Gas Stations

May 26’s 10 Things to Be Happy About

1. Farm Dogs - Sheep dogs are awesome because they are so fluffy. I walked into a store the other day and they had a sheep dog with a ponytail on her head and it was really funny. I think that any dog deserves to have the land that is on a farm to get the exercise that they need. Keeping a dog cooped up in an apartment is bad for them if you ask me.

2. Being There When the Boss Calls - If you’re there then you get bonus points for doing what the boss has asked you. It also gets you on the good side of the boss if you’ve done what they’ve asked of you correctly.

3. A Gas Station When You Need One - I try to fill up before I leave for a trip but it’s always good to find one when you need it rather than being stranded because that happened to my mom once just from picking me up because she hadn’t filled her tank in a while.

4. Beverly Hills, California - It’s where all the stars live so who wouldn’t want to live there? Ummmm, me that’s who! I would hate to live where all the stars live because there would constantly be paparazzi around and that would drive me nuts. If I were a star I would move far away from Cali just so that I could hear myself think.

5. Sitting in a Curved Restaurant Booth - These always entertained me as a kid and they make it easier when the restaurant has big parties for the waiters to be able to reach everyone. The only problem is if you’re sitting and you need to use the restrooms, you’re screwed because then you either have to make everyone else get up or sit there until the dinner is over.

6. Prisms of Sunlight on Pale Walls - The sunlight always lightens up the room that anyone is standing in. I love when it comes into my room as it is setting and shoots pretty colors across my walls.

7. Dill Weed in Sauces - We use this in a lot of recipes and it gives the food a different taste and makes it just that much better.

8. The Cubs’ Bleacher Bums - Are these people who just sit on the bleachers and never play? I would hate to be them because in most sports cases I would rather be on the field than off.

9. A Lunch Hour Spent Outside - I love eating my lunch outside in the shade, especially with this lovely warm weather that we are finally getting. I take my boyfriend lunch on the weekends and we sit in the grass of the parking lot in the shade and enjoy our hoagies together and enjoy the fresh air.

10. The Search for Life Beyond Earth - I believe that it exists but most people think that it’s just a myth. I think that there could be life beyond Earth and they are just taking a while to find us just as we are taking a while to find them.

Reaching the Itch

May 25’s 10 Things to Be Happy About

1. Pear Sherbet - I’m not a big fan of pears or sherbet so I don’t think that this would make me happy.

2. A Hug After a Long Day - I know that almost anyone will accept these, especially if the long day has been extremely stressful. My mom walks in the door most days looking like she is going to cry because of this awful woman that works in her building who is continually trying to sabotage her in the workplace. I personally think that she should be fired for some of the stuff that she has pulled but that’s just my opinion.

3. The End of a Disagreement - I’m just glad that I don’t have many of them in my life but when I do it’s always better when they are ending so that it can just go away and I can move on with my life. Some people hold grudges for too long instead of moving on. Moving on is a part of life people. I lost a few friends because of dumb arguments that they never got over which I think is horrendous.

4. Pull-Apart Bread Loaves - Meaning that they are precut?

5. Golden Deeds - Why are the deeds golden? Are they really valuable or are they actually a golden color??

6. Spring-Cleaning Your Life - Getting rid of people that I no longer talk to on facebook is always a wonderful way of cleaning up my life. Or deleting people in my phone that I no longer want anything to do with is another good way of cleaning my life.

7. Reaching the Itch - Who doesn’t love when they finally find that spot that has been bothering the so much? I get them all the time and when I can’t reach them I either find something to rub my back with or have a friend itch my back.

8. To Bed Early, Rising Early - I wish that I could go to bed early but if I did that than my summer would be a bust. Apparently at college I’m a grandmother because I constantly go to bed before everyone else. It’s usually because I get up earlier than everyone else and do my homework during the daylight hours instead of saving it for the nighttime hours.

9. Getting Your Money’s Worth - These days it’s really hard to get your money’s worth because everything is made with such cheap materials so that it breaks easier and you’ll spend more money with companies paying to fix it. It’s stupid and annoying considering you paid so much money in the first place to buy it.

10. Ventriloquism - Honestly this freaks me out because those dummies are really creepy looking.

Hula Hooping

May 24’s 10 Things to Be Happy About

1. The Feel of New Currency - Getting new currency is one of the things I like about going to the ATM. Usually when it spits out the money it is crisp and not all wrinkled from being overused. I think that money is cool but it’s better when it is newer.

2. An Accurate Newspaper Article - Do these actually exist? People make such a mess of things these days which I think is absolutely ridiculous because the public deserves to know the truth about what is going on in the war and the general world. There is always some sort of opinion in every article because it is very hard to leave your opinion out of an article while writing it.

3. Admiring Your Kids - I can’t admire my kids currently because I don’t have anything so I admire my cousins. We actually went to visit them last week and had a blast and I hope that we will have the opportunity to do so again because it’s always fun to see what they are up to.

4. Bicycle Commuting - More people should do it because then they would get more exercise and be less obese and the obesity in the US would go down. People complain about being fat, stop riding your car everywhere, take a walk every once in a while, don’t sit around and watch TV all day, get up and do something!

5. Hula Hooping - As a kid I was really good at this but I’m not so sure that I would be great at it now because it’s been so long. I can do it on the Wii fit but not on my own more than likely. We had a kid hula hoop for a talent show because apparently, he didn’t have any better ideas for a talent.

6. Terry Cloth - Cloth is always a good thing so that we can clothe ourselves.

7. The Artist Paul Klee - Not a big fan of art but I’m sure that he does amazing work.

8. Tuesday Night Takeout - We actually get out takeout a lot at my house. I wish that we could cook our own food more often but we never seem to have the time to cook for ourselves which is sad. Is Tuesday the night when most of the people of the world get takeout or something?

9. The Buzz of a Gathering Audience - Depending on what they are gathering to see, the buzz is always different. It is fun to try to listen to what other people are saying about the goings on of the different places. At movies people don’t usually shut up until the movie is actually starting so it’s fun to listen to what people say about the previews.

10. Finding a Great Pet - My great pet is a pet rock. No I’m just kidding. I have a dog and a cat and that’s what I’ve had all of my life. I really enjoy having both animals because they are fun to be around. My cat can be a little bratty sometimes, but then again most cats are bratty. My dog is friendly and loves everyone who walks in the door which is one of the many things that I love about her.

Mood Rings

May 23’s 10 things to Be Happy About

1. Mood Rings - These show you if you’re happy. I haven’t had one in years but I remember being a kid and loving having one because it could tell me what kind of mood I was in. I never knew whether or not they were actually telling the truth at that point but I always thought that it was cool none the less.

2. Taking a Sculpture Class - I do not think that I am talented enough to do something like this but it is always interesting to watch others work on their beautiful pieces of art. When I was younger I got the chance to do many different kinds of art but I always liked sketching the best because it was the most challenging for me.

3. A Vibrating Phone - If you can’t hear it, at least you can feel it. I don’t like having it on vibrate during class however because then the entire class can hear it go off. The only time that I like having it on vibrate is when it’s in my back pocket.

4. Weaving a Rug - It amazes me how much work it takes to weave a rug, so kudos to those who can do this amazing feat. A family friend of ours actually does pull rugs and they are absolutely gorgeous. I wish that I could learn how to do something like this in my life time.

