Wacky and Weird

I enjoy this monthly poetry group. I love that it encourages me to learn about and try my hand at different forms of expressing myself. The fact that we all work together to pick a theme each month gives me something to work with and a place to start. 

This month's theme took me by surprise. We chose Wacky and Weird Celebrations. If you google it, you'll find that each month is full of silly supposed holidays, national this day and international that day. They're really quite amusing, like Naked Gardening Day, Play Your Ukelele Day, Create a Vacuum Day . . . 

August, like all other months, has its share of them. I have to admit that I had so much fun with the research for this post. In fact, I got so caught up in the silliness of it all, I almost forgot to write my poem. Almost.

Wacky and Weird

(an Ode to strange August celebrations)

Valentine's hearts and Halloween's boo,
holidays that are hardly new.
But, turns out, it's really true,
There's wacky and weird ones to celebrate too. 

"Relaxation", "Lazy", "Wiggle Your Toes"
Twist my arm, I'll honor those.


"Work Like a Dog" and Race Your Mouse"
"Thrift Shop Day" to decorate your house,

There's a day for "Just Because".
On "Tell a Joke Day" everyone does.

"Fresh Breath Day" and "Kiss and Make Up" 
Adherence stipulated in the pre-nup?

And another day devoted to beer,
tied in to "Vesuvius Day" I fear.

Share our love of "Underwear"?
The logic for this one remains unclear. 

"Sneak Zucchini Onto Your Neighbor's Porch" day,

could turn out to be dangerous, I've got to say,

"Pull Buckshot From Your Ass" just may,

be what you celebrate the following day.

Garden Vegetable Dip with Bruschetta

But wait, what is that I see?
I think I take this personally,
"Bad Poetry Day" must truly be,
A national celebration . . . of me.

Before you go, click on these links to more poetry by some of my friends: 

Diane of On the Border shares My Brain Cell. 

Dawn of Spatulas on Parade shares Wonderful Wacky Weird Days.

Candice of Measurements of Merriment shares Wacky, Weird, Bizarre, & Unique.


Sarah of Not That Sarah Michelle shares Ode to Weird. 

Jules of The Bergham Chronicles shares Wacky, Weird and Poetic.

Garden Vegetable Dip with Bruschetta

                                                                          ©www.BakingInATornado.com
 
Printable Recipe

 
Ingredients:
1 large zucchini, remove ends and chop
1 large summer squash, remove ends and chop
1 roma tomato, chopped
1/4 red pepper, chopped
1 green onion, sliced
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tsp Italian seasoning
salt and pepper to taste
8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup ranch dressing
1/3 cup grated parmesan

1 baguette, sliced on the bias into about 3/4 inch thick slices
1/4 cup olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced

Directions:
*Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a saute pan, a baking sheet and a pie plate or an 8 X 8 baking dish with non stick spray.
*Heat the saute pan to medium and add the zucchini, summer squash, tomato, red pepper, green onion and 1 clove of garlic. Sprinkle with italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Cook and stir just until the squash is tender.
*Beat the cream cheese, mayonnaise, ranch dressing and parmesan cheese until smooth. Gently mix in the vegetables, spread into the prepared pie plate or baking dish. Place in the oven for 30 minutes or until bubbly hot.
*Once the dip is in the oven, arrange the baguette slices on the baking sheet. Mix the olive oil and 1 clove of garlic and, using a pastry brush, lightly spread onto the bread slices. 
 *Once the vegetable dip has been in the oven for about 15 minutes, add the baking sheet of bread slices to the oven.
*Bake the bread for 15 minutes or just until the slices start to brown.
*Serve dip with the bruschetta.