Tell someone you love them

The singer Van Morrison was born today in 1945 and he sang a song called "Have I Told You Lately That I Love You" which I really like because I feel happiest when I'm telling someone I love them.  I just don't want people to ever be in any doubt that I care about them. So to that end, I send you much love and best wishes.

How to avoid an argument

I'm in a silly mood and so because I like cookies and avoiding argument I thought I'd recommend the following advice to the world:

What to do when somebody is trying to start an argument with you: Simply eat a few cookies that are crunchy and taste very nice so that when the person tries to start the argument, you can't hear them over the crunching of the cookies. That gives you 2 options: you can stand there eating the cookies and smile serenely at the person trying to argue with you (which may only serve to tick them off more) or you can take the path of least resistance and walk away from them in peace. 

Whatever you decide to do, I hope you at least eat a cookie in the process (just because cookies make things seem better to me.) 

(I got this advice from: http://www.short-funny.com/clean-jokes-5.php)

We are the World

The singer Michael Jackson was born today in 1958. He recorded a lovely song called We Are The World which I like very much because it speaks to how all we have in life is each other.  One recording I like of this song was made more recently was used to raise money for earthquake in Haiti. It still makes me feel good to listen to it somehow. In light of recent events it still seems pertinent. So I say, as the song says, love is all you need.

To help kids learn about the goodness in the world

For  a good many years when I was younger, my parents would read to my siblings and me before we went to bed. So when I found an article recently about some children's books that show kids the goodness that exists in the world, I had to share the list with you all. The article with the list can be found here: http://www.readbrightly.com/childrens-books-show-kids-goodness-world/?ref=PRH1C2150946C&aid=randohouseinc22932-20&linkid=PRH1C2150946C

Although this book isn't on the list, one book that my mum read to me when I was younger and has stuck in my mind in reminding me about the goodness in the world, is a book called The Railway Children by E. Nesbit. It's about a family where a mother and her children who live in England suddenly have to move to a small village the English countryside because their father is suddenly and inexplicably called away to some unknown place. Anyway, the village where the mother and children relocate is next to a railway and the children have all sorts of adventures involving said railway. I like the book because each adventure that the children experience in some way shows the goodness that exists in the people they meet. Plus, I like how everything comes out right in the end.  That book showed me that even if things are difficult, so many good things can come out of the more difficult situations in life and that's what makes life worth it to me. 

 

Just because the first week of school is coming up

As it's the last week in August and traditionally (at least in the US) school starts for people here, I saw this teacher video and it made me laugh. I wish everyone who is in school I very happy school year.

A joke for a Saturday

This joke made me laugh. Clearly, there's multiple options for fixing a broken down car. I hope your Saturday is/was break-down free and that you're enjoying the day!



There are four engineers traveling in a car. One is a mechanical engineer, one a chemical engineer, one an electrical engineer and the other one an engineer from Microsoft.

The car breaks down.

"Sounds to me as if the pistons have seized. We'll have to strip down the engine before we can get the car working again," says the mechanical engineer.

"Well," says the chemical engineer, "it sounded to me as if the fuel might be contaminated. I think we should clear out the fuel system."

"I thought it might be a grounding problem," says the electrical engineer, "or maybe a faulty plug lead."

They all turn to the Microsoft engineer who has said nothing and say.

They ask him, "What do you think?"

"Well, I think we should close all the windows, get out, get back in, and open the windows again."

Joke from: http://www.santabanta.com/jokes/10764/car-breakdown/

Yippee it's Friday!

All I have to say is today is Friday (at least where I am)! For whatever reason I'm super excited that it's Friday and I just want to say to all those who read this, I hope you had a really nice week and I wish you a very happy, fun, and safe weekend!

Music can be felt as well as heard

One thing I like about music is that there is a lot of feeling in it.  I like how even if you can't always hear every aspect of it, you can still feel beats. This is why I like the clip below where a young woman named Mandy Harvey who is deaf sings beautifully and is competing in America's Got Talent.  She write her own songs and it's lovely to hear her. She shows how no matter what you might struggle with, you can still enjoy the beauty life has to offer, including music.

Dogs have style too!

I really do love dogs and so this clip really made me laugh.  It's clear that even dogs have a unique sense of style! Happy Wednesday everyone!

Some peaceful music

The composer Claude Debussy was born today in 1862. I really like his music and one piece I like is called The Girl with the Flaxen Hair. It really is beautiful and I feel at peace when I listen to it. I hope it has the same affect on others and I hope wherever you are reading this that you have many peaceful days in life.

The power of a sunbeam

"A single sunbeam is enough to drive away many shadows. Francis of Assisi
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/f/francisofa753007.html


As there was a total solar eclipse I thought this quote applied as watching the eclipse even through funny glasses was pretty fun.  Happy eclipse day everyone!