5. A Special Knack for Writing - I love to write, as you can tell from my blog but it has always been something that I enjoy when I get to write what I want to write about. I hate any sort of essay because I have to think about what the teacher is looking for, rather than writing my opinion unless that is what the teacher is looking for. I always loved assignments where I got to be creative in my writing as a kid.

6. The Canadian Prairies - I can not say that I’ve ever been to the Canadian Prairies but I’ve always heard that it is absolutely gorgeous. Any sight that has a pretty background makes me happy because it helps me to know that God wanted us to be able to see something so beautiful instead of knocking it down to make it into some sort of development that we don’t need.

7. Red Chanel Lipstick - I honestly think that bright red lipstick makes you look like a whore but it will always remind me of my grandmother who loved to wear red lipstick and paint her nails red. My grandmother was not a whore by the way, just in case you are wondering. It reminds me of both.

8. Peppermint Angel Food Cake - I love angel food cake but I can’t say that I’ve ever tried some sort of peppermint additive before. It must be good because it’s on my list.

9. The Cool Feel of a Necklace - Ok this could mean one of two things...it could either mean that the necklace feels awesome to have around my neck, which I think they totally do because then it makes my neck feel less naked. It could also mean that the necklace could feel cold around my neck. Most necklaces don’t feel cold around my neck unless it is either cold outside or it is some kind of necklace that has a cold feel to it.

10. A Gigantic Spring Moon - I love the moon when it feels like it is so close to you because of how big it is. I think it is amazing how big the moon is in general but it seems so much smaller because it is so far away from Earth.

Watercolors

May 22's 10 Things to Be Happy About

1. Cliff Dwellings - I don't think that I could ever dwell on a cliff, it would freak me out so badly because I'm not a big fan of heights to begin with. If it's higher than two stories and I'm looking down, I'm a goner. I got on our barn room once and I almost cried because I was so freaked out.

2. Coleslaw and Potato Salad - The only kind of coleslaw that I ever enjoyed was the kind that was made for me by our cooks in the Bahamas. It is delicious and doesn't taste like mud in my mouth. If the potato salad actually has pieces of potato instead of mashed potatoes then I'm totally in. My mom's potato salad is absolutely delicious and I think that more people need to do it that way.

3. Defying Conventional Wisdom - I'm not exactly sure what this means...any ideas?

4. A Corduroy Jacket - These are warm and wonderful in winter but in the summertime not so much.

5. An Evening Home Alone - I like having my house to myself every once in a while but I'd rather share it with my family unless I'm angry with them. They make me happy and keep me company on cold winter nights. Even in the summer it's nice to have them around because since our house is on the larger side, it gets a little lonely when they are not around.

6. Spiritual Evolution - I found my center!

7. A Vintage Pinball Machine - I think that my grandmother has one of these in her basement and as a kid I loved to play on it. It has probably fallen into disrepair at this point because I don't think that anyone has played on it recently. It was always a fun thing to play with my many cousins because we had competitions of who could get the highest score.

8. Watercolors Touching the Paper - It's cool to watch them spread out as they dry. My great grandfather did amazing water colors and it was always cool to see what he came up with. I always wished that I got his artistic ability but instead I got the family singing voice. Watercolors mixed together are amazing too.

9. Stained Glass - I love looking at stained glass windows because it amazes me how long some of them have been around and how they made them with very little technology and were able to put so much detail into them. The stained glass windows in my grandmother's church are absolutely beautiful!

10. Evocative Music - Depending on what I was doing when I listen to certain music it can bring back vivid memories. Some music I can put back onto people which I always thought was pretty cool and the memories that I have with these specific people.

Unplanned Picnics

May 21's 10 Things to Be Happy About

1. Single-Serving Cereal Boxes - When I was younger, Edris would always get the single-serving cereal because she never knew what we liked to eat for breakfast as cereal and it was one of my favorite parts of eating breakfast is the fact that I got my own. Now that I look back, I don't understand why having my own cereal box mad me happy, but hey I was a happy kid most of the time anyway.

2. Sane Living - To live in a sane manner, my room has to be semi clean or else I go nuts. I like an organized mess because then I know where all of my things are. This year I lost my keys a couple times and it drive both me and my roommate insane because we would be ready to go to dinner and it would take an extra five minutes to find my keys. It was the same thing with my hairbrush, if I don't put it back in the right place I go insane trying to find it.

3. Salted Pretzels - I like hard pretzels with salt on them but when we get soft pretzels I like them without salt. Auntie Anne's makes the best pretzels in the world, especially if they have the cinnamon on top of them.

4. Beach Music - Jack Johnson is someone that I would definitely listen to on the beach or maybe John Mayer. This is the relaxing music that goes with the beach because you can sit there with your headphones and read a book or you can put it on a boombox and listen to it as you make sand castles or play beach volleyball. It totally works.

5. An Unplanned Picnic - When I first started bring my boyfriend lunch at work we would eat in his truck but then we started eating on the grass in the shade and it always feels nice. If it's not too hot it's a perfect picnic spot even though we probably shouldn't be eating on someone's private property but oh well.

6. Can't-Put-It-Down Books - I love these books because I can just curl up for hours just reading those books. I hate when people give me books that I don't want to put down during school. It drives me nuts. I read a really good one over spring break that took me less than two days to finish. I also read one last week that I couldn't put down because I just wanted to know what would happen next. If you can pull into a book like that, you are a wonderful author.

7. Birds in a Birdbath - We have a small swamp at our school, that is the closest I've ever come to seeing a bird take a bath in a birdbath. I think that birdbaths are a good idea to see the many different species of birds that are in our neighborhoods.

8. The Newsroom of a Major Paper - I have never been in a major newsroom but I've heard that there is always a constant hustle and bustle as people try to make their deadlines.

9. Rabbit Hutches - The better to keep the foxes from eating them. Rabbits are so fuzzy which is always a plus.

10. Acing an Essay or Test - Who doesn't love doing well on a test? I always loved getting my math tests back because I usually did pretty well on them and that made me happy. Getting back my tests from Dr. Lo was always a good thing too because I always get good grades on his tests and homeworks because I can actually understand what he's talking about and his notes are clear and concise.

Observing the Departing Moviegoer's Faces

May 20's 10 Things to Be Happy About

1. Your Prom Date - I had the same prom date for two years and it made me really happy to know that I had one that actually liked me. I also really liked my dresses. He always found the perfect suit to wear with it which I thought was great. My favorite picture is attached.

2. Sandwiches Made at a Deli - WAWA!!!! My favorite place to get a sandwich or hoagie. They taste delicious and I wish that they had them at school because Sheetz cannot beat Wawa, EVER!

3. Renewable Resources - We need to figure out how to better use them because otherwise we are going to use this planet up and then kill everything and everyone around us. If we continue to use the resources that we are using now we are going to kill many forests, animals, and eventually ourselves. It's ridiculous with all of the technology that we have these days that we can't come up with anything to help with the resource problems we're having.

4. Repairing a Window Screen - All I can say is that my dad hates this because at our old Pocono house where we shared it with other people and their kids and animals would constantly push the screens out and he would always be the one to repair it. I can't say that I blame him because he had to do it almost every summer and sometime multiple times during that summer because people don't know how to say no to their kids.

5. Self-Motivation - I'm surprised that I have it sometimes, especially when it's this warm outside.

6. Chopping Wood - I love watching guys split wood, it always amazes me how they can crack it so easily. I wish that I had the ability to do that but I'd probably end up splitting a bone or some skin. I'm such a clutz, it's not even funny.

7. Being Uplifted - Everyone should feel this sometimes. To get this feeling just do something that is good for you or even helpful to another person. This feeling always makes me feel warm and fuzzy on the inside.

8. A Chamber Orchestra - All I have to say is the people who do this kind of stuff are amazingly talented.

9. Bartender Wisdom - You'd be amazed at what bartenders know about life and what they'll tell you. If you get drunk enough you may even hear things that they think that you won't remember the day after.

10. Observing the Departing Moviegoers' Faces - I have never done this but it would have been really cool if I'd thought to do it after Inception which is a true mind screw over. After watching the movie during the credits, it was still quiet where I was watching the movie and I just said, I'm confused. Mind blown...nuff said!

A Day By the Sea

May 19's 10 Things to Be Happy About

1. Singing in the Car - I love driving by myself because it makes it easier to sing to myself at the top of my lungs. It's always entertaining to see other people's renditions of singing in the car as you drive by them on the highway. I probably have no room to talk but still it's a fun thing to look out for, let alone do.

2. Mother-of-Pearl - Didn't Mr. Krabs used to say this all the time in Spongebob Squarepants? Otherwise I have nothing to write about this.

3. Karst Topography - So this is something along the lines of water erosion over many years and the fact that you can see the layers of the erosion. I think that this is one of nature's many gifts to us to look at and just wonder in awe.

4. Listening to a Child Speak - This just makes me think of the little kid screaming blood into a camera. I think that when children are learning to speak, it is one of the most funny things to listen to.

5. An Intimate Dinner with a View - This idea sounds wonderful to me but I'm ok with just an intimate dinner because I don't get to do them very often. I just like a quiet place to eat with someone that is special to me.

6. Bike Lanes - The only place I ever see these are in the cities or in crowded towns. I think that they should exist in more places because that might encourage people to ride their bikes more often and get a little more exercise so that they can't complain about how overweight they are. I think that's ridiculous because it's usually you're own fault.

7. Feeding Your Senses - All you have to do is inhale, touch, taste, listen, and open your eyes. While most people have all five senses there are some who are less fortunate but they feed their senses more than people who do have all of their senses. That is an amazing fact to me.

8. Cartman from South Park - Honestly I just think he's a little punk who needs parents that will kick some sense into him. He also needs some exercise because it's unhealthy to be that fat, especially as a kid because one bad choice, leads to many more.

9. Brunettes - We have more fun that those blondes. We may not be as pretty as you are but at least we aren't as dumb, just kidding. I know some very smart blondes. I do enjoy being brunette though because no one can make bad jokes when I make stupid mistakes because of my hair color.

10. A Day By the Sea - Just sitting by the sea is wonderful but when you wander by a nude beach be aware, there ARE naked people. I walked onto one when I was 19 in Greece and had no idea where I was until I noticed women with no shirts...OOPS! Although, we did have a hard time determining whether one of the people was a woman or a man, best part of that day!

Spackle-Thick Veggie Dip

May 18's 10 Things to Be Happy About

1. A Safe Descent - Well isn't that better than an crazy descent? When I go rock climbing, it's always good to know that the person belaying is keeping me from falling onto the ground and more than likely seriously injuring myself. I would rather get onto the floor in one piece.

2. A Cool Swagger - To me everyone has their own swagger and there is no such thing as a cool one because it's entertaining to watch people attempt to have a cool swagger because it's really not worth it if you ask me.

3. A Village Meeting - Like a town meeting? I always like watching the ones that are on Gilmore Girls because there are so many things going on at once.

4. The Invention of iTunes - Whoever invented iTunes is a genius because it makes it so much easier to buy a song that you like instead of buying the entire album just to get that one song. It also makes it easier to make mixes of the songs that you like.

5. Lighted Walkways - These make me happy when it's really dark at night. Our school is pretty good about that but there are some spots that have sidewalks that are not lit. It drives me nuts because it freaks me out a little to walk in the dark with all of the lovely events that have happened this year.

6. Spackle-Thick Veggie Dip - The thicker it is, the better it tastes. My mom makes a really good veggie dip that is sour cream and mayo mixed together with some herbs and spices in it and it's nice and thick and goes well with almost any kind of uncooked veggie. Another good veggie dip is ranch dressing. That all by itself (with a veggie) is absolutely delicious.

7. A Dulce de Leche Milkshake - I'm guessing this is some sort of either thick milkshake or a milkshake with extra milk. Either way, milkshakes are delicious especially if they have either of these with them. I love them on nice warm days, especially from the Milky Way Farm down the road where they have milkshakes that they make in front of you with farm made ice cream.

8. Randomly Running into Friends - When I'm home from school, it's always fun to run into people that I haven't seen in a long time from high school. It doesn't matter where I go, I usually see someone that I knew in high school. While they're not always my closest friends, I remember them enough to say hi with their name.

9. People Who Try Hard - All I have to say about this one is that there should be more because most people in life today don't give a damn about anything and it's ridiculous.

10. New Toothbrushes - Honestly I'd rather have my old toothbrush back because when you first get new toothbrushes they are so stiff and I know that is good for your teeth but it hurts my gums. After a few days I like my new toothbrush though.

A Trail Sketched By Animal Paws

May 17's 10 Things to Be Happy About

1. Waterfront Cities - These are really cool because if you are really high up in a building you get to see not only the city but you also get to see the gorgeous waterfront. I've always thought that it is amazing to look out over the water no matter where I am.

2. An Omelet with Everything in it - If someone who knows what they are doing makes it then it is delicious but if it is something that they make at school it will fall apart so fast because the eggs are so thin. I love getting them from places that do brunch because they are usually delicious.

3. Being Compensated in Happiness - People who are happy that they helped someone are the best kind of people. When I help my boyfriend's family with their apartments I don't let them help me because I'm happy just to help him out because it stresses him out so much. I enjoy seeing him smile and he doesn't really smile while he's working on the houses so knowing that I'm helping him get it done faster usually helps.

4. Pink-and-Blue Striped Sunsets - Any sunset that has both those colors in it is gorgeous. I wish that we had more sunsets like that just because they are always nice to watch. I love being in the Bahamas because there always seems to be a beautiful sunset to watch.

5. A Trail Sketched By Animal Paws - These are pretty cool. I love being in the woods or on the beach and finding animal footprints along the paths that I am walking along. If I could when I was hiking I would try and bring along a little book so that I could figure out what kind of animal is making the different prints. I'm so excited for our Alaska trip in June because we'll have an actually naturalist walking with us who will be able to identify the animal prints.

6. Sanskrit and Pali - Some sort of language?

7. Teaching Your Dog Something Useful - I wish that we could have taught our dog to bring in the newspaper in the morning...that's something useful. I think that dogs should know the usual commands though such as sit and stay. My friend's dog rings a bell when he has to go to the bathroom so they know to let him outside. Our dog used to jump on the door when she wanted to come inside so we taught her to bark to let us know that she wanted to come inside. It's worked out very well.

8. Luggage that Lasts Decades - I think that all luggagye should be made to withstand the many years that they are used. I also think that it is worth the money to pay more for one that will last longer because then you won't have to continually pay for new ones over the years, and that money will add up to be more that the more expensive ones. Come to think of it a lot of things are made these days so that they will break sooner and the companies will make more money. It's completely bullshit if you ask me.

9. Squeaky Antique Beds - Honestly, why would anyone want a squeaky bed? I enjoy antique beds because they are pretty but I slept on a squeaky bed this year at school and it woke me up in the middle of the night when I would move in my sleep. It was really irritating.

10. Jeans that Stretch - I think that all jeans stretch and they are more constricting when they come out of the washer. I love the fact that my jeans stretch but then they get to heavy and start to fall off and that's a little annoying considering I have no butt to keep them up.

Locally Grown Produce

May 16's 10 Things to Be Happy About

1. The Boom of Surf - When the waves crash on the beach it always sounds like a boom and it is always a wonderful sound to hear. I love listening to the boom as it hits and watching it when I sit on the beach.

2. Comfortable Silence - Uncomfortable silence is just awful and awkward. I enjoy silence when everyone who is around is ok with it being silent. I also enjoy silence when I am on my own because there is no one to make me feel weird about it being quiet.

3. An Elder Statesman - I'm really sorry to say this but aren't most statesmen elderly or at least in their 40's.

4. Locally Grown Produce - You know where it came from and the fact that it is fresh makes it that much better. I think that it is important to support our local farms instead of over paying for the produce coming from other places in the states or even countries.

5. Air-Conditioner Tune-Ups - It's good to know that our air conditioner is in some sort of working condition, especially when it starts to get really warm outside and it's almost unbearable inside.

6. Seeing an Owl Wink - It's a very unlikely occurrence but it's cool if you do get to see it because of rareness. I have to say that I've never seen it but I've always think it would be cool to see one wink. When they blink it's pretty cool to see that as well.

7. Film Location Scouts - You need these to find a good location to film all kinds of films. If we didn't have these to find good spots to film, the film may not have turned out as well as we wanted it too. Some of the places that they do the filming of different videos is absolutely beautiful.

8. Stars Paling in the Morning Sky - It seriously amazes me how fast the stars disappear when the new day is starting. I do love staying up and watching the sun rise after pulling an all nighter. I think I need to do one of these once it stops raining all of the time!

9. Dining Room Hutches - They make me happy because I know that they hold all the fancy plates and silverware. I think that they hold a good use and more people need to get them so that there stuff isn't all over their houses.

10. Spur-of-the-Moment Getaways - I wish I could do this more often but as I have school, it makes it a little hard. What's good is the fact that next summer I'll be able to go away any time I really feel like it as we'll actually own a house in the Pocono Mountains!!!!

Vintage Advertisements

May 15's 10 Things to Be Happy About

1. Billion-Year-Old Stars - There are so many out there. Many of them you need a high powered microscope to see but they are the suns of different solar systems or galaxies. It is amazing to think that they are so bright that we can see them from so far away.

2. Cleaning Curtains and Rugs - I like having clean curtains and rugs but the actually cleaning process is kind of a pain in the butt.

3. Flights of Fancy - I have these all the time, especially when I shouldn't but they are always fun to follow through on.

4. Careful Calligraphy - I love writing using calligraphy. Seeing what I can create with my writing is always fun. When I get bored in class, instead of doodling like most people do, I write using calligraphy because for some reason in helps me concentrate on what the teacher is saying better. My hands have to be busy in order for me to stay focused.

5. An Advantageous Position - Everyone should be put in this kind of position no matter what their standing in the world. Everyone should have a chance to make something of themselves in the world. If they manage to find themselves in this position they need to make the most of it.

6. Sunday Evening Activities - If there is a puzzle or a card game involved, I'm in! I love playing cards on Sunday nights or doing a puzzle with my dad because it's relaxing and no one is upset about something.

7. A Cat Meditating - My cat is currently curled up in a ball, I don't know if this is her way of meditating or just being lazy but hey whatever. If she's comfortable, who am I to judge her?

8. Mount Fuji - Highest mountain Japan, maybe it makes the Japanese people happy to know that they have a very high mountain? I don't know if I would be happy to live on an island where there is an active volcano. It might freak me out a big. I used to have nightmares about volcanoes exploding and wake up not knowing what happened.

9. Vintage Advertisements - Does this mean old advertisements that haven't been on TV for a long time or does it mean something advertising vintage items. If it is the first one, the old commercials are way better in my opinion, new commercials have too much going on in them most of the time.

10. Techniques of Rhetoric - ???

Storybook Endings

May 14's 10 Things to Be Happy About

1. Descriptive Adjectives - There are just so many and they make me happy because I know so many and it makes it so much easier to describe things that people don't understand. It also helps when you are giving someone directions because you can help them find where they are going.

2. The Cool Sounds of Nature - I love the sounds of nature in the summer because they are so relaxing and they help me to sleep at night. When I was younger and we would have dinner at my grandparents in the summer we would set out by there small fountain and there would always be a frog that would talk to my grandfather and when he would talk back I thought it was the coolest thing since sliced bread.

3. A Crabcake Sandwich - Never had one but I absolutely love crab cake. It's always delicious at the few places that I've had it. I try not to eat it too often though because I'm worried that I'll grow into the allergy like my relatives have.

4. Storybook Endings - Most people don't think that they exist but I do. Maybe not the exact ending of some fairytale but those sort of things do exist whether people want to believe it or not. Maybe people are too busy working, or being mad at their spouse but you know if you tried a little harder maybe you could have that fairytale ending that you wanted, it all depends on the effort you put into it.

5. Electric Razors - I already have a hard enough time with regular razors, why would I switch to something that would more than likely hurt me? I've heard it before that regular razors give you a better shave anyway.

6. A Thesaurus When You Need It - There's always one online at dictionary.com. I like using that because it's faster than using a book thesaurus and it has more words that you can use.

7. Spectacular Sunsets - When staying at the lake house up in Vermont, looking over the lake as the sun sets is always an amazing view because you never know what you'll get. When it is many different colors and it reflects across the lake it is an absolutely amazing view. I just love to sit and watch the colors change as the sun slowly sets over the horizon.

8. A Baby Asleep - If it's been crying all day it's always nice to have some peace and quiet for a while. My aunt and uncle have an 10 month old baby and when he was first around he would cry all the time and barely sleep so they were pretty happy when he would decide to sleep because it would be quiet and they could pass out for a little while.

9. Wearing Shorts - It's still chilly and it's the middle of May. I would love to wear shorts but it's a little cold. When it gets to the point when I can wear shorts all of the time. I'll be a pretty happy camper. I love to walk around in shorts.

10. Wiggling Ears - Anyone who can do this is funny in my book. I wish that I could do it but unfortunately I can't.

Jazz Duos

May 13's 10 Things to Be Happy About

1. A Jazz Duo at a Bookstore - As long as no one's blaring it in my face I'm good. I think it's nice as a background noise but if you're blaring it too loud then I might get a little irritated with you because I don't think that it's necessary to have music in a bookstore. People are looking at books and there are headphones if people are looking at music.

2. The Wave of a Friendly Neighbor - Most of my neighbors will wave but there a few that just annoy me because they completely ignore me when I gave them a friendly wave. I don't get why it's so hard for people to take one hand of their steering wheel and gave a small wave, or at least smile. It's not that painful!

3. Butterscotch Pudding - I'd rather have chocolate. It tastes better.

4. Lemon Soap - I love fruity smelling soap but I can't say that I've ever used lemon. I enjoy the smell of lemon cleaning products though. They make me smile because they usually make the house smell fresh.

5. Slicing Cucumbers - As long as I don't slice my hand in the process of slicing cucumbers then I'm all set. Cucumbers do make me happy because I love the taste.

