100 Things

I noticed that a lot of people have "100 Things" posted on their blogs. I thought I'd join in.

100 Things

1. I have never had a cavity.
2. According to Picasa, 10,102 photos reside on my hard drive.
3. I like to take pictures.
4. I save everything.
5. I worked as a professional petsitter for six months in Los Angeles.
6. When I was in fifth grade, I calculated how much I could make running a full-time babysitting business when I grew up. It was $350 a week. I showed my teacher and she commented that it was more lucrative than teaching.
7. I taught junior high history and Spanish for five years. Despite how miserable it made me, it’s the job I’m proudest of.
8. I have had six different addresses over the past ten years. This is not counting college.
9. My first trip on an airplane was at age 19, when I flew to Washington, D.C.
10. Since then, I have flown to Boston, Chicago (2x), Charlotte, Paris, and Rome, as well as a second time to D.C. I have flown out of, but not into, Venice.
11. I was a vegetarian for about 8 years. Then I began allowing myself chicken and turkey. I swore off poultry for a year after seeing chicks hatch at the science museum in Chicago, but am now back to eating bird.
12. I wanted to be a vegan, but could never imagine giving up cheese.
13. I saw the movie The Lion King four times in the theater, and I saw the Broadway version three times at the Pantages.
14. I lived without TV for a year, by choice.
15. I graduated magna cum laude from the University of California, San Diego in three years with a B.A. in history. I almost went to Pacific University in Portland, Oregon, but decided it was too small (1500 students) and too far away from home.
16. I often wonder where I’d be if I’d chosen a different college or a different major. Or even just taken four years.
    
17. Our parents allowed my best friend and me to go to San Francisco by ourselves between our junior and senior years of high school. I am still amazed by this.
18. I have yet to save a single penny for retirement. Many, many chide me for this.
19. I have climbed Saddleback Butte, elevation 3651 ft., in the Antelope Valley. This is the closest to “mountain climbing” I will probably ever come. I did not have my camera with me. Or water.
20. The only time I have ever stayed up all night was for Grad Night at Disneyland. Oh, wait. Also the night before I had to move out of my last apartment. Guess which one was more fun.
21. I have run two 5k’s, both in 2004. At my best I could run a 12-minute mile. I don’t run anymore.
22. The only professional sport I’ve been to a live game for is baseball.
23. I can’t stand the taste of tea, except when I have a cold. Then I love it.
24. I have been on the radio six times. Twice, I won concert tickets (Siouxsie and the Banshees—which I gave to a “goth” friend—and Sting). The third time, I was calling to request a song. They made me request something they were already going to play: The Bangles' “Eternal Flame.” The remaining times, I won CD’s: Alanis Morissette, Jewel, and Natalie Merchant.
25. I deeply appreciate order; the state of my apartment often indicates otherwise.
26. I have been to two funerals: one for my grandfather and one for a friend’s mother. Both were in high school.
27. I have been to two weddings: one for a high school friend, one for a college friend. Both were Asian girls marrying white guys. What’s up with that?
28. I have been to two baby showers: one for an elementary school friend, and one for a co-worker. Both had boys.
29. My first concert was Paul McCartney at Dodger Stadium. I was 16.
30. My childhood dog was Sparky, an Australian Shepherd.
31. I tend to be a rule follower, and I get irritated when people get away with breaking them.
32. Say what you will about the nutritional value of whole grains, I don’t like wheat bread and will choose white any day of the week. And occasionally rye or sourdough.
33. I appreciate the environmental and economical value of compact fluorescent lighting, but often choose incandescent anyway, for its infinitely more pleasing aesthetic value.
34. I was in a talent show in sixth grade. Two friends and I danced and lip-synched to Cyndi Lauper’s song “911.” Our first song choice, “Nasty,” by Janet Jackson, was rejected by the supervisor. Go figure.
35. At the first junior high assembly I went to the following year, the dance team’s routine was performed to Salt ‘n’ Pepa’s “Push It.” Yikes!
36. I’ve broken one bone: the fifth metatarsal in my right foot. I was carrying my dead Christmas tree down the stairs to the trash bin and I missed the last step. I have not had a Christmas tree since.
37. I talk to myself a lot.
38. I procrastinate like nobody’s business but I’ve never missed a deadline. Ever.
39. I always wanted to name my car, but could never come up with something clever.
40. I often wish I was more clever and more articulate.
41. Generally, I don’t drink. It’s not that I’m morally opposed to responsible consumption of alcohol. I just don’t like the taste.
42. I drink sparkling cider on New Year’s Eve.
43. I have never tried any illegal drugs. I was never offered any. I’ve never even seen any. I’ve smelled pot at concerts though. Yuck.
44. I have “cute” pajamas, but hardly ever wear them. I sleep in a pink long-sleeved t-shirt in the winter (with a sweatshirt on really cold nights) and in a gray tank top in the summer.
45. One of my favorite things about living alone is that the walk from the shower to the closet is "clothing optional."
46. I have 2705 songs (15.1 GB) on my iPod.
47. I was one of the first babies born at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital in Valencia, CA. My dad worked there for at least a decade as an X-ray tech. It was less than a mile from my elementary school.
48. My eyesight is awful. I started wearing glasses in fifth grade. I switched to contacts in ninth. I switched back to glasses after I quit teaching.
49. I wear contacts daily, however, when I am getting ready in the morning. You try shaving your legs or putting on mascara blind!
50. One winter I let my leg and underarm hair grow out. I felt very rebellious (even though nobody knew).
    
51. I have a very acute sense of smell.
52. I love the smell of new electronics.
53. The closest I’ve lived to work was 1.4 miles.
54. The farthest I’ve lived from work was 39 miles.
55. I have baby-fine, stick-straight dark blonde hair.
56. I got a perm in eighth grade. Big mistake.
57. I have always voted Democratic in presidential elections. There have only been three presidential elections since I reached voting age.
58. As a child I was a huge bookworm. Then suddenly I hated reading. I hardly ever read what was assigned in high school and college. Only in the past few years have I started liking to read books again.
59. One of my biggest pet peeves is littering. When I see someone do it, I think to myself, “Who do you think you are, that you are too good to find a trash can?” (see #31)
60. I have a need to explain myself exhaustively. That’s why most of these are more than a single line.
61. I strive to be earth-friendly. I am committed to recycling. I want a hybrid. I wish solar and wind power were more popular.
62. Although I’ve been known to swear like a sailor while driving, and occasionally use some four-letter words, I bristle when people use foul language in front of me. I’m particularly sensitive to it in the workplace. I realize this makes me kind of hypocritical.
63. I loathe hypocrisy.
64. I collect postcards and magnets.
65. I have no food allergies.
66. I won an Easter coloring contest when I was young. The prize was 25 silver dollars.
67. I kind of want a tattoo, because most people wouldn’t expect it from me. But I don’t know what I’d get or where.
68. I took six weeks of accordion lessons. I also learned to play the recorder in school.
69. I have experienced lots of earthquakes, but only one scary one: Northridge 1994.
70. I am a perfectionist and a control freak.
71. I’ve seen 28 of the AFI’s 100 Greatest Films of All Time.
72. I watched Grease 2 over and over again when I was little. I wanted to change my name to Stephanie.
73. I don’t snore or sleepwalk. That I’m aware of.
74. I am envious of individuals with naturally high metabolism.
75. Someday I want someone to throw a surprise party for me.
76. I think about getting married and having kids a lot, but seriously wonder if either will ever happen.
77. I recently discovered that I really like ketchup. I’d stopped eating it in eleventh grade when my U.S. history teacher told us that there were worms in it.
78. I grew up on margarine, skim milk, and Jif. I’ve switched to butter, 1%, and all-natural peanut butter in adulthood.
79. I have something like 20 euros that I did not convert back into dollars when I returned from Paris and Italy because I like saving currency as a souvenir.
80. I went to Paris right after they switched to the euro and no one knew what the heck they were doing when they counted out change. In Montmartre, one guy gave me like 5 euros back when I was supposed to get 15. I went back 10 minutes later and the owner of the shop refunded my money and apologized.
81. I have thin and peely fingernails. I had acrylics for a few months once but found the upkeep annoying.
82. My handwriting used to be incredibly neat, but as I progressed through college, it got sloppier and sloppier. I wish I had pretty writing.
83. I love and adore my parents and feel so fortunate to have a close relationship with them. I appreciate them more every year.
84. My mom made me a strawberry pillow when I was little and I slept with it always. I still have it.
85. I love dogs but I love cats more.
86. I prefer romantic comedies but enjoy an occasional drama or action flick. I avoid any movie that can be described as “gritty.”
87. I own Legally Blonde, Jerry Maguire, etc. on DVD, but for some reason only watch these movies when they’re on TV—commercials, bleeps, and all.
88. My all-time favorite sitcom is Friends.
89. For years (and years) I believed that there was such a thing as roast beast, thanks to Dr. Seuss and my mom.
90. I subscribe to magazines that I don’t really read anymore. I accumulate stacks and stacks. When I move they get recycled.
91. Once I fasted for 24 hours. I slept through most of it.
92. I often have very bizarre dreams.
93. I prefer silver over gold.
94. I learned to knit five months ago. I’ve knitted 11 scarves and one blanket. Three other scarves are currently on needles.
95. I think cooked carrots are gross.
96. I would give up chocolate if I could get a daily massage.
97. I don’t enjoy getting haircuts because I am not good at making idle conversation with most hairstylists.
98. I wanted to be an architect but then I went to an architect career day and was told it’s a slavish, thankless job for 99% of them.
99. I love almost everything Google does. Gmail, Picasa, Google Earth, SMS search, maps, their special holiday logo art, etc. And of course Blogger!
100. For reasons unbeknownst to me, I hoard Post-It pads. I currently have 34 of them. I use them sparingly, as if this is my allotment for life and I couldn’t just drive to Staples and buy more.