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March Comes In …

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The Trail Baboon Interview – March 2011

Today is the first day of March, and you know what they say about its famous entrances and exits. I was up late last night and was able to grab the tempestuous month for a brief interview.

TB: It’s just seconds after midnight and you’ve barely started. How are you planning to come in this year?

March: (sigh) I wish there wasn’t so much attention paid to that, frankly. There’s all this pressure to make an impressive entrance, but a few years ago I decided to just go with the feeling. I’ll come in however I come in.

TB: Don’t you worry that people will be disappointed if you’re not very lion-like?

March: What is a lion like? Do you even know?

TB: Ferocious. Hungry. Vicious.

March: Lions also sleep a lot. They have quiet moments. There’s even self doubt, sometimes.

TB: Self doubt in a lion? Really?

March: Sure. A lion can ask, “What am I all about? Does it always have to be growling and posing and tearing apart he weakest antelope in the herd? What’s it like to have a bowl of cold soup and a few crackers?” Raising some really basic questions can change your whole attitude.

TB: So you’re coming in like a pensive lion?

March: I’m an important month with my own style. I’m sick of apologizing for it or trying to hide behind some animal mask.

TB: So you’re not taking requests.

March: I’m coming in like the way I feel today. Not like a lion or a lamb, but just me.

TB: But you’ve got to admit you can be moody and blustery.

March: What, there’s no wind in November?

TB: Of course there is, but …

March: OK then. Stick the “blustery” tag on November. It needs something brutal to balance off all that goody-goodness around Thanksgiving.

TB: Right. And you don’t have a holiday, do you. Except St. Patrick’s Day.

March: (a low moan of anguish)

TB: You don’t like St. Patty’s Day?

March: It’s a fake holiday for slackers. Like Halloween and Valentine’s Day, it’s just an excuse for strange behavior. As soon as the green beer started to flow, I knew I wasn’t going to get any respect for hosting St. Patrick’s Day. Easter, now THERE’S a holiday. If I could have Easter every time … really be able to count on it … that would re-define me.

TB: You’ve got March Madness.

March: A basketball tournament? You’ve got to be kidding. That’s an insult. Ask the other months – I don’t think any of them would want to be known for “madness”. Especially since it’s all about posturing and gambling and the excitement peaks at the final game, which is when?
In April!

TB: I’m sensing resentment.

March: I’m frustrated because people don’t understand that some of us have to be early-stage transitional. And maybe that’s not so easy to love. Lots of flowery poems have been written about April and May, but they’d be impossible without March. Think about that!

TB: Any plans for snow?

March: Snow is part of my act, but I’m well aware it’s been done to death this year. It’s hard when the opener steals your material and does it so badly. But I’m not going to shelve one of my best routines just because some other month was trying to compensate for being short.

TB: Ouch. So there might be snow.

March: March snow is special. Try to have a positive attitude about it.

TB: And your exit this year? Can we count on something lamb-like?

March: Lambs are a lot more complicated than you think.
Be careful what you wish for.

What would you like to get from March this year?

78 thoughts on “March Comes In …”

  1. Morning all.

    I have a love/hate relationship with March – due to the travel industry. This year, in particular, it will be my busiest and most stressful part of high season. But the flip side of that is that I prefer busy over slow, so when it’s over, I’ll look back on it more kindly that I do while I’m in the midst of it. It’s kind of like retail sales that way – it has an energy that some of the other months don’t have, that you miss when it’s gone.

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  2. Rise and Shine Baboons:

    Nicely done Dale. Who would think of interviewing a month? And you captured that quixotic personality and oppositionality well. I disagree about Easter, though. I’ve never cared for Easter much, so I figure who would want it?

    This year from March I’d like some warm sunshine and melting temperatures; I’m going to a big conference in California during the third week, so I’d like even nicer weather during that week there. Without earthquakes, too. I’d like that conference to be energetic and informative–read that worth the money–too. At work we are taking on a new space down the hall in addition to our present suite. There will be construction involved–I’d like March to deliver construction without a hitch and no dust.

    Perhaps I’m asking too much of such a moody month. HMMM.

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  3. I know I’m not in the majority here, but March always takes me by surprise by zipping by too fast. I start out optimistic for spring-ready to get going on the garden-then we get dumped on with a load of snow and ice and my natural procrastination kicks in-see, plenty of time for those winter projects you’ve been putting off all winter-next thing I know, I find I should have started those tomatoes weeks ago.

    March, you don’t think you should make up your mind to be anything, and it really messes with me. Shape up and get a plan! In like a lion and out like a lamb would probably improve your popularity-think about it.

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      3. St Agnes Baking does a retail sale the first Saturday of the month from 10-12 (it is the only time they do a retail sale). It is a lot of fun, but this week, just getting through the week is challenging me.

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      4. I went for the first time last month and it was a lot of fun. Music, coffee, a few fun vendors and, of course, lots and lots of baked goods. Spanish theme this month!

