Soooo... Tara & i decided that we needed to begin our own Happiness Project.   Because really, can you really be happy enough?

Though, as i began formulating my happiness project goals, i'm realizing these are life betterment goals -- not necessarily happiness goals.  For example, my first set of goals is around losing weight.  Yes, i would be happier -- i think -- if i weighed 15 pounds less.  My confidence would go up, i would feel better, my clothes would fit better, etc, etc.  However, i really love to eat!  It makes me happy to dip that tasty seasoned chip in the fresh tomato salsa and give it a big crunch!  Chip #2, #3, #4...#25 taste just as good!  The question is, does losing weight make me happier than eating my weight in chips & salsa.  We shall see, i suppose.  

And as i'm writing down these goals to develop into a more fabulous me (hard to imagine, i know), i'm thinking what i really want to do is make some goals about being an uber gamer or giving myself permission to read all day or going to a decadent spa.  i mean, that's FUN (fun with a capital F!) -- nerdy (relaxing too!), but FUN!

“Happiness is neither virtue nor pleasure nor this thing nor that, but simply growth. We are happy when we are growing.” -William Butler Yeats

Alas, i'm grudgingly agreeing with Mr. Yeats.  i find it's true at work, and i'm sure applies to personal endeavors.

So, how's it going so far you ask?  Today is week 1 in month 1.  And yeah, while i've not been gorging (minus the 5 oreos consumed today), i've neither been diligently tracking food, working out or even being more active.   i think i'm gonna need more accountability -- maybe some incentive.  /sigh

Buffy, quite the adventures you've had in Season 3.  Always witty, always entertaining.

Of course, she saved the world yet again, this time from the very entertaining Sunnydale mayor who transformed into a giant bug demon. Fun!

Didn't really enjoy the Faith saga - she was an annoying tough girl.  Alas, Buffy had to grow up and kill her... so sad.

But oh Angel, you've taken the high road to leave town so Buffy can live on.

Graduation = achieved.  And on to UC Sunnydale in season 4.  Let's see how Buffy finds college.  And i hope Spike visits.

Buffy, oh Buffy.  You've had a hard year.

i (almost) cried (ok, so it was just a little eye moisture) when you lost Angel the first time, then again when you drove the blessed blade through his stomach.  Not saying he didn't deserve it, but oh, sweet, terrible love.  How awful to kill him just when he'd gotten his soul back.  Oh, how the twisting, agonizing plots of the teenage years tear you up.  Cuz that's the kind of stuff i was facing when i was 17 -- where should i volunteer to improve my high school resume? will i finally make it into the National Honor Society? will the band director ever stop glaring at me for dropping out to focus on getting a life?

Angelus, you're just so evil and sometimes cute.  Spike, i hope you're back next season, cuz you're fun.  Never expected to be hooked on Buffy, especially since i used to think it was beneath my TV attention... did we even have a TV when Buff was popular?

Well, i'm looking forward to season 3... more brooding close-ups of Buffy's pouty face, the increase in Willow's sassiness, love conflicts, Seth Green, and of course, more vampires!  Let's see what Buff's 18th birthday brings.

Muse. Anything Muse is grand. Love their newest release:



Madness.

Definitely summer vacay reading -- vampires, werewolves and tattoos, oh my!  And only one book club meeting, so very little redeeming fiction.  But must say, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter & Sweet was a great one.  Highly recommended.  And loved spending time with Jamie of the Jamie & Claire family.  Not my fave Diana Gabaldon, but it's like spending time with an old acquaintance.

So far for fall, working on two non-fiction books, which are slow, but hopeful, and a good old fashioned sci fi.  And still contemplating the 3rd in the Games of Thrones series... it's just so depressing.  Keep thinking something good's gonna happen, but nope.  So, it'll stay on the back burner for a while.  Progress on my 1001 books to read before i die:  0%.  They stare at me and i stare back.  i stack them on my bedside table, hoping to generate interest, but "boring" they say, "boring."

Ok, so i'm admitting it for all to read.  i've been watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer - the TV series.  And... i like it.

Buffy's Crew - Season 1

Not a program i've watched before, except for the occasional Angel episode, so i'm mocking myself for even queueing it up on Netflix.  Really, Buffy.  The movie was cute, but i'm much too sophisticated to get addicted to the show.  Now, Firefly, that's quality programming.  But i really enjoy Joss Whedon's work, so i gave it a shot as background material while scrapbooking.

The last week, she's been battling vampires and all sorts of necrofiliacs, while i'm happily scrapbooking away on Project Life.  In fact, i finished season 1 in a Project Life marathon on Saturday (ok, it's not my fault that Project Life pages are divided into a million pockets and figuring out the best way to display the 300+ pictures of a recent--and so very magical--Disney vacation takes forever).

Buffy = silly, vampire hunting teenager with a mean kick

Buffy of course reigns supreme at the end of Season 1, defeating the Vampire Master and single-handedly saving the planet from sudden doom!  

Buffy, what kinds of vamps and demons will you fight in Season 2?  And can we see more of hunky Angel?  And Spike, when do you enter the picture?  Oh, the thrill!

A new fav:


...just hold on