Deep In The Forrest

When you're a teenager, there is this little 'magical, electrical' feeling you get sometimes when you're excited about something that, in my own personal experience, just doesn't happen later in life, or at least not past the 20s. Maybe it's just me. Crushes and fun moments always felt that way though. Originally, I started this post yesterday to recognize "Remember Your First Kiss Day", but I got busy and didn't get to finish. So we'll still say that we are celebrating "First Kisses", and you get a fun story to boot. You see, during  High School, when we got our class rings, there was some sort of ritual about 'turning our class rings', which I believe I misunderstood. I thought it was that you turned your ring when you received your 'first kiss'. How I came to this conclusion, I am still not sure. Because in searching a bit about it on the internet, there is a 'ring turning tradition' but it has nothing to ...

We talk about our Moms a lot here on the blogs, but that's because to Chelly and to me, our Mothers were such role models and strong, hard to forget women, just like we aspire to be. Now, to know me as an adult, you would never even imagine me outdoors doing anything remotely close to building a fire, setting up tents or learning to cook in the ground or over a flame. Stepping on a snake, or lying awake all night under the stars while getting eaten alive by Mississippi's state bird (Mosquito) are things that I avoid with every ounce of my soul.  I mean,  my gosh . Girl Scouts are always doing things like cleaning up trash on the highways and getting stung by bees, singing "Kumbaya", hiking in the swelter, mucking around outside in the stinky, muddy, sweaty outdoors.  However, there was a time that I, Auntie Jax braved the elements and did my time learning survival skills, earning patches and of course, selling those famous cookies we all know and love. Things have...

Well, happy "National Pigs in a Blanket Day" everybody! I'm not one to lay heavy on the pork, well I know some folks use various ingredients on those little 'delicacies', but just thought I would share as it's one of the more prominent things to celebrate today. Since it's a Monday, I figured it would perk everybody up a bit, who doesn't love party food? Or if you've a respect for farm animal life, we can honestly celebrate the cuteness of an actual real adorable Pig in a blanket, I kinda prefer that myself, anyways, how bout you? The other holidays we can celebrate today are: Administrative Professional's Day Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day National Pigs-in-a Blanket Day World Meningitis Day So, as you can see, I felt like the Pigs in a Blanket thing was the best choice to make something cute out of it... Not that "Administrative Professional's Day isn't cute, but hey they all get enough attention. Pigs go unapprecia...

Karaoke?! Let's Go!! Well for starters, Karaoke has been on my mind lately... some friends and I have been discussing this, and there is a place that is having Karaoke tomorrow night (Thursday). She asked if I wanted to go, I said maybe but I think I should make it a definite, what'cha think? After all April 16th - 22nd is National Karaoke Week (Set for the Fourth week of April). So if I do go, what song(s) do I sing? Do I sing at all? I haven't done this in quite some time. Sometimes I'm very confident, sometimes I'm not. My voice is craaaackly at times, and I get all respiratory-itchy, and other moments, I'm all clear. We shall see. I've always kind of taken it seriously, like I wanted to sing as best I could... but I think many find the point to be making a fool of yourself and singing badly is the point? I'm not sure... I still like to try to sound good though. It's National Karaoke Week Y'all!!! The movies have depicted some fun Kar...

"On a Day Like Today" We would awaken at Dawn and sit out on the lawn drink your coffee, extra strong, on a day like today... As we watched our butterflies, shaping clouds, in blue skies, as the breeze blows, gentle sighs, on a day like today. There would be talk of old times, remembering nursery rhymes; thoughts of those who'd left us behind, how we missed them, how they shined; Now it's just me here, I rewind picturing this, tears leave me blind; But for all those thoughts that stray, watching April chasing May, I think of all I'd love to say (to you) On a Day Like Today  By Jacqueline Wood  For Mama (my butterfly) April 18, 2017

I meant to post a little something for Easter Sunday, and I jarred my back while riding my motorcycle over the weekend, so I was mostly resting with heat and meds. My childhood years were spent being spoiled to so many family traditions that I guess I thought would never end, and as we grow up, we are forced to realize that "Nothing Gold Can Stay" (just as Robert Frost  tried to tell us). In those early years though, dying Easter eggs with my father on Saturday night (ahh the newspaper, the smell of vinegar, using Mom's cups, those little wire thingys, and mainly just Dad showing me how to do all this), helping with the cooking, and waking up to those baskets full of pretty eggs, candy and goodies was magic. We were always so distraught when we were dragged away from our Easter morning fun to attend the church service (which to us as kids seemed to drag on for hours). Once back home, it was time for the family to all meet there at my childhood home and eat dinner toge...

