You cracked the case.
Seriously, when you pop open that textbook, flip open the yellow pages, or split the spine of that beach novel right to the spot you’re looking for it’s a beautiful moment.
Suddenly you transform into a gloomy trenchcoat-wearing detective who solves the case just by glancing at the crime scene. Yes, the street’s been taped off, someone’s crying under a blanket on the curb, and the city police are filling out witness statements on their notepads.
That’s when you peel up in a navy blue squad card, calmly light up a cigarette, and then stare at the surrounding buildings for a few minutes with furrowed eyebrows.
Then you calmly walk back to your cruiser, smile softly, and roll your window down at the local police before screaming away down the wet roads.
“Page 127.”
AWESOME!
Pre-order The Book of Awesome
It’s awesome to get carded / not get carded when ordering an adult beverage. The difference comes with your stage of life. When you’re young and you don’t get carded, you feel pretty awesome — or at the least, you didn’t have to go digging through your bottomless pit of a purse for some ID. When you’re old, great joy seems to come from being carded. Awesome :)
Totally awesome, Laura. I have finally arrived at the stage where I don’t get carded every time I buy a drink, and it is exciting every time!
Oh, I love being carded. I get a little offended when they don’t ask.
I was out with hubby and a few of his friends and I was the only one they asked for ID. (they are all a tid bit older than me) so as I was digging through my purse to find it, one of the other girls say, “well…why didn’t you card me?”
And instead of asking her for hers, he told me nevermind. LOL…. Everyone at the table had a good laugh over that one.
It’s awesome to breathe fresh air after having been breathing smoke for a while. Ahhhh, good old oxygen. Fresh, pure, oxygen!
makes you feel alive!
That one friend who has a positively disastrous car interior … is awesome.
I love cleanliness and I keep my car really clean, but one of my best friends just doesn’t share that mindset. Her car is like its own little delicate ecosystem. Food wrappers, gym bag, clothes, a suitcase, her dog, dishes, makeup, money, styrofoam cups …
Is it a bit disturbing to have to move these items in order to take a ride with her? Maybe sometimes. Is it amusing to see the latest additions? Always.
That was a strong run there Laura. Great string of comments.
As for this one – I’m a super clean car keeper. But do find it funny when my buddy picks me up from the train, and I try to throw my bag in his trunk, but it is packed to the hilt with random junk and trash.. I can’t imagine what he’s planning on doing with it all.. broken tennis rackets, a charcoal BBQ, a garbage bag filled with blue surgical towels.. what sort of armageddon is he preparing for?
No kidding! I’ve even offered to help my friend clean her car out — which would be no small feat. She turns me down every time. “It just doesn’t bother me,” she says.
So while I’m over here, creating a place to sit by shoveling debris into the already-ankle-deep pile on the floor, she’s content to continue her Pigpen lifestyle.
Side story from same friend’s car:
In high school, we had off-campus lunch privileges (meaning we had 40 minutes and could leave for lunch if we wanted instead of eating in the cafeteria). I almost always drove since I had a reasonably sized vehicle that was always clean. One day I had to drive my dad’s truck to school instead of my car, so rather than have everyone illegally pile into the truck bed, my friend drove. We all were like, “Oh my gosh. What is that smell??” It was bad. We chalked it up to her messy car and just went on our way. Over the course of the next few weeks, she drove occasionally and the smell persisted. She Febreezed, she tidied it up, and yet it still smelled horrible! Finally, one weekend (mind you, this was late February/early March), she deep-cleaned. She found — prepare yourself — a half-eaten pint of Ben & Jerry’s in her trunk … left there from … THANKSGIVING!! Luckily the chilly winter had pretty much preserved the ice cream for a while, but come springtime, it was not pretty.
Let this be a cautionary tale.
I didn’t read this until just now. I can’t get over the thought of someone getting halfway through a tub of Ben & Jerry’s and thinking: “hmmm.. I’m going to want to eat this later. Where should I keep it until then. Oh! In my trunk!”
Awesome.
That’s what I said! “What possessed you to 1) not finish your Ben & Jerry’s? I would have gladly helped you! and 2) put that into your trunk?”
