Joy would be being adopted by charlatan's family... wonder if they make housecalls

Jolly Rancher Green Apple (that don't taste anything like green apples) and Watermelon Jelly beans are about as joyful as I can get right now... maybe it's the sugar...

It's 70 degrees and sunny for the first time all year - how can I not be happy. And why am I not outside? :)

Jumping in the pool and feeling the shock from the cold water always makes me happy.

There's just something about being in the water....

Smelling the fresh cut grass while sitting in class this morning, and it bringing a smile to my face :)

A co-worker just noticed that I have been losing weight. :D

I get to spend time tomorrow with people I would do just about anything for ... and I know the feeling is returned. And this may include building sandcastles! :D

I caught my adopted husky sneaking into my reading chair ... and she just looked at me ... so I made her scoot over and we just sat in my chair for a little while, until she licked my nose and I got up.

My acting teacher told me I did not screw up my improvisation at all while I did not like what I did at all today. I believe he was being honest.

I got a hug from a classmate in my acting class. Another classmate said she wouldn't mind taking me home for good food but there are gonna be people over so it can't happen yet. But it was good to know she sincerely doesn't mind. (My family's like... thousands of miles away and I live on university residence. Guess a lot of you remember how canteen food taste like ;) )

Then after a few hours of class and a few days of stress I went back to my room, and got a surprising fast email reply from my ex-girlfriend (who's somewhere far, far away at the moment) telling me how happy she is to read my mails after a stressful day of school. That was just the best part of the day.

It wasn't too bad today.

I have a cast on my left wrist, a black eye from said cast... i just got yelled at for eating all the raspberry jelly beans out of the bowl of jelly beans on my desk(They were the best flavor) but... the joy!!!

The pond that my window in my office looks out on - just turned the fountain on this morning... Yay for fountains!!

I've lost 5lbs. Okay, maybe I just "misplaced" it, but it feels good all the same; like I'm not ready to burst anymore.

My coworker sent me home from work early.

:D

I am sore all over, esepcially my shoulders, thighs, and ankles, and have little welts all up and down my back.

It was a really good morning :D.

Gilda

I gave a bunch of food to a homeless man I see almost everyday when I get off the Skytrain (it's a rapid transit system in Vancouver).

When I was cleaning out my kitchen earlier this week, I was trying to think of what to do with all the extra pasta and sauce I had (I'm moving home in a week, food won't keep in the car during a 4 day roadtrip). I decided to cook it all up and put it in little Ziploc containers and give it to the homeless guy. I put it all in a box, jumped on the train in the morning and gave it to him. I said "Have a nice day" and walked off to class. Haven't thought much about it since, until I saw this thread.

I don't know where the idea came from, it just kind of popped into my head. I wasn't sure if it would be a good idea or not, but I couldn't stop thinking about it so I just decided to do it. Hopefully he appreciated it more than the few coins he gets from passers-by during the day.

Sorry, that ended up being kind of long. :)

-Tamerlain

A girl asked me out on a random date tonight for sushi. It went ok, but it really made my day to be asked out. Especially considering that the last few days I have been beating myself up about my success (or none whatsoever) with women.

While I was eating breakfast in the college caf on Thursday morning, a female classmate asked to sit with me and we talked a for a bit and got to know each other a bit.

One of my good friends have a class together and we wrote notes (sitting next to each other) about what we were discussing (urban sprawl, land development, college life in general) and was very insightful.

Thanks for everyone for sharing: we forget too often about these moments..

catcha back on the flipside,
keyshawn

I walked 2 miles this morning while my family slept. Grass seed I planted is coming up nicely. Totally peacefull. I should get my lazy butt out of bed and do this every morning. Incredible spring this year.

Last night I went out with a group of my very good friends and reconciled with a friend I hadn't really spoken to in a while due to some coolness. We made plans to go to a literary conference later in the month together.

It was a great night.

A few things today. My husband joined us outside and took the christmas lights down AND played with the kids, while I did some gardening. and it is raining now, which is good for the plants I just moved.

Watching my granddaughter take more interest in the paper that wrapped her birthday gifts, and the cake orgy that followed. Pure joy. :)

Sissy is home. She is positively glowing. I feel happy and envious at the same time. But mostly happy.

Gilda

Going to bed in sheets that were still warm from the dryer.

Walking around a local street festival on a perfect early spring day, seeing people who usually pass me by grumpily on the way to work actually smile and laugh and have fun out in the open.

Talking to my nearly-four-year-old nephew on the phone, asking him what he wants for his birthday:

Me: Hey baby, it's almost your birthday, what do you want?
Him: Hmmmmm...Wacecar! (insert racecar noises).
Me: Racecar, eh? OK, anything else? Do you want some socks? (knowing full well he doesn't)
Him: Mmmmmm...Helicopter!
Me: OK, we're all about the vehicles today, aren't we? Do you want some new clothes?
Him: Wacecar, pwease.
Me: OK, what color? What color do you want for your racecar?
Him: (silence)
Me: Red? How's red?
Him: YAAAAAAAAAY! WED Wacecar!

