Simple Pleasures
 

What simple obscure thing gives you pleasure? You dont necessarily have to know why you enjoy it. For example you know when you open a new cake of soap and it is all dry and it has a certain texture? Well I get alot of pleasure feeling the soap the very first time that cake gets wet. I dont know why. I just do. Now your turn...

The smell of a hotel - that weird, far too many cleaning chemicals used smell just puts me at peace. I'm sure it's from all the road trips with my family but that smell does the trick for me.

I love to buy a new notebook/drawing pad filled with nice paper. It's not the buying it that I like though. I just like having a blank notebook that I can do anything with. Even just drawing on the first page ruins it.

The first scoop out of a new jar of peanut butter. No idea why

riding a bike after getting a haircut
collapsing on my bed after a long day
getting an email from my SO
taking a picture that turns out really well
finishing something i started, no matter how mundane.

but then again, I know exactly why i like these things

the screams/yells of the kids at the elementary school across the street from my place, and the schoolyard bell. I'm working nights temporarily, and sleep during the day, and you'd think I'd hate those sounds cause they keep you awake, but they seem to put a smile on my face.

Watching snow fall, or the sky light up from lightning!

Oh, and power outages! I have a horrible guilty pleasure of really enjoying power outages.

afternoon naps, thunderstorms, 'new house' smell (usually a mix of paint fumes/carpet glue hehe).

Loading a fresh roll of film

Old coffee cans that have had homemade chocolate chip cookies stored in them...that smell brings back some of my favorite childhood memories for me

Going outside after a rain and seeing how the colors on everything, trees and plants etc, are so much more defined

The sound of my childrens laughter, the smell of rain, the sound of the ocean, a light breeze on a nice autumn day, , ringing a chord (those that have sang barbershop know what i'm talking about here), doing my job well.

A good nap, naked, on soft, freshly washed sheets, on a cool fall weekend afternoon, all my chores done, with the windows open so I can hear the windchimes.

Ruffling up my freshly cut hair and watching the little bitty ends of cut hairs leftover after the cut fall out.

Peeling hard boiled eggs. So satisfying. Especially if you can get the shell off in one or two big chunks. I also like slicing the eggs in half and popping the yolk out. I hate eating hard-boiled eggs but I love making things with them. I also love toasting marshmallows but hate to eat them.

Brushing my dog when she's blowing her coat and watching it come out in huge fluffy clumps. It's amazing. You could make another dog out of the hair she sheds, and she's STILL unbelievably fluffy.

Chomping on ice that's been sitting around and melting for a little bit so it's still crunchy but not too hard.

Nothing obscure here, I just like waking up, making espresso, and chugging down 6 cups of the stuff as soon as it's done. A minute or two later, I get a huge burst of energy that lasts for the next hour or so. It's usually enough to get me past that groggy waking up period.

Gatorade.


I have no idea why I like this stuff. I have yet to find a flavor that I like but for some reason it's been the only thing non-alcohol based that I've drank in months.

I love: Stting on my bed-alone-after work. The first taste of a cold coke. The sleepy feeling after a big meal. Eating marshmallow cream from the jar with a spoon.

Breaking the impeccably flat and smooth surface of a brand new kiwi shoe polish open and smelling the parloresque scent of the polish.

walking in the warm rain with my hair down....

A hot shower with the lights off, watching the sun set across the mountains every night, the smell of rain and new cars, watching little kids play.

Going for a motorcycle ride. No matter how bad a day is going, I always feel better after a ride.

Driving on a nice cool day on some twisty backroads, no traffic in sight, engine at the redline, in a four wheel drift that would cause (formula one champion) Michael Shumacker to pee in his pants if he were riding with me.

"If you are under control, you are not going fast enough."

Parnelli Jones

I do that everytime it rains. It rained today. In caifornia. In august. Something is wrong here..

That and the smell of wet pavement. They are probably related.

Opening a new can of coffee.

Firing up an engine or other mechanical device I have been into and having it run right on the first try.

When her eye contact lingers a little longer than would be expected....

my G35 coupe + rush's red barchetta + any empty twisty country backroad = bliss

Sunday afternoon on the back porch. Freshly cut lawn, steaks on the grill, sitting on the lawn chair with a fresh beer in one hand, a fresh cigarette in the other, and watching the sun go down while the steaks sizzle happily away.

