# Unexpected things that mezmerize you... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 18, 2007, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-things-that-mezmerize-you/430508 "2007-12-18T22:04:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![BrassyPhrase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea666f/32.png) [@BrassyPhrase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrassyPhrase)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-things-that-mezmerize-you/430508/21 "2007-12-19T05:22:12Z")
Trash birds. And by that I mean the birds that populate parking lots. Pigeons. Here in Tx, grackles. And these little wren looking things. A bit of nature in the middle of a soulless parking lot I trudge to to get to work for one. The little ones live in the bushes. The grackles live in the nearby trees and the pigeons seem to live on the top of the parking lot lights. I love them. I feed them when I can and I love watching them fly over the parking lot. Watching grackles fight over spilled popcorn cracks me up. They all crap on my car–but the joy I feel watching them makes up for it. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-things-that-mezmerize-you/430508/22 "2007-12-19T05:29:59Z")
[QUOTE=BrassyPhrase] Trash birds. And by that I mean the birds that populate parking lots. Pigeons. Here in Tx, grackles. And these little wren looking things. A bit of nature in the middle of a soulless parking lot I trudge to to get to work for one. The little ones live in the bushes. The grackles live in the nearby trees and the pigeons seem to live on the top of the parking lot lights. I love them. I feed them when I can and I love watching them fly over the parking lot. Watching grackles fight over spilled popcorn cracks me up. They all crap on my car–but the joy I feel watching them makes up for it. [/QUOTE] I sometimes sit and watch the Pigeons. And something inside me that notices a small funny bit of nature co-existing with suburbia… as if the Pigeons have come to town to do a bit of shopping like the rest of us… feels a sense of gratitude for being alive. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-things-that-mezmerize-you/430508/23 "2007-12-19T05:35:51Z")
[too late for] edit: Priviliged too. You don’t need a God when you figure out how to appreciate the simple things… the things that surround us. The amusing little accidents of evolution and existence. ---
**Author:** ![Cyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e4f/32.png) [@Cyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyn)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-things-that-mezmerize-you/430508/24 "2007-12-19T06:26:41Z")
“Chasing” christmas lights. I have to deliberately pull myself away. I used a lava lamp for a nightlight but it gave me odd dreams. ---
**Author:** ![BaneSidhe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c5a1d2/32.png) [@BaneSidhe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BaneSidhe)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-things-that-mezmerize-you/430508/25 "2007-12-19T06:53:45Z")
Lava lamps, esp. the sparkly USB powered one I got for Xmas from daHubby. Going to the zoo and sitting in front of one of the aquariums full of brightly colored fish. That puts me in a very zen mood no matter what I’m doing or how I feel. ---
**Author:** ![Sticks\_and\_Scones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sticks_and_scones/32/16951_2.png) [@Sticks\_and\_Scones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sticks_and_Scones)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-things-that-mezmerize-you/430508/26 "2007-12-19T07:33:28Z")
Well, maybe not exactly _mesmerize_, but random Folk Music always has a calming effect on me. Alas, I need to remember this fact more often… ---
**Author:** ![Purgatory\_Creek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/74df32/32.png) [@Purgatory\_Creek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purgatory_Creek)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-things-that-mezmerize-you/430508/27 "2007-12-19T14:07:25Z")
Fog on snow. I almost fell asleep on the walk to the mailbox. ---
**Author:** ![foxymoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d26b3c/32.png) [@foxymoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foxymoron)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-things-that-mezmerize-you/430508/28 "2007-12-19T14:26:03Z")
The car wash. My favorite is the one where I drive my car onto the track and eversoslowly lurch through the tunnel while water pummels the vehicle. Sometimes I splurge for the high-end wash package, just to make it last longer. It’s meditative. ---
**Author:** ![Auntbeast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Auntbeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Auntbeast)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-things-that-mezmerize-you/430508/29 "2007-12-19T14:38:40Z")
I work nights so the Moon is my chaperone home. Last night, the sky was amazing. There was a good cloud cover, except the clouds were wispy. Rather hard to describe them, they were thick enough to obscure the moon, but the edges were rather thin and they were very irregularly shaped. The end result? The moon would fall behind one of the larger pieces and an entire patch of clouds would be back lit and glowing. Utterly beautiful. I love to see people do things well. Whether it be dancing, dealing, working, heck, even walking. Artistry in motion. I saw a you-tube video of a type of horse called a Friesian. Specifically one named Geoffert 369. Completely mesmerizing. I even bought the model horse of him. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-things-that-mezmerize-you/430508/30 "2007-12-19T14:42:23Z")
The Dalai Lama, specifically Tenzin Gyatso. I have read some of his books, and find him very interesting. But his visage is just amazing. His eyes and smile are calming/peaceful/beatific/beyond words. [14th Dalai Lama - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenzin_Gyatso%2C_14th_Dalai_Lama) ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-things-that-mezmerize-you/430508/31 "2007-12-19T14:48:08Z")
Watching my cats “fight”. I’ll stop anything else I may be doing. ---
