Thursday, June 30, 2016

DAY THREE HUNDRED AND FOUR OF THE HAPPINESS PROJECT

Day 304. Today is the final day of June, the month of Calm.  Here is the recap..
 
June's Resolution: It's The Simple Life For Me

"If you can learn from the worst times of your life, you'll be ready to go into the best times of your life."


  • Sit in the Backyard and Listen - I did this a few times this month.  I took my book or lunch out back.  I even had a friend come over and we sat out back.
  • Walk the Dogs and Be Present - I try to walk the dogs and stay present.  I talk to them when I walk them.  I also have to stop pressuring Happi to walk faster.  I tell people Happi doesn't like to go for a walk, she likes to go for a sniff. 
  • Take a Bath Without TV - I have taken a bath with my book.  Not recently but I need to get back to that.
  • Get Enough Sleep - I failed this horribly.  I am SO tired...
  • Practice Meditating - I failed this goal. 
  • Act the Way I Want To Feel - I am trying to act more positive.  I want to be a more positive person.
  • Have a Cup of Tea and Read a Book - I have been trying to do this.
  • Take Time for the Simple Things - I have been taking time to do the simple thing. Like cuddling with Happi, playing with Lucky and playing with Sunny.

I wished I had more time to work on my calm.  I have been working extra hard and this makes the simple things harder to accomplish.  I think I could really gain something from performing meditation.

Until tomorrow...

Wednesday, June 29, 2016

DAY THREE HUNDRED AND THREE OF THE HAPPINESS PROJECT

Day 303. My friend came over today to ask me questions about me.  We know each other but since she is going to be a reference for me, she felt she needed to get to know me better.  So we had a cup of tea/coffee and talked.  That is until Lucky jumped up and drank from her cup of coffee (with a lot of milk).

It was interesting to have someone you have known for a long time ask you questions about yourself.  It is also kind of nice.  It is easier to get straight to the point.  There are questions I think we want to ask friends but sometimes don't because it is awkward or not the right time.  When someone is going to be a reference, it is the time to be honest.

Until tomorrow...

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

DAY THREE HUNDRED AND TWO OF THE HAPPINESS PROJECT

Day 302.  Weird thing that I was thinking about today.  When I was in high school I had to dissect a frog in biology class.  Maybe some of you had to do the same thing.  Or you had to dissect some other animal.

Let me tell you I have always been an animal, plant, underdog lover.  I remember we walked in and there were these frogs, I think they were dead on all the desks and we were supposed to cut them open.  I refused.  I told the teacher I would not cut an animal open.  This should have been a sign to my parents something was coming.  The teacher tried to talk me into it but I was not budging.  I would not do it.

Finally the teacher decided to use my frog as the example for the class that way I would not have to touch the frog.  Let me clear one thing up.  I was fascinated by the insides of the frog, that part didn't gross me out or anything.  It was that they killed all these frogs and now we were going to cut them up.  I didn't want to touch it or be the one cutting it up.

Once the teacher got it down to nothing but bones, I was then in charge of doing the procedure of cleaning off the bones (I vaguely remember putting it in the drier??)  and then gluing the bones to a piece of cardboard.  I got an A in the class and never had to touch a frog.  Okay, only the dried bones.

That is my dissecting frog story.  Luckily in college I didn't have to cut anything apart.  I have lived my whole life without cutting an animal apart!  Not even a lobster.

Until tomorrow...

Monday, June 27, 2016

DAY THREE HUNDRED AND ONE OF THE HAPPINESS PROJECT

Day 301. There are 65 days left in the Happiness Project.  For a long time it felt like there were months and months to go and now I am almost sad to see it ending.

I have not been doing a very good job at living the simple life.  This has been a very busy work month for me so that has been my priority.

Until tomorrow...

Sunday, June 26, 2016

DAY THREE HUNDRED OF THE HAPPINESS PROJECT

DAY 300.  Yay!  Happy Gay Pride!  I was up early and out the door.  I was a bit rushed at the end and forgot my borrowed boa.  I realized I left it about 4 blocks away, too far to go back.

I got to the meet site and we had to wait.  And wait.  And wait.  It was such a long wait.  I could have gone back for the boa 100 times.

I got to meet some nice people from the foster/adopt agency that I was marching with.  One guy in particular who was really great.

Finally we started marching.  I marched and danced and gave out beads.  I was the only person dressed up in our contingent.  I was the only person dancing in our contingent (except the dancers from the dance studio).  I was going to have fun!  Life was good!

I had a good time.  I came home and took a long bath to ease those aching muscles.  I was happy that I did the walk and the wait with little problem.  I am in better shape than I thought.  Oh, so happy!

