Me: The List

Inspired by Momo Fali who was inspired by this post at BlogHer.


I don't really believe that anybody is unique.  I can give you the longest list ever of my fun little distinguishing traits, but it's not like fifty million other people couldn't give you a really similar list. But, really, being you isn't about being "unique," is it?  Being YOU is about all the characteristics and personality flaws and strengths and weaknesses that allow you to fit in with the world the way you do.  You know more about me by reading the things I write than from a list of things that make me who I am.

But those lists are still interesting and fun, right?

So, what are some things about me that you might not know?

-I'm vegetarian.  I used to be really in-your-face about the rights of animals, but then I grew up and realized that nobody ever changes anybody's mind about anything by being in-anybody's-face.  And also, I had kids and suddenly, getting all worked up and expending energy about the rights of animals seemed like a waste of my resources.  This is mainly because my kids are exhausting and animals poop in our yards and eat my tomatoes, thus infuriating me and making me care about sticking up for them less.

-I have a quick temper.  Not a bad one.  I don't like... get mad and bash things up, (or at least not now that I don't date the world's biggest assholes, anymore)... but I am quick to react in a snippy way.  Weirdly, my girls seem to be the antidote to my temper.  I feel like I can honestly say that I have never really snapped in anger at one of my kids. 

-I love water.  I will spend all day swimming, if given the opportunity.  I'm even an adventurous swimmer in the ocean and I go out way past the breakers where all the babies like to swim. My husband is one of those babies, until he is forced to come out into the brave water to save me. Which happens about 1 million times every vacation.

-I'm very much a music person.  I love music.  I'm also a good singer.

-I'm an ex-junky. 

-I love perfume.

-I work out every day.  I originally did this in an effort to be skinny.  Now I do it because I get anxious and pent up and tense if I don't.  Also, I totally believe that I get sick less often than a lot of people because I sweat out all the toxins.  I have no idea if this is a scientifically sound idea, or not, but I believe in it.

-When I gave birth to my oldest daughter, I started having terrible panic attacks and became hyper vigilant about germs.  I have always hated germs, but suddenly, I was doing things like driving out of my way to a park bathroom to wash my hands because there weren't any sanitizing wipes left at the grocery store.  I started taking Zoloft for PPD/Anxiety and my germ phobia pretty much went away.  I even leave the house without Purell, now.

-I read all the time.

-I watch reality tv and love it.

-I am weirdly stubborn about buying new underwear. I wear them until they're just a weird holey contraption being held to my body by a few fraying strings before giving in and paying for new ones.

-In related news, I hate wearing a bra... but I totally love what a good bra does for my shape, so that's a torture I've learned to live with, at least in public. As soon as I walk in the house and close the door behind me, I rip off my bra and drape it over the bannister. I really can't stand them. Even the "comfortable" ones.

-I love health food stores. They make me feel excited, even though I shop at one at least once a week.

-I rediscovered bike riding before I got pregnant with Louise, and now I want to ride my bike all over the universe. It's awesome and it has given me awesome calves.

-I hate winter so much that I'm convinced its existence will kill me, one day.

-I crack my knuckles all the time. I even do it in my sleep and wake up my husband.

-I like honey and real maple syrup and almond butter and fresh baked bread.

-Holidays are sources of super, duper excitement for me. I love the decorations and the cheesy songs and color schemes and baked goods and candy that usually accompany them. Except Thanksgiving. That one sucks.

-Libraries are my favorite places on earth. There are billions of libraries in Pittsburgh, and you can take out and return books to any one you want to. Some of them have awesome playrooms and one of them has a beautiful window reading room. Two of them have those huge puffy, climby building block things that keep my girls occupied for hours.

-I love camping, but I haven't been since I had children. I don't know if I will still love camping with two girls in tow, but I plan to find out, soon.

-I don't drink, anymore.

-I like short dresses with winter boots. Or rain boots.

-I think Pittsburgh is awesome.

-Sleep is very very very important to me.

-I can't control myself around candy.

-I pretty much only watch scary movies, unless there's something in another genre that people are peeing their pants over. I kind of feel like "funny" movies are the worst thing ever. Except for Napoleon Dynamite.

-I talk a lot and probably too loudly. When I'm nervous, I feel like I can't control the volume of my voice or the appropriateness of my content. I always find myself talking about butts or pee to my husband's family.

-Beefy, muscley men are a total turn off.

-I like big boobs.

-I also like dinosaurs, shrugging off expectations and authority, butt jokes and "shooting hoops." These are all ways I am actually a 13 year old boy.


What about you? What are the things I might not know about you?



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