The fresh cold air in the morning, when I leave my building and walk to the train

That rush of endorphins when I get off my exercycle or a treadmill after a workout

(Well I don't know if they make me smile, but they evoke the first two qualities)

I can't think of a third. Damn. I'm sure I'll know it when I feel it.

Meanwhile...

Give me three beautiful (tangible) things you can see right now, from where you're sitting.

Two of my children (counted as one ;))

(If it weren't dark) The creek behind my apartment. It's so peaceful to walk down there.

A print of Van Gogh's "Sunflowers"

I had: 3 songs that lift you, inspire you or make you feel joy.

Film-it's a tie between The Crying Game and Brokeback Mountain. Probably Crying Game slightly more, as I saw it umpteen times. I know now that that's when I started figuring things out for myself. The first time I saw it left me shattered.

Book-Animal Farm, in high school. I thought it would be a stupid story. I could add Shirley Jackson's The Lottery, which I read in the same class. When I started reading that story, I thought it would be the dumbest thing ever. A bunch of people gathering in a park. My teacher didn't fool around with insipid stuff.

If art counts, then my own art, in a way :). I was a life model in college. My posing assignments certainly weren't sexual, but I was amazed at the disconnect between how I felt my body looked, and what came out on the students' canvasses. I thought they had the wrong person. I try to remember that experience now, when I have aging and sexual issues.

That's a really hard question, so repeat, please ;).

- A short story that I read at least 30 years ago which had the theme of "do it scared." It helped me learn that I don't have to wait until I'm no longer afraid to do things.

- A documentary on preparing the bodies of dead loved ones at home. The idea was horrifying to me before that, and it showed me how much it could be a beautiful and connecting ritual that can help get you through the initial pain of losing someone you love dearly.

- An article on women with attention deficit disorder, which I read shortly after I turned 40. I sobbed - deeply, loudly, uncontrollably - for at least 10 minutes after I read it, because at that time, even though I was clearly intelligent, I was convinced that I was simply incompetent, and my self-esteem was at its lowest point ever because I could see what I needed to do in my life but felt so incapable of doing so many things.

GM3 songs, stories, books, or movies that make you tear up or cry every single time you hear/read/watch them.

-- two car crashes (one involving myself and two brothers and another wreck where I was the only occupant)

-- the death of my grandmother


Give me three ideas for a New Years Eve party.

*A deserted beach in a remote and tropical location: sunset, swimming, bbq, through to sunrise (party of two, please)

*A 1920s themed queer wedding reception (did that one, it was a great way to ring New Years in)

*A big dinner party with excellent food, awesome music and the people I love most in the world.


Give me three wishes you have for the new year

- To practice kindness and justice.
- To be a better sister, daughter and friend.
- To go to Brasil for the World Cup.


Give me three things you appreciate that others do without being asked...

Send cards or nice messages
Hug or kiss
Fix something thats broken if I can

GM3 ways you kill time in an airport.

Walk around looking at the gates and imagining myself going there (I'm never going anywhere special)

Get something to eat/drink and peoplewatch

Browse in a newsstand.

GM3 ways you pass time on a flight.

Read
Watch a movie
Talk to the person next to you.

GM3 favourite holiday foods

Get the upstairs painted.
Organize the files.
Inventory the tools.

GM3 Things you would love to have for dinner.

Great company
Great conversation
Great atmosphere

GM3 things that are on top of your refrigerator

A glass case with rare dolls
Korean pottery filled with beans
Candle Sticks


Give me three kinds of tape you own

Duct
Masking
Painters

Give me three of your best days ever

the day my princess came into my life
the day I bought my first new truck
the day that starts the rest of my life

GM3
favorite candle scents

Candy Cane
Lemon Pound Cake
Clove

Give me three bad gifts