Walpurgisnacht, April 30th

Walpurgisnacht

Walpurgisnacht celebrations draw largely from pagan Beltane and May Day celebrations, and is mostly celebrated in Nordic cultures in Europe and communities in the United States. The name Walpurgisnacht comes from an eighth century British nun named Saint Walpurga. After her death, it was said a healing oil dripped from her tomb. Her sainthood and Viking spring celebrations fell at the same time of the year and became mingled over the centuries as her stories became interwoven with spring rituals.

Walpurgisnacht is both viewed as a farewell to spring and May Day as welcoming of summer and is celebrated by both pagan and Christian alike. Fairy folk and witches get together and revel to say good-bye to the spring. Goethe chronicles the witchly celebration lead by Mephistopheles in Faust. Christians burn bonfires all night and make loud noises on Walpurgisnacht to offer protection to the villagers, their crops and livestock, and to keep all evil influence of the witches celebration away from their homes and children.

Ways to Celebrate Walpurgisnacht

• Branches should be tied over or across the doors of barns and houses and horseshoes nailed up over thresholds to offer protection from the evil spirits that will be freely roaming throughout the night.
  
• If you sleep all night in a corn field and listen very carefully, you will be able to hear what will happen in the coming year.
• For children, Walpurgisnacht is a bit like Halloween. This is a one of the traditional Scandinavian holidays for kids to pull pranks.
• Dew is collected on May morning. Supposedly a "heavy" dew on May 1st morning is a good omen for the coming dairy season. (I don't know how to collect dew, any insight would be delightful.)
  
• Girls who listened for the call of a cuckoo on May Day morning will be told how many years until she'd find a husband.

One bit of Harry Potter trivia, the Death Eaters were originally named the Knights of Walpurgis, which kind of makes the Walpurgisnacht a darker feeling. But, so does Goethe.

Be A Tourist In Your Own Backyard, on May 6th

The Salt Lake City tourism bureau is offering everyone a chance to Be A Tourist In Your Own Backyard on May 6th. You can purchase the tickets here.

It's really kinda cool, and insanely busy if you go to any of the kid places. If you are really talented with planning itineraries you can go to all these cool places in one day for just $5.

Last year we hit three, which made a full day, and probably is the most that I would recommend trying to accommodate in one day. But maybe someone out there can prove to me that you can enjoy all these places in one day.

I think my favorite place last year was the Kennecott Copper Mines. Mostly because I was quite surprised that I was impressed and entertained by the visit. (Also it was fun to listen to the hidden propaganda in their video presentation.) They aren't on the agenda this year but, if you ever get the chance, take an afternoon to do the tour. But, really, do it. It's way fun.

Great Poetry Reading Day, Kiss-Your-Mate Day, April 28th

Great Poetry Reading Day

I dedicate today to the boy who introduced me to this poem. Until I had this poem read to me, with the appropriate poem reading voice, I thought that every poem written before, oh, Robert Frost (other than Shakespeare) was really hard and not worth my time. Now, I count Donne, Tennyson, and Browning (Elizabeth that is) as some of my best and most often visited friends.

Other poets that are definitely worth looking at today are Oscar Wilde (who also wrote my favorite short story The Happy Prince, which always makes me cry) and Dorothy Parker who is just simply too beautifully snarky for words. But, look here for her poetry.

Kiss-Your-Mate Day

I guess it's appropriate that Kiss-Your-Mate Day is the same day as Great Poetry Reading Day. So go ahead people, kiss away.

National Prime Rib Day, Babe Ruth Day, Tell A Story Day, .National Hairball Awareness Day, Take Our Daughters & Sons to Work Day, April 27th

Let's see if I am recovered from the excitement of Blog Party III to do a daily blog, and if I can sate my excitement about my favorite LL comming to visit me in mere hours... I think that I can muddle through. :)

National Prime Rib Day

Hmmm, prime rib. I never thought that I liked prime rib until my grandpa taught me that you are supposed to have it rare. You see, up until then, I was a very-well done girl. The girl that kept everyone's food from coming to the table in a timely manner because her food had to be cooked all crispy-like. Until prime rib. Now, I understand the draw of blood. Now, I crave red flesh. Now, I don't make the chefs roll their eyes and complain that I am ruining a perfectly good piece of meat by burning it to a crisp. Have some prime rib tonight. You all deserve it. I am sure that you do.

Babe Ruth Day

Everyone knows the name, but if you are like me, you might be a bit fuzzy about the facts. Visit the Official Babe Ruth Site to learn more about one of America's Baseball legends. Visit Snopes to learn about some of the urban legends surrounding him.

Tell A Story Day

I might expand this later today... story to follow.

National Hairball Awareness Day

Hairballs are gross. Anyone who has had a cat who has a predisposition for them is aware of this fact. Family Cat # I that we had from my age 8 to 28 had hairballs all the time. Some much so that we had to give her this gross liver-flavored-lubricant-paste that she was supposed to like to eat, but she didn't. We decided that she was a cat with an eating disorder. We had to smear it all over her face and paws so she would lick it off of herself, which probably caused her to lick herself more and get more fur down her throat... and thus more hairballs. Family Cat # II, which didn't have a hairball problem, really liked the liver-flavored-lubricant-paste and would lick it off of our fingers. She would get jealous when we would give it to the bulimic cat, and she would wander around the house feeling sorry for herself, meowing obnoxiously to let everyone know how lonely and ignored she felt because she didn't get any liver-flavored-lubricant-paste.

