What Are We Celebrating Today -- Sunday, Feb 26, 2012?

Yesterday was pretty sad as far as holidays go, but today is much better. The holidays celebrated today are amusing.
1). For Pete's Sake Day: My first thought was who is Pete? Why does Pete have a special day? After a little research, I found that For Pete's Sake! is a 1934 comedy Our Gang short....you know, Buckwheat, Spanky, Tommy, etc....and Pete was the dog. This could mean that this day is another holiday that's gone to the dogs. LOL. I could be wrong though.....
2). Open That Bottle Night:This is the fun night when wine drinkers get to open the bottle of wine they’ve been saving for sometime.... and no, I didn't know what this holiday was at first. I had to look it up. Started by by former Wall Street Journal wine columnists Dorothy J. Gaiter and John Breche in 1999, the night has become a worldwide event in which corks are popped on bottles that have gathered dust.
3). International Sword Swallowers Day: This day recognizes those that can swallow a non-retractable solid steel blade at least 2 cm wide and 38 cm long (and no, I don't know who came up with the dimensions).  Ripley’s Entertainment will salute the performers with appearances at their museums....how fun! Last year, 22 performers swallowed more than 138 feet of steel at 10 Ripley’s Odditoriums. The event raises funds for esophageal cancer research and the Injured Sword Swallower’s Relief Fund. Okay, I know sword swallowing is VERY dangerous...but are there a lot of injured sword swallowers around???
4). Carnival Day: Each year, millions of Americans flock to carnivals and put down big bucks to be entertained by death defying stunts, clowns, elephants, lions, animal acts, moon bouncers and much more. This is the day to celebrate this type of entertainment.... maybe try and find a local carnival or a school carnival to visit.
5). National Pistachio Day: Celebrate this nut by eating some. Pistachios grow on trees and are ripe when the hull splits open. Pistachios are harvested in September by machines that shake the trees. It less than a minute...and if you like the red ones, those are dyed (because people like them that way).
6). Tell a Fairy Tale Day: This is a great opportunity to tell a fairy tale to your kids...or just read one yourself.  "A fairy tale is a fictional story that may feature folkloric characters such as fairies, goblins, elves, trolls, giants, and talking animals, and usually enchantments, often involving a far-fetched sequence of events. In modern-day parlance, the term is also used to describe something blessed with princesses, as in "fairy tale ending" (a happy ending) or "fairy tale romance", though not all fairy tales end happily." This is all according to Wikipedia. Some of the fairy tales I like, in their original form, don't end happily.
7). Levi Strauss Day: This holiday celebrates the birthday of Levi Strauss...and the famous Levi jeans. You can get 20% off today on the Levi's site to celebrate, just enter Birthday at checkout. LOL...a holiday with a coupon....


As I said, some of these holidays are amusing....so wears some Levi's, eat some pistachios while reading a fairy tale......see if you can find a carnival and watch some sword swallowing....and For Pete's Sake, I have no idea how to celebrate that one....lol. Have a great day.

What Are We Celebrating Today -- Friday, Feb 24, 2012?

TGIF. It sure has been a long week here, and it's not over yet. I dread the drive to Nashville tomorrow.

First, it's National Chili Day. If you are a chili lover, today is the perfect day to put a pot on the stove and enjoy one of America’s well loved foods. Great timing too, as nothing cures the winter chills better than a steaming hot bowl of chili with a side of crackers. Christopher makes an awesome chili, and I am missing his cooking.
Hmm, it's also National Tortilla Chip Day, so I guess these should be served with the chili. The Tortilla chip is made from corn tortillas which are cut into wedge shapes, then baked or fried. Tortilla chips are made from very simple ingredients: corn, salt, water and vegetable oil....and they are so yummy. So grab some chips and a bowl of salsa and enjoy.
Another holiday being celebrated today is Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day. This one is perfect for my SIL, as she is an engineer. This day is celebrated all over college campuses, where engineering students bring in younger girls to introduce them to all types of engineering.
And lastly, it's National Personal Chef's Day. It's a day to honor the hardworking, creative personal chefs. Sometimes I wish I had one....but I don't even know any....and I certainly couldn't afford one.....though I do feel like one to my family sometimes. LOL. So, if you are a personal chef, this is your day.
I think I'm going to at least enjoy some tortilla chips (and cheese) today.....and maybe a bowl of chili. I hope ya'all do too.

