The NY List

I’ve only got a few more months as an official NYC resident.  And you know what?  I’ve still got a surprising amount of shit that I want to do before I leave.

The problem with living in this city is that this “tourist attraction” is just your home.  Friends in other cities are all, “what’d you do this weekend?  Statue of Liberty?  The Met?” And you’re all “no, dude, I slept till 11, made a really greasy breakfast, took a nap, and then watched a movie b/c it was raining and I didn’t want to go outside.”  Because that is what you would do if you lived anywhere else.  But when you live in New York City people expect that you spend every weekend touring museums and eating at fabulous restaurants (which, in all fairness, is kind of true–even the crappy delis have some of the best sandwiches you’ve ever eaten).

That said, there is still a lot of stuff I need to do before I move.  A lot of stuff that, because I alternate my weekends b/w New York and CT, I haven’t gotten to yet.  I have done some stuff though.

I’ve seen the Rock Tree (TWO YEARS IN A ROW!) and been ice skating at the Natural History Museum.

I’ve seen David Blaine at Central Park.  I’ve seen Brooke Shields in SoHo.  I’ve shared a cab w/a Law & Order regular extra (you know the type I’m talking about–they play a killer at least once a season).

I’ve been to Chinatown and Brooklyn.  I’ve been to all of the villages.  I’ve hung out on the Upper West Side.  I’ve been to the Met. I’ve seen at least 3 shows on Broadway.

I’ve sunned myself in Central Park and had Sunday brunch on the sidewalks in front of some of my favorite cafes.

I’ve made friends with my doorman and half the staff at my regular breakfast joint.  I’ve run into old friends on subways and at airports (proving that this city really is just a really big small town).

But I still have a lot to do.  I decided to compile a list so I wouldn’t forget everything I wanted to get done before I packed up and headed to…um…someplace that Boo and I have yet to figure out.

• Have frozen hot chocolate at Serendipity.
• See the Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island (and find my family’s name!).
• Check out the view from the top of the Empire State Building.
• Visit Ground Zero.  I know it’s not really what it was but I can’t live here and NOT see it.  Boo saw it last year w/his brother so I need to make sure I see it too.
• Have my caricature drawn at Times Square.
• Go on the Double Decker Bus Tour.
• Buy something at Bloomingdale’s or Bendel’s.
• Go to a ballet (but somehow I feel we missed ballet season this year…whoops!).
• Visit the Bronx Zoo.
• Visit the Botanical Gardens.
• Hit up either the MoMA or the Guggenheim.

I know, I know.  It’s a super touristy list.  It’s all the stuff that non-New Yorkers think we do EVERY weekend.  But just b/c it’s touristy doesn’t mean I don’t want to experience it before I leave!

In fact, Boo and I crossed one thing off the list on Saturday:

Carriage Ride at Central Park

–

On a bummer of a side note, if you are expecting blogger meetup tales, you won’t find them here.  When Boo and I arrived at the bar we had to wait in line for 25 minutes (stupid Bulls/Celtics game).  We texted our whereabouts, never heard anything back and when we made it into Village Pour House it was blogger-less.  Definitely a shame, but Boo and I ran into a friend I haven’t seen since graduation (2 years–whoa!) and we got to visit our favorite UES bar so the night wasn’t a total bust for us.

In just 6 short months…

…I will be getting married.

This 6-month mark comes just days after a co-worker walked past our closet, saw my yellow wool coat, pulled it out and asked “Who’s Paddington Bear?!”

That’d be me.  Yeah, I know…24 and getting married.  Yup.  That’s my Paddington coat.  At least I wasn’t wearing my yellow rain boots that day.

Ahem…

Anyway, so like I said: 6 months.  Since I last updated you I’ve actually stayed pretty on the ball.  As far as I’m concerned, all of the big elements are taken care of with the following exceptions:

• We still need to get the guys sized for suits and then actually purchase said suits.
• We need to register for gifts!
• We need to figure out a honeymoon location.
• We need to figure out where to live.
• We need to pick out/send invitations (but Mama B’s in charge of that one–saweeeet!)

