Favorite Halloween

As it's Halloween it got me remembering about a really fun time I had one Halloween. (Ok, all Halloweens as a kid that I can remember were really fun.) Anyway, this particular Halloween I was at a friend's house with a group of good friends and after trick or treating and much eating of candy we played this card game called Apples 2 Apples which is a game that's a bit hard to explain but the gist of it is to use funny words to describe things and it is really fun. We then proceeded to watch a scary movie that still gives me nightmares and we all fell asleep. I realize Halloweens are technically supposed to be scary  but I still like to think of this Halloween because it was fun as all Halloweens should be!  If you celebrate Halloween I hope it was a very happy one!

Funny Halloween quotes

As it's almost Halloween I found these quotes regarding Halloween that I thought were funny! Happy early Halloween everyone!

Those who believe in telekinetics, raise my hand. Kurt Vonnegut
Ghosts, like ladies, never speak till spoken to. Richard H. Barham
Where there is no imagination there is no horror. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
At first cock-crow the ghosts must go
Back to their quiet graves below. Theodosia Garrison
If a man harbors any sort of fear, it makes him landlord to a ghost. Lloyd Douglas
If you haven't found something strange during the day, it hasn't been much of a day. John A. Wheeler
We live in a Newtonian world of Einsteinian physics ruled by Frankenstein logic. David Russell

Happy Sunday!

As Sundays are the start of a new week, I just wanted to wish everyone a very happy week to come and I hope you had a lovely weekend! I send best wishes to everyone!

Funny Halloween prank

I saw this prank that was done in New York a few years  back that I thought was scary and slightly funny and I thought I'd share it here just because it's almost Halloween and sometimes I like getting good and scared just for the heck of it!

Laugh more learn more

"He who laughs most, learns best."- John Cleese
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/j/johncleese133165.html

I've learned quite a lot from laughing. Mainly I've learned that it really is the best medicine and the same time it's contagious. My life is just plain better with more laughter in it. So, in the spirit of bringing more laughter into your life (and just because I like penguins, here's a funny video to help you laugh. Happy Friday everyone.

Celebrate the struggle

"Strength and growth come only through continuous effort and struggle."- Napoleon Hill
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/n/napoleonhi152854.html

All I can say to add to this quote is if you're facing something difficult, celebrate the struggle and keep fighting the good fight! I'm rooting for you!

Music that gives me energy!

The composer Georges Bizet was born today in 1838 and he wrote this piece of music called "Les Toreadors" and although sometimes listening to it it makes me want to be a bit silly and dance around in circles until I go giddy, it does make me feel more cheerful whenever I hear it. It just sounds really happy and upbeat.  So I send this music out into the world via this post to wish people much positive energy and happiness!

Miracles

"Out of difficulties grow miracles."- Jean de la Bruyere
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/j/jeandelabr380158.html

I have to admit I do believe in miracles. I believe each new life is a miracle as each person can play a part in helping make the world just that much brighter and more beautiful. So I like this quote because I also believes miracles exist to give us hope in times of trouble. No matter if hope in a miracle seems fruitless, I feel like getting through each difficulty is like a miracle for me in the sense that I'm never really sure quite how things will work out but even if things worked out in the way that I least expected them to work out it still feels miraculous in the sense that I got through it. To me, getting through things is a miracle in itself. So here's to getting through things and miracles!

A little boy and a mailman

I always like getting letters (and sending them) and so when I saw this clip of a little boy who befriended a mailman it did my heart good to watch it. So I say, here's to sending letters and making great friends!

Thus, I use this post to send best wishes to everyone who reads this!

Children write to God....

This year marks the 500th anniversary of the protestant reformation and as that reformation involved putting messages on a church door, it reminded me of a book I recently read about that lists off a bunch of messages children wrote to God. (The book is  by Stuart Hample & Eric Marshall and is called Children’s Letters to God-Workman Publishing, 1991 and reprints.) As reading them made me feel good, I thought I'd share some of them here. I actually got them from this website which I also found to be quite entertaining. For all those who follow the Protestant religion, Happy Reformation Day!

