Fun in April 2013

I decided to do something fun for my blog entry this week and see what Fun and Strange Holidays/Days of Recognition April has in store for us to celebrate.  We all need to relax and have some fun throughout the month so why not see what is already scheduled for the first half of April 2013.

In honor of my friend John Z. and his family, Monday, April 1, 2013 is Dyngus Day. Also spelled Dingus Day, it is a Polish Holiday.  It is very popular in Poland, and in Polish communities in America. After the long Lenten holiday, Dyngus Day is a day of fun and, perhaps a little romantic fun. It is always celebrated on the Monday after Easter.

There are all sorts of ways for boys to meet girls. But, this one takes the cake.  

Guys, on this day you get to wet the ladies down. Sprinkling or drenching with water is your goal. Chase after the ladies with squirt guns, buckets, or other containers of water. The more bold and gallant boys, may choose to use cologne. Hitting (gently, please) the ladies on the legs with switches or pussy willows is also common.

Yes ladies, you can strike back. Ladies, you get your revenge on Tuesday, when tradition has it that you throw dishes or crockery back at the boys. It has become increasingly popular for the ladies to get their revenge on Monday, tossing water back at the boys.

Dyngus Day is also called Wet Easter Monday. Hmmm, I wonder why!?  It is also John Z Birthday, how appropriate for a man of Polish decent to be born on April fool’s day... sorry John had to say it...

April 7th is World Health Day. Sponsored by United Nation's World Health Organization (WHO), World Health Day focuses upon a different health theme each year. It is an international event to emphasize and work on important health issues or problems. Many countries around the world participate.

Major activities on world health Day focus upon, awareness, education programs, and fund raising activities to help with the health issue for the year. Countries also work on resolving problems related to the theme.  The World Health Organization (WHO) of the United Nation's sponsors World Health Day each year. Annually, a different country is selected to host World Health Day events.

April 10th, is National Sibling Day. This day is to appreciate and cherish your brothers and sisters. Siblings are truly a special blessing that we probably all too often take for granted. They are often our best friends and supporters through life. Another reason to celebrate is that not everyone is lucky enough to have siblings. Their lives are significantly different growing up, and throughout life.

Celebrate National Sibling Day in a variety of ways. It's a great time to be thankful for your sibling. But, most importantly get in touch with your siblings. Visit them if they live nearby. Call them, if they live far away. Send them a card, a letter, gifts, or flowers.    

Then on April 11^th, it is Eight Track Tape Day, Who among you remembers those... Eight Track Tape Day brings back fond memories of the sixties and seventies. During this era, eight track tapes ruled the music world. America's love of the automobile was a driving force in creating the demand for musical cassette formats. For those who grew up in this era, an eight track tape player in your home and your car was an essential. It was eventually replaced by cassette and other formats for storing music.

Eight Track Tape Day is a day to bring back fond memories of the sixties and seventies. If you still have tapes and a player, by all means enjoy the day listening to some great music. If not, just spend a few minutes looking back in time to when you loved your eight track tapes!

To finish out the first half of April 2013, I have to tell you about the Best Day of the Month. April 14^th.  It is “The Kid’s Birthday” Or better known as “Cindy’s Birthday”. Yes this day was created back in 196? To commemorate my Kid sister’s Birth... I keep trying to push her into her fifth decade she keeps correcting me. But that is okay, she will never forget the start of her fifth decade I guarantee that.

So Happy 40something Birthday, Kid on 4/14...

Keep Dancin’ Larry B

 

 

 

Spring 2013 Time For Change!

2013 is the year of the Snake and this year has been living up to its name. This year has been an emotional roller coaster for so many friends and family. I know my life has been in a constant state of flux since the beginning of the year. I know my life will never be the same after the first part of 2013, but I am thankful for having the experiences. We are now approaching the end of March and Spring is a time of renewal.

Yes, Spring 2013 is a time for renewal and a time to refocus on what is important in our lives. The year has been full of extremely bad mojo and it is time to work on getting the year moving in a more positive direction. So where to begin in getting the year back on the right path. Here is what I am planning to do to move this year into a positive.

I am blessed with a great partner and will strive to continue to compliment him in our daily life together. I will be a great brother by supporting my sister in all her endeavors. I am blessed with wonderful friends that continue to enrich my life and I will pay forward that enrichment. I will continue to be the very Best Friend that provides support, guidance, shoulder to lean on and encouragement.

