May7

Things that make me happy

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Things that make me happy

It takes so little sometimes. Stuff that I’ve only seen on TV or in movies but then see in real life generally fits the bill.

For instance, chatting with friends at a restaurant while we waited for our table, I happened to look outside and see two guys greet each other with a multi-part handshake.

Who has seen this in real life???

Seriously, if you have, tell me. I’m not sure I knew fancy handshakes actually happened other than on a screen. It was not super complicated. Maybe five steps. Still. It counts. It was amazing.

Secondly, I sold books at a conference in a Marriott hotel. This dude rolled my boxes in for me. To my knowledge, thanks to TV, those carts are used for the rich and famous. I saw one–in action–for me.

Was I supposed to tip that guy? Shoot. Literally only thinking of this now. I don’t know how to behave like the rich and famous. Pretty sure none of them would snag a pic of this, for starters.

I was stoked to eat at the hotel restaurant. This was the nicest place I’d ever stayed in, and eating at a hotel restaurant was on my bucket list. I regret that I resisted the urge to take a picture of my amazing juicy hamburger. There was some purple-ribboned cheese on top. So tasty.

However, even better was this:

Difficult to see because this is a still from a vid, but he’s got two shakers that he’s… shaking with gusto.

In the video, I’m saying, “Come on, flip them.” Sadly, he did not. This was no Cocktail experience, but it was still something.

My boss laughed at me and said I need to get out more. That’s fair, but I still want the full bartender experience at some point.

Once at a restaurant with an older couple, the woman gave the server very specific instructions as to how her food should be prepared. I mentally gaped at her. I had never seen this in real life, either. This wasn’t a simple, “Medium rare,” situation. It was this has to be like this, and I want this this way, this on the side, the meat precisely like this, etc, etc.

Wow. This actually happens! She’s such a nice woman, too. I would think only snooty snobby types would be like that. But she’s a sophisticated lady. Maybe some day I’ll be one too.

Go ahead and make your jokes. It’s too easy for me to bother.

And what happened today to inspire this post: Driving on the highway, a motorcyclist zoomed by. Going in the opposite direction across the divider was another motorcyclist who raised an arm in greeting to his fellow biker. The one on my side responded in kind.

The camaraderie of these two was awesome. They were the Fellowship of the … the, uh… something that rhymes with rings but has to do with motorcycles. Dang, I got nothing. Anyway, I just loved that.

Which is a decent enough segue to my “Would You Rather” question: always green lights or dream car?

I really enjoyed your answers and looking up the cars of those who didn’t vote for green lights, such as:

Maroon BMW Seven Series
King Ranch F150
Bentley Turbo convertible
My neighbor, Subie, would approve.
’65 Mustang
1975 AMC Gremlin, not to be filled with gas after midnight.
Convertible BMW
Dodge Viper, red with black stripes
BMW XM
G-Wagon murdered-out black matte (I did not write this, just copy pasting HRH. This ride suits her. It matches the jacket I gave her for Christmas.)

Option 2: In HRH’s words: “67 fastback also murdered-out black with butt warmers installed cuz they are life.” I had to Google “murdered-out.” It basically means all black everything. I learned something new today. That and, apparently, “butt warmers” are life.

I went back and forth on my answer to my own question. There were compelling arguments both ways. I appreciated that many people couldn’t care less about cars. (One that starts without jumper cables, said Andrew.) And some of you, unlike me, are patient. (I like to stop and smell the roses, said Mark.)

There’s also the admiring looks from others at stop lights, said John. And enjoying the hum of the engine as it idled, said Prior House.

So what do I think? Ultimately, as much as I despise red lights, there is only one literal thing I would like to own, though I hate stuff in general, and it’s my dream car. One of the above is mine. I’ve written about it before, so some of you may know.

And now, it’s not trivia, but, questions for you:

