And so the "It never snows in Victoria" begins

Don’t let anyone say Victoria isn’t prepared for winter…..

It is mainly true except for the Blizzard of '96 when Victoria got about 5 feet of snow and Vancouver got much less

These things make me incredibly sad

From "The Art Newspaper" "Environmental activists defaced the Louvre pyramid on 27 October, covering the landmark glass monument with orange paint. Protestors from the Dernière Rénovation group threw balloons at the famous glass structure while one of the demonstrators climbed up the edge of the pyramid; according to the Telegraph, a dozen people were arrested following the incident. A Louvre spokesperson confirmed to The Art Newspaper that the activists attempted to cover the pyramid, the museum’s main entrance, with an orange liquid. “One of them climbed onto the pyramid's outer glass roof using climbing equipment. The liquid was sprayed onto the glass; traces are visible on the [structure]. No damage to the pyramid has been reported at this stage. Visitor access to the museum was maintained throughout the operation,” the spokesperson adds."

Thank you thank you thank you Richard

Richard is a wonderful son as I've said many time and he is helping us so much with this move. We are truly blessed.

No more prayers on Remembrance Day

I am trying hard to understand why this tradition of this prayer would be offensive to some people. Traditions of all kinds are so interesting to me. I agree there should be a respectful recognition of other faiths and non faiths and new traditions to stand along with the old ones.The good thing about this becoming an issue is that more people know some of this history. I don't think I ever went through a Remembrance Day ceremony that didn't have the effect of tears welling up and Psalm 23 seemed hopeful and positive in that context. From The Vancouver Sun Update, Oct. 31, 2019: Since the publication of this story, the prayer has been reinstated at the school's Remembrance Day ceremony. Legion members in Sydney Mines, N.S., are upset after Jubilee Elementary School told them they couldn't include a prayer in their Remembrance Day ceremony at the school. A Prayer for People of Courage is typically read by a Christian minister during ceremonies and is about peace, protecting people serving in the military and remembering those who have fallen in battle. Clarence Dawe served in the Canadian Forces in the 1960s and is a former president of the Royal Canadian Legion Nova Scotia Nunavut Command. He said by removing the prayer, they're trying to stop a 92-year tradition. "Our men and women who fought overseas took prayers every day," said Dawe. "Padres, chaplains followed them right into battle. That's what kept them going." Dawe said Psalm 23 was recited every day and there would be prayers for their fallen comrades.

Happy Birthday, Richard

It was a wonderful day on Oct 17, 1977 when we welcomed our son, Richard, into the world. He has been a wonderful son.Jim and I held this wonderful little being in our four arms and could hardly believe it. I guess all new parents feel the same way. And he was born on my mother's birthday as I have probably mentioned in past post on this day of the year.

We have the most amazing son

He helps us so much. I've said many times how blessed we are. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Richard.

Paraprosdokian

Stealing from Linda's blog again. "I had no idea what Paraprosdokian was, so I looked it up: A paraprosdokian (/pærəprɒsˈdoʊkiən/) is a figure of speech in which the latter part of a sentence, phrase, or larger discourse is surprising or unexpected in a way that causes the reader or listener to reframe or reinterpret the first part. It is frequently used for humorous or dramatic effect, sometimes producing an anticlimax. For this reason, it is extremely popular among comedians and satirists such as Groucho Marx. Will glass coffins be a success? Remains to be seen. What's the difference between a hippo and a zippo? One is really heavy and the other is a little lighter. Hear about the new restaurant called Karma? There's no menu - you get what you deserve. I went to buy some camouflage trousers yesterday, but couldn't find any. What do you call a bee that can't make up its mind? A maybe. I tried to sue the airline for losing my luggage. I lost my case. Is it ignorance or apathy that's destroying the world today? I don't know and I don't really care. I wasn't originally going to get a brain transplant, but then I changed my mind. Which country's capital has the fastest-growing population? Ireland. Every day it's Dublin. I saw an ad for burial plots, and I thought: "That's the last thing I need!" Need an ark? I Noah guy. You're not completely useless, you can always serve as a bad example. I broke my finger last week. On the other hand, I'm okay. Did you hear about the guy who got hit in the head with a can of soda? He was lucky it was a soft drink. To the mathematician who thought of the idea of zero. Thanks for nothing! Son: "Dad, can you tell me what a solar eclipse is?" Dad: "No sun." How can you identify a Dogwood tree? By its bark."

