Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Size matters, but it's the little things that count

As a romantic comedy author, it's crucial to me that my blog, Twitter presence, Facebook posts, and personal interactions reflect my quirky, humorous brand.

As a fallible human being going through a divorce mere months before the release of my debut novel . . . well, sometimes it's hard.

Go ahead and make the hard-on joke. I'll wait.

Monday was one of those days I felt overwhelmed and sad and stressed and decidedly unfunny. Hey, it happens. I'm learning to cut myself some slack.

One thing I've been grateful for these last few months are the little bitty ways people brighten my days. Often, the bright things come the instant I most desperately need them.

Like this photo my brother sent of his brand new puppy napping with their older dog:
Seriously, if you can look at that without smiling, you are dead inside.

Another bright spot was this photo a friend texted me while browsing a local department store:
Which reminds me, aren't we due for another round of Garage Porn?

And speaking of porn, here's a photo a friend snapped in Newport, Oregon and sent to me because she knew it would make me laugh:
Then there are the people who make me smile in other ways. No, I'm not talking about that.

I mean the friendly pokes on Facebook or the silly jokes sent via email or the Twitter posts from people saying they just pre-ordered Making Waves.

And of course, there are the blog comments here that never cease to make me smile. I've slowed down lately on replying to comments like I used to, but rest assured, I read and adore every single one. You guys leave me grinning constantly.

So on that note, what little things have been making you smile lately?

20 comments :

Dr. Cheryl Carvajal said...

First, tiling my backsplash does NOT make me smile.

But my kids' laughter does. I love summer for that very reason. And I love each evening when we make up bedtime stories, especially when they get my kids laughing. Priceless.

You may have unfunny days--that's to be expected--but I'm so glad you share them with us! I'm even more glad you have so many funny ones, too.

Mary said...

You know you've got talent when you can make the unfunny funny so make sure you cut yourself some (a lot) of slack! Your posts always make me smile and, now that it's summer and I'm not being straight-laced teacher gal, I can let my more ribald (but completely inappropriate in front of students) humor flow. Woot!

And I love how lil pup has his tongue sticking out! Cute pups always make me smile.

Hang tough, girl!

Sarah W said...

My friends and I held an impromptu dirty joke contest at our favorite bistro last week, at lunch. Bunch of librarians telling dirty jokes and cracking up the waitstaff.

I got to tell my favorite filthy penguin joke, which always cheers me up, and the owner sent us canneloni on the house.

I'm still smiling!

Linda G. said...

I'm awwww-ing and laughing at the same time. Such a cute puppy pic! And (of course) I love the suggestive pics, too.

What makes me smile? Visiting your blog. :)

Danica Avet said...

Well, I have to visit your blog every morning because it puts me in a good mood the rest of the day. That picture with the puppy made me chuckle out loud, so thank you for that.

Life gets overwhelming sometimes and it's perfectly natural to struggle to keep a happy face on it, especially when you're a writer who has an image to uphold. Just remember you're human...Wait, you are human, right? Not that I have a problem if you're a cyborg or anything, but that would be even cooler. ;)

Patty Blount said...

Tawna, there's no law that says Thou Shalt Be Funny every day. Cut yourself some more slack. Unless it hurts. If it hurts, you're doing it wrong!

What makes me smile? Chocolate always works. And my sons. And a really good book. Oh, and let me suggest the #mancandymonday Twitter tag. Yeah, that makes me smile, too.

danielle pears said...

Tawna- YOU make us smile! That's part of why we love you! And why I look forward to your bog posts each day. The world needs more laughter. I know divorce sucks from seeing my bro-in-law suffer through it. He was under a lot of stress and lost quite a bit of weight that he didn't need to lose. We are here if you need us!

Oh and I so refrained from tweeting you because I don't want you to think I'm an obsessed fan, but I was watching the news at the gym and they used Wiener and caucus in the same sentence. I have been Tawna-ing (you're a verb now) everything lately.

Keep your head up! We love you!!! Xoxo

Anonymous said...

Awesome post. Loving hearing about things that make people smile. Smiles are contagious.

Loved that dog picture. Those always make me smile.

Judy,Judy,Judy. said...

Tawna - When I think of you doing all that you do to make people laugh all the while going through a divorce in your personal life, I'm amazed at how well you handle things.

Do whatever you need to take care of yourself. If you need to do a not funny blog now & then, do it. If you need to skip blogging now & then, do it. We're behind you 100% whatever it takes!

The dogs are adorable and those two side signs side-by-side make me almost wet myself!

lora96 said...

your book is going to be such a fun read...I can't wait!!!

Matthew MacNish said...

The brightest thing in my life is my children, even though they're not so little anymore.

And my friend Craig finally heard great news from the courts in Russia. He and his wife are trying to adopt a boy with down syndrome there, because in Russia they send even slightly developmentally disabled children to insane asylums. The system had been holding up the adoption for a while, but it sounds like it should go through this summer.

That makes me happy.

Unknown said...

My 8 month old nephew. Sometimes he's the only thing that keeps me paddling. I envy you so much for having people that reach out to you. Not envying you in a bad way -you're such a kind and fun person that you deserve all good things coming your way. That sounds slightly stalky, doesn't it? Anyway, for temporal reminders that life can be fun, your blog is definitely on top of the list followed by Not Always Right and Damn You Auto Correct.

Debra Lynn Shelton said...

I don't know how you do it, my dear - finding the funny while going through emotional devastation. It's harder than I ever imagined (insert joke here). You know I love you, though, and am here for you any time you need to chat, laugh, cry, buy your next electronic boyfriend, etc.

Oh, and, when I first read the smaller sign next to the Adult Video tower, I thought it said, "Pork Hurts Everyone." Yeah, that's funny, too. ;-)

arsenio ball said...

ApartmentTherapy.com has been keeping me paddling along in the waters this week. It's like home-deco porn.

Sara Bareilles, whose music I have just recently come by. (Hah, not like that.)

My dear twitter friends (this means you, lady) who always make me smile.

DrCarrieT said...

On I-44 just outside Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri there is huge "Porn hurts" sign right beside an, um, adult complex. (From the road it looks like they've got both a strip club and a store, so I'm calling that a complex.) It makes me laugh every time I drive by. ;)

Bethany Elizabeth said...

Well, I know it's not quite the same thing, but I had a dream last night that kept making me smile. :) We needed a distraction (for the getaway car) so I filled the chimneys with balloons and bubbles. I think I woke up with a sore stomach from laughing - everything's funnier in dreams. :)

Kristina said...

Not smiling much myself these days so I'll just thank you for being you & being in my world. {hug}

Angela Perry said...

This little movie here:

http://www.animwork.dk/en/the_saga_of_biorn.asp

My Twitter buddies cheer me up too. I can't remember what I used to do before social media.

Lynne Kelly said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Lynne Kelly said...

Saw this soup mix in the grocery store I thought you'd like...

http://yfrog.com/j0s7wyj