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  4. How ’bout a paycheck?? Been without one since June, so whichever kind of temperament brings one of those with whatever level of precip is fine with me…

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    2. Welcome, Scoleturbo.
      How about a March blizzard of paychecks? A downpour, a gale, a torrent?
      A flash paycheck flood warning?
      I’d like that too.

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  5. March is the time when i start to have stomach aches – the eager anticipation of new kids arriving and the pain-inducing anxiety over being ready, catching them before they freeze, avoiding labor/delivery problems – and the sheer joy of seeing new life and resiliency emerge from a long winter’s gestation.
    it’s coming in like a lion up here – windy, windy – and that’s fine. but i’d like to respectfully request no 26 degrees below zero nights (the temp when Alba was born in 2008 on March 8) please. thank you.
    St. Patty’s may be a lame holiday, but it’s my BD also. i’d like to request that if we eliminate one celebration it be the BD part of the day. i’ll take a green beer as long as it’s a Summit EPA. 🙂
    then, finally, i’d like to say that Steve has outdone himself in learning Photoshop. not the quality of the Wizard Dale – but admirable, and accomplished in one day while i was gone AND he was taking care of the goats in addition! he put the MeadowWild Barnie Awards (and a Feb. update) on his blog. please check it out and tell him what a great guy he is!
    a gracious good morning to You All

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  6. March can do whatever it likes, so long as whatever precipitation is visited upon us does not find its way into my house through the ceiling or in-between the window trim in Daughter’s room. Snow is fine, rain is fine, just not the sort that gets into my house where I don’t want it. Please. Heck, March, if you want to bring some snow on the 31st, that would be a fitting present for my 10th wedding anniversary – you snowed on us on the morning of the wedding, and it was kind of pretty.

    (And Jacque – I learned to enjoy Easter when I decided that it was more fun to just pay attention to the music. Head off to a big Lutheran church and listen to the brass and the organ and the congregation singing…worth the price of admission. But maybe that’s my daughter-of-a-church-musician upbringing talking.)

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    1. and don’t forget the FLOWERS!!!! Completely unnatural, I know, but really convincing that spring is actually coming.

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      3. I’m glad I’m not the only one who still goes to Dayton’s. Would Governor Dayton have been elected if he’d had to change or hyphenate his name every time the family enterprise changed hands? Governor Dayton-Marshall Field-Macy or maybe just Governor Macy?

        At least with the flowers they can’t drag out the same ones year after year. 2010 was at least year 3 of A Day in the Life of an Elf for the Christmas show. It’s cute but . . .

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      4. I do like the Christmas tree choir, with the rabbit conducting. But I agree it would be nice to have a fresh theme every year, like it used to be.

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  7. March is my least favorite month out here in western ND.. It is usually when we get the most snow, and if that is the case this year, its been nice knowing you all of you. All I want for March is a Spring thaw, a clear driveway and crocuses.

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    1. Renee – yesterday i drove down to mpls to see my friend and we went to a little shop called “Heart of Tibet” and met the woman who runs the shop with her brother (both of them Monks). we bought prayer flags to hang outside the goat pens – to wish them a good year.
      you might try hanging some over your new crocus bed; it couldn’t hurt anyway. they are colorful and lovely as they move with the wind.

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      1. I think my son has some hanging on his balcony. I might just ask to borrow them. On second thought, he lives in Fargo and might need them more than I do. I better buy my own!

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      4. yes, Linden Hills! very nice little neighborhood!
        and, yes, the goats would eat them very quickly, but i’ll hang them high so they can’t reach. learned this from the county fair. some folks hung all of their pretty ribbons above their goats – champion purples, blues, reds, etc. – only to have them disappear. looked funny to see just the strings hanging from the overhead rafters. those goats really internalize their achievements!

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  8. March is complaining about St. Patrick’s Day? What about April Fool’s Day, how do you think April feels about that? March, perhaps you’ll feel better if you remember that you also have Spring Equinox (aka Ostara), Purim, Holi, Naw-Ruz (Persian New Year), Losar (Tibetan New Year) and International Women’s Day. That’s a lineup of holidays to be proud of!

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    2. not to mention today, St David’s Day, wear a daffodil, wave a red dragon flag and sing with the Welsh!

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  9. good digging, there are holidays in there i never even thought of not hearing of before. purim, holi, and the new years celebrations in tibet and persia (iraq, iran) sound like parties i’d like to pop in on. any word of a vfw throwing a bang up naw ruz shindig?

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  10. That “out like a lamb” number would be nice… we’re leaving for Georgia the 30th (road trip) for an April first wedding!

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      1. Even being married the day before April Fool’s makes it easy to remember (first full day of being married being April Fool’s day…). 🙂

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    3. Yes, the flowers should be great. Date was chosen in part because it’s his Grandma’s birthday…

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  11. i remember my dad telling me that the high school basketball tournament and hockey tournament were always going to bring a blizzard with them. then they introduced girls basketball and the weather changed and the blizzard was no longer a given. i blame girl basketball players for the change in the global warming of the planet.
    i love blevens reporter outfit. nice hat selection dale. i think march is very underrated. when else is there such a positive undertone. if we get 9 feet of snow no one even shovels because it will be gone in 3 days. drive over the stuff in the driveway without even worrying about leavining tire track imprints because they will melt. the twins are on the radio every noon. st patricks day and barb in blackhoofs birthday falling on the same day is no small coincidence. st patrick is the patron saint of chasing away the snakes so that the goats of ireland could graze on the hillsides in peace. the summit epa is a very appropriate choice of celebratory march brew. in march we are all extra pale from the 6 months of being holed up in the cave. welcome scoleturbo, you sound like a voice that will fit in here. and renee…are there months when the weather in north dakota is not the total focus of the state?

