December 1, 2015

Today we celebrate:

Giving Tuesday - This is a day to give thanks for all you have by giving back to your community by supporting charities that you believe in.  Be generous with your money, your time and/or your talents and help the world one person at a time.  This is a global day that I believe is celebrated on the first Tuesday of December.  As far as I can tell, it doesn’t matter which charities or causes you support as long as you support something that helps someone somewhere.

Wear A Dress Day - Celebrated on June 1st and December 1st, this is a day to celebrate being a woman and put on a dress just because.  Lots of us don’t have much of an opportunity to dress up for no particular reason. So here is your chance.  This day was begun in 2010 by persons unknown to me.  All I know is that they were talking about how more women should wear dresses because women in beautiful dresses are beautiful.

National Pie Day – There seems to be two pie day in the year.Today and January 23rd. They are pretty close together but we are in the swing of what I consider to be cookie and pie season.  So let’s celebrate both days.

Civil Air Patrol Day – The Civil Air Patrol is the civilian auxiliary of the United States Air Force. It was created on this day in 1941 under Major General John F. Curry. It was created to provide air support to the war effort in WWII by patrolling American borders and coasts and assisting the military in any way necessary. It is comprised of volunteers who these days have three objectives set by Congress: perform emergency services such as search and rescue missions, and assist local law enforcement and the American Red Cross, and provide aerospace education programs for the public and cadet programs for teens.

Rosa Parks Day – Who doesn't know about Rosa Parks? She was that very brave woman who on this day in 1955, refused to give up her seat on the bus to a white man, something that was against the segregation laws of the time. She is known now as “the mother of the civil rights movement.” I know it sounds crazy to kids today but back then in Montgomery, Alabama, and in many other southern states, people of color were required to sit in the back of the bus and were obligated to give up their seats to the white riders if the front of the bus filled up. Well, the front of the bus filled up and a white man wanted Rosa Parks' seat. Ms. Parks refused and the rest is history.  The stupidity of so-called educated people back then just boggles my mind.  Did you know that “educated” light skinned people really thought that if they used the same toilet or water fountain as dark skinned people, they would get some sort of disease?  This makes me wonder what people will say 50 years from now about some of the things we believe to be true today.

Day With(out) Art Day – Created on this day in 1989 as a day of mourning for those suffering because of the AIDS crisis, it is also a call to positive action that will spread awareness of the fact that AIDS can affect everyone. On the first celebration day in 1989, Museums were shut down and museum staff spent the day volunteering at AIDS services or worked on several sponsored exhibits of work about AIDS. In 1997 the day changed to a Day With Art in order to increase the programming of cultural events to increase attention to the rapid spread of the disease all over the world. The name was kept (with parentheses added) in order to keep our attention on the horrible possibility of a future world without art or artists so we now highlight the art projects by artists living with the disease.

Eat a Red Apple Day – This is a day to eat a red apple. I generally prefer the yellow or green varieties but the occasional red apple is also very good. Since you should be eating an apple every day in order to keep the doctor away, I'm sure you won't have any trouble indulging in your favorite red variety today.

World Aids Day – This is a day to get the facts about about HIV/AIDS. How you can get it, how you can avoid it, and what to do if you or a loved one have it. With proper treatment, people with HIV/AIDS can live a long time and don't have to infect other people. Spread the news around the world because there are some countries where AIDS is rampant because people just don't know anything about how to protect themselves and their families.

November 30, 2015

Today we celebrate:

Cities for Life Day - This is a day for cities around the world to take a stand against the death penalty.  More and more countries and/or states have abolished the death penalty as the years have passed since the first one in 1786 when Pietro Leopoldo abolished it for his Grand Duchy of Tuscany (he later became Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor).  On this day, participating cities will illuminate a symbolic monument, such as the Colosseum in Rome.

Cyber Monday – This is the Black Friday for online businesses. Today focus your buying power online. If you look, you will find some great deals to snatch up.

Perpetual Youth Day - Celebrated on Dick Clark’s birthday, this is a day to celebrate those people who never seem to age.  Dick Clark was known for looking far younger than his age right up until his death.  I don’t know how he did it, but I’m sure that everyone should be able do the same.

