1) I was a church organist starting at age 9. 

2) I went to 12 years of Catholic School, for which I am thankful.

3) Although an ex-Catholic, I am ever appreciative of the moral base established with regard to right and wrong that the Catholic faith provided.

4) I have always loved cemeteries and still do -- found the biggest, bestest puffball mushroon near a tombstone and swiped it.

5) Being a good Catholic girl, I was a virgin until age 16 at which time I slept with someone I didn't know at a New Year's Eve party because I was tired of being teased about being a virgin. (Very Dumb). 

6) I am a misogynist magnet.

7) I have known at least three murderers in my life, all of whom I knew could be murderers as I interacted with them.

8) While living in Chicago, I worked three jobs to make ends meet. One was at Crate and Barrel Outlet Store -- that was fun!

9) I took over a failing business from my mother which I turned into a successful enterprise within a difficult industry. We supplied area brides for their wedding needs  for 25 years until my step-daughter lost the business just after 9/11. (Not  her fault).

10) Spending a summer in Chicago while still in college, I dated the most handsome man I have ever met against my better judgment -- he was intrigued when I turned him down the first time. (cont. in 11)

11) An undercover policeman took me to the side and told me to stay away from Mr. Handsome as he was in trouble with the law. I had no idea he was involved in a major cocaine ring and would be busted just after I went back for classes. (Big Duh -- didn't do coke...)

12) I have a general naivete' about people's  motives that sometimes saves me, sometimes not.

13) I married a man I didn't love well at age 29 for companionship. After two years of marriage, I stuck my hand in his pocket to get a quarter and pulled out a vial of cocaine. (What is it with me and men who like cocaine?)

14) I am over the moon to have an intelligent President-elect heading to the White House.

15) I really do not enjoy anti-intellectualism. Hearing the phrases, "Don't talk over my head", or "Use words that I can understand",  make me go ballistic.

16) As a life-long feminist I sneered at my mother waiting on my father hand and foot in my youth.  I married the service hungry equivalent of my father at age 35 as I believed he was the "one". Who knew I would marry my father? 

17) I had always believed in the potential of a soulmate and never gave up on the concept of there being "one" out there for me. Perhaps the naivete' thing, or, more likely, the "one" and I are still trying to work it out...I am willing to keep trying.

18) While living in Tahoe, my car was buried under 14 feet of snow. I left in the spring and never went back. Darn snow. 

19) I would give anything to live in a city, again, even Chicago in the middle of a snowy winter.

20) I enjoy silly things like making scarves and jewelry as well as doodling floor plans for a fantasy dream home.

21) I have never lived up to the potential of my youth and all that was offered to me, and likely never will at this late age. (Read Malcolm Gladwell's new book, "Outliers" --> I had a LOT of opportunities that I wasted for lack of focus).

22) Although I never had any children or my own, I have been blessed to have grandchildren that don't know the difference between "blood" relatives and non-"blood",  who love me as their grandmother.

23)  My husband says I am a narcissist who does not give enough to his needs... 'Nuf said?:  "Opposites don't always attract, do they, Hubby?"

24) I enjoy community service more than I do laundry and housework, but cooking and feeding are still everyday tasks to be performed in my household.  (See 16)

25) I really hate it when people who are all take and no give complain that they are not getting enough of something from me and/or the Universe.