Then I watched the Game of Thrones finale.  

Until tomorrow...

Saturday, June 25, 2016

DAY TWO HUNDRED AND NINEY-NINE OF THE HAPPINESS PROJECT

Day 299.  Today was Pink Saturday. That is the day before the Pride parade.  I was invited to a Pink Party.  First step I had to find something to wear.  I don't have really any pink.  I finally found this t-shirt that I bought as a gag years ago.  It says "Girls Just Want To Have Fun".  It is bright pink.  Perfect!  Add some pink beads and I am ready to go.

The party was fun.  I always have a hard time at parties where I don't know anyone.  Especially when I am one of a handful of women and there are almost 100 guys.  It is daunting.  My friend finally came and rescued me until I found someone to talk to and then he went off to talk to his friends.  I had a great time.

Until tomorrow...

Friday, June 24, 2016

DAY TWO HUNDRED AND NINEY-EIGHT OF THE HAPPINESS PROJECT

Day 298.  This is the start of Pride Weekend.  I don't have anything planned tonight.  I wanted to order food but everything is such chaos that I gave that thought up.

I decided to march in the Pride parade.  I tried to buy some rainbow flag items for marching and everything was sold out so I put out an SOS to my neighbors for some help.  I needed some clothes or items.  The offers came in.

One neighbor offered some pants.

These are actually fuchsia and blue.
Look at little Lucky
Another neighbor offered me a rainbow tutu.  I borrowed a boa from another neighbor.  Then some beads.

I wore the swirly pants with sneakers for comfort.  The organization I marched with gave me a t-shirt.  I was going to wear the boa but I ran out and left it on the table!  I had my beads.

Until tomorrow...

Thursday, June 23, 2016

DAY TWO HUNDRED AND NINEY-SEVEN OF THE HAPPINESS PROJECT

Day 297.  Today I went to see my Primary doctor.  I had a form for him to fill out for my foster/adoption process.  I had to get a TB shot.  I am allergic to the TB test so for 40 years I had to get chest x-rays.  About 10 years ago I learned about a new test called the Gold Test that is a blood test that tests for TB.  Now I don't have to get chest x-rays anymore.  That makes me so happy.  I don't want to glow when I get older.

Until tomorrow...

Wednesday, June 22, 2016

DAY TWO HUNDRED AND NINEY-SIX OF THE HAPPINESS PROJECT

Day 296.  I got the results from Happi's tests.  Her tests came out fine.  She doesn't have a urinary tract infection.  I am so happy.  The vet also said they were able to x-ray her organs and her spine.  Her organs are fine.  Then her spine looked wonderful considering she has 3 legs.

This is good news.  She has the ulcer and that is bad but not as bad as I could be.

Until tomorrow...

Tuesday, June 21, 2016

DAY TWO HUNDRED AND NINETY-FIVE OF THE HAPPINESS PROJECT

Day 295.  I took Happi to the vet today.  Happi has been having problems for a few weeks and I felt like it was time to check her out.  She has been vomiting, peeing, and crying.

Yesterday I got home and she was on my bed crying.  Very unlike her.

I was worried something was really wrong with her.

The Vet thinks she has an ulcer.  Happi has been put on Prilosec and some anti vomiting medicine. The poor baby.  Hopefully this will make her feel better.

The tests will come back tomorrow and we will see if anything else is wrong.  The good news is the x-ray they did showed that her organs are good and her spine is in better condition than I thought.

Tomorrow I get the results from the tests.

Until tomorrow...

Monday, June 20, 2016

DAY TWO HUNDRED AND NINETY-FOUR OF THE HAPPINESS PROJECT

Day 294.  Today is Sunny bird's birthday.  He is 7 years old.  He doesn't look a day over 3 years old.  He is so sweet.





Such a cutie!

Until tomorrow...

Sunday, June 19, 2016

DAY TWO HUNDRED AND NINETY-THREE OF THE HAPPINESS PROJECT

Day 293.  Today was clean the house day.  My friend H is coming over later on and I want the house to look nice.  Plus it needs to be cleaned and picked up.  I also did laundry.  It was one of those domestic days.

My friend H came over in the afternoon and we hung out in the backyard.  It was nice using the backyard.

Until tomorrow...

Saturday, June 18, 2016

DAY TWO HUNDRED AND NINETY-TWO OF THE HAPPINESS PROJECT

Day 292.  Today I cleaned out the pond.  All the water evaporated so there was this film left in the bottom.  I climbed in and raked up all the stuff on the bottom.  The leaves and stuff.  I took apart the pump, filter and hose.  I cleaned most of it but threw away the stinky hose.  The pond is empty except the cement blocks.  The plan is to fill it in with sand.


