Monday, August 25, 2025

Five Things

 


Last week, I:

1. Saw the chiropractor.

2. Helped someone out.

3. Wrote a couple of poems.

4. Paid bills.

5. Went to the grocery store, ran errands, walked on the treadmill, etc.



In solidarity with federal workers, who were tasked in late February 2025 with listing 5 things they did the prior week in order to keep their jobs, I started listing 5 things I did last week every Monday. On August 5, 2025, the federal government decided this was a waste of employees' time (as if we all didn't know that already). I have decided to keep it up. Since I don't have a regular job, it's a fairly mundane list.


Sunday, August 24, 2025

August Happiness #24

 


This has been a difficult day, but I am happy that I can find solace in music. 


______________________________________________________________________


About the August Happiness Challenge

Each day in August you are to post about something that makes *you* happy. Pretty simple. And, it doesn't even have to be every day if you don't want it to be. It's a great way to remind ourselves that there are positive things going on in our lives, our communities, and the world.

Sunday Stealing

 


1) What do you typically have for breakfast?

A. During the week I have Honey Nut Cheerios. On the weekends, I have scrambled eggs.

2) What was your favorite breakfast cereal when you were a kid?

A. Fruit Loops.

3) Orange juice, tomato juice or cranberry juice?

A. Cranberry juice. I'm allergic to citrus, can't drink tomato juice because of my propensity for ulcers, so cranberry it is. But I rarely drink juices of any kind.

4) What time is your alarm clock set for?

A. 6:00 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. 

5) Do you have any tips for preventing stress and making the morning go more smoothly?

A. Don't get out of bed in the first place! Otherwise, set out the clothes you want the night before, make sure you get a decent night's sleep, and let the coffee maker start the coffee for you if you're into that sort of thing.

Thank you for playing! Please come back next week.

__________

I encourage you to visit other participants in Sunday Stealing posts and leave a comment. Cheers to all us thieves who love memes, however we come by them.

Twenty-Five Years


My mother passed away 25 years ago on this day. Early in the morning, I received the phone call that she had passed somewhat unexpectedly in the night. She had pancreatic cancer, and the doctors had said she likely had another month or two to live. I knew the end was near; just two days earlier, I had brought a local preacher in to see her, giving her the chance to make her peace if she wanted, or to say nothing if she didn’t.

I hadn’t expected her to pass away so soon after that visit. Perhaps that brief moment, that permission from someone like the preacher, was all she needed to move on. I will never know.

My mother worked hard to make a good life for herself and her two children, my brother and me. She held a full-time job for all the time I lived at home. I remember how she kept the house sparkling clean, always ready for the days my father returned from business trips. She retired in the 1990s, when she was about 46, because by then she had her years in after having worked at the same company since she was 16. She died 10 years later. Her retirement years were not easy, unfortunately.

I wish she could have been happier.

Pancreatic cancer is a cruel cancer. I'm sure treatments are better now than they were 25 years ago, but not by much. It's a cancer that is generally not diagnosed until it is in its advanced stages. The most common type, pancreatic adenocarcinoma, has a survival rate of just 8% of people five years after diagnosis.

My mother lived just over a year beyond her diagnosis.

I have now lived a longer life than my mother did. It's sobering to think that I have spent more time alive, breathing in the lovely smells of my beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, than my mom did. 

Fifty-six is awfully young to die. Each year I live beyond that feels like borrowed time.

Saturday, August 23, 2025

August Happiness Challenge Day #23

 


Today I am happy that I have more important things to fret over than the change of logo of Cracker Barrel. Honestly, who cares? If that is the kind of thing that worries people, I am really glad I am not one of them.

______________________________________________________________________


About the August Happiness Challenge

Each day in August you are to post about something that makes *you* happy. Pretty simple. And, it doesn't even have to be every day if you don't want it to be. It's a great way to remind ourselves that there are positive things going on in our lives, our communities, and the world.

Saturday 9: We Belong Together




Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

This month we're going to recall Summer Songs. These will all be records that topped the charts during August.

1) Number 1 on the charts in August 20 years ago, "We Belong Together" is about the end of this romantic relationship. Mariah sings that now she won't have anyone to talk to on the phone until the sun comes up. That was then. Today many people prefer to text than to talk on the phone. Are you one of those people?