Great thread Lunchbox, everybody no matter how sour, or dour enjoys lifes little pleasures. Mine are too many to list, and seem to be growing as I get older...perhaps a sign of appreciating things more now than I used to.

New jars of peanut butter are great, as are new cans of coffee. Love to have a big cup of coffee in my hand when "Click and Clack" fire up "Car Talk" on Saturday morning.

Here's one I haven't experienced in a loooooong time... The feel of a record after opening the plastic. I used to love that!

Having the remote/tv/bed to myself.

the feeling of slamming the ball so hard that you'd break the racquet when playing tennis, the shoulder injuries are sure worth it :D

I like the feeling of rubbing my fingers on my freshly cut hair on the nape of my neck, when it's all bristly feeling.
I also like the smell of old paperback books that have been packed away.

fremen reminded me..

The smell of the archive section of any courthouse....family history center...national archives etc the smell of old books always gives me energy to conquer the illusive genealogy clue I need and when I feel like that, a lot of the time I find it :)

Back when I used to do civil war re enacting the smell of the cannon fire always put a smile on my face too

When somone knows exactly how you feel, not having to say a word, but knowing that they know.

.....
the first, crisp whiff of the aroma of whole bean coffee in the morning, after it's been stored in the fridge/freezer...
driving my truck as if it were a sportscar, even if it's only running on 3 cylinders right now...(damn thing... *grumble*)
long walks in the suburbs, after midnight. It feels like I have a town to myself...
to quote fhqwhgads: when her eye contact lingers a little longer than would be expected...
foamed milk...
the feeling of good chocolate melting on my tongue...

The smell of Night Blooming Jasmine
That first cup of coffee in the morning
getting into a freshly made bed
Getting kisses from my kids

Snoozing in my hammock on a warm summer afternooon
Home made lime, amaretto or cinnamon ice cream
Walking in the waves at the beach

A good afternoon nap
Relaxing at a coffee shop (with friends or alone)
Driving with the windows down, music up, on a nice sunny day
Seeing a Fedex/UPS truck pull up to my house

The smell of new books at Barnes & Noble...

I love to run my hands over book covers too... feel their texture....

the feel of clay on a potter's wheel. hair blowing in my hony's convertible as we drive down the rode. walking in a snowfall at night. the smell of gasoline from a boat engine (weird). the call of the blue heron that lives in my backyard early in the morning and late in the evening. our cat "frank trout" as he dashes across the road when i come home. my dog wee wee, all 250 lbs. of him, as he licks my feet.

Brewing a pot of coffee.

Watching a thunderstorm.

Walking in the woods.

Taking a deep breath.

That smell that REALLY old houses have. Something about it comforts me.

Having my hair washed...
Big bear hugs from my niece that usually get a running start...
A new book...
making someone else laugh...
Making someone else smile..

Heh heh, i wrote this a while back in one of my late night therapeutic sessions:

Simple pleasures of life (put a smile on your face :)

Late night cruises in my six, with only me, the road, and my car.
Looking at the moon
Moonlit walks along the beach
Hoping for something greater, and seeing it about to come true
Jogging 3 miles, then working out really hard.
Break dancing with my boy arthur
Breakthrus
Smooth Jazz
Tupac
And all the music inbetween
Mint Chocolate chip ice cream
The smell of grass after a long days work in the yard
Getting 10k plus scores in solitare
Dreaming of a bright future
Hearing the thick *thwock* of the tae bag as my fists impact on it
Doing Pushups and situps
Busting a freeze for three seconds and then flipping out of it and in to a six step
Listening to YEAH while i break dance
Anticipating big events...like prom and homecoming
Biking 10 miles
hearing my tires squeal as i round a corner @ 30
Turning my system way up so that the bass shakes my teeth as well as the teeth of the next car over :)
Feeling the nice chilly weather on an october day.
Helping my mom cook
Helping my dad around the house
Impressing others with my feats of skill
Nailing that A on a scales test after tireless and countless hours of studying
Finding out that i am charismatic enough to charm others
Making new friends
A damn good workout
Realizing that i still have a future
Installing parts on my car and then feeling the difference.
Washing and waxing my car
Long long discussions with friends as we try to tackle the questions of life.
Eating a nice, hot meal, especially steamed egg after being really hungry.
A nice nice haircut, that makes you feel like tom cruise.
And much more...

