Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Halloween!, Books for Treats Day, Carve A Pumpkin Day, October 31st

It's Halloween!



I am upset with blogger because it lost what I spent hours writing up for today. Stupid blogger. So this will be a short post, when it should be a long one about the traditions and other cool things about Halloween. But, there is plenty out there on the web if you feel that you need more information about Halloween. But, all we really need to know is that it is fun.

Books for Treats Day



Book treats! What a novel idea! Honestly, I wish that Books for Treats Day was popular when I was a kid. This would have kept me happy for months after Halloween. So, don't give out candy, give out treats for the imagination!

Carve A Pumpkin Day

If you haven't already, you really should carve a pumpkin today, because if we weren't carving pumpkins, we would be carving turnips, which I think would be very hard. If you don't believe me, read the history of Jack O' Lanterns. Or, if you are a frutarian, you probably want to tell people about the horrors eating vegetables like pumpkins, and doing useless things like carving them, so watch this video.



Whatever you end up doing or reading today, have a happy and safe Halloween!

Monday, October 30, 2006

National Candy Corn Day, Zero Tasking Day, October 30th



National Candy Corn Day

Now, who doesn't love Candy Corn? Everyone loves Candy Corn, or at least we must pretend to because over 20 million pounds of Candy Corn is sold around Halloween each year. Candy Corn was first created in the 1880s by the Wunderlee Candy Company, and has been a Halloween favorite ever since. If you want to make your own homemade Candy Corn to celebrate, check out the recipe here. Other National Candy Corn Day activities include Candy Corn hunts (hide candy all around your house, and you know that you will be finding when you hide your Easter Eggs) Candy Corn shuffleboard, and Candy Corn and frosting sculpture contests. If you want to decorate with Candy Corn you can string it up like popcorn, or even make a beaded curtain with lots of Candy Corn strings.

Zero Tasking Day

Or, if you find that all of those activities are a bit overwhelming, remember it is Zero Tasking Day, so theoretically, you don't have to do anything today. Just try to convince your boss that it is okay to celebrate such a holiday.

Saturday, October 28, 2006

Ghost Day, October 28th



Halloween Time Zone again...

Ghost Day

It's a day to tell ghost stories, or to sneak into the haunted houses in your neighborhood, or to put on a white sheet and pretend to all your friends that you are transparent.

Or if you are in Utah, near Springville, you can visit this drive-by haunted house:

Widtfeldt has created a Halloween display at his Springville home, taking the concept of synchronizing automated displays with music and creating what he calls a "drive-by haunted house."

Based on the original script of the Haunted Mansion ride at Disneyland, Widtfeldt has re-created the experience in his front yard. Drivers can park their cars in front of his home and tune the radio to 106.7 FM, then listen as a 10-minute narrative unfolds, while automated displays involving lights and moving parts bring the story to life.

"We've all been on the Haunted Mansion ride when we were kids, so this is kind of cool and nostalgic," Widtfeldt said. "It's kind of a different take, but if you think about it, the Haunted Mansion ride itself is basically a drive-by haunted house." The free drive-by haunted house is at 498 E. 1050 North in Springville. It runs Monday-Saturday on a 10-minute loop, from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30. (Stop by for spooky spectacle, Jeremy Twitchell, Deseret Morning News)


I went last night. It was interesting. Kinda cool, kinda I don't know what to say about it. If you have the chance you should go, it only takes about ten minutes. It's worth it, especially if you have good company.

Or you could sit at home all day and make ghost sugar cookies. You might win more friends and influence people that way, but only if you share. :)

Friday, October 27, 2006

Wicked Witch Day, Frankenstein Friday, October 27th



And we are entering the Halloween time zone...

Wicked Witch Day

Hmmm, let's see what we can do today, we could read the book Wicked, we could listen to the soundtrack Wicked, if we are lucky enough, we can go see the musical Wicked, or we can just paint our faces green and wear all black and hum "I'm Not That Girl" all day.

