February 25 – National Inconvenience Yourself Day

This I didn’t even have to try for! Right now we are living with my parents and all of our stuff is in the garage in boxes. Let me explain to you what this means:

• I currently have 3 pairs of pants – 1 pair of jeans and 2 pairs of sweats; I also have 3 sweatshirts, 6 t-shirts, and 4 pairs of socks with holes in them.

• I have no car and sit at home most of the day while everyone is at work.

• All of my scrap booking stuff (my hobby that I enjoy when I have free time as I do now) is packed up

• Pictures, music, books, everything…somewhere in the sea of boxes.

I was able to dig out my computer out so that I can keep up on my blog for you all!  Now I have no excuse.

Anyways, my whole living situation is very inconvenient. However, I must say at the same time convenient because I do not have to worry about paying rent or anything for a little while.

Actually Inconvenience Yourself Day is a day to think more of others then yourself. Hold open a door for someone else, give up your seat on the bus, and carry groceries for the old lady - those types of things.

One thing I really want to work on, is when Jared gets home to get up from whatever I am doing and go greet him - inconvenient for me, but I would LOVE it if everyone did that when I get home.  I need to take a lesson from Duke on this one, no matter what he is doing he always gets up and goes to greet whoever is coming in the house.

I did get up with Jared this morning before he went to work made his lunch and kissed him goodbye…that required me to get out of bed at 6am…however, this is much better then my previous job of getting up at 4:45am and driving him to work.

I wasn’t around that many people today, which was inconvenient for me…maybe I was helping others by staying away.

I also gave my friend Amy and my step-dad Herm a chance to inconvenience themselves for me today…they gave me rides…like I said I have no car!

February 24 – National Tortilla Chip Day

Tortilla Chips weren’t even invented in Mexico! I was flabbergasted when I learned!

“Tortilla chips were invented by Rebecca Webb Carranza in Los Angeles in the 1940's as a way to use misshaped tortillas that came out of an automated tortilla machine. These rejected tortillas were cut into triangles, fried, and sold for a dime a bag by the El Zarape Tortilla Factory. They became immensely popular and in 1994, Carranza received the Golden Tortilla Award for her contribution to the Mexican food industry.”

Golden Tortilla Award…who knew!

Oh tortilla chips – you are so addicting, so yummy, so mmmm especially when mixed with yummy red salsa or cheese!

Jared could down an entire bag of tortilla chips in a day without being told it was some kind of challenge, just if I put a bag out…it could happen.

I believe these little chips of yumminess have created a major problem for Mexican restaurants. When I go there I eat the chips and drink a Pepsi…and I’m full. I don’t even have to order regular food – great for me, not so good for the restaurant. I have always been told I am a cheap date, I like hanging out and doing things that don’t cost much, I never eat that much at one time – so a big meal is never an expense. One time I went out to Mexican with my sister and brother-in-law and I did my normal routine of eating chips and drinking a Pepsi and being full. To this day they still laugh at my “One Chip and Pepsi” meal. – I believe it was far more then one chip…

Enjoy your Tortilla Chips today! My sister went out for Mexican today to celebrate and sent me a picture of her eating Tortillas…

Just to clarify...I have 2 sisters, Erin & Katie, but I use "my sister" for both of them - so just picture whichever one you want when I say "my sister" - most likely if it wasn't the one you picked it very well could have been.

February 23 – International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day

Duke volunteered to do all of the appreciation today! There are so many different kind of dog treats it is unbelievable. My favorite dog bakery in Seattle is the Three Dog Bakery. It’s really cute and they have all sorts of yummy treats. We used to always stop there on our walk towards Pike Place Market. Jared always ate all the free samples in the market (of people food) and we would usually get lunch too, so we always figured Duke needed a little something as well.

I haven’t done much exploring here for a dog bakery. Duke has no need for any more treats. Not only do I buy him plenty and stock up when they are on sale, he also gets them from family and friends all the time, not to mention his Christmas load that he gets every year. On top of this, Duke doesn’t get that many treats. He is not a big eater so if he has treats then he won’t eat any of his food later, plus I don’t want him to have a weight problem.

Today, however, was a different story. Tonight we laid out all of the different types of treats and biscuits that he has. (He actually has triple this amount, but since we are moving a lot of them are in the boxes in the garage…don’t tell him that)

He was so patient while I laid them all out in front of him. Then I made him wait so I could snap these photos of him!

