I am a victim of peer pressure
February 1st, 2009 by 
Ellen
Varitek is coming back. I guess this is good. But, it’s a strange world when a person is disappointed to receive only $5 million, with another $3-5 million guaranteed. Nice work, if you can get it.
And, on the fourth day, we bombed Pakistan. Luckily, this is only a bad thing when it happens under Republican Administrations–it is perfectly fine, even laudable, when Democrats do it. Whew! (I want to get Bin Laden even a little bit more than the average person, but I have never cared for double standards.)
We have established that I play around on Facebook. A whole lot. Lately, everyone’s passing around this nightmare “Write 25 random things about yourself” challenge. It’s sort of horrid, when you have to sit down and do it–and yet, I really enjoy reading everyone else’s.
So, here are mine. Feel free to add your own in the comments section–it would be interesting.
1.) I used to work in a factory wiring and assembling burglar alarms and computer fixtures. To my surprise, I was quite deft with tools. Sometimes, it’s nice to have a job that you don’t bring home with you.
2.) I totally love Battlestar Galactica, but it is the only time I have ever avidly watched a television show which I don’t completely understand. (even after more than one viewing.) When Roslin goes down, I’m going to be very upset.
3.) I meant to go to law school, but I forgot
4.) I spend too much time playing games on Facebook. But, it’s very entertaining, and I really like interacting with people from all over the world. It can be strangely grueling, yet psychologically fascinating.
5.) I am convinced I am about eight inches taller than I actually am. I am pretty sure that I am also probably Very Dangerous. But, in a good way–I hope.
6.) Cool Ranch Doritos are excellent
7.) I secretly enjoy really dumb action movies like Red Dawn and Die Hard. Hamburger Hill is one of my favorites.
8.) Chocolate doesn’t interest me much. I have always preferred vanilla or butterscotch
9.) I love photography, but will never be very good at it. It’s nice to do something creative, where there’s no pressure to have any actual talent
10.) I have a crippled, diabetic, neurologically impaired cat with no tail. I found her dying outside Yankee Stadium one afternoon, and on one else would stop to help her. Only the Red Sox fan. She has cost me so much money that I am _still_paying off her veterinary bills, and will be for quite some time to come.
11.) I am afraid that we will never, ever elect a female President, and if we do, it certainly won’t be a Democrat. This distresses me terribly.
12.) I flirt with Buddhism–and sometimes, it flirts back
13.) Not too long ago, I lost several years of my life to a freakish combination of horrible, disabling injuries, and recovered more than I ever would have expected. I am still trying to figure out what it all means, and how to make it work on a daily basis. The first time I managed to ski again, several people I know cried. I can sometimes even do black diamonds now. But, I wish I could see well enough to drive–and I can’t.
14.) It is embarrassing, but I am privately very fond of almost all of Shelley Long’s movies, especially Outrageous Fortune.
15.) I believe in reincarnation
16.) Once, I climbed a smallish, but steep, mountain in New Hampshire. I’d like to do that again, even though nature makes me nervous.
17.) I play both tenor and alto saxophone–not very well–and am very fond of hard bop. I can read music, but mostly, I just play by ear.
18.) Sleeping frustrates me, because it seems like such a complete waste of time, which could be put to better use
19.) I got to speak to Julie Andrews briefly last year, and had trouble not stuttering
20.) I really love cooking, and do so aggressively, but am inclined to improvise too much, and over-spice. Onions and garlic are thrilling. So is homemade curry powder.
21.) Sometimes–especially in recent months, I am quite convinced that I am in the wrong career, and should be doing something else entirely. But, I can’t think of a good fit–and would be delighted to hear suggestions.
22.) I would go to a baseball game–major or minor league; or even little league–every single day, if I could.
23.) I _always_ tell the truth, unless it would be unkind, in which case I try to avoid saying anything at all. If I fail to do so, I am extremely disappointed in myself.
24.) Rules–no matter how minor–are very, very hard for me. So, mostly, I have to break them. Laws, however, _matter_. Most of the time.
25.) I am still not sure if George Clooney can act, but I always enjoy looking at him.
Posted in Actors, Animals, Battlestar Galactica, Boston Red Sox, Cats, Current Events, Foreign affairs, Movies, Politics, Tasty Snacks |
February 1st, 2009 at 1:28 am
Diehard is not dumb! Also, you are not in the wrong career.
February 1st, 2009 at 2:55 am
I’ll go with you on the first–but, god damn, not sure I can on the second.
