Miscellaneous Happy Moments

Good thoughts. Good updates. Good news. Instead of sharing a single story this week, several happy “moments” have been building; why not share those? I’ve thrown in a little inspiration, too.

These recent moments have made my day; or week.

  • Knowing that within hours, workers must remove Trump’s name disgracefully placed before Kennedy’s name on the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts building.
  • Finding the word puzzle game “Strands” after accepting a reduced rate on an online NYT subscription. The goal is to find hidden words. If you’re lucky, you’ll find the Spangram (a saying which spans from one side to another.) Hello, new friend.
  • Hearing that the capsule camera I swallowed (mentioned here in a March post) showed no problematic internal bleeding issues as the cause of my iron deficiency anemia. I received two iron infusions instead. Now, I’m bouncing off the walls and running marathons (not really.)

  • “Talking” to my 4-month-old grandson, Baby J during video chats. (It’s a new development where we ask questions and he does a lot of arm waving and babbling.)

P.S. I am borrowing author, blogger and podcaster Wynne Leon’s practice of referring to her children as Mr. D and Miss O. I like it especially because the family prefers that Baby J stay off social media.

  • Learning how writer Amy Tan (The Joy Luck Club) decided to use a magnifying glass while looking at photos for research. Doing this, she caught a pair of shoes someone was wearing which helped define an era for her for one of her books. It’s, literally, the small stuff that can make a difference.
  • Not too long ago, writer Vicki Atkinson asked if I would contribute a “blurb” for her new supernatural fiction book “Slivers.” It was a truly happy moment when I received the published book and saw it in print. I will share a full review of her book in my next post.
  • Learning the release date of The Odyssey movie is July 17th. (Bonus: Matt Damon is Odysseus.)
  • 2026 marks 50 years since Peter Frampton’s album Frampton Comes Alive was released. I’m giving him a special shout-out because I just watched him on television play a MEAN guitar lick on a new song despite living with IBM; a rare degenerative muscle disease which causes chronic inflammation and muscle wasting, primarily in the legs, arms, and fingers. Rock on, Mr. Frampton!
(Peter Frampton photo
Wow. Our last night after a family visit at Indian Rocks Beach on the Gulf

33 responses to “Miscellaneous Happy Moments”

  1. So much to love in one post! Pulling all the heartstrings with a side order of hopefulness! ❤️❤️❤️

    Love “Baby J” – too perfect!

    And returning the Kennedy Center to its origins without the ugly graffiti-esque scourge of Trump’s name? A tide is turning???? I hope so!

    And…and…your great health news!!! Woohoo! ❤️❤️❤️

    Thank you, dear friend for this fabulous mood booster in post form!
    Xo!!!😘

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I’ll try and do more mood boosters, haha. Thanks, Vicki. As for the name, it just takes time to move through the courts. I wish it was faster. At least, he didn’t have the opportunity to close it down for two years to “renovate” the legendary institution. I remember being there in 8th grade and walking down that Great Hallway with those modern chandeliers. It’s a win. Sending hugs, and MORE hugs. 😘💝😘

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      1. Love you much…love your boosters and your plentiful good news. xoxoxoxoxoxoxo! ❤️😊❤️

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      2. 😜😜 be in touch soon! ❤️❤️❤️

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      3. Yes! And I love it!!!! 😘❤️😘

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  2. lots of good news and many things to be grateful for –

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    1. The year just keeps getting better and better and I am exceedingly grateful! 💝 Thanks so much, Beth.

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  3. What a lovely idea: Posting lots of good news. Even at random, it’s a wonderful idea which I may follow on my blog.

    You’ve inspired me to name 3 good things in our household recently: reputable roof repair, AC fixed on my husband’s vehicle, and spic and span house pressure washing.

    I’m feeling gratitude because of this post—and wishing you many more happy moments, Melanie! :-)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. This is definitely another happy moment for me, Marian! Thank you for thinking it’s a wonderful idea, and that you’re already thinking of your own ideas. That’s awesome! Plus, you don’t have to set a number like 20 Wonderful Moments (I initially did that!) I had what I had. 😊 And I would be thrilled to have a roof job behind me. That’s big. Thanks so much.