My sister thought they looked so good she almost couldn’t help herself!

Quick funny story…I was in Wal Mart buying duke Beneful wet food (he only gets this like 1-2 times a month as a special meal). I was talking to the lady in front of me and she was saying that her dog and her husband loved it. It took me a minute but then I said – “I’m sorry did you say your husband likes it?” then she proceeded to tell me a story about how her husband was really making her upset then he was mad that dinner wasn’t ready…she pulled out one of these little wet food containers, put the contents of it on a plate, warmed it up and served it as dish she has made! Apparently he liked it, and no she never told him!

Hahaha! I thought that was great…don’t worry Jared I won’t do that to you – actually if I had a hot meal ready for Jared he would be suspicious anyways…am I a bad wife? Oh well, it works for us.

Anyways, I got off track, but go spoil your doggies with biscuits today…you can try one yourself if you want. Milk Bones really have no taste…

February 22 – National Walking the Dog Day

Walking the dog should be an every day activity as my sister pointed out. However, today I think that we should pause and take time to really see the joy in our little pups when we say those magical little words “You want to go for a walk?”

When we ask Duke this, we have to say it a few times. The first couple he just looks at us like – are you really going to take me or are you just joking around…and if you are joking this is NOT funny.

Once he believes us he jumps around for a few minutes does a couple full body stretches and then follows us around until we are ready. Duke literally will herd me towards the door. I have to keep reassuring him saying, “I’m coming, I just have to get my coat. Don’t worry; I know we are still going to go for a walk.”

I think it is so funny to think that the simple act of going outside and walking gets these little guys so excited. It literally is the highlight of their day, so much excitement to simply take several steps in a row outside. Duke gets a surge of life, his paws barely able to keep still, eyes full of hope and excitement about what smells and sights he will see on this walk.

Sadly today I will admit Duke’s walk was pretty pathetic. It snowed about 4-6” last night here and the road is packed snow and very slippery. Duke wasn’t having too much trouble with it, but I got a little ways down the road and already had about 23 close calls on falling face first. We decided to turn around and play with a tennis ball in the snow which actually turned out to be one of his new favorite games.

Take some time today to really try to see and experience the joy your pup has when you take them for a walk.

February 22 - 28

Duke is going to have a good week!

Feb 22 - National Walking The Dog Day

Feb 23 - National Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day

Feb 24 - National Tortilla Chip Day
Feb 25 - National Inconvenience Yourself Day
Feb 26 - National Tell A Fairy Tale Day
Feb 27 - National No Brainer Day
Feb 28 - Public Sleeping Day

February 21 – Card Reading Day

Today I headed to Wal-Mart to read some cards. Sadly, I find that many of the greeting cards are predictable and just dumb. Once in a while though you find that one card that says just exactly what you want it to say. It’s like you wrote it yourself…or are those the ones that are blank inside that you do write yourself?

I also read my SD card from my camera, or rather my computer read my SD card, and I read playing cards – pretty boring.

I did find at the store that Michigan has 300% more music cards then the ones in Seattle – interesting little side fact there for you.

February 20 – Hoodie Hoo Day

Today is a Northern Hemisphere Holiday. Officially on Hoodie Hoo Day you are supposed to go outside at noon and chant HOODIE HOO to scare away winter. It is also supposed to help with cabin fever.

I think someone had a major case of cabin fever and couldn’t take it anymore ran outside like a maniac and started yelling, then a few days later spring came and thus was born Hoodie Hoo day. Another one of my theories is that a mom had too many small hyperactive children inside and told them to go chase winter away by going outside yelling and running around like fools. Come to think of it, maybe in some way my mom was the inventor of Hoodie Hoo Day.

Either way, today we joined in the insanity! We (my mom, step-dad, Jared, Duke, and I) went outside at 12 noon chanting and yelling HOODIE HOO as we danced around in a circle. It was quite entertaining. I am sure that it is great family bonding as well. The neighbors probably thought we all fell off our rockers, but we didn’t care we were a family chanting, hollering, and dancing together. If winter goes away then they will all think we are great, probably bring us some sort of reward and ask to join in our next dance.

