April 1, 2013

Today we celebrate:

National Sourdough Bread Day – This is a very old bread. Recipes have been around for centuries, and why not? If it's good, you're going to tell your children about it so they can make it for you when you're old.

April Fools' Day – A day for practical jokes all over the world. In France, Italy and Belgium, people apparently tack paper fishes to each other's backs and yell “April Fish!” There are several attempts to explain the origin of this day out there on the web, but no one seems sure if any of them are accurate because of the world wide spread of the holiday. I say it spread because everyone likes a designated “fun” day.

National Fun Day – This goes hand in hand with April Fool's Day because today is a day to reminisce about past fun had with April Fool's jokes.

International Fun At Work Day – Back in January we had National Fun at Work Day, well today we get to do it again but this time we can share it with the rest of the world.

International Tatting Day – For those of you who are like me, and do not know, tatting is the making of intricate lace for doilies or trim using needles or a special shuttle. If you want to learn how to do this and you have the patience, I recommend taking a class so you have someone to help you get started with this complicated craft.

Atheist Day – I don't think this is a real day. It seems to have started as a joke – something like an atheist sued someone to get a special day and the judge told him he had a special day, April Fool's Day because anyone who doesn't believe in God is a fool. From there, it spread that Atheist Day is on this day.

Dyngus Day – This is the Polish term for Easter Monday. Each country has a different way of celebrating. I was surprised to read that traditionally boys wake girls up by pouring water on their heads and hitting them on the legs with long, thin twigs or switches made from willow or birch tree branches. The website I reference here says the water is “sprinkled” and the legs are “tapped” but I think we all know what would really happen if you're talking about brothers and sisters. It also said that traditionally girls would then return the favor on Tuesday but in modern times they don't bother to wait a whole day. Probably because they are jumping out of bed and chasing their siblings around the house with a bucket of water in retaliation. http://www.dyngusdaybuffalo.com/whatisdyngusday.html

Library Snapshot Day – This is a day for Libraries of all kinds in all areas of the country to take pictures of whatever is going on so they can show everyone what a single day is like in their Library.

Poetry & The Creative Mind Day – Writing poetry requires a creative mind. There are many different forms of poetry and many different rules for writing poems, but beyond that, you need to be able to come up with just the right words to say what you want to say.

Sorry Charlie Day – Charlie the Tuna keeps getting rejected no matter what he does. But he survives and rebounds and comes back and tries again. Take that message and use it in your life.

St. Stupid Day – This day was founded by Ed Holmes in the 1970's. It is celebrated in San Francisco by a parade. It's a celebration of stupidity and anyone can join in dressed in whatever silly costume they wish.

Tater Day – This is a day begun in 1843 in Kentucky when townspeople would gather to trade with sweet potato slips which are used to grow sweet potatoes. Nowadays it involves carnivals and games and rides and sweet potato related contests.

White House Easter Egg Roll – This has been going on for 135 years and this year is no exception, at least so far. There's no telling what else they'll cut at the last minute.

To celebrate today have the men in your house wake up the women with some water and birch tree branches. Then, head down to Washington D.C. For the Easter Egg Roll, I'm pretty sure they do that early in the day so make sure you get up early enough to get there before the best eggs are rolled. Then, while the kids are busy with that, use the monument filled environment to inspire you to create your best poetry which you can share with the kids on the way home. Make sure you wish Congress a happy St. Stupid Day on the way past Capitol Hill. When the kids reject your best poetry offerings, rebound like Charlie does and try again. Maybe the kids can help inspire you. When you get back to work this afternoon, make sure you spend the rest of the work day having fun and playing jokes on your coworkers and boss. Have some sourdough bread and sweet potatoes for dinner while you search the internet for pictures of Libraries in remote parts of the country. Finally, when the kids are in bed, relax with some tatting work.

March 31, 2013

Today we celebrate:

Eiffel Tower Day – On this day in 1889, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France was dedicated. It took two years, two months and five days to complete. It was built by Gustave Eiffel for the International Exhibition of Paris in that year. It was the tallest structure in the world until 1930.

Easter – A Christian holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

National Bunsen Burner Day – On this day in 1811, Robert Wilhelm Eberhard von Bunsen was born in Germany. He was a professor of chemistry and created the bunsen burner which has made life so much easier for chemists and chemistry students.

National “She's Funny That Way” Day – Today is a day to celebrate women and all the ways we make everyone laugh.

