September 5, 2017

Today we celebrate:

National Cheese Pizza Day – Who doesn't love pizza? I like to have sausage on mine, but most kids seem to prefer cheese pizza which is okay in a pinch, in my opinion. I am definitely not one of those “everything but the kitchen sink on my pizza” people and I don’t even want to be in the same room as an anchovy.

Be Late For Something Day – We all have schedules to follow and we seem to live by the clock. Today is a day to be late for something. If you can, just throw out your schedule completely. If that won't work for you, then try just being late for one thing.

National Shrink Day - This is a day to be thankful for the psychiatrists and psychologists who keep our mental state on an even keel. It is celebrated today because on this day in 1929, Bob Newhart was born in Chicago, Illinois. The young people are confused by this now, but people closer to my age and older will remember that Bob Newhart is an actor who is known for portraying a shrink on the Bob Newhart Show way back in the day.

Another Look Unlimited Day - This day is all about reducing the amount of garbage we dump in our landfills. Take another look at everything you own and no longer need. Maybe it can be donated to someone or to an organization that will do something good with it. Maybe it can be reused and given a new life with a new purpose. I just helped clean out the house of a hoarder. I’m begging you. Examine your possessions. Get the stuff you don’t need out of your house in some way. It’s best to donate to someone in need as long as it’s still good quality and not expired or eaten by mice. If it’s no longer good, throw it away. If you have to get a dumpster, GET A DUMPSTER! Celebrated on the day after the first Monday of September.

September 4, 2017

Today we celebrate:

National Wildlife Day - This is a day for raising awareness of the high number of endangered animals in this country and in the world. Zoos, in this country at least, tend to have a bad reputation because people don’t like to see the animals caged up all the time and they don’t think it’s a good situation for the animals. But the truth is that most zoos and animal sanctuaries work very hard to save the animals and educate people about conservation of our planet’s animals to try to influence children to become future animal caretakers and conservationists. Many, many zoos and animal sanctuaries care for animals who have been rescued from people who bought them as babies and didn’t know what to do when they grew up, or they suffered injuries, or were orphaned too young. When it is possible to release them into the wild, they do so. If it is not possible, they care for the animals for the rest of their lives. There are others who are just in it for the money, so you have to be careful if you choose to donate your money to this cause.

Newspaper Carrier Day – This is a day to celebrate the newspaper carriers who are responsible for delivering our newspapers to our driveways. This day was chosen because it is the anniversary of the day in 1833 that Barney Flaherty was hired by the New York Sun to be its’ first newspaper carrier or paperboy, as they were known then.

National Macadamia Nut Day - Macadamias were first discovered by the Aborigines of Australia thousands of years ago. Being high in protein, fiber, calcium, iron and potassium, they are also very healthy for an afternoon snack. That means that when you add them to cookies, you take a sugary, unhealthy food and magically turn it into something that is very healthy, right?

Eat An Extra Dessert Day - I think that this day needs no explanation. It is permission to do what everyone wants to do anyway. Excuse me, but you are standing in front of the ice cream. You might want to move before I climb over you to get at it.

Labor Day – Celebrated on the first Monday in September, this is a day to celebrate workers of all kinds. Most businesses have this day off except for vital services such as hospitals, police and shopping malls. The rest of us celebrate the contributions of workers on an economic and social level.

September 3, 2017

Today we celebrate:

Skyscraper Day – This is a day to admire the world's tallest skyscrapers such as Taipei 101 in Taipei, Taiwan which is 1,671 feet tall. It is celebrated today because this is Louis H. Sullivan’s birthday. If you are like me and have never heard of Mr. Sullivan, allow me to tell you that he was born in 1856 and is the architect given credit for designing the first skyscrapers. He is sometimes known as the “father” of the American skyscraper. The truth of the matter is that lots of architects had built skyscrapers before or at the same time as Mr. Sullivan so I’m not sure why he is so special but I don’t make the special days, I just tell you about them.

National Welsh Rarebit Day – Welsh Rarebit (also known as Welsh Rabbit) is toast with hot cheese poured over it. It is very popular in Europe. It doesn't have rabbit as an ingredient so it may be that it was invented after an unsuccessful rabbit hunt.

US Bowling League Day - How many bowlers do we have out there? I like to bowl now and then although I don’t claim to be very good at it, it is still a fun activity to do with the kids or a group of friends. If you are part of a bowling league, do some practicing for your next game today. If you are not, see if you can get a group together to bowl a couple of games with you or even start your own league today.

