A Year of Blogging: October 31, 2011

There are some dates that everyone knows. Whether you live in the US or Europe, you know certain dates. January 1 is New Year's Day. December 25 is Christmas. And October 31 is Halloween. If you've followed my other blog, you know how I feel about Halloween. If you haven't followed that, or want a refresher, you can read last year's post about Halloween. On Halloween in 1926, Harry Houdini died. Twelve days earlier, he was talking to a group of students in Montreal bragging about the strength of his stomach muscles, and his ability to withstand hard blows. One of the students punched him twice really hard. The magician had not had time to prepare, and the punches ruptured his appendix. The burst appendix poisoned his system and he died on October 31, 1926 in a Detroit hospital. In 1993, River Phoenix died of a drug overdose. While other girls my age had pictures of Johnny Depp or NKOTB on their bedroom walls, I had pictures of River Phoenix. He was my favorite actor at the time. He was 23 when he died. Last week, someone I grew up with died of an overdose. My reaction was the same as it was when I heard River Phoenix had died. Such a shame. Another young life snuffed out too soon by drugs. If you do celebrate Halloween, I hope you have a good night. Remember to watch out for your pets- this can be a frightening night for them!

A Year of Blogging: October 30, 2011

October 30 is 'Candy Corn Day'. Candy Corn is a popular candy in the US and Canada. It is made of corn syrup, honey, and sugar. It was designed to look like a kernel of corn. The tip is white, then the middle is orange, and the end is yellow. And yet, despite the ingredients, candy corn is fat free. I know some people love candy corn. I am not one of them. For me, it's the texture and the flavor that just turn me off. It is something you will never find in my house. Erich doesn't like it either. We don't pass out candy corn at Halloween. We pass out mini chocolate bars: Hersheys, Baby Ruth, Snickers, Kit Kats. Of course, perhaps if we passed out candy corn, we wouldn't have the problem of eating the candy before Halloween!

A Year of Blogging: October 29, 2011

October 29 is 'Hermit Day'. This is your chance to leave the world behind and spend it in quiet seclusion. Sometimes I feel like a hermit. There are some weekends that I come home on Friday night from work and don't leave the house until I go to work on Monday morning. We all need quiet time. And if that quiet time is a whole weekend, there's nothing wrong with that. Erich tries to be a hermit. If we had the means, we'd be living on a farm with 40 acres or so, with no neighbors close by. He would be quite happy if from our house you couldn't see another house. He does not have a cell phone because he doesn't want to be found. Seriously. He's not really a people person, and prefers to be alone at home than to be surrounded by people in public. Maybe someday his dreams will come true! October 29 is a significant day in history as well. On Black Tuesday, October 29, 1929, the Stock Market crashed. More than sixteen million shares were traded on the New York Stock Exchange that day. Billions of dollars were lost. The stock tickers ran hours behind because they could not keep up with the volume. Black Tuesday was the start of the Great Depression. It is important to remember this day in history so that history does not repeat itself.

A Year of Blogging: October 28, 2011

October 28 was 'Plush Animal Lover's Day'. Yes, that's right. It's a day to love your stuffed animals. In my house, the stuffed animals are mostly bears, with the occasional Snoopy scattered around. Yet, even though I have a room and closet full of bears; growing up, I was not the person who had the most stuffed animals. That title belonged to my sister. Her entire bed was covered in stuffed animals. She also had a toy hammock hanging over her bed that was filled with animals. Mom used to joke that it took my sister half an hour to get all the animals off her bed so she could go to sleep. Don't worry, I had my fair share too, but Laura had so many more. If you're looking for something more monumental to celebrate today, lets turn to a couple of American landmarks. The Statue of Liberty was dedicated on October 28, 1886. On this date in 1965, workers finished the Gateway Arch in St. Louis. You can actually go up in both of these (although they did say on the news last night that the Statue of Liberty is closed for repairs). I have not been in either of them. My sister was up in the arm of the Statue of Liberty when a lightning storm struck! Not the place I would want to be. For the past 23 years, October 28 has had a sad note for me. When I was in 7th grade, a friend died in a house fire on October 28. It was the first time I'd had to deal with death. I know that experience changed me. My Mom took off work and took me to the funeral. She took several of my friends too. Some parents felt it wasn't appropriate to go to the funeral. My mom felt I would have to face death sooner or later, and it was better that my first funeral was that of a friend than that of one of my grandparents. But she also felt I shouldn't go alone, so she went with me. Afterwards, she invited my friends and classmates back to our house. She didn't want anyone to be alone. She knew that it was a tremendous loss to absorb at twelve years old. Jolene was buried in the same cemetery that my Grandma Wager's parents are buried in. Mom always nodded in understanding when we went to the cemetery each year to decorate her grandparents' graves, and I wandered to the opposite side of the cemetery. She waited patiently by the car until I came back. We didn't talk about it. But I do know after Jolene died, Mom made that cemetery our last stop on our tour of cemeteries each spring, and then we went home. Sometimes, I can still hear Jolene's laugh.

A Year of Blogging: October 27, 2011

There is some dispute as to what October 27 is. My source said it is Navy Day, but the same source said Navy Day could be on October 13. The Navy League created the first Navy Day in 1922. October 27 was chosen because it was the birthday of Teddy Roosevelt, who was an avid supporter of the US Navy. In the 1970's, researchers found that the birthdate of the Continental US Navy was October 13, 1775. Apparently, Navy Day is still mostly celebrated on October 27. This was just too important of a day to skip for me. The Navy is important to our family. We are a Navy family. At least on my Dad's side. My Grandpa Primeau was so eager to go fight the Germans (which I find hilarious, given that he married a woman of German descent), that he lied about his age (as so many boys have at wartime) and joined the Canadian Army. Canada joined WWII before the US did. Since my great-grandfather was Canadian born, and the family was living in Canada, Grandpa was able to join the Canadian Army. Some 25 years before, his own father immigrated to the US and fought in WWI in the US Army. The family moved back and forth across the US/Canadian border frequently as my grandfather grew up. To this day, my Grandfather is still bilingual and can switch from English to French at the bat of an eye (his sister and her family still live in Quebec). Once the US joined the War, Grandpa was able to get a discharge from the Canadian Army. He then joined the US Navy and served on the USS Pigeon. This is a picture of Grandpa in his Navy uniform standing next to his mother. A couple decades later, it was my dad's older brother Ray who entered the Navy. I remember Uncle Ray serving in the Reserves when I was growing up. Many people do not realize that I actually considered joining the Navy. That's right. I looked at going into the Navy immediately out of high school instead of going right to college. I talked to the recruiters when they came to our school. I was seriously considering it. Then I remembered that I tend to get seasick on boats, and I don't like small spaces. So I chose college in the middle of the Indiana corn fields. My cousin Keith continued the Navy tradition, entering right out of high school in the late 1990's. His father is Uncle Ray, so Keith is the third generation to go into the Navy. He was sent to the Persian Gulf right after 9/11. I mean right after. He was home on leave, planning to go to my sister's wedding on 9/15. He was called shortly after the planes hit the Pentagon and World Trade Center and told to get to Norfolk, ASAP. He also did a tour in Afghanistan a few years ago. When he came home from that, he met his wife, Marci. Marci is in the Navy. I have a great appreciation for all service people. But there's a special place in my heart for the United States Navy. Happy Navy Day, and thank you to all those who serve, especially my family members, for all you do.

