January 8
Bubbles Day

A smile starts on the lips.
A grin spreads to the eyes.
A chuckle comes from the belly.
But a good laugh bursts forth,
the soul overflows
and bubbles all around.

~ Carolyn Birmingham

Over on a month full of Smiley Silliness it’s the start of Hunt for Happiness Week. Maybe it’s less of a hunt, which suggests that it is hiding from you–which I do not think is the case. I’d say it’s more that it is waiting for you to wake to the fact that happiness is always available for those who are open to it. I’m not discounting true sorrow. I’m talking about the thousands of small moments each day when happiness is there for the taking.

It is also Male Watching Day.  I am a big fan of this day.  I love looking at a good looking guy.  I’m one to holler, “unfair” when watching a movie where the women are in bikinis and the men have on baggy swim trunks and loose fitting t-shirts. I think we need a movement to get all men to wear Speedos for a little beach equality. Let the guys be equally uncomfortable walking around all exposed.

I wonder if Male Watching Day was put on January 8th in recognition of the very watchable Elvis, born this day in 1935. Put Elvis in an argyle sweater while skiing and munching on a toffee then you’d be celebrating 4 of the holidays set for today. And if Elvis rode the chairlift up the mountain with David Bowie (also the birthday boy, 1947) they could entertain the skiers below singing Happy Birthday to each other.

It’s also the birthday of the Milk Carton. The first ones appeared in 1929, just in time for the arrival of my good old mom! She was born in 1929.

Great mind Stephen Hawking (1942) and silly soul Soupy Sales (1926) were also born on this day.