A break in rather doom and gloom themed posting for something brighter: a meme. A happy meme.
(It is my personal belief that the ‘sphere would benefit from a boost in happy meme output.)
From Frogdancer, six things that make me happy.
(In no particular order.)
One. Listening to music alone, when I can let go and immerse myself in it. I’ve been known to dance around, belt it out like I was performing at Shea stadium and shake my money maker all over the house. I love putting music on and completely letting go. I rock out when I’m driving; I sing in to my fist, my imaginary microphone, and it makes me so happy I don’t give a fuck if someone’s watching me.
Two. Eating a meal that I a) do not have to prepare and b) do not have to clean up after. Eating a meal that does not include spilled milk and Nugget Buddies is a major bonus.
Three. Lying with my children while they’re sleeping. It’s one of my favourite things to do; almost every night I slip in to bed beside them, brush hair from their foreheads and drink them in. I love lying alongside them as they drift off, as their eyes grow heavy and the spray of curved lashes rises and falls, rises…and falls. Those moments with them are very intimate to me; being with my children in that capacity is incredibly calming. It brings me a great deal of inner peace.
Four. Connecting. Catching up with someone I haven’t talked to in a while. Such a good feeling.
Five. Good neighbours. This morning we woke up to no water (which I guess is what happens when it’s -29 outside…pipes freeze, along with everything else) and of course, half of the household had to drop some kids off at the pool, if you know what I’m sayin’. I’m happy that we have a neighbour who doesn’t skip a beat when my husband calls her up at 8.30 in the morning to see if he and Julia can go take a shit at her house.
Six. Reading blogs. It’s a part of my life. I really enjoy reading you guys, hearing your stories, getting a glimpse in to your everyday lives. I never know what I’m going to get when I open my reader – sometimes I laugh and sometimes I cry. I’m inspired, moved and touched by so much that I read, left awestruck by the talent that’s out there, the incredible writers that are sharing their incredible prose, their incredible creativity. I read these stories, your stories – you share your soul with me, your children. You make me proud. You’ve scared me. You’ve taught me, shared your life, your thoughts and feelings, your family and friends and everything in between. I’ve met some of you in person, have had the privilege of putting words to faces and personalities, and have developed friendships real and true with others who I’ve yet to meet. I’ve made connections I didn’t think I would, have gotten to know people though the written word, people I have come to care about. People I want to read again and again. People I admire.
And that’s definitely something that makes me happy.
(Number six has made me realize just HOW MANY blogs I read – a fuckin' lot. There are many blogs that I could – and should – link to in the above paragraph but to be perfectly honest, I've been working on this for a day and a half now and my wrist is throbbing from all the clicking. Must. Stop. Clicking. You – and you know who you all are – are loved and appreciated by me. *mwah*)
51 Comments, Comment or Ping
thanks for the link to my eulogy to my dad, that was a tough post
yours is one of the first blogs i subscribed to and i’ve come to know you, your kick ass husband, Julia, and the unstoppable O
hope you have a great weekend. btw, t-minus 9 days until i invade your country (QC)
January 16th, 2009
Holy links, Batman!
Those are my 6 favorites as well. I just finished reading a bunch of blogs and I’m headed off to nap with my girls. Then we’re headed off to the neighbor’s house for a poop and a free meal.
January 16th, 2009
…and it makes me so happy I don’t give a fuck if someone’s watching me.
I love that.
Thanks for the link up. I’ve read you for a long ass time mah dear! ;)
Sending you warm weather vibes, although it’s cold today even here. Blech!
January 16th, 2009
Linky love from one of my favourite bloggers always makes me happy.
January 16th, 2009
xoxo
I may not always comment, but I am always reading.
January 16th, 2009
i am sitting and nodding my head at all six of these. word, my friend. WORD.
January 16th, 2009
That is some major linkage. I’m wowed.
January 16th, 2009
You are amazing.
