A + G

I am a sap

emilyposts:

Nine times out of 10 I have either SportsCenter or Mike & Mike on in my room while I’m getting dressed for work in the morning.  I rarely “watch” either program, it’s just sort of background noise while I’m getting ready. 

This week on SportsCenter, they have been doing a series on sports related “Make-A-Wish” stories where ESPN has aided in fullfilling the dreams of young sports fans battling serious illness.  Yesterday I saw a segmant about a blind boy who wanted to meet Smarty Jones and this morning I watched a little boy from Las Vegas with cancer who wanted to meet the his favorite baseball team, the Cleveland Indians.

So, at about 7:45 this morning I could have been found sitting on the edge of my bed, dressed up for my meetings today, hair done, makeup done, two little dogs on my lap, with tears POURING down my face watching this little boy meet Victor Martinez and Grady Sizemore, be presented with his own locker and jersey, take batting practice, throw out the first pitch, and call himself a good luck charm to the team.  What a magical day that would be for anyone, let alone this child who has faced such sorrow in his short life. 

Though perhaps needless to say, I was late to work this morning because I had to do my makeup twice. 

If you’d like to watch this or any of the other ESPN/Make-A-Wish stories, they can be found here.  Get a Kleenex. 

(via thumbwrestlinginbaltimore)

This is what I blogged about last night. Glad to know I’m not the only one. 

i am a sap too. i cry *almost* every Friday morning while I’m getting ready for work, when Storycorps comes on NPR.  there is something about feeling witness to real people and their lives that can be so touching.

Happiest Country in the World is (nope, not the U.S. that's for sure)...

A scientific study of Happiest Countries was conducted recently by the University of Michigan. The findings:

1. Denmark is the happiest nation. For those who’ve ever been to Copenhagen, you would understand.

2. Zimbabwe is at the bottom of the list as most glum (recent violence and dictatorial rule by Robert Mugabe makes this finding understandable)

3. The United States ranks 16th. Down 4 spots from the year 2000. That’s pretty sad. 8 years of W rule and we drop 4 spots. Makes sense, look at the squeeze on most people and the hours you have to work to get by. We’re certainly not living in our parent’s America anymore

The results of the survey, going back an average of 17 years in 52 countries and involving 350,000 people, will be published in the July 2008 issue of the journal Perspectives on Psychological Science. Researchers have asked the same two questions over the years: “Taking all things together, would you say you are very happy, rather happy, not very happy, not at all happy?” And, “All things considered, how satisfied are you with your life as a whole these days?”

My answer: I’m rather happy. Most of that comes from being married to A who is the most beautiful woman on the planet. And I’m definitely satisified with my life. Though, I can’t wait for little footsteps in our apartment one of these days. :)

Previous research has found that happiness is partly inherited and that money doesn’t buy much of it. (Very true, look at all the yuppies who just bitch and moan about their lives being empty. You need to be transplanted to Zimbabwe for a month. Then you’d realize how good you have it). - G