Woo, it’s nice to sit down! After a rude awakening this morning when I stretched before getting out of bed, only to be rewarded by both of my legs seizing up in horrible muscle spasms, followed by loud swearing and Hubby running a jar of pickle juice in for me to swallow for the electrolytes, we had breakfast and have just now come back in the house after putting the first coat of paint on our new storage shed. My feet hurt, but after I fix some dinner, I’m off of them for the rest of the evening! Whew! It’s been a gorgeous day, and I’m happy to say I got a good dose of natural, sun-provided Vitamin D. I don’t have the energy or willpower to stand up for long, so the Cinco de Mayo food will wait until tomorrow. Tonight, it’s salads for dinner and we’ll be happy to have them!
Verse of the Day
May 5, 2018
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Thoughts on the Verse of the Day
God wants to hear our prayers. But to keep them from becoming too self-focussed, God wants us to always remember to give thanks. It is so easy for us to turn prayer into a request line. We are the ones who are left bereft when thanksgiving and praise are robbed from our prayers. Without praise our hearts grow dim because all we think about are problems and prayer becomes a wish list.
May 6, 2018
Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
Thoughts on the Verse of the Day
To confess our sins means we do two things with our sin: 1) we recognize sin for what it is in God’s eyes and 2) we get rid of our secrets and are honest with another Christian about our weakness, vulnerabilities, failures, and sins. James’ language is powerful. He mentions that this confession doesn’t just bring forgiveness, it also brings healing.
Food for Thought
My Grandma K used to tell me that even though our bodies aged, our minds and spirits did not, which explained why she still would feel a little jolt when she saw a handsome guy, or why an older man will still flirt with far younger women. In our hearts we haven’t aged . . . our bodies just didn’t get that message. Yesterday I saw the perfect examples of this, just a few hours apart, and I can honestly say it was a beautiful thing. I saw a lady in her 70s blushing and getting butterflies because she had a date with a gentleman that she’s reconnected with after 40 years apart, and I saw a young man, nearly giggly with happiness as he spoke of his girlfriend and how he feels about her. These people are more than 50 years apart in age, yet they both were wearing their hearts on their sleeves and beaming with happiness. I have to say that both of those conversations made me smile, and I hope I always get that giddy feeling when I think of my hubby – 50 years from now just like I do today.
May 5 –
Bladder Cancer Awareness Day – Before we can be aware of Bladder Cancer, we must first know what it is. The bladder is a balloon-shaped organ in your pelvic area that stores urine. Bladder cancer most often begins in the cells that line the inside of the bladder. It typically affects older adults, but it can happen at any age. Most bladder cancers are diagnosed at an early stage, when it is highly treatable, but even early stage cancer can recur. Because of this bladder cancer survivors go through follow-up tests to look for bladder cancer recurrence for years after they are treated. So what are the symptoms? Here are some things to look for:
* Blood in urine (hematuria) — urine may appear dark yellow, bright red or cola colored. Or urine may appear normal, but blood may be detected in a microscopic examination of the urine * Frequent urination * Painful urination * Back pain * Pelvic pain
If you have any of these symptoms, please make an appointment with your doctor. It isn’t always clear what causes bladder cancer, but it has been linked to smoking, parasitic infections, radiation and exposure to chemicals.
Today has been set aside to raise awareness of this cancer, raise funds for research and nudge people to go see their doctor if they have any concerns at all regarding any symptoms they may have. It may not be too late to participate in a local event! The day is young!
Cartoonists Day – I remember when I was little I had to wait until my father was finished with the newspaper before I could look at it. At that time, nothing in it mattered except for the comics, and I remember them as being truly funny! I loved Family Circle, Dennis the Menace and a few others. Lately, the funny seems to be gotten lost somewhere so I don’t bother any more, but back then, it was something to really look forward to – especially in the Sunday paper. Today is Cartoonists Day, which is in celebration of the very first color comic strip, published on May 5th in 1895. It was called The Yellow Kid. Gradually the comics became a staple in every newspaper in the country and that’s why we celebrate this today! Cartoonists do far more than the papers though, they do animation, greeting cards, kids books, illustration – even toy and game design are heavily saturated with the work of talented cartoonists. As someone who can barely make a recognizable stick figure, this is pretty impressive.
