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A keychain with Willy Wonka’s face on it, from last summer’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The song “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” by The Proclaimers. Hiking through the woods. James Spader as Alan Shore on TV’s Boston Legal. The paragraph on page 20 of Anyone But You by Jennifer Crusie that includes the line “(Fred’s) butt failed to achieve lift-off.” Watching the sun setting over the ocean.
What do all these have in common? They make me smile, or feel at peace, or both. No matter how bad my day is going, no matter how stressed I am, how tired or sick, they all have the power to instantly elevate my mood. Even better, they’re also free or very inexpensive, and will never add to my waistline.
Life is a little different now that I’m published. I have additional sources of stress as well as sources of joy. There were a lot of distractions while I struggled to complete my first novel under contract last year, and there seem to be just as many things trying to stress me out with this book. My mom, fortunately, is now cancer free, but my beloved 16-year-old cat is wasting away for no reason that a series of expensive tests could determine.
Maybe it’s just a coping mechanism, but I’ve become very unapologetic about the things that make me smile. Tease me about keeping The Proclaimers’ CD in my truck’s player since last July, and you won’t get a rise. I know all the words to all the songs, even those that weren’t in Benny & Joon, and can sing along with Craig and Charlie with a (really bad) Scottish accent. Ask me anything about Johnny Depp, and if I don’t know the answer, I know who does. I never miss an episode of Boston Legal — David E. Kelley’s writing is back in top form. I watched the perfect sunset at Canon Beach last month, and stood in awe until it sank below the horizon. (I posted a picture of it on my web site.)
Without resorting to pharmaceuticals, what elevates your mood?
Filed in: Jaunty Post
Feb 26th
2006
4:39 pm
Isabel Said:
I’m sorry to hear about your kitty, Shirley. As a slave to one myself (“There are many intelligent species in the universe. They are all owned by cats.” –Anonymous ), I cannot imagine what is like for her to be sick. I hope for the best.
Mood lifters? For me it’s music, chocolate and a good book. My animals who love me and always seem to find a way to make me smile. P&P the A&E version, I watch it once a month and I feel renewed. Emails and cards I’ve saved from people who said the nicest things to me. I also read and collect quotes, so if I’m down I go straight for the inspirational ones.
“Hope is like a bird that senses the dawn and carefully starts to sing while it is still dark.”
–unknown
Isabel
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Feb 26th
2006
5:13 pm
Rose B Said:
Shirley, I am so jealous now! I love going to Canon beach and even watch ‘The Goonies’ because I just love that place. It is definitely a spirit lifter. My mood enhancers are music, happy movies and chatting with my friends. Now that I write this I think chatting with my friends should have been first. Since I’ve been here in Shanghai I have been chatting with family and friends on msn messenger and they have kept me from getting terribly homesick during my adjustment period. It sure beats writing a letter!
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Feb 26th
2006
10:29 pm
Laura Said:
Do you get a commission from Jennifer Crusie because I think you just sold one of her books. That’s a great line!
Mood lifters, my dogs, a good book, a comedy, a romantic comedy and the soundtrack to What Women Want.
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Feb 27th
2006
1:27 pm
Kimberly Logan Said:
Shirley, I’m so sorry to hear about your cat. My dog is my baby, and it’s so hard to watch him suffering when he is unwell. Animals can’t tell you what hurts, and that’s difficult to deal with when you love them so much.
When I’m feeling down, there is nothing like re-reading a favorite book or watching a much loved movie to improve my mood. And Rose, did you bring back memories! Ahhh, The Goonies… The ultimate moviegoing experience for those of us who were pre-teens in the early to mid 80′s. I believe I saw it at least 7 or 8 times at the theater, and I still enjoy watching it now that I have the DVD with the cast reunion commentary. How cool is it to see Chunk, Data, Mouth, Mikey and the rest all grown up?
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Feb 27th
2006
7:51 pm
Mary Said:
{{{SHIRLEY}}}
I love chocolate, a favorite movie (depending on what kind of mood I’m in, anything from Pirates to P&P), Grey’s Anatomy (my newest obsession) curling up in my big chair with decorating magazines.
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Feb 27th
2006
10:52 pm
Shirley Karr Said:
Ooh, yeah, that Pirates DVD is certainly a heck of a mood lifter. (Did y’all see the Belgian skater at the Olympics who did a routine to Pirates music, in a pirate-ish costume?
Alas, I’m on too tight a deadline to sit and enjoy a movie, so I had to make do with a new pic of Johnny that ran in the NY Post last week — standing on the deck of his yacht, shirtless, head back and eyes closed to enjoy the sun, with so many trinkets on his belt loop they’re dragging down his jeans to below his tan line. Normally I am mostly appreciative of JD’s artistic work, his incredible skill as an actor, but this pic made me appreciative of God’s work. Ahem. 
Re: Grey’s Anatomy — is it just me, or are they turning Meredith into a mean tramp? Poor George!
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Nov 26th
2006
7:34 pm
mr skin Said:
I’d have to say that I didn’t like the new Charlie and the Chocolate Factory movie much at all. The old one was way better.
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