How most smiles start

"Most smiles are started by another smile." -Frank A. Clark

The thing I like best about smiling is that smiling is contagious.  I know that when I see someone smile it does make me want to smile more and all of that makes my soul feel good. I hope everyone is able to smile at least once each day. Smiling makes each day better and I really believe that there is always something (however small it may seem) to be happy about and that's worth celebrating!

Love more

These days I keep thinking of how much I wish people loved more and hated less and that in turn, makes me think of the song One Love by U2. It really is lovely and to me it speaks to how people united in love can stand up to anything. 

A little bit of silliness for a Friday

This video made me laugh and I had to share it here just because it's Friday! Happy Friday everyone!

Just because I want to send a bit more peace into the world

I love singing and in light of recent events, this song really spoke to me. I post it here just because I want to show how peace can start in each of us. I send everyone much love and peace now and always.  (Please note that I altered the lyrics slightly from the original song. The original lyrics can be found here: http://www.lyricsfreak.com/i/independence+day/let+peace+begin+with+me_20795060.html)

Never give up

I saw this video of this song called "Never Give Up" by the singer Sia and it really touched me as it seems especially pertinent now. The song reminds me that even when everything might seem so wrong and despite whatever evils exist in the world, people don't give up. So I post this song here just as encouragement for everyone who works to promote peace and justice, to stay strong!

Look back and smile

"Look back, and smile on perils past."-Walter Scott
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/w/walterscot125574.html

The novelist and playwright Sir Walter Scott was born today in 1771. When I think of the times in my life where I thought I was facing difficulty, for the most part I do smile because I know now that I got through those difficult things and the good things I have now seem much sweeter as a result. I think that people have a wonderful capacity to get through a great many things and while I can say that there are some things that may leave people scarred, I still think it's awesome that they got through those things. So I celebrate the fact that people do get through things as that's well worth smiling about!

 

Just because I needed a little silliness today

I really needed some silliness today so when I found this video it really made me laugh and I hope it has the same effect on others! Happy Monday everyone!

Happy Day!

The other day I was walking down the sidewalk and I happened to look down and I saw the words Happy Day carved into the pavement. I really like seeing things like that because they remind me that there is happiness in each day.  So, to that end, I wish everyone a very happy Sunday!

Even dogs can sweet talk

I love dogs so when I saw this joke I had to post it because it made me laugh. Apparently even dogs can be romantic!


Three handsome male dogs are walking down the street when they see a beautiful, enticing, female Poodle. The three male dogs fall all over themselves in an effort to be the one to reach her first, but end up arriving in front of her at the same time. The males are speechless before her beauty, slobbering on themselves and hoping for just a glance from her in return.

Aware of her charms and her obvious effect on the three suitors, she decides to be kind and tells them "The first one who can use the words "liver" and "cheese" together in an imaginative, intelligent sentence can go out with me."

The sturdy, muscular black Lab speaks up quickly and says "I love liver and cheese." "Oh, how childish," said the Poodle. "That shows no imagination or intelligence whatsoever."

She turned to the tall, shiny Golden Retriever and said "How well can you do?" Um. I HATE liver and cheese," blurts the Golden Retriever.

"My, my," said the Poodle. "I guess it's hopeless. That's just as dumb as the Lab's sentence." She then turns to the last of the three dogs and says, "How about you, little guy?"

The last of the three, tiny in stature, but big in fame and finesse, is the Taco Bell Chihuahua. He gives her a smile, a sly wink, turns to the Golden Retriever and the Lab and says, "Liver alone. Cheese mine."

Joke from: http://jokes.christiansunite.com/Animals/Doggie_Contest.shtml

Happiness is a direction!

"Happiness is a direction, not a place."-Sydney J. Harris
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/s/sydneyjha105550.html

I was never good at directions. It seems like every time I go out of a room in a large building (particularly a bathroom, I tend to go out of it the wrong way and get all turned around so it takes me a while to get back to wherever I was before. However, if I could give someone a direction, I'd use happiness as a direction. I'd tell people to use happiness as guide to take them somewhere where they feel like their best selves. I know that I feel happiest when I'm going to see my family and because I'm happy going there, it makes arriving home all the sweeter. So here's to happiness and finding the best way using it!

A great dance

It's the actor Antonio Banderas's birthday and one of my favorite movies that he starred in is called Take the Lead where he plays a dance teacher to some inner city high school students. In the movie he does a really nice tango and I enjoyed that scene because I love seeing people dance as much as I love dancing myself.  I post the clip here because it makes me feel happy. To all who read this, I hope you have many reasons to dance in life. 