National Mousse Day – Combine egg whites and cream, along with some other wonderful additions, to create this smooth, creamy, deliciousness.

Computer Security Day – This day was begun in 1988 to raise awareness of security issues related to computers. Prior to this, such a thing wasn't necessary since few people had computers in their homes. These days it seems we hear about security breaches on computer systems every other day.  Check your own security and make sure it’s up to date.

National Meth Awareness Day – Created by the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG), (and no, I didn't make that up) for the purpose of spreading awareness of the dangers of methamphetamine abuse on families, communities and the people who fall victim to the addiction.

November 29, 2015

Today we celebrate:

National Throw Out Your Leftovers Day - If you still have some leftovers from Thanksgiving, this is the day to give them the old heave-ho.  Food borne bacteria is nothing to mess around with and after being stored for a few days, it is entirely possible that the food in your fridge could make you sick.  So I’m sure you’re sick of eating Thanksgiving food by now so get rid of it all.

National Lemon Creme Pie Day - If you haven’t had your fill of pies in the last few days, here is an excuse to have one more.  I love lemon creme so make sure you send a piece my way.

Customer is Wrong Day - This is a day that allows people who work in the customer service industry to vent their frustration and get a little satisfaction.  Just make sure you don’t lose your job in the process.  Today the customer is wrong.  Doesn’t matter what the issue is.  However, get it all out of your system today because tomorrow the customer goes back to being right!

National Chocolates Day – Chocolate lovers rejoice! Then run out and get your favorite chocolates to enjoy today. You know I'll be doing that!

Electronic Greeting Card Day – This is a day to greet your friends and family with a nice electronic greeting card or email. Like it or not, we are a part of the electronic age and we need to embrace it and participate.

International Day of Solidarity With The Palestinian People – This day was created by the United Nations General Assembly in 1977 for the purpose of encouraging a peaceful resolution to the conflicts in the Middle East.

Square Dancing Day – Square Dancing is a purely American style of dancing that mixes elements from many different countries. It isn't very popular any more but there was a time when everyone knew how to do it. These days you have to find a Square Dancing club to join.

Advent – This is more of a season than a day and can begin anywhere between November 27th and December 3rd. It is celebrated by Christian Churches as a time of preparation for the birth of Jesus Christ. Many different churches have many different traditions during this time which begins on the fourth Sunday before December 25th.

November 28, 2015

Today we celebrate:

It’s Letter Writing Day - On this day in 1922, the first skywriting advertisement was created by Captain Cecil Turner for the Vanderbilt Hotel in New York City.  It was a raving success resulting in 47,000 phone calls for the hotel.  Now we can’t all go out and create our own skywriting messages but we can write our messages on paper where it will last longer.

Turkey Leftover Day - Yesterday we celebrated leftovers in general.  Today we are celebrating turkey leftovers specifically.  I know you still have some, I certainly do.  What should we do with them today?  Turkey pot pie?  Turkey Casserole? Turkey sandwiches?  

National French Toast Day – If you were wondering what on earth you were going to have for breakfast today, fear not for I have your solution right here. Who doesn't love French Toast?  Although apparently it should be called Roman Toast since the Apicius, a collection of recipes that appear to be from Romans back in the 5th century, has a dish that is very similar to the French Toast that we eat today.

Make Your Own Head Day – This is a day to get creative and artistic. Use whatever materials you have on hand and make your own head today. Make it however you would like it to be, it doesn't have to look anything like you.

Red Planet Day – On this day in 1964, Mariner 4 was launched. Mariner 4 was an unmanned spacecraft that passed within 9,844 kilometers of Mars and took many up close pictures of the red planet that it sent back to scientists here on Earth. It was our first up close look at our neighbor in space.

International Aura Awareness Day – Celebrated on the fourth Saturday in November, this is a day to become more aware of our human energy, also known as our auras. See if you can figure out what your aura says about you.

Small Business Saturday – Celebrated on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, this is a day to support the small businesses in your community by spending money in their establishments. Money spent in small local businesses stays in your local community and benefits everyone.  As our Dutchess County Chamber of Commerce likes to say, “Think Local First.”  This is a motto that can apply to everyone.  Support your local small businesses today!