6. Fruit and Cheese - I honestly don't get how someone came up with the idea that these should go together but it truly is a good mix. Whenever Charlie Orland caters from Yellow Springs Inn and has a delicious and also pretty fruit and cheese platter I'm usually pretty happy. Thinking about it most of his food makes me happy, especially his chocolate covered strawberries which are absolutely delicious.

7. Sea Cliffs and Ivory Beaches - Cliffs that look over the sea or ocean always have a breath taking view. The house that I go to in the Bahamas is at the top of a cliff and in order to get to the beach you have to walk down a couple sets of stairs but once you get to the bottom and can put your toes in the sand, it's totally worth the walk down the stairs.

8. A Sparkling Personality - Apparently I have one of these so that makes me happy. One can learn something different about me every time we hang out. I always think it's cool when you can learn something about someone else even after knowing them for a long time. Some things just don't pop up right away.

9. Essays on New Experiences - This reminds me of the essays that they always made us right in high school about our summer experiences. I think that they should have had us reflect back on our years in high school our senior year and what we learned from our experiences throughout high school and whether we actually took our mistakes and tried to correct them in the future. As much as I hate writing essays I probably would have done really well on this one because I learned a lot about myself in high school and other people.

10. A Good Parking Place - Who doesn't love finding one of these. It always makes me happy to find a good parking spot, especially if it's raining because who wants to be wet and go into a store or something along those lines.

Mountains Not Yet Climbed

May 12's 10 Things to Be Happy About

1. Being Completely Anonymous - Well these days it's really hard to be completely anonymous because you can't really do it on a computer because whatever you send can be traced back to your IP address unless you go to some sort of Internet Cafe or something along those lines. The only real way to be anonymous is by doing things the old fashioned way.

2. Legal-Size Paper - I didn't realize that there was illegal size paper. I don't even know what the heck this means.

3. Mountains Not Yet Climbed - Ok this can be taken two ways. (a) There is something in your life that you have yet to overcome and it needs to be done in order for you to move on in your life. OR (b) A mountain on this earth that has not been climbed. Yes they may have been climbed by someone else, but they have not been climbed by you yourself. I think that mountain climbing is amazing but don't think that I could ever do it as I'm not a big fan of heights.

4. A Sky-Lit Entrance - I love sky lights and think that during the day natural lighting is the most efficient way to do things. I understand that we need electricity on rainy days but why leave lights on during days where the sun is shining and you can have natural light flooding the room that you are in.

5. 24-Hour Diners - These days there aren't many of these floating around but the ones that are are usually grease joints. The one near my home is actually pretty decent though. I enjoy going there from time to time, especially after a night at the bar because they sell breakfast 24 hours a day and it's always good to have pancakes to soak up some of the alcohol!

6. Your Favorite Quotations - "Dance as if no one is watching; Sing as if no one is listening; Love as if you've never loved before; Live as though heaven is on earth." -Anonymous. I love this quote and always will because it reminds me of my mom and it's a good philosophy to live by.

7. Attending Horse Shows - I honestly would rather ride a horse than attend a horse show. When I was younger I used to go to the horse races at Radnor Hunt and always thought that was a blast because I could walk around and pet the horses that were being ridden by I guess the people who were considered some sort of usher. It was always amazing to see how fast these horses would run.

8. Amiableness - More people should strive to be this word because then the world might run a little better.

9. Lying Low - This is always good after something big has happened and you just need to stay on the DL or you may get caught. It's also good when you want to relax because then no one can find you. When I want to lay low I ride to a camping spot near our cabin in the Poconos where no one can find me unless they somehow stumble upon me.

10. Jumping Off the Bandwagon - Everyone needs to hop off and have their own opinions instead of following the media all of the time. The media isn't always right and I feel that people need to learn this or else they're going to be stuck listening to propaganda their whole life instead of trying to figure out what's really going on. A little research is all it takes.

Pasta!

May 11's 10 Things to Be Happy About

1. Nesting Boxes - Are these boxes that lay inside of each other when you don't have anything to put in them which makes for less space that is taken up. Whoever invented them was thinking of conserving space which is always a plus in my mind because it makes life so much easier in the long run.

2. Pastry Chefs - Everything they make is delicious and I have always wished that I could be as talented as them but I know that I never will be. The ones that make wedding cakes are by far the most talented because of all of the different designs that they put onto cakes. My mom is really good with make cookies and then icing them really decoratively.

3. Thick Moss - I love how moss feels between my toes. It is always a wonderful feeling. Moss is something that is a weed but it still works to an advantage because it's not an ugly weed.

4. Ice Hockey in Canada - It's like soccer in most countries in Canada. Sometimes I wish that I lived in Canada because ice hockey is my favorite sport to watch and I would be able to watch it almost all year round. I am a little sad that the Flyers are out of the playoffs but still there is hockey on the TV even with the Flyers being out.

5. Swings That Go High - As opposed to swings that go low? I think that this is really dumb but that's ok. All swings should go high because that's what makes them fun to go on. We still have one in our front yard that I love to go and sit on because it's so peaceful when you're out there. While the swing does not go fast or very high it is just nice to sit and relax on it.

6. The Power of Music - Music has so much power because it can truly change people. I feel bad for those people in the world that never have the chance to hear how beautiful music is. I think that classical music should have an effect on everyone. Having a way to express yourself without having to beat up someone and putting it into music is always a wonderful thing to have.

7. Miniboxes of Raisins in Your Lunch Box - I honestly didn't care whether they were in my lunch box or out of the cabinet, I was one of those people who just liked raisins. I loved going to my grandmothers because she always had the miniboxes of them and I would grab one when I walked into the kitchen. I loved having them because I would munch on them as I walked around the house and played with all of my cousins. It just worked well.

8. A Cushion of Savings - It's always good to have something like this because if something goes wrong then you don't get stuck with nothing to help you out of the hole that you are in. I would hate to be stuck up a creek with a paddle.

9. Skillful Tailoring - If you suck at tailoring...don't open a tailor shop. That is all!

10. Berry-Filled Basket - In the Poconos there are many blueberry bushes and I have always loved going and picking fresh berries off of the different bushes. Sometimes I'll even eat the berries right off of the tree. I don't think that they need to be washed because they are wild and no one is putting anything on them that could get me sick.

A Capella Groups

May 9's 10 Things to Be Happy About

1. Straight Seams - If you can't sew straight, then you shouldn't be a seamstress. Also straight seams are important when you are quilting or else the quilt will look like someone who has no idea how to sew made it. I love sewing quilts because they always turn out so beautifully and they help to express my artistic side.

2. Bay Leaves - They are another spice that help to add some sort of taste to different recipes. I use them in my lasagna soup and while it doesn't change the taste immensely, it still gives the soup a nice taste.

3. College a Capella Groups - While my college does not have one I think that it is amazing what some singers can do with their voices and how they can manipulate them to sound different than they would under normal circumstances. Many bigger colleges have them and they are very exclusive which I think is ridiculous.

4. Mineralogy - While I like to know what is in my drink, I don't really care about the study of minerals. I give credit to those who actually give a damn about it.

5. Watching Surfers "At Work" - Honestly, I can't believe that they make a living off of surfing. I think that more people should be paid for better jobs such as teaching instead of being paid for being a professional athlete. I understand that we pay a lot of money to go see them but why is that even important? It's ridiculous.

