September Challenge -- Day 5

The last doctor's appoint I made was for ... 

My annual physical. Unfortunately I had to cancel it because of jury duty and I never got around to rescheduling it because of The Big Project.

But I must reschedule it next week because, well, this old gray mare just ain't what she used to be. I tire so easily. I'm so much more short-tempered than I should be. I think a lot of this is that I don't get the exercise I need. But it could be something more, either something more serious or (hopefully) something very easily treated. I'd like to get my quality of life back.

Want to play along? Click here for the day's question.

I miss the sumbitch

I used to love the Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon. The plate spinners, the ventriloquists, the lounge singers performing "Guantanamera" ... it was a smorgasbord of tacky and I adored it. Especially Jerry himself.

I was hypnotized by the greasy hair, the tux and pinky ring. Jerry mugged and wept and insulted people. (I remember the year I heard him call a cameraman a "fag" and wondered if anyone else caught it.) He laughed at his own gauche hilarity. And he sang "You'll Never Walk Alone" to kids who will never walk at all.

Oh, and the crazy bastard raised more than $2 billion. He deserves more credit for that than he gets. He's nearly 90 now and has suffered a litany of health problems himself. Wherever he is this weekend, God bless him.

Time flies

I can't believe it's 6:30 already! Where has the day gone?

I slept in. I wasn't ready to start moving until after noon, which means I was unable to drop off those groceries at the food pantry. (It's only open till noon.) Then I wandered over to Flat Top Grill, where I haven't eaten since there was still snow on the ground. It seemed like a nice way to spoil myself this Labor Day weekend.

I got so wrapped up in my book (Calico Joe, a gift from my aunt) and my lunch and my drink (Rumcata Colada) that I lost track of time. Got home and watched the middle/last innings of the Cubs-Diamondback game (our ace, Jake Arrieta, was on the mound). Then I took a nap and here we are.

It was a nice day, I guess, but there are so many things I wanted to/needed to get done. There's someone using the washers downstairs so I can't do laundry. Maybe I can attack the paperwork in the dining room (on the floor, to protect it from Reynaldo; I've discovered he only attacks papers on the table).

Saturday 9

Saturday 9: Working My Way Back to You (1966)
 
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
 
1) We're celebrating the last holiday of summer with The Four Seasons. Which season is your favorite? I enjoy autumn. I like to go out in a sweatshirt but no jacket. I'm happy to see my sweaters again. I like the colors.
 
2) Before they settled on The Four Seasons, they called themselves The Four Lovers, The Romans and The Village Voices. If you were/are in a band, please share the name. Or just make up a cool name for your pretend band. Channel D. "Open Channel D, please" is what Napoleon and Ilya used to say when calling UNCLE headquarters. 
 
3) Lead singer Frankie Valli has occasionally fudged the year of his birth. Have you ever lied about your age? Not intentionally. But sometimes I forget how old I am. It amuses that when I was young I knew my age to the moment ("I'm 7 1/2") but now that I'm an adult, I forget.
 
4) Frankie Valli, Frank Sinatra, Jon Bon Jovi, Bruce Springsteen ... New Jersey has given us many music superstars. What is your state known for?  Unfortunately, Illinois is known for jailing our governors.

5) In 1965, Frankie was arrested in Columbus, Ohio. But it wasn't his fault! The bandmate he trusted to pay the group's hotel bill neglected to do so. Tell us about a time when your trusting nature got you in trouble. I let a financially strapped coworker use my credit card so she could pay for airfare to Iowa to see her son graduate. I wish I could tell you she repaid my kindness by repaying the debt in a timely manner. But I cannot.
 
6) Clint Eastwood directed the movie version of the Four Seasons biography, Jersey Boys. What's your favorite Clint Eastwood movie? I think Eastwood is a rather silly actor, but I enjoy the movies he directs. Mystic River with Sean Penn and Tim Robbins was fantastic.
 

Since Labor Day is the holiday established to celebrate the American worker …

7) According to the U.S. Census, more and more Americans are working from home. Are you one of them? Nope

8) Of those of us who work outside the home, 75% travel to work alone. 15% take public transportation and the remaining 10% carpool. How do you get to your job? I take public transportation. Every day, twice a day.

9) Do you have any big plans for this holiday weekend? Nope. Mostly I want to not think about work and The Big Project. I'm fried and really need to relax and let it go.

September Challenge -- Day 4

Where would you like to go? I have two answers to this question ...

First, what I thought this morning when I first read it. I want to get away! I want to wake up in a hotel room. I want to eat a big breakfast someone else made. I want to wander streets where no one knows me. I want to have an adventure. I want to learn something. I'm thinking of going Presidential. Maybe to the Lincoln Library in Springfield. Or the Truman Library in Independence. Whatever's cheapest.

Then, what I thought of when I sat down to answer. I want some peanuts and Crack-er Jack. I don't care if ever get back! So if I'm going to escape, I better wait until after the season is over. I can't be away from this Cub team for a moment.

Want to play along? Click here for the day's question.

September Challenge -- Day 3

What's the most recent thing you have learned? I knew that Watergate had a huge impact on my world view, but I didn't realize how it effected my vocabulary. Two phrases I use all the time at work were introduced during the Watergate scandal.

Plausible deniability. The term used in the Executive Branch when wanting to distance themselves from an action taken by underlings. They may have clearly wanted the dirty trick or break-in to occur, but they didn't want any evidence that they knew about it in advance. I use this at work, when people around me want to rewrite copy that's already been approved by the client and their attorneys. I tell my coworkers I don't want to know about it so I can maintain my plausible deniability.

Twisting in the wind. When Patrick Gray had been nominated for the head of the FBI, John Ehrlichman, Nixon's White House Counsel, intentionally let the confirmation hearings go on ... and on ... and on ... even though everyone in the Executive Branch knew Gray would never be confirmed. According to the infamous tapes, Ehrlichman felt it would be better to let Gray "twist slowly, slowly in the wind," like a body at the end of a hangman's noose, because at least while the hearings were going on, no one was talking about Watergate. When I feel vulnerable and completely without support, I say I've been left twisting in the wind.

I learned this stuff while reading Evan Thomas' riveting, and so sad, biography Being Nixon.

Want to play along? Click here for the day's question.

September Challenge -- Day 2

What are you questioning? The care my oldest friend is receiving, 2000 miles away in Los Angeles. Her shrink has diagnosed her as bipolar and resistant to medication. An MD with a prescription pad, this doctor has her on a cocktail of at least three medications. This is in addition to the pills she takes for her heart and the antibiotics she takes for the tenacious infection she contracted when hospitalized a few years back.

Here's the thing: she's not doing any better. In fact, she's worse. With all those drugs coursing through her veins, she's no better.

I've told her I think she needs a new team. She needs a GP with balls, who can oversee her treatment in its entirety. She needs a second opinion on the bipolar diagnosis. She needs hope. She needs to know every morning when she wakes up depressed that this isn't the way the rest of her life will be.

I know this may sound presumptuous from someone who has no letters after her name, but I have known her since we were in Kindergarten and I REFUSE to let her go under. My instinct is powerful, and it's telling me she needs more and better than she's getting. I'm going to keep questioning and keep challenging until I see improvement.

Want to play along? Click here for the day's question.

September Challenge -- Day 1

What decision do you wish you didn't have to make?

The bad part of sharing your home and heart with animals is that they never live as long as you need them to. It was Memorial Day weekend last year that I had to put my beloved girlcat, Charlotte, to sleep. That decision was wrenching.

Want to play along? Click here for the day's question.

September Challenge

Courtesy of Kwizgiver

August Happiness Challenge -- Day 31

Monday's Happy Cone goes to smooth sailing. My second in a series of trips to the dentist went very well. So well, in fact, that the four scheduled appointments is down to three. And, for those keeping score at home, we're at two down, one to go.

What's that you say? What's the August Happiness Challenge?

Each day in August you are to post about something that makes *you* happy. Pretty simple. And, it doesn't even have to be every day if you don't want it to be. It's a great way to remind ourselves that there are positive things going on in our lives, our communities, and the world.

If you want to play along, just come back here (meaning to this blog, not this individual post) each day in August, looking for the happy chocolate cone. Every day I will try to have a post with the headline: August Happiness Challenge: Day [X]. Leave a comment and then post your own daily happiness, with August Happiness Challenge in the title to make it easy to find.

August Happiness Challenge -- Day 30

Sunday's Happy Cone goes to JAKE ARRIETA! The man threw a no hitter. Nine innings with nary a hit. Zip. Zilch. Nada.

I don't recall ever before watching a Cub no-hitter start-to-finish. Oh me, oh my, it is exciting! It occurred to me around the 5th inning that I might be watching history.

The man struck out the side in the 9th. Awesome.

What's that you say? What's the August Happiness Challenge?

Each day in August you are to post about something that makes *you* happy. Pretty simple. And, it doesn't even have to be every day if you don't want it to be. It's a great way to remind ourselves that there are positive things going on in our lives, our communities, and the world.

If you want to play along, just come back here (meaning to this blog, not this individual post) each day in August, looking for the happy chocolate cone. Every day I will try to have a post with the headline: August Happiness Challenge: Day [X]. Leave a comment and then post your own daily happiness, with August Happiness Challenge in the title to make it easy to find.

Sunday Stealing

Well, I'll Be ...

If I were a month, I’d be: May, the lovely month when everyone goes blissfully astray.

 
If I were a day of the week, I’d be: Thursday

 
If I were a planet, I’d be: the moon. Yeah, I know it's a satellite. But still, I like the moon.

 
If I were a god or goddess, I’d be: Freyja. She was the Norse goddess in charge of your major life forces -- fertility, sex, war and currency -- and she rode around in a chariot pulled by giant gray cats.

 
If I were a sea animal, I’d be:  a sea horse

 
If I were a piece of furniture, I’d be: lumpy

 
If I were a gemstone, I’d be: indestructible

 
If I were a flower, I’d be a: snapdragon

 
If I were a kind of weather, I’d be: clear and cool

If I were a color, I’d be: Pantone 294, which is Cubbie blue

 
If I were an emotion, I’d be:  confused

 
If I were a fruit, I’d be a: banana

 
If I were a sound, I’d be: a cat's purr

If I were an element, I’d be: rain, light rain

 
If I were a place, I’d be: the train station

 
If I were a taste, I’d be: barbecue sauce

 
If I were a scent, I’d be: cinnamon

 
If I were an object, I’d be a: pencil cup

 
If I were a body part, I’d be: the ball of the foot

 
If I were a song, I’d be: "All My Loving" by The Beatles

 
If I were a pair of shoes, I’d be: comfy

August Happiness Challenge -- Day 29

Saturday's Happy Cone goes to my nephew. We had lunch together. He's growing into an interesting young man. Here he is, just a high school sophomore, and he's very enthusiastic about Bernie Sanders.  He asked me why I wasn't. I told him frankly that I don't believe Bernie can win But I didn't want to pee on his parade. So instead I told him my war stories, working on the Clinton, Kerry and Obama campaigns. He wanted to know exactly what I did. I told him how tedious volunteer campaign work can be, that the satisfaction comes from believing you're doing good, doing something that matters.

This is not how every sophomore wants to spend his Saturday afternoon. He's an interesting kid.

What's that you say? What's the August Happiness Challenge?

Each day in August you are to post about something that makes *you* happy. Pretty simple. And, it doesn't even have to be every day if you don't want it to be. It's a great way to remind ourselves that there are positive things going on in our lives, our communities, and the world.

If you want to play along, just come back here (meaning to this blog, not this individual post) each day in August, looking for the happy chocolate cone. Every day I will try to have a post with the headline: August Happiness Challenge: Day [X]. Leave a comment and then post your own daily happiness, with August Happiness Challenge in the title to make it easy to find.

Saturday 9

Saturday 9: Viva la Vida

1) The song refers to the singing of choirs. Have you ever been in a choir or a vocal group? No. I'm utterly tone deaf.

2) Chris Martin sings of when he "ruled the world." If you were in charge and had infinite power, what would you change right away? I'd make hogging space a criminal offense. If you take up two seats on the train, but you only paid one fare, then you are stealing that second seat and should be arrested. The same goes for sloppy drivers who take up two parking spaces. You're going down!

3) Chris used to be married to actress Gwyneth Paltrow. USA Today, The Washington Post and The Daily Telegraph have all run articles about how Gwyneth seems to annoy so very many people. What celebrity gets on your nerves? That horrible Patricia Heaton from Everybody Loves Raymond. Shrill, bossy and humorless, both on her TV shows and in her RWNJ tweets.

4) Coldplay's first big hit was, "Yellow." What color are you wearing right now? White

5) Sam remembers when she used to hear this song everywhere and can't believe that was 7 years ago! When is the last time you had a similar "my, how time flies!" moment? Every time I see my nephew. He's a sophomore in high school now, taller than me with such a deep voice. Yet it seems like just last week he was obsessed with Thomas the Tank Engine. In reality, that was 7 years ago, too.

6) In 2008, when "Viva la Vida" was popular, John Grisham's latest legal thriller, The Appeal, was jumping off bookshelves. What have you read this summer? An okay mystery, a lovely and light biography of costume designer Edith Head, and now an exhausting biography, Being Nixon. I'm learning a lot about him and it's fascinating, but it's not an easy read. Complex and tragic. (I know, I know ... it's summer so I should be reading chick lit.)

7) Thinking of books: Let's say a biographer has taken the task of writing your biography. What would you title your life story? The Determined Heroine. I take this from my favorite Nora Ephron quote.

 

8) 2008 is also the year Paul Newman died of cancer. Name a Newman movie. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. The film that will always define cool for me.

 
BTW, Mr. Newman was as good and decent offscreen as he was cool onscreen. After he died, I learned how much he helped a children's home right here, next door to where I live. The kids who live next door are in foster care, and the unfortunate reality is that the system separates siblings. Every summer, Newman's Own sent a bus to collect the kids next door and their brothers and sisters also in foster care so they could enjoy a day together at an amusement park. No charge. The only request was that the children's home not publicize it or use his name in their fundraising. I live next door, and didn't know this was happening until after he had passed. A class act. 
 

9) Random question: Do you like garlic? Not especially.

August Happiness Challenge -- Day 28

Today's Happy Cone goes to a new discovery. This is a very little thing. But then, it's been kind of a crummy day, and I take my joy where I find it.

I was stuck in the bathroom (she said euphemistically) so long that I couldn't get to the office before 10:30. Since we have Summer Fridays, where the office closes at 12:30, it was hardly worth it to go in. So I called in sick and went back to sleep. Finally, at about 2:30, I felt well enough to go out and face the world.

I walked to the vet to pick up the new prescription catfood now required by Reynaldo and old Joe. On the way back, I stopped at a new, independent grocery store. It replaced the mom'n'pop that had been there for 28 years. Under previous ownership, the prices were really low but the selection was disturbingly small and the shopping experience was unpleasant. The new owners brought in new freezers and added an island salad bar and a revamped meat/butcher department.

The prices went up, but I still managed to find a nice sale item (a box of mac'n'cheese, perfect for the food pantry, for just 69¢). I picked up favorite Brawny paper towels, with full sized sheets (!), a treasure I can't find anywhere else around here anymore. And it's always satisfying to support a small, independent business. (The new owners own another store in downtown Chicago, but two locations are hardly a chain.)

What's that you say? What's the August Happiness Challenge?

Each day in August you are to post about something that makes *you* happy. Pretty simple. And, it doesn't even have to be every day if you don't want it to be. It's a great way to remind ourselves that there are positive things going on in our lives, our communities, and the world.

If you want to play along, just come back here (meaning to this blog, not this individual post) each day in August, looking for the happy chocolate cone. Every day I will try to have a post with the headline: August Happiness Challenge: Day [X]. Leave a comment and then post your own daily happiness, with August Happiness Challenge in the title to make it easy to find.

August Happiness Challenge -- Day 27

Today's Happy Cone goes to mlb.com. I was able to listen to Thursday's game right there, from my desk, when I was working. The outcome isn't what I would have wished, but that's not the point. I got to hear Pat Hughes, the delightful voice of the Cubs, through my headphones while I worked on The Big Project and it helped keep me sane.

Really, The Big Project is totally taking its toll. My stomach is a mess. My right eye twitches. It's a battle to keep my temper.

If there were more day games, and I could take advantage of mlb.com more often, I believe I'd be doing much better. I'm always happier when I have baseball, and Pat's voice is like a tonic to me.

What's that you say? What's the August Happiness Challenge?

Each day in August you are to post about something that makes *you* happy. Pretty simple. And, it doesn't even have to be every day if you don't want it to be. It's a great way to remind ourselves that there are positive things going on in our lives, our communities, and the world.

If you want to play along, just come back here (meaning to this blog, not this individual post) each day in August, looking for the happy chocolate cone. Every day I will try to have a post with the headline: August Happiness Challenge: Day [X]. Leave a comment and then post your own daily happiness, with August Happiness Challenge in the title to make it easy to find.

The Ingrid Bergman Blogathon: When Ingrid Met Edith

By 1943, Edith Head was one of Hollywood's most prolific costume designers. She got where she was through energy, hard work, and her ability to forge personal relationships with the stars she dressed. She wanted them to relax and feel comfortable with her and with their clothes so they could concentrate on their performances, not their wardrobe. This approach had brought her much success with Mae West and (her favorite) Barbara Stanwyck. Now she was dressing Vera Zorina for Paramount's production of For Whom the Bell Tolls.

In 1943, Ingrid Bergman was Hollywood's It girl. Intermezzo, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and, of course, Casablanca had all been major hits. When Paramount execs decided that Zorina just wasn't believable as Maria, the influential and highly opinionated author of For Whom the Bell Tolls, Ernest Hemingway, strongly suggested that Bergman take her place.

As was her practice, Edith began the process of dressing Ingrid by just talking to her. It was Bergman's idea that Maria wear men's clothes. Since Ingrid was a "big girl" by Hollywood standards -- size 14 -- it was easy to find appropriate clothes in the men's wardrobe department. The two women were very happy with their off-the-rack discoveries, as was their director, Sam Wood. But Bergman was under personal contract to David O. Selznick, and he was aghast to learn that his actress was being dressed in wardrobe that had been previously worn onscreen by cowboy extras. So much to Edith and Ingrid's amusement, new clothes were purchased and time and expense taken to tailor them for Ingrid. Then they were bleached and dyed to look old and worn.

In 1945, Edith and Ingrid were happy to be reunited for The Bells of St. Mary's. But Edith found the film frustrating because there was so little for her to do. Once again she was presented with a graceful and beautiful leading lady to dress, and her job consisted mostly of making sure the Catholic Church would approve Ingrid's habit.

It wasn't until 1946, and Notorious, that Edith got to dress Ingrid the way she wanted to. This assignment was a far cry from the menswear and ecclesiastic garb of their previous collaborations. Finally Edith got to put her leading lady in street clothes, evening clothes and even bedclothes. The director, Alfred Hitchcock, was known to be very particular about how his films looked, but on Notorious, he limited his wardrobe input to broad stroke requirements of color and function. (For example, "In this scene, her skirt must be dark and full enough to brush against the desk.") Beyond that, he gave Edith and Ingrid free reign. And what fun they had!

Early in Notorious we see Ingrid in a racy, bare midriff blouse. The stark contrast of the black and white horizontal stripes make her the most conspicuous woman in the room. This is the "real" Alicia, sensual and brazen. For the rest of the movie, the clothes we see Alicia wearing are her wardrobe as an undercover agent. Now she's demure and covered up. After all, a spy must blend in, not stand out.

Ingrid was taller and more muscular than most of the actresses Edith dressed throughout her long Hollywood career. Ingrid was so naturally beautiful,and moved so well, that she was better served by skillful tailoring than glamorous flourishes. Edith took great satisfaction in using restraint to make her leading lady look "marvelous."

After doing three films together in rapid succession, Edith and Ingrid wouldn't work together again for decades, until 1965 when they made The Yellow Rolls Royce. I have not seen this film, but in publicity stills it appears that Edith still believed "less is more" when dressing Ingrid.

Interestingly, in interviews Edith gave at the time and in her memoirs, it was Shirley MacLaine she mentioned in connection with The Yellow Rolls Royce, not Ingrid Bergman. Throughout her career, Edith tried to stay relevant by concentrating on the trendy girl, Hollywood's girl of the moment, and by that time,  Shirley was in the spotlight.

I could find nothing about a falling out between Ingrid and Edith and I suspect there wasn't one. For while Bergman may have had fun playing clothes horse in the Hitchcock movie, she was really more interested in the script and character motivation than to her wardrobe, so I don't think she minded when she was no longer the focus of Edith's attention.

Want to read more about Ingrid Bergman's wonderful career? Check out the other posts in the Wonderful Ingrid Bergman Blogathon.

August Happiness Challenge -- Day 26

Today's Happy Cone goes to my fur family. I had a rough day at work, especially at the end of the day. When I got home, I was greeted by three very hungry critters. I always enjoy meal times with them because enthusiastic eaters tend to be healthy felines.

After dinner (both mine and theirs), I curled up to watch the game. Each of the cats has taken a turn beside me. First Connie, whose style is to butt her head against my hand and then crawl into my lap for a cuddle. Then big old Joe rubbed up against the MacBook on my lap, just to make sure I was aware that he was aboard the futon, before curling up against the pillow. And now I'm being treated to the gentle vibration of Reynaldo's purr as he lays here patiently, knowing that every now and again I'll interrupt my typing to stroke his back.

I feel their love and I am happy.

What's that you say? What's the August Happiness Challenge?

Each day in August you are to post about something that makes *you* happy. Pretty simple. And, it doesn't even have to be every day if you don't want it to be. It's a great way to remind ourselves that there are positive things going on in our lives, our communities, and the world.

If you want to play along, just come back here (meaning to this blog, not this individual post) each day in August, looking for the happy chocolate cone. Every day I will try to have a post with the headline: August Happiness Challenge: Day [X]. Leave a comment and then post your own daily happiness, with August Happiness Challenge in the title to make it easy to find.

What if?

If only I had a sense of adventure, more money and more guts, I'd go for this job. I think working here would be spectacular!

Vice President, Marketing, John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum
The newly created position of Vice President, Marketing will report directly to the Chief Operating Officer (COO) and is responsible for developing and executing strategies to transform the Foundation’s marketing functions. This role will be key to the successful implementation of an ambitious Long Range Strategic Plan, revitalizing the Foundation’s marketing efforts, and preparing for the activities taking place in 2017 celebrating the Centennial of President Kennedy’s birth. He or she will work in close collaboration with the VP Communications and Digital Media, in coordinating content management and new marketing activities for the Foundation.

I like Boston! I know how to get to the Library on the MBTA!

Oh, well. I'm really not at all qualified and not-for-profits don't pay very well ... I hope whoever gets the position aces it.

August Happiness Challenge -- Day 25

Today's Happy Cone goes to sharing my team with America. Last night I had a rough commute. A man asked me for $15 to help him and his sister get home. I gave him a buck and he was all pissy. "I'd do better to steal," he sniffed. Then I ended up beside a man who kept dialing his mother and calling her a "fucking bitch." Not fun, not relaxing.

Then I got home and waited for the game. My guys are on a West Coast swing, so it
didn't come on until 9:00. It was worth waiting for. We beat the Giants 8 to 5. AND I found out that my heroes will be on the cover of the next SI. I'm glad America will get to know these guys. They really are great.

A while back a grumpy gus commented dismissively about baseball, responding to my rhapsodizing by saying she just "didn't get it." How sad for her! For watching America's pasttime, hearing the crack of the bat, watching the ball sail out of the park is so good for what ails me.

What's that you say? What's the August Happiness Challenge?

Each day in August you are to post about something that makes *you* happy. Pretty simple. And, it doesn't even have to be every day if you don't want it to be. It's a great way to remind ourselves that there are positive things going on in our lives, our communities, and the world.

If you want to play along, just come back here (meaning to this blog, not this individual post) each day in August, looking for the happy chocolate cone. Every day I will try to have a post with the headline: August Happiness Challenge: Day [X]. Leave a comment and then post your own daily happiness, with August Happiness Challenge in the title to make it easy to find.

Cubs win! Cubs win!

Kris Bryant, home run, bottom of the 9th. God, I love this team!

August Happiness Challenge -- Day 24

Today's Happy Cone goes to "Mr. Pigeon." I was back at work today after four long, glorious days off. I saw everything with fresh eyes, including the infusion of tourists enjoying The Loop.

For example, I saw a little boy of about 7 filled with awe about everything he took in as he and his family waited for a table outside in the sun, in view of the park. First he looked up at the tall buildings, jaw agape. Then his gaze returned to earth, where he was delighted to see a pigeon, scrounging around for crumbs. Most people ignore pigeons or regard them with disgust. But my little tow-headed tourist said, "Hey, Mr. Pigeon!"

So instead of bitching about the tourists, blocking the sidewalks and intersections as they stop to consult their maps or phones and (AARGH!) take selfies, I should remember that I'm watching people make memories and, perhaps, see something they've never encountered before. Viewed that way, their joy can be infectious.

What's that you say? What's the August Happiness Challenge?

Each day in August you are to post about something that makes *you* happy. Pretty simple. And, it doesn't even have to be every day if you don't want it to be. It's a great way to remind ourselves that there are positive things going on in our lives, our communities, and the world.

If you want to play along, just come back here (meaning to this blog, not this individual post) each day in August, looking for the happy chocolate cone. Every day I will try to have a post with the headline: August Happiness Challenge: Day [X]. Leave a comment and then post your own daily happiness, with August Happiness Challenge in the title to make it easy to find.