HappyUP!!! Day 1402

HappyUP!!! - cloud vortex

Why it happened - who knows?

Why it makes me happy - I love when weird stuff happens. The picture probably doesn't do this justice....it's from my camera phone. Imagine...see how the clouds are kind of "popcorned" They were like that as far as you can see. See that little hole? It was like someone was drilling an opening in the cloud......and the funnel was beneath. I have NEVER seen this kind of cloud action. IF that looks like a funnel going on below.....yeah....it's why I took the picture....and I wasn't the only one.

HappyUP!!! - hitting 6 in 2 today

Why it happened - a nice drive and a nice 3 wood

Why it makes me happy - I have lost some distance in my mature years...nice to know...I can still get to a par 5 in 2 shots....in December...once in awhile....man...that 3 wood was STRIPED!

HappyUP!!! - Demonstration Meeting

Why it happened - initiative on the part of several people

Why it makes me happy - I just showed up and did what I am good at....running a meeting. I was SO PROUD of the great job the OTHER people did........we have enough people to charter a brand new Toastmasters Club....on the VERY FIRST promotional meeting that we had. It was a lot of work fo the "heavy lifters" to promote this deal.......so Happy!

HappyUP!!! - great IM

Why it happened - my buddy was in the mood

Why it makes me happy - great communication

HappyUP!!! - birdie putt on 10

Why it happened - great read...great execution

Why it makes me happy - it was a double breaking 25 footer....that I read perfectly...and struck PERFECTLY....that ball took that second break and died on it's last breath...right in the jar

JollyJottings

Coffee

Demonstration Meeting

Doing the paperwork

Golf.....8 iron on 1....bunker shot on 2....hybrid on 3....7 iron on 4.....driver/3wood on 6...7 iron on 7...drive/wedge on 9......wedge/PUTT on 10....putt on 13.....drive/hybrid/wedge on 14.....drive/9 iron/putt on 15...lag put on 16

Getting my round in today

Call from my golf buddy for tomorrow

IM chat with my buddy tonight

Great e-mail from another buddy

Firming up a venue

HappyUP!!! Day 1401

HappyUP!!! - 2 great speeches

Why it happened - Toastmasters

Why it makes me happy - I just enjoyed our members giving it all they had today

HappyUP!!! - fun with Happy the Hampster

Why it happened - I'm silly

Why it makes me happy - through posting the photo to the left....and other things I will do with my new "adopted mascot for Xmas 2010" .....we may get a few more quarters into those buckets

<-----"I was on Facebook today! It's been a tough year for me....but I am coughing up. You?"

HappyUP!!! - distant travellers coming home

Why it happened - relocation

Why it makes me happy - they got here....tired...but safe and sound!

JollyJottings

2 great speeches

Looking forward to new club tomorrow

Talking with Lt Governor

Distant travellers coming home

Great comment from my "big sis"

Good talk with a "lil sis"

Beautiful morning walk

Salvation Army

HappyUP!!! Day 1400

HappyUP!!! - a great walk

Why it happened - I make a habit of it

Why it makes me happy - it was cold out....but dry....and I actually overdressed again. I am just loving these walks after dark in the cold, crisp air.

<---------what's not to like about my Holiday mascot? What shall we call him? How about "Happy." Yes...."Happy the Holiday Hamster" ...that's the ticket!

HappyUP!!! - running into a pal

Why it happened - I walk....I see my neighbors

Why it makes me happy - always love doing a bit of chatting and visiting with people in the neighborhood.

HappyUP!!! - good news from my struggling friend

Why it happened - my friend posts to mylifeline.org

Why it makes me happy - cancer struggle....my friend keeps getting good news.

HappyUP!!! - lodging option

Why it happened - I asked

Why it makes me happy - still determining whether or not I am a skiier this year. Northstar/Heavenly has a nice package. A buddy of mine has a BIG place in South Shore.......which could be a great place to crash on a 2 day Heavenly trip. Northstar is an easy up and back.

JollyJottings

A great walk

Running into a buddy

Great e-mail exchange with a "big sis"

Good news from my friend going through a struggle

Lodging option

Setting up a venue

Being warm......good lord...it was -6 to -9 up the road a bit

HappyUP!!! Day 1399

HappyUP!!! - birdie on 10

Why it happened - a great wedge and a super putt

Why it makes me happy - it got me a skin.....if I hadn't gotten that one, I would have been skunked!

HappyUP!!! - weight

Why it happened - I weigh every week

Why it makes me happy - down another pound this week. I'm actually down 8 pounds from my high. Looking pretty good considering it was just Thanksgiving

<------------ACTION SHOT! (what was that good looking guy's ball doing in the pond anyway?)

HappyUP!!! - great talking with an old friend

Why it happened - I called

Why it makes me happy - I am rapidly building up ski buddies! I guess I am actually going to HAVE to become a skiier this year!!!

JollyJottings

Playing 5

Playing in less than 4 hrs

Birdie on 10

KP on 12

Bunker shot on 13

7 iron on 16

Tolerable weather

Good times at hole 19

Venue next weekend

Great texts

Some closure

HappyUP!!! Day 1398

HappyUP!!! - college football

Why it happened - rainy Saturday

Why it makes me happy - no golf today....it was nice to have a lot of choices for football....with BCS births on the line

<------so happy a friend sent me this pic the other day

HappyUP!!! - reconnecting with an old friend

Why it happened - I found an old number

Why it makes me happy - we haven't seen each other in forever....I'm sure we'll grab some lunch/dinner soon. Reconnecting is always a HappyUP!!! for me.

HappyUP!!! - my cats

Why it happened - I think weather is a factor

Why it makes me happy - it isn't often that they lay down next to each other.....ON ME! It was a warm way to spend a chilly evening

HappyUP!!! - another great walk

Why it happened - the rain held off

Why it makes me happy - I took a chance heading out when I did....I was ready...had my "fashionable" rain hat on....never needed it.

JollyJottings

Good football

Pearl Harbor

My cats

A nice rainy...not rainy...day

Reconnecting with some old friends

Getting some stuff done

Transcription work

Clean Sheets

HappyUP!!! Day 1397

HappyUP!!! - great walk

Why it happened - I'm becoming quite the walker

Why it makes me happy - as cold as it is, it doesn't seem to matter...and...once bundled....it actually feels good to be in the chill. Other than rain, I can keep doing this.

<-------my spot at the table yesterday

HappyUP!!! - a lot of great shots

Why it happened - I'm OK

Why it makes me happy - put together a decent found in the cold.....wish the putter would have worked a little nicer....but good to hit it fairly solid

HappyUP!!! - a little breakthrough

Why it happened - I've been working on it

Why it makes me happy - sometimes, you have to do a little cognitive reconstruction.....made some progress today....and so thankful I have the technology on board.

JollyJottings

Frost delay

Great foursome

Wedge on 10.....6 iron on 12...bunker shot on 13....8 iron on 14...8 iron on 15....9 iron on 17.....drive on 1....7 iron on 2...drive/hybrid/pitch on 3....putt on 16...putt on 17

Great walk

Continued progress on cognitive reconstruction

A leaf fight

HappyUP!!! Day 1396

HappyUP!!! - 5 iron on 8

Why it happened - I striped one

Why it makes me happy - 180 to the pin.....on a cold day......and I put it within 6 inches.....birde, largo, and 3 skins......that put me bucks up for the day.

<-----yep......an 8 iron....right on line.....2 feet short of an ace.....foiled again....man, that puppy looked good in the air!

HappyUP!!! - a place at the table...again

Why it happened - I have a gracious "family"

Why it makes me happy - my life longest friend...and his family....welcomed me...again...on this Thanksgiving Day.....like they have many times before.

HappyUP!!! - 4 birdies

Why it happened - I hit it TIGHT 3 times..made a great putt on the fourth one

Why it makes me happy - THAT wins in a skins game. Easily could have been 5 birdies.

JollyJottings

A great foursome

4 birdies

8 iron on 16.....putt on 17.....wedge on 3.....wedge on 6.....5 iron on 8

Thanksgiving with my "family"

Texts and e-mails with my friends

HappyUP!!! Day 1395

HappyUP!!! - a dream last night

Why it happened - it was the eve of an important night

Why it makes me happy - today will be 8 yrs since my mom left this world. For the first time, she appeared to me in a dream.........totally real....eerie...beautiful

HappyUP!!! - wonderful wishes on my Facebook page

Why it happened - special posts must have drawn them out

Why it makes me happy - a couple of them....well....they filled my heart

HappyUP!!! - an unexpected inviation

Why it happened - I have great friends

Why it makes me happy - it was an excellent opportunity

HappyUP!!! - a great invitation

Why it happened - it's Cioppino time

Why it makes me happy - I LOVE that my bro and sis-in-law do an annual crab and cioppion feed this time of year.....and soooooo look forward to it.

