Where did I put that melon-pult?

Watch this movie first for the full sounds effects!

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0N1_0SUGlDQ 


My two little men would spend 24 hours a day protecting our household from Zombie's - that is - if I would let them.  The same children who run for protection at the sight of a Daddy Long Legs become fearless avengers at the slightest threat of a zombie attack.

I'm glad someone is prepared, as I seem to have misplaced my melon shooter.

Like most moms', I manage to fit 26 hours of work in the average 24 hour days. If, one day, a zombie pack did camp out on the back lawn, would I even notice. Most likely I would be far too busy to notice and instead, usher them inside the house would usher the zombie's inside to wash their hands for dinner without seeing the obvious threat.

While it's important to tackle that daily "to-do" list, even the Plants and Zombies will take the occasional break to sing and dance.

My boys complain when I try to sing this song, but there are days when we could all use the reminder.

Obligations will always be there and life presents many challenges throughout the journey.  It's good to be diligent, but it's also good to come up for air now and then. If there's zombies dancing on in my backyard, I'd first like the chance to see them before they eat my brain.

A from rags to riches story

Once upon a time, there was a girl who believed in happy endings. The fairy tale kind - filled with a little drama and except for the occasional dragon or poison apple, no real problems to sell.  First the prince arrived, then love, and then happily ever after.

If I were to poll my girlfriend, none of us ever considered the "d" word - you know, that very ugly and painful word that should not enter such a happy blog.  

A tribute to Mr. and Mrs. Knox

Jello is such a happy food.  It's so simple, and yet tasteful - a very versatile food and yet, only enjoyed on trips to the hospitals or other rare occasions.  Such an overlooked, yet simple pleasure.  For a long time, I felt life was just too busy for even the momentary indulgence.  

Jello, like so many simple pleasures, is harmless - no animals are killed in its making (they are already dead), it has few calories and while it has never helped my finger nails grow, I'm sure that is has many health benefits.  Jello tastes great and is fun to play with- a cup of jello, anytime, can have that same thrill of putting on a swipe of lipstick, without the mess - a mini vacation.

Maybe because today is Friday, but today I'm going to keep my eyes open for jello and other simple pleasures reminding me that each and every day is a great one to be alive.

Simple beauty

There are times when it would be so much easier, or at least, more entertaining, to complain or gossip.   Short-term recreation, perhaps, but as we all know surrounding oneself with negativity won't make one happy.

On Monday I decided to make my own personal top 5 and was surprised to notice that looking for the tiny nuggets of goodness throughout the day lightened my soul. Yes, it was actually FUN! My own little treasure hunt, a journey that holds the same level of excitement I still enjoy reading James Patterson or Janet Evanovich. You don't really need a detective. It's funny how sometimes, the answer to happiness can be found right in plain site. Here's the top 10 on my happiness list from Monday.  

1. My children, as you know, are a given, as every day that I can watch them grow is a blessing
2.  A red, yes, red sun - making its appearance Monday morning.  The fleeting beauty was a delightful surprise
3. Ground Pumpkin Spice coffee from Dunkin Donuts
4. Memories of an unplanned visit with my friend, Louise.  Out time together is always a bit of heaven.
5. The technical support center at Empire State College and for their extensive knowledge of java script.
6. Toilet paper. Yes, having access to toilet paper makes me happy. It goes without saying that such a simple product reduced so many of life's complications.
7. News that a very good friend has found someone special and is now enjoying the early fun of a new relationship.
8. Who says we can't have it all? Three pounds down and I STILL enjoyed the chocolate chip cookie dough!
9. Spiak's garage on Hoosick, near Route 142. He still pumps your gas -  I really appreciate old-fashioned customer service.  

The beauty of imperfection

Patrick, Sept. 13, 2012

How many times did we drive by?  Myself, my neighbors hundreds passing and nobody paying notice - an overgrown, long-neglected orchard. 

As a society we've come to expect perfection and the harvest we would find was far from the flawless shapen fruit found in the supermarket. Peaches, apples, pears - small, misshapen, with superficial flaws, but inside - pleasingly tart apples that will make the perfect pie, pear butter, and in a few days after ripening, peach cobbler.

Life is not perfect, but occasionally, we find a simple treasure - that hidden orchard to remind us that happiness is all around, even and sometimes especially, in the imperfection.

The queen has finally arrived

Shhhh.... I will tell you a secret. You can't tell a soul, but I am really, truly, a queen

  The Princess Diaries  2: Royal Engagement, allmoviephoto.com

Seriously, if you don't believe me, ask my indulging parents - the ones who provided the carefree childhood where such an idea was cultivated. 

I never vocalized the idea (at least not far beyond the childhood playtime of my make-believe castle) but I may have given such an impression through my self-centered words and actions, as I was gently reminded last month at my 25th high school reunion.

We were joking about our high school perceptions of each other and one gentlemen thought it odd when I joked how we never talked much during high school. "Pam," he said kindly, "you always gave the impression that you felt you were different than the rest of us."

Maybe he is right and I did view myself differently, but if that is the case, what does it mean to be a princess or eventually, a queen?

The book Queen of Your Own Life: The Grownup Woman's Guide to Claiming Happiness and Getting The Life You Deserve provides daily doses of inspiration to help women achieve personal happiness. http://www.queenofyourownlife.com/. 

Should I, as queen, be immune from life's challenges?

The movie, Princess Diaries 2: The Royal Engagement, offers a different perspective.  Julie Andrews and Anne Hathaway, as the queen and princess of Genovia, must put their own desires aside for the greater good of their country, a concept embraced from our founding fathers which has all but disappeared from today's modern world.

Today I proclaim the following:

 After 42 years I am ready and willing to accept my role as your imaginary queen, on the condition that you join as part of my royal family. Our duty: to take royal microscope off ourselves and focus on the needs of our kingdom.

Now it's your turn, what will you do?

Say something nice today

I wish I could claim the concept as original, but I must credit the concept of this blog to a former colleague at the Amsterdam Recorder, Beverly Steinberg. Once, very long ago, she wrote an article titled "Say Something Nice,"  based on an elementary-school exercise of building people up, versus tearing them down.

Yes, perhaps it is human nature to criticize and complain, but frankly, I like what Bev Steinberg had to say, so long ago. How much nicer the world would be if each person, every day, took five minutes to say something nice. To give another person praise -- "thank you," "good job."  Then, it hit me - while at the computer one morning - I WASN'T LIVING UP TO MY NAME.

Pamela, in its purest sense, means "all sweetness" and I'm humbly must admit, these last few years I've been anything but sweet.  Nice to some, but not as positive, encouraging or forgiving as I would like to be.

Luckily, this blog is not about me. Instead, it's intended to be a daily dose of goodness, or as Mary Poppins would say - "a spoon full of sugar."  Instead of focusing on what is wrong with the world and our life, let's focus on what is nice.   Let's remember, imperfections can hold tremendous beauty - just look at a pearl.

Today is September 11- more than a decade has passed since the World Trade Centers fell. Through the ruins, we, as Americans, found our strength. It seems fitting today to point out that life will always be a mixed bag. It's our choice - do we focus on what's wrong, or what's right and good.

I've provided the concept, but again, this blog is about me.  It's our collective community so I urge you, take a few minutes to share something good. My hope, we can meet daily as your presence here will remind me that I do, after all, have a name to uphold.

I do believe that a former middle school teacher from Broadalbin said it best. Quoting scripture, his yearbook inscription read as follows.... "Pamela, meaning all honey..."

Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones."