Beware the ides of March

According to the news from National Geographic, "the ides of March was merely one of several common calender terms used to mark the monthly lunar events.  The ides simply marked the appearance of the full moon."  Once Julius Caesar was murdered on March 15th, 44 BCE, however, this day took on a new meaning.  To learn more about this, click the link to read the rest of the National Geographic article. 

Leap Year

Wednesday, February 29, marks leap day, a day that's added to the month of February almost every four years—that is, every leap year—to keep the modern calendar in line with the celestial cycles that frame it.

But where did leap year come from? How does it work? And have other cultures, with their own systems for tracking time, needed to use it, too?*

Have you ever asked any of the above questions?  If so, click here to read the full explanation from National Geographic.

*Written by Brian Handwerk, National Geographic Magazine, 2008 

There is always some madness in love

Many people think of Edgar Allan Poe as a master of mystery, writing tales to chill our bones.  But Poe is a master of many topics, love included.  He cherished the women in his life, but none more than his young wife.  She was sadly taken from him because of tuberculosis.  The joys of married life and the pain of losing his love are beautifully expressed in his works "Eulalie" and "Annabell Lee."  To experience his words, click the name of the poem you would like to read.

The course of true love never did run smooth

Many people will be filling their hearts with thoughts of love in the next few weeks.  Writers can often put those thoughts and feelings into beautiful poetry.  A master writer, William Shakespeare, crafted a tale of love that is known all over the world.  That tale is Romeo & Juliet. 

If you would like to see a performance of this tale of love, you might want to visit Montclair State University to see their production of Romeo & Juliet.  To purchase tickets, click here.

Accomplishing Your Goals

Many people think of the beginning of the new year as a time for change.  Goals and accomplishments are listed off to friends and relatives, but how often are these goals realized? 

No matter what the goal or when it is set, writing a goal down, with detailed steps for accomplishment, is a critical step in reaching your goal.  According to Gary Ryan Blair, author of The Goals Guy, here is what you should do when putting a goal in writing.

Describe precisely what you want, how you will earn it, when you will have it, and the benefits you'll receive from achieving your resolution. Write the details, but don't make it complex. When you put it in writing, you increase your chances of moving to the next step and increasing your level of commitment.
Your mind, while blessed with permanent memory, is cursed with lousy recall. Writing your resolution goes a long way towards achieving it.

For more tips in reaching your goals, and questions to help guide your writing, visit The Goals Guy website.

Mountain Creek

If you will be home next week and are looking for a staycation idea, why not check out Mountain Creek?  According to their Mountain Report on their website, they will open the mountain on Monday, Dec. 26.  If you would like to go skiing, snowboarding or tubing, Mountain Creek is a nice place to visit, especially since they recently opened their new Red Tail Lodge.

Make the most of your time off!

Candlelight Tours

If you are looking for something to do in the evenings, you might think about visiting the historic home of American author Washington Irving.  His home site, named Sunnyside, is located right on the Hudson River in Tarrytown, New York.  The beautifully landscaped grounds and authentic interior of the home are decorated by candlelight, providing the perfect setting to hear excerpts of Irving's stories and personal letters.  Piano accompaniment, hot cider and a roaring fire await you right next door to Sleepy Hollow.

For more information, click here.