Some Random Things (some about me, some not)

1. I was born in Tucson AZ when my parents were in graduate school at the University of Arizona
2. In a twisted attempt to connect with my parents, I tried to attend the University of Arizona for my undergraduate degree. I left after two years.
3. I spent four years in College Station, TX while my father taught at Texas A&M.
4. I can still unwittingly fall into a Texas accent when surrounded by Texans. No - I'm not mocking them, I can't help myself.
5. I grew up in Albuquerque, NM while my father worked at the National Labs and my mother went to law school and then became a lawyer.
6. My parents weren't at home much when I was growing up - but in hindsight, that worked out for me.
7. I went to University of Arizona on a music scholarship knowing full well I didn't want to major in music
8. I didn't know what I wanted to major in - just not music
9. I have learned that while practice can help - there is a lot to be said for innate talent. I practiced a lot, but I didn't have spectacular talent for flute playing.
10. That being said, I sat first chair in the New Mexico State Orchestra my senior year of high school. Did I say I practiced a lot?
11. I still remember my flute teacher asking me almost every lesson what I was going to be when I grew up. At the time, I didn't realize he was trying to tell me that I *wasn't* going to be a flute player.
12. I do now.
13. I studied to become a professional chef
14. I got to be a pastry chef in a four star restaurant. It was one of the most rewarding and exhausting things I have done
15. Preparing food can be one of the most immediately rewarding activities - you know right away if you've done it right.
16. When I was in high school and college, I never wanted children. I didn't want anyone to feel about me the way I feel about my parents.
17. When I finally decided I wanted children, I only wanted one. I didn't want any child of mine to have to suffer through sibling rivalry.
18. When I got pregnant with twins, I couldn't imagine having only one child.
19. I have been pregnant 9 times.
20. I have two children
21. Losing a pregnancy is devastating
22. Losing twins is twice as devastating
23. I live in a tiny town (population ~5,000) on the coast of Maine
24. Moving here from Pasadena, CA was one of the smartest things I've ever done.
25. Marrying my husband is the smartest thing I've done
26. I have the privilege of working from home as a project manager
27. Working from home, you miss out on a lot of the "water cooler" gossip
28. I have never been face to face with any of the people in my group from work in the three years I have worked at this job
29. A friend of mine expressed annoyance at people who go into the stall next to her in a bathroom that is empty. Couldn't they give her some space?
30. Now I always try to leave an empty stall between me and someone else in the bathroom
31. I would really like Maine winters if it wasn't for all the crap on the road
32. I sometimes fantasize about living on an island when you can only get to town once a week for supplies. Then my husband reminds me that I actually usually like people.
33. Growing up, I would joke with my friends that I was as athletic as a chair.
34. One time when I was doing situps, my father asked me why I would want to do that.
35. Apparently the chair doesn't fall far from the dining table.
36. I can tell when I am getting out of balance because I start focusing on all of the things I want to purchase instead of all of the things I've already got.
37. I can replace the head gasket on a 1966 Chevy Nova. 
38. That's a useful skill.
39. My idea of a perfect vacation is on the beach with a great book and someone coming by every 30 minutes asking if they can get me something.
40. I had the vacation once in Hawaii. It was just as good as I thought it would be
41. Maine is really far from Hawaii
42. I am annoyed by people to do their jobs carelessly. It's your job. Do it well or don't do it at all.
43. This actually applies to a lot of things for me. If you are going to make the effort to do something, you should make the effort to do it as well as you can. Otherwise, don't waste your time or mine.
44. Poking around facebook is a lot like looking in windows of houses at night - you get a little glimpse of someone else's life without their knowing it.
45. I started training for triathlons almost 2 years ago. At the time, swimming 1/3 mile, biking 12 miles and running 3 seemed unfathomable.
46. Now I'm training to swim 1.2 miles, bike 56 miles and run 13.1 miles. 
47. I could do the individual distances right now...just not too sure about doing them back to back.
48. Eventually, I hope to do twice that in a single day.
49. I love live music. It's something I really miss being in a small town (not many acts make it here).
50. One of my favorite memories of live music is going to see Public Enemy in LA. 
51. A newspaper photographer was there and took my picture. I was wearing khakis and a turtleneck. Way to blend Jennifer.
52. I used to have dreams about flying all the time when I was younger. There is a particular way you would have to step off the curb to take flight.
53. I would love to have a dream about flying now
54. I hate to be underestimated.
55. Why, when searching for a job is it so easy to think, "Hey, I could totally do that job" and then not get a follow up interview.
56. As demoralizing as it is to search for employment in the project management field, it's got to be worse for an actor/model where you are judged almost soley on appearance. I can chalk up my failure to lack of experience or education. Models have to chalk it up to something they cannot fundamentally change - their looks.
57. I feel much younger than my chronological age is. 
58. Too much time spent alone leads me to self doubt. Couple that with searching for a job and you've got a recipe for disaster.
59. Adjusting to new glasses is much more challenging when you change the frames as well as the prescription. I keep seeing things out of the corner of my eye only to realize it's my glasses.
60. But at least now I can actually see things.
61. It is heartbreaking to watch someone you care about in pain.
62. It is even more frustrating to know that they won't change and will continue to hurt.
63. I like spring in New England because the kids intuitively know that even though it's merely 5 degrees warmer than it was last week, it's time to be outside in the muck playing.