Tired of logging onto social media and being surprised that it’s international SOMETHING day? The Cascade has your back with a few upcoming celebrations of the mundane, innocuous, or just weird parts of life.
Wednesday, September 14: Cream Filled Doughnut Day
With the school year getting into full swing, nobody’s going to make a special trip to the bakery just to track down a cream filled doughnut or two (or five). So I channelled all of my investigative journalism skills to look into the campus’s Tim Hortons and assess their offerings in preparation for this important day.
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Their cream-filled offerings were slim. One, to be precise. The classic Boston cream. I purchased one, along with a strawberry-filled doughnut for good measure. As someone who doesn’t eat a lot of Tim Hortons, both doughnuts surprised me in a positive way. The dough was soft and light, and the sweet chocolate on the Boston cream mixed well with it. The fillings, however, are the reason for this celebration. The strawberry was quite sweet, almost too much so, while the Boston cream had the opposite problem — I wouldn’t call it bland, but it was subtle, almost lost behind the chocolate. Despite that, I enjoyed both and can heartily recommend seeking them out.
At their low cost of just $2.08 for the pair, the campus Tim Hortons offers an affordable and convenient way for you join in with the Cream Filled Doughnut Day celebrations.
Saturday, September 17: Responsible Dog Ownership Day
Hopefully all of you dog owners take good care of your pups every day of the year, so why not take this Saturday to make sure you’re ready to keep your pet safe and healthy in the event of a disaster? We’re always hearing about portable emergency preparedness kits for when the big earthquake hits, but those stories rarely mention taking care of our furry friends.
When assembling a dog-focused kit, obviously the first priority should be making sure you have enough food and water for several days, as well as a can opener if needed. But don’t forget you may need to travel, especially if your home is damaged. A good leash is essential, and for a smaller dog, a pet carrier could save you a lot of effort. The B.C. SPCA recommends printed, recent photos of your pets in case they get lost, as well as a copy of their vaccination history. If you end up separated from your beloved pooch, an ID tag with your phone number is the best way to ensure you’ll be reunited. And of course, don’t forget to include some bags to clean up after your dog!
It’s easy to put off assembling emergency kits, but if a disaster strikes, you’ll be glad to have your faithful hound safe and ready.
Monday, September 19: Talk Like a Pirate Day
One of the most widely known “weird” celebrations, Talk Like a Pirate Day seems to be slipping off of people’s radar compared to its massive popularity over the past decade. Perhaps we’re growing tired of just yelling “arr” and “avast” while claiming our credit cards are doubloons. In an effort to preserve the novelty of this occasion, here are a few slightly more obscure pirate words to work into your conversations:
- Picaroon: a pirate, or otherwise roguish person.
- Nipperkin: either a small cup, or the (usually alcoholic) drink it holds.
- Hornswaggle: to cheat, trick, or otherwise deceive someone.
- Cackle fruit: a chicken’s egg.
- Scuttlebutt: originally a cask of drinking water, it now means to gossip, because sailors would gather around it to chat. The original water cooler!
While you may not be keen on wearing an eye patch to class on Monday, pulling out one of these words is certain to make you sound like the salty seadog you always knew you could be. Or at least draw some confused looks.
Jeff was The Cascade's Editor in Chief for the latter half of 2022, having previously served as Digital Media Manager, Culture & Events Editor, and Opinion Editor. One time he held all three of those positions for a month, and he's not sure how he survived that. He started at The Cascade in 2016.
