July 23, 2017

Today we celebrate:

Hot Enough For Ya Day - For those of us melting in the middle of summer, this is a day to talk about and possibly complain about the weather. For some, it is never too hot, for others 80 degrees and up is just too hot. I tend to be one of the later. I prefer colder weather because I like to bundle up. I don’t like to sweat just sitting around my house.

Batman Day - This day was created three years ago by DC Entertainment to honor Batman’s 75th Anniversary. It is an opportunity for fans to dress up as Batman on a day besides Halloween. This day was celebrated that year by comic book stores and other smallish books stores all over. If you inquire at your favorite comic book store, they might be doing something to celebrate this year as well even though it is his 78th Anniversary.

International Yada Yada Yada Day  - This is a Seinfeld day.  If you’re a fan, no explanation is needed. If you’re not, I’m not sure I have enough space in this blog to explain. You’ll have to watch a few old episodes and then, yada yada yada...you’ll understand.

National Vanilla Ice Cream Day – Some consider vanilla ice cream to be a rather bland and boring flavor, but I disagree. I love it because it can be paired with almost anything. I personally like to mix vanilla ice cream and butterscotch pudding.

Gorgeous Grandma Day – This is a day to give your gorgeous grandma a call and maybe even a visit if you can. Grandmas are precious. Sometimes you don't even realize how precious they are until they are gone. You never know how much time you have left with yours. Don't waste a moment of it.

Auntie's Day – This is the seventh year celebrating this day that is just for Aunts. It is celebrated on the fourth Sunday in July and is a day to acknowledge the fact that unlike parents, aunts step in because they choose to. They can play with their nieces and nephews when parents are too busy so they can give parents a break and occupy the kids for a while. They spend money on the kids because they want to, not because they have to, and they have unlimited amounts of love and patience because they are not tested to the brink every day like parents are. I couldn't find a reliable source for the origin of this day but most of us have at least one Aunt that we love dearly, or maybe you are one yourself. If you do have one, give her a call today and tell her how much you love her.

Parents' Day – This is a day to celebrate your parents or celebrate being a parent. We wouldn't be here without our parents so show them how much you appreciate their love and support over the years. And, just to be clear, it doesn't matter if your parents are biological or if you got them in some other manner. Biology doesn't make a parent, love does. This day was created in 1994 by President Bill Clinton and the U. S. Congress and is celebrated every 4th Sunday of July. The National Parents’ Council says that this is a day for parents to honor their children and rededicate themselves to strengthen their families by demonstrating unconditional love.

July 22, 2017

Today we celebrate:

Lion’s Share Day - Aesop had a fable for every occasion, including this one. A lion’s share, of course, is the largest possible portion of whatever it is you are dividing. A little greedy? Why, yes, but you deserve it today. You can entertain discussions on fairness tomorrow.

Summer Leisure Day - Playing is not just for kids. Adults need to have some leisurely fun time too. It’s good for your health and your personal relationships so shed your responsibilities for the day and go out and play.

Casual Pi Day – This day is also known as Pi Approximation Day because if you write the date the European way with the day first, then the month, you get the fraction equivalent of pi (22/7).

Hammock Day – Today is a day to slow down, relax, and spend the day in your hammock. If you need to get some food or refresh your beverage, feel free to get up and do that but work of any other kind is strictly prohibited today.

National Penuche Fudge Day – This isn't really fudge, but it is fudge-like. It uses brown sugar and so it has a tan color and a caramel flavor. Many people like to mix in different kinds of nuts to enhance the flavor.

Rat-Catchers Day – This day, also celebrated on June 26th, is about commemorating the Pied Piper of Hamelin. The difference in dates is because the Brothers Grimm said that the Pied Piper led the children out of town on the 26th of June in 1284, but Robert Browning, who wrote a poem about it, gave it a date of July 22nd, 1376. I suggest that if you have a problem with rats in your home, the rat-catcher is your very best friend and deserves two special days.

Spooners (Spoonerism) Day – This is a day to remember Reverend William Archibald Spooner, who was born on this day in 1844. Rev. Spooner was known for frequently slipping up and mixing up the beginnings of words, such as saying “swell foop” instead of the intended “fell swoop” and “queer old dean” instead of “dear old queen.” He did this so often that his name was used to describe this type of tongue tripping.

National Day Of The Cowboy – Founded by the American Cowboy magazine in 2004, this is a day to promote our cowboy history and protect our Western heritage. I didn’t know there was an American Cowboy magazine. I’ll have to check it out. This day is celebrated on the fourth Saturday of July, which is not the same thing as the last Saturday in July as the previous couple of days. So every now and then, they will fall on a different Saturday so you’ll have to pay attention.