Take Our Daughters & Sons to Work Day

My parents never took us kids to work with them. When my mom worked, she worked for the school district, so, it was not really a fun change of pace to skip school to go to work with mom, and dad was a truck driver so there were safety laws and rules and stuff. But, I'm not sure that I ever asked either of them either. Maybe I am just assuming that my dad couldn't take us. I wonder if my brothers ever went to work with dad. Hmmm. I might have missed out on some serious bonding time. I might have become a truck driver. Maybe it's a good thing. College was a very good experience for me. And when all is said and done, I do like my job, so it was a good thing I went to college to get it.

Anyway, take your sons and daughters to work today! Show them a little work ethic in action. I hear that is the problem with kids today- no work ethic. I'm probably not old enough to say that. (At least I like to believe that, and everyone at work still consideres me a kid, but that's mostly because I am un-married, and un-kidified. But, I bet there are people saying that about me.) Anyway, back to a generation that isn't me. Stupid kids. Too much t.v. and internet. (Uh, okay, right.)

Administrative Professionals Day or Secretary's Day, Hug An Australian Day, Richter Scale Day, National Pretzel Day, April 26th

If you have something against Administrative Professionals Day or Secretary's Day you don't have to celebrate with us today. Instead you could celebrate Hug An Australian Day, Richter Scale Day, or National Pretzel Day. But, you probably won't have as much fun.

"There are more than 3.9 million secretaries and administrative assistants working in the United States, according to U.S. Department of Labor statistics, and 8.9 million people working in various administrative support roles."(Secretary Week 123 Holiday.net)

8.9 million secretaries. That's a pretty big party. And even though it is supposed to be a whole week set aside to honor and love us, really, we only get one day. Unlike some people who get a whole month.) Because really, a good administrative assistant/secretary would not let the office go to pot for a whole week simply for a week of gifts and adoration. So, forgive me for dragging it out in blog world, I have been basking in blog popularity since last week's blogs have doubled my site traffic. I haven't had traffic like this since Master Fob linked to me on Tell A Fairy Tale Day. I'm up to a whole 40 hits a day. :)

So, for those of you who are stopping by and just really were looking for ways to celebrate, and if you have read this far and are wondering if there is really a point to this blog, the International Association of Administrative Professionals recommends:

• Tuition reimbursement to attend college classes and work toward a degree.

• Membership and participation in professional organizations.

• Reimbursement for online training programs in technology, administrative, and management skills.

• Registration for appropriate conferences, seminars, and continuing education workshops.

• Attainment of professional certification.

About these "gifts." First, they are boring. Second, if you have a secretary with a low self-esteem or if your timing is wrong, you could unintentionally imply that she is not the epitome, ideal, model, paragon, and shining example of a perfect secretary. Which in not what you want to her to infer from your gift on Secretary's Day.

This site recommends:

• Art, sculptures engraved with a "Thank-you" (Bad idea, art tastes are subjective, and engraveable art, mostly cannot be qualified as "art.")
• Company logo gift (Believe me, your secretary already has the company logo burned onto the inside of her eyelids, she doesn't need anything logo-y
  
• Boxes of chocolates distributed by the company to all employees. (And why would this be celebrating the administrative staff? Way to make them feel un-special.)
• Buttons that everyone in the office can wear Celebrating The Assistant. (Buttons, really? Who does this? Please, please, please, no... and can we add a HELL NO!)

So, what would Absent-minded Secretary recommend as the perfect Secretary's Day recognition? Lunch out, and a verbal thank-you. Guess what, I will get at least one, and that will be perfectly perfect.

My favorite quote of the day?

"Administrative professionals are well-positioned to take on expanded responsibilities involving project management, communication, use of office technology and other vital business functions." !(Making It Click)

And my favorite person of the day: LL because she is A) Coming to visit me, and B) she believes that someday I will have my own secretary! (Love you!) WAHOO!

National Zucchini Bread Day, April 25th

There are lots of ways to celebrate National Zucchini Bread Day, and none of them have to be with traditional style Zucchini Bread. You can make Apple Zucchini Bread, Chocolate Chip Orange Zucchini Bread, or Zucchini Pineapple Bread. You could even try Crock Pot Zucchini Bread, Zucchini Flatbread, or Gluten-free Zucchini Bread. And for dessert you can make White Chocolate Zucchini Bread, which is a real recipe.

National Pigs in a Blanket Day, April 24th

I have been accused of being lazy today. The truth of the matter is, I just don't really have much to say about Pigs in a Blanket Day. Here are some quick links to things that I haven't tried, and therefore do not receive my shining letter of recomendation.

• Pigs On a Blanket, A Reading Rainbow Book (Paperback) by Amy Axelrod, Sharon McGinley-Nally.
• Stuffed Pigs in the Blanket (recipe)
• Easy Pigs 'n a Blanket (recipe)
• Salmon Pigs in a Blanket (recipe)
• To make gluten-free pigs in a blanket, try this bread mix with one of these hot dogs
• IHOP serves Pigs in a Blanket
• Village Inn doesn't serve them
• Neither does Denny's
• The Sonic near my house serves a Pancake On a Stick which is like Pigs in a Blanket, but it isn't on the Sonic Nation-wide Menu

Now the major controversy for the day, (other than the weather on Wednesday) is whether or not Pigs in a Blanket is sausage in a pancake, or hotdogs in a roll.

Have a happy Pig Day!

