Random Thoughts

So, I saw on one of my friend's blog she did a dedication to her husband for his 29th birthday by writing 29 things you may or may not know about him. I don't have a husband to do the same for me, and I am the kind of dork who likes doing this kind of thing. Since I am 35, here are 35 things you may or may not know about me:

1. I was born in Wiesbaden, Germany. No I do not have dual citizenship. I am a US citizen and when I was six months old the USA finally decided I really was an American. I have the certificate to prove it.

2. While I have absolutely no desire to be a star, I would love to be on Dancing with the Stars. It's the only reality TV show I would really like to be a part of.

3. Other than surgery related, I've never had stitches. I may have jinxed myself by saying that.

4. The only ever fractured my middle finger knuckle (I was trying to hit my little brother at the time and got a stud in the wall instead) and my foot. No other broken bones. But I have been on crutches four times.

5. The first time I was put on crutches was because I was having some serious growing pains in my feet when I was eight, but apparently they didn't get that memo since I can still shop in the kids' shoe department.

6. I hate shoe shopping, breaking in shoes, and wearing shoes in general; but I love having new shoes. So you may not realize the truth of the first statement by looking at my closet.

7. I was so very lucky to live in Berlin before, during, and after the Wall fell and Germany was reunified. Being a know it all teenager, I didn't necessarily take full advantage of the experience.

8. I do NOT celebrate my birthday, but have no problem telling people my age. That would be why I didn't put it on Facebook and why I don't respond to people's requests to put in on their calendars. I've gone out with my friends on my birthday, but they had absolutely no clue.

9. About the only time I truly feel like I am getting older is when the kids I used to babysit get married and have kids. It just a very potent reminder, but I will always be young at heart.

10. I have answered to name Weed since I was eight. Thanks again for that, Brian. I am the only one in my family that has a nickname that has stuck all the way to adulthood.

11. I am getting more and more scared of heights. But I still love to climb. That can cause some awkward situations.

12. I am not an animal person in any way shape or form. It was not at all a hard thing for me to find out I was allergic to cats and dogs. Even though I don't like them, I see know reason to be mean to animals and will tolerate any of your pets.

13. I have realized I have much more of an obsessive personality than I thought. Best demonstrated by the current Real Salt Lake obsession.

14. It doesn't bother me to do activities by myself. I figure if I am hungry, I can eat in a restaurant alone. It won't kill me to go to a movie on my own.

15. I hate fireworks crowds, but give me a concert or a good game and the same crowd won't bother me at all. Doesn't make sense, but that's where I am.

16. I taught myself to play piano and love doing it. However, playing in public is still one of the scariest things in the world to me, because of that same reason.

17. I learned to play the flute in high school and still pull it out at least once a year, usually around Christmas time.

18. In case you couldn't tell, music plays a very important part in my life.

19. I once went on a date that involved riding in a semi to deliver a load of Christmas trees. That same lot burnt down the next week, which was pretty mush as far as the relationship went.

20. There was what seemed like a forever stage in college, where if I went on a date with a guy the next person he went out with he got engaged to. Mom didn't think that was true until I started naming names.

21. I love to read and always have one with me. This is why the Kindle was so great for me. I can have lots and lots of books with me at all times.

22. I never went to junior high. I was in middle school, then moved and the high school I went to started in the seventh grade.

23. My high school graduating class was larger than my whole previous school, grades 7 - 12. It was really weird to me.

24. I didn't get my driver's license until the day I turned 18. I failed the test several times. The sad part is, the time I passed I actually bumped into the car in front of me on the parallel parking. This would be part of the reason why I would rather walk further than try to parallel park. Don't know if I ever told my parents this.

25. I love to cross stitch. It helps me pass the time while I am watching too much television. Probably not a great thing to admit (watching too much television), but it's true.

26. I find it very therapeutic to write in my journal, but very easily fall behind in it. I find myself writing in like I may be speaking to future kids or grandkids. I don't like the idea of anyone right now reading them though.

27. I count my family as my best friends. They are incredible support for me and each other. I know if I ever needed something I could turn to anyone of them and they would help out any way they can.

28. Thinks there is very little chocolate can't at least make better. Lindor Lindt is the best, but anything will do. However, I never have liked Chocolate PopTarts.

29. My brothers used to beg me to stop singing. Yet, they all asked me to sing at their missionary homecomings or farewells (or both) and I sang at two of their wedding breakfasts. Kind of ironic isn't.

30. The first concert I ever went to was a-ha. It was my tenth birthday present and I had no idea what they were when I opened my gift. Jen and Russ were willing to sacrifice and be my dates for the evening,

31. I hate prejudice and when people make general statements about a culture or race, even when they are positive.

32. I always knew I wanted to do something for a living that involved working with kids when I grew up, but had no idea that it would be anything like this.

33. Two of my biggest heroes are my Mom and my sister, Jen. I am so lucky to have them in my life. I've watched them go through so many things and admire how they have handled them. I can't believe their strength, determination, and testimonies.

34. Still love getting snail mail. There's nothing better than getting a card or letter and think it's just about the best pick me up in the world (I don't count junk mail or bills in this love).

35. I really like to do online surveys and random quizzes. I know it can be a huge waste of time, but for some reason, I like it. Some of the answers you get a hilarious, and some of them are a little too close to the truth than I would really like them to be. This would be a big part in why I did this, even though it's hard to come up with that many things about myself.

And there's me.