September 2, 2017

Today we celebrate:

Calendar Adjustment Day – In 1751, the British government passed the British Calendar Act of 1751. This meant that Britain and the American Colonies had to make the “Gregorian Correction” in 1752. The correction entailed the loss of 11 days. Life went as normal through Wednesday, September 2, 1752 but the very next day became Thursday, September 14, 1752. This act also changed New Year's Day from March 25th to January 1st which meant that instead of the year changing over in March, it happened on January 1, 1752 and every year after that. This caused the year 1751 to have only 282 days because 1751 began on March 25th and ended on December 31st and the year 1752 had 355 days because of the 11 day loss I mentioned earlier. Can you imagine what an uproar a change like that would cause these days? I imagine that there were a lot of people asking each other, “What day is it again?” It’s probably a good thing that this happened before the Revolutionary War. If it happened during or after, our founding fathers were so obstinate that they probably would have refused to comply and we would probably still have a calendar that is different from the rest of the world.

Pierce Your Ears Day - I didn’t know there was a day for this! If I had, I would have had my daughters wait until this day came around years ago when we had their ears pierced. Some places that do this kind of thing might have discounts that you can take advantage of today. Ear piercing is a kind of peculiar thing to do, if you think about it. Why put a hole in your body? There will probably come a day when people won’t do that anymore but right now wearing earrings is fashionable and a way to make yourself look and feel more beautiful. It’s not for everyone, so if you don’t like it, don’t do it.

Old Timers’ Day - This is a great day to honor the ones among us who have lived the longest. They have the honor of being called “Old Timers” and should be venerated and respected for their years and years of wisdom and experience. Do not use insulting words to describe them like decrepit and antiquated, unless you are the old timer, in which case you may feel free to use any words you want.

Bowling Shirt Day - Bowling shirts date back to the 1950’s and should never be tucked in. I’m not sure why this particular day is important in the bowling shirt year, but it is so dig yours out of the closet, call the rest of your past or present bowling team, and get together for a game today.

Spalding Baseball Day - This is a day to appreciate baseballs. We wouldn’t be able to enjoy a baseball game without them. On this day in 1850, Albert Spalding was born. He was a major league baseball player for the Boston Red Stockings and the Chicago White Stockings. Stockings? Really? I’m glad they changed that name. Mr. Spalding started a sporting good store with his brother in 1876. Perhaps you’ve heard of them, Spalding Sporting Goods. If you play any kind of sport that uses a ball, you probably have. They standardized baseballs and were the makers of the First Major League Baseball in 1876 and the First Major League Baseball Glove in 1877.

National Blueberry Popsicle Day - Popsicles were invented in 1905 by an absent minded child, Frank Epperson. Frank left his fruit juice outside on a freezing winter’s day with a stirring stick in it. The next morning it was frozen solid and delicious. This is a day to enjoy the blueberry variety. If you make your own, with fresh blueberries, it is heavenly.

Victory over Japan Day – On this day in 1945, Japan's surrender became official with the signing of the surrender document. There was a formal ceremony in Tokyo Bay, Japan aboard the USS Missouri.

National Beheading Day – Okay, who came up with this one? If you can find out, please let me know. All I could find out is that this is a day to celebrate all the beheadings that have occurred throughout history whether they happened to regular people or royalty. Kind of gruesome, if you ask me.

Bison-Ten-Yell Day – This is a day to celebrate the bicentennial of the invention of the Bison-Ten-Yell. Yes, I know. That information didn't make me any less confused either. Well, maybe it will help if I tell you that it has something to do with a set of 10 battle yells that were used as signals during battle. And this was incorporated into football in order to help the players remember the plays.

World Beard Day – Always on the first Saturday in September, this is a day to celebrate facial hair. Do you have a beard? If you don't have one, and you are male, don't shave today. Maybe by the end of the day you'll have the start of one.

Franchise Appreciation Day – Celebrated either on the Saturday before Labor Day or two days before the first Monday in September, (not always the same thing) this is a day to support local franchises. Franchises make up quite a number of small businesses in your area and some of them might have some celebratory activities today.

International Bacon Day - Celebrated on the Saturday before Labor Day in the USA, this is a day to eat bacon all day long. You can include bacon in all kinds of recipes from bacon pancakes for breakfast (or bacon and eggs for the traditionalists among us), to bacon on your salad for lunch, to bacon wrapped scallops for dinner. There are innumerable recipes that you can find to incorporate this delicious but oh, so bad for you deliciousness.

National Hummingbird Day - Celebrated on the first Saturday in September, this is a day to celebrate those amazing little birds who are so tiny, fast and agile. Put out a hummingbird feeder, learn how to feed them, and sit back and enjoy the view.

International Vulture Awareness Day - Vultures are not one of our favorite birds. Just being frank here. No one particularly likes vultures. They are ugly and they eat dead things. But they are still vital to the circle of life and like so many other species, their numbers are dwindling. Today is a day to learn more about vultures and why we need to work to preserve the species. This is celebrated on the first Saturday of September.