Holiday List - December 2014

December 2014

1 - Eat a Red Apple Day

2 - National Mutt Day

3 - National Roof-Over-Your-Head Day

4 - Wear Brown Shoes Day

5 - Annual Day of the Ninja

6 - Bartender Appreciation Day

7 - National Cotton Candy Day

8 - Pretend to be a Time Traveler Day

9 - Weary Willie Day

10 - Dewey Decimal System Day

11 - International Mountain Day

12 - National 12-hour Fresh Breath Day

13 - National Cocoa Day

14 - Monkey Day

15 - Cat Herders Day

16 - National Chocolate Covered Anything Day

17 - Wright Brothers' Day

18 - National Re-Gifting Day

19 - Underdog Day

20 - Games Day

21 - Crossword Puzzle Day

22 - National Haiku Poetry Day

23 - Festivus

24 - National Egg Nog Day

25 - Christmas

26 - National Whiner's Day

27 - Visit the Zoo Day

28 - Card Playing Day

29 - Tick Tock Day

30 - Baking Soda Day

31 - Make Up Your Mind Day

Aaaand, here is the disclaimer. As I've said before, I do not make up these holidays. These are all real holidays, celebrated somewhere in the world (mostly the US, and when at all possible, Texas - I like to keep it local). Some days have more than one holiday - I am aware of this, and I have chosen the one I like best. It was my idea to post the holidays for you, so I get to pick. Mainly though, because, which would you rather celebrate, World Choral Day or Pretend to Be a Time Traveler Day (Dec 8)? Sure, about three of you said World Choral Day because you have really nice singing voices and like to sing in public (sorry). The rest of us will be acting like we just showed up from the future and are looking for a flux capacitor. What I mean to say is, if you don't like the holiday, just wait until the next day - I'm sure it will be better suited for you.

Home

Home

Home.

Homesick.

Home sweet home.

No place like home.

Home is where the heart is.

Home is where Momma makes Thanksgiving dinner.  

She starts early, while the three of us watch the Macy's parade.  

She pulls me away from the TV from time to time to taste the dressing, to try the potato salad, to sample the gravy.  

As Snoopy floats down 34th Street, delicious aromas float through the house.  

Roast turkey, potatoes, green beans.  

Home sweet home.

Home is where friends are always welcome.  

There is always room at Momma's table for one more.  

Always enough food for everyone.  

The door is always open.  

To the soldier who won't see his family for Thanksgiving.  

To the couple whose children can't visit this year.  

To the young mother who struggles to make ends meet.  

As guests make their way into the house, dishes make their way out of the oven.  

Pecan pie, spice cake, those rolls that come in the little cardboard tray.  

Home away from home.

Home is a thousand miles away, where Momma creates culinary masterpieces.

In my kitchen, I hope the recipe turns out like hers.  

Her turkey roasts to a golden brown, while my green bean casserole bakes to warm and bubbly.  

Her kitchen is warm and inviting, while the smells in my kitchen make me think of her.  

I know she thinks of me, while I long to laugh with her, to cook with her, to taste the potato salad.  

As the aromas of Thanksgiving drift through the kitchen, my mind drifts down memory lane.  

Sweet potatoes, buttered corn, chocolate pie.  

Homesick.

Home is just down the street, in the house where my husband spent his childhood.  

I sneak glimpses of the parade while preparing the dishes to take to his Momma's for Thanksgiving lunch.  

They like my broccoli cheese casserole.  

Sisters and brothers, nieces and nephews, kids, toddlers and babies all gather around the table.  

She says the blessing and reads a poem.  

We eat too much.  We laugh a lot.  We nap.  

As the Cowboys tackle the Eagles, we tackle the dinner one more time.  

Ham sandwiches, pasta salad, cranberry sauce.  

There's no place like home.

Home is where love is abundant.  

Where hugs are free.  

Where laughter is all around.

Where Momma taught me about family - about what it means to be home.  

As Thanksgiving Day draws to a close, I close the refrigerator one more time.  

Leftover turkey, a spoonful of hot hominy, a slice of banana bread.  

Home is where the heart is.

