ONE OF MY FAVORITE MOVIES EVER (Urban Cowboy). Don’t judge.
I saw this illustration by Mari Andrews recently at Cup of Jo and thought it would make a very interesting five questions post.
But do you know how hard it was for me to come up with things you might now know about me?? For the last 14 years I’ve been pretty open to sharing everything here, so this was challenging 🙂
- Concerts I’ve been to: My first one was Foreigner/Night Ranger with my dad in 1986. I saw INXS in 1988 or something? Not sure. Depeche Mode Violator tour in 1990 after graduating high school. Cocteau Twins at a small venue in the early 90’s sometime, I don’t remember. Run DMC and Chemical Brothers in Israel in 2000 or thereabouts. ZZ Top and Lynard Skynard (ew) in 2012 or 2014 at an iconic venue near Austin. Besides seeing the symphony here and there that was the last real concert I went to.
- I saw Grease at a drive-thru with my family soon after it was released. I’ve always had a semi-crush on John Travolta; I can watch everything he’s ever done over and over again, yes, including Face Off LOL. But Urban Cowboy is weirdly one of my favorite movies of all time – I know all the words to The Devil Went Down to Georgia. Also, that Boz Scaggs song, gets me EVERY SINGLE TIME.
- I love auto racing. Not as much as my husband, who is an F1 super-fan and has a simulator in his office. I used to go to the Daytona motor speedway with my dad when we lived in Orlando and I loved it. I had a subscription to Road & Track for a while when I was in middle school hahaha. I’ve been to Road Atlanta for the Petit Le Mans series and one F1 race in Austin right after the Circuit of the Americas opened up, but haven’t been to a race in a while. If we can ever do it, I’d love to be able to travel around the world to attend Formula One races.
- I took piano lessons for 5-6 years before high school and was very good at it, but sadly, once I was given the choice whether or not I would continue on my own in high school, I stopped taking lessons and playing at all. I’ve been thinking a lot about getting a good electronic keyboard to start playing again; I miss it, and think it would be great for relaxation, and also somewhat of a challenge.
- Back to music: I rarely listen to much that was made after 1990 or so, with an exception for hip-hop 😉 I burned out from 90’s music (the Wallflowers…ugh…) in the 90’s and never want to hear it again! If I had to list my favorite bands, they would be first, Cocteau Twins (remember when we had to buy imported CDs???), without a doubt, or second thought, and then, Depeche Mode. After that, eh, maybe Bauhaus, New Order and spinoffs, Beastie Boys. I don’t listen to music much, honestly, I prefer NPR while I’m working. I like it when I do listen to music, I just don’t think it about it, if that makes sense. I do have quite a collection of classical music, Chopin’s piano pieces are always my favorite, Beethoven, and Rachmaninoff and close behind.
Ok…your turn!! Tell us some things people might not know about you, or would be surprised about if they learned.
1. I too have seen INXS. I loved Michael Hutchence (speaking of crushes).
2. I love the show House Hunters.
3. I’m addicted to Lara Bars and often eat several in one day.
4. I am slowly trying to read one book about every President. This in no way precludes other reading — presidential biographies are a side project and an attempt to better understand American history.
5. I love all kinds of choreographed dance and always wanted to be a Rockette.
i love that you’re reading presidential biographies. what a great idea!!
i’m halfway through the roosevelt’s documentary by ken burns and find it utterly fascinating. of course all ken burn’s documentaries are amazing, but this one is really captivating me.
My mother’s been watching the Roosevelt documentary and she feels the same way. The whole family is fascinating. I’ve read a lot about Teddy — need to move on to FDR. Will have to watch the documentary — I love Ken Burns. His Vietnam series was incredible too.
TR is really interesting. he played a huge role in championing national parks too…that’s a whole other documentary LOL
I’ve been lucky enough to have visited warm springs (FDR’s “home” in south Georgia) a couple of times, so learned a little about the end of his life, etc. now eleanor, she’s probably the most interesting of all…
I love this! Here are mine:
1) Instead of getting an MFA in poetry, I almost went to art school to study fiber arts (specifically art quilting).
2) There is a whole generation of young Poles who grew up learning how to speak English by listening to a series of cassettes that featured my voice (talking and singing). When I was little, I also sang on a soundtrack for a popular children’s movie in Poland.
3) I have very short Achilles tendons (it’s a genetic thing). For the first few years of my life, I only walked on tiptoe. When I was five, I was kicked out of ballet class because I couldn’t do a plie without lifting my heels off the ground.
4) I once played a “gangrenous valley girl” in the movie American Werewolf in Paris. My scene ended up on the cutting room floor. My one line was: “Claude’s parties are wack.”
5) I almost died when I was a baby. We were living in Zaire at the time, and I caught a rare local disease. I was kept alive on breast milk and bananas. For nearly two decade after, I couldn’t even smell bananas without feeling nauseated!
I had no idea you are a Depeche Mode fan too!! They are my absolute, hands down favorite…in fact I’m seeing them live tomorrow for the umpteenth time!! My first show was the black celebration tour when I was 9/10 (with my older sister and parent chaperone!). Totally cliche but I just can’t get enough!
Here are mine:
(1) I took hula classes for 8 years, from the ages of 5 to 13.
(2) I have fears that come up from time to time that I don’t share with anyone, like the fear that I will one day eventually be totally alone and become homeless or turn into a hoarder. Part of it stems from the fact that I have no children and will not have that support system as I get older. Dark compared to Cup of Jo’s illustration but it is the 1st thing I thought of.
