Happy Talk

By Rebecca the Bookseller aka Kathy Sweeney

Today, I am declaring a moratorium on any subject that is not a happy one. If you have to ask why, then maybe you are one of the smart ones who doesn't pay attention to the news - something I am considering, by the way.

A couple of weeks ago, I had the great assignment of interviewing 23 authors. I thought it would be a cake walk. After all, I talk for a living. Plus, around here, it's normal to strike up a conversation with perfect strangers. Turns out, it's harder than it looks. I did a ton of preparation (that's what lawyers do - except we call it due diligence). Again - no problem, just time and focus. But when the time came - I was actually nervous, and believe me when I tell you, at this stage of the game, that just doesn't happen to me much. The happy part is that it went well. At least I thought so - and it was fun. It was fun to meet the authors and see them smile when they talked about their books and their characters. It was fun to see people in the audience smiling and laughing. Felt like I helped lighten things up, if only for a few minutes.

Because, people, we need to find more ways to lighten up. As a species, we are sleeping less, eating more, exercising less, and angsting more. Our levels of stress are through the roof. So today, all of us are going to help the world (okay, maybe just a couple of thousand people, but still) by sharing what makes us happy.

Plus, I am going to make a music compilation of songs that make me happy, and I'm going to carry it around.

So, here we go. Happy things first, then happy songs.

Watching Dancing With the Stars makes me happy. You see these celebs working to master something that is not in their comfort zone, and when they hit the floor, regardless of how their performance turns out, they are always full of joy. I've never watched any of these competition shows before, but my Mom got me started this season, and I'm hooked. (Plus, IYOCHFTS, hel-loh, between the costumes - or lack thereof - and the hot choreography - whew!).

Listening to my son and his friends when they forget I'm in the next room makes me happy. I never interrupt them, or bust them on the swearing (it's fabulous to hear them try out those new words). They're all taller than me now, but they still talk like boys, not men, even as their voices get deeper. I know that won't last much longer, so I savor it.

Reading good books makes me happy - I guess that one goes without saying on TLC, right?

Laughing makes me happy. In our house, and with my friends, we laugh a lot. I'll even admit that it may be a way of avoiding the sad and tragic stuff. We do support eachother in those ways too - but most of the time, we try to laugh. Laughing, it turns out, is good for you. No kidding - you can look it up.

Okay - I'm leaving the field wide open for the rest of you - what makes you happy?

Now - Songs that make me happy. They can be any kind of song - country, rock, gospel, folk, whatever. They don't even have to be about happiness. But there are some songs that cheer me up and make me smile. I'm sure you have some too, and at the end, I'll put together a compilation of TLC Happy Songs. Here are a few of mine:

I Wish by Stevie Wonder

Hot, Hot, Hot by Buster Poindexter

In the Mood- my current favorite cover is Bette Midler

Alive and Amplified by The Mooney Suzuki

Angelina/Zooma Zooma by Louis Prima

What Was I Thinkin'? by Dierks Bentley

Favorite Song of All by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir

Happy Working Song by Amy Adams from "Enchanted" (the lyrics are priceless)

I'm A Believer - currently, it's the Smash Mouth version from Shrek

Birdhouse in Your Soul by They Might Be Giants

I Can't Help Myself by The Four Tops

Beyond the Sea - Bobby Darin or Pittsburgh's own George Benson

Okay, your turn - let's make some happy! Can I get a witness here?

UPDATE: I made a new play list with all of the songs suggested - tried to make it into an iMix, but not all of them showed up - (clueless as to why - perhaps the ones I'd already downloaded from CDs?). Any way, here is the iMix, if you'd like to check it out:
TLC Happy Mix on iTunes

Comments

[toni mcgee causey]

I love this post. And you asked the best questions at the signing -- it made me laugh and completely forget that I was scared witless to sit in front of an audience. You did an amazing job.

What makes me happy? Watching my sons tell funny stories, and see how animated they get, knowing the tradition has been passed down.

Same with my mom and dad. They're very funny people.

Quiet mornings.

Talking with friends. Meeting people from here that I've "met" through their great comments.

Okay, two songs, because they are so different and each makes me smile. "You're The Kind of Trouble" by Solomon Burke (which Dusty told me about, and I love that song), and "My Give-a-Damn's Busted" by Jo Dee Messina. (That second one is sort of a theme song.)

[Becky Hutchison]

Oh Rebecca/Kathy, I just LOVE this topic! I quit watching the news on TV several years ago. Every newscast had become one bad story after another. Now I read news reports online, but only the ones I prefer. Every week I download an iTunes podcast from SkyNews which highlights the lighter side of the news of the past week. It's about 20 minutes and shows funny and cute news features from around the world (i.e., dog pageants, unusual animals becoming pals, Guiness World Record attempts, etc.). It's really uplifting.

Now for what makes me happy:
My family (which of course includes my dog), and my friends

Also listening to my sons & his friends talk...they're so much more open than my daughter & her friends were

Books, books and more books

Singing and dancing around the house (with my dog of course)

Cool days in summer

Vacations to the mountains or any place cool

Surfing on the internet

My happy music:
The album "This Was" - Jethro Tull (very jazzy & bluesy)
The album "Sweet Baby James" - James Taylor (pretty bluesy)
The album "Tapestry" - Carole King
"Time of the Season" - The Zombies
"Ramble On" - Led Zeppelin
"Do You Believe in Magic?" - The Lovin Spoonful
"Sunshine of Your Love" - Cream
"Danicalifornia" - Red Hot Chili Peppers
"Feeling Good" - Michael Buble
"Everything She Wants" - Wham
"You Know I'm No Good" - Amy Winehouse
Bach & Vivaldi
Hilary Hahn, Joshua Bell, Yo-Yo Ma
Crosby, Stills & Nash (& Young)
Eric Clapton
The Beatles

I'll stop here because I could go on and on...and on and on....

[mary alice at mystery lovers bookshop]

Happy...let me think...
My grand-daughters doing a puzzle and filling in the last piece...
A really sunny morning on my porch...
Obama winning or even just speaking and exciting new voters....
painting in watercolor...
helping a person facing a mammogram or chemo otherwise alone...my daughter's laughter...getting into my bed with all the pillows....my lover coming home to a great meal I just cooked to the exact time....a reader telling me how wonderful the books were that I suggested and buying more........getting a check in the mail....a good movie or book...I guess I could go on but thanks for this topic!

[Peg H]

What makes me happy?

Seeing my hubby smile and laugh.

Dashing off to the PW conference next week, a day early so I can relax and pamper myself.

Playing with my dogs. Especially when I ask them if they want to do hoops, and they dance around all excited waiting for me to hold up a Hula Hoop so they can jump through it. It's their favorite trick.

The peace and tranquility of my pond and gardens. Having our Koi eat from my hand and watching all the different birds come in to take baths.

Spending an afternoon with friends sharing stories and laughing with them.

A fresh pot of coffee.

[Kalynne Pudner]

Walking on Sunshine Is it Katrina and the Waves? Positively irresistible.

[Kalynne Pudner]

(HTML tags don't work, eh? Read "Walking on Sunshine" as though italicized.)

[Karen in Ohio]

Reading this blog makes me happy, every day. Thank you all for it.

Taking walks with my husband, now that he can't run--he was always so much faster than I was, but now we talk. I thoroughly enjoy it, and we go much further together than alone.

Having our children all together, like this weekend, is the best. Everyone will be home for Mother's Day, yay!

Having a whole day to read, especially if I can laze on the sunporch on a warm day, or snuggle up under the covers when I'm sick--both are welcome.

Attending the symphony with my best friend: she and I always promised ourselves we would do that when our kids were grown, just as my mother=in-law and her girlfriends did together. The best times are when we also go out for dinner afterwards at the same place as the conductor, who we both crush on a bit.

Riding horses is an utter joy to me, one I have only recently discovered, in my mid=50's. Who knew I'd be having so much fun, and getting exercise, too?

I have an iPod loaded with thousands of songs (all favorites, of course!), but the one that makes me the happiest is "I'll Build a Stairway to Paradise", which is a Gershwin tune. And any version of "Santa Baby" is my favorite happy-making Christmas song.

[ramona]

Blond Bond makes me happy. "Fighting" with Michele about Blond Bond makes me happier still.

Song: Friday I'm In Love by The Cure

[kris]

Count me among those who skip the news. I see the headlines online, I read what I can, but it becomes so heartbreaking so fast that I have to turn around.

Happiness, though - oh, that's a good one. There are so m any precious things. Hearing my sons riffing off each other, or watching them dress up and act like princes for their sister's birthday party. Brushing my daughter's hair. Reading a Christopher Moore book while curled up in bed. Knitting, especially when I finish the second sock in a pair. Laughing with my friends. Doing a good job, and having that work recognized. Going for lovely long walks.

