2022 - A Year in Review

 Alas, it is that time again.  Let's take a little stroll back in time and see all of the frightening scary things we did this year.

Here is a little look at some of the highlights of our 2022 Scary Journey

We learned:

about the interesting national weeks celebrated throughout the year

about the Veganuary Challenge  

no one likes being stuck in voice mail #ell when calling a company

people like to walk their dog while looking at their phone

dogs cannot give people head lice, don't listen to your doctor, keep your dog

I am now one of those old people that goes to store openings 

My relationship with Scam Likely

Max Headroom weirdness

I got a new bike and value my teeth, thanks, Patti!

I got a new job

who really takes care of you when you are sick (your mom)

That background checks can take some time (nope, still not approved)

that there really is a Tea Fairy (thanks, Bella for the heads up)

my relationship with Skittles (won't be sponsored by them anytime soon)

remote start on my car has spoiled me during the frigid temperatures

We learned a little about RT this year:

His experience at the post office and the black pencil

His fasting experience

teaching a class about how to get a Greek wife (enroll now, seating is limited)

And of course, My Weird Dog popped up in a couple of posts

How he reacts to snow pants

His dislike of FedEx and UPS trucks

Alerting me to break ins (by family members)

when RT thought Pippen was dead 

picking up after the dog reminds me of a song....

Oh, and we made some stuff, too!

Icing for Sugar Cookies 

Greek Style Chick Pea Sandwich 

Lasagna Soup Vegan  

Middle Eastern Stew, Vegan 

Raspberry Lemon Cookies 

Salsa, homemade 

Tuscan Soup, Vegan

Felt heart ornaments 

Pupcakes, for your dog 

Oh, and we also celebrated a scary 11 long years on A Scary Journey Inside My Life.  (thanks to my two loyal readers out there!)

It's been a scary frightening wonderful year here on A Scary Journey.  Thank you for sticking around!

Happy New Year everyone!

Cheers!

Background Check

 Still haven't heard about the details of my background check.  It's been two months.  When should I start to worry? 

National Thank You Note Day

 As I always say (and write), people love getting handwritten letters and notes in the mail.  It's always the first thing someone reads when they bring in the mail.  I would rather read a letter from a friend or family member before diving into a pile of bills. 

Sure, it's easy to send off an email or a quick text to thank Aunt Sally for the ugly Christmas sweater.  Aunt Sally would much rather receive a nice handwritten Thank You note in the mail from you.

Today is National Thank You Note Day! 

I'm unable to find out how or why this day was started.  Some say it was created because of all the presents people received on Christmas Day.  I, on the other hand, believe it was started by my mother, The Queen of Thank You Note writing.

I remember being called down to the kitchen a couple days after Christmas.  On the table there were three place settings.  At each spot there was a sheet of paper with list of names and gifts that they gave us, and a pen.  In the center of the table there was a stack of Thank You note cards, stamps and an address book.  You had to find your spot at the table.  The rules?  Write a Thank You note to everyone on the list, address and stamp the envelope.  Oh, and you can't leave the table until you are finished.

My Mom never taught us how to write a Thank You note.  My brothers would hurry up and scribble some stuff and leave the table.  I would be stuck there for hours asking my relatives how their pet is doing and trying to figure out how to nicely thank someone for the gift they gave me (how do you thank someone for money?).

If you do participate today, and I hope you will, you can use #NationalThankYouNoteDay on social media.

If you need any tips on Thank You Note writing, I'd love to help, especially if you want to know how the family dog is getting along.

Don't worry, Mom, I already wrote my Thank You notes this year!

Twelve Days of Christmas

 This year I'm celebrating fun National weeks throughout the year.  Here we are, the last national week for the year, the Twelve Days of Christmas.

This holiday is not the song about giving a bunch of birds to a loved one.  This holiday starts with the birth of Jesus and ends when the three Magi arrived in Bethlehem.  Each day celebrates the feast day of a saint.  The following is 

25th the birth of Christ

26th St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr

27th St. John the Apostle

28th the Feast of the Holy Innocents - the baby boys that King Harrod killed when trying to find Jesus

29th St. Thomas Beckett - archbishop of Canterbury.  Killed when challenged the King's authority over the church

30th St. Egwin of Worcester - a Benedictine monk

31st Pope Sylvester I, one of the first Popes

1st  Mary, the Mother of Jesus

2nd St. Basil the Great

3rd Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus - Celebrates naming Jesus in the Jewish Temple

4th St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, first American Saint

5th St. John Neumann the first Bishop in America

You know I can't continue without first adding what the twelve days are in the Greek Orthodox Church.  So, here we go:

Dec 25  Jesus birth

26 Synaxis of the Virgin - praise to Mary for giving birth to our Lord

27  St. Stephen, a martyr who was stoned to death

28 Martyrs of Nicomedia - in 302 AD Emperor Maximian Hercules, while visiting Nicomedia heard of a large number of Christians living there and wanted to kill them.  While they were all in church, his soldiers surrounded the church and they were asked to deny Christ and be free to go or burn.  They chose to burn.

29 Feast of Holy Innocents - children that died because of King Herod

30 Deacon Timon 

31 Martyr Zoticus, Protector of the Poor and Holy Mother Melanie of Rome

1  St. Basil the Great

2  St. Sylvester, Bishop of Rome

3  Prophet Malachi

4  Synaxis of the 70 Apostles  - the men that followed the 12 apostles

5  Hieromartyr Theopemptos, Bishop of Nicomedia and also Martyr Theonas

The 6th is the Holy observance of Jesus' baptism.

Ways to celebrate the week:

Open one present every day (instead of all at once)

Volunteer at a soup kitchen or help someone in need

Read through the Gospel of Luke, which gives an entire account of Jesus birth

Thanks for celebrating the weird, fun, interesting national weeks with me!

Merry Christmas!

"Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.  Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.  For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  And this will be the sign to you:  You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger."

And suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:  "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth, Peace, goodwill toward men!"  Luke 2:8-14

Saturnalia

 This year I'm celebrating interesting week celebrations throughout the year.  The year is almost over but I still have a couple more holidays for us to celebrate.   

Saturnalia is a mid December holiday (think December 17-23) that honors the Roman god, Saturn, the god of agriculture.  Saturnalia was a Roman festival that offered sacrifices (or gifts) to the gods in the winter season.   During this holiday, everything shut down.  Businesses closed.  No school.  Homes were decorated and the people put on bright colored togas.  Even the servants participated.  In fact, the owners served them!  The holiday was celebrated by singing, dancing, eating, gambling and of course, gift giving.  It was known as "the best of times."

