Felix!

One of the highlights of coming home for Thanksgiving holiday was my cousin's almost-two-year-old son named Felix. He  just seems to captivate everyone. There's a lot of energy in him, plus he's a pretty happy kid and that rubs off on everyone around him. I think that's one of the things I like about kids in general- there are times when they seem to know exactly what to say and do to make people smile. So to add to the list of things I'm thankful for, I'm grateful for kids in general because to me each one can add a bit of innocence and sweetness in the world. In the case of my cousin's son, his name means happiness and it couldn't be more appropriate!

Thanksgiving joke

Since it is a holiday and holidays can be funny I thought I'd share this joke I found on the web. Especially because laughter is something I'm eternally thankful for!

Turkey farmer joke!

A turkey farmer was always experimenting with breeding the perfect turkey, specifically one with more legs to satisfy his family's preference for dark meat. After many frustrating attempts, the farmer was telling his friends about his recent success.

"Well I finally did it! I bred a turkey that has six legs!"

His friends all asked the farmer how it tasted.

I don't know," said the farmer. "I never could catch the darn thing!"

Answers to yesterday's riddles! :)

Here are the Answers to yesterday's riddles! Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Answer to Riddle 1: He was traveling on a horse called Friday.

Answer to Riddle 2: A stamp!

Answer to Riddle 3: Your Thumb.You can use your thumb (left hand or right) when hitching (travelling over cobblestone or gravel). Thumbs up is a show of success, thumbs down not so great.

Answer to Riddle 4: You walk across the bridge as you normally would, and after half an hour, you've reached the middle of the bridge, and the guard wakes up. Right before he wakes up, turn around and face the other direction so that the guard will think that you were heading the opposite direction. The guard will automatically carry you back to the side where he thought you came from, which is the side you wanted to go to. 

Answer to Riddle 5: Only the person reciting has explicitly said that he was going to St. Ives. The riddle says nothing about everyone he met along the way.

If you are traveling, here are some riddles to help pass the time! :)

Since holidays seem to be traditionally time for road trips and road trips are typically long, here are some riddles to help you pass the time!

1. A man travels to a town on Friday stays for 2 nights and travels back on Friday,How can this be?

2.What travels around the world but stays in one corner?

3. Used left or right, I get to travel,
Over cobblestone or gravel.
Used up, I vie for sweet success,
Used down, I cause men great duress.

What am I? 

4.A man wants to cross a bridge to get to the other side of the crevice, but there's a problem. The bridge, which takes an hour to walk across, is guarded in the middle by a guard who wakes up every half hour and carries back anybody crossing the bridge back to where he or she came from. How do you get to the other side? 

5. Apparently this is the oldest riddle in history according to Google (because of course, Google knows all.)  
As I was going to St. Ives
I met a man with seven wives.
Each wife had seven sacks,
Each sack had seven cats,
Each cat had seven kits;
Kits, cats, sacks and wives,
How many were going to St. Ives? 
  

When the going get's tough - dance harder!

At the Thrive Mentoring Conference I attended last weekend I had the privilege of being able to meet a woman named Simi Linton who is making a film about how a group of dancers is using their talents on the stage and the general dance floor to raise awareness and advocate for people with disabilities. It got me thinking about how dancing can be really moving and powerful as well as fun. I believe everyone can dance, if it's just your hands or waving your body from side to side, I figure as long as you're having fun that's dancing. I also think that because anyone and everyone can dance it, like many art forms, makes everyone equal. This is why it really is an ideal way to show how despite the challenges people face, there is still so much beauty and talent inside everyone and everyone deserves to have that talent shine. Currently the movie entitled Invitation to Dance isn't quite finished but updates and further details can be found on the movie's Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/invitationtodancefilm/info). Whatever your situation in life might be and whatever happens in your life, I hope there's still a lot of dancing in it!

Having simple tastes can be the best!

“My tastes are simple: I am easily satisfied with the best.” -Winston Churchill 

Whatever your tastes might be, I hope that you are able to find the best that life has to offer, in short I wish you the best!

A weekend with some amazing people!

