Now why did I work out again?

I love candied almonds! I love how good they smell especially in the autumn when vendors sell them outside. So today, because I wanted almonds I decided to go on a little health and beauty kick and I went to the gym. I then of course went to Trader Joe's and bought a whole bunch of said almonds and proceeded to eat quite a few of them. I figure I'm technically still on my health and beauty regimen as almonds aren't so bad for you and cinnamon is a natural spice so that's naturally healthy too, of course! It never ceases to amaze me how ok things seem when you rationalize them like that. Not that I advocate stuffing oneself (unless it's Thanksgiving) but I do believe that things in moderation can be really good for one's morale. So today at least I can say I did something healthy and my morale has been raised thanks to some lovely almonds with cinnamon and brown sugar on them! Yum!

Frozen yogurt tastes even better with everything on it!

My good friend introduced me to a frozen yogurt bar called Mixx in Boston. In this amazing establishment  you put a big glob of frozen yogurt in a cup and then they have all manner of good things to put on top of it! They have basically anything that could potentially taste good on frozen yogurt! (They even have pieces of cereal like Cookie Crisp and Cap 'n Crunch-not that I liked those cereals but the fact that they were there seemed so exciting!) I don't know why I felt like going into ectacies over it all but I think it's nice to be excited! Anyway, they had red velvet flavored frozen yogurt (!)  so I got that and I proceeded to put on  chocolate chips, brownie crumbs, pieces of Twix bars, mango pieces and pieces of something called mochie which my friend persuaded me to try. (It turned out mochi is a rather squishy sweet substance that seemed a bit like Jell-o to me.) Anyway, after putting all this wonderful stuff together I had the great pleasure of eating it all. I usually don't put so much stuff on ice cream or frozen yogurt but I guess I figured that everything goes down into one's stomach the same way anyway and it tasted really good! 

 If you're in Boston and want to have the same strange yet wonderful frozen yogurt experience go to: Mixx- 66 Brighton Avenue Boston, MA 02143.

Picture courtesy of: http://www.mixxboston.com/aboutus.html
 

Karaoke!

Karaoke is amazing! My friend found this IPhone App that allows you to sing karaoke to your heart's content and we spent about two hours doing so. Plus it gives you points for how many lyrics you remember and keys you can hit. The more points you get the more different types of songs it lets you sing out of its library. The thing I love best about karaoke in general is that there's usually a lot of laughing involved and one's singing ability really doesn't matter. It's fun to do it in groups and making up lyrics is acceptable as it all increases the laughter factor. :)  All this reinforces my belief that everyone can sing if they want to, it's just a matter of finding the key that's best for you, and even if you don't find it, there's always karaoke!

Why I love hot water bottles!

Nowadays (because the weather's getting colder) my feet are a tad on the chilly side at night. To remedy this problem I  decided to go and get a hot water bottle. As  a public service and because I don't want anyone to have to have cold feet,  for those who don't know, a hot water bottle is basically a plastic flat bottle that you fill with hot (but not boiling) water to keep your bed warm. (See below for a picture.) Part of the reason why I really like hot water bottles is because whenever we went to the UK to visit my mum's parents my grandmother would put a hot water bottle in our beds so we'd all be warm and happy. Regardless of whether you get a hot water bottle, I hope that when you go to bed tonight that you are warm and that you sleep well! :)

Photo courtesy of :http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4b/W%C3%A4rmflasche1.jpg.
 

The Foliage is coming!

Now, I do love warm weather and there are times when I do envy people who live in warm climates year-round but I have to face the fact that I really do have to have seasons that are distinguishable from each other. Therefore, I was excited when even the weatherman on the news chose today to talk about the best places to go and see leaves that have changed color.There's something about leaves changing and the first snow that makes me happy. I like variety in my life and the fact that nature provides it in really beautiful ways makes life seem better. It shows me on  a regular basis that beauty can always be found even if it's something as simple as a leaf changing color. That said, if you live somewhere where the weather doesn't change as much, I hope that wherever you are, the sun still helps you to smile.  In fact, I've decided this minute that whenever I see the sun, I'll think of people who might read this blog. The idea that people might enjoy these posts and that it can help them feel good inside is like a little ray of sunshine in my heart as well.

What does the Fox say? RIng Ding Dinga Ding!

