Posts Tagged With: birthdays

Day 4415: Age

Posted on February 2, 2025 by Ann Koplow

Well, dear readers, I’ve made it to age seventy-two!

Now that I’ve miraculously reached this advanced age, I have to rewrite the first line of my song “Shameless Appeals for Applause.”

Any ideas?

While many people have negative feelings about age (some right-wing jerk on Twitter called me an “old hag” last week), I feel incredibly lucky and grateful to be this age. That’s why I never lie about or conceal my age; instead, I brag about it.

Do you see age in my images for today?

From a very young age I’ve known that my birthday was Groundhog Day, but it took this advanced age to find out that it is also World Play Your Ukulele Day!

Thanks to all who are helping me to celebrate my age, including YOU!

Categories: original song, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: "Shameless Appeals for Applause", acting one’s age, birthdays, cats, celebrating, gratitude, groundhog day, living with a congenital heart condition, Twitter, World Play Your Ukulele Day | 18 Comments

Day 4050: How is everybody doing?

Posted on February 3, 2024 by Ann Koplow

Earlier this week, Elmo (whose birthday is today) asked this question on Twitter and got thousands and thousands of responses.

I found out about Elmo asking “How is everybody doing?” from people checking in during my Coping and Healing groups this week, where members discuss how they are doing. Somebody wondered why people they knew were being more open about their mental health, and somebody else speculated that it was because Elmo had asked, “How is everybody doing?”

Elmo discovered something I know from facilitating groups: if you ask “how is everybody doing?” and really want to know the answer, no matter what it is, people will respond honestly.

How is everybody doing as you look at my other images for today?

I’m not sure how the Daily Bitch is doing, but I know how I’m doing: I’m relieved and grateful to have made it to age 71.

Here’s what I find when I search for “how is everybody doing?” on YouTube.

Thanks to all who are here for this how-is-everybody-doing post, including YOU.

Categories: personal growth | Tags: birthdays, Brassica Kitchen, coping strategies, Depression, Elmo, February 3 2023, Good Morning America, group therapy, mental health, The Daily Bitch Calendar, Twitter | 16 Comments

Day 3884: Where words fail

Posted on August 21, 2023 by Ann Koplow

Where words fail, you can always use pictures.

Where words fail, music speaks, and I used no words and failed music yesterday when I deliberately missed notes in front of three guys whose opinion I respect.

My ex-husband Leon, my son Aaron, and my husband Michael still want to be seen with me after I have an epic singing fail.

When words fail, it often means emotions are strong, and I have so much love for the guys in that photo, one of whom is having a birthday today!

When words fail, it might mean that cats are involved and today is also Joan’s birthday!

Where words fail, music speaks, and maybe Joan can help me finish some new songs.

Where words fail because your jaw is making clicking noises, you can try different remedies to fix it.

Where words fail, you can just share more pictures of a wonderful day!

Where words fail, you can always celebrate Senior Citizen’s Day (with someone who is turning 60) and Stay Home with Your Kid’s Day with your only kid who is moving to Halifax next week.

No cupcake on Cupcake Day, but an eclair, a cream puff, and a cannoli never fail.

Where words fail, body language and noises can convey what you want for your birthday.

Where words fail, I can end with an image of gratitude for YOU!

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: Arsenal Yards, August 21 2023, August Moon Festival, birthdays, cats, clicking jaw, letting go of fear, nonverbal communication, Tam Healing Center, The Daily Bitch Calendar, thrift shop | 19 Comments

Day 3685: Groundhog Day, again!

Posted on February 2, 2023 by Ann Koplow

Well, dear readers, I made it to Groundhog Day, again, and age 70!

Whether or not the groundhog sees his shadow, there is no shadow here and it’s springtime in my soul. I’m so grateful for every precious year I’ve had and thankful that, against all odds, there’s more life ahead.

Even when I repeat mistakes and relearn lessons again (as we all do), it’s been a wonderful ride with no regrets.

Let’s see if there’s any evidence of Groundhog Day, again, in my images for today.

