Red handed

I just had to share this story, about how Genius Lyrics coded its apostrophes to track when someone (in this case, Google) copied them elsewhere online. It's just fascinating, and the choice for Morse Code translation made me smile.

Around the world

One of my favorite things about Atlanta is the diversity -- and the diversity of food, which lets me eat my way around the world.

On Saturday, I had tamales at a Mexican restaurant, followed by cream buns at a Korean bakery. I stopped at a Polish grocery store to restock my freezer with pierogi and ate Japanese food for dinner.

And none of them on Buford Highway!

I usually don't hit that many in a day, but what fun to cross continents in that way over just a few hours.

Racing stripes

On the way in to work this morning, I heard a song that made me smile. It included the lines "my dog has racing stripes" and "I named my dog Springsteen, cuz it was born to run."

Of course, I tried to find the song when I got to the office. But the internet isn't cooperating, and it's nowhere to be found! Do you know this song? Can you find it for me? I'll be forever grateful.

Swearing in

I came across this tweet:
https://twitter.com/emilynussbaum/status/1082336816412454913
which asks what book one would be sworn in on, if not a religious text.

I love the variety and thoughtfulness of the answers -- from "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" (it says "Don't Panic" in big letters right on the cover!) to "A Tale of Two Cities" to "Everybody Poops."

Mine? "The Phantom Tollbooth." Easy.

It's a game!

It's so nice to see old friends, and I was so glad to get some quality time with one friend over the weekend. It's been too many years (years!) since we've seen each other. And while time alone is enough to make me smile, this made me grin even bigger:

That's right. It's a Kinder Egg board game. I'm thrilled that it exists, and that I know people well enough that they will see weird things and thing of me and save them for a year until they can hand them to me in person.

(For the record: The word game is a bit of an exaggeration, but it was still super.)

Washboards

Nearly a decade ago, I dragged my friend (hi, friend!) to see the last remaining washboard factory in the United States.

She was at first resistant, but then loved it. We learned that the primary customers tend to be musicians and people who live off the grid, and we both went home with a lot of washboard paraphernalia.

I sent her this picture over the weekend, of washboards from the same factory in a south Georgia home I was touring. It made me grin to see it, and to share it.

(She replied with a long line of hahahas, and that made me grin, too.)

New life

It's a warm February, and the leaf debris that had gathered in the crease of my car's trunk apparently had some seeds in it. With sun and some rain, they've begun to germinate, and now I have a tiny garden in my car.

This isn't the first year this has happened. But I was delighted last time, and I'm delighted this time, too.

I did not realize

That it's been this long since an update.

But over the past several months, I've noticed hearts. On telephone poles.

They're roughly the size of a piece of bread and tacked up, seemingly at random, around Atlanta. Sometimes I zoom past them, and sometimes I inch closer to them as I'm stuck in traffic.

They make me smile every time I notice a new one. So I'm sharing with you.

It's a good day

When I get an email that begins "Dear Depraved Sickos."

(But no, for real. I laughed out loud.)

Abstract Sunday

Hi, Internet.

I make no promises that I will visit with more frequency, though lots of people will be looking for more things that make them happy in the coming weeks and months.

I'm happy to share with you something that pleased and amazed me today, though, as I'm sitting in the office the day before Thanksgiving, waiting for my phone to ring.

I've long been a fan of the artist Christoph Niemann, who I first discovered through his NYT columns. He hasn't published them in a while. But I stumbled across him today somewhere else, and it led me to his Twitter feed, and man, is it a delight.

Click through to see some amazing illustrations, as well as interviews and other fun things. It made me smile. I hope it brings you joy, too.

The left wing of a goose

The Olympics always manage to capture my imagination. I can't help but be fascinated and amazed by the work, the drive, the effort that goes into getting to the games -- regardless of the outcomes.

And while I've been fast-forwarding through a lot of the pre-packaged video pieces, I've been reading a fair bit about the games. (Let's be honest -- I've always liked reading more.) In doing so, I came across this gem related to the creation of badminton shuttlecocks that I just need to share with you:

The shuttles themselves are intricate creations. Yonex orders thousands of goose feathers a year from China. The feathers are then trimmed to size and matched by color, flexibility and other factors. Only feathers from the left wings of geese are used in the tournament shuttles. Satoshi Yuza, a promotion manager at Yonex, chalked that up to aerodynamics.

Can you imagine? Only the feathers from the left wing of a goose go into competition-level shuttlecocks. What a weird, beautiful thing.

Keys

Do you see this?

This is a tiny piece of paradise.

I spent the early part of the week in the Florida Keys on the invitation of a friend who I love to pieces, and hadn't seen in too many years. Being there made me smile, of course -- I mean, that was the back porch. Look. It's gorgeous. -- but it was the invitation that made me happiest. It's so nice to know that connections are kept, through distance and time.

We swam, and swam, and swam. We talked. We explored. We ate delicious things. And, I like to think, we refueled a friendship that I hope will last a long, long time.

Also, she shared this with me.

That's a book recommendation by Judy Blume. Who owns the bookstore. That we were standing in. (I've read the book and loved it. Judy and I are essentially BFFs now.)

We missed seeing her there, but being in her space was pretty awesome, too.

Downtown perks

My office is in the 'burbs, and though they're densely populated 'burbs, they're not very walkable. And while there are some things that can lead to grins in suburbia, you'll notice that I was a much more prolific writer when I was working downtown. (Albeit in another state.)

So a change in job duties has led me to spend more time downtown. And that's led to a couple things that I want to share with you.

First, taking public transportation to work means more time with books. And more time with books always makes me happy.

Second, I saw someone rolling a Coke machine down the street on a dolly yesterday. Just pause for a minute and imagine a vending machine walking down the road. It's a beautiful thing.

Third, I ran into two people I know on the street last week -- both in the same day, at that. One was a new friend who was also working downtown, and we'll hopefully grow closer and see each other more after running into each other. The other is my future sister in law, who was downtown to get license plates for her car.

Unless you work in the same building as someone, you're just less likely to run into them on the street in suburbia.

Today, 10:30 a.m.

A white-haired man driving by in a red convertible, top down, the seat next to him covered in a bouquet of bright flowers.

It was a weird day

And it ended with an email from an FBI agent that read, simply:

:)

Books, books, books (and a bonus)

A post in three parts (and a bonus):

Today -- for the fourth time in recent memory, which is indeed a dangerous thing -- I stumbled upon Bag Day at my local library. This means that you can fill a grocery bag full of for-sale books for super cheap. In today's case, I spent $12 on two paper bags full of books. Luckily (because my shelf space is severely limited), I intend to give some of them away. I also came out with the John Green book I went in for, which was the original purpose of the library visit.

In the free book bin, I found a book of poems by Billy Collins. I was lucky enough to see him converse with Paul Simon last year, and I really loved the poems he read then. But I haven't sought out any others, despite intent. When I picked up the book, the co-worker who put it there saw my face. "It's gone to the right place," she said.

I got in the mail a book I lent out maybe two years ago. I'd forgotten just how beautiful it is. You should definitely read it. And now I have my copy back to lend again.

And! What else should come in the mail but a blue canary! For putting in the outlet by the light switch! (It's already there.) It was totally unexpected and I am super stoked!

Landline

I come to you after months of delinquency because I wanted to jump up and down with excitement at work today, and no one there understood my joy.

There's this super, fantastic, wonderful author (Rainbow Rowell) who I want to be when I grow up, and whose books I adore. (I've read two.)

We have a free book bin at work, and her latest -- which isn't in stores til July 8 -- was there. I snagged it. And now it is mine.

I'm super thrilled. So is my sister, who has devoured the two I've read and will be taking this one from me as soon as she can get her hands on it.

In today's news

I'm eating a delicious golden apple that I picked myself. It's crisp and flavorful and subtle and yum. There are new shoes on my feet, I'm almost done transcribing an interview I feel as if I've been typing forever, and there was the odd sight this morning of people standing on the roof of my office building.

Plus, there's snow in Cleveland. I'm not there, but I'm living vicariously through people's Facebook pictures -- with the added bonus that I don't have to drive in it!

Of people and ice cream

I've been absent for a while, but meaning to return. Today, a few things convinced me that it was time for a post.

Driving into work this morning, I saw a well-dressed man walking on a wall, instead of the sidewalk next to it. He hopped up like a little kid. It was grand.

At the office, a co-worker who I don't know very well rushed over to me excited. She'd overheard a conversation I had yesterday about the opening of Jeni's ice cream here. And what should arrive in the office, but six pints in dry ice?

It's delicious and amazing and wonderful and a little taste of home, of course. But it's the thought, too. And Jeni's opens tomorrow, so now I can go any time I need a fix.

And speaking of fixes, in another sense: I've been reminded in recent weeks and months that I know some really wonderful people. I really have been valuing the time I get to spend with them, and wishing I was closer to -- and therefore got more time with -- others of them. So thanks, people. It means a lot.

I hope they did this on purpose

Kansas and Toto are touring together.

You're welcome.

High places

A former governor just told me he's looking forward to reading my story.

And that's pretty cool.

In touch

I still have a number to get through (some of them to some of you, dear readers), but I replied to several emails this weekend that I've been putting off because I wanted to give them the time and attention they deserved. Aside from the simple sense of accomplishment that one gets from hitting "send" and moving a message out of the inbox, it makes me happy that even through questionable timely response skills, I'm able to keep in touch with people who are meaningful to me, and who are far away (or sometimes close).

And also, work compliments. Being told you're doing well never gets old.

Feb. 14

I brought these to work last week, and gave them away to co-workers and friends. More than the Valentines (which are so cute!), I loved the box they came in. No batteries required! Paper-folding action!

Just wanted to send my love to those of you I couldn't hand a Valentine to, too.

Stay (I Missed You)

I have fond memories of a concert in college where Lisa Loeb played with Dweezil Zappa, and I'm pretty sure I can still sing all the words to Stay (I Missed You). Today, I saw that Lisa Loeb is coming back to town, so I sent an e-mail to one of the friends I went to the show with to see if she might want to recreate our evening.

She replied enthusiastically, which is awesome. Even more awesome? The second person I emailed -- who was at the concert with us (even though I didn't remember that she was there) emailed another friend, who now lives in Texas. I haven't seen this friend in nearly three years -- since her wedding -- but she's going to fly in for a visit and the show. And I'm thrilled to get to spend some time with her, and with this group of people.

Lisa Loeb: bringing friends together.

Because it's time

I've been meaning to write something for a while, but work and life and general bumminess have meant that instead, I haven't taken the time to pull out the marvelous and share it with you.

But it's the last day of January. And I got an email from a friend -- one who means a lot to me, and one whom I always mean to talk to more than I do -- imploring me to update more often. She's right.

I still don't have a lot of time or energy tonight (so that e-mail I've owed for several months -- and the newest one -- will be yet delayed).

But I can share this, from a trip I took earlier this month to a land of snow. It was a friend's first snowman and (hopefully to the delight of the aforementioned friend who wants me to update more often), his name is Nigel.

Enjoy him. We did.

Today so far

This morning, here's what made me smile:

On the radio: "It is Friday. That's when we bust out the Tom Jones."

From the corner of my eye, I saw what I thought was a zebra on my morning commute. Atlanta has a history of zebras, so while surprising, this wouldn't have been unusual -- well, less unusual than a mountain lion. Turns out it was a Hummer painted like a zebra. Which was still pretty great.

And then, a middle-aged man riding a bicycle with a basket, wearing a reflective crossing-guard vest.

(As an added bonus, there was also a man on the sidewalk in a bright pink leg cast. I felt a little bit bad for the cast itself, but love that he chose bright pink.)

