October 11, 2013

Today we celebrate:

National Sausage Pizza Day – Not a day for people like my youngest daughter who will only eat cheese pizza, but the rest of you will rejoice because everyone loves pizza, and sausage pizza is, in my humble opinion, the absolute BEST kind there is!

General Pulaski Memorial Day – This is a day that has been celebrated by Presidential Proclamation almost every year since 1929. It honors General Casimir Pulaski, a hero of the American Revolution who was Polish. He died on this day in 1779 from wounds that he suffered at the Siege of Savannah two days before. Devoted readers of my blog may remember this name from back in March when we celebrated Casimir Pulaski Day which honored the General's birth.

International Day of The Girl – Created by the United Nations General Assembly on December 19^th, 2011, this is the second year of celebration for this very important day for girls. Today we recognize the rights of girls and the unique challenges girls face all around the world. We don't really think about it much in this country, but in many countries girls are not allowed to go to school because they consider an education to be wasted on females who are just going to grow up and be wives and mothers. In other countries girls are only allowed to go to school for a few years before they are kept home to carry out household chores or care for younger siblings.

National Coming Out Day – This is a day of civil awareness which celebrates people who are willing to publicly identify themselves as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender. Otherwise known as “coming out”. Coming out is considered to be a rite of passage for LGBT people.

World Egg Day – Created by the International Egg Commission at the IEC Vienna 1996 conference (Who knew there was an International Egg Commission? I certainly didn't.). This is a day to generate media interest about eggs and encourage people to eat more of them. It is celebrated on the second Friday in October every year.

Myths and Legends Day – This is a day for making up and telling creative, fantastic stories of cephalopod (creatures with 8-10 tentacles or arms) animals.

To celebrate today, gather all of your girl friends and their daughters and stage a reinactment of the Siege of Savannah with them. Then have some sausage pizza and make up fantastic war stories of your adventures. Finish up the day by giving fresh farm eggs to everyone you know who has “come out”.

October 10, 2013

Today we celebrate:

International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction – This is a day to participate in improving the disaster preparedness of your community. Disasters are happening at an increased rate these days and as far as I can tell, there is no part of the country that is safe. So find out what you need to do to be prepared and help your community to be prepared as well.

National Angel Food Cake Day – Light and airy, this is delicious with strawberries and whipped cream.

Naval Academy Day – On this day in 1845, the Naval School (later known as the United States Naval Academy) opened in Maryland with 50 students and 7 professors.

World Mental Health Day – The World Health Organization celebrates this day that was created by the World Federation of Mental Health. The purpose is to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and help those who need it to find help for their issues.

National Depression Screening Day – This is a day to raise awareness of the signs of depression and anxiety disorders and to participate in a screening program so that you can get help if you need it.

World Porridge Day – This is a day that started in Scotland and has spread throughout the world as an effort to feed hungry children in poor countries. Porridge is a traditional dish in Scotland and it is easy to make for large groups of hungry people so Mary's Meals (a Scottish-based charity) has been working hard to use it to feed people all around the world.

World Sight Day – Celebrated on the second Thursday in October, this is a day to get your eyes tested. If you are like me and only get them tested once every 7-9 years, give or take a little, get in gear and go to the eye doctor. Apparently, there are a lot of preventable eye issues that can be diagnosed and treated by the doctor but if you don't go, you don't get it fixed. Ok, ok, you talked me into it. I'll go.

Squid Day/ Cuttlefish Day – On this cephalopod day, we focus on the exciting squids and cuttlefish. Did you know there is a giant squid that lives in the deepest of the oceans? I'm not sure why it used to come up and attack the sailing ships of 3 or 4 hundred years ago and not the ships of today, but we'll count our blessings because those things are huge.

To celebrate today, show your kids pictures of squids after you have their eyes checked so you know they can see the pictures. Then have some porridge and angel food cake for lunch. In the afternoon, get screened for depression and general mental health and then call up the Naval Academy and ask their advice for getting your household and neighborhood prepared for a possible disaster.

October 9, 2013

Today we celebrate:

Emergency Nurses Day – Celebrated on the Wednesday of the first full week in October, this is a day to celebrate the dedicated and hardworking nurses who work in our Emergency Rooms. Our health system would not work without them.