How to celebrate?

Invite friends and family over for a meal.  Make sure you throw some music and games in there.   Oh and don't forget to post on social media, #Saturnalia 

Some important things to remember when celebrating:

Wear green and gold.  These are the official colors of the holiday.

Decorate.  Covering doorways, walls, staircases with lights and garland

Make some cookies in the shape of stars and moons

Give out small goodies to your friends and family as they leave

Oh, and don't forget to have a great time!

Now this sounds like a fun holiday to celebrate!

Halcyon Days

 This year I am celebrating the interesting national weeks throughout the year.  Today is the start of Halcyon Days.

Halcyon Days is observed for two weeks and coincides with unusually calm seas.  I needed a little background on this celebration.  This started from Greek mythology.  The goddess Halcyone, the goddess of winds, married a mortal who drowned at sea during a bad storm.  Halcyone loved her husband so much that she jumped into the sea after him.  The other gods and goddesses saw this and turned them both into birds.  For two weeks during the winter season (the week before and after the Winter Solstice), the winds are calm on the sea so the birds can build nests on the water and lay eggs peacefully.

How to observe #HalcyonDays or #HalcyonWeek

Halcyon Days describes a time of happiness and success.  Other key words used: happy, golden, peaceful, blissful, carefree, joyful, idyllic and contented.  The holiday season can become quite hectic.  This is a great time to focus on having halcyon days with your family.

It's also a great time to brush up on your Greek Mythology and check out the full story on Halcyon. 

My Weird Dog

 As I was outside picking up after my weird dog today, I was pondering the strong odor of his "business."  Why does it have to smell so bad?  What makes it smell nasty?  Why can't it have a more pleasant smell?  Just one of the scary things that go through my mind while doing an everyday chore.

When I am outside performing this clean up, the song, "Wishing Well," by Terence Trent D'arby comes to mind.  Yes.  You need to listen to the song right now.

"Wish me love a wishing well, to kiss and tell

A wishing well of butterfly tears

Wish me love a wishing well, to kiss and tell

A wishing well of crocodile tears"

Except, back in the day when this song was played on the radio, that last line sounded A LOT different.  You see, we didn't have the internet to look up lyrics for songs.  We had to try to figure them out on our own.  So, that last line sounded like "a wishing well, a crock of dog sh*#."   If you watch the video and try to read lips, that is what Terence is singing.  Given all of that information, now go back and listen to the song.  It's okay. I'll wait.

Now imagine hearing this song on the radio.  How did this get past the FCC?  Maybe singing about picking up after the dog is acceptable for radio.  I mean, someone has to do it.   Why not sing about it?  

What do you think Terence Trent D'arby is singing?

Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

St. Nicholas Day

  There are many stories about the life of St. Nicholas.  I found my information here.  The following is a quick summary.  Click on the link to read more details. 

St. Nicholas came from a wealthy family.  His parents died when he was very young.  He grew up in his faith and strongly believed to give to the poor.  He became Bishop and was know for his generosity, love of children and concern for sailors.  Under the Roman Empire he was persecuted for his faith.  He went to prison.  He was released and died on December 6.  The anniversary of his death became a celebration known as St. Nicholas Day.

There are many variations of the story of St. Nicholas. He gave money for three poor girls dowries, he helped children, gave to the poor.  Do a little research.  You will even see how Santa Claus evolved. 

My children are older and they still make sure that their shoes are placed by the front door for St. Nicholas visit.  

Do you have any special traditions you do with your family during the holidays?

National Handwashing Awareness Week

 This year I am celebrating interesting weeks throughout the year.  This week is National Handwashing Awareness Week.

I was unable to locate the history behind this week.  I'm thinking this was started in 2020 because of the pandemic as a reminder to wash your hands.

This celebration is set during the winter months when colds and flu run rampant and serves as a gentle reminder to always wash your hands.  

80% of diseases can be transferred by touch.

Washing your hands a few times per day can reduce diarrhea rates by 40%.

Touching your face can spread sickness, pneumonia, a cold and the flu.

The most important times to wash your hands are before and after making food and after using the bathroom.

Less than 75% of women and less than 50% of men wash their hands after the bathroom.

The ideal amount of time to wash hands is 30 seconds (but 15 seconds ok).

Most bacteria on our hands are underneath our fingernails.  Always make sure to clean under them.

Studies show that people who wash their hands use fewer sick days

Are you as grossed out as I am?  

By the way, I'm one of the people who wash their hands often.  Maybe a little too much.  

Ok, let's get through the rest of this, shall we?

How to observe #NationalHandwashingWeek

Make a point to wash your hands several times per day.  Yea, after reading those statistics above, I think you will be washing your hands after reading this post.  

And posting to social media might be a great idea to remind your friends and family to wash their hands. 

Remote Start

A remote starter is a radio-controlled device which is installed to preheat or cool before the owner gets into their vehicle.

I'm not sure if I mentioned this in a previous post but I no longer am the proud owner of the Jetta.  Yea, you're right.  I was never a proud owner of that car.  The car that was in the shop at the dealer at least 4 times a year.  I did catch up on what was happening in the world of golf though.  

My new car has a feature called 'remote start.'  That's where you press a button, while you are nice and toasty indoors, and the car warms up while you run around like a mad person make your way out the door.  This is a feature that I was never interested in having on a car.  I love the cold and feel it's a great experience being in the car and suffering while it is warming up.  Probably something to do with my Midwest upbringing.  

There have been a couple of mornings where I was rushing around getting ready for work and decided that I could have the car warm up while I continue to run around like a crazy person.   I found that I was able to hop in the car and drive off.  No sitting around waiting for the car to warm up. 

I don't think I will be relying on this new feature, but I do have to say that it has its perks.

Christmas Crafts and Holiday Gifts

  It's that crazy time of year again!  

Snow.  Holiday Parties.  Snow.  Crafts.  Gifts.  Gift wrapping.  Snow.  Cookie making.  Hot Chocolate. Sledding.  And more snow!

I thought I would make your life a little easier and put some links up from my blog to some easy Holiday Crafts and Gifts that you can make yourself, with kids or even a Girl Scout Troop.

