A to Z: R&R, Among Others (Ten Things of Thankful)

(Because some people like Blogger and some like WordPress, i am putting the same content at both.  If you would prefer to read this on the other site, it is linked here.) 

To enjoy more blogs participating in the A to Z Challenge, click here.     

***********************************

Saturday is back, hooray!

This Saturday, i have an extra special reason to celebrate and be very thankful:  i actually managed my schedule in such a way this week that i have a day off today, my first since October.

Rest and Relaxation, therefore, are first on my list of ten thankful things.

Rhymes are next, as i am enjoying the fun of poetry writing on Poetry Monday.  Thank you, Delores and Jenny!      

My radio is on a lot, i am very thankful for the access to music it provides.  Happy music makes for a happier day.

The refuge of my bed at the end of a long day is a thankful thing.

A morning regimen that includes thyroid med, prayer, dressed, toothbrushing, hair brushing, sixteen ounces of water, eight ounces of coffee, ready for the day.

While i don't often think of buying them, when i do get radishes for my salads, i always enjoy the spicy crunch they add.

The roof over my head, which i am thankful is holding steady.

Romance, as i am married, after all.

Being able to occasionally come up with a good retort when bantering with a friend is a pleasure, as is enjoying when the friend comes up with one as well.

Respect, working to earn it and being able to give it to others.

As a bonus, i am thankful for restaurants, and the fact that we will get to enjoy one tomorrow with the family.

This matching my thankful things to the A to Z may come back to haunt me next week, but I'm already working on it.

Meanwhile, please join us and our gracious and wonderful hostess Kristi from ThankfulMe, write up your own list and link up to Ten Things of Thankful.   

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

***********************************

Today is:

Anniversary of Something That Happened So Long Ago Everyone Has Forgotten Day -- Fairy Calendar

Banyan Tree Birthday Party -- Lahaina, Maui, Hawai'i (celebrating the "birthday" of Lahaina's most important landmark, their banyan tree planted back in 1973, which now covers over 2/3 of an acre; cake, nature displays, kid activities, history exhibits and more, through tomorrow)

Chinese Language Day -- UN   

Feria Nacional de San Marcos -- Palenque, Mexico (through May 12; feast of San Marcos, with rodeos, bull fights, folk dancing, parades, mariachi and muchos mas)

Go Around Humming "You Light Up My Life" Until Everybody Screams Day -- the person who thought this one up should be tied down and forced to listen to Barry Manilow songs for 12 hours straight!

Harvest Offering to Renenutet -- Ancient Egypitian Calendar (offering to the Lady of the Fertile Fields; date approximate)

Holy Saturday -- Christian (a/k/a Black Saturday, Holy Saturday, Easter Saturday, or Easter Eve)

Huband Appreciation Day

Lailat al-Bara'ah (Shab Barat) -- Islam (Night of Forgiveness, a preparation for Ramadan; begins at sunset, local custom dates may vary)

Lazarus Saturday -- Orthodox Christian

    Lazarovden -- Bulgaria (along with celebrating the raising of Lazarus, there are fertility rituals, especially involving young maidens, and honoring the goddesses of spring and love)

Lima Bean Respect Day

Make a Quilt Day -- obviously begun by someone who has no idea how long the process really takes! not associated with National Quilting Day or Project Linus' Make a Blanket Day 

National Auctioneers Day -- recognizing the contribution of auctioneers to American commerce 

National Cat Lady Day    

National Pineapple Upside-Down Cake Day

National Take a Break to Reset Your Mind Day -- because everyone needs a day like this

Pesach/Passover -- Judaism (began yesterday evening, through the evening of April 27)

Ridvan begins -- Baha'i (begins at sunset)

St. Caedwalla of Wales' Day (Patron of converts, repentant murderers)

Teach Your Daughter to Volunteer Day -- encouraging awareness of volunteerism, but the original sponsor of the day is no longer online

World's Biggest Fish Fry -- Paris, TN, US (parades, auto shows, arts and crafts, and of course, all-you-can-eat catfish dinner; through the 29th)

Birthdays Today:

Danny Granger, 1983

Joey Lawrence, 1976

Carmen Electra, 1972

Shemar Moore, 1970

Crispin Glover, 1964

Don Mattingly, 1961

Clint Howard, 1959

Luther Vandross, 1951

Jessica Lange, 1949

David Leland, 1947

Steve Spurrier, 1945

Ryan O'Neal, 1941

George Takei, 1937

Nina Foch, 1924

Ernesto Antonio "Tito" Puente, 1923

John Paul Stevens, 1920

Lionel Hampton, 1908

Harold Lloyd, 1893

Joan Miró i Ferrà, 1893

Holland McTyeire "Howlin' Mad" Smith, 1882

Daniel Chester French, 1850

Debuting/Premiering Today:

Annie Hall(Film), 1977

"Your Hit Parade"(Radio), 1935

Today in History:

The last naval battle in Byzantine history, 1453

Jews are expelled from Orange Burgundy, 1505

Jacques Cartier begins the voyage in which he will claim Canada and Labrador for France, 1534

Freedom of religion is granted to the Jews of New Amsterdam, 1657

Admiral Robert Blake destroys a Spanish silver fleet under heavy fire at Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 1657

Captain Cook arrives in New South Wales, 1770

René Caillié becomes the first non-Muslim to enter Timbouctou, 1828

Edgar Allan Poe's Murder in the Rue Morgue becomes the first detective story ever published, 1841

Louis Pasteur and Claude Bernard complete their first pasteurization tests, 1862

Pierre and Marie Curie refine radium chloride, 1902

Manfred von Richthofen, aka The Red Baron, shoots down his 79th and 80th victims marking his final victories before his death the next day, 1918

Western Electric and Warner Bros. announce Vitaphone, a process to add sound to film, 1926

Apollo 16, commanded by John Young, lands on the moon, 1972

Pianist Vladimir Horowitz performs in his native Russia for the first time in 61 years, 1986

Danica Patrick wins the Indy Japan 300 becoming the first female driver in history to win an Indy car race, 2008

The Deepwater Horizon drilling rig explosion kills 11 and causes rig to sink, initiating a massive oil discharge in the Gulf of Mexico, 2010

Tens of thousands of people demonstrate in Tahrir Square against continuing military rule in Egypt, 2012

The Pulitzer Prize awarded to Anthony Doerr's for his novel "All the Light We Cannot See" and to Elizabeth Kolbert for "The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History", 2015
The Commonwealth countries decide that Prince Charles will suceed Queen Elizabeth as the next head of the Commonwealth, 2018