Monday, November 30, 2009

November 30 – Stay At Home Because You Are Well Day

Today was FABULOUS!!! One of the best days I have had in a long time. I am a big believer in taking Mental Days…like sick days, but just for your overall well being. Don’t worry, I didn’t call in sick, I planned ahead and asked for the day off. I just think sometimes it is good to take a day off to re-energize yourself.



I slept in, went grocery shopping, went to regular shopping, took duke to the park, cleaned around the house, picked up Jared from work, and ate dinner at the table! It was AMAZING! This day had totally refreshed me…we’ll see how long it lasts. Only 3 weeks until we go home to the Mitten for Christmas! LOVE IT!

Take a Mental Day everyone – you need it…no offense, but someone had to tell you.

P.S. - I think this is really helping my aura!

Sunday, November 29, 2009

November 30 - December 6

Nov 30 - Stay At Home Because You Are Well Day
Dec 1 - World Aids Day
Dec 2 - National Fritters Day
Dec 3 - National Roof Over Your Head Day
Dec 4 - National Dice Day
Dec 5 - National Bathtub Party Day
Dec 6 - National Pawnbrokers Day


November 29 – National Square Dance Day

The skirt in square dancing seems to be the most important part of the dance. I tried to think how I could make one with the clothes I already had, but I was unable to come up with anything that was even close to the puffiness of the square dance skirt. Square dancing would be fun if you know all of the couples in your square. It would also be good for people who can’t get or don’t like their own date, you are only with your specific person for small portions of the dance. It would make a bad date much more manageable…in fact, this may be a great thing to do on a first date. You can see how your “partner” interacts with others, how they are in unusual circumstances, and if you are a guy how your lady looks in a very poofy skirt! All in all I think it would be a win win situation.

There are many different websites that can coach you through square dancing, there is even a yearly convention - this year the 58th Square Dance Convention was held in Long Beach, CA. Start practicing now and next year you could be there!

For more information on square dancing check out this site: http://www.mit.edu/~puzzle/03/www.acme-corp.com/teamGuest/R/2_426/sd101/Square%20Dancing%20101.htm

November 28 – International Aura Awareness Day

Today, I took time to think about my aura. I am sad to say that I don’t think I have a good one. I used to love my aura it was confident, happy, always going places and loving to see people. Lately my aura has become more blah. That is the best way I can describe it. I have vowed to work on it; the good thing about auras is that they can be changed.

We all know those people who walk into a room and everyone wants to talk to them, laugh, and honestly, they generally make you feel better just because they are in the room. You probably also know people who when they walk into a room you are scared to even move…I know a few of those. They suck the life right out of the room.


I decided that Duke has the best aura I know. Every time he walks anywhere people want to meet him, they start smiling and cheering for him, his tail is wagging, and his huge eyes just exude happiness and contentment. Thank goodness for Duke! I will strive to have my aura more like Duke’s.

Take some time to evaluate your aura; is it what you want it to be? If not, take some time to clean it up…your aura is a very powerful thing.

Friday, November 27, 2009

November 27 – Sinkie Day

Oh Sinkie Day – this is basically everyday of my life. This is the day to eat while you are standing over the sink. Possibly eating leftovers, cereal, pizza, whatever your choice of cuisine. No need to set the table, or even sit at the table, just scarf it down!  Sounds like a great plan to me. I excel at this holiday, maybe every Friday should be Sinkie Day!

So go eat over the sink today, stand around in the kitchen and chat, let the crumbs fall freely from your mouth and enjoy not having to clean up because everything is falling right into the sink. Give the sink a little rinse and Voila! Clean!

November 26 – Thanksgiving Day

It occurred to me today that not everyone celebrates Thanksgiving the same way. At Thanksgiving I expect certain food and activities. Growing up we would go to my Grandma’s for Thanksgiving, watch the parade and Lion’s Football game, eat a great meal (my portion of the meal consisted of turkey, gravy, crescent rolls, jello, and milk), then we would lay around for a bit, then came the traditional walk on the Grand Haven Pier – where my Aunt Barb would have to force us all to go, but looking back it was a great tradition and I am glad I was forced for so many years! – Then back to the house for games!


As I talked to other people about their Thanksgiving plans they were not at all like mine, and I started to realize how different Thanksgiving is to different people.

Today, Jared and I woke up and watched the parade, I ooo’d and ah’d at the balloons – Snoopy was my favorite. We watched the Lion’s lose once again, took Duke to the dog park, I took a nap, and then we headed over to our friend’s house where they had prepared an AMAZING meal! After the meal we rolled ourselves in front of the TV for a good movie, a game of Euchre and then back home to bed. It was a great Thanksgiving! I don’t like not being able to be with family on the holidays, but if you have to be this was the next best thing.

I have so much to be thankful for, I can’t list them all but here are a few:

• God
• Family
• My Hubby
• Duke
• Friends
• Our little apartment
• All of my memories
• Cameras
• Tostino’s Pizzas
• And of course Pepsi & Cookie Dough!

Little Known Thanksgiving Facts:
• The first Thanksgiving was in 1621 and was celebrated in October. In 1941 congress issued a national proclamation setting our Thanksgiving on the 4th Thursday in November.
• During the winter of 1621-1622 there were so many new settlers it eventually forced the pilgrims to live on 5 kernels of corn a day. At the next Thanksgiving the first course was 5 kernels of corn so that no one would forget.

