Check out our latest edition!
(864) 309-0000 | Call00.com
November 2023
Embracing New and Old Traditions With Family A JOURNEY BACK TO MY CHILDHOOD THANKSGIVINGS
Hands down, my favorite holiday has to be Thanksgiving. I have countless memories of the days when I was just a kid running around with nearly 60 of my cousins at our massive Thanksgiving get-togethers. With my parents having over 15 brothers and sisters, there was never a shortage of relatives I could play with! Those Thanksgivings are close to my heart, and I hold these holiday traditions to this day. The reunion would always occur at one of my uncle’s or aunt’s houses, where there was always endless farmland for us kids to run around. Every family member brought their own dish, and the host would serve up the staples like turkey, ham, potatoes and gravy, and green bean casserole. We had bread, stuffing, cookies, cakes, and everything else you can imagine for a large Thanksgiving feast! The home overflowed with people, so it was time for me and my cousins to play “football.” I put quotes around football because, with a bunch of amateurs, a mix of toddlers and grown men, and just too many players, there was no way we were ever actually playing a legitimate game of football. We’d always argue about whether we should play one-hand or two-hand touch, and since there were so many people, no one was ever open or could run! Ultimately, the games ended with a small child getting hurt after running into one of their
35-year-old cousins. By then, we had to watch some real NFL games before dinner! When it comes to my favorite dishes for Thanksgiving, they truly all started back at these reunions. I looked forward to pumpkin pie, lemon meringue pie, and my aunt’s Arnold Palmer (half iced tea and half lemonade), which I didn’t realize was a real drink other people had until I was an adult! We never even called them Arnold Palmers, and I always associated them with my aunt and Thanksgiving. I still do! But my mom’s strawberry rhubarb pie was the main dessert that had me counting down the days to Thanksgiving! My mom brought her specialty pie to the annual celebration every year since she grew rhubarb right in our garden. The pie is no longer a holiday staple, but my wife knows how much I love it and orders me a strawberry rhubarb pie for my birthday every year. We’re lucky to have a local German bakery that makes them, but of course, they’ll never measure up to my mom’s! Nowadays, the family has spread all over the U.S., and Thanksgiving get-togethers are much quieter. With just a few relatives, there’s less commotion and more relaxation. Yet, even as things have changed, I’ve kept the football tradition alive as best I can. I take my kids to our church’s soccer field, where they hold Thanksgiving football matches for everyone. We’ll head there in the morning and play football with about 20 others. It’s such a fun way to start the Thanksgiving festivities, and afterward, we head to the holiday celebration to relax and chow down. While it’s a little different from the Thanksgivings of the past, it still holds the essential traditions I love so much. In the end, it’s about being with my family and cherishing our time together. I hope you can also have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your loved ones this year. Happy holidays!
–Samuel Harms
Call00.com | 1
Published by Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com
The Disappearance of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World
You may have heard of “the seven wonders of the world,” but what you may not know is that the seven we know today are actually considered the “new” wonders of the world, replacements for their ancient predecessors, aptly named “the seven wonders of the ancient world.”
So, you’re probably wondering, “Well, what happened to those ancient wonders?” The unfortunate answer is that all but one — the Great Pyramid of Giza — have been destroyed. Here’s what happened to the other six. Mausoleum at Halicarnassus Bodrum, Turkey An earthquake sometime between the 11th and 15th centuries reduced the Mausoleum to rubble. Temple of Artemis at Ephesus Western Turkey A man named Herostratus burned the temple down, hoping to become famous in history as a result. Hanging Gardens of Babylon Hillah, Iraq Unfortunately, this ancient wonder never existed in any actual Babylonian
records. It was likely a myth created by Roman and Greek authors. Statue of Zeus at Olympia Olympia, Greece After the statue was dismantled and moved to Constantinople, a fire destroyed it in the 5th century. Colossus of Rhodes Rhodes, Greece An earthquake around the year 225 B.C.E. toppled the statue, and in 654, when Arabs invaded Rhodes, they destroyed it and sold the metal for scraps. Lighthouse of Alexandria Alexandria, Egypt This ancient wonder was yet another destroyed by a series of earthquakes between 956 and 1323.
SURPRISING ANIMAL FACTS FROM YOUR FAVORITE HOLLYWOOD MOVIES
No. 2: Peanut butter is the key to talking animals. Trainers will actually give them peanut butter before filming, and the movement of their mouths mimics talking. No. 3: Animals have doubles, too! In many movies, one animal actor can have dozens of doubles take their place. For example, in the film “Babe,” 48 different piglets played the role!
