105 Ways to Give a Book

Three Years Later: 100 Things About Me

Today this blog is three years old. It seemed like a good time to repost one of my favorite things ever — 100 Things About Me.

The 100 Things meme was going around a little before I began blogging, but I liked the concept of it. Break down the essence of who you are into a simple list. Some people missed the point by starting with statistics from their driver’s licenses. Other lists read like poetry. It’s harder than you think to get to one hundred things, but I highly recommend it as an exercise for writing, self-knowledge, or mental challenge.

The best thing about this list is that I’ve made only minor changes to it since its creation three years ago. What’s true about me... well, it stayed true. The blog has made some changes over three years, but for the most part, it too has stayed true to its roots.

I know that blog birthdays can inspire well wishes. That’s a good thing. I also know that it can be hard to make a comment when you feel like you’re saying the same thing as everyone else. But now instead you can mention the number or numbers below that you like best, that are most like you, or that inspire you. Then we’ll do it again in another three years.
  1. I read almost compulsively.
  2. Some people think I’m funny.
  3. I am a packrat.
  4. I usually know where to find things.
  5. I don’t like having my picture taken.
  6. People’s stories intrigue me.
  7. I could probably sing professionally.
  8. I am a dedicated mother.
  9. I love to help people.
  10. I can be a good liar.
  11. I crave sweets.
  12. My current weight bothers me.
  13. I still don’t exercise enough.
  14. I’ll never, never understand how a computer works.
  15. I love cats.
  16. I don’t like dogs.
  17. But I’ve been known to make exceptions.
  18. I don’t drive in D.C. because it scares me.
  19. I hum in public places.
  20. And sometimes sing out loud.
  21. Without my glasses, I’m helpless.
  22. I would drive an hour to spend time with a friend.
  23. I hate indoor pools.
  24. I love indoor roller rinks.
  25. I cry too easily.
  26. I don’t get the point of frozen peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
  27. Or frozen garlic bread.
  28. I’m not sure who my best friend is.
  29. My family is my first priority.
  30. I have ten watches.
  31. But I am never on time.
  32. I talk on my cell phone while I’m driving.
  33. I’m always surprised when it rings.
  34. I don’t really read the newspaper.
  35. But I’m trying to read more of it.
  36. My kitchen has to be clean.
  37. But nothing else is.
  38. I love shopping.
  39. I really love a bargain.
  40. I will never own a bread machine.
  41. Or a quesadilla maker.
  42. I can’t decide whether to go to grad school.
  43. Or whether to get laser surgery on my eyes.
  44. Or what dentist to go to.
  45. Basically, I can’t make decisions.
  46. I’d like to live by the ocean.
  47. Summer is my favorite season.
  48. I get a great deal of my news from The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.
  49. I can rollerblade fairly well.
  50. I would like to publish a book.
  51. I have a terrible sense of direction.
  52. I hold up my hands to tell my left from right.
  53. I don’t use the ATM.
  54. I think I’m allergic to melons.
  55. I love New York City, but I can’t imagine living there.
  56. I can’t follow football.
  57. I’ve seen 90 of the 100 top-grossing movies.
  58. I often drive with no music whatsoever just to enjoy the silence.
  59. I can identify four different kinds of cows.
  60. Centipedes freak me out.
  61. I usually have a crush on someone.
  62. Which my husband knows.
  63. But not always.
  64. Considering I work in a library, I buy a lot of books.
  65. Most of them are used.
  66. In college, I was a psychology major.
  67. I used my major after college for one year.
  68. Unless you include counseling my crazy family.
  69. I yell at my kids too much.
  70. When I let it out, I have a funky sense of style.
  71. I am not very patient.
  72. Except at work.
  73. Stupid people drive me crazy.
  74. I have been to Europe and Canada, but not Mexico.
  75. I am a natural flirt.
  76. British accents melt me like butter.
  77. When people spell words out, I can’t follow it.
  78. I am not a morning person.
  79. If I don’t shower by noon, I won’t shower.
  80. I’ve lost the ability to truly sleep it off.
  81. Which makes for occasional tough weekends.
  82. I’ve had my heart broken.
  83. Sunrises make me sad.
  84. I still love stuffed animals.
  85. When salt spills, I throw it over my left shoulder.
  86. I wish I appreciated poetry more than I do.
  87. Before this blog, I had written seven poems.
  88. And two haiku.
  89. I can’t always work the DVD player.
  90. For years I drove, and loved, a VW Karmann Ghia.
  91. I wrecked it in the only car accident I ever had.
  92. In 24 years of driving, I’ve gotten two speeding tickets.
  93. Which is amazing luck.
  94. I love arts and crafts.
  95. I tend to repeat myself.
  96. I tend to repeat myself.
  97. When my alarm goes off, I snooze for nine minutes.
  98. I don’t always feel like a grown-up.
  99. I don’t share the good chocolate with anyone.
  100. I still make wishes when I blow out the candles.