A Year of Blogging: October 26, 2011

October 26 is 'National Mincemeat Day'. Ok, once again I am showing my age. I have never had mincemeat. I have no idea what it is, although I've heard of mincemeat pie. Supposedly it's a Holiday tradition in many families. It wasn't in our family. So what is mincemeat? According to Wikipedia, mincemeat is a mixture of chopped fruit, distilled spirits and spices, and sometimes meat, venison, or suet. Wow. I have to say, there's nothing appealing to me about that mixture. Especially suet. All I can think of is the fatty, lard like substance we put out for the wild birds in the winter to give them some extra calories. Looking to history, I found that October 26 is an important day for the State of New York. On October 26, 1825, the Erie Canal opened. The Erie Canal connected Lake Erie and Buffalo in Western New York with Albany in the east, and further via the Hudson River, it connected Buffalo to New York City- the major port. With the completion of the canal, goods could be sent via the canal from New York City to the Midwest. Long before railroads broke up the area or mountains were blasted to make room for roads, the goods were transported by water. The canal changed not only New York- but everything west of the Appalachians. As you drive through New York today, you can still see the canal. There are lock houses spread throughout the state. The locks near Albany are a popular picnic and recreation area. You can even still travel through the canal. My great-great grandmother, Phebe Van Woert grew up along the Erie Canal. Her father worked on the canal. She was actually born in Ohio, but many of her siblings were born in New York. I find myself pondering what that must have been like- to help build 'Clinton's Ditch'. And once again I find myself in awe of the generations before us. The generations who didn't have computers, but still had a lot of ingenuity.

A Year of Blogging: October 25, 2011

October 25 was 'World Pasta Day'. Pasta. One of my favorite food groups. Sometimes I have to remind myself that our family isn't Italian. We love pasta. Italian restaurants are among our favorite to go to as a family. And Mom frequently made pasta for dinner. Sure, 'making pasta' consisted of opening a box of pasta, rather than actually making the dough and rolling it out. That's one of the ways you can tell we aren't Italian. There are so many options with pasta. You can buy whole grain pasta or pasta made from vegetables. But for me, it is regular semolina pasta. In the winter, we have at least one pasta dish a week. Our go-to on cold, rainy days is spaghetti and meat sauce. I love lasagna, but Erich does not like the ricotta cheese, so now I make lasagna rolls which, as Erich describes it, taste like all the good parts of lasagna. I also love ravioli, stuffed shells, and baked ziti. There are so many choices. All are delicious. I think I could eat pasta several times a week and not get bored. Of course, the best thing about pasta is when it is served with my other favorite food group, cheese. Since I missed Pasta Day, I think I will celebrate this weekend. Maybe I'll even celebrate for a few days!

A Year of Blogging: October 24, 2011

"My bologna has a first name, it's O-S-C-A-R. My bologna has a second name, it's M-A-Y-E-R. Oh I love to eat it every day and if you ask me why I'll sayyyyyy.... cuz Oscar Mayer has a way with B-O-L-O-G-N-A." Did you grow up singing this song? Or perhaps your children drove you nuts singing it? I had to dust it off in honor of today, which is Bologna Day. If you really miss this song, it is available as a ringtone. Just in case you want the bologna song in your head all the time! You might get a smile, and who knows, maybe others will start singing along? While I sang the song, I didn't like bologna. I think I was a strange child. Bologna is a staple in children's lunches. I often took peanut butter and butter sandwiches. By my own choosing, mind you. Jelly made the bread soggy, but butter did not. Sometimes I took cheese sandwiches. I'm sure I've eaten bologna sandwiches, how else would I know that I don't like it? I just don't remember ever choosing to eat one. If you do enjoy bologna, today is the day to stuff yourself. As for me, "I wish I were an Oscar Mayer wiener. That is what I'd truly like to beeee. For if I were an Oscar Mayer wiener, everyone would be in love with me." At least the bologna song isn't in your head now! Although, it's a little sad that at 35, I didn't have to look up the lyrics to either song- they came back to me just as if I were five.

A Year of Blogging: October 23, 2011

October 23 is 'Mole Day'. Although this isn't a day about the blind rodents who dig tunnels in your yard. Nor is it a day to honor those who are spies. No, this day is about the chemistry mole. A mole is a unit of measure that measures the atomic mass of a single molecule (at least according to holidayinsights.com). The purpose of Mole Day is to get people interested in Chemistry. That's my cue to check out. I did not take chemistry. I have never been a science person. In fact, my lowest grades always came in science. In my high school, juniors took chemistry. The problem was, chemistry was held the same time as Creative Writing. I had already taken my required two years of a lab science, and didn't see the point of taking more only to bring down my GPA. I planned to be a writer. I was fairly certain I wouldn't need science. But I needed the chemistry teacher to sign off on my drop slip. He terrified me. I don't know why. I nicely explained to him that I planned to be a writer, and therefore felt Creative Writing would be much more beneficial to me than Chemistry. He was extremely nice and understanding, and said he totally understood. And that ended my high school science career. I just quizzed Erich, because one of his many degrees is in Chemistry (I'm thinking one of the Bachelors, but he has so many degrees I get confused). Once I told him that Mole Day didn't refer to the animal or the spy, he figured it out and proceeded to recite the formula and give me a detailed explanation. I kind of zoned out. This happens often whenever I make the mistake of asking him a science related question. Instead of giving me just a simple answer, he goes into all the procedures and explanations. I get lost almost every time! If you're into Chemistry, today's a great day for you! If, like me, you aren't a chemistry person, perhaps you'd rather celebrate Mother-in-Law Day. Then again, maybe not.