February 1st, 2009 at 9:54 am
“Luckily, this is only a bad thing when it happens under Republican Administrations–it is perfectly fine, even laudable, when Democrats do it. Whew! (I want to get Bin Laden even a little bit more than the average person, but I have never cared for double standards.)” And, in a nuthsell, this is my biggest pet peeve about politics. If my peeps do it, it’s OK; when your’s do it, it’s eeevvvviiiiilllll.
My second biggest pet peeve is unrealistic expectations.
February 1st, 2009 at 2:44 pm
I was with a group of people the other day, and they were all laughing and crowing about the fact that when some Republicans complained about something or other recently, President Obama’s response was “I won.” They thought that was the best, smartest, most cool response ever. I said, “if George Bush had said that, you all would be going crazy–but now it’s okay?” They all just sort of stared at me, and one said, vaguely, “well, this is different,” and I just gave her a the _hell_ it is look.
I suspect I made no new friends, though.
February 1st, 2009 at 6:08 pm
Well, since you issued the invitation, I’ll post a few of mine.
1) I like my husband. I like my parents. I like my in-laws. And, I like my college-age daughters. Given a choice, I’d rather hang with my family than my friends. (OK, my parents are only 19 years older than I am, so that may explain why they are so cool.)
2) I am a frustrated figure skater. I think I could have gone to the Olympics if there had been a rink and coaches within 150 miles of where I grew up. Alas, there was not…all I had was a frozen (sometimes) lake and hand-me-down skates.
3) I can waste a week of “Snow Days” doing absolutely nothing. As a matter of fact, I just did. If school is still closed tomorrow, I might get something accomplished.
4) My dad is a hard-core Republican. My mom comes from a long line of Democrats. Made interesting table conversation when I was growing up.
February 4th, 2009 at 9:03 pm
I think there will be a woman president!! And it will be a democrat!! I would like to be a politician and maybe even run for president. I am a girl and democrat.
February 4th, 2009 at 10:11 pm
I did all 25 before I noticed that no one else did more than 4–How embarrassing.
I only post them cause you said they’re interesting to read and I intend to prove you wrong. (Despite the fact that yours, in fact, were.)
1.) Most of my friends from high school have one or several children by now. I don’t have any, and this doesn’t bother me.
2.) Because they didn’t change their major several times, most of my friends from high school have graduated. I haven’t, and this bothers me greatly.
3.) That said, I’ve held higher-paying jobs than most of them the entire time.
4.) I work at a law school, but have no intentions of attending one.
5.) I’m not a science fiction geek, but I love Stargate. The writing = hilarious.
6.) I want to move to either Boston or Eugene, Oregon. One of those.
7.) Back to the Future is one of the best movies man has ever been responsible for.
8.) I don’t like American chocolate. I eat it anyway.
9.) I want to learn and do pretty much everything. It annoys me that this is scientifically impossible.
10.) My first car was named Ghetto Cruiser, and aptly so.
11.) I have a hard time listening to people who repeat their point over and over in different words in an attempt to make sure it gets across. I usually get it before the first sentence is over, sometimes earlier.
12.) My greatest fear is failure.
13.) I live in Salt Lake City, but don’t ski. I find this a crime, and will someday strive to rectify it.
14.) I have an obsession with lasers, mostly because I just like the word.
15.) Laser.
16.) I eat every watermelon within arm’s reach.
17.) Actually, sometimes I eat everything within arm’s reach simply out of boredom. Fortunately for my waistline, getting up to get food is too much work.
18.) That said, I have a hard time sleeping–and often require drugs to do so–because I lay there thinking of what I could be doing instead of wasting the time.
19.) I love to write almost as much as I love watermelon. It has been suggested that I go to counseling for both.
20.) I lost my copy of The President’s Daughter and kept my wife up for an hour looking for it. I didn’t find it.
21.) I just bought another copy.
22.) I’m a Mormon. Widespread misconceptions about that amuse me. I’m also very much a democrat.
23.) There’s technically no such thing as Mormons.
24.) I never give in to peer pressure.
25.) Usually.
February 5th, 2009 at 9:42 pm
I loved the book: Voyage on the Great Titanic,I read it for a book report and now I’m doing a whole project on you and your life and interests. p.s.(thx for the good info on yourself)
February 6th, 2009 at 9:24 am
Thanks, Madison–hope you do well on your project!
Good luck, Tessa! I’ll vote for you.
You like your family, Marsha? What are you, weird?
Aaron, it’s against the law to live in Utah, and not ski on what I hear is the best snow on the planet. I may be forced to report you to the local authorities.
Also, someone sent me some Swiss chocolate lately (a friend who lives in–go figure–Switzerland), and I have to say, it is quite fabulous.