JollyJottings

An opportunity to lead

Staying warm

Thanksgiving Eve

Supportive friends

Drive on 10...9 iron....pitch on 11...drive/wedge on 13....drive/3 wood/wedge 14....9 iron on 15...pitch on 17....drive/8 iron on 18...5 iron on 2...9 iron on 4...flop shot on 6....hybrid on 8...8 iron and putt on 9

A GREAT invitation

A great e-mail exchange

Another great e-mail exchange

Wonderful wishes on my Facebook page

A cold.....but fun day on the links

A dream last night

HappyUP!!! Day 1394

HappyUP!!! - an icebreaker

Why it happened - it's Toastmasters...and we have a bold new member

Why it makes me happy - she did great....even though she was not scheduled to speak. She filled in for us, stepped up to the plate, and knocked it out of the park!

<------yum.......leftover from many good bacon days....of which today was one. Anyone need some grease?

HappyUP!!! - a wonderful invitation

Why it happened - I'm a lucky guy

Why it makes me happy - something to look forward to.....always a HappyUP!!!

HappyUP!!! - seeing my financial planner

Why it happened - we have regular meetings

Why it makes me happy - it appears that, for now, my long term financial plan is still working....despite the uncertainty of the markets.

HappyUP!!! - a call from my CPA

Why it happened - he does that from time to time

Why it makes me happy - always great to be thought of. His call was timely after just leaving my financial planner. I had some questions I needed to ask....and got the answers.

JollyJottings

An icebreaker

Being called upon for coaching

An opportunity to lead

A wonderful invitation

A great meeting with my financial planner

Some really good bacon

HappyUP!!! Day 1393

HappyUP!!! - a great breakfast

Why it happened - I went to the right place

Why it makes me happy - my scrambled eggs are always OK......and edible.....haven't gagged myself once. They just don't ever seem as PERFECT as the ones I got today

HappyUP!!! - a lazy day

Why it happened - I think part of it is the weather change

Why it makes me happy - I am so thankful that I have the luxury to take days like this.....and just BE......and enjoy.

HappyUP!!! - an upbeat attitude

Why it happened - I found out I have a very sick friend

Why it makes me happy - hearing that an old friend has colon/liver cancer is the farthest thing from a HappyUP!!! that there is. I was reading through his blog postings about the journey. I was buoyed and uplifted by his remarkable attitude about the process. He is not out of the woods but I am a firm believer that a positive attitude helps one heal. See Anatomy of an Illness by Norman Cousins for more info. I'm glad he is girded up for the fight!

JollyJottings

Great Breakfast

A lazy day

Supporting a suffering buddy

Support of a friend

HappyUP!!! Day 1392

HappyUP!!! - great YOUTUBE music video

Why it happened - a buddy posted it

Why it makes me happy - it was a wonderful video....by a relatively unknown artist....that "spoke" to me.....and to another friend that I shared it with.....at a time when I know that it was heard at the deepest levels by all. Coincidence that it came up then?

<-----hey...buddy...get a job! This was your job...not mine!!!!

HappyUP!!! - raking leaves

Why it happened - they fell

Why it makes me happy - it helped me prove to a special buddy that, yeah....I have a job!

HappyUP!!! - great evening

Why it happened - I threw out the invite

Why it makes me happy - thoroughly enjoyed the dinner at Mikuni....with a gift card from a friend....and the movie, "Hereafter." Not sure what the reviewer's thought about that movie....I thought it was GREAT!

JollyJottings

Cool walk in the morning

E-mails from a special friend

Raking leaves

Great YouTube music video

Good news from one of my golfing buddies

Waking up....feeling great

Great dinner

HappyUP!!! Day 1391

HappyUP!!! - more rain and snow

Why it happened - weather...it happens

Why it makes me happy - it was awesome up on the second story....reading....candles.....listening to the rain just nail the roof.

<-------any guess as to who got to the couch first....The Queen

HappyUP!!! - a late night walk

Why it happened - the rain dissipated

Why it makes me happy - the tumult ended....and everything got eerily at the snap of a finger. I thought, "I was couped up all day....yeah, it's late....but why not bundle up for a little walk." It was a GREAT walk in the quiet evening.

