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	<title>Dear Optimists</title>
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		<title>Male Bonding</title>
		<link>http://dearoptimists.com/2012/02/23/male-bonding/</link>
		<comments>http://dearoptimists.com/2012/02/23/male-bonding/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 23 Feb 2012 13:09:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>den</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Smiles]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://dearoptimists.com/?p=939</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A story about our encounter with a father and son bonding over my favorite thing in the world: Legos. <a href="http://dearoptimists.com/2012/02/23/male-bonding/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=dearoptimists.com&amp;blog=25859670&amp;post=939&amp;subd=dearoptimists&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Dear Optimists,</p>
<p>If you read this blog at all, you already know I have a bit of an affinity &#8211; oh heck let&#8217;s call it what it is &#8211; an obsession with Legos. Well, this past weekend I had a $20 gift card to Toys-R-Us and wanted the cool Creator Log Cabin and was in the aisle looking for it when I saw a father/son by the little bagged figures. Do you know them? They&#8217;re in a bag and you have no idea which one you get. It&#8217;s fun and I definitely buy them when I see them on sale.</p>
<p><a href="http://dearoptimists.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/lego-cabin.png"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-940" title="Lego Cabin" src="http://dearoptimists.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/lego-cabin.png?w=500&#038;h=454" alt="" width="500" height="454" /></a><br />
So I walk into the aisle and this father and his son have about twenty of the bags laid out on a shelf. I quickly figure out they&#8217;re going for the <em>Feel the bag and guess which one is in it theory</em> (which seldom works&#8230;I was trying to get the monkey trainer for the longest time but apparently the girl-hair part feels like a monkey), so Elle and I joined them. I wanted her to see the new series (she pretends to care because she loves me).</p>
<p><a href="http://dearoptimists.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/toysrus.png"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-941" title="Toys'r'us" src="http://dearoptimists.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/toysrus.png?w=500&#038;h=300" alt="" width="500" height="300" /></a></p>
<p>I said to Elle, &#8220;I really want the robot.&#8221; The little kid, who had thick glasses, looked up. The dad laughed. &#8220;That&#8217;s the one we&#8217;re trying to get!&#8221; &#8220;I can understand that&#8230;it&#8217;s the best one.&#8221; &#8220;We also want the leprechaun&#8221; the kid said to me. We had a little talk with them and I admitted it took luck to get the monkey trainer (yes, I did finally get it) and we had a nice talk with the kid and his dad. It really warms my heart, seeing a moment like this. The dad and son, working together and chasing down these toys, it&#8217;s one of those memories the kid will have forever. I hope to be that dad someday.</p>
<p>They ended up in line behind us as I was buying the log cabin (yup! got it!) and as we walked to our car I heard a voice say &#8220;Excuse me!&#8221; from the van next to our car. I look over and it&#8217;s the kid in the back seat.</p>
<p>&#8220;We got the robot!&#8221; he yelled. His dad and I both laughed, and I said &#8220;That&#8217;s awesome. I&#8217;m jealous now!&#8221;</p>
<p><a href="http://dearoptimists.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/toysrus-2.png"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-942" title="Toys'r'us 2" src="http://dearoptimists.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/toysrus-2.png?w=500&#038;h=500" alt="" width="500" height="500" /></a></p>
<p>What a trip to the toy store, huh?</p>
<p>Love,<br />
Den</p>
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		<slash:comments>13</slash:comments>
	
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		<media:content url="http://dearoptimists.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/toysrus-2.png?w=150" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Toys&#039;r&#039;us 2</media:title>
		</media:content>

		<media:content url="http://0.gravatar.com/avatar/cf094523b26d8f6a0ad335454e2e4a14?s=96&#38;d=identicon&#38;r=G" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Dennis Finocchiaro</media:title>
		</media:content>

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			<media:title type="html">Lego Cabin</media:title>
		</media:content>

		<media:content url="http://dearoptimists.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/toysrus.png" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Toys&#039;r&#039;us</media:title>
		</media:content>