I had a truly amazing weekend with some really awesome people since I had the privilege of attending the 2nd Annual Thrive Mentoring Program Conference. The event capped off another year of the Thrive mentoring program which as its name suggests is meant to help young women with disabilities to thrive and be empowered! I learned so much from the experience and I met so many really wonderful people. Among these was Kelley Becherer a Paralympic swimmer who won two gold medals and two bronze medals in the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Athens, Greece  and another two gold medals in the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London, UK. She and all the other women who spoke really inspired me. As a whole, the conference continued to emphasize to me how no matter what difficulties people face, there is really no limit to what people can achieve and we must never let anything hold us back! I'm proud that I've been part of the Thrive program and that I can continue being a mentor. It's one of the best things I've ever done. :)

The women of the Thrive program are Wicked Smaht and Wicked Strong!

Reading Les Mis

I really like the musical Les Miserables which is interesting since I'm usually all in favor of happy stuff and yet one of my favorite musicals has "miserable" as part of its title. I have to say though that some of the music in the show is pretty. That aside, I found out the musical is based on a book with the same name by Victor Hugo so I got all excited about reading it.   I have found out 2 things since starting the book- 1-that there's not much singing going on in it (except maybe La Marseillaise)  and 2- this book is over 2,000 pages long. Despite these facts I've resolved to stick with it and read it all the way through! I'm up for a challenge! Simply because I like how it feels damn good to reach a goal! I've also resolved to read the book straight through to the end unlike I usually do- beginning, end, and then possibly the middle if the beginning and end aren't sad. ( I figure if the beginning is sad and the end is sad things just start to really go downhill in the middle so why bother reading the middle?) In this case, from watching the musical and given the book's title, I already know it's going to be sad. I've decided to stick with it anyway for the sake of the challenge! As of this moment I'm about 60 pages into it which may not sound like much but it's a start! I'll keep you posted as to how it goes! Vive La Revolution!

I'm so happy I feel like....dancing on impulse!

I just saw Pharrell Williams sing the song "Happy" on the Ellen Show and I have to say there's a lot of joy in that video.  It seemed like Pharrell got the whole room dancing and feeling good. It kind of made me wish people could be so happy that they'd start dancing on impulse like the people in the video, which would be awesome to watch. Anyway, watching the people dance in the video, it seemed like happiness was shooting out of all of them. After hearing this song I resolve to live every day with the intention of feeling happy like a room without a roof  as the song says. I believe everyone has the ability find some happiness. I hope that at the very least, you can find happiness in knowing that someone cares about you and is writing this for you! So, Here's to Happiness and Here's to YOU!

Never Underestimate the power of the Duct Tape!

"Duct tape is like the force.  It has a light side, a dark side, and it holds the universe together!" ~Carl Zwanzig

 So if things go wrong, keep calm, use a bit of duct tape and carry on! Oh, and before I forget, may the Force be with you!

I believe that if life gives you lemons, you should make lemonade... And try to find somebody whose life has given them vodka, and have a party.
Ron White
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_funny.html#YlHyqr6JIVPrW2D0.99

I believe that if life gives you lemons, you should make lemonade... And try to find somebody whose life has given them vodka, and have a party.
Ron White
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_funny.html#YlHyqr6JIVPrW2D0.99

I believe that if life gives you lemons, you should make lemonade... And try to find somebody whose life has given them vodka, and have a party.
Ron White
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_funny.html#YlHyqr6JIVPrW2D0.99

Hello World!!!

It's World Hello Day! This holiday actually has a historical background. It would seem like it's just a day to say hello to a bunch of people but it actually started in 1973 as a result of a conflict between Egypt and Israel. In short, the day was meant to bring people a little bit closer together peacefully. Currently 180 countries observe this holiday as an expression of peace. So in honor of Hello Day: Hello, Hola, Bon Jour, Ello Hay!

The Story of a Chocolate Cake

This poem is in honor of two of my roommates who somehow all had a really bad day today for different reasons which I won't go into because that's long and complicated and not remotely happy. So anyway, since chocolate cake makes everything better I thought I'd write a poem about it in an attempt to cheer people up!!

