Poppin' the Bubbly!

No, I'm not too little for the bubbly!

Friends, I know I have a lot of favorite things, and I understand that my enthusiasm for my favorite things can get tiresome to some types of people.  To those people, I offer my sincerest apologies, but I'm not gonna change me.  Nope!  It's just how I am, and I like me this way.

So with that being said, allow me to converse about one of my favorite things: celebrating!  I love to celebrate the big and small alike, things like Major Eating Holidays, birthdays, Sabres wins, excellent checkups at my doctor's, finding my other pink cowgirl boot, cleaning up my office, learning a new word, learning a new color...

Well, you get the idea, Friends.  I love to celebrate.  And when I celebrate, I love to pop the bubbly.  That's right.

What's that? ... I'm too little for bubbly?  You think I'd drop my fancy bubbly glass and break it?  You're surprised I even like it, because it tastes like fizzy vinegar?

 Oh! We were talkin' about two different bubblies!

 

Friends, what are you talkin' about?  You don't taste bubbly, and even if you did, and I'm not saying I did, but maybe I did because how else would I know, but if you tasted bubbly, you'd find it tastes like plastic, not fizzy vinegar. Furthermore, bubbly doesn't come in a fancy glass.  It comes in sheets, and is usually wrapped around breakable stuff we get in the mail!

... Yeah!  I'm talking about bubbly wrap!  What are YOU talking about? ...  Champagne?  Oh, I see your original point, then, Friends.  I AM too little for champagne, and that's okay with me.  I probably wouldn't like it very much.  I like the crackers they served up at Dr. Frank's, though, while my Big People were tasting champagne.  They were good crackers!  Nice 'n' hearty, like I like 'em!

Anyway, since we're now on the same page, I'll continue talking about how I love to celebrate by popping the bubbly.  I grab a sheet and just start pinching the little bubbles.  It's so much fun to hear them go "POP!" but I also like to feel the pop between my fingertips.  It's always kind of a surprise, when each little bubble finally decides to just go POP!

 

 

Whether you celebrate with your bubbly or my bubbly, celebrate everything in life, Friends!

I think that's what adds to the festiveness of the bubbly, Friends!  You just never know when it's gonna POP or go "WOOOOHOOOOO!"  You just never do!

Celebrating makes life a lot more fun, Friends.  Have you ever noticed that?  It does.  So here's my thing.  Whether you celebrate with the bubbly you Big People drink, or you celebrate with bubbly wrap like I do, the important thing is that you should celebrate everything in life, mmmmmkay, Friends?!  There's a lot to pop the bubbly over!  There really is!

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

Practicing Gratitude

Just taking a pause and being grateful!

Hiya, Friends!

Well, whether you know it or not, I'm a lucky kid.  It doesn't matter, really, whether or not you know it.  What's important is that I know I'm a lucky kid.  And I do.  I'm grateful for my life and all the wonderful people, puppies, and Little Giraffes in it. 

So, I've been practicing gratitude.  You know, acknowledging how good I have it, not taking it for granted, being thankful for my life and everything that I have.

It feels really good, you know, Friends.  It's a lot like counting your blessings.  When you're listing off all the good things, it's impossible to be all grumbly, because you realize even though you thought there wasn't much to be thankful for, as it turns out, there's LOTS to be thankful for!

It's easy, once you know how, Friends!

I guess what started all this Attitude of Gratitude is that I recently had some more responsibility heaped on my at work.  If you follow The Daily Zoe on the Facebook, you'll know what I'm talking about.  Besides doing The Daily Zoe, and the rest of my job responsibilities, now I'm also a traffic reporter.  I hafta report the traffic.  In a way, it's exciting, but in another way, it's kind of irritating.  I mean, how many times can you say "Be on the lookout for heavy Amish activity in the area of the 1013, and slow down and watch for Motorcycles  and deer along the 1010?"  I realize things might get more interesting come winter, but nobody's ready for winter, even me and my neat purple coat, and the traffic reports are just one more thing.

But then I step back and think about what it is that's really got me all tied up in knots.  It isn't the traffic report.  Not really.  I think it's that doing the traffic reports seems like such a daunting task, and I'm afraid I'm gonna mess it all up.  I think that's what's got me bothered.

