11. Music can totally control my mood. Rock, indie, classical, rap, folk, alternative, country, jazz, reggae, R&B, etc. There are songs that I blast at full volume in my car. There are songs I play when trying to relax. There are songs I play when spending a quiet night in. There are songs I identify with certain people, certain moments, certain moods. I suppose like anyone, my life has a soundtrack - though I'm probably the only one even remotely interested in it.
12. Someday I'd like to write and publish a novel, or at least a collection of short stories.
13. Fall is my favorite season, hands down. I find romance in the color of the leaves on the mountainside, the crisp edge of the air, bundled in a blanket sitting out next to the lake watching the stars come out.
14. I spent much of first grade in front of the pencil sharpener facing the wall - punishment for talking in class. That started a trend. When mom and dad went to parent-teacher conferences, the only thing I ever really had to be afraid of was the teacher reporting back to them how much I talked in class. Though Dad knew there was something wrong with my freshman science teacher (and not me), when the teacher told my dad that I never raised my hand and never talked in class. Dad told me it didn't matter that I didn't like the teacher, I still needed to get an A.
15. I love thunderstorms.
16. I had braces when I was in eighth grade.
17. The summer before I graduated from college I rolled a rider lawnmower into the lake at Camp McKinley. I had been helping my father mow grass. I ended up with seven stitches in my head. I guess I'm lucky I didn't do more, possible more permanent, damage to myself.
18. My favorite news program is CBS News Sunday Morning with Charles Osgood. Each segment is an in-depth look at the unique angles of stories leading today's headlines, as well as those I wouldn't otherwise here about. It's kind of like NPR for TV. Besides, who can't get on board with a show who shows a sun as it's brand and as it goes to every commercial break. My only problem? Getting up on Sunday mornings by nine to turn it on.
22. I'm not sure what I want to be when I grow up.
23. I'm not often good at keeping my opinions to myself.
24. I'm not a fan of curling.
25. When I buy a gift for someone that I'm positive they will absolutely love, I'm not good at keeping it a secret. I get too excited about it and feel the need to share...like...right now.
26. I'm not interested in people who are fake. You know...like plastic people :)
27. I'm not a fan of not being sure about the things in my life. Though, sometimes the things I am most unsure about bring me the greatest joy. It's a constant battle to try and be patient with some things in my life progressing at their own speed. I'm much more comfortable being in the driver's seat. But of course, when there are other people involved, this can cause conflict.
28. I'm not afraid to admit that I'm a fan of Star Wars...and Star Trek (as long as it doesn't involve a costumed convention). The trouble with tribbles is...
29. I'm not obsessed with celebrities, though I do tend to peripherally follow them. I need to at least be up to speed on the big stuff for lunch-time conversations.
30. I'm not sure what to enter here. I reserve the right to come back and change #30.
31. I'm 1/4 German (dad), 1/4 Polish (dad) and 1/2 Hungarian (mom).
32. While some people have one or two favorite restaurants, I have a favorite restaurant for different types of foods. Grilled cheese at Melt in Lakewood. Mac 'n cheese at Krazy Mac's (formerly Cheddar's) in Cleveland. White cheddar mashed potatoes at Cleveland Chophouse. Hot dogs with cheddar at the Hot Dog Shoppe in East Liverpool. Pasta - salmon farfalle at Vivo and mushroom tagliatelle at Bice, both in downtown Cleveland.
33. I like to move my furniture around frequently. This has always been the case, ever since I moved into my own room at age seven. Unfortunately, my current apartment doesn't really contribute this obsession.
34. My family's favorite card game is euchre. I'm decent at it. I just don't have the patience or desire to count the cards and pay attention to what's been played and what hasn't. The only cards I care about are the left and right bowers.
35. My favorite colors are red, red, red and black.
36. I really want to go to grad school. Right now, I'm thinking about the master's in environmental studies at Cleveland State University. It's just a matter of finding the time and oh, the money.
37. I learned to drive on a standard and took my driving test on a standard (passed the first time, thank you very much). After driving a standard in Philly, I'll never own one again. The other nonnegotiable for any car I own is that it must include a sunroof.
38. I was born in Elyria, Ohio, though was technically a resident of East Liverpool, Ohio, located two hours away. When my parents moved to East Liverpool, my mom kept her doctor in Elyria, where she's originally from.
