25 Things

The whole “25 Things About Me” note that has been circulating Facebook has finally gotten to me. I give in. I’ll participate.

1. Every night before bed, I like to cuddle with John. I lie on his chest, but my hair tickles his face, so he “pets” my hair repeatedly until he gets it how he wants it. Most nights, we find this ritual very funny.

2. I have discovered how easy it is to just order a beer with dinner in Germany. It really is cheaper than water, but that doesn’t mean the beer is cheap. Water is just freaking expensive! It’s amusing when we go out to dinner and it’s a “treat” to order water with our dinner.

3. I was very involved in dance from the time I was 10 until I graduated high school. At one point, I was dancing around 20 hours/week in addition to school and a job. From college until now, I haven’t had time to take a dance class, but I always say I want to. Cardio hip hop at 24 Hour Fitness is the closest I have gotten to a dance class since college.

4. I love to bake, but I don’t really like cooking. When I was little, I used to help my mom bake a lot – especially bread. She would sit me on the counter next to the dough and have me help knead the bread.

5. Sometimes I say something out loud that I don’t realize I’m saying audibly. I’m sure I will admit to some of these on one of my “Not Me! Monday” posts.

6. I have had a blog since 2002 (ie before the word “blog” originated). I used to write in it daily, but from 2006-2008, I didn’t have much to write. I’m back now.

7. I don’t like my writing. I think I used to be a decent writer in high school, but journalism classes ruined any sort of good form I had. Now, I struggle to come up with complex sentences and write anything besides the facts. (The bottom line is that I don’t like the journalistic style of writing.)

8. I have a love/hate relationship with photography. I have to be in the right mood to shoot. Maybe that’s the moody artist in me.

9. Because of my photography training, I am terribly picky about photos and spend far too long examining photos that I have no control over editing. (Ex: It’s not sharp enough. It’s too blue. It’s too magenta. It’s muddy. Poor composition. Not an interesting photo….you get the idea.)

10. I love making lists. I make lists and love to plan out my day. My desire to be an event manager (and planner) fits in very well with this innate desire to be organized.

11. I have a lot of blonde moments…a.lot.

12. This goes with #4, I love to bake for other people. I try to bake at least once a month for the people in John’s office.

13. I worked for “Texas Party Pics” for a month or so and dreaded every time I had to take a posed picture and yell “smile!” Gag me.

14. I have the smartest and most adorable nieces and nephew ever, and I really miss them while we’re so far away!

15. I had never been out of the US until Nov. 2007, when I spent 2.5 months visiting Germany (also went to Paris for 5 days and drove through Austria on that trip). Four and a half months after I got back, I spent a week in Mexico, a short layover in London and returned to Germany where I still live. It’s been 8 months – I can’t believe it!

16. Ok, so I HAD been out of the country before Nov. 2007 – sort of. In the summer of 1994, my family (just my mom, dad & Andrew) went to Big Bend. We hiked through a canyon and were on the banks of the Rio Grande when some Mexicans on the other side (ie in Mexico) offered to row us across and take us to the nearby town. For some reason, we said ok. They rowed us across in their boat, which had a hole (or a few holes) in it, so they were constantly scooping the water out. When we got to the other side, they offered for us to ride to town in their truck. My parents said no, because they figured they could easily take us away in the truck, so we opted for the donkey ride. Yes, we rode donkeys in Mexico. This guy Pedro walked behind them swatting their behinds to keep them walking. It was definitely an interesting experience.

17. I don’t like odd numbers, so I like to set my alarm to wake up at times like 7:34 instead of 7:35.

18. I like some TV shows that are definitely meant for a younger demographic, namely The Secret Life of the American Teenager. It’s kind of ridiculous, but it’s also entertaining, so whatever.

19. Before I got married, I didn’t watch much TV. I think the only shows I really watched were Lost and Battlestar Galactica (and the occasional Extreme Makeover: Home Edition or So You Think You Can Dance). Now, I have a much longer list of shows I enjoy which includes the shows I’ve already mentioned plus: How I Met Your Mother, Scrubs, Chuck, Greek, Army Wives, Big Love, Weeds, The Unit, House Hunters International, Kitchen Nightmares, American Idol, and So You Think You Can Dance. Note: I don’t watch all these shows all the time. John comes home for lunch for an hour, so we watch a show at lunchtime and usually one after dinner.

20. Also before I got married, I didn’t have a sweet tooth. Ever. Now, I crave chocolate on a daily basis. My favorites are Dove special dark. Yum!

21. I used to drink a Starbucks mocha frappucino or caramel macchiato every day. Since moving to Germany, I cannot stand the taste of Starbucks. I agree with Liz’s friend, who said of Starbucks: “I don’t want your dirt beans and creek water.” Seriously, I can’t drink it. I think most coffee over here is pressure brewed. It is so much more flavorful – I wouldn’t want to put syrups and junk in it. It’s already delicious!

22. Speaking of coffee, I only drink that once a week now (on Sundays at our weekly brunch at the coffeehouse). I have made the switch to hot tea, which has also replaced my Dr. Pepper addiction. I love hot tea. I have a cup nearly every day. Earl Grey tea with a spoonful of sugar and a touch of milk is delicious.

23. I went through a phase where I called my mom “hon” when I was about 4 years old. I heard my dad call my mom that, and I thought it was her name.

24. When I was little, I liked to dress up and put on as much clothing as possible. This could mean multiple shirts, tights, shorts/pants/skirts, hats, bracelets and other jewelry. I then enjoyed pushing around my toy shopping cart. My family laughed that I was a bag lady.

25. There are some things I really loved about high school: Spurs (the 00-01 year), bean & cheese tacos between 2nd & 3rd, Coach O’s computer lit class, pep rallies, being Ms. Wis’ graduation aide, math class, journalism, & all the friendships I had (long talks with Langston, friends working together at Cheesy Jane’s, Stephanie and I looking for our lobsters, Helen’s babushka and GusGus impressions as well as our ridiculous sleepovers and that one time where she pushed my car, Morgan and our Taco C/Cambridge/star gazing escapades…ok, I have to stop. I could go on for far too long).

– Sarah