- sitting down after being on my feet all day

- the smell of rain, especially in the fall, mixed with the odor of fireplace logs burning.

The first five chews of a piece of gum.

Another one that I remembered. You know when you get really big hard cover books and you close them fast. They make a deep thumping sound. I love that sound.

A good bowel movement...

The smell when I open a fresh bag of coffee, clean sheets, that unexpected warm embrace from my SO.

I love it when I take out the trash in the evening at the same time "our" hedgehog patrols our garden. Suddenly I speak and move soft and slow - the feeling of being allowed to take part in it's life, sort of man meets nature :)

a full night's sleep
no voices in my head.
a failing memory.

The first drink of a soda that burns your throat.

I dont drink much soda, but when i do, I absolutley love that feeling.

I love the feeling I get when I'm with my girlfriend and we are either having a conversation with each other, or someone else, or even if we are just sitting somewhere; and I might be thinking something and just as I'm thinking it she says it. It just gives me this warm, fuzzy feeling. Or when I say something and she loks at me and says "I was jsut gonna say that." Gaaah. :)

The sound of firewood crackling.
The smell of the rain.
The sound of waves crashing especially at night.
Remembering things of years gone by, especially childhood friends/girlfriends.
Dreaming.
The smell of coffee when you first open the can.
The smell of coffee brewing.
The first cup of coffee.
Getting a hug and a kiss from my mom.
Waking up to see my little girls on the bed looking at me with a smile.
Outside grilling.
When a stranger, preferably a female, gives me a sincere smile.

When my son asks me a question and I know the answer and explain it to him and he really seems to understand the answer (ex: where does lightning come from?).
Of course, it's even more fun when my mother-in-law still has no idea what I just said. :D

The smell of a campfire.

The smell of a freshly opened can of coffee.

The sound of rain beating on the roof.

Having my hair washed, by a pretty hairdresser, when I get a haircut.

A bowl of Froot Loops as a late night snack.

The feeling that I get when my son comes and pulls me off of the couch, to go play "blocks" with him. ('cause I know he soon won't want me to)

The feeling of acomplishment, from completing a home improvement project.

Autumn. Everything about it...the sights, the sounds, the smells...everything.

Thats so freaking cool. Good for you.

Oh yeah, for me, when I make someone feel good about themself, it really makes me warm.

finding the place on my husky that makes him sink slowly to the floor if you scratch it.
the smell of a coffee roasting place.
taking the plastic off a new recording.
getting lost in a book.

Waking up and realizing I have nothing to do and no place to be, so I roll over and go back to sleep.
Hugging my kids.
Long, hot showers
Scraping the last of the ice cream out of its container and eating it.
Slightly cold mashed potatoes on a wooden spoon and dipping them in gravy after dinner is over.
Big white clouds.
Bedrooms with sloped walls(reminds me of my childhood summers in my great-aunt's cottage).
Being loved.

NOT finding my name in the morning obituary---

Then, I can go on with a great day...

A steady cool breeze.
Eating nachos while intoxicated. The taste is soooo good.
watching a download sustain 350K/sec or better throughout.
The soap thing in the first post is kinda nice too.

Waking up from from a scary dream, and knowing that everything is ok.

Sweating. Whether it's from a work out, good sex session or rocking out on stage, I love to sweat. Sweating with others is also strangely enjoyable. :hmm:

Giving my dog a new toy
Diet Coke...I have a problem
Motorcycle rides

Thunderstorms and clouds. I love taking a moment on the days that the clouds are so huge and puffy and just pondering life. It's great to just stretch out in the yard and just daydream to them.

The first few gulps of ice cold water. Having the wind blow on my face after working up a sweat at the gym.

I remembered I LOVE carwashes of all kinds after reading it was something people can't stand. Except for the time the carwash ate my side mirror, car washes are the best way to relax. No one can get to you while you're in there! :)

Mindlessly deadheading my petunias

Mincing veggetables

The smell of crisp Autumn air

Fresh, fluffy snow clinging to every branch of the pines/trees

Sitting next to a sundappled gurgling stream

The smell of the water comming off Lake Michigan

The feel of my cats fur on my skin when he cuddles with me in the morning

Thunderstorms

The smell of wood burning

Saying funny words like "farfignugin" (I know, not even close on the spelling!)