34 comments:

Cheryl said...

I really enjoyed reading this. So many interesting things that even some of the people around you alot might not even realize. I did this a few months ago on my blog and maybe will do it again on an anniversary. Thanks!

Franki said...

I have finally found someone who is not related to me who throws salt over their shoulder after it spills! I get nervous when people spill salt and don't throw it over their left shoulder so I often do it for them:-)

Happy Birthday!

Lady S. said...

I reacted the exact same way I did last time I read this, which suggests I haven't changed in the same way you haven't changed since it was written -- I think.

I'd be reading along going 'Oh, me too! Yes, exactly!', and not just to the obvious ones (like the reading or the mothering) and then suddenly hit 'Hunh?' Packrat - check. Don't like having my picture taken - check. People's stories intrigue me - check. Laser surgery on my eyes?? Never in a million years! Kitchen clean? More often than once in a million years, but not by that much. Salt over the left shoulder - back to check. And so on.

It's fascinating, and I can see why you say it's a good exercise for many reasons. But that indecisiveness would make it really hard...

Happy blog birthday!

Libby said...

I love this! It would almost be easier for me to list the ones I *don't* identify with than the ones I do, but the two that really hit home are 36 and 37. Yes, kitchen clean. Everything else? Meh.

I've never done this but now I'm tempted.

I hope you get to blow out some candles and make a wish today!

Sara said...

I want to guess which items you've made minor changes to! I'm thinking the poetry related ones, perhaps: "before this blog..." And NOW? After the blog? Because I KNOW you've taken risks in poetry this year.

I don't get frozen PB&J either. Maybe if I had laser surgery on my eyes, I could see the point.

Michelle Fluttering Butterflies said...

I love your list! Happy blogiversary...

Who freezes PB&J, I've never heard of that? I can't follow when people spell things out either. And I need to make an 'L' to work out which is my left hand. British accents USED to make me melt, until I moved to England. I rarely feel like a grown-up.

Anonymous said...

Happy 3rd anniversary, MR.

MotherReader said...

I love hearing what you all related to on the list! It's such a kick!

Michelle, yes, in the U.S., we have pre-made, pre-packaged, frozen PB&J sandwichs. In my mind, if you don't have time to make a simple sandwich for your kids, you may want to take a hard look at your life.

Sara, I knew stating that I made minor changes would make people wonder. It always does that to me. So for you and everyone else:

33. used to say "a lot," but I don't have a long drive to work anymore so I don't talk on my cell phone a lot while driving. I am surprised when it rings.
35. used to say "trying to do Sudoku", but I gave it up to try to read more of the paper.
50. I changed one word - "write" to "publish."
87,88. I knew exactly how many poems I'd written before this blog, but I didn't want to go back and count since I started. Not even sure that I could.
92. I added four years and (oops) one more ticket.

(BTW, my own favorite item on the list is 96 because it still, three years later, cracks me up.)

Tricia said...

I still lust after the Kharman Ghia Molly Ringwald drove in Pretty in Pink. I drove one for eight months and it was destroyed in some freak flooding in, of all places, Buffalo. It still makes me sad ...

I do believe we may share some blood, as my list looks freakishly like yours, except for the dog thing.

Happy blogiversary, MR!

Terry Doherty said...

This was a fun way to start my morning. I love to go the grocery store, just to have the quiet. Reading your lists is like reading poetry (86)! Happy blog birthday. PS - I'm totally with you on 73.

