Today is...
National Bike to Work Day

Today is National Bike to Work Day! In 1956, the Cycle Trade Association of America announced the first ever Bike Month. The purpose of this occasion was to promote bicycle sales. Today, National Bike Month, Bike Week, and Bike to Work Day have a much broader focus. These events encourage safe bicycling practices and promote cycling as a legitimate commuting alternative.
Join thousands of other Americans and participate in Bike to Work Day today. Whether you are environmentally conscious or just love the exercise, biking to work is a great way to avoid the commuter traffic and stay in shape! Happy cycling!

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Today is also National Cherry Cobbler Day & Pack Rat Day

This week is  American Craft Beer Week
 
May is National Hamburger Month & National Strawberry Month & National Bike Month

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History for May 17 1792 - The New York Stock Exchange was founded at 70 Wall Street by 24 brokers. 1875 - The first Kentucky Derby was run at Louisville, KY. 1975 - Elton John’s "Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy" album was released. It was the first album to be certified a million-seller on its first day of release. 1975 - NBC TV bought the rights to show "Gone with the Wind." The one time rights cost NBC $5,000,000. 1985 - Bobby Ewing died on the season finale of "Dallas" on CBS-TV. He returned the following season. 1993 - Barry Manilow appeared on the CBS-TV's "Murphy Brown." 1998 - New York Yankees pitcher David Wells became the 13th player in modern major league baseball history to throw a perfect game. ______________________________________________________ "There is only one way to happiness and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond our control." --Epictetus

Today is...
National Sea-Monkey Day

Sea-monkeys, which are also called “brine shrimp,” are small crustaceans that live in salt lakes. People in the United States have been keeping sea-monkeys as pets since the 1960s. Ever wondered how the sea-monkey got its name? These underwater creatures have long tails and demonstrate playful, monkey-like behavior!
One of the most fascinating characteristics of the sea-monkey is its ability to live for years as an egg before hatching. Purchased sea-monkeys only begin to hatch and grow once you’ve added the proper nutrients to the water environment. Fun Fact: Sea-monkeys have three eyes and breathe through their feet!
To celebrate National Sea-Monkey Day, buy some sea-monkeys of your own and enjoy watching them grow!

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Today is also Biographer's Day

This week is  American Craft Beer Week
 
May is National Hamburger Month & National Strawberry Month & National Bike Month

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History for May 16 1866 - The U.S. Congress authorized the first 5-cent piece to be minted. 1946 - "Annie Get Your Gun" opened on Broadway. 1965 - The Beach Boys appeared on the "The Ed Sullivan Show" and performed "Help Me Rhonda." 1985 - Michael Jordan was named Rookie of the Year in the NBA. 1991 - Queen Elizabeth II became the first British monarch to address the U.S. Congress. 2000 - U.S. First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton was nominated to run for U.S. Senator in New York. She was the first U.S. first lady to run for public office. ______________________________________________________ "Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away." --Anonymous

Today is...
National Chocolate Chip Day

In the 1930s, Ruth Graves Wakefield created the original chocolate chip cookie at her Toll House Inn in Whitman, Massachusetts. Ruth intended to bake chocolate cookies for her guests, but she ran out of baker’s chocolate. She substituted with chopped up semi-sweet chocolate morsels and discovered that the pieces did not melt into the dough as she expected. Her cookies were an instant hit. Today, 25% of all the cookies baked in the United States are chocolate chip!
To celebrate National Chocolate Chip Day, pick up a bag of chocolate chips at the supermarket and bake something yummy to share with friends and coworkers!

