Five things that made me happy today – 4/17/21

Walking, I am listening to a deeper way. Suddenly all my ancestors are behind me. Be still, they say. Watch and listen. You are the result of the love of thousands.

Linda Hogan

1. I was wakened, temporarily, by a happy little bird singing his/her heart out at first light – 5:32 am. I didn’t get up until my regular time between 6:30 and 7:00, and I saw why birdy was so happy – it was another beautiful day and in the mid 70s all afternoon.

2. The raccoon family came through the yard this morning. As far as I’m concerned they can stay on the other side of the fence. Alas, I think they are feeling spring in the air and I’m pretty sure I saw two of them humping before they disappeared under the fence.

3. We had little pizzas made on flour tortillas. I added fresh mushrooms to mine that I got at the commissary last week.

4. Nadia Bolz-Weber’s post today hit me where I feel it. My mother died gradually from Alzheimer’s, but towards the end she could sing all the words to all the old hymns even when she didn’t remember her own grandchildren, or her own name.

5. I’m kind of hooked on the series Heartland on Netflix. It’s Canadian (have i said recently how much I enjoy Canadian offerings?) and set in Alberta on a ranch that’s been in the family for generations. Five generations live together in the big, old ranch house. They have different ideas about what’s important, and how to make a go of life, but they manage to work it all out in the end.

How about you? What made you happy today?

Five things that made me happy today – 4/17/19 (Remembered)

1. Contemplative worship at noon today. We sang taize songs and heard the scripture of Jesus’ last week.

2. Big Al had an appointment with his dermatologist and everything seems to be okay.

3. Attended the Thai Dance Showcase at Tobey Jones. One of the instructors in Wellness grew up in Thailand and she has designed the course as cultural education.

4. Refreshments at the Thai Dance Showcase included coconut ice cream with condensed milk, almonds, and chocolate sauce, with litchi nuts on the side. Very tasty.

5. Thanks to a recommendation from Michael D. Kirby I’ve been binge watching “Special” on Netflix.

How about you? What made you happy today?

Five things that made me happy today – 4/16/21

Truth is of faith, hope, and love … truth is of grace, mercy, and peace … truth is a child laughing, a mother proud, a father pleased … truth is generosity, kindness, and welcome … 

Tom Eggebeen

1. Another really beautiful day. It started out at 48 deg, and finished in the low 70s with bright blue sky the whole day.

2. By the time I went out for the mail mid-morning, it was already 58 deg.

3. Red beans and rice with little smokies for lunch.

4. The rhododendrons are blooming nicely this year.

5. The window washers came today, so the outsides of the windows are sparkling clean.

How about you? What made you happy today?

Five things that made me happy today – 4/16/19 (Remembered)

1. The Rose Window in Notre Dame was saved.

2. The Pieta in front of the altar at Notre Dame was undamaged.

3. “Physical health and wellness are a spiritual concern.” Thanks to Derrick Weston for posting this.

4. Housekeepers came today, so my kitchen and bathrooms are squeaky clean, and I have clean sheets on the bed.

5. Finished the only two seasons of “Intelligence” on Netflix. I hope there will be more. There were three or four storylines that weren’t resolved. I’m really impressed with the Canadian TV productions. I’ve seen several of their offerings and I’ve been hooked on all of them.

How about you? What made you happy today?

Five things that made me happy today – 4/15/21

We are tied together in the single garment of destiny, caught in an inescapable network of mutuality. And whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

1. The day dawned clear and cold – mid 40s. The temperature rose and Big Al was comfortable walking up to the Gazebo in his shirt sleeves. It got up to 72 this afternoon.

2. I ran to Safeway to pick up the stuff I ordered that I had not been able to get at the Commissary. When I got home, my New Balance shoes that I ordered last week were here. They seem to be good. We’ll see how I do after wearing them a while. I wish I could find some place to donate the last pair that was too narrow – but nobody seems to want to take shoes.

3. Teriyaki Chicken, rice, and asparagus for lunch today.

4. Today is the anniversary of Lincoln’s death, less than a week after the surrender of Lee at Appomattox Courthouse. HCR used her history chat to talk about it, and to mourn his death. She said that explained why the sight of the Confederate battle flag in the US Capital on January 6, 2021, upset her so. It had never happened before. Never – not in 1865, and not until this year.

