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Closings and Cancellations: 2/1/21

Schools:

Frederick County Public Schools -FCPS will not offer virtual instruction. Offices are closed. Community group and evening activities canceled

Montgomery County Schools- Virtual instruction will begin on time and offices will open on time, in person activities will be evaluated.

New Life Christian Academy – Frederick – closed

Carroll County -Schools closed for students. Teachers work on end of marking period items. Non-workday for instructional assistants.

Jefferson County Schools – on full remote learning Mon. 2/1/21, due to inclement weather. All employees will work remotely except for essential snow removal staff, who will report on a two-hour delay. We appreciate your patience and look forward to welcoming students back to the classroom soon.

Berkley County Schools- will observe Virtual instruction.

Howard County Schools – Virtual instruction as scheduled; HCPS buildings are closed. Meal service canceled.

Loudoun County Schools – Schools and  Admin Offices are closed, All distance-learning classes are cancelled. Instructional staff should not report to work. There will be no food pick-up at LCPS schools and food deliveries by bus have been cancelled. All activities on school campuses are cancelled. Student testing is cancelled and the LCPS Vaccination POD is closed. Appointments at the POD for Monday, February 1, 2021, will be honored on Wednesday, February 3, 2021.

Waynesboro Public Schools – 2 Hour delay

Greencastle/Antrim Schools – Closed

Shepherd University – Closed

Frederick Community College – Campus closed, virtual classes will be in session, Students should refer to Blackboard for instructions.

Hagerstown Community College – Closed

Thurmont Child Care Center – Closed

Children’s World Early Learning Centers- Walkersville and Frederick locations- Closed.

Learning Tree Early Learning Center and Glade Center- Closed.

GOVERNMENT

FBI Winchester is closed for first and second shift Monday, Feb. 1, 2021. Federal agencies in D.C. area will be open Monday, with option for unscheduled leave/telework.

Washington County Solid Waste Facilities- Closed

City of Frederick- City offices /facilities and non-essential operations will open at 10Am. The city snow emergency plan remains in effect. Trash will be picked up. Do not put trash on the street, but as close to the street as possible.

Maryland State Government- Emergency Essential Employees should report as scheduled. Non-emergency essential employees should remain home.

Frederick County Government- Government offices and facilities will open at 10 am under liberal leave, Courts and District Courts will open at 10 am.

Washington County Solid Waste Facilities- Closed

Loudoun County Government- open with unscheduled leave.

Washington County District Court – Closed

Montgomery County Circuit Court – Closed

Medical 

Cardiovascular Specialists of Frederick- Closed.

{Katie’s Baby Blog} 29 Weeks…and a few days!

“Baby #2 is as big as a head of cauliflower!” …and it totally feels like that in my belly!

Constant moving and kicking from this girl, I feel like she moves a lot more than Lily did. Maybe that means she will be my wild one 😉

I think Lily liked to sleep and it makes sense because she is a great sleeper, still!

Sleep is officially hard (have I said that before?). Not only do I feel like I have to roll back and forth all night, but now it’s hard to turn from side to side- like I have to prep myself for the big roll haha!! My belly is just getting “heavier” feeling in general…you know, when you start to feel like you have to hold it up and carry it around…yep that has begun.

I’m down to my two week appointments already! Crazy! When they told me that at my last appointment I think it hit me how soon this baby is going to be here! I can’t wait to see her in my next sono. at 32 weeks.

 

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: How/Why We “Fall Off The Wagon”

Certain phrases don’t really need an explanation. If someone says you’re “playing with fire,” then you’re probably doing something reckless that could earn you some rough consequences. “Dropping your guard”? That’s lowering your defenses.

But, what does “falling off the wagon” have to do with excessive alcohol consumption? Is it about losing your balance when you’re inebriated? Maybe early Americans tumbled off their wagons when they’d had too much liquor?

Well, it actually doesn’t have much to do with any actual spills. The phrase “on the wagon”, which led to “off the wagon”, originated around the turn of the 20th century. It was actually originally “on the water cart”.

Way before Prohibition, a grassroots movement developed in order to mitigate the supposed evils of alcohol. Groups like the Anti-Saloon League came into being & attempted to persuade their members to pledge eternal sobriety, develop better character, and generally set a good example for others.

