That is the saving grace of humor: If you fail no one is laughing at you.
A.Whitney Brown

Men always say the most important thing in a woman is a sense of humor. You know what that means? He’s looking for someone to laugh at his jokes.
Sheila Wentz

I like the laughter that opens the lips and the heart, that shows at the same time pearls and the soul.
Charles E. Jones

April is National Humor Month. And if that doesn’t put a smile on your face, how about acknowledging that April is Fresh Florida Tomato Month, Holy Humor Month, International Twit Award Month,, National Knuckles Down Month, National Pecan Month, Straw Hat Month and last but not least, and maybe my favorite; National Soft Pretzel Month.

Schmeckfest happens during April. Darrell and Jim both have birthdays this month. They always make me giggle, guffaw and occasionally make me squirt coffee out my nose. I also feel the need to mention Tax Day. This may or may not put a smile on your face, depending if you get money back or not.

Humor etiquette is important to know any time of the year. I know this first hand since one time I said’ what-I-thought-was funny” and it almost landed me in court. Another friend recently confessed his “ethnic’ joke” did not bring the laughter he anticipated.

Healing Humor connects us emotionally and spiritually. It can alleviate suffering in us and others. It reframes a potentially “negative” situation. It has the ability to build confidence, decrease tension and quite possibly give you hope.

Hurtful/ Harmful Humor divides and excludes people, shames and blames, laughs only at others, increases tension, and destroy someone’s self worth.

Know your audience. Certain jokes or loud laughs may not be for that particular person or crowd. It may be culturally offensive. Some things that you might say in front of your friends, you would never say in front of your Great Aunt Beulah.

Timing. Your timing of a’ funny’ can be perfect or disastrous. Sensitivity is the key. Depending on the person (audience) and where they are in their cancer chemo cycle (timing), bald jokes might not be appropriate. Maybe later on, or maybe never.

So whether you love puns, jokes or silly songs, enjoy National Humor Month. I’m also hoping you get money back from the IRS. That would put a smile on my face!



Blessing of Gratitude of Laughter, Humor, Mirth and Joy,
Debra Joy Hart RN CLL

Debra Joy Hart on the air with January Jones

Debra Joy Hart, RN BFA CLL has been in health care for 113 years. Currently she employed at a home ... Listen Now »

January Jones is the host of Whine Time and the author of " Thou Shalt Not Whine... The Eleventh Commandment'

You can go to her blog http://whinetester.blogspot.com/

or shop at The Whine Time Shop.com

Enjoy the interview with a cup of tea or coffee. January is a M.I.R.T.H. Blessing!Many thanks to all who have blessed me with laughter, humor, mirth and joy!

Especially Aunt Jackie and Uncle Irwin!

http://www.modavox.com/voiceamerica/vepisode.aspx?aid=36963

Dorothy Wilhelm: March Mirth Maker

March is officially designated as International Mirth Month - and not a minute too soon. We need a little mirth. That’s the opinion of Allen Klein, the nation’s leading Jollytologist (actually he’s the nation’s only Jollytologist.) He believes everyone can - and should - use humor to get through tough times. Allen and fellow members of the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor (www.AATH.org) have compiled a list of “Ten Tips For Finding Humor in Turbulent Times.” http://www.allenklein...com/articles/tips.htm . Suggestions include: “ Let A Smile Be Your Umbrella.” (luckily March is National Umbrella Month). March 2 is also National Banana Cream Pie Day in case you need something to throw at these unremittingly mirthful people.>>

To read the entire wonderful article by author/speaker, Dorothy Wilhelm( copyright 2009)

