Before you know it, you're the crazy cat lady in the scary house

Another 100 Things

May 08, 2004 ... 3:53 p.m.

Bootsie: “So, your theory is ...?”
Eibisch: “He has the right to dig his own grave. I have the right to hand him the shovel.”

I did another one a couple of years ago.

1. Nothing makes me happier than a new book. Nothing. Isn’t that sad? I love getting books for Christmas, my birthday, Thursdays ... they just make me happy.

2. When I read a book, I read the first chapter and then I read the last chapter. Not because I dislike surprises or suspense, but because I was traumatized by an episode of M*A*S*H that I first saw as a small child. They got a “who-done-it” book in a care package that was missing the last chapter, where you learned the culprit’s identity. They ended up radioing back to the US for the answer.

3. I work out for somewhere between 1 and 2 hours a day, depending on whether I’m into it that particular morning. Not that it accomplishes what I want. Hello, I have no Janet Jackson fabulicious abs o’ impossibility.

4. I am very embarrassed that I still attend (1 or 2 classes a term, usually) community college. Exigent circumstances aside.

5. In keeping with my scholastic embarrassments, I scored a 26 on my ACT. In my defense, we had buried my aunt the day before and our family reunion was that afternoon. I had a lot on my mind.

6. I took the SATs when I was in 7th grade, but I never got my scores because it was an E.L.P./Gifted & Talented thing.

7. I actually say “dude” a lot. I’m a dork.

8. Three television shows to which I am addicted--Survivor , Cold Case and The Dukes of Hazzard. Seriously.

9. Also, anytime “Homicide: Life On The Street” (R.I.P.) is on, I shut things down! I’ve got homework? Not for another hour, I don’t.

10. My favorite cookies are oatmeal chocolate chip.

11. I suffer from “electronics rage.” When an electronic device doesn’t work properly, I get irrationally frustrated. Like, right now, my brand new computer speakers won’t work and I want to shoot them. But I don’t own a gun. Which makes me angrier, because I never seem to have anything when I need it.

12. I cut over two feet of hair off a few months ago and donated it to Locks of Love. I’m glad I did it, my hair is currently in that awful “growing out” stage, but I’m still glad I did it.

13. I hate popcorn.

14. I love jigsaw puzzles. The bigger and more difficult, the better.

15. I have several little scars on my forearms from my cat attacking me. He doesn’t have any claws, either. They’re all from him biting. He’s like a fluffy little man-eating shark.

16. I used to drink Mt. Dew like it was water, but I can barely stand it since my hospital stay in November. I drink Coke now. Like it is water. Maybe I should just try water.

17. I do not keep a paper journal.

18. Instead of a paper journal, I sometimes write poems. They almost always end up dark and twisted. I don’t know what that means.

19. I abhor peas.

20. I hate when guys talk down to me because I’m a woman. Whether about sports, cars or life in general--I hate it.

21. I said the Pledge of Allegiance when I was 21 months old. To an umbrella. No lie--Mom taped it.

22. I don’t lie. I don’t always elaborate when I answer a question and--if I don’t really want to answer the question they meant--I will answer their literal question, but I won’t lie.

23. I try to do nice things for people--bake, quilt, etc--just to attempt to make their day a little better. Send a card for no reason.

24. I still don’t know who Ryan is and I still don’t know who called me. A couple of life’s little mysteries, I guess.

25. I get irritable when I go more than a few hours without hearing music. I prefer my music, but any radio station will do in a pinch. Another of my little quirks, I guess.

26. My telephone has an Elvis Presley figure on it and, instead of ringing when someone calls me, it ‘dances’ to Elvis singing “Hound Dog”. Which makes me quite popular when someone calls at 3 am.

27. I don’t like anyone to touch my ears. Sometimes, I don’t even like changing my own earrings.

28. I have my ears pierced six times. 4 on the right, 2 on the left.

29. I love road/car trips. I don’t care where I’m going, either.

30. I was in Wilmington, NC when Hurricane Bertha landed. It was scary, but no more so than a good sized tornado.

31. My favorite Disney movie is “Beauty & The Beast”, but I adore “Sleeping Beauty”--especially the song “Once Upon A Dream”.

