I got Rhythm

The singer Lena Horne was born today in 1917 and I always thought her version of the song "I Got Rhythm" is pretty classy! It always makes me smile at any rate! In the hope that it has the same effect on others, I decided to share it on this blog!

Love is life

"Love is life. And if you miss love, you miss life."-Leo Buscaglia
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/l/leobuscagl121819.html#bMZeH4Sf43yfvpim.99

I guess the only thing I can say to follow up that quote is I want to continue to live by the philosophy when in doubt, love more!

Merengue Restaurant

I've never eaten Dominican food before today and as one of my friends who's staying with me is from the Dominican Republic she took me to a Dominican restaurant in Dorchester, MA called Meringue. I  think that aside from peas, I'm pretty much up for eating most things and so I tried a dish called   mofongo. It's basically mashed up plantains with pork or chicken inside. I had it with salad and I did quite like it. Along with that my friend and I shared a dessert called tres leches which was also really good. I found out from my friend that tres leches is made using condensed and evaporated milk and some sort of cake. It was very good as well. I like how food is something that can be shared and that we laughed and talked and had a lot of fun.  Today confirmed to me why eating together makes life so much better!

Maggie makes Minions!

Today I finished a 6 week art therapy course which basically involves doing art that makes you feel happiest and that thing just happened to be Minions! (Little yellow beings that usually wear jean overalls and follow the evilest person/thing they can find!) They're from the cartoon Despicable Me and Pixar is coming out with a movie about them this summer (which of course is something I'm very excited about!) So as part of the art class I made Minions out of clay and paint (and some crazy eyes) just because they make me smile!

I stand for love

If I stand for anything
I stand for love
(I'd stand all day long for it until I dropped)
As long as I'd know I was helping people feel more loved
To me love has always been a right
And now it's recognized by law
I couldn't be happier
It's a step in an awesome direction
And when I'm old and gray
Let it be said that I lived in a time when love was celebrated
Let it be said that during my lifetime that love in the world grew
Let it be said that that love continues
But most of all, let it be said that I loved.

Day of the Seafarer

Today is the Day of the Seafarer according to the International Maritime Association. This got me thinking about  a singing group of sailors from Port Isaac in Cornwall, UK. I went there on holiday with my family some years ago and we saw a group of men singing by a dock in the town. It was a band called Fisherman's Friends. We bought a CD of their music and because we had a wonderful time on that trip whenever I listen to the music it reminds me of fisherman, a lovely town, and my family having a lovely time!

How peace begins

"Peace begins with a smile."-Mother Teresa

So I send everyone peace and a smile now and always.

Things I learned from watching Jurassic World

I just saw the movie Jurassic World and because I felt like informing the general public (just because I can) here are some things I learned from that movie.

1-I must learn how to fix a jeep-especially when trying to avoid being eaten by a large dinosaur-like animal.
2-I'm infinitely glad dinosaurs are extinct and that no one has decided to really resurrect them.
3-I want to ride in one of those globe thingys (if you watch the movie you'll understand.)
4-Having someone like Chris Pratt around to help fight off nasty beasts is extremely helpful.
5-Jurrassic World is an movie that is excellent to watch when you just don't want to think about anything!

Things I learned from my Dad

As it's Father's Day I thought I'd share some things I learned from my Dad.

• Always do my best and keep a stiff upper lip!
• How to cook pancakes
• How to ski
• How to swim
• How to fish
• That Hitchcock movies are pretty good
• How to drive a tractor-never mind the fact that I still have difficulty doing it without someone helping  me.
• To always put things in the same places so I can find them again. (I still have difficulty doing this, but to me it's the thought that counts!)
• Never to let the bastards grind me down

Why I love hugs-they always come back to you!

A hug is like a boomerang - you get it back right away.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/b/bilkeane106508.html#QsrqwztGUkSyXXUv.99

I send everyone a virtual hug this Saturday, because hugs are happy and today I'm all about the happy!

A lost plush toy tiger goes on a trip

I saw a story on the internet about a little boy who lost a plush toy tiger at an airport. The airport staff found it and took pictures with the tiger having adventures at the airport. I just thought it was really sweet and it reminded me of how I had a toy bear as a child that went everywhere with me. (Mainly because I always rather liked having something I could hug at any time, just because I felt like it.)  I hope the little boy's toy tiger gets to go on many more adventures.

To read more about the story click here.

