Number 100

My hundredth post came and went, and I didn’t realize it until one of my friends pointed it out. Apparently I’m supposed to do 100 things about me in celebration of that post, so better late than never, right?

1. I’ve always liked my middle name more than my first name.

2. I am the middle child in my family – one of three sisters.

3. I’ve always wondered what it would have been like to have had a brother.

4. I consider my talents to be in the arts – writing and music, predominately.

5. I play three instruments well – piano, flute and tenor saxophone. I can play many other instruments okay – piccolo, clarinet, alto saxophone, various percussion instruments (including chimes), etc.

6. People think I’m fairly extroverted when actually, I’m quite introverted. Although I am very social, I recharge by being alone, and am drained if I spend a large amount of time around other people.

7. I would prefer to stay home and read a book to going out with friends. This should not be taken personally by my friends.

8. I get claustrophobic in large groups of people. Don’t go shopping with me around Christmas.

9. My parents are still married (fairly happily by most accounts).

10. I’m inspired by their marriage.

11. Although I’ve been told I’m very smart and feel I have talent when it comes to music, I’ve always felt that both of my sisters were smarter and more talented than me.

12. Although I was always told I was pretty, I’ve always felt like the ugly duckling.

13. One of my classmates, both in school and church, told me I looked beautiful during our confirmation pictures. Although we grew up together, we never talked much. He was popular, I wasn’t. He will never know how much that meant to me (Note to everyone: Just an example how a small kindness can make a huge difference.).

14. From my college years on, I battled with my weight. It is still a battle.

15. I have PCOS.

16. I seem to attract other friends with fertility problems. (Or maybe, due to my own issues, I’m just more aware of this problem?)

17. Our son was a gift we never thought we would receive.

18. Our son will most likely be our only child.

19. I’m still battling with #18, but pretty much know that the Hubby is final on that decision, and am just grateful we were able to have Little Dude.

20. The Hubby is approximately 11 years older than me.

21. I think the age difference bothers him more than it bothers me (and is part of the reason he is against having more children – he feels he is too old).

22. I have always (for the most part) dated guys older than me.

23. The Hubby thought I was older, and I thought he was younger, when we first met.

24. We were both surprised when we found out the ages of each other.

25. I have a degree in mass communications – public relations, with a minor in English (with a writing option).

26. I loved college!

27. I hated junior high and high school.

28. I was not “popular” in school.

29. Looking back, I’m glad I wasn’t popular.

30. My best friend in kindergarten had the same name as me. My best friends in elementary school were Lisa and Jenny. My best friends in high school were Stacey, Carla, Henna, Barry, Matthew (AKA Stubby) and Mike.

31. I learned you should never date one of your best male friends the hard way.

32. I had a lot of pen pals when I was younger. My favorite one was from Manitowoc, WI – June Ross.

33. I know where all of my best friends from school are and am in touch with most of them, except for the one from kindergarten.

34. I wish I knew where June was, and knew how her life was going.

35. I went to college in Minnesota.

36. I loved living in Minnesota and dream of moving more north than I currently am.

37. I am living in the town in which I’ve spent most of my life.

38. I had vowed I would never live here again after high school. I’m happy I’m raising my son here.

39. I have a tattoo. I can blame Tendrils for talking me into going and getting this tattoo.

40. I worked my way through college with some assistance from my parents.

41. I’m grateful to my folks, but proud of myself for how hard I worked (40+ hours/week) while going to school full-time.

42. I have no idea how I managed my schedule back then. It seems impossible now.

43. One of my proudest moments in college, was getting security clearance to go behind the scenes at NASA (in Florida), to interview their public affairs/public relations folks about the Challenger tragedy.

44. My other proud moment was when a political figure began swearing at me, after I asked him a very direct question he had been trying to avoid. It made for an interesting quote.

45. I received top honors for public relations in our PR Campaigns class. I had to compete against other PR students.

46. My husband and I did not live together prior to marriage.

47. I’m old-fashioned that way and am proud of that fact.

48. I have always had very good teeth, per the dentists I’ve seen over the years.

49. I have never had braces and didn’t get my first cavity until I was in my twenties.

50. I have horrible eyesight, and cannot see much beyond my nose without my contacts or glasses.

51. My hair is naturally straight – think Cher in the 70s straight (it even parts naturally straight down the middle).

52. I’m self-conscious of my high forehead and have had a hairstyle with bangs for as long as I can remember.

53. I adored Crystal Gayle as a child and sang “Don’t it Make My Brown Eyes Blue,” as “Donuts Make My Brown Eyes Blue.”

54. I really do have brown eyes.

55. I wanted Crystal Gayle’s hair.

56. I had a long, flowered dress that I called my Crystal Gayle dress (it was similar to one she wore on the cover of one of her albums).

57. I would still like to meet Crystal Gayle someday.

58. I used to be VERY concerned as a child, about how she could possibly go to the bathroom with all of that hair.

59. I had very big mall hair in the 80s and early 90s.

60. Prior to being a mom, it was rare for me to not do my hair and put on make-up.

61. My dad’s nickname for me as a child was Fred.

62. I’m scared of horses.

63. I love cats and am leery of most dogs.

64. I was bitten by a small dog when I was a child.

65. My grandparents had a farm, so I helped butcher chickens when I was younger.

66. I worked at KFC in high school.

67. I worked for Cousins Subs in college.

68. I also worked in janitorial/building maintenance in college. I managed the student crew (Tendrils worked with me).

69. I love being married to the Hubby.

70. He proposed to me on Christmas Eve.

71. He picked out my engagement ring on his own and did an awesome job.

72. I am a Disney nut.

73. I’ve been to Walt Disney World more than a dozen times.

74. I am a firefighter and certified as a level II by my state.

75. I’m very proud of #74, as it is something several people told me I wouldn’t be able to do.

76. I went to college to prove I could do it.

77. I’m motivated by people telling me I can’t do something.

78. I have some OCD tendencies, mainly with washing my hands and a few other small habits.

79. I’ve always dreamed of writing a book and have several ideas.

80. I am scared of failure, which plays into why I haven’t pursued the writing dream.

81. I was born, bred and raised Lutheran, but married a Catholic boy.

82. He joined my church, and I love him for it.

83. I originally went to college to be a teacher and occasionally wish I had continued in that field.

84. I have a certificate in Human Resources Management, which I obtained in 2006, getting a 4.0 in all of my classes!

85. I am addicted to home makeover/new home shows.

86. I consider my older sister one of my best friends, and I feel like my little sister and I have grown closer as we have gotten older.

87. I am very close to my mom’s mom. I’m considered to be “Grandma’s girl.”

88. I have a very naughty sense of humor, which I’ve worked to curb now that I am a mom.

89. It is my father’s sense of humor. I have his penchant for practical jokes, too.

90. I have my mother’s sarcasm and wit.

91. My favorite color is purple.

92. Historical romance novels are one of my vices when I am feeling overwhelmed.

93. Some of the other jobs I have held besides my career in public relations/marketing, and what I mentioned above, have been in waitressing, bartending, retail, management of retail, insurance and other customer service work.

94. I still have my two baby blankets. Their names are blue kiki and pink kiki.

95. I am a pack rat. It has worked in my favor in several instances.

96. I would love to visit Germany some day.

97. I’ve only been out of the country twice – once to Mexico (Cancun) and once to Canada.

98. My first car was an AMC Eagle.

99. I was a very frilly little girl. I loved dolls and dresses, while both of my sisters were more tomboyish.

100. Two of the reasons Supercat means so much to me, are because my grandpa (now deceased) gave him to me, and because it was during a time in my life when I felt “unlovable.”