sandrewn

January 1st 2022 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Adalard of Corbie Basil the Great (Eastern Orthodox Church) Feast of the Circumcision of Christ Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus (Anglican Communion, Lutheran Church) Feast of Fools (Medieval Europe) Fulgentius of Ruspe Giuseppe Maria Tomasi Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, the Octave Day of Christmas, considered a holy day of obligation in some countries (Catholic Church); and its related observances: World Day of Peace Telemachus Zygmunt Gorazdowski January 1 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Earliest day on which Handsel Monday can fall, while January 7 is the latest; celebrated on the first Monday of the year (Scotland) Second day of Hogmanay (Scotland) December 31-January 1, in some cases until January 2. The last day of Kwanzaa (African-Americans) The eighth of the Twelve Days of Christmas (Western Christianity) Constitution Day (Italy) Dissolution of Czechoslovakia-related observances: Day of the Establishment of the Slovak Republic (Slovakia) Restoration Day of the Independent Czech State (Czech Republic) Emancipation Day (United States) Euro Day (European Union) Flag Day (Lithuania) commemorates raising of the Lithuanian flag on Gediminas' Tower in 1919 Founding Day (Taiwan) commemorates the establishment of the Provisional Government in Nanjing Global Family Day Independence Day (Brunei, Cameroon, Haiti, Sudan) International Nepali Dhoti and Nepali Topi Day Jump-up Day (Montserrat) Kalpataru Day (Ramakrishna Movement) Kamakura Ebisu, January 1–3 (Kamakura, Kanagawa, Japan) National Bloody Mary Day (United States) National Tree Planting Day (Tanzania) New Year's Day (Gregorian calendar) Japanese New Year Novy God Day (Russia) Sjoogwachi (Okinawa Islands) Polar Bear Swim Day (Canada and United States) Public Domain Day (multiple countries) Triumph of the Revolution (Cuba) Observances (click on the day or week for details) Ring a Bell Day Copyright Law Day Euro Day Commitment Day Polar Bear Plunge Day National Fruitcake Toss Day National Bloody Mary Day Z Day Observances (click on the month for details) Veganuary Month National Hobby Month Get A Balanced Life Month National Clean Up Your Computer Month Get Organized Month International Creativity Month Celebration Of Life Month International Brainteaser Month National Oatmeal Month National Be Kind To Food Servers Month National Hot Tea Month National Soup Month Fun Observances Polar Bear Plunge Day Also known as Polar Plunge, Polar Bear Swim Day, New Year's Dive, Loony Dook Start off the year with an act of daredevilry. Celebrate Polar Plunge Day on January 1 by taking a dip in the cold, freezing waters of your local lake, river or pond. The Polar Bear Plunge, where participants jump into a cold water body, is an activity usually held in the Northern Hemisphere. It is a popular New Year’s Day tradition in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Netherlands. In these countries, many people organize and participate in a Polar Bear Plunge for charity. Too cold? Celebrate Swim a Lap Day in June instead. How to Celebrate? If you are brave enough to participate, find a pond, lake, the sea or just fill up your bath with freezing cold water and take a plunge. Support someone who is participating in a Polar Bear Plunge for charity. In the Southern Hemisphere? Then you probably want to celebrate Polar Bear Plunge Day every day until the summer is over. Did You Know… … that polar bears have 2 layers of fur and are insulated from the cold with 4 inches (10 cm) of blubber? *** Two dog owners are arguing about whose pet is smarter. “My dog is so smart,” says the first owner, “that every morning he goes to the store and buys me a sesame seed bagel with chive cream cheese, stops off at Starbucks and picks me up a mocha latte, and then comes home and turns on ESPN, all before I get out of bed.” “I know,” says the second owner. “How do you know?” the first demands. “My dog told me.” *** A woman called our airline 
customer-service desk asking if she could take her dog on board. “Sure,” I said, “as long as you provide your own kennel.” I further explained that the kennel needed to be large enough for the dog to stand up, sit down, turn around, and roll over. The customer was flummoxed: 
“I’ll never be able to teach him all of that by tomorrow!” *** I’m a dog trainer. Before I met with a new client, I had her fill out a questionnaire. One question asked, “Why did you choose this breed?” My client responded, “I often ask myself this very same question.” *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

December 31 and I thought this terrible year was finally over and then, we lost Betty. I think every English speaking adult that I know, knew who she was. Eighty years spent entertaining us will do that. It was her mastery of comedy that all but gaurantees it. Gone but not to be forgotten. Reruns are forever. This article from People, tells a whole bunch, that most of us (me included) didn't know. Betty White Reveals Her Secrets to Long, Happy Life | PEOPLE.com In a 2012 TimesTalks conversation with New York Times columnist Frank Bruni, White said she found "nothing" difficult about getting older, citing her mother's own optimistic approach to death. "My mother had a wonderful approach to death," White said. "She always thought of it as — she said, 'We know we have managed to find out almost anything that exists, but nobody knows ... what happens at that moment when it's over.' " She continued: "And she said, 'It's the one secret that we don't know.' So whenever we would lose somebody very close and very dear, she would always say, 'Well, now he knows the secret.' And it took the curse off of it somehow." Rest in Peace, Betty White Fair Winds and Following Seas (and now you too, know the secret) sandrewn I found this on Twitter, with reference to her only being 99. It makes perfect sense to me. Qasim Rashid, Esq. @QasimRashid On one hand she was 99 years 348 days old when she died. On the other hand she lived through 24 leap years, i.e. 24 extra days. All I'm saying is mathematically, it arguably checks out that she lived 100 years and 7 days. #restinpower #bettywhite

December 31st - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Pope Sylvester I (Catholic Church) December 31 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) International Solidarity Day of Azerbaijanis (Azerbaijan) New Year's Eve (International observance), and its related observances: First Night (United States) Last Day of the Year or Bisperás ng Bagong Taón, special holiday between Rizal Day and New Year's Day (Philippines) Novy God Eve (Russia) Ōmisoka (Japan) The first day of Hogmanay or "Auld Year's Night" (Scotland) The seventh of the Twelve Days of Christmas (Western Christianity) The sixth and penultimate day of Kwanzaa (United States) Observances (click on the day or week for details) No Interruptions Day National Champagne Day Fun Observances Make Up Your Mind Day Are you indecisive? Then, Make Up Your Mind Day is the unofficial holiday you should choose to close out the year with. The name of this unofficial holiday comes from the English language phrase make up your mind, which means to make a decision. The day encourages people to take charge of their lives and make decisions that they can stand by and be proud of, in the upcoming year. Important Quality Being decisive can be challenging especially in today's fast-paced, uncertainty-ridden world. People have more information and resources available to assist them in their decision-making process, but have fewer controls over the outcomes and the consequences of their choices. Despite this, decisiveness is more and more being viewed as an important quality for people to have both in their professional world and in their personal lives. Studies have shown that employees react favorably to decisive bosses and employers and co-workers tend to view indecisive people as incompetent and weak. Easy to Learn However, there is good news for the chronic overanalyzer and the lifelong second guesser - decisiveness may not come naturally to you, but you can easily learn how to make good decisions, quickly and with little anguish. Experts suggest that to be decisive, one must first become comfortable with incomplete information and embrace risk. Start with small, inconsequential decisions and work your way to life altering major decisions. Do not underestimate gut feelings, but do not rely just on them. Listen to your heart and to your brain. Break down big decisions into smaller, more manageable mini decisions and never hesitate to ask for help. How to Celebrate? By making up your mind, of course. Have a big decision to make? Don't hesitate, just do it and don't worry about what could have been. Resolve to make quick decisions and try not to regret them. For example, next time you are at a restaurant, give yourself a time limit to make your menu selection and stick to it. Struggling to be decisive? Ask a friend or a family member to be your support system. Tell them to pull you back in line every time you start waffling. Meditate over your decisions. Make a pro and con list and reason out the consequences of your decision logically. Stick to the list and once you have made your decision, do not go back on it. Did You Know… …that according to some studies, making high-stress decisions can tire out the brain, making it less effective for other activities? *** The Dumbest Police Calls in America From the police blotter, 
or, what a beat cop deals with 
every day: • A deputy responded to a report 
of a vehicle stopping at mailboxes. 
It was the mail carrier. • A woman said her son was 
attacked by a cat, and the cat would not allow her to take her son to the hospital. • A resident said someone had 
entered his home at night and taken five pounds of bacon. Upon further investigation, police discovered 
his wife had gotten up for a late-night snack. • A man reported that a squirrel 
was running in circles on Davis Drive, and he wasn’t sure if it was sick or had been hit by a car. An 
officer responded, and as he drove on the street, he ran over the squirrel. *** Three Dumb ER Stories You’re Allowed To Laugh At “Patient in to ER at 0400 with no complaints: ‘I have been having chest pain for 4 months but I am not having chest pain now. The reason I’m here now is because I heard that 4am is the best time to come cause there are not that many people.’ ” “Had a woman call 911 because she ‘had déjà vu in the shower and got nervous.’” “Got a frantic call from a woman who claimed she had overdosed and needed help immediately. We arrive on scene, and she hands us an empty mint container, saying she took them all. That night she learned that you cannot overdose on mints.” *** The Mystery Kitchen Utensil My collection of vintage kitchen utensils includes one whose intended purpose was always a mystery. It looks like a cross between a metal slotted spoon and a spatula, so I 
use it as both. When not in use, it 
is prominently displayed in a 
decorative ceramic utensil caddy 
in my kitchen. The mystery of the spoon/spatula was recently solved when I found one in its original packaging at 
a rummage sale. It’s a pooper-scooper. *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

