Today is Halloween! It's hard to believe that we're creeping up on the last few months of 2017. What a crazy year it's been for just about everyone! But one sure fire way to shake off the blues and have a little fun is by celebrating a few of the special days coming up this next month. Whether you're an author like me, love pizza with the works, or simply enjoy a good cup of coffee, November has a few days that I know you'll want to celebrate. So, without further ado, here is your Calendar of Special Days for the month of
November 
1.  National Author's Day (Need I say, "Yippee!), National Family Literacy Day, National Cook For Your Pets Day, National Stress Awareness Day, National Vinegar Day
2.  National Deviled Eggs Day, Traffic Directors Day, National Men Make Dinner Day (My dad's a pretty cook cook!)
3.  National Jersey Friday, National Housewife's Day (I prefer the term Domestic Goddess), National Sandwich Day (A day you can really sink your teeth into...)
4.  National Chicken Lady Day, National Candy Day (Shouldn't that be Halloween??), National Bison Day
5.  National Donut Day, National Love Your Red Hair Day, Daylight Saving Time Ends
6.  Saxophone Day, National Nachos Day
7.  National Body Language Day, Job Action Day, Color The World Orange Day, National Canine Lymphoma Awareness Day
8.  National Cappuccino Day, National Parents As Teachers Day, National STEM/STEAM Day
9.  National Microtia Day, National Scrapple Day
10. National Forget-Me-Not day, National Vanilla Cupcake Day, US Marine Corp Birthday
11. Veterans Day, National Ice Cream Sundae Day
12. National Pizza With The Works Except Anchovies Day, National Chicken Soup For The Soul Day
13. World Kindness Day, National Indian Pudding Day (If you haven't tried it, you don't know what you're missing!)
14. National Pickle Day
15.National Bundt (pan) Day, National Philanthropy Day, National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day, National Raisin Bran Cereal Day, America Recycles Day, 
16. National Button Day, Great American Smokeout
17. National Take A Hike Day
18. National Princess Day, Mickey Mouse Birthday, National Adoption Day
19. National Play Monopoly Day
20. Peanut Butter Fudge Day, National Absurdity Day
21. National Stuffing Day
22. National Cranberry Relish Day (I love anything with cranberries!), National Jukebox Day
23. Thanksgiving Day, National Cashew Day, National Eat A Cranberry Day (Gladly!), National Espresso Day, Turkey-Free Thanksgiving
24. National Day of Listening, National Native American Heritage Day, Black Friday, Buy Nothing Day, Flossing Day, Maize Day, You're Welcomegiving Day
25. Blase Day, Shopping Reminder Day, Small Business Saturday
26. National Cake Day, National Cookie Day
27. Cyber Monday
28. National French Toast Day, National Day of Giving
29. National Package Protection Day, Electronic Greetings Day, Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting (New York City)
30. National Mason Jar Day, National Mousse Day, Computer Security Day, Stay Home Because You're Well Day
WOW! That's sure a lot of stuff to celebrate! What special days will you choose? After I narrow my list down from 30 to a more realistic number, I'll hop on over to the party store and stock up on supplies and decorations.
​I hope you all have a wonderful month and will check back here for your December calendar of special days.

I know you get lots of internet advice on how to be happy...some of it's from me. And it's probably a good thing not to trust most of the advice you read, maybe even mine. But you can trust the neuroscientists whose only job is studying the brain and finding out what makes it work. UCLA (the University of California at Los Angeles) neuroscience researcher Alex Korb has some advice on how to make your happiness spiral upward. Here are his four must-do rituals for upping your happiness quotient.
#1. Asking the BIG question. When you're feeling down, there's one important question you need to ask yourself. And that is why? Guilt and shame can make your brain seem like it doesn't want to be happy. Even though they're all different, pride, guilt, and shame activate similar neural circuits in the brain. It can seem very appealing to heap guilt and shame upon ourselves because they activate the brain's reward center. And along with the guilt and shame, many of us worry a lot. In the short-term, worry can make the brain feel a little better. After all, you are doing something about your problem. it's a scientific fact that worrying increases the brain's limbic system "by increasing activity in the medial prefrontal cortex and decreasing activity in the amygdala. This may seem counter-intuitive but it just goes to show that if you're feeling anxiety, doing something about it...even worrying...is better than doing nothing." But guilt, shame, and worry are awful long-term solutions. Neuroscientists say that the better way is to ask yourself, "What am I grateful for?" By now we know that gratitude is awesome but did you know that it actually affects your brain at the biological level? It does! Antidepressants boost the brain's level of dopamine and serotonin. So does gratitude. I know which one I'd rather have. In addition to making us happier, gratitude makes our social interacts better, too! The most interesting thing about gratitude is that it's not important how many things you find to be grateful for, but it's the fact that you are looking for them. remembering to be grateful is a form of emotional intelligence. With higher emotional intelligence, it takes less effort to be grateful.
