June and August may be the only two months in which most U.S. citizens do not participate in celebrating one particular holiday. You could argue that most of us celebrate Flag Day in June, but let’s be honest: even banks don’t recognize it as a holiday. Since August is so devoid of things to celebrate (However, in our family there are a wealth of August birthdays we will be celebrating.), may I suggest some of the following based on holidayinsights.com:

August 1st – National Raspberry Cream Pie Day (Now this needs to be a national holiday!)

August 2nd – National Mustard Day (This begs the question: Is there a National Ketchup Day? Mayo Day? Relish Day? Condiments Day?)

August 3rd – Sisters Day (Note to Big Brother: I expect presents this day.)

August 4th – U.S. Coast Guard Day (Won’t the other Armed Forces be jealous?)

August 5th – Work Like a Dog Day (You notice that no one ever says, “Work Like a Cat”???)

August 6th – Wiggle Your Toes Day (This could be tricky to celebrate…particularly if you’re getting some gray hair like me.)

August 7th – National Lighthouse Day (A little tricky to celebrate if you live in Central Texas)

August 8th – National Sneak Some Zucchini Onto Your Neighbor’s Porch Day (I have serious concerns about the originator of this holiday’s sanity.)

August 9th – Book Lover’s Day (See…this one makes some actual sense!)

August 10th – Lazy Day (After you sneak zucchini onto porches, this day is a necessity.)

August 11th – Presidential Joke Day (Does this mean we are to make jokes about the President or he’s supposed to make jokes this day or he is a joke???)

August 12th – Middle Child Day (What if there is no Middle Child?)

August 13th – Left Hander’s Day (I guess all of us right-handed people have to “work like a dog” and the lefties get this day off?)

August 14th – National Creamsicle Day (I sense a theme with cream here. See August 1st.)

August 15th – Relaxation Day (I suppose the people who created Lazy Day were too lazy to put it together with Relaxation Day. That would have made too much sense.)

August 16th – National Tell A Joke Day (Again, why not pair this with Presidential Joke Day?)

August 17th – National Thriftshop Day (I’ve always had the need to shop in dusty places filled with out-of-style items that contain everyone else’s germs.)

August 18th – Bad Poetry Day (I suppose “Good Poetry Day” was already taken?)

August 19th – Aviation Day (This means we check our bags for free on this day, right?)

August 20th – National Radio Day (Sirius is free this day, right?)

August 21st – Senior Citizen’s Day (Well, it only makes sense after Middle Child Day.)

August 22nd – National Tooth Fairy Day (Remind me to yank out a tooth this day.)

August 23rd – Ride the Wind Day (Assuming there is some this day)

August 24th – Vesuvius Day (I always celebrate exploding volcanoes.)

August 25th – Kiss and Make Up Day (Shouldn’t this be preceded by Argument Day?)

August 26th – National Dog Day (Because we don’t spoil our dogs any other day)

August 27th – Global Forgiveness Day (Let’s explain this to North Korea and the Middle East.)

August 28th – Race Your Mouse Day (As long as they race away from my house)

August 29th – More Herbs, Less Salt Day (I find this amusing, since recent research suggests that salt is not the huge nemesis we were all told to avoid as kids.)

August 30th – Frankenstein Day (Zombie Apocalypse Day was already taken?)

August 31st – National Trail Mix Day (An excuse to eat more M & M’s, right?)

Monday’s Post: When’s Toxophilite Day?

You Might Also Like: The Odd Days of July; The Odd Days of June; The Odd Days of May; The Odd Days of January; and The Odd Days of December

Ah, Summer. My favorite time of year. I live in Texas for a reason–I detest cold. So, grab your iced tea, sunglasses and ice cream, sit in your favorite lawn chair and learn about the weird days of June, according to Holiday Insights:

June 1st – Flip a Coin Day (You just flipped a coin about whether or not to read this, right?)

June 2nd – National Bubba Day (Let me guess–this holiday started in Texas.)

June 3rd – Repeat Day (Don’t tell the kids about this day as a favor to parents everywhere.)

June 4th – Old Maid’s Day (Puhleez let this be a holiday for celebrating a kids card game.)

June 5th – World Environment Day (Ummm….we already have Earth Day, so why?)

June 6th – National Gardening Exercise Day (I always do push-ups while planting.)

June 7th – National Chocolate Ice Cream Day (I’m in.)

June 8th – Name Your Poison Day (Death by chocolate ice cream works for me.)

June 9th – Donald Duck Day (Celebrate this day with quackers? You can stop groaning now.)

June 10th – Iced Tea Day (Again, I think this was created by Texans.)

June 12th – Red Rose Day (Hint, hint, hubby.)

June 13th – Blame Someone Else Day (I thought this was every day in Washington, D. C.)

June 14th – World Jugglers Day (Suggestion: Don’t juggle small babies.)

June 15th – Smile Power Day (Use that power on your dad. Yes, that was a hint, too.)

June 16th – Nursing Assistants Day (MaryAnn should not assist nurses. See why here.)

