2018: By The Numbers

The 334th day of 2018 is the last day of November.  Only one month left in 2018.  I am both glad to have the chance turn the page on this turbulent year and also a bit overwhelmed by how fast time is going.  Tomorrow is December and that means CHRISTMAS IS COMING!  The number of the day will be the number of days remaining, 31!  And John Denver and the Muppets sing about the holiday that is on its way. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TW7NiFZlhI

It was a strange palindromic 333rd day of 2018.  I was not feeling well this morning, so I stayed home and took a sick day.  So today was both good (I got to wear sweatpants) and bad (my stomach felt bad all day).  And, on 11/29/18, I again did not know what I would post for my daily reflection. So I went to my go to place (National Day Calendar) and found out that today is Electronic Greetings Day.  Now, for me, every day is electronic greetings day since I make at LEAST one FB post to you all each day.  So, recognizing that, I am going to the same well I have a few times this year and am holding the current number of my FB Friends (4,423) as my number of the day.  And, my favorite song with Electric in the title is this 80s classic from Eddy Grant.  HELLO to all and GREETINGS! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtPk5IUbdH0

On the 6th day after the 4th Thursday of November (i.e. the Wednesday after Thanksgiving), the Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center was lit.  We love watching this event, not because the music is anything special, but we love the moment when they light the large, majestic tree.  And they lit the Philadelphia City Hall tree as well tonight!  To celebrate Christmas Trees, our number will be 2,555.  Because that is about how many days (a little under seven years) that it takes for a Christmas Tree to be grown to full-size on a Christmas Tree farm (almost 15,000 in the US!)  And, a really nice version of O Christmas Tree will be our song of the evening.  We're getting our tree soon!!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNlyrxDRavA

Another "made up" holiday on the 331st day of 2018.  11/27/18 is a professed day of giving, "Giving Tuesday," if you will, but I do not give on this day.  I do give many of the other 364 days of the year but, as I said to someone else today, I guess I do not like to be told when to give.  But, giving is key and today's number is 390.05 billion, for the dollar estimate of what was given to charities and foundations each year!  And, since the stewardship theme at my church this year is Dr. Seuss' book, The Giving Tree, I will use the song of the same name from the Plain White Ts.  Hope you all give as well (but not necessarily today :-D ) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wGhqtWR4uo

Some days are busy (like today with work and then the Penn Band Elections) and I do not always have time to think about my daily number.  So, on 11/26/18, I checked the National Day Calendar and saw it is National Cake Day.  I then Googled "cake number" and got my number for Day #330 of the year.  Not really a number, the "cake number" is actual a function that gets a series of numbers.  Kinda cool - 1, 2, 4, 8, 15, 26, 42, 64, 93, …  And, I had to pick a song, so I am bopping along to this DNCE song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWaRiD5ym74

On the 329th day of 2018, we started the day at Church (of course, it's Sunday!).  And, on 11/25/18 (hey, one month to Christmas!), I was the lector, reading the day's scriptures.  One of them this morning, was Psalm 72.  To me, this Psalm is about our desires for future (and dare I say current) leaders of the world.  It implores God to give them wisdom and grace to know and to do their duty.  And these verses stuck out to me:                                    May the mountains bring prosperity to the people,                                        the hills the fruit of righteousness.                                    May he defend the afflicted among the people     ...

On the 328th day of 2018 we participated in a town parade.  It was awesome.  But 11/24/18 is also Small Business Saturday.  So, to honor that, our number of the day is 27.9 million.  That is the approximate number of small businesses in the United States.  So, in addition to that number, we will listen to Bachman Turner Overdrive sing about taking care of them.  In this holiday season, do not forget your neighborhood small businesses. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCIUf8eYPqA

11/23/2018 is the 327th Day of 2018.  But, more importantly, it is the day after Thanksgiving!  And no, that does not mean shopping for the Sherr Family (I pretty much boycott shopping on Black Friday).  We see movies instead.  And today we had a family excursion to see Ralph Breaks the Internet.  Another quality Disney experience!  But, the other important event today was the start of the Christmas Music Season.  I try not to listen to any holiday music until the pie is cleared from the table on Thanksgiving.  But today, the XM Channel 4 Holly was on the radio and we were singing along!  I do not like that the holiday songs start after Halloween, but I also do not like that most stations stop playing on 12/26.  Christmas Season, for me, goes until the 12th day of Christmas.  So, in 2018, we have the longest holiday music season possible - 45 days!  so 45 will be the number of the day, and one of the songs that ALWAYS has me si...

