We are starting the first full week in August of 2019 – before we know it the summer will be over, kids will be back in school (and I’ll be grinding my teeth driving behind school buses) and we’ll be on our way to crisp fall air, preparing for the holidays and winding down for a new year.
We are also, again – it feels endless actually – in another campaign season. This is not a great thing since the democrats didn’t shut up their griping for a single second this past few years to let the nation enjoy the improving economy, the low unemployment and a return to a more secure nation. No, they can’t possibly appreciate that Americans are happy to be working and keeping more of their own money. The truth is, we all know that it is more than likely – even with the idiots on the left endlessly lying, cheating and breaking voting laws – that President Trump will win again, which gives us another four years of prosperity and, unfortunately, more screeching and whining from the bat crap crazy libnuts.
There were also two more horrible shootings this weekend, one in El Paso and one in Ohio. Every time one of these mass shootings happens, it seems to have been engineered to create more unrest amongst the anti-gun nuts out there, and of course, they all point fingers at President Trump as being responsible. Seriously, how many of these insane people pointed fingers at Obama when mass shootings happened during his time in the White House? Let me tell you – none. Nobody on the left pointed fingers at Obama, even though he was the biggest race baiter of them all. The news story is changing on the El Paso shooting with each report. Witnesses have come out to report that they saw 3 shooters – of course those reports have been shushed and now they are saying there was one, just one. His MyLife profile has been changed 3 times, evolving from being a registered democrat to a Trump supporting republican. Seriously, people, screenshots happen, and this has been recorded as it happened! Don’t buy into the lies! Also, they have said he had one firearm, 30 rounds, no back-ups, yet he killed 20 and injured 30 more? DO THE MATH! That is NOT possible! These incidents are not realistic in how they supposedly happened. I am not questioning that people have been killed and injured, and in no way to I feel this is less than horrifying, but even worse to me is that it wasn’t a crazy person being crazy, it was a premeditated political move by people with an evil agenda. And the local authorities are obviously complicit because original witness accounts are being erased. This is truly frightening. May our thoughts and prayers be with the injured and the families of those who were so mercilessly murdered and may the parties responsible – not just the supposed single shooter – be brought to justice. (admit it, you missed my rants)
Verse of the Day
Monday – August 5, 2019
But when they [the disciples] saw him [Jesus] walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
Thoughts on Today’s Verse…
In the middle of our storms and terror, Jesus passes close by, just waiting for us to acknowledge our fear and need, so that he can join us in our worst nightmares and help us through. Incredibly, Jesus’ words here are literally, “Take courage! I Am.” God revealed himself to Moses in Exodus 3 as I Am, reminding Moses that he heard the cry of the Israelites and had seen their hardship and was now coming down to help them. Jesus does the same for us!
Tuesday – August 6, 2019
A bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”
Thoughts on Today’s Verse
Moses and Elijah appeared with Jesus on the “Mount of Transfiguration” before Jesus’ closest disciples. This was the ultimate honor for them as faithful Jews. God, however, wanted them to know that as important as Moses and Elijah are, only Jesus is his Son. His Son’s words are the ultimate authority and the bottom-line truth of God’s will. If we are to be refreshed, renewed, and restored, we must begin by listening to and obeying God’s Son and our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Wednesday – August 7, 2019
Six days do your work, but on the seventh day do not work, so that your ox and your donkey may rest, and the slave born in your household, and the alien as well, may be refreshed.
Thoughts on Today’s Verse…
Refreshed! Boy that’s often hard in any time, but it’s especially hard in August, isn’t it? It’s either the dead of summer or the dead of winter depending on which side of the equator you find yourself. Either way, we need to hear God’s desire for all of us to be refreshed and to allow those around us to be refreshed in his presence, his grace, and his rest.
Thursday – August 8, 2019
Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.
Thoughts on Today’s Verse…
What are you spending the biggest bulk of your life working for? Is it a boss, a promotion, a sense of importance, a secure lifestyle …? If it can be taken from you, or you can be removed from it, then it’s not very permanent is it! Only what Jesus gives us is truly lasting, and it comes from God’s grace. So how can you more fully invest yourself in work that “endures to eternal life”?
Friday – August 9, 2019
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
Thoughts on Today’s Verse…
How do we determine who we will follow? How can we tell the religious predators, shysters, and charlatans from those who truly speak for God? Jesus comes and shows us the ultimate test; will the Shepherd lay down his life for them?
Saturday – August 10, 2019
He leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.
Thoughts on Today’s Verse…
When we are exhausted, depleted, and on the edge of burn out, we need to have our souls restored! But who can restore our souls? Only the One who will lead us beside still waters! The Lord is our Shepherd. He alone can fully bring the nourishment and replenishment that we need. Yet why do we sometimes find it so hard to set aside time to be with him? Could it be that we keep our lives so busy that we miss out on the one thing that matters most?
Sunday – August 11, 2019
So, in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
Thoughts on Today’s Verse…
Ah! The “Golden Rule” is so straightforward, isn’t it? Sometimes we make things, especially religious things, far too complicated and complex. I love the Bible because it is so often practical and plain when God deals with our behavior. You want to know how to treat someone? Then do for them what would be a blessing if it was done to you! If it wouldn’t bless, encourage, build up, support, comfort, or help you, then don’t do it to them. If it would hurt, wound, depress, spite, or discourage you, then don’t do it to them. Treat others with the same dignity, kindness, love, respect, and tenderness with which you would like to be treated. Simple to understand; revolutionary to do!
