Monthly Archives: August 2024

Day 4250: What were you thinking?

Posted on August 21, 2024 by Ann Koplow

“What were you thinking?” is something I ask myself, judgmentally, way too often.

For example, yesterday I asked myself “What were you thinking?” regarding (1) items I did and did not pack for my 9-day Canadian trip with my son and (2) a reservation I made, without thinking things through, for a difficult-to-reach restaurant in beautiful Banff.

I am thinking that I need to be kinder to myself regarding my constant wish to do the best/right thing for myself and others.

What were you thinking when you read these words and looked at my images for today?

Here’s what I find when I search for “what were you thinking?” on YouTube:

What were you thinking regarding how I might express my thanks and gratitude to you today?

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism, travel | Tags: August 21 2024, “Don’t Believe Everything You Think”, Banff, letting go of judgment, Lisa Penney TED talk, public art, The Daily Bitch Calendar, the Democrat National Convention, Twitter, what people are thinking | 14 Comments

Day 4249: I feel fine

Posted on August 20, 2024 by Ann Koplow

I feel fine, dear readers, despite sleep deprivation, a very long day of air travel with plane delays, and the natural consequences of aging, because I am in Calgary with my son Aaron at the start of our 9-day Canadian adventure. Also, I feel fine because we went to the very fine National Music Centre — which had a special exhibit about the Beatles — and also to a fine dining restaurant named Teatro.

Aaron and I had several fine conversations yesterday about how to feel fine despite the ups and downs of life. I feel fine that, with all my accomplishments, I’m particularly proud that my son is such a fine human being.

I feel fine sharing these images from the fine city of Calgary with you.

I feel fine that I haven’t seen any mosquitos yet in Canada, that we are going to beautiful Banff today, that the Democratic National Convention is off to a fine start, and that “I Feel Fine” is one of my favorite Beatles songs.

I feel fine that I have such fine readers, including YOU!

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism, travel | Tags: August 20 2024, Banff, Calgary, Canadian musicians, Famous Five Monument, Olympic Plaza, singing, Teatro, The Beatles in Canada exhibit, The Daily Bitch Calendar, The National Music Centre | 9 Comments

Day 4248: National Aviation Day

Posted on August 19, 2024 by Ann Koplow

Happy National Aviation Day, everyone!

I’m going to observe National Aviation Day with activities that might promote interest in aviation. I’ll be flying out of the USA at 6 AM and landing in Canada. My son will be observing the day by flying from Halifax to Calgary to meet me.

Here are my other images for National Aviation Day:

Here’s what I find when I search for National Aviation Day:

Thanks to all who are here for this National Aviation Day post, including YOU!

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism, travel | Tags: August 19 2024, bad poetry, Bad Poetry Day, bluefish dish, cats, flying to Canada, National Day Calendar, The Daily Bitch Calendar, Twitter | 6 Comments

Day 4247: Appreciation

Posted on August 18, 2024 by Ann Koplow

I have appreciation for so many people, animals, and things in my life.

I try to express my appreciation every day.

Do you see appreciation in today’s blog post?

I’m sure I’ll be feeling and expressing appreciation for my Lyft driver when they pick me up at 3 AM to get me to Logan airport tomorrow morning. Then, I’ll be feeling and expressing appreciation for my son when we start our Canadian trip in Calgary.

Here’s what I find when I search for “appreciation” on YouTube.

Now I shall express appreciation for all those who help me create these daily blog posts, including YOU!

Categories: 2024 USA elections, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: August 18 2024, gel nails, gratitude, Mike Robbins, The Daily Bitch Calendar, The Democratic National Convention, The Power of Appreciation, the South Shore of Boston, Twitter, wonderful speakers | 10 Comments

Day 4246: Comfort Zones

Posted on August 17, 2024 by Ann Koplow

Last night, when I couldn’t sleep, I listened to Michael Singer’s talk about comfort zones.

I found that talk about comfort zones very comforting.

Yesterday, when I was thinking about going out of my comfort zones and visiting new places …

… I discovered that the second largest Fringe Festival in the world will be happening in Edmonton when my son and I are there next week. Because Fringe festivals are very familiar to us, now my comfort zone is easily expanding to include Edmonton.

Do you see comfort zones in my other images for today?

Because today is National #2 Pencil Day, that increases my comfort zone for sharing another joke from my Twitter feed.

Right after I publish this post about comfort zones, I’m going to get out of my comfort zone by watching and listening to some videos of me performing my original songs on June 1.

Thanks to all who increase my comfort zones, including YOU!

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism, travel | Tags: August 27 2024, “Step Out of Your Comfort Zone & Let Life Teach You”, “The Untethered Soul”, cats, Edmonton, jokes, Michael Singer, National #2 Pencil Day, The Daily Bitch Calendar, Twitter | 10 Comments

Day 4245: Needs

Posted on August 16, 2024 by Ann Koplow

In two therapy groups yesterday, people discussed their needs and worked on balancing their needs with other people’s needs.