Happy songs - a second vote for Walking on Sunshine.
Love Grows Where My Rosemary Goes - especially the Grass Roots version
Let's Live for Today, also by the Grass Roots
Taking Care of Business, BTO!
almost anything by the Guess Who
Online, by Brad Paisley (and folks, if you want a fast cheer-up, get thyself to Youtube and watch the video of this song. Funny lyrics, Marcia Brady, marching band music, and Shatner. Smiles are guaranteed.

[Susan]

Knowing that nothing can separate me from the love of God.
Laughing with friends.
Turning off the television.
Turning up the music.
Swimming in the ocean.
Finishing a lego project with my son.
Hanging out in a bookstore with my daughter.
Sharing a story with my husband.
Believing, despite all appearances, that life is good.

[kris]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=7GcVnhNjWV0

There ya go - the Online video. Just watched it again. Big grin.

[Nancy martin]

YOU make me happy.

And having all my family crammed into the kitchen, trying to cook a meal together.

[Katie]

Mary janes. (The shoes, not the, uh, pharmaceutical substance).

Driving fast with the windows down and the radio up.

Happy songs: Come on Eileen, My Sharona, I Need You Tonight and Only the Good Die Young. (Weren't the 80's great for happy songs?)

[William Simon]

Unfortunately, I am a news junkie, and have to at least peek in on the State of the World twice a day. Then I get disgusted, swear an Ugly One, and flip over to TCM or FMC.

I also have to agree with Kathy, which is why I've adopted the Travis McGee Retirement Plan; take my retirement in installments while still young enough to enjoy it. Nothing is finer than waking up in the morning knowing there's no tie to tie, no suit to wear, the certain knowledge that the Day Is Mine. It might sound weird, but it help keeps the Mental Pipes cleaned and functioning.

Music? God forgive me, but this one always makes me smile:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=mGL4btEIoTo

It's just so silly and goofy, it can't do anything BUT make you happy when you hear it.

Books? Anything by the Tarts. I've got the latest Melanie, the newest Nora, the last Sarah, (I'm postponing the new Helen for when Elaine's here in Houston next month, and it's killing me, okay?), and am waiting (not-so-patiently) for the newest Wollie.

Just finished the latest Sandford last night, and am waiting (again, not so patiently), for the DVD release of MANNIX next month. [Yes, I know it's not a set of training films, okay?!?]

Seeing The System work the way it should. Watching our Legal Process work the way it should. Knowing, on rare occasions, I made a small contribution to helping it work the way it's supposed to.

The sound of my great-nephew's laughter. Watching his sister try and form words. Watching them both play with The Dog. Seeing my nephew has grown into a fine, strong man, with a lovely wife and two beautiful children.

I could go on....but it's Coffee Time! (Speaking of What Makes Me Happy....:))

[Karen in Ohio]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=8dI4xwd07nQ

Who could be blue after hearing this one, I ask you?

[Karen in Ohio]

And how could I forget about my three-year old grandson! He makes everyone happy. If I were a psychiatrist, I'd prescribe time with Zachary as a foolproof cure for the blues. ;-)

[Rebecca the Bookseller aka Kathy Sweeney]

What a great way to start the work day!

Happy Friday everyone and thanks for the wonderful comments. I'm going to print the entire thing out and start a Happy File. Then, when I need to cheer up, I can read them again.

I did notice the common theme of pets and kids - they do bring us so much joy, don't they? I've never had a pet (allergies) but with so many friends who do, I have no doubt that they are a great source of love and joy. Same with kids -- at least when they're little. hah.

I heard an Irish comedian on teenagers, who said his son was entering the great tunnel of adolescence, and as a Dad, he was staying out of the way and hoped to meet him on the other end for a nice game of pool or something. Too bad it can't work that way for the troubling times.

Oops - almost broke my own rule and brought up a non-happy subject! I am already building one helluve a list for an iMix with the great song suggestions too - keep 'em coming!

[Cassie]

Last evening, sitting on the sofa, my husband had his hand on my pregnant belly and the little one gave a whomp from inside -- Hubby was astonished and a little weirded out, which for some ridiculous reason made me incredibly happy.

Songs that make me happy include Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes by Paul Simon, Bitch by Meredith Brooks, and -- dork alert -- the soundtrack to Big River.

[michele]

Love this post, Kathy! This post makes me happy.

Arguing with Ramona about Clive vs. Blond Bond makes me happy. Beating the pants off Ramona because Clive rules and Blond Bond is a dork makes me even happier.