Shakespeare's Birthday, St. George's Day, World Book & Copyright Day, National Cherry Cheesecake Day, April 23rd

What makes April 23rd a good day?

Shakespeare's Birthday, St. George's Day, World Book & Copyright Day, National Cherry Cheesecake Day

Check out this page for a Shakespeare quiz.

Walden on Earth Day

Since I am not certain that driving in a car and spewing out CO2 to attend a community Earth Day event is a proper way to celebrate Earth Day, I have decided that I am just going to spend my time outside in the beautiful sunshine reading Walden, as recommended by this blogger. I probably won't make it through the book, (so I won't be ingoring Edgy's advice) especially since my copy of Walden is inside of my Norton Anthology of American Literature, which has often inspired me to fall asleep in the past. I think mostly because it is an excessively heavy tome. Like this rabbit is an excessively heavy pet. We can love them, books, pets, but some are just too big.

So, if I fall asleep in the sun while reading Walden, and get sunburnt, I might feel it necessary to go shopping for this book, which seems a little bit more manageable, and I will feel that I have properly celebrated Earth Day.

Earth Day, April 22nd

Earth Day

When I was in school, on Earth Day every student would get a Douglas-Fir sapling to take home to plant to make the world more green. The first year the Salem-Keizer School District did this, my parents had three children in school, and we planted three Douglas-Firs in the back yard, right in a row. The second year, my parents had four children in school, and four trees were planted right next to the three, so we had a row of seven. The following year, when four more trees came home, my mom refused to let us plant them. We were so sad. The little trees just died slowly in their little plastic body-bag-like sacks. In my nightmares I am haunted by those little murdered Earth Day trees.

As a result, I am rather sensitive about trees. The picture to the left is me in an old-growth forest, that's right 500 year old trees (part of the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest) with one of my cute brothers. (This is one of the coolest places on the earth, by the way. And I don't just think that because H.J. Andrews was my great-grandfather; they have resident poets and writers to help inspire the ecologists to think outside of the box. How cool is that!)

Anyway, I like trees. My boss decided to put in some xeriscaping, because he likes to be good to the environment and believes in reducing water consumption. The xeriscaping plans required that four trees be removed. He waited to have the trees cut down while I was on vacation so that I would not lodge a protest.

Yes, I really like trees. Every bedroom of every apartment I have lived in has been chosen based on the whether or not there is a tree outside the window. I need to hear the wind rustling through the leaves as I fall asleep or I can't fall asleep.

Anyway, because of trees, I really like Earth Day. Because I think there should be more trees in the world and so do environmentalists. And I am an environmentalist.

To read about the history of Earth Day click here. If you want to find an Earth Day activity in your area, click here. If you want to see how much you effect the earth click here. If you want the Top 10 Tips for changing your lifestyle to an environmental one, click here. If you want to see something ironic, click here. But only click on that one if you think that Bush's policies are regressive.

Reasons Why Earth Day Should Be More Widely Celebrated:

• The world consumes two barrels of oil for every barrel discovered.
• In 20 years the world will consume 40% more oil than it does today.
• Vehicles in the United States release more CO2 than all the energy sources (such as heating, electricity, vehicles, and factories) in all of India.
• Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, carbon dioxide (a green house gas linked to climate change) in the atmosphere has increased by 31%.
• 17 Million Americans, 5 million of which are children, suffer from asthma. Public health experts are worries that those numbers will rise with continued greenhouse gas emissions.
• Diseases such as malaria are predicted to spread as the world grows warmer, due to the carriers of disease spreading out over a larger geographical area.
• None of the lower 48 states in the U.S. experienced below average temperatures in 2002.

(These facts are assembled from two fact sheets found here and here.)

Kindergarten Day, National Chocolate-covered Cashews Day, April 21st

It's Kindergarten Day and National Chocolate-covered Cashews Day. It also might possibly be the fifty-fourth anniversary of Secretary's Day. If you look up April 21st on Wikipedia it tells you that this day in 1952 was the first Secretary's Day ever. But, if you look up Secretary's Day on Wikipedia, it says that June 4, 1952 was the first Secretary's Day. If you go to the International Association of Administrative Professionals website, [they hold the patent on Administrative Professionals Week and Day (Formerly Professional Secretaries Week®/Professional Secretaries Day®)] it just says that it was first celebrated in 1952, but doesn't specify the day.

So, to celebrate possible the fifty-fourth anniversary of Secretary's Day today, here is a secretary song.

420, April 20th

My disclaimer, I am from Oregon, therefore I must blog about pot at least once.

The number 420 (pronounced four-twenty) relates to the consumption of cannabis and elements of its associated culture. The exact origin of the term is unknown. Marijuana users gather on April 20 every year to celebrate and consume marijuana. (Wikipedia)

Secretary's Day Just

Since like, ten people in the last three days have come to my site looking for Secretary's Day quotes, photos, and such, I thought that maybe I should get on the ball and stop disappointing everyone when they find nary a quote or photo about secretaries.

Disappointingly, the majority of secretary quotes on the internet have to do with the political office of secretary. So, I could only find two quotes to share.

• "Always be nice to secretaries. They are the real gatekeepers in the world." -Anthony J. D'Angelo
  
  "If you want to make certain a job gets done, give it to somebody who is really busy. They'll have their secretary do it." -Joe Moore

I hope that I have fulfilled my responsibilities as an Absent-minded Secretary for today.