		<media:content url="http://dearoptimists.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/toysrus-2.png" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Toys&#039;r&#039;us 2</media:title>
		</media:content>
	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Hug a teddy</title>
		<link>http://dearoptimists.com/2012/02/22/hug-a-teddy/</link>
		<comments>http://dearoptimists.com/2012/02/22/hug-a-teddy/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 22 Feb 2012 11:47:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Nadia</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Smiles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[buil up optimism]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[guestpost]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://dearoptimists.com/?p=933</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Dear Optimists, Every day we struggle to find happiness and boost our self-esteem. We build optimism gradually, with willpower and, of course, smiles. But years of work can be destroyed in a single night. A single phrase, commen or facial &#8230; <a href="http://dearoptimists.com/2012/02/22/hug-a-teddy/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=dearoptimists.com&amp;blog=25859670&amp;post=933&amp;subd=dearoptimists&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div>Dear Optimists,</div>
<div></div>
<div>Every day we struggle to find happiness and boost our self-esteem. We build optimism gradually, with willpower and, of course, smiles.</div>
<div></div>
<div>But years of work can be destroyed in a single night. A single phrase, commen or facial expression can shatter every self-confidence we have and drown our good mood into a storm of negativity.</div>
<div></div>
<div><a href="http://dearoptimists.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/evil-nymph.png"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-935" title="Evil Nymph" src="http://dearoptimists.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/evil-nymph.png?w=500&#038;h=500" alt="" width="500" height="500" /></a></div>
<div>Yes, it&#8217;s hard to stay optimistic. But it doesn&#8217;t mean we should give up. We should start to build everything again&#8230; but not without support and affection, which can effectively come from a hug &#8211; with a huge fluffy teddy bear!!!</div>
<div></div>
<div><a href="http://dearoptimists.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/evil-nymph-2.png"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-934" title="Evil Nymph 2" src="http://dearoptimists.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/evil-nymph-2.png?w=500&#038;h=530" alt="" width="500" height="530" /></a></div>
<div>So who said that lonely people could not have a hug as well?</div>
<div></div>
<div>In hard times, teddy bears (or whatever teddy animal you love) can really help. Believe a 16-year-old teenage girl. Haha.</div>
<div></div>
<div>So next time you&#8217;re sad, hug a teddy bear. It&#8217;s the next best thing to a hug from a loved one!</div>
<div></div>
<div>Love,<br />
An <a href="http://evilnymphstuff.wordpress.com">Evil Nymph</a>.</div>
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		<slash:comments>6</slash:comments>
	
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			<media:title type="html">aidanlord</media:title>
		</media:content>

		<media:content url="http://dearoptimists.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/evil-nymph.png" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Evil Nymph</media:title>
		</media:content>

		<media:content url="http://dearoptimists.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/evil-nymph-2.png" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Evil Nymph 2</media:title>
		</media:content>
	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Waiting for Spring</title>
		<link>http://dearoptimists.com/2012/02/21/waiting-for-spring/</link>
		<comments>http://dearoptimists.com/2012/02/21/waiting-for-spring/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 21 Feb 2012 14:52:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Nadia</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Smiles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[animals]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[autumn]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Autumn time]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[cartoon snail]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[scared of bugs]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[scared of moths]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[smell of Spring]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Wonderland]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://dearoptimists.com/?p=927</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Dear Optimists, Even though I love Autumn, and adore the icecold Winter Wonderland we&#8217;ve been experiencing here in Denmark; I can&#8217;t wait for Spring. It&#8217;s gorgeous to see everything starting to bloom, wonderful to breathe in the smell of Spring &#8230; <a href="http://dearoptimists.com/2012/02/21/waiting-for-spring/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=dearoptimists.com&amp;blog=25859670&amp;post=927&amp;subd=dearoptimists&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Dear Optimists,</p>
<p>Even though I love Autumn, and adore the icecold Winter Wonderland we&#8217;ve been experiencing here in Denmark; I can&#8217;t wait for Spring.</p>
<p><a href="http://dearoptimists.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/spring.png"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-929" title="Spring" src="http://dearoptimists.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/spring.png?w=500&#038;h=500" alt="" width="500" height="500" /></a></p>
<p>It&#8217;s gorgeous to see everything starting to bloom, wonderful to breathe in the smell of Spring time, and to look at all the different animals and bugs that wake up and come out to play.</p>
<p>Except for one bug, of course.</p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-928" title="Spring 2" src="http://dearoptimists.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/spring-2.png?w=500&#038;h=500" alt="" width="500" height="500" /><em>I&#8217;m so scared of butterflies that my drawing lines become thicker!</em></p>
<p style="text-align:left;">So, Optimists, what animal/bug is your <em>least</em> favourite?</p>
<p style="text-align:left;">Love,<br />
Nadia.</p>
<p style="text-align:left;">P.S. You have no idea how long it took me to draw up that scary thing! What I don&#8217;t do for you, dear Optimists.</p>
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		<slash:comments>17</slash:comments>
	
