2018: By The Numbers

The subject matter of the 243rd day of the year (non-leap) has never changed in my daily posts. And here, on 8/31/18, the 243rd day of 2018 we are celebrating Sarah's birthday.  You know our love was meant to be when, on her first day at Penn, we found ourselves in the same place, at the same time.  Forget now that I was on the other side of a large cubicle wall and we did not actually meet that day, but the Penn Band brought us together and the rest, as they say, is history.  Great day today filled with family and ending with a walk-off extra inning HR for the Phillies.  For our number of the day, we will go with 831 (which is an anagram for MY date of birth 318 - FATE!) and since she inspires me every day, and our love WAS meant to be, we will rock out to a Chicago classic! (btw the Phillies beat CHICAGO tonight as well - FATE!) <3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idCil0mNhoo

We have reached Day #242.  A pretty good day at work and in the evening, even though this heat and humidity is really starting to get to me!  On the radio (hello Beatles Channel on XM) this morning, they were celebrating the 50th anniversary of the release of Hey Jude!  So, I picked it as the song of the day and, since today's day is a nice palindrome (and I have already used 50 for two days), let's go with 242 as the number of the day. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQER0A0ej0M

The 241st Day of 2018 was a busy day.  Work, Anna's HS Orientation, and then drove BACK to Penn for the Penn Band Intro Rehearsal.  So 8/29/18 was busy, but quite satisfying.  The number of the day is 47, for the number of new members we got today (we intend to get more the next two Mondays (9/3 and 9/10)!  And, for the Band, let's rock out to Free.  All Right!  Now! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngrIHvfl-XY

It was another hot and muggy evening on College Green on the evening of the 240th day of 2018.  After the workday on 8/28/18 had ended, I helped the President's Office by scanning PennCards at the Welcome Back Picnic for Sophomores and Juniors.  Was good to see smiling faces of students and working with my campus colleagues.  For this evening's number, we hold up 1,300, a record attendance for the Picnic this evening!  And, as our song, my favorite song with the words "Welcome Back!" - Ayyyyyyyy! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZzEzDkeHzI

Here we are, at Day 239 of 2018.  And 8/27/18 was Opening Convocation Ceremonies at Penn.  I have been marshaling and attending this ceremony for as long as I can remember.  Tonight was hot, yes, but it was an awesome start as usual to the new semester and, for 2,659 new undergraduates, their time at Penn.  So, I say WELCOME to the Class of 2022 (and Transfer Students) and hold up 2,659 as the number of the day and rock out to this song from the Black Eyed Peas!  Let's get it started! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKqV7DB8Iwg

On Day 238 of 2018, the girls went to the beach and I stayed behind to do church work and work work.  But, on 8/26/18, I also got to lie on the couch and watch the LLWS Championship Game.  And I was cheering for the eventual winners, HAWAII!  I love the LLWS, the kids, the quality of play (remember, they're 12!), the sportsmanship, the joy, it's great!  Hawaii only gave up 3 runs in the entire tournament (in 5 games - and the runs were all in ONE game).  So, the number of the day is 23 for their run differential (26 scored, 3 allowed) and, for our song, a remake of the classic TV Show theme! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwhvByj8YG8

I spent the evening of the 237th day of 2018 driving to and fro in the area.  My daughter and her friends, on 8/25/18, are getting the most out of the last days of Summer.  I am often the parent who drives all the kids hither and yon and I love it, honestly.  I call myself the SherrUber.  So, for the number of the day, let's go with 94,188 which is the odometer reading on my car (NOT all miles taking kids) and even though the van is not all that fast, I want to listen to this Tracy Chapman classic. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwrHwZyFN7M

The 236th day of 2018 was a GLORIOUS weather day.  And 8/24/18 ended great too with Sarah and the girls joining me at Rhodes Field for the Penn Women's Soccer opening game (a 5-0 WIN!)  SO for our number, we will go with 90 minutes, for the length of time in a collegiate soccer game, and listen to Portugal the Man thinking about "just for kicks," MAN! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBkHHoOIIn8

8/23/18, the 64th day of Summer and the 235th day of 2018.  A pretty normal day....so we turn to the National Daily Calendar for inspiration.  It's National Ride the Wind Day!  So, we will hold up 64 as the number of the day, and play this Chris Cross classic to celebrate! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ur8ftRFb2Ac

Whelp, as I stated yesterday, it's my 33rd NSO this Fall.  And 8/22/18 marked the Official Move-In Day for the Class of 2022.  And on the 234th day of 2018, the 279th Fall at Penn has arrived.  So, 279 is the number for today and this Flo Rida song that has, amidst a slightly inappropriate set of lyrics, a welcoming message.  Welcome Class of 2022.  Hope you like Penn, my house away from home. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsrAqP8lBdw

So 8/21/18 was also Early Move-In on Penn's Campus (big Move-In is tomorrow....<note to self for morning commute>).  Since I had the day off for some appointments, I wandered into Houston Hall for a trip back memory lane and a visit to the NSO Expo/Campus Express.  It made me remember, fondly, my times at CUPID (at LEAST 11 years from 1986 (yes I worked my Freshman CUPID) through 1996.....then things started going online (I forget when the last CUPID was) and time passed on.  But on the 233rd day of 2018, I enjoyed my NSO memories, hot and humid as they were.  But they were filled with smiles and new students and welcoming returning students back and long, satisfying days.  So, for today, I found the Sam Cooke classic, Cupid) as our song as we highlight 33 as our number of the day.  This is my 33rd NSO on Penn's Campus and I like that it continues our palindromic theme (8/10/18 through 8/19/18 and then 2018's day #232).  Welcome (Back) to Penn, S...

