Joy tagged me with this because she must have known that I love lists too. I write lists every day...at work...at home...on vacation. Lists are fantastic and makes me feel accomplished when stuff gets crossed off; e.g. I probably won't get to the gym today, but hey! I did get to the supermarket and bought onions. Woo! Go Kimmie.
1. I was run over by a car in college. It's amazing how you feel nothing at all when your body goes into shock. I remember lying on the ground thinking 'Now is probably a good time to cry, Kimmie. Heellloo, why aren't you crying?!", as I watched the driver run over to me with a look of horror on his face. Luckily I ended up with only several stitches and a compound fracture in my leg.
2. I dust every day. Or at least all the days that I'm home. Though I may have dusted in a hotel room or two in the past.
3. I played the piano for over eight years. My teacher told me I was good but I'd never be great because I freaked out playing thirty-second and sixty-fourth count notes. I'd end up going too fast or too slow and ruin some really difficult passage in the song.
4. I used to be painfully shy. I'd never venture out to a restuarant by myself, or even wait for friends by the bar on my own. I'd just wait in the car until someone had made it inside.
5. I can't swim. I almost drowned as a child, so I've always been afraid of the water. I was 23 before I learned how to float. :/
And since everyone seems to be adding bonus ones, I have a degree in Biochemistry and once had dreams of being a doctor. The dream was short-lived when I realized the sight of blood made me want to vomit.
Now I'm tagging Byrne, Andrew, and Gladys. It's your turn to share!
What were you afraid of as a child that seems silly to you now?
Submitted by navelgazer.
Dracula. No, not just any vampire. But the head honcho himself. He was real (there were so many movies made about him, how could he not be real?), he had a following of vampires from all over the world, he was a zillion years old and thus very wise, and he could only be killed by the wooden crosses that I built out of chopsticks.
Yes, chopsticks.
I tried to watch every vampire movie that came on TV. I figured if I was going to protect myself, I had to know all about him. Of course I was never able to sleep afterwards. I'd lie in bed frozen by my thoughts and sweating bullets under the blankets. After about two hours of that, I'd build a fortress around myself on the bed. Me and my stuffed animals against the Count of Darkness. I lined them around me, figuring he'd go for the teddy bears first before me. They were fluffier than me after all.
At a Sotheby's auction in London, there was a bidding frenzy over Graffit artist Bansky's work. This series of Kate Moss prints, imitating Warhol's portraits went for $95,000.
How many times have you looked at art and said, "I totally thought of that first?"
The Pet Shop Boys are playing at the Bill Graham Civic auditorium tonight. How did I