Frankenstein Friday

The last Friday before Halloween is always Frankenstein Friday. If you choose to celebrate Frankenstein over Witches, than I would recommend watching Young Frankenstein. We can also paint our faces green and wear black, but walk around with stiff limbs and mumbling "Putting on the Ritz".

Have a spooktacular day!

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

St. Crispin's Day, Battle of Agincourt, Punk for a Day Day, World Pasta Day, October 25th


St. Crispin's Day

October 25th is almost the 300th day of the year (it's the 298th), it means there are just two months until Christmas (as if y'all didn't know from what is currently available in department stores, also the FedEx-Kinkos employees have been wishing customers "Happy Holidays" since Columbus Day) and it is also St. Crispin's Day.

Crispin and his twin brother Crispian were cobblers who preached in the streets by day and made shoes for the poor by night before they were beheaded in 286 A.D. They are the patron saints for cobblers, glove-makers, lace-makers, leather workers, saddle-makers, tanners, and weavers. (Patron Saints Index)

Battle of Agincourt

The most famous celebration of St. Crispin's Day was the Battle of Agincourt in 1415. Probably the only reason why St. Crispin's Day is a vaguely familiar holiday to some people is due to William Shakespeare's dramatization of Henry V's speech to his troops before that battle.

By Jove, I am not covetous for gold,
Nor care I who doth feed upon my cost;
It yearns me not if men my garments wear;
Such outward things dwell not in my desires.
But if it be a sin to covet honour,
I am the most offending soul alive. (Henry V, Act 4, Scene 3)
But really,we have much more than an inspirational speech to credit to that battle. According to the BBC Winston Churchill's two finger victory "V" has some, perhaps apocryphal, origins from the Battle of Agincourt. That battle, or some battle around that battle was the first to use English longbows against the French armour. Supposedly, the French decided that any English archers caught would have his bow fingers removed. When the English were winning the battle, they taunted the French soldiers with their two good bow fingers, a sort of "up yours" with a "V" gesture. Nice huh. Winston Churchill began the "V" for "victory" during World War II. Some historians argue that he knew the history of the gesture and was sending a subtle message to the Nazis.

So, about know we must discuss how we should celebrate today. Do we get stressed out about the fact that there are only six days until Halloween and your co-workers have forbidden the same witch costume that has been my staple for the past five years? Do we worry about the quickly approaching Christmas Holiday? Do we buy new shoes to celebrate St. Crispin's cobblerness? Or would it be better to buy new shoes and give them to the poor? Should we take archery lessons to commemorate the English's victory at the Battle of Agincourt? Or should we wear French armour to mourn for their loss.

If you have enough friends, I would recommend a reenactment. Everyone always does Civil War reenactments, but no-one does Battle of Agincourt reenactments. I think that I will ask Edgy to organize a Battle of Agincourt reenactment for my birthday. And the battle, not the Shakespeare play, please. I am sure that he won't mind. His dog has a French name, she can be one of the French horses. Edgy can be Henry V, Dec can be Westmoreland. I'm sure that I am not asking for too much. ;) Just kidding. Please Edgy, I don't want a Battle of Agincourt reenactment for my birthday.

Now we should we talk about other celebrations today. It also is Punk for a Day Day , so we can color our hairs pink and green and purple, and wear black torn and spray painted t-shirts, and thick soled combat boots. We should definitely get some tattoos, and a couple of piercings in very obviously painful places. And thick black eyeliner.

Or, since it's World Pasta Day we can just eat lots of pasta. Miles and miles of pasta. How much happiness that would be to know that everyone was eating pasta today! And in the spirit of St. Crispin, we can make pasta and give it to those less fortunate by volunteering someplace like Community Action Services. If you don't live in Provo, UT, I am sure there is a similar place in your town.

Wow, there are lots of things to do today! I am not sure what I am going to do... (but I think it might include tattoos... probably the rub-on kind. I'm not that daring, or punk to do much else more permanent.)

So what are you going to do?

