August 2015
1 - National Mustard Day
2 - National Ice Cream Sandwich Day
3 - National Watermelon Day
4 - National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day
5 - National Underwear Day
6 - National Root Beer Float Day
7 - Homemade Pie Day
8 - National Bowling Day
9 - National Polka Day
10 - National Duran Duran Appreciation
11 - Play in the Sand Day
12 - Vinyl Record Day
13 - International Lefthander's Day
14 - National Creamsicle Day
15 - World Honey Bee Day
16 - National Tell a Joke Day
17 - National Thrift Shop
18 - Bad Poetry Day
19 - Potato Day
20 - National Radio Day
21 - Hug Your Boss Day
22 - International Tongue Twister Day
23 - Go Topless Day
24 - National Waffle Iron Day
25 - National Whiskey Sour Day
26 - National Cherry Popsicle Day
27 - Banana Lovers Day
28 - World Daffodil Day
29 - Lemon Juice Day
30 - National Toasted Marshmallow Day
31 - National Trail Mix Day
Aaaand, here is the disclaimer. As I've said before, I do not make up these holidays. These are all real holidays, celebrated somewhere in the world (mostly the US, and when at all possible, Texas - I like to keep it local). Some days have more than one holiday - I am aware of this, and I have chosen the one I like best. It was my idea to post the holidays for you, so I get to pick. Mainly though, because, which would you rather celebrate, World Choral Day or Pretend to Be a Time Traveler Day (Dec 8)? Sure, about three of you said World Choral Day because you have really nice singing voices and like to sing in public (sorry). The rest of us will be acting like we just showed up from the future and are looking for a flux capacitor. What I mean to say is, if you don't like the holiday, just wait until the next day - I'm sure it will be better suited for you.
I wish I could paint. If I could, I would paint a scene I saw a few weeks ago when I was out for a morning run.
It was early in the morning, but the sun had come up over the horizon before I left the house, so there wasn't a brilliantly colored sunrise like I've seen before. The sky this day was mostly just blue. Azure really, with maybe some cornflower. I've always been fond of cornflower. There was a little bit of pink near the ground, but not much. The sun has risen too high to have much pink left. And, there were clouds. Not many clouds, but just enough of those big, fluffy, cumulus clouds to hide the sun. And, because the sun was hiding behind them, the clouds were dark, but the edges of the clouds were lit - like they were highlighted all the way around. There were rays of sunshine fanning out of the top of the biggest, fluffiest cloud as far out as I could see. I love it when I can see the sun rays.
So, I was heading back home, and passed the neighbors' house. Those neighbors a few houses down, in the brick house that's up on the low hill. It's a single-story house that is kind of an orange-y red colored brick. I'm guessing it was built in the 70s, because, well, it just looks 70s-ish. It's a wide house with two gables - one on each end - with a porch in the middle. The porch is trimmed in that decorative wrought iron that was once popular. The iron is painted white. In the driveway, they have an older model black Ford pickup truck with a camper shell on the back.
At their fence line, they have the Confederate flag on a pole. The flag was a new one that day, with the reds and blues and stars and bars contrasting against that morning sky. Oh, but they go through plenty of those flags. It seems like they get a new one every year. They usually wait to replace one until the sun has faded it almost beyond recognition, and the wind has waved it and waved it and torn it completely to shreds. They'll lower the old one down the pole, and replace it with a bright shiny new one. Once, the new one had a picture of Hank Williams, Jr. on it. I don't know if they have a ceremony when they remove the old one and replace it with the new one, but I think I hope they do.
These are the same neighbors who have those little, white, scruffy looking terriers that run out to the road when I run by. They aren't fluffy white, but sort of dingy, grey-white. And they're older dogs, so if a white dog can be old-age-grey, that's what they are, old-age-grey. Those dogs ran out just to the edge of the yard, just like they do every single time I go by there. They scampered back and forth along the road, and barked at me with little scratchy, hoarse yips and arfs. I think maybe they're smokers.