November 27, 2015

Today we celebrate:

Fur Free Friday - This is a day to avoid spending money on, and thereby supporting, the fur industry.  There is no need to buy real fur when the fake furs will serve the same purpose without having caused the death of an animal.

National Electric Guitar Day - Born on this day in 1942, Jimi Hendrix was a multitalented artist.  He sang, wrote songs, and was one of the most influential electric guitarists in the history of music.  He died at the depressingly young age of 27, but his music and talent are still celebrated today.

National Leftovers Day - If you celebrated Thanksgiving yesterday, chances are really good that you have a fridge full of leftovers.  So this is a day to start working on eating another delicious Thanksgiving meal.  Get creative with your leftovers and see if you can craft a whole new meal out of the things you have already used once in your fridge.

You’re Welcome-giving Day - Celebrated on the day after Thanksgiving, this is a day to respond to all the ‘thanks’ that you were given or were giving with a good ‘you’re welcome’.  Because, that is what we usually say next, after all. Please do not ask my why this normal response requires a special day because I have no idea.

National Bavarian Cream Pie Day – This is a pie that has a cooked egg custard filling in a pie shell with a whipped cream topping. Oh, boy! I want some!  I love Bavarian Cream Donuts and this must be even better!

Turtle Adoption Day - This is a day to consider adopting a turtle.  Why would you consider adopting a turtle?  Well, you need to consider that some people are allergic to other animals like cats and dogs.  Turtles don’t make a lot of noise or mess, and…..well, that’s it.  I’m out of good points for turtles.  I would strongly suggest, that if you want to take advantage of this day, make sure you do your research on the turtle you decide to adopt as they have very specific care needs.

Pins and Needles Day – On this day in 1937, a famous play called Pins And Needles opened on Broadway. It is famous because it was the first, and possibly the only, Pro-Labor play at a time when Unions were struggling to get a foothold among the people.

Black Friday – This is the day that retailers look forward to all year long. This is what used to be the one day when most retailers made more money than any other day or even week, maybe even month, all year. Of course, many retailers are trying to extend that time, in the hopes that more people will spend more money, by moving up their openings to Thanksgiving Day, but this is still the official Black Friday.  I bet if you venture out and brave the crowds, you can find some good deals today.

Buy Nothing Day – I am not a Black Friday shopper, the crowds of people scare me away so I choose to celebrate this day instead. I don't generally go anywhere on this day or spend any money unless I absolutely have to.

Sinkie Day – This day is always on the day after Thanksgiving and is celebrated by eating Thanksgiving leftovers over the sink. My daughter asked me why anyone would want to do that and truthfully I'm not sure unless it's that we have had enough of sitting at tables after yesterday's festivities and we don't want to bother cleaning up after ourselves.

Flossing Day – This day is always celebrated the day after Thanksgiving. It is a day to focus on the health of your teeth and gums and right after Thanksgiving, when you loaded up on all that good food, is a great day to make sure none of it stayed behind in your teeth.

National Day of Listening – Celebrated on the day after Thanksgiving, this is a day to really listen to what your loved ones have to say. It is the most precious gift that you can give to anyone.  And if you really pay attention and listen closely, you might be surprised by what you hear.

National Native American Heritage Day – This is a day to acknowledge and honor the rich history and culture of all of the Native American tribes that shaped our nation in so many ways. Some of that history is full of broken promises, violence and injustice toward all of the Native Americans and we need to acknowledge that as well as the centuries of strong and enduring history that came before the arrival of our European ancestors.  This day is celebrated on the day after Thanksgiving every year.

November 26, 2015

Today we celebrate:

Good Grief Day - On this day in 1922, Charles M. Schulz was born.  Mr. Schulz was the creator of the beloved and very unlucky and personally tormented little boy, Charlie Brown along with all the other Peanuts characters that many of us grew up loving. If you happen to live in Santa Rosa, California, I understand there is a Charles M. Schulz Museum you can explore.  I’d love to take a trip out there to see it but I’m afraid it will have to wait for another year.

National Cake Day – We don't often think of cakes at this time of year. Our focus seems to be more along the lines of pies. But cakes are one of the world's favorite desserts and should not be ignored. You can make any kind of cake you want today so pick your favorite and enjoy.