Garlic Day! April 19th

Roasted, sauteed, minced... anyway you do it, garlic tastes good. Some would say that we should replace the saying "An apple a day keeps the doctor away," with "A clove a day keeps the doctor away." That's right! A clove of garlic!

Naturalists use garlic for a wide variety of ailments including high cholesterol, colds, flu, coughs, bronchitis, fever, ringworm and intestinal worms, (all sorts of parasites don't like garlic it seems) and liver, gallbladder, and digestive problems. Crushing garlic releases allicin which has antibiotic properties. And in recent years, scientists have positive things to say about the effects of garlic on heart disease and cancer.

Some Garlic Folklore:

• European folklore gives garlic the ability to ward off the "evil eye".
  
• Dreaming that there is "garlic in the house" is supposedly lucky; to dream about eating garlic means you will discover secrets hidden in the earth. (Anyone want to go treasure hunting?)
• Anciently, garlic was linked to Mars, the fiery god of war, who is also associated with healthy blood. (Seems like they knew more than we think they knew.)
• Roman soldiers ate garlic to inspire them and give them courage... as well as other things.
• Egyptian slaves were fed garlic to keep them strong and free of illness.
• Vampires...
  

We can see, from this short list, that garlic has long been associated with health and life, but why would it develop the reputation that it could ward off vampires? Why not zombies and other undead creatures?

One theory is that garlic is a natural mosquito repellent. Because being bitten by a vampire could be just like being bitten by a great big mosquito... Mosquitoes suck blood, so do vampires. Garlic, though it is good for your cholesterol, perhaps doesn't make your blood taste so good.

So, go eat some garlic today! If you need a recipe check out this site. They even have a recipe for Garlic Ice Cream.

National Wear Your Pajamas To Work Day, April 18th

National Wear Your Pajamas To Work Day

Today, I will not be able to celebrate this day. I have a meeting at 7:30 that requires me to be dressed like a grown-up. Yesterday, I came into work seven hours late and in my yoga clothes, so I am going to count that as my celebration of Wear Your Pajamas To Work Day.

Why, Yes, Yes I Am

My co-workers don't know that I blog. I had a heart-stopping moment once when I was showing a couple of them Edgy's Crimes Against Humanity #3 and one of them noticed the name "Absent-minded Secretary" and said, "Hey, that could almost describe you!"

Why, yes, yes it could.

Last week a co-worker and I were discussing when we should schedule an outdoor activity during April, I advised that we should wait until the week of BYU graduation or after. When pressured to explain myself, I said that more often than not, it snows the week before BYU graduation. (Some people in Utah follow the "Don't plant your garden until after Mother's Day" rule; I follow the "Don't put your flower pots outside until after BYU graduation" rule.)

Today a co-worker came to my desk after observing the snow fall for and hour and asked: "What are you, an almanac?"

Why, yes...

Post Script: Now that I am home, it is nice to discover that compared to Provo, the weather in Pleasant Grove is rather pleasant... and it isn't snowing here! Wahoo!

Dyngus Day, or Wet Monday, April 17th

There are some days that I am glad that I am not Polish. Also, there are some days that I am glad that I am the only one with a key to my apartment so no-one will have the opportunity to wake me up with buckets of water and by whipping my legs with long thin twigs. But, I do have to warn any boy that might think that this is a good idea... this is not the proper way to court a girl in the U.S. of A.

Dyngus Day or Wet Monday (Polish Śmigus-dyngus, lany poniedziałek or Oblewania) is the name for Easter Monday in Poland. In the Czech Republic it is called Velikonocni Pondeli or Pomlázka.

Both countries practice a peculiar custom on this day. Traditionally, boys will awaken girls early in the morning and douse them with water and strike them about the legs with long thin twigs made from willow, birch or decorated tree branches (palmy wielkanocne). This practice is possibly connected to a pre-Christian, pagan fertility rite, although the earliest documented records of Dyngus Day in Poland are from 15th century, almost half a millennium after Poland adopted Christianity...

Later the focus became the courting aspect of the ritual, and young unmarried girls were the only acceptable targets. A boy would sneak into the bedroom of the particular girl he fancied and awaken her by completely drenching her with multiple buckets of water. Politics played an important role in proceedings, and often the boy would get access to the house only by arrangement with the girl's mother.

Throughout the day girls would find themselves the victims of drenchings and leg-whippings, and a daughter who wasn't targeted for such activities was generally considered to be beznadziejna (hopeless) in this very coupling-oriented environment.

(From Wikipedia)

Cannon Beach

My favorite place in the whole world is Cannon Beach, Oregon. Which is where all the beach photos that I have posted on my blog were taken; including the one in the post directly below with me standing next to a sand squirrel, and a sand Smokey the Bear.

Every year Cannon Beach holds a Sand Castle Contest. This little tourist town of about 1,200 people explodes to about 20,000. The contest started as a local effort to raise spirits and encourage tourism after the effects of a devastating tsunami that hit the area March 27, 1964. It is absolutely insanely awesome. (Other Cannon Beach Tsunami Experience stories can be posted upon demand. Unless Edgy posts the story first. 'Cause he legitimately could. And he would probably tell the story better anyway.)

My grandma has a house right on the beach front, and so I was very lucky to spend my formative summers exploring the Oregon coastline.

And yes, I am nerdy enough to have done the tour.

International Moment of Laughter Day, National Pecan Day, Reach as High as You Can Day, April 14th

International Moment of Laughter Day

I'm not sure when the "moment of laughter" is supposed to occur, but it is a nice thought that internationally people are laughing. I just hope they aren't laughing at me, or my sand friends. Well, actually I guess you can laugh. We do look silly. :)

National Pecan Day

Another National Pecan Day the Previous Pecan Post for information about pecans.

