Yes, you can fill yourself with wonder…
There’s a part of you always standing by,
Mapping out the sky…
Finishing a hat…
Well there never was a hat…— Stephen Sondheim
Finishing the Hat
from Sunday in the Park with George
This mid-August Saturday evening finds me once again “finishing the hat” – working-working-working on various and sundry projects from my always full and never done, to-do list.
The definition of an optimist:
Someone, like me, who plans to get more done than time permits. Having failed to achieve the impossible, someone, like me, who is sure everything will somehow get done anyway.
— Jane E. Brody,
New York Times Health journalist
That would be me too – optimistically making sure it all gets done somehow, some way. Uh huh – I’m doing it again. I’m missing the sweetest summer evening ever!
When someone is impatient and says, “I haven’t got all day,” I always wonder, “How can that be? How can you not have all day?”
— George Carlin
Break Out and Enjoy the Summer!
A perfect summer day is when the sun is shining, the breeze is blowing, the birds are singing, and the lawn mower is broken.
— James Dent
It’s August already.
My summer is waning. Many of the teens I know are already back in school.
With that thought, I simply walked away from my desk and wandered out into my shady patio to relax in this hot summer night. It was lovely, lovely, lovely! Despite the HEAT and the EARTHQUAKES we experienced this last week, there’s plenty of wonder-full to savor:
Evenings on the patio – just the hint of a breeze to relieve the heat, summer light still shining through at 8PM – lovely! (Do it more, Ellie.)
The wee boy down the street who, along with one or both of his patient parents, follows awestruck as the trash trucks make their way along the trash barrels standing like ladies in waiting. His fascination is a joy to behold!
A little meandering around YouTube.com listening to invigorating pop tunes from the movies and theater. Relax, take a deep breath – then take a listen: “Oh Happy Day!” Rock it out!
Some e-mail silliness sent with love by a friend:
Living on Earth is expensive,
but it does include a free trip
around the sun every year.
Some mistakes are too much fun
to only make once.
A truly happy person is one who
can enjoy the scenery on a detour.
Or photographer Nina Matthews’ clever penchant for playful photos and puns:
What is green and goes to a summer camp?
A Brussels’ scout!
What vegetable do you need a plumber for?
A leek! 
Why do potatoes make good detectives?
Because they keep their eyes peeled!
Why did the tomato go out with a prune?
Because he couldn’t find a date!
How do you fix a broken tomato?
Tomato paste!
Why aren’t bananas ever lonely?
Because they come in bunches!
I’m Back…
OK, I’m back from that short respite – it was only a short break away from my desk, still, it was enough to remind me that life can be full of wonder – I’ve just got to:
Be aware of wonder. Live a balanced life –
learn some and think some and draw and paint and
sing and dance and play and work every day some.— Robert Fulghum
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