Dirty Dishcloths and Pangolins

I went to Girl's Camp when I was fifteen or so. I had great leaders. One of them was a woman in probably her mid-forties. She had short hair, was very capable but a little quieter than some. She told us never to take on-line quizzes because she had once gone on a yarn website looking at colors. there was an online quiz on the website to tell you which color of yarn you were. After taking the quiz the result came through. It declared her "dirty dishcloth off-white." (Or something close to that). She was understandably offended. Who even has that color?
Despite her advice every so often I have taken online quizzes. This week, for Earth-day google had a quiz about which animal you are with 12 options. I got pangolin (as did my brother) -I know when to curl up to protect myself from predators. It's like they had read my post about Curling or something.  My dad got Mammoth because he was so unique he is practically extinct, and my mom got Honey Bee.
When I was sorted into my House on Pottermore (and pretty much haven't used that obnoxious site since) I was sorted into Ravenclaw, which I think is pretty fitting.
I guess I just find online quizzes fascinating at times. Sometimes they are completely off (my leader did Not deserve to be labeled "dirty dishcloth off-white.") But other times they really do seem to hold a fragment of truth. Or maybe they are just like astrology things or which zodiac animal you are (Dragon, by the way) where they are so broad or easy to interpret as you wish that you can choose to see the truth in them. Anyway. I find them mildly entertaining. I will now curl up and roll off.

New Englander

Happy 19th of April. Yes it is a holiday but you probably only know about it if you are a New Englander.
Here are a list of other things that I picked up from my New England childhood.

• I know New England is a group of states like "The South" or "The Midwest."
• I love fluffernutters. Delicious.
• I can pronounce Billerica, Gloucester, Concord, and Peterborough correctly.
• If someone says "That movie was wicked," I know it's a compliment.
• I can recognize a Boston accent, and even had a bit of one.
• I know what "I pahked the cah in Hahvad Yahd and gave the man a quahter," really means, and I can say it pretty well.
• I've walked with the "Make Way for Ducklings" ducks.
• Even when I was little I knew about the Revolutionary War. 
• Feel free to call me a Yankee.
• Wide roads are disconcerting and so are strangers that wave at you.
• Dunkin' Donuts is a classic.
• I know Elwood City from Arthur (like the Aardvark) is based on a Massachusetts town.
• I hide inside when there is a nor'easter.
• Hotdog buns are supposed to be cut on the top.
• I have the tendency to think that anywhere I can see must be close (because otherwise the trees would block the view)

I also know that most people who read my blog are New Englanders.... so I don't think I need to bother to explain any of these things.... so I guess you can call this my New England inside joke post.
But again, Happy 19th of April aka Patriots Day. The Day of the 'Shot heard around the world.' No reenactments for me this year.

Writing

This week I have done quite a bit of writing. I like writing, at least aspects of the writing process, so here are a few comments on writing that are applicable to creative and non creative writing (that's kind of a terrible name). Just don't judge me on my writing for this post...
I often put off writing, and then when I finally get around to it I enjoy it.

• For pieces that are of some length (for instance I don't do this with emails) I prefer to write things out by hand and then type it in. This makes it so I can edit it as I type it in. Also, for some reason it seems less permanent or stressful to put it on paper first.
• Writing is a little like talking. Sometimes when I talk I say something that I hadn't really thought out but when it comes out of my mouth I think, that's cool. Sometimes I write things I don't really expect.
• No matter how much you include in the finished version there is something left out, and it's kind of fun when someone asks you a question that makes it possible to explain it.

Red-winged Blackbirds

My favorite bird is the red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus). I am pretty sure I have always liked them but lately I have decided they are my favorite. They lived in the marsh behind my house growing up, and they are fairly easy to identify. Robin sized black birds with red and sometimes a strip of yellow on their wings. Every time I hear their long call it makes me happy, in a way reminding me of home and good times.

Here's a terrible video but you can hear them. :)

Here are three pictures of Red-winged Blackbirds none of which are taken "at home" in New England, but they always make me feel like I'm there.