Rejoice in the present!

"Rejoice in things that are present; all else is beyond thee."-Michel De Montaigne

I find that as long as I can take things day by day then I am more able to find joy because I'm able to notice things more and not think so much about the past or the future. There's so much joy to be had in life, it's just a matter of noticing it. So I rejoice in joy!

Even if rain or snow has to fall.....

"Into each life some rain must fall." Henry Wandsworth Longfellow

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was born today in 1807 and I rather like the quote above by him. I think that even if the rain does have to fall, rain gives nourishment and growth. After all, we grow from struggling. Plus, every time it rains there's usually a rainbow at the end of it. It's the hope for something better that helps me get through the struggle. That's why I chase the rainbows and dance in the rain sometimes too.

Sunshine courtesy of Johnny Cash

Johnny Cash was born today in 1932 and I managed to find this lovely clip of him singing with his wife, June Carter Cash the song "You are My Sunshine." I hope everyone has someone or something that brings some sunshine to their lives. Never let anyone take it away!

A story about a toaster on wheels

"If you want a guarantee, buy a toaster."-Clint Eastwood

I don't know how much I agree with this quote in that my toaster either undercooks or overcooks my toast in the morning but I saw this quote it reminded me of a fun time. I was riding in a car on the highway with a friend and we saw an Airstream camper that overtook us. I turned to my friend and I said "Every time I see one of those campers it looks like a toaster to me. I keep half expecting a giant piece of toast to randomly pop out of it!" We both burst out laughing and ever since then every time I see a toaster (or an airstream camper, for that matter) I think of that and I smile because it represents a good time and good friends. I hope everyone has something like that, something that reminds you of a good time and laughter, even if it is an inanimate object like a toaster!

It's true! There is happiness in snow!

I saw this in the snow on the way home today and had to share it! Clearly even snow can smile!

Things that make me shout Hallelujah!

George Friedrich Handel was born today in 1685. He's a man famous for writing the Hallelujah chorus which is a piece of music that every time I hear it, I think of people jumping up and down and it kind of makes me laugh. I could go on about all the serious blessings I have but I thought I'd write about the more fun things I'd sing Hallelujah for!

*Dark chocolate- hey it's healthy for you and best of all it's yummy!

*iPods- I realize it's consumeristic and all that but I like being able to carry music with me wherever I go.

*Books! I really like Harry Potter and the Hunger games as well as nonfiction books like Unbroken - the story of Louis Zamparini.

*Dancing and singing (either together or separately) just because dancing and singing is fun!

*Blogs- I love writing this one and reading others. It's given me a way to express myself.

If I could host the Oscars

The Oscars are tonight! Sometimes I think it would be really fun if they allowed random (some of us "normal") people to host the show. I think there are loads of funny people out there and it would be fun if they had some contest or other open to everyone  and the most funny person who won would host the Oscars. Here are some things that I think would make the Oscar's  even more fun.

• It would be fun if a cute dog was somehow involved. I love dogs (especially cute ones) and when some person's thank you speech went over too long the dog could bark and bark until the poor person stopped talking!
• I like Ellen DeGeneres' idea of bringing pizza and giving it out to people. People must get awfully hungry at the Oscars and pizza is fun.
• I think having fireworks at the end would be fun. I think a good fireworks display makes things just that much better!
• I wish they had a "Best Humanitarian" award or something. I'd like it if someone who did a lot of really awesome things for people was able to stand up there and give a damn good speech and be recognized.
• I'd limit the show to 2 hours.  A good speech/show is a good show!

Things I'm doing because of there being so much snow in Boston

In case you don't live in Boston (or Massachusetts, or anywhere in New England for that matter) we've been getting rather a lot of snow recently. Nevertheless, I've decided I'm determined that even though the the heavens might open and snow and ice and all manner of nasty weather  might come down I'm still going to be happy by thinking of nicer weather by doing the following things: 

• Watching action-type popcorn movies that usually come out during the summers for some reason.
• Making smoothies
• Going to zumba classes (I feel like that type of exercise/dancing makes things seem hotter!)
• Listening to songs like "Feelin' Hot Hot Hot" and "All I Wanna Do (Is Have Some Fun)".
• Smiling as much as possible (even if it feels weird I just feel better when smiling!)

The Barber of Seville a barber that makes me feel happy

When I found out that  Rossini's opera the Barber of Seville was first performed today in 1816 in Paris it reminded me of this clip from the movie Mrs. Doubtfire (a movie I really like). For whatever reason this scene really makes me laugh. I hope it has the same effect on others. HAAPPY FRIIDAYYY EVERYONE!!!!!

A nice package in the mail!