6. The Histories of Herodotus - No idea what this is?

7. Unpaved Island Roads - These add an island feel to any island but they are a pain to drive on. On the island that I visit every once in a while there are unpaved roads that lead to gorgeous beaches. While going to the beaches is fun, the getting there part sucks! For the first time I was put in charge of driving down one of the awful potholed roads and it was really scary because I was really afraid I was going to bottom the car out.

8. Young Folks Talking With Old Folks - I think that younger generations can learn a lot from older generations and it's a much needed generation education. I feel that there is a lot of gaps between generations which makes it harder for younger generations to relate to older generations. I love hearing older folks stories though. I think that that is my favorite part of talking with older people. You can learn so much from older people's stories and I think more kids need to learn from people who have much wisdom to impart on them.

9. Spring Skiing - I love skiing in the spring because it's always nice and cool but warm enough where you don't have to wear a big jacket as you race down the hill. I usually just wear a tshirt with under armor underneath it or a light sweatshirt because it just feels so much better. The wind flying past you just feels really good.

10. Spot Removers that Actually Work - I wish more of these exist. I feel that the commercials are pushing themselves out too far because not all of them actually work. The companies are showing that their product is better in the commercials but they're lying.

Pasta

May 10's 10 Things to Be Happy About

1. Prehistoric Dolmen - These are old tombs that at this point have probably been all raided by tomb hunters and treasure hunters. I've always thought that it would be really cool to see a tomb still in tact but there are so many archeologists that look for them that they don't seem to ever be in tact by the time tourists reach them and most of the artifacts that come from them go to museums that you must pay for admission in order to see them.

2. Major League Baseball - I love hockey much more than baseball but I do think that it can be interesting. I enjoy watching it with someone else but it's not something that I watch on my own because I need to have someone to talk to about it.

3. The Infinite Varieties of Pasta - There are just so many different kinds of pasta that the different recipes that you can use them for is endless. I had baked ziti for lunch today and ravioli the other day and I love that our school doesn't do the same boring kind of pasta every day or else it might get boring. My favorite pasta has to be stuffed shells because it is the perfect amount of cheese mixed with pasta. They always seem to have those at Sunday brunch.

4. Some Tea Followed By a Nap - This always feel nice after you've been sick and trying to get better. Tea and a nap should be the cure for almost any disease and then life would be better. Tea and a nap is a good remedy for a soar throat though.

5. Buttons Without Loose Threads - Then they are less likely to fall off whatever they are sewn on. I actually had a dream last night that one of my buttons on my pants broke which depressed me because then my pants fell down because they were too big. I hope that that never happens to me in real life because it could be a disaster.

6. Champagne-Colored Ballerina Slippers - Is this opposed to pink ones? I thought that they were only pink or white. Apparently I was mistaken. I guess I'm going to ballet hell considering I danced for a couple of years when I was younger.

7. A Closed Chapter - You need to close one chapter in your life in order to open more because otherwise you're left with things that are unfinished when you are ready to start something new. College has probably been the newest chapter in my life or my relationship with my loveable boyfriend.

8. Veejays - I honestly think that these are the same thing as a DJ except they add the music videos to the music that is playing. Not that this is a bad thing but I feel that some people get distracted by the videos and I will admit that I'm probably one of those people sadly.

9. Fishing Boats on a Beach - In the Bahamas a lot of the natives will pull their boats onto the beach so that they don't get ruined by barnacles and such things. It's really cool to see their boats pulled up because they're usually made of wood and painted with bright colors which I've always thought is pretty cool.

10. Dimpled Pub Mugs - Are these mugs that have wear and tear of the many years of use or is it actually something that is on specific beer mugs? I have absolutely not a clue.

"Bill Me Later"

May 8's 10 Things to Be Happy About

1. Pelagic Fish - These are the fish that live near the top of the ocean and they just hang out because they do not live near the bottom. They are food for many of the bigger fish that live near the surface.

2. Surrendering to Gravity - I don't think that we really have a choice other than planes. We always have to remain on the ground until gravity goes away, which it never will. The only way to get away from gravity is going into space so that you can experience zero gravitational force pulling you down.

3. Rugged Excursions - The best kind because then there is more adventure involved in what you are doing. I like to go on adventures so I am pro ruggedness.

4. Contributions to Worthwhile Causes - Everyone should try and be a part of these because they are always looking for more money in order to support their causes because you can never have enough money for important causes.

5. Street Vendor Bouquets - They are less expensive but just as beautiful as the ones that you can buy for so much more money. They always smell good as you walk by them as well.

6. Simple but Meaningful Gifts - These are the best kinds especially if they are homemade. I love when I get simple gifts that mean so much to me even though they are small and cute.

7. A Game of Checkers with a Toddler - All I have to say is FAIL! Toddlers cannot play checkers. Nuff said!

8. Checking Off "Bill Me Later" - Because it makes life so much easier. It's one less thing that you really have to worry about now and will have on your final bill when you leave a hotel.

9. A List that Inspires Other Lists - All I have to say is lists suck especially if you make it even longer by making a list within a list.

10. Stylish Pajamas - Because I need to look stylish when I'm sleeping. Not really...I just like wearing a tshirt and shorts...Works for me

Figurative and Literal Transformations

May 7's 10 Things to Be Happy About

1. The Kentucky Derby - I know that this makes a lot of people really happy but I think that it's ridiculous how many people want to watch TV for days to figure out which horse is going to win so they can win lots of money. I have better things to do with my life than watch the TV about a horse. The actual race lasts about 10 minutes and then it's all over until next year.

2. Watching Stars Twinkle - I just like watching the stars in general because they are so pretty. It is even better when there is little light pollution because you can see so many more stars that way.

3. Figurative and Literal Transformations - There are so many transformations that people can go through whether they want to or not.

4. Riding a Water Taxi - I can't say that I've ever ridden one of these but it must be interesting since there must not be any other way to get around.

5. Mayan Temples - It amazes me that such a big piece of architecture built out of stone was made before there was all of the technology that we have today.

6. Fresh White Paint - It really livens a room up and makes it look so much better. If someone smokes you can tell when you take different things off of the wall and once you put a nice fresh coat onto the wall it looks that much better.

7. Creative Possibilities - There are just so many!

8. All-Out Attraction - I hope that everyone can find someone that they feel like this about. It amazes me that it is possible but it definitely is.

9. The Bronze Age - As opposed to the Gold age because I can't say I've ever heard it so it just sounds odd.

10. Cantaloupe Wedges - I love these especially when the cantaloupe is especially juicy. It just makes it taste that much better. If the cantaloupe is not ripe quite yet then it does not taste as good because it's harder to eat and you usually need a spoon to get it off of the rine.

Beer on Tap

May 6's 10 Things to Be Happy About

1. A Candlelit Cafe - Who doesn't love these? They have the perfect amount of ambiance and they are always a nice place to get some good coffee or tea.

2. Contemporary Art - Honestly it's always changing so the definition of contemporary art is just ridiculous. I think that there shouldn't be such a thing considering the way art changes and they should just have different phases in different artists lives.

3. Underlining While You Read - It makes going back later when you need to know what was important a little easier. I enjoy it especially when reading for school. If there is an important quote that can be used in a paper it helps to underline.

4. A Gift of a Journal - I always love getting new journals but when you get me a new one when I'm still using one, what's the point. It's just really annoying.

5. Studying Science Books - Ok maybe someone who enjoys doing science would like these books but I'm not really into science books.

6. Good Beer on Tap - It's so much better on tap than it is out a can. It just has a different taste that most people don't appreciate.