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      1. It was a $ 600.00 repair. Considering the price of a new roof, that’s peanuts. Best of all, the roof repair guy said it should last another 20 years. Hope he’s right!

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      2. 20 years (or close) sounds good to me. That was a deal. ☺️

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  4. As usual, you give me so much to chew on that I can’t possibly take a bite of several pieces of fruit.

    It was absurd that Trump’s name went up in the first place, another great waste of taxpayers’ money.

    I am a word puzzle nerd. Though I haven’t tried Strands, it looks totally like something I would love.

    How many people can claim to have swallowed a camera? On the next edition of America’s Got Talent . . . I’m glad that it didn’t turn into an even bigger problem. I can hardly wait for the marathon post. 😊

    Someone should make a video of us talking to our grandchildren. Now, that would be funny.

    I just finished Slivers. It was a great read that reinforces the notion that covering up an incident often leads to greater problems.

    Frampton Comes Alive—50 years. Yep, that’s about what I would have guessed. I wasn’t a huge fan, but I dated girls who sure were. 🤣

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    1. Oh my gosh, Pete…now who’s given me much to chew on and laugh over! That is TOO funny about the girls you dated having a thing for Frampton, it was his hair, trust me. 😂😂 And luckily, the camera was small enough to fit into a capsule but it was a bit of a horse pill! I LOVE your take on Slivers – that is spot on about making things worse when one tries to cover something up. And yes, I’ll end where I started. I’ve been livid about changing the name of the Kennedy Center. He respects nothing and no one. Ugh. Thanks so much Pete for a great laugh and digging in with me! ☺️

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  5. Knowing that Trump’s name is down is a huge happy moment for me too, and that the judge again blocked that slush fund to reward rioters. That photo of the sunset on the beach is gorgous!

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    1. Thanks on the photo, and I literally pray that Trump is over all things Kennedy Center. I remained worried about his involvement in remodeling it. I want nothing to do with his eye for construction and design.

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  6. Totally agree! I pray his arch never gets built, or his ballroom. That he tore down the East Wing still horrified me.

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    1. He’s created a lot of “arch” enemies, that’s for sure.

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  7. I love ‘moments’! Your photo of Indian Rocks Beach is beautiful!

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    1. Aww, thanks Jennie. It’s fun to celebrate small moments! And that sunset with the dark clouds was amazing to capture. 😊

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      1. Yes indeed! You’re welcome, Melanie.

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  8. Good news indeed Melanie, especially that you aren’t bleeding internally! 🧡

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    1. They just go through a standard checklist to omit the reasons for the anemic levels, including that scope and other things, Debby. I guess it appeased them and I had the infusions instead to “solve” the problem. And I do feel more pumped to get things done in the course of the day, so it was worth it. Thank you! 💜💝

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      1. I know those infusions are very helpful. I’d taken my husband to plenty of infusion sessions. 🧡💜

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      2. So you definitely know what it’s about. I’m so glad it helped him! 💜♥️

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      3. It really did. 💜 xx

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  9. Wow – I love this little moments. Thank you for sharing. I can’t believe Baby J is 4 months already. And Kennedy Center, Strands and Slivers — so many good things.

    The sunset picture is stunning. Beautiful, Melanie!

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    1. Aww, thanks, Wynne. (I had double-parked to take that photo, so I couldn’t stay long, haha!) I am grateful for each and every one. ❤️

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  10. All wonderful happy moments! Yay!

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    1. Yes! Thanks so much, Lori!

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  11. Thanks for sharing your happy moments, Melanie. I am happy I found your blog tonight. Nice to meet you.
    Blessings
    Lisa

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    1. I appreciate your visit, Lisa, and it was so nice of you to leave a comment on the post. 😊

      Liked by 1 person

      1. You are welcome, Melanie! Enjoy your weekend.
        Blessings
        Lisa

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