Saturday, February 21, 2015

Coming back to the laughter

I do love to laugh. I laugh at really dumb things. I'm kind of immature like that. When life gets stressful, I really appreciate the little silly things that pop up here and there. Indulge me a bit, as I share a few things that have made me laugh this week. Just thinking about them puts a smile on my face.

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The Student Driver



Earlier in the week, my youngest son, who recently got his driving permit, drove my older son and me home from an appointment. He drove on the expressway! Through road construction! Through the toll booth! On the exit ramps, which are shaped like cloverleafs. He did great, with a little coaching--"you're going too slow' (on the highway) or "you're going too fast" (on the ramps). We didn't end up in a ditch. We made it home safely. Or so I thought. He pulled up to the driveway, and I complimented him on his driving. But the turn into the driveway was tricky. There is snow piled up on either side, making it pretty narrow. To top it off, the recycling can was in the driveway. I warned him to watch out for it but it was too late--he tapped the can with the front bumper. Just a tap-- but it was enough to pop the lid and send recyclables shooting up in the air and all over the car. It looked like an explosion. Wine bottles, beer cans (sheesh, we look like lushes), milk cartons, boxes..you name it. When he stopped, I saw the mailman, standing across the street, just staring at us. The boys and I started laughing so hard we were crying. I don't remember the last time the 3 of us laughed like that. All night we kept giggling about it. And that felt good....

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Nurse NP Ratched



Yesterday at work, I had a full schedule of sickies, including 2 brothers, ages 4 and 5, with fevers. I've seen them before and they are funny and cute. I took one look at their throats and decided to swab them for strep. As soon as I swabbed the 5 year old, he vomited. His brother started to cry, and when I swabbed him, he vomited too. Their dad and I got them cleaned up, and as I walked out of the room to run the strep tests, I heard one of them say, "I don't like that doctor anymore".  I started laughing. When I came back, they were smiling again, but the older one stopped smiling as soon as he saw me and gave me the hairy eyeball. Even after I tried to bribe him with a prize. Little kids crack me up. And yes, they had strep.

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As seen on the run


Today on the run, I saw a few things that amused me. I was out for a 12 mile run, so I had a lot of territory to cover. Since there is so much snow on the ground, I've gotten creative trying to get my miles in. I did a 6 mile out and back through 2 different parks. I have to run on the roads in between the parks, and on the side of the road, I came upon a condom box. I kicked the box while I ran, and it burst open, shooting condom packages out all over the road. I started laughing. Why would anyone throw a whole box of unused condoms out? I thought about picking them up, but I have no use for them anymore... At least they weren't used.  I do see those more often than I'd like. Ewww. As I kept running down the street, there was a radar/speed sign. The sign picked up a few cars going 25, 30 mph. I hoped to see my speed and was rewarded when it flashed an 8 at me. Oh yeah!!! That put a huge grin on my face. I gave myself an internal thumbs up. Once I got to the park, I looped around the lakes, stopped to take a yoga selfie (warrior 1 today) and headed back home. I saw this no swimming sign, which tickled my funny bone. I stopped again to snap this selfie.


I have to laugh. Laughter keeps me sane. It's so true that laughter is indeed the best medicine. It felt good to be reminded about that this week. As I continue to wrestle with my older son's issues, I'm finding less to laugh about. In yoga, we always come back to the breath. In life, we need to come back to the laughter.

Have you seen anything funny on the run? What makes you laugh out loud?

I'm linking this post with Tara at RunningNReading for her Weekend Update! Be sure to head over to her blog to see what everyone else is up to!






















Book clubbers: how are you doing with the book? Shoot me questions, concerns...and if you want me to ask the author anything, let me know!

29 comments :

  1. I'm so glad you found some laughter this week. You surely deserve it. I haven't laughed much this week, but here's to a new week!!! I HAVE pushed myself hard, and that is what got me through. <3

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    1. We do that, don't we? Just keep everyone else going. Thank God for my friends. And my sense of humor...

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  2. I always find something funny on a run (or see something). And if I'm running with friends, the laughter is doubled. One more (of many) reasons to get out there!

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    1. It's so true! For a while, I considered starting a Tumblr blog just to post pix of all the funny and weird stuff I see on the run!

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  3. Don't you just love those uncontrollable giggle fits? How cool that the radar speed sign picked up your speed. Whoop whoop! My last one will start driving next month. {Heavy Sigh}

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    1. After I wrote this, I thought people wouldn't see what was so fun about the garbage can incident. But it wasn't that per se, it was the aftermath and the laughing that made it feel so good.

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  4. Chin up, Girlfriend <3 Life gets nasty, but I try to smile as much as possible and cherish every laugh that comes my way. Laughter really is good medicine, and smiling eventually makes a down mood feel better. Those uncontrollable bursts of laughter that make your stomach hurt & eyes water are priceless. ((hugs))

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    1. Yep, you get it. It felt really good to laugh at that garbage can thing!

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  5. True story: I wouldn't want to be the person modeling the "No Swimming" sign! :D

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  6. My hubby and I love sprinting by those radar/speed signs. One of usually takes pictures of the other one running by while seeing how fast we can go!

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  7. I don't think I've ever seen a condom on a run. For me it's plenty of roadkill and bottle of pee. Gross.

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    1. I see them--used--a lot. I guess I should be glad that people are using them but ewww. I see lots of interesting things on the run in my neighborhood, especially on the weekends. Keeps it interesting.

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  8. Great (and funny!) stories. My oldest is 3 years away from driving but I am looking forward to it...although I'm sure there'll be some white knuckles! You must run in some interesting areas...I never find anything worth talking about on my runs, let alone a full box of condoms! The story about the two boys is funny and reminds me of my youngest son, who is very squeamish, especially if he sees blood. My husband told him he has to get an MRI for his knee and he started freaking out and crying. For some reason he thought an MRI was surgery...when I explained what it was he felt much better!

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    1. I really don't live in an interesting area...suburban Chicago, but seems like there's a lot of mischief that goes on around here.

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  9. I love this post and the fact that you had a memorable moment with your boys! It made me laugh out loud too. Thanks for this post. Great idea!! We always need to laugh.

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  10. I literally LOL when I watch Modern Family. Oh, the stuff I've seen on the road when I run. We should all write a book!

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  11. great stories! I remember teaching my kids to drive- my wine intake doubled!!!! I was released on Friday from the doctor and got 2 runs in this weekend! Wow! I am sore! I am taking it easy though- no worries! :)

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  12. Today, one of my local running friends told me that she's been doing laundry every day so that she knows everything she has is available to wear during our marathon on Sunday; that made me laugh out loud! Our weather has been so up and down crazy that we have no idea what to expect this weekend. Thanks for sharing your funnies, Wendy; thinking about you all the time!! Thanks so much for linking up with the blog today and I hope your week is off to a good start.

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  13. Thanks for sharing your funny stories! They all made me giggle! And man, why DO we see used condoms out and about? EWWWWWWWWWWWWW

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  14. What? You didn't go swimming then??
    :D

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