HappyUP!!! Day 463

HappyUP!!! - finding some good scripture
Why it happened - I opened my friend's blog
Why it made me happy - it didn't really teach me anything....it just sent me a sign reinforcing what I already know. It's good to have reinforcement......and it came at the funniest of times.

HappyUP!!! - finding a list
Why it happened - I looked
Why it makes me happy - do you know that feeling you get when you look...and look...and look...but you can't find that thing you are after? (If not, it happens to those of those that store "useful info" for later). Just when I was about to give up, I found it.

HappyUP!!! - words from friends
Why it happened - I got a call...and an e-mail
Why it makes me happy - they were spelling out some things that I didn't see.....having one's vision cleared is always a HappyUP!!!

Who the heck makes these rules?

I am talking to a lady today - and she starts telling me about her white tile kitchen floor...and how hard it is to keep clean.

I tell her - "that's why I went with a grey/silver/black pattern in my kitchen. While I wipe up spills and sweep, I must have gone a year before I got down on the hands and knees and did a scrub......and it will be another year before I do that again! You can't see the dirt."

She replies - "but I wear white socks around the house."



She is obviously referring - to the dirt that shows on the WHITE socks. There seemed to have been a pretty good answer to her...

"Wear Black Socks!" - which now got me to thinking......which is one of my favorite things to do.

Who decided that it was cool to wear white socks - and it was goofy to wear black ones. Obviously, I am not talking about when you have to match things. I am talking about with shorts and such. Everyone makes jokes of the old tourists wearing those black socks.

"What? Like it's not a joke if they are wearing white ones?" - take an objective look at this. Forget about the way things are "supposed to be." Look at this sock situation through a clear filter. Do black socks look any more ridiculous with a pair of shorts than white ones do?

The answer is "No" - the reason that white socks appear cool and acceptable is that tennis shoes USED to be white. Doubt my answer? Go buy a pair of black athletic shoes (they are out there....I own more than one pair). White socks look as ridiculous with those and black socks do with white shoes.

The other reason - is that they didn't used to make black athletic socks....or they weren't as easy to get as they are today.

Now, go back to our lady friend with the white socks - SHE DOESN'T HAVE SHOES ON AROUND THE HOUSE! Yet, she is wearing the white socks.

Practical hint for the day - wear BLACK socks when you are just wearing socks around the house.

Bigger Thought - you see the moniker on the blog where it says, "a guy sojourning the same orb you are...with permission to look at it a little bit differently?" This is what I am talking about. Who made the white sock rule? Why was it made? Who is enforcing it that makes you conform to it? Don't non-conform just to non-conform. Do it because CONVENTION isn't always CONVENTIONAL for your situation.

THINK! - for goodness sakes, do you know how hard it is to keep those white socks white. You'll end up destroying them with the bleach! Then....you have to get new socks sooner than if you had black socks. A little thought just saved you some dough!

Pots and Pans

What's wrong with this picture? - you're right. Absolutely nothing.

Yet, why is it that I never see - people storing their pots and pans on their stove?

Perhaps it does happen - but shouldn't it be a constant if you have a matching set?

This is my first set of matching cookware - and, as I was taking it out of the boxes, I went, "geez, I am going to have to find a place for all of this stuff."


As I was unpacking the lids - I was going, "oh, and the lids." Don't you just love playing the jigsaw puzzle lid game in your pots and pan drawers? "Hmmmm...is it this lid that goes with that pot?"

Doesn't it make all the sense in the world to store these like this? - am I crazy? Go ahead and say it, I'm used to it. I've been called out for it many times. It usually ends up being crazy like a fox.

I'm also not the most fastidious housekeeper in the world - (I know...."news at 11". Hey, I'm a bachelor. What can I say? My mom was meticulous and my dad was a bit sloppy. I meet in the middle. I like it clean but can't see the win in all of that cleaning). That area under the grates by the burners has been known to have a little spillover stay on there after this meal......and probably after the next meal as well....

Voila!!! - nobody can see under the grates where the burners are with the Nutster Pot Storing method!

Also - no more searching for the right pan....it's right there in front of you....right where you need it.

What's up with this storage fetish that we have? - why have those racks hanging from the ceiling? I'm looking for the downside of this system. If you have some insight, let me know.

HappyUP!!! Day 462

HappyUP!!! - golfing
Why it happened - my buddy Glen called me
Why it makes me happy - it was a perfect day. It was a little warm. Then, on the back 9, the weather got weird. Then, it got nice again. I couldn't think of a better way to spend an afternoon.

HappyUP!!! - golf shots
Why it happened - I was golfing
Why it makes me happy - I'm still not scoring but I am getting my golf swing back. I am hitting a lot of pure shots. It is getting to where I am actually having confidence in my swing again. It's not that I am playing well. I re-discovered some fundamentals. I broke 80 and I threw 3 shots away in the last 4 holes. I three putted a couple of times. I bogeyed a couple of holes when all I had was a wedge in my hand. These are little rusty mistakes. Good times could be lying ahead.

HappyUP!!! - an important 5 year milestone
Why it happened - I made a decision one day
Why it makes me happy - there is NO WAY my life would be as good today if I hadn't made this lifestyle adjustment a half a decade ago.

How Do You Mark Your Titleist?

You have seen the ad campaign - if not, choose "kangaroo" when you go here.

In reality - there is only one HappyUP!!! way to mark your titleist.

(OK...there are others. This is the HappyUP!!!iest way to mark your Titleist)

HappyUP!!! Day 461

HappyUP!!! - breakfast
Why it happened - it's Saturday
Why it makes me happy - we had the whole gang there today....fun times....public inappropriate times....silliness

HappyUP!!! - the garden
Why it happened - c'mon....it's a garden...I gardner...I'm not a botanist
Why it makes me happy - I was a little concerned about the progress of some of the plants. They weren't looking so keen. They are looking much better this week. The peppers budded...it was the first time I saw that this year.

HappyUP!!! - Austin Powers
Why it happened - channel surfing
Why it makes me happy - I wish, "yeah, baby," wasn't a cliche'. It's still shaggin amusing when Mike Meyers does that!

HappyUP!!! Day 460

HappyUP!!! - conversations
Why it happened - there were a bunch that needed to be made
Why it makes me happy - I got through them....and I made my goal for the day

HappyUP!!! - a wedding
Why it happened - people get married...and I was invited
Why it makes me happy - it was a very neat little wedding on a Friday night. The setting was rather unique. It was very nice and appropriate


HappyUP!!! - a correspondence
Why it happened - I sent it
Why it makes me happy - it was one of the best pieces that I ever sent.

HappyUP!!! Day 459

HappyUP!!! - time with my family
Why it happened - I stopped by their house
Why it made me happy - the visit with bro and sis-in-law was great....and then my niece showed up as she came home from college for the weekend so it was good to see her.

HappyUP!!! - time with my best friend
Why it happened - I called him
Why it made me happy - it is good to have friends to go to when you are sorting things out

HappyUP!!! - ministering to another human being
Why it happened - he trusted me
Why it made me happy - this person has friends much closer than me. This person had a secret bottled up that could not be told to anyone else. The secret was as far away from a HappyUP!!! as you can get. It was a privilege for me to be that person in this individual's time of need.