I am definitely going to make the most of this spring and focus on renewal of faith and strength. I will continue to grow my International Line Dance classes at the Crowe Center here in Clarksville, TN to spread the joy of dance to others. I am also making some changes in my pets and my own appearance. We all are now being groomed by professionals in stead of being groomed by myself; for to look good just makes you feel good about yourself be you human or Poodle.

Yes, just as Spring brings the Earth new growth and a chance to renew itself. Spring is a chance for each of us to re-evaluate what is important in our lives and ensure we focus on making this a positive 2013.

International Earth Day

March 20, 2013 is "International Earth Day". This day was initiated to make earth inhabitants aware of their responsibility to care for the planet. This includes environmental and natural resources. International Earth Day was founded by John McConnell, of Davis City, Iowa. In September, 1969, he proposed the establishment of Earth Day to the San Francisco, California Board of Supervisors. In 1970, McConnell wrote an Earth Day Proclamation which was ultimately signed by UN Secretary General U Thant on March 21, 1971. This day is also called Sun-Earth Day.

So this March 20th, take a moment and look around you. You have to marvel at the greatness of this little blue jewel in the cosmos. It is everyone's responsibility to care for our planet and ensure the next generations have a planet of blue skies, clean water and air. What can you do to help- recycle, conserve and lower your carbon footprint.

After taking care of the planet, our next day to recognize is on March 22nd. Unfortunately, it falls this year on a Friday but at least it's the end of the work week. March 22 is "National Goof Off Day", but even with my in-depth research I could not find any data to suggest that this day is truly a "National" day. So have a day to do anything and everything.....except what you're supposed to do today.

Go out and play some golf. Spend extra time surfing the net or spend the day window shopping with your Best friend. My favorite would be to just sit down and read a book. This day is set aside for you to do anything you enjoy doing.

I wrap up this entry with a great day March 26th. is " Make Your Own Holiday Day". Wow, a day that allows you to make a special day for anything you want. The objective of day, is to set aside one day for any topic or event that has otherwise escaped recognition. No I did not create this day, but I am glad it's here. Now you may inquired as to how to create a holiday or special day. It's not easy, and it's even more difficult to create a truely national day.

So "Make Your Own Holiday Day" , is your day to skip all of the red tape, and create a special day of any kind. Simply declare your special day on Make Your Own Holiday Day! From my research this day appears to have been created by the Wellness Permission League. However, I have not yet found their website, or more information. It appears they promote activities to inspire mental and physical wellness. Just what we all need in today's busy lifestyles.

Keep Dancin'. Larry B.

Easter, March 31, 2013

Easter is one holiday that is hard for me to keep track of when it is occurring. The Easter Sunday date varies because it is determined using a calculated lunar calendar. It is the first Sunday approximately after the first full moon on or after the March equinox. Future Years:  April 20, 2014; April 5, 2015

The real meaning of Easter is the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. To Christians, it is the most special day of the year. Yes, the birth of Christ is quite important. But, his resurrection offers the hope of everlasting life to everyone! The Lenten season leading up to Easter Sunday is a time of fasting, sacrifice and prayer. It is the Christian way of replicating in a small way what Christ sacrificed for us, both in his fasting and his final death on the cross.

Easter also is celebrated with the Easter Bunny, colored eggs, jelly beans, and lots of chocolate. He (or she, as we are never quite sure about this) comes on Saturday night leading to Easter Sunday morning. He brings lots of chocolates and other candies. That's one meaning to Easter, especially if you are a kid or a "Chocaholic".

There is a famous Easter game called the Easter Egg Hunt. Early morning kids go outside to find the many colored Easter eggs that the Easter bunny has hidden the night before. The Easter Egg Hunt was the first game ever invented. It is said that the reason this tradition started was because of the Easter Bunny dropped the eggs on the way to deliver them and they hide themselves. That is how the Easter Egg Hunt was supposedly invented. For more information see the Easter Egg Hunt page.

Most of us will celebrate both parts of this spring holiday. Upon awakening Easter Sunday morning, the children will hunt for the Easter basket left by the Easter Bunny. Then the family will dress in their finest new spring clothes, and go off to church to celebrate Christ's resurrection. From there, the holiday tradition varies. Some have a big breakfast of brunch feast. Other family will have a big main meal with baked ham being the most common meat. Brightly colored hard boiled eggs will also be popular. It is not a day for high cholesterol diets. It is a day to feast as the long Lenten season is over and Christ has arisen.

