A song about getting all dressed up

It's the singer Justin Timberlake's birthday and I really like his song "Suit  & Tie." It's just really cheerful and fun. It really just makes me want to dance and it reminds me of when my family and I used to get all dressed up to go out to eat or to a show. It felt good to dress up for something special like that.  I hope everyone has reason to get all dressed up for something nice. Just because I think it's nice to feel like you look fine!

Hope for the better!

We have always held to the hope, the belief, the conviction that there is a better life, a better world, beyond the horizon.-Franklin D. Roosevelt


Former US president Franklin D. Roosevelt was born today in 1882. I like this statement that he made particularly because whenever I've had a not so great day, it makes me feel better to think something better might come tomorrow. I think that's one of the nicest thing about being alive-having the hope that each tomorrow will be just that much better than the present. It's nice to have something to look forward to. In that spirit, hope that tomorrow brings a lot of good things for you!

It feels good to laugh at myself

"You grow up the day you have the first real laugh at yourself." -Ethel Barrymore

Although I don't think I'll ever really grow up at heart, I do laugh at myself at times when I make mistakes. I laugh because it just makes me feel better. A minor example: once I was sitting in the living room with my Dad and I was throwing a ball to our dog and I accidentally  hit my Dad's wine glass.  To put this in context, you have to understand I'm known to have terrible aim most of the time. However, on this one fateful occasion, I hit that glass in such a way that it smashed quite spectacularly everywhere. My Dad and I just stared at it and we both started laughing as we cleaned it all up.  I really believe laughter is the best medicine. I figure if I can have one thing to laugh about each day, then my days aren't really that bad. With this in mind, I carry on.

Music in my heart

It's the singer Joey Fatone's birthday and as a member of the band N'Sync he sang a song called Music of My Heart. I like the song especially because it reminds me of how much I love the people in my life and how, in their own ways, they have all brought music to my life. Whether it's through singing, playing music, or reminding me of happy songs when I think of people I love, music has always been a part of my life. Thus, music, and everyone in my life brings music to my heart.

Finding peace through Mozart

Mozart was born today in 1756.  I do like his music very much, especially his Piano Concerto no 21 - Andante. Listening to it makes me feel at peace and I hope that it has the same effect on other people too.  In any case, I hope your day was a happy and peaceful one.

Happy birthday to Ellen-the woman who has made it her job to make others happy!

I really do like the Ellen DeGeneres show mostly because that show is all about making people feel happy and good inside and out.  Like her, in my own way, I go to  work each day to help people live better lives and to be happy. It's really all I've wanted to do. Anyway, today happens to be Ellen's birthday and because of that, I thought I'd share a clip from her show that always makes me laugh. I wish the happiest of birthdays to Ellen and everyone who has a birthday today!

Funny quote for a Monday

"The scientific theory I like best is that the rings of Saturn are composed entirely of lost airline luggage." -Mark Russell 
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes_of_the_day.html#yH0KhKMhHirSvW7G.99

So that's really where that bag with my favorite pair of jeans and some other items went away to and never came back! Oh well, all I can say is, if Mr. Russell's theory is true, then I'm hoping some alien on Saturn is happily rocking out in a nice pair of jeans!

 

Sweet Caroline

It's the singer Neil Diamond's birthday and because I now live near Boston and Mr. Diamond's song "Sweet Caroline" is basically the anthem for the  Boston Red Sox, I had to share a video of the song here. Plus, I have a very dear friend named Caroline who is very sweet and lovely. (As her picture below proves.) So  today I dedicate this song to her (and all the other Carolines of the world) with much love and good wishes!

If I could give you a gift this Saturday

If I could give you a gift this Saturday
I'd give you the happiest Saturday yet
I'd figure out what made you happiest
And I'd do my best to make it happen, just because

If you wanted, I'd give you loads of hugs
I'd find the funniest jokes to help make you laugh
I'd take you somewhere nice and make you a meal you like
I'd do these things and more, just because

Since I may never know you
I guess I'll just have to say
I wish you the happiest of Saturdays
And I hope this Saturday had a lot of fun in it for you

I wish you all these things and more
Because although I like to think of people being happy every day
I think that it's nice to be happy especially on Saturdays
Because it's lovely to feel good at the end of the week

A Happy dancing flight attendant!

I read this article about a flight attendant who got the flight's crew to play Pharrell Williams' song "Happy" over their intercom system and she started dancing because she was so happy to be traveling out of the way of winter storm Jonas. I now have a secret (well I guess now it's not so secret) desire to dance on a plane. It looks fun! If you're traveling over the weekend, I hope you stay safe and warm! To read more about the dancing flight attendant click here.

Ellen's Be Kind to Each Other Challenge

I saw this clip of the Ellen Show today where a woman described how she gave her boots to a homeless woman she was walking by on the street. It caused Ellen to start a "Be Kind to Each Other Challenge." The goal is for people to do random acts of kindness. I thought it was a really cool idea and if you want to be part of it, do something nice randomly for someone else and you can post about it on Twitter using the hashtag #BeKindToOneAnother.  Here's to being kind!