HappyUP!!! Day 458

HappyUP!!! - my friend's website
Why it happened - I looked it up
Why it makes me happy - my friend doesn't post that often....so I don't check it very often. I definitely got what he was saying today (well....he said it over a week ago but I just saw it!)

HappyUP!!! - my lunch appointment
Why it happened - it's a business thing that needs to
Why it makes me happy - I didn't like the content of the meeting. This is the way business is. The content was no HappyUP!!!.....but it needed to happen. It happened. Questions were answered. Uncertainty was cleared up. The business relationship is better defined

HappyUP!!! - phone call
Why it happened - the timing was a fluke
Why it makes me happy - one of my employees called and thanked me out of nowhere the help that I had given. The employee didn't need to do that. The timing was eerily precise for when I needed to hear it. The thanks was great.....the timing was off the charts.

HappyUP!!! Day 457

HappyUP!!! - presentation
Why it happened - I was invited
Why it makes me happy - it was a new crowd for me. I wasn't sure how I would be received. I got the company's message across. I got as much buy in as I think I could. Mission accomplished

HappyUP!!! - got a deal done
Why it happened - a lot of ridiculous stumbles
Why it makes me happy - I think it is finally done

HappyUP!!! - set a meeting
Why it happened - I picked up the phone
Why it makes me happy - I am going to find out some information tomorrow

HappyUP!!! Day 456

HappyUP!!! - a "YES!"
Why it happened - my call was returned
Why it makes me happy - we are getting a valuable new member to our team. I got the verbal commitment today. The signed offer will be delivered tomorrow. This is my job

HappyUP!!! - a couple of e-mails
Why it happened - my lost friends decided to "appear"
Why it makes me happy - my opportunities for more cronies and partners in crime expands.

HappyUP!!! - my iPod and Bose Portable
Why it happened - I decided to throw the above combo in the car
Why it makes me happy - it was 7:30 in the morning. I was driving to a nearby town. The top is down. I have my entire CD collection on shuffle. There is just something about that shuffle feature. You never know what is coming up next. This morning, it was just what I needed. As I got to my meeting, it was, "Have a Drink on Me," by AC/DC. There was no way I would have picked that one but it was perfect.

HappyUP!!! Day 455

HappyUP!!! - golf
Why it happened - my buddy called me
Why it makes me happy - I didn't score well but I hit a LOT of PURE shots. There aren't many people shooting 85 that hit so many pure shots. The game is not sharp but the swing is getting there.

HappyUP!!! - 4 iron into 18
Why it happened - it shouldn't have....I should have been hitting wedge
Why it makes me happy - rather than wait for my cartmate to bring me my clubs, I grabbed the 8 iron from the lady in the other cart. It was just a layup. The ball was sitting down and, with the lighter club, I hit it fat. This left me a mile out. My buddy was next to me. He goes, "closest to the hole?" as a challenge. From 190 out, I hit it to 2.5 feet....the last shot of the day. Better than the result, the shot was hit PURE. You only hit a pure shot when you are making a good golf swing.

HappyUP!!! - scrambled eggs
Why it happened - I wokked them
Why it makes me happy - those were the easiest scrambled eggs that I have ever made.....and they were perfect. I love that new wok. I also threw last nights steak stir fry in with the eggs...delicious.

JollyJottings

Good company for golf
Plugging the front lawn
Pea's sprouting
Scrambled eggs in the wok
Golf in general
Drive down 1
Wedge into 1
4 iron into 2
3 wood on 3
5 iron on 8
Drive on 9
6 iron on 9
Sand shot on 10
8 iron into 13
Wedge recovery on 14
Pitch shot on 15
Putt on 16
Drive on 17
6 iron on 17
4 iron on 18

HappyUP!!! Day 454

Here is a HappyUP!!! - if I ever saw one courtesy of my friend Alex's excellent blog I'd go to that dentist in a heartbeat!

HappyUP!!! - cruising in the convertible
Why it happened - it was almost 90 degrees
Why it makes me happy - sleeveless t-shirt...sun hitting the arms....ahhhhh

HappyUP!!! - haircut
Why it happened - it's a maintencance item
Why it makes me happy - I finally told my barber who I was. No, I didn't tell him I was the author of the most famous blog on the internet. I told him whose uncle I was...he's friends with my nephews. From there, things pretty much went into standard barber shop talk.

HappyUP!!! - the new wok
Why it happened - it came in the mail yesterday
Why it makes me happy - I threw some stir fry sirloin in a black pepper sauce in with some onions, bell peppers, and green beans. Just as I got those dumped out, I threw my stir fry shrimp rice into the same wok. It cooked that up WAAAAAY faster than my skilled. That baby was sizzling! Now, I do wonder why I spent all that money on my fancy Dacor appliances. No matter, that Wok is going to get some serious use. Scramble eggs with leftover stir-fry is coming for Brekko tomorrow.

HappyUP!!! Day 453

HappyUP!!! - a surprise hire
Why it happened - we are out there recruiting
Why it makes me happy - we thought this one had gotten away.....but NO. The person is coming to work for us.

HappyUP!!! - watering
Why it happened - the garden needed it
Why it makes me happy - it really is pretty simple. This was a HappyUP!!! the other day but it put a smile on my face as I take on this big project. I'll have it down when summer comes and the watering is more often.

HappyUP!!! - a quick trip to Yuba City
Why it happened - it's all part of the job
Why it makes me happy - I needed to get this done...and I snuck it in first thing this morning.

HappyUP!!! Day 452

HappyUP!!! - numbers up for rally
Why it happened - everyone is working
Why it makes me happy - we want great attendance

HappyUP!!! - a new hire
Why it happened - my group grows
Why it makes me happy - building the team is what we are there to do

HappyUP!!! - convertible driving
Why it happened - it's the weather.....and to think it was just raining yesterday
Why it makes me happy - I love the fall....but we are getting one awesome Spring here in Sacramento. Too often, Winter melds right into Summer. Not this year....and I am digging every moment of it.

HappyUP!!! Day 451

HappyUP!!! - teeing it up this Sunday
Why it happened - a friend invited me
Why it makes me happy - gorgeous day coming....10:20 in the morning....and I will be golfing!

HappyUP!!! - a deal fixed
Why it happened - one of my managers got on it
Why it makes me happy - a major hassle looks like it is going to be avoided

HappyUP!!! - watering
Why it happened - I have a garden
Why it makes me happy - I am getting the system figured out. I am not sure if I will be as stoked on the 100th watering but, for now, it is neat getting it figured out. It also making me think about ideas for next year.

HappyUP!!! Day 450

HappyUP!!! - conversation with an employee
Why it happened - the employee was on the road
Why it made me happy - I was told how much I was appreciated

HappyUP!!! - e-mail from a co-worker
Why it happened - he sent me an ugly one
Why it made me happy - I gave some thought to the one I sent back. A situation that could have gotten ugly ended up with both of us admitting our mistakes......and now we move forward

HappyUP!!! - information
Why it happened - I have conversations
Why it made me happy - it led me to get an upgrade that will better serve the people that I work for....the ones that report to me.

HappyUP!!! Day 449

HappyUP!!! - sleeping in on a Monday
Why it happened - I thought I hit the snooze....but it was the off switch
Why it makes me happy - I was going to get up early and get some things done before work. I fell back to sleep for an extra hour and a half. It may have rushed me a hair this morning but the sleep was worth it.

HappyUP!!! - sitting in on a meeting
Why it happened - one of my direct reports had a meeting
Why it makes me happy - good to see the manager doing what is expected

HappyUP!!! - good conference call
Why it happened - it's Monday
Why it makes me happy - we got some good info out.......and I heard some excellent HappyUP!!!s

HappyUP!!! Day 448

HappyUP!!! - a visitor to my strawberry plant

Why it happened - I have a garden...with strawberries

Why it makes me happy - I really don't know. Perhaps I am getting older. Maybe I really am getting wiser. I must have observed this little ladybug for 2-3 minutes. She was the first one that I have seen this year. I also heard the bees doing their thing up in my orange blossoms.





HappyUP!!! - a RED strawberry

Why it happened - they need to turn red before you can eat em!

Why it makes me happy - I held off and didn't do it today. I will be tasting that first delicious morsel in just a few days. If you think homegrown tomato's are the best (and they are pretty darn good), you should try a strawberry right off the vine. You get red stains on your fingers from the oil! That's right, no washing. You just brush a little grit off.....you want that oil.




HappyUP!!! - it's just about all in.

Why it happened - I have been working on it.

Why it makes me happy - it's just down to watering and watching the backyard spring to life now. Look at those grape vines. When I started tilling, there was not a leaf on the vine. Those grapes get a little headstart.

The Happy Virus

From my friend, Tara's, fine blog......and very appropriate here:


"I caught the happy virus last night
When I was out singing beneath the stars.
It is remarkably contagious -
so kiss me."

- Hafiz, Persia, 14th-century

HappyUP!!! Day 447

HappyUP!!! - golf
Why it happened - a buddy invited me
Why it makes me happy - I scraped it around....but I keep getting closer to getting a swing back. It's good to get out there in the sun (...and wind!) and just spank whitey around

HappyUP!!! - breakfast with my best friend
Why it happened- the gang didn't show up
Why it makes me happy - we spent about two hours talking......and I had stuff to talk about.

HappyUP!!! - full moon
Why it happened - it's a monthly occurrence
Why it makes me happy - we were leaving the golf course and my buddy said, "hey, check out the moon." He was right....it looked cool.

HappyUP!!! Day 446

HappyUP!!! - meeting a recruit
Why it happened - I made the appointment
Why it makes me happy - this is a great move for this person. If the person doesn't come on board, it really will be to the person's detriment. I am thrilled to put the person in a good position.

HappyUP!!! - one less trip to Bakersfield
Why it happened - a meeting was cancelled
Why it makes me happy - it's a long way to "The Bake" and I am NOT going there in June

HappyUP!!! - drinks with friends
Why it happened - a friend set it up
Why it makes me happy - I got some good information......very good information....and had a nice time.

HappyUP!!! Day 445

HappyUP!!! - eye appointment
Why it happened - it happens once a year
Why it makes me happy - everything was fine. I thought the vision may be detiorating a bit. We thought about playing with one contact lens as a test to see if I wanted to re-do Lasik on one eye. I decided my glasses aren't that much of a pain.

HappyUP!!! - fore!
Why it happened - I played golf
Why it makes me happy - it was a gorgeous day. I seem to be getting my swing back. I didn't score worth a darn but I broke even on my bets. I also am hitting the ball pretty long.....and I haven't even gone and bought the latest technology in drivers!

HappyUP!!! - time with friends
Why it happened - I stopped by after golf
Why it makes me happy - I dearly love this couple. They are so open and nice. It was good to stop by and visit for an hour.

HappyUP!!! Day 444

HappyUP!!! - Ron
Why it happened - he appeared out of nowhere
Why it makes me happy - I was walking down the hallway. I heard a voice mention something directed at me to overhear as I walked away. I said, "that sounds just like Ron." Ron was a guy I hadn't seen in years. There was no reason for him to be where I was. I turned around....it was my old buddy, Ron! I like Ron and it was great to come across him this way.

HappyUP!!! - an appointment set
Why it happened - I made the call
Why it makes me happy - I got this key appointment. I got the information that I needed for the appointment. Outtasite!!!!


HappyUP!!! - a good day in the financial markets
Why it happened - key companies released good earnings reports
Why it makes me happy - it may only be for a day but it was positive news. The financial sector is saying we are farther through the liquidity crisis than expected. It doesn't mean it is true but it is good news....and a HappyUP!!!

HappyUP!!! Day 443

HappyUP!!! - Toastmasters
Why it happened - it's Tuesday
Why it makes me happy - one of our members gave a brave...and great speech. I was really proud of him.

HappyUP!!! - talking with a recruit
Why it happened - I do that...it's part of my job
Why it makes me happy - this is a good one....and I think I have a good solution

HappyUP!!! - the watering system
Why it happened - I designed it on Sunday
Why it makes me happy - while I have to hustle around, it appears that I can have three hoses going at one time. When you have a bunch of plants out there, this is a good thing!

HappyUP!!! Day 442

HappyUP!!! - getting through a meeting
Why it happened - the meetings are on Monday
Why it makes me happy - I had left my notes behind. I had to fire up the laptop and get the information at the very last minute again...whew!

HappyUP!!! - lunch
Why it happened - I dashed home
Why it makes me happy - a little water, a few crushed blueberries, and my Nzyme shake left me good to go!

HappyUP!!! - got out of a meeting
Why it happened - I asked
Why it makes me happy - while I would like to see my peers, it's a long way to Bakersfield.....and there isn't much point of me attending this one for two days.

HappyUP!!! Day 441

HappyUP!!! - more planting
Why it happened - it's the season
Why it makes me happy - I am just about all planted out!

HappyUP!!! - a watering system
Why it happened - I was thinking
Why it makes me happy - it could make the watering job a WHOLE lot easier....especially when you think about how many plants I have in the ground

HappyUP!!! - the Masters
Why it happened - it's Masters Sunday
Why it makes me happy - I love to see the top golfers grind their guts out on the most unpredictable golf course in the world. Twoods had his chance today....and he couldn't get it done. While I would have preferred an exciting finish, I can hang with the way it was won. It would have been interesting to see Immelman dig that ball out of that divot on 18 if he wasn't three shots clear of the field.

Bonus HappyUP!!! - saw my friend, Fred
Why it happened - I was getting gas
Why it makes me happy - I love seeing Fred.....we talked for a bit at the pumps. We're going to go tee it up soon.

HappyUP!!! Day 440

HappyUP!!! - planting
Why it happened - the weather has turned
Why it makes me happy - playing in the dirt....getting an idea of what the backyard will look like...etc

HappyUP!!! - golf
Why it happened - a friend invited me
Why it makes me happy - my score wasn't good but I struck a lot of very good shots. That isn't bad for only the second time out this year. With one month to go until I play in a tournament, this is a good sign.

HappyUP!!! - time with my friend
Why it happened - he had to borrow something from me
Why it makes me happy - hey, when was the last time you sat in a park without kids or anything else to do...and just chatted?

HappyUP!!! Day 439

HappyUP!!! - helping an employee
Why it happened - the wrong thing was happening
Why it makes me happy - I am doing my job....and the HMC knows it and appreciates it

HappyUP!!! - top down and 87 degrees
Why it happened - I had to make a run on the freeway
Why it makes me happy - it almost didn't.....it was unseasonably warm at first...until I realized this was the first one of those days this year. When you haven't seen something for awhile, it's like seeing an old friend.

HappyUP!!! - golfing tomorrow
Why it happened - I got the invitation
Why it makes me happy - I have to play in a tournament next month. This will be a good tune up.

Happy!!! Day 438

HappyUP!!! - presentation went well
Why it happened - we were assigned it
Why it makes me happy - it was a job well done

HappyUP!!! - acknowledgement
Why it happened - I gave the opening
Why it makes me happy - it wasn't total security but it was a sign....which is what I was looking for

HappyUP!!! - plants perked up
Why it happened - I brought them inside
Why it makes me happy - I put some of the plants outside....I think the nights were too cool. I raised them from seeds and, just a week before planting, it looks like I killed them. They are coming back though and the weather has turned warm. This weekend is big for planting.

HappyUP!!! Day 437

HappyUP!!! - getting through a tough presentation
Why it happened - we were asked to do it
Why it makes me happy - the people got it.....it was a potentially sensitive topic. I think that behaviors will change because of it.

HappyUP!!! - a peer
Why it happened - he was at the meeting
Why it makes me happy - I really like this guy and being around him. I wish I got to see him more often

HappyUP!!! - a comment from a direct report
Why it happened - it was an exercise as part of the meeting
Why it makes me happy - he acknowledged that I assisted him in working on a flaw in his personality over the years.

HappyUP!!! Day 436

HappyUP!!! - Giving my speech at Toastmasters
Why it happened - it was my turn
Why it made me happy - I pulled an old speech out.....and it was awesome. We were small in number but every member that was there was glad that they made the trip over. I remember putting some time into crafting this speech back when I did it. It's a winner...glad to hear that it made people think and gave them chills.

HappyUP!!! - lunch with a recruit
Why it happened - it was time
Why it made me happy - I know what is holding the guy back from coming on board. Now, I need to remedy that situation

HappyUP!!! - a compliment about an employee
Why it happened - he did a good job
Why it makes me happy - his good deeds did not go unnoticed. He got some kudos up and down the chain.

HappyUP!!! Day 435

HappyUP!!! - meeting
Why it happened - it's Monday
Why it makes me happy - my client brought up some great topics. There was some excellent discussion. There were also good sales this week.

HappyUP!!! - clarity
Why it happened - I did some writing
Why it makes me happy - I am closer to making a very difficult decision

HappyUP!!! - recruiting
Why it happened - one of my employees came up with a couple
Why it makes me happy - it's exactly at the right time! I love perfect timing.

Extra HappyUP!!! - how about that NCAA Men's Final Basketball game....overtime!

HappyUP!!!! .......One Year Ago in History

(Here is a rare reprint from exactly one year ago today)

Saturday, April 07, 2007

HappyUP!!! Project Revisited

I just noticed - there are still a couple of people on the internet that have not found NuttersNotes

Because the last of the stragglers will probably be stopping by today - it is prime time for a little refresher course in what this HappyUP!!! thing is all about.

For an older explanation and the rationale - you need to nothing more than click here

...and you really should do that - because I can't devote this entire post to remedial students. I have to take care of the people following along.

If you are a follower - there has never been a better time to step up and lead. Your family needs you to do it. The world needs you to do it. I need you to do it. YOU need you to do it.

You may be happy - which makes you an excellent candidate for the project. The daily excercise is so easy that even the Nutster has been able to do it for over 60 documentable days....right here in front of your own eyes.

All I am coaching you for is - to do 7 days....and then stretch it until it becomes a daily habit. The net effect is that YOU create your good news. Tired of the newspapers and the fabricated stories that are beaten into the ground? Don't take more in....DO something about it. Here is a great example:

The HappyUP!!! - a fish with lips

Why it happened - I was carrying my camera when I went to dinner. I commented on the aquarium to the owner of the eating establishment. "Did you see the big fish....the one with lips?"

Why it made me happy - do you remember the old game when someone asked something really obvious? Today, we just go "duh." In a more creative time, we would say, "Is the Pope Cathholic?" or "Does a bear poop in the woods?" for a positive answer. If the answer was an obvious "No," we would say, "does a fish have lips?"
Well, as it turns out, I guess a fish does have lips!!!

....and that makes me happy - that's all there is to it! It's so easy, even the Nutster can do it! I took a moment, not all day obsessing, and recognized that little situation made me happy. The more times you realize what makes you happy, the happier you are going to be.

It's easy to single out all of the things - than make you mad, sad, frustrated, etc and attach all kinds of emotion to them. Why do you need to do that? The answer: you don't NEED to do it...you CHOOSE to do it. And, just like you made the choice to focus on the crappy, you can make a new choice to focus on the Happy.

Yes, it is a formalized version - of "count your blessings." Is there a better time to start than right now?

If you are a fellow blogger - you can even work it into a daily posting amongst the other wonderful things you are posting. It's a wonderful accountability to yourself. I can't tell you the number of times I have gone up to bed, laid down, and said, "oops...I have the HappyUP!!!s. I just forgot to post them."...and back to the computer I went.

....and it has been worth every trip! - I have been hearing a comment from people lately that I have never heard before. "Nutster, you are so positive....I really like that." Hmmmmmm........I think I am going to continue.

HappyUP!!! Day 434

Here's a HappyUP!!! quote - at least it was to me. I have seen it many times in the past but I just ran across it and it put a smile on my face

"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe." -Albert Einstein

HappyUP!!! - Blackberry Replacement
Why it happened - my Crackberry malfunctioned
Why it makes me happy - I am getting a free replacement.......with no hassle. I love that. FREE always makes me happy

HappyUP!!! - Bean Planting
Why it happened - I went and saw Wayne the Master Gardener
Why it makes me happy - he gave me the skinny, "NO beans for YOU!" He told me to start growing them from seed indoors. You can't "go in" with them until late May. He did tell me that I should plant them every 6 inches and that they will totally cover the hideous chainlink fence my neighbor put up out back by my garden. It will be a lot of planting but I should end up with 45 feet wide x 5 feet tall of beans and snap peas!
HappyUP!!! - Getting a tune DOWN
Why it happened - I keep grinding at it
Why it makes me happy - I have owned guitars for a long time. I have never learned how to properly fingerpick the base and melody of a tune. I can now play a fairly robust rendition of Silent Night. I could do it before with just chords. I had another version with just double stops. The fingerpicked version has much more body to it......and it is the first of many that I will pick up.

HappyUP!!! Day 433

HappyUP!!! - Toastmaster's Speech Contest

Why it happened - our club produced the division contestant, Lawrence.

Why it makes me happy - he didn't take first place but our contestant has now given this speech 4 times. Today, he delivered it as well as he could...and that is what it is all about. Like a rubber band that, once stretched, never returns to it's original shape, our club member will forever be better for going through this process.


HappyUP!!! - convertible driving to the contest

Why it happened - it was a gorgeous day

Why it makes me happy - sun, a slight chill, and a drive to Grass Valley in the drop top makes for a great time. I picked up one of our members and he rode with me. It was nice.

