Kudos to kids for inclusiveness!

I saw this story today about a group of students in Illinois decided to start a sign language club so they could better communicate with one of their classmates who is deaf. To me, the story is an example of how inclusive kids can be. I figure language (whether it is sign language or any other language) doesn't have to be a thing that separates people. What these kids did to communicate with their classmate seems awesome to me because I think accepting people and being willing to communicate with others has to start when people are young. In this way, the story gives me hope that there's a brighter future to come. To read the article I described, click  here.

Please help support a cause I care about very much

I need your help!!

Please help me to support a law that can improve the lives of people with disabilities in the US. I'm part of a group called MassADAPT which is an organization that actively advocated for the rights of people with disabilities. We, among many other things hold educational forums on topics such as autism and cerebral palsy, actions such as blocking entrances government buildings to bring about change and increase accessibility for people with disabilities and much more.  I'm virtually participating in a Fun Run fundraiser for the group. This fun run is to support the Disability Integration Act which is meant to provide people with disabilities who need long term services and supports with the services they need so they don't have to be forced to live in nursing homes and can instead live in the community. (For more information on the Act follow this link:http://www.adapt.org/main.diamain). If you could consider supporting the cause by sponsoring me, it would mean a great deal to me. Thanks so much in advance for your help!

A dream is too good a thing to let go of

I saw this poem online and I thought it was really beautiful.  It's all about not letting dreams you have go until they're realized. Even if it's tough to reach a dream, it's still worth it! I hope you hold on to a dream a never let it go.

A Pinch of Salt

By Robert Graves




WHEN a dream is born in you

With a sudden clamorous pain,

When you know the dream is true

And lovely, with no flaw nor strain,

O then, be careful, or with sudden clutch

You'll hurt the delicate thing you prize so much.

Dreams are like a bird that mocks,

Flirting the feathers of his tail.

When you sieze at the salt box,

Over the hedge you'll see him sail.

Old birds are neither caught with salt nor chaff:

They watch you from the apple bough and laugh.

Poet, never chase the dream.

Laugh yourself and turn away.

Mask your hunger; let it seem

Small matter if he come or stay;

But when he nestles in your hand at last,

Close up your fingers tight and hold him fast.




Poem from: http://www.theotherpages.org/poems/graves01.html

An educational moment for a Friday

I figure it's always a good day to learn and I saw this clip that I found highly entertaining of this little girl explaining about the human body. The little kid is wicked smart and most of all too cute for words!

When I work sometimes it makes me want to dance

I saw this clip about a man who dances at a Starbucks coffee shop where he works. When I saw it at first, I thought he was just having a great time and then I learned that not only was he having fun but because he's on the autism spectrum, dancing also helps him be calm and focus at work.  I also like the story because it reinforces that people with disabilities can work really well, they just need to be given the chance to do well.  Just having the ability to work, to make a living, and just be self reliant is a great feeling. At times it does make me want to dance too.

A story that made me feel so happy today

I saw this story about a little boy who fist pumped some Boston Bruins players to cheer them on as they played. Just seeing the joy it gave the little kid to do that, really made me feel good inside. To watch his story, see the video below.

A song that cheered me up today

I wasn't actually having a bad day today but a song just makes the day a little more cheery for me. So I heard this song on Pandora called If The Stars Were Mine" by Melody Gardot and it really made me feel good inside. It really made me think that if I could, I'd give a star to everyone,  just so they'd always have a light to guide them wherever they decided to go. In any case, I hope your sky always has at least one bright star in it!

A wish for a Monday

This is just a short note to say I hope you had the happiest of Mondays and I hope that your Tuesday is even better! Even if things didn't exactly go your way today I hope tomorrow is better and that you can find at least one reason to smile each day. I send you best wishes now and always!

My new random mission: Finish a gigantic puzzle

I rather like puzzles, especially on very cold days when it's too cold to think about going outside. As you can see the puzzle I'm doing right now is a bit of a mess but it is a work in progress nonetheless. I like how puzzles make me think and how satisfying it is when all the pieces fit together. For me it's comforting to know that there are things that are certain like puzzles, there's always a beginning and an end and everything fits together somehow. As I'm feeling all philosophical at this moment, I'm thinking life is kind of like a puzzle. Things do fit together and come right in the end. Life can be hard but for me it's been satisfying when things work out the way they should, even if things work out in a way I didn't expect. I feel like that's the fun of it. One last note about the puzzle, I'll post a picture once it's done to compare to this "before" picture.

