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| ME, ME, ME (the ME shirt) |
1. I was born with blonde hair, which turned mouse-brown by the time I was in 8th grade, and since then has been every shade of brown that Clairol manufactured (I liked Medium Ash Brown the best but it wasn't always in stock), and also mahogany red, strawberry red, mouse again but with blonde streaks or blonde highlights or blonde balayage, grayish white but only for a short time because it was really ugly - and is now a non-ugly chocolate brown, thanks to a genius colorist.
2. I don't wear anything with a visible logo.
3. I hold on to clothes far longer than a sane person should. I've learned not to flinch when someone admires my "great vintage find."
4. Even though I dislike the idea of disposable clothing, I find it hard to resist a bargain. Then I moan when the thing falls apart, pills, gets holes - well, you know. Then I dispose of the offending item. Then I repeat the cycle.
5. Parts of my body believe that we're still in puberty. Or is there such a thing as physical nostalgia?
6. I was stalked when I was in high school, but the expression "stalker" didn't exist then and he was known as "that poor boy who has such a terrible crush on you." It was creepy and embarrassing. For purposes of this post, I have googled him, and it looks like he grew up, got married, served our country with distinction, continued to work for the government, and died. His widow was a girl I knew in junior high, who really disliked me. His obituary read like she wrote it - it described her as "the love of his life." Who does that? Well, for both of their sakes, I hope it was true.
7. Actually, the last few times that the name of an old school or work acquaintance popped into my head, I googled them and each time I learned that the person had died recently. So now when I wonder whatever became of someone, I do not, repeat, not google them.
8. Every time I cut my own hair I regret it. Bangs especially.
9. My ability to keep my weight stable has diminished with age, to the point where I actually consulted a doctor to see if I was coming down with some dreadful disease where the first symptom is that your favorite outfits have gotten tight and your feet hurt. "No," said he, "you need to eat less and get out in the fresh air and sunshine more." I found this response dispiriting.
10. Our family is very multi-cultural, it's impossible to avoid stereotypes. They're sitting right next to you. And many are grumbling. Hence my sort-of-regular holiday post.
11. I was stranded in France after 9/11. Even after airports began to reopen to US airlines, the non-US airline on which we had cheap tickets went into bankruptcy and we were unable to change the tickets. Nor could we buy new ones, because our credit cards and bank accounts had been frozen - while we were on the road, without our knowledge we'd been the subject of identity theft. Fortunately we were known at a few restaurants and found a kind hotel, so we had food and shelter, and anyone who says Parisians are rude or unsympathetic will get a big argument from me.
And now I pass the Sunshine Award to 11 other blogs:
Southern Hemisphere friends, Clothing Fixations and Adelaide Villa (this is a twofer)
xxxx
Every time I say spring is here it gets colder. I suppose I should keep my trap shut. These fun facts/random facts are very entertaining. My roommate in college had a stalker and it was very scary. My folks were stranded in Vegas after 9/11. Cost them a fortune.
ReplyDeleteHi, BB, scary doesn't begin to describe it - every time I stepped out of a door, classroom, schoolbus, dressing room in store, there he was. And it got more intense when his folks bought him a car. Yeuk.
DeleteBlue Booby-you mean it's your fault that Im still shivering? Well, I like you so all is forgiven.
DeleteI get into trouble with my hair lady if I cut my own bangs, too. Put the scissors down! I'm supposed to just drop into the shop when I get the urge and she will do it ( small town).
ReplyDeleteVery heart warming to hear the French took good care of you, but how traumatic to have that happen in your own city while you were away?
Weight thing is annoying, isn't it. You need 200-400 calories less a day at some point; who wants to eat that much less?
Hi, Lane, it was a comfort to see US flags all over Paris, on posters, on cabs, in lamp posts, in store windows.... The worst part about not being able to get home was not being able to find out how family and friends were and not knowing what we'd find if we ever did get home.
DeleteRight after New Year's I clicked on a button that was supposed to tell you what New Year's resolutions you should make. I got something like "Visit (name of financial planner), and do not cut your own bangs."
Aw, thanks for tagging me! Scary story about the stalker! I also hang on to clothing for much longer than I should, a bad habit I am trying to break. I've also noticed the weight starting to creep up over the past year or so, but I am determined to try and stave it off - I definitely don't plan to buy a new wardrobe!
ReplyDeleteHi, Louise! Unfortunately all too often my solution with finding something I haven't worn in almost a year is not to throw it out or donate it, but to wear it.
DeleteHi WFF, I finally got around to doing the Sunshine Award but I put a 'beauty' spin on it, by listing 11 skincare and makeup products that I use constantly. Thanks again for tagging me!!
DeleteSqueal! thanks for tagging me!
ReplyDeleteI love reading random facts about people - so interesting to read about small, personal stuff/
I hate visible logos, had a stalker and used to cut my own hair, so we are practically twins!
Hi, Ruth, ooh, I like the idea of a twin on the other side of the world!
DeleteI also take the scissors to my bangs frequently but usually just nip by 1/8 of an inch to avoid a disaster. Since I have a hard time parting with clothes I wear many after their expiration date. I too had a "stalker" in high school who was the yearbook photographer and took many photos of me. Thank goodness it was long before digital cameras, Facebook and Instagram. Eventually he gave up but I was over represented on the yearbook!