November 25 – Shopping Reminder Day

One month until Christmas Day! Start shopping people!

This year, I am reminding other people to shop, but I do not have to remember. We are not doing gifts this year, we are going home for Christmas - back to Michigan - and that is our gift to ourselves and our families. Therefore, my gifts have all been purchased!

Good luck to those of you who are heading out into the madness of Friday! I will be in my bed…well, and then at work, either way I will not be in the stores. This is getting a little out of control; I heard that one store is opening at 3am! Wal-Mart is not even closing this year, but you can’t purchase the “door buster” deals until 5am. This decision comes after years of people getting trampled when the doors open, last year resulting in at least 1 death! Seriously people!

Anyways, you have exactly 1 month to make all of your purchases! Try not to trample anyone in the process!

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

November 24 – Celebrate Your Unique Talent Day

It is amazing what you can learn about people by asking this simple question: Do you have a unique talent?


Today I learned that I work with a very talented bunch! One of my co-workers used to be a very good baton twirler, one can make AMAZING noises with her mouth (hard to describe, but different types of whistles and clicks, and can talk really fast like an auctioneer and like Donald Duck! – She was overflowing with talent! Here is a picture of her performing one of her “reverse” whistles), two one of my coworkers can touch their tongue to their nose, and finally - and I feel most amazing, one can put both feet BEHIND HER HEAD!











My sister, Katie, can roll her tongue into 3 loops.


Jared’s talent, as I touched on yesterday, is remembering random facts and trivia.

My talent…I would have to say I can do some tongue loops, and I can yodel. Now I don’t know if yodeling is a talent…I mean, if you learn how anyone can do it. Oh well, it is my talent and I am proud of it.

Try asking around what people’s unique talents are…you will be amazed by the people you see everyday…you have no idea what they are capable of!

Do you have a unique talent?

Monday, November 23, 2009

November 23 – Fibonacci Day



F_n = F_{n-1} + F_{n-2} with seed values F_0 = 0 and F_1 = 1

To those of you having horrific flashbacks to high school and college math classes; take a deep breath I will put that in “normal people” terms.

I myself…believe it or not, was not a math wiz. Sure in elementary I was, I was doing 5th grade math in 4th grade....Oh yeah, I was practically a genius! Somewhere between 5th grade and college I fell off the “Math bandwagon” and have never made the climb back on – to solve this problem I married a genius.

Today I told Jared what day it was and he was like, “Oh yeah, Fibonacci, the math sequence” – he continually amazes me with the facts and figures he has stored in his head.

Ok so here it is: the Fibonacci Sequence is where the 2 numbers in front of the 3rd number when added equal the third number….WOW that wasn’t as easy to type as I thought…here, let someone else explain it:

“this basically means that you start with a 0 and a 1 and each number after that is the sum of the two previous numbers” (www.fibonacciday.org – yes it is a real website I promise.)

Here is the beginning of the sequence: 0,1,1,2,3,5,8,13,21…..

So can you figure out why TODAY is Fibonacci Day?

Fibonacci History:

The Fibonacci Sequence is named for Fibonacci (whose proper name was Leonardo di Pisa) who introduced the sequence to western mathematics in 1202 with his book, Liber Abaci, though Indian mathematicians had acknowledged the sequence much earlier, possibly as early as 200bc. (www.fibonacciday.org)

Today is Fibonacci Day because it is: 11-23 or the first part of the sequence 1,1,2,3

Happy FIBONACCI DAY!!!

Sunday, November 22, 2009

November 23 - 29


Nov 23 - Fibonacci Day
Nov 24 - Celebrate Your Unique Talent Day
Nov 25 - Shopping Reminder Day
Nov 26 - Thanksgiving Day
Nov 27 - Sinkie Day
Nov 28 - International Aura Awareness Day
Nov 29 - National Square Dance Day

November 22 – Start Your Own Country Day

Behold the flag of Upukacha – Land of the Good-Hearted
(pronounced - Up-a-ka-cha)


National Animal: Hippo
National Bird: Penguin
National Flower: Star Gazer Lily
National Anthem: Chicken Fried - Zach Brown Band
National Tree: Big Ones
National Colors: Yellow, Purplish/Blue, Blue, Grey, White
Leader: Jared & Michelle Vermeulen (Co-leaders)
Most famous citizen: Duke Vermeulen

Things you do in my country:
1. Everyone should speak with honesty and respect.
2. Everyone has the right to take dogs into any place they would like to as long as they are not causing a big disturbance.
3. Do not take things to seriously, lighten up people.
4. Serve others
5. Work together; don’t become only worried about yourself and your family.
6. You are strongly encouraged to play outside everyday for at least 2 hours – kids AND adults
7. Sit on your front porch and get to know your neighbors
8. Ice Cream, brownies, cupcakes, or cookies should be eaten frequently.
9. Everyday is a holiday and will be celebrated as such!
10. You can always have the day off work for a family emergency
11. Work will be Mon-Thurs 8-4 with mandatory 4 weeks of vacation every year.
12. PLAY! (This includes adults as well, Ellen stated “we all stop playing as we get older and I don’t know why” – Me either Ellen!)
13. Everyone is strongly encouraged to watch Ellen everyday to get a daily dose of laughter and dancing!
14. Do something nice for someone else everyday.

