1. I live with my love, Joe.
2. We have three daughters.
3. I never wanted a son.
4. We are not married.
5. In the last 17 years there has only been 10 days that I did not knit.
6. I am a vegetarian. I don’t mind being at the top of the food chain but I think eating meat is hard on the planet.
7. I eat one slice of turkey at Christmas. This always gives me a stomach ache.
8. I hate having dirty feet, but love bare feet.
9. I wash my feet before bed every night
10. I am very shy.
11. I am the oldest of four children. Two boys and two girls.
12. One of my brothers is an aboriginal Canadian.
13. I talk to my mother and siblings almost every day.
14. I love Joe’s family.
15. I was a La Leche League Canada Leader for 10 years.
16. I am an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) and have been for 8 years.
17. I am not religious.
18. I love to play the SIMS and will take the game from my own children.
19. Ken is my best friend. We have been friends since I was 15.
20. I am a writer.
21. I am a birth doula and a childbirth educator.
22. I think it is a profoundly cool thing to be the first human to touch another person. I keep a private list of the names of people I touched first.
23. If there were only one food I could eat forever it would be wasabi rice crackers.
24. I am not a very organized person.
25. I try very hard not to ask a question until I am ready to hear both answers.
26. I talk a lot. If I am nervous, the amount is alarming.
27. I get a lot done, even though I am not a very organized person.
28. I work well under pressure. I will often procrastinate to create this pressure. This
occasionally backfires.
29. I was either pregnant or nursing for a continuous decade.
30. I like socks better than shoes. I only own 4 pairs of shoes. ( I am presuming that we are not counting skates.) Snow boots for the winter, Blundstones for the fall, Birkenstocks for the summer and a pair of black dress shoes in case some event comes up. This is a personal record number of shoes.
31. Joe is not the biological father of our children.
32. I am only 5’1”. Most people think this is a lie. They think I’m taller. This flips me out pretty seriously.
33. If I could change one thing about myself, I would be taller.
34. I am afraid of the dentist.
35. I am very proudly Canadian.
36. I can play the piano, but I suck pretty fiercely.
37. I use Canadian spellings and can get a little hostile if corrected.
38. I do a lot of yoga, but am often too self conscious to go to class.
39. I think I am a very fast knitter.
40. I hate doing the laundry.
41. I hate cleaning.
42. I like my house very clean. I understand that given #24, #40 and #41 I am doomed. This is a
constant source of irritation to me.
43. If unsupervised, I would spin and knit all day.
44. I am afraid of spiders though I pretend I am not so my kids won’t inherit it.
45. I try very, very hard to put people before things.
46. The younger a human being is, the better I like them.
47. I am often told that I am an empath. This worries me.
48. I like canning.
49. I don’t like cooking.
50. I like baking bread, but cannot make a decent pie crust. I don’t mind, since I hate pie,
especially apple. If you are an American, just let it go.
51. I feel like a good mother when I make soup, even though neither me nor my kids cares for
soup.
52. I am not graceful, and I have fallen “up” stairs.
53. I am mostly blind in my right eye, and am often startled by things happening on that side.
54. If I have writer’s block I take a bath. It always works.
55. I take a lot of baths.
56. My house has no shower.
57. I have a plan to take up a pack a day (maybe more) smoking habit when I am 80.
58. I love thunderstorms and extreme weather of all kinds. This has lead to a completely obsessive relationship with disaster movies.
59. I only recently learned to type well. In high school I once told my typing teacher that she had to pick. She could have it fast, or she could have it right. Not both.
60. If I am busy, I can forget to eat.
61. Due to a fixation on Joe’s part, I have seen every James Bond movie ever made many, many times.
62. I sort of like James Bond.
63. Good manners are very important to me.
64. I would never bungee jump.
65. I don’t usually wear makeup.
66. I don’t like to sleep and consider it wasted time. I seldom “sleep in”, never nap and always go to bed too late.
67. I drink a lot of coffee. I don’t ever drink decaf.
68. If there is no cream for my coffee, I won’t settle for milk, but will instead take it black.
69. I think sugar in coffee is gross.
70. Despite being an impulsive person, I really like schedules.
71. I grew up in Bramalea, a suburb of Toronto that is famous for having the entire city in alphabetical order. My house was in the “E” section.
