Fun Fact Friday #11--May 14th Edition

For this week's F3, I give you my 100 Things That Make Me Happy List! I would love to see what you come up with!

100 THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY.

1: David Cohen—for all that he is. I appreciate him and love him more and more each and every day.

2: My Family—even though we sometimes get on each others nerves, I am grateful for all that they do and are.

3: Travel—just to be able to take to the sky or to the road and see new things makes me smile.

4: Very Good Sex with #1—need I say more?

5: Union Square Park—the atmosphere, the protests, the stores…just thinking about it makes me gush!

6: Plants in Bloom—shows life and love.

7: Warm Spring Days—I just love to sit outside and read or relax in the park on a warm spring day. Definitely makes me happy.

8: Hugs and Kisses from the people I love and cherish.

9: Laughter, especially from a young child.

10: Being there for friends in their time of need.

11: Having a tax refund every year

12: Waking up with thoughts of David running through my head

13: Hearing the words “I love you” every day

14: Sunsets

15: Sunrises

16: Having a big comfy chair to sit in to relax and read

17: My temperpedic bed…so comfy!

18: AOL/MySpace/Livejournal/Facebook/Twitter

19: Digital photography

20: Taking photos of beautiful women

21: Finishing a book

22: Starting a new book

23: Being able to sleep in past 6:30am

24: Going out on the weekends

25: The television shows Heroes, Gilmore Girls, Gossip Girl, 90210, MTV Cribs, V, and Supernatural

26: Seeing the NY Rangers lose.

27: The NY Giants winning the Super Bowl

28: The NY Mets

29: Stargazer Lilies

30: Daisies

31: Having David make me dinner, even though I question his motives.

32: Vanilla Chai Lattes from Starbucks

33: Students passing my Mathematics tests

34: Random Acts of Kindness

35: Having flowers delivered to my jobs unexpectedly

36: Seeing the birds in my backyard garden and fountains

37: Watching a squirrel scurry across the top of my backyard fence

38: Hot Beverages and quiet time with David

39: Even though sometimes we are both broke, David and I can still have fun at his uncles house, whether it would be watching television or talking.

40: Watching David sleep.

41: Seeing affectionate couples on the subway

42: Being part of one of those affectionate couples on the subway. 

43: Being blessed with a phenomenal boyfriend and great friends. ;-)

44: Licking the pot after making chocolate pudding

45: A warm blanket straight from the dryer on a cold night.

46: Watching the July 4th Fireworks on FDR Drive

47: Butterflies

48: Cuddling with my dogs

49: Finally knowing the meaning of love and what it feels like.

50: Just being in love.

51: Finding and helping stray animals

52: Having all of my five senses to appreciate and love everything in life

53: That I have a job to go to every day, even though I hate it sometimes.

54: The fact that David is not only my boyfriend, but my best friend.

55: Being able to pay for my Masters degree with my own money and having no loans from a bank.

56: Two words—ICE CREAM

57: Staying smoke free

58: Staying drug free

59: When I think I am worth nothing, someone thanks me for being there in their life and tells me that I mean the world to them

60: Back rubs

61: Knowing that David really loves me.

62: Completing a project whether it is knitting or photography

63: Looking forward to the weekends to see David.

64: Seeing the one I love do nice and sweet things for a perfect stranger

65: When the testing period in my school is finally over

66: That my students actually learn something new everyday instead of regurgitating for a standardized test that does not count for much except for federal funding.

67: When an express train comes to a local stop I am at and I can just jump on.

68: Being able to pay for things on my own

69: Well…we all know what this number means…and yes I am happy for that!

70: Feeling appreciated from my fellow co-workers/teachers

71: Being able to give directions to tourists in NYC

72: Fruit and cheese plates, a good book, and a park

73: Chips and salsa

74: Good, authentic, Mexican food

75: Being silly on the subway or bus with David

76: A good rainstorm to cool down the summer days

77: Receiving a phone call or a text from someone unexpected

78: Train wreck television—better known as reality television. It puts everything in balance.

79: My broken in Converse sneakers

80: The sport known as HOCKEY and the team known as the NJ Devils.

81: Slow, passionate kisses that lead to something more

82: Playing in a fantasy hockey league and mystifying and impressing the male players at my hockey knowledge.

83: Making lists for myself to keep my psyche in check

84: Having a mobile phone that no one else has…yes I am unique like that.

