Overheating in Florida
On Saturday mom and I flew to Florida..we had a layover at DFW, which is always SO WEIRD. That airport has completely changed..it's plush and modern now! I didn't recognize much flying in, except the general Texas feel haha. Teresa and Ron picked us up in Tampa and drove us to grandpa's house in Crystal River (80 some miles away). Grandpa goes to bed super early (it used to be 9, but it's between 7-7:30 now!!), so we didn't see him that night. Mom and I just wanted to go to bed after traveling anyway :P
Yesterday after everyone was gathered we took Teresa and Ron's dog Reece for a walk..it was pretty hot, even though it was relatively early. Grandpa came down the street on his 1929 Model A and gave me a ride back to his house! So cool!
After that we drove down to the ocean and stood on the boardwalk for awhile, and found a geocache on the way back, which had a $2 bill in it!! Cool! I love that Teresa and Ron like geocaching, because none of my other family members really do. I love how easygoing they've always been..if their daughter Stephanie was like "can we go to McDonald's?" Teresa would say "absolutely!" with no hesitation. We took a selfie after we found the cache:
Mom, Teresa, me, Ron
Then we went back to grandpa's house, had dinner, and went to Teresa and Ron's motorhome to hang out after grandpa went to bed (they're staying at a campground a few miles from grandpa's house). They have a pretty nice setup! After that mom and I went back to grandpa's house and went to bed
Today Ron took us to a trail that led to the Withlacoochee River (and found a couple geocaches in the area). It was SO, SO hot (high 80s) and wasn't enjoying myself at all. We only got halfway before we had to turn around, because I was completely miserable and overheating. We did find a place to park to see the river, which was clear and beautiful. I REALLY needed something cool to drink, so we went to Wal-Mart and I got a lemonade and some cooler pants. Ron drove me back to grandpa's house because I was tired and hot and DONE (everyone else went back to Ron's motorhome for a couple hours). I laid in bed under the fan and rested. I could never live in Florida, the heat and humidity are AWFUL, and I keep seeing "Trump 2024" flags and stuff..blech. Seeing family is nice, but I can't wait get out of this state on Wednesday. We had dinner after everyone got back, hung out, and then Teresa and Ron left for the night. Amazingly, grandpa stayed up until after 10 tonight!! Having people around probably helps lol..I hope he's not tired tomorrow though :P
6 - International No Diet Day: We usually associate a diet with an attempt to lose weight, but many have to follow special diets for other health reasons. Do you, or have you ever, followed a specific diet? Has it, or did it achieve what it was meant to do? Kind of, when I did Weight Watchers. I lost like 8 pounds, so it did something lol
7 - World Laughter Day: is there anything, or anyone, that is almost guaranteed to make you laugh? How would you describe your sense of humour? Mom, Cindy teasing me about "post" LOL, etc. Kinda silly maybe, for one
8 - Etiquette Week: the first Monday of the second full week in May marks the beginning of national etiquette week. Are there any social conventions you wish would go away, or that you wish would come back (or be observed by more people)? People should be more polite probably..
May
1 - School Bus Drivers' Day: When you were young, did you have to take a school bus to get to school?
2 - Bike Month: Do you cycle? If yes, do you do it mostly for fun/occasional outings, or is it your main mode of transportation? Does your municipality have good cycling infrastructure? Do you cycle year-round, even in winter (and in the snow if you get snow where you live)?
3 - Write a Review Day: Do you write reviews for products or services (e.g. reviews on Amazon, or on a restaurant's or shop's website)? Do you do this regularly, or only if you're particularly happy or dissatisfied with the product or service? Whether or not you write reviews, do you read reviews left by others to help your decision-making process? Do you find negative reviews more helpful than positive ones?
4 - Petite and Proud Day: Petite is used to describe a person about or under 162 cm / 5'4". Are you petite? Do you think petite women maybe have an easier time of it than short men? Would you (or have you) dated someone shorter than you?
5 - Space Day: Ever wondered what lies beyond our skies? Do you think we'll ever have permanent human settlements on the moon, or on Mars?
6 - International No Diet Day: We usually associate a diet with an attempt to lose weight, but many have to follow special diets for other health reasons. Do you, or have you ever, followed a specific diet? Has it, or did it achieve what it was meant to do?
7 - World Laughter Day: is there anything, or anyone, that is almost guaranteed to make you laugh? How would you describe your sense of humour?
8 - Etiquette Week: the first Monday of the second full week in May marks the beginning of national etiquette week. Are there any social conventions you wish would go away, or that you wish would come back (or be observed by more people)?
9 - Sleepover Day: Did you do sleepovers when you were young?
10 - Stay Up All Night Night: When was the last time you stayed up all (or most of) the night on purpose (e.g. not because you were tending to an ill child or suffering from insomnia)?
11 - World Ego Awareness Day: Do you know anyone with an incredibly inflated ego? When was the last time someone's ego came into conflict with your own?
12 - Limerick Day: Do you like limericks? Do you have a favourite?
13 - World Fair Trade Day: Do you try to buy certified fair trade products?
14 - World Migratory Bird Day: World Migratory Bird Day is observed twice a year during the second Saturday in May and again on the second Saturday in October. The goal is to raise awareness of issues affecting migratory birds and to inspire action around the world to take measures for their conservation. Do you live in a region that sees bird migrations in the spring and fall? Light pollution is a major threat to migratory birds. Does your municipality have any "Dim the Lights" policies in place to protect migratory birds?
15 - Bring Flowers to Someone Day: When was the last time someone gave you flowers? When was the last time you brought flowers to someone else?
16 - Biographers' Day: Do you like reading biographies? What have been some of your favourites? If you're not a fan, why not? If you were going to write a biography of someone, who would that be?
17 - World Baking Day: Do you bake or are you more of a fan of watching others baking, for example, watching the Great British Bake Off or other shows of that type? If you do bake, what are some of your favourite things to bake?
18 - International Museum Day: When was the last time you visited a museum? Which one was it, and what was your favourite exhibit?
19 - World Meditation Day: Do you meditate? If yes, describe your usual practice. If not, is meditation something you'd consider trying?
20 - Weights And Measures Day: Imperial or Metric or a combo of the two depending on what you're weighing/measuring?
21 - International Tea Day: Do you like tea (proper tea, not those herbal infusions [tisanes])? What is your favourite type of tea and how to you take it (black, or with milk and/or sugar/honey, etc.)? Do you use an actual teapot to make your tea, or are you a "tea bag in a cup" person?
22 - Solitaire Day: Remember when solitaire was a default thing on Windows PCs (along with Minesweeper)? Do you play solitaire, either with real playing cards or on your computer/phone?
23 - Title Track Day: Title tracks, or the songs after which an album is named, are often the greatest singles/best tracks on the album. Do you have a favourite title track? Or can you name a title track that is definitely NOT the best track on the album? Is the concept of a title track a thing of the past given how most people listen to music now?
24 - Brother's Day: Do you have a brother? If you don't, or if you don't get along with your actual brother(s), do you have someone else in your life who is like a brother to you?
25 - Towel Day: According to The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, “A towel is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have.” Do you agree with this statement? Are towels equally useful to those of us not engaging in interstellar travels?
26 - Paper Airplane Day: Can you make a paper airplane? Can you make one that actually flies more than a foot or two before crashing?
27 - Sunscreen Day: Do you use sunscreen regularly? Do you use it on its own, or do you buy other skin care products that include a sunscreen?
28 - Hamburger Day: Let’s face it, there isn't anything in the world quite so delightful as your first bite of a rich, juicy hamburger. Do you love hamburgers (or veggie burgers)? What are your favourite toppings to put on your burger?
29 - Paperclip Day: Paperclips are not just for holding papers together. There are many other things that you can do with them! What are some of the uses you've found for paperclips beyond holding papers together? Do you think Microsoft's Windows 97 personal assistant "Clippy" did irreparable harm to the reputation of paperclips worldwide?
30 - Loomis Day: Mahlon Loomis, a humble dentist, revolutionized the world when he created the “wireless telegram” in 1886. How different would your life be without wi-fi, TV, or radio?
31 - Web Designer Day: We all visit various websites every single day of the year. What are "features" on some websites that really annoy you? What features do you appreciate the most on well-designed websites?
June
1 - June is Audiobook Month: Do you use audiobooks? If yes, do you use them exclusively, or do you also read ebooks or physical books? If you don't use audiobooks, why not?
2 - Donut Day: Do you like donuts? Have you ever made your own? If/when you buy donuts, what it your go-to place -- is it a major chain (Dunkin' Donuts, Tim Hortons, Krispy Kreme, etc.), or do you have a favourite independent bakery?
3 - World Bicycle Day: Do you regularly ride a bike? If yes, is it mostly for fun, or do is it your main mode of tranportation? Does your town/city have good bike infrasctructure, e.g. dedicated, safe bike paths, etc.?
4 - Cheese Day: There are people who do not like cheese or cannot eat it for health reasons, while other people think it is one of the best foods, or ingredients for food recipes that was ever invented! Which category best describes you?
5 - Thank God it's Monday Day: everyone is probably familiar with TGIF - Thank god it's Friday. Did you know there's actually a TGIM Day? Thank God It’s Monday Day is all about seeing Monday as a positive day, rather than a negative day. What sort of positive things could you do to make sure your week gets off to a good start?