Today was a milestone for us here in Quebec. Today we had the most new cases of Covid, since the start of the pandemic. Over 14,000 (reported) new cases, with over 16,000 projected for tomorrow, new years eve. We were the only province to impose a curfew since this all started and to start off 2022 a new curfew will ring in the new year. What ever it takes, so be it. As I wait for my booster shot, I wish you all a better year than the last two. Quebec imposes nighttime COVID-19 curfew starting on New Year's Eve | CP24.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ December 30th - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Abraham the Writer Anysia of Salonika Egwin of Evesham Frances Joseph-Gaudet (Episcopal Church) Liberius of Ravenna Pope Felix I Ralph of Vaucelles Roger of Cannae December 30 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Day of the Declaration of Slovakia as an Independent Ecclesiastic Province (Slovakia) Rizal Day (Philippines) The fifth day of Kwanzaa (United States) The sixth of the Twelve Days of Christmas (Western Christianity) Observances (click on the day or week for details) National Bacon Day Fun Observances Bicarbonate of Soda Day December 30 is Bicarbonate Of Soda Day. Also known as baking soda, sodium bicarbonate is one of the most commonly found chemical compound in households. While the origins of this holiday are unknown, we can all safely assume that whoever created this holiday, not only wanted to give a shout out to one of the most used chemical compounds in the history of mankind, but also wanted to encourage people to use it more and more in their daily lives. Multi-Purpose Household Item Commonly used these days in baking, cleaning, polishing old silverware and treating heartburn, bicarbonate of soda was used by ancient Egyptians for painting. Known by Many Names The compound's scientific name is sodium hydrogen carbonate, but it is known by many other names around the world. Some of the common ones are baking soda, cooking soda and bread soda. How to Celebrate? Learn about the history of the manufacturing and use of baking soda. Learn what other things you can use baking soda for. Build a baking soda and vinegar volcano at home. Did You Know… …that baking soda is a very versatile household product? Use it to deodorize your fridge, to clean tea and coffee stained cups and teapots, and clean household surfaces. *** Because it was my brother's birthday, our mom wanted to do something special. She called his fraternity house and said she wanted to bring a cake. The young man who took the call was very excited. "Hey, Mrs. Schaeffer," he said, "that would be great!" The next day she drove to the fraternity and rang the doorbell. The same boy answered the door. When he saw the cake, his face fell. "Oh," he said, clearly disappointed. "I thought you said 'keg.' " *** Forget about the past, you can't change it. Forget about the future, you can't predict it. Forget about the present, I didn't get you one. *** Here’s the news: A Rhode Island man was arrested for passing a counterfeit $100 bill. What gave him away? Lincoln’s face: It’s supposed to be on the $5 bill. Here’s the laugh: A counterfeiter drives to a small town, enters a store, and hands the rube behind the counter an $18 bill. “Mind making change?” he asks. “Sure,” says the clerk. “Ya want two nines or three sixes?” *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

December 29th - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: David, King and prophet (Catholic, Lutheran) Jonathan, Prince of Israel and David's friend.[20] Thomas Becket Trophimus of Arles December 29 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Constitution Day (Ireland) Independence Day (Mongolia) The fifth day of Christmas (Western Christianity) The fourth day of Kwanzaa (United States) Observances (click on the day or week for details) Tick Tock Day Fun Observances Pepper Pot Day December 29 is Pepper Pot Day, an unofficial holiday that honors the stew famously associated with George Washington's army during the American Revolution. Made of tripe, vegetables and pepper, pepper pot soup, also sometimes known as Philadelphia pepper pot, has for long been the subject of many American revolution legends. Rumor has it that the soup was responsible for helping George Washington's army win the American Revolution. During the war, many farmers chose to sell food to the British. This created a shortage of food for the Continental Army. The cooks in the army cooked whatever they could find their hand on in a stew and saved the day by feeding soldiers pepper pot. Different Versions Versions of the stew can be found in Guyana and other Caribbean countries, where it is reserved for special ocassions like weddings and holidays. The Caribbean version of the stew does not use tripe, and has hot peppers as one its main ingredients. It is thought that the Philadelphia pepper pot may have been inspired in many ways by the cuisine of Caribbean slaves and immigrants in America. How to Celebrate? Make a big pot of pepper pot stew at home and invite your friends and family to enjoy it with you. Did You Know… … that tripe usually comes from 3 of the 4 chambers of a cow's stomach? *** On a fishing trip to a remote lake in Northern Quebec, I asked the outfitter, “Do you stay here during the winter?” “No,” he said. “The snow gets too deep. We can’t get supplies in. Like many Canadians, I go south for the winter.” “Oh,” I said. “Where do you go?” “Vermont.” *** Concerned about what will happen to cities if the polar ice caps melt? Don't be. New names have already been chosen. Atlantis City, New Jersey Pariscope, France Sail 'Em, Massachusetts Floodelphia, Pennsylvania Helsunki, Finland Sao Marco ... Paulo, Brazil *** According to a news story, if global warming continues, in 20 years the only chance we'll have to see a polar bear is in a zoo. So in other words, nothing is going to change. *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

@sixxone Thank You!

December 28th - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Abel (Coptic Church) Caterina Volpicelli Feast of the Holy Innocents or Childermas; in Spain and Latin American countries the festival is celebrated with pranks (inocentadas), similar to April Fools' Day (Catholic Church, Church of England, Lutheran Church), and its related observances: Els Enfarinats (Ibi, Spain) Simon the Athonite December 28 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) King Taksin Memorial Day (Thailand) Proclamation Day (South Australia), celebration started on the day following Christmas (South Australia) Republic Day (South Sudan) The fourth of the Twelve Days of Christmas (Western Christianity) Observances (click on the day or week for details) A Blue Christmas Fri Nov 26th, 2021 - Fri Dec 31st, 2021 Fun Observances Card Playing Day Tired of all the holiday activities? Need a break before the New Year fun begins? Get your family and friends together for a quiet and fun night in on Card Playing Day. Held annually on December 28, the day celebrates card games and aims to bring together family and friends after a busy holiday season. How to Celebrate? Learn a new card game. Host a card game night. Keep it simple, get take-out or pop a few frozen pizzas in the oven and get playing. Did You Know… …that the earliest known records of playing cards exist from the 9th century during the Tang Dynasty in China? *** Every morning I think I’m going to make pancakes, but I keep waffling. *** A man told a friend about taking his wife to dinner for their anniversary. He described how the food was made in front of them. The friend said, “I’ve heard of places like that, what is the name of the restaurant?” The man replied, “Subway.” *** My granddaughter told me, 
 “Don’t buy brown eggs; they’re not ripe yet.” *** We Uber drivers never know whom we’re going to end up with as a passenger. One day, I was driving over a new bridge, the design of which was very confusing. Completely confounded, I muttered, “I’d love to meet the genius who designed this mess.” With that, my passenger extended his hand in my direction and said, “Well, today is your lucky day. My name is Mike, I work for the county engineer’s office, and I’m the genius who designed this!” Surprisingly, he still gave me a tip. *** At an event famous for giving out awards in bizarre categories, the emcee enthusiastically announces, “The next prize will go to the laziest person in the audience. If you think you qualify, raise your hand.” Everyone raises their hands except a middle-aged man who seems to show little interest. “Congratulations! You are the winner,” says the emcee to the man. “Your prize is this $100 bill!” Still showing no emotion, the man replies, “Would you mind coming over here and putting it in my pocket?” *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