I always liked a good tap dance

I went to see the movie Hail Caesar with a friend tonight which is a movie that spoofs a lot of old movies from the 50's and 60's. What I like best about the movie is that it had a tap dancing sequence. When I was younger I took tap dancing classes which actually were pretty fun. One year I remember the dance group I was with had a recital at a county fair close to our house. (For people who don't know, a county fair is basically a big event where there are lots of performances, music and contests where farmers show off their livestock and fruits, vegetables, and flowers they grow on their farms.) Anyway, performing at the fair was a lot of fun. Since then, I've always liked watching dance sequences in movies and plays. I like tap dancing best because tap dancing becomes part of the music  that's being played along with it. Even though I didn't continue dancing after a time, listening to it and watching it always makes me feel happy. To me there's nothing like watching a good tap dance to cheer me up.

A prize in a cereal box always made me feel happy!

Today in 1906 Kellogg's cereal company was created. Why is this so noteworthy? It's just that it makes me think of how I liked how cereal boxes used to have prizes in them. I think they still do, it's just I haven't bought a box with one in it for a while. As a kid, it was kind of fun to get a surprise at the bottom of the box. The one I remember most for some reason is a spoon that changed color when it got wet. Why I remember that, I don't know, but it was pretty cool to me. The spoon aside, it's nice to have something to look forward to and hope for, even if it's something small like a color-changing spoon. I hope that whatever happens, that life holds a lot of good surprises for you!

Why I'm a dog person

I saw this clip on the Ellen Show that reinforced why I love dogs. In the clip it shows how excited dogs get when their owner gets home. I think if I could come back in a next life I'd come back as a very happy dog that is excited about everything and is well loved! For now though, let me say, here's to dogs because I love them!

Happy Wednesday!

If you're reading this you made it half way through the week!! Congratulations! I say hooray for you because I believe that every week there should be at least one thing to celebrate. This week I pick celebrating Wednesday! So Happy Wednesday everybody!

If TV shows all involved dancing....

I saw this clip the Ellen Show did about how it would be so cool to have dancing involved on ordinary non-dance-themed TV shows. The result she came up with is really funny and it made me laugh so I had to share it here. Enjoy and keep dancing people!

I just love my Dad

It's my Dad's birthday today and I feel like announcing it every year (same goes for my Mum.) When I think of my Dad I can't help thinking about the song I Just Love You by Five for Fighting. Apparently the song is all about how a daughter loves her father and how she called him late one night when he was away from home. She just wanted to call because she missed him. It reminds me of how when my Dad would come home from work my brother, my sister and I used to run and hug him like he'd been gone for years instead of just 8 hours. We just felt glad he was home.  I've always been glad to have a great father and I want to wish him the happiest of birthdays!

A night of fun

As my parents are in town last night I was able to take them to Sculler's jazz club for a concert. It was my treat to them because it's also my Dad's birthday tomorrow. It's the first time that my parents let me treat them to do something like that. Although I knew before that I don't have to spend money to show them I love them, it did make me feel good that I can now do something nice like that for them. Plus, I got to enjoy the concert too. This group called New York Voices and they sang songs by Paul Simon and Stevie Wonder. It was really beautiful and everyone had fun.  One thing I like best about live music is that musicians show how much they love what they do in the joy in their faces when they sing. I like seeing how happy people look when they perform. To end this post, I have to say I'm glad I was able to share this experience with my parents because I love them so much!

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

Just because I think Saturdays are days to play jazz music

The singer Robbie Williams was born today in 1974  and I heard him sing this song called "Have You Met Miss Jones and I liked it so much that I had to share it here. Just because it's stylish and fun and it makes me feel happy!

I am as happy as I've made up my mind to be

"Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be." Abraham Lincoln

I think I've gotten this far in life because I seek to be positive every day.  I can say that I am happy and that I live a happy life. Even in times when things may not have seemed on the up and up for me, I still found reasons to be happy.  I find a lot of strength in happiness-it helps me get through the day and meet the next one. I've kept this blog each day in the hope that it will help others to feel strength in happiness as well, or at the very least some comfort in it. I figure if I'm going to be all about the happy I might as well spread it! Happy Friday everyone!

Someone on your side

It's the singer Sheryl Crow's birthday and one of my favorite songs that she sang is "Always on Your Side". It's a duet she did with Sting. I like it because it's comforting to know that someone is there to support you and I think everyone deserves that.  Plus,  I think the song is pretty and to me there's nothing like a bit of nice music to cheer me up!

Music to cheer the soul

"Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life" -Berthold Auerbach
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes_of_the_day.html#PIwHQ55lTzcOz9F1.99

As I fully agree with this quote, I thought I'd share a song that really helps cheer me up after a long day.  I hope that today was a good day for you and I wish you a happy tomorrow!

Mardi Gras!