So I'm doing what I do when I get to feeling Stuck like this, Friends.  I stop and think about things.  I drop whatever I'm doing (or put it down carefully if it's something breakable!).  And finally, I just practice being grateful!

When you're grouchy, stop, drop, and practice gratitude!

I guess you could say it's kind of a take on the old "Stop, Drop, and Roll!"  If you substitute "Practice Being Grateful" out and sub in "Get on a Roll, Being Grateful!"

I'll need to workshop the wording, before I go putting any of that on a poster, Friends.  I realize that.  I know it.  The important thing isn't slick wording or bold graphics, though.  The important thing is just counting my blessings, being grateful for all of 'em. 

Think about it, Friends!  Do you need to Stop, Drop, and Get on a Roll, Being Grateful?  If you do, come along with me!  We'll practice together! 

Even with gratitude, practice makes perfect! How about that?!

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

When Someone You Love Wears Something You Don't

I don't know what I'm sorrier about...

Oh, boy, Friends, have I ever let my mouth get me in a dilly of a pickle.  I think I've mentioned before how Toddlers tend not to have that wall between what we think and what we say, the way most Big People do. 

Okay.  Here's what I did.  My friend Rhoda came to work the other day looking like she got dressed by riding a zipline through a clothesline.   

You know how much I love Rhoda, and how very little I can internally filter what I say, so I blurted out "Holy camel Rhoda, whatcha got on your body?  Didja get dressed in the pitch DARK?!"

I felt bad, the minute it came outta my mouth.  I did, Friends.  And unfortunately, Rhoda felt bad the minute it came outta my mouth.  I mean, the outfit was truly awful.  It did nothing good for her.  But I don't know if I shoulda said anything.

I was so sorry. 

Thing of it is, I was not sure what I'm sorrier about: saying what I said, or that Rhoda wore that awful outfit the other day.

...Saying what I said or that Rhoda wore that outfit.

No, I know which.  I'm sorry I said it.  I really am.  When you love someone, it isn't worth offending them, even if your aesthetic sensibilities are offended.  Deeply offended. 

I realize that now, Friends.  I do.  After the fact.  Or maybe I realized it during the fact.  The point is, Friends, it's really important to make sure that wall between what you think and what you say is really strong, and that the door in that wall is a real door and not a curtain.  That way, you can think what an awful outfit or hairdo that is, but you DON'T say it!  Or maybe if you think you're being helpful, suss out whether or not you think your friend is really proud of their outfit first, before you offer up any constructive criticism.

Wait.  I have a better idea.

Yeah, Rhoda and I are friends again. And I learned a lesson!

Instead of offering unsolicited sartorial advice, wait for them to ask.  If they ask "How do I look in this?" or "How do you like my outfit?" then maybe it's okay to say something.  And even then, maybe you oughtta say "How do you think you look?" or "How do YOU like it?"  And if they say "I think I look great!  This is an awesome outfit!" and it isn't exposing things that hadn't oughtta be exposed, or your friend isn't in danger of being a danger to herself or others, maybe the best thing to do is just smile and say "You are my very good friend and I love you!  Now let's go get donuts."

That way, you don't even run the risk of hurting your friend's feelings.  And someday, in the future, if they see a picture of themselves in the outfit, or maybe they see themselves in a different mirror, and they say "Why'd you let me go out looking like that?!" you can just smile and say "You are my very good friend and I love you!  Now let's go get donuts.  I'm buyin'!"

That's how I'm gonna handle the sitch next time, Friends!  As for me and Rhoda, we're okay again.  There were some words said, some tears shed, and lotsa huggin'.  But we're better.  We're heading out for some donuts.  And Bambinoccinos.  I'm buyin'.  So I'll see ya tomorrow, Friends!  I love ya!  Muah!

Win, Lose, or Draw

I'm drawing "Vacation" for my team.  I drew the Alps!

Hiya, Friends! 

I work in a great office.  We have a Fun Committee here at The Daily Zoe (oddly enough, I didn't get picked to be on the Fun Committee, but I'm not holdin' grudges!)  and the Fun Committee got the GREAT idea to have a Win, Lose, or Draw tournament!  Boy, was it ever fun!  I love to draw, and I love to win!