I saw this clip of two Norwegian guys singing a song about what a fox says. The song apparently came about because the two men have a talk show and they really wanted to make a song that was crappy. (but it's really awesome!) I just thought this clip was especially funny because it has a talk show host singing along with the two guys and it made me laugh really hard. I hope it has the same effect on others! By the way, after listening to this clip
I can safely say I know what the fox says: "ring din din ding ding di ding a ding!"

What I hope for you for this week

Ok I know it's the middle of the week but still, I have a lot of hopes for the week as a whole. My hopes for you for this week (and I guess most weeks in general) is as follows!

I hope that you smile more than usual
Because when you smile at least 1 person smiles too
And I hope you have the occasion 
To laugh out loud as well
Because laughter is the best medicine
And is at once contagious and fun

I hope that no matter what happens
Even if you find that your plans fall flat
And the sky might seem really gray 
You remember that the nice thing about tomorrow 
Is that it's a new day 

So I hope your tomorrows are happy
And even if it might seem like they're not
I hope you find at least a small bit of happiness in them
Because happiness like a flower, is a beautiful gift
And I'll just end by proclaiming
HAPPINESS SIMPLY ROCKS!

To people who care

I really admire people who made a career of caring for people's health and well  being. Being ill is a frightening thing and it can be very isolating as well.  For me it's a comfort to know that  healthcare professionals have dedicated their careers to helping people feel better. (Even though I don't like being in hospitals or doctor's offices since sometimes I feel like you go to a doctor for one sickness and then come out of the doctor's office after finding out there are 2 or 3 other things wrong with you.) They still seem comforting in that because of their willingness to help people who are ill, people don't have to fight such illnesses all alone. This post is a "thank you" post that comes after my brief stay in a hospital recently. I'm much better now and I think I became better more quickly because of the support of  my doctors, my family and my friends. I really don't think I can thank people enough for helping me to get better. I know it's their job but still, if they weren't there to care for people and for me, then I wouldn't be as able to keep up this blog and care for others in my own way. So I send out one big thank you to people who care!

 

Smile because it's Saturday!

Just a short note today! It's Saturday! I hope you smile today because it's Saturday and Saturdays are days to smile about!

Maggie is on a mission!

I have decided this very minute that my goal for this blog is to get someone on every continent to read it! If I could get someone from Antarctica I'd be so happy because then I'd really know this blog is spreading a bit of cheer all over the place. So if you like this blog and know someone in Antarctica I would be very grateful if you could please tell them about it and ask them to comment so I know they read it! I do have a backup plan, if I can't find a human I'll start teaching penguins to read and send them off to Antarctica to read it!

Thank you in advance for your help! :)

A funny joke from my friend Prati

Since I want to share this blog with others, I thought it would be fun for others to contribute to it as well, so my friend Prati sent me this joke that she found  and  we both thought it was funny!

One day a man goes to a pet shop to buy a parrot. The assistant takes the man to the parrot section and asks the man to choose one. The man asks, ''How much is the yellow one?''
The assistant says, ''$2000.'' The man is shocked and asks the assistant why it's so expensive. The assistant explains, ''This parrot is a very special one. He knows typewriting and can type really fast.''
''What about the green one?'' the man asks.
The assistant says, ''He costs $5000 because he knows typewriting and can answer incoming telephone calls and takes notes.''
''What about the red one?'' the man asks.
The assistant says, ''That one's $10,000.''
The man says, ''What does HE do?''
The assistant says, ''I don't know, but the other two call him boss.''

The joke came from: http://www.jokes.com/funny-work-jokes/hkl948/the-boss

Message in a bottle (er.. blog)!

I have this sudden urge to send a message in a bottle. The thing is that I don't drink enough to have a bottle handy and I don't feel like finding a bottle and going traipsing off to the ocean  just to try to reach out to someone in the world by putting a message in the bottle and then throwing the bottle in the ocean. Besides I'm pretty sure chucking something in the  ocean counts as pollution and pollution is bad  for our planet (or so I hear.) All is not lost on my quest to send a message today though, I'll just have to do it virtually! My message is:

If you read this take heart
Someone cares about you a lot
And wants to make sure you never feel forgot
Because I plan to write you a message every day

As I want each day to bring something new and happy for you
And that's pretty much all I have to say :)

Why hellium balloons are awesome-they can fly you to Newfoundland!

