The pursuit of happiness is a most ridiculous phrase: if you pursue happiness you'll never find it. - C.P. Snow

Yesterday was my birthday.  And everyone who knows me should know my birthday weekend rules.  For those who don't know them, the rules are as follows:

If your birthday falls on Monday or Tuesday, you have the weekend prior to your weekend for your birthday.  If your birthday is on Thursday or Friday, you have the weekend that follows your birthday.  If your birthday falls on the Wednesday, then you've hit the jackpot and get both weekends.

This year, my birthday fell on the Friday (and yes, I know that next year it'll be on the Saturday, so I get even less birthday days, but the rules are the rules, and it's worth waiting till it falls on Wednesday again), which means that this is my birthday weekend.  And I'm sure anyone who knows me and is reading this, knows how much I love birthdays.  Anyone's birthday.  For that reason, just because it's my birthday (weekend), my heart is smiling.  It really is that easy.

A friendly look, a kindly smile, one good act, and life's worthwhile. - Author Unknown

This is the first summer in three years that I haven't worked at the fire hall, and I have to admit, it almost doesn't feel like summer because of this.  I miss the place, and I struggled with deciding whether or not I should go when the camp was running or just stay away.  Then, two weeks ago I decided that it wasn't worth fighting against wanting to go and see everyone again, and waterball is the perfect day to go.  So I bit the bullet and went in during a camp day, and I'm glad I did.

It was nice to go back, see everyone, share my pictures, see waterball, and talk with some of the new instructors.  Also, I didn't feel out of place, which was a huge relief.

My heart was smiling today when I went to the fire hall and got to sit in the kitchen with some of my favourites from there, and just talk, show off my pictures, and joke around.  It's not something overly exciting, but it was just right, and sometimes that's all it takes to get my heart smiling.

Love one another and you will be happy. It's as simple and as difficult as that. - Michael Leunig

I know I didn't post yesterday after just saying that I am going to post more frequently on here.  But, I have a good reason for that!  I had to go to my cousin's wedding.  And while I could've posted before the wedding and said that my heart was smiling because I was going, I figured I'd wait until after and say that my heart was smiling during the ceremony.  The weather held out, the location was beautiful, I got to see family and friends that I haven't seen in a while, but most importantly, I got to see two people who so clearly and obviously love one another get married.  It was really an amazing and special ceremony, and my heart was smiling the whole time.  I wish Tiff and Paul all the luck, happiness, and love in the world!

Now as for today's entry.  The weather outside is awesome.  So sunny, warm, and just all around great.  After getting back home from the hotel where we stayed the night, I put on some shorts, some sun tan lotion, and grabbed David Copperfield to read while lounging out on the deck.  Boy was my heart smiling!  It's so nice to be able to literally and figuratively put your feet up and just chill out.  Also, being that David Copperfield is so extremely long, it makes my heart smile every time I finish ten pages.  However, I want to make sure that no one thinks I don't like the book, because I really do!  It's probably one of my favourite Dickens' novels, and I'm at the part where Copperfield is returning to his old home and neighbourhood and trying to figure out what profession he wants to enter, which I can really relate to right now.  It's just that the novel really is a long one, and I can sometimes get a little impatient.  But I'm getting there!

I wouldn't let someone take my Canadian citizenship from me for anything - Jim Kale of the Guess Who

I know I've been horrible with this, but I do have an excuse.  At the time I seemed to drop off the face of the planet till now, I was finishing university, moving back home, volunteering in Swaziland for a month, and now settling back into life.  So it's been a bit busy and hectic for me, and some things were forgotten, and other things were simply put to the side for a little bit.  But I'm back now, and most likely to stay!

And what better day to be back then July 1st?  I woke up in the morning and my heart was smiling for the simple fact that today is Canada Day!  It's not every day that we really sit back and think about where we live and what that means for us, so it's nice to have one day a year where we can do just that.  And trust me, we have a lot of things to be happy about!

Whenever and where ever I travel to, I'm always proud to say that I am Canadian.  I have been incredibly lucky to have been born into such an awesome country with such great things such as health care and (free) education.  I'm incredibly lucky to live in a country where I feel safe to say in public that I'm not happy with all of the policies and politics that have been going on.  I can discuss my dissatisfaction in public, can petition and protest for change.  I live in a country that encourages free speech, freedom of religion (including the freedom to be nonreligious), open dialogues, peace keeping, and even same-sex marriage.

At the end of the day, I've been very lucky.  Canada is an awesome country.  A place to be proud of coming from, and I only hope that this country continues to be that way.

Today my heart smiles to see Canadians out in the streets of their own country being proud to say that they are Canadian.