On the 326th day of 2018, I am so thankful.  Not just because it is Thanksgiving, but because I am part of an amazing family that always gets together on Thanksgiving Day.  Thankful for the cooks who made an amazing, scrumptious feast!  But more thankful that we could easily make the 109 mile trip down the PA Turnpike to spend invaluable times with those that we love.  109 (for the miles traveled (each way) is today's number of the day.  And Madness sings about what were doing a lot of today, Driving in Our Car!  HAPPY THANKSGIVING! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rV1_7R_3cXA

On this Thanksgiving Eve, Day #325 of the year, I have so much to be thankful for.  My family, my community, a job that released at 2PM today (and the ability to take advantage of it), the same job that gives us Thursday AND Friday off, and so much more.  But, on 11/21/18, the thing I am MOST thankful for is the AQI (Air Quality Index) reading of 23, the current AQI where my mom and dad live in CA.  The smoke has been mostly washed away by rain and fresher air that accompanied it and, for that, I say THANKS!  The number of the day is that AQI (23) and Phil Collins sings my feelings for all of the affected areas in all of CA. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EnN-jwdhtY

Not much happened on the 324th day of 2018.  Mainly because, on 11/20/2018, I stayed home from work because I was feeling under the weather.  But, surfing tonight, looking for an inspiration, I found out that today is National Absurdity Day!  How crazy is that?  A few Googles later, I found that, in the Third Century, Diophantus referenced the equation 4x + 20 = 0 and called the solution absurd.  So, on this crazy day, in this crazy time, the solution for x (-5) will be our number of the day.  And my favorite "crazy" song will be from Prince!  CRAZY! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXJhDltzYVQ

On 11/19/2018, Thanksgiving Week commenced.  Today I am thankful for the palindromic day #323 of the year.  And I am thankful for Band Traditions that are filled with food, friends, and fun.  But, I am MOST thankful of my family, and the impending Thanksgiving spent with them.  It'll be the 25th Thanksgiving I spend with Sarah, and I am looking forward to many, many more.  The number of the day is, thus, 25.  And Dido sings the expression I would like to say to my family, every night! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TO48Cnl66w

Another Day (the 322nd of 2018) and another Birthday.  11/18/18 is the 90th birthday for one Mickey Mouse (and the 49th for my good friend, Brian Greenberg!).  So, the number of the day can only be 90 (and I should start making plans to be in Orlando on 11/18/28 (if the Earth lasts that long!)).  And, the song is pretty obvious as well! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGrgWM7gp1s

11/17/2018, the 321st day of the year, is also the birthday of Gordon Lightfoot.  I really like his voice and when I hear his songs (usually on XM's the Bridge), they bring me back to the Living Room of 911 S. 47th Street and listening to my parents' albums.  Good memories.  One of my favorite songs by him is Sundown.  So the number of the day is 443 (since today's Sundown was 4:43), and, of course, Sundown is our song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8rR7E6NfY4

On the evening of 11/16/18, we had a great OMAYSC Gym Night.  39 students, 5 counselors, and 7 chaperones were present to watch the unveiling of the new indoor GaGa Court!  And I was relieved on the 320th day of 2018, because I was worried something was going to go wrong.  But, as often happens, my worries were unfounded.  We will celebrate with the number 51 (the number of participants in all facets of the Gym Night) and celebrate healthy living and exercise with Olivia Newton-John! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrZ135fWzwU

11/15/18 was the Great American Smokeout.  I remember these from my childhood as being a lot more publicized as so many people were smoking.  Now, the statistics show that 3,800 children under 18 had their first cigarette (or vape) on the 319th day of the year.  Not good.  We must stop this trend in our kids.  And hope that the adults heed the warnings as well.  3,800 is our number of the day, for we must focus on making this number smaller (to approach 0!)  And I found this appropriate song as well. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rqW_ogLhP4

I once again was listening to Breakfast with the Beatles on the morning of the 318th day of the year.  And this is how I discovered that 11/14/18 is National Pickle Day.  Now, I actually do not like pickles, but it seems that Americans do, averaging 8.5 pounds of pickles a year.  Someone must be eating MY share (wow, that is 17 pounds!)  Our number of the day will be 8.5 for that volume consumed, and I found this crazy Charlie Puth song that I am still processing..... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQNV0yJOkX8

As we do in our household in the evening during basketball season, we had Women's Basketball on the TV.  And, on the evening of the 317th day of the year, we watched Rutgers win.  It was Coach C. Vivian Strunger's 1,000 win, only the 7th women's coach to reach that milestone.  I have enjoyed watching Coach Stringer's teams for years!  So, the number for 11/13/18 is 1,000 to honor and respect this achievement.  And, speaking of respect, Aretha will sing about what we should have for the coach. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FOUqQt3Kg0

The 316th day of 2018 did not go as I thought it would.  On 11/12/18, Alexa woke up with a fever so I had to take the day off to get her to the pediatrician and to make sure she was OK.  One of the benefits of this day (besides being able to wear sweatpants all day!) was watching the Princess Bride with her.  A perfect sick day (or, as someone stated below, ANY day) movie.  As the movie came out in 1987, that will be our number of the day.  And our song with be the love song theme from the movie.  AS YOU WIIIIIIIIIIIIIIISH! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ifSUhwmIMU

On the 315th day of 2018, I thought a lot about those who have served our country.  That is because 11/11/18 is Veterans Day.  So, the number of the day is 20.4 million, the number of Veterans estimated by the Census Bureau.  And, for a song, I wanted to find one that said "thank you."  So Natalie Merchant's classic is in my ears tonight.  THANK YOU to all that have served! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAwyIad93-c

