My friends and I have an email circle aptly nicknamed the Criticrew.  Each day, the e-conversation begins with a random topic of discussion that continues throughout the day and opens up to ever more random branches that usually end up completely unrelated to the original subject line.  Dumb FBSUs, required explanations, stories, opinion surveys counseling: no topic is taboo.  Today after a litany of complaints about Debbie Downer FBSUs, my best friend since 2000, Kathy, asked "what random things make u happy?? It could be anything! A food, person, place, thing, event, feeling, etc."
What follows is the unabridged list of 10 things that give me #maximumsmiles (in no particular order):1. Discovering new graffiti, especially Curtis Kulig's Love Me tags.
I have an odd affinity for graffiti. The delicate balance it strikes between art and crime, style and trash. I recall driving around with my great aunt, Tiane, in Miami and her commenting on how pretty some local graffiti tag was. At the moment, I thought she was loony and that we should commit her. Only years later did I begin to understand...2. Picking out a new book.
Whether it's an art book or literature, this makes me giddy. Since I was a kid, I've dreamed of having a library. As a chubby seven year old, I remember classifying my books into the different red plastic bins of my childhood library. Now, I covet a big, bad floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall library full of all sorts of literary favorites, captivating art monographs and random gifts from people who know how much I appreciate a good book.

Lovingly baked by Wes

3. Chewy chocolate chip cookies.
#fatgayproblems

4. Hearing my nephews Dylan and Brayden sing.
Dylan is almost five and Brayden is a year and a half. Dylan loves to play a private set for me whenever I'm in town with his latest masterpieces. I video tape him on my Blackberry as he strums on the Rockband guitar and sings his latest tunes, which have ranged from Toy Story's "You've Got A Friend In Me" to "Elmo's Song" to the Disney classic "It's A Small World." After he's done serenading me, he takes his bow (I taught him that) and he reviews the footage to make sure he approves. Brayden can't sing lyrics yet but he can carry a melody and sings it proudly — the Alphabet song is currently his favorite tune. They're happy kids and that happiness is contagious.

5. Knowing I'm blessed to have such a devoted family and loyal friends.
Atypically cheesy for me, but it's true. I'm lucky and grateful for them.

6. Getting "good" mail.
I check my mailbox about once a week, if that frequently. After being away on business for a week or two at a time, it's a treat to find a personalized letter from a friend, an unexpected invitation, a new Netflix DVD or my home delivery porn. The only thing better than this is receiving a package I didn't remember I had ordered and then walking into my apartment to find that my boyfriend Wes has written me the sweetest note and had made my bed.7. Spending time with sweet old people
Because of my retail career and extensive Cuban harem of aunts and uncles, I've had the chance to spend time with so many old people. They love to tell you all about the most inane things they can think of, like prescription drug regimens, historical epics of their former luster and all about their dead spouses or grandkids. I have an innate sympathy for them and let them ramble on as I listen (and eavesdrop on other more interesting conversations). I feel like this builds up my karmic points and my nieces and nephews will be kind to me and visit when I'm old and look like Richard Gere and tell them about the sexual escapades of my youth.
8. Realizing I live in NY and still love it.
I've been living in NY for seven years. And still, there are moments when it hits me like a bus that I live in NY. Immediately, a grin conquers my face like Hitler invading Poland — I'm helpless. The buzzing energy, the interesting people, the endless opportunities and boundless excitement.
9. Finding something I thought I had lost.
There's a sense of achievement that accompanies finding something you had dismissed as lost. Even though I had probably torn apart my entire apartment and looked everywhere humanly possible, it's still a relief to find that (insert lost item) in the interior pocket of the nylon Prada messenger that I hardly ever use. Joy.



My friend Susan's very own Marilyn Minter

10. Coming face to face with a piece of art I've seen only in pictures.
I'm a Libra. I like beautiful things. I enjoy standing in the presence of remarkable art. This moves me. I will never forget walking into the Sistine Chapel, herded in among the throngs of tourists and looking up to finally experience the awe of Michelangelo's frescoes. Or rounding the corner in Florence to catch my first glimpse of Brunelleschi's Duomo and having it take my breath away. Or sitting in the presence of a Pollock drip painting taking in every drip and its quiet insanity.