An Unexpected Laugh

I was in the car, stopped at a red light when I saw 

a truck pass me and I actually burst out laughing. 

The reason? In the truck there was a big hound dog

sticking his head out the window, ears flapping in the wind

with (what looked like to me) a huge grin on its face. 

It just made me laugh for some reason. 

"If you are a dog and your owner suggests that you wear a sweater. . . suggest that he wear a tail."
- Fran Lebowitz

"You can say any fool thing to a dog, and the dog will give you this look that says, `My God, you're RIGHT! I NEVER would've thought of that!'"
- Dave Barry

(photos courtesy of:weheartitcom)

Falling for: This Modern Romance

This last week I found something that made me smile out of sheer pleasure.

This Modern Romance is a husband & wife photography team 

who are creating beautiful wedding and fashion photographs.

http://thismodernromance.com/main/

The Wisdom of Winnie the Pooh

“If the person you are talking to doesn't appear to be listening, be patient. It may simply be that he has a small piece of fluff in his ear.”

'It is more fun to talk with someone who doesn't use long, difficult words but rather short, easy words like', "What about lunch?"

“If you live to be 100, I hope I live to be 100 minus 1 day, so 

I never have to live without you.”

“A bear, however hard he tries, grows tubby without exercise.”

“Just because an animal is large, it doesn't mean he doesn't want kindness

Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind. "Pooh," he whispered. 

"Yes, Piglet?" 

"Nothing," said Piglet, taking Pooh's paw, "I just wanted to be sure of you."”

(pictures courtesy of:google)

Marry Me

Dear Scott and Rachael,

Happy 1 year anniversary~

Forever can never be long enough for me
To feel like I've had long enough with you
Forget the world now we won't let them see

But there's one thing left to do

Now that the weight has lifted

Love has surely shifted my way

Marry Me

Today and every day

Marry Me

If I ever get the nerve to say "Hello" in this cafe

Say you will

Together can never be close enough for me

Feel like I am close enough to you

You wear white and I'll wear out the words I love you

And you're beautiful

Now that the wait is over

And love and has finally shown her my way

Marry me

Today and every day

Marry me

If I ever get the nerve to say "Hello" in this cafe

Say you will

Promise me

You'll always be

Happy by my side

I promise to

Sing to you

When all the music dies

And marry me

Today and everyday

Marry me

If I ever get the nerve to say "Hello" in this cafe

Say you will

Say you will

Marry me

Song: "Marry Me" by Train 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghZt2cILcCU

(photos courtesy of: kristen marie http://www.iamkristenmarie.com/) 

Fluffernutter

Last night my friend and I somehow got to talking about marshmallow fluff 

and I told her that my dad use to make peanut butter and marshmallow fluff 

sandwiches when I was growing up.She told me she had never had that kind 

of sandwich before so...

yes, we sat there in our kitchen at ten o'clock in the evening 

eating fluffernutter sandwiches cut into little triangles 

with smiles on our faces.

A fluffernutter is a sandwich made with peanut butter and marshmallow creme. Its name comes from the common use of "Marshmallow Fluff" brand marshmallow creme. It has been proposed as the official Massachusetts state sandwich.

(From the show Rizzoli & Isles)

Isles: Look at this! What is that white substance?

Rizzoli: Fluff.

Isles: Light, downy particles of cotton?

Rizzoli: It's marshmallow, and the brown substance is called peanut butter. 

It's ground up, heavy, oily particles of peanuts.

Isles: It's really good

(photos courtesy of: google)

Duty "the man who won the war" (by Bob Greene)

I picked up a book with the inscription on the cover that read "a father, his son, and the man who won the war." I was intrigued. I have been reading a little bit of it each night this week and I think I can say both my head and my heart have been touched. 

The book is about a columnist (Bob Greene) who interviewed the man who led the mission that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima-Paul Tibbets. 

Without giving away the book (because I want you to have a chance to read it) I will share some of my favorite moments so far.

~When asked what he was afraid of, Paul Tibbets answered 

"I'd have to tell you; nothing".  

Later he changed his answer to:

 "Bobcats. If I was supposed to walk through a place where there were bobcats, I'd be afraid."

~Bob Greene shared with Paul Tibbets about his own father

 "Even though you were so important in the war and he wasn't..." 

"Don't say that," Tibbets said. 

Paul Tibbets wrote Bob's father this note: 

To Major Green, A World War II warrior, with best wishes from Brig. Gen. Tibbets, USAF

Bob writes what happened when he gave that note to his father:

"I handed it to him. He moved it toward his face and looked at it. First I saw the smile. Then the glistening, the shining in his brown eyes."

(Photos courtesy of: google) 

At My Table

After looking through"Around My French Table" (by Dorie Greenspan)

I was inspired to prepare a simple, colorful, and flavorful meal. 