After working today, I’ll be taking a two-week vacation that I really need.

Before I fly out very early Monday morning to meet up with my son in Calgary, I need to pack, call the vet to make appointments for our two cats, get my nails done, and learn enough about our travel itinerary so I can do everything I need to get us from Calgary to Banff to Edmonton to Vancouver by bus and by train.

I need to remember that I have traveled before and it has all worked out.

What needs do you see in today’s blog post?

Here’s what I find when I search for “needs” on YouTube:

This world needs people like Temple Grandin and people like you!

Categories: group therapy, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: August 16 2024, “The world needs all kinds of minds” TED talk, Gemma Correll, quotes about needs, Scott Metzger cartoon, Temple Grandin, The Daily Bitch Calendar, Twitter, what people are recovering from | 8 Comments

Day 4244: What makes you smile?

Posted on August 15, 2024 by Ann Koplow

So many things make me smile these days, including wonderful people, fabulous animals, music, the news (of all things!), and hopes for the future.

What makes you smile in my images for today?

It makes me smile how serious Carol and Riccardo are while working on my album.

It makes me smile to see Riccardo with his dog Hugo.

It makes me smile that National Failures Day is a thing, especially in a nation that connects self worth to success.

Here’s what I find on YouTube when I search for “what makes you smile?”

Thanks to all who make me smile, including YOU!

Categories: 2024 USA elections, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: August 15 2024, “What Made You Smile Today?” TED talk, cats, dogs, Mark Goulston, National Failures Day, The Daily Bitch Calendar, the South Shore of Boston, Twitter | 8 Comments

Day 4243: Smart

Posted on August 14, 2024 by Ann Koplow

I’m smart enough to start this post with a definition and quotes from smart people.

I’m hoping there are enough smart people in the USA to elect a smart woman as our next President.

Do you see anything smart in my other images for today?

It’s August 14 and my smart son and I will be meeting up in Canada for our trip across the Rockies very soon. I hope I’m smart enough to pack everything I need (including my INR monitor and my ukulele). I can’t wait for us to meet my smart blogging friend Maureen!

Here’s what I find when I search for “smart” on YouTube.

I’m not smart enough to remember whether I’ve shared that video before but I am smart enough to have a coin-flip app on my phone to help me expend less energy on minor decisions.

What kind of smart is that?

Thanks to all who help me create smart posts, including YOU!

Categories: 2024 USA elections, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: August 14 2024, “How to Make Smart Decisions” from TED-Ed, Cod dish, gratitude, INR monitor, Kamala Harris, smart quotes, stringed instruments, The Daily Bitch Calendar, Thomas Crane Public Library, Twitter | 10 Comments

Day 4242: Words

Posted on August 13, 2024 by Ann Koplow

Boy, I’ve written a lot of words for this daily blog over the years. No matter what happens, it seems like I’ve got some words (and pictures) to share.

Yesterday, on my commuter ferry ride into Boston, I saw a woman reading a book and the words of the title were something like this: “The Democrats Hate America.” I was tempted to speak these words to her — “No we don’t” — but I didn’t want to have words with somebody that early in the morning.

Sometimes I have no words for what is going on in my country.

What words come up about my images for today?

That’s a much smaller number of words than unusual in today’s list of holidays and observances. I am going to celebrate International Lefthander’s Day because I’m an international Lefthander (who has had some trouble writing legible words with a pen and especially a pencil).

(Sometimes I wonder whether people actually read all the words in my posts instead of just looking at the pictures. If you are reading these words, please reply “Word!” in the comments, below. )

Here’s what I find when I search for “words” on YouTube.

I end each blog post with two words that express my gratitude to all those who help me every day, including YOU!

Categories: life in the USA, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: Anne Curzan: What makes a word “real”?, August 13 2024, “l International Lefthander’s Day, Boston commute, rainbows, Real-life Bond villains, The Daily Bitch Calendar, The Longwood Medical area, Twitter, word games | 10 Comments

Day 4241: Nice

Posted on August 12, 2024 by Ann Koplow

Yesterday, when I was having a nice walk before my singing lesson with the extremely talented and nice Shereé Marcelle (who will be attending my August 31 political fund-raising concert along with one of her other students who is also bringing a psychotherapist friend — NICE!), I saw this:

It’s nice that I am seeing that on my nice walk by the beach instead of the dozens of Trump stickers I kept seeing in 2020.

In case you think it would be nice to see a definition of “nice,” here it is:

My very pleasant niece, Laura, who helps me and my agreeable son plan vacation trips, is going to let me know today the fine details for our upcoming adventures in nice Canada, which will include a train trip through the Rockies and a visit with my pleasant, agreeable, and kind blogging friend Maureen.

Here are the other nice images for this nice blog post:

It’s nice that my pictures are loading easily from my phone when I blog these days. It would be nice if that continues when I’m blogging from nice Canada next week.

Here are some of the nice songs that my nice friends on Twitter mentioned for the Harris Walz campaign: