These Are A Few...

Pin It I was recently issued a challenge to list 100 of my favorite things. Ah, a contest of words...The gauntlet has been thrown down, and the ball low lies in my court. How could I possibly pass up such an opportunity?

My thoughts exactly.

However, one would be prone to wonder...why aren't certain things mentioned in said list? Why are they put in that particular order? How come this or that was not mentioned?

To answer each and every one of these burning questions I must deflect by simply stating, not all of my favorite things are listed. After all, then whence would lie the mystery and mystique?

So, by all means just realize that this list is not all-inclusive, nor is it in any particular order. In other words...it is what it is.

1. Reading
2. Rollerblading
3. Dancing
4. Barbecues
5. Friends
6. Friends' friends
7. Facebook
8. Blogger
9. Instant messaging
10. French Fries
11. Dr. Pepper
12. Staionary
13. Texting
14. Stamping
15. Christmas decorating
16. Gold chains
17. Bath and Body Works
18. Scented candles
19. Periwinkle shirts
20. Frosting
21. Aprons
22. Die-cuts
23. Scrapbooking
24. Singing
25. Love
26. Valentine's Day
27. Talking for hours
28. Dating
29. Long phone calls
30. Pina Coladas
31. Walks in the rain
32. Healthy foods
33. Exercising
34. Yoga
35. The feel of the ocean
36. Dunes of the cape
37. Chocolate dipped chocolate
38. Sunsets
39. Rainbows
40. Haircuts
41. Gardening
42. Pillows
43. Ruffles
44. Meditation
45. Sounds of Nature CDs
46. Oprah
47. Sheri Dew
48. Milkshakes
49. Not getting dirty
50. Twilight
51. Unicorns
52. Pretty flowers
53. Gossip
54. Giggling
55. Relief Society doilies
56. Fluffy poodles
57. Truffles
58. Stickers
59. Bubble baths
60. The Notebook
61. Chapstick
62. Jane Austin
63. Shopping
64. Raindrops on Roses
65. Whiskers
66. Kittens
67. Brightness
68. Copper kettles
69. Warmth
70. Woolen mittens
71. Brown paper
72. Packages
73. String
74. Girls
75. White dresses
76. Blue satin
77. Sashes
78. Snowflakes
79. Noses
80. Eyelashes
81. Silver
82. White winters
83. Melting
84. Spring
85. Cream
86. Colored Ponies
87. Crisp apple strudel
88. Doorbells
89. Sleigh bells
90. Schnitzel
91. Noodles
92. Wild geese
93. Moon
94. Wings
95. Biting dogs
96. Stinging bees
97. Remembering
98. Feelings
99. Feeling bad
100. So bad

As you probably guessed, that list above was TOTALLY real. What can I say? Tell you what, I'll even give you my second list of most favorite things...

