WQ #3 January 18: BELLY LAUGH/WHITE OR GRAY COLOR CHALLENGE
“Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face.”
~ Victor Hugo
Featured Bloggers who piqued your interest
I am super grateful for all of you who visit and post each week. You bring me joy, I learn about the world far and near, and feel close to you and what you are doing in your lives.
- EKLASTIC – I WONDER WHAT SMELL PIQUED HER INTEREST?
- KEEP IT ALIVE – SHARES PERSONAL EXPERIENCES, CLEARLY AND PRECISELY
- LADY LEE – HER EKPHRASTIC POEM PIQUED MY INTEREST TO LISTEN TO THE SONG
- LOVING LIFE – PIQUING THE INTEREST OF YOUR KIDS MAY CHANGE THEIR LIVES.
- SECOND WIND LEISURE – TAKE THE PLUNGE TO MAKE LIFE INTERSTING
- THE SKEPTIC’S KADDISH MOST CONCERNED WITH THE MORE IMPORTANT IMPROVEMENTS – INTERACTIONS
- THIS IS ANOTHER STORY – MORE GREAT BLOGGING TIPS TO PIQUE INTEREST
- TRAVELS WITH ALI – I DIDN’T EXPECT ROTTNEST TO BE SO BEAUTIFUL
- WIND KISSES – HOW DOES A TRIP ON A DISNEY CRUISE SOUND?
For More Thoughts on Belly Laughs…
Your post link goes here.
- BUSH BOY – YOU’LL HAVE TO LAUGH. I DID!
- EKLASTIC – A CAT TALE
- LADY LEE – “ONE DAY I’M GOING TO MAKE ONIONS CRY.”
- LOVING LIFE – AT WORK WITH NO TP?
- NEW2WRITING – WATCH OUT FOR LIVE YOGA CLASSES!
- SECOND WIND LEISURE – READY WITH A BELLY LAUGH TO BEAT GRAY DAYS – SUNDAY STILLS
- SECOND WIND LEISURE – WORDLESS WEDNESDAY
- THE SKEPTIC’S KADDISH – WASTED DAYS
- THIS IS ANOTHER STORY – SORE TUMMY MUSCLES – YEP
What Do We Humans Find Funny?
A note about Terri’s Sunday Stills gray and white challenge. Belly laughs and gray don’t really mix. There’s a tiny bit of gray here, but it’s negligible. To see more grays, here are some of my ideas. But if you want to address grays and whites in this challenge and double dip, you are welcome to do so.
“A day without laughter is a day wasted.”
~ Charlie Chaplin
Every few days since the beginning of email, at least one person felt it was their duty to send me funny stories and photos. A few of them give me belly laughs, helped me write this post, and added years to my life. I enjoy animal memes the most.
“Laughter is an instant vacation.”
~ Milton Berle
Desert in July
“Laughter is the shortest distance between two people.”
~ Victor Borge
Donna spent last year looking for peace, her Word of the Year. I wonder if any of her research led to laughter as one part of the solution?
When I worked as a history consultant, I arranged a field trip for fourth graders to visit Allensworth, the only California Freedom Colony primarily for families of retired Buffalo Soldiers.
The Park Ranger demonstrated a regular occurrence in the early 20th-century town – the public shave. All the kids laughed uproariously while the clean-faced volunteer had to keep a straight face in spite of being tickled. the ranger did not use a razor, in case you were worried.
“Laughter is important, not only because it makes us happy, it also has actual health benefits. And that’s because laughter completely engages the body and releases the mind. It connects us to others, and that in itself has a healing effect.”
~Marlo Thomas
As a teacher, I often connected with my students through laughter. I made the mistake of reading books out loud to them that I thought were funny, one of them being Sideways Stories From Wayside School by Louis Sachar. In one chapter after reading through nearly the entire chapter about one child’s debate with everyone in the school trying to decide what tattoo to get for his birthday, the kids were hanging from their seats – literally.
“What did he choose? Did he get the snake? Did he get the dead rat?”