72. I will not eat a peach unless it is peeled. The fuzz on the skin creeps me out.
73. I love crosswords and I’m pretty good at them.
74. If I have more than 2 drinks, I’m loaded.
75. I get lost all the time, and if I tell Joe I think we should go North, he turns South. Despite all this evidence that I do not, I believe I have a good sense of direction.
76. I have had most of my friends since high school.
77. I would rather drive a standard than an automatic. It feels safer.
78. I love airplanes and am thrilled if I get to take a plane somewhere.
79. I get very passionate about politics. I am very left wing.
80. My middle name is Anne.
81. I am a good public speaker, even though if frightens me.
82. I recycle and speak harshly to people who do not.
83. I have never, ever returned a ball of yarn to the store and furthermore, I can’t imagine doing so.
84. I hate the winter, but I don’t care how hot it gets.
85. Even though I hate the winter, I don’t think I would live somewhere that didn’t have one.
86. I love lists.
87. I have never had much money, I would rather have time.
88. I think cell phones are a nightmare, and don’t have one, or want one. When Joe lost his I was thrilled.
89. I can stay awake for more than 24 hours without really minding.
90. I love to travel. I would go anywhere.
91. If I could be a movie star I would be Jennifer Aniston. I know this is wrong.
92. I am a pacifist.
93. I have a very quick temper, but am never angry for long.
94. I dance in public. Sometimes on the sidewalk. This embarrasses my children.
95. I can’t sing, but wish desperately that I could.
96. When I am older I am going to learn to play the cello.
97. I worry a lot about big things like war, racism, poverty and human rights.
98. Except for parties, I don’t carry a purse. I don’t know why I carry a purse at parties.
99. I keep ALL my yarn in ziplock baggies of varies sizes, due to an almost pathologic fear of moths
100. I try very hard to be a good person.
(PS Elise in Brooklyn won the thrum kit. Congratulations!)
Posted by Stephanie at December 7, 2004 12:28 PMI'm first!
Posted by: LisaK at December 7, 2004 12:33 PM101. You're an amazing person who I want to meet if I ever get back to the Great White North.
(And don't feel bad about the apple pie thing. I was born and raised here in California and am not too fond of the stuff, either.)
Posted by: jae at December 7, 2004 12:36 PMI had #95 on my draft list but it eventually was replaced by something else.
Posted by: Susan at December 7, 2004 12:37 PMyour list only confirms it...we'd make good friends.
and the Apple Pie/American thing...pshaw. Last choice for me. ;)
Posted by: Lisa in Oregon at December 7, 2004 12:39 PMStephanie, what is an aboriginal Canadian and how can one brother be so and not the other.
Helen (unafraid to be famous for idiot questions)
Posted by: Helen in New Hampshire at December 7, 2004 12:41 PMI could have said about the same about me, for nearly 60% of your list.
Specifically, numbers 8, 10, 13, 24, 27, 30, 32, 36, 40, 41, 42, 44, 45, 47, 49, 50, 52, 58, 60, 62, 63, 64, 66, 67, 69, 70, 73, 74, 75, 77, 78, 84, 85, 86, 87, 89, 95, and 97, plus others with a few variations.
So to me - you're a very cool person!
Wow, out of lurkdom twice in three days. Except for the first name's spelling Stephanie and I have the exact same name.
Was it in the water when we were born?
Stefani Anne
Posted by: Stefani at December 7, 2004 12:44 PMThis is why I don't do lists of a revealing nature... I enjoyed reading your list, mine would put perpetual insomniacs into a coma =)
Posted by: roggey at December 7, 2004 12:45 PMI love that your warmth and humo(u)r come through even in a list!
Posted by: Mary-Heather at December 7, 2004 12:45 PMI never tire of reading or learning about other people. I suspect there are even more things we have yet to learn about our yarn harlot!
Thanks for sharing these with us, I too would love to meet you. I think you've even made it to my list of who I would like to be stranded on a desert island with!
Cheers!
Caroline.
I love your list! I'm wicked excited about the whole doula/IBCLC/LLL business. I work for a company that sells breastfeeding clothes here in the US, and I'm an extreme BF advocate (despite not yet having any kids myself). When I grew up, I never imagined that people would do anything OTHER than BF, and I'm constantly shocked that so many people I know perceive it as "alternative." I should also work on my 100 things list, since I got so much pleasure out of reading yours. Here's a start:
1. I procrastinate. A lot. About everything.
2. I started this list originally 2 years ago.
Love the list.
I grew up in a house with an awesome claw foot bath tub but no shower.
I love baths!
Posted by: Christy at December 7, 2004 1:10 PMThe International Red Cross has asked me to add that the real #101 is "Just because I told you these things doesn't mean you're allowed to ask more." (I mention this because I hear the dam beginning to crack, the floodwaters coming this way...)
I promise, if necessary, to reread the one about manners. The real question isn't how many we knew or resemble, it's how many times we went "Huh," in surprise.
Posted by: rams at December 7, 2004 1:27 PMSteph, You are just so cool. I wish I lived in Toronto so that you could be my doula and my BF consultant.
Posted by: kern at December 7, 2004 1:27 PMI hate peach fuzz too. It is just icky
Posted by: Dani at December 7, 2004 1:28 PMHey, speaking of cell phones and avid recycling, this was a really nifty article:
http://cnn.netscape.cnn.com/news/story.jsp?flok=FF-RTO-rittz&idq=/ff/story/0002%2F20041206%2F1228808760.htm&sc=rittz
Finally!
Posted by: perclexed at December 7, 2004 1:29 PMI've been lurking for a little while but had to comment on number 100. At last I know I'm not alone, Moths are seriously scary. I once went camping at a cabin in the middle of nowhere and there were so many moths in the cabin that I spent most of the time outside freezing.
PS Congrats on the book, I can't wait to read it!
Posted by: Jayme at December 7, 2004 1:31 PMI love these lists. Every time I read a new one I think, oh yah, I should have put that one and that one on my list.And they show that everyone shares so many little nuances in life. And I'll remenber if you ever come to my house, not to serve pie.(there's never any left anyway)
Posted by: Elizabeth at December 7, 2004 1:31 PMCool list Stephanie, thanks
Posted by: yvette at December 7, 2004 1:31 PMwhoops, that's #99 not 100
Posted by: Jayme at December 7, 2004 1:32 PMIt's fascinating to think we can get to 'know' someone in a list of 100 items. Some things you have let us ‘in on’ and others are total surprises. Thanks for letting us get to know you a little better.
Posted by: margene at December 7, 2004 1:37 PMAs soon as I read comment #29, I HAD to sit down and figure out mine.....during 14 continuous years, I was either pregnant or nursing, except for a break of approximately 12 months in the middle. AND, twice I tandem nursed. People used to ask me if I felt like a cow.......
Posted by: Jenny at December 7, 2004 1:41 PMWhat a great 100 things!
I, too, grew up in a city (okay, subburb) that organized its streets by the alphabet. I grew up in the C section. But then the city kept growing and it got all mixed up, and the new developements didn't want to structure their street names like that. Crazy.
Thanks for the fun read (like always).
Posted by: nanc at December 7, 2004 1:44 PMBrava, you did it!!! I love your list -- it's unique-like-you, and we're more alike than I think either of us even realized. The procrastination thing = exactly me. The recycling thing: just yesterday someone asked me, "Is recycling mandatory or voluntary in Vermont?" My answer: It's voluntary/mandatory; does that make sense? At first, the person said, No. Here's the explanation: In Vermont, most everything is that way, including the whole gun thing. However, we have probably the highest level of compliance and definitely the lowest crime rate in the country. You don't recycle here, you get glares from people like me. You act stupid with guns -- well,for some strange reason nobody DOES act stupid with guns, even though they're legal. But I most definitely was not pregnant/nursing for a decade. Hee!
Posted by: Norma at December 7, 2004 1:48 PMAnne is a most excellent middle name as it is my Mom's middle name too. And it is OK about the apple pie. Why have we claimed it as some kind of American symbol? Anyway, it just means more pie for me.
Posted by: Laurie at December 7, 2004 1:53 PMI think I'm in love ...
(Heartfelt)thanks for the list.
Posted by: Childe at December 7, 2004 1:56 PMYou are a unique person, with strong convictions... bravo (or is that brava) for you! Life is too short to be otherwise. Go YH go!
Posted by: Annette at December 7, 2004 1:57 PMStephanie - you made me cry!!
Sharing so much about yourself, not only today, but all through your site, is very brave.
I had a close friend. Her list would have read much like yours. We drifted apart because our husband's couldn't breathe the same air.
Right now, I miss her very much.
Wow, great list! I *did* get to meet you, if only for an afternoon, and found myself saying "huh," quite a few times. It's nice to have a few secrets revealed, and to know that you still have more kept secret.
Now, seeing how productive you are and hearing that you're not very organized gives me hope. The knitting can be done! In time for Christmas? Well... time will tell about that one.
