If You're Happy And You Know It...

....Then SMILE a lot!

Hiya, Friends!  Happy Saturday to you!  I know today's Saturday.  I sure do!  And it's gonna be a GREAT day! 

How do I know it's gonna be a GREAT day?  Well, the sun came up.  That's kind of a big give away that it's gonna be a great day, just the very fact of it being another day.

Now, I know that every day isn't conventionally "great."  I know things can go wrong and leave ya wondering why you got out of bed in the morning.  Things like that happen, but you know what makes the day great just the same? 

You get another one tomorrow, if you're lucky. 

But today's gonna be a great day because it's Saturday.  It's unlimited in its potential for Saturdayness.

So, Friends, if you're happy and you know it today, smile a whole lot! 

I love ya, Friends!  I'll see ya tomorrow!  Muah!

When Life Hands You an Ice Block...

...You should totally lick the ice block!

Hiya, Friends!  You know that old saying "When life hands you an ice block, you should totally lick the ice block!"  I've been thinking about that old saying a lot since the weather started getting warmer.

You mean that isn't a saying at all?!

What's that? ... You've never heard that old saying, and you think maybe it isn't an old saying at all, but it's just a messed-up sentence of messed-upness?

Well, that's no fun!

Licking a block of ice is really lame!

You're right, though.  It doesn't ring like a saying.  Sayings have a ring to them, don't they?

That stinks.  I'm kinda glad that "when life hands you an ice block, you should totally lick it" isn't a real saying, Friends.  I'm glad, because it really isn't fun to lick a block of ice.  It doesn't taste like anything.  Not even a popsicle.  And your tongue kinda sticks to it.

I've decided, Friends.  When life hands you a block of ice, definitely do NOT lick it.  I don't know what to tell ya to do with it.  I guess you could use it to keep your lunch nicey cool.  That'd be a good use for it. 

Yes.  That's it, Friends!

Just don't let anybody talk you into sticking your tongue on the block of ice, Friends!  Solid advice from your pal Zoe!

No-Trip JetLag

I have the jet lag, and I didn't even go anywhere!

Hiya, Friends!  Is anybody else havin' a hard time remembering what day of the week we're on this week?  Usually, on these magical Mondayless weeks, I'm pretty good about remembering which day of the week it is, but somehow, over this last extended remix weekend, I got all mixed up on what day it was, right the heck over the weekend, and as a result, I don't know what the heck day it is today, without really sitting down and puzzling it through.

You see, it all started on Friday.  Usually, I have custody of my Daddy on Fridays.  On Mondee, Tuesdee, Wednesdee, and Thursdee, Daddy pretty much just sees me for a few minutes before he goes to work and then again for about an hour at night, before I go to bed.  That really stinks, and I LIVE for Fridays with Daddy!

But last Friday, Daddy had to go to a meeting at the time he regularly starts work, and then he went somewheres to pick up something for one of the cars, and he didn't even get home in order to put me to bed!  I had to listen to Mommy read me my bedtime stories, and that just isn't right, because it's Daddy's job to read me my bedtime stories, and I didn't like the change at all!

Then Saturday felt more like a Friday, really.  We went to Corning to pick up some stuff at Sam's Sandals Club, and we ate and went to Lowe's to buy some plants, and then we went to Friendly's, and I thought we'd never get outta there.  But Saturday had a Friday feel to me, just the same.

On Sunday, I got to see Aunt Colleen and Uncle Lorentz, which was great fun, but because they usually come up the ol' ding-dang on Friday nights so I can see 'em on Saturdays on the weekends they're here, but this time, they didn't come up UNTIL Saturday, so Sunday really had more of a Saturday feel.

Monday, I didn't know what dang day it was.  I knew Daddy had to work on Tuesday, but we still stayed over at Gramma's late on Monday night, just like there was another day hooked onto the weekend, which there wasn't, so imagine my surprise and confusion when I woke up on Tuesday, and things were trying to be all normal.  I don't even know where yesterday went, so don't ask me. 

I'm guessing today's Thursday?  Which means my weekend starts again at the end of today.  That's great!  I love my weekends!  Maybe I can get back on track from the No-Trip JetLag I've been experiencing all darned week this week.  I don't know.

I do know that I love the heck right outta ya, though, Friends!  And I'll see ya tomorrow, whatever day that is!  Muah!

Plannin' Ahead for Senior Pictures!

Zoe E. Blake, Class of 2030!

Hiya, Friends!  As the annual Graduation Season approaches, I feel compelled to think into the Future, when I'll be attending school. 

Well, most specifically, I find myself drawn to practicing for my senior pictures.  Everybody else in the world my age is thinkin' about their alphabet, and potty-trainin', learning their colors, counting, this thing called 'working together,' you know, things like that, gettin' ready for when they START school.  But it's my firm belief that it's even more important to think through and rehears your Big Finish.

I know I have lotsa time.  My senior portraits won't be taken until the summer of 2029.  I know that sounds like a long ways off, but I don't wanna have my eighteen year-old self immortalized forever in a doofy pose, or wearing lame clothes, or sporting crispy bangs (I'm talking to you, Mommy, and other people who graduated in the 1990s.)