Holiday List - September 2014

September 2014
1 - Labor Day

2 - National Blueberry Popsicle Day

3 - Skyscraper Day

4 - Eat an Extra Dessert Day

5 - Be Late for Something Day

6 - Read a Book Day

7 - Pet Rock Day

8 - International Literacy Day

9 - Wonderful Weirdoes Day

10 - TV Dinner Day

11 - Odd Day

12 - Video Games Day

13 - National Peanut Day

14 - National Hug Your Hound Day

15 - Make a Hat Day

16 - National Guacamole Day

17 - International Country Music Day

18 - National Cheeseburger Day

19 - Talk Like a Pirate Day

20 - Big Whopper Liar Day

21 - Worldwide Day of Play

22 - Dear Diary Day / Elephant Appreciation Day

23 - Checkers Day (or Dogs in Politics Day)

24 - National Punctuation Day

25 - National One-Hit Wonder Day

26 - Love Note Day

27 - International Rabbit Day

28 - National Drink Beer Day

29 - International Coffee Day

30 - Ask a Stupid Question Day

Aaaand, here is the disclaimer. As I've said before, I do not make up these holidays. These are all real holidays, celebrated somewhere in the world (mostly the US, and when at all possible, Texas - I like to keep it local). Some days have more than one holiday - I am aware of this, and I have chosen the one I like best. It was my idea to post the holidays for you, so I get to pick. Mainly though, because, which would you rather celebrate, World Choral Day or Pretend to Be a Time Traveler Day (Dec 8)? Sure, about three of you said World Choral Day because you have really nice singing voices and like to sing in public (sorry). The rest of us will be acting like we just showed up from the future and are looking for a flux capacitor. What I mean to say is, if you don't like the holiday, just wait until the next day - I'm sure it will be better suited for you.

Big Tex, Fried Foods and ME!

<click here for video>

We interrupt your irregularly unscheduled programming of Fitness Friday to bring you this important announcement...I am running for public office. Wait, no I'm not. But I AM in the running to be a judge for the Big Tex Choice Awards at the Great State Fair of Texas.

As you know, we have The Sparks Agency Fair Day at work every year. We take the day off work and head to the State Fair. We start the day with a Fletcher's Corny Dog, eaten at the feet of Big Tex, of course. Then, we make our way around the fairgrounds, seeking out the current year's fried food finalists, and judging for ourselves whether we agree with the Best Tasting and Most Creative selections. 

For the past five or six years, I've been trying to figure out how to become a judge for the Big Tex Choice Awards. I've been told that 'they' select judges who are local celebrities. Previous judges have been Mike Hashimoto & Jacquielynn Floyd, from the Dallas Morning News, Corby Davidson & Donovan Lewis, from The Ticket, and Representative Eric Johnson and Andrea Rega (I don't even know who she is!). Those people are celebrities?...pshh. I'll have you know, I've been on Animal Planet (with Speed Bump), on Texas Country Reporter (I met Muffin from Peppermint Place once) and in a car dealership commercial (Randall Noe Ford/Dodge). I'm about 3 1/2 minutes into my 15 minutes of fame. I'm not sure why I'm not "celebrity" enough. 

Not to worry, though. All that makes no difference now. For the 10-year anniversary of the Big Tex Choice Awards, the State Fair is opening the judging table for a citizen, for a fan of the fried food, for a friend of the fair, for --- ME! Well, almost me, anyway.

I need your help. To enter the contest, I submitted a 60 second video explaining why I will be the best judge for the Big Tex Choice Awards. I've been selected as a finalist, and now State Fair Fans (YOU!) have an opportunity to cast your vote for your favorite video (MINE!) and decide who will be representing fairgoers (ME!) on the judging panel. Voting is open between 9:00am on August 15 and 5:00pm on August 18. As they say, vote early and vote often (or at least as often as they'll let you). 

Click here for a link to watch the video and vote now!

It's a short video - they only gave me 60 seconds. I'll tell ya, a minute is a LONG time to do jump squats, but not nearly enough time to list all the reasons why I should be a judge. Here are some that fell on the cutting room floor...