The fun thing about a Win, Lose, or Draw tournament is that you really get to see different sides of your co-workers.  For instance, I had no idea my friend Penelope the Pink Giraffe had such a competitive streak!  Or that Sabretooth is quite a drawer!  I knew he could throw a T-shirt like it's his job... maybe because it is... but I had no idea he can DRAW!  And Pinky is a great guesser!

"IS IT AMBULANCE?! SAY IT'S AMBULANCE!"

With a lineup like that, you would think that my team woulda been unbeatable, but we didn't win the tournament!  Really!  It's okay.  I'm not overly disappointed.  The game just wasn't with us.  We just had trouble getting all on the same wavelength, if you wanna know what really went wrong. 

Well, for instance, I had "Vacation" on one of my turns to draw.  So I drew a BRILLIANT Alpine scene (in the picture above), with the Alps, and a lake, and skiing, because everybody thinks of "Alpine Vacation" when they think of "Vacation," but apparently not my team!

They guessed Shark Teeth, Jaws, Can Opener (?!), Candy Corn, and TPS Reports.  I could kind of see that one.  When Management runs our TPS Reports, sometimes the graph the data generates makes kind of an Alpine-looking line.

None of us still knows what the heck the TPS reports are getting at, though.  We all just admire the shapes the graphs make.

We didn't win the tournament, but we got to keep our markers!

Back to the Win, Lose, or Draw tournament, though.  Now, when EmmaLee was drawing, I coulda sworn she was drawing Ambulance.  She drew a box, with a spiral going around and around it, and the box had wheels, and a light on top of it.  So I kept shouting "AMBULANCE!!!" and wondering why EmmaLee didn't stop drawing and everybody say "Yay, Zozie!"

It turned out that EmmaLee wasn't drawing Ambulance at all.  She was drawing Triscuits. 

I'm still scratching my head over that one.

Oh, well!  It was fun just to play the game!  It was fun just to get to be in the tournament, and even though my team didn't win, we DID get to keep our markers!  That's better anyway, because you can't write on walls with a trophy!

Wishin' on the Sun!

Anybody can wishupon the Sun.  It belongs to all of us!

Hiya, Friends!  Well, you know that song called "When You Wishupon A Star?"  I have my own thing I do.  I wishupon the Sun!  It's true!  And technically, I'm still wishin' upon a star, because I read on the World Wide Web that the Sun IS a star!  How about that?!

Anyway, when I wishupon the sun, this is what I wish:

When you wishupon the Sun,
You will have a lot of fun!
Even when the sky is gray,
The Sun shines through!

I like to imagine that instead of me singing it, a cute little cricket in a tophat is singing to me.  That just makes it all the more wonderful, wishin' upon the Sun.  

Or, if the cute little cricket doesn't show up, there's always a butterfly or two to sing to me.  Butterflies have BEAUTIFUL voices, Friends.  If you've never had the opportunity to hear butterflies sing, it's really a must-do before too awful long.  I highly recommend it!

I love ya, Friends!  See ya tomorrow!  Muah!

Winter's Coming...

I hate to be the one to bring this up, but...

Heya, Friends!  I know nobody likes to think about it, but Winter will be here soon.  There's even a whole show on TV that warns 'Winter's Coming...' and it's all ominous and such, but I bet if those people had cold-weather gear like we have today, they'd be like 'Wahoo!  Winter's coming!  Where's my toboggan -n- snow skis?!'

Speaking of, I've recently come into a brand spankin' new winter ensemble.  My rookie year, I didn't need a coat so much, because I rode around in my Space Capsule and had a cozy that covered me right up.  Man, that Space Capsule was GREAT!  It had a hard shell that made me feel safe inside it, and the inside was all cushy, and there was a handle, so my Big People could carry me around!  Aw, man, was that Space Capsule ever great!  I was really sorry to outgrow that!

...Winter's Comin'....

But outgrowing the Space Capsule meant I got to get new winter duds, and I went around in a fleecy polar bear outfit, or the "Zolar Bear," as it was affectionately called around here.  I'm not sure but what the Zolar Bear will still fit me for chilly days when I need a little something, to keep me warm.  I'll hafta see.  All's I know is that Mommy said that now that I'm a Walker, and I walk places, I need something to keep me a little warmer.

