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October, the tenth month of the current Gregorian calendar and the second month of Autumn’s rule, derives its name from octo, the Latin word meaning “eight,” as October was the eighth month of the old Roman calendar.
The traditional birthstone amulets of October are opal, rose sapphire, and tourmaline.
The opal is thought to have the power to predict illness. This is because the opal responds to heat. If you are sick your temperature increases before signs of illness appear. The increased body heat causes the opal to lose its shine, leaving it dull and lacking color. It is also said that the opal will crack if it is worn by someone who was not born in October.
 Calendula is the month’s traditional flower.
October is shared by the astrological signs of Libra the Scales (or Balance) and Scorpio the Scorpion.
October is the first full month of Autumn, heralding the arrival of Fall colors as trees begin to lose their leaves, and it ends with sprites, frights, and peculiar delights on Halloween.
It's Positive Attitude Month, Squirrel Awareness Month, Raptor Month when you should be bright-eyed, bushy-tailed, and ready to swoop on those opportunities!!
It's National Clock Month 
It's National Apple Month: Which means, it's time to bake an apple pie!!
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It's National Dessert Month
October Quotes
"October is nature's funeral month. Nature glories in death more than in life. The month of departure is more beautiful than the month of coming - October than May. Every green thing loves to die in bright colors."
- Henry Ward Beecher
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"October's the month
When the smallest breeze
Gives us a shower
Of autumn leaves.
Bonfires and pumpkins,
Leaves sailing down -
October is red
And golden and brown."
- Can Teach Songs
"Bittersweet October. The mellow, messy, leaf-kicking, perfect pause
between the opposing miseries of summer and winter."
- Carol Bishop Hipps
"October gave a party;
The leaves by hundreds came-
The Chestnuts, Oaks, and Maples,
And leaves of every name.
The Sunshine spread a carpet,
And everything was grand,
Miss Weather led the dancing,
Professor Wind the band."
- George Cooper, October's Party
“October: This is one of the peculiarly dangerous months to speculate in stocks. The others are July, January, September, April, November, May, March, June, December, August, and February.”
- Mark Twain's Pudd"nhead Wilson
October Events
THE MAIN EVENT is, of course:
The John Tyler HS
Class of 1968 Reunion
October 5th & 6th
1st – Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Women make up more than 50 percent of the American workforce. Approximately 44 percent of those diagnosed with cancer will be employed at the time of their diagnosis. Urge all employers to examine the health care benefits they provide their employees and to take the steps needed to provide significant benefits for mammography screening.
2nd - 
2nd - 
In 1963, Harvey Ball invented the Smiley Face.
It gave the expression Grin and Bear It a whole new meaning. :)
2nd - Name Your Car Day. This is a day to get closer to your car. We depend on our vehicles to reliably get us to wherever we need to go. So we need to treat our cars right and that begins with giving it a really good name. We tend to care for things we name more than we do things we do not name. This is why if you have a farm, you have to be careful to avoid naming the animals you intend to eat.
Some of the most iconic cars with names are; Bumble Bee from Transformers, Herbie from The Love Bug, Kit from Knight Rider, and Lightning McQueen from Cars.
Does your car have a name? Mine's called Hunkajunk!!
4th - 10th - 
4th -  National Golf Lover's Day
4th - Leave It to Beaver begins its six-year, 234-episode run on TV, 1957, proving time and again that Dad always knows just what to say.
"WARD, I’M WORRIED ABOUT THE BEAVER"
THE WISDOM OF WARD CLEAVER
“I guess so.”
“That’s it.”
“Oh ?”
5th – World Teachers' Day!! A salute to those intrepid leaders of children because they do have a lot of class!
TEACHER: What is the chemical formula for water?
SARAH : "HIJKLMNO"!!
TEACHER: What are you talking about?
SARAH : Yesterday you said it's H to O!
MOO-TIVE FOR THE CRIME
8th - The Great Chicago Fire of 1871
was blamed on: (A) Mrs. O’Leary’s cow, (B) The cow that jumped over the moon, or (C) Bullfeathers.
Fire Prevention Day - Fire prevention is highlighted on this day because of the legend surrounding the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 which killed 300 people, destroyed 17,000 structures and left a hundred thousand people homeless. The story is that Mrs. O’Leary was milking her cow, late at night on Oct. 8, 1871, in her barn when her cow knocked over the oil lamp. That was all it took.
8th – National Crime Prevention Month & National Roller Skating Month. Suspect is described as a terror on wheels!! (Crime and Pun-ishment)
A woman went into her kitchen to find a burglar loaded down with a bunch of stuff he was stealing from her kitchen. Not having any kind of weapon to scare him off, she raised her hand and said "Acts 2:38," and proceeded to quote scripture.
The burglar froze in place and didn't move. The woman called 911, the police arrived and were amazed to find the burglar still frozen where he stood.
"What did you say to him that kept him from moving?" they asked the woman.
She told them that she had simply said Acts 2:38 and quoted scripture.
The police chuckled and escorted the burglar out to the patrol car. "Why did the woman's quoting scripture scare you so much?" they asked.
