DAILY DIRT: Would you classify yourself an optimist or pessimist?

Actually, my favorite among today’s medal winners is supplied by Dwyane Wade … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 487 of The Daily Dirt.

1. We’re one day closer to 2023. Here are three valuable quotes to take with you into the new year:

Gold medal: “An optimist stays up until midnight to see the New Year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves.” — William E. Vaughan, journalist and author.

Silver medal:“You have those moments where you reflect and say, ‘No matter what I’m going through at the moment, you know what? Life ain’t bad.’” — former NBA star Dwyane Wade.

Bronze medal: “I don’t know where I’m going from here, but I promise it won’t be boring.” — musician David Bowie.

2. Our final “Found on Facebook” for 2022:

• “We should start seeing Valentine’s Day crap in the stores any minute now.”
• “Congrats Florida, for participating in winter this year.”
• “Hallmark (Channel) researchers say they are close to developing a second movie plot.”
• “Prosthetic leg for sale. Makes a great stocking stuffer.”
• “Energizer bunny arrested, charged with battery.”

3. The 35th annual Readers’ Choice Awards survey named, among other things, the 10 friendliest U.S. cities.

Among the criteria were:

• Did you feel welcome when you traveled there?
• Did an outgoing local go out of his/her way to help you with directions or other needs? 
• Was the city easy to navigate? 
• Did you simply get good vibes from the people you met there?

The results, as posted by cntraveler.com:

• 1. Savannah, Ga.
• 2. Charleston, N.C.
• 3. Alexandria, Va.
• 4. Honolulu, Haw.
• 5. Santa Fe, N.M.
• 6. Tucson, Ariz.
• 7. Key West, Fla.
• 8. Nashville, Tenn.
• 9. Chicago, Ill.
• 10. Cincinnati, Ohio.

Steve Thought O’ The Day — Of those aforementioned 10 cities, I have been to three: Cincinnati, Chicago and Nashville. Of the other seven, the ones I would like to visit most are Savannah, Alexandria and Tucson. Honolulu? Nope, no way. That would involve a lot of flying — over water, which translates into a double no-no.

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. Maybe he could take a boat to Honolulu?