It all starts with the permission slip.
Yes, when teachers send them home before the bell rings so parents can rubber stamp the bumpy yellow bus trip to the museum, then it’s on, my friends, it’s on.
Soon the days count down and the buzz builds up as the class gets ready for the day away from school. The middle-ages unit wraps up at Medieval Times, paintings are handed in before the art gallery, and everyone mails a friend a letter before the tour of the post office.
On the morning of the big day you wake up with some extra pep in your step because you know we’re all going far away. It’s time to skip the portables, soggy sandwiches, and long afternoons with the Spanish teacher.
It’s time to do something different.
It’s time … to go for a ride.
Yes, whether it’s the petting zoo, chocolate factory, or a long hike in the woods, it’s time to enjoy the school vacation with some of the following perks:
1. Subs in the house. Taking thirty screaming seven-year-olds to the planetarium is a bit much, so most teachers call in backups in the form of parent chaperones. These subs act like a sweet and sweatered army of substitutes and don’t know enough names or have enough power to mess up the fun. Of course, that’s assuming they’re not your mom or dad. If that happens, your day is done.
2. Wheels on the bus. They go round and round on the way there and back. Yeah, we all gang rush into the slippery seatbelt-free seats and enjoy a loud, laughing party on wheels. There are loud screechy songs, secret makeout sessions, and some friendly gestures at passing motorists. This is also when the classroom’s social structure is on display too — from the cool kids at the back to the nerds sitting with the teacher up front. I really did love sitting up front though. I mean, how about that view?
3. Sealing it in. A friend and I were strolling quickly through an art gallery a couple years back when we stumbled on a group of kindergartners holding a rope and looking at splotchy art paintings. I’ll never remember the jaw-dropping look of pure head-tilting amazement from the little boy at the end of the group — eyes twinkling, mittens hanging out his winter coat, and his whirring brain soaking and swallowing up something beautiful on the wall. And it’s true: field trips often help seal in the learning. Chalk one up for school.
So… let’s enjoy the memories, let’s enjoy the moments, and let’s enjoy the parking lot speed bumps. Yes, let’s all love those special days when dusty chalkboards fade away and buses wheel us down the freeway, far away, far away, far away.
AWESOME!
Pre-order The Book of Awesome
When you relieve yourself during a commercial break, and you get back just as the commercials end and the show starts back up.
AWESOME.
When you have that feeling where you are about to sneeze, and you’re scared that feeling is going to go away, but you end up sneezing.
AWESOME!
Absolutely! I love sneezing. What a rush.
Taking a shower after being sick.
We all know how dirty we can get after lying in our own filth for days on end from a flu or any kind of debilitating sickness. It may take all the strength we can muster to walk to the bathroom and climb in the shower, and then to stand under the hot water, but once we towel off and get into some clean pajamas, we feel nearly 100% better.
AWESOME!
Where’s the blogroll?
Taking your bra off after a long day.
The hours, after hours, you’ve been strapped to this wire of pressure on your chest. It’s been pushing up against you (especially for people that are partial to push-up bras), reminding you of the structure society has imposed. But finally, you come to the comfort of your own home and you’re able to just unhook those two clips in the back and you’re a free person again. Relinquished of the symbolic confinements, you can feel liberty once again !
AWESOME ! (:
Epic!
One could say that it “feels like freedom”?
#876: http://1000awesomethings.com/2008/12/11/876-taking-your-bra-off-after-wearing-it-for-hours/
I agree-let the girls out to play and relax!
The first spoonful of soup.
You know the feeling. It’s cold outside. The rain is tapping on the window. So you snuggle up in your blanket, grab your bowl of soup, and take that first big spoonful with all of the tasty little bits.
Wrangling carts at the airport. I love when someone asks me to pick them up from the airport. I show up an hour early, and roam the parking lot for abandoned carts. Lash them together and then haul them back to the cart return kiosk, and get that sweet quarter. But you have to be picky about which kiosk you return them to. The ones outside see the most traffic and are often out of quarters. I always chose the one farthest from the exit, which is a bit of a hassle, but it is almost always full of quarters.
Being one of the first people on campus and getting to watch the sunrise over the Mountains in all directions. Especially when the birds are singing and the air smells fresh. Simply AWESOME!
When you pass all the interviews and get the job/pay you want! It makes me feel truely blessed/special in this economic environment: )
Pay day!
when all that really hard work each week, actually pays off.
How good you feel after a 5km (or any other exercise) especially when you did not want to go in the first place but are so pleased for forcing yourself to go and now you feel like you could do battle with the whole world. Hi-Yaaaa!!
And now you know you can take tomorrow off?
#552: http://1000awesomethings.com/2010/03/10/552-when-you-went-to-the-gym-yesterday/
When you wake up from a really horrible dream, and realize it wasn’t real.
Got you covered, Melissa! You can breathe easy – a world where that isn’t in the list of 1000 awesome things is just a nightmare..
#630: http://1000awesomethings.com/2009/11/20/630-the-moment-after-you-wake-up-from-a-nightmare-and-suddenly-realize-it-was-all-just-a-dream/
Flying over a speed bump
You know how it goes. You’re driving along – maybe a road you drive every day until it becomes engrained in your subconscious, maybe a new road you’re just now exploring. But you see it: a speed bump with that familiar sign informing you to slow down. Sure, sometimes you do as asked and you drop your speed to a crawl. But every once in a while you get that glint in your eye, scope the area for police cars, and charge toward that bump. And for a second, you are in a flying car. The future flashes in my mind – cars that fly through the sky! It’s like a mini roller-coaster, a rush of adrenaline… with the added joy of knowing that you’re disobeying that little sign. You’re a rebel. You don’t follow the rules. You set your sights on that speed bump and you FLY!
When your ex that you ended with years ago but are still friends with finds an amazing girl that is perfect for him and it makes you feel awesome knowing they are being taken care of!
or your sibling :)
Smile Cramps
Someone cracks a joke, makes a silly face at an inappropriate moment, or the slapstick was timed perfectly. Doesn’t matter if it’s at your expense or someone else’s, we just lose it until we’re laughing so hard there are tears and your cheeks actually ache from smiling so big. But the hurt is worth it. And when we think back on it, we smile again and the ache returns… But who would want to trade it for the moment that caused it?
Watching your favorite movie and realizing you know all the words, because nothing’s better than knowing every line.
When you get out of the shower and you’re hair still smells like your shampoo
When your mortgage interest rate and payment are lowered out of the blue without asking for it and JUST when you need it!
AWESOME.
Eating ice cream right out of the carton. Seriously, bowls are totally unnecessary. Grab a spoon, and dig in. Awesome.
Totally!! :)
Making the trip (long drive) to that special store to buy the special thing you can only buy there, and finding out that (oh joy, oh bliss) not only is it on sale, but there is a buy two get one free deal. Sweet, because you were going to buy three anyway to justify the long drive. The sale makes it all (the drive, the search for the elusive parking spot, fighting the crowds) worthwhile. AWESOME!
Yup – a big sale on something you already needed is like a nice little “wink” from the universe..
#769: http://1000awesomethings.com/2009/05/11/769-when-the-thing-you-were-going-to-buy-is-already-on-sale/
When you go to pick up the milk and its full.
It is the absolute worst when you are feel like having a nice bowl of cereal and fresh cold milk, and when you go to pick up the milk it is empty.
The smell of books. I don’t care how cool Kindles are, each book has its own awesome smell. Old books are all musty, new ones have that new smell. Maybe it’s more about the anticipation of what’s inside, but the smell of books is pretty awesome.
I totally agree with you.
Creating your own modified board game rules!
When your family/friends play a popular board game (Cranium), the wrong way and you finally find out the correct way after trying to instruct a new group of friends…only to be told the correct way by a person who has played… but agrees that your family style way is more fun and tosses the instructions!
Thriller!
The best video, the best dancing, the best of the best EVER. Thriller (and of course MJ) are AWESOME!
awesome.
the smell of spring… e.g. when the buds on trees are just about to burst into leaves, i LOVE that smell! it’s awesome.
When you go to one of your favorite blogs/websites and it has been updated!
Awesome!
being accepted after waiting for a long time. (getting the job you applied for, getting into college… etc)
the way your teeth feel after going to the dentist. (it also comes with the relief that you don’t have to go for another 6 months)
Imagine how good it feels after you’ve had your braces on for a few years?