All in all, that’s not too bad.  I mean, that’s only 4 (well technically 5) things that I need to do.

I was feeling pretty proud of myself this morning.  And then I got my “6 months to go!” e-mail from The Knot.  And I looked at my checklist on the site.

And I have 184 things left to do.

Uh…?

Seriously Knot, why are you making this so difficult? (and this coming from a girl who LOVES her some lists!!)  I mean, I thought I only had 4(ish) things left and here you are adding 180 things to my list?   What could you POSSIBLY want me to do?

• Book rehearsal dinner site.  Well, since this isn’t something that I’m in charge of, I can cross this right off my list and throw it on to Boo’s.  Done.
• Start taking better care of yourself (eat right, exercise) so you look and feel great on your wedding day.  Really?  I need a checklist reminder to do this?  Isn’t it my choice if I want to have Bingo wings on my wedding day?
• Grooms: Attend your bachelor party (and be sure to thank the best man afterwards).  How does this POSSIBLY get it’s own spot on the checklist?  I mean, really, Knot, how?

These are the things that The Knot thinks I need to be reminded of.  These are actual items I need to check off of my list before the big day.  And so I wonder, will I be standing in the church, waiting to walk down the aisle and suddenly stop to think “OMG, did Boo thank his best man after that bachelor party?!” Or “Crap, how does my tan look?  Should I have done trial runs with self-tanners in June like The Knot told me too?  Are the remains of my natural tan just not good enough?!  Stop the wedding–my tan is ALL WRONG!”

Doubtful.  But thanks Knot.  Just in case I feel the need to be psychotically over-prepared, I can be.  Thanks to the 184 remaining items on my checklist.

It seems I can’t avoid this

Something’s been going around like the plague.  If you got it, you know what I’m talking about.  You kind of hoped it wouldn’t happen to you–you saw all of your friends get it but you held out hope.

And then it happened.

You got tagged in that “list 25 things about yourself” note on Fbook.

And you did one of two things: ignored it and hoped it would go away or sucked it up and filled it out.

Since I’m in the middle of my Chinese-New-Year-closed-all-of-our-factories-but-that-just-means-I’m-in-hard-core-local mode and I’m still swamped, I’m going to post…well…some number of things about me that I haven’t posted in my list of 101 things.

1. If I dream about someone dying I am compelled to call/IM/Fbook them the next day, just to make sure they are still alive.
2. I had a dream about a good friend of mine the other night and then got a text bounced back from his phone.  Based on #1 I immediately thought he was dead.
3. I think lunch is easy to eat at home but really annoying to eat at work every day.  Packing gets boring and buying gets pricey.
4. I hate when it’s quiet.  When I’m home alone I have to have some background noise on.  I even get cranky if Pandora cuts out at work.
5. I think the sign of a really good CD is that you want to have all of the songs playing at once and playing all of the time b/c you just can’t get enough of the music.  I currently feel that way about the new FOB cd.
6. I used to knit when I was younger and then I lost all of my knitting stuff when the baggage door to my dad’s plane popped open.  Somewhere in upstate NY there is a cow with a needle in it’s back and a really nice blanket.
7. I’ve started knitting again.  I won’t fly w/my needles anymore.
8. I hate when things are unresolved.  Especially w/people.  Sometimes I get the chance to change that and that always makes me really happy.
9. I never believed that whole “men and women can’t be friends” theory but in college I started to.  Oh well, if a boyfriend is all it took for those guys to stop being my friends, I didn’t need them anyway.
10. My roommate’s dog has an old-man beard.  This isn’t really about me except that I think the beard is awesome.
11. I used to think about getting a tattoo (sorry Mom and Dad) but I always knew that I was too indecisive to get one. Plus, I knew I’d be grounded for life.  (I swear I don’t have one guys!)
12. I used to hate having a bed time but now if I stay awake past 11 I get REALLY cranky.
13. I had a crush on Lance Bass.  I don’t care if he’s gay, given the chance, I’d totally try to mack w/him.  (Sorry Boo, I still love you!)
14. I wish I had a really sick slr camera but I wouldn’t know what to do with it.  I took a photography class in college.  That didn’t help.
15. My friend Courtney tagged me in this.  We worked at Elle together and I miss her.

Okay…you know what?  I’m rebelling against the man (Facebook) and only doing 15.  Plus, how much more could you possibly want to know about me?

Don’t answer that.

Unless you’re being nice.

What have you done?

I happened upon this list when I was over at DMB’s place.  I’m having a bit of an off day so it seemed like it would be a good day for a list, but since no one ever really tags me in these things, I just borrowed it!

What I’ve done is in purple:

01. Bought everyone in the bar a drink

02. Swam with dolphins

03. Climbed a mountain (At one point I was wheezing and begging to be left behind.  Then I was lapped by an old woman.  Yeah, lapped.  On a mountain.  Take that in.)

04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive

05. Been inside the Great Pyramid

06. Held a tarantula

07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone

08. Said “I love you” and meant it

09. Hugged a tree (I’m willing to say this happened in elementary school at some point…)

10. Bungee jumped

11. Visited Paris

12. Watched a lightning storm at sea

13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise

14. Seen the Northern Lights

15. Gone to a huge sports game (Uh hello, Nittany Lion right here.  I’ve been to tons!)

16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa

17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables (we had tomatoes in my backyard at one point…)

18. Touched an iceberg

19. Slept under the stars

20. Changed a baby’s diaper (what babysitter hasn’t?)

21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon (it was tethered to the ground…that probably doesn’t count, does it?)

22. Watched a meteor shower

23. Gotten drunk on champagne (at an Elle event, no less!)

24. Given more than you can afford to charity.

25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope

26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment (have you met me?)

27. Had a food fight

28. Bet on a winning horse

29. Asked out a stranger

30. Had a snowball fight (note: do not engage in these with drunk college kids.  it will end badly)

31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can

32. Held a lamb

33. Seen a total eclipse (of the heart…. Fine, yes, a real one too.  Lunar.)

34. Ridden a roller coaster (7th grade was the first time.  I wished it was my last.  Steel Phantom was a bitch and half)

35. Hit a home run

36. Danced like a fool and didn’t care who was looking (any time I’m out…)

37. Adopted an accent for an entire day (hm, an entire night–does that count?)

38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment

39. Had two hard drives for your computer (My name is Lauren and I am a nerd.  A stealth nerd.)

40. Visited all 50 states

41. Taken care of someone who was drunk

42. Had amazing friends (Still do!)

43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country

44. Watched whales

45. Stolen a sign (haha that’s a good story)

46. Backpacked in Europe

47. Taken a road-trip

48. Gone rock climbing

49. Taken a midnight walk on the beach

50. Gone sky diving

51. Visited Ireland

52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love

53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table and had a meal with them

54. Visited Japan

55. Milked a cow

56. Alphabetized your CDs

57. Pretended to be a superhero

58. Sung karaoke

59. Lounged around in bed all day (ahh, college was so good for that)

60. Played touch football

61. Gone scuba diving

62. Kissed in the rain (how have I not done this yet?!?)

63. Played in the mud (one of my most fun days in college actually)

64. Played in the rain (this was the same day…)

65. Gone to a drive-in theatre

66. Visited the Great Wall of China

67. Started a business

68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken

69. Toured ancient sites

70. Taken a martial arts class

71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight

72. Gotten married

73. Been in a movie

74. Crashed a party

75. Gotten divorced

76. Gone without food for 5 days

77. Made cookies from scratch

78. Won first prize in a costume contest

79. Ridden a gondola in Venice

80. Gotten a tattoo

81. Rafted the Snake River

82. Been on a television news program as an “expert”

83. Gotten flowers for no reason

84. Performed on stage (viola, gymnastics and 4 years of high school theater–I miss that the most!)

85. Been to Las Vegas

86. Recorded music

87. Eaten shark

88. Kissed on the first date

89. Gone to Thailand

90. Bought a house

91. Been in a combat zone

92. Buried one/both of your parents

93. Been on a cruise ship

94. Spoken more than one language fluently

95. Performed in Rocky Horror

96. Raised children

97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour

98. Passed out cold

99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country

100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over (I mean, isn’t that called “graduation?”