National Clams On The Half Shell Day – Most of the recipes that I have found for this delicacy involve eating raw clams. While I don't think I'm all that picky about what I eat, (I was raised to believe that when you're a guest in someone's home, you eat what you are served no matter what it is.) I would definitely HAVE to be a guest in someone's home in order to make myself eat this.

International Day Of Prayer And Remembrance For Terri Schindler Schiavo, And All Our Vulnerable Brothers And Sisters – You probably remember the big controversy regarding Terri Schiavo. I'm not going into details and taking sides here, I'll just say that today is a day to remember her and everyone who is or has been in her and her family's very difficult position.

To celebrate today, start out by attending a sunrise Easter service at your local church, then you can take a quick trip to Paris to show your kids the Eiffel Tower in person. On your way home, swing by Germany and pick up an authentic German bunsen burner for your kids to take to chemistry class to show off. It probably will look exactly like the ones they already have in school. Then call up your mother so that you can have an amusing conversation about your trip. Finish up the day with your raw clams and some prayers for Terri, Terri's family and every other family enduring difficult medical decisions.

March 30, 2013

Today we celebrate:

Turkey Neck Soup Day – This is a soup made from stock which is made with turkey necks. http://foodimentary.com/2012/03/30/march-30-2-national-turkey-neck-soup-day/

Pencil Day – The pencil has been around for hundreds of years, but on this day in 1858, the first patent was granted for a pencil with an eraser at the end of it. Did you know that 75% of all pencils are yellow?

National I Am In Control Day – You decide what you are going to do today. Be in control of your own destiny, at least for today.

Grass Is Always Browner On The Other Side Of The Fence Day – Instead of coveting what someone else has or does, learn to appreciate what you have or do. You might find that what the other person has is no better than what you have after all.

National Doctors Day – President George Bush created this day in 1991 as a day to recognize the contributions of doctors to society. We all depend upon our doctors whenever we get sick or hurt. http://www.doctorsday.org/History.html

Take A Walk In The Park Day – I don't think that you necessarily HAVE to walk in a park today. This day seems to be about focusing on your physical and mental health, which would be improved with some exercise like walking. If you have a park handy, go walk in it. If not, walk somewhere else. Just get some exercise.

To celebrate today be in control and use a pencil to write a note of appreciation to your doctor, then go take a walk in the park. As you're walking contemplate the things that you are usually envious of others about and reflect on your own good fortune instead. When you get home, you can have some lovely turkey neck soup for lunch.

March 29, 2013

Today we celebrate:

National Lemon Chiffon Cake Day – Cleanse your palate from yesterday's chocolate with this delectable lemon cake.

National Mom And Pop Business Owner's Day – This day celebrates small business owners. This country was built by small businesses and although it looks like it has been taken over by the larger businesses, there is still a place for the little Mom and Pop stores.

Smoke And Mirrors Day – This day is all about creating illusions in order to hide things from people that you do not want them to notice.

Good Friday – Today is the day Christians remember the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

Knights Of Columbus Founders Day – On this day in 1882, Connecticut approved the charter of the first Knights Of Columbus.

Niagara Falls Runs Dry Day – On this day in 1848, people were shocked when Niagara Falls stopped flowing. The reason? Too much ice. The ice in Lake Erie blocked the water at the start of the river leading to this great landmark for more than a day.  The only pictures I could find I think are from the time the water stopped flowing for manmade reasons in 1969 when the engineers were looking for ways to preserve the falls.

Texas Loves The Children Day – Every child needs to be loved, although to be loved by a whole state is a little different. The hope is that one day all children will live in a loving, safe and healthy environment.

To celebrate this day, go shopping at small local businesses spending your money at places where it will benefit your town. Then make the lemon chiffon cake without the kids finding out about it, you'll have to be very sneaky. Maybe you can make it look like liver and onions. Over dinner, have a discussion with the kids about Good Friday and what that means and the Knights of Columbus because no one really knows what goes on in that organization so I'm sure the kids are curious. Then you can tell them the story of that amazing day in 1848 when the falls went dry. Finally, finish up the day by taking after Texas and sending the kids to bed with lots of hugs and love.

March 28, 2013

Today we celebrate:

National Black Forest Cake Day – Chocolate cake, whipped cream and cherries. What could be more delicious.

National Something On A Stick Day – Corn dogs and popsicles are not the only things that can be put on a stick and eaten. Kebobs are probably a little healthier, but you could take quite a few foods and put them on a stick so you don't need to use utensils today.