HappyUP!!! - buying some plants

Why it happened - I got off my fanny late tonight

Why it makes me happy - it's going to let me get a few plants in tomorrow without having to go to the nursery (but I'll still go to the nursery)

HappyUP!!! Day 432

HappyUP!!! - Springsteen
Why it happened - I took the initiative and got tickets
Why it makes me happy - c'mon......there are people that have seen The Boss hundreds of times. He has to have something going for him. An awesome concert!

HappyUP!!! - leaving the concert
Why it happened - it was over
Why it makes me happy - I have never gotten out of Arco so quickly. Even if Springsteen did a second encore, it was worth having an unimpeded exit

HappyUP!!! - helping an employee
Why it happened - it was Loan Clearinghouse day
Why it makes me happy - this was a tough loan. The employee was lost.....and with good reason. This one even tested me!

HappyUP!!! Day 431

HappyUP!!! - my boss was late for our meeting
Why it happened - he thought the meeting started at 9...not 8
Why it made me happy - I was late myself....but he doesn't know that. I have a good boss and he would not have cared but, still, I don't like to be late

HappyUP!!! - driving home
Why it happened - meetings were over
Why it made me happy - I was so focused on phone work that the miles flew by. I got some quality phone calls in. The next thing you know, the 4.5 hrs were over

HappyUP!!! - strawberry plant
Why it happened - I planted some new ones
Why it made me happy - I have a new row next to my "old growth." I put them in about a month ago. I hadn't even noticed the "runners" on one. It was already 6 inches out and starting to embed in the turf. I think this moment is one of the reasons gardeners garden.

HappyUP!!! Day 430

HappyUP!!! - gettin to Bakersfield
Why it happened - we had a meeting
Why it makes me happy - it's 4.5 hrs of driving.....the feeling when you first get there is great because the drive is done. The drive was quite nice. Interstate 5 is a boring drive but, if you go at 4 in the morning, it doesn't seem drab at all. It can be any highway. I had some back east friends to talk to for part of the drive, a good audio CD, and I caught sunrise over the Sierras

HappyUP!!! - Buck Owens' Crystal Palace
Why it happened - we had dinner there after the meeting
Why it makes me happy - dinner with my chums is always great. The band was awesome. It was a dinner show. While I am not a huge country fan, I appreciate a good guitar player. Brian Longbeck was in this band. I didn't know who he was when I was there but I could tell he was "wicked good." After looking him up, I found out why.

HappyUP!!! - meeting
Why it happened - we have meetings
Why it makes me happy - meetings usually don't. We got some things done at this one, however. We accomplished some excellent work....including adapting some of my practices.

HappyUP!!! Day 429

HappyUP!!! - Toastmasters
Why it happened - it's Tuesday
Why it makes me happy - we had two great speeches....and I do mean great. The table topics were especially lively....and funny because the word of the day was, "amorous." People were gut busting.

HappyUP!!! - seeing my boss
Why it happened - he was in town
Why it makes me happy - I learned some things.

HappyUP!!! - a good training session with an employee
Why it happened - I invited him in
Why it makes me happy - he is going to be better at his craft due to this session.

HappyUP!!! Day 428

HappyUP!!! - Petunias

Why it happened - I planted them last weekend

Why it makes me happy - I dashed home for a quick lunch today. The little plants have grown upwards a bit since I put them on the ground. I couldn't help but notice as I drove up just how vibrant they are. Even in this picture with my total lack of photographic skills, look at that purple!

(It's a shame I will need to pull a couple of those. I was at the nursery this weekend and noticed that these babies get to be 5 ft across!......fast! Transplant coming)

HappyUP!!! - the hitchiking guitarist

Why it happened - I had my camera with me and did the best that I could

Why it makes me happy - where is this guy heading? How many worldly possessions does he have? No matter what the answer is, he has the guitar thrown over his back and he is ready to gig for someone....even if it is to himself in a lonely place alongside the road. That guitar IS one of his prized possessions.




HappyUP!!! - cancelled conference call

Why it happened - I have no idea....I just appreciate it

Why it makes me happy - it's like giving me back some life when we don't have a call.

HappyUP!!! Day 427

HappyUP!!! - pedicure (see following post)
Why it happened - I have thought about it....took some action
Why it made me happy - I have some smooth doggies.......and I was so light on my feet walking out of that place. I can't wait to tuck into clean sheets! Good sensory vibrations would be a summary for this one

HappyUP!!! - candles
Why it happened - I woke up ridiculously early....3 a.m. ....and I got up
Why it makes me happy - I hadn't burned candles in awhile. I had to do a little candle maintenance (these are the kinds of things you do at 3 in the morning. The house had all kinds of nice aromatherapy going on.

HappyUP!!!! - planting
Why it happened - I bought some plants yesterday
Why it makes me happy - I don't know how much work all this planting is going to be this year.....but the plants are going to be worth it. I have one healthy herb garden going on. I also got last week's strawberry purchase into the ground. I have to stay out in front of this. When the weekend of mid-April hits, the cucumbers, melons, tomatoes, peppers, and squash will all be going down. Spring planting leaves little time for other activities........when the heck did I become a farmer?

If the Man Police come try to get me on foot, I'll be ready.....

I have nowhere to go - on this one. No excuse like I did on the manicure post.

I went and did this one - for the same reason a woman would....too be pampered.

Wait! - I may have a loophole for when the Man Police come looking to de-badge me.

I was doing an investigation - yes, that is what it was all about. I have heard from women that they do this to make their feet look nice and pretty....sometimes even said, "...for their man."

This has nothing to do with pretty feet - see here as the nail technician starts to do a little buff job on my dogs.

Do you see how happy she is - instead of dealing with those women's puppies, she is delighted to be treated to such a fine pair of podiatractic marvels (yes, podiatractic is a word.....I just made it one so take that, Mr Spellchecker).

Yes, she is one happy lady - wouldn't you be if you got to caress this blogger's toes for 45 minutes? Envy is a sin so knock it off. If you want your turn, send me an e-mail. You are going to need to have the tools, though.

I don't know why she even did this step - she said it had something to do with removing some dead skin.

She used a lavender exfoliant - like my lowest extremeties really need any scent enhancement.

Next - it looks like I am on my way to or from the hospital. Don't be alarmed....the Nutster is fine.
A couple of nice, hot, and moist towels - around the freshly exfoliated tree stumps feels really nice.

...and the dogs packaged up like a couple of bags of veggies from the store? - just some nice, hot parafin wax.

...ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

And a little - "this little piggy went to market, this little piggy stayed home," and yours truly has just finished his first pedicure.


I walked out of that place like I was on air - I have a distinct feeling that, as I crawl into clean sheets tonight, I am going to still feel heavenly!


And for my investigation - do not be fooled. Women do this for one reason.......to spoil themselves. While us guys are out on the golf course driving ourselves crazy, the ladies are taking the sure bet to relaxation.

HappyUP!!! Day 426

HappyUP!!! - seeing my tax guy
Why it happened - it's tax time
Why it makes me happy - I didn't get the grimy news today....he needs a few days to calculate. I just like talking to my CPA once a year. We spent almost an hour shooting the breeze.

HappyUP!!! - manicure
Why it happened - ever let three weeks go between fills....a fill becomes a pull
Why it makes me happy - I kind of dig this hand action.....pedi is next....tomorrow?