I always had a soft spot for helium balloons (and no I don't like using them to make my voice all funny! :P) When I was really little I remember my parents would sometimes take me and my brother and sister out to a certain restaurant and the best part about this particular establishment for me at the time was the balloons! I was so excited about this because they even gave them out when it wasn't your birthday! (That aspect seemed even better than the food somehow.) There was something about how shiny they were and how they could fly which I liked. What got me on this reminiscing train of thought was a story I saw on the Ellen TV show about a man who tried to fly across the Atlantic to  by riding in a chair tied to a whole bunch of helium balloons. He didn't make it and had to land in Newfoundland but still, I think his idea is amazing! If I were braver and slightly less sane I might have tried it too but as it is I think I'll lie down safe in my bed and just wait for the urge to pass. I still think he's fun!

 Photo courtesy of: New York Daily News.

Maggie and the missing dumpster

I have to say that  I don't have much of a sense of direction. I'll conscientiously believe  that an object is in one direction and it's usually really in the opposite direction. So, the other day I was showing my new roommate where the dumpster outside our apartment was. We went behind the apartment building and lo and behold our dumpster was not where I thought it should be. Thankfully my landlord was walking by as if on cue and I told him the dumpster was apparently gone. So he goes behind the back of the apartment with me and he then says "Maggie, you see that truck over there? The dumpster is behind it"   and thus the dumpster was miraculously found! Besides the fact that I've lived in this apartment for 2 years and have visited said dumpster on many occasions, at least now I really know where the dumpster is. Ain't finding things exciting?! :)

An adventure of going to a library!

Today I had this compulsion to go to the Boston Public Library-I don't really know quite why I get these sudden urges to go to places like libraries except that I like them -especially the Boston Public library. So off I went. It would have been a really good visit except that when I got to the library I found it was closed. (After all, it is Sunday.) Anyway, I couldn't just go into downtown Boston only to find out the library is closed on Sundays and then go straight back home. (That would be quitting!) There's a grocery store close to the library so I went and got some yogurt just so I could have the satisfaction of having a mission accomplished! You see, there is a method to my crazy schemes, for me, it's just a matter of finding the method! I learn more that way-for example, I now know not to bother going to the library on Sundays unless I simply want to stand/sit in front of it for a bit!
 

Everyone should go to at least one concert in their lives!

Today I went to my first fully fledged pop concert. (Oh I've been to concerts before but they were mostly classical music-beautiful music too.) Today though, I managed to go to a free concert in Boston featuring the Backstreet Boys, Gavin DeGraw and a guy from New Hampshire called Alex Preston who was really cool. He sang songs of his own composition and I could picture relaxing to them.  I think (and hope) he'll make it big someday. Apart from the singers (which were very good) I liked the atmosphere at the concert-it was infectious. I screamed along with the rest of them. I've heard recordings of concerts before and seen them on TV but it really isn't the same. There's something about being there that recordings can't capture, no matter how good they are. That's why I believe everyone should go to a pop concert at least once in their lives. It's the one concert I've been to where it's acceptable (and almost a requirement) to scream and shout like no other and everyone is enthusiastic. Hooray for shared experiences!

 

Going to bed early

It's Friday and I'm so excited! I'm going to bed early! I don't know why I'm so excited about this. When I was really little, I used to think staying up late was so cool because I wasn't allowed to stay up late. Now that I'm a little older (at least in age but not in maturity-clearly) I think going to bed at before midnight is pretty cool. Maybe it means I'm becoming an a little 'ol lady-if that's the case I'm really excited! I'm one step closer to being a cool lil' ol' lady! Hooray! Goodnight!

 

Even frogs can reach for the stars!

People are always saying how it's good to aim high and well, today apparently a frog took this idea to the next level and actually tried to out jump a NASA space vessel. NASA has stated that the photo below is genuine and not Photoshopped. I think it proves that frogs can be be pretty cool animals. At any rate, that jump is one big leap for frogkind! I hope everyone dreams and thinks big! (frogs included!)

 (Photo courtesy of: wjla.com.)

12 reasons why I love America

Listed below are 12 reasons why I love America. ( I would have written out nine hundred and eleven but decided that would be too long a post!) This isn't to minimize the gravity of what happened 12 years ago. I don't want the past to be entirely forgotten, what I hope for most though is that the good things that happen and that exist in our country and in the world  will outshine the bad things that have happened and will be remembered more often.

