My friend Julie, from high school, tagged me on Facebook to write down 25 random facts about myself. I figured I would also publish it here because it was a huge pain to come up with 25 things.  Try it.  It’s harder than it sounds.  In fact, if you have ever left a comment on this blog, consider yourself tagged!

1. My job as an information developer means that “I write documentation so the engineers don’t have to!  I am a word and computer nerd, dammit!”  (Bonus points if you understand the Office Space reference.)  Seriously though, the job suits my personality and, even though I only took 1 technical writing job in college, I’m not too bad.  Side effect: Everyone either wants me to edit their writing or thinks that I am secretly criticizing their writing.
2. Although Oak is the serious cook at our house and often does the cooking when we are having friends or family over, I’m pretty proud to say that I can rock quite a few dishes and am a very good sous-chef.   After all, sometimes we do need still to eat when Oak is not feeling the cooking.  My specialties are Asian-inspired stir fries, southern-style greens, and pasta.
3. I love Bloody Maries.  There aren’t many others out there that love them as much as I do, but my mom and mother-in-law both approve, so they are always flowing at family gatherings.
4. Despite having a job in the high-tech industry, I’m generally dis-interested with new advances in consumer technology devices.  My phone does not access the internet, my iPod has a gray screen, and I don’t own any gaming systems.  The only exception is my Silhouette cutter that I use for scrapbooking.  I also consider the GPS an amazing invention.  Purchase one and see how many road-rage arguments you avoid with your significant other.
5. I drive a 2007 light blue Honda Civic.  I love it.  It’s the first car I have actually gotten excited about/loved!  (Sorry to all my other un-stylish cars.. you served your purpose of getting me from point A to point B.)
6. The biggest thing I learned in college was stress management… though my perfectionist tendencies are still there, I finally realized there is always going to be someone out there that can not study, show up drunk, and still get an A on an exam.
7. I like to think I have a good sense of style – or, at least, “a style.” (I think if people identify certain colors, patterns, or styles as “Carrie-esque”, I have succeeded.) Thanks to my mom for always sending me to school in coordinating outfits in elementary school.  Those lessons have endured to my real life.
8. I love smelly products – Bath and Body works is an everyday indulgence for me!  In the past few years I have gotten some nice-ish perfumes too – my favorites are the tropical scents by Escada and Paris Hilton (uum, I know Paris is dumb but she smells good!).  I also have a French citrusy scent that I got in the London-Heathrow airport duty free.
9. I have a “craft room.” (I am thinking of renaming it to my “scrap studio.”)  It’s bright pink and houses all of my scrapbooking stuff.  It makes me happy.
10. The Swiffer wet-jet commercials never get old to me.  Also, I enjoy making fun of infomercials.  When I was young I knew part of the Ronco Food Dehydrator infomercial script by heart.  Yes, I know this is sad.
11. I’ve recently realized that I am starting to be Too Old for half of the clothes at some of the clothing stores I loved in high school and college.  Sigh.  Luckily I can still wear most everything at New York and Company and Express, two of my favorites.
12. I am one of the least athletic people on planet Earth.  Seriously.  I don’t think or move fast enough for organized/team sports, and am seriously accident-prone.  I even managed to injure myself a few times playing tennis — tennis ball directly IN THE EYE. Hellow! It’s better if I stick to things without flying objects or possible contact – I don’t mind aerobics and the occasional hike.
13. I hate chewing noises.  It seriously drives me up the wall, especially if you’re chewing gum or something in a quiet room.  Yes, I fully realize that sometimes people need to eat.  haha.
14. Planning trips and weekend getaways keeps life exciting!  In the past year we’ve been to India, Mexico, California, and various trips along the east coast – Savannah, Myrtle Beach, Asheville..   I’m dying to go to Europe and French Polynesia/Tahiti.
15. The optometrist makes fun of how strong my eyeglasses perscription is.  You know when Velma from Scooby-Doo loses her glasses and crawls around on the ground with squinty eyes?  That’s me.   I used to hate wearing glasses, but I wear them most of the time now because of the inordinate amount of time I spend staring at a computer screen.  I’ve thought about getting Lasik but realize I’ll be needing glasses for reading again eventually.. so what’s the point?
16. I am pretty sure I have a Black Thumb, but Oak is trying to convince me to enjoy gardening.  We’ll see.  I do enjoy looking at and visiting gardens, so maybe picturing the end result will help! haha.
17. I am a certified Scuba diver, but I only like diving in warm oceans.  My favorite dive so far was the wreck of the Rhone in the British Virgin Islands.  It was a tough dive with some pretty rough water, but the sea life around the wreck was pretty awesome  – even saw a few huge manta rays, and I rubbed the lucky porthole!  lol.
18. I had super long hair growing up.  After high school, i started taking more and more length off at about 6 inches at a time.  Now it’s shoulder length.  It dries MUCH faster!  And, I don’t get the World’s Largest Tangle in it every time I go swimming.
19. Scrapbooking has long been a hobby of mine- I started in high school but have gotten much more into it in the past year or so.  It gives me an outlet for my visual design background from college, and, luckily, gives me a break from the computer most of the time!
20. I have a few things I try to find when travelling – a cupcake shop, some interesting ethnic or local food, a local style piece of clothing or costume jewelry, and if possible, a paper arts or scrapbooking store!   And,  I accompany Oak to the local brewery, brew-pub, or beer store.   I like brew-pubs because they normally have pretty tasty food.
21. My favorite bird is the flamingo.  I don’t know what attracts me to them other than their color and that they are odd-looking.   When I was young my parents built me a little “flamingo park” in the backyard that had plastic flamingos under the trees.  It was hot.
22. I played the clarinet in high school.  Though I haven’t really played since college, I appreciate that I have some knowledge of music, which I have leveraged when playing Guitar Hero.
23. I am working on getting an MBA at Brixx Pizzeria.  In case you’re wondering, that’s a masters of beer appreciation.  It’s a serious degree that I am considering adding to my resume.
24. I grew up a Yankee in NY, but have adapted to the Southern way of life – I particularly enjoy the weather and the local cuisine.  Northerners do not understand chicken biscuits and sweet tea, two of the world’s finest breakfast items.
25. I am a total night person.  Carrie Does Not Like Waking Up Early.  Thank god for flex hours and weekends!!

Posted by Carrie on Monday, January 19, 2009
Categories: blog, travel · 1 Comment »