A Year of Blogging: October 22, 2011

October 22 is 'Nut Day'. It isn't clear if it's a day to celebrate those among us defined as 'nuts', or if it is about the food. Of course, it could also be the nut that holds a bolt in place. It's up to your interpretation! Some people do not like to eat nuts. I like some varieties. My favorites are walnuts. They are great to use in cooking, but also make wonderful snacks. Certainly much better than a handful of potato chips. I've always had walnuts on hand for baking, but in the past year or so I've tried to eat more. There are sometimes that I want something more salty than sweet, and walnuts are perfect. Or if I'm a little hungry but don't really want to fix something big because it's close to dinner or late at night. A handful or two of walnuts hits the spot. Of course, walnuts are much better than my other favorite nut: peanuts. Well, peanuts themselves are ok, but I like the honey roasted variety. Sugary snacks, so not the best for you. I try not to buy honey roasted peanuts because I find them irresistible! Today's the perfect day to enjoy your favorite nut (and please, don't let that nut be me!).

A Year of Blogging: October 21, 2011

October 21 was 'Babbling Day'. Finally, a day for Chatterboxes! In case you haven't figured it out by my sometimes lengthy posts, I am a talker. When I was in elementary school, most of the comments on my report cards were 'Amy is a pleasure to have in class, but she needs to work on talking less.' Or something like that. I come by this honestly enough. While my dad is a fairly quiet guy (unless you start talking sports), Mom can talk quite a bit. Both of my Grandmothers had the gift of gab. My sister is also a talker. She once told me the thing that attracted her to her husband is that he could talk more than she could. Sydney got the double whammy- both parents are chatterboxes. So of course, Sydney is too. Drew seems to be keeping up with the family tradition, he babbles all the time. As he learns more words, I imagine he'll talk your ear off. Sydney can already talk to me on the phone for a steady hour. I remember what I was like as a teenager, gabbing with my friends all afternoon on the phone. My parents actually had to set rules for me. We didn't have call waiting, so if I was on the phone, and you tried to call, you got a busy signal. Dad would try to call to let us know what time he was going to be home so we knew when to have dinner, and he'd get a busy signal. After working in oil and grease all day, it really upset him. So Mom and Dad set a rule. If we hadn't already heard from Dad, then I couldn't stay on the phone for more than five or ten minutes. I had to keep the line free in case Dad called. Once I had heard from him, I was free to gab with my friends, as long as I finished my chores and homework. Our school district was so big, that some of my friends were actually a long distance call for a few years, which limited the amount of time I could talk to these friends. One day while talking to Sydney, she told me she had been on yellow in school that day. Her school used a color system like a stop light. Green meant you'd been good, yellow was that you'd been warned, and red was the worst. I asked her what she got in trouble for, and she said 'talking'. Oh child, I think you're going to get that a lot! Erich is not a talker. On our first date, I kept up a steady stream of chatter, and he barely spoke. I kept thinking 'he doesn't like me' and he thought 'she must be nervous, she won't shut up!' . Fortunately, we quickly figured out that I talk a lot and he doesn't. Even now, 11 years later, it's about the same. I do probably 80% of the talking. We've gotten used to each other. Whether you consider yourself a talker, a chatterbox, or a person who babbles, take time to enjoy the day! And if you want something quieter, I suggest you find a nice babbling brook to sit next to.

A Year of Blogging: October 20, 2011

October 20 is 'Monster Mash Day'. It seemed a little odd to celebrate this today, I would have thought it would be closer to Halloween. Turns out, on October 20, 1962, the song 'Monster Mash' reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 list. I don't know how to do the Monster Mash. I really have no rhythm, which is why you won't find me on any dance floor. The most dancing I do is kind of wiggling and be-bopping to music in my car or around the house. And now, that song is stuck in my head! Yesterday I wrote about my Grandma Wager's birthday. Grandma passed away three years ago today. She had been in a nursing home for a few years, and had really gone downhill. She kept waiting for Grandpa to come for her, and he finally did the day after her 91st birthday. I sent her a card for her birthday that year, but mom's sister, Aunt Arlene had said there was no point in calling because Gram wouldn't know who was on the phone, and wouldn't be able to talk. We knew the end was close. Oddly enough, Grandma and her siblings all died near their birthdays. Grandma died the day after her 91st birthday. Her brother Ernest was born on September 10, 1919 and died September 29, 1980. Her sister, Vivian, was born November 16, 1927 and died on November 13, 1974. Her funeral was actually held on her 47th birthday. This family coincidence is a bit eerie. Until I realized that it's not that uncommon. As I've worked on the family genealogy, I have found many other ancestors who died close to their birth date. After Grandma passed, I started paying a little more attention to obituaries of strangers (yes, I read stranger's obituaries. Obituaries fascinate me). It seems to be almost common that people pass on or near their birthday. It's almost like the perfect way to book-end a life. Interestingly enough, the BBC banned the song "Monster Mash" from airplay in 1962 because it was 'too morbid'. I wonder what the BBC would think of this post?