Today is Fat Tuesday. I know that in some countries people get all dressed up (or as I like to say glammed up) and dance and have a parade. One of my goals one day is to go to a Mardi Gras parade because it does look really fun. The closest experience I've had to Mardi Gras was when I got all dressed when I was in a chorus. I got to wear this red sequined suit and black pants and someone did my hair and I ended up wearing more makeup than I ever had in my life. I remember it feeling kind of like a party because I've always loved singing too. So I think in a way, even though it wasn't Fat Tuesday, I still had a somewhat similar experience and I'm grateful for it. It reinforced my belief that I should enjoy life in the moment-which is something I think Fat Tuesday is sort of about. So here's to Fat Tuesdays and getting all glammed up!

A message from Jules Verne

"Ah! Young people, travel if you can, and if you cannot - travel all the same!"-Jules Verne
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/j/jules_verne.html#wxaAvA0ZrvUprqE1.99

The writer Jules Verne was born today in 1828.  I saw this quote by him and rather liked it because I like traveling, even if it's only in my mind. Sometimes, when I'm feeling more imaginative, I think about where I'd go If I could go anywhere for a day. Today I think I'd go to Sydney Australia. I've never been there and I'd like to see it. I'd like to go to the opera house and walk around Sydney in general. It sounds fun. The point of imagining this, is to make me work harder at actually going. One day I'll get there. As much as I do like traveling, I also feel happy coming home because for me there is no place like home.

What I love most about people...

I just believe in the goodwill of people, the power of people to do something positive.-Eddie Izzard
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/e/eddie_izzard.html#DtTypMVe7X2r0KkG.99

Like Eddie Izzard, I've always believed in people. What I admire and love so much about people is their capacity for goodness. So on this Sunday, I salute the positive power in everyone!  

Fine 2 hours or so

I just got back from seeing Finest Hours which is a movie about how a group of US Coast Guard members who set out to save 30 + people. Anyway, I highly recommend the movie and here are my thoughts on it.

• The Coast Guard rocks!
• It's great to have someone like Casey Affleck run a sinking ship.
• Never lose a compass in the middle of the ocean in a storm.
• Having working headlights in your car that are bright and left on can be essential to guide small Coast Guard boats home.
• Singing sea shanties can be a real mood booster when deliberately sailing into a storm to save people. 

Small victory today!

I made it to the gym! I consider it a small victory because to get there I literally had to walk through the snow that has now descending upon Melrose, MA. (Ok so I don't live that far from the gym, I just think it sounds better when I mention I had to walk through the snow to get there.) Anyway,  when I finally got to the gym, I realized I left my gym shoes back at my apartment!  (I'd gone in there wearing snow boots.) So I went all the way back to my apartment, got the shoes and then went back to the gym and worked out. Ok, so what happened wasn't exactly earth shattering but I felt really good afterward. Happy Friday everyone!

There's never having too much tea or too much of a book for me

"You can't get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me." C.S. Lewis
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/c/cslewis133784.html#2J3BWI7d6qfR60pk.99

Growing up with a British mother, I learned that tea helps solve so many problem and if I have nothing else in my apartment, I will have tea. For as long as I can remember I've always loved books too, so I figure as long as I have a big cup of tea and a book in my hands, I'm doing pretty well. For all the other tea and book lovers, I hope you're enjoying a nice cuppa and that the book you're reading is something you can't put down until you finish it!

My good things for today

I figure every day can be a good day. It's just a matter of finding the good in it (which is something I quite like doing.) So good things for today:

• I got to have a nice conversation with a friend.
• I made myself a nice dinner 
• I got a nice e-mail from a  friend-I always like writing to people. I know face-to-face communication is awesome but there's something nice about a letter, even if it's in the form of an e-mail. It makes my day better. 
• I was able to give and receive a hug. 
• I spoke with my family, which is something I really like doing because I love them. Plus I got to help plan activities for when they come to see me\ as they're coming to visit soon!
• I wrote this blog post.

So all in all, I'd say today was a pretty good day. Perhaps it seems rather ordinary to the rest of the world, but it felt like a nice day all the same. I hope that wherever you're reading this, that your day had a lot of good things in it!

Funny thought for the day

"If a cluttered desk is the sign of a cluttered mind, what is the significance of a clean desk?"-Laurence Peter

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/l/laurencej161240.html#50vKJQj9Tww2GhBo.99

I don't have the answer ( if there is a "correct" answer) to this question. I just thought it was food for thought. Happy Tuesday everyone! Today I salute everyone wh has a messy desk, just for the heck of it.

A cheer for my friend Ros

I wanted to take this opportunity to cheer on my friend Ros who is a wonderful lady I met through my church. She may be elderly in body but I think she's always been young at heart. I got to know her through a fundraiser the church did and we both found we like crossword puzzles and so we met up to do some which was really fun. I'm writing about her now, not only because I think she's awesome but also because she's recently been in hospital and this post is just to root for her and an open letter to hope she feels lots better soon! Hooray for Ros!