I DID IT

Whew! NaBloPoMo is officially over; I'm happy to say that I completed my mission to post everyday for the month of November. I will be continuing this blog, so stay tuned! But now I'm off to rest for a bit.

This weekend, Cookie Cutter Week begins (Dec 1-7), so go dig out those cookie cutters while you are gearing up for the holidays. More on this to come....

November 30 - Stay Home Because You're Well Day

November 30 - Stay Home Because You're Well Day

Now, I don't condone this, but the idea behind this holiday is to call in "well" to work today. Take a mental health day and sleep in. Start your Christmas shopping. But don't blame me if you get in trouble with your boss.

Personally, I'm at work today, but only because I can't afford not to show up. But good luck to those who participate in this holiday!

November 29 - Electronic Greetings Day

November 29 - Electronic Greetings Day

Talk about a Hallmark-created holiday. Catch up with old friends via e-mail or e-greeting cards today. Want to send someone a Christmas card, but you've lost their address? Send an e-greeting.

If you are on MySpace or another social networking site, say hi through a bulletin to hit all your pals at once. Does that feel a bit cold and remote? Phones are technically electronic, so give 'em a call.

November 28 - National Georgia Pecan Month

November is National Georgia Pecan Month

I made you a pecan pie today but I eated it. I was going to take a picture of it for you; it was so beautiful and yummy. Unfortunately I ate it all before I thought about snapping a pic. I love love love pecan pie. Maybe tomorrow I'll make you another and take a picture before I dig in! Here is the best pecan pie recipe so you can have all the pecan pie magic to yourself.

November 27 - Vegan Month

November - Vegan Month

I spend a lot of time talking about food here on this blog. To be honest, I spend a lot of time talking (and thinking!) about food in all aspects of my life. When I saw Vegan Month looming on my calendar, I got a bit nervous. I was thinking about going vegan for one day, but I chickened out. Maybe I will try to do that soon.

Today I was looking at some vegan websites, wondering what on earth I would eat were I to actually go vegan (if only for a day). Here is the menu I came up with. Now it doesn't seem nutritionally balanced, so I couldn't eat this menu everyday, but these are the items I came up with on the fly:

Breakfast:
Oatmeal

Lunch:
bean burrito with soy cheese

Snack:
apple and peanut butter

Supper:
soy burger and salad

Dessert:
Tofutti Cuties

So I guess going vegan for a day or so wouldn't be that bad.

Now, I'm not against being vegan or vegetarian. I just like to eat meat and cheese. I personally have drastically cut back on eating red meat for health reasons. If I were to go to a vegetarian diet (I could not possibly give up real cheese forever) it would be for improving my health. I like animals, but I do not have that tender heart required to truly care about all animals' welfare. Call me cold-hearted, call me hypocritical, but do not call me late for a steak dinner.

November 26 - National Pomegranate Month

November - National Pomegranate Month

This trendy little funky fruit deserves its own month. Check out the recipe here. It is a Persian recipe. I adapted it a bit to use leftover turkey instead of cooking more chicken and having additional leftovers. YUM! The pomegranate stew tastes quite a bit like cranberry, so with the turkey, it was Thanksgiving leftover heaven.

For those who have still not tried this wonder fruit, you can buy POM pomegranate juice at just about any grocery store. You could also purchase fresh pomegranates. They can be a bit intimidating at first, but then it is almost fun! Score the skin and break apart. Over a bowl of water, separate all the little seeds (called arils). They will sink to the bottom and the rest will float. You can eat the seed whole or spit out the crunchy part. The crunchy part isn't bad at all; kind of like tiny pieces of unpopped popcorn.

November 25 - Blasé Day

November 25 - Blasé Day

Feeling blasé? Don't know what the heck blasé means? Confusing the meaning of blasé with ennui? Here is a definition for you from Answers.com:

"Nonchalantly unconcerned; uninterested because of frequent exposure or indulgence; very sophisticated because of surfeit."

And if you know what surfeit means, you are blasé. Get over yourself.

Anyway, hope you weren't too frequently exposed to anything as to be uninterested. Enjoy your Sunday night!

November 24 - Better Conversation Week

November 19-25 - Better Conversation Week

I was so busy preparing for Thanksgiving, I almost let this week slip by without participating in Better Conversation Week. So yesterday and today I crammed. See, I would love to be a better conversation partner. I feel so awkward in social situations, especially in those situations in which I am faced with strangers or people I barely know. Here are some of the most common tips I ran across:

• BE PREPARED
• Several blogs and articles mentioned this tip. You may be wondering, how can I possibly prepare for a conversation with someone I don't know?
• Preparing for conversation could entail staying abreast of current events, reading magazines you wouldn't normally pick up, reading best-selling books, and maybe checking out a trivia site, such as Mental Floss. If you are aware of the news of the day, or the plot of the best-selling book of the year, you may find you have more to discuss with people you don't know.
• Another way to prepare is to explore the world. The next time you find yourself in unfamiliar territory, go exploring, even for 15 minutes. Someday you may run into someone from that place and you will have something in common, as small as it may be. Who knows where that conversation may lead?
• You could also prepare for future conversations with strangers by stepping out of your comfort zone. If you are a metal-head, try sitting through a classical concert. If your taste is more conservative, try hitting up a punk club. Tune out the tunes and people watch. See how the people you don't know behave in certain situations. You may be surprised by what you find out.
• ASK QUESTIONS
• Try to avoid yes/no questions. Nothing will stop an awkward conversation between strangers than an abrupt question or answer.
• See if you can ask a question related to the event you are both at. If you are at a wedding, ask if your conversation partner knows the bride or the groom.
• PAY ATTENTION
• Maintain eye contact. If you are not paying attention to the person you are speaking with, they will realize you aren't interested, and will not want to continue to speak with you. On the flip side, don't constantly stare at them. This is very disconcerting and may even scare them away.
  
• Actively listen. This means not only looking at them, but actually paying attention to what they are saying. Don't wait for them to pause just so you can jump in and say something.
• BE NICE
• When you do get a chance to speak, try to stay on topic.
  
• Don't dominate the conversation. Be sure to give your partner a chance to talk. You are trying to get to know them. You can't accomplish this if your mouth is running the whole time.
• Don't interrupt. This shows that you are not interested in what the other person has to say.

I hope this helps! I will be sure to apply these tips the next chance I get! Here are some links you may find helpful:

SoSuave.com
HELLO, my name is blog!
Five Ways to Become a Better Conversationalist

November 23 - You're Welcomegiving Day

The best thing about Thanksgiving is the food. And the best thing about the day after Thanksgiving is therefore the leftovers. Not the shopping.

The day after Thanksgiving is known to some as You're Welcomegiving Day (obviously), Buy Nothing Day (amen sista!), and Sinkie Day (meaning you eat your leftovers standing up over the kitchen sink). It's also known as Flossing Day, which is good, cuz I'm sure you forgot to floss last night. I know I did.

I personally celebrate Buy Nothing Day and Sinkie Day (although I will probably be eating while sitting on the couch, not leaning over the sink). I love turkey and stuffing sandwiches. Yes, I put a bread product on my bread with my turkey. I don't care. I love it. It is the best thing about the holidays. I can do without Christmas presents and pretty decorations, but I must have my turkey-stuffing leftover sandwiches.

Since moving to LA, I have had holidays without snow, but I will not go without my special sandwiches. It just wouldn't be right. I don't expect you to understand, just don't make fun of me. Now go floss your teeth and leave me to my gluttony.

November 22 - Thanksgiving Day

What a wonderful day! I woke up and watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade while I prepared my Thanksgiving meal. Everything was soooo delicious. I woke up out of my food coma to type this, then I will go scavenge more pie. Yum.

Hope you are all happy and safe. Enjoy your Thanksgiving!

Love,
Alyson

November 21 - World Television Day

November 21 - World Television Day

Oddly enough, this holiday does not exist to promote television viewership.

But it should.

If you're like me, you are baking pies and generally getting ready for Thanksgiving. For your pie-baking pleasure, you should simultaneously view Pushing Daisies, on ABC. The main character bakes pies and solves crimes with his alive-again girlfriend.

For your kitchen nightmares, check out Kitchen Nightmares on FOX. Chef Ramsay does swear quite a lot, so you may not want your children to view this, even though the swearing is bleeped out.

Happy Thanksgiving Eve!

November 20 - Name Your PC Day

When your PC freezes up for the third time in an hour, you need to have a good name to call it besides the obvious MotherF-er. Today I've named my PC Delia. She's a Dell. Get it?

When referring to my computer, I doubt I will call her by name. But now, she has an official name, even though I've had her for 2 years now.

November 19 - Have a Bad Day Day

November 19 - Have a Bad Day Day

Do NOT have a nice day. Have a BAD day. Of course, this holiday falls on a Monday this year.