Reach as High as You Can Day

I haven't decided if I am going to reach as high as I can literally, or if I am going to reach figuratively for something. Hmmm. Options and choices. Why do random holidays have to be so vague? Maybe I will just try to reach up to the high top of this here sand peak...

Are Bloggers Journalists?

Last week I attended training in Utah State's open meeting and open records laws, at which I found out that as a keeper of records, and a blogger, I am my own security risk. Apparently, there are some major discussions going on in the courts about whether or not bloggers have the same rights (and with those rights, responsibilities) as journalists. And as such, where should the legal lines be drawn with the rights of bloggers to publish, to protect their sources, and the responsibility that they have to the public as a "voice of the people."

This article by Chris Daly discusses the issue with a bit of historical background, which you may or may not find interesting.

In America, where we don't license journalists, that is not always a simple question. Lately, the issue has come up in a new light because of the claims made by people who post Web logs. Bloggers came to prominence during the 2004 election, often criticizing or correcting the "mainstream media." Recently, the first blogger in history was issued credentials to cover the White House. And just last month, a California judge was asked to decide whether bloggers who write about Apple computers can enjoy the legal protections of that state's "shield laws."

Not surprisingly, most bloggers insist that they are journalists, entitled to equal rights with older media. Others disagree, saying bloggers are not journalists by any stretch. Recently, for example, Los Angeles Times media critic David Shaw argued that bloggers should not be considered journalists because they have no experience, they have no editors, and they have no standards. (Copyright ©2005 Christopher B. Daly)

Just some food for thought.

Scrabble Day, April 13th

Scrabble Day

I would be remiss in my duties if I did not acknowledge Scrabble Day. I believe to some of my friends, it might be worse than forgetting DEAR Day. Today, you can join ll in a game of Scrabble, or you can just learn about how Scrabble came to be created by Alfred Butts during the Depression, but wasn't marketed until 1952. Or you can challenge my score at Scrabble Blast, which isn't really Scrabble, it's more like Boggle, but it has the Scrabble name, so we can mention it today. Anyway, it won't be hard to beat me. My high score was 268, and the little pop up fellow told me that I could do better.

Confessions

I just received a pop-up news alert that the Pope is encouraging everyone to confess their sins since it is Holy Week.

Absent-minded Secretary's Five Deadly Sins (Or, those sins that she feels comfortable enough to share with the internet)

1. I did not, not do I ever plan to, observe Lent. I know that I do not have enough self control to give up anything for only 40 days. If I am going to try to give something up, I have to suffer under the illusion that I will give it up for ever (even if I know I won't) or feel good about sacrificing for just for a week. Forty days... that's way too long.
2. Sloth. I know I could probably excuse and explain away my lack of enthusiam for a life outside of work as a symptom of my M.S., but I also know that I can do a lot better than I am doing, because I have done a lot better. But, right now, I really don't care enough to exert any energy to change.
3. I am wearing frog socks right now, a What Not to Wear fashion no-no.
4. I have these ideals that I profess, about loving my fellow man, being open to new ideas, letting people live according to their own conscience, as I want them to let me live, but really, I am a very judgmental person, and often I say things that I wish I hadn't said, and I don't realize the impact of what I have said until significantly after the said said. I hate this dissonance within myself.
5. I am a major procrastinator. In fact, this confession is simply an act of procrastination. (Of work, of unanswered email.) Unfortunately, I think that procrastination might just define, enhance and taint each personality characteristic of my whole self.

Am I going to set any goals to change... maybe tomorrow.

I forgot about D.E.A.R. Drop Everything And Read Day, April 12th

Thank you dear Edgy, for reminding me about D.E.A.R. Drop Everything And Read Day. It wasn't on any of my lists, otherwise I would have given it its rightful recognition.

So, please, when you are lying on the ground staring at the sky, pondering about wind, drop everything and read!

Big Wind Day, Look Up At The Sky Day, April 12th

Big Wind Day

The strongest, most powerful wind gust was recorded on April 12, 1934 on Mt. Washington, New Hampshire. And because of that big wind, we have Big Wind Day.

Look Up At the Sky Day

Meteorologists must really love today.

I suggest that we all take a picnic lunch, lie on the grass, and look up. Be playful but honest with what we see in the clouds. Childlike. We must not fear what we see. The sky is blue, and can see you with the biggest blue eye.

• Just a sidenote, on this day in 1994 internet spam was born.

Barbershop Quartet Day, April 11th

Barbershop Quartet Day

I know that you woke up this morning wondering, "Where can I find 1677 barbershop quartet links?"

And then your next question was, "Where can I listen to Homer Simpson singing barbershop?

Well, I am glad I can make your internet searching that much easier.

National Sibling Day, April 10th

National Sibling Day

Claudia A. Evart, initiated National Sibling Day after the deaths of her brother and sister. She has received support from twenty two state governors who have issued proclamations on this day, and President Bill Clinton has supported the celebration of this holiday. A foundation has been organized to help spread the word about Sibling Day.

I thought that I would share pictures of my cute brothers to honor National Sibling Day.

Yeah for siblings!

A Celebration of Kite Flying Month

 

My niece is already in tune with her auntie, and is celebrating National Kite Flying Month. I like a girl who knows how to celebrate! 