Monday – August 5, 2019
Assistance Dog Day (Monday of Assistance Dog Week) – The very first ever National Assistance Dog Day was celebrated on August 9, 2007. The 2nd Thursday in August was registered to honor these amazing dogs by Marcie Davis, a paraplegic and president of Working Like Dogs. Ms. Davis has been confined to a wheelchair due to a spinal cord infection she contracted when she was 6 years old. Twenty-two years before she set up this day, she received her first service dog, a Labrador Retriever/Golden Retriever mix. She said that this amazing dog changed her life, giving her a sense of independence and confidence she hadn’t had before. When the help of her wonderful canine companion she was able to do things she was afraid of doing on her own before. Now she works to raise awareness through Working Like Dogs, which raises awareness and honors assistance dogs. Most people are aware that the blind and paraplegics like Ms. Davis often have service dogs to help them maneuver through life, but some people don’t know that there are other groups who benefit from these highly trained animals as well. Military heroes often suffer from severe PTSD, Traumatic Brain Injury, or other such issues – and service dogs have proven to be invaluable to them. Please, if you have the chance to donate to an agency that provides funding for these incredible dogs for people who desperately need them but cannot afford them, do. You could be saving a life or making a life easier to live.
National Doll Day (First Sunday) – I grew up playing with dolls, as did my mother, grandmother, daughter and any other girl I’ve known throughout my life. In spite of societal pressure to not have “girl’s” toys or “boy’s” toys, the truth is that we all gravitate to one or the other, depending on our natural instincts. Dolls are the early training device for humans who will come day become parents – and this means fathers as well as mothers. Mostly though, it is the girls who most often play with them. Today is the celebration of American dolls, including those that were brought to our country by people who emigrated from other lands. Think about the dolls of our history, Barbie, Raggedy Ann and Andy, The American Girl Dolls, Cabbage Patch Dolls and many, many others – children have loved them, adults have collected them, and some have become quite valuable. The ones who prize these babies most are the children who adopt them as their own. My daughter had a baby doll she named Anna. Anna went everywhere with K, she talked to her, sung to her, dressed her, slept with her. That doll went everywhere with us. Nothing could ever show me how much dolls mean to children than her reaction when Anna “died”. We had to put our belongings into storage at one point and Anna was accidentally included in the items in the boxes. While we were in between homes, the storage facility had a fire and everything we owned burned. A few weeks after the fire, while we were still trying to figure out all that we lost, K realized that Anna was amongst the lost items. I have never heard anything so heartbreaking as when she suddenly began to wail and sob, “Anna! My Anna! Anna! My baby!!!!” Oh, my heavens, we all cried with her, because in her heart and mind, Anna was her baby and she was dead. We found her an identical doll, which she named a boy name, but it wasn’t the same. She never bonded with that one the way she did Anna. That little bit of her childhood was lost to a traumatic, heart-breaking event. Did you have a baby you loved above all others growing up? I’m sure I did, but I don’t remember which one specifically at this moment. (This one looks very much like my daughter’s beloved Anna did.)
National Underwear Day – Did your mom ever tell you to always wear clean underwear just in case you were in an accident? I never understood that. I would think that if you were in an accident and it was bad enough, clean underwear would be the least of your worries, and if it wasn’t a bad accident, then nobody had any reason to know if you were wearing clean underwear or not! Geesh! But that’s not what this day is about. No, on August 5, 2003 Freshpair founded National Underwear Day. The idea was to invite everyone to participate in setting a new Guinness World Record by wearing their underwear to Times Square on this day. This year they are reaching out to cancer survivors to regain their lives and men and women suffering with poor body image. I did find a website about the actual event, and they do have some pretty strict rules about the types of underwear that can be worn – including none that are too revealing. Well, this isn’t one I’d ever actively celebrate, but it is an interesting concept.
Tuesday – August 6, 2019
Hiroshima Day – On this day in 1945 the United States dropped the first atomic bomb on the Japanese City of Hiroshima. President Truman announced the news from the cruiser, USS Augusta, in the mid-Atlantic, said the device was more than 2,000 more times more powerful than the largest bomb used to date. The atomic bomb heralded the “harnessing of the basic power of the universe”, and also marked a victory over the Germans in the race to be the first to develop a weapon using atomic energy.