The Story of A Chocolate Cake

I went to an event this evening
And as many events do
This meeting included dinner
And pieces of chocolate cake too!

The presence of cake was fortuitous
As I would soon find out
And it was lucky I had the presence of mind
To grab pieces for my roommates on my way out

Upon arriving home I knew something was wrong
Tears were flowing and I didn't know what to say
But suddenly I realized  there was something that could save the day!
After all the happiness power of chocolate cake is mighty strong!

Fear not, I declared! things will eventually be all right!
Especially because I brought home cake tonight!
Just  a little something to make a bad day a little sweeter
Plus chocolate cake is a sadness beater!

Even though it might not solve the problems they had
After eating some cake my roommates didn't feel so bad
And the fact that they were no longer so sad
Caused me to also feel tremendously glad!

Dear reader if your day is cake-less and has also gone sour
I've created this poem as sweet as I can make it be
And have written it to remind you that days end in a few hours
Things will get better,  I promise, just wait and see!

Songs that inspire me!

I was just thinking about how, although I might listen to music for enjoyment, music can also serve to inspire and motivate me to work effectively, be strong, and hopefully help someone. Below are some songs that get me up an' at 'em. ( Haven't decided who the "'em" is that I'm getting at but anyway...) Whoever "em" is to to you, I  hope these songs get you up 'an at 'em too! 

* "World on Fire"- Sarah McLaughlin: It lights a fire in me and makes me want to do something good!

* "World"- Five for Fighting: The song asks "what kind of world do you want?" I want a better world and I'm working on it!

* "Nimrod" from Edward Elgar's "Enigma Variations": As it's a classical piece it doesn't have words but there's something powerful in the music that makes me feel inspired!

* "Before the Parade Passes By" from the musical "The Music Man": I want to lead a parade!

* "With My Own Two Hands"- Jack Johnson: I think everyone has the power to change something for the better. 

Flowers in the window...that make me feel so happy!

I love flowers so naturally when I heard the song Flowers in the Window by a group called Travis. It just seems to me to be about all things that are good. Listening to it is kind of like medicine for me. If I feel like I just need a pick  me up or something nice to start the day with, I turn it on and listen it and it makes me feel good inside. I hope it has the same effect on others. The lyrics are below, along with a video so everyone can listen!

I hope that wherever you are there are flowers in your life!


Flowers in the Window

  

When I first held you I was cold
A melting snowman I was told
But there was no one there to hold before
I swore that I would be alone forever more

Chorus
Wow look at you now
Flowers in the window
It's such a lovely day
And I'm glad you feel the same
'Cause to stand up, out in the crowd
You are one in a million
And I love you so
Let's watch the flowers grow

There is no reason to feel bad
But there are many seasons to feel glad, sad, mad
It's just a bunch of feelings that we have to hold
But I am here to help you with the load

Repeat chorus

So now we're here and now is fine
So far away from there and there is time, time, time
To plant new seeds and watch them grow
So there'll be flowers in the window when we go

Wow look at us now
Flowers in the window
It's such a lovely day
And I'm glad you feel the same
'Cause to stand up, out out in the crowd
You are one in a million
And I love you so
Let's watch the flowers grow

Read more: Travis - Flowers In The Window Lyrics | MetroLyrics

A day out with the awesome girl I mentor for!

I'm a mentor for a really great person and today I had an awesome time hanging out and going to see the movie Thor (just so we could watch him save the world and look incredibly handsome while doing so) and having some ice cream beforehand. I became a mentor through a program from Easter Seals which is an organization that provides services (like support groups, summer camps for kids, assistive technology lending programs, as well as advocating for legislation) to help people with disabilities live full and active lives. I have to say that becoming a mentor is one of the best things I've ever done.

I think the thing I like best about being a mentor is that I can actively support someone and we've become good friends as a result of the program. I was really happy to hear today that my friend got a job after searching for one for a while.  I've learned a lot from the experience of being a mentor. Mainly that I really want to help people reach their goals so it means a lot to me to see her succeed and be happy. Plus, it's fun to see the world from the perspective of someone else. Like today the look of delight on her face after the movie and how she talked animatedly about it after we'd left the theater was great. Just to see her get really excited about seeing the movie made the experience more fun for me. 