Seriously though, it's the simple things. Having dinner with my husband and kids and laughing at the crazy things they say. Even more so if the weather is nice and we can cook on the grill and eat out on the terrace. The fact that the crabapple tree in my front yard is about to bloom. I was in New York last weekend and that made me happy -- both because I love the city and I love seeing my friends. And music makes me happy! I've been listening to Paul Simon lately too, Cassie -- Me and Julio down by the schoolyard makes me happy because it was one of my father's favorite songs. It reminded him of his childhood.

[J.D. Rhoades]

My Happy Mix:

Wilson Phillips-Hold On ( I know, cheesy, but I love female close-harmony singing)
Randy Newman-Falling In Love
Jesus Jones -Right Here, Right Now
Todd Rundgren-All the Children Sing
Polyphonic Spree-Light and Day (Reach for the Sun)
Bob Marley-No Woman, No Cry
Grateful Dead-Ripple
Fountains of Wayne-92 Subaru
Great Big Sea-Mari-Mac
Marcia Ball-That's Enough of That Stuff
Wild Tchoupitoulas-Meet De Boys on De Battlefront
Paul Simon-The Obvious Child
Nick Lowe-I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass
Leo Kottke and Mike Gordon-Sweet Emotion
Jimmy Cliff-Originator

[Joyce Tremel]

Great topic, Kathy!

What makes me happy:

My husband and sons. They can make me laugh so hard my stomach hurts.

When the good guys win in real life.

When someone gets a traffic citation for going 80 mph in a 40 mph zone.

Writing.

Reading.

An icy cold beer on a warm day.

Songs that make me smile:

"Sister Golden Hair" by America. It reminds me of my senior year in high school.

Bee Gees songs. I don't know why, though.

Any Celtic or Irish music.

Anything by the Glenn Miller Orchestra.

"Before He Cheats" by Carrie Underwood.

"Shut Up and Kiss Me" by Mary Chapin Carpenter.

"God of Wonders" by Third Day. My all-time favorite religious song.

[Anna C.]

Thoughts of recent travels.
A finished job.
Talking to my mom or dad.
A clean house.
An "ah-ha" moment when homeschooling my two boys.
A cup of coffee or glass of wine with my husband.
Mozart.
Gershwin.
"Jupiter" from Holst's Planets
Pete Seeger
Bonnie Raitt
Did I say a good homeschool day?

[Amy]

When my son hugs me, out of the blue, for no reason other than love.
Finding other Buffy/General Hosptial/Veronica Mars fanatics.
Crossing mutliple things off my to-do list.
A long string of great songs on the radio on my way to/from work, including
"Crazy Train" - Ozzy Osbourne
"Walking on Sunshine" Katrina and the Waves
"Blitzkrieg Bop" - the Ramones
"Panama" - Van Halen
"Your Smiling Face" - James Taylor

[Me, Margie]

Hi. It's Me, Margie. The fact that people come here for the sex makes me happy.

Lots of sexy things make me happy. Duh. I just got a new pair of black patent strappy heels that are not only going to make me, but other people who go out dancing tonight, happy. I like to make other people happy too, so I'll probably wear leather on more places than my feet. Leather seems to have a direct correlation to happiness. At least with some people. Just saying.

If you are not happy, you should definitely get some leather clothes and go out dancing. Seriously.

[Pam aka SisterZip]

Music:

Another Brad Paisley video. "Letter to Me" has a line about hugging Aunt Rita every chance you can makes me think of my uncle. I don't think he ever realized how much we all loved him. The line makes me smile and tear up at the same time. http://youtube.com/watch?v=6fqtbMHfpXY

Bitch is Back-Elton John
Really almost anything by EJ
Home-Michael Buble
Andrea Bocelli sighhhhhh!!!!
Uptown Girl-Billy Joel, makes me smile to think he was that gaa-gaa over that blond.
Sugarland
Duets album-Reba McEntire The Only Promise that Remains with Justin Timberlake makes my heart sing.

Comedy

Jeff Dunham & Peanut (also Achmet the Dead Terrorist is so unPC, but hysterical)
Ron White-You Can't Fix Stupid
Robin Williams Live on Broadway http://video.barnesandnoble.com/DVD/Robin-Williams-Live-On-Broadway/Robin-Williams/e/074645517797/?itm=2
The last 15-20 minutes will send you to the hospital for lack of oxygen from laughing so hard.

The sound of a baby laughing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5P6UU6m3cqk gets me every time.

Great blog today!