Senior pictures are a really big deal!  I mean, of COURSE I'll learn to use the potty (when I'm darned good and ready, everybody!)  Of course I'll learn to get along with my peers.  I already know a good portion of the alphabet, I can count up to twenty, and I'm workin' on collecting all the numbers and ways to reckon them, I'm good to go on my colors, and really, by the time I get to school, they'll have changed their minds on how I'm s'posedta add and subtract and multiply and divide numbers again, so I'm not gonna wanna hafta spend a buncha my time learning my own way when I'll be re-programed when I get to school.

But nobody teaches you how to take a good Senior Picture, Friends.  There aren't any classes on how to pick the right outfit so you don't look like a dork.  There aren't any classes that teach you how to pose and hold your face so you don't look like a derp forever in your senior yearbook.  That's why I'm practicing so diligently now, while I still have 15 years to get really good at it. 

Being epic doesn't just happen, Friends!  You've gotta wanna hafta work for it!  I love ya lots, and I'll see ya tomorrow!  Muah!

The Company 0K!

On one lap, I pretended to mow the lawn!

Hiya, Friends!  How was your Memorial Day weekend?  Didja do anything fun?

You know, I'm a fitness nut.  I just go nuts for fitness, and recently, I had the opportunity to put my fitness nuttiness to good use when I participated in my company's 0K.  An 0K is like a 5 K or a 10K, except we don't really travel any kilometers.  Many, many meters.  But if we called it the Company 850M or whatever, people would think it was a sprint event, which isn't what we're about. 

Basically, what we do is pace ourselves as though we're running in a 5K or a 10K, but we don't go a whole K if we don't wanna.

Then I took one lap really seriously.  Look at me runnin'!

0Ks aren't for everybody.  For instance, serious runners and serious athletes.  That sort of person would not find a 0K very amusing, I think.  I think they'd be sorta bored.  And that's really all right, because the thought of runnin' in one of their "real" races really intimidates me and my ilk.

Yeah, that's right.  I have an "ilk."  It's a real word!  It means my kinda people.  When I first heard the word "ilk," I thought somebody forgot to put the "m" on "milk."  But then I did some investigatin' in the dang ol' dictionary, and found out what it meant, and I've decided to adopt the word "ilk" as my very own.

Always remember to smile at the finish line!

One of these days, I'm gonna organize an Ilkshake, and it'll be when lots of my kind of people gather in one spot, and we DANCE!  And then we'll all drink milkshakes for refreshment.  If you wanna come to my Ilkshake, Friends, I'd love to see you there!  I'll get back to you on the day and time!  How about that?!

So anyway, I did have a lot of fun participating in the Company 0K.  I didn't win or anything, but I had a lotta fun during the journey, and I smiled at the finish line.  Always remember to smile at the finish line, Friends, no matter what.  There's always people there with cameras at the finish line, and you don't wanna be remembered, looking like somebody hit you in the butt with a lemon!  Even if ya finish in last place, you still finish, and that's a reason to smile!

Have a great day, Friends!  I love ya lots!  I'll see ya tomorrow, mmmmkay?  Muah!

Remembering Those Who Paid Our Bill

Freedom isn't free. Remember who paid our bill, Friends.

Hiya, Friends!  Today's Memorial Day.  I won't say "Happy Memorial Day!" or anything like that, because I don't think that's very appropriate. 
I was looking through my Big Board Book of Holidays, and was surprised to learn that Memorial Day was not created just to have a day where people can eat potato salad and shop at stores offering deep discounts for the day. 

I understand there is some confusion over Memorial Day and Veterans Day, and I am happy to clear up that confusion.  You see, Memorial Day is a day upon which we remember those who died while serving, while Memorial Day celebrates all veterans.  Does that mean you can't tell a veteran thank you for his or her service on Memorial Day?  Absolutely not.

I've been told that sometimes for Big People, remembering hurts, and today, veterans will be remembering their friends who never came home.  Even if it has been years and years, it's bound to be a hard day for those veterans.  I don't think that those of us who've never been where they've been can really understand what they went through, or how they might not feel like they're the lucky ones who got to come home to celebrate Memorial Day.  I don't think we should even try to pretend to understand what those veterans are feeling or thinking today.

What we CAN do, Friends, is if they have a story to tell, we can listen.  If they don't want to talk about it, we can not press them to.  If they want to eat potato salad, make 'em up a plate and sit next to them at the picnic.  Or don't sit next to them if you're a person who bugs the living daylights out of them.

And we can certainly, CERTAINLY thank the veterans we see today for their service.  There are three hundred sixty-five days a year.  There are only a handful of days each year set aside for us to specifically think about, remember, and honor those who have served so our way of life is possible.  We should be saying "Thank You" to them, every chance we get, Friends.  We really should. 

So.  Have a good Memorial Day.  Thank the veterans you see.  Hug the ones who'll take a hug.  But please remember that Memorial Day is about far more than a three-day weekend, sales, and picnics.  Please remember that. 

Freedom isn't free, and today's the day we need to remember those who paid our bill.

Let It Go! Let It Go!

I didn't make the cut, so I'll hafta Let It Go, Let It Go! I won't hold on any longer!

Hiya, Friends!  Recently, I tried out for my company's VoiceIdolXTalent competition.  It's like any number of singing-competition shows you watch on your television. 

I sang a medley of popular tunes and I think I really did a bang-up job, but the "judges" said I oughtta try a tune with some handles on it so it'd be easier for me to carry it.  I thought that was uncalled for, but I do accept that there are better VoiceIdolXTalent contenders in my company. 

For instance, the Little Giraffes banded together and formed... well, they formed a band.  And they're really good.  Pidgie McDougall can yodel like she's from the Swiss Alps.  Good for her!  The entire Accounting Department did this whole acapella thing.