Population: 3 - we are welcoming new citizens but you must pass our entry exam:
1. Do you promise to follow the rules above?
2. Will you have a positive outlook on life?
3. Will you be there to support other members of the country when they are down?
4. Will you encourage other citizens to pursue their dreams?
5. Do you love Duke?

If you answered YES to all of the above questions….CONGRATS! You are a citizen!
Enjoy our anthem....you should learn this if you are a citizen!

November 21 – World Hello Day

HELLO WORLD!!!

Today I made sure to say Hello to as many people as I could. I tried to think of the different languages I know to say “Hello” in, but there weren’t that many. My favorite language…not just for Hello, but favorite in general is Swahili. If I thought it would at all come in handy in my life, besides the few weeks or months I will spend in Africa, I would learn it! So, on that note I say…JAMBO WORLD!

If you would like to know how to say in a many other languages watch the video!



If you ever are in Kenya or Tanzania (where I was when I witnessed this) school kids will come all running up to you singing the Jambo song...and it is AWESOME!!!

Saturday, November 21, 2009

November 20 – Name Your PC Day!

As most of you know, if you have been reading my blog, I name everything. Therefore this day was very easily celebrated. My PC’s name is Henry. I am quite sure he is very pleased with his name.

I always wait a few days to name things when I get them, to feel them out. It takes me a couple days to “sense” what their name is…this is where my psychic powers come in handy.

Anywho, name your PC today and talk to him/her, Henry really likes it when I sing to him…so you may want to try that too!

(P.S. I know that “Anywho” isn’t a real word…but I like it)


Thursday, November 19, 2009

November 19 – World Toilet Day

I spent today reminiscing about all the toilets I have seen in my day. The most memorable was probably the first time I used a public bathroom in Japan…it was a small hole in the ground behind a very flimsy door…and that is when I learned the squatting technique. (Now I have used this technique in the woods, but as an everyday way to go…this was new.)  Here is a picture of a typical bathroom in Japan...

I have used many bathrooms around the world…another one of my favorites was on the train in India. Now if you never have had the privilege to use one of these let me explain… I walked to the front of the train car and slid open the door to the bathroom...it reeked of urine, I tend to gag when there are foul smells so you can only imagine the amount of gagging that was taking place. As I looked around the small metal room there was nothing but pee and “other things” all over the floor and a hole in the bottom of the train.  There were two little places to put your feet while you tried to aim for the hole (see picture below...this is what it looked like minus the covering on the hole...mine went DIRECTLY onto the tracks).  I will admit when you are going to the bathroom the fresh air feels great on your bum though! Yes, the hole goes directly onto the tracks, with the wind coming up out of the hole it explained why there was nasty all over the floor. So there I was squatting over an open hole in the bottom of the train, the train was jerking and wobbling back and forth, I was trying to keep my feet on the "foot areas" and I didn’t dare touch anything, it might have been the most athletic moment of my life!

The nicest bathroom I have ever been in was also in Japan (the range of toilet quality in that country is baffling). It was in an internet café with my some friends when one of my friends, Whitney, came running out of the bathroom making all of the rest of us go in to look at the toilet. The door to the bathroom automatically slid open, like one of those doors you see in space movies, then we opened the smaller door to the toilet…it was AMAZING! There were like honestly 10-14 buttons on it to perform all sorts of different things…squirting water, heat, massage, it was awesome!

China was interesting as well because our tour guide had a star system for the bathrooms, “this one only 2 star if you can wait next place has 3 star bathroom” it was very helpful!

Here are the countries I have used the toilet in:
  • United States
  • South Africa
  • Tanzania
  • Canada
  • Mexico
  • Cuba
  • Peru
  • Brazil
  • India
  • Thailand
  • Vietnam
  • China
  • Japan
  • Italy
  • Lots of the Caribbean Islands
  • France
  • Netherlands
 …I feel like I am missing some, but that is all I can think of for now.

Here is an interesting place…the Flush Hotel in Korea! It costs a whopping $50,000 to stay there! It was built to bring awareness to the sanitary conditions around the world. The profit from your stay goes to helping 3rd world countries sanitary conditions.




 







Wednesday, November 18, 2009

November 18 – Push Button Phone Day

On this day in 1963 the Push Button Phone came to be available commerically:


Henry Dryfus, an industrial designer working for Bell Telephone, is credited with inventing the interface notion of the pushbutton, working as a consultant to Bell Telephone. One of the first prototypes of the design was made of wood showing how early prototypes can be quite effective in communicating new concepts and getting customer feedback. The version that Bell Systems / Western Electric introduced in 1962 at a World’s Fair in Seattle and as a commercial product on November 18, 1963 was based on this wooden model (third photograph above). They replaced the basic design language from a circle to square to visibly highlight the change from dial to pushbutton design. (expertvoices.nsdl.org)

Most phones today don’t have a different tone for every key anymore...I guess some cell phones do, but not mine...saddness. They used to have music books you could buy to play songs with your phone. Sure now you might get a few different tones, but not all different ones…unless you have a really old phone. Funny how now how a lot of people don’t even have a home phone…I think that is weird. Also…that means no answering machines. I also remember when caller ID first came out and I thought it was so cool. It is weird to think that everyone just used to pick up the phone whenever it rang having no idea who was on the other end. Also, I don’t know anyone’s phone number anymore. I know my parent’s house phone & cell phone numbers because they haven’t changed since before I had a cell phone. I also know my best friend’s house number because growing up I would call it just about every day…”Hi Amy!” Other then that…I am pretty lost. In a jam I might be able to remember Jared’s cell number or maybe my friend Adriane’s because it has a lot of the same number in it. Hmm…now that I am thinking about this, this could be a serious problem if I am stranded somewhere and neither of my parents are home. I vow to learn a couple other numbers!

