2018: By The Numbers

Good Friends are invaluable and timeless.  And the 212th palindromic day is the birthday of my dear friend and colleague Linda Turner!  7/31/18 is Linda's 62nd birthday, so 62 will be our number of the day and I found this Frank Sinatra gem for our song.  Linda, it was great speaking with you today.  I love you! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5B8tHFJvAM

It is a blessing to like your in-laws.  And I do!  I just found out that the 211th day of 2018 is also National Father-In-Law Day.  So, since it is already 7/30/18 and I cannot mail to the 17406 zip code in time (this is where my FIL, Jim lives), I'll use a song from another Jim (Croce) and use the zip (17406) as our number of the day.  Lots of love to my FIL, Jim! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpVDuemlW4Q

The 210th day of 2018 was also Skylar Sherr's 5th Birthday.  And, sure, she's a dog, but she's OUR dog.  We celebrated, on 7/29/18, with her getting her annual Mr. Softee and a little more human food than she should have had.  But she's our awesome companion and one day is AOK, I guess.  For today's number will be 5, Skylar's age, and Elvis will sing us home! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eHJ12Vhpyc

So it was a casual conversation about risotto that escalated into a "Risotto Throwdown" event that escalated into what we now know as the Annual Gupta Fest!   A family reunion of sorts for the Penn Band that was held today, 7/28/2018.  So with appreciation for the Gupta Family for hosting and memories of good food, fun, and friends we, on the 209th day of 2018, honor 2010 as the number of the day since the initial event was held in 2010 (8/28/2010) and we play a little party song from Sam Cooke! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-5zlj49ugk

It's 7/27/18 and that is National New Jersey Day!  Now I still consider myself a Native Philadelphian and. thus a Pennsylvanian, but I have now lived in NJ for over 18 years so, on this 208th day of 2018 I will embrace my NJ residency and use 1787 as the number of the day (the year NJ joined the US) and listen to some Bon Jovi.... because NEW JERSEY! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vx2u5uUu3DE

76 is a great number.  I have used it before but, on the 207th day of 2018 it is appropriate to be our number of the day again!  That is because, on 7/26/18, my Uncle, DJ Rockin' Ron Sherr turned 76.  My uncle is the youngest 76-year old you'll ever meet.  His life's love (besides his family) is his work, bringing music and fun (and photos) to people everywhere he goes.  I have been the beneficiary of his fun many, many times and I look forward to many, many more.  76 is our number and this classic song entitled Mr. DJ is our song.  So Happy Birthday to my favorite DJ, HAPPY BIRTHDAY UNCLE RON! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FMmFqkxDzg

I was listening to the Phillies as I worked in my office on the 206th day of 2018.  And, on 7/25/18, they won (excellent) AND it was Christmas in July at Citizens Bank Park.  Christmas is one of my favorite seasons, so we will have 153 as the number of the day (153 days until Christmas!) and, bucking a rule I have (no Christmas Music before the dessert is cleared from Thanksgiving), we will play the Band Aid classic song (because it reminds us to give to those who are less fortunate than we are - which is a good message for ANY season). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjQzJAKxTrE

Today, the 205th day of 2018, my daughter played 8 hours of Field Hockey!  First, on 7/24/18, Alexa had her second day of field hockey camp - 7 hours long.  Then, the CHS FH Summer League team won their last game and finished the season UNDEFEATED!  So, for the number of the day, I will go with 480 for the number of minutes of the eight hours of FH (yes, she is tired).  And, look, I found a song about being undefeated!  Goodnight! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oL9MaO_jZ5A

Day #204 of 2018 was the first day back to work after vacation.  And it was a good day on 7/23/18 and then I came home to watch the Phillies.  Now, that does not sound that extraordinary, but two things made it a notable game.  First, the Phillies and the Dodgers are playing each other while they are both in first place.  This has not happened since June 7, 2009 (in LA).  3,333 days ago - a plaindromic sign perhaps?  Well, no, although the Phillies won that game in LA, they lost the game tonight, sadly.  But, secondly, tonight marked the last regular season series opener that Chase Utley will play in Philadelphia.  So many Philadelphians love Utley's grit and the fact that he helped bring a championship to Philadelphia!  So, for the number of the night, we will focus on 3,333.  But, for the song, we will honor Chase and play his walk up song! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsaFBNvhceA

The 203rd day of 2018 was truly the last day (the buffer day, if you will) of our Family Vacation.  It has made me appreciate the 24-PTO days that we are offered as Penn employees.  I also appreciate the value they have for me as a time to refuel and replenish.  I hope I have done so this week and am turning in early to ensure I am awake and alert tomorrow so that I can, as a wise person said to me today, show people the value of these PTO days as tasks are tackled and projects are completed.  For the number, we have 24 for the number of days we are granted.  And, for the song, a non-sequitor song from Lindsey Buckingham that, at least, has a connection to vacations (or, Vacation, if you will). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbL3NfWJUQs

7/21/18 was day #202 of 2018.  As a palindromic day, it was a good day.  But, today also marked the end of our family vacation.  Eight days of vacation with a buffer Sunday tomorrow, and it's back to work Monday.  So we'll hold up 8, which amazingly has yet to be the number of the day, for the number of days (or parts thereof) we had together at the beach and, while searching the "The End" songs, I found this New Edition classic SO, even though it is tangentially connected, we will use it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ssoe6LshLo

I did something on the 201st day of 2018 that I had not done since the Summer of 2017.  On 7/20/18 I FINISHED A BOOK!  And it was a great book: Fredrik Backman's "A Man Called Ove."  It made me laugh, it made me cry, and it made me think (mainly about MY curmudgeonly life!)  It was 337 pages long and I finished it over parts of the last two days.  It was hard to put down!  I hold up 337 as the number of the day and, since Ove is a Swedish fellow, I want to present a song from ABBA, my favorite Swedish band.... Thank You for the Music ... I recommend this book.  Goodnight! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dcbw4IEY5w

It's Thursday, so that means our family vacation, sadly, is soon coming to an end.  But, instead of being maudlin on the 200th day of 2018, I want to celebrate the good today.  7/19/18 was a day of relaxing, board games, good food, family, sea breezes, and fun.  Just as vacation is supposed to be.  So, let's honor Sea Isle City with the number 1,882 (since it was originally incorporated in 1882) and, for our son, even though SIC has a Promenade, not a Boardwalk, we'll head to bed humming this Drifters classic! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPEqRMVnZNU

As I was driving on the 199th day of 2018, I heard, on the radio that 7/18/18 is National Hot Dog Day!  Of course, we had hot dogs (and burgers, and shrimp, and corn) for dinner tonight.  The number of the day will be the estimated number of hot dogs that are consumed in the US in a year - 20 BILLION!  That is 70 per person per year!  Well, Joey Chestnut had more than that on July 4th alone!  :-)  For the song, I could only think of this old chestnut of a commercial so I present it to you here! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fQwJdXFQlU

The 198th day of the year is always a special one to me.  Especially in non-Leap Years.  The 198th day of 2018, 7/17/18, was extremely special as it is Sarah and my 19th anniversary (as you can see plastered on my FB page) as well as day 4 of our family vacation.  It was a great day and I am happy to be here at the beach with people I love.  There is no question what the number for today should be.  Although 19 and 1999 would have been good choices, 717 is the way to do.  I love telling Sarah I love her at 7:17AM and 7:17PM (when we are together).  717 is our number (and is a special number for me on all days).  And, as our song, our wedding song, sung not by The Platters (the song of the day from 7/17/16), but this time by Roy Orbison!  Goodnight! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_FVRK_xzvU

The 197th day of 2018 found us still at the beach, day #3 of the Sherr Family Vacation.  It was a wonderful day on 7/16/18, but even more wonderful is that it was the birthday of my sister-in-law, Jackie Walters.  So more love and appreciation here to Jackie and we will honor 1969 (the year of her and my birth) as our number of the day.  AND, proving that you can find almost anything on the Internet - one of our strangest songs of the day yet - HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JACKIE! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPb4QhNdUxM