# 2.  Label negative feelings.  When you feel down, label the feelings that come up; anger, sadness, worry, etc. This may sound kind of silly, but your brain will disagree. Suppressing emotions can backfire, so it's important to consciously recognize what you feel. Don't just slough it off and tell yourself you feel bad. Your brain knows this. take a few minutes and list the emotions that are coming up for you. When you suppress your emotions, looking just fine on the outside, recent studies have shown that your limbic system is just as aroused (and maybe more so) than if you let yourself feel these negative feelings.  Taking the time to label your emotions can have a positive impact on your mood. To reduce your arousal, you only need a few words to describe your emotions. "In fact, labeling affects the brain so powerfully it works with other people too. Labeling emotions is one of the primary tools used by FBI hostage negotiators."
​#3.  Make that decision. Most of the time when we finally make up our minds what we're going to do, our brain quickly begins to mess with us and we start doubting our decision. But every once in a while, when we make a decision, our brain feels instantly at rest. That's not a random occurrence! Brain science has shown that making a decision reduces our anxiety and worry, as well as solve the problem we faced. But making a decision can sometimes be very difficult, with lots of choices and option. Research has shown that making a good decision is best. But, what, you already do that, right? Perhaps, but science shows it's more important to make a good decision than it is to struggle with trying to make the absolute best decision. Strive to make good, solid decisions. Don't sweat it if it's not 100% perfect. Perfectionism has its own set of drawbacks. trying to be perfect overwhelms the brain and can leave you feeling out of control. "Recognizing that good enough is good enough relieves a lot of pressure which allows you to feel more in control.
As Swarthmore College professor, Barry Schwartz, has said, "Good enough is almost always good enough." Actively making a decision causes changes in the attention circuits and how the person feels about the action which, in turn, increases the dopamine reward activity. When you make a decision on a goal and achieve it, you feel better than if good things just happen by chance!
# 4. Touch others. No, please don't do this randomly! That could cause you much unhappiness, for sure. But it is a proven fact that we need to feel love and acceptance from others. When we don't, it becomes painful...not just emotionally upsetting but actually physically painful! Rejection doesn't just heart like a heartache; the brain actually feels the pain more like it's a broken leg. Social exclusion activates the same circuitry as physical pain. Relationships are very important to your brain's feeling of happiness. One of the primary ways to release oxytocin is by touching others. Obviously, we can't go around randomly groping others, but small touches like a pat on the back or a handshake are generally thought to be acceptable and help with that important touching factor. According to neuroscientists, touching is extremely important and its power is underestimated. Touching can do all kinds of good things, including increasing your math skills. Touching someone you love actually can reduce physical pain. And the stronger the bond, the greater the effect of touching. "It's been found that holding hands with someone can comfort you and your brain through painful situations," says Alex Korb.  And let's not forget the power of a hug. Not just one of those quick ones; neuroscientists recommend longer hugs for maximum effect. We've heard this before but research has proven that getting five hugs a day for four weeks will increase your happiness, big time! If you don't have someone to hug you, then go get a massage. getting a massage increases serotonin levels by as much as 30%. Too, massage decreases stress hormones and raises dopamine levels.  Massage reduces pain by activating painkilling endorphins. And did you know that massage can improve sleep and reduce fatigue? Spending time with others is very important...and texting/emailing doesn't count.
These four important rituals can help everybody feel better and happier...even we frogs! Worth a try, eh?
​                                          Have a wonderful week. Peace.

Ah, the weekend. It's a time for a little R & R & V. This stands for Rest, Relaxation, and Volunteering. Each year, the fourth Saturday in October is set aside for National Make A Difference Day. Since 1992, millions of people (frogs, too) have united in the common mission to improve the lives of others, including animals.
