25 Random Things meme

[pegkerr]

All right, all right. I've been tagged by about a gazillion people on this.

25 Random Things About Me

1. I thought of my eyes as brown until I was in my thirties. One day I looked into the mirror and thought, Good heavens, they're not brown. They're actually hazel. How is it that I never noticed before?

2. One of the things I enjoy the most about being a parent is watching my children when they are asleep. I never get tired of it.

3. I have a tendency to order one signature dish in a restaurant. I find one thing I like and then I order it again and again. This is one reason I keep going back to the Birchwood Cafe: I tend to get into ruts but the Birchwood Cafe changes their menu every week, so I'm simply not allowed to do this. So I've gotten into the rut of . . . going to the Birchwood Cafe. Fortunately, their food is always good, so that's not a problem.

3. I want my girls to go wherever they like for college (assuming they can find a way to do it without getting into massive debt) but I hope they move back to Minnesota when they're done with school. The thought of them living far away is almost unbearable.

4. I quite like my gray hairs. I think they are like charming little accents to my chestnut hair. I wonder if this will change as I get more of them, but it's hard to imagine. I really like gray hair.

5. I went through a period when I was a kid when I wanted to be an archeologist when I grew up. I have no idea what happened.

6. I love Moleskine notebooks. I carry one in my purse and write down random things in them. When it's filled, I buy another, put the old one on the shelf, and never look at it again.

6. I love to dress up for the Renaissance Festival, although I secretly fear I look like a dork when I do.

7. There are days I think that my walks on the Stone Arch Bridge are the only thing keeping me going.

8. I wish I entertained more (or like, ever), but our house is cramped for guests (and only has one bathroom) and I'm self-concious about the clutter.

9. I would have killed to have my daughter Fiona's figure when I was a teenager.

10. I think I'm an above-average parent re: talking about body image, mental health issues, sexuality, and politics. I think I'm a lousy parent at helping with math homework. Fortunately, Rob is really good at that, so we make a great team.

11. I think canned green beans are unspeakably gross--unless they're in a three-bean salad made with vinegar. Then I can't get enough of them.

12. I don't have the faintest idea how to use the remote control devices for the two TVs and two VCRs in our family room, since I never watch TV. I don't even know which remote controls which device.

13. I have four checkbook registers in my purse.

14. I think Jane Austen would not have liked me very much. She probably would have mocked me. This bothers me to a ridiculous degree. I can't believe how much time I've spent wondering what she would have thought of me.

15. I started using an eyebrow pencil in my forties after I saw a "Before" and "After" picture in Glamour Magazine. I can't believe what a difference it makes in my appearance and wonder why nobody told me about them before. Probably it's because I don't read Glamour Magazine very often.

16. On the other hand, I don't understand the point of nail polish. It always starts chipping off within ten minutes if I put it on. And lipstick or lipgloss? How can women get it to stay on for more than a half hour?

17. I wish I were braver.

18. I'm an American, and proud to be one. But the country I feel the most affinity for other than my homeland is England. The time I spent studying at Cambridge University was one of the happiest times of my life.

19. I like vanilla ice cream topped with a really good quality balsamic vinegar.

20. I am absurdly sentimental about the girls' art projects that I display at my desk at work.

21. I envy my sister Cindy for her hilarious wit. She can make me laugh until I snort up whatever I'm drinking. When I was a kid, I used to envy her for her red hair, but I've gotten over it.

22. I really like my hands. Yeah, the skin gets a bit dry in winter. But the nails are strong, and the fingers are shapely, and they can type really fast.

23. I love it when people who've been reading this journal introduce themselves to me in real life. I'm always immensely startled when someone leaves a comment saying they saw me out and about somewhere, but were to shy to say hi (or sometimes, to ask for an autograph). This has happened a surprising number of times. I can't imagine how on earth I could possibily ever intimidate anybody.

24. In my food stash cupboard at work: chocolate rice cakes, peanut butter, oatmeal, Celestial Seasonings Bengel Spice Tea and a teapot.

25. If there is anything I want to be able to do physically more than anything else, it's probably to be able to do a complete side splits. Then I could round kick to my opponent's head. I used to be able to do it as a kid and it really frustrates me that I can't do it anymore.

I won't tag anyone specifically. Just go out and do likewise if you are so inclined.

Comments

[cesario.livejournal.com]

Which Moleskine do you use, or do you have a steady regular? I started off with the three-packs of small, black, lined notebooks, then moved to the brown cardboard version of the same, then to black large lined ones, then to small brown cardboard unlined, then large brown cardboard unlined. :-D But I can't get enough of them either.

What is it you think Jane Austen would have found mockable? Personally I've never recovered from the line in Persuasion where she says it's impossible to be moved by the sight of a fat person crying. Anytime I cry now I worry that I'm looking pudgy.

(balsamic vinegar? on ice cream? Really?)

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

I used the small black lined Moleskine.

As for what, if anything, Jane Austen would have found objectionable about it. Not sure, it's just a hunch, really. Naiveté, maybe?

(Yes, really. Try it sometime. Everyone I've mentioned it to thinks it sounds awful, but all the people I've gotten to actually TRY it end up liking it.)

