Those who know me know full well that winter is not my favorite season. This morning I decided to research poems about winter that might bring a little feeling of joy to dispel my winter blues. Unfortunately, I found verse after verse talking about the “moaning wind,” the “dark, bleak days of winter,” and the “snow on snow.” These did not improve my feeling of desolation. So, I tried a different tactic. I researched holidays in February. Google promptly provided me with lists of Daily, Weekly, and Monthly Holidays and Observances. There were several that I knew without being prompted by the lists, such as Ground Hog Day and Valentine’s Day, but now I have a whole arsenal of things to celebrate as I wait for the weather and my mood to improve.
We start right in with one you might not want to miss…February 1st is National Dark Chocolate Day. That goes without explanation, but it is also National Get Up Day. When I was a kid, I enjoyed my early morning paper route when no one else was stirring, but as I grow older, the romance of getting up early eludes me. However, I know the old adages like, “The early bird gets the worm,” and “Get up early; you’ll find success.” These keep me getting out of bed shortly after the sun is up.
February 2nd, in addition to being Ground Hog Day, is also National Tator Tot Day. Sounds like a good day to plan Tator Tot Casserole…a good meal for a cold day. You might be thinking, “How does she know it will be cold?” My answer? It IS February.
Moving on to February 3rd, we get to celebrate National Carrot Cake Day. I’m sure this is one we will have to celebrate. We can even make it an early birthday cake for my grandson, who was born on February 4th. (Just a little family secret: When he had his first piece of carrot cake at about age 5, he promptly spit it in the garbage and announced, “Well, no carrot cake for me!” His reaction was so dramatic and honest that we still tease him about serving carrot cake for his birthday.)
February 4th is truly notable as it is the birthday of my second-born grandson. It is also World Cancer Day and National Homemade Soup Day. The only problem will be deciding what kind of soup to make, but it is a perfect choice for a cold winter day.
The next suggestion is for National Weatherperson’s Day on the 5th of February. I’m not so keen on this one, so maybe I will choose to celebrate Dog Training Education. My dog might be too old to learn new tricks, but I can still appreciate that he has learned a few along the way. And as anyone who knows him will surely agree, Oliver is the world’s best dog.
Next, on February 6th, we have Pay a Compliment Day. That’s a no-brainer and easy to accomplish, so perhaps we can also do something to acknowledge Black History Month. Maybe the best way to do this is to commit to listening to what our black friends are saying and try to hear from their perspective.
February 7th thru the 11th, include such suggestions as National Fettuccine Alfredo Day, National Read in the Bathtub Day, National Pizza Day, National Inventor’s Day, and National Don’t Cry Over Spilled Milk Day. National Get Out Your Guitar Day is also amongst the things to celebrate during this time period, so it looks like we better plan a party.
Of course, February 12th is well known for being the birthdate of Abraham Lincoln, and February 14th is Valentine’s Day. I can still recall being a kid in school and making art projects to honor both Lincoln and George Washington, who was born the 22nd of February. And who could forget exchanging valentines with classmates? Valentine’s Day is notably the biggest event of the month and what most people think of first when they think of February.
The remainder of the month includes such biggies as National Banana Bread Day, National Tortilla Chip Day, National Chili Day, National Drink Wine Day, National Pancake Day, and National Chocolate Covered Nut Day. If I celebrate all of these, my plan to lose weight this year will be destroyed, so I may have to pick and choose on these.
My favorite, though, is National Sleep in Public Day, which occurs on the 28th of February. After all the other occasions, we will probably need to acknowledge this one.
Now if all of this leaves you feeling a little lethargic and ready to find that chair and just curl up with a good book or binge-watch something on TV, and forget the housework, I have a solution so that you can still spring into Spring, ready to celebrate good weather and longer days. Just call ACS and let us help you keep up with the household chores or office cleaning. We can help you, whether it is doing a little deep cleaning or just keeping up with the daily grunge created by salt and sand dragged in from the outside during this “long, bleak winter.” We can shampoo your carpets, mop your floors, help you clean and organize corners, or just keep your office or living space feeling clean and bright to make the days pass quickly until we are able to get out and about again. We can provide daily, weekly, or monthly services whatever you need. ACS has trained employees and offers a satisfaction guarantee. So don’t let the winter blahs get you down. Call ACS and let us bring the sunshine into your space with a fresh, clean environment.
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