December 27th - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Blessed Francesco Spoto Blessed Sára Salkaházi Fabiola John the Apostle Pope Maximus of Alexandria Nicarete Theodorus and Theophanes December 27 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Constitution Day (North Korea) Emergency Rescuer's Day (Russia) St. Stephen's Day (Eastern Orthodox Church; a public holiday in Romania) The third of the Twelve Days of Christmas (Western Christianity) Observances (click on the day or week for details) Make Cut-Out Snowflakes Day National Fruitcake Day Visit The Zoo Day Fun Observances No Interruptions Day Put up a "Do Not Disturb" sign on your door and ban all interruptions on December 27 because it is No Interruptions Day. Holiday season tire you out? Ready to recharge your batteries before the New Year? While the creator of this unofficial holiday is unknown, it is very clear that they intended to create this holiday as a way to encourage people to take some time off for themselves and get ready for New Year's Eve festivities and the New Year. Disconnect In a world where there are plenty of distractions both at work and at home, it is sometimes important to disconnect and concentrate on the tasks at hand. These tasks could be as mundane as catching up on sleep, getting some me-time at the spa, or as important as putting some time in strengthening your relationships with family and friends, or finishing up work and projects for the year. The High Cost of Interruption Interruptions at the workplace are one of the biggest causes of lowered productivity and high costs. A study done by Dr. Gloria Mark at the University of California, found that on average people are interrupted about 20 times in an hour at work. Such interruptions can be in the form of phone calls, emails, co-workers stopping by to chat, and new tasks being handed off the worker. In addition to reducing productivity, interruptions in the workplace can cause higher stress levels and general dissatisfaction with work. In many workplaces such as in the airline or health industry distractions can have catastrophic consequences. The holiday is sometimes celebrated on December 31. How to Celebrate? Switch off your phones, disconnect your internet and do something you really enjoy doing – knit a scarf, read a book or work on your car, all without any interruptions. If you have been distracted at work, take this day to try and increase your productivity. Inform your colleagues that you will be working all day and would appreciate that you be bothered only in case of an emergency. Unplug your office phone, set an out of the office response to emails and concentrate on finishing up your tasks. Sometimes life's daily interruptions can affect our relationships with friends and family. Take this day to concentrate on your closest relationships. Do something special with your loved ones - go for a hike or a picnic and leave the phone behind. Spend quality time with your friends and let them know that your uninterrupted time is theirs today. Did You Know... ...that there is an academic field called interruption science that studies the effects of distractions on productivity? *** Three buildings in town were overrun by squirrels—the town hall, the hardware store, and the church. The town hall brought in some cats. But after they tore up all the files, the mayor got rid of the predators, and soon the squirrels were back. The hardware store humanely trapped the squirrels and set them free outside town. But three days later, the squirrels climbed back in. Only the church came up with an effective solution. They baptized the squirrels and made them members. Now they see them only on Christmas and Easter. *** Seeing her friend Sally wearing a new locket, Meg asks if there is a memento of some sort inside. “Yes,” says Sally, “a lock of my husband’s hair.” “But Larry’s still alive.” “I know, but his hair is gone.” *** Senior citizens have taken to texting with gusto. They even have their own vocabulary: BFF: Best Friend Fainted BYOT: Bring Your Own Teeth CBM: Covered by Medicare FWB: Friend with Beta-blockers LMDO: Laughing My Dentures Out GGPBL: Gotta Go, Pacemaker Battery Low! *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

December 26th - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Boxing Day, except when December 26 is a Sunday. If it is a Sunday, Boxing Day is transferred to December 27 by Royal Proclamation. (Commonwealth of Nations), and its related observances: Day of Good Will (South Africa and Namibia) Family Day (Vanuatu) Thanksgiving (Solomon Islands) Christian feast day: Abadiu of Antinoe (Coptic Church) Earliest day on which Feast of the Holy Family can fall, celebrated on Sunday after Christmas or 30 if Christmas falls on a Sunday. James the Just (Eastern Orthodox Church) Stephen (Western Church) Synaxis of the Theotokos (Eastern Orthodox Church) December 26 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Independence and Unity Day (Slovenia) Mauro Hamza Day (Houston, Texas) Mummer's Day (Padstow, Cornwall) St. Stephen's Day (public holiday in Alsace, Austria, Catalonia, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Ireland, Luxembourg, Poland, Slovakia and Switzerland), and its related observances: Father's Day (Bulgaria) The first day of Kwanzaa, celebrated until January 1 (United States) The first day of Junkanoo street parade, the second day is on the New Year's Day (The Bahamas) The second day of the Twelve Days of Christmas (Western Christianity) Second day of Christmas (Public holiday in the Netherlands, Poland and Slovakia) Wren Day (Ireland and the Isle of Man) Observances (click on the day or week for details) National Candy Cane Day Fun Observances Thank You Note Day On December 26, take out your best stationary and write thank you notes to everyone you need to thank because it is Write a Thank You Note Day. ‘Tis the season to exchange gifts. It is also the season to be grateful and thankful. So sit with a cup of hot chocolate and left overs from your Christmas dinner and say thank you. Hand-written, Text or Email Thank you notes are very simply notes and letters of appreciation and gratitude. Thank you notes are traditionally hand-written, though in recent years it is acceptable to send a thank you note through email or by text. Thank you notes are usually sent in a variety of professional and social situations such as after a job interview or after receiving a wedding or a birthday gift. How to Celebrate? Hand write thank you notes. Be sincere and write from the heart. The recipients will appreciate having their efforts acknowledged. If you can, why not add a small handmade gift for some of your recipients to thank them for their thoughtfulness? If you don’t have the time, an email thank you note is better than sending no such note. Did You Know... ...that the term thank is thought to come from the Old English word, þoncian meaning to reward? *** A therapist has a theory that couples who make love once a day are the happiest. So he tests it at a seminar by asking those assembled, “How many people here make love once a day?” Half the people raise their hands, each of them grinning widely. “Once a week?” A third of 
the audience members raise their hands, their grins a bit less vibrant. “Once a month?” A few hands tepidly go up. Then he asks, “OK, how about once a year?” One man in the back jumps up and down, jubilantly waving his hands. The therapist is shocked—this disproves his theory. “If you make love only once a year,” he asks, “why are you so happy?” The man yells, “Today’s the day!” *** When my coworker answered his phone, the confused woman on the other end asked, “Who is this?” “This is Steve. With whom did you wish to speak?” After a pause: “Did you just say whom?” “Yes, I did.” The woman replied, “I have the wrong number,” and hung up. *** A Twitter exchange between an angry customer and an apologetic Domino’s Pizza: Customer: Yoooo I ordered a Pizza 
& Came with no Toppings on it or anything, Its Just Bread Domino’s: We’re sorry to hear about this! Customer (minutes later): Never mind, I opened the pizza upside down *** My friend called me in hysterics. “I just saw a mouse in my kitchen!” she yelled. “I’m so grossed out! It’s 
so disgusting!” “What are you going to do?” 
I asked. “I’m not sure. But you can bet I’ll never eat the stuff I drop on the floor anymore.” *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

