Guru Rinpoche Guru Pamasambhava with Yeshe Tsogyal and Mandarava

Snuggling

The late Pinky Roo, a large chihuahua, cuddling with Bess, the jindo. The jindo breed is considered a Korean national treasure. Bess wandered into our front yard five years ago. We bought Pinky from a pet store. 

There is nothing more compelling than watching two animals snuggle. It's so pure.

I personally love snuggling. There is something very 'animal' about curling up with a loved one and stealing some of that individual's heat. Heat flows in such a way that objects in the same area eventually become the same temperature.

Warmth from the big dog moves into the little dog. And then both of them equalize.

MAKING ART

Today is a day of love.

Alex Doolan's "Mud Doctors"

And what do we love more that art?

ART ART ART ART ART ART

Students making art is one of the most beautiful things I can imagine. GO GO GO! Make art NSTV. Do it. And they did it.

Artists

Alex Doolan's "Call 911!," 2011, Acrylic, oil and graphite on canvas, 72 x 96

In one of my writing classes today, we discussed whether or not an artist has to be tortured in order to make truly wonderful art. Some said yes. Some said no.

Names that came up: Truman Capote, Fanny Howe
Names that I thought of as the discussion went on: David Foster Wallace, Diane Arbus, Mary Karr, Marlon Brando

The question of causation versus correlation comes up. Do tortured people tend to gravitate toward art? Does making art and committing oneself to the production of art (which in turn requires intense critical evaluation) cause trauma? Does a tortured person produce better writing, canvases, performances?

People always say that comedians tend to be dark people.

But as an artist, I'd like to think that one need not be traumatized in order to be great. For logistical reasons.

Diane Arbus' Child with Toy Hand Grenade in Central Park, New York City (1962)

You Speak

Wegee's "Animal 'Oscars'" ca. 1951, International Center of Photography

Bring on the wonderful things.

I took screen shots of the emails I received! Thanks for sharing!

I am only posting the first five responses I received:

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And that's it! My wonderful moment yesterday was eating Korean BBQ for dinner. Today it was seeing my friend in a play. 

Sharing

I want to hear from you all.

"Men of Good Fortune," North Kivu, Eastern Congo, 2011 - photo by Richard Mosse

Tell me about one wonderful thing you experienced over the course of your day. Email me at onewonderfulthingblog@gmail.com a brief description of the event/moment and I will feature it in tomorrow's post. 

Each day is filled with a myriad of odd, satisfying, surprising moments. Choose one.

Was it when you were:
- enjoying that hot cup of coffee over breakfast?
- visiting a museum?
- getting a tattoo?
- reading a good book?
- seeing a bird hop on the grass?
- talking to your brother on the phone?
- smelling the scent of lavender as you traipsed through your garden?
- eating that mochi ice cream?

Don't be shy. It's more fun to share. 

This will be anonymous. Identities will be protected. (Unless you want your name to be attached and a link to your own blog. I am happy to do that.)

Discovering Beauty in Website Form

The web is saturated with different pages. Links upon links. When do you find a site that really stirs you? That is rare for me.

But today I came upon a website that is both inspiring and thought provoking. The site showcases a series of images taken by Google's cam that travels the world on top of a car. Google Earth is miraculous.

The beautiful site: http://9-eyes.com/

Some choice images:

Finding Lost Keys

Before I begin my formal discussion of one of today's wonderful moments, I have to acknowledge the wonderfulness that is the video of Kristen Bell freaking out about a sloth. This miraculous video has gone viral. I watched it last night and had to watch it again today.

There are few things in life that are as strange as watching a grown human behave unabashedly like a child. I admire this. Cheers, Kristen. You seriously love sloths. And I love you for that.

Has Kristen seen the video "baby sloths being bathed?" I hope so.

I'm trying to think of what my 'sloth' is, ya know? What is your 'sloth?' What do I flip out about and cry over because I am SO excited? I can only think of chihuahua puppies.