• Not only am I a Native Texan, I grew up in Oak Cliff (where fried food was the only kind of food there was.)
• When the fried choices dwindled on the menu, my parents wisely moved us to East Texas, where fried will never die. 
• Prior knowledge of the layout of Fair Park leads to a near-perfect route, culminating in a ride back on the Texas SkyWay.
• The Butter Sculpture has included Armadillos.
• I cried (real tears, even) when Big Tex caught on fire.
• I fully support Go Texan (and have t-shirts to prove it).
• The Sparks Agency Fair Day includes an open invitation to all our friends to meet us at Big Tex to get the day started.
• I am awestruck by the Texas Star.
• I've made a pilgrimage to Kerens, Texas, the birthplace of Big Tex.
• I've met Miss Fernie, the brilliant mind that brought the Funnel Cake to the Great State Fair of Texas.
• Celebrities are not the only people who know good food when they taste it.
• I know where to buy Shiner Bock for the fewest number of coupons.
• I make sure to ride the Dentzel Carousel every year. 
• I know where the Dodge Mechanical Bull is located. 
• I once rode the DART rail to The Sparks Agency Fair Day.
• I am a TEXpert.

If you haven't already watched the video, go now. Hurry! And vote. 

Why I Should Be a Judge at the Big Tex Choice Awards Video

Cast

MaryEllen Miller - MaryEllenMiller

Fork Guy on Left - Glenn Hillin

Fork Guy on Right - Sparky Sparks

Big Tex Awards Finalists Tasters - Swift Sparks III

                                                                      Melody Tarno

                                                                     Robin "Skinny" Reynolds

                                                                          Matt Loving

                                                                          Dave McConnell

                                                                                                              Sparky Sparks                                    

                                                                           Glenn Hillin

Lead Racing Armadillo - Speed Bump

Mascot Armadillo Racer - Raider Red

Director - Sparky Sparks

Writer(s) - Glenn Hillin, Sparky Sparks, MaryEllen Miller

Executive Producer - The Sparks Agency

Director of Photography- Glenn Hillin
Production Designer - Sparky Sparks
Costumes - Jan Sparks
Craft Services - Becka Brown
This video was made on location at The Sparks Agency, entirely during business hours. 
No armadillos were harmed during the filming of this video.
Characters and incidents portrayed and the names herein are completely real, and any similarity to the name, character or history of any fictitious person is entirely coincidental and unintentional.

Thank you for your votes. 

With warm, deep fried regards, 

~ME:) 

Holiday List - August 2014

August 2014

1 - International Beer Day

2 - National Mustard Day

3 - Watermelon Day

4 - National Psychic Day

5 - National Underwear Day

6 - National Root Beer Float Day

7 - Sea Serpent Day

8 - Kool-Aid Day

9 - National Garage Sale Day

10 - S'mores Day / National Duran Duran Appreciation Day

11 - Play in the Sand Day

12 - Sewing Machine Day

13 - International Left-Handers Day

14 - National Creamsicle Day

15 - National Relaxation Day

16 - National Honey Bee Day

17 - National Thrift Shop Day

18 - Bad Poetry Day

19 - Potato Day

20 - Lemonade Day

21 - Poet's Day

22 - Hug Your Boss Day

23 - Valentino Day

24 - Go Topless Day / National Waffle Day

25 - National Whiskey Sour Day / National Banana Split Day

26 - National Dog Day

27 - Tug-of-War Day

28 - Radio Commercials Day

29 - More Herbs, Less Salt Day

30 - Bacon Day

31 - Pony Express Day

Aaaand, here is the disclaimer. As I've said before, I do not make up these holidays. These are all real holidays, celebrated somewhere in the world (mostly the US, and when at all possible, Texas - I like to keep it local). Some days have more than one holiday - I am aware of this, and I have chosen the one I like best. It was my idea to post the holidays for you, so I get to pick. Mainly though, because, which would you rather celebrate, World Choral Day or Pretend to Be a Time Traveler Day (Dec 8)? Sure, about three of you said World Choral Day because you have really nice singing voices and like to sing in public (sorry). The rest of us will be acting like we just showed up from the future and are looking for a flux capacitor. What I mean to say is, if you don't like the holiday, just wait until the next day - I'm sure it will be better suited for you.