December 25th - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Children's Day (Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Republic of Congo) Christian feast day: Anastasia of Sirmium (Catholic Church) December 25 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Christmas Day, Christian festival commemorating the birth of Jesus. (Internationally observed) Tulsi Pujan Diwas (India) Constitution Day (Taiwan) Good Governance Day (India) Malkh-Festival (Nakh peoples of Chechnya and Ingushetia) Quaid-e-Azam's Day (Pakistan) Takanakuy (Chumbivilcas Province, Peru) Observances (click on the day or week for details) National Pumpkin Pie Day Fun Observances (2) Grav Mass Day Grav-Mass Day is an unofficial holiday celebrated annually on December 25, the birth anniversary of English physicist and mathematician Isaac Newton. A play on Christmas, the holiday is a celebration of science and reason. It is also considered to be a secular alternative to the Christian holiday. Grav-Mass refers to the Gravitational Constant and Mass, two key components of Newton’s law of universal gravitation. Science Fiction Origins The holiday was the brainchild of computer programmer and Internet rights activist, Richard Matthew Stallman. He was however, not the first one to use the term grav-mass, also sometimes spelled as gravmass or gravmas. It is believed that it was first used in a short story called Merry Gravmas by science fiction writer, James Hogan. Newtonmas A similar holiday called Newtonmas is also celebrated on December 25. Rumor has it that Newtonmas was first celebrated in 1890, 248 years after Newton's birth, by the members of Newton Association. These fans of Newton met for the first time at Imperial College and spent Christmas Day exchanging their ideas and thoughts about Newton's works and theories. Sir Isaac Newton is one of the most significant scientists of all times. He was responsible for formulating the laws of motion and gravity, and along with Gottfried Leibniz, he is credited for inventing the field of calculus. In addition, Newton worked extensively in the fields of optics and alchemy. How to Celebrate? Celebrate the life and times of Isaac Newton by sharing scientific ideas and discoveries with each other. Stallman, the inventor of the holiday, recommends decorating one’s Christmas tree with apples – the fruit that Newton credited for giving him the idea about gravitation. Make science and physics related parodies of Christmas carols and sing them. Greet people by saying "Merry Grav-Mass to you", and respond by saying "may the Force be proportional to your acceleration". These greetings come from Hogan’s short story. Send Grav-Mass Day greeting cards that say "Reasons Greetings to you". Did You Know… …that technically we should be celebrating Newton's birthday on January 4? This is because when he was born on December 25, 1642, the Julian Calendar was still in effect in England. This date converts to January 4, 1643 in the Gregorian calendar. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A'phabet Day or No "L" Day December 25 is A'phabet Day or No "L" Day, a day to skip the ‘L’ in all your correspondences and communications - written or otherwise. The origins and purpose of this very obvious’y made-up ho’iday are unknown. L is the twelfth letter in the English alphabet and the ninth consonant. A consonant is a speech sound that is created by the complete or partial constriction of the vocal organs. There are 21 consonant sounds in the English language. December 25 is also celebrated by many people around the world as Christmas Day. How to Celebrate? Celebrating A'phabet Day or No "L" Day will be a challenge. But don't worry. We have you covered! Here are some easy ways to ce’ebrate this very quirky ho’iday. Avoid the use of ‘L’ in everything you write and say today. Ban the use of any object that begin with the letter 'L' in your house and in your workplace. This holiday is also a great excuse to learn more about orthography. Orthography is the study of the rules of writing a language. Did You Know... …that the often cited Cambridge study that spelling doesn’t impede comprehension is true? According to new studies it doesn’t matter in what order letters in a word are as long as the first two letters are at the right place. *** Our company gives out Thanksgiving turkeys to retired employees. All they have to do is stop by the plant to pick them up. A few days before the holiday, a retiree called to ask, “What time do the turkeys get in?” The receptionist, without thinking, responded, “Everyone starts at eight.” *** Two old friends, Ned and John, lived for baseball. Then one day, John died, leaving Ned inconsolable. A few weeks later, Ned heard someone calling his name. He looked up. Standing on a cloud was his old pal. “Ned,” John called down, “I have good news and bad. The good news is, there’s baseball in heaven!” “Great,” said Ned. “What’s the bad news?” “You’re pitching Sunday.” *** My sister Jordan was helping my 21/2-year-old niece Berea put on her sweatshirt when Berea’s head got stuck on the neck hole. Berea started panicking and saying, “I can’t see! I can’t see!” The shirt quickly slipped over her head, and the panic was gone until her arms got stuck 
on the tight cuffs. The panic returned, and she started crying again. “My fingers can’t see! My fingers can’t see!” she said. It was all we could do not to laugh as Jordan quickly pulled Berea’s arms through the cuffs. *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

December 24th - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Adela and Irmina Paola Elisabetta Cerioli Adam and Eve[47] December 24 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Christmas Eve (Christianity) and its related observances: Aðfangadagskvöld, the day when the 13th and the last Yule Lad arrives to towns. (Iceland) Feast of the Seven Fishes (Italian Americans) Juleaften (Denmark)/Julaften (Norway)/Julafton (Sweden) Nittel Nacht (certain Orthodox Jewish denominations) Nochebuena (Spain and Spanish-speaking countries) The Declaration of Christmas Peace (Old Great Square of Turku, Finland's official Christmas City) Wigilia (Poland) Quviasukvik, the Inuit new year (Alaska, Canada, Greenland and Russia) Independence Day (Libya) Day of Military Honour – Siege of Ismail (Russia) Observances (click on the day or week for details) A Blue Christmas Fri Nov 26th, 2021 - Fri Dec 31st, 2021 Christmas normally is a time for joy. Decorations are set up, parties ensue, presents are given and laughter commences. Not many people realize that those in law enforcement work tirelessly during the holiday season to keep people safe. Blue Christmas is a holiday dedicated to those who work in that field, giving them an opportunity to be thanked for their services and celebrate Christmas their own way. History of Blue Christmas While Elvis made the term “A Blue Christmas” popular to describe Christmas blues, this holiday is for those who work in law enforcement, such as police, firefighters, EMTs, and 911 dispatchers. For them, it is rough. Long nights in the wet, cold snow or long nights in the office can be particularly dangerous, especially for those who have the potential factor of being shot at, having emotional trauma from an emergency situation, and so forth. Because of their job, they keep people safe and save lives, but it comes at a cost. They miss out on spending time with their families and lose out on enjoying what Christmas is all about. That’s why when it comes to the holiday season, Blue Christmas gives people a chance to give to others by giving gifts and thanking them for their services. While some may be cheerful doing their job, because they know that Christmas is about helping others, Blue Christmas helps raise awareness for the behind-the-scenes action that the people working in law enforcement and the medical field are the ones truly making the holiday seasons special. With the potential dangers involved, they deserved their thanks and gifts the most. How to celebrate Blue Christmas To take part in a Blue Christmas, you can easily do so by displaying a blue light throughout the winter holidays. It can be a single porch light, blue candles in the window, or blue Christmas lights as part of the display. If you know someone who works in law enforcement or the medical industry, buy or make them a gift and take the time out to thank them for what they do to keep society and the holidays going. Share this holiday on social media using the hashtag #bluechristmas and let everyone know how important it is to see those who don’t ask for much in return. Fun Observances Eggnog Day December 24 is Eggnog Day, a day to celebrate, and drink a delicious cocktail of eggs, milk, cream, sugar and spices. Originating in England, the drink has now become associated with Thanksgiving in the United States and Christmas time in many parts of the world. Alcoholic Beverage Traditionally, some kind of alcohol is added to eggnog, though non-alcoholic recipes also exist. In the United States, bourbon or whiskey is the spirit of choice, while in the United Kingdom, sherry or brandy is usually added to the beverage. Eggnog Riot While eggnog has occupied an important place during holiday social gatherings in many parts of the world, excess consumption of the drink has led to chaos in at least one particular situation. In 1826, during a Christmas party at the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York drunk cadets got involved in a brawl after drinking large amounts of eggnog. The event is popularly remembered as the Eggnog Riot. How to Celebrate? Make eggnog and share with friends and family. Make an adult version of the beverage by adding alcohol to it. Did You Know… …that according to some, the name eggnog comes from the Middle English word noggin? The word refers to a wooden mug used to serve alcohol. *** Q: Why did Santa bring 22 reindeer to Walmart? A: Because what he wanted to buy cost around 20 bucks, but just in case it was more, he brought some extra doe. *** My dog was my soul mate; we both took naps, we both skipped lunch, we both hated the vacuum... *** Comedian Daniel Tosh is no fan 
of the expression “The worst day 
of fishing is better than the 
best day at work.” “I’ve watched The Deadliest 
Catch on Discovery,” 
he said. “I’ve never once 
been at work, capsized in 
40-degree water, watched all my coworkers die, and been like, ‘Hey, at least we’re fishin’.’” *** I always have trouble remembering three things: faces, names, and—I can't remember what the third thing is. *** "If the English language made any sense, lackadaisical would have something to do with a shortage of flowers." *** "At my age flowers scare me." -- George Burns *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

