Weekend Chew & Stew - Saturday, October 31 & Sunday, November 1, 2009

Weekend Chew & Stew - Saturday, October 31 & Sunday, November 1, 2009

by Marilyn Mackenzie

Whether you agree with the concept or not, everyone needs to be able to vent from time to time.  That's especially true if you're one of the many who suffer from an invisible illness.  We have whines and rants about pains, medical professionals and prescriptions, just to name a few.  Perhaps our families listen; perhaps they don't.  Even if they do, they get tired of our complaining, even if they claim to understand our struggles.  Or if they don't get tired of our "negative energy" we think they do or will.

Do you need to rant about something?  Tell us about it.

Do you have some celebration or victory you need to share? This is the place.

What's happening in your world today?  Are you grumpy about something?  Or so angry you could spit?  Tell it here.  Here at the Weekend Chew & Stew, it's acceptable to rant, vent, complain, stomp your feet, throw a tantrum, and shout, "Oh shuckie darn!"

Wait!  Don't go away!  Do you have some good news to share?  Great.  This is the place for that as well.  If you're celebrating, dancing, and yelling, "Yippee Skippy!" please share.  Sometimes knowing about someone else's happiness gives us a bit of hope for ourselves.

Whether you're shouting, "Oh shuckie darn!" or yelling, "Yippee skippy!" - this is the place to be.  Pull up a rocking chair, and let's talk about it.

Now, let's celebrate!!!

In October we celebrated:

Apples, Cookies, Apple Jacks, Baking and Decorating Foods, Caramel. Chili, Popcorn, Pretzels, Pizza and Pickled Peppers.

We were asked to become aware of Antidepressant Deaths, of Breast Cancer, of Dyslexia, Emotional Wellness, Depression,Diabetes, Down Syndrome, Employing the Disabled, Dental Hygiene and Lupus.

We were encouraged to adopt a shelter dog (or to volunteer at a shelter), to appreciate our clergy, to be aware of domestic violence, to eat better (and together), to read and to have free thought.

I think the most important things in October were:  Having a Positive Attitude Month and Right Brains Rule! Month (Hooray for Lefties!!!).

This past week we celebrated: 

Pastoral Care Week, Disarmament Week, International Magic Week, National Respiratory Care Week, Peace, Friendship & Good Will Week, Give Wildlife a Break Week and World Hearing Aid Awareness Week

Today is:

October 31 - Carve a Pumpkin Day and Halloween

Tomorrow is:

November 1 - Plan Your Epitaph Day and All Saints Day

Coming this week:

November 2 - National Deviled Egg Day, Looking for Circles Day and All Souls Day

November 3 - Sandwich Day and Housewife's Day

November 4 - King Tut Day and Waiting for the Barbarians Day

November 5 - Gunpowder Day

November 6 - Saxaphone Day and Marooned Without a Compass Day

The first week of November is:

Chemistry Week

And monthly observances in November are:

American Diabetes Month

Aviation History Month

Child Safety Protection Month

Epilepsy Awareness Month

Family Stories Month

Gluten-Free Diet Awareness Month

International Drum (Percussion) Month

Lung Cancer Awareness Month

Military Families Appreciation Month

Mothers Against Drunk Drivers Tie One On For Safety Holiday Campaign (11/16 to 12/31)

National Adoption Awareness Month

National AIDS Awareness Month

National Alzheimer's Awareness Month

National Epilepsy Month

National Family Caregivers Month

National Georgia Pecan Month

National Home Care & Hospice Month

National Inspirational Role Models Month

National Life Writing Month

National Long-Term Care Awareness Month

National Model Railroad Month

National Novel Writing Month Link

National Peanut Butter Lovers Month

National Pomegranate Month

National Roasting Month

National Scholarship Month

National Sleep Comfort Month

Native American Heritage Month

Real Jewelry Month

Sweet Potato Awareness Month

NoSHAVEmber Month (grow a beard)

Vegan Month

Food for thought:

A government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul. ~ George Bernard Shaw

It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong. ~  Aesop

If we get a government that reflects more of what this country is really about, we can turn the century -- and the economy -- around. ~  Bella Abzug

Once a government is committed to the principle of silencing the voice of opposition, it has only one way to go, and that is down the path of increasingly repressive measures, until it becomes a source of terror to all its citizens and creates a country where everyone lives in fear. ~  Harry S. Truman

A government big enough to supply you with everything you need, is a government big enough to take away everything you have.  The course of history shows that as a government grows, liberty decreases." ~ Gerald Ford (Note:  The first part of this quotation has been attributed to Thomas Jefferson for decades, but now liberals complain that there is no evidence that he said it.  We do know that Gerald Ford did use this quotation on August 12, 1974.)