Posted by: Sarahfish at December 7, 2004 1:59 PMLove the list.
Now about #53
I was legally blind in both eyes for most of my life...and have the deformed sinuses from the heavy glasses to prove it. Got artificial lenses put in about 5 years ago, and now just need cheapo drugstore reading glasses for closeup and have better than 20/20 for distance. It cost me $4000 total, but since the glasses cost over $1000 and I needed new ones every 2 years, I figure its paid for. The lady who came out of the clinic before me gave her white cane to her son who had come to get her, and told him to paint it brown for her. Ever considered it? Best thing I ever did, and if I had the money I'd pay for anyone to have it done that needed it (I'll let you know if I ever win the 649!)
Barb B.
I love you. You are so brave to be so vulnerable.
Posted by: Ellen in Conn at December 7, 2004 2:02 PMDitto the peach fuzz. Fingernails on blackboard.
I admire your list because it is evocative, not just a stuff-about-me recitation.
Posted by: Ruth Ann at December 7, 2004 2:11 PM#94...oh yeah. Does dancing in public include dancing in the car? If you've not tried dancing in the car, I highly recommend it. It's fun to just turn up the radio, dance like nobody's watching and then see the faces of the people who drive by you who think you're nuts. Sometimes the person who's driving will dance along with me when we hit a stoplight. Dancing in the car rocks!
Posted by: Jennifer H. at December 7, 2004 2:14 PMOkay, now I have lots of questions. I have to come visit you. I'll do the laundry if you answer the questions!
Posted by: Theresa at December 7, 2004 2:17 PMEewwww!!!! More then I ever wanted to know about anybody!!!!!
Posted by: Jenny at December 7, 2004 2:17 PMThanks for letting us get to know you. As for #100, you succeed very well.
Posted by: Julie in Tucson at December 7, 2004 2:20 PMGo IBCLCs!
Go people who are loaded on very little alcohol!
Go barefooters!
Like someone said above, it's amazing how many small and not so small things we have in common in our different lives in places around the world.
Wow, I wish I knew "lactation consultants" existed "way back" when I was struggling... Umm, is a Doula like a midwife? My great-grandmother took her midwife training in Vienna and delivered more than 3000 babies, including her grandchildren, first half of the last century. Do you keep a count of the first touches? That's a lot of baby-sniffing! :) I always thought babies smelled like "nothing, yet everything". Thanks for letting me know I wasn't crazy (about that, anyway...)
Posted by: Kathen at December 7, 2004 2:27 PMi hope jenny was joking at 2:17 pm ... and if she wasn't i hope you don't take it personally steph! the rest of us love you dearly; moreso now. 'cept for the peach fuzz thing (oh and maybe the baths), i could have written that list! well, i don't live with joe either but you know what i mean :) you are wonderful!!! thank you so much for sharing
Jenny -- See #63
Posted by: rams at December 7, 2004 2:33 PMAnd oh, yeah, I am the exact opposite with shoes: my feet need to be encased in leather/suede/rubber every waking moment. What the heck is up with that? Am I all alone with this? So far-Yup.
Posted by: Kathen at December 7, 2004 2:33 PMI love this list. I don't peel peaches, but I rub all the fuzz off before I eat it. My mother and one of my sisters were LLL leaders. I am also proudly Canadian, and am rather anal about Canadian spelling. I hate doing laundry, and I hate housecleaning, but I love a clean house. It is a conundrum.
Posted by: hickmama at December 7, 2004 2:39 PMThank you for being so real and sharing so much.
I'm blessed to 'know' you.
I'm sure it is totally wrong to ask this, since no one else has. But ... could you elaborate on the biological father of your children bit? You piqued my curiosity.
Posted by: Kristin at December 7, 2004 2:42 PM#21 That's so cool. I got to be birth partner for my niece this past summer. Watching the birth of her daughter was the greatest thing I've ever seen. It was totally amazing and awesome. I thought after it would be neat to be a Doula.
Posted by: Jane at December 7, 2004 2:49 PMThe Harlot does nothing by halves, does she? Brava, Stephanie.
And it's been a blast to see which items people react to. Out of all the more important things that made me smile, the one that most made me say "Aha! There goeth a kindred spirit!" was #72. Peach fuzz iz why the universe (or, okay, some hybridizing botanist somewhere) invented the nectarine.
Posted by: Kristen at December 7, 2004 2:51 PMObjection!