Love Cezanne so much

From "The Art Newspaper" "The museum houses the Impressionist art collection of Sidney and Jenny Brown—of around 50 works in total—in a villa designed for them, where the family lived for two generations. The collection and house were bequeathed to the city of Baden in 1987. The Browns earned their fortune in engineering and founded Brown, Boveri & Cie., which grew into the multinational corporation known today as ABB. The city of Baden and the Langmatt Foundation say they need to raise SFr40m ($44.4m) to keep the museum operating, and the foundation plans to use the revenue from the art sales to set up an endowment fund to secure its future. But critics say the paintings on offer at Christie’s 20th Century Evening Sale on 9 November are among the jewels of the collection, especially Cézanne’s Fruits et pot de gingembre (fruit and pot of ginger, around 1890-93). “It is outrageous,” says Tobia Bezzola, the president of the Swiss branch of the International Council of Museums (Icom). “For Icom, this is an absolute no-go. We have written an official letter to the foundation. They are selling off core elements of the collection to finance future operating costs.” Cezanne’s Quatre pommes et un couteau (four apples and a knife, 1885) © Christie’s Images Bezzola also warns that the sale could set “an enormously dangerous example” to other museums. “Cities and cantons in Switzerland are very often tempted to propose the sale of artworks to cover the operating costs of museums,” he says. “It is so very short-sighted.” Icom’s guidelines on deaccessioning objects from museum collections stipulate that “in no event should the potential monetary value of an object be considered as part of the motive for determining whether or not to deaccession.” Christie’s describes the format for the sale as “unique”, in that if the first lot, Fruits et pot de gingembre, fetches the target amount of around $44.4m, then the remaining two paintings will be withdrawn from the auction. The still life is estimated to fetch between $35m and $55m. The other two works on offer are Quatre pommes et un couteau (four apples and a knife, 1885) and La mer à L’Estaque (the sea at L’Estaque, 1878-79). Markus Stegmann, the director of the Museum Langmatt, concedes that the sale is “painful,” but says it is a last resort to save the museum after alternative efforts to raise funds to keep the Langmatt Foundation afloat failed. The museum is also in desperate need of renovation, which is to be financed by the city of Baden, the canton of Aargau and individual donors, with the foundation itself contributing some funds. Cezanne’s La mer à L’Estaque (the sea at L’Estaque, 1878-79) © Christie’s Images “The foundation is almost insolvent,” Stegmann says. “This is an emergency measure. I understand the reactions—the concern and the fears—but it is about the very existence of the museum and its collection. Our goal is to invest the money in a fund that will ensure us the income of SFr1m per year that we need to keep the museum going.” Alfred Sulzer, a former president of the board of the Langmatt Foundation and a great-nephew of the Brown couple, said he is convinced the planned sale violates the deeds of the foundation and goes against the conditions in the donor’s will. His lawyer wrote to Christie’s in early October, asking the company to inform potential buyers of his view that the sale is illegal. Sulzer says that if the sale proceeds he “will pursue this to the highest court in Switzerland”. But Stegmann says the foundation is confident that the sale is permissible under its rules. “The process of making this decision has taken several years,” he says."

Museums for everything

From "Nice News" "Housed in a historic police, fire and ambulance station in the centre of Sheffield, the National Emergency Services Museum tells the stories of the emergency services through vintage vehicles, original objects, dynamic displays and interactive exhibitions. The museum has preserved some of the building's original features, including Victorian prison cells and an engine house."

Loved this

Visage aux yeux rieurs (Face with Laughing Eyes) by Picasso

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone

Richard came around yesterday and did all sorts of stuff for us for our upcoming move. We are so thankful for having such a wonderful son.

More sunflowers....

So beautiful

From "Nice News" "In autumn, Kyoto’s dense population of ginkgo, maple, and cherry blossom trees transform into a spectacle of fall foliage in every corner of the former Japanese capital. The city’s tree-shrouded temples — such as Jo-jakko-ji, Kiyomizu-Dera, and Tofukuji — are all popular tourist attractions year-round, but they are especially beautiful places to peep at the colorful leaves. The trees sweeping above Togetsu Bridge also put on quite a show, as do the groves huddled closely around Kitano Tenmangu Shrine. Plenty of visitors flock to Kyoto for the fall show, so if you’re craving some serenity away from the crowds, Bishamondo Temple makes the trek to the outskirts of town worthwhile."