The first warm feeling in my stomach from a drink of liquor

A road in MI Upper Penninsula that has a bunch of small humps that give me the "butterfly" feeling in my tummy over and over again

The feel of my hair brushing against the top of my bum (it tickles)

Waking up to the smell of coffee brewing

To many more to list, I have alot of simple pleasures.

Ali

New car Smell
The smell of pavement after a fresh rain
The smell of Gas
Getting a new book
Watching snow fall, or rain fall, and drinking tea
Waking up at 5 AM, only to glance at my alarm clock and realize i get to sleep for another 2 hours, and then dropping my head on my pillow and doing so.
Waking up to find a cloudy day outside my window
The way a library smells, old musty books
The previews before the movie
Driving around the suburbs
Driving in the boonies
Playing cards or board games during thunderstorms and power failures

Might I suggest a book on this topic too? it's called "14,000 Things To Be Happy About."

:D

Taking my dog for a walk, and not having fight w/any other dogs.

Standing on the banks of Hot Creek, watching trout rise in delicate fashion to unsuspecting mayflies, tying on a dry fly, casting perfectly with a natural drift, watching the fly anxiously anticipating the rise, seeing the nose break the surface and suck the imitation in, setting the hook and feeling the chaotic pressure of the fish as the reel screams from excitement, landing the fish, admiring the myriad of colors and patterns on the native trout, gently releasing the fish, watching it swim off to fight another day.
"The fish you release, is your gift to another angler"

The open highway, and knowing that my guy is waiting for me at the end of my trip :)

-feeling exhausted after a very long run.
-no traffic
-and waffles... I love waffles!

-singing
-a hot shower
-crawling into bed
-giving a compliment or smile (and receiving them)
-epiphanies (sp?)

Morning farts.
Driving exactly the speed limit in front of an obnoxious tailgater when he has no way to pass.

another one....

Staying up all night playing games with friends. Got a huge headache after that....but it was fun.

First cup of coffee in the morning, just as my kids get outta bed and stumble to my office. Man, its things like that that keep you going

- unwrapping my favourite gum, and chewing it. That's it, just chewing it and not doing anything else.

- napping nude with the window open when it's sunny and my fan is on

- fresh chocolate chip cookies from the oven (damn the bakery I work in)

-Getting a PM/email/phone message

-Being invited to do something. Anything. Anytime

-Hugging my brothers. I miss them. :(

-Late night bowls of cereal, by myself on my balcony.

The relaxed feeling after a bowel movement

The smell of old comic books.

Watching my gf sleep, too bad I'm single, I miss those days.

Something I call "New Action Figure Smell", it's the smell of the plastic from a freshly opened clamshell or carded package of an action figure, right when you open the package a small rush of plastic aroma hits you, it signals the release of a new "member" of the "family" if you will. Heh, guess you'd have to be a collector to understand that last statement though, but the one thing that relates to this that I really do miss is the smell of a new M.U.S.C.L.E. toy, you know, those lil' small pink wrestlers, it was a popular toyline of the 80's. It's the smell of childhood and memories, that new M.U.S.C.L.E. smell...

Getting something done.

That warm feeling you get in your bed right after you wake up, and right before you turn over and go back to sleep.

Looking at the clock and realizing I have 2 more hours to sleep (its better realizing you can sleep as long as you want to)

Slience, absolute silence

There are many more and I'll contribute once I think of ones that haven't been said.

waking up to my cat sleeping on my chest with it's nose in my face...

feeling invigorated and healthy after working out at the gym before going to work...

getting into a car with furry seat covers after being on the beach, strangely enough I love how warm and comforting that feels...

the taste of salt on your lips after drying your body in the sun after having swum in the sea...

the smell of sun cream...

lying on your beach towel after swimming and letting the sun heal every bone on your body with it's warmth...

lying on your beach towel and having your SO come close to you (just shading out the sun for a moment) and giving you a small wet salty kiss, feeling the warmth of their body against yours...

looking into your SO's eyes and just feeling without saying a word...

wearing crisp clean clothes after showering...

can you tell I just came back from my holiday? *sigh*...

coming home from a bad day and smoking a joint..

..or a good day

..dammit i wish i didn't have bronchitis!!