HappyUP!!! - herbs
Why it happened - I stopped by the nursery
Why it makes me happy - maybe I will become a tea drinker! I am going to do some different herb plantings this year. I actually bought a chocolate herb today...some mint....a lemon....it's going to be a busy and interesting herb season! I love the smells


JollyJottings

Tax gathering
Tax man
Manicure
Breakfast
Herbs
Talking with friend
Tax finding
Tire fixed
NCAA tourney

HappyUP!!! Day 425

HappyUP!!! - phone meeting
Why it happened - I am on a project
Why it makes me happy - it was great working with these two guys on putting together an upcoming program
We actually are going to put a quality product together...over the phone

HappyUP!!! - chat with one of my direct reports
Why it happened - I talk to my direct reports
Why it makes me happy - she volunteered buy in. She is starting to see my vision for what needs to happen.

HappyUP!!! - my buddy called
Why it happened - I don't know....he was sick at home
Why it makes me happy - always good to hear from him. Haven't chatted in a couple of weeks.

HappyUP!!! Day 424

HappyUP!!! - drink with a recruit
Why it happened - I recruit
Why it makes me happy - this was an interesting one and we had a good meeting

HappyUP!!! - speaking with another recruit
Why it happened - he called me back
Why it makes me happy - it was another positive conversation.

HappyUP!!! - day 4 of my work project
Why it happened - it's a project
Why it makes me happy - we caught some more critical errors from going any further

HappyUP!!! Day 423

HappyUP!!! - a break
Why it happened - a client decided to see things our way
Why it makes me happy - a good chance we will have resolution to a terrible problem

HappyUP!!! - blackberry working again
Why it happened - my admin stayed on it
Why it makes me happy - it makes it a lot easier for me to be away from my laptop

HappyUP!!! - a meeting
Why it happened - some internal partners set it up
Why it makes me happy - I got to spend time with some key business associates....face time. I also probably picked up a new customer.

HappyUP!!! Day 422

HappyUP!!! - Toastmasters
Why it happened - it is Tuesday
Why it makes me happy - we had a small group...but a good one. I snuck in an icebreaker so that was cool.

HappyUP!!! - good eating
Why it happened - I was busy
Why it makes me happy - a salad and a couple of protein shakes. I am on my way to bringing the weight back in next Sunday.

HappyUP!!! - catching a bad mistake
Why it happened - my new project
Why it makes me happy - someone is not going to suffer needlessly......employees and a customer.

HappyUP!!! Day 421

HappyUP!!! - first day of new process
Why it happened - we are fixing a problem
Why it makes me happy - we are on our way to fixing an issue and learning a lot

HappyUP!!! - meeting cancelled
Why it happened - my boss was busy
Why it makes me happy - it gave me time for my project

HappyUP!!! - my info is being used
Why it happened - I found a flagrant violation
Why it makes me happy - this will score me some points in order to get some other things I want done for my people

HappyUP!!! Day 420....

Here we are - The end of the first quarter of the year is just around the corner.

Let's talk about New Year's - "Nutster, you have lost your mind! That's 9 months away." While your first half of that statement may be correct (you could lobby and get a lot of support for your stance....without trying too hard), the second half is not.

We are only 3 months from New Year's - New Year's 2008, that is. You had a feeling perhaps that something was going to be different. For some of you reading this, you have made it happen. For some of the rest of you, things have worked against you. For others, you just plain, flat out haven't done jack about making things any different.

OK, inertia crowd - I am talking to you. If you don't want things to be different, accept it. Just accept it. You are done. You are packed in. You have nothing to prove. You are good enough and won't get any better. There is nothing wrong with that stance.......

....or, is there? - there is a reason for that little voice. What is it? The little voice doesn't need to be followed. There is no requirement. It should be listened to....and heard....and asked, "where are you coming from? Are you what I want?...or are you what I SHOULD want?"

Point of the story - if you have something to do....YOU and only YOU need to do...today is as good a New Year's Day as any. And, no matter what....

HappyUP!!!

HappyUP!!! - no gift delivered
Why it happened - I went to take Robin Eggs to my nephew in the hospital at noon
Why it makes me happy - there was a freshly made bed and no nephew when I got there.

HappyUP!!! - petunia planting
Why it happened - I got off my fanny
Why it makes me happy - a little color in front of the house for days (years?) to come.

HappyUP!!! - seeing my nephew
Why it happened - he had paperwork for me
Why it makes me happy - I started the day expecting to see him in a hospital gown. Instead, he was at my house in a pair of shorts and a band T-shirt. HappyUP!!!

HappyUP!!! Day 419

HappyUP!!! - Wayne my garden guy
Why it happened - I went to the nursery
Why it makes me happy - he is a master gardener. The nursery is only about a mile from my house. I stop in every weekend and do my shopping a couple of items at a time. Why? Wayne is always up to answering the next question that I have concocted.

HappyUP!!! - nephew coming home tomorrow
Why it happened - my nephew was in the hospital again
Why it makes me happy - my nephew is susceptible to infection. He has been since he was born. He is 25 now. I just found out today that he went into the hospital again yesterday. Last time, he was there for two weeks. I went and saw him and found out that he'll be getting out tomorrow. They rushed in and did the surgery this time.

HappyUP!!! - robin eggs
Why it happened - it's Easter
Why it makes me happy - once a year, I get to enjoy Whoppers with a twist. I love Robin Eggs!

HappyUP!!! Day 418

HappyUP!!! - catching a thief
Why it happened - I got tipped off
Why it makes me happy - a person was trying to rip the company I work for off....big time. I don't know what will happen from here. I went beyond what was asked of me in the scope of my work.

HappyUP!!! - winner
Why it happened - we showed up
Why it makes me happy - the member from our club in the Toastmaster's speech contest came in second place at the contest tonight. The winner announced that he had pre-booked a vacation for the night of the next level of contest. This puts our club's representative in the contest. It pays to show up. You can not win....and win.

HappyUP!!! - gorgeous day
Why it happened - they do
Why it makes me happy - one word......convertible. Hard to beat on a spring day in Sacramento. I could list this one every day right now....and just might. I appreciate it.

HappyUP!!! Day 417

HappyUP!!! - a meeting
Why it happened - we needed a plan
Why it made me happy - we actually came away with one

HappyUP!!! - meeting after a meeting
Why it happened - we needed it
Why it made me happy - we got some more much needed work done in a relaxed environment after the bell

HappyUP!!! - breakfast
Why it happened - one of my managers likes to have breakfast
Why it made me happy - he had a plan......which I found out later during the meeting above that I can do

HappyUP!!! Day 416

HappyUP!!! - new builder
Why it happened - my employees are out there working
Why it makes me happy - it's a little piece of business I didn't see coming

HappyUP!!! - "Let's Go!"
Why it happened - one of my managers "gets it"
Why it makes me happy - buy in....I am about to launch an idea that is easy to back out of. With buy in, we'll drive through the feeling of wanting to go back.

HappyUP!!! - Fixing problems
Why it happened - when you have business, you have problems
Why it makes me happy - I am a problem solver. The people underneath me haven't seen the things I have or learned "the game".....yet. They will. In the meantime, I love helping them.

