Things that may us feel so good inside...like a breath of fresh air or a warm blanket on a chilly night.....

I'll start with:

The smell of Mesquite burning
The taste of snow eaten off a wool mitten
A baby's head (feel and smell)
Being licked by a kitten or puppy
A child giggling
Listening to my favorite band via headphones in the dark

(for starters)
T xo

Walking along the edge of the ocean at night
Cool breezes on warm days
Biting into a crisp, tart green apple
Hot showers after long nights of studying
The heavy scent of citrus blossoms floating through open windows

cuddling with someone really special
the intro to "Welcome To The Jungle"
Family Guy
a properly mixed long island
running my fingers through someone's hair
getting more than 6 hours of sleep

the hands of the person you love.
the beach.
kissing in the cold.
the way warm weather smells.
giggling.
the way the house smells when you cook bacon and eggs.
his voice.

Waxed fruit. (Kidding.)

A really chewy, gooey grilled cheese sandwich.
The way the air feels right before a thunderstorm.
Touching faces with someone you love (especially noses -- it kills me every time).
A purring cat.

Sharing the intro to "Where The Streets Have No Name" with 20,000 friends...and being mere feet from Bono while it was happening. I still get shivers when I hear it. (no, I'm not obsessed with them or anything...really)

Lol!

niiiiice.

i started a book of these entries over 10 years ago.

my first entry was homemade blue cheese pastry puffs
the second was linford's lyrics

farthest you got??

gatuitous crying ("It feels so good!")
my daughter's laughter
the first bulbs peeking out of the ground
my garden in full summer
road trips

wild flowers
ice tea on hot days
the sound of change jingling in men's pockets (i don't know why, but it's very comforting)
watching people doodle or sketch
coffee with dessert

The New Mexico night sky.
The sight and scent of a field of sun-warmed sage.
The beauty of the cliffs at Ghost Ranch, New Mexico.

Hmmm, how about New Mexico in general?

-hearing my daughter saying "daddy" [still]
-watching my son play baseball
-seeing either of them smile or hearing them laugh out loud
-sleeping late on saturday mornings
-warm rainy days [w/thunder & lightening]
-grilling out in the summer
-a cold beer with old friends
-taking a "walk"
-good french fries
-lilly [our chocolate lab], who just can't seem to snuggle close enough when i get home from work
-new york city
-hearing karin sing

Swinging on an empty playground at sunset after a hot, late summer day. Or in the middle of the night with close pals or just with Luke or just swinging in general (the kind you do on a swingset, silly)

Having a lyric pop into my head from a treasured song that defines a current aspect, issue, or stage in my life. I'd like to make a musical autobiography someday.


Cool sheets and a crisp morning breeze through a cracked bedroom window in spring across a naked body after another naked or boxer-clad body has freshly departed (shuffling off to the bathroom across a squeaky wood floor). Okay, that's much too specific.... I'm ruining this.

A stone-skipping contest

Hot cocoa and wool socks while 1in. snowflakes fall outside my picture window.

red wine. Ummm warm fuzzies

vintage dresses, costume jewelry, and hats

old photographs (especially of strangers relatives, classmates, or vacations)

When weather patterns or sunsets or breezes bring back a memory

Do I have to stop?

OH and that spiritual, at one with humanity feeling you have the next morning after pulling an all nighter or two. I have this vivid memory of a handful of us eating dinner in the dining commons at college (after we each had pulled a few)and Luke quietly studying his sweater fuzz and all of us being thoroughly amazed by this and our friend Kevin saying "It's a Christmas miracle!" And we weren't even stoned or anything.

QUOTING NICHOLE:
OH and that spiritual, at one with humanity feeling you have the next morning after pulling an all nighter or two. I have this vivid memory of a handful of us eating dinner in the dining commons at college (after we each had pulled a few)and Luke quietly studying his sweater fuzz and all of us being thoroughly amazed by this and our friend Kevin saying "It's a Christmas miracle!" And we weren't even stoned or anything.

ahhh, that's a really good one sweetie,

much better than mine:
Getting my IRS refund
Getting a bonus check

Luke,
That's so beautiful.
Were you a 'Sensitive Man Of The Nineties'?

walking in the snow
walking on the beach
walking in old cemeteries, especially in autumn
colorful sunsets
storm clouds (without funnels)
talking to my 6-year-old niece
making her laugh
taking pictures
old Christmas specials from my childhood (and the Great Pumpkin, too)
listening to my music (the stuff I own, because I don't make any)
reading in the bathtub

yeh but you should see my pet peeve book!

Late nights cuddling with my wife on the couch
Hooking a trout on a Colorado small stream and actually getting him in the net
My dog's affection in the early morning
Actually helping someone just because they needed help
Strangers in Paradise
Playing board games with people who actually want to play
Sleep, glorious sleep


(I like the word actually it would seem)

Yeah! It's weird how that happens. It's especially nice if you get to watch the sunrise while eating, or while walking back to your dorm.

