Eight things - la deuxieme fois ... and an award!

I’m having such a good time meeting new friends recently on the blogosphere. So although I did this meme a little while ago, I recently was tagged at “Airing Dirty Laundry” and will oblige with another eight totally trivial random things about myself:

1/ When I was in my 20s I dressed like I was in my 40s (Katie Holmes of my day, perhaps). Now that I’m in my 40s, I dress like I’m in my 20s.

2/ I have my Grade 10 Royal Conservatory of Music Certificate in piano and used to teach while I was in high school and university. It was quite lucrative and helped to pay my clothing and entertainment bills. I’m so rusty now, I haven’t played in about 20 years, so I can barely show Liam where middle C is on the keyboard.

3/ I also played clarinet, alto clarinet actually, in high school. Apparently one year I was the best high school alto clarinet player in all of Scarborough, Ontario, at least according to a teacher at Music camp. Too bad I attended before the Bare Naked Ladies met up there, or I could have re-written musical history.

I did better at the alto because I had a tight embouchure. Let’s leave it at that.

3/ I have a very understanding mate. I woke up the other morning and said to him “I dreamt that I was back in university and that my boyfriend was Bill Rancic (you know, the first winner of Donald Trump’s reality series “The Apprentice”). Ian said to me “Hey, that’s pretty good!”.

I know, it was just a weird dream and it’s not like it was hot Brad Pitt or anything, but still, I thought that was an interesting response.

4/ I have a minor degree in French. I used to be almost bilingual. On my first trip to Paris I had so much fun getting around the city, being able to converse and actually be understood.

But don’t ask me to speak now, as although it is better than my Chinese, it’s pretty shaky. L is finding it neat though, that I can help him now that he’s started French lessons three times a week at school.

5/ I thought I wanted to be a deejay when I was young. But that was before I realized that I’d actually have to be creative on the fly and speak. I have a pipsqueaky voice, so the broadcast world was spared.

6/ My husband is very sentimental when it comes to gifts for me. One of the first things he ever gave me was a pin with a picture of Robert Smith from the Cure on it. Yes, he PINNED me! And alas, that’s how long we’ve been together!

He’s given me jewelry to celebrate the birth of each of our kids. For L, I have a beautiful silver ring with a garnet and 6 diamonds (one for each year of marriage at the time he was born), engraved with our boy's name and his birthdate. For G, I received a gorgeous pair of diamond earrings.

7/ I have a real fear of vomiting (emetophobia). I thought I was the only one, but I didn't feel so weird after I saw a post on “Thinking about”. I remember being about seven years old and having a very bad bout of stomach flu. After which I decided I would never, ever throw up again in my life.

And true to my word, I never did, that is until 10 years ago. While I was at a New Year’s party I was bragging to my friend’s boyfriend about the fact that I hadn’t thrown up since I was seven, and then I suddenly had to excuse myself to go upstairs and yack, because, yes, I had had more than a few too many. But I was at least polite about it – I waited until the hostess came out from her worship of the porcelain goddess before I took my turn.

Yes, I know, TMI.

8/ I can type really fast. I once represented my high school in a regional typing contest. Liam’s career goal last year was to be the fastest typist in the world, like his Mom. I hope he aims a bit higher this year.

I think this one’s been around for a while in various forms, so if you want to play, just go for it. And let me know in the comments, because my inquiring mind wants to know!

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I got an award! A really sweet, thoughtful award, from my friend Kellan over at “On the Upside”. She’s one of my newer blog friends, but has become a daily addiction.

I wish I could pass this along to all my blog friends, as each is so deserving, but I think for this I’ll narrow it down to some of my very first regular commenters, Keep on Truckin', C at Random Musings from the Island, Thoughts and Stuff, Curiosity Killer, Fancy Pantsy, Pinks and Blues, Beachmama and Cherry Extract. All these ladies truly inspired me (and continue to do so) to keep up with this unique and fun activity, hobby, obsession, whatever ... known as blogging.