February 19 – National Chocolate Mint Day

I love the combination of chocolate and mint…mmmmmm. My dad and I used to go out to breakfast every Wednesday morning growing up and after every meal we would get York Peppermint Patties! My favorite way to eat these I learned from my sister: you unwrap it (always a good first step) stick a toothpick in the middle and pick it up like an hor d'oeuvres, then you take small bites all the way around it and once you completed that you eat the rest in one bite!

My favorite ice cream in the whole world is Hudsonville Mint Chocolate Chip, which you can only get in Michigan. Whenever I would come home to visit when we lived in Seattle (that is so fun to say!) my mom would always have some at the house waiting for me. It is sooo good. Sometimes if I don’t have any I will take vanilla ice cream, add chocolate chips and green food coloring. The thought is that if it looks like Hudsonville Mint Chocolate Chip then maybe my brain will trick my taste buds into tasting the sweet succulent taste that is Hudsonville Mint Chocolate Chip. You may laugh, but I swear it has worked a couple times.

Today I bought some mints and gave them out to my family and to my friends who kindly had us over for an AMAZING dinner! Thanks Amy and Andy!

Next time you are in Michigan…may even have to be the west side…get yourself some Hudsonville Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream. I will say in advance “You’re Welcome”.

February 18 – National Battery Day

No, today is not a day that is open to beating up others. This is battery as in those things that run all your gadgets and gizmos, along with those whose-its and whats-its.

Yes the battery, a great invention. Who would have thought that they would eventually be taking over the world? Here is a list of the batteries I used today:

• Car battery – Ooo and I looked at the battery under the hood of our new car that we bought today! (well new to us anyway)
• Cell phone
• Camera
• Computer (apparently a lot of things you use batteries for start with the letter “C”)
• IPod
• My clock has a battery in it, however it is not currently being used
• Remote Control

I am fan of Duracell, I am not quite sure why, I am a very brand loyal person. I like what I like; I don’t need a good reason. I have a hard time switching brands of things, and for me the copper top just does it. I think it might be because the black and copper colors look more reliable to me then the cheap looking stripes on the Energizer - along with the fact that the bunny just annoys me.

Enjoy your battery operated things today; don’t forget to charge them up! And I strongly suggest the copper top!

February 17 – Random Acts Of Kindness Day

This is one of my favorite things to do. In high school a few times when we were bored my friends and I would go buy big bags of candy and then go visit friends, parents, and other people we knew just to say “Hi” and give them some candy. Some of my other favorite random acts are:

• Paying the toll for the person behind you on the road\
• Paying for someone’s fast food or coffee who is behind you in the drive thru
• Holding open a door for someone
• Letting someone go in front of you in the grocery or other checkout line
• Giving compliments to people, even perfect strangers

Those are just some of my favorites. My mom always told me, “If you are feeling down or sorry for yourself go do something nice for someone else”.

Even making a point to smile at people, look them in the eye and say HI could make a world of difference in someone’s day.  Oh, also leaving a comment on someone's blog...
So go out and randomly be kind and thoughtful to people!

February 16 - Do A Grouch A Favor

Well, Jared and I figured out that we have taken 7 flights in the past 3 days and 12 flights in the past 10 days…I fear that we may be the grouches!

Again we were travelling today…our last trip from Seattle to Michigan where we are happily now officially living.

Today we had a run-in with a Budget worker who had no idea what she was doing, a man on the plane who didn’t know how to put his seatback in the upright and locked position, and a man who refused to sit in his seat until his row was full…trying to help other people while really just causing mass chaos!

So in order to save everyone from our grouchiness we did favors for ourselves.

• We bought yummy bagels to take on the plane (me without food = automatic grouch)
• We got ourselves some cards to play and entertain each other
• Jared watched the MSU game in the O’Hare Airport
• We told each other when we were starting to get grouchy
• We drank all the free pop on the plane that we could
• We rubbed our earlobes saying “woooosahhhh” to calm ourselves

So I hope that we weren’t the “grouch” in too many people’s days. We really tried hard not to be.

