as things change.  In honor of the last dance, we will play Last Dance by diva Donna Summer and we will honor the number 1978, the year of its release. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqZY8P42pLo

Ever since 1916, Penn students have been celebrating Hey Day.  The 116th day of 2018 was no different and we had glorious weather for the picnic, procession, and proclamation.  But 4/26/18 was also the first day of the Penn Relays and also Take your Child to Work day at Penn.  A collision of traditions all together and it gave the campus a special vibe today.  For the number, I have chosen 1916 since that was the start of the Hey Day tradition and, since we are focusing on traditions today, how about a song from Fiddler on the Roof?? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ty_vRNGsTIM

We are getting into the throes of Little League season.  Twelve years ago, Alexa started playing Tee Ball on a team coached by my friend Ron.  Also on the team was the daughter of Kathy Press, and this is when we met.  So, on the 115th day of 2018, National Hug a Plumber Day, I send out a virtual hug to my good friend, Kathy, who also happens to be a plumber!  On 4/25/18 we will have the number 12 as our number of the day (since we have been friends for 12 years) and listen to this Queen classic song! <3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaZpZQG2z10

The 114th day of 2018 is also the 25th wedding anniversary of my good friends (and Sarah's brother and his wife), Chris and Jackie Walters.  Although they were already married for 19 months when we met, I feel like I can celebrate 25 years along them on 4/24/18.  They are extremely important people in my life.  The parents of my Godson, the Godparents of both of my kids, the emergency contact and calls and helpers and friends and FAMILY!  So we will honor 25 as the number of the day and play their wedding song which, of course, is a Disney Classic.  HAPPY ANNIVERSARY <3!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZ1Rb9hC4JY

4/23/18 is day #113 of 2018.  It's also National Take a Chance Day.  Apologies for not being more inspired - I have not much to say - number will be 113 for day #113, and the ABBA classic will be the song.  Off to Bed! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-crgQGdpZR0

The 112th day of 2018 is Earth Day!  On 4/22/18 we spent the entire day outside, but it was because of a softball tournament, not doing anything to help our planet.  But we should be helping our planet each and every day, not just on April 22nd.  To show our dedication to the cause we will use Michael Jackson's song about the Earth as our song of the day and our number will be 1970, the year of the first Earth Day. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAi3VTSdTxU

I found out that the 111th day of 2018 was also National Record Store Day.  Being that 4/21/18 was a palindromic day, it was hopefully destined to be good.  And it was.  Filled with a lot of softball (two wins, one loss, no home runs) and family hanging out, I am heading to bed sun soaked and tired.  We'll be back at it on the softball field all day tomorrow.  But, tonight, let's listen to "Play that Song" to remember and celebrate browsing through records at stores and the number 45 will be our number, because I still own 45s..... yes, I am old. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5qWnG5RQTk

At the end of the 16th week of 2018 I am very proud of my kids.  On Wednesday, Anna was chosen by her School to participate in the 8th Grade Dialogue for the Camden County School Board Association.  She did great!  And then, today, on the 110th day of 2018, Alexa had 2 HR (over the fence!) and pitched a complete game in Colls' 13-7 win!  4/20/18 ended with us having a family dinner and family TV time.  But the PROUDEST moment was at the restaurant when a neighbor came up and complimented me on how nice and respectful my kids are.  So I go to be tonight a happy father.  And, no matter what else is going on in my life and in the news, being a happy father is a good thing.  To honor their birthdays, 4261 will be the number of the evening.  And, since we have tried to raise them to be humble and kind, we will enjoy Tim McGraw. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awzNHuGqoMc

4/19/18 is National High Five Day!  I am feeling sick so I am going to bed early and not writing much tonight (sorry).  On the the 109th day of 2018 we will honor the number 5 and listen to They Might Be Giants sing about High Fives!  <SMACK> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVtW4O9XWL8

I returned to my roots on the 108th day of 2018.  4/18/18 was the main day of Quaker Days for this year and I joined my former colleagues at the School of Nursing (yup - I took a PTO Day to go back in time) and schmooze and present.  It was a fun reminder of days past.  And it truly is what I love, talking to people about Penn and trying to convince them to join us on campus.  It was my 18th Preview Day.  This is the event that convinced my wife to come to Penn (I was not working at Nursing at the time!) so it has that connection for me as well.  18 will be the number of the day for the 2nd time this year and the most welcoming Disney song I can think of will be our song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afzmwAKUppU