Tuesday, October 24, 2006

Black Cat Day, October 24th


Black Cat Day

SShhh! I am blogging on borrowed equipment, because my laptop is refusing to recharge, and I can't find my warranty information to get it fixed. I would just go into work early and blog there, but I worked 61 hours in 4 days last week. I'm not going to work today. I just won't. I'm telling people that I am going to work on GRE practice tests, to get back into grad school, but I might just watch TV all day and finish reading The End.

And for Black Cat Day I will remember my cat Ollie, my family's black cat that died this year. Ollie came to our family at Christmas time, about twenty years ago as a stray kitten, too small to have been removed from her mother. We named her Oliver, like the musical, and took turns feeding her every two hours. We named her Oliver because we thought she was a boy cat, but then found out she was a girl cat... and we were very confused about what to do. We had been calling her Oliver for two months, we couldn't just switch to Annie, what would that do to her psyche? So we decided to combine Oliver and Annie and came up with Ollie.

Ollie was a good cat, who thought she was a dog. She would run through the house skid across the floor and crash into the wall. Not a graceful cat was she. Ollie was friendly, and wanted to be around people, not like our other cat, Hannah-banana. Poor Ollie died this year, after a good long life. She never lived up to the scary black cat ideal, but we loved her for what she was... a good companion.

If you want to celebrate Black Cat Day, or if you want to get a head start on your Halloween celebrations, try making these Black Cat Cookies.

Black Cat Cookies

1 cup peanut butter
1/3 cup water
2 eggs
1 pkg. chocolate cake mix
1 pkg. M&M Minis Candies

Beat together peanut butter, eggs, and water. Gradually add cake mix. Mix well. Form dough into 1-inch balls. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Flatten balls with bottom of glass dipped in sugar. Pinch out 2 ears at top of cookie.

Add M&M Minis for eyes and nose. Score face with a fork to form whiskers.

Bake at 375° for 8 to 10 minutes.

Friday, October 20, 2006

Adopt a Dog Day, October 20th

Adopt a Dog Day

If you know someone that adopted a dog today (October 20th that is,) you should congratulate them. Because that is really cool to actually adopt a dog on Adopt a Dog day. Especially, if your dog is a beautiful dog. Tee hee hee. :)

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Wear Something Gaudy Day, October 17th


Wear Something Gaudy Day

Hmm. Not much time left this morning to plan my wardrobe. I should have planned this ahead of time so I could add something gaudy to my outfit, yet it would still be tasteful. I could wear my lighted Christmas tree broach, but I think that is a little more garish than gaudy.

What to do, what to do...

Monday, October 16, 2006

Dictionary Day, October 16th


Dictionary Day

So, you don't know what to do on Dictionary Day? According to this press release:

"people everywhere will be
putting decorations on their dictionary trees, hiding dictionaries for
dictionary hunts, proudly flying their dictionary flags, and going
door-to-door reading dictionary entries aloud for candy." (Gather 'Round the Lexicon - Sunday is Dictionary Day! PR Newswire)

If you didn't prepare for Dictionary Day by decorating your dictionary tree, preparing a dictionary hunt or flying dictionary flags, don't worry, just dust off your favorite board game, Balderdash (okay, it's my favorite board game) grab a few friends, and play a few rounds.

If you don't have Balderdash, that's okay, before there was Balderdash, there was the parlor game called "Dictionary" (check out the rules here). All you need is a fairly large dictionary, (the brainier your crowd, the better to have a BIG dictionary), a few pencils, and some paper without any distinguishing charactistics, and good group of friends with creative thinking caps.

If you don't have a big enough dictionary to produce words that will fool the smartest in your group, or you have friends in your group that just don't approve of lying even if it is just for a game, you can play this other Dictionary Game, which is more of a practice in creative writing.

Or if you have a lot if dictionarys in your house, you can have dictionary races.

And you thought Dictionary Day would be boring...

Sunday, October 15, 2006

October 15th is not Dictionary Day


Whoops! Absent-minded Secretary made a mistake. Thank-you to those who emailed me to let me know.

I am going to say that I made the mistake based on the too many important issues on my mind: the weather on Thursday, the color of the punch being served, and the most important and critical in my mind is my new haircut.

The above picture is my latest choice. It will require four inches of hair to be cut off. I am kinda freaking out about that.

I need to finalize my decision tomorrow. Anyone who feels they can make a better choice for me is welcome to share their input.

Saturday, October 14, 2006

National Dessert Day, October 14th


National Dessert Day

I recently read an ad for a hair tonic in a newspaper from 1900. The ad read:

"Homeliness--not positive ugliness--but mere plainness, often passes for beauty when crowned with a halo of beautiful hair." (J.C.Ayer Company)


Great. Now, I am worried about homeliness.

I think that I am going to have to eat a whole lot of dessert today.

Thursday, October 12, 2006

International Moment of Frustration Scream Day, October 12th


International Moment of Frustration Scream Day

Today, and 12:00 p.m., everyone is supposed to go outside and scream out their frustrations.

I think that I really like this concept.

This might help relieve my stress about the weather, which I am aware that can't control, and therefore should not feel so much stress.

I am preparing stuff for an outdoor event. Catering, presentation stands, speakers, electical equipment...

The weather reports have changed four times in the last 24 hours.

Yeah. I know. I should stop checking them.

Must... stop... checking... weather... reports...

...or maybe it will just be better to scream.

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

National Coming Out Day, Take Your Teddy Bear To Work Day, International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction, October 11th


National Coming Out Day

This year is the 18th anniversary of the founding National Coming Out Day, and this year's theme is "Talk About It." After participating in a march for Gay and Lesbian rights in Washington D.C., the founders of National Coming Out Day wanted to encourage a proactive and positive celebration for the GLBT community.

Check out this site for hints and practice conversations for any gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, straight/ally, or questioning person in almost all traditional conversational settings. And you can sign up for free breath mints when you are done practicing your conversations. If you don't think that you can find a conversation that will apply to you, try coworkers/hate-crimes/straight-ally. It's a pertinent conversation, especially if you work in a conservative environment. There is also a section that helps straight supporters to come out. Also, check out Tom, the Token Gay Friend. No, really... just check him out. I think he has very pretty eyes.

Take Your Teddy Bear To Work Day

Last year I tried to convince my coworkers that they needed to bring in teddy bears. My teddy bear was the lonely only. Teddy is going to have to stay home today. He told me that he wasn't happy about it. I might just sneak him in my purse so he won't be offended.

International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction

This year's theme for International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction is "Disaster Risk Reduction Begins at School." I was happy to learn this, because I was quite alarmed to find out that there was even a movement for an International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction. I mean, really, other than campaigning to stop global warming, how on earth are we going to stop natural disasters. Considering this year's theme, I think that we need to campaign to change this day to the International Day for Natural Disaster Preparation. It makes more sense to me. But, I'm not feeling up to petitioning the United Nations for the change.

Monday, October 9, 2006

Leif Erikson Day, Columbus Day (Observed), October 9th


Today is the day of many celebrations... It is Leif Erikson Day, and Columbus Day (Observed), and Soccer Dad's birthday, so go wish him happy birthday. And if you have today off, I am really jealous of you.

So, why do we have a Leif Erikson Day and a Columbus Day, and why are they so darn close to each other?

Columbus Day commemorates the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the New World. (You know, "In Fourteen hundred and ninety-two Columbus sailed the ocean blue...") Columbus Day was first celebrated primarily by Italian-Americans in New York City on October 12th beginning 1866. (But, some dispute his Italian heritage.) The celebrations spread across the United States to San Francisco by 1869. Yep, only three years. All this partying must have got out of hand because those who were in charge decided that it would be easier to make it a national holiday than to try to stop the partying. In 1937, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt proclaimed October 12th to be Columbus Day, National Holiday. (Kinda makes you wonder what is going to happen to Talk Like A Pirate Day, huh!)

October 12th proved to be an inconvenient holiday for Americans, and, since it wasn't Christmas or the Fourth of July, when President Richard Nixon came along, he declared that Columbus Day was to be observed the second Monday of each October, which also is Thanksgiving Day for our Canadian friends. Which makes this holiday convienent for those with dual citizenship. Also, the three day weekend-ness gives Columbus Day so much more credibility as a holiday.

So, why do we have Leif Erikson Day?

Italian-Americans embraced the celebration of Columbus Day. But, not all Americans were happy about the celebration of Columbus's landing. Rasmus B. Anderson petitioned for Leif Erikson to be nationally recognized as the first European to set foot on the American continent. In 1929, Wisconsin was the first state to recognize a Leif Erikson Day.

Rasmus died in 1936, so he did not see Congress declare, by joint resolution, Leif Erikson Day in 1964. Congress authorized and requested President Lyndon B. Johnson to proclaim October 9th as "Leif Erikson Day" and requested that each successive president of the United States make the same declaration.

October 9th is not the day that Leif Erikson landed on the American continent. In fact, the date is not his birthday, nor his deathday, nor the day he got married, or anything else date-worthy in Leif's life. October 9, 1825 was the day the ship Restauration arrived in New York Harbor, which marked the start of the first organized immigration from Norway to the United States.

So, really, if you have the day off, you are just celebrating immigration today, Italian, Norwegian...

Saturday, October 7, 2006

International Frugal Fun Day, Ripe Pumpkin Day, October 7th


International Frugal Fun Day

This site has lots of ideas for frugal fun... but, I think we can combine the two celebrations today.

Ripe Pumpkin Day

It's a good day to go visit a pumpkin farm an pick out that pumpkin for Halloween! And maybe even one to cook dinner in. That's right a pumpkin to cook your dinner in. (And thanks to freshman roommate Christy for the recipe!)

Dinner in a Pumpkin

1 medium to large pumpkin
1 1/2 - 2 lbs hamburger or ground turkey
2 cups cooked rice- wild rice is nice for texture
3-4 stalks chopped celery
1 chopped med. onion
1 chopped green or red bell pepper
1 cup of mushrooms or 1 sm. can of mushrooms
2 tbsp Italian Seasoning
3-4 cloves garlic minced
2 tsp salt
1 tbsp pepper
2 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1/2 c. light brown sugar
4 tbsp. butter or olive oil
1 cup broth- chicken, vegetable, or beef

Cook hamburger until brown in skillet and drain. In separate skillet saute onions, garlic, mushrooms, peppers and celery with butter or olive oil. In a bowl mix together hamburger, and vegetable mixture with rice, and broth, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, Worcestershire Sauce, and brown sugar.

Cut off top of pumpkin; clean out inside seeds and strings. Wash out pumpkin. Add all your ingredients into pumpkin. Put top on pumpkin. Place on cookie sheet in a preheated 375 degree oven for 1 - 2 hours or until pumpkin is soft. Scoop out pumpkin squash with the hamburger for a hearty meal. Serves 6-10.

Friday, October 6, 2006

German American Day, October 6th


German American Day or Deutschen Amerikaner Tag

Declared by President George W. Bush, every October 6th is German American Day. He stated:

German Americans advanced our civic liberties through their strong support for freedom of the press. As publisher of the New York Weekly Journal, John Peter Zenger championed the rights of citizens to criticize elected officials in print. The German-language newspaper Pennsylvania Staatsbote published the first printed copy of the Declaration of Independence. And in directing The New York Times through modernization in the early 20th century, Adolph Ochs helped set a new standard for balanced and innovative reporting.(President Proclaims German-American Day)

Interesting.

If you are in Utah, this weekend is the last weekend to head on up to Snowbird to celebrateOktoberfest. It will be really fun. Go ahead, you know you want to eat some German food.

The Weeks of October


The Weeks of October

October 1st - 8th

Last Week to Register to Vote, Mental Illness Awareness Week, National Newspaper Week, Teller Appreciation Week, Nuclear Medicine Week, Long Term Care Planning Week, Universal Children's Week, Carry A Tune Week, Financial Planning Week, 4-H Week, No Salt Week, Spinning & Weaving Week, Customer Service Week, World Space Week, Nuclear Medicine Week, Work From Home Week, Squirrel Appreciation Week, Mystery Series Week

October 6th - 15th

Physicians Assistant Week, Get Organized Week, Chili Week, Emergency Nurses Week, Fire Prevention Week, Home-Based Business Week, Chestnut Week, Metric Week, Build Your Business with Business Cards Week, Improve Your Home Office Week, School Lunch Week, Wildlife Week, Pet Peeve Week, Credit Union Week

October 14th - 21st

Shopping Cart Safety Week, Getting the World to Beat a Path to Your Door Week, Freedom from Bullies at Work Week, Radon Action Week, Achieve Financial Differences Week, Getting The World To Beat A Path To Your Door Week, International Credit Union Week, Teen Read Week, Food Bank Week, School Bus Safety Week, YMCA Week without Violence, Character Counts Week, Celebrate Micro Small and Home Business Week, Health Education Week, Infection Prevention Week

October 20th - 31st

Chemistry Week, Massage Therapy Week, Save Your Back Week, Shut-In Visitation Week, New International Version of the Bible Week, World Rainforest Week, Kids Care Week, Pastoral Care Week, Synergy Week International, Celebrate Job Loss Week, Freedom From Bullies at Work Week, Give Wildlife a Break Week, The Magic of Differences Week, United Nations Disarmament Week, Prescription Errors Education & Awareness Week, International Magic Week, Chicken Soup for the Laughing Soul Week, Peace, Friendship & Goodwill Week

Thursday, October 5, 2006

Do Something Nice Day, October 5th

Do Something Nice Day

Don't do it. Really. You will just end up with toner all over your clothes.

Wednesday, October 4, 2006

National Golf Day, 10-4


National Golf Day

Ten Four! It's National Golf Day!

Master Fob reminded me that there are only three months left to finish up those New Year's Resolutions.

My resolution for the last two years has been to become a golfer. I have played one game of golf in two years. I am pretty sure that does not qualify me as a golfer. Unless we have unseasonably warm weather over the next three months, I don't think that I am going to make it again this year.

Darn!

No, really, Darn! I did want to become better at it. I want to be a golfer to forward my career. And I like being outside. I am a sporty girl. I like to play football. And softball. And they both have grass like golf. I can pick up this sport really easily... I am sure. Next year.

Tuesday, October 3, 2006

Virus Appreciation Day, October 3rd

Virus Appreciation Day

Let's just say if I ever appreciate a virus, it will be from a very safe distance.

Monday, October 2, 2006

Name Your Car Day, October 2nd



Name Your Car Day

I have been so excited for this day. I have had my car for a year, and it hasn't a name. I think that I have tried to name it a few times, but the names haven't stuck. I have been pretty good about naming my cars.

Mr Pipps
My first car, a blue 1979 Toyota Corolla, was named Mr. Pipps. Mr. Pipps was a good car. I only had him for a year. Sometimes I still miss Mr. Pipps. I learned how to tell alternator problems apart from battery problems on Mr. Pipps.

Sloopy Schoopy
My next car was Sloopy Schoopy. I loved my Sloopy Schoopy. He was a grey 1986 Subaru Wagon. He got me through my college years, and the year after I graduated from college. He ran on three of his four cylinders, and had a very distinctive tick. Every boy with any mechanical ability that heard that tick, wanted to take Schoopy apart to figure it out, but I wouldn't let them. I was afraid that if the grime that was holding the seams of engine together was disturbed that he wouldn't run any more.

I learned how to replace fuses, replace battery cables, replace batteries, change tires, replace hoses, and patch radiator holes on Schoopy. One time I had a friend tell me that my car ran on faith and duct tape. Poor Schoopy. He worked so hard to make me happy.

The Boat
The Boat was my car that my parent tried to get me to use to replace Schoopy half-way through college. The Boat was my grandpa's gold 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis and it was HUGE. My roommates and guy friends loved The Boat because the engine purred, had leather seats, and looked like a pre-pimped pimp car. It was a great car to go to the drive-in in because we could park sideways and lie all the way down across the seat.

