Misfortune

How is it that we can find other people's misfortunes so amusing? I'm not talking the "lost my house and dog in a hurricane" misfortunes, but the " it's been terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day" kind of misfortunes. My darling husband told me a story that had me laughing to tears, very much to his annoyance. He took a plastic bag (which I had a premonition about, but put in the bag holder anyway) with him when he took our dog Molly out for walk a few weeks ago. He does (or rather didn't) like to use the lovely pooper- scooper- thing a friendly neighbor gave us - took much extra to carry. Anyway, he needed to use the bag to clean up Molly's mess and was very displeased to find it had a hole in it. (My premonition coming true, making me realize that I really should listen every time I have thoughts like that). He came storming back up the driveway only to have a bird poop on him . The rather angry face and the utterly remarkable story of misfortune was vastly amusing to me(and still is). This did not make my husband feel better. But as I could not stop laughing for several minutes and tried mightly to convey that I was "SO sorry" through the chortling, he did eventually find the humor in it himself. So perhaps, that is why misfortune is amusing to others, to help those who are dealing with it find the humor in it too, eventually. (I didn't mention my premonition and recomend that if you find yourself in a similar situtation, that you don't either.)

Laughter

If you ask most people who have known me for a long time about my new job, they will laugh and say that it's probably the last job they would have ever picture me having. My brother is highly disappointed that my head hasn't exploded. I certainly never figured that one day I would be a church secretary. But, I am finding that not only do I truly enjoy what I'm doing, but I seem to be just the right person for this job. It probably has a great deal to do with the fact that I have fallen in love with our church. It took me by surprise several years ago when we started attending this church. I had always felt uncomfortable and out of place in a church setting, and for the first time, I really enjoyed the whole church going experience. I found myself getting more and more invovled with all sorts of activites. However, for the last few years we have had a pastor that was not to my (or most of the church member's) fancy. 2 weeks ago a new pastor arrived. I had been getting to know her - from the secretary stand point - through e-mails and had great hope she would be just what we needed. It's alot of pressure on someone to be everything a church needs, but today, today there was laughter in the pews. A sound that has been missing from our services for FAR too long. If this is all the good that happens(which I just KNOW it won't be) it is really great. It's still surprises me how much of a family this congregation has become to me, it truly filled my heart with joy to hear the sound of their laughter. I look forward to it happening again very soon and with much greater frequency.

Movies

I love movies. Really love movies. I'll watch almost anything. I dislike horror or really creepy movies, but I've even seen a fair share of those. I like when movies have a good effect on your mood. Laughter really is a powerful medicine. I like when movies get you thinking. Who would you sleep with for $1 million dollars? What if you could erase parts of your memory? Can men and women truly be just friends? I love the whole process of movies. I like going to the theatre, eating popcorn and reacting along with a group of strangers. I like receiving them in the mail and being comfy on the couch to watch them. I love watching award shows and reading reviews. I like introducing different things to my kids. Who would have thought they would really get into a Bollywood musical with subtitles and a romantic plot? How can you not love their hysterical laughter at The Batman Movie? But sometimes a movie hits you below the belt. Usually it's when your mood is low or reflective. Sometimes is makes you wonder who you are, why you do what you do, and whether or not you can really consider yourself a good person. Sometimes it makes you truly appreciate the life you have, really see all your blessings. And sometimes it just makes you remember what it was like when your life was in a similar place. I've become the type of person who is focused on not purposely adding negative things to her life. I am trying to choose to look at things in a positive light. It's hardly as though I will never complain, or refuse to see that there is alot wrong in the world, but I will not go out and read or watch things that will purposely be adding to the already to many evil images stored in my memory. It's not naive, just trying to choose being happy. Because happy really is a choice.

Palette

So why is it some people love sweet wine and others can't stand it? After spending a rather nice weekend in Niagara-on-the-Lake, known for it's "Ice Wine" I wonder this all the more. Ice wine is made after a 7 degree day (usually January), when the water in the grape freezes and they are able to extract just the fruit juice. This makes for a great deal of sweetness and a very limited harvest. Small bottles at large prices being snapped up by those who adore it. So why can I picture being able to live my life quite happily without ever having to taste it again and there are large groups pf people who think the opposite? Is it the genetic make of of my tongue or merely a preference? I enjoy sweet things, namely chocolate (in almost any form), and even frequently crave them. Why not this? It really isn't a life altering question, more of a curious pondering. I would love to see stasitics on this. Maybe I'll search the web, answers abound there.

What ever happened to manners?

What is wrong with people today? A large group of obviously extremely angry people decided to devise a way to make a bomb while on their flight from London to JFK. Which has them in jail for life and me unable to take mascara with me on my flight to NYC tomorrow. It's just so damn rude! What purpose does it serve to blow up a plane while you're on it? What do these really angry people actaully hope to gain? World domination? Spiritual peace? A big smelly mess? What were their parents doing while they were raising these desperately- in- need- of- anger- managment- classes kids? I mean even major sickos like Jeffery Dahmer accomplished more pain that keeping the world from being able to travel with their shampoo bottles. And what happened to the "Rules of Engagement"? The Japanese had enough honor to attack a military base when they decided we americans were all evil and needed to be wiped off the planet. Lack of good parenting is causing so many more problems than the death of chivalry. Etiquitte Schools need to be brought back and set up all over the world. Teaching people to disagree in a civilized manner. Teaching people to simply say, "I may find everything about who and what you are completely repulsive, but you are not causing me, my family or frankly anyone harm, so go about you creepy business."
Sigh. If only people could just lighten up!

Why is it...

Why is it that when you're really tired and all settled in to sleep, your brain starts racing through the long list of things that need to be done upon waking the next day, totally keeping you from actually falling asleep? Why haven't they invented an on and off switch for just such an occasion? Or a mute button for your children? Or wouldn't it be nice if you could hit an "undo" button for those little mistakes. Scientists come up with lots of cool helpful things, why can't they get a little more practical and solve the everyday aggrevations that keep us from remaining sane? Is it just TOO much to ask?

The company she keeps

The thing about having company, is that it's as nice to have them there as it is to have them leave. And it depends on the company, how long it take before you are ready for their departure. Sometimes it's merely moments, others it could take months. However, having you house back to yourself is always a welcome relief. All the cleaning, preparing, cooking and entertaining was all worth the aftermath of lounging alone on the couch and not having to close the bathroom door ! It's not just me, the hostess, who feels this either. The boys are glad not to be sharing politely, the husband is pleased to get back to tooling around and even the dog flops over on her bed with a loud sigh, glad all the work is done! Time to start planning the next visit!

Worm Race

I was flipping through the Penny Saver, not expecting to find anything (as usual) when I came across an ad for a "Worm Race". 5th annual at Louie's Lounge, worms will be available or you can bring your own. Hot dogs and hamburgers provided. I said, "We SOO need to go to that!" And we did. I have never laughed so hard with complete strangers in my life. I'm not sure if my boys had more fun than I did. They both came in 2nd place and earned $10 (it was $5 a worm to enter, a tad steep in my book, but far too late to get out of by then). The fun continued for at least week. Starting with discussions of what type of worm they would look for next year as we drove away, to telling all our family and friends we had been to a Worm Race, and finally to spending the winnings on new toys! This is a prime example of how my life usually goes. Something different turns out to be great, my husband even grudingly agreed this was fun. So that's the reason behind the name of the blog. Like anyone really cares, but hey, who needs them to anyway!