Good Morning! It’s Tuesday!!! Can you see what an effort I am making to be happy that it’s Tuesday and not “Only Tuesday”? It’s not easy being positive when all you want to do is go back to bed and sleep for 12 more hours . . . or at least a couple. The positive thing is that it is not Monday, right? Yep, that’s thinking glass half full instead of empty – which is silly anyway, since there’s still the same amount of water in the glass. Sorry – I’m tired and the coffee hasn’t started doing its job yet. Let’s get this day started!
Verse of the Day
February 27, 2018
Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
Thoughts on the Verse of the Day
“Talk is cheap!” “You can tell me with your words, but I’ll show it with my life.” “Put your life where your mouth is.” We know the slogans; now let’s love in truth. In a world where barter has replaced sacrificial and steadfast love, let’s go against the grain and truly love in our words and actions.
Food for Thought
I read a local story in the news and have been seeing responses on community forums that really have me upset. There is a law enforcement officer in town who self-admittedly became addicted to painkillers after a back injury. It happens and it’s sad, but she knew that she needed to get help with this problem. Her solution was, rather than seek help, to continue working and steal drugs from the lock box where local people can drop off unused prescriptions for proper disposal. There is footage from multiple occasions showing her getting into the box and taking the drugs . . . the problem is that she was not the officer(s) who were authorized to remove drugs from this lock box. One time she actually used a hanger to pull bags of drugs out of the box when she didn’t have the key. Now, I know that addiction makes people do things they may not normally do, and I sympathize with this problem HOWEVER our law enforcement officers should ALWAYS hold themselves to a higher standard. It can easily be assumed that she performed her duties while under the influence of these drugs – and the list of different ones in her possession was ridiculously long, consisting of pharmaceuticals I’d never even heard of before. It can also be easily concluded that she hypocritically arrested people for the same crime that she herself was committing on a regular basis. I’m sorry – I know that the standard procedure is to put them on administrative leave with pay while the investigation is done, but seriously, they are paying this gal nearly $7,000 a month and she was caught red-handed and after she ADMITTED to committing the crime! She should be fired, prosecuted and punished. Period. I don’t care how “nice” she is, or how “sorry” she is, or how much “good” she’s done. She is a criminal and should be treated as such.
IHOP National Pancake Day – This is pretty awesome! Today is the day that IHOP celebrates National Pancake Day – but they do it with a beautiful purpose. Today from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. go on in to your local IHOP and enjoy a FREE short stack of their Original Buttermilk Pancakes and donate to help children who are battling critical illnesses. Every stack served helps them reach their goal of raising $5 million for local children’s hospitals and health organizations. Since they started doing this in 2006 they have raised close to $30 Million for their community partners! Way to go IHOP!
No Brainer Day – Well, isn’t this one interesting? Be definition a “no- brainer” is doing something that is simple, easy, obvious and/or totally logical. Today is a day to do all of those types of no brainer tasks and activities. If it is a project that will require thinking, studying, or analyzing anything, then it’s not the chore for you today. Some no-brainer activities that we do every day, simply because they don’t require deliberate decisions to do them – would be breathing, swallowing, blinking, sneezing or yawing. Of course, we all know someone who does JUST no brainer activities all the time . . . which isn’t a very good life plan. Be selective in the days you choose to do ONLY no brainer tasks – limiting them to today, or holidays, vacation days, or weekends. Since most of us have jobs that require MORE than those limited tasks, I’d suggest not irritating your boss by sitting in your chair, blinking into space as you breathe and stare out the window . . . and yet again, I do know people who actually does that most of the time! No Brainer day was created by Adrienne Sioux Koopersmith, who was called “America’s Premier Eventologist” per the Chicago Tribune – January 2001. WHY it was created isn’t something I could find.
