A little contraction action

Ain't ain't a word.

Can't never could do nothin'.

Those are two things I remember hearing frequently growing up. They are really not important here, but they kept popping into my thoughts over the last few days due to an English challenge. I suppose it was an assignment, but it was so hard I have decided it is more of a challenge than just an assignment.

*I feel it is necessary to say right here that it is taking all I have in me not to put some words in quotation marks for emphasis. ;)*

Do not use slang for 48 hours or do not use contractions for 48 hours.

I thought I was being so smart. I chose not to use contractions. Me being the me that I am, meaning I am what you might call a virtual social butterfly, tweeted this assignment as I walked out of the Gillioz. I neglected to make it clear I was to choose one or the other and Austin from Ireland quickly replied "dead on I'm in fo dat" and "and mos def no contractions sho nuff". Another person asked me if "Hmmmm" was Internet/text slang while yet another person replied "is not the term 'slang' in and of itself slang?" Good question. Obviously I had to tweet a correction to clarify I was to choose one.

"I wasn't clear. Either no contractions or no slang. I choose no contractions."

Yes. Fail. Austin, being the lovely chum he is, quickly came back at me.

"you just failed"

An accidental tweet of "gotcha" won me a response of "you suck at this" from Austin even though I was not even talking to him at the time. One of the reasons I adore Twitter.

I failed at this. I really thought it would be easier than not to use contractions than slang. I may have been wrong. It is hard enough to not use contractions in print, but twenty times as hard in speaking. Oh my goodness. In typing/texting, I felt like a robot. I am not at all a formal person and I like to talk fast. I don't mean I necessarily have a fast cadence to my speech, but that I like to keep it moving. Do you have any idea how many words are contractions? A lot. More than you realize.

So give it a try. Good luck. And don't invite Austin to monitor you. You will want to buy a plane ticket to Ireland to let him know just how much you appreciate his inner grammar hound. ;)

What are you passionate about?

I'm still working on this. I'm supposed to know by tomorrow. Problem is, at any given moment, I can be passionate about anything.
Photography
Running
Cycling
Massage Therapy
The smell of fresh cut grass
John Mayer *puuuurrrrr*
Water
Writing
I'm hoping something comes to me on my run today...

Chanae T. Day

The assignment: Make up your own holiday
Some early ideas for holidays: Corey Haim Day, Throat Punching Day, National Fist Pump Like You're From the Shore Day, Go Commando Day and Barefooting Day.
Believe it or not, Go Commando Day and Go Barefoot Day are already... Well, days. Throat Punching Day might be too violent for some, National Fist Pump Day might result in arbitrary throat punching and Corey Haim Day... It's too soon. So I present to you:

"Chanae T. Day"

"Chanae T. Day" will be a day of love, music and art celebrated annually on April 20^th. This day will be spent honoring a free-spirited, insanely optimistic, forward thinking, super cute artist who brings smiles, laughter and joy to everyone she meets. Anyone who can giggle at the most inane things in life and cause a smile to erupt on your face just by their presence deserves their own special day.

There will be no fewer than three art and music festivals per state featuring Chanae T.’s original works alongside those of local artists enhanced by the music of her favorite musicians. Attendance of these festivals will be strongly encouraged, but who wouldn’t want to attend an amazing love-fest where they can absorb groovy music and appreciate so many different types of magnificent art?

Hopefully, there will be many traditions created to honor Chanae over the coming years, but here are some ideas to get everyone started:

· Go barefoot all day, letting nature into your soul through your soles

· Donate to a local children’s art program

· Wear colorful, comfortable, swooshy clothes preferably made of hemp

· Get a massage and some energy work

· Get spiritual with Mary Jane

· Chew gum and blow bubbles

· Get things pierced

· Enhance your skin with tasteful tattoos of owls or Chanae T.’s personal emblem, the lion with a third eye on a cannabis leaf

Embrace and have fun with this holiday, people. While the festivals are mandated, there are no other real rules. My wish is for you to carry the peaceful attitude and loving spirit of this day with you through out the year.