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			<media:title type="html">aidanlord</media:title>
		</media:content>

		<media:content url="http://dearoptimists.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/spring.png" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Spring</media:title>
		</media:content>

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			<media:title type="html">Spring 2</media:title>
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		<item>
		<title>Tomorrow!</title>
		<link>http://dearoptimists.com/2012/02/20/tomorrow/</link>
		<comments>http://dearoptimists.com/2012/02/20/tomorrow/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 20 Feb 2012 13:00:43 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Nadia</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Smiles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[author]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Californication]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Charles Bukowski]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[dance movies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[dance troop]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dear Optimists]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[dearoptimists]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[doing nothing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[drooling]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Eat Pray Love]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[excited]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fame]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fatboy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[gelattos]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hank Moody]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Honey]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[i want to write a book]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[I'm gonna do it tomorrow]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Italy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[lazy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[movies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[optimism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[optimistic]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[optimists]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[procastination]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[selfdestruction]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Showtime]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sleep]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sleeping]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Step It Up]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Step it Up 3D]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[tomorrow]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[writing a book]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://dearoptimists.com/?p=918</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Dear Optimists, Have you ever noticed your own reaction when you&#8217;ve seen a good movie? You can feel yourself changing into a better person, you&#8217;ve got all this energy you can&#8217;t wait to use, and you feel overly excited? I &#8230; <a href="http://dearoptimists.com/2012/02/20/tomorrow/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=dearoptimists.com&amp;blog=25859670&amp;post=918&amp;subd=dearoptimists&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Dear Optimists,</p>
<p>Have you ever noticed your own reaction when you&#8217;ve seen a good movie? You can feel yourself changing into a better person, you&#8217;ve got all this energy you can&#8217;t wait to use, and you feel overly excited?</p>
<p>I got that feeling when I saw <em>Eat Pray Love</em> for the first time. It really changed me into something better; I wanted to travel, to live, to become a munk, and eat lots of gelati in Italy. I said to myself:<a href="http://dearoptimists.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/movies-2.png"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-919" title="Movies 2" src="http://dearoptimists.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/movies-2.png?w=500&#038;h=391" alt="" width="500" height="391" /></a></p>
<p>After I saw <em>Fame</em>, <em>Step It Up 3D</em>, <em>Honey</em>, and every freaking dance movie existing &#8211; I was like:</p>
<p><a href="http://dearoptimists.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/movies.png"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-922" title="Movies" src="http://dearoptimists.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/movies.png?w=500&#038;h=391" alt="" width="500" height="391" /></a></p>
<p>Every week, after watching <em>Californication</em> on Showtime, I turn into an upcoming author:</p>
<p><a href="http://dearoptimists.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/movies-3.png"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-920" title="Movies 3" src="http://dearoptimists.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/movies-3.png?w=500&#038;h=391" alt="" width="500" height="391" /></a></p>
<p>Unfortunately, I always end up like this:</p>
<p><a href="http://dearoptimists.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/movies-4.png"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-921" title="Movies 4" src="http://dearoptimists.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/movies-4.png?w=500&#038;h=398" alt="" width="500" height="398" /></a></p>
<p>What movie&#8217;s changed you recently?</p>
<p>Love,<br />
Nadia.</p>
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		<slash:comments>13</slash:comments>
	
