Celebrate Every Day

You Might Not Believe What Treasures Are Lurking In Your Messy Room!

Welcome to May 10th, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate hidden treasures and mighty crustaceans. 

If you’re a fan of the reality tv show, Storage Wars then you know the premise. A group of veteran buyers bid on the contents of abandoned storage units, which they purchase, sight unseen with some very interesting results.  It’s not unusual to discover hidden treasures in the trash and the net gain can be astounding. One of the strangest items ever unearthed were chicken eyeglasses.  It turns out that this accessory was used in the 1940s and 50s to keep chickens from pecking their eyes out.  They also made the birds appear quite stylish.  If it’s been awhile since you’ve cleaned up your own space, consider the hidden treasure that could be lurking in your own house.  On National Clean Up Your Room Day, celebrate with a good Spring cleaning.  You never know what you could cash in on!

One of the toughest animals in the ocean is probably not one you’d guess. Things like sharks and killer whales come to mind, not shrimp. The mantis shrimp is, pound for pound, one of the most lethal predators in the world. These tiny crustaceans have lightning quick moves, striking their prey with claws at an accelerated speed of 335,000 feet per second squared. For reference, that’s faster than a .22 caliber bullet and it’s fast enough to take your finger off! Kinda makes you rethink that shrimp scampi now, doesn’t it? On National Shrimp Day, celebrate this mighty creature, with or without cocktail sauce. 

I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson.  Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day.

Some Mysteries Are Not Meant To Be Solved!

Welcome to May 9th, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate our favorite women and a mystery that has yet to be solved. 

The idea for a national celebration of our mothers came from Julia Ward Howe during the Civil War and while Julia campaigned around the world to make it official, the idea did not catch on until 1905.  Most moms know it’s an uphill battle to secure a little rest and relaxation and on Mother’s Day we politely smile at the burnt toast and pancakes and the messy kitchen we may or may not have to clean up.  This is a great day to celebrate that special woman in your life. If you want to really make her day, be sure to learn the love language she prefers, but rest assured the homemade cards, gifts and flowers usually do the trick.  

Some mysteries may never be solved.  Who built Stonehenge?  What’s happening in Area 51? And perhaps the greatest of them all: why do so many socks disappear from dryers?  It’s completely frustrating!  You do a load of laundry with all your perfectly good pairs of socks.  Maybe they are dressy, or perhaps they have a picture of your dog on them.  It doesn’t matter.  The great dryer mystery does not discriminate.  It will consume any and all socks, but only one from each pair.  We are gathered today to remember these lost items  on National Lost Sock Memorial Day. We celebrate the joy they once gave us, and hope that our favorite Argyle friend will find its match in sock heaven. 

I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson.  Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day.

Travel Across The Continental United States Was Difficult Until Two Lines Became Connected.

Welcome to May 8th, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate the things that connect us coast to coast and around the world. 

In 1863, travel between the East Coast and California was very difficult and took forever, so construction began on the Transcontinental Railroad. It took 6 years, but by the time it was completed, the country had a series of railroad tracks that ran the entire length of the continent. The line was built from both the east and the west, both sides moving ahead until they connected. That moment came in 1869 when the two lines met at Promontory Summit in Utah, a tiny town north of the Great Salt Lake. To commemorate the event, Senator Leland Stanford of California drove the final spike, made of gold into the rails. On National Train Day, we celebrate an invention that quite literally helped build a nation.

Tropical fruits were all the rage in the 1800s, as Americans and Europeans took great care to import bananas and pineapples.  But people scratched their heads over how to ship coconuts.  It was the French who decided to shred and dry the coconut meat for easier shipping from Ceylon, and voila, a new ingredient emerged.  From here it was a short hop, skip and a jump into delicious desserts such as custards and pies.  And anyone who enjoys this creamy confection, is likely to whip one up for any occasion. On National Coconut Cream Pie Day, we celebrate this exotic flavor that is now a part of our favorite recipes.

I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson.  Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day.

Some Packages Define A Brand! Hint: Think Distinctive Bottles.

Welcome to May 7th, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate standing out in a crowd and things that are out of this world. 

It’s been said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. And while that may be true, it wasn’t for Coca-Cola in the early 1900s. Its product was so popular that dozens of knockoff beverages had hit the market and were cutting into Coke’s business. They decided the best way to combat this was to create a distinctive bottle. This new design not only made it stand out in a crowd, it quickly became so recognizable that people could look at it and immediately associate it with the brand. On National Packaging Design Day, take a moment to appreciate the thought that goes into the boxes and bottles we see everyday that put those products above the rest.