December 23rd - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Birthday of the Queen Silvia, an official flag flying day (Sweden) Children's Day (South Sudan and Sudan) Christian Feast Day: Abassad (Coptic Church) Behnam, Sarah, and the Forty Martyrs (Coptic Church)[26] Dagobert II John Cantius O Emmanuel Psote (Coptic Church) Thorlac Thorhallsson, patron saint of Iceland; The last day of preparations before Christmas. Victoria December 23 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Day of all level operational control structures servicemen (Ukraine) HumanLight (Secular humanism in United States) Kisan Diwas (Uttar Pradesh, India) Night of the Radishes (Oaxaca City, Mexico) Tibb's Eve (Newfoundland and Labrador) Tom Bawcock's Eve (Mousehole, Cornwall) Victory Day (Egypt) Observances (click on the day or week for details) National Roots Day Fun Observances Festivus Day Festivus is a made up secular holiday popularized and celebrated by the fans of the TV series, Seinfeld. Celebrated on December 23, the holiday was created by writer DanO’Keefe who introduced it in a Seinfeld episode called The Strike. Made-up Holiday In the episode, first aired in December 1997, the holiday is conceived by the father of George Costanza one of the show's central characters. In the episode, Frank Costanza reveals that he came up with Festivus as a response to the commercialization of Christmas. According to reports, Festivus was initially created in February 1966 by Dan O’Keefe’s father, who made up this holiday to celebrate an anniversary with his wife. Since the airing of the first Seinfeld episode featuring Festivus, the holiday has become popular among the fans of the show. Popular TV Show Seinfeld is a popular American sitcom that follows the lives of four friends who live in New York City. The show ran for 9 seasons between 1989 and 1998. How to Celebrate? Host a Festivus party in accordance with the traditions set by the episode. According to Festivus tradition, the Festivus meal is accompanied with the airing of grievances, where every guest tells every other guest how they have disappointed them over the year. So tell all your guests how disappointed you are in them. Follow the meal with feats of strength, where the head of the household wrestles with other guests, and the feats end only when the head is pinned to the ground. Greet people by saying “Happy Festivus” or “a Festivus for the rest of us”. Did You Know… …that an unadorned aluminum pole is generally considered as the symbol of Festivus? *** My boyfriend and I were taking his 19-year-old niece to a weekend festival. When we arrived at her house to pick her up, she appeared in tasteful but very short shorts, and a tank top with spaghetti straps. A debate began immediately about appropriate dress. I took the girl's side, recalling that when we began dating, I dressed the same way. "Yes," said my boyfriend sternly, "and I said something about it, didn't I?" Everyone looked at me. "Yeah," I replied. "You said, 'What's your phone number?'" *** During a conference, I was pleasantly surprised to be seated next to a very handsome man. We flirted casually through dinner, then grew restless as the dignitaries gave speeches. During one particularly long-winded lecture, my new friend drew a # sign on a cocktail napkin. Elated, I wrote down my phone number. Looking startled for a moment, he drew another # sign, this time adding an X to the upper-left-hand corner. *** Wife: "How would you describe me?" Husband: "ABCDEFGHIJK." Wife: "What does that mean?" Husband: "Adorable, beautiful, cute, delightful, elegant, fashionable, gorgeous, and hot." Wife: "Aw, thank you, but what about IJK?" Husband: "I'm just kidding!" *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

December 22nd - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Dongzhi Festival Armed Forces Day (Vietnam) Christian feast day: Anastasia of Sirmium (Orthodox Church) Eimhin Ernan, Son of Eogan Frances Xavier Cabrini (outside US) Hunger O Rex Henry Budd (Episcopal Church (USA)) Lottie Moon (Episcopal Church (USA)) December 22 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Mother's Day (Indonesia) National Mathematics Day (India) Teachers' Day (Cuba) Unity Day (Zimbabwe) Observances (click on the day or week for details) Forefathers’ Day Fun Observances Date Nut Bread Day On December 22 add date nut bread to your holiday baking list because it is Date Nut Bread Day. Made with different kinds of nuts like walnuts and pecans and dates that give it its distinct sweet flavor, date nut bread is thought to have been first baked in England. Ancient Fruit Grown in many parts of the world, dates are the fruit of the date palm. Food historians believe that the date palm was first cultivated for its fruit in the Middle East around 6000 BC. Farmers classify dates based on their texture and the sugar content into 3 types. These are soft, dry and semi-dry dates. Date Nut Bread Day is an unofficial holiday which is also known as National Date Nut Bread Day. How to Celebrate? Bake date nut bread and share with family, friends and coworkers. Remind them that it is a healthy treat. What about making little muffins instead of making a loaf of the bread? Experiment with the flavors of your date nut bread. What about adding strawberries to it? Or chocolate chips? Make a banana date nut bread or an orange date nut bread instead. Serve toasted slices of the bread with a pat of butter. Did You Know… …that contrary to popular belief, a peanut is not a nut, but is part of the legume family? *** My 90-year-old dad was giving 
a talk at our local library about his World War II experiences. During the question-and-answer period, he was asked, “How did you know the war was over?” He replied, “When they stopped shooting at me.” *** Wandering inside a pet store, 
I stopped in front of a birdcage to 
admire a parakeet. We watched each other for a few minutes before it asked, “Can’t you talk?” *** My son and I were checking out 
a house he was interested in buying. When the owner came to the door, she looked at me and said, “Larry? 
I know you. We went to school 
together. I’m Elaine. Don’t you 
recognize me?” I drew a complete blank. She took out our old yearbook and showed me her graduation picture—still nothing. “Let’s look at your 
picture,” she said. She flipped the pages until she came to me. Under my photo I 
had written, “Elaine, I will never 
forget you.” *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

December 21st - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Armed Forces Day (Philippines) Christian feast day: O Oriens Peter Canisius Thomas the Apostle (Anglicanism) December 21 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Earliest usual date for the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere and the summer solstice in the Southern Hemisphere, and its related observances: Blue Christmas (some modern American liberal Protestant groups) Dongzhi Festival (Asia) Sanghamitta Day (Theravada Buddhism) Yule in the Northern Hemisphere (Neopagan Wheel of the Year) Ziemassvētki (ancient Latvia) Forefathers' Day (Plymouth, Massachusetts) São Tomé Day (São Tomé and Príncipe) The first day of Pancha Ganapati, celebrated until December 25 (Saiva Siddhanta Church) Observances (click on the day or week for details) Humbug Day National Coquito Day National Flashlight Day Look On The Bright Side Day Don’t Make Your Bed Day Short Story Day National Short Girl Appreciation Day Ribbon Candy Day National Crossword Puzzle Day Fun Observances International Dalek Remembrance Day December 21 is International Dalek Remembrance Day, a day to remember the extraterrestrial cyborgs called Daleks in BBC's Doctor Who universe. Considered to be one of the biggest enemies of Doctor Who, the time travelling lord, the robotic Daleks made their debut on December 21, 1963 in a 7 part serial aptly called The Daleks. These salt and pepper shaker shaped creatures were created by another enemy of the Doctor - Davros, who genetically modified his own people, the Kaleds and removed all emotions from them. The Daleks were then left to operate just on hate and vengeance. Frightening Villains Known for repeatedly saying exterminate and for wanting to destroy every other race in the universe, the metal covered, aggressive Daleks are popularly considered by science fiction fans as one of the most frightening villains ever shown on television. A 2010 survey by the sci-fi magazine SFX found that the Doctor's arch-enemies were the most popular fantasy creatures on television and the big screen. Today, Daleks are easily recognized icons in popular culture especially in the United Kingdom. Being or sounding like a Dalek is sometimes used as a way to refer to someone who's behavior or voice sounds mechanical or robotic. Remembrance of Daleks Remembrance of Daleks is a 4 part serial in the 25th season of the British science fiction show. In the serial, Doctor Who returns to 1963 to retrive the Hand of Omega, a device that can fuel time travel by converting stars into supernovas. Another popularly celebrated Doctor Who inspired holiday is Impossible Astronaut Day. How to Celebrate? Spend the day doing a Doctor Who marathon. Host a Doctor Who party. Decorate the venue with Doctor Who inspired decorations and invite all the Whovians in your life. Did You Know… …that originally Daleks could not go up stairs? This lack of stair-climbing abilities was one way that Doctor Who characters could save themselves from these monstrous creatures. In a more recent avatar of the Daleks, the creators of the TV show have given them hovering capabilities, which they employ while uttering escalate in the same tone as they say eliminate. *** The last year I entered a marathon. The race started and immediately I was the last of the runners. It was embarrassing. The guy who was in front of me, second to last, was making fun of me. He said, "Hey buddy, how does it feel to be last?" I replied, "You really want to know?" Then I dropped out of the race. *** A man came in to give his application to the manager. But the manager asked, "Why is there a four-year gap in your application?" And the man responded, "Yale." The manager hired him and the guy said, "Thanks. I needed a yob." *** An elderly farmer had an old bull that lost its usual desire and no longer went near the cows. The farmer called the vet, who prescribed a pill to stimulate the bull’s interest. A few weeks later, the farmer ran into a friend, who asked, “How’s that bull?” “Great!” said the farmer. “The bull is back to his former frisky self.” “That’s fantastic. What miracle drug did the vet prescribe?” “I don’t know,” said the farmer. “But it tastes like licorice.” *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