Blue lobsters...who knew?

As lover of lobsters I found this rather interesting. And blue and red are probably my two most favoutite colours. From "Interesting Facts" "The odds of finding a blue lobster are 1 in 2 million. The North Atlantic is filled with lobsters, and it’s been that way for millennia. In fact, the first European settlers who arrived in North America in the 17th century reported that heaps of lobsters — some in 2-foot piles — simply washed up along the shore, making the crustaceans a vital source of protein during those harsh New England winters. Fast-forward 400 years, and lobsters remain plentiful; by one estimate, the lobster industry catches some 200 million lobsters in the North Atlantic every year. Among those millions of lobsters are some truly eye-catching crustaceans — including the blue lobster, which is so rare that scientists estimate it’s a 1-in-2-million catch. Although such a rare find fetches a high price at the market, no evidence suggests that the blue lobsters (whose sapphire hue is caused by a genetic defect) taste any different than their normal-colored brethren."

The end of baseball season

Well,the season isn't over but it is over for the Blue Jays since they lost yesterday. We might find another team to cheer on during the playoffs.

Popcorn and math

I've alway had a big love of popcorn and not a great love for math. What a brilliant idea this teacher had. I just may have even come to like math. A very good friend of mine was a math teacher and I once asked her what she liked about math. She said it was because there was a right answer. Well, I loved English literature because there usually wasn't one right answer. She said it drove her crazy that you could have more than one interpretation. We became good friends because she was always staying after school to help students with their math and I was helping students with their French. Someone who liked languages was even more of a mystery to her. I understood that because I didn't really like learning a language either but Jim and I loved France. On our first trip I was sitting there like a dummy while he enjoyed the opportunity to speak French. Being silent isn't exactly my style so I figured I better learn the wretched language since he wanted to spend six months in France on our next trip. https://www.gatesnotes.com/Modernizing-math-education?WT.mc_id=20231003090000_Math-Update_BG-EM_&WT.tsrc=BGEM

Dalias....and more dalias

Local flower arranging groups have put together sculptures of dahlias - know in the 1840s as "devices" By Sophie Parker BBC News More than 5,000 dahlias have been put on display at Stonehenge, paying homage to shows nearly 180 years ago. They feature in a three-day exhibition at the visitor centre in the style of a traditional flower show. The arrangements have been made by clubs in Wiltshire, with the blooms grown by local members of the National Dahlia Society. English Heritage has also re-started a dahlia competition - a "New Hero of Stonehenge" will be chosen.

A lovely brunch with Donna Sunday

We went to the University Golf Club again.The Eggs Benny are pretty good. So nice to see Donna.

Foods invented by accident

I found this rather interesting. https://www.interestingfacts.com/famous-foods-invented-by-accident/Y5fT09QzDwAI3Geb?liu=26da72d4899d29579ae9719e3d9b2e04&utm_source=blog&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=1924244788 A couple of them here.

Some amazing bird photography...wow!

From The Epoch Times

More Alexander Calder

I think I may have posted about this before but you can't have too much Alexander Calder:) "Seattle Art Museum receives 48 Calder works and $10m from former Microsoft president and his wife The trove of works from Jon and Kim Shirley includes many mobiles and stabiles, and comes with a commitment to fund ongoing programming on the artist." I especially love the fish mobile.

Balloon Festival

This would be so much fun to see. From Nice News "For an epic view from above, below, and all angles, Albuquerque’s International Balloon Fiesta is a world-renowned ballooning event admired for its photogenic-meets-magical sights. Started in 1972, the event began with only 13 balloons in a shopping mall parking lot. Since then, the festival has grown to a nine-day event with 500 balloons at a 365-acre park, plus hundreds of thousands of visitors. "

So wonderful these elephants are being saved

I'll never forget snuggling up to an elephant when I was in Thailand. Of course,the poor elephant was part of the tourism industry. We used to go to zoos wherever we travelled in the world. We enjoyed seeing the animals and it was a break from the overcrowded tourist hot spots.I think differently about going to zoos now.

