Happy 2010

At the beginning of each year I begin a new list of happiness and generally keep it updated all year as things make me happy. This year I was apparently a little less diligent and had to compile the whole list in one sitting. Not that that's too difficult, there's plenty to be happy about, but I'm afraid a lot of these things have been influenced by my recent excursions with Christmas treats. Regardless, here's this year's list of 100 things that make me happy. Enjoy:

-sleepovers
-brownies

-kisses

-fun socks

-galoshes

-friends

-gut-wrenching laughter

-being on stage

-playing a killer role in a show

-getting outside my comfort zone

-demolition derbies

-the state fair

-people watching

-cardigans

-hilarious children's books

-nephews

-vacations

-projects

-accents

-frozen hot chocolate

-pots de creme

-kids saying hilarious things

-inside jokes

-cinnamon rolls

-footie pajamas

-coupons

-santa claus

-disneyland

-fireworks

-the success of my friends

-the last day of school

-naps

-mix cds

-thai food

-impromptu musical numbers

-angry birds

-laughing on stage when you're not supposed to be laughing on stage

-broadway

-dim sum

-the magic 8 ball

-road trips

-summer rain

-good book series

-gb bags

-good examples

-frilly socks

-mental health days

-new friends

-fun glasses

-boy's nights

-le vain cookies

-wii dancing

-the lovesac

-packages

-cuddling

-sunday dinners

-chastity

-mingles

-compliments

-technology

-nicknames

-the pool key

-late-night chats

-disney firsts

-field trips

-class parties

-incurable optimism

-pumpkin steamers

-barnes and noble

-massages

-gratitude lists

-google docs

-random speak

-cheeseball

-exploding stuff

-space

-sunflower market

-stumbleupon.com

-love

-orange juice

-thrift shops

-museums

-cool photography

-babies

-traditions

-free music

-glitter

-campfires

-panguitch lake

-superheroes

-dance parties

-big decisions

-pie

-bubbles

-gps

-creme brule french toast

-pocket people

-gutsy moments

-green traffic lights

-clean sheets

Movin' right along.

You might recall that some time ago I posted a list of life goals and aspirations. Well I'm pulling a John Goddard and jumping in (funnily enough, I just reread that post and had forgotten that I mentioned Mr. Goddard there too. Apparently he's somehow, for me, related to reaching goals...which I find mildly hilarious). No slow-bandaid, test the water with a toe, weak-kneed life for me. I've packed my snuggie and bright red galoshes and am wending my way to live the dream out of a fittingly dilapidated Chinatown apartment in Los Angeles. (It was down to that or a mobile home with a transsexual, but I love me some pot stickers...)

With any luck I'll soon have some fun stories from Hollywood. Keep the good vibes coming. :)

Crossing Legs Instead of Lines

Another year has come and gone, and it's one more year for some of us to celebrate the fact that we're keeping it together. (i.e. lament the fact that we're really not getting any.)

And we do it with style. Presenting:

The 2nd Annual Chastity Celebration:

Crossing Legs Instead of Lines.*

This year's reflections winners:

In third place, winning a wooden plaque 'virtue': JP with "You make me wanna wait"

In second place, winning a commemorative 'faith, hope, and chastity' wooden craft: AN with the chastity iphone app.

And this year's first place contestant, winning the unbelievable children's book "The Princess and the Kiss": KN with his representation of the crossing of jeans/genes

Thanks again to everyone who came and participated this year. Another successful celebration of our celibacy. Here's hoping you're not elligible for next year's party - for all the right reasons. But even if you do end up receiving an invite, just remember it'll be awesome!

To everyone who "couldn't make it" this year - you are dead to me. You knew six months in advance, so you have no excuse.

Chastity - Doing it by not doing it!

*The inspiration for it all.

All good gifts

Thanks to my friend Emily, I discovered zennioptical. Super awesome inexpensive prescription glasses. And just in time for my new prescription. I bought three pairs, will probably be getting an additional 2-3 for Christmas and plan to budget $20 or so every couple of months for a new, fun pair. Why? Because I can! I'm excited about these:

Also, I bought these:

Merry Christmas to me!

Some "X"tra Holiday Cheer

From Dictionary.com:

The “X” in “Xmas” — Learn the sacred, 1,000-year-old meaning of the “X”

December 13, 2010

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Here’s a holiday surprise that only the dictionary can provide. Do you find the word “Xmas,” as an abbreviation for Christmas, offensive? Many people do.

You won’t find Xmas in church songbooks or even on many greeting cards. Xmas is popularly associated with a trend towards materialism, and sometimes the target of people who decry the emergence of general “holiday” observance instead of particular cultural and religious ritual.

But the history of the word “Xmas” is actually more respectable — and fascinating — than you might suspect.

First of all, the abbreviation predates by centuries its use in gaudy advertisements. It was first used in the mid 1500s.

X is the Greek letter “chi,” the initial letter in the word Χριστός. And here’s the kicker: Χριστόςmeans “Christ.” X has been an acceptable representation of the word “Christ” for hundreds of years. This device is known as a Christogram.

The “mas” in Xmas is the Old English word for “mass.” The thought-provoking etymology of “mass” can be found here.

In the same vein, the dignified terms “Xpian” and “Xtian” have been used in place of the word “Christian.”