She claims her sister did it. *shrug* I’d blame someone else if I did something that weird, too!
I have a messy car. There for a long time I basically lived in my car. Spent so much time in it between work and school. Yeah it was a mess. Now I think I’m just a little too lazy to keep it clean. Its not as bad as it was…not even close. Mostly just has the mess my daughter made, french fries after a fast food run, toys, crayons…. the usual.
When you’re listening to a sweet and steady song that you love and suddenly the drums/bass kicks in. Some gentle head bobbing turns into a rockin’ time my friend!
AWESOME.
Yes, like that Phil Collins song…oh what’s the name??? “I can feel it, calling in the air tonight, hold on….” Hold on? Gosh, I can’t remember it now. When I do, that will also be an Amazing moment! :) Geez, now I have that song stuck in my head!
“In the Air Tonight” … You knew it, you just didn’t know it!
Getting everything on your to-do list checked off.
You have so many things to do, life is a mess, you get no sleep, and are constantly stressed out. But checking each thing off one by one as you get them done, and at the end looking at that list with everything crossed out is… AWESOME.
Parking next to a car that is identical to yours
Hey, I see that you also decided on a fabulous, fuel efficient Ford Focus. Oh, and I see that you also chose Raging Red. Look at that, a spot right next to you. I think I’ll park there, so we can be parking twins (and to cause you some confusion when you come out of the supermarket).
AWESOME!
This is awesome until you’re leaving the mall and there is a car that looks just like yours, parked right beside yours that wasn’t there when you parked … and you try to get into this car AND the people who own said car are right behind you, seeing you and thinking you’re crazy.
Not that this has happened to me …. uhhh …
I think it’s awesome just seeing cars identical to yours. I’m an environmental geek so when the Prius started to gain more popularity a few years ago I started a game called “Pacifist Prius,” inspired by Slug Bug. Rather than smacking someone the idea is to get the joy of seeing a prius and calling it out first. Eventually this lead to “TaxIUS,” and when I finally had a Prius of my own, “TwinUS,” and “TrIUS.” Gotta love it!
Which reminds me, Slug Bug is awesome! As is learning other people’s versions of the game (i.e. Punch Buggy). When I got to college and heard about all the different ways people play it was
awesome!
Coming home to a homecooked meal is always awesome.
It doesn’t matter what it is. It doesn’t matter whether it’s your mommy or your daddy or your significant other or your roomate that made it for you. The feeling of coming home and sitting down to a hot fresh meal made for you by someone that cares about you is just magical. All the worries of that day melt away and you feel totally at peace, and 5 years old once more.
This hasn’t happened for a long time, but I completely agree… not having to cook after a long day:
AWESOME!
Also rereading childrens books you loved as a kid, or reading them to your own kids.
I miss the books I read as a kid. The Pokey Little Puppy and The Monster at the End of the Book were two of my favorites when I was about 7 (ish). I love reading them to my daughter. Takes me back to when I was sitting in my mom’s lap and she was reading those same books to me.
Aw, that is so sweet! I am going to go read to my daughter right now! (Never mind that she’s almost 12 and I’m reading “The Fellowship of the Ring” to her. We ought to be done it by the time she’s 21.)
Picnics. Eating smooshed sandwiches with dirty, sweaty hands, drinking warm juice out of a tiny straw. Awesome.
Having a sudden flashback of the feeling you had about that one special toy.
For me it was a baby blanket made from satin, it had a special smell, and feel, whenever I pick it up it wakes up the child inside me. All the warm fuzzy feelings you could imagine all rolled into one fantastical, yet simple item.
Getting a lunch-box filled in by your “significant other” and not knowing what’s in it until you open it — that’s awesome!
In a family with 4 kids we have plenty of leftovers that are stored in the fridge for the next day or so.. When some 3-4 days have passed without them getting re-heated and served at home — we adults end up having them as a “take-away” lunch at work : usually one of us fills in the lunch-boxes so that the other one does not really know what he/she is getting — until next day at lunch time.