And now for today's wonderful moment: finding not one but TWO sets of lost keys. (I understand that by sharing this, I am letting everyone know how absentminded I can be. But I am OK with that.)

For the past few weeks I have been using a copy key to get into my apartment (I made it at the beginning of the year for just this purpose). But the loss of my keyring meant that I also lost the keys to the mailbox and laundry room. This is what really hurt. Luckily I had recently done a batch of laundry before I lost the keyring, but in recent days I have been aching for more clean clothing options. I have been searching for the elusive keyring since the day I lost it. To no avail.

But today, while I was scrambling to get myself ready to leave the apartment to go to a singing lesson, I randomly looked in a bag that was laying on the couch. And the keyring was at the bottom of the purse. 

JOY.

Then when I parked my car, I decided to clean the interior a bit before heading to the lesson. I snaked my hand under the passenger seat to retrieve trash, and found ANOTHER SET OF LOST KEYS.

BIG JOY.

This was the first set of keys I had lost way earlier in the year. The keyring with the cupcakes was actually a replacement.

So I am feeling great right now, mainly because I can go do some laundry.

Everybody wins.

Having a Party During English Class

A new month! Hello!

My fourth grade teacher used to tell us that on the morning of the first day of the month, when you are getting out of bed, saying "rabbit, rabbit" before your feet touch the floor grants you a whole month of luck. I have remembered this since I was eleven, so clearly it resonated with me. But I have never remembered to say "rabbit, rabbit." Never once. And I forgot again this month.

Enough about bad luck. Bring on the happy.

And today there was a lot of happy. Including a 'party' during my creative non fiction class.

Though my university works on the quarter system, I am enrolled in a course that is broken up into semesters. And the first semester ended today. We all turned in our final essays and ate festive foods like chocolate covered pretzels and chocolate chip cookies. Healthful classmates brought bananas and pretzels with humus.

It reminded of those days during elementary school in which, instead of class, the teachers would throw a celebration for some holiday or someone's birthday. Those were the BEST days.

A party is always a wonderful thing. And something about throwing a celebration when you're supposed to be "doing work" makes it all the more exciting.

To honor the journey we've all taken this semester, a few people volunteered to read excerpts of their final pieces. That is my favorite part. I have seen a lot of my classmates grow over the course of the semester and produce some awesome work. Great group of people.

Then we got derailed on an ongoing discussion we've been having about Joe Wenderoth, writer and poet. A few weeks ago our professor assigned an essay by Wenderoth that polarized the class. If you want to check it out, it is called "Memo to the Department." I just wanted to hear more people read from their essays.

I will say that I am a fan of Wenderoth's poetry. For a crazy read check out Letters To Wendy's. Wenderoth wrote a prose poem a day for a little over a year on Wendy's comment cards. His work provides a commentary on American consumer culture. It's a novel little book that can be wildly confusing and highly amusing. Recommended.

Going Grocery Shopping

I journeyed to Trader Joe's today and stocked up on all the essentials. This is critical because I have been subsisting on granola, peanut butter,  and oranges for the past couple of days.

And it cheered me because I found out earlier in the day that I did not get an internship I had recently interviewed for. But these things happen! The beat goes on.

The grocery store is a magical place. Walking the asiles and looking at all of the fresh vegetables and ripe fruit is awe inspiring. I love the grocery store because it offers unbounded potential. That is - if you know how to cook.

I am still working on that part. I never learned to love cooking. My aunt adores cooking. For her, making a meal is a creative act that reflects who she is. I think a good cook is just as inventive as any visual or performing artist. They dazzle a different sense, that of taste and smell.

Living on my own has taught me the value of being able to make yourself a tasty, warm meal full of protein. I've gotten pretty good at making omelets, stir fry, pasta, pizza (real treat), salmon.

Though it is smaller than a Ralphs or Pavilions, Trader Joe's still offers a staggering amount of choices.

So many cereals. Such an array of cereal choices caused me to not pick any of them. Irony. Recommended book of the week - The Paradox of Choice: Why More is Less by Barry Schwartz.