32. I only remember ever having three bad dreams/nightmares. One was about a killer octopus invasion (shut up, I was 8), one was about my mom dying and the other was about my sister dying.

33. I do not sing well, but I was in high school choir and we sang back up for Kenny Rogers once. One song. I was all “Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love To Town--YEAH!” But no. It was a Christmas song. Nuts.

34. I have contacts, but I prefer to wear glasses.

35. When I was a junior in high school, our marching band went to Florida to march in the Orange Bowl parade. Woo. We went to Busch Gardens and, by the line for a coaster, they had a snake tent set up. You could go in and see all different kinds of snakes. I was the only girl who would go in (I rock!) and I was the only person who would pet a snake (I TOLD you I rock!). The snake was a huge boa constrictor. I had never touched a snake before and I expected it to feel cold and slimy. It felt like warm satin.

36. I find humor in everything. Everything.

37. I used to want to teach elementary school but, after spending an entire summer doing that with one child, I realized I do not have the emotional fortitude.

37. The first movie I ever saw in a theatre was “Bambi” and my grandma took me.

38. I don’t believe in love at first sight. I would like to, it’s a beautiful and romantic idea, but I don’t.

39. I am not a touchy/feely/cuddly person. I like to cuddle/hug/whatever on my terms. My sister is an EXTREMELY physically affectionate person and it drives me batty.

40. I watch the Super Bowl for the game. And if those *#$&^% Patriots win again, I’m switching to curling!

41. I love kiwi-strawberry flavored Gatorade.

42. My “You’ve Got Mail” sign-on is voiced by the deliriously sexy Chris Isaak.

43. I fall asleep on my left side, but end up sleeping on my stomach.

44. I have never outgrown my childhood fascination with dinosaurs.

45. I “overthink” things. When I go to bed and a thought creeps into my head, I fuss it to death for hours.

46. I don’t get very angry often, but worry when I give the ‘silent treatment’--because I am a talker and if I am not talking I am mad.

47. I’m not afraid of flying in an airplane, but I HATE taking off and climbing/losing altitude. It’s the ear-popping thing.

48. In keeping with the airplane theme, every night before I fly, I watch Final Destination. Apparently, I’m a bit masochistic.

49. Someday, I’d like to rent an RV and just drive around the country for a few weeks.

50. I intensely dislike snow. And/or being cold. I have been known to wear sweats in July.

51. I look A LOT younger than I am. I got carded going to see “Dawn of the Dead”. Seriously. I haven’t been 17 for a decade. I’m told this will be a compliment someday.

52. I am usually [outwardly] very laid-back. My motto is: “It will all work out. Eventually.”

53. I love watching basketball, but I hate watching the NBA. I think the majority of players are overpaid, undertalented and probably wouldn’t last long in today’s NCAA.

54. I’ve tried eating vegetarian and vegan. I missed pepperoni pizza too much.

55. I’m still not sure what I want to be when I grow up.

56. I don’t care for air conditioning. I would much rather have open doors and windows.

57. I have been stung by a bee. Even though it was hardly painful, I am still terrified of bees and wasps. Even bumblebees freak me out.

58. I was once bitten by a Rhea (a cousin of the ostrich). See photos section for a startled little me.

59. I had surgery on my foot and my Achilles' tendon was severed. I was in a cast from my hip to my toes for 7 weeks. Again, see photo section.

60. The smell of celery makes me physically ill.

61. In Jamaica, I got sunburned so badly that my eyes swelled shut for two days.

62. I grow heirloom roses.

63. My favorite thing to drink is cranberry juice.

64. I have a stuffed panda bear that I’ve had since the day after I was born.

65. I am not a good sleeper. I can fall asleep anywhere--floor, bleachers, car--but I can’t stay asleep.

66. My best friend, Robin, and I have been friends for almost 15 years. We’ve been in each other’s life for longer than not.