5. We had Grab and Go Happy Hour this afternoon. The chef had fixed little kabobs with salami, marinated roast beef, mushrooms, olives, peppers, and cheese. They were nice.

How about you? What made you happy today?

Five things that made me happy today – 4/15/19 (Remembered)

1. I told you yesterday about the sermon that talked about the difference between joy and happiness. Joy requires empathy, happiness is more personal.

2. There’s a column in the NYT which talks about really focusing on what you want. The author also draws the comparison between joy and happiness.

3. When a couple of different places and people talk about the same thing, God/the universe is trying to tell you something. I need to figure out what that is, and what it is I need to learn.

4. My personal trainer’s sister came here today from Thailand, as a surprise. I was there when she found out her sister was in town, and that was an experience of pure joy.

5. I’m trying to find happiness in the fire at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. I have been fortunate to visit that place a couple of times. My boys were able to see it in its glory. I take comfort and happiness in those facts.

How about you? What made you happy today?

Five things that made me happy today – 4/14/21

Perhaps we are not yet in a place where we can talk about the gifts that have come from this grotesque pandemic, because how do we name a gift that comes to us out of molded ash and tears? 

Nadia Bolz-Weber

1. It was in the upper 40s and beautiful when I got up this morning. Mid to upper 60s this afternoon.

2. We had another session with our Creative Writing teacher today. I’m not fond of the professor or his methods, but we shall see.

3. We had barbecue pulled chicken in Lloyd’s sauce sandwiches. We also had raw veggies to dip in salad dressing because I insisted on having a vegetable.

4. Donald and Daisy came through the yard on their way to the pond next door. There was a hummingbird who flew around just outside my window fussing at me because I haven’t filled the feeder yet. I’m still holding off to make sure the salmonella outbreak is over.

5. The weather is nice enough for me to walk over to the Wellness Center instead of driving.

How about you? What made you happy today?

Five things that made me happy today – 4/14/19 (Remembered)

1. The Palm Sunday sermon made me think on several levels.

2. Happiness is not Joy. Joy is subversive. Joy happens in the midst of adversity. Joy is necessary to stay sane.

3. Jesus created this silly parade with him riding on a stolen donkey and grown people dancing and singing and waving “leaves” as the kids identified the palms we had in church. Jesus knew he was headed to the cross, but that silly, joyful parade was necessary for him and for his disciples.

4. I finally got the Spicy Siamese Noodles at lunch spicy enough. I had to ask for level 5 spice, but it was good.

5. Spent the afternoon reading in front of the fire and listening to the wind and rain. Then an hour or so ago, it cleared off and the sun is out and getting in my eyes.

How about you? What made you happy today?

Five things that made me happy today – 4/13/21

People don’t sing because they are happy, they are happy because they sing.

Goethe

1. It’s a gorgeous day today with blue, blue skies and temps in the mid 40s and promises of mid 50s by noon. It was 63 this afternoon, and felt pretty good if you were in the sun and out of the wind.

2. I finished the NYT crossword puzzle again today with only one error that I was able to correct once I saw where it was. I’m impressing myself (but Thursday is coming and I have zero luck later in the week).

3. Ham sandwich and a tomato for lunch today. I’m not sure what, if anything, Al had for lunch. I’m never responsible for feeding him on Tuesdays.

4. Maintenance solved to problem of my security system turning itself off when we have it set on “Away”, An unknown toggle had been switched accidentally, so it was disarming when my phone with Bluetooth got close to the door.

5. I got the new Anne Hillerman book today. I pre-ordered it when it was in the works. She writes about the Navajo policemen, just like her father, Tony, did. She seems to be a worthy person to take on the mantle. Now I have to hurry up and finish Bill Gates’ book about Climate Change. I refuse to allow myself to abandon it before I finish it.

How about you? What made you happy today?

Five things that made me happy today – 4/13/19 (Remembered)

1. Cool and rainy all day. Then just an hour before sunset the sun came out bright with blue, blue skies.

2. Grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup for lunch. I felt about 10 years old.

3. Working on collecting “objects” to use in my collage book.

4. Spent time reviewing some of the photo albums from years ago looking for ideas for the book.

5. Seeing lots of good ideas for beginning to curb environmental problems.

How about you? What made you happy today?