A daily post of Happy.
Day 136: Christmas cards! It seems to be a bit of a dying tradition, sending Christmas cards. With the increased prices of stamps and the ease of email, it seems (to me anyway) that fewer and fewer people are sending out handwritten greetings on cards. Now I don't profess to be great at it, but I do try and send a few cards out each Christmas and I absolutely love getting Christmas cards in the mail. Honestly it is one of my absolute favourite parts of this beautiful season. Sometimes I get cards from people I haven't heard from in ages and ages, and sometimes from people who don't really use email at all and letter writing is one of their primary forms of correspondence. I find it charming, and I'm always so touched when receiving cards. They make me so happy. #365happydays A photo posted by @kaileyjane82 on Dec 12, 2014 at 8:33pm PST
Day 135: As I left work today I was witness to a magnificent sunset. Normally I don't really take notice of these (pretty much happens every day, right?) but today I really did notice, and I noticed for two reasons. One, the colours were just stunning, like a painting (except better because it was real life). My camera couldn't possibly do it justice: the warm orange blended with the soft blues fading into the endless black...lovely. I was glad to be a part of it. The second reason tonight's sunset resonated with me was the quiet acknowledgment of the beauty of this world and the life that I lead. Sometimes I forget how good I have it, how much I have. I was reminded today. Tonight I send love and strength to my dear Friends who suffered a tremendous loss today. It isn't fair, and it was far too soon. Life can feel cruel sometimes, and sometimes it can feel like it is impossible to keep going. If there is one thing I have learned in my life, it's that you sometimes have to take it one day at a time, and when that's too difficult, try one moment at a time. Someone wise once said to me: "Yard by yard, life is hard. Inch by inch, life's a cinch." To my Friends, I'm here. I love you guys tons. Keep breathing, keep feeling, and lean on those around you that love you. We're here. #365happydays A photo posted by @kaileyjane82 on Dec 12, 2014 at 8:16pm PST
Day 134: This photo does not at all represent what I want to post about today as I am parked, but it also completely represents what I want to post about as well because I am parked at my destination. Curious? (I'm on NyQuil and running on 2 hours of sleep from last nights coughing fits so I might not be as lucid as I want so bear with me). Today's post is about green traffic lights! Today after lunch I had the best commute to work I've ever had in my career. To fully appreciate the magic you really have to have tried to drive down 10th street in OS. Normally I avoid 10th whenever possible because the light timing is all nutty and off and it takes ten years to drive down the street. Today I said: screw it. Let's tango, 10th. I'm feeling lucky. And boy was I ever lucky: I HIT EVERY SINGLE GREEN LIGHT THAT IS POSSIBLE TO HIT BETWEEN WHERE I LIVE AND WHERE I WORK! Every. Single. One. It was beautiful. I sailed into that parking lot in record time, my only stop being the obligatory 3 second stop at an actual stop sign. I think due to the medication mixed with my exhaustion I'm more excited about it right now than I would have been had I posted this earlier, but...whatevs. It makes me happy. Time for sleep now. #365happydays A photo posted by @kaileyjane82 on Dec 12, 2014 at 8:02pm PST
Day 133: Toast on homemade bread. I boldly submit that there are fewer lovelier, happier smells than homemade bread fresh out of the oven. As I've been subsiding primarily on toast, tea and soup for the last week, I've gone through way more bread than I normally would. Normally I keep a little stockpile of bread-things (English muffins, bagels, etc) in the freezer, but yesterday I found myself completely out of bread. Well, that simply wouldn't do. Sick or not, this had to happen today. Toast has always been one of my favourite treats. In grade 2 Mrs Hart read us a story called "Hot Buttered Toast". I don't remember everything but I think the storyline was about a rabbit who had five beautiful pieces of hot buttered toast that everyone was trying to trick him out of. The story inspired me and from thence forward I tasked myself with making the most perfect hot buttered toast possible. My big brother used to tease me because he didn't think I ever toasted my toast long enough, but it was just right for me. Today I felt a lot better than I have been in over a week. The coughing lessened and my headache subsided, so I took the opportunity to make some homemade bread so I could have toast in the morning. The smell of the bread, the dream of the toast and the healing cold all made me pretty darn happy today. #365happydays A photo posted by @kaileyjane82 on Dec 12, 2014 at 7:00pm PST
Day 132: Still quarantined at home. The novelty is wearing thin. It can be hard to find a "Happy" when you just sleep all day (and cough when you aren't sleeping) but I managed to. Today's happy is brought to you by a new TV discovery (recommended by a good Friend): "The Mindy Project". Have you seen? Very funny TV. Maybe not the best choice when laughing makes your head feel like it is going to explode, but so far it's worth it. #thankgoodnessforNetflix #365happydays A photo posted by @kaileyjane82 on Dec 12, 2014 at 7:36pm PST
Day 131: I'm getting sick and tired of posting about being sick and tired, and I'd be willing to bet that anyone who reads this is sick and tired of reading about me being sick and tired. So how about something completely different: I have a favourite time of day. This photo, while taken during the timeline, was right at the end of it and sadly doesn't really convey what I wanted it to. We're working with limited resources here folks, so I'll try and write out what the picture doesn't say. For as long as I can remember, my favourite time of day has been between 12 noon and 2pm. I can remember being really little, before I was in school even, and it was just me and my mom at home. She would knit and watch "Midday" on tv and I would play with my Lite Brights on the floor, or she'd bake cookies and let me pour in the chocolate chips (and when I got really skilled, crack the egg into the batter [all made from scratch, y'all]). I can remember lying on our living room floor in the sunbeam that would stream into the room from the window in the stairwell. It just seems that between 12-2 the sun is at its brightest, the fuss of the morning is over, and I always remember I felt safe, and cozy. That has stayed with me, and every now and again that little timeline catches me and I can remember those feelings. I did today and it made me happy, even though I missed the photo to show you. Maybe I'll try again tomorrow. Do you have a favourite time of day? #365happydays A photo posted by @kaileyjane82 on Dec 12, 2014 at 12:28pm PST
Day 130: This illness persists. Thank goodness for chicken noodle soup. #365happydays A photo posted by @kaileyjane82 on Dec 12, 2014 at 7:18pm PST
Day 129: Still sick. Have upped my game to include Buckleys. To counter balance, I've given myself free reign to unabashedly consume treats with Friends (not that that allowance differs terribly from my daily reality). Happiness is gabbing all afternoon with a good Friend and still not wanting to end the party when they have to go home. Add rainbow cake and sugar cookies into the mix and you're certainly in for good times. #365happydays A photo posted by @kaileyjane82 on Dec 12, 2014 at 5:09pm PST
Day 128: I'm a little bummed tonight, Friends. Yesterday I wrote that I was hoping to get well so that I could take a little trip that I was planning. Sad to report...this cold of mine has other plans. My little trip that I wanted to take was to my beloved hometown Timmins to see Friends, Family, and put up Auntie Della and Uncle Frank's Christmas tree. With their own health concerns I cannot in good conscience head north and bring this illness with me. I know it's for the best that I don't go...but sometimes things that are for the best kind of suck. I've been looking forward to this trip for months. So, to cheer myself up tonight I watched "It's A Wonderful Life" with my little roomie (her first time viewing it!). Me, I've seen it a hundred times. I love shows like that one because not only is it great cinema (Jimmy Stewart in a Capra film), but it's message still rings true as simple and sweet as it ever has been: you never know how much your life can have a ripple effect on those around you. I have learned a little about that concept through this very exercise and the lovely notes and messages I've received pretty much from Day 1. Those notes and likes also help me immensely when I feel a little sad, like I do this eve. But I do know that tomorrow is a new day, and there will be more trips Home. That is my Happy for today...knowing that there's always a chance for tomorrow to be a little better. For now, I'll just chug back the NyQuil and hibernate until this grossness vacates my system. #365happydays A photo posted by @kaileyjane82 on Dec 12, 2014 at 7:08pm PST
Day 127: I was sick today. I've picked up some kind of cold or flu and it has absolutely flattened me. Normally these things come on slowly with me...I start to get a tickle in my throat, stuffy nose, dry cough etc until it eventually evolves into a beast that only NyQuil and Vicks can combat, and usually lasts me a good week and a bit. Whatever this is skipped those first warning steps and had me in bed by 8:30 last night. Sleep-wise the night didn't go wonderfully, so I was forced to call in sick this morning. I don't like using sick days. I always feel like I'm wasting them, like I can tough it out and save the day. Today I decided to play it safe and use one, partially because I know I've got loads of them in the bank since I don't often use them, partially because I didn't want to infect my colleagues (especially after telling you all how much I like them), but mostly because I want to be well for a little trip I am taking this weekend. I *must* be well to take it, so bedwards was I. Of course I couldn't spend the entire day in bed, so I did a little laundry to keep me occupied. Which brings me to today's Happy: ironed bedsheets. All I'm going to say on the matter is: don't knock it till you've tried it. I like to iron my flat sheet (and sometimes my pillowcases) to keep them crisp and straight, and quite honestly it feels a little luxurious and like I'm spoiling myself a bit. I also find ironing very relaxing and soothing, the sigh and whoosh of the steam as it escapes it's such a pleasant sound. It appeals to my sense of order as well. So in short if you've never tried it...give it a whirl. It kind of feels like you're at a fancy hotel. And it makes me Happy. :) #365happydays A photo posted by @kaileyjane82 on Dec 12, 2014 at 7:15pm PST
