April 5, 2015

Today we celebrate:

Easter – A very important Christian holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We also have fun with Easter Bunnies, colored eggs (No, bunnies do not lay eggs, but they do hide them.), baskets, flowers and lots and lots of candy.

National Raisin & Spice Bar Day – This appears to be a southern dessert so perhaps my southern friends could weigh in on whether this would be a good recipe.

Go For Broke Day – This was the motto of the 443rd Regimental Combat Team, a segregated Japanese-American unit serving in World War II, and one of the most decorated units in the army. The day specifically highlights one of the members of that unit, Sadao S. Munemori, who died on this day in 1945 in the process of saving two men in his unit. His actions that day are also credited with contributing a great deal to the ultimate success of his unit's mission.

National Deep Dish Pizza Day – Originated in Chicago in 1943, the purpose of this day is to spread awareness of this delicious alternative to the junk food classic.

International Pillow Fight Day – This day is celebrated all over the world with humongous pillow fights.  Check out the website for a list of locations hosting pillow fighting events: Better yet, don’t tell your kids about this day, just launch a sneak attack!

To celebrate today, head to church for the Sunrise Service near you to learn about the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Then, feed your children raisin & spice bars and deep dish pizza for lunch.  While you have their attention and adoration, tell them about the 443rd Regimental Combat Team and Sadao S. Munemori.  Finally, before bedtime launch a sneak pillow attack on your children, spouse or neighbors, whoever presents a handy target.

April 4, 2015

Today we celebrate:

Victims of Violence Holy Day – This is the anniversary of MLK's death. The second of three Emancipation Days of Respect which honor the memory of Martin Luther King, Jr. by promoting respect, unity and remembrance.

National Cordon Bleu Day – Get yourself a tenderized chicken breast, wrap it around some sliced ham, roll it in some breading and bake. There's dinner for you.

Hug A Newsman Day – We depend on our newspeople to keep us informed about what is going on in the world as a whole as well as in our own little piece of it.  Although they do sensationalize a bit to get us to read/watch their reports because ultimately it all comes down to making money.  We all have to eat after all and newspeople are no different in that regard.

Vitamin C Day – Focus on what you are eating today. Are you getting enough Vitamin C in the foods you eat? Maybe you need to eat more spinach or citrus fruits. I know, not exactly what you wanted to hear.  But it’s important to maintain a healthy body and it’s better for you to get your vitamins from fruits and vegetables rather than from pills.

Walk Around Things Day – I am really going to celebrate this day with every fiber of my being.  I am determined that I am not going to walk into one single thing today.  I am going to join in the spirit of the day and walk around and not through everything that even comes close to being in my path.  The bruises that I already have on my legs do not need any friends to join them.  Just keep in mind that the obstacles that need to be avoided are not always physical, they can be emotional as well.  Contemplate that one for a while.

School Librarian Day – Another day with some controversy regarding when it should be celebrated. But it definitely should be celebrated at some point. Where would we be in our educational lives without the School Librarian. I have heard that some schools have had to cut their librarians to save money and I think that is a disservice to the children of those schools.  Librarians are an invaluable resource for almost any situation you can think of.

International Carrot Day – Begun in 2003, this is a day for carrot lovers all over the world.  Apparently, centuries ago, these were first grown as medicine instead of food. There are many different kinds of carrots so experiment a little, I'm sure you will find one to your liking.

Tell A Lie Day – I have seen a website that links this day to George Orwell's 1984 because the main character was forced to live a lie. That may or may not be the real origin, but whatever it happens to be, today is a day to be less than truthful, not something I normally encourage so I'm hoping my children don't look at this today.

International Day For Mine Awareness & Assistance In Mine Action – There are many places in this world where hidden landmines left over from past wars make life very dangerous for the people who have to live in those former war zones.  The UN is dedicated to locating and disarming each and every leftover landmine, but that takes a lot of time and money and skill so they need lots of help.

World Rat Day – This is a day to highlight the fancy rat and how it is a great pet to have. But I'm not going to tell you that because I don't want my children to start wanting one. So you'll have to look at the web page and decide for yourself.

National D.A.R.E. Day – Every year, the President of the United States designates a day around this time of year to be a National D.A.R.E. Day. D.A.R.E. stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Education and it involves police officers educating kids in school about the hazards of drugs.

National Love Our Children Day – Celebrated on the first Saturday in April and recognized by proclamation of New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg every year that he was Mayor (presumably this will be done by the present Mayor as well), this day is about seeing the value of children and giving them the love, protection and respect they need.

Tangible Karma Day – This is a day of giving. Giving your time, skills, or possessions you don’t need, to others is the theme for this day which is always celebrated on the first Saturday in April. Do whatever you can to help someone today: volunteer to help a friend, have a party where you give away things you don't need, or volunteer at a local charity.

To celebrate today, while you are out and about, make sure you watch for land mines and carefully walk around them.  Then give some carrots to someone in need.  Stop at a local newspaper office where you will find a newsman to hug, then when you get to work, call up your school librarian and invite her over for a dinner of cordon bleu.  While you are at work, lie to your co-workers and tell them you love rats.  When you get home to prepare the cordon bleu, tell your kids that you love them before you tell them all about D.A.R.E., then add something full of Vitamin C to your dinner menu and say a prayer for all of the victims of violence in the world.

