PRESIDENT'S DAY WEEKEND

This is a holiday weekend, but not a big deal holiday with Walmart shoppers trundling cases and cases of beer to the checkout (I do sometimes wonder what this supermarket beer tastes like, as supermarkets can't sell anything over 3.5% alcohol - I can't see beer drinkers in Britain going for it, in fact I can see them snorting with derision and everyone who knew Roy will understand that) However, I digress) government offices are closed, schools are closed, except where they are making up days lost for snow.  I think locally though in this school district it has been decided to add 20 extra minutes to each school day until the end of May.

Until 1971, both February 12 and February 22 were observed as federal public holidays to honor the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln (February 12) and George Washington (February 22). In 1971 President Richard-I-am-not-a-crook-Nixon proclaimed one single federal public holiday, the Presidents' Day, to be observed on the 3rd Monday of February, honoring all past presidents of the United States of America.    It seems to be mainly a day for SALES, particularly furniture or household goods.

Speaking of household goods Emmanuel had a welcome party last night for the new interim priest, Fr Gary, with the congregation bringing items to stock his pantry, and other household items.  I went to the Dollar Store and picked up a few cleaning items.  This isn't new to me, we do it in Britain when new priests come to the parish.  Although he is married he has had to leave his wife behind in Alabama where she is trying to sell their house, so he has moved in with another bachelor in the parish.

We had a pot luck supper, everyone bringing a dish.  I took a sweet corn salad (sweet corn, chopped boiled eggs, onions and mayonnaise, which I introduced over here) and some cookies the Girl Scouts were selling outside the Post Office.  Other people brought trays of roast chicken quarters and casseroles and desserts, it was all very good.

I wasn't in a position to take a photo of Fr Gary, but might be able to on Sunday.

I thought he might look at this snow shovel and rush back to Alabama, where they don't usually get snow.