I will say that I was excessively nervous during my audition.  I was nervous that the "judges" would say something like I needed a tune with handles on it so I could carry it easier.  And then it came true.  I still haven't decided whether I think I couldn't sing very well that day because I was so nervous, or if they really were onto something. 

Either way, I'm lettin' it go.  I'm not holding on to my sour feelings toward the "judges" in the audition.  I reserve the right to use "air quotes" every time I speak about the "judges," but I'm not holdin' on to any more ill feelings toward them.  I know I can sing pretty well.  I sing to Rozzie all the time, and she doesn't bark at me.  That's something.  I can sing along to the music in the car, and Mommy and Daddy know what song I'm singing, so that's something. 

Those "judges," anyway.  At least I was brave enough to put myself out there like I did.  I don't see any of those "judges" doing anything ever, except bein' all judgy.  I mean, I guess that's what they do, but I like a little more well-roundedness in people. 

Oh, well.  Hey, I'm gonna go play on my swing and slide, so I'll see ya tomorrow, Friends!  Sing like nobody's listening!  I sure will be!  Muah!

Chocolate Bunny Tale

Nothing stands between me and my chocolate bunny, People!

Hiya, Friends!  You know, recently, my Mommy and I had an altercation over my chocolate bunny retrieval methods.  You see, Mommy was storing my chocolate bunny in the center of the kitchen island. 

I realized I could get to that delightful confection.  I realized I could climb up on my step-stool and hitch my leg up and over onto the counter, and that chocolate bunny could be mine, all mine.

I mean, it's mine anyway!  Aunt Colleen and Uncle Lorentz got it for me.  Nowhere on the card did it say that Mommy was the boss of my chocolate bunny, but somehow, she decided she is the boss, and I'm tired of it.

I'm sorry to report that my act of independence was not the sweet success you'd think it would be.  Mommy saw me sitting on the counter and got all... well, you've probably met my Mommy.  If it weren't for over reacting, she would never react at all.  I did some time for my efforts at chocolate bunny retrieval, Friends.  I did some time, sitting on the couch, thinking about what I did.  And it changed me.  I was released from my time-out cagier, wilier.  More focused. 

Hear me on this and hear me good, Friends: Nothing stands between me and my chocolate bunny, Big People.  Nothing.

Daddy'n'Me

I love this fella right here, Friends.  I love my Daddy!

Hiya, Friends!  Happy Friday!  Hey, have I ever told you how much I love bein' with my Daddy?  It's pretty much a whole lot. 

You know, everything about Daddy fascinates me.  His job, for instance.  My Daddy's a DENTIST.  His office is one of the coolest places I've ever been.  Plus, there's the neatest toys there, by golly!

And my Daddy takes me for rides in the sassy cars.  When Mommy and I go places, we ride in the Grocery Getter.  Daddy lets me ride in the style befitting me.  That really means a lot to a little kid!

Plus, I just think Daddy understands me.  Us brown-eyed people need to stick together, and Daddy really understands that. 

So I'm really glad that Daddy is my Daddy.

I hope you have someone who understands you as well as my Daddy understands me, Friends.  I really do!

I'm In Trainin'!

Couch jockeyin' isn't as easy as it looks!

Hiya, Friends!  I'm in trainin'.  I'm trainin' to be a couch jockey!

You know, watching the Seahorse Derby the other day really inspired me, but Mommy won't let me ride horses.  She says I'm too little, and that Daddy's allergic. 

I can't help but wonder if Daddy's horse "allergy" is anything like my lobster dander "allergy."  Yeah, I've pretty much figured out that the reason I can't have a pet lobster of my very own is because Mommy doesn't wanna deal with the hassle of a pet lobster.  It isn't because I'm allergic to lobster dander.  Lobsters don't even have dander!

So anyway, since I can't ride a horse, I've decided to be a couch jockey.  There's still an element of danger, which I like, although the couch doesn't go as fast as I wish it did.  I can still use my imagination.  In my imagination, I can ride that couch faster than any horse, by golly!

But I've still got to train.  Train and practice, practice and train.  So I'll be seein' you tomorrow, Friends!  I love ya lots!  Muah!

There's A Rainbow, and I Can Read It!

Mind=Blown.  I LOVE Reading Rainbow!

Hiya, Friends!  How's this Wednesday treatin' ya?  Are ya havin' a great day? 

Hey, at least it's Wednesday and not Monday, amIright?

You know what I did?  I recently discovered an application for the dang ol' iPad that's called "Reading Rainbow."  I asked my Mom to download it for me, and it has a buncha BOOKS I can pick from.  Then, the application reads those books to me!

Yeah!  Each book has a different voice that reads to me.  Sometimes, there's SOUND EFFECTS!  And MUSIC!  How cool is all that?

Then, when I've read a book a buncha times, and I wanna return it, I just send it through the "return" slot and pick another book.  I can pick books I've already read, even.  A favorite of mine is called Shoofly Pie!

It's really great, Friends. I love everything about the Reading Rainbow application.  I love the idea that I can read a rainbow.  Friends, this reading stuff is just great!  I really think I'm gonna like it!

Mindin' Our Ps and Qs

Apparently some of our department's work has been sub-par lately.

Hiya, Friends!  Sabretooth and I are doing some bookwork today.  We're working on our Ps and our Qs.  Our boss told us we'd better mind our Ps and Qs, so that's what we're doing. 