Childhood Stroke Awareness Day – A common initial thought when someone mentions childhood stokes is that they had no idea that babies and children have stokes! That sort of initial reaction is exactly WHY this type of an awareness campaign is necessary. The stories are so heart breaking that I had a difficult time even considering writing about them. I have linked this site for your information, should you wish to read for yourselves. I didn’t think I could do the topic justice. It’s just too serious an issue to doing half way.
Cinco de Mayo – When you think of, and celebrate, Cinco de Mayo, do you have any clue what it is you are actually celebrating? It’s an awesome day in Mexico’s history, but it would be nice if everyone who celebrates it would at least have an idea of WHY they are! It’s not just food, margaritas and more food. On May 5, 1862, the Mexican army defeated the French army at the Battle of Puebla. This single military battle dignified the defeat of a European colonial power, and was a great victory for the Mexican people. This single battle is the root of Cinco de Mayo. Many believe that this is the celebration of Mexican Independence, but it isn’t. That comes on September 16th. Cinco de Mayo has come to be more than just one battle in the history of Mexico, it has come to signify Hispanic and Mexican pride and a time to celebrate their rich culture. It is a time of song, dance, partying and in general a time to be proud of their history. As for why we celebrate it here in the U.S.? Well, we do have a large Hispanic population, but it seems it is a good reason to enjoy good food, great beverages and friends or family.
Free Comic Book Day – Do you remember getting comic books as a kid? I was allowed to have the fun comics, the ones that didn’t have the violence and weird pictures – I admit, that type still sort of creep me out. I had Little Lotta and Little Lulu. I had Richie Rich and a variety of the Archie comics. I have a few still – very well worn (if only I had known they would one day be collector items!) that have a price marked on them of 15 cents! One thing I had never realized as a kid was that comics are really loved by adults too! And here’s where Free Comic Book Day comes in – there are a lot of people who don’t read comics and the distributors really want to keep attracting new customers – which makes perfect sense. To that end, on the first Saturday of every May there is a huge event across North America and around the world where participating comic book stores give away free comic books to draw in new customers and entice people to explore this venue for reading material. If you’re interested, give your local comic store a call and see if they are participating today! How fun! Free is ALWAYS better, don’t you think?
International Day of the Midwife – International Midwives Day was first celebrated on May 5, 1991. Since that time, it has been celebrated every year on May 5 and over 50 nations recognize its importance. Midwifery care is needed internationally. Midwives fill a special role in maternity care by decreasing maternal and neonatal mortality rates. Midwives honor mothers and babies, and they believe in the ability to birth without unnecessary intervention. Celebrating this day will bring more positive publicity to midwifery care that will entitle women to a larger selection of birth choices. If I could have a do-over with my kids, knowing in hindsight how simple and quick my deliveries were, I would have done it at home with a midwife. Live and learn though.
Join Hands Day – This is another one I had never heard of until 2013, but what a wonderful celebration! All this week service organizations across the county will celebrate this event that brings people from all walks of life together to make a difference in their communities. It is the brainchild of a group called the American Fraternal Alliance, which represents fraternal orders like the Modern Woodmen of America. In some communities free meals are organized for a local mission, where volunteers prepare and serve a meal. In others, people get together and go help shut-ins with work in their yards, on their roofs, cleaning homes, etc. This is a wonderful opportunity to bring people of different ages together, to work side-by-side, interact and learn from each other. It leaves a lasting mark on all the participants. What a rewarding and wonderful day!