So, if you have a cell phone that plays different notes for every key then don’t worry if you don’t have the iPhone or all these so called "apps"…you can play songs!



Enjoy your Push Button Phones today…and if you can…play a song on it for me!

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

November 17 – Take a Hike Day

Oh, my hike was beautiful! I was going up and down this dirt path in a big field with trees around, I hiked past a HUGE waterfall, through big rocks, it was amazing! I was following this guy for most of the time; Duke was running beside me, as we started to get to the end of the hike I really wanted to pass the man. I started running faster and just as I passed him…WHAM I fell face first into the grass and skidded a bit. He looked but didn’t seem too concerned.

Well, ok that was my hike on the Wii. It was raining and dark here and just not safe for a single gal to be going out into the woods at night on a hike all alone. Also, the fact that I have lived just about 4 years in Seattle and not invested in a rain coat didn’t help the situation. I decided to go on a Wii hike, it was very lovely, plus I got to go with my friends, I saw Adriane, Katie, Kemper, John, Jodie, like 5 dogs, and their were random people waving and cheering for me. There was great scenery and the sky was bright blue, the sun was out, apparently I was singing, cause on the bottom of the screen where it showed my progress there were music notes coming out of my head! It was a great hike!

Honestly, I have been thinking about this day for like 2 weeks. I was telling Duke we were going to go on a hike and everything. The day started out pouring, then the sun came out the whole time I was at work, and then on my way home it started raining again. It was the kind of rain you could see coming. On my way home I was driving on the line…it was perfectly blue to my right and DARK to my left – I could see the rain coming down in sheets. I love when there is a real line like that in storms…when you are driving and there is nothing and then 1 second later it is down-pouring…LOVE IT!

Here is me stretching before my Wii hike!

Anyways, enjoy hiking today if you can. If you have a rain coat, a flashlight, and other people to go with enjoy hiking outside in Seattle…if you don’t…feel free to come over and we can go on a virtual hike together!

Monday, November 16, 2009

November 16 – International Day of Tolerance

On November 16th, 1995 the day of its fiftieth anniversary, UNESCO’s Member States adopted a Declaration of Principles on Tolerance. Among other things, the Declaration affirms that tolerance is neither indulgence nor indifference. It is respect and appreciation of the rich variety of our world’s cultures, our forms of expression, and ways of being human. Tolerance recognizes the universal human rights and fundamental freedoms of others. People are naturally diverse; only tolerance can ensure the survival of mixed communities in every region of the globe. (www.unesco.org)


Today is an important day to remember that everyone is different. Everyone thinks differently, feels differently, looks differently, and is battling his/her own battles. When you don’t understand something or someone, that doesn’t mean it is wrong. It may be wrong for you, or something you have never thought of, but that doesn’t mean it IS wrong. Everyone has different goals, dreams, and hopes. Without all of these different cultures, thoughts, races, values, and ideas the world would be a really boring place. This doesn’t mean you have to agree, but it does mean that you respect the differences in others.

Cherish the differences you see in people, they are awesome!

November 16 - 22 Holidays!

Nov 16 - International Day for Tolerance
Nov 17 - Take A Hike Day
Nov 18 - Push Button Phone Day
Nov 19 - World Toilet Day
Nov 20 - Name Your PC Day
Nov 21 - World Hello Day
Nov 22 - Start Your Own Country Day   (Jared and I are already have battles over whose country is going to be better)

Sunday, November 15, 2009

November 15 – National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day


Whoever thought of this day…I curse you! This is not a fun holiday, this is not enlightening me, and this is work! Booo for dirty fridges. Jared had to help me with this day because I did discover some old casseroles that just didn’t get eaten in time. I gag whenever I have to throw out old food…this is where Jared comes in. He kindly disposed of the old casserole, noodles, cheese…oh and I found some salad dressing that expired in July! Haha…maybe this day is useful after all. I took everything out and cleaned the fridge with my Norwex cloth.

*Shameless Plug: Norwex is a “cleaning system” that is totally chemical free – you can get rid of all the chemical cleaners in your house and replace them with a Norwex antibacterial cloth and water – you get things cleaner then you can with bleach – saving you time & money, and saving the earth from chemicals and more waste! They also have organic personal care products. If you would like to know more you can check out their website at http://www.norwex.com/ and lucky for you I am a consultant…so if you have questions or would like to order something you can email me at norwexseattle@hotmail.com
As I was saying: Now my fridge is sparkling clean! I had a minor mishap with the drawers…I pulled them out to clean them and couldn’t figure out how they went back in. I started yelling from the kitchen… “I need an engineer, help, help” and my lovely hubby came running to my rescue and quickly had the drawers back in their original positions!

