Here's 25, meme-wise
Jan. 5th, 2003 12:25 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jayLike hopeforyou, I'm going to post these in sections...
1. I may be marginally an extrovert, but with poor social skills. I need to be around groups, but am ill-equipped to interact with them.
2. My first (unrequited) crush was at a summer Governor's Honor's Program, away from home at age 17. My first love was (platonically) a woman that I met on a bus tour of my home state, given to the top 20 or so graduating high school seniors in the state -- it was also my first poly experience, as she would cuddle in the back of the bus with me on one side and another guy on her other side. Having no other knowledge of dating rules, this seemed to me like a perfectly reasonable arrangement J.
3. Going far away to college, I had no dating life for several years. Being at a university with a 4:1 M/F ratio didn't help. I then married the first woman that agreed to see me on a regular basis. We've been together ever since, so it must have been an OK choice ;-).
4. In grammar school at age seven, I could do the 10 and 11-year-olds' mathematics and spelling better than nearly all of them. Mr. Geer, my school principal, used to take me from classroom to classroom, put me in front of a blackboard, and tell me to solve some of the given grade's current homework. Thus was I used to shame and humiliate the older children in my school, in an effort to cajole these kids to perform better ("look, this second-grader does your work better than you!"). As far as I recall, this wasn't an effective strategy.
5. From age seven until age fourteen, I had no friends at school.
6. Only student activities (band, yearbook) and niche classes (French, field biology) finally gave me a path out of isolation. I was respected and eventually liked, in a mascot-like way.
7. I didn't lose my virginity until my early 20s, in college to a woman a few years older. It was nonconsensual, I wanted out. She wanted another cherry for her collection. Ten years later, I asked her why, over lunch. She looked away and mumbled that she thought she'd been doing a favor for another hapless geek. She had "helped" several in the same way.
8. I draw energy from crowds, bustle, movement, and good conversation -- my Myers-Briggs type is eNTp.
9. In an 1800-person high school, I was elected student body president. This meant that I got to do morning announcements, run school dances and Homecoming, raise funds for a lunchroom sound system, and (best of all) be the master of ceremonies at school assemblies and Friday pep rallies.
10. I had a stand-up routine that could keep people laughing with me, instead of at me. I felt the power of oratory, rhetoric and bringing hundreds to their feet. A huge rush...
11. As a teenager I was electable, charismatic but not date-worthy. Younger kids asked for my autograph. But at the same time, over a nine-month period I was turned down, stood up, cancelled, or otherwise rejected by various girls (as far as asking them out for dates went) 34 consecutive times. Yes, thirty-four times in a row without a date.
12. Eleven of those were associated with our high school prom, which I had to attend ceremonially.
13. My birthday saint (July 22) is Mary Magdalene.
14. I have taught adult Bible study groups at my church (St. Timothy's, www.sttims.org) in the past.
15. I have a pilot's license -- specifically, PP-ASEL -- and a 2nd-class medical certificate. I haven't flown in the past few years, but I keep my meds current just in case. Before I could take anyone else up, I'd now need some flight instruction and study to get a Wings level or pass a biennial check ride. Flying is a great experience... liberating, exploring, soaring, feeling vibrantly alive. I wish I could afford to do more.
16. However, I still haven't driven a stick-shift automobile.
17. I have flown beginner-level flights in hang gliders.. seeing nothing below one's feet, that's a strange experience...
18. For five summers in a row, I've done field research at a remote camp on Devon Island in the high Arctic, 76 degrees north. The camp borders a large impact crater.
19. My favorite authors are C.J. Cherryh, Marion Zimmer Bradley, Connie Willis and Elizabeth Moon.
20. I homebrew occasionally... I'd do it more if I could find a way to disperse the end product. Five gallons of porter takes a long time to disappear... and I'm a good brewer. I have my own mash-tun, too.
21. Cooking and baking come fairly easily to me, and I like to improvise under pressure. It's all chemical engineering, anyway (grin).
