Twain's Twang

Today is National Country Music Day! Country Music seems to be one of those genres of music that everyone either loves or hates. A majority of music made in America has it's roots in country, though, so if you aren't careful you might find yourself liking it. Since it's also the fourth day into the month of July, country music is very likely to be played very loudly in big open fields. Or as open as a field can be with hundreds of people standing in a crowded area surrounded by grills, the sun, and later on large explosions in the sky. You might say "Won't that be hot an uncomfortable?". Yyyyep.

Today is also Tom Sawyer Fence-Painting Day! If you haven't read The Adventures of Tom Sawyer or maybe it was just "Tom Sawyer" to you, then you probably won't get this holiday or a lot of references that people make to it on a monthly basis in the south. The brief explanation is that Tom Sawyer was painting his fence and tricked his friends into painting the fence that he had been tasked with. You can celebrate today in three easy steps.

1) Get work assigned to you.
2) Trick someone else into doing it with your wit and boyish charm
3) Take the day off.

Thanks for reading!
~Kyle

Paranoid Narcissist

Today is Stay Out of the Sun Day! Having just driven (drove? droven?) home in the heat of a car without air conditioning in the afternoon of the middle of the summer, I can say that today is a GREAT day to stay out of the sun. It's hot, it's unstoppable, and it's aimed right at you. A day in the summer is exactly like a natural human life. At the beginning, it's new, beautiful, and it's just a great thing to see: Newborn. Right around noon, it starts getting to be a little bit of a handful. It annoys you, it might even hurt you if you are with it too long: Pre-teen to around 23 depending on maturity levels. Right before dusk it starts calming down and mingles with the lower clouds and rooftops. It's barely getting a little more colour as it has experienced much in the hours it has been out: Middle Age. Finally there is sunset. The time when there is brilliant changes of color as it cools down and reflects on all it's done in it's time before it's gone for the night: Oldies. The moral of the story is: Stay out of the sun in the middle of the day. Also pre-teens I guess.

Today is also Compliment Your Mirror Day! Well, well, well. These holidays go hand in hand! If you choose to stay out of the sun by staying inside (wise choice), then you can take the time that you could have been spending working on your tan (or burn if you're me) telling yourself how good you look instead. It's fairly easy to do. All you need is a mirror (preferably clean), and your face (again... preferably clean). Then you just notice all the good things about your face, and compliment yourself on them. Easy peasy right? You could also take the literal route and compliment your mirror. Look how perfectly cut and reflective it is!

Thanks for reading!
~Kyle

Visiting Lizzy

Today is Visitation of the Virgin Mary Day! Today is a day that celebrates the day when the Virgin Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth. Mary was pregnant with Jesus while Elizabeth was pregnant with John the Baptist. Elizabeth blessed Mary and her unborn child, and John jumped around in Elizabeth's womb. This isn't really a major religious holiday, but it's still viewed by a number of churches (most catholic). It's also celebrated by one of the most time honored celebrations in existence: Feasting. I don't see any specifics as to what is in the feast, so I'm to assume that (since it was a holiday created in the medieval days) it's mostly meat and drink. Feasting, in my opinion, is by far the best way to celebrate. It's simple, it's easy, and it's fun. What's great about a feast is the variety. Anybody can be involved! Vegetarian? Salad! Carnivore? Steak! Normal person? EVERYTHING!

Regardless of what you eat today, remember the spirit of the holiday. Try reading into the event and seeing what significance you can find in it to take away. (Trust me, you'll always find something to take away). The biblical references for the event are: Luke 1:41 (That's the exact verse, but read the whole chapter for context ( 'cause context is good for you))

Thanks for reading!
~Kyle