National Fresh Breath (Halitosis) Day – Oh my goodness, where to I begin with this one? There’s nothing worse than talking up close and personal with someone with rancid breath. I’ve had my share of cavities over the years, so I am fully aware of how important brushing, mouthwash, gum and mints are to keeping things friendly. I know people who either don’t bother to go to the dentist, or haven’t made it a priority financially, and I am here to tell you that it isn’t pleasant sometimes to be near them. And don’t get me started on people who smoke or chew tobacco. I’ve actually banished people from my office who reek of cigarettes or chew. It’s nasty! Positively nasty! For anyone who doesn’t go to the dentist because it is expensive, well, yes, it is, but it has to be a priority in your life. There are so many worse things than just bad breath – gum disease for starters. The physical ailments that can happen from not taking care of your teeth are numerous and some of them horrible. Please, find a dental college, a program that charges on a sliding scale, or a dentist who will take payments (they are rare, but they truly are out there). And for goodness sake, stop smoking and chewing. It’s horrible for your health, for the health of those around you and honestly, it’s disgusting! Keep the gum and mints handy in the meantime. Sometimes it’s very difficult for someone who loves you to tell you the terrible news that you smell like death. I’m here to tell you, if you are talking to someone and they suddenly start holding their hand near their noses – attempting of course to be subtle while they do it – it’s very likely that you are releasing toxic fumes and it is time to do something about it. As a little tidbit of trivia – did you know that the earliest breath mints can be traced back to the early Egyptians? It seems their teeth suffered badly from the sand and grit resulting from stone-grinding their flour, and since dentists were not yet an option, decayed, odorous mouths were common. Breath mints were made by boiling together frankincense, myrrh, cinnamon and honey. The solids were then fashioned into pellets and voila! Aren’t we glad we aren’t chewing on frankincense and myrrh mints anymore? Geesh! Give me good old peppermint any day of the week.
Wiggle Your Toes Day – It feels so good to take off the shoes at the end of the day and just give the toes a good wiggle, doesn’t it. Stretch them out as far as they’ll go and let them feel the freedom from the constriction that shoes give them – especially if you have to wear high heels all day! Today you are encouraged to give your digits a bit of exercise because they are just crying out for a little bit of freedom! There are some places that are more fun to wiggle your toes than others – in the sand at the beach, in the fresh grass, in a pool of cool water, or just in the fresh air. If you can’t be barefoot completely today, maybe you can go to work in sandals or flip flops. Let those toes have a full day of happy celebrating!
Wednesday – August 7, 2019
Lighthouse Day – There is something special about lighthouses, something magical about them, that tugs at my heart. Many mornings I sit in my chair, with the window open to let the fresh, pre-dawn air into the house, and the music accompanying the click of the keys on the computer is the mournful cry of the foghorn at the lighthouse down on the point. Today we honor and commemorate a beacon of light that symbolizes safety and security for ships at sea, recognizing the importance of lighthouses. Through an Act of Congress, the Federal Government took over responsibility for building and operating our nation’s lighthouse on August 7, 1789. Throughout maritime history, lighthouses have shined their powerful, sweeping lights through the fog and storms, allowing all kinds of ships to find their way back to port during bad weather. As GPS and radar have begun to be used so frequently, lighthouses have taken a back seat to guiding ships to port. They still remain the universal symbol of safe harbor to ships and communities that rely on the sea for their livelihood. To me though, lighthouses are symbolic of something bigger and more amazing than sending out a beacon of light or a loud horn into the fog. We wander through life, making our way through the storms of confusion, societal expectations, home responsibilities, spiritual quagmires and sometimes – especially lately – it gets difficult to make our way through the disinformation being thrown at us in an attempt to take our attention away from what is really happening in the world. That distraction takes our focus off what we are supposed to be doing, what our direction should be, and what we should be doing with our own lives as things spin out of control. God is that beacon of light though, and He sent His word to keep us grounded, to sound the alarm into the fog we wander through. As I sit here typing this, my windows are open, and though we don’t have any fog right now, I know that as the autumn season approaches, it will once again be singing a mournful song as the early morning fog swirls in and out of the trees. What a wonderful reminder to keep the attention on the One who will bring us through the fog and get us through any struggles we face. (this is a picture of the Point No Point Lighthouse just a few miles from my house.)
Particularly Preposterous Packaging Day – Don’t you hate ridiculous packages that are so difficult to open? How many times has a bottle of aspirin defied your attempts to open it, or you’ve had to scissors or a knife to get one of those horrible plastic packages open? I have NO idea why someone decided to set up a special celebration specifically for these packages . . . but for whatever reason they did. How should we celebrate this one? I don’t know . . . maybe do what you have to do to avoid this kind of packaging today? Sounds good to me.
Professional Speakers Day – Most people seem to have an aversion to speaking in public. I understand the fear – it makes sense to be nervous in front of a crowd. Today we celebrate the folks who set aside those nerves and get up on the stage anyway, to teach, inspire or motivate people. Personally, I don’t have a problem with public speaking. Sure, I get a little jittery before getting up in front of people, but for the most part, I really enjoy it! Back in high school one of my classes was a public speaking class. Ever since that time it’s not been a problem for me. I truly admire the people who get up in front of a crowd and make incredible speeches without notes or teleprompters. It shows that they are confident in their knowledge of their topic.
Purple Heart Day – Do you know anyone who has been awarded The Purple Heart? Have you really given much thought to that award, what they went through during their service and their struggle afterward? So many people just nod in brief acknowledgement, but they don’t really take to heart the depth of meaning and sacrifice went into someone being given this award. Our freedom has been bought and paid for with these soldier’s blood and pain, their suffering and survival, or loss. Give it more than lip service, more than a mere acknowledgement. Thank our soldiers, be grateful for their willingness to put their lives, their health and their futures on the line for us – for even the stupid who walk among us have been given the right to do so by the sacrifice of these men and women.