22. After my first kiss ever (see #2), I've never since kissed a woman smaller than a size 18... not because I fancy BBWs particularly, but because anyone smaller is out of my league, not one person has ever been interested. I really am lucky to have whatever relationships and partners that I have (or have had)... without regard for physical attributes.
23. I half-expect sweeties to depart at any time, after they figure out whatever-it-is that keeps everyone else at bay. Even years later.
24. Sometimes I'll teach geology or other science units as a classroom volunteer -- I really enjoy this. I fancy that I'm a good teacher, and have some talent for explaining concepts in graspable ways. Seeing a spark of curiosity in an 11-year-old's eye is unmatchable.
25. My favorite color is dark sky blue, and my favorite numbers are seventeen and five. I drive Fords.
hopeforyou, I'm going to post these in sections...1. I may be marginally an extrovert, but with poor social skills. I need to be around groups, but am ill-equipped to interact with them.
2. My first (unrequited) crush was at a summer Governor's Honor's Program, away from home at age 17. My first love was (platonically) a woman that I met on a bus tour of my home state, given to the top 20 or so graduating high school seniors in the state -- it was also my first poly experience, as she would cuddle in the back of the bus with me on one side and another guy on her other side. Having no other knowledge of dating rules, this seemed to me like a perfectly reasonable arrangement J.
3. Going far away to college, I had no dating life for several years. Being at a university with a 4:1 M/F ratio didn't help. I then married the first woman that agreed to see me on a regular basis. We've been together ever since, so it must have been an OK choice ;-).
4. In grammar school at age seven, I could do the 10 and 11-year-olds' mathematics and spelling better than nearly all of them. Mr. Geer, my school principal, used to take me from classroom to classroom, put me in front of a blackboard, and tell me to solve some of the given grade's current homework. Thus was I used to shame and humiliate the older children in my school, in an effort to cajole these kids to perform better ("look, this second-grader does your work better than you!"). As far as I recall, this wasn't an effective strategy.
5. From age seven until age fourteen, I had no friends at school.
6. Only student activities (band, yearbook) and niche classes (French, field biology) finally gave me a path out of isolation. I was respected and eventually liked, in a mascot-like way.
7. I didn't lose my virginity until my early 20s, in college to a woman a few years older. It was nonconsensual, I wanted out. She wanted another cherry for her collection. Ten years later, I asked her why, over lunch. She looked away and mumbled that she thought she'd been doing a favor for another hapless geek. She had "helped" several in the same way.
8. I draw energy from crowds, bustle, movement, and good conversation -- my Myers-Briggs type is eNTp.
9. In an 1800-person high school, I was elected student body president. This meant that I got to do morning announcements, run school dances and Homecoming, raise funds for a lunchroom sound system, and (best of all) be the master of ceremonies at school assemblies and Friday pep rallies.
10. I had a stand-up routine that could keep people laughing with me, instead of at me. I felt the power of oratory, rhetoric and bringing hundreds to their feet. A huge rush...
11. As a teenager I was electable, charismatic but not date-worthy. Younger kids asked for my autograph. But at the same time, over a nine-month period I was turned down, stood up, cancelled, or otherwise rejected by various girls (as far as asking them out for dates went) 34 consecutive times. Yes, thirty-four times in a row without a date.
12. Eleven of those were associated with our high school prom, which I had to attend ceremonially.
13. My birthday saint (July 22) is Mary Magdalene.
14. I have taught adult Bible study groups at my church (St. Timothy's, www.sttims.org) in the past.
15. I have a pilot's license -- specifically, PP-ASEL -- and a 2nd-class medical certificate. I haven't flown in the past few years, but I keep my meds current just in case. Before I could take anyone else up, I'd now need some flight instruction and study to get a Wings level or pass a biennial check ride. Flying is a great experience... liberating, exploring, soaring, feeling vibrantly alive. I wish I could afford to do more.
16. However, I still haven't driven a stick-shift automobile.
17. I have flown beginner-level flights in hang gliders.. seeing nothing below one's feet, that's a strange experience...
18. For five summers in a row, I've done field research at a remote camp on Devon Island in the high Arctic, 76 degrees north. The camp borders a large impact crater.
