Happy Groundhog Day!

**Update: The Groundhog has spoken, “If you want to know next, you must read my text. As the sky shines bright above me, my shadow I see beside me. So six more weeks of winter it will be.”**

Here I sit in balmy southern California, anticipating another sunny, 60 degree San Diego day. But in Punxsutawney, Philadelphia, the people are gathering in Gobbler’s Knob, in 20 degree weather, preparing for the most famous groundhog in the world Punxsutawney Phil to make his 2010 weather prognostication!

Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows!

Phil’s inner circle in Punxsutawney are more than ready to share the news with the world this year as they present Groundhog Day via a live webcast ! Want to get a text of the outcome? Just send “Groundhog” to 247365 on your mobile device between now and Groundhog Day. Follow the event on twitter! You can even send free ecards for your Groundhog bash!

Will Phil see his shadow and ensure 6 more weeks of winter in that chilly clime?

Or will he predict an early spring?

I promise to update as soon as I get my text!

Toss up: Fun at Work Day or Kazoo Day?

Frankly, I am at odds with my holiday celebration options for today, friends. But I think you don’t have to be if you are flexible in your definition of “fun”.  More on that later: first let’s check out the contenders-

In the red corner, wearing the black suit, weighing in at some very serious poundage, it’s Fun at Work Day!

And in the blue corner, wearing the plastic mini, weighing in at a mere few ounces, it’s Kazoo Day!

Who will be the winner of this match-up of the holidays?

Ok, here’s my solution: Combine them for Fun at Work Day with Kazoos! Seriously, you will have a blast, playing the kazoo at work. And so will all your friends! Perhaps you can play in a kazoo band in your office:

Hey, I am not the only one to think of this and I can prove it. If you would be ever so kind, visit Mike and Matt at their music blog “The Ear Farm” and read not only their recommendation to combine the days, but also their Top Eleven Picks of Songs that Feature the Kazoo.

It will blow your mind! And then you can blow your kazoo!

Stock up on kazoo’s for work at Kazoobie’s- www.kazoos.com & join their campaign to make Kazoos America’s National Instrument!

Underdog Day!

Do you always support the underdog? Root for the expected losers? Get inspired by a “Cinderella” story?

Well, today is your day: Underdog Day!

Underdog Cartoon via Lynnrockets’ Blast-Off @ lynnrockets.wordpress.com

My beloved husband is a big football fan and loves loves loves to root for the underdog (unless they are against the Niners). Me, too, I am all for the Cinderella story, the team or individual who comes from behind, against all odds.

natural ideas for entertainment today:

Vintage: The Underdog cartoon series
Grown-up tearjerker: Cinderella Man
Family fun: The Mighty Ducks

It’s (not quite exactly- see update!) National Chicken Lady Day!

This was too good to pass up!

I came across this obscure holiday whilst doing my other work and had to take a minute to post an homage to The Chicken Lady in honor of her day, today, November 4th!

Dr. Marthenia “Tina” Dupree, affectionately named”The Chicken Lady” after serving 12 years as the Director of Community Relations and Training for a major fast food chain. In addition, she was honored by President Bush when he proclaimed November 4th as “National Chicken Lady Day!” to recognize Dr. Dupree’s  many efforts to raise the level of education in her community.

President Bush and Dr. Dupree The Chicken Lady in the Oval Office

Dr. Dupree’s nickname  is not to be confused with the character “Chicken Lady” made famous by the comedic efforts of Mark McKinney on the tv shows The Kids in the Hall and SNL.  However I am fairly sure it is.

**UPDATE** I sent an email to Dr. Dupree to let her know I posted this on my blog and she emailed me right back. Apparently, I am one of over 1,000 people to reach out to her today.

Dr. Dupree said that while President Bush did welcome her to the Oval Office, November4th was not actually declared a national holiday by him in her name.

However, so many people believe in her and her message has spread so far that she has since submitted it for inclusion in Chase’s Calendar of events!

Watch her on video here: www.youtube.com/chickenlady109

Be Kind to Humankind Week

Hey-ho there Celebrate Holiday blog readers! I’ll bet you’ve missed me for the past few days, I know I’ve missed you!

I could make excuses for missing each day, but instead I’ll make up for it by sharing with you the story of this week! The fourth week in August was declared Be Kind To Humankind week in 1988 by Lorraine Jara in Toms River, New Jersey.  What is BK2HK? according to their website, “Be Kind To Humankind Week is simply one week each year dedicated to celebrating kindness. The event is recognized around the world from August 25 – 31.”

BK2HK

21 years ago Lorraine heard a the tragic story of two young men whose small rowboat overturned and were rescued by two women in another small, human powered vessel. Despite calling for help from passing motor boaters, their pleas were ignored, and even though they were finally assisted, one of the young men died the next day.

What can you do to bring more kindness to humanity?