Fitness Friday - Dear Bathroom Scale...

Dear Bathroom Scale, 

I'm sorry, but it's just not working out between us. We've been together for years, I know. But, it's time for me to move on. I feel like there's this incredible weight between us. I think you feel it, too. It's not you. It's me. 

Ok...I'll be honest. It IS you. I always feel like our conversations are so heavy. Really, you should lighten up a little. You probably don't even realize you're doing it, but lately every time we are together, you make me feel bad about myself. Well, not really bad, but certainly not good. I just get so frustrated, because I'm trying and trying to better our relationship, but you just don't seem to want to change. I guess it wasn't always that way. I do remember better times. Years ago. But that was then. 

I guess I started noticing something was wrong in our relationship about a year and a half ago, after I started going to the gym. Since then, you just really have nothing encouraging to say to me. I mean, I do cardio. I do calisthenics. I lift weights. I run, for goodness sakes. And still, you can't be even a little supportive? I'm not asking for something spectacular all at once. I know you. But a little something nice every week or so would be great. 

This is how it has to be. I'm moving on. I'm setting goals that have nothing to do with you. For instance, I plan on running (not run/walking) three miles by the end of July. I'm going to do pull-ups. I currently cannot do one pull-up, but I'm working on that every day, so I'll be doing five in a row soon. Yesterday, I did a wall sit for two minutes. I'm going for three minutes by the end of next week. As I reach each of these goals, I'll set another one in its place. In doing so, I'll increase muscle mass, and I'll tighten and tone all the jiggly parts. And, I'll feel great - physically and emotionally. I'll be better for it, and I won't have to listen to your negative vibes. 

Do I want to keep running back to you week after week? Yes, of course I do. But I realize it's not healthy for me. So, you can stay right there in the bathroom where you've been. That's fine. Just don't expect me to associate with you while I'm in there. No. We can't just be friends. 

Sincerely, 

~ME:) 

PS - stop harassing my friends, too! 

Holiday List - July 2014

July 2014

1 - US Postage Stamp Day

2 - I Forgot Day / Made in the USA Day

3 - Compliment Your Mirror Day

4 - Tom Sawyer Fence Painting Day

5 - International Cherry Pit Spitting Day

6 - International Kissing Day

7 - Tell the Truth Day 

8 - Video Games Day

9 - National Sugar Cookie Day

10 - Pina Colada Day

11 - Cheer Up the Lonely Day / Slurpee Day

12 - Paper Bag Day

13 - Gruntled Workers Day

14 - International Nude Day

15 - Cow Appreciation Day

16 - National Corn Fritters Day

17 - Yellow Pig Day

18 - National Caviar Day

19 - Stick Out Your Tongue Day

20 - National Lollipop Day

21 - National Junk Food Day

22 - Casual Pi Day (22/7)

23 - Hot Enough For Ya Day / Gorgeous Grandma Day

24 - Tell an Old Joke Day / National Tequila Day

25 - National Talk in an Elevator Day

26 - National Day of the Cowboy

27 - Take Your Houseplant for a Walk Day / Walk on Stilts Day

28 - National Milk Chocolate Day

29 - National Chicken Wing Day

30 - Paperback Book Day

31 - Uncommon Instruments Awareness Day

 Aaaand, here is the disclaimer. As I've said before, I do not make up these holidays. These are all real holidays, celebrated somewhere in the world (mostly the US, and when at all possible, Texas - I like to keep it local). Some days have more than one holiday - I am aware of this, and I have chosen the one I like best. It was my idea to post the holidays for you, so I get to pick. Mainly though, because, which would you rather celebrate, World Choral Day or Pretend to Be a Time Traveler Day (Dec 8)? Sure, about three of you said World Choral Day because you have really nice singing voices and like to sing in public (sorry). The rest of us will be acting like we just showed up from the future and are looking for a flux capacitor. What I mean to say is, if you don't like the holiday, just wait until the next day - I'm sure it will be better suited for you.