Eight Random Things About Me

1. I went through a phase where I listened to hardcore and went around with an X drawn on the back of my hand. I believe it was eighth grade. I also desperately wanted to start my own zine but had no access to a xerox machine. Where was the internet when I needed it? I still like hardcore but have the strangest nostalgia feelings when I hear it. Like my grandmother listening to "Begin the Beguine."

2. I have never not known what marijuana looked like or smelled like. My parents were hippies (they always correct me and say "we were radicals" uh huh, yeah, whatever) and were very staunch in their belief that marijuana use was nothing to hide from your kids. This taught me a very valuable lesson: you should definitely hide your recreational drug use from your kids. Or not use drugs at all of course. Yes, of course.

3. I recently read about a woman critiquing a certain book's index as her project for library school. The fact that I was like "Aw, lucky!" makes me think, yeah, I should probably just go ahead and get that MIS degree.

4. I like my martinis straight up and a wee bit dirty. Four olives, please.

5. The best celebrity sighting I ever had in all my years in NYC was seeing my idol, Patti Smith, on the street with her then teenage daughter. They were walking towards me on 6th avenue and Patti said something to her daughter and her daughter did the classic teen eyeroll. I realized instantly at that moment that no matter how deeply cool you are you will never, ever be cool to your kids. At least not when they are teenagers.

6. When I was in 6th grade my family almost died from carbon monoxide poisoning. A blocked flume in our chimney sent CO from the furnace back into the house. It was on a Friday night and if I hadn't had early rehearsal for a school play on Saturday morning we might likely have never woken up that day. Yes, if it weren't for "Babes in Toyland" you might not be reading this list. (And here is my "The More You Know Moment": if you don't have a CO monitor in your house, go out, buy one and install it today. Today.)

7. Jaysus, can it just be six random things about me? Okay, um, I once hitchhiked with my boyfriend through Sweden and Norway all the to Nordkapp, the northernmost point in Europe. It was during the summer and we camped the whole way. We never once needed a flashlight.

8. I prefer pencils. Pens are fine for certain writing tasks like letters and signing contracts but for anything else I like a trusty old No. 2. I will not write poetry with anything else, for instance. Blocks my chi. Also, they must be wooden. Nothing worse than a mechanical pencil. Ick.

Okay, I believe that etiquette calls for me to tag others now but I'm at the wire as it is and back to typing one-handedly. But I am curious! If you'd like, please leave a random fact about yourself in the comments. And be thankful you only have to think of one.

Comments

[Jill]

I was an aunt before I was born.

[Karen Gordon]

During my junior year in college in Colorado I had a knee high cast on my left leg, and I rode my bike through the snow and rock climbed with it before getting desperate and sawing it off (the cast not the leg...) myself one Friday after classes.

[Feral Mom]

You said "Jaysus" and you like pencils. If I didn't already love you...well, I'd love you. Random thing: I liked John Paul II, and I am a feminist.

[kara]

see #2, #6 & #8

[jane]

Random thing: I have always wanted to be a backup singer. I like singing the harmony parts.

[LetterB]

Excellent randomness everyone!

[Nancy King]

Ansel Adams told me to shut up once.

[Bobita]

I missed a state-level spelling bee in 8th grade because my parents dragged me to an Amway convention in Florida. I was a stitch resentful that I missed my chance to compete for a place at the Scripps bee. I was downright pissed when my parents never made a million bucks with Amway!