May 19, 2013

Today we celebrate:

Boy's Club and Girl's Club Day – This day celebrates the Boy's Clubs and Girl's Clubs that provide safe activities for our children all over the country. Parents need a safe place for their children to go when they have to work and these clubs fill that need. The first Boy's Club was begun in 1860 and in 1906 the Boys and Girls Clubs of America began operations and they have expanded to more than 4,300 locations.

National Devil's Food Cake Day – Rich and moist and delicious, this is one of my favorite cakes.

May Ray Day – This is a day with two purposes. The first is to celebrate the warmth the sun provides for our enjoyment and the second is to celebrate everyone named Ray. I suspect you may think I am kidding about this, but I assure you that this is a real day.

Mike, The Headless Chicken Day – Celebrated on the third weekend in May, this is a day to learn the story of Mike. Mike was a chicken who was supposed to be dinner back in 1945, but when his owner, Lloyd Olson, chopped off his head (Mike's head, not Lloyd's), Mike just refused to die and carried on his chickenly duties such as attempting to peck for food and preen his feathers. He lived without his head for another 18 months. Impossible you say? Well, apparently Lloyd botched the chop job and left behind the lower portion of his brain that was attached to his spinal column. This is apparently a true story that was documented by scientists and you can read all about it here: http://www.miketheheadlesschicken.org/history  Pictures are somewhat gross so I'm not going to post one here, you can click on the link or google search it if you want to see it.

National Asian & Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day – This is a day to spread awareness of the prevalence of HIV/AIDS among Asians and Pacific Islanders. This is a disease that does not care where its victims are from. Find out how to protect yourselves.

Neighbor Day – This day was begun in 1993 in Rhode Island because of a tragedy resulting in the loss of a life and the incarceration of another. The hope of this day is to get to know your neighbors, be concerned for them and be willing to help them when they need it and hopefully they will do the same for you.

Pentecost – Greek for Feast of Weeks, for Christians, this is a feast celebrating the time that the Holy Spirit descended upon the twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ. This day is sometimes knows as Whitsunday because of the white clothing that was worn on this day by those who were baptized during the period of time between Easter and Pentecost.

World Autoimmune Arthritis Day – Last year, this was the first global, online awareness celebration. It is hosted by many groups and organizations in the Autoimmune Arthritis community. It is going to be online again this year. It is an interactive, live, virtual convention that lasts for 47 hours and is free. http://iaamovement.org/WAAD.html

To celebrate today, sign up your kids for some fun with your local boys or girls club. Then head outside to enjoy the sun's warmth and to meet your neighbors. You can break the ice by telling them about the headless chicken. Then head to Church to celebrate the Holy Spirit. While you are there, offer a prayer for the Asians and Pacific Islanders who are suffering with HIV/AIDS. For dessert tonight, have some Devil's Food Cake. Finally, after dinner, get online and join the Autoimmune Arthritis convention.

May 18, 2013

Today we celebrate:

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.

May 17, 2013

Today we celebrate a whole lot of days so I hope you're not too busy:

Pack Rat Day – This is a day to 'fess up. Who, among us, is a pack rat? I admit that I fight the urge to hoard certain things. Every now and then I have to force myself to clean out a closet or a room just so it doesn't get out of hand.

National Cherry Cobbler Day – Cobblers have been around since Colonial days. They are made with a little more sophistication now, of course, but they are still just as popular.

Endangered Species Day – Celebrated on the third Friday in May, this is a day to learn about the endangered species in your state. Find out about their habitats and food sources and see if you can discover why they are endangered.

International Virtual Assistants Day -This day is also one that is celebrated on the third Friday in May. Today we acknowledge the increasing prevalence of virtual assistance and the invaluable services they provide.

World Neurofibromatosis Day (NF Day) – This is a genetic condition that causes a wide variety of symptoms including learning disabilities, ADHD, headaches, scoliosis, bowed legs, thickening of the optic nerve, tumors, and more. Researchers are working to invent treatments and hopefully, a cure.