85: Crispy Soul Chicken at Vegetarian Paradise 2

86: The restaurant Alice’s Tea Cup

87: My weird and wacky website calendar that I tear to show a different website for each day

88: Surveys on MySpace

89: When I get comments on my blog entries

90: The bands Queensryche and Motley Crue

91: People watching on the bus and subway

92: The smell of garlic cooking

93: When I get compliments on photos that I took. It makes me feel appreciated and creative.

94: The ability to communicate well with others.

95: The ability to hold my own in a fantasy football league, since I really do not know a lot of the players.

96: Being called for coverage at 8am. Yay extra money!

97: That I am one class away from having my Masters Degree and one exam away from another teaching certification

98: Even though I do not like the cold, I am happy for it as it means that global warming has not affected the environment too much on the East Coast.

99: That Spanish is now integrated with Language Arts. Yay for free time!

100: That I finally finished this list!

Things I Love Thursday--May 13th Edition

So my lovelies, this is what makes my heart happy this week--

--These books arriving in my mailbox: Kick-Ass by Mark Millar, The Happiness Project: Or, Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun by Gretchen Rubin, and Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith

--My Christian Siriano sneakers from Payless! They are much brighter in person. You can not go wrong with pink sneaks!


--The Mexican restaurant that David and I went to on Saturday that played The Doors all night. Also great Day of the Dead paintings throughout the place! The restaurant is called Boca Grande and their salsa verde sauce is killer!

--Edy's Girl Scouts Thin Mint ice cream! Oh my gooodness....

--Doing this on my own time (maybe a future blog entry?)
The Second Annual New York Foodie Photo Scavenger Hunt

--Sushi Cake!


--This song courtesy of Spotlight on YouTube


--Rediscovering Mary Prankster


--This was such a great idea, has me thinking about possibly doing something like this for animals:

Uniform Project Picture Book from The Uniform Project on Vimeo.

--Late night text conversations with my friend Josy about developing a reality television show called "The Hood" filled with our favorite 'hood memories.

--This Public Service Announcement from my friends, the Motor City Machine Guns


--Having the ability to go up and down the stairs in my house! Granted it is one step at a time but I can still do it. My ankle was talking to me by the end of the day though and I iced it and put it up on three pillows.

--Dusting my entire hutch and dresser. It was making me sneeze with all of the stuff on it.

--Finally got my giveaway winner package from Seeker of Happiness!

--The possibility of going back to work next week! I miss my students, I miss my bus ride, I miss the big teachers lounge, I just miss everything.

--Looking forward to Baltimore, Washington DC, CHICAGO, and Atlanta!

--Finding the best website for deals on clothing and accessories which is Clothing And Accessories on Become.com I am a sucker for messenger bags so I looked at this link Messenger Bags and found some cute styles, from a Three Afro Messenger Bag in Purple to a Dolce and Gabbana bag that was heavily discounted. Can not stop a girl with a great deal!

What is making your heart happy this week? Tell me *points to the comment box*

Kayfabe Monday--May 10th Edition

First I want to show you some pictures that I have taken of various wrestlers that are on WWE Wrestling programming or TNA Wrestling programming when they were "paying their dues". Above you see photos of "Black Machismo" Jay Lethal as well as Trent Baretta (I know him as Plazma) to Lacey Von Erich applying the Iron Claw to Angel Orsini (also known as Riptide in the original ECW) to Mickie James (also known as Alexis Laree) and Beth Phoenix (also known as Phoenix). I have a lot more photos, but did not want to make this blog too photo heavy.

Why did I show you those pictures first? Here is the reason: TNA is to launch a "tough enough" style show this summer. The production dates are set for July with the television broadcast taking place in August. The show will be produced by Bischoff Hervey Entertainment.

Source: Wrestling-Radio

Gee, didn't the WWE in conjunction with MTV Networks do a Tough Enough program? Let us see where the "winners" of said show as well as the other contestants are now:

WWE Tough Enough, originally known as WWF Tough Enough, was a reality television show produced by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and MTV wherein participants underwent professional wrestling training and competed for a contract with WWE. There were two winners per season for the first three seasons but only a single winner for the fourth season. All three televised seasons aired on MTV. A fourth competition was held in 2004, but was integrated into UPN's SmackDown!.

As of 2010, the only Tough Enough winner still wrestling for WWE is John Hennigan. He is currently wrestling as John Morrison on the Raw brand. Hennigan and Tough Enough I winner Maven Huffman are the only two Tough Enough winners to win championships in the WWE, but with Hennigan winning both the ECW World Heavyweight Championship and WWE Intercontinental Championship and Huffman winning the WWE Hardcore Championship. Christopher Nowinski, who didn't win Tough Enough, also held the WWE Hardcore Championship.

