How on earth is it March 1st already?!? Where is 2017 going and why is it racing to get there?  My journal theme for March is luck, so let’s start this post with a quote about fortune. “Diligence is the mother of good fortune.” This has been credited to Benajamin Franklin and Benjamin Disraeli, but more accurately it is an excerpt of a longer quote from Miguel Cervantes.  So,with that, here are some random bits of miscellany to get you through Wednesday.

BOOKS – in 1941, Captain America appears in a comic book from Timely Comics (before Marvel). While his costume is a bit too visible for my taste, I’ve always appreciated someone who fights for the underdog.

COFFEE – Starbucks plans to open a ‘high-end’ roastery in Italy. I am not sure how to feel about this. Is it an advancement of coffee culture or a travesty to all things Italian?

GETTING THE MOST OUT OF LIFE – One of my favorite blogs is that of Michael Palin. Full of travel stories, random bits of life, and the ever-present joy that he brings to everything, this is my favorite place to visit on the web and part of my Sunday morning ritual. I make coffee, get comfortable, and click through to see what’s what. Check it out, I am sure it will entertain and edify!

TRAVEL – On this day in history, President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps, an organization that sends American volunteers to developing countries to assist with health care and education. Sort of travel-related, right? Volunteers can choose from 60 countries on 4 continents around the world.

There you go, a few topics of conversation to use when chatting up the folks on the elevator or trying to bore away that door-to-door salesman. What do you think? Did I miss anything noteworthy? Let me know in the comments!