 I've gained a good friend from being a mentor. I hope everyone has the chance of being a mentor because it is a lot of fun and  it's a great opportunity to help someone which is always an awesome thing to do!

Happy Anniversary to the Epilepsy Foundation of New England!

I just got back from volunteering at a reception celebrating the 30th anniversary of the founding of the Epilepsy Foundation of New England! It was an awesome event with a live band, silent auction, live auction, great food, and really fun people! It was all to raise money for programs that help people with epilepsy live full, happy, and active lives. The Epilepsy Foundation does a great deal for so many people. In some ways, they make me actually feel strangely proud to have epilepsy or at least to see a positive side of having this condition. After all, if I didn't have epilepsy I might not have had the opportunity to meet some of the wonderful people that I have the pleasure of knowing as a result of my interactions with the Foundation, such as participating in art classes and support groups. Plus, I think the Foundation helps people (and has helped me) to see that there is strength in numbers and I've felt stronger knowing that there's a whole community of people like myself who support and care about each other. I can't thank the Foundation enough for giving me the ability to be part of such a community. So you see, there is a bright side to everything, even having something like epilepsy! Congratulations to the Foundation, I'm so happy for them!


 

A late night dinner I felt I just had to make....

This evening, due to an excessive amount of exuberance for no apparent reason, I decided to make my roommate spaghetti! At 10 PM! Why I'm so excited about this I don't know but there's something about cooking late at night that gets me. I went to Madrid once and at least to my US accustomed eating habits they ate really late at night and as I really enjoyed my time there it was like I was back there. (Despite the fact that I didn't really ever eat spaghetti in Spain.) Anyway, we mixed together some mixed vegetables, a bit of oil, garlic, and cheese and voilà we had lovely spaghetti! I have to admit it was a rather silent process as the rest of the apartment was asleep but still it was fun and a lot of muffled laughter was involved!  It was a really nice end to a good day. After all, good friends, good food and a feeling of exuberance is all I really need to make me feel good inside! 

Happy Nurse Practitioner Week!

Apparently, this week is also Nurse Practitioner Week. I have to give a shout out to all the Nurse Practitioners (NPs) as I've been to see quite a few of them in my time. One that I know particularly well is my friend Christine. I think one of the things that makes a great NP is the compassion they show patients. Once when I was ill Christine convinced me to go to the hospital and she was one of the people who stayed with me until I'd been cleared to go home. It may seem like she was just being a good friend but I just know I felt better because she was there. I've been treated by other NPs as well and aside from the physical care they provide,  like Christine, they've all been very compassionate and I think it really helped me feel better. So I salute the NPs of the world as this is a week to celebrate them and I think it's a week well deserved!

Happy National Young Readers Day!

It's Young Reader's Day  which starts Book Week for kids! Ah, the nostalgia! I remember when I was a young (not that I've ever really grown up but anyways,) when I was younger in elementary school I used to love Book Week where they'd have group reading sessions where one of the teachers would get us all together and read a book or two. It was really fun because they made the characters come to life by reading in the characters' individual voices.  At the end of the week, there was always a Book Fair where one hallway of our school would essentially be turned into a bookstore. Even if you didn't get a book from the Book Fairs, there were still prizes to win if you read a certain amount of books. I think that in many ways I grew to love reading even more because of Book Weeks. I hope every school has something like a Book Week so every kid can hopefully grow to enjoy reading as well.

 I feel like Book Week shouldn't just be for kids, so my challenge for all who read this is to at least start reading a book this week and if you want to write in a comment and talk about how good the book is, I'd really look forward to hearing about it!

Happy reading!

To the Veterans!

I'm really glad there's a day to remember veterans
But If I had my way
There would be no more wars to fight
There's a part of me that hopes someday this day will just be
To remember people who've lived to a ripe old age.