BK2HK suggests the following schedule:

Show them that you care
Sacrifice Our Wants For Others Needs Sunday

Drive Courteously
Motorist Consideration Monday

Spread kindness, one heart at a time
Touch-A-Heart Tuesday

Offer a helping hand
Willing-To-Lend-A-Hand Wednesday

Treat others well
Thoughtful Thursday

Come together
Forgive Your Foe Friday

Speak Kind words
Speak Kind Words Saturday

It is really beginning to affect me that all my actions and thoughts and work and research is pointing me towards being a better, kinder, more grateful person.

Be an Angel Day

Be an Angel Day is a special day founded by Jayne Howard Feldman to encourage us to be kind, help others, and be a blessing in someone’s life. Ms. Feldman says she was inspired by angels to create this day on August 22 in 1993.

Be a blessing to someone today!

On Beliefnet.com you can click on a picture to get to see the Angel of the Day- I just now went and got the Angel of Peace, which helps to reconcile opposite forces in our lives and resolve conflicts. Back in Catholic school we did learn a bit about angels, but I just don’t remember them being defined to this degree… let’s see, cherubim, seraphim, …nope, no angel of peace.  I must have missed that day. Hmmm.

National Senior Citizen’s Day

August 20th is National Senior Citizen’s Day. In his Presidential Proclamation (August 19, 1988), President Ronald Reagan said

“For all they have achieved throughout life and for all they continue to accomplish, we owe older citizens our thanks and a heartfelt salute. We can best demonstrate our gratitude and esteem by making sure that our communities are good places in which to mature and grow older.”

I love these bikini T-shirts!- Photo by Joe Schlabotnik & found on Flickr

Today is an excellent day to spend some time with a senior citizen in your life! Maybe invite a neighbor over for a drink, call your grandparents, or donate to a local senior center. When I was a young Catholic schoolgirl, my school had a relationship with a nearby nursing home and each class would visit one month to since songs and chat with the people there.   The goal of Senior Citizen’s Day is to make your community a good place in which to mature and grow, and toward that end the Programs of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) around the country invite you to visit a PACE center this Friday or any other day, and see how these exceptional teams provide the care and services that help our loved ones live at home, and you will learn that pockets of excellence already exist in a nation considering major health care reform. Find a PACE program near you at www.pace4you.org.

Radios, Virtual Worlds, and Ramadan

Well today, folks, is a serious contender as far as holidays go, so if you haven’t already, make some plans to celebrate.

August 20th is National Radio Day, a media that has existed since the 1800′s.  I am a fan of radio, for pop music, morning shows, and my favorite news station, NPR.  However, today in our Marketing Share & Learn session on social media, we learned that radio took 38 years to reach 50 million users, while Facebook added 100 million users in less than 9 months. Wow.

Which leads us to the second holiday for today: Virtual Worlds Day.  Those of you who enjoy a Second Life, or play in Massively Multiplayer Online Games (my sons enjoy Club Penguin) may want to go online and get your avatar hopping!

Finally, we acknowledge that today is the eve of the holy month of Ramadan, the Islamic time for purification both spiritually and physically. Be kind to your Muslim friends, as they will probably be fasting each day this month from sunrise to sunset.

It is nice to think about The Gratitide Challenge I am taking with Tiny Prints coinciding with Ramadan because both are about taking the time to reflect upon life.  But I am rather glad that I don’t have to fast, though!

Have a great day everyone!

Bad Poetry? Oh No-etry!

There once was a day in August

when rhyming was really unjust

on Bad Poetry Day

all the verse we will slay

with poems written to disgust!

give in to your feelings...

So today is Bad Poetry Day, as evidenced by my sad little limerick above.   Once I was given a book of terrible Haiku’s by my husband’s cousin. Guess who found it and now thinks it is hilarious? Yes that’s right, my 8 and ten year old sons! Who also think my blog is hilarious… but I refuse to draw a connection!
Check out more bad poetry at Very Bad Poetry- a site that considers itself the last refuge for the world’s worst poetry.

Are you feeling inspired? Can you feel the bad poetry just bubbling out of you? My comments board is open to your offerings!

Be Thrifty- It’s for a Good Cause!

Happy National Thriftshop Day!

from the New York Times article: For Many, Thrift Shops Are a Wardrobe Essential

I like this holiday because I actually like thrift stores.  While I’m not a regular shopper, it never ceases to amaze me what great stuff some people no longer want.  Over the years I have picked up some very good furniture, some new & “gently used” designer clothes, small housewares, and a setting for 8 of fine English china! And that was half-off at the Salvation Army “Moonlight Madness” sale that happened every first Tuesday of the month! Now that same china set is being used by a woman who left her abusive husband and got a new start on life with her young son. I feel good, like I am paying it forward.

Shopping at thrift shops is also a feel good moment for people who like to to be socially conscious shoppers. After all, most are volunteer-run and benefit charitable organizations.

In our struggling economy, more people than ever are striving to save money, and with a boomer generation “downsizing” in droves, many thrift stores are full of frugal finds. Shows like The Antiques Roadshow have never been more popular. My own mother has recently discovered Craigslist and is finding bargain after bargain on stuff she wants that others no longer do.

Do you enjoy thrift store shopping? If not, maybe you should try it today!