Homegirl Quel (kel) in Austin

7 Weird/Random Things About Me

I've been tagged by Browngirl! This was hard, because I've revealed almost everything weird and random about myself here over the years. I did manage to come up with a few new things that maybe Browngirl (my friend of 20 years) and y'all might not know 'bout me, so here goes:

1. I always finish my fries before taking one bite of the burger.
2. I don't do...It...when my mom is in my house or when I'm in her house. I told her that after her Thanksgiving visit and she laughed at me so hard. I know I'm 30 and married and pregnant...she knows I do It, but for whatever reason, I can't go there when we're under the same roof.
3. In my fantasy life I'm BFF's with Sanaa Lathan and Gabrielle Union.
4. I experience deja vu A LOT. I believe I get glimpses of my future in my dreams. Really.
5. I google "Kevin Hill" every couple of months looking for news of the series return.
6. I have no clue how to talk to kids. I always feel so much pressure to say something interesting or funny to little people. I never know what to say. 
7. I feel guilty sometimes for shopping at Walmart 'cause of their shady business practices I've read and heard about. I never mention it to people I'm around the most because Austin is so anti-Walmart and pro-Local. I almost feel like a traitor. I don't go as much as I use to, but I still go there for some things because, hello?, their prices are SO good!

5 Things You Didn't Know About Me revisited...

I had a hard time coming up with  5Things last week, but this morning I woke up at 7:50 am and it occurred to me that there is something about me that I (think) I've never revealed on my blog:
I watch the CMT channel sometimes.

5 Things You Didn't know About Me

E tagged me last month to come up with 5 things you didn't know about me.  Here's what I finally came up with...

1. I can play one classical song on the piano. It's a waltz. I don't know what it's called. I learned it when I was like 12 and never forgot it.
2. I solved a Rubik's cube once in third grade.
3. I've watched 4.5 episodes of Scrubs while trying to come up with the next 3 things you didn't know about me. I've already revealed so many things about myself on this blog that it's really a challenge to come up with new things. So I'm here with my laptop just flipping channels hoping something else will come.
4. I feel like India Arie would totally be friends with me.
5. I use to be afraid of okra because I thought it was an octopus. I saw real underwater octopus footage on Sesame Street one time and all those arms and white suckers terrified me. Those things can be pretty scary. I don't see why octopuses...octopi?...keep showing up in things that appeal to kids. They're scary! Perfect example (got this from E's blog too).

I got a tattoo!

I can't post a picture of it right now because Typepad is acting strange, but I'll add one here as soon as it lets me. I still can't believe I did it. I went with a friend who also got her nose pierced at the time. I'm glad I did it. I think it's true what they say about tattoos being addictive; I already want two more.

This can't be THAT weird

Inspired by Summer's admission of randomly screaming when falling asleep (her toddler does it too) I've decided to share one last...I hope it's the last...weird thing about myself...upping my '100 things About Me' list to 101 things:

101. My eyes tear up when I do #2. Apparently this is not normal or is unheard of or something? I got a rather strong reaction from a couple of friends I told, so I figured I'd put it out there to see if it's really that strange. It's a complete reflex thing. Like when you sneeze or yawn...how your eyes water? That's what happens to me when I feel...that old familiar feeling coming on. And actual tears do fall...but not becasue it hurts, or I'm sad or anything...it just happens. I think I'm genetically wired to do that...my mom does it too.

Is that weird?

100 Things About Me: #59-100

I been tagged!

