10 things

I’ve been tagged to list 10 things about me that you may not know. Since this sounds better than working on the website, I figured I’d play along…

1. In addition to the piano, I also used to play the French horn and the cello. I even marched in marching band for two years with the horn…which is just as difficult and dorky as it sounds. I was never very good at the cello—I played in college and just didn’t have enough time (or motivation) to really practice. Now I would like to learn the guitar. And I wouldn’t mind taking jazz piano lessons, either.

2. I danced for most of my childhood/teenage years. Mostly jazz and tap, with some ballet thrown in. (But I was terrible at ballet, so the only ballet lessons were those forced on me.) The pinnacle of my dancing career was playing Dorothy in an all-dancing version of The Wizard of Oz.

3. Throughout college I worked as a technical writer for Compaq/Hewlett-Packard. It was awesome and a total blast, except for the technical writing part. (Seriously, my division’s beach volleyball team was unstoppable!) I worked every summer and even telecommuted my senior year of college, but ultimately decided I didn’t want to take all the programming classes necessary to really make a career of it. And thus began my quest to find a job I actually liked…

4. I almost ALMOST went to graduate school at the University of Chicago. I visited the campus, loved the program, loved the people and professors, and decided to go. Everything was settled—I even had my housing arranged—but in the end I realized that it wasn’t what I should be doing. Although I’m sure I would have loved it, I’m really glad I didn’t go because I think I would have ended up with a lot of debt, and a not-very-marketable degree.

5. I am (was) a certified personal trainer, and I also had certification to teach Pilates. I loved the schooling, and loved studying for the exams—I’m an exercise fiend and found all of the scientific explanations fascinating. Turns out, I don’t love training folks—I am really not a people person, and I found the actual work of drumming up clients and the sales side of the business distasteful. Another career bites the dust!

6. London is my favorite city I’ve ever visited. (This probably isn’t a secret to anyone, but whatever.) I would move back there in a heartbeat, if it wasn’t ridiculously expensive. Everyone comments on the lousy weather, but I greatly prefer cool temperatures and cloudy skies to constant sunshine (are you listening, LA?) And the city vibe, culture, and omnipresent Indian food can’t be beat.

On top of the world, London's Primrose Hill

7. I really, really value my alone time. Jason is more social and always likes company, but I find that I need at least an hour or two by myself each day in order to stay sane. This is partially why I don’t think all of his research trips are a big problem in our relationship—I love being alone! Keep ‘em coming.

8. I have a secret hippie past. I used to be obsessed with jam bands, and the first concert I went to was The Other Ones (aka the Grateful Dead once Jerry Garcia died) and Phish in high school. I spent many happy summer days shopping the thrift stores on Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley. Fortunately my music taste and fashion sense have improved since then.

9. Recently I’ve developed a new reoccurring nightmare: plants or fungus-like things growing on (or out of) people, especially my loved ones. It may sound silly but these dreams are very vivid and disturbing. Anyone wanting to play Dr. Freud is welcome to tell me what it means!

10. This last item is a tie of three things I really, really hate: adults dressed as children (and talking like children, like in movies or plays), animals dressed as people, and babies dressed as animals or plants. The madness must END.

The unholy trinity

I’d like to hear 10 things about Jason…especially because something needs to break his 3-month blogging drought!