So I got a Purple Eskimo Coat!  And silver snow-pants!  It's really a snappy combination, Friends!  It really is!  It has a hood I can pull up or push down.  It's faux-fur-trimmed.  It has a neato patch on the arm.  There's lotsa pockets for me to hide treasures in!  And it's really warm! 

I'm ready for it, though, Friends.  Are you?

Right now, it fits me in three-quarter-length.  I guess I'm gonna get taller over the next coupla years, so it'll eventually fit me more like a parka, but for right now, I have myself a nifty and super-warm car coat!  It makes me feel all fancy, all Fifth Avenue!

Now, in the pictures, you'll see I'm still wearin' my rainbow sandals.  I think they go with my new coat great, but Mommy says I'll have toecicles if I wear those sandals in the winter.  So I picked out a pair of boots to wear in the snow and cold and slush.  They're cute like armadillos are cute, in that their primary mission isn't so much to be cute, as it is to keep my feet warm and dry.  I respect 'em for that.  They're not the flashiest shoes I have on my shoe tree, but they'll sure get the job done come Winter!

I hafta admit, I'm a little excited for the cold weather, Friends, so I can try out my new duds!  But don't worry.  I'll keep my enthusiasm in check during these wonderful fall months!  I promise I will!  Take each season in its time, is what I've decided I'm always gonna say, and that's what I'm gonna do! 

I think you oughtta go out and get yourself something new for the cooler weather, though, Friends!  Maybe a new hat, or scarf, or a rad pair of gloves.  It'll make Winter seem a little more exciting, and a little less 'blah!'

Whatever you decide to do, Friends, I love ya!  Enjoy TODAY!  Muah!

Everyday Adventures!

Hey! Friends!  Let's go adventuring!

Hiya, Big People!  How are you today?  Me?  I keep on keepin' on.  You know me.  I like to have at least some kind of adventure every day, if I can help it, and you know, once you get into an adventurous mindset, you can't help by have an adventure!

No, no!  It's true! 

Take, for example, a trip to the grocery store.  I know you Big People gripe about having to go to the grocery store, because for you, it's a giant chore, and everything costs so much, and it isn't much fun, and blah, blah, blah.

Seriously.  That's what you Big People sound like when you get going on things you don't like or that you don't like to do.  Take a listen to yourselves next time you start up, and see if I'm not right. 

Anyway, back to the grocery store.  For you, it's drudgery, for me, it's a wondrous cave of wonders, just waiting to be explored!

Nah! We don't need a compass! We'll be fine!

It starts right the minute I ride through the door in the shopping cart!  I see all kindsa people I've never seen before, and some of them are pretty normal, and some of them are Really Different!  I like watchin' the Really Different ones the best.  They're the most interesting.

Somedays, it's the foods themselves at the grocery store that provide me with entertainment on my adventure!  For instance, some cheese has holes in it, and other cheese is blue or green!  How about that?! (I LOVE the blue kind!)

Or for Pete's Aches, the bread aisle!  There's so many different kinds of breads!  White, whole wheat, oat, potato, breads with seeds on 'em, breads that are flat, round breads, square breads!  You just never know what you're gonna see!

At my grocery store, the produce section is an adventure all of its own!  There are fruits and vegetables from all the way around the world there.  But even just the regular ones are interesting.  I like look at the shapes and colors.  Isn't it funny how two fruits can be the same shape, or two vegetables can be the same color, but they don't taste anything alike?

If you're not tryin' to get anywhere, you can't get lost, right, Rozz?

Now, I don't eat cereal myself.  I've told you all about the constant and ongoing battle between Mommy and me about what kind of Cheerios to buy.  I say the ones with the friendly little bumble bee on the box, and Mommy insists on buying the plain Cheerios, so I've just quit all cereal in protest.  But the cereal aisle is quite an adventure, with all those brightly-colored boxes, and those cool cartoon characters!  I like to ride through the cereal aisle, just to say 'Hiya!' to all those characters sometimes!

Adventure is all in the way you frame it up in your mind, Friends!  If you're looking for adventures, you'll find 'em, and I think life is a lot more fun when there are adventures to be found!  That's for darn-tootin' sure!  So I choose Adventure!  How about that?!

I'll see ya tomorrow, Friends!  Go out there and try to have at least one adventure today!  You'll be surprised at how much fun it is!  Muah!