Someone tagged me to do this 25 Things post on Facebook, and I thought I’d cross post it here for your viewing pleasure. Since it’s something I wanted to keep easily available, I put it up as a page, rather than a post. You can find 25 random things you may or may not know about me here.
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Just 25 random things about me. 1. I am painfully shy when you first meet me. It generally takes me a 2. I went to my first Angel game when I was 4 weeks old, and have been a huge fan ever since.
3. I got married in June of 2005, but my divorce will be final in February of 2009. He and I are still friends. I learned a lot from being married
4. I did not want to go to college immediately after high school, but 5. I have great and amazing friends. I feel very lucky to have all of them.
6. I love to read. I’d rather read than watch TV or go out. I have
7. I have a completely irrational fear of E.T. I saw it when I had just 8. I am a tomboy. I don’t like wearing skirts or dresses or doing stereotypical “girl” things.
9. My sister Jen is one of my closest friends. We didn’t get along so
10. I always hated writing in school, but since I’ve started a blog, I
11. I was born and raised in Buena Park, and moved out to Corona in 2003. I am still not very familiar with the Riverside/Corona area,
12. My dad taught me to bowl when I was pretty young, but I didn’t
13. When I was younger, I wanted to be an architect. At least until I
14. I am my own worst critic. I am harder on myself than anyone else,
15. I want to go to Ireland before I die. I have always been fascinated
16. I love water. I can sit by the ocean or the river all day and feel 17. I was hit by a car in 8th grade. It was a hit and run, and I had to have knee surgery because of it years later.
18. I have a 5 1/2 year old pug named Mia, who I adore. She snores
19. I have worked for the same company for the last 6 years, and I was
20. I donated a kidney in March of 2008 to my friend Kelly. It was a stressful 21. I am not sarcastic. At all. No, really.
22.I want to have at least two children someday. If I had the choice,
23. I have never had a dream in which I have children who can hear.
24. Last year I fell in love with a man who loves, respects, and 25. I want to be a better person when I grow up. I've mentioned before that one of my closest friends was diagnosed with breast cancer a couple of years ago. My grandmother, cousin, and ex-mother-in-law have all suffered from it. There are so many good causes that need support, but breast cancer research has always been on the top of my list. Last fall, a friend e-mailed me a link to a program called Army Of Women. It's a group established to research breast cancer not just on high risk women, but on women who are also healthy. An excerpt from the site:
It's such a simple program that I can't believe more people haven't signed up for it. You register your e-mail address with them (along with age, ethnicity, and location) and they send you an e-mail to see if you fit the research topic that they're currently working on. For example, I just received an e-mail that stated a new study on post-menopausal overweight women was being conducted at UCLA (since that's semi-close to me). It gave a general spectrum of the study, as well as what a participant would be expected to do (in this case, visit UCLA 3 times a week for aerobic exercise and weight training, eat meals prepared by the UCLA Center for Human Nutrition, as well as blood tests, lung tests, breast fluid tests, and body measurements). Since I am not post menopausal, I do not qualify. So I simply clicked the No Thanks button, and they send a response e-mail thanking me for my time. That's it. So far I've been offered 6 studies, but sadly have not qualified for any of them. It's such a simple thing to sign up, and you may be able to help with breast cancer research simply by filling out a form. It costs you nothing but a moment of your time. I urge you to sign up, and then send a link to your mom, daughter, aunt, grandmother, sister or friend and have them sign up too. Click the link below to get to the sign up page, or click the badge on the top right column of my page. If you want further information on the program, please feel free to ask me! I've recently become more and more involved with social networking online (Read: Facebook) and I'm curious as to what other people think about it. Here's the deal: I use my Facebook as a way to keep in touch with my friends both local and across the planet. Everyone on my friends list is a member of my family or someone that I am actually friends with, and not just some random person who requested to be my "friend" just to pump up their numbers. I don't add people just because they ask me to be friends. I understand that other people don't do the same, and add people willy-nilly and that's all fine and dandy for them. I just prefer not to. Recently, I've received a lot of contact from people I knew in high school (not necessarily "friends" but we did go to the same school at the same time). Let me digress a little by saying that high school was not the greatest time in my life. It wasn't a horrible experience for me, but it's certainly not one that I ever want to go through again. I was awkward and shy and smart, and was the butt of a lot of peoples jokes, even when they thought I wasn't aware of it. I had two very close friends who I still keep in touch with today, but the rest of my "friends" were temporary people in my life. I'm a little of the opinion that if our friendship was all that great, we would never have lost touch in the first place. I don't have a wealth of positive memories from that time, so there's a large part of me that would like to forget it existed in the first place. I know that comes from my own lack of self esteem, rather than the fact that they were bad people, because they weren't. But the fact remains that I am very happy now, and I don't really want to open the door that might let some of that doubt in myself come back. Maybe that's just a flaw of mine, but I can't pretend it doesn't exist. So I've chosen not to add people that I went to high school with just because I went to school with them. If it's someone who I recognize and want to communicate with, then I'll send them a message saying the usual Hi, How are you? What's up? kind of stuff. But I won't automatically add them. If we get to chatting back and forth via e-mail, then I'll add them to my friends, because I feel like we've actually started establishing a relationship again. If that ends, well then I'll take them off my list. There are some that I won't even bother messaging because I simply have no desire to start a relationship with them again. Maybe that's mean or petty, but it works for me and keeps balance in my world. So I'm curious what other people do. You don't have to participate with Facebook to answer this question either. What do you do if someone you haven't spoken with in a long while randomly sends you an e-mail, and maybe you weren't all that fond of the person in the past? Do you respond? Do you ignore them and hope they go away? I won't try to astound you with any profound comments on the inauguration. I don't consider myself educated enough to speak with any authority on pretty much anything related to politics.I'll just say that I was amazed and moved, and hopeful for our country's future. Also, stunned by the size of the bow on Aretha Franklin's hat. Now I am not now, nor have I ever been a fan of President Bush. I don't respect the man, but I do respect the office. So I was extremely disappointed to hear people in the crowd in DC booing when his face came on their screens. You don't have to like or respect him, but until 12:01pm yesterday, he was still the President of the United States, and the office deserves respect. Can't we be better people than that? Rather than booing, I wish they'd clapped for him, for he will no longer be running our country and that's a clap worthy event, in my opinion.
