Life is sometimes too formal and stiff, too serious. We all need a little time to cut loose, act a little goofy, and just fool around. Today is a day to “Go Ape!” Put aside your troubles and worries. Throw off the shackles of stress on everyday living. Lock up your inhibitions in a safe, or a drawer. For today is hereby declared Monkey Around Day! Seriously, this June 14 holiday is a time NOT to be taken seriously. So, let’s all go a little bananas.

Monkeys are clever, intelligent, and social creatures. While they can’t talk orally to us, they are capable of learning numbers and recognize the alphabet. They even solve puzzles. People young and old have a fascination with them.

We all need a day (and probably more than one) to just monkey around and goof off, doing anything that comes to mind. It can and should be a little silly. It can be inane. Or, you can do something wild, crazy, or whimsical. Do something you’ve always wanted to do, but sensibility held you back. In other words, go out and have some untamed fun! Tomorrow, you will be glad that you did.

Movie of the Day: Planet of the Apes. But which one? The answer is easy… every one in the series!

Favorite Band: If they could talk, they would tell you that their favorite band is The Monkees.

Log Cabin Day brings you back to a quieter, simpler, more rugged era. A couple of hundred years ago, life was far more rugged. Americans moving West (west at the time may have been Ohio or Tennessee) found an untouched wilderness, filled with pristine forests. They built their homes out of logs from the plentiful and majestic forests. This rugged frontier lodgings, inns, and meeting places were solid, long-lasting, and served them well.

Life was rustic and simple. Heat was provided by an open fireplace, where they also cooked their meals. Need air conditioning in the summer? Just open the window (there wasn’t any glass or screening). There was no electricity (no television, stereos or boom boxes blasting, or computers). And, plumbing? Just look back towards the woods at the outhouse. The path to it is well-worn.

This holiday celebrates what was then the “Modern” home in America, and all of the lifestyle that accompanied it. Today is a day to appreciate the history and significance of log cabins. Visit them at historical museums today, or sometime this summer.

Seven early U.S. Presidents were born in log cabins. They are: 

• Andrew Jackson
• Zachary Taylor
• Millard Fillmore
• James Buchanan
• Abraham Lincoln
• Ulysses S. Grant
• James Garfield

Got something that’s bothering you? Perhaps it’s been this way for a long time. Don’t worry, be happy. Today is Let it Go Day, the perfect opportunity to shed your worries and concerns. You’re guaranteed to feel better at the end of this June 23 holiday, than you felt when you woke up today. Each time you let something go today, you’ll instantly feel better and better. As you let things go  

We’ve all got things that bug us, regrets, and things we wish would just stop bothering us. Perhaps, you feel bad or guilty about something you did or didn’t do. You may be holding on to a relationship that has ended, hoping the flame will somehow be rekindled. Maybe, you’ve been hoping against hope for some specific thing to happen, even though you know it will never come to pass. At times, we’ve all had problems or issues that eat away at us and make us feel bad.

Are you still saying to yourself “If only I had….” Whatever it is, simply cut it loose….. let it go.

Today is the time to free yourself and shed those problems and regrets from your mind and soul. Just let it go. Go ahead, give it a try. When you do, you will be so relieved. You’ll find peace, comfort, and contentment. And tonight, you will sleep better than you have in a long, long time. 

May all of your troubles be gone with the wind on Let it Go Day!!

Don’t be alarmed and push the panic button just yet. But, this is a day you may want to spend with your head in the sand. Today is International Panic Day, a day for everyone to look to with dread and dismay. We’re not sure what is so big, and so widespread, to create an international incident of this magnitude.  But, here it is on the calendar folks, an international day of hysteria and terror. If you’re like the rest of us, you’ll probably spend today running around in circles or pretending to be an ostrich.

The sky is falling, the sky is falling! This is not the only day to be panicked. The month of March also has another Panic Day. There certainly is a lot to worry about in our lives. You never know, a huge asteroid in space might be hurtling toward us as you read this. Or, aliens could be landing somewhere right this minute.

