one hundred things about me :: part one

I have never been able to complete the list that so many bloggers seem to do - 100 things about me. I can get to about 50, and then I give up, or get bored. It is too easy to fall into this trap of mentioning one negative thing, and then to keep going down that path. Who wants to read that? And even better, after reading that, why would anyone continue reading?

So I thought why not try again? Start with ten things, and try to keep things light, yet interesting.

part one :: let's get physical

{one} I am left-handed. My parents and sister are right-handed. This made life interesting. No one understood why it took me so long to open a can of soup. My paternal grandmother is left-handed and was made to do things right-handed. They actually tied her left arm behind her back. The reasoning was that back then they thought left-handed people were evil.

{two} My eyes are green. Again, everyone else in my immediate family has blue eyes. I also seem to have inherited this from my paternal grandmother.

{three} I am not adopted, although there were times I had my doubts. I felt sure that at the very least there was a mix up at the hospital. Once I even confronted my mom and begged her to tell me that my father wasn't really my father. Alas, she told me that indeed he was.

{four} I have worn glasses since I was five. It probably should have been sooner. My grandmother noticed I was sitting too close to the television set and insisted an appointment be made. I hated doctors and was convinced that the instrument the optometrist used to figure out my prescription, had hundreds of tiny needles that were going to be pressed into my face. I had quite the imagination. Of course I didn't share this with anyone and just freaked out until it was over.

{five} Under my right knee, I have a birthmark. It is roundish in shape, but nothing interesting. Inside of it there were lots of little freckles. Thankfully over the years it has faded, although never completely gone away. Now it looks more like dirt.

{six} My hair is brown. In the summer it gets blonde highlights; in the autumn in can look auburn in the right light. I dyed it a couple of times, but have decided not to again, until I have to.

{seven} My skin is very pale. On the rare occasions that I buy foundation, I usually end up with the second from the lightest.

{eight} Despite that I was born in a place with a distinct accent, I do not have it. If you heard me speak, you would never guess that that is where I am from. I do have trouble with certain words. For example, "asked" can come out as "axed", as in "I axed my mother".

{nine} My belly button is an 'inny'.

{ten} My feet are extremely ticklish. I don't like my feet to be touched because of it. As a result, I have only had a pedicure twice. Each time I am sure the women who worked on my feet must have thought I was insane.

on the night stand :: WALL*E Soundtrack

four things about me

FOUR THINGS ABOUT ME:

My friend (who I have known since grade school) email me this. I thought I would post it as well as send it back to her. I actually learned things I didn't know about her.

> > Four jobs I have had in my life:

1. Vet assistant
2. Quality Assurance Manager
3. Phone book delivery person
4. AIDS care taker

> > Four places I have lived:

1. Chicago, Illinois
2. Austin, Texas
3. Emeryville, California
4. Los Angeles, California

> > Four places I have been to on vacation:

1. San Francisco
2. Maui
3. Paris
4. London

> > Four of my favorite foods

1. Chocolate
2. Mashed potatoes
3. Turkey sandwich
4. Iced tea

> > Four places I would rather be right now:

1. San Francisco
2. Italy
3. With my friends
4. Home (wherever that is)


on the night stand :: Not A Stick

today i ....

It was a busy day:

Bought Christmas cards - 150 blank photo mount cards from Blick.

• It was like a Christmas miracle: I had two sales people helping me and after three attempts we were certain they were out of what I was looking for. Then the woman tried one last time, and sure enough there they were right in front of us. She actually did see them - I did - as she flipped through the stack.
• Only in American could someone named Dick Blick have a chance at success.

Bought a Cuisinart at Crate & Barrel.

• Mine is over a decade old and in a box in Chicago.
• Made potato latkes. That's why I felt the need to buy the Cuisinart. Those were mighty expensive, but tasty latkes.
• Thought about buying a box grater, but I could do so much more with a Cuisinart - like make cheesecake.

I also made snapper and fresh spinach.

I walked diagonally across Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena - the lights stop traffic in all directions so the pedestrians can dance in the street.

After dinner went back out to Target. Saw lots of couples making out in the aisles. Late night shopping at Target is always interesting, especially during the holidays.

• Got a game called In a Pickle. It was on sale, and I couldn't resist.
• Also got laundry detergent and dishwasher detergent and peppermint patties.

on the night stand :: Listening Is An Act Of Love

a day in the life of a rock star

This is my 30th post for November 2007. NaBloPoMo was a success!! I am proud of the fact that I made it through despite traveling and not having 24/7 access to the Internet.

Here are some highlights from my day (because I love lists):

Had pizza with a friend and her 3-year old twins (a boy and a girl). It was a lot of fun, and overall everyone was well behaved. (Although our waiter did ask if we would like some animal tranquilizers at one point.)

While B did some work I joined my friend at the playground and Borders. I managed to buy nothing at the bookstore.

B and I stopped at Long's (drug store) to buy pocket tissues. We also got some chocolate as it was on clearance.

The Pickle Presents arrived safe and sound at both recipients. Both are very excited! They get to open present number one tomorrow, and then one a day until Christmas.

Dinner at Jollibee. I had the Jollibee spaghetti.

Afterward we scored free hot donuts at Krispy Kreme. They really are best warm.

Tomorrow we must check the mail at the UPS Store.

on the night stand :: Identical Strangers: A Memoir of Twins Separated and Reunited

a few random tidbits

{one}: Visited our favorite chocolate cafe today. It is hard not to be happy there. We shared a chocolate cupcake that had whipped cream frosting and little pieces of candied orange on top.

{two}: Wore my cute shoes today. My feet are still mad about it.

{three}: B has been on the hunt for a certain game for his wii. We have visited several Targets, Best Buys, and Toys R Us stores without any luck. Then last night we end up at a Best Buy but there is major construction and the entrance I drove in through doesn't allow me to get to the Best Buy parking lot. Even better at the end of the drive I can only make a right turn, when I need to make a left. I made B get out of the car and walk. Good thing too. I got to the next intersection and couldn't make a u-turn and ended up making three left turns. Thankfully B emerged from the Best Buy with his game.

{four}: I am in pursuit of a 2008 moleskin calendar. I am thinking of going to the daily format, as the weekly format doesn't always have enough room. Now if only I could find one.

{five}: I got on line for the first time today at about 9:15pm.

{six}: I also had a sandwich^tm today. That deli has been in business 80 years. They know how to make a sandwich.

{seven}: And for dinner I had a Western Turkey Burger from Barney's. Oh, so good. B got the Turkey Pesto Burger which also was good. We split a basket of onion rings and I got an iced tea (instead of a rootbeer float).

{eight}: I the person you loved most in the world said that spending the holidays with his family rated a '6 or 7' (out of 10), would you just grin and bear it? I used to be able to hold my breath under water for a fairly long time.

on the night stand :: The Rough Guide to His Dark Materials (Rough Guide Reference)