Getting that first scent of freshly brewed coffee whether early in the morning or late at night.
Seeing that look in someone's eyes that awaken feelings that you have never experienced.
Sitting out on the balcony and watching the sunset.
And finally, meeting someone that used to piss you off alot when you were younger and finding out that 10 years later they are still working fast food.

[Some I've seen in other messages, so don't think I'm stealing]
I love: the smell of an old book.
the feeling after I've exercised, especially working out.
Nostalgia.
Walking in the autumn.
Riding my bike after I've had a haircut.
Snow falling at night, and seeing it in the streetlights.
Knowing people care.
Freshly dried clothing.
Good music.
Scoring a goal in hockey, or helping the team out (in any sport really).
Others' appreciation of my work.

Not a very simple pleasure, but..

The whole motorcycle experience. Squeezing into my leather suit, smelling that awesome leather smell, stringing up my boots, grabbing my helmet and gloves, and heading outside. Sliding the key into the ignition, clicking her into neutral, and thumbing the start button. Sliding my gloves and helmet on, and the smell of the still new helmet. After a minute of warming up, taking off and leaving my driveway, leaning over a bit and going down the street at 15 mph even though the limit is 20, just to build up the anticipation. Running through the neighborhood at 15 mph... waiting for it. Here it comes, the 40 mph highway outside my neighborhood. Stop at the stop sign. Look both ways. Nothing to the left. A cluster of cars to the right. Look to the left again, I shut the helmet visor.. "thunk". Here we go. Rolling the throttle open, hearing the high strung japanese engine screaming, screaming with delight, leaned over at a steep angle, accelerating to 50 mph in 2 seconds. Imagining what that guy in the car behind me driving to another boring day of work is thinking.

Stopping at a red light behind a school bus full of kids, watching one of them look back and notice me in full black racing leathers, black helmet, black tinted face shield, black gloves, black boots. Then about 10 more kids are plastered to the back of the school bus staring. Revving it to 14,000 rpms, watching them go nuts. Remembering how extremely cool sportbikes were when I was a kid.

Pulling up next to a car with a mom and her young son, and seeing them both get the biggest smiles on their faces. Matching my speed to the car so the kid gets to watch me, as long as I can until we hit traffic.

Coming up on a curve. It's marked 20 MPH. Rolling on the throttle to 50, leaning it over and railing through the corner. My hands lighten up on the grips. Rolling on the throttle more, leaning harder. Accelerating out of the corner and then slowing down, breathing deeply taking it all in.

I'm gonna go ride.

Seeing how my students faces light up when they finally understand something....

Sitting in a comfy chair on a quiet day eating a bowl of vanilla ice cream.

walking barefoot on the beach

Watching a fire burn

reeses and milk when watching a romantic movie on the couch with your honey

eating a meal when you're really hungry;the smell of fresh cut grass; starting a book you know you're going to enjoy;listening to music you can dance to;falling into bed after a long day;and last but by no means least sex when you've abstained for awhile

My baby blankets.

Kissing my daughter goodnight.

Hearing, "I love you."

Spooning with my husband.

Rainbows...

Walks in the woods

sheets
 

going to bed with freshly washed sheets. the first night your sleep on new sheets is awesome - i will sometimes even take a shower right before i go to bed

playing with my dog. she's so happy and will do anything just to play catch!

The sound a pebble makes when you throw it in a pond, and watching the ripples.

My cat sleeping in the hollow behind my knee.

That POP when you pierce the foil on a jar of instant coffee.

The smell of coffee in the morning. Especially if I'm still in bed - though that hasn't happened in about 5 years.

When hubby reaches out and hugs me as I walk past.

My daughter's smell after a bath.

My daughter's hair - just trimmed it - it's perfectly straight, fine, soft and white-gold blonde.

Sitting cross-legged. I've done that even at the dinner table as a teen. It's the most comfortable way for me to sit. Drove my parents crazy though - not proper. lol

A clean kitchen counter.

I know this sounds strange - cleaning the bathroom fixtures. I guess it's because they're usually white and when they're dirty they look ugly. The smell after cleaning is so fresh and they sparkle with the whiteness then. It's satisfying.

I just love stopping to find something pleasurable a lot. Sometimes I don't do it enough on days when the kids are high maintance. It's what keeps me sane (if you can call me sane) on those days though.

Wiggling my toes.