We're not exactly sure what happened recently.  I mean, lots of things happened, not the least of which being that they ran out of the approved pens for filling out TPS Reports just as everybody in our department ran out of ink.  It didn't happen all at once, but it happened close enough together in a time-frame. 

We thought it was better to fill out the TPS Reports using other pens, indigo ink instead of blue ink.  We thought it was the filling out of the report that was more important than the ink itself.  Apparently it's all about the BLUE ink. 

The whole argle-bargle kinda opened up our curiosity over what, exactly these TPS Reports are for, though.  We've come to assume it's busy work for us, and I don't think it's not busy work, but it's apparently busy work that is rendered completely useless if the ink used on it is two shades darker than the "approved" ink.

What.  Ev.  Er.

So today, Sabretooth and I are gettin' over bein' bawled out for using the wrong ink, even though we had a good reason for so doing, and we're minding our Ps and Qs. 

Here's to Tuesday, Friends.  Sheesh!

My Lost Weekend

I don't know where those days went!

Hiya, Friends!  Have you ever had a lost weekend?  Well, that's what the heck happened to me. 

Maybe not so much the "lost" part.  I remember everything about the weekend.  I just don't know where all the time went.  It was so hectic that my show over on the Facebook just didn't happen on Saturdee or Sundee. 

On Saturday, I felt like that song that goes "I've been everywhere, Man!"  I really was everywhere.  I started out at my home, then I went to a place called St. Marys, then I went to another place called Dubois, and then we followed the Interstate across to Lock Haven, took another road into Williamsport, ate at a dang ol' Ruby Tuesday, then headed back up the ol' ding-dang on 15.  It was my twelve-hour trip, it was!

Yesterday, I helped Mommy and Daddy with our gardening.  We're gardening now.  And I'm a helper.  I almost rolled down the bank in front of our house, headfirst, but Mommy grabbed the back of my coat and dragged me back up.  It scared me!  I was mad at Mommy!  But she said she'd rather I was mad at her and safe than that I tumbled down the bank head-first.  I guess she's right.  I will say that black plastic sheet-mulch is really slippery, and I feel like that could serve me well come summertime if I can get five minutes with the hose and it.  I'm thinking a homemade Slip'n'Slide.  That's what I'm thinkin'.

So that's my lost weekend, Friends!  I wish I could say that I get to rest up during the week here, but it's like the crazy Olympics here this week.  Something happening every day of the week, all the way until next Monday or Tuesday.  So let's hold on and go on this ride together, Friends, mmmmkay?  I love ya lots!  See ya tomorrow!  Muah!

To Be This Fabulous

This doesn't just happen, Friends.  It takes work being this fabulous.

Friends, as you know, I do my shopping at Little Kid Gourmet Grocery Store. ... What's that? ... Yes, they went and put in a sushi section and a premium hot bar where you pay by the pound for prepared foods, so the Little Kid Grocery has re-branded itself with the Gourmet in the signage now.  It musta cost 'em a FORTUNE, but hey.  Whatever makes the wheels on their shopping cart go around, that's what I say.

Anyway, while I do my shopping at Little Kid Gourmet Grocery Store, I quite often get flagged down in the aisles and asked how it is that I look so fabulous even when I'm just doin' the dang ol' shopping.  They ask if it takes a lot of work. 

I'll tell you what I tell them, Friends.  Yes, it does take some work to be as fabulous as me, but it isn't difficult.  It just takes some effort.  For instance, insteadda goin' to the store in any ol' thing and calling it a day, I always, always put on my pink marabou and some sequins.  Also, a little flower clippie in my hair also adds that extra little fabulous touch!

So you see, Friends, it DOES take some work to be this fabulous, but it isn't impossible for anybody.   Sequins, marabou, and maybe a little flower in your hair.  Always, always, always a smile.  You can be fabulous, too, Friends!  You sure can!

I love you lots!  And I'll see you tomorrow!  Muah!

The Seahorse Derby

Oh, I hope Deep Sea Doodle wins!

Hiya, Friends!  Happy Saturday to you! 

Today, I'm watchin' the Seahorse Derby.  Have you ever heard of the Seahorse Derby?  It's a lot like the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness and the Belmont Downs, except it's little seahorses doin' the racing.

I bet you didn't know that seahorses are delightfully competitive little creatures, but it's true.  They love to race each other.  And their jockeys are sea monkeys.  It's all very exciting.

It's also exciting because I have a case of Vitamin C lollipops ridin' on this race.  I bet on a seahorse named Boots-n-Pants, one named Deep Sea Doodle, and  I also put a few lollipops on a seahorse named Landbiscuit.

What's that?  You frown on toddler gambling?  Well, I've got news for you, Big People Friends: It's only gambling if you lose.  Ha!

Awwww, heck, Friends.  It's all in good fun.  All in good fun!

I love ya lots!  I'll see ya tomorrow!  Muah!

It's Friday! I Go Nuts!

It's my favorite day of the week and I'm hopped up on sugah!

Hiya, Friends!  Do you know what today is?  It's my favorite day of the week.  I mean, remember my post from yesterday where I ranked my favorite seven days of the week?  Friday won, remember?  And today's FRIDAY!

I realize that I may sound as though I'm all sugared up with no place to go, and if you think that, you would be right.  I was at Gramma's yesterday, and we made cupcakes.  Yellow cupcakes with chocolate icing and sprinkles.  I got to eat two of them at Gramma's house, and then I got to eat another one last night before I went to bed at my house.