Green salad topped with

thinly sliced steak

strawberries 

radishes

Balsamic Vinaigrette

*Garnished with walnuts 

French baguette with Fontina cheese. 

(photos courtesy of: me) 

Headphones

 1:00 am it's just me,my headphones and my music. 

Rolling in the Deep (Adele) 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYEDA3JcQqw

Heartless (Kanye West)

I Got You (Leona Lewis)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BdyI8Uwmus

The Edge of Glory (Lady Gaga) 

Just the Way You Are (Bruno Mars) 

For the First Time (The Script) 

Sweet Disposition (The Temper Trap) 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4C8e7nNLZNs

Glitter in the Air (Pink) 

My Girl

Yesterday Tina and I had the whole afternoon to be children. 
We went to the water park. We had a picnic first, then went around, and around (and around:) the endless river, and of course had ice-cream. 
I loved hearing her laugh; it was pure joy.

I've got sunshine

On a cloudy day.

When it's cold outside,

I've got the month of May.

Well, I guess you'll say

What can make me feel this way?

My girl (My girl, my girl)

Talkin' 'bout my girl. (My girl)

(Photos courtesy of: me)
(Lyrics courtesy of: The Temptations) 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltRwmgYEUr8

The Quilt

A very old man-George who had been placed in a nursing home by his family was a sad case-nobody ever came to see him. One day he stopped talking and refused to leave his room. He became a mute recluse, sitting alone in his room in his rocking chair all day staring out the window.

A woman resident-Maggie-had taken an interest in George, and when he disappeared she went in to visit with him. He didn't seem to mind, but he didn't respond, either. She had started working on a quilt and over time she moved her handiwork little by little into his room. She spent her days sewing and telling her life story, while he sat staring out the window. She had a million stories and was very happy to have someone listen to her. He sat and started. She talked. 

Months went by.

When Maggie finished the quilt, it was put on display in the main lobby of the nursing home. Everyone said it was one the most beautiful quilts they ever saw. The same week the quilt was finished, George passed away.

In the drawer of his night-stand the staff found an envelope marked, "To be opened when I die." The note inside said only, "Tell Maggie I love her." When they told her, she cried as if her heart would break for she had loved him too...she had made the quilt just for him.

And that's why George was buried wrapped in Maggie's quilt.

(Excerpt from: True Love by Robert Fulghum)

A Declaration of Independence (4th of July)

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness...And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor." 

Independence Day, (known as the Fourth of July), is a national day in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. 

*Both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, the only signers of the Declaration of Independence later to serve as Presidents of the United States, died on the same day: July 4, 1826, which was the 50th anniversary of the Declaration.

Dedicated to those in our Armed Forces 

(Photos courtesy of: google) 

Sunday (Laughter)

Last night I couldn't sleep so I turned on my computer and I found a comedian to listen to.

I sat on my bed, in the dark and laughed and laughed...it felt wonderful. 

“Through humor, you can soften some of the worst blows that life delivers. And once you find laughter, no matter how painful your situation might be, you can survive it."

~Bill Cosby

“The human race has only one really effective weapon and that is laughter.”

~Mark Twain

I am thankful for laughter, except when milk comes out of my nose.  

~Woody Allen

Laughter is the shortest distance between two people. 

 ~Victor Borge

(photos courtesy of:weheartit) 

The Library

I love going to the library. In the winter time it's quiet. 

In the summer time there is low chatter of children giggling. 

Sometimes I'll just get cookbooks with bright and vivid 

pictures of fruit tarts and roasted leg of lamb. 

Sometimes I'll get a crime novel that keeps me up at night. 

And sometimes I'll find a book that has short stories about loss and 

love that make me laugh and cry all at the same time. 

"I go into my library and all history unrolls before me."

- Alexander Smith

"It is, however, not to the museum, or the lecture-room, or the drawing-school, but to the library, that we must go for the completion of our humanity. It is books that bear from age to age the intellectual wealth of the world."

- Owen Meredith

"No furniture so charming as books."

- Sydney Smith

(photos courtesy of: weheartit) 

My Favorite Little Things

I am sitting on my floor; the balcony door is open and a gentle breeze is blowing. I reached up to take out my earrings, and as I held them in my hand I just looked at them. They're a pair of glass-pearl earrings and they are one of most favorite pair of earrings to wear. They're simple, and yet I feel pretty when I slip them on.

On my window-sill I have small copy of the painting "The Kiss" by Gustav Klimt in a small frame. That is also another favorite of mine that is small and just makes me smile. It has no other purpose except to be beautiful.

Last week in the mail I received a package from a friend and when I opened it an old book titled "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" slipped out...it too is beautiful. 

(Photos courtesy of: me)