Photo from: Facebook

Yellow Submarine

It's Sir Paul McCartney's birthday and that got me thinking about the song "Yellow Submarine" and how I loved that song as child. I still like the song but I remember singing it sometimes with my brother and sister. It was fun!

A reason to be content

What we have once enjoyed we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us.

Helen Keller

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/enjoyed.html#8wl8PRbLQF0fCz5R.99

To me the beautiful thing about love is that it doesn't die. I believe people we love are always with us because love doesn't die. I know that no matter what happens people I love will always be in my  heart and in keeping that in mind I'm content. 

My hope for everyone

I heard this song today and it made me think of all the things I hope for everyone.

Audra Mae ~ Forever Young May God bless and keep you always, May your wishes all come true, May you always do for others And let others do for you. May you build a ladder to the stars And climb on every rung, And may you stay forever young, May you stay forever young. May you grow up to be righteous, May you grow up to be true, May you always know the truth And see the lights surrounding you. May you always be courageous, Stand upright and be strong, May you stay forever young, May your hands always be busy, May your feet always be swift, May you have a strong foundation When the winds of changes shift. May your heart always be joyful, May your song always be sung, May you stay forever young,

Knock Knock....STOP IT!

So it's the comedian Neil Patrick Harris's birthday today and I can't help thinking about this interview I saw him do with Ellen DeGeneres. He was talking about his children and the video clip below and every time I see it I can't help laughing. I just think kids are so funny in general but somehow I like the jokes they tell in particular.  I wish the happiest of birthdays to Neil Patrick Harris!

The happy moments that find us...

The moments of happiness we enjoy take us by surprise. It is not that we seize them, but that they seize us.-Ashley Montagu

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes_of_the_day.html#aeyUOOGMu8o4vljp.99

This quote rings true for me at least. I've found the times I've been happiest have been the loveliest surprises. I hope it's that way for everyone. I hope everyone has really nice surprises just because they feel so great. The beauty of them is that even after those events have happened they can still live on in my memory and when I might feel a bit down I can think of them and feel better. That's the beauty of happiness to me. To me it doesn't die, it only grows. 

Joke for the day

A man is sitting alone at a bar. No one else is there except the bartender. All of a sudden, he hears someone say "Nice shirt." He looks around, and nobody's there. A little while later, he hears "I like your tie." Looks around and, again, nobody's there. Once again he hears the same voice say "You seem like a nice guy. We should be friends." Again nobody is there so he asks the bartender. 

What does the bartender say to him? 

It's the peanuts. They're complimentary!

Joke from: http://www.kidsjokesoftheday.com/htmls/kids-jokes/Funny-True-Stories-for-Kids/20140612184833_492.html

How to be happy according to Anne Frank

"Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy." -Anne Frank

There's so much beauty in the world it's hard to be sad and that's why I've chosen to always strive to find happiness in any situation. Finding that happiness makes life fun and it helps me to keep going no matter what might happen to me.  As long as I know that there is still happiness to be found, I know that things will ultimately be ok.

Summer movies

As it's summer I got to thinking about "summer movies" which (at least in my experience) are typically action/adventure or comedies. I think it's funny how critics usually give summer movies bad reviews-yes I realize they're not great but then again I think that people go to such movies to 1-get into an air conditioned space on a very hot day, 2-make out with someone with an "epic" soundtrack to set the mood, 3-to simply watch an action movie that doesn't take a lot of thought process to understand. This all got me thinking about movies that I've seen that could be classified as summer movies and which ones I actually did like.  Here are some:

• John Carter-Just because I liked the leading man. Plus I liked that alien thing that acted like a puppy dog-I thought it was sweet and I liked the movie's soundtrack. That's pretty much enough for me.
• Armageddon-I realize it's about the end of the world but I like that Bruce Willis saved the day for some reason.
• Magic Mike-Ahh Channing Tatum-no substance to the movie but Channing Tatum makes up for it!
• Despicable Me 2-One word: MINIONS! (watch the movie and you'll understand!)
• Toy Story 3-I love the part where the character Buzz Lightyear speaks in Spanish-it's just super funny to me. 

Get happy with Judy Garland

Judy Garland was born today in 1922 and I found this song that she sang that is all about the HAPPY! So here's to getting happy and singing and dancing while you're at it!

Kindness Police!