A Year of Blogging: October 19, 2011

October 19 is 'Evaluate Your Life' day. If you don't like the direction you are taking, then change it. You have the power to change it. I recently had the chance to evaluate my life. I didn't expect to do it, but the experience filled me with the realization that the paths I've chosen have led me to the place I am supposed to be. October 19 is a more personal day for me. It was my Grandma Wager's birthday. Today she would have been 94. I miss her just as much today as I have for almost every day since she's been gone. She was born Ruth Elizabeth Yerke in Petersburg, NY- the town five minutes north of my hometown of Berlin. Her father was a farmer. He could have been a mortician. My great-great Grandfather Yerke died as a young man, leaving a wife and four small children. The children were 'farmed out' or sent to live with family and friends to lesson the burden on the young widow. My great-grandfather, David, was sent to live with the Barber family. The Barber's ran the funeral home in Petersburg, and it was hoped young David would learn the trade. He tried- but as he came out of one of the hollows with a deceased, he hit a bump with the wagon. Rigor mortis had already set in on the body, and the body bolted up, arms straight out, as if it were coming after him. That spooked David, and ended his career in mortuary sciences. He helped the Barber family on their farm. His gratitude to the family was shown when he named his first child after the mother of the family- Ruth Elizabeth. Grandma grew up during The Great Depression. The family moved a lot. Grandma was able to continue going to school, and actually did finish high school but never officially graduated. Her family moved just before her high school graduation, and there was no forwarding address for the school to send her diploma to. I think this was the time they moved to the banks of the Mohawk River and lived in a tent. Her mother was described as the best cook you ever met. There are still a few people in the valley who remember my great-grandmother, and they still rave about 'Hattie's pies', even though Hattie has been dead for nearly 50 years. Grandma inherited her mother's cooking skills. Grandma could cook anything. I can still picture her, standing in the kitchen. Kneading dough for her famous rolls, rolling out buttermilk dough for the equally famous donuts. It seemed she was always cooking something. There were times we arrived from the airport at midnight and she had a full ham dinner waiting for us. No one was allowed to go to bed until they ate. She certainly passed the cooking gene on to Mom, and I think she would be proud of me too. If something is wrong, cook. Food solves everything. At least Grandma felt it did. Grandma could be a very hard woman. She was fiercely independent and not known for biting her tongue. If you made her mad, you knew it. She had quite a temper. But she could also be very caring and sweet. She had a soft spot for Aunt Arlene's beagle, Rusty. Grandma took him out for ice cream and bought him his own ice cream cone. She and Grandpa helped found the ambulance in Berlin, at first using some of their own money to buy the first ambulance. She always wanted to be a nurse. She didn't get to be a nurse, but she ran on the ambulance for about 20 years. Grandma could be incredibly silly. One of my favorite memories is of us playing 'Monkey in the Middle'. By this point, as teenagers, Laura and I were both taller than Grandma. Grandma didn't understand the concept of Monkey in the Middle, that we were supposed to keep the ball away from the one in the middle. It was easy to clear the ball over her head, and just as easy if one of us were in the middle to catch it as she threw it. Grandma was the 'monkey' most of the time. She went to stick her tongue out at us, but lost her false teeth. The teeth fell onto the pavement, which caused my sister and I to erupt in laughter. Grandma laughed too, which caused her bladder to give out. That made us laugh harder. Grandma went running through the house, my sister and I were rolling with laughter, and Grandpa just shook his head and asked 'what did she do now?' Grandma Wager's birthday on October 19 was the first of my Grandparents' birthdays. We had one a month until the last on January 1. This year, it's the first of the reminders. No present to buy today. Don't need one for November, and December is just Mom & Dad's anniversary and Christmas. A time that once seemed so full now seems so empty. This picture is one of my favorites of my Grandparents, and one of the last I have with them. It was taken about 1991 or 1992, on one of our visits to Florida in February. The family tradition was to go to Fresco's, an Italian restaurant in Deland, on our last night there. They had this beautiful mural outside the restaurant. It was actually a fountain, water trickled down over it. We took a photo in front of this each year. This one shows Grandpa with his infamous yellow sweater. Happy third Birthday in Heaven, Grandma! I'm sure you and Grandpa have danced the day away.

A Year of Blogging: October 18, 2011

October 18 was 'Alaska Day'. On October 18, 1867, the US purchased Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million. That amounts to less than two cents an acre! While the treaty was signed on March 30, 1867, the formal land transfer occurred on October 18. For most people in the US, Alaska is on our bucket list. It is someplace we want to go before we die. I have friends who have already been, as has Erich's Mom. My grandparents were fortunate enough to go before their health got so bad. Everyone says the same thing "You have to go". And I will, someday. I long to see moose and bears and Denali. I don't want to limit my trip to just a cruise from the coastline, I want to venture into the interior and explore. I'd also love to take the train through the Canadian Rockies. My grandparents did that, and the pictures are stunning. Obviously, this will be a trip of a lifetime, so it requires some saving. Right now I'm so busy running to NY that Alaska seems so far off. But I don't want to be too old when I go, so maybe I should start an 'Alaska fund' now. October 18 was also 'No Beard Day'. It's a day for men who have beards to shave them. I'm not a really big fan of beards, although Erich occasionally has one. They are ok if they are trimmed and neat, but if they are shaggy and unkempt, it is a real turn-off. My dad used to grow a beard in the winter to help keep his face warm. He looked very different with a beard. Although, he looks like a complete stranger without his moustache! My sister was in high school and she told him she didn't remember him without a moustache. So he shaved it. His face looked about 20 years younger, a stark contrast to the head full of white hair!

A Year of Blogging: October 17, 2011

October 17 was 'Wear Something Gaudy Day'. My first thought was that I don't have anything gaudy. And then I thought about my sweater collections, and realized that while I don't think they are gaudy, others might. After all, gaudy is defined as "brilliantly or excessively showy, flashy, or ostentatiously ornamented." I love Quacker Factory. It's a line of clothing that was developed by the late Jeanne Bice and is sold on QVC. If you aren't familiar with it, look it up. Only in recent years has the line taken a more demure tone, including subtle sparkle into every day pieces. My favorites remain the sweaters with personality. I like to dress for the season. It's not just Quacker Factory. I also like Breckenridge from Elder Beerman and sometimes I can find seasonal pieces at Kohls. For winter I have snowflakes, penguins, and snowmen. In the spring I wear pieces with flowers. In the summer, I like patriotic items. Fall is for leaves, scarecrows, squirrels, and pumpkins. But my favorite by far is Christmas. I have about 30 Christmas sweaters and tops. I know this because I start wearing them the day after Thanksgiving, and have enough to wear a different one each day between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Many of my sweaters are more than five years old, but still look very nice because I wear them once or twice a season. I like to be festive. Which is quite funny, because my personality is more of a wall-flower than the center of attention. But when it comes to my clothing, my favorite pieces are a little bit loud. I have a fall sweater (from Quacker Factory of course) that has a dog playing in a pile of leaves. There are sequined leaves running up and over the shoulder. The last time I wore the sweater, someone actually asked if I had bedazzled my sweater. Hearing the word 'bedazzled' made me think perhaps it was a little over the top. But I'm not going to stop wearing it. My sweaters, whether gaudy or not, provide a smile during the day. Take the chance today to find your own gaudiness! And if it makes you happy, then embrace it and wear it more frequently.

A Year of Blogging: October 16, 2011

October 16 is 'Dictionary Day'. It is a day to honor Noah Webster, considered the founder of the American Dictionary. Noah Webster was born on October 16, 1758. For writers, there are a few required books. They are the tools of our trade. Every writer should have a dictionary and a thesaurus. I have used both for many years. In fact, one of my most prized books is the Webster's Dictionary I won my Junior year in high school. I won the Williams' College award for English, and the prize was a hardcover Webster's dictionary, with a purple cover emblazoned with the Williams College logo. Williams College is a four year, private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts. It is about half an hour from my childhood home. It is also currently one of the top schools in the country. In today's Internet age, I think people are lacking in dictionary skills. They are so used to using spell-check that they've forgotten how to look up a word in the dictionary. Or they are so used to using an online dictionary, that most people probably don't even own a hard copy. I think that's a shame. I remember learning in elementary school how to use a dictionary. Once I learned about a thesaurus, I couldn't wait to get my hands on one. I was so happy to finally buy one, I felt like I had everything I needed. (How things have changed!) The best way to celebrate today is to dust off your own dictionary and thumb through it, discovering new words. If you don't own a dictionary then you should get yourself to the nearest book store immediately.

