11/31: Conan

"President Obama is slated to appear on one of Oprah's last shows. He's hoping it's the one on which she gives away 14 trillion dollars.'' —Conan O'Brien

10/31: Ice Cube

" HELP ME I AM CHOKING ON AN ICE CUBE......... never mind I am good!"

9/31: Octopus

"What did the boy octopus say to the girl octopus? I wanna hold your hand, hand, hand, hand, hand, hand, hand, hand!"

8/31: Descartes

"René Descartes is sitting in a bar, having a drink. The bartender asks him if he would like another. 'I think not,' he says and vanishes into thin air."

7/31: Marathon

http://marathonnicki.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/cartoon2.jpg

6/31: From Imgur

http://imgur.com/gallery/rsQ93

5/31: Squirrel

"How does a naturalist catch a squirrel?

.....He climbs up a tree and acts like a nut."

4/31: Buddhist Colony

3/31: Two types of people...

There are two types of people in the world: those who can extrapolate from incomplete data…

2/31: Milk

- Doctor, I drank milk that was past its expiration date. What'll happen to me? Am I gonna die?
- Well everyone is going to die some day,you know....
- Oh my God! What have I done? Now we're all gonna die!

Joketober 1/31

A couple of hunters are out in the woods when one of them falls to the ground. He doesn't seem to be breathing, his eyes are rolled back in his head. The other guy whips out his cell phone and calls the emergency services. He gasps to the operator: “My friend is dead! What can I do?”

The operator, in a calm soothing voice says: “Just take it easy. I can help. First, let's make sure he's dead.” There is a silence, then a shot is heard.

The guy's voice comes back on the line. He says: “OK, now what?"

*Most Joketobers were found on the web. Sorry I don't have the sources! 

September Letters

I was a bit pressed on time this month (working 70 hours a week, plus a consulting job too), so I shifted gears a bit from full letters to postcards. Each day I wrote a postcard to someone special. The month includes family and friends that I'm close to, family and friends from afar, and a few thank you post cards... I even sent my first fan mail in my life to Arcade Fire.  A bit silly, but I love this band and wanted to express my thanks!

A great month that I enjoyed thoroughly!

Skirball

Today I treated a stranger to a ticket to the Skirball Cultural Center.

Ronald McDonald!

I volunteered with some of my amazing, fun, creative colleagues to prepare dinner for 50 guests of the Ronald McDonald House. Loved every minute of it!

Hopeful for the homeless

I left another care package for the homeless tonight. Again, it feels too small to make a difference. But still better than nothing...

Helping the Homeless

I've heard that the homeless often need basic toiletries, in addition to food and shelter. Today I dropped off two care packages (one for yesterday and one for today) of toothpaste and other daily products to the homeless. I'm sure they need much more than what I can give, but it's a start....

Bedside flowers

So many nursing homes, so little time! Dropped off another potted plant to a nursing home today. These little acts of kindness put everything into perspective....I should really take more time to build on that thought and to examine what matters most. I think I know, but it's so easy to forget....

Blooms for seniors

I left two pots of flowers at a nursing home in Los Alamitos today. I asked the receptionist to give them to residents who never have visitors. I think this may be something I continue to do monthly....so often the elderly are simply forgotten....

Cookie Friday

Left a dozen cookies at the bus stop...."a few cookies to sweeten your bus ride today. Happy Friday!"

Tick tock

I ran out of time today, so I'm going to double up over the weekend...

Starbucks

I was short on time today so I left a quick Starbucks card on a stranger's windshield tonight. I wish I could see and hear the reactions people have....

Watering the waterers

More record breaking heat today. I dropped off another case of water, but this time at the entrance to a community garden. I wanted to recognize local gardens and self-grown produce. 100 degrees and climbing!

Sunny sunflowers

I delivered sunflowers this morning to a hospice center and asked the receptionist to give them to a patient who never has visitors.

Imagine how the world would change if everyone delivered flowers to a nursing home or hospice once a year? Not only would the recipient benefit, but an even greater change would occur in the giver.

Free Water!

We're having record heat this weekend. I picked up a case of water and left it at the entrance of a super busy bike path. It's a common stopping point for cyclists, runners, and walkers. I posted a sign that said "Free water. Random act of kindness. Enjoy!"

I still marvel at the fact that these random acts of kindness take so little time and that they make me so incredibly happy. Increasing the goodness in the world, one little act of kindness at a time. 

Starbucks on a Starry Night

Today we headed out of LA up to Red Rock Campground for the Perseid meteor shower. In Palmdale, we stopped for Starbucks and I added a gift card to my order. This time, my friends helped me pick which car would be the recipient of the random act of kindness. We ended up choosing a minivan parked in front of a dollar store.  I hope it brightened their day!

Here is the view from our campground...

Ice cream!

I left extra money at the ice cream shop to treat the next two strangers to free ice cream. Sharing my favorite food in the world...what could be more fun?

Bus stop surprise

Left another National Geographic magazine with bus fare at a bus stop on 7th street tonight. I was on the phone with my mom at the time...it was nice to share the adventure with my mom. I'm excited about having more time on the weekend to plan new ideas!

Get on the Jamba bus!

Tonight I left a Jamba Juice card at a bus stop in a not so great part of town. In fact, I counted 7 liquor stores within just 4 blocks of this bus stop. Maybe they'll wish it was a liquor card instead... here's hoping this brightened someone's day.

Bus Fare Freebie

I left a National Geographic magazine with bus fare and a kindness card at the bus stop.

I dropped it off while on my 3 mile run... it seemed comical to run past the bus stop and drop the magazine without stopping. Gift and go? Give and run? Either way...it was fun!

Jamba Sneak Attack

I'm happy to admit that sneaking around in the dark to leave surprise gift cards for strangers is super fun... perhaps I should have been a spy.

Tonight I left a Jamba Juice card and a Kindness card under the windshield wiper of a not-so-new-and-not-so-gorgeous-car. Hope they enjoyed finding the surprise in the morning!

Coffee, tea, on me!

I gave the barista at Portfolio's extra cash and asked her to pick someone special in line to treat to coffee this morning.

A nice perk about this project is that I find myself noticing people more and smiling at strangers more often. I'm a nice person in general, but this project is giving me a new awareness of the wonderful people around me. I want to reach out more often, not only to strangers, but to friends too!