What a Wonderful World

As almost everyone who knows me well knows, I have 1 very favorite song. It can make me smile, cry, laugh, dance (just depends on my mood) everytime I hear it. Well this video takes that song to a WHOLE NEW LEVEL! Mom, thanks for sending this to me. It's great! And on a day like today, this video is perfect. Enjoy....and pass it on to your friends and family!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rooyt3ptNco&feature=email

If you're looking for a quote and tidbit, I'm sorry but there will not be either today. Say a prayer for your family, friends and those who may be sick or suffering. And have a good Monday.

Make Time

Last night, I had an extremely painful yet fortunate chance to say goodbye to a very close family friend. She has been battling brain cancer for 16 brave months and now doctors say she only has a few days left. As I type this I'm getting choked up thinking about what a wonderful person the world is about to lose and how unfair it is. But if death teaches us anything it's that life is precious and sometimes short and it should never be taken for granted. The amazing things this woman accomplished during her time on her earth are mind-boggling. The thousands of lives that she's touched are forever changed and so many people will be forever grateful that they had the opportunity to know such a wonderful woman. She is, simply, what I aspire to be - smart, beautiful, kind, headstrong, compassionate, loving and above all a great friend no matter what.

I watch as her friends gather together to say their last goodbyes and band together as a group to keep each other strong. Her memory will live on through them, and what a wonderful thing that is. It makes me think of my friendships and how precious they are. Simple things like girls' nights and sweet notes to each other are so important because if you have a strong group of friends, you can do anything. Seeing these women rally around their friend in her final days reminds me to never take my friendships for granted. Always comfort a friend in need. Send flowers or a nice note to a friend for no reason other than to say hello. Keep in touch with friends who have moved away. Make time for your friends, even if you only have time to grab a quick cup of coffee once a week. These things are important because one day your time is up. And when that moment comes I know I don't want to have any regrets or think "If only I had done this." Life and time are fleeting and we must make all the memories we can before we have to say goodbye.

Quote of the Day: "Beauty is only skin deep, but ugly goes clean to the bone." - Dorothy Parker

Tidbit for Today: Go out and buy some nice stationary with your name or monogram on it and use it not only to write thank-you notes but also to write letters to your friends who you don't get to see or talk to that often. A letter is so fun to receive in the mail, even it's short, and it's a very personal and touching way to stay in touch.

Extra Tidbit

Everyone needs to get in their car at some point today, open the sun roof and drive around, singing some great rock out music! I was singing and dancing to Katy Perry - I find she's best if you turn it up really loud, sing at the top of your lungs and shake your hair all around!

Enjoy!

The Game of Life!

Drum roll please......................"The Game of Life" is now available....................................ONLINE!!!! Can you believe it?! I'm am now going to officially become the most WORTHLESS person at work! Unless you count getting married, having 4 kids, a job, a mansion and winning the Game of Life as the greatest accomplishment of a person's life.....

I used to rock this game with my girlfriends while drinking massive amounts of wine and comparing how many kids we had pegged into the back of our car. Well this online version offers even more fun because if you're tired of getting married to the same old blue or pink piece, you can........drum roll again please........................have a same-sex marriage!!!! Of course this is causing some uproar around the conservative circles, but how fun! Way to spice it up, Life. Way to throw us a curve ball. I just hope I still end up with the mansion!

I've included a link below that will take you to a site where you can play a free trial version. So come on, waste your day away with "The Game of Life" - it is St. Patrick's Day after all.

http://www.shockwave.com/gamelanding/gameoflife.jsp

Quote of the Day: "In all this world, why I do think/ There are five reasons why we drink:/ Good friends,/ Good wine,/ Lest we be dry/ and any other reason why." - Old Irish proverb

One more quote for good measure (it is St. Patty's Day after all): "Work is the curse of the drinking class." - Oscar Wilde

Tidbit for Today: Did you know that St. Patrick was actually not Irish at all? He was British, if you can believe that, and was kidnapped by some (probably drunken) Irishmen in the 15th century and made a slave in Ireland. He later escaped, but he returned to Ireland as a Christian missionary later in his life. Interesting tidbit I thought. HAPPY SAINT PATRICK'S DAY!!!

"Oh What a Beautiful Morning"

As I stepped out my front door this morning, I took a deep breath and had my first taste of spring. I know it's only March 4th, but today was the first day I smelled spring. Laugh all you want, but yes, I can smell the different seasons. I can smell holidays too. Jealous?

Anyways, back to this glorious day. It couldn't be more beautiful. I am speechless and in awe of nature and life today. It's the kind of day you just want to be outside, maybe with a good book and a cup of coffee, sitting on a patio. It's the kind of day you want to spend with your friends and loved ones. It's a day to be thankful. It's a day to smile no matter what. It's a day to send your friends nice notes or messages, just to say hi. It's a day to do something nice for someone else, maybe even someone you don't know. It's a day to read a snuggie blog and almost spit out your coffee. It's a day to get excited about cuppies and joe - FYI, it's going to be even MORE beautiful tomorrow, Meesh!

It's a day to quit smoking. And it's a day to ask my friends and family to not only support me in this endeavor but also to kick my often rotund backside if I try to slip up. ; ) That's why you have support systems, right?

Here's to more beautiful and HEALTHY days! Happy Hump Day!

Quote of the Day: "Live in such a way that you would not be ashamed to sell your parrot to the town gossip." - Will Rogers

Tidbit for Today: If you're looking for something to do tonight, McNellie's Public House in Midtown has a great Wednesday special! $3 burgers - and this isn't just any burger....it's HUGE! And delicious! Plus, it comes with fries. You could go split one with your hubby, boyfriend or fiance, throw back a few pints and not dig too deep into your pockets. Enjoy!

A Case of the Tuesdays

I was going to write about something profound and thought-provoking today, but screw it - I've got a case of the Tuesdays. And no, that's not a fun thing. It's basically like Monday is repeating itself. I'm stuck in Groundhog Day. No fun at all. Annie and I talked about having a case of the Mondays yesterday, where everything just seems to go wrong from the second your alarm goes off. You're tired, busy, don't really want to be at work and daydream about laying on your sofa with a blanket and a cup of hot chocolate (or glass of wine, depending on how bad your day is) watching movies - or in my case, a marathon the Food Network. I've found a new addiction and it's not good.

Anyways, you eventually get over your case of the Mondays and move on with your week. Yesterday after work I went to the grocery store and that kicked my Monday Blues out the window. I love the grocery store! It's amazing I don't weigh a thousand pounds considering how much I love food and cooking. But that's my happy place, and we all need at least one. It's the only way to pull yourself out of the pit of quicksand that is Monday. So fast forward a few hours and I've cooked a delicious dinner, cleaned my entire house, relaxed on the sofa and watched my favorite Monday night shows. I couldn't have been in a better mood. But then this morning, as I came into work, I realized that that pest of a devil that sits on your back on Mondays had climbed from the back seat of my loaner car and jumped right back on my back. It's just "one of those days." Too busy to actually get anything done, my morning is filled with annoying phone calls and requests from people to do their work. Needless to say, I'm already daydreaming about my sofa and there is no hot chocolate in sight - just a glass of wine and Giada. Hell, I'd even take Rachael Ray or Sandra Lee right now. And it's only 10am. Not a good sign.

What's funny is I'm usually a very positive person. I see that damn silver lining that people hate for me to bring up and I always try to find the bright side of everything. When I get short on patience and frustrated with the smallest things, I honestly begin to worry that I have Turrets or something because it's so unnatural for me to be angry or unnerved for more than 5 minutes. This weekend, when I was in a hurry, I screamed at an elderly couple who's car was in front of me and driving too slow in my opinion. Granted my windows were all rolled up and I was basically yelling at myself, but still. I was concerned with the way I was acting. But after thinking about this for a while I realized that everyone gets a little impatient or stressed from time to time. I bet even Mother Teresa let few curse words fly every now and then, the difference being that afterwards she probably fell to her knees and said 20 Hail Mary's and I just shrug my shoulders, but still. Even the most positive, hope-filled human beings fall apart or lose their patience from time to time. And it's okay! Actually, it's probably healthy, in my opinion. I find that it's therapeutic to express my frustrations and then go to my points of happiness in life - like my mom, my husband, my girlfriends, even this blog now. Once I connect with my points of happiness I'm able to pull my head up and realize that life isn't all that bad and I really should just suck it up and put a smile on my face. Now if the clouds would just part and let the sun shine through, I could kick my case of the Tuesdays out the door. Thanks, Michelle - I blame you. ; )

Quote of the Day: "The first thing I do in the morning is brush my teeth and sharpen my tongue." - Dorothy Parker

Tidbit for Today: Check out this story - if it doesn't make you smile and wonder in amazement, I don't know what will. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/4927224/Pink-dolphin-appears-in-US-lake.html