Kentucky Derby Day – This is a huge one! I’ll try to make it brief . . . mostly because I really want breakfast. 🙂 Truthfully this is very interesting, but the big ones usually are. The Kentucky Derby is a “Grade I stakes race” for 3-year old Thoroughbred horses that is held each year in Louisville, KY on the first Saturday in May. There is a two-week long Kentucky Derby Festival leading up to the actual race day. The race itself is 1-1/4 mile long and is held at Churchill Downs – a race track best known for hosting the Derby each year. The horses have weight limits on how much they carry in the race, which means that the jockeys must be very light weight – which accounts for why every jockey is very small. Colts or geldings carry 126 pounds and fillies carry 121 pounds. See? VERY light! That leads to a whole new post about possible eating disorders for jockeys – which I have heard is a problem. Anyway, the Kentucky Derby is known in the United States as the “Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports” or “The Fastest Two Minutes in Sports”, which is about how long the race lasts. It is also called “The Run for the Roses” because of the blanket of roses that is draped over the winner of the race. The Derby is the first of three races known as the US Triple Crown. The 2nd race is called the Preakness Stakes, and the 3rd is called the Belmont Stakes. A horse must win all three races to win the Triple Crown. I thought that it was interesting to read that there have only been 11 Triple Crown winners since the very first Kentucky Derby was run in 1875, and of course I have to brag about a local horse winning one of them – Seattle Slew in 1977. I remember the big local to-do that went on because of the win. All of these horses are magnificent though – they’d have to be to run so fast in such a short amount of time. One thing that has developed as a bit of a side note on the Derby – is all the fancy hats that women wear to it! I have to laugh at some of the pictures of them I’ve seen. What is THAT all about? Well, in England hats were a big fashion deal seen at the Ascot horse racing track. The tradition jumped over the “pond” and started up here at the Kentucky Derby. As the fashion of wearing hats in daily life faded it became a big deal to wear an elaborate hat to the race each year. The tradition stuck and high fashion is something you’ll see at the track. If you want a bit of excitement today, take a look at the Kentucky Derby – it’s only 2 minutes of your time! If you want to make it a big deal in your home you could host a Kentucky Derby Party, and ask all the women to wear fancy hats, serve Mint Juleps (I tried making one once – a bartender I am NOT), and watch the races together. Fun!
Martin Z Mollusk Day – I laughed so hard when I was reading about this! This is the seas version of Groundhog Day! Oh my gosh, this is funny! Martin Z. Mollusk goes out for a creep at the beach each year. If he sees his shadow summer will be a week early. Bands show up, and lots of people, food booths, etc. JUST to see if this hermit crab sees his shadow today. (I just saw some conflicting information on several different sites – some say this celebration is today – which would make sense so families could come out and have fun together on a weekend, and some say it’s on the 1st Thursday of May)
National Scrapbooking Day – I’m not a scrap booker. It’s not that I have any negative feelings about scrapbooking, I don’t! I am just not creative in that way. I’ve been to scrapbooking parties and even took a class . . . I’m really a bummer when it comes to creating something wonderful out of all the bits of paper and stickers that some people take and make the ultimate masterpiece. Mine looks like a rejected pre-school project, so as is my typical response to something like this, I throw in the towel and leave it to the experts. My pictures never seem to make it to albums anyway – they are either tossed into a box to be gone through like little hidden treasures once in awhile, or on flash drives scattered around the house. It’s a different type of treasure hunt! I do admire people who collect all the necessary papers and do-dads and actually sit down to make something wonderful for posterity. My Mom is one such person. Her craft room is amazing, truly it is! I wish I could show you! She has more cool scissors, pens, papers and stickers than anyone I’ve ever seen. And they are all organized! Each type of paper has its own space – whether it has food, sports, animals, etc, it has a spot. She can find anything she’s looking for at any time without any issues. I really wish I had inherited her sense of organization from her. I didn’t. I throw stuff in a drawer or box and dig for what I want when something comes up that I require it. Sad, I know. Anyway, for all of you who do love to scrap book – go for it today. Create to your hearts content! Have an impromptu party and invite your friends and relatives who love doing this and create together while munching on fun snacks and sipping at cool drinks. Now THAT I can get into! Have fun!
Revenge of the Fifth (Star Wars Sith)
Totally Chipotle Day – Wooooweeee! Hot one comin’ through! May 5th is Totally Chipotle Day – conveniently coinciding with Cinco de Mayo, to honor the uniquely Mexican heritage of the chipotle pepper. Chipotles are a very popular kind of smoke dried jalapeno chili that are found frequently in Mexican and Mexican-American cuisine. Today we pay tribute to this flavorful chili and cook chipotle-inclusive meals in its honor. The unique smoking process lessens the burn you may have had with other jalapenos, so maybe you won’t need to drown the flavor in water. If spicy sauces are something you appreciate, please include them in your meals today – after all, what better day than Cinco de Mayo, right?
