Apr 29- World Wish Day

When you wish upon a star ... or a wishbone ... or a penny ... your dreams may or may not come true.  But you know, if a deserving child is the recipient of the Make-A-Wish Foundation the odds are really in their favour.  This day isn't just about making a random wish and blowing out a dandelion, it is about making actual reality happen for those who are somehow in need because of a fight against a deadly illness.  Watch the inspiring origins of World Wish Day here:

April 29th is the day that inspired the foundation in 1980  and now celebrates the day in gratitude for the donors who make possible the life-changing wishes of a child in need, who may not see another year in his or her life.  And it started with how one community came together with this wish ... this one wish ... the unity, spirit, and universal emotion captivated on this day changed many children's short, short lives.  Even now, 35 years later ... wishes are still being granted.

April 28 - National Poetry Reading Day

Whan that aprill with his shoures soote

The droghte of march hath perced to the roote,

And bathed every veyne in swich licour

Of which vertu engendred is the flour;

Whan zephirus eek with his sweete breeth

Inspired hath in every holt and heeth

Tendre croppes, and the yonge sonne

Hath in the ram his halve cours yronne,

That is all I remember by memory without prompting of the prologue to Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, although if someone prompts the first two words of whatever line I forget, I can totally do it.   Thank you, senior English teacher.  I can admit to looking up the spelling, though.  And since it happens to be an April 'holiday,' I went there first.  "Whan that aprill..."

Thank heavens for theatre so I could feed this brain that memorizes so well.  Although ... it IS kind of a curse that I remember whole plays years after I've done them.  That and I can still quote the entire Robin Hood movie, Disney version ... at least every part that was on the LP.  But I digress.

However, to celebrate National Poetry Day I am going to recite Roald Dahl's version of Cinderella from Revolting Rhymes, which I bought in Vienna years ago and just found in the garage this morning while looking for something else.  They are insanely easy and I used them when I dressed as either Lady Boo, Lady Christmas, or Lady Marmalade (don't go there lol) and told stories in elementary school classes.  I'm not going to recite it RIGHT HERE because those are insanely long.  I am either going to make my 4th grader listen to me or just do it on the front porch and draw attention to myself.

Apr 27 - Morse Code Day

- .... .. ...  .. ...  -- -.--  -... .-.. --- --. .-.-.-  .. ..-.  -.-- --- ..-  .... .- ...- .  - .... .  .--. .-. --- .--. . -. ... .. - -.--  - ---  -.. . -.-. .. .--. .... . .-.  - .... .. ...  -.-. --- -.. . --..--  - .... . -.  -.-- --- ..-  .- .-. .  -- -.--  .... . .-. --- .-.-.-  - .... .  .--. . --- .--. .-.. .  ..  .- -.-. - ..- .- .-.. .-.. -.--  - .... .. -. -.-  .-- --- ..- .-.. -..  -.. ---  .. -  -.--. .. ..-.  - .... . -.--  .... .- .--. .--. . -. . -..  - ---  -.-. .- - -.-. ....  - .... .. ... -.--.-  .- .-. .  .--- . ..-. ..-. .-. . -.--  .-- .. .-.. .-.. .. .- -- ...  .- -. -..  -.- . .-.. .-.. -.--  .-.. .- .--. -.-. --.. -.-- -. ... -.- .. .-.-.-  .-. --- -...  .-- .. .-.. ... --- -.  -- .. --. .... -  .- .-.. ... ---  -.. ---  .. -  .. ..-.  .... .  .. ...  -... --- .-. . -..  . -. --- ..- --. ....  .. -.  .-  -.-. --- ..-. ..-. . .  ... .... --- .--. .-.-.-  .-.. --- .-..

.... ..  --. ..- -.-- ...!

-. --- .--  .... . .-. .  .. ...  -- -.--  -- . ... ... .- --. . ---...
.----. .... --- .--. . .----.  .. ...  - .... .  - .... .. -. --.  .-- .. - ....  ..-. . .- - .... . .-. ...—
- .... .- -  .--. . .-. -.-. .... . ...  .. -.  - .... .  ... --- ..- .-..—
.- -. -..  ... .. -. --. ...  - .... .  - ..- -. .  .-- .. - .... --- ..- -  - .... .  .-- --- .-. -.. ...—
.- -. -..  -. . ...- . .-.  ... - --- .--. ...—.- -  .- .-.. .-..—