Going to midnight movie theater showings…
-you get to be one of the first people to see it
-people dress up in costumes
-everyone there is just as excited about it as you are
How about back when we were in grade school and every once in a while the teacher would put out a new desk-plan.
The new seating arrangements were always the most exciting days to see if you end up next to the nose picking kid that drools on your desk, or the beautiful pony-tailed blondie.
ahh nostalgia
Listening to a song you loved as a teenager and realizing you still remember every single lyric.
AWESOME!!
Arriving to the bus stop just as the bus is arriving.
1) you don’t need to wait out in the cold / rain / heat
2) you didn’t just miss the bus (awesome relief)
3) you have awesome timing
I think it’s awesome when you find a book which is like it was written for you. And when a book find a way to you for a reason – from your friend for a birthday, father for christmas or it just catch your eye on a shelf. It’s awesome when you really learn something through reading and it completely changes the way you look at your life. Or it changes your perception of life and finally even your life. Everyone needs at least one such book in a life. The sooner the better :)
Driving on freshly paved highway/freeway. Sooo smooth and quiet in the car! Love that!
On my list of most awesome things is:
The Primo Parking Spot.
This spot can often be referred to as “Rock Star Parking” or “Hail Mary Parking.” The actual spot itself is the spot that is closest to the point of entry to the place you need to go to. Whether it be your job or the supermarket, Primo Parking can occur anywhere. For me, Primo Parking is a rare gem at my apartment complex and there are two ways in which Primo Parking can happen.
#1 – You pull into the lot and panic sets in when you see that the almost every spot is filled except for the one that is 4 and a half miles from your destination. So you drive around in circles for a good ten minutes praying that a decent spot opens up. As you’re about to lose hope, a car pulls out of the FIRST spot in the lot leaving you to pull in and thank the heavens for your luck. Hence, the Hail Mary Spot.
#2 – This Primo Parking is the best kind. It takes no effort. It happens when you see a full lot and as you drive in anyway you see that very first spot in the lot open, car-less, waiting for you. It’s like it was reserved for you, VIP parking or something. So you pull in and bask in your glory and walk the 30 foot to the door of the entrance enjoying your fame. Rock Star Parking.
Whether you’re being lazy, had an awful day, or just need a pick me up, Primo Parking is just the trick.
AWESOME!
#1 happened to me today. I woke up later than usual, and the lot in which I typically park at work (at a university) is always PACKED by this time. As I prepared myself for a journey of weaving in and out of the lanes and potentially having to even choose a completely different lot, I saw it, shining in all its glory: The Hail Mary Spot. Literally, the first spot; the cream of the crop; the best of the best; the spot that is usually taken even before the most diligent of early-arrivers arrives: open for the taking. For me.
I squealed, did a happy dance, backed myself in there and positively GRINNED like a creep-o. Talk about a boost in your day!
Drinking and/or eating things you haven’t since you were a kid (Cherry Kool-Aid, Pudding Pops, Fun Dip, etc.) This morning I decided to mix up some Tang and put it in my thermos at work instead of coffee…AWESOME! : )
Pop Rocks. Hellllllloooo childhood!
Omg, Tang. I bet your day is going AWESOMELY!
Or Squeeze-its. Or Bubble Tape gum. Oh I could go on and on …
It’s awesome when your crappy upstairs neighbors MOVE OUT!
Sure, this means you’re letting go all the sounds reminiscent of: a bowling alley, late-night furniture rearranging relay races, a dance club, clogging lessons, screaming matches, tap dance practices, sumo-wrestler meetings, and Olympic gymnastics preliminaries … but you’ll somehow get by. :)
It’s awesome when you have a crazy-dream swap. Having weird dreams is even more fun when you can share the story, and hearing others’ weird dreams make you feel less crazy! :)
Absolutely…I had a dream last night that I was 3 hours late to work and I ran the whole way here.
It’s awesome when you have someone who will “put in a good word” for you somewhere (or when you’re the one “putting in a good word” for someone else).
They say it’s all about who you know, right? So get that foot in the door, have someone really sell you, and hopefully land that job with a little help from your connections!