Together, John Morrison and The Miz are former WWE Tag Team Champions, former World Tag Team Champions, and two-time Slammy Award Winners; both of whom are Tough Enough alumni.

Maven Huffman and Nidia Guenard won the first season of Tough Enough. Only two contestants were actually cut from the competition, the others who were eliminated voluntarily exited. Of the final five contestants, four would eventually join the Federation. Nidia was released from WWE on November 3, 2004, while Maven was released on July 5, 2005. The first season of WWF Tough Enough was released on DVD in 2002, as was the soundtrack.

By the time the second season aired, the World Wrestling Federation had changed its name to "World Wrestling Entertainment" and the show was renamed "WWE Tough Enough". The second season winners were Linda Miles and Jackie Gayda. Linda was released on November 12, 2004 and Jackie was released on July 5, 2005. The announcement of Jackie and Linda as the winners offended members of the male finalists, who claimed that this was not what was promised when they signed forms to compete on Tough Enough, citing that the forms claimed there would be one male winner and one female winner. One male finalist called into WWE's then late-night Saturday/early morning Sunday show WWF Excess (later replaced by WWE Confidential), who aired his grievances over the decision the following week after the winners were announced. Current WWE wrestler, Shad Gaspard, member of the Tag Team Cryme Tyme, was scheduled to be one of the contestants on the show, but failed a physical therefore causing him to be replaced. John Hennigan made his official debut during the auditions. Despite displaying well-tuned athletic ability, Hennigan's arrogance irritated the judges. It would be another year before Hennigan would make the show.

The third season was won by John Hennigan and Matt Cappotelli. Hennigan, who wrestled for two years under the name Johnny Nitro, is now wrestling on WWE's Raw brand as John Morrison. He is a former ECW Champion and the first and, to date, only Tough Enough contestant to win a major championship in WWE. He is a three-time Intercontinental Champion, and he has held both the WWE World Tag Team Championship and the WWE Tag Team Championship. Cappotelli was developing his talent further in the WWE development territory Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW), but was diagnosed with a brain tumor in December 2005, forcing him to step away from wrestling and relinquish his OVW Championship. The tumor was removed in 2007, although it is unknown whether Cappotelli will return to professional wrestling.

Melina Perez tried out for Tough Enough III and made it to the final twenty-five, but was cut from the competition.[1] During the tryouts, however, she met John Hennigan and they eventually began a romantic relationship. She now works for WWE as Melina on the Raw brand and became the first-ever Tough Enough contestant to win the WWE Women's Championship, a title she has held three times. Additionally, Melina is also the first-ever Tough Enough contestant to win the WWE Divas Championship, making her the most successful female Tough Enough contestant to enter the WWE. Both Shawn Daivari and Daniel Puder are seen on film during audition episode. Both made it to the final 75, but were cut before they could make it to the training facility. Both men later went on as performers for the WWE.

The fourth Tough Enough competition was conducted as part of WWE's SmackDown brand between October and December 2004 in response to Raw holding the first annual "Raw Diva Search" contest. The prize was a $1,000,000 professional wrestling contract split evenly over four years with only the first year guaranteed. The winner of the fourth series, announced on December 14, 2004 and televised on December 16, 2004, was Daniel Puder, an American professional mixed martial artist. Puder competed in his second WWE pay-per-view event on January 30, 2005, being the third entrant in the 2005 Royal Rumble match. Soon after, he was sent to OVW before eventually being released in September 2005.

The most notable incident from this competition came on the November 4, 2004, episode of SmackDown, during an unscripted segment of Tough Enough, Kurt Angle, a former American amateur wrestler and 1996 Olympic gold medalist, challenged the finalists through a squat thrust competition. The winner was Chris Nawrocki, and the prize Nawrocki won was a match against Angle. After Angle defeated Nawrocki, Puder challenged Angle. During the match, Angle and Puder wrestled for position before Angle took Puder down; in the process, Puder locked Angle in a real submission hold, a kimura lock. With Puder on his back, one of two referees in the ring, Jim Korderas, quickly counted three to end the bout, but some observed that during the pin, Puder's shoulders were not on the mat. Puder later claimed he would have snapped Angle's arm, thus making Angle tap out on national television, if Korderas had not ended the match.On December 14, 2004 (televised on December 16), Puder was announced as the winner of Tough Enough. Other finalists were:

Nick Mitchell (later joined WWE, most notably as Mitch was released in May of 2007 now training in MMA)
Mike "The Miz" Mizanin (later joined WWE, he now wrestles under the Raw brand, currently holding the WWE United States Championship)
Chris Nawrocki (later signed a developmental contract but was released in 2005)
Justice Smith (later a Gladiator on American Gladiators)
Ryan Reeves (later joined WWE but was released in January 2007. Signed another contract in Fall 2008. Is part of WWE NXT as Skip Sheffield)
Daniel Rodimer (later signed to a development contract but was released in August 2007 to return to real estate)

Source: Various wrestling history websites.

Now I guarantee you this one thing--with the exception of Daniel Puder and Melina Perez who wrestled as Kyra on the independents, NONE OF THE ABOVE MENTIONED "CONTESTANTS" EVER STEPPED INSIDE A WRESTLING RING. If I am wrong, feel free to correct me. This why I, as well as wrestlers, despise this type of programming. You will not see the true rigor and pain of professional wrestling. You will not see all of the travel for a hot dog and nachos as payment. You will not see the wrestlers putting together a wrestling ring or busting their backs and other body parts for a crowd of 20 people. To all those who think this is a "great" and "creative" idea, you have another thing coming.

Remember, I believe in kayfabe,
JoiseyDani

Fun Fact Friday #10--May 7th Edition

Found this survey on an old livejournal post of mine in 2004...decided to do it for this weeks F3!

Survey!
(x) I NEVER HAVE BEEN DRUNK
(X) I NEVER SMOKED POT
(_) I NEVER KISSED A MEMBER OF THE OPPOSITE SEX
(_) I NEVER KISSED A MEMBER OF THE SAME SEX
(X) I NEVER CRASHED A FRIEND'S CAR
(X) I NEVER WENT TO JAPAN
(_) I NEVER RODE IN A TAXI
(_) I NEVER HAD ANAL SEX
(_) I NEVER FELL IN LOVE
(_) I NEVER HAD SEX
(_) I NEVER HAD SEX IN PUBLIC
(_) I NEVER GOT DUMPED
(_) I NEVER SHOPLIFTED
(_) I NEVER GOT FIRED
(_) I NEVER GOT IN A FIST FIGHT
(_) I NEVER HAD A THREESOME
(X) I NEVER SNUCK OUT OF MY PARENT''S HOUSE
(_) I NEVER GOT TIED UP (SEXUALLY)
(_) I NEVER GOT CAUGHT MASTURBATING
(X) I NEVER PISSED ON MYSELF
(_) I NEVER HAD SEX WITH A MEMBER OF THE SAME SEX
(_) I NEVER HAD SEX WITH A MEMBER OF THE OPPOSITE SEX
(_) I NEVER GOT ARRESTED
(_) I NEVER MADE OUT WITH A STRANGER
(_) I NEVER STOLE SOMETHING FROM MY JOB
(_) I NEVER CELEBRATED NEW YEARS IN TIME SQUARE
(_) I NEVER WENT ON A BLIND DATE
(_) I NEVER LIED TO A FRIEND
(_) I NEVER HAD A CRUSH ON A TEACHER
(X) I NEVER CELEBRATED MARDI-GRAS IN NEW ORLEANS
(_) I NEVER WENT TO EUROPE
(_) I NEVER SKIPPED SCHOOL
(X) I NEVER SLEPT WITH A CO-WORKER
(X) I NEVER GOT FISTED AND/OR HAVE NEVER FISTED ANYONE
(X) I NEVER THREW UP IN A BAR
(X) I NEVER PAID FOR SEX
(X) I NEVER RAN AWAY FROM HOME.
(_) I NEVER WENT BY A NAME OTHER THEN MY BIRTH NAME.
(_) I NEVER WENT ON A CRUISE
(_) I NEVER FOOLED AROUND IN A CAR IN A PARKING LOT
(X) I NEVER LIED I WAS A VIRGIN
(_) I NEVER MASTURBATED FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO WATCH
(X) I NEVER ATE AN ENTIRE BOX OF OREOS

Things I Love Thursday--May 6th Edition

Well on my way of getting better.....so what has made me happy happy joy joy this week?