Volunteering offers vital help to people in need, supports worthy causes, and build communities. Helping others also helps ourselves by lowering stress, combating depression, keeping us mentally-stimulated, and providing us with a sense of purpose. In a nutshell, volunteerism helps everyone and increases happiness and life satisfaction.
Studies have shown that the more people volunteer, the happier they become. In one study done by the London School of Economics people who volunteered once a month had a 7% chance of increasing their happiness over those who did not volunteer. And those who volunteered two to four times a month had their happiness increase by 12%. The group with the best outcome were those who volunteered weekly. Their happiness rose by 16%..a happiness hike equivalent to earning to earning $75,000 to $100,000 versus only $20,000.
This weekend is a great time to begin a life of service. It's easy to do! Find the organization or cause that you feel passionate about, find the local chapter, and call them. Many folks hesitate to volunteer because they wonder what they have to offer. The best part of volunteering is you don't have to have any particular skills or abilities, all it takes is showing up. Your preferred cause will do the rest. They will find a place for you that will help them and make you feel like a million dollars!
Benefits of Volunteering:
1.  Volunteering connects you with others.
2.  Volunteering is good for your mind and body
3.  Volunteering can advance your career
4.  Volunteering brings fun and fulfillment to your life. 
Children watch everything you do. By giving back to the community, you show them firsthand how giving back makes a difference and how good it feels to help people, animals, the environment and enact change.  Volunteering as a family helps to instill kindness and compassion in kids. It will give them the base from which they can develop a life-long habit of serving.
Whatever your weekend plans include, I hope you'll find some time to help others. My entire family is volunteering this weekend in the community-wide Lighten-Up Lily Pad campaign, a program aimed at helping young frogs learn healthy eating habits.
When posting your volunteering activities on social media, please use #MakeADifferenceDay. National Make a difference Day was the brainchild of USA Weekend magazine, along with Points of Light, the world's largest volunteering organization.
                   Peace, everyone, and I hope you'll join me back here on Monday.

Before I became a writer, working mostly from home, I held several positions in the corporate world. Most I didn't like very much, but there was one...maybe...two that were actually pretty fun. I enjoyed getting up and going to work each day. As I thought about what made these particular jobs so much nicer, it occurred to me that they all had two things in common. The first was camaraderie. I liked the people I worked with. The second was that I felt I was being useful; that my job mattered.
We all spend a great deal of our time at work, yet many suffer from boredom, frustration, stress, and unhappiness. I think we all deserve more from our jobs than just a paycheck. Not surprisingly, many job experts agree. Annie McKee, an international business adviser says that happiness at work should be the ultimate goal. It isn't always easy, or appropriate, to leave one job and find another, so it's important to learn how to be happy at work, wherever we are. Miss McKee tells us that too many of us, frogs and humans alike, fall into the trap of "work is work" and work isn't supposed to be fun or a source of happiness. Research shows that the opposite is true; happier employees are more productive which benefits the employer as much as it benefits the employees. But here;s the catch; making employees happier doesn't come from giving them more money or even more "goodies," it comes from making sure that basic needs are met on the job.
1. Meaning or purpose - The feeling that our work matters and is aligned with our personal values.
2. Hope or optimism - The sense that our future can improve if we just understand our needs better and create a plan for ourselves.
​3.  Friendships or positive relationships -  Connection to others, which matters as much to our happiness as other aspects of our job.
McKee believes that one of the biggest obstacles to finding happiness at work is overtime. Working longer hours burns us out and actually serves to make us less productive. Another common work trap is accepting a promotion only because we need to make more money or because we think it'll be good for our careers. Many of us blindly take the promotion without considering how it will (or won't) fulfill our basic needs. "Not being in touch with our intrinsic values, our purpose, and relationships, but rather the intrinsic values of money and prestige is a mistake," writes McKee. This leads us to soul-destroying work, the antithesis of happiness. “When we are unable to see the impact of our work or find meaning in what we do, we often become dissatisfied and resentful,” she writes. But “seeing our work as an expression of cherished values and as a way to make a contribution is the foundation of well-being, happiness, and our ongoing success.”