Day 126: Almost five years ago now I took a job in a city I'd never set foot in before strictly because the position was full-time. I figured I'd put in my time, maybe a year, and try to transfer back to the "main campus". Now don't get me wrong, I still love that main campus and many many of the people who work at it, but I submit to you that this bunch of people are some of the finest working in the college system, and some of the main reasons five years later I'm still here and loving it. Five years ago I didn't have a friend in OS, and I now consider many of these folks Family. Today we had our annual staff Christmas party, and we all feasted and laughed and partied and enjoyed each other's company. It was a beautiful event, organized by clever ladies (and I even won the trivia game!). Today's Happy is all about my fantastic colleagues and Friends at the OS Campus of GC. I'm proud to consider myself a part of that team, and they make me happy. #365happydays A photo posted by @kaileyjane82 on Dec 12, 2014 at 5:31pm PST
Day 125: Born December 1, 1915. One of the best people I've ever known. She gave me countless "Happys" and continues to influence my life every day. Happy 99, Grammy P. I miss you, and I love you. #365happydays A photo posted by @kaileyjane82 on Dec 12, 2014 at 6:41am PST
Day 123 & 124: I didn't forget to write yesterday, but it was such a busy day that I was just too pooped to post. For those interested, here's the "Coles Notes": I started the day sleeping in at home (glorious!) and was in BA by lunch for a little family reunion of sorts. You see, tomorrow, December 1, would have marked Grammy P's 99th birthday. She so loved celebrating birthdays, her own or anyone else's (regardless of whether they were present or even still living lol) and so it just felt fitting to mark the day for her. It was all set up and organized by my younger sis, and though we couldn't get absolutely everyone's schedules to jive with the plans, we did end up having a little crowd to celebrate in her memory. It was just beautiful, to use one of her catch-phrases, and it was so lovely to see family that I don't often get to connect with. After lunch I headed to Toronto to see a dear Friend from my university days, and he and I and my younger brother went to dinner and caught a theatre show. The entertainment and food was marvellous, but *my* highlight was reconnecting with that wonderful person that I hadn't seen since my uni days, a stage in my life which is longer ago now than I care to think about. I spent the night at my good Friend V's house, and we went out to a delicious breakfast together (complete with home made jam!). This afternoon was my youngest brother's birthday party (actual birthday is on the 2nd), and then I drove home to OS to attend choir practice. Phewf! What a whirlwind weekend. So what is my happy for today, you ask? My happy is twofold. The first I've mentioned before, but it's worth mentioning twice: my beautiful family, both immediate and extended. I'm so very lucky that I have a huge boisterous loving family on both sides of the tree. Seeing some of those from the "P" side this weekend was awesome and I hope to connect with them more often. My second happy is that I am healthy, safe, able to get around on my own and look after myself. Sometimes I take my physical health for granted, but in a flash of an eye life can change, and does for many people. Make each day count. I'm trying. #365happydays A photo posted by @kaileyjane82 on Nov 11, 2014 at 7:59pm PST
Day 122: I have a confession: sometimes, some days, I'm not happy. I usually try to put on a good front...partially because I know that the bad feelings I may be experiencing at that moment won't last, and partially because it's just easier. I would imagine that most of us have that protective layer on the outside that is what most people see every day...and some days, like this morning for me, it's just too tough to keep up the act. I had a challenging morning today. It just seemed like all kinds of issues were just building up one on top of another, and before I'd even left for work I had a little cry at my kitchen table. I often find that a little cry can release tension and makes me feel worlds better, but even that wasn't enough to bring balance to the force today. Anyway I made my way to the campus, and just as I was passing a Friends office in our hallway she called out and asked how I was today. Well...that was all the nudge I needed. I went in and told her of my troubles, had another little cry, and she listened and shared with me. Later, we went out for lunch and shared some tasty apps and some laughs. I have another confession: some days I have to work hard to find a "Happy" to share. Some days it almost feels like a chore, or that it's just going through the motions. Today though, that lunch date with that Friend honestly made a huge difference in my day. It truly made me very happy. So thanks, Friend. You rock, I appreciate you, and today you gave me my Happy. #365happydays A photo posted by @kaileyjane82 on Nov 11, 2014 at 8:37pm PST
