Rainy days and Monday always get me down. Well, that's how the song goes at least. Today is Monday and it's raining. To be honest, I like Mondays. It always seems like another opportunity for a a fresh start, a time for me to try again to get the things done that didn't get done the week before. As for rainy days, as long as there's no real need to be out running errands, then a rainy day is a fantastic thing! Yesterday afternoon I got to curl up in bed with my three little ones while the wind and rain pounded the house. It was so nice to be tucked in with the heathens....if Doug had been there with us it would have been perfect.
Well, here we are, my 100th post. I know some folks have written 100 items about themselves or listed 100 places they've visited. I decided to do a combination of the two.
1. I was born and raised in Alabama.
2. When I think about the South, I envision gardenias, magnolias, and old oaks covered in Spanish Moss. When I visit the South, all I can think about is the oppressive heat and mosquitoes.
3. When I was about 9, two of my cousins tried to hang me from a rafter in my grandfather's barn.
4. I was 17 the first time I flew on an airplane.
5. For a year when I was 16, I was a member of the Dogwood Trail Court and wore the big antebellum dress, hat, and pantaloons to events around the area.
6. I used to love to go to the beach and spend the entire day there. If I didn't come home with a sunburn, I considered it an unsuccessful day.
7. At age 37, I wish I'd had many less successful beach days.
8. I love to go "crabbing" for fresh crabs for gumbo.
9. To me, a plate of fried crab claws with an oyster po' boy followed by a piece of key lime pie is a little slice of heaven.
10. I love the feel of the wind on your face and the smell of a storm as it rolls in.
11. I miss afternoon thunderstorms.
12. I'm addicted to sweets. I'm like a smoker in that I need a little something sugary after meals.
13. I can't watch scary movies anymore. I have psychotic nightmares if I do--everything from sensory deprivation, to alien abduction,to giant mutant lizards, and flesh-eating vacuum cleaners.
14. I love to get mail...all kinds but especially hand written letters.
15. I, however, am lousy at taking the time to write letters and not good at keeping in touch.
16. I love to travel but hate to pack.
17. I like playing the tour guide. Come for a visit and I can't wait to show you the sights.
18. I have four false teeth. They were knocked out in a boating accident when I was 11 years old at a water amusement park.
19. I secretly want to be Martha Stewart.
20. I am so NOT Martha Stewart.
21. I took time "off" from college to travel around and skydive.
22. I have almost 400 jumps and only just sold my skydiving gear last year to help pay for my camera and lenses.
23. I am a genealogy addict. Trying to fit all the pieces together is like a giant crossword puzzle and I dig it!
24. I didn't think I ever wanted to have children. I turned 30 and my biological clock started ticking. All of a sudden I couldn't get through a Fisher Price commercial without bawling.
25. I have an irrational fear of sharks.
26. I actually saw a shark while scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. He seemed more frightened of me than I was of him.
27. I used to be a Hebrew linguist in the Air Force.
28. At one time I wanted to work for the CIA or be an astronaut. Now I'm just happy to get through the day with everyone alive, fed, clean and hopefully happy.
29. I used to dress my little brother like a girl. I once made him drink shampoo with leaves in it. Sorry, Wes.
30. I met my husband in Greece, dated while in England, got engaged in Spain, and married him in Alabama.
31. I spent a summer crewing for a hot air balloon company. I was no good at it but they kept me around anyway.
32. I love history and math. I would love to write a book about the 16th century.
33. I love to cook but you never know what you're going to get. Doug really must have a gut of steel.
34. When I was pregnant with Lauren I couldn't brush my teeth enough. I craved Colgate.
35. When Anna was little, my step-mother told me I was a wonderful mother. I told her that Anna just made me look good. When Lauren came along she told me I was right.
36. I'm okay with most bugs but I hate jumping spiders and ticks. Doug keeps telling me there's no such thing as jumping spiders....I know differently. As for ticks, we went out geocaching with our dog while living in Nebraska. Our dog came back with at least 60 ticks (no joke). I found one on my leg and in my hair....I was paralyzed with disgust and screamed like a little girl for Doug to get them off.
37. I gave up soda when I was a teenager. The only time I drink anything even closely related is an occasional frozen coke at the movies. I also don't drink tea or coffee. Water, please!
38. I never go to the movies much anymore. If I do it's because the older kids are in town or I'm going to see a cartoon with the little kids.
39. While researching genealogy I found out one of my great, great grandfathers was killed by a runaway mule train.
40. Another grandfather (Civil War era) said he wouldn't shave his beard until we'd whipped the damned Yankees. He had a long beard when he died.
41. Whenever I see my husband across a crowded room or from a distance I get this goofy grin that I can't control.
42. When I hold his hand I'm still sure that he's the one.
43. I want to write a children's book.
44. My degree is in political science from the University of Maryland earned while I was living in England.
45. I want to be a professional photographer someday and support the family so Doug can really be retired.
46. I'm finding new gray hairs everyday. I feel younger than I think I look.
47. Even though they're the ones giving me the gray hairs I love my children to distraction.
48. My children like my husband more than me. Apparently, he's just more fun.
49. I've backpacked alone through parts of Europe and Asia.
50. I check my blog a billion times during the day to see if anyone has left a comment. I really, really like comments.
Some of the cities I've visited:
51. London
52. Edinburgh
53. Paris
54. Rome
55. Venice
56. Vienna
57. Budapest
58. Prague
59. Cairo
60. Luxor
61. Aswan
62. Sydney, Australia
63. Bali, Indonesia
64. Istanbul
65. Athens
66. Antalya
67. Amsterdam
68. Brussels
69. Munich
70. Hong Kong
71. Guilin
72. Granada
73. Malaga
74. Bath
75. Lucern
76. San Francisco
77. Los Angeles
78. San Diego
79. Salt Lake City
80. Reno
81. Las Vegas
82. Denver
83. Colorado Springs
84. Aspen
85. Albuquerque
86. Flagstaff
87. San Antonio
88. Little Rock
89. New Orleans
90. Orlando
91. Atlanta
92. Asheville
93. Milwaukee
94. Madison
95. Kansas City
96. Washington D.C.
97. Ronkonkoma
98. Soufriere
99. Cozumel
100. This was much harder than I thought it would be and I'm glad it's done!