Ms. McKee provides some exercises to help all of us start thinking more about our personal happiness and our jobs differently. To begin with, she suggests taking a little time and reflecting on the time in the past when we were happy with whatever we were doing. When you have your list, keep an eye out for opportunities at your job to do these things again; join a group that's researching new, healthier options for the vending machines, volunteer to help the company set up more environmentally-friendly practices., etc.  Adding these kinds of activities to your job will go a long way in helping you feel useful; like you're serving a purpose that's greater than simply collecting a paycheck. To cultivate optimism, McKee suggests envisioning potential work goals for yourself that align with what makes you the happiest. Then take concrete steps to achieve them. This may not be the "fast-track" to career success, but the longer, slower path might yield the more positive results. She says that one of the best ways to build good work relationships is to help co-workers with unpleasant tasks...not just with the fun stuff. Become a team player and participate in both the good and the not-so-good aspects of your job.
If you want to be happier at work, have the willingness to reflect on your inner self and "what makes you tick." Having emotional intelligence, "the ability to read others emotions as well as your own and to have empathy for other," McKee reminds us, can be invaluable in making our workplace more productive, more motivational and, yes, even happier.

The weather's turning colder here in Lily Pad and I had a difficult time getting myself up this morning. It was nice and warm in my little bed and I longed to stay there. But today is Wednesday and than meant Dharma Frog could be arriving at any minute. I dragged myself out of bed, got cleaned up, put the kettle on for tea, and prepared a simple breakfast...just as my wise teacher hopped onto my lily pad for my weekly lesson.
As most of you know, I am a list maker. I always have been. My mom will tell you that I was making lists before I had even learned to write. It's a good thing, too, because by nature I am a bit disorganized. Why do I mention this? Because my lesson today was all about the one simple thing that we can each can do every day that will help keep us aligned with our true purpose. And that means that everyday, it's an item (or two or three) to go on my to-do list! 
"Irwin," Dharma started off, "the purpose of a frog's life is to contribute in some small way to make things better. The world needs the gift that each of us has to offer. It's easy to neglect that fact in this busy world we live in, but we mustn't. When you make your list every day, Tadpole, remember this; since death is certain, and the hour is uncertain, what matters is right now. What are those things that are important to you? Those are the things you need to be certain go on your list each day." I know what he's telling me is true. It's a hard fact to face, but we are all terminal, so-to-speak, and it is important to live life to the the fullest extent that we can; to make the most of every moment. But I wondered how to determine what is really important and so I asked my esteemed teacher for advice. His response was simple.
"Son, determining what is important for each of us takes time and practice, but when you master the method, you'll find that your humble to-do list will bring you greater joy than winning a lifetime supply of fresh bugs." I found that a little hard to believe, but I was open to learning more. Dharma continued, "Irwin, your little daily list is the best way to stay aligned with your true purpose in life. It's more valuable than you know and I have a 3-step plan that, if you follow it, can help you find...and live...your true purpose which, in turn, will allow you to contribute to the betterment of society.
​Here are the three steps Dharma suggests you try, to help you identify what's important to you. (And they're even in list form!)
1.  Identify your long-range goals. Before you even start on your your list for today, take a few minutes and look ahead to the distant future. Imagine yourself on your deathbed, having lived a long and healthy life. Look back on the life you'd like to see when that time comes, then ask yourself these two questions; "How is the world better because I have lived in it?" and "How am I better because I have lived in this world?" What legacy do you want to leave and what experiences to you want to have? Just check in and see what answers pop into your mind. They don't have have to be absolute truths. Simply sees what arises. Dharma encourages us to try this exercise often, changing our answers as we go. It's from these answers that we will learn and grow. A combination of the answers to the two questions will give you an pretty good idea of what your true purpose, or gift, is.
2.  Detail your daily tasks.  The next step in this process, Dharma calls the "dump truck procedure." Write down everything you need...and want...to do today. Don't just list those things that immediately come to mind; job, home, family responsibilities, etc. Those are the "needs" on your list. But don't forget your "wants," as well; learn to play the piano, take an art class, travel to Rome, go for a walk in nature. Nothing is too big, or too small. When you finish with your list it should make you feel a bit overwhelmed. Now, reread your list and check off the items that actively contribute to your life goals from the questions asked in #1. This means checking off only those things that, on your deathbed, will make you happy that you did them. Don't check off those things you're doing solely out of obligation. Some of the items on your list will clearly steer you towards your goal; some will not. Others, you may not be sure about. But always trust your gut instinct. When looking at each item, do you feel warmly towards it? Does it pull you in; are you intrigued and excited by it? Other things will repel you and turn you off, giving you a sense of dread. These are the gut instincts Dharma says we need to pay attention to. The items on your list should all give the 'warm-fuzzies."
