In the past few days, I’ve noticed an inordinate amount of sadness, grief, despair, melancholy, dejection, weariness, discontentment, and general angst in posts. So, in the grand tradition of “mandatory fun” (a favorite phrase of a summer camp with CTY), I’m instituting a thread of pure happiness. Repeat after me: I will enjoy this. I will smile at least a little bit (but hopefully a lotta bit) or else face the formidable wrath of Serendipity. 
To kick things off, I’d like to share a few silly events/objects/quotes that make me smile. You’re invited (read: begged) to do the same.
[list]
[li]receiving unexpected letters[/li][li]patchwork quilts[/li][li]singing along with cheesy songs on the radio while driving[/li][li]black and white photographs[/li][li]puppy kisses[/li][li]tangents in lectures[/li][li]swing dancing (After I bashed my dancing abilities, a very wise dancer told me that it didn’t matter if my feet were always in the right place, since my heart certainly was.)[/li][li]accents, especially Irish ones (God, I’m a sucker for Irish accents.)[/li][li]Altoids, because they’re curiously strong.[/li][li]leather-bound journals that make you feel as if whatever you’re writing in it must be important[/li][li]having finished my homework so I can write up lists like this[/li][li]“Always do sober what you said you’d do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut.”[/li]-- Ernest Hemingway
[li]“Memory is a child walking along a seashore. You never know what small pebble it will pick up and store away among its treasured things.”[/li]-- Pierce Harris
[li]“Never explain – your Friends do not need it and your Enemies will not believe you anyway.”[/li]-- Elbert Hubbard
[li]“I either want less corruption, or more chance to participate in it.”[/li]-- Ashleigh Brilliant
[li]“Like everyone else, I want to sleep with Leonardo DiCaprio. But I guess I’d want to marry Tom Cruise, because he’s much more responsible. I think Leo would play around on me. And I could never trust him on a cruise ship, obviously. You know me, I wouldn’t go out with these guys unless I was going to sleep with them. I mean, if I’m putting up dinner and a movie for Leo, he’d damn well better put out.”[/li]-- Jon Stewart
[li]“This is so depressing, my only hope is this homemade Prozac. Mmm, needs more ice cream.”[/li]-- Homer Simpson, “The Simpsons”
Alright, guys, I know someone out there must be in a good mood today. Share it, will ya?
Jessica, who was once referred to as a walking Hallmark card