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
Top Down

HappyUP!!! Day 397

HappyUP!!! - lunch
Why it happened - I extended an invitation
Why it made me happy - I got reacquainted with an old industry contact. I hadn't spoken to him in years

HappyUP!!! - training done
Why it happened - we planned it that way
Why it made me happy - my entire group got their annual training done by today......though the company didn't require it until year end.

HappyUP!!! - talking with V
Why it happened - we had an issue
Why it made me happy - I hadn't spoken with this business contact in awhile. Even though we had an issue, the conversation evolved to fun.

HappyUP!!! Day 396

HappyUP!!! - a recruit has surfaced
Why it happened - the person is sick of their company...and I stay in touch
Why it makes me happy - I have wanted this person a long time. We talk tomorrow

HappyUP!!! - seeing an old friend
Why it happened - I paid a visit to his office
Why it makes me happy - he is just a good guy that I want to try to help.

HappyUP!!! - a call from an old client
Why it happened - they found me
Why it makes me happy - I got a chance to dust off my consultant hat. A lot of people would just try to sell the people something. The client really appreciated my taking an interest in her.

HappyUP!!! Day 395

HappyUP!!! - going topless
Why it happened - it felt like the thing to do
Why it makes me happy - c'mon.....freeway...71 degrees.....20 minute drive each way. Do I even have to say why?

HappyUP!!! - inquiry from a recruit
Why it happened - I have stayed in contact
Why it makes me happy - he knows where quality is. It's time for him to move. I am going to help him make the right choice for him.

HappyUP!!! - reports
Why it happened - I went looking
Why it makes me happy - it told me some valuable information