Mar10: Middle Name Pride Day

Summary: Middle Name Pride Day honors the seldom used middle name that often sets you apart from others. It was selected with care, so you should be proud of it.

Here's two big reasons to be proud of your middle name:

First, there are plenty of John Smiths and and Mary Jones. Its the middle name your parents gave you that makes your name unique. (unless they gave you Lee or Ann)

Second, your parents chose your middle name with great care. It often was selected to honor a friend or relative. That person may have possessed certain characteristics that they want you to inherit. (unless they gave you Lee or Ann)

Do you know why your were given your middle name? If not, todays the day to find out. If it was in honor of someone, find out a little more about that person.

We encourage you to enjoy your middle name on Middle Name Pride Day, and every day!

Note: Middle Name Pride Day is uniquely different from Name Yourself Day.

Synopsis: I have really struggled with how best to celebrate this amazing day. Part of my struggle was whether to celebrate it with the middle name I was given at birth, or the middle name I "chose" when I got married. I think I have decided to celebrate it by sharing 2 funny stories that occurred when I was in the process of changing my name.

Story 1: In the summer of 2004 I had been on vacation for a week or so and was confronted with a difficult customer on my first day back. It was a customer that I had not worked with previously, and I think I must have been in a "just back from vacation" happy mood because I really went out of my way to give her great service. I spent HOURS on my first day back hand-holding through how to use our document management system -- something I normally would have just sent her the documentation to figure out herself. She ended up calling one of the VPs and reporting that I had been very unhelpful! I was so upset!

The following spring I got married. Sometime afterwards I sent out an email to all users of the document management system. She ended up replying back to me and commenting on my (new) last name. She asked if I had family in Ecuador, and I responded that my husband had family in Ecuador. We ended up having a very nice email exchange, and I relished in the fact that she had no idea that I was the same person she had been so rude to the past summer. New name, new me!

Story 2: Post-wedding, I headed over to the Social Security office to get my name officially changed. I really had no idea what to expect from that whole process, so I was staring at the form and trying to determine what my ""new"" name would be. My mom was a 4-name person (ie. her original first middle last names + her married last name). I did not want 4 names. I settled on dropping my original middle name, and I am definitely happy with that decision. Not because I didn't like my original middle name (shout out on the queenb blog subtitle to it), but just because I am happy to have kept my maiden name in the mix. Anyhoo.... I was talking to my mom post-name-change and updating her on my trip to the social security office. The conversation went something like this:

Me: yeah, I just dropped my middle name
Mom: you didn't just drop your middle name
Me: yeah, I'm pretty sure I did. it's not there anymore
Mom: you can't just drop it
Me: no, I promise. It's no longer on my social security card. Isn't that like the official record or something?
Mom: *still not believing this is the current state*

I guess I just didn't really stop to think that she was probably flashing back on the hours that she and my dad had spent researching, arguing over, and coming to agreement on why I should be Queen B instead of Mary Ruth. I guess it was a little insensitive of me to just do away with all of that hard work. But I didn't want 4 names!"

Mar9: Panic Day

Summary: Try to stay calm. Take a deep breath. For today is Panic Day. Can you handle today? Good, we were worried for a moment. Hopefully, everything is going just swell in your life, and you have no need for this day. But, if problems and troubles are looming, try to hold off hitting the panic button until this day arrives. Don't worry. Don't fret. and, above all, don't panic. However, if ever there was a day to panic, today is that day. As you get through this unsettling day, you have another day to worry about.......International Panic Day.

Synopsis: I had a li'l bit of Panic on Panic Day. Someone shared with me a rumor that this project I was hoping would wrap up in the next few months might drag out for a whole year and then get completely scrapped. Yeah… panic. Fingers crossed that it was just a rumor!

Mar8: International (Working) Women's Day

Summary: International Women's Day is sponsored worldwide by the United Nations. The roots of this celebration goes back to the late 1800's to early 1900s. It grew from women's socialist movements and early women's trade union groups.

The first International Women's Day was held March 19, 1911. Women socialists and trade unions held an earlier Women's Day on the last Sunday in February, 1908. The event grew from there and has been celebrated annually since. The focus is upon women workers, and advancing women's rights in the workforce, politics and society.

Synopsis: I celebrated International Working Women's Day by working. Isn't a "working woman" code name for a hooker? I did not do that…. Just normal working. Remember: I'm in charge!

Mar6: National Frozen Food Day

Summary: National Frozen Food Day celebrates all those yummy foods and snacks in your freezer. Sure, the invention of the freezer made this day possible. But, the methods and techniques of preparing and freezing foods is what makes frozen foods taste great, look great and store in a frozen state until you need them. Imagine how your busy life would be if you didn't have a frozen dinner to pop into the microwave in between a late day at work and your evening event. You'd have to stop and make a dinner from scratch!

Synopsis: Thanks to my trip to the store Saturday night, I did not participate in this day via a frozen dinner. However, I did have a frozen treat :) I have been so completely in love with Dreyer's Berry Sherbet lately, but the store has been out of it way too often. The King got an alternative.... Dreyer's Orange Cream. I added some chocolate sauce to it, which I was a little unsure about but thought that National Frozen Food Day would be a great time to experiment. Added some whipped cream on top and ENJOYED :) whew. That was pretty much the extent of my frozen food consumption. I do keep my coffee in the freezer, so I guess that counts, too?

Mar5: Multiple Personality Day

Summary: Multiple Personality Day is an opportunity to get in touch with yourselves. Someone with a split personality has two personalities. Someone with multiple personalities has more than two personalities. Its a psychological disorder that we hope none of our readers have. Don't be surprised to find yourself surrounded by people who are talking to themselves today. You might find yourself talking to yourself, too! When you wish someone "Happy Multiple Personalty Day", you may need to do so multiple times, once for each personality.

