*Today I am participating in Mama Kat’s Writer’s Workshop by answering and combining two prompts:  2.) Create and share a Whrrl story  and 3.) Write a Haiku that describes what you love about an ordinary day.

A PANINI HAIKU

Noon.  My stomach growls.

Piping hot panini press,

make me a sandwich.

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My daughter got into the spirit of making a Haiku as well:

Lillies bloom in spring

Snow falls in winter brr brr

I bloom in summer.

Making a Haiku is strangely satisfying.  Try it!

We all have them, those “blah” gray sort of days.  Days when we don’t feel like doing much of anything, but we have to anyway because our work/children/spouse/project demand that we do.  That’s when I put on my Get Happy playlist because these songs never fail to put me in a fantastic mood.  All of these songs either morph me into a happy, Sunday-afternoon-at-the-park sort of mood or make me want to get up and dance.  I’ve got good music and I’m good to go.

“Love Shack” by B-52s

I secretly think that I am a member of the B-52s; I have the white go-go boots already.  ”Love Shack” is my number one song to put me in a fantastic mood.  It makes me want to dance around and do the pony.   I would kill this song at karaoke!

“Pump” by B-52s

If you think the B-52s greatest hits are old school, think again.  Their latest release is just as rocking as songs of old.  ”Pump” is classic B-52s: addictive guitar riffs and esoteric (or just crazy) lyrics.  Listening to this song makes me wanna swing my hips wildly while shaking a tambourine.

“Back to Love” by The Brand New Heavies

Most of The Brand New Heavies music is funky and groovy–perfect for creating a sunny mood.  But this song has the benefit of uplifting lyrics as well.  It’s a message that everyone needs to remember: “…we seem to lose our way, somehow got lead astray, that’s why I’m here to say, got to get back, get back to love.”

“Groove is in The Heart” by Dee-Lite

Do you see a pattern here?  I like groovy music.  Peace signs, disco balls, go-go boots–give it to me, baby!  This song is a flower-child dance party, with a 90s house beat.  I dare you to listen and stay in your seat.

“Cherish” by Madonna

A bouncy, feel-good beat and sing-aloud lyrics about love keeps this song on my Get Happy playlist.  True, I can’t get the image of Madonna wearing all that lace out of my head, but I don’t hold it against her.  How can I?  I used to dress like her!

“I’m Every Woman” by Chaka-Khan

This song makes me feel like I can conquer the world.  Chaka is belting out those lyrics with the force of nature.  By the end of the song when the music crescendos,  all I need is a cape and a big W on my chest and I’m ready to fly!

“All This Time” by Sting

Soul Cages is one of my favorite albums by Sting; the writing is incredible.  Even though this song is about his father’s death, Sting’s poetic lyrics and great music makes it a up-beat tribute instead of a dirge.   You can feel the maritime intentions in the song–the waves rolling, the sea breeze, the boat rocking.   I love the beach and this song takes me right there.

“Dancing Queen” by ABBA

Yes, I know it’s clichéd, but despite the over-use of this song, it still puts me in a good mood.  With the disco ball twinkling, I can hear the DJ saying, “It’s time for ladies only skate, ladies only.”  In my tube socks and shiny shorts, I can see myself gliding around the roller rink.

“P.Y.T” by Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson showed his talent through many songs, but whenever I play this song I feel his passion and happiness.  And that happiness is then transferred to me.  I don’t try to moon-walk though.

“I Like It Like That” by The Blackout All-Stars

There aren’t that many lyrics to this song, it’s all about the beat.  Latin music is made for dancing; the horns and Congo drums make me want to throw on a twirly skirt, some high heels and do the merengue.

“Haven’t You Heard” by Patrice Rushen

Another song with limited lyrics, “Haven’t You Heard” is all about the music.  Patrice Rushen is an incredible musician and arranger and her blend of jazz, funk and R&B always has me tapping my toes and bopping my head.  This is perfect Sunday afternoon, life-is-good type of music.

“Let’s Go Crazy” by Prince

A musical genius.   I love many a Prince song and different songs put me in different moods.  ”Let’s Go Crazy” is Prince in a zany mood and the song makes me feel zany too.   With lyrics like “let’s look for the purple banana ’til they put us in the truck” how can you not get in a great mood?

“Rebel Yell” by Billy Idol

I love to rock out to this song.  À la Jennifer Beals I want to wear ripped sweatshirts and leg warmers while dancing a scene out of Flashdance.  Or sometimes I play it really loud in my car when I’m frustrated and it never fails to make me calmer and more in control.

“The Biggest Part of Me” by Ambrosia

This is my singing in the shower song, the one that makes me croon into my pretend microphone.  Singing this song I have my audience in the palm of my hand; all eyes are closed and they’re doing the church wave.  This image never fails to put a smile on my face.

