HOLIDAYS - Out of the Shadows

 Those of you out there who celebrate the holidays like me are likely still resting up from the big weekend.

Bullitt County groundhog Nichols Nick is scheduled to make his annual appearance this week.

My fingers still ache from celebrating Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day. I have both an appreciation and a respect for it.

Saturday was Cornchip Day, Carnation Day and Ice Cream Cone Day. I sprinkled chips onto ice cream made with Carnation Milk and ate it off a cone while working on a puzzle for Puzzle Day.

I taped the NFL Pro Bowl game, then this morning I played in reverse and watched it that way to celebrate National Backwards Day.

No rest for the weary: Now it's the month of February, with lots more to celebrate.

Medical awareness holidays make up a large portion of the monthly designations. February includes such acknowledgments as American Heart, Children's Dental Health, Marfan Syndrome Awareness and Wise Health Care Consumer Month.

The first week of February offers Patient Recognition Week along with Women's Heart Week, featuring National Wear Red Day (Feb. 4).

The 4th is a big day including Give Kids a Smile Day, sponsored by the American Dental Association, and World Cancer Day.

St. Aloysious in Shepherdsville is currently celebrating Catholic Schools Week.

An old Catholic custom is eating fish on Fridays. Otherwise, the students can also celebrate Meat Week.

Those celebrating Meat Week don't have to worry about finding others to join; the first week of February is Solo Diners Eat Out Week.

Freedom Day is designated for Feb. 1, in honor of the 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution, abolishing slavery. It is the kickoff to African-American/Black History Month.

Although it sounds better sometimes to be home working naked, I'll be in the office on Tuesday, preparing for Groundhog Day. Wednesday is the bog day that local whistlepig Nichols Nick will prognosticate Bullitt County's next six weeks of weather.

The Junior Achievement Program utilizes this day for a special job shadowing event. Now that's clever!

Werdnesday also recognizes the 25th annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day.

The Chinese New Year is a fun day to celebrate. The Year of the Rabbit begins Feb. 3. I may order takeout and watch some old Bugs Bunny cartoons.

Everyone knows what the week is leading up to: Super Bowl XLV (That would be 45 in American numerals) on Sunday.

Also celebrated Sunday is the 100th anniversary of the birthday of our 40th President, Ronald Reagan.

Sunday is also Pay a Compliment Day, which I assume may not be celebrated so much by the losing Super Bowl team nor Democrats, but we hope everyone has a wonderful week. You're all nice people and we appreciate your support, Sunday and every other day of the year.

You'll find a full list of February holidays in the Events section on the Features page of www.pioneernews.net.