International Printing Week, Hunt for Happiness Week

International Printing Week
Jan. 15-21, 2006
Celebrating the 300th Anniversary of the Birth
of Benjamin Franklin, the "Father of American Printing"

The 2006 edition of International Printing Week (Jan. 15-21) is especially significant since it marks the 300th anniversary of the birth (on Jan. 17, 1706) of Benjamin Franklin, America'’s most famous printer, an event that will be widely covered [widely covered?] in the media and marked by special events around the country during January.

NAPL (National Association for Printing Leadership) is a sponsor of International Printing Week, which was established by IAPHC (International Association of Printing House Craftsmen) in 1928.

Do check out the NAPL page. It has a quiz, t-shirts, and several ideas for parties... okay, so most of the ideas are specific to printing companies... they are easy to adapt. I know that the answer to number nine on the quiz caused quite a debate and made Mr. Franklin quite upset in his time.

Hunt for Happiness Week

"The Secret Society of Happy People enthusiastically declares January 15-21, 2006, as the fifth Hunt for Happiness Week."

Didn't you just always know that there was a "Secret Society of Happy People?" I wonder at what stage of happiness you are invited to join? Or if it is like The Blue Bird of Happiness, and you find that you always had the ability inside to become a member?

Hmmm. Interesting idea since the Secret Society of Happy People encourages us to purchase things for our Hunt for Happiness. They say

1) "Start collecting something that makes you happy. For example, begin a rock, coin, doll, angel -- whatever makes you smile -- collection."

I happen to know that other than rock, collections cost money. And even some rocks can cost money. Like gemstones, my favorite rocks to collect. They cost lots of money.

2)"Create a “Happy Space" in your home or workspace. Use colors that you love, add a candle of your favorite scent, music that makes you feel good and any decorations and textures that bring a smile to your face. Surround yourself with happiness."

Every time I try to do something like this, I am out at least $200. Probably, that's just me.

Perhaps, the moral of this story is: Money can buy happiness!

I have begun my Hunt for Happiness by purchasing an ottoman to put under my desk at work. This will make me happy. It was not what I had in mind for my quest yesterday. I did not find a perfect set of counter stools for my counter space, I found one, but one is always so hard to match. So the hunt continues! It has been decided that Froggy is a bedroom frog anyway, so perhaps I should go back to Target to get the single counter stool that I liked. I guess I don't need a set of counter stools... unless I want to have a friend eat with me... but, that might make me happy too!