Day 121: Today's happy is all about surprises that come in the mail!!! A couple of days ago a good Friend sent me a note to let me know that I should be watching my mailbox for something fun. Today, THIS arrived: the November 1982 issue of Rolling Stone Magazine with my Boyz on the cover!! The write up is all about their "last-ever tour" (lol), and boy am I ever glad that the article turned out to be wrong. I was barely two months old when this was printed, and The Who are STILL touring! I'm hoping to finally be able to see them at the ACC in October next year. I saw Roger at Casino Rama in 2008 or 2009, but boy would I love to see Pete in action. Oh, I'm too excited. So happy! #TheWho #365happydays A photo posted by @kaileyjane82 on Nov 11, 2014 at 10:30am PST
Day 120: Happiness is having an awesome roommate that gets bursts of inspiration to cook tasty meals like chicken parm or curry chicken, and you get to benefit because she made enough for two. :) #ilovegoodfood #365happydays A photo posted by @kaileyjane82 on Nov 11, 2014 at 7:03pm PST
Day 119: Christmas will be so different this year. I'm sure in my 32 years of Christmases there must have been at least one that I wasn't living in or didn't travel to Timmins for...but I can't think of one readily. You see, with Grammy P, everyone had their "jobs". My brother-in-law (the firefighter) checked the smoke alarms, my older brother changed the light bulbs (he's very tall), my mother flipped the mattress and changed the bed ensemble to match the seasons, my Auntie did most of the groceries and general errands that kept the house running smoothly, and me...well, I put up the Christmas tree. It wasn't always my job, but I seem to have adopted it over the last few years. I went North a lot over the course of a calendar year for sure, but oh...how much I looked forward to that particular trip. I tried to orchestrate it so that it would fall on or around the same weekend as her birthday so as to do a "2-4-1" (for she also loved celebrating birthdays), and such laughs we had. "Don't we have fun!" she would say. And we did. After she passed away, I inherited most of the Christmas collection and I promised that I would do my best to "recreate" as much as I could. I've started with the tree. So many precious ornaments with even more precious memories from Christmases passed...there is something about a Christmas tree that is just magical. Having bits of that Timmins magic and love here in my home tonight makes me very happy. #365happydays A photo posted by @kaileyjane82 on Nov 11, 2014 at 6:53pm PST
Day 118: Storms! I do love a good storm. Storms serve to remind me of the power of nature, and I must admit I more often than not find them thrilling. When I was a little kid I just loved watching storms. Our home on Tisdale street had a big enclosed front porch that I used to go out in during those torrential summer downpours and watch the rain pounding so hard on the road that it seemed to skip and jump. Nowadays I don't always love the storms that dump several feet of snow on my home and property that I subsequently have to clean up, nor do I love the ones that wreak havoc and destruction. Tonight though I'm warm in my bed, safe in Lovely House (which still has power), and I'm lying peacefully and still as I listen to the wind howl outside. Pretty cozy, pretty great. Happy. #andmaybewe'llgetasnowdaytomorrow #365happydays A photo posted by @kaileyjane82 on Nov 11, 2014 at 8:28pm PST
Day 117: My Christmas cactus is in bloom! Hurrah! I water the dang thing all year long for these brief few days. Such a pretty bloom. #oneplantivemanagednottokill #365happydays A photo posted by @kaileyjane82 on Nov 11, 2014 at 12:04pm PST
Day 116: What a perfectly lovely day today! The weather was warm(ish), we had rain to melt away some of the snow, and I was able to spend most of the day with lovely lovely people! A couple of good Friends came to visit for a day trip, and we put together an impromptu party at one of my favourite sushi places in OS. It's such fun to have sushi in a big group because you can be free to order all kinds of varieties without having to be stuck with 8 pieces of the same thing all to yourself (I hardly ever order maki rolls for that reason...I can't commit to 8 pieces of the same thing). After lunch we spent the afternoon chatting and visiting, and finally enjoyed apps and live music at a spot downtown. I just love days like today was: good food, great Friends, lots of Happy! #365happydays A photo posted by @kaileyjane82 on Nov 11, 2014 at 8:29pm PST
