two six

Yup. It's my birthday. I was thinking about doing a birthday year list (as in 27 things to do before I turn 27), but since I just made my fall manifesto, I'm feeling like that's good enough for now. So instead, I thought I'd share 26 things about me. Here goes:
1. I grew up in Manhattan, and the first place I moved when I left was rural Vermont. My parents wondered what had happened to me.
2. I didn't get my driver's license until I was 20 years old (see above re: living in Manhattan).
3. My parents gave me my first car. Now Jared and I drive a 1983 (almost as old as me!) Mercedes station wagon that runs on biodiesel (when it's available).
4. I've also lived in Bar Harbor, Maine; Berkeley, California; Quito, Ecuador; and now, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
5. When I lived in Ecuador, I once spent a night riding in the back of a coconut truck. It wasn't so bad until it started to rain and the drivers had to put the tarp over the coconuts to keep them dry. I had to lie down on top of the coconuts, under the tarp.
6. I'm not claustrophobic. Or afraid of heights, or bugs.
7. I've traveled to 18 countries (that I can think of right now).
8. I've traveled to 24 states in the US, plus DC plus Puerto Rico (that I can think of right now).
9. I love to cook, but I love to bake even more.
10. I worked in a bakery for a year when I lived in Berkeley. I would totally do it again if it didn't require getting up so dang early.
11. Other jobs I've had include door-to-door fundraising, anti-sweatshop campaign organizing, sandwich/smoothie jerk, office assistant, climbing wall monitor, freelance event planner.
12. I once got kicked out of Niketown in New York (see above re: anti-sweatshop campaign organizer).
13. I have nine holes in my ears (total). Four of them were made with a safety pin by myself.
14. After I got my rook piercing, I passed out on the sidewalk. Luckily my best friend was standing right next to me and caught me. She laughed hysterically while yelling for help. Now she's a doctor. A nice stranger bought me some orange juice.
15. I have some pretty good scar stories, including a run-in with a ceiling fan, and a parasite that made its home in the side of my head for six weeks.
16. I've been a vegetarian since I was 12 (I think, having a hard time remembering) and have only eaten meat a few times since then (when I was in Ecuador and sort of had to. And by "had to" I mean a woman killed a chicken for me- you don't exactly refuse that!).
17. I love cheese. This is the single reason that I can never be a vegan.
18. I have 25 pairs of shoes. A few years ago, I think had 5. I blame my grandma for being a bad influence. And my mom. In a good way.
19. When I was in middle school I played the saxophone. I haven't played an instrument since, except for one sorry attempt to learn how to play the guitar in college. I sort of learned to play "Blackbird."
20. I think I'm tone deaf. Jared says there's no such thing.
21. Jared and I met at a party at his old apartment in San Francisco. He thought I was cute. Then his roommate (who was also my friend) set us up. I had to spend the night on our first date because I missed the train from SF back to Berkeley. It was not on purpose, I swear.
21. I really hate cats. And it's not just because I'm allergic to them. It's nothing personal against any particular cat, just the species in general. Sorry to all you cat lovers. I love dogs.
22. I have a very small immediate family--two parents, one brother, two first cousins, one grandparent, three aunts, one uncle-- but they've managed to scatter themselves all across the country.
23. Being far away from my family is the thing I hate most about living in Minnesota.
24. Being with Jared, having a job that I love, living in a city that exemplifies my values and has four seasons are some of the things I love most about living in Minnesota. And I do love living in Minnesota.
25. I love fall. And I even love winter (note to self: reread this in January). I missed cold weather when I lived in California.
26. When I was younger, people always thought I was younger than I was. Now, people always think I'm older (even though I'm kind of the baby of all my friends here, or maybe that's the reason). Sometimes, I forget how old I am. I'm pretty sure twenty-six is going to be a very good year.