Funny Friday Photos: The Three States of Dinosaurs

Who feels like this today?

I admit, I'm ready for the weekend!

This weekend I hope to get as much work done on Through the Fairy Ring as I did last weekend. I spent all day Saturday getting the old writing to match with the new ending. I felt so good with how much work I accomplished that I worked more on the story during the week. The only days I didn't write on it were when I wrote blog posts.

Last week's winner (with two and a half points - the half is because he was a secondary pick) is . . .

Here's the new photos. 

With one of my dogs I gave up trying to trick her. She would eat the stuff and spit out the pill.

I would love to know what exactly is happening here.

So, yeah. Chihuahuas are scary.

I am seeing a theme with irritability in this week's photos. Hmm... A sign of my state of mind?

The Three States of Dinosaurs

A couple puns and we're done!

Who is going to watch the Super Bowl this weekend? I think we'll probably watch some, but it's not a big draw around our house this year. Last year I was thoroughly impressed with Bruno Mars, but I'm not much of a Katy Perry fan so the half-time show will be a hard sell for me. The commercials are always fun, though. I think just as many people watch for the commercials as they do for the game, anymore.

My favorite is the Three States of Dinosaurs. The gas part makes me chuckle.

What's your favorite?

Have a wonderful weekend. Rest up for Monday!

Mindfulness Monday: Resources

Here we go! It's kind of exciting to be starting a new blogging journey. The thing is, I don't really have a plan. This is going to be blogging by the seat of my pants...blantsing? (You know, blogging and pantsing would equal blantsing.)

I should probably mention that I'm not a mindfulness guru. What I am is a stressed out social worker--mother--writer who has found learning about and practicing mindfulness has seriously helped my emotional equilibrium. Back in May I had one post regarding what mindfulness is and where I was at that moment, so if you're not sure what mindfulness is, I'd suggest going here and reading at least the first part of the post.

Arches National Park taken by me!

It seems to me that people talking about mindfulness practices are everywhere. There were even two articles in the Huffington post over the weekend (How Mindfulness Is Revolutionizing Mental Health Care and What Mindfulness Actually Means, And Why We All Have Time For It) One main reason for that, I believe, is because of the incredible advances they have made in neuroscience in the last ten years. The efficacy of meditation on self-control and emotional well-being has been researched for over the last fifty years. However, it's only in the recent past that well-known universities and researchers have joined in and, with the different methods of imaging the brain and tracking brain-function showing scientific proof of such efficacy, brought meditative practices to the mainstream.

There are several books that have come recommended to me, either from workshops I've attended or from like-minded friends. I have started most of them, but I've mentioned before how hard it is to find time to read, so I haven't finished any of them! However, part of having the Mindfulness Monday blog posts should encourage me to get more into the books, so I'll share the ones I have with you, in case you might want to check them out.

The Emotional Life of Your Brain by Richard J. Davidson, PhD - This book is more about the neuroscience of emotions and how we can change how we "think, feel, and live." Richard Davidson is a neuroscientist who has studied neuroscience for thirty years and the effects of meditation on the brain since around 1992. I haven't yet read this book (I started it and then returned to work), but it is one I am very interested in.

The Happiness Animal by Will Jelbert - This book doesn't appear to be specifically related to mindfulness, but a friend of mine recommended it, and from what I've seen it has similar thoughts to mindfulness. It also seems similar to Shawn Achor's The Happiness Advantage. I haven't bought the Happiness Advantage, but I have used this video of Shawn Achor's in my Mindfulness Parent Group. It's worth the twelve minutes.

Mindfulness Yoga by Frank Jude Boccio - I think this book might be very helpful for someone who is interested in including yoga into their mindfulness practice. I can't say it was particularly helpful for me, but it did reinforce for me that the reason I enjoy yoga is because of the inherent connection "of body, breath and mind." My experience with yoga will be a topic some day in the future.

The Mindful Writer by Dinty W. Moore - No, I have no idea if that is the author's real name. But, this book has been very inspiring, and spot on with what I know about mindfulness practice so far. The author uses some really wonderful quotes which have been inspiring on their own, even without reading the author's interpretation of the quotes. I'll talk more about this book in the future, as well.

I'll end with this video set to a portion of a commencement speech David Foster Wallace gave in (I think) 2008. The nine-minute video captures what my understanding of mindfulness is - being aware to make a choice for how we are going to experience our lives. I really love the video.

Funny Friday Photos: Have You Been Indoctorinated?

It's true. We've made it through another week!

I've been toying with the idea of a Mindful Monday blog post for a while, and have decided to go ahead and give it a try. Because time is always an issue anymore, I'll only post twice a month, unless I have a guest post, like I will on February 2nd. I'm excited to get to share my blog with my friend, Roland Yeamons, who is releasing his book Return of the Last Shaman February 1st, and is going to share some connections between his book, his culture and mindfulness with us.

