The Big 25

So I'm not too big on bandwagon-jumping, but the latest craze on Facebook (not big on that either!) seems to be listing 25 interesting facts about yourself. Well, I had some time in the car while driving to Abilene last weekend and started thinking about what I would write if I (hypothetically) joined in on the fun. I'm forever in search of a good post idea. And let me tell ya, it's more difficult than you might think to come up with things other than "my favorite movie is ____" and my favorite food is ____". Granted, if you know me very well at all, none of these will surprise you – if they're new to you at all. Anyway, my list goes a little something like this...

1. I am an extreme list-maker, complete with color-coded highlights for things to get done for the day, week, and month (as if vacuuming the floor was one of life’s greatest achievements). I seem to have picked this up from my Mother.

2. I have a strong aversion to mayonnaise. It totally grosses me out. This probably stems from time spent working in a bakery, mixing chicken salad ingredients in bulk. Nothing like dishing up a gallon of fat at a time.

3. Ted Dekker is my favorite author. While Stephenie Meyer has recently pulled a close second, Ted has yet to be booted off his pedestal. His incredible way of weaving stories (books, really) together with subtle religious parallels is pure genius. I am in awe.

4. I possess a fierce devotion to my family and close friends. Fierce.

5. I played soccer for several years growing up. Canyon’s league usually consisted of only 4 teams. One year my cousins, plus DonMark and I, comprised nearly an entire team.

6. I have a strong music addiction. It’s so impressive to me how an artist can come up with lyrics and notes to exactly fit my mood; I love finding those random songs that accomplish just that.

7. I have this thing about dirty feet. Unless I’m walking in the sand on a beach, I want my feet to be clean and dry.

8. I will not parallel park unless there’s a good two car lengths of space. I will walk three miles or circle the block waiting for a space before I will attempt the paralleling.

9. My mind is incredibly analytical and runs at a much quicker pace than even I can keep up with. Good luck trying to figure out what goes on up there. I’m still attempting that myself.

10. My favorite TV shows as a child included Full House, Saved by the Bell, Walker Texas Ranger, Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman, and MacGyver.

11. I’ve only really kept up with one friend from my HS graduating class. Shout out to you, Amanda!

12. I spend a good 50+ hours a week on a computer. I can tell you all about InDesign clipping paths and trapping a file in Illustrator to get it press-ready. However, I know absolutely nothing about the internal workings of the computer itself.

13. I tend to live in the past. Since the future is unknown, I like to dwell on constants as much as possible and hold on to the solidity of events that have already happened.

14. My views on church have been altered significantly in the last 3-4 years.

15. Claes Oldenburg, Michael Schwab, and Ansel Adams are my favorite artists, each in their respected areas.

16. I still like to color in coloring books. I will continue to do so until I’m old and decrepit and can no longer pick up a crayon.

17. 7 years of my public school life were devoted to band. I played the saxophone moderately well, at least enough to join the solo/ensemble group headed to State every spring. Senior year, I was a Drill Instructor and taught marching technique to others. Scary, I know!

18. I am constantly looking at/analyzing design everywhere I go, almost to the point of annoyance. This includes every restaurant menu opened, every piece of junk mail received, every billboard passed, and everything in between. It’s sorta ingrained.

19. I value quiet time. I love random excursions that allow me to ‘check out’ of life, even for an hour or two, and slow things down. This does not make me a quiet person as many suspect. Though often reserved, I can certainly hold my own when I choose to do so.

20. I don’t really know how to dance. Therefore, I hate to dance. Therefore, I refuse to dance. However, there is a secret part of me that would love to learn hip-hop and some of the dance steps from movies such as Step Up to the Streets. (Yes, I watched this movie, but ONLY for the dancing. Bail me out on this one, Abby.)

21. Art background? The only art course I took before college was a drawing class in JR High. Every day, we sat outside and drew the houses across the street. I joined the Art Club in HS merely to be able to wear the rainbow cords on graduation day.

22. I am a hard-core journal writer. This is not to be confused with any ‘dear diary’ stuff; I simply like that there’s one place that I can say anything to anyone under any circumstance without anyone knowing. Someday I might like to write for a living. Book ideas are in the works.

23. In 3rd grade, I was chosen to represent Oscar Hinger Elementary School to make a TV commercial to advertise Texas Public School Week. My principal took three of us to the Amarillo News Station, and we got to read our prompts off one of those rolling screens for the camera crew. I wore a retro gray-heather sweater with neon streaks running across it. That’s right. Afterwards we ate pizza at Olive Garden. That day remains the extent of my public speaking career.

24. Aside from a few ‘church camp highs’, I don’t think I truly experienced God until my time spent at Camp of the Hills. Three summers with inner-city kids and the rest of the staff changed my perspectives on life, love, God, and social justice in indescribable ways.

25. I’m an incredibly picky eater, like peanut butter & jelly picky, and I don’t tire of eating the same food over and over. I’m very limited on my vegetable intake, yet very indulgent with the ice cream.