100 Things About Me

1. I was born on October 29, 1969.


2. I was born with a collapsed lung and a diaphragmatic hernia. My dad's side of the family thinks that God saved my life. I know it was modern medicine and luck.


3. There are days I wish I hadn't been so lucky.


4. I spent most of my life in a small town in the northern panhandle of West Virginia.


5. I was (and still am) physically frail.


6. I didn't learn to ride a two-wheeled bike until 4th grade (later than everyone else), and I didn't learn to swim until I was a junior in high school (way later than everyone else).


7. I did not buy a class ring, I didn't go to either of the proms, and I haven't gone to any of my high school reunions.


8. I did buy yearbooks every year, but I sold them at a yard sale several years ago.


9. I was technically "gifted," but I dropped out of the program when I realized it involved doing MORE SCHOOLWORK!


10. I don't like the taste of coffee, but I like the smell.


11. I only drink tea when I'm sick. If I drink it at other times, I feel like I'm being pretentious.


12. I am an atheist.


13. I was questioning the existence of God even as a little girl.


14. I am not afraid to die.


15. I am, however, afraid of being in intractable pain and/or being mistreated in an old folk's home.


16. I want to die in my sleep.


17. I've always had pets.


18. My first "pet" was a dead fly that I kept in my jewelry box when I was a little girl.


19. I also had (in chronological order) a German Shepherd named Missy, a mutt named Missy, a rabbit named Bridget, two mice: Molly and Midnight (both females...mother and daughter), and four guinea pigs: Ginger, J.B., Birdie, and Cheetah (all females).


20. My current pets are two cats--a gray and white male named Parker, and a cream tortoiseshell female named Hannah.


21. I've recently started going barefoot, even in establishments--bank, hairdresser, grocery store, library, bus.


22. I have an irrational love of pop songs that change keys. The only ones I can think of now are "Seasons in the Sun," "In the Year 2525," and "A Taste of Honey." When I hear the key change, something happens inside me that I can't explain.


23. I love Celtic music, especially Irish folk music.


24. I've loved classical music ever since I was a little girl.


25. My favorite musical period is probably Baroque.


26. My vision is crappy, but my hearing is so good that I'll often cross the street without looking.


27. I masturbate several times a week.


28. Every single person I've ever dated was an asshole/jerk.


29. Because of this, I have given up on dating.


30. If I could only eat one food for the rest of my life, it would be mashed potatoes and gravy.


31. I used to be a vegetarian for eight years in my 20's.


32. I am childfree.


33. I made an appointment with my gynecologist to talk about getting my tubes tied when I was 32.


34. My doctor was insisting on general anesthesia, so I wasn't willing to risk it for something that wasn't life or death.


35. If I got pregnant, I would have an abortion.


36. I don't want children for personal reasons, AND because there are too many humans on the earth.


37. I have two college degrees--a B.A. in French, and an A.A.S. in Medical Technology.


38. I got the bachelor's degree BEFORE I got the associate's degree.


39. I am no longer fluent in French, due to the principle of "use it or lose it."


40. I studied in Quebec for a semester in 1992.


41. If I were to study another language, it would probably be German or Norwegian, so I could feel closer to my ancestors.


42. I consider myself a primitivist.


43. I dislike civilization and technology.


44. In any confrontation between humans and animals, or humans and "Mother Nature," I root for the animals/Mother Nature.


45. When a natural disaster kills humans, I am pleased.


46. I am allergic to ragweed, mold, and three types of grass.


47. I tried pot twice in my 20's, and I felt nothing.


48. To this day, I secretly believe that potheads are either faking it, or that they're in respiratory acidosis from holding their breath, which is supposedly the proper technique. Or maybe it's the placebo affect.


49. I have never been drunk.


50. The most I've ever drunk is two beers, or its equivalent.


51. I procrastinate.


52. In fact, I started this "100 Things" a few years ago.


53. I have two pairs of jeans.


54. I will wear the same pair of jeans several days in a row.


55. I don't have a car.


56. I hate cars.


57. If I had to pick a different career, I would probably be a naturopathic physician or a counselor.


58. My favorite season is autumn.


59. I soak in the bathtub nearly every day.


60. I only use soap and shampoo about twice a week.


61. I like starting things more than finishing them.


62. I hate shopping.


63. I wish I was European.


64. Elephants are my favorite animals.


65. I also love whales.


66. I'm very misanthropic.


67. I am a slob.


68. I knit my first sweater this past year, and I'm still in awe of myself.


69. I will never have a mammogram, nor will I ever receive an organ.


70. I am a morning person.


71. My Myers-Briggs type is INTP.


72. The I and P are cut and dried; the N and T, not so much.


73. I've had sex with a married man.


74. It's not something I'm proud of, and I will not ever do it again.


75. I lost my virginity at age 22.


76. I won a prize in the 4th grade for winning the most spelling bees.


77. In the 2nd grade, I lost a spelling bee because the teacher didn't use the word in a sentence. I spelled P-R-I-N-T-S, and she told me I was wrong ecause it was P-R-I-N-C-E. To this day, I still think it was unfair.


78. My blood type is A positive.


79. I know I am heterozygous for the A antigen because my dad is O positive and my mom is A positive.


80. I know my parents are both heterozygous for the Rh antigen, beause my sister is A negative.


81. I am a jane-of-all-trades, master-of-none.


82. That is part of my charm.


83. I am a Scorpio.


84. I would love to live deep in the woods away from civilization only venturing to town once a month for supplies.


85. If I don't feel well during the night, I turn on the lights.


86. Being in the dark when I am sick scares me.


87. I like cool colors.


88. I always read while I'm on the toilet, even if I'm just going to pee.


89. If I hate my job, it permeates my entire life, and I start to feel suicidal.


90. I don't wear a bra.


91. I am very sensitive--neurologically and emotionally.


92. I have a passionate temperament.


93. I hate Christmas, and as of last year, I no longer celebrate it or recognize it.


94. I tend to be paranoid.


95. I have high standards for friendships and relationships.


96. As a result, I'm usually disappointed.


97. I wash my clothes by hand.


98. I take thyroid medication daily.


99. I make my own sauerkraut.


100. I love being single.