7. Endless Shorelines - This is a just a sight to behold especially if they are not developed. I hate looking at shorelines that have buildings all the way down them. It just ruins the affect of the.

8. Your Boarding Pass - If you forget this you're pretty much screwed so when you have it be happy that you didn't forget it. Even if you're having a bad day, the fact that you remembered it should make you smile.

9. Ellery Queen Mysteries - I love a good mystery because its always fun to try and figure out who done it.

10. A Sentimental Memory Selection - I love hearing about people's memories that take them back to when times were good and they were happy. It's always nice to hear what people remember in their lives. It just makes things that much better.

Slinkys

May 5's 10 Things to Be Happy About

1. Filling Up on Butterfingers - Butterfingers are delicious but I can only take so much of them because they start to taste repetitive after a while.

2. Untying Emotional Knots - Once you get everything out you always feel so much better. Whenever I feel like there's too much stuff on my mind I usually have to unwind and I end up talking to my boyfriend or one of my closest friends because it just makes it feel so much better.

3. A Thorough Foot Massage - Any kind of massage feels good if it's thorough. A nice foot massage is always nice because it helps my feet to relax after working out or just walking all day.

4. Wyoming Steak - As opposed to a steak from good old Pennsylvania?

5. Putting Away the Down Comforters - When it's finally that warm you know that summer is on the way. Unfortunately it has been really cold this spring so it feels like I still need my down comforter. We sleep with the windows open which does not really help either.

6. A Treetop's Solitude - It's really hard to get this high but it must be really pretty to look down on everything below.

7. Two Slinkys in Love - I didn't realize that slinkys could fall in love. That's news to me.

8. Stage Lighting - I know that many people like being in the lime light which is good for them but I really don't care. I think that drama should be saved for the stage if you are very good at it.

9. A Lucky Rabbit's Foot - I remember how excited I was to have these when I was younger because they were known to be good luck. I honestly don't know how much luck they actually brought to me but that's ok.

10. Childhood Cronies - This just makes me happy because of the people that I hung out with in my child. I have realized that half of them were whiny brats who had nothing better to do but get angry about stupid stuff. I'm much more happy with the friends that I have now. Even though I grew up with these people I am glad that they are no longer in my life.

A Turtle's Slow Determination

May 4's 10 Things to Be Happy About

1. Urban Rooftops - Instead of city rooftops?

2. A Clear Conscience - I'd rather have one of these rather than one that feels guilty. A guilty conscience give me so much more crap that one that is clear and I usually can't get stuff off of my mind until I tel someone about it because then it makes me feel much better and less guilty.

3. A Turtle's Slow Determination - Taking your time and not being greedy always helps in any situation. I feel that slow and steady wins the race because they get the job finished better and with much more skill.

4. A Standing Ovation - What performer doesn't like performing a crowd pleaser? I remember being in choir and loving it when people would stand up and clap and one time we actually reperformed one of numbers. I feel that it happens a lot at big concerts for famous performers as well. When I went to a Billy Joel concert he left stage and came back because people were cheering so loud.

5. Step and Tap Dancing - I hated dancing when I was younger. I did ballet for four years and then quit because i hate it so much.

6. Chicken Noodle Soup - Always tastes good, even if you aren't sick or it's cold weather. I like to have it for lunch every once in a while during the summer because it just tastes delicious.

7. Beachfront Property - The sound of the ocean is always a wonderful sound throughout the night. It's also fun to watch the waves roll in and out with the tides through your back window.

8. Winnie the Pooh Philosophy - Think think think....and lots of honey.

9. Japanese Notebooks - Instead of English notebooks? I don't even know what it means by Japanese notebooks. Oh well.

10. Easing a Burden - Helping a friend make their life easier by helping with something that is very hard always eases their burden and makes them happier. I know that it is always nice to have someone ease my burdens, whether it be death or just school things.

The Outline of Branches

May 3's 10 Things to Be Happy About

1. Soaking a Bath - I love doing this after being stressed out and trying to relax. My parents have a massage tub that I absolutely love because it makes it so easy to relax when it's massaging your back.

2. Practicing a Mantra - If you want to change something about yourself this is always a good thing to practice. It's also good to make you feel better about yourself.

3. A Tater Tots Casserole - Tater tots on their own are delicious. We cook them on a cooking stone and usually eat them with hamburgers and hot dogs because they go well together. They have them every once in a while in the cafe as well which is always fun and dipping them in lots of ketchup.

4. Tending to Details - If you don't tend to the details, plans can go through and then stuff isn't as fun. The finer the details the better things will run.

5. The Outlines of Branches - These are really cool once the leaves have fallen off of the trees and they make really good artistic photos as silhouettes when the sun is slowly declining down the horizon. I love when there is snow on the branches too. It gives the trees an amazing new look when they are leaveless. It makes it look fresh.

6. The Drone of a Plane Passing Overhead - Considering I do not live in a place where lots of planes go over us, I like going home and hearing them go over our house on a more consistent basis. It just makes me feel more at home.

7. Duke Ellington - He is apparently a jazz legend and I guess I like jazz depending on my mood so this could make me happy or it could annoy me. I love soft jazz in the background when I am doing my work though.

8. Quick Stress Relief - Does this even exist? Actually according to my roommate the first thing to do to destress yourself during exam week is run outside in the rain and go puddle stomping because it's totally worth it. I did it the other day when it was pouring rain because the campus was flooding and there were just so many puddles and it totally helped me to relax.

9. Getting a Reprieve - Who doesn't want one of these. They are really helpful when you are stressed as well.

10. Colored Markers - To make the world a more colorful place!

Working at the Car Wash

May 1's 10 Things to Be Happy About

1. A Sunday Morning Car Wash - You could have a car wash on any morning but everyone feels like they should donate money after church so that students can raise money for whatever they are trying to raise it for. It also means that you're starting out the week with a pretty clean car.

2. Dog Paws - I love my dog's paws even when she leaves dirty paw prints all over the floor or me when she's excited and jumps up on me. I miss my puppy dog.

3. Poison Ivy-Free Gardening - I mean why would anyone have poison ivy in their garden? The worst is if you do have it and you don't know what it looks like so you manage to get it on you. Poison ivy is the worst thing to get on you and itches like there's no tomorrow.

4. Steak Salad - I'm not a big fan of steak so I'm biased but chicken Caesar salad is absolutely delicious.

5. Flowers Basking in the Sun - They seem so much more colorful when the sun is out along with the fact that they've probably gotten enough water to feel peachy keen. I really think that flowers in the sun just seem much happier than when they are stuck out in the rain for days.

6. Cattails in the Marsh - They are so soft and fuzzy and cool looking. I remember taking one apart in my biology class in high school to look at the insides of it and it was a really cool experience.

7. Sunflower Yellow - This describes my personality apparently. Sunflowers are just a brighter yellow than any other yellow. It's really funny because it sounds like it should be a crayon color...or maybe it already is a crayon color.

8. Maine Seafood - No other state in the U.S. can beat Maine lobster. It is the best lobster that I've ever had and I really don't think that anyone can even compete with Maine lobster.

9. Sun Puddles - When it's so hot and the sun causes the little crevices in the ground to look like there is actually water in them it's really funny. I don't like it though because I love to puddle stomp and I get excited when there are puddles to go into and then they aren't really there.

10. A Breakfast Buffet - I love going to these because they are delicious. On my mom's birthday we actually had a small breakfast buffet with our best friends. The food was absolutely delicious and mom made sticky buns to contribute to the lovely spread of food.