December 20th - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Abolition of Slavery Day, also known as Fête des Cafres (Réunion, French Guiana) Bo Aung Kyaw Day (Myanmar) Christian feast day: Dominic of Silos O Clavis Ursicinus of Saint-Ursanne Katharina von Bora (Lutheran) December 20 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Earliest date for Winter solstice's eve (Northern Hemisphere), and its related observances: Yaldā (Iran) International Human Solidarity Day (International)[47] Macau Special Administrative Region Establishment Day (Macau) Observances (click on the day or week for details) Go Caroling Day Games Day Fun Observances Sangria Day December 20 is Sangria Day. This unofficial holiday encourages people around the world to enjoy the day with a tall glass of the delicious alcoholic beverage. Typically made of red wine, sangria is a beverage that originated from Spain and Portugal. Usually, the wine is steeped with a variety of that is infused with a variety of chopped fruits and sugar for a few days before being consumed. How to Celebrate? If you are in the Northern Hemisphere, chances are that you are dreaming of a warm sunny day and a cool drink, and if you are in the Southern Hemisphere, you are probably looking for a cold drink to cool you down. No matter where you are on Earth, here are some ways you can celebrate Sangria Day: Make a huge batch of sangria and share with family and friends. Experiment with different kinds of wine and fruits to change the flavor profile of the Sangria you make. Don't drink alcohol? No problem. Make yourself a batch of non-alcoholic sangria with ginger ale or any other sparkling fruit juice of your choice. Did You Know… …that the term Sangria comes from the Spanish word for bleeding? This is because the beverage is typically made of red wine, which is deep red in color. *** I was picking up my letters at the post office when I heard a boy ask his mother if they had gotten any mail. She said, “No, just bills.” Then he asked, “Why do we always get his mail?” *** While on patrol, I arrested a burglar who’d injured himself running from a home. He told me he’d broken in and unhooked the phone before searching for valuables. But he’d panicked when he heard a woman’s voice. I entered the house and heard the same voice: “If you’d like to make a call, please hang up and try your call again.” *** We were an Air Force family, but our son could not grasp that 
fact. Anytime someone asked what his father did, he’d say, “He’s in the Army.” I told him umpteen times, “Stop telling people I’m in the Army!” It finally seemed to hit home because on the admittance form 
for kindergarten, under “father’s 
profession,” the teacher wrote, “He doesn’t know what his father does, but he’s not in the Army.” *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** Bang Zoom ...You're Going to the Moon! - YouTube sandrewn

December 19th - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Lillian Trasher (Episcopal Church) O Radix Pope Anastasius I Pope Urban V December 19 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Saint Nicholas Day Goa Liberation Day (Goa, India) National Heroes and Heroines Day (Anguilla) Observances (click on the day or week for details) Look for an Evergreen Day National Oatmeal Muffin Day Fun Observances ( 0 ) *** The DMV was as crowded and noisy as ever. When I finally got to the 
window, I asked the clerk, “Does the never-ending line of loud people ever drive you crazy?” She shook her head. “We call it job security.” *** There is No Such Thing as a Dumb Question, Except for These: • I work in IT. A customer asked me if a string of numbers I'd read off was upper- or lowercase. • Someone once asked, “Is this the museum?” I work at a pool. • A few of the things customers have asked for at our art-supply store include disco balls, trees, and crucifixion wood. • I'm a butcher. A woman asked if she could sleep in our freezer to test out a heavy-duty sleeping bag before a trip to the Himalayas. *** Conversation With A Customer-Service Representative: Me: I have a Roundup Multi Purpose Sprayer that is defective. Customer Rep: Ma’am, we’ll need the exact name of the item. Do you have the box? Me: No, but it’s the Roundup Multi Purpose Sprayer. Customer Rep: Ma’am, we’ll need the box so we can have the exact name of the product. Me: Hold on. I’ll run out to my garage and get the box. [Long pause ... ] 
OK ... [huff ... puff] I have it. It says ... Roundup Multi Purpose Sprayer. Customer Rep: Thank you for that information, ma’am. *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

December 18th - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Expectation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Flannán Gatianus of Tours O Adonai Sebastian (Eastern Orthodox Church) Winibald December 18 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) International Migrants Day[25] National Day (Qatar)[26] Republic Day (Niger) UN Arabic Language Day (United Nations) Observances (click on the day or week for details) Bake Cookies Day National Roast Suckling Pig Day Fun Observances ( 0 ) *** A few of us were discussing the perils of drinking and driving when my five-year-old granddaughter threw in her two cents. “I can see why it would be dangerous to drink and drive,” she said. “The straw could go up your nose.” *** I’m a nurse in a hospital’s children’s ward. One night, I was at the nurses’ station when I heard a little boy in his room talking. He kept the patter up for some time. Finally, I got on the intercom and said softly but firmly, “All right, Johnny, it’s time to go to sleep now.” There was quiet in the room, and then he said, “OK, God, I will.” I didn’t hear a peep from him until morning. *** My 35-year-old son and I had just finished our meal when I realized I’d left my wallet in my truck. As I headed out the door, I told the waitress what had happened. “But don’t worry,” I said with a grin. “I’m leaving my son for collateral.” She looked at him. He winked at her. She turned back to me. “What else you got?” *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

December 17th - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Daniel the Prophet Josep Manyanet i Vives Lazarus of Bethany (local commemoration in Cuba) O Sapientia Olympias the Deaconess Wivina Sturm December 17 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Accession Day (Bahrain) International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers Kurdish Flag Day (Global Kurdish population) National Day (Bhutan) Pan American Aviation Day (United States) Wright Brothers Day, a United States federal observance by Presidential proclamation Observances (click on the day or week for details) National Maple Syrup Day Fun Observances ( 2 ) Underdog Day Underdog Day is celebrated every year on the third Friday of December. This unofficial holiday owes its name to the term “underdog” popularly used in sports and competitions and refers to someone who is popularly expected to lose. All of us know of someone who works very hard but never gets recognized for their hard work. In addition, they are usually expected to fail in their efforts. Maybe, you have been in a situation like that? Celebrate all such underdogs and unsung heroes on Underdog Day. How to Celebrate? Remember that it is sometimes ok to be an underdog. It may be frustrating sometimes, but when underdogs win, they tend to upset the expected order of things. If you know of an underdog, tell them to persevere on. If you feel you are an underdog, work harder and shatter everyone’s expectations. Watch the American animated series, Underdog. The series, which aired on NBC in the 1960s, detailed the adventures of Underdog, a superhero who spoke in rhyming verse and wore a caped costume. Did You Know… …that the opposite of an underdog is a top dog and in if an underdog wins in a competition, the outcome of the event is known as an upset. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ugly Sweater Day The third Friday of December is Ugly Sweater Day. On this day, get in the holiday spirit and flaunt those ugly holiday sweaters (thanks, Grandma!) you have been too embarrassed to wear in public. In many countries, the holiday is associated with fundraising events for children’s charity. A similar holiday, Christmas Jumper Day, is celebrated every year as part of a fun raising event by Save the Children, a not for profit organization. In 2017, it is on December 15 as well. How to Celebrate? Take that ugly sweater out and wear it in public, chances are, you won’t be the only one wearing the Rudolph sweater grandma made for you ten years ago. Don’t have an ugly sweater? Make one of your own. Bedazzle an old or thrifted sweater, add embroidered holiday motifs and some sequins, and voila, you are ready for Ugly Sweater Day. Host an ugly sweater party. Have your guests contribute to charity and hold an ugly sweater competition. The person flaunting the ugliest sweater goes home with the top prize. Did You Know... ...that the word cardigan, which is a type of sweater that is open from the front, comes from James Thomas Brudenell, the 7th Earl of Cardigan? The English general was thought to have worn such as sweater while leading a cavalry charge at Balaclava in 1854. *** Q: What's A Snowman's Favorite Breakfast? A: Frosted Flakes! *** A New Year's resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other. *** Q: Why did the Christmas tree go to the barber? A: It needed to be trimmed. *** On New Year’s Eve, I’ll join my friends to toast the days ahead. We’ll all stay up until it’s late, then eat a tasty spread. At midnight, though, I might just wish that I were home instead, sleeping very peacefully in my warm, cozy bed. *** Just before Easter I remarked to my husband that, with the children grown and away from home, this was the first year that we hadn't dyed eggs and had an Easter-egg hunt. "That's all right, honey," he said. "We can just hide each other's vitamin pills." *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