101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge

102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking with the windows open (all the time.  this was easier with my car than with Boo’s…)

103. Had plastic surgery

104. Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived

105. Wrote articles for a large publication

106. Lost over 100 pounds

107. Held someone while they were having a flashback

108. Piloted an airplane (hell yeah baby!)

109. Touched a stingray

110. Broken someone’s heart

111. Helped an animal give birth

112. Won money on a TV game show

113. Broken a bone (I am CONVINCED I broke my finger at camp–even if no one else believes me!)

114. Gone on an African photo safari

115. Had a facial part pierced other than your ears

116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol

117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild

118. Ridden a horse

119. Had major surgery

120. Had a snake as a pet

121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon

122. Slept for 30 hours in a 48 hour period

123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. States

124. Visited all 7 continents

125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days

126. Eaten kangaroo meat

127. Eaten sushi (all the time, I love it!)

128. Had your picture in the newspaper

129. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about

130. Gone back to school

131. Parasailed

132. Touched a cockroach

133. Eaten fried green tomatoes

134. Read The Iliad and The Odyssey

135. Selected one “important” author who you missed in school, and read (I didn’t miss them so much as skip them…meh)

136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating

137. Skipped all your school reunions (only had 1 so far.  High school 5th year.  I will not be attending)

138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language

139. Been elected to public office

140. Written your own computer language

141. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream

142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care

143. Built your own PC from parts

144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you

145. Had a booth at a street fair

146. Dyed your hair

147. Been a DJ

148. Shaved your head

149. Caused a car accident (it was a white out! It’s not my fault!! I mean, I love you mom and dad, thanks for still letting me drive the car, it’ll probably be the last time!)

150. Saved someone’s life by not hitting them with my car.

la

So…that’s that.  What have you done?

Since I’m still slumping

Mindy, bless her blogging soul, tagged me in a meme.  This may be the first time I’ve been tagged.  Well, that’s fun.  And convenient, since I’m still in my sophomore slump.  And by the way, thanks for everyone who stopped by yesterday to tell me to hang in and keep writing and saying they’d still be around.  I’m glad you’re not going anywhere!

Ahem…anyway.

Here are the Rules:

1. Link to the person that tagged you
2. Post the rules on your blog
3. Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself
4. Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs
5. Let each random person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website.

Ready?  Good, let’s play!

1. I don’t do well w/o plumbing.  Well, not even plumbing, I just need a toilet seat.  Friends always try to get me to hike or camp or go to rope swings and I can’t do it if there’s a chance I’ll have to pee outdoors.

2. I do not have a favorite color.  I never have had one either.

3. I did not cry when I watched The Way We Were. It pissed me off too, b/c I was hoping for a tear-jerker.  I watched Forest Gump immediately after and sobbed like a baby.

4. I once (strongly) considered going to school to study poetry.  Yup, I was going to get an MFA in poetry.

5. I suck at Monopoly.  I lose EVERY SINGLE TIME that I play.

6. I used to sneak sudoku books to class.  I ripped the pages out of them and hid them in whatever book I should have been reading.  I distinctly remember doing this in a poetry class.  That was when I realized the MFA in #3 was probably a bad idea.

There…that wasn’t that bad!

Now, on to the tagging:

How about…NotSoJenny, Lily, Kez, Mermanda, and Jamie!

And I’m pulling a Mindy and not linking to them…I’m lazy like that :P

My day in smells

Yeah, you read that right.  My day.  In smells.  But really, it’s 2 days because if it were my WHOLE day I wouldn’t be posting this until tomorrow and you’d have to read more about how I’m going through The Change–office hot flashes for everyone!

So, here we go.  The things I’ve smelled in the last 24 hours:

Peppers.  Or onions.  I’m not entirely sure which but someone is always cooking something fabulous in our kitchen at work.  I never see who it is or what they made but damn, it smells incredible.