Polar Bear Day – Today we celebrate the world’s largest carnivore. I know whenever I see a nature show with those adorable baby polar bears rolling around and playing with their mama, my first and instinctive reaction is “Awwwww, so cute and cuddly! I want one! ” However as cute they are as babies, a polar bear can grow up to nine feet tall (when standing) and 1200 pounds. From a BIG distance they are still cute, but not so cuddly any more. Polar Bears live in 5 nations – The U.S. (Alaska), Canada, Greenland, Norway and Russia. People wonder how they live in such cold environments, but truth is that they’re built for it! Polar bears love the arctic climate, where winter temperatures can plunge to -45º C (-50º F). Polar bears are insulated by two layers of fur that help keep them warm. They also have a thick fat layer. In addition, their compact ears and small tail also prevent heat loss. In fact, polar bears have more problems with overheating than they do from the cold—especially when they run. Polar bear feet are furred and covered with small bumps called papillae to keep them from slipping on ice. Their sense of smell is powerful for detecting seals. And their powerful claws can haul out a 40-90 kg (150-200 lb) seal from the water for dinner. Polar bears have evolved to feed on seals, specifically seal fat, the highest calorie food source possible. When hunting is good, polar bears eat only the blubber in order to build up the fat reserves they need to sustain themselves between meals. They leave the carcass for scavengers, such as arctic foxes, ravens, and younger bears. All the other foods that polar bears may eat are opportunistic feedings. Most of these foods, with the exception of beached whales, don’t provide enough calories to sustain the Polar Bear’s massive body size or to build up the Bear’s own fat reserves. There’s a lot more to know about Polar Bears, but for today’s purposes, it’s enough to know that they are right there at the top of the food chain, and if you are ever in a country where there are Polar Bears and you see a baby somewhere . . . turn around and to the opposite direction. No matter how cute they are, Mama is close by and you truly don’t want anything to do with her! One great way to celebrate Polar Bears is a visit to a zoo that has some – in my area the Point Defiance Zoo has a couple – I was fortunate enough to see one of them right after it was born – SOOOO cute! If you don’t have any zoos nearby with Polar Bears, perhaps check out a show on one of the nature channels that talks about them.
Spay Day USA – This one is SO important, and one I can get behind 100% Today is Spay Day USA. The Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society International are always pleased to announce that it takes place every last Tuesday in February, during Spay/Neuter Awareness Month. It is exactly what the name implies, an annual campaign that promotes spaying and neutering as a proven, effective means of preventing the overpopulation of pets and saving animals lives. Millions of dogs and cats are euthanized every year because there are just not enough homes for them.
Across the United States and in dozens of countries around the world, there will be events at spay and neuter clinics offering discounted or free spaying/neutering. The Humane Society partners with the Doris Day Animal Foundation, the ASPCA, The House Rabbit Society , the Humane Alliance, the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association, Petfinder, and PetSmart Charities to put on this very worthwhile event. If you have a pet that needs to be spayed or neutered, and you just haven’t had the money to do it, please visit worldspayday.org to find an event near you. Responsible pet ownership saves lives.
Food Celebration of the Day –
National Strawberry Day – Mmmm. . . strawberries. These fragrant, delicious aromatic fruits actually belong to the rose family! Did you know that? I didn’t! They are grown in nearly every corner of the earth except for the most frozen northern and southern parts. Beyond how many places they can grow, it’s pretty amazing that there are over 600 varieties of strawberries as well. They are an excellent source of Vitamin C, folic acid, potassium and fiber! We are celebrating this one today by having strawberries in our lunches! YUM!
National Kahlua Day – Kahlua is a rum-and-coffee-flavored liqueur made in Mexico. With an alcohol content of 20%, it packs a pretty good punch when sipped as an aperitif or digestif. Kahlua is delicious in coffee, sipped over ice, or even baked in with treats. Believe it or not, you can make your own, low-carb version of this coffee flavored liqeuer and Carolyn at All Day I Dream About Food came up with an awesome sounding recipe! I really need to give this a try.
Well, it’s time to go to work and get this day going so I can get home again! Tomorrow is my day off and I can mentally see my list of to-dos growing already! God bless you and I’ll see you tomorrow.
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