Part of the reason we love movies so much is because things that seem improbable or downright impossible happen without a second thought on the big screen. Like, for example, when animals act on cue! A lot of movies enlist cats, dogs, pigs, horses, monkeys, lions, tigers, and bears (oh my!) as part of their cast, and when the director yells, “Action!” they somehow nail their roles. However, many things you see involve a little movie
magic. Here are four facts about animals in movies to show you what we mean. No. 1: Most dogs in movies have CGI tails. Canine actors just have too much fun and wag their tails nonstop while filming. So, many movies add a computer-generated tail that wags less enthusiastically.
No. 4: The sounds animals make may be from a different species. Sometimes, movie crews substitute animal sounds from different species that resemble the original. For instance, in “Flipper,” they used kookaburra bird calls instead of actual dolphin noises!
2 | (864) 309-0000
Published by Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com
TAKE A BREAK
There have probably been instances in your life where you sat down to complete a task, only to think about anything other than what you should be doing. While this can be extremely frustrating, it’s completely normal, especially if you’ve never explicitly taught your brain how to focus. Believe it or not, focusing our mental attention on one task does not come naturally; it’s a skill that requires practice and patience, especially in today’s world of constant stimulation. Luckily, training your focus only takes a few minutes a day, and you can start seeing results as quickly as you begin learning. How to Train Your Focus Step No. 1: Put your phone in another room — literally. No exceptions! Step No. 2: Pick a point. Once you’re in the room where you want to train (without your phone), sit on the floor facing a wall. Then, pick a point on that wall to stare at. Step No. 3: Stare at that point for 120 seconds. It’s important to keep your body relaxed and maintain visual focus on the spot for the full 120 seconds. You’ll probably find this training incredibly boring and mentally agitating — and that’s the point . Tasks that require attention are not typically stimulating, but you must focus on them nonetheless. By teaching your brain how to focus, you’ll have an easier time completing any task that comes your way! RECLAIM YOUR CONCENTRATION! How to Train Your Brain to Focus Like a Pro
Ballot Cornucopia Cranberry Districts Maize Pilgrim Politics Raking Shopping Stuffing Thanksgiving Veteran
TASTY APPLE PIE
Just like Grandma made!
Ingredients
• 2 9-inch unbaked pie crusts • 6 cups thinly sliced peeled apples
• 1 tsp cinnamon • 3/4 cup granulated sugar • 2 tbsp all-purpose flour • 2 tbsp butter
Directions 1. Preheat oven to 425 F. 2. Place 1 pie crust in a 9-inch pie plate.
3. In a large bowl, combine apples, cinnamon, sugar, and flour. 4. Spoon mixture into pastry-lined pie plate and dot with butter. 5. Cut remaining crust into 1/2-inch-wide strips, then arrange strips in a lattice design over top of pie. 6. Trim, seal, and flute edges. 7. Bake for 35 minutes or until crust is golden brown and filling is bubbly.
Call00.com | 3
Published by Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
(864) 309-0000 Call00.com
33 Market Point Drive Greenville, SC 29607 INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Samuel’s Thanksgiving Traditions That Stand the Test of Time What Happened to the Original 7 Wonders of the World?
1
2
The Secrets of Animal Stars: Behind-the-Scenes Magic
Tasty Apple Pie
3
Raise Your Game With Laser-Like Focus
Maximize Your E-Reading Pleasure
4
Believe it or not, Americans still love to read. But how we read is changing, with 52% of people reporting they enjoy their literature on an e-reader. Unlike traditional paper books, digital readers offer users a variety of accessories to enhance their reading experience, which makes them more appealing than paper. So, we wanted to share a few accessories for your device that take your reading to the next level! Anti-Dust Plugs These are little rubber stoppers you can pop into the micro-USB or USB-C port to prevent dust or debris from entering and damaging your device. Some even have charms on the end so they look cute while protecting your reader! Suction or Stick-on Grips These tiny knobs (like the ones you can put on your phone) make holding your device with one hand a lot easier. They attach to the back of the device using suction, a light adhesive, or even magnetism. You can slip the knob between your fingers, so you don’t need to worry about losing your grip! An E-Reader Stand This accessory will keep your e-reader upright, so you can look straight ahead and read hands-free without craning your neck downward. To learn more about these accessories, search online using your e-reader’s name and the accessory type you’re looking for!
4 | (864) 309-0000
Published by Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator