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April 6th 2024 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Chakri Day, commemorating the establishment of the Chakri dynasty. (Thailand) Christian feast day: Albrecht Dürer and Lucas Cranach (Lutheran Church). Brychan Eutychius of Constantinople (Eastern Orthodox Church) Marcellinus of Carthage Pope Sixtus I April 6 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) International Day of Sport for Development and Peace National Fisherman Day (Indonesia) New Beer's Eve (United States) Tartan Day (United States & Canada) Waltzing Matilda Day (Australia) International Asexuality Day Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) Army Day Bohring-Opitz Syndrome Day California Poppy Day Drowsy Driver Awareness Day Every Day is Tag Day Fresh Tomato Day International Firewalk Day International Pillow Fight Day Jump Over Things Day National Acai Bowl Day National Caramel Popcorn Day National Carbonara Day National Employee Benefits Day National Food Faces Day National Gang Day National Handmade Day National Jay Day National Library Day National Love Our Children Day National Pajama Day National Parker Day National Robert Day National Siamese Cat Day National Student Athlete Day National Student-Athlete Day National Taylor Day National Teflon Day National Twinkie Day Plan Your Epitaph Day President Ntaryamira Day National DIY Day Tangible Karma Day Peyton List’s Birthday Mingyu’s Birthday Paul Rudd ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sat Apr 6th, 2024 - Fri Apr 12th, 2024 Week of the Young Child Sat Apr 6th, 2024 - Sat Apr 13th, 2024 National Robotics Week Fun Observances Sorry Charlie Day April 6 is Sorry Charlie Day, a day to recognize that everyone gets rejected sometimes in his or her life. The name of the holiday comes from the phrase Sorry Charlie, popular in the United States. According to some, the phrase comes from a Starkist Tuna commercial in the 1970s. Tasty Tuna In the commercial, the main character, Charlie the Tuna, believes he has good taste and wants to be caught by the Tuna company. The company, however, rejects Charlie by attaching a note to a fish hook that says “Sorry Charlie.” The reason Charlie is rejected by the tuna company is because the company prefers to catch a tuna that tastes good, and not a tuna that has good taste. Rejection Phrase The phrase is now is commonly used as a response to someone who has experienced a rejection. It can be sometimes be seen as an uncaring response. How to Celebrate? Think back on all the rejections in your life – academic, professional and personal – and spend the day reflecting on what you learned from each of them. Treat yourself because you didn’t let any rejections let you down. Did You Know... ...that some schools of tuna fish swim alongside dolphins as a way to protect themselves from sharks and other predatory sea life? *** The college football player knew his way around the locker room better than he did the library. So when my husband's co-worker saw the gridiron star roaming the stacks looking confused, she asked how she could help. "I have to read a play by Shakespeare," he said. "Which one?" she asked. He scanned the shelves and answered, "William." *** Giving a sermon one Sunday, I heard two teenage girls in the back giggling and disturbing people. I interrupted my sermon and announced sternly, "There are two of you here who have not heard a word I've said." That quieted them down. When the service was over, I went to greet people at the front door. Three adults apologized for going to sleep in church, promising it would never happen again. *** We live less than a quarter-mile from the high school, but my son proudly drove there in a car he bought with his own money. A typical first car, it had lots of little problems and was sometimes slow to start. One morning I was surprised to see it still in front of the house, so after school I asked him about it. "I had to get to school early," he said, "so I just ran." *** During an attack of laryngitis I lost my voice completely for two days. To help me communicate with him, my husband devised a system of taps. One tap meant "Give me a kiss." Two taps meant "No." Three taps meant "Yes"—and 95 taps meant "Take out the garbage." *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

April 5th 2024 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Albert of Montecorvino Derfel Gadarn Æthelburh of Kent Gerald of Sauve-Majeure Juliana of Liège Maria Crescentia Höss Blessed Mariano de la Mata Pandita Mary Ramabai (Episcopal Church (USA)) Ruadhán of Lorrha Vincent Ferrer April 5 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Cold Food Festival, held on April 4 if it is a leap year (China); and its related observances: Earliest day on which Sham el-Nessim can fall, while May 9 is the latest; celebrated on Monday after the Orthodox Easter (Egypt) Children's Day (Palestinian territories) First Contact Day (International observance) Sikmogil (South Korea) National Maritime Day is observed in India, in commemoration of the first voyage of SS Loyalty of the Scindia Steam Navigation Company Ltd. in 1919. International Day of Conscience Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) Accelerate ACL Awareness Among Young Women Day Bell Bottoms Day Go For Broke Day Gold Star Spouses Day Hospital Admitting Clerks Day International Day of Conscience Laylatul Qadr National Body Care Day National Caramel Day National Deep Dish Pizza Day National Flash Drive Day National Nebraska Day National Peeps Day National Raisin and Spice Bar Day National Self Care Day Poet in a Cupcake Day Pharrell Williams’s Birthday Lil Sasquatch’s Birthday Hunter Rowland’s Birthday Daniel Caesar’s Birthday Blayke Busby’s Birthday Bette Davis’s Birthday ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Fri Apr 5th, 2024 - Tue Apr 9th, 2024 National Wildlife Week Fri Apr 5th, 2024 - Fri Apr 12th, 2024 Bee Active Bee Healthy Bee Happy Week Fun Observances ( 3 ) Read a Road Map Day Read a Road Map Day is on April 5. It encourages people to go on an adventure the old-fashioned way – with a paper map! Also known as National Read a Road Map Day, the unofficial holiday is a throwback to what the kids today call the "old days" before GPSs. No GPS Roadmaps, or route maps, are navigational maps that usually show roads and landmarks in a specific area. In recent years, the rise of Global Positioning System (GPS) and mobile technology is making paper maps outdated. How to Celebrate? When was the last time you picked up a map and used it for directions? No, not a GPS or a map app, but an actual paper map? Don't remember? Here are some ways to celebrate Read a Road Map Day: Take a short road trip and use only paper maps to guide you. Bring along a navigator who does the map reading and directing for you. If you do not have a navigator, please make sure you only read the map when your car is at a complete stop. If you have never read a map, take some time to learn to read one. We reckon it will be a good skill to have in the unlikely event of a zombie apocalypse. Learn more about maps and how they are made. Did You Know... ...that the Turin Papyrus is thought to be the oldest recorded road map in the world? Historians believe that it was created around 1160 BCE. ~~~~~~~ First Contact Day Fans of the sci-fi series Star Trek celebrate First Contact Day on April 5 to mark the day in 2063 when humans make their first contact with the Vulcans. The day is celebrated as a minor holiday in the Star Trek world and made its first appearance on the episode named Homestead in the Star Trek: Voyager series. TV Show Star Trek is an American television and film enterprise first created in 1966 by Gene Roddenberry. The first television series in the franchise debuted in 1966 and is now known as The Original Series. It followed the adventures of the crew of the starship USS Enterprise under the leadership of Captain James T Kirk. Humanoid Race The Enterprise is a 23rd-century spaceship of the United Federation of Planets, a federation of more than 150 governments from different planets. The Federation as it is popularly known was created in 2161. The Vulcans are a humanoid race from the planet Vulcan, which is about 16 light years from Earth. Vulcans are considered to be masters of logic who have found ways to suppress their violent emotions. Commander Spock is one of the most well-known Vulcans in the Star Trek universe. How to Celebrate? Have a Star Trek themed party for all your family and friends. Have your guests come dressed as their favorite characters. Make cheese pierogis, one of the dishes made by characters celebrating the day on the show. Attend a Star Trek fan meet and meet other like-minded people. Hold a Start Trek viewing marathon. Greet everyone you meet on this day with the Vulcan salute. To do this, raise your hands with your palm facing outwards, and your thumb away from your hand. Part your middle and ring finger such that the index and middle finger are together and your ring and little finger are close to each other. Did You Know… …that the first First Contact Day was celebrated 315 years after the first contact on 2378? ~~~~~~~ Walk to Work Day Years of medical research has shown that walking is one of the best ways to stay healthy and keep your body in shape. So, once a year, why not take the doctor’s advice and walk to work on Walk to Work Day? Walk to Work Day, an unofficial holiday, occurs on various dates in different countries. In the United States, the day is annually observed on the first Friday of April. This event is different from the American Heart Association’s National Walk to Work Day, which is held on the first Wednesday of April. How to Celebrate? Wear comfortable walking shoes and walk to work. If you are unable to walk to work, take public transport instead and then walk from the bus or train stop to your workplace. If you have to drive or take public transport to your workplace, why not walk to your lunch instead. Not in the United States, do not worry! You can still celebrate the holiday by yourself. Recruit colleagues and friends to walk with you to work. Did You Know... ...that an average adult person uses 200 muscles in his or her body to take a step forward? *** My friend John and I, determined to see the world, signed on a Norwegian freighter as deckhands. We were being trained as helmsmen, and John's first lesson was given by the mate, a seasoned but gentle white-haired seafarer. John was holding the heading he had been given, when the mate ordered, "Come starboard." Pleased at knowing immediately which way starboard was, John left the helm and walked over to his instructor. The mate had an incredulous look on his face as the helm swung freely, but he merely asked politely, "Could you bring the ship with you?" *** While rummaging through her attic, my friend Kathryn found an old shotgun. Unsure about how to dispose of it, she called her parents. "Take it to the police station," her mother suggested. My friend was about to hang up when her mother added, "And Kathryn?" "Yes, Mom?" "Call first." *** During a beautiful spring afternoon, I was attending the Cheat River Festival in West Virginia. Just as I stopped to listen to a folk singer, a group of exhibitors, dragging out tools and sawhorses, began setting up their display booth nearby. All their shouting and hammering made it difficult to enjoy the music. The noise they made got louder and even more obnoxious and intrusive as time went on. Finally, to everyone's relief, they completed the construction. As a finishing touch, they hung a sign on their booth. It read "Silent Auction." *** Some newly married friends were visiting us when the topic of children came up. The bride said she wanted three children, while the young husband demurred, saying two would be enough for him. They discussed this discrepancy for a few minutes until the husband thought he'd put an end to things, saying boldly, "After our second child, I'll just have a vasectomy." Without a moment's hesitation, the bride retorted, "Well, I hope you'll love the third one like it's your own!" *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** Best Buddies *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

April 4th 2024 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Children's Day (Hong Kong, Taiwan) Christian feast day: Benedict the Moor Gaetano Catanoso Isidore of Seville Martin Luther King Jr. (Episcopal Church (USA)) Reginald Heber (Anglican Church of Canada) Tigernach of Clones Plato of Sakkoudion April 4 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Senegal from France (1960). Peace Day (Angola) One of the possible days for Qingming Festival. NATO Day Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) 404 Day International Carrot Day International Day for Landmine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action - 1 International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action - 2 Jeep 4×4 Day Näfelser Fahrt National Alcohol Screening Day National Burrito Day National Cordon Bleu Day National Dillon Day National Hug a Newsperson Day National Walk Around Things Day School Librarian Day Victims of Violence Wholly Day Vitamin C Day World Rat Day World Drummer’s Day National Ramen Day D.A.R.E. Day Robert Downey Jr.’s Birthday Maya Angelou’s Birthday Jill Scott’s Birthday Grumpy Cat’s Birthday Eric Andre’s Birthday Daniel Lara’s Birthday Natasha Lyonne ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thu Apr 4th, 2024 - Sun Apr 7th, 2024 The Masters Tournament Thu Apr 4th, 2024 - Thu Apr 18th, 2024 Discover National Parks Fortnight Fun Observances Tell a Lie Day Nope, we aren’t lying, we promise! April 4 is Tell a Lie Day! The holiday of unknown origins comes just a few days after another holiday that celebrates trickery and lying - April Fool's Day and a few weeks before Honesty Day, a made-up holiday that honors the virtue of honesty and truth-telling. Acceptable Lying While the name suggests that the holiday encourages people to tell lies all day long, we would like to think that the day is not an actual celebration of lying but an acknowledgment that lying is part of life, and sometimes people have to lie to make others feel better. Such lies are called white lies and are possibly the only form of lying acceptable within most religions, cultures, and societies. Other acceptable forms of lying include: lying while playing a game (bluffing), lies made for the purposes of amusement of the liar or other people (jocose lies), and untruthful statements made without any malicious intent (honest lie). This holiday is also known as National Tell a Lie Day in the US. How to Celebrate? While we cannot in good conscience endorse or encourage lying, here are some harmless ways to celebrate this "fictional" holiday: Missed April Fool's Day? Use this day to make up for it by playing harmless tricks on friends, family, and colleagues. Make up silly stories about harmless things and recount them to the people around you. Who knows, you may even get a laugh or two out of your listeners! Read more about how to detect deception and lying. Play games that require bluffing. Read tales that warn people about the dangers of lying. Some of these tales include The Boy who Cried Wolf and Pinocchio. Did You Know... ...that a true or false response to the question this statement is not true leads to a contradiction called the Liar's Paradox? If the response to this statement is that it is true, then the statement is false, and if the response to the statement is that it is false, then the statement is true. *** I purchased a new desktop-publishing program that surprised me by containing a make-a-paper-airplane option. I decided to give it a try. After I selected the plane I wanted, the software gave me a choice of accessories available for my plane, including a stick-up tail, adjustable flaps and an AM/FM radio. Out of curiosity I chose the AM/FM radio. The program responded with a message box stating: "Come on, be serious. These are just paper airplanes. *** Luke, our venturesome 14-month-old son, was at my mother-in-law's house. He was playing with her car keys when the phone rang. After hanging up, my mother-in-law realized that Luke had put the keys down someplace, but she couldn't find them anywhere. Thinking quickly, she gave him another set of keys. As she pretended not to look, Luke toddled around the corner and into her bedroom. Then she watched as he carefully placed the second set of keys under her bed—right next to the original car keys. *** I had finished my Christmas shopping early and had wrapped all the presents. Having two curious children, I had to find a suitable hiding place. I chose an ideal spot—the furnace room. I stacked the presents and covered them with a blanket, positive they'd remain undiscovered. When I went to get the gifts to put them under the tree, I lifted the blanket and there, stacked neatly on top of my gifts, were presents addressed to "Mom and Dad, From the Kids." *** A man rushed to the jewelry counter in the store where I work soon after the doors opened one morning and said he needed a pair of diamond earrings. I showed him a wide selection, and quickly he picked out a pair. When I asked him if he wanted the earrings gift-wrapped, he said, "That'd be great. But can you make it quick? I forgot today was my anniversary, and my wife thinks I'm taking out the trash." *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

April 3rd 2024 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Agape, Chionia, and Irene Burgundofara Luigi Scrosoppi Richard of Chichester April 3 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) A Drop of Water is a Grain of Gold American Circus Day Armenian Appreciation Day Birth Anniversary of National Artist Lino Brocka Day of Hope - 1 National Childhelp Day of Hope - 2 Fan Dance Day Don't Go to Work Unless it's Fun Day Fish Fingers and Custard Day Independent Artist Day™ National Chocolate Mousse Day National Film Score Day National Find a Rainbow Day National Grey Day National Inspiring Joy Day National Pro-Life T Shirt Day National Tweed Day National Walking Day NCCA Anniversary Paraprofessional Appreciation Day Pony Express Day Weed Out Hate Day World Cloud Security Day National Biomechanics Day World Aquatic Animal Day Sandra Boynton’s Birthday Young M.A’s Birthday Paris Jackson’s Birthday Giannina Milady Gibelli’s Birthday Emily Dobson’s Birthday Eddie Murphy’s Birthday Amber Pike’s Birthday Amanda Bynes’s Birthday Kelsey Weier’s Birthday Alec Baldwin Marlon Brando Cobie Smulders Fun Observances World Party Day April 3 is World Party Day. Also known as P Day, it is an annually celebrated unofficial holiday that aims to achieve social change and harmony by encouraging people to celebrate life by partying. The idea behind the holiday is that the opposite of war and suffering should not be to passively observe peace. Instead, people must actively participate in the celebration of life. First in 1996 The holiday is inspired by the ending of the 1995 novel, Flight: A Quantum Fiction Novel, by Vanna Bonta, where a countdown is set to April 3, 2000 when a worldwide synchronized celebration occurs. The first Party Day was held around the world in 1996. How to Celebrate? Research suggests that meeting new people from different cultures helps cultivate intercultural understanding and harmony. So why not throw a party for your family and friends and ask them to bring their friends and coworkers along? Organize a block party. Peace begins at home and by being neighborly. Spend time with your neighbors and celebrate your neighborhood. What about partying for a cause? Host a party and have your guests contribute to a cause close to your and your heart. Whatever you do and whoever you party with, remember that you need no excuse to celebrate life and to be good to others. Did You Know… …that the use of the word, party, to refer to a gathering where people have a good time dates back to 1922? *** The first Sunday after my husband and I bought a new car, we parked it in the last row of the church lot, not wanting to be ostentatious. While talking with friends, my husband, Byron, accidentally hit the panic button on his electronic key. Immediately our car's horn blared and its lights flashed. Watching Byron fumble with the button, his friend teased, "Wouldn't it have been in better taste to put a few lines in the church bulletin?" *** Everything is expensive in the upscale resort town where we live, and part of what you pay for is attitude. I realized this after I bought a couple pounds of hamburger at the fancy market on Main Street. When I was taking the meat out of the bag at home, I noticed the label, "Ground Charles." *** Our office building's only elevator was acting up. When I rode it to the lobby on my way to lunch, the door refused to open. Trying not to panic, I hit the emergency button, which triggers an automatic call to the repair service. Through the speaker in the elevator, I heard the call going through and then a recorded announcement: "The area code of the number you dialed has been changed. The new area code is 810. Please hang up and dial again." *** If athletes get athlete's foot, do astronauts get mistletoe? *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

