lagilman | meeeeeeeme while you work, sheep! meeeeeme!

Spent the morning with the dentist (oh, joy) and the afternoon with the manuscript. Oh, da excitement. And so, I surf LJ, and am infected with memeage.

A new-to-me meme:
Comment on this post and I will pick seven of your interests. You then write about them in your journal and re-post.

eeknight handed me:
American Indian fetish carvings:

badgermirlacca is to blame for that one, having introduced me to them the first time I visited her. Small, hand-carved animals, they are traditionally used to invoke the spirit or aspect of whatever is being carved. I have a small collection, kept in check by strict rules about what and how I acquire them, but crave more. I also like telling people I collect fetishes, just to see their expressions.

Hedonism: It's a fascinating topic, especially in this Puritan-backbone country. Too often it gets a bad rap as being all about S.E.X. What it is, at base, is the measurement of maximum pleasure and minimum pain (suffering) in an action. Hedonism isn't selfish, either -- maximum pleasure for the maximum number of people, so long as we remember that pleasure created by causing someone else pain reduces the whole of pleasure.... okay, it gets complicated then. But the basic idea appeals. massage, to me, is the ultimate hedonism -- the pleasure and positive overrides whatever pain, and often in fact negates pain...

Insomnia: evil companion, or sources of post-midnight inspiration? It's been both, for me. It also allows me to have conversations with friends in different time zones, and catch really bad movies on t.v.

Old Movies: I really do prefer to watch a movie made prior to 1950 than almost anything made after. Black and white makes me happy, so does Jimmy Stewart, Cary Grant, and Audrey Hepburn.

Tea ceremonies: The process of taking time to pause, breathe, and contemplate, with the attendant rituals and beauties of the tea ceremony, is one of the great unappreciated gifts Asia has given us, IMO. Plus, I like tea. Black, green, even some herbal infusions. It's all good, and good for you!

Research Junkie: I am is and always are, to misquote Dr. Teeth.

Single Malt: Scotch. Neat, with a side of water. It takes an educated palate to really appreciate it, it impressed the guys on the sales force to see this little girl (in their eyes) downing Real Booze at sales conference, and I can drink it all night without getting drunk. Plus, it's good shit, man. And, unlike wine, you can keep an open bottle around for a while without it spoiling.

havocthecat is spreading this meme around: Ten Things That Make Me Happy. (I'm amending this slightly to "non-major" things that make me happy, because obviously there are many major things that are no-brainers...)

10. A well-made cup of coffee with just the right amount of sweetness to balance the bitter.
9. The sight of a feline stretched and sleeping in the sun.
8. A proper bit of character development or plot turn dropping into the story at exctly the right place.
7. Butterflies fluter-bying.
6. Well-stretched and warmed-up muscles.
5. Toast with cinnamon-sugar and butter.
4. New shoes that fit really well, and look fabulous.
3. That feeling the plane gives me as it starts to pick up speed just before takeoff.
2. singing in the car while driving, alone so nobody can look sideways at me or comment on how bad my voice is.
1. home-made pecan pie.