Day 115: I very nearly wept when this happened today. What you are looking at, Friends, is the long-awaited start to the end of my roof woes. I want to type something profound to capture my emotions regarding this turn of events, but honestly, words fail me. I can't begin to express my relief in this *finally* moving forward. Sure, by the time it's all done I'll be in debt until I'm 90, but I think maybe now I'll be able to sleep at night and maybe just maybe that eye twitch I've enjoyed since it started snowing this week will stop. Today, these roofers made me pretty darn happy. #365happydays A photo posted by @kaileyjane82 on Nov 11, 2014 at 6:20pm PST
Day 114: Sometimes happiness is settling in to watch "A Nightmare Before Christmas" with a "Hot 'n Ready" pizza on a snowy night after a long day at the office. As my dad would say, Life Is Good. #365happydays A photo posted by @kaileyjane82 on Nov 11, 2014 at 6:06pm PST
Day 113: Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't winter not officially start until December 21 or something? Winter solstice? Isn't it "autumn" until then? Here we are on the 18th of November and already we have a healthy helping of snow. At least we aren't in Buffalo...those poor folks. But you know who was supposed to be in Buffalo tomorrow? My guest. So saucy minx that you are, Winter, the joke is on you this time. Because you timed this little bit of fun during my Friend's holiday I get to keep him here for a few more days while Buffalo digs itself out! Today my Happy is that I am healthy and well, strong enough to be able to shovel away the snow that has fallen, experienced enough to keep on top of it when it snows (because we all know more will come), and content enough to enjoy its beauty for what it offers. As early as I might feel it is for this much of it, it certainly is a winter wonderland out there. And this time it's helped me to extend my fun with my Friend for a few more days. :) #365happydays A photo posted by @kaileyjane82 on Nov 11, 2014 at 7:39pm PST
Day 112: Today we had the first "snow day" of the season. At first I was a bit bummed if I'm being honest because, you see, I'd already taken today off to show my Friend around the city while he visits, and on top of that well...a snow day means a lot of snow. Snow that I have to shovel. Snow that accumulates on my still-not-fixed roof that I have to rake off, then shovel what I've raked. So, bummed I was...until my two companions, my roomie and my guest, gamely trudged out into the storm with me to help defend Lovely House from most certain destruction from impending ice build up. We did a pretty good job too, if I do say so myself. Afterwards we treated ourselves to "CBST" sandwiches (Canadian bacon, spinach and tomato) on freshly baked homemade bread, and settled in to watch an old movie: "An Affair To Remember". Honestly I can't think of a better way to spend a snowy Tuesday. It made me pretty happy. #365happydays A photo posted by @kaileyjane82 on Nov 11, 2014 at 8:32pm PST
Day 111: "Ain't nobody leaves this place without singin' the blues." I love old 80's movies. Adventures in Babysitting is definitely one of my top faves. I can't tell you how many times I've seen it, and it's still good every time. I introduced my Friend to it...somehow he had never seen it before! So many good one liners. Now I kind of want to watch Ferris Bueller or the Money Pit. What is your favourite 80's movie? #365happydays A photo posted by @kaileyjane82 on Nov 11, 2014 at 8:06pm PST
Day 110: You are most correct in thinking that this would be a very odd thing to post as my "happy" for today. Without context, I submit that this would be considered one of the very *last* images capable of conjuring up "happy" for anyone who has had the experience of using one of these chairs. This little beaut, however, was the instigator of a powerful belly laugh shared by myself and a couple of good Friends. This week I have the pleasure of hosting an "old" Friend -- not in age, but in how long we've known one another. It's been just glorious telling old stories about our families and people we used to know, we laugh about memories and some of the odd things we remembered about growing up in the same city and with the same group of people. The saying is so true...you can't make old Friends. I'm having just a marvellous time showing this Friend around my new hometown in the hopes they will decide to move here. So today for fun we went to The ReStore and saw THIS. And well didn't we just roar! Questions and jokes arose (who would buy this??), practical jokes were suggested...good times had by all. Today, this chair isn't my happy, but the laughter it ignited with my old Friend certainly was. #365happydays A photo posted by @kaileyjane82 on Nov 11, 2014 at 8:20pm PST
Day 109: The Santa Claus parade! Today was the annual Santa Claus parade in my pretty city. Oh, what fun! Initially I wasn't going to go as it isn't much fun to go to parades alone, but happily I was invited to go with my dear Friend JKlemmentine and stand with her and her lovely family. The day couldn't have been more perfect...temperature hovering around zero, big fat fluffy snowflakes, and so many many people! I always feel like a little kid at parades and just love watching the excitement on the little ones faces when the Man in Red shows up at the end. They really do the parade up well in my city: floats, marching bands, clowns, candy...you name it. Today I intend to start sorting Christmas stuff out at Lovely House. I say, let the glorious season begin! Merry Christmas! #365happydays A photo posted by @kaileyjane82 on Nov 11, 2014 at 9:00am PST
