10 Random Things About Me...

When Helene challenged us recently to continue with Learn and Play by posting 10 things about ourselves that few people know I was a little daunted. I'm new to CML so there are LOTS of things people don't know about me. That part is a little overwhelming. On the other hand, what in the world would be interesting enough about me that would be worth sharing? I finally decided that I needed to stop viewing it as the "10 Most Interesting Things About Me" and just go with 10 that pop in my head. So, here we go:

1. I collect unicorns. In any form. Figurines, pictures, tee shirts, coffee mugs, whatever. I have collected unicorns since I was young, elementary school age. My collection has grown too large and my house too small so adding pieces has slowed down tremendously. One of my favorites has always been The Unicorn in Captivity.
2. Which leads me to..... I am fascinated by all things from the Medieval and Renaissance periods of European history. I have attended Renaissance Fairs (including the one in Harveysburg, Ohio). Yes, I have a costume and it is a serving wench. No, I am not posting a pic of it here. Not because I won't share. I simply don't have one of me in the garb.
3. My family calls me the Pied Piper of Pets. Animals just come to me. Literally. For example, I was walking one day with my mother in a local park and we decided to take a break for her to rest. We found a bench and sat down. A cat came out of no where, jumped on my lap, curled up and went to sleep. Mom asked me if I'd ever seen the cat before. No, I hadn't. Odd. And it isn't just cats. At the moment I have seven animals in my household. Two dogs and 5 cats. Only 3 of them are original to me. The rest belonged to someone else before I took them in. I blame my maternal grandmother, who lived in the country. People from miles around would drop off unwanted pets, some of them in burlap sacks, on her walk up to her house hoping she'd take them in. She always did. Maybe it runs in our blood.
4. I have been called a "black sheep" in my family for two reasons. First, I am the only one from my paternal Grandfather on down who has not worked for Ma Bell. Seriously, all of them. Except my Mom. I guess they didn't include her in the comparison because she didn't work outside the home. Apparently, being a Librarian is thinking outside the box. ;-) Second, I am the only immediate family member (not sure about distant cousins) who does not have a tattoo. I have thought about it. But I haven't figured out what I want yet, and don't want to set it in ink on my body until I know what it is I want to put there permanently. I do know it will not be visible to anyone while at work, only to those I choose to show it to.
5. Although it is not my favorite season (that would be autumn) I am one of the few people I know who loves winter. Not just tolerates it, or likes it, but loves it. Not so much the Ohio winter, with gray dreary skies and snow that's here, not here, melted, slushy, now frozen.... I want snow on the ground all winter with bright blue clear skies. Apparently I live in the wrong state. I have friends who used to live in Idaho. From their discussions of winter there, it is where I need to move.
6. I tend to be very friendly and outgoing around most people. I think my job does that for me. I can approach just about anyone to ask them if they need help or to say "hello". I'm one of those people who others approach in the grocery store to ask where something is on the shelf because I smile and make eye contact. So far, no dates, so they must just think I work there. ;-) Outside of work I tend to be an introverted shy person, especially around people new to me. It's something I'm working on....
7. Speaking of friends, I have known my BFF Keri since we were both 2 years old. Keri's husband David is my next closest friend (convenient that they are matched up like that) who I've known since freshman year in high school. Oddly enough I met him before she met him. We are so close that our kids call each other Aunt, we have keys to each others houses and have taken vacations together. They tease me about being the "oldest" of the three of us. I am a whole 3 days older than her and 9 days older than him.
8. As my blog info suggests, I love to travel. I have been to several countries in North America, Central America and Europe. I hope to someday visit all 50 states. But I have never lived outside of central Ohio. It isn't that I wouldn't live elsewhere, but up to this point in my life family commitments have kept me here. As my kids are becoming more independent adults, who knows?
9. One of my favorite wild animals in all the world is a manta ray. I love how large and graceful they are. I have never seen one in the wild. I hope to be able to someday.
10. And last, some people around here have already figured out that I like Tinker Bell from Disney. But I am fond of another charater, this one from Warner Brothers. Marvin the Martian. If anyone remembers the Warner Brothers store at City Center Mall, in the back of the store there used to be Marvin's spaceship. It was designed for kids to crawl into and play with the instrument panel, see a running stream of cartoons of the adventures of Marvin and K-9, and generally get lost in space. I loved that ship! My own kids would hunt me down in there and ask "are you ready to leave yet?".... "Just a few more minutes, please?" ;-)