39. When I was in my teens, I wanted to be a marine or wildlife biologist. There's nothing quite as amazing as watching a humpback whale coming up out of the water and crashing back into the ocean, or seeing a wolf disappear into the treeline.
40. Christmas is my hands-down favorite holiday. My family tradition includes attending Midnight Mass (my one time a year to be a Catholic), rushing home and getting into our PJs and opening gifts starting at 1:30 in the morning. Dad is the only one who can hand out gifts. And of course, it wouldn't be complete without the wrapping paper fight. After all the gifts are opened (except for the one my mom holds to open on Christmas Day morning), we break out the chips and dip (which MUST be Lawson's french onion chip dip from what is now Circle K) and watch a family movie. People start crashing around 4:30/5 am. We sleep in, though Dad gets up around 9 am to start dinner.
41. I don't have much interest in video games, but I have to say, I ROCK at Tetris.
42. My cousin Shannon is one of my other closest friends. While we grew up in different states, we were inseparable when we were together. We're only four days apart (with the emphasis from her on the fact that she's the oldest). My dad has always called us the bobbsey twins
43. My idea of a perfect romantic weekend includes a quiet cabin, hiking in the woods, maybe a canoeing trip, candlelight and campfire. Ok, then there's my other personality that would love a weekend in Chicago, posh hotel, great restaurants, an evening show and a stroll along the lake. The common denominator between these two divergent ideas may be the emphasis on quality in-bed time :)
44. I played the flute in the Beaver Local Middle School band from fifth through seventh grade. I transferred to St. Anthony's Catholic School in eighth grade. While the school didn't have a band, I was a member of the choir. The choir director learned that I played flute, and before I knew it, I was accompanying the choir at our Christmas performance in the middle of Southern Park Mall.
45. The room I hate cleaning most in the world is the bathroom.
46. I spent 12 years in Girl Scouts but did not earn my Gold Award. One of my regrets.
47. I'm planning to volunteer for my first-ever political campaign. I just don't want to have to canvas neighborhoods, make phone calls or host a party. I guess that leaves me with stuffing envelopes.
48. I don't always have a lot of patience. I like to blame my ex for sucking it all out of me. (Though I think maybe my mom was the first to come up with this idea.) Since this doesn't usually (ok, never) serves me well presently, I try to chill out. Occasionally, it even works. 49. This winter I want to learn to snowboard. Next spring, I want to try white water rafting.
50. I'm addicted to NPR. I prefer it to all other forms of media - though I don't listen to it as much as I did when my commute was an hour each way. My favorite shows are "This American Life" and "Fresh Air." I've heard a rumor that at some point a show ran where Ira Glass and Terry Gross interview each other. Note to self, find it and download it.
I need a day or two to come up with additional unique, witty entries. So to buy myself some creative time, this entry is the "I've never" edition.
51. I've never shoplifted.
52. I've never been to Europe. Though if I put in just 7-1/2 more years at Falls, Rob will pay for me to go. Not sure I want to wait that long.
53. I'd like to say I've never lied to my parents, but I was a teenage girl with a boyfriend and a curfew. Let's just say it might have happened once, or twice, or thrice.
54. I've never gotten a tattoo. I suppose there's still time for that. Though since I don't want anything easily visible, not sure where I'd get it, or even have a clue on what I would get.
55. I've never had a one-night stand. Couple of nights maybe, but never just one. Just kidding! 56. I've never been to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. Spent time on the rim, but no time all the way down in. 57. As sure as I can be, I've never lived a past life. The concept interests me, but I've never had dreams or flashbacks of myself in any earlier time. If I'm in the middle of my first life now, I'm pretty interested to see what my second life holds for me. 58. I've never been shot out of a cannon or been anything else resembling a circus star. Though at times, my life has seemed like a three-ring circus. 59. I've never been to a rap concert. Steve Miller Band, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Garth Brooks (twice)...yes. Even (and trust me I hate to admit this) New Kids on the Block (please remember that I was 15 and only went because of peer pressure :). But never a rap concert. 60. I've never been on a cruise. Not sure if I'm missing anything here. I think I'd rather spend a week at an all-inclusive resort.