Here we go:

Christmas
Animal Ornaments 
Brazilian Holiday Flower (great children's craft)
Candy Cane Sleigh 
Christmas Cards and tags
Felt Heart Ornament 
Foam Gingerbread House (children's craft)
Foam Ornament Gift Tag 
Jingle Bell Bracelet (children's craft)
Mitten Gift Tags 
Mosaic Christmas Tree (children's craft)
Picture Frame
Snowman Ornament 
Stocking (out of construction paper) (children's craft)
Winter Scene (children's craft)
Snowman Ornament
Snowman Winter Craft (children and adult craft)
Ugly Christmas Sweater Felt Banner


Gifts
Homemade Bubbles
Bath Bombs
Laundry Detergent (powder)
Homemade Hair Detangler
Homemade Liquid Hand Soap
Homemade Lip Balm
Homemade Lotion


Miscellaneous Crafts/Gifts
Bangle Bracelet (wrapped)
Blank Books 
Bubbles (homemade)
Book Mark
Bottle cap necklace
Cork Board using Old Picture Frame
Decorative Wrapping Paper 
Dryer Balls
Fun Scrapbooks
Gift Box
Paint Chip Monthly Calendar
Pumpkin Soap Recipe
Twine Napkin Holders 
Note cards  
Homemade Sidewalk Paint 
Sit upon (a cushion to sit on)
Wrapped Bangle Bracelet


Don't forget to make some cookies this season.  They go great with hot chocolate!  (Well, cookies go great with everything!)  Here are some links to cookies that appear on the blog:

Cookies:
Butterscotch Chip Cookies
Avocado Chocolate Cookies
Chocolate Chip Blondies
Chocolate Chip Blondies (vegan)
Chocolate Chip Chokies (Mom's famous recipe)
Chocolate Chip Cookies
Deep Dish Cookie Pie

Icing for Sugar Cookies 
M & M Cookies
Nutella Cookies 1
Nutella Cookies 2
Peanut Butter Bars
Peanut Butter Raisin Bran Cookies

Pfeffernusse Cookies
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
Sugar Cookies
Vanilla Pudding Cookies

If you make some sugar cookies, make sure to check this out for an easy Sugar Cookie Icing recipe.

My favorite cookies are the pumpkin cookies, M & M cookies and of course the Pfeffernusse Cookies.  

New Job

 New Me.

I don't think I mentioned that I have a new job.  Don't worry, I'm still in retail (and boy do I have the stories for you!).  Instead of a clothing store I have moved on to a grocery store.  Funny thing about this "big move" is that this store is next door to my previous job.  

The next store down is an art store, so if the food industry doesn't work for me, maybe I can have a career in the arts?

Background Check

 Still haven't heard about the details of my background check.  It's only been a month.  I guess I shouldn't worry too much.

Black Friday

  It's Black Friday!  That fun time of year where we exercise our credit cards.  Let's push them to the limit folks!  This is a great day for you to get in your daily workout by trying to snag that big screen TV before someone else grabs it.  Just don't get tackled in the process!

Oh, yea, and it's also time for my world famous usual Black Friday post.  

The day after Thanksgiving is known as Black Friday and it is the biggest shopping day of the year.  For retailers, it marks the beginning of the Christmas shopping season. 

For those of us that are out there working on Black Friday, it's a crazy, long and tiring day.  Make sure you take those vitamins, drink lots of water, plaster a smile on your face and, well, just try to have some fun.

If you are out there shopping, it can get crazy, so, try to be safe.  Also, be nice to the store employees.  They don't make the rules or have any control over the amount of inventory the store has of that item you want to purchase.  So, go easy on them!

And now, what everyone has been waiting for, here is my famous Black Friday song playlist for your listening pleasure:

Man in Black - Johnny Cash
Paint it Black - The Rolling Stones
Back in Black - AC/DC
Black Cat - Janet Jackson
Black Magic Woman - Santana
Black or White - Michael Jackson
Black Widow - Iggy Azalea
Black Hole Sun - Soundgarden
Black - Pearl Jam
Blackbird - The Beatles
Black Betty - Ram Jam
Black Gold - Soul Asylum
Men in Black 3 Back in Time - Pitbull
Black Night - Deep Purple
Black Rain - Soundgarden
The Long Black Veil - Johnny Cash
Ebony and Ivory - Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder
Black Dog - Led Zeppelin
Black Velvet - Alannah Miles
Black Water - The Doobie Brothers
Men in Black - Will Smith

Blue on Black - Five Finger Death Punch

Now get out there and have some fun!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Heavenly Father, thank you for all of the blessings you give me.  During this Thanksgiving season, as I look at all that you have done for me, I am overwhelmed.  Bless those who are here and those who are in our hearts and all of those who are not as fortunate on this day.  Amen.

National Espresso Day

  It's finally here.  The day that my brother everyone has patiently been waiting to celebrate.

 Happy National Espresso Day everyone!

What's the difference between espresso and plain coffee?  According to the professionals (the baristas), it doesn't matter what kind of bean you use (or how it was roasted) it's all how the beans are brewed.   How do you make espresso?  By forcing pressurized water through these finely ground coffee beans, it produces a concentrated brew with a delicate foam or crema.

The word espresso in Italian means "quick in time."   In the late 1800's, the espresso was made to order by using freshly ground roasted coffee beans and was freshly brewed right before serving.  The first espresso machine was invented in 1901 by the Italian inventor, Luigi Bezzera.  This machine produced a smaller, more concentrated cup of espresso than the traditional coffee brewing methods.  I'm sure RT is quite thankful for this invention.

Not an espresso or coffee drinker?

How about adding some espresso powder to your next batch of cookies?  The espresso powder can give your baked goods a tasty mocha flavor twist.

How about adding a shot of hot espresso to a simple scoop of vanilla ice cream?   Sounds strange but it's an Italian dessert called affogato.

Maybe you're more into lattes?  Why don't you try adding an espresso shot (or two) to your latte today.

Or, what about eating a chocolate espresso bean?  

Why do we love National Espresso Day?  It's a great way to wake you up!  A single shot of espresso can perk up the slowest morning person.  A few shots of espresso and imagine all of the things you can get done today!?  Just ask RT, who is celebrating today and is probably on his fourth espresso right now.

How to observe the day?  Enjoy a shot of espresso and post it on social media using #NationalEspressoDay on your posts/photos.

Or you can be like me and eat a handful of dark chocolate covered espresso beans and get a lot of things done around the house. 

How will you celebrate today?

National Better Conversation Week

 This year I am celebrating interesting weeks throughout the year.  This week is National Better Conversation Week.

Another great placement for national weeks.  Families getting together means lots of conversations happening.  This week focuses on having more meaningful conversations with the people in our lives.  Some experience anxiety in small and large gatherings of people.  And, well, let's face it, sometimes our family members or conversation topics can cause anxiety.  The week focuses on the awkward silences, odd transitions and topic starters.

