First of the Month: August

Ladies and Gentleman, welcome to the eighth month of the year in the Gregorian calendar and thanks to some weird kid with a pipe dream, it now has a movie title in “August Rush.” Oh yeah and apparently that Pearl Harbor/40 days 40 nights guy, Josh Harnett also has a movie titled “August.” Using army knifes to scoop out great treats in their fondue sets, the Swiss are celebrating their national holiday today. In the States, people are aware that it is national immunization awareness month, so get your flu shots about 6 months early. But this month is known for other annual events too. Each August, Twinsburg, Ohio, celebrates Twins Day; Sturgis, SD, celebrates a motorcycle rally; and the Pro Football Hall of Fame kicks off the pro football season with some inductions. And sports fans looking for more than the Brett Favre saga in Green Bay: The NFL preseason starts on August 3rd and college football kick off in less than four weeks. Golf’s PGA Championship is scheduled for next weekend and the summer Olympics return to Beijing on 08-08-08. While Slate columnist David plotz says, “August is the Mississippi of the calendar", I disagree. What's not to love when Friendship Day is today; Lazy Day is August 10^th and Be an Angel Day is the 22^nd – which precedes Knife Day by two days and Kiss-and-Make Up Day by three days. And Craig Crawford’s favorite holiday – National Trail Mix Day – concludes the month.

And what would August be without birthdays? A happy birthday shout goes out today to Randy Bachmann Turner Overdrive, who turns the big 57 exactly three days before Pepsi drinking/DuPont splashing/NASCAR driven driver Jeff Gordon turns 37. Ten days later David Crosby Stills and Nash turns 67 the same day romance novelist Danielle Steel turns 61. Look at all that lust and all that love.) And ten days after that we have a triple celebration between “Three Men and a Baby” star Steven Guttenberg, who turns 50; ironman Cal Ripkin Jr., who turns 48; and dummy but funny “Yooper” backer Jeff Daniels, who turns 57. To conclude this month, which ends with the Democratic convention, just before September rolls in the Republican convention, I’d liked us to separate our differences and celebrate the birthdays of Barack Obama, who turns 47 on August 4^th and John McCain, who turns 72 on August 29^th. But not so fast my friends: On August 21st, Mr. Downtown Doctor Girioux -- aka Abe Froman -- turns the big 35, which means he too will be eligible to become the nation's next POTUS.

First of the Month: July

God Bless America. And God Bless the seventh month in the Gregorian calendar – July. July has long been known for being deeply rooted with patriotism and giving us all we ask for during its 31 days. This year, like every year since 1776, we will celebrate the nation’s birthday on July 4^th. So you Uncle Sam fans from Troy, New York, get your rations out and then wave your American flag. (If you don’t know this reference, I urge you to google it.) Ten days after our nation celebrates its birth, the French celebrate Bastille Day in the heart of the Tour De France without our cancer-survivor Viva La Viva Lance as a rider. Today, though, is a day to commence and give thanks for Matt Johnson’s one weakness – ice cream. In fact, Matt and the many of us who have this weakness can do it all month without a single ounce of guilt. Today is creative ice cream flavor day. So you Goonies’ Rocky Road lovers and Superman fans – go forth and celebrate, but save room because the ice cream festivities last all month long. Let’s gobble some more on July 7^th – National Strawberry Sundae Day; July 17^th – National Peach Ice cream Day; and July 23^rd – National Vanilla Ice Cream Day. And for you sports fans out there, we have Wimbledon; the British Open; baseball’s All-star game; and the joy of Nascar, which never ever dies. So keep on riding you great American.

And what would July be without birthdays? Today, Bruce Willis’s Armageddon kid, Liv Tyler, turns 31, and Tommy Lee/Kid Rock romance friend Pamela Anderson turns 47. Three days later Yankees owner turns 71 on the same day the nation celebrates its birthday, which is exactly four days before Lauren Engel hits the big 21 and a week before figure skater turned dancing star Kristin Yamaguchi turns 37. On July 22^nd, former Canadian citizen Alex Trebek turns 67 (you thank me later for finding this photo) exactly nine days before Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling turns 43.