👍 0% fee. Donations are tax-deductible. HELP SUPPORT ELEPHANT NATURE PARK + THE 5000+ RESCUED ANIMALS IN THEIR CARE! Elephant Nature Park is a rehabilitation center in Northern Thailand providing sanctuary to over 5000+ residents including 120 elephants who have been rescued from lives of abuse within the tourism industry. The park also provides a natural environment for buffalo, dogs, cats, rabbits, pigs, horses, cows and many other animals. No one is turned away. WHY YOUR DONATION MATTERS: Elephant Rescues: It is very expensive to rescue an elephant. In addition to the cost of acquiring the elephant, there are also transportation and legal costs related to transfer of ownership for an elephant. These costs can, and often do, exceed $35,000. Land: Elephants require a lot of land to live as natural lives as possible. To continue rescuing old, abused, injured elephants, it is critical to acquire more land. When land is acquired, there are additional costs to build the infrastructure needed to support the elephants, caretakers, and volunteers. Operating Expenses: Elephant Nature Park operating expenses are generated from fees paid by visitors and volunteers who spend time at the park. However, these funds do not cover any extra expenses that inevitably arise on a regular basis. For example, when an elephant needs to be rescued, when an elephant requires additional veterinary care and medications, or when veterinary equipment is needed, the money required must be generated quickly from other sources. It costs $30 per day to feed 1 Elephant. No amount is too big or too small to have an impact. 100% of your donation is tax-deductible in the US.

Pirate lego...how cool is that!

What young boy isn't into pirates and lego? I see it costs 150 bucks...not so cool for parents.

Another great sunset

This time not from John but from Linda on their Alaska cruise. Leaving Ketchican

Northern Lights over Scotland

This would have been quite something to see.

Lunch at the University Golf Club again yesterday

I had the chicken wings and so did Jim. And then home to see the Blue Jays beat Tampa Bay.

Definitely looks good enough to eat

About the Artwork Theo Terry’s practice is informed by historical still-life painting, commercial photography, collage, and the aesthetics of digital processes. His work recontextualises materials and objects to navigate both pictorial concerns and those of wider society: wealth, labour, and consumption. Through the layering of various representational methods and bold framing techniques, apparent oppositions – between image and object, natural and artificial matter, depth and flatness, authenticity and mass production – play out within his composition. Combining a handmade aesthetic with a hyperreality of colour, scale, and tactility, Terry’s work suggests a latent potential in the objects which constitute our world.

Marilyn

I do hope they keep "Marilyn" in Palm Springs. It does seem like the perfect spot for her to be as I've said before. From "The Desert Sun"
A group that supports keeping Palm Springs’ iconic and controversial statue of Marilyn Monroe at its downtown location has launched a campaign to let voters weigh in. But legal questions remain, including whether such a vote would affect a pending lawsuit that could force the statue to be moved.

Six spectacular landmarks

Well, not surprised that Notre Dame de Paris is one of them. From "The Daily Passport"

https://dailypassport.com/spectacular-gothic-landmarks/

Coolest cars of the last 50 years

A few examples and more in the link. Needless to say we didn't own any of them.

From "Road and Track" https://www.roadandtrack.com/rankings/g44772006/coolest-cars-of-the-past-50-years/?utm_source=recommendedreads.com

Looking forward to this new Woody Allen

Wow...France and Woody Allen...what a great combo. "The American filmmaker's latest production is coming to cinemas across France from 27 September. With a tale of lovers set in the French capital, 87-year-old director Woody Allen is back with his fiftieth film Coup de Chance. Shot entirely in French, this highly anticipated drama premiered in Venice and stars French actress Lou de Laagence and follows a young woman who falls for her former high school friend after a chance encounter. The 87-year-old Academy Award-winning filmmaker travelled to Lyon in southeast France on Sunday for an exclusive preview at the Lumière Institute in Monplaisir. And he didn't shy away from his love of filming in Europe."

Leaves turning colour

We'll soon be in that time of year. I found this interesting. From CNN September 16, 2023 Did you know that the vibrant hues leaves turn in the fall are their actual colors? It's true — leaves that change color are naturally those orange, red and yellow shades, but during half of the year, those hues are overwhelmed by green chlorophyll. Colder, cloudier months mean less chlorophyll, which means the trees and flora can finally show their true colors. It's kind of poetic, isn't it? A lot of people see the changing colors of the season as a prelude to the barrenness of winter, but really it's a special show all its own — one full of unexpected, unique life.