Some ways to get the conversation started:

Listen.

Ask a question.

Longer Answers. (More than a "Yes" or "No")

Offer assistance. (help out in the kitchen or set the table)

Share something new. (new job, hobby or vacation are always great conversation starters)

How to observe #BetterConversationWeek

Get your conversation starters ready.  Make a list of topics to talk about with your family.  And, if you have some of "those" family members, you might have to add a list of topics to avoid.

National Game and Puzzle Week

 This year I am celebrating national weeks throughout the year.  This week is National Game and Puzzle Week.  

Families around the country will be gathering together this week to celebrate Thanksgiving.  This is a great time to break out the puzzles and board (or card) games.  Games and puzzles help keep the brain sharp and they also bring families together.  Both young and old can join in on the fun. 

How to observe #GameAndPuzzleWeek:

Contact family and friends before the big day asking them to bring a favorite game/puzzle to dinner.

Grab the cards, puzzle, dice, board games and have fun with your family!

Don't forget to share on social media!

National Homemade Bread Day

  Today is National Homemade Bread Day.  It's a great day to make a loaf of your famous homemade sourdough bread and give it to your favorite sister.  

This day was created to encourage families to come together and enjoy making homemade bread.  It has been celebrated since the early 1980's.  Making bread is a great way to slow down and spend time with one another as we knead the bread dough, wait for it to rise or bake in the oven. 

There are many varieties of breads you can make today.  From Sourdough, rye, wheat, white and cheddar jalapeno.  To sweet breads, pretzels, buns, muffins, donuts and biscuits.  

Now is the time to brush off those breadmaking skills you learned during the pandemic quarantine and put them to good use.  Bake a loaf of bread and give to your sister your friends and or neighbors.  Make a loaf or two just for you and your family to enjoy.   Don't forget to snap a few pictures for social media using #HomemadeBreadDay 

P.S.  One of these years "someone" will get the hint I've dropped in this post and make me a loaf of his homemade sourdough bread.

What kind of bread will you make today?

World Kindness Day

  World Kindness Day is an international holiday that was started back in 1998.  It is a day dedicated to large and small acts of kindness to bring us all together.  The World Kindness Movement states that the purpose of this day is to "highlight good deeds in the community" and to focus "on the positive power and the common thread of kindness which binds us."

If you've been following my blog for a while, you know that I'm BIG on Kindness and have many posts dedicated to Random Acts of Kindness.  It's great that we have a day dedicated to Kindness and being kind to one another.  I just don't understand why we can't do this every day?  This should be a normal, daily thing for all of us.  There really is no reason not to be kind.

Did you know that people who are constantly kind produce less cortisol (the stress hormone) and age slower than the rest of the population?  Another reason to be kind to others!

How can you celebrate World Kindness Day?

Do three Random Acts of Kindness today.  

Smile at someone, give compliments, hold the door open for someone.

Hug your loved ones and friends.

Write a love poem to yourself and read it aloud.  (You should be kind to yourself today, too)

If you need some other ideas, you can find more on this post or you can search "kindness" on the blog.

Here are some Ways to make Kindness a norm in your everyday life, taken from Randomactsofkindness.org :

1.  Send an uplifting text to a friend
2.  Let that car merge in front of you with a smile and a wave.
3.  Go out of your way once a day to make someone smile
4.  Compliment a friend or coworker
5.  Reach out to a family member you haven't spoken to in awhile
6.  Treat someone to a cup of coffee or tea (friend, coworker, stranger or even yourself)
7.  Add intentional moments of kindness, laughter and delight to your everyday routine

Don't forget to post your support of kindness on social media today by using #worldkindnessday

Have fun today!

And now back to our regularly scheduled programming....

The election is over (thank God!).  

No more junk mail political flyers.

No more lies political interviews.

No more mudslinging political commercials.  

We can all move on with our lives.

National Harvey Wallbanger Day

  Happy Harvey Wallbanger Day!

I think this is one of my favorite days of the year and I want to make sure that everyone out there is celebrating with me.  Of course, I'm starting early this morning, so I might be a few drinks ahead of you.  It's election day, so you might need a couple of these today.

A Harvey Wallbanger is a fruity cocktail made with vodka, Galliano and orange juice.    It's basically a screwdriver, but a little fruitier.  Galliano is an Italian liqueur that contains Juniper, Anise, Mint and Vanilla.  If you are unable to locate Galliano, you can always substitute Kahlua, Triple Sec or peppermint Schnapps. 

Harvey Wallbangers originated in the sixties.  The story behind the drink goes something like this:  A bartender named Donato Antone created the drink and served it at a party.  The one person remaining after the party, Harvey, was banging his head against the wall.  There are a couple other stories floating around, but I like that one the best.  The drink made its debut to the rest of the world in 1968.  Galliano used Harvey in their marketing campaign in 1969 with, "Harvey Wallbanger is the name and I can be made."  The drink's name also became a metaphor to describe someone who goofs off or makes mistakes.  Harvey Wallbanger was also a frequent write in vote during elections.  

How can you observe Harvey Wallbanger Day?  Meet your friends at your local hang out and order a Harvey Wallbanger and toast good ol' Harvey (just don't be the one banging your head on the wall at the end of the night).  You can use #HarveyWallbangerDay when posting on social media.

How to make the perfect Harvey Wallbanger? 

1.5 oz Vodka
4 oz orange juice
.5oz Galliano
cherry or orange slice for garnish

Mix vodka and orange juice.  Pour Galliano on top and don't mix it in the drink (you can pour over a spoon).  Garnish with a cherry or orange slice and serve.

Cheers!

National Dear Santa Letter Week

 This year I'm celebrating fun weeks throughout the year.  This week is National Dear Santa Letter Week.

Every year at this time, children around the world write letters to Santa Claus.  Hey, it's good to get those letters in early.  You know the Post Office gets busy around the holidays and these letters have to travel all the way to the North Pole!

This program has been going on since 1912 when the postmaster allowed the employees to answer Dear Santa letters.  In the 1940's the number of letters increased, and local charities and companies participated by answering letters and sending small gifts.  The goal of the program is to help families in need have a Happy Holiday.  

This is all handled through the US Post Office.  Children write letters and send them to: 

Santa Claus

123 Elf Road

North Pole 88888

The post office publishes the letter online (redacting personal information) and you can choose a letter and become Santa to that person.  You purchase gifts and send them.   

How to observe:

Help your child write a letter to Santa and send it the above address.