Memories

It's Nov. 1, which means everyone who didn't want to keep their Halloween candy has kindly brought it into the office for the rest of us to eat.

This is a strange leap, perhaps, from Halloween, but the candy on the table -- a lone packet of SweeTarts, in the midst of Tootsie Rolls and Tootsie Pops -- has made me nostalgic. In fact, I always get nostalgic when I eat SweeTarts.

When I was in high school, one of my best friends would always buy a long roll of the sugary, colorful candy. They would get passed around orchestra, and we'd put down our bows to pop SweeTarts onto our stands and into our mouths. I don't know that it was ever codified that SweeTarts would arrive on a daily basis in orchestra, but they always did -- even on concert nights, when we were all dressed in skirts and suit pants, and we needed to be much more subtle as we passed the candy around.

I always liked SweeTarts.

I stopped eating them, though, my sophomore year of high school. My friend -- his name is Josh -- was diagnosed with cancer. He died that same week.

I know this is a blog about things that make me smile, and that doesn't sound like something very happy at all. And it isn't. But here's what is: whenever I see SweeTarts I think of Josh. I have to eat them in his memory. I smile as I reminisce about him passing them around orchestra. The candy makes me think of throwing snowballs at stop signs while we waited for the bus, or of movie nights in his basement. It makes me recall his big smile and his infectious laugh and the first time someone called me and launched into conversation without first identifying who was talking. SweeTarts were hard for me to eat for a long time. But now they bring back good memories.

So I'm sitting at my desk, popping SweeTarts, and thinking of Josh. And the fact that so many years later, this little candy can bring back such vivid memories of a person who meant so much to me really does make me smile.

Saturday

Here are some things that are made of awesome

Right now, I am eating a Honeycrisp apple.

My father was quoted on the front page of the newspaper, above the fold.

My sister scored a White House press pass and took photos of the president.

I saw people juggling fire on a church lawn.

And Jens Lekman puts on a really good show. (I like this song a lot.)

Reading time

When I checked my email today, I was temporarily taken aback by a note with the subject "Library Notice." I have a sordid history with library notices and, I thought, I'd been particularly careful to return my books on time. So I was concerned that I'd missed one, and would now have to pay exorbitant fines.

Imagine my relief when the library notice instead was sent to inform me that a book I'd requested -- and didn't expect for another month or more (the waiting list is SO LONG!) -- arrived at my local branch!

So now I get to learn what's next for Katniss and the gang. And while I didn't love the first book as much as a lot of other people seem to have loved it, I am looking forward to seeing how the adventure continues.

Drunken Stool Making

There is so much happiness in my life at the moment.  I am visiting with my sister in Takoma Park, MD, and Sister Love is always a good thing!

Last night, however, was the joy of joys that only a sibling can bring.  My sister and I have a tradition of drinking heavily and watching bad romantic comedies/teen romance movies when we visit.  Last night was no exception!

The best part of the night was in the conversation that follows.

Chrys: Do you have any tools?  I want to put together your stools...
Lauren: Oh!  Yeah! I was planning on putting those together once I got drunk!


My Family is special.
My life is happiness.

Maybe?

This morning, the so-called song of summer (maybe) came on the radio on my way into work. Unless you've been under a rock, you've heard Call Me Maybe pretty much everywhere.

I'm not ashamed to admit that I kind of love this song. But the real reason I love it is this dramatic reading of the song, which I must have listened to at least a half-dozen times.

It still makes me grin so big.

Also! This exists! I haven't listened yet, but I'm way excited about the mix.

Poetry

So, I know the newest U.S. Poet Laureate.

And that's kind of cool.

Also, I'm nerdily excited to tell you that I'm now the proud owner of a library card to the Library of Congress (which is where said poet laureate will set up shop come January). In case you were wondering, despite requiring a photo and a signature, it is not an official government ID.

Playing the blues

On my flight back to Atlanta last weekend, the pilot played harmonica over the loudspeaker while telling us how long we'd be in the air, and how many miles we would traverse.

He was actually pretty good.

Next week

Y'all, it's nearly spelling bee time. And as you know, I really like spelling bees. A lot.

So you can imagine how excited I am to go this year.

Watch the bee! Maybe you'll see me.

On the road

Three vehicles worth noting:

• An open-backed truck, like the ones people use for landscaping equipment, stuffed with helium tanks of various sizes;
• At a construction site near my office, a truck that says WATER TRUCK and underneath it, in smaller letter, NON POTABLE WATER;
• A truck with a trailer full of donkeys (the sides were down, so I could see the donkeys) with what looked to be a handmade, carved bumper decoration that said, "HAULING ASS."

Ode to a Pear

O, pear you are
juicy and awkward, requiring me
to slurp you up
before I chew. I eat you with
a pile of paper towels,
soaked through. Your bulbous bottom
bumps my lip, your tiny stem
evades my grasp, your subtle core
hides beneath pearflesh, a sad surprise
when I bite seeking more fruit and find, instead,
something new. I eat you and think
of Jelly Belly candies, of summer days, of
my mother, who loves the flavors you
imbue. I will not bake you. You are
a fruit to be devoured raw, dripping, sticky,
sweet. O, pear, you may frustrate my desires
to elegantly consume, but pear?
I savor you.

A thousand kinds of awesome

I discovered this blog today, about a month after it ended. It's a similar idea to our little Internet-place, though certainly that one was much more disciplined in the author's daily postings, much more universal in its aim and much more widely read. It even spawned books!

But I'm cool with all that (for so many reasons!). Because now that I've found it, I can link you to 1,000 other reasons to smile.

I've only read three or four so far, but I love the combination of seriousness and whimsy. And the fact that so many of them mention farting.

Smiles all around

I have a big grin on my face for two reasons.

The first is that even though I talk to executives and important people with a kind of regularity, there are still some whom I get excited about. Particularly when they're chatty and friendly and generally jovial. I just got off the phone with one such CEO.