The Purple Heart’s history reaches back to the time toward the end of the American Revolution. The Continental Congress had forbidden General George Washington from granting commissions and promotions in rank to recognize merit. He wanted to though, particularly among the enlisted soldiers, so on August 7, 1782 he ordered the establishment of the Badge of Military Merit:
“… The General ever desirous to cherish virtuous ambition in his soldiers, as well as to foster and encourage every species of Military merit directs whenever any singularly meritorious action is performed, the author of it shall be permitted to wear on his facings, over his left breast, the figure of a heart in purple cloth or silk edged with narrow lace or binding.”
This award was given only to enlisted men and granted them the distinction of being permitted to pass all guards and sentinels, along with the commissioned officers. The names of those who received this award were to have been kept in a “Book of Merit”, which has never been recovered. (What a sad loss of amazing historical significance!) There are three known recipients of the Badge of Military Merit . . . Sergeant Elijah Churchill, 2nd Continental Dragoons; Sergeant William Brown, 2nd Connecticut Regiment, and Sergeant Daniel Bissel, 2nd Connecticut Continental Line Infantry. Washington stated that the award was to be a permanent one, but once the Revolution ended, the Badge of Merit was all but forgotten until the 20th century. In 1918 General John J “Blackjack” Pershing suggested a need for an award of merit, but it wasn’t until 1932 that the Purple Heart was created in recognition of Washington’s ideals, and for the bicentennial of his birth. General Order No. 3 announced the establishment of the award:
“…By order of the President of the United States, the Purple Heart, established by General George Washington at Newburgh, August 7, 1782, during the War of the Revolution is hereby revived out of respect to his memory and military achievements.
By order of the Secretary of War: Douglas MacArthur General, Chief of Staff
And so, it was that on May 28, 1932, 138 World War I veterans were awarded their Purple Hearts at Temple Hill, in New Windsor, NY. Temple Hill was the site of the New Windsor Cantonment, which was the final encampment of the Continental Army in the winter of 1782-1783. Today, the National Purple Heart continues the tradition begun in 1932, of honoring veterans who have earned the Purple Heart. It has gone through many changes with respect to the criteria for being awarded though. At first it was exclusively awarded to Army and Army Air Corps personnel and could not be awarded posthumously to the next of kin. In 1942, President Franklin Roosevelt signed an executive order that allowed the Navy to award the Purple Heart to Sailors, Marines and Coast Guard personnel. In that same year, the Purple Heart was made available for posthumous award to any member of the military killed on or after December 7, 1941. The Purple Heart was originally awarded for meritorious service and being wounded was one portion of consideration for merit. When the Legion of Merit was created in 1942, the award of the Purple Heart for merit was unnecessary and was therefore discontinued. As regulations require, the Purple Heart is awarded in the name of the President of the United States to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, while serving under competent authority in any capacity with one of the U.S. Armed Services after April 5, 1917 has been wounded, killed, or has died after being wounded.
Thursday – August 8, 2019
The Date to Create – This is also a newer sounding one to me, or at least one I haven’t seen before. This is the day to put an effort to end putting off creating something that we have been meaning to do. It doesn’t matter what it is, just do it. I have been working on something myself lately but got stalled out on one part of it because of my lack of knowledge. Today is the day I need to work through that and get it done! It doesn’t what it is you want to create – a scrapbook, a new recipe, a quilt, a garden, or a presentation – just do it! You’ll be proud of yourself once you do.
Happiness Happens Day – What a wonderful thought! Happiness Happens. Do you know who “owns” this motto? Get this – I had to chuckle – It’s the 17th birthday of the “Secret Society of Happy People”. Secret? Are there so few of them that they have to be secret? And I’m giggling again . . . it’s just funny! Why would happiness need to be secret? No matter the reason, this is a great one to celebrate and be happy about . . . get it? Happy? hahahaha sorry – it’s just funny.
National CBD Day – This natural hemp product is incredible for many things and is an incredible natural alternative to chemical medications for so many ailments. You can take it in tincture form, as a topical, or an edible. You can vape it, or even bathe in it. Children can use it, and so can pets! CBD does not possess any of the psychoactive properties of THC, which is what many people think of when they think of cannabis. The hemp plant has been used for so many things, and in spite of politics, the end results speak for themselves. You can use hemp to make cloth and rope, it can be medicinal, and recently I read about someone coming up with a hemp plastic! Hemp toilet paper is something currently being talked about too. I use two different CBD products for my health. I have been using a CBD tincture that has essential oils in it aimed at helping with female hormonal issues – and it’s been a miracle for me. I started taking it about a year ago and haven’t had a single, claw my skin out, on fire from the inside out hot flash since I started taking it. I also use an ointment for the pain in my hands that eases the feeling of my joints being ripped apart from the inside. Some days, this ointment is the only thing that keeps me from sobbing from the sensations stabbing my fingers from the inside. If you haven’t tried it, do. Not all formulas are the same, and obviously you need to research your source to make sure you are getting a quality product, but I recommend looking into it for any number of issues.
