Leap Day

Well, today is Leap Day, February 29. It's also Friday and Pay Day so it'a a great day today.

It's also a great day for a couple of my friends Ed and Marilyn. They became grandparents for the first time today. Jackson Colby was born at 7:43 AM. He weighed in at eight pounds fifteen ounces and was twenty and half inches long. Congratulations to the new parents and grandparents.

Being a grandparent is one of life's greatest pleasures. I remember when my first grandchildren were born (twins). I was so ecstatic I could hardly contain myself. I carried around notebooks full of pictures to show everyone even those who didn't care to see them but didn't have the heart to tell me no. I felt the same way when my grandson was born. Even though he lives far away I still think of him every day and miss him and am so happy when he comes to visit. He is such a smart kid, a hockey player and he will be president someday. Enough about grandchildren, back to Leap Day.

Here are some facts I found about Leap Day. During the reign of Emperor Julius Caesar, when there were only 355 days in a year, the seasons would get out of sync with the calendar. Caesar decreed that the calendar be revised, a new month be added in his name (July), and an extra day added every four years to keep the calendar and seasons together. The date of February 29th was chosen as the 28th was then considered the last day of the year. The Leap Day was introduced in 46 BC, but it was discovered in 10 BC that the priests responsible for maintaining the calendar had added too many – once every three years, instead of the four decreed by Julius Caesar. To compensate, there were no more leap days until AD 8. Since then, there have been leap years every year divisible by 4, except for those years that can be divided by 100 but not 400.

There was a time when Leap Year Balls happened all throughout the Leap Year. Women were given the "right" to ask a man for his hand in marriage. They were afforded a lovely place to display themselves, and propose their man of choice, at lavish and fantastic Leap Year Balls. If the man declined her proposal he had to provide her with a silk dress and a kiss on the cheek.

I know this happens because I did it once, the marriage didn't last but Leap Year is still here.

and a few fun words:
Leaper A person born on Leap Day
Leapette Female Leapean
Leapster Male Leapean
Leapingly As in Sincerely
Leapest Regards Deeper than Deepest Regards
Leap On! It's like saying Right On!
Leapcentric One who collects Leap Year oriented items
Leaprechaun An Irish Leaper
Leapophile One who collects Leap Year related
Leapophilia A fondness for collecting things related to Leap Year

Just 1459 days until Leap Year Day!

In the words of my father "That's it for Today!".