19. My favorite authors are C.J. Cherryh, Marion Zimmer Bradley, Connie Willis and Elizabeth Moon.
20. I homebrew occasionally... I'd do it more if I could find a way to disperse the end product. Five gallons of porter takes a long time to disappear... and I'm a good brewer. I have my own mash-tun, too.
21. Cooking and baking come fairly easily to me, and I like to improvise under pressure. It's all chemical engineering, anyway (grin).
22. After my first kiss ever (see #2), I've never since kissed a woman smaller than a size 18... not because I fancy BBWs particularly, but because anyone smaller is out of my league, not one person has ever been interested. I really am lucky to have whatever relationships and partners that I have (or have had)... without regard for physical attributes.
23. I half-expect sweeties to depart at any time, after they figure out whatever-it-is that keeps everyone else at bay. Even years later.
24. Sometimes I'll teach geology or other science units as a classroom volunteer -- I really enjoy this. I fancy that I'm a good teacher, and have some talent for explaining concepts in graspable ways. Seeing a spark of curiosity in an 11-year-old's eye is unmatchable.
25. My favorite color is dark sky blue, and my favorite numbers are seventeen and five. I drive Fords.
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no subject
Date: 2003-01-05 12:30 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-01-05 12:35 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-01-05 02:32 am (UTC)If you were being used to humiliate older children in class, then the teachers involved owe you a huge apology for doing a lot of damage to your chances of having school friends :-(
I'm smaller than a size 18. What do you mean `out of your league'?
Trivia about me: I was a graduate student at Magdalene College (which is obviously Cambridge University, since at Oxford University, they have Magdalen College).
Do you ever talk about your religious beliefs?
no subject
Date: 2003-01-05 10:20 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-01-05 03:03 pm (UTC)Hee... Imperial pints, that'd help! Too bad we aren't withing drinking-arm's reach.
doing a lot of damage to your chances of having school friends
Being around me was too dangerous for my schoolmates... not only was I subject to the usual same-age geek-taunting, but I had kids from three years above mine singling me out (and anyone near me) for special abuse, including violence. I learned lots of threat-assessment skills and became shy and defensive. The only friend I had at age 10 (Steve) lived about a half-mile away and attended a different school.
I'm smaller than a size 18.
(chuckle) but you've never kissed me!
I never realized that there was a Magdalen vs. Magdalene College, Oxford vs. Cambridge! From over here, I'd always conceptually mushed them into one entity (blush).
Religious beliefs... I discuss at home with
no subject
Date: 2003-01-05 10:44 am (UTC)I learned on a tractor first (which isn't anything like the same) and then on an early 60s Ford one ton my dad used to haul livestock or grain. I think learning on a big lumbering beast of a vehicle is probably easier than starting with a car, so this idea has merit. Again, IMO.
no subject
Date: 2003-01-05 02:45 pm (UTC)Hey, that'd be great! Thanks... I'd like to try.
no subject
Date: 2003-01-05 11:16 am (UTC)Excuse me?? Anyone smaller is out of yourleague?? This is where I want to take men and shake them. If you picture someone out of your league they will be... just for the fact that you have put them there already in your mind.
Plus attraction is where you least suspect it to be.
no subject
Date: 2003-01-05 02:43 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-01-05 02:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-01-05 03:12 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-01-26 03:58 am (UTC)+++++++++++++++++
"Bruges is my favorite European tourist destination (nods to Dorothy Dunnett and Rick Steves). "
I love Dorothy Dunnett too and went to Bruges after reading Niccolo books. Also Boulogne.
++++++++++++++++++++++++
"64. I want to get an initial scuba certificate."
I tried snorkelling a couple of years ago. I love seeing dolphins and want to get to know someand on a trip to Israel the only way with with a snorkel but I found that got in the way. I tried sans snorkel in Cuba but that was a very stage-managed visit. I need to live someplace on the coast where dolphins visit where I can swim in warm water daily and hang out with them.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"I'm a natural redhead. Some parts still are."
Redheads are widely considered the sexiest and most desireable people, so there!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"My greatest life's work are my three beloved children: James, David and Kevin."
I have 2 daughters but am currently very disenchanted with one. They are 27 and 29.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"36. I much prefer Emacs to vi. With or without mix-ins."
I've visited friend's linux and bsb boxes and used those and hated them. But I don't programme so maybe don't realise how wonderful they can be....
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Every time you fly out of Atlanta airport, you are leaving an average of four minutes sooner thanks to a project I led in 1994-97, the Surface Movement Advisor. This saves Delta Air Lines alone about $30M/yr in direct operating costs. "
Can we have that in UK airports too please?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"I have a pilot's license -- specifically, PP-ASEL -- and a 2nd-class medical certificate. I haven't flown in the past few years, but I keep my meds current just in case. Before I could take anyone else up, I'd now need some flight instruction and study to get a Wings level or pass a biennial check ride. Flying is a great experience... liberating, exploring, soaring, feeling vibrantly alive. I wish I could afford to do more. "
I so wanted to learn to fly. It was just somehow far out of my reach. An ex learned by going to the US (I'm in the UK) and he promised to take me up and let me take the controls but there was fog that day and he didn't have clearance for that so we didn't go.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"After my first kiss ever (see #2), I've never since kissed a woman smaller than a size 18... not because I fancy BBWs particularly, but because anyone smaller is out of my league, not one person has ever been interested. I really am lucky to have whatever relationships and partners that I have (or have had)... without regard for physical attributes. "
See above
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"21. Cooking and baking come fairly easily to me, and I like to improvise under pressure. It's all chemical engineering, anyway (grin)."
I love being cooked for. I used to quite enjoy cooking when the kids were small but haven't for ages. Being arthritic, standing for ages is uncomfortable, but I think I've also lost confidence. As I have a sweet tooth I liked making cakes and cookies for the kids. Since I'm slimming those are now out.:(
It cut my post off so I had to do 2 parts
Date: 2003-01-26 03:59 am (UTC)"I half-expect sweeties to depart at any time, after they figure out whatever-it-is that keeps everyone else at bay. Even years later."
Sweeties always say "this will last and I will love you for ever" but it never does. But I don't regret those very wonderful relationships that ended before I was ready. Nor the ones I ended.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Sometimes I'll teach geology or other science units as a classroom volunteer -- I really enjoy this. I fancy that I'm a good teacher, and have some talent "
I am a teacher. ESOL, literacy, dyslexia support, communications. I enjoy it at all levels. The sudden light shining through when a student with learning difficulties matches the right word to the right picture. The way high level and intelligent university students fly free when you support them the right way. The way people's lives change if you teach them to read and write. The only thing is management and the way the authorities kill the spirit and enjoyment and often manage to kill the actual teaching process too. (oops, my hobby horse snuck in there. Sorry.)
no subject
Date: 2003-01-05 12:37 pm (UTC)How awful. I remember going over to other kids' houses to play, and having their mothers drag me into the kitchen to read things out of the paper to all the grownups sitting around the kitchen. It never occurred to me that I could refuse.
no subject
Date: 2003-01-05 02:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-01-05 01:49 pm (UTC)I realize that you probably didn't mean any offense with this statement, but I'm afraid it hit a pet peeve of mine.
I'm well over a size 18. I'm also way, way out of many people's league, because I don't devalue myself due to my size when considering potential partners. I do not find attention from just ANYONE something to be so thrilled about that I'll just be happy to accept it. I've had way too many come-ons from men assuming that because I'm a fat chick - especially if they know I'm fat, polyamorous, bisexual and pagan - I'll happily screw anyone at any time. Nope, I'm WAY choosier than that. The fact that I'm fat has not led to any shortage of love - or of incredibly good sex - in my life.
no subject
Date: 2003-01-05 02:34 pm (UTC)...not led to any shortage of love - or of incredibly good sex - in my life.
That's a good thing, and undoubtedly deserved.
no subject
Date: 2003-01-05 05:57 pm (UTC)I know you didn't mean anything offensive by this, but...sheesh.
no subject
Date: 2003-01-05 06:15 pm (UTC)