  1. Which of the above vehicles would you like the most?
  2. Which is my dream car?
  3. Were any of my “things that make me happy” things that would also make you happy?
  4. Have you seen or done any of those happy things? Do tell!
  5. And most importantly, true or false: butt warmers are life?

~~~

BONUS because no post is complete without a text exchange with HRH. This was when I returned from the conference:

Thank you for reading that part too. Now scroll back up and answer my questions. 🙂

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88 responses »

  1. And now, it’s not trivia, but, questions for you:

    1. Which of the above vehicles would you like the most? Nine. EV for me!
    2. Which is my dream car? Mustang, of course.
    3. Were any of my “things that make me happy” things that would also make you happy? Staying at a high-end hotel is fun. We normally go for middle-of-the-road, but love to splurge now and then.
    4. Have you seen or done any of those happy things? Do tell! Yes!
    5. And most importantly, true or false: butt warmers are life? Butt warmers, while not life, are wonderful. Our new car (yes, an EV) also has butt vents.

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      1. Which is my dream car? Mustang, of course. I love that you know that.
      2. Were any of my “things that make me happy” things that would also make you happy? Staying at a high-end hotel is fun. We normally go for middle-of-the-road, but love to splurge now and then. I hear ya. Fortunately this was free for me! 🙂
      3. Have you seen or done any of those happy things? Do tell! Yes! Well?! Which one(s)? Are you a sophisticated lady? I don’t see you riding a motorcycle or doing an intricate handshake. Maybe it’s using the hotel cart thingy or seeing a bartender in action?
      4. And most importantly, true or false: butt warmers are life? Butt warmers, while not life, are wonderful. Our new car (yes, an EV) also has butt vents. Butt…. vents?!?! 😛

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  3. Goodness, yes. You should have tipped him. I spent my college years in food service. That lady you described drives everyone from the waiters to the chef absolutely nuts. Don’t become her. I have seen all the things you mentioned and yes they make life more enjoyable. I have also spent college time as a bartender. Like motorcyclists, sport car drivers used to give a sign as well. Not much of that anymore. I used to drive a sports car back in the 60s and so I did those signs too. I think your car is the Mustang. We have had seat and steering wheel warmers and coolers for years, but honestly can’t say they are life.

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    • Oopsie. I am so low class. I wonder if it helps my culpability that it was my boss who conscripted him. My other coworker and I had been content to carry the boxes ourselves. Ah well. :/

      I have a very difficult time imagining I could ever become that woman. I am very unpicky when it comes to food.

      You were a bartender?! What fun! Did you do tricks?

      Steering wheel warmers are a thing?? Wow. Talk about living the high life!

      Correct on my car. Thanks for knowing that. 🙂

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  4. I feel as though I’ve seen a fancy handshake in person, but maybe not? But I’m confused about the hotel rolling rack because I’ve seen those at literally every hotel I’ve stayed at since adulthood! Where you been?

    1. I’d pick the maroon BMW at the top because it resembles a Jaguar.
    2. The Mustang
    3. I love seeing the biker wave!
    4. I’ve stayed at fancy hotels and had my bags taken up, but usually I do it myself. Fun fact: I stayed at the Four Seasons Maui, where the first White Lotus was filmed, but in 2016.
    5. Butt warmers are a necessity in NE Ohio

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    • Where I been is camping, Airbnbs, or motels.

      Thanks for remembering my car. 🙂

      I must see the biker wave more often before I die. It’s so delightful.

      Cool fun fact!

      I grew up in NE OH sans butt warmers. That just further proves my deprived childhood. Never a car with A/C either. :/ Heat at least!

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      • Well, my current car (2019) is the first one with seat warmers. I didn’t have A/C in a car until the 1990’s, but I’m older than you. We had window A/C in the house I grew up in.

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      • Man, we didn’t even have window A/C. Trying to sleep at night in the summers was rough. Our used van we bought has seat warmers, and they’re nice. Only needed butt 😉 briefly, but a luxury to have. 😛 I’m really living now!

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  5. I’ve seen plenty of folks give daps, but remember that I grew up in DC and lived in South Central LA, too. Back when my knees weren’t problematic I loved little sports cars. I think the Viper is the only one on your list close to the Porsche 911 that was once my dream car. But I would probably pick the Shelby and give it to my husband, who drove a Mustang cobra back when we first met. For your dream car, I’ll guess the ’65 ‘stang. I have, I think done all your happy things–Andy has his own fancy drink shaker at home and bell hop carts are life when you are hauling around a lot of luggage at dance conventions. The little thing that makes me happy are new/seasonal coffee mugs and tea cups.

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      • Hilarious that you say that b/c HRH sort of gave me a hard time about quoting her on the butt warmers but not the rest of her sentence regarding how they help with back pain too. I just didn’t think that part was as interesting or entertaining, but I’m sure you’re both right about that anyhow. 🙂