Even the Daily Bitch is thankful on Groundhog Day, again!

Here’s what I find when I search YouTube for “Groundhog Day, again!”

Thanks to all who are celebrating Groundhog Day, again, with me, including YOU!

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: Bill Murray, birthdays, cats, February 2 2023, gratitude, Stephen W. Hawking, survival, The Daily Bitch Calendar, The Illustrated Theory of Everything, tuna noodle casserole, Twitter | 17 Comments

Day 3313: What’s really on my mind

Posted on January 26, 2022 by Ann Koplow

I like to express what’s really on my mind, and I’m so grateful I get to do that here, every day.

What’s really on my mind today is

the state of the world,
the state of the nation,
the state of the state,
people’s mental health,
people not getting back to me,
my birthday a week from today, and
bringing our very shy and anxious cat Harley to the vet this afternoon.

Harley is so shy and anxious that we’ve only had home-visiting vets treating him since we adopted him seven years ago. What’s really on my mind about Harley is that

the first vet who did that called him “a very fretful fellow”,
he got so scared the last time Michael tried to put him in the carrier that he gouged Michael’s arm with his claws,
he needs to see a full-service vet because he’s getting up there in age (like me!),
he had a mysterious ailment last week that seems to have disappeared,
Michael considered using the “towel technique” to capture Harley and deposit him in the carrier,
it was really on our minds last night so we discussed it many times, and
Michael discovered, much to our amazement, that Harley will go into the carrier if he puts his favorite treat in there.

What’s really on my mind right now is something Michael says a lot: “It’s never what you expect.”

What’s really on my mind is to share my images for today.

What’s really on my mind, here and now, is that I have a great spouse in Michael and that tomorrow is National Chocolate Cake Day.

This comes up when I search YouTube for “what’s really on my mind”:

What’s really on my mind is to express gratitude to my spouse Michael, to the Incredible Mr T, and to all those who help me blog every day, including YOU.

Categories: cats, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: birthdays, expectations, gratitude, Incredible Mr T, National Days in January, salmon dish, taking a cat to the vet, The Daily Bitch Calendar, the South Shore of Boston, Twitter | 12 Comments

Day 1881: So much to love about —

Posted on February 24, 2018 by Ann Koplow

There’s so much to love about my co-worker Juli, who offered me this Rice Krispies treat yesterday.

So much to love about —

Rice Krispies treats,
Generous people,
The world,

Bunnies,

Dogs,

Life,
Stories,

Writing,
Singing,
Balloons,

Birthdays,
My son Aaron, who turned 20 yesterday,
Memories of past birthdays,

Young Aaron

11 year olds,
This video Aaron made when he was 11 years old,

Comments on this blog,
Everyone who helped me create today’s post,
You, and
Thanks!

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: birthdays, bunnies, Butter Sculptures, CVS, dogs, Easter Hip Hop Bunny, gratitude, love, Rice Krispies Treats, Stop & Shop, The Misheard Lyrics of "Louie Louie" | 23 Comments

Day 1855: What Not to Do Today

Posted on January 29, 2018 by Ann Koplow

I often make To Do Lists, especially for Mondays. However, I’ve never made a list of what not to do before.

Here’s my first ever list of What Not to Do Today:

Celebrate my birthday (since it’s four days away).

Ignore the cats.
Be a perfectionist.
Facilitate a group (because my therapy groups don’t meet on Mondays).

Start collecting miniature chairs (since I already collect watches).
Regret the past.
Be anxious about the future.
Avoid.
Assume.
Beat myself up about what I’m not doing.
Ignore the beauty around me.

Post a video about “What Not To Do Today.”
Celebrate Mozart’s birthday (because it was two days ago).

Bake a cake like that.
Be late for work.
Specifically ask for comments about what would be on your “What Not To Do Today” list.
Forget to thank all who helped me create this “What Not To Do Today” post and — of course! — YOU.

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: birthdays, Jiri Kylian, letting go of regret, Letting go of worry, miniature chairs, Mozart's birthday, Nederlands Dans Theater, to do lists | 20 Comments