If wars there must be
Then I guess I'll just have to be content
With the knowledge that I'm related
To people who fought and came home again
And be glad I'm part of the new life they created 

So I write this to honor the veterans
Like many I'm proud of the people that serve
And I'm grateful too
Because of the freedom they protected
I'm free  to write this blog to say thank you!

Some rules are worth breaking

I used to set quite a few rules for myself. Some of them I do still keep like eating regular meals and taking care of myself of course. However, I have broken quite a few of my rules and have found I've been quite happy doing it, even if they were a bit risky sometimes. Here are a few of them, just so I have it written down somewhere that I can live a little on the wild side with the best of 'em!

• Former rule: Don't talking to strangers: Heck, I've blown that out of the water, I hug complete strangers! I have done this frequently and what is more, have enjoyed doing it. 
• Former rule: Go to bed early (e.g. before midnight): Although I haven't entirely become a night owl, it can be fun to stay out a bit late and have some fun on weekends!
• Former rule: don't watch horror movies: I've broken this rule and have found that with the exception of slasher movies, some horror movies are actually all right. Ok ok I admit, I do fast forward through quite a bit, but hey I'm broadening my horizons slowly but surely!
• Former rule: Don't get lost: I get lost frequently but I've always found my way back home somehow. Plus, even though it puts me in a bit of a panic, I do find I see more of the world around me when I'm lost. 
• Former rule: Don't take things offered by strangers: First let me say I'm very careful about this but there have been some instances where I've accepted things from people I had no connection with at all. Once I was trying to get to some location and I was very lost. A guy stopped and offered me a lift. I knew it was risky but it was also cold and wet out so I got in and he took me where I needed to go safely. I've never done that again (and don't plan to in future) but the experience did make me think that there are a lot of good people out there who will go out of their way to help someone.

Maybe these things are just risks I've taken but still, it's fun to think that there are some rules that can and should be broken. I want to branch out even more and see what good things come of it! I see more rule breaking in my future! :)

Yippee for Hippies!

 I've developed a soft spot for hippies. Ok, maybe not everything hippie but I do like some aspects of hippiedom such as their their fashion. So today all that led me to go to the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) in Boston which has an exhibit called Hippie Chic which had a lot of hippie fashion. I liked the exhibit because it showed how people were influenced by a lot of different fashions from a lot of different time periods. They had dresses that were modeled after Indian fashions and others that were deliberately made to look like they came from the 1800s as well as awesome boots.

Sometimes I feel like a hippie a little bit. No I don't smoke nasty substances (don't plan to ever) and I haven't protested anything as yet (although I might if the situation calls for it!) However, I have embraced a smidgen  of the free love idea. I hugged a homeless guy the other day-well, maybe he wasn't homeless he was just sitting on the curb when I was walking past. He was going on about how he was going to this music festival in California and that he was sad because couldn't understand why people didn't stop and listen to him as he wasn't asking for money and he just wanted to talk to someone. I don't know what gets into me but I thought he looked a tad forlorn so I asked if I could give him a hug, he consented, I hugged him and then he laughed and declared me a modern-day hippie. So I'm a happy hippie!

Anyway, if you're in Boston hurry up and go to the MFA to see the Hippie Chic exhibit because it ends this Monday!!

Things to do once in a lifetime

I always thought it was interesting that people made lists of things they wanted to do once in their lives (or they thought others should do those things once in their lives.) So I thought I'd write my own little list of things I've done once in my life and am not sure I will (or want to) do them again. This is not to say doing the following things wasn't fun (because they were all fun) and I'm not ruling out doing them again completely,  I just don't think I'll be doing them again any time soon. Anyway, I'm writing about the following things because I hope that maybe other people will want to do the following things too and have just as much fun doing them at some point in their lives. 