The remaining fish are in a fish tank and today I cleaned it out and moved it to another location.  They look so happy.


Until tomorrow...

Friday, June 17, 2016

DAY TWO HUNDRED AND NINETY-ONE OF THE HAPPINESS PROJECT

Day 291. I have not had much time to do much soul searching this month.  Not too much relaxing or meditating.  This has been a big work month.  I have been working a ton of hours and can barely keep up with all the work.  I am not complaining but it is a bit exhausting and it makes it hard to complete my goal this month.  I am supposed to be getting enough sleep and meditating and taking quiet walks.  Yeah, not so much.

Until tomorrow...

Thursday, June 16, 2016

DAY TWO HUNDRED AND NINETY OF THE HAPPINESS PROJECT

Day 290. I mailed in some of my foster/adoption papers.  There were five pages that the organization needed first to move the process forward.  I sent those in. I am really excited that the process is moving forward.

Until tomorrow...

Wednesday, June 15, 2016

DAY TWO HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-NINE OF THE HAPPINESS PROJECT

Day 289.  Today is my nephews graduation from high school.  Most of my family is back East celebrating with him.  I opted to skip it because I am going to visit later this summer.  I am proud of my nephew.

Until tomorrow...

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

DAY TWO HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-EIGHT OF THE HAPPINESS PROJECT

Day 288.  I went to see my gut doctor today.  She gave me a great compliment.  She said she had never seen me look so good.  Wasn't that nice?

I got a good doctor's report.  I have kept my weight off.  I have kept to the vegan meal plan.  I am not eating quite as well as I should be but I look great.

That was welcomed news.  Happy news!

Until tomorrow...

Monday, June 13, 2016

DAY TWO HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-SEVEN OF THE HAPPINESS PROJECT

Day 287.  This starts a very busy work week.  What I like to call a CRAZY work week.  My client is on vacation and his boss is on vacation so I am covering for a bunch of stuff that I don't normally do for them.  I am so glad this new dog walker is working out.  I am keeping him busy.

Still reeling from the news from Orlando. More and more information is coming out about the situation.  My heart breaks.  The memorial in our area is growing.

Until tomorrow...

Sunday, June 12, 2016

DAY TWO HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-SIX OF THE HAPPINESS PROJECT

Day 286.  Today is a sad day.  I woke up to about 15 alerts telling me that 50 people in a gay bar were killed by a man in Orlando.  What?  Why?  I watched  CNN for a while to figure it all out.  What I saw made me so sad.  I was so hurt.  I felt violated.

A club is a safe haven for a gay person.  That is a place where a gay person can be who they are without ridicule or judgement.  In Orlando that sacred place was violated.  That safe place was no longer safe.



Tonight there was a vigil.  I brought flowers to put on the memorial for the victims.  I brought candles for my friends and I to carry.  We went to the meeting place and there were thousands of people.  It was empowering.  Then we marched.  People were honking their horns and giving us peace signs.

It was a moving night. One I wish we didn't have to experience.

Until tomorrow...

Saturday, June 11, 2016

DAY TWO HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-FIVE OF THE HAPPINESS PROJECT

Day 285.  Today was the day I hired someone to finish the backyard weeding.  She worked for three hours and it looks great.


I feel like now I can use the backyard to relax, work and entertain.  It looks really good.  Now I just have to deal with the pond and the backyard will be great!

Until tomorrow...

Friday, June 10, 2016

DAY TWO HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-FOUR OF THE HAPPINESS PROJECT

Day 284.  I am so happy.  I got my haircut.  Finally!  It has been weeks and weeks since I got my haircut.  It is so long and I don't like it.  It is unruly and wavy.  It gets in my eyes.  It doesn't dry by towel drying.

Now it is nice and short and easy to handle.  I can dry it with a towel.  I can just brush it and go.  I love it.

Today my new shoes arrived.  My new red shoes.  I love them.  I have a pair of blue pants and a pair of grey capris and the red shoes will look great.



Until tomorrow...

Thursday, June 9, 2016

DAY TWO HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-THREE OF THE HAPPINESS PROJECT

Day 283.  I think it is an epidemic.  Today I fell while walking.  A week ago my brother-in-law fell while he was walking.  A month ago a clients employee fell while walking.  The funny thing is none of us were talking on the phone or texting. 