61. I would like to try skydiving and bungee jumping.
62. Kat is my oldest, "technically" non-relative friend. Though we can't pinpoint it exactly, we figure we've been friends for just over 20 years. (Did I just say 20 years?!?!?! Holy crap.) She knows all of my good, probably all of my bad and...drum roll, please...she still loves me, still talks to me and doesn't hold any of it against me. I love her too!
63. I write poetry in my free time. (Notice I didn't say that it was good.) I used to write all of the time in high school and college, and then stopped. I need to figure out a way to unlock better creativity within myself.
64. Most teens spend their weekends partying and drinking with friends. Not me. I spent most of my weekends and summer breaks at Boy Scout camp, specifically Camp McKinley. This incldued day camp, polar bear camp, spring camp, summer camp, etc., etc., etc. I was a what they call a regular. Besides, when you're 15, and the boy-to-girl ratio is 40-1...you play the odds. The irony now is that my parents live at the Stone House at Camp McKinley. Too bad they didn't live there when I was in high school...sure would have cut down on my commuting time...and maybe I would have gotten into less trouble.
65. I started my college career at Bowling Green and then transferred to Kent State in my junior year specifically for its PR program.
66. You won't find any better PopTart flavor than frosted brown sugar cinnamon.
67. When I graduated from college, I packed up my stuff and moved to Philadelphia. I loved living there. It's a great city, close to NYC, the Jersey shore, Baltimore, DC, mountains, etc. Plus, you can't find good hoagies, soft pretzels or cheesesteaks in Ohio. The one word that I hung onto from my time in Philly is "soda." I've been back in Ohio for more than seven years and just can't call it pop. Don't think I'll ever be able to.
68. In addition to my neices, Olivia and Cassandra, I am aunt to a number of other children that I adore - most notably, my goddaughter Carolyn (who is going to be 14 in November - gasp, is taller than me and absolutely beautiful!), Kat's youngest daughter Katrina and my cousin Shannon's darling munchkins, Zarah and Zender...though I'm not sure that you can classify Zarah as a munchkin, as she will be turning the ripe old age of 12 this fall. (Ok, reminder to me...need to get my butt to Tennessee to see Zarah and Zender, both of whom I haven't seen in well over a year. Hopefully, this doesn't make me a bad aunt.)
69. I hate olives. Black olives, green olives, marinated olives. Doesn't matter what you do to them, how you prepare them. I do not like them at all.
70. Kate is just short for Katie. My mom wanted to name my sister and I shorter names, so that we wouldn't go by a nickname. Well, that worked out for her. I go by Kate because I really don't want to be 80 and have people calling me Katie. Just seems way too cutesy.
71. More than anyone I’ve lost, I miss my grandfather most.
72. I can be deeply complicated. Then on the other hand, not so much.
73. My celebrity crushes include LL Cool J and John Cusack.
74. I’ve been told I can be a bit high maintenance. I don’t think it’s in a bad way.
75. I’m a bit addicted to Facebook.
76. In junior high, I played softball, first base. Couple of home runs here, couple of home runs there.
77. My favorite TV shows are House, Two-and-a-Half Men, NCIS, Cold Case and Without a Trace. I’m sure the list would be different if I had cable.
78. I love extra cheese on pizza, in pasta, on garlic bread, on sandwiches, on pretty much anything.
79. Last year’s Browns’ season opener against the Steelers was the first NFL game I ever attended. I sometimes find myself watching a game on TV now, just for the hell of it. Shhhhh, don’t tell.
80. My favorite summer is the one I spent in Cimarron, NM, working on staff at Philmont Boy Scout Ranch. It was the summer I was most free.
81. I have twin nieces – Cass and Livvy – who just turned one. They are walking maniacs. I love being an aunt.
82. One of my all-time favorite foods is mushrooms. When I’m out, I tell the waiter that I want my pasta with “extra, extra, extra mushrooms, and just when the chef thinks he’s put in enough, he should add some more.” Eighty percent of the time there’s not enough.
83. I’m a voracious reader, always have been. When I was little and my mom would make me clean my room (which was nearly always a declared natural disaster area), I would hide on the floor on the other side of the bed and read. She would come in to check on my progress (which was nearly zero) and catch me reading. She would confiscate the book and put it on the roll-top desk in the hallway. Let’s just say that by the end of me “cleaning” my room, there were usually no fewer than 10 books stacked on the desk.