I'll tell ya what, I had dreams of sugarplums dancing next to a maple syrup river in a candycane forest.  And I liked it.  So much sugar, I ate.

And today's Friday, so things just cannot get any better for me today!  I hope you're day's just as great!  I sure love the heck right out of you!  Muah!

Zoe's Top Seven Days of the Week.

Happy Thrilling Thursday, Friends!  Put on some crazy socks and celebrate!

Friends!  Can you believe it?  It's THURSDAY!  I, for one, am THRILLED!  Thursdays are the threshold for Fridays, which are the gateway to the weekends!

I believe I've mentioned before that I try to appreciate each day of the week for what it is, even Mondays, but I'm just a human bean, just like you, Big People!  I have my favorites.  We all do! 

My favorites tend to fall at the last part of the week, every week.  Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and to a lesser degree, Sunday, tend to be when I get to do special stuff and go on adventures. 

I realize that four-sevenths of the week are among my favorites, but that isn't so unusual, considering that I have a list of my Top Seven Days of the Week.  In fact, why don't I share that list with you, in countdown fashion:

#7.  Coming in Seventh Place is Monday, of course.  Sometimes, Monday is known to me as "Magic Monday," sometimes it's "Manic Monday," and other times still, I call it "Meh Monday."  The thing about Monday is that even if it's a holiday like Memorial Day or Labor Day or Columbus Day Observed, Monday always signals the end of the party and the beginning of business.  It's really too unpredictable to earn any higher a place on my Top Seven list than Seventh Place, but at least it made the list at all.  I coulda just decided to ignore it and not make eye contact with it, hoping it'd go away.

#6.  Not surprisingly, Tuesday wins sixth place honors in my Top Seven list, narrowly beating Monday by a mile, and being narrowly edged out by Wednesday.  Tuesday is complicated for me.  It's kinda the beginning of the week, kinda the middle part, but not really the middle part.  Depending on how bad a Monday was, you can wake up on Tuesday thinking it's Wednesday, and realize that it's only Tuesday, and at that point, you're really gonna hafta wanna cry a little bit.  Tuesday is kinda hard to define.  Tuesdays can be really busy days, with lotsa stuff being scheduled on 'em, and that can be good or bad.  Tuesdays are known as "Taco Tuesday," "Takeout Tuesday," or "Tuesday, Why Aren't You Friday?"

#5.  Wednesday narrowly edged out Tuesday, but only because Wednesdays are known as "Hump Day," and Joe Camel visits our office.  I usedta not like Joe Camel and I'd hide in the ladies' room when he'd come through the office, announcing it was Hump Day, but in the time elapsed since our first meeting until now, I've gotta say, I'm not just a friend of Joe Camel, I'm a fan, and I like to honor Wednesday with #5 honors in his honor.

#4.  Sunday.  What?  Yes, Sunday falls at Number 4.  This was a difficult call for me to make.  I sort of wanted to put Sunday at #6, because Sundays are usually the harbinger of doom for the weekend, but on the other hand, there's a lot of room on Sundays for me to adventure with Mommy and Daddy.  Daddy doesn't hafta work on Sundays, so that's a bonus.  Daddy DOES hafta work on Mondays, so that took points off'n Sunday's score.  I mean, when Monday is a day off for everybody, Sunday can take on an almost Saturdayish vibe, without the hustly bustle, but still, those are not ordinary weeks.  So my #4 rating stands. 

#3.  Thrilling Thursday is my Number 3 choice, for all the reasons I mentioned above.  There's really nothing more for me to say about it!

#2.  Saturday.  Are ya surprised?  Well, there's not much space between #2 and #1 for me, really.  It's practically a tie, but Saturday's in the second place spot just because Saturday's kind of it.  Everybody knows that Saturday's gonna be awesome, and it IS.  I LOVE Saturday, but it's already the toppa the mountain. 

So that brings me to my Top Choice for my Top Seven Days of the Week:

#1.  Friday (Sorry for stealin' your thunder, Thrilling Thursday!  Happens to the best of us sometimes!)  Friday wins because on Friday, it's usually really fun at school or work.  The whole weekend stretches in front of you.  It's like a little slicea Christmas Eve every week.  It's like bein' inside the big ball on New Year's Eve, before it drops.  That's Friday.  That's why it's my favorite day of the week.

What are YOUR top seven days of the week, Friends?

I love ya lots, and I'll see ya tomorrow!  Muah!

Planes

I think of myself as a moving animated pictures connoisseur!

Hiya, Big People!  How's your Wednesday going for you so far? 

Have I talked to you about my favorite movie?  Have I mentioned it?  Well, in case I haven't, it's the movie Planes.  It's about a crop-duster that races against racing planes around the world. 

Really, it's a classic underdog story.  There's humor, a little romance, a little intrigue, lotsa lessons to be learned, and a satisfying ending.  A little something for everyone, when you get right the heck down to it. 

It's an animated film, which is to say it's a computer-animated cartoon kind of thing.  It doesn't matter.  I know that in real life, in every vehicle, there's a soul like those personified in the Planes movie. 

I love it because I like rootin' for the underdog.  I like it because Dusty Crophopper is a loyal friend.  I love El Chupacabra.  I wish my nickname was El Chupacabra.  I wish I were a racing airplane like Rochelle. 