Today is International Yoga Day, as declared by the United Nations. This June 21 holiday encourages us to join the millions of people who already know the benefits of this ancient exercise. Yoga certainly has proved its worth and value over eons of time. Yoga originated in India over 5,000 years ago. Now that’s staying power!

Yoga is a combination of mental, physical, and spiritual exercise. It helps to relax you and to lower blood pressure. I’m all for that!

Celebrating this day is easy… just put your yoga mat down on the floor, and begin your exercise.

International Widows Day is a United Nations sponsored day. This June 23 holiday is a day of action., encouraging countries and organizations to strive to eliminate poverty and injustice suffered by millions of widows and their dependents around the world. We may not see it so much in the United States, but it is a serious problem most often seen in impoverished and developing countries.

The UN resolution called upon “Member States, the United Nations system and other international and regional organizations, to give special attention to the situation of widows and their children.”It is easy to forget the plight of widows, especially in underdeveloped countries where the male is most often the sole source of income.  Without him, his family likely ends up forgotten and in the street.

Today is International Waterfall Day, a June 16 holiday. Pity the person who lives in arid and desert regions. They miss out on the beautiful and plentiful waterfalls that are found all over the world. From water falling a few inches to a foot or more over rocks in a babbling brook, to the thundering cascade of Niagara Falls, people all over the world are absolutely enthralled by waterfalls. The power and sound of the crashing water thrill and amaze onlookers. Each waterfall is unique and beautiful in its own way. Each waterfall has its own character, and no two are quite alike. 

Waterfalls put on a show all year long, as the water is crashing and cascading over and down the rocks of the falls at a rapid rate. Waterfall displays are at their best in the spring, when melting snow and spring rains flood the rivers and streams that feed them. Some small waterfalls dry up completely during summer droughts. A temporarily dry waterfall may be of interest, but it does not captivate us as it does when water is rushing over a cliff in a vivid and sheer vertical drop, sending up an endless shower of mist at the bottom of the falls. 

Throughout history, humans have been drawn to settle near water and waterfalls. The inescapable lure is understandable. In addition to providing water to drink and bathe, the water provides fishing for both food and sport. Waterfalls are an endless supply of environmentally green energy. They powered sawmills and flour mills long before electricity was invented. The power of the rushing water turns hydroelectric generators, producing clean energy. Waterfalls attract throngs of tourists and a revenue stream from tourism. 

Something’s fishy. That’s because today is International Sushi Day. This holiday is one that sushi lovers will celebrate to the max. However, Sushi is not for everyone. If you don’t like it, you can celebrate by not eating it. Or, you will celebrate one of the other June 18 holidays.

Sushi was created in Japan. But, like other great-tasting foods, the Japanese could not keep this culinary treat a secret within their borders. It is popular around the world.  Sushi is a well-known type of Japanese cuisine, but it is often misunderstood. Most of us think of sushi as finger food containing raw fish. It certainly is finger food. But, there are many types. Not all types contain raw fish. So, we ask that you not hold your nose up to it. Rather, see what non-fish varieties there are and try them. 

This relatively new special day is titled an “International” day. We found very little reference to this day outside of the U.S.

There is only one requirement for this day. Simply eat some sushi.

We hope you enjoy it!

The weather outside is spectacular. International Picnic Day couldn’t have come at a better time. On this June 18 holiday, it’s wall-to-wall sunshine and warm, with just a slight breeze. Today is a perfect day to go outdoors and have a picnic. It can be in a park, or right in your backyard.

Picnics date back to Medieval times, when outdoor feasts were held to celebrate a successful hunt. They really grew in popularity during the Victorian Era in England.

Picnics are held outdoors from spring through fall. They are enjoyed by everyone. Young lovers with blankets and picnic baskets in hand are frequent sites in parks. Families and groups get together to enjoy picnics to celebrate just about any event, including Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, and family reunions. As a matter of fact, any reason is a good excuse to have a picnic.

Picnic fare commonly includes a meal, snacks, and outdoor games. Common picnic foods include hamburgers, hot dogs, macaroni, potato salad, and baked beans. But, any foods are fair game for your picnic. We suggest you try something a little different at each picnic.