I e-mailed a friend of mine to tell him that the conversation made me think of him, and the response I got made my smile even bigger:

Your email made me smile :)  (well, YOU make me smile, but I settle for email from you when I have to).

He's far too far away (despite efforts to move him closer), so we have to settle for email more often than I would like. But I'm just so glad that we've been able to stay (close!) friends despite the distance, and I'm glad that my grins are contagious.

New friends

My grandfather's a pretty tech-savvy dude. He knew what Skype was before the rest of us did, and was sending me text-to-voicemail messages before I even knew it was possible. I still don't know how to do it.

But he never thought there was any reason to join Facebook, calling it a waste of time.

This weekend, I got a friend request from my grandfather -- who turns 90 this summer. I haven't talked to him yet to find out what changed his mind, but there's something so wonderful about seeing a 1922 birthday on a profile page. So I had to share.

I can only hope when I'm going-on-90, I'm as on top of the latest technology and happenings and whatnot as he is. Wicked cool.

Coffee in Brazil

I have a Fancy New Car -- who has yet to be named -- after Webster valiantly protected me from a collision several months ago.

This new car has many cool things going for it, one of which is satellite radio. Another is BlueTooth. Now normally, I'm not someone who gets all excited about car radios or hands-free technology, or even technology at all, but this morning -- while I was calculating how long it would be until the free satellite radio ran out and I would once again be denied Big Band tunes and commercial-free commutes -- I had an epiphany.

At traffic lights, I fiddled with my phone and with my radio. And right as I got to work, I discovered this: I am able to stream my favorite radio station through my phone and listen to it through my speakers, despite the fact that I'm three states away.

I only got to hear two songs this morning, but they were coffee-themed and adorable. And so I went into work this morning grinning, and humming about coffee in Brazil.

Take a gander

On my way home from work yesterday, I saw two geese. Crossing the street. In a crosswalk.

The first one to get to the curb nibbled on some grass before hopping up and out of the way.

It was predictably adorable.

Also? There's a swath of road on my way home that smells amazing. I don't know what kind of flowers or trees or naturey goodness is planted there, but it's delicious and immersive. So I always make sure to go by with my windows down.

First world problem

I was expecting nice, sunny, warm weather while in Zurich. Instead, it's cold and rainy. Rain can ruin fun. It can ruin plans. Plans like going hiking on a glacier.

I might have to go to Paris for 3 days instead of staying in Switzerland because the weather in Paris is (allegedly) lovely right now, and will be for the next week or so.

Darn.

(Aside: the trip to Paris would be with the boyfriend, and we'd be there on our one year anniversary. Awwwwww.)

Afterlife

It's a sad start to a happy story, but in this column, a Toronto Star reporter met Shelagh Gordon at her funeral. The columnist describes Shelagh's as an ordinary, magical life -- and I think her description is apt.

The writing itself is straightforward and lovely, but it's the person who Shelagh was that is most extraordinary. Because -- pardon me for being philosophical -- it's the person who all of us are. She didn't invent anything extraordinary; she didn't save the world. She just made a difference to a lot of other ordinary people.

And it's the project itself that put a smile on my face. The Toronto Star sent reporters to Shelagh's funeral, and interviewed more than 100 of her friends and family members about her life.

It's ambitious, and difficult, and it could have gone a lot of different ways. But the story it tells is a strong one. It's how Shelagh will live on for her family, for her friends.

There are a lot of thoughts rattling around in my brain about the idea of meeting someone four days too late (as the columnist describes it), or the joy and sorrow of writing about someone after they've died. But I'll leave them to rattle and instead encourage you to read this lovely profile and be your own "good deed doer... tradition keeper... moral compass," or whatever it is you are. And thanks to all of you for the smiles you give.

On pollen

It's pollen season.

If you haven't spent any amount of time in the South, this probably doesn't mean much to you. If you have, you understand that this is a strange thing to make me smile.

But it does, in part -- in large part -- because this pollen season has been worse than any other. The pollen has hit record levels. The pollen is falling from the sky. The pollen isn't just covering cars in a film, it's covering everything in a thick, impenetrable blanket.

And it reminds me of snow.

I'm lucky in that it doesn't make me sneeze and itch and want to be indoors (knock on wood). So I can marvel at the way the wind moves the pollen on the ground, and smile at way it comes down in clouds and feel like I have some semblance of winter, even though it's in the 70s, and no one got any winter to speak of.

Love is in the air

Aside from getting to hang out with an old friend I don't get to spend nearly enough time with since she moved away, this is what made me happiest this Valentine's Day.

They're just so wonderful.

Love to all of you!

Compliments

I worked on a breaking news story yesterday that was unlike what I usually cover, and ended up being on the front page of today's paper. (Woohoo!) That's fun in and of itself -- it's always nice to make A1 -- but the coolest part was when one of the editors came by today to praise the authority with which I wrote and tell me the story worked perfectly for the front. And we have some exacting standards.

On top of that, my immediate editor told me last night that my batting average has been great -- that I come up with good ideas and write interesting things. And that, too, is nice to hear.

And while it's not a compliment per se, I received a really interesting opportunity that I'm taking as one. It's wicked cool. Y'all'll surely hear more about it if it comes to fruition. But for now, I'll just tell you that it made me smile.

Shuffle

Sometimes, it's the smallest, silliest things.

The weather was pleasant this morning, in the high 50s with sun and clouds. And I had my iPod on on the way to work when Elmo's Song followed Annie Lennox. Do you know Elmo's Song? It's sweet and catchy and fun. It's Sesame Street. It just makes you smile. Well, it makes me smile.

That's enough, in and of itself. But then? The coup de grace? A few songs later, what came up but the theme song to Transformers!

As my college roommate (hi!) can tell you, the Transformers theme song is the one that always managed to play (somehow, the randomizer on my music-playing program really, really liked the Transformers) and always managed to play at the most inappropriate times. So it took everything I had not to burst out laughing and/or sing along. (I was on public transportation at the time.)