Tough people in my life

"Tough times never last, but tough people do." -Robert H. Schuller

There are a lot of really tough people in my life and I felt I should tell you about some of them:

• My parents: They've come through a lot and yet they still laugh every day and  they still love and support each other. They raised me and my 2 siblings (and they survived the process.)  They teach me every day what love really is and what it means to love someone very much unconditionally.  
• My sister and brother. We've come through a lot together and even if we've had our differences, we all love and support each other. 
• The people I work with. I very much enjoy my job and the people I work with are all really resilient and awesome people. I'm learning so much from all of them. They make me work harder and to keep working on being a better person. I feel that every day I go to work putting everything I have into my work because I know that they are all doing the same. 
• My friends. They are all really tough. (Heck they've stuck by me for this long!) They all show me on a regular basis how to keep going and be strong. 

I love all of the people in my life so very much because they are all great people, they've stuck with me  and most of all because they are tough! 

Blue Wonderful

I heard this new song today by Sir Elton John and it made me really good. As blue is my favorite color,  I had to share this song here. Here's to happy blue wonderful things! Happy Tuesday everybody!

I have a dream

In honor of Martin Luther King Day:

I have a dream that one day:

• Disability won't be something people pity-it'll just be a source of empowerment.
• People would trust each other more.
• Who two consenting adults choose to love and marry won't be cause for protests.
• The color of one's skin won't matter.
• People would love more and hate less. 

I realize these things are just dreams until actions are taken and I'm working on the first two on the list. I'll keep you posted about the rest! I intend to tackle them all before I kick the bucket!

Laughing with Betty White

I rather like the actress Betty White, mostly because I like people who are spunky, which she definitely is. Plus, she's the kind of person you really just want to go up and hug. As it's her birthday I had to share this clip I saw of her on the Ellen show. I think the best part of it was when Ellen was trying to help her practice not laughing because she was going to be on Saturday Night Live.  It is pretty funny. Somehow the clip got me thinking that I hope everyone has a reason to laugh at least a little every day. (Even when they're trying not to!)

What Maggie's GPS is really thinking

I really do rely on the GPS quite a bit. So much so, that if it could talk I can imagine (in its frustration with me) saying the following things:

1. You're going the wrong way.
2. Now you're really going the wrong way!
3. No! It's the other left Maggie! (e.g.  I was supposed to turn right.) 
4. Curse You Maggie! Now I have to recalculate our position again!
5. Ah, yes finally, now if you just follow this straight line you might actually get where you need to go.
6. Er, that's not a sidewalk  you're walking on Maggie, that's a highway-I'm recalculating again! (Being your GPS is so stressful!)
7.  Why, why why  did you have to turn the wrong way and walk  10 minutes in the wrong direction? Crickey, I don't know what to do with you!
8. GRR now I'm out of range-no signal!
9. Ok back on track-we might actually make it there before night hits! (Never mind you've only been lost since noon. Details, details!) 
10. You have reached your destination on the right! (Finally!) I think I'll just go out of range again and de-stress!

It's true. With the help of my slightly stressed GPS I make it home!

I don't understand why this stuff surprises people....

I don't know why but I feel the need to clear up a few misconceptions people have about me and I'm using this post to do it, just because I can.

• Yes, I do in fact use swear words and people somehow think it's really funny when swear, which is actually helpful because when they start laughing I forget what I was so mad about. 
• I listen to rap music and I do in fact like 50 Cent, Eminem, and Fort Minor but only in small doses. Too much of it gives me a headache.
• Although I talk to my parents, I don't always listen to them or do what they tell me. 
• I watch trashy TV shows sometimes-I like not having to think for an hour sometimes. It's refreshing.

When I "let my hair down"

I don't know where the phrase "let your hair down" came from but when I "let my hair down" I've been known to:

• Sing while walking down the street for no apparent reason except that I'm happy.
• Dance (only in my apartment but it is fun!)
• Cook something fancy-it's fun to cook especially if it's with others. 
• Have breakfast in bed. There's something really nice about it especially on a Saturday morning. 
• Write for fun. I do spend a lot of time writing for my job, but when I'm home I write for fun, especially in this blog!

If I've learned anything from letting my hair down, I've learned it's nice just to be good to yourself!

The T (Boston metro) becomes a radio

Today when I was coming on the T I felt really happy because there was a whole bunch of people busking (playing music live.) The particular station had two levels and each level had a different musician so it was like listening to different radio station depending on where you were in the station. The thing they all had in common was they played upbeat music which was really nice.I found this clip on Youtube of people busking in a Boston train station just to give you an idea of how nice they can sound.   It does my soul some good to hear them when I'm traveling. It helps me smile on the train.

Fun video for a Monday

I saw this clip on the Ellen Show and it really made me feel good inside, so naturally I had to share it. Enjoy and spared the love!