JollyJottings

New builder
Fixing problems
Learning something new
Grabbing a coffee on the run
Meeting with a manager
"Let's Go!"

HappyUP!!! Day 415

HappyUP!!! - met a new recruit
Why it happened - it's an important part of my job
Why it made me happy - we really hit it off

HappyUP!!! - talk with boss
Why it happened - it was scheduled
Why it made me happy - we don't get much time for this. Sometimes there are things to go over

HappyUP!!! - call in from a hot recruit
Why it happened - I think the person is getting nervous about a challenge in the work environment
Why it makes me happy - this is a big ticket player. It would be a big feather in my cap to port this person across.


JollyJottings

News on an old adversary
Talk with branch manager
Talk with a person two levels up
Toastmasters

HappyUP!!! Day 414

HappyUP!!! - a recruiting appointment tonight
Why it happened - I made contact with a guy
Why it makes me happy - I wasn't sure where this guy was at in the process. He is still mighty interested

HappyUP!!! - meeting with client
Why it happened - I called the meeting
Why it makes me happy - it was a delicate subject but we are all on the same page. I wasn't sure that we were.

HappyUP!!! - a definitive statement
Why it happened - my boss went to a meeting an repeated what was said
Why it makes me happy - it wasn't good news but we KNOW where our company stands on the issue. The truth may not be what you want but, once you get it, you can take the necessary action to work with it.

BONUS HappyUP!!!

It's OK to have more than three! - really!!!

Three is just a nice manageable number - to do every day. You can crank them out in about 5 minutes.

I couldn't leave out the bonus:

HappyUP!!! - weigh in
Why it happened - it is a Sunday staple
Why it makes me happy - I was down three pounds to 168. That is a tie for my yearly low. This came a little unexpectedly because it wasn't a week to brag about eating wise. I hit it pretty hard all day in the garden yesterday. That is a workout....trust me.

HappyUP!!! Day 413

HappyUP!!! - seeing an old best friend
Why it happened - we were at the same breakfast joing
Why it made me happy - this guy was one of my high school and post college buddies. He got married, had kids, and moved to a nearby town. Different priorities. It was great catching him while he was waiting for breakfast. It seems like he is doing well. He almost has his house paid off which is awesome. House prices are coming down. If you aren't selling, it really doesn't matter

HappyUP!!! - cleaning up the workshop
Why it happened - I was out there today and said, "that's it."
Why it makes me happy - I bought my late father's house from him while he was still alive. I never took on his tool room or the workbench. Oh MY!!! It actually wasn't that bad. I now see some possibilities there.

HappyUP!!! - planting herbs
Why it happened - it's time to plant herbs
Why it makes me happy - I am going to have an herb garden....right in my view. I don't know how pretty it will be. It will be functional and will have everything...whether I use them or not.

HappyUP!!! Day 412

HappyUP!!! - smelling strawberries
Why it happened - I was in my garden
Why it makes me happy - I don't even have berries...these were just a few meager blossoms that were putting out about the sweetest aroma YOU, my friend, will ever want to smell

HappyUP!!! - rototilling
Why it happened - the weather was nice
Why it makes me happy - I have good soil. I also threw some amendment on it not too long ago. I just get off on that dirt fluffing all up like powder. This wasn't chunky tilling. It was smooth.

HappyUP!!! - IRS letter
Why it happened - the IRS sends letters
Why it makes me happy - it was official business. I went, "oh great....an audit....or I owe some money." No! This was the letter telling Americans about the economic stimulus package. What a relief!

Smelling strawberries
Getting some plants in the ground
Chipping
Being sore
Hanging the light
Rototilling
Weedeating
First lawn cut of the year
IRS Letter

HappyUP!!! Day 411

HappyUP!!! - transplant
Why it happened - the "babies" outgrew their pods
Why it made me happy - I actually found the right size transplanting pots. The stores had been out of them but
I was able to score about 40. It may be too late for the cherry tom tom's. We'll see. They have a chance

HappyUP!!! - breakfast
Why it happened - it was overdue
Why it made me happen - I got to spend some time with a young man that I think the world of. We had some good conversation. It was a delight.

HappyUP!!! - recruiting
Why it happened - my people are out there doing it
Why it made me happy - we have three second interviews set up for Tuesday.....outtasite!

HappyUP!!! Day 410

HappyUP!!! - lunch
Why it happened - we did lunch out
Why it made me happy - I took my managers to a United Way lunch. I ran into a friend there. It was a nice time.

HappyUP!!! - meeting
Why it happened - I have my managers in once a month
Why it made me happy - today was a little more low key. Everyone just needed to talk a little more than driven.

HappyUP!!! - found kitties
Why it happened - I had a hunch
Why it makes me happy - one cat had been locked in my detached garage for a day or two. My other cat had gotten locked into my tool shed....I don't know for how long but I suspect quite awhile. I don't know how they get in those predicaments!

HappyUP!!! Day 409

HappyUP!!! - coffee
Why it happened - it was my Wed meeting
Why it made me happy - neither I or my regular coffee partner bought.....coffee was bought by another friend who happened to be at the shop. No, it wasn't a lot of money but it was a nice gesture.

HappyUP!!! - a great new contact
Why it happened - we got a new recruiter
Why it made me happy - I appreciate all help that is ever extended to me

HappyUP!!! - a tough discussion
Why it happened - one of my employee's got bad news
Why it made me happy - I stepped in immediately and picked up the phone. I handled the issue quickly and correctly. I almost did it another way which would have been the wrong thing to do.

HappyUP!!! Day 408

HappyUP!!! - toastmasters
Why it happened - it was Tuesday
Why it makes me happy - we had a couple of good speeches and our Toastmaster ran her first meeting. She did a great job.

HappyUP!!! - nephew's birthday
Why it happened - he has one a year
Why it makes me happy - it was a great reason to get together and eat steak!

HappyUP!!! - jury duty
Why it happened - have to do the civic duty
Why it makes me happy - I called in for three nights...my panel wasn't called....I'm done for another year without having to go!

HappyUP!!! Day 407

HappyUP!!! - meeting legislators
Why it happened - I had to fill in at work
Why it makes me happy - I got to get a first had look at the political process...especially when we have so many issues in my industry.

HappyUP!!! - convertible driving
Why it happened - I picked the right car today
Why it makes me happy - today was a perfect day to be on the freeway for about 20 minutes each way. 70 degrees...nice.

HappyUP!!! - recruiting appointment
Why it happened - recruiting is priority one
Why it makes me happy - I am very interested in this new recruit...and look forward to him joining our team. We have some time between now and then...but there is the hope. This is what it is all about.

HappyUP!!! Day 406 ...the Man Police aren't going to like this one

I did it - yes, I finally did it. I am now manicured! I actually went into one of those places. There seemed to be some discrimanatory practices in hiring, however. All of the ladies were VERY Asian....except for the very caucasian girl who greeted customers. We'll call her position...Translator.

I now have someone new "on staff" - yep, the Nutster now has a nail lady. Got my plumber, my garage door guy, my mechanic, my doctor, my dentist, my opthamologist, etc......add Vivian the Nail Lady.

Vivian is from Vietnam - where her parents, two sisters, and brother still are. We didn't get a chance to find out how she got here. That will be next time...in about two weeks....when I go back for my "fill."