.- -. -..  ... .-- . . - . ... -—.. -.  - .... .  --. .- .-.. .—.. ...  .... . .- .-. -..—
.- -. -..  ... --- .-. .  -- ..- ... -  -... .  - .... .  ... - --- .-. --—
- .... .- -  -.-. --- ..- .-.. -..  .- -... .- ... ....  - .... .  .-.. .. - - .-.. .  -... .. .-. -..
- .... .- -  -.- . .--. -  ... ---  -- .- -. -.--  .-- .- .-. --—

.. .----. ...- .  .... . .- .-. -..  .. -  .. -.  - .... .  -.-. .... .. .-.. .-.. . ... -  .-.. .- -. -..—
.- -. -..  --- -.  - .... .  ... - .-. .- -. --. . ... -  ... . .-—
-.-- . - --..--  -. . ...- . .-. --..--  .. -.  . -..- - .-. . -- .. - -.-- --..--
.. -  .- ... -.- . -..  .-  -.-. .-. ..- -- -...—--- ..-.  -- . .-.-.-

-.--. -. --- .--  --..-- --..-- --..--  ..  .-- --- -. -.. . .-.  .. ..-.  .... . .-.  -.. .- ... .... . ...  .-. . .- .-.. .-.. -.--  - .... .-. --- .--  --- ..-. ..-.  - .... .  -- --- .-. ... .!-.--.-  

Apr 26 - Hug a Friend Day

Let your friends know how special they are.  Here is my virtual hug to some of them.  I could say so much about so many friends who have touched my life but I am narrowing it down to three very close friends I have known for around 10 years and are living in Nashville.

• Beth, you are my partner in literary crime and so enjoy the creativity and laughter that you bring out in me.  I don't remember whose place you took in the play where we met, but I certain I would not have felt so challenged, loved, and special as I do knowing you.  The pajamas you gave me after the flood have lots of holes now, but they also give me a hug so I dare not part with them ... or YOU!  Ever.  Get used to it.  ;-)

• Daniel, it's so nice to have a friend who I do not have to see or hang out with for months at a time but when we finally do, it's real, it's important, it's fun, and it's usually intense.  All of those could apply to everything we've ever done together...sometimes we are just fulfilling one of those as a close-friend-need and sometimes we find a way to do them all at once on my back porch ... with spirits.  Love ya, man.

• Julie, we have known each other for much longer than ten years and somehow we were brought together in the same city ... again.  Your face is a blessing.  Your home is a blessing.  Your stories, fact or fiction, are a blessing in so many ways.  Our times together grow more and more meaningful with each meeting or new experience or even trauma.  You mean WAY more to me than my luggage and we really should have collected a journal of inside jokes, Tawanda.  I love you, truly.

Let your friends know how important they are to you by giving them a hug.  This virtual hug is real, but it can't beat the "bonding" hormone oxytocin that the body releases when given a real hug.  Do it.  Don't wait.  I'll bet they need one too.  ;-)

Apr 25 - Eeyore's Birthday

I started writing this blog entry, but it doesn't matter.

I found this cute picture, if you care about that kind of thing.

It is (apparently) Eeyore's birthday.  He is (or ... was?) a quirky, sad donkey from The Hundred Acre Wood, who has a penchant for gloomy ruminations, or so says Tigger. But his particular outlook on life produces some pretty great (and perfectly deadpan) witticisms, don't you think?

Or do you even care?  ;-)

My favourite quote which I have often repeated is this: 

"It's snowing still," said Eeyore gloomily.
"So, it is."
"And freezing."
"Is it?"
"Yes," said Eeyore.  "However," he said, brightening up a little, "we haven't had an earthquake lately."

Now, how 'bout that for positive thinking?  Happy birthday, sad dude.  Here's some Wellbutrin.

Apr 24 - National Pet Parents Day

Notice that the cat is saying nothing to it's parents?  Typicsl.

National Pet Parents Day is observed annually on the last Sunday in April.

There is a very special connection, a unique bond, between a pet and its owner.  This unique relationship, which can often last for many years, is often a vital part of the ‘pet parents’ life.  Their loved pets are considered to be a member of the family.

 I memorized all my pets when I was in third grade.  I was so proud to say that I had, "a dog, a cat, 13 fish, a gerbil, and a turtle."  My poor parents!  Only child syndrome, maybe, but they were all my good friends.  We had parties and stuff.  I included the barbies because they didn't balk when I adjusted their costumes ...

National Pet Parents Day was created to honor all dedicated pet parents across the nation with a special day of their own. That's today.  It's MY day, bitches.