It’s awesome when stuff lasts longer than you anticipate. For example: last week, I was sure I was on my last squirt of contact solution, and I was at the ready with a new bottle. However, I had nearly a week’s worth left! Same thing with some lotion: I just knew I was at the end of the bottle but it just kept on going.
At my parents’ house, all the showers have doors instead of curtains. When my sister and I were little, we’d always stick our faces, lips, hands, etc. on the clear glass and crack up at the hilarious smashed image that appeared on the other side of the glass.
Awesome!
I agree!!
haha, even though the glass doors dont help if someone happens to walk in through a unlocked bathroom door while you are in the shower, they definatly make up for it with the squished body part!!
A similar thing is wearing goggles to watch someones skin flaping around when its being hit by water from a jet in a hot pool :)
Designated drivers are awesome.
There are a few types:
1. The Planned DD. You have volunteered (or been appointed) before the night even begins. Your car is ready, the plan is in motion. Perhaps you’re going out with everyone and indulging in Shirley Temples and Dr. Peppers all night or maybe you’re in for a quiet evening and awaiting The Call.
2. The Last Minute Volunteer DD. You’ve gone out but find that you’re not drinking. Maybe you’re just not feeling it, maybe you’re sick, maybe you’re low on funds. You realize this and extend your offer to the Planned DD. You’re not drinking, anyway, so if Planned DD would like to resign his or her duties, you’d be happy to assume them.
3. The Unplanned DD. You are in bed, sleeping away in your cozy cocoon, safely playing in the world of dreams … when all the sudden your phone rings. It scares you in that startled-awake-am-I-having-a-heart-attack? type way, and you confusedly answer. While your first instinct may be to tell your friends that you’d rather do anything besides get dressed, find your glasses/put in your contacts, locate your purse and keys, and go on a wee-hours-of-the-morning excursion to fetch their inebriated selves from the downtown bar scene … you agree to come anyway. Yeah, you’re not a taxi service, but if this sacrifice means potentially saving lives … well, you can do with an hour less sleep.
My awesome thing is….
Finding a song you love in acoustic format.
Nope, there’s nothing quite like listening to one rock song over and over. Then, one day while browsing iTunes or when a friend lends you a cd by that same artist, you find that same song you love oh so much. Except this time, instead of being electric guitar and drum-powered, you get the signer’s melodic voice and the chords of a lone acoustic guitar.
AWESOME!
Ooh- how about this one: When your checkbook balances perfectly! It makes you feel like a wizard accountant/responsible adult. : )
SUSHI!!!
Eating sushi for the first time and realizing that you can stomach it!! You know not many people can in their first time…
Awesome!
This is so true, Kris!
The first time I had sushi, it was at a sub-par, mediocre all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet that also happened to serve sushi. I thought, hey, this is a good time to give it a go, since it’s there for the taking. Well, I ended up practically gagging on it and had to work really hard to get it down. My roommate at the time tried it for the first time that night too, and threw up later.
Needless to say, neither of us was exactly chomping at the bit to try sushi again, but we decided to chalk that experience up to the fact that it was, well, an all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet.
The second time I tried sushi, I was hooked. I’m fully addicted and crave it constantly. Yummy!
I’m too much of a wuss to try sushi.
Having a friend treat you for lunch…
Makes you appreciate having him/her :) Doing this strengthens your friendship because it’s a reciprocity thing… they’ll do this and it’s your turn next time…and sometimes they dont want you to pay them back and vice versa and that just makes you love them more and vice versa…
Awesome!
having the 1000th comment :) such a milestone…
if you ever do in a blog…
Awesome thing:
Watching old fragile seniors skating at the ice rink
I discovered this last year, i can just stay and watch them, they make me so happy cos they are so fragile and old but they float around on skates effortlessly and they are so happy.
I was skating with my sister’s family once and there was an older couple there skating beautifully. It turns out he has Alzheimer’s. They were figure skaters in their youth, and now it’s one of the few things that brings him peace. They come every week. Beautiful.
When one of those annoying spring-loaded pull shades on a window goes up on your first try.
It’s almost magical… haha
Also applicable to projector screens and classroom maps!
