Offbeat February: Did January leave you feeling frozen? Let it go

WASHINGTON — Winter’s nadir is in the rearview mirror. Good riddance.

And good for you! You made it, and that bone-numbing 40-degree chill has steeled you for winter’s homestretch.

It’s not as long as you’d think: Pitchers and catchers report in about two weeks. By the time your school gets eliminated in that conference tournament, you’ll be scoping out hotels for spring training.

Along the way, you’ll have a nice romantic evening with the significant other, complete with candy, a card … and a bird feeder. After all, February is National Bird-Feeding Month. It’s also African American History Month, American Heart Month and National Children’s Dental Health Month.

The year’s shortest month stands tall when it comes to odd holidays that addle, baffle and befuddle. Take a peek at February’s offbeat side in the gallery below.

Offbeat February holidays

Isolated man is exercising in gym — **2/1** **Work Naked Day** According to the people who declare these sorts of things, this isn’t the day you squander your career. Rather, it’s a day to telecommute if you’re so lucky to have the option. (Just make sure you have no video conferences planned.) (Thinkstock)

**2/3** **Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Day** … with a side of leftover crepes! (Thinkstock)

FILE - In this Feb. 7, 2013 file photo, a U.S. Postal Service letter carrier gathers mail to load into his truck before making his delivery run in the East Atlanta neighborhood in Atlanta. The cost of mailing a letter is going down. Beginning Sunday, April 10, 2016, the price of a first-class stamp drops two cents, to 47 cents. The reduction is the result of an expiring surcharge that had been put in place in January 2014 to help the beleaguered Postal Service recoup $4.6 billion in losses dating back to the Great Recession. (AP Photo/David Goldman, File) — **2/4** **Thank Your Mailman Day** The Postal Service processes nearly half of the world’s mail. It regularly delivers to *every* business and residence in the U.S. It employs over 113,000 veterans. And It does all this without tax money. Honor them today with a crisp salute, a thank-you note, some candy or by keeping your dog quiet as they make their appointed rounds. (AP/David Goldman)

2/5 National Weatherperson’s Day What to wear today — a linen tuxedo or that velour tracksuit? They’re the nice folks who help you make the right call. Today, we honor them, because holy cow is it hard to predict the future. The best way to celebrate? No junk food, said Storm Team4’s Amelia Draper. “Weather folks are typically a healthy and active bunch,” she said. “So rather than the usual sweets as thank-you’s, we’d love healthy food thank-you’s for this special day!” Case in point: Matt Ritter said he just wants access to bread and milk when the next snow threat empties shelves. (AP)

/file_thumbview_approve.php?size=1&id=21507720 — **2/6** **Lame Duck Day** They’re on their way out — which, in this town, can also mean they have nothing to lose. Celebrate by learning more about the 20th Amendment, which establishes the beginning and ending of terms for the president, the vice president and Congress. Know someone who’s on their way out of a job? Share some leftover crepes. (Thinkstock)

**2/10** **Umbrella Day** Because how else are you going to keep that … uh … snow off your head? Today’s the day we honor an invention that really earns its keep when the rain’s dropping. Celebrate by losing another one on the train for the umpteenth time. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avrCpYrdkxk

Sitting in office in front of computer — **2/12** **Clean Out Your Computer Day** Yes, you did do this in October — kind of. You just cleaned off your virtual desktop. This particular day addresses the rest of it. Celebrate by cleaning up the desktop again, uninstalling the applications that you don’t use, wiping the spilled milk off your keyboard etc. (Thinkstock)

car radio — **2/13** **World Radio Day** It’s a day when we honor its role in our daily lives. Where else are you going to hear the latest news, not to mention traffic and weather on the 8s? (And don’t even get us started on “Twofer Tuesdays,” commercial-free “rock blocks” and baseball play-by-play.) Celebrate this timeless medium by listening to you-know-what all day, then enjoy a Caps game (they’re playing Winnipeg on 1500 AM) after dinner. (Thinkstock)

Girl Scout Cookies — **2/19** **Chocolate Mint Day** Whoever came up with the idea of adding mint to chocolate was a fracking genius. One complements the other, and the world is a better place because of it. How to celebrate? The Girl Scouts pretty much nailed the combination with Thin Mints, so you might as well start here. (Getty Images/John Moore)

GP Strategies, which provides companies with e-learning and management consulting services, has made two acquisitions across the Atlantic. (Thinkstock) — **2/22** **Single Tasking Day** According to some studies, multitasking actually *decreases* productivity. (Whaaat?! I know, right? Weird.) So just do one thing at a time today and see how it goes. If it doesn’t work out, write us an email later while you’re finishing up that spreadsheet. (Thinkstock)

2/23 International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day JACK: Hey, it’s International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day.
DOG: Treat, please.
JACK: How do you think we should celebrate?
DOG: Treat, please.
JACK: Good call. [**Gives Dog treat**]
JACK: Should we walk now or watch “The Munsters”?
DOG: Treat, please. (Thinkstock)