It's the Little Things

It needs to be done...I need to explain a very important part of my life:

BIRTHMONTH

Birthmonth has gotten a lot of notariety this year, but in actuality, birthmonth has been going on for several years. It takes on a new form each year, but basically Birthmonth is the best month.

You see, my birthday is May-OH Second. Yes, it's May-OH Second, not just May 2nd. This dates back to my first meager attempts at speech. My brothers and sisters have NEVER wished me a happy birthday...it's always "Hey Jax, Happy MAY-OOOOOOHHHHH SECOND!" I have relished my own birthday since the very beginning...but why not continue it on?

Birthmonth came about as my very very good friend Heather had the very very VERY bad judgement to continue the friendship, particularly after college. I tried to get rid of her, I tried REALLY hard. I spoke my mind, I was myself, I even tried bad hygene. The girl is stubborn. I blame her parents. For some reason they seem to like me too (although I think it's more Bert the more I stop by their house). In any case, Heather's birthday is next weekend...May 29th. So, you must see where this is going...

We celebrate my birthday HARD, first weekend...and of course, we celebrate Heather's birthday HARD the last weekend...well jimminy crickets...there's only two weekends left in the month...might as well!

And Birthmonth is born.

I say it often..."Life's for Livin'." And I live by that statement. So the Truckermiller's of the world may roll their eyes and say I am completely pig-headed and may even say, as Noel has said to me, "it sounds a little conceited." But, I have to explain myself before you go on and say those things, because they ARE true.

Birthmonth is like the TRUE new year. My year didn't start on January 1st, like Patty Anne's did. My year started May-Oh Second. So to celebrate another year past is, in fact, inaccurate on January 1st. May-Oh Second is the new year, it's the celebration to get rolling.

You see, my theory is you have to get a running start if you are going to last the whole year through with enough steam to actually accomplish anything. And you should see the LIST of things I have to do!

Usually the weekend after, I designate to the person that made it all possible: My Mom. You should always celebrate your mother somewhere near your birthday because, let's be honest, she does all the work.

But back to the list:

Always take time to create:

Here is a little taste of creation:

I have to admit, rather guiltily, that birthmonth this year has been much more fun due to a certain someone who introduced me to this song:

http://youtu.be/DH5ZTEQiUgQ

Men are NOT simple

This is a general reflection on what has been buzzing around and colliding inside the space between my ears the past few days. Yes, you will shake your head at the conclusions I make in the following commentary. And YES, it really did take me this long to make these connections.

Here's the deal: Men are NOT simple, not to me. But, it's not the kind of complication that gets frustrating, it's more like the kind that makes me shake my head and laugh.

This is how the title of this blog entry started to evolve and take shape:

Once upon a time (in a land very very close to here) there was a man that spoke to me as if he were a combination of the bartender on Boondock Saints (the one who mix and matched his sayings and cursed up a storm) and "The Fonz." Many days of conversation (the term is used lightly) in passing by this man brought forth very often...very very often a "Heeeey" with this mans shoulders bobbing up and his palms flipping towards the heavens as if to greet the great greaser gods. After the traditional "Fonz Heeeeeyyy" the words that followed would be either incomprehensible or a mix match of crazy phrases. I LOVE THIS. This man has made me smile day in and day out for one simple reason. I LOVE a puzzle. It's like trying to speak in pig latin for an extended period of time with your best friend forever from second grade. It's a tricky conversation! Today was a simple one that has befuddled myself and another person the entire day.

Let me set this scene. Just as I was leaving Boondock Fonz and this other person, it began to downpour. DOWNPOUR! We stood underneath the awning contemplating the melting point of a witch such as myself and how much time off work such an event could buy me...(at least that was what I was contemplating). Small talk is wonderful in these times, it passes through the sieve of our thoughts so easily. I do not remember what was said, but this: "Heeeeeyyyy, don't be like bread with this rain!"

...

........

...........WHAT?!

As abruptly as the Boondock Fonz came into the conversation, he disappated into the background with only the trails of my voice following...."I don't know what that means...?????"

I still don't know what that means. If you think you can decode it....be my guest. I think it has something to do with soggy bread. I don't know how that relates to me, but that's as far as this pig latin-like conundrum has traveled today.

HOLD UP....this isn't the end though! This guy is certainly not simple. He's very complicated, and therefore EXTREMELY interesting! This got me thinking of New Orleans and all of the different and complicated, interesting people there are down there....

People in New Orleans ARE different, particularly the men. I was taken back in a very pleasant way by this. As I have stated to many parties, I have now forgotten how exactly one opens a door. I haven't done that in days. I also don't know how to navigate stairs without the help and balance of a man's hand leading me. I don't know how I survived before...

It was so wonderful to fool men into thinking I was a such a delicate woman. I never thought the day would come. But the fact remains, men only think about one thing...it's true and you all are right, that little fact is simple (and I mean little). It's the presentation that is complicated (to me)! I am not talking about the "hey babies" of the world, or the infamous "SHAAAWWWTTTAYYYYY!" call from the car. Those aren't the serious ones. They aren't jumping in the pool. I am talking about the get down to it, let's go fishing for a chick kind of game. There are so many lures, lines, and reels to use and I just don't get it, ask anyone that has seen me at a bar. (PS did you like how I used a fishing metaphor for meeting guys?) Men are NOT simple...

These men came up to the pair of us girlies (my cousin and myself). Read closely to the management of the same situation!

My very very VERY tall dark handsome cup of tea leaned over from a lower floor up to the balcony seat I was in so he was just shorter than me (man I am short) crossed his arms over the rail and started to chat me up.