Warning: you should always read the book before you share it with your class. As I read ahead a few lines, I started to laugh. I couldn’t read, and that made me laugh harder. Soon the whole class was laughing. I turned away from them and bent over trying to get control of myself.
“What’s so funny?” Read it. Read it.”
“I can’t read it,” I choked out, tears making my eye makeup run down my face.
One boy fell off his chair and rolled on the floor laughing. I still couldn’t read it. I motioned to one of my better readers who was not already in hysterics to come read the last few lines.
“Calvin pulls up his left pant leg and shows the class his tattoo: a potato, located above his ankle.”
Louis Sachar
I don’t remember if my students thought it was as funny as I did or if they just thought I was funny, but we had a great bonding laugh.
Speaking of kids, remember getting the giggles while climbing, swinging, or playing on the teeter-totter? There were no kids playing the day Janet and I visited, but this well-used centipede gave me a smile.
Kid Humor
The poem about this unknown girl is written for Tanka Tuesday. Senryu is a syllabic poem dealing with the human condition.
Court witness due to testify in minutes. She's a kid, first year Mock Trial having fun. "Look at me! Dare me to eat it." "Yes, I will!" Friends chanted, "Eat it, eat it whole!" Laughter rocked ... the courtroom bringing it to life, easing nerves. ©Marsha Ingrao 2023 Senryu Sequence 3-5-3
Tickled My Funny Bone
“Laughter and tears are both responses to frustration and exhaustion. I myself prefer to laugh, since there is less cleaning up to do afterward.”
~ Kurt Vonnegut
My dad thought he was funny. Once I outgrew this phase of my life, I didn’t often think he was a comedian. He must have tickled me when I was a baby, though. I grew up laughing.
Before we married, I bet myself that I could make Mark laugh, and this was about as far as I got with that. It didn’t matter, he made me laugh.
Now it’s your turn.
Create (or find) a post on your blog that makes you laugh and link it here in the comment section. Or talk to us (my WQ readers and me) in the comment section.
Upcoming and Ongoing on Always Write
- WQ Page
- WQ #4: January 25: ENVELOPED/WRITER’S CHOICE/DOUBLE DIP CHALLENGES/
Marsha Ingrao - Always Write 
70 responses to “WQ #3: Best Tip to Look Younger and Stay Healthier”
Hi Marsha – this was a wonderful post with great quotes (esp the Kurt Vonnegut one for me today) and the fun personal photos of you! And so glad you have laughter since a baby! Oh the joy
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I’m sure you have too, Yvette. Babies are a joy. I just met a new one on my trip to CA.
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🙂
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I hope your trip to CA was nice – and how fun to meet a new baby – something so precious that fills the soul
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I just sent you an email. I also just got Trent’s link. I had a great trip with little time and little internet and hit Prescott running. I explained in my email. 🙂 TTYS
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got it and thanks M 🙂
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🙂
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How nice to be reminded of Louis Sachar’s and his sweet, funny, touching books. I loved the Marvin Redpost series. And would always recommend them to my reluctant readers. I can just imagine you and the class laughing together over the potato tattoo. Hilarious.
Laughter is the best medicine. I have trouble laughing at myself, though. And need to learn to do that more often. Today I carried the vacuum down the stairs and the cord became unraveled and practically wound itself around my ankles. Without realizing, I somehow started an audio message to my daughters on our What’s App thread of me huffing and puffing with the vacuum and then cursing it when the cord unwound. And then I sent the recording. Never even realizing that I had made it in the first place. I did manage to laugh about that. Not sure how I can do those kinds of things without intending to at all.
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I loved this. And I love the photos of you. Yes. Laughter is always the best. In fact, sometimes I have to leave the room when my grandkids get scolded for some silly reason. It is always funny to me.
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I had that problem when I taught. I threatened one fourth grader telling him if he did spoke without raising his hand again, I was going to throw him in the waste basket. Who knows what prompted me to say that. You know what happened, right?
At the time, in my mind, I backed myself into a corner. I had to be consistant. It makes me cringe now, but the kids loved it.
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Hahaha. I love it. Nowadays that might look different too.
I’ll bet that boy, now man, still talks of you with fond, and fun memories.
