About Mom 101

Okay so I've read about this challenge to write 101 things about yourself, and it sounded more interesting than just a few paragraphs so here's my 101 things about me:

I am a Christian and God and my faith is very important to me...
but from time to time I get caught up in the daily tasks of life and lose track of priorities...
still, I enjoy finding time to read the Bible and other devotional books, and yes, I have read the entire Bible.
I teach 4-5 year old Sunday School at my church.
I went to a "religious" university.
I graduated just .02 short of cum laude (a fact which burns me to this day!).
I hold a degree in Creative Writing, which apparently is less than marketable! 🙂
I don't care. I wouldn't change a thing.
I love to write and if I am not employed in a way that uses my writing skills, I find other ways to make myself write meaningfully...like this blog...
and the 2 other blogs I write... (one about writing, books and education... the other a broader review/news blog)
and the various journals I keep when I feel like it, remember, and/or have time.
I have worked as a marketing writer...
a freelance writer (news and magazines and online content)...
and I am a big fan of the ellipsis... get used to it.
I worked for 3 years at ESPN in their International Soccer Department.
I love soccer. But I don't watch it anymore!
No, I do not know Person XYZ who work/worked at ESPN (Inet Soccer is/was a very small department, worked opposite hours from most other production depts, and it was over 17 years ago!)
I wrote several TV Commercial scripts while I was there and they were aired.
I even produced some of my scripts.
They were terrible. I still have the tapes.
I secretly always wanted to act in TV commercials...
because I think I'd look good as the mom who has too many stains on her laundry... 🙂
I went back to school to get my Master's in Education...
and was forced to completely redo my Bachelor's degree in order to teach in CT...
but I did it and became an English teacher in a middle school in the 8th/7th grade...
and I'm still alive...barely...
eventually I became Teacher of the Year 2010...
still not sure why...
but I got a nice parking spot up front while I was pregnant with Asher, which was very helpful!
I like teaching the Writer's Workshop method...
and I teach with a clipboard constantly in my hands...
I miss my teacher friends from school...
but I like staying home with my baby and husband more than teaching though!
I plan to home school my children because I believe I know best how to educate them well.
I used to mountain bike in high school, and hubby and I still enjoy a family bike ride...
I played tennis and soccer in college ... poorly.
I started coaching cross country at my middle school and got really into running...
...even won a trophy in a cross country series...
but that's b/c were only 2 other women in my age group! ha ha!
I even ran a ½ marathon in Hartford, CT before I got prego.
I would like to run another ½ marathon someday.
I like hiking with my husband.
We recently started camping so we share the outdoors with Asher and future children.
I secretly wish I could climb Mount Everest.
But that's no way to die.
So I read every book I can about mountain climbing and Mount Everest.
I share this passion with my father-in-law. Which is pretty cool if you ask me.
My favorite novel EVER is Wuthering Heights.
My favorite author is Shakespeare, followed by Jane Austen, followed by L.M. Montgomery.
What can I say, I guess I'm not a fan of American Literature?
I enjoy watching plays, orchestra concerts, opera.
My favorite type of writing is poetry writing...
...although ironically I resist reading poetry...
...but when I do I totally love it and can't get enough until I get distracted from reading poetry and then later resist it again...it's a vicious cycle.
I hate my clothes.
Unfortunately, I do like to dress nicely and look good.
If I had a million dollars I would pay someone to choose outfits for me that actually matched and were accessorized because that is my LEAST favorite thing to do.
I can't believe I'm only ½ way done... I don't think I'm going to make 101. That rhymed.
I am a compulsive "straightener" - if I see things misaligned I have to straighten them.
This compulsion carries over into other areas as well - like layouts of documents - if a form is given to me and it isn't well organized or laid out neatly, I have to retype the whole thing so it looks good.
Sometimes people like this about me and ask me to do all their re-typing.
Other times, I think people are annoyed at me for this. Oh well.
I touch type.
I have tested at 101 wpm with 3 mistakes.
I also self-correct using the backspace key a lot so I don't know if that counts.
I have been to Italy, Uruguay and Canada.
I have visited over ½ the states in America.
I love coffee and chocolate.
I worked at a chocolate store for 5+ years in high school/college.
I never got tired of eating chocolate.
My manager said I ate more chocolate than anyone she'd ever had work for her.
I can sew...
But not clothing so much.
I have made 4 quilts...
but my husband still is wondering when I will sew missing buttons onto his shirts!
I love love love being a mom...
I always wanted to have twins...
but now I think I was crazy! One at a time is enough! 🙂
My favorite flowers are irises...
we have more than 6 different colors/varieties in our gardens...
we grow a lot of perennials...
most of them are "heirloom-ed" from my mother's, grandmother's, and friends' gardens...
my husband is a wonderful gardener and loves to pick me flower arrangements from our gardens.
I am a compulsive list maker...
sometime I'll rewrite lists I make just because they aren't neat enough (see #57)
I designed my own grocery shopping list that raises eyebrows at the store...
on a clipboard...some habits die-hard.
I enjoy making apple pies...with lots of cinnamon!
I like cats and dogs...
we were going to be foster parents to raise puppies to become guide dogs for Fidelco...
unfortunately my husband is allergic.
I can't do accents to save my life - they always turn into southern drawls!
I laugh at my own jokes (someone has to!)
I am very self-conscious...
but people always tell me I am so outgoing...
I enjoy public speaking...
until right before I have to get up in front and actually publicly speak... but I'm fine once I get into it!
I want to publish a novel someday...
or maybe a children's picture book...
After writing all this, I realize that I've had a pretty good, interesting, and full life already...
And I thank God for it!

...Hey, that was kind of fun... the editor in me wants to go through this list and polish and re-arrange...but I think I'll just let this rough-cut version do it's work.