Happiness – Page 21

Throwback Thursday, Neal’s Post from the Past

Neal’s Post from the Past: “Touring Savannah’s City Hall, Y’all”

Posted on September 1, 2022September 1, 2022 by Neal Saye

A blog post from back in 2014. Please excuse the grainy photos.

Every First Tuesday Savannah’s City Hall opens its doors for free tours. I know, I know, touring City Hall doesn’t sound like the most exciting entertainment venue around. But hold on just a second. After a hefty helping of Gabriella’s Zesty Chicken (on mashed potatoes) at Zunzi’s, I wobbled down Bull Street, remembering just in time to look up before I reached the river, and saw this …

… Savannah’s incredibly beautiful City Hall.

Completed in 1905 …

… City Hall features two figures who adorn the front, just below the clock and gold dome. And those two pretty ladies represent Commerce and Art. If you know anything about Savannah, you will find those figures so, so timely. Because what was true in 1905 is certainly true today: Savannah is both a big business city (Savannah Port and Gulfstream, for example) as well as a cultured, artistic town (SCAD, Savannah Music Festival, festivals galore).

Come along.

The original clockwork is now in the lobby:

Looking up to the interior stained glass dome:

Here I am with the really interesting tour guide (and SCAD grad), Luciana Spracher. She knew her stuff!

Did you know Savannah has a flag?

View from a back window of city hall:

I pretended to know the mayor. But you can only stand in front of her office for so long before people start to wonder what you’re doing.

TANGENT: A couple of months ago, I attended an event at the Savannah Civic Center with our mayor, Edna Jackson.

Okay, okay, maybe I wasn’t exactly with the mayor, but you can’t tell that from the above photo with her and Savannah State’s President, Dr. Cheryl Davenport Dozier.

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Luciana led us into the Savannah City Council chambers. For some reason I just got so excited.

Here I am sitting at the mayor’s desk. (Does she know people do this?)

What a fun (and educational) tour! Thanks, Luciana.

I Love Savannah!

Hello, Anxiety.

Hello Anxiety: “A Tale of Two Happy’s”

Posted on August 30, 2022September 1, 2022 by Neal Saye

(Or is the plural of “Happy” spelled “Happies”? The jury seems to be out on that question.)

This blog category is the journaling and journey-ing of my quest to say (with cautious sincerity) “Hello, Anxiety” and to take a look at the condition from my “me-andering” views.

I LOVE yellow. It’s such a standout HAPPY color.

Bouquet in the lobby of Resorts World Catskills back in July

I also love Happy. Happiness. Happier.

I even have a Happy Cup! Don’t you?

I like him because he’s always happy. No matter which way you turn or spin him. No matter what you put in him. Even hot coffee! Even with his fine line wrinkles (look at pic closely).

A contributing factor to my ongoing issue/challenge/frustration with anxiety is that I aspire to be that Happy Cup. After all, I write a blog named “NealEnJoy”! So when Unhappy (i.e., breathing difficulty, fear of nausea, etc.) comes a knockin, my first response is often to ignore it (as if) and with gritted teeth BE HAPPY. Or more honestly put, pretend to be happy.

This opposites-competing cognitive dissonance is not fun or … happy. Try though I do to keep happiness wound up.

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Here’s my Happy Holder. What, you don’t have one?

He doesn’t turn around or spin in quite the same way as my Happy Cup.

And he irritatingly tells me that my blog should more truthfully be named “NealDoesn’tALWAYSEnJoy.” Because Neal (or anyone else) doesn’t always.

“Backside” thinks he’s so smart he even quotes Jung.

A DIFFICULT BUT TRUTHFUL LESSON.

But I have to confess that I still prefer Holder’s “front” side …

Five Friday Happy Bringers

Five Friday Happy Bringers 8/26/22

Posted on August 26, 2022August 26, 2022 by Neal Saye

1. Realizing that some broken things CAN be fixed.

My special wooden “N” (for Neal) that I somehow dropped and splintered.

But now it’s back on the top of my Desires Board, next to Mr. Happy and down just a bit from my Yes Stick. (Okay, I can see your furrowed brow. During the pandemic, HR and I traveled to a bunch of Georgia State parks, where we went on many a hike. I would often see a Y-shaped stick or tree branch on the trail and tell Robert it was a Yes Stick, to pause and think of something to say “Yes!” to. On one marvel-ous hike at Tugaloo State Park, HR saw this Y Stick, brought it home and shellacked it for us. Yes! TMI?)

2. The incredible ability to walk (which I usually just take for granted). To be able to put one foot in front of the other … and go forward! Try it!

3. Finally finishing with Robert this week the eye-, mind- and heart-opening A New Origin Story: The 1619 Project.

A difficult but so important read about the role that slavery and racism played in our nation’s founding—and continues to play in the U.S. today.

I wish its meticulously documented truths could be taught in every high school.

5. Butterflies

Callaway Resort and Gardens, Pine Mountain, GA

4. Soap. (For sensitive skin)

I wish you a joyfully clean weekend ahead.

Family

It Starts with “L”

Posted on August 19, 2022August 19, 2022 by Neal Saye

So if you have followed my blog for a while now, you know that I am married to a man, Robert, and that we are very close to my ex-wife Donna.

We actually took her out for lunch today. (Five Guys, Burgers and Fries— in case you are wondering. I’m a big spender.)

I was recently looking through my storage bins of “old stuff” and came across this …

A little gift from Donna years (no decades!) ago.

The incredible truth?

IT’S STILL TRUE!

Family

Pre-K is A-Okay!

Posted on August 8, 2022August 8, 2022 by Neal Saye

Today was granddaughter Isabelle‘s first day of pre-K.

Isabelle’s expression … “I’m not so sure about this school thing.“

“Welcome to school, Isabelle. We’re SO glad you’re here.”

Hall-walking with big brother and sister, Matthew and Madison.

A great first day of school! So much to learn. So much to do.

Robert and …

“Robert and … #23”

Posted on July 26, 2022August 18, 2022 by Neal Saye

A blog category of pics I’ve taken of HR (Hubby Robert) and … well, just about anything.

Robert and … edamame. And gaily expressing beyond-normal happiness about it.

But I try not to judge.

Five Friday Happy Bringers

Five Friday Happy Bringers 7/22/22

Posted on July 22, 2022July 22, 2022 by Neal Saye

1. Leftover Low Country Boil. Yum!

2. Air conditioning. Air conditioning. Air conditioning. Our real feel here in Savannah is 100+ nearly every day lately.

3. Grandson Daniel in Savannah Theatre’s summer production of “Grease.” Great music and fun.

Not a great pic—we were up in the balcony. But you get the idea.

4. The inexplicable joy of having a husband who loves my ex-wife Donna and works hard on projects for her. Here he’s putting together a picture frame hanging thingy for a puzzle. I quickly lost interest and started a lengthy internal debate about how much pink Himalayan sea salt I should shake on my butter pecan ice cream.

5. The power of prayer.

I pray you have a brilliant weekend ahead.

The Artful Dodger, Unexpected Art

“The Artful Dodger“ #10

Posted on July 12, 2022July 27, 2022 by Neal Saye

A blog category about finding “art” in unexpected places and situations.

So I was minding my own business, sitting in my study chair …

… meditating on why the Kardashians are still “a thing,” when Robert, who had been in the kitchen working on his ice cream sundae, barreled into the study and shoved this in my face …