Six Word Wish

 

Saturdays should be forty-eight hours longer!

Feel Good Friday, August 22

 

There’s so much craziness going on in the world.  Wars.  Racial and religious tensions.  Crime of just about every imaginable flavor.  It’s overwhelming sometimes. 

But, when it all seems hopeless, it’s refreshing to know that we’ve got a leader we can turn to for a needed dose of wisdom and inspiration.

Sadly, I don’t typically turn to elected officials for that much-needed boost, but I can always count on Kid President.  Making the rounds this week is his back to school message, and I was glad to see it, because the world definitely needs to show a little more awesome.

If you’re not familiar with Kid President, you really should check him out.  I’d vote for him (and his staffers) for real, but I wouldn’t want to ruin them!

Snapshot Sunday, August 17

 

The makings of a good birthday?  (Or a good any day, really.)  Good times with the one you love, and surrounded by the beauty of nature.  Couldn’t ask for more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                      

Feel Good Friday, August 15

 

You know what this Friday’s feel good is all about?  I started my three day weekend!  It’s such a simple thing, you would not think that would bring me such a feeling of euphoria, but it really, really does. 

So, Brian and I made a short road trip, had a nice dinner, and then strolled around a quaint little town.  Perfect way to spend a day.  Tomorrow we’ll explore a little more and see what there is to see.  I have to say, I do not miss work at all!

Take Me Back to the Blue Skies

 

Is it weird that I have favorite television networks?  Now that I say that out loud (or, as out loud as you can get in writing), I think maybe it is.  But it doesn’t change the fact that I do, and always have.

When I was a youngster, I was all about ABC.  There was a short period that NBC was at the top of my list, and for quite a while now, CBS has held the top spot of the broadcast networks.  But for several years, the cable network that has had my heart is USA.  Their original programming has been pretty consistently entertaining for a long while, and they have a pretty decent selection of syndicated programs, too.  When I want to browse the cable channels, my starting point is always USA.  When I’m at the gym and want to put something on the television to help distract me from treadmill monotony, USA is there.  It’s a habit that’s been built from many years of always finding something decent to occupy my time.

But lately, I’ve begun to worry.  It’s bad enough that programming that I’ve depended on for years has been slowly coming to an end—Burn Notice and Psych are already gone, and my beloved White Collar will be winding down soon (or as soon as they give them a time slot for the final six episodes). And even some of the new-ish shows that I enjoyed got the ax: Necessary Roughness, Fairly Legal, Common Law.  But, hey, things happen.  You can’t love TV as much as I do without a heartbreak or two along the way.

But the real problem with all these shows leaving the air is some of the things that are coming on to replace them.  But I will stop right here and tell you—in the interest of total transparency—that I haven’t seen the programming I’m about to gripe about.  And you know what else?  In most cases, that’s never going to change.  Chrisley Knows Best?  Playing House?  Sirens?  Thank you, but no.  Not the kind of shows I care for, and not what I’ve come to expect from USA. 

Even Graceland, which is probably the newest  USA show that I do watch, is edgier than the others, darker.  That’s not necessarily a bad thing, it’s just not really what I tune in to USA to see.  I want drama with a touch of humor; I want smart, fun characters; I want protagonists who are friends and who make me feel they could be my friends; I want the “blue skies” the network has promised us for so long; and I truly want characters to be welcome, even though it’s been a while since USA has used that particular catchphrase.

Oh, we’ve still got Royal Pains, Suits, and Covert Affairs, so that’s good, though neither Suits nor Covert Affairs seems to be as much fun this year as they’ve been in season’s past.  I’m a bit behind on my viewing, but that’s the impression I have from what I’ve seen.  And I suppose most of those shows I listed earlier that I don’t watch probably fit in with the “blue skies” theme, and they seem to offer quirky characters (I’m basing this on commercials), but they don’t seem as intelligent as the network I know and love.  So, I guess it boils down to smart fun, that’s how I see USA and it’s what I love about their shows.  And, it seems like that’s what we’re losing.   I miss it already.

The Countdown is On!

 

 

It’s a bad sign, I think, when the best thing about work is counting down to a long weekend.  Still, bad or not, that’s where I am today.  It was literally all I could do to make myself go into the office today, and I’m thrilled with the idea of looking forward to a three day weekend to celebrate my birthday. 

Don’t get me wrong, there are many good things about my job, but it’s a job, so there are also many not so good things.  I just try to remember that everything—every single thing—is a learning opportunity.  Sometimes it’s about learning how I don’t want to do something, but it still helps me to grow.   And, if (I mean when) I finally hit the lottery and decide to open my own business, I’ll know just how I want to be as an owner. 

Anyway, back, to the good part—an extra day away.  My birthday falls on a Sunday this year, so I’m treating myself to a present of the vacation.  Sure, it’s just one extra day, but I feel like it can make all the difference in the world.

Six Word Serenade

 

 

 

Michael Bublé, from the cheap seats.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Feel Good Friday, August 1, 2014

 

Saw this on my feed last night and just had to share.  Makes me want to change banks, even though my bank is really fine; apparently there’s still room for improvement.

At the end of typically long and draining weeks, I’m always glad to have something funny and relaxing to come home to.   Hope it helps you, too.

 

Throwback Thursday, July 31

 

A while back, my brother-in-law posted on Facebook about a fun way to waste a few hours (like anyone needs help finding that online, right?)  Anyway, he shared a site called The Nostalgia Machine, which really will suck you right into some kind of time warp.  It’s a nice collection of popular music, organized by year, so you can take a trip back to your childhood, or street cruising days, or just last year to the song that kept you bopping during your morning commute. 

The site isn’t anything fancy, just a bunch of links to YouTube music, but that’s okay, because it’s still fun to just hop around and relive the sounds.  Though, I think it’s just one more indication of my advancing age that I know more of the songs the further back the years go.

Which brings us to today’s selection—a song from the year of my birth.  I’ve always liked this song, though it certainly has a bit of melancholy to go along with its mildly peppy chorus.  (And, if the rumors are true, and it’s really a disguised drug anthem, well, I was far too young to recognize the possibility when I first grew to love the song, and now I just refuse to accept it.)

Enjoy this song, then pop on over to the site, and enjoy a whole bunch more.  Go on; it’s fun.

The Flying Pickle

 

The jury may still be out on my writing abilities—I rate the merits higher or lower depending upon the day.  However, one look at this, and you’ll see there’s no doubt that painting is not my forte.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But, we had a good time, and raised a little money for a good cause.  And regardless of the reason, or the end result, a girls’ afternoon is always a reason to celebrate.

Celebrate!

 

Yes, I know that just yesterday I was a little annoyed with some recent goings on, but that doesn’t mean I’d want to trade the good ol’ US of A for anything at all.   So , today I spent the day doing the things I am most  grateful for, mainly, hanging out with family, talking, laughing, and having a variety of good food.   And, in my annual quest to get decent pictures of fireworks, I finally got a few that I was happy with, including the one above.  Nice way to end the evening.

So, happy birthday, America; let’s plan another party next year!

The Force is Strong

 

Taking a break from television tonight to have a brief fan-girl moment over feature films. 

Today it was officially announced that the original cast from Star Wars will be reprising their roles in the upcoming Episode VII.  Go ahead; squee with me!

Sure, it’s been the talk of rumors for quite a while, but sometimes the things fans want have a way of turning into those rumors, even when there’s zero basis in truth.  I’m glad to see this one actually came to fruition.  Not that I’m expecting the original folks to be the actual focus of the film, that would probably be asking too much.  But I’m expecting something more than a cameo, and I hope I’m not disappointed in that.

Of course, it is still over a year and a half before we get to stroll into a theater and see what the next installment might bring, but I’m excited to know that we’ll be getting to see some familiar faces in the mix.

Make Up Monday

 

You know that saying about needing a vacation to recover from vacation?  Yeah.  That.

I always enjoy traveling, but I’m also always glad to be back home, even if it does take a few days to get caught back up on sleep and get back into the swing of things.  We had a good time at the Phi Theta Kappa Nerd Nation in Orlando, and I hope I get to do it again next year, though it will have to be on my dime next time around.  I think it’s the sort of thing college days were made for, even if I am getting started about three decades too late.

Anyway, today I’ve got a few photos from the trip that should have gone up yesterday, but for the fact that I was exhausted and fell asleep with a laptop open and waiting for me to do something with it.  Oh, well.  Better late than never, I always say.

So, the pictures.  And, yes, it was a national gathering of honor society students, but who says nerds can’t have fun?

Six Word Fellowship

 

PTK sisters hanging out at Universal.

Feel Good Friday, April 25

 

I have to say, it’s really been quite a while since I’ve really felt like much of a personal Feel Good Friday, but I’m feeling it today.  But what can you expect when you spend a day hanging with PTK buddies at the convention and then spend a few hours at Walt Disney World?  WDW may not technically be “the happiest place on earth” according to the Disney folks, but I would beg to differ.

We really did only have a few hours, so our park visit was limited to Main Street USA and Fantasyland, but it was still a good time.  We got to walk around and enjoy a nice afternoon/evening, rode It’s a Small World, saw both the Main Street Electrical Parade and the Wishes fireworks show, and Tigger waved at me and then blew me a kiss.  Oh, and we had some really tasty ice cream to end the day.  If that kind of day doesn’t make you feel good, I just don’t know what will.

 

I’m Tired Already

 

It’s kind of amazing how you can go from a slow-moving, not much to do week to an OH MY GOSH, I’LL NEVER GET IT ALL DONE week in just the space of a few hours. 

I’ve been planning a trip to Orlando with my PTK peeps for a few months now (really, just the possibility of being able to make this trip was one of the factors last year when I was considering whether or not to take more classes this semester!), but with the blood clot and the hospitalization and all, lately I’d been preparing myself for the idea that I probably would not be able to go.  Consequently, I have not been getting ready to go.  Like packing.  Or even laundry. 

So when my doctor cleared me today to travel, I was both elated and just a little bit panic-stricken.  Then, I looked more closely at my class schedule and realized that homework I thought was due next week is actually due tomorrow, which means that the quiz that follows that homework is also due this week rather than next.  Panic isn’t even the right word.

And, add to that the fact that the trade-off for not having to drive myself to the airport tomorrow and leave my car there all week (and pay ridiculous parking fees), is that Brian has to take me to work tomorrow before he goes to his own job, which means I have to be at work about an hour early.  After being there two and a half hours late today. 

All of this means I will be going in to my fun-filled trip already at a sleep deficit, so I should be completely wiped out by the time I return home Sunday evening.  If I was heading off anywhere but the Land of Mickey, I’d give serious consideration to just calling the whole thing off, but turning down a free trip to Florida?  Nah, I don’t think I can do that.

So, dream of me tonight, since I won’t be getting much sleep of my own, and I’ll wish upon a star for you once I get where I’m going. 

Snapshot Sunday, April 20

 

I know that earlier this week I was feeling a bit angsty about the upcoming Easter holiday, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have a moment or two of sadness today.  However, our actual family gathering was yesterday, a picnic at the lake.  And though certainly I missed the loved ones that were absent, it was still a great day.  The weather was beautiful, the food abundant, and the company the best.  It might’ve been a day early, with some important people missing, but I still think it was just about exactly the way a family holiday should be.

Facebook Friday, April 18

 

Sometimes I marvel at Facebook—the way it allows people to connect and share and simply be themselves the way they really are (or how they’d like to be).  And sometimes I get annoyed when people share too much and I’d really rather not know quite so much of about the way they really are.

On the other hand, I can’t get enough of the fun videos and pictures and such that get shared far and wide.  My favorite this week was a couple of cute dancing kids.  I’m not usually one for dressed up kids trying to look all grown up, but these kids really are adorable, and they’ve got some pretty good moves.  Click the link to check for yourself.               Post by PerezHilton.com.

Facebook Friday, April 4

 

What sort of fun things did Facebook bring me this week?  Well, it’s been sort of a sickly week, so I didn’t spend a lot of time on the computer, even for important things, much less random scrolling through social media.  But, I logged on one day in search of a particular message, and saw that Patrick Stewart was littering my newsfeed.  I don’t know about you, but I think Mr. Stewart is always worth taking a few minutes, and this was no exception.

Sir Patrick made news this week by playing tourist with his good buddy, Sir Ian McKellen, as they wrapped up a Broadway run.  Tourist photos are always fun, but these are exceptionally so.  I think the one below is my favorite, but do take a few minutes and check out some others.  I like seeing the celebrity types being plain silly, and I would love to have been an actual tourist watching them create some of these shots.

Six Word Kinship

 

 

Saturdays with family are the best!