THIS SONG BY LUDACRIS


--Reading what my stereotype is on Readers by Author and laughing: According to this website, I am a smart geek (JK Rowling) but I am a boy who can't read (Chuck Palahniuk), that I don’t use conditioner in my hair (it's true, I don't) (Anne Rice), that I am still a goth seventh grader (Edgar Allen Poe), that I keep a journal (I do.) (Sylvia Plath), that I like Foo Fighters (I don't) (Bret Easton Ellis), and that I can name at least two Miyazaki films. (Um, who?) (Neil Gaiman)

--Do You Pledge to Read the Printed Word? I DID!



--The fact that I am WALKING again. No hard cast, no velcro boot, actual SHOES are on my feet. These past three months have been an eye opener for me.

--LOOK AT THE AWESOMENESS OF THIS CAKE! So bright and colorful....makes me not want to eat it!

--Genuine Health Products! About a month ago I started to take this new supplement called Abs+ which promotes a lean body. I have a way to go to my goal but I have lost more weight while taking it! I am also taking Continual Cleanse which is a detox supplement for the liver and colon and that works too! Thank you Gala for exposing these products!

--That David booked and planned out our trip to Atlanta, GA for DRAGON CON! We are leaving on September 2nd and will be back on September 5th. YAY GEEKDOM!

--Upcoming adventures in Baltimore!

--Always having lots of fruit to snack on in my house as well as hummus with cucumbers and carrots.

--Large ice packs and big fluffy pillows to rest my aching rehabbing left foot on.

--The weather! It has been gorgeous the past couple of days with spurts of Murky Dismal but I have enjoyed all of the sunlight coming into my room lately.

--Getting my Dallas Star back. He was going through a tough time and needed to detox his bad habits and that meant cutting off me for a month. I told him the next time he needs some down time to let me know and to not have me worry like that again.

--Sleeping much better at night.

--Apple cinnamon air freshener that I spray into a fan so it gets all over my room. It feels like I am walking into a homemade apple pie, just without all of the slime and sugar.

What are you in love with this week?

Tootsie Tuesday--May 4th Edition

Ahh...it feels so good to not have an apparatus on my foot...

I started physical therapy last Wednesday. My therapy starts with 20 minutes of ice therapy/massage followed by range of motion strengthening exercises as well as stretching exercises. Last Thursday it was the same thing. Last Saturday I progressed to the elipitical bike WITHOUT my velcro terminator boot on.

Last Saturday around 5pm I decided to just put my foot down and I hobbled a little bit around my room with my crutches. Last Sunday David came over and I walked around my house with one crutch. Yesterday I had another therapy session and did everything I said before as well as the leg press machine.

Now it is Tuesday and I am WALKING. Yes walking. With regular shoes. NO CRUTCHES!

I am well on my way to recovery....my ankle is very stiff and sore still but it is working itself out. Thanks to all for the encouragement and love!

Kayfabe Monday--May 3rd Edition

Things like this make me realize that TNA does not want to be innovative anymore and that maybe Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff are secretly working with Vince McMahon to bring down TNA Wrestling.

--First they went back to the 4 sided ring from the 6 sided ring. That was a bad move.

--There has been talk of dropping the TNA Global Title and bringing in a Hardcore Title. Back when Eric Bischoff and Hulk Hogan first arrived, they wanted to do away with the Global Title but Dixie Carter was one of the main ones who wanted to keep it around.

Then there is this news.

--Former ECW and WWE star Sabu teased TNA on his Facebook page, asking fans what they would think of him going there.

--Bubba has actually wrestled for WCW before, so it is not the 1st time. The original plan was for Bubba to get destroyed in the ring by Awesome Kong, but she asked for her release. The opponent is unknown at this time, but I have it on good authority that it will not be another Jenna vs Sharmell Stinker, TNA has something big planned. (Can we say...David Arquette?) But now this will not happen as Effective immediately, TNA Wrestling has elected to terminate the services of Todd Clem p/k/a Bubba the Love Sponge. Fellow wrestling fans feel that the release of both Bubba the Love Sponge and Awesome Kong is a work, also known as KEEPING THE KAYFABE. I guess we shall see in due time.

Thanks to Jamiewrestlingfan for this news.

IT IS NOT 1998. IT IS 2010. STOP IT WITH THE REMAKES, THE NOSTAGLIA, THE BRINGING BACK OF GIMMICKS THAT DID NOT WORK! Ugh.

I believe in Kayfabe,
JoiseyDani

PS: Remember that long blog I wrote about Christopher Daniels? Well look at this coincidence: TNA wants to bring back Christopher Daniels under a pay-per-appearance deal.