Well, Amigos, life is good again. The French Open started Sunday in Paris at Roland Garros and the old woman Slow is thrilled to have Rafa Nadal back on the clay courts He was out of action for the past six months because of injuries and she bemoaned and whined about his absence from the lineup every day of the Australian Open.
Rafa’s Rituals
Speaking of Australia, none of us at Casa de Canterbury were surprised to read a survey of the Top Ten Happiest Peeps in el todo mundo which is Spanish for the whole world and found that Australia ranks Number One for Happiness. Congratulations to all of our Aussie Amigos which we find to be totally happy. Following Australia in order of happiness on the index are Sweden, Canada, Norway, Switzerland, United States, Denmark, The Netherlands, Iceland and the United Kingdom. The Red Man agrees with this ranking and considers himself lucky to be at the Inn of the Sixth Happiness. Hmm…the list seems top-heavy with cold climates. Is there a correlation between bundling up and happiness? Perhaps this index needs more detailed information next year, but we say thanks to Cristina Popa of Communication for Development for publicizing the index on her blog today. She knows something about everything – just like The Red Man – only she has real facts which we don’t usually have.
We’ll enjoy our break from Law and Order: SVU and NCIS for a couple of weeks and Pretty will be hoping that Roger Federer wins The French while Slow loudly cheers for Nadal. Sometimes I’ll need to go for a walk for a little peace and quiet.
Get me outta here Percy…I hear Nature calling…catch you later, Sports Fans.
Red's Rants and Raves 
Maybe happiness correlates with cold climates because we dogs get more hugs in winter??? Red, your photo reminded me I need to tell you I got the worst scolding today for piddling inside. It was raining out, so why not use the cellar floor?! Geez, Ma gets so cranky.
Play bows & sloppy Poppy kisses from your forever girl 🙂
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Oh Poppy Seed, I totally get the piddling on the cellar floor. As a matter of fact, if we ever HAD a cellar floor, I’d race right over and piddle on it in your honor. None of the Pack at Casa de Canterbury likes to Piddle in the Rain. We’d much rather bark in it. Get your hugs in whatever season you can and be glad you don’t have to share with a Pushy Pack.
Nose kisses and outrageous sniffs from your Red Man
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Ah, now this is a sport that is truly international – no confusion with terms here 😀 Just love tennis. Only reason to have a television license as far as we’re concerned. Here’s hoping Nadal does well but we’re worried the poor chap might have pushed himself too far once too often. Here’s to a grand tournament and the damned weather getting with the programme. Take your breaks when you can Red Man – those girls are going to be glued to that box 😉
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The old woman Slow also fears for Nadal. His flame has been bright while it burned, but might be a short fuse. Hopefully not. The weather is putting a damper on our spirits as we watch Venus Williams lose yet another time this afternoon. Come on sunshine!
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I love the fact that Australians are the happiest in the world! YAY – I’m feeling the love 😀
Enjoy your walks while the tennis is on, Red 😉
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Feel the love, Baby – we thought immediately of you when we saw the headlines! We were wondering if it was because all Australians secretly wanted to live in an RUC!! 🙂
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I’m sure they do – it’s a very Aussie thing to do! 😉
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That explaines the Happiness ranking!! 🙂
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I’ve seen several years worth of these happiness measuring reports. Always wonder what the questions are, how they validate them, and who they’re asking…can’t be everybody. This is only the second one I’ve seen with the U.S. in the top ten. They seem to always be a list of socialized countries where if you get hurt of sick, you don’t have to worry about being billed out of home, or if you want to go to school you’re not in hock the rest of your life. Also did an article on murder rates, and found some info on suicide rates. Putting them side-by-side I found the countries where people kill each other have low suicide rates, and countries with low suicide rates have few murders…but the per capita death totals add up to nearly the same…what to make of that? The Red Man is a Nadal fan…does he also watch the Tour de France? I’d bet yes.
Later…
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Yes, I also would like to see the questions, and am astounded at your research on murder/suicide/per capital death totals. You are as informative as Cristina Popa but with murkier conclusions. You seem to raise more questions than you answer and The Red Man is convinced you do this on purpose to avoid sweeping generalities. Happiness is, alas, temporary, fluid, on a sliding scale of 1 to 10 and apparently rarely surfaces in countries where water flows like rivers down streets filled with frogs. That would never happen in Iceland. More’s the pity. And actually no, The Red Man lost interest in the Tour de France when he got confused about who really won.