3.  Forget what you wrote. Everything that serves your vision of what you'd like your life to look like at the end, is what belongs on your "bucket list." Everything else should get dumped. Sure, there are a few things that'll need to stay on your list, things like; picking up the kids from school, and taking a shower but you will find that you're eliminating many of the mundane, bore things you do because you feel obligated to. These are the things, Dharma advised that, really, in the end won't make any difference at all if you simply don't do them.  I'll bet you, that by now, your harsh inner critic is fighting you with everything it's got over your new and updated 'to-do list."  If it's yakking at you no-stop, tell it politely to be quiet! And really mean it.
As Dharma finished his last cup of tea and prepared to hop off for this week, he left me with a few sage words. "Every good thing that comes into your life; your true work, your true love, and real success will no doubt come from from those things you focus on; the things that that feel true and purposeful for you." Once again, very wise words from the wisest of all frogs.
​As the poet Rumi once said, "Let yourself be silently drawn by the stronger pull of what you really love."

Are you interested in paleontology? The history of life on earth based on the study of fossils has always fascinated me. It puts things into perspective when you realize how long plants, animals, and even man, has been around. I like to think of fossils as gifts from our very distant past. They're signs and remains of ancient living things that have been preserved in the Earth's crust. Fossilis is Latin for "dug up" and is the base word for fossils. Most humans think of fossils as pictures of animal skeletons, plants, leaves, and wood that have all turned to stone. Geologists, however, think it's a little more complicated than that.
Fossils can include ancient remains, actual bodies of ancient life, frozen in glaciers or polar permafrost. They can also be mummified remains found in caves and salt beds. They can be preserved inside bits of amber or sealed within dense beds of clay. These are all the "ideal fossils" but they are also rare.
Body fossils, mineralized organisms, are the best-known kind of fossils. These include dinosaur bones and petrified wood. Body fossils can be found in many places all over Earth but are still considered fairly rare. Tracts, nests, burrows, etc. are another kind of fossil and these are called trace fossils or ichnofossils.  Although exceptionally rare, these trace fossils are very important because they give scientists a look into an organism's behavior.
Chemofossils, or chemical fossils, are remains that consist of simple organic compounds or proteins found in a body of rock. Did you know that petroleum and coal, the fossil fuels, are very large and widespread examples of chemical fossils? These types of fossils are important to scientific research because they help show how these organisms evolved. As an example, the waxy coating on modern-day leaves has been detected in ancient rock.
Have you ever wondered what exactly becomes fossils? The answer is simple: anything that can become buried can become a fossil since fossil means "to dig up." But, as you know, very little that gets buried last very long. Most things that end up getting buried get broken down, decomposed, and recycled back into the earth.  In order to escape this natural recycling, whatever has been buried must be taken away from all oxygen soon after its demise. Soon, in the world of geology, can mean many years. That makes sense, then, why it's bones, shells, and wood that turn into fossils the great majority of the time. But even these hard elements need "exceptional circumstances to be preserved, " says Andrew Alden. Despite all the odds, there have been some amazing fossils discovered. These are things I gravitate to whenever I visit science museums. It's like taking a quick trip back millions of years. There are only a handful of places on Earth that are gentle enough to preserve these things in abundance. They are called lagerstätten. This is a sedimentary rock deposit where fossils are found with exceptional preservation. 
Once something is buried, the organic remains enter a long and complex process by which they become fossilized. The study of this process is called taphonomy. Some fossils are preserved as films of carbon under the heat and pressure of being buried deep. many fossils, like shells in young rocks, undergo re-crystallization while underground. Still, in other cases, the substance is dissolved leaving a mold that is then filled with minerals from their surroundings or from underground fluids. And true petrification happens when the fossils original substance is gently and completely replaced with another mineral. It can look lifelike or, if replaced by opal or agate, it will be spectacular! 
