10 things you don’t know about me :: part VIII

Yeahhhh, I was anticipating this month since November 30th of last year. Because November is NaBloPoMo – meaning I am planning to blog daily throughout the month of November. I am not sure how far I will make it this year as life is a bit unsteady as of now but here is to starting. And as tradition has it I am starting with a 10 things you don’t know about me post. I admit it is not getting easier to find things my long time readers haven’t heard about – and that I am willing to share on the internet. But here it is.

1. I did a cartwheels on roller blades.

For some time in my early teens I was obsessed with roller blades. I was able to ice skate early in my life before school for sure and I was always sad that it was a seasonal sport. So when roller blades became a thing it was something I needed to have. And I have lived in these things. I took care of them oiling and greasing and switching out the wheels so that they would wear out equally. And I tried to to do all sorts of tricks and moves. The farthest I got was doing cartwheels in skates. First time I did I hit the ground – of course. Because you land on wheels and there is a lot of momentum… But I managed eventually to stay upright. I also always wanted to go to a skate park and hit the ramps but I was scared. Mainly because of all the cool boys and the large groups hanging out. And being a girl – there just weren’t any… So I never did. I still have the skates. And maybe its time to get them out again.

2. I was served an entire cauliflower

Every once in a while I have mentioned that I have been a vegetarian previously. When I was in sixth grade I decide from one moment to the next that I will be. I had never eaten that much meat and I’ve heard that many people where starting to eat vegetarian and – I have to be honest here – I thought it was cool. I never so much did it because of the animals. It was more I wanted to proof – to myself and others – that it is possible. And so I did for the five or six years. Until I lived a year in Idaho. I caved on thanksgiving day. I knew its a life time experience and I wanted to make the most of my stay. So I did eat a piece of turkey. But even though I tried some other meat dishes I didn’t really eat this much.

Ok, but what about the cauliflower, right? Well, in the mid 90s being a vegetarian was something people haven’t even hear about. Let alone knew how to cater for. So when I was at a family gathering and we ate out in a restaurant – a traditional Sunday meal with potatoes, gravy, meat and some vegetables – I informed the restaurant beforehand that I (and another girl) where eating vegetarian. Well, since they had no clue what to serve us they ended up serving us an entire cooked cauliflower that they served on a plate. Well, it was vegetarian. It is save to say I don’t eat much cauliflower any more.

3. I have had a pierced belly button.

I am a kid of the 90s and back then you had either a piercing in your belly or eyebrow or you had a tramp stamp. Well I wanted a tattoo but was scared and thought ahead wondering if I will always love it. So I opted to get a piercing. I was thinking about it very very long. Also knowing my parents wouldn’t approve so I was only able to do so with 18 and that was not in the 90s anymore. However I have lived with that piercing for more than have my life – 22 years. Until this spring. Due to my surgery I had to take it out. When I came back home I immediately checked if I can still push it through. I did. But since I had a stitch in my belly button I had to leave it out. And I wasn’t too attentive. When all was healed and I wanted to get it in it just didn’t happen. For several days I tried, it was bloody at times and I was close to cutting myself but my senses prevailed and I didn’t. But I mourn my belly button piecing. I really do and it does feel a bit silly but it is the truth. I am sad it’s gone.

4. I own an Oak Tree

At our country home there is an oak tree that my dad planted when I was born. A tradition he kept for all his children and continued to do with his grandchildren. My oak tree is getting big. I had my 40th birthday celebration underneath its branches that were decorated with twinkle lights and paper stars. I love this tree and in the center of the property. But it does also creates a lot of work – specially in fall when the leaves and acorns are everywhere. And its so big now that the gutters of the buildings are always stuffed with leaves.

In case you also want to know the other trees planted. My sisters have a beech tree and a silver fir. My niece and nephew have fruit trees – plum and pear.

5. My first job was ironing.

Everyone had a first job. I vividly remember mine. There used to be a time when my dad had to wear a ton of dress shirts for work. At times 3 different a day. My mom at one point capitulated because she was not even able to lug them all to the cleaners. So she offered to pay us we ironed them. And we did. It was becoming a sport of who managed the most in an hour. Who was able to snatch up the freshly washed the fastest. I enjoyed this work actually. It was somewhat meditative. My record was ten shirts in an hour. I still like to iron however I don’t need to. My husband has a) always ironed his own shirts and b) he now only owns iron free ones.

6. Roibush tea is a no no.

I love tea. Very much. So much so that I started to gather my own teas. I even may give up coffee for tea. You would probably have to force me. But I would not enjoy a cup of roibush. I just hate that flavor.

7. I am not afraid of spiders.

Since we live at the water I have become the exterminator of our household. I am just not afraid of spiders. Ok, half truth. I am not afraid of spiders until a certain size. I am sure I wouldn’t enjoy an encounter with a tarantula. Or if I knew it’s a very poisonous one. But the ones we have here are manageable. And we did get some really big ones – like thumbnail size plus legs. I didn’t particular enjoy removing them from the house but I can do it. And I never kill them if I can help it. We have this snappy device that lets you look closely. These creatures are interesting in a goosebumpy way…

8. I suffer from insomnia.

If you are a frequent reader you know it. I have written about it during NaBloPo 2017. I and feel like an update is coming later this months. But yes, I wished I was one of those people going to bed and then waking up 8 hours later. What am I saying, even 6 hours of sleep without interruption would probably change my life. But right now I suffer from insomnia and looking back I think I always have.

9. I am a certified incontinence consultant

HA. I bet you didn’t know that. I’ve had many weird jobs in my life. After I left the event business I became a product manager for medical and health products for wholesaler. And the main products we sold was incontinence and accompanying products. I was still in communications and marketing but to really understand what is going on I took a course and became a certified incontinence consultant and also a medical device advisor – however the last one expires after two years of no further training. What’s been your weirdest certificate?

10. I’ve been blogging for almost 10 years now.

As of today I have been blogging for 3,592 days. That leaves me shy of 59 days until I hit my tenth year anniversary of a blogger. When I started out I surely didn’t expect it to be this kind of hobby that carries me through a decade. And will probably continue so for as long as I can imagine today. Here is my very first post – back then I was still blogging I German but later added a translation. And I started a series back then called “Soup Sunday” – I miss it and should reactivate it.

I hope you enjoyed these random facts and my babbling. I am glad you are here. If you also participate in NaBloPoMo let me now in the comments so I can visit and cheer you on. And if you want to read more things about me check out the previous posts: part I in 2014 , part II in 2016, part III in 2017, part IV in 2018, part V in 2019, part VI in 2020, 2021 was accidentally deleted.

Now let me one thing about yourself in the comments!

Happy November

Tobia