Take part in playing Santa and answer one of the children's letters.

World Vegan Day

 Today is World Vegan Day!  Hooray!

World Vegan Day is celebrated by vegans around the world on November 1st.  World Vegan Day was established by Louise Wallis in 1944.  He chose November 1 as the date because, "I liked the idea of this date coinciding with Halloween and the Day of the Dead - traditional times for feasting and celebration, both apt and auspicious."  November is a perfect month for feasting!

World Vegan month is celebrated around the world as a time to recognize how far the vegan movement has come and how easy and beneficial it is to live a vegan lifestyle.  World Vegan Month is also to encourage the vegan curious to give veganism a try.

2019 marks 75 years since the foundation of The Vegan Society.  The Vegan Society started as an offshoot of The Vegetarian Society until it was decided that it was important to distinguish the difference between Vegan and Vegetarianism. Vegans do not eat meat nor do they eat anything that is made from an animal (milk, cheese, eggs, etc).  The Vegan Society began celebrating World Vegan Day in 1994 and has celebrated every year since.

"World Vegan Day evolved from celebrating for one day into celebrating one week and now they celebrate the entire month!  World Vegan Month.  Where vegans and veganism is celebrated in workplaces, shops, restaurants and in homes all over the world."

How can you celebrate World Vegan Day?  

You can host a vegan lunch or vegan dinner party with friends.

Share your favorite vegan recipes on social media 

Challenge your friends or family to go vegan for 30 days 

Plant a tree  

Host a vegan potluck party 

Where can you get started?  How about searching this blog under recipes for an easy vegan recipe? 

If you decide to post on social media, make sure to use the hashtags:
#worldveganmonth
#worldveganday

I know I will be part of the celebration!  How about you?

Belly Ache Day

 Another Halloween has come and gone.  How much candy did you eat?

My Dad always called the day after Halloween, "Belly Ache Day."  The belly ache came from eating too much candy the day before (Halloween).  I never suffered on Belly Ache Day.  I was allowed a few pieces of candy on Halloween, and then the rest of my candy was squirreled away by my Mom, never to be seen again.  I think she probably threw it all in the garbage.  (Thanks, Mom)

If you have some energy and are looking for some ways to use up that Halloween candy (besides hiding it or throwing it away), check out my recipe for Halloween cupcakes.  You can make a few batches and give them out to the neighbors.   You can always donate some candy to a food pantry or bring candy to a nursing home (the seniors love getting the candy as a bingo prize!).

Here's hoping that you aren't suffering too much on this Belly Ache Day!

Happy Halloween!

 "There are three things I've learned never to discuss with people:  religion, politics and The Great Pumpkin."  - Linus van Pelt

*If you need some easy last minute costume ideas, check these out:

Easy Halloween Costumes
Eye Candy Costume
Target Employee

The Mom Bag

 This post title has been taking up space in my head, so I had to finally write it down.  If you are a mom, you (might) be able to relate to this post.

When my mom would visit, she would bring along a plastic bag (one of the plastic grocery bags).  In the bag was an assortment of items.  These items could be anything from fruit, coupons, mail, clothing, toy/book for the kids to photos, a deck of cards, small Kleenex packages, etc.  They were always random things and that is what made it fun.  Every bag was a mystery.  No two bags were the same. 

I'm not sure if there is a class on, "How to Mom Bag."  My mom had it down perfectly, though.  Every visit included a mom bag, and you were excited to see what was in this week's bag.  

Unfortunately, I no longer receive mom bags, but I am looking forward to delivering them to my children one day.

Background Check

 A background check is a tool used to view your record, looking out for criminal activity, financial situation and social media interaction.

As some of you know, I am a Girl Scout leader.  In order to continue my career as a leader, a background check is done every two years.  My first year as a leader, this entire process took three weeks.  My two co-leaders got their results back within a couple of days.  I guess they were really trying to dig up some dirt on me.   I believe part of the problem is my name.  Most look at my first name and assume I am male.

This wasn't a one-time glitch.  Every background check I sign up for comes back in a month or two.  Maybe they see my name and expect to find some wild and crazy history?  (I'm thinking I need to get out more so I can live up to their expectations)

Don't get me wrong, I'm really happy that they do these checks for the safety of the girls.

This is my twelfth year as a Girl Scout leader and my final background check.  I just submitted the form.  Let's see how long this final one takes.  Fingers crossed this one comes back quickly.   

The Tea Fairy

 Late at night, while all are asleep, the Tea Fairy flies throughout the kingdom, visiting all of the good little girls and boys.  Delivering all kinds of tea and goodies.

The youngest child was in her bed with a little cold.  I went to check on her to see if she needed anything.  She claimed that she was better, then reached under her pillow and pulled out a few bags of tea (dry, unused tea bags).

Child:  I don't know why I have bags of tea under my pillow.

Me:  Did the Tea Fairy pay you a visit last night?

I'm not sure if placing unused tea bags under your pillow speeds up your recovery time when you are sick or if the Tea fairy really exists.

I think I'll go check under my pillow.

Political Parties

 Well, in honor of free speech week.... here we go.

I was thinking about political parties.   Very popular back in the day (Oh, I'm thinking over fifty years ago).  Most people identified as either a Democrat or a Republican.  You were all in, too.  Whatever the political party put on the platform is what you believed in and/or felt was most important to you.  You basically went along with the pack.  That political group would nominate a candidate to represent the party and you would back them.  Hey, that candidate is who "they" feel will do the best job.  If other people had a different opinion (or were from a different political party) you would have your moments of discussion/arguing, but you still got along with them.  There were protests but they were peaceful.  Sure, there was "dirty politics" and political lies and tricks.  The media (back in the stone age then it was television and newspapers) gave you a view from both sides of the table.  There was some mudslinging, but never with a hatred or a harm to person or country.  People were allowed to be different and to express how they feel and what is important to them.

I don't remember my parents being tied to any particular political party.  Well, they are the ones that taught me not to discuss politics with others (one of the many topics I am not to bring up in social situations).  I feel they brought us up to think for ourselves.  Review both sides of an issue before making a decision.  Not to get caught up with what others (or mainstream media) are doing or thinking.

With this being free speech week, I challenge you to stand up and let your opinion be heard.  But, more importantly, I challenge you to listen to "the other side."  

National Free Speech Week

 This year I am celebrating the fun and interesting national weeks throughout the year.  This week happens to be National Free Speech Week.