Even after a fossil has been discovered, they can be difficult to retrieve from the ground. Natural processes, most likely heat and pressure, can destroy them. Fracturing and folding of the sedimentary rock that holds fossils can wipe out many of these specimens. They can also disappear as their host rock becomes exposed to the elements over time. Experts tell us that beyond the good fortune of finding a fossil at the right stage, it takes great practice to remain it without causing it irreparable harm. The rarity of finding large, complete specimens, like Tyrannosaurus rex, makes it front-page news. It takes time, patience, and great skill to unwrap fossils, but the end result is oh-so-worthwhile!
I hope you've enjoyed learning a little bit about fossils today. The next time you have the opportunity, visit your local science museum and take a look at the fossils. I think you'll find some pretty amazing things. In Lily Pad, we have a wonderful science museum with some pretty awesome dinosaur tracts and, as you might expect, a fair number of frog fossils. This is one of Little Quigley's favorite places to visit. And I can't say as I blame him. I really enjoy it, too. Perhaps it's time for another visit soon.

Have you ever noticed how some humans bounce back quicker than others after adversity? Everyone, at one time or another, undergoes difficult and distressing times. But some people, as well as some frogs, seem to recover more quickly, allowing them to move on with their lives. I like to think I'm in this category, but I I know I don't always regain my emotional strength as rapidly as I like. Yet, some of my friends seem to remain cheerful no matter what is going on with them. So what is their secret? It's resilience. And it's a skill we can all develop, no matter where we fall on the resilience scale.
George Bonanno, a resilience expert, says that we all need to experience adversity in order to discover whether we are resilient or not. How we conceptualize the event, Bonanno says, determines whether or not we see it as traumatic. As it turns out, it's not what actually happens to us that matters most; it's the meaning we attach to it and how we think and feel about it subsequently. 
Perhaps you get upset by these daily occurrences; heavy traffic, bad weather, a neighbor's noisy party, rude people. It can be helpful to see these trivial events as learning opportunities that allow you to practice regulating your emotions to increase your resilience. "Resilience is created from behaviors and habits that can be learned and developed." And this wisdom comes from Ann Masten, a resilience expert for over forty years! 
Research shows that cultivating positive emotions is one of the best ways to develop resilience and that start by reframing the event. Thus, simply reframing negative events like your daily traffic hassles and the long line at Starbucks, into positive ones, ie these are training practice, can help you develop a more positive attitude toward.  Whenever these small irritants occur, it can be useful to think of them in a different perspective. Bad weather? Well, the weather isn't constant so it can, and will, change. That can make it easier to handle. Stuck in traffic? This can be a great time to listen to an audio book or a podcast you've been meaning to hear. And when you encounter rude or unfriendly people, say to yourself, "I wonder what's going on in their life right now? Maybe they didn't understand my question. Most people I meet aren't rude."
Never underestimate the power of positive emotions. Researcher Barbara Fredrickson tells us that positive emotions help to broaden the repertoire of our momentary responses and reactions. Negative emotions have the exact opposite effect. They close us off. Positive emotions can lead humans to new and creative ideas. Positive emotions can also build physical, emotional, and psychological resources which you can then draw from when more difficult and challenging situations happen.
If you can manage to get past your initial negative reaction and see things as funny, interesting, or curious, you will automatically feel better. It's important, as well, to be more forgiving and compassionate towards those you transgress. For when you do, the experts say, your life will become easier, happier, and lighter. Why? Because you've become a more resilient individual!

I was looking over my calendar the other day and realized that tomorrow, 21 October, is  Reptile Awareness Day. Now, you may find it a bit odd that me, a harmless green frog, might be excited about a day that celebrates snakes and such but, actually, I have several snake friends whom I really enjoy. Through the years, I have come to understand how misunderstood reptiles can be and I've committed myself to helping educate humans about these awesome and varied creatures.
Reptiles do not form a distinct evolutionary group. Rather, the class Reptilia consists of four orders which are vary different from each other. As an example, lizards are more closely related to birds than they are to turtles! As a result, reptiles are as easy to define by what they aren't as by what they are. Living species of reptiles are categorized by four orders; Testudines, which include turtles; the Squamata order includes lizards and snakes; the order Crocodylia, which includes crocodiles and alligators; and the order of Rhynchocephalia that contains the lizard-like tuataras. Reptiles have no fur or feathers but have scales. They should not be confused with us amphibians because reptiles have dry, water-proof skins and eggs, as well as internal fertilization, and more advanced circulatory, respiratory, excretory, and nervous systems. 