I hated it because I would get notes left on my car asking me to park my very large car at the other end of the parking lot. Embarrassing. So, I made my brother give Schoopy back to me, and I made him drive The Boat.

Sophia
My next car was a girl car. I got her a year after I graduated from college, and after Schoopy broke down three times in two weeks. My friends I was living with sat me down and told me that I had to get a new car.

My new car was moody. Her name was Sophia. I wasn't very creative with my naming of her; she was a silver 1999 Kia Sephia. But, the reason was, she and I never bonded. She was way too moody (she had an electrical short that no-one could fix), and she was very sensitive (Christmas Trees scratched her up badly), and completely unstable (she could not handle snow on the roads at all), and I missed my Sloopy Schoopy who never had any of those problems.

Sophia passed away a year ago last week. I was upset because I wasn't planning on buying a new car yet, but happy to not have to deal with Sophia anymore.

New Car
I love my new car... but there is not a name yet for... him. He is a white 2001 Saturn Wagon. He meets my needs quite well. He has reminded me that I like to drive, and that snow is not something to be feared. Snow is even something to appreciate because it covers up all the ugly brown. Yea for snow! That is why this car is a he... he is fearless in the face of all weather.

He happily carries all sorts of big and oversized things in his back end for me. And when I tied the Christmas Tree up on his top like a faux hawk, the tree did not scratch him up at all, in fact he looked rather stylish. I am thinking about naming him Oscar, after Oscar Wilde, not the Grouch. Although, the Grouch could work because he is a bit touchy in the transmission gear area. Sometimes he doesn't like me touching his stick.

So... I have some work ahead of me today. Pondering the name Oscar...and figuring out how to christen him.

Sunday, October 1, 2006

October is...


"Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns." -George Eliot

October is...

The name October comes from the Latin word "octo" which means "eight". October was the 8th month in the Roman calendar. October became the 10th month when the beginning of the year was moved from March 1st to January 1st.

The Dutch name for October is Wijnmaand or "wine month." For the Finnish, October is called lokakuu, meaning "month of dirt". In Gaelic, October has several names: in Scottish, October is called an Damhar, meaning "rutting time" for the Irish, October is called Deireadh Fómhair, meaning "end of harvest-time," and for the Welsh, October is called "Hydref", meaning "autumn". In the Japanese calendar, the month is called Kan'na dzuki, which means "the absence of god." (Wikipedia)

The full moon month names for this month are the Hunter's Moon, Travel Moon, and the Dying Grass Moon. (Farmer's Almanac).

The weather proverbs for this month are:

Much rain in October,
Much wind in December. -Traditional English Proverb

If October bring much frost and wind,
Then are January and February mild. -Traditional English Proverb

A warm October,
A cold February. -Traditional English Proverb

Full Moon in October without frost,
No frost till November’s Full Moon. -Traditional English Proverb
(The full moon in October will be the 6th)

There are always nineteen fine days in October. -Traditional English Proverb

As the weather in October, so will it be in the next March. -Traditional English Proverb

When birds and badgers are fat in October, expect a cold Winter.- Traditional American Proverb (Wilson's Almanac)


October is...