Odie Day (Garfield’s pal) – We are all familiar with Garfield. He’s widely celebrated and known everywhere. But what about his happy little sidekick Odie? Odie deserves his own day for putting up with Garfield for all these years! Most people call Odie unintelligent and highly gullible, but that he is lovable little pooch. And we all know that no matter how much Garfield torments Odie, he does love his little buddy. So, break out the party hats, confetti, horns, streamers and ice cream cake for this long tongued, cute yellow dog. Some sites say he’s a beagle, but he never struck me as that! He may not be able to talk, but I’m sure he is thanking us in his thoughts.
Sneak Some Zucchini onto Your Neighbor’s Porch Night – Many people do not know that zucchini is a fruit and not a vegetable. Seriously! It is! A single plant can produce what seems like an endless supply and a small row – well you’ll never be done with it, which is what brings about this day. By the time August arrives most gardeners are reaping more zucchini than they can possible use. After using it daily in everything from soups and stews to breads and dips, they get desperate to get rid of it and start giving it away. Eventually everyone starts to avoid them, so they sneak it onto their neighbors’ porches and run away! Why hasn’t anyone left any on MY porch? I’d LOVE LOVE LOVE some! I do have some frozen from my garden last year. Maybe I need to break it out and make something delicious with it . . . when it cools down enough to be able to use the oven.
Wear Your Mother’s Jewelry Day- This one is so awesome! It was created by Barbara J. Feldman to encourage people to dust off the jewelry left to them by their mothers and remember some beautiful memories. My Mom, thank goodness, is still with us so I don’t have any inherited jewelry from her. The items my Grandma told me I could have were taken by other family members, but that does not mean that I do not have wonderful memories of going through her jewelry box with her and trying on the pieces that she had. It was all costume jewelry, but to me it was beautiful. She had this set with little roses for earrings and as a pendant on a chain. I remember carefully trying them on (though the clip-on earrings HURT!), carefully holding her watch, and pinning all her broaches onto my shirt. Aw, I’m tearing up. I miss her so much and those memories bring it all to the surface. (I took the picture from Ms. Feldman’s website – check it out!)
Friday – August 9, 2019
Kool-Aid Day (Always 2nd weekend) – Did you drink Kool-Aid as a kid? Or maybe you still do? I haven’t had it many, many years. Honestly, I’m not even sure I’ve ever given it to my kids, it’s been that long. Now that I try to limit our chemical and sugar exposure, this is something that wouldn’t come into our house, but when I was a kid I LOVED the stuff! There was something about an icy cold glass of Kool-Aid on a hot summer day that just put a smile on kid’s faces. This celebration is in Hastings, NE, the home town where Kool-Aid was invented. The history was far too long to try to share with you, but here’s the link. It’s quite interesting! Take a few moments and skim the article. To me it’s a classic story of someone having the desire to make something bigger of their lives. American success story from beginning to end.
Perseid Meteor Showers (9th – 13th) – Every August we can look out into the night sky (at least when it isn’t hazy with wildfire smoke) and watch the Perseid meteor showers. I remember lying out on the lawn with the kids when they were younger and counting how many we could see before we fell asleep. This week we have the Perseid’s going on, with the maximum showers expected on the 12th, which can reach a rate of more than 60 seen per hour! That’s a LOT of shooting stars to wish upon, isn’t it? The best time for viewing is in the pre-dawn hours, since the side of the Earth closest to turning into the sun scoops up more meteors as the Earth moves through space. We haven’t had a clear night because of smoke this week, which is a shame. The showers are so beautiful.
Veep Day – Today we give recognition to the plan for the Presidency of our country in the event that something happens to our President – God forbid! The next in line for the office would be the Vice-President, so for this current term, would be Vice-President Pence. I could live with that. He is intelligent, has strong moral and family values, and a proven track record for leadership in his own state.
Shop Online for Groceries Day (2nd Friday) – I looked and couldn’t find out who started this one or even that it was an official holiday. The only place I actually saw it was from one of the 2 sites where I get my lists of celebrations. What I did find was a list of lots of stores that sell groceries online, which is actually pretty awesome for difficult to find items, or for people who can’t get out easily. Though there are a few grocery stores I enjoy shopping for fresh foods from – like Central Market and Trader Joe’s – there are some things that just aren’t on the shelves in the stores that I get from online stores like Thrive Market, Trim Healthy Mama and Amazon. The products get here pretty quickly – especially from Amazon, and often we save money doing it this way!
Saturday – August 10, 2019
Lazy Day – Today is Lazy Day! It’s your chance to goof off and, if possible, not work. Comes at a good time, doesn’t it? Hot and muggy weather makes it easy to kick back and do nothing for a day. If your chores aren’t done, well, won’t they wait just another day? Someone said once that “There are no lazy days . . . just lazy people”. I’d have to disagree – yes, there are lazy people, but even the most gung-ho amongst us needs to just relax now and again. Maybe order in some pizza – if your food plan allows – and watch old re-runs or some movies. And you’re not alone! Check out these quotes by some pretty famous people:
“Laziness is nothing more than the habit of resting before you get tired.” — Jules Renard,
“It’s true, hard work never killed anybody, but I figure, why take the chance?” — Ronald Reagan
“I’m just a lazy boy. I’d rather sit in my recliner and act.” — John Goodman
Middle Child Day (2nd Saturday) – I am not a middle child. I grew up the oldest of two, but I think middle children deserve some recognition and today is the day. The oldest is the guinea pig kid – parents are learning on this child. Most of the mistakes are made with that one. The baby of the family gets all the perks. By the time baby comes along the newness of parenthood has worn off, and pretty much baby gets whatever he or she wants. The middle child though, from what I hear, has a completely unique perspective on life. It’s called “Middle Child Syndrome. The oldest and youngest children tend to be more outgoing or extroverted, while the middle child is more shy and introverted – even a bit of a loner. Somehow in the rush and bustle to get oldest child to all of their activities and catering to the baby, the middle child just gets a little lost in the shuffle. Not sure how that works in families with an even number of children, or even that “middle child syndrome” is a valid thing, but it’s what “THEY” say. So today, to all middle children, go out and enjoy the limelight today. Just know you are a wonderful person, talented and very special. I must add and addendum to this though – I know at least one family where the middle child is a raging *!#@$ and the baby of that family was treated like crud on the bottom of a shoe. There is nothing even resembling shy or introverted about this middle, just horrible, bulldozing, power hungry nastiness. So, this middle child thing could very well just be a myth perpetuated by a petulant middle child somewhere.