Some letters to God from Children

Dear God, I read the Bible. What does begat mean? Nobody will tell me. Love, Allison.

Dear God, Instead of letting people die and having to make new ones, why don’t You keep the ones You already have now? Jane.

Dear God, Maybe Cain and Abel would not have killed each other if they had their own rooms. That’s what my Mom did for me and my brother. Larry.

Dear God, If You watch me in church on Sunday, I’ll show You my new shoes. Mickey.

Dear God, I bet it is very hard to love everyone in the whole world. There are only 4 people in our family and I’m having a hard time loving all of them. Nan.

Dear God, Are You really invisible or is it just a trick? Lucy.

Dear God, Did You mean for the giraffe to look like that or was it an accident? Norma.

Dear God, I went to this wedding and they kissed right in the church. Is that OK? Neil.

Dear God, Did You really mean “do unto others as they do unto you”? Because if You did, then I’m going to get my brother good. Darla.

Dear God, Thank You for the baby brother, but what I prayed for was a puppy. Joyce.

Dear God, I think about You sometimes, even when I’m not praying. Elliot.

Dear God, My brother told me about being born but it doesn’t sound right. They’re just kidding, aren’t they? Marsha.

Dear God, I didn’t think orange went with purple until I saw the sunset You made on Tuesday. That was cool. Eugene.

A Minion and the Buddha walk into a bar.....

This joke is inspired by the picture below (image description a window with a Buddha statue and a toy Minion in it.): 

A minion and the Buddha walk into a bar and sit down. The Buddha asks the bartender for a glass of water. When the bartender is about to hand over the water, the Minion snatches the glass out of his hands and drinks the whole glass greedily in one gulp. The Buddha watches the Minion with a slight smile on his face. "Hey" the bartender protests "he just drank your water, why are you smiling?" "Because the Minion is my new student and I'm teaching him one lesson in Buddhism each day." "Well, what was today's lesson?" asks the bartender just as a waiter accidentally spills a big glass of water all over the Minion. Smiling down at the soaked Minion the Buddha replies, "Karma!"

Happy Friday and happy autumn

I always quite like the autumn because it's not too hot and it's not too cold for me.  I also don't think I could live in a place that didn't have seasons.  I also like how the leaves change color and when you go down a street with lots of trees  it's really beautiful. Finally, as I always tend to feel happier on Fridays I just want to wish everyone a very happy Friday and a very happy autumn!

Why there is always hope

"When all else is lost, the future still remains."- Christian Nestell Bovee
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/c/christiann122675.html

Even when I think all is lost, it's nice to know that there is still the future and that better things can come from it. So really, all is never lost and there is always, always hope.

BBC Funny

The British Broadcasting Company, (now the British Broadcasting Corporation) was founded today in 1922. As my mum is from the UK she has introduced me to various BBC TV shows and funny radio programs. One such program is called the Goon Show which is very silly but it makes me laugh a lot.  It's basically a group of comedians making fun of everyday activities. One of my favorite skits they did is called "What Time is it Eccles?" In it, two members of the Goon Show discuss the time and I always felt it was funny. Anyway,  I've included the skit in the clip below in the hope it will make others laugh as well. Happy Wednesday everyone.

Advice on falling down

"If you fall during your life, it doesn't matter. You're never a failure as long as you try to get up." Evel Knievel 
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/e/evelknieve601433.html

I like this quote as I think it comes from someone who, I gather, knows quite a lot about falling down and  thus has grown not to fear it so much. Although falling is often rather dangerous, what I've found is that there's always a way to get up again. With that in mind, I find I don't feel so afraid of things to come as I know that if I fall, it's not a new thing for me. So I go forward and like a certain song says "I get knocked down but I get up again, you're never going to keep me down!"