Things I love about America:

• That every state in the union is unique and there's always something more to learn about them.
• That there is an American dream (that as long as people are willing to put forth the effort, everyone has a chance to succeed.) that many people can hope for and attain.
• That the government sees fit to preserve areas of nature in National Parks to ensure that that nature is still around for future generations.
• That we can stand united especially in times of crises and show outpouring levels of support when people are really in need.
• That people can create music and dancing and art-even if it's controversial.
• That basic education is available to everyone.
• That so many people here are patriotic and believe in this country.
• That people can express themselves in saying and writing and believing in what they want to believe, even when that might cause controversy.
• That a lot of great people like Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, Martin Luther King Jr., and Clara Barton (founder of the American Red Cross) among others, were born and grew up in this country.
• That  Sesame  Street was created here. After all, how can people not like Big Bird and Elmo?
• That movies like Star Wars were created here. May the Force be with all who read this!
• Most of all what I love about the US is that it's my home and it always will be!

A messy desk is the best!

Why a messy desk is best

I have one desk in my home
That has its own little organization system 
Although it might seem incomprehensible to some
There is a a very specific place for everything
(Which is precisely why when I clean it I can never find anything!)
It's like life-all things have a place and time

Yes there are papers in a pile
But there's also a vase of flowers
And pictures of my family
So even though my work is there
Some of the things
That make my life sweet
Are there as well

I know that mess 
Isn't always best
And yes I do often end up
Cleaning my little desk
 But a I still think a little mess can be 
A strangely helpful thing
To show that life isn't always ordered
But that's what makes it fun!
Which is why I sometimes allow my desk 
To be a messy one!

Commercials that I actually like

First, let me say that I usually really hate commercials but there are exceptions. I thought I'd share a few commercials that I do actually like just to prove that there is hope for us commercial TV viewers that there are ads that can still succeed in making commercials worth watching. (At least for me.)  Here are a few: 

I saw this AT& T commercial a while ago and thought it was adorable. Plus I like the song they used-it's called "Sweet Pea" by Amos Lee.

 

The commercial below was from the Superbowl one year. I thought the commercial was also sweet but I still can't understand why Google feels they need to advertise their search functions. Isn't the fact that "Google" is often used as a synonym to "search" enough evidence to show that they fairly dominate a good chunk of the search engine market? Ah well, I still think the commercial is fun.

 

 I love penguins! Therefore any commercial with a penguin is good enough for me!

 

Happy grandparents day!

In their different ways my grandparents were interesting and fun people. My mum's dad for example, pulled the fire alarm and saved a train and all he had to say afterwards was that he always wanted to pull the alarm and finally got the chance. My dad's father served in World War II and survived being shot down over the Pacific not once but twice. He went on to help raise 8 kids and started his own business which he ran and passed down to my father when he retired. My mum's mother loved baking-a love that she instilled in me, she also made hats and went out of her way to be good to people. My dad's mother was a journalist and had lunch at the White House and met Eleanor Roosevelt. Those things are only part of why I love them. I love them most because of what they stood for. They survived what life threw at them and went on to be successful in their careers and raising their families. I don't think I'd be the person I am if they hadn't instilled certain values in my parents that my parents in turn passed on to me and my siblings. Most notable of these lessons to me, is the idea that you have to keep a stiff upper lip and never give up. Even though my grandparents are no longer with me in person, I know that they're always in my heart.

Penguin ice cubes!

My life is complete! I have a penguin ice cube holder! (Courtesy of a garage sale.) I love penguins and quirky things like penguin shaped ice cube holders! Garage sales are fun for odd stuff like that. Plus things like penguin shaped ice cube holders make ordinary stuff like ice cubes into fun stuff and sometimes conversation pieces. It shows me that everything has the potential to be extraordinary!

 

Experiment!

I'm all for trying new things, even if it means I have to take a risk to do it. I think taking a risk now and then can lead to something better. Although I don't (and don't plan to) take too many risks that could injure me and cause me to lose my health, I think taking risks like trying new foods, new hobbies and meeting new people are risks I've been good about taking. I found a song recently that seems to really describe the benefits of experiments. The song is (very appropriately) called "Experiment" and it's by Cole Porter. The lyrics and a video of the song are below.