June 17th – Eat Your Veggies Day (Not even for a holiday. I’m sooooooo not in.)

June 18th – International Panic Day (Prozac manufacturers must love this day.)

June 19th – World Sauntering Day (I’m pretty sure marathon runners would not approve.)

June 20th – Take Your Dog To Work Day (Sorry, Maizie. I work at home.)

June 21st – National Hollerin’ Contest Day (That’s just a typical day at our house.)

June 22nd – National Chocolate Eclair Day (Much better than June 17th!)

June 23rd – National Pink Day (Not the color I normally choose to wear after eating eclairs.)

June 24th – Swim a Lap Day (More than 1 lap will be needed to counteract the eclairs.)

June 25th – Log Cabin Day (A time to buy more termite protection?)

June 26th – Forgiveness Day (Probably needed after June 13th)

June 27th – Sunglasses Day (Watch it rain this day.)

June 28th – Insurance Awareness Day (Trust me–I’m aware of insurance…and its cost.)

June 29th – Waffle Iron Day (Maybe stay away from the Waffle House today.)

June 30th – Meteor Day (What? You don’t celebrate fiery chunks of rock falling from the sky?)

Friday’s Post: The Other “Women”

You Might Also Like: The Odd Days of May; The Odd Days of January; The Odd Days of December; and The Odd Days of November

Book Club Readers: Santa brought me Killing Jesus, so I plan to start my reading today. How about you?

Warning: Get 2 of your favorite beverages first.

Happy New Year! Not to be outdone by December, there are just as many “holidays” in January that make one turn his or her head and think, “What?!” Here’s what I mean:

January 2nd – Run It Up the Flagpole and See if Anyone Salutes Day (Doing this at a military base is cheating, right?)

January 3rd – Festival of Sleep Day (How festive is a festival involving sleep???)

January 3rd – Humiliation Day (I guess this day is for the people who were awake at the Festival of Sleep.)

January 4th – Trivia Day (We need more opportunities to pour useless information into our brains?)

January 5th – National Bird Day (in a month when most birds have flown south for the winter)

January 6th – Bean Day (January 7th must be “Passing Gas Day,” right?)

January 7th – Old Rock Day (So, we watch Rock Hudson movies this day???)

January 8th – Male Watcher’s Day (I suppose Female Watcher’s Day would be sexual harassment?)

January 9th – Play God Day (This is a day in which we honor U.S. politicians???)

January 10th – Houseplant Appreciation Day (Actually watering mine would probably be a good start.)

January 11th – Step in a Puddle and Splash Your Friend Day (Let me guess–1/12 is Former Friend Day?)

January 12th – Feast of Fabulous Wild Men Day (I think I’d prefer to feast on wild rice, thank you.)

January 13th – International Skeptics Day (I guess a national holiday wasn’t enough here.)

January 14th – Dress Up Your Pet Day (as if we didn’t have enough opportunities in December)

January 15th – National Hat Day (Duh. It’s  January.)

January 16th – National Nothing Day (I got…nothing.)

January 17th – Ditch New Years Resolutions Day (aka “No More Waiting at the Treadmill Day”)

January 18th – Thesaurus Day (So, when is Dictionary Day?)

January 20th – National Penguin Awareness Day (Since I live in Texas, this should be relatively easy.)

January 20th – National Buttercrunch Day (I generally consume butter that is crunchy, don’t you?)

January 21st – Squirrel Appreciation Day (Let’s not tell Duck Dynasty about this one, okay?)

January 22nd – National Blonde Brownie Day (Blonde brownies are smarter than brunette brownies?)

January 23rd – Measure Your Feet Day (Why????)

January 24th – Beer Can Appreciation Day (Most beer drinkers prefer appreciating what’s in the can.)

January 25th – Opposite Day (I suggest not using this day to contradict your boss.)

January 26th – Spouse’s Day (This is probably even less appreciated as a holiday than February 14th.)

January 27th – Punch the Clock Day (One should punch a clock on a Monday.)

January 28th – National Kazoo Day (Celebrate this one at home to prevent losing your job on 1/29.)

January 29th – National Corn Chip Day (I smell a Communist plot by Frito-Lay.)

January 30th – National Inane Answering Message Day (Many will have to do nothing to celebrate this.)

January 31st – Backward Day (as opposed to Opposite Day?)

However, there are some actual useful days to celebrate in January:

January 1st – New Year’s Day (Make goals for the new year so you can drop them on January 17^th.)

January 6th – Cuddle Up Day

January 12th – National Pharmacists Day (Thank your favorite pharmacist!)

January 13th – Make Your Dream Come True Day (Notice this comes before 1/17.)

January 19th – National Popcorn Day (That’s an excuse to watch a movie, right?)

January 20th – Martin Luther King Day (Remember how this man changed the USA for the better.)

January 21st – National Hugging Day

January 23rd – National Pie Day (May I suggest you get or make a pie for a neighbor and take it to them?)

January 23rd – National Handwriting Day (Write an actual thank you note with pen and ink!)