(3) I strongly feel that my cat, Sugar, and I were destined to be together. I don’t tell people that because it sounds a bit crazy. I hadn’t had a pet for about 7 years when she showed up outside my work place as a feral kitten with her mother and siblings. At a certain point, she was the only kitten left and she was struggling to survive. She was the not first stray cat we rescued at work but she is the only one I have taken home with me (vs. the shelter). Even though it was not a good time to adopt a cat, I instinctively felt that her path in life was to be with me, that she and I were meant to be together.
(4) I listen to a podcast called Kar Dishin It, which is all about the Kardashians. I’m not proud of it but there it is.
(5) I am currently spending about ~12% of my net take home pay on wellness (private Pilates, group mat Pilates classes and a pricey huge gym). I’ve done private Pilates for a few years now, added mat earlier this year and recently joined the gym. This gym is down the block from my office and it’s demographic skews older (average person is middle aged). It has great amenities but the primary reason was it’s location to my office (I can work out and then return to work if I need to). I feel fortunate that I can manage to swing these expenses but I also feel a bit of shame to be spending so much.
its, its, its…not it’s
drives me crazy that I can’t edit & correct 🙂
Sorry 🙁
I have similar fears to your number 2. Although not that I’ll become a hoarder 😉 I just try to feel them for a second and then let them go for now. But I do want to really work harder to create a real-life community for myself at some point …
I understand your feelings about your wellness expenses but you absolutely shouldn’t feel guilty about it. If it’s anything like pure barre for me it’s a necessary expense. I simply wouldn’t feel myself without it
This is fascinating!!! I love knowing these things about people 🙂 we all have stories…
Goodness! Would never have pegged you as a Cocteau Twins fan! Most excellent ?
These are so fascinating! I love learning about others’ life-experiences, both when they are similar to mine and especially when they are so vastly different.
Okay, here goes:
1. I can’t ride a bicycle. I learned a little when I was younger, but it wasn’t something my parents actually spent much time teaching me (and it stopped completely once the other kids had all removed their training wheels except for me). Nothing is more painful than seeing bikeshares in cities and not being able to use them to zip through town!
2. I once pulled a drowning child out of a swimming pool. I was lounging by my apartment’s pool, reading a magazine when all of a sudden a woman started shrieking and pointing to her (very young) child who was face down in the pool. Lots of folks who were closer didn’t react, but I jumped in and swam to her child and pulled her out. The child seemed to be okay, and the mother walked off carrying her and wailing without saying a thing. Very surreal and bizarre.
3. I’ve pet a grown tiger.
4. I worked at an old-fashioned soda fountain in high school, slinging egg creams, malts, and milkshakes (somewhat unusual given my age).
5. I really want to visit Cuba (mostly just throwing this out there in case the Universe is listening!).
I can play the cello. I played from 4th grade until my senior year. I also played for different church events when my mom was directing until my late 20s. I still think about getting a cello and picking it up again!
I grew up afraid of most animals. My grandma was super opposed to pets when we were growing up, and instilled a ton of fear in my sister and I around pets, especially dogs. I worked hard to get over it, and now I love ALL THE ANIMALS! Even after I got bit by a Weimaraner and a Great Dane, I still loved them.
I’m a lifelong 12-stepper. I got into a 12-step program when I was 22 and still attend meetings. Addiction is never cured, and I’m thankful for every sober day.
Thanks for sharing, friend!!
This is really fun reading all the comments! Thanks for sharing!
1. I don’t have any kind of high school credentials or anything that certifies I actually finished high school (like a GED), and technically I never did finish high school. This really freaks out some of my fellow Americans. I pulled out of high school when I was 15 and by some administrative magic started taking college classes. I have a bachelor’s degree and almost 15 years of work experience, so I always chuckle when I fill out job applications that want to see my “high school transcript.” (WHHYYYYYY for anyone????)
2. I played a zombie extra in an indie film and was “shot” in the face. I made the final cut. It’s a really shitty movie but I kept a copy of it just so I can show my friends my gory death. 🙂 That was one of my bucket list items, and probably the only thing I’ve actually crossed off!
3. I am extremely interested in learning how to invest money and earn income off of that, but so far can’t find anyone to talk to who has actually done it, so if you have, hit me up! I am feeling super ambitious in my 30s and want to make more money. 🙂
4. I love costumes and cosplay, and would really be happiest if I could wear costumes every day, like at work, or going to the store. I don’t feel “right” in regular clothing, I’ve always felt uneasy or like I am an imposter when I try to be “fashionable”, so all my outfits tend to be really plain and boring (or are sweats). I don’t think wearing costumes is for the attention, I just really love the artistry of a great costume (from princess gowns to warrior gear) and I want to celebrate it. I think I also wish this world was a little more magical and this is my way of making it so.
5. Everyone is shocked to hear that I have an English degree and am making a great career for myself in IT. I’d like everyone to know that a large number of IT people have either no degree or a degree in something totally random. It takes all kinds!
I can’t swim for the same reason – my parents just didn’t really feel like teaching us (and my mother is afraid of deep water, but she’s afraid of most things!).
Where did you pet the tiger? I really want to pet a tiger.
These things are so much more difficult to learn as an adult! I don’t plan on having children, but if I did, I would want to make sure they know how to ride a bike, swim, and speak another language.
It was at a Civil War days event in Florida – I’m not really sure why it was there? I’m no history buff, but pretty sure tigers weren’t part of any wars fought on US soil. You can find animal encounters at plenty of zoos, but just make sure they are accredited (there are a lot of “back-woods” type of places, at least here in Florida, that likely aren’t up to standard).