World Naked Gardening Day – This one always seems like a joke to me, but it isn’t! All over the world, especially in Europe, advocates of the bare naked lifestyle will be stripping off their clothes and heading out into the garden to hoe the beds, plow the fields and trim the shrubs. The organizers of this celebration are quote as saying “All that’s involved is getting naked and making the world’s gardens- whatever their size, public or private – healthier and more attractive.” For all of our forward speaking, Americans have an international reputation for being prudes. Are we too shy to try naked gardening? Some places aren’t – there are cities around our country – I know for sure of Portland, OR and Seattle, WA who host naked bike rides (Ouch!), but most of us do have a bit of shyness in us, and don’t want to appear in public naked. Another question would be, is it legal? According to a police Sergeant in Portland there is a city code about indecent exposure which states: “It is unlawful for any person to expose his or her genitalia while in a public place or place visible from a public place, if the public place is open or available to persons of the opposite sex.” He adds that if someone calls about a naked neighbor pulling weeds in their own yard, the police probably wouldn’t get too worked up about it. Not that you couldn’t get arrested under City code, he adds. But, he admits, “…we don’t deal with it very much. Most indecent exposure arrests happen when people are urinating in public.” I personally don’t wish to see my neighbors – any of them – out working naked in their yards. There’s just something disturbing about the thought of someone weeding in their nothings! I’ll opt for regular gardening clothes, but for those of you with a HUGE sense of adventure and not a bit of shy in you – go for it. Just don’t send pictures please. I truly don’t wish to share in your celebration for this one.
May 6 –
Beverage Day – Experts recommend drinking at least 3 liters of fluid a day for men and 2.2 for women. Why not make it more interesting than a glass of water? Beverage Day is a chance to kick back with your favorite beverage and enjoy the day. The term “beverage” is broadly defined. So, we’re talking about celebrating all beverages today. Beverage Day should be a day of pleasure and relaxation. Grab a bottle, can, a glass, or a six-pack of your favorite beverage. Sit down in a comfortable chair . . . indoors or out. Slowly sip and savor your drink. Life is good! BE BOLD! Take advantage of Beverage Day to try a beverage that you have never had before. I admit I’m not creating any NEW beverages, but I did make a big pitcher of Mango Iced Tea and am enjoying it very much.
Motorcycle Mass & Blessing of the Bikes Day – When I saw this one for the first time a few years ago, I did chuckle. Seriously, Motorcycle Mass and Blessing of the Bikes? It struck me as funny! However, my husband has a motorcycle, and my son has one, and they do ride them back and forth to work when the weather is decent. Knowing how people just do NOT pay attention to motorcyclists, I am changing my giggle to thinking that this isn’t a bad idea at all! I am not Catholic, and don’t have the first clue about patron saints and all of that, but I do think the blessing is an awesome idea. So, here’s what the deal is with this celebration . . . for some, getting out on the open road equates to something like a spiritual experience. The connection becomes deeper as the bikers gather for a special Mass to have their bikes blessed. Apparently motorcycle riders even have their own patron saint! S. Columbanus of Bobbio lived from 540 – 650 AD and was known for being rugged, handsome and irresistible to women. He even had quite an appreciation for beer. It is said that one of his miracles involved creating more bread and beer for a gathering. Put it all together and it makes it sound like he’s a good choice for Patron Saint for motorcycle riders. I found two great bike blessing prayers so even if you aren’t near an actual gathering for the blessing, maybe you and a couple of friends can do the blessing on your own. Enjoy – and be safe out there!
“May God in Heaven fulfill abundantly the prayers which are pronounced over you and your bikes on this occasion of the Blessing of the Bikes. May God bless your going out and coming in; May the Lord be with you at home and on the road. May He accompany you when you start on your many journeys: May He fill your lives abundantly with many blessings; May He keep all your rides safe. May His mercy, grace and love shine upon your every path. In Christ Name, Amen”
“May God bless you and keep you safe on this machine. May you meet and encounter the risen Lord in your travels, in the freedom of the open road, the fellowship of other bikers and in each person you meet. May the Lord be with you at home and on the road. May he accompany you when you start on your many journeys; May he fill your life abundantly with his many blessings; May he keep all your riding safe. May his mercy, grace and love shine upon your every road. Father, Son and Holy Spirit.”
Go with God and may your journeys be blessed.