Experiment

By: Cole Porter

Experiment
Make it your motto day and night
Experiment
And it will lead you to the light
The apple on the top of the tree
Is never too high to achieve
So take an example from Eve
Experiment

Be curious
Though interfering friends may frown
Get furious
At each attempt to hold you down
If this advice you always employ
The future can offer you infinite joy
And merriment
Experiment and you'll see!

 

The good 'ol days

I think it's interesting how people of a certain age, when talking about something nostalgic, sometimes start out this reminiscing  with the phrase: "in the good 'ol days" and then they'd go on about how good things were in the past. Since I'm not yet "of a certain age" I'm thinking of making a short list of things that are good now so when I get to be "of a certain age" I can look back and say to all the lil' mangy children how good things were (even if they get outdated). So here goes:  In my good 'ol days. (Please note that this list does include things that are already outdated but I guess that means I have some items that will be from the good "really" 'ol days!):

• You could download music for free off the internet.
• People still read actual books (not on those tablet/kindle thingys)
• People put smilie faces on e-mails to friends. (hopefully people the trend will continue!)
• People still got actual letters in the mail. (bills don't count)
• People watched videos instead of DVDs (don't know why I miss it but hey-it's nostalgia!)
• You could visit the cockpit on planes (especially if you were a cute little kid.)
• Having a cordless phone (not a cell phone-a cordless phone-there's a difference!) was really cool!
• Energy drinks existed to make everyone who drank them very hyper! (Or maybe that was just me.)
• People always seemed to get dressed up to go out to dinner/to the theater.
• People kept blogs! (hopefully they always will!)

Even though I'd talk about these things like they happened in the past, it's fun to remember things and know that life was and is a great thing!

Too cute!

 With the help of one of my roommates I have made the amazing discovery that there is a TV show dedicated to showcasing adorable animals for a whole whopping 60 minutes! (It's called "Too Cute" on the Animal Planet channel.) There's something therapeutic about just seeing cute furry little dogs that makes life seem better to me. I guess it's the simplicity of their lives that I like. It's fun to see them learning to walk and start to play.  The animals really live up to the program's name-they just look so damn cute!

 

The Pianos are coming! The Pianos are Coming... to invade Boston!

According to the Boston.com website, 75 pianos will be placed in various locations around Boston and surrounding towns for anyone to play. It's part of an exhibit called “Street Pianos Boston: Play Me I’m Yours” public piano installation by British artist Luke Jerram. It's meant celebrate the 75th season of the Celebrity Series of Boston. The pianos will be available between September 27th and October 14th. Yay for spontaneous music and piano playing! I now have a sudden urge to rush out and take lessons!

Ah, nostalgia!

I have to admit that among the vast amount of music I like, I find that I especially like songs from the 50s, 60s and 70s. I like them in part because I like history and in part because my parents and grandparents listened to such music. Since they are some of the people I love best, knowing things about the things they liked in the past and how I now like some of the same music too, makes me feel an even greater sense of connection to them. The music symbolizes to me that no matter what happens, my family will always be with me, in my heart and in the music I listen to. So here are a few of the songs I like best that never get old for me (plus they're fun to sing in the shower!):

• You Go To My Head (Louis Armstrong): It reminds me of my parents in that even though they might drive each other crazy sometimes, they're still crazy about each other!
• Signed, Sealed, Delivered: (Stevie Wonder): It's cheerful and fun and Obama's theme song!
• To Sir with Love (Lulu): It's from a movie with the same title. It's about a really good teacher and I like teachers!
• Imagine (John Lennon): It makes me want to make the world a bit better too!
• I've Got You Under My Skin (Frank Sinatra): I love Frank Sinatra!
• The Girl from Ipanema (Astrud Gilberto, João Gilberto and Stan Getz) It's just so relaxing!
• Ain't That A Kick In the Head (Dean Martin): I just like it!
• You must Have Been a Beautiful Baby (Bobby Darin): All babies are beautiful.
• R-E-S-P-E-C-T (Aretha Franklin): Everyone deserves respect!
• Splish Splash! (Bobby Darin) I love baths! 

A good life!

There's this song by OneRepublic that never ceases to remind me that life is good! (Mostly because the refrain of the the song is basically the lead singer singing "it's gonna be a good life" a lot and  "Hope is sweet, there's so much to feel good about."  To me at least, hope really is sweet and is something I always want to spread!