Temptation

"I can resist everything except temptation." Oscar Wilde 
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/authors/oscar_wilde

The writer Oscar Wilde was born today in 1854 and I find this quote by him to be interesting because it makes me think of things that tempt me (or that I find very hard to resist sometimes.) Here are a few things.

• Trail mix-I love the stuff, perhaps too much.
• Dark chocolate-for the same reason stated above.
• Hugging people-I like to spread the love but since hugging people isn't always advisable for various reasons, I restrain myself to only giving hugs upon request.
• Telling people I love them- it probably gets awkward for people but I do mean it when I say it as I feel that there are many forms of love and I end up saying it often because when I die I don't want anyone to be in any doubt that I cared about them very much. In many ways I'm not sure why people are so afraid of saying it. I wish people said it more to each other. 
• Singing-I'd sing everywhere if I could, just because I think it's fun.  I try to restrain myself by trying not to sing out in public as I fear it might annoy people too much. (Although sometimes I start singing if I'm walking by myself and I feel intimidated by someone. At those times I start singing just because it makes me feel brave and I have this thought that it'll make people think I'm slightly mental so they'll leave me alone. So far when I've followed that strategy I've been left alone. Whether that's because of the singing or because no one was really threatening me, I'll never know.) 

Anyway, so here's to vices and giving in to temptation sometimes! 

What the world needs now

Today I was thinking about this song called "What the World Needs Now" because it's all about how the world needs more love in it. So to add just a little bit more love in the world I thought I would share the song here. Spread the love everybody!

Semi-Profound thought for a Saturdays

I'm in a silly mood so I thought I'd share an equally silly semi-profound thought for the masses just because I can, so my profound thought for the day is:

Saturdays are too fun for profound (or even semi-profound) thinking!

I hope everyone is having a nice day and I wish everyone an even happier Sunday.

A joke for cat owners

I thought the joke below was funny and I hereby dedicate it to all cat owners. Happy Friday everyone!

Teacher: "If I gave you 2 cats and another 2 cats and another 2, how many would you have?"
Johnny: "Seven."
Teacher: "No, listen carefully... If I gave you two cats, and another two cats and another two, how many would you have?"
Johnny: "Seven."
Teacher: "Let me put it to you differently. If I gave you two apples, and another two apples and another two, how many would you have?"
Johnny: "Six."
Teacher: "Good. Now if I gave you two cats, and another two cats and another two, how many would you have?"
Johnny: "Seven!"
Teacher: "Johnny, where in the heck do you get seven from?!"
Johnny: "Because I've already got a freaking cat!"

Joke from: http://www.laughfactory.com/jokes/clean-jokester

On love

I was just thinking of how I'm glad I can give love to many people since I feel like no one is really restricted to just giving love to only a few people and I found this beautiful poem that I think really expresses love better than I think I ever could. Even though it seems like it's really focused on romantic love, I still feel like it's applicable to most forms of love since to me, it's all about loving deeply in whatever way you define that depth of feeling. So I dedicate this poem to everyone who loves. 

Love Sonnet XVII by Pablo Neruda 

No te amo como si fueras rosa de sal, topacio
o flecha de claveles que propagan el fuego:
te amo como se aman ciertas cosas oscuras,
secretamente, entre la sombra y el alma.

Te amo como la planta que no florece y lleva
dentro de sí, escondida, la luz de aquellas flores,
y gracias a tu amor vive oscuro en mi cuerpo
el apretado aroma que ascendió de la tierra.

Te amo sin saber como, ni cuándo, ni de donde,

te amo directamente sin problemas ni orgullo:
así te amo porque no sé amar de otra manera,

sino así de este modo en que no soy ni eres,
tan cerca que tu mano sobre mi pecho es mía,
tan cerca que se cierran tus ojos con mi sueño.

(English translation)

I do not love you as if you were a salt rose, or topaz
or the arrow of carnations the fire shoots off.
I love you as certain dark things are to be loved,
in secret, between the shadow and the soul.

I love you as the plant that never blooms
but carries in itself the light of hidden flowers;
thanks to your love a certain solid fragrance,
risen from the earth, lives darkly in my body.