Anyway, as I got to the beginning edge of their yard, I saw the neighbor walking across the glistening, dew-covered grass. She's an older woman, mid to late sixties, I'm guessing. She moved slowly, but with purpose, and a surprisingly straight back. Below her straw farmer hat, I could see her white, shoulder-length hair and a red bandana she had tied around her neck. She had on a white, sleeveless shirt. I think it was a t-shirt, but maybe it was a button-up shirt. I couldn't really tell for sure, but I could tell that it showed off her dark, sun-kissed brown arms. She's Native American, I think, and she works outside a lot. Her shorts were khaki and knee length, and she was wearing black rubber boots. I guess her legs are nearly as brown as her arms, but they probably don't get as much sun. In her right hand, she carried a garden hoe. She was heading to the watermelon patch next door. Her morning chore was to get that patch weeded before it got too hot.
I was just to the west of her just as she left her yard. As she turned to go through the gate, the morning sun hit just right so that all I could see was a silhouette of her. There she was, the watermelon farmer-woman - with her sun hat and garden hoe - a darkened shape, a shadow really, stark against the cornflower sky. My memory took a picture of it, and I can still see it today.
That's the scene I would paint if I could, so I could share it with you. ...I sure wish I could paint.
Much love and lots of sunshine,
~ME:)
Over the past little while, I've been privileged to hang out with some really incredible women. Amazing women. Unbelievable women. I don't mean women I'm fond of, or women I enjoy hanging out with. I'm talking about seriously fantastic women. They are each the kind of woman that I strive to be.
Don't get me wrong. I don't want to BE these women. Oh, bless their hearts, they have their own struggles and issues and inconsistencies. We all have our own, and I'll take mine over theirs any day. That's not what I mean at all. What I know about each of these women is that each of them has the ability to make me feel great about myself, and THAT is what it's all about. They don't just make me feel special, they make the other women in their lives feel great about themselves, as well. I want to be the kind of daughter, sister, mother, friend, colleague and associate that makes people feel better about themselves.
Now, when I get together with these ladies, we don't just sit around talking about how pretty and smart and clever we are. (Well, except for my sister and me. We do that - but only because our Daddy told us we are the prettiest and smartest girls he's ever seen. And, if our Daddy said it, it must be true.) No, it's more than that, and I've been doing a lot of thinking about what it is exactly.
I wasn't sure exactly how to determine what it is, so I Googled "how to make others feel better about themselves," just to see if anything stuck out. I came across this list from Happiness Weekly. Turns out, it's a pretty good list, although, for the women I know, I'd rearrange it a little and put Smile at People, Show Genuine Interest and Encourage People When You Can as the top three. And, in that order. These ladies are nearly always smiling, even plenty of times when things are necessarily going their way. They do show an interest in what others are doing. And, they encourage everyone in their lives to do great things.
That list still doesn't really pinpoint what it is that's so great about these ladies. But, I think I've finally figured it out. These ladies rarely say anything negative about anyone else. That's what makes me feel special around them. They are spending their time, thoughts and emotions looking for the good in most people. They aren't trash talking, or putting down, or gossiping about other people they know. And that makes me feel comfortable knowing that they're not saying negative things about me to others. If they're telling me how great their other friends are, and I'm in the same friend category, then I must be great, too!
Unfortunately, I've spent some time with a few people whose main topic of conversation has been the bad parts of other people's lives. In some instances, I've heard terrible stories about people I don't even know! I don't really understand why some people feel the need to tell me about strangers' shortcomings.
Now, I don't choose to hang out on a regular basis with people who behave this way, so they're clearly not close friends. So, for a while, I thought remaining silent through the conversation would be the way to go. Then, I tried to steer the conversation back to something positive. You know, ask them to tell me more about themselves (most everyone likes to talk about themselves!). But nope, still kept going back to Derogatory City.