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    2. Oh Tim, I know. Isn’t it terrible? We don’t have much else to focus on except the weather. Our state budget is balanced, the state coffers are full to overflowing, unemployment is at an all-time low, and the Fighting Sioux controversy is even more boring to talk about than the weather. The hottest topic in my town currently is the street department’s poor response to clearing the snow. I think I would be struck dumb if I lived in a really interesting place. I wouldn’t know what to talk about first.

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      1. the rest of the world is out of money for street clearing. we had the storm ere last weekend and got 16 inches and i had the driveway all cleared out but i only had one vehicle that could get out to the plowed road. they didn;t get ot my street until all the snow was done falling on day two.
        the storm before that the freeways were a skating rinkl at rush hour because they decided not to salt them until it was over

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    1. I missed the hat when I was reading this morning – either I was really bleary (quite possible) or Blevins and his fabulous chapeau did not want to play with my Mac (or its Chrome browser). Nicely done Mr. Connelly!

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      1. OC – we actually voted for this. From Austin Lounge Lizards “Old Blevins” song. Rhonda came in second, hence the name of the baby baboon.

        I can never explain this blog to anyone…………

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  13. I’ve been lurking, but life has gotten in the way of participation in much so far this year. Hopefully March will bring normalcy (and SPRING).

    There are lots of birthdays in March, some say at least partially due to it being 9 months after the big wedding month of June.

    March is super month at our place. My birthday on the 5th, my husband’s and our darling granddaughter (born on her grandpa’s birthday last year) on the 13th, and our anniversary on the 28th. Not to mention neices and nephews and their children. There’s a family party a weekend this month.

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    1. Caroline, sounds like a lot of fun. More fun than my March. We’re getting new windows this week (airport noise settlement), which has meant moving ALL the furniture from three rooms to a teeny room and some closets. And, in some kind of twisted logic, the teenager and I have decided that since the furniture is already out that we should paint both our bedrooms. Definitely the lion thing for the first couple of weeks. Hopefully all done and lamb-like at the end of the month!

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      1. best wishes – boy, you like to do it all at once! new windows are good. we got new windows in the living room about 5 years ago and i STILL haven’t painted the trim around them. do you two rent out???

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      2. VS – But won’t it be great to have the noise abated and the energy efficient and the nice fresh paint. Lots of work, but with significant rewards. Hang in there.

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      3. Yes, I am actually looking forward to the end product. And, it is doing that thing that home projects do… it’s expanding. First I decided to paint, then I decided that I need to stencil after painting. And the curtains are in sad shape, so new curtains. And the allergy cover on the box spring needs replacing and all the bedding needs washing. Then teenager got into the act… painting (but no stenciling) and new curtains. Luckily studio and bathroom curtains are still fine, although everything is getting a good wash this week as well. I think home improvement would make a wonderful horror movie!

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  14. OK, there are 3 March birthdays so far – anyone else? Add to the list, and I would think each of those days would be a call to celebrate with some EPA or wine or something!
    And we should probably include the goats…
    Occasional Caroline, 5th
    Barb in Blackhoof, 17th
    Barbara in Robbinsdale, 26th

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  15. At least March hasn’t been dubbed the cruelest month like April, which by the way is stuck with April 15th! And what’s not to love about the vernal equinox. Come March in Minnesota, we all crave more light. Besides, the running weather is great.

    Now if it would only stop acting like February, which behaved like January this year!

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    1. Speaking of more light – Dale, could you ask March how it feels about having it’s time re-arranged by Daylight Saving Time. You all know how much more light we get that way!

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      2. messing with God’s time (as Frank Miller of the DesMoines Register reminded us every year in his editorial cartoon)

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  17. not to be a downer, but what I want from March is for the people of Wisconsin to be able to enter their own Capitol building, just like we do here in St Paul. The Capitol in Madison is having concrete barricades placed around it.

    Sorry Baboons, but I am so very sad for my second home state today.

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    1. a good thought, MIG – maybe we should send some prayer flags to Wisconsin? or better – put yours up (this month of Tibetan New Year) and let the winds from the west blow some sense over there.

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    2. we need to have the cheeseheads show us the way to deal with the tea party chest pounders. should be interesting. bring in the weathermen

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  18. I just read in the current issue of AARP Mag – March is National Frozen Food Month. Just thought you’d all want to know.

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      1. Yeah – I just checked their website and learned it’s also: Bell Pepper and Broccoli Month, International Mirth Month, National Caffeine Awareness Month, and Let’s Get Lucky Month.

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