The Happy 101 Award
Kai from The List and Aiden from Cut the Crap Movie Review had the audacity of tagging us on this new fancy internet Meme. Apparently, you are supposed to list 10 things that make you happy and pass it on to 10 unsuspecting fellow bloggers who were just perusing around this blog. Since we are not people who like to back away from a challenge, Red and I decided to go ahead with this little mofo.
Share Ten Things that Bring You Joy
1. I can be a pretty social person, so hanging out with friends at random places like bars, ball parks, bars, movie theater, bars, watching football games (at a bar!) usually make me pretty happy.
2. To steal one from Kai, and probably won’t be the last, is making people laugh or smile. I probably make fun of people too much, but when the subject of the joke is brought to a smile 99% of the time, that tells me I can keep on being a jerk.
3. Marion Cotillard
4. Irish accents. I swear, if I ever moved to Ireland or Scotland, I would have a permanent smile on my face from hearing everybody talk.
5. Anything to do with football: Watching it, talking about it, doing big projects that a normal person wouldn’t dare do. Castor and I have a huge love for the NFL Draft, and I consider it our Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Birthday wrapped into one. There are even years where it lands on my birthday. While the idea is seemingly awesome, anybody who would try to steal me away from the TV to celebrate would probably be met with rejection like a child playing basketball with Shaq….only with more kindness.
6. Marion Cotillard….what’s that? I already used that one? Well then, I’ll go with arguing with people about the most random, worthless stuff. A good, healthy argument that neither side is serious about is always a joy.
7. Lady Gaga: That’s right. Lady Gaga. As crazy as she may be, I love almost every song of hers. If you are in the same room as me when Bad Romance comes on, the chances of you hearing a fully grown man belt out every lyric word for word are pretty damn high.
8. Things that I can spin on a table: It’s little things like this that prove that I’m still a kid at heart.
9. Winning a hand in poker: That doesn’t mean that winning one is rare, quite the opposite, but that feeling knowing that the hand is yours even right after the flop is pretty awesome.
10. Looking at old pictures of the hair: Sure, maybe when I have kids some day they will be embarrassed like no other, but I truly enjoyed growing that thing out.
11. Marion Cotillard.
Note: Sent from my BlackBerry Smartphone provided by Alltel
(Drooling…) ahah thanks Red for the uh… wonderful pictures. My turn I guess, in no particular order:
1) Competition: May it be in sports, video games, fantasy sports leagues or even making some meaningless bets for a drink, I love to compete and play. Like Red says, that proves I will always be a kid at heart 
2) Friends and family: It doesn’t get any better than spending some time with your friends and family. Life would be completely empty and meaningless without those relationships we cherish.
3) The NFL Draft: As Red stated above, this is our Christmas day. We have been NFL draftniks for years, well before it started becoming such a big event that is now televised on prime-time and discussed nearly year-round. Watching your favorite college football players become stars (and busts) as well as the awesome feeling when a little-known players that you “believed” in becomes a good or great pro a few years down the road are some of the great things about the NFL Draft. Of course, the best thing is getting together with your friends and talking about it ceaselessly
4) The United States Marine Corps: Fuck yea! The Spartans of our era.
5) The “Market”: You probably know the most common market, the stock market but I don’t play stocks so I can’t call it that way. Simply being able to have a chance to hit a buy and sell button is an opportunity few people in this world have. Most days, the market drives me absolutely crazy and will probably contribute to my early death 
However, it takes a lot of worldly knowledge to be involved in trading futures and I love to learn about how prairie fires in Russia can drive up the price of Wheat or how the price of oil can be impacted by such and such event. Being able to act on that information and try to make a profit for yourself can be very satisfactory (or maddening depending on the outcome). Also, you have to stay currently aware of the macro-economic picture which is always fascinating. We are certainly living through some interesting times and will see some truly life-changing events in our lifetime. Let’s just say I want my ticket for New Zealand soon…
6) Interacting with a bunch of crazy AM visitors: Just recently, some of you dumped over 200 comments in the open bar late into the night and then apologized to me. Please don’t… This is the type of stuff that makes blogging so awesome! The most heartfelt thanks to all of you who make this place so lively, you are the best we, at AM, can’t ask for more than that!