Day 108: In the city I live in they do this marvellous light display over the holidays. It's huge, spans city blocks, and has all kinds of different themes and visuals. It's like stepping into a Christmas card. Having now seen them for a few years I have a couple of favourites I look for every year, but I also always find new ones I haven't noticed before. Tonight they flipped the switch and turned them all on for the first time, officially kicking off the holiday season here (and our Santa Claus parade is tomorrow too). I just love Christmas lights. I used to love going on "light tours" with the family back home up north in the big blue van. Viola Court always seemed to have the nicest displays in our neck of the woods. Seeing our downtown lit up and so festive made me pretty happy tonight! And also, as a side bar, I think one of my rocks actually scored in curling tonight! I might get the hang of that game yet! #365happydays A photo posted by @kaileyjane82 on Nov 11, 2014 at 8:49pm PST
Day 107: Let them eat cake!! No Chocolate November trundles on at Lovely House. I had a real test yesterday when I made macaroons for a good Friend who came to fix my treadmill for me, and for the first time maybe in my LIFE I did not scrape out the pot and lick the spoon. It took every ounce of will power I could muster, let me tell you. My dear roomie tried one to make sure they were all right, and I got them out of the house as soon as humanly possible. So to congratulate myself I made a cake lol. Counter productive you say? Pffft. One only has so much strength. #365happydays A photo posted by @kaileyjane82 on Nov 11, 2014 at 5:25pm PST
Day 106: Simple one for today (and sometimes they are the most fun!). Going through the car wash. Our Uncle Frank used to thrill us by taking a carload of kids through the soft-cloth wash when we were all little. You couldn't buy better entertainment! Today at 32 years old, it still thrills me a little to go through (though it's tougher and tougher to find soft-cloth washes). Today I finished the bulk of my travel for work for this semester and, being a mite to chilly to hand wash outside myself, I treated Casper to a premium wash. What fun! #365happydays A photo posted by @kaileyjane82 on Nov 11, 2014 at 10:25am PST
Day 105: This is a photograph of my maternal grandfather William Thomas P, known to everyone as "Red", when he was a young boy as the mascot of the local Hollinger baseball club. Gumpo P, as I knew him, was a gentle giant: tall, commanding presence, very loud voice when he wanted to (like when he was cheering me on at my ringette games or when I was very little he would raise my arm and shout "CHAMP!!" when I would finish my soft boiled egg at breakfast), and a staunch sense of right and wrong. We lost him in 2002, but more than 12 years later I still find myself using him as a sort of a yardstick when I'm not sure what to do. "If a jobs worth doing, it's worth doing well" was one of his mantras. "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything" was another. He wasn't perfect by any means, he had his faults for sure, but he remains a powerful figure in my life. I was able to spend some one-on-one time with him once when I was in my final year of high school. I interviewed him for a project I was doing on family history, and though it wasn't long, I learned so much in that brief visit. I learned about his life growing up as a young boy and how little they had (they used an empty piano box as their family dinner table), how he met Grammy (spied her at a community dance and monopolized her time most of the night). I heard a little about his war service, how he and a couple friends were caught behind enemy lines once and survived on nothing but eating raw onions for three days. He wasn't perfect, but I admired him so. And I loved him. Today's happy on this day of remembrance is for my war veteran, chairman of the board, amazing Gumpo P. I always stand a little taller when people say, "Oh, you're Red's granddaughter". Yes, yes I am. #365happydays A photo posted by @kaileyjane82 on Nov 11, 2014 at 5:54pm PST
Day 104: Clinking glasses with Friends at spontaneous dinner gatherings make me really happy. With the amount of travel I've been doing for work I've been feeling a little isolated of late. Reconnecting with a couple good eggs tonight did my spirit good. Thanks, Ladies. #365happydays A photo posted by @kaileyjane82 on Nov 11, 2014 at 7:45pm PST
Day 103: I take great pride of ownership in Lovely House. I like to do what I can to keep it in the loveliest state I can keep it, which sometimes includes not-so-lovely tasks like raking leaves in the autumn rain. Even so, I don't mind it much (though I did stop after awhile as I had Grammy's voice in my head warning me of wet hair in the cold and how I could get pneumonia). Anyway I got the front yard done, the deck cleared off and the stuff safely stowed away in the garage until spring (thanks to V's help!), and part of the back yard started. Not so bad for a rainy November day. I felt good that at least the deck furniture got put away and I got a start on the leaves. And now I have an excuse to sit with my feet up all cozy inside the house because, y'know. It's raining. Time for Downton Abbey. #365happydays A photo posted by @kaileyjane82 on Nov 11, 2014 at 11:00am PST