I know I’ve mentioned before Mia’s love of plastic bottles as chew toys. Last week I had the glorious opportunity to come home and have nothing to do but read my book in complete silence. So I lay down on my super comfy couch and get prepared to lose a few hours. Mia, being the doll that she is, chooses not to get one of her (quiet) stuffed animals, but rather her noisy annoying bottle. She promptly deposits it directly upon my book and commences the chewing. She moved only when I yanked my book away and sent her bottle flying. Not at all deterred, she came back moments later and settled down with her toy. Notice how she uses her paws to hang on it the bottle. If she weren’t so damn cute, I’d have beat her with it. You know what would be an awesome invention? A nifty little speech recognition program for my car. Because I tell you, some of my best blog worthy material comes to me while I'm sitting in the car going to or from work. And wouldn't it be fabulous if those thoughts actually got typed up and posted here for your viewing pleasure? My readership would go from 7 to like 11! I wouldn't know how to handle all the extra traffic! Seriously though, I really do come up with great things to talk about while I'm driving. I'm very much considering getting some sort of recording device to document my driving genius, and then I can come home and put down the crazy thoughts that run through my head while left to my own devices. I have a TypePad application on my phone, but since California just outlawed texting while driving (which makes FAR more sense to me than requiring a hands free device to talk on the phone. But I'll cover that in a minute.) I doubt the cop who busts me would see the distinction between texting someone and typing up a blog post while driving. Sidenote: Anyone from California know if it's also illegal now to use GPS units while driving? Because I know I can drive and text better than 90% of people who try and look for directions while driving. So, last July California made the switch to hands-free only cell phone usage while driving. And for some unknown reason, I have not written about this in the past, so I'll share my thoughts now. It's dumb. Yes, it's important to be safe while driving. Thirty bazillion drivers get into accidents every year, and some of them get hurt or killed, and even worse, some innocent passenger or driver of another vehicle gets hurt or killed due to Driver A's stupidity. However, is the person talking on the phone via headset much safer than the person talking via phone in their hand? My argument is not that cell phone usage doesn't cause accidents. My argument is that STUPID PEOPLE cause accidents, regardless of where the phone is (if it's even involved at all). The woman trying to put on mascara while doing 80 mph down the freeway is far more dangerous, in my opinion, than I am talking on the phone. I am at least looking at the road that I'm driving on, rather than looking into a mirror while shoving a stick into my eye. How about the guy reading the newspaper while he's doing 75 mph? Shouldn't that be illegal? Before anyone does an archive search and calls me a hypocrite (on this particular issue), I will admit that I have indeed read books on my way home from work. However, I was literally crawling down the freeway at a maximum of 10 mph, and was holding the book on the steering wheel to limit the amount of looking away from the road I'd have to do. Any speeds faster than 10 mph, and my book was closed and on the seat next to me while I drove. Admittedly, it's not safe and if they outlawed it, I'd completely understand. I do not, however, understand the hands free only law. Proponents of the hands free law say that talking on the phone while driving is a distraction. Ok, let's go with that (however, they don't think that talking to the passengers in your car is also a distraction. Odd, since they're both completely comprised of TALKING TO PEOPLE). Explain to me then how talking on the phone via headset is less distracting than talking on the phone in your hand. Both consist of the aforementioned talking, and one has the added bonus of a hand off the wheel. Ok, so by that logic (or illogic) people should not be allowed to talk to passengers and change the radio station at the same time, as it requires a hand off the wheel. People should not be allowed to eat in their cars while driving as it requires both the mouth moving and the hand off wheel. (Though I do eat while driving, I am not opposed to a law making it illegal. Just because I am capable of doing it without presenting a danger to society does not mean the general population is.) Not texting while driving is a law that makes sense to me. Not holding up a phone while driving does not. So what is the rule in your state? And do you agree with it? I am a jinx. I have been to 5 LA Kings hockey games this season. Four of them at Staples Center and one at the Honda Center when they played the Anaheim Ducks. Know how many games the Kings have won while I've been there watching? None. Not one single game have they won in my presence. They came close once, losing in a shoot out, but they've never actually won the game. It's almost comical, if you think about it. They've lost 9 games at home this year, and I've been to 44% of them. They've lost 18 games all season, and I've been to almost a third of them. We have tickets to another game in March, and I'm almost afraid to go. They're in last place already, so it's not like they need my assistance in losing! My jinxiness (yeah, I said it) doesn't limit itself to hockey either. My boy Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts (who I really think should be renamed Peyton Manning and Those Other Guys) lost to the freaking Chargers because I was busy watching a minor league hockey game rather than cheering on the greatest QB in the game (who's jersey I got for Christmas. So VERY cool.). I let them down and they lost. (Thankfully my Steelers crushed the Chargers last weekend. I would have been very close to wrist slitting had the Chargers taken out both of my teams.) So, rather than thrill you all with the new masthead I've done, I'm going to keep the Steelers theme until they've completed their season. It's bad enough they have me as a fan, I don't want to bring more bad luck to them by beautifying my blog! The comprehensive list of all the books I read in 2009 (In chronological order):