If I could I'd send everyone something nice in the mail
Just so they could have the satisfaction of opening a package
And finding something nice inside it
Like the box I got today with winter boots from my family

I like getting mail that shows people care
Like postcards and care packages, stuff like that there
I like sending things with P.S I love you on them
Just to send a little more love to the world

I hope everyone gets lots of packages through life
Big ones, small ones, with happy things inside
Because surprises are happy and getting mail is fun
So if I could do anything I'd send a package to everyone!

Music for when I'm feeling pretty damn good!

When I feel the need to build myself up and feel good inside and out, I listen to the following songs because they're fun!

• Are You Gonna Be My Girl -Jet-Listen here.
• Hard to Handle-Black Crowes -Listen here.
• Girl from Tennessee -NEEDTOBREATHE -Listen here.
• Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing -Listen here.
• All American Girl-Train-Listen here.

If I could be in an action movie

It's Michael Bay's birthday today and as he's an action movie director it got me thinking about what it would be like to be in an action/adventure type movie. The slightly more part of me wouldn't mind being in a good car chase. The closest I've come to that is riding in the car with my Dad. There used to be this bump at the top of a hill on the road by my house. If you drove a car fast over the bump when the car hit it, it felt like we were flying. (The eventually had to smooth the bump out when one too many people had an accident going over it.) I also wouldn't mind solving a crime or two or being the heroine of something or other. I'd like to save someone from harm.  I also wouldn't mind a good ol' cape!

I look up to everyone!

"Heroism is endurance for one moment more."-George F. Kennan

I think there's a heroic part of everyone and for some reason being heroic does feel good even if it does require a bit of hard work. In many ways people in general are my heroes because they get up every day and go about their business and for whatever reason there's something heroic to me in all that. I think in our ways we keep each other going and the fact that society still survives despite everything means to me that there is a lot of hope for all of us. I think everyone struggles with something and that struggle should be celebrated. So I look up to everyone for facing struggles and I look up to everyone because really the only way to go is up!

Things that make my Dad great

As it's my Dad's birthday I thought 

I'd write about the things I like best about him

Birthdays are appreciation days after all. 

And although I appreciate my Dad always

I wanted to write about it today

I like that I can look to him for advice and help
I like how he taught me to cook pancakes
And to love jazz music and riding in sports cars he's fixed up
I like it when he says he's proud of me
It makes me want to work harder to maintain that pride

I like knowing that he and my Mum love each other very much
And that they'll always love me and my siblings too
It is there love that keeps me going sometimes
And has influenced me to want to spread that love
Which is part of why I write this blog for people like you

But most of all I write this now
To wish my Dad the happiest of birthdays
And a very happy year to come
With a lot of good times and laughter
Because I love my Dad very much

Because I am loved it means I can love more!

"A heart is not judged by how much you love, but by how much you are loved by others." -Frank Morgan

As it's Valentine's Day it's got me thinking about how comforting it feels to be loved and how I want that feeling to be spread. If I could do anything I wanted (e.g. I had unlimited  resources) to show people some love here are some of the fun things I'd do.

• I'd get a skywriter to write "Someone loves you!" in a place where lots of people will see it, just to remind people someone cares.
• I'd bring balloons to people in hospitals.
• I'd buy hot chocolate or coffee for random strangers for a whole day. (I'd give out gift certificates.)
• I'd pick a random person and pay their cellphone bill for a month,
• For one day I'd give IPods to people for free because if Shakespeare is right, music is the food of love. 

For now though I am content to spread the love through this blog so here's a big shout out to the world. I send everyone lots and lots of love!

Random happy thoughts for this Friday

Just because I'm in a random mood, her are some random happy thoughts for this Friday:

• Even though it's cold outside I have a warm bed to snuggle in!
• Tomorrow is Valentine's day!
• I have the ability to make pancakes tomorrow! 
• I have a bathrobe and I'm wearing it and I feel warm!
• I had a lovely dinner with a good friend which we made ourselves!
• Life is good! 

Meeting each other with a smile

"Let us meet each other with a smile, for the smile is the beginning of love." -Mother Teresa

I like that most of the time when people meet each other they smile. It means that a little love is passed between people every day even though they started out as strangers. That's why I love smiling so much!

Finding the sweetness in life

For some reason the song "A Spoonful of Sugar" was running through my head today and it got me thinking about how it's a good song to listen to when things aren't so happy. To me it's saying that looking for the sweet and fun things in life makes life better. So here's to the sweet things in life!