Free Speech Week is an annual, weeklong celebration of the first amendment, raising awareness of the importance of free speech and freedom of the press.   These are rights that all Americans share.  This week urges us to learn about and be aware of this freedom.

How to observe #FreeSpeechWeek

Let your voice be heard.

Understand your rights to free speech and exercise them.

Raise awareness by telling your friends and teaching your children about their speech and press freedom and how it affects their lives.

Exercise your freedom of speech by posting a message online.  Compose a poem.  Display a bumper sticker on your car.  Write a letter to the editor.

How will you let your voice be heard this week? 

National Handbag Day

 Today is my favorite day, National Handbag Day!  A day set aside for me to celebrate all of the time and headaches effort that I put into finding the perfect a new purse.  

Handbags come in many shapes and sizes.  They can be as small as an envelope or as large as a carry on suitcase.  Handbags also come in every solid color and a variety of prints like leopard, zebra and even stripes.  You can get a sparkly bag or a purse with rhinestones.  There is a handbag out there for everyone.

Whatever you call it... purse, pocketbook,  clutch, evening bag, case or pouch, handbags have been used for thousands of years.  The earliest bags were used to carry tools or gear.  Sometimes the user decorated them with beads.  And some  dyed the material to make the bag.

How do you celebrate National Handbag Day?  Wear your favorite handbag today, of course!  Or, use this day to buy a new handbag.  There are so many out there for you to choose!

 We all know that I celebrate this day because of my purse commitment issues.  If you need to read up on my scary purse stories, click  HERE, HERE and HERE .  The stories are quite entertaining.

I think today is going to be a good celebration.  I am happy to announce that I have added a few purses to my collection.  I even added a new wallet!   I am on the lookout for a new everyday bag, so, lots of prayers are going to be needed for that search.  

National School Lunch Week

 This year I'm posting the interesting weeks throughout the year.  This week happens to be National School Lunch Week.

School lunches have been available since 1946.  This week focuses on healthy food choices, balanced diets and portion sizes.  Most cafeteria staff know the children and their eating habits.  They take great pride in their work and strive to put out the best meals with the resources they are provided to them.

Back when I was in elementary school (the stone ages), the cafeteria staff actually made the lunches right there in the lunchroom.  The lunches were homemade, and some were pretty tasty.  I did change schools and tried the hot lunches there and found them to be quite bland.  They were brought in from an outside source and had absolutely no flavor.  Today the food provided by the school is brought in from an outside source and, according to my children, awful.  (They are food snobs.  The majority of the meals they have eaten growing up have been homemade)

How to observe #SchoolLunchWeek

Visit your school's cafeteria and learn about the lunches that are available.

What were the school lunches like when you were in school?  Did you buy hot lunch often or brown bag it?

Sick

 After writing my other post on being sick, I remembered getting a bad case of the flu as a child.  I think my doctor mom was pretty worried about me.  Shocking.  I mean, I'm the third child.  Usually, we have to fend for ourselves.

I remember not eating much, which is something that always happens when I get sick.  My mom, probably worried sick, pulled a new treatment out of her medical bag:  Skittles.  She opened the bag of candy and gave me a few pieces to eat.  I found it strange because my mom did not just give us candy.  In fact, I don't recall there ever being candy in the house (except for halloween candy). I don't think candy was allowed in the house.  And candy while I'm sick?  Another red flag.  I ate a piece and waited.  My mom kept trying to encourage me to eat another one.  Eventually I ate a couple more pieces.

To this day, I am not a fan of Skittles (guess I won't be getting a kick back or sponsorship from Skittles any time soon).  Seeing them reminds me of a not so fun time in my life.

Are there any foods that you avoid because of an event in your life? 

My Weird Dog

 I know how much all of you enjoy hearing stories about my weird dog.  I will try to make it a point to write more posts about him.

While I was sitting on break at work the other day, I received a text from RT.  It was a picture of Pippen.  Here is our text exchange:

Me:  Aww!  Soaking up the last bits of summer!

RT:  I thought he was dead.

I had to do a double take of the picture.  I know how much Pippen enjoys working on his tan laying in the sun.  It was finally nice enough outside to catch a few warm rays.  Then I noticed the spot that he chose to do his sunbathing. 

First of all, Pippen (in all of his ten years) has never laid down in that spot on the grass.  There are maybe five spots in our yard where he will lay down and that is not one of them.  RT thought he was running and just dropped dead right there.  RT stared at Pippen for a couple minutes to see if his chest moved (to make sure he was still breathing).  I said it was wishful thinking on RT's part (Pippen has been rather annoying the last couple of weeks).  RT was probably planning how to move the dog and, more importantly, how to best break the news to me.  

Here is the photo. 

Please know that Pippen is alive and well and living his best life on our back deck.  Also, he has not been seen near that spot since this photo was taken.

National Carry a Tune Week

 This year I'm celebrating the interesting National Weeks throughout the year.  This week is National Carry a Tune Week.

This week caught my attention because RT has a tendency to hear a tune (or song) and sing it for weeks on end.  I'm thinking he might be one of the founders of this week.

I did a little research and found that this is an online event and is used to prompt people to recall a tune that brings out good memories and to carry that tune with them all week long. (something RT should have NO PROBLEM doing).

The American Tune Lovers Society opens up a survey so people can suggest their favorite tune.  These tunes can be from school days, a favorite song on the radio, a love relationship, a concert or any other time.  The tune must be American origin and recorded before 2001.  

There are six categories of tunes: Patriotic, Folk, Religious, Pop, Classical and Film.

How to observe #CarryATuneWeek:

Decide on a tune that you want to carry for a week and submit it to the organizers.

Let loose with that tune.  Belt it out or hum it, even if you are off key.

Ugh.  I'm wondering why I picked this week.  I envision hearing RT belting out, "Jolene" for weeks to come. 

Pray for me.

National Newspaper Week

 This year I am celebrating the fun National Weeks throughout the year.  This week is dedicated to Bella, who has been writing articles for her school newspaper.  Today starts National Newspaper Week.  This week recognizes newspapers and their employees.

Newspapers record events and are the first record of history.

Did you know?

The oldest published newspaper began in 1764, the Hartford Currant

Newspapers started out as weekly and monthly.  They did not become daily until the 1790's.

Newspapers reported biasedly and opinionatedly until 1923.  At that time The American Society of Newspaper Editors adopted the primary rule of journalism, "news reports should be free of opinion or bias of any kind."

How to observe #NationalNewspaperWeek

Send a thank you to the publisher, editor, reporter or columnist.

Purchase a subscription to show your pride.