Reptiles evolved from the labryrinthodont amphibians 300 million years ago.  They radiated out across the landscape, quickly diversifying as they went, and became the dominant life form on the planet during the Mesozoic Era, also known as the Age of Reptiles. Reptiles have been around a very long time. And whether or not you're a fan, they are an important part of the ecosystem. They fill a critical role as both predator and as prey.
With the weekend upon us, why not spend a little time on Saturday...Reptile Awareness Day...learning more about reptiles and, maybe, even developing a passion for them?  Like frogs, many reptiles are facing extinction because of habitat loss. If you're looking for ways to celebrate reptiles this weekend (or anytime, really), why not plan on visiting your local library and reading up on these fabulous creatures? Or join, and support, a reptile conservation project. Got a reptile pet? Bring him to school for Show and Tell...with teacher approval, of course! Another cool way to celebrate reptiles is to pack up the kids and take them to a local zoo where they can marvel at the wondrous and exotic reptiles housed there. Perhaps you might want to spend a day, this weekend, herping...a fun and educational experience for the entire family.  One of the best ways to celebrate our friends, the reptiles, is by purchasing a subscription to a reptile magazine. When you're finished reading it, leave it at your doctor's, dentist's, or vet's office. You'll never know how many others can learn about (and come to appreciate) reptiles from just your subscription. Finally, make a resolution to visit at least one reptile show before the next Reptile Awareness Day rolls around again. And in case you hadn't noticed, the acronym for this special day is RAD, which as we all know, means awesome and very cool. Reptiles are rad!
Whatever your plans are this weekend, I hope you'll spend some time appreciating all your animals friends...not just the ones who are cute and fuzzy. As for me, I'm spending RAD with my snakes friends and chillin' out...just enjoying the beautiful autumnal weather.
Have a great Saturday and Sunday. I hope to see you all back here on Monday morning.
                                                                   Peace, everyone.

A wise frog once said, "A frog can live without love, but not without water." The same thing can be said about humans. Let's face it, no one wants to live a life without love but we cannot live at all without water. It's that simple. The adult human body is made of up 57%- 60% water. And, on average, a human can go only 3 day without drinking it. Water is nature and without out it, there'd be no life. It is estimated that 844 million people around the world are living without access to safe safe. That's a heartbreaking statistic and one that needs fixing...FAST!
I'm not writing today about how or why we need to work on solving the world's water problems. Most of you already know it's a massive global crisis. But for those of us who are lucky enough to have access to clean and safe water, it's high time we appreciate what we have and take full advantage of it's many health benefits. Ideally, humans should drink between eight and ten glasses of water every day. Many people, though, don't drink enough to keep their systems well-hydrated and functioning at peak performance. So, just in case you need to be reminded of the advantages of drinking more water, here are seven excellent reasons that'll convince you to drink up. 
1.  It boosts your mood. Happiness, as it turns out, can be found at the bottom of an empty water glass. Studies show that people who drink at least ten cups per day are calmer and feel more satisfied with their life than those who drank five or less.
​2.  You may heal faster. If you cut yourself treat the wound, then treat yourself to a refreshing 16 ounce glass of water. Research has shown the dehydration can slow down the recovery process, but drinking water improves microvascular circulation in your skin - important for healing - and it does so in just thirty minutes!
3.  Water can lower your odds of a stroke. A study done at the world-renowned John Hopkins Hospital found that 44% of people who suffered a stroke were dehydrated. Dehydration may cause your blood to thicken and have a harder time passing through blood vessels. Furthermore, the more hydrated these stroke patients were, the better their recovery.
4.  It won't ruin your workout. There's a good reason why your fitness instructor keeps reminding you to drink water. Having water before, during, and after any exercise can prevent problems like heat stroke and painful muscle cramps, according to the American College of Sports Medicine.
5.  Water can quiet a headache. The next time your forehead starts pounding, slowly drink anywhere from one to six cups of water. If your experiencing a migraine triggered by water deprivation, you could be pain-free in as little as 30 minutes!
6.  You'll be a better driver.  Not drinking enough water before a long ride may cause you to make more mistakes behind the wheel. Now I understand that you don't want to have to stop for a "pee break" but "You might become dehydrated enough to impair your driving," says Ronald J. Maughan, PhD, professor emeritus at Loughborough University in the UK. Ideally, try to sip sixteen ounces of water before departing on your road trip, then drink seven ounces every hour you're driving.
7.  Water increases your brain power. Even mild dehydration can suppress blood vessels in your brain. The result? You may experience short-term memory problems, poor attention, and slow reaction times. Refilling your water bottle at work, rather than your coffee cup, might not get you a bonus, but it'll help you stay sharper. 
And for all you exercise fanatics out there, here's an extra bonus fact:
Weigh yourself before and after your exercise routine - any weight difference is probably due to fluid loss. Drink 20 to 24 ounces of water for every pound "lost" to replenish yourself.

"Water, thou hast no taste, no color, no odor; canst not be defined, art relished while ever mysterious. Not necessary to life, but rather life itself, thou fillest us with a gratification that exceeds the delight of the senses."  ~ Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Be grateful for water every day. Not everyone has it. ​And now, dear readers, I think I'l show my gratitude by going for a nice swim! 

Wow! This week has just flown by. I can hardly believe that Wednesday's rolled around again so soon. But, it has, and that means my wise teacher Dharma Frog showed up bright and early for my weekly lesson on living a meaningful life. I had done most of the prep work for breakfast last night so there wasn't as much work to do this morning. Everything went pretty smoothly and I had the meal, and our pot of tea, on the table when Dharma arrived just as the sun came up.
After we had enjoyed our meal and some light conversation, my wise teacher began my lesson for this week. "Tadpole, the walls a frog builds around him to keep out sadness, also keeps out joy. You cannot escape one without giving up the other. Humans, and we frogs as well, put up walls for all kinds of reasons. We might call these walls emotional numbing. We think we can block out pain and sadness by keeping others at bay; if we don't let anyone in, they can't hurt us. But in truth, Little One, numbing only makes things worse." "Sir," I asked, "how does that work? I mean how does numbing out the pain cause us to numb out joy? No one wants to feel bad. We all try our best to avoid it." Dharma thought for a moment, and then replied, "Irwin, you are partially right. No one enjoys feeling pain but it's part of life's experience. No one get through his time here on the planet without experiencing some sadness. When we feel deep emotional pain, my boy, there's a tendency to deny the pain and suffering. We withdraw from life, becoming isolated and shutting others out. Humans, and frogs too, become quieter and less outgoing. When this happens, the first thing we all tend to do is put up an emotional wall, blocking out the source of our pain. But in doing so, we also block out our joy."
Dharma went on to explain that everyone seeks emotional balance, doing whatever we can to keep our emotional ship afloat and running steady. Life, however, has a tendency to throw things in our path that can send our little "ship" off-course. In reality, though, these events that seem to shake us to our core are, in fact, our greatest strengths. He reminded me of a quote from one of my favorite poets, Kahlil Gibran, “Your joy is your sorrow unmasked. The self-same well from which your laughter rises was often times filled with your tears. The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain.” 
I had never thought about sadness and joy in quite this way before. "Joy is our sorrow unmasked." I found this truth to be eye-opening and uplifting. Joy is actually the result of sorrow. Okay, I know what you're thinking; that this can't possibly be true. But the truth is,not only do the two go hand-in-hand but they are actually part of one another. The struggle is what makes the victory. Dharma says, "You must feel the depth that pain possesses in order to have the capacity to feel the height of joy." 
The deeper we feel, the more capacity we are given to carry an even deeper sense of joy to the world. Putting up walls will most definitely keep out pain, but without the pain we have no joy. We become numb to life. While the walls we put up will block out the emotional pain we don't desire to feel, they will do us more harm than good. We need to experience all of our emotions. And so it goes....this is the rhythm of life.
After my beloved teacher left my lily pad this morning, I began really thinking about today's lesson and how I can use it to positively impact my life. Like everyone else, I am often guilty of putting up walls, of trying to shut out pain and sadness. I've kept well-meaning friends away because they have hurt me. I've tried to keep myself impervious to pain and suffering caused by eternal events that I cannot control. But no more. I realize that I am fortunate to be able to experience a wide range of emotions. Like it or not, I need them all and so do you. Starting today, I will begin demolition of the walls I've put up that prevent the hurt from entering my life. And although I don't relish pain, I do relish joy. I now know they are both necessary parts of my life. And when I'm finished tearing down all my emotional barriers, I'm retiring my hard hat...once and for all. I'm officially out of the construction business.