If you clean out your fridge and find something worse then or comparable to my July expired dressing let me know! Here are the before and after pictures:

Saturday, November 14, 2009

November 14 – Loosen Up, Lighten Up Day

I found this list online of 100 ways to loosen up & lighten up here are the ones I participated in today:

2. Take a nap – During football, one of my favorite things to do in the whole world!
3. Go outside – We took Duke to the park for about 30-40 minutes
4. Get fresh air – same as above
5. Get sunlight – Well, I would do this if I lived anywhere other then Seattle. Did you know pretty much everyone has vitamin D deficiency here? It’s true; we have the highest rate in the country according to Dr.OZ. Don’t worry I am taking supplements!
7. Breathe deeply – I did this and got a sudden sharp pain in my lower rib cage…not sure what that is about, but since I am loosening up, I am not going to worry about it.
8. Watch some TV – I watched ELLEN!! My favorite show, always good for a laugh. I always laugh out loud by myself at least 3-4 times during that show…so it definitely helped lighten me up
17. Do some deep muscle stretches – As seen here, Duke wanted to participate in stretching…this loosens you up…obviously
19. Read your favorite blogs – I am reading this and so are you so GOOD WORK! I am helping to reduce stress and loosen you up and lighten up your day…Your Welcome!
20. Call your mother – Definitely mission complete!
32. Call some old friends and meet for lunch – Went out to eat with my hubby and friends Erica & Joe to this fabulous little Deli in West Seattle. Good ice cream too -Husky Deli (http://www.huskydeli.com/)
36. Open up windows and let fresh air in – This happened in the car when someone farted….it wasn’t me and that’s all I know.
60. Hire some comedy movies and relax on the couch with a blanket – I am about to go watch many episodes of THE OFFICE…LOVE IT!
93. Spend some more time with your dog or animal (they’ll love you for it) – Park with Duke again, and of course ample cuddle time.
99. Pick up a hobby you have neglected – Scrapbooking!
100. Just relax! – I’m pretty good at this…not to brag, but some people are just talented and I am one of them.


For the complete list follow this link:
http://www.thedailymind.com/stress/100-ways-to-relax-unwind-and-loosen-up/

Friday, November 13, 2009

November 13 – Guinness World Record Day

Well, I must admit up front, I feel I have not been doing the holidays justice lately…therefore I am renewing my commitment. These sorts of things happen you know, and I want to apologize. I promise to do better in the future.

Now that we got that out of the way. There are world records for the craziest things, I think world records are for people who are looking for their 15 minutes of fame, what would be the point otherwise of driving backwards for 40.38 miles in 5.5 hours in a semi…it is a sad cry for attention if you ask me. Who just wakes up one morning and says, “ya know I was thinking I am going to pull a huge truck by attaching it only to my hair”.

Then there is the guy who “Typed the Most Books Backwards” I am not even sure what this means; did he start at the end and type the last word first all the way to the front, or the last letter first so it would be: “I walked to the store” = “erots eht deklaw I” Does he always read in front of a mirror? I mean that is great that he did that…I guess, but what do you do with those books now? I am baffled.


I think Jared and I broke the record for waiting the longest to get the least amount of fabric cut in JoAnne’s today. We wanted a little bit of mesh type material to build a contraption on Duke’s travel cage…long story. Anyways, we needed 1 maybe 2 yards just to be safe of this black mesh. We turned the corner to head towards the cutting area and OH MY WORD there was a crowd gathering around the sacred “cutting table”. I went to go look for some other things we needed and Jared stood there, I got back 5 minutes later and he said we were number 29 and they were on 19. Now you must understand we were sitting there with one little tiny thing of mesh and all these other CRAZY women had 5-12 things of fabric in their carts…Oh and to make it worse there was only 1 person working behind the counter. Finally, after about 50 minutes we got up to the counter, and 45 seconds later we were done. Then we headed to check-out and…you guessed it, all the people that were waiting by the cutting table were now waiting in a long line for the 1 cashier that was working! Well, we made it out alive with our mesh, Duke was a little cold as he had been sitting in the car this entire time. You have got to have some stamina to be a seamstress I tell ya…way too much stress for me.

Check out what happened today on Guinness Book of World Record Day!
http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/gwrday09/09_map.aspx

These records were set today in the US:

UNITED STATES
Memphis: Largest Cheerleading Dance   New Record: 297
Dallas: Most People Lassoing    New Record: 23
New York: Largest Number of Lip Stick Prints   New Record: 1,817
New York: Largest Cup of Hot Chocolate/Cocoa    New Record: 4 gallons
Across US: Most People Cup Stacking Simultaneously
Miami: Longest Marathon Reading Aloud by a Team
New York: Most Hoops Hula Hooping Simultaneously   New record: 132 hula hoops
New York: Longest Dreadlock    New record: 19 ft 6.5 in

Thursday, November 12, 2009

November 12 – Chicken Soup for the Soul Day

OOOOOO Chicken Soup, all bundled up in a blanket sitting in front of the fire feeling the warm noodles gliding down your throat, snow flakes falling outside...sounds lovely doesn’t it.

Not to me. I hate chicken soup! If I truly had chicken soup for my soul….we would NOT be in a good place people. I know that everyone is supposed to like chicken soup, it is what everyone offers you when you are sick, and it is what you are supposed to eat/drink…(what are you doing with it anyway?) on a cold winter day. I discovered this many years ago and I came up with my own title…Hippo Cake for the Soul…when I am feeling down or want to feel all warm and snuggly inside those are the things I need. My hippo and a BIG piece of cake! I actually made my own book with that title, it was a collection of stories, quotes, and other things that I really liked. All members of my family have it, it is a great read if you ever get the chance.

