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April 23, 2017

Today we celebrate:


Impossible Astronaut Day - For all of those Whovians out there and in my house, this is a day for you. On this day in 2011, the Doctor Who episode called “The Impossible Astronaut” started off series 6 with some new monsters called the Silence. These particular monsters had the very odd effect of causing you to forget you had seen them the moment you took your eyes off them. So in order to remind themselves that they had seen them, the Doctor and his friends made tally marks on their arms. So if you see people with tally marks on their arms today, you will know what they are celebrating today.

Yom HaShoah - Beginning this evening and lasting until tomorrow evening. Also known as Holocaust Heroism and Remembrance Day, this is a national memorial day in Israel to remember the 6 million Jews and 5 million others who were victims of the Nazi occupation of much of Europe.

International Nose Picking Day - It pains me to have to tell you that this day has been celebrated for several years. How many years? I don’t know. I don’t know who created it either because that person is probably hiding their head in shame. This is disgusting and if you choose to celebrate, please don’t let me see you do it.

International Pixel-Stained Technopeasant Day - Created by Jo Walton and first celebrated in 2007, this is a day that encourages writers to post “professional quality” work for free on the internet. This day was created by Ms. Walton after Howard V. Hendrix complained that “webscabs” are “converting the noble calling of Writer into the life of Pixel-Stained Technopeasant Wretch.” It appears that Ms. Walton disagrees with Mr. Hendrix.

National Lost Dog Awareness Day - This is a day to remind us that not all dogs that appear to be strays are actually homeless. Every day dogs go missing from their loving homes. Sometimes it’s because they escape and think it’s a great idea to follow their noses to interesting smells until they don’t know how to go home. But there could be a thousand reasons for a dog to suddenly disappear. If you have a beloved dog that is missing, check Facebook. Some areas have websites where you can post a picture of your lost dog so that others in your area can keep an eye out for it. You can also check your local shelter in case someone has found it and dropped it off with them.

National Picnic Day - I imagine that when houses were first invented, picnics weren’t a big thing because everyone was excited about being able to eat indoors. But that got old after a while and it became exciting again to grab a blanket, some bug spray, sunscreen, and a basket of food and eat outside in nature. Back off ants, this is MY chicken salad. Don’t forget the baby wipes, napkins, beverages, cups, utensils, plates, condiments and….wow, this is a lot of work. Let’s just eat in the kitchen like we usually do.

World Book Night - This special day is run the The Reading Agency, a British organization dedicated to spreading the love of reading. To celebrate the day, thousands of books are given away to people who don’t read a lot or own any books. They are always looking for volunteers to help them with this goal.

National Cherry Cheesecake Day – If you love cheesecake and cherries, here's a recipe you can try.

National Lovers' Day – This is a day that is less about spending money, to give your significant other a card and a gift, and more about spending time together doing things you enjoy. You could ask someone to marry you or take them to the beach at sunset to tell them how much you love them. Let your inner romantic out today.

National Zucchini Bread Day – One of my kid's favorites. They hate zucchini, but if I put it in a bread product with lots of sugar, suddenly it's ok. Call me suspicious, but I suspect it's more because of the sugar than the zucchini.

Take A Chance Day – This is a day to try something new that you’ve never done before. Take a chance that you will like it. If you are very adventurous, take a chance with your life and do something I consider really radical like bungee jumping or skydiving. Some celebrate this on April 25th.

World Laboratory Day –There are laboratories all over the place...in schools, hospitals, or research facilities. These are places where magic is made. Science is kind of magical, because in laboratories, scientists find answers that no one else can find. They solve problems that no one else can solve. They cure diseases and save lives that would otherwise not be saved.

National Drive It Day – Always on a Sunday close to April 23rd, this day celebrates April 23, 1900 and the 64 cars that left London and embarked upon the Thousand Mile Trial. Forty-six of the cars finally returned to London on May 12th. Don't forget that back then cars were very new and not accustomed to traveling very far or very fast for that matter because today it would only take about 15 hours give or take a little, depending on speed limits and street lights, to travel that distance. Plus they had the added handicap of not having paved roads because there were no such thing back then.  

Talk Like Shakespeare Day – England's National Poet, and one of the greatest poets and playwrights ever. Historians believe that this is the anniversary of his birth as well as his death.  We don’t know exactly when his birthday was, but people who study such things believe it could be today in the year 1564. It is definitely the day he died in 1616. Today you should grab one of his works and bone up on your Shakespearian language skills because you will be talking like one today.

World Book and Copyright Day (International Day of the Book) – The day was officially begun in 1995, but in 1932, Spanish booksellers connected this day to the date of the burial of author Miguel de Cervantes according to the Gregorian Calendar. Then England jumped in and decided that they would indeed celebrate this holiday but it was because Shakespeare died on this day according to the Julian Calendar. However, the interesting thing is that because of the use of different calendars by the different countries, the two men seem to have died on the same day, but Shakespeare actually died 11 days after de Cervantes.

UN English Language Day - One of the six main languages used in the United Nations, this is a day to celebrate the English language.  This day was chosen because once again, it is believed to be William Shakespeare’s birthday.

St. George’s Day - This is a feast day celebrated by Christians in England and other countries where St. George is the patron saint. It is believed to be the date St. George died in 303 AD.  Churches that use the Julian calendar celebrate this day on what would be May 6th for the rest of us. This day could be moved to another if it interferes with Easter. Which it doesn’t this year.

Heroes National Celebrity Golf Day - This is an event where celebrities get together to play some golf in support of the Help for Heroes organization.

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