100 THINGS ABOUT ME (numbers 1 through 50)

Since this is meant to be as much a journal for myself as it is to put my life out there for the masses, I thought it would be fun to do one of these lists. I figured that, in order to keep you on the edge of your seats and coming back to visit (because I know you are just dying to know more about my fabulous life - hee hee), I will break this up into segments. Here are numbers 1 - 50. Oh, and by the way, these are in no particular order...

1. I've been married for almost 6 years.


2. I met my husband at Homecoming our senior year in high school, but we didn't start dating until the summer before we left for college.
3. We are together because, despite the occasional argument, as Steve says, "We share a brain."


4. I am the oldest of four girls, and we're all within 6 years of each other.


5. When I was in high school, I wasn't the best driver and got into 2 accidents within 4 months.


6. I'm a much better driver now, I promise (but just in case, I drive a Volvo Cross Country)!


7. Said Cross Country was my dream car from the time I was in college - I know, so uncool.


8. Before my wagon, I had a green Ford Explorer that I called Myrtle the Turtle. That should be self-explanatory.


9. In high school, I had an unhealthy obsession with my eyebrows.


10. I'm a democrat.


11. I love the summer but hate being hot.


12. I still sleep with my teddy bear sometimes - his name is Ted E. Bear (I know, really clever, right), and I even brought him to the hospital when I had Caroline.


13. I love the look of a martini but prefer a Captain and Coke any day.


14. I took one year of Latin which at the time I thought was lame, but it actually helped me on my SATs.


15. I just got bangs in January for the first time since I was 7.


16. I got them because they are cheaper than Botox and I am starting to get some laugh lines on my forehead that I am not very happy about.


17. It took me 3 months to learn how to actually style said bangs so that they didn't look like I belonged in a Debbie Gibson video (I wore alot of headbands during that time).


18. I owned what my sisters refer to as a "Debbie Gibson" hat when I was in 8th grade, but interestingly enough I wasn't actually a huge fan of her music.


19. I love to laugh.


20. Three movies from my childhood that I will never get sick of are The Parent Trap (the original one, not the one with Lindsay Lohan), Troop Beverly Hills, and Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.


21. Three movies from my adolescence that I will never get sick of are Sixteen Candles, What About Bob?, and Better Off Dead.


22. I have too many favorites from adulthood to list at this time, but I promise I will try to narrow it down.


23. I prefer fruity candy like Skittles over chocolate most of the time.


24. I had to wear a uniform in grade and high school, and didn't mind it.


25. The quality I most hate is close-mindedness.


26. The quality I most admire is kindness.


27. I want to learn to sail one day. Have to figure out the whole wheelchair thing, but I'm sure it will be possible somehow.


28. I am DEFINITELY an eternal optimist.


29. I believe in second chances.


30. I am DEFINITELY not a morning person.


31. I am usually the last one to leave a party because I never want the fun to end.


32. This drives my husband crazy, and I am working on it. Sort of. :)


33. I am terrified of public speaking, except in front of children, which is why I did fine as an elementary school teacher.


34. My maternal grandmother went to law school when women DIDN'T really do that and then stayed home to raise 7 children because at that time, that's what women DID do, and for that, I admire her.


35. I love jewelry but tend not to wear too much of it - just my engagement/wedding rings and some diamond studs Steve gave me for my 30th birthday/Caroline's birth.
36. I have a pretty intense fear of flying.
37. I don't like to be out of control.
38. I think #35 and #36 are related.
39. If God forbid I should ever die before the ripe old age of 100, I want "For A Little While" by Tim McGraw played at my funeral.
40. I think I shouldn't have started thinking about my fear of flying - see where this takes me?
41. I used to be a ballet dancer for almost 10 years before my spinal cord injury.
42. I'm hoping that Caroline will at least be willing to try it out at some point in her childhood.
43. I was Clara for two years in my ballet company's version of "The Nutcracker."
44. I co-own a stationery company called Penny-Bear Printing with one of my best friends, Christy.
45. The company allows me to actually get to do things that I love - draw and doodle and be creative.
46. I am immensely fearful of change, but having Caroline has helped me learn that no matter what, everything will turn out okay.
47. I say that I am allergic to broccoli. but actually, I just detest it.
48. I love shellfish but hate "fish" fish, except maybe as pets.
49. I could eat Italian every day and never get sick of it.
50. I hope that one day I will be able to walk again, but if I don't, that's okay, because my life is pretty great as it is.