6 - Drive-In Movie Day: Drive-in movies have seen a bit of a renaissance recently -- largely thanks to the Covid pandemic. Have you ever been to a drive-in movie, or any other type of open air movie viewing event?
7 - Global Running Day: Are you, or have you ever been, a runner/jogger? If yes, do you/did you run mostly indoors (treadmill) or outdoors, or both, depending on the weather? What are the biggest differences between running outdoors vs indoors? If you're not a runner, what is your preferred form of exercise (if you have one)?
8 - Best Friends Day: Do you have a best friend(s)? Are they someone you've know since forever, or someone you met as an adult? Did you meet online first and if yes, have you since met in person?
9 - Movie Night: The second Friday in June is national movie night. If you are/were going to watch a movie tonight to celebrate national movie night, what movie would you watch? Would you watch it at home, or at the cinema?
10 - Worldwide Knit in Public Day: It's time to take knitting out of the shadows and show everyone that knitting is for all ages and that it’s a fun and enjoyable activity, and something that you can proud of. Do you knit? Do you knit in public? Do you ever get questions or comments from strangers when you do knit in public?
11 - Corn on the Cob Day: Do you like corn on the cob? How do you usually cook it -- just boiled, on the BBQ, etc.? What's your favourite seasoning?
12 - Red Rose Day: Are roses -- red or otherwise -highly overrated?
13 - Kitchen Klutzes Day: Even if you're not a klutz in the kitchen, we've all had a significant kitchen mishap at some point. What was the klutziest thing to ever happen to you in the kitchen?
14 - International Bath Day: Do you take baths regularly, or are you strictly a shower aficionado?
15 - Nature Photography Day: Have you ever enjoyed a photo of a flower? Or a close up of a bee landing on the entrance to its hive? Have you taken any photos of nature that you're particularly proud of? Care to share it with us?
16 - Take Back the Lunch Break Day: When you're at work (or when you worked or were still going into the office), did you fall into the habit of eating at your desk and continuing to work while eating? Did your working conditions include a proper lunch break? If you're mostly working from home, do you still eat at your desk and continue working during your lunch?
17 - Eat Your Vegetables Day: Do you love veggies? Do you have favourites? Do you have a favourite veggie recipe -- either main meal or side dish? Will you share it?
18 - International Panic Day: Contrary to what it sounds like, this is a day dedicated to reducing panic and stress in your daily life, not celebrating it! How to you go about reducing the stresses, anxiety and yes, panic, in your life?
19 - Watch Day: Do you still wear a watch (assuming you ever did wear one)? Is it just a regular time telling watch, or is a smartwatch or fitness/health device that also tells you the time?
20 - World Productivity Day: What did you do today (or are you planning to do) that was particularly productive?
21 - World Music Day: How important is music in your life? Do you play any musical instruments, or are you part of a choir or other vocal group? Have you ever been in a band (rock or school or other)?
22 - Onion Ring Day: Onion rings or fries?
23 - Typewriter Day: Are you old enough that you remember using typewriters in school/university/for work? Is there anything about typewriters that you kind of miss?
24 - World UFO Day: UFO simply means Unidentified Flying Object - not necessarily that it's an alien spaceship. Have you ever seen anything in the sky that you honestly couldn't figure out what it was? Even if you're pretty sure what you saw wasn't an alien space craft, do you think it's possible that earth is being visited by aliens?
25 - Global Beatles Day: The Beatles still stand as one of the most influential bands of all time, famous all over the world to this very day. Do you have a favourite Beatles song and/or album? If you're one of those "I don't like the Beatles" people, why?
26 - Coconut Day: Some people love coconut in things, some people really don't. Where do you fall? Do you use coconut mostly in baking, or do you cook with coconut milk? Or is coconut in any form just not a thing in your house?
27 - Onion Day: True or false: onions improve the taste of pretty much every savoury dish they're in, even if the original recipe doesn't specifically include them. Are onions a staple in your kitchen? Do you have any tricks to avoid tears while chopping?
28 - International Body Piercing Day: Do you have any piercings? That aren't your ears?
29 - Camera Day: Do you still own and use an actual camera? If you've mostly or completely transitioned from using a real camera to just using a phone camera, do you find you take more photos now than you did before?
30 - Social Media Day: In its short life, social media has redefined how people interact, communicate, and share with family, friends, and the world - in both good ways and bad. What social media do you use? Do you occasionally take breaks from social media? Do you have any ideas on what might improve the social media experience for most?
July
1 - Second Half of the Year Day: How would you rate the first half of this year? Are there things you could change going forward to make the second half of the year better?
2 - I Forgot Day: Are you forgetful? Do you have trouble remembering holidays, anniversaries, birthdays, doctors' appointments, etc.? Do you have any tricks or aids to help you remember important dates?
3 - International Plastic Bag Free Day: Some localities are banning the use of plastic bags or charging a small amount for each one used. Is this an initiative where you live? Have you taken steps to reduce or eliminate the number of plastic bags that you use? Is there something for which you use plastic bags that you can't think of anything else that you could use for that purpose?
4 - Alice in Wonderland Day: Have you read Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and/or Through the Looking Glass? What about the various film adaptations -- have you seen any of those?
5 - Mechanical Pencil Day: Mechanical pencils are inherently superior to regular pencils if only for one reason: you don't have to sharpen them. Do you, or did you, use mechanical pencils at school or on the job, or just out of personal preference?
6 - Fried Chicken Day: Do you like fried chicken? Do you make your own, or do you prefer take-out? What's your favourite place to get fried chicken?
7 - Tell the Truth Day: What would happen if everyone on earth spoke only the 100% truth today -- no sugar-coating or lying by omission?
8 - SCUD Day: SCUD Day stands for "Savor the Comic, Unplug the Drama" Day, and encourages those of us whose lives might have a touch too much drama to step back, relax, and enjoy the funnier side of life. Is there too much drama in your life right now? Even if there isn't, what would you do to turn the drama down a bit and enjoy a good laugh instead?
9 - Dimples Day: Only 20-30% of the entire world population has dimples. Are you one of these rare individuals? What type of dimple do you have -- dimple on both cheeks, chin dimple, one-sided cheek dimple, corner of the mouth dimple?
10 - Don't Step on a Bee Day: is an important reminder that the fate of the common bee lies in the balance - with bee numbers in some countries having halved in the last decade with no apparent cause. Some localities are taking measures to help the bee population, for example, planting wildflowers by the side of roads/on road medians or encouraging residents to move away from a manicured lawn to a yard full of flowers. Are you aware of any such measures where you live? Do you agree that if bees disappear, life would change significantly for humans (and not in a good way)?
11 - World Population Day: World Population Day comes along each year to remind us that our present rate of population growth is unsustainable, and the present social and logistical issues we are experiencing to meet the demand of that population will only get worse if we don't do something. What can be done to slow population growth? Can we effectively fight climate change without addressing the global population issue?
12 - Simplicity Day: What steps could you take to declutter your life, both mentally and physically, and keep things simple?
13 - Embrace your Geekness Day: A geek is someone who is completely obsessed with one or more subjects, and can speak fluently on it for hours, sounding like a walking encyclopedia of geeky facts. In what ways would you describe yourself as geeky?
14 - Mac & Cheese Day: Macaroni and cheese is a comfort dish for many, an old childhood favourite. In Canada, it's practically a national dish if you're referring to good old KD -- Kraft Dinner, or Kraft Macaroni and Cheese Dinner. Even upscale restaurants are featuring gourmet variations of this classic. Was mac & cheese something you ate as a kid? Do you still eat it regularly, or occasionally? If you've tried restaurant variations, what is the most interesting take on mac & cheese that you've come across?
15 - Give Something Away Day: What is one thing of yours that you would consider giving away to someone in need?
16 - Personal Chef Day: If you could afford it, would you like to have a personal chef? Would you have them cook all your meals, or only supper/dinner?
17 - Tattoo Day: Do you have any tattoos? If yes, how many, what and where are they? If you don't, would you ever consider getting one? Is yes, where on your body would it be, and what would you likely get tattooed? If no, why not?
18 - World Listening Day: Rather than simply listening to other people talk, World Listening Day was created to draw attention to the way humans need to be listening to the world around us, including environmental awareness, soundscapes and acoustic ecology. What does the world around you sound like right now?
19 - Daiquiri Day: Do you drink daiquiris, or any other cocktails? Do you make your own at home or are they something you reserve for an evening out at a restaurant or other social event?
20 - International Chess Day: Do you play, or have you ever played, chess?
21 - Junk Food Day: What is your favourite junk food? Is this something you eat regularly, or is it something you turn to when you're stressed, or that you reserve as a special treat or reward for yourself?
22 - Day Of the Cowboy: Do you like Westerns (either books, movies, or TV shows)? What about country and western music?
23 - Peanut Butter and Chocolate Day: Match made in heaven or something to be avoided at all costs?
24 - Everybody Deserves a Massage Week: The third week of July is Everybody Deserves a Massage Week. Do you go for regular (or occasional) massages? Have you tried different types of massage: Swedish, Shiatsu, deep tissue, etc.? Do you have a favourite?
25 - Hot Fudge Sundae Day OR Wine and Cheese Day: Which would you go for?