December 16th - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Adelaide of Italy Haggai Ralph Adams Cram, Richard Upjohn and John La Farge (Episcopal Church (USA)) December 16 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Day of Reconciliation, formerly celebrated as Day of the Vow by the Afrikaners (South Africa) National Day, celebrates the withdrawal of United Kingdom from Bahrain, making Bahrain an independent emirate in 1971. National Sports Day (Thailand) The beginning of the nine-day celebration beginning December 16 and ending December 24, celebrating the trials which Mary and Joseph endured before finding a place to stay where Jesus could be born (Hispanidad😞 The first day of Las Posadas (Mexico, Latin America) The first day of the Simbang Gabi novena of masses (Philippines) Victory Day (Bangladesh) Victory Day (India) Observances (click on the day or week for details) National Re-Gifting Day Day Of Reconciliation Fun Observances Chocolate Covered Anything Day December 16 is all about chocolate because it is Chocolate Covered Anything Day. And we are not complaining because it is the one-day where no one can question our obsession. Want to drizzle chocolate over your salad? Go right ahead, it is Chocolate Covered Anything Day! Add chocolate to your morning cup of coffee? That is a brilliant idea! Eat chocolate covered fruits for lunch? You are in the spirit of the holiday! Celebrating Chocolate Around the Year Chocolate is a very popular theme for a fun holiday. Other chocolate themed holidays are Chocolate Pudding Day, Milk Chocolate Day, Chocolate Pecan Pie Day, Chocolate Milkshake Day, Chocolate Cupcake Day, and Chocolate Cake Day. How to Celebrate? Eat only chocolate covered items on this day. Chocolate covered donuts for breakfast, chocolate covered fruits for lunch and a chocolate rubbed steak for dinner. Get creative and try to experiment by pairing chocolate with dishes and food items you may never think about putting together. Did You Know… …that the earliest record of humans consuming chocolate dates back to 1700 B.C.? *** Since the coronavirus outbreak, my 47-year-old son has been washing his hands religiously. In fact, he said, “I’ve been washing my hands so much, I found the answers to an old eighth-grade math quiz.” *** An utterly confused woman called our local fire station about getting a haircut. “I’m sorry, you have the wrong number,” I said. “Is this the salon near the fire station?” she asked. “No, this is the fire station.” “Oh! Are you cutting hair in there now?” *** I work in the front office of a housing complex that supports people living with mental illness. On one particularly hectic day, a tenant came in to pay her rent. Frazzled, I said, “Ever have one of those days when you feel everyone is out to get you?” She smiled and replied, “I take medication for that.” *** A man goes to a job interview and the interviewer begins with the question, "What do you think is your biggest weakness?" The man thinks for a moment, then says, "I think my biggest weakness is my brutal honesty." The interviewer says, "I don't think that's a weakness." The man then says, "I don't give a #%^& what you think!" *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

December 15th - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Bill of Rights Day (United States) 2nd Amendment Day (South Carolina) Christian feast day: Drina Martyrs Drostan (Aberdeen Breviary) John Horden and Robert McDonald (Episcopal Church (USA)) Maria Crocifissa di Rosa Mesmin Valerian of Abbenza Virginia Centurione Bracelli December 15 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Homecoming Day (Alderney) Kingdom Day (Netherlands), moves to December 16 if the 15th is on a Sunday Zamenhof Day (International Esperanto Community) Observances (click on the day or week for details) National Cat Herders Day National Lemon Cupcake Day Fun Observances ( 0 ) *** On our commute to work, my husband stopped at a convenience store for coffee. As he got back into the car, I noticed something odd. "Turn your head and look at me," I said. "You have a Q-tip sticking out of your ear." As he pulled it out, he replied, "No wonder the guy in there asked me if I was getting good reception." *** A patient came to the hospital with a burned right hand. As the doctor took down his medical history, he asked the injured man, "Do you smoke?" "Yeah, a pack and a half a day," said the patient. Concerned, the doctor told him, "You should consider quitting." "No, it's OK," said the patient. "I smoke with my left hand." *** A defendant isn’t happy with 
how things are going in court, so he gives the judge a hard time. Judge: “Where do you work?” Defendant: “Here and there.” Judge: “What do you do for 
a living?” Defendant: “This and that.” Judge: “Take him away.” Defendant: “Wait; when will I get out?” Judge: “Sooner or later.” *** Been reading up on the 
thesaurus lately because a mind is a terrible thing to garbage. *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** 888 sandrewn

December 14th - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Folcwin John of the Cross John III of the Sedre (Syriac Orthodox Church)[13] Matronian Nicasius of Rheims Nimatullah Kassab (Maronite Church) Spyridon (Western Church) Venantius Fortunatus December 14 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Alabama Day (Alabama) Forty-seven Ronin Remembrance Day (Sengaku-ji, Tokyo) Martyred Intellectuals Day (Bangladesh) Observances (click on the day or week for details) Roast Chestnuts Day National Bouillabaisse Day Fun Observances Monkey Day December 14 is Monkey Day. The day celebrates monkeys and all other primate cousins of humans such as apes, chimpanzees, and gibbons. While the origins of Monkey Day are not known, there are many theories as to why this holiday was created. Some sources suggest that it started as a prank by some college students, while others suggest that it was started by people who wanted to raise awareness about monkeys, their habitats, and their role in the environment. Many Different Species Monkeys are primates that usually live in trees and are active during the day. There are about 260 different species of monkeys around the world. Scientists classify monkeys into two different categories - old world monkeys found in Asia and Africa and new world monkeys found in the Americas. Believed to be highly intelligent animals, monkeys can vary in size. The smallest monkey, the pygmy marmoset is about 5 inches (13 cm) tall, while the largest, the mandrill can grow up to 3 feet (1 m) in height. Special Status in Many Cultures In many parts of the world, monkeys are revered and worshiped as gods. The monkey is the animal representing the 9th year in the 12 year cycles of the Chinese Calendar. How to Celebrate? Learn more about monkeys and non-human primates. Donate your time and money to a non-profit organization that works to conserve and preserve monkey and simian environments. Visit your local zoo to observe monkeys, apes, and other primates. Watch Planet of the Apes and other movies with simian characters. Did You Know… …that monkeys went into space before humans did? The first primate to go to space was called Albert II, a rhesus monkey. *** Forget about the past, you can't change it. Forget about the future, you can't predict it. Forget about the present, I didn't get you one. *** Statistics show that those who have the most birthdays live the longest. *** You know you're getting old when you have more candles on your cake than friends at your birthday party. *** If you feel a bit lonely, forgotten, or just need someone to cheer you up remember...You can always change your birthday on Facebook! *** Q: What do George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Christopher Columbus all have in common? A: They were all born on holidays. *** Every year on my birthday, I looked forward to my aunt's gift—a scarf, hat, or sweater knitted by hand. One year, she must have had better things to do because I received a ball of yarn, knitting needles, and a how-to-knit book. Her card read "Scarf, some assembly required." *** As a single, never-married woman in my 40s, I have been questioned endlessly about my status by friends, relatives and co-workers. Over the years I've noticed a subtle change in the nature of their inquiries. In my teens, friends would ask, "Who are you going out with this weekend?" In my 20s, relatives would say, "Who are you dating?" In my 30s, co-workers might inquire, "So, are you dating anyone?" Now people ask, "Where did you get that adorable purse?" *** Q: What's the easiest way to remember your wife's birthday? A: Forget it once! *** Fresh Out Of The Store We don't know about you, but we can't stop staring at the walking chicken in this photo. Before reading the rest of the ad, we're already thinking about chickens taking over the world. But seriously, this ad from Artizone is a Chicago grocery company that offers fresh meat and produce delivered to your home. Sounds yummy to us! *** The Internet Is A Scary Place The internet is scary, and when it comes to online dating, no one really knows if the person you're talking to is lying or even real at all! O Fio Bier Bar makes a really great ad telling people to get off their computer and meet other humans in real life. In today's world of online dating, fewer people are meeting each other in person, and human interaction is important. And after seeing this ad, we might be too scared to date online ever again! *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