OK....this is getting scary- I am a guy....REALLY! I now know exactly what a fill is.

HappyUP!!! - I have a Nail Lady

Why it happened - I have lived with a nasty split in one of my nails for too long now

Why it makes me happy - Vivian did an acrylic overlay...built a little extra nail on top to cover the top of the split....and I am well on my way to having this little issue taken care of. While I was there......how about a manicure.

HappyUP!!! - a manicure
Why it happened - hey, I was there. Why just do the one finger?

Why it makes me happy - I have never had a manicure before. I didn't even go for the full schmear. I just got a basic package. After all, I am just a beginner. Look at what Vivian did to those MANLY forearms......something. I don't know what but it felt good!


(If you are wondering, the answer is, "YES!". There will be a pedicure coming with my next manicure. Oh my goodness.....I am only a blink away from a "Spa Day." What a girl! I got no story when the Man Police show up to get my badge.)



HappyUP!!! - Wayne the Master Gardener

Why it happened - I went to see him

Why it makes me happy - Wayne is a retired guy that works at the local nursery on weekends. I think he kind of likes me. He is giving me all kinds of vegetable tips....especially on tomato growing. He swears that on June 1, I will be eating fresh tomatoes just like he always does. I actually had some on Memorial Day last year but it was luck. I have the secret. It makes sense and I am trying it out. I'll share later but the hint is, "more root... more fruit."

HappyUP!!! Day 405

HappyUP!!! - new friend
Why it happend - my buddy brought his brother
Why it makes me happy - the brother was a cool brother....from Hawaii. Perhaps I will see him on the island sometime soon

HappyUP!!! - golf
Why it happened - I got an invitation
Why it makes me happy - it wasn't my quality of golf. I stunk! But, it was my first time out this year. It was also on a golf course of 7300 yards. That will pucker you. It was just good to be out swinging the sticks.

HappyUP!!! - gorgeous weather
Why it happened - ????
Why it makes me happy - I got a little color in my face. First time this year. Need I say more?

HappyUP!!! Day 404

HappyUP!!! - congratulation notes
Why it happened - I had a moment of thoughtfulness
Why it makes me happy - it makes the people in my organization happy

HappyUP!!! - breakfast
Why it happened - I eat with one of my direct reports every couple of weeks
Why it makes me happy - great conversation...delicious food...fun with the waitress. What is not to like?

HappyUP!!! - being picked on a team
Why it happened - I'm not sure
Why it makes me happy - the last time me and this guy were paired, it wasn't by choice. The other person made a derogatory joke....all in fun...about being paired with me. This time, he jumped at the chance. He knows that I will make him look good which is what he needs.

JollyJottings

Sending out congratulations notes
Breakfast
Being picked on a team
Getting a new assignment
Fun with the waitress

HappyUP!!! Day 403

HappyUP!!! - call from a guy I haven't heard from in 10 yrs
Why it happened - he is looking for a job
Why it makes me happy - he is a good guy. He also is a mutual friend of a childhood pal of mine that I have lost track of. I got to hear about my childhood pal.

HappyUP!!! - loan limit increases
Why it happened - FHA moved
Why it makes me happy - long term, it is going to make life easier for all of my employees

HappyUP!!! - mysterious disappearance reappears
Why it happened - I have no clue
Why it makes me happy - my on line trading account is weird. Cash will mysteriously disappear sometimes. Tonight was one of those occasions. Usually, there is something called a cash sweep that I can find. Still not sure what that cash sweep is. Anyway, after looking for 45 minutes, I went away for 15 minutes. I re-opened my account and the cash was back. This saves me a trip to the account executive's office tomorrow!

HappyUP!!! Day 402

HappyUP!!! - effecting change
Why it happened - I questioned something
Why it makes me happy - it's not a huge thing but it is nice to still have input into the company

HappyUP!!! - a brief conference call
Why it happened - it was quickly realized we didn't have the answers
Why it makes me happy - why drone on? Reconvene when you are ready.

HappyUP!!! - problem solved
Why it happened - we thought differently
Why it makes me happy - we managed to arrange for a training in our office.....and not spending money renting hotel rooms.

HappyUP!!! Day 401

HappyUP!!! - Toastmasters
Why it happened - it was Tuesday
Why it makes me happy - we had our speech contest today. It was great to see the members stretching

HappyUP!!! - talking to an old friend
Why it happened - I picked up the phone
Why it makes me happy - we hadn't talked in forever. Things had been a bit strained. The person did something that I didn't think was right. Time had to pass. It did.

HappyUP!!! - e-mail from a friend
Why it happened - it was actually a return e-mail
Why it makes me happy - it was pretty darn funny.........I didn't see that coming.

HappyUP!!! Day 400

HappyUP!!! -"bump up to 150's"
Why it happened - I was at a meeting
Why it makes me happy - my client, whose meeting I was at, said this at exactly the right time today. It was hysterical. A gutbuster

HappyUP!!! - recruiting call
Why it happened - my boss made it happen
Why it makes me happy - we will begin a training on recruiting. It is always good to pick up skills.

HappyUP!!! - SBS
Why it happened - it's in Brazil
Why it makes me happy - it's my only foreign stock....and it had another good day today....and the only stock in my cache that is working right now. US companies are not the place to be right now. It used to be when the United States sneezed, the world caught a cold. Today, when the US sneezes, the world hands us a hanky!

HappyUP!!! Day 399

HappyUP!!! - breakfast
Why it happened - I didn't get any brekko on Saturday
Why it makes me happy- I love my pancakes and sausage. I ran into a friend. I got to have some laughs with my favorite waitress.

HappyUP!!! - plant growth
Why it happened - it's the way it is
Why it makes me happy - I may be buying my own plants this year. We'll see. I seem to have had a little confusion in labeling. The point is that my little seedlings are growing

HappyUP!!! - a new book
Why it happened - the marketing got me
Why it makes me happy - it's a new genre of reading for me.

In election year.....

It's too easy to criticize hope....and, in the end, cynicism is a lousy strategy

Seth nails it again...what else is new?

HappyUP!!! Day 398

HappyUP!!! - birthday party
Why it happened - it was my best friend and his father's birthday
Why it makes me happy - family and food! While a steady diet of this would be counter-productive to the waistline, a little indulgence is good on occasion. A couple of ears of corn, cheeseburger, AND hot dog.... topped off with some cake and ice cream. Yes....I have a "holiday gut" going on as I speak but it was delicious.

HappyUP!!! - meeting a landscape guy
Why it happened - I asked a stranger a question while I was in the nursery
Why it makes me happy - he is a retired local guy that just likes to keep busy. I really didn't want to take on the irrigating of the enlarged garden on my own this year. I HATE numerous trips to the hardware store....only to find out you didn't do it right in the first place. This guy should work out nicely.

HappyUP!!! - seeing friends at a seminar
Why it happened - I went to a short seminar
Why it makes me happy - these are some people in another Toastmaster's Club in town. Good people that I see from time to time.

JollyJottings

Coffee
Meeting the landscape guy
Docking station
Ipod Gizmo
Transplanting pots
Leadership seminar
Seeing friends at seminar
Birthday party
Rum Cake
Birthday cards
Birthday oranges
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