These are a few of my favorite things.
Apr 28th, 2008 by benpatton
Dear Uncle Sam,
This evening finds me in an ornery mood. I feel such disdain for 80 percent of the popular music produced after 1970, and I daresay we’re now witnessing the foulest era of it since the invention of recorded sound. I’m becoming increasingly embarrassed to be associated with this art form, in which art has become so scarce.
It’s times like these that I like to make myself feel better by listing a few of my favorite things, just as Maria did in “the Sound of Music”. I also encourage my readers to submit a few of their own favorite things in the comments section.
Let’s see now, what do I love?
I love the moment when John Lennon’s voice cracks on the track “I’m So Tired” from the Beatles wonderfully disturbing self-titled album… as he sings “I’d give you everything I’ve got for a little piece of mind.”
I love When David Letterman and Paul Schaffer play “Will It Float?” and “Is This Anything?” on the Late Show
I love the scene in Fred Astaire’s 1935 film “Top Hat”, in which Fred Astaire “shoots down” a chorus line of tuxedoed men using his cane and some rapid fire tapping from beneath his spats.
I love the way dogs sometimes look at you, cocking their head to one side, and raising one doggy-eyebrow, almost quizzically.
I love seeing my family laugh hysterically.
And I’d love it if some of you would take a look at this video sample from my upcoming Muller and Patton DVD “The Jonathan and Bailey Companion”.
There, see? I feel better already.
| Rate it: |
 Email it
|
      |
|
My favorite sandwich is a grilled chicken hoagie with red peppers, provolone, and broccoli rabe.
My favorite frying pan is cast iron.
My favorite up-and-coming songwriter in the Philippines is Benjamin Toan Patton.
My favorite ice cream is peppermint stick.
There’s a lot - here’s a mere biopsy of my favorite things (That was the original title of the song, you know).
-Going for a walk outside on a Saturday morning in cloudless mid-sixties weather. It’s like free Prozac.
-The laugh of my middle-aged female Nigerian co-worker.
-Any major chord with the fourth in the bass.
-Chiaroscuro lighting.
I love gorging on watermelon. I love Stefan. I love the feeling of stepping off the stage. I love the thought of you and I putting together a cole porter review.
Watching little kids play… watching animals play…. watching adults play…. Doing things just to be different and get the stares…. these are some of MY favorite things.
… that line in interview with the vampire when claudia says to louis, “but who will care for me my love, my dark angel, when you are gone?”
… when my husband gets out of the shower and his hair is all wet and messy and his glasses are off and he smells all clean and his skin is warm from the hot water.
… getting intoxicated with my sisters.
… making really good music with friends.
… reading the next book in a series that i can’t get enough of.
… when my nephew leo says he missed me.
*The moment in any Marx Brothers movie when Harpo starts playing the harp. His face totally changes and in that one moment out of all the crazy schtick (and I love that stuff to pieces, too) he looks completely angelic. *the flying monkeys on top of One Main in Burlington *any food that combines tomato, basil and mozzarella *finding any of the amazing fairy tale picture books I loved as a kid and reading them again.
That’s a pretty dorky list. I’m okay with that.
Taste — warm brownies with a tall glass of milk, pulled bbq pork, fancy maple syrup on a buttered english muffin
Smell — sweet orange, spring air, food on the grill
Sound — baby giggles, Pachelbel performed by the Canadian Brass, silence
Sight — familiar roads after being lost, full amber moon, sparkly things
Feel — an itch scratched, a long shower after skipping a day or two, spontaneous hugs and kisses from my toddler
Apparently, I took too long to think about my favorite things… this thing timed out on me and the entire thing was lost. Despite this, I am in a great state of mind. Thanks for making me dwell on the good stuff, which I will share at a later date.