March 30th is National Doctor's Day

How do you feel today?

If you feel good, good for you! If you need to see your doctor, be nice to her. Today is National Doctor's Day, a day set aside to appreciate your doctor. Find some creative ways to celebrate Doctor's Day with your family.

Here's a site where people can share information and take control of their own health care: Revolution Health. Besides information on doctors, treatments, and hospitals, there are popular articles and blogs by patients and even some doctors.

If you are looking for a new doctor, try a search in your town for someone with a particular specialty. Select from the list and a comparison will display with location, including maps -- looking for a doctor near you? -- things to consider are specialty, language spoken in the office, years in practice, board certified status, and reviews by current patients.

Is your doctor listed? If not, add the name along with a story illustrating why he is a good doctor (or why people should stay away!). I read some sad stories and some glowing recommendations.

Revolution Health is the perfect site to visit this National Doctor's Day.

technorati tags: vickisblog, healthcare, revolutionhealth, findadoctor, recommendadoctor, nationaldoctorsday, health, doctor, calendar

March 25th is International Waffle Day and Pecan Day

Have a favorite food?

Garry's favorite Sunday breakfast is a nice plate of waffles. What luck! Today happens to be International Waffle Day.

Waffles were probably first eaten in early Greece, and who doesn't like Belgian Waffles? The special day was originally Vaffeldagen, a Swedish holiday celebrating the Feast of the Annunciation along with the beginning of spring. It really is international.

America added to the festivities when Cornelius Swarthout of New York patented the waffle iron in1869. The patent was issued in August, and Waffle Iron Day is in June, but International Waffle Day is today, and it's okay to use a waffle iron to prepare for the celebration.

My favorite nut is the pecan, and I'm in luck because today is also Pecan Day.

Now it's not International Pecan Day, nor is it National Pecan Day. It is simply Pecan Day. Well, 'simply' is not the right word because there's more to it. There is a National Pecan Day on April 14. Two pecan days!

They are not only yummy; they are healthy, too. Pecans are high in protein and antioxidants, and I have found another health benefit -- they are high in fiber, too. Wow. Pecans really do deserve two days.

When I was a young kid and we went out to breakfast, I often ordered the pecan waffles. Maybe it was not March 25, but it was a good day for some favorite foods.

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Crafts with the kids? Spring decorating? Spring cleaning? What about cooking something just for spring? Kaboose has plenty of family friendly ideas for activities, spring vacation suggestions, and more, as well as hints for dealing with allergies or that spring cold.

Sign up for the newsletter for family activities each month.

Keep Me Warm in Style

The National Quilting Association met in Lincoln, Nebraska, in June 1991, and they named the third Saturday in March National Quilting Day. And why should quilters have their own special day?

Quilting is part of our heritage. State and county fairs, antique shows, swap meets and other gatherings always have beautiful quilts displayed. My great grandmother who lived on an Oklahoma farm was one of many who made quilts using scraps from the feed sacks. Old baby clothes are used to honor a childhood.

Women gathered to socialize and made productive use of their visiting time at quilting bees. Remember the 1995 movie How To Make an American Quilt?

On a more serious note, the AIDS Memorial Quilt serves to foster healing, heighten awareness, and inspire action in the struggle against HIV and AIDS. The quilt is a creative outlet for remembrance and healing, and an illustration of the enormity of this pandemic. Each of the 44,000 3 x 6 foot panels, representing all 50 states and 26 countries, commemorates the life of an individual who died of AIDS. The quilt was first displayed on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., in 1987. Click here to view the quilt and see how to add a name.

More Than Just Cookies

The Girl Scouts celebrate 95 years of scouting in the US with Make the World a Better Place Week beginning today.

Juliette Gordon Low began on this date in 1912 with 18 girls in Savannah to help girls develop leadership skills. Did it work? You decide --

Girl Scout Alumnae include:
Sandra Day O'Connor
Madeleine Albright
Eileen Collins
Dr. Drew Gilpin Faust
Katie Couric
50% of women in Congress
64% of women listed in Who's Who in America
53% of women business owners

Juliette Gordon Low was one of America's first female pilots, and she introduced that skill to the girls through the Girl Scout aviation badge 4 years before women could vote.

Looking for an alternative to the controversial Bratz dolls? The Girl Scouts teamed with Manhattan Toys to develop Groovy Girls.

Working for the Common Good

Commonwealth 2007
Respecting Difference, Promoting Understanding

53 countries, from Asia, Africa, North America, the Caribbean, Europe and the Pacific form a partnership dedicated to co-operation and governed by mutual respect. On Commonwealth Day, there are events celebrating equality, justice, and freedom. The Commonwealth grew out of Britain's imperial past and Queen Elizabeth II is Head of the Commonwealth.

Every member joins in six affirmations:

Human Worth
Stewardship of the Earth
Equality, Justice and Peace
The Primacy of Love
Unity in Diversity - Service and Sacrifice
The Sixth Affirmation changes based on the Year's Theme

A large celebration is a multi-faith, multi-cultural event to take place in Westminster Abbey. Since 1930, the Commonwealth Games have attracted international competitors in a relaxed atmosphere known as the Friendly Games, next scheduled in 2010 in New Delhi.

Prime Minister Nehru of India said the Commonwealth could bring "a touch of healing" to the world's population. Sounds like a path to peace to me. Read details here. Be sure to check the end of the document for the many related websites.

MS Awareness Week Ends

MS Awareness Week ended yesterday. It is still National MS Month, so there is still time to Join the Movement.

When I first looked at the wall, there were about 700 marks. Now there are more than 2000. Search for the name Garry and see my favorite upright's marks.

Johnny's Apples

Have you had your apple today? If no, why not? If yes, thank John Chapman.

Some of the story may be legend, but it is based on truth. Chapman walked barefooted planting millions -- yes, millions -- of apple seeds between the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, earning him the nickname of Johnny Appleseed. Most people knew him by no other name.

He also sold seedlings to pioneers headed west, so he is probably responsible for the orchards in the Northwest.

Today is his day. Happy Johnny Appleseed Day.

March is National Women's History Month

This month is about women making history.

March is National Women's History Month and the theme this year is Generations of Women Moving History Forward. The theme recognizes two important anniversaries: 50 years ago, Central High School in Little Rock was successfully integrated; 30 years ago the National Women's Conference was held in Houston.

Both of these historic events marked the beginning of changes in government policy and our daily lives. Look at today's political arena -- the top democratic presidential contenders include an African American and a woman. Women and African Americans have run before, but these candidates are TOP contenders for the TOP political office.

The thirteen women honorees this year begin with Mathilda Joslyn Gage, an early suffragist, and end with Monique Mehta, who works with compelling problems such as immigration and homelessness. These women are all inspirational in their accomplishments and their daily lives.

We can all learn from these heroes.

technorati tags: vickisblog, homeless, immigration, national, women's, history, month, presidential, candidates, suffragist

Ring . . Ring

Alexander Graham Bell patented the telephone on this day in 1876.

His goal was to improve the telegraph, and his result was the telephone. Could he imagine what would evolve over the next 131 years -- that telephones could transmit pictures along with the voices?

Well, yes he could. Actually Bell used mirrors to develop the photophone.

Be Aware of MS

Tomorrow is the beginning of MS Awareness Week. Join the MS Movement.

Help us move toward a world free of MS.

Here's an interesting side note -- I subscribe to Visual Thesaurus who sends a word of the day to my email. Today's word - locomotion, the ability to move under one's own power - coincides with the MS Movement. Well, it made me smile.

Hug a Soldier Today

Today is Hug a GI Day.

It sounds like a good idea -- support the troops one troop at a time.

And let's expand the sentiment:

Hug a Veteran
Hug a GI's Spouse
Hug a GI's Child
Hug a GI's Parent
Hug a Cadet

If you aren't close enough to actually hug a GI, hug a GI in spirit. Send good wishes, say a prayer, think good thoughts. A GI somewhere will feel the hug.

It has been brought to my attention that this 'holidate' was created by Adrienne Sioux Koopersmith as she wrote in her blog Koopersmithin' Mar. 4, 2008. She gives a good background and some interesting tidbits. Take a look.

March -- Good Time for Good Health

Every month is special for one reason or another. March must be a time to think about health. First, in order to be healthy, we have to eat well. March has been designated as National Nutrition Month.

Several diseases and health concerns have also chosen a day, a week, or even the entire month to raise awareness for their cause.

National Kidney Month
National MS Month
American Red Cross Month
Save Your Vision Week
Mental Retardation Month
National Patient Safety Awareness Week
National Poison Prevention Week
World Tuberculosis Day
American Diabetes Day

Visit these sites to learn about the diseases and the patient care programs. Take special care of yourself, and make March a good health month!

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