100 things

This is my 100th post on this blog, and I am so proud of myself for sticking with it for this long. In honor of this momentous (only to me) occasion, I've decided to do a list of 100 things about me. Here goes, everything you (n)ever wanted to know and more:

1. I was born on March 14, 1983, in Columbus, Ohio.

2. My dad loves to tell the story of how he and my mom were at my grandparents' house when she went into labor, and the song "Swingin'" by John Anderson was playing on the radio.

3. That's the entire story. And yet, I love to hear him tell it over and over again.

4. I have one brother who is two years younger than me.

5. He's an accountant and is therefore very much a math person.

5. This strikes me as interesting, since I am very much not a math person.

6. I majored in English in college, with a focus in rhetoric and composition.

7. Somehow, I wound up working for an investment bank where I actually get to use my English degree.

8. I am happy in my career.

9. I believe that life happens outside of work, so it's not important to me to have a professional "calling."

10. I love sentimental country songs.

11. I can't stand sad movies.

12. If a movie makes me cry, I will probably never watch it again.

13. The exception is Forrest Gump, which is such a masterful piece of cinema that it would be a sin to only see it once. (I still fast-forward through the sad parts, though.)

14. My favorite band is Third Eye Blind.

15. I love things that are peach-flavored, including Dum-Dum suckers, Jolly Ranchers, Faygo Pop and those little jelly rings you buy in a bag.

16. I'm not a picky eater.

17. There are, however, a few things I just don't like, including most seafood (shellfish excluded) and bleu cheese.

18. I'm not a very adventurous eater, either.

19. My favorite meal is still a grilled cheese sandwich and a pickle.

20. I would love to go to culinary school.

21. Cooking is one of my favorite things to do.

22. Joe would tell you his favorite thing for me to make is lasagna, which he says tastes like it was made by a little old stooped-over Italian grandma.

23. I take that as a compliment.

24. I have been with my husband since I was 17 years old.

25. We met at the Waffle House, where I was a waitress.

26. Yes, I worked at the Waffle House.

27. I feel it's necessary at this point to tell you that I still have all of my teeth.

28. We were married on August 8, 2004.

29. He is my balance. He is my heart.

30. I am a very non-confrontational person and avoid conflict whenever possible.

31. This means I can sometimes be a push-over.

32. I always say "Oh my goodness" or "Oh my gosh," never "Oh my God."

33. I have been known to write "OMG" though, on more than one occasion. Just know that in my head, it stands for one of the former phrases, not the latter.

34. Taking the Lord's name in vain was strictly forbidden in our house.

35. I guess that's really stuck with me into adulthood.

36. My mom battled brain cancer for fourteen years until she died on January 22, 2007.

37. Losing her is the worst thing that's ever happened to me.

38. I still think of her every day.

39. I am a very spiritual person, although I don't go to church.

40. I struggle personally with organized religion; it hasn't treated me kindly in the past.

41. I long to find a church that's right for our family.

42. My favorite Bible verse is I Peter 1:6-7: "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith -- of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire -- may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed."

43. My dad is a recovering alcoholic.

44. I did not have an easy childhood, but I try not to let that define me.

45. The things I went through taught me a lot and have shaped who I am today, and for that I am grateful.

46. My favorite song is "Solsbury Hill" by Peter Gabriel.

47. My favorite books are To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, and The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton.

48. Don't ask me which one I like better. It was hard enough to pare it down to just those two.

49. For an English major, I am suprisingly not very well-read.

50. I have never read Jane Eyre, The Grapes of Wrath, 1984 or Animal Farm.

51. I know! Pathetic, right? I feel the need to modify this very soon.

52. I drive a 2005 Chevrolet Impala. For now.

53. I love the smell of gasoline.

54. I am convinced that Mackinac Island, Michigan is the most beautiful place in this country.

55. I am very much at peace with my body at this point in my life.

56. Except for the stretch marks. They can go to hell.

57. About two years ago I joined a women's gym, but the women who worked there were way too pushy and drove me crazy.

58. I never told them to leave me alone, though (see #30 re: conflict avoidance); I just stopped going.

59. I am addicted to Dr. Pepper.

60. I took piano lessons from age 6 to age 15.

61. I wish I hadn't stopped.

62. My dream job would be to be a photographer, because pictures make everyone happy.

63. My dream camera is a Nikon D80. Yeah, like I'm going to get that anytime soon.

64. I love to plan things and to make lists.

65. I used to be a social smoker, but I'm not anymore.

66. My son is the best thing that's ever happened to me.

67. I think it's so important to raise him to be a good, respectful man.

68. I'm addicted to the way he smells -- like lavender baby lotion and sunshine and freshly-mown grass.

69. Sometimes I worry that I don't know how to be a mother.

70. That worry fades the moment he smiles at me, though.

71. Watching my husband and son interact is the culmination of everything I never knew I always wanted out of life.

72. I would love to go on an African safari, see the pyramids in Egypt, and live in a Tuscan villa for a month.

73. Unfortunately, my fear of flying somewhat puts a damper on these dreams.

74. And no, it's not because I'm afraid of terrorists.

75. I think it has something to do with not being in control.

76. I like to be in control of all aspects of my life, but I wouldn't necessarily say I'm a control freak.

77. It really, really annoys me when someone parks in the spot right next to me in a parking lot full of empty spaces.

78. Being bored and having access to Target's website is a deadly combination for my bank account.

79. During the summer before my senior year of high school, I went through a "hippie phase."

80. I don't regret a moment of that phase; it was one of the best summers of my life.

81. My favorite movie is Paper Moon.

82. I love Buckeyes.

83. The sports team, yes, but mostly the candy.

84. I make them every year for Christmas with the intention of giving them as gifts, but Joe and I always end up eating all of them.

85. I love the holiday season; I look forward to the holidays every year as though I'm a six-year-old.

86. When I was little, I wanted to be an author.

87. I still have every single story, poem, essay, and journal I've ever written.

88. I love reality TV and could talk about it for hours.

89. I hate to talk about politics, though, because everyone just gets angry in the end (see #30 re: conflict avoidance).

90. My parents divorced when I was eight years old.

91. One of my favorite memories is riding in the car with my dad, listening to Ray Stevens tapes, when he'd come pick my brother and me up for an evening out.

92. I still speak regularly with the first friend I ever made.

93. She and I are complete opposites, which I think is part of the reason we get along so well.

94. I have never tried Indian food.

95. I love the fact that my husband and I have inside jokes that no one else can comprehend.

96. I am the type of person who wants everything, and wants it now.

97. New siding, a deck, a paved driveway -- now now now!

98. My son is like this, too, regarding his food; he wants it now.

99. I try to thank God every day for all of the blessings He has given me.

100. My life is not perfect, but oh, I am blessed.