National Infertility Survival Day – Ask a woman who is affected by infertility what the hardest holiday of the year is for her, and chances are she’ll tell you Mother’s Day. It’s not that infertile women hate mothers, or hate honoring them, but it is a very painful reminder that they may never be able to celebrate it herself. Everywhere you look on or around Mother’s Day are the reminders – the loving tribute cards, the beautiful spring bouquets, the Facebook tributes about how mothers are the most amazing people in the world. So where does that leave infertile women? Which is where this celebration comes in. National Infertility Survival Day is celebrated the Sunday before Mother’s Day and is a chance for women affected by infertility to be remembered and paid tribute to as well. It is a chance for personal reflection, pampering, relaxation and for raising awareness. It’s a chance for friends, family and partners of women “surviving” infertility to show how much they are loved and appreciated for who they are – mothers or not.
No Diet Day – Some of us battle weight every day of our lives. Every bite we eat is done with guilt and worry. This day is set aside to encourage us to appreciate the bodies we have. People come in all shapes and sizes, and that’s OK! Anti-diet groups exist to help support people who suffer illnesses like anorexia, in their efforts to shed fat and be thin. Other medical results can happen from taking diet pills and having surgeries aimed at controlling weight. This is a great opportunity to make certain our efforts to be thin aren’t coming at the risk of our health. At the very least, today is a day to take a break if you are constantly focused on diet.
Tourist Appreciation – Being a tourist is fun – whether it is a day time tourist just wandering from shop to shop, or going away on a vacation away from home, the time away from the grind of responsibilities and chores is too infrequent in this busy go-go-go life we live, so we should enjoy it! When we spend money on a trip we expect to be coddled, pampered and attended to. We can, and should expect this treatment in hotels, restaurants, attractions and other tourist venues to do this up in a big way. The best place I’ve found to be treated like a queen and given all the tourist appreciation in the world? A cruise! Yep, take a cruise. You’ll come back wishing you never had to get off the ship. Keep in mind though, while you are out there being appreciated, being nice to those who serve you, tipping them fairly and treating them courteously, will get you the type of service and treatment you deserve. The same can be said if you are rude, demanding and insolent. Just an FYI.
This Day in History –
May 5, 1862 – Mexican forces under Benito Juarez defeated French troops in the Battle of Puebla. Today this battle is celebrated as Cinco de Mayo.
May 5, 1865 – North Bend, Ohio gets on the map. It’s the site of the fist US train robbery.
May 5, 1893 – The New York Stock Exchange crashes, causing the “Great Panic of 1893”.
May 5, 1961 – Alan Shepard rides “Freedom 7” to becomes 1st American in space.
May 6, 1833 – John Deere produces the first steel plow.
May 6, 1851 – The Yale lock is patented.
May 6, 1889 – The Paris Exposition opens with the just completed Eiffel Tower as its centerpiece.
May 6, 1937 – The Dirigible Hindenburg explodes into flames at Lakehurst, NJ.
May 6, 1994 – Chunnel linking England & France officially opens.
Food Celebration of the Day –
May 5 –
Cinco de Mayo – Commemorating the defeat of the French by the Mexican militia in 1862, Cinco de Mayo remains a day of pride — and a good reason to celebrate all things Mexican. I’m pretty tired today, so I didn’t bother with celebrating this one on the 5th, but I think we will have Lime Cilantro Grilled Steak Tacos tomorrow, maybe with some lower carb chips made out of low carb pitas dipped in a mushroom ceviche! YUM!
National Hoagie Day – The Hoagie sandwich goes by different names, Hoagie, Sub and Hero. This big sandwich is a regular part of many diets in America. They are eaten for lunch, dinner and even as a late night snack! It’s a perfect on-the-go meal for people who are running from one place to another. The popularity of the Hoagie sub is partly do to its versatility. It can be hot or cold, made with lunch meat, or meatballs. It can have cheese, or not, and be loaded with veggies . . . or not. Depending on the person making or eating it. What’s not to like about that?
May 6 –
National Crêpes Suzette Day – Oh my, this sounds delicious! I’ve never made this – heck I have a difficult time making crepes that don’t fall apart, but I’d LOVE to try it. It would be a definite splurge, and very high carb, but it sounds like it would be worth every single one of them. Hmmm . . . I may have to bookmark this recipe for a day that I really want a special treat. Here’s a recipe I found by none other than famous chef, Bobby Flay.
Celebration lists and information are sourced from the following websites:
www.brownielocks.com; www.holidayinsights.com; www.thenibble.com; www.foodimentary.com and www.verseoftheday.com