National Drowning Prevention Day - I haven’t found a lot of recent information on this day. I did find an old site from nearly ten years ago that named this day for celebrations by teaching your children what to do if they fall into the pool or pond or some other body of water. Even small children can be taught to roll over and float until someone can come and save them. You can also start teaching them how to swim at any age, they are never too young as long as they have constant supervision and you have lots of patience. Fencing your pool is a fantastic idea, but not everyone does that and not all bodies of water are fenced, so keep an eye on your kids as much as possible, and teach them how to save themselves for those times when you just have to sleep and they decide to have an adventure. This day is a 4th Saturday of July celebration.

July 21, 2017

Today we celebrate:

Invite an Alien to Live with You Day - Robin Williams was born on this day in 1952. He was, of course, the famous alien in “Mork and Mindy” whom Mindy invited to live with her. That worked out so well that “The Life of the Party”, creators of the day, decided that everyone should do the same thing. So find an alien, and invite him or her (let’s not be sexist) to live with you. Let me know how it works for you.

Take A Monkey to Lunch Day - This day was also created by The Life of the Party and celebrates the anniversary of the conviction of John Scopes for the crime of teaching evolution in 1925. These days it’s hard to find a school that does not teach evolution or at least the existence of the theory.

National Creme Brulee Day – It appears that the British invented this dish at the University of Cambridge. Probably not all of the British, probably just a few of them, but I don't know which ones. So to make sure I don't miss whichever ones are responsible, I'll just thank everyone in this world that lays claim to even a drop of British blood. This is delicious.

National Junk Food Day – Normally we try to avoid junk food because we are trying to set a good example for our children. However, today feel free to have all the junk food you want for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Tomorrow, it's back to eating healthy.

Legal Drinking Age Day – This day is a celebration of the establishment of the legal drinking age of 21 years old that was signed into law on July 17, 1984. If you are 21 years old or older, you may celebrate with an alcoholic beverage of your choice. However, I implore you to keep in mind that while you may have the right to drink, you do not have the right to risk your life or anyone else's life by driving while you are impaired by alcohol.

National Tug-Of-War Tournament Day - Make your teams, get your rope, find some mud or water to play over and get to pulling. There are some official rules you can look up and should definitely follow. But the most important rule is to have fun.

July 20, 2017

Today we celebrate:

International Chess Day - Celebrated on this day since 1966, it was created by FIDE which is the International Chess Organization that was founded in 1924. They want everyone to know that chess is the best game ever to play. If you haven’t learned how, you should. If you have kids, you should teach them. It’s a game that involves strategy, and lots of deep thought to plan every move.

Nap Day - Who doesn’t love to take a nap? Probably no one on the planet except for toddlers who REALLY need a nap but are afraid they will miss something fun. I love to take a nap but are rarely in a position to actually do so. I look forward to retirement just so I can take a nap now and then when I want to.

National Fortune Cookie Day - American Chinese Food would be Chinese Food without the Fortune Cookies. I love fortune cookies. I can’t eat them any more, but I will still read my fortune. Sometimes you get something silly, but other times you can get a fortune that gives you something to ponder. Have any of you gotten a fortune that you still remember?

International Cake Day - Begun in 2011 by “The Kingdom of Love” which is a friendship community consisting of artists such as chefs, musicians, painters and more. This is a day to celebrate friendship and love by doing what I love to do and making creative and unusual cakes. I do this for my children for their birthdays and for a select few other occasions or people but not often because it is very time consuming. Their theme last year was “Time Travel”, if they update their website before this day actually occurs than I will tell you what the theme is for this year.

National Lollipop Day – Everybody loves a lollipop. It doesn't seem to matter how old you are, they make you feel young again.

Moon Day – This is the sixth annual celebration of space exploration. Find an observatory or museum near you and see if they have any special events, exhibits, and activities today. This day honors the first time man walked on the moon way back in 1969.

Ugly Truck Day – Although there is some disagreement about whether this day is celebrated today or June 20th, it seemed that the most reliable looking information I found put it on this day. If you have an ugly, old truck sitting in your yard rusting slowly into nothingness, this is the day for you. If it will run, take it out for a drive and show it off today. If it won't run, take a picture of it and show it to everyone you meet. Maybe you can join an ugly truck competition today. Depending on where you live you probably won't have to look too hard in order to find one.

Get To Know Your Customers Day – Celebrated on the third Thursday of each fiscal quarter, this is the day for the third quarter for all business owners to get to know their customers.