Synopsis: The voices in my head fought. One voice said, "HIBERNATE! Don't get dressed, don't do anything." The other voice said, "get up, work out, do the dishes, fold the laundry, go to the store." In the end, the third voice helped them reach a compromise, so I fully celebrated Multiple Personality Day. I did do stuff, but I also lounged around a lot :)

Mar4: Holy Experiment Day

Summary: Holy Experiment Day is a day to try something religious. It is a chance to try something, or ask for something, and to measure the results.

There are a lot of things that can be viewed as religious or holy experiments. Some examples could be:

• Pray for someone to get better
• Pray for snow
• Pray for your team to win the superbowl
• Pray someone will ask you on a date
• Try saying grace at dinner and see if others join you
• Try to get a person to attend religious services
• Plan to convert someone to your religion

In our examples above, God may grant all, some, or none of the desired results. He may be too busy with the problems of the world to make it snow. He definitely doesn't have a favorite sports team. The Lord truely works in mysterious ways. Sometimes, he has his own plans for an outcome that we may not understand.

We don't want to discourage holy experiments. Quite the opposite, we think they are good. We just believe you shouldn't judge the results. Your religious beliefs will be strengthen and you will be closer to God. So, participate in Holy Experiment Day to its fullest.

Synopsis: As many of y'all know, ABBA had a dream as a child of becoming Pope. Sadly, she came to realize that this was an impossible dream.

A few months ago, my SIL's kiddos came up to Dallas to visit their favorite family members. My nephew brought a surprise with him - he (and his crazy dad, Mr. Big Ed) had gotten my MIL's boyfriend ordained as a high priest. As he was telling the story, he mentioned that you could choose your title - you could even be Pope! I immediately latched onto this and have been planning to get ABBA ordained as Pope (finally!). I decided that Holy Experiment Day would be the perfect day to do this.

There are 2 unfortunates to the story (1) it takes several days to get approved, which I had not budgeted into my plan. (2) now that the process has been kicked off, I have found that Pope is NOT actually one of the options :(

So... ABBA.... please choose your title from this list. (I highlighted some of my favorite options)

PS: I really don't understand why you can be Avatar but not Pope....

Mar4: Employee Appreciation Day

Summary: If the boss can get a Bosses Day, then it's only fair and appropriate that you, the employee, gets a day in your honor. Employee Appreciation Day honors employees everywhere. Celebrations today should be created and executed by your company. Recognitions vary widely, and may include a lunch, snack, cakes, or other munchies, and small recognition gifts. Don't expect a day off. Chances are, it just won't happen. As we researched this day, we wondered if it was a coincidence that Employee's Day and Bosses Day are six months apart.....hmmmmmm.

Synopsis: I waited around ALL DAY to be appreciated. Then I remembered that I really don't participate in Boss' Day, so why was I expecting appreciation? I capped the day off with a good dose of margaritas and appreciated myself!

Mar3: If Pets Had Thumbs Day

Summary: If Pets Had Thumbs Day leaves you wondering what would happen if.......

One thing that sets man apart from many other species on the planet is an opposable thumb. It allows us to do many things that other creatures can't do.

Now imagine what it would be like if your pet had thumbs. Do you get a clear image of your pet with thumbs? Are you seeing your pet doing things with their new thumb? If so, your mind is in spirit with today.

Note: If you have a pet monkey, you already know what it would be like for your pet to have thumbs.

Synopsis: I celebrated If Pets Had Thumbs Day by operating under the assumption that the puppies had thumbs. I asked them to open jars, do handstands, engage in a thumb wrestling competition. I think they got kinda pissed at me…

Mar2: Old Stuff Day

Summary: When asking someone "What's new?" or "What's happening?", how often do you hear "Nothing really, same old stuff". Well, today, is Old Stuff Day, in recognition of this all too common response. It is suggestive of a boring time period, or a boring life style. ....how sad.

Old Stuff Day is not a day to do the same old stuff. Rather, it's a time to recognize the boring nature of your daily routine, and make some exciting changes. Find new and different activities, projects, and hobbies. Attend an event. Do something, anything, different. You will be glad that you did!

Synopsis: In honor of Old Stuff Day, I shared the fascinating clip from the Today Show where they examined what exactly this internet thing is.

PS: Yes, you'll note that I don't like the "opposite" approach they have to celebrating a day called Old Stuff Day (why celebrate by NOT doing Old-Stuff-related things?!

Mar1: Peanut Butter Lovers' Day

Summary: Today is a sticky day. National Peanut Butter Lover's Day salutes America's favorite sandwich spread. What kid didn't grow up loving a PB&J sandwich? It's a staple in our house.

Smooth Peanut Butter is by far the most popular. Crunchy peanut butter is also on the market, and is enjoyed by many. Peanut Butter is not limited to a Peanut Butter and Jelly (PB&J) sandwich. It's popular on crackers, celery and other "peanut butter" holders. It is also used in recipes for cookies and snacks. And, don't forget peanut butter candies, too!

Did you Know? Peanut Butter is 90% or more peanuts. While it has no artificial preservatives, an opened jar is stored on a shelf at room temperature.

Celebrate today with a little (or a lot) of Peanut Butter. If you can, make your own Peanut Butter. Its a fun project that the kids will enjoy doing with you.

Noe: If you don't get enough peanut butter today, April 2nd is National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day. and September 13th is National Peanut Day.

Synopsis: I celebrated Peanut Butter Lovers' Day by demolishing my box of Do-Si-Dos! YUM