You have a HECK of a lot of friends who've only met you by bits, not atoms. And not ONE of them met you during highschool.
(Other than that, your list is so much like the one I'm (not) writing that it's scary. If your bookbookbookbookbooktour doesn't go through Seattle, we'll probably end up meeting at some demonstration. I'll be carrying the "Stop War!" sign on recycled paper and probably crying. Even though I'm shy.)
Posted by: Dena Shunra at December 7, 2004 2:52 PM1.Congrats on the book
2. Thanks for the list. Though I'm surprised how it released a flood of highly personal questions.
3. I'll take any apple pie that comes your way.
Oh God! You finally post your 100 and I have to leave in 2 minutes! Now I have to sit through a religion lecture for 2 and a half hours before I can read it and savor the Harlotiness of it all. Phoo!!
Posted by: Vicki at December 7, 2004 3:02 PMTo answer Helen's question: "Canadian aboriginal" is one of the terms for folks Americans might refer to as "indian" or "native american"--except, of course, they're not Americans, because they live in Canada. I know this because I am one; although I usually refer to my people as "First Nations" folk. (Politics and names of communities: a very sticky issue and it's best not to Go There--see #63, which I agree with whole-heartedly.) (Be warned that Stephanie's family may use the term differently, as they are on the opposite side of the continent from my family. See previous note.)
Stephanie, your list is beautiful, and I agree, it was very, very brave of you to share it with all of us. Thank you so much. And finally: Thank your parents for me, would you, for taking your aboriginal brother into their hearts and home (I am also adopted, as are my other sibs). What a very remarkable family you have. The remarkable family of a remarkable woman!
Posted by: Sandi at December 7, 2004 3:04 PM77. I would rather drive a standard than an automatic. It feels safer.
I think you are the only other person who gets this. I feel like I have more control...and regardless of what anyone says...standards do better in the snow...
:)
Posted by: heather at December 7, 2004 3:04 PM#5, #6, #15, #16, #21, #22, #29
I think I love you. I've only been pregnant and/or nursing for 2.5 years (so far), but I'm sure that number will be higher when we're done having babies. Looking forward to tandem nursing, starting in April.
I think you're a very fast knitter too! :)
We have a lot more in common than knitting, I realize. I knew I liked you for more than just your yarniness. ;)
Posted by: Abigail at December 7, 2004 3:06 PMA great list! And now I want to be the first person to touch my baby. I wasn't worried about it before, but now it seems obviously important. And it's not likely to happen, since I'm going to use a hospital. Maybe I can sneak a hand in there before they know it...
Oh, and I feel all the same ways about coffee. Those are my exact rules.
Posted by: larissa at December 7, 2004 3:11 PMThanks for sharing your list - I am always amazed at how much personal feeling can come through on something as impersonal as the internet. I will be getting (hopefully) my massage therapist license in Jan and have been planning on getting doula certified and pregnancy massage training - I think this would be a wondeful way use my training.
Oh, my HS typing teacher made me promise not to tell anyone I was in her class - seems I was her only failure.
Posted by: Colette at December 7, 2004 3:25 PMYou're so brave. It's both inspiring and scary. Does the turkey taste yummy going down?
Posted by: Sue at December 7, 2004 3:26 PMSo what's a La Leche leader? What were those 10 days where you didn't knit? You have at least two inches on me in height!
Posted by: Lauren at December 7, 2004 3:36 PMAbout the spider thing...me too!!!! Isn't it funny how having kids make you try to deal with the fear?
but they still give me the willies....
*shudder*
Thanks for the list, Stephanie, it's great to get to know you better.
Interesting. I have to confess that I'm not surprised that you are one of those people who doesn't require much sleep. In a way, I envy you as my body requires at least 8 hours to function well, which is a detriment to a grad student.
Keep carrying on, you are a delight and I thank you for sharing yourself with a veritable bevy of strangers!
Posted by: Kristen at December 7, 2004 4:00 PMthanks for sharing. it's always interesting what people choose to share (and what they don't) i don't like peach fuzz either, especially if the fruit is cold. I'm too lazy to peel, so I run the sucker under warm water and eat it wet.
Posted by: Valerie at December 7, 2004 4:02 PMYou're pretty cool, Steph. Thanks for letting us get to you a little better.