26 - All or Nothing Day: If it was your last day on Earth, what would you do?
27 - Refreshment Day: What is your go-to refreshment on hot summer days? Is this something you enjoy year-round, or that you mainly drink in the summer?
28 - Talk in an Elevator Day: If you're with another person (or a group of people) and you get into an elevator, do you continue any conversation you were engaged in, or do you wait until you step out of the elevator? Does it unnerve or annoy you if someone starts talking to you in an elevator?
29 - Rain Day: Do you like rainy days? Does it rain a lot where you live? Have you ever been caught in a torrential downpour?
30 - Whistleblower Day: Part of living in a country with a fair rule of law is making sure that corruption and misconduct do not go unnoticed. A whistleblower is an individual who reports suspicious activity, such as violations, exploitation, misrepresentations, or other infractions. The activity may be within an organization, either public or private. If you witnessed, or were aware of, corruption and misconduct in your workplace, would you speak up about it, even if it meant potentially losing your job?
31 - Picnic Month: July is national Picnic Month. Have you ever been on a picnic? Do you enjoy eating outdoors? If you were organizing a picnic, what foods would you bring?
August
1 - World Wide Web Day: Think about how much of what you do each day you do online. If the internet disappeared tomorrow, how would that impact your life? How would you have to start doing things differently (or go back to a pre-internet way of doing things)?
2 - Colouring Book Day: Were colouring books something you enjoyed as a child? Adult colouring is now a huge trend. Do you do colouring as an adult, or would you consider engaging in this activity?
3 - Clean Your Floors Day: How often do you clean your floors? Do you have to deal with different types of flooring (carpeting in some rooms, hardwood, tiles, linoleum in others)? Do you use a regular vacuum cleaner or a robovac, or both? Have you ever gotten down on your hands and knees and actually scrubbed a floor - the whole floor, not just one stubborn stain?
4 - Chocolate Chip Cookie Day: Are you a fan of chocolate chip cookies? Are you a chocolate chip cookie traditionalist, or do you like variations -- with nuts, or different types of chocolate, etc.? Do you have a favourite brand, or do you buy them from a bakery? Do you make your own? Will you share your favourite recipe?
5 - Blogger Day: This day was created to celebrate Blogger, one of the oldest blogging sites. Did you ever have a blog on Blogger? What about on any other blogging sites (aside from Dreamwidth/LiveJournal), e.g. WordPress? Have you ever hosted a blog on your own webspace?
6 - Friendship Day: Do friendships change over time? Is friendship important to you? What is your definition of a good friend? Do you think you're a good friend?
7 - International Clown Week: The first full week of August is International Clown Week: True or False -- clowns are scary and should not be celebrated.
8 - International Cat Day: Are you a cat person? Have you ever had, or do you have, cats as pets? Do you have a favourite breed of cat?
9 - Book Lovers Day: Do you love books? Have you always been a reader? Did your parents read to you when you were young? What were some of your favourite books or authors as a child? How has your taste in books evolved over time?
10 - Duran Duran Appreciation Day: Do you appreciate Duran Duran - a band who pushed the limits of acceptable music video content and helped change the face of new wave music in the 1980s? Do you have a fave Duran Duran song or album?
11 - Play in the Sand Day: As a child, did you enjoy playing in the sand - either at the beach, or in a sandbox? Did you build sandcastles? As an adult, is this something that still appeals to you?
12 - Garage Sale Day (or Boot Sale, in the UK): Do you regularly, or occasionally, check out garage sales in your area? Have you ever organized one yourself, or in conjunction with some neighbours?
13 - International Lefthanders Day: Are you, or is anyone close to you lefthanded? Do you know anyone who, as a natural leftie, was forced to learn to use their right hand, either by their parents, or at school?
14 - Bargain Hunting Week: Do you make a point of trying to find the best deals when you need to buy something? What is one of the best bargains you've ever come across?
15 - Relaxation Day: What are some of your favourite ways to relax?
16 - Elvis Week: Are you, or were you, an Elvis Presley fan?
17 - Thrift Shop Day: Do you regularly, or even occasionally, shop at thrift shops? Do you donate to them? What was one of your best or favourite thrift shop finds?
18 - Serendipity Day: Serendipity is an unplanned fortunate discovery. Have you ever experienced a particularly serendipitous moment?
19 - Break the Monotony Day: There’s a certain security in a steady schedule, but too much of the same thing gets you stuck in a rut and the monotony can just plain kill you. When was the last time you took a day to do something spontaneous?
20 - Radio Day: Do you still listen to the radio? Do you have an actual radio, or do you listen to satellite or streaming radio? What about talk radio -- are you a fan?
21 - Poet's Day: Do you write poetry? Do you even like poetry? Do you have a favourite poet or poem?
22 - World Plant Milk Day: Almond milk, oat milk, soy milk... Do you use plant-based milk rather than dairy milk? If yes, do you use it instead of dairy in everything (tea/coffee, baking, cereal, etc.) or only in specific instances? Have you tried various types of plant milk? Do you have a favourite?
23 - Ride the Wind Day: Have you ever been sky-diving? What about hang-gliding? If not, would you ever try either (both) of those activities? What about something tamer, such as kite-flying or sailing?
24 - International Strange Music Day: What is the oddest music you've ever listened to?
25 - Kiss and Make Up Day: Is there anyone with whom you have a long-standing argument or conflict? What would it take to resolve the matter? If you're currently at peace with everyone in your life, have you ever had a disagreement with someone that lasted more than a few hours/days?
26 - Toilet Paper Day: This is a day we can all get our behinds behind! Did you know that toilet paper began its wide use in China by the 6th century? And by the 14th century, the Chinese had made advancements in toilet care, producing packages of special paper people could use in their wiping endeavors. In fact, it is estimated that the culture produced at least 10 million packages of toilet paper each year! So enquiring minds want to know -- do you hang your toilet paper so the paper hangs over or under? Do you have a favourite brand? Do you seek out more eco-friendly types of toilet paper, e.g. bamboo toilet paper or toilet paper made from recycled fiber?
27 - Just Because Day: This day is meant to celebrate lazy afternoons at the beach, taking time off and doing whatever you want or feel like in the moment. So what will you do just because? Or what would you like to do just because if you can't actually do any just-becausing today?
28 - Crackers Over the Keyboard Day: Do you eat at your computer? Do you regularly clean (or try to clean) your keyboard? Have you ever had any mishaps while attempting to clean your keyboard?
29 - Lemon Juice Day: Is lemon juice a staple in your kitchen? Do you use it for non-culinary purposes? Do you have a favourite lemon-flavoured food or beverage?
30 - Beach Day: Do you like going to the beach? When was the last time you were seaside?
31 - We Love Memoirs Day: Do you?
September
1 - World Letter Writing Day: Do you still write actual letters to anyone (email doesn't count!)? Did you have penpals when you were young(er)? Do you miss receiving actual letters in the mail (or any mail other than junk/flyers)?
2 - Bring Your Manners to Work Day: Bring Your Manners To Work Day was created by The Protocol School of Washington to remind people of the importance of treating people with courtesy and respect in the workplace. How important is it to you to have fulfilling relationships both with colleagues and customers/clients? Have the challenges posed by COVID changed how you view the concepts of courtesy and respect in the workplace?
3 - World Beard Day: Beards -- yay or nay?
4 - Mouthguard Day: Have you ever had to wear a mouthguard, either because you practised a certain sport, or as protection because you tend to grind your teeth at night, or for some other reason?
5 - Be Late For Something Day: Does the mere thought of "celebrating" this cause you anxiety? Should lateness ever be celebrated?
6 - Fight Procrastination Day: Procrastination can really be the bane of our existence, with another day coming around the corner, there’s no real reason that we can’t put it off till tomorrow is there? What are some of the things you do to fight putting off those things you keep putting off? To-do lists? Setting your alarm for earlier? Enlisting friends or family to give you a hand?
7 - Buy A Book Day: Do you buy books or are you pretty much a borrower -- be it from the library or friends and family? What was your most recent book purchase? Did you buy it for yourself, or as a gift for someone else?
8 - Star Trek Day: Star Trek speaks of a hope-filled future where our nationality no longer matters, and yet each of our personal heritages is still something we can be proud of. We are all citizens of the same quadrant of the galaxy, and at the end of the day that’s all that matters. Are you a Trekkie/Trekker? If you are at least somewhat "into" Star Trek, which series have you watched at least some of? Do you have thoughts on the JJ Abrams reboot films?
9 - International Sudoku Day: Do you sudoku, or are you more of a crosswords puzzle person?
10 - Arts in Education Week: Every year beginning the second Sunday in September, National Arts in Education Week celebrates the transformative powers of creative skills. Sadly, governments everywhere are cutting arts programs in schools, citing budget concerns, or to favour more "career-oriented" programs. Did you take any type of art courses in school (art, music, dance, etc.)? What benefits are there to arts education?
11 - No News is Good News Day: From where to you get most of your news? Do you find the daily onslaught of usually pretty bad news overwhelming? Do you take, or have you taken, breaks from news - essentially avoiding all news as much as possible?
12 - Day of Encouragement: Are you the type of person who naturally tries to encourage others when they need it? Does anyone in your life do the same for you?