The book I just finished referenced Optimus Prime toward the end. I wonder if through some kind of music-shuffle-magic the iPod knew and thought, finally, that it was an appropriate time for Transformers.

On foot

I haven't had a car for a couple weeks now, and while it's been frustrating in its own way, there's also some good that's come of it. Namely, by taking public transportation to work, I've had more time to read. I think I've gotten through five or six books so far in January; that's much faster than my normal weekday pace.

It's not the first time I've used public transportation instead of my car, but it's the first time I've done it not by choice -- and the first time for any extended period in Atlanta. Sure, MARTA leaves much to be desired route-wise and otherwise, but I have to admit that I feel a little better about myself for walking to the station and walking to work and maneuvering the lines to still go out on occasion.

Also, taking the train provides me with many more opportunities to get hit on by guys with bottles in paper bags. And those always make for good stories.

My favorite thing today

I've been meaning to post about several things that have been making me happy: unexpected Honeycrisp apples, having options and the ability to make choices, baked goods, delicious chocolate, time with friends, celebrations and making new connections among them.

But for now, I want you to know about this.

It's the latest hashtag-of-wonderfulness, about the Muppets. And Communists. And, just click (on the "this"). It'll make you smile, too.

My favorite that isn't on the list: @owillis: "Just how much of America's tax dollars was used to send pigs to space, sir?" #GOPMuppetHearings

Boys and girls

I'm having way too much fun today learning that I write like a boy. Spoiler alert: I am not a boy.

This comes about as a result of a conversation with a friend, wherein I mistakenly called a male author a her based on writing style. She called me a sexist (it's kind of her m.o.), and then analyzed his writing to find that he did write like a girl. Redeemed!

Since then, I've been putting piece after piece after blog post into the above-analyzer. At best (i.e., most feminine) I write like a weak male. Possibly European.

I'm intrigued.

You can read more about the gendered writing here. And if y'all have long enough samples, I'm curious as to how you write.

Can't complain about their customer service

I threw up on my 2007 Macbook last week. All it affected was a few keys. Apple said, "Sure, we'll fix it, no problem, leave it with us! ..... Oh, wait, it's a biohazard and we won't touch it, so come back and pick it up." Despite this, they still disassembled it... and didn't put it back together properly. When it wouldn't turn on after I got it back, I called and complained.... and they gave me a new 13" Macbook Pro, released a mere two weeks ago.

F-A-N-T-A-S-T-I-C

As those of you who know me know, I'm a gigantic fan of spelling bees. Gigantic. Like, I host a spelling bee viewing party every year. They are so much fun. (Don't believe me? Watch this, one of my favorite-ever spelling bee moments.)

So when my sister texted me to ask if I had any questions for the director of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, I said yes. (Actually, I said, "OMG probably," but is now really the time to split hairs?)

Moments later, my phone rang. Soon, I was on speaker phone, talking to Paige Kimble.

The first thing I asked her? Her favorite word, of course. And if she could spell it.

For the record, it's Ouaniche, and she can. It's a kind of salmon. She always wanted to get it in a spelling bee, but never did.

We talked a little bit longer about why the bee's on ESPN instead of ABC (I shouldn't hold out hope of it going back on network TV), what she likes about the bee (keeping an old-fashioned skill and experience relevant to the modern world) and how the bee is becoming more popular internationally, and at viewing parties like mine. Before I let her go, she asked me what organization I was with, telling me I sounded very professional. (As a question-asker, I should hope so -- that's what I get paid to do!)

And then I squeed a little to my sister, who pretty much knew this would make my day.

Thanks, darling. And thanks, Paige, for keeping spelling bees alive.

For the birds

My sister is back in the country now, but she spent the summer studying abroad, with only sometimes-Internet. As such, getting an email from her was always exciting.

Particularly amusing was this one, which she sent to my siblings, my parents and myself:

So I was sitting outside a cafe for the past few hours and I made this comment, "I feel like a tree." Since there were leaves and pine and things all over the place. Then a bird pooped on my arm, not two seconds later.

Of course, that made me chuckle.

But what really amused me was the subsequent string of emails between family members, where we all recounted our own bird-poop experiences. Mine was at an amusement park and, as I recall, we subsequently went on one of the water rides ad nauseum (although, let's be honest -- we would have done that anyway) until I was comfortable with the fact that it had been rinsed from my hair.

From my brother:

I got pooped on once, too. I was walking to class in the rain and didn't notice til I got onto campus. I tried to wipe it off of my jacket with my bare hand before I realized what it was. That was unpleasant.

And from you?

Of hashtags

Last year (Was it last year? It was not -- it was Dec. 2009!), we brought you the fantastic hashtag #washingtonpostcorrections. Today, I share another: #JerryMealsSaysItsSafe. (You should click that link, if you click no other links in this post.)

Jerry Meals is a Major League Baseball umpire. In the 19th inning of a Braves/Pirates game Tuesday night (that actually ended Wednesday morning at 1:50 a.m.), he made a widely debated call at home plate, saying that a runner who was tagged out was actually safe. That meant that the Braves won the game, and it knocked the Pirates -- who were in first place in their division (and for the Pirates, this is a feat!) -- back out of the lead.

I hope I didn't lose you with that background. Now, angry Pirates fans (and others with a sense of humor) are making lists of other things (Well, OK, click this one, too.) that Meals says are safe, that are as far as far can be from safe.

Some examples:

• WhyteDynamite: Think I may go for a ride in a zepplin this wknd. I've always wanted to look down at Earth and smoke cigarettes. #jerrymealssaysitssafe
• DBergz13: jumping out of an airplane without a parachute cuz #JerryMealssaysitssafe
• uncleyucki: Playing Russian roulette with a fully loaded gun. #jerrymealssaysitssafe
• hamsandcastle: An island full of dinosaurs in captivity? Count me in! #jerrymealssaysitssafe
• jesslag: Gonna cross these mountains with my new friends the Donners #jerrymealssaysitssafe

There are more about Casey Anthony as a babysitter, Amy Winehouse's drug ingestion, playing in traffic and condom use -- among other wonderfully inappropriate things.

