#1 Go to a local bar and make friends with all the people celebrating a birthday. These new friends will quickly replace your old friends when you realize you only have to get them a birthday gift once every four years. (Note: I met my friend Arran for lunch to celebrate his leap year birthday, and I’d planned to buy him lunch, but he’d already ordered and paid. I’ll get you in four years, Arran.)
#2 Sell any stock you might hold in a leap year greeting card company. I know the stock has been going up, up, up in recent weeks, but I’m not sure that upward trend will continue past today.
#3 If you’re already got a special someone in mind, today might be the perfect day to get married since you’ll have an excuse for forgetting your anniversary 75% of the time.
#4 If you know anybody working for a leap year greeting card company, today might be an opportune time to hit on his girlfriend so she’ll remember you as an option after her boyfriend loses his job tomorrow.
#5 Today might be the perfect time to watch a romantic comedy with your wife, remark how much fun you had, and then insist watching a romantic comedy should become a leap year tradition. The next time she suggests watching a romantic comedy on any other day, you can pretend to be hurt that she would want to dillute the meaning of your special leap year tradition. This might just help you avoid any romcoms for the next four year.
#6 If you enjoy arguing, you might like to share with your co-workers a special memory from last year’s leap year.
#7 Go into the the office break room at lunch and give your colleagues a detailed explanation of the astronomy and history behind leap year. At the end of your fifteen-minute speech, promise you won’t give the speech again for another four years in exchange for a sandwich.
#8 You’d be doing school children a great favor if you discovered a new continent today since the date will be much easier to remember on tests.
The Good Greatsby 
susielindau
February 29, 2012
Happy Leap Day! I plan to celebrate by leaping to the coffee pot for a refill, then leaping on the tennis court, then leaping down the road to get my new phone activated all the while really trying my best, today of all days, to leap to as many conclusions as possible….
The Good Greatsby
February 29, 2012
Any conclusion leaping is certainly justified.
susielindau
February 29, 2012
Absodanglutely! Hahaha!
Hippie Cahier
March 1, 2012
Hope you can squeeze in a round of leap frog!
artjen1971
February 29, 2012
You are a regular Casanova and poet with the romcom anniversary ploy–you better go check you wife’s closet, maker sure her things are still there!
The Good Greatsby
March 1, 2012
I’m worried she might try a similar ploy for limiting viewings of The Karate Kid to once every four years.
artjen1971
March 1, 2012
Can’t say I blame her.
scottcarberry
February 29, 2012
Funny stuff!
thelifeofjamie
March 1, 2012
I like #5- but instead of a romantic comedy, I choose to watch Cops Gold Rush Alaska every leap year.
The Good Greatsby
March 1, 2012
That sounds about right.
lynne @ gardenmad
March 1, 2012
You could give your kids a raise in their allowance, and then promise to think about an increase next February 29th.
The Good Greatsby
March 1, 2012
Or start giving them an allowance.
El Guapo
March 1, 2012
I shudder to think what your wife is plotting for leap year vengeance!
The Good Greatsby
March 1, 2012
Our leap year is over here in China so she’ll have to wait another four years. The tension is going to kill me.
Kathryn McCullough
March 1, 2012
LOL
Bridgesburning Chris King
March 1, 2012
I like number six and it doesn’t have to be limited to coworkers – throw a dinner party !
The Good Greatsby
March 1, 2012
You’re right; you should be able to pull this off once with co-workers and then again at a dinner party.
Life in the Boomer Lane
March 1, 2012
Too funny. I have just consumed a bowl of Vatkattu Marjapuuro before realizing this was a Finnish dish and had nothing to do with Leap Year. Plus I don’t even like cranberries. I should have read your post first.
The Good Greatsby
March 1, 2012
I didn’t even know Vatkattu Marjapuuro was a leap year tradition. I’m suspicious of any dish that requires four years to forget what it tastes like before you’ll eat it again.
Audrey
March 1, 2012
The other day some friends and I were talking about how hilarious it would be to have a leap year birthday and go out for your 21 run when you’re 84. Taking the bars by storm!
The Good Greatsby
March 1, 2012
My friend had was born on leap day and he insists he’s only nine years old.
becomingcliche
March 1, 2012
#5 = evil genius!
The Good Greatsby
March 1, 2012
Thanks. I do occasionally have a genius idea geared towards good instead of evil but those aren’t nearly as fun.
Carl D'Agostino
March 1, 2012
Another great activity for today is to go and bet on the frog races.
The Good Greatsby
March 1, 2012
I hadn’t even heard about that. My wife wouldn’t want me gambling but I’ll promise her it will only be once every four years.
Rob Rubin
March 1, 2012
Damn, now I wish I got married on Feb. 29
Michael
March 1, 2012
Is there a Leap Day song, I wonder? The only song I know that even references leaping is the Twelve Days of Christmas, with the ten lords a-leaping and all. You’d think Leap Day would at least have a snappy haiku or some such.
She's a Maineiac
March 1, 2012
#7 was my favorite, any proposition that ends with a possible sandwich is genius.
We got married on a significant date that I thought might help my husband remember: April 15. It didn’t work. should’ve gone with April 1st.
The Good Greatsby
March 1, 2012
April 1st would have been such a great anniversary date. Forgetting the date, getting bad gifts, and writing bad poetry could all be forgiven by claiming they were April Fools’ jokes.
nursemyra
March 1, 2012
I know someone who got Married on April Fools Day. His wife died a few years later. I’m not saying the two facts are related in any way…..
magsx2
March 1, 2012
Hi,
The big Leap day was yesterday for us here in OZ, but I cooked up a lovely dinner, and even lit some candles, not bad for an old girl I thought.
I loved some of your suggestions for the Leap Year, I especially liked number 4. 😀
Dana
March 1, 2012
I think if my wedding anniversary was on Feb 29th, I’d have a hard time remembering when to remember! “Is this the year that we celebrate? Is it next year?” (Yes, I am slow on the uptake.)
I enjoy random excuses to celebrate, so I’d probably throw a party every Feb 28th and March 1st just to be safe.
Ape No. 1
March 1, 2012
Friggin’ hilarious GG. You now also have the benefit of having four years to create a new Leap Year post that can top this one.
edrevets
March 1, 2012
It’s also a great day to eat your roommates’s granola, just like every other day.
Main Street Musings Blog
March 1, 2012
Great tips. I only hope I can remember them for the next one. 🙂
educlaytion
March 1, 2012
#5 might be my favorite. But they’re all good.
Todd Pack
March 1, 2012
I like No. 3, although every fourth year, when you forgot your anniversary, you wouldn’t have any excuse. Still, getting in trouble only 25% of the time isn’t too bad.
Rachael Black
March 2, 2012
The Good One,
Happy to let you know I accomplished all of these things. In only two locations. The hardest part was making my boyfriend blow-up doll up again, for the romantic movie deal.
the others were all accomplished via the local Irish pub around the corner.
Sure, the new continent was a surprise to the under-age college kids at the bar around the corner, as were several other pronouncements. But hey, they were drunk at the time so it went pretty smoothly.
Easiest part was dealing with my co-workers; I work at home so the sole employee -me being the president- is Lizzie Borden. The cat. She seriously appreciated my confidences to her on finding someone with stock in greeting cards for this Leap Year, Her whiskers twitched at the potential for making some quick cash.
Mission accomplished!
Will make this a yearly event, and it’s all due to your wise words. -curtsy-
arran
March 13, 2012
you better had paul…….