25 Things

There’s been a random meme going around called “25 Things,” where folks list 25 random things about themselves. I first saw it on Facebook but now it’s cropping up everywhere. So here it is, for your viewing (dis)pleasure:

1. I was introduced to coffee when I was 7 years old. By my parents. (I’ve been drinking it ever since. I take it with half-and-half and no sugar.)
2. As much as I enjoy my classes, I wish I could have my Master’s degree already so I can get my career off the ground. It’s paralyzing knowing that I can’t get hired anywhere until I finish this program.
3. I’m a migraine sufferer. (It runs in the family.) My migraines come with visual auras. Some research suggests that migraines + auras = increased chance of strokes.
4. Unfortunately, strokes also run in my family. Needless to say, I’m attempting to lead my life in a relatively stress-free fashion.  However, my current lifestyle is contradictory this philosophy, as I am currently trying to hold down a part-time job and attend Master’s-level courses full-time.
5. I’ve recently learned that there are reproductive problems in my family, too — myself included. (I was diagnosed with Kallmann syndrome when I was 18.) I may be infertile… and I think I’m OK with that. (But, then again, I am only 22.)
6. My family owned a Great Dane (dog) and an American Short Hair (cat) that we took with us when we emigrated to America in 1994. Both have since passed away. Now, I have a cat named Dixon (he was pre-named by the folks at the shelter) whom I love dearly. I can’t imagine a household without a furry companion.
7. I’ve only needed to get stitches once in my life… and I got 16 all at once. (I was bitten by a dog in my neighborhood. I was 16 years old at the time. I still have the scars on my right forearm.)
8. I love meat. I really wish I didn’t, though. I even tried out vegetarianism for a month in the summer of ’08. It was the longest month of my life.
9. Before I got into librarianship, I was attempting to pass off as a software engineer. By complete chance, though, I stumbled upon librarianship and loved it. Now I want to incorporate both into my career.
10. I built my first website when I was around 10 years old — the same time I got my own computer. My father (a computer aficionado) encouraged me to learn HTML… so here I am.
11. I spent my 16th birthday at the DMV getting my driving learner’s permit. I got my driver’s license when I was 17.
12. My boyfriend, Alex, and I have been together for 3.5 years. He’s my first and only boyfriend. I’m quite happy and look forward to spending the rest of my life with him.
13. My mom taught me to read when I was 3 years old. I’ve been a voracious reader ever since.
14. I’m trying to figure out how to incorporate my interest in sexuality education into my career.
15. Food is a weakness of mine. I succumb to my cravings easily. My biggest adversary is the bacon cheeseburger.
16. I’ve seriously considered three areas in which I may want to get a second Master’s degree:
    • Human Sexuality (a subset of Public Health)
    • Health & Nutrition Science
    • Computer & Information Science

    …in that order.

17. I didn’t watch Star Wars until I was 22 years old. And I freakin’ loved it!
18. Tequila is my poison of choice when going out.  When staying in, I like beer (Corona, specifically) and red wine (Osborne Solaz is my favorite).
19. My favorite bar is, coincidentally, The Library.  It’s seedy and smelly but I love it.
20. Oh, yeah...  Have I mentioned that I’m anosmic?  The only reason I know that The Library is smelly is everyone’s pointing it out.
21. I have a compost bin in my parents’ backyard.  I haven’t added scraps to it or turned it in months.  I should really take care of it better… but I forget about it because I don’t see it.
22. My iPod is old.  Like, 3rd generation old.  As in, I got it for my birthday in 2004.  (That’s ancient in the tech world.)  And?  It still works!  So I haven’t gotten a new one yet.
23. The only other Apple product I own is an iPhone.  (Again, it’s the older generation.  I don’t have the kind of money it takes to keep up with all of Apple’s latest gadgets!)  I’m on T-Mobile, though… so I had to crack my phone.  And, lemme tell you, even with the latest software out there, it’s still possible  to brick the thing.
24. I’ve become lazy and started ordering my groceries from FreshDirect.  (I call it “laziness” but I actually have no time for anything not school- or work-related lately. I spend 4 days out of the week at work and 3 days in class; I barely have a moment to myself.)
25. I make a monthly contribution to my local NPR station, WNYC.  I canceled my gym membership and re-routed the monthly dues to WNYC instead. Because I actually listen to the station on a regular basis, it made more sense to spend the money that way. (I never went to the gym.)