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Probably, they all knew they were my kiddos since I didn’t have any.
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Thanks, Marsha – here are my reflections:
https://skepticskaddish.com/2023/01/22/wasted-days/
~David
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I definitely don’t think you’ve wasted days.
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💓🙏🏻 Marsha 🙏🏻💓
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[…] be reflecting on or writing about if it weren’t for Marsha Ingrao’s most recent WQ prompt – to share a quote about laughter and a reflection to accompany […]
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[…] Marsha’s Wednesday Quotes: White and Gray […]
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It’s great when you have teachers who make you laugh instead of the ones that put the fear of God in you.
Great topic Marsha 🤣
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Thanks so much Ali! I don’t think I put much fear of anything into my students. I had fun and I think they did, and I was always proud of what learning they accomplished.
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Sounds like you were a great teacher 🙂
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Great might be pushing it, but I had an amazing time!
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[…] week for Writer’s Quote #3 Marsha has given us Belly […]
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[…] had a wonderful and productive week. If you get a chance please visit my WQ post and share a Belly Laugh or two. You’ll be healthier at the end of the post. You know what “they” say […]
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I love this post, Marsha! What a fun, fabulous topic. Great pictures. I’ll need to look out for this book now! It sounds brilliant. My little boy already finds things hilarious so I’m sure he’ll love it. I’ll get a post up asap. Take care. KL ❤
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Thank you so much! You are too awesome!
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[…] Written for;WQ #3: Best Tip to Look Younger and Stay Healthier, hosted by Marsha […]
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Too many chortles to count. Desperately loved this, and that photo of you as a teacher is pure enchantment (and the accompanying story).
Laughter in the classroom- it makes all the difference in the world, I think. I trust that you brought tremendous joy and a thrill for learning into many young lives as a result, Marsha. A tremendous gift. That you’re still giving to this day.
I so love the image of you, laughing away as an infant (the best, the best), and the beautiful shot of you and Mark. Fantastic post.
Checkling cheers -aj
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Thank you AJ, I do a lot of laughing, right?
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Thank you for these laughs – I especially liked the underpants story and the bats 🤣🤣
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You’re welcome. I can’t take much credit for either. I don’t even remember which of my friend sent them. LOL
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[…] Wednesday Quote #3 […]
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Thanks for joining in! I’d love to know the name of the sitcom. Maybe I can stop doing yoga and laugh more! 🙂
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thanks for the fun post, Marsha 🙂
https://ladyleemanilablog.wordpress.com/2023/01/19/laugh-until-your-belly-hurts-and-then-just-a-bit-more/
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So much fun Marsha. I remember trying to read and laugh at the same time and everyone wanting to know what I am laughing at. That said, I was debating about tattoos with my inked daughters. A potato on my leg near my ankle would have them commit me I reckon.
My insanity keeps me sane 🙂
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So what did you get, BB?
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Nothing until I find the right thing and right place but probably won’t at all.
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[…] Marsha’s WQ#3 […]
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This was great, and those memes made me chuckle. I love to laugh and need to do it more often for sure!
I really love your poem! Well done!
https://troyerslovinglife.blogspot.com/2023/01/putting-fingers-to-keyboardwqtheme_18.html
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SO FUNNY!
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I can’t imagine you without a smile on your face, Marsha. You are always cheery.
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You should read Kirstin’s post. Now that is a gal who can laugh! I do laugh a lot, though. Life has its funny moments. Mom had a friend who had the most raucous laugh that she got us laughing so hard. We would go to a restaurant together after she and mom got off work, and we would get the entire restaurant laughing.
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To know If you can approach a dog, one only needs to see If the tail is wagging.
To know If you can approach a human, one only needs to see if they are smiling!
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True, but what about approaching a smiling dog? We had friends who had a dog that actually smiled if he liked you. I didn’t know that the first time he headed to greet me at the car.
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better yet…………a smiling human wagging their tail!!
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TOO FUNNY!