April 3, 2015

Today we celebrate:

Education And Sharing Day – Established by Presidential Proclamation in 1978 and renewed each year since, this day celebrates the birthday of Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson. The Rabbi was an advocate for youth and for education.

Passover - A Jewish holiday celebrating the time when God saved the Jewish people from death and enslavement in Egypt.  It lasts a week beginning at dusk this evening and ending at dusk on April 11th.

National Chocolate Mousse Day – Rich and creamy, sweet and chocolatey, what could be a better dessert?

Don't Go To Work Unless It's Fun Day – If work is a drag, don't go today. Take a fun day off. If, on the other hand, you have fun at your job or your boss has fun activities planned for today, you don't want to miss out on that.

Tweed Day – You appear to have a choice today. You can either celebrate the fabric called tweed by wearing tweed clothing, or you can celebrate the Senator-turned-crook William “Boss” Tweed who was born on this day in 1823. This famous evil-doer stole up to $200 million from the public, which back in the 1800's was a whole lot more than it is now and even now it’s a lot of money.  He was convicted in 1877 and although he managed to escape once, he was recaptured and shortly after died in jail in 1878.

Find A Rainbow Day – Keep your eye on the skies today and see if you can find a rainbow today. If you just can’t find one, make your own. There are a multitude of rainbow crafts that you can do with your kids. Be creative!

Pony Express Day – On this day in 1860, the Pony Express began operations. As I’m sure you know, the Pony Express delivered mail by horse and rider relay teams.  A braver set of mailmen has never existed in my opinion. The hazards these men endured just to deliver mail were incredible. They cut the time for mail delivery across the country from a month or more to approximately 10 days which was amazing back then.

Weed Out Hate: Sow The Seeds Of Greatness Day – On March 7, 1965 (50 years ago) there was a civil rights demonstration in Selma, Alabama, that met with violent resistance from the police.  This is known Bloody Sunday.  We’ve come a long way since then, but we still have a ways to go.  We need to teach our children love and tolerance instead of hate and distrust.

Hospital Admitting Clerks Day – Celebrated on the first Friday in April, this is a day to recognize the contributions of Hospital Admitting Clerks.  The admitting clerks are vital members of the hospital staff. It's not just about the doctors and nurses, without people to handle the paperwork and administrative details, the hospital would not be able to function.

National Walk To Work Day – Always celebrated on the first Friday in April, get those sneakers laced up and let's hope it doesn't rain today or snow for that matter considering the winter we experienced this year in the Northeast.

World Party Day or World Singing Day – Begun in 1996, this day is focused on a world wide synchronized celebration hoping to bring about improved social conditions. The idea being that the opposite of war must be a great, big, humongous party.  Your celebrations can be in the form of a big party with fireworks, food and music, or something quieter with just you and a friend or two having a quiet dinner, or anything in between.

To celebrate today, wear tweed and walk to work so you can have fun and write letters to the hospital admitting clerks at the hospital near you.  Then, borrow a pony and be your own pony express while you ride around town delivering your letters.  Sing while you ride and keep your eyes open for rainbows.  Then stop at a school to educate the youth about Passover and how to spread positive feelings instead of negative ones.  Finally, celebrate the end of a day well done with a party for your neighbors during which you can serve them bowls of chocolate mousse.

April 2, 2015

Today we celebrate:

National Peanut Butter And Jelly Day – Celebrating a basic staple for children's lunches. There was a time when peanut butter and mint jelly sandwiches were all my daughters would eat in sandwich form.  Yes, I said MINT jelly.  That green jelly that most people only put on lamb dishes.  

International Children's Book Day – Sponsored by the International Board On Books For Young People, this day is celebrated with writing contests and author events. Today was chosen for this particular celebration because it is Hans Christian Andersen's birthday.

World Autism Awareness Day – This is a day to raise awareness of the increasing prevalence of autism. Autism organizations have been celebrating this day for 8 years with fundraising for research and treatments as well as awareness events. Autism affects so many more families today than it did when I was a kid, we HAVE to figure out what is causing it.  When I was younger, autism struck 1 out of 250 children.  Now, I just heard on the radio a couple of days ago, it affects 1 out of 68.  This is important, people, we have to figure out what is causing this because if we don’t, there will soon be more children with autism than there are children without it.

National Love Your Produce Manager Day – I think most of us could use more fresh produce in our diets. A great produce manager is vital if you want your grocery store to stock the best and freshest produce possible.

Reconciliation Day – Begun by Ann Landers, the late advice columnist, today is a day for mending relationships. Take the first step and reach out in friendship. You never know where that might take you. There is also a Reconciliation Day celebrated today in South Africa but it is a day to celebrate the end of the violence that happened between the black and white communities during Apartheid.

To celebrate today, walk to your favorite grocery store, reconcile your differences with the produce manager and share a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with him/her.  Then, invite some families of autistic children over for a Children’s book swap party.