What I'm saying is that the Planes movie lets a little kid dream.  I think that's what I love so much about it. 

Give it a look, Friends!  You might just find out that you like the Planes move, too! 

I love ya lots, Friends!  I'll see ya tomorrow! Muah!

It's Tuesday the 13th!

It's traditional to dance on Tuesday the 13th!  Kick up those heels!

Hiya, Big People!  Guess what!  No, I'm not gonna count down how many months until Christmas there are.  Not today.

No, what I'm going to talk about is that it's the Thirteenth.  Tuesday the Thirteenth!  That means it's time to DANCE!  It's tradition!

Or, it'll be a tradition if we all start dancing on Tuesday the 13th!  Let Friday the 13th be a day of superstition.  Tuesday the 13th has brought its dancin' shoes!

You don't hafta do any specific dance for Tuesday the 13th.  Any dance will do, even FREESTYLE!  That's doin' whatever ya want!

The only requirement is that it makes you smile.  How about that?!

I'd talk more to ya today, Friends, but I want you to get all you can out of your Tuesday the 13th dance party, so I'll let you get to it!  I love ya lots, no matter what day it is.  Remember that!  Muah!

What a Weekend!

Friends, the weekend was so awesome I'm wiped the heck out!

Hiya, Friends!  Happy Monday!  Didja have a great weekend?  I sure did!  Today, I'm WHIPPED already, though!  I mean T-I-R-E-D, Tired!

It all started Thursday night.  I went with Mommy and Daddy to a car show in Wellsville, and ate dinner at my Chinese Buffet. 

Friday, I wound up going to get some planting supplies.  Mommy and I are gonna have some flowers and food growing!  We aren't exactly Farm Queens, but we'll be Farm Princesses, or maybe Farm Ladies-in-Waiting. 

Ummm... Even that sounds like more commitment than Mommy and I are really giving to this venture.  How about Mommy and i are a coupla girls who live in the country and we're gonna grow a few carrots and pumpkins and some different kindsa flowers?  How does that sound?  Not nearly as exciting or catchy as Farm Queens, but it's more accurate.  I accept that we're startin' small.

Saturday, I got to see Aunt Colleen and Uncle Lorentz, and that was a LOT of fun!

Yesterday, we did landscapin'.  We started puttin' our farm plants into the ground.  I think that's what tired me out so much.  Workin' outside is HARD WORK!  It'll all be worth it when we have flowers-n-food.

But right now, I think I'm gonna hafta wanna curl up on the couch.  Chillax and such.  So I'll see ya tomorrow, Friends!  I love ya lots!  Muah!

Happy Mother's Day!

I wasn't up to anything, I swear!  Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day, Friends!

It doesn't matter if your kids are kids or furry kids or pet rocks, if you're a Mommy, I'm sendin' Happy Wishes your way today.

For my Mommy, I think what she really wants to do today is spot me slidin' on my slide and then she wants to take me to get donuts and cupcakes.  I think that's the kind of thing Mommy lives to do. 

Then I think I'm gonna make her dinner, all by myself.  We're gonna have Tic-Tacs.  I Mommy loves Tic-Tacs!

Have a good day, all you Mommies out there!  Happy Mother's Day! 

Muah!

I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings!

I can leave any time I wanna!  See?

Hiya, Friends!

Hey, have you ever seen one of these?  It's an x-pen for a dog.  For my dog, in fact.  I'm in Rozzie's x-pen.

But I don't wanna leave right now!  Ha!

The x-pen reminds me of a cage a little bit, Friends.  I mean, it has bars, and a door.  No top on it, but it isn't like I could really climb up the walls, even if I wanted to.  The bars are little, and spaced too close together for me to get a foothold.

I feel safe and cozy right here!

Heck.  If I wanted out that badly, I could just use the door.  Whatever.

I love hanging out in Rozzie's x-pen cage, Friends.  It reminds me of a birdcage.  Like on the cartoons.  When I'm in Rozzie's xpen, I like to pretend that I'm Tweetie Bird and Rozzie's Sylvester the Cat.  I can sing and sing when I'm in the cage, and Rozzie-Sylvester can't get me!  How about that?!

Rozzie doesn't think much of it.  I think it's pretty fun, though.

That's how I know why the caged bird sings, Friends.  The bird can see out, but the cage keeps it safe from cats and dogs whose kids are pretending they're cats, which is pretty confusing, but not really, if you don't overthink it.

Don't overthink things, Friends.  The caged bird doesn't overthink.  It just is.  Hahaha!

I'll see ya tomorrow, Friends!  I love ya lots!  Muah!

Spring in the Bing

Winter's finally packed up and moved on, Big People!

Hiya, Friends!  Well, I didn't think it was gonna happen, but it did.  Spring has finally come to my town.  I went to Gramma's yesterday for my Day of Play, and when I came home, our yard had been mowed.  That's how I know we've finally arrived in Spring.  Fresh-cut green grass.  One of my favorite smells!

I'm really excited, because Spring means car-shows and playin' on Seymour the Swingset, and eatin' ice cream in the gazebo after supper.  Spring also means I get to pretend-drive the cars when I want to, and I also get to see Aunt Colleen and Uncle Lorentz more often.  The wintry weather tends to keep us at home and it tends to keep them at home as well, but now that it's Spring, we get to see 'em more often! 

Now that the warm weather's here, Friends, let's put on our sunscreen and get the party started!

I'm gonna go start on that right now.  I'll see ya tomorrow!  I love ya lots!  Muah!