• Bike 500 miles: In the summer between my first and second year of high school my mum decided I wasn't getting enough exercise so she signed me up for this bike trip around Michigan. The trip was sponsored by our local YMCA and was actually a lot of fun. I discovered that you see a lot more traveling by bike. I never really thought about how much beauty there is in nature until I went on that trip. We basically followed the Great Lakes Starting in Jackson Michigan, going up almost to the Upper Peninsula and back down to Jackson Michigan again. There were 2 counselors and 4 boys and 4 girls on the trip. The trip was spaced out just over 2 weeks. Each day's ride depended on the distance between campsites. What was nice was that one counselor would ride with us and the other would drive a van ahead of us with all our stuff and tell us where to turn next until we got to the next campsite. That way, everyone could just go at their own pace. After all, we weren't racing, we were just having fun! I think the longest ride we did was 90 miles in one day-which was hard but it was worth it! All in all I'm really glad I did the trip. Although I have ridden my bike since that trip, I haven't biked 500 miles again. If you do go to Michigan in the spring or summer I hope that you do some biking-maybe not 500 miles but just enough to get an idea of how beautiful my home state can be!
• Eat a Chocolate Chip Cookiewich from Insomnia Cookies in Boston. This evening my friend took me to this ice cream place called Insomnia Cookies that have amazing ice cream sandwiches which consist solely of 2 chocolate chip cookies with ice cream between them. You can pick the ice cream you want inside it so we each got a Cookiewich with vanilla ice cream inside it. They turned out to be much bigger than expected so my friend and I decided to walk back to our respective apartments so we wouldn't feel so top heavy after eating the ice cream cookie wonderfulness. However, because the cookiedwiches were so big and left me feeling like I'd just eaten an entire meal, we both agreed we probably wouldn't get one again anytime soon, despite the fact that the cookiewiches did taste excellent-the cookies were actually warm! If you are near Boston or plan to visit, a Cookiewich is worth a try!
• Watch 4th of July fireworks on the Espinade on the banks of the Charles River: I did this once during the 3rd year after I moved to Boston. My friends and I decided to stake a spot on the Espinade and wait to watch the fireworks. We basically sat there from about 3pm to 11pm when the fireworks ended. It was fun because we had a big group of people to talk and laugh and have a good time with. The fireworks were also really nice. It's something I'm glad I did but I don't think I want to do it again anytime soon mostly because it is very crowded especially trying to get back home afterwards which was the only drawback for me. However, I hope that doesn't completely deter you from going. It is fun and worth seeing! :)

International Tongue Twister Day

Today is how many tongues can you tongue twist twist twist day! Ok, that was my feeble attempt at creating my own little tongue twister but anyway, I thought I'd share a few actually good tongue twisters purely for your tongue's enjoyment!

• Fresh fruit-just try saying it (clearly) really fast-well anyway I think it's hard!
• She sells sea shells on the sea shore
• Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers. A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked. If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers, Where's the peck of pickled peppers that Peter Piper picked? (Fun fact: This tongue twister was first written in 1813.)
• Voilà! In view, a humble vaudevillian veteran, cast vicariously as both victim and villain by the vicissitudes of Fate. This visage, no mere veneer of vanity, is it vestige of the vox populi, now vacant, vanished. However, this valorous visitation of a by-gone vexation, stands vivified, and has vowed to vanquish these venal and virulent vermin vanguarding vice and vouchsafing the violently vicious and voracious violation of volition. The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta, held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous. Verily, this vichyssoise of verbiage veers most verbose so let me simply add that it's my very good honor to meet you and you may call me V."  (I know this one was really long and probably impossible to say 3 times really fast but I still like it anyway!)
•  Denise sees the fleece, Denise sees the fleas. At least Denise could sneeze
  and feed and freeze the fleas!

 

Nutty criminals and homeless people that sleep in style

I guess it was a slow news day but I saw these two news stories I thought were rather amusing. 