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This week is  American Craft Beer Week
 
May is National Hamburger Month & National Strawberry Month & National Bike Month

images and text courtesy of MyPunchbowl.com" -- http://www.mypunchbowl.com/

History for May 15 1862 - The U.S. Congress created the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 1926 - The New York Rangers were awarded a franchise by the National Hockey League (NHL). 1930 - Ellen Church became the first airline stewardess. 1941 - Joe DiMaggio began his historic major league baseball hitting streak of 56 games. 1964 - The Smothers Brothers, Dick and Tom, gave their first concert in Carnegie Hall in New York City. 1990 - Vincent Van Gogh's "Portrait of Doctor Gachet" was sold for $82.5 million. The sale set a new world record. ______________________________________________________ "Make voyages. Attempt them. There’s nothing else." --T.S. Eliot

Today is...
National Dance Like a Chicken Day

 Although we may not like to admit it, we all have rocked the Chicken Dance at least once or twice in our lives. This silly dance is a perennial favorite at birthday parties, bat mitzvahs, weddings, and other family gatherings.
A Swiss accordion player named Werner Thomas wrote the melody for the Chicken Dance song in the late 1950s. In 1963, he began performing it at his restaurant. The people who bravely stood up and danced along to the tune often used sporadic movements that reminded Thomas of ducks and chickens. By the time the Chicken Dance arrived in America in the 1970s, it had acquired set choreography with repetitive beak, wing, and tail motions.
Today, the Chicken Dance has earned a permanent place in the pantheon of cheesy party dances. Other favorites include the Hokey Pokey, the Electric Slide, and the Macarena. To celebrate National Dance Like a Chicken Day, turn on this familiar tune and dance like a chicken!

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Today National Buttermilk Biscuit Day & Shavuotis also 

This week is  American Craft Beer Week
 
May is National Hamburger Month & National Strawberry Month & National Bike Month

images and text courtesy of MyPunchbowl.com" -- http://www.mypunchbowl.com/

History for May 14 1787 - Delegates began gathering in Philadelphia for a convention to draw up the U.S. Constitution. 1853 - Gail Borden applied for a patent for condensed milk. 1878 - The name Vaseline was registered by Robert A. Chesebrough. 1913 - The Rockefeller Foundation was created by John D. Rockefeller with a gift of $100,000,000. 1985 - The first McDonald's restaurant became the first fast-food business museum. It is located in Des Plaines, Illinois. 1998 - The final episode of the TV series "Seinfeld" aired after nine years on NBC. ______________________________________________________ "Be thine own palace, or the world’s thy jail." --John Donne

Today is...
National Apple Pie Day

Apple pie is the quintessential American dessert! However, apple pie wasn't even invented in the U.S. Rather it was invented in Europe sometime during the 14th century. The first apple pie recipe was printed by Geoffrey Chaucer in 1381 in England. The ingredients in the recipe included apples, spices, figs, raisins, pears, saffron, and cofyn (a casing of pastry).
Dutch apple pie recipes date back to the late 15th century. These recipes were similar to the English recipes except they included a scoop of ice cream placed on top of the pie before it was served. This tradition—apple pie à la mode—was eventually brought to America where most people continue to enjoy their apple pie topped with ice cream.
To celebrate National Apple Pie Day, bake a delicious apple pie or pick one up at your local bakery to share with your family. Just don't forget the ice cream!

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Today is also National National Fruit Cocktail Day

This week is  American Craft Beer Week
 
May is National Hamburger Month & National Strawberry Month & National Bike Month

images and text courtesy of MyPunchbowl.com" -- http://www.mypunchbowl.com/

History for May 13 1607 - Jamestown, Virginia, was settled as a colony of England. 1865 - The last land engagement of the American Civil War was fought at the Battle of Palmito Ranch in far south Texas, more than a month after Gen. Lee's surrender at Appomattox, VA. 1867 - Confederate President Jefferson Davis became a free man after spending two years in prison for his role in the American Civil War. 1967 - Mickey Mantle hit his 500th homerun. 1968 - Peace talks between the U.S. and North Vietnam began in Paris. 1982 - The Chicago Cubs became the first major-league baseball team to win 8,000 games. 1985 - Tony Perez became the oldest major league baseball player to hit a grand slam home run at the age of 42 and 11 months. ______________________________________________________ "At bottom every man knows well enough that he is a unique human being, only once on this earth; and by no extraordinary chance will such a marvelously picturesque piece of diversity in unity as he is, ever be put together a second time." --Friedrich Nietzsche

