cheerfulmonk.com

I often get emails from American Science and Surplus, which I usually delete without opening. I could have them take me off their mailing list, but occasionally it’s fun to look.

Yesterday the subject line was Hurry! Reindeer Toilets Only Last So Long! What on earth is a reindeer toilet? I had to find out.

Ho, Ho, Ho…ly Cow! Transform your bathroom into a winter wonderland with our Festive Reindeer Toilet Cover Set. Surprise the family when you change over at night and they think the bathroom has been taken over by a felt reindeer monster! Includes: Reindeer Lid: With a cute, fuzzy nose and twinkling eyes, antler Tank Cover with stand-up antlers with festive faux “lights”. Bonus! it’s made of soft polyester fleece, this cover is as comfortable as it is festive.

Silly? Of course, but it made me laugh. And I’ve been needing to more of that lately. What makes you laugh?

November 20, 2024

Kurt Vonnegut wrote this in memory of his friend Joseph Heller:

True story, Word of Honor:
Joseph Heller, an important and funny writer
now dead,
and I were at a party given by a billionaire
on Shelter Island.

I said, “Joe, how does it make you feel
to know that our host only yesterday
may have made more money
than your novel ‘Catch-22’
has earned in its entire history?”
And Joe said, “I’ve got something he can never have.”
And I said, “What on earth could that be, Joe?”
And Joe said, “The knowledge that I’ve got enough.”
Not bad! Rest in peace!

I’ve never been ambitious in the usual sense, so I really like this piece.

November 19, 2024

A few months ago I thought of two books that had a huge influence on me when I was younger. So I decided to check the internet to see if I could find them. I didn’t have any luck with the first one, The Old Fellow, a book about the Chinese philosopher Laozi. I read it in high school and it was one of the books that caused me to respect learning and experience. I have never wanted to be younger than I am… it wouldn’t be worth it because I would have to give up too much. That’s the first part of my mantra:

Stay curious and open to life. No matter what happens, keep learning and growing.

The second book was The Importance of Being Imperfect. And I did find and buy a copy of it:

I found that one in the Ithaca, NY library over 50 years ago and it was the idea behind Cheerful Monk. (The original subtitle for this blog was “Happiness as a spiritual practice.” )

It tickles me that when I reread that part of Clarke’s book I found that I had remembered it wrong. The ancient Egyptians believed it was a hippopotamus, not a crocodile. Fortunately I called the story apocryphal (fictitious) so I can keep my crocodile image. I do like it.

Photo by David Gardiner Garcia

I can give Clarke credit for the second part of my mantra,

Find what you love and find a way to share it with others.

Have any books had a powerful influence on your life?

November 18, 2024

When Andy ordered his new phone they said they no longer sold the old model. He said he wanted one with big buttons and they said the buttons on the new one were even bigger than the ones on his old one. That wasn’t true. The old model is on the left, the new one on the right.

That part was a step down, but it seems to work down here. We’re still comparing it with the old model (mine) up on the land to make sure the reception is as good, At least he has a phone again so I can contact him.

November 17, 2024

simplydesigning.porch.com

About 200 years ago George Sand wrote,

Guard well that treasure within yourself, kindness.

I like that. For most of us it takes awareness to be kind. It’s so easy when we get stressed to take our feelings out on other people… one of the best reasons to learn to deal with our feelings is to keep that from happening. A site kindness.org has a quiz that they say measures our kindness quotient. It asks questions like how likely are you to

I think for people who are dealing with their lives as best they can those questions would add to the pressures they are feeling. Just learning to be more compassionate and loving to themselves and the people they interact with would be a better place to start. That’s what I think of when I read Sand’s quote. What do you think?

November 16, 2024

November 15, 2024

This Pearls Before Swine comic talks about country music.

Pig: I heard the greatest country music song at a bar last night, but I can’t remember the title.

Rat: Tell me what it’s about and I’ll Google it.

Pig: It’s about his guy with a pickup truck and a cheating spouse.

Rat: Oh, good. You’ve narrowed it down to nine million songs.

Pig: Oh, and somebody drowns their sorrows.

Rat: Somehow that didn’t help.

I usually don’t listen to country music, but I laughed at the comic. Lately these words have been going through my head,

You picked a fine time to leave me Lucille
With four hungry children
And a crop in the field

It’s from the song Lucille, and they played it once down in the assisted living place because one of the women was named Lucille. It’s a happy memory from when I was buzzing around in my wheel chair after I broke my hip.

Do you have any happy memories from unusual situations?

November 14, 2024

I found an old notebook yesterday and read these lines:

Have you found a suitable expression for who you are, for your natural talents and energy? That’s what winning in life is all about.

I’m guessing I was copying from something I read, but I didn’t write down the source. It reminds me of Shug’s post Blogging is good:

I just want you all to know that I love Blogging. It is a place where I find PEACE and connection.

I consider my blog to be a creative outlet that allows me to express myself, reflect on life, and connect with like-minded people.

Amen to that! That means all of us dedicated bloggers are winners in life. I know when I discovered blogging I knew it was what I had spent years searching for.

November 13, 2024

One of my favorite sayings for years has been,

Doing the best we can with what we have left.

That was especially true yesterday morning. Andy lost his cellphone, probably in some deep snow, last week. So today he went down to the local Verizon store to order another and have them set the new one up for him. After he left here I went into my study to turn on the computer and saw his Garmin there. Oh, oh! I update it in the evening and then put it on the dining room table for Andy to find the next morning.

Today he was thinking about the cellphone so didn’t notice the Garmin wasn’t there. I tried phoning the Verizon store to tell him, but the person I talked to wasn’t at the store. She was just the switchboard and no one in the store answered. OK. so I got in the car and drove down there, hoping he hadn’t left yet. I saw the Jeep, and he getting in it. I drove up behind him to block him in, stopped the car, got out and gave him the Garmin. Perfect timing! Sometimes things work out.

We do want him to have the Garmin so if something happens we know where he is, and in an acute emergency he can push the SOS button. That’s especially important when it gets below freezing at night.

November 12, 2024

Those days when we couldn’t turn on the fans in the greenhouse and the temperature got up to 130°F, it didn’t faze the tomatoes a bit. They kept thriving. Andy brought these home last Sunday afternoon.

They’re slowing down some now because of the colder weather, but with any luck they will keep producing. We have a propane heater in the greenhouse to keep the temperature at least 50°F

November 11, 2024