Guess I'll start one of these blog things...

I am 36 years old and I find myself married with two kids. Who woulda thunk it? I guess now is as good a time as any to start a blog. DH said "start a blog, " so what the hell! I'm not really sure how this will end up. Will it be a sort of journal where family, friends and strangers alike can get a glimpse of my (not-so) exciting world? Journals have never been too good to me. Usually by the time I think "Hmmm, let's start a journal," I'm feeling creative, but am on my way to an unhappy place,complete with sirens blaring. Let's just try to avoid that, shall we?

For all those who are not scared off yet, this is who I am:

100 Things about Me

1. I was born in Canada. *
2. I now live in the USA and am married to an American.
3. I don't know why so many people think that marrying an American makes me a US citizen!
4. I am torn, because I would like to vote.
5. My background is French, Italian, Irish and Norwegian.
6. I don’t look Scandinavian at all!
7. I'm related to Mario Lemieux on my Mom's side.
8. And to the Kennedy family on my Dad's.
9. I've met neither.
10. I have met Prince Charles and Debra Messing, on separate occasions.
11. I'm married to a 'celebrity'. One who, admittedly, is not a deep thinker. He’s still one of the smartest people I know.
12. My husband was an extra on the Seinfeld episode "The Money." He's the handsome dark-haired fellow behind George in the coffee shop scene.
13. He makes me watch it whenever it airs.
14. My husband picked me up in a bar.
15. He will say it was the other way around.
16. The night we met he was wearing a really nice checked shirt and twill pants. Mr. Preppy. I, on the other hand, was wearing my Cruella De Ville puppy-killer sweater, skinny black jeans, docs, and a nose ring.
17. We were married in 2000.
18. The only thing I've thrown at him in anger is meatballs. Cooked, of course.
19. My favorite thing to do growing up was to make up and perform in my own plays.
20. I still love belting out "Tomorrow" and dancing in my party shoes.
21. I studied opera for 10 years.
22. I had the lead in all my high school productions.
23. I auditioned at Juilliard but didn't make the cut. Screw you, Juilliard! The Royal Conservatory of Music has better taste!
24. I was a mean big sister.
25. My first pet was a hermit crab named Creepy Crawly.
26. He "fell asleep" when I was 9. Apparently I thought crabs could hibernate.
27. I also had a pet squirrel named Squeaky. I'm a fan of large rodents with fluffy tails.
28. On that note, I have a thing for small, yappy dogs, preferably poodles.
29. Is it because they are high-maintenance, deep-thinkers? Or is it the opera singer in me?
30. First came CoCo, then Figaro.
31. My favorite coffee mug has a Far Side cartoon on it.
32. The one with a toy poodle making espresso. The caption reads "How nervous litttle dogs prepare for their day."
33. I hate dusting.
34. Cheese is my favorite food group.
35. I hate talking on the phone. Don't call me.
36. I have a freakish memory for insignificant details but can't remember what I did yesterday.
37. I love Guinness.
38. I am a Masterpiece Theater junkie.
39. I still don't *get* football no matter how many times it's explained to me.
40. But I like Ed Hochuli a lot.
41. I procrastinate. See entry for....
ETA: See what I'm talking about?
42. While studying voice, my double major in university was French and Italian.
43. Masters in French literature next. Just because.
44. My thesis was on female gender portrayal in the works of Emile Zola.
45. Then I got a Masters in Education from Hahvahd.
46. Which in no way makes me more qualified than any other Ed.M, job candidate. I just paid a ridiculous amount of money...to become a teacher.
47. I should have thought about how little teaching pays.
48. Staying home is more rewarding at present.. Yes, even with all the poop and spit up.
49. I was obsessed with Duran Duran from age 13-15. Brit bands from the Eighties rock my socks!
50. I'm allergic to shellfish.
51. My mother-in-law insists on bringing shrimp to every family function.
52. My mom cut my hair too short when I was little. People thought I was a boy.
53. My eyes can be hazel or vivid green depending on the light.
