Getting To Know You...

Since I am new to blogging, I thought I would start by helping people get to know me. Now, many of us have done the Facebook Note, "25 Random Things About Me," and I am no exception. For a gal who LOVES lists and makes one for just about everything, that was easy. Here are some highlights from my two (yes I am an overachiever and did it twice) "Random Things About Me" lists and my commentary as well. (Insert chorus of "Getting to Know You" from The King and I here.)

1. I hate pushing grocery carts and will do anything to avoid it. My mother says that the solution is to always go to the store with her because she always takes the cart!

2. I prefer using the little silverware, aka salad or dessert forks or teaspoons. I don't know why, but I do and if I am out to eat and they give me one of those huge massive knives (think Outback Steakhouse), I pout.

3. I eat my sandwiches in a circle, all the crust first and work my way to the middle. I think the best part with the perfect mix of all ingredients in the middle and want to save the best for last.

4. I love family game nights! My family always played games together when I was growing up (and no, not just because we are Catholic...) and the tradition remains. Sunday afternoons are for family, food and games! I miss that living far away from them. Anyone for a game of Scattegories or Chickenfoot?

5. I am a Princess and proud of it. I do in fact own a tiara and would wear it all the time if I could. I have been known to wear it while cleaning the house just to prove that a true Princess can keep it on straight at all times! My mom says I was born with a divot in my head for where the tiara should sit. If you feel my head, she is right.

6. I always wanted to be a figure skater. This dream has not been squashed by the fact that I am a klutz and lack the grace that figure skating requires. To this day I watch competitions on TV and feel the judges should include my scores in the total.

7. I never learned to parallel park. This may seem odd as it is often a requirement for passing driver's ed, but my instructor never taught me and the State of Illinois never tested me on it. I did learn how to park on a hill, which I find rather ironic since Springfield, IL is a cornfield.

8. I love drinking cold beverages from a straw and am convinced that they taste better that way. Just try it and you will see!

9. I like to play Guitar Hero and act like I am all awesome at it, but really, I suck. I only rock when I play on easy and get excited when I hit over 88% of the notes. My youngest brother makes fun of me, which I am sure I deserve. He just thinks he is a master since he can beat every song on expert. Oh, and being a real musician does not in fact make playing this game any easier; in fact, I think it makes it harder since no real musical talent is required to play it well.

10. I play flute and have since I was 9. And, no, I did not go to band camp....

11. My cell phone and I are co-dependent. I am not ashamed to admit it. I never shut it off, save for the times I am on an airplane, and even sleep with it. This does not mean you can reach me whenever you want though; my phone and its handiness is for my convenience, not yours.

12. I am very accident prone, very. I have had stitches many many times, including in both eyebrows, have broken both arms, had surgery on both knees, spent close to a year straight on crutches, etc etc etc. Just for a laugh the best story is the time in high school I was jumping on the trampoline with some friends. One of them double-bounced me and I flew off and into the side of a truck parked nearby and then landed face down on the gravel. It sucked. They laughed.
13. As is evident from my first post, I LOVE shoes! I firmly believe that you can never have too many pairs of shoes and if you find one you like, there is nothing wrong with buying it in every color. Even if you are only going to wear a pair once, with a certain outfit, it is worth the investment. Oh, and the higher the heel or brighter the color, the better! Carrie Bradshaw on SATC is my hero!

14. I color coordinate and/or color code just about everything. I am talking from having a different colored file folder, matching hi-liter and post-its for every event at work to the fact that my underwear always match my outfit. No, you may not check for yourself.

15. My nails are always polished, both fingers and toes. This is even in the winters in the Midwest when several pairs of socks are worn at one time. I think this started in elementary school when I got stitches in the nail bed of my left thumb and the nail started to grow funny. I figured that if I polished that nail, it would not look as funny or at least people wouldn't notice so much. Happily, it worked.

16. I write "epic" notes in greeting cards and send so many that I should probably own stock in Hallmark. There is something to be said for personalizing your message and who says there needs to be a special occasion to send a card. They are called greeting cards, right? I think people should "greet" each other often and in the form of something that requires a stamp.

17. I am not really competitive, except in music. Oh, and if you do something better than me, that is okay. I will not get angry, just more embarrassed and sad actually. As a result, I like to do things I am not that good at, just because they are fun and that is what matters most sometimes. A few things you will most likely always beat me at are darts, tennis, pool, cards, and air hockey. I am okay with this.

18. I am NOT a morning person. I believe that any hour with an AM attached to it should not exist, unless of course you have not gone to bed yet and time has flowed from the PM to the AM. That is acceptable.

19. I like to read and am usually reading two books at any given time. My taste varies but I think that keeps things interesting. I would like to join a book club but am scared they will make me read boring books and then I will have to pretend like I cared about it. I am always up for book recommendations.

20. My mom gives great advice. I don't often ask for it, but somehow she always knows when I need it, and more often than not, I listen to her. One of the best tidbits has to be "Always know the difference between being a shameless hussy and a harmless flirt." Classic.

21. I am prepared for just about anything with what is in my purse (band-aids, lotion, nail file, tampon, tissues, camera, tea bag, snack, advil, gum, book, day planner, i-pod, water, phone, makeup, pen and paper, etc. etc. etc.) My friends tease me that I am planning for when I have a baby and a diaper bag to haul around. Mama Nina at her best kids!

22. I remember the most random things at the most random times, like moments from my childhood. Some examples are the sleepover at Beth P's in the 2nd grade during the Olympics, laying on the floor in her living room watching skating and skiing, eating popcorn and playing Guess Who, my babysitter's son taking away my My Little Ponies and being told how to color correctly in the 1st grade (up and down in little strokes) and being upset because I was limited to the box of 8 or 16 at school when I got the big box of 64 at home. I just wanted more options.

23. My family created the monster that I am (ask my mom about my tights with lace on the butt and making my great grandmother take "naps" on the floor with dishtowel blankets).

24. No matter how great I think my grammar is sometimes, I never ever use lay and lie correctly, even when I try. I think I will stop trying. It's not worth it.

25. I cannot buy a pre-lit Christmas tree because they never come with enough lights, and if I have to add more strands, what was the point of buying the pre-lit one to begin with. There can never be too many lights on a Christmas tree and when someone makes a pre-lit with enough for me, they will be my holiday hero.

26. I hate walking barefoot in the grass. I have never liked it and have accepted the fact that I never will. I will do it, but am not happy about it. When I was a kid and walked to the pool, which was just across the yard, I always wore sandals. I had to. Grass between my toes is gross!

27. I own several dirndls and know how to polka and waltz. I truly enjoy it! Going to an Oktoberfest, drinking a German beer, and dancing to what most people refer to as an "Oompah" band makes me happy! Wanna join me for some Gemuetlichkeit?

28. A good cup of tea can always make me feel better. It soothes my soul and I need at least one everyday.

29. My name is Christina and I am a caffeine-aholic. I need my tea each morning, several sodas a day and usually some coffee in order to function.

30. I am an extremely random person. As you read more of what I write, you will learn that!

I hope you have enjoyed getting to know me, the little things, the quirks, the important things! hehehe Feel free to comment and share something about yourself with me, too.