World Telecommunications Day – Celebrated every year since 1969, this is a day to mark the founding of the International Telecommunication Union on this day in 1865. Yes, believe it or not, people did communicate back then. I'm not sure how they got a string long enough to connect the soup cans in other countries, but somehow they managed to communicate.

NASCAR Day – This year marks the tenth year of celebrating this day. I'm not a big NASCAR fan, but my grandmother was, to my everlasting amazement. Just when you think you know someone, something like this comes out. Today drivers, millions of fans, media, businesses and more will work together to raise money for a variety of charities that NASCAR endorses.

World Information Society Day – The United Nations declared this day in 2006 for the purpose of focusing our attention on the importance of information and the many issues related to our information rich society.

World Hypertension Day – This day was created by the World Hypertension League which is affiliated with the International Society of Hypertension. The purpose of the day is to raise awareness of hypertension, the symptoms and available treatments. People all over the world need to learn how to prevent the onset of this disease or if it's too late to prevent, they need to learn how to control it before it kills them.

National Bike To Work Day – Celebrated on the third Friday in May, this is a day to leave the car home and bike to work, although if your job is just too far away, in some areas you can take buses for part of the distance. Good luck finding one that will be able to carry your bike. Riding your bike to work provides many benefits such as being great for the environment, providing exercise and saving money. Win, win, win!

National Defense Transportation Day – The third Friday in May is obviously a very busy day every year because we are also celebrating this United States Federal Observance Day. On this day, we are urged by our President to celebrate with “appropriate ceremonies that will give complete recognition to the importance to each community and its people of the transportation system of the United States and the maintenance of the facilities of the system in the most modern state of adequacy to serve the needs of the United States in times of peace and in national defense.” He's pretty wordy. I would have just told everyone to have a party for the people who work to move us from one place to another.

National Pizza Party Day – Yet another day to celebrate on the third Friday, my kids are happy, although they think that every Friday should be Pizza Party Day.

Syttende Mai – If you do not speak (or read) Norwegian, allow me to inform you that this is Norwegian Constitution Day. The Constitution of Norway was signed on this day in 1814 at Eidsvoll, declaring Norway to be an independent nation. Interestingly, Norway was under Swedish rule at the time and the King of Sweden didn't allow this day to be celebrated until 1829.

To celebrate today, evaluate your status as a pack rat. If you don't have enough stuff cluttering up your house to qualify as one, call up and communicate with your virtual assistant and after you thank them for their help, ask them to get you more stuff. Then it's time to go to work so hop on your bike and hit the road, preferably not with your body (and don't forget your helmet. Yes I know, but I'm a mom, what do you expect!). During your lunch break at work, dig up some information on the symptoms of hypertension so you can be sure you don't have it, and find a site that will allow you to donate to NF research. On your way home, stop every bus you see and invite the drivers to your house for a party to celebrate Norway Constitution Day with pizza and cherry cobbler and a NASCAR race playing in the background.

May 16, 2013

Today we celebrate:

Love A Tree Day – Trees are vital for our lives. They provide such a service to us and we take them for granted in a big way. Where would our oxygen come from, our shade, homes for animals, food for insects, food for us, I could go on and on.

 

National Sea Monkey Day – Sea monkeys were created by marketing genius, Harold von Braunhut, in 1960. They are really just brine shrimp in fancy packaging and Mr. von Braunhut made a fortune. You can still buy them today.

Wear Purple For Peace Day – Ok, I have researched a lot of days now but I think this is one of the oddest. This is a day to wear purple to promote peace. That's not so odd, you might be thinking. At least until I tell you that the peace in question is not between different countries or people, but between people and aliens. That's right. We are supposed to wear purple today so that if any aliens happen to swing by, they will know that we have nothing but peaceful intentions. I am unsure how these aliens are supposed to know that purple means peace. I could not find an explanation for that.

Biographer's Day – On this day in 1763, in London, England, a biographer, James Boswell, met with his biographee, Samuel Johnson. Mr. Boswell later wrote two books about Mr. Johnson and this whole relationship is apparently quite well known among the writing community.

To celebrate today, wear purple and purchase some sea monkeys for your kids. Then go out, give a tree a good hug and make yourself comfortable in it's shade while you start writing a biography about someone you have met.