Space, the final frontier… Few other days make me as excited as National Space Day, and apparently, I am not alone.  Lockheed Martin Corporation created this celebration as a one day event in 1997 and by 2001, former astronaut and Senator John Glenn expanded it to worldwide acclaim.  This was the year he established International Space Day and its popularity continues to skyrocket!  While we have only been able to physically reach the stars in the last 60 years, the cosmos has been inspiring mankind for as long as we have been looking up.  On National Space Day, celebrate this playground for the imagination and dare to boldly go where no one has gone before. 

I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson.  Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day.

Does Your Password Start With 123456?

Welcome to May 6th, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate stepping up security and the heroes on the front line of medicine. 

Anna: 123456. 1234567. 123456789.

Marlo: Why are you counting?

Anna: I’m not. Those are three of the most common computer passwords that people used last year.

Marlo: Wow. That’s terrible.

Anna: Yep. And those are only a few. There’s also the classic “abc123” and “password.”

Marlo: You’re kidding. 

Anna: I wish I were. In the movies, people create elaborate security systems that take forever to crack. In real life, we practically roll out the red carpet for cyber troubles. Today is World Password Day, a perfect time to update your computer security and make sure that your information is protected.

In the midst of the Civil War, an unlikely hero emerged.  This person was not a soldier or even a politician.  Clara Barton, a trained nurse, was working as a patent clerk, when she decided to leave her civilian post to serve in the conflict.  She attended the sick and injured troops on both sides of the front line, bringing food and medical attention wherever it was needed most. This earned Clara Barton the unofficial distinction of being an Angel of the Battlefield. She went on to found the American Red Cross and is celebrated today in both the North and the South.  On National Nurses Day we celebrate the hard working people with the same dedication and courage found on our front lines today.

I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson.  Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day!

Did You Watch The Orbit Of The Freedom 7 Space Capsule?

Welcome to May 5th, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate the independent spirit of our closest neighbors and the skies above. 

In 1862, Mexico defaulted on loan payments to France, and the French government was not pleased. So displeased that it sent troops to Mexico to overthrow the country. Normally, the United States would have intervened, but it was in the midst of civil war…and France wanted to take advantage of the situation. The French army landed at the port of Veracruz and began to march toward Mexico City. On May 5th, they ran into Mexican forces who, though badly outnumbered, beat the French and sent them running back to the coast. On Cinco de Mayo, we celebrate this small but significant victory with a tribute to Mexican culture, including great music, food and cervezas!  

If you were alive on this day in 1961 to watch the Freedom 7 Space capsule and its 15 minute orbit, chances are good you can still feel the excitement of that moment.  Astronaut Alan Shepard is regarded as a hero today and no matter your age or how you spend your time on earth, one truth remains constant, “Space Inspires.” Today we celebrate the pioneers like Shepard and many others who were willing to risk it all and go first.  We know that our kids will discover new frontiers as they stand on the shoulders of these giants.  On National Astronaut Day, reach for the stars and support the programs that teach the next generation of space explorers, who already know that the sky’s the limit! 

I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson.  Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day.

May The Fourth Be With You!

Welcome to May 4th, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate rites of Spring and movie magic. 

Male birds tend to be more beautiful than their female companions. And there’s a reason. In the bird world, the female chooses her mate based on how he woos her—and this involves catching her eye. Take, the Costa’s Hummingbird, who puts on an elaborate aerial show in front of the lady he’s courting. Twisting and turning and doing mid-air tricks, he shows off his radiant green body in the hopes that she’ll want him. But then he has to pull off the big finale: puffing out the plumes on his head to look like a big purple dandelion. And even then, she might shrug and fly away. Suddenly, swiping right doesn’t seem like such a big deal, does it? On Bird Day celebrate the eye-catching dance rituals that you thankfully don’t have to pull off yourself.

During the Summer of ‘77, people across America were sitting in darkened movie theatres, crunching away on popcorn as the screen went to black.  A short phrase appeared that would change movie history. “A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…”  And with that we were hooked on the story of Luke Skywalker and his battle against the Empire.  Star Wars and all its sequels have not only reshaped pop culture, but also moviemaking in general.  There are spin offs galore and merchandise deals of galactic proportions, with an estimated 7 billion dollars of merch revenue during any year a new movie is released.  On National Star Wars Day, celebrate by dressing up as a Jedi or Wookie and whatever you do, “May the Fourth Be With You!”  