In Pagan times, many groups of people organized spring festivals. Many of these celebrated the re-birth of nature, the return the land to fertility and the birth of many young animals. These are the origins of the Easter eggs that we still hunt for and eat.

In Christian times, the spring began to be associated with Jesus Christ's crucifixion and resurrection. The crucifixion is remembered on Good Friday and the resurrection is remembered on Easter Sunday. The idea of the resurrection joined with the ideas of re-birth in Pagan beliefs.

Easter also is celebrated with the Easter Bunny, colored eggs, jelly beans, and lots of chocolate. The Easter Bunny comes on Saturday night leading to Easter Sunday morning. That's one meaning to Easter, especially if you are a kid or a "Chocolaholic".

There is a famous Easter game called the Easter Egg Hunt. Early morning kids go outside to find the many colored Easter eggs that the Easter bunny has hidden the night before. It has been said that the Easter Egg Hunt was the first game ever invented.  The reason this tradition started was because of the Easter Bunny dropped the eggs on the way to deliver them and they hide themselves. That is how the Easter Egg Hunt was supposedly invented

Most of us will celebrate both parts of this spring holiday. Upon awakening Easter Sunday morning, the children will hunt for the Easter basket left by the Easter Bunny.  The family will dress in their finest new spring clothes, and go off to church to celebrate Christ's resurrection. The holiday tradition varies. Some have a big breakfast or brunch feast. Other family will have a big main meal with baked ham being the most common meat. Brightly colored hard boiled eggs will also be popular. It is a day to feast as the long Lenten season is over and Christ has arisen.

Easter brings back many great memories growing up in rural Missouri. My sister's birthday actually fell on Easter Sunday when we were both young and it was the neatest birthday party. I remember her having an Easter Egg Hunt theme and Mom even made an Easter Bunny cake. The other great memory was how my grandmother Haynes always worked on an Easter Basket for the both of us. Of course, it was also time for the new Sunday going to church suit that you had to have. Now there are a few photos of these suits that still make me cringe.

Whatever your memories are of past Easter's, may this year be one that brings you more wonderful memories.

Keep Dancin’ Larry B

A Visit with Dad

As my title implies, I am at the beginning of another visit with my father. Now that we have moved to Tennessee, we get to have more visits with Dad than his yearly visit to his sons in Florida.  He continues to drive a Semi 5 days a week and now he uses his visits to see his kids in Tennessee as his mini vacations. For now he gets to see all his kids in one visit since my sister and I live in the same city and less than two miles apart.

He is known to avoid major highways and probably has seen more of this country, than most of us, due to this habit. My mother use to complain about taking longer to get to my house each year because Dad could not stay on the major highway. Truth be known, I believe her complaining simply inspired him to find alternative routes even more.

Dad was always a little of a mystery to me, growing up in rural Missouri.  His laid back approach to life was simply confusing to me. You see, I tend to take after my mother, Type AA, if you know what I mean. So growing up, I just never got, who this man was and how he just seem to not be bothered by anything.  I know now that part of this appearing not to be bothered is a fantastic performance,  he only lets a few in to see the real man.

As now as we get to spend more time together, I learn a little more about how his simple yet complex approach to life has developed.  He simply keeps himself on a schedule and does what needs to be done to maintain his well being and his way of life. I look back now and see that this way of life has always been his approach. You see as a young man with his Mother's Type AA approach to life, I just could not understand how he could just let someone do him wrong and he just shrug it off as a learning experience with that individual.

What I did not understand is he would adjust how he dealt with that individual to the point that they had no direct bearing on him or his family. The slow approach to conflict resolution was something I could not grasp. I understand now that it was his down to earth upbringing by his grandparents that instilled this man with the wisdom to let the world unfold around you and you choose what fits into your life. It is this understanding of my father that has brought us closer over the past 5 years. I have a better understanding of his relationship with my mother, it was their differences that complimented each other and brought out the best in each of them.

I realize how much I still have to learn from this man, my Father, my Dad and my friend.  I now understand how part of each parent is instilled in my actions and how I perceive the world around me. My goal is to find the perfect balance of both and turn it into my own unique way of dealing with life. 

Keep Dancin’ Larry B.