Awareness Month (that's it, just Awareness), Adopt A Shelter Dog Month, AIDS Awareness Month, Alternate History Month (one of my favorite literary devices), Animal Safety and Protection Month, Anti-Boredom Month, Apple Jack Month, Apple Month, Auto Battery Safety Month, Billiard Awareness Month, Book Fair Month, Book Month, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Car Care Month, Caramel Month, Celebrate Sun Dried Tomatoes Month, Celiac Disease Awareness Month, Child Health Month, Children's Magazine Month, Chili Month, Church Safety and Security Month, Class Reunion Month, Clergy Appreciation Month, Clock Month, Co-Op Awareness Month, Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Month, Commune With Your Kid Month, Computer Learning Month, Construction Toy Month, Consumer Information Month, Cookie Month, Cosmetology Month, Country Music Month, Crime Prevention Month, Dental Hygiene Month, Depression Education and Awareness Month, Dessert Month, Diabetes Month, Disability Employment Awareness Month, Diversity Awareness Month, Dog Service Month, Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Down Syndrome Month, Dryer Vent Safety Month, Eat Better, Eat Together Month, Eat Country Ham Month, Energy Management Family Month, Ergonomics Month, Family Health Month, Family History Month, Family Sexuality Education Month, Fantasy Month, Gain the Inside Advantage Month, Gay & Lesbian History Month, Go Hog Wild Month, Go On A Field Trip Month, Gourmet Adventures Month, Halloween Safety Month, Head Start Awareness Month, Health Literacy Month, Healthier Babies Month, Healthy Lungs Month, Home Inspection Month, International Drum Month, International Fired-Up Month, International Starman Month, International Strategic Planning Month, Kitchen and Bath Month, Lazy Eye Month, Listen To Your Inner Critic Month, Literacy Month, Liver Awareness Month, Long Term Care Planning Month, Lupus Awareness Month, Make a Will Month, Medical Librarian Month, Orthodontic Health Month, Pajama Month, Pasta Month, Pastor Appreciation Month, Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month, Physical Therapy Month, Pickled Pepper Month, Pizza Month, Popcorn Poppin' Month, Pork Month, Positive Attitude Month, Pretzel Month, Reading Group Month, Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Awareness Month, Rett Syndrome Awareness Month, Right Brainers Rule Month, Roller Skating Month, RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) Awareness Month, Sarcastics Awareness Month, Seafood Month, Self-Promotion Month, Skin Care Month, Spina Bifida Awareness Month, Spinach Lovers Month (ironic isn't it), Spinal Health Month, Stamp Collecting Month, Substance Abuse Prevention Month, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Awareness Month, Talk About Prescriptions Month, Teller Appreciation Month, Toilet Tank Repair Month, Vegetarian Awareness Month, Women's Small Business Month, Workplace Politics Month.

October's traditional birthstone is opal, for hope, but folklore states that opals will bring bad luck to those not born in October who wear it. Gemologists believe this comes from the fact that opals are soft, liquid filled and prone to crack if not taken care of properly. Non-traditional birthstones are rose quartz, pink saphire, or tourmaline.

October's flower is the marigold (calendula).

October’s child is born for woe,
And life’s vicissitudes must know
But lay an Opal on her breast,
And hope will lull those woes to rest. Annie Fellows Johnston

Homemade Cookie Day, October 1st


Homemade Cookie Day

What would life be without cookies. Cookies are an important part of life, an essential part of our histories. And no-one can argue with the fact that homemade cookies are the best.

I think that Sunday afternoons are perfect for making cookies, so it's a good thing that it's Homemade Cookie Day. I think that when most people think of homemade cookies, they think of chocolate chip cookies. And of course, the most popular chocolate chip cookie recipe is off of the the Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chip bag. Have you ever wondered why different people cooking the same recipe, quite often that recipe, have have different results? Read this article to see why.

If you want to get creative on Homemade Cookie Day, you can make a homemade version of one of your favorite store bought cookie. For example, you could try your had a making Organic Thin Mints, or Homemade Oreos, or Frosted Circus Animals. It may sound like a lot of work when you can just run down to the store and get the same thing, but it's good to do something special on Homemade Cookie Day!

I not in a very special mood so I think that I am going to stick to my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe for today. My secret is that I always dump in lots of extra vanilla. Real vanilla.

Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies

4 1/2-2/3 Cups Flour
2 tsp Baking Soda
2 tsp Salt
1 Cup Butter (not margarine)
1 Cup Butter Flavored Crisco
1 1/2 Cup White Sugar
1 1/2 Cup Brown Sugar
1 Tbsp Vanilla
1 tsp Water
4 Eggs
2 Cups Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
1 Cup other mix-in: peanut butter chips, walnuts, toffee bits, etc.

Cream butter, crisco & sugars together. Add eggs, water & vanilla. Sift-in flour, salt, baking soda. Mix together. Mix in, chocolate chips and mix-in. Bake at 375 degrees for 6-9 minutes.