Wild Mushroom Potato Pancakes.  Aka my lunch.  Aka one of the best things I’ve ever eaten.  Ever.  EVER.

Popcorn.  100 calorie packs that my co-workers snack on.

B.O.  In the 3 seconds it took for someone to pass me (walking in the other direction too, mind you) I got such a whiff I almost passed out.

Poop.  For some seriously gross reason, 23rd street always smells like a toilet.  Doesn’t matter if it’s 90 or 60.  Garbage day or not.  It always has that…stink.  My commute is gross, isn’t it?

Flowers.  I bought them on Saturday and felt very New York carrying the bouquet around.  Since then, they’ve been rotating between my bedroom (where they have a shot at natural light) and my living room (where they’re really pretty!).

Cigarette smoke.  I think someone in the hostel has an addiction.  I almost liked it better when it was weed.

Bacon.  Now this is cruel.  If I smell bacon in the morning it had better be coming from my kitchen.  Otherwise, I want nothing to do with it.

Vanilla cake.  Lord knows who was wearing the vanilla lotion on the train but I’m so glad they were!

Bleach.  Which is of some concern as the smell came from our box of samples.  But, whatever.

Shrimp…or alfredo…or pizza.  Something smelled good in the kitchen.  I finally asked.  No one seemed to know.

la

There it is.  And it’s no wonder my nose is tired at the end of the day.

I like lists

Since I’m fairly sure no one stopped by this section while it had its very own page dedicated to it, I’ve decided to just post it and make it a regular thing.

That being said, I like lists. Granted I am happier with paper lists than I am with electronic lists, but nonetheless I love a good list.

As I mentioned yesterday, I went to Barnes and Nizzle and got myself a book. Some people were pretty upset that they were left hanging about the title of said book (Sorry Matt! I told you you’d find out soon though!). I hope you all see where I’m going here. No? Okay. I got “My life in lists” It’s basically a blank book filled with list prompts. The type of book that I would normally feel really lame for buying myself but since I am a working gal who deserves a frivolous treat now and then I did not.

My plan is to bore you with share my lists every so often and maybe post some that seem like lists you would want to make on your own. My first list however is one that I stole borrowed from some other fabulous bloggers. It seemed to the most appropriate way to start things off.

So, here it is:

101 THINGS YOU PROBABLY DIDN’T NEED/WANT TO KNOW ABOUT ME

1. I’m a huge nerd. But I’m stealth. I’m a stealth nerd. The term is mine and I coined it 7 years ago. If you know what it means to be a stealth nerd, you’re probably one too.
2. I’m short and I like it. 5’ ½”. I also get super pissed when people forget the ½…it’s SUPER important!
3. I am addicted to ChapStick and never leave home without it.
4. I think that cheese makes everything better.
5. I also think that bacon makes everything better.
6. I collect spoons. I probably have over 100 by now. I also have probably not visited half of the places I have spoons from.
7. When I was younger I had an uncontrollable afro (we’re talking Diana Ross style). Now that I like love know how to handle accept my hair, I’m worried it’s going to get thin.
8. My 2 best friends in the whole world are my mom and my boyfriend.
9. I love finding money in pockets, purses, etc. so sometimes I’ll leave a couple bucks behind at the end of the season so the next time I wear/use whatever it is I’ll have a pleasant surprise.
10. I have turned down 3 hugely prestigious companies for internships/jobs.
11. I have an ongoing love affair with school/offices supplies. Staples is my mecca.
12. Chuck Taylors are the best shoes ever. I have at least 5 pairs.
13. I can do a really excellent Snoopy impression.
14. I once flew a (real, not remote controlled) plane into a turkey vulture.
15. I have acid reflux. It sucks.
16. I went through a phase in middle school where I painted different things on my nails every Sunday night. One week was a solar system and each nail a different planet. One week was flowers. My left hand always looked exponentially better than my right.
17. I am scared to death of E.T.
18. I am a walking pharmacy. At any given time there is stuff in my purse to cure heartburn, migraines, cuts, dry skin and chapped lips (see #2).
19. I like Chinese food. Especially General Tso’s, “no hot” (see # 15).
20. I am slightly obsessed with Friends and quote the show as often as possible.
21. I am super OCD about necklace chains. If I see the clasp, I get twitchy. If I am not allowed to return the clasp to its proper spot behind the neck, I freak out.
22. My first cuss word was in 5th grade. It was “shit.” I said it after I got knocked down by the tire swing. I was the last in my class to cuss.
23. I write upside down. Translation: left handed, “above the word” posture but with my right hand.
24. I have terrible handwriting. Possibly as a result of this bad posture.
25. I have thrown my back out at least 4 times.
26. I am a Christian.
27. I rarely ate in the dining commons in college, thus one of my major sources of sustenance was Tostitos and Queso dip.
28. I love to read. I didn’t really do it from 8^th grade—senior year of college. I blame this primarily on The Scarlet Letter.
29. I have boyfriend named Boo. Someday, when we’re a little bit older, we’re going to Mr. and Mrs. Boo. I can’t wait.
30. I rarely drink. This is a change from college.
31. My drink of choice (if I have to have a mixed one) is a gin and gingerale.
32. I am a very picky eater. I’ve gotten better since I was a kid but I’m still not great.
33. I hate long distance relationships.
34. I love to sleep. Napping is especially awesome.
35. I have a sleep mask that makes me look like I am a chicken wearing glasses.
36. My high school TV class remains one of my best memories.
37. I am a bit of an old man (see #13, 23 and 29).
38. I’m a good kid. I have my fair share of shenanigans. I won’t list them b/c my parents read my blog.
39. My birthday is New Year’s Eve. I will never let you forget it.
40. I’m a huge believer in the power of a cracker. Particularly a Ritz Cracker.
41. When in bed I have to have all of my limbs on top of the mattress. Nothing can hang over. If I pause while getting into bed and my foot is on the ground for longer than necessary, I totally freak out. I think this stems from my childhood.
42. I prefer nights in to nights out.
43. I love a good Shirley Temple.
44. Despite my issues with it, food is important to me. I am Italian. This comes naturally.
45. I weigh less now, after dropping all of my beer weight, than I did in high school.
46. I would kill for long hair but I always get super annoyed with it about 6 weeks after a cut and I’m back at the salon.
47. I love to shop.
48. I drink at least 1 cup of tea almost every single day.
49. I went to Penn State so I’ll always bleed blue and white.
50. I danced in a 46 hour dance marathon (THON) at PSU. It was 46 hours of no sitting and no sleeping and it was the best experience of my life.
51. I am a very forgiving person.
52. My biggest fear in life is losing the people closest to me.
53. I am horrible at keeping in touch with people. Even my good friends.
54. I have rarely touched Instant Messenger since I graduated.
55. I have my aunt’s and mom’s vintage Barbies and think they are the coolest things ever.
56. My 2 front teeth are fake.
57. I want a dog SO badly but golden retrievers aren’t exactly “apartment dogs.”
58. I love pictures. I am that annoying friend when we go out that’s saying “ooh, wait, let me get a picture!”
59. I want to write a book someday.
60. I never got strep throat before college and I haven’t had it since. During the 4 years I was there I had it at least 6 times.