We all know (or should know) that 1776 was the year of this country's "birth," its independence.  On July 4th, we celebrated that day, but on 7/15/18 we celebrated National Ice Cream Day.  And, after a relaxing day #196 of 2018 spent on the beach here in Sea Isle, we had a nice dinner and then had ICE CREAM.  Amazingly, 1776 has not yet been a number of the day so, today, it is!  And I found this strange nugget from Van Halen I will use as the song of the day. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2RKWJD5ops

Ever since 2007, Summer has meant a Sherr Family Vacation for the Bicoastal family that we have become.  In 2007 it was Pacific Grove, in 2008 LBI, in 2009 Santa Cruz, and in 2010 we came to Sea Isle City and stayed in the Olandt House.  We did again in 2012 (after a SF local vaca in 2011) but in 2014 it was not available (we stayed at a different SIC locale) and, in 2016, we did the intergenerational nature experience with Road Scholar.  And now, on the 195th day of 2018, we find us back at the Olandt House.... a reprise of 8 years ago when things were simpler... but being on vacation with family is always filled with laughter and joy, and, on 7/14/18, I feel blessed to be here again!  So for our number, let's honor the first year we were her with 2010 and, since we're on VACATION, let's let the Go-Gos sing us home! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vFBg6b16kY

On 7/13/18, I could not help but think about superstitions.  It did not seem like many others felt the same on the 194th day of 2018.  I am not superstitious, but, as I said in another group, I am more ritualistic.  So, as I head into vacation mode, and away from the usual rituals, I want to hold up 713 as our number of the day because I LOVE the numbers 7 and 13, and we will listen to Stevie Wonder sing about superstitions.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CFuCYNx-1g

It was an exciting evening of the 193rd day of 2018.  On 7/12/18 (just as they had on 7/12/17), the Merchantville Mustangs won a game in the NJ State Softball Tournament!  Tonight's game was amazing.  Alexa went 4 for 4 and scored three runs, but Alexa's teammates were also amazing and there were FOUR over the fence Home Runs and two were hit by the same player.  The Mustangs won handily, ten-run ruling Bayonne and lives to play another game Saturday AM!  I almost wanted to pick 111 (in honor of the 11-1 score) but, even though it means leaving a palindrome alone, I think we will honor 7/12 with the number 712 (we need to find SOMEWHERE to play softball on 7/12/19!)  And in deference to the bombs (homeruns) that were hit today, here is a great song from the 80s from the Gap Band.  GO MUSTANGS! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17lkdqoLt44

Today was 7/11/18.  7/11 day means free Slurpees for all.  On the 192nd day of 2018, I did not actually have a free Slurpee.  But did have fond memories of my first job, at the 34th and Lancaster Avenue 7-11.  So, for the number of the day, we'll go with 711 as the number of the day and listen to the Sillhouettes sing about what I did at the tender age of 14 (got a job!) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysKhbaLyIFw

Despite the fact that it was the palindromic 191st day of 2018, and that the odometer smiled on us hitting 92229 as we pulled into the parking lot at the field, the softball gods were not as nice and our team lost the first game of the Senior Softball LL Tournament.  And, while we were sad about that on 7/10/18, we were happy to be at the Manasquan-Brielle fields, only two blocks from the beach, and the sea breezes were nice.  Also nice was that Alexa got to jump in the ocean for a few minutes after the game.  For our number of the day, we'll go with the 92229, even if it was not the omen I had hoped.  And this song by Katrina and the Waves merges the feeling of the beach, with the feeling of drawing a walk in a key moment in a softball game.  On to Thursday, we play again! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPUmE-tne5U

Pretty nondescript day on day #190 of 2018.  7/9/18 is also National Sugar Cookie Day.  The only thing notable for me is that I have ZERO unread emails as I head to bed.  So, elated about that small detail, I will present 0 as the number of the day and play this song (about sugar) from the Archies.  Goodnight! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9nE2spOw_o

