Entertainment Update – 02/15/17
Here are the stories that I talked about during the Free Country Free Ride!
JAMIE LYNN SPEARS: Gives Update on Maddie
Jamie Lynn Spears shared a new photo of her daughter Maddie on Instagram and updated her health for the first time since her release from a New Orleans children\’s hospital.
Maddie, who is the eight-year-old niece of Britney Spears, was released from the hospital last Friday after she nearly drowned when she flipped her ATV into a pond. Jamie Lynn posted the photo showing Maddie smiling and holding Valentine\’s Day candy. She wrote, \”Maddie isn’t quite ready to return to school, but her doctors did clear her to bring in her Valentine’s Day treats to her class today. It made her so happy to see her friends, and be able to give them such cute treats. It was a great moment for us after everything that has happened. We are so thankful to celebrate Valentine’s Day with the ones we love, and we don’t take a second of it for granted.\”
Maddie is expected to make a full recovery. (Page Six)
MAREN MORRIS: Family Facetime Rituals
If Maren Morris called her family every time she had good news, she would be on the phone all day, every day. To prevent this from happening, she and her family have a special way of communicating. Find out what they do to keep in touch, next.
When you live hundreds of miles away from your family, it\’s hard to keep in touch as often as you should. Maren Morris and her parents have found their way around this problem by creating a weekly ritual, which allows them from going too long without catching up.
Maren Morris: “I’m on this long group thread with my mom and dad and sister because trying to call them every time good news comes in, it would just be impossible, because, I mean it sounds so crazy, but there is so much to be said now. We have our Sunday morning Facetime ritual because they’re still in Texas.”
CARRIE UNDERWOOD: Cheering on Her Hockey-Star Husband
Carrie Underwood recently wrapped up her massive Storyteller tour, and she can\’t wait to spend the next few months taking a break from the music world. Her husband, Mike Fisher, plays for their hometown hockey team, the Predators, so Carrie plans to attend as many of his games as possible.
If you happen to see her at a game, don\’t expect for her to be on her best behavior.
Carrie Underwood: “I’m like ‘yeah, get ‘em!,’ or if I’m there, I’m yelling at the refs.”
St. Jude Flashback! Dave in a tutu!
King Cakes – Do You Eat Them?
In less than two weeks – it’s Fat Tuesday! The day before Lent begins. A big Mardi Gras celebration will be taking place in New Orleans and many people will be eating King Cakes.
Inside of each King Cake is a tiny plastic baby. One lucky person receives the baby in their slice of cake, and tradition says they are to provide the King Cake next year or host a King Cake party.
Many years ago King Cakes were just a ring of dough with a small amount of decoration. Today they are much more festive. The dough is rich tasting and is braided and baked, with the “baby” is inserted into the cake.
By: Dianah Gibson
Sara Evans – Meet & Greet
Are they bringing back the Nokia 3310?
The Nokia 3310 was my first phone back in the day. Back when your phone was charged once a week, snake was the best game and you were worried that your phone could break something else!
Sounds like they could be bringing it back! Kinda. I don’t think I will grab the android relaunch, but I would love to see at least one of them in downtown. Let’s all celebrate this by watching some people drop one from 1,500 feet and see what happens!
Check out the full story on The Verge.
Breaking Down Valentines Day!
It’s Valentine’s Day! Cupid’s day to spread love and happiness. It’s also a day million of flowers and candy are sold.
According to the National Retail Federation, the average spending for Valentine’s Day is $136.57.
Here is a break down of how much money Americans are expected to spend on flowers and candy for this romantic holiday:
$2-billion on flowers.
$16-billion for chocolate confectionery products.
$10.1-billion for non-chocolate products (candy).
$1.9-billion on Valentine’s Day clothing.
$1-billion on Valentine’s Day cards.
4 out of 10 people will take their sweetheart out to dinner.
1 out of 5 people will buy their loved one jewelry.
By: Dianah Gibson
Sick & Tired Of Being Sick & Tired?
There is some good news and bad news when it comes to the flu.
Bad news – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that state is reporting influenza outbreaks, and it looks a little worse than last year’s relatively mild season looked at this point. Pennsylvania and Virginia are both experiencing a high number of flu cases.
Good news – Flu activity in Maryland and West Virginia is actually low for this time of year.
The flu usually hits the very young and the very old the hardest. Depending on the season, it kills anywhere between 4,000 and 50,000 people a year in the United States.
So what is the flu? Health experts say it’s an infection of the nose, throat, and lungs caused by the influenza virus. The flu is highly contagious and is spread person to person through the air by coughing or sneezing. It is also spread by direct contact with infected people. Flu symptoms usually begin 1 to 4 days after being infected with the flu virus. Symptoms include chills, fever, cough, headache, muscle aches, sore throat, runny nose, and fatigue. Influenza can causes severe complications like pneumonia, bronchitis, and sinus infections.
If you haven’t gotten your flu shot yet, doctors say there is still time to protect yourself. Get one right away!
By: Dianah Gibson
House of the Week – 02/13/17
- MLS® #: FR9853765
- 10195 Crestview Dr
- FREDERICK, MD 21702
- $245,000
- 3 Beds, 1½ Bath, 1272 SqFt, 0.46 Acres
- Residential
- Office:Real Estate Teams, LLC
This home features 3 bedrooms and one and a half bathrooms. It is nestled in a quiet, established neighborhood with a rural setting and mountain views. Only a ten-minute drive to Frederick or Thurmont and close to shopping and restaurants. Plenty of great features such as ornamental ponds, a fire pit, freshly painted interior, converted carport and sun-drenched rooms.
Triple Treat – Eclipse, Comet, & Full Moon ALL Tonight!
Tonight in the skies above we are in for triple treat! We will be able to see a “penumbral” lunar eclipse, a full “snow” moon — and the flyby of Comet 45P.
The penumbral eclipse is when the outer shadow of the Earth blocks part, but not all of the sun’s rays from reaching the moon, making it appear slightly darker than usual. The exact moment of the penumbral eclipse is 7:43 p.m.
The ‘snow’ moon will be in full force this evening. According to the Farmers’ Almanac, full moon names date back to Native Americans.
After the eclipse, you will be able to see Comet 45P. According to NASA, this comet has been visible after sunset for the past two months with binoculars and telescopes. Around 3 a.m. on Saturday, Comet 45P makes its closest approach to Earth when it will be 7.4 million miles away. The comet will be visable in the east. Look for a bright blue-green “head” with a tail.
By: Dianah Gibson