At work today, I tried to have a bad day, but I just stayed too happy. The computers were down, and the only task I could work on is the most boring thing ever. Yet the day went by quickly and I got a good deal accomplished.

I got home from work and checked the mailbox, hoping for some junk mail and solicitations. My mother sent me a care package from home. I really tried to have a bad day, but it just didn't work out that way. Oh well. Better luck next year!

November 18 - National Game and Puzzle Week

November 18-24 - National Game and Puzzle Week

Oh. My. Golly. I love love love games and puzzles. Card games, board games, pencil and paper games....and crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, sudoku...happiness.

I will stop to say that I LOVE my Nintendo DS Lite. I have this game, which is all about games and puzzles! I seriously play with this every day. No lie. Ask my boyfriend.

You should pick up some games or puzzles to enjoy with your friends and family this week. You know there is only so much eating and shopping you can do next weekend. Do it on the cheap - check out your local thrift stores and Goodwill stores.


Thanksgiving Countdown: Four days to go! Pull turkey out of freezer tonight, and place in refrigerator to thaw.

November 17 - Homemade Bread Day

November 17 - Homemade Bread Day

I wish I could say that I stayed up baking bread. But that would be a lie. And lies are bad.

I hope you got a chance to bake some bread up today. If not, tomorrow would be a great day to smell that yummy yeasty goodness coming out of your oven (or breadmaker, if you are stuck in the '90s). Or you could make some banana bread or pumpkin bread. It doesn't have to be plain ole white sandwich bread.

I'm off to see some crafty goodness tomorrow, but I may possibly make some banana bread when I get back home. I have some bananas that have gone past the point of no return.

Enjoy your weekend!

November 16 - International Day for Tolerance

November 16 - International Day for Tolerance

Why can't we all just get along?

Now, I'm not perfect, but I don't understand why racism is still so prevalent today. On the news this afternoon I heard yet another story about nooses hung on a college campus in California. I mean, really? There are people out there that still think they are better than those with a different skin color? There are white people that still believe that black people should be lynched? Is it 1907, not 2007?

Of course, it isn't just a white/black issue, I was just using an example. Let's try to help erase prejudice and hatred. It can only help our world be a more comfortable place to live.

10 Ways to Fight Hate

101 Ways to Combat Prejudice

November 15 - National Bundt Pan Day

Happy Bundt Day!

The bundt pan (which is used to create the iconic cakes from the '60s and '70s) was created in 1950 by Nordic Ware. Celebrate by baking a cake! I used this book to create a delicious bundt cake today.

November 14 - Children's Book Week

November 12-18 - Children's Book Week

Even as an adult, I still enjoy most children's books. I should re-read some of these books more often. Recently, I was looking through the children's books on amazon.com, and I came across a few that I'd almost forgotten about:

• The Velveteen Rabbit
• Harriet the Spy
• Ramona Quimby
• Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
  

I could go on and on listing books that I loved as a child. But I won't bore you with the details. Go grab a few children's books from the library, or see what is available on the Internet Archive. Enjoy!

November 13 - World Kindness Day

November 13 - World Kindness Day

November 12-18 - World Kindness Week

Commit random acts of kindness today!

To celebrate, I baked cookies for my boyfriend to take to his (sugar-addicted) co-workers. I also tried really really hard to be nice to other drivers while I drove to and from work today, and let people merge in to my lane, even when they didn’t use their turn signals.

November 12 - I Need A Patch For That Day

I speak without thinking.

I hate waking up early for work.

Mondays stink.

I put off scrubbing the toilet as long as possible.

Sometimes I forget to brush my teeth.

My books are in alphabetical order but the clean laundry is in a tangled pile on the bedroom floor.

I need a patch for that.

November 11 - Veterans Day

A big THANK YOU to all our veterans, whether you served in peacetime or in war. THANK YOU to all who are currently serving at home and abroad. We may not all agree with the conflicts our country is involved in, but hopefully we can stand behind the brave souls who are guarding our freedoms.

The eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. In 1918, this was recognized as Armistice Day, the official end of World War I. In 1954, President Eisenhower passed a bill proclaiming November 11th to be Veterans Day. It is meant to thank living veterans, and to emphasize that everyone who has served, not only those who have died for their country, has sacrificed and done their duty.

We can celebrate by giving to local organizations that help our veterans. Here in LA, check out New Directions.

Veterans Day official website

November 10 - Area Code Day

Whoo hoo! Area Code Day! My favorite holiday ever.

Here we have another holiday that I am convinced is totally made up. I could not find any information about this celebration online. I'm not even sure why we would want/need to celebrate area codes.