Barnum And Bailey Day – On this day in 1881, P.T. Barnum and James A. Bailey merged their circuses and created the “Greatest Show On Earth”. The Ringling Brothers purchased it in 1907 and in 1919 they added their name to the title.

Weed Appreciation Day – Did you know that you can eat some weeds? Young dandelion greens are good in a salad I hear. Even weeds serve a purpose in the circle of life.

To celebrate today have some black forest cake on a stick with a weed salad while you watch youtube videos of the circus.

March 27, 2013

Today we celebrate:

National Spanish Paella Day – There are an amazing number of very different recipes out there for this traditional dish from Spain, so you should have no trouble finding one that fits the ingredients you already have at home.

National “Joe” Day – This is just a silly and fun day. If your name is Joe, you're golden and you don't have to change a thing. If your name is anything else, today it's going to be “Joe”. And you don't have to worry about remembering anyone else's name either because everyone is “Joe” today.

Quirky Country Music Song Titles Day – There are some country songs that have some odd titles to say the least. I find it interesting that there are enough of them that someone felt the need to make a day for the subject. http://tasteofcountry.com/quirky-country-music-song-titles/

 

To celebrate today have a “call me Joe” party where everyone calls everyone else Joe. Then regal them with the quirky country music song titles you have learned about over a lovely paella dinner.

 

March 26, 2013

Today we celebrate:

 

National Make Up Your Own Holiday Day – Well, someone needs to create all these crazy days that we celebrate, they don't make up themselves and apparently whoever is doing it is running out of ideas. So today you'll just have to make up your own. Make it a good one.

National Nougat Day – Nougat, a part of many of our favorite candy bars, is thought to be thousands of years old and perhaps to have originated in Rome. There are many different recipes for it used by many different candy makers. So pick the one you like the best and stick with it.

Spinach Festival Day– I know I might be in the minority here, but I actually like spinach. Lenexa, Kansas has a Spinach Festival every September, but it's not September yet, and I cannot find out why there is a Spinach Festival Day in March.

Legal Assistants Day– This is a day to recognize the contributions of legal assistants everywhere who work so hard to make the lawyers look good.

American Diabetes Association Alert Day – Celebrated on the 4^th Tuesday in March, this is a day for everyone to take the Diabetes Risk Test to find out if you are at risk for developing Type 2 Diabetes.

To celebrate today, put your head together with the rest of the heads in your family and come up with your own holiday and method of celebrating it. Then have something with nougat to celebrate your genius. Head out to a lawyers' office to find a legal assistant so you can thank them for their hard work. Then, head home to take the Diabetes Risk Test and have some spinach for dinner.

March 25, 2013

Today we celebrate:

Seward's Day – Always on the last Monday in March, this day commemorates the purchase of Alaska from Russia by Secretary of State William Henry Seward on March 30, 1867 for $7.2 million. Most people at the time thought it was a ridiculous thing to do and called it “Seward's Folly”.   Mr. Seward suffered a great deal of criticism until they discovered gold in Alaska in 1897.  Sadly, Mr. Seward died before that happened.

International Waffle Day – Not to be confused with National Waffle Day on August 24^th, this day originated in Sweden and is supposed to commemorate the day the Archangel Gabriel told the Virgin Mary that she was pregnant.  I'm not really sure what that has to do with waffles since I'm pretty sure they didn't have such a thing two thousand some years ago.

National Medal Of Honor Day – This is a day dedicated to Medal of Honor recipients. This day was chosen for the celebration because it was on this day in 1863 that the first Medals of Honor were awarded to 6 brave men. http://www.homeofheroes.com/moh/history/day.html

Tolkien Reading Day – Created by the Tolkien Society for the purpose of encouraging people to read Tolkien's works. This day was chosen because it was on this day in the Lord of the Rings that Sauron fell in defeat.

Old New Year's Day – In the early Medieval period, this day was celebrated as the beginning of the New Year because of Archangel Gabriel's message to Mary. I think this was before the whole waffle craze started.

Passover – Celebrates the deliverance of the Jewish people from slavery.  It is celebrated with a very special meal called the Seder. 

International Day Of Remembrance Of The Victims Of Slavery And The Transatlantic Slave Trade – This day honors the lives of all those who suffered and/or died as a result of slavery and those who endured the horrors of being transported across an ocean in slave ships.