National Bowling Day (Second Saturday) – National Bowling Day is celebrated all across the country as it is recognized as a great American pastime. It is a game enjoyed by 95 million people in more than 90 countries around the world! That’s a lot more than I ever would have thought! I’m really not very good at the game, but I do enjoy it. I used to like taking the kids bowling when they were little because I had a really good excuse to use the bumpers over the gutters! They sort of frown at grown-ups who want the bumpers and honestly, it could be embarrassing to admit to being THAT bad at the game, right? Today find an alley and a few friends and go have some fun! Maybe they’ll let YOU use the bumpers, so you end up having a great game! I may see if hubby wants to play Wii bowling tonight. We haven’t played for a long time!
National Duran Duran Appreciation Day – If you were in school during the 80s, then you are familiar with the work of the English rock band Duran Duran. They formed the band in 1978 and quickly became one of the hottest bands of the 80s, with multiple top hits in the UK and the US, with over 100 million records sold! With their interest in fashion and their innovative music videos, the band earned its nickname as “the prettiest boys in rock”. The original members included Nick Rhodes, John Taylor and Stephen Duffy, and even though the members have changed over the years, Duran Duran still tours today with the original members Rhodes and Taylor. Now they have the added members of Simon LeBon and Roger Taylor. Though nobody really knows why this day is celebrated on August 10th, one source has said that it was because on this date in 1985, lead singer Simon LeBon survived a near fatal accident when his yacht capsized during a 608-mile race. The band thanks their fans for all of their support for all of these years, and even acknowledge this appreciation day on their website. Here’s a link to their video “Rio” from You Tube. Takes you back, doesn’t it?
National Garage Sale Day (Second Saturday)- It’s been years since I’ve been to a garage sale. I have so much junk already that I can’t imagine needing more. And when I’ve actually HAD garage sales, they’ve ended up being a LOT of work without a big return. My Grandpa LOVED going from sale to sale finding treasures. He was so incredibly handy with repurposing items, creating something new and handy out of what would be garbage to someone else. I remember when he bought an old exercise bike and turned it into a cornmeal grinder. He’d pedal away getting his exercise, all while grinding the corn so Grandma could make him his beloved sweet cornbread. Or when he took old car shocks and made fishing pole holders out of them! He even took old bed slats – the metal ones and made berry posts out of them and scaffolding for the house for repainting it. Yes, my Grandma definitely benefited from the sales he went to. Well, today is your day if you love going to garage sales, because it’s National Garage Sale Day – the 2nd Saturday in August each year. Keep your eyes open if you start in on browsing what’s out there because I’ve read of people finding amazingly valuable things at estate sales – paintings by famous artists, incredible antiques, etc. The biggest one I’ve read about was the guy who bought a box of glass negatives at a sale for $45, and they turned out to be the lost work of Ansel Adams – valued at an estimated $200 million! Granted, those finds are extremely rare, but possibly worth the time invested!
National Shapewear Day – Apparently today we need to celebrate our shapewear, though I can’t find anything to back it up – at least not easily and quickly. So, to celebrate this one I guess we should put on our Spanx and celebrate that there’s something out there that can tame our muffin tops!
Skyscraper Appreciation Day – I admit, I enjoy going to the city to visit, but I am NOT a city girl by any means. I can appreciate the architectural beauty of a building reaching far into the sky, but it’s a rare occurrence for me to visit one, and that’s OK by me. So why are we appreciating skyscrapers today? Well, today is the birthday of the famous architect William Can Alen, who is behind the construction of the Chrysler Building – one of New York City’s more iconic landmarks. This day was started by Dr. Tom Stevens, who started it so the general public could admire the structural and architectural brilliance of skyscrapers. I get it – when you have a city that is a limited number of miles in width, you have to build UP to accommodate everyone. I’m not a huge fan of up, which is why I live in the country! I don’t have to do UP where I live since the tallest building in our town is 4 stories tall. I remember when we had the 6.8 earthquake in 2001, I worked in Seattle. Though I worked in a small building that was only 2 levels, I had friends who worked in a couple of skyscrapers downtown, and they reported that on the upper floors where they worked, because of the way the buildings were built – to protect them in the event of an earthquake, that the entire building swayed back and forth several feet! How scary! Of course, that beats having the whole thing crumble, but still rather disconcerting! No, I’ll stick with small buildings happily and leave the skyscraper appreciation to the folks who don’t mind all of those stairs and elevators.