Celebrations today Feb 21, 2012....

One of my favorite food holidays is celebrated today....Paczki Day. I know a lot of you don't know what  paczki (punch-key) are. They are fried rounds of yeast dough with prune, apricot, strawberry, raspberry or sweet cheese filling. While the practice of Paczki Day is traditionally observed the day before Ash Wednesday in the United States, in Poland, paczki sales are the highest on Tlusty Czwartek, or "Fat Thursday." This day marks the start of the final week of the pre-Lenten celebrations. Oh, and I can only eat 1 of these too.....and I WILL find one here in Georgia. I should have had my parents send me some down from Polish Town in Detroit. (Oh, and yes I know today begins Marti Gras in New Orleans).
It is also Card Reading Day. I'd say this is probably a Hallmark Holiday, as it does encourage you to send and read cards, but I'm not 100% sure that's the kind of cards it means. I read something that it may mean Tarot card reading day....hmm...that puts a new light on this one. I guess take it as you will.
And lastly, it is International Mother Language Day. This is the day to promote awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism. This holiday actually has a wikipedia entry, so if you want to know more, go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Mother_Language_Day

What are we celebrating today -- Feb 17, 2012?

TGIF. I am really hoping I can celebrate at least one holiday today, and that one is Everything You Do Is Right Day. Life is filled with ups and downs, and some days are good days, while some days are bad days. Most often, there's both good and bad in any given day, except I seem to have more bad days than good lately. I'm hoping today is the day this changes, as I WANT to celebrate Everything You Do Is Right Day.
It is also National Freedom of Information Day. It celebrates and recognizes a valuable concept in American rights, The Freedom of Information Act, which was passed into law in 1966. This holiday is celebrated today, because it is the anniversary of James Madison's birthday. Madison is considered the "Father of the Constitution" and one of the chief authors of the Bills of Rights.
The first liquid propelled rocket flight was performed by George C. Goddard on March 16, 1926, in Auburn, Massachusetts. In 1965, March 16 was declared National Goddard Day to commemorate this event.
Lastly, it is Curlew Day.  I didn't know what a curlew was off hand either, but I did figure it was some sort of an animal. Curlews are large coastal birds that belong to the Scolopacidae family, and the most commonly found species are the long-billed.

Nope, I didn't find why this particular bird has its own day...but it does.
So, have a good day and hopefully everything you do will be right.....

What Are We Celebrating Today -- Feb 16, 2012?

Oh, I'm not feeling too well today, so I'm really not in the mood to celebrate anything....so I'm glad there really isn't much to celebrate today. This holiday is right up my alley though. It's Do a Grouch a Favor Day. Look around for someone who is in a grouchy mood today. Then, do him or her a favor that will cheer up their day. I know I could use a favor....LOL. I good bowl of soup perhaps....or some Nyquil.

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I hope all of you have a good day and are not the Grouch....but I guess if someone does you a favor, then....hmm....

What Are We Celebrating Today -- Wednesday, Feb 15, 2012?

I guess holidays come in spurts, because today is not nearly as busy as yesterday. I guess that's good. I'm worn out from too much celebration....LOL.
Today is National Gumdrop Day. Gumdrops are little cone-shaped brightly-colored gelatin candies usually covered in sugar. They're often used to decorate cakes and gingerbread houses. Percy Trusdale invented gumdrops back in 1801. On National Gumdrop Day, you know what to do... eat Gumdrops to your heart's content....that's what I think I'm going to do.