Gus is the cat at the theatre door.  Yep, that's where we found her.   Lakewood Theatre backstage door, 2005, a few weeks after we had just adopted Rosie, named after the previous owner of our house.  

Sonic, our dog, came to us as he crawled through the open window of a car as someone drove by me in the adjoining neighbourhood and said, "Is this yours?"  He wasn't and I tried to find his owners, but, just like Satchel, who had passed immediately following the flood, HE found US and ... we kept him.

We are also currently keeping a kitty on our back porch in hopes to find it a home.  But we've named it.  Uh oh.  And ...

Does my iguana count?

I have not changed since third grade.  My poor husband!  Folks, I have a disease. ;-)

April 23 - Talk Like Shakespeare Day

talking as the Bard is quite a dare 
tis neith'r h're n'r th're
but i can speak as that gent at which hour i hath chosen -- aye, doth anywh're 
if 't be true thee tryeth to disagreeth i shall fig thee f'rthwith and i shall doeth it with a rhyme

So.  Yeah.

Apr 22 - Earth Day

I admit to being a hippie type so Earth Day, as some say, 'is my jam.'  But I don't see recycling, planting trees, or shredding my junk mail as hippie.  I kinda see it as a decent attempt at stewardship, yeah?

I decided to make a few pledges to myself and the environment each earth day even though I don't make a big deal about it.  Sometimes I can be really bad at these things too, so I figure if I make it a personal goal then maybe, just maybe, I'll make an itty bitty difference.  One year I decided to shred all our junk mail.  This year it is not to leave the water running while I brush my teeth and, except for the ones I plant myself, to only buy vegetables from the Amish farmer's market.

It might seem simple to make tiny goals, but I have failed at a couple of them before because I made too many.  There are things I do as a regular basis now, but only because I started out only doing that one thing instead of trying to overwhelm myself with new ideas.

Oh, and the shredding is to feed my garden worms so they can poop it out and recycle their own waste to fertilize my vegetable garden.  Anyhoo ... Happy Earth Day!

Apr 21 - World Kindergarten Day

"I believe that imagination is stronger than knowledge.  That mysth is more potent than history.  That dreams are more powerful than facts.  That hope always triumphs over experience.  That laughter is the only cure for grief.  And I believe that love is strong than death."  Amen.

It is World Kindergarten Day.  All I know about this is that kindergarten was started in Germany ... in and around the 1860s after Prussia kind of outlawed it ... but after the guy who tried to start them passed away the law was abolished or something.  This holiday is on his birthday and his name was Friedrich Froebe.  I have no idea why the education of little ones was outlawed in the first place because getting a jump start on reading and writing is, erm, kinda helpful, but whatever.  Good for Froebe though.

The early school years are usually full of excitement, growth, wonder ... Fulghum's instantly popular book offers up a great list of things we learn in those formative that stay with us for the rest of our lives.  I just feel very sad for kids who have been deprived of that first year.  I live with two of them.  I hope in some way we can back track their process just a little ... enough to make a difference and bring back the wonder.

"And then tremember the Dick and Jane books and the first word you learned - the biggest word of all - LOOK."

(above two quotes from Robert Fulghum, All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten)

Apr 20 - Previously on SLICED BY A CLOUD ...

May your cotton mouth be quenchable ... and your munchies delectable.  I mean, I only have one friend who will know why I chose that title.  And it's just between us forever and ever amen.  Happy 4/20.  And pass it on to a friend.  *wink wink*

Apr 19 - International Juggler's Day

I decided not even to look up the details of this day.  It could be about juggling, the manipulation of objects for sport ... I think my cousin did this for a while and was quite good at it.  It could be about the appreciation of said sport.  But I'll bet it is not.  I'll bet it is about my freaking life.

Now that I am teaching part-time I only have two days in which to get 525, 600 things accomplished.  This is on top of knowing 20 people will be at our home tomorrow night and the house isn't clean.  I mean, you know how much I love watching Tyrone work, but I've got my country's 500th anniversary to plan, my wedding to arrange, my wife to murder and Guilder to frame for it.  I'm swamped!  Since it is International's Juggler's Day and I AM swamped, I am going to read this again to get some perspective.  I hope it can encourage you, too.

OUR DOG LIKES PINK

"See how the flowers of the field grow.  They do no labor or spin.  Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.  if that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you - you of little faith?"  Matt 6:28-30

Apr 18 - Pet Owners Independence Day

 Our fur babies get to stay home while we 'bring home the bacon.'  What would YOUR pet do if he or she had to work in your place?  The possibilities are endless.  My cats would flip my students off and sleep. Because they're cats.  My dog, however ...