Paste the url below in your browser. You will not be disappointed. This excerpt and the info below is used with permission from the author. You can contact Dorothy Wilhelm at dorothy@itsnevertoolate.com

http://www.thenewstribune.com/soundlife/story/642790.html

Here's the list of Holidays:DAYS TO CELEBRATE DURING MARCH!!
March 1
• Yellowstone National Park - 1st US National Park established
• Ohio Admission Day - March 1, 1803
• Nebraska Admission Day - March 1, 1867
March 2
• Theodor Seuss Geisel's Birthday - March 2, 1904
• National Banana Cream Pie Day
March 3
• Iditarod Begins• National Anthem Day
• Alexander Graham Bell's Birthday- March 3, 1847
• Florida Admission Day
March 4
• National Poundcake Day
• US Constitution in Effect - March 4, 1789
• Pro Tennis Players Allowed to Play at Wimbledon
• Vermont Admission Day
March 5
• Parachute Invented• Stop the Clocks Day
• The Boston Massacre
March 6
• National Chocolate Cheesecake Day
• Oreo Cookies First for Sale
• 1st Electric Power Plant Opened
March 7
• Coca-Cola Bottler's Association Formed - March 7, 1914
• Telephone Patented
March 8
• National Peanut Cluster Day
• Farmer's Day
March 9
• Barbie's Birthday
• National Crabmeat Day
• V-8 Engine Built
March 10
• National Blueberry Popover Day
• Harriet Tubman Day
• First Paper Money Issued
March 11
• Daylight Saving Time
• Johnny Appleseed Day; Johnny Appleseed Printables
March 12
• National Baked Scallops Day
March 13
• Uncle Sam's Birthday
• Uranus Discovered, 1781
March 14
• St Patrick's Day Red and Green Chili Contest to benefit Tacoma food banks, chili service starts at noon.
• Albert Einstein's Birthday - March 14, 1879
• National Potato Chips Day
March 15
• Beware the Ides of March
• Julius Caesar Assassinated- March 15, 44 BC
• National Pears Helene Day
• Maine Admission Day - March 15, 1820
March 16
• Buzzard Day
• National Artichoke Hearts Day
March 17
• Submarine Day
• St Patrick's Day
March 18
• Pillsbury Doughboy's Birthday
• National Lacy Oatmeal Cookie Day
March 19
• Sparky The Fire Dog's Birthday
• National Agriculture Day
• Wyatt Earp's Birthday
• National Chocolate Caramel Day
March 20
• Spring is Here!
• Big Bird's Birthday
March 21
• 1st US Zoo Opened
• California Strawberry Day
• Johann Sebastian Bach's Birthday, 1685
• Children's Poetry Day
• National French Bread Day
March 22
• Hale-Bopp Comet Closest to Earth - March 22, 1997
• National Bavarian Crepes Day
March 23
• National Energy Education Day
• Cable Car Patented
• Toast Day
March 24
• Harry Houdini's Birthday - 1874
• National Chocolate Covered Raisin Day
March 25
• National Lobster Newburg Day
March 26
• Cape Cod Named - 1602
• Duncan Hines' Birthday - 1880
March 27
• National Spanish Paella Day
• 1st Fire Engine Tested
March 28
• Barnum & Bailey Formed a Circus Partnership
• National Black Forest Cake Day
March 29
• Coca-Cola Invented• Oscar Mayer's Birthday
• National Lemon Chiffon Cake Day
March 30
• Doctor's Day
• National Hot Dog Day
• Eraser-topped Pencil Patented - 1858March 31
• National Clams on the Half Shell Day• Oranges and Lemon Day• Tater Day
. . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . .Calendar compiled by Homechooling at About.com http://homeschooling.about.com/cs/unitssubjhol/a/fun
Also information from Chases Calendar of Events.

Healing Humor Distractions

Laughter is the best medicine, but only because it’s cheaper than an HMO.
Buzz Nutely

I take geranium, dandelion, passionflower and hibiscus. I feel great and when I pee, I experience the fresh scent of potpourri.
Sheila Wenz

Frame your mind to mirth and merriment, which bars a thousand harms and lengthens life.
William Shakespeare

When you are a nurse… you are “everybody’s’ nurse. You’re the “block” nurse, the “church nurse, and the “distant relative” nurse.

I went with Darrell’s cousin Sharon, to have a relatively minor procedure. She is one of the most actively supportive people I’ve ever met. If you are infirm, ailing, lonely, need a ride or need head covering for ‘The Red Hat Society, Sharon can either do it, or has it. She will lead you through a process, advocate for you, hold your hand or teach you how to make a new purse. I really admire her for that.