April 2nd 2024 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Abundius of Como Amphianus of Lycia Æbbe the Younger Bronach of Glen-Seichis (Irish martyrology) Francis of Paola Francisco Coll Guitart Henry Budd (Anglican Church of Canada) Nicetius of Lyon Pedro Calungsod Theodosia of Tyre Urban of Langres April 2 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) International Children's Book Day (International) Thai Heritage Conservation Day (Thailand) Unity of Peoples of Russia and Belarus Day (Belarus) World Autism Awareness Day (International) Malvinas Day (Argentina) Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) Autism Acceptance Day Children’s Picture Book Day Day of the Veterans International Fact-Checking Day National DIY Day National Ferret Day National Love Your Produce Manager Day National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day National Reconciliation Day National Ride Your Horse to a Bar Day National Sexual Assault Awareness Month's Day of Action Pascua Florida Day SAAM Day of Action Southland Anniversary Union Day of Belarus and Russia Don’t Walk Your Dog Day Quavo Marshall’s Birthday Marvin Gaye’s Birthday Daniel Seavey’s Birthday BadBoyHalo’s Birthday Traci Braxton’s Birthday Shannon Boodram’s Birthday Jesse Plemons Rodney King *** When my wife and I were vacationing in the eastern part of our state, our car's license plate was stolen. We planned to go to a local office for a replacement, but then we discovered that our registration had expired. The new one was at home in a pile of mail. After much thought, we came up with a solution. Taping a sign over the empty license-plate space on the rear of the vehicle, we made the eight-hour trip home safely. Not a single state trooper stopped us, but many passing motorists took great pains to honk and wave at us. Our sign read "Just Married!" *** As a fund-raiser, the chemistry club designed and sold T-shirts. Written across the front were our top "Stupid Chemistry Sayings": • Have yourself a Merry Little Bismuth • What do you do with dead people? Barium • You stupid boron! • We hope your year is very phosphorous. *** My father began teaching business classes at the local prison through a community college. On his first night of class, he started a chapter on banking. During the course of his lecture, the subject of ATMs came up, and he mentioned that, on average, most machines contain only about $1,500 at a given time. Just then a man in the back raised his hand. "I'm not trying to be disrespectful," he told my father, "but the machine I robbed had about $5,000 in it." *** Touring Ireland's countryside with a group of travel writers, we passed an immaculate cemetery with hundreds of beautiful headstones set in a field of emerald green grass. Everyone reached for their cameras when the tour guide said the inventor of the crossword puzzle was buried there. He pointed out the location, "Three down and four across." *** My wife, Dolores, never quite got the hang of the 24-hour military clock. One day she called the orderly room and asked to speak with me. The person who answered told her to call me at the extension in the band rehearsal hall. "He can be reached at 4700, ma'am," the soldier advised. With a sigh of exasperation, my wife responded, "And just what time is that?" *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

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April 1st 2024 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Cellach of Armagh Hugh of Grenoble Frederick Denison Maurice (Church of England) Mary of Egypt Melito of Sardis Tewdrig Theodora Walric, abbot of Leuconay April 1 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) April Fools' Day Odisha Day (Odisha, India) Arbor Day (Tanzania) Civil Service Day (Thailand) Cyprus National Day (Cyprus) Edible Book Day Fossil Fools Day Kha b-Nisan, the Assyrian New Year (Assyrian people) Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) Boomer Bonus Days Community Garden Week Dyngus Day Easter Monday International Tatting Day Library Snap Shot Day Lupus Alert Day Martyrdom of Imam Ali Mathematics and Statistics Awareness Month Myles Day National Connor Day National Fun Day National Greeting Card Day National Loyal Day National One Cent Day National Sourdough Bread Day National Trombone Players Day Nature Day Nickelodeon Anniversary Celebration Day Reading is Funny Day St. Stupid Day Take Down Tobacco National Day of Action U.S. Air Force Academy Day - 1 U.S. Air Force Academy Day - 2 White House Easter Egg Roll Taina Williams’s Birthday Logan Paul’s Birthday Sean Taylor’s Birthday Randy Orton’s Birthday Rachel Maddow’s Birthday Jonny May’s Birthday Mackenzie Davis Taran Killam Bijou Phillips ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mon Apr 1st, 2024 - Fri Apr 5th, 2024 National Cancer Registrars Week Mon Apr 1st, 2024 - Sat Apr 6th, 2024 Take Your Poet to School Week Mon Apr 1st, 2024 - Sun Apr 7th, 2024 Be Kind to Spiders Week Blue Ribbon Week Golden Rule Week International Pooper Scooper Week Laugh at Work Week Medication Safety Week National Bake Week National Public Health Week National Window Safety Week Testicular Cancer Awareness Week Community Garden Week Observances (click on the month for details) Adopt a Ferret Month Adopt a Greyhound Month Arab American Heritage Month Autism Acceptance Month Bowel Cancer Awareness Month Cancer Control Month Canine Fitness Month Celebrate Diversity Month Cesarean Awareness Month Child Abuse Awareness Month Children and Nature Awareness Month Counseling Awareness Month Couple Appreciation Month Cranberries and Gooseberries Month Deaf History Month Defeat Diabetes Month Distracted Driving Awareness Month Dog Appreciation Month Earth Month Emotional Overeating Awareness Month Fair Housing Month Filipino Food Month Financial Capability Month Financial Literacy Month Fresh Florida Tomato Month Genocide Awareness Month Global Astronomy Month Grange Month Heartworm Awareness Month IBS Month Informed Women Month International Amateur Radio Month International Customer Loyalty Month International Guitar Month Jazz Appreciation Month Keep America Beautiful Month Month of the Military Child Move More Month Multicultural Communications Month Multiple Birth Awareness Month National African-American Women's Fitness Month National Alcohol Awareness Month National BLT Sandwich Month National Car Care Month National Card and Letter Writing Month National Decorating Month National Donate Life Month National Facial Protection Month National Food Month National Foot Health Awareness Month National Fresh Celery Month National Frog Month National Garlic Month National Grilled Cheese Month National Humor Month National Internship Awareness Month National Kite Month National Knuckles Down Month National Literature Month National Minority Health Month National Month of Hope National Pecan Month National Pest Management Month National Pet First Aid Awareness Month National Poetry Month National Rebuilding Month National Safe Digging Month National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month National Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) Education and Awareness Month National Sjogren's Syndrome Awareness Month National Social Security Month National Soft Pretzel Month National Soy Foods Month National Volunteer Month National Welding Month National Woodworking Month National Youth Sports Safety Month Occupational Therapy Month Panagyaman Rice Festival Parkinson's Awareness Month Parliamentary Law Month Pharmacists War on Diabetes Month Physical Wellness Month Poetic Earth Month Prevent Lyme Disease in Dogs Month Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month Primary Immunodeficiency Month Records and Information Management Month Rosacea Awareness Month Sarcoidosis Awareness Month School Library Month Scottish-American Heritage Month Sexual Assault Awareness Month Sports Eye Safety Awareness Month Step up for 30 For Bowel Cancer Month STI Awareness Month Straw Hat Month Stress Awareness Month Summer Tire Changeover Month SunSmart Skin Cancer Prevention Testicular Cancer Awareness Month Tomatillo and Asian Pear Month Women's Eye Health and Safety Month Workplace Conflict Awareness Month World Autism Month World Landscape Architecture Month Worldwide Bereaved Spouses Awareness Month Fun Observances Fun at Work Day Have double the fun on April 1, because it is not only April Fool’s Day but it is also Fun at Work Day. Sometimes celebrated on January 28, the day encourages people to add some fun to their workday. How to Celebrate? Here are some ideas on what you can do to make work fun on Fun at Work Day or any other day: Bake goodies and bring them for your colleagues. Play harmless pranks on your colleagues and coworkers. Watch Office Space or a few episodes of The Office at work. With the consent of your supervisor, spend some time playing board games at work. Did You Know… …that studies have shown that a person's perception of time changes when they are having fun? According to these studies, having fun can help pass the time faster. *** One afternoon while I was visiting my library, I noticed a group of preschoolers gathered for story time. The book they were reading was "There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly." After the librarian finished the first page, she asked the children, "Do you think she'll die?" "Nope," a little girl in the back said. "I saw this last night on 'Fear Factor.' " *** On the afternoon of Administrative Professionals Day, my co-worker and I finally found the time to get gifts for our secretaries. While at the store, my colleague noticed my disappointment when I discovered the shop didn't provide gift wrapping. "What's wrong?" he asked. "They won't wrap the gifts for us," I answered. "No problem," he said quickly. "I'll ask my secretary to do it." *** Our copier was on the fritz so I put a note on it: "Service has been called." When the technician told me he had to order parts, I added a second note: "Parts have been ordered." During the next five days, when we had to use an older, slower copier on the other side of the building, someone taped a third note to the machine: "Prayers have been said." *** When my printer's type began to grow faint, I called a local repair shop, where a friendly man informed me that the printer probably needed only to be cleaned. Because the store charged $50 for such cleanings, he told me, I might be better off reading the printer's manual and trying the job myself. Pleasantly surprised by his candor, I asked, "Does your boss know that you discourage business?" "Actually it's my boss's idea," the employee replied sheepishly. "We usually make more money on repairs if we let people try to fix things themselves first." *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ( been there, done that) *** (been there, done that) *** *** (been there, done that, a couple of times) *** (been there, done that, over and over again) *** (yup) *** (gets my vote) *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

Neosadocus maximus (Gonyleptinae) ii Mandrill-devilish looking underside of a harvestman from the brazilian atlantic forest / parte de baixo de um opilião de mata atlântica (truly the stuff of nightmares)

March 31st 2024 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Cesar Chavez Day (United States) Christian feast day Abdas of Susa Acathius of Melitene (Eastern Orthodox Church) Anesius and companions Benjamin Balbina John Donne (Anglican Communion, Lutheran) March 31 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Freedom Day (Malta) International Transgender Day of Visibility King Nangklao Memorial Day (Thailand) Thomas Mundy Peterson Day (New Jersey, United States) Transfer Day (US Virgin Islands) World Backup Day Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) Anesthesia Tech Day British Summer Time Begins Dance Marathon Day Crayola Crayon Day - 1 National Crayon Day - 2 Easter Eiffel Tower Day Hug a Medievalist Day National Après Day National Baked Ham with Pineapple Day National Clams on the Half Shell Day National Farm Workers Day National She's Funny That Way Day National Tater Day Prom Day Terri's Day Oranges And Lemons Day Daylight Saving Day National Cream Cheese Frosting Day National Neighbor Day Liza Koshy’s Birthday Kids Diana Show’s Birthday Johann Sebastian Bach’s Birthday Ewan McGregor’s Birthday Cesar Chavez’s Birthday Al Gore Christopher Walken Rhea Perlman ~~~~~~~~~ Su Mar 31st, 2024 - Sun Apr 2nd, 2024 American Crossword Puzzles Week Sun Mar 31st, 2024 - Sat Apr 6th, 2024 World Hula Week (Merrie Monarch festival) Fun Observances Bunsen Burner Day Bunsen Burner Day on March 31 celebrates the inventor of the Bunsen Burner, German chemist Robert Wilhelm Eberhard von Bunsen. The most important contribution of Robert Bunsen, one that changed chemistry labs all over the world, was the Bunsen Burner. Revolutionized Chemistry A staple in all chemistry labs, the Bunsen Burner is a device that uses a flammable gas to produce a hot flame. The Bunsen Burner was the precursor to the gas stove many people used in their homes today. Photochemistry Born on March 31, 1811, Robert Bunsen is thought to be a trailblazer in the field of photochemistry. Photochemistry is a specialized branch of chemistry that looks at the chemical effects of light. He was also well-known for his work on the chemistry of arsenic, a chemical element that is used for a variety of purposes including preserving wood, but is also toxic to human beings and animals in larger quantities. How to Celebrate? Honor your chemistry teachers on this day. Thank them for all the knowledge they have imparted you. Introduce young adults and children in your life to the joys of chemistry. Learn more about the life of Robert Bunsen. Did You Know… …that Robert Bunsen also discovered cesium and rubidium with Gustav Kirchhoff? Cesium is one of 5 elements that are liquid at room temperature. *** I was teaching a life-skills class to my high school students one day, and we were discussing the various terms one might encounter in a restaurant. I asked, "What does the phrase 'à la carte' mean?" "It means," a student said, "you're in the wrong restaurant." *** When employees of the restaurant where I work attended a fire-safety seminar, we watched a fire official demonstrate the proper way to operate an extinguisher. "Pull the pin like a hand grenade," he explained, "then depress the trigger to release the foam." Later, an employee was selected to extinguish a controlled fire in the parking lot. In her nervousness, she forgot to pull the pin. Our instructor hinted, "Like a hand grenade, remember?" In a burst of confidence, she pulled the pin—and hurled the extinguisher at the blaze. *** When I bought my new Lexus Sport Coupe, my two sons asked me who would inherit it if I met my demise. I pondered the question, then told them if I passed away on an even day, the son born on an even day would get it. If it happened on an odd day, the one born on the odd day would get it. A few weekends later, while river rafting with one of my sons, I was tossed out of the boat. As I floated in the rapids, I heard my son yelling, "It's the wrong day!" *** Going over our weekly training schedule one morning at our small Army garrison, we noticed that our annual trip to the rifle range had been canceled for the second time, but that our semi–annual physical-fitness test was still on as planned. "Does it bother anyone else," one soldier asked, "that the Army doesn't seem concerned with how well we can shoot, yet is extremely interested in how fast we can run?" *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

Jumping spider (Hyllus walckenaeri) Jumping spider (Hyllus walckenaeri), male. Central Sulawesi, Indonesia.

March 30th 2024 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Blessed Amadeus IX, Duke of Savoy Blessed Maria Restituta Kafka John Climacus Mamertinus of Auxerre Quirinus of Neuss Thomas Son Chasuhn, Marie-Nicolas-Antoine Daveluy (part of The Korean Martyrs) Tola of Clonard March 30 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Land Day (Palestine) National Doctors' Day (United States) Spiritual Baptist/Shouter Liberation Day (Trinidad and Tobago) School Day of Non-violence and Peace (Spain) Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) Black Saturday Doctors' Day Earth Hour Easter Saturday Grass is Always Browner on the Other Side of the Fence Day Holy Saturday - 1 Orthodox Holy Saturday - 2 National Fitness Recovery Day National Folding Laundry Day National I Am In Control Day National Julia Day National Pencil Day National Victoria Day National Virtual Vacation Day National Wendy Day Torrents Day Turkey Neck Soup Day World Bipolar Day World Tb-303 Appreciation day Vincent van Gogh’s Birthday NF’s Birthday Eric Clapton’s Birthday Celine Dion’s Birthday Warren Beatty ~~~~~~~~~ Sat Mar 30th, 2024 - Sun Apr 7th, 2024 NanoDays Sat Mar 30th, 2024 - Sun Apr 14th, 2024 Edinburgh Science Festival Fun Observances Take a Walk in the Park Day Commune with nature and enjoy the bounties it has to offer on Take a Walk in the Park Day. Celebrated annually on March 30, the unofficial holiday encourages people to get active and enjoy the physical and mental benefits that come from walking in nature. Better Health Studies have shown that walking for about 30 minutes a day can have huge health benefits. Walking can not only help burn calories and reduce weight, but can also lower the risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancers. It can also increase heart activity and lower blood pressure. Reduces Stress and Boosts Mood Walking in nature - away from the dust and pollution of streets and cars - can boost moods and reduce stress. Studies have shown that people who hike or walk in green areas tend to be happier than those who don't. Take a Walk in the Park Day is also sometimes known as National Take a Walk in the Park Day in the United States. How to Celebrate? This one's easy. Wear your finest walking shoes, leave your phone behind and breathe in the fresh air as you walk around your local park. Recruit a good friend or a fun family member to accompany you on your walk. What better way to enjoy nature and maintain your health than to share it with a loved one? Did You Know... ...that the Northeast Greenland National Park in Greenland is the world's largest national park? Also the world's northern-most park, it covers around 375,000 square miles (972,000 square kilometers) of land. *** Living in a dry county was the bane of my friend Robert's existence. He was complaining to me one day about having to make a 60-mile round trip to get his favorite brand of bourbon. "I buy it by the case," he said. "Are you addicted to that stuff?" I asked. Robert thought for a second. "I don't know. I've never run out." *** Finishing up our work at a trade show in San Diego, my co-worker Maureen and I decided to go sightseeing across the border in Tijuana, Mexico. While there, we went shopping and bought a few pieces of clay kitchenware. As we crossed back into the United States, a customs official asked if we had anything of value to report. "Not really," Maureen replied, digging in her bag for the bean crock she had purchased. Everyone around us froze as she continued, "I only bought a little pot." *** My friend Ann and I were eating at a Chinese restaurant. When an elderly waiter set chopsticks at our places, Ann made a point of reaching into her purse and pulling out her own pair. "As an environmentalist," she declared, "I do not approve of destroying bamboo forests for throwaway utensils." The waiter inspected her chopsticks. "Very beautiful," he said politely. "Ivory." *** A group of Alaskan housewives had gotten together for morning coffee and, since several of us were pregnant, the talk drifted to babies and doctors. One of the women announced that she was now going to a woman doctor. "At least," she said, "I'll be able to depend on my doctor being around during moose season!" *** *** *** *** *** *** (I guess that makes me a certified fool😉) *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** Update The Boss Bear: Meet the Most Badass Bear in Banff *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

“A Venus flytrap consumes a spider.”

March 29th 2024 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Armogastes Berthold of Calabria Gwynllyw Jonas and Barachisius March 29 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Boganda Day (Central African Republic) Commemoration of the 1947 Rebellion (Madagascar) National Vietnam War Veterans Day (United States) Day of the Young Combatant (Chile) Youth Day (Taiwan) Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) Good Friday Knights Of Columbus Founder's Day - 1 Knights of Columbus Founders Day - 2 Mermaid Day National Lemon Chiffon Cake Day National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day Niagara Falls Runs Dry Day Payday It Forward Texas Loves the Children Day Vietnam Veterans Day World Marbles Day World Piano Day Mark Thomas’s Birthday Irene’s Birthday Jack Wright’s Birthday Sulli’s Birthday CJ So Cool’s Birthday ~~~~~~~~~ Fri Mar 29th, 2024 - Sun Mar 31st, 2024 Ultra Music Festival Fun Observances Smoke and Mirrors Day Celebrate the magic on Smoke and Mirrors Day. Also sometimes known as Festival of Smoke and Mirrors Day, this unofficial holiday is celebrated annually on March 29. Smoke and mirrors is an English language phrase that is used to describe things and actions that are deceptive, manipulative, or lack complete explanation. Act of Illusion Usually associated with illusionists and magicians, it is thought that the phrase originated from the classic act of illusion where a magician makes objects or people appear or disappear by using smokes and mirrors as a distraction. Because of this, the phrase is often used to refer to actions that distract from the reality or cover up the truth. Things That Do Not Exist In computing, the term smoke and mirrors is often used to refer to programs that seem to exist, but in reality do not. Mirror Magic Magic as a performance art has been used to entertain people around the world since ancient times. In smoke and mirror magic tricks, magicians create optical illusions by diverting a spectator's attention away from the actions that create the "magic". Mirrors are also often used to create illusions by manipulating light and using the properties of reflection and refraction. Some of the popular magic tricks using mirrors include the Sphinx and the Vampire. In both tricks, mirrors are used to hide the object, usually the head of a person. How to Celebrate? Learn some magic tricks and entertain your friends and colleagues. Preferably try to use smoke and mirrors in your tricks. Spend some time learning about how to achieve illusions using mirrors. Did You Know... ...that the earliest mirrors used by humans were bodies of dark, still water? *** While on vacation, my wife and I stopped for lunch at a diner. We sat at the counter, right next to the grill. The cook was a young man who was very busy flipping pancakes. Every so often, he would stop and hit the grill with the handle of the spatula. Finally I asked him facetiously, "Does that improve the taste of the pancakes?" "No," he replied. "That keeps the handle from falling off." *** Searching in my library for two books by communications expert Deborah Tannen turned into an Abbott and Costello routine. "What's the first book?" the librarian asked. "That's Not What I Meant," I said. "Well, what did you mean?" "That's the title of the book," I explained. "Okay." She looked at me a little skeptically. "And the other book?" "You Just Don't Understand." "Excuse me?" I got both books. Eventually. *** Coincidences were flying when a man was arrested and charged with stealing a bird feeder from Cornell University's ornithology laboratory. According to the Associated Press, police charged James Buzzard, 44, who lives on Cardinal Drive in Ithaca, N.Y., with stealing the feeder from the lab on Sapsucker Woods Road. *** A friend living in an isolated Montana mining town suspected that she wasn't getting the best dental care. Her first trip to a competent dentist in Butte confirmed her suspicions. After a thorough examination the dentist asked but one question: "Been doing your own work?" *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

March 28th 2024 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Priscus Pope Sixtus III March 28 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Serfs Emancipation Day (Tibet) Teachers' Day (Czech Republic and Slovakia) Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) Barnum & Bailey Day Eat an Eskimo Pie Day Holy Thursday Major League Baseball Opening Day Maundy Thursday National Amber Day National Black Forest Cake Day National Hot Tub Day National Ram Day National Triglycerides Day Respect Your Cat Day Virtual Advocacy Day World Piano Day Wear A Hat Day International Women in Music Day National Weed Appreciation Day Reba McEntire’s Birthday Lady Gaga’s Birthday Kate Gosselin’s Birthday Caleb Coffee’s Birthday Vince Vaughn’s Birthday Jackson Wang’s Birthday Julia Stiles Jonathan Van Ness ~~~~~~~~~ Thu Mar 28th, 2024 - Wed Apr 3rd, 2024 National Protocol Officer's Week Fun Observances Something on a Stick Day March 28 is Something on a Stick Day. It is a day to have fun with your food and to celebrate delicious and easy-to-eat dishes on a stick. In many cultures, snacks and road-side food are served on a stick or a skewer. Savory or Sweet These snacks are usually chunks of vegetables or meat that are grilled, baked, or fried. Food on a stick can be savory or sweet and can be served hot or cold. Meat on a Stick Kebabs (kebap or kebob) are some of the most well-known snacks that are cooked and or served on sticks. Usually made of lamb meat, though pork, beef, and chicken can also be used to make the dish, kebabs are eaten around the world as a snack or as a main dish. Easy to Handle Another favorite food on a stick, typically found at fairs and food markets is a corn dog - a sausage that is dipped in a batter and fried. Sweet snacks that are often served on a stick include caramel apples, ice pops, and cotton candy. How to Celebrate? Throw an everything-on-a-stick-party and serve your guests food and drinks (think popsicles) on a stick. Rethink what you eat daily as dishes on a stick. What about making pancakes on a stick or pies on a stick? Prefer to be healthy? Eat fruit on a stick. Did You Know... ...that the ancient Greeks used sticks or skewers to cook their meat? *** Several months ago, my daughter and I had similar virus symptoms. She decided to consult a doctor so as not to lose any more time from her job. “I’ll see the doctor,” she said, “and then tell you what’s wrong with us.” The next day she called to say, “Guess what, Mom. We’re pregnant!” *** I was editing classified ads for a small-town newspaper when a man called to place an ad. "It should read," he said, "‘Free to good home. Golden retriever. Will eat anything, loves children.’" *** Once while riding the bus to work, I noticed a man at a stop enjoying a cup of coffee. As we approached the stop, he finished drinking and set the cup on the ground. This negligence surprised me, since it seemed to be a good ceramic cup. Days later I saw the same man again drinking his coffee at the bus stop. Once again, he placed the cup on the grass before boarding. When the bus pulled away, I looked back in time to see a dog carefully carrying the cup in his mouth as he headed for home. *** The board of education in a nearby town sold off a building that had been a one-room schoolhouse. The buyer converted it to a tavern. One day an elderly man was walking by the place with his grandson and pointed to the building. "That's where I went to school when I was your age." "Really," said the boy. "Who was your bartender back then?" *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

BRAZILIAN CRAB SPIDER BRAZILIAN CRAB SPIDER (Epicadus heterogaster)... | animals, animals, animals

March 27th 2024 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Alexander, a Pannonian soldier, martyred in 3rd century. Amador of Portugal Augusta of Treviso Charles Henry Brent (Episcopal Church (USA)) Gelasius, Archbishop of Armagh John of Egypt Philetus Romulus of Nîmes, a Benedictine abbot, martyred c. 730. Rupert of Salzburg Zanitas and Lazarus of Persia March 27 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Armed Forces Day (Myanmar) Day of the Union of Bessarabia with Romania (Romania) World Theatre Day (International) Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) American Red Cross Giving Day Celebrate Exchange Day Holy Wednesday International Whiskey Day Little Red Wagon Day Manatee Appreciation Day National Acoustic Soul Day National Governance Professionals Day National Joe Day National Medical Science Liaison Awareness and Appreciation Day National Viagra Day Scribble Day Quirky Country Music Song Titles Day Whole Grain Sampling Day Quentin Tarantino’s Birthday Kendra Scott’s Birthday Vicki Gunvalson’s Birthday Mariah Carey’s Birthday Lalisa Manoban’s Birthday KennaDee Kay Haddock’s Birthday Brenda Song’s Birthday Fergie ~~~~~~~~~ Wed Mar 27th, 2024 - Tue Apr 2nd, 2024 Autism Acceptance Week Fun Observances Spanish Paella Day March 27 is Spanish Paella Day. Celebrate this unofficial holiday by cooking this rice and saffron dish. Paella is a quintessentially Spanish rice dish that is thought to have originated in the Valencia region of Spain. Rice and Saffron The dish is typically made of rice, different kinds of beans, and meat. It is flavored with saffron, paprika, and other spices and herbs. Different Types At least two different versions of the dish exist. Seafood paella replaces the beans and the meat, which is usually chicken, rabbit, or snails, with seafood. Common seafood additions to the seafood paella are lobster, mussels, and shrimp. Mixed paella, on the other hand, includes both meat and seafood. Special Pan Paella is usually cooked over an open fire in a large shallow steel pan with two handles, also called paella. Tradition has it that diners must eat directly out of the pan. How to Celebrate? With some paella, of course! Whip up a batch at home or visit your local Spanish restaurant to enjoy this delicious rice dish. If you have always wanted to visit Spain, what better excuse to book your next vacation to the country and sample some local paella? Did You Know… …that the paella comes from the Latin word patella, meaning pan? *** Q. There's a one-story house where everything inside is pink: pink walls, pink doors, pink floors, pink ceilings, pink windows, pink curtains, pink chairs, and pink tables. What color are the stairs? A. There are none—it's a one-story house! *** Son: What's the difference between love and marriage? Father: Love is blind. Marriage is an eye opener. *** A man boards a plane and is seated next to an Air Marshall and his ‘sniffing dog’. Soon, the plane takes off and the Marshall says, “Sniffer, search.” The dog walks along the aisle, and stops next to a woman. He then returns to his seat and puts a paw on the Marshall’s arm. “Good boy,” says the Marshall. “What happened?” asks the man. “That woman is in possession of marijuana. We’ll arrest her when we land.” Once again, Sniffer searches the aisles. He stops beside a man, then returns to his seat, and places two paws on the Marshall’s arm. “That man is carrying cocaine,” the Marshall explains. The dog walks up the aisle again, then races back, jumps into his seat, and poops all over it. “What’s going on?!” demands the man. The Marshall nervously replies, “He just found a bomb!” *** My husband is a big Atlanta Braves fan. When I saw an ad on television for a baseball autographed by one of his favorite players that cost $42, I rushed out and bought it for him as a gift. That evening as we were watching television, the same commercial came on. Slyly I glanced over at my husband just as he commented, "What kind of idiot would pay $42 for a baseball?" *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

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March 26th 2024 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast days: Castulus Emmanuel and companions Felicitas Harriet Monsell (Church of England) Larissa Ludger Richard Allen (Episcopal Church (USA)) March 26 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Independence Day and National Day (Bangladesh), celebrates the declaration of independence from Pakistan in 1971. Martyr's Day or Day of Democracy (Mali) Prince Kūhiō Day (Hawaii, United States) Purple Day (Canada and United States) Synaxis of the Archangel Gabriel (Eastern Christianity) Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) Air Max Day American Diabetes Alert Day Black Marriage Day Epilepsy Awareness / Purple Day Good Hair Day Holy Tuesday Live Long and Prosper Day National Day of Life, Peace and Justice National Landon Day National Nougat Day National Spinach Day National Wayne Day Solitude Day Wear A Hat Day National Science Appreciation Day Nancy Pelosi’s Birthday Steven Tyler’s Birthday Jeff Magid’s Birthday Gavin Magnus’s Birthday Diana Ross’s Birthday Danielle Bregoli’s Birthday Brittany Banks’s Birthday Kenny Chesney’s Birthday Jonathan Groff Larry Page Bhad Bhabie Fun Observances Make Up Your Own Holiday Day March 26 is Make Up Your Own Holiday Day. It is a day to think up of a thing, person, animal, phrase, or food and create a holiday to celebrate it. The unofficial holiday honors all made-up holidays past, present, and future and encourages people to come up with creative, quirky, offbeat, important, and significant things to celebrate, observe, and commemorate. The holiday is also known as National Make up Your Own Holiday Day in the United States. Special Days A holiday is a special day during the year, when normal, day-to-day activities such as going to school or work or opening up businesses are temporarily interrupted. On these days, other activities such as visiting places of worship, preparing special meals, and decorating homes and places of businesses are encouraged. Unofficial and Official Holidays can be official or unofficial. Official holidays usually mean that they are sanctioned by the government. Everyone who observes the holiday usually gets the day off from work. Official holidays can be religious, like Christmas, Diwali, Yom Kippur, or Eid al-Fitr; or they can be national, like the country's independence or constitution day. Other official holidays, like New Year's Day or Labor Day, are secular holidays and can be celebrated by people of all religious faiths. Fun and Serious Holidays Unofficial holidays, on the other hand, are not sanctioned by the government. This means that people usually do not get a day off, nor do businesses or government offices close to celebrate or observe the holiday. Unofficial holidays can include national and global awareness holidays such as UN days, and fun holidays that celebrate trivial, unimportant, and fun things like food, movies, books, and television series. How to Celebrate? Make up your own holiday, of course! Create a holiday, spread the word and celebrate it when the day comes. If you want to make it official, you may have to talk to your local representative - only an official act of the legislature or government can make a holiday a national day. Did You Know... ...that the holiday comes from the Old English word haligdæg, meaning holy day? *** "Daddy," said my 11-year-old daughter, "I think I want to join the Army." "Baby," I answered, "I think the Air Force would be a better option for you." "But I don't want to be a pilot." "You don't have to be a pilot," I told her. "There are other jobs in the Air Force." Her answer: "I don't want to be a flight attendant either." *** Think it's easy being a tour guide? VisitBritain, a travel bureau, has compiled these tourist questions. "Is Wales closed during the winter?" "Why did they build Windsor Castle on the flight path of Heathrow?" "Who feeds the Loch Ness monster?" "Are there any Sheena Easton museums in Glasgow?" *** 10 Quotes About Springtime "Spring is nature's way of saying, 'Let's party'"" --Robin Williams "The weather here is gorgeous. It's mild and feels like it's in the eighties. The hot dog vendors got confused because of the weather and thought it was spring, so they accidentally changed the hot dog water in their carts." --David Letterman "In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt." --Margaret Atwood "If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome." -- Josh Billings "Flowers are the sweetest things God ever made and forgot to put a soul into." -- Henry Ward Beecher "Gardens and flowers have a way of bringing people together, drawing them from their homes." -- Clare Ansberry "The earth laughs in flowers." -- e e cummings "At my age flowers scare me." -- George Burns "If the English language made any sense, lackadaisical would have something to do with a shortage of flowers." -- Doug Larsen "A cynic is a man who, when he smells flowers, looks around for a coffin." -- H. L Mencken *** When I arrived at school for my daughter's parent-teacher conference, the teacher seemed a bit flustered, especially when she started telling me that my little girl didn't always pay attention in class and was sometimes a little flighty. "For example, she'll do the wrong page in the workbook," the teacher explained, "and I've even found her sitting at the wrong desk." "I don't understand," I replied defensively. "Where could she have gotten that?" The teacher went on to reassure me that my daughter was still doing fine in school and was sweet and likable. Finally, after a pause, she added, "By the way, Mrs. Gulbrandsen, our appointment was tomorrow." *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

ii ii @Bill W If you click on: Bolas spider – spiderbytes and read/scroll through the article, any and all your questions will be answered. Regards, sandrewn

Bolas spider – spiderbytes (Mastophora chrysonoma) & 2 males Note size difference - (easier for her to eat !)