Posted by: Samina at December 7, 2004 4:05 PMI also could have written over half of that list. We would make great friends :-)
(says this 5'1", barefoot, liberal, clean faced, nursed/pregnant for 6 1/2 years, works best under pressure, oldest child, "empath" with the middle name of Anne)
Posted by: Kathy at December 7, 2004 4:07 PMThank you for sharing all of these wonderful details, both in this list and every day on your blog. And congratulations on your book!! (I had to unlurk, and even use exclamation points, to let you know how excited I am.)
Although I can identify with so many of the items on your list, I can say with great certainty that I have NEVER been so busy that I've forgotten to eat.
Posted by: Beth at December 7, 2004 4:07 PMStep, I'm glad that even though Huxley might not be on your list, that you where there... I would second anybody that said it is brave of you to share so much of you with me and all the other strangers that look into your life every day!
Posted by: minka at December 7, 2004 4:08 PMThanks for letting us in on some very personal aspects of your life.
I'm still stunned you don't like pie. Pie's my favorite dessert.
I don't like the skin of peaches either, the fuzz grosses me out (I'm starting to gag just writing about it).
I'm mostly blind in my left eye so I can relate, but on the opposite side.
And lots and lots of other things... but I won't take up all your comment space.
Posted by: Caren at December 7, 2004 4:17 PMThanks for sharing Stephanie. Standards are much better than automatics. I love being in bare feet. My first choice of shoes are Birkenstocks, but they don't cut it at my fancy law office job. If I could change one thing about myself it wouldn't be my height (I'm 5"2'), I'd like to be able to sing, really well.
Kat in Boston
Posted by: Kat at December 7, 2004 4:23 PM64. I would never bungee jump.
There it is. The essentially huge difference between us. I love to jump out of planes. I gave up jumping out of planes when I had children. The danged creatures are still around (who knew!) so I'm still not jumping out of planes. I will start jumping out of planes again as soon as they learn to cook, do their own laundry and have partners that I could introduce to my mother.
There's a few other ones, but why quibble?
Posted by: Lynneski at December 7, 2004 4:25 PMSteph: what do you think of crustless pie? I make an excellent (IMHO) Lemon Cranberry pie (walnuts optional).
Sandi: Another FNer here (and in Toronto). I liked it back when the term was "Native Canadian" - it always made people think "Native as in 'from Canada?' or as in 'Indian/Aboriginal/First Nations/Anishnabeck?'"
It is always good to see people think before they open their mouth.
loved your list. :) it's funny how much room pie is taking up in your comment space, isn't it? i'm on the don't like any pie, let's have a cookie side. i only spent 8 years pregnant or nursing. it was fun getting to know you even more. also can't wait for the bookbookbook.
Posted by: lisa at December 7, 2004 4:52 PMIt is always good to see people think before they open their mouth but it would be better if *they* would do a proof-read before hitting the Post button!
Posted by: Wryly at December 7, 2004 4:52 PMThat's It! I'm telling my husband we're moving to Canada. I've only been pregnant or nursing (or both) for almost three years now but I have a terrible fear of getting pregnant again. I wouldn't mind so much if you could be my doula! Seriously, I've been telling him that we need to move to Canada for a couple years now. I'm usually joking but I mean it more often lately. Perhaps after I read your book to him he'll be convinced. (Either that or heartily refuse once and for all.)
Posted by: Joni at December 7, 2004 4:59 PMThank you so much for sharing your list. I feel like you are a close friend and appreciate your sense of humour and wit. You make me laugh and sometimes cry. About 80 of your 100 are on my list, too. Would love to meet you someday.
I hate winters, too. Left Germany and now live in So Cal. Better winters, but I miss the snow At Christmas.
Posted by: Monika at December 7, 2004 5:31 PMThank you so much for sharing your list. I feel like you are a close friend and appreciate your sense of humour and wit. You make me laugh and sometimes cry. About 80 of your 100 are on my list, too. Would love to meet you someday.
I hate winters, too. Left Germany at a young age and now live in So Cal. Better winters, but I miss the snow At Christmas.
Posted by: Monika at December 7, 2004 5:31 PM*shudder* fuzzy peaches... i also hate the fuzz...
Posted by: wendy at December 7, 2004 5:46 PMYour blog wonderful and I'm looking forward to the bookbookbook. Thanks for sharing so much of yourself. Several times over the last 22 days I could have used some of your LLL and IBCLC expertise. I should have had you for my doula - maybe you would have saved me the agony of the "vacuum extraction" and 4 days in a NICU. I would have preferred to have had our daughter's name on your "first touched" list rather than giving the honour to that suction cup.