Is anyone else annoyed about how often area codes change? When I lived in the Chicago area, my area code changed three times. Now that I'm out here in the 818, they want to change it to 747. I don't like that. Doesn't have quite the same ring to it. Get it...ring...

I do have one funny story that somewhat involves area codes. A while back I was living in the 708 area code. I got a phone call from someone who dialed the wrong number. The party he was trying to reach had the same phone number as I had, except their area code was 408. We talked for a few minutes when he found out he called the other side of the country than he had intended to reach.

I remembered this story when I recently came across this website. You'll find that the fifth line is quite applicable to this post.

Anyhow, find a way to celebrate your area code, and check out some area code history here.

November 9 - National Peanut Butter Lovers' Month

I love peanut butter, so this month is for me. Other than those with peanut allergies, is there anyone who doesn't like peanut butter?

I think that peanut butter's best day was the glorious day that someone put chocolate and peanut butter together. God bless you, whoever you are. That was truly a match made in heaven.

As much as I love peanut butter (I have an open jar on my desk with a spoon stuck in), I don't really have much to say about it. So I went digging and got some fun facts and links for you to digest.

From peanutbutter.com (Skippy's website):

• Did you know that Dr. George Washington Carver did not invent peanut butter? Why is it that he is popularly credited for that creation?
• Jimmy Carter is the American President known as a peanut farmer, but did you know that Thomas Jefferson was also a peanut farmer?
• Nearly half of US peanuts are made into peanut butter.
• The largest PB&J sandwich was 40 feet long and was made with 150 pounds of peanut butter (and 50 pounds of jelly).
• Adults eat more peanut butter than children do.
• East coast residents prefer smooth peanut butter, while people who live on the west coast prefer chunky.
• And almost everyone puts peanut butter on first when making a PB&J.
  

More links:
Peanut Butter Lovers tells us how peanut butter is made.

Reese's has a Peanut Butter Lovers version of their famous Reese's peanut butter cup.

The Peanut Institute, of course.

I would like to add some of these to my Christmas list.

Don't know how to celebrate Peanut Butter Lovers' Month? Click here.

Still need more ideas on what do do with peanut butter? Here are some ideas.

And finally, this. I was going to make this to celebrate, but I was afraid I would eat it all.

November 8 - Cook Something Bold and Pungent Day

November 8 - Cook Something Bold and Pungent Day

I'm not entirely sure how this holiday originated. In fact, I have a sneaking suspicion that it is a made-up holiday. At any rate, I took this as another opportunity to broaden my horizons.

I had trouble coming up with an exciting recipe for this bold and pungent meal, so I went to my friends and the NaBloPoMo bloggers to get some ideas.

Some of the ideas were downright scary (asafetida and durian) but one blogger set me on the right track. She mentioned that many Asian and African ethnic groups use dried salted fish in their cuisine.

So I hit up my local Asian grocery store to pick up some supplies. The whole dried fish was a bit intimidating, but the dried shrimp in the refrigerated section were more approachable. I also grabbed some fish sauce while I was there.

I used this recipe as the basis for my bold and definitely pungent meal. I made a few alterations, but this is an easy recipe to follow once you obtain the more obscure ingredients. While this meal wasn't an instant favorite for me or my boyfriend, we enjoyed the chance to try something new and different.

One final note: be careful when you open your bottle of fish sauce. Mine exploded all over me, which must have been a funny sight. My arm still smells pungent.

November 7 - Learn Chinese Month

November is Learn Chinese Month. I would suggest heading on over to Chinesepod.com immediately.

I have never before been interested in Asian culture, going to Asia, or learning an Asian language. When I saw that November is Learn Chinese Month, I surprisingly challenged myself to attempt to learn some basic phrases. Almost every day this month (so far) I have been listening to the podcasts at Chinesepod.com, and attempting to learn a little bit.

I do not know any Chinese people, nor do I foresee any possible need to know Chinese. But I considered this a growing experience and who knows – it may come in handy some day.

So far I can say “Hello, how are you? I’m fine, and you? I’m fine, thank you.” I’d at least like to be able to say please, thank you, where is the bathroom, etc. If I remember, later this month I will update you on my progress.

November 6 - Dear Santa Letter Week

To me, the first week of November seems a bit early to be writing letters to Santa. I'm still eating Halloween candy, and we haven’t even hit Thanksgiving yet.

