Happiness is...

by Skip Cohen

It's Sunday morning and almost typical, at least it would be if we didn't have puppies afraid of loud noises. The combination of July 4th fireworks in the neighborhood, combined with rolling thunder, created a unique evening resulting in minimal sleep. But I'm not complaining really...nothing beats puppy bonding. I'm tired and way off the topic of photography as usual, but I'm fighting to keep it light. 

I've noticed my list of things that make me happy has changed because of the pandemic. Hunkering down for four months has clearly changed my values, but as you look at my list, what's on yours?
​

• I love Cholula hot sauce, especially the lime. I've been buying the 5 oz bottles and never seen a larger size. Here's the big smile moment: I found Amazon sells a 64 oz bottle. Put it together with a plastic squeeze bottle like restaurants refill with ketchup, and I now have an almost never-ending supply.
• The puppies! They're non-stop energy, and while the first three months were horrible, it's all paid off. They make us laugh all day long.
• It's another memory-making moment when we find a movie we haven't seen. Between On Demand, Netflix, and Amazon, we've watched almost everything we're interested in seeing. But when we find a series we missed, it's binge-watching at it's best.
• Knowing what we're doing for dinner before it becomes a committee project makes me happy. A couple of times a week we'd go out for dinner and several times a month with friends. All of that has been reduced to zero. At breakfast each morning, it's a discussion point. And when it's a short conversation, and we both know what we want, it's a smile-maker.

---

• My new set up for video podcasts and meetings! After watching Jay P. Morgan's video, I raised the bar on everything I was using. My set up is so simple and is giving me great easy results every time. Jay P's recommendation was the Logitech C920, which is on backorder everywhere, but I found a good equivalent which moves in front of the screen when I'm on video. No more looking in the wrong direction when I'm presenting or talking to somebody! The computer is raised on a lucite pedestal with a Platypod Max and a LitraPro and Litro Torch 2.0 both on goosenecks along with the camera on a gooseneck and a Platypod Ultra.

---

• Connecting with friends from the industry. The Internet and the phone are my lifelines.
• Customer Service at any company on the planet answering their phone with less than a five minute hold time.
• No-Mo-Robo when it works! When it's working, it catches telemarketing calls before we answer the phone.
• Throwback Thursdays - old photographs keep me focused on the importance of patience and joy when life gets back close to the "old" normal. We all forget the power of what we do for a living. From grab shots to formal portraits, every picture I've got brings back memories. This is one I found this morning of my Dad. It was at least six years ago, and he loved the onion rings at Burger One. He's been gone almost five years, but that doesn't change the smile on my face with this picture.​
• Amazon deliveries!

​
We're all dealing with a new normal, and while it's incredible how much I miss getting out to dinner with friends and having friends over, we've learned to make the best of it. But there's no question my standards are different. By definition, I guess we've become physical recluses. Until Florida's numbers slow down, we're staying home...but thank God for the Internet and our phones!

Wishing everybody a Sunday filled with moments that make you smile. If you're like us, you've already realized how little it takes to put a smile on your face, but sometimes you have to work to let the smile come to the surface. Remember, it really does take less muscle work to smile than it does to frown.

Happy July 5th, everybody!

---