International Top Spinning Day – This is a day for spinning tops. There is actually a museum dedicated to spinning tops and yo-yo's in Burlington, Wisconsin. Who'd have imagined it. People all over the world participate in this special day. http://www.topmuseum.org/20.html

Nautilus Night – This is a day to celebrate cephalopods (an 8-10 armed sea creature) that have an external shell to protect them. They hold gas inside the shell which they hoard or expel in order to make themselves sink or float.

National Bring Your Teddy Bear To Work & School Day – Celebrated on the second Wednesday in October, this is a day to embrace the stress-relief and joy associated with teddy bears for people of all ages. I certainly love to hug an adorable stuffed bear just as much as my children always did.

National Pro-Life Cupcake Day – This is a day to remember the lives of the children who do not get to have a birthday because of an abortion. Cupcakes are used to raise awareness, and talk about this issue in a non-confrontational way. http://cupcakesforlife.com/about-us/what-is-cupcakes-for-life/

Leif Erikson Day – This is a day to honor Leif Erikson, the Norseman who is believed to be the one who first brought Europeans to North America.

National Chess Day – Proclaimed by President Gerald Ford in 1976, this is a day to enjoy a good game of chess. If you don't have anyone to play it with you, play against yourself or teach your children how to play.

Unity Day – Today is a day to wear orange to show that you care about children who are being bullied and you want to show them that you support them and want to help end bullying.

World Post Day – On this day in 1874, the Universal Postal Union was established in Berne, the Swiss capital. The UPU declared this day in 1969 for the purpose of creating awareness of the contribution of the postal services in everyone's lives and in the development of countries.

Clergy Appreciation Day – This is a day to appreciate your Pastor. Whatever religion you are a part of, thank your clergy person for their work on your behalf.

Submarine Hoagy Hero Grinder Day – All names for the same sandwich, and you could probably think of one or two others. The name doesn't matter, what matters is that this is a sandwich that can keep you full for an entire day, and then some probably.

National Pet Obesity Awareness Day - Celebrated for the last seven years, this is a day to get your pet's weight checked. Obesity can be a big problem for pets, it shortens their life span and makes it very difficult for them to get around. If you have an obese pet, make a plan to get their weight under control.

Moldy Cheese Day – This is a day to be celebrated by either eating cheese that is supposed to be moldy like bleu cheese, or by examining the contents of your refrigerator and removing and disposing any cheese that is not supposed to be moldy before someone eats it by accident.

To celebrate today, wear an orange shirt and head out to the store to buy teddy bears to give to the nurses in the emergency room. Keep one to mail to the UPU in Berne, Switzerland. When you get home, weigh your pet and consider putting him/her on a diet if necessary. Then clean out your fridge of all moldy cheese and make some cupcakes to share with your pastor over a game of chess and submarine sandwiches. Finally, show your kids how to spin tops while you tell them all about Leif Erikson.

October 8, 2013

Today we celebrate:

Alvin C. York Day – On this day in 1918, Sergeant Alvin C. York was separated from his patrol unit in France and single-handedly killed 20 enemy soldiers and captured a hill, 132 enemy soldiers and 35 machine guns. He was awarded the US Medal of Honor and the French Croix de Guerre. Oddly enough, he had attempted to evade the draft by way of being a conscientious objector, but the military didn't allow it.

National Face Your Fears Day – Celebrated on the second Tuesday in October, this is a day to face and overcome whatever you might be afraid of. Do a little self introspection and think about what you are most afraid of and then come up with a way to face it today.

National Fluffernutter Day – You have not lived until you have had a fluffernutter. Peanut butter and marshmallow fluff together in a sandwich. A little bit of heaven in your hand.

Cephalopod Awareness Day – Established in 2007 by the Octopus News Magazine Online form. It is a day to appreciate animals with 8 or 10 appendages or arms. This is why the 8^th day of the 10^th month was selected for the celebration. It is sometimes known as Octopus Day.

To celebrate today, spend the morning figuring out your fears and facing them. Next, At a lunch of fluffernutter sandwiches, tell your kids all about Alvin York. This afternoon, go to an aquarium to see the octopuses, or is that octopusi?