A Year of Blogging: October 15, 2011

October 15 was Sweetest Day. I had never heard of Sweetest Day until I moved to the Midwest. I'm not sure if it has gained popularity since I moved here, or if it's just more celebrated here than it is in other parts of the country. Either way, I feel the same about Sweetest Day as I do about Valentine's Day. My feelings can best be described as 'Bah humbug!' I believe you should be loving and caring to your spouse or significant other all the time. If you can't bring me flowers just because, or do something nice on a Tuesday in the middle of July; don't bother doing it on Valentine's Day or Sweetest Day. Be nice and caring because you want to be, not because Hallmark tells you to be. I guess it is also perfect that today is National Grouch Day. (Since some people might consider me a grouch for my feelings towards Sweetest Day). National Grouch Day was created by Sesame Street magazine as a tribute to Oscar the Grouch. After Cookie Monster, Oscar the Grouch has always been one of my favorite Sesame Street characters. He's certainly easier to deal with than that overly perky Big Bird! Some people suggest taking this day to recognize notable grouches. Others say to leave the grouches alone to wallow in their misery. I think it's just the perfect thing to celebrate instead of Sweetest Day! Even if you aren't someone who is always a grouch, we all have our moments!

A Year of Blogging: October 14, 2011

October 14 was 'National Dessert Day'. That's a day I think most people can enjoy! I know very few people who do not like dessert. My father had an uncle who always ate dessert before dinner. He said if he died during the meal, he didn't want to miss dessert. In case you didn't already know, I like dessert. There are very few days that I don't eat dessert. My favorite desserts would be anything chocolate. Followed closely by ice cream and then carrot cake. After that, it would probably be any type of pastry. My Dad's family is notorious for having a sweet tooth. It was comical at the wedding last weekend, because they set up a dessert station on the dance floor. I was sitting with my parents & Dad's siblings at the time, and all of them returned with a plate full of desserts. My aunt told me 'I have a big sweet tooth' and I said 'yes, all Primeau's do'. We rarely turn down dessert. I shouldn't have to tell you how to celebrate this day. Grab your favorite dessert and a fork and dig in!

A Year of Blogging: October 13, 2011

October 13 is 'Face Your Fears Day'. We all have fears. Maybe it's something major like dying, or something a little smaller like spiders. Although, I have to tell you, there is nothing small about spiders. Yes, I'm terrified of them. I have a certain scream that I make when I see one. I can't control the scream. My voice just rushes out of my body in this particular sound. Erich usually sighs, gets up, and says 'kleenex or shoe?' As in, can he kill it with a simple kleenex, or is it either a huge one or one that will run quickly and therefore requires the shoe. Coincidentally, I will spend this day facing one of my fears. I will be flying home from Myrtle Beach. Yes, you might find it hard to believe that I am afraid of flying. I always have been. Which is kind of funny, I admit. I have been flying regularly since I was 4 years old. I chose to go to college in Indiana, meaning that the easiest way to get back to my parents in New York was to fly. I currently live 700 miles away from my family, and fly back to NY several times a year. And yet, I hate flying. For me, flying is a necessary evil. That doesn't mean I have to like it. I know they say you are safer in a plane than you are in an automobile. I don't believe that. I am a basket case when I fly, although I do a good job of controlling it so others don't know the turmoil I'm feeling inside. There are a lot of prayers said on a day that I am flying, and I am always so very grateful when the wheels touchdown in my destination. Today is also my puppy, Cobalt's birthday. Although he's no longer a puppy. Today he is the grand old age of 10. It is hard to believe. It seems like just yesterday he was a small 8 pound puppy I could hold in my hand. I guess it's the same as it is with human children- he'll always be my little boy.

A Year of Blogging: October 12, 2011

October 12 is 'Old Farmer's Day'. It is a day set aside to honor those who work the land and provide food for the rest of us. It makes sense to honor farmers in October, as this is harvest time. During harvest they possibly even work harder, trying to get the crops in before winter settles over the land. Many of my ancestors were farmers. Most people were, before society became so mobile and started buying their own food. You grew gardens and raised animals to feed your family. Even my grandparents did a little farming. Mom's mother raised chickens, although they were gone by the time I came along. I remember Grandpa Primeau raising pigs. I think of what it must have been like for my Great-Grandparents; farming in the harsh climate of Upstate New York. The growing season there is about four months. The winters are long and cold. The area is mountainous, it's hard to find large tracts of land that are flat. Every year when Dad planted a garden, he said the best thing he grew was rocks. I remember as a child we would follow behind Grandpa's tractor in the potato field and pick the rocks out of the mounds of dirt. It seemed like there were always more rocks. When I think of the where my Great-Grandparents, and those who preceded them, tried to scratch out a life, I am amazed. They must have been amazing people. Strong, both mentally and physically. I have an incredible appreciation for them. Farming may be easier today with tractors and combines and automated milking machines. But in some ways, I think it is also harder. Or at the very least, just as hard. One hundred years ago, if your father was a farmer, you became a farmer. Now, children often don't want to continue the family business. It's hard to find people to help with the farm. If you sell your crops to others, you are at the mercy of corn, grain, or milk prices on the market. Farmland is shrinking, and one year of too much or too little rain could wipe out everything. It certainly isn't an easy profession, even in 2011. I don't know why today is 'old' farmers day. We should take today to thank all farmers- regardless of their age.

A Year of Blogging: October 11, 2011

October 11 is 'Take Your Teddy Bear to Work' day. What a wonderful day! But even better than taking your Teddy Bear to work for one day would be having Teddy Bears in your office all the time. I have teddy bears in my office at my current job, and I had them in my office at the insurance agency too. I am not a person who can work in a dull office with no personal touches. They tease me at work that if I ever quit (or somehow lose my job) it will take me half a day to undecorate my office. One-third of each day is spent in the office. I want it to be pleasant. I have pictures of my family in my office. I have pictures of my dogs. I have scenery pictures. My office door is adorned with artwork from Sydney, and when Drew starts coloring, I'll add his pictures. I have a tiny Christmas tree that I put out at Christmastime, and the I put a fake evergreen garland on the door. And in the corner of my office year round is a little bear display. Ok, they are mostly moosies. But they are Boyd's Moosies. I have a few that I have duplicates of, so the duplicates live in my office. There are also a couple of bears in the display. The pictures and the bears help me focus. They remind me of the good things in my life. Sometimes, when work starts to beat you down you need to remember there is more to life than work. I don't play with the bears though. I guess if I got too stressed I would! I hope you enjoy today by taking your favorite teddy bear with you to the office. I will be unable to do that, as I'm currently in Myrtle Beach (ok, so the blog posts were prepared in advance) soaking up history and spending time with a dear friend.