To celebrate the day I ate my other “Chicken Soup” a brownie and a Pepsi! OOO there is nothing better, and then I am going to watch last nights CMA awards and scrapbook. It is looking to be the PERFECT night!

There are over 105 different titles to the actual Chicken Soup for the Soul books; I think they have hit every kind of “soul” by now.

I think the point of this day is just to do something that makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside. While you try to think of your chicken soup I’ll be scrap booking away in front of the TV eating a brownie and chugging a ice cold Pepsi! MMMMMM

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

November 11 – Veteran’s Day

President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued the first Veterans Day Proclamation in 1954. Veteran’s Day is on November 11 to honor the end of World War I in 1918, at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month. Today used to be known as Armistice Day (beginning in 1938) to recognize people who served in World War II and the Korean War. President Eisenhower changed it to Veteran’s Day so that, as he said, “a grateful nation might pay appropriate homage to the veterans of all its wars who have contributed so much to the preservation of this nation." This day is to "solemnly remember the sacrifices of all those who fought so valiantly, on the seas, in the air, and on foreign shores, to preserve our heritage of freedom, and let us re-consecrate ourselves to the task of promoting an enduring peace so that their efforts shall not have been in vain." (President Eisenhower’s Speech, 1954).


There are over 48 million men and women have served in the US Armed Forces since the beginning of our great nation. Today take a moment and honor those who fought for all the freedoms we have today.

To those of you who have or are serving, I say:

Thank you. Words cannot express the gratitude I have for you and what you do. The sacrifices you and your family make every day are extremely honorable and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I love the United States; I love living here and all the things I do everyday that I take for granted. Thank you for fighting for those freedoms. Please know that you have all of my support and I am proud of each and everyone of you. I feel honored to live in a country where you are or have served. Thank you, you are continually in my prayers.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

November 10 – Area Code Day

HOORAY for area codes! Have you ever tried dialing your phone number with a different area code in front of it? It’s pretty crazy…you talk to the “you” in another city/state. Fun! There are 269 area codes in the US.

I have lived in 3 different area codes: 616, 517, and currently 425


In my phone I have a LOT of different area code. I mean today everyone has cell phones so really you can have a New York number and live in Seattle, or a Michigan number and live in Florida. Area codes really don’t tell you what “area” someone is calling from anymore.

In my phone I have:360 – 616 – 231 – 405 – 425 – 908 – 517 – 248 – 206 – 570 – 630 – 916 – 970 – 541 – 602 – 303 – 510 – 509 – 269 – 315 – 734 – 619

Most of my friends with those area codes are truly in that area. It is amazing to me that I know people in so many different places! This was actually a pretty fun thing to do – see where all my friends were. There are people in California, Oklahoma, Oregon, Washington, Michigan, Illinois, Colorado, and more!

I had a hard time giving up the 616 area code. 616 means HOME to me, and it was almost like it was a part of me. I still consider that my area code, even though my phone says it is 206.

Oh Area Codes you are such a valuable part of society and taken for granted all the time. So today we solute you Area Codes for grouping us by area and keeping us organized!

Area Code History

Area codes were developed in 1947 to meet the post-World War II surge in demand for telephone services. The first area code to be used was New Jersey's 201 area code in 1951. Holla to the 201!

Area codes are assigned according to the North American Numbering Plan (NANP). It was invented in 1947 by AT&T and Bell Laboratories. It conforms to the International Telecommunications Union Recommendation E.164, which is the international standard for numbering plans.

The NANP is the numbering plan for the Public Switched Telephone Network in the United States and its territories, Canada, Bermuda, and many Caribbean nations. NANP numbers are ten-digits in length in the following format: NXX-NXX-XXXX, where N is any digit from 2 to 9 and X is any digit from 0 to 9. The first three digits are usually called the area code. The second three digits are called the central office code, or prefix. The final four digits are the line number.


Oh, if you are really interested some of you are lucky enough that you can find area code t-shirts that let you proudly proclaim that you have a number from a certain area…with a code!

Monday, November 9, 2009

November 9 – Chaos Never Dies Day

Chaos – noun:  a state of utter confusion or disorder; a total lack of organization or order.

I think a lot of people make their own chaos…actually I think everyone does, whether you are trying to or not.
Right now I do not have a lot of chaos in my life. I have really been trying to focus on the important things in life and making myself into a better person – for me this has helped eliminate a lot of chaos and helps me to feel more peaceful. I thought about chaos in my life in the past today and how chaos truly does never die, it is always lingering around waiting for the chance to take over. It doesn’t die, BUT you can kick it out of your life or your house and lock the door.

Even in the midst of “complete chaos” you can choose to get swept away in it or take a deep breath and walk to the other side.

There are two things I try to remember when I am feeling chaotic:
1. God never gives you anything you can’t handle
2. God gave you 24 hours in a day because that is enough time in the day to do what you need to do…the important things. If it is taking you longer you need to cut some “not so great” things out of your life - otherwise you will miss your life.

WOW that was deep…just a little insight into the inner workings of me!

Anyway, I also LOVE fun chaotic-ness. I love our family reunions where there are 20+ people all at one house playing loud games of spoons, charades, or volleyball. I love playing Shang Hi Rummy with my Aunt Barb and Uncle Jim it always turns into a chaotic yelling match – but always full of laughs! I love at the dog park when there are 100+ dogs running in every direction, sprinting after each other, diving in the water, chasing balls, colliding with one another their ears flapping in the wind. I love when my dad says something is “chaos, complete chaos” while he laughs (haha, I am laughing right now thinking of my dad and I can see his face while he is saying that).