Greek Independence Day: A National Day Of Celebration Of Greek And American Democracy – Created in 2011 by President Obama, this is a day to celebrate democracy in general and Greek Independence in particular. http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/03/24/presidential-proclamation-greek-independence-day-national-day-celebratio

National Lobster Newburg Day – In 1876, Sea Captain Ben Wenburg, showed Chef Charles Ranhofer and Charles Delmonico of Delmonico's restaurant a new dish that they altered a little then named after the Captain, “Lobster a la Wenburg”. Alas for the Captain, Mr. Delmonico and Captain Wenburg had an argument and Wenburg was kicked out of the restaurant and never allowed to return. Delmonico then renamed the lobster dish to Lobster Newburg.

Pecan Day – Native Americans used pecan trees as a major source of food in the fall. They are also said to be the first to have cultivated this particular tree.

To celebrate today, read as many of Tolkien's books as you can while eating waffles with a pecan topping. Then go out and see if you can find any Medal of Honor recipients so you can congratulate them before going to the library to find some books on the effects of slavery on the people who were forced into such a fate. Then you can celebrate democracy by having a vote in your house about whether or not you should have a New Year's party. Everyone loves a party so I know how that vote will turn out so you should get some lobster so you can serve Lobster Newburg for your non-Jewish guests along with the Seder meal for your Jewish guests, after dinner you can call up some Alaskans so you can all wish them a Happy Seward's Day!.

March 24, 2013

Today we celebrate:

National Chocolate Covered Raisins Day – These delectable treats were first created in 1927 by Blumenthal Brothers Chocolate Company in Philadelphia and named Raisinets. While covering fruits and nuts with chocolate was occurring long before then, it was purely a homemade endeavor, not a branded and publicly sold item. They changed hands over the years and surprisingly (to me, anyway) the brand wasn't acquired by Nestle until 1984.

World Tuberculosis Day – Today is a day to remind everyone that tuberculosis is still a huge health problem in many parts of the world. On this day in 1882, Dr. Robert Koch announced that he had discovered the cause of the disease, the TB Bacillus. This paved the way for a cure to be found.

Palm Sunday – the Sunday before Easter, commemorating Jesus' triumphant arrival in Jerusalem.

To celebrate today, grab a bag of raisinets to sustain you on your trip to Jerusalem where you can retrace Jesus' journey to the city. Then you can detour to a third world country where you can help some of the tuberculosis victims.

March 23, 2013

Today we celebrate:

National Chip and Dip Day – The original party food, I often serve these as one of the hor's duerves at our parties. It's easy and delicious.

National Melba Toast Day – believed to have been created in 1897 by Auguste Escoffier and named by Cesar Ritz after Dame Nellie Melba, the stage name of an Australian opera singer, it is a very thin and crunchy bread.

Earth Hour – On this day at 8:30pm EST, turn off your lights for one hour. No, I am not crazy. This is a time to focus on our planet. Think about the resources that go into our daily lives and how we can best conserve them in order to save this planet for our grandchildren.

Near Miss Day – On this day in 1989, a large asteroid missed earth by only about 500,000 miles. Which is just a little farther away than the moon.

National Puppy Day – Today is a day to celebrate puppies and the joy they bring to the people who love them, and also to fight against the puppy mills and the tragic plight of the dogs within them. http://www.nationalpuppyday.com/about.htm

OK Day – This slang word was first used in 1839 by a journalist who was shortening the common slang at the time 'oll korrect' which was a deliberate misspelling of 'all correct'. Interestingly, OMG is also older than the kids today would probably imagine, having been first written by a British Naval Officer in 1917.

World Meteorological Day – This day celebrates 50 years of world weather watching by the World Weather Organization. There is a theme every year and this year's theme is, “Watching the weather to protect life and property.” http://www.wmo.int/worldmetday/

National Day of Unplugging – OK, all of you people who are addicted to your technological devices. Today is a day to unplug from them and reconnect with life. Turn off the cell phones and iPods and iPads and gaming systems and televisions. Talk to people face to face today. Listen to the silence around you, if you're lucky enough to find some. I did find it interesting that the internet is full of sites that each seem to put this celebration on a different day. So if you heard that it is celebrated on some other day, that would be why. I was not able to determine which day is the real day.

To celebrate today, go to your local SPCA and adopt a puppy and name him 'OK'. Then turn off the devices and have some chips and dip and melba toast with some other unplugged friends out in the back yard at 8:30pm EST (after you have turned out all the lights in the house) so you can watch the skies for asteroids and weather events.

March 22, 2013

Today we celebrate:

National Goof Off Day – You know you've been looking for an excuse to goof off. Well, here it is, all day long.

World Water Day – Without water, there is no chance of life. Therefore, this is a United Nations sponsored day to bring attention to the danger our freshwater supply is in due to pollution. This year, World Water Day is dedicated to a theme of cooperation around water. http://www.unwater.org/water-cooperation-2013/home/en/

As Young As You Feel Day – This day goes well with National Goof Off Day. You are as young as you feel, so do things that make you feel younger. Play with some kids, run outside, go for a hike, play some video games, take a nap. Whatever it is that you like to do that makes you feel younger than your age.

International Day Of The Seal – Created by Congress in 1982, there are some who believe it is celebrated on different days, but the most reliable looking information I could find says it is today. This is a day to bring attention to the problem of seal hunting. If people keep killing these beautiful creatures for sport, there won't be any left which would be very sad for people but will cause even bigger problems for the animals that hunt seals for food.

To celebrate today, goof off by grabbing your kids and going to visit a zoo like you used to when you were a kid. While you're there, find out if there is anything that you can do to help the seals. On the way home, count how many bodies of freshwater you can see.

March 21, 2013

Today we celebrate:

Absolutely Incredible Kid Day – This day was created by Camp Fire USA, and is always celebrated on the third Thursday in March, to remind us that kids need positive encouragement in their lives so your job is to write a love letter to your kids or to kids that are important to your life whether they are yours or not. This is one of those goofy sounding things that your kids will scoff at, but will also, in all likelihood, treasure for the rest of their lives.

Companies That Care Day – Also celebrated on the third Thursday, this day encourages employers to recognize the people that help make their company successful and to find ways for the company to make a difference in their community.

Fragrance Day – Today is a day to celebrate smells. What sort of aroma are you giving off today?

International Day For The Elimination Of Racial Discrimination – Today is also a day to do something to promote diversity. How boring would life be if we were all the same? Celebrate differences instead of condemning them.

Memory Day – I think we all have days when our memory is not so good. So today, do something to try to improve your memory. Memory or brain games are a good option. If you can't remember to do that, try walking down memory lane with yourself and spend some time remembering some of the important events in your life.

World Down Syndrome Day – Created seven years ago, this is a day to celebrate the amazing abilities of people with down syndrome. Having a disability only means that you have to work a little harder to achieve what you want to achieve. It does not mean that it is impossible.

National Day Of Action On Syringe Exchange – This is a call to action. Many people are working hard to try to get Congress to reinstate their program of exchanging money for syringes. Apparently it's an attempt to get people to turn their syringes in to the government instead of using them for drugs. The state of the Federal Government right now tells me that this is not going to become a reality this year.

National French Bread Day – Who does not love baguettes. Fresh from the oven, it's a little piece of heaven to a bread lover. Just the thought is making my mouth water and making me want to make some for my family to enjoy.

Single Parent's Day – Being a single parent is a challenge I don't like to contemplate. It's hard enough to be a parent when you have a partner to help you. Today is a day to honor the single parents you know for the very hard work they do. This day was begun by Janice Moglen in 1984.

National Common Courtesy Day – Common courtesy is hard to find these days. Work on teaching your children about this subject today. Please and thank you and holding doors for people goes a long way toward making everyone's day more enjoyable.

Spring Fairy Fun Day – Today is a day for making crafts with your kids, namely anything to do with spring and fairies. Have fun.

 





To celebrate today, put on some perfume, find a petition to sign on the syringe exchange program and then go over the common courtesies you expect your kids to practice today. Next, if you are a single parent, congratulate yourself on a job well done so far and call up anyone else you know that is a single parent and do the same for them. Write your letters to your kids and leave them on their pillows where they can be found later on. See if you can get your boss to agree to do something that will benefit the community like start a food bank collection. If you know someone with down syndrome, call them up and encourage them to keep trying to reach their goals in life. Find some fun spring fairy crafts you can do with your kids and finally, finish up the day with some baguette and a trip down memory lane while you try to remember the first time you ever had french bread.

March 20, 2013

Today we celebrate:

Kick Butts Day – Some of my karate friends are going to see this and say, “YES!” But read on, my friends because we are talking about a different kind of 'butts'. Today is a day for fighting against the Tobacco industry, encouraging kids to not pick up the tobacco habit, and raising awareness about the health concerns related to tobacco. http://www.kickbuttsday.org/

Bed-In For Peace Day – John Lennon and Yoko Ono were married on this day in 1969. Knowing that they would get a lot of publicity because of it, they decided to use that publicity to promote peace by having the first Bed-In For Peace event which lasted for a week. It was modeled after the popular sit-in protest style, but they sat in beds instead of the hard ground. It was their intention that this be a humorous type of protest.

Great American Meat Out Day – Today is a day to go without meat. Try a vegan diet today, you may decide you like it better. You may encounter people at shopping centers and other public locations attempting to get you to pledge to do this today. Their goal of the organizers was to get 25,000 people to pledge to try eating this way today. http://www.meatout.org/

International Earth Day – Founded by John McConnell, this is a day to focus on the needs of the Earth. http://www.earthsite.org/

Won't You Be My Neighbor Day – Who doesn't remember Fred Rogers, everyone's neighbor? Today is a day to wear a sweater and behave in neighborly manner with everyone. http://www.fredrogers.org/e-newsletters/March-April-2012/neighbor.html

Extraterrestrial Abductions Day – Today keep a wary eye on the skies. They could be coming for you this time.

Proposal Day – Apparently the stars are aligned today ( I don't quite get that. I would bet money that they will be just as scattered across the sky as usual when the sun sets.) and it is the perfect day for a proposal. So if you've been thinking about popping that all important question, why not do it today?

Atheist Pride Day – Although I'm not an atheist, I have some friends who are. If you are one yourself, today is a day to be proud of it. We do have freedom of religion after all and I'm pretty sure that means you can be free FROM having a religion if that is what you want.

International Astrology Day – Begun in 1993 by the Association for Astrological Networking, the purpose of this day is to expand networking among astrology minded individuals, gain positive publicity, and raise funds for local astrological organizations. Maybe these people can explain to me how the stars can be aligned without actually moving into a line formation. http://ncgrsanfrancisco.org/IADSFHistory.html

National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day – This is not just an African Continent problem, although that is what we hear about the most on the news. This problem affects all countries and all nationalities and cultures. http://aids.gov/news-and-events/awareness-days/

National Ravioli Day – There are lots of things that you can put in a ravioli, it's not just a cheese dish. I had butternut squash raviolis that were out of this world. See if you can make your own or find someone who makes more unusual raviolis and expand your palate today.

Kiss Your Fiancee Day – Wedding planning is stressful. There's no way around that unless you elope or visit your friendly neighborhood Justice of the Peace or Sea Captain. So take a break from the stresses of your upcoming wedding day and just spend some time together and fall in love all over again. Oh yeah, you can practice for your first kiss as a married couple. That takes a lot of practice if you want to get it right.

Snowman Burning Day – Begun by the Lake Superior State University Unicorn Hunters in 1971, this is a tradition that says goodbye to winter and hello to spring. This practice apparently comes from Germany where they would have a festival and the Mayor of the town would ask tell the children that if they promise to be good, he will order the straw snowman to be set on fire and spring will arrive. The children yell out their promise, the snowman is set aflame and it's bye-bye winter. In true college form, the LSSU's snowmen have taken many forms over the years. You can read about it here. http://www.lssu.edu/snowman/

National Jump Out! Day – Grab a jump rope and start hopping. This is a day for children to be more active, but there is no earthly reason why adults can't do it too.

Vernal Equinox – Also known as the Spring Equinox, it is the point at which day and night are exactly the same length. This marks the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere of the planet and the beginning of fall in the Southern Hemisphere (therefore called the Autumnal Equinox).

This is a very busy day. To start, you can wish my youngest daughter a Happy Birthday, read your horoscope and then if you have a fiancee, give him/her a kiss. If you don't have a fiancee yet, maybe that will change by the end of the day. While you are waiting, grab your sweater and a jump rope and jump your way to LSSU to watch the snowman burning. You could even gather some Atheist friends and turn it into a jump roping parade. On the way there you will see many people, be neighborly and stop and talk to them about the HIV/AIDS problem for natives and encourage them to stop smoking. After the snowman burning, say hello to spring and then rush home for your bed-in portion of the day. It's a long way so maybe you can grab a ride from your neighborhood extraterrestrial. When you get home, drag your bed into the kitchen so you can make your meatless ravioli dinner while participating in your very own bed-in..