Some restful music by Jerry Goldsmith

The composer Jerry Goldsmith was born today in 1929. One of the movies he created music for was the  movie "The Mummy" which I thought was a pretty fun movie mostly because it's not a "thinking" movie (sometimes it's good not to have to think too much about something.) I like the music from this movie in particular because it makes me feel at peace, like things are all right with the world. At the very least when I listen to it I can feel jolly glad I'm not being chased by mummies!

Never stop

"Never stop. Never stop fighting. Never stop dreaming."-Tom Hiddleston

I don't want to stop dreaming because at times dreams are what keeps me going-keeps me hoping for better things to come. I think there are so many things worth fighting for (love, happiness, health, family, goodness to name a few.) For now my biggest dream is that one day the good things that I think are worth fighting for now, won't need to be fought for. I keep thinking each day could be that day and I can help make that happen. That idea helps keep me feeling happy!

The nice thing about being gentle

"Only the gentle are ever really strong." -James Dean

I've found that when people are kind to me (and especially) when I'm being hugged I feel a sense of safety and there's strength in that. I think people are really strong because everyone has the capacity to be kind and care about each other. That's one of the best things about humanity and it's why I keep faith in people. In short, I'm glad everyone can love.

If I could be a science fiction character

Just for fun and just because it's Saturday I was thinking what it might be like if I could spend a day as a science fiction character. Somehow the first thing that comes to mind somehow is E.T. the alien from the movie of the same name. I'd like to be him because he always seemed cool to me. I'd like to make bikes fly and heal people instantly. I also wouldn't mind going on a space then I really could be over the moon. All that said, I'm glad I have my feet firmly on the ground. :)

Happy Friday!!

I want to wish everyone a very happy Friday! I hope you have a lovely, restful, and happy weekend!

Today was clearly a day for inventors!

I love history and especially stories about inventions/creations! Today some pretty interesting stuff was created. So for the history buffs out there (and for those interested in semi-useful bits of information) here are some fun things that happened today in history (source: http://www.historyorb.com/today/events.php)

• 1825-Hannah Lord Montagu creates the first shirt collar that's detachable! (Thus earning the gratitude of many men!)
• 1850-First adding machine with keys you can press is patented in New Paltz, NY (Thus earning the gratitude of all of us mathematically challenged people!)
• 1901-First loop-the-loop roller coaster patented by Ed Prescott -(Thus earning the gratitude of loads of thrill-seeking people!)
• 1922-Reader's Digest first published-still going strong!
• 1981-Largest  mound of Jell-O created in Brisbane, Australia -9,246 gallons of watermelon flavored Jell-O was used -I guess someone really liked Jell-O.

Picture from: http://www.secondlifeupdate.com/the-ten-tips/build-your-own-free-3d-roller-coaster-with-tool-in-second-life-hd-video/

The girly girl in me likes feeling like a princess sometimes

The movie Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs  was released today in 1938. I find I do like the older Disney movies quite a bit. When I was much younger I particularly liked the cartoons involving princesses the best. To this day I like to think there's a princess or prince (whatever your preference is) in all of us. I like getting all dressed up and while I may not where my favorite dress every day for a week like I did when I was 5, I still like feeling pretty! I also still like thinking that wishes and dreams come true and it feels so great on the occasions when they do come true. Maybe I'll never have a glass slipper or tiara but by gosh I can feel like I do. So here's to feeling like a prince or princess, after all, it's the thought that counts!

There are so many good people everywhere!

Today I heard about a man named Alan Barnes who has a disability and was mugged in his home  and was consequently too afraid to go back to live in his home. A woman named Katie Cutler started a fund on the internet to raise money to help him and the fund has now £328,921.  I loved the story because it shows how even though bad things might happen, there's always an opportunity for something good to come out of it! Those good things help me have a lot of faith in humanity's goodness. There's so many good things to do, it's just a matter of doing it! 

To donate to the fund for Alan Barnes follow this link: http://www.gofundme.com/l0dt9o

Misty

Stan Getz, a jazz musician was born today in 1927 and I find when I listen to the song "Misty" that he played. It's beautiful and I feel happy when I listen to it so I had to share it here. 

Why this year's Super Bowl commercials have made me happy!

I don't understand American football all that well but for some reason I do like watching the commercials that accompany the Super Bowl. Here are commercials I enjoyed this year.

There's a really funny commercial for a movie about Minions!!!! I love Minions! (Minions are little clay animation characters that are just amazing to me for some reason.) Anyway, to get an idea of their brilliance see below.

I also can't help but like the Budweiser beer commercial mainly because I love dogs! Plus I like the song in it too. (Although walking 500 miles sounds a bit extreme, but that's love for you!)

I also like the ad below (even if it is about men's deodorant!) because it's about fathers and I love my Dad!