February 15 – Singles Awareness Day

One website pointed out that the acronym for this day is SAD…however; this is a day to celebrate being single and all the wonderful things that go along with that. I asked Jared what he would like about being single and he said:

• He could watch ESPN all the time
• He would have an iphone
• He wouldn’t have to share the bed
• He could eat out ALL the time

My answers were:

• I could go on trips or go do whatever I wanted whenever I wanted
• I wouldn’t have to share a bed
• No checking with people to make plans
• Only my stuff and my mess would be in the bathroom
• I wouldn’t have to worry about him spending money eating out ALL the time

I am sure there are many more thing that we would enjoy, but there is only so much room on this page…so for you singles out there make plans, spread out on your bed, buy whatever you want, and enjoy the single life!

*The picture is me doing what Jared and I call “Star-fishing”…it’s glorious!

February 15-21

Feb 15 – Singles Awareness Day
Feb 16 – Do A Grouch A Favor Day
Feb 17 – Random Acts of Kindness Day
Feb 18 – National Battery Day
Feb 19 – National Chocolate Mint Day
Feb 20 – Hoodie Hoo Day
Feb 21 – National Card Reading Day

February 14 – National Organ Donors Day

I am registered as an official Organ Donor! I must admit that I am trying NOT to participate in this day…I would not like to donate my organs today, but I am a donor if anything did happen to me. I think that this is a great day to build awareness about becoming an organ donor. If you have never thought about it, or just haven’t taken the time to make it official I encourage you to do it today. Sad to say, but you never know what your future holds, and I for one want to help as many people as I can in my life and death. I figure, I won’t need anything anymore and if I can help someone life a happier healthier life then I would be honored!

So make it a point today to at seriously think about becoming an organ donor, and make it official!

February 13 – Get a Different Name Day

Today I named myself Kristy, I used to work with a girl with this name and she was really fun. Then Jared called me Kristy and I instantly remembered this other girl I knew named Christi whom am not so fond of so I changed my name again to Sam. Short for Samantha…but I go by Sam. This too is after a friend who is MOUNDS of fun! - Miss you Sam! Jared started out going by the name of Jasper…I have no idea where this came from, but I went with it.

On the way to the airport this morning I was thinking about how the name George should be written with the letter “J” instead of “G”. When you are learning the sounds of the alphabet the “g” makes the sound like Goat, or Go, and “j” makes the sound like Jump, Juice, which is what the “G” sounds like in George. (This is a little confusing to try to write since it totally depends on how you sound so bear with me). Therefore George should sound like Gorge (again said it with the G sound of GO, sounds like Gord with another G in place of the “d”).

Don’t ask me why or how I started thinking of this and having this very detailed dialog in my head on the shuttle ride to the airport, I just did. This is how my brain works people…random.

Anyways, I was telling Jared my George story and we decided to change his name to George (the GO “G” way of saying it.) I like it. I think maybe we should name our kid George someday or Jorje just to prove a point.

Also, on a side note, be careful celebrating this day while travelling. I am not sure the TSA would be very thrilled having you say your name is one thing and tickets being under another. – Just a thought.

February 12 – Plum Pudding Day

Our resort did not have Plum Pudding…surprising because it had more combinations of puddings and yogurts then I have ever heard of before. Jared did find some Plum Syrup and let me just say…I am sooooo glad it is not Plum Syrup Day because WOW – it looked disgusting! I kept an eye on it for a while and did not see one person try it. I wonder where that is popular. Do you know?

I didn't even know Plum Pudding existed before today...so spread the news.  I am thinking this is not sold in stores commercially, so if you really want some you will have to make it yourself.

February 11 – National Inventor's Day

Seeing that today is our 3rd day in Mexico and 2nd day trying to stay OUT of the sun, I have decided that there needs to be some invention that let’s you know to get out of the sun before you burn.

I am not sure if this would be something you can put on you that changes color to warn you BEFORE you change color into that shade of red, when there is nothing more you can do then frantically keep lotion on yourself, hoping and pleading with your skin to forgive you and to not peel off your body!

Perhaps if there was a clear plastic coating of some sort that you could put on yourself and it would appear that you were still “normal” and so even when you were burned you could be out in the sun playing and not worry about keeping any sort of light off of your skin!

There’s got to be something…maybe a little device that you could hook to your bathing suit and when it has had a certain amount of sun exposure or reaches a certain temperature for a certain period it would alert you?

I am not quite sure yet what this invention would be, but I know I am on to something. I know there are many other people avoiding the sun at all costs on their trip, of which the purpose was to be IN the sun. Poor Jared got it the worst and has been hiding from the sun all day.