(Earlier this morning to the secretary at my current employment ...)

"Hi, I'm Sonic.  I love you!"

"You have Sonic?  Put it in the teacher's lounge please."

"No, I AM Sonic.  That's my name."

"Lovely.  What are you doing here?"

"It's Pet Owner's Independence Day.  My owner told me I had to come in and teach her class!  AND I LOVE YOU!"

"Her classroom is upstairs.  Here's your temporary ID.  Please don't pee on the elevator."

"Darn it!  Okay!  I love you!"

"Indeed."

(secretary to a co-worker) "Concerning that pee ... does he know the classes are 90 minutes long?"

(dog, hearing from the hallway) "DARN IT!"

----------------------------------------------------

Yes, Pet Owner's Independence Day is a national holiday.  I am not making this up.

Apr 17 - High Fives, Haikus, Bats, and Cheese Balls ... *blah blah blah*

Every day there are a slew of national holidays, be they weird and wacky or proper and practiced.  Under the weird/wacky subtitle, Apr 17 sings the praises of bats, cheese balls, haikus and the hearty high five.  I often choose just one holiday, but this timeI focused on bats with a sidebar or two.

I have two main memories with these particularly creepy chiropteras.  My first thoughts go to the ranch in Olancho, Honduras where I worked in the late 80s and early 90s.  One of the rooms had quite a nest of bats one had to avoid at night ... especially in bunks.  I still remember doctoring the forehead of a young girl who, from a top bunk, heard fluttering around and sat right up in bed at just the time a bat was about to fly directly over her.  There was quite a kerfuffle in that room after she HIGH FIVED the bat with her noggin.

Another bat-related memory is how I met some of my dearest friends in Nashville, including my close pal Jeffrey, who played the titular role in a theatrical production of Bat Boy: The Musical at Street Theatre Company while I was assisting with props (I found a cow's head!)  and I sang a few bars as a random character.  For those who are not familiar with Off Broadway sensations, this show is a hysterical macabre story around the tabloid claim that a half bat/half human child was found in a cave.  And yes, this is a photo of Jeffrey, either singing or wailing or both ... I can't remember.  It was all pretty "CHEESEBALL."

Jeffrey Williams in Bat Boy, 2007 
(Photo courtesy of Jose Herrera)

I will now celebrate all five holidays with one haiku:

High five to the bat

who ate a big cheeseball and

then sang, "Blah-blah-blah..."

It also happens to be BLAH BLAH BLAH Day, a day to put off stalled projects ... which I am celebrating anyway just by writing this blog here, so there.

Apr 16 - National Record Store Day

Does anyone else love the smell of vintage 33 covers?

I took a quick photo of these records I saw at The Great Escape, each of which I have either owned, listened to at my cousin's, or, in the case of these, happened to be show that my friend Dan was in and, well, there was a whole lot of Babs at his place too.  Anyhoo, I can't believe it has been this long in life and it finally dawns on me that my love of all things musical theatre was passed on from my parents.  There were a number of contemporary hits in their collection, but as I flipped through these records I saw some REALLY familiar ones from my parents' stash ... Zero Mostel: Fiddler on the Roof, Finian's Rainbow, Camelot, The Man of La Mancha, The Music Man, My Fair Lady, Carol Burnett: Once Upon a Mattress, Mary Martin: Peter Pan .... and I knew every word.  Especially the Camelot score. "Don't let it be forgot ..." 

I grabbed and purchased most of them at the record store today.  FOR CHEEEEEAAAAAP!  Oh yeah, and Damn Yankees ... which my parents did NOT own (preacher's family and all lol).  I discovered the love of that score from a college roomie, Martha, who IF I am remembering correctly, played Lola once upon a time.  So my decision to fly by the record store when I realized what day it is made me also fly through some awesome memories.

I can almost smell the aging covers now ... well, possibly because they are all over the bed as I type.  I enjoy this particular sensory overload.  Oh yeah!  My husband gave me a phonograph for Christmas ... now to decide which one I shall enjoy first!

  

Apr 15 - What the Fish-sticks?

Take a wild guess what today's national holiday is.  Some goon decided it would be funny to petition for a random holiday and, just guessing it might be a hit, he went for it.  And low and behold, he got it.

Are you feeling lucky?  Maybe this is your chance do this on a multiple choice exam and it would probably be your only option in playing Charades, Hangman, and 20 Questions.  Or maybe you are wondering if your crush likes you back...yep, to mirror the lead sentence in this paragraph it is TAKE A WILD GUESS DAY.  Hardy har har.