“Sunday Morning” by Maroon 5

Smooth, jazzy and groovy, “Sunday Morning” is what I want to hear while taking my dog for a walk.  Sometimes walking my dog can be a chore, but a song like this puts a skip in my step.  My dog thanks you Maroon 5.

“Flashlight” by Parliament

After the 9 second intro, right when the song really begins, I want to jump up, land in a splits, jump up again and do a James Brown spin.  From there I would go into an impressive robot dance, then snake on the floor.  If only.  Instead, I do my own version of a funky dance.

“8th Wonder” by Sugar Hill Gang

The beat is fresh and the rap lyrics memorable.   It’s my ring tone and I have a mini-dance party every time someone calls me.  An interactive party song asking you to sing along, how can you stay in a bad mood reciting lyrics like: “If you’re ready to party and you’re ready to jam, scream it out and say ‘I am (I am) somebody (somebody),’ now you know you are.  You go ah, ah, ah-ah, ooh, ooh.”

“Love of My Life Worldwide” by Erykah Badu (featuring Queen Latifah, Bahamadia & Angie Stone)

I used to love “Funk You Up” by Sequence back in the day and Erykah Badu took a good thing and made it even better.   The addition of Queen Latifah, Bahamadia and original member of Sequence, Angie Stone, adds multiple layers to an already smoking song.  If I could break dance to this song, I would.  Alas, I have to settle for wearing my shell-tops and doing a quick Kid ‘N Play step.

“Woo” by Erykah Badu

Erykah Badu was on fire with the Worldwide Underground album.  This song puts me in happy mood, but more like a mellow, funky, happy mood rather than maniacally happy.  I can’t be bouncing off the wall all the time.  Right here I’m tipping my fedora over one eye, sipping a glass of Prosecco or champagne and bopping my head to the beat.

“Good Life” by Kayne West

It samples one of my other Get Happy songs, Michael’s Jackson’s P.Y.T., and it gets me hyped.  Although Kayne’s version of the good life is not the same as mine, still I throw my hands up in the air and scream, “I’m good.”

*This week I’m participating in Mama Kat’s Writer’s Workshop by answering the prompt: 2.) Explain a time there was an emergency. What “mode” did you go into? Freaking out, calm and collected, etc.

As a mom, of course there are several instances over the years when my kids have been in physical danger because, well, kids tend to live on the edge without regard to bodily harm.  I’m a pretty calm person anyway and as a parent I am the calm one while my husband is the “you’re going to put your eye out with that thing” parent.  He’s the one freaking out when they climb to the top of the jungle gym at the playground while I carefully spot from below without comment.    While I let my kids experience more of the (unsafe) world than my husband is apt to do without my unflappable assurance that “they’ll be fine”, he is more cautious about their health in general and is quick to assess when the kids are getting sick.   Both kinds of parenting have their advantage and the kids are lucky to have us to balance each other out.

But still, you never know how you will react in a dangerous situation until one happens (I consider a dangerous situation an emergency).   I experienced two separate situations with my son involving a dangerous dog and both times I was able to act quickly and calmly.

In the first situation, my son was almost attacked by a loose Pit Bull in front of our house in New Jersey.  I know that Pit Bulls as a breed are not a danger, so don’t send me comments saying that I am anti-Pit Bull, but this particular dog happened to be a Pit Bull with a neighborhood reputation for being pretty vicious.   I was standing on my porch talking to a neighbor and my son was on the sidewalk next to the neighbor; he was about 5 years old.  Out of nowhere this dog comes charging across the street–headed straight for my son.   Now the details get a bit fuzzy for me after that, but as my neighbor tells it, I reached over the porch railing, grabbed my son with one hand–”like the hand of God” said my neighbor– and pulled him in the house while shutting the door with the other hand.  This all happened in a matter of seconds in one soundless swoop.   With my son safe inside I grabbed the phone and called the police, because my neighbor was still outside fighting off the dog.   Thankfully he was able to use his briefcase as a shield because the dog was relentlessly jumping and biting; the briefcase was covered with bite marks.    The thought of what that dog could have done to my son, who was the perfect height to have been bitten in the face or easily knocked to the ground, is quite scary.   I guess the split second thought of it was enough for me to spring into action and use resources that I didn’t even know I had.