A Year of Blogging: October 10, 2011

October 10 is 'Angel Food Cake Day'. Angel Food Cake is a sponge cake. It originated in North America, and became popular in the US in the late 19th century. It was given the name of Angel Food Cake because it was said the airy lightness of it was the food of angels. Honestly, angel food cake isn't one of my favorites. It's ok as a substitute for biscuits for strawberry shortcake, but I would rather have the biscuits. For me, the texture of angel food cake just isn't very appealing. I have never made an angel food cake. Probably because it involves separating the egg whites from the egg yolks and then whipping the egg whites until they are stiff. Even though I like to bake, that is too much work. I do know that you are supposed to cut it with a serrated knife. Using a regular knife will compress the cake, not cut it. As for me, I much prefer angel food cake's counterpart- devil's food cake! But I've told you before most of the time, I'll choose chocolate over anything else.

A Year of Blogging: October 9, 2011

October 9 is 'Fire Prevention Day'. Remember yesterday I told you about the Great Chicago Fire of 1871? The fire was so devastating it created Fire Prevention efforts across the country. The first Fire Prevention Day was held in 1911. In 1920, President Woodrow Wilson declared the first 'Fire Prevention Week'. I remember fire prevention weeks in elementary school. There were coloring contests. We had safety drills. We were taught the importance of knowing how to get out of our homes, and encouraged to have drills at home. The local fire department came with the trucks. The firemen, who were all volunteer, stood in front of us in their turnout gear. The idea was to let us know even though they looked scary in the gear, that they were there to help us. The firemen were people we knew in town: from church, from the post office, some of them were even mothers and fathers of our classmates. We got to tour the inside of the trucks. In the end, we were each given a red plastic fireman's hat to wear. Fire has always been something I've been terrified of. Long before my friend was killed in a house fire when we were in 7th grade, I heard the stories of Mom talking about The Disaster in town. The firemen never scared me. Living in an area where all the fire departments are volunteer, you know the firemen. Many close family friends have been firemen. My dad wasn't a fireman, because he worked so much he didn't have the time to devote to it. But we always supported the fire department. The first Sunday of each month (except in summer, if I remember correctly) the fire department hosted a pancake breakfast. We went each month after church. If the fire department had a fundraiser, we supported them. On big holiday weekends, such as Labor Day and Memorial Day, many fire departments would do the 'fill the boot' fundraiser. They stood along Route 22 (a state road that runs North-South from Canada to NYC and right through the valley where I grew up) with empty fire boots, asking for donations. My parents always donated, even if it wasn't our town but another town. Mom and Dad believed you never know when you will need the fire department, especially since they both traveled out of town for work. It is something they passed on to my sister and I. Grandpa Primeau used to be a fireman. So did Grandpa Wager. Grandpa and Grandma Wager helped found the ambulance in Berlin. Dad now serves on the fire commissioners, and Mom is the secretary to the commissioners. The Commissioners are the ones who tend to the business part of the fire department: things like buying new equipment. Dad is no longer physically able to be a firefighter (although for a few years both he and Mom were on the ambulance), but he is able to help by being a commissioner. Not everyone is able to be a firefighter. But you can do your part by making sure your family is ready. Know how to get out of the house from the second story. Know how you would get out if your main entrance is blocked. Have a meeting place for everyone once they are outside. And perhaps most importantly- remember your pets! You can buy stickers to put on your door which tell firefighters you have pets inside. You can even buy breed specific stickers such as 'save my beagle'. Be prepared and hopefully, you will never need to put your plans into action.

A Year of Blogging: October 8, 2011

October 8 is 'Tag Day'. It's a day to celebrate the game we all played as children. In case you've forgotten the rules, one of the players is designated as 'IT'. The other players run and hide so that 'IT' can't find them. There was usually a safe spot. If you were able to get there before 'IT' found you, then you couldn't be 'IT'. If 'IT' found you first, you were 'IT'. Supposedly, you're never too old for a game of Tag. I think I'd look a little silly playing it in the front yard. Or the back yard with the dogs. But if you feel compelled to run away from 'IT' today, go for it. Turning to the history books, on October 8, 1871 the great Chicago fire started. The fire started in the barn of Patrick and Catherine O'Leary (although was it really a cow? And how do they know it was Mrs. O'Leary's cow rather than one that was owned by Mr. O'Leary?). The fire lasted two days and destroyed 17, 450 buildings, including the business district. 200-300 people died, and 100,000 were left homeless. The city quickly rebuilt, and within nine years the population had grown from 324,000 before the fire to 500,000.

A Year of Blogging: October 7, 2011

October 7 is 'World Smile Day'. It's time to show your pearly whites to the world! Interestingly enough, while reading about this day, I found that the smiley face as we know it (that bright yellow smiling face) was created in the 1960's (although by whom is still uncertain). How did you express a smile before that? I guess you did it the old fashioned way: face to face. Now many of us use the computer smile :) . I have to admit, I think I'm addicted to the computer smiley face. If someone writes something on Facebook or in an email that physically brings a smile to my face, I express it with a computer smiley face. It's not a fake expression, although I worry some people might think it is. It's a genuine reflection of what I am currently feeling. I haven't always smiled. There were those years that I had braces, for instance, when I didn't smile. At least not a smile that revealed my teeth. After the braces came off, my teeth looked like horse teeth, so I didn't smile much for a while. I remember one of my high school friends writing in a yearbook that my smile lights up the room. I thought it was the nicest thing anyone ever said to me. And 20 years later, I still remember that comment. Erich had to do an exam on me the other day for his homework assignment. One of the things he had to do was check my smile and frown. I couldn't frown. It was just too hard and too goofy to try. Finally I thought of something that irritated me and tried that. He thought it was odd that I couldn't frown. Today is the day to let your smile shine! See if you can light up your own corner of the world. It is so much easier to smile than it is to frown.