Aaaaaaaaand take a wild guess how interesting I think this day is.

Apr 14 - Dolphin Day

"We were born with our freedom; we were born with the truth."
(The Dolphin Song, ONJ)

WHY IT WOULD BE COOL TO BE A DOLPHIN:

Constantly hanging out with and building strong bonds with friends.

Always appearing to be content!

There would always be someone to 'bring me to the surface' when I feel like I am 'in too deep.'

I could dislodge a parasite just by leaping (imagine the quote fingers around the operative p-word there).  *wink*

I wish humans could also travel by jumping ... it saves dolphins energy whereas I'm tired just thinking about it.

Man, I'd love to travel by the jet stream of a boat without getting lacerated!

And last but not least, I'd love to be able to hear things other people can't hear.  I'm evil that way.
tee hee hee

Apr 13 - World Scrabble Day

On this day, I thank MOLLY DAWIDOW who, with her homemade chicken salad and smarts taught me how to tackle the Scrabble board while I was living in Vienna, Austria.  I think we may have played for three days straight.  I was never the same again.  Happy Scrabble Day!

I also wish ARLENE MILLER a Happy Scrabble Day, who could kill the board as we wiled away the hours with the gift we both gave each other one Christmas ... a hefty Scrabble dictionary.  I still have mine!

And I thank TIM WOODROOF, who gave me some great hints on bluffing like a heartless bastard.  ;-)  Love you!  Happy World Scrabble Day, old friend!

I also wish LANE WRIGHT a Happy Scrabble Day and thank him for being about the only person who can beat me without cheating.  Like, at ALL.  Except for maybe this next guy ...

So, I wish RYAN GREENAWALT a Happy Scrabble Day and a request to rectify our lack of a personal scrabble tournament sooner than later.  Miss you, dude!

And to everyone else, I wish on you the opportunity to use a word like oxyphenbutazone, which will ensure you win the game no matter when you play it.  And with that, K-W-Y-J-B-O.  Game's over.  I'm outa here.

Apr 12 - Walk on Your Wild Side Day

Today is apparently the day I am supposed to throw caution to the wind.  Mmm kay, since I have done this numerous times and most of those attempts have been embarrassing, I will suck it up and share ... for your laughter's sake.  Yeah, the first two "wild side" memories are ... well, nude oopsies.

--One year as a counselour at White River Youth Camp I decided to wake the other leaders up in the girls' bathroom by prancing out of the shower nude and singing Good Mornin' from Singin' in the Rain.  I really put my heart into it ... but I slid on a bar of soap and slipped right out the door.  I will never knew if anyone outside the bathroom caught my naked arse as it slipped and slid all over the wet tile floor trying to crawl back inside as quickly as possible.

--Skinny dipping in Honduras in the ocean turned out to be a show for the helicopter flying above us ... because I was doing a back float.

--One of the best relationships I had in college was a special friendship with David Gregor.  What a nut!  I was very comfortable with him as a bro and he harassed me mercilessly.  One of his favourites things to embarrass me with would be to slap me on the butt in public and say, 'Sudden urge, Anj."  My face would peak red immediately.  A summer had passed between two semesters and I missed my pal ... I had also found some courage because I had the same public "affection" ready for him when he returned from the National Guard.  I waited patiently in the student center for his contagious laughter ... then I saw him, reading the booklist posted on the bookstore window.  I sneaked behind chairs and pillars and people until I got close enough to -- WHACK! -- and smack him  on the derriere.  YES!  Got him!  Ho HO!  HA HA! "Hey Dave!!!"  Nothing.  "Dave?"  Yeah, it wasn't Dave.  I was flustered and all I could muster to say when he turn, confused, was, "UH ... sudden urge?"

--I invited a guy to a club banquet; a guy in whom I had quite a lot of interest.  Apparently, he did too.  When we were on a romantic stroll by a riverbank after the festivities, we decided to sit back on an embankment and chat.  Then it got cozy.  We mutually decided to move a ways down on that retaining wall and smooch a little.  Then we also mutually decided to kiss and lean bank on that embankment. It was so dark we hadn't realized that in this space further down ... there was no embankment.  Eric broke my fall!  Lucky for ME.  Unlucky for HIM, I had to take him to the ER with a concussion.  Now THAT was hard to explain the the doctor ... who then chose to congratulate us on the semi-successful date.  ;-)

There are many more tales of my embarrassing moments.  Oh, so many more.  Maybe someday I'll share about body surfing the waves in the Pacific Ocean.  Yes, naked.  I'm so weird.

Apr 11 - Parkinson's Disease Day

I miss my Pop.  He was a handsome, sweet man named Raymond J. Smith.  I remember very little about him, but since he died of this yucky disease, I feel moved to recall everything I can.

• He was born in 1899.  Yeah, really.
• He was an elder in the churches of Christ.
• He and Myrtle O'Quinn ("Mom") had three kids, the very youngest being my mother, Patricia Anne, who was so much younger than her siblings, who were 18 and 10 years her senior.
• Pop had a gruff laugh that was so gruff sounding it made me giggle anyway.
• He and "Mom" met and married in Kermit, Texas where he worked in the oil fields for a time.
• After they moved to Lubbock, TX they went to Ireland on a mission trip and brought back a teenager who lived with them until they both passed and still lives in that very house today.  I consider her my Aunt Margaret.
• He had so many clocks in his house that it sounded like a chorus of bells when they chimed because he set them each about a minute or less apart (a couple of years after he passed, I walked into the ten Boom's house in Germany right at the hour and the sound of the chimes made me burst into tears because it was in his home and on his encouragement that I first came to know of their inspirational story).
• We gave him a beautiful grandfather clock for his 80th birthday; this clock now resides in the entryway of my parents' house.
• I think my first ever shared cup of coffee was with my Pop ... when I was 12.
• He used to listen to LP records on a really old phonograph that smelled strongly and sweetly of the past every time it was opened.
• When he called to someone in the house, his gruff voice started with, "OH!"  "OH, Anne!  OH, Margaret!  OH, Mollie!  OH, Angie!"
• My last memories of him were calling out to me that way when he needed his catheter changed.  Once, I boldly told him I was going to put it in a jar, label it "Pop's Pee" and put it by my bedside.  Yeah, I never did that.  I got a great laugh from him though.  The last one I remember.
• He came to my high school graduation earlier that year and really had to shuffle to get there.  He passed that December.

My Pop was actually quite luckier than most who are diagnosed with Parkinson's as it was not until the last few years of his life that he struggled with it.  Because of my age and where we were living during various years, I was unable to really get to know him except at Christmas.  But those times were pretty awesome.  I wish he could have met David because he would have approved to the point of applause.  Anybody who knew Pop would giggle at that because ... applause??  Oh yes, he would have.  David and I were married the weekend anniversary of his passing.

Apr 10 - International Safety Pin Day

Well, it is a day to celebrate siblings, the salvation army, and farm animals ... all very noble celebrations ... but just as salient is ... *drum roll please* ... the safety pin.

I guess then it is also a day to celebrate simplicity and practicality because according to legend, a dude named Walter Hunt invented the safety pin in 1849 in order to earn the money for a debt he owed.  Simple.  Ingenious.  Safe.  Brilliant.

I pretty much only use them for crafts, gaping blouses, and to find the stupid drawstring in those blasted pajama bottoms.  So I suppose if it weren't for Mr. Hunt's debt I would be still be giving people crappy craft fails and flashing my boobs to the unsuspecting.  However, I don't think my husband would complain too much about the disappearing drawstring. ;-)

Still ... high five, Hunt.

APR 9 - Cherish an Antique Day

I went this route even though I considered writing about celebrity antiques.  Like Beverly Cleary, who is an amazing 99!!  Anyhoo...

I love antiques.  I have many family antiques and one of our rooms used to be dedicated to honouring family with them.  We lost almost all of them in the Nashville flood and instead of mourning the loss of those antiques, I am going to repost something I wrote about losing them.  SEIZE THE DAY.

Life is a Weird Adventure

Click the image to enhance;
click the Weird Adventure title above and below to see the entry.

Life is a Weird Adventure

Apr 8 - DRAW A BIRD DAY

My hummingbird -- somebody wanna colour it?

The bird is the word.

At least it was the word of encouragement for a little seven-year-old girl in 1943 who simply asked her uncle, who had lost his leg in a land mine, to draw a bird in a war hospital for her.  The man's simple and awful but sweet drawing inspired so many that the ward was covered drawings of birds ... as was the little girl's coffin, sadly three years later, after men from his troop heard that the she was tragically struck by a car.

Her very short life inspired a lifetime of stories about people who longed to be free of some something or another ... desolation, despair, anxiety, a bad relationship, stress, money, fear, an addiction, hunger, or oh, you name it.  Freedom from the unknown.  SO TODAY.  I draw by bird for people longing to be free from themselves.  As this man, with great difficulty and amidst much pain, drew a bird for this little niece, may we all find the energy to draw a bird of hope, even when things seem hopeless.