20 of the world's most stunning libraries

And Vancouver makes the cut!

https://dailypassport.com/most-stunning-libraries/

Love this Picasso

From The Art Newspaper "The collection at Sotheby’s will be led by Femme à la montre (1932), Pablo Picasso’s portrait of his muse Marie-Thérèse Walter, painted just after his affair with the young woman became public. Landau purchased the painting in 1968, and it hung above the mantel in her New York home for years, according to Sotheby’s specialists. Femme à la montre is estimated to sell in excess of $120m."

Lunch at the University Golf Club Wed.

Chicken wings again for me. Jim had the fish tacos.

Winnie the Pooh

I loved reading Winnie the Pooh to Richard. Quite the price for this sketch.

From CNN: "A ‘forgotten’ Winnie the Pooh sketch sat in a drawer for years. Now it could be worth thousands Lianne Kolirin, CNN Published 11:52 AM EDT, Thu August 24, 2023 01 Winnie the Pooh sketch top Dominic Winter Auctioneers London CNN — An original black and white sketch of Winnie the Pooh and his good friend Piglet which languished for decades in a drawer is expected to fetch thousands when it goes under the hammer next month. According to Dominic Winter Auctioneers, which is handling the sale, the pen and ink drawing is the same as one of the final illustrations in A.A. Milne’s first book about Winnie the Pooh, published in 1926. The illustration that’s now heading to auction was drawn on thin white card, measuring 3.5 inches by 6.5 inches, and was signed and dated “E.H. Shepard 1958” in the lower right hand corner. Incredibly, the drawing was only discovered recently after British auctioneers were contacted to value the effects of Christopher Foyle, the grandson of William Foyle, who co-founded the British bookshop Foyles. It is now expected to fetch between £20,000 and £30,000 ($25,000 and $38,000). The picture, the same as the final drawing in the first Winnie the Pooh book, languished for years in a drawer."

Good on Paris!

OPINION / ANDREW MUELLER In wheel danger "E-scooters were always an answer to a question that presumably nobody had asked: “What would be an efficient way of making life for pedestrians miserable at best, dangerous at worst?” They have been a blight upon every city on which they have descended. In use, they are a nuisance and a menace. When stationary, they’re ugly and obstructive litter. By declaring a stop to this nonsense, Paris has set what will hopefully be a resonant example. City authorities have confirmed that they intend to abide by a yay or nay referendum on rented scooters held earlier this year, in which 90 per cent of an admittedly small turnout voted for their abolition. Operators Lime, Dott and Tier have until this Friday to get their 15,000 pestilential contraptions, known locally as trottinettes, off the boulevards. It has to be hoped that this is only a start – regrettably, it remains legal to ride privately owned e-scooters in Paris while Lime, Dott and Tier plan to deploy their machines to pester other French cities instead."

A lovely lunch with friends Sunday

It was great to see "the gang"...Linda, Cec, Dave, Carol, and Donna. We went to Pat Quinn's in Tsawwassen and we were pretty lucky with the traffic.

Storefronts in Paris

Susan K. sent me these. She knows I love anything to do with Paris. Artwork by Janice Macloud.

Saving the pink elephant

Can anyone pass this sign and not smile? I certainly couldn't. So glad to see it has been saved. From "The Desert Sun"

"One of the Coachella Valley’s most prominent landmarks along Highway 111 — the large pink elephant sign promoting a Rancho Mirage car wash — was designated as a historic resource by the city this week. The neon sign, which promotes the Rancho Super Car Wash with a pink elephant spraying water from its trunk, was installed in 1966 — seven years before the city incorporated. Its design by Beatrice Haverfield was based on similar car wash signs she made for a company in Seattle. With its designation as a historic resource, the car wash sign could still be altered or demolished, but any proposed changes would be subject to a more stringent review process at city hall. The city also has the right to relocate any historic property “as an alternative to granting the owner a demolition permit,” per Rancho Mirage municipal code."

Pizzafest

This sounds like fun but we were disappointed with the pizza we had in Italy.The crust was very thin. Jim was also disappointed with pasta in Italy as the portions were very small as it is eaten as a small pre-course.The portion was perfect for me as I can't seem to eat a lot of pasta.