Read. Giggle. Enjoy.

Not only is it not June...

But it's almost not July, either!

So I must tell you, briefly, that I had my first Sunday front-page story. Which is a big deal! And as cool as that is, you know what's even cooler?

The fact that when I told my brother I had a Sunday front-page story, he went out and bought the paper.

Brothers can be cool sometimes.

I'm gearing up for another wedding blitz, so I'm sure there will be many smiles about.

And y'know what else? August brings visitors to Atlanta. I'm excited to see you guys, loyal readers, you.

Of golf carts

Once a month, it seems, I remember I have a blog.

Today, I recall its existence to tell you about golf carts.

The humble golf cart has provided me with many moments of joy, key among them adventures in Southern climes with a dear, dear friend.

Today, I saw a truck filled with golf carts -- like the trucks you see on the highway full of cars, that defy the laws of gravity by how they stack them. Yes, that. But golf carts. It was so amazing.

(The Internet is not helping me find pictures of said wonder, but apparently there is a trucked-up version of the golf cart. Seek for yourself!)

Those of you who are loyal readers (hello, fellow once-a-month posters!) know that one of our own is to wed next weekend. I'm also thrilled to be a part of the festivities. (And, last weekend, to have participated in the nuptials of another good friend!)

And to close: a shout-out to parentheses, which have helped me greatly today in my writing, and in my life.

See you in June!

Not a robin red breast

Apparently, the area I live in has bird feeders about. This morning, as I walked toward my car, I saw a cardinal feeding at one.

There's something about cardinals that just makes me happy. They're so vibrant and bright and vaguely cartoonish with their mess of red feathers that they immediately add color to a day. On top of that, they're also the state bird of Ohio, so they remind me of home.

Breathe out

It's been a rough week, but I wrote a story about the future of video stores today that I'm really excited about, and proud of.

Y'all should read it.

Beer and Running. Who could ask for more?

This past weekend, I completed my first ever Half_Marathon. It was AMAZING!
It was also my first time traveling with my co-workers, my first time to Virginia Beach, and my first time smiling at the end of a race. Yay!!!!

Again with the eggs

I have a friend, who just arrived in the country after a jaunt overseas, call to tell me that she smuggled in my favorite toy.

And that she avoided the bathroom for the entire flight. If you know me (and presumably, most of you do), you know why I find this so amusing.

Also, the weather this weekend was gorgeous. I got to see a friend unexpectedly. I have out-of-state journeys planned. And a new haircut that I'm adoring.

30th Birthday

So, Today is a great day. I ran 11 miles at a 13:16 average pace - Yay!
Also, the Disney Princess Half Marathon in 2012 will be on my 30th birthday. So I will be going to Disney! Yay!

Birthday Fun

It is my birthday! This is enough reason to post, but even more happy is all the birthday wishes I have recieved. I know so many awesome people, and it makes me happy.

In Mother Russia.....

Flight to Moscow, Russia, from JFK: $373 (inc. all taxes/fees!!). (That price alone is enough to warrant its own blog entry.)
Tourist visa: $100(??).
Hostel for 6 nights: $100.
Impulsively booking a spring break/birthday vacation to a country you've always wanted to visit: priceless.

That happy feeling

Two completely disparate things to mention.

For one, I came into the office today to find a box of Smurf-themed Kinder Eggs that a friend had left on my desk. And that is a reason for joy like no other.

As for the other? I'm working on a story now that's taking slightly more time to write than I wish it would. But as I'm putting it together I realized that I'm quoting the same people who, a couple weeks ago, appeared in The New York Times.

And the fact that they were just as willing to talk to me is a pretty cool thing.

Also, it's been far too long without a bike messenger sighting. Too much time in the 'burbs will do that too you, I suppose.

Wedding Happiness

I ordered Tiaras for my sister and I for my wedding. My sis will be wearing hers more like a headband since I am the only one who is allowed to wear a legit tiara.

He speaks the truth

It has been far too long without an update. My apologies, on behalf of all of us. It will still be long between updates, but at least I can tell you a couple things:

• My sister has come to visit. We've been exploring Atlanta and Georgia, including her new favorite place: Babyland General Hospital. They're thinking of building an amusement park.
• It's snowed here, too. It even stuck. A little.
• I met a Santa Claus who keeps every list children send or hand him, and scrapbooks them. He could not explain why.
• I flew in the Goodyear Blimp. And it was awesome, like a boat ride in the sky.

It's hardly everything, but it's a few things. And maybe you're still out there, looking for joy.

Arrgh, mateys

While searching for the post office this afternoon, I passed a business that had several flags flying out front.... including the Jolly Roger (albeit at half mast). It was pure wonderfulness.

It has been FAR too long without an update here! Has nobody had anything pleasant in their lives??
In the spirit of the previous post: today is 12/11/10. Does that make anyone smile? Hopefully?

In other news, I walked out of my apartment yesterday and encountered a still, muffled silence. No cars on the highway, even. It was sublime, in an otherwordly way. Then I realized it was snowing, and that made it even better.

Dates

Today is 8/9/10 and this makes me immensely happy.

Summer Colds

No, it is not Summer Colds that bring me joy. They, in fact, tend to bring me the opposite of joy, and this particular cold is no exception to that rule.

What HAS brought me joy via this cold, however, is my fiance. Throughout this weekend, as I have been a mouthbreathing snotty mess, he keeps starting to ask if I am okay, as I am often a mouthbreathing snotty mess after running away to cry without him knowing.

The fact that he notices and the fact that he told me several times that he keeps worrying because he keeps thinking I am upset brings joy to my heart. Yes folks, the crazy and capricious Chrys has found a keeper.

