Happiness Happens Day

I loved this day! First I went to Tai Chi and that always makes me happy. Then I copied a video that Karen Wiggins posted on Facebook and made this drawing with markers. Although it could certainly look better, that made me happy because it's so cool. After that I went to my exercise class at the Y which produces all those lovely endorphins in my body. And what exactly are endorphins, you may ask? Well, I'm not sure exactly, but they do help bring about feelings of euphoria and general well-being. And this evening when I walk the dogs, one of my neighbors will walk with us. I like it when she joins us because she takes Glory and then I only have to watch out for my little guy. Plus we catch up on recent events. And that makes me happy. But truth be told, I'd be happier if this celebration occurred at any other time of the year besides summer. It's too hot, but I'm still happy!

Sisters Day

As you know, I have no sisters. I don't remember ever being sad about it as I grew up, but as an adult occasionally I've been jealous of women who have close relationships with their sisters. But thankfully, I have some cousins that have always felt like sisters to me and still do... Cathy and Sharon especially. I used to spend a week with the Lyons family during the summers and loved every minute of it. I felt like I was going to camp because there were so many people.  In this photo, Cathy and I are holding hands and Sharon is behind me. There are also some other Lyons kids in the mix, Joe, Rob, and our cousins from Tennessee. We always had fun together and I celebrate them today!

Wiggle Your Toes Day

All together now... wiggle your toes! And since I had a pedicure yesterday, I can even look at my toes as I wiggle without feeling disgusted. Also as we age, wiggling any part of our body is productive and just feels good.

I visited Brianna today and got some really good news. She has a grandfather in San Antonio who she will be able to live with when she leaves Krause House. They've had one family counseling session by Skype and it really made her happy. She even read him a list of rules she's made for herself including working hard at school and respecting others. She told me that he cried at one point and I believe that is a very good sign. I also got reprimanded by her therapist for taking her gifts (some old tee shirts of mine and a set of markers for coloring). I'd truly forgotten that we weren't supposed to do that and she's such a sweetie that I just couldn't help myself. But happily, she got to keep what I'd given her and I promised not to do it again. Dammit!

Underwear Day

I hope we all shared in the celebration today by wearing underwear. And if you didn't, I don't really want to know. I think this one's a little ridiculous.

I posted this photo because I have my brother, Joe, to thank for what I did this morning. I took this picture at the Memphis airport when Rob and Joe came to pick me up in July. They saw this license plate and parked next to it. So as hard as this may be to believe, Joe convinced me some time ago that pedicures are worth it. I mentioned that I get a couple every summer, but that I also have a problem cutting my toenails. It's not that I can't reach them, but rather I can't see them. So he reminded me that Mom and Dad used to drive an hour to a podiatrist just to get their toenails cut and it cost more than a pedicure. So I immediately took that to mean when I need my toenails clipped, a pedicure is in order. Gotta love Joe!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Day

I cheated a little today because I bought chocolate chunk cookies instead of the usual chips and let's face it...  if some is good, more is better (the Wiggins family motto). I bought three cookies yesterday and couldn't wait till today, so had a part of one after dinner last night. And so far, I've only finished the broken one, but that could change before I go to bed.

I played Rummikub this afternoon which is a good game for my brain. When I first got here I didn't like the game much because I had to think, but now that I've played a while, it isn't as much of a chore. And it's always good company and snacks, so it's really a win-win-win.

Watermelon Day

Where's Frank Wiggins when you need him? Oh, I remember... heaven. Anyway. I can't eat watermelon without thinking of dear old Dad and how much he loved it. It was the only thing he ate in the days before he died. I have to buy the expensive cut-up chunks (for more than I could buy a whole watermelon) because the whole melons are too big and I hate the mess. Wish Dad was here to cut it up for me. I did give up his habit of salting it years ago and now love how it tastes so wonderfully sweet. It brought back some great memories and made this very hot summer day a little more bearable.

I also went back to yoga today after months of being away. I didn't like the last teacher, but there's a new one now and I'm back in my element. Thank goodness!

Coloring Book Day

This certainly couldn't have hit at a better time... today was our coloring day at the clubhouse! And dammit, but I meant to take a picture of everyone coloring, but completely forgot. Maybe another time. We only have about eight regulars, but that's just fine by me because some of our groups have really gotten too big. Sometimes we have as many as 20 at our Friday night dinners and it takes forever. It's funny that this is one of my biggest problems. It's also great!

Girlfriends Day

I'm pretty sure I celebrated Friends Day not too long ago and since 90% of my friends are girls, this tribute is about the same. I've been fortunate to have very good friends all my life and the circle obviously grows as I age. I love that I'm still in touch with high school girlfriends as well as friends I've had since in my twenties. I'm very blessed!

Since it's Monday, we don't typically go out until later in the week, so I'll just propose a toast to all my girlfriends when I have my daily wine. But I did share Tai Chi class today with a very good Heritage Grand girlfriend. She was the host of our little dinner party on Saturday and at the time complained that she has no study. Well, being the helpful sort that I am, I offered a suggestion on rearranging her furniture to make a little study nook in the corner of her living room. And this morning she told me she hasn't stopped thinking about it, so of course, I had to offer to come help her try it out. I love doing that sort of thing and my house just isn't conducive to alternate arrangements, so it'll be fun.

I also went back to the YMCA to my exercise class which I hadn't been to since January. I fractured my foot in Feb. and then when that had just healed, took the big fall. I was really nervous about starting back, but I kept right up and felt great afterwards. Yee haw!

Mutt Day

As a special gift to my two mutts today, I decided not to take their picture. It's actually nothing but torture for all of us and let's face it... if you follow this blog, then you know what my guys look like. I also gave them extra treats today so they could enjoy the celebration. This was also one of those rare days when I had absolutely nothing to do. Love it! I played computer games, worked on my ongoing jigsaw puzzle, finished a book, and watched a movie. And now I'm ready for the coming week. Yay!

Dance Day

This one was fun. All I had to do was put on some 60's music and dance around the house. I should actually do it more often because it's good exercise to dance... especially when no one's watching!

I visited Brianna this morning and we colored away. She really loves it and so do I so it's really a win-win situation. Plus she really opens up when we're concentrating on something else.

Then one of my four travel buddies in the neighborhood had the rest of us over for dinner tonight. It was the first time all summer that we've been together because they've been especially busy with grandchildren while they're out of school. So we drank some wine, had some delicious food, and got all our ducks back in a row. It felt good!

Lasagna Day

I had some Trader Joe's eggplant lasagna in the freezer as it's a quick, tasty meal when I'm in a hurry. No rush today, but it made a good lunch. And as a matter of fact, since I never eat a heavy meal at noon, I had to cancel on our dinner group tonight in favor of a light salad. Penelope Pig Wiggins cannot rear her ugly head ever again!

The photo has no significance whatsoever, but I took it at the Memphis zoo some years ago and it's always been one of my favorite shots. And in his defense, it was a little chilly that day. Funny monkey!

Milk Chocolate Day

I'm not really a milk chocolate kind of girl and don't keep it at home, but I remembered I still had some chocolate covered peanut butter Girl Scout cookies in the freezer, so was happy to get them out and have a few. I just needed a good excuse and this was a great one.

It's also National Refreshment Day and so I shared my favorite refreshments with the wine ladies. Our poor little waiter had too many glasses on his tray and spilled it all right down the backs of another woman and me. The manager offered to pay our cleaning bills (there was some red wine in the mix), but we assured him that wouldn't be necessary. So our wine and appetizers were free! And that's the best kind of refreshments there are!

Take Your Pants for a Walk Day

I wish I liked scotch because this is also National Scotch Day, but alas... no can do. However, I did take my pants for a walk this morning and plan to again in an hour or so, as I do every day. Actually in this heat I wear shorts, but let's face it, they must count as pants.

Two more hours at the dentist this morning to get fitted for my permanent bridge and other stuff I don't even really ask about anymore. Four more weeks and this nightmare that began on May 29 will be over. I swear this has been the longest summer of my life with doctor and dental appointments and foreign crap in my mouth. It's hard to believe that a few falls in the middle of the night could have caused all this torture. Ah well, it will all be over soon(ish).

After the dentist, Kay and I went to the picture show, but my, how they've changed since we called them picture shows. We sat in reclining seats, ordered lunch, and watched Ghostbusters. Even though it didn't get great reviews, we loved it... perhaps just because it was an escape from the real world. No, not really... we thought it was damned funny!

Aunt and Uncle's Day

I had some great aunts and uncles when I was young and am grateful for all of them. But all are gone now except for my favorite, Aunt Amelia, my dad's youngest sister. Even though she had twelve children of her own, she has always made my brothers and me feel like we were just as special as her own kids. And she still does. Every time Joe and Rob come to visit, she takes us all out to lunch and still laughs at all our dumb jokes. Her husband, Uncle Tommy, was also a gem. He was my confidant and friend when I moved to Houston in my 20's and I will never forget him. He and Kitty (Amelia) were the parents I'd have wanted if I couldn't have had my own. I am so blessed and lucky, let's face it, to have been born into the Wiggins family. I love them all!