Smithsonian Day – There is a lot going on with this one, so here is a copy and paste from History.com. Very interesting! “After a decade of debate about how best to spend a bequest left to America from an obscure English scientist, President James K. Polk signs the Smithsonian Institution Act into law.
In 1829, James Smithson died in Italy, leaving behind a will with a peculiar footnote. In the event that his only nephew died without any heirs, Smithson decreed that the whole of his estate would go to “the United States of America, to found at Washington, under the name of the Smithsonian Institution, an Establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge.” Smithson’s curious bequest to a country that he had never visited aroused significant attention on both sides of the Atlantic.
Smithson had been a fellow of the venerable Royal Society of London from the age of 22, publishing numerous scientific papers on mineral composition, geology, and chemistry. In 1802, he overturned popular scientific opinion by proving that zinc carbonates were true carbonate minerals, and one type of zinc carbonate was later named smithsonite in his honor.
Six years after his death, his nephew, Henry James Hungerford, indeed died without children, and on July 1, 1836, the U.S. Congress authorized acceptance of Smithson’s gift. President Andrew Jackson sent diplomat Richard Rush to England to negotiate for transfer of the funds, and two years later Rush set sail for home with 11 boxes containing a total of 104,960 gold sovereigns, 8 shillings, and 7 pence, as well as Smithson’s mineral collection, library, scientific notes, and personal effects. After the gold was melted down, it amounted to a fortune worth well over $500,000. After considering a series of recommendations, including the creation of a national university, a public library, or an astronomical observatory, Congress agreed that the bequest would support the creation of a museum, a library, and a program of research, publication, and collection in the sciences, arts, and history. On August 10, 1846, the act establishing the Smithsonian Institution was signed into law by President James K. Polk.
Today, the Smithsonian is composed of 19 museums and galleries including the recently announced National Museum of African American History and Culture, nine research facilities throughout the United States and the world, and the national zoo. Besides the original Smithsonian Institution Building, popularly known as the “Castle,” visitors to Washington, D.C., tour the National Museum of Natural History, which houses the natural science collections, the National Zoological Park, and the National Portrait Gallery. The National Museum of American History houses the original Star-Spangled Banner and other artifacts of U.S. history. The National Air and Space Museum has the distinction of being the most visited museum in the world, exhibiting such marvels of aviation and space history as the Wright brothers’ plane and Freedom 7, the space capsule that took the first American into space. John Smithson, the Smithsonian Institution’s great benefactor, is interred in a tomb in the Smithsonian Building.”
There you go! The history behind the Smithsonian!
Sunday – August 11
Presidential Joke Day – Presidents have a sense of humor. Some have a CRUEL sense of humor and put the joke on the whole country, like our most recent ex-President did – but that’s not the kind of humor we are talking about today. Many people think that today is a day to make jokes about the president – well I may well do that, but that’s not what this is. This is the day for presidents to actually make a joke. On this day in 1984 President Ronald Reagan (BEST PRESIDENT EVER!) made a doozie of a joke. Just before his regular Saturday radio address he was doing a voice test with the microphone. He thought the mic and the feed was not live, so he joked into the microphone: “My fellow Americans, I am pleased to tell you I just signed legislation which outlaws Russia forever. The bombing begins in five minutes”. Imagine his shock when he realized he was on a live feed! This incident led to the creation of “Presidential Joke Day”. Most American presidents will not make it a habit to perform jokes on, or to, the American public on this day, or any other. Keep in mind that SOME presidents, even without intending to be, ARE a living, breathing, walking joke on this nation every moment of every day, though I am happy to say that no matter how many cruel cartoons come out, or how much negative commentary, at least now we have a President who actually loves our country, and contrary to what the mainstream media is telling you, is actually getting a LOT done! I say yippee!
Food Celebration of the Day –
Monday – August 5
National Oyster Day – I’m not an oyster fan. Not because I don’t like the way they taste, because honestly, I’ve had only one, it was fried, and I ate it so quickly that I didn’t really taste it. No, it’s all stuff that is in my head. I don’t like the way they look, I don’t like the way they feel, and I don’t like that it’s a filtration organ in and of itself and you can’t clean out the yuck that you would usually clean out of something you’d eat. The mere thought puts a little bile in my throat. A LOT of people like oysters though – most of the people I know have at least given them a chance and tasted them while doing it. So, when I was looking this up today I found out that there are over 100 different species of oysters and that they are typically named after the body of water in which they are grown, because they take on the characteristics of the water they live in. Here are some other interesting facts:
* The largest oyster-producing body of water in the world is located in Chesapeake Bay on the east coast of the U.S.
* Almost two billion pounds of oysters are eaten each year.
* In the U.S., east coast oysters tend to be smaller, milder and saltier. West coast oysters are creamy and sweet.
* Only one out of every 10,000 oysters will produce a pearl.
Many people eat raw oysters right off the shell – um, snot glob anyone? Others put them on the grill, in the half shell, with a little wine, butter and garlic. Still slimy, but at least cooked. Still others, dredge them in cornmeal or flour and fry them. Of all the ways to make oysters, this would be my choice because the sliminess would be disguised. Do you like oysters? If so, tell me how you like them prepared and tell me why I should give them another chance?