It feels good to believe in something

The singer Whitney Houston was born today in 1963.  When I think of Whitney Houston I'm reminded of a song she sang called "When You Believe." Somehow it does make me feel good to hear it, if only because I think it speaks to how it's nice to have something to believe in. Whether its faith in God (whoever/whatever that God may be to you) or faith in yourself and/or others, I've found it helpful to have things to believe in because they keep me motivated.  I believe in many things including (but not limited to) God, my family, my friends, and myself. Those are things that keep me going and I'll go on believing in those things as a result.

A video game for people who are deaf

A lot of people (myself included) like video games and I found out about one that is being created that has a mouse that uses sign language to communicate. It attracted me because I'm learning how to use sign language and this Playstation game seems really fun. If you would like more information about the game, follow this link: http://kotaku.com/people-are-falling-in-love-with-a-video-game-mouse-who-1797534518/amp. 

Happy gaming (and signing) everyone!

If you ever have a run in with the law....

So as I had jury duty today, when I saw this joke just now it seemed particularly relevant.  Although I don't recommend people follow the example of the woman in the joke as it might get you into more trouble, I still thought the joke was funny. Anyway, if you must get into trouble, don't get caught!

 Police: Where do you live?
Woman: With my parents
Police: Where do your parents live?
Woman: With me
Police: Where do you all live?
Woman: Together
Police: Where is your house?
Woman: Next to my neighbors house
Police: Where is your neighbors house?
  Woman: If i tell you, you wont believe me.
Police: Tell me
Woman: Next to my house

Joke from: http://awesomejelly.com/20-incredibly-funny-short-jokes-that-are-guaranteed-to-make-you-smile/

The more you do....

"The more things you do, the more you can do."- Lucille Ball
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/l/lucillebal378285.html

The actress Lucille Ball was born today in 1911 and I really like this quote that is attributed to her. I've found that the more I do the more that I find that needs to be done and the more things I want to do. Anyway, I also thought I"d share the clip below as I Love Lucy reruns do make me laugh. The clip below is my favorite. Lucy definitely kept busy!

Things I'd take to the moon

The astronaut Neil Armstrong was born today in 1930. For those who don't know he was the first man to walk on the moon (and so of course, he had to plant a flag on it).  Just for fun (and the heck of it,) I got to thinking about what I'd take to the moon.  So here are some things I'd take to the moon if I ever managed to go there of course. (Please note this list is made without regard to the fact that most of these items would probably not survive in space. I made the list out of my imagination, just because I want to and I can!)

• I'd like to take a message of some sort and plant it by the flag, just something nice like the a series of quotes about happiness just because I think a little bit more happiness in the universe is a good thing.
• A beautiful picture because art is one of the best things there is.
• A musical recording (and something to play it on) I realize you can't hear anything in space but I think if there was a way to play music in space, the clip below is worth playing anywhere.

Happy Birthday to Barack Obama

It is former President Barack Obama's birthday and as he's someone I really admire and respect, I thought I'd share this clip of the former President meeting a little girl who knows just about everything about most US presidents. I just thought the clip was funny. Anyway, I wish Obama (and everyone who has a birthday today) the happiest of birthdays!

My hope for everyone

I hope that wherever life takes you
That you have more good days than bad
Or at the very least
That you can find the good in every day

I hope that you can find
Many reasons to smile
As smiles help make the days better
in more ways than one

I hope that you have many adventures
Big or small they're still worth having
Then again life is an adventure
That's what makes it fun!

I wish you all the happiness in the world
And lots of love to go with it
Because happiness and love
Are the best things I can share with everyone!

In support of transgender rights

I was thinking that because transgender people are being targeted more publicly recently, I wanted to see what people thought if I started a campaign to raise money for a charity or organization that promotes transgender rights. The idea I had would just involve people creating Instagram videos of themselves dancing and in the caption they can say they're doing it to raise money for the National Center for Transgender Equality in the US (https://www.transequality.org) and challenge other people to dance as well. I just thought dancing is fun and I always feel safe when I dance. I want transgender people to know that there are people out there who want them to feel safe and accepted as well. 

If you're reading this and think it's a good idea, here's where I need some help:
1-I realize I'm not transgender and so if there's someone who transgender and wants to work on this with me, I'm happy to work as a team.
2-To any musicians out there, if anyone wants to create a song for people to dance to in their videos, I thought that might be fun if people with creative juices feel so inclined.
3-Any ideas on a good name for the campaign?

I'm just ticked off about the way transgender people are treated and  I want do something that might make a difference in the lives of transgender individuals since I'm happiest when I'm helping people. So I welcome any questions, comments, or complaints on this idea. Thanks!

Happy thought for today

"When one must, one can." -Charlotte Whitton 
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/c/charlottew119241.htm

If you have something good you must do, then don't let anyone or anything stop you from doing the good things you need to do, even if they may be hard to do. I for one, am rooting for you!