Dismay

Dismay come as a surprise to you, but I LOVE learnin' new things!

Hiya, Friends!  You know what?  I've learned a new word, and that new word is "dismay." 

Dismay is a really versatile word.  Observe as I use 'dismay' in a buncha sentences and prepare to have the impressed knocked right outta ya!

1. Dismay come as a complete shock, but I don't always get along with Mommy!

2.  Dismay, I'm on track to attend more car shows than I did last May.

3.  It's my goal for dismay to read all the Amelia Bedelia books ever written, ever!

Oops.  So I've misunderstood what "dismay" means.  Oops.

4.  Dismay not be a very good idea, tryin' to put this sweater on the cat...

See?  It isn't often you get a word that's as versatile and fun to say as "dismay." 

What's that? ... No, I'm pretty sure I understand the meaning of "dismay" just fine.  It's so versatile!

Oh.  It means "sudden disenchantment."  I see.  Well.  Dismay ruin my whole entire thesis of this post.  Darn it.

Well, you know what I say, Friends.  When you find out your whole thesis is ruined, just walk it off and go have some hot cocoa.  That's what I'm gonna do now.  See ya tomorrow!  Muah!

Marshmella Madness!

Oh, hiya!  Are those marshmellas I see on your tray?

Hiya, Friends!  Did I ever tell you how much I love marshmallows? 

Well, I do love marshmallows.  They're right up there with donuts and cupcakes for me.  Marshmallows can be kept right in the cupboard, though.  You know, in case of an emergency.

What type of emergency can a marshmallow help, you ask? 

I'd really love a coupla marshmellas to call my own, please!

I'll tell ya. 

You know how it is when you want something sweet, but you don't have anything sweet, and you think you're gonna flip right the heck out and just eat lumps and lumps of brown sugar just to have something sweet to eat?  You ever feel that way, friends?

This is more like it!  A marshmella for each hand!

If you have ever felt that way, you'll understand the emergent nature of such an emergency.  Ideally, you'd have a cupcake or a boxa donuts around to eat in such a situation, but it isn't always practical to keep cupcakes or donuts around all the time.  It's kind of invitin' trouble, if you know what I mean, Friends.

That's where marshmallows come in handy.  They're easier to store than cupcakes and donuts.  They keep longer.  They're portable, so you can fill up a zipper-bag full of marshmallows and go.  You can roast 'em, you can toast 'em, you can eat 'em right outta the bag.

And you can always put marshmallows IN cupcakes and donuts.  Whoa.  Marshmella Madness, indeed, Friends!

Happy May the Sixlet-th!

Whaddaya mean I don't have anyplace to go today?

Hiya, Friends!  You know, I've had an eventful last few days, startin' pretty much with all last week, and today, Tuesday, May Sixth, leaves me with not a lot to do except sit around with Mommy at home. 

Boo-hiss to that!  Boo-hiss right the heck to that, Friends!

I'm a girl on the go.  A mover and a shaker!  A bon vivant! 

Plus, when I'm on the go, I don't hafta take naps.  When I'm home, it's pretty much a certainty that I'm gonna find myself napping in the middle of the day.

I don't care what you sleep-deprived Big People have to say about it.  It STINKS havin' to take a nap in the middle of the day! 

Of COURSE I can figure out how to make today a special occasion!

Plus, after so much activity all last week, it's really a let-down to find myself so bereft of places to be today. 

Even yesterday was something sort of special.  Cinco de Mayo.  Even if I really don't have any reason to celebrate it.  I mean, like I said yesterday, I love a good underdog story as much as the next little kid, but the whole Cinco de Mayo thing still baffles me.

At least it was SOMETHING different from the norm.

Happy May the Sixlet-th, Friends!

That's why I decided to make today Something.  I'm calling it May the Sixlet-th.  You see, I have me a treasure-trove of those delightful candies called Sixlets, and today's the Sixth, so it's the perfect day to eat those Sixlets!

It isn't much, but it's something to make today kinda more special than your run-of-the-mill, plain-Jane Tuesday.  That's got to count for something, Friends.  I'm tryin'. 

So here's what I wantchya to do today, Friends: go to the store and procure yourself some Sixlets, then enjoy 'em.  That's how we're all gonna celebrate May the Sixlet-th together, even if we aren't together actually.

I love the heck right out of ya, Friends!  I'll see ya tomorrow!  Muah!

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Kick up your heels- or just one heel if that's easier!  It's Cinco de Mayo!

Hiya, Friends!  Hey, didja know today is Cinco de Mayo? 

Back when I was a little kid, I thought it was "Sinko the Mayo," a holiday on which ya put your mayonnaise (in the jar!) in the sink.  I never understood what the point of that was and I was happy to find out that Cinco de Mayo is a holiday that commemorates the Battle of Puebla, in which the Mexican army beat insurmountable odds as well as the French army in 1862 and sent the French packing right the heck out of Puebla. 

I don't know about you, but I like a good underdog story, and I'll take any holiday that could get me some Mexican food.  I love Mexican food!  So I love Cinco de Mayo.  That's how I'm gonna celebrate those underdogs winning their battle over a hundred and fifty years ago, Friends.  I'm gonna get a burrito!  You can get whatever you like.  Just have a great day, mmmmkay? 

I love ya lots, Friends!  I'll see ya tomorrow!  Muah!

Zoe Noodle!

Do you think I'd fit in with the Noodles if I had noodly hair?