84. I pluck my eyebrows in the car. The lighting is much better than in my bathroom.
85. I did the marriage thing once. It didn’t work out. I would consider doing it again for the right person.
86. I know a lot about weird, miscellaneous subjects – like welding, construction equipment, disaster recovery, securities litigation and employment and labor law. One of the many benefits of being in PR. Besides, it makes me super popular at cocktail parties.
87. I can be very sentimental and a bit of a hopeless romantic.
88. My favorite numbers are 3 and 7.
89. I drive a sunburst orange Jeep Compass. Yes, the color is really called sunburst orange.
90. I imagined myself to be at a different place at this point in my life. Hopefully, the trials of the past are worth it for what hopefully lies on the horizon.
My adventure of the day is to come up with 100 unique and truly intriguing things about myself. The task seems a bit daunting, so I decided to break it into more manageable parts. So here's the first installment of ten.
91. I am the oldest of two. My sister would tell you that you should feel sorry for her for having to have grown up as Kate's little sister. (I tell her my bossing her around made her a stronger person. She says I just say that to make myself feel better.)
92. I have a love-hate relationship with my plants. I love it when they bloom. They hate it when I don't water them.
93. Unlike many college graduates, I actually do for a living what my degree is in (public relations).
94. I tend to way over think things. Sometimes to my detriment.
95. I always prefer strawberry jelly.
96. I grew up in a Scouting family. Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts. My parents even live at a Boy Scout camp. For a long time, the joke was that a boy had to be an Eagle Scout to marry an Eidam daughter.
97. I have three children of the four-legged, furry persuasion. The triple kitty threat of Patches, Shelby and Archimedes. And lately I've found myself wanting a dog, which would probably be almost impossible since I'm not always home that much. 98. My parents have been married for nearly 35 years and are still very much in love. I hope to have that type of relationship and intensity of love in my life.
99. Not sure how much credence I give them, but I check my horoscope and lovescope pretty much daily.
100. I've been to 49 states. Hey, you can't drive to Hawaii.
I wish this Sunday was last With the sun trying to steal in through The blinds of the east-facing window Today, the windows are open And the ocean-blue curtains gently Flow in the placid lake breeze The weather too ideal for words The hanging chimes the only sound Yet I’d trade this idyllic tranquility For last Sunday, your head on the Pillow next to mine in the morning Moments of tenderness interspersed With mordant jokes, witty banter You next to me for a moment more
There are moments in time when we turn around and catch a glimpse of a past life, how things were, when we felt a certain level of confidence in the direction of our lives. There was a point in my life when I felt invincible, like my future path was undoubtedly mapped out in front of me. All I had to do was take the next clearly marked step. I felt safe, certain about the decisions I was making, the life I was living.
Then one day I looked down. And it’s not just that my path was no longer marked, it was missing all together. It felt like I had only closed my eyes for a moment, and in that moment, it had all been stolen from me. There were no breadcrumbs, no markers to lead me back to where I thought I was supposed to be. Everything that made me feel safe, protected was missing. The things that I had held onto had been torn from my hands.
Everything has changed. And now when I turn around and catch that glimpse, the echo, I wonder if maybe I held on too tightly. Some things, some people just aren’t meant to be. We’re meant to have moments of our lives intertwined with theirs, and then the vines untangle and we’re meant to move into someone else’s sphere.
What I wonder now, though, is how do I clearly define when I’m in the right spot, the one where I’m meant to make my new life. Maybe I’m just expecting too much of myself, of fate. I try hard to let things unfold as they will, but sometimes it’s hard for me to let that happen. I want to feel protected, confident in where I am standing, who I’m standing with. Not knowing feels more than a little disconcerting at times.
While I’d love to feel invincible again, I think that maybe there’s more to be said for being fluid, not so steadfast, not so unyielding. I do want to feel safe again. I’m trying to just be patient and keep my eyes open for the breadcrumbs to my new path. I just hope that I clearly know it when I see it, that I won't pick the wrong one. I just don't want to miss it.
12. Someday I'd like to write and publish a novel, or at least a collection of short stories.