(”inspired” — I love it. Thank you.) :)
January 16th, 2009
Hey, good job! I only know about 3 of these blogs, so I’ve now got a really great list of new ones to try. Excellent!
(I can’t imagine being so cold that my pipes will freeze. Sounds painful…)
January 16th, 2009
It’s pretty damn cool isn’t it? You already know how much I love your blog, I have told you this before but I always save your posts for moments when I can savour them. Thanks for the link…so sweet.
January 16th, 2009
I feel privileged and humbled to read you and to know you. I am so glad you are here.
January 16th, 2009
Hee. I was happy to see linky love, you made my day you beautiful person you. I’d say I’d warm your pipes but that sounds… uh… kinda creepy. xoxo
January 16th, 2009
That had to be painful to put together. Although, I must admit I clocked on every blog that I have never been to before So I THANK YOU for some new reading material.
January 16th, 2009
And we love you!
January 16th, 2009
Holy Links-Insanity— I struggle with just putting a few in a post, but this! Wow!
And I am SO with you on number 2… and it goes up to number 1 if it’s in a restaurant without children. And heck, I don’t even mind eating alone if I have a good book. ;-)
January 16th, 2009
Ouch! Hope you thaw soon. I think we’re supposed to be out of the worst of it by Monday.
Wow! Love the list and am amazed by the links. I’m off to do some reading. Many thanks.
January 16th, 2009
Aw. I love reading your blog because you are such a powerfully evocative writer – I never know whether I’ll be laughing or crying or both.
And for some reason, after reading Van’s comment, I think you should write a kid’s book called The Unstoppable O. :)
January 16th, 2009
Holy carpal tunnel syndrome , Batman!! That’s a lotta linking!
January 16th, 2009
curses! tons of new blogs to check out!
I hope more sunshine heads your way soon.
January 16th, 2009
This was a happy post, very nice on this damn cold day here! Thank you!!
January 16th, 2009
Thank you! It’s an honor to be on your read list.
January 16th, 2009
Number 3– Yesssss. *happy sigh*
Number 5– LMAO.
:)
January 16th, 2009
I don’t know whether to thank you for the link or curse you for putting all those OTHER links up there because dammit, how will I get anything done now that I have stuff to READ?! :)
I have not met enough bloggers in person. There needs to be some sort of blog get-together in Montreal!
January 17th, 2009
Wow, look at you linking up the entire ’sphere! (Thanks for including me, too – you know you’re one of my favourites, right?)
And it’s so good to have good neighbours. As I just noted at Mandy’s, I had to go to ours for a shower this fall when our hot water heater died. It feels so stupid in a way, but it’s also the stuff of cementing together a community, to help each other out like that.
January 17th, 2009
You know, I was all worried about what I was going to do while I sat on my ass here at work for 8 hours at night. Now? Not so much! Thanks for all those links…I can’t wait to get at them.
I loved number three. I do the same thing. It’s a special time.
January 17th, 2009
that last paragraph is a labor of love, that’s for sure. thanks for including me in your link list – it’s been great fun getting to know your family, too, even from a distance. and although I’m not glad that your pipes froze, it just increases the kinship I feel for you. if you lived somewhere warm, it might put jealousy between us.
January 17th, 2009
Next time it gets so cold you should whine and whine and whine on your blog constantly. Apparently it generates heat and keeps the pipes going. That and keeping the water running. You did keep your water running, right?
And I have to say two more things. One is thank you. You are always so generous to me. I find this totally freaken rewarding because I value your opinon.
Two, I miss you here. You’ve been busy and all that but I just thought that you should know, I’ve missed you here.
January 17th, 2009
Ha ha ha ha ha ha … taught. :) That’s awesome. I love you mamatulip, and am stoked to check out your favorite blogs and posts… you kick a meme’s behind, girl!
January 17th, 2009
Dear lawd woman, that was a heck of a lot of linkage. You are totally rocking the linky love like only you could.
I love you, Tulip.
I miss you friend.
January 17th, 2009
awww I got linky love even though i haven’t been showing my blog much love lately.
So glad that we met and have become friends. Knowing you these past 6 yrs has meant a ton to me chickie :)
January 17th, 2009
Thanks for including me. I found you through Chris and wrote to you for advice on potty training, if I remember right. (Who knows any more. My brain is an addled mess. lol) Your blog is a joy to read. If we were neighbors we’d share coffee, spiked with some booze and go get tats together. Or some random piercing. hehe
January 17th, 2009
You’re wonderful.
Huge hugs. Feel free to take them to the Blogworld Exchange Booth and exchange them for anything you need.
xoxoxo
January 17th, 2009
Yay for the link! Thank you. I’m kind of embarrassed yet thrilled that you read my blog because yours is one that I’m all “oooh, she’s a big blogger” about. When I met you last summer, I was a little unnerved, thinking you were going to be smug and superior and instead, you were warm and hysterically funny. So thank you. For the link, for your fantastic blog, all of it.
January 18th, 2009
Aww – thanks a bunch! While my commenting has been in the toilet, you are much appreciated too!
Mwah back at you!
January 18th, 2009
love this. love you. clicked them all. thank you.
January 18th, 2009
i love this meme but i love YOU even more :D
♥ xo
January 18th, 2009
You so fucking rule! (All of you – every bit of you. You as MamaTulip. You as a friend. You as Julia and Oliver’s Mom. And you as Dave’s wife!)
January 18th, 2009
Thanks for the linky lovin’! You’re sweet :)
I love cuddling in bed with my daughter as well (and well…I cuddle with my son a whole lot in bed these days as he falls asleep on the boob). The thing is, if I cuddle too long, I’d fall asleep myself!
January 18th, 2009
we did need this – thanks
I love to sing in my car. I know I look crazy but it is so fun.
January 18th, 2009
Thank you.
And yes, number 3 is a strong tonic.
And number 5 is very underrated when they are considering nominations for the World Peace Prize. Because I can tell you, some people wince if they know someone else is taking a poo in their potty. As if those things were made to drink cream from.
January 19th, 2009
You’re part of my daily connection, too, MamaT. And don’t you forget it!! Thanks for the link!
January 19th, 2009
The willingness to share a toilet does make a very good neighbor!
And thanks!
January 19th, 2009
Hug xx
Awww I feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Hoping Oliver is doing well and Julia is feeling a bit better now.
January 19th, 2009
i love you.
seriously.
i do.
January 20th, 2009
I have to agree with all 6. We are blessed with wonderful neighbours, and reading blogs brings me so much pleasure. Thanks for including me in your link-o-rama. Reading your blog has brought me much laughter and a few tears too. Kind of like life.
January 20th, 2009
I totally rock it out in the mom-van all the time! Next time I get a stare I’m gonna use YOUR line! ;)
Whew – sooooo many more blogs to check out! Giddy up! Thx for the love. Back atcha.
January 20th, 2009
Oh, to eat what thou hasn’t prepared. Sweet serenity, thy name is The Friendly Thai.
January 20th, 2009
So important to focus on the HAPPY. LOVE the linky love…. :)
January 20th, 2009
Wow! Thanks, so much, Mama T!
We love you, too. :)
January 21st, 2009
My dear friend Ali Martell pointed me in your direction, and now that I’m here, I’m nodding my head at the points outlined in your post, all, “yes! Me, too! I feel the same way! I must become best friends with this woman immediately!” despite the fact that I’m sitting alone in my room, talking to a laptop. So, now that I’ve sufficiently frightened you…hi! :)
January 21st, 2009
MT,
I’m endlessly honored to have a smidge of your reading attention… You have such a lovely aura (sorry, I’m a west-coaster).. I hope some day to meet you in person.
January 23rd, 2009
Reply to “Because we need some happy over here”