A. I prefer a telephone conversation to a text. Texting has its place, but once you get past 4 texts you may as well pick up the phone and call.

2) The video for this song features an elaborate wedding. Tell us about the last wedding you attended.

A. I can't remember the last wedding I attended. I haven't been to one in at least 20 years.

3) Mariah believes she inherited her musical gifts from her mom, who was an opera singer and vocal coach. When things were hectic in their household, Mariah recalls that music helped bring her and her mom closer together. Share a happy childhood memory featuring you and one of your parents.

A. I remember my father teaching me how to learn how to ride a bicycle.

4) After graduating from high school in Long Island, Mariah Carey went to Manhattan in search of stardom. While waiting for her big break, she enrolled in beauty school and waited tables. Both stylists and servers receive gratuities for their services. Do you consider yourself a good tipper?

A. I think I am. I'm not a bad tipper, anyway. 

5) The Fresh Air Fund operates six camps in the New York area to provide kids with a chance to learn and explore outdoors. They named Camp Mariah in Ms. Carey's honor to thank her for her support. Here's your chance to toot your own horn. Tell us about an honor you received. (Anything from a major award to a handmade drawing that says "World's Best Mom" counts. We want to hear about it.)

A. Last October I received an award for my work in historic preservation in my community. It was mostly for writing the magazine celebrating Botetourt County's 250th anniversary, but also for many other writing projects I have done through the years to promote historic preservation.

6) Mariah has mentioned she enjoys pizza and red wine. Will you be enjoying either pizza or red wine this weekend?

A. I will not be enjoying either one this weekend.

Let's look at the summer of 2005.

7) The biggest news story that summer was Hurricane Katrina. This deadly and destructive storm killed over 1,000 people and did more than $100 billion in damage. Have you ever endured a natural disaster (such as hurricane, flood, landslide, tornado, blizzard, wildfire)?

A. We had a major flood in 1985, known as the Flood of '85. In Roanoke, the Roanoke River rose 18.57 ft (5.66 m) in ten hours to a peak of 23.35 ft (7.12 m), considered a 1 in 200-year event. In the city, many residents had to be rescued after they were trapped, and three people drowned by driving into flooded waters. Considered the worst flood on record in the city, Roanoke sustained $225 million in damage, with 3,100 damaged homes and businesses. My husband was on duty that day and was one of the firefighters rescuing people. I was in Roanoke at a doctor's appointment and after going from route to route to avoid flooded roads, I finally found a way to the interstate, only to find I could not get home because of ponding water and mudslides. Eventually I was able to get home via a long back road, only to find my basement flooded. That was the worst one. However, several times we have had to evacuate from vacations at Myrtle Beach due to hurricanes.

8) Popular that summer was Kingda Ka, the new roller coaster at Six Flags Great America in Jackson, NJ. At the time, it was the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world. Have you been to any fairs or amusement parks this summer?

A. I have not been to anything but the farmers' market this summer.

9) Award-winning American figure skater Alysa Liu was born in August of 2005. NBC Sports and their Peacock network report that figure skating events get high ratings. What's your favorite sport to watch on TV?

A. I like watching the WNBA these days. I like figure skating too, though, when I catch it on.

_______________

I encourage you to visit the posts of other participants in Saturday 9 and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however. 

Thursday, August 21, 2025

August Happiness Challenge Day #21

 


I found a new (old) show to watch while I'm walking on the treadmill. This made me very happy because I need to keep my brain and eyes engaged when I'm exercising.

______________________________________________________________________


About the August Happiness Challenge

Each day in August you are to post about something that makes *you* happy. Pretty simple. And, it doesn't even have to be every day if you don't want it to be. It's a great way to remind ourselves that there are positive things going on in our lives, our communities, and the world.

Thursday 13



Things to Be Happy About (August Edition)

1. The smell of fresh-cut grass drifting through an open window on a warm evening.

2. A well-worn book that still surprises you on the third or fourth read.

3. The moment your collage clicks into place, and the colors, textures, and mood all align.

4. A stranger’s unexpected kindness, like holding the door or complimenting your earrings.

5. The first sip of something hot when the house is quiet and the day hasn’t made any demands yet.

6. A memory that makes you laugh out loud, even if no one else would get the joke.

7. The sound of cicadas at dusk, reminding you summer’s still holding on.

8. A blog comment that says “I needed this today.” It's proof your words landed somewhere soft.

9. The feeling of solving a tech glitch without throwing anything. Victory!

10. A fictional character who feels like a friend, especially when the real world feels too loud.

11. The way Botetourt County looks in late summer, golden and green and just a little sleepy.

12. A song that makes you dance in your chair, even if it’s just a shoulder shimmy.

13. Knowing you’re building something meaningful, even if it’s still a secret.

_________________


Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while, and this is my 921st time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

Wednesday, August 20, 2025

August Happiness Challenge Day #20

 


Today, I am grateful for the quiet that comes from stepping back.


______________________________________________________________________


About the August Happiness Challenge

Each day in August you are to post about something that makes *you* happy. Pretty simple. And, it doesn't even have to be every day if you don't want it to be. It's a great way to remind ourselves that there are positive things going on in our lives, our communities, and the world.

Monday, August 18, 2025

August Happiness Challenge Day 18

 


We are having a break in the humidity today with a nice breeze. It's lovely out this morning! That makes me happy.

I was able to assist with family duties and take a relative to the doctor this morning. That made me happy, too, that I could help out. I even picked up parts for my husband for something broken while I was out.

I am also happy I'm writing this, because I've been remiss about it for a few days!

______________________________________________________________________


About the August Happiness Challenge

Each day in August you are to post about something that makes *you* happy. Pretty simple. And, it doesn't even have to be every day if you don't want it to be. It's a great way to remind ourselves that there are positive things going on in our lives, our communities, and the world.

Five Things

 


Last week I;

1. Got the house all nice and clean.

2. Wrote a couple of poems.

3. Worked on my secret project with Chad and Sage.

4. Read two books. (My Friends by Fredrik Bachman - excellent! and Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes - excellent!)

5. Saw the chiropractor.


In solidarity with federal workers, who were tasked in late February 2025 with listing 5 things they did the prior week in order to keep their jobs, I started listing 5 things I did last week every Monday. On August 5, 2025, the federal government decided this was a waste of employees' time (as if we all didn't know that already). I have decided to keep it up since it's a quick way to get something on the blog for Monday. Since I don't have a regular job, it's a fairly mundane list.


Sunday, August 17, 2025

Sunday Stealing




TWO foods you can't stand

1. Coconut

2. Citrus (because I am allergic to citrus)

FOUR foods you love

1. Watermelon

2. Chocolate

3. Chicken

4. Broccoli

TWO places you never want to see again 

1. The inside of a hospital.

2. Anybody's basement.

FOUR places you'd like to revisit

1. Williamsburg, Virginia

2. Charlottesville, Virginia

3. Myrtle Beach, SC

4. Charleston, SC

TWO musical artists who make you want to change the station 

1. Anyone singing twangy country.

2. Anyone singing rap or hip-hop.

FOUR musical artists you love to listen to

1. Fleetwod Mac

2. Bread

3. Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young

4. The Eagles

TWO moments you'd like to erase

1. The time I quit a job at a law office in Fincastle.

2. The time I turned down an editor's job because I had just lost my mother.

FOUR moments you'd like to relive

1. The day I met my husband.

2. My 50th birthday.

3. The births of my nephews and niece.

4. The day I saw my byline in print for the first time.

Thank you for playing! Please come back next week.

__________

I encourage you to visit other participants in Sunday Stealing posts and leave a comment. Cheers to all us thieves who love memes, however we come by them.

Saturday, August 16, 2025

Saturday 9: Colors of the Wind




Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

This month we're going to recall Summer Songs. These will all be records that topped the charts during August.

1) Number 1 on the charts in August 30 years ago, "Colors of the Wind" is from the Disney hit, Pocahontas. Have you seen it?

A. I have not seen this movie. I seriously doubt Disney does the real Pocahontas much justice, though, given the way it generally rewrites myths and fairy tales.