Meanwhile: My cousin was talking to this cup of tea's matching wing tea cup and negotiating a dance. He promised to trade shoes with her if she just let down her long her and let him climb right up next to her and do a little cha cha on the dance floor. (they really did do some swing dancing of some kind...really fun!)

Back to the tall handsome cup of tea: He played it right. Man he looked just like a little labrador retriever leaning up to get as close to my lap as possible, turning his head just the way a puppy turns his to hear an interesting new sound. He smiled and played the "I'm so cute, don't you want to rub my belly?" trick, talking about leggoes and the sissy Navy (I know, I have strange interests). So, I am thinking "I totally get this, I do...I understand doggie body language...I think he wants to be my friend!"

PAUSE

Back to my cousin. They are cutting A RUG! SO much fun! I actually hardly notice because I am being hypnotized by this cute little puppy talk dark handsome cup of tea! But I do notice one thing: there is definitely some whisperings going on, but cousin is smiling so I think she is safe. I later find out this is what was said:

"your hotel or mine?" SIMPLE! VERY CLEAR!

Back to my labrador retriever: This is what was said to me: "You know, men are very simple creatures, women...not so much."

I am competitive. This is a challenge. I will argue!

I did argue...more of a discussion. He went to the bathroom. He came back out and a few minutes later gathered his doggy possy and left. He was polite, he said good-bye as he grabbed my knee and gave it a little squeeze. I thought "wow, what a good guy, and so cute...weird combination..."

I kid you not...it took me three days to pick up on what happened.

"OOOOOOOOooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhh." (this is what I said yesterday) "I get it now!" That cute little labrador retriever, tall dark handsome cup of tea...he wanted to hump my leg! "MEN ARE SIMPLE" = "I only want one thing from you..."

"I GET IT!"

MEN ARE COMPLICATED (to me)...but they still make me laugh.

The moral of the story here is: I need an IEP.

One of Three

So here is one third of my spring project. There is nothing quite like completion when you battle the making of a blanket. It starts out quite innocently...with each passing row a sense I'd progress and a satisfaction with the journey and craftsmanship. My stamina for interest cut out when I realized I needed two more balls of yarn. The halfway point is always bittersweet. You know exactly how much you have accomplished, which means you know that you have to do all that work AGAIN! But at least it is on the downward slope. By the end of this blanket I was rushing and rushing like a kid rushing to break the surface of the water after diving in the pool. Will I EVER get there?!

I sure hope the baby likes it....

Two more babies to blanket...

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Happy Earth Day!

I love this green ball we're riding on! Thank God for it and all of the things you can do on it. I think it's important to take a look around to seek inspiration from time to time. Perhaps looking more closely at your everyday surroundings or take a trip out and explore what the world has to offer. It doesn't have to be far. My travels took me a half an hour from my home to a little place called Port Clinton right off of the appalachian trail. I wanted to scout out this part of the trail for an overnight backpacking trip. I learned a lot of things while out there:

Being a "backpacker" forces you to do things that technology has taken away from us.

I need to appreciate my size in proportion to other things around me.

My origins and the origin of the main things in life are important.

I need to keep in mind where I am going, but I need to keep calm when it takes longer than expected.

And of course...corny jokes make life float on.

Remember: Put your best foot forward in every situation!

I like to live close to the edge, take a few chances.


But I should always remember to surround myself with good company who care.


And obstacles aren't obstacles...they're opportunities!

LASTLY:

Thank you Earth for teaching me some valuable lessons!

Baby Boy!

My brother and his wife found out last week that they were going to have a baby boy!

Thank goodness for sales at A. C. Moore! I had another cart full of yarn at the store. I have decided it is not a problem if it leaves the house within the year...

In any case this is the start of blanket one of three. I am very excited to welcome 3 new babies to the crazy Ellis nuthouse. That will bring "the presence of youth" up to 14 for me. I am told this is the greatest thing in the entire world: )

This leads me to a question for you. ..what do you think is the greatest thing in the world? I mean out of all experiences, objects, situations, EVERYTHING! What is the GREATEST?

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Sunshine!

You know, no matter what day it is, what life you have, and all of the circumstances OF your life, there are only two ways the day can go. I think that's a choice. I can focus my time right now on the crisis that the educational system finds itself, and more dear to me still, the job that I may or may not have next year. I could focus on the fact that another chair broke in my classroom and I have to figure out where that kid is going to go until the budget "unfreezes" and we can order new chairs. I could focus on the kids that can not follow three step written and spoken instructions with visual cues. I could definitley focus in on that fact that *gasp* IT'S MONDAY!

But today I sat in my chair before the kids came in to class (or rather I met them for breakfast in the cafe') and I had a cup of coffee. I didn't have to take my jacket off today, mainly due to the fact that I didn't need one today. I FINALLY got to wear a spring dress instead of frumpy old pants that don't fit anymore (because I SHRANK!...TWO SIZES!). I didn't bring my computer home this weekend because I didn't have to grade anything. And ALL day today, my students have been doing wonderful things! Check out this smiley face that was assigned for homework:

And you know what? I can't figure out how to get the darn thing right side up! But I don't care, because this student did EXACTLY what I asked her to do and I can tell she loved doing it as much as I loved seeing it.

It just goes to show that 80 degrees comes in more than sunbeams. It comes in smiles, deep breathes, and a positive mind!

Enjoy your sunbeams!

This one is for Nikki

Hope you like it! Now you have to tell everyone "who" you are wearing and how they just HAVE to buy one for themselves! :)

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