• Recently in California there have been a string of nutty thefts! (Literally!) thieves have apparently made off with a total of $400,000 worth of walnuts and almonds on six separate occasions. It appears that the price of walnuts and almonds has gone up dramatically to $2 a pound. Then again, maybe these thieves aren't so nutty. It's reported that these heists are well planned. In one recent heist 80,000 pounds of nuts was stolen from a field. The thieves broke into a 3 double trailer sets that contained the nuts, hooked up their tractor to the trailer sets and drove it all out through a fence to the highway. I guess now that police know how they did it, the only thing left to do is catch the nutters!
• A  homeless man in Pittsburgh decided to take a nap and what better place to do it than a penthouse? The man, named Jeffrey Lennon told police he had been living on Pittsburgh's streets for a month and  was traveling back to California where he's from. He also said that he's been sleeping in any warm place he could find. To be fair, he didn't actually fall asleep in the penthouse itself but rather in the penthouse's parlor area which is used for parties and other events. Someone had left the door unlocked at an earlier event that day. I guess if you're going to take a nap, you might as well do it in style! 

To read more about the nutty criminals click here.
To read more about the classy homeless man click here.

Something that should never be forgot

It's Guy Fawkes Day today. For those who don't know (or haven't watched V for Vendetta yet)  Guy Fawkes was a man who today in 1603 tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament when he knew the King James I would be there. Guy was ticked off at King James for persecuting Catholics and trying to force them to become Protestant. While I don't advocate  for violence in any way at all, I still think today could be used to promote people standing up peacefully for what they believe is right. Whether it is protesting in person, writing in to a newspaper or just going out of one's way to do something nice for someone else, I hope people stand up for that. I suppose just doing something small to stand up for what's right might seem like a drop in the ocean. However without any drops there would be no ocean. Every little bit counts and I think that fact is something else that should never be forgot!

An ode to hot chocolate

I am warm on a cold day
I am sweet and fun
And  I can make tears go away
Because I am hot chocolate!

Even though I can't talk
And even if I can't see
I can still brighten someone's day
All you have to do is drink me!

I am hot chocolate
And I think it's the best drink to be
I'm not intoxicating or overly addictive
I'm just plain yummy!

 

A day that celebrates the sun!

I think it's lovely that there's a day each week that was first intended to celebrate the sun. I realize that too much sun isn't so great but still, just thinking about the songs that are written about the sun and how they're all happy, and the fact that there's even an ice cream that's called a Sundae, makes Sunday in general seem very happy to me. It just seems natural to celebrate something that can be so bright and cheery. All that said, I hope each day brings you something to celebrate. Even if your day has been difficult, I hope that you can celebrate the fact that you had the strength to get through it! (Well done you!) Plus, there's always the hope that the sun will come back and there will be a better tomorrow. (Despite whatever the weather reporter might say in his/her forecast!) At least to me, even if days aren't sunny in reality, it's a nice feeling to think that the sun can always come out in people's hearts and minds. Now,  that's worth celebrating! Three cheers for the Sun! Hip Hip Hooray!

Maggie goes to a wedding

I went to a friend's wedding tonight and it was beautiful and so much fun! The ceremony was beautiful, the reception lovely, the bride and groom looked so great and everyone danced like there was no tomorrow!

 I think what makes weddings especially fun is the people! Love and happiness should be shared and the more people it's shared with, the more happiness and love can spread! Happiness and love were certainly in abundance tonight and I think it touched everyone who attended. There are so many things to be happy about and weddings exemplify that to me. I wish my friends who got married tonight and indeed all married couples in general every imaginable happiness in life now and always!

Music to help you sleep

Since I like music and I've miraculously discovered that I can time my phone to turn off at a certain time so I can fall asleep listening to something nice, I've also discovered how nice it can be to fall asleep listening to something peaceful. Here is a list of songs I've listened to that have helped me sleep. I hope they help you to rest peacefully too. :)

•  Hushabye Mountain: It is an actual lullaby from the movie Chitty Chitty Bang Bang that a father sings to his kids. 
• Spiegel Im Spiegel  By Arvo Part-It's just beautiful and it makes me feel all good inside.
• Al Otro Lado Del Rio-Jorge Drexler- it's very soothing and it just sounds like someone is singing good night, although I'm quite sure that's not what he's singing about.
•  I Just Love You by Five for Fighting-it's a song about how much a father and daughter love each other and it reminds me of my home and family and how much I love them. That brings me peace.
• Love Me Tender (as sung by Norah Jones) It's smooth and soft and nice! :)