The other dog incident happened here in Atlanta, about a year or so ago.   My son (much older now, but still afraid of dogs because of the pit bull) and I were walking past a big grassy field where we saw a man playing ball with his off-leash dog, a Boxer.   The dog was running all over the field and not necessarily chasing the ball; just running crazy.   When the dog saw us, he ran towards us at top speed.  At first I wasn’t that concerned because I thought maybe he wanted to play, but as he got closer I could see in his face that wasn’t the case.  Meanwhile the man stayed where he was and called to the dog, who wasn’t listening, but he didn’t move to come get the dog, so we were on our own.   Unfortunately, the path that we were on was long and wide open; there was nowhere for us to go.   As the dog circled us snapping and growling my son was hopping around, but I know that is NOT what you are supposed to do in that situation, so I wrapped my ams around him to make him be still and said to myself  ”there is no way out; one or both of us is going to get bitten.”   I remember thinking this very calmly and steeling myself for the pain sure to come.   Just then the dog spotted another walker on the other side of the field and took off barking and growling at them.  The owner was still in the middle of the field calling to the unresponsive dog.    We took that opportunity to get out of there as fast as we could, still pretty shaken up.

Like you, l am devastated by the destruction in Haiti.  But aren’t you amazed at the response for help?   It’s been incredible.   Of course there is more help needed.   This comprehensive list was sent to me by Mocha Moms.  If you want to help Haiti, please try any of the links below.

Two great links on how to help:

http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/01/13/haiti.earthquake.how.to.help/?hpt=Sbin

http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/13/haiti-disaster-relief-how-to-contri bute/

In addition:

• Action Against Hunger – International agency has hundreds of staffers in Haiti. Already working to distribute food and safe drinking water, build latrines and provide hygiene kits. Click or call (877) 777-1420.

• American Red Cross – Has already pledged $1 million toward relief effort. Donors can send a $10 donation by texting “Haiti” to 90999.

• American Jewish World Service – Has launched a relief fund to support a networ k of charities. Log on to donate as little as $36. Click or call (212) 792-2900.

• AmeriCares – Has pledged $5 million worth of aid to Haiti, and is working with partners on the island to deliver food and medical supplies. Click or call  (800) 486-4357.

• Beyond Borders – Has established an Earthquake Emergency Response Fund to take donations earmarked for the most urgent needs, including food and medicine. Click or call (866) 424-8403

• CARE – Has deployed emergency teams to Po rt-au-Prince and will soon start distributing high protein biscuits from its warehouses in Haiti. Click or call (800) 521-2273

• Catholic Relief Services – Has committed $5 million of its funds for emergency supplies. Already has food and relief supplies on the island, and is distributing plastic sheeting, mosquito netting, and water purification tablets. Click or call (800) 736-3467

• Childcare Worldwide – Has staff in place to distribute food, clothing, blankets and medical supplies. Click or call (800) 553-2328.

• Direct Relief International – Has shipped two containers of medical supplies and plans a $2 million aid package. Plans to airlift via FedEx this week. Click or call (805) 964-4767.

• Doctors Without Borders – Has already treated more than 1,000 victims in four tent facilities. Is working to treat severely injured people in need of surgery. Click or call (888) 392-0392.

• Feed My Starving Children – Plans to distribute high-protein meal packs to children and adults. Click or call (763) 504-2919.

• Habitat for Humanity – Working to provide temporary shelter for poor families affected by quake. Click or call (800) 422-4828.

• Haitian Health Foundation – Anticipating total depletion of their resources and taking donations and money and hoping to address anticipated flood of refugees leaving Port-au-Prince. Click or call (860) 886-4357.

• Hope for Haiti – Stands ready to send doctors, nurses, medical supplies and equipment. Click or call (239) 434-7183.

• International Medical Corps – Has representatives at Port-au-Prince’s main hospital, providing medical care. Click or call (800) 481-4462.

• Medical Teams International – Initial response includes sending a six-person team with enough medicine and orthopedic supplies to help 12,000 people for a week. Click or call (800) 959-4325.

• Operation USA – L.A.-based organization sending medical supplies and appealing for pledges and corporate donations of health care supplies, water purification tablets and food supplements. Click or call (800) 678-7255.

• < p style=”margin-bottom: 4px”> Oxfam – Has 200 staff members in Haiti, including a 15-member emergency response team. Click or call (800)776-9326.

• UNICEF – Venerable agency focuses on the youngest victims, pledging that every dollar will go to aid. Click or call (800) 367-5437.

• World Concern – Soliciting cash as it helps in the rescue effort and provides drinking water, food and blankets. Click or call (800)755-5022.

• Yele Haiti – Wyclef Jean’s grassroots org.  Text Yele to 501 501 to donate $5 via your cell phone.

You can also find more ways to help through the Center for International Disaster Information, or through USAID’s interactive website, which has a list of NGOs and instructions on how to help.

The U.S. State Department Operations Center said Americans seeking information about family members in Haiti should call 1-888-407-4 747. Due to heavy volume, some callers may receive a recording.