Innocuous things that make you rationally happy (a list thread)

Contrast to the wonderful but ultimately world-weary irrational anger thread.

In the past couple of days I have noticed forksclovetofu and at least one other poster (or maybe just forksclovetofu again) use the word 'staff' correctly (e.g. 'the staff was doing something', not 'the staff were doing something').

People who use "who" and "that" correctly.

People who pay attention to detail even when someone's not looking over their shoulder.

The huge quiet heavy-metal server at my local Starbucks who always knows what I'm getting but doesn't make a big deal about it, just quietly takes my order and never burns the milk. One day I spilled my coffee all over the inside my car and came back in to buy another one, he gave me the coffee for free. No bells, no whistles. Just good service.

good handwriting

The ack-ack-ack noise made by angry squirrels.

Little girls who wear tutus and gumboots to the supermarket.

eating frozen peas

my little dog lying under the christmas tree like a lazy rotten gift, every year he spends hours down there.

ahahaha 'lazy rotten gift'

Grrrl's point can never be made often enough. My local barista is fantastic. Knows what I want, always makes it perfectly, doesn't do cheap small talk. He always gets tips.

Cooking gumbo from scratch. So few ingredients, ridiculously simple techniques. Time = flavor. It's a beautiful thing to behold.

Milano Cookies. How can one little bag of cookies bring so much joy?

Oh yum I love those

they are the best.

Salted Peanuts! How good are they? Very!

Going to the op shop at the end of my street and finding a really awesome colourful wrap around skirt, only $10. And cos its a Sacred Heart mission store I feel good about the purchase.

Walked through Grand Central Terminal the other day behind a tall guy wearing dress pants & shoes, but with some kinda outdoorsy coat over them, and a fully packed internal-frame pack with hiking boots and a coil of rope hanging off it, and an attache bag in one hand with a fancy camera including large protruding lens, hanging offa IT. So obviously some kind of Nat'l Geog or Outdoors Magazine photog on his way to a meeting with editor, it made my heart melt.

Go, photo-journalists, GO!

Shaving with a brand new razor blade.

Gift-giving.

My son saying bye daddy's coat, on the way to daycare.

Aw!

and "bye christmas tree"...makes my heart melt.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5161/5281407744_2121a3350c.jpg

awwww @ bye christmas tree

I was walking the dog in the park a couple months back and I met a little girl who was prob about two and very heavy on the baby talk but v advanced verbally. She proceeded to throw her arms around Benson and proclaimed him her best friend. She then kept saying that she wuved him. It was ridiculously sweet and made me v happy indeed.

Rockin' that argyle, son.

Chris, he is the cutest!

stopping cycling/running to go quiet for a moment to listen to wood pigeons.

This morning my osteo went on a big rant about how people who read murdoch papers are gullible and how his influence is hurting the democratic process.

Lasy week this complete twat at Firehouse Subs treated the employees like crap even though she was the one being rude and holding up the line, and she asked for the store's number. I contacted the store via email to say that the employees handled her professionally, in case she complained.

I didn't expect a reply, but the manager thanked me via email, as apparently the lady did complain...and she offered to buy my lunch. The staff was really sweet when I came in and got my free lunch.

Food ultimately decides where I go to eat, but I remember classy things like this as well. Nice to see a chain run with professionalism!

a tightly wrapped & excellent burrito

when you can eat it still in the wrapper and not have it fall apart all over you, you are in the hands of the gods

when I post a video of a recent fundraiser performance and my old high school choir teacher gushes over it.

the one teacher whose approval I sought almost as much as my parents, lol

Bookshelves.

https://scontent-yyz1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/1012561_10153741764832599_4118937526718222587_n.jpg?oh=b2096ab9066e250a458e89979fd43e64&oe=57987307

Having a working remote control for my bedroom stereo again. Guess that isn't so innocuous or irrational really, just a great relief after 3 months without a working one.

haha man that was one of mine a few years ago

A story about an activist for the disabled who was recgnised on the London Underground after she realised she was heading in the wrong direction. & after the person who recognised her pointed out who she was (her photo was in a group shot in the paper) the rest of the carriage gave her a lotof support and kept her answering questions as she went several stops out of her way.
Good to hear that there is a large amount of support for the prevention of the disability cuts and growing disgust at the tories.

But that is happening in the context of some complete scum making really negative widespread rulings apparently without conscience and seemng to get awaywith it. Just hope something can be done before the rot set in permanently.

Also the idea of an 81 year old lady sending fake letterbombs to Iain Duncan Smith though the reality may not be as good. & it's almost inevitably going to be an underpaid underling opening the mail anyway. But things like that keeping the elderly active is almost positive.

when you can eat it still in the wrapper and not have it fall apart all over you, you are in the hands of the gods

But this is faulty logic: you're supposed to keep it in the wrapper precisely so it doesn't fall apart.

I'm sure this thread will sink like a stone in a sea full of cranks but hey it's a new year, let's see what happens.

There's something about Chico Marx breaking into a sly grin in the middle of a piano number that makes me immeasurably happy, the moment when the wave of the audience's joy syncs up with that of the performer and he just can't help himself.

(Marx Bros. in general have me grinning like an idiot lately.)

great stuff

Chico Marx at the piano is a delight. Marx Bros in general too, obv

There's a small country road I have to take to get to work (moved last year so it's relatively new for me). In the middle of it there's a 'bump', because a creek goes underneath it. I'd say the elevation is about 1.5 metres. If I go South, this bump is the - and I mean the - smoothest, most joyous bump I have ever driven over. After you go up smoothly, going down is just a liiiittlllle bit steeper, and driving over it gives me a rush to the stomach like one experiences in a rollercoaster, plunging down. I've been tinkering with my cruise control to find the perfect speed to drive over it (which turns out to be 71 km/h if I drive on the right side, and 72 km/h if I drive more to the left - both well within the speed limit btw). Drive too hard the plunge doesn't feel nice anymore. But at the perfect speed, god, what a feeling. What a dumb and beautiful thing to derive so much pleasure from every day.

jealous tbh, there are few greater joys in life than a well-executed run over a bump imo

that's awesome
love that stomach feeling, and it's so hard to come by! rationally happy indeed