Posted by: Renee the Sequel at December 7, 2004 6:02 PMKathen, about needing shoes all the time, I'm the same way--with feet as flat as pancakes, I find I need the arch support (Birkenstocks all the way!) or else my feet hurt (along with my knees and hips, which get out of alignment).
I had a doula for both my births, and it was wonderful. Especially with the first, where I had complications, she really helped me and my husband through a difficult time!
Enjoyed the list, made me think of writing my own. But then again, who would want to read it? Oh, and ditto on the alarming output of talking when nervous...And being quite shy...Do they go hand in hand? Hmmmm.....
Thanks!
Posted by: Katie at December 7, 2004 6:33 PMRe:yesterday's post. I absolutely love how you put yourself out there, that is what makes your writing so readable and enjoyable. We all feel exactly what you write. Why on earth wouldn't we want more? You speak to us, but you also speak about us with humor and vulerablility. I hope to know you some day soon (along with the rest of your readers) and sometimes think you are the wittier, earthy-crunchier me. I really think this after reading your list. Three girls=ten years. We did have to set that LLLLeader example, didn't we? (Okay, the truth? I was too danged lazy, my kids practically had to walk across the room and take the food out of my mouth before I decided, "hmmm, maybe I should set a place at the table for you!"). Thanks so much for being you, and sharing you with us.
Posted by: Teresa C at December 7, 2004 7:02 PM#22 made me cry. #71 brought back very happy memories for me. In 1983 I came to Bramalea from Memphis, TN to go to the Weston Collegiate Spring Dance. I fell in love with Toronto and the OrganGrinder and all things Canadian.
Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Melissa at December 7, 2004 7:19 PMCrosswords!! I love crosswords! Nobody my age appreciates the beauty of a finished crossword puzzle. I got really excited about this. I am visiting a friend of mine who likes crosswords in a couple of weeks and I am so excited to do crosswords with him. That sounds really pathetic, but crosswords are awesome!
Posted by: l'autre Ken at December 7, 2004 8:17 PMAh, Stephanie - it is always the shy ones who are the most interesting! Much more complex and interesting to get to know. Lotsa familiar stuff in that list, except the baby stuff. I was last of four and no baby stuff for me! I like driving a manual car too (i am guessing this is where you change gears yourself rather than letting the scary automatic do it for you).
From another shy one, though I am getting noisier with age!
Thank you for sharing, I hope you save a copy to share with your daughters when they are older...it truly is a wonderful insight to a rather complex and talented person.
Could you bottle some of your sleep antidote for me??? Imagine what I could get done!!!
debs
Posted by: Debs at December 7, 2004 10:01 PMYay, another vegetarian knitter. :) I miss the taste of meat, but I feel like I'm doing the right thing.
I think it's absolutely amazing that you are a doula. I read Misconceptions by Naomi Wolf and began thinking seriously of doing it myself.
And congratulations on the book, I can't wait to buy it.
Posted by: Chrissy at December 7, 2004 10:43 PMI'm 5'8" , love spiders, don't knit (but know how), take peaches either way, love apple pie, am catholic although not really practicing, takes way too much to get me really drunk (on a good day) and I eat meat from time to time. In saying all that I consider Steph a good friend and I think it is our differences that make it so. But as for smoking at 80 years I'll be right there with you.
How to touch your baby first when in a hospital: When they say "I see a head" or "you're crowning" reach down....you will be first I was. And yeah it is beautiful.
Right there w/you on the peach thing. Nectarines all the way!
Posted by: stephanie at December 7, 2004 11:54 PMhehe. i have also fallen 'up' the stairs....that's always a fun one to admit
Posted by: helen at December 8, 2004 12:23 AM8, 10, 13, 17, 20, 24, 27, 28, 32 (ok almost 5'2), 33, 37, 40, 41, 42. 43, 45, 52, 55, love 57, 65, 66, 67, 73, 74, 78, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 90, 92, 93, 95, 96, 97, 99 and 100
Ok we have a lot in common... :)
Posted by: Caroline at December 8, 2004 12:35 AMMs. Pearl-McPhee,
I have a personal belief that doing crossword puzzles staves off loss of memory. My grandfather is a crossword afficionado and he's still as sharp as ever. May you never fear memory loss! And, might I add, your blog and writing is inspiring me to become more liberal, and to emerge from my knitting comfort zone. Thanks for the influence!