Of food trucks and other joys

The sun is shining, the grass is green and Cleveland now has food trucks.

We've had hot dog stands on many downtown corners for quite some time, but this is different. Not only is it something I can eat (street food + vegetarian friendly hadn't previously been the case), but there's a bit of mystery in where the truck will be on what day, and whether it can be found.

Earlier this week, I tracked down the first truck, an Asian-inspired one (though my menu won't convince you that's the case) where I had delicious gazpacho, tater tots, a veggie taco and a sushi push-pop. Yum.

There was bright, beautiful graffiti near where it was parked, and a gentleman with a long gray braid down his back on the trolley I took over. Another word about the braid: it petered out so slowly, and at the end, was simply several strands that must have wanted to stay together.

Canadian radio

This isn't the first time I've extolled the virtues of the music from our neighbors to the north. But it has been a while. And two things about CBC radio made me smile the other day.

First, there was the commercial that -- instead of telling me something was on at 8/7 Central -- told me the programme they were discussing was on at 8/8:30 Newfoundland.

There's also the matter of temperature. Driving home with my windows down and the sun beating the temperature well into the 80s, I hardly expected to hear the forecast tell me tomorrow's high would be 28 degrees.

How apropos

I promise I haven't disappeared entirely, and will reappear with more frequency in the not-too-too-distant future. In the meantime, I give you this job announcement. I love the correlation of names to job titles (and in my head, yes, it becomes undertaker -- which is more appropriate, true, but go with me here).

National Underwriter Life and Health: Bill Coffin has been appointed Editor in Chief of National Underwriter Life and Health, he was previously Director of Publications at the Risk and Insurance Management Society.

Man, do I rock!

Guys, check it: it wasn't a fluke! I got another award, though I don't know what yet.

Also, my editor told me a story I turned in today -- that I've been working on, off and on, since February (let's be honest -- mostly off) was "wonderful." And that makes me even happier.

It's a pretty fun story. You should totally read it.

Public Service Announcement

I'd like to take a moment to tell you how much I love the Internet, and the wealth of information available therein.

You can now go back to your regularly scheduled programs.

I searched on the Internet

For April Fool's, Google replaced its name with Topeka's. This image from the press release amused me to no end -- proper uses of the new company name. I particularly like the last one.

The Census

One of the best parts about my last job was the fact that I got to write about Census data as it came out -- how much the county was growing, whether there were more minorities in a particular city, etc. And although that's something I find interesting, the true reason it was exciting was the hold music.

You heard me right -- the hold music. As noted here, the Census Bureau records facts and figures about Americana and plays then in lieu of tunes when you call their answer line.

Fascinating and funny, it always made me happy to be put on hold.

Icelandic humor

Certainly, the volcanic eruption and subsequent ash cloud that stopped airline travel across Europe this month wasn't funny. But some of what came out of it was.

For example: This story about Iceland's reaction to the eruption (after all, it is their volcano) has a couple jokes in it that made me chuckle.

My ability to post them has been somehow compromised by uncooperative technology, but it's certainly worth a read.

Of April

I certainly didn't mean to neglect the spreading of joy in April; it was certainly a very joyful month. In brief, some things that made me smile:

I went to the wonderful wedding of a wonderful friend, had a mini-college reunion and met several of the bride's friends, all of whom are fantastic. I ate a lot of delicious Austin food, snagged a Nancy Drew Mad Libs and found a pretty snazzy gift for my sister and a good friend. Eventually, they'll go in the mail.

I learned my parking attendant's name. It's Ray.

I went to the Cleveland Orchestra with friends. The orchestra is amazing. Severance Hall is beautiful. And jaunts to see Avenue Q and August: Osage County were similarly (if separately) fantastic.

I used the word tintinnabulation in a story. I scooped the competition in another (big) story, and the big bosses noticed. I managed to start a running joke, of sorts, that's made it into the paper three times now. It has also garnered me many pens and left me amused.

I reconnected with an old friend. I spent some quality time with an older friend. I had super, if all-too-brief, moments with more recent friends who went out of their way to say hello.

I hope your Aprils were as sunny.

Floating flag

I ventured to beautiful Avon, Ohio this morning. You may know it as the home of Duck brand duct tape (they have an awesome duct tape festival each year; I learned how to make purses and wallets and spread duct tape joy when I went a couple years ago), but that has nothing to do with why I was there.

Why I was there isn't important. What is important is that on the way home, I saw an American flag blowing gently in the wind. Alone, this is not an unusual thing to see. What made this flag different -- dare I say special? -- is that instead of standing tall on a pole, it was suspended from a construction crane that was holding it high above the earth.

I kept looking for the pole. It was pretty cool.

At the movies

Last week, the Cleveland International Film Festival came to town. It was a pretty intense affair with some fantastic movies that I saw and many I did not.

I got to go to the opening film and a series of shorts, in addition to a normal evening movie after work. And although it wasn't the best movie that I saw, the best part of the festival was the chance to go see an hour-long film at lunchtime. There's just something wonderful about going to a midday movie that makes you feel like you're playing hooky in a wonderful sort of way.

Next year, you should follow suit.

Again with the fog

No pictures for you today, but I will tell you that the fog this afternoon was subtle. It was as if you woke up bleary-eyed, without your glasses, and rubbed your eyes against the blur. It made bridges fade into nothing, as if they were Photoshopped away. It gave the air a certain brightness.

It also felt as if you were walking into an industrial freezer upon stepping outside: that cold blast, sustained, the air unmoving, an eye-opening chill but not an unpleasant one.

Family

So, Today, I had visits from extended family. The family of Arielle. That is all.

A foggy day in Clevelandtown

Perhaps I have already mentioned my love of fog. Yesterday was a magnificent day -- because it started out foggy and ended up sunny and beautiful.

This foggy image arrived in my e-mail box this afternoon. It's Progressive Field, where the Indians play, as coated in clouds. Apparently this guy took it. You can also see a fogless shot on his page, but what's the fun in that?