March 19, 2013

Today we celebrate:

National Poultry Day – Poultry is not just chicken. It could be any domesticated bird raised for meat or eggs. Be creative today, try something you've never tried before like quail or cornish game hens.

Swallows Return To San Juan Capistrano Day – I don't know how these birds know what day it is but apparently they are always on time and there is a big festival to celebrate their return. http://www.sanjuancapistrano.net/swallows/

Operation Iraqi Freedom Day – On this day in 2003, President George W. Bush announced the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The mission was to rid Iraq of Saddam Hussein and stop Iraq from being able to produce weapons of mass destruction.

National Agriculture Day – Started by the Agriculture Council of America, this day is for recognizing the fact that agriculture is the backbone of life. Without the abundance of agriculture, civilization could not have expanded beyond the little family farms of centuries ago. http://www.agday.org/

National Chocolate Caramel Day – Ok, I admit it, I'm salivating right now. I love chocolate and caramel which is why I never have any of it around. But since today is a special day, I guess I just have to go out and get some.

To celebrate today, plan out a backyard reenactment of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Get your whole neighborhood involved. Then when you're done and your backyard is demolished, plant some agriculture back there instead of grass. Get your binoculars and examine each bird you see during the day to see if it's a swallow. Then whip up a poultry dish for dinner and have some chocolate caramels for dessert.

March 18, 2013

Today we celebrate:

National Lacy Oatmeal Cookie Day – Mmmmm...cookies. Who doesn't like cookies, no matter what kind they are. And, these cookies must be healthy! They have oatmeal in them, after all.

Goddess Of Fertility Day – I cannot find a reliable source for this day so I don't know when it was created. But it seems to celebrate Aphrodite, the ancient Greek goddess of love and fertility. I was going to post a picture of her for you but most of the pictures on the web are of her naked or partially naked and this is not that kind of blog. 

Biodiesel Day – Today is Rudolph Diesel's birthday. He invented the diesel engine which interestingly enough ran on peanut oil .http://www.biodiesel.org/news/biodiesel-news/news-display/2012/03/18/recognizing-rudolf-diesel's-foresight-in-celebrating-biodiesel-day

Well-Elderly or Wellderly Day – today is a day to focus on the health and well-being of the elderly.

Supreme Sacrifice Day – This is a day that honors those who have made a supreme sacrifice for others, maybe even for you. There have been many in our lifetime, many more if you go back further in time. Soldiers, firemen and firewomen, policemen and policewomen, neighbors and friends and even total strangers. Some of these heroes gave up their lives to save another.

Forgive Mom And Dad Day – This is a day to realize that children do not come with instruction manuals. As parents, all any of us can do is make the best decisions we can with the information we have available to us. For example, if your parents smoked in the house when you were a kid before the effects of second hand smoke were known to cause health problems for kids, forgive them because they probably would never have done it if they knew it would hurt you.

Awkward Moments Day – We've all had at least one awkward moment in our lives. Some of us have had many of them. Celebrate them today and maybe laugh at yourself a little now that you've had some time to get over the awkward feelings, perhaps the humor in the situation can peek out at you now.

To celebrate today, dress up in some drapy Aphrodite-inspired robes and make some lacy oatmeal cookies to snack on. In fact, bring them to share while you go and check on the well being of your elderly relatives or neighbors. Then, hop into your biodiesel fuel propelled vehicle and find someone who has made a huge sacrifice for someone else, maybe you, and thank them profusely. When you get home, call your parents and tell them that you forgive them. After that awkward moment sits there for a while, (you can laugh about it later) you might explain why you are forgiving them.

March 17, 2013

Today we celebrate:

Campfire Girls Day – On this day in 1912, Campfire Girls of America was incorporated as a national agency. Its' mission was to do for girls what the boy scouts did for boys. As you can tell from the name it involved lots of camping and outdoor activities. In 1975 it began allowing boys to become members and changed its name to Campfire Boys and Girls. In 2001 it became Campfire USA and in 2012 it became simply Campfire.

Saint Patrick's Day – St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland and is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland. For centuries, the Irish have been celebrating his life on this date, which is believed to be the date of his death in the year 460, with a great feast. The festivities have spread over the years to the extent that on this day, everyone is a little bit Irish.

A very simple celebration day today. Wear some green, watch the parade, have some Irish Soda Bread or other such Irish dish and then go camping. Dress warm, I don't know where you are, but right here, it's pretty chilly at night.