Here are some more kid inventors from Ellen:

February 10 – Umbrella Day

Well, today was a fitting day to be umbrella day in the life of me. Jared and I were so excited to get our pasty white selves out into the sun to soak up some vitamin D we got a little carried away. Yes…we are both sunburned. I am not sure what we were thinking, barely putting on sunscreen and swimming and playing in the sun for about 6 hours yesterday…I am so disappointed in us!

Needless to say we tried to stay under umbrellas most of the day. We were able to get little umbrellas for our drinks so that was fun!

Why is it bad luck to open an umbrella inside? I did some research and here is what I found:

The most common stems from the days when umbrellas were used mainly as protection against the sun. To open one indoors would be to insult the local sun god (especially Ra) and invite his wrath on everyone in your household.

Another theory borrows from the idea of an umbrella as a protector against the storms of life. If you were to open one in your home, the household guardian spirits might think you felt their protection was insufficient, and then they'd leave in a huff. Once again, everyone in the house is cursed.

It isn't always bad luck to open an umbrella inside. According to some, it's only considered bad if any of the following apply:
-The umbrella was a gift.
-The umbrella is black.
-The umbrella has never been used outdoors.
-There is a sick person in the house.

Other bad luck umbrella superstitions:
-Never give an umbrella as a gift.
-Never pick up an umbrella you dropped (ask someone to do it for you).
-Never place your umbrella on a table or a bed.
-If a single woman drops her umbrella, she'll never marry.

(I can personally testify that this last one is NOT TRUE)

February 9 – Toothache Day

Well I did everything in my power to get a toothache today. I had 4 ice cream cones, 2 Pepsi’s, 3 strawberry daiquiris, and I didn’t floss! I am not feeling the pain of a toothache, but I think you will agree I gave it a good go.

Today is also Hershey Chocolate Day - which I think is a very good day to match up with Toothache day. And let me just say…I LOVE YOU HERSHEY CHOCOLATE! I am not one for fancy chocolate; I just like the good ‘ol Hershey’s! YUMM!!! Put a Hershey’s Chocolate Bar in the freezer or fridge for a little bit and…oooo yeah…I am salivating like Pavlov’s dogs just thinking about it!

February 8 – Kite Flying Day

Much like a kite I flew all over today. Jared and I left for Cancun, Mexico and we were up in the air a good portion of the day. I looked for kites while we were flying, but alas, I did not see any.

When we finally arrived at our hotel I was trying to think of how I could fashion a kite to fly. It was somewhat windy so something would have flown.

I contemplated tying a show string to an article of clothing, Jared suggested my bra, and flying it around, however, the thought of a “bra kite” just wasn’t that appealing to me.

I love flying kites, it is something I remember doing with my parents when I was small. I remember going to the Mackinaw Kite Company in Grand Haven, Michigan to get a kite with my dad. It was the first one we got with two handles. It was fun having it out on the beach learning to do tricks with it. The kite show in Grand Haven every year is really fun if you ever get the chance. It is right out on the beach and there are people from all over flying HUGE kites and doing all sorts of tricks.

I remember making a kite with my mom, it was amazing, I got to design it and build it and then we went out and flew it together.

I have great memories of kites; however, I feel this day must have been declared by someone in a warm climate in February…definitely no one in Michigan!

February 8-14

Feb 8 - Kite Flying Day

Feb 9 - Toothache Day

Feb 10 - Umbrella Day

Feb 11 - National Inventor's Day

Feb 12 - National Plum Pudding Day

Feb 13 - Get A Different Name Day

Feb 14 - National Organ Donor Day

**I will be travelling to Mexico this next week so I will not be able to post until next Sunday most likely.**

February 7 – Send A Card To A Friend Day

Well since today is Sunday I can’t send a card through the mail so I sent a message or two on Facebook to friends. I LOVE getting mail! I try to randomly send people cards and things sometimes. I used to be much better at it…I think that is something I should start again.

When you step out and tell someone that you appreciate them and what they mean to you it really can touch someone. I think about how awesome my friends and family are all the time, and how much I appreciate them. I forget though that I am just thinking that…I should actually tell that to people. So I am going to start trying to take time to let people know that I think they are awesome and that I am glad they are in my life.

