Hello, Friends.
This year is flying by. I am always surprised when March rolls around. March is coming in like a lamb in the Midwest, but the Western mountains saw amazing amounts of snow.
Listen and watch this YouTube video for a great explanation. BUT listen to the automated voice. What qualities do you notice? What qualities are lacking?
Tickle your fancy and brush off your poetry skills with this read aloud.The Farmer's Almanac is the source for predicting weather patterns and declaring lore in an intersection way. Ben Franklin wrote Poor Richard's Almanac which was published once year for 25 years. Ben Franklin is known for more than his publishing; he was an inventor and investigator. He is credited for discovering electricity by flying a kite that had a key hanging off the string (read this account in the National Archives),
And to bring it all back to March...This month is famous for winds and stormy weather.
It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade.~ Charles Dickens
March Madness
March Dates to Celebrate
There are many opportunities to celebrate in March (what's up with this?). Don't be afraid to own a day or two and celebrate from this list from USA Today.
March 4: National Grammar Day--Ahhhh! Here is a day near and dear to our hearts!
March 8: International Women's Day
March 10: Daylight Savings Time (DST) Spring your clocks forward ...and read the Indiana perspective
March 10: Ramadan begins (read more from Britannica)
March 14: Pi Day (3.14, get it? Celebrate all things circle and pie)
March 15: St. Patrick's Day: Everyone is Irish today! Celebrate with corned beef and cabbage (not Irish) and green beer (not Irish).
March 15: The Ides of March-Beware!
March 17: March Madness-Selection Sunday
March 19-20: March Madness-First Four
March 19: Spring Equinox
March 20: Purim is a joyous Jewish celebration. Check the bakery for triangular hamantaschen pastries.
March 21-22: March Madness-First Round
March 23-24: March Madness-Second Round
March 24: Palm Sunday is the first day of the Christian Holy Week.
March 25: Holi is the Indian festival of colors celebrating the beginning of spring.
March 26: Make Up Your Own Holiday! As if there are not enough fun days in March, just make up your own holiday and custom.
March 28: Maundy Thursday celebrates the Last Supper Jesus celebrated with His disciples. The Christian sacred practice of Holy Communion or the Eucharist was instituted on this night.
March 29: Good Friday is the day Jesus died on the cross.
March 28-29: March Madness-Sweet Sixteen
March 30-31: March Madness-Elite Eight
March 31: Easter is the day Jesus rose from the dead fulfilling the Gospel. Easter is also a secular holiday celebrated in the United States. Chocolate Easter bunnies, marshmallow Peeps, and egg hunts celebrate this spring holiday.
American English
Carolyn said, "I really don't like when we spring forward. It feels too early! But, as Benjaman Franklin said, 'Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.' I guess there might be an advantage to this afterall!"
- Quotations in GrammarBook.com provides a great, concise listing of rules and examples.
- Grammarly: Quotation Marks: Rules and Examples.
Meetings and Classes
American Sign Language: Tuesday, 5:00-6:00 PM EST (UTC -5), Zoom
We giggled over signs featuring the "L" shape. Moving forward we are concentrating on building our phrasing and ASL grammar. The team has continued to grow and is moving beyond basic language.
March 5: We begin our study of "business" language and ASL. Come prepared to talk about negotiation and arguing. Is there a difference? How do you interrupt or ask for more information? What things are negotiable?
International Bible Study: Monday, 8:00-9:00 PM EST (UTC-5), Zoom
Revelation 14 proved to be a rollercoaster ride. Verse 7 announces that "the hour of God's judgment has come." While it is human nature to get caught up in dramatic and terrible scenes, this chapter has a great deal of information about God and the motives and reactions of people.
Revelation 14: 1 and 9 tells that people will be identified whether they are the people of God or follow Satan by marks on their foreheads.
Angels announce events and outcomes. Yet, even to the last hour, verse 6 and 7
6 Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people. 7 He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.”
Revelation 14-20 describes what God's justice looks like. This vision portrays justice that comes only when the time is ripe. Jesus is given the task of meteing out justice just as He was the sacrifice for all.
Revelation 15 opens with victory and a glimpse of heaven and the glory of God. The stage is set. Angels are sent out with final plagues. The power of God's glory fills the temple and no one can enter until after the final plagues. Awesome!
March 4: We begin with Revelation 16 and the final plagues on the people with the mark of the beast and their response.
American English and Culture: Thursday, 9:00-11:00 AM EST (UTC-5), Zoom
Civil discourse is talking about topics that are emotionally charged. Handling controversial subjects is important
March is Business Communications month at American English and Culture. Business "language" is a formal "language" in the U.S. Meeting expectations at work or interacting with other people in a "business" environment. This can include shopping and stores, yard sales and informal markets, attending concerts, movies, or other entertainment events, obtaining services like hair cuts, massages, etc.
March 7: You aren't off the hook! How many compound words did you find in the February 25 Update post? The writing prompt for that week was to write a short piece using 20 or more compound words...share your work.
Negotiating and arguing. Is there a difference between these? What are the words and phrases and behaviors to drive your point or communicate your position.
How do you negotiate? Do you split the difference? Are you a proponent of win win? How do you "get to yes"? Should everyone be satisfied at the end of a negotiation? In the United States we do not negotiate as a matter of course. Do not expect to talk down your pharmacy costs or your purchases at the grocery store or any big box store. You may negotiate with people at a yard sale or for a car, but most Americans shy away from negotiating with their neighbors.
March 14: Solving problems and taking responsibility requires the ability to communicate and gain consensus. How do you solve problems? Do you own up to mistakes? How do you make amends? What are the usual positions of Americans when confronting problems and taking responsibility?
March 21: In-Person at the IWI National Women's Month Celebration. Kris still has space at her table, so join us. Email us at indyintlfriends@gmail.com if you would like to attend or have a guest you would to accompany you. Practice professional communications such as showing interest and expressing appreciation, making small talk, questioning, and maintaining understanding.
March 28: Considering options and choices and presenting ideas. The United States is the land of opportunities. How do you consider and prioritize?
Kids' Conversation and More: Friday, 4:30-5:00 PM EST (UTC-5), Zoom
Thanks for a super fun meeting! Our Friend described what is Leap Year and Leap Day and why this day is important to our calendar. Our Friends voted whether "time" was a natural or manmade construct. What do you think?
March 8: Let's talk about fun March dates and lore: St. Patrick's Day
Words and Phrases
big box: Walmart, Costco, Kohls, etc.
construct: invention or ideology created to support a human idea or something that helps us to work together
in: we would often say "from the National Archives" but if you click the link you are taken to the archives and are literally there, not taking the article out of the archives
manmade construct: something made up by people to make life easier
meteing out: deciding
near and dear to our hearts: Love it!
own a day or two: This is a little complicated! Sooooo here is the long view: own=make it yours, celebrate or admit that this is something you do. "a day or two"=this is not limiting in number, please pick all that you want as an excuse to celebrate life with your family and friends.
rollercoaster ride: something that is positive and negative and positive and negative and positive
super: excellent or most wonderful when used idiomatically
talk down: negotiate a lower price for something
What/s up with this: Why is this happening? Why is this important? What is wrong with [fill in the blank-like "with mom"]
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