2) This song celebrates the glories of nature. Have you spent much time outdoors this summer? If yes, what have you enjoyed doing?

A. I have not been outdoors much this summer. It has either been 100 degrees or raining, without much in between. When I have been outdoors, it has been to look at my garden, which is pathetic and is now mostly dead thanks to too much rain, too little sun, and too much heat.

3) Lyricist Stephen Schwartz said he was inspired by the works of Chief Seattle, Henry David Thoreau, and Ralph Waldo Emerson. Who is your favorite author?

A. I don't have a favorite author. I like a lot of authors. Sometimes I get on a kick, and I read everything I can by an author, then I move on. I've read all of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum books, and Sue Grafton's Alphabet mystery books with Kinsey Millhone, and I've read fantasy books by numerous authors, including Tolkien, Rowling, Bujold, Goodkind, etc. I've read romances, gothics, nonfiction, classics, and more just this year. I read everything. 

4) This week's artist, Vanessa Williams, came to national attention as Miss America 1984. In the talent competition she sang "Happy Days Are Here Again." Over the years, contestants have sung, recited original poetry, danced, twirled batons, performed gymnastics and demonstrated martial arts. Which of 
your talents would wow the judges?

A. I could play the guitar, but I doubt it would do much "wowing." I'm not that good at it. Maybe I should recite a piece of original poetry?

5) Her family tree includes William A. Fields, who served in the Tennessee House of Representatives in the late 19th century. Are you interested in genealogy?

A. I have traced parts of my family history, and that of my husband, back beyond the Revolutionary War. I have an ancestor who fought in that war and others who fought in the losing side of the Civil War.

6) Vanessa supports the non-profit Dress for Success, which helps unemployed and underemployed women prepare with career coaching, networking and professional attire. Have you ever gone into a job interview found yourself unprepared? Or, if you prefer, tell us about an interview you confidently aced.

A. I don't know that I've ever been fully prepared for an interview. There is always some question that throws me.
 
Let's look at the summer of 1995.

7) 1995's best-selling new car was the Ford Taurus. That summer, dealers were promoting a 6.9% APR loan or $1,500 cash back with purchase. This summer, drivers with good credit might get a better deal because the average APR for new car loans is a little lower. Do you keep your eye on fluctuating interest rates?

A. I do not watch interest rates at the moment as I am not anticipating a purchase. I had a 1989 Ford Taurus that I loved, by the way. Great car. The 1999 model was not a great car, and we traded it in for another Taurus within a year. That car also had the same problem, and we ultimately ended up with a 2003 Toyota Camry because I refused to buy another Ford.

8) English yachtswoman Lisa Clayton made history by sailing solo around the world. It took her 10 months. Would you be comfortable spending months and months alone?

A. I imagine I could handle it, if there were things to do and books to read.

9) Legendary New York Yankee Mickey Mantle died in 1995. How is your baseball team doing this season?

A. I don't have a baseball team.

_______________

I encourage you to visit the posts of other participants in Saturday 9 and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however. 

Thursday, August 14, 2025

Thursday 13 #920



A storm isn’t just weather. It’s a teacher that doesn’t ask if you’re paying attention. The wind scribbles warnings in the trees, the light tilts strange, and suddenly the world feels older than you remembered. Somewhere between the first gust and the last drip from the eaves, you realize you’ve learned a few things you didn’t know you knew.

Things a Storm Teaches You

AI Picture

1. How to measure time without a clock.

2. That silence is a prelude, not a void.

3. The difference between watching and truly witnessing.

4. Why dogs pace before the thunder finds them.

5. That power flutters like a candle before it dies.

6. How memory sharpens in the glow of a single flame. 

7.The smell of ozone braided with old stories.

8. That lightning sketches the sky without permission.

 9. The way thunder rolls like a name you almost remember. 

10. That rain on tin is the lullaby even skeptics believe. 

11. How clouds carry mood as heavily as they carry moisture. 

12. That storms don’t borrow metaphors—they earn them. 

13. The comfort of knowing it will pass, and it will return.

_________________


Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while, and this is my 920th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

Tuesday, August 12, 2025

August Happiness Challenge Day #12

 


Today I am happy for the young woman who comes and cleans for me once a month. She makes the house feel good, and me feel better about the things I'm not able to do anymore. Hurrah!


______________________________________________________________________


About the August Happiness Challenge

Each day in August you are to post about something that makes *you* happy. Pretty simple. And, it doesn't even have to be every day if you don't want it to be. It's a great way to remind ourselves that there are positive things going on in our lives, our communities, and the world.

Monday, August 11, 2025

August Happiness Challenge Day 11

 


Today I am happy for grocery store roasted chicken. We eat a lot of them. I cannot buy an uncooked chicken and cook it for what I can purchase a pre-roasted chicken for, hot out of the rotisserie. I do not know why this is, but I am not much on cooking anyway, so I am very glad that this option exists.

It makes for a quick and easy dinner.

______________________________________________________________________


About the August Happiness Challenge

Each day in August you are to post about something that makes *you* happy. Pretty simple. And, it doesn't even have to be every day if you don't want it to be. It's a great way to remind ourselves that there are positive things going on in our lives, our communities, and the world.

When Did My Tech Stop Being Mine?

Once upon a time, a girl bought a computer. Then she bought software to put on the computer. At first, that software came on a 5 1/4 floppy disk, then a 3.5 floppy disk, then a CD, then a DVD. 

However it came, I bought a video game or a word processing program, installed it on my computer, and it stayed the same until I decided to update it. Software programs just worked, and I didn’t have to worry about it suddenly changing the rules on me.

Those days are gone. With streaming, there are no rules.

Everything’s a “service” now. My games, my software, my books on my Kindle, even my conversations with AI are all subject to sudden updates, changes, and upgrades I never asked for and can’t refuse.

The technophobes tout this as receiving "new features and security improvements,” but the downside is a loss of control over what is happening, because I can't stop the changes even if the older version of somethign worked fine. 

It also means taht something I enoy could vanish or mutate overnight. Amazon can reach into my Kindle and change anything it wants in a book, for example.

And then there's the learning curve. Suddenly MS Word isn't what it used to be and you have to spend forever trying to remember how to format a document. 

It's a pain. Technology has gone from being a tool into being a landlord we have to live with.

The other day, open.ai upgraded ChatGPT. I had grown used to the language it used, the cadence of what it was telling me. I could recognize a ChatGPT essay on LinkedIn without even reading the thing in its entirety. 

Now the new version has a different "voice." A different cadence. A different personality, even. Microsoft's CoPilot does too. I think it now sounds more like the older version of ChatGPT than whatever it was before. It's like both AIs fell into a vat of witch's brew and came out dripping wet, and each one swallowed a different frog or a bat or something.

Inno Games, which operates one of my favorite city-building games, has taken to making upgrades that users have supposedly asked for, but no one I know ever likes their changes. The changes all seem geared toward making us do more "in game" purchases than enhancing game play. If a company has to make changes, it should at least be honest about why it is doing it.

I feel like I'm in a perpetual beta test. Nothing settles down. Just when you think you've got the hang of Microsoft Outlook, oops, there's a change. Or just when you've settled into Gmail, oops, there's a change. 

The comfort of ownership has been replaced by the frustration of constant change.

This is happening everywhere as we switch over from ownership to lending models with the things we use every day. All of this stuff updates constantly. Even our cars. The updates promise fixes and enhancements, but often they just mean relearning how to do the simplest things.

It’s not just about convenience or familiarity, either. I want to feel in control of what I'm doing. I want to know that my tools - the stuff on my hard drive - belong to me. And I don't want to waste my time having to relearn something that worked perfectly fine before some technical egghead decided to change it.

When your technology owns you, instead of the other way around, something essential is missing.

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I just want to put on my old favorite game, load it up from my hard drive, and know that it’ll play exactly the same way it did the last time. I don't want to wait for an update. I don't want surprises or changes.

Is that too much to ask?