Take some time today to tell friends and family what they mean to you or send them a note or card! Take time out of your busy day to makes someone else’s day.

Here is a link to a site where you can send free e-cards to people: http://www.bluemountain.com/

February 6 – National Frozen Yogurt Day

Today I discovered that there is only 1TCBY within 20 miles of my parent’s house! Inconceivable! I love TCBY every time I am in the Chicago airport I get one. Always the same...twist (chocolate and vanilla) with as many sprinkles (the multi-color ones) as they will put on it! YUMM, I am so excited just thinking about it!

I also learned today that frozen yogurt is sold at the grocery store…I had no idea. I guess it makes sense, no reason it shouldn’t be sold there. So my sister Katie and I went to the store to get some, then made M&M cookies and made frozen yogurt sandwiches for Jared and Todd (my brother-in-law). We had already eaten too much cookie dough so we just ate the frozen yogurt. It was good, but I would take TCBY over store bought any day of the week!

Hopefully you have a TCBY closer to you then I did, and I highly suggest you go get some!

February 5 – National Weatherperson’s Day

Today, I flew across the country from Seattle to Michigan, and there was a lot of different weather - Seattle low 50's when I left, Minnesota - runways covered with snow, Michigan in the 20's, but sunny. I think if I were a weatherperson I would love to play in front of the green screen – I think that it actually would be quite hard to point to what I was meaning to point to at the right time. I am sure that is a skill that takes hours of practice in school.

A day to celebrate weather people, at first I was wondering why there wouldn’t be a news anchor day or sportscaster’s day…here was my conclusion. Those people are all reporting on what is happening, weather people are predicting what is going to happen and they know that they are going to be wrong sometimes. We all joke that whatever the weather guy says…it’s going to do the opposite, so I guess they do need a job to be appreciated. I am noticing a trend these past couple days.

This day is actually to honor the memory of Dr. John Jefferies who was born on this day in 1744. He was basically the first American weather observer and also was the star witness in the Boston Massacre. Another interesting fact about Dr. Jeffries is that he accompanied Jean-Pierre Blanchard in 1785 on a balloon flight across the English Channel.

February 4 - Thank A Mailman Day

The mailman; a much underappreciated person - driving their little fun cars around with the steering wheel on the “wrong” side. Always trudging through the snow and slush, rain or shine they will be there. I always think about how not delivering the mail some day is not an option. They will never have work cancelled, and if a mailman is sick they must have a huge long list of reserves waiting for the call to action. They also must have a quick repair process for cars/trucks that break down.

This was a fitting day for this holiday to fall on. It is the last day we are receiving mail in Washington. I wrote our mailman a note and hung it above our little box for him.

The mail is something I definitely take for granted; it’s so reliable I forget that there is such a huge process behind it. I think the mailmen really deserve more credit, and I am glad that they have this day that celebrates them. They deserve it. So thank you to all you mailmen and everyone behind the scenes.

However, if you are one of those people at the post office who is supposed to help people…you may be underappreciated but don’t take it out on the public. Under appreciation is part of the job and if you can’t handle it…you shouldn’t do it. If you hate your job it doesn’t mean you have to ruin everyone else’s day.

I hope you thank your mailman today!

February 3 – Four Chaplains Memorial Day

This is an amazing story:

The Dorchester was only 150 miles from its destination, but the captain ordered the men to sleep in their clothing and keep life jackets on. Many soldiers sleeping deep in the ship's hold disregarded the order because of the engine's heat. Others ignored it because the life jackets were uncomfortable.

On Feb. 3, at 12:55 a.m., a periscope broke the chilly Atlantic waters. Through the cross hairs, an officer aboard the German submarine U-223 spotted the Dorchester.

The U-223 approached the convoy on the surface, and after identifying and targeting the ship, he gave orders to fire the torpedoes, a fan of three were fired. The one that hit was decisive--and deadly--striking the starboard side, amid ship, far below the water line.

Danielsen, the captain, alerted that the Dorchester was taking water rapidly and sinking, gave the order to abandon ship. In less than 20 minutes, the Dorchester would slip beneath the Atlantic's icy waters.

