(While I did indeed started writing this in 2015, it is now somehow 2016 20fucking23. And because the last post was such a snooze fest, I thought all four two 18 of of my readers the bots deserve something lighter.)
This one will be fun.
Yup. It's 2015 2023. It's still the blog that won't die. I suppose if it's still here, I can still write. And, why not? Even through the link for the original "Lists to Write Before you Die" is now, itself, dead, I've managed to find an identical version of it elsewhere. So we continue.
I will do my best to keep things somewhat clean, but considering the relative anonymity of this space, there may be mention of a cock or two.
I think it's important to discuss how I'm defining "pleasure" here. When I think of pleasure, I think of a physiological response. That response could be that that jolt of electricity/dopamine in your brain, those bum tingles you get when you're excited about something or someone, or those other.... tingles.
The 2016 draft had 5 items. Some of those 5 have remained, some haven't. Some are pleasures I didn't get to in 2016, and still some others are things I wouldn't have even conceived off 7 years ago. So, in no particular order:
10. Water. Be it a pool, the ocean, the lake, or even a bathtub, I feel most comfortable in water. Maybe it is the weightlessness, the quietness, or the ease of movement. Who am I kidding. It's the weightlessness. I love the sensation of floating. You can't move quickly in water. Every movement is, well, fluid. You can lay on your back, kick your legs, and boom, you've traveled a distance. Also, water sex. I can admit, in 2023, that I have only had water sex once, and it did not live up to it's promise. It was in the ocean, and I spent the next two days worrying if brine shrimp were going to hatch in my vagina.
9. Haagen-Dazs Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream. Right. Okay. This one is a little embarrassing. I occasionally have what I lovingly call "Tub Time", where I shamelessly shamefully eat an entire tub of this ice cream in one sitting, and then usually spend the rest of the evening with diarrhea. But it's so good. Spoonful after delicious spoonful, I think to myself: HOW CAN THIS BE THIS GOOD? IS THIS WHY JESUS DIED.
8. The cat/ALL CATS. Maybe not all cats. Some cats are jerks that scare me, but I'd say 85% of all cats bring me some degree of pleasure. Okay, so I said this post would be fun, but I should update you - since my last post, we lost one of our two cats - the one who I believed I called my best friend in a previous post. Which she was/is. Our surviving cat was - not gonna lie - the less favourite cat. She was a bit more independent, and sort of mean to the other. Still a great cat, but she was just that. A cat, not a friend, a buddy, like Sexy was. Now that Sexy is gone, I have learned to really appreciate her personally for what it is, and she has become must more affectionate, and very cuddly. It's funny how new things to grow to fill in the space of the things you've lost. 2023 update: We lost Sweetie in 2020 (side story: my mask rubbed against my eye and made one of my contacts fall out right in the middle of the euthanasia procedure so I was crying like Popeye the whole time), after an unknown illness (likely cancer). Squirt is our current cat, and is probably the most perfect cat we ever had. He brings me pleasure every day, but also deep anxiety for the day when we'll also have to say goodbye.
7. My Job: There are some parts of my job I am exceptionally good at. I'm a fantastic facilitator, and I can bring people together and form meaningful relationships with people to accomplish a common goal. When things are going well, I feel powerful. If not powerful, then at least competent. And because I'm not sure I'm going to be able to think of 10 things, we're going to round that up to "pleasure".
6. The Satisfyer: First off, I found a pretty good deal on an older generation one, but it is the model I have). If it's still for like $40, go for it (or not, I'm not the boss of you). I hadn't heard of this until an older girlfriend told me about it (unsolicited). GOODNESS. This is an efficient engineering marvel. It may have made me a bit lazy, but I'm in my 40s now, and I've done more than my fair share of sexual exertion.
5. Kissing: We are getting in to the heart of the matter now, aren't we? I love kissing. Small pecks, deep kisses, tongues, all kinds. I've managed to find myself a husband who hates it though. We have made.. arrangements, but I'll admit I do not experience kissing as much as I would like. And were it possible to Tinder just to find a kissing partner, I would (yes, I know, I probably could do just that, but I'd prefer to complain).
6. Eating Out at the Y: Yes, that is what I mean. Basically what I said for #5, but for muff diving instead. All still applies.
7. Mr. W: Yes, there are some gaps (pun intended), nearly everything else he does do brings me great pleasure! You'll need to go to my other blog for more details on that.
8. Exercise.... eventually: While I am usually on the spectrum of annoyed to pissed off when working out, I do eventually feel the positive effects. After really struggling with anxiety for too many years, it did eventually click that movement of the body does help the mind. I do not like that fact, but it is undebatable. I admit that the effects may not be "pleasure" how I defined it. It's not a tingle or a zap, but it is a soothing, calming, reassuring effect.
9. Hugs: Hugs are kinda like pizza for me - even the bad ones are sorta okay. But the good ones are incredible. You've created a human flesh bubble with another person that contains all your feelings, your affection, compassion, and love. Hugs are great.
10. Lilacs: Something wholesome to finish us off (teehee). The smell of lilacs does something to my brain. They make me so happy. Last year I got a cut from my mother's bush (snort) and planted it. It was doing well until my lawn mower lady hit half of it with her mower. So, that part sucks, but when I do get the rare chance to smell one, I'm in completely bliss.