Finally! I was starting to feel a little unloved-ed. Ms. Berry tagged me to complete my lists of 7's. I'm actually going to piggyback this post and use it to complete my list of 1oo Things About Me. So here's my 7's, and 100 Things About Me #59-100. (See 1-58 here)

7 things I plan to do before I die:

1. Have children
2. Learn to play the Spanish guitar
3. Shop in London. Specifically, at Long Tall Sally. For once I can shop...in person...from a normal selection of fashionable clothes...with inseams and styles that fit me.
4. Sing solo in public. I've done it at church as a kid, but I'm thinking of an actual performance in some cafe somewhere.
5. Own a cool Austin business. I'll keep the details under wraps for now. 
6. Vacation in Hawaii. I've been to the West Indies a couple of times, but never to Hawaii. I want to see what all the fuss is about over there.
7. Go to Disneyland

7 things I can do:

1. Play Pool. I will kill you in pool. Ask somebody.
2. Play one classical song on the piano. I don't know what it's called, but I learned it by ear when I was, like, 11 and never forgot it.
3. Drive a stick
4. Backstroke
5. Shoot a 3 pointer. On a good day
6. Nothing for a whole day, and not be bored
7. Rollerskate

7 things I cannot do:

1. Speak French. Although I took 5 years of it in school.
2. Make cornbread dressing to taste like my mom's to save my life.
3. Spend one day at work without checking my blog or somebody else's.
4. Be near my husband and not kiss him or squeeze a cheek...the ones in the southern region. Except during those times when we've had a disagreement...but I still have to work really hard NOT to do those things.
5. Watch or hear a woman give birth on tv. The real documentary kind or in a movie.
6. Turn off the tv in the dark. After watching The Ring. I'm easily spooked that way.
7. Knit

7 things that attract me to the opposite sex:

1. Dark skin
2. Charisma...magnetism & charm
3. Full lips...and good teeth
4. Confidence
5. The right cologne
6. Sense of humor. I've always liked guys who make me laugh...and who laugh a lot themselves.
7. The way he walks. One of the things I love about my husband.

7 things that I say most often:

1. Cool!
2. You know?
3. It was fun, though.
4. Man, what?
5. Guuuurl!
6. Answer me this...
7. Anyway...

7 celebrity crushes:

1. Boris Kodjoe
2. Terrence Howard
3. Will Smith
4. Jamile McGee--from So You Think You Can Dance.
5. Adewale Akinnouye-Agbaje. Adebisi from OZ. Before he was an actor, he was a model. I had clippings from his magazine layouts on the wall by my bed in my dormroom my freshman year in college. I love everything about this man.
6. Denzel
7. LL Cool J. Do I really need to explain why?

**and Mos Def. I know this is 8, but I couldn't leave him off the list.

7 people I want to do this: Only if you want to guys...

1. Summer
2. Terri
3. God's Child (Oops! I just realized that you did a similar list in 6's 2 weeks ago on your Evolutionary Success blog. Nice lists, by the way. Click here to read God's Child's 6's.)
4. Funkeedva
5. Small Island Girl (Amelia, did hers back in September before I discovered her joint. Here's her 7's. Enjoy!)
6. Tuckergurl
7. Cymple

100 Things About Me #58

idiosyncrasy (n. id·i·o·syn·cra·sy)- A structural or behavioral characteristic peculiar to an individual or group.

Since as far back as I can remember, every time I go in to use a toilet...any toilet...I check the ceiling for spiders. For some reason, I have this fear that a spider will drop down from the ceiling into my hair, but only when I'm on the toilet. I'm positive it all started with those illustrations to that Little Miss Muffet nursery rhyme that always show the spider dropping down from out of nowhere.

   

What are some of your idiosyncrasies?

See 1-57 HERE.

100 Things About Me #57

Everything I ever wanted to be "when I grow up"

1. Marine Biologist - As a kid, I was always interested in sea life...dolphins, seahorses, wales. I would read as much as I could about the sea, and lived to watch those nature shows. I'm still intrigued by the sea.
2. Astronomer - I also have a never-ending fascination with the stars and planets. The mystery, you know? Of, like, why there are so many stars and planets and why they're so inaccessible to us. Like, what's out there and what does it mean, you know?
3. Dancer - Ballerina (Positive it had something to do with watching Fame.)
4. Artist - I was a natural. I'm not sure why I stopped, but I'm itching to express myself again these days.
5. Model - I worshiped magazines and wanted to be in them.
6. Staff writer for a really cool magazine
7. Photographer
8. Flight Attendant (I exceeded the height limit. I was already 6 ft. tall at 18.)
9. Public Traffic Safety Attendant (You know those people who map out accidents before the police get there? I was actually going to go through the training program with my cousin, Cheronda. I don't know what we were thinking.)
10. Psychologist
11. Advertising Exec.
12. Personal shopper (or Mystery shopper)
13. Cosmetologist

And speaking of Cosmetology...