Hiya, Friends!  Well, if you know me, you know how much I love Sesame Street, and I love to see what kindsa things the Noodles get into.  You know, Mr. Noodle, and his brother Mister Noodle, and his sister Ms. Noodle, and his cousin Miss Noodle. 

They're kind of goofy, but they seem really nice, and it's been my fondest dream to be accepted as part of the Noodle clan if I could be.  I didn't know how to go about it at first, but then finally, it struck me that I oughtta make my hair all noodly, so that's what I did. 

Do you think the Noodles will accept me as one of their own if my hair's noodly?  I suppose they can't anymore than say no.

If they DO say no, I guess I'll just keep on bein' me.  Nothing wrong with me the way I am. I'll just be my own thing.  I don't know... Zoe... Something.  I'll figure it out. 

I love ya lots, Friends!  I'll see ya tomorrow, mmmmkay?  Muah!

Super Saturday!

Why, yes, I love Saturdays!  Do you?

Hiya, Friends!  Happy Saturday! 

Well, I finally got all the pineapple cut up for yesterday's Company Luau.  Took forever, though.  It was all worth it, once those Tiki torches got lit up, though.  Once I heard that dang ol' conch shell trumpet, I forgot all about how tedious a chore it was to cut up all those pineapples with a butter knife. 

No, we aren't havin' another Company Luau today.  Those occasions are special.

Today's special all on its own.  It's Super Saturday, Friends!

And doin' the hula just made everything all better.  It really did.

So that was the Company Luau.  Seein' Sabretooth in a grass skirt was worth the price of admission. 

But that was yesterday, and this is today. 

Today is Super Saturday!

Super Saturday is a day built for adventure.  I hope you have a good one all lined up!  Or if ya need to just relax, that can be your adventure.  Just make this Saturday super, mmmmkay?  You won't be sorry you did. 

I love ya lots, Friends! I'll see ya tomorrow!

The Company Luau!

So the company's havin' a luau today.

Hiya, Friends!  Well, it's Friday, and what am I doin't at the office today?  I'm cuttin' up pineapple for our annual May Second Luau, but they gave me a plastic butter knife to do the cutting with, on accounta me bein' a "little kid."

Friends, have you ever tried cutting up a PINEAPPLE with even a reg'lar butter knife?  The kind that's made outta metal?

It's tricky stuff, isn't it?  You bet it is!

Now, for a moment, imagine yourself cuttin' up that dang ol' pineapple with a plastic butter knife.  Do ya think it's very effective?

Plastic butter knives hardly even cut through butter!

No.  The answer's no.  It isn't.

I don't even know why I said I'd do the pineapple for the luau.  Do you know what I wanted to do?  I wanted to make leis for the luau.  Correction: what I really, really, REALLY wanted to do for the luau is run the fire-knives during the big luau song and dance number.  I really wanted to be a fire-knife dancer and dance with fire-knives, but the people around here won't even give me a real knife to cut up the extremely difficult to cut up pineapple with, so do you think I was given the time of day when I inquired about dancing with the fire-knives?

Actually, I was.  I was told that it was past my naptime and I was escorted to my office and instructed to take a nap because obviously my lack of sleep was making me delirious, thinking that they'd let me run the fire-knives at the luau.

I'm never gonna get done, Friends!  Do you know if Dole delivers fresh cut-up pineapple to PA?

Well, phooey on them, anyway.  Wanna know what I did while I was napping?  I had a dream that not only did I get to dance with the fire-knives during the luau, but I also got to use an actual knife to cut up the pineapple for the luau, and I'll tell ya what, it made the job about a zillion times easier that way, having a better knife, and it being a dream and all.

Friends, I hope the company luau gets to goin' a little better than the preppin' for it has gone.  Nobody wants to be the luau loser, but at the rate I'm goin' that's gonna be me.  I love ya anyway, Friends.  I'll see ya tomorrow!  Enjoy your Friday!  Muah!

May Day! MayDay! May! Day!

Got any May Day plans?

Hiya, Friends!  Well, it's May Day all over again!  The First of May.  Five-one-fourteen.

I think we oughtta dance!

Good golly, it seems like it was yesterday that we were ringin' in the New Year, and now we're already on the First of May.

Do you have any plans for May Day?  Are ya doin' anything special, Friends?

In my Big Board Book of History and Traditions, I read that it's a tradition to leave little baskets of flowers on your neighbors' doors on May Day.  The thing of it is, where I live, it's so cold that any flowers left on my neighbors' doors would freeze pertineer solid, I think.

All is not lost, though, Friends!  I decided insteadda puttin' flowers on people's doors, I'd WEAR flowers and BE May Day.  How about that?! Even if I say so myself, that's clever.  Clever as all get-out!

It's good to laugh on this May Day, Friends!

Another tradition I read about is that people usedta dance around a Maypole for May Day.  I misunderstood this tradition as "dancing around with maple," and thinking like I do, my mind immediately went to dancing around while enjoying maple candies.  That's the version I'm choosing to stick with, Friends.  May poles sound pointless.  Maple is delicious.  You decide, Friends.  Pointless or delicious.  I think you know I'll side with 'delicious' every time!

There you have it, Friends!  There's May Day for you!  I'm sure happy that the weather's gonna wanna hafta warm up pretty soon.  It's good to be here on May Day! 

I love ya, Friends!  I'll see ya tomorrow!  Big hugs and kisses!  Muah!