Lovely list, very organized! My personal favorite: #45 putting people before things, well said and something I (try to remember to) aspire to. Also, am currently searching for canning jars for the second-annual holiday jar-of-jam gifting I have procrastinated on and now feel compelled to complete ASAP!
thanks for sharing!
Posted by: tree at December 8, 2004 3:10 AMThank you.
Posted by: Barbara from Nova Scotia at December 8, 2004 9:02 AMYou'd still be welcome to stay at my house if your book tour comes to North Texas... even though I put sweetener in my coffee, and eat meat. I'd definitely join you though, in being an embarrassment to our children. They have their jobs, we have ours.
Posted by: Dana at December 8, 2004 9:51 AMThanks for sharing yourself with us, every day.
Posted by: alison at December 8, 2004 9:55 AMWow you sound like such a person I would get along with in real life. A lot of those things I was like..Yep sounds like me. I would love to do something like the 100 things..But doubt I could think of 100!! LOL...
I love reading your blog! It keeps me coming back with great things to read..
Though I do have one problem..Being from Aussie..Your BOOK IS AVAILABLE TO ME!!! WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
meant to say ISNT available to me! ooops!
*feels foolish now*
Posted by: Katt at December 8, 2004 9:57 AMI love the Sims too, sometimes to an obsessive level (this is usually when I have a deadline). When I realize that I love them too much, I have a pool party, invite them all over, get them all in the pool, and remove the ladder. It's so satisfying and freeing. Until remorse sets in.
Posted by: Susan at December 8, 2004 10:22 AMLet's see... 8, 10, 14, 20, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 32, 34, 40, 41, 42, 45, 46, 52, 63, 64, 65, 73, 78, 79, 82, 83, 86, 87, 90, 91, 97, 100. And I still want to be you when I grow up.
Posted by: Kat at December 8, 2004 12:13 PMGreat list! Congrats (grumble, grumble, curse) to Elise!
Posted by: Julia at December 8, 2004 12:44 PMMany many that I agree with or share with, but the one that strikes me at this instant inspires me to say:
Viva La Manual Transmissione!
And a pox on the next man who looks surprised when I say I not only know how to drive it, but prefer it. (and a bigger, itchier pox on the next man who leers as though I'm suggesting something to do with his body)
Posted by: Amie at December 8, 2004 1:32 PMThat rude Jenny wasn't this Jennie.
p.s. you are helping me gradually chip away at my intense fear of pregnancy/childbirth/nursing, so thanks.
Posted by: jennie at December 8, 2004 4:23 PMwow stephanie, what a great list although it has filled me with questions too. I knew a lot of the things on the list but many were new to me:) too bad you live in toronto, there are a lot of things on your list that apply to me too and i am sure that we would get along well in RL. Please tell your publisher that Halifax really needs to be on your book tour:):)
I am also a retired LLLC leader. I had to sit down and count up the years. My daughter is going to be 8 next week and has only nursed once or twice in the last year so I consider that she weaned about 7. That means that I was pregnant and/or nursing for about 19 years.
I so enjoy your blog, keep in writing and taking baths and writing.
from one canadian pacifist knitter to another.
That's a good list. Left-wing vegetarian knitting doula, what a godsend! I want you to be our doula if BF and I ever have a baby. Now, we just have to move closer to you...
Posted by: MJ at December 8, 2004 6:49 PMRams is right - it isn't how many things we have in common, but the ones that are unique, and you are totally and completely unique. Nearly every one made me think "huh, that's pretty cool" so even if your kids don't like it when you dance in the street, we do.
Posted by: Anne at December 9, 2004 10:12 AMGreat list! I, too, will add a 'gee, you're really cool, I'd like to meet you IRL' comment :) Plus, I wondered what an aboriginal canadian was, then someone answered, sort of...except that Canadians, also, are American. So it could be Native American. I can understand the not wanting to be mixed up part, though. Which wasn't said, but seemed obvious to me. And then I wondered about the alphabetically organized city. You know...I really thought for a minute that you must mean people lived in sections according to their last names. I wondered, awe-struck, how they possibly managed to keep that going in an organized manner. Then someone else commented on THAT, and I thought 'wow, saved myself from asking a really dumb question.' Then I figured I'd give you all a laugh anyway.
Posted by: JoAnne at December 9, 2004 1:51 PMFunny how you never think about how tall people are. You get a certain picture of them in your head when you read about them or chat through email with them. I thought you'd be much taller :)
Posted by: stacey at December 9, 2004 7:01 PM