I studied Psychology and Marketing in school, but I really love the idea of being a Cosmetologist. Summer told me that she'd heard someone say you should do for a living what you would do for free, and Cosmetology is SO that for me. That was, like, my identity in college. So I'm trying to decide how I'm going to fit Cosmetology into my life. I did braids in college...and eyebrows. Those were my favorite things to do...and makeup of course.

The hair and makeup artist, Betty (short for Bethlehem, apparently a very popular Ethiopian name...as is Jerusalem), at my friend's wedding, this past weekend (which I still plan to post about, but must take time to go through the pictures and come down off the high) told me that she studied Economics in college and works in her field, and does hair and makeup for weddings on the weekends. She said she really wanted to do both, so she went to cosmetology school and found a way. Betty is SO my inspiration.

See 1-56 HERE.

100 Things About Me #56

56. When I can't sleep at night, I actually count sheep. As a kid, I learned about counting sheep from Bert & Ernie on Sesame Street. So, since forever, counting sheep has been my last resort when Insomnia won't let me go. It works about 50% of the time.

See 1-55 here.

100 Things About Me (50-55)

50. I've successfully kicked a life-long coffee habit. My parents were coffee drinkers, so it started for me at a young age. My dad liked gasoline-strong coffee and my mom liked her coffee-flavored milk decaf. I always drank decaf until I went to college and coffee rocked my world. Now I don't even drink decaf, 'cause it's too frustrating waiting for the buzz that never comes. My coffee days are not over though. Mark my words.

51. I'm not a smoker, but my dad would ask us to light his cigarettes, and sometimes he would ask us to take butts and flush them down the toilet. So of course from time to time between point A and point B I took a puff or two. And a friend of mine let me take a swig of her Black & Mild once when we were in college. Black & Milds are those thin cigars with the white plastic tip...so cool-looking.

52. I prefer men's dress watches to women's.  Silver ones with the big face. They make a better impact.

53. I am called...

• Quel by my family and friends.
• Quel-Quel by my family and friends who want to show me extra love...or to get something out of me.
• Duchess by my dad. He's the king, you see. And my sister was already the princess, so...
• Li'l girl by my mom sometimes.
• Honey by my husband. I'm also called Booty 50% of the time.
• Cinderaquel by my boss. She calls all the girls Cinder-something. She's the Fairy godmother, complete with magic wand in-hand during status meetings (from time to time) commanding us to, "Make it so." It's a different, fun place to work.
• Raquelita mostly by my friend, Blen, these days. I got that name in college during the time when a lot of our friends were from Spanish speaking countries, and everybody was an 'ita...or a 'sito. Blensita...Billysito...you get the picture.

54. I want a green thumb. It's my dream to one day create landscaping that would make Martha Stewart proud.

55. After 8 years of wearing my hair natural, I relaxed it. I had worked on detangling twists (that stayed in a week or two too long) for 10 hours one day. Once every strand was free, I took my fro down to Sally's, bought a mild Motions Relaxer and knocked that stuff down. Instant regret followed. On the bright side, I had no idea how long my hair was until I relaxed it...and it's really healthy, so I'm sticking with it for a bit. I'm still feeling Nature's call though. I see a nappy comeback on the horizon.

See 1-49 here.

100 Things About Me (42-49) My Confessions

42. I never sent the thank you cards for my wedding gifts. I just kept putting it off until way too much time had passed. I felt terrible, but after 4 years what are you gonna do? When I give gifts I never expect a thank you card. I just assume that the person appreciates it, because normal humans appreciate receiving gifts. I'm sure before thank you cards were invented, a simple thank you at the time of receiving the gift was enough.

