Days & Ways to Celebrate – May 28-June 3, 2020
/It’s starting to feel like summer here in Las Vegas… read that ‘scorching’. The local weathermen use ‘triple digit temps’ and ‘the century mark’ when they’re describing our record temps soaring to near 110F this week. So, although the restrictions for being outside are lifting here in Nevada, outside is not a comfortable place to be. We need to find ways to celebrate and stay cool. Here’s another week of Days & Ways to Celebrate… whether it’s hot or not.
May 28th
National Hamburger Day
Enjoy a burger today! - Photo credit: Len Rizzi
Oh, my… the most popular fast food in the USA and today’s the day to celebrate. Who invented the hamburger as a sandwich? Well, that’s up for debate. Check out Wiki’s history of the hamburger while you’re munching your favorite burger with all the trimmings.
May 29th
National Paper Clip Day
Celebrating the ever-versatile paper clip. You can use it as a bookmark, make jewelry from a bunch of them, pick a lock, open the SIM card slot on your iPhone, or use as an emergency hair clip and, oh yeah, you can clip papers together.
The paper clip was patented by a Norwegian inventor and patent clerk, Johan Vaaler, in 1899 and 1901. Vaaler’s paper clip, however, is not the wire one we commonly identify as a paper clip today. That would be the Gem paper clip which was never patented, but was most likely in production in the UK in the early 1870s by The Gem Manufacturing Company. In case you want to know more, click here. But I’m assuming that’s more than you probably want or need to know, but hey, it’s a slow day for celebrations and I’m sharing.
May 30th
Hole in the Bucket Day
There’s a hole in my bucket, dear Liza… Well, fix it, dear Henry!
The first time I ever heard this song was the rendition by Harry Belafonte and Odetta. I never realized that it was a traditional children’s song that can be traced back to a German collection of songs from the 1700s. The deadlock between Henry and Liza has never been straightened out after all these centuries. Give a listen to the song once again by the Sesame Street Kids.… once will definitely be enough.
May 31st
National Speak in Sentences Day
No shortcuts allowed on this day. You must speak in complete sentences… no ASAP nor LOL nor BFF nor CDC nor WTF (well, maybe you shouldn’t spell that one out!). Nope, gotta say it all… in full, complete sentences… no phrases, no shortcuts, no acronyms.
It’s also Macaroon Day… one of my favorite cookies. Here’s an easy 5-ingredient recipe for coconut macaroons and it’s even gluten-free. Please… don’t speak sentences with your mouth full.
June 1st
Nail Polish Day
An awesome illustration of nail polish history by Julia Rothman.
Believe it or not, nail art and polish are not modern inventions. In India, folks were probably tinting their nails with henna back in the Bronze Age. The Chinese were ‘varnishing’ as early as 3000 BCE. Higher class Babylonian warriors painted their nails black while lower class warriors used green. Traces of nail polish have even been found on Egyptian mummies. Whether it be a mani or a pedi or both, todays’ the day to color those nails and learn a bit about nail art history while they’re drying.
And just in time because it’s Go Barefoot Day. Time to feel the grass between your toes, let your dogs breathe… in fact, here’s 10 reasons to go barefoot. Make sure you get your pedi first though.
It’s also the first day of hurricane season here in the USA and NOAA’s predictions for 2020 aren’t pretty.
June 2nd
National Rotisserie Chicken Day
A roaster for dinner, perhaps?
Easy-peasy dinner tonight… pick up a roaster, toss a salad and voila… a low cost, low calorie, high nutrition meal. Yes, I know that you could do this by yourself at home if you have a rotisserie, but it’s hot as Hades here in Las Vegas and I’m looking for cool and easy. I’m buying a roaster!
It’s also Rocky Road Day, so while you’re picking up that roaster? Yup, you know what to do!
June 3rd
Egg Day
‘The incredible, edible egg’
How appropriate that after eating that roaster last night, we’re talking eating eggs today.
Fried, hard-boiled, poached, Benedict-ed, deviled, quiched, over-easy, sunny side up, scrambled, sauced.
A high source of protein and Vitamin D, relatively inexpensive and much about the cholesterol myth associated with eggs has been dispelled. Of course, all things in moderation. Enjoy an egg today… any way you like it!
It’s so hot here in Las Vegas, we prefer frying them on the sidewalks. There’s even a Wiki-How to provide a tutorial.
We’re all slowly getting back to the ‘new normal’ and we’re looking forward to it. Hope you have a great week.