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			<media:title type="html">aidanlord</media:title>
		</media:content>

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			<media:title type="html">Movies 2</media:title>
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			<media:title type="html">Movies</media:title>
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			<media:title type="html">Movies 3</media:title>
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			<media:title type="html">Movies 4</media:title>
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		<title>I Wish I Could&#8230;</title>
		<link>http://dearoptimists.com/2012/02/17/i-wish-i-could/</link>
		<comments>http://dearoptimists.com/2012/02/17/i-wish-i-could/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 17 Feb 2012 14:11:27 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>den</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Smiles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[author]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cartoon]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cartoons]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cute]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dear Optimists]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[dearoptimists]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Denmark]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[drawing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[flash non-fiction]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[flash-nonfiction]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[fun]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[funny]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[happiness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[happy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[humor]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[illustration]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://dearoptimists.com/?p=913</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Dear Optimists, We all spend some of our time wishing, right? Some wish they could fly, some wish they would meet their special someone, everyone has a wish. I&#8217;ve been trying to think of something I could wish for. Weird, &#8230; <a href="http://dearoptimists.com/2012/02/17/i-wish-i-could/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=dearoptimists.com&amp;blog=25859670&amp;post=913&amp;subd=dearoptimists&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Dear Optimists,</p>
<p>We all spend some of our time wishing, right? Some wish they could fly, some wish they would meet their special someone, everyone has a wish.</p>
<p>I&#8217;ve been trying to think of something I could wish for. Weird, right? I should just know. Am I that optimistic that I love my life, as is? I have to try harder. Let me think&#8230;</p>
<p>&#8230;okay I have it. I wish I were a often-read author. I wish I could go out to a table at a book signing and there are a hundred people waiting to meet me. No, wait, a thousand people. And the publisher would send me on a worldwide tour, all-expenses paid, that stops in some amazing, beautiful countries&#8230;Denmark (so I can meet Nadia), England, France, Spain, Iceland, Italy&#8230;wherever. There&#8230;that&#8217;s my wish.</p>
<p>What&#8217;s yours?</p>
<p>Love,</p>
<p>Den</p>
<p><a href="http://dearoptimists.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/1.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-915" title="-1" src="http://dearoptimists.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/1.jpg?w=500&#038;h=346" alt="" width="500" height="346" /></a></p>
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		<slash:comments>17</slash:comments>
	