Day #314 was another day spent with the family, looking at more college campuses.  And I thoroughly enjoyed 11/10/2018.  But, for tonight's post, I want to focus on the birthday of the US Marines.  In 1775, on 11/10, the Continental Congress established the Continental Marines and the rest, as they say, is history.  SO, Happy Birthday USMC, and THANK YOU, to all of my Marine friends for ALL of the men and women who serve overseas (and in the US) to keep this country secure and free.  1775 is the obvious choice for the number of the day, and the Marine Corps Hymn is the most appropriate song for the occasion. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaXEeGyd_0o

The 313th day of 2018 was all about faith and numbers.  We spend the day touring and visiting more college campuses in Boston, Mass.  11/9/18 was about Alexa FAITH's options for the next steps.  And the numbers were plentiful, palindromic 313 day; numbers of applications, numbers they may be looking for, numbers of alumni interviews, etc.  And, we capped off this fine day by seeing dear friends (it has been TOO long) and having Chinese Food.  And the capstone fortune cookie stayed in theme, "Fear knocked at the door.  Faith answered,  No one was there."  Faith over Fear is a good suggestion!  And then the numbers will be the lucky numbers from the back of the fortune: "24 17 19, 47, 48, 6.  THOSE will be our numbers of the day! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Cs3Pvmmv0E

I walked 5,931 steps on the 312th day of 2018.  Because 11/8/2018 was another college tour day, this time at Boston University.  It could have been many more steps, but I begged off the campus tour portion when my back was stiffening up.  But we did take a family walk from our hotel to dinner, and that assisted in my number.  So 5,931 is our number of the day and, since the steps were in Boston, let's let Boston sing about more than just the City, but also their identity as well. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ef65cLi1gpY

Day 311 of 2018 was filled with a day of work, pre-dance pictures, the Homecoming Dance for Alexa and Anna, and a lot of shuttling of kinds to and fro.  But now, as 11/7/2018 is ending, we are packing for a trip to Boston for a college visit trip!  Four colleges in less than 72 hours.  We will drive 302 miles to Boston University tomorrow, so 302 will be our number of the day.  And so, we are going to have a Boston Classic from Neil Diamond be the song of the night. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2w-_Vtttrfc

11/6/18 was a day we have been waiting for since 11/8/16.  On the 310th day of 2018, not all of the results were the way we wanted, but progress was made.  It was a dark and rainy day today, but it is likely that tomorrow will be bright and sun-filled.  So, sometimes we have to wait a bit until things are completely better.  So, let's celebrate the progress that was made today.  Let's celebrate the end of annoying political ads on TV (replaced by annoying holiday sales ads).  And let's honor the number 218, which will likely be surpassed, providing needed checks (and hopefully more balance).  And, just as with the weather, Annie can sing about the state affairs all over. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZq-G6wEH6k

The 309th day of 2018 was National Doughnut Day!  And, on NDD, I had no doughnuts - ZERO.  But, I do like doughnuts and hope people enjoyed them all day on 11/5/2018.  But, since I had none, 0 is our number of the day.  And, for our song, I found this strange song about Donuts! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_5fwEUJzK0

On the 308th day of 2018, the Sherr Family went on our first college visit.  11/4/2018 was a trip to Galloway, NJ with a side trip to an Atlantic City campus as well.  We visited Stockton University and we will visit many more.  This journey to Fall 2020 matriculation will be a climb, if you will.  But I am determined to enjoy the ride!  The number of today is 6,020, the number of steps my phone says I took today (looks like this college search will be good for my exercise routine!) and our song is Miley's Cyrus' song about journeys and climbs.  We shall see where we end up. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NG2zyeVRcbs

As we head to bed on the 307th Day of 2018, we are preparing to "Fall Back" and gain an extra hour at the end of Daylight's Savings Time.  I actually prefer the sunlight in the evening and do not mind dark in the AM, but I am in the minority, it seems, and, either way, times-a-changing on 11/3/2018.  The number of the day is 701, since we had that many minutes of sunlight today.  And, for a song, I found this country song about Falling Back.  Enjoy! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpZ82oU_UQc

I heard on the radio, on the 306th Day of 2018, that today, 11/2/18, is National Ohio Day!  Now, as a native Pennsylvanian, living now in NJ, I'm probably not supposed to like Ohio, but I have so many good friends from there AND we drove to Ohio to get our awesome dog, Skylar.  SO, today's number is 17, since Ohio was the 17th state of the US, and the Drew Carey Theme Song is our song, since many Ohioans think Cleveland Rocks! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKDjis1fg8E

Today was 11/1/18 and the 305th day of 2018 is also All Saints Day.  So, today, I have been remembering all of the saints in my life, Past and Present Day.  And they are really good memories.  So, for the number of the day, we will go with 10,000+ (because, as I found on a Google Search, there are over 10,000 named saints and beati from history).  And this amazing hymn is our song of the day. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bL65dMLHBw0