Tragically, the hit had knocked out power and radio contact with the three escort ships. The CGC Comanche, however, saw the flash of the explosion. It responded and then rescued 97 survivors. The CGC Escanaba circled the Dorchester, rescuing an additional 132 survivors. The third cutter, CGC Tampa, continued on, escorting the remaining two ships

Aboard the Dorchester, panic and chaos had set in. The blast had killed scores of men, and many more were seriously wounded. Others, stunned by the explosion were groping in the darkness. Those sleeping without clothing rushed topside where they were confronted first by a blast of icy Arctic air and then by the knowledge that death awaited.

Men jumped from the ship into lifeboats, over-crowding them to the point of capsizing, according to eyewitnesses. Other rafts, tossed into the Atlantic, drifted away before soldiers could get in them.

Through the pandemonium, according to those present, four Army chaplains brought hope in despair and light in darkness. Those chaplains were Lt. George L. Fox, Methodist; Lt. Alexander D. Goode, Jewish; Lt. John P. Washington, Roman Catholic; and Lt. Clark V. Poling, Dutch Reformed.

Quickly and quietly, the four chaplains spread out among the soldiers. There they tried to calm the frightened, tend the wounded and guide the disoriented toward safety.

"Witnesses of that terrible night remember hearing the four men offer prayers for the dying and encouragement for those who would live," says Wyatt R. Fox, son of Reverend Fox.

One witness, Private William B. Bednar, found himself floating in oil-smeared water surrounded by dead bodies and debris. "I could hear men crying, pleading, praying," Bednar recalls. "I could also hear the chaplains preaching courage. Their voices were the only thing that kept me going."

Another sailor, Petty Officer John J. Mahoney, tried to reenter his cabin but Rabbi Goode stopped him. Mahoney, concerned about the cold Arctic air, explained he had forgotten his gloves.

"Never mind," Goode responded. "I have two pairs." The rabbi then gave the petty officer his own gloves. In retrospect, Mahoney realized that Rabbi Goode was not conveniently carrying two pairs of gloves, and that the rabbi had decided not to leave the Dorchester.

By this time, most of the men were topside, and the chaplains opened a storage locker and began distributing life jackets. It was then that Engineer Grady Clark witnessed an astonishing sight.

When there were no more lifejackets in the storage room, the chaplains removed theirs and gave them to four frightened young men.

"It was the finest thing I have seen or hope to see this side of heaven," said John Ladd, another survivor who saw the chaplains' selfless act.

As the ship went down, survivors in nearby rafts could see the four chaplains--arms linked and braced against the slanting deck. Their voices could also be heard offering prayers.

Of the 902 men aboard the U.S.A.T. Dorchester, 672 died, leaving 230 survivors. When the news reached American shores, the nation was stunned by the magnitude of the tragedy and heroic conduct of the four chaplains.  (http://www.fourchaplains.org/)

February 2 – Candlemas

So this day is to celebrate candles…and it’s a bit more confusing then that…I will try to explain.

There seem to be many different ways to celebrate this day. One way is to light all of your candles…which I cannot do because they are all packed up. Also, it was mentioned that this is a day to take down your Christmas decorations…mine have been down for over a month so that option was out. Other research I did said that this day is also called Pancake Day…which I don’t really understand what it has to do with candles…

Apparently pancakes, crepes, and other round foods are traditional food on Candlemas because they are round they represent the sun. Then it continued to say that Brigid is the goddess of fertility and creative inspiration, and also to clean out your fireplace.

If you can make sense of any of that let me know. I made some round rolls, since those seemed to be representing the sun and apparently that is what you are supposed to do on Candlemas.

Really this day just confused me more and more which is how you are probably feeling right now.

So…I guess eat something round…clean the fireplace…and be creative in how you do it? I am so confused…hopefully tomorrow is more straight forward!

February 1 – National Freedom Day

On this day in 1865 President Lincoln signed the 13th amendment which outlawed slavery in the United States. Truly a great day in our history! In 1948 Harry Truman signed the bill to make this holiday official!

Today is a day to celebrate equality and the fact that some people finally got some sense knocked into them that slavery is wrong. It is sad to think about that in today’s world there is so much slavery still happening around the world. My church is working with a group in Cambodia to free 100 girls that have been sold into the sex slave industry – unbelievable to me that things like that still happen today.

Enjoy your freedoms today and help those who are still in slavery; physically, emotionally, addictions, there are many different types, and many people are suffering.