It's the palindromic day #232 of 2018. 8/20/18 is also National Radio Day!  In 1979, The Buggles recorded Video Killed the Radio Star, and, two years later MTV began with this video!  So for our number of the day we will hold up 1979 and listen to the Buggles. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iwuy4hHO3YQ

I love Palindromes!  And 8/19/18 is the last date in a sequence of palindromic ones.  So on the 231st day of 2018, I hold up 81918 as our number of the day.  And I present a song by someone who, it seems, likes palindromes as much as I do. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUQDzj6R3p4

We watched a lot of Little League World Series baseball on the 230th day of 2018.  It seems to me that this is baseball in its purest form.  As you saw from my prior post, I really appreciated the sportsmanship shown by the Canadian pitcher in the Canada-Spain game.  Canada ended up winning their game on 8/18/18 (what a nice palindromic day!) so you could say that they killed 'em with kindness.  48 is the number of the day, for the number of runs scored so far in some really exciting LLWS games.  And we will listen to some Selena Gomez.  Although the song may not be as serious as I am about kindness, its title is the truth.  #BeKind (and be a Good Sport!) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHP5MKgK0o8

On the 229th day of 2018, I am still mourning The Queen.  So I am just going to leave this, on 8/17/18, one of my favorite Aretha songs, from a great Movie.  1980 (the Blues Brothers release year) is our number of the day as we should all heed Aretha's suggestion - THINK! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vet6AHmq3_s

Today, the 228th day of 2018, I say a little prayer for the family and friends of Aretha Franklin and all who loved her music.  As I stated before, we lost a National Treasurer on 8/16/18 (so not a great palindromic day, but I did pass 93,939 on the odometer on the way home and that made me smile).  So I want to honor Ms. Franklin and have her DOB (32542) as our number of the day.  And, she has a nice song about saying a little prayer, and that will be our song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtBbyglq37E

The 227th day of 2018 is also National Relaxation Day.  So, on 8/15/18, I am going to relax, turn in early, and try to get 8 hours of sleep!  So 8 will be our number of the day and my favorite relaxing song from Enya is what I will listen to as I head to bed! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zkjQVh5KmQ

8/14/18 is the 226th day of 2018 and I am not feeling very inspired to make a nightly post.  SO, we will just use 226 as our number of the day and listen to this song from Traffic. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqPNf_13Kb4

It was a very rainy 225th day of 2018.  I drove to work in some torrential downpours on 8/13/18 (thank goodness for the 80s on 8 tunes that were blasting on the radio!) and I just heard that the Schuylkill River crested at 10.65 feet tonight (and may get higher as the evening progresses).  It's a lot of rain that has hit our area and there are people who have been flooded from their homes, businesses, and vehicles.  It makes me pause as the water is out of control on the East Coast while the fires blaze on the West Coast and people seem to continue to deny Climate Change.  We need to do better as a world, and especially as a country.  For our number of the day, I am going to use 10.65 and hope that the river does not get much higher.  And, for our song, well, as storms are on the horizon, the Eurythmics have the most relative song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzFnYcIqj6I

So it's the 224th day of 2018 and, being a Sunday, we started the day at Church.  Pastor Michael is doing an amazing Sermon Series on hymns and the hymn for 8/12/18 was one of my favorites.  I felt kind of guilty listening to the sorrows that befell the author of this hymn, Horacio Spafford, who was faithful throughout all of the tragedies that he experienced.  As Michael stated, would that I could be that faithful (and, I feel blessed that any trials and tribulations I have had in my life have not even come close to Horacio's).  And, throughout it all, he found the faith and strength to name his last child Grace.  GRACE!  So hoping I can experience faith and grace even half as strong as his, we will hold us 438 (the hymn number in the New Century Hymnal) as our number of the day and the hymn itself as our song of the day. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLpR_Sl2c7c

I feel so much better on the 223rd day of 2018 because today, 8/11/18, my parents and kids returned to the US (and Oaklyn, NJ) from their trip through Portugal and Spain.  I am so thankful that they were able to have this experience but, after 11 days, I am even more thankful that they returned to our home safe and sound and filled with stories.  For the number of the day, we will use 3,954 for the number of air miles traveled in their return (Porto to Madrid to Philadelphia) and we will listen to Phillip Phillips sing about home. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoRkntoHkIE

It is the start of the Palindromic period for 2018.  8/10/2018 AND 8/10/18 are both palindromes AND today is also the 222nd day of 2018.  SO, no wonder it was a good day at work and a nice, simple evening at home.  Only got 3.663 steps in (ALSO a palindrome, but I had to take an extra step when I saw it was 3,662).  But that's OK (even though it is under 5,000) because, heck, today is National Lazy Day.  So we will have 3,663 as our number of the day and rock out to Bruno Mars singing about being lazy!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLexgOxsZu0

8/9/2018, the 221st day of 2018, has come and gone.  Steps number, today, too low to mention....sorry.  But I noticed that today is National Veep Day.  So, I am going to use this daily post to honor my favorite VP of all time, Joe Biden.  He was the 47th VP of the US, so 47 is our number of the day and I will use this as an excuse to make Cotton Eye Joe the song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cuf5LNp1nbc

I missed 5,000 steps today, the 220th day of 2018.  But my knee hurt a bit and it was really hot (AGAIN) on 8/82018.  Only 4,591 steps today, but I am blaming an end-to-end meeting filled day.  I did walk through the City today to get to a friend's house for a nice dinner, and that is where I likely got most of my steps.  It was a high of 92 today, so that is our number of the day and, given I had a hot time in the summer in the city, this Lovin' Spoonful song is an obvious choice. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5bUmx-hk-c

So today's evening activity was fundraising.  On 8/7/18, selling 50/50 chances for the raffle at the Trenton Thunder inflated my step count from 2,700 (at 7PM) to 6,308 as I sit and type this today.  We walked UP and BACK and UP and BACK through Arm & Hammer Stadium on the 219th day of 2018.  And, from all of our work (there were 6 adults and 4 players who worked the stands), we raised $1,192 in ticket sales - so that is $596 for the lucky winner and $596 for MLL!  For our number, we will lift up our sales figure, 1,192) and, for our song, I think this is appropriate! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeVx1C73o8k

I am not sure why I chose to do it on one of the most humid, bad air quality days of the year, but I walked a lot (for me) on the 218th day of 2018.  On 8/6/18, I walked 5,527 steps.  Now, for many of my friends, that is actually a number to scoff at.  But, for me, it represents a good start.  I walked to my therapist appointment (so a walk AND a counseling session - double the fun!) and I walked with Sarah and Skylar (it was only around the block but, what do they say?  You have to crawl before you can walk....)  So, I will be happy (for today) with the 5,527 as the number (of steps) of the day and hope that this number gets a lot larger in the future.  And, I wanted to focus on walking today mainly because I wanted to use the Fats Domino song! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqs5gkyH930

The 217th day of 2018 is National Friendship Day!  So as I turn in on 8/5/18, I reflect on my blessing to have so many friends in my life.  I took the opportunity to check my FB friend list, again (we used it for the number of the day for 2/21 (oh how I was hoping it was 2/17)) and it stands today at 4,372.  And that does not count the many friends I have who are NOT on FB.  If we spent more time making friends instead of making enemies, I think the world would be a better place.  So, as I hold up 4,372 as the number of the day, I echo the question that WAR (ironic band name) asks in their classic song, "why can't we be friends??" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebV16Z83Ro4

I love music.  And, on the 216th day of 2018, music made me happy.  8/4/18 found Sarah and me in Avalon, NJ watching The Summer Club.  And the "Old Standards" were just amazing with three amazing men and one amazing woman doing the crooning in front of one of the best 17-piece orchestras that I have ever heard.  I think we were one of the few people who loved the instrumental music as much as we loved the singing.  For our number of the day, I give you 17, for each and every one of the amazing musicians in the band and for our song, I give you the 2nd best version of  Feeling Good that I heard tonight.  I AM feeling good as the tunes from tonight are still in my memories as I drift off to sleep. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Edwsf-8F3sI

The 215th day of 2018 is the 31st Friday of 2018.  On 8/3/2018, I am thanking God it is Friday and I was able to have a relaxing weekend with my wife, dinner and Phillies, and I can sleep in tomorrow.  31 will be our number of the day, since each Friday should be honored.  And TGIF is a song from a movie soundtrack.  Enjoy!  I am off to bed! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Je5SBsCW7NE

8/2/18 is the 214th day of 2018.  It is also National Coloring Book Day.  So for all my art-lover friends (and you should all love and appreciate love at some level if not with all your soul), I hold out the number 96 for the number of Crayola Crayons in the Deluxe Box (with the built in sharpener!!!)  And let's appreciate this classic Disney color related song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XfQxQDjKB0

As I stated yesterday, good friends are amazing.  And, as I did yesterday, I spent part of the 213th day celebrating an amazing friend.  I had lunch with Ryan Crocetto (and Kristy and Greer) on 8/1/18.  It was a good meal, but, better yet, it was good to celebrate one of the best people I know.  42 is the answer to life, the universe, and everything.  It is also the age of Koob (Ryan) and the number of today.  And the song is yet another song about friends, this one from JT.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KOOB! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEkIou3WFnM