Day 102: I had to work today, which is unusual for me. I don't often have to work on Saturdays. Today was Open House at the campus and in a way kind of represents nearly six months of my work. It's a big day, pretty stressful to organize, and I'm always glad to see the back end of it. Today, a massive part of my happy goes out to my amazing colleagues at the campus I work at. Without that incredible team my job would be ten times harder and I'd probably end up in the loony bin after days like today. I might knock together an agenda, but those guys make it happen. So thanks, GC OS, you guys rock. The second part of my happy, the photos attached, are for the celebratory dinner prepared by my good Friend V to celebrate the end of Open House for another six months, and to celebrate good food because it's awesome. I love good food. It makes me happy. And I love being happy. #100happydays A photo posted by @kaileyjane82 on Nov 11, 2014 at 7:19pm PST
Day 101: A text message from my older and apparently much wiser sister. Well, okay. So long as it's still fun for everyone, I'm in. Gonna need a new hashtag though eh? #100happydays #yallareawesome A photo posted by @kaileyjane82 on Nov 11, 2014 at 2:35pm PST
Day 100: I'm somewhat at a loss for what to type for today. I know what I want to convey, but am not entirely certain the best words to use to do it. Maybe I'll just type and see what comes of it. I think I'll begin by saying that this has been an absolutely wonderful experience for me. I started it 100 (or so) days ago from a pretty low place. This hasn't been my favourite year. There were highs, and there were lows...not the least of which were the house disaster, losing my Thomas Cat, and then losing my beloved Grammy in the summer. I mostly consider myself a fairly strong person, certainly no stranger to loss, and it wasn't like I figured that things would just go on as they were forever...but when they happened, after they happened, I now confess that I was in a pretty sad state. I don't know whether it was the grief, or a hint of depression, but after all of that this summer most days it was all I could do to get myself out of bed in the morning. I felt numb, and almost as though I would never feel "happy" again. I knew in my heart that that wasn't true, and I knew I had to do something about it. That's why I began this journey. I desperately needed to rediscover Happy lest I forgot entirely what it felt like. And you know what, Friends? I have. Thanks to you. Today's happy is for you: for each person who called, wrote, texted, commented, liked or simply followed along quietly...thank you. When all of this happened, I felt colossally alone. I've learned many many things over the last 100 days, like how important it is to be observant of the small things, to pay attention and see the glass half full, to have "an attitude of gratitude"...and most importantly for me, I've learned that I am not alone. I've been overwhelmed many times with the kindness of your comments, the encouragement, and the interest. Thank you all so much. As Grammy used to say, and a favourite saying of mine now, "I'm a lucky hot dog." #luckyhotdog #100happydays A photo posted by @kaileyjane82 on Nov 11, 2014 at 8:04pm PST
Day 99: Like many out there, I've struggled with my body image most of my life. As early as grade seven I recorded in my journals about how unhappy I was with my appearance and weight and how I wished I could be thinner or taller or have a better complexion. It's a battle I've fought the better part of my life, really. I've never really made friends with the mirror. A neat by-product of this exercise has been the "forced discovery" (if you will allow that descriptor) of positive elements in often neutral or even negative situations. About a month and a half ago I decided to try and apply that thought-process to my own health, both physically and mentally. In an effort to improve both I started waking up at around 5am to go for a walk on my mostly-unused treadmill. At first it was an achievement to just get out of bed at that hour (if you know me at ALL you know I am NOT a morning person). But I did it, and bit by bit, day by day it got a little easier. I recorded my daily progress in a little workout journal, marking how far I went, how long I walked, and most importantly, how I felt. Physically, I didn't notice a big change right away. But mentally...wow. There was a noticeable difference in the days I did walk vs the days I skipped. This routine offers me almost three full hours of my day that belong strictly to me, three full hours before anybody starts to look for me for work or anything else. It's awesome. Today's happy though is to note that I'm beginning to finally notice physical changes as well. This little diary is one that I record measurements and weight in, and while I certainly am not going to post that information online, what I will say is that it's starting to go in the direction I want it to. Starting to see those results makes me extremely happy. #100happydays A photo posted by @kaileyjane82 on Nov 11, 2014 at 8:08pm PST