Maybe I’ve forgotten what it’s like to be a kid. The child universe revolves around Christmas. Maybe for kids who still believe in Santa (or just want more toys) the first week of November is cutting it kind of close.

So I called Santa to research this a bit. Turns out that the earlier he gets the letters, the better. He wants to be sure he has all the raw materials needed to make all the toys and presents in time for a Christmas delivery.

Santa can check out my Amazon wish list any time of year to see what I want. For those of you who don’t want to leave it up to the big guy, check out this website. You can print out your letter and mail it to Santa the traditional (snail mail) way.

For those who prefer the speed and convenience of e-mail, check out www.emailsanta.com. In addition to a personal response from Kris Kringle, this website has plenty of Christmas-related activities too. There is even a countdown to the big day.

Not sure if you’ll be getting candy or coal in your stocking this year? You can see if you qualify as Naughty or Nice. Turns out I am Nice, after all. Don't believe me? You can check with Santa.

You can also e-mail Santa through www.northpole.com and find more games and Christmasy activities.

For a more adult version of the Dear Santa letter, try this Mad Libs-style letter.

Those of you with children may want to see this blog from last year’s Dear Santa Letter Week; the author has some good advice and ideas. She lists the snail mail addresses you can send your letters to as well has how to get a reply from “Santa” mailed back to your children.

November 5 - Gettin' Figgy Wit It

National Fig Week, November 1-7

My fig experiences thus far have been limited to Fig Newtons. After doing a bit of research for this blog, I still know relatively little about figs, but you can go here or here for plenty of detailed information.

When I saw Fig Week approaching, I determined that I would cook or bake at least one item featuring figs. Having no notion of how to prepare figs, I turned to my trusty pal, Google. Search terms: how to prepare figs.

The first hit is a 2004 newspaper article from Florida. Not California, which is where 99-100 percent (depends on who you believe) of all commercially harvested figs are grown. Maybe fig-rich Californians already know how to work with figs. I don’t. And I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one.

Anyway, this extremely brief article gets right to the point. Wash the figs, cut off the stems, don’t bother trying to peel the skin. Ok, got it. The remaining hits from my Google search are for fig recipes, fig tree care tips (figs grow on the ficus; something else I didn’t know about figs), and how to prepare various electronic thingys that have nothing at all to do with figs.

Armed with my rudimentary fig preparation knowledge, I head to the kitchen to whip up some yummy figgy goodness.

First, I made an appetizer: Fig and Toasted Almond Brie. What a great appetizer for a holiday party or special occasion. I like to cut the rind off (this is best done when cold) but it can be left on (it is edible, I just don’t like it). Serve with fancy crackers or French bread. I think it is also very pretty. I’m sure dried figs would be just fine if you cannot get fresh ones.

For the main course: Chicken with Figs in Port Wine Sauce. It was good, but I think the recipe needs a bit of tinkering. Also, it didn't look so pretty, so no picture of this one.

On to dessert: Fig Spice Cake. Oh. My. Word. This cake was sooo good. Basically it is a spice cake or carrot cake, but with fresh figs (I bet you could use dried and it would be just great). Buttermilk makes this cake so moist and decadent. Of course, cream cheese frosting makes everything taste great. I think this recipe also came out very prettily.

Allrecipes.com has some fig recipes, or you can check out Internet Archive. There are some vintage cookbooks on the text portion of their website. Here are three featuring fig recipes:

How to Serve Figs in the Home

The Story of Dried Fruits

The Dromedary Cook Book

Oh, one last thing I didn’t know – God hates figs. Here is your proof.

November 4 - Food Celebrations

When you think about November, you think about Thanksgiving. Which means you think about a huge turkey dinner. Well, I do, anyway.

But surprisingly enough, November is NOT National Turkey Month. Officially, at any rate. It is however, National Georgia Pecan Month, which makes sense, as lots of folks serve pecan pie with Thanksgiving dinner. It’s also National Peanut Butter Lovers’ Month, National Pomegranate Month, and Vegan Month. I don’t usually associate peanut butter or pomegranates with Thanksgiving, and I would have a hard time figuring out what to serve at a vegan Thanksgiving dinner. Tofurky, I suppose. But no gravy or jello salad.

November 21 is National Pumpkin Pie Day, in case you can’t wait for T-day to chow down on some pie. The 23^rd is Sinkie Day, which means that you stand over the kitchen sink and eat the leftovers from Thursday. It’s also Flossing Day, which is good, because stringy turkey can get stuck between your teeth. Sometimes I fall asleep before I get a chance to brush and floss.