Eventually, I found the opportunity to remove myself from the conversation, but I was left with a bad feeling in my soul. I believe remaining silent was not the right thing to do. I feel like I should have stood up for those poor souls whose dirty laundry was being flown around like kites. And, I suspect I will from now on.
None of us are perfect, and we all have bad days, and we're all sometimes treated terribly by others. So we'll all slip up and let Negative Nelly take over our thoughts and our tongues. Hopefully, those times are few and far between. I hope you have a group of ladies who can make you feel as extraordinary as my group of ladies makes me feel. And, I really, most importantly, hope that I make YOU feel exceptional, too.
Much love,
~ME:)
July 2015
1 - International Joke Day
2 - I Forgot Day / Made in the USA Day
3 - Compliment Your Mirror Day
4 - Independence Day / Tom Sawyer Fence Painting Day
5 - International Cherry Pit Spitting Day
6 - International Kissing Day
7 - Tell the Truth Day
8 - Video Games Day
9 - National Sugar Cookie Day
10 - Pina Colada Day
11 - Cheer Up the Lonely Day / Slurpee Day
12 - Simplicity Day
13 - Gruntled Workers Day
14 - International Nude Day
15 - Gummi Worm Day
16 - Get to Know Your Customers Day
17 - Yellow Pig Day
18 - National Hot Dog Day
19 - National Ice Cream Day
20 - National Lollipop Day
21 - National Junk Food Day
22 - Pied Piper of Hamlin Day
23 - Hot Enough For Ya Day / Gorgeous Grandma Day
24 - Tell an Old Joke Day / National Tequila Day
25 - National Day of the Cowboy
26 - National Coffee Milkshake Day
27 - Take Your Houseplant for a Walk Day / Walk on Stilts Day
28 - National Milk Chocolate Day
29 - National Chicken Wing Day
30 - Paperback Book Day
31 - Uncommon Instruments Awareness Day
Aaaand, here is the disclaimer. As I've said before, I do not make up these holidays. These are all real holidays, celebrated somewhere in the world (mostly the US, and when at all possible, Texas - I like to keep it local). Some days have more than one holiday - I am aware of this, and I have chosen the one I like best. It was my idea to post the holidays for you, so I get to pick. Mainly though, because, which would you rather celebrate, World Choral Day or Pretend to Be a Time Traveler Day (Dec 8)? Sure, about three of you said World Choral Day because you have really nice singing voices and like to sing in public (sorry). The rest of us will be acting like we just showed up from the future and are looking for a flux capacitor. What I mean to say is, if you don't like the holiday, just wait until the next day - I'm sure it will be better suited for you.
June 2015
1 - National Go Barefoot Day
2 - Rocky Road Day
3 - National Running Day
4 - Old Maid's Day
5 - National Moonshine Day
6 - Drive-In Movie Day
7 - Daniel Boone Day
8 - Upsy Daisy Day
9 - Donald Duck Day
10 - Ball Point Pen / Iced Tea Day
11 - Corn on the Cob Day
12 - National Peanut Butter Cookie Day / Magic Day
13 - World Juggling Day
14 - National Bourbon Day
15 - Fly a Kite Day
16 - Bloomsday
17 - Eat Your Vegetables Day
18 - Recess at Work Day / International Picnic Day
19 - World Sauntering Day
20 - Ice Cream Soda Day
21 - Father's Day / World Music Day
22 - Stupid Guy Thing Day
23 - Pink Flamingo Day
24 - UFO Day
25 - National Catfish Day
26 - National Canoe Day
27 - Great American Backyard Campout Day
28 - Log Cabin Day
29 - Camera Day
30 - Meteor Day
Aaaand, here is the disclaimer. As I've said before, I do not make up these holidays. These are all real holidays, celebrated somewhere in the world (mostly the US, and when at all possible, Texas - I like to keep it local). Some days have more than one holiday - I am aware of this, and I have chosen the one I like best. It was my idea to post the holidays for you, so I get to pick. Mainly though, because, which would you rather celebrate, World Choral Day or Pretend to Be a Time Traveler Day (Dec 8)? Sure, about three of you said World Choral Day because you have really nice singing voices and like to sing in public (sorry). The rest of us will be acting like we just showed up from the future and are looking for a flux capacitor. What I mean to say is, if you don't like the holiday, just wait until the next day - I'm sure it will be better suited for you.