Just too cute.

Watching the sunrise at the beach after having just run several miles and feeling that kind of contented tiredness.

And watching several dolphins playing in the ocean too.. Seeing that always makes me happy.

Waking up with a rather terrible but satisfying sore in my arms...

... I spent 2 and a half hours teaching myself how to juggle and sort of managed it last night, at least I can do the basic 2 balls with one hand and 3 balls with 2 hands for a couple of minutes (with socks since I didn't have proper balls... to juggle with).

Sick today, it's no fun. But, sitting in the doctor's office and knowing I had someone waiting on me (putting up with screaming kids and sick people in the waiting room) was a really nice feeling. It's hard to feel better when you're sick, but that helped a lot. :)

Locked myself out of my apartment (oops) for the whole day on Saturday. Spent the whole day walking places on the most beautiful day in recent memory. I was so very tired by the end of the day and just passed out cold. Wonderful

kaaaa-BUMP!

This thread definitely needed a bump. I wrote this list awhile back when I was having a tough time and needed to be reminded of the things that make me smile and bring me joy. I found it today and it made me smile again. Everyone needs one of these lists. Add to it, post up. Remind yourself about :love:

--Sidewalk chalk murals.
--Smiling at old people who are sitting/walking alone.
--Greeting cashiers and service people with a smile and a "How are you?"
--Splashing in puddles in the summertime, barefoot.
--Sarasota sunsets.
--Ludacris, Lil John, Gorillaz, Trick Daddy when I'm stressed.
--Cursing alone when I'm pissed or annoyed.
--Rainy days in bed.
--My black-and-white photo of a gorgeous, blonde-haired, blue-eyed munchkin with a huge grin on her face... and a Hayabusa helmet as big as she is on her head. She sits on my nightstand and greets me in the morning.
--Oil pastel crayons.
--Foot massages any time, but in the right context, it's orgasmic.
--A fresh sheet of textured drawing paper and a black, high-quality ink pen.
--The taste and smell of a man's skin on his neck just below his ear. Oh man... and where it meets his shoulder, right above the hollow of his collarbone. Divine.
--Chest hair... not mine.
--My bamboo sheets... especially fresh from the dryer when it's cool in the room.
--Bjork's "Come to Me", "Violently Happy", and "Oh So Quiet".
--Down comforters.
--The rumble of a Hayabusa going 140 over the Dames Point Bridge with a sexy man betwixt my knees.
--Giving my cat a bath. Sadistic, I know, but soooo funny.
--Black Velvets, Snakebites, and a great Guinness pour.
--Bartenders that know your name, what you do and what you drink. And when you really need that drink, it's on the bar before you reach it.
--Reading a book in the sunshine sitting on a blanket in the park.
--Driving, bare foot out the window, sunroof open, music on loud, for no reason at all.
--Writing letters on real-live pieces of paper.
--Having my hair brushed.
--Driving out to Siesta Key (or Atlantic Beach as the city may be) to watch the lightning storms roll in.
--Barry White, Otis Redding, Marvin Gaye, Louis Armstrong and the soundtrack to Last of the Mohicans when I'm feeling sultry.
--Camera toss photos.
--My other black-and-white of the same munchkin fastening his chin strap on that Haybusa helmet... "You have to put it on right, all the way, Daddy!"
--Hot baths with Lavender Soy Milk Bath or Aveeno Oatmeal Bath, a book, and candles.
--A really good pillow.
--The endorphin rush and subsequent sweet feeling of exhaustion after a tough session at the gym.
--Walking the deep sand on the beach at twilight in my sneaks, iPod on, all alone.
--Sitting in my car in the dark and silence, waiting for the rain to slow enough to run in.
--Keller Williams, Jack Johnson, Self, and a little Mudvayne for good measure.
--Wave jumping.
--Full body, strong-armed, extended-length hugs. From guys even just a bit taller than me. Where my head can fit just aside or below his chin. Platonic or not.
--My Adidas trail runners and cross-trainers.
--Flashing truck drivers. Shush, I think it's hilarious... Sometimes.
--The slippery feeling of skin in the ocean.
--Organic cranberry-peach juice from Whole Foods Market.
--Nipples. Oh, c'mon they're funny... And fun to play with.
--Swings at the park.
--Sleeping in.
--Roasting marshmallows... but not really eating them. I like to watch them melt. And catch on fire. Hell, I just like to watch things on fire.
--Camping in a tent or cabin without "modern conveniences".
--Having a kid be happy to see me.
--Viansa wine.
--Green eyes with little flecks of other colors that draw you in.
--Plum wine.
--Getting good stuff in the mail.
--Grape-apple-banana and apricot-honey hookah.
--Having someone want to and try to make me smile.
--Brownies. Yes, all kinds, Fly. :D
--Laughing until I can't breathe.
--Frozen grapes.
--Back rubs... deep massage. Giving and getting. And I'm damn good at it.
--Hemp products from The Body Shop.
--Tall, nonfat, no whip, one Splenda Cinnamon Dolce Latte.
--A really good cry.
--My "om" necklace and compassion prayer bracelet. And the lecture I get from the dude at the BP station on the corner of Atlantic Blvd and Sailfish Drive, every freaking time I go in there about the meaning of "Om". It was the first sound ever uttered by the first human being on earth, apparently.
--My celtic knot tattoo. Not the Swedish flag much anymore. Loooong story. Hooray for Jens! And Swedish moonshine!
--Finding old friends again.
--Stella-Artois.
--Sushi!!!
--Fishing on a boat, sans outboard, in the middle of a lake when it's quiet and warm.
--That gorgeous autumn shade of golden-yellow orange.
--The Fly's Tie... and Culhane's. Fiddler's Green in Orlando.
--My trip to San Francisco... and Sweden. Tuksan oksa!
--Getting just the right seasoning on that fantastic steak or salmon fillet on the charcoal grill in the backyard.
--The Iron Heel, Hollow Chocolate Bunnies of the Apocalypse. All things that challenge American Politics.
--Oreos dipped in ice cold milk. But I can only eat about 4 at a time.
--Super soft bras.
--My "Bush/Cheney: 1984" bumpersticker.
--Snow. Hot tubs in the snow. With good friends.
--Vanilla yogurt layered with granola and fresh raspberries or almonds/bananas/strawberries.
--Super bouncy balls.
--Road trips. Alone or with friends, as long as there's music involved.
--Silly putty.
--Throwing clay pots... on a wheel, not into the wall.
--Painting myself... I love the sensuality of the paint on skin. No one else will let me paint on 'em.
--Making someone I love smile.
--Books on CD to distract me from the road rage.
--Skin on skin contact.
--Great conversation.
--Grande Vanilla Latte, nonfat, no whip, two Splenda and cinnamon powder on top.
--Debating and arguing.
--Text messages just saying someone's thinking about me.
--Irish pub music...
--My "cheeky monkey" (complete with ears!), "411 Length Required", and "403 Forbidden" undies.
--Accordians and washboards played on stage.
--Dropping my BMI from 35.5 to 20.7.
--My giant afro wig.
--Fresh strawberries... a quart lasts about a day in my fridge.
--Long, deep kissing sessions with soft lips.
--My tall, ugly ass shoes.
--Having fingers run gently over my skin... Goosebumps
--Shepard's pie.
--People who can laugh with me at my weirdness (even uncomfortably) but still love me the way I am.
--Really comfortable pyjamas.
--HP SAUCE!!!!
--Love. Platonic, family, friends, child-like, romantic, all-encompassing, passionate, unconditional love.

