Lists . . . Lists . . .Lists

I absolutely love lists. In a complete fit of procrastination this afternoon, I decided to take a crack at listing little known (or so I think) and random facts about me. Hopefully y'all will come up with yours and post them too.

1. I have never cheated on a test.
2. I lied about winning the spelling bee in 2nd grade and got caught.
3. I throw most coins I get in change into tip jars, but I always keep the quarters unless I'm feeling very generous.
4. My favorite soup is tomato cream.
5. I don't like chocolate that much.
6. I have never balanced my checkbook.
7. I like sex in the morning much more than at night.
8. I still say "like" and "totally" despite years of trying to stop.
9. I was 15 when I had my first real kiss, but I don't really remember it.
10. I want a little dog, but I have no time to care for one.
11. I really do not want to have kids.
12. I believe in karma, fate, ghosts, spirits, reincarnation, but not in any traditional religion.
13. I like really preppy things -- monograms, plaid, LL Bean totes, pearls, toile prints, blue and white patterns, etc . . .
14. My parents were going to name me Marc if I was a boy. With a "c". The "c" was very important to my Mom.
15. I still get jealous of my sister from time to time.
16. I google everyone and everything that interests me.
17. I love history - almost majored in it, but I'm bad at remembering facts so I didn't.
18. I can wiggle my ears. I can also raise my right eyebrow separate from my left -- but only because I practiced. I like that expression.
19. I want to fall in love again.
20. I'm not sure that I want to marry anyone though - it might be nice, but I worry I'd get bored and complacent.
21. I'm procrastinating by writing this list. I procrastinate a lot.
22. I love living in a big city, but I dream about moving to the country all the time and always check the "out of area" job postings. If I become a D.A. in a small town somewhere up north in the wine country, it shouldn't surprise y'all that much.
23. I have tried therapy. It did nothing for me. But I probably still need it as I am highly emotional.
24. I worry about my appearance a lot and I think I need botox.
25. I have never dated anyone shorter than me. Or who had long hair. Or who had a tatoo. See no. 13 - I like all things preppy.
26. I love music and am especially partial to the 80s "modern" rock bands. I love discovering new groups and singers. I especially love when someone gives me a CD with great music I wasn't aware of on it.
27. Bugs scare me. So do bees and wasps.
28. I love hanging out in sweats and sneakers on the weekend.
29. I love hotel bars.
30. I consider myself easy-going, but I'm pretty sure I'm not.

Bah Humbug!

Everywhere I go it seems there is another tree going up, another holiday decoration is being hung, another downtown building is lit up with white and red and green lights. Even Starbucks is conspiring in this early trend -- the red cups and peppermint lattes have made their seasonal debut. Ugh. It is only the beginning (okay, middle, but still) of November.

I am just not ready for another holiday season. I am still exhausted from last year's. So I'm boycotting this year. I am refusing to get a tree. (No wreaths, no lights or anything else either.) The decorations are going to stay put on the high shelf in the back of the closet. I am not going to the multitude of Christmas parties and other "seasonal" events. I am evented out. I have absolutely no desire to put on a party outfit, drink apple or candy cane martini's in someone's darkened living room while pretending that it's the "most wonderful time of the year." I am not even going to throw my annual party. Forget it. I don't want to. Work is busy. I haven't been my happy self lately. I'm cranky, crabby and I just don't want to do it anymore. So there. Call me Scroogina.

There

The other day one of my old college friends -- call her K for the sake of anonymity here -- called to tell me that our other friend's father -- we'll call her S -- was dying, and probably only had a few days left to live. K's message kicked off the phone chain that we used in college. If something bad happened, we all learned about it from the successive chain of phone calls down the alphabetical list.

I haven't been the best friend to S in recent years. She married a guy I don't really care for and that's put a big strain on our relationship. Not because of anything we've said to each other, but because of what we can't say, don't say and what we know the other person is thinking. I called S and she immediately knew why and picked the phone up after a quick screen (another old college habit). Anyway, we jumped straight into the conversation about her dad as if we spoke every day.

The next day her husband called to tell me that her Dad did in fact pass away, and he asked me to let everyone else know. The funeral is tomorrow. Those of us who are here in town are all going.

While I don't wish the circumstances on anyone at any time, it continually amazes me how when times get tough, good friends always manage to support each other, and to be there for each other. I noticed this after Katrina too. My New Orleans' friends all rallied to help each other, and most importantly to be there for each other. It makes me feel good to know that "there" exists.