Apr 7 - Health Organization Day

"...and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. - Luke 9:2"

This is an easy one for me to celebrate.  I celebrate PREDISAN, the organization who first ushered me into Honduras, inspired me, and continue to celebrate transforming lives ... they meet the needs of those suffering from a basic lack of health care in this beautiful third world country ... for those suffering from this lack, poor nutrition, preventable diseases and substance abuse. Here there are lives restrained by lack of education and few economic opportunities ... many living without hope.

If you are a believer who is looking for somewhere to truly serve, to get outside of yourself, and come face to face with poverty and passion, check out this wonderful ministry.

http://predisan.org/                     

Apr 6 - Sorry Charlie Day

On the heels of Go For Broke day comes a day to realize that everyone gets rejected at some point in their life.  I relate to this because for years I thought I must have lived a charmed life.  Even though I didn't always win awards or get exactly what I wanted, good LIFE things just seemed to happen to me whether it be through travel or jobs or marriage.  However, somewhere around 2005 I started getting stroke after stroke of bad luck.  And I'm not talking about not getting cast in a show for which I auditioned (which is just part of acting).  Some worked out and, yay, I get to act.  I'm talking about, oh, losing close loved ones, losing pets, losing major jobs, losing our home, and, sigh, losing babies.  Since the aforementioned year, not six months have gone by without experiencing a major tragedy ... it makes one always waiting for the next ball to drop.

"Sorry Charlie" is trite, but kinda cute as it comes from a freaking tuna add in the seventies.   This day is for those of us who have gone through hell, walked on coals, grieved profoundly, and basically survived titanic disasters.  Speaking of titanic, why are we honouring these people with a fish?  How about MOLLY BROWN DAY???  It takes a tough gal to be in the midst of a major trauma but yet muster the courage to go back and look for survivors.  I think that this day should not only be a testament to trauma survivors but to the people whose lives seem to be 'a sinking ship,' but chose to dance anyway.

"When you get the chance to sit it out or dance ... I hope you dance."

Apr 5 - Go For Broke Day

How does one risk everything for one big effort?  Some people call it gambling and well, some just call it life.

I guess today is the day to put it all on the line and take a big risk.  If you can muster up the courage to do so, knock yourself out.  It is up to you to decide if the possible outcome is worth the risk.

The people who inspire ME are the ones who lost everything and failed miserably in their initial quest to suck the marrow out of life.  Here are some of my favourites:

1.  J.K. Rowling, who sent her manuscript to MULTIPLE publishers before one finally saw the jewel that is Harry Potter.

2.  Bill Gates, who even dropped out of college to create Microsoft.

3.  Sylvester Stalone, who actually WROTE the first Rocky movie and tried to get it off the ground with a teeny paycheck and a baby on the way.

4.  Beyonce:  I don't even enjoy her style or listen to her music, but DANG that girl can sing.  Did you know she dropped that first album by herself and without any promotion?

These guys are serious risk takers and yes, I listed the rich and famous, but ... they got there on their own and many to the life background music of doubters and boos.  I love these lyrics; take a moment to look up the rest.  And have a good day jumping off those cliffs of insanity.

I'd rather stand on the edge of a cliff
hang my toes over a bit
and then jump when they dare me
even if it scares me
and I get hurt
I'd rather build my wings on the way down
do my best not to fall to the ground
and then laugh at my mistakes
cause they're only lessons I'll learn...
RISK, by Paul Brandt

Apr 4 - National Tell A Lie Day (REALLY????) Geez. Okay.

I wanted to hug everyone I passed.

I was NOT struggling with an annoying malady that made it difficult to sit.

My temporary job today was totally inspiring.

I hate Starbucks.

I do not want to sleep until Christmas.

Just sayin' ... only one of the above is true.


Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand THANK you.  We are done here.
Still looking to the rainbow,
Me

Apr 3 - National FIND A RAINBOW Day

"Look, look, look to the rainbow..."

Today was difficult.  I filled in for someone for minimal pay at a particular job they were doing.  It is one of those gigs that generally puts out WAY more pressure than pay.  I didn't want to do it, but I felt compelled.  I don't want to do it in the future but continuing for the need is actually a possibility.  And there are challenging people that vex me significantly.  I had to kindly put them in their place in order to get the job done.  I was tired upon returning home; so very, very tired.  I needed Starbucks and a cigarette.  And no, I am not even a smoker.  I just wanted one real bad.  And the powers that be really want me to come back.  Sigh.