March 16, 2013

Today we celebrate:

Goddard Day – Robert Goddard was the first to launch a rocket propelled by a liquid fuel. He accomplished this feat on this day in 1926 on his Aunt Effie's farm in Massachusetts. He may also have been the first to state that space travel to the moon was possible. He was ridiculed in the New York Times for this belief.

National Quilting Day – I know that all of you quilters out there have been waiting for this day. You may begin. http://nqaquilts.org/

Lips Appreciation Day – Take care of your lips today. It's really hard to kiss your honey without them.

National Artichoke Heart Day – Artichoke heart lovers! Today is your day! For those of you who aren't sure yet about this crazy looking food, you can try this web site for recipes: http://www.cooks.com/rec/search/0,1-0,artichoke_hearts,FF.html

National Everything You Do Is Right Day – You knew this was coming right? After all you can't do everything wrong every day. There had to be a flip side. So whatever it is you want to do today, do it with confidence because you're absolutely right!

Freedom Of Information Day – Recognized by Congress in 1989, this day was chosen for the purposes of highlighting the importance of the Freedom of the Press, religion, the public library system and the public's right to know.....stuff. It is celebrated today because today is the birthday of President James Madison (our 4^th President of the U.S.) who was the biggest contributor to the writing of the Bill of Rights.

Corn Dog Day – This is about more than corn dogs. Begun in 1992 by Brady Sahnow and Henry Otley, this day is a celebration of corn dogs, basketball, tater tots and beer. All of these things are really supposed to be celebrated together, but I think I'll pass on everything but the tater tots. I LOVE tater tots.

Curlew Day – These are birds, believe it or not. And they are busy practicing for their extravagant courtship flights. So if you see one, make sure you don't do anything to break their concentration. May the best bird win.

St. Urho's Day – I could not determine who created the story of St. Urho, but it apparently began in the 1950's and involves a man driving grasshoppers out of Finland saving the famed Finnish grape crops. http://www.sainturho.com/

To celebrate today, create some rocket fuel and have a science experiment in the backyard with the kids where you attempt to launch a rocket. When the police come around asking questions, make sure you are free with your information. Next, add some pictures of lips, curlews, grapes and grasshoppers into the quilt you are making today while you watch a basketball game and eat artichoke hearts, corn dogs, tater tots and beer. Do all of this with the confidence that it will all turn out great! Alternatively, if you don't like the looks of lips on your quilt because they don't go with the grapes, grasshoppers and curlews, you can kiss everyone you meet today.

March 15, 2013

Today we celebrate:

National Peanut Lovers Day – Do you like to snack on your peanuts by themselves or do you like to mix your peanuts with other things like chocolate or ice cream or other nuts? Whichever it is, today's your chance.

National Pears Helene Day – This dish consists of pears poached in sugar syrup, topped with ice cream and chocolate syrup. It was created in 1864 by Auguste Escoffier.

World Consumer Rights Day – This day is about raising awareness of consumer rights around the world. It is celebrated today because on this day in 1962, President John F. Kennedy gave a speech to the U.S. Congress during which he talked about consumer rights. This is significant because he was the first world leader to EVER publicly raise the subject.

National Everything You Think Is Wrong Day – Whatever it is that you think you know, think again because you are wrong, wrong, wrong.

Ides Of March – Prior to the assassination of Julius Caesar, the Ides of March was a festival dedicated to Anna Perenna, the sister of some tragic Carthaginian queen named Dido. Alas, for Anna, on this day in 44 B.C., Julius Caesar was assassinated and now everyone has forgotten poor Anna and instead is intent on heeding the advice to beware the Ides of March, which Caesar ignored.

Brutus Day – This day is a reminder to politicians that the backstabbing, behind your back plotting, etc, did not end when Brutus killed Caesar.

Dumbstruck Day – Did you ever have a day when you just wanted to whap yourself on the forehead? Well, get ready, today is going to be one of those days.

To celebrate today, you know those eyes in the back of your head? Well, keep them open today, especially on the people you THINK are your friends. Start the day off with some shopping so you can lecture all the sales people you encounter about your consumer rights. Have a nice peanutty snack (assuming no allergy issues) while you contemplate your long held opinions on world events. Then you can whap yourself on the forehead when you realize that everything you were just thinking is wrong! Then you can finish the day with Pears Helene and if you're thinking that it's delicious, well, obviously you're wrong. If you have survived the day without being stabbed by a friend, you can relax because you're safe until next year.