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			<media:title type="html">-1</media:title>
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			<media:title type="html">Dennis Finocchiaro</media:title>
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		<title>Relax, Dude</title>
		<link>http://dearoptimists.com/2012/02/16/relax-dude/</link>
		<comments>http://dearoptimists.com/2012/02/16/relax-dude/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 16 Feb 2012 13:57:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>den</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Smiles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cartoon]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cartoons]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[day off]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dear Optimists]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[drawing]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[friends]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[how I spent my day off]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://dearoptimists.com/?p=908</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Dear Optimists, There&#8217;s something about a random day off that&#8217;s just so nice. That&#8217;s me today! I slept in a bit, made a nice breakfast and some tea, and now I&#8217;m just relaxing and playing online. I&#8217;m so glad I&#8217;m &#8230; <a href="http://dearoptimists.com/2012/02/16/relax-dude/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=dearoptimists.com&amp;blog=25859670&amp;post=908&amp;subd=dearoptimists&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
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<div>Dear Optimists,</div>
<div></div>
<div>There&#8217;s something about a random day off that&#8217;s just so nice. That&#8217;s me today! I slept in a bit, made a nice breakfast and some tea, and now I&#8217;m just relaxing and playing online. I&#8217;m so glad I&#8217;m a teacher!</div>
<div> <a href="http://www.tanketorsken.com"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-909" title="1" src="http://dearoptimists.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/11.png?w=300&#038;h=300" alt="" width="300" height="300" /></a></div>
<div><a href="http://www.tanketorsken.com"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-910" title="2" src="http://dearoptimists.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/21.png?w=300&#038;h=300" alt="" width="300" height="300" /></a><a href="http://www.tanketorsken.com"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-911" title="3" src="http://dearoptimists.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/3.png?w=300&#038;h=300" alt="" width="300" height="300" /></a></div>
<div>Not rubbing it in&#8230;just saying.</div>
<div></div>
<div>Love,</div>
<div>Den</div>
</div>
<div></div>
<div>P.S. Today&#8217;s illustrations are by the always lovely <a href="http://www.tanketorsken.com">Mette</a>.</div>
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			<media:title type="html">Dennis Finocchiaro</media:title>
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		<title>Guest Post: 21 Going on 12</title>
		<link>http://dearoptimists.com/2012/02/15/guest-post-21-going-on-12/</link>
		<comments>http://dearoptimists.com/2012/02/15/guest-post-21-going-on-12/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 15 Feb 2012 13:09:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>den</dc:creator>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://dearoptimists.com/?p=902</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Dear Optimists, It’s funny when people underestimate your age. I personally like it, but it gets so awkward when people over-underestimate it! I’m 21 already, but have got myself mistaken as a 12-year-old a lot; dozens of times actually!! I &#8230; <a href="http://dearoptimists.com/2012/02/15/guest-post-21-going-on-12/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=dearoptimists.com&amp;blog=25859670&amp;post=902&amp;subd=dearoptimists&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Dear Optimists,</p>
<p>It’s funny when people underestimate your age. I personally like it, but it gets so awkward when people over-underestimate it! I’m 21 already, but have got myself mistaken as a 12-year-old a lot; dozens of times actually!!</p>
<p>I will never forget two years ago, while shopping with my mom, a man of my father’s age came by and asked me to try a jacket… he said, “Would you please try this? It’s for my daughter, she’s of your age, 12 years.” Then he patted my shoulder, thinking I was a 12-year-old kid!! I swear, I couldn’t utter a word; I silently pulled myself out, leaving him wondering what his mistake was! My mother couldn’t stop laughing when I told her!!</p>
<p><a href="http://dearoptimists.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/guest-1.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-903" title="guest 1" src="http://dearoptimists.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/guest-1.jpg?w=500&#038;h=428" alt="" width="500" height="428" /></a>I also remember when I missed my flight last year and the woman at the check-in desk called the plane crew telling them they have left a 12 year-old child alone at the airport!!</p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><a href="http://dearoptimists.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/guest-2.jpg"><img class="aligncenter  wp-image-904" title="guest 2" src="http://dearoptimists.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/guest-2.jpg?w=403&#038;h=343" alt="" width="403" height="343" /></a>Love,</p>
<p>Sara of <a href="http://theaccidentalblog91.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">The Accidental Blog</a></p>
<p><strong>P.S: My sister insisted on drawing me that tiny; she’s younger, yet taller than I! If I were good with drawing I would’ve drawn myself taller!</strong></p>
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		<slash:comments>22</slash:comments>
	