It is also Singles Awareness Day. Dustin Barnes from Mississippi State University as the creator of this day, and yes, Dustin was apparently single at the time. Singles Awareness Day is for those who are unattached and without a significant other. It is celebrated the day after Valentine's Day.
Lastly, it's Susan B. Anthony Day. This holiday celebrates the birth of Susan B. Anthony and the Woman's Suffage Movement here in the United States. Susan B. Anthony felt very strongly about women's right to public speech and gave many powerful speeches throughout the country. Often she would use the Constitution as a resource in her persuasive speeches. She was known for saying "the constitution says, We the people...', not We the male citizens...'." In 1920, the Nineteenth amendment, often referred to as the Susan B. Anthony Amendment was passed giving all women the legal right to vote.....and this holiday has been celebrated since that time.
To celebrate Susan B. Anthony Day, go out and use some Susan B. dollar coins. Not only will it be fun, it will probably confuse a lot of the younger generation. I was using 4 of them to pay for some kids' meals a while back, and the cashier told me they weren't "real money." He refused to take them....and I had to call the manager out. Well, I don't want to bore you with the story....

What Are We Celebrating Today -- Feb 14, 2012?

Yes, today is Valentine's Day....we all know that. However, there are a variety of holidays that are also celebrated today. I think I'll end up listing them today...
1). Ferris Wheel Day: George Washington Gale Ferris, Jr. a civil engineer, made the first Ferris Wheel at the World's Colombian Exhibition in Chicago in 1893. I'd say go ride a Ferris Wheel, but how many amusement parks are open in February....just those in California and Florida....even here in Georgia, Six Flags is closed.
2). Clean Out Your Computer Day: It's a day to review and delete old files and programs. Since computers have huge storage capacity, we tend to add programs and files without even flinching.  Many of these files and programs are forgotten over time (I have thousands of photos on my computer). Overtime they clog memory and cause confusion during retrieval and use of other files, and, some may slow down your computer. I need to clean my computer, and I know that....and run a deep computer virus scan too, just for good measure.
3). National Organ Donor Day: This doesn't mean run out and donate an organ right now....It's the day to sign up though. Please do it, as it may save a life!!!

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has designated Valentine's Day as National Organ Donor Day, since 1998, to raise awareness of the lives that can be touched -- potentially more than 50 at a time --through one person becoming an organ and tissue donor.
4). Library Lovers Day: Oh, I love this one, as I love to read. Celebrate your library by going to check out a book. Can you believe I actually found a song on you tube that celebrates Library Lovers Day? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTYklHU6DKM
5). National Condom Day: I guess this one goes hand in hand with Valentine's Day. I've read some very odd things about this day. Did you know the Danish word for Condom is ...'svangerskabsforebyggendemiddel' ?
The oddest thing I read is "WEar a Condom to Save Wildlife. Remember that 2010 was the Year of the Tiger and 2011 is the year of the Rabbit. With more people more forests will be felled, more rivers polluted, more wilderness destroyed. Think before you make love, before lust clouds your judgement. Wear a Condom and Save a Tiger and remember what they say about Rabbits....Save Our Planet."   Yeah...take this one as you will.
6). National Call in Single Day: Singles all across the country are encouraged to pick up the phone, take a day off from work, and set aside some time for themselves. Nobody can love you like you, so make sure you love yourself a lot today. Good luck....
7). Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Day: Congenital Heart Disease is considered to be the most common birth defect, and is a leading cause of birth-defect related deaths worldwide. Jeanne Imperati of Connecticut, herself the mother of a child with a congenital heart defect, in 1999 conceived the idea for an annual awareness day to reduce childhood deaths, and increase funding to support congenital heart defect related causes and cures.
8). International QuirkyAlone Day: or IQD for short. "International Quirkyalone Day is a do-it-yourself celebration of romance, friendship, and independent spirit. It's a celebration of all kinds of love: romantic, platonic, familial, and yes, self-love. International Quirkyalone Day is not anti-Valentine's Day. It's NOT a pity party for single people. It's an alternative--a feel-good alternative to the marketing barrage of Valentine's Day and an antidote to the silicone version of love presented in shows such as Hooking Up and The Bachelor." This is according to the IQD website...yes, website. http://quirkyalone.net/qa/iqd.php  You can read more about this holiday at the link.
Okay, not I may have missed a holiday, and you can see why. There is a lot being celebrated today. I could spend all day celebrating, if I had the time. LOL. So, celebrate something today....and chocolate goes with about any holiday....and I take handouts.