67. I have had chicken pox twice.

68. Although I like one or two artists, I really dislike the musical genre of jazz. One of my band teachers was a jazz fanatic and crammed it down our throats at every opportunity.

69. I have been called an “indiscriminant music whore.” I am inclined to agree as, with the exception of #68, I enjoy almost any genre of music.

70. I hate geometry proofs.

71. Now that I’m an adult, I like pb & j sandwiches. Couldn’t stand them when I was kid.

72. When my sister and I fight -- we FIGHT. No girly hair-pulling or little slaps. No. I’m talking chokeholds, roundhouses, uppercuts, etc. I am not kidding.

73. My favorite place in the world is Hawaii. Specifically, Waikiki. Honolulu. Oahu.

74. I love hearing my grandpa’s WWII stories.

75. Until a few years ago, I thought I was my grandpa’s favorite (I don’t mean to sound conceited, I honestly thought I was). I heard him tell Cousin#5 that he liked her best (I want to believe he didn’t know I was nearby). I was crushed.

76. I love Mai-Tais. Even "virgin" ones.

77. I pray every night.

78. My dvd collection can be divided into two distinct categories -- kid’s movies/cartoons and war movies. With the exception of the Jurassic Park trilogy, that’s it. Either/or.

79. I sleep with a water bottle under my pillows.

80. I yawn when I am nervous. Which works so well for job interviews and dates.

81. I cock my right eyebrow, my mom cocks her left and my sister can’t do it at all.

82. I know I can never go to Vegas unchaperoned. Because I would totally pull a Britney Spears. I would!

83. For whatever reason, I cannot make chocolate chip cookies. They always come out horrible.

84. I love oceans/beaches. And palm trees. I can stare at photos of palm trees for hours. They represent everything good and happy and warm and sunny for me.

85. I lovepalm trees.

86. I like when someone else brushes my hair.

87. I have never told a male, outside my family, that I loved him. If I had, I would be lying.

88. I love hot air balloons. I watch the skies for them all summer. I have never been in one, but I would like to someday.

89. There are only two things I’ve kept that my father gave me--one is a wall hanging of a hot air balloon, one is my stuffed panda.

90. I would also like to go underwater in a cage and ‘swim’ with Great White sharks.

91. I believe my sister is much prettier than me.

92. My favorite snack is frozen grapes. Seriously. Stick a bunch in the freezer and eat a few whenever the mood hits. They taste like tiny little slushies.

93. I am not a beer drinker, but I LOVE the smell of beer (nobody ever believes that). Yeah, I’m weird.

94. I have a good sized scar on my back from a surgery, all along my spine. It’s mostly a thin little white line, but I am majorly embarrassed by it. I also get really annoyed when people brush my embarrassment off with a laugh and a “Oh, it’s not that bad.” Yeah. It’s not that bad because it’s not on YOU.

95. I love TVLand and Nick at Night, I love all the old “Honey, I’m home” shows. I really would like to run away to Mayberry someday.

96. Don’t tell me how to do something--I will figure it out. Don’t constantly warn me about something, either. Chances are, I’ve already figured it out and if you keep warning me not to do something--well, then, now I have to do it just to piss you off.

“Don’t touch, that it’s hot.”
“Okay.”
“Because it’s hot, so don’t touch it.”
“...”
“Do not touch this, it will burn you.”
“Ow!”
“Why did you touch it? I TOLD you it was hot!”

97. I like cheese on my fries.

98. I LOVE Disney World and Epcot and all those theme parks. I’d go every year, if I could.

99. My favorite cd is ELVIS: As Recorded at Madison Square Garden.

100. I am the only one on my mom’s side of the family with brown eyes.

Currently Reading: The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory
Thank you, MeeshaPeesha.

Listening To: Riddlin’ Kids
...Here I go again, throwing caution to the wind...

Have a happy day!

7 ... 8