54. I'm practically blind without contact lenses.
55. Yes, I know a lot of people say that. I really am. My eyes are too bad to have laser surgery.
56. My favorite actor is Mandy Patinkin. ETA: Favorite singer? Gah! Couldn't say, but Mirella Freni and Renee Fleming are up there.
57. My mother died of leukemia in 2001, at age 57.
58. It was totally unexpected.
59. One of my baby shoes is buried with her.
60. I am a hypochondriac.
61. I medicate everything. BIG fan of therapy and prescription meds.
62. I hope I make it past my 57th birthday!
63. My mom was a kick-ass trained chef. People always ask me I like to cook as much as her. I do not!
64. I had horrible all day sickness with both my pregnancies.
65. And ended up with a C-section for both.
66. Our son's first name is my husband's middle name.
67. My mom's first name is our daughter's middle name.
68. The scariest time in my life was when my daugher was in the NICU and I was stuck in a hospital bed.
69. I've never met a dessert I didn't like. Really.
70. Frequently I forget to screw caps on tightly, take salad dressing bottles for example.
71. This causes my husband to use very colorful language.
72. I use his razor to shave my legs more than he knows.
73. I have horrible timing and can't tell a joke even if I remember it correctly.
74. I lost my two front teeth at 12, when I got hit with a surfboard.
75. I don't surf....Long story.
76. Some members of my family have slight anti-American leanings.
77. This makes family get-togethers interesting.
78. Neither my son nor my daughter look like me.
79. Apparently they look like my father-in-law... I don't see it.
80. I don't think I've ever won a contest.
81. I used to SCUBA dive.
82. I've been in 4 car accidents. Two were my fault.
83. I once went on 2 dates in 1 night. Of course, that was before I met the man of my dreams.
84. To answer your question Dad, I guess I do believe we own stock in the power company.
85. I believe in ghosts.
86. I’ve been checking under my bed every night since seeing The Sixth Sense.  You think I'm joking? Sadly, no, I'm not.
87. I'm an agnostic.
88. I am frequently late.
89. I am a procrastinating perfectionist.
90. I am neither athletic, nor am I particularly coordinated.
91. I was always the last one picked for team sports in school. I have a lot of people on my shit list because of this. This has led to a lifetime of avoiding physical education and team sports. Please refer to Exhibit A (circa 1987).
ETA: Since joining a gym, I have developed tendonitis in one knee and have been told to no exercise as much. I just about died laughing!
92. I took tennis lessons when I was 14. On the third lesson, the teacher suggested that maybe tennis wasn't the sport for me.
93. I am a pretty good swimmer, skier and kick-ass bowler though! The bowling thing must have something to do with the cool shirts and shoes.
94. Scratch the bowling thing. My son beat me on his first outing to the bowling alley when he was three. My strength doesn’t lie in candlepin.
95. My mother always thought I should be a writer.
96. I have something in common with Brooke Shields. Unfortunately it’s not my looks! ETA: (BTW, did you know psych ward rooms in Catholic hospitals come with little crucifixes encased in plastic for safety? Pretty funny stuff!)
97. I can barely draw a stick figure.
98. If I could choose a career over again, I’d probably be a veterinarian.
ETA: Huh?
99. I have to lose at least 10 lbs.
ETA: I have lost 16 lbs and have only 10 to go before I'm at my high school weight.
100. I wish I was a better mom, and I work at it every day.

Comments

[Anonymous]

Happy Birthday! You look beautiful, darling!

[Annie]

I love your 100 things - I have a lot of similar ones lol! I am also married to a US citizen and people ALWAYS ask if that makes me one! I'm from Ireland :)

[moodswingingmommy]

Hi Annie!So I'm not alone on that one. Isn't it weird that people ask that so often? Cool that you have lot of similar ones...well, great minds think alike, don't they? ;)

[Anonymous]

This was wonderful site and you did a great job......Keep us informed and this is a fabulous way to stay in touch.Remember what I told you and go for it.Love to RJ and Baby C.Love Grandma B

[twitter.com/michellesfamily]

Great list!!!