HappyUP!!! - brekko out with the family

Why it happened - it's Saturday...and it was raining (no golf)

Why it makes me happy - good to enjoy some good food and great conver with my adopted family. It's always a great Saturday morning when this happens

JollyJottings

Phone call from my buddy

Brekko out

More rain....and snow

Glad I didn't try to golf

HappyUP!!! Day 1390

HappyUP!!! - relaxing day at home

Why it happened - felt like the first wintry/wintery day

Why it makes me happy - nice day to take off from the links....catch up on some paperwork... laundry....and stuff....with a fire going....great day to be inside

HappyUP!!! - good conversations

Why it happened - my friends

Why it makes me happy - good stuff going on all around me

HappyUP!!! - a brisk morning walk

Why it happened - I HAD to walk this morning

Why it makes me happy - while I hate to see the end of shorts season, it's time. The breeze and chill felt a little different today...it was like a whisper.....portending the rain that has now set upon us....that old man winter may be upon us.

JollyJottings

Relaxing day at home

Enjoying the rain

A brisk morning walk

Heartfelt exchange

Good news from my buddy re: evening plans

HappyUP!!! Day 1389

HappyUP!!! - driving the ball

Why it happened - I golf

Why it makes me happy - yeah...I still had 3 really loose ones today....and they cost me.....but the other 11 drives were all pretty tasty. Some of them were as long as I can probably hit the ball.....pretty good for November

<----"Let me out of here...I'm innocent, I tellya!"

HappyUP!!! - great evening

Why it happened - my friends did a shout out to go have some fun

Why it makes me happy - what can be better than to be sitting at home on a Thursday afternoon and then get the call to go out and have a ripper time!

HappyUP!!! - trip to the pet store

Why it happened - I needed some stuff

Why it makes me happy - OMG!.....can you say "kittens playing???" The pictured feline had a cell mate....and adorable black kitten. It had been soooooooo long since I had seen a couple of kittens going at it full on.......want to put a little joy in your heart? Get lucky enough to see this again. (NOTE: No.......no felines were brought home from said store......tempting as it was!)

JollyJottings

Drive/Wedge on 1....Drive on 3...8 iron on 4....Recovery hybrid on 5....Drive/chip on 6....Drive/8 iron on 9....Hybrid on 11....pitch on 12...Drive on 13....9 iron on 15...pitch/putts on 16/17/18

Single that filled in our foursome

Trip to the pet store

Great evening

HappyUP!!! Day 1388

HappyUP!!! - a great evening

Why it happened - sometimes they do

Why it makes me happy - hard to describe...you know when it's good

HappyUP!!! - shotmaking

Why it happened - you know you have some skillz

Why it makes me happy - nope....the putter wasn't there...but I had FIVE birdie looks inside 10 ft today...pretty good for me...didn't get any of them....the game is just a few tweeks from being there even though the scores wouldn't say it

HappyUP!!! - reconnecting

Why it happened - Facebook

Why it makes me happy - absolutely AWESOME touches from dear old friends

HappyUP!!! - e-mail

Why it happened - I have e-mail

Why it makes me happy - FABULOUS interaction with a dearest friend. It's why I am on the planet

JollyJottings

Re-connecting with two long lost sweet friends on Facebook

Knocking it within 10 feet 5 times

Drop dead weather

Cutting the lawn

A GREAT hot dog

Coffee with my friend

Great conversation with another friend

The honor of deep discussion

Love

HappyUP!!! Day 1387

HappyUP!!! - knowing a funny old schtick

Why it happened - Toastmasters

Why it makes me happy - I got a TableTopic thrown at me today.....my brain synapsed bace to an old ditty by George Carlin...circa 1968...very appropo... and very entertaining

HappyUP!!! - brussel sprouts

Why it happened - had some at a restaurant recently

Why it makes me happy - always thought I hated them. Had them one night out...thought it was a fluke...made them here...another food I can learn to love. And, courtesy of Facebook friends, another tasty way to make them.

<----wow!...he kinda looks OK when you clean him up!

HappyUP!!! - haircut

Why it happened - my hair has been bugging me

Why it makes me happy - the damn mess is under control now!!!

HappyUP!!! - ski season coming

Why it happened - Facibook, e-mails, and phone calls

Why it makes me happy - it looks like I am going to be a skiier this winter.....cool!

JollyJottings

Toastmasters

Table Topics

Knowing an old funny song

Ice rink story

Buddy living in Tahoe Keys

Haircut

"I LOVE Brussel Sprouts!"....Who Knew!

I know - you HATE brussel sprouts. I hear you because I used to say the same thing even though....

I'm NOT SURE I EVER EVEN HAD THEM BEFORE - I was out a local eatery not long ago. I ordered the swordfish which was served on brussel sprouts in a bacon reduction sauce.

Were they delicious? - well, let's just say the kitchen staff was queried and the bulk of the ingredients were obtained to give this a shot at home.