13 - Defy Superstition Day: From throwing salt over your shoulder if you spill some, avoiding stepping on cracks in the pavement, to worrying about black cats, the world is full of superstitions. Even if your rational mind knows these strange dictates have no influence on your life, are there any superstitions you do find yourself observing? Have you ever done something considered a superstition that actually happened, e.g. you broke a mirror and then had seven incredibly unlucky years?
14 - Live Creative Day: Live Creative Day encourages us to let the world see our creativity all day long. How can you bring more creativity into your daily tasks, either at work, or at home?
15 - International Day of Democracy: How would you rate the health of your country's democracy and democratic institutions (assuming you live in one!)? What could be done to strengthen your country's democratic institutions?
16 - Locate an Old Friend Day: Do you have an old friend with whom you've lost touch? Have you tried to find them via social media (e.g. Facebook, LinkdIn, etc.,) or asking other mutual friends about them?
17 - Indoor Plant Week: This week marks the start of National Indoor Plant Week. Do you have indoor plants or do you prefer to do outdoor gardening? Do you have a green thumb, or do you seek out plants that are difficult to kill?
18 - Read an Ebook Day: Are you partial to ebooks? What are some advantages of ebooks over other formats? What sort of ereader do you use -- kindle, kobo, tablet, other? Are there some types of books that really don't work as ebooks?
19 - Talk Like a Pirate Day: Do you have a favourite book, film, or TV show about pirates?
20 -Fried Rice Day AND Pepperoni Pizza Day: September 20 is both Fried Rice Day and Pepperoni Pizza Day. Which do you prefer? Do you make your own fried rice and/or pizza, or is it take-out only?
21 - World Gratitude Day: For what (or who) are you grateful?
22 - World Car-Free Day: Would it be possible for you to go entirely car-free today?
23 - Redhead Appreciation Day: Why are redheads frequently made fun of or maligned (e.g. some cultures have believed that women who have red hair are witches, there's a "Kick A Ginger Day")? Do you like red hair? Do you know anyone with red hair?
24 - World Rivers Day: Do you live, or have you ever lived, near a river? Are the rivers in your area under threat from climate change?
25 - Better Breakfast Day: What does your breakfast usually consist of, and in what ways do you think you could make it a better breakfast?
26 - Piano Month: September is Piano Month. Did you ever take piano lessons as a kid (or even as an adult)? If yes, do you still play? If not, do wish you had? Did you learn any other instrument?
27 - World Tourism Day: When you visit a new place, do you hit all the main tourist attractions or do you prefer to travel off the beaten path? Do you live in a place that has any famous tourist attractions?
28 - Good Neighbo(u)r Day: Are you a good neighbour? Do you even know your neighbours? Have you ever had any really bad experiences with a neighbour?
29 - Ask A Stupid Question Day: There's no such thing as a stupid question except for the one you choose not to ask. When you were in school, did you hesitate to ask questions because you were afraid they were stupid questions? Did you make fun of other students who asked questions that struck you as stupid? As an adult, do you still hesitate to ask questions you think are stupid? Do you find yourself secretly hoping someone else will ask the question so you won't have to?
30 - International Podcast Day: Are you a podcast fan? What are some of your favourites? How do you find out about new podcasts that might interest you?
October
1 - International Day of Older Persons: David Bowie once said that ageing is an extraordinary process whereby you become the person you always should have been. Do you agree?
2 - World Architecture Day: Are you a keen observer of architecture, or do you mostly notice it when you see architectural oddities, e.g. a particularly ugly building, or a very unusual house design - that sort of thing?
3 - Virus Appreciation Day: OK, so it's been almost three years since Covid rocked the world. Is there ANYTHING you appreciate about that particular virus - well, maybe not the virus itself, but the impact it had on workplace arrangements, or social norms, etc.?
4 - Improve Your Office Day: Whether it's your home office or your at-the-office office, what changes would improve your office experience?
5 - Global James Bond Day: Are you a Bond fan (either books or films or both)? Who is your favourite Bond actor? Do you have a favourite Bond theme song?
6 - Mad Hatter Day: Mad Hatter Day celebrates the Mad Hatter, from Alice In Wonderland and is the perfect opportunity for you to bring out your daft side. Do you have a silly side? Is there anything or anyone who always manages to get you acting silly?
7 - World Space Week: October 4-10 is World Space Week. How does the exploration of space benefit society? Do you think the money spent on space exploration could be better spent on the myriad problems here on Earth?
8 - International Podiatry Day: Do you try to reguarly take care of your feet, or do you tend to neglect them until something crops up -- dry, cracked heels, ingrown toenails, blisters, corns, etc.? Have you ever been to a podiatrist (or chiropodist depending on where you live)? Do you get pedicures regularly?
9 - Canadian Thanksgiving Day: Canadian Thanksgiving is associated with the European tradition of harvest festivals. Does your country celebrate the yearly harvest with a festival or other form of commemoration?
10 - Shift10 Day: SHIFT10 Day was created to encourage shoppers to shift 10% of their spending into their local economies to support local businesses, farmers' markets, and other alternatives to big box stores. Do you try to shop locally as much as possible or do the ease and convenience of big box stores and online juggernauts like Amazon win out more often than not?
11 - International Post Card Week: Did you ever trade or collect postcards? When was the last time you received one? When was the last time you sent a post card to someone?
12 - World Sight Day: How good is your eyesight? When did you last have an eye exam? Would you ever consider lasik surgery to improve your vision?
13 - Train Your Brain Day: Do you do any exercises aimed at (or claiming to) help keep your brain sharp and improve your memory?
14 - Dessert Day! Who doesn't love dessert? Is a dessert a regular part of your evening meal, or more of a special occasion sort of thing? Or do you mostly indulge in dessert when you eat out? Do you have a favourite dessert to make? Do you have a favourite dessert to order when eating out?
15 - Mushroom Day: Do you like mushrooms? Do you have a favourite type of mushroom? In what dishes are you most likely to use mushrooms?
16 - Liqueur Day: Amaretto! Grand Marnier! Kahlua! Creme de Menthe! A liqueur is an alcoholic beverage made from a distilled spirit. Distillers flavor the spirit with fruit, cream, herbs, spices, flowers, or nuts. They may have fallen out of favour due to the increasingly broad selection of spirits available in seasonal, fragrant, and often curious flavors (vodkas and rums in particular), but they haven't disappeared. Have you ever had a liqueur? Do you have a favourite?
17 - Mulligan Day: Commonly used in games such as golf, the term ‘mulligan’ derives from the 1920s when Canadian golfer David Mulligan made a mistake during a game and retook his shot. Since then, to ‘call a mulligan’ means the chance to try again. Is there anything in your life you'd like a second chance at?
18 - International Legging Day: Do you wear leggings? If yes, do you wear them mostly when exercising, or do you wear them outside of the gym?
19 - Free Speech Week: There is a lot of talk about the so-called "cancelling" of individuals who are known for espousing controversial views. Would a better way of framing it be "accountability" rather than "cancelling", with the emphasis being on the reality that free speech isn't consequence-free?
20 - Information Overload Day: We've all likely suffered from this at some point in time, if not almost daily. What do you do to limit the flow of information coming to you? Do you put your phone on "Do Not Disturb"? Log out of your email client? Avoid social media? Read a book or go for a walk instead of watching the news?
21 - International Walk to School Month: Did you walk to school as a child? Are parents today too over-protective to let their children walk to school?
22 - Colour Day: National Colour Day focuses on the impact colour has on each of us. Beyond having a favourite colour, are there colours that evoke specific feelings or memories in you? Colours you avoid or dislike because they remind you of something you'd rather forget, or give off "bad vibes"? Is there a colour that immediately brightens your mood, or calms you? Do you decorate your home with lots of bright colours? How important is colour in your life?
23 - iPod Day: Have you ever owned an iPod (or other portable media player)? Do you remember those first songs? Do you still listen to them? What have you become in the days that have past, and do you smile with nostalgia or cringe with embarrassment as you remember your favorites from ages gone by?
24 - United Nations Day: Is the UN still an important international player? Do you think the UN Security Council membership should be expanded?
25 - International Artist Day: do you have any art in your home -- paintings, sculptures, etc.? Do you ever visit art galleries? Do you dabble in any type of art yourself?
26 - Mincemeat Day: Have you ever tried mincemeat (pie, or tarts)? Do you like it? Do you have an old family mincemeat recipe that gets dragged out in time for the holidays season?
27 - Cranky Co-Workers Day: Do you have (or did you have if no longer working) any chronically cranky co-workers? Or maybe you were the cranky co-worker? When was the last thing you let yourself be cranky, and to voice your thoughts about something that annoyed you?
28 - International Animation Day: What is your favourite animated film or TV series?
29 - Internet Day and Cyber-security Awareness Month: Today is both national Internet day and Cyber-security Awareness Month. Are you, or do you try to be, fairly vigilant about how you use the internet, and keeping yourself safe online? Do you tend to use the same password across most sites? Have you ever suffered a malware infection?
30 - Haunted Refrigerator Night: Sometimes you forget about certain things that are in your fridge. And while you may have forgotten about them, they certainly haven't forgotten about you. Instead, they sit lurking in the back of the refrigerator waiting for you to delve into its darkest corners and unleash the disgusting rotten mess that lurks within those Tupperware sarcophagi. Is there anything lurking in the deepest recesses of your fridge that you're afraid to look at or deal with?
