Random Things

Do you ever see kids on the playground with their bike helmets on? Sometimes you spot them riding up to the  sandy lots  with heads full of steam and eyes staring forward with steely determination. They are on a mission to get some playing in, buddy. And nothing’s going to get in their way. Nope, not even pausing for a minute to unclasp their bike helmet. Are you kidding? They are in such a rush that they bail on the bike,  run across the sand , and jump on the jungle gym with their helmet bobbing all over the place in one majestic, sweeping move. Good times. AWESOME!

Scope this scene. End of the meal at the back of a dimly lit restaurant, your belly bursting with bowls of bread,  free soda refills , sugary salad, and half a  giant stir-fry , you’re thinking twice about the waiter’s offer to wrap up your meal. After all, the thought of one more forkful of  soy-sauce drenched snow peas  makes you gag and the image of lugging a drippy Styrofoam container to  the movies  ain’t appealing. But there’s peer pressure. Somebody chimes in with a “Oh come on, get it to go, you’ve got like half your meal left” and another helpfully adds “Think about it, you’ll probably eat it later tonight. Better than  bar food .” So you look around the table and  quietly burp  into your mouth before nodding to the waiter with a reluctant half-smile. And then you drag that doggie-bag around town and toss it in your fridge before bed, completely forgetting about it until you groggily look for breakfast the next morning. Wh...

Congratulations on scoring some back-scratching love. Convincing a special someone to scrape their fingernails across your unreachables is a big accomplishment. Once the magic starts, make sure you close your eyes, purse your lips, and throw out some deep  mmmmm’s  to keep it coming. And sure, there may be some ticklish moments on your  shoulder blades , some unnecessary clawing at your  lower back fat , but once in a while, when you least expect it, the scratcher will change direction and suddenly move their hands right onto that one really, really itchy spot. AWESOME!

Hey, it’s not like you can play outside, go swimming, ride your bike, or walk to the store. So just flick off the lights, yank open the blinds, and stare out the window at the majestic streaks of bright lightning cracking down all around you. AWESOME!

Sometimes we all get rattled. When bad news surprises you,  painful memories  flash back, or heavy moments turn your stomach to  Jell-O , it’s great to fall into a warm and comforting pair of big, wide open arms. Shaking with sobs,  dripping with tears , you snort up your runny nose and smear snot across their shoulder as that hug relaxes you and comforts you and helps you get through everything, even for a minute,  even for a moment . Maybe there are ‘It’s going to be okay’ whispers, some gentle  back-rubbing , or just the quiet silence of knowing that they’re not going to let go until you let go first. As their steady arms support you, and the pain washes over you, the hug gives you a warm glow in a shivery moment. So when you eventually pull back, smile that classic ‘ I’m sorry and thank you ‘ smile, and swipe wet bangs off your forehead, you still might not feel great, but if you’re lucky you feel a little more

Memorize the lyrics, remember the beats, and hit  the back button  again and again until your new favorite tune is permanently etched in your brain. AWESOME!

“No!” “Don’t, don’t, don’t.” “Don’t, he’s behind the door.” “Turn around!” “Turn around, turn around, turn around!” “Now kiss her, you idiot.” AWESOME!

Maybe you scarfed a salty bag of chips before bed, had a bit too much  at the bars , or woke up on a friend’s  old pull-out couch  with a mouth full of dust and cat hair. Either way, when you blink your crusty eyes open and feel your mouth scratching like  sandpaper , there’s nothing finer than spotting a calmly waiting glass of water lying just in front of your face. After silently congratulating the you of last night for good planning, you smile slowly, chug it fast, and snuggle back into your dreamy  golden slumbers . AWESOME!

Nobody wants to finish on a downer. If you aren’t careful the last bite of your lunch will be a big chomp of  dry crusts and lettuce scraps . Your mouth will finish on a lame and boring note with the delicious middle bites from minutes ago lost in a  dry, crusty haze . Don’t let it happen to you! Put your time in at the beginning, sacrifice early nibbles and take care of all the corners, and set yourself up for a deliciously fresh and soft,  ham-and-cheesy finale  to finish off your lunch. AWESOME!

I’m a non-stop twiddler. Weaving through traffic,  speeding down the ramps , cruising through the city, I’ve got one hand on the wheel and the other tapping through the radio dials. Sure, I swing by for traffic and weather, but then I’m off — checking if the host is back on my main station, cruising by the backups to see what’s playing, or even stopping in for a couple innings of the  ball game . Once in a while I end up on a station I don’t visit very often just as the opening notes are kicking in for one of my old favorites. As the drum kicks and guitar strums jolt my memory back and scratch my brain stem just the right way, I smile and settle in for a few minutes of  head-bopping bliss  on the drive home. AWESOME!