Twenty Five

Saturday I took a 3.5 hour coombi ride to and from Jo’burg so I decided to take the time to indulge in reading the “25 things” lists on facebook. I loved it! So if you have written one, chances are I read it while crammed between 3 women and a window (with my feet crunched up on the ledge of the tire indent). I thought it was interesting and decided to post it here as well.

1. My facial expressions speak far more words than I can.
2. I love road trips: organizing directions, seeing the countryside, hanging my toes out the window, singing terribly, and going into gas stations.
3. I have a serious roach problem in my bedroom- but it may be better than the roach problem at my last apartment in Chicago, gross.
4. I had my ear pierced 3 days ago and it is hurting like hell! That brings my body hole count to 6.
5. I miss toilets. I miss hearing the flush, I miss the confidence that flies and rats will not touch my body, but most of all I miss checking the fruits of my labor.
6. I love picking, popping, and tweezing- anything on anyone.
7. I love and miss my mom, Ab, Morg, Jer, dad, and animals everyday.
8. I have not attended church regularly since high school. I experience Catholic guilt every time that I sleep in when at my parent’s house on a Sunday, even though my mom has never gone to church. I hate it.
9. My perfect home would have a claw foot tub, a porch swing, a winding staircase, a firepole (i.e. Vandenbergs!), a loft, a room to mess up (throw spaghetti, paint, wax on the walls/floors, etc.) and acres of space for love to blossom.
10. I don’t know what I want to be when I grow up. But I am looking into Master’s programs all the time. Ideally I will become an artist of some sort.
11. I love (and miss) family dinners which are inevitably full of laughter, ridicule, and love. Plus there’s the food: cedar plank grilled salmon/pork tenderloin, bacon bacon dip with crackers, baked potatoes, asparagus, salad, red wine.
12. Anything that is made of recycled materials excites and inspires me, I hope to one day live on recycled pieces alone.
13. I dream I’m flying nearly every week (Last night included).
14. I am so happy. Ever since arriving in South Africa I have reclaimed myself- my dancing, sporadic, free spirited self.
15. I have not stepped on the middle step at my parent’s house since I was 10 or so (avoid it even with boxes/laundry piled high, even when washing the steps).
16. I really love hearing my mom tell me random stories that have happened when we talk on Sundays. (ex: Our obese dog Emma had to have a toe amputated; now she wears a bootie and needs to be lifted up the steps. One late night Emma sat at the bottom of the stairs and cried because she wanted to be in my parent’s room. Jerry woke from a sound sleep walked downstairs picked Emma up and dropped her at the top of the stairs and without a sound went back to bed.)
17. Out of boredom I spend too much time at my computer in this country, I need to change this.
18. I love Chicago- the El, the winter, the neighborhoods, the summer festivals, the free adventures, the museums, the lakefront, the people, parks, random encounters, the music venues, the art on every corner.
19. I love the connection, motion and emotion of live music.
20. I don’t like mayo-based salads or the hodge podge salads where you don’t know what you’re eating. I also don’t like cilantro, spicy foods, or ricotta cheese.
21. I love bloody mary’s- must have celery salt, Worchester, pepper, salt, celery stick, pickle, olive, small amount of Tabasco, pickle juice and served over ice. (I miss Edgewater Lounge!)
22. Cliché but true: I love that even though my best friends and I have lived in different states/countries for the past 5 years we manage to communicate frequently and never miss a beat when we reunite.
23. I like giving and receiving surprises. I suffer when trying to delay gratification.
24. I hate American consumerism (but buying a new outfit every once in a while does make me happy).
25. I use less than 10L of water a day- this includes drinking, washing self, washing dishes, cooking, etc.