Chaos in the right way can be great! If you have chaos in the wrong way in your life then kick it out, lock the door, and wedge a chair in front of it.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

November 8 – Abet and Aid Punsters Day

This is the day to tell all of those puns you have stored up in your head.  Today, however, you have to laugh whole-heartedly at them…no rolling your eyes.  Enjoy!


Khakis: What you need to start the car in Boston.

Alarms: What an Octopus is.

Toboggan: Why we go to an auction

She had a boyfriend with a wooden leg, but broke it off

You feel stuck with you debt if you can’t budge it.

He often broke into song because he couldn’t find the right key.

A bicycle can’t stand alone because it is two-tired.

When a clock is hungry it goes back four seconds.


I know you are laughing hysterically by now!

Saturday, November 7, 2009

November 7 – Fala Day

Fala was President Roosevelt’s Scottie.

During the 1944 election Roosevelt was accused of sending a destroyer to fetch Fala, who supposedly had been left behind on the Aleutian Islands during a campaign tour. FDR responded with the Fala speech:

“These Republican leaders have not been content with attacks on me, or my wife, or on my sons. No, not content with that, they now include my little dog, Fala. Well, of course, I don’t resent attacks, and my family doesn’t resent attacks – but Fala does resent them. You know, Fala is Scotch, and being a Scottie, as soon as he learned that the Republican fiction writers in Congress and out had concocted a story that I had left him behind on the Aleutian Islands and had sent a destroyer back to find him – at a cost to the taxpayers of two or three, or eight or 20 million dollars – his Scotch soul was furious. He has not been the same dog since! I am accustomed to hearing malicious falsehoods about myself – such as that old, worm-eaten chestnut that I have represented myself as indispensable. But I think I have a right to resent, to object to libelous statements about my dog.” (Source: www.aadl.org)

Fala was added later to the FDR Memorial at the suggestion of Senator Carl Levin.

Yet another example of how important dogs are in our society. So, far there have been 2 days that celebrate presidential dogs. Isn’t it strange how those little guys just get right in there and become part of your family? They truly are like another child, sibling, or best friend. Jared and I are always trying to figure out what Duke is thinking. Today we were buying a new car and we kept saying to each other, “Duke would like this seat better I think”, “Do the windows go down far enough for duke to stick his head out?”, we even took Duke for a ride in the new car when we got home to see if he liked it…he gave his stamp of approval…whew!

I am not a bumper sticker kinda person, but I do love the one that says “Bark Less, Wag More”. Dogs are always so happy, so forgiving, and always soo excited to see you when you get home. It makes me feel so loved when I walk through the door and Duke runs a circle around our table and then sits down (so excited he can barely hold himself down) until I pick him up and give him a big hug! It is one of my favorite parts of the day!

So here’s to all the doggies out there that make the world a better place! This last picture is what Duke and I would like to look like on our statue.

Friday, November 6, 2009

November 6 – Pumpkin Chunkin’ Day

I am a bit of confused by the name of this day, it is written Pumpkin Chunkin’ Day, but it is about Pumpkin Chuckin’. I think there was some typo somewhere along the line and it just stuck…so I’ll go with it.

Pumpkin Chunkin’ Day is a week after Halloween so you are supposed to chuck your jack-o-lanterns…this is also the day to catapult your pumpkin with some homemade device…maybe next year we will attempt this!

Today presented a few obstacles:
1. We didn’t have any pumpkins
2. I didn’t get home tonight until 11pm
3. It has been pouring rain all day

Jared was going to go on a massive pumpkin search, however, I went to the store today with a friend and what was sitting outside…PUMPKINS for sale! (Pumpkins are not that easy to come by after Halloween.)

Tonight at about 11:20pm Jared and I drove to an undisclosed location somewhere in Western Washington to chuck our pumpkins. It was down-pouring which made it even harder to capture these great action shots. My first pumpkin was chucked and I heard a great SPLAT….couldn’t see it because it was raining and dark, so I had to rely on my other senses. I threw my second one and this time it was more of a thud. Next up…Jared…

Jared wound up with all his strength to throw his pumpkin deep into the woods. As I stood behind the camera just waiting for him to go thinking that this was going to be the biggest splat of the night…he started to swing…I looked in the air…Nothing…then I looked back at Jared…2 feet in front of him was his pumpkin laying on the ground! It was hilarious. We were standing out in the pouring rain, Jared had the biggest wined up and (he says) the stem of the pumpkin fell off right when he was catapulting it into the wilderness.


Luckily, he had one more to throw, and it was a very successful launch. This was a very fun thing to do actually; I think we will start celebrating this holiday every year.

Get rid of your pumpkins if they haven’t already sunken in on themselves. Go do some Pumpkin Chuckin’…or Chunkin’ whatever you prefer.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

November 5 – National Men Make Dinner Day

Hooray for MEN!! This is truly a great day, although I feel I would appreciate this more if I was a mom and busy with 500 other things, or if I felt I had to make dinner every other night. Honestly, this isn’t a rare occurrence in our house. Jared has become the house chef if it is anything beyond Mac & Cheese or Katie Casserole. Lately with Jared in school 4 nights a week, we are mostly on a “whatever I can grab while I run out the door” menu.

