If you see a whole thing - it seems that it's always beautiful. Planets, lives... But up close a world's all dirt and rocks. And day to day, life's a hard job, you get tired, you lose the pattern. - Ursula K. LeGuin

100 Things

  1. My retirement plans include large stylish hats, tequlina-tinis, and a turtle farm.
  2. I will probably never retire.
  3. I enjoy working with clay but rarely do it.
  4. I am fascinated with dragons.
  5. I am a youngest child married to a youngest child.
  6. I used to be married to an only child.
  7. I only have one child.
  8. I write poetry.
  9. My son writes better poetry than I do.
  10. My post-secondary education included: a small liberal arts college; a large public university; and an ivy league university.
  11. I teach at a mid-sized public university.
  12. I have ridden the subway by myself since I was 10 years old.
  13. I learned to drive at 38.
  14. I am flexible in both body and temperament but find myself becoming stiffer with age.
  15. I like growing older.
  16. When stressed, I clean.
  17. I enjoy the beach in the off season.
  18. I truly hate the snow.
  19. I met my husband online.
  20. I love the internet.
  21. My natural tendency is to follow rules and please those in charge.
  22. I like to make rules. 
  23. I like to be in charge.
  24. I love dogs but have never lived without a cat.  I wouldn't know how.
  25. I love motherhood and miss it daily.
  26. I read very fast.
  27. I eat even faster.
  28. I like to eat and read at the same time.  Unfortunately it never lasts.
  29. My first husband cannot tell a joke to save his life.
  30. My second husband is very funny.
  31. I'll never have a third husband.
  32. I was once a girl scout and, very briefly, belonged to a 4-H club.
  33. I don't know what the "4 Hs" are.
  34. I'm not much of a "joiner."
  35. I'm a devout introvert.
  36. I don't wear make-up.
  37. I hate to shop.
  38. I love a good steam.
  39. I hate my accent.
  40. I loved Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood as a child.
  41. Dr. Drew reminds me of a modern-day Mr. Rogers.
  42. I watch Celebrity Rehab religiously.
  43. I am an atheist.
  44. I believe in myself.
  45. Taoism is my favorite philosophy.
  46. I have a thing for turtles.
  47. I really like sea turtles but actually prefer the tortoise.
  48. Sometimes Dr. Drew looks a little turtle-like to me.
  49. I can't help but smile when I look at my son.
  50. I think he is perfect.
  51. He does not agree.
  52. The only beer I'll drink is Guinness.
  53. I've always wanted to be creative.
  54. I am, by nature, methodical and organized.
  55. My very first job was a cashier in a gourmet grocery store.
  56. My bagging technique bordered on obsessive-compulsive.
  57. I was soon promoted to the office where I counted money.
  58. I always wanted a daughter.
  59. I never tried to have a second child.
  60. I lived with the assumption my daughter would find me.
  61. She finally did when she was 20.
  62. I have always loved to read.
  63. I started reading when I was 4.
  64. I spent my youth with my face inside of a book.
  65. Lately the need to write is as strong, if not stronger, than the need to read.
  66. I move every 4-6 years.
  67. I've been living in my current home for 3.5 years and I'm getting itchy.
  68. I am not crafty but wish I were.
  69. I am a feminist (but you knew that, didn't you?)
  70. I rarely read books written by men.
  71. When I was younger this was a bragging point.  Now it is just a fact.
  72. The first career I ever wanted was to be a paleontologist.  I was five.
  73. Later on I wanted to be Jane Goodall, living outdoors and studying chimps.
  74. Instead I live in a small city and study people.
  75. I've only been truly single for one year of my adult life.
  76. I have never lived alone.
  77. I love dark rich strong coffee and am fussy about what cups I use when I drink it.
  78. I have three older sisters.
  79. I miss being close to them.
  80. When I bake I feel close to my grandmother.
  81. My grandmother was the most important and stable adult in my childhood.
  82. I want to be a grandmother.
  83. I fear I have a long wait ahead of me.
  84. I'm a kinesthetic learner.
  85. I love learning new things.
  86. I also love to teach.
  87. I truly believe teaching is the best way to learn.
  88. Too much teaching exhausts me.
  89. My earliest memory is being so mad that I threw the dog's food against the refrigerator.
  90. I think I was three.
  91. What makes a three year old that mad?
  92. It takes a lot to get me angry.
  93. My house is not decorated.
  94. My house is filled with books and gear and unfinished projects.
  95. My living room is a gym, complete with a heavy bag.
  96. My house is rarely clean.
  97. The one thing that consistently keeps me happy is working out.
  98. The one material thing I can't get enough of is books.
  99. I will always eat cheese and bread and drink coffee.
  100. Migraines have robbed me of caffeine, red wine, strawberries and tequila.