Tuesday – August 6
National Root Beer Float Day – When I was little, we had an A&W between where we lived and my pediatrician’s office. Every time I had to go in for a shot, or an appointment for something else, Mom would take me there to get one of their delicious, iced cold root beer floats. They always served them in a frosty mug, and the sweet ice cream yumminess mixed with the root beer just made the ouch fade away. Originally, they were called the “black cow”. Frank J. Wisner of Cripple Creek, CO made the first black cow in 1893 to give children something to enjoy while their parents sipped on sodas. You can make your own float to celebrate today, or head somewhere to have one while enjoying a moment of nostalgia. We will be celebrating this one with low-carb vanilla ice cream and either Zevia Root Beer or Virgil’s No-Sugar Root Beer. Both are delicious and make a fun, no guilt treat.
Wednesday – August 7
Raspberries and Cream Day – Score! How fortunate is this? I went grocery shopping yesterday, so I have packages of raspberries AND a fresh container of whipping cream! One guess what we are having for dessert tonight? Did you know that raspberries are vitamin C rich and have more fiber per calorie than even prunes? What is also pretty awesome is that raspberries are one of the few fruits considered to be lower carb, so fit into a low-carb eating plan. This is going to be awesome!
Thursday – August 8
National Frozen Custard Day – What is frozen custard exactly? Well, it is sometimes called French ice cream and it does resemble ice cream. Due to the higher concentration of egg yolks and butterfat, frozen custard is richer, creamer and softer than ice cream. It resembles Crème Anglaise or Spanish flan and is traditionally baked into a crust. In the United States frozen custard can be traced to Coney Island, NY and was introduced to the Midwest at the 1933 World’s Fair in Chicago. Frozen custard is typically made fresh throughout the day. I did see an interesting comparison to the fat content between different
frozen treats: frozen yogurt – as low as 0 percent; Gelato – 2 to 8 percent; soft-serve ice cream – 4 to 6 percent; hard scoop ice cream – 14 to 18 percent; frozen custard – at least 10 percent butterfat. Soooo, let me get this straight – frozen custard is richer than ice cream, but less fat? Alrighty then!
National Zucchini Day – Zucchini is delicious and a nutritious staple of summer. The harvest is so prolific each summer that even a couple of zucchini plants can be hard to keep up with, picking and eating them all is a lot of work! Zucchinis are made up of about 95% water, with only 33 calories in a medium size squash. One zucchini has more potassium than a banana, which supplies more than 10% of your daily requirements. They are also rich in carotenoids – which are powerful cancer-fighting antioxidants that are mostly found in the skin. Don’t peel your squash so you get all of that goodness but be sure to buy organic if you aren’t growing your own, to avoid the pesticide residues. You can grill it, make “pasta” with it, bake it into fries, and even make tots out of it! I like making zucchini fritters out of it, yum!
Friday – August 9
National Rice Pudding Day – There is something comforting about a bowl of basic rice pudding. I like mine with cinnamon, sugar and raisins – extra milky. It’s warm and sweet, and so very basic and simple that it just speaks to the child inside – the part that never quite grows up.
Saturday – August 10
National S’mores Day – Well, if this isn’t a summer treat, I don’t know what is! We have the Girl Scouts to thank for the s’more. They published the first s’more recipe in 1927. Nobody knows if they actually created the s’more or not, but they are the first ones who brought this treat public. Sticky and gooey, loaded with sugar and carbs, s’mores are nothing short of delicious. And there are so many different ways to enjoy them as people have experimented with them. I’ve tried them with Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, and also using Chocolate Chip Cookies instead of Graham Crackers, but the old-fashioned s’more is the very best. Now I have made low-carb graham crackers, and I have made low-carb marshmallows, but due to sugar alcohols not caramelizing, the marshmallows just melt when an attempt is made to toast them. It is my goal to figure out a low-carb marshmallow recipe for one that WILL toast. Someday.
Sunday – August 11
National Panini Day – Why eat a cold sandwich when you can create one that’s hot, toasty and full of melted goodness? Sounds yummy, doesn’t it? This is more about the press than the sandwich itself, but since they do create this bit of deliciousness, they SHOULD be celebrated. I have an amazing panini press that my mother-in-law gave to me. It’s a professional grade unit with cast iron plats. It’s incredible and puts out a crispy, delicious sandwich every time. Well, tonight’s dinner dilemma is solved!
National Raspberry Tart Day – Well, doesn’t this sound delicious? I cannot begin to tell you how hungry I suddenly am for a raspberry tart! Traditionalists may demand that tarts only have a shortbread crust. But if you want to make yours with graham crackers or wafer cookies, that is good too!
There is one nice thing about preparing the posts in advance, I have come up with dinner and dessert ideas for the week, which is helpful with the menu planning! This may just work out nicely. In the meantime, it’s time to get our new week started, so grab a cup (or pot) of coffee, and let’s get started!
God bless you and I’ll see you soon.
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Celebration list sources:
www.verseoftheday.com www.brownielocks.com www.holidayinsights.com www.thenibble.com www.foodimentary.com