61. I’m the only member of my family not born in New York, but I was in the same nursery (at the same time) as LeBron James–we’re birthday twins!.
62. My biggest fantasy in life is to have my own spontaneous dance break. Just like in the movies. Everyone knows the moves but I am the lead.
63. I have mood eyes. They change from grey to blue to green, depending on what I wear. They are the prettiest colors when I am pissed as hell or crying my eyes out.
64. I am the subject of the “save the baby!” story told at every family gathering. This is the only story told at every family gathering.
65. I got a “freedom piercing” on my tragus to celebrate breaking up with an overly-emo boyfriend. Now I love the earring so much I don’t want to take it out. I worry this will be an issue when I get married.
66. I worry about things unnecessarily. I also worry so far in the future that by the time the thing I’m worried about comes around, it’s usually not an issue. I need to work on this.
67. I spend a lot of time of Facebook.
68. I should be ashamed to admit to half of the shows/movies that I watch. I’m not.
69. My first job was at Bruegger’s Bagel Bakery. To this day I haven’t found bagels that top those which is why it kills me that they don’t have one in NYC.
70. I hate nature. My idea of “roughing it” is a Motel 6 with no cable.
71. My go-to outfit is jeans, chucks, basic tee (American Apparel) and a cardigan. (See #1). This is my “adult interpretation” of the hoodie I rocked in college.
72. I think sweat pants are amazing. I would spend all of my time in them if I could. Specifically Boo’s pair from high school that I confiscated.
73. I am massively vomit-phobic. I’ve gotten better (thanks, drunk State College inhabitants) but not much.
74. I like to make lists–paper lists. There is something extraordinarily satisfying about crossing things off a list.
75. I always stand up for the little guy. Even if it’s not my battle, I’ll fight it if I don’t think the victim will. Except fashion victims–sometimes there’s just no excuse.
76. I might be (read: am pretty sure I am) a little judgmental. I need to work on this.
77. My mouth gets me in trouble. I tend not to filter all the time.
78. I have a temper. Once I actually upset someone so much they threw up. I am really slightly not proud of this.
79. At any given time I have at least 3 people in Facebook limbo.
80. I prefer calling to texting. Texting is a pain when making plans.
81. I call myself a “writer” but for whatever reason, I can’t keep a journal to save my life.
82. I love greeting cards. I could spend hours in Hallmark.
83. I HATE sappy greeting cards. I don’t mind getting them but I refuse to send them.
84. I am a pack rat. I save absolutely everything–some things b/c I feel like I will need them again. Some because “I will totally put it in a scrapbook someday.”
85. I like to scrapbook but currently don’t have the space.
86. In high school I gave a “how to” speech on shaving my legs. I wore scrubs to class and shaved my legs on the top of a desk.
87. I am the queen of procrastination.
88. I hated summer camp. Despite being called “Summer’s Best 2 Weeks” it was probably my worst. Partly b/c of #32 and #70. Partly b/c of #89.
89. I wrecked my right middle finger twice. Once at camp when it got smashed b/c 2 wooden swings and the nurse thought that Popsicle sticks, tape, and Dixie cup full of ice would make it feel better. Once in college when the entire knuckle was, uh, injured.
90. I have a visual memory. When I used to study I would memorize where the stuff was on the page to help me learn it.
91. I had a hate/hate relationship with Ritenour (health center at PSU). They were only helpful once (see #92).
92. I hate Campbell’s Soup At Hand. Sophomore year, a can of S.A.H. + an old school microwave = a massive, flames still shooting out of my hand, melted an entire bucket of ice water in 25 minutes, couldn’t walk the 300 yards back to my dorm b/c I was so drugged up, burn.
93. I was in a co-ed service frat in college. Those were some of my best and worst memories from college.
94. I still miss the bar I lived above my senior year.
95. I’ll go to any event that results in a t-shirt. This includes but is not limited to: bar tours, beer Olympics, and free concerts (even if I’m volunteering).
96. I was on the speech and debate team in high school. I competed in Humorous Interpretation. You can say I was a loser but I qualified for State’s and National’s.
97. I wish I could sing. I used to be able to. I was the centipede in our 5th grade production of James and the Giant Peach and I was the only solo. By senior year, I was only allowed to sing 1 note on my own and I messed that up.
98. People have called me conceited before. I like to think of it as a “healthy ego.” Maybe that does make me conceited?
99. I am happiest about my appearance when I am tan. Okay, THIS makes me conceited. Or at the very least, shallow.
100. I have a car named Conan but b/w college and moving to the city, I haven’t been with him for longer than 2 months in the last 5 years. I miss him. He’s a very pretty car.
101. I am surprised as hell that I finished this list but I refuse to cop out on my hundred and first thing so I’ll go above and beyond and add #102:
102. I am inappropriate and wholeheartedly intriguing. And don’t you forget it.