Had any trouble laughing lately?

Nightly news numbing the spirits?

Ready to bust out of this political malaise?

Whenever I want to really feel copacetic, I enjoy what one local has termed “this goofy community of ours” in which we live, love and laugh.

Last weekend we got our latest chortle and guffaw-filled refill of silly at the fourth annual Mutt Strut, part of Apple Day, held the last Saturday of October at that incredible space we now call Bayview Corner.

Fifty-six costumed and trick-ready dogs joined with their Halloween- adorned handlers to compete in several categories.

One category, The Most Incredible, was created on the spot to accommodate the celebrity judges’ sincere appreciation for an over-six-foot Ace-bandaged mummy named Tut and his talented battery powered, voice activated companion Rah, the Robotic Dog.

Cuteness awards were acknowledged for many of the under-six-years-young set, while Best Costume was shared by Charlie, who went as a picnic table adorned with plastic burgers, and Rusty the dachshund, who went as a hot dog.

It must have been Rusty’s sidecar buns and yellow foam mustard squirt on his back that gave him away.

Check out celebrity judge Sue Frause’s pics of winners, wieners and more at her wonderful daily blog in the Seattle P-I located on-line at http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/whidbey/.

Enjoy any of Sue’s days, but for sure, the Mutt Strut featured in her Sunday, Oct. 26 blog.

Thanks to Bayview Farm & Garden, Bayview Farmers Market and Goosefoot, our Bayview family of fun folks who sponsor this event and many more fine family activities throughout the year.

Stop by soon to share some of your time with all of their smiles.

Just across the highway from Bayview Corner you’ll find more smiles at Frank Sebo’s Hardware, Casey’s Red Apple, Neil’s Clover Patch Café, Casey’s Fabrics and Copy This/Mail That.

All these fun folks are neighbors of Dana and the boys at Whidbey Tire and Auto, just an escrow throw away from Coldwell Banker Tara and Curves, where this Halloween, more treats than tricks are in store.

Curves members are invited to bring their husbands, partners and friends between 6:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Friday, Halloween day, Oct. 31.

That’s right men, this is your chance to see what the Curves mystique is all about.

No cross-dressing is required for these music-driven 30 minutes of exercise, although I have found a nice pair of high-heel Converse tennies that might look spiffy.

Call Cindy at 331-6944 if you want to find the best time to bring your inquisitive exercise pal for a real Halloween treat behind the Curves curtains.

While there, enjoy the Stimulate Our Economy Sale, going on now through Nov. 7.

Laughing is my favorite form of exercise.

For years I have traveled the globe, some of it intentionally, in search of laughter.

As songwriter John Prine sings, “It’s a Big ‘Ol Goofy World.”

Thank God we’re stuck right here in the middle.