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Some steroids will have him up and bounding up the Pyranees in no time. That murder/suicide ratio was accidental research occurance…and yes, I have few answers, but a lot of questions.
Later…
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The harvest is plenteous, but the laborers are few.
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Just saw the red clay courts…Red Man’s preference? Don’t know if anyone else gets a double dose also, but I always get two posts from you on my reader…one with photos and infor, and one not long after with just a couple of words…two for one, sort of.
Later…
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The Red Man does love the red clay courts! I am very sorry for the double dose. When you, thankfully, “follow” us, you get the real post. Then when I do the Press This for the WordPress bloggers, another one hits you unfortunate folks. I always remove the second post the next day, but it won’t retrieve the repeat. Did you just understand that? Because now that I wrote this, I’m not sure what I mean. If you have suggestions, I’d appreciate. 🙂
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I have no problem…I always see the follow-up, then move down to the real deal…which is you and the Pack. Just didn’t know whether you knew or not.
Later…
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Muchas gracias, cyber-space Amigo. Mucho bizarro, which is ESL for very weird.
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You’re too funny for words, though I persist in trying.
Later…
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Thanks very much – we will make Pretty read this because when we tell her how funny we think we are, many times she says, “There’s no demand for funny.” Clearly there is demand in Costa Rica.
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Saving Pretty, a new TV reality show. The demand for funny is equilalent to the amount of fear, doubt, despondency, and pure misery in the world. The demand for funny is not quantatative, but qualitative…as is the happiness quantified in that poll. I’ve tried lecturing to people – as above – and the resistance and resentment level rises. I’ve also tried making people laugh at themselves or horrifying, hopeless, or fearful situations. Humor gets me in the door, angry, scared, fearful people slam doors in lecturers faces. I’ll be surprised if the Slow, Pretty, or the Pack ever ask me back into their cyberspace. Laughter is a defense mechanism, as a few humorists try to point out, before they’re executed for their crime.
I’m off to be sized for a blindfold.
Later…
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All of us at Casa de Canterbury welcome coyotero2112 to our cyberspace world at all times. He is an honored guest and friend. The Red Man senses a kindred spirit. Scary for party of the first part as well as party of the second part. Viva Humor siempre! Adios for now. My worthless editor is off to play cards with women who take her money.
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It’s all a big game of Monopoly. You do crack me up. 🙂
Later…
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Back at ya. 🙂
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Rafa is quite a hunk and a good tennis player also, but you look quite awesome too Red Man 🙂
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The old woman Slow is convinced Rafa is Elvis’s Love Grand-child. She swears they have the same sneer. The Red Man appreciates your comment on his appearance and compliments your good taste. 🙂
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I love tennis, all those balls flying around, keeps me amused for hours BOL xx00xx
Mollie and Alfie
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Yes, back and forth…back and forth…once I get the rhythm, I can rumba! 🙂
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My mommy has been so busy working in that silly garden (is it really “work” if she doesn’t get paid?) that she hasn’t turned the computer on for me to keep up with your rants and raves, Red Man. I’d turn it on myself, but she won’t give me the password. Something about online shopping. Anyway, we hope that Rafa is still in it (we also haven’t turned on the television or read the newspaper; what is wrong around here?) because we love watching his little habits! And I have seen my humans enjoying that Aussie wine. No wonder those people are so happy! College baseball regionals start tomorrow. Get your purple and gold ready. 😉
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A garden requires a lot of “work” so your mommy will be busy all summer, I predict. Yes, the Aussies have tried to share their happiness in a bottle, haven’t they? 🙂 Must look up info on baseball. Carolina hosts regional in Columbia this weekend. Go Cocks!!
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Aha the old woman Slow has been checking into baseball regionals and now understands the confidence of your mommy in the purple and gold this year. Whoa, Nellie!
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I actually missed this post – I actually found it today on Google :), thanks for mentioning my blog in your post
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You are very welcome!!
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