International Museum Day –
This day was created in 1977 by the International Council of Museums
for the purpose of increasing awareness of the importance of museums
in society. They were probably also hoping to increase the number of
people visiting the thousands of museums sprinkled around the
country. Well, it worked, attendance has been increasing steadily
ever since. Last year, nearly 32,000 museums participated in this
day by hosting special events in 129 countries.
No Dirty Dishes Day – I am not
sure how this day is supposed to work unless you eat out for all of
your meals today. The goal is to have no dirty dishes to wash today.
Which I approve of wholeheartedly. I don't know of anyone who likes
washing dishes but I can't really condone the idea of using paper
plates all day because if everyone does this, the landfills will be
overflowing. I just got a great idea! Have the kids wash the dishes
today!
Visit Your Relatives Day –
This is a day for family. Reconnect with family members you haven't
seen in a while and spend some time with older members of your
family. You never know how long you will have left with them.
Armed Forces Day – Celebrated
on the third Saturday in May, this is a day to honor the men and
women who serve in the United States Armed Forces. There will be a
wide variety of activities going on all day all over the country from
parades to motorcycle rides to educational activities. In the past
there were celebration days for each of the branches of the armed
forces, but in 1949, Secretary of Defense, Louis Johnson, announced
that they would all be consolidated under one day because all of the
armed forces had united under Department of Defense. The only branch
that has chosen to still have it's own day is the Marines although
they support this day as well.
Military-Amateur Crossband
Communications Day – On this day, the same day as Armed Forces
Day, the Military Auxiliary Radio System conducts a traditional
military to amateur crossband communications test and a
message-receiving test. This gives amateur radio operators an
opportunity to display their skills and receive recognition from the
Secretary of Defense. This radio system is in place so that the
military, as well as state and local emergency response organizations
have access to communications in the event of an emergency
National Cheese Souffle Day –
I have made a lot of things, but I have never made a souffle. Maybe
I'll try this recipe tonight:
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Asparagus-and-Swiss-Cheese-Souffles-5175
HIV Vaccine Awareness Day –
Sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious
Diseases, this is a day to learn about the work that is being done by
thousands of scientists, health professionals, and volunteers with
the goal of creating an HIV vaccine.
I Love Reese's Day – This day
was created by popular demand. I found a rumor that said “nearly
40,000 fans” joined a campaign on Facebook and said they wanted
this delectable treat to have its own day. I can see that happening
and if it's true, I'm a little surprised it was only 40,000.
Clearly, their efforts were successful.
National Learn To Swim Day –
Celebrated for the second year, this day is always and forevermore
celebrated on the Saturday of the weekend before Memorial Day
weekend. This is a day to become aware of the importance of teaching
your children how to swim. Children who cannot swim are far more
likely to drown if they accidentally end up in a pool or pond or lake
or river. Make sure your child learns this important lifesaving
skill and if your child is afraid of the water, as my youngest was
when she started learning, don't cave in to their fear and give up
making them go to lessons. My daughter cried through nearly 6 months
of lessons before she finally started enjoying the water and now she
swims like a fish. It's worth it.
O. Henry Pun-Off Day – This is
a yearly competition inspired by the writings of William Sydney
Porter who lived in Austin, TX in the late 1800s and used the pen
name O. Henry. He had a gift for wordplay that is loved to this day
so in 1978, pun-offs began to be celebrated. In 1990, Gary Hallock,
began organizing and running the competition which takes place at the
O. Henry Museum in Austin, TX.
Do Dah Day - Begun in 1979 in
Birmingham, or so I am led to believe, this is a day a bunch of
friends decided to have a party and over the years turned it into a
fund raising event for local charities involving animals. More and
more Do Dah volunteers joined the effort and it has become a festival
with a parade. http://www.dodahday.org/index.php
To celebrate today, grab some of your
relatives that you haven't seen in a while, make sure they are not so
old they can't keep up with you today, and go to the O. Henry Museum
in Austin for the pun-off. Grab some Reese's to take with you for a
snack. When you finish here, swing by Birmingham to catch the Do Dah
Day Parade, On the way home, stop in at a military base and see if
they are going to have a parade there too, because you can never have
too many parades. When you get back, sign up the kids, or yourself,
for some swimming lessons and then find a friend who is an amateur
radio operator so you can take part in the test. Later, do some
research and find out what you can do to help the scientists develop
an AIDS vaccine. Then, go out for dinner so you don't have to wash
dishes and make sure you order a lovely souffle.
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