Today is National Pound Cake Day

Have you ever wondered why a pound cake is called a pound cake, I have. Now with the assistance of the World Wide Web I know. Back in the olden days a pound cake was made with a pound of sugar, a pound of flour, a pound of butter and a pound of eggs. The information I have doesn't indicate whether the eggs are with, or without the shells but I assume it's without. Either way that's one big friggin cake.

There's nothing like a piece of homemade not-a-pound-cake, fresh strawberries and whipped cream.

Today is also Unique Names Day so if you know anyone with these names give 'em a hello and a hug. Grayson, Kellen, Tate, Quentin, Gage, Ryker, Brody and Colton for the guys and Amya, Nia, Hadley, Paola, Perla, Dulce, Rowan and Harper for the girls.

Thankfully Younger Daughter Rebecca and Husband Tim are expecting a girl in June. I'll not divulge their name choice for her yet. For a boy they were thinking about Emmett. EMMETT? My grandson would have been an Emmett?

Here are some great tips to beat job burnout.

If you have a break room, consider filling it with toys and games. Coloring books will bring you back to your childhood. A puzzle will take your mind off things. 

For a great time play a game of Twister. For even more fun play a game of Naked Twister.
 

If you don't have a break room, get some little toys and games and keep them on your desk. You'll be surprised how many people stop for a moment to play with your Silly Putty, shake a snow globe or put the magnetic beard on the man. 

"Hey there Riva, want to play with my Silly Putty?"
 

Consider putting up a bulletin board in a break room or employee lounge. Ask everyone from entry-level employees up to administrators and supervisors to bring in baby pictures. Post the pictures on the board. Everyone will enjoy looking at the photos and laughing at each other. It's fun to guess who's who. It also shows that no matter where anyone is in the hierarchy of the facility, everyone started out as someone's baby.

Bring in a current picture of yourself and a picture of your ex-wife or husband. It's fun for our office friends to guess who we were with and see what our miserable choices looked like.
 

Create a stress-free zone for when employees are feeling burned out. It doesn't have to be a big space -- even just a hallway outside a conference room. Consider putting in a hammock or a lounge chair or an inflatable palm tree with a sand box and picture of the ocean, maybe even a swing set and Judy the Blow-Up Love Doll. 

Schedule activities you enjoy in your day and week. Buy one perfect flower, and keep it in your work space to view. Take a walk outside during a break. Take a mini visualization vacation and go where you want to go, even if it's only for five minutes.

Or surf the net for porn.
  

Plan a visit to the zoo, the movies, the gym, a spa or a local cafe. Go window-shopping by yourself or with a friend. What's important is having something to look forward to doing after work.

Even better, stop at the nearest bar and get hammered.

Designate one day a month as Tuna Surprise Day. Have everyone in the office bring in a bag lunch to swap at noon. It's a good way to get rid of that almost expired mayo. It's also entertaining if the guy with the nut allergy gets your crunchy PB&J.

Make one day a month Wear Your Underpants on Your Head Day. Going commando is optional. Try and get creative. Sport a pair (I'm having trouble with a pair again) of Spiderman or Thor underpants or wear a thong like a headband.

At exactly 2 p.m. on the second Tuesday of every month have everyone in the office stand, stretch and go to the restroom. At exactly 2 p.m. on the third Tuesday of every month have everyone stand, stretch and make the sound of their favorite barnyard animal.

Every Monday elect a different leader and take an afternoon break to do the Hokey Pokey.

If the office or place of business has an overheard paging system, call the receptionist and ask for fictitious people like Seymour Butts or Anita Bath.

Organize an office scavenger hunt.

Have a weekly contest and award a prize for the most creative use of paper clips.

Be the guy that comes out of the men's room with his zipper down and/or toilet paper trailing out of the back of his pants. 

Walk like a duck when you leave your desk.

If you and your office mates wear name tags switch with someone else and use their name for the day.

Have a Theme Day once a month. Some very popular suggestions are Silly Hat, Ugly Tie, Mismatched Sock and Bowling Shirt Day.

Have an office Flash-Mob where everyone exchanges shoes with the person sitting to their left.

Form an office book club but have the members read different books.

Order Chinese food and have the entire office eat out of the cartons using flexible straws as chopsticks.

Switch the cafe and the decaf coffee carafe's and watch some people fall asleep and others bounce off walls all day.

Have a Bring-Your-Pet to Work Day and finally discover if Fergus, the guy in the corner, has goldfish a turtle or a pet monkey named Conrad.

Rent a blow-up jumping castle for a day and see who is brave enough to use it while wearing a skirt and heels.

Friday September 19 is Talk Like A Pirate Day....really, talk like a pirate.

Don't forget the always popular Wear Something Backwards Day.

And for something really daring have casual Friday on Thursday.