In my early blogging days, I kept running across the "100 Things About Me" lists, making me want to write my own. Then I thought better of it, since it seemed to be the ultimate in egotism. Of course, I realized that was nonsense—blogging itself is the ultimate in egotism. Ergo, my list:
1. I was born under the sign of Pisces in 1963, the year of the rabbit, according to the Chinese.
2. I'm the first-born of three four; I have a sister and, a brother, and a half-brother.
3. I have one nephew and two nieces (three nephews when you count the extended family)
4. I knew two of my great-grandmothers.
5. I was engaged once.
6. I rebounded from that relationship into one with my first husband (that one lasted four years).
7. I had one very wild four-month-long fling with an 18-year-old that
ended with me getting punched a few times for saying I wasn't going to
be buying him any more cigarettes.
8. I've been with my second husband, the one I have decided to keep, for 15 16 17 18 years now.
9. My favorite ice cream is pralines and cream from Baskin-Robbins®.
10. My mother always calls me up before a performance to say, "Don't f**k it up!"
11. I have not worn my Prince Albert in quite some time.
12. When I was a kid, I pronounced it apple-ah-sauce.
13. I don't much like talking on the telephone anymore.
14. Nearly every day, I still think of and miss my first college
roommate and best friend, Eric, who died in 1989 at the age of 26.
15. I struggle most days with my faith.
16. I perspire way more than I think is convenient for a homosexual.
17. My Country 'Tis of Thee was the first piece of music I ever played
on the piano; my parents immediately started me up with piano lessons.
18. I talk to my mother by phone several times per week.
19. I rarely talk to my father.
20. My only regret is that Incontesta and I have not raised a child together.
21. My other only regret is that I twice missed the opportunity by not
traveling back east with Eric during a college break to sit and drink
scotch with Leonard Bernstein in his study in the Dakota.
22. I once lost 1st place in a talent show playing Malagueña on the
piano to a girl who read poetry in an Ellie May Clampett outfit with
freckles painted on her face.
23. I love to drive.
24. I love to torment my husband.
25. I love playing the organ.
26. I love Amsterdam.
27. When I was a child, I used to tell people in their own homes that it was impolite to put their feet up on the coffee table.
28. I got caught at the age of five playing "I'll show you mine, if you show me yours" with Angie behind our garage.
29. I got caught at the age of nine playing "I'll show you mine, if you show me yours" with David in his bedroom closet.
30. The next day, my father had a talk with me about how to avoid homosexuals who might try to approach me.
31. I got caught at the age of thirteen trying to sneak some of Dad's
Playboy magazines out of the house for Kelly (a boy) and me to read in
our club house in my back yard.
32. I did not get caught at the age of fourteen fooling around in a pup
tent with a fellow boyscout five nights in a row during our Spring
Jamboree.
33. I got caught by my fiancée at the age of 21 having a fling with my first boyfriend.
34. My mother called me to say that she loved me the day she received
my chicken-shit letter in which I came out to her at the age of 27.
35. I was born in Indiana.
36. I prefer living in Illinois.
37. I have wonderful outlaws (my husband's parents).
38. I'm very ticklish.
39. I like that my therapist thinks I'm funny.
40. I sometimes get annoyed when my therapist laughs at me.
41. Three times I embarked on the road to the Episcopal priesthood.
42. Photography is one of my hobbies.
43. I play five instruments: piano, fortepiano, harpsichord, organ, and musical saw.
44. I sing baritone.
45. Moonstruck is my favorite movie.
46. Cher is not my favorite actress.
47. Contrary to what Incontesta believes to be true, twinks are not my type (not anymore, anyway).
48. My favorite color is green.
49. My favorite number is three.
50. My favorite drink is a Bombay Sapphire® Beefeater® martini, dry (a bit of Noilly Prat® vermouth), on the rocks, two olives.
51. Our Waterford® pattern is Kildare.
52. The last Republican I voted for was Richard Lugar, the incumbent senator from Indiana, in 1982; it was my first election.
53. I am a liberal, in every sense of the word.
54. I often want to cry myself to sleep at night, because of who occupies the White House.
55. I love Scottish Terriers.
56. It makes me furious that the numbskull president of ours also loves Scottish Terriers.
57. I have had three
four Scottish Terriers in my life: Lauren Elise Dundee (1988-2001),
Emma Helene Dundee (1993-2004), Penelope Ann "Paddi" Dundee (b. 2000),
and Lyla Leigh Dundee (b. 2005).
58. My first dog was a border collie named Holly, the street I lived on as a kid was Grant Street, ergo my drag name is supposed to be Holly Grant.
59. I fell in love with my first grade teacher, Mrs. Hobson.
60. I lived with Bruce for one whole year and—as often as he had it out—never managed to see his big unit.
61. I need to start re-losing that weight I managed to lose before my Big Gay Wedding.
62. I haven't used my gym membership in about as long as I've not worn my Prince Albert.
63. I'm a perfectionist.
64. I'm obsessive.
65. I've started the fourth Harry Potter novel four times and still haven't finished it.
66. I used to smoke.
67. My favorite TV shows are the Boston Legal, the Sopranos, Ugly Betty, Desperate Housewives, Grey's Anatomy, and any shows of poker games.
68. I've smoked pot.
69. I've never done any other recreational drugs.
70. I don't like eggplant.
71. I can't eat enough chocolate.
72. I have a hard time not being right.
73. I sometimes watch televangelist Robert Tilton for laughs (unfortunately, he was funnier a few years back).
74. I am a non-practicing Master Mason, so I know lots of secrets.
75. I became a Mason to please my father.
76. I used to be an amateur radio operator.
77. I could kick myself for accidentally letting my amateur radio license expire a few years ago.
78. I love summertime, because the males of our species wear less clothing.
79. I'm really enjoying studying Johann Jakob Froberger's music.
80. I listen to NPR.
81. I give money to the DNC.
82. At one time, I had six piercings; now I have two.
83. I still get weak in the knees when a hottie walks past me wearing Drakkar®.
84. I love accompanying singers at the keyboard.
85. I hate replacing plectra on my harpsichord.
86. I love performing chamber music with other musicians for a live audience.
87. I have received only one review of a solo performance in a major newspaper.
88. I wish I could play jazz piano.
89. Sometimes I can't stand the sound of my own voice.
90. I am very happy that there are only ten more things about me that I have to come up with.
91. I am fluent only in English, but have studied Spanish and German, and I know a little bit of Dutch.
92. I can competently read (but not necessarily understand) Latin, French, and Italian.
93. I type about 60 words per minutes using the proper finger on each key.
94. I can't stand grammatical errors, especially when they're my own.
95. I'm so happy that Supremo introduced me to the blogosphere.
96. If George W. Bush hadn't pissed me off so much getting re-elected, I wonder if I would have ever started blogging.
97. I've had conversations with the following famous people: Chita
Rivera, Mel Tormé, John Kander, Fred Ebb, Terrence McNally, Toni
Tennille, Leonard Bernstein, Bill Clinton, Al Gore, Paul Tsongas, Harry
Caray, Gladys Knight, Jackie Stewart, A.J. Foyt, Roger Norrington,
Robert Shaw, David Daniels, Max van Egmond, James King, James Brown,
Evan Bayh, Jay Leno, and Michael Douglas.
98. My most famous relative is John C. Calhoun.
99. I have Scottish, English, German and/or Dutch, and Native American Aboriginal American (oh, for God's sake!) American Indian blood in my veins.
100. I am thrilled that you are reading my blog.
The End
