<p><a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/wonky.jpg"></a><a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/rushed.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-802" title="Ugh" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/rushed-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>Generally, I am less than thrilled with Monday mornings.  I am not a morning person, and Monday mornings are the worst.  Ugh. </p>

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<p>This past Monday, I was in a mood most foul.  Oh, yes.  It was a mood of Shakespearean proportions. </p>

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<p>My Monday started with a pounding headache.  This accompanied the massive stomach ache that haunted me since Sunday afternoon.  Oh, joy. </p>

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<p>During my morning espresso ritual, it sounded as though my espresso machine was on the brink of an explosion.  Oh, start saving a few hundred bucks now. </p>

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<p>I changed outfits three times and declared a state of fashion emergency.  It is not o.k. to wear dresses that are ten years old.  I am not on a teacher's budget anymore.  I need to get over my hatred of shopping.  Oh, happy and facetious day.   </p>

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<p>Worst of all, I was dealing with painful news regarding a loved one.  I wanted to hide in my nest and cry my eyes out, but I had to work along with the rest of the world. </p>

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<p>Wouldn't you know it.  My day 13 activity was:  Smile at everyone who crosses your path today.  Oh, great. </p>

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<p>I scrambled into work trying to smile at everyone as I calculated how late I would have to stay that afternoon to make up for my later than usual morning arrival. </p>

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<p>I put out my new mood calendar on my desk -- one of my <strong><a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2010/09/29/day-12-disappearing-act/" target="_blank">treasures that I found at Changing Hands</a></strong> the day before.  There was no page for Crappy, so I settled on Rushed.</p>

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<p>I tried to remember to smile my way through the office, but I think I achieved around a 75% success rate.  I started to stress out about forgetting to smile 25% of the time, and what a failure of a blog post this would turn out to be.  I excel at torturing mysel sometimes. </p>

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<p>I ran out at lunch for a hair product return, and I think that I forgot to smile at the saleswoman because I was explaining to her that the shampoo contains sulfates and I didn't know this when I purchased it and as a result, my scalp was itching like crazy and what kind of hair artist puts sulfates in his shampoos in 2010, I asked her???  Everyone in the hair industry knows by now that sulfates are bad news!!!  She looked at me funny and I think I may have frowned a little.  Oh, hell. </p>

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<p>Luckily, when I ordered a  slice of pumpkin bread at the Nordstrom cafe, the thoughtful man at the counter offered to cut me a fresh slice.  This made me smile. </p>

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<p>Walking past the MAC cosmetics counter, I had to hide my fullblown laughter upon seeing a makeover victim that looked like a cross between a hooker and a clown.  One of my "365 days" ideas was to get a makover at the MAC counter.  Note to self:  Find an alternate cosmetics counter for makeover day.  (If you have any ideas for me, please comment below.)</p>

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<p>After lunch, I was on a roll with the permagrin.  My friend, Colleen (aka Cooleenie and featured alongside kitty in Day 11's photo), noted the change.  She waltzed on over to my mood calendar and suggested I flip it to either Chipper or Wonky.  Chipper was a stretch, so I settled on Wonky. </p>

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<p><a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/wonky.jpg" target="_blank"><img title="wonk wonk" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/wonky-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p>

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<p>Overall, the permagrin definitely helped in lifting my mood.  Some days the smiles come naturally, and some days they are a conscious choice.  Either way, a smile makes you and those who cross your path just a little bit cheerier. </p>

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<p>Who would like to take up the Permagrin for a Day Challenge?  :-)  Try it for a day, and then please share your experience.  I look forward to hearing your smile stories!</p>

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<p>This version is for you, Carolyn. </p>

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