Michael Jackson's This is It and NBC's This is Us. We've done it. We've made it to the 6 year anniversary of me starting this blog. Well, I've made it and you've just sort of ridden my coat tails to this mile marker. No worries, my coat tails are long and numerous (that's what she said).

I didn't exactly know what I was going to do for this anniversary, but then, after perusing Hallmark.com late at night and spending $20 on 3 cards and some chocolate mints for my pillow, I figured it out. Anniversary #6 has typically been the candy/iron anniversary. I said "How fitting!!" This comes just days after Halloween, and also that one time when I thought about going back to the gym. I love it when the universe and I align. So I bought a mint or two (Hallmark is expensive) and here we are.

But I think, in all honesty, what I'd like to talk about this week, on this 6th year reunion, is something a bit different. I could drone on and on about my goals or my finances or my cancer (plays laugh track sound), but I'm all about fresh starts (and Fresh Air, I just started listening to NPR in the mornings). And what a better way to get a fresh start than taking a few, seemingly unrelated things, and shoving them together with glue until you can hang a shoe somewhere. Because the 6th year anniversary is not just the candy/iron anniversary (side note: if I ever wrestled, my name would be the Iron Candy), it's also the wood anniversary.

I have wood (that's what she said). No, I mean, like, I collect wood. Not big two by fours or anything, but yes, like small slabs and dowels. I'm under the delusion that one day I will build something out of all of these small pieces of wood. You can ask anybody that knows me whether or not I have a wood collection, especially the termites that think I'm a god. Everyone will agree. Because yes, I am that guy who, when he passes by wood lying scrapped out on the street, pauses for a moment and thinks "would it fit in the apartment, and by that I mean the plastic bin where all of my wood is?" I think it just might.

Now, I don't collect wood like some lumberjack hobo (By the way, my improv team Lumberjack Hobo is doing three consecutive shows tomorrow at the Triple Crown from 7-9pm. Come on out! You wooden want to miss it!) I have a plan for all of this wood, which is basically a couple dowel rods and the bases of used mousetraps.

I'm planning to make a shoe rack first, because we ordered one and never got it. One night in bed, I realized that I had everything already and said "Babe, I can make it. I have wood," but, to be fair, I say that every night in the bedroom. Second, I'd like to make some sort of night stand or table. We have an IKEA one that we stole from our other roommate, but hey, what about one made with my bare hands, huh? Also, I don't need no instructions, IKEA. Take your Flomso table and scram!

A third idea that I have is to make a bunch of holders for things that I already have, like my decks of cards or portable charger. I've already made some zen gardens. Those are fun to make because I can craft a small rake out of basically anything and it makes me feel like I'm at the beach. I've also collected wood from the beach.

So, things are going well 6 years later. I'm crafty with my hands and that's something. Also, I'm still working on that book of these blog posts. You would read a coffee table book of these posts, right? I see people get it printed all of the time, so how hard can it be? The holidays are upon us and I'm stoked. I'm feeling good about this year. Big things are on the horizon. Maybe I'll sell some wooden furniture on here too. I have a ton of popsicle sticks to get rid of.

Happy Anniversary and please like and share this. If you're just starting to read this blog now, there is no better time. It's raw, it's me, and the future looks like an uncut slab of thin plywood: grainy as hell.