31 - Magic Day: Have you ever seen magic performed live? Have you ever tried to learn a few tricks yourself?
Yesterday after everyone was gathered we took Teresa and Ron's dog Reece for a walk..it was pretty hot, even though it was relatively early. Grandpa came down the street on his 1929 Model A and gave me a ride back to his house! So cool!
After that we drove down to the ocean and stood on the boardwalk for awhile, and found a geocache on the way back, which had a $2 bill in it!! Cool! I love that Teresa and Ron like geocaching, because none of my other family members really do. I love how easygoing they've always been..if their daughter Stephanie was like "can we go to McDonald's?" Teresa would say "absolutely!" with no hesitation. We took a selfie after we found the cache:
Mom, Teresa, me, Ron
Then we went back to grandpa's house, had dinner, and went to Teresa and Ron's motorhome to hang out after grandpa went to bed (they're staying at a campground a few miles from grandpa's house). They have a pretty nice setup! After that mom and I went back to grandpa's house and went to bed
Today Ron took us to a trail that led to the Withlacoochee River (and found a couple geocaches in the area). It was SO, SO hot (high 80s) and wasn't enjoying myself at all. We only got halfway before we had to turn around, because I was completely miserable and overheating. We did find a place to park to see the river, which was clear and beautiful. I REALLY needed something cool to drink, so we went to Wal-Mart and I got a lemonade and some cooler pants. Ron drove me back to grandpa's house because I was tired and hot and DONE (everyone else went back to Ron's motorhome for a couple hours). I laid in bed under the fan and rested. I could never live in Florida, the heat and humidity are AWFUL, and I keep seeing "Trump 2024" flags and stuff..blech. Seeing family is nice, but I can't wait get out of this state on Wednesday. We had dinner after everyone got back, hung out, and then Teresa and Ron left for the night. Amazingly, grandpa stayed up until after 10 tonight!! Having people around probably helps lol..I hope he's not tired tomorrow though :P
6 - International No Diet Day: We usually associate a diet with an attempt to lose weight, but many have to follow special diets for other health reasons. Do you, or have you ever, followed a specific diet? Has it, or did it achieve what it was meant to do? Kind of, when I did Weight Watchers. I lost like 8 pounds, so it did something lol
7 - World Laughter Day: is there anything, or anyone, that is almost guaranteed to make you laugh? How would you describe your sense of humour? Mom, Cindy teasing me about "post" LOL, etc. Kinda silly maybe, for one
8 - Etiquette Week: the first Monday of the second full week in May marks the beginning of national etiquette week. Are there any social conventions you wish would go away, or that you wish would come back (or be observed by more people)? People should be more polite probably..
May
1 - School Bus Drivers' Day: When you were young, did you have to take a school bus to get to school?
2 - Bike Month: Do you cycle? If yes, do you do it mostly for fun/occasional outings, or is it your main mode of transportation? Does your municipality have good cycling infrastructure? Do you cycle year-round, even in winter (and in the snow if you get snow where you live)?
3 - Write a Review Day: Do you write reviews for products or services (e.g. reviews on Amazon, or on a restaurant's or shop's website)? Do you do this regularly, or only if you're particularly happy or dissatisfied with the product or service? Whether or not you write reviews, do you read reviews left by others to help your decision-making process? Do you find negative reviews more helpful than positive ones?
4 - Petite and Proud Day: Petite is used to describe a person about or under 162 cm / 5'4". Are you petite? Do you think petite women maybe have an easier time of it than short men? Would you (or have you) dated someone shorter than you?
5 - Space Day: Ever wondered what lies beyond our skies? Do you think we'll ever have permanent human settlements on the moon, or on Mars?
6 - International No Diet Day: We usually associate a diet with an attempt to lose weight, but many have to follow special diets for other health reasons. Do you, or have you ever, followed a specific diet? Has it, or did it achieve what it was meant to do?
7 - World Laughter Day: is there anything, or anyone, that is almost guaranteed to make you laugh? How would you describe your sense of humour?
8 - Etiquette Week: the first Monday of the second full week in May marks the beginning of national etiquette week. Are there any social conventions you wish would go away, or that you wish would come back (or be observed by more people)?
9 - Sleepover Day: Did you do sleepovers when you were young?
10 - Stay Up All Night Night: When was the last time you stayed up all (or most of) the night on purpose (e.g. not because you were tending to an ill child or suffering from insomnia)?
11 - World Ego Awareness Day: Do you know anyone with an incredibly inflated ego? When was the last time someone's ego came into conflict with your own?
12 - Limerick Day: Do you like limericks? Do you have a favourite?
13 - World Fair Trade Day: Do you try to buy certified fair trade products?
14 - World Migratory Bird Day: World Migratory Bird Day is observed twice a year during the second Saturday in May and again on the second Saturday in October. The goal is to raise awareness of issues affecting migratory birds and to inspire action around the world to take measures for their conservation. Do you live in a region that sees bird migrations in the spring and fall? Light pollution is a major threat to migratory birds. Does your municipality have any "Dim the Lights" policies in place to protect migratory birds?
15 - Bring Flowers to Someone Day: When was the last time someone gave you flowers? When was the last time you brought flowers to someone else?
16 - Biographers' Day: Do you like reading biographies? What have been some of your favourites? If you're not a fan, why not? If you were going to write a biography of someone, who would that be?
17 - World Baking Day: Do you bake or are you more of a fan of watching others baking, for example, watching the Great British Bake Off or other shows of that type? If you do bake, what are some of your favourite things to bake?
18 - International Museum Day: When was the last time you visited a museum? Which one was it, and what was your favourite exhibit?
19 - World Meditation Day: Do you meditate? If yes, describe your usual practice. If not, is meditation something you'd consider trying?
20 - Weights And Measures Day: Imperial or Metric or a combo of the two depending on what you're weighing/measuring?
21 - International Tea Day: Do you like tea (proper tea, not those herbal infusions [tisanes])? What is your favourite type of tea and how to you take it (black, or with milk and/or sugar/honey, etc.)? Do you use an actual teapot to make your tea, or are you a "tea bag in a cup" person?
22 - Solitaire Day: Remember when solitaire was a default thing on Windows PCs (along with Minesweeper)? Do you play solitaire, either with real playing cards or on your computer/phone?
23 - Title Track Day: Title tracks, or the songs after which an album is named, are often the greatest singles/best tracks on the album. Do you have a favourite title track? Or can you name a title track that is definitely NOT the best track on the album? Is the concept of a title track a thing of the past given how most people listen to music now?
24 - Brother's Day: Do you have a brother? If you don't, or if you don't get along with your actual brother(s), do you have someone else in your life who is like a brother to you?
25 - Towel Day: According to The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, “A towel is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have.” Do you agree with this statement? Are towels equally useful to those of us not engaging in interstellar travels?
26 - Paper Airplane Day: Can you make a paper airplane? Can you make one that actually flies more than a foot or two before crashing?
27 - Sunscreen Day: Do you use sunscreen regularly? Do you use it on its own, or do you buy other skin care products that include a sunscreen?
28 - Hamburger Day: Let’s face it, there isn't anything in the world quite so delightful as your first bite of a rich, juicy hamburger. Do you love hamburgers (or veggie burgers)? What are your favourite toppings to put on your burger?
29 - Paperclip Day: Paperclips are not just for holding papers together. There are many other things that you can do with them! What are some of the uses you've found for paperclips beyond holding papers together? Do you think Microsoft's Windows 97 personal assistant "Clippy" did irreparable harm to the reputation of paperclips worldwide?
30 - Loomis Day: Mahlon Loomis, a humble dentist, revolutionized the world when he created the “wireless telegram” in 1886. How different would your life be without wi-fi, TV, or radio?
31 - Web Designer Day: We all visit various websites every single day of the year. What are "features" on some websites that really annoy you? What features do you appreciate the most on well-designed websites?
June
1 - June is Audiobook Month: Do you use audiobooks? If yes, do you use them exclusively, or do you also read ebooks or physical books? If you don't use audiobooks, why not?
2 - Donut Day: Do you like donuts? Have you ever made your own? If/when you buy donuts, what it your go-to place -- is it a major chain (Dunkin' Donuts, Tim Hortons, Krispy Kreme, etc.), or do you have a favourite independent bakery?
3 - World Bicycle Day: Do you regularly ride a bike? If yes, is it mostly for fun, or do is it your main mode of tranportation? Does your town/city have good bike infrasctructure, e.g. dedicated, safe bike paths, etc.?
4 - Cheese Day: There are people who do not like cheese or cannot eat it for health reasons, while other people think it is one of the best foods, or ingredients for food recipes that was ever invented! Which category best describes you?
5 - Thank God it's Monday Day: everyone is probably familiar with TGIF - Thank god it's Friday. Did you know there's actually a TGIM Day? Thank God It’s Monday Day is all about seeing Monday as a positive day, rather than a negative day. What sort of positive things could you do to make sure your week gets off to a good start?
6 - Drive-In Movie Day: Drive-in movies have seen a bit of a renaissance recently -- largely thanks to the Covid pandemic. Have you ever been to a drive-in movie, or any other type of open air movie viewing event?