Windwalker

 

I'm sorry, my niece is just about reaching that age where I think that children are at their most adorable peak and I must share with the world. Here she is walking in the wind on the beach, looking like a real little person. Almost makes me ponder about moving to back to Oregon. 

Eating Sand... Yum!

 

Auntie probably would not have paused to take a picture of niece eating sand. She probably would have stopped her and said something like "yucky." But, then we wouldn't have this cute picture of niece eating sand. And niece probably wouldn't have learned this valuable lesson by experience. Now, later in her restaurant review career, she can with honesty say, "The dish tasted like sand." 

Winston Churchill Day, National Chicken Little Awareness Day, April 9th

Winston Churchill Day

Here are some Winston Churchill quotes to ponder on today, as it Winston Churchill Day. The chosen quotes may or may not have something to do with our other holiday today.

"A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject."-Sir Winston Churchill

"Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing ever happened." -Sir Winston Churchill

"One ought never to turn one's back on a threatened danger and try to run away from it. If you do that, you will double the danger. But if you meet it promptly and without flinching, you will reduce the danger by half." -Sir Winston Churchill

National Chicken Little Awareness Day

I'm not sure how we are traditionally supposed to celebrate National Chicken Little Awareness Day, but I was able to take advantage of Draw a Picture of a Bird Day, and I enslaved the creative genius of my favorite five year old, and she composed a work of art about Chicken Little, specially for my blog readers. Of course, she made me draw a picture too. Because I know that the people that read this blog love me, and won't make fun of my artistic ability, even if they have degrees in art, I am posting my picture as well as that of my favorite five year old's. I bet you can't tell whose is whose! ;) I will admit that my composition was inspired by my favorite five year old's composition.

Draw a Picture of a Bird Day, April 8th

I am not an artist. Drawing a picture of a bird would be a fairly futile exercise for me. If forced to creatively produce a bird, I would rather do it with food rather than Crayolas. Keeping that in mind, I just don't understand the concept of Homemade Peeps. It just seems a bit more trouble than it's worth.

No Housework Day, Hospital Admitting Clerks Day, April 7th

No Housework Day

I already anti-observed this day. I forgot what holiday it was this morning, and I was running a little ahead of schedule, due to the fact that my $100 professional-strength-ceramic-ionic hairdryer broke just one week after the warranty expired and I couldn't do my hair, so I had time to do a little cleaning up. So, I rinsed out the dishes in my sink, ran the dishwasher, and folded the throw blankets on my couch. But, I didn't have time to take out the garbage, and it's sitting by my front door waiting for me when I get home. (Yes, Dave, another sentence starting with "but." Deal with it.)

So, on my lunch break I had to go out the store to buy another hairdryer. And this time I was determined that I was going to buy the cheapest one no matter what. Because, I have bought expensive the last few times, and they have only lasted about a year each. I think that my cheap little fold-up one that I bought when I was a poor college student, lasted ummm, my whole college career. Which wasn't a normal four year career. (Call me Tommy Boy. And, yes Dave, obviously, my English degree is worthless because there are two sentences beginning with "and," and a sentence beginning with "because" in the same paragraph.)

Anyway, I went to the store to buy a new hairdryer and I had a major problem. I could not buy the cheapest one. I could not accept that my hair would handle and non-ionic-non-ceramic hairdryer. I have been growing my hair out for three years now. I got a really, really short hair cut when I was a model for my friend as she got her cosmotology license. It was a pretty dramatic cut. I went from shoulder length to above the ears. Now, I am back to shoulder length, and it took the whole three years for it to get there, and I want to go longer. (Even though I just got three inches cut off three weeks ago and no-one noticed. And, along those lines, I need to ask a question to the boys. How often do you cut your hair? Do you have to cut it every three weeks? 'Cause I had to get my bangs trimmed yesterday, and if I have to do this every three weeks, I am not sure that the mod new bang look is worth it. Back to my story.) Can I do that with a cheap, regular old blow dryer? I like that my hair is healthy. Is it strong and shiny because of the ceramic coils inside my blow dryer, or is it because I eat a lot of salmon? Either way, a new hair dryer must be bought, because I have freaky half naturally curly, half bone straight hair, and if I don't blow dry it, it just looks funny.

Anyway, I went to the store to buy a new hairdryer, and I couldn't decide which one to get. I have been having this problem a lot lately. I can't make decisions about anything. Choosing where to live, what car to buy, if I want to eat at Chili's or ... why would I eat anywhere but Chili's? (There, that decision made.) I have even limited my video rentals to the Redbox, because there are fewer choices. (I almost went into a coma on St. Patrick's Day when my friend took me to the Orem library to choose a movie... there were just so many choices! I just had to wander around and point out movies that I had seen, which must have been annoying to the people with me, and to the librarian behind the desk.)

Anyway, I went to the store on my lunch break to but a new hair dryer, and I realized, I am a really, really, really, superficial person. I can't buy the cheap one. (The website says it's $18.99, but it was $9.99 at the store.) I kinda wanted this one because it reminded me of all the Barbie accessories that my friends had that I secretly coveted, even though I really wanted books more. I worried about this one because even though it said that it was ionic, it also said "metal" and metal can't be good for hair. This one looked good because it has a retractable cord, and I am not very good about putting my my hair dryer away, and just having a retractable cord would make my countertop less cluttered. (I have gotten lazy since I don't have roommates.) Finally, I just grabbed this one. I think. All I know is I spent $20, and I could have spent just $10. Why? Why? Why? It's just going to break in a year.

