November 2 - Cookie Monster Day

ME WANT COOKIE! ME WANT COOKIE! OM NOM NOM NOM!!!

According to this site, today is Cookie Monster's birthday! I too love cookies, so I feel I have a special bond with Cookie Monster.


This must be an old photo of CM, because he now feels that Cookies Are a Sometimes Food. He has denied the rumors that he is now Veggie Monster.

Cookie Monster on Wikipedia

Cookie Monster vs. Martha Stewart:

June 9 - Donald Duck Day

"Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy!" It's Donald Duck Day! On this day in 1934 he made his cartoon debut in "The Wise Little Hen."

June 9th is the official birthday of Donald Duck, but in The Three Caballeros (1944) his birthday is given as Friday the 13th. This makes sense when you consider his famous bad luck. In Donald's Happy Birthday (1949), his birthday is given as March 13.

More about Donald:

• According to a wartime short (Donald Gets Drafted, 1942) Donald's middle name is Fauntleroy.
• Originally voiced by Clarence "Ducky" Nash, Donald has been voiced by Tony Anselmo since 1985. Anselmo was trained by Nash for the role.
• Donald received several Oscar nominations, and won for "Der Fuhrer's Face" (1943).
  

Holiday Insights
Disney Character History
Toonopedia
Wikipedia
The Wise Little Hen cartoon
YouTube

May 20 - Eliza Doolittle Day

This isn't an actual holiday, except to those who love the musical "My Fair Lady." In the lyrics to "Just You Wait," Eliza is frustrated by Henry Higgins' attempts to teach her proper English enunciation and fantasizes how she will get her revenge. She imagines she is famous and on familiar terms with the King of England, who pronounces May 20th as Eliza Doolittle Day.

From "Just You Wait," lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner:

One evening the king will say: "Oh Liza, old thing,
I want all of England your praises to sing.
Next week on the twentieth of May
I proclaim Liza Doolittle Day!
All the people will celebrate the glory of you
And whatever you wish and want I gladly will do."

"Thanks a lot, King," says I, in a manner well-bred;
"But all I want is 'enry 'iggins 'ead!"

To celebrate, try to rent the movie adaptation. If you can't get a copy in time, watch this video:

May 19 - Circus Day

Ah, the circus, the circus. I immediately think of a crowded tent, watching elephants and lion tamers and acrobats swinging overhead. I can nearly taste the popcorn and peanuts. As I think more about the circus, I think of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey’s Greatest Show on Earth. Then I think of Dr. Seuss. Or, more precisely, his book, If I Ran the Circus. Yes, the Circus McGurkus, with the 500 gallon tank of lemonade and Mr. Sneelock calmly smoking his pipe in the background.

On this day in 1884, the Ringling Brothers (Alf, Al, Charles, John, Otto, and later, Henry) wowed America with their first circus performance. But this was not the first circus in the world, not even the first in America.

Circuses and circus-like performers have been around since the days of ancient Rome. The more modern circus came about in the late 1700s. Philip Astley, of England, was famous for his fancy horse-riding tricks. He created the 42-foot ring that is the measurement used to this day. Also, to add novelty to his act, he later added what are now common circus sights: a clown, jugglers, tightrope walkers and more.

Later, in the early 1800s, these permanent shows were replaced by shows that took the circus on the road first with horse-drawn (or elephant) wagons, and later by train cars.

P. T. Barnum, who didn’t get into the circus business until late in his career, combined his freak-show/side-show spectacles with the more traditional circus acts and menageries.

Circuses are still on the road to this day, with the most modern type being the Cirque du Soleil.

Since Circus Day falls on a Monday this year, you may not be able to attend an actual performance. To celebrate, check out the links I've gathered for you. Check out the Super Circus TV show or color in some circus coloring pages.

Circuses, Circus history and further information:
Philip Astley
P. T. Barnum
The Barnum Museum
Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey
Circus World Museum
CircusWeb
The Circus in America
Cirque du Soleil

The Super Circus TV Show and other videos:
An episode from 1954
An episode from 1956
Mary Hartline, known as "Our Queen" on Super Circus
Circus Capers, an old b/w cartoon
Under the Big Top, a feature film from 1938

Old books about circuses and circus performers:
P. T. Barnum's autobiography
Circus Life and Circus Celebrities
Toby Tyler; or, Ten Weeks with a Circus
Sawdust & Spangles; Stories & Secrets of the Circus

Miscellaneous links:
Circus Circus, Las Vegas
Circus coloring pages
CircusFit
If I Ran the Circus
Circus, from Wikipedia

March 18 - Awkward Moments Day

March 18 - Awkward Moments Day
Official Site?


Here are the top 10 awkward moments in pop culture for 2007.

For 2008, I expect to see the Gary Busey/Jennifer Garner fiasco at the top of the list.

March 17 - St. Patrick's Day

March 17 - St. Patrick's Day

I was going to post earlier in the day but I got caught up in making dinner, then eating it, then recovering from it. I made a traditional Corned Beef and Cabbage with boiled potatoes and Irish Soda Bread. Ok, so it may or may not be authentic, but it is traditional in my (Polish) family.

Take a piece of corned beef. Mine was about 4 lbs. Rinse off all the crap that is packaged with it. Place it in a pot and cover it with water (you are gonna need a big pot). Add 2 bay leaves and 20 black peppercorns. If you're like me, you don't have any peppercorns, so just toss a palm-ful of ground black pepper in. Bring the water to a boil, reduce to a simmer, then cover it and let it simmer until a fork goes easily into the middle of the meat. This may take about 3 hours (mine did). About half an hour before you expect the meat to be done, grab a head of cabbage and cut into wedges. Put that in with the meat.

Like I said, I served with boiled potatoes. Hopefully I don't have to tell you how to cook those. I tossed mine with butter and fresh parsley.

As far as Irish Soda Bread goes, everyone has a different idea of what consistency it should be and how it should taste. I prefer a soft, dense bread with raisins. I used this recipe, but I added 1 cup of raisins. Caraway seeds or anise seeds would also be a good addition.

I'll leave you with tasty thoughts and some St Paddy's videos...

March 9 - Get Over It Day

March 9 - Get Over It Day
Official Site

One of my most-used phrases is, "You'll get over it." Today is dedicated to that concept. GET OVER IT! A sucky job, a bad relationship, lame friends, money trouble...everyone has something to get over. The official poem says it better...

We ALL have our issues; ALL lives contain stress,
At some point, we're ALL, an emotional mess.
Ex-boyfriends, ex-girlfriends, ex-husbands, ex-wives,
These are people to get over in EVERYONE'S lives.

But as much as things suck, as bad as they get,
If you got cheated on, if you're swimming in debt,
If you're aging or balding or get a cold sore,
Don't ever forget: It Could Always Suck More!

It's all part of life; it will help you grow stronger,
But this "pity party" of yours can't last any longer.
You can sit home alone, being sad and depressed,
Or you can choose to be strong, and do as we suggest:

March 9th is the day to finally say,
"Move on! It's done! It's GET OVER IT DAY!"

by Jeff G., "Get Over It Day" founder and creator

Oh...and check out my pick for official song of Get Over It Day:

December 14 - National Tie Month

December - National Tie Month

So it's National Tie Month. I wonder if that is why so many dads get ties for holiday gifts. Or maybe it's National Tie Month because dads get so many ties.

Check out some tie-related videos:
The Rad History of Ties
A Pub Owner Who Collects Ties