This was not where I was going ....

Crap.  I'm always trying to think of some slang term to start off with that sounds less crappy than crap, but crap is my normal slang term, and I don't want to rob any present day or future anthropologist of the truth of my cultural behavior.  I was recently reading an article about our use of words.  Who knows where I read this?  I don't, because I read and listen to so much stuff, that my brain starts to over clutter.   Anyways, I think it's the folks at Carnegie Mellon University who are studying Twitter to learn of the regional differences in word behavior.  They in essence said that Twitter is the easiest online social media for them to study, because many Facebook profiles are private, and because bloggers tend to write more formally.  I would agree with that summation, because I rarely use the word summation when I am speaking.

FYI Carnegie Mellon, I live in the deep deep south (also FYI, south Florida doesn't count as the deep deep south), and I say CRAP more than I would formally like to admit.  I also say shit more often than I should, but could you please instead believe that I am one of those proper southern belles who some may doubt ever existed?  Since I no doubt fail to meet the southern belle standard, I too would love to believe that southern belles are at best a myth.  No such luck.  Even though southern belles are not as easily spotted since they stopped squeezing themselves into hoop skirts tied so tightly as to cause them to faint, I have personally seen this rare breed's fair descendants with my very own eyes.  

I may not be the southern belle type, but I'm not saying that I don't embrace parts of my culture.  If you don't at least give your culture an affectionate squeeze, it will embrace you in its merciless grip, and you will just stand there looking like a fool -- kicking and screaming -- trying to tear yourself from its grasp, while everyone around you stares at you like you should be ashamed.  I mean really girl, get a hold of yourself and let us love you.  You are one of us, and we love you.  So stop all the fussing, before you get the best of our temper.

In all seriousness, I CANNOT help myself from saying y'all, loving my tea ICED with an unhealthy portion of sugar, being mystified as to how anyone could drink tea, soda, Kool-aid or punch without ice (around here ice is the other food group, and I go into shock when I travel outside my iced down territory), and cursing the powers that be for not realizing that the gardening authorities need a thump upside their collective noggins.  Did it ever occur to anyone other than a natural born southerner, that there is a conspiracy going on in the gardening world?  The gardening gurus have steadfastly resisted our southern pleas for a HEAT TOLERANCE grading.  Cold hardy this, cold hardy that.  Sure, it gets cold down here (sometimes even in the teens), and we need to know a plant's cold hardy rating almost as much as those of you above the Mason Dixon line, but by God's green nature, we have seen just as many plants wither away in the heat, as we have in the cold.  So, HOW about a few more equal rights down here?

If I think of any other southernisms that may help you Mellon heads in your quest to further categorize our country into regions, I will so write y'all a formal letter. 

P.S., we really do say "ain't" way more than EVEN we would like, but we have been properly threatened with corporal punishment, from using it in our writing.  We may sound uncouth, and may often appear uncouth.  While we may lack polish, we never fail to shine.  If you are wise enough to appreciate our vernacular for the treasure it is, you too will be won over by our effervescent ways. 

Ummm ... hello usual blog readers:


Today is DAY 12 of my Everyday Happy pursuit.  And, without further ado, here is part of Day 12's entry: 

Notice Goodness.

Notice all the goodness in the world and it will lift your spirits.  It's so easy to get lost in gloom and doom.  The news and media generally tend to concentrate on bad news.  It's more sensational and it holds the public's attention.  As is often state, "Bad news sells newspapers."

Keep a sense of perspective.  There are huge amounts of good fortune, happiness, love and positivity around you, both close at hand in the wider world.  Look out for the goodness and you'll see it's not delusional to believe in it; it's all around you.

I have chosen to notice the goodness that surrounds me today instead of fretting over the news or a little word like "ain't."  Wanna know the best thing about today?  Today is technically my Friday, and I have a friend's birthday to celebrate over the next three days.  I may not be out sunning on the beach this weekend, given the cold weather, but I will be admiring a sunny ocean view!  And, there's nothing but goodness in that : )

What good have you noticed in your day?