On the other hand, if she cuts her finger or stubs her toe, she will tell you that she has to go to the emergency room…and then she faints.

Knowing the above information, I held her hand during her 2 minute procedure. I purposely wore hand made earrings (by my daughter) so that I could distract her. I kept her visually focused and verbally engaged for 120 seconds. I also made sure she had a topical anesthetic. Her doctor complimented me, “You are a great distracter.”

Humor in the right dosage is the perfect antidote for fear. It engages the brain and distracts from the anxiety of the moment.

Humor appropriately placed and timed, leads the mind away from unpleasantness and creates a space for courage to take root.

Humor in nursing is a lot like gardening in wild prairie. I plant a few seeds of silliness and I never know what will sprout up. Sometimes my tears are the water and my sarcasm is the fertilizer. Words like, “we need to be serious” or people that seem to be afraid to laugh and condemn those that do, trample the tender seedlings of hope and faith that grow from humor.

Plant Blessings of Humor, Laughter, Mirth and Joy,
Debra Joy Hart RN CLL
Age Wise Care Management
debrajoyhart@gmail.com

Digging for Treasures

If love is the answer, could you please rephrase the question?
Lily Tomlin

I don't understand why Cupid was chosen to represent Valentine's Day. When I think about romance, the last thing on my mind is a short, chubby toddler coming at me with a weapon. Author Unknown

My husband, Darrell had a web based ordering flop. Desperately seeking dark chocolate chai tea, he accidentally ordered a $10.00 candy bar (plus s&h charges).

Not wanting to waste his “mistake”, each of us had a taste. “Blech” was my reluctant review. He nodded the same sentiment as he left the room. C’mon, who really wants to admit that an expensive piece of culinary anything…was awful? He mumbled something about cheap chocolate being the best.

I knew how to remedy my taste bud situation. I went to his chocolate hiding place ( like I didn’t sniff it out 2 months ago) and got myself 3 small pieces of reasonably priced chocolate. This brand (unlike the $10.00 kind) has sweet sentiments printed on the inside of its red foil cover. I love being blessed with pearls of wisdom written in wrapping.

I left the room for a moment, and by the time I got back, my husband had thrown my “ hidden treasures” in the garbage. I dug my red foil fortunes out of the trash, so I could read them again. “A smile is the perfect gift.” “The best Holiday decoration is a smile.” My favorite,” Joy is contagious.”

Sometimes we just have to dig thru the trash…to regain our treasures.

My Favorite Power Tools

He who laughs last didn’t get it in the first place.
Rodney Dangerfield

Laughter is the best medicine, but only because it’s cheaper than an HMO.
Buzz Nutely

A new study says that one of the advantages of the treadmill is that it’s the highest calorie burner of the exercises. And another advantage is that hamsters can now laugh at us.
Johnny Robish

Happy Mirthful New Year!

As I look around our home I marvel at what my husband has done in the past year. He took out our bathtub, put in an extra wide shower, hooked up a shower head that resembles a rain fall, fixed the plumbing, dry-walled a new ceiling and wall, and installed an exhaust system over the stove so the fire alarm doesn’t go off every time I cook. In the coming months, he and I will decorate the bathroom with tile and new lighting. Our closets will have new doors, the carpet will be torn up and this wonderful husband will lay down new laminate flooring. An amazing man….with amazing tools.

What tools do you have in your tool box? How do you rebuild your inner house? What are your tools for change?

Humor, Mirth and Laughter are three tools I use everyday. The implement of humor lets me see a different perspective. Humor reframes any given situation. It is a can opener, releasing the contents of mirth and laughter. Mirth is more like a wheel. It drives my emotions of joy and pleasure. Laughter whittles away negativity and creates a moment of feeling positive. The act of laughing, even when I don’t feel like it, is sort of like duct tape. It holds me together for awhile, until I can replace or fix the part that is hurting.

It doesn’t matter if you are installing dry wall, or looking at your inner walls, you just need the right tool for the job. I bet you have it.

Blessings of Humor, Mirth and Laughter for your inner and outer home repair!

Wanna Go Cheap for the Holidays?

