National Dog Biscuit Day

Happy National Dog Biscuit Day! I’m not quite sure why I’m so happy about this day, being as the mention of dog biscuits brings up some terrible memories from my childhood. Why couldn’t my mom just stay home???

A dog biscuit, according to Wikipedia, is “a hard biscuit-based dietary supplement for dogs or other canine, similar to human snack food.” They, as mentioned in the definition above, are usually hard and dry, and often come in a “dog bone” shape. The purpose of dog biscuits is to promote good oral hygiene, and like us humans, have a treat from time to time! These puppy treats are thought to have originated during Roman times and were made from bran. However, what we currently see on the market today appears to have started in England in the 1800s. These biscuits incorporated vegetables in their ingredients, along with oatmeal.  

So, I’m sure by now you’re probably wondering what horrific event may have befallen such a young girl that would leave her so scarred after all these years. Well, let me tell you! It all takes place in the back seat of my brother’s friend’s mom’s car (Wow, that took a lot to describe just who’s car this took place in). She wasn’t in the car at the time, probably looking for my mom. I was left alone with my brother and his friend and this friend’s sister. I, of course, was the youngest of the bunch. We were parked in the parking lot of the local community center. It was supposed to be a safe zone, however for little me, it was anything but. Now is the time in the story I feel it’s important to mention that this friend’s mom was looking after my brother and I after school on this particular occasion, since our mom (a single mother) was working. This friend’s mom also happened to be a veterinarian and had a few boxes of dog biscuits sitting in the car. Do you see where this is going yet? Anyway, these three older kids took no time finding my emotional weakness – my mother’s unconditional love. Insert unopened box of dog biscuits and a very convincing story about how my mother would no longer love me if I didn’t proceed to consume the entire box. I will admit: I was not a bright kid. I thought the skin of a kiwi was werewolf skin for goodness sakes! I also was to the understanding that it was Bob Seger, not Santa Claus, that came down the chimney at C-mas! I must also confess that I was probably 6 or 7 at the time of this story. And I shall also confess that if ever you find yourself faced with this same dilemma, the green one’s taste the best…

And, in case I've left any of you wondering if there was any sort of possibility that it would have been easy for a little me to mix up Bob Seger and Santa Claus, I give you Exhibit A:

                                   Santa Claus:                                Bob Seger:

 

So, as you can see...there's an obvious similarity, right?! ...right? 

(Images from: http://www.neweurasia.net/cross-regional-and-blogosphere/why-ded-moroz-is-cooler-than-santa-claus/ and http://bettylou.zzruss.com/seger.htm)

World Thinking Day

Well here’s a Holiday I have not trouble participating in…mind you its less voluntary and more neurosis/heredity. Happy World Thinking Day folks!

Now, I’m sure some of you might know, World Thinking Day isn’t about taking a moment to think about what we need to get done, or what you’re going to do to procrastinate doing what you should be doing (sound familiar anyone? A certain roommate, perhaps?!). In fact, World Thinking Day is actually a day conceived by the World Association of Girl Guides (and Girls Scouts, which I refuse to recognize, because it seems silly that girls can be Scouts, but boys can’t be Guides! I mean if anyone wants to be anything it’s a Brownie…oh wait, no that’s have, not be!). The purpose of today is to have “a day of friendship, advocacy and fundraising for girls around the world.” Each year the WAGGGS selects a theme for this Day. This year’s theme is “Improving Maternal Health” and “Reducing Child Mortality,” while previous years have included “Environmental Sustainability,” “Extreme Hunger and Poverty,” and “Water Access and Conservation” to name a few. These are pretty heavy themes, particularly for some of the younger members to be contemplating!

Even if you are not a Guide, today holds an important message: put others first! Take a moment today and think about how lucky you are. What do you value most? What do you take for granted? If you can name more that you take for granted than you value, how can you change that? Better yet, how can you change the lives of others? Let us know in the comment section below!

National Sticky Bun Day

Happy National Sticky Bun Day everyone! Wow! This week is full of delicious treats! It’s a good thing I’m sticking to my exercise related New Year’s Resolution, because when it comes to these sorts of things, I always remember what my grade 11 math teacher taught us: A moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips! And NO ONE wants a sticky bun on their hip!

Sticky buns are usually sweetened rolls that are good anytime of the day: from breakfast to late night snack! They have lots of sugar and just enough cinnamon to make them appear to be healthy. It is because of the honey or syrup that is often loaded on top of these baked treats, that they get their name. They can be baked as is or with added ingredients, such as nuts or fruit. My Mom often makes them with raisins or dried cranberries! Yum! Not so yummy, when my Dad makes some comment about his “sticky buns,” if you know what I mean… Even though his homemade sticky buns taste good, that image has been permanently filed under “things that should never be said!”

Back to the actual topic at hand! The origin of the “Sticky Bun” is thought to be 18^th century Germany. They were initially known as "Schnecken," which apparently means “worm” according to Google Translate, while Wikipedia says it means “snails”. As I’m not fluent in German, I’m not sure which, if either, is correct. Might one of my German speaking readers be able to clarify?

National Cherry Pie Day

Now this is what I’m talking about, friends! Happy National Cherry Pie Day everyone! Who doesn’t love a slice of fresh out of the oven cherry pie!? Cherry pie is so amazing, an 80’s/90s hair-band even wrote a song about it!

This cherry filled pie originated in the United States (thank you to my southern neighbours for this life-enhancing creation!). Apparently the traditional method for making this type of pie is to use tart cherries opposed to sweet ones. The use of tart cherries is preferred because it makes it easier to determine the sweetness of the filling once it’s baked.  

Fun Fact: Cherry pies used to be a summer treat, which generally coincided with the United States’ Independence Day and Canada Day. Who knew?!

While I’m almost 100% certain I will not be consuming any cherry pie today, I hope you will be able to enjoy a slice. Life is pretty sweet as it is, but not as sweet as the delectable taste of fresh baked cherry pie smothering its cherry-goodness all over your tongue…

Okay! That’s it…I gotta get me some pie!

National Chocolate Mint Day

Happy National Chocolate Mint Day! Another day without a worthwhile meaning, unless you are reliant on chocolate mint to survive. I’m sure my posts haven’t been overly exciting lately, for which I apologize. This is in part due to a lack of interest in some of the “National” days, but also excessive workloads at school. So, in an effort to revive this blog, let’s reimagine what National Chocolate Mint Day is really about! For example, what if the Canadian Mint (as in the entity that makes our monies) produced money made out of chocolate, hence, the “Chocolate Mint!” Sure, it would probably melt in our pockets, but don’t our new bills do the same when you but them in the dryer! At least this way we’d have something to munch on when we’re hungry…

All silliness aside, chocolate mint is actually a type of mint leaf that has a chocolate flavor. It smells amazing, but I’m not sure exactly what you’d use it for other than as a garnish for a chocolaty dessert. Apparently its also good added to black tea. If you’re lucky enough to get your hands on some chocolate mint today, enjoy!

National Battery Day

Happy National Crab Stuffed Flounder Day, errr…National Battery Day! Okay, so it is technically also National Crab Stuffed Flounder Day, but who is really interested in that?!

Batteries are “device consisting of one or more electrochemical cells that convert stored chemical energy into electrical energy.” An individual named Alessandro Volta invented the first battery in 1800. There are two categories of batteries:

1.     Primary, or disposable batteries, which have a one time use deal

2.     Secondary, or rechargeable batteries, can be recharged and used many times.

Batteries are used for many household items, including the TV remote/flicker/channel changer/converter/additional limb of a male. The can range in size from super, duper tiny such as for hearing aids and watches, to gi-mungo (a made up word meaning gigantic, huge, etc.) with uses like cars to computer data systems. They can be quite dangerous if disposed of improperly, so be careful how you do this! Also, when your brother and his friends dare you to lick the end of a high volt battery, even though you think it may make you appear to be cool in their eyes, don’t do it! It’s a trap! Not that something like that has ever happened to me…Happy Birthday, Mike!