**Author:** ![ChiefScott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58f4c7/32.png) [@ChiefScott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChiefScott)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-things-that-mezmerize-you/430508/32 "2007-12-19T15:04:21Z")
9-13-93 – Jerry Garcia, onstage at the Spectrum with the rest of the guys, jamming in the second set, _Playing in the Band\>Dark Star\>Terrapin Station_ just before _Drums\>Space_. 'Twas life altering for me. I was on the rail directly in front of him so I had a great view of his pick and fret work. Mezmerizing both visually and aurally… I guess I should say that I was always a “Phil” guy, but couldn’t get across the stage to see him up close. That’s why it was so “unexpected.” Damn, I’m jonesin’ for a show! ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-things-that-mezmerize-you/430508/33 "2007-12-19T15:07:35Z")
[QUOTE=foxymoron] The car wash. My favorite is the one where I drive my car onto the track and eversoslowly lurch through the tunnel while water pummels the vehicle. Sometimes I splurge for the high-end wash package, just to make it last longer. It’s meditative. [/QUOTE] Car washes scare me - I’ve had panic attacks in them ever since I was a kid. It makes my husband laugh. Yes, my husband can be mean. Mesmerizing? Listening to the coyotes at night - we spent an hour at about 3:30 this morning with the bedroom window open listening to them “talk” to each other… ---
**Author:** ![Kuboydal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecb155/32.png) [@Kuboydal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kuboydal)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-things-that-mezmerize-you/430508/34 "2007-12-19T15:10:15Z")
[QUOTE=ChiefScott] 9-13-93 – Jerry Garcia, onstage at the Spectrum with the rest of the guys, jamming in the second set, _Playing in the Band\>Dark Star\>Terrapin Station_ just before _Drums\>Space_. 'Twas life altering for me. I was on the rail directly in front of him so I had a great view of his pick and fret work. Mezmerizing both visually and aurally… I guess I should say that I was always a “Phil” guy, but couldn’t get across the stage to see him up close. That’s why it was so “unexpected.” Damn, I’m jonesin’ for a show! [/QUOTE] Oh but they were good that year. After all the health problems, listening to Jerry sing that he could be in heaven, but he’d rather be with us remains a fond memory. ---
**Author:** ![Barrington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Barrington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barrington)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-things-that-mezmerize-you/430508/35 "2007-12-19T15:23:59Z")
Aircraft, especially big ones, flying over, even if they’re just a speck on the end of a contrail. I can’t stop watching them until they’re gone. ---
**Author:** ![StinkyBurrito](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b9e5f3/32.png) [@StinkyBurrito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StinkyBurrito)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-things-that-mezmerize-you/430508/36 "2007-12-19T15:41:15Z")
I can’t believe I am the first person to mention a campfire (unless I missed it upthread)! Half the fun of camping is sitting around and watching the fire for hours at a time. ---
**Author:** ![Beaucarnea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c0e974/32.png) [@Beaucarnea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beaucarnea)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-things-that-mezmerize-you/430508/37 "2007-12-19T17:11:25Z")
[QUOTE=vetbridge] The Dalai Lama, specifically Tenzin Gyatso. I have read some of his books, and find him very interesting. But his visage is just amazing. His eyes and smile are calming/peaceful/beatific/beyond words. [14th Dalai Lama - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenzin_Gyatso%2C_14th_Dalai_Lama) [/QUOTE] My goodness, **vetbridge** , me too. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-things-that-mezmerize-you/430508/38 "2007-12-19T17:12:41Z")
[QUOTE=Beaucarnea] My goodness, **vetbridge** , me too. [/QUOTE] 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Tyger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Silver\_Tyger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Tyger)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-things-that-mezmerize-you/430508/39 "2007-12-19T17:44:26Z")
[QUOTE=StinkyBurrito] I can’t believe I am the first person to mention a campfire (unless I missed it upthread)! Half the fun of camping is sitting around and watching the fire for hours at a time. [/QUOTE] Oh heck yes. Watching dust motes float in sunshine. I was at camp this summer, felt like crap, and just sat watching dust float around the dining hall. It was very possibly the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen - like stars. Purring cats lying on your lap. Or chest. The night sky when you can actually see stars. Dammit, I’m getting teary. I blame hormones. ---
**Author:** ![Tikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5daacb/32.png) [@Tikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tikki)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-things-that-mezmerize-you/430508/40 "2007-12-19T18:53:37Z")
Dust motes and campfires and the moon and clouds, among others, are all good mesmerizers. I’m glad I’m not the only one who will stop to be taken in by their charms. Growing up, my sisters would taunt me if I looked at something too long so I learned to be more subtle and be quicker about it, which isn’t nearly as satisfying. Now I see that there’s kindred spirits here. It makes me feel better knowing that. Another thing I love is standing on the shore where it’s shallow and watching the way the sun makes rippling patterns under the water and the way the movement of the water distorts the appearance of whatever is on the bottom. I even spent an entire afternoon, when I had nothing better to do, watching the patterns and distortions going on a pool. In a bit deeper water, say if I’m on a dock, I’m always looking in the water hoping to see a fish. As someone mentioned above, fish are great mesmerizers too. Plus I like the way, when the water is a bit murky, the sun makes a many-rayed halo around your shadow. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-things-that-mezmerize-you/430508.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-things-that-mezmerize-you/430508.md?page=3)