Driving to work this morning, I heard that today is National Bat Appreciation Day.  4/17/18 was a day for people to celebrate bats, the order of mammals providing over 20% of the world's mammals species.  So, on the 107th day of 2018, 20% (I guess this is 0.2) will be our number of the day and the theme song from one of my favorite shows will be our song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSaDPc1Cs5U

4/16/18 was Patriot's Day in Boston.  And the 106th day was also the Boston Marathon.  Sadly the Boston Red Sox game was rained out, but an American woman won the Marathon for the first time in over two decades (Desiree Linden took the women's race Monday with a time of  2 hours, 39 minutes and 53 seconds).  I will likely never run a marathon, but I will always feel connected to the Boston Marathon because of my friends who have run it and remembering the day the race was bombed and the effects it had on my co-workers at Nursing.  Let's honor Boston with one of my favorite songs from the band, Boston.  And let us honor Desiree with our number of 2396.53. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSR6ZzjDZ94

The 105th day was Jackie Robinson Day in the MLB.  On 4/15/18 we saw all players wearing the retired #42 to honor a man that changed the face of America.  So 42 is the only logical choice for the number of the day and I found this song gem as well. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qs0dXrV1Sk8

For the the 10th time in 11 years, I was in attendance as Oaklyn Little League held its Opening Day Ceremonies.  The only one I have missed since Alexa started playing for Little League was 2016 when both options were snowed and then rained out.  The 104th day of 2018 also marked the start of the 10th season I have run the Little League Snack Stand in Oaklyn.  A job I love.  And it was awesome, on 4/14/18, to see the kids have so much fun, to enjoy the nice weather, and have the support of wonderful neighbors that helped so I could make Alexa's Opening Day game in Merchantville.  It's a labor of love for more than just me, in Oaklyn!  For the song, we have to choose Take Me Out to The Ballgame and I LOVE this 1908 version (I think I have posted it before, probably in 2016 for a song of the day).  And, for our number, we will celebrate the 10th season of snack stand as well as the "Perfect 10" weather we had today.  Now I am tired and heading to be...

Nine years ago we lost a legend!  Growing up, I spent many an evening listening to the Phillies on the radio (heck, as an adult, I still do).  But 4/13/18 is the 9-year anniversary of the death of Harry Kalas who blessed us with his dulcet tones on Phillies broadcasts for 38 years.  How awesome that the player of the game on this 103rd day of 2018 was Jorge Alfaro, #38, in a 2-1 Phillies win.  #38 (also one of the leaders of the Phillies in the 90s) will be our number of the evening and we will enjoy the dulcet tones of another great, Sinatra, singing Harry's classic song.  RIP Harry the K! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWR3IkfHdLE

On 4/12/2018, something happened I have been waiting for.  The van's odometer finally hit 88888.  And I got a picture of it.  I am tired on the 102nd day of 2018, it has been a long day of work, snack stand, errands, and email.  88,888 is the number of the night and since I drove thousands of miles to get to this number, we'll let Vanessa Carlton sing us home. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cwkej79U3ek

I like numbers, we all know this.  4/11/18 made me think of 411.  Back in the day, one dialed 411 to get information from an operator.  Now, our "411" all comes from the Internet.  And the Internet collects 411 on us as well.  On the 101st day of 2018, a glorious palindromic day, we will honor the number 411 and play a song from the INFORMATION Society (get it??)  Goodnight! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiO3gY2apOc

Day #100 of 2018 started off in Houston Hall, Hall of Flags at the Division of Finance Annual Meeting.  and, on 4/10/18, I really did enjoy the presentation from Penn's Positive Psychology Program.  I try, no matter what happens, to remain positive and optimistic.  This is sometimes laughed at, but today it was supported.  SO, since it is day 100 and I agreed (almost 100%) with what was presented, we will take the easy way out again and have 100 be the number of the day and, for the song, here is Bing singing a song I usually relate as a Jungle Book song, but he and the Andrews Sisters do a nice job! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Qk9o_ZeR7s

2018's 99th day was packed.  On 4/9/18 there was work, lunch with a good friend, more work, first night of Little League Snack Stand, Church Elders Meeting, ChildrenSong rehearsal, Softball hitting, fundraiser for CultureFest, oh and I filled the van's gas tank as well.  So, being tired after all of this, I will take the easy way out and just go with 99 as the number of the day.  And Nena's classic 99-themed song as well.  Goodnight! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=La4Dcd1aUcE