#744: http://1000awesomethings.com/2009/06/15/744-that-feeling-on-your-teeth-after-you-get-your-braces-taken-off/
Looking at the stars, and even better, with someone who appreciates them as much as you do.
And when one of you can actually recognize a constellation? Now you’re rocking the “Amateur Astronomer” title!
#696: http://1000awesomethings.com/2009/08/20/696-actually-pointing-out-a-constellation-in-outer-space/
receiving a text when you wake up in the morning that makes you smile, or receiving one before you go to sleep from someone you like, who text you just to say goodnight
reconnecting with someone you used to be really close with
ending up on an unexpected date
Picture this: It’s the middle of winter, freezing cold outside and it’s absolutely miserable out. You need to go somewhere; therefore you must get in the transporting iceberg known as your car.
You bolt out of the house, dodging the windblown precipitation that bites your face and make it to your car, opening the door and jumping in to find that its already warm because your sibling/friend/spouse/somebody just returned home from somewhere a second ago, leaving the car no time to defrost:)
the smell on the first day of spring.
You know what’s awesome? Babies dressed up in cute little devil costumes!
Awesome!
Actually, Not Freddo, you might not have realized this, but that one is already in the blog!
http://1000awesomethings.com/2009/10/01/666-giving-people-what-they-want/
Running or walking when your in a bad mood with your iPod turned all the way up to drown everything out.
best therapy you could ever ask for.
AWESOME!
After being cooped up sick for two months with gallbladder issues and surgery, the first time I took out the garbage on my own was awesome…why? Because it was the first time I got to smell the spring air and it was glorious!
Having someone you don’t know compliment you on something old, like a haircut you got last week or shoes from last year.
When you downsize your game of solitaire just in time to avoid the look of death from your boss!
From the front and side view it looks like your diligently working, moving your mouse round and about, but if one was to stand behind you they would realize you were a spade slappin, heart heaving, clover clad, and diamond dealing genius…..
AWESOME!
coffee.
Nailing an eye exam!
Sure, they try to trick you, but I am absolutely postively sure that the “E D F C Z P” is what I say it is.
Because seeing is good!
AWESOME!
Remembering the name of song you liked a few years ago (or even a decade ago).
Nostalgia overload
AWESOME!
Hearing a song by an awesome, “undiscovered” Indie artist on the radio, and smiling because you’ve been listening to them for ages.
There’s three layers to the greatness that is hearing a song by that little-known artist that you love, finally on real radio. First, a little bit of vicarious pride that they’re finally getting the recognition that they deserve. Second, that little nod you give yourself for already being a fan, especially when the announcer says “You probably haven’t heard of. . . before”. And third, the joy of hearing a truly great song. Really, it’s all just…
Awesome.
The anticipation of a reunion with friends or family members. Whether it is someone you have known forever or for just a few years, if you have been separated, you know the joy and anticipation that comes in knowing you have a reunion planned. That feeling you get in your stomach while doing everything pre-reunion, from picking out the perfect outfit to finding the perfect place to meet. The butterflies in your stomach as you play the beginning scene of this coming reunion over in your head, testing out different opening-lines or imagining just how fast you will run and spring into their arms for that first hug. That grin on your face that you know is yours and nothing could possibly ruin. All because in a few short weeks, days, or hours.. you will be reunited with someone who you find truly AWESOME.
winning a contest/draw you decided to enter on a whim ;)
starting a new semester of school and using your brand new pencils on a crisp, clean new sheet of notebook paper.
Writing the date never felt so good…
AWESOME!
Daylight savings time! When you were a kid you knew the streetlights would come on an hour later which meant more time to play outside. And as an adult it means the sun will still be up when you leave the office.
jumping in a big ol’ puddle with rainboots on
getting into work every morning, booting up your computer, browsing to your favorite website and smiling because you realize there is one more AWESOME thing in this world.
Cheers to 1000AwesomeThings making my day alittle brighter :)
the candy that comes out only during the holidays. think about it. you can never find those cadbury mini eggs during those long winter months when you might need a little pick-me-up. but when springtime rolls around…there they are! those reese’s pumpkin shaped candy…only seem to stay around my house for a few weeks after halloween and then you have to wait a whole year to see them again. sure, you can eat the candy that is out year-round but it never quite tastes the same as that oh-so-special holiday candy.
I LOVE mini cadbury eggs!!! Those things are bomb!