Simple Pleasures

Thanks so much people. More proof that life can indeed by wonderful if we all stop to look. Pallister's great post is evidence of that.

 

-- Your kids experiencing succes

-- Don Henley's "The Boys of Summer" on the radio when it's 75 degrees and sunny outside.

-- A par, even if it's the ugliest four shots in a row.

 

• Dropping a chunk of shad gizzards into a brushpile in two-feet of river water, and the ensuing slow, steady pull tells you that it's a catfish of at least two pounds.
• A flock of late-season mallards — already decoy shy and call shy — doesn't hesitate and barrels right in to your spread.
• My homemade lasagna. Damn. Labor intensive, but ... damn.
• The incredibly happy sound of school children during recess.
• A tee shot that goes EXACTLY where you wanted it — a rarity for me.
• Leisurely drives in the country with a camera.
• Being so parched and thirsty that you slug down an entire beer without coming up for air. And the second one that goes down almost as fast.
• The thunderous burp that ensues. ;D
• The company of good friends.
• Chasing tornadoes.

 

the sound of the ice cream man

 

I gotta say that's an awesome point. I sometimes think about what it'd be like if I hit the lottery or was just totally rich somehow. And I honestly don't think my life would change much. I'd definitely drive a nicer car, but I don't think I'd move out to Beverly Hills or start going to trendy bars, and I know I'd still do this job. That's a pretty cool feeling, when you stop and think about it: that as much as most of us bitch about our jobs and how little we get paid, that even if we had a ton of money there isn't much we'd change about our lives (or at least that's the case for me).

 

- A smile on my little sister's face.

- The first bite of a freshly baked pizza.

- Prep football on a Friday night.

- The feel of a golf shot when you've hit it just right.

- Finally seeing your favorite band in concert.

- Finding a $20 bill in your pocket doing laundry.

- Opening day.

 

Drilling a 30-foot putt

Sweet-shooting rifle

Seeing the last road sign before your house after a long drive

Boobs

 

On a Par 3, watching the tee shot sail toward the pin, and sticking to within five feet of the hole. Doesn't happen often, but a great feeling.

The crispness in the air right before it snows.

Sunday, in the fourth quarter, when it became obvious the Bears were going to win the game.

Producing a 600-word gamer in 20 minutes, on deadline. Then, while proofreading, you think, "Man, I really nailed this one."

Turning on ESPNEWS just in time for the top-of-the-hour update.

The look on my wife's face when I surprise her with something cool.

Waking up in the morning and seeing my team in first place in my fantasy baseball league.