Tomorrow is National Letting Go of Stuff Day

Hello Folks,

Would you believe after all this time I have no picnic outings to report from Florida? I'm still waiting for some consistent 70-plus degree weather without the strong winds that have become norm this winter. So, in lieu of picnicking, I have been spending more time working on my 2nd book, Cruising Cross-Country than I might have otherwise, and I guess this is a good thing.

So, putting the subject of day tripping, picnicking and writing aside for today, I would like to share the following from Chase's Calendar of Events. I believe the message can benefit everyone. These days we take stuff into our sub-conscious at an alarming rate and forget that every once and a while we need to clear out the negative, that which we no longer want or need in our lives.

Mission Statement: National Letting Go of Stuff Day ~ April 25th
To provide a day of acknowledgment for freeing up sub-conscious space so people all over the United States can begin to experience freedom - from the inside-out.

1. A day to claim your personal power.
2. A day to begin measuring your personal success from one year to the next.
3. A day to begin cleaning out your heart - getting rid of all the emotional pain.
4. A day to claim RENEWAL of your spirit.
5. A day to BEGIN LETTING GO of your past situations that are holding you back from your future success.
6. A day to claim your future dreams - as your own.
7. A day to accept and acknowledge what you can and cannot control in your life - and live accordingly.

http://www.nationallettinggoofstuffday.org/

Calendar of Events

2010 Chase's Calendar of Events has the most interesting information. For my family and friends back in Connecticut, this one is for you:

Hula in the Coola Day ~ February 1st is "A day for those longing to escape the winter doldrums to laugh at the cold with a luau party. Put away your winter coats, get out your shorts and flip-flops, play limbo and say 'Aloha.' "

If you are lucky enough to have already escaped the cold, to say, Florida, for the next 28 days (and longer I'm sure!) you can enjoy Florida Strawberry Month. Yum!

And, no matter where you live you can celebrate Bake for Family Fun Month. The Home Baking Association dedicates the entire month to "the great taste, good nutrition, economy and family fun of traditional home baking." http://www.homebaking.org/.

Wouldn't it be great if everyone working in a service industry put this into practice ~ National Laugh-Friendly Month. The sponsors of this one encourages businesses and individuals to promote exceptional customer service with smiles, humor and laughter.

Speaking of laughter, February 8th is Laugh and Get Rich Day. The promoter of this day believes that people who laugh are more effective, tend to remember things better, and that laughter helps to lower the turnover rate.

Joel Goodman: Seven days without laughter makes one weak.

Well, it looks like this month is all about eating and laughing. Sounds good to me!

Events and Food Talk

I hope everyone is taking advantage of the summer-like weather this weekend and spending time outdoors, preferably with a picnic. Although my book, Cruising Connecticut with a Picnic Basket, is all about combining a picnic with a day trip, or event, picnics do not always have to be lengthy or complicated.

Yesterday, I had chores that mostly kept me inside, but I knew I couldn't let the day go by without getting outdoors, so at lunch time I walked to a nearby luncheonette, ordered a sandwich and ate outside at a nearby picnic table with a view of several different flowering shrubs and trees. It was a perfect break in my busy day.

Occasionally, I surf the web to see what I can find on Events and Food, and this time, I have an event for both April and May.

http://www.foodreference.com/ is a website for food facts, fun, festivals and more. Under Food History for April, one of the featured foods is pecans, so I decided to share one of the most popular recipes in my book, Loaded Oatmeal Cookies, with pecans of course, and other surprises. It can be found on my website, http://www.cruisingconnecticut.com/ by clicking "What's in our Picnic Basket" and scrolling down to Featured Recipe.

May's event is from Chase's Calendar of Events, a book I enjoy perusing at the library on occasion. The first full week each year is National Wildflower Week, "a week to encourage the observation, cultivation and study of native wildflowers as a means of deepening humankind's relationship, responsibility and commitment to protect and care for the ecological integrity of Mother Earth."

Coincidentally, I just wrote about this favorite past time in my last blog on April 3rd. Check it out and plan your own spring wildflower hunt, either at one of the sites I mention, or at a park or nature center near you.

Ah, the joy of spring in Connecticut!

Check Out These Dates!

From time to time, I check Chase's Calendar of Events for special food days. If I find one for a specific food used in one of my recipes in Cruising Connecticut, I often print that recipe on the back of my bookmarks and pass them out during a book signing. Recently, I shared Loaded Oatmeal Cookies during National Pecan Month (April) and Cold Marinated Asparagus during National Asparagus Month (May).

Although the following dates have absolutely nothing to do with day tripping or picnicking or even food, they gave me a smile and I hope they give you one as well.

We missed this one, but Happiness Happens Day on August 8th, is sponsored by the Secret Society of Happy People. This is about encouraging "the expression of happiness and discouraging parade-raining." I like it!

I don't remember what I was doing on August 8th. I assume I was happy, since most days I am, but I thought, why leave it to chance, and added the date to my 2009 calendar. (I know it seems early to have next year's calendar, but I already have two Cruising Connecticut book talks scheduled.)

Coming up on September 2nd ~ are you ready for this one? Be late for Something Day. "To create a release from the stresses and strains resulting from a consistent need to be on time." I knew this was an authentic group when I went to the sponsor's website (The Procrastinators Club of America) and it said, "Click! To see our predictions for 2004."

Well now, there appears to be a little rivalry between the procrastinators' group and the non-procrastinators' group, because the very next day ~ September 3rd, is "Do it! Day (aka Fight Procrastination Day.) The sponsor of this day, a Productivity Coach says, "Feeling overwhelmed? Too many things left undone? Hard to focus? Today is your day to turn your Do Its into Did Its!"

My personal favorite? On September 9th, we can celebrate, Wonderful Weirdos Day. "All of us are blessed with one or two wonderful weirdos in our lives. These are the folks who remind us to think outside the box, to be a little more true to ourselves. Today's the day to thank them. So give them a hug, and say 'I love you, you weirdo!' "

Hmmm, I wonder if I will get a hug!

National Picnic Month

July is National Picnic Month! I discovered this fact on the website, http://www.foodreference.com/.

This caused me to wonder about other special days, so I checked Chase's Calendar of Events at the library, where I found the following interesting days coming up in July. You may want to note them on your calendar:

1. July 2 is "I Forgot Day." This is a day to make up for all the birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, etc. that you forgot to acknowledge during the year. Personally, I'd be in trouble if I only had one day a year to catch up on all my "forgots."

2. July 23 is "Hot Enough For Ya Day." On this day, we are permitted to ask the following question when nothing of intelligence comes to mind: "Is it hot enough for ya?" I actually asked this question today, first because it really was hot, but also in the event it's not that hot on the 23rd, I didn't want to miss my once-a-year opportunity.

3. July 27 is "Take Your Houseplants for a Walk Day." Supposedly, if they get to know their neighborhood, it will bring on wellness. They didn't say, but I feel sure this would work for humans as well.

Well, I'm not sure about the other events, but with the July 4th weekend, school being out, the first full month of summer, etc. there will certainly be plenty of opportunities to picnic.

So, in honor of National Picnic Month, anyone ordering a book from my website (http://www.cruisingconnecticut.com/) during July will pay just $12.00 rather than the retail price of $15.95. However, you must use the online order form for this offer. Just print the form and mail with check for $12.00 (plus tax) for each book, along with appropriate shipping and handling charges. Just write "Per Blog" anywhere on the form.

Speaking of all the birthdays, anniversaries, etc., at this price, why not order an extra book for a gift. Then you won't have to worry about "I Forgot Day."

Happy Picnicking!