There Are These Things About Me . . .

1. I grew up in a town with 2,500 people; 13 bars; 4 churches; 0 stop lights.
2. I went to a Catholic school through the 8th grade. I wore a uniform.
3. I like the idea of my children wearing uniforms to school.
4. I was punished by a nun for "group work" in phonics. We were sent to the church to pray.
5. I was a latch key kid.
6. My father is an only child to parents whose family immigrated from Chekoslovakia.
7. My Polish mother grew up on a farm with four brothers.
8. My uncle still lives on the family farm. Two of my uncles do not speak because of this.
9. I am the third and last of three girls.
10. I love being the baby of the family.
11. As a child, my parents called me Fritzy.
12. My grandpa Joe called me Baby until I got married.
13. As a child, I rarely got into trouble. When I did, I used my eyes and charm to negotiate a better punishment.
14. I was not a planned child.
15. I know this because my sisters are 7 and 8 years older than me.
16. I am my dad's favorite.
17. One of my sisters has three boys; the other has three girls.
18. My favorite childhood activity was catching frogs.
19. And playing pretty much anything in the woods behind our house.
20. For a while, I twirled baton. Fire baton.
21. For a while, I played the clarinet. I quit band because it was the only class I could not get an "A" in. Oh - and I totally sucked.
22. Before the clarinet was the flute. After the clarinet was drums. Sucked at those too.
23. As a child, my family spent the summer weekends on the boat, but I still do not know how to water ski.
24. I spent the summer week days at the swimming pool. I was there most days standing in line when the doors opened.
25. This later turned into the best job I ever had - swimming instructor and life guard.
26. My mother does not know how to swim.
27. It is very important to me that my children do. Julian started swimming lessons at 18 months.
28. I was a captain of the Basketball team.
29. Volleyball was my favorite sport.
30. I had three true friends in high school, but I spent most of my time with my boyfriend.
31. My parents did not like Arin.
32. That made me like him more.
33. There was a two-year period when I could not stand my mom.
34. The next two years - she was my best friend.
35. From my mother I learned strength and self-reliance.
36. From my father, I learned to be a kind soul and the value of patience.
37. College was my way out of a small town, where I felt I did not belong.
38. I was registered to attend the University of Minnesota.
39. At the last moment, I changed my mind and switched to SCSU.
40. There was no good reason - unless you believe in fate.
41. I was SO excited to meet my dorm roommate.
42. I was SO disappointed in my dorm roommate.
43. I switched roommates within the first month.
44. I lived in a Co-ed dorm. By luck.
45. I was on the Rowing Crew.
46. I quit because I could not stand waking up and getting out on the cold water at 6 a.m. after being out until 3 a.m.
47. I dislocated my elbow jumping out a window at a party house called The Buzz.
48. I overhead them using a book to figure out how to get my elbow back in place.
49. My dream was to become Jodi Foster (Clarice) in Silence of the Lambs. That dream ended in Psyc 101.
50. Polly Kellogg made me realize I am a feminist.
51. I marched and yelled "Fight! Fight! Fight! Take Back the Night!"
52. Luke Perry, former member of the Black Panther Party, made me realize I am a humanist.
53. I organized "Tuesdays in Black" - recognition of women's suffering and oppression internationally.
54. I had to appear in court for possession of a keg without a permit.
55. The second best job ever was bartender at Jimmy's Pour House. I make a mean whiskey 7.
56. I was a collection agent for about a year. I never made my commission.
57. I meet my husband during my second year in college.
58. I set my sights on him because he seemed different.
59. He had really good hair - long with a slight wave. I coveted it.
60. In his bedroom (in an apartment he lived in with 3 other guys) a guitar sat next to Grateful Dead and The Beatles songbooks. I thought that was cool.
61. He does not know how to play the guitar.
62. Because of him, one of my favorite songs is still Scarlet Begonias.
63. Jeff and I moved in together during our last year at SCSU.
64. We also lived with a lizard named Agadore Sparticus, and a dwarf bunny named Clowey - she later was adopted and her name was changed to Shaniqua From The Hood.
65. Jeff and I moved to Minneapolis together and got a dog - Honey. I wanted a different dog. I cried the whole way home.
66. We recently had to put Honey to rest. I cried all the way home.
67. Soon after I started law school, Jeff and I broke up for most of my 1L experience.
68. During that time I lived in an old mansion with 12 other law students.
69. I lived in Miami for 3 short months.
70. My dad drove with me from Wisconsin to Miami.
71. He sat behind the wheel of car with bumper stickers that declared things like "This is what a feminist looks like."
72. It was the best time I ever had with him.
73. When he left, it was the first time I truly felt independent.
74. Every weekday morning I walked across the street from Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center to order a Cafe Con Leche through a window.
75. I loved the heat. I shiver when the temp drops below 70 degrees.
76. I want to move back to Miami.
77. Cuban food is Jeff's and my favorite.
78. I had to speak Spanish all day every day for my job.
79. I understand Spanish much better than I speak it.
80. One of my goals is still to become fluent in Spanish.
81. It is very important to me that my children are fluent in more than one language (preferably Spanish).
82. My grandmother spoke German on occasion - when fighting with my Grandfather.
83. My grandmother died of Alziemer's Disease.
84. I was with her when she was checked into the hospital.
85. I was with her when she took her last breath in the hospital.
86. I have a sweater of hers that I wear whenever I am sad and want to feel her near me.
87. My favorite vacation was Spain - Seville, Granada, Costa del Sol.
88. I have been to Africa by way of ferry.
89. The place I want to go the most is Belize.
90. I thought I did not want to marry.
91. I thought I did not want to have children.
92. I am so much better at being a wife and mother than I thought I would be.
93. I married my best friend.
94. I gave birth to the love of my life.
95. I actually enjoyed being pregnant with Julian.
96. When the epidural worked after 4 tries, I thought the process was just fine.
97. I had two ultra sounds and both times was told I was having a girl.
Both were wrong. I am so glad.
98. In July, he will be a big brother.
99. I am much more nervous this time than the first.
100. Above all else, I want my children to freely accept and give love.