Yes I can light a fire in a time of need

"How is it one careless match can start a forest fire, but it takes a whole box to start a campfire?"-Anonymous

This quote resonates with me because the last time I tried to light a fire I did use up a whole box of matches but as I remember the fire did get lit in the end. (In a fireplace of course with lots of people around me to make sure I didn't burn anything down!) Now you know one more thing about me -I can indeed light a fire even if it does take me a while to do it. If a disaster ever strikes and I manage to get hold of a whole box of matches, at the very least I am confident I can (eventually) light a fire! There's hope for me yet! Even if it takes me a while to start a fire, it's comforting to be told by Smokey the Bear that only I can prevent forest fires!

Maggie's Minions

I finally have MINIONS!! I am so excited about this! (Ok I made them in an art class I took but still, I now have minions!) If you haven't seen the Despicable Me movies, minions are little yellow beings that basically do whatever these movies' main character named Gru (an evil mastermind who attempts to steal odd things in an attempt to rule the world) wants them to do. They also have minds of their own which kind of irritates Gru at times but I can't help loving them!  So I made a whole army of little minions to help me create all sorts of havoc when I feel like it! My only regret is that my minions are just clay figures. However, if they were real  and I could imagine myself as a leader of the Minions this is how I'd interact with them:

Minions unite! Ok so maybe stealing the moon didn't quite work out the way we wanted but don't worry I have a  brand new plan! (Minions ooh and ahh) Instead of stealing the moon, this time we steal.... drum roll please (Minions start stomping their feet loudly) a SPACESHIP! (Minions cheer excitedly). Yes! We'll steal the model spaceship from the museum down the street! (Minions say oh looking disappointed) Aw, come on, cheer up! If we pull off the space ship heist then we'll steal those bumper cars from the fair that you all love so much. That way you can bump into each other day long...or at least until I figure out what to steal next! (Minions cheer excitedly and start celebrating.)

Maybe I let my imagination run away a bit there but at least I now have Minions to run away with me!

Life is full of comedy

"Life literally abounds with comedy if you just look around you." -Mel Brooks

Today is Mel Brooks' birthday and I think he's right in saying comedy is everywhere. I find I laugh at least once every day, whether it's about something on the radio or TV or something someone says or does, I just like finding that funny thing to laugh at. My challenge to you is to find a way to laugh every day. To help you on this quest here is a joke:

Two physicists are traveling in a hot-air balloon and suddenly realize that they're lost. They shout down to a guy in the meadow, "Where are we?"
The guy thinks for a bit and then replies, "You're in a hot-air balloon."
One physicist says to the other, "Well, he's definitely a mathematician."
"Why do you say that?"
"Well first of all, he took a while to think up a response. Second of all, his answer is logical. Third of all, it's completely useless."

Source: http://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/zrotp/whats_the_best_clean_joke_you_know/

Happy Birthday to Helen Keller

"While they were saying among themselves it cannot be done, it was done." Helen Keller

Helen Keller was born today in 1880. I like her statement above because I think it's meant to help excite people into not listening to anyone who says you can't do something good that you really want to do. Don't let the bastards grind you down! If you want something badly enough, go for it! I'm rooting for you because I have faith in you and I know that you can do whatever good thing it is that you want to do!

First movie

Today in 1896 the first movie theater  in the US opened in New York charging 10 cents to see a show. I'm not sure what the first movie shown in it was but I do wish it still only cost 10 cents to see a show in a theater. I know that with things like Neflix and Youtube I can pretty much watch whatever I want but there's something nice about watching movies in a theater. I like the atmosphere, after all, jokes seem funnier and scares seem scarier when lots of people are laughing (or screaming) with you. The first movie I ever remember seeing in a theater was Disney's Aladdin when I was seven. I remember thinking it was the greatest thing especially because I liked (and still like) people singing and dancing on screen. Plus the picture seemed so big it was like I was in there with the characters. It was.... fun! I hope everyone gets to see at least one movie in a theater just because everything seems just that much better on the big screen!

The blessings of old friends....

"It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them."-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Everything is more fun when its done with a group.  I don't condone doing potentially harmful things but I am all for having new experiences that may be a tad dangerous but can be fun and/or lead to positive results. I hope that if you take risks you do it with a friend. At the very least it ensures that someone is there to take pictures/tell stories about these adventures-everything gets better in the retelling!

Having fun at work...and helping others smile while you're at it!

I read about 2 people just recently who make their jobs more fun and help people have a better day too. One was a woman who is a flight attendant who decided to deliver her traditional pre-flight safety speech in a way that is funny and educational see below. I do like being safe but I think I'd pay more attention if she was giving this speech!

The second story I read was about a woman who is a crossing guard in Newtown Connecticut dances and plays music when she's directing traffic. I think every day should involve a little dancing as an expression of happiness. Plus it clearly makes others feel good which is an added bonus!