I often get these survey things via e-mail, and if I’m bored enough, I’ll fill it out and send it on to maybe 4 people who might actually respond. Because I’m actually interested in what they say, more than I’m interested in filling it out myself. But I saw this on two of my favorite blogs and thought I’d just lemming along and fill it out as well. 1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before? I voluntarily had an organ ripped out of my body. 2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next 3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Wow, yes. My best friend in Colorado, my cousin in Ohio, my boss’s wife, my friend’s wife, just for starters. I know 8 other women who are still pregnant. 4. Did anyone close to you die? My grandfather in June 5. What countries did you visit? I stayed local this year. 6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008? A house, another dog, maybe a pregnancy (or the beginnings of one). 7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? March 19th, the aforementioned organ ripping day. June 9th, the day I finally said what I’d been thinking for 2 years. July 2nd, the beginning of the greatest thing ever. 8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Finally standing up for myself and refusing to be walked on any longer. Putting an end to the miserable life I’d been slumping through, and doing something to change it. 9. What was your biggest failure? My marriage 10. Did you suffer illness or injury? I sprained an ankle. Also, that kidney thing. 11. What was the best thing you bought? My new TV/entertainment center. It makes my living room look so much nicer! 12. Whose behavior merited celebration? This is a hard question to answer. Jason was incredibly wonderful, despite our huge marital issues, right after I had surgery. My friends were amazing and wonderful right after my grandfather and marriage died at the same time. 13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? I just don’t think this is something I want to talk about here. 14. Where did most of your money go? Bills. Lots of bills. 15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Getting flowers, going on a date, looking at houses. 16. What song will always remind you of 2008? 17. Compared to this time last year, are you: c) richer or poorer? Pretty much exactly the same. 18. What do you wish you’d done more of? Exercised 19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Worried about what other people think. 20. How did you spend Christmas? In the morning with my parents, sister and Donald opening stockings and gifts, followed by the movies. Then in the afternoon/evening we went to Donald’s sister’s house to have dinner and open gifts with their whole family. 21. Did you fall in love in 2008? Yes! I certainly did! 22. What was your favorite TV program? I was ridiculously addicted to Big Brother 9 at the beginning of the year. But House is still my favorite. 23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? I try not to “hate” people. It takes way too much energy. 24. What was the best book you read? I read so many, it’s really hard to choose. I enjoyed the Twilight series, but I have to say my favorite book was 19 Minutes. 25. What was your greatest musical discovery? Unless you count my new love for all things Rock Band, I don’t think I have a new discovery, musically. 26. What did you want and get? Respect, Love, and a new Wii! 27. What did you want and not get? A winning lottery ticket 28. What was your favorite film of this year? Wall-E! 29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I turned 29 last year, and I went out to dinner, dessert and a bar with some friends. 30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? A lot less stress would have been excellent. 31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008? Pretty much the same as I’d describe it since 1993. Jeans and T-shirt/Tank Top/Sweatshirt 32. What kept you sane? Donald 33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? I developed a new love for Craig Ferguson, does that count? 34. What political issue stirred you the most? Prop 8: the gay marriage ban. I am disgusted by my state’s passing of such a horribly discriminatory law. 35. Who did you miss? Heather mostly. But she was off having a baby and other such nonsense, and we did keep in touch via e-mail and text. It’s just weird having the other half of your brain a few states away. 36. Who was the best new person you met? Wow, I can’t pick just one person. I made so many new great friends this year, it’s impossible to single one out. 37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008. The stress of thinking about something awful is far worse than the actual pain experienced after. Both physically and mentally. |
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