The Five W's

April 30's 10 Things to Be Happy About

1. Dry Wood for Kindling - If I can find it, it makes me really happy but when it's always damp like in the Poconos it makes it really hard to find any dry kindling. We have to bring it into the house to dry for a week before we can even think about trying to use it to burn a fire. It's very frustrating sometimes.

2. A Day for Sports - We haven't had many of those this Spring as it has been raining most of April which sucked. I think we had the most rain that I ever remember having in this month. I love playing sports when it is not too hot but not too cold either...that is the perfect sports day.

3. So Few Weeks 'til Summer - One week from today I will be relaxing on my back patio and not having a care in the world about school. It will be nice to relax and not be freaking out about school and finals.

4. Pink and Yellow Carnations - Carnations have so many colors why do pink and yellow get chosen out of all of those colors. Oh well...still pretty.

5. A Window Jungle of Plants - It's really funny how many people fill their window sills with all kinds of different plants in the winter to make the room seem a little more colorful.

6. Baptisia Plants - These are very pretty plants and I enjoy seeing them throughout the many gardens that surround my home and others homes.

7. Walks Through Tiny Downtowns - You never know what you'll find in a tiny downtown because there usually are not chain stores which makes going through the stores that much more fun. I love going to visit Lewisburg because they have a bunch of interesting shops in town that you can't find anywhere else.

8. The Five W's - Who? What? Where? When? Why? and you can't forget the one H...How? I think that these are the best thing you can learn when you're a little kid because using the questions to ask different things about subjects you don't know is a good tool.

9. Becoming a Student Pilot - I could never fly a plane but kudos to those who can. That kind of stuff scares the crap out of me and I'm glad that I've never had to even try to do it. Planes have scared me ever since 9/11 along with the fact that my least favorite part of plane rides is the take off and landing.

10. Sturdy Furniture - Who doesn't like sturdy furniture...it's the kind that doesn't fall apart when you sit in it. My boyfriends father has to have very sturdy furniture or else it may break beneath him because of his balance.

Duck Ponds

April 29's 10 Things to Be Happy About

1. Sitting by a Duck Pond - My boyfriend actually has one of these at his school and I love to go out and feed the little ducks and they also have geese and two swans. Recently they're eggs all hatched and they are absolutely adorable. Mike sent me pictures of them and it makes me smile.

2. Cliffs Layered with Earth's Past - Well the wind and the rain have slowly eroded the different mountains or hills to become cliffs and it is amazing that just those two things can form such an amazing structure.

3. New Art Supplies - I love new paint brushes, that is my favorite because then no one has managed to ruin them yet. I hate when people don't wash them right and there's paint stuck in them and then they're ruined. When I used to sketch I loved having fresh pages in my sketch book.

4. A One-Armed Saguaro Cactus - As opposed to no hands or tons?

5. Throwing Someone a Surprise Party - I love doing these. I threw one for my mom one when I was younger and she had absolutely no idea and it was really fun. I also had one thrown for me when I was in middle school.

6. The Collective Unconscious - We're all unconscious at once?

7. Rolling Up the Carpets - This actually annoys me if I can't get them to roll up while they're lined up. The problem with doing this is that as you roll up the carpet it always managed to go on a diagonal and that's the part that annoys me.

8. The Rain Stopping - It's been raining her at school for weeks at a time and it has stopped for the past few days but it's supposed to come back this afternoon. I'm glad that it stopped otherwise the river would be up even further than it is currently.

9. Cook Bacon in the Oven - I cook it on the stove but never in the oven. That is an interesting concept and I may attempt it because it sounds like an interesting experiment.

10. A Rumpled Bed - You know what just happened in that bed...no one else needs to know. What happens in bed stays in bed ;)

The Victorious Underdog

April 28's 10 Things to Be Happy About

1. The Victorious Underdog - It's always against the odds but it feels that much better when they win especially if you are routing for them the entire time. Honestly I hate fair weather fans.

2. Any Grilled Food - Dad's grilled food is the best that I've ever had. He always grills the food just right. I especially love his grilled chicken fajitas because they are always grilled until the are juicy and perfect.

3. The Scrambling of Nocturnal Creatures - When they get up it's funny to watch because we think of getting up when it's daylight and they think that night is their day.

4. The Order of Things - Everything has to be in some order otherwise the world would be in utter chaos and no one would ever know what was going on. I think having some sort of order is important to do almost anything in order to make it run smoothly.

5. No Expiration Date - My question to this is...what food doesn't have an expiration date? All medicines do, almost everything we eat or take does. I guess water doesn't have an expiration date. A lot of things that we use also have an expiration date because they die of a good lifetime of use. Plus they don't make things as well as they used to because they want us to pay more money to get things fixed.

6. Joie de Vivre - This is a french phrase that is used to express enjoyment of life. I love my life so hey this is a good quote. Plus I'm constantly high on life so you can't get much better than that.

7. A Weekend Trip Alone - I love these because they can be so relaxing because you have no one to bother you (as long as you turn your cell phone and computer off). As long as I'm not in a house alone and staying in a hotel I'm game.

8. Melting-Pot Cities - There are so many different cultures flowing into these kinds of cities that it is amazing what you can learn from other people. I think more people need to be accepting of the different cultures around them in order to understand how they work instead of just judging them.

9. Rolled-Up Sleeves - Means that it's time to get to work and hopefully finish whatever job you're out to start and finish.

10. Your Mate's Wallet - I love to steal my mate's wallet all of the time. Not to buy anything just to annoy the crap out of him because I know how upset it makes him. I don't ever think he's truly upset I just think it's fun yo play around with him.

Lyrics

April 27's 10 Things to Be Happy About

1. Grocery Store Cupcakes - I honestly don't like them as much as homemade cupcakes because the icing is always disgusting and too greasy. The icing that we use at my house isn't full of butter but other delicious ingredients.

2. Wind-Whipped Dunes - It is amazing to see what the wind can do to create beautiful artwork in the sands from the desert to the beach. I love taking pictures of different sand dunes because none of them ever look the same.

3. Learning How to Fish - There are so many different ways to fish so learning how to fish could take some time. I learned how to bottom fish at a very young age, and progressed to trolling. I have tried fly fishing but didn't do very well and I'd rather fish off a dock or off of a boat.

4. Doughnut Shops - We all know that cops love their donuts but there are some good doughnut shops that aren't a chain. I wish that I had more around me rather than just Dunkin Donuts. Homemade donuts are so much better than the crap that they serve at DD or Kirspey Creme.

5. Scoreboards - f my team is winning than scoreboards are a wonderful thing but they can also bring sadness if you're team is losing. I know how much I hate losing but I can't imagine what it feels like to lose if you are a professional player of any sport.

6. Making Butter Cookies - Honestly this just sounds gross and really bad for anyone who eats one.

7. A Scented Bath - They not only smell good but they make you smell and feel better. They are the best after you've had an awful day and just want to relax for a little while. I really enjoy taking a bath after finals because it's nice to just take a deep breath and realize that all of the work is finished.

8. Learning the Words to a Song - For some it comes easy (like me) and for others it is a lot harder because they do not put the different words with different pitches. It is easier for me to remember songs than it is for me to remember information unless it is math related. I do love working on new songs that I sing for myself or for others.

9. Bathroom Heat Lamps - Because the steam from the shower isn't warm enough apparently.

10. Arboreal Quadrupeds - ???