Wow, that's an awesome list Fred. I'd have to say I share quite a few of those joys with you... and I'm also a bit too tired and lazy to add on much, right now.

But, I'll name a few:

--running uphill into the golden summer sunset
--having a very good session with my counselor
--knowing my stats class is almost over
--having such a strong, supportive social network
--hearing baby birds under an awning today and getting to see them
--seeing two (human!) babies today that were very cute
--seeing so many people unite to watch the World Cup, on campus
--contacts! So convenient and cool (just got them), esp for running
--a new Scrabble "folio" (portable) game
--the weekend is almost here :)

Having a glass of wine after a show with a friend I don't get to spend much time with, and who attended the show anyways.

meeting a newcomer and listening to her share for the first time in a meeting...

it reminds me of my own beginning and how far I've come.

Stuff from yesterday:

- laughing with my little (9-year-old) sister about silly 9-year-old stuff
- knowing that my nephew is healthy
- hearing that my niece hit her first home run in her coach-pitch game

Almost every day:
- seeing my dog act so happy to me being home
- my husband holding my hand until we both fall asleep

Getting the word out about "my" kids at work and what their families are going through. The kids are sooooo excited to be on t.v. We're gonna be on PBS nationwide next week! Yay!

It makes me happy, too, to see people stopping to identify what makes them feel good.

Ohh, that's a big one for me, with my boyfriend. I love falling asleep touching in some way... it's very intimate for me. I'm looking forward to that this weekend!

And Cyn, let me just mention that in addition to being happy about how far you've come, I'm very happy about your new avatar!!!!!!!!!!! It really made me smile. :D