The 98th day started off (as Sundays do) at Church.  It was a Baptism on 4/8/18 and so I was already in a good mood because of that.  Then, we had a wonderful sermon from the grandfather of the baby to be baptized.  And it was about the necessity for truth.  Not only in our words, but also in our deeds.  In these troubling political times, the need for truth (in words AND deeds) has never been so important.  I want to call out, for the scripture of the day, these words from 1 John. 1 John 3:18 "Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth." Yes, we need truth, my friends.  So let's do what we can to be true in our words and actions.  So the number of the day is 318 and True is also the song of the night as well. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AR8D2yqgQ1U

The 97th day of 2018 was spent setting up the Snack Stand for Little League (leisurely, since Opening Day was moved to next week since winter does not want to leave us).  But, on 4/7/18, we're not going to focus on that event, we'll celebrate National Zoo Lovers Day.  We love the zoo, in our family, and, hopefully, Alexa will be volunteering there soon.  Coincidentally, Sarah and I watched the end of Zookeeper on TV today and we will use Talk To the Animals as the song of the day.  Since the Phila. Zoo opened in 1874, that will be our number of the day! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvMcKbo0vYc

The whole family was home on the 96th day of 2018.  I was home from work, sick.  But Sarah had the day scheduled off and the day was about the girls.  Softball, the Zoo, family movie, a Sweet 16, the girls had a fun time and that is what is important.  On 4/6/18, it was National Love Our Children Day, and, although we love our children every day, today was great because we were with them all day (well, at least Sarah was).  The number of the day is 2 for our kids, but we'd do almost anything for their friends as well!  Whitney said it best, children are our future - let's teach them well! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYzlVDlE72w

The 95th day of 2018 was the first day the Phillies would play at home in the 2018 season.  So 4/5/2018 found us, as usual, in the 400 level cheering on our team.  And, for the first time since 2011, they won on Opening Day and, although it was cold and windy, we had a great time.  They played this song at the game and I thought "boom, this is the song of the day!" since the boys ARE back in town today and the number of the day is 162 to honor the 162 game season (marathon) on which the team has just embarked.  PLAY BALL! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQo1HIcSVtg

4/4/18 was the 94th day of 2018 and also, apparently National Hug a Newsperson Day.  I feel like, these days, most newspeople (TV, Radio, and print media) need a hug.  This Post-Truth time is a hard time in which to live.  But, putting aside scandals and bickering, let us, instead celebrate that the word “newsman” dates back to 1596 with 1596 as our number and, since the Beatles started their wonderful song with "I read the news today, Oh Boy!" and that is appropriate for today as well, A Day in the Life can be our song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usNsCeOV4GM

The 93rd day of 2018 was a strange weather day.  Of course it was, since 4/3/18 is National Rainbow Day.  I did not see a rainbow today, so let's Sing a Rainbow (reminds me of Captain Noah) and honor the number 7 (amazingly for the first time this year) for the official number of colors in the rainbow (ROYGBIV). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRTdq0VsLGQ

I have been waiting for the 92nd day of 2018 for a long time.  At 2:16PM on 4/2/18, the 16th anniversary of the day our lives changed was marked as Alexa Faith officially turned 16.  If it seems as if we have been celebrating all weekend, I guess we have.  But you only turn 16 once, right?  For the number of the day we will use 16 for a 3rd time (16 is in the lead for the number of the year I guess), and, for our song, I looked for a 16-related song.  But most of them are a bit creepy if you listen to the words, so I am going to use the song that inspired Alexa's name, a Billy Joel classic. Goodnight All!  And, Happy Birthday, Alexa! <3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVlDSzbrH5M

4/1/18 was Easter (no Foolin'!)  And the 91st day of 2018 started at Old First's Easter Services.  Easter, to me, starts with Easter Brass.  Even before I attended Church regularly, I found myself in Church on Easter (everyone needs a tuba player, right??).  I really fell in love with Church Music in these times and this is not a surprise as music is so foundation in my life.  Easter was filled with music, family, food, and fun.  A great day!  Since the Hallelujah Chorus made a return to OFR this year (and was really moving, I got goosebumps), I am going with it as the song of the day, played by my favorite brass quintet (Canadian Brass) and the number is 56, the Händel-Werke-Verzeichnis (HCW, Handel's catalog) number for the piece.  Happy Easter All! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxYLdSm5EXk