National Day of Mourning – This is a day of protest for the Native American people. They remember how their ancestors were murdered, lied to, poisoned, demonized and displaced by the people who came to this country after them beginning with the Pilgrims.  Not the finest chapter of our Nation’s history, but one that needs to be acknowledged.

Thanksgiving Day – This is a day for Americans to give thanks. We stuff ourselves to the bursting point with a feast and we thank God for a bountiful harvest and our ability to spend time with the ones we love.

Turkey-free Thanksgiving – And for the vegans, vegetarians, and the turkey dislikers among us,  you absolutely do NOT have to have Turkey today. Have a pork roast or steak or delicious vegetarian or vegan meal instead.

To celebrate today make a cake shaped like Charlie Brown and have it for Thanksgiving whether you have a turkey or not. Then explain to your kids about how the government mistreated the Native Americans.

November 25, 2015

Today we celebrate:

Blackout Wednesday - Hmmm, I’m not a fan of this day.  Apparently it is traditional among college students or adults who do not have to work on Thanksgiving, to take the day before and drink until they blackout since they will have Thanksgiving to recover.  I will not be celebrating this day because I’m going to be too busy cooking in preparation for tomorrow and I have no desire to be miserably sick tomorrow.  I will remind you that you will not be as able to enjoy the Thanksgiving meal with your family if you are hungover.

National Family Caregivers Day - This is a day to honor, and hopefully help, the people we know who are caregivers for someone in their family. Sometimes this is a spouse of someone in need, or grown children, parents, siblings, aunts and uncles or someone who is even farther away on the family tree.  It is very difficult to do everything that needs to be done for someone in need and still keep your own sanity.  So if you are someone in this position, you have our thoughts and prayers today.  If you know someone in this position, ask if you can do something to help them.  Whether it’s taking over for an hour or more or even a weekend, or simply running some errands for them, I’m sure your help will be gratefully received.

What Do You Love About America Day - Created by some ecard people and celebrated on the day before Thanksgiving, this is a day to think about what you love most about America.  Share your thoughts with others and find out what they love most about America as well.  We live in a great country but frequently take our freedoms, rights and privileges for granted.

International Vegetarian Day – Mostly celebrated in Asian Pacific Rim countries and India, this day celebrates the birth of Sadhu Vaswani. Sadhu Vaswani “is a name synonymous with reverence for all life. Indeed, he was the living embodiment of an unsullied love that knew no bounds, an all-embracing love that included all mankind, animals and all creation.” He was born on this day in 1879. Read about his life here.

International Day For the Elimination of Violence Against Women – Created in 1999 by the United Nations General Assembly, this day commemorates the three Mirabal sisters who were assassinated in the Dominican Republic on the orders of Rafael Trujillo, the Dominican ruler at the time. The women were political activists fighting against violence. In their honor, the United Nations wants us to spend the day fighting against the discrimination that causes people to perpetuate the murders, assaults, rapes and mutilations of women all over the world.

Shopping Reminder Day – This is a day celebrated worldwide, one month before Christmas, that reminds us that we need to start our holiday shopping. I frankly don't care to be reminded of this kind of holiday stress right before Thanksgiving. But I recognize that some people need the reminder because they need to plan their strategy for Black Friday.

National Parfait Day – We have had some parfait days in the past, but they were specific to a certain flavor. Today you can have any flavor parfait that you want. Enjoy.

Tie One On Day – I know what this sounds like, but you are incorrect. Today we are tying on an apron and celebrating all the generations of women who came before us. Women over the last several thousands years are best represented by the image of the apron. And in the spirit of all those women who were well known for sharing what they had with those who had less, do something to help someone in need today.  This day is celebrated on the day before Thanksgiving every year.

To celebrate today, tie on an apron and teach your kids about respect for women and how to change the world through non-violence over a vegetarian dinner and parfait dessert. Then, plan your holiday shopping strategy before you invite some family caregivers over for to have a break, a drink and a discussion about what you all love about America.

November 24, 2015

Today we celebrate:

National Sardines Day - I never really understood the appeal of sardines. Tiny fish in a tin can that you eat, bones and all. I would love to say “yum”, but I can’t.