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			<media:title type="html">guest 1</media:title>
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			<media:title type="html">Dennis Finocchiaro</media:title>
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			<media:title type="html">guest 1</media:title>
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			<media:title type="html">guest 2</media:title>
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		<title>Shadow Puppets</title>
		<link>http://dearoptimists.com/2012/02/14/shadow-puppets/</link>
		<comments>http://dearoptimists.com/2012/02/14/shadow-puppets/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:34:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>den</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://dearoptimists.com/?p=896</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Dear Optimists, Last week the gal and I were driving to a friend&#8217;s house for a little get together and the sun was setting, creating this really cool shadow of us in front of the car. I had to point &#8230; <a href="http://dearoptimists.com/2012/02/14/shadow-puppets/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=dearoptimists.com&amp;blog=25859670&amp;post=896&amp;subd=dearoptimists&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Dear Optimists,</p>
<p>Last week the gal and I were driving to a friend&#8217;s house for a little get together and the sun was setting, creating this really cool shadow of us in front of the car. I had to point it out to her.</p>
<p>&#8220;Look at how cool our shadow looks!&#8221;</p>
<p><a href="http://dearoptimists.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/2.png"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-897" title="2" src="http://dearoptimists.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/2.png?w=500&#038;h=375" alt="" width="500" height="375" /></a></p>
<p>As she looked I decided to wave. She giggled.</p>
<p><a href="http://dearoptimists.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/1.png"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-898" title="1" src="http://dearoptimists.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/1.png?w=500&#038;h=375" alt="" width="500" height="375" /></a></p>
<p>It&#8217;s the little things.</p>
<p>Love,</p>
<p>Den</p>
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		<slash:comments>10</slash:comments>
	
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			<media:title type="html">2</media:title>
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			<media:title type="html">Dennis Finocchiaro</media:title>
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			<media:title type="html">2</media:title>
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			<media:title type="html">1</media:title>
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		<title>Early Morning Horror</title>
		<link>http://dearoptimists.com/2012/02/13/early-morning-horror/</link>
		<comments>http://dearoptimists.com/2012/02/13/early-morning-horror/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 13 Feb 2012 12:59:19 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>den</dc:creator>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://dearoptimists.com/?p=893</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Dear Optimists, There&#8217;s nothing like watching a horror movie in the early morning as I eat breakfast before work. Here it was, 6:30 A.M. and my television ends up on one of my favorites, 28 Days Later. I ate Cheerios &#8230; <a href="http://dearoptimists.com/2012/02/13/early-morning-horror/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=dearoptimists.com&amp;blog=25859670&amp;post=893&amp;subd=dearoptimists&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Dear Optimists,</p>
<p>There&#8217;s nothing like watching a horror movie in the early morning as I eat breakfast before work. Here it was, 6:30 A.M. and my television ends up on one of my favorites, <em>28 Days Later</em>. I ate Cheerios with little banana pieces as I watched bloody, disease-ridden people try to eat other people.</p>
<p>What a morning.</p>
<p>Love,<br />
Den</p>
<p><a href="http://dearoptimists.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/zombie.png"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-894" title="Zombie" src="http://dearoptimists.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/zombie.png?w=500&#038;h=457" alt="" width="500" height="457" /></a></p>
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		<slash:comments>7</slash:comments>
	
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			<media:title type="html">Zombie</media:title>
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		<media:content url="http://0.gravatar.com/avatar/cf094523b26d8f6a0ad335454e2e4a14?s=96&#38;d=identicon&#38;r=G" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Dennis Finocchiaro</media:title>
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		<media:content url="http://dearoptimists.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/zombie.png" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Zombie</media:title>
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		<title>Ebook Poll</title>
		<link>http://dearoptimists.com/2012/02/12/ebook-poll/</link>
		<comments>http://dearoptimists.com/2012/02/12/ebook-poll/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 12 Feb 2012 13:29:28 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>den</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Polls]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://dearoptimists.com/?p=890</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Nadia and Den are doing some research and need input from our readers.<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=dearoptimists.com&amp;blog=25859670&amp;post=890&amp;subd=dearoptimists&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Nadia and Den are doing some research and need input from our readers.<a name="pd_a_5935269"></a><div class="PDS_Poll" id="PDI_container5935269" style="display:inline-block;"></div><div id="PD_superContainer"></div><noscript><a href="http://polldaddy.com/poll/5935269">Take Our Poll</a></noscript></p>
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			<media:title type="html">Dennis Finocchiaro</media:title>
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