I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson.  Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day.

Did You Know That Harry Houdini Was A Real Life Ghostbuster?

Welcome to May 3rd, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate lifestyles of the super rich and the supernatural. 

If you are into luxury items then be sure to add something made of vicuña wool to your list of “must haves.”  Companies that manufacture cashmere and merino wool goods know this specialty textile as the world’s most expensive fabric.  It comes from the vicuña, an animal in the camelid family that lives in the Andes mountains. Vicuña are wild and more difficult to catch than their alpaca and llama cousins.   Their wool can only be shorn every two to three years, but being as it is exceptionally fine, soft and warm, vicuña wool is worth the wait.  The price on the other hand may give most people pause, as a yard of this wool starts at $3,000 and can cost up to $4,300 for adding gold thread. On National Textiles Day celebrate something in your price range with a wide variety of choices.

Did you know that history’s most famous magician, Harry Houdini was also a real life ghostbuster?  When he wasn’t on stage performing, he devoted his time to proving that ghosts didn’t exist.  In particular, he regularly exposed psychics and spiritual mediums as frauds.  Houdini once gave his wife a secret phrase that only they knew and told her he would contact her from the afterlife if such a thing were possible.  Though she held many seances after his death, she never did hear from Harry the ghost. If you’re naturally curious like Mulder and Scully then this is your day to explore hair raising videos.   On National Paranormal Day we celebrate all things spooky and supernatural, and remind you that the truth is out there.  

I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson.  Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day.

Did You Know That Truffles Can Fetch Up To $350 For A Single Ounce?!

Welcome to May 2nd, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate smelly mushrooms and sweet success.   

If you’re a fan of all things chocolate, then the word “truffle” conjures images of rich round globes of decadent candy.   But if you’re a connoisseur of the pungent fungus kind then you know truffles are a culinary love bomb.  Truffles are mushrooms that grow underground, and when they are ready for harvesting,  they give off an odor that is best detected by a pig or a dog.  This rich aroma is what gives them their characteristic flavor and ridiculous high price.  But buyer beware; most truffles lose this flavor after only four days!  For a product that fetches up to $350 an ounce, the market can be full of counterfeits.  It’s best to buy them from a reputable supplier.  Or better yet, celebrate National Truffle Day by dining out at your favorite bougie restaurant. 

National Lemonade Day is the perfect opportunity to teach kids about the sweet taste of success.  Who wouldn't benefit from the lesson these days that when life give you lemons, you make lemonade.  The first Sunday of May invites you to visit the website lemonadeday.org to find new ways to inspire young people. This organization teaches them to first, set a goal, second, make a plan, third, work the plan and fourth, achieve your dream. Of course you’ll want to get a jump start on the planning so your kids can have every opportunity to succeed.  On National Lemonade Day don’t forget to kick back and sip the juicy rewards!

I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson.  Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day.

Have You Noticed Anything Missing In Your Cupboard? Don't Be Surprised If Your Dish Runs Away With Your Spoon Today!

Welcome to May 1st, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate the fictional folks who make our world more magical. 

If you haven’t been paying attention to the exploits of your favorite masked heroes, today is the day to get caught up. Each year on the first Saturday of May, comic book stores around the country give away free issues of their most in-demand titles. This tradition began in 2001, when superheroes began to appear on the big screen. Publishers realized that casual fans had questions about their favorite heroes and decided that this could help to build business. On Free Comic Book Day you can drop in and pick up a limited-edition of anything from the Avengers to Archie Comics. This year, there are over 40 titles to choose from, so get out and support your local comic book store. You might find a new favorite hero (or villain) to cheer for.

Hey, diddle, diddle, the cat and the fiddle.  The cow jumped over the moon. Bet you know the rest of that poem like the back of your hand.  We all grew up learning rhymes about cats playing fiddles and little piggies going to market, but probably never questioned where they came from. But one author is given credit for these classic stories, that have been passed down for centuries: Mother Goose.   So if you find your flatware has run off with your dishes or your little dog is having a laugh, don’t be alarmed.  On National Mother Goose Day everyone is celebrating the most beloved poet who never existed. 

I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson.  Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day.