Penguin ice cubes!

My life is complete! I have a penguin ice cube holder! (Courtesy of a garage sale.) I love penguins and quirky things like penguin shaped ice cube holders! Garage sales are fun for odd stuff like that. Plus things like penguin shaped ice cube holders make ordinary stuff like ice cubes into fun stuff and sometimes conversation pieces. It shows me that everything has the potential to be extraordinary!

 

Experiment!

I'm all for trying new things, even if it means I have to take a risk to do it. I think taking a risk now and then can lead to something better. Although I don't (and don't plan to) take too many risks that could injure me and cause me to lose my health, I think taking risks like trying new foods, new hobbies and meeting new people are risks I've been good about taking. I found a song recently that seems to really describe the benefits of experiments. The song is (very appropriately) called "Experiment" and it's by Cole Porter. The lyrics and a video of the song are below.

Experiment

By: Cole Porter

Experiment
Make it your motto day and night
Experiment
And it will lead you to the light
The apple on the top of the tree
Is never too high to achieve
So take an example from Eve
Experiment

Be curious
Though interfering friends may frown
Get furious
At each attempt to hold you down
If this advice you always employ
The future can offer you infinite joy
And merriment
Experiment and you'll see!

 

The good 'ol days

I think it's interesting how people of a certain age, when talking about something nostalgic, sometimes start out this reminiscing  with the phrase: "in the good 'ol days" and then they'd go on about how good things were in the past. Since I'm not yet "of a certain age" I'm thinking of making a short list of things that are good now so when I get to be "of a certain age" I can look back and say to all the lil' mangy children how good things were (even if they get outdated). So here goes:  In my good 'ol days. (Please note that this list does include things that are already outdated but I guess that means I have some items that will be from the good "really" 'ol days!):

• You could download music for free off the internet.
• People still read actual books (not on those tablet/kindle thingys)
• People put smilie faces on e-mails to friends. (hopefully people the trend will continue!)
• People still got actual letters in the mail. (bills don't count)
• People watched videos instead of DVDs (don't know why I miss it but hey-it's nostalgia!)
• You could visit the cockpit on planes (especially if you were a cute little kid.)
• Having a cordless phone (not a cell phone-a cordless phone-there's a difference!) was really cool!
• Energy drinks existed to make everyone who drank them very hyper! (Or maybe that was just me.)
• People always seemed to get dressed up to go out to dinner/to the theater.
• People kept blogs! (hopefully they always will!)

Even though I'd talk about these things like they happened in the past, it's fun to remember things and know that life was and is a great thing!

Too cute!

 With the help of one of my roommates I have made the amazing discovery that there is a TV show dedicated to showcasing adorable animals for a whole whopping 60 minutes! (It's called "Too Cute" on the Animal Planet channel.) There's something therapeutic about just seeing cute furry little dogs that makes life seem better to me. I guess it's the simplicity of their lives that I like. It's fun to see them learning to walk and start to play.  The animals really live up to the program's name-they just look so damn cute!

 

The Pianos are coming! The Pianos are Coming... to invade Boston!

According to the Boston.com website, 75 pianos will be placed in various locations around Boston and surrounding towns for anyone to play. It's part of an exhibit called “Street Pianos Boston: Play Me I’m Yours” public piano installation by British artist Luke Jerram. It's meant celebrate the 75th season of the Celebrity Series of Boston. The pianos will be available between September 27th and October 14th. Yay for spontaneous music and piano playing! I now have a sudden urge to rush out and take lessons!

Ah, nostalgia!

I have to admit that among the vast amount of music I like, I find that I especially like songs from the 50s, 60s and 70s. I like them in part because I like history and in part because my parents and grandparents listened to such music. Since they are some of the people I love best, knowing things about the things they liked in the past and how I now like some of the same music too, makes me feel an even greater sense of connection to them. The music symbolizes to me that no matter what happens, my family will always be with me, in my heart and in the music I listen to. So here are a few of the songs I like best that never get old for me (plus they're fun to sing in the shower!):

• You Go To My Head (Louis Armstrong): It reminds me of my parents in that even though they might drive each other crazy sometimes, they're still crazy about each other!
• Signed, Sealed, Delivered: (Stevie Wonder): It's cheerful and fun and Obama's theme song!
• To Sir with Love (Lulu): It's from a movie with the same title. It's about a really good teacher and I like teachers!
• Imagine (John Lennon): It makes me want to make the world a bit better too!
• I've Got You Under My Skin (Frank Sinatra): I love Frank Sinatra!
• The Girl from Ipanema (Astrud Gilberto, João Gilberto and Stan Getz) It's just so relaxing!
• Ain't That A Kick In the Head (Dean Martin): I just like it!
• You must Have Been a Beautiful Baby (Bobby Darin): All babies are beautiful.
• R-E-S-P-E-C-T (Aretha Franklin): Everyone deserves respect!
• Splish Splash! (Bobby Darin) I love baths! 

A good life!

There's this song by OneRepublic that never ceases to remind me that life is good! (Mostly because the refrain of the the song is basically the lead singer singing "it's gonna be a good life" a lot and  "Hope is sweet, there's so much to feel good about."  To me at least, hope really is sweet and is something I always want to spread!