Feeling Flu Symptoms Disappear

Since I spent last week wiping my nose and coughing up gunk, today felt amazing. I finally feel like this horrible flu is going away. You don't realize how much you appreciate your health until it is gone and you get it back.

I did not have to carry a roll of toilet paper (the cheap kind of tissue) with me to class.

I did not live my day at home in a robe.

My voice is sounding more normal.

Breathing is easier.

I have more energy!

I could do a dance if I wanted. I could run around in circles. I could play leap frog. You name the physical activity and I could do it! Badminton!? Sure!!

Let's party!

Today I'm thankful for my health.

Cuddling With My Roommate's Cat

Let me start by saying that I am a devout dog lover. Cats confuse me. But that doesn't mean I won't accept a cuddle when my roommates Siamese cat, Rocket, wants to spoon for a little.

I was laying on my back on the couch when the gray and white little creature jumped upon my chest and settled down for a nap. I continued typing on my laptop, working on my senior thesis.

Rocket dozed and I wrote. Sometimes, one of the best things in the world is an unexpected cuddle.  Animals want to feel loved too. They have their own set of feelings.

Rocket is a dashing little guy. He whines a lot. I heard that that is a typical Siamese characteristic. They talk to you.

Thank you, Rocket that that sweet little cuddle! You are such a dogcat.

Finding a Piece of Clothing You Forgot You Owned

Hello little wool sweater with the nice detailing! Where have you been hiding? At the bottom drawer of my bureau? Well, welcome back.

It's almost like Christmas/ Hanukkah come early. A few seconds before finding this nice sweater I effectively did not own it. If a piece of clothing remains unworn at the bottom of your chest, is it apart of your wardrobe?

Well, now it is. I immediately put it on and walked out the door. Almost instantly, I got that comment, "new sweater?"

Kind of...

I had never worn this piece before today. My Mom got it for me this past Christmas. I bet I thought it looked at little 'conservative.' A little too delicate.

But when I fished it out today I saw it with new eyes. I said, "I can work with this. Why not!" and threw it on.

Old, but new!

Watching "Jurassic Park"

There are some movies from my youth that still capture my heart.*** Among them is Steven Spielberg's "Jurassic Park." This is perhaps the best science fiction story ever told.

It is scary.

It is funny.

It is beautiful.

Those little raptors are so devious. How they so smart?!

I always die laughing when the long neck leaf eater blows snot on the nervous teenage girl.

Newman from Seinfeld is so gross and sad. You are selfish and try to steal dino DNA and then mess everything up and eventually die because a cute dino gets you. Classsssssic Newman.

Jeff Goldblum, you so funny. Too bad they changed your entire character for Jurassic Park II and took out all the funny. (P.S. so happy you have been cast as one of Rachel Berry's Dads on Glee)

The little boy is adorable. (He is old now and had a role in the Social Network -- whatwhat?)

Stay in the car, people!

If you don't move, a T-Rex can't see you.

*** I recently re-watched "Hook" featuring Robin Williams and was sorely disappointed. The only scene that stands the test of time is the imaginary feast. Delicious. Otherwise, rough justice.

Celebrating A Friend's 21st Birthday At an Age Inappropriate Destination

One should only turn 21 with a turkey leg in her hand and a field of men in armor on horses before her eyes. Lucky for my friend, that is exactly how she rang in the biggest birthday of them all. What a champ.

For my 21st, I threw a party at a friend's apartment. BORING***. But my buddy took the road less traveled and made everyone eat with their hands and wear paper crowns.  Though our Red Knight lost his battle against the Yellow Knight, everyone went home a winner. With bellies full of turkey leg and baked potatoes, we all crawled into the party bus and headed home, exhausted but giddy from our romp into MEDIEVAL TIMES.


*** Actually it was super fun. TAYDAY was a bit hit. Everyone is allowed to celebrate how they see fit. No judgement.