Everyone who knows me knows how important music is in my life.  And, on the 189th day of 2018, music provided a great escape for us.  A moving service at Old First on the morning of 7/8/18 brought me to tears (in a good way) at the end.  And then, our kids got to escape to Penn Band Camp.  I love that social media allows for us to watch and hear them rehearse and, they sounded so good (especially since it was the first day).  This is the 15th year of Penn Band Camp, so 15 will be our number of the day.  And, since they played the Great Escape March and music provided an escape from the craziness of the world, today, let's listed to an amazing brass band play the Great Escape March! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8yAW6lXcTY

On the 188th day of 2018, we found ourselves at the 1st Birthday party for my Godson, AJ, and his twin brother, Charlie.  I have to admit, on 7/7/18, I am not 100% comfortable around babies, but I do like to watch them from afar.  Babies are the purest souls - they are hope for the future and, in these days, we need that hope desperately.  So, for the number of the day, since we've used 1 a lot, we will deem 707 (7/07) as our palindromic number of the day and listen to Justin Bieber sing about babies (OK of a different genre, but humor me!) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kffacxfA7G4

The end of a strange, choppy week found us at 7/6/2018.  And, via Google, I found out that today is National Fried Chicken Day.  I like fried chicken.........and 11 herbs and spices at KFC.  So 11 will be our number for the 4th time (lazy choice, I know, but I am tired) and we will listen to this ear worm for our song of the day (we played it at our wedding too!)  GOODNIGHT! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hb9FwlubyIQ

The evening of 7/5/2018 was an exciting one!  On the evening of the 186th day of 2018, the Merchantville Mustangs rallied from 5 runs down in the bottom of the last (7th) inning and then won it in walk-off fashion in the bottom of the 10th.  It's on to States for the second year in a row, this time in the Senior Softball Tournament.  In the Section 4 Tournament, all this team does in win!  So let's honor 4 for the Section Four that as been won for the second year in a row, and listen to DJ Khaled sing about winning. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8r_QFR_kuuo

7/4/18 was the 242nd Birthday for the USA.  And we spent most of the 185th day of 2018 celebrating.  So, tired from a parade, a BBQ, and Fireworks, we turn in celebrating 242 as the number of the day and Katy Perry's Firework playing on the radio....HAPPY FOURTH! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGJuMBdaqIw

After work on the 184th day of 2018, we waited a lot.  First we waiting in traffic to try to get to Alexa's softball game and then, due to lightning, we waited in delays for over 150 minutes.  Finally. the umpire declared there would not be a game on 7/3/18.  So, we're back at it on Thursday, only need one more game to return to States...here's hoping they can do it!  Tonight, we will use 150 as the number of the day and listen to Imagine Dragons sing about what caused our delays tonight (Thunder, Thunder, Lightning and the Thunder (thunder!)). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKopy74weus

I did not realize it until tonight, but the 183rd day of 2018 was the 1st day of the 145th year of the Philadelphia Zoo.  The Philly Zoo opened on 7/1/1874.  On 7/2/2018, Alexa had her first Zoo Crew volunteer shift.  I am proud of her putting herself out there (and surviving the 100 degree heat on her first day!)  For our daily number, we've got 145 (for the 145th year of the Zoo that just started).  And, since I already used Talk to the Animals, I grabbed Shakira's Try Everything from the movie Zootopia.  As Alexa begins her career exploration, these lyrics are appropriate: "I won't give up, no I won't give in Till I reach the end And then I'll start again No I won't leave I wanna try everything I wanna try even though I could fail" Hope you all stayed cool today and are willing to try everything! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6rP-YP4c5I

Happy Fiscal New Year!  There was a lot going on on 7/1/18.  The 182nd day started with me oversleeping and getting to Church JUST in time to do my Financial Secretary duties.....followed by errands, a brief rest, and then to the Softball Sectional Tournament (ANOTHER win!), post-game ice cream, and then shuttling Alexa and her friends around after an evening bonfire.  Lost in all this activity is any celebration of Fiscal New Year (which affects me less this year than in many years before).  BUT, I am happy to hear that PA and NJ BOTH have budgets passed and avoided governmental shutdowns!  NJ''s budget is $37.4 Billion!  Money, sigh, a necessary evil that changes everything.  For our number, let's use 37.4 Billion and sing along with Cyndi Lauper. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1wj3tqRI6Y