I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where.
I love you straightforwardly, without complexities or pride;

So I love you because I know no other way than this: where I does not exist, nor you,
so close that your hand on my chest is my hand,
so close that your eyes close as I fall asleep.

Just because I thought this was funny!

I had to share this video because it really made me laugh. I wish everyone a day with lots of reasons to laugh!

Making friends wherever I go

"The world is round so that friendship may encircle it." -Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/p/pierreteil156688.html

I like to think that people can make friends wherever they go. At least, I feel like that's something I could do and want to do, if only because I really feel my life is better because of everyone who I have met. Even if meeting that person was for the briefest of moments it still means so much to me. So here's to making friends and making the world better!

Imagine

The singer John Lennon was born today in 1940 and thinking of him reminded me of the song "Imagine." I heard a rather lovely performance of that song by Herbie Hancock which I feel like sharing here. It reminds me that music makes the world better and that with a little imagination so many great things are possible!

A lovely visit from my parents

My parents have come to visit me and I'm really glad they are here because I feel very happy when I'm with them. On Friday we went and saw a jazz group that my dad likes which had a great  saxophonist and we had a nice dinner at a fish restaurant which was very tasty. Then yesterday we relaxed and today we went on a boat tour of the Charles River and I was pleased that they also were able to see me sing with my church's choir. Really though, it's just nice to be with them as it's always lovely to see them in person and so I'm really excited they are here!

Some nice music for a Saturday

It's the cellist Yo Yo Ma's birthday and as his playing helps me feel relaxed and Saturdays are days for relaxing, I thought I'd share the music in the clip below to wish everyone a very happy and relaxing Saturday!

Happy Friday!

I wish everyone the happiest of Fridays!

One tech gadget from the Bond films I'd want just for fun

The first James Bond film (Dr. No) came out today in 1962 and that tidbit of information got me thinking about all the fun gadgets that James Bond has in his movies and what I think I'd like most to have (if I could have any one of those gadgets) is a wetsuit with a rubber duck on the top which I thought was really funny. On the slightly more practical side, I think I'd like a ski jacket that inflates into a sphere that protects you from injury and proved to be handy in case of an avalanche. I don't think I'll really ever need either of these things even if they did exist, but they're fun to think about. Who knows, maybe one day I'll be a woman of mystery and pick these gadgets up somewhere. (To see these gadgets in action watch the videos below).

The best thing in the world

"Love is the best thing in the world, and the thing that lives the longest."-Henry Van Dyke
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/h/henryvandy384399.html

I really believe love is one of the best things there is  and that's why intend to spread as far as I can! To that end, I send you lots of love now and always via this post!

Make happiness happen

"Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions."-Dalai Lama
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/d/dalailama166116.html


So my action to spread happiness today is to send you this song. Don't worry be happy!

Something I resolve to do from now on

From now on if I ever get ticked off about the state of the world I'll work to remember this quote that I found today: "[God] said not 'Thou shalt not be tempested, thou shalt not be travailed, thou shalt not be dis-eased'; but he said, 'Thou shalt not be overcome.' " -Julian of Norwich, Revelations of Divine Love

As humans we are not overcome, we keep going and even though I'm just 1 part of humanity, I feel like if I want the world to change, I have to start that change. I figure many good things start with a a song and so I sing for peace. 

One of my favorite musicals

I've always loved musicals and one of my favorites growing up was Mary Poppins. I especially liked the song "A Spoonful of Sugar." I liked it and the scene where Julie Andrews sang it because in the scene she and some children managed to clean a room by snapping their fingers. As cleaning my room was never my biggest strength, I used to dearly wish I could clean it by snapping my fingers. However, because I couldn't snap, that strategy never quite panned out for me, despite my best efforts. Anyway, I still like the song because even though I still can't snap and a spoonful of sugar would make me feel paradoxically sick, I like the idea that something sweet can make something difficult easier. That's why I like smiling so much because it is something sweet that makes life better.