ReplyDeletehi, Teacups, good point, I can't begin to imagine how awful it must be to be stalked now.
DeleteI had a bit of stalker in hs....and then he did the same to a dear friend!
ReplyDeleteHi, Laura, my sister worked with a guy who was convinced that a certain woman truly loved him and wanted to be with him, even after he attended her wedding and the christening of her first child, he continued to refer to her as "my girlfriend" and to make elaborate plans for their life together.
DeleteThat was fantastic read, I knew it would be. Blonde? Wow, I always imagined you to be very dark which ok you are now, chocolate brown sound perfect, so hard to achieve, milk or plain?
ReplyDeleteNumber 7 is hilarious!
Thanks, Tabs, brown like a Hershey bar, apparently a natural-looking brown is difficult to achieve so I was really lucky to discover this guy.
DeleteThank you, thank you for the nomination! -I love reading these lists also. Im with you on #4- I do it more often than I should. But I also do #3 so perhaps we even ourselves out. I never wear logos either. That stalking incident is unnerving. That must have been scary to go through. I wonder if he really did go on to lead a normal life, as his obituary suggests. And you had gilded cage situation post 9/11, also. You and DaniBP could have roomed together! I never found the French to be particularly rude, either.
ReplyDeleteHi, Bebe, I'd like to think that he outgrew his obsession with me. The 9/11 situation was complicated by the freezing of our credit cards and bank accounts - which of course we couldn't straighten out till we got home and the banks started operating again - what a nightmare. I'll always remember the impromptu shrine that Parisians set up - candles, flowers, notes - on the steps of the US Embassy.
Delete# 9 - Bahahaha! I've had the same dreadful disease Fred.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the nomination. I'm working on the post today and at the rate I get things done lately it should be ready in a few weeks. JK, hopefully sooner than that.
Well, I look forward to that!
DeleteYou were born blonde?? I was light then darkish reddy (now very grey through the parting) and started dyeing blonde at age 17. I don't wear Logos either. Love bangs and I did them last year and they looked ghastly - as they did when I did them five years before - so it was the Year of Growing Out and various clips.
ReplyDeleteHi, Jody, I had one bad dye job that couldn't be corrected by love or science, while growing it out I lived in hats, scarves, headbands, and a few cheap wigs which looked great for a week and then melted ...
DeleteHave always been terrified of hairdressers even when they did something heinous, except now i have one I love. It's like a great marriage!
DeleteSo glad the Parisians were so lovely to you during what must have been a hellish time. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHi, Julie, thanks, glad you stopped by!
DeletePut me down for 5 out of your 10- although I was born with mousy brown hair, it turned very dark brown, and I am now experimenting with Clairol Medium Ash Brown- so that I maintain the dark chocolate brown, and don't veer into Morticia territory.
ReplyDeleteSame for 9. I think the medical world needs to get up to speed on this one.
I'm amazed at how much I'm finding that I have in common with my lovely readers. Maybe that's why I have readers? Or maybe, as nasty 8th grade teacher said, "Don't fall into the trap of thinking you're special!"
DeleteAnyway I've been delighted by the comments to this post! Thank you and thank everybody!
Thank you for listing me! Let me think - what are some random things? I also was born blonde and am now brunette with gray highlights. I was Clairol #24 and then #14 and now I pay to have it done and am developing a transition plan to get blonde again.
ReplyDeleteI hate having my photo taken or even looking at myself in a mirror and will do everything I can to avoid it.
My first three cats were all named O'Malley, but we retired the name when O'Malley 3 died at the age of 12.
I have whining in stereo at my house from my husband and Cat #1.
I never get enough sleep because I am married to a night owl. I love him, but I think I would be happier if we lived in separate houses.
I will binge-watch TV shows. I just watched "Life on Mars" and "Foyle's War." (I think you may have told me about FW. Thank you!)
Whining in stereo... Yup, got that too.
DeleteHello WFF, late to the party but I very much enjoyed learning more about you. I smiled all the way through but there were a couple "oh no" reactions (#6, #7); please don't google me ;). In high school, my best friend and I had double stalkers (kinda like a double date gone bad), we used to keep our phone line busy with each other until the moment we stepped out the door so the stalkers couldn't get through their incessant "dialing." I just did #8 and I've never ever had bangs like this ... and so far, so good. You won't get any argument from me re: #11, I was in Paris maybe 30 years ago and found Parisians to be charming and helpful.
ReplyDeleteOh I'm always happy to hear from you, tr!
DeleteIsn't it amazing how many of the gang were stalked? And when I finish being amazed I'll get angry, this just shouldn't happen. It took years before I could open a door and just walk out.
Pardon my French but WTF happened to my blog feed of yours?? And PS, great list, you are my official new girl crush. I am squinting into an iPhone in Mexico and will need to dive into the inner workings of my feeds when I get home. Everyone should turn off all electronics while I do that. I love #7 and am this very moment guilty of #8. I just did an 11 but will find another 11 for you. Soon I will have no mystery about me at all. All my warts and blemishes will see the light of day. xo
ReplyDeleteH , Jennifer, glad you got here! And thank you for your lovely comment!
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