43. I deleted this one, because it's no longer true about me and it may have been T.M.I. (too much information). And speaking of T.M.I....

44. I was a virgin until I was 23 and until the third day of my marriage...Billy was very patient. I recently read that Mariah Carey was a virgin until she was married at 23 too, so I don't feel so weird. I was able to hold out, partly because of my religion, partly because of a promise I made to my mom, partly because I was lucky that I made out with guys who stopped when I said to, but mostly because of fear that it would hurt.

45. At different points in my life I've had all of the eating disorders. All of them.

46. I haven't gone to church in 2 months. I feel like a heathen. I wish I didn't put so much pressure on myself to be a perfect church person. When I do go to church, I feel like a hypocrite, because I am a Christian, but I don't really care to participate in all the little extra parts of the services like standing up and talking to my neighbors and  physically praising God in front of people...but I know those are things that a "real Christian" is supposed to like doing...and when I don't do those things I feel like people there think I'm not a Christian. I always get invited by somebody to get saved when I go to church, and I'm like, I'm already saved!

47. I've never done drugs, but have always wondered what a marijuana high would feel like.

48. My uterus won't hold eggs, so I'm going to have to take hormone replacements in order to get and stay pregnant.

49. My husband is an answered prayer. When I was 13 or 14, I wrote a letter to God describing what my perfect husband would be like, his level of confidence, his spirituality, what he would look like...skin tone, nose size (I LOVE big noses on Black men), lip size (I LOVE big lips on Black men), everything. No detail was spared. At my church I had learned that you could ask God for anything...even a future husband. Billy and I had been together about 2 years, when I found this prayer, written in pencil on yellow notepad paper in my adolescent keepsake box. I told my mom and my Sunday School teacher (they remembered when I wrote it, and were excited that I got to experience a prayer answered like that), and eventually I told Billy about it, but not too soon after that... didn't want to blow his head up. Every request, except the height (off by about 7 inches) was granted. It sounds corny, I know, but it's true. I had totally forgotten about that letter, but obviously God hadn't.

See 1-41 here.

100 Things About Me (35-41)

35. I am NOT a morning person...unless I wake up at like 10, then I'm cool.

36. I considered waitressing at Hooters to pay for college my sophomore. My mom talked me out of it. I ended up unloading trucks at FedEx instead. It actually turned out to be a fun job...until the Winter.

37. I only know how to play kid card games...Uno, Go Fish, Concentration, Solitaire and Speed.

38. I don't like roller coasters.

39. I wish girls didn't have to shave. Why/when did we ever convince ourselves that we needed to be unnaturally smooth and hair-free?

40. My legs are 48 inches long. Yep, 4 feet of leg, hence my problem with having to friggin' shave them all the time.

41. I finally learned to swim above water...in the Caribbean Sea. My husband, who's from the Caribbean taught me when we were there for Christmas one year. Before then, I would only swim in 5 feet of water (I'm 6'1), and only in a pool. Strange that I learned to swim in the sea...I also snorkeled and fearlessly swam out into the deep water. I was so proud of myself. I haven't been in a pool since then, so I'm not sure if I'm over the 'feet-have-to-touch-the-bottom' thing. I might go swimming this weekend and venture out into the deep end.

See 1-34 here.

100 Things About Me (21-34)

21. I like watching ants. As a kid, I would watch them for hours outside. I was always amazed at how they could carry huge insects and stuff and they were so little.

22. I believe aliens exist.

23. I was 24 when I got my first car, a VW Jetta.

24. My Jetta is my dream car. I've wanted one since I was a kid.

25. I've never broken a bone.

26. I don't answer the door when I'm home alone.

27. One day I want to cover James Taylor, Tracy Chapman, and Luscious Jackson songs on acoustic guitar on open mic night in some cafe or bookstore in Austin.

28. I love making lists. I have tons of lists on pieces of paper...grocery lists, shopping lists, outfit lists, baby name lists...I read once that Virgo's like to make lists, so...