"As the birthplace of pizza, Naples is a fitting location for Pizzafest — billed as the largest celebration of pizza in the world. The festival hosts more than a million people annually, who travel from across the globe to cook and eat the beloved dish. Throughout the 11-day festival each June, roughly 100,000 pizzas are cooked and consumed, averaging about 9,000 pizzas per day. Pizzafest brings together expert pizza makers in a competition of the best of the best, including the most recognized pizza chefs in Naples. Of course, pizza is served everywhere throughout the festival, and competitions involve crowd participation to vote on the best pizza. With its own dedicated space in the Naples Pizza Village, the festival also includes pizza-making workshops, entertainment programs, and live music. When the sun goes down, Pizzafest turns into a lively celebration, with guests singing, dancing, and eating throughout the night."

So glad to see Venice doing this

I think I've said before that Venice was being ruined by tourists and how sad that was.

"Day-trippers visiting Venice will soon have to pay a €5 admission fee to the city in a bid to stem rampant over-tourism. The scheme, to be implemented next spring, will be run on a trial basis, though the exact dates will be outlined after final council approval of the plan expected on 12 September. Ticket holders will need to download a QR code on their phone which may be checked by inspectors. Those exempt from paying the fee include children aged under 14, tourists staying overnight in hotels and Airbnb properties along with “residents in the municipality of Venice [and] students of any schools and universities located in the old city or in the smaller islands”, says a local authority statement. The city’s permanent citizens amount to around 49,000 people. “We set ourselves as a forerunner worldwide, aware of the urgency of finding a new balance between the rights of those who live, study or work in Venice and those who visit the city. This is why, at certain times and on certain days, innovative flow management is required, capable of putting a brake on day-to-day tourism,” says Simone Venturini, the councillor responsible for tourism, in a statement."

Moonwalkers

I could use a pair of these.

From CNN "The AI-powered, TikTok-famous "Moonwalkers" can be strapped onto your shoes to make you reach a top walking speed of 11 km/h. Imagine being able to make a quick grocery run or walk your dog as fast as if you were on a moving walkway. An American start-up, Shift Robotics, has invented a device designed to be strapped onto your own shoes to boost your walking speed by up to 250 per cent. That’s right, you could be walking at up to 11 km/h, about three times faster than you normally would. The "Moonwalkers" look like skates, but they’re not freewheeling - so that you don’t lose your balance."

Air mail writing paper

Susan K. sent me this. She knows I'm always looking for interesting things for my blog. Who knew this about air mail writing paper? from "Margret Puts Pen to Paper" "Classic air mail paper is blue and very thin. The thinness makes sense since paper is heavy (just pick up a box of regular copy paper) so it was designed to be as light as possible, keeping down the cost of shipping a letter by plane. The blue colour came about because of a rivalry between French and Dutch paper makers. Up until the 1720s, France was the leading European paper manufacturing county and strived to make the whitest paper possible. The paper making process was traditionally powered by water but the Dutch came up with a method using wind power. They began to dominate the fine paper industry much to the consternation of the French. The method the Dutch used involved adding a salt that left the paper slightly bluish. At a time of frequently counterfeited watermarks, this bluish tinge was considered a reliable sign of quality and fashionable people started to use blue paper for their personal correspondence. This preference for blue writing stationery continued well into the 20th century when sending letters by airplane became possible." And this reminded me of being fascinated by the British postal system that could deliver mail the next day anywhere in the UK. It seemed like magic to us in our early days travelling there.

Stunning examples of art deco

I'm always very attracted to all things "art deco". Click on the link for more. These images are from "Daily Passport"

https://dailypassport.com/stunning-art-deco-buildings/

Message in a bottle

I always find it fun to read about messages in a bottle being found. When I was a kid I sent many messages in bottles but never received a reply. The first one Richard sent got a reply. How weird is that? Not long after that happened there was a mail strike and Richard couldn't send his weekly letter to his grandparents who were on Gabriola Island at the time. We were living in Victoria. He suggested we send them a message in a bottle. I think he was about five or six at the time and wasn't really persueded by my explanation that messages in bottles arriving at their destination were not something that happened very often.

From CNN: "WILDWOOD, New Jersey (WPVI) -- It reads like a movie script: a woman writes a message in a bottle and sends it off to sea in Ireland. A New Jersey man and his family found the message while picking up trash on the beach in Wildwood. It took exactly 1,500 days, but on Friday morning, the message sender and the bottle finder finally found each other."