Hospital Admitting Clerks Day

I realized today, that I have never really appreciated any of the hospital admitting clerks that I have been in contact with. (There is a sentence ending with a preposition, Dave, what are you going to do about it?) But, I don't think that I am going to appreciate them today. Really, I don't know any personally, and I am not very likely on a Friday night to go out of my way to take flowers to any. I am not that nice. There, it's out in the open on the internet. I am a mean, horrible, person.

Also, I have been known to kick children who color on the walls at my office.

And, I don't answer my phone if I don't want to.

And, I start sentences with "and."

And, I think it is stupid that Freshmen are called "Frosh" but we don't have any nicknames for other-classmen. Why don't we call Seniors "Sosh?"

And, I like it when boys smell good. I really like it when boys smell good. Even if they are boys that are so young I could have put Desitin under their diapers. Yep, I was on campus today, and I noticed an unusually large group of boys smelled nice. I don't know if I am just hyper-aware today, or if BYU boys have just started to become more aware of their scent, or if it is just because it is Friday and everyone is getting ready for date night.

And I don't have a date! (Sobbing uncontrollably now.)

And, I hate it when the visitor parking attendant at BYU doesn't ask me if I am a student. Hello! Last week I looked young enough to be a student, do I look so old today?

It must be because I didn't dry my hair with a blow dryer.

(By the way, I don't really kick children. That would be mean. And horrible.)

National Fun at Work Day, Tartan Day, National Caramel Popcorn Day, Sorry Charlie Day, April 6th

National Fun at Work Day

Apparently, this is not the week to be productive at work since Monday was Don't Go To Work Unless It's Fun Day, and National Workplace Napping Day and today is National Fun at Work Day. I actually will not be at work today. I will be attending an informative training session about Utah's Sunshine Laws. I have a feeling that I will not be near a computer the entire day and I shall be going through withdrawals.

But for those of you who will be at work today, here are some ideas to make your workplace fun, because you must celebrate without me.

Tartan Day

Along with National Fun at Work Day, it is also Tartan Day. Men, get out your kilts. Women get out your tartan shawls and sashes. Be a bit o' Scotch today and wear the plaid. Play your favorite CD of bagpipe music for your hold music on the phone, or elevator music in the elevator, or in the lobby music in the lobby. Put it on repeat for the whole day. Wear plaid socks if you don't own a kilt. Cover your office with plaid crepe paper. Let everyone know that it is Tartan Day!

National Caramel Popcorn Day

If the wearing o'the plaid isn't your thing, you can celebrate National Caramel Popcorn Day. Actually, you can do that today, or tomorrow. There seems to be a bit of a disagreement about which is the true National Caramel Popcorn Day. But, there is nothing wrong with celebrating on both days. Caramel Corn is yummy!

Here is the Best Caramel Popcorn Recipe Ever

7-9 Cups popped popcorn
3/4 cup Brown Sugar
6 Tablespoons Butter
3 Tablespoons Corn Syrup
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla

Mix sugar, butter, corn syrup, and salt together and bring to a rolling boil for two minutes. Turn down the heat and simmer for 5-7 minutes. Add vanilla and pour over popcorn, stirring constantly.

If you want crunchy caramel corn, bake on cookie sheet at 350 degrees for 5-10 minutes or until hard, but my favorite way to eat the corn is soft (unbaked).

Sorry Charlie Day

If you don't have a fun day at work today, I guess that you celebrated Sorry Charlie Day. I am sorry (Charlie) that everyone else had fun and you didn't. (Well, to be sure, I probably didn't "have fun" so I can sympathize.)

And First Place for Blog Design Goes to...

ædgy killer bunny!!!!

Since a Picture Tells a 1,000 Words... Tell A Story Day, Part II

 

There is not a bowl in my breadbowl. Also, there is not any Diet Coke, in my 1/2 Diet Coke 1/2 Root Beer. This is the first soda that I have had since January and words cannot express my disappointment.

Is it so hard to get simple lunch order right?

I need caffeine today! 

My Story for the Day

So, I started writing a story, and then decided that I didn't want to tell that story, so I deleted it. But I deleted the wrong post. And I deleted the post with the image that I really, really liked. And it is on my computer at home. So, I can't re-create that post now.

But, basically, the post that I accidently deleted said that today is Story Day, so we should all tell stories today.

So, if you read it before, here is your second reminder that today is Story Day.

Thank you for your patience with this absent-minded blogger.

Walk Around Things Day, and Tell A Lie Day April 4th

Walk Around Things Day

I think that if we are going to celebrate walking around things, we need to do it with style. Monty Python can help plan your walking today.

Tell A Lie Day

If you don't feel like walking around things, you can try a different form of circumnavigation with Tell A Lie Day.

Rainbow Connection

So, since it's not very likely that I am going to find any rainbows today, or very likely that I am going to get a group together to sing "Rainbow Connection" with me, I thought that I should share with the internet the different musical interpretations of the song. Sort of my own "Rainbow Connection" choir.

Here is the original that we all know and love, Kermit. Now we go into the variations: Willie Nelson, Sarah McLachlan, Kenny Loggins, The Dixie Chicks, The Carpenters, and Jason Mraz. There are lots more versions, (enough to make a whole CD or two) but, there is a limit to my boredom-inspired linking frenzy.

And if you want to sing along... (with Kermit, 'cause he's the only one that sings the whole song- all the rest of the links are just segments) here are the lyrics.