Ren-Fest Costumes

[(Anonymous)]

Just remember, it's all situational. When you're at the Ren-Fest, wearing a costume doesn't look dorky. However, even the greatest costume there would look dorky if they were to wear it to work. Bask in the courage that it took to dress up for the Ren-Fest. Whenever one of my friends teases me for going in costume, I reply that not everyone has the courage to do something like that. That usually stops them. Sometimes, I will see them in costume the next year. Besides, wearing the costume is FUN! And that is reason enough for me. ;)

[rachet.livejournal.com]

My purse, tote, messenger bag or backpack is never without a Moleskin or two. I buy the lined three pack and a larger black lined one at least twice a year. LOVE them.

[rachet.livejournal.com]

er....Moleskine.

....I can't imagine moleskin. :D

[skg.livejournal.com]

Peg, I won't run into you on the streets (since I live in NYC), but I follow your journal and think you are very inspirational. I have one daughter (much younger than your two--still a toddler) and it is so helpful and encouraging to me to see you with two daughters that are such strong, intelligent, beautiful, talented young women. I hope I can do as good a job. I relate to your struggles with depression, especially SAD and with staying creative/writing. I hope that on your dark days it helps to know that there are people out here in cyberland that are listening and find you a wonderful role model.

I absolutely love #14--I do the same re: LM Montgomery. I think she would have found me distasteful in a variety of ways, despite what I aspire to. Re #15--I never read Glamour, but now I'm going to try out the eyebrow pencil!

[madrobins]

Lord, I'd never thought of what Jane Austen would have thought of me, but she'd probably think me frivolous, loud, and vulgar. How...lowering. Now I'm going to be fretting about it. Damn.

[kijjohnson.livejournal.com]

Oh, god, me too. And as mutton dressed as lamb. Oh, dear.

[porcinea.livejournal.com]

Base coat & top coat. Have you had a professional manicure before? Seeing it done right (i.e., in ways that make it more likely to stay on the nail) is interesting.

Wash hands, apply nail polish remover (to clean any grease off your nails). Base coat. First coat of polish. Make sure to brush the ends of the nails (by which I mean the tips). Second coat of polish. Top coat. Dry (manicurists have special dryers, too, that harden the polish with UV to resist chipping).

Lip gloss isn't meant to stay on more than half an hour. You reapply it as desired. Lip stick needs clean, exfoliated lips, lip pencil, and top coat. Plus I like to use stains underneath. So I basically dye my lips and then add layers for depth & interest over the top.

[rachet.livejournal.com]

*blink*

I read this as I applied my chapstick and suddenly felt very...inadequate. :)

[http://users.livejournal.com/anam_cara_/]

My new favorite summer treat is strawberries cut up, sprinkled with sugar, then dowsed with balsamic vinegar (and left overnight to soak). I'll have to try the vanilla and balsamic vinegar sometime.

[skylarker.livejournal.com]

Re: #8, I feel the same way about my place. But my old friend, Marty H was in town with her six-year old daughter, Sophie over the holidays recently. We all went out to lunch together, and when I suggested we should stay there longer because I wanted to chat somewhere 'comfortable' Sophie insisted that we should go to my place because it was comfortable there. (Even with no couch, and only straight-back chairs to sit in.)

I think Jane Austen would like you fine if you relaxed enough to let her get to know you. :)

[aome.livejournal.com]

Re: #2 - Me, either. They're such beautiful, peaceful angels, aren't they? I wish Two liked being held more when she slept, but she squirms too much.

Re: #6 - I've seen you in costume, and don't think you look like a dork at all. I love the chance to become someone else for the day. Maybe this coming year our kids will be old enough to give it a try....

Re: #8 - If I ever make it out to MN, please do not, in any way, feel awkward about clutter. I'll be sure to send you full-disclosure photos of MY house in its everyday state, just to put your mind at ease. :P

Re: #10 - I can't comment on your math hmwk abilities, but from your posts over the years, I fully agree with your self-assessed strengths.

Re: #16 - They make (supposedly) long-lasting (as in "all day") lipstick that you have to forcibly remove, these days. Never tried them, myself. I used to like nail polish as a teen, but now I hate it. It just feels so unnatural to have brightly colored bits at the end of my fingers. At most, I'll use a pale natural shade, or just clear, to dress things up. Oddly enough, I don't have a problem with toenail polish (in summer), as long as it isn't red.

Re: #17 - I think you are. Much more than you give yourself credit for. *hugs*

[kijjohnson.livejournal.com]

#1. Isn't that strange? I have hazel eyes thought they were blue.

#9. So would I. :-)

[satakieli.livejournal.com]

14. I think Jane Austen would not have liked me very much. She probably would have mocked me. This bothers me to a ridiculous degree. I can't believe how much time I've spent wondering what she would have thought of me.

I am absurdly grateful to hear that I am not the only one who thinks of this.

19

[jennythe-reader.livejournal.com]

Bittersweet Herb Farms (http://www.bittersweetherbfarm.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=22) makes the most amazing maple syrup balsamic vinegar.

It's a little pricey, but so good on vanilla ice cream.

[handgun.livejournal.com]

19. I like vanilla ice cream topped with a really good quality balsamic vinegar.

.... I am intrigued.