We've always celebrated rainbows in my family.  My parents were married under a rainbow of carnations.   I was born in a hospital under a rainbow in NZ.  I have photographic proof of that.  Mom and Dad also helped me paint one on my bedroom wall when I was 12.  But ... why rainbows?  

I think it's something more than my mom calling dad the pot of gold at the end of her rainbow (*collective awwww*).  It's something more than the birth they waited so long to experience.  It's definitely more than the fact that it was a 'thing' in the 80s and therefore ... my wall.

I hope these lovely rainbows and a those small rays of hope that are seen in difficult times remind YOU that life can truly be a rainbow of promise.  Every day is a new chance to show OUR true colours ... and our quality as people who do not let life break them.  Many challenges have completely thwarted some of my valiant attempts to take steps in a certain direction.  And it may happen again.  And again.  But I have seen the end results of looking to the rainbow.  I have looked back on my life MANY a time and thought, "Hmm.  Yeah.  That totally makes sense now."  Even though it sure as heck didn't in the moment of trial.  I'm NOT saying everything works out in the end.  Sometimes it SURE DOES NOT.  But that makes those other rainbow moments OH, so unbelievably precious when it does.

"For you never grow old and you never stand still

With whippoorwills singin' beyond the next hill..."

Look to the Rainbow (lyrics by E.Y. Harburg; music by Burton Lane)

Apr 2 - National Ferret Day

"The ferret sat and examined his foot.  "What is the world AM I?" he asked, alarmed.  "I look like some sort of rodent!"  --Rachel Roberts, Circles in the Stream

I was going to say something quirky about it being PBJ day, but ... I am not making this up; this VERY MORNING I was driving back from my kid's soccer game when I saw, in a neighbourhood, a FERRET laid out flat in the road.  It was so sad.  Then I sat down to write about sandwiches and double-checked my quirky holiday list.  Today is also a day to celebrate ferrets, who are very lively and intelligent companions.  We do not have a ferret ... although I SO would do that if it were possible in our home.  This is a day to also focus on care and responsible ownership of said creatures.

These furry dudes that are related to polecats, have actually been domesticated for quite a while.  They really are great buddies and although they may not quite understand not to bother babies while they are sleeping, my ferret-owning friends says they are quite lovely roommates.  They are NOT all smelly and quarrelsome (hey, I'm sure some have been -- but I know some people who have a tendency towards stink and arguments).  If one wants a house cat, but cannot own one due to allergies, a ferret is quite a pleasant, loyal, and satisfying substitute.

I just truly hate that one of them met it's end as roadkill today.   *sigh*
BUT ... on a much lighter side ... THIS VIDEO IS HYSTERICAL!  (woops!)

I will now make everyone a PBJ to celebrate National Ferret Day.  Come on over ... however, in order to get to our house for this occasion you must act like a ferret and find a gap that no one else can see to slide on in.  We will not tell you where it is.

Our friend John's charming ferret family.

'Pepper' is staring at YOU while the others sleep.

Apr 1 - Reading is FUN Day

I am a reader and a writer.  I love books.  I published a book.  I am so in love with some books that I made sure those were the first hard copies replaced after the Nashville flood of 2010 took our entire library.  Some I replaced on my Kindle so they can never float down a river, but some ... ya just want to have a hard copy, ya know?  

Fast forward five years from that tragedy. We have had two boys move into our home from the foster system.  They hate reading.  *sigh*  But I really don't blame them!  To be so far behind in school and then new teachers expect you to be further ahead than you are ... well, I loved reading as a child but it in my case it was 'fostered' in a positive way.  Not so in their case.

So we had to do the same.  Slowly.  We are still doing it.  If your kid would rather play x-box than read a book, tell them they can get an hour of electronics for every thirty minutes they read.  We sometimes let ours read twenty minutes if they read out loud to us.

It was challenging for them at first but they sure are motivated to open a book now!  Now, a year later they both have seriously improved their reading levels at school; one actually said to me TODAY..."I really like this story!"  And it isn't even a graphic comic!  (anymore lol) The other one actually asked for a book for Christmas...something about a Zombie goldfish hahaha

It's Reading Is Fun Day and I am thankful that these dudes are seeing the positive world of fiction.  Even if we had to bribe them with x-box and lock up the controllers until the 'payment' was made. Just seeing them pick up a book when there is no other reward than just knowing what is happening in the story ... makes me fall in love with the written word all over again.

It is Reading Is Fun Day.  What is YOUR favourite book?