A Fifth for You

I know you were hoping for alcohol by the title. Sorry to disappoint. But you may want to grab one if you have it close. It may take a couple of swigs to get this one down.

One of the best things about blogging is finding someone you click with, someone that has, or is in the same proverbial boat as you are. Having something in common with someone is the thread that can bind a friendship together forever. I have many common threads woven throughout the blog buddies that I consider friends. Whether it is our age, our parenting, or maybe just the common thread of sense of humor and laughter, the tie is strong.

One of my friends, Swirlgirl, is posting her 100th post today. we share the unfortunate common thread of the loss of fathers in the month of Jan. 08. As I am reading her post today, I become aware of almost identical childhoods, which just strengthens that father-daughter bond, and makes the loss of that relationship harder.

Then I realize it is my 100th post today as well.

So, because I know you are already rolling your eyes and/or thinking, 'OMG what else can this idiot divulge to us?' I won't bore you with 100 frivolous bits of info about me. At least all at one time.

Since it's Monday (which btw, means Mission:Monday. Click on the black box above my profile to enter a contest for a free blog make-over), I will do 20. If there is a request for more, maybe I will do 20 each day this week. If I can think of 20 things about myself I HAVEN'T told you. (They don't call me Ms.TMI for nothin', ya know.)

1. My mom was a meticulous housekeeper. I did not inherit that gene. I have to MAKE myself clean. I love a clean house, but I will pay big bucks to not have to do it myself.
2. I really have laughed so hard that I peed myself on more than one occasion.
3. The first time was when I was 12 and on the back porch of my across-the-street-neighbor Tony's house. I can't remember what happened to make me laugh, but I do remember laughing, getting choked, and almost puking on myself, which caused me to release urine. I left a circle of wetness on the cement as well as my britches and ran all the way home.
4. I am almost sure it had to do with someone hurting themselves. That has always made me laugh the hardest.
5. Yes, I am a nurse. Yes, I still inwardly laugh at the dumb things people do and the injuries they cause. No, I don't laugh when someone is really sick or in a car wreck. That's not funny, even to me.
6. I also TeeTeed my panties when in high school I went roller skating with one of my very best guy friends. Along with all the 11 and 12 year olds there, we were the hit of the rink. It was crazy funny and we actually both wet our pants.
7. I have never colored my hair. I know I have said that before. But I had a 80-something year old woman that used to ask me e.v.e.r.y.t.i.m.e. I saw her if I "put a wrench in my hair". I think she meant rinse, not wrench. I have not. Not even a screwdriver.
8. I never drink water. It's Diet Coke, tea, or coffee. Hey, they all have water in them...
9. Rick's grand daughter, Sarah, when she was 6, gave me a big fat tube of Lip Smacker's strawberry lip gloss for Christmas. I have used it every night for 5 years before I slide into bed.
10. I used to flip out if I wasn't wearing the latest fashion or my house did not reflect the latest trends. Now that I am older, I do what I like, both on my body and in my home.
11. Before Rick and I were married, I put my fist down about the old girlfriend (they dated 6 years) that still was "part of the family" and told Rick and all his family members that it was her or me at the family gatherings. I told them she was more than welcome to visit the family except for holidays/special events. Everyone agreed to it but one of his sisters. My SIL still invites her to everything and even introduces her as her "sister". It is the only conflict I have with his family.
12. Rick had been single for 20 years, I had been married for almost 20 years and was newly divorced, when we started dating. His romantic long-term interests over those 20 years (2), still call him or his family.
13. He has a book keeper who is his mom's age that has had a crush on him for 15 years. She cried and plead her undying love for him when he told her we were getting married. (He had her on speaker phone because when he told me she would freak out, I didn't believe him. Boy, was I wrong!)
14. The last long-term girlfriend, who I will call Tenacious Ho, called Rick on our honeymoon when she drunk and he actually talked to her.
15. We spent one night on our honeymoon sleeping in separate beds.(see #14)
16. I got anything I wanted for the duration of our honeymoon. (see #14 and 15)
17. Rick's lifetime best friend (from when they were 6 years old) was the hiker that was lost on Mt Hood in Dec 2006. They found him frozen to death days before Christmas.
18. Rick was supposed to train for the climb, but thankfully was too busy with work, or he would have been on that mountain with them. They all perished.
19. We lost Kelly(Rick's best friend) in Dec 2006, Rick's dad in June 2007, and my dad in Jan 08.
20. I want to keep all my loved ones in one room so I can watch them every six months since all that happened.

Maybe tomorrow you will get 20 more. Maybe not. That was exhausting.