7 - Global Running Day: Are you, or have you ever been, a runner/jogger? If yes, do you/did you run mostly indoors (treadmill) or outdoors, or both, depending on the weather? What are the biggest differences between running outdoors vs indoors? If you're not a runner, what is your preferred form of exercise (if you have one)?
8 - Best Friends Day: Do you have a best friend(s)? Are they someone you've know since forever, or someone you met as an adult? Did you meet online first and if yes, have you since met in person?
9 - Movie Night: The second Friday in June is national movie night. If you are/were going to watch a movie tonight to celebrate national movie night, what movie would you watch? Would you watch it at home, or at the cinema?
10 - Worldwide Knit in Public Day: It's time to take knitting out of the shadows and show everyone that knitting is for all ages and that it’s a fun and enjoyable activity, and something that you can proud of. Do you knit? Do you knit in public? Do you ever get questions or comments from strangers when you do knit in public?
11 - Corn on the Cob Day: Do you like corn on the cob? How do you usually cook it -- just boiled, on the BBQ, etc.? What's your favourite seasoning?
12 - Red Rose Day: Are roses -- red or otherwise -highly overrated?
13 - Kitchen Klutzes Day: Even if you're not a klutz in the kitchen, we've all had a significant kitchen mishap at some point. What was the klutziest thing to ever happen to you in the kitchen?
14 - International Bath Day: Do you take baths regularly, or are you strictly a shower aficionado?
15 - Nature Photography Day: Have you ever enjoyed a photo of a flower? Or a close up of a bee landing on the entrance to its hive? Have you taken any photos of nature that you're particularly proud of? Care to share it with us?
16 - Take Back the Lunch Break Day: When you're at work (or when you worked or were still going into the office), did you fall into the habit of eating at your desk and continuing to work while eating? Did your working conditions include a proper lunch break? If you're mostly working from home, do you still eat at your desk and continue working during your lunch?
17 - Eat Your Vegetables Day: Do you love veggies? Do you have favourites? Do you have a favourite veggie recipe -- either main meal or side dish? Will you share it?
18 - International Panic Day: Contrary to what it sounds like, this is a day dedicated to reducing panic and stress in your daily life, not celebrating it! How to you go about reducing the stresses, anxiety and yes, panic, in your life?
19 - Watch Day: Do you still wear a watch (assuming you ever did wear one)? Is it just a regular time telling watch, or is a smartwatch or fitness/health device that also tells you the time?
20 - World Productivity Day: What did you do today (or are you planning to do) that was particularly productive?
21 - World Music Day: How important is music in your life? Do you play any musical instruments, or are you part of a choir or other vocal group? Have you ever been in a band (rock or school or other)?
22 - Onion Ring Day: Onion rings or fries?
23 - Typewriter Day: Are you old enough that you remember using typewriters in school/university/for work? Is there anything about typewriters that you kind of miss?
24 - World UFO Day: UFO simply means Unidentified Flying Object - not necessarily that it's an alien spaceship. Have you ever seen anything in the sky that you honestly couldn't figure out what it was? Even if you're pretty sure what you saw wasn't an alien space craft, do you think it's possible that earth is being visited by aliens?
25 - Global Beatles Day: The Beatles still stand as one of the most influential bands of all time, famous all over the world to this very day. Do you have a favourite Beatles song and/or album? If you're one of those "I don't like the Beatles" people, why?
26 - Coconut Day: Some people love coconut in things, some people really don't. Where do you fall? Do you use coconut mostly in baking, or do you cook with coconut milk? Or is coconut in any form just not a thing in your house?
27 - Onion Day: True or false: onions improve the taste of pretty much every savoury dish they're in, even if the original recipe doesn't specifically include them. Are onions a staple in your kitchen? Do you have any tricks to avoid tears while chopping?
28 - International Body Piercing Day: Do you have any piercings? That aren't your ears?
29 - Camera Day: Do you still own and use an actual camera? If you've mostly or completely transitioned from using a real camera to just using a phone camera, do you find you take more photos now than you did before?
30 - Social Media Day: In its short life, social media has redefined how people interact, communicate, and share with family, friends, and the world - in both good ways and bad. What social media do you use? Do you occasionally take breaks from social media? Do you have any ideas on what might improve the social media experience for most?
July
1 - Second Half of the Year Day: How would you rate the first half of this year? Are there things you could change going forward to make the second half of the year better?
2 - I Forgot Day: Are you forgetful? Do you have trouble remembering holidays, anniversaries, birthdays, doctors' appointments, etc.? Do you have any tricks or aids to help you remember important dates?
3 - International Plastic Bag Free Day: Some localities are banning the use of plastic bags or charging a small amount for each one used. Is this an initiative where you live? Have you taken steps to reduce or eliminate the number of plastic bags that you use? Is there something for which you use plastic bags that you can't think of anything else that you could use for that purpose?
4 - Alice in Wonderland Day: Have you read Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and/or Through the Looking Glass? What about the various film adaptations -- have you seen any of those?
5 - Mechanical Pencil Day: Mechanical pencils are inherently superior to regular pencils if only for one reason: you don't have to sharpen them. Do you, or did you, use mechanical pencils at school or on the job, or just out of personal preference?
6 - Fried Chicken Day: Do you like fried chicken? Do you make your own, or do you prefer take-out? What's your favourite place to get fried chicken?
7 - Tell the Truth Day: What would happen if everyone on earth spoke only the 100% truth today -- no sugar-coating or lying by omission?
8 - SCUD Day: SCUD Day stands for "Savor the Comic, Unplug the Drama" Day, and encourages those of us whose lives might have a touch too much drama to step back, relax, and enjoy the funnier side of life. Is there too much drama in your life right now? Even if there isn't, what would you do to turn the drama down a bit and enjoy a good laugh instead?
9 - Dimples Day: Only 20-30% of the entire world population has dimples. Are you one of these rare individuals? What type of dimple do you have -- dimple on both cheeks, chin dimple, one-sided cheek dimple, corner of the mouth dimple?
10 - Don't Step on a Bee Day: is an important reminder that the fate of the common bee lies in the balance - with bee numbers in some countries having halved in the last decade with no apparent cause. Some localities are taking measures to help the bee population, for example, planting wildflowers by the side of roads/on road medians or encouraging residents to move away from a manicured lawn to a yard full of flowers. Are you aware of any such measures where you live? Do you agree that if bees disappear, life would change significantly for humans (and not in a good way)?
11 - World Population Day: World Population Day comes along each year to remind us that our present rate of population growth is unsustainable, and the present social and logistical issues we are experiencing to meet the demand of that population will only get worse if we don't do something. What can be done to slow population growth? Can we effectively fight climate change without addressing the global population issue?
12 - Simplicity Day: What steps could you take to declutter your life, both mentally and physically, and keep things simple?
13 - Embrace your Geekness Day: A geek is someone who is completely obsessed with one or more subjects, and can speak fluently on it for hours, sounding like a walking encyclopedia of geeky facts. In what ways would you describe yourself as geeky?
14 - Mac & Cheese Day: Macaroni and cheese is a comfort dish for many, an old childhood favourite. In Canada, it's practically a national dish if you're referring to good old KD -- Kraft Dinner, or Kraft Macaroni and Cheese Dinner. Even upscale restaurants are featuring gourmet variations of this classic. Was mac & cheese something you ate as a kid? Do you still eat it regularly, or occasionally? If you've tried restaurant variations, what is the most interesting take on mac & cheese that you've come across?
15 - Give Something Away Day: What is one thing of yours that you would consider giving away to someone in need?
16 - Personal Chef Day: If you could afford it, would you like to have a personal chef? Would you have them cook all your meals, or only supper/dinner?
17 - Tattoo Day: Do you have any tattoos? If yes, how many, what and where are they? If you don't, would you ever consider getting one? Is yes, where on your body would it be, and what would you likely get tattooed? If no, why not?
18 - World Listening Day: Rather than simply listening to other people talk, World Listening Day was created to draw attention to the way humans need to be listening to the world around us, including environmental awareness, soundscapes and acoustic ecology. What does the world around you sound like right now?
19 - Daiquiri Day: Do you drink daiquiris, or any other cocktails? Do you make your own at home or are they something you reserve for an evening out at a restaurant or other social event?
20 - International Chess Day: Do you play, or have you ever played, chess?
21 - Junk Food Day: What is your favourite junk food? Is this something you eat regularly, or is it something you turn to when you're stressed, or that you reserve as a special treat or reward for yourself?
22 - Day Of the Cowboy: Do you like Westerns (either books, movies, or TV shows)? What about country and western music?
23 - Peanut Butter and Chocolate Day: Match made in heaven or something to be avoided at all costs?
24 - Everybody Deserves a Massage Week: The third week of July is Everybody Deserves a Massage Week. Do you go for regular (or occasional) massages? Have you tried different types of massage: Swedish, Shiatsu, deep tissue, etc.? Do you have a favourite?
25 - Hot Fudge Sundae Day OR Wine and Cheese Day: Which would you go for?
26 - All or Nothing Day: If it was your last day on Earth, what would you do?
27 - Refreshment Day: What is your go-to refreshment on hot summer days? Is this something you enjoy year-round, or that you mainly drink in the summer?
28 - Talk in an Elevator Day: If you're with another person (or a group of people) and you get into an elevator, do you continue any conversation you were engaged in, or do you wait until you step out of the elevator? Does it unnerve or annoy you if someone starts talking to you in an elevator?
29 - Rain Day: Do you like rainy days? Does it rain a lot where you live? Have you ever been caught in a torrential downpour?
30 - Whistleblower Day: Part of living in a country with a fair rule of law is making sure that corruption and misconduct do not go unnoticed. A whistleblower is an individual who reports suspicious activity, such as violations, exploitation, misrepresentations, or other infractions. The activity may be within an organization, either public or private. If you witnessed, or were aware of, corruption and misconduct in your workplace, would you speak up about it, even if it meant potentially losing your job?
31 - Picnic Month: July is national Picnic Month. Have you ever been on a picnic? Do you enjoy eating outdoors? If you were organizing a picnic, what foods would you bring?
August
1 - World Wide Web Day: Think about how much of what you do each day you do online. If the internet disappeared tomorrow, how would that impact your life? How would you have to start doing things differently (or go back to a pre-internet way of doing things)?
2 - Colouring Book Day: Were colouring books something you enjoyed as a child? Adult colouring is now a huge trend. Do you do colouring as an adult, or would you consider engaging in this activity?
3 - Clean Your Floors Day: How often do you clean your floors? Do you have to deal with different types of flooring (carpeting in some rooms, hardwood, tiles, linoleum in others)? Do you use a regular vacuum cleaner or a robovac, or both? Have you ever gotten down on your hands and knees and actually scrubbed a floor - the whole floor, not just one stubborn stain?
4 - Chocolate Chip Cookie Day: Are you a fan of chocolate chip cookies? Are you a chocolate chip cookie traditionalist, or do you like variations -- with nuts, or different types of chocolate, etc.? Do you have a favourite brand, or do you buy them from a bakery? Do you make your own? Will you share your favourite recipe?
5 - Blogger Day: This day was created to celebrate Blogger, one of the oldest blogging sites. Did you ever have a blog on Blogger? What about on any other blogging sites (aside from Dreamwidth/LiveJournal), e.g. WordPress? Have you ever hosted a blog on your own webspace?
6 - Friendship Day: Do friendships change over time? Is friendship important to you? What is your definition of a good friend? Do you think you're a good friend?
7 - International Clown Week: The first full week of August is International Clown Week: True or False -- clowns are scary and should not be celebrated.
8 - International Cat Day: Are you a cat person? Have you ever had, or do you have, cats as pets? Do you have a favourite breed of cat?
9 - Book Lovers Day: Do you love books? Have you always been a reader? Did your parents read to you when you were young? What were some of your favourite books or authors as a child? How has your taste in books evolved over time?
10 - Duran Duran Appreciation Day: Do you appreciate Duran Duran - a band who pushed the limits of acceptable music video content and helped change the face of new wave music in the 1980s? Do you have a fave Duran Duran song or album?
11 - Play in the Sand Day: As a child, did you enjoy playing in the sand - either at the beach, or in a sandbox? Did you build sandcastles? As an adult, is this something that still appeals to you?
12 - Garage Sale Day (or Boot Sale, in the UK): Do you regularly, or occasionally, check out garage sales in your area? Have you ever organized one yourself, or in conjunction with some neighbours?
13 - International Lefthanders Day: Are you, or is anyone close to you lefthanded? Do you know anyone who, as a natural leftie, was forced to learn to use their right hand, either by their parents, or at school?
14 - Bargain Hunting Week: Do you make a point of trying to find the best deals when you need to buy something? What is one of the best bargains you've ever come across?
15 - Relaxation Day: What are some of your favourite ways to relax?
16 - Elvis Week: Are you, or were you, an Elvis Presley fan?
17 - Thrift Shop Day: Do you regularly, or even occasionally, shop at thrift shops? Do you donate to them? What was one of your best or favourite thrift shop finds?
18 - Serendipity Day: Serendipity is an unplanned fortunate discovery. Have you ever experienced a particularly serendipitous moment?
19 - Break the Monotony Day: There’s a certain security in a steady schedule, but too much of the same thing gets you stuck in a rut and the monotony can just plain kill you. When was the last time you took a day to do something spontaneous?
20 - Radio Day: Do you still listen to the radio? Do you have an actual radio, or do you listen to satellite or streaming radio? What about talk radio -- are you a fan?
21 - Poet's Day: Do you write poetry? Do you even like poetry? Do you have a favourite poet or poem?
22 - World Plant Milk Day: Almond milk, oat milk, soy milk... Do you use plant-based milk rather than dairy milk? If yes, do you use it instead of dairy in everything (tea/coffee, baking, cereal, etc.) or only in specific instances? Have you tried various types of plant milk? Do you have a favourite?
23 - Ride the Wind Day: Have you ever been sky-diving? What about hang-gliding? If not, would you ever try either (both) of those activities? What about something tamer, such as kite-flying or sailing?
24 - International Strange Music Day: What is the oddest music you've ever listened to?
25 - Kiss and Make Up Day: Is there anyone with whom you have a long-standing argument or conflict? What would it take to resolve the matter? If you're currently at peace with everyone in your life, have you ever had a disagreement with someone that lasted more than a few hours/days?
26 - Toilet Paper Day: This is a day we can all get our behinds behind! Did you know that toilet paper began its wide use in China by the 6th century? And by the 14th century, the Chinese had made advancements in toilet care, producing packages of special paper people could use in their wiping endeavors. In fact, it is estimated that the culture produced at least 10 million packages of toilet paper each year! So enquiring minds want to know -- do you hang your toilet paper so the paper hangs over or under? Do you have a favourite brand? Do you seek out more eco-friendly types of toilet paper, e.g. bamboo toilet paper or toilet paper made from recycled fiber?
27 - Just Because Day: This day is meant to celebrate lazy afternoons at the beach, taking time off and doing whatever you want or feel like in the moment. So what will you do just because? Or what would you like to do just because if you can't actually do any just-becausing today?
28 - Crackers Over the Keyboard Day: Do you eat at your computer? Do you regularly clean (or try to clean) your keyboard? Have you ever had any mishaps while attempting to clean your keyboard?
29 - Lemon Juice Day: Is lemon juice a staple in your kitchen? Do you use it for non-culinary purposes? Do you have a favourite lemon-flavoured food or beverage?
30 - Beach Day: Do you like going to the beach? When was the last time you were seaside?
31 - We Love Memoirs Day: Do you?
September
1 - World Letter Writing Day: Do you still write actual letters to anyone (email doesn't count!)? Did you have penpals when you were young(er)? Do you miss receiving actual letters in the mail (or any mail other than junk/flyers)?
2 - Bring Your Manners to Work Day: Bring Your Manners To Work Day was created by The Protocol School of Washington to remind people of the importance of treating people with courtesy and respect in the workplace. How important is it to you to have fulfilling relationships both with colleagues and customers/clients? Have the challenges posed by COVID changed how you view the concepts of courtesy and respect in the workplace?
3 - World Beard Day: Beards -- yay or nay?
4 - Mouthguard Day: Have you ever had to wear a mouthguard, either because you practised a certain sport, or as protection because you tend to grind your teeth at night, or for some other reason?
5 - Be Late For Something Day: Does the mere thought of "celebrating" this cause you anxiety? Should lateness ever be celebrated?
6 - Fight Procrastination Day: Procrastination can really be the bane of our existence, with another day coming around the corner, there’s no real reason that we can’t put it off till tomorrow is there? What are some of the things you do to fight putting off those things you keep putting off? To-do lists? Setting your alarm for earlier? Enlisting friends or family to give you a hand?
7 - Buy A Book Day: Do you buy books or are you pretty much a borrower -- be it from the library or friends and family? What was your most recent book purchase? Did you buy it for yourself, or as a gift for someone else?
8 - Star Trek Day: Star Trek speaks of a hope-filled future where our nationality no longer matters, and yet each of our personal heritages is still something we can be proud of. We are all citizens of the same quadrant of the galaxy, and at the end of the day that’s all that matters. Are you a Trekkie/Trekker? If you are at least somewhat "into" Star Trek, which series have you watched at least some of? Do you have thoughts on the JJ Abrams reboot films?
9 - International Sudoku Day: Do you sudoku, or are you more of a crosswords puzzle person?
10 - Arts in Education Week: Every year beginning the second Sunday in September, National Arts in Education Week celebrates the transformative powers of creative skills. Sadly, governments everywhere are cutting arts programs in schools, citing budget concerns, or to favour more "career-oriented" programs. Did you take any type of art courses in school (art, music, dance, etc.)? What benefits are there to arts education?
11 - No News is Good News Day: From where to you get most of your news? Do you find the daily onslaught of usually pretty bad news overwhelming? Do you take, or have you taken, breaks from news - essentially avoiding all news as much as possible?
12 - Day of Encouragement: Are you the type of person who naturally tries to encourage others when they need it? Does anyone in your life do the same for you?
13 - Defy Superstition Day: From throwing salt over your shoulder if you spill some, avoiding stepping on cracks in the pavement, to worrying about black cats, the world is full of superstitions. Even if your rational mind knows these strange dictates have no influence on your life, are there any superstitions you do find yourself observing? Have you ever done something considered a superstition that actually happened, e.g. you broke a mirror and then had seven incredibly unlucky years?
14 - Live Creative Day: Live Creative Day encourages us to let the world see our creativity all day long. How can you bring more creativity into your daily tasks, either at work, or at home?
15 - International Day of Democracy: How would you rate the health of your country's democracy and democratic institutions (assuming you live in one!)? What could be done to strengthen your country's democratic institutions?
16 - Locate an Old Friend Day: Do you have an old friend with whom you've lost touch? Have you tried to find them via social media (e.g. Facebook, LinkdIn, etc.,) or asking other mutual friends about them?
17 - Indoor Plant Week: This week marks the start of National Indoor Plant Week. Do you have indoor plants or do you prefer to do outdoor gardening? Do you have a green thumb, or do you seek out plants that are difficult to kill?
18 - Read an Ebook Day: Are you partial to ebooks? What are some advantages of ebooks over other formats? What sort of ereader do you use -- kindle, kobo, tablet, other? Are there some types of books that really don't work as ebooks?
19 - Talk Like a Pirate Day: Do you have a favourite book, film, or TV show about pirates?
20 -Fried Rice Day AND Pepperoni Pizza Day: September 20 is both Fried Rice Day and Pepperoni Pizza Day. Which do you prefer? Do you make your own fried rice and/or pizza, or is it take-out only?
21 - World Gratitude Day: For what (or who) are you grateful?
22 - World Car-Free Day: Would it be possible for you to go entirely car-free today?
23 - Redhead Appreciation Day: Why are redheads frequently made fun of or maligned (e.g. some cultures have believed that women who have red hair are witches, there's a "Kick A Ginger Day")? Do you like red hair? Do you know anyone with red hair?
24 - World Rivers Day: Do you live, or have you ever lived, near a river? Are the rivers in your area under threat from climate change?
25 - Better Breakfast Day: What does your breakfast usually consist of, and in what ways do you think you could make it a better breakfast?
26 - Piano Month: September is Piano Month. Did you ever take piano lessons as a kid (or even as an adult)? If yes, do you still play? If not, do wish you had? Did you learn any other instrument?
27 - World Tourism Day: When you visit a new place, do you hit all the main tourist attractions or do you prefer to travel off the beaten path? Do you live in a place that has any famous tourist attractions?
28 - Good Neighbo(u)r Day: Are you a good neighbour? Do you even know your neighbours? Have you ever had any really bad experiences with a neighbour?
29 - Ask A Stupid Question Day: There's no such thing as a stupid question except for the one you choose not to ask. When you were in school, did you hesitate to ask questions because you were afraid they were stupid questions? Did you make fun of other students who asked questions that struck you as stupid? As an adult, do you still hesitate to ask questions you think are stupid? Do you find yourself secretly hoping someone else will ask the question so you won't have to?
30 - International Podcast Day: Are you a podcast fan? What are some of your favourites? How do you find out about new podcasts that might interest you?
October
1 - International Day of Older Persons: David Bowie once said that ageing is an extraordinary process whereby you become the person you always should have been. Do you agree?
2 - World Architecture Day: Are you a keen observer of architecture, or do you mostly notice it when you see architectural oddities, e.g. a particularly ugly building, or a very unusual house design - that sort of thing?
3 - Virus Appreciation Day: OK, so it's been almost three years since Covid rocked the world. Is there ANYTHING you appreciate about that particular virus - well, maybe not the virus itself, but the impact it had on workplace arrangements, or social norms, etc.?
4 - Improve Your Office Day: Whether it's your home office or your at-the-office office, what changes would improve your office experience?
5 - Global James Bond Day: Are you a Bond fan (either books or films or both)? Who is your favourite Bond actor? Do you have a favourite Bond theme song?
6 - Mad Hatter Day: Mad Hatter Day celebrates the Mad Hatter, from Alice In Wonderland and is the perfect opportunity for you to bring out your daft side. Do you have a silly side? Is there anything or anyone who always manages to get you acting silly?
7 - World Space Week: October 4-10 is World Space Week. How does the exploration of space benefit society? Do you think the money spent on space exploration could be better spent on the myriad problems here on Earth?
8 - International Podiatry Day: Do you try to reguarly take care of your feet, or do you tend to neglect them until something crops up -- dry, cracked heels, ingrown toenails, blisters, corns, etc.? Have you ever been to a podiatrist (or chiropodist depending on where you live)? Do you get pedicures regularly?
9 - Canadian Thanksgiving Day: Canadian Thanksgiving is associated with the European tradition of harvest festivals. Does your country celebrate the yearly harvest with a festival or other form of commemoration?
10 - Shift10 Day: SHIFT10 Day was created to encourage shoppers to shift 10% of their spending into their local economies to support local businesses, farmers' markets, and other alternatives to big box stores. Do you try to shop locally as much as possible or do the ease and convenience of big box stores and online juggernauts like Amazon win out more often than not?
11 - International Post Card Week: Did you ever trade or collect postcards? When was the last time you received one? When was the last time you sent a post card to someone?
12 - World Sight Day: How good is your eyesight? When did you last have an eye exam? Would you ever consider lasik surgery to improve your vision?
13 - Train Your Brain Day: Do you do any exercises aimed at (or claiming to) help keep your brain sharp and improve your memory?
14 - Dessert Day! Who doesn't love dessert? Is a dessert a regular part of your evening meal, or more of a special occasion sort of thing? Or do you mostly indulge in dessert when you eat out? Do you have a favourite dessert to make? Do you have a favourite dessert to order when eating out?
15 - Mushroom Day: Do you like mushrooms? Do you have a favourite type of mushroom? In what dishes are you most likely to use mushrooms?
16 - Liqueur Day: Amaretto! Grand Marnier! Kahlua! Creme de Menthe! A liqueur is an alcoholic beverage made from a distilled spirit. Distillers flavor the spirit with fruit, cream, herbs, spices, flowers, or nuts. They may have fallen out of favour due to the increasingly broad selection of spirits available in seasonal, fragrant, and often curious flavors (vodkas and rums in particular), but they haven't disappeared. Have you ever had a liqueur? Do you have a favourite?
17 - Mulligan Day: Commonly used in games such as golf, the term ‘mulligan’ derives from the 1920s when Canadian golfer David Mulligan made a mistake during a game and retook his shot. Since then, to ‘call a mulligan’ means the chance to try again. Is there anything in your life you'd like a second chance at?
18 - International Legging Day: Do you wear leggings? If yes, do you wear them mostly when exercising, or do you wear them outside of the gym?
19 - Free Speech Week: There is a lot of talk about the so-called "cancelling" of individuals who are known for espousing controversial views. Would a better way of framing it be "accountability" rather than "cancelling", with the emphasis being on the reality that free speech isn't consequence-free?
20 - Information Overload Day: We've all likely suffered from this at some point in time, if not almost daily. What do you do to limit the flow of information coming to you? Do you put your phone on "Do Not Disturb"? Log out of your email client? Avoid social media? Read a book or go for a walk instead of watching the news?
21 - International Walk to School Month: Did you walk to school as a child? Are parents today too over-protective to let their children walk to school?
22 - Colour Day: National Colour Day focuses on the impact colour has on each of us. Beyond having a favourite colour, are there colours that evoke specific feelings or memories in you? Colours you avoid or dislike because they remind you of something you'd rather forget, or give off "bad vibes"? Is there a colour that immediately brightens your mood, or calms you? Do you decorate your home with lots of bright colours? How important is colour in your life?
23 - iPod Day: Have you ever owned an iPod (or other portable media player)? Do you remember those first songs? Do you still listen to them? What have you become in the days that have past, and do you smile with nostalgia or cringe with embarrassment as you remember your favorites from ages gone by?
24 - United Nations Day: Is the UN still an important international player? Do you think the UN Security Council membership should be expanded?
25 - International Artist Day: do you have any art in your home -- paintings, sculptures, etc.? Do you ever visit art galleries? Do you dabble in any type of art yourself?
26 - Mincemeat Day: Have you ever tried mincemeat (pie, or tarts)? Do you like it? Do you have an old family mincemeat recipe that gets dragged out in time for the holidays season?
27 - Cranky Co-Workers Day: Do you have (or did you have if no longer working) any chronically cranky co-workers? Or maybe you were the cranky co-worker? When was the last thing you let yourself be cranky, and to voice your thoughts about something that annoyed you?
28 - International Animation Day: What is your favourite animated film or TV series?
29 - Internet Day and Cyber-security Awareness Month: Today is both national Internet day and Cyber-security Awareness Month. Are you, or do you try to be, fairly vigilant about how you use the internet, and keeping yourself safe online? Do you tend to use the same password across most sites? Have you ever suffered a malware infection?
30 - Haunted Refrigerator Night: Sometimes you forget about certain things that are in your fridge. And while you may have forgotten about them, they certainly haven't forgotten about you. Instead, they sit lurking in the back of the refrigerator waiting for you to delve into its darkest corners and unleash the disgusting rotten mess that lurks within those Tupperware sarcophagi. Is there anything lurking in the deepest recesses of your fridge that you're afraid to look at or deal with?
31 - Magic Day: Have you ever seen magic performed live? Have you ever tried to learn a few tricks yourself?