I've been reading old posts of my favorite blogger, and one of his entries begs sincere flattery. I'm as fond of lists as he is, and I thought this was neat: simple delights, from the world of culture/human expression. All year, I've been keeping lists of seasonal pleasures as an outlet for homesickness--getting into a sun-warmed car on a crisp autumn day, sitting in a room lit only by Christmas tree lights, the first 'no-jacket' day of the year, walking home from Netsin's on a balmy night... This list, however, draws from media: movie moments, passages in books, tidbits from a song...little dumb things that make your soul giggle or soar.

I figured it would be a while before I blogged this list--there are hundreds of things that belong on it, all requiring a very specific messenger to extract them from memory--but it's a rainy afternoon and I don't have any lessons that are due tomorrow, so here's the infant rundown. Right now, it's mostly comprised of category favorites; the sort of stuff that comes to mind immediately in response to "what book/movie/band do I love?", but I hope to add to it as inspiration occurs. So far:

Maria & the Captain dancing the Laendler in the Sound of Music. He has a few great looks, too, though I'd have to watch it again to remember where.

The scene at the end of A Christmas Story where the parents are sitting on the couch, Silent Night is playing on the radio, fat bulbs are glowing on the Christmas tree, and fat snowflakes are falling past the window.

Dumbledore's repartee with the Dursleys in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. McGonagall's answers to Umbridge during Harry's career counseling session in Order of the Phoenix are equally delicious.

Pretty much any lick The Edge has ever played. Any time I shift my focus to the guitar in a U2 song, I am blown away by the exquisite perfection of it....the timbre, the rhythm, the restraint....*blow kiss off fingertips*

In Great Big Sea's Love Me Tonight video, there are shots of Murray & Bob each cracking a smile, and they never fail to elicit the same response from me.

The fillers & lyric changes that have been canonized on GBS' live CDs, like Sean's gleeful, "and Bob broke out his fiddle and danced naked around the floor!" in Scolding Wife.

Maybe this is stretching it, but I've watched Bert & Ernie spliced to gangsta rap a couple dozen times and laughed every single one.

...and so much more.

While I try to think of other memorable minutiae, I'm curious what's on YOUR list. I'd like to invite everyone--especially if you've never commented before--to post your own favorites, even if it's just one thing. Remember, it's little things--I've even gone a bit macro in my items, but you get the idea. I'm looking forward to reading them!