Here's what happened: I was crossing the street on the way to the bus when someone brushed past me.  I reached down for my bag and found it unzipped.  I sort of panicked that I had been pick-pocketed.  I was trying to zipper my bag shut while checking to make sure my wallet was inside. At the same time I was stepping up the curb and I didn't step up far enough.  Wham!  I splayed out on the curb.  It was ugly looking.  Two tourists came over to see if I was okay and the bus driver was quite animated from inside the bus asking if I was okay. 

I jumped up and said I was okay.  My knee hurt but my jeans were not torn so I was very happy.  I got on the bus.  All of a sudden I saw blood on my hand.  My finger was bleeding and I had a gash on my hand.  I guess I hurt myself more than I thought.  I was hoping I was not bleeding from my knee.  I used some tissues to stop the bleeding.

I stopped at Walgreen's and bought some band-aids.  I checked my knee and it was not bleeding.  When I got to my final destination, I was able to wash the injuries and apply fresh bandages. 

My knee is quite swollen and black and blue but nothing is broken.  I may have popped my finger out of the socket but it will heal.  I was lucky that I didn't get badly injured. 

Until tomorrow...

Wednesday, June 8, 2016

DAY TWO HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-TWO OF THE HAPPINESS PROJECT

Day 282.  Today I wish I had taken a photo of Lucky playing fetch.  I took two tennis balls out in the backyard and had both dogs come outside.  This is the first time I brought out dog toys with both dogs in years.  Last time it was ugly.  The dogs got in a fight when they both decided to covet the same toy.  Then the toys went bye-bye into a box.

Today I felt both Lucky and Happi have been getting along very well for a long time and it was time to give them another try.  We went downstairs and I threw a ball.  Lucky went running with her tail wagging.  She was in seventh heaven.  I think she even had a big smile on her face but she was running away so I really could not be sure. 

Then I threw the other ball and Happi half-heartedly ran in the direction of the ball.  It went under some trees, she stood by the trees and looked at me.  She just stood there.  Then she wandered back to where I was standing.  She stood there for a while then she went inside.  She was done.  Happi was never one to mindlessly run after a ball.  She always thought I should run after the ball.

Luckily Lucky went and sniffed out Happi's ball and brought it back to me.  Lucky can play fetch for hours.  Today I found out one thing Lucky doesn't like: when the ball gets dirty.  She is such a diva.  Once the ball gets dirty, she doesn't want to put it in her mouth anymore.  I guess I can't blame her.

I found that playing fetch is a bit zen.  The whole process.  Throw it, find it, drop it, pick it up, throw it again.  I have a small backyard to Lucky can't go very far but to her it is loads of fun.  Way more fun than running after the ball inside.

Her smile is worth it.

Until tomorrow...

Tuesday, June 7, 2016

DAY TWO HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-ONE OF THE HAPPINESS PROJECT

Day 281.  Today was election day.  I went down and put my voter envelope in the bin.  For years now I vote at home and put the envelope in the bin at the polling place.  This way I can take my time voting and still vote on election day.  I always forget to mail it in.

I started getting the mail in option years ago when I almost missed voting because I was going to be away.  Now I just get the mail in election voter envelope that way I am always ready.  I always feel happy voting.  Doing my civic duty.

Until tomorrow...


Monday, June 6, 2016

DAY TWO HUNDRED AND EIGHTY OF THE HAPPINESS PROJECT

Day 280.  I am now taking 7 mg of Prednisone.  I have been decreasing down from the original 20 mg I was taking.  I went from 20 to 15 mg a long time ago.  Then a number of years ago I went from 15 to 10 mg.  I have been on 10 mg for about 15 years. Too long.  About a year or so ago I went from 10 mg to 9 mg.  Then I got sick and had to stop decreasing.  Then life became complicated and for one reason or another it just wasn't the right time.  Who wants to decrease their medication right before vacation?

About two months ago I agreed to start decreasing from 9 mg to 5 mg.  I was going to power through.  I have been taking this medication at too high of dose for too long.  It is not good for me or my bones.

Last night I decreased to 7 mg.  I have some side effects.  I am way too tired.  Fatigued.  Falling asleep in the afternoon.  My fingers are swollen in the morning when I wake up and I would not think of taking my rings off.  I am creaky.  I had that pain in my breast bone that was a little scary.  My bones ache.  The normal side effects of decreasing a drug that keeps inflammation at bay.  I imagine it will only get worse as I decrease more.  But I am determined to get down to 5 mg.

At this rate it will take me 2 more months to get to 5 mg. if all goes well.  But it is necessary and a good thing for my bones.

Until tomorrow...

Sunday, June 5, 2016

DAY TWO HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-NINE OF THE HAPPINESS PROJECT

Day 279.  Today I had to take Sunny the bird to get his wings clipped and his beak and nails trimmed.  He is not happy after this occurs.  Poor thing.  He is happy afterward but at the time, he is miserable.