Thread the Needle Day

Metaphorical meaning: Finding a path through two opposing views, often used by politicians. What a coinkydink! I just bought this tee shirt and wore it for the first time on our morning walk before I even knew that I was celebrating the day. And this is EXACTLY how I feel. I do not like either presidential candidate and still am on the fence about how to vote. As I see it, the choice is between a crook and a time bomb... not happy with the odds either way.  But I sure do love my dogs and am happy that they keep my mind off this horrendous election. As a matter of fact, I think I'll take them for a walk right now!

And thanks, Sissy and Judy for your comments yesterday. Cousins are definitely important in my life, especially since I don't have children. And that was just one side of the family!

Cousins Day

This photo was taken at Grandmother Wiggins' funeral and includes two Wiggins cousins (Debbi and me), three Flanagans, and 11 Lyons with only Cathy missing, although I'm sure she'd been there. The front row is all of Grandmother's children and only Uncle Charles had no children present. I really love all my cousins and feel blessed to have so many. The Lyons family is probably the biggest reason I came back to the Houston area... they are some of the happiest, most loving people I know and how proud I am to be related to them!

And since it's also National Tequila Day, I had a margarita before dinner and toasted to all my cousins... Roebucks and Wiggins!

Vanilla Ice Cream Day

I decided to cheat just a tad today because I saw vanilla caramel swirl and thought that sounded much more exciting than plain ol' vanilla and since it had the word "vanilla" in it and was fewer calories than the others, it was a go. When I got home and tried it, it just wasn't as good as I had hoped. Since of course I was eating right out of the carton, I looked at the name again and realized I'd bought gelato. And just so you know... ice cream is so much tastier!

I visited Brianna this morning and took all of my coloring supplies. She really enjoyed it and said she wants to color every week, which is fine by me. I read when I first started teaching that when you want a kid to talk to you, it's much easier if you're doing something together rather than just trying to talk face to face. And I realized very quickly how true that was. So we talked the whole time and I'm happy to say I felt she was pretty open and honest. I asked if she believed in God and she said, "Not really." With the hand she's been dealt in life, I can certainly understand that. I told her that I'll never try to inflict my beliefs on her, but did add that life is really easier if you believe. That was just dipping my toe into the water and as time goes on, I'll slip things in little by little. Can't hurt!

Spoonerism Day

I had to look this one up although I knew it at one time. A spoonerism is a phrase in which some sounds are mixed up, either accidentally or intentionally, named for the famous Oxford don, William Archibald Spooner. This absent-minded professor was born on July 22, 1844 and became known for his habit of mixing up sounds. A good example is "Is it kissstomary to cuss the bride?" However, my favorite that I found refers to a playing card... whore of farts.

This morning I had my hair cut and colored and should possibly take a responsible adult with me the next time. I let the stylist do what she wanted and now I've gone very short and much darker. So far I'm avoiding the mirror as much as possible because I can only see a different person. Not ready to post a pic yet, so just imagine.

Junk Food Day

Granted, my junk food probably isn't the same as most of the American population, but I did it regardless.  For lunch I had guacamole and hummus with chips as well as sunflower seed snacks. And I did double duty in that it was all salty.

My tire was flat again this morning, so spent several hours (again) at Avis. I'm going to be really pissed if it goes flat again, but I'' let you know.

And I discovered this evening why Glory's "licking her privates" condition has gotten worse. I give her a pill with her dinner every day and as she walked away tonight, I noticed that the pill was still in her bowl. And I even drench it in coconut oil to make it more appetizing. I intended to watch to make sure she came back and got it, but got sidetracked doing the dishes. And the next thing I knew,  I could hear Simon licking her bowl and when I looked up, he had gobbled it down. And who knows how long he's been doing that? Bad dog!

Moon Day

Forty-seven years ago today Neil Armstrong walked on the moon. At the time I was going to summer school at Centenary in order to get a teaching certificate at the last minute. Mom had tried to convince me for several years to do it, but I had rebelled because I didn't want to teach. But let's face it, a bachelors degree in math wasn't very valuable unless I continued my education. So second semester of my junior year I succumbed to her wisdom. And those of us in the dorm that night went outside to gaze at the moon. It's a good memory.

Today I went to Krause House to officially meet Brianna. I'm very afraid that this girl is going to rip my heart out. She's pretty and seems very sweet and unfortunately, is in special ed. But the sad part is that she's been in foster care since she was two. She's been in numerous types of homes and is now at Krause for trauma therapy. She told me she started cutting herself, but that she doesn't do it anymore and of course, wants to leave. She's 15 and wants to be a pediatrician because she had a brother who died as an infant. There's also another brother who's 10, but was adopted by a family friend. She told me she's seen her mother occasionally and the most recent time was last Christmas. Naturally at this point I have no idea if what she's telling me is true, but as we get to know each other, I'll have a better idea. I told her I'd be back on Saturday and may even try to see her more than once a week. Or not... this will be a tough one.