Short one today... I think I have figured out a really cool premise for a book or short story. Depending on what it decides it is. It could think itself magnificent and gargantuan and decide it is to be a novel, but presently it is the birth of an idea. Maybe this is the progressing of my creative journey. I have been really thinking and planning many things lately. I have been taking down a lot of notes on ideas and meditating within for answers, ideas and direction. There are whole other Universes out there... I think this is the time, that things are beginning to move forward more. I am excited. I'm beginning to feel less depressed and aimless and like I have some direction for my journey. I'm extremely glad for this, you just don't know. Now that is if I can whip myself into shape and take care of myself better so as to be able to make it to where I want to go... or well, enjoy my journey. I am presently reading the book (well, listening to the audiobook) "...

Full Moon tonight... It's called the Pink Moon !! Yayy! But is it really pink? Well, not exactly. There are reasons we call it the Pink Moon though, read the above link, or also This Article Still, very cool though. I always love all Full Moons. We have several interesting holidays that fall on April 11th, which I have included below just for fun information for you guys, well, whoever is actually out there listening to me =) The one that I really suppose I have the most interest in is "Eight Track Tape Day", as I remember being little and my sisters, who were all grown-ups pretty much already, they actually had some 8 Tracks. So I remember finding something I could play them on, and being enthralled over these weird cartridges, but as a music lover, I still loved it all. As long as I had music, I was happy. This was, in fact, thanks to my Mother who reportedly had music playing even when I was an infant in my crib. There was never a moment growing up that I remember...

Happy National Siblings Day!   My sisters were all pretty much 'grown ups' by the time I graced this world with my awesomeness. They were busy looking for their own paths and trying to chase their dreams, and flying off from the nest before I could find my feet and learn to walk. However, that never stopped any of us from loving one another. Top row: My sisters (l to r) Jeanne, Debbie and Vickie Bottom row: Vickie's oldest, Stacey (left) & Kristie (right) (That's Me in the Middle) We may have not always shared the same views, lifestyles or interests, but we all shared two people (Mom and Dad) who taught us all more about strength and love better than anyone else ever could begin to. So Mom and Dad left us here with hardcore values, big hearts, stubbornness, amazing spirits and strengths (all four of us), and a love for one another that is there, even though we may not see one another often. I for one, love you, all of my sisters and will always be here for ...

"Write a story in seven (7) words". You Kissed Me. Sadly, I Woke Up.

Little bit of randomness today. Still not very many impressive daily holidays that I take a liking to for "April 5th", but I still listed them down below, if you are interested. My thoughts are filled today with freedom, and confusion, and creativity, and feeling stifled. I want to do my own thing, like have a little shop, or art studio that  makes money, or that I can live and survive doing, without being part of the corporate grind. I am going stir crazy, I don't know what to do, and things have got to change soon. I am trying desperately to figure out an idea that would work for me. When I pass a small shop in an older part of town, or pass through the South Main Art district, my soul leaps out through my chest, and I think 'this is home, why am I not here?' --Anyone want to weigh in on that, I'm open to suggestions, advice or inspiration. So, I was looking through my other blogs, and started wishing that I could just combine the two (the Just Me Jax ...

Taking a small break today... I've decided to skip using one of the oddball holidays to inspire my post today. None of them are really that interesting or noteworthy to me. We'll try again tomorrow. I'll still include them at the bottom though, since I think I found a page I like more than the others that lists these little known days. Nope, I'm not really here today . Been feeling a lot of emotions lately, which is par for the course for me, honestly. So the writing more has felt pretty good to me. I really need to figure out that whole "what to do when I grow up thing" because nothing I'm doing as of late is making me happy. I know it's time to transcend these cubed boundaries. I just haven't figured out how to do that. So anyway, today's post is short and sweet but I still popped in to say hello. Besides, earlier, I already posted a new thought-provoking post over here called  Feeling Like an Outsider  over at  I Miss My Childhood . So...

“No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.” ~Nelson Mandela That quote above is one of my favorites, and oh so true. There is so much potential for love in this world that all that ugliness is just sad, and a terrible waste of time here on earth because in my own experience, there are so many amazing people from all over the world in every imaginable color, shape or size, culture and religion too, that I know in my heart if I had wasted time hating people for no good reason, I would have missed out on beautiful friendships and family. However, today's selected holiday, entitled "Weed Out Hate, Sow The Seeds of Greatness Day" made me think of hate in a different way. One of my own vices (or two), road rage, and just encounters with assholes that cause m...

Mama was always happy to celebrate her birthday, not really because of the number. In fact, if anyone made mention of how old she was, asked or told, she would get blazing mad. She remained "39 and Holding" until her daughters began to turn 39. She was strong, beautiful, passionate about life and her family, and just one of the most amazing women I've ever known in this world. She used to say that she felt like she was really born on April Fool's Day (April 1st) and that she was just told her birthday landed on April 2nd to make her feel better. Mom, anyone who ever encountered you learned quickly you were anything but a fool. You were and always will be my beautiful, fierce, beloved mother and hero. No fun celebrating without you... I love you so much. Happy Birthday Mom. Hug Daddy for me.