Here we are now. Welcome, 2009. Wishing you a great new year.

Sure, the two customers in front of me were kind of difficult. Like, both asked questions. But I was in a hurry because I had just snuck out of the movie theater to get some candy for me and my son.

So every second counted.

And the only person behind the counter is a guy who's really slow. So slow that I was actually trying to make eye contact to send him a stinky eye. But he's just working there, so he's not in a hurry.

When I finally get to the counter, I see a sticker on the cash register. Somebody - a frustrated customer? a scheming colleague? - has pasted a sticker with the text, "snigel" on it.

Swedish for "snail."

Either he's got a reputation, or he's trying to attract dyslexic women.

A well-deserved break, even if I say so myself. Be well.

If you believe this:

"Police in Finland believe they have caught a car-thief thanks to a DNA sample taken from a sample of his blood found inside a mosquito."

then I guess you have a hard time believing the suspect who said that

he did not steal the car, saying he had hitchhiked and was given a lift by a man driving the car:

Sports is best enjoyed live. I’m sorry to disappoint avid readers, but that’s just a fact.

For example, there is nothing better than to hear 6 000 Slovaks cheer and yell and play their drums and horns and whistles creating a noise that makes your ears pop, and the hair on your arms to stand up and salute – only to welcome their hockey team onto the ice. Because the noise they make when their team scores a goal can’t be called better. Just more.

» Continued

First, a conversation with my Dutch colleague.

Me: I just had a huge insight. Huge.
Dutch: What is it?
Me: You know how people always say quitting is the easy way out? Well, it's not. Quitting is really hard.
Dutch: Yes. Who says quitting is easy?
Me (sheepishly): They just say so.
Dutch: Who's they?
Me: People.
Dutch: They're wrong. Quitting is not easy.
Me: I know!

Then, my two lessons:

1. Quitting is not easy.
2. Huge insight may not be so huge.

About a year ago, I mentioned that I keep a list on my desk. Here's another list of mine, but this one has only existed in my head until now. These are the Top 3 Worst Answers to Anything.

1. "You should understand that, you're a smart person."
2. "I was kidding, don't you have a sense of humor?"
3. "Lighten up, it ain't that serious."

They all put whoever is saying it in a position of power, and make him/her an authority to evaluate (and judge) others' intelligence, seriousness, and the quality of their sense of humor.

And to quote George Costanza: "Where do you get the ego?"

What would you say, if I told you that

“if your friend’s friend’s friend becomes happy, that has a bigger impact on you being happy than putting an extra $5,000 in your pocket.”

That's what a recent study says, anyway.

Happiness is contagious! You surround yourself with people that are happy, and you'll be happy.

So, thank you for visiting my blog. It makes me so happy. Nice to have you here, why don't you just click around a bit. Maybe this is is something you'd like? Or this one? And I know you'd be happy to find this one again, I bet you had forgotten all about it. Fun stuff, right?

Be happy.

Here's my latest from IIHF.com. Click here, or continue reading after the jump.

» Continued

How do you not want to buy this modeling set:



I think I need one.