Hello, and welcome. My name is TMC. I'm just a kid at heart, laughing my way through life, trying to be helpful and practice compassion. I'm a letter writer and blogger, a reader, cook, and foodie. I'm a daughter, a wife, a sister and a loyal friend. I'm a devout, practicing Tibetan Buddhist (Gelug-pa). I'm earthy, green, goofy, and slightly witchy. I've also been described as childlike, independent, hermit-ish and stubborn.
On this blog I chronicle my daily adventures, stories, troubles and experiences.
Here are 100 Things About Me:
I reserve the right to change any item at any time because I'm flighty and self-doubting and a work in progress.
In no particular order:
1. I'm a Taurus and yes, I fit the profile.
2. I wither in hot and humid weather.
3. I'm adoptive mom to 1 dog and 2 guinea pigs (all rescues).
4. I'm originally from Southern California.
5. I'm the only member of my extended family to permanently live outside of California for a significant period of time. We just moved back in late 2010 to be closer to family.
6. I have a BA in Religious Studies with minors in philosophy and ethics plus 5 years graduate eduation.
7. I regret going to (and getting loans for) grad school. I never finished (but still owe the $).
8. I have a scar on my right index finger where I had a tumor removed when I was 4.
9. I have a basket fetish. I love sturdy baskets and have them all over the house.
10. Bowls, too. I love bowls.
11. I dislike wearing shoes and will wear sandals as far into winter as possible.
12. I have no fashion sense whatsoever. I wear what I like and what's modest.
13. I am scared of big spiders outside and the fear prevents me from getting into the soil as much as I think I'd like.
14. I have a thing for woodland animals: owls, deer, raccoons, squirrels, birds, etc.
15. I have an embarrassing number of stickers of all sorts. I put them on everything.
16. I don't like drinking out of plastic cups. Glass, please.
17. People who know me now never guess that I was once spent time being a.) gothic, b.) gansta, c.) a militant treehugger, and d.) a seller of dangerous drugs.
18. I regret neglecting using my after-braces retainer as my teeth have shifted and I'll probably have to be one of those 45 year old people who need braces again.
19. I no longer have a gallbladder and I say good riddance!
20. I have an inexplicable and totally objectified mini-crush on rapper Lil' Wayne.
21. I always feel addicted to something or other.
22. I tried wearing contacts once but it was back when they were rigid and I hated them.
23. I have never, ever wanted to be in a relationship the way you hear other girls talk about wanting to be in relationships.
24. I'm, at the moment, 36.
25. I do not look like I'm 36. Most folks guess I'm in my late 20's. Ever so slowly, the silver hair is giving me away.
26. I fancy myself a writer but I have a devil of a time writing fiction and don't think I'm clever enough for marketable non-fiction.
27. I obsess about planning and organization.
28. I like earth tone colours.
29. I like spelling words the British way: colour, programme, favourite, etc.
30. I'm Tibetan Buddhist, Gelugpa sect.
31. I absolutely positively don't want children. I do, however, have 3 step-children in Tibet.
32. I'm a fan of the Johnny Depp/Orlando Bloom variety of pirate.
33. When I win a ton of money I'll retire to more rurality and rescue mistreated small farm animals.
34. I do not know how to change a tire or oil on a car.
35. I love swimming but I haven't been in water in a decade+.
36. I carry extra weight as a shield. It's heavy and I'm tired.
37. I'm the oldest of my siblings and most of my cousins.
38. I have 2 distinct sets of names.
39. I wanted to be a nun before I got married. I'd still like to be one, just later.
40. I do not wear high heeled shoes at any time, ever.
41. I like patchouli BECAUSE it smells like dirt.
42. I have been carnivore, omnivore, vegetarian, vegan and raw at one point or another.
43. My favourite colour is green but I most often wear blue.
44. I DO NOT like being called white. It's meaningless. I am of Irish, Danish, Mexican and Scottish heritage, raised in hispanic Southern California, living in the eastern midwest, guided by the tradition/culture of Tibetan Buddhism with a touch of witchyness thrown in. It's confusing, I know.
45. Craig Ferguson makes me laugh.
46. I miss my last studio apartment. It was PERFECT.
47. I once stood in one place in the burning sun and then in squishy mud soaking wet for 5+ hours to be front and center to see Alice in Chains in concert.
48. I briefly lived on an island in Puget Sound, Washington. The place is spectacular, the circumstances weren't so good. I'd go there again (see #33).
49. I once had a penpal in Denmark who wrote letters in Runes characters. And I could read them fluently. (hi Leise!)
50. I used to read, write and speak Tibetan much better than I do now. (will remedy!)
51. I was diagnosed with have adult ADD in my 20's. Then they changed their mind and called it Generalized Anxiety Disorder. I'm edgy and can't concentrate. Caution required.
52. I go through periods of obsessively checking my email. Other times I can let it be.
53. I am at once uptight and casual.
54. I do not suffer fools. I will snap at you, but I'll have good intentions when I do.
55. When I was in 4th grade I had my first experience of inequality during a series of lessons on pioneer life... boys got to build mini conestoga wagons and rifles outside, girls had to sit in the hallway sewing aprons and hats. I wanted to build a wagon.
56. I had migraines when I was a child... it was awful.
57. I kicked ass at chinese jumprope (single rubberband rope) in grade school.
58. I had an article published in a national magazine this year. It doesn't feel like much because I work for the company who publishes the magazine.
59. I am not touchy feely.
60. I wonder if people who read my blog would actually like me in person.
61. For years I have collected fabric and supplies for quilting but I've yet to quilt anything.
62. I played disabled as a child. I loved crutches, wheelchairs, etc. and anything I could use in those capacities in a respectful way. Later I wondered if they were residual memories from Before.
63. I would like to re-dream about hiking and camping the Pacific Crest Trail. I used to dream of it, then pushed it out of my mind. Hence, "re-dream."
64. I'll always try the mac n' cheese off a buffet.
65. I enjoy train travel.
66. I wore my hair shaved for years and years. I was recently convinced to cut my dreadlocked hair for the sake of my "career." Once I reach a certain comfortable point in said "career," I'll dread again. It's a religious thing.
67. I've been described as bohemian and hippieish and that's fine but I generally DO NOT like the music or drug culture. Seriously, I don't want to hear about that sh*t.
68. I can't resist writing on chalk boards. Dry wipe boards just aren't the same.
69. I spill food on myself every time I eat. Seriously, I need a bib.
70. I lean liberal.
71. As a youngster I became obsessed with Eva Peron after seeing the original production of "Evita" starring Mandy Patinkin. I refuse to see the movie version.
72. I have 5 tattoos, two of which are still in progress. There will be more.
73. My writing and speech is contraction heavy and sometimes odd (i.e. shouldn't've).
74. If it weren't for my pets, I would've run away a long time ago. Not sure where I'd go.
75. I'm a long winded writer but like to keep actual talking brief.
76. I was scared straight off drugs by an experience of driving while impaired in which I remember getting in the car in the Hollywood Paladium parking lot and not remembering anything else until I found myself sitting in the car in front of my dad's house. I could have killed someone.
77. Whenever I'm outside in my yard I'm paranoid the neighbours are watching my foolishness.
78. It took til I was 28 for me to not feel like I was just out of high school.
79. My handwriting changes significantly depending upon my mood.
80. I once wrote a blue Bic ballpoint empty in one sitting.
81. I love thunderstorms.
82. I'll always help if asked but won't necessarily always volunteer.
83. I should've followed my Teacher back to India years ago. I wonder if I'll see Him again.
84. I can't remember the names of everyone I used to call Friend.
85. I buy little things online for the dual purpose of a.) getting mail and b.) giving little gifts to give.
86. I have years worth of journals and notebooks but I've never sat down and read even 2 pages of any of them.
87. I enjoy stylized theatrical violence. I feel it as powerful and I like that. Rock music sometimes feels the same way. Like it comes from Inside. Powerful.
88. I keep a bottle of Jagermeister in the freezer but I never drink it.
89. I have no less than 8 lip balms open and around the house, the office, in every bag, at any one time. It's really my only cosmetic.
90. I'm quick to judge first and rationalize later.
91. I handle pressure at work a lot better than pressure at home.
92. I have to justify to myself why I might like or enjoy anything.
93. I'm uncomfortably all or nothing.
94. I'm a morning person (though not cheery) who stays up too late.
95. No matter how many rooms my house has, I generally live in only 2.
96. It takes me forever to implement plans.
97. I can't manage my own life to my satisfaction but I will gladly tell you what I think you could do better in yours.
98. I glow like a fool when a friend compliments my writing.
99. I wrote and recited a prayer/poem at a friend's wedding and balled like a child because I'd never felt what I'd written.
100. In general, I don't wear slacks.
Questions?
returntorural (at) gmail (dot) com
