July 29, 2026
On The Upside with Marley
The Beauty of Ordinary Days
Have you ever noticed how often we wait for life to become special before we allow ourselves to enjoy it?
We look forward to vacations, birthdays, holidays and major milestones as though they’re the only dates worthy of our excitement. Yet when we look back years later, the memories that warm our hearts usually aren’t the grand events at all. They’re the ordinary Tuesday evenings that somehow became unforgettable.
They’re the unexpected visit from an old friend. The spontaneous ice cream stop after supper. Sitting around the kitchen table long after the meal is over because nobody wants the conversation to end. Watching grandchildren discover something for the first time. Walking the dog while the sun quietly disappears behind the trees.
Ordinary days rarely announce themselves as important. They simply arrive, one after another, offering us countless opportunities to notice something beautiful.
The trouble is that we’re often so busy planning tomorrow that we overlook today.
Life doesn’t need fireworks to be meaningful. It simply asks us to pay attention.
This summer, take a few extra moments to slow down. Watch the birds instead of rushing past them. Sit on the dock a little longer. Visit someone you’ve been meaning to call. Tell people you appreciate them while they can still hear the words.
Years from now, you probably won’t remember every appointment you kept or every errand you completed.
But you’ll remember how ordinary days quietly became some of the happiest chapters of your life.
Sometimes the best days are the ones that never appeared on the calendar.
Five Tiny Habits That Make Life Better
Improving your life doesn’t always require dramatic changes. In fact, psychologists have found that small, consistent habits often create the biggest long-term improvements.
Start with gratitude. Taking just a minute each day to appreciate something positive shifts your attention away from what you lack and toward what you already have.
Smile at strangers. You may never know how much a simple smile changes someone’s day.
Spend less time looking at your phone and more time looking around you. Interesting conversations, beautiful scenery and unexpected opportunities rarely happen on a screen.
Learn one new thing each week. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a recipe, a historical fact or a practical skill. Curiosity keeps the mind active.
Finally, don’t underestimate kindness. Holding a door, writing a thank-you note or helping a neighbour costs very little but often creates lasting memories for everyone involved.
Small habits don’t seem important in the moment.
Years later, they often become the reason life feels richer.
The World’s Friendliest Competition
Every neighbourhood has one.
It’s the person whose tomatoes are somehow always bigger than everyone else’s.
The funny thing is that gardeners rarely compete by arguing. Instead, they quietly compare zucchini sizes over backyard fences and politely insist they “didn’t do anything special this year.”
The truth?
They absolutely did.
They watered faithfully, pulled weeds before breakfast and talked to their plants when nobody was watching.
Whether talking to tomatoes actually helps remains up for debate.
But the neighbours certainly enjoy hearing about it.
The Honest Mechanic
A customer walked into a garage and asked, “Can you fix my brakes?”
The mechanic replied, “Certainly.”
“How much will it cost?”
“That depends.”
“On what?”
“Whether you want them to stop the car… or just slow down your in-laws.”
Fishing Advice
A grandfather took his grandson fishing for the very first time.
After an hour without a bite, the boy sighed.
“Grandpa, do fish always ignore us?”
Grandpa smiled.
“No.”
“When don’t they?”
“When they’re telling their own fishing stories.”
The Library
A man whispered to the librarian,
“Do you have any books about paranoia?”
She leaned in and whispered,
“They’re right behind you.”
The New Neighbour
A new neighbour knocked on the door carrying a pie.
“I thought I’d introduce myself.”
“That’s very thoughtful,” said the homeowner.
“I hope you like blueberry.”
“We do.”
“Wonderful,” the neighbour smiled.
“Because I’d like my pie plate back tomorrow.”
Editor’s Quote Book
“Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.”
—Robert Brault
Trivia Quiz
(Click Question For Answer)
Your Horoscope
For Amusement Only
Aries Mar. 21 – Apr. 19: A simple conversation may spark an idea that grows into something surprisingly rewarding.
Taurus Apr. 20 – May 20: Slow down enough to appreciate today’s small victories. They matter more than you realize.
Gemini May 21 – Jun. 20: Curiosity leads you toward an enjoyable discovery. Ask one more question than usual.
Cancer Jun. 21 – Jul. 22: Family and close friends appreciate your steady support. Make time for shared laughter.
Leo Jul. 23 – Aug. 22: Your optimism becomes contagious. Someone nearby benefits from your encouraging attitude.
Virgo Aug. 23 – Sep. 22: A well-earned break helps you return with fresh energy and a clearer perspective.
Libra Sep. 23 – Oct. 22: Kindness offered without expectation comes back to you in an unexpected way.
Scorpio Oct. 23 – Nov. 21: Trust your instincts when making a small decision. They are sharper than you think.
Sagittarius Nov. 22 – Dec. 21: Adventure may be closer than expected. Explore somewhere you’ve never visited nearby.
Capricorn Dec. 22 – Jan. 19: Organization today creates more free time later in the week. Your future self will thank you.
Aquarius Jan. 20 – Feb. 18: A creative idea deserves your attention. Write it down before it slips away.
Pisces Feb. 19 – Mar. 20: Music, nature and good company combine to create a wonderfully peaceful day.
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Bird Is The Word
Why does a chicken coop have 2 doors?
Because if had 4 doors it would be a chicken sedan.
