MOI**MOI**MOI**

Must admit I'm a bit 'shock~a~tantai' that there have been no admiring comments sent to MOI. At least not as of today. I'm beginning to suspect the hoards of compliments which simply MUST be overloading the Internet have either broken what ever it is that operates this machine or the flock has somehow sabotaged something, to prevent me from reading messages from my fans. Otherwis......

I'm so very sorry that I hadn't noticed until just now that one of the flock was creating havoc, of a sort. Yes, I know, Open and Accepting. But it seems our resident 'diva' hacked into the flock's blog. That is into the ENTIRE flock's blog. Should she have wished to report on something she is involved with, all that would be required was to ask to post. But deciding she wishes to be the blog, another matter entirely. I'm quite at a loss as to how to turn this particular issue around. I mean, confidence is one thing and I encourage all of our flock to take pride in what each is able to accomplish. But it seems there should be a noticeable gap between confidence and egocentric, one would think??? Our Dee has always been a bit 'me me me' so now I suppose Esme and I will have to confer as to how our Dee Vine may be 'right sized'.

By the way, as to Dee Vine thinking her password would be impossible to figure. Have you noted the 'subject' of her posts....EVERY POST? Yep, the password was moimoimoi. Baaa'd choice? Baaa'right!

ELLIS THE RAM

Ellis the Ram takes Piper aka Eggplant to Ellis the Original

posted upon return by Ellis the Ram

As Esme had requested I immediately went in search of our HC who regularly saw our MTF, Ellis the therapist. {For which we are eternally grateful!!!} When I told her of Piper's disappearance~into an Eggplant, she seemed puzzled. "Eggplant? Are you sure he isn't teasing you? He had asked me to help him make an Eggplant costume for last nights Trick or Treat, that's all. Its just a costume." Again I explained to her that since Piper had lost the Eggplant, the one she had made long ago, he had become increasingly withdrawn. As she still stood there looking puzzled I must admit I began to get annoyed. Finally, and it just came out I swear it did, I fussed in a raised voice at her saying, "If you hadn't made and then allowed Piper to find that silly knitted Eggplant to begin with, then let him carry it around, Then take it with him that day when he lost it, THEN helped him secretly make that costume~~~~Maybe I wouldn't be here having to convince you our Piper is in need of Ellis the Original HELP!" She just stood there with that typical 'Who ME?' look on her face......but finally shrugged and said "OK, I'll call Ellis and see when he can see Piper or Eggplant....What am I supposed to call him now anyway?" {I turned and went back to the pasture to wait for her to call, muttering inappropriate Baa'^%$s and Bleat*&(^s the entire way}.

But a short while later my HC came to the pasture and said that MTF Ellis had free time the next morning, actually right before her appointment. I immediately told her we would be waiting at the gate at the designated departure time. And Piper aka Eggplant and I soon arrived at the office of our MTF Ellis the Original. Piper aka Eggplant climbed into a seat across the room from where HC and I were seated. And we waited to be called.