1. The desert - How could one not love this place of sublime beauty?
2. Being alone - Sometimes, I just need that time away from everything and everybody.
3. Good friends - Those to laugh with, or a good shoulder to lean on.
4. Teaching - My students bring me some of my greatest joy...and deepest sorrow.
5. Mentoring - I sure do miss those boys sometimes.
6. Family - For those present and absent from my life.
7. Books - I'll forgo titles, but just know that there are a slew of them.
8. Forests - There's nothing like an evergreen mountain forest, is there?
9. Hiking - As well as good health to allow me to do it.
10. Camping - Can anything compare with spending a night out beneath a star-strewn sky?
11. Photography - If I haven't said enough about this in the past, then I've not expressed myself very well, now have I?
12. Writing - We all need an outlet...this is only one of mine.
13. Music - It washes the spirit and awakens us anew.
14. A home - Four walls to protect and warm.
15. Hot showers - There's no better way to start off a day.
16. Cafe Rio - If you've not eaten there, you have no idea of what heavenly delights you're missing.
17. Clouds - There's something to be said of the grey, swirling storm clouds.
18. Rain - Bring it on...the harder the better.
19. That song - You know the one...you've got yours, I've got mine.
20. Location - There's something to be said of living in a place which gets all four seasons and a white Christmas most years.
21. Reeses Peanut Butter Cups - What can I say? Gluttony comes in small packages.
22. Digital home cinema - When the movie is your house, it is a great place to be.
23. A conscience - Not that I always listen to it, but it's nice to know it's there...someplace.
24. Readers - There's something to be said in having people read what you write - and leaving a comment every once and awhile.
25. Democracy - There's too many other places where this is not available. Thank heavens for being born in the United States.
26. Email - How in the world would I ever keep in touch with people out there? Oh, I guess Facebook still works...
27. Random anonymous acts of kindness - Can't say anymore about that here, otherwise it wouldn't be anonymous anymore, would it?
28. The guitar - I'm not Clapton, but I can hold my own and impress fifth graders with my skills.
29. Autumn - By far the greatest of the four seasons...no, not the music group.
30. iPods - When you have the ability to carry around 27,000 songs wherever you go, you feel pretty special.
31. 26 less than before - One day, I'll blog about this.
32. Remote controls - Oh, how they make my life more better.
33. Mail - To open the mailbox and find that letter or package is just enough to make my day.
34. Shows like LOST, Supernatural, Smallville, Castle, The Office, Firefly, and Voyager - Enough said.
35. BYU Fudge Brownies - With a scoop of French vanilla ice cream, drizzled with caramel, and slathered in strawberry sauce. This will be in heaven.
36. Accomplishment - There's something to be said of a job well-done.
37. Air - What would we breathe without it?
38. Flying - I just wish that I had this ability without a plane.
39. The Pacific Northwest - There are things about it which I still loathe, but I really do miss this place. Summer was a good time to 'see' it all again.
40. Freshly-mowed grass - That smell wafting about on the summer breeze is simply amazing.
41. Christmas trees - The white twinkle-lights and tinsel bring with them their own kind of magic.
42. Headlamps - What an amazing invention...they really help with caving or hands-free hiking and climbing.
43. Heroes - The world can ever have enough of them. I have mine, you have yours. Perhaps even one or two of them are the same.
44. (lack of) Migraines - Stopped taking the meds and have only had 2 or 3 since November.
45. Sunsets - The flood of color in a nightly painting on cloud. Breathtaking.
46. Laptops - Imagine how hard it would be to lug around a desktop everywhere you went.
47. Rescues - Yeah, I needed it twice.
48. Cell phones - Saved my life on more than one occasion. I anticipate that they will continue to do so in the future.
49. A job - Look at the economy - we should all feel fortunate.
50. YouTube - What video can't you find on that thing?
51. Bread, straight from the oven - When you smell it, it's like somebody left a window open in the kitchen of heaven itself.
52. Twilight - I've got to make fun of something...
53. Prayer - How often it has come in handy...
54. Memories - The good, the bad, and those which haven't been repressed.
55. Notes from students - No matter how crummy a day just might go, one of these seems to make it all go away.
56. Musicals - I have only been to 5 or 6 in my life, but those I've attended were AMAZING.
57. Forgetfulness - There are just some things better left off in the halls of yesteryear and out of sight and mind.
58. Breakfast for dinner - Hash browns, blueberry pancakes or French toast, scrambled eggs, and bacon. Maybe a glass of orange juice as well...
59. Microwaves - Dinner in under a minute? Sounds like a blessing to me.
60. I would say Dr. Pepper, but I kicked the habit. My name is Teachinfourth and I've been sober for three months, seventeen days...
61. Maple bars - Manna of the gods.
62. Clothes - I think I've said enough about that.
63. Indoor plumbing - Trips to the outhouse would be mighty chilly this time of year.
64. Humor - Without it, my life with be a postmoral...well, bad.
65. New beginnings - Who doesn't appreciate a 'do over' every now and again?
66. BBQ grills - Baked hamburgers and steak? I think not.
67. Medicine - I had a kidney infection once, thank Allah for antibiotics.
68. Electric razors - Because shaving with a blade is a pain in the neck.
69. Hair gel - Something's gotta keep this do doing what it does.
70. A CR-V - Has there ever been a better vehicle for on, or off-roading?
71. Deodorant - I think this speaks for itself along with toilet paper and toothbrushes.
72. Multivitamins - It's all about getting healthy without necessarily having to eat that way.
73. Cinnamon gum - Not only does it combat bad breath, it tastes good, too.
74. Helpers - When those people come in to help out in the classroom and are not upset when I have to finish teaching before I can get them going on something.
75. Wheat Thins - Sundried tomato and basil to be exact. If you haven't had any, I highly recommend it.
76. Candles - There's something about the smell they give and the ambiance they provide to a home.
77. BluRay - Have you seen one of these movies before?
78. Glasses and contacts - Try seeing the world through bleary eyes - yeah, it isn't any type of picnic.
79. Being loved by others - Yeah, it's totally NOT underrated.
80. Visitors - It's always nice to get those every once and again.
81. Imitation - When a student comes to school with their hair spiked all over the place it just makes my day.
82. Siblings - For the good and the bad they give.
83. Halloween - Not too many horrible memories of this amazing holiday.
84. Giant Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Eggs at Easter - Bring on the chocolately, evil goodness. Two this year, please.
85. Steak - Marinated just right, this delight is about as good as it gets.
86. Jars of Clay - If you haven't listened to them, you really should.
87. Moms - I have two. I love them both.
88. Dad - Things weren't always so great between us, now I can't imagine a life without him in it.
89. Strawberries - Dipped in chocolate, over ice cream, or just straight from the plant.
90. Procrastination - I'll get to the rest later...