Have you ever enjoyed a scenic road trip through, or actually set up camp in one of our nation’s national parks? If so, you can thank President Ulysses S. Grant! Back in 1872, he signed a bill creating the country’s very first national park: Yellowstone. After a government expedition, geologist Ferdinand Hayden, accompanied by a photographer and a landscape artist, presented Congress with visual proof of the beauty and resources out west. President Grant designated over 1.2 million acres to be “preserved from injury and spoliation of all timber, mineral deposits, natural curiosities, and wonders within.” Luckily, in spite of the westward-ho land-grab that took place at the time, the idea of preserving large tracts of land as public domain caught on over the years—including more than 800,000 acres of Grand Canyon later designated by President Theodore Roosevelt. Today, we can enjoy dozens of national parks all across the country. Next time you’re planning a vacation, you might want to bypass the sprawling cities and overcrowded theme parks, and head for the natural beauty of the great outdoors. Check out this state-by-state list to find the national park nearest you!

Where will you be Sunday? I’ll be sitting in front of my TV, eyes glued to the screen, absorbing every wonderful minute of the 87^th Annual Academy Awards! The glitz & glamour of the Red Carpet, the stunning musical performances, the celebrity presenters, the anticipatory faces of the nominees in the audience, and yes, even the acceptance speeches! I especially enjoy the tribute for Lifetime Achievement, and the moving moments as we honor and recall the fine talents we’ve lost since the last ceremony.

So get ready—these are the masterful movies we’ll be recalling years from now, when we look back at some of Tinseltown’s best! Think you can predict the winners? Here’s your chance to challenge your friends and show them just how movie-savvy you are!

The approach of Valentines’ Day made me think of some famous couples and the relationships that made them so memorable. How does your own love story stack up against my top 10?

1. Rhett & Scarlett – We thought they were meant to be, yet they could never be.
2. Marilyn & Joe DiMaggio – united by passion and fame, but torn apart by the same.
3. Lucy & Ricky Ricardo – despite everything, true love kept the wacky wife and harried husband together.
4. Elvis & Priscilla – a little less traditional, compared to The King’s formulaic movies, where he and (insert name of Hollywood starlet here) kissed as the credits rolled!
5. The Phantom & Christine – even LESS traditional, with elements of mystery and obsession.
6. Superman & Lois Lane – admittedly, their “will they or won’t they?” relationship was a bit complicated.
7. Cinderella & Prince Charming – the quintessential happy ending we could only dream of!
8. Lady & The Tramp – Disney’s canine version of “happily ever after” never gets old.
9. Kevin Arnold & Winnie Cooper – it was puppy love in its truest form (#8 notwithstanding)!
10. Raggedy Ann & Andy – they began as friends, and have been there for each other for generations

Today is National Weatherperson’s Day–an official day set aside to recognize those in the fields of meteorology & forecasting. I think the weather “people” have the best job in the world. The way I see it, they get it right, no matter what they tell us, because they can use terms like “percentage,” “chance,” “partial,” and “probability”. Rain probability is 60%. Partial sun throughout the day. There’s a chance of snow this evening. Nice work if you can get it! I wish I could tell my boss each evening that there’s a high probability of me coming to work tomorrow, followed by a 40% chance that I’ll get everything done–and still HAVE a job! But that’s just me with my head in the cumulonimbus clouds.

Anyway, I thank you, National Weather People, for a job well done! In your honor, I’m keeping my umbrella AND my sunglasses at the ready!