Humor and Laughter

Day Twenty-nine - Thirty Days of Thanksgiving

Is there anything better for when you're down in the dumps than a good joke? It doesn't seem to matter if it's a really good joke, or a clever, witty one, or an old-fashioned corny Dad joke. Laughter is a relief to sorrow and stress. I love humor! I'm so thankful for the many who can tell a good joke, think up and perform a funny skit, or draw a belly laugh producing comic. It all lifts my spirit and helps me see the brighter side of life.

Here is a website that's as good as the funny pages in a newspaper. Hope you can enjoy a laugh or two.

I'm Quirky

Welcome to the New Year!

January is my month of hibernation and I can finally indulge in it without guilt because we're empty nesters. In fact, I'm alone, by myself, while my husband is down in Iowa working on our old house. (I gave him a deadline of May 1st to get it up for sale or he'd be without a wife.) Anyway, in addition to hibernating I'm doing a "no-spend" challenge (by myself) to put aside $500 towards our son's headstone. 

As part of not spending I've gone to the library to satisfy my reading and book acquisition addiction. Among the non-fiction I found this one:

As I was reading it the other day, and laughing my head off because of the author's wit and sense of humor, the thought occurred to me that I am quirky. I enjoy weird tales, crazy YouTubers, and off-beat humor (not off-color). To prove that, here's a quote from Thomas Thwaites in the chapter on making plastic:

To start the chain reaction going you need an initiator of "free radicals"--these are single electrons that react with (or oxidize) just about everything (including the molecules in our cells, which is why those of us who want to live forever should eat plenty of antioxidant containing face cream). 

I laughed until I started coughing. It just hit my funny bone square on. I love anyone who can make me laugh!

Here is another quirky fellow human, Beau Miles from Australia. 

He has more, and longer, films on his channel. I don't even remember how I found him, but I've enjoyed everything he's put up.

And lastly, this morning when I looked in the mirror I knew it was time for some of my own quirky humor. I took a photo and sent a text to my husband saying, "Feeling particularly sexy this morning, can't wait for your return."

I look like I stuck my finger in the toaster!

There, now go make someone else smile today!

Patriotic Cars

 

Mine is the white one in the middle.

Friday Funny

From our church bulletin in July advertising the Empty Nester Family Home Evening group picnic.

(Check the second line)

For those who enjoy Ballet . . . and Humor

Saturday Sillies

From my childhood:

My sister, seven years older, was talking to our mom. I thought I heard my sister say, "I'm going to Crazy." My ears perked up, and, thinking it sounded fun, like a movie or theme park, asked, "Can I go too?" After a moment's hesitation someone answered, "Sure." Then I replied, "Well what should I wear?" That's when the laughter really began.

I'm still trying to figure out what to wear when I go crazy!

Saturday Sillies

This week's funniest videos:

Saturday Sillies

A recent conversation between the two senior citizens living in our home went something like this:

She said: I'm going to the kitchen, can I get you anything?
He said: No, I can do for myself.
What she then said: I'm happy to do for you.
What he heard: I'm happy to toot for you.

And that's how family folklore is born.

Humor

Count Your Blessings - Day 1

Do you know Jeanne Robertson, the humorist?

Or how about James Veitch?

I'm so grateful for people who can see the funny side of life.

Success at Last!

Looks like my eating habits are paying off--

Not really--April Fools!!!

A few funny people

After we rode the water taxi downstream we got out at a place where Sumo Wrestling is held.

Fortunes

The most recent from our cookies at Panda Express:

TopDad - Adjust finances: make budgets to improve your financial standing

PFCMom - A thrilling time in in your immediate future 

A rather profound thought from another cookie I got at a local Chinese buffet:

Not having a goal is more to be feared than not reaching one. 

Thank You, Noble!

Many thanks to Noble for pointing out to me that my label on the right for the Gratitude Blog Hop was a typo. I've corrected it now--it was a Blop Hop. Sometimes I feel like a big blop!

Sometimes you just have to relax . . .

Mother's Day with my boys, the flowers were from Lt. Lehi
l-r  Mr. Movie, JET, PFCMom, Dandylion

What we really look like!

Wouldn't You Know . . .

I totally identify with this quote from Betty MacDonald's book "The Egg and I"

I got so I could dress chickens like an expert, but have wondered since how this ability to defeather a chicken in about two minutes without once tearing the skin, my only accomplishment, could ever be mentioned socially along with swimming and diving, or gracefully demonstrated as with violin and piano playing. Wouldn't you know that I would excel in chicken picking?

Wouldn't you know that I excel in cleaning bathrooms.
Oh well. In my next life I'm going to be a ballerina, or violin virtuoso.

Ten Things of Thankful - Sunshine and Birdsong

I knew Mother Nature was just teasing us with those two nice days. She dropped a blanket of the white stuff on us last night. However, on those warmer days I thought about some things I'm grateful for.

1. Sunshine - I need light to feel energetic and cheerful. Dark, dreary winter days are hard for me to get through, I just want to hibernate until Spring. So when the skies are clear and the sun is shining bright I feel alive!

2. Birds - I've always loved birds; in fact when asked what kind of animal I'd like to be I can truthfully answer "a bird".  And not that I'm a daredevil or anything, but I'd really like to go hang gliding or para-sailing! I envy the birds ability to fly and soar and glide.

3. Birdsong - During the cold winter I miss the sound of bird singing and calling to each other. The birds are back in town and it's great to hear them again. I even recognize some of their songs and can identify the bird without seeing it.