Thanks, Bella!  I enjoy reading your articles.

How will you celebrate today?

International Postcard Week

 This year I'm celebrating the interesting National Weeks throughout the year.  International Postcard week celebrates those fun little cards you mail (mainly when you are off on vacation).

The postcard became popular in the late 1800's, making it easier to communicate with loved ones far away.  The cards did not require an envelope and were a lot less expensive to mail.  They became popular to send to friends and family while on vacation, giving a little glimpse of the place they are visiting.  

Some fun facts about postcards:

Deltiology is the art of collecting postcards.

Donald McGill created the best-selling postcard of all time, selling over 6 million copies.

Old postcards can sell for hundreds or thousands of dollars at auctions.

How to observe #PostcardWeek

Send someone a postcard.  If you can't find one to buy, why not make one on your own?  Just remember the cards have to be 3.5 x 5, in order to be considered a postcard.

Who will you send a postcard to?

Fall is Here!

"Fall is here!  Fall is here!

It's my favorite time of year

Football games and falling leaves
I'll take mine with turkey please"

It's that time of year set aside to think about falling leaves and all things pumpkin!  Pumpkin pie, pumpkin spice, pumpkin spiced latte, pumpkin potpourri, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin bread, pumpkin cookies and just plain pumpkins.

Are you a pumpkin person?  A football person?  How about a Halloween person?

Well, it's time to get your craft on this fall and get into the Fall spirit!  I thought I would put links to some of the Fall Halloween crafts and Costumes that I've blogged about in the past.  Some of these are great ideas to do with little kids and some are great to do with your Girl Scout Troop!


Halloween Crafts

Bat Pencil Cup  uses an empty can and construction paper

Extra Crafts - using construction paper, make owls, witch, ghosts and foam monsters

Mosaic Pumpkin - using paint chips

Mosaic Pumpkin - using construction paper

Owl - using construction paper

Pony Tail Craft - using ribbon (great for a Girl Scout Troop!)

Pumpkin and Ghost - using Popsicle sticks and paint

Pumpkin Magnet - using foam

Spider - using pipe cleaners and google eyes

SPIDER  using construction paper

Spider (under $1 craft)  using an egg carton, black paint and google eyes

Witche's Hat  uses foam and glitter glue

Pumpkin Soap


Have a party to go to and need a quick, easy Halloween costume?  Look no further! 

Costumes
Easy Halloween Costumes
Eye Candy Costume
Target Employee

It's also time to grab that apron and whip up some fall goodies!  Everybody loves pumpkin!  (well, at least I do!)

How about some Fall food ideas:

Vegetarian Chili
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
Pumpkin Pie (from a Pumpkin)

Halloween Candy Dessert 

The Great Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins 

Hope this inspires you to get into the fall spirit!  I think I'll go make some pumpkin cookies.

Enjoy!

National Fall Foliage Week

 This year I am celebrating interesting national weeks throughout the year.  This week is National Fall Foliage Week.

National Fall Foliage Week was created in 2014 to bring families together to observe the changing colors.  For many people, Fall is their favorite time of year.  Crisp, cooler days, pumpkins, pumpkin spice, leaves changing colors.

How to observe the holiday:

Go for a walk or hike in the woods.  Sometimes you can just walk down your street.

Go for a scenic drive.

Visit a National Park.

Go apple picking

Check out some of the local fall festivals in your area.

Visit a pumpkin patch.

Splurge on a fun, fall drink (pumpkin spiced latte, perhaps?)

Use #fallfoliageweek on social media.

National Indoor Plant Week

 This year I am celebrating the interesting National Weeks throughout the year.  This week is National Indoor Plant Week.

This week is set aside to promote the importance of live plants in our homes (offices, etc.).  Indoor plants are much more than a decoration.  Plants clean the air, reduce noise, create oxygen and remove carbon dioxide. They are also known to lower your risk for illness and boost your mood.  If you name your plants, they can also become friends or family members.

How to observe the week:

Buy a plant for your house

Already have plants at home?  If you haven't already, how about showing them a little love by fertilizing them.  Clean their leaves (they collect dust).  Take a plant class to learn how to care for your plants.

And don't forget to use #IndoorPlantsWeek on social media.

A Scary Journey Inside My Life

 It all started with that first post.  You can read it here.

Today marks 11 long  frightening  torturous years for A Scary Journey Inside My Life.  Honestly, I didn't think it would last a year.  I told you early on that this journey was going to be scary and I think I have made good on that promise.    

A few things have changed since that original post.  

My children are 11 years older

Newton is no longer with us

We don't sell security cameras 

We now have a weird dog named Pippen

I changed jobs....AGAIN (but it's not at all like the fun job I wrote about here)

Some things have stayed the same:

Still married to RT (poor lucky guy)

Still live in Illinois (hopefully my days in this state are numbered...)

My brain is still living in Zihuatanejo

There are lots of inner workings in my brain, many gears going and some at the same time.  And of course, there is a lot of scary stuff going on in my life.

Oh, yea, and My Life is still scary.

Who knew that my family (and dog) would provide so much entertainment many stories?

You can thank RT for giving me that push to start this blog.  Little does he know; he has provided quite a few stories.  (No, he still isn't allowed to read the posts)

If you have been here since the beginning, you are a saint   I'm sorry   God Bless You!  thank you for putting up with me and my craziness all of these years.  If you have just joined the journey,  RUN   hang on tight.  This crazy  scary ride is not over yet!

Cheers!

Have a Great Day

 A customer came up behind me at work and asked, "Can you do the alcohol or are you too young?"  Of course, I was very flattered and said, "I know I don't look it, but I am over 21."  She replied, "Oh, yea, you turned 21 yesterday."

"Every smile makes you a day younger."  Chinese Proverb

Sick

 Recently, I came down with a little cold.  Sorry to disappoint, but it was not COVID.  I realized as I started to feel bad that no one was going to take care of me.  My healing was going to be all on my own.  At this point, I felt sad because I really miss my mom.  

I remember, back in the old days, when I was a kid and got sick, my mom took care of me.  My mom wasn't a doctor, she had a college degree but, no proper medical training under her belt.

It's funny to think back about the illnesses that I had as a child:  the flu and the common cold (both viruses).  And my mom, a nonmedical professional, taking care of me and helping me overcome these illnesses.  She didn't have all of the modern technology, access to medicine or shots.  Her medical bag was limited and consisted of a thermometer, aspirin (baby aspirin, in my case), Vick's vapor rub, hot or cold wet towel, blankets, humidifier, hot water bottle, heating pad, a bucket and, of course, saltines and 7UP.