Then I decided to use my new product Goo Gone for Patio Furniture.  What a great product!  My chairs and table look like new.  After two years of a drought and not being able to clean them off and no rain, they looked horrible.  I wish I had taken a before and after photo!


Then while I was on a roll I cleaned the table and chairs that are on my lower deck.  They have not been cleaned properly in years!  I tried to clean the table a few years ago and could never get it clean.  Well, Goo Gone is the product!  It looks like new.  The top of the table was literally black with dirt, mildew and the junk that comes from trees.  Now look at it:


This picture makes it look a bit black but I think that is a reflection of the water on the top because the top looks white now.  The chairs are so clean too.  I am so happy!

Until tomorrow...

Saturday, June 4, 2016

DAY TWO HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-EIGHT OF THE HAPPINESS PROJECT

Day 278.  I am really into getting the backyard cleaned up and ready to use before the summer is over.  I want to spend a lot of time out back this year.  I have such a wonderful backyard and historically I have hardly used it.  Not this year.

I also want to use my deck more too.  I bought the cute little table to put my drink on and now I bought another throw pillow.  I like to lay down on my bench and I needed another pillow. The blue pillow with the bird on it is the new one.  I guess I have a bird theme going.


I can't wait to have iced tea and lunch on my improved deck!  What a great place to curl up and read a book.

My Meyer Lemon tree is going crazy!  I have so many lemons I think I am going to have give some away!  The past two years there were hardly any lemons due to the drought.  This year, when I emptied the pond, all those nutrients went into the earth and now I have LEMONS!



I picked 8 lemons today and there are so many green lemons on the tree and hundreds of buds ready to make lemons.



Until tomorrow...

Friday, June 3, 2016

DAY TWO HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-SEVEN OF THE HAPPINESS PROJECT

Day 277.  The hottest day of the year so far.  It was so hot today that when I got home it was 98 degrees in my house.  Ugh! Poor little Lucky hates the heat.  She will lie on the floor for 2 minutes and then hop up and move to another spot and lie down again.  Then up and down.  All day long.

It was hard to get work done with it being so hot.

Until tomorrow...

Thursday, June 2, 2016

DAY TWO HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-SIX OF THE HAPPINESS PROJECT

Day 276. Cleaned out more of the backyard.  It is almost complete.  It looks so good and relaxing.   Just a perfect place to sit and read a book.



I think I have come to a decision about the pond.  I am probably going to fill it in for now.  For various reasons I don't want to fit with Mother Nature anymore right now.  There were two raccoons the other night in the backyard at 4 am.  It is dangerous and at some point they are going to come face-to-face with a dog.

 Until tomorrow...

Wednesday, June 1, 2016

DAY TWO HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-FIVE OF THE HAPPINESS PROJECT

Day 275.  Tonight I went to see X-Men: Apocalypse. It was great!  I won't ruin it for you but if you like the X-Men movies, go see it! 

It was fun hanging out with friends.

Today is also the first day of June which means it is time to recap May. Try Mindfulness.

"Your mind is a powerful thing.  When you fill it with positive thoughts your life will start to change."


  • Remember what Matters to You - I spent a lot of this month figuring out what matters to me and that is having a family.
  • Turn Complaints into Thankfulness - this is an area of growth for me. 
  • Smile More!  I am trying to smile a lot more and think I was successful at this.
  • Learn and Do Mindfulness Meditation - I didn't follow through with this.  I think it would be good for me to learn.
  • Use Positive Not Negative Words - I have been trying very hard to use a positive word not a negative word.
  •  Be Kind to Yourself - I always need to work on this since I am too hard on myself.
  • Put a Positive Word on My Cup Each Day - I started this and then forgot.  I will continue this.
  • Be Positive! - Working on it!!
Overall, I think I tried as best as I could to be positive in a very difficult month.  I find it hard to be positive when I am anxious about something.  I have second thoughts and spend too much time rethinking things.  I think I did well considering.

June's Resolution: It's The Simple Life For Me

"If you can learn from the worst times of your life, you'll be ready to go into the best times of your life."


  • Sit in the Backyard and Listen
  • Walk the Dogs and Be Present
  • Take a Bath Without TV
  • Get Enough Sleep
  • Practice Meditating
  • Act the Way I Want To Feel
  • Have a Cup of Tea and Read a Book
  • Take Time for the Simple Things
This is the month of Calm.  Taking a moment.  It is the perfect time of the year to have this month.  My backyard is almost finished and I can sit and read a book.

Until tomorrow...