House Rules: Any and all passersby, stalkers and the like, can post comments under "lurker comments." They will be screened for hexes, spells, foils, curses, foul smells and cooties before posting.

day 11 -- Revel in sounds

day 11 of the Everyday Happy Book -- Revel in sounds.

Sound is often the first thing we notice when we wake up. This is probably because we've been woken up by it and feel we'd like to linger in bed a little longer. Choose to let the sound make you happy rather than annoyed.

Ummmmm ... HELLO ... I would have attempted to revel in the chirp of the little bird who usually sounds the trumpet outside my window first thing in the morning or in the sound of my very annoying cell phone alarm, but neither that little bird nor my alarm went off this morning.  I think it was too cold out for the bird, but I'm not sure what my cell phone's excuse is.  All I know, is that the lack of noise to appreciate made me LATE for work.  Late I tell ya!  Nearly a half hour late. 

The Universe is trying to test me.  I just know it.  Am I happy about it?  No, but it could have been worse, so that's something to be happy about.  At least I didn't have to fake my appreciation for the early morning sounds which usually annoy me.  I instead received a reminder that even things which we find annoying often have real value, and that's something else to be happy about!

Hmmm, a reminder which brings me to another wonder.  If things we find annoying often have value in our lives, doesn't that also apply to my sarcastic and grumbling side?  Whooooo hoooo!  I think it does!

I also wonder if I'm one of only a handful of people who would dare smack an Everyday Happy book upside its smarmy pink cover.  ( : 

House Rules: Any and all passersby, stalkers and the like, can post comments under "lurker comments." They will be screened for hexes, spells, foils, curses, foul smells and cooties before posting.  

See Lickety Splitter ...

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

gETTing hAPPier, one day at a time.

Day 7's suggestion was to "think first."  Meaning, think before acting, so that we can say and do the right thing at the right time. 

Luckily for me, the primary button pusher of my alter ego's ignition was out of town and subsequently nowhere near me on Day 7 of my happy chase, so I only had to activate Day 7's suggestion once.  A non client who was unhappy with my number one button pusher decided to take his irritation out upon me in my button pusher's absence.  Me, poor little lamb that I often am, was once again left to deal with someone who was looking a lot like the Big Bad Wolf.  I didn't have much time to think first ... but I did the very best I could at restraining my own check and balance system on the offender.  I first politely pointed out that this was my first interaction with him, and asked if he would enlighten me as to why he was less than happy.  He did so, still harboring an accusatory tone.  Successfully masking my own urge to shut him down where he stood, I sympathized and assured him that I would do everything I could to help him and I DID.  By the time all was said and done, the Big Bad Wolf had shed his fangs and I had retracted my mental lash.  We were back to enjoying our peas and carrots.

Day 8 -- Whatever your mood is right now take a second to feel a rush of excitement at the thought that today is a new, fresh beginning.  

Pshaw ... I can't take much credit for following Day 8's suggestion, because it was Saturday, and I always think of Saturday as a new, fresh beginning.  Saturday is my happy day. The day of endless possibilities.  And freshy fresh is what I already had on my mind (I'm beginning to think this book and I were predestined to meet).  I am still in purge mode on the home front, and my mood is all about starting fresh.  I'm trying to turn a tidy new leaf, or at least flip the mattress over.  Cross your fingers that I can do right by fresh.

Day 9 -- Enjoy anticipation.  Delay some of today's small pleasures and enjoy the extra anticipation this gives you. Make it a treat, instead of a given.  

Hmmmm ... I wasn't successful at this today, but I definitely agree with the suggestion.  I need to practice this advice in connection with enjoying music.  I am guilty of loving certain songs to a quick death.  If I love a song, I will listen to it repeatedly until it loses its novelty.  After becoming conscious of this very bad music habit, I recognized my need to savor the absence of the song as much as I savor its presence. 

Is there anything in your life that you have loved or enjoyed all the goodie out of? 


House Rules: Any and all passersby, stalkers and the like, can post comments under "lurker comments." They will be screened for hexes, spells, foils, curses, foul smells and cooties before posting.