Brownielocks Day - This is a day to celebrate being a brunette.  Celebrate by showing off your hair, the bigger your ‘do’ the better.  If you don’t have brown hair, compliment all those who do.  This day was chosen because it was when the brownielocks people bought their domain name.

Celebrate Your Unique Talent Day – Do you have a unique, odd and/or gross talent? I think if you think about it hard enough you'll come up with something. Well, this is the day to figure it out and share it with others.

D.B. Cooper Day – This is the name given to an unidentified criminal who hijacked a Boeing 727 flying between Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington on this day in 1971. He received $200,000 in ransom money before parachuting out of the plane. He had boarded the plane with the alias Dan Cooper, which the media messed up causing him to be called D. B. Cooper. Neither he nor all the money has ever been found, and the FBI believes that he didn't survive the jump. A small amount of money was found and some believe it is part of the ransome. All passengers and crew members of the airplane survived the incident.

National Use Even If Seal Is Broken Day - This is a day that I cannot, in good conscience, recommend.  I guess it just depends on what it is that you are going to use.  Food products that have a seal, have it there to protect you from tampering.  Please do not consume anything that has a broken seal unless you broke it yourself.  If you find something that is relatively unimportant but has a seal anyway, feel free to use it if the seal is broken.  Heaven knows that sometimes we are just too careful about a lot of things in today’s society.

To celebrate today, find something that has a broken seal and use it anyway today while you read a book about D.B. Cooper.  Then you can entertain your family with your unique talent while they enjoy sardines and styling their brown hair.

November 23, 2015

Today we celebrate:

National Cashew Day – One of my favorite kinds of nuts, get ready for a nutty day today.

National Espresso Day - The Espresso was created in 1901 by Luigi Bezzera who wished to give his employees a super shot of caffeine in a short amount of time to make them more productive.  He created a machine that quickly made this very strong cup of coffee and sold it to Desidero Pavoni who mass produced them all over Europe.

Dr. Who Day – Today is the 51st Anniversary of the first time Doctor Who was aired on television on this day in 1963.  This is a show that my teenaged daughter fell in love with a few years ago and I admit that I enjoy watching it also, although I have only watched a few episodes as opposed to my daughter who has watched every one of the more modern episodes multiple times.  She doesn’t care too much for the original series, and after seeing both, I see her point.  But when it first aired, it was pretty high tech for its time and had quite the following.

Eat a Cranberry Day – I believe that cranberries are considered to be a Super Food because they are loaded with antioxidants and fiber. Thanksgiving is coming up so test out a recipe using cranberries today so you can decide if it is Thanksgiving worthy.

Fibonacci Day – This day celebrates Leonardo of Pisa, AKA Fibonacci, who created the Fibonacci Sequence which is a pattern where every number in the sequence is the sum of the previous two numbers. Fibonacci was a very important contributor to the field of mathematics.

To celebrate today, binge on Dr. Who all day while you eat cranberries and cashews and drink espresso.  During breaks between episodes, explain the Fibonacci Sequence to your children.

November 22, 2015

Today we celebrate:

Cranberry Relish Day - A favorite dish at Thanksgiving in my house, this is a day to make some cranberry relish to add some pizazz to your meal tonight.  

Humane Society Anniversary Day – Founded on this day in 1954, the Humane Society was created by Fred Myers, Helen Jones, Larry Andrews and Marcia Glaser. In the years since, the Society has made great strides in rescuing animals that are being abused.

National Start Your Own Country Day - The Hallmark people say this was begun in 1939 at the World’s Fair in New York.  I have not been able to confirm that but it sounds like something the World’s Fair people would do.  Starting your own country is a complicated thing to do but I advise you to start with a National Anthem.  Writing a song is difficult but if you can get the right one, it might inspire you to the next step which is creating a National flag and choosing a National animal, flower, bird, etc. Danny Wallace has some experience doing this, which you can read about here.

Go For A Ride Day – This is a day to de-stress by going out for a ride. It doesn't even matter what you choose to ride. Take your pick of any mode of transportation: car, bus, train, scooter, bicycle, horse, donkey, airplane, elephant...whatever you have handy that will get you from one place to another in a relaxing way.

To celebrate today, take a ride with your adopted family to the nearest Humane Society and volunteer to help them.  Then eat some cranberry relish and put some thought into how you should start your own country.