Confession- My first choice was the solar system. This stemmed from a conversation I had with my brother during a long drive home when I realized I couldn’t name the planets in order. I was shocked. So in an attempt to deflect my ignorance, I proceeded to make various Uranus jokes.

Because sometimes I’m mature like that.

On Friday I still hadn’t fully decided what I was going study when I got a phone message from the library. A book I had forgotten I requested was in. The book? Interred with Their Bones (recommended by Bre). A Da Vinci Code-esque like tale centered around the idea of finding Shakespeare’s missing play “Cardenio” (a play that Shakespeare actually wrote but has since gone missing).

A woman calling to tell me a book about Shakespeare was waiting for me at the library? Sure I wasn’t seeing the image of King Lear in my burnt toast, but this felt like a sign.

Later that day my mom called to let me know she had seen an ad for a wine night and had spontaneously signed us up.

And THAT felt like God was holding up a light up arrow pointing towards “Wine and Wine tasting”.

So I’ve decided to do both. The wine tasting will be a year long goal. I like the idea of letting my wine knowledge ripen over the course of the year (see what I did there? Man, wordplay is easier when I’m not hungover). This month is going to be dedicated to me and the Bard.

Being a fine arts student with a theatre obsession actually introduced me to a lot of the ‘Speare (he needs a new nickname. I’m working on it), though my experience was centered almost entirely on his tragedies and histories- so I’m not completely out of the realm of his world. In fact, in an effort to boost my party trick repertoire I *memorized Hamlet’s entire “To Be or Not To Be” soliloquy. Because what doesn’t GET THE PARTY STARTED like a zinger of a soliloquy that’s a few hundred years old? I’m shocked I didn’t suggest we really let loose and discuss our tax returns while knitting and sipping Sleepy Time tea.

I never planned on reviewing ALL of Shakespeare’s comedies in 29 days- that sounds like some reality television show stunt that I’m too lazy busy to be a part of. My goal was to narrow my focus after the topic was selected. I’ve decided to go with “As You Like It” and “Much Ado About Nothing”. From my brief reading summarizing all the comedies, these ones sound like real knee slappers and I like the titles. (Especially “As You Like It”- It sounds like something sort of naughty, but in a very highbrow way. Is that just me?) Also, DS is an expert on this one and I like knowing I can ask someone for clarification if needed.

And that’s that. Me and The Bard. A month dedicated to higher learning. To immersing myself in deep thought and words that will speak to my soul. A month dedicated to an example of mankind at it’s finest.

Which reminds me, Pageant Place is on tonight. Yes.