And we waited....... And we waited.......until finally MTF's door opened and he called out "Ellis the Ram?" I hopped off the chair and bounced over to him where we had a whispered conversation and I detailed the situation with Piper or Eggplant. Fortunately unlike our HC, no puzzled look and no further questions.......Ellis winked at me and stood up calling out "EGGPLANT? Please come on into my office." Piper aka Eggplant hopped of his chair and followed our MTF into the office and the door shut behind them. {I had asked our MTF that although he couldn't reveal the actual conversation without permission perhaps photos would ease the minds back at the flock}. I did see Piper aka Eggplant hop onto a couch, where I have sat myself a few times in support of my HC. With a deep sigh I returned to my seat next to my HC and we waited. About an hour later the door opened and MTF and 'whoever' exited the office. MTF walked over to my HC and I, he smiled and nodded at us and handed us an envelope. Saying his 'client' had given permission for us to know all about the visit and the results. And if we had any further questions he was always happy to see us or speak to us on a phone. Ellis the Original then asked after Esme and everyone in the flock. Then he and my HC went into the office and closed the door for their appointment. Piper aka Eggplant hopped up into a seat, this time next to me and actually spoke to me. "Good Morning Ellis and I'm sorry I worried everyone. I didn't realize how badly the loss of my friend, my Eggplant, effected me." I asked him if he felt better and he said, a little better. "Are you going to take your costume off? And is it alright if we still call you Piper?" Quiet for a moment he said "Yes of course my name is Piper, I understand that. And.....I will take my costume off.....soon.....or a bit later. Ellis said I could wear it a bit longer if I wished, maybe tonight take the top off my head, then maybe down to my middle........I will take it all the way off........soon." "Sounds good to me Piper" I said. "Whenever you want to do those things is fine. And you know we all love you." Finally, the first smile from our Piper......in a long time began to peek through. I opened the envelope and inside were 2 photos of Piper's time in the office with Ellis and a folded piece of paper. I would save the paper for later when back in the pasture with Esme. But the photos made me feel good. On the back of each MTF had written words. They were: I listened very quietly and carefully while the young Ovine told me of his sorrow over the loss of his friend. After that I asked many questions which he answered honestly. My diagnosis and treatment plan is contained in my letter. When our HC emerged and we all said our goodbyes to our MTF we went home. Ellis the Ram

First-Get a Map

posted by Noah

There are several in the flock capable of telling this next portion about the KOO, but I volunteered. Because the Ovine who posts gets to pick what colors to post in. And although not considered one of the more eye catching colors, Grey is the best. I believe it is the color of calm, of reason, of insight, of intelligence.....and the color of my fleece. Yep, Grey. Oh yea, a map.

After we began to learn more about the KOO it became clear there seemed to be a lack of understanding about many issues. EDUCATION certainly seemed a perfect beginning. They explained they preferred to be known as the KOO. Which they explained was KREWE OF OVINE. Now remember, the mysterious incidents began around the time part of our flock was at the beach. First we noted the stowaways, fewer than 4 at that point. Then they vanished, we thought. But again and again they began to appear. In the photo of us departing for our home pasture. What seemed to be hind ends while traveling in the car. All the while the colors purple/green/gold invaded us, everywhere. Finally we captured them, interrogated them, and slowly began to learn what was going on.

Once they told us they were a KREWE we looked it up. Much research revealed a Krewe seemed to be a word for a group who formed to pursue some sort of 'social' activity. But that was all we could find in a dictionary. So we went to the computer. WOW! We typed in the word KREWE and all was revealed. AND EVERYTHING THAT POPPED UP SEEMED TO BE IN PURPLE/GREEN/GOLD. The flock was in total agreement we had hit pasture dirt. Our version of the HC pay dirt, you see.

We quickly concluded that these 4 Ovines were a social organization, which seemed odd to us, as a flock seemed to cover that purpose quite well. So we put our research to the KOO.

Yes, they admitted they were just as we had found, a social organization. And then explained they had no idea where they were from but one by one had found each other. Marty Grau, the only of the 4 with an actual name, said he was first and all alone. But with some wandering about he had discovered a picture frame and SOMEHOW he just knew something about what was in the picture frame must hold a clue as to who he was and where he started.

On the frame was a very colorful and strange creature which seemed to be a HC. Looking down at his fleece he noticed some of the colors on the picture matched his fleece. Soon after he discovered a mirror and with a shock he realized his face, ears and even his tail colors supported his theory.

He told us while the flock was off doing 'stuff' he worked at the computer and through trial and error found the same sites we had. The colors matched his. And they talked about parades.......he just knew this MUST be his mission. To be a parade? But how was he to accomplish this. Could one Ovine be a parade? He sadly went back to hiding from the flock. Then much to his surprise he discovered another Ovine, much like him but different. Again the colors. Then another and finally a 4th. They decided they must belong together due to their brilliantly colored fleece.