Abby said...

#66 (except I never actually used my degree)

and #86 (and can I add that I wish I appreciated graphic novels more, too?)

Happy blogiversary!!!

Anonymous said...

Mazel tov on your blog birthday, MR! The world is a happier place because your blog is in it!

Jen Robinson said...

Happy blog birthday, Pam! The Kidlitosphere would not be the same without you. And item 96 cracks me up, too.

Melissa said...

Too many hit home to list... #11 and 12 especially this time of year. Happy blog birthday, Pam!

Sherrie Petersen said...

Congrats on three years -- that's very cool!

And I loved your list. I'm so like you on so many thing! 3-17, 19-23, 25-37...you get the idea :)

Lisa H. said...

...and now we all know why we love your blog so much! I, like many others, identify with most of your list. :) The only one I majorly disagree with is the one about summer, but I live in a place that has a much warmer summer than you do, so that can be excused. ;) But mainly, yes, yes, and wow, another internet-twin has been found! So glad that you're blogging out in public spaces! :)

Anonymous said...

Re #2, *I* think you're funny.

Re #27, seriously. It is butter and garlic on bread, which you put in the oven. Who does not have garlic and butter in their house at all times? It mystifies me.

Emily said...

i've never heard of frozen PB&J sandwiches either. i live in switzerland, but didn't think i'd been out of the country THAT long!

Anonymous said...

3, 25, 41, 70, 73, 75, 85

Thanks for your snarkiness and love of children's books.
Crying is good for us--just don't cry over spilled salt.

Deb Lund said...

I'm still smiling. I could see and hear you read all 100 to me. Here's to many more birthdays, and many more thoughts from MotherReader!

Greg Pincus said...

Happy blogoversary, MR!

And I didn't get #96. But...

Happy blogoversary, MR!

Kristen M. said...

I love this exercise. One day we will have to get together at the roller rink, eat the good chocolates (I hoard them too!) and have a pointless cry. Happy anniversary!

Mary Lee said...

#23 -- I disagree -- couldn't live without.

#30 -- I have more, and yet...
#31 -- chronic for me too.

Happy Blog Birthday!

Kelly Polark said...

Great list! I live near Chicago, I never drive downtown. It scares me too!

Karen said...

Happy Birthday! I always get a charge, and usually a chuckle as well, out of reading your blog!

#1, 12, 28, 29,38, 46, 47, 95, 97, and 100 could be describing me as well.

Peaceful Reader said...

I have only been following your blog for about 6 months but I am addicted daily...so thank you for beginning 3 years ago!!

Bill said...

4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42.

Oh, wait, that's a totally different set of numbers...

Never mind. But happy blogiversary!

Vivian Mahoney said...

A happy, happy blogiversary! You have a fantastic blog. I remembering lurking on your blog for so long before I could gather up the courage to write a comment.

Here's to a new year, another 100 things to think about, and summer days by the ocean!

Anonymous said...

Crap! I was feeling overwhelmed by the "25 things about me" running around on Facebook. Now this.
-Kaz

BookChook said...

Number 96 cracked me up!
Number 25 is so me.
And number 46 resonated the most. We live about 2 miles from the Pacific Ocean. Walking its beaches to the rhythm of the waves is how I stay sane. (Some people may suggest this method could do with fine-tuning!)

Congratulations on turning three!

Elaine Magliaro said...

A Belated Happy 3rd Blogiversary! And may you have many more--blogiversaries. I'm with you on 30 of your 100. I'm especially bad with directions!

Annie said...

At first I was going to check off those things that also describe me and call it a day, but then I realized that wasn't being true to the exercise. So, it goes on my list of things to do. TBD v TBR.

I appreciate the generous peek into your personality. Happy anniversary.

Manjushree Abhinav said...

Nice list. Very honest, and revealing.

Felt good that I have just succeeded the number 50. :)

I am not a morning person either, but since I HAVE to get up early to get the kid ready for school, I am trying hard to become one.

Andromeda Jazmon said...

Happy Blogoversary MR! I have to agree with 33, 57 , 77 and 100. When my 3 year mark comes in March I am going to republish my list of a book a year for my life. I haven't updated it in three years so that needs doing.