29. I believe in Astrology. Not the cheesy forecast your future type stuff, but in general. I think there is significance to what's happening in nature...in the universe...when each of us humans are thrown into the mix (born). I mean we're all here (stars and planets, animals, humans, all life) in existence together...at the same time...for a reason, you know?

30. I like peanut butter and raisin sandwiches.

31. I look forward to watching re-runs of Felicity on We everyday after work. That's better than looking forward to watching That's so Raven on Disney, which is what I did until my mom told me We was playing Felicity re-runs. I still watch That's so Raven on Fridays...which is when they air first runs.

32. Twins run in my family. They say it's passed down by the mothers. My grandma had twins, my aunts have had multiple sets of twins, my mom had twins...hopefully I will too.

33. I hate ceremonies. I only had a wedding and went to my high school and college graduations for my family. Probably why I don't love church so much. I would make a terrible Catholic.

34. It took me almost 4 years to develop the pictures from my college graduation.

See 1-20 here

100 Things About Me (16-20)

16. Purple is my favorite color.

17. I've never been west of the Mississippi River.
Correction (Thanks for busting me out Sally): I've been to Little Rock (brother lives there) and Texas (I live there). So, I guess what I mean is that I've never taken a trip to any states west of the Mississippi...other than Texas and Arkansas.

18. I've never lived on my own.

19. I hate to be the center of attention. Really.

20. I'm affraid of the dark. Really.

See 1-15 here.

100 Things About Me (6-15)

6. I'm 6'1" tall.

7. I love cold Pop Tarts. Blueberry please.

8. I'm a Christian, but I don't love church.

9. I have 2 very big dogs, but I'm scared of dogs in general.

10. Cats creep me out.

11. I bowled a 210 at our work Christmas party last year. My coworker had them print the scores and I "scrap-booked" it with glitter and markers, etc. and have it on display in one of glass panes of my office door.

12. I LOVE rollerskating. Growing up, I went roller skating with my friends on a fairly regular basis. I haven't gone skating since I graduated high school.

13. My favorite food is scrambled eggs.

14. I'm  a Virgo.

15. I was in a dance group. I came up with our name,4 Deep, 'cause there were four of us (Tonya, Blen, Summer, & me). Our friend Rhea was our coach. My cousins Cheronda and Paula would come to our "practices" and learned the routines too. We use to hang out and learn dance routines just for fun. When our school announced that they were having a talent show, we were all nervous, but entered and won! Every chance after that that we got to do our routines together we did...at the school fashion show, at EVERY party we went to after that...including my wedding reception. We had the best times. I love those girls.

For 1-5 click here.

100 Things About Me

I saw this on another blog today and thought I'd bite off of it. I'll try to not list things that folks already know about me, as to keep it interesting for close friends and family who might know just about all there is to know about me. Actually, close friends and family do know all there is to know about me...anywho...

1. I'm a cosmetologist trapped in the body of a research analyst.
Back in the day, if there was a party, a photo shoot, a wedding, whatever...I was the makeup artist of choice...for my friends. I still have enough makeup and beauty products in my bathroom to start a business. I've cut hair, I did braid extensions for people one year to help finance my first trip to St. Vincent. It's actually my dream job. I just never had the cohones to go that route.

2. I LOVE Elvis movies.

3. My life is a musical.
I find any and every reason to sing...at all times. Not at all times...but a lot...you know what I mean. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't sing. Growing up my brother, sister and I would sing all the time. Even now, when we're together we break out in some song from some musical (name one) we watched as kids, most often from Polly or The Wiz or The Sound of Music. Just the other day, I sang a message on my sisters voicemail...just because I felt like singing.

4. I have to have 2 of everything
It may have something to do with me being a twin, but most things I buy come in twos. Shoes, pants, jewelry, dogs! If I like it, and it comes in more than one color (except for dogs and babies), I'll take two.

5. Once, I stayed awake for 36 hours straight just to see what it would feel like.