1. Whenever I buy something for my apartment - even something as simple as a shower rack - I can spend up to five minutes looking for the one in the most meticulous condition. This is something store employees have commented on more than once.
2. My belly button is an outie. It looks like a tiny butt.
3. Speaking of butts, I feel more comfortable naked than in a swimsuit. I confirmed this when I went to a Korean bathhouse and hung out with strangers in the buff.
4. I prefer to hang out one-on-one or in small groups. In larger groups, I always find myself pairing off with one person or sitting back and observing.
5. I have more guy friends than girl friends. I don’t dislike women - I just have a hard time finding girl friends who stick.
6. Despite growing up on the Gulf Coast, I never learned to swim.
7. My family calls me “Man.” My parents say “Amanda” if they’re mad at me or talking about me to someone outside our family. I’ve never heard my sister refer to me as “Amanda.”
8. Honestly, I think my name is dull, but I like its meaning.
9. Without fail, I visit the library weekly.
10. The wedding industry revolts me. I have no desire to marry in a white dress, have my dad give me away, or any of that other expensive schmaltz. I do, however, want a conflict-free ring, because I like jewelry.
11. Someday, I’d love to have a pet tortoise.
12. I have a historical crush on Malcolm X. The man was fine. I can deal with the fact that he wouldn’t have been interested in me.
13. One of the things I love about TBID is that we share books. Though reading is a huge part of my life, I’ve never dated anyone with whom I did this.
14. When I was a kid, I asked my parents for a subscription to Good Housekeeping. I loved the decorating ideas and Erma Bombeck columns.
15. My big regrets in college: not writing for the college newspaper, not studying abroad, and not having enough fun. I was way too focused on getting my 3.86 GPA and following this path I charted freshman year. Now I know opportunity lies more in deviation and second thoughts and detours.
16. I love those brief seconds when you hear a voice and can’t determine if it’s speaking in English or some other language.
17. I think MySpace exists to help people like me take a peek into the lives of most of their high school classmates and feel infinitely better about themselves. (I only log in when I’m feeling low or bored). I don’t have all the answers, but at least I don’t live in Hicktown, USA with five kids, various baby daddies, and a dead-end job.
18. I once dated a guy who said he was 1/8 Cherokee or something and wrote this really awful poem about it called “Indian Blood.” Now when people break down their racial background into small fractions, I want to make fun of them.
19. Even as late as college, I used to really love making prank calls.
20. I want to live in large cities the rest of my life, and I have no desire to ever own a car. (But I’d be happy to date/live with/marry someone with one - it makes life easier).
21. I’ve been recording what I wear to work everyday for the last four years. It all started when I didn’t want to be the student teacher in the same pants everyday.
22. People are surprised when I tell them I’m from Texas, because I don’t have an accent. I do pronounce a few words strangely, according to TBID, who says “ohways” instead of “always.”
23. Because I moved to NYC with only two suitcases and a big dream, an astounding percentage of my possessions were bought gently used. Even my cheese grater. Ain’t no shame - thrifters, do yo thang.
24. I consider it a good omen when I ride the elevator alone in my office building from the 31st floor all the way down after work or when going to lunch. It rarely happens.
25. If I had to tattoo something on my body, it would be either “Say yes” or “Try”. These are two things I wouldn’t mind being permanently reminded to do.
I’m glad to hear that someone else who lived in or was born is Texas does not have an accent. I too lived in Texas for a large portion of my formative years and only carry a slight accent on certain words. Welcome to the very small club!
P.S. I write to you from Brooklyn, the land of accent!
Hi, Colleen! Just last weekend I was in Queens at this Greek place, listening to this whiny tween at the table behind me go on and on about how badly she needs an iPhone. Her New Yawk accent was insane.
People ask me where mine went, and I think I was just so conscious about losing it, dropping “fixing to” and “ya’ll” before I got out of middle school. I was a shameless snob ready to move to a big city and be fabulous. (I’m still waiting for that last part)!
Although I was not born in Texas I lived for several years and I was very concerned about picking up the Texas accent, so much so that I spoke very carefully. I’m happy to report that I managed to escape Texas relatively accent free.
I never understood “fixin to” or “ya’ll” either however they are just as bad as my uncle from upstate New York and his “yous guys”. I’m happy to stay relatively accent free!
I think accents are interesting and don’t mind having one. I did drop “fixin to” years ago, but still say y’all. Two things I do hate…when I catch myself saying “sum’pum” instead of something… and when people try to write Southern dialogue and have the character say y’all for singular pronoun. Real southerners know y’all is plural.