Having a voice

The suffragist Alice Paul, was born today in 1885.  I identify with her because so much of what I do is also about helping people and more specifically people with disabilities, to have more of a voice about policies that effect them.  I'm happy that at this time the voices these individuals are heard and do have an impact.  I believe that everyone's voice counts and should be heard. It's something I've always been passionate about. I'm happiest doing things that help people feel empowered and cared about because people matter to me. If there's something that you're passionate about, I hope that you pursue it. Be a rebel with a cause! I'm rooting for you and wish you the very best!

It's raining so sing anyway!

It's raining like mad where I live and for whatever reason it made me think of the song "Singing in the Rain." sung by Gene Kelly. I saw it first when I was very young as my parents like musicals. I always liked this song because in the movie Gene Kelly is so happy and dancing despite everything. I'd like to go through life like that, not avoiding problems, but always seeing the light at the end of the darker times and in that way, be happy no matter what comes. After all, what's life without a bit of singing and dancing in it anyway? Regardless, my spirit feels better when I watched Gene Kelly dance so I thought I'd share it with you lot. If it's raining where you are, I hope you sing in it too!

Sunshine for everyone

The singer John Denver was born today in 1943. Although I'm rather ashamed to say that I didn't know a lot about his music before this, I found this song called Sunshine On My Shoulders the other day when I was feeling in need of a pick-me-up. It actually did make me feel better so I thought I'd share it here. Here's to sunny days!

Hooray it's Friday! Minions love Fridays too!

It's Friday! Celebrate like a Minion!!

Funny quote for the day

"I like nonsense; it wakes up the brain cells." Dr. Seuss
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/d/drseuss597899.html#Xsw0GkVtis1PK7L9.99

This quote made me laugh. I hope your day had at least a little bit of nonsense and a little bit of laughter in it!

Reasons I love going home

Over Christmas I went home to see my family and rediscovered why it's nice to go home:

1. I love my family and it's always lovely to see them!
2. It's fun to play with our dog.
3. Food magically appears ready made (my family won't let me cook for some reason-although they will let me bake cookies or banana bread.)
4. It's nice to be in open space because I grew up on a farm and even though I do love the city life, it's nice to be in the country. 
5. It's nice not to have a schedule. It makes things more spontaneous! 

Most of all, I like being home, because it's HOME!

The truths I know

I had an interesting conversation with my roommate about belief and things we know to be true. I said that I'm always questioning things. Although I feel strongly that certain things are true, many times there's that little bit of doubt that makes me want to dig a little deeper. That's really why I became a researcher. I always liked looking up stuff. Anyway, here are things I feel fairly certain are true.

• Life is good. No matter what has happened in my life, it always seems to lead to this conclusion.
• Laughing is good for the soul.
• Love is the best thing there is. All we have in this life is each other so I can't help but love people.
• Music helps heal me when I feel in need.
• Although it's good to have faith in yourself, having faith in something greater than oneself is both humbling and comforting. I take comfort in the belief that there's always something watching out for us to help when we're in need and be a guide in terms of how to live a great life. 

Just a happy message for a Monday

I just wanted to wish everyone the happiest week. I hope that whatever happens, you always have reason to smile, laugh, and have fun this week!

Purely for your amusement

Here are some signs I read about and thought were funny.

1. Outside a dress shop, Hong Kong: LADIES HAVE FITS UPSTAIRS. 
2. Tailor shop, Greece: ORDER YOUR SUMMERS SUIT. BECAUSE IS BIG RUSH, WE WILL EXECUTE CUSTOMERS IN STRICT ROTATION. 
3. On the door of a Moscow hotel room: IF THIS IS YOUR FIRST VISIT TO THE USSR, YOU ARE WELCOME TO IT. 
4. At a Budapest zoo: PLEASE DO NOT FEED THE ANIMALS. 
   IF YOU HAVE ANY SUITABLE FOOD, GIVE IT TO THE GUARD ON DUTY.
5. Shipton-under-Wychwood in Oxon, UK has a local plumber whose van announces: 'The Lone Drainer - he come pronto.' 

Source: http://www.guy-sports.com/virtual/funny_clean_jokes.htm

Funny/inspiring quote for the day

Food for thought for a Saturday from the movie Hitch.

"Never lie, steal, cheat or drink. But if you must lie, lie in the arms of the one you love. If you must steal, steal away from bad company. If you must cheat, cheat death. And if you must drink, drink in the moments that take your breath away." Will Smith 

New Year's resolutions

Since it's customary to have resolutions for the new year, I have some to share. First the serious:

• Exercise more often (at least 30 minutes each day.)
• Stop apologizing so much. (Unless its absolutely called for.)
• Finish Les Miserables (the book)-I put this on the serious list because it's not a terribly fun book but I like a challenge and its one of the longest books I own but still haven't finished. It's hard but I like a challenge!
• Meditate more, it helps me de-stress and I feel better afterwards.
• Stress less in general!

Then the more fun:

• Get someone in Antarctica to read this blog.
• Go to a rock concert with friends.
• Have more adventures.
• Volunteer more. 
• Go places I haven't been before!

Hopefully by the end of the year I'll have all these things done! (Time will tell.) Happy New Year everyone!!