7) Working out: Unlike Kai, I do enjoy working out, well except for long distance running
8) Traveling: I love traveling, seeing new places, people and scenery. If I had one dream, it would be to be able to travel and make friends all over the world until the end of days. Ah dreams… Maybe, someday I will be financially comfortable enough to do that
9) Reading a good book, watching a great movie: Those speaks to the soul. I think we all can relate here.
My favorite book of all-time
10) Toilet paper: Everyone takes it for granted but realize that it is actually a luxury for half the population on Earth! You probably find it odd that I would mention that staple of modern life but I have a personal anecdote that explains it all. I would never have known how awesome TP is until I went to Marine Officer Candidate School and had to do my business a couple times without any TP.
The first time, we humped 6 miles with 50 lbs packs on our back. Needless to say I was soaked in sweat, we then sat down in the middle of a field on a windy and cold fall day and started eating our M.R.E (Meal Ready to Eat), let’s just say my sweat-soaked uniform got icy-cold really quick and combining that with the M.R.E –I don’t know what they put in there–, well I just had to go really bad with no TP at hand! Let’s just say my squad mates had a pretty good laugh that morning
The second time wasn’t as traumatic since I already did it once, why not do it a second time! It happened in the middle of the night during Night Land Navigation where you are supposed to find metallic boxes in the middle of the woods in pitch dark night simply by orienting yourself with a compass. Because we had plenty of time to accomplish the objectives and I really really wanted to take a dump, I chose a convenient spot in the middle of the woods, squatted down and went about my business. This time though, I had the good sense of having my pocket-sized notebook with me from which I borrowed a few pages. Hopefully, no candidate stepped on the little gift I left behind while looking for some metallic box
So now you know why I love toilet paper! (Anomalous Material has officially lost 52 readers forever)
Ahum ok… Now that was weird. How exactly do you transition from that to the next step in this internet meme… I guess I will just state that we are supposed to name ten blogs that make us happy to pass it on.
Ten Blogs that Make Us Happy
I’m not really sure who has been hit already so I will try to avoid the usual suspects:
- Travis from The Movie Encyclopedia
- Nicholas from Cinema Romantico
- This Guy from This Guy Over Here
- Steve from The Film Cynics
- Fitz from Nevermind Pop Film
- Corey from Monday Night Films
- Jessica from Insight into Entertainment
- Vanessa from The Movie Ness
- Joel from Deny Everything
- Clara from Just Chick Flicks
I can only tag 10 but if you would like to do this meme in the comments or on your blog, please go ahead! So what are some of the things that brings joy to your life?
41 Comments
Haha that’s a pretty sweet story about toilet paper….I vow to never take T.P. for granted again! By the way, thanks for tagging me for this project…I’ll get right to work on it.
LADY GA GA… I know where your coming from. As a min 20′s guy, liking her’s a bit risque, but honestly, best songwriter in the last 10 years!
Semper Fi Castor!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I come from a line of military family, and they are all representatives of the Marine Corps. It is a huge source of pride and immediate sense of family between other families of the like.
Ahhhh very nice on the TP stories. I rough it up in the north and there have been more than one occasions when I’ve been in the middle of the woods exploring, miles from anything resembling a potty, and I’ve had to use the good ole leaves of mother nature to wipe up.
Red, I love your proclamation of love for Lady Gaga. My husband loves the Twilight films and is unapologetic about it. Gotta represent!
Competition is something that always gets everyone going. It brings out the best and sometimes the worst in people. Check out my list when you get a chance: http://dtmmr.wordpress.com/2010/08/05/the-happy-101-award/
@ RED: Couple thoughts on this one. I actually despise GAGA but love that song Pokerface. So, I’m not gonna give you shit for that. We all have our guilties.
And your hair looked like the (really) white version of Snoop Dogg in the Gin & Juice video.
@ CASTOR: I lopve the TP story. That’s the kinda shit (pun intended) I wanna hear about in these MEME’s… it’s also the kinda honesty I always get love for in my posts. It shouldn’t be embarrassing… it’s life. I too have gone somewhere wearing socks and left without them if you know what I mean.
