A Meme to Break the Silence

Have you ever noticed that the longer you go without posting on your blog, the harder it gets?  Where to begin?  Well, Noah tagged me for the 8 Random Things meme, and that seems like an easy way to get back to blogging.  You surely already know the rules... post 8 things, and these rules, then tag 8 more people and tell them you tagged them.  Blah blah blah.  Here we go.

1. I hate mushrooms; raw or cooked, they are gross.  I also dislike raisins, believing, like Mary Stuart Masterson in the movie "Benny & Joon" that they are "just humiliated grapes."

2. One of my biggest pet peeves is being cold while indoors.  Somehow it doesn't seem as bad to be cold outside, but I think I should be warm enough when indoors.  It actually makes me feel sad to be cold indoors, like I feel deprived or something.  For this reason, I dislike air conditioning in general, and especially the heavy air conditioning prevalent in commercial locations like stores, office buildings, and convention centers.  What a waste of energy.  And why should I need to carry a sweater when it is 90 degrees Fahrenheit outside?!?  See, I'm getting upset just thinking about it.  Better move on.

3. I have read each of the Harry Potter books at least twice: once (or more) to myself, and once out loud to my husband.  Can't wait for July 21.

4. A few years ago, I had a polyp removed from one of my vocal chords.  After the surgery, I wasn't supposed to talk at all for one week, even in a whisper, so that my chords could heal properly.  It was difficult, but kind of interesting.  I'd like to try it again someday, preferably without the surgery.

5. Not only am I not afraid of heights, I really like being up high, as long as I'm fairly safe (e.g. on top of a tall building, driving over a bridge, etc.)  My mother was afraid of heights, and I used to torture her on the ferris wheel by rocking us back and forth while we were paused on the top of the ride.  I regret that now; it was mean.

6. In addition to 12 years of piano lessons, I also took flute lessons for a while.  But I gave up the flute in the eighth grade when I thought I would become a concert pianist someday.

7. I love cheese, and pretty much all dairy products.  I rarely eat a meal that doesn't include some dairy.  I think becoming lactose intolerant would be almost as tragic to me as losing my hands.  Okay, maybe not quite.  But it would really suck.

8. I used to have all the state capitals memorized, but I don't think I know them all anymore.  I also used to know the poem "The Raven" by Edgar Allen Poe, but I only remember bits & pieces now.

So there's my 8 things... I'm not going to tag anyone, since I'm so late to the party...