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    • The Viper is Hubby’s dream car. It’s cool looking for sure, but I’ve always had a thing for old ‘stangs. I don’t even really know why! So cool that you’ve seen all this stuff. I truly have not lived. Bell hop carts–see?! I didn’t even know to call them that. I also didn’t know you were a dancer. How cool and fun! Is that part of why your knees are shot now? Coffee mugs and tea cups!! Cute!!! Probably also a dog without a bleeding tail, too, eh? 😉

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  6. Having owned Mustangs and BMWs, I think I could see myself in that Bentley. 😊
    And having ridden motorcycles for years, I can vouch for the camaraderie. We wave at other bikers… realizing their butts are just as sore as ours.

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    • LOL on the sore butts! So cool you rode motorcycles and owned Mustangs–plural! Dang, girl. You’ve lived. Hubby wondered why fellow minivan drivers don’t wave to each other, so he tried it. No response from the soccer mom. Go figure!

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  7. So much to comment on with a big smile slapped on my face…but I think I’ve gotta go with this phrase:
    “I mentally gaped at her”. How did you do that? Put fresh words to something I do allllll the time?!? xo! 😜

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      • Can you hear me snickering? I know – for sure – that even my very best cloaking efforts aren’t enough when I’m ‘mentally gaping’. But you? You’ve got skills! 😜
        (And for the record…any Mustang will do…but the ‘murdered out’ ’67 Shelby…I mean…c’mon. My color!)

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      • If memory serves, this lady was not looking at me, only at the waiter, so if my 21-year-old self couldn’t keep my expression under wraps (quite possible), she maybe never knew.

        The Shelby is for sure cool, but my color will always and forever be blue. 🙂

        Also “cloaking efforts”? Who’s got the way with words now, hmmm?

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  8. It’s good that things make you happy, Ilsa. It sounds like a good stay to me. For no reason I can think of, I’m past wanting a dream car. Decades ago, I had a T-Bird that was fun. I gave it to my son when he graduated from high school. When I was in the Army, stationed at Fort Knox after return from Vietnam, I owned a Pontiac Firebird that my wife-to-be really liked.

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  9. I know what you mean, Ilsa. I went to a way-to-fancy hotel with my daughter once and was actually shaking that the helpers were paying me so much attention. I couldn’t handle it. I’ll never go again.

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  10. So many great to be happy about indeed including the stay at the hotel and selling books!

    For pragmatic family purposes, the BMV would be it for me. But I’d love to live in the countrier side one day and be able to drive around in a truck like the King Ranch!

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    • It’s been really fun to see how diverse our tastes are around the blogosphere. I can’t see myself driving that giant truck, but I have lots of respect for people who do!

      Actually, if I had an extended stay in the middle of nowhere, which sounds kind of awesome, I’d totally drive that truck, come to think of it. 🙂

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  11. You’d better go back and give him a big tip, because when you become rich and famous and he sees your picture on social media … well he’ll post a YouTube video about how he carried books in for you one time and you didn’t give him a tip. But if he got a big tip, he’d post a video about how kind you are. A little weird but kind.

    Questions:

    1. Which of the above vehicles would you like the most? The Gremlin. It brings back memories of that date I had in 79 with her … you’d be amazed what teenages can do in the passenger seat of a 75 Gremlin …
    2. Which is my dream car? The Viper
    3. Were any of my “things that make me happy” things that would also make you happy? Of course, but I’d add, “A nice gin and tonic.”
    4. Have you seen or done any of those happy things? Do tell! sorry still thinking about that night in the Gremlin.
    5. And most importantly, true or false: butt warmers are life? Only when it’s cold out. Warm butts are nice, hot butts not so much.

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    • “A little weird but kind.” Hahaha. Yep, I’d say that describes me well, Andrew.

      1. You’d better be talking about your wife, Andrew.

      2. You and Hubby both.

      3. You and my mom!

      4. Gah!

      5. Lol. Truth!

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  13. I once failed to tip two delivery guys who hauled a heavy-ass king mattress and box spring up a narrow flight of stairs and set it up in our apartment, so don’t feel too badly. (By the time I realized my mistake they were already halfway to their truck. I could have chased them down, but I figured that would have been even worse.)

    Also, thank you Andrew for picking the Gremlin! I didn’t even think about getting it on in the backseat, so his answer was extra enlightening.

    1. Which of the above vehicles would you like the most? The one I picked. Duh.
    2. Which is my dream car? Trick question. It’s a 1980 Chevrolet Chevette. I’m onto you.
    3. Were any of my “things that make me happy” things that would also make you happy? Sorry, no. I’ve done most of them, minus the motorcycle wave. But I’ve done the two-finger country road salute, which is kind of close.
    4. Have you seen or done any of those happy things? Do tell! Pretty much all of them. Have you never actually had a full bartender’s experience?
    5. And most importantly, true or false: butt warmers are life? I don’t know about “life,” but when it’s -10° outside and I’m driving to work, I sure do appreciate them!

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    • I am completely ignorant of the rules here. I’m just a Midwestern girl from the middle of nowheresville. But, thanks. That does make me feel a little better. I wouldn’t have known to tip those guys either. :/

      1. Well, yeah. I figured those who listed their dream car would have an easy time with this question. Unless! A different car could’ve tickled your fancy. (You’re thinking of a Gremlin joke now aren’t you?)
      2. You’re hilarious! I had to look that up, and wow. The dork factor of that car is FIERCE! You could be on to something, but no. Not that one, and you should know better!
      3. Meh. Fine.
      4. I have not! That one’s moving up the list fast.
      5. I’ll simply take that as a yes. HRH approves. 🙂

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  14. Of course your Cocktail joke made me think: “Aruba, Jamaica, ooh, I wanna take you, Bermuda, Bahama, come on pretty mama, Key Largo, Montego, baby why don’t we go.” Ha, ha. In another life, I want to be a bartender like Tom Cruise throwing around bottles. Ha, ha.

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  15. Picking which one you would like is hard but I’m going to go with either the Dodge Viper or the F150. Of this selection I’d take the Bentley, drive it a bit then trade it in for something more in “my station” and pocket the profit. And if you ask Mrs. herb, Bun Warmers are necessary to life.

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  16. Hey Betsy! You have life figured out – the small and simple things and interactions are what make me happy too! Thanks for reminding me of Cocktail – one of Tom Cruise’s finest 😉

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  17. Hey, I am also fascinated with these complicated greeting/farewell hand/elbow/fist/hip shakes … in part because I am so uncoordinated and badly socialised post-Covid. I never know to high 5, fist bump, or hug, never mind an orchestrated complicated greeting.

    I am rolling over your Marriot stay – they are very fancy, and now, so are you! On on! Rich & Famous Fancy Lady!

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    • You are so delightful, Ju-Lyn. 😛

      Oh, no. No rich and fancy lady for me, thank you. Unless it affords me a trip to Singapore, however. Then it’s okay. Just for that little bit. 🙂

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  18. I love the 65 mustang and of course the Subaru, because Subaru’s have been in my life for lots of years now and I just love them, but mustang would be my car on the side. yes,a warm butt is a happy butt.

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  20. I like the BMWs. I took one for a test drive once, pretending I was considering buying it. I didn’t *like* it— or so I told the sales guy.

    Butt Warmers, or Tushy Toasters as they are known in our house, are life. Yes.

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  23. What fun you had Betsy.. you were probs tip enough but yep I tip and drinks are def worth it … I never look at cars unless they’re a red lotus.. lol I trash my highlander that I love with so many hats I wear so a cool car would be wasted on me! 🥹

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  24. Which of the above vehicles would you like the most? Viper

    Which is my dream car? Mustang

    Were any of my “things that make me happy” things that would also make you happy? The guy shaking the alcohol

    Have you seen or done any of those happy things? Do tell! bags on a trolley with someone pushing it

    And most importantly, true or false: butt warmers are life? False. But only because we live in a warm area. If back in MN, then yes-life changing.

    And just wanted to note…HRH called you peasant!! Hilarious.

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  25. Got to go with the ’65 Mustang. It’s just a feeling that doesn’t bubble up with any of the others (or maybe it’s because I’d choose the same). Also, the Subaru brought a smile; IMHO the most practical of the bunch. Thanks for taking the time to post the photos – the variety of spins on “dream car” is fun, esp. for someone who is perfectly happy behind the wheel of a plain vanilla Acura MDX SUV. Sometimes I have trouble finding my car in the supermarket parking lot. There are a whole lot of lookalikes out there.

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    • I’m glad you enjoyed looking at the varied cars. It was fun for me to look them all up. I used to have a red car that was easy to spot in parking lots. I lament that now I have a standard dark gray van. At least the Jiu-Jitsu sticker on the back corner makes it easy to identify. And I have to admit that Subaru makes good looking vehicles. Still no Mustang, but decent nonetheless. 🙂

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  27. Yes! Fancy handshakes are real. Alex joined the young adults group at church for 20-30-year-olds, and when we walked in for mass, Father Celso (who attends the group) recognized him and treated him like a celebrity, giving him a multi-part handshake. It was hilarious because Alex couldn’t keep up.

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    • Oh my gosh. That’s funny. I’m not 100% certain that qualifies, however, since Alex was not a party to the creation of the handshake. I’ll consult the judges, but I think the two need to have created the handshake together and to execute it flawlessly for it to be legit. However, top marks for humor, nonetheless.

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  29. I think it would be easier to know who not to tip. Around here you tip everyone and they deserve it. We tip well for good service. What I don’t understand is when we pay for a service like parking our car in a hotel parking area and then we need to tip them to park and get our car. Lol

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