One time Jared and I were making Pounded Chicken – one of my favorite Herm recipes! We didn’t have a big pan to make all the chicken in so we decided we would each just make our own next to each other. We had all the same ingredients out, used them all at the same time, did everything the same….mine was un-edible – it ended up being thrown away. Jared’s, however, was gourmet! It was sooo good, and he just sat in front of me eating it, talking about how great it was while I ate my bowl of Corn Flakes…Boo.

Jared just got home from class and he is offering to make me Ravioli or Spegettios (from a can).

I just went to spy on him and he is making a pizza! YUMM!


Other hubby’s participated in this day too! Here is my friend John making dinner for his beautiful pregnant wife Adriane!

Hooray for men!  Thanks hubby for participating in the day and helping me to celebrate all my days!

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

November 4 – National Chicken Lady Day

I was quite excited for this day. I had visions of being the “crazy chicken lady” doing the chicken dance all over, perhaps standing out on the street corner acting out my best chicken expression. I was sure there was some GREAT story for this day. Full of possibilities to be creative with all the chicken things I could think of! As I sat down to research this day all my dreams came to a screeching hault…

History of the day:

Dr. M. Tina Dupree is known also as “The Chicken Lady”. She worked as the Director of Community Relations and Training for a major fast food chain (2nd largest chicken restaurant chain in the world). Through her work in the community she gained the name “The Chicken Lady”. After working there for 12 years she quit, but the company hired her back as their spokesperson. She is a public speaker now and makes presentations all over for the past 15 years. Tina was invited to meet President Bush in the Oval Office because of her efforts in raising the educational standards in her community. President Bush proclaimed November 4 as “National Chicken Lady Day”.

So, no chicken dance, no clucking out in the streets, no chicken dinners, basically we are supposed to be celebrating raising educational standards and Tina’s community involvement.

Well this day was certainly educational…not too exciting however.

I couldn’t resist! This is the tamest “Chicken Dance” I have ever seen…I kept waiting for something crazy to happen…I almost didn’t believe this was real….



Here is what I was more envisioning myself doing today…and believe me I was ready to do it! Then people would all point and say, “Look at the crazy CHICKEN LADY!”

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

November 3 – National Sandwich Day


My menu today:
• Breakfast: Scrambled eggs sandwich between toast
• Snack: Crackers with cheese sandwiched in-between
• Dinner: Turkey Sandwich
• Dessert: two Oreos sandwiched together
• Duke Sandwich!

Delicious! I LOVE SANDWICHES!

Some of my favorite sandwiches:
• PB & J
• Jimmy John’s Slim #4 with Provolone
• Arby’s Roast Beef
• Ketchup Sandwich (just what it sounds like…thanks mom!)
• When I was little I used to Love PB & J with chips on it
• Sausage, egg, & cheese on toast or a bagel
• Chocolate Chip sandwiches…mmmm

According to the Guinness Book of World Records I am proud to say that the largest sandwich was made in my home state of MICHIGAN. Wild Woody’s Chill and Grill in Roseville, MI made a sandwich on March 17, 2005 that weighed in at 5,440lbs!

Now I did find bigger sandwiches online, but the above is the official largest sandwich. There was one in Mexico that weighed in at 6,991 lbs., and also one in India weighing 8,895lbs.

Sandwich History:

1st Century B.C. - The first recorded sandwich was by the famous rabbi, Hillel the Elder, who lived during the 1st century B.C. He started the Passover custom of sandwiching a mixture of chopped nuts, apples, spices, and wine between two matzohs to eat with bitter herbs. The filling between the matzohs served as a reminder of the suffering of the Jews before their deliverance from Egypt and represented the mortar used by the Jews in their forced labor of constructing Egyptian buildings. Because he was the first known person to do this, and because of his influence and stature in Palestinian Judaism, this practice was added to the Seder and the Hillel Sandwich was named after him.

1762 - The first written record of the word "sandwich" appeared in Edward Gibbons (1737-1794), English author, scholar, and historian, journal on November 24, 1762.

(Source: Whatscookingamerica.net)
Nothing really beats a good sandwich:


Monday, November 2, 2009

November 2 – Cookie Monster Day


I feel that Cookie Monster and I have a lot in common. First of all, we both LOVE cookies! I love the color blue…he is blue…and again, we both LOVE cookies! We actually have the same favorite kind of cookie = Chocolate Chip! He has very googly eyes, and I am told when I eat something I really like (like a good cookie or other dessert item) my eyes cross momentarily. I am eating Oreos as I am typing this to fully get the Cookie Monster effect (I have eaten about 6 today so far and I am not done...have to celebrate the day!). I love how Oreos always get all over your mouth and teeth no matter how carefully you eat them.

Here is a little background on Cookie Monster:

• He has a mom, dad, sister, and identical-cousin
• His parents share is outrageous appetite
• His second favorite cookies are oatmeal
• Most famous Phrases: “Me want cookie!” “Me eat cookie!”
• Voice of Cookie Monster
    o Frank Oz – From 1969 to 2002
    o David Rudman – From 2002 to present
• In 2006 Cookie Monster decided that cookies were a “sometimes food” and started to head more towards fruits and veggies. (I am in total disagreement with this; I love the old Cookie Monster!)

Here is Cookie Monster singing his most famous song: C is for Cookie