Sunday, August 10, 2025

Sunday Stealing




Let's Do Our ABCs

A. Auto - Toyota Camry

B. Bed size - Queen

C. Cats - Allergic

D. Dogs - Allergic

E. Essential start to your day - A shower

F. Favorite color - Blue

G. Gold or silver - Silver

H. Hand you favor (righty or lefty) - Right

I. Instruments you play - Guitar and I can manage to get a tune out on many others

J. Job title - Retired

K. Kids - None

L. Live (rural, suburb, city) - Rural

M. Meal plans - People plan those things?

N. Nicknames - Sweetie Pie

O. Overnight hospital stays - Multiple

P. Pet peeves - People who whine on Facebook.

Q. Quote from a movie - You shall not pass! (From Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Rings)

R. Regrets - I've had a few, but then again, too few to mention.

S. Siblings - 1

U. Underwear - I wear it.

V. Vegetable you love - Broccoli

W. What makes you run late - Oversleeping

X. X-rays you’ve had - Loads. I probably glow in the dark.

Y. Yummy food - Chocolate

Z. Zoo animal - Panda

 
Thank you for playing! Please come back next week. 

 __________

I encourage you to visit other participants in Sunday Stealing posts and leave a comment. Cheers to all us thieves who love memes, however we come by them.

Saturday, August 09, 2025

Saturday 9: Shout




Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

This month we're going to recall Summer Songs. These will all be records that topped the charts during August.

1) Number 1 on the charts in August 40 years ago, the lyrics to "Shout" encourage us to "let it all out." When is the last time you raised your voice?

A. Well, it hasn't been lately. I've had laryngitis for a week.

2) This week's featured artists, Tears for Fears, were a duo -- Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith -- who met as teenagers in Bath, the largest city in Somerset, England. Bath has been named one of The Great Spa Towns of Europe. Popular spa treatments include massages, facials, body scrubs and wraps, mineral baths, manicures and pedicures. If you could treat yourself to a spa treatment today, which would you choose?

A. A massage.

3) When they first met, one of the things Roland and Curt bonded over was that they were both raised by single mothers. Who was your best friend during your teen years? What did you two bond over?

A. One of my closest friends in my teen years was Beth. She played piano in the band I was in, and we ran around together at other times and were great friends all through high school. We went our separate ways after I graduated. I only saw her a few times after that. She passed away in 2018.

4) Curt's wife, Frances Pennington, has had a long career in marketing, beginning in the record business and transitioning to fashion. Which industry do you think you'd enjoy more -- music or fashion?

A. Music. I have no clue about fashion but I do know a little bit about music.

5) Roland married his childhood sweetheart, Caroline Johnston. They were together for 35 years, until her death. Do you know whatever became of your childhood sweetheart?

A. One of my sweethearts from elementary school passed away this spring. The boy I went to prom with I lost track of. I don't know where he might be.

Let's look at the summer of 1985.

6) That summer, Chicago teenager Balu Natarajan won the National Spelling Bee. Are you a good speller?

A. I used to be.

7) Tinker Bell took her first nightly flight at Walt Disney World in Florida. Do you recall which Disney movie introduced us to Tinker Bell?

A. Peter Pan.

8) Derek Hough was a baby in the summer of 1985. In 2007 he became a regular on Dancing with the Stars, acclaimed for his ballroom dancing. Are you good on the dance floor?

A. I dance a bit like Julia Louis-Dreyfus on Seinfeld.

9) In 1985, Michael J. Fox became the first actor to have the #1 movie at the box office and the #1 TV show in the ratings. The movie was Back to the Future and the TV show was Family Ties. Have you seen the movie? Were you a fan of the show?

A. We watched it. I don't know that it was must-see TV, though.

_______________

I encourage you to visit the posts of other participants in Saturday 9 and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however. 

Friday, August 08, 2025

August Happiness Challenge Day #8

 


Today I got myself up and went through the pantry and tossed out the cans that were past their "use buy" date.

Most of them were things we'd never eat anyway. Pandemic purchases, I suspect. Things I bought when the shelves were looking sparse. Anyway, they went on to the landfill. I was glad to get the space back so I can use it for things that we might actually eat.

______________________________________________________________________


About the August Happiness Challenge

Each day in August you are to post about something that makes *you* happy. Pretty simple. And, it doesn't even have to be every day if you don't want it to be. It's a great way to remind ourselves that there are positive things going on in our lives, our communities, and the world.