Ahoy! Oz

August 15, 1877, shaped the future and life as we know it.

Everyone knows that Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone, but it is Thomas Edison who invented the word “hello.”  According to an article in The New York Times, an unpublished letter between the two men reveals that Bell wanted to begin telephone conversations with “ahoy.”  Of course, he also envisioned an open phone line between businesses, so a loud, clear word was needed to alert other parties that someone wanted to talk.  In other words, the 1877 ‘modern’ office phone would be sort of  like walking by an air vent someone has accidentally wedged himself into and hearing “AHOY!”

Oh, what would life be like now?  Lionel Richie’s song “Ahoy”?  “You had me at ‘ahoy’.”  I suppose pirates would say, “Cheerio, matey”?  “Hello, matey.”  Heh.  What a thought.

Considering the labyrinth of social rules which structured 19th century life, it is amazing the third choice (and decidedly more formal option) “What is wanted?” didn’t win out.

But it’s the little decisions that have the greatest impact.  Edison liked “hello”; those using the new invention liked it too, and the custom was born.  The next little decision?  Deciding to use a bell to signal a phone call.

Fast-forward 62 years and the two men paved the way for the telephone… the phonograph… the telegraph… the radio…

and eventually The Wizard of Oz.

August 15, 1939, Dorothy and Toto were swept up in a twister and transported audiences to the colorful world of yellow brick, ruby slippers, and emerald Oz.

To sum up: today’s cupcake belongs creative geniuses.

Sweet Potatoes!

Nevermind that there are only a handful of days left in February.  There is still time to partake of the veggie of the month: the sweet potato!

Confession time.  We didn’t much like sweet potatoes here at The Daily Cupcake. 

Didn’t, that is, until discovering the sweet potato fry. 

A might more nutritious than a traditional french fry (though the french fry hasn’t exactly set the bar high) and not to be confused with the yam, the sweet potato’s fry has just the right amount of crunch for those of us who previously disliked its squish.

With its rusty color, it also looks prettier on a plate, too.

The one caveat is that they are a challenge to slice. 

So grab your biggest, sharpest knife.  Make sure your local surgeon is on speed dial.  Scrub down a yummy sweet potato.  And work out the day’s aggressions.

Season with Lawry’s, bake in a 425 degree oven for 45 minutes (until thoroughly browned) and celebrate National Sweet Potato Month.

If there’s any left, rumor has it that sweet potatoes also make yummy cupcakes.

Chili!

It is National Chili Day.  Soup’s chunky uncle, chili is the perfect answer for a dreary day.  

In The Daily Cupcake’s humble opinion, chili is best when made slowly throughout the day.  The house fills with the savory smell until those in its power are ready to devour their own appendages. 

And just when one is about to faint from hunger, the spicy chili is poured over Fritos, or maybe poured over a hot dog, or perhaps covered with cheese and served with crackers or a bit of crusty bread. 

Yum.

Oh yeah, today is a day for chili.  Even if it is 78 degrees outside.

Curling is Cool!

Yes.  Curling is cool.  It’s played on the ice.  Cool is sort of a requirement.  But today is not about being literal.  Today celebrates the little-lauded game of Curling.

Relegated to the 3 a.m. time slot, Curling does not even get love during the Winter Olympics.

This makes no sense as it is a far cry more entertaining to watch than golf.

Golf:

Hushed announcer provides description of green’s distance and wind resistance while we watch preppy golfer squatting on green in earnest conversation with slouchy-looking caddy.  Golfer sets up, wiggles bum, steps back, sets up again, wiggles again, and finally swings.  Camera pans to blue sky.  Announcer insists the ball is flying through the air even if it’s not visually verifiable.  Ball lands.  Quiet clapping.  Commercial. 

The only way to stay awake through this is to be the golfer.  Or, to hope the commercial is the one with the Geico Little Piggy Crying Wee-wee-wee All The Way Home.

 

Curling:

Announcer in hushed voice describes the obscure strategy for sliding odd-looking “stone” into colored rings.  Team of three parka-clad, beer-bellied players huddle on one end of the rink.  Like an icy bowler practicing yoga, one hefty curler takes a few steps and releases the funky-looking stone, which goes sailing across the surface.  Just when it begins to slow, two beefy teammates wield their curling brooms and begin “sweeping” like maniacal housekeepers to help the stone glide to its goal.  The five fans in the stand cheer loudly.  Commercial.