This is completely dorky, but I really like the sound of Jeff Goldblum's voice. I would definitely buy a recording of him reading a book on tape to help me fall asleep at night.

the feeling of clean sheets after I shave your legs
meeting Phillip for coffee on our lunch breaks (or sometimes at the zoo)
snuggles from the 13 2-year olds I work with
Sitting in a dark bar, with tears rolling down my cheeks when karin sang "Latter Days"
When my mom plays with my hair
Drinking Margaritas with my mom and mom in law
trains in the distance
Rt 44 cherry lime slushes from Sonic
Vanilla Lattes
tirimisu
Hot and sour soup (how did this turn to food, guess I better go eat)
Eating...okay

I am such a sucker for things that are cute.

nichole when she does that little pouty thing with her mouth and then whines very lightly

my little kitty when she is putting on the show

my little niece when she does anything (look at my profile for proof)

puppy dog eyes

and stuff.

I don't like cheesy cute things.

Sephora rose perfume. I buy two tiny spray bottles every year and save/savor them as long as possible.

30-year wedding anniversaries.

Good soap. (I get to test-drive rosemary mint tomorrow morning.)

Reading borrowed books with good marginalia.

Long, hot foot soaks.

breadsticks.
my six-year old(going on 15) cousin.
roadtrips in the jetta.
cincinnati.
beauty in every form.
smiling.

I like good music. (and good music is whatever I like)
I like to hear people tell their stories.
I like a good steak.
I like Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream when I cannot get real home made.
I love doing any of these things with family and friends.

hey Florida Girl! Is the Rosemary mint soap from Aveda??? (not to be miss name brand, it is just that I used to work for Aveda, and I know that Rosemary mint is their thing)

being barefoot
the smell of coffe brewing
going to the farmers market
fishing, whether i am catching anything or not
giggling

The first lightning bug of the summer
Making someone's day
Learning a new song on the guitar
Opening the pizza box
Hearing someone laugh at your joke
The lights going down at the movies.

my wife's smile
my wife's other attributes (yes, FloridaGirl is right)
sharing music with my kids
skiing in the Rockies
concerts with friends
playing with my nieces and nephews
Karin's intensity
long bike rides with my son
Thai food
capturing a good photo
iced latté
Margo Timmins
Samuel Adams (the beer, not the patriot)
sunsets on the beach
the way Maui smells

Bouquets of fresh Rosemary on the table.

Nope, sorry. It's from good old Tar-zhay.

By the way, Keith, you crack me up.

Poppies
Dolphins
Foot rubs/back rubs (giving, NOT receiving — too ticklish!)
Vanilla-scented candles; cinnamon, too
Making her ... laugh : )
Pilot G-2 pens (blue ink)
Jeans 'n' T-shirt/shorts 'n' sweatshirt weather
Full moon
Staying up late, getting up early, taking an afternoon nap
The Food Network
Afternoon thunderstorms

To be continued ...

Driving past the Merita Bread factory at sunset with the windows down. The smell is like kindness wrapped in hot dough.

For starters:

Driving with the windows down and the music loud.
The sunday sports section.
Around a campfire/waking up outdoors (these two usually go hand in hand)

A little plum wine after a good meal.

Christmas lights (even when it's not Christmas).

Heartbeats.

(mini-hijack....Hi Jray...nice to see you here...please stay a while...)

Campfires...winter, summer anytime
The sound of Aspens quaking (nothing else sounds like it)
Anything Chai flavored
Down comforters/pillows
Finding an awesome thrift /vintage clothing/ collectors/ junk shop
Recycling someone's 'trash' into your own treasure.

Anything Patchouli

Jeanne have you ever taken rubbings from old headstones?
Beautiful art.

fresh bedsheets
the new car smell
Howard Dean
caffine

If they're not cotton jersey sheets or thick flannel sheets, they have to be at least 250 thread count. It's bed heaven, and that's only at 250. Oi.

I'll take your word for it. I have no idea what mine are, I only know my attachment to them at 6:00 AM.

No, but I have taken many photographs. Some of my favorites were in the cemeteries in downtown Boston, although we've got some neat old cemeteries right here in town.

starry nights

Trudes, if we ever wind up in the same town, you and I need to go shopping.

Sirius, the Dogstar. It's been my favorite for a long time, even before Harry Potter.

Eating tarragon leaves right off the stalk.

Running my tongue over newly-brushed teeth. (My own, that is! )

New Mexico is another of my favorite places.

Also, The Grand Canyon....standing on the rim trying to absorb what you are seeing, smelling, feeling.

The bloom of a cactus...

Laying on your back in a wide open field on a clear night....taking in the galaxy.

These are a few of the things that bring a smile...

Dylan.

The Cubs.

Fresh powder on the slope.

Waking up under the stars.

Talking for hours to the one I love.

Learning something new everyday.

Seeing elderly couples holding hands.

Homer Simpson's outlook on life.

Listening to OTR on my iPod while driving late at night.

Cold Rolling Rock on a hot, summer day.

Getting called at 5:30 a.m. by my principal for a snow day cancellation.

The grace of Jesus.

Givin' this a bump so we don't all focus on the pet peeves.

yeah, trudes.