I hereby declare - brussel sprouts have gotten a bum wrap! Yeah.....if you were forced to eat them at some point, I'm guessing it was a boiled situation.

We aren't - gonna do that to you here!

So...here is a rundown of what you need - and never ask me for how much of anything to put in...that's all personal taste. You know what you like...it's more fun playing around with it.

Brussel Sprouts

Bacon

Butter

Balsamic Vinegar

Lemon

Garlic

Onions

Chicken or vegetable stock

Salt

Pepper

1) Start frying up your bacon

2) Start your chopped garlic and onions sweating in some oil in another pan

3) When bacon is done...remove from pan...but keep that bacon grease

4) Add butter, balsamic, lemon, onions, garlic, chicken/vegetable stock, salt and pepper

5) You had already cut your Brussels in halves...throw them in as well.

6) Break your bacon up into little pieces and toss those in

7) Sautee over a low to medium heat

8) Let sauce reduce....and pull the sprouts out at desired tenderness (I like a bit of crunch left). Anywhere from 3-6 minutes depending on your heat and firmness you want

9) Pour your remnants over the top of the sprouts

Yeah......-you could have thrown some cheese over the top while sauteeing. I didn't....THIS time.

You are flat out doing some eating now - and brussel sprouts are very good for you

Yeah...I know - the butter and bacon grease probably aren't going to make it to the top of the American Dieticians Society as being good for you.....but...if that is what it takes to eat them sprouts.......

Bon Apetit!!!!!

HappyUP!!! Day 1386

HappyUP!!! - falling leaves

Why it happened - time of year

Why it makes me happy - can you believe it is November and it was so gorgeous here that I could have my door open with just the screen door to look through. A capricious breeze was blowing...enough to knock the leaves down off my neighbor's Japanese Maple (or whatever tree it is). They kept falling like yellow and red snowflakes. Nice.

<-----greatest T-shirt ever made....still kept it from high school. Just came across it the other day. Nope...it's not going to Goodwill

HappyUP!!! - fun with my friends

Why it happened - there is an overachiever amongst us

Why it makes me happy - it was a great accomplishment....glad I had a chance to honor it with a special card

HappyUP!!! - great wake up

Why it happened - did some tossing and turning

Why it makes me happy - ever notice that, when you don't sleep well, you sometimes sleep right to your buzzer. Sure, you may not feel like getting up but it is like your "sleep thing" went into overdrive late in the night. I woke up feeling refreshed and ready

JollyJottings

Great wake up

Nice morning walk

Falling leaves

Beautiful Day

Great phone conver with buddy, L

HappyUP!!! Day 1385

HappyUP!!! - birdie putt on 4

Why it happened - I hit a good one

Why it makes me happy - it won me a skin in the big game and basically allowed me to "play free" the rest of the day

<-----yeah, Slamson.....it's me....down here...sitting on the baseline! Hi, buddy!

HappyUP!!! - Kings Game

Why it happened - my buddy is a season ticket holder

Why it makes me happy - it's always good to take in a game. My friend knows people and we got an upgrade....FLOOR SEATS! Great perspective for a game.

HappyUP!!! - a long walk...and a nice bath

Why it happened - just felt a little sluggish

Why it makes me happy - I'm not one that bathes very often..I'm a shower guy. My walk was excellent..........and that bath afterward felt OH SO GOOD!

JollyJottings

Birdie putt on 4

9 iron into 9

Wedge into 10....wedge into 13.....chutt on 15

8 iron into 16

Scrambling par

Kings Game.....and an upgrade

A nice long walk

A great bath

HappyUP!!! Day 1384

HappyUP!!! - wedge into 14

Why it happened - I have some skills

Why it makes me happy - 14 can be a tricky par 5. When you get a chance to get after it with a wedge, you need to take advantage. I darn near jarred it from 120 and had a tap in birdie. It didn't win me a skin but it tied up another guy to make the other skins worth a little more

<------good to have an angel on your side when golfing.

HappyUP!!! - birdie on 17

Why it happened - we were desperate

Why it makes me happy - our team was down...we needed to "go to the whip." I stepped up and striped a 9 iron and made a HUGE putt...clutch!

HappyUP!!! - battling back to even

Why it happened - my partner and I birdied 3 of the last 5 holes

Why it makes me happy - few things feel as good as a great comeback! Things looked bleak with two holes to go but a birdie-birdie finish by my partner and I got the job done!

JollyJottings

Wedge into 14

9 iron/birdie putt on 17

Chatting with friends

A confession

Playing golf with Buddy...don't get to play with him much