Prophecy
A man is shipwrecked and washes ashore on a remote island. Before he can catch his breath, he’s surrounded by a group of heavily armed locals.
“I’m done for!” he cries.
A booming voice from the sky replies, “No, you’re not. Listen carefully and do exactly as I say.”
“See the leader? Grab the spear from the person beside you and drive it straight through the leader’s heart.”
Terrified but desperate, the man does exactly that.
The crowd falls silent. Every pair of eyes turns toward him.
The man looks up and asks, “Now what?”
The voice from the sky replies,
“Now….. you’re done for.”
Wanna Bet?
Two caterpillars were crawling along a leaf when a butterfly flew past overhead.
One caterpillar turned to the other one and said: “You’ll never get me up in one of those things !”
Drink The Koolaid
A worried man goes to see his priest. “Father, I am worried. I think that my wife is trying to poison me.”
Said the priest: “Hold on my son, let me talk to your wife and come back to see me tomorrow, then I shall be able to give you some advice.”
The following day the man aging comed to his priest who tells him: “Well my son, I have talked to your wife for nearly two hours. My advise to you is :Take the poison”
The Milk Bath
One woman had always wanted to take a bath in a tub filled with warm milk. So she called the dairyman out to measure the tub and find out how much milk she would need and how much it would cost.
He began measuring and asked her, “Do you want it pasteurized?”
And she said, “No, just up to my chin would be fine.”
Marley’s Video Pick
What Makes a Good Life? Lessons from the Longest Study on Happiness
What really leads to a happy and fulfilling life? Is it wealth, success, or fame? In this engaging TED Talk, psychiatrist Robert Waldinger shares insights from one of the longest studies ever conducted on adult life. The research points to a simple but powerful conclusion: strong, meaningful relationships are one of the greatest predictors of long-term happiness and health.
Whether it’s family, friends, neighbours or simply taking time to connect with others, this video is a thoughtful reminder that the best investments we make are often in the people around us.
The Last Word
“Ordinary moments become extraordinary memories when we take the time to truly live them.”
I truly enjoy reading the perkolator . It’s funny and informative. I look forward to the next issue.
I’m so happy to hear that Barbara. It means a lot to us to make a positive difference in our communities 🙂
Smack on Cous!
I wouldn’t miss an issue.
Grateful, Thank You so much 🙏
We’re so happy you appreciate it 🙂
And our heartfelt thanx to you, Brian Garvey for coming up with the PERK idea 30 years ago. I and many others have enjoyed and will continue to enjoy the publication for hopefully years to come.
I commend you!
WELL DONE !
The May 1st edition was the best I’ve read since becoming a follower. Positively Speaking……logical and smack on, the quiz, difficult but for the first time ever I’m 8 for 8! The bog island vid…who’d a thunk?
I can’t be all positive though.
The sand which board with I b4 e was a tough one for my aging eyes.
Lastly, could your font be slightly larger with the adds just a wee bit smaller.
So many magazines, internet articles, etc have yet to learn that their main audience is aging and eyes are not what they were of days past.
Keep up the good work.
PS: Adds work. I’ve used more than one company you’ve listed with total satisfaction (politicians excepted)
Hi Dave. Firstly thanks so much for the comments. I’m not the writer of this stuff just the web guy. While reading anything that you find is too small on the internet generally all you need to do is hit your Control and the plus key or minus key together to increase or decrease the size of things. I’m afraid if we reduce the ads any smaller they won’t be readable and of course it’s due to their investment in the Perkolator that the publication can actually exist 🙂 Happy Spring.
why do l keep getting the same perkolator every month for the S Muskoka edition. this is the same issue running from Jan.2026.
Hi Nina
The Perkolator doesn’t actually publish monthly, it publishes weekly. I cannot see what you’re seeing of course. However I have reviewed the website thoroughly and including the last 5 weeks Perkolator’s and there’s no duplication. The only thing I can determine is if you’re clicking on an old email from last month and expecting last months perkolator. Clicking on the link in your subscription email will always take you to the latest edition regardless of how old the email is. Perhaps that’s where the issue lies.
Thanks for reading!
Today’s edition is the same as last weeks.
Apologies Howard. It’s now fixed. The automation wasn’t automatic!!!
Please don’t change anything, I look forward to my weekly paper
We’re glad to hear that you’re enjoying The Perkolator.. You keep reading it and we will keep it coming.
Why, when I’m already a subscriber must the pop up SUBSCRIBE for double your pleasure pop up in the first place? Oh, I just realized, you can’t have pop ups in your printed newsletter.
Silly me.
As well. Without being “logged into” a website, there’s no way for it to determine who you are. SO it displays for everyone 🙂
Lately your articles seem to be very anti-woman. I’m most certainly going to stop reading!
Good day Jessica. I do hope that you are still reading The Perkolator. Although you don’t say which articles you found objectionable, I can assure you that we, at The Perkolator, are not anti-women. In fact, if we look back to past issues men are the Butt of more jokes and stories than are women. In our world we need to find the humour in our words, habits, situations, and actions more often, whether we are male of female. The ability to laugh at ourselves and our humanness allows us to cope better with the stresses in life. I hope that you will consider continuing to read The Perkolator, understanding that we are only joking and mean no offense.
Best Regards.
Brian G