The third cup 6/1

Hi neighbors. It's June already. Still coffee weather though. Lots of things are going on in June across the nation. Most are outdoor activities prompted by school being out for the summer and parents with vacation time burning a hole in their pockets. You have to remember a lot of these traditional activities began when there were no air conditioned cars (or houses) and people wanted to get a jump on summer fun before summer actually settled in with 100 degree in the shade temperature days. Sports are a big part of summer, and June kicks them off well. The baseball was invented in 1839 and 100 years later The National Baseball Hall of Fame opened on June 12, 1939. Lots of teams around to join, and we have our own Griffons to cheer for. Big guy and gal teams aren't the only ones out on the field. Little League Baseball Week is celebrated nationally in June as well. Nevada has it's own claim to fame with the beautiful new playing fields for Little League play-offs. Seems like most sports involve a ball of one type or another. June is also national Tennis Month. Tennis is pretty fast and furious for some of we older, less than artful, codgers. If you're really into sports, June also contains National Yo-Yo Day. If you don't know what to do with all those balls after the games, you can juggle them, because June is also home to The World Juggling Day. Of course not everyone likes running in circles, back and forth, or throwing things. For those who like their sports sitting down, the bicycle was patented in 1819 June also hosts National Fishing Week and National Camping Week. There's lots of great camping gear and fishing tackle available these days. Of course, kids like to build rafts and are happy fishing with a stick, line, and worm on the end of a safety pin. You don't need to go fancy to go camping. While you're out camping, look around the sky at night. June is also known for Meteor Day and Sky Day. If you wonder if someone is looking back at your gaze into space, you are not alone. The first documented UFO sighting occurred in June. You could use the background of the campfire to tell tall tales. June is also known for Paul Bunyon Day. There are other sports for we less active folk. Fly A Kite Day for example. We could take a flight in a hot air balloon as the first hot air balloon flight was made by the Montgolfier brothers in June1783. If all this activity gets you hungry, guess what -- June also has International Picnic Day and is the national Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Month, as well as national Iced Tea Month, national Dairy Month and Candy Month. Afterward all that eating, don't forget it is also the month the toothbrush invented in 1498. You can go places too. June is when the first drive-in movie theater opened in New Jersey in 1933. Disneyland opened in June 1955. Pack up the kids and go to the park, take in a museum and visit the zoo. June is after all, Zoo and Aquarium Month. If you feel you just have to start painting the house, building a picket fence or making other changes in the house or yard, at least listen to the radio while you work. It was in June that the radio was patented in 1896. You may have to turn off the power tools to hear the radio, but you can use old fashioned sand paper which, by the way, was invented by I. Fischer Jr. in June of 1834. After all that work, the kids might want to give Dad a treat and send him some flowers. I'd recommend roses since June is national Send A Rose Month. Make him a nice card to go with it since June is when the typewriter was patented in 1868. Camera Day is in June, so take lots of photos. This applies not just to fathers, but to father-in-laws (Father-In-Law Day) and step-fathers ( Step Parents Week.) If he works too hard and gets a headache, give him a hug (national Hug Week) give him a couple of aspirin (national Headache Awareness Week) and send him to the doctor for his annual check up during June's national Men's Health Week. Make sure he's feeling good for Father's Day. Here in Nevada, of course, we have our own big Bushwhacker Celebration on Father's Day weekend. Until the next time friends remember; it's never too early to celebrate family and the great outdoors. Just be sure to take a cup of coffee along.