A Year of Blogging: October 6, 2011

October 6 is 'Come and Take It' Day. Come and take it should not be confused with come and get it. If someone says "come and get it", they are offering you something. Such as, "Dinner's ready, come and get it!" If you were to come and take dinner, you might be stealing dinner instead of being invited to have some. Which makes me wonder- is Come and Take it day an open invitation to steal? If you are taking it just because you can, I think that borders on stealing. I don't know. Maybe this is a gray area. For sure, if you took money from a store because the cash register is open, that is stealing. I would just advise you to be very careful on this day. Taking something without an invitation might lead to trouble. And I don't know that you could get away with saying 'But today was come and take it day!' On a somewhat related note, October 6 is 'Mad Hatter' Day. The Mad Hatter is a character in 'Alice & Wonderland' who is always acting crazy. So today is a day to be silly. The Mad Hatter wears a top hat. The front of his hat has a slip of paper that says '10/6' so it makes perfect sense that October 6 would be Mad Hatter's Day. Unless you consider that Alice's Adventures in Wonderland was written by a British author, so he would have written his dates with the day first, then the month. Which would mean Mad Hatter's Day should have been on June 10. So you're about four months late celebrating.

A Year of Blogging: October 5, 2011

October 5 is 'Do Something Nice' day. I think it's kind of sad that we have to set aside a day for this. Doing nice things should be automatic, it should be something we do without thinking about. We shouldn't have to declare a special day so that everyone can do something nice. Or so that people can stop thinking about themselves for a day and do something for others. Maybe I'm antiquated in my thinking. I grew up believing in the Golden Rule "Do unto others as you will have done unto you". Hold the door open for the person behind you, and if someone holds the door open for you, say "thank you". Be kind to others. Help them. Be nice. You know, that whole 'be a good girl' thinking. As I think about this day, I think of things I've done in the past few days that would qualify as doing something nice. I didn't do them for any special reason, other than it seemed the right or nice thing to do. At the store the other day, there was an elderly lady sitting on a scooter by the store doors. The store doors are huge, and there is not a power door. I walked over to her and asked her if she needed help getting through the doors. She told me that she was waiting for a ride, but thanked me. How many people would have and did walk past her without even giving it a thought? Yesterday my coworker commented that she wanted chocolate, and I offered her a Reese's cup that I had in my purse. Tonight, even though I was exhausted, I made dinner and had it ready for Erich when he came home from school. I didn't do any of it for a reward, or because it was a 'holiday' to do it. It was just the right thing to do, or in the case of my coworker and the chocolate, at least brought a smile to her. I'm not trying to blow my own horn. I just think if we all tried to do a little more good in the world, maybe as a society we could be a little nicer. Look up from the phones and computers just for a little bit, and see what a difference you could make with just a small gesture. Maybe, then it won't be such a rarity to do something nice.

A Year of Blogging: October 4, 2011

October 4 was 'World Animal Day'. I had to do some research on this one. World Animal Day was started in 1931 by a group of Ecologists meeting in Florence, Italy. It was started to highlight the plight of endangered animals. It has grown since then to include animals of all kinds. October 4 was chosen as it is the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi who is the patron saint of animals. According to the World Animal Day website, www.worldanimalday.org/uk , it is a day to:

~To celebrate animal life of all forms ~To celebrate humankind's relationship with the animal kingdom ~To acknowledge the diverse roles that animals play in our lives ~To acknowledge and be thankful for the ways animals enrich our lives

I am an animal lover. I cry when animals are injured in movies. If I see a dog running loose I say a little prayer for it that their owners will find them quickly and safely. I cannot watch the ASPCA commercials. I can't stand the thought of animals being harmed. We didn't have pets when I was growing up. Mom and Dad used to have a German Shepherd named Sargent or 'Sarge' for short. Mom took him to obedience training, and because Dad was away a lot at night working on the snow plow, she had him trained as a guard dog. From the stories they told, he was an excellent guard dog, but he could also be a big puppy dog. When Mom and Dad sat down with a bowl of popcorn on Saturday night to watch TV, Sarge dragged his bag of kibble into the living room and munched with them. He was super protective of women, and when I came along, I became one of his charges. I was a baby when Mom and Dad got rid of Sarge. Grandpa Wager came to pick me up out of my playpen and Sarge locked his jaws around Grandpa's wrist. He didn't bite Grandpa, just held his wrist waiting for a command. Mom issued the release command, and no one was hurt. But my parents were terribly worried. What if he turned on me? They couldn't have that worry, so they called a family friend who had always loved Sarge. He came and took Sarge, and gave Sarge a great life. Sarge lived to be about 15 years old. After that, we didn't have pets. Dad said it wasn't fair to have a dog because we were not home a lot. I understand his reasoning. Now, my sister and I both have two dogs. My mother called the other night to find out what her grandpuppies wanted for their birthdays. The dogs are a big part of our lives now. They are a lot of work, but I love them. I love that I come home from a crappy day at the office and they are happy to see me. They don't expect anything other than pets, snuggles, and dog biscuits. Of course, they are even happier to get beef or chicken. At night they chase each other around the house and provide more entertainment than any sitcom. My life would be so lonely without the dogs. So today, as with every day, I am so thankful I fell for that adorable puppy 10 years ago.

A Year of Blogging: October 3, 2011

October 3 was 'Techie Day'. It's a day to appreciate and maybe even celebrate the IT department. They are the ones called when those of us less computer savvy people mess up our computers and see the blue screen of death. Of course, sometimes we call them for other purposes too. We have a 'Support' department at work. They fix the software and hardware problems. They grumble that they hate 'puters. I am fairly computer savvy, but I'm not a hardware person. There are times I do have to call tech support to fix my computer. I also am fortunate enough to have tech support at home. Erich is a techie. Although he's not a Windows guy. He prefers Linux (which I had never heard of until I met him). So if we have problems at home with the laptop, I usually go to work and ask our tech support for their ideas. Plus, they don't get as annoyed with me as Erich does. Somehow on the laptop, every once in a while I disable the touchpad. Which means you can't use the mouse. It's very annoying. I did it again the other night, and Erich had to come downstairs and figure out how to re-enable it. I was met with a lot of sighs and eye-rolling. October 3 was also 'Virus Appreciation Day'. Which seems odd. We don't want to appreciate viruses, they are evil. It's not clear if the viruses we are supposed to be appreciating are human, animal, or computer. But it makes you think perhaps a techie created this day!