@ Both: I got my Fantasy Draft in 2 weeks. Who’s the top 5 this year? And what’s your team… I’ma GB Packers fan myself.
Ahah socks, that gave me a good laugh
Fantasy football-wise, it’s hard to argue that either Adrian Peterson or Chris Johnson should go first. I would then consider Mo Jones-Drew, Ray Rice, and Aaron Rodgers/Drew Brees.
What about Michael Turner? Where do you put him for RB’s?
Turner definitely produces when he is healthy but last year, he missed like one third of the season… That said, I would look at him as the 7th or 8th pick
Just draft Frank Gore and you’ll be fine.
Frank Gore was great for me last season. Unfortunately, he is a bit risky because he tends to miss a few games every year.
I took Turner with the #1 pick last year. Great when he wasn’t hurt he was putting up the best numbers.
we should join some yahoo league someday before the season starts!
I’m in one but if you guys wanted to do one for fun… let me know!
gets hurt too often. Killed his owners last year all season long
He really only missed 3 games last year, and still rushed for over 1,000 yards and was among the league-leaders in touchdowns. But I do admit he’s injury-prone.
Would have to go with the same top 5.
Chiefs are my team, though I don’t expect more than 6 or 7 wins this year. We are headed in the right direction myself.
Have you heard Christopher Walken read the lyrics to Pokerface? Hilarious stuff.
worried about Johnson. He’s insanely good, but worried about his effort with the contract and such. Ray Rice is a terrific pick, especially since Flacco doesn’t throw all that much. Rodgers, Brees and Rivers will be great. Love Johnson as WR, of course!
I agree about Chris Johnson….he could have a disappointing season (compared to last year at least). I’m surprised nobody has mentioned Manning or Favre as a top fantasy quarterback. You could throw Alex Smith in there too….just kidding, that’s wishful thinking.
Schaub, if not Brees, would probably be my top fantasy QB. Kolb is gonna be a real sleeper to draft in the 7th round or so.
Red, that pic of your hair brings me joy!
That hair is quite majestically awesome. As a fellow red-head (well auburn) I salute you.
Gingers… haha.
Gingers do have souls! lol =)
Huzzah!
Haha, thanks!
I think Red’s 8 also proves that you are not, in fact, dreaming.
I fucking love your hair, by the way.
Thanks rip.
Thanks for the shout-out Castor!
Toilet paper will never go unappreciated on a college campus either for that matter.
Wow this is an awesome list. And I like Gaga too, if nothing else than a guilty pleasure. She reminds me of a female Bowie. And Marion Cotillard IS awesome.
As for Castor I do think people underestimate toilet paper. TP is a powerful entity. And the marines are awesome.
And I’m glad my rambling comments at rapid fire pace make you happy.
As for the list I did it just the other day (weird coincidence):
http://www.tmtme.com/2010/08/happy-101-award.html
That song is sort of growing on me
LOVE Marion Cotillard.
Red, you forgot Marion Cotillard!
very nice….very nice…
These are great lists guys. Posting my own tomorrow morning on Magic Lantern. I liked this particular meme – fun and quick!
FOOTBALL SOON!!! Love Fantasy football – so if you guys are looking for another team, please let me know. I take that shit seriously! I had a bad season last year, so looking to rebound in 2010! Go JETS!!!
Looking forward to read that!
Thanks for the tag. I’ll get to work right away. And hearing of another devout Lady Gaga fan makes me sooooooooo happy. She is, like, you know, The World’s Coolest Person.
Sheeesh, what did you do to Marion’s head??? That is downright disturbing!
But yeah, I echo everybody Red, awesome red afro man… I bet you never have a single bad hair day, lucky you!
Castor… your love for charts never cease to make me laugh
I’m with you on #8, if only I could take a sabbatical to travel & blog for a year, he..he.. As for toilet paper, yes we do take it for granted don’t we? You’re absolutely right it’s a real luxury in some parts of the world, I actually had to bring my own the last couple times I travel. Good call! 
Anomalous MAterial needs more charts. Don’t you think? I’m going to go on a charting binge soon!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGoRNg3qSH0&has_verified=1
There ya go, Ruth.
oh, and I had many a bad hair day. That stuff was pretty wild.
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