1.  I tend to procrastinate. I’m often late. My mother used to refer to me as "the fly on the cow’s tail" since I was always the last one to finish/get ready. This is a perfect example: The rage for posting 25 things has passed and here I am. Late again. I don’t mean to be rude. Really.

2.  It’s trite but true. My children (and grandchildren) are THE most important people in my life. I won’t bore you with the details. You can read my past posts if you need more information on that score; my very first post way back in June was about my  son’s high school graduation.

3.  It took me the better part of my life to learn to live alone. I always had to have a love interest in my life – often to my own detriment. Now that I’m independent and comfortable on my own, I find I like it TOO much. I’m not sure that I could give up the freedom and independence to accommodate another person. At the same time, I am achingly envious of those who have gone the distance and have the love and support of a lifetime partner. Most of the time, I’m alone and loving it; but sometimes I’m lonely and lost…

4.  I love to write, draw, sing, take photographs – anything creative really, but I don’t really feel I’m outstanding at any of it. I am NOT fishing for compliments here, so please don’t feel you need to talk me out of this. I’ve always felt I was ok – maybe even good - at many things, but not great at anything. It’s a source of frustration for a perfectionist like me.

5.  I’m afraid of flying. And dentists. And doctors, And – well, I’m afraid of many things. Is it any surprise that I have an anxiety disorder? I will be on medication the rest of my life, despite what Dr. Dach says, and I’m grateful for better living through chemistry.

6.  I don’t watch much TV, but I have a few guilty pleasures like, (cringe) Wife Swap and Supernanny. Househunters and, although I never buy anything, I love to watch QVC. They only go off the air once a year at Christmas. I miss them.

6.  I come from an overeducated, medical household and all three of us kids were required (forced) to take four years of Latin. I bitched and moaned about it – after all, everyone ELSE got to take French or Spanish. Much to my surprise, Latin has been amazingly useful. I can read Black Bart’s motto!

7.   I really, really, really wish I had a better filter between my brain and my mouth.

8. I am sick of snow, snowmen, snow angels, snow shoveling, snow/ice removal, all things related to snow. But then the sun comes out and I can’t imagine living anywhere but here in Tahoe.

9.  I was adopted. My brothers were adopted. My children were adopted. It runs in the family.

10.  What, me worry? Yes. Constantly. Just call me The Ruminator.

11.  I secretly think I teach middle school because, essentially, I’m still 13 somewhere deep inside.

12.  I hate guns. Deplore violence. Detest cruelty in all its guises. Then I’m so surprised and disgusted when I myself (like everyone else on this planet with the possible exception of Mother Theresa and her ilk) am cruel. (Cross reference with #7)

13.  I’m a piler. Piles of paper. Piles of assignments to be graded. Piles of fabric. Piles of neatly folded clothes. Controlled chaos. But I need my environment to be neat and tidy or my mental health suffers greatly. When my house was inundated with water this past winter and I spent four months with all the furniture piled in the living room, I nearly went mad.

14.  I’m OS user #326. I lurked for several months before I had the guts to post anything. I know it’s extremely silly and totally unimportant in the grand scheme of things, but I’m proud to be part of the beta corps.

15.  I talk too much. The length and depth of this list is a good indicator, don’t you think?

16.  I could happily live in a library. Our library here in town has a fireplace, big comfy chairs, free WiFi and a (free) coffee bar! What more could you want? I can take showers at the rec center and set up a cot in the office.

17.  As per #16, I taught myself to read before I got to kindergarten  and haven’t stopped since. It’s both a pleasure and a refuge.

18.  Bright, harsh, sunny days sometimes frighten me. I don’t know why. I think Lauren gets this.

19.  I am a complete Anglophile. I adore England and would go there at the drop of a hat. I am compelled to explore every ancient English church – whether a modest village parish or a grand cathedral. This can get annoying for my traveling companions. Salisbury is simply “inspiring.”

20.  I know just enough HTML to get myself really frustrated.  (see #1)

21.  I stole Catcher in the Rye from my aunt’s bookcase specifically because I was forbidden to read it. (See #17)

22.  I was a music and theatre major and as such, love musicals. I risk my already shaky mental health (see above) and direct middle schoolers in a show each spring. One of these years, I’ll learn.

23.  I was in 7th grade when Kennedy was shot. We were all called from our classes to our homerooms. No one knew why and the rumors were rife. Someone had one of those little transistor radios with a single earbud (old school style) and so by the time we made back to our classes, most of the girls were crying. We were sent home and I’ll never forget watching the aftermath and funeral on black and white TV.

24.  There has rarely been a time in my life when I didn’t have a pet. The current occupant, Betty Boop, is the best dog in the world. (Aren’t they all?)

25.  It's the end of Christmas (oh, excuse me, Holiday) vacation and I have to go back to work tomorrow.  But I'm going to the Caribbean in February!