"The Rainbow Connection"
written by Kenny Ascher and Paul Williams

Why are there so many songs about rainbows
And what's on the other side?
Rainbows are visions, but only illusions,
And rainbows have nothing to hide.
So we've been told and some choose to believe it
I know they're wrong, wait and see.
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection,
The lovers, the dreamers and me.

(These next lines are my favorite)

Who said that every wish would be heard and answered
When wished on the morning star?
Somebody thought of that, and someone believed it,
And look what it's done so far.


What's so amazing that keeps us stargazing
And what do we think we might see?
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection,
The lovers, the dreamers, and me.

All of us under its spell,
We know that it's probably magic...

(these lines freaked me out as a kid)

... Have you been half asleep? And have you heard voices?
I've heard them calling my name.
... Is this the sweet sound that calls the young sailors?
The voice might be one and the same
I've heard it too many times to ignore it

It's something that I'm s'posed to be...
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection,
The lovers, the dreamers, and me.

Laa, da daa dee da daa daa,
La laa la la laa dee daa doo...

Realization

I just realized, come December 7th, I will have blogged myself into a corner.

Don't Go To Work Unless It's Fun Day, National Workplace Napping Day, National Find-A-Rainbow Day, April 3rd

Don't Go To Work Unless It's Fun Day
I swear Edgy, I didn't know that Monday was Don't Go to Work Unless It's Fun Day until Sunday night. The previously planned day off was merely fortuitous, coincidential. But, anyone who wants to celebrate with me is welcome, and we can do lunch, or shop! But, if it is a fun work day for you, then you are obligated to go to work today. Sad for me.

National Workplace Napping Day

Of course, if you have to go to work, and it is not going to be fun, you can just take a nap, because it is National Workplace Napping Day.

I am a bit concerned about the safety of our nation tomorrow. If we have half of our workforce staying home, and the other half, taking naps... there are some jobs that this could cause some problems. I am glad that I don't live nearby any nuclear power plants. But, maybe, the word hasn't spread very far.

Tweed Day

What to do, what to do, what to do for Tweed Day. I think that I need new Easter shoes. Green, or blue would be nice. Tweed, hmmm. Tweed shoes.

National Find-A-Rainbow Day
Unless you live nearby the ocean, I hope that you don't have to go across a continent to find a rainbow, unless you happen to be taking the day off of work, because it isn't fun, work that is... crossing continents can be, if you are in the right mood.

Anyway, rainbow days are fun, and there are all sorts of promises hidden in the symbolism of them. So, lets celebrate rainbows!!! If you can't see any, gather a group together to sing "Rainbow Connection." Come on, I promise it won't seem weird, because it is National Find A Rainbow Day.

National Frog Month (I Missed the Most Important One!!)

Did you know there are awards for blogging?

From USAToday.com: The Blooker awards, for books arising from blogs

April Weekly Celebrations

April 1st-8th
National Week of the Ocean, National Library Week, Read a Road Map Week, Week of the Young Child, Golden Rule Week, Laugh at Work Week, Medication Safety Week, Consider Christianity Week, National Medical Patient Advocacy Week, National Public Health Week, & National Blue Ribbon Week

April 7th-9th-Alcohol Free Weekend

April 9th-15th
National Garden Week, National Women's Nutrition Week, Pan American Week, National Networking Week, Explore Your Career Options Week, & Young People's Poetry Week

April 16th-22th
Organize Your Files Week, Medical Lab Testing Week, Consumer Awareness Week, Animal Cruelty-Human Violence Awareness Week, National Coin Week, National Crime Victim's Rights Week, National Park Week, National Personal Training Week, National Volunteer Week (Declared- Observed is 23rd-29th) Egg Salad Week (Is a whole week necessary? Isn't one day of egg salad enough?), & Cowboy Poetry Week (Remind me to tease someone)

April 23rd-30th
Sky Awareness Week, National Turn Off the TV Week, Electronic Communications Week, National Dance Week, National Youth Services Days, Innovation Week, Administrative Professionals Week (Okay, I might be really pushing this week), National Karaokie Week, National Wildlife Week, National Window Safety Week, RV Lifestyle Week, National Playground Safety Week, & National Scoop the Poop Week

April is...

Straw Hat Month, National Humor Month, National Kite Month, Jazz Appreciation Month, National Poetry Month, Stress Awareness Month, School Library Media Awareness Month, Alcohol Awareness Month, Appreciate Diversity Month, National Child Abuse Prevention Month, Community Spirit Days, Couple Appreciation Month, Donate Life Month, Informed Woman Month, Injury Prevention Month, International Daffynitions Month (?), Fresh Florida Tomatoes Month, Keep America Beautiful Month, Month of the Young Child, Month of the Military Child, National Autism Awareness Month, National Car Care Month, National Decorating Month, National Landscape Architecture Month, National Parkinson's Awareness Month, National Pecan Month, National Pet First Aid Awareness Month, Pets are Wonderful Month, Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month, National Prepare to Buy a Home Month, National Sexual Assault Awareness Month, National Youth Sports Safety Month, Physical Wellness Month, National Sexually Transmitted Diseases Education and Awareness Month, Southern Belles Month, Testicular Cancer Awareness Month, World Habitat Awareness Month, International Guitar Month, National Anxiety Month, National Welding Month, National Garden Month, Community Service Month, American Cancer Society Month, Thai Heritage Month, National Soy Foods Month, Workplace Conflict Awareness Month, & Uh-Huh Month