4. Babies - Thursday night I got to hold the five day old son of a friend. He is so tiny, just over six pounds, and so beautiful, perfectly formed and sweet. Babies are miracles and I love them. I wish I could have had five more of my own!

5. Packages in the mail - This week I received two things I'd ordered; a 1940's pattern for a little girl's dress, and a new (to me) book. It's like getting presents, and I enjoy getting presents. I miss packages from my Mom (she died almost two years ago) because she'd put in little surprises and treats, odd things she didn't need anymore and often some money to spend on something I needed or wanted. Her love language was gifts and she was so very generous.

6. Music - When I'm listening to a CD of music whether it's Mormon Tabernacle Choir or K-Pop I am grateful. It lifts my spirit, helps me go for 30 minutes on the treadmill, gets me dancing, thrills my heart and makes life better. (Don't tell anyone, I get teary when I listen to certain pieces of music, it just touches my soul to the very core.)

7. Clean bedroom - and someday I'm going to have one. I'm neat and tidy, I make my bed everyday, and put away my clothes; but I can't get rid of the piles of paper. And there's always a pile waiting to go to the thrift store, a pile of ironing waiting for a free day, a stack of books that won't fit on the book shelf, etc. You get the idea. I'm not a tosser, but I'm working on it.

8. Laughter - it truly is the best medicine. When it's time to choose a movie to watch as a family we usually say "Let's watch something fun." Laughter relieves stress and makes the heart lighter.

9. Patchwork quilts - especially the scrappy kind. I think the combinations of color and shape are endlessly fascinating. Recently I've made choices that limit my time to sew (much to my regret), but I look forward to finishing what I've started and then getting back to sewing and quilting.

10. Pretty dishes - I finally got out my Blue Willow dishes to use everyday. My family is special enough for me to justify using my pretty dishes all the time. (Plus I was so tired of my old dishes!) I culled my serving dishes too, leaving just the ones I truly love and that are the prettiest. I'm worth it!

What are you thankful for this week?

Ten Things of Thankful - Brought to you by the Letter H

1. Health - as in good; after last week's bout with the flu I'm thankful for good health and only the normal aches and pains.

2. Humor - Saturday night I said to TopDad, "I missed you last week." He replied, "I didn't know you were aiming." It felt so good to laugh!

3. Heat - We are still in a deep freeze here in Iowa; I wear three or four layers and still shiver. I'm thankful I'm inside and not crossing the plains in a handcart.

4. Hairspray - It's the glue that helps me grow out my hair. I thought today of a way to motivate myself to keep going: I'm growing historic hair. I like to dress up in historic clothes and long hair looks more authentic hence the need for historic hair.

5. Handkerchiefs - My old linen hankies are so much softer on a sore nose than paper tissues. I love my pretty hankies!

6. Harmony - As in the boys getting along and laughing together; as in beautiful music too.

7. Hats - To cover my ears when the wind is blowing; however, I'm not so thankful for hat hair, but one tries not to think of that.

8. Georg Freidrich Handel and Franz Joseph Haydn - two of my favorite composers.

9. Hindsight - which, of course is 20 20; unlike my current sight which is almost legally blind.

10. Homemade - Just smell that fresh baked bread!

Thanks so much for stopping by. Have a look around and I hope you'll be back.

The AHA! Moment; OR When the light finally comes on

The Tightwad Gazette was published from about 1990 to 1996 and helped educated a whole lot of people about being frugal. I was an early subscriber and one of those learners. Learning is an fluid process, rising and falling as our needs change and our understanding increases. Here's a funny example.

I don't remember why or how I got started using a square of wax paper to grease baking pans, but that's what I used. In an issue of The Tightwad Gazette someone mentioned using the wrapper from a cube of butter (or margarine) and I thought they meant that there was enough butter left on the wrapper to use in greasing a pan. I tried it and finding it didn't work indignantly shouted, as if they could hear me, "This doesn't work! There isn't enough butter on here to do anything." And I went back to using a square of wax paper. A few years later I was pulling off the wax paper from the roll and the idea hit me like a ton of bricks "Duh, using the wrapper from the butter saves on using up my wax paper!!! Of course you have to put more butter on it, it was saving the paper part you didn't understand." I felt about an inch tall for being so dense.

Ever have those moments? That's why I like to read other's blogs and books even though I do lots of frugal things, I don't know it all and I can learn something new to add to my bag of tricks. You can see some of my favorite sites right over there------------------------------------------------>.

Everybody Needs a Good Laugh

On Saturday I was Skyping with Noble (I really miss her!). Behind her on the wall of her dorm room are pictures of Korean Boy Bands and Singers. They are all very lovely to look at. In the course of our conversation Noble mentioned that she has gained weight, but not inches as her clothes still fit. She was trying to figure out what was going on. Our of my mouth popped "You've had too much eye candy and it's making you fat!" She almost fell off her chair laughing.

 It feels so good to laugh!

Life in These United States . .

. . . is one of my favorite humor sections in Reader's Digest. Have you read May 2013?

. . .And One from Abroad
When I was pulled over for speeding, I told the officer, "I'm sorry, but the road seemed clear and . . "
"How would you have reacted if Mister Fog had suddenly appeared?" he interrupted.
Annoyed at his patronizing manner, I replied, "I suppose I would have applied Mr. Brake and summoned up Mr. and Mrs. Headlight!"
Enunciating each syllable, the officer repeated, "How would you have reacted if mist ... or ... fog had suddenly appeared?"
                                      Peter Melville, Cornwall, England


I laugh everytime I think of it!