None of the other 3 seemed to know their names, and really Marty didn't know his name for certain, either. But from his search on the computer he thought he might be Marty Grau. He thought that was his name although it was spelled slightly different from the computer. He told us on the computer it was spelled M~A~R~D~I~~~G~R~A~S. But something told him his name was spelled different even though they seemed to sound the same. So he must be the somehow related to this Mardi Gras. Bit by bit, the other 3 Ovines decided their mission must be to join him. And finally to join their relative ~~Mardi Gras~~ where ever it lived. Back to the picture frame where they decided a New Orleans must be the place, but how to get there?

Ah, this was the reason they stowed away in December. They didn't know where they were or where we were going but MAYBE it was this New Orleans. And if they called themselves a Krewe and found this New Orleans, perhaps they would be a parade? {All of us in the flock could see their line of thought didn't go in a straight direction, but UNDERSTANDING AND PATIENCE~not 1 Baa-HaaHaa}

And back now to that word EDUCATION. They had no idea where they must go, how to get there or what direction to take. Geography! Several of us realized, after having done our own research that Mardi Gras would seem to be over for this year. And New Orleans was no where close to York Pennsylvania or Garden City South Carolina, although the beach was certainly closer than the pasture. And much preparation would be necessary to be a Krewe in a parade at this Mardi Gras.

Although the KOO was very sad when we explained it all we quickly turned to Understanding and Patience. We told the 4 we would help them learn all they might need and help them if they decided they still wished to continue on their mission. And in the meantime we asked if they would like to join the flock. We told them about the number 1 rule~OPEN AND ACCEPTING. After they held a KOO meeting they returned and said they would very much like to join our flock, at least for now.

So we began learning about geography, if New Orleans was their goal.....geography was critical.

Noah, The Grey One

EDUCATION

posted by Ellis the Ram and Esme the Ewe

Ah yes, EDUCATION. Such a big word and what a vast field. Speaking of which a field 'may' be another word for a Pasture. And that is something we know about. And the flock knows just where our 'home' pasture is located. In a place called York, PA. How did we learn that? Because others took the time to teach us, to EDUCATE us. In the HC world we have observed that EDUCATION seems to be given to HCs in big buildings with many rooms containing many places for HCs to sit. When young it seems they get sent to these buildings for many hours to receive EDUCATION. Hm? One way to 'get' EDUCATION. But we know there are more than one way to munch on MLGV.

So most of an Ovine's EDUCATION comes from older Ovines doing and younger ones observing and then copying. But some must come from other places? Like.....asking questions.....like trying.......and yes, by using some of those methods HCs might use, like books or looking on a computer. And we 'get' that. So there is more to just knowing that our Pasture is in York, Pennsylvania. What if an Ovine wants to travel and gets lost? So, EDUCATION is important to learn where the edges of our pasture may be. Or what part of a larger space in which our pasture may be located. Or where that larger space is located to understand where our friend's pastures may be. Emily's pasture is in California and Eleanor's pasture is in Canada.

Ah yes, the original issue...The FWIF, the cozy blue chair and the interrogation. The FWIF? We have discovered much to our surprise that these 4 Ovines who we viewed as MDI's, may not be MDIs at all. During their interrogation it became clear they were Ovines who didn't 'get it'. HOW CAN THAT BE? we gasped. Aren't all Ovines born 'getting it'? It was while the painting man worked and we huddled safely on the cozy blue chair that the flock 'got it'. We 'got' that the FWIF didn't 'get it'. They lacked EDUCATION.

Yes, they knew what MLGV was healthy and what was not. But they didn't 'get' geography~among so many other things they didn't 'get'. Why was geography important to the story of our FWIF? Because geography is key to their mission, their dreams and the odd behavior which plagued our flock....beginning with purple/green/gold. And while in the cozy blue chair we became aware we needed to assist them to gain EDUCATION. EDUCATION which is such a large work which is important to every minute of every day of every month of every year {bet you 'get' the direction that sentence is going?}

So our EDUCATION began when we learned the 4 aren't MDIs of the FWIF. We learned they called themselves The KOO. Their EDUCATION we realized must begin with geography!