Huh.  I’m not sure The Cupcake has made its case.  Probably should have just announced the day and left it alone.

To those who curl: we support you!  Even if we do not understand you.  Or the game.  That you pursue your passion in the face of our ignorance absolutely makes you and your sport cool.

Focus!

Today’s Digital Age enables us to talk on the phone, surf the web, check our email, listen to our favorite music, watch a show all while attending a meeting, class, or family dinner. 

And while this heightened multi-tasking has its benefits, it is easy to become overwhelmed if not schizophrenic.

Today is the day to drop all of those balls you have been juggling.  It is Single-tasking Day!

And snaps to the Mensa member who thought to make the day after a three-day week-end Single-tasking day.  There is no pressure to get everything taken care of at once.  Ease your way back into the work week by focusing on the one task at a time. 

What a thought.

Feel free to forward this post to your boss.

Happy Single-tasking Day!

Presidents and English

Today we recognize and celebrate our fearless leaders.  Those brave men who decided a few gray hairs and bleeding ulcers were nothing compared to the title Mr. President.

And while President’s Day is well advertised (see flag-draped used car lots near you), its sister holiday International Mother Language Day does not receive as much acclaim.

Sad, too.

The Daily Cupcake supports any holiday which supports correct grammar.

What is the best way to celebrate today?  Shopping and Talking!

Furniture.  Electronics.  Who vs. Whom.

Yeah!

Who is Hoodie-Hoo?

Or, more specifically what is Hoodie-Hoo.  (Other than a quintessential example of an odd holiday.) 

First, the bad news.  After a bit of research, The Daily Cupcake cannot explain who the Hoos are or what makes them so Hoodie, but the good news is that we can explain the idea behind the “holiday.” 

Today is for all of those tired of a sunless winter with its endless supply of snow, ice and sleet.  At noon local time, the winter weary are to go outside, wave their hands in the air and chant, “Hoodie-Hoo!”  The idea being that a good “hoodie-hoo” chant will chase away Winter and tempt Spring to bring on warmer temps. 

Seriously.

It’s a copyrighted holiday.

It’s only a matter of time before it is given its own symbol, candy (gumdrops!?) and line of greeting cards.

Since it is currently a balmy 72 degrees here–and TDC staff thinks 82 borders on unbearably hot–we will abstain from today’s ceremony.  In fact, we would like to request a slight variation of today’s proceedings.

If you of the Frozen North would please wave your hands in the air, pointing the delicious cold to the south (specifically towards Central Texas lest Louisiana accidentally gets the cold front), we would greatly appreciate it. 

Tomorrow’s high is 80.  February.  80.  Yeesh.

Get UR Flirt On!

So if Monday didn’t yield the sort of attention and affection you had hoped for,despair not  (enter demur smile here).  This is International Flirting Week!  🙂 

According to flirtzone.com, there are a few key tips to successful flirting, including being yourself, being positive, and being approachable (wink). 

So bat those lashes!  Twist that strand of hair, and remember to focus on the conversation at hand. 

We here at The Daily Cupcake would love to hear how you week goes. 

Happy flirting!

Gumdrops!

In an aisle of complicated candy bars and celebrity endorsed sweets, sits the simple, classic gumdrop. 

Usually the gumdrop is popular at Christmas when gingerbread houses need roofing.  But after December, they are not given much notice. 

So sad, since February 15th is National Gumdrop Day. 

So obviously they need a better PR person.

The little guys are so colorful and friendly, not to mention sugary, one would think they would be more popular.  Lollipops get the “Good Ship” and other songs, candy corn gets Halloween, nasty Peeps have Easter and candy hearts get Valentine’s Day, so gumdrops need an occasion, not just a cookie house.

Any suggestions? 

Brainstorming a better future for the gumdrop has been a failure here at The Daily Cupcake.  Really. 

Gumdrops and beer for St. Patrick’s Day?  Ick.  Nothing says Memorial Day like a jar of gumdrops?  Um, no. 

Isn’t there a song about a Gumdrop Tree?  So maybe celebrate Arbor Day with a gumdrop tree? 

Yeah.  We’ll keep working on it.

For now, give a gumdrop a little love.  Happy National Gumdrop Day.

Happy St. Valentine’s Day

Whether you are celebrating the traditional holiday with your sweety or celebrating its derivative (Singles Awareness Day), may your day be filled with love and kindness and maybe a few kisses . . . even if they come in a bright foil wrapper.