Other foods celebrated this month are figs (Nat’l Fig Week, Nov. 1-7), sandwiches (Nov. 3), bittersweet chocolate with almonds (getting a little too specific for me, Nov. 7), and homemade bread (Nov. 17). National Bundt Pan Day is Nov. 15, but I think you are meant to celebrate the pan itself, not what comes out of it.

Women, on November 1*, make your man cook dinner. It is, after all, National Men Make Dinner Day. On the 8^th, cook something (or make a man do it) bold and pungent, to celebrate Cook Something Bold and Pungent Day. Let’s dare to be different, folks.

*OK, OK, I know we’ve passed the first already; mark your calendar for next year.

November 3 - Sandwich Day

Today we celebrate that staple of brown bag lunches across the nation, the humble sandwich. We observe this day, the Earl of Sandwich’s birthday. John Montagu, the 4^th Earl of Sandwich, may not have invented the sandwich, but he sure made it popular. What you may not know is that he also had the Sandwich Islands (now Hawaii) named after him.

cute sandwich cookbook

sandwich recipes

the Fluffernutter

November 2 - All Souls' Day

All Souls' Day/Day of the Dead/Dia de los Muertos

In the same vein as All Saints’ Day (November 1^st), All Souls’ Day is to commemorate those loved ones who have gone before us. Most countries celebrate this day in a relatively similar fashion. This usually involves visiting (and possibly cleaning) the graves of family members, and sometimes leaving offerings of flowers or food.

Living in Los Angeles, I know a bit about how Mexicans celebrate Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead, you gringos!). If you go here, you can find much more detailed information.

Coming from a white Midwestern family, Dia de los Muertos seems like such a morbid observation, but I’ve learned that the holiday is more about honoring the lives of the deceased and celebrating life. Mexican families observe this joyfully and with lots of food. Flowers, toys or candy may be left at the graves of the deceased (these are called ofrendas) and also in the homes. Skulls (calaveras) are a symbol of this celebration, and colorful candy skulls are often given or left for the deceased. Another common food on this day is pan de muerto, or bread of the dead.

On a not too dissimilar note, November 2^nd is also Plan Your Epitaph Day, in case you don’t trust your family to get it right. See this website for more information.

November 1 - All Saints' Day

I grew up as a non-denominational Christian, so I never really got the hang of the whole saint thing. I still don’t really get it, but it is an interesting concept that I wanted to learn more about.

There was a time that the early Christian church would celebrate a particular martyr on the anniversary (sometimes called “birth” day) of their death for Christ. Way back then, so many people were dying for their beliefs, it got to a point when all you’d be doing is commemorating them. So the Catholic church appointed one day for all saints. Hence the name, All Saints’ Day. On May 13, 609 (or 610, no one is sure), the festival of All Saints (as celebrated in the West) came to be. Later, Gregory III (731-741) moved the celebration to November 1.

Nowadays, in the West, All Saints’ Day is to commemorate all of the saints and martyrs. And to “supply any deficiencies in the faithful's celebration of saints’ feasts through the year.”

Each day of the year is the Feast Day of one or more saints. November 1 is the Feast Day of 21 saints. I would be bummed if I had to share my special day with everyone else.

All Souls’ Day is Nov 2, which is to honor those who have died. You may have heard of Dia de los Muertos or the Day of the Dead. But that is a topic for another day. Like tomorrow.

So, back to the saints for a while. The concept of patron saints has always interested me. One of the patron saints for housewives is St. Martha. I picture her with Martha Stewart’s face. Did you know that the Internet has a patron saint (St. Isidore of Seville)? Yup, I was surprised too.

There is no St. Alyson (not surprised) but there are several St. Joans (my mother’s name). I also found a St. Genevieve (my maternal grandmother’s name) which was interesting, since my grandmother didn’t become Catholic until an adult. See, she and my grandfather wanted my mom to go to parochial school in Chicago, but they weren’t “officially” married according to the church. (They were married in City Hall.) So when my mom was five years old, my grandparents made it official.

One of St. Genevieve’s symbols is a loaf of bread, because she was so generous to those in need. Although I don’t remember my grandmother baking bread, she was certainly known for her talent for cooking, and I remember her for baking wonderful cookies and cakes. At Easter she would make many lamb cakes (sweet cakes in the shape of lambs, not cakes of lamb meat) and give them away to friends and family. I don’t know about her generosity to those in need, but it made me smile to learn that connection.

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01315a.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Saints

http://www.catholic.org/saints/stindex.php