"Scripture?" said the burglar, "I thought she said she had an ax and two 38's!"
9th -  World Egg Day - Created by the International Egg Commission at the IEC Vienna 1996 conference (Who knew there was an International Egg Commission? I certainly didn't.). This is a day to generate media interest about eggs and encourage people to eat more of them. It is celebrated on the second Friday in October every year.
10th - National Stop Bullying Day
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10th – 
World Mental Health Day - The fact that you see no one celebrating it ought to tell you something, huh?!!
12th - National Gumbo Day - 
Originating in southern Louisiana during the 18th century, Gumbo, which is traditionally served over rice, is a dish that typically consists of a strongly flavored stock, meat or shellfish, a thickener and seasoning vegetables. The seasoning vegetables may consist of celery, bell peppers and onions which is a trio known in Cajun cuisine as the “holy trinity.” Gumbo is usually categorized by the type of thickener used:
The African vegetable okra
The Choctaw spice filé powder (dried and ground sassafras leaves)
Roux (the French base made of flour and fat)
http://www.nolacuisine.com/2006/07/03/homemade-file-powder/
http://generalhorticulture.tamu.edu/prof/recipes/file-sassafras/file.html
Gumbo is believed to have been first described in 1802 and was listed in various cookbooks in the latter 19th century. It gained widespread popularity in the 1970′s when the United States Senate cafeteria added Gumbo to the menu in honor of Louisiana Senator Allen Ellender.
Gumbo is the official cuisine of the state of Louisiana. The World Championship Gumbo Cook Off is held each year in New Iberia, Louisiana.
12th –  Columbus Day. The explorer set sail with three ships. They were called the: (A) Neon, Pinto, and Sierra; (B) Nina, Pinta, & Santa Maria; (C) Nooner, Pinata, and Santa Fe.
15th – National Grouch Day. You may be a grouch if: CPR would improve your attitude; your dog only likes you when it's time for dinner; you're the designated wet blanket at a party; or, your best moments in life are when you tell someone “I told you so!” or “Get over it!!”
16th – .jpg) Dictionary Day - soi·rée n. An evening party or reception.
21st – National Chili Month -  Ask any fire-breathing dragon what puts the flame to shame and he'll tell you it's a big ole bowl of red hot Texas chili. They don't call chili belches a blaze of glory for nuthin', pardner!! How to celebrate: Peppered & Pepto'ed!!
21st - BOOLA-BOOLA CALENDULA!  The flower for October is the calendula, pronounced “calla-doola-oola-whatever.”
Can’t say it? Give her the stone of the month - an opal - .gif)
22nd - National Orthodontic Health Month. How to celebrate?
 Brace yourself!
24th –  National Bologna Day. How can a pregnant woman tell she's carrying a future lawyer? She has an uncontrollable craving for baloney.
26th - Texas Chicken Fried Steak Day - as proclaimed by the Texas Legislature. Chicken fried steak is the ultimate soul food of the Lone Star State.
CHICKEN-FRIED STEAK
FROM GRADY SPEARS
1 1/2 cups flour
2 teaspoons kosher salt
2 teaspoons freshly ground pepper
4 tablespoons paprika
2 eggs
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup Shiner Bock or other bock beer
peanut oil, enough to cover meat halfway
4 tenderized round steaks (about 1/2 pound each)
2 cups Cracked-Pepper Gravy
Mix first 4 ingredients and set aside on a plate or wax paper. Whisk eggs in a large bowl, then add buttermilk and beer and whisk to blend. Set aside. In a deep, heavy skillet, heat oil to 350 degrees. While oil is heating, prepare the steaks by dredging them in flour mixture, coating evenly. Shake off any excess. Dip in egg batter, and then again in flour, evenly coating the batter so it is dry on the outside. When oil temperature reaches 350 (a drop of batter will sizzle when dropped into it), gently slide one steak into the oil. Cook about 3 minutes, then turn it, taking care not to break the crust, and cook 3 more minutes, or until nicely browned. Drain on paper towels. Repeat with the other steaks. Hold cooked steaks in a 225-degree oven until all are done. Serve with Cracked-Pepper Gravy. Serves 4.
CRACKED-PEPPER GRAVY
1/2 cup unsalted butter
5 tablespoons flour
2 1/2 cups whole milk
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
4 teaspoons cracked pepper
Melt butter in a heavy saucepan over low to medium-low heat. When foam subsides, add flour, whisking continuously until it cooks, becoming a fragrant light brown. Slowly add milk, whisking to keep lumps from forming. Season with salt and pepper and simmer for 10 minutes. Makes about 3 cups.
from Texas Monthly, April 2011
26th - Gunfight at the OK Corral, 1881. Who, what, where, and Wyatt!!
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28th – Statue of Liberty dedicated in 1886.
31st - Nevada admission day, 1864. Nevada admits that what happens in Vegas might not stay in Vegas. (Just ask Prince Harry.)
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Losers’ money is what stays in Vegas.
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31st – Halloween. What can be scarier than a bad joke?
Q. Why do demons and ghouls hang out together?
A. Because demons are a ghouls best friend!
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