A Year of Blogging: October 2, 2011

October 2 was 'Name Your Car' day. I admit, I am a person who names her cars. I don't know why. My parents don't name their cars. If the car is acting up, or you're trying to negotiate slippery roads, they might say 'come on girl'. But they don't actually name their cars. I am on my fourth car. My first car was a 1981 Ford. The logo on the back of the car said it was a Futura, but on the side it said Fairmont. So I'm not sure what it was. It had been t-boned on the passenger's side and not completely repaired. My mother bought it for $900 when I was 14. She felt it would be a good car for me to learn to drive on. The perfect 'starter' car. You couldn't get into the passenger side, you had to slide across the driver's side. It had a bench seat in the front, and it took all of the strength of my sister and I to pull the seat up after Dad drove it. The car was a bomb. And I don't mean bomb in a good way! I called her (our cars are always girls, I don't know why) 'Bertha the Bomb'. Mom would not let me take my driving test on this car. She was afraid the instructor would deduct points for the car. When they had a layoff at Dad's work and he bumped back into the shop one summer, Dad drove Bertha to work. She lost the muffler going over the mountain one morning. Dad cut the seatbelts out of the backseat and tied the muffler together with the seatbelts. Which meant I could only have one person in the car with me- in the front seat. Most of the times, the carburetor flooded when you tried to start it. If I had to stop at a stop sign or red light, it stalled. One time, the only way to get it in gear was to put it in reverse, so I drove in reverse through town back home (good thing it was a small town!). Oh, I hated that car! I did not have Bertha long, and my parents wouldn't let me drive to school often. In November, 1992, Mom decided to get a new car. She bought a 1993 Ford Taurus Wagon, and gave the 1988 Taurus Wagon to me. In 1995, after my first year of college, they titled the old wagon to me and I took it to Indiana. The car had about 100,000 miles on it (maybe more) when I took it in 1995, when I got rid of it, she had 172,000 miles. Once the Taurus was mine, I named her 'Olde Faithful'. Because she was. She was dependable, sturdy, and you could haul anything in that wagon! The wagon was navy blue, at Dad's request. Prior to the 1988 Taurus, we had Dodges. Mom convinced Dad to go to Ford (her parents always drove Fords) and Dad's one request was to have a blue car. When Mom had the 88 Taurus, she had vanity plates (personalized license plates) with our last name on them. Our friends referred to the car as 'The Primeau-mobile'. I loved Olde Faithful so much that when I had to replace her, I looked at a station wagon. I was 24 years old, buying my first new car, and I wanted a station wagon. I went to the Ford dealer in town and looked at the Focus. They didn't have a single wagon on the lot, and I couldn't wait. Olde Faithful was dying quickly, I needed a vehicle. So I settled on a four door sedan, in a pretty emerald green. The Focus became known as 'Lil' Green' . At first, I loved the sportiness of Lil' Green. She was peppy and sassy and cheap on gas. Then the recalls started. I had so many problems with that car that I was counting down the months until it was paid off so I could buy a different vehicle. It also turned me away from Ford. And while the car was a little sporty and cute, I also got tired of buying something big at the store and asking them to hold it until Erich could come with the minivan to pick it up. Lil' Green was still running, so I took more time selecting my next vehicle. When I bought Lil' Green, the salesman talked to Erich, even though Erich told him 'she's buying it'. Erich is not your typical male. He is not the car person. In fact, of the two of us, I am the car person. So when I went shopping the next time, I didn't even take Erich. I did my research ahead of time, went to a car show and narrowed my options, and then went to the Toyota dealer. At the first dealer, I test drove a Rav4 that was loaded. I loved the car, but didn't need one with all those bells and whistles. The salesman would not listen to me, that I wanted a less souped up model. They also offered me pittance for my trade-in. I thanked him for his time, shook his hand (many thanks to Dad for teaching me to have a strong handshake even though I'm a female) and left. That was a Saturday. The next day I drove to another dealership in Cincinnati to test drive the Matrix, because I still hadn't settled on the Rav yet. I drove the Matrix and hated it. I wanted to make a deal on a Rav. But the salesman there wouldn't even talk to me about a Rav. And again, the amount they offered for my Focus was insulting. I knew how much I should get for the Focus. Once again I found myself shaking hands, saying thank you, and walking out the door. I was going to go home and I heard an ad on the radio for yet another dealer. I was most of the way there anyway, so I drove the few extra miles into Northern Kentucky. By this point, I knew what I wanted. I wanted a Blue Rav4 with four wheel drive, and I knew what I wanted for my trade. I walked in, and told the salesman I wasn't going to talk deal until they told me what they'd give me for my trade. Sometimes I wonder where this woman came from! I was so determined and confident. They looked at my trade, drove it, and gave me the amount I was hoping for. I knew we had a deal then! The dealer didn't have any blue Ravs in stock, but they assured me they could find me one. I made it a little easier for them and said I wouldn't care if it was Pacific Blue (the lighter blue) or Navy Blue. It took them about three weeks, but they found one. I didn't know what color my new car was until I arrived at the dealership to sign the papers. Turns out it was the Pacific Blue. While it seems like everyone (including my own parents) now have one just like it, I know I am far happier with this one than the Navy. My Rav is named 'Blue Baby'. I know, I'm getting less original with the names. We've gone from Bertha the Bomb and Olde Faithful to Lil' Green and Blue Baby. I'm not a diehard car naming person (or my cars would have much more spectacular names), but somehow they always end up with a name. Although I will say, Blue Baby is a little confusing, because sometimes Cobalt thinks I'm talking about him.

A Year of Blogging: October 1, 2011

Another flip of the calendar and we find ourselves smack dab in the middle of fall. The days are shorter and cooler. It's time for getting apples and pumpkins and raking leaves. I've been busy doing all kinds of things preparing for my upcoming vacation, so my blog has once again been neglected. October gives us a lot of things to celebrate. In the food arena, it is National Seafood month. If, like me, seafood isn't your thing, you could try popping some popcorn for National Popcorn Popping month. Or perhaps you'd rather eat country ham, maybe while enjoying some applejack. That should keep you warm on these chilly fall nights. For my vegetarian friends, this is your month! Enjoy the harvest! And showing that there's something for everyone, October is also National Pizza month and Cookie month. Ahhh, now we're talking! After all that indulgence, we need to take care of our health. We all know October is Breast Cancer awareness month. It is also Diabetes awareness month. In my family, diabetes has affected more of us than breast cancer has. I guess we've been lucky in that way. October is also Lupus awareness month. Finally, October is Domestic Violence awareness month. That's one that is fairly close to me. If you are in a violent relationship, get out! Remember, abuse takes all forms: mental, emotional, and physical. Abuse is never ok. October is Computer Learning Month. You might want to use your computer to check out the benefits of adopting a shelter dog, as October is Adopt a Shelter Dog month (although, if you rescued a cat that would be ok!). Remember to take time to appreciate your Pharmacist and Clergy person this month. And while October is Sarcasm Month, you might want to curb the sarcasm when talking to your Clergy person. As if having their own month isn't enough, October 1 was World Vegetarian Day. I am not a vegetarian. I've never tried to do a vegetarian diet. I'm too much of a meat and potatoes girl. But for my friends who are vegetarians, I hope you enjoyed a very tasty treat on this day!