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I read The Authorised Guide to Grunty Fen (Gateway to the East) by Christopher South, there is a chapter in the book about sports that are only practised in Grunty Fen. One of these unusual sports is Competitive Drain Rodding. I tried to read this part of the chapter to a meeting of our writing group, Whittlesey Wordsmiths, I failed miserably as the tears of laughter rolled down my face.
I reviewed the book on my blog, definitely five stars.
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I love it Phil! I had an experience like that in speech class in high school. So embarrassing. It was all on tape (old days) 5 minutes of laughing before they made me sit down.
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Send me a link. I couldn’t find it.
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https://fenlandphil.com/2021/08/05/the-authorised-guide-to-grunty-fen-gateway-to-the-east-by-christopher-south-a-review/
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Funny!
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Thanks for the laughs, Marsha. Some with more belly than others. 😂
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Isn’t that always the case. I’m good at laughing, but not so great at telling or showing.
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I first have to say that if we don’t laugh during these gray days, we will become depressed due to SAD, then we will HAVE to go to the pharmacy for medication! This was a fun post, Marsha, and so well-needed for me this week. SAD has grabbed a hold of me and shaken me a bit but I know how to deal with it. I am writing an article about this for next month’s paper but I’ve been procrastinating…
Laughter is so important–I actually included a gargoyle gryphon for my Wordless Wednesday post today because it cracks me up! I can just see your classroom full of kids dying of laughter waiting for you to finish, all the while laughing. I think we all laugh when someone else is laughing endlessly. Hans’ twin read us a German poem a few years ago, and had us laughing because of the way he read it–laughing himself as he translated “Bad Peter” from German to English. It was really hilarious and I looked at him in a new light. Knowing my SAD condition, I tend to seek out humor when possible to keep myself sane. Lots of fun here today, thank you!!
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You are very sane, my friend. My SAD husband is sleeping with his mouth open right now because of SAD. So much for painting today!!! I can’t blame him, though. I stayed awake until 1:00 reading, then after that because I couldn’t sleep until about 2:00. Then he got up about 4 and again about 6. We need more laughter, I guess. 🙂
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SAD is such a disruptor of sleep patterns. People mistakenly believe that living in sunny areas in the winter prevents these symptoms. I know exactly how Vince feels!!
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I don’t know what does prevent it. I think my bad sleeping habits don’t help him sleep very much.
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More sunlight is needed. We haven’t had much. I spent the whole afternoon writing about SAD. Super depressed now, 😉
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Awww, come on over. We are having sun today.
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It’s sleeping now. Sun maybe here tomorrow! 🤞
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You need to move to AZ.
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I should, Prescott is very inviting! But I’m not moving again. We have a bright sunny morning! And …drumroll….we saw a moose earlier in our neighbor’s backyard. Just lumbering along. A bull but his antlers were shed for the winter. Got pics and sharing this Sunday!
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The pictures you sent are very compelling! No moose coming in our yard!
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Sleet…
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Blick! Meh! sunshine here
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[…] Wednesday Quotes #3 […]
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[…] for Marsha’s Wednesday Quotes Challenge: Belly Laugh/Colors of White and Gray and Cee’s […]
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Really fun post, Marsha! Loved all the photos, and your story of reading to your students and laughing was the best! Love and hugs!
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Hi Maddie, so good to hear from you. I bet you’ve been busy! What’s new and breezy in your life?
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Laughter is the medicine that cures many things and doesn’t need a prescription or a trip to the drugstore. (The latter isn’t likely to produce laughter, so avoid if at all possible.) One of the easiest ways to find something funny is to look up what children think and say about various things. Johnny Carson (back when late night was funny, not crude, and I wasn’t always in bed by 10 or earlier!) used to ask children things and I sometimes laughed until I cried. If you enjoy words, or even if you think you don’t, read “Anguished English” or “More Anguished English” by Richard Lederer and I promise you’ll be laughing. I’ve literally cried with laughter while reading those books and I mean “literally” in the literal sense. 🙂
Enough babbling? Thanks for making me smile at any number of things in the post, Marsha. I may be headed for my copy of “Anguished English.” I used to share bits of it on the blog every week or two. Maybe I’ll start again.
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I love what kids say. I had forgotten how fun that is.
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