25 Random Things About Me...

I've never participated in a Meme, until now. When it came my way, I almost didn't do it. It felt weird at first. But then as I considered it more, it began to become interesting...to think about what random things 1) other people might find interesting and 2) that I'd really like to share about myself on the internet. It got my mind working and my fingers typing, writing something that isn't work related. It was kinda fun.

Since I finished, I've been thinking that the idea writing of "25 random things about me" could be modified (thanks to a couple of friends) to write 25 things about a particular person, point in time, or subject - to really remember something important - and then use it as a starting off point for a story. Yeah. A story.

Please feel free to write your own 25 things and share. That would be interesting, too.

1. I found myself when I found myself in Fresno.

2. I'm a "glass half-empty" kinda gal. It's not really my nature to be that way. It's really the way of my nurture.

3. I met my dad at a Walgreen's Coffee Shop in a shopping Mall when I was 11 years old.

4. In 1985 I was the only - and probably the first ever - girl to take wood shop in my high school. The instructor "Dick" (No, really), had to re-think his response to kids asking to go to the bathroom when it came to me. He realized that he couldn't tell me to put a rubber band on it.

5. In high school also I drove a $300 puke orange 1971 Ford Pinto (yes, the kind that exploded if rear-ended), partook in a few less than desirable activities, dated a guy 5 years older than me, and worked in a toy shop as a gift wrapper.

6. My step-dad would never stop to let me go to the bathroom when we were on family road-trips. No matter how much I cried, begged, and pleaded. He'd say "at the next exit" and every time, he'd pass it by. I thought he was being a mean, horrible, and awful person. Then I grew up and began to understand what it must have been like to be an interracial couple in the 70's.

7. It felt good to be on television spouting liberalism while at the same time serving country club folk who underwrote, in the form of automatic 18% gratuities, my non-work time activities. Yes it did.

8. Boys are better than girls. Mostly. There are a few exceptions.

9. I share my birthday with George Carlin, Burt Bacharac, Florence Nightingale, Katharine Hepburn, and one of my best friends - Bridget.

10. My BEFRI talked me into attending community college. She convinced me that the toy-shop gig wasn't going to take me where I wanted to go. Despite the fact that I had no idea where the hell that was...

11. Growing up, the library was my sanctuary. I love telling my son: "we can find out more about that - I'm sure there's a book at the library."

12. Can you imagine, playing the flute (2nd chair), smoking cigarettes, and being asthmatic...concurrently?

13. I like rules, boundaries, and structure. Except when it doesn't suit me. And it used to not suit me most of the time. I'm a little older and wiser now.

14. This meme thing has been a great way to practice remembering.

15. I blog in relative anonymity. I want to write my story and have it read in relative celebrity. I'd love to get comments from readers more often (although, I adore the ones I get from a couple of regular readers!).

16. I'm the oldest of 6; 3 are siblings by marriage and 2 by blood. But technically, I'm an only child.

17. Being called a "disobedient wench" was one of the best compliments I've ever received.

18. I once saw a tarot reader who said I'd be very lucky throughout my life. Past, present, future - she was right on.

19. The best day of my life was the day I married Wood. I make a conscious decision to be married every waking moment of every day. Because we can make 'this' be anything we want it to be. That's the benefit of having few good role models. You know what you don't want to do.

20. I'm competitive. Mostly with myself. I often strive to be a type B+ personality.

21. I want to travel the world. Anywhere - everywhere...

22. I have a dream of living in NY, NY.

23. Pregnancy, labor, delivery, and breastfeeding were the most difficult things I've ever done with my body.

24. Whenever considering names for a child it is important to test not only the way the full name sounds in the fit of a parent's anger, but also in the fit of a lover's passion. They grow up and do grown up things after all.

25. You can ask me anything you want to. And while I'll very likely answer any questions with complete and utter honesty, I always reserve the right to refuse to answer. Just in case.

26. I'm not good at following rules. I'll probably keep adding to this list. Maybe someday it'll be 100 random things about me...

Thanks for reading.