100 Things - Post Two

Are you sure you really want me to continue this list? I mean, really, why would anyone want to know 100 Things about me? Hell, I don't even want to know that much about myself.

You do? Really?

Oh geez. Now you're going to be a smart ass? My ego can't handle it. Screw you. I'm writing it anyway.

Where was I? Right, number twenty-one. Let's see...

21. I can't take an Alka-Seltzer Cold tablet without licking it before I drop it in the water. And singing the old jingle... Plop! Plop! Fizz! Fizz! Oh! What a relief it is! I have a thing for jingles. I remember a product based on their song. And I love a good commercial. I'm more likely to mute the actual show on TV than the commercials.

22. I've always been a night-owl. I love staying up late, when the world is quiet. Even when I was young, before I had kids, I stayed up at night. When I was in school, I would read until 3 or 4 in the morning, snatch a couple hours of sleep, then pry my eyelids back when my dad would come pounding on my door.

23. In high school I was invisible. I wasn't a popular girl, or a band geek, or just a geek, or an outsider, or anything. I was just a normal kid. I went through hell in middle school, and got teased an awful lot, but we moved after my freshman year and then everything was okay. I knew a lot of people, and everyone liked me, but I only had a couple of friends.

24. When I was in school, I was a bit of a professional artist. I was always good in art class, and every year I had many pieces in the school art show and won a ribbon or ten I think. My specialty was portraits. I did big black and white pencil drawings for people and the last few I charged $150 each. But then, it got to be too much of a job and I didn't want to do it anymore.

25. I only like doing things while they interest me. I'd love to be a professional writer but I'm afraid I would lose my joy in it and then it would just be another fucking job.

26. Despite that, I'm very loyal. I bond with friends right away, and it generally takes a lot for me to decide I don't like a person anymore.

27. I'm a writer. Shut the fuck up. I am. Technically, I write, therefore, I'm a writer. I'm working on my first novel. Geez! You're going to question everything I say tonight aren't you?! Fine! I haven't written anything for the book in about a month now, but it's not like I've put it away. It's still there, it's just not talking to me right now. I've always been a writer. When I was nine, I think, my class was supposed to write a little story. Mine was around ten pages and involved my teacher meeting her husband and something to do with a hot air balloon. I remember my teacher, Mrs. Fowler, being astounded. I wrote a few stories in high-school, too, and my freshman English teacher tried to get me to get them published. I didn't though.

28. I love the beach. It's calming, exhilarating, peaceful, awe-inspiring... It has many, many opposing traits and I love that. It makes me feel small and insignificant, yet somehow, at the same time, a part of the big picture. I love the sound of the waves and the wind in my hair. But the best time to be at the beach is at night. All the loud sun seekers have gone, the heat of the day is coming up from the sand, and if it's a bright night, you can still see the waves coming in. The sound of the waves is like a beating heart, somehow. Ah. I miss it.

29. I'm a music lover. It plays a huge role in my life and most memories I have are triggered by songs. When I hear a trigger song, I see the exact scene it calls to mind. Not just my feelings at the time. I like pretty much all music to a degree, but the best is rock. Classic rock, new rock, alternative, grunge, punk... Whatever. If it has a lot of guitar and drums and cool lyrics, I'm all over that shit. Especially if it makes me move.

30. I'm a dancer. Not a good dancer, mind you, but I still love it. Don't ask me to go clubbing, though, because I don't dance like that. I'm a kitchen dancer. And a car dancer. Heh. Especially at red lights because I don't have to worry about wrecking. I laugh when I get weird looks because at least I'm having fun and they're sitting there impatiently. I passed on my love of music and dancing to the kids. It's funny how their own personalities change the style. Noah is awkward and off-beat (much like me. Heh), Tess likes ballet and swirling, princess type dancing, and Tripp is a head-bopper (also like me. Poor poor kids) and arm shaker.

31. I sing a lot, too. I have my old favorites that run through my head constantly, and I sing them in the shower and all over the house. I'm... Not bad, but not all that good either. Most of the songs I like to sing are by men, for some weird reason, but I can belt out a lot of girl songs if they aren't too high-pitched. My voice is sort of low for a girl. The best night out for me includes Karaoke, as long as a little alcohol is involved.

32. Ummmm. Hmm. I don't really like to talk about myself this much. You know how you have a conversation with some people and you wonder when they're ever going to shut the fuck up about themselves? Probably wouldn't with me, unless I have a problem or whatever that I need to talk about.

33. I'm sympathetic and empathetic to other people's problems. I can almost always understand where the other person is coming from. That might be a good quality, but it sure has bitten me in the ass a lot.

34. I want to travel the world one day. It would be nice to see it all, but my first stop, the place that calls to me, is Ireland. I'm not sure why, but it just seems magical to me.

35. I hate to cry. I'm okay with a few tears over a good book, movie, song, or even commercials, but if you make me cry about myself, it pisses me off. And then I cry more. When I do, it's not pretty. My entire face turns red, especially around my eyes and my nose. I'm not talking about that delicate pink that's really kind of pretty on some women. I'm talking Rudolph. My eyes, nose, and lips swell up, too. And the swelling takes a full day to go away. So, yeah, if you make me look like that, I'm going to be pissed.

36. I don't watch much TV anymore, but when I do it's a comedy or crime-drama. I hate reality TV, though I have been watching a little Big Brother this year. Mostly, I prefer anything that makes me laugh, though.

37. My favorite authors are Stephen King and Dean Koontz, in that order. I've read The Stand at least seven times, and absolutely love it. Same with The Talisman. I'd say if I had to pick a favorite book it would be either or those, but I've read so many, and loved so many, that I can't pick favorites. SK is great, but I get a little depressed because the Evil is never really gone, just defeated at the moment. DK is great for that because he calls to my inner-optimist.

38. I'll read anything, though. From cereal boxes to shampoo bottles, I'm constantly reading. The best gift for me is a book you thought I'd like. I like it all. Except for romance novels. I've read them because they were there, but they're too boilerplate, predictable. Give me suspense or horror or ANYTHING else.

39. I don't like gift cards as gifts unless it's someone I'm not very close to. I think a good friend or a loved one should know a person well enough to know what to get them. However, I DO buy them for certain people, like my parents, because they already have everything and it's hard to pick for them. My mom and I have completely opposite taste, in everything, so she's almost impossible for me to buy for.

40. I don't want things or stuff as a general rule. I don't have to have designer clothes or the very best, most advanced computer/car/phone. I don't want the biggest house. All I want is the emotions those things are supposed to represent. All I want is love.