National Give Something Away Day

 Happy National Give Something Away Day!

Most of us have more than we need to live. Today gives us an opportunity to give back and share some of our bounties. Giving benefits both parties. It helps put much needed services and goods within reach of those who need it while the giver gets the good feelings, while also teaching us gratitude.

Unsure what you can give?  Words can be a gift. Showing empathy, encouragement and compassion to someone in time of need may make us feel vulnerable but it empowers those we offer it to as well. You can share your time by volunteering. Of course, items like clothing, money and food are needed. 

How to observe the holiday:

How about starting the day by buying the person behind you a cup of coffee or tea?

Clean out your closet or garage and make a donation.

Donate to a local food pantry or one of the many little reading libraries 

Volunteer your time or skills

Make gift baskets for the shelters

Start a fundraiser for your favorite charity

Help your neighbors

You can share on social media using #GiveSomethingAwayDay

RT is focusing his time and energy on raising awareness of human trafficking. He plans on climbing Mt. Elbert, the highest mountain in Colorado and is trying to raise $14,440. That's $1 for every foot of the mountain. That sounds like a lot of work and a lot of money, but every dollar goes to helping the survivors of human trafficking. $1 goes a long way. To donate, please visit givebutter.com/climbingforfreedom  

What will you give away today?

National Nude Day

 Hey everyone, it's National Nude Day!  

Don't have any clean clothes to wear today? Well, there's no need to do the laundry today because it's National Nude Day! 

Enjoy an air bath. Apparently, Benjamin Franklin was known to take air baths by an open window, allowing the fresh air to drift around his birthday suit. 

Nudist groups around the world celebrate this holiday and take it quite seriously. National Nude Day is in the middle of summer for a good reason. No one wants to walk around outside in the northern parts of the world in the middle of January.  Brr!

Wearing sunblock during outdoor activities today is advisable. Watch out for poison oak, ivy and sumac.

If you do participate today, make sure you are at home or a nudist colony. I'm not bailing anyone out of jail. Oh, and don't forget to use sunscreen!

I would also caution on what you post to social media, but feel free to use #NationalNudeDay when posting. 

Now get out there and have some fun!

Jury Duty

 I have posted quite a bit here about jury duty. Especially how I seem to get called to serve more than the average citizen. I moved to another state and immediately received a jury summons. I sent in the questionnaire and was called a few months later. 

Here we are, six months post serving on a jury and I receive another summons. I must have out performed as a juror and they really want me back. I am thinking that this might be my next career. Maybe they can give me a raise?

I forgot to mention that RT received a summons/questionnaire at the same time of my first summons and has yet to be called. I would like to know how he has avoided jury duty all of these years. His advice to me was to not show up. Apparently, that is what he did the first time he was called for jury duty. I told him I can't do that because it says that if you don't show up for jury duty they will find and arrest you. And with my luck, they will find me and throw me in jail.

How many times have you been called for jury duty?

How many times have you served on a jury? 

National Kissing Day

Pucker up, RT! Today is National Kissing Day! 

The earliest references to kissing trace back to India in 1500 BC. The historians state the texts describe "kissing" as the act of rubbing and pressing noses together.  Today, kissing is a form of communication. We use it to show love or as a greeting. 

Interesting bits about kissing:

You burn 26 calories during a one minute kiss.

278 is the number of bacteria colonies that are exchanged during a kiss

The average person spends about 2 weeks of their life kissing.

79 is the number of guys the average woman kisses before marrying

1923 is when the term, "French kiss" came into use in America

You use 34 facial muscles to kiss someone

A lipstick print of Mick Jagger's lips sold for $1600

How to celebrate the day? 

How about kissing the person you love? 

You can tell all on social media using the hashtag #NationalKissingDay

Now to go find RT...

Who will you kiss today?

Haircut

I went in for a much needed haircut in my small town. I just wanted to say thank you for your prayers. I did not get the crazy covid stylist this time and my haircut, and overall experience was a huge success.

Shower Bug

 On Saturdays I meet up with some friends for some friendly conversation and watercolor painting. We meet locally, one of the buildings here has a common area between stores. They have plenty of tables and some games out for customers to use.

This one Saturday, in the middle of my painting time, I receive a call from the child. She is in a panic and is talking a mile a minute. There are tears, a few screams and some pleas. My friend could hear some of the screams crying conversation. I immediately switched gears and put my mediator hat on and proceed to calmly talk her off the ledge.

The story goes...The child went to take a shower. While in the shower, she turns and notices a house centipede (long bug with lots of legs) on the shower curtain. Apparently, she jumped out of the shower, screaming. The bug is huge (she sent me a photo and yes, it's still on my phone - scary!). In my calm voice, I tell her she is a lot bigger than the bug and she can kill it. I wait for her to find something to kill the bug. She tries to waterboard it and finds that it is too big to go down the drain. And, yes, I tell her to grab some tissue, pick him up and toss him.

Once all is done and we are calming down I say, "Would you like to say a few words? I mean, he (the bug) didn't know he was big, ugly and scary. He probably has a family. Maybe we can say a few words to remember him." Between tears I get, "He's cute. I'm sad that I had to kill him. I'm sorry! I'm so much bigger than him. I feel sad."

The story isn't just about the bug and the fear. It's much bigger. It's about being faced with a problem (a bug, in this situation) and how you can handle it. Sometimes you can use a calming voice from the outside and a little encouragement. In the end, you find that you are able to handle all that comes your way. You also prove that you are fearless and brave. And, you also just saved your mom from said bug. (EEK!)

Music

Have you ever listened to a song and a memory comes to mind? Or maybe the song starts playing and a person, place or event comes to mind? I have a few songs that make the cut on these memories. 

The song, "Rio" by Duran Duran brings back memories of a dance routine my friend and I did to get extra credit in PE class in high school. It involved a lot of dancing, laughing and almost getting my head knocked off. We got to listen and dance to our favorite band at school plus we got full credit. A win-win for us.

There's the song, "Unforgettable," by Natalie Cole and Nat King Cole that I danced to with my dad at my wedding. My dad isn't much of a dancer so all I remember is him talking about how cute my nieces were walking down the aisle as flower girls. I also got to hear him say the classic line to me, during the dance, "Boy, this is a real long song!" It cracks me up because every time I hear that song, I think of that line.  

When I thought of this prompt, the song, "Rocket Man" by Elton John was playing at work. That's the song that I would play in the car after I gave Pippen CBD to calm him down before we went on a road trip. I pictured his mind, worries and anxiety jetting off into space. 

What songs bring back memories for you?