Today is...
Clean Up Your Room Day

 Have you been avoiding your spring-cleaning this year? Today is the day to get motivated! Whether you decide to tackle a messy closet, a mounting pile of laundry, a whole room, or even the entire house, it’ll be well worth the effort.
The tradition of spring-cleaning dates back to the days when people relied on fire to light and heat their homes through the winter. After months of being shut up with no fresh air, everything in the house would be covered in soot and ash. Spring-cleaning traditionally took place on the first warm day of the season. The entire family would roll up their sleeves and move all the furniture and linens outdoors. They would then clean the house from top to bottom, scrubbing down the walls, beating the dirt out of the carpets, and dusting everything in sight.
Begin your spring-cleaning by putting things away in their proper places and creating piles for trash and donations. Once you’ve decluttered it will become much easier to do the actual vacuuming, dusting, and scrubbing. When you’ve completed your project, remember to reward yourself for all your hard work! Happy Clean Up Your Room Day!

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Today is also National Shrimp Day & National Public Gardens Day & Military Spouse Appreciation Day

This week is Be Kind to Animals Week & National Pet Week
 
May is National Hamburger Month & National Strawberry Month & National Bike Month

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History for May 10 1773 - The English Parliament passed the Tea Act, which taxed all tea in the U.S. colonies. 1869 - Central Pacific and Union Pacific Rail Roads meet in Promontory, UT. A golden spike was driven in at the celebration of the first transcontinental railroad in the U.S. 1924 - J. Edgar Hoover was appointed head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 1965 - The Rolling Stones produced their very first recordings when they recorded "Come On" and "I Wanna Be Loved" from the album "Out of Our Heads." 1969 - The National and American Football Leagues announced their plans to merge for the 1970-71 season. 1974 - Eric Clapton recorded "I Shot the Sheriff." ______________________________________________________ "When people are bored, it is primarily with their own selves." --Eric Hoffer

Today is...
National Butterscotch Brownie Day

Butterscotch brownies, also known as “blondies,” are delicious baked goodies that date back to the 19th century. Recipes for these soft, chewy bars most likely evolved from Medieval gingerbread cake recipes. In fact, butterscotch brownies were around for almost a hundred years before chocolate brownies became popular!
To make butterscotch brownies, you need flour, baking powder, salt, butter, brown sugar, vanilla extract, eggs, and butterscotch. Popular add-in ingredients include walnuts, pecans, butterscotch pieces, chocolate chips, Nutella, banana, or cranberries. You can also choose to add a topping like chocolate Irish cream frosting or drizzled caramel. Yum!
To celebrate National Butterscotch Brownie Day, make a batch of homemade blondies to share with friends and family!

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This week is Be Kind to Animals Week & National Pet Week
 
May is National Hamburger Month & National Strawberry Month & National Bike Month

images and text courtesy of MyPunchbowl.com" -- http://www.mypunchbowl.com/

History for May 9 1502 - Christopher Columbus left Spain for his final trip to the Western Hemisphere. 1926 - Americans Richard Byrd and Floyd Bennett became the first men to fly an airplane over the North Pole. 1940 - Vivien Leigh debuted in America on stage in "Romeo and Juliet" with Lawrence Olivier. 1944 - Jimmie Davis became the Governor of Louisiana. He wrote "You Are My Sunshine." 1961 - Jim Gentile of the Baltimore Orioles set a major-league baseball record by hitting grand slam home runs in two consecutive innings (against the Minnesota Twins). ______________________________________________________ "Life is a tragedy for those who feel, and a comedy for those who think." --La Bruyere