Around that same time, cities were commonly utilizing water wagons, which were large horse-pulled tanks of water that were full of undrinkable H20 used to dampen dusty streets. Those tanks were so prevalent that they became a sort of reference point for anyone discussing their personal commitment to sobriety. People might say that they’d sooner drink from the water wagon than drink alcohol. That soon evolved into proclaiming that a person was “on the water wagon.”

After someone jumped onto the proverbial water wagon, what frequently followed was a lapse in devotion, and they would fall “off” the water wagon. As water wagons began disappearing from public use, the phrase shortened to just “wagon.” And, whether a person was on or off that wagon equated to their present approach to drinking.

But, I guess if you think about it, though, under the right circumstances, it’s entirely possible to “fall off the wagon” both metaphorically & literally. All you’d need would be a wagon & way too much booze. (But I wouldn’t recommend it!)

Got a Mundane Mystery you’d like solved? Send me a message via social media (@AndyWebbRadioVoice), or shoot me an email at [email protected].

BROUGHT TO YOU BY: Airtron Heating & Air Conditioning

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: What Are Cobwebs & Where Do They Come From?

In addition to having been the classic joke nickname that I was given as a kid, the “cobweb” is also a classic Halloween decoration…a sticky, delicate blanket that stretches across ceilings & walls as a remnant of a past spider’s occupation. Some homes don’t need the artificial version, however, since genuine cobwebs are consistent nuisances that require perpetual prodding with dusters. But, where do cobwebs really come from?

The word “cobweb” describes any web spun by a member of the family of spiders known as Theridiidae, which features an impressive array of different species that can be found in residential homes. But, colloquially, folks tend to use “cobweb” to refer to abandoned threads of webbing that end up cleared away with brooms. When they’re in use, cobwebs tend to be sticky yet unstructured, without the intricately amazing design of real spider webs that are woven by other species. Spiders construct their webs as a way of trapping prey, but when one location ends up being less-than-fruitful, they just move somewhere else. That, along with the death of each web’s weaver, is usually what leads to the abandoned cobwebs that we see, which eventually fall apart & dangle limply from room corners as they collect & trap dust.

That flypaper characteristic, however, is what makes you notice a cobweb in the first place. Because, as they accumulate dust particles, cobwebs become more visible. You probably also notice single, isolated web strands, which are most likely from spiders’ interior travels as they search for places to settle in.

If you’d prefer to cut back on the cobweb clutter in your casa, simply dusting regularly can reduce their visibility (or even their existence). Also, be sure to look for & seal cracks around doors & windows which could allow access to eight-legged interlopers. Or, just do what I do: simply wait it out & get the extra mileage out of your cobwebs until after you’ve used them for authentic Halloween decorations. It’s only 9 months away, they’ll be fine until then!

Got a Mundane Mystery you’d like solved? Send me a message via social media (@AndyWebbRadioVoice), or shoot me an email at [email protected].

BROUGHT TO YOU BY: Airtron Heating & Air Conditioning

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: The Difference Between Buzzards & Vultures

You know those odd-looking birds that circle above lost cartoon characters & skulk along the roadside after an unfortunate car-meets-wildlife incident? What are those bald-headed birds of prey called? Vultures, or buzzards? While they may be synonymous here in America, in other parts of the world, buzzards & vultures are actually two different kinds of birds.

“Vulture” may be the easiest of the two to define, since the name describes the same animal in all English-speaking countries. Vultures are scavengers known for their distinct, featherless heads, and there are 23 different species throughout the world, including the turkey vulture & the Andean condor.

While “buzzard” has become a common slang term for vultures here in the US, it’s actually used much differently overseas. In the UK & elsewhere, buzzard is a name for a kind of hawk: medium- to large-sized raptors that feed on small birds, mammals, and carrion. There are 26 hawk species with the word buzzard in their name, including the European honey-buzzard, the lizard buzzard, and the common buzzard.

So how did vultures became buzzards in America? Well, we have early European colonists thank (or blame) for that. When settlers first saw vultures flying high above them in the sky, they likely noticed a resemblance to the broad-winged, dark-feathered birds of prey from back home in England. But, by the time they’d had the chance to see vultures up close & realize that they weren’t actually hawks, the name buzzard had already gained traction.

This isn’t the only case of Americans using an animal name in a confusing way. Here, opossums are often called possums for short, even though possum is the name of an entirely different marsupial species native to Australia. So, if you’re traveling abroad & want to tell someone you saw a buzzard eating a possum, you may want to choose your words carefully.

Got a Mundane Mystery you’d like solved? Send me a message via social media (@AndyWebbRadioVoice), or shoot me an email at [email protected].

Closings and Cancellations 1/26/21

Schools:

Frederick County Public Schools- FCPS will offer all-virtual instruction. Offices are open on time. Students who access FCPS buildings for internet capabilities will not be permitted to do so today due to inclement weather. Afterschool and evening activities canceled.

Berkley County Public Schools – Closed

Waynesboro Area School District- 2 hour delay

Clark County Schools- Closed.

Loudon County Schools- 2 hour delay with admin offices opening on-time.

Howard County Schools- Virtual instruction will take place. Buildings are closed. Meal Service Cancelled. HCPS in-person afterschool activities w/ HCPS students/staff & community-sponsored programs in HCPS buildings are canceled.

Greencastle/ Antrim School District- Closed

New Life Christian Academy of Frederick- Virtual learning only.

Frederick Christian Academy- open at 10 am.

Clark County Schools- Closed.

St. John’s Regional Catholic School- 2 hour delay

Government:

Ft. Detrick – open at 10am

FBI Winchester: First shift has a 2 hour delay or unscheduled leave. Federal agencies in the D.C. area are open Tuesday and have the option to allow unscheduled leave/telework.

Maryland State Government- Liberal leave

Medical:

The Meritus drive thru COVID testing opens at noon.

Meritus wound center will open at 12:30.

 

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Why Cats Love To Sit On Computer Keyboards

If you’ve been working from home, or have ever used a computer at your place, then you probably know that computer keyboards are prime real estate in the eyes of pretty much every cat. They’ll frequently bypass their comfy cat bed over in the corner & just sprawl right out across your laptop. But why? It hardly seems random, and, as it turns out…it’s not.

One reason is the heat coming from your device. Cats are most comfortable when they don’t have to use their own energy to heat their bodies. Their “thermoneutral zone”, or temperature sweet spot, is between 86°F & 100°F. And, computer keyboards are often nice & toasty, just like heating vents, sunny spots, and pretty much all the other places your cat prefers to lounge.

But, what if your laptop doesn’t run hot? Your cat might still like to hang around it whenever you’re trying to get work done. I mean, after all, it’s where you are. And, that laptop is on your lap, which is prime feline territory. Plus, you’re staring at it constantly, all while your cat would prefer that it gets your immediate & direct attention. So, it gets between you & the screen to accomplish that.

Most folks probably welcome a visit from their favorite furry coworker to break up the monotony of emails, spreadsheets, and other work. But, with that said, being able to only see half of your screen & use only half of your keyboard…that isn’t the most ideal work scenario. And, unfortunately, giving your cat attention (even if it’s just to move them out of the way) can actually reinforce their behavior.

The best way to convince your cat to steer clear of the keyboard is to reward them whenever they settle down somewhere else. That might require setting up an appealing alternative spot, like a heated cat bed or a pillow-filled corner near a window. Then, tempt them over there with treats & pay plenty of visits to their new turf. Then, eventually they should lose interest in your boring old keyboard.

Got a Mundane Mystery you’d like solved? Send me a message via social media (@AndyWebbRadioVoice), or shoot me an email at [email protected].

{Katie’s Baby Blog} Happy Friday!

Happy Friday from our sweet BIG girl!!!

My mom sent me this picture (on left) this morning and I can’t believe how big my baby looks! She seems to grow and change overnight.

The second picture below is her playing and using her baby doll plates and silverware to feed my parent’s dog and our dog, Zoey 🙂 They are her besties!

And…if you can’t tell…this girl loves her jammies! She will beg me to let her stay in them all day; and sometimes we do 😉

 

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