March 2015
1 - Namesake Day
2 - Texas Independence Day
3 - Unique Names Day
4 - National Grammar Day
5 - Learn What Your Name Means Day
6 - Day of the Dude
7 - Sock Monkey Day
8 - Check Your Batteries Day
9 - Napping Day
10 - International Day of Awesomeness
11 - World Plumbing Day
12 - Girl Scouts Day
13 - National Open an Umbrella Indoors Day
14 - Pi Day
15 - Buzzards Day
16 - Lips Appreciation Day
17 - National Irish Coffee Day
18 - Awkward Moments Day
19 - National Chocolate Covered Caramel Day
20 - Alien Abduction Day / International Day of Happiness
21 - Corn Dog Day
22 - National Goof-off Day
23 - Near Miss Day / OK Day
24 - National Chocolate Covered Raisins Day
25 - Pecan Day
26 - Make Up Your Own Holiday Day
27 - Quirky Country Music Song Titles Day
28 - Weed Appreciation Day / Barnum & Bailey Day
29 - Texas Loves the Children Day
30 Pencil Day
31 - National 'She's Funny That Way' Day
Aaaand, here is the disclaimer. As I've said before, I do not make up these holidays. These are all real holidays, celebrated somewhere in the world (mostly the US, and when at all possible, Texas - I like to keep it local). Some days have more than one holiday - I am aware of this, and I have chosen the one I like best. It was my idea to post the holidays for you, so I get to pick. Mainly though, because, which would you rather celebrate, World Choral Day or Pretend to Be a Time Traveler Day (Dec 8)? Sure, about three of you said World Choral Day because you have really nice singing voices and like to sing in public (sorry). The rest of us will be acting like we just showed up from the future and are looking for a flux capacitor. What I mean to say is, if you don't like the holiday, just wait until the next day - I'm sure it will be better suited for you.
February 2015
2 - Groundhog Day
3 - National Carrot Cake Day
4 - World Cancer Day
5 - World Nutella Day
6 - Bubble Gum Day
7 - National Cereal Day
8 - Laugh and Get Rich Day
9 - Read in the Bathtub Day
10 - Extraterrestrial Visitor Day
11 - Don't Cry Over Spilled Milk Day
12 - Paul Bunyan Day
13 - Triskaidekaphobia Day
14 - Ferris Wheel Day
15 - National Gumdrop Day
16 - National Almond Day
17 - Random Acts of Kindness Day
18 - National Drink Wine Day
19 - Chocolate Mint Day
20 - Hoodie Hoo Day
21 - International Mother Language Day
22 - National Margarita Day
23 - Diesel Engine Day
24 - World Bartender Day / National Cupcake Day
25 - National Chili Day
26 - For Pete's Sake Day
27 - Dre Day
28 - Public Sleeping Day
Aaaand, here is the disclaimer. As I've said before, I do not make up these holidays. These are all real holidays, celebrated somewhere in the world (mostly the US, and when at all possible, Texas - I like to keep it local). Some days have more than one holiday - I am aware of this, and I have chosen the one I like best. It was my idea to post the holidays for you, so I get to pick. Mainly though, because, which would you rather celebrate, World Choral Day or Pretend to Be a Time Traveler Day (Dec 8)? Sure, about three of you said World Choral Day because you have really nice singing voices and like to sing in public (sorry). The rest of us will be acting like we just showed up from the future and are looking for a flux capacitor. What I mean to say is, if you don't like the holiday, just wait until the next day - I'm sure it will be better suited for you.
