happiness – Feeding on Folly

Do You Keep Christmas Well?

charles_dickens-a_christmas_carol-cloth-first_edition_1843 I reread A Christmas Carol recently, because it’s a thing I do every year and it wouldn’t be right if I didn’t.

(Not to be pushy, but if you’ve never read it, DO SO NOW! Here’s an online version if you don’t own a copy. I recommend you read it slowly, to get all of that great Dickens’ humor.)

Anyway, yesterday as I was listening to the radio, I heard the DJ call his brother a Scrooge because he was complaining about the nonstop Christmas music. The DJ was wrong on two counts: Continue reading “Do You Keep Christmas Well?”

Welcome to My Existential Crisis, Episode 5

In Which Our Alter Egos Discuss Life’s Purpose, Kierkekaard, and Peach Cobbler

If you missed our previous episode, click here.

Reporter: Hello everyone. Thank you for giving us another chance today. I know we thoughtful haven’t made the best impression the last few times.

Editor: Speak for yourself.

Reporter: What? You think you make a good impression? Don’t make me laugh.

Editor: I’m the only one who makes sense, so yes, I always make a good impression.

Reporter: (sighs) Maybe we should just start our discussion. And when we’re done, we can eat the Peach Cobbler I made. Is that all right with you?

Editor: Yes. I searched the room so I’m satisfied.

Reporter: What do you mean you ‘searched the room’?

Continue reading “Welcome to My Existential Crisis, Episode 5”

And the Winner is…

It’s occurred to me that I haven’t shared a recipe with you in a long while. To make up for it, I’m giving you my recipe for prize-winning blueberry muffins. More on that later.

For now, I want to tell you about my recent experience, not with winning, but with awarding prizes.

balloons We have a very active parent group on campus who sometimes host brunches for staff and gives away prizes. Recently they added a monthly drawing where teachers can win a rather large gift basket filled with discount cards, food, and other doo-dads.

The first winner was selected a few days ago. I was given the task of delivering it.

This is not unusual. About three or four times a year, the parent group will drop off at my desk eight or so gift cards with balloons attached, and ask me to email the teachers who won. The first time it happened, being a rookie, I did just that.

You know what happens if you sport eight to ten colorful balloons at your desk? Continue reading “And the Winner is…”

I Feel it in My Soul, It’s Meant to Be…

Thirty-one years is worthy of a celebration, right?

Funny though, what counts as a celebration when you’re young isn’t quite as enticing when you’re… not so young.

We decided – five days after the event, because we were gosh-darn busy on the actual day – to go to Black Angus. Husband had a coupon for a free steak dinner, on account of his birthday being just a few days ago. Even better, the restaurant was by a mall, which meant we could gain some extra steps for the ol’ Fitbit.

Yep. We’re just a couple of wild ones. Continue reading “I Feel it in My Soul, It’s Meant to Be…”

The Joy of Editing. Wait… What?

My quest for poetry has led me to some interesting resources. One of them being a podcast from The New Yorker, where real, live poets read the works of other poets. Calligraphy pen writing on lined paper Live!

Care for a listen? Click here.

It’s a nice thing to have on while cooking dinner, let me tell you. Sort of like having a couple of good friends over to chat about life and beauty and love, while you chop peppers and onions.

The other day Billy Collins was over, and he mentioned something William Matthews said. I was so blown away by it, I backed it up three times so I could hear it again.

Then I wrote it down, because I’m sure Billy was getting tired of repeating it: Continue reading “The Joy of Editing. Wait… What?”

Pokemon GO to the Park!

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve no doubt heard of Pokémon GO. And if you do live under a rock, no offense meant.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve no doubt heard of Pokémon GO. And if you do live under a rock, no offense meant.
(I mean, really, I find you fascinating. Please send me a picture of your rock. I bet you have a swell bug collection.)

Anyway. Back to the game. Daughter has been taking a lot of walks lately, so I’ve been keeping her company. Come to find out, our nearby park is a goldmine, Pokémon-wise. Continue reading “Pokemon GO to the Park!”

Bloom Where You’re Planted

So far on our trip, we’ve been in Utah, Nevada, Idaho, Oregon & California, and in each state we’ve seen truly beautiful places. Places worthy to call home, should we ever care to move.

One such place is the coastal town of Crescent City, California. A charming place, just a stone’s throw from the redwood forest. Redwoods!

It’s not a fancy town. I doubt any millionaires will be building vacation homes there any time soon. This is an honest-to-goodness coastal town, with real working fishermen, shopkeepers and restaurant owners.

But gosh, even so, I couldn’t help thinking they must be happy people.

I even said it to Husband. I said, “Gosh, these people must be happy.”

I bet every morning they wake up, take a deep breath, smell the salt air and think to themselves, “I must be the luckiest person in the world, because I live in Crescent City, California.” Continue reading “Bloom Where You’re Planted”

In Case You Don’t Hear From Me Again…

We’re traveling so I can’t guarantee anything. I might post per usual, I might post daily, I might decide to shake off the shackles of ordinary life and join a commune.

You just never know.

Our destination? Portland!

We’ll stay five days there, then on to Napa Valley for a few more days. I’ve never been to either, so if any of you have recommendations or suggestions, leave them in the comments. 🙂

But first, where we’ve been so far… Continue reading “In Case You Don’t Hear From Me Again…”

Week 5 Reflection: Gratitude

RevofKindness Whoa – is it week 5 of the Kindness Challenge already? My, my. How time flies.

Here’s the link to Niki’s site, that explains our goal for the week.

In general, I was to reflect on the things I’m grateful for in my life.

Have you heard about confirmation bias? (This might seem a little off-subject, bear with me.)

Basically, confirmation bias is our tendency to look for things – or only see things – that confirm what we’ve already decided to be true.

So let’s say you think the world is an awful place and people are idiots. You can find proof of that wherever you go — because you’re looking for it. (Honestly, you can be a real downer, you know that?)

Continue reading “Week 5 Reflection: Gratitude”