Thank you to Suzi, Veronica and Lexa for your continued support and comments on Fridays! You are all awesome!

Here's this week's photos!

Or you wake up after a nightmare...

I've always had this mental picture in my head when I hear people refer to women as "cougars."

I've succeeded in hooking my nephew and my kids. And probably my husband, too.

Earlier in the week I had an icky nightmare about aliens. I woke up freaked out, (if you remember, I have a phobia about the Communion-type aliens) but when I finally calmed down enough to fall back asleep, guess who came to help.

The tenth Doctor and Donna Noble.

It's humorous to me how comforted I was in the dream, because I knew the aliens weren't going to get me. The Doctor was going to save the day!

I think I have to accept I am, indeed, a Whovian.

Here's our puns!

My favorite this week is the sneezed on dog. The caption just fits.

Which is your favorite?

Just curious, have you ever had connected dreams before?

I'll see you on Monday!

Funny Friday Photos: Have You Seen a Possessed Goat Before?

Happy Friday, everyone!

One thing I've learned since the beginning of the year is that purging your house to live a more simple lifestyle is very time consuming. I've begun working on Through the Fairy Ring again (I'm really liking that as a working title!) My editor, David Malone, took a look at my synopsis and helped me see what the ending needed. I'm grateful for his input, because I think the ending will be much better. It's been hard to purge the house and write and go back to work, but I'm trying to remind myself that, even with small steps, there's progress.

Last week we had a clear winner for favorite photo, and it was:

Here's this week's photos:

Ever feel this way?

That's just claustrophobia inspiring.

Maniacal, evil goat.

Yes, it's another of those "more cute than funny ones."

This is the face of a cat on the edge. (Anyone remember that line in Jumpin' Jack Flash?"

I spent time today trying to explain to a teacher who Groot is.
I think I'm the only adult in my school who has seen Guardians of the Galaxy.

Puns!

My favorite is the possessed goat. Which is yours?

Have a great weekend!

Funny Friday Photos: An Eclectic Collection

Happy Friday to all!

Here's a splurt of cuteness to start off your Friday.

If I didn't already have four dogs, that photo would drive me to get a pug puppy.

I hope your week went well. Mine zoomed by. I swear, it was just Sunday. I've barely been online for the last two weeks.

Here's the new funny photos!

I just can't write down what I'm actually thinking...

From which the LOL cat was born.

I can think of more entertaining things to do while I wait.

I had to play 6/8 music once, and that felt all timey-wimey.

Here are our puns!

Here's an extra photo to inspire and amaze you. It's a new photo from the Hubble Space Telescope of the Pillars of Creation. It is much sharper than previous photos. The clarity of the bottom half of the photo is fantastic. 

Can you believe Hubble is twenty-five years old? It's mind-boggling to me. I remember when they were going to let it become space debris. I'm so glad they didn't. It would've been such a waste.

For funniest photo, I  have to go with the Cat butt. I am hanging my head in shame right now at my infantile enjoyment of the photo, but apparently that's where I am this week.

Do you have a favorite?

Funny Friday Photos: First Edition

Happy Friday

and

Happy New Years!

Anyone feel like this about the new year?

That's me in past years.

This is how my New Years started this year:

And then on New Years Day I cleaned. Well, actually I've been calling it "purging the house" and been working on the process the whole time I've been on break. I'm going through everything and trying to simplify, decrease the excess.

I didn't make any resolutions, either, and I'm not having any expectations for 2015. I'm going to try hard to live in the moment and not be emotionally wrapped up in what might be, or should be, or could be. I think I learned this past year that it's better to enjoy what is, and go with the flow of things, rather than fight against things you cannot change. That sounds so much like I've given up, but really, the only thing I've given up on is being a control freak. I still have hopes and dreams, and am working toward them, but recognize that I'm only one piece of the puzzle and I can only do my part.

So! Let's move on from that Buddhist moment and get to some funny photos!

I wonder if this is real or photoshopped? If not, I want a chicken like this.

He made sure to get there early to get a good seat.

I didn't overeat this holiday season, but my food choices were bad enough it didn't really matter.

I don't think anyone from my work would understand the reference. I'm going to have to take a poll on Monday and find out. I'll share the results next Friday.

Oh, the mental picture...

Here's some puns!

Literally.

Get it? Brush with Death? :)

There it is! The first Funny Friday Photos for 2015.

On Friday I'm going to go to the Denver Art Museum to see the Cartier exhibit with my boys and one of my friends from high school. There's also a Matisse exhibit at the same time, so I'm looking forward to both. Then it's back to purging and cleaning for the rest of the weekend.

My favorite was the customer pooping a tire. It's gross, but I actually did laugh out loud, so I guess it wins my vote. My second is Frothy, the Rabid Snowdog. That's a chuckle out loud picture.

What's your favorite photo?

Do you have any fun plans for the weekend?