Washington's birthday is a United States federal holiday celebrated on the third Monday of February in honor of George Washington, the first President of the United States, and concurrent with President's Day. Washington's Birthday is commonly referred to as Presidents' Day (sometimes spelled President's Day). President's Day was started by President Nixon, to honor all past presidents of the United States, and set on the day when Washington's Birthday was celebrated.
Nixon is on the celebratory list?
Massachusetts celebrates the holiday today but May 29 honors presidents with Massachusetts roots, John Kennedy, John and John Q. Adams, and Calvin Coolidge.
Alabama observes the day as "Washington and Jefferson Day", even though Jefferson's birthday is in April.
In Connecticut, Missouri, and Illinois Washington's Birthday is a federal holiday. Abraham Lincoln's birthday is still a state holiday, falling on February 12.
In Washington's home state of Virginia the holiday is legally known as "George Washington Day."
In Arkansas the third Monday in February is "George Washington's Birthday and Daisy Gatson Bates Day," an official state holiday.
In New Mexico Presidents Day, at least as a state government paid holiday, is observed on the Friday following Thanksgiving.
State and federal workers have the day off. They even have other days and names to honor. I have a proposition: if you work today take off another day of the year, your choice. Call it "The Not Presidents Birthday Day."
Driving home from the doctors office last week a brightly painted small truck drove by with wescooppoop.com embossed on it's side. I'm guessing they scoop dog poop? I wonder if they charge by the hour, the weight, or the pile?
Anything you want or need? You can find lists of things to do and see. Lists of places to go and how to live well. The Internet is loaded with "Top 10" lists. Recently I've noticed lots of "Bottom 10" lists. The 10 Worst Hotels, or Supermarkets, or Cars.
I don't normally read the "bad" list. I'm afraid I'll read about something I've done, or bought, and shouldn't have.
"Ten Things To Avoid Eating While On Vacation." I assumed this would be Nutrition Do's and Dont's. Hints like avoid sugar, soda and fatty foods, it's not.
Ten Things To Avoid Eating While On Vacation or You Don't Have To Tell Me Twice.
1. Deep-Fried Scorpion: In China and Laos this is considered a terrific snack. That great big can of Pringles sounds pretty good now doesn't it?
2. Deep-Fried Tarantula: The Cambodian tarantula is big and it's eaten whole. This is one more reason I'll never visit this part of the world. Eat this? Not a chance. I wouldn't watch someone eating it.
3. Deer Penis: Thought to have therapeutic properties many countries serve it. In China it's served whole or in a variety of fully prepared and elaborate dishes. Just like Burger King, you can have it your way. Hold the pickles, hold the mayo, hold the testicles please. Just give me a penis on rye with mustard.
4. Escamoles: In Mexico the eggs of an insect harvested from the agave plant are often eaten in a taco with guacamole. They lend a buttery, nutty flavor. Of note, the agave plant is used to make mescal or tequila. Drink enough of either and anything could have a buttery, nutty flavor.
5. Fertilized Duck Eggs: This is a Filipino appetizer or snack known as balut. It's a boiled egg complete with an extra ingredient, some duck. Stick with spring rolls and empanadas. Eggs is eggs and duck is duck, one is for breakfast and one is for dinner. They should never be mixed.
6. Fruit Bat Soup: Have you ever ordered a whole boiled lobster? In the Pacific island of Palau, Fruit Bat Soup, same thing. Except it ain't a crustacean it's a hairy flying mammal. I have a hard enough time with lobster eyes looking at me, bats.....never.
7. Jellyfish: In China it's generally served cold. It can be chewy and tasteless. The million dollar question is, WHY? Jelly is good and so is fish, but this?
8. Maggot Cheese: A traditional dish on the Italian island of Sardinia is casu marzu. It's made using sheep's milk cheese that has been injected with live insect larva. The cheese is cut into strips and served on flat bread. I just recently developed a taste for Gouda and Brie. If I want anything from Sardinia, I'll stick to Sardines.
9. Mice Wine: A Chinese and Korean "health tonic" made from rice and mice. One more reason I'll never set toe in either of these countries. Why would anyone drink a liquid that's been compared to the taste of gasoline? Now, if they can convert their cars to operate on the stuff they may have something.
10. Pacha: This boiled sheep's head is popular in the Middle East, and let it stay there.
Some sound advice for anyone planning a trip to these more exotic parts of the world. Don't eat anything that moves, ever moved, or thought about moving. And if you can't pronounce it, move on down the menu.
Happy Federal Holiday.
No comments:
Post a Comment