I got a late start on updating my Educators' News web site today, as I'd hustled outside to topdress and hoe in some peat moss into a section of the garden before it rained (again). After feeding the indoor cats and our parrot and starting a load of laundry, I caught a quick shower and shave and glanced at the morning paper. At the bottom of section D in the Terre Haute Tribune-Star was the banner, "Honor the little piggies in April during Foot Awareness Month." Today was April 10, and I'd already missed nine whole days of being aware of my feet!

I can only excuse my oversight by noting that I was already observing Autism Awareness Month and had faithfully reminded my readers of the upcoming Earth Day and Reading is Fundamental Week observances. Wondering just how negligent I'd been about my responsibility of being aware of good causes, I did quick Google and Yahoo searches for "April Awareness Month," which confirmed my worst fears. I was missing being aware of a great many good causes as noted on Google, Yahoo, and the Awareness Calendar at fundraisers.com.

• Alcohol Awareness Month, National Alcohol Screening Day, and the Alcohol-Free Weekend
• Cancer Control Month
• Child Abuse Awareness Month
• Counseling Awareness Month
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome Awareness Month
• Islam Awareness Month
• Math Awareness Month (Corporate promotion)
• National Child Abuse Prevention Month
• National Environmental Education Week
• National Health Information Privacy And Security Week
• National Minority Cancer Awareness Week
• National Occupational Therapy Month
• National Porphyria Week
• National Public Health Week
• National Sexually Transmitted Diseases Awareness Month
• National Youth Sports Safety Month
• National Volunteer Week
• Organ Donor Awareness Month
• Sexual Assault Awareness Month
• Sports Eye Safety Month
• Stress Awareness Month
• Stroke Awareness Month
• Women's Eye Health Safety Month
• Workplace Conflict Awareness Month
• World Health Day

I even found that I'd overlooked drag-queens by missing Pride Awareness Month and auto enthusiasts by missing National Car Care Month. My truck may never forgive me.

Simply being aware of all of special days, weeks, and months made me a good candidate for Stress Awareness Month. But after looking through the list for April and other months, I realized that I needed to add a few of my own awareness moments, days, weeks, months, and years.

• Finish the Laundry or Go Naked Awareness Day
• Get a Job Awareness Day/Week/Month
• I Need Want a New Mac Awareness Month
• Make my Spouse (Significant Other) Feel Special Awareness Month/Year/Life
• Find a New Spouse or Significant Other Awareness Month (only applicable if you ignore the one above)
• Remember What I Went to the Other Room For Awareness Moment (otherwise known as a "senior moment")
• Write a Decent Column Awareness Day :-)

After running through all the awareness days, I think I'm going to throw my undivided support to Alcohol Awareness Month by having my own Alcohol Awareness Evening!

Now, where is that jigger?

Odd Thoughts While Shaving Between Paragraphs

Yes, I'm writing again...sort of. A month ago I published An Ode to my "Slab-O-Mac" just to get my feet wet again with an online column. I'm also back to doing weekday updates to Educators' News. I realized after a month of updates that I was merely posting linked headlines without much commentary. The commentary seemed to be the thing that made Educators' News appealing to many readers in the past (along with some software tips), so this week I stopped being quite so objective and detached. An endorsement this week for Barack Obama with some comments about public education should reaffirm my credentials as a "Mac-toting, bleeding-heart liberal, Christian educator."

One More National Day... (4/28/2008 update)

I just received an email from my good buddy, Paula Borders, who teaches at South Adams Jr.-Sr. High School. She's a great science teacher and friend and also an avid biker. She sent along:

Bike To Work Day -- Friday, May 16th

Trade your car keys for bike pedals and ride to work. Take the step to be fit and help the environment by participating in National Bike To Work Day. There is never a better time to see the sights along the greenways, bike lanes, or through local trails in Indiana! Make Friday, May 16th a day to pedal for progress and promote Indiana as a great place to use your bike for transportation and exercise.

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