I cannot operate one of those things! I’m getting better at it though.
when someone helps you pick up a bunch of stuff you dropped
FACE PAINTING
When you open the milk carton perfectly. Awesome!
When you catch a mistake in a movie that wasn’t suppose to be there.
You sit back, relax and get ready to watch an AWESOME
movie when all the sudden that cup that was in the characters left hand is now in his right. You get that feeling like you have just uncovered a Hollywood secret. AWESOMEE!!
I can never do this. D: So instead, I look up all of the goof-ups on IMDB and re-watch the movie just so I can catch all of the mistakes that even the most perfect movie has left in. :D
Really good (or bad) puns
Saying random blather. Sometimes you can’t express what you wanna say by using regular boring words. You can explain everything simply by saying “OOH GAH BLAH” or “BUH GUH DUH” or “FLADOODLE NOODLE.”
I’m weird.
AWESOME!
A lot of times I get tongue tied. I guess my brain moves faster than my mouth can move, and I end up making those weird noises. Its so funny. Always makes the person I’m talking to laugh.
Being picked met at the arrivals gate with a big hug after a flight. It could be an hour long flight back from business, or a 12 hour multi-lay over flight, but being met with a big hug and a smile rejuvenates me from grumpy, rumbled-suit wearer wondering where my car is, to a laughing, relaxed passenger seat napper.
Awesome!
It’s awesome when you figure out the Rubik’s Cube all by yourself !
better when you peel the stickers off ;)
being quoted is awesome. especially if its something you just nonchalentely said to a friend and you hear your exact same words of wisdom being quoted by an extended friend or even a stranger. its nice to know that your words are imprtant enough to repeat even if it was something you didnt even think twice about.
sudoku!
if you can figure it out. omg, it is SO awesome. and you feel like a genius when youre able to finish one, even on the easy level because chances are your friend are left ehind struggling with theirs and you get to sit back and bathe in the platnum waters of false intelligence.
Because of my awesome sudoku skills, I was actually able to get 8 bonus points on a test in science. Long story. :P
treehouses!
Finding the most incredible website
OK…you’re having a totally bummer of a day and someone forwards you a website….and half heartedly you click on it and think… ok this better be good. And whulluh……you’re brought to the 1000 Awesome Thing website….and you get totally lost in all the awesome stuff you watch…or participate in…or wake up to…or hear…and didn’t realize just how awesome it all is. A real eye opener!
So…you sign up for the daily 1000 awesome thing….and all of a sudden ya realize….life truly is good …no matter how crappy it seems…and no matter how crummy the day starts….you always have that message in your email giving you one more example of awesome and you know that through the day theres going to be that moment when something happens…or you hear something…or see something…its going to be one more AWESOME thing.
AWESOME!!!!
The fact that I go to school in TN so I get to read tomorrow’s awesome thing at 11pm the day before :)
Thinking that you’re gonna be in trouble but then getting complimented by your boss.
Breakfast for dinner. Maybe it’s the fact that I’m always in a hurry in the morning and don’t have time for more than a protein bar on the way out the door, but pancakes for dinner never fail to make my day.
Its ‘brinner’ breakfast/dinner. I like to make this all the time. Throw on some scambles eggs, bacon, biscuits and gravy….. everyone in my house love brinner.
Breakfast for dinner is so VERY awesome!
Legitimately eating chocolate for breakfast. Chocolate peanut protein bars, Count Chocula, cookie dough poptarts… you might feel guilty if you ate a Hershey’s bar for breakfast, but no need to feel bad with these breakfast foods. After all, they’re part of a nutritious breakfast.
Chocolate is good ANYtime … yum!
Now there are even Chocolate Cheerios and Special K with chocolate pieces.
I mean, if Cheerios and Special K – two notably healthy breakfast cereals – are endorsing chocolate as a breakfast food … it’s gotta be legit! ;D
Arriving somewhere in less time than it usually takes to get there. Even if it’s only a thirty second difference, you feel like you’ve cheated the laws of physics.
The second you remember who a person reminds you of, or what someone’s name is.
The perfect shuffle on your iPod.