Monday, December 15, 2008

A Home for the Holidays

What in this life is more heartwarming than happy animal story endings? Well, in my world, nothing. My very pet-friendly friend Beverly recently adopted four new four-legged cuties, catapulting the total population of her ever-burgeoning home-based menagerie into the double digits (11 animals and counting...although she will emphatically note that ONLY 8 of them are technically hers).

I am especially in love with One-Eyed Jack, who was slated for certain death because of his birth defect until Beverly's angel daughter, who works at a vet clinic, rescued the 8-week-old furball. The vet she works for is even going to perform free eye surgery on this too-cute-for-words kitty when he is old enough to have it. Jack was born without his left eye, so the eyelid will need to be sewn shut to prevent the possibility of infection down the road. Bev reports that little Jack is otherwise a "strong, cute and adorable, healthy kitten, who runs and jumps and plays with all the other animals in my house...he doesn't know he is blind in one eye, so he's completely fine with it." Awwwwww. How great is the story of One-Eyed Jack? He may be tiny in size, but this little kitty kat definitely has the heart of a lion.

And check out the other newest members of her clan...the doggie's name is Conan. And Morgan (the black kitty) and Spencer are brothers. How cute are they? They look like little Victorian statue kitties!












Monday, November 24, 2008

Don't Worry, Be Happy

Bobby McFerrin had the right idea when he sang those simple, yet undeniably catchy, wise words back in 1988. I still love this song. I remember how my mom and I would load Mr. McFerrin's "Simple Pleasures" LP onto my portable Punky Brewster record player in our kitchen and listen to this song over and over while we did fun things like bake cookies. It's a really awesome song that always takes me back to a gentler time when my life revolved around my hair crimper and New Kids on the Block.

BTW, did you know that "Don't Worry Be Happy" won the 1989 Grammy Award for Song of the Year, Record of the Year and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance? Also, did you know that Bobby McFerrin was born in Manhattan? And he performed the theme song for the opening credits of Season 4 of The Cosby Show. Wow, I think I love Bobby McFerrin.

80s songs=good advice=good news...and the video rocks.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2b3xk_bobby-mcferrin-dont-worry-be-happy_music

Saturday, November 22, 2008

The best news EVER

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

Friday, November 21, 2008

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens...

I love this picture because it represents two of my favorite things in the world - my sweet and impossibly adorable kitty Sonny and Steve Madden shoes. Whatever your favorite things may be, isn't it nice to have them around when life hands you lemons?

I know I'm jumping the gun on the Thanksgiving holiday, but I'm just feeling especially thankful today for the things that never fail to bring me comfort and joy in an uncertain and ever-changing world.

Today's good news? The beauty of favorite things never fades.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

The new season of Lost is almost here

I've had my ups and downs with this show, but for some reason, I keep coming back for more. I just watched the Season 5 spoiler and it made me really excited...not as excited as the High School Musical 3 trailer. But close.

The new season premieres January 21 @ 8/7 c. Looks good!


Free Godiva Chocolate!!!!!

Free = Good. Godiva = Good. Chocolate = Good. Put them all together, and you have a mighty triple threat of goodness. November is Truffle Month at Godiva, and to honor this wonderfully delicious confection, Godiva is inviting its customers to take a truffle break this afternoon. From 1-3 PM, you can stop by any Godiva store location and enjoy a FREE truffle. This is totally good news.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Snowflakes + Cold Weather = Winter = Christmas = Happiness


I have had snowflakes on the brain today. NYC saw its first snowflakes of the season this morning and that is good news to anyone who enjoys the changing of the seasons and the promise that the advent of a new season holds. Snow, to me, never loses its magical allure, but there is something extra special and magical about seeing the very first snowflakes of the season. I get so happy and excited and it makes me feel like I'm 5 years old again. I love it!

Snowflakes are so awesome. There are so many good things to say about them. No two are alike. They are beautiful. And when I see them, they make me think about some of my favorite things, like Christmas and snowmen and snow days when I was a kid and hot chocolate with lots of marshmallows in it.

I like when cities put lighted snowflakes on lampposts around the holidays. I was walking home the 10 long blocks from the grocery store to my apartment this evening in lovely Jersey City and even though, after about 5 blocks, my hands were starting to go numb and my face was getting windburned and my ears were burning and hurting and felt like they were going to fall off from frostbite and my arms were starting to ache from carrying 14 pounds of cat litter, I was happy on the inside. You want to know why none of those bad things mattered? Because I was walking along an avenue that was adorned with those beautiful snowflakes. Every single lamppost, for as far as the eye could see, had a big lit up snowflake attached to it, and walking under their soft, twinkling glow and being able to look up at them from time to time transformed an otherwise unpleasant and tiresome trek into a festive and delightful seasonal stroll.

I really like classic, old school, paper snowflakes, too. Who doesn't remember and love the snowflakes that you used to make in elementary school by folding a white sheet of paper and making all sorts of crazy cuts with those great two-toned, plastic kid scissors? Isn't it amazing that no matter how many you made, truly no two ever turned out the same? I guess it really is true what they say about snowflakes.

Thank God for snowflakes in all of their various forms. They represent so many wonderful concepts and always evoke a "flurry" of warm and fuzzy feelings and memories.

And now, allow me to close with a poignant and thought-provoking quote about snowflakes.

"Snowflakes are one of nature's most fragile things, but just look at what they can do when they stick together.”

Monday, November 17, 2008

Ice Cream Cupcakes...Hooray!

That's right...two of the greatest inventions in this life are getting married, and what a beautiful union it promises to be. Cold Stone Creamery will begin selling the delightful treats beginning in 2009, according to the following post:

http://fastfood.freedomblogging.com/2008/11/17/cold-stone-creamery-tweaking-menu-amid-100-store-closures/5864/

Cold Stone Creamery President Dan Beem said that the chain is revamping its menu to "keep up with changing consumers tastes in a tough economy." The ice cream cupcakes will, reportedly, have ice cream layered over the cake and be topped with frosting.

This makes me happy beyond worldy description because I love cupcakes so much it hurts. And I love ice cream so much it hurts. And I know that many other people do, too. This is definitely something to keep us getting out of bed in the morning.

Welcome : )

Bonjour. I would like to welcome everyone to my blog. It's a simple concept. I am tired of hearing bad news all the time. Life is hard and I think we are all entitled to hear some good news on a daily basis to serve as a counterpoint to all of the bad news that we are constantly subjected to. So the simple act of sharing good news with you will be the purpose of this blog. If you want to read about politics, Wall Street or who the Olsen twins are currently dating, then I encourage you to promptly navigate away from this page. Those things are all bad news and I will never, ever talk about them. I will be sharing with you only that which will make you smile and be happy because life is pointless if we can't find at least one thing to bring us joy every day.

P.S. Please feel free to send me any items of good news that may come your way. Good news is always welcome here...in fact, it is the ONLY thing that is welcome here!