February 7th, 2009 at 7:52 pm
#10, You are a good person. She’s lucky to have you.
February 9th, 2009 at 10:49 am
Yup…I’m weird, but my family is just so cool that I can’t help it.
But, I dislike my brother-in-law and his wife so I might be somewhat normal!
February 13th, 2009 at 5:33 pm
Ellen: you’re not alone. When I met Julie Andrews last year, I’m not altogether certain I said anything coherent…and I was covering the event as a press person. ;o) Oh, and onions and garlic ARE thrilling.
February 17th, 2009 at 12:49 am
I had an actual conversation with her–which was cool, albeit brief.
March 8th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
It was great fun to read yours–and I too have become quite addicted to playing on facebook. And, I think you are in precisely the right career. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve read your books. I can tell you I’m wearing them out.
I am so sorry to hear about your illness/injuries. As someone who has battled a rare nerve disease since I was 18 I sympathize more than you know.
So, since you said it’s interesting, here are my 25:
1. I was the only girl on my high school golf team.
2. I loved golf so passionately I got a scholarship.
3. So far because of said nerve disease I can’t play.
4. My family cried when I walked again.
5. I work from home and love that freedom.
6. I always got along with my mom even as a teenager.
7. I still don’t get along with my father and I’m 30something.
8. I went to 13 different schools because we moved a lot due to my dad’s job promotions and transfers.
9. Moving that much makes it very difficult to make and keep close friends.
10. Facebook has been wonderful for reconnecting with some of those friends.
11. I don’t have children and I’m mostly okay with that.
12. I cried when I read the sections of “Long May She Reign” where Meg talks about not being able to use her hand, and not wanting anyone to look at it because it hit so close to home.
13. I am always reading something and I almost never start a book and don’t finish it no matter how much I may not like it–I know there was one I didn’t finish but it escapes me.
14. I don’t have much family other than my husband and that scares me.
15. I love Italian food.
16. I exercise everyday even when I don’t want to.
17. I love my blackberry.
18. I too find Battlestar Gallatica fascinating and yet confusing.
19. I love the “Big Bang Theory” Also, the now sadly defunct “Studio 60″
20. I don’t know what I’d do without my dog.
21. I’m tired of being in constant pain, but I’m also used to it.
22. I should be spending some time on work.
23. I never leave the house without mascara.
24. Because of this my husband likes to sing “You’re so vain” to me.
25. I love all fresh fruit except bananas.
March 11th, 2009 at 2:18 pm
Hey, where’d the message board go??
April 5th, 2009 at 7:29 pm
Great list, Ellen! It’s inspired me to sit down and write my own. But first I have to reiterate — you are NOT in the wrong career. In addition to your already loyal legions, there is a whole new generation of readers falling in love with your work.
April 7th, 2009 at 10:11 am
Still in the wrong career–but, thank you for the kind words.
May 8th, 2009 at 9:04 pm
I really enjoy your President’s Daughter series, and hope you plan to write more.
I liked reading your list so I guess I should tell you mine:
1. My mom tells me that I have no life.
2. That doesn’t bother me.
3. I enjoy reading.
4. I tend to stockpile books, seriously I have about 30 that I have not read yet and I keep buying more.
5. I don’t plan to stop either; I’ll read them eventually.
6. I will stop reading a book and get rid of it if I don’t like it.
7. Apparently, my immediate family took a poll at some point in time and decided that I’m antisocial (my sister told me).
8. This is probably true, but I don’t care.
9. I’m shy, and I’m not very good at understanding people.
10. This form of communication is good; it’s like talking to people, but not really.
11. At work I do okay, because they tell me what they want or I ask about them and their family then parlay that to future conversations.
12. I get along with my parents fairly well, but my sister and I enjoy arguing with each other.
13. I do get lectured about not answering the phone.
14. Sometimes I just didn’t feel like talking when they called.
15. I like to read science fiction.
16. The only science fiction show I watch is Star Trek: The Next Generation.
17. I enjoy sleeping, expecially the laying in bed part.
18. I don’t mind waking up as much as I mind getting out of bed.
19. I like the regular nacho Doritos.
20. I would like to travel, just to look around, but I don’t have the time nor the money.
21. Most of my friends from high school are getting married or in a serious relationship.
22. I’m not in either of those catagories and it doesn’t bother me.
23. I do wish that my dad would quit talking about it.
24. I don’t understand what the big deal is about being in a relationship; I have absolutely no problem being by myself, which probably lead to the antisocial thing.
25. I spent about 30 minutes or so editing this list.