I saw this picture on the news of this policeman feeding a baby. Apparently the baby's mother had just had a seizure and because the baby was crying and the mother was being put in an ambulance the policeman picked up the baby and gave it some milk. I just thought it was really sweet and it shows how good people can be when someone is in need. :)

Photo from: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/11661615/Photo-of-Kansas-police-officer-feeding-baby-goes-viral.html

Music that brings me joy and gives me hope for a better world to come

I heard this song today which is a version of the Beatles song "Imagine" except this time it's sung by various singers including P!nk, Seal, and India Arie. It sounded so beautiful to me and so I had to share it. It does make me believe that the world can and will be better int the future. I like how music gets people together while celebrating diversity at the same time. After all, (as the comedian Gladys Hardy said) "if we all sang the same note then there'd be no harmony in the choir!" So I hope for a harmonious  future with lots of music in it!

When I'm Smiling with my Dad

The singer Dean Martin was born today in 1917 and I happen to really like his music. Anyway, I found this clip of him singing to a little girl supposedly to cheer her up because her doll broke. I realize the clip is staged but I still like it. Somehow it reminds me of my parents and my dad in particular. He has always done his best to make things better for me and my sister and my brother and my mom. I know that when things were difficult in my life he's helped me smile again. All I can say is I love my dad and and my family in general ever so much.

The wonderful in Life

"It's a wonderful world. You can't go backwards. You're always moving forward. It's the wonderful part about life. And that's terrific!"

Harvey Fierstein

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/h/harvey_fierstein.html#oHxE5dXSqv7c0Rj0.99

I'm glad life always goes forward. I always liked traveling and going to somewhere-I always found it a bit more fun to go forward than back-it's the journey that counts more to me. I like a little bit of adventure and I hope for many more  adventures to come! So here's to moving forward into the unknown!

Funny quote just because its Friday

"No good fish goes anywhere without a porpoise!"

Lewis Carroll

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes_of_the_day.html#GLAXoqkpl76YOllP.99

The beauty in everyone!

"It's difficult to believe in yourself because the idea of self is an artificial construction. You are, in fact, part of the glorious oneness of the universe. Everything beautiful in the world is within you." -Russell Brand 

It's Russell Brand's birthday and I know that he's a comedian but I found this quote by him to be rather lovely.  It made me feel good inside.

Things to like about the Disability Policy Consortium

The Disability Policy Consortium of Massachusetts' annual meeting and it got me thinking about the things I like about this organization and the work that it does for people with disabilities in Massachusetts.

• I like that part of its motto is "about us by us" meaning that research done about people with disabilities should be done by people with disabilities. I feel like there's so much to learn and I'm glad that there is an organization that focuses on research by people with disabilities. 
• I like advocates for people with disabilities throughout the state on many levels by doing things such as promoting legislation, holding events to raise awareness about different disability-related issues, and encouraging more people to get involved in disability advocacy through outreach work to different populations.
• I like that they place emphasis on hiring people with disabilities. I think it's just nice to be able to work and make a living. It feels good to have that sense of independence.
• I like that they have faith in people and stand up for them when needed and that they  give people the tools they need to stand up for themselves as well. 
• I like that they've helped me grow and I feel like my life has been made better in so many ways and I'm grateful. I love everyone in the organization, they're a pleasure to work with and I know this because when I go to work with them I am happy and when I come each day I feel content. 

Favorite Radio Programs

The radio was patented today in 1897 and this got me thinking about radio programs that I think are funny. As I grew up listening to National Public Radio it seems logical that some of my favorite radio programs come from that station. Here are a few of them:

• Wait Wait Don't Tell Me-It's a funny and generally entertaining quiz show where various celebrities get asked questions about the week's events and random things as well. It airs on Saturdays.
• Car Talk-it's only on reruns now but it's a show where people used to call in to get advice about car problems.  Although the commentators do give out sound advice, they do it with a lot of humor and laughter which really is what makes the show fun.
• My Word-it's actually an old British radio program that I think sometimes still airs on some Public Radio stations. It's a bit like Wait Wait Don't Tell Me but the focus of this quiz show is on words. The panelists on the show have to figure out the meanings of obscure words and phrases and then at the end they have to make a story using a phrase they were given at the beginning of the show. The stories they come up with are pretty funny I must say. Plus. I like the fact that the stories are rated based on how much they make the audience clap.

Keep on the Sunny Side

I was watching the movie O Brother Where Art Thou and in it they played this song called "Keep on the Sunny Side." I realize a version of this song is also in the musical "Spamalot" called "Always Look On The Bright Side Of Live." and it's a bit funnier in that show so I thought I'd include both versions in this post to encourage laughter and living on the sunny side!!