Not like the goat

I got called a "good kid" today. While perhaps I should have been less than thrilled, instead it caused me to giggle.

The seven deadly

I used the phrase "cardinal sin" in a story I wrote today, and wanted to check to make sure I was using it properly. A Google search led me here on Wikipedia. Which made me very happy.

Ookk

I got to use the word "bookkeeper" in a story last week. Bookkeeper is one of my favorite words since some Encyclopedia Brown story (or something) that involved a discussion of words that had consecutive repeating letters. See: roommate, balloon. But few have three.

Using bookkeeper led me to peruse this Wikipedia page. Careful: may be addicting.

Hello, sunshine!

The best part about winter is that it begets spring. And this past week, spring arrived -- at least for a little while.

This means bright sunlight, melting snow and people wearing shorts and short sleeves. Broad smiles. Windswept hair. Drinks on patios. It's awesome.

I ate lunch outside the past few days, sitting on the stoop of my building with a book. This evening, I managed to spare a few minutes for an art walk -- something much harder to convince yourself to do if it's an art trudge. Yesterday's warm weather inspired a trip to Coventry and some super conversation.

You Southerners -- with your 70-degree Marches -- may think we're crazy. But I'll leave you with the weather report from the college radio station this morning:

"Exceptionally warm... 63 degrees... unbelievable!"

And that pretty much sums it up.

Snowman

He was on a main stretch of road and had a red scarf, carrot nose and stick arms. But the best part? Resting in his stick arm -- on his snow hip -- was a bottle of Coca-Cola.

If that's not a Coke commercial in the making (or is it one already?), I don't know what is.

Optimism

On the back of a truck for a cleaning service:

Vehicle makes frequent stops... hopefully!

It was also decorated with pictures of Leprechauns flitting about.

In the news

Two things to share with you, both from New York Times stories this week.

This, from a story about the new Olympic sport ski cross and its competitors, had me laughing loudly: "Others included Richard Spalinger of Switzerland, whose hobbies were announced as football, anger management and bowling."

And this, sweeter, is from an obituary of a guy who created a number of magazines. The quote is from his wife: “Would you say he was a strong outdoorsman? No, but he tried everything,” Mrs. Welsh said. “His whole motto was, ‘Life should be lived like a cavalry charge.’ ”

More about the snow

I realize it gets mentioned a lot, but it is omnipresent. So.

Over the past week, the snow has looked like flaked glass chips, confetti and grated Parmesan cheese. As well as plain old snow.

And when I had a visitor from Southern climes last weekend, he humored me by walking outside and saying, "Hey! It's snowing!" every time. (And yes, it was.) I had been lamenting the fact that my Southern friends got snow and were excited about it, while everyone here seems to be pretty much all snowed out.

It is a lot of snow.

So much so, in fact, that I got stuck in the driveway last week. My friendly neighbor pushed me out. So I made chocolate chip cookies in return. Yum.

I'm rich!

Cleaning out my wallet today, I discovered $40 tucked between receipts. And that's awesome.

Zebras

Thanks to Andi (and later, a string of amusing Facebook updates), I was tipped off to this tale of a zebra run amuck in Atlanta's streets.

Alone, this is amusing. But what makes it fantastic is the fact that this is the third zebra story to come out of Atlanta in as many years.

Take the case of Evidence, who was found grazing on the side of the highway, or Barcode, who was zebra-napped as a college prank. Something about Atlanta calls for zebra freedom, it seems.

What would you name your zebra? I think I would alter a friend's idea slightly and go with Red.

Snow flakes

Rumor has it that the Eskimos have many words for snow. It's certainly true that there are a plethora of ways a snowfall can manifest itself.

This afternoon, the snow was coming down in one of my favorite ways: as individual flakes. So when they landed on my black coat, I could see the different shapes and compare them to each other. No two alike, indeed.

Look, up in the sky!

There's just something so wonderful about the Goodyear blimp hanging over the skyline.

Black and white and read all over

First, a little bit about me.

I am not a morning person. I always mean to wake up early enough to take the bus to work, where I can leisurely read the paper, but then I do not. Instead, I drive to work.

But I still want to know the morning's news. And since there are many traffic lights on my commute, I read the paper on my way in. Mostly when I'm stopped at said lights, but so as not to lose my place, I drive with the paper in one hand, in my lap, where it sometimes flops over the steering wheel. This is how I arrive most mornings.

I work in a building without a parking lot, and frequently chat with the guy at the block-away lot whom I pay each morning to watch over my car. Mostly, it's just a good morning, but sometimes we wish each other happy weekends or talk about traffic. Or he warns me that I really should get up early enough to take the bus because there's some concert or game and the cost of the parking lot will go up tremendously the next day. I like him very much for giving me these warnings. We also occasionally laugh at the other drivers who slip on the ice when they get out of their cars. But that's just because people falling is funny, as long as they aren't hurt and they aren't you.

But this morning, I was a little nervous. You see, I was going to be on the radio to discuss a story I had written. And while I knew what there was to know about my story, I wanted to be well-informed about the stories the other guests were discussing, too. So while the paper was on my lap as I drove in, I was not reading it so as not to clutter my mind with information that would not be useful for on-the-air.

Of course, then, it's today that parking lot man chooses to tell me: "I love how you're always reading the paper."

I laughed, and told him it was the only time I had a chance. And wished him a good day.

It eased my pre-radio jitters.

Orange you glad?

I was walking into work yesterday when a guy holding his lunch passed me -- a container of pasta in his left hand, an orange in his right.

And as he walked, he tossed the orange up and down, again and again, into the air and back to his hand.

It looked so effortless. I would have dropped the orange.

You got the right one, baby

Someone had drawn a large winking smiley face, in red marker, on the back of a Pepsi truck I drove past the other day.

I'm a Coke loyalist, but it was still pretty cool.