Calling all hoarders. This day was created expressly for you. It’s Pack Rat Day, a May 17 holiday. Come out from hiding under your piles of precious belongings, and take a minute to celebrate and be recognized.

Today is Pack Rat Day. C’mon, admit it… .. you’re a Pack Rat. a hoarder like the rest of us. If you are a Pack Rat, you’re in good company. Many of us are hoarders, and some of us don’t even realize it. We hoard our belongings, well past their useful life, for any one (or two)of several reasons. It’s that favorite sweater, that has seen too many winters or is lost in the back of the closet. It’s that second toaster oven… ‘ya never know when the new one might break. What about the old vinyl record collection? You know, someday have antique value. You can’t get rid of them!  

It’s really easy to let things pile up. After all, each item you acquire along the road of life may have value or serve some meaningful purpose. ‘Ya just never know. Deciding to discard something of even remotely questionable value, is difficult, if not impossible to do. We understand you perfectly. Why? Because most of us are pack rats.

Take the Pack Rat Challenge: Check your closets and find room for more “stuff”. We know you can add more.

Our Favorite Television Show: A&E’s Hoarders

Oysters are a real gem. To many people, it is a delectable, culinary treat. To others, it is the source of valuable pearls. On this May 5 holiday we celebrate Oyster Day, a pearl of a day.  Oysters are shellfish or “mollusks” found in both freshwater and saltwater. They are a delicacy, enjoyed by many. Some folk love them. Others find them to be an acquired taste. They often produce pearls, making these two holidays a real gem. 

In the ocean (or freshwater for some types), these bottom dwellers sift food from the water around them. In doing so, they sometimes pick up a piece of sand or grit. If that piece of sand or grit gets lodged inside of the irregular shell, the oyster reacts to the irritant by slowly secreting a substance called “nacre” around the sand. Ultimately, it develops into a pearl. Do all oysters develop a pearl? No, but wouldn’t it be great to open one up to find a sparkling pearl!?

Oysters are declining in numbers. This is largely a result of overharvesting and damage to the ocean eco-structure. The damage is a result of pollution and global warming. Some environmental groups are working toward improving their habitat. This includes yet-to-be-approved legislation. 

Did You Know? Seattle, Washington is the world’s largest producer of cultivated pearls. They are known as the “Oyster Capital of the World”. 

It’s spring and the weather is getting warmer each day. It’s time to get out your sandals and flip-flops. Now is the perfect time of the year to go without socks. So, it is only fitting that today is No Socks Day. Go ahead, use this May 8 holiday to free your toes of the confines of socks and stockings. Give those toes of yours a breath of fresh air. The creators of this day also profess that No Socks Day will reduce your laundry load, and therefore, it’s healthy for the environment.

As we head towards summer, the urge to go barefoot hits us. It’s great to feel the soft grass or warm sand under and between our toes. Go ahead and wear those deck shoes without socks. That’s really the only way to wear them. Sandals and flip-flops are the norm when you need something on your feet. The only requirement is that you must wash your feet first. As for your shoes and sneakers, leave them in the closet until September.

No Dirty Dishes Day is a reprieve from the daily pile of dishes to wash and dry. Day after day, we do the daily chore of washing and drying dishes, then put them away in various cabinets and drawers. We perform this task after each and every meal, and often after snacks. Even putting them in and out of the dishwasher and running it, can be a chore. This May 18 holiday exists to give you a break from the daily routine. And if you have teenagers in the house, it gives them more time to focus on their homework.

You deserve a break from this routine. And, today is that day. The objective of this day is to have no dirty dishes. It is not intended to pile them up until tomorrow. The best approach is to avoid creating dirty dishes today. We strongly recommend that you do not pile up the dishes to do tomorrow.  This defeats the purpose of this very special day.

This is perhaps the very best food holiday of all. It’s International No Diet Day. On this day, we are encouraged to appreciate the bodies we have. You could consider it a “Big” backlash against becoming little (err thin) people. This May 6 holiday is intended for us to appreciate the body we have. It encourages us to recognize that people come in all shapes and sizes……. and that’s okay. Everyone except Dieticians love this holiday.

Today no food is taboo. We can eat what we want, in any quantity. We don’t have to count calories or carbs. And, don’t pass up that yummy-looking dessert. While you’re at it, take a second helping

Anti-diet groups exist to assist and support people who suffer from illnesses like anorexia, in their efforts to shed fat and be thin.  In addition to anorexia, other medical problems can result from taking diet pills, and surgeries, such as stomach stapling, to control weight. 

International No Diet Day is a good opportunity to re-assess and evaluate your weight management goals and perspective, and to make certain your efforts to be thin doesn’t come at a risk to your health. If you decide that continuing your diet is right for you, then use today to take a one-day break.

Remember the old saying: “Your body is your temple.” In your efforts to make your temple a thin one, do so safely and healthily.

Put away the whiskey and rye. Instead, tap the wine keg. Crack open a bottle and enjoy the fruit of the vine at its’ finest. Today is National Wine Day. Certainly, this May 25 holiday is a relaxing and enjoyable event. Don’t chug-a-lug your wine. Rather, wine is most pleasant when sipped and consumed slowly. Savor every drop.

People have been drinking wine since the early days of men (and women). There are plenty of references to wine in the Bible. Wine has thankfully been around for thousands of years.

There are many varieties of grapes, allowing us to make and enjoy, hundreds of different varieties of wines. Made from fermented grapes, wine is easy to make. As a result, there are many home vintners among us.

While you don’t have to drink wine today to celebrate this day, abstaining is certainly would not as much fun.

Today’s Song: Bottle of Wine by the Fireballs

Today’s Quote: ” Wine is constant proof that God loves us and loves to see us happy.” – – Benjamin Franklin

Today is National Sliders Day. White Castle restaurant created this special May 15 holiday. Funny, but this holiday coincides with your lucky day! Why, you ask? It’s because every year, White Castle’s 400 (or so) restaurants give away free sliders. If there isn’t a White Castle restaurant near you, you just might find another restaurant getting in on the fun, offering either free sliders or specials. So, slide on over to your local White Castle restaurant and chow down on a few sliders.

The original slider was a square, two-inch hamburger on a small bun. It was created by White Castle restaurant in 1921. Back then, White Castle sold them for a nickel each. They were sold in sacks. Time Magazine once called the slider “the most influential burger”.

By definition, a slider is any sandwich on a small hamburger bun. The original hamburger variety remains the most popular. Many restaurants have “hijacked” the name slider, and now make them out of all sorts of meats. After hamburgers, chicken and barbequed pulled pork are the favorites. Don’t be surprised, if you chance across some very unique sliders. Sliders are popular on menus as appetizers. They also make a great late-night snack. But, can you eat just one? We think not.

Did You Know? In 2014, Time Magazine proclaimed the White Castle Slider “the most influential burger of all time”.

Song of the Day: “Slip Sliding Away” sung by Simon and Garfunkel