Posted in Hello, Anxiety.

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

(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
Field near the hotel
Atlanta Botanical Garden

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).

The cute little jokester!

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.

************

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 …

Posted in Family

It Starts with “L”

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!

At a Braves game.
Posted in The Artful Dodger, Unexpected Art

“The Artful Dodger“ #11

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

So the other morning, Robert made these incredibly delicious apple fritters … from scratch! (The only thing I do from scratch is my back.)

He thought they turned out way too brown and bland.

But oh my goodness, they were beyond delicious. Apple-y, cinnamon-y pastry sweet.

And when he put mine on my breakfast saucer, I gasped! (Gay men gasp dramatically so very well.)

Look what I saw!

Wait, let me zero in a bit better.

See him? No?! Okay, here …

A big fat brown bunny. He hopped. And hopped. Right into my mouth.