January 24th – Compliment Day (Maybe hand write why you appreciate your neighbor???)

January 27th – Chocolate Cake Day (I won’t have trouble observing this one…how about you?)

January 28th – Fun at Work Day (Maybe bring a chocolate cake to work???)

January 29th – National Puzzle Day (Doing puzzles helps us retain our mental faculties as we age.)

January 31st – Inspire Your Heart with Art Day (Go to an art museum/gallery to inspire yours!)

Friday’s Post: New Habits for a New Lifestyle…

You might also like: The Odd Days of December; The Odd Days of November, Twas the Night AFTER Christmas…, and If You Visit Your Cardiologist, You’ll Wind Up in Kansas

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Book Club Readers: Today we are starting to read Undaunted today! It’s not too late to jump in with us and read! Go here for more details.

Warning: Get your favorite beverage first.

In October 2013 I focused a lot of my posts on the very serious topic of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This got me to wondering what would be the official focus of the month of November. According to holidayinsights.com, here’s some of what we’re celebrating other than Veterans Day and Thanksgiving:

• International Drum Month (Two guys at my house will be happy. That’s how dull we are.)
• Peanut Butter Lovers Month (I can eat Reese’s all month, right?)
• Real Jewelry Month (As opposed to “Imaginary Jewelry Month”?)
• National Sleep Comfort Month (I smell a Communist plot here.)

But, it doesn’t stop there. There are some very odd things to celebrate on several of the days in November:

• November 2nd – Deviled Egg Day (An adopted and my daughter probably honor this day.)
• November 2nd – Look for Circles Day (I can probably find some under my eyes.)
• November 4th – King Tut Day (I feel a Steve Martin song coming on.)
• November 6th – Marooned without a Compass Day (Forgot to get the free compass app?)
• November 8th – Dunce Day (I thought this was Election Day.)
• November 9th – Chaos Never Dies Day (Probably because we continue to elect dunces.)
• November 15th – Clean Your Refrigerator Day (For turkey leftovers later in the month?)
• November 16th – Button Day (I wonder when Zipper Day is.)
• November 16th – Have a Party with Your Bear Day (as opposed to partying with your lion)
• November 19th – Have a Bad Day Day (Because we elected dunces and wore their buttons.)
• November 20th – Absurdity Day (Did we need this after November 19th?)
• November 21st – False Confession Day (Mob bosses are cross-examinied on this day, right?)
• November 26th – Shopping Reminder Day (We need a reminder in America in November?)
• November 28th – Make Your Own Head Day (Two heads are always better than one.)
• November 28th – Red Planet Day (Lose your head in a Martian Invasion? You have a spare now?)
• November 29th – Buy Nothing Day (I doubt this day was conceived by Wal-mart.)

Now, there are some really useful “holidays” in November, so may I suggest that you actually do something to honor the following:

• November 1st (today) – All Saints Day (Remember those who went to Heaven this past year.)
• November 2nd – Book Lovers Day (Read a book you love or read the MIP November Book!)
• November 3rd – Sandwich Day (Fix yourself a really awesome sandwich this Sunday.)
• November 7th – Bittersweet Chocolate with Almonds Day (An excuse to pig out, right?)
• November 8th – Cook Something Bold Day (In Texas this usually involves jalapenos.)
• November 12th – Young Readers Day (Read to a young reader or donate a children’s book.)
• November 13th – World Kindness Day (Do something kind in “stealth mode.”)
• November 14th – Operating Room Nurse Day (Honor your favorite nurses on this day!)
• November 15th – America Recycles Day (Recycle what you found in your refrigerator on 11/15?)
• November 17th – Electronic Greeting Card Day (Wish a Happy Thanksgiving electronically!)
• November 17th – Homemade Bread Day (Any questions?)
• November 17th – Take a Hike Day (Use halftime to take an actual walk outside.)
• November 20th – Children’s Day (Spend the day with kids or give to a children’s charity.)
• November 21st – Hello Day (Say “hello” to a stranger today and smile.)
• November 22nd – Go for a Ride Day (Dust off the bike and pedal.)
• November 23rd – National Adoption Day (Do something nice for adoptive parents today.)
• November 29th – You’re Welcome Day (Do something that gives you an opportunity to say this.)

November also celebrates:

• Child Safety Protection Month (What can you do to ensure the safety of children?)
• National Adoption Awareness Month (Share adoption links on your favorite social site.)
• National Novel Writing Month (I’ll be writing at least 2 pages of my novel each day this month.)
• Native American Heritage Month (Celebrate the group that welcomed the pilgrims to America!)

In addition, a friend and my daughter are all doing the 30 Day Plank Challenge (as in the exercise…not a piece of wood.) Care to join us? Click here.

Got enough to work on, celebrate or honor yet? Let’s put some “good” out into the world this month as we celebrate how blessed we are as a people. Happy November!

Monday’s Post: Jumpin’ Japin’…

You might also like: Lessons Learned from 7 Years on Facebook and Lessons Learned from the 2009 Dallas Breast Cancer 3 Day