25 Random Things

I've been "tagged" to do this little meme on Facebook about a dozen times now, and tonight it seemed like a good distraction from planning for the new semester (which starts tomorrow, if anyone is keeping track). The idea is that once you're tagged, you're supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about yourself, and then tag 25 people to do the same. Cute, right?

Anyway, it requires very little concentration, and I needed the break from figuring out what I'm going to do with my brand-new sophomores tomorrow. So here are mine, in no particular order:

1. I almost never have to set an alarm clock, but when I do, my OCD kicks into high gear and I have to check it at least fifteen times before I can fall asleep. (Okay, I have to check both of them at least fifteen times. Because I set two. One runs on batteries in case the power goes out, and the other one is plugged in in case the batteries die.)

2. Gin-and-tonics are my weakness.

3. I've met Sherman Alexie twice and probably acted like a total dork, but I don't care, because all of my books are signed (and he wrote that he LOVED ME in one of them) and I had my picture taken with his arm around me. Swoon.

4. I hate shopping for clothes, but I love shopping for books. And I actually read the books I buy. And then I write about them, because I'm nerdy like that.

5. Growing up I always thought I was a cat person, but when I moved into my first apartment after college and got a pug, I realized I'm actually much more of a dog person. My husband is relieved.

6. I love road trips. And I'm completely happy taking vacations to obscure towns in places that cause other people to frown and ask, "What's there?" I'd also rather drive than fly any day, even if it's halfway across the country.

7. I've kept an online journal since my senior year of college, but I've only recently (well, sort of recently) started keeping a public blog. That's this one, by the way. And also, I hate the word blog.

8. If I couldn't write, I would probably kill myself.

9. I used to have really blonde hair. During my pregnancy with Suzannah, it somehow turned dark. Well, darkish. I'm not sure how I feel about this, but I'm incapable of maintaining highlights, so I'm just going to have to deal.

10. I teach high school English, and most of the time, I completely love my job. I've been teaching part-time since I had Suzannah, and I think I've found a pretty wonderful balance between my mother-self and my professional-self.

11. I grew up in Montana, went to college in Minnesota, and live in Washington state. I really love living where I'm at -- I've never regretted moving here -- but I deeply miss both Montana and Minnesota and everything in-between. I also miss cold, snowy winters. I mean it.

12. I sing a lot. This is what happens when one has a child, I suppose. Suzannah and I sing all over the place. She loves everything from Sesame Street and all the usual toddler favorites to The Ramones and Belle & Sebastian -- we're raising a well-rounded kid.

13. One of my ways of coping with anxiety (or just plain angst) is to go for a drive alone at night, listening to music and singing.

14. I've been with my husband for almost nine years (married for just over six). About a week after we started dating back in 2000, I wrote in my journal that I'd found the boy I would marry, although I did not share this particular revelation with him.

15. Last weekend, I began watching the first season of Gilmore Girls on Netflix. I'd never seen it before, and I have found MY NEW HAPPY PLACE.

16. We don't have cable television, nor do we have plans to get it. I don't even remember the last time I watched TV that wasn't on DVD. (TV on DVD, though? That's another weakness.) I read the news every day, and Matt and I have always agreed that cable would eat up time we'd really rather spend doing other things. Part of me wants to get rid of the TV altogether, but we do love our movies. And I love my reruns of Friends and Twin Peaks and Veronica Mars and -- gulp -- MacGyver.

17. I'm a neat-freak, and my husband is definitely not. Matt thinks it's weird that I find it so sexy when he deep-cleans the kitchen, but he humors me anyway.

18. I brush my teeth three times a day -- including after lunch in the bathroom at school. People make fun of me for this, but you know what? They never have to scrape my teeth when I go in for cleanings. I'll take the mocking, because I HATE THE SCRAPING.

19. Despite the internet (and all the People Who Parent Better Than Me) standing around chanting "You're doing it wrong!" we co-slept with Suzannah from the time she was born until she made it perfectly clear she wanted her own space, and she breastfed until she self-weaned at 23-ish months. I'm sure I'll eventually drive her into therapy, but probably not for either of those things.

20. Popcorn with butter and salt = another weakness. My dad makes it best in this ancient popcorn popper he's had since he graduated from high school, but when I can't have that, Pop Secret Homestyle works.

21. I'm passionately, vehemently anti-censorship when it comes to literature. This makes my job interesting, because some parents (not many, but enough) in my district love to protest things. Like ideas. And uncomfortable-but-important conversations.

22. My life was so much easier before I had Suzannah -- but I wouldn't trade my worst day with her for my best day without her. I really, really love this Mama thing.

23. I'm going to turn 30 in a few weeks, and I have surprisingly little angst about this (because people are apparently supposed to freak out about turning 30). I'm a much healthier, happier person now than I was at 20.

24. I haven't had a new cell phone in over three years, and I don't really care. I'm just -- not a cell phone person.

25. I'm addicted to blank books and pens (weaknesses! More weaknesses!).