Holiday Traditions mean a lot to people, particularly people in retail--Michael Feldman

I love Christmas. I receive a lot of presents I can’t wait to exchange.--Henny Youngman

I bent over to show my Alzheimer’s patient my rainbow beaded heart pin with white beaded wings. “It was a present,” I cheerfully noted. After a few seconds, she asked, “Do you get many presents?”

I lingered on that question, smiled and joyfully answered, “Yes I do. I get presents everyday. I get smiles from you, and jokes in my email box. My husbands kiss me good night and my friends hug me. I get a lot of presents.”
She smiled and said, “Very Good.”

The season is upon us for giving, receiving, saving, overspending, returning, exchanging, re-gifting, mailing and recycling presents. Instead of doing brain exercises like, Suduko or crosswords, we use our brain waves to figure the costs of gift exchange rate for co-workers, postal services and baking items. ”Paper or plastic?” does not refer to how we want our groceries bagged. How are we going to pay for all this “stuff?”

The gifts of hearty laughter or sharing a smile are 2 of the greatest gifts you can give and receive. Both are great for re-gifting, and cost effective for any budget. Worried about connecting long distance? To quote Victor Borge, “Laughter is the shortest distance between 2 people.”

I hope you get and give a lot of presents this holiday season. Recycle your smiles and re-gift the laughter.

Debra Joy Hart RN,
Certified Laughter Leader
Age Wise Care Management

Joy Sundae: Using Humor and Laughter to Nurture Your Soul

How many of you remember celebrating with ice cream? Was it Chocolate, Vanilla or Strawberry? Perhaps it was multi colored sherbet? Did you make your own, turning the crank on a hot summer day? Whipped cream? Nuts? And oh, what a special treat if you got a special cookie or cherry on top.

If I got your taste buds going down memory lane, let’s take a little detour. Who were you with when you were eating that sweet treat? And what were you doing?

I’m guessing you were smiling and laughing. Most probably with family or friends. Our bodies don’t only need sweet treats and green vegetable to function properly. Laughter, the universal language, is great for our mind, body and spirit.

The act of laughing, with or without a joke helps our bodies breathe better, get a little bit of exercise, and improve our immune system. Humor and laughter can give our brain a boost of “feel good’ hormones and can improve memory.

How many of you have “doubled over’ with laughter? It is extremely difficult to feel sad, angry or depressed in the moment of serious laughter!

Take a moment today to create a low fat, no carbs, all natural sweet, and heart healthy treat … Joy Sundae!

2 scoops of laughter

Drench with warm memories

Whipped topping of mirth

Sprinkle with all the nuts in your life… and don’t forget the cherry.

Debra Joy Hart RN

Certified Laughter Leader

AgeWise Care Management

Creativity injects you with a boost of energy to be fully engaged in living! Playing with your food engages all the senses, and is fun. Look at all the new cooking shows! In his book, Mindless Eating, Brian Wasink, PH.D. talks about making 200 food decisions a day. Well, if that is true, why not make part of the decision making process... the creative process. I have been creating "food sculptures' for family and friends for at least 10 years. One of my finest moments was being asked, by my son-in-law', "Can you make a fruit basket, in the shape of a pirate ship, have penguins in the crow's nest and EXPLODING canons?" Mission Accomplished!!!!
Note: Flash paper and gun powder make really fun " KABOOMS"

OOHY, GOOHY, Marshmallow Sculpture Treats
You will need:
2 - 10 oz. bags of marshmallows
12 Tlbs. of butter/margarine (stick kind only)
27 oz. of Rice Krispies (or similar)
17.5"X12"X2" pan
Melt butter over very low flame. Then add marshmallows. Be sure to lower the flame to the lowest setting. Now you can stir in Krispies. When mixed well, transfer and flatten into pan.I use a canning pot to mix the butter, marshmallows, and krispies in. For really low heat I use a heat diffuser.
Note: This recipe is for Marshmallow Sculptures. It is less sweet and dryer.

Enjoy the sweet video... with music by Lisa Lauren (original by Carol King)
if you want to hear more of Lisa Lauren go to www.lisalauren.com