Day 98: For yesterday. Yesterday I went to the movies to see Bill Murray's new film "St. Vincent" (as usual, he was awesome). Though the film was really enjoyable, by far my favourite moment of the evening was a small act of kindness. It was cheap Tuesday last night so the theatre was pretty full. A few minutes before show time an older couple came in and looked for seats. I wasn't actively observing them until I noticed that they didn't seem to find two together and were about to sit apart from one another. The older gentleman seated his wife and was making his way up the stairs until another gentleman stood up and said, "Excuse me sir! We'll all shift over in this row so you can sit next to your wife." What a concept. Once he pointed it out, the entire row did indeed shift one seat over opening up a vacancy for this couple. It was heartwarming to see the delight and gratitude of the couple, and heartening to have witnessed that act. The movie was good for sure, but the best part happened before the previews even began. #100happydays A photo posted by @kaileyjane82 on Nov 11, 2014 at 7:51pm PST
Day 97: If you don't know this about me, I can be a very competitive person. I love a good game or challenge and hate losing bets. When I was in grade 7 or so my older sister bet me that I couldn't go without chocolate for a month. I don't remember the stakes or the prize, but I ended up going without chocolate for seven years. It would have been longer were it not for losing a bet in university to my good friend and floor mate, again don't remember the terms, but as loser she made me eat a two bite brownie. I never missed chocolate when I wasn't eating it, and since that fateful day when I took that first bite I've reverted into being a full blown chocoholic. With Halloween just passed and the weather being so terrible, I didn't get many trick-or-treaters. Confession: I ate 13 mini chocolate bars yesterday. For breakfast. So today begins a new challenge courtesy of my younger sister: "No Chocolate November". With this Happy challenge soon winding up, I will need something to occupy my energy. Giving up chocolate doesn't necessarily make me "happy" per say, but I'm certain it will make me healthier. I will probably be chewing more gum. Maybe I'll entitle this next challenge "30 Crabby Days". Wish me luck! #100happydays A photo posted by @kaileyjane82 on Nov 11, 2014 at 7:24am PST
Day 96: This is a close up shot of a small ding on my hardwood floor at Lovely House. One year ago today I moved into my Lovely House, and during the course of the move my washing machine slipped from the grip of my wonderful moving crew, landed on my "brand-new-to-me" pine floors, and produced this dent. Before I could even react, my good friend V quickly said, "Well there is your first memory mark!" I didn't really understand what she meant at the time...at the time I was more worried about the floor. But you know what? She was right. Every single time I notice the mark (which isn't that often, admittedly) I think of that day. That beautiful sunny crisp frosty day that I began to make this house into my Home, thanks to the help of some amazing Friends and Family. That memory, those thoughts, make me really happy. It's been a heck of a year for sure. Lots of loss, but lots of joy too. Today marks the beginning of a new story. I'm stoked to say that I've got a new roomie moving in! A good Friend has secured a job here in OS and I couldn't be more thrilled. I've spent the weekend preparing and making things as lovely and welcoming as I can make them, and am looking forward to her arrival. Hopefully her move-in won't result in any other "move-in-memories", but if it happens, then I'm sure it too will become something I'll look back on with a smile. #100happydays A photo posted by @kaileyjane82 on Nov 11, 2014 at 7:24am PST
Day 95: Farmers markets! I love living where I do. We have access to so much fresh, locally produced food. It's so neat to buy produce from the people who actually produce it. It feels fantastic to support one's friends and neighbours too. Our local farmers market is open all year 'round, and you can buy anything from locally caught fish, free range eggs and chickens, breads, baking and pies, local beef and bacon (!!!!!!), crafts and books, to delicious delicious Indian cuisine and biscotti. I hadn't made it there in weeks, and once I realized that I was down to my last five happy days, I figured I'd better get my rear in gear and get down there. I'm always so happy when I do. Now I have a beautiful little chicken to roast tomorrow so I'll have lunch meat all week long. #100happydays A photo posted by @kaileyjane82 on Nov 11, 2014 at 8:03am PDT
Day 94: The weather is crap, the night is cold, but boy are the kids smiling. Happy Halloween from Lovely House! Stay warm out there! #100happydays A photo posted by @kaileyjane82 on Oct 10, 2014 at 3:47pm PDT