It's amazing to think back to those times and realize that I survived.  My mom did not call the doctor to discuss my symptoms (well, I'm also the third child, so...).  She knew that it was a virus and let it run its course.  She made me comfortable during the process and, I lived to talk (and write) about it.

Anyone else have bad flashbacks to those Vick's Vapor Rub days?

Labor Day

 On September 5, 1882, New York City honored its workers, the men and women who build this country, by observing the very first Labor Day.  The US relies on it's workforce for infrastructure. Streets, buildings, transportation and security.   The observance moved to the first Monday in 1884 and was officially recognized by the government in 1885.  Congress declared Labor Day a national holiday in 1894.

Labor Day also marks the end of the summer season.  Those who work hard need time to play, too.  The extended weekend gives everyone time to get out and explore and enjoy what remains of the summer.

How will you spend your day today?

Greek Life, Greek Wife

 Apparently, my husband, RT, is teaching a class on, "How to Get a Greek Wife."  

I made a suggestion that he should just dab a little of the vinegar behind his ears instead of bathing in it.  Maybe throw in a little olive oil for luck?

Seats for this class are going quickly, so, you better sign up soon.

I think the second lesson has to do with oregano.

Translation:

RT broke a bottle of balsamic vinegar this morning.  I came home from my morning walk to a REALLY strong vinegar scent in the house.  RT did clean up the vinegar mess, but his socks absorbed quite a bit of the Greek love potion vinegar.  I bought a new bottle of balsamic vinegar and require supervision for RT when he is near the bottle.

Waiting Room

 On my many visits to the dentist and lengthy waiting room times I made a little observation.  It all has to do with the seating in these rooms.  I understand that the office tries to make the rooms cozy and homey, like you are just hanging out in your living room.  What they don't realize, in their hours spent decorating, is that the chairs are extremely very uncomfortable.

There was an episode of 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' where Larry David brings up the uncomfortable chair to the therapist.  The doctor never tried sitting in the chair.  He was more concerned how the chair fit in with the decor.

On a couple of these (dentist office) visits, I was uncomfortably seated in this torture device chair for over an hour.  This is the office with the soap opera station, so, yea, pure torture.  I think the doctor and waiting room designer should be forced to sit in their waiting room for eight hours straight several hours a day and see how comfortable they find the furniture and surroundings.  I have a feeling that things would quickly change.

National Be Kind to Humankind Week

 This year I am celebrating the fun, interesting national weeks.  This week is National Be Kind to HumanKind Week (August 25-31).

This holiday was founded by Lorraine Jara.  Lorraine heard a sad story about two boaters that were involved in a boating accident and were clinging to life.  Other boaters did not want to be bothered to stop and help these two men.  One of the men died.  Lorraine decided to honor them by creating this week to get people to do kindnesses for others.  Each day is laid out on who to help that day.

Sunday

Help those that are homebound.  This could mean sick or elderly.  Pick up some groceries and maybe stay for a quick little visit.

Motorist Monday

Drive courteously.

Touch a heart Tuesday

Encourage others in their dreams

Willing to Lend a hand Wednesday

Offer a helping hand.  Maybe it's a neighbor or a friend or even a new mom.

Thoughtful Thursday

Hold the door open for someone.  Offer to let someone go ahead of you in line.

Forgive your foe Friday

Contact that person (family member) that you have had words and make amends.  It's time to extend that olive branch.

Speak Nice Words Saturday

Speak only nice words.  Teach your children to do the same so they grow up to be friendly, respectful adults.

You can use #BeKindToHumankind or #BK2HK on social media.

National Thrift Shop Day

 Hey, Mackelmore, can we go thrift shopping?

Get ready to shop some bargains because today is National Thrift Shop Day! 

A thrift store, also known as a resale shop, consignment store or charity shop, can be found in most towns.  Items are donated to the stores and the staff stocks the stores with these donations.  By shopping at a thrift store, you are able to save money and find some hidden treasures (like vintage and unusual clothing).  For some it's not just about saving money, it's about the thrill of finding unusual items.  

While thrifting helps the budget, it also helps the environment by preventing these items from ending up in a landfill. 

 I'm gonna pop some tags 

only got $20 in my pocket

I'm a hunting

looking for a come up

This is .....awesome!

How can you observe the day?

If you have items at home that are not being used, pack them up and bring them to a thrift store or donation center.   This is a great way to clean up your home and give your items a second chance by not going into a landfill.

Check out some thrift stores/ resale stores in your area.  Bring a friend along and make a day of it.

Oh, and of course, playing Thrift Shop by Mackelmore is a must today.

How will you participate today?

National Elvis Week

 This year I am posting about fun and interesting national week holidays throughout the year.  This week is National Elvis Week.

During this week, Elvis fans honor the King, his life and, of course, his music.

Elvis became one of the biggest Rock and Roll stars in the 1950's.  He was later given the title the King of Rock and Roll due to his music and performances. Elvis bought his mansion, Graceland in 1957.  Memphis named a portion of the street, Elvis Presley Boulevard in honor of the King.  People still love Elvis.  Over 600,000 people tour Graceland every year.

Elvis week in Memphis includes a fan reunion, 5k, auctions, concerts, a candlelight vigil, memorial services and tours and so much more.

How to participate?

Make that pilgrimage to Graceland.

Host a "Rock a Hula" party with Elvis music

Use #ElvisWeek for your social media posts.

National Hobo Week

 This year I am posting about some of the interesting national weeks throughout the year.  This week is National Hobo Week.

National Hobo Week is celebrated along with the Hobo Convention held in Britt, Iowa.  The hobos set up their camps (also known as a hobo jungle) and peddle their wares or entertain throughout the week.  The hobo convention is the largest gathering of hobos, rail riders and tramps to celebrate the traveling worker.

Yea.  Workers.  Growing up, I always thought Hobos didn't work and rode the trains from town to town to get food or money.  Such is not the case.  They are traveling workers, unlike tramps and bums who do not work.

Oh, and hobos are still around.  I thought they were a thing of the past, you know, from the 1920's.

In case you plan on attending the hobo convention, you should brush up on your hobo lingo.

Big Rock Candy Mountain - hobo heaven 

Big House - Jail

Hobo Hieroglyphics - set of symbols to communicate with one another, availability of food or danger

Jungle - Hobo campsite

reefer - refrigerated boxcar

westbound - a train that a hobo hopes to die on

How to celebrate?  

Attend the National Hobo Convention

Do a little research on some famous hobos.