December 13th - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Further information: December 13 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Christian feast day: St Antiochus of Sulcis St Judoc aka St Joyce St Lucy[59] St Odile of Alsace Acadian Remembrance Day (Acadians) National Day (Saint Lucia) Martial Law Victims Remembrance Day (Poland) Nanking Massacre Memorial Day (China) Nusantara Day (Indonesia) Republic Day (Malta) Sailor's Day (Brazil) Saint Lucia Day (mainly in Scandinavia) Observances (click on the day or week for details) National Violin Day Day of the Horse National Cocoa Day Fun Observances ( 0 ) Day *** The Law of Coffee If you sit down to enjoy a hot cup of coffee, then your boss will ask you to do something that will last until the coffee is cold. *** Q: Why do they call coffee mud? A: Because it was ground a couple of minutes ago. *** Q: Why are Italians so good at making coffee? A: Because they know how to espresso themselves *** If the local coffee shop has awarded you "Employee of the Month" and you don't even work there, you may be drinking too much coffee. *** New Life Rule Coffee is the most important meal of the day *** Q: Where do birds go for coffee? A: To the NESTcafe *** There are two types of people in this world: People who love Starbucks and liars. *** Q: How are men like coffee? A: The best ones are rich, hot, and can keep you up all night. *** Q: What’s the technical name for a pot of coffee at work? A: Break fluid *** *** *** *** *** *** What??????????????????? *** *** *** sandrewn

December 12th - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Abra of Poitiers Columba of Terryglass Corentin of Quimper Edburga of Minster-in-Thanet Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe Finnian of Clonard Vicelinus Constitution Day (Russia)[197] Neutrality Day (Turkmenistan)[198] Observances (click on the day or week for details) National Poinsettia Day Worldwide Candle Lighting Day World Choral Day Fun Observances Gingerbread House Day Take out all your baking supplies, unleash your imagination and build a gingerbread house on December 12 or Gingerbread House Day. This unofficial holiday celebrates the tradition of making houses and architectural models out of gingerbread cookies. The tradition can be traced back to the 1600s. How to Celebrate? Make your own gingerbread house. Maybe try and recreate a architectural landmark with gingerbread? Take part in your local gingerbread house competition or hold one of your own! Did You Know… ….that according the Guinness Book of World Records, the World’s largest gingerbread house was made in 2013 by the Traditions Club in Bryan, Texas, United States? The house was 60 ft (18.23 m) long and 10.1 ft (18.28m) tall. *** Q: What's a good holiday tip? A: Never catch snowflakes with your tongue until all the birds have gone south for the winter. *** FYI: By the end of the Twelve Days of Christmas song, your home is crammed with 23 flying Birds and 50 hyperactive Humans. *** Greeting Cards: When you care enough to send the very best but not enough to actually write something. *** Spending more time with family: Families are complicated enough, but things became even more confusing after my father decided to get married to my brother's mother-in-law. "Now I can't make up my mind whether he's my dad or my father-in- law," says my brother, "or if my mother-in-law is now my stepmother, or whether my child is my daughter or my niece." Getting in shape: A friend of mine had resisted efforts to get him to run with our jogging group until his doctor told him he had to exercise. Soon thereafter, he reluctantly joined us for our 5:30 a.m. jogs on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. After a month of running, we decided that my friend might be hooked, especially when he said he had discovered what "runner's euphoria" was. "Runner's euphoria," he explained, "is what I feel at 5:30 on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays." Starting that diet: My friend Kimberly announced that she had started a diet to lose some pounds she had put on recently. "Good!" I exclaimed. "I'm ready to start a diet too. We can be dieting buddies and help each other out. When I feel the urge to drive out and get a burger and fries, I'll call you first." "Great!" she replied. "I'll ride with you." Quitting smoking: I discussed peer pressure and cigarettes with my 12-year-old daughter. Having struggled for years to quit, I described how I had started smoking to "be cool." As I outlined the arguments kids might make to tempt her to try it, she stopped me mid-lecture, saying, "Hey, I'll just tell them my mom smokes. How cool can it be?" Eating healthier: The teacher in our Bible class asked a woman to read from the Book of Numbers about the Israelites wandering in the desert. "The Lord heard you when you wailed, 'If only we had meat to eat!' " she began. "Now the Lord will give you meat. You will not eat it for just one day, or two days, or five, or ten or twenty days, but for a month—until you loathe it." When the woman finished, she paused, looked up, and said, "Hey, isn't that the Atkins diet?" Reducing your debt: Neighbors of ours had a terrible disagreement over a patio they wanted for their backyard. The wife had rather grand ideas, while the husband wanted costs kept to a minimum. The wife won out, and the construction bill climbed higher and higher. I dropped by one day, when the patio was near completion, and was surprised to find the husband smiling from ear to ear as the workmen smoothed over the surface. I remarked how nice it was to see a grin replace the frown he had been wearing lately. “You see where they’re smoothing that cement?” he replied. “I just threw my wife’s credit cards in there.” Learning new things: I was trying to decide what to do for a talent show I planned to enter. Trusting my mother to help me out, I asked, "For the show, what do you think I should do, sing or put on a comedy act?" Glancing up from her paper, she said dryly, "What's the difference?" Better teeth care: Just because one owns a business doesn't mean it has to be all business. This sign in a dentist's office proves that point: "Be True to Your Teeth, or They Will Be False to You." Becoming more organized: My friend’s husband is always telling her that housekeeping would be a snap if only she would organize her time better. Recently he had a chance to put his theory into practice while his wife was away. When I popped in one evening to see how he was managing, he crowed, "I made a cake, frosted it, washed the kitchen windows, cleaned all the cupboards, scrubbed the kitchen floor, walls and ceiling and even had a bath." I was about to concede that perhaps he was a better manager than his wife, when he added sheepishly, "When I was making the chocolate frosting, I forgot to turn off the mixer before taking the beaters out of the bowl, so I had to do all the rest." Drinking less: I was waiting tables in a noisy lobster restaurant in Maine when a vacationing Southerner stumped me with a drink order. I approached the bartender. "Have you ever heard of a drink called 'Seven Young Blondes'?" I asked. He admitted he'd never heard of it, and grabbed a drink guidebook to look it up. Unable to find the recipe, he then asked me to go back and tell the patron that he'd be happy to make the drink if he could list the ingredients for him. "Sir," I asked the customer, "can you tell me what's in that drink?" He looked at me like I was crazy. "It's wine," he said, pronouncing his words carefully, "Sauvignon blanc." *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

December 11th - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Cian Daniel the Stylite Maravillas de Jesús Peris Pope Damasus I Sabinus of Piacenza Victoricus, Fuscian, and Gentian December 11 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Establishment of Kurdish Women's Union (Iraqi Kurdistan) Indiana Day (United States) International Mountain Day[27] National Tango Day (Argentina) Pampanga Day (Pampanga province, Philippines) Republic Day, the day when Upper Volta became an autonomous republic in the French Community in 1958. (Burkina Faso) Observances (click on the day or week for details) Have a Bagel Day International Shareware Day Gingerbread Decorating Day Fun Observances Noodle Ring Day December 11 is Noodle Ring Day, a day for comforting baked pasta. Popular during the mid-1900s, Noodle Ring Day is a dish made of flat noodles or any other type of flat pasta baked in a ring mold or a bundt pan. Fill the Ring Making noodle ring from scratch is easy, all you need is some cooked pasta, eggs, bread crumbs and a cheese that melts easily. Mix all the ingredients and put it in a mold and bake until all the eggs cook and the cheese melts. Unmold and fill the center with a filling of your choice. Many recipes recommend chicken salad, sautéed vegetables or canned tuna as a filling. How to Celebrate? Dig out your grandma’s cookbooks and make a noodle ring for dinner. Don't like the pasta that is available in the stores? Make your own from scratch and then use to make a noodle ring. Make a dessert version of the dish - use sugar while baking the noodles and instead of a savory filling use fresh cut fruit or a custard or pudding. Host a vintage dinner party and have friends bring their favorite vintage dishes to share. Make a noodle ring as your contribution to the dinner table. Did You Know… …that experts believe that people around the world consume over 600 types and shapes of pasta? *** First you forget names, then you forget faces. Next you forget to pull your zipper up and finally, you forget to pull it down. —George Burns *** According to most studies, people's No. 1 fear is public speaking. No. 2 is death. Death is No. 2. Does that sound right? This means to the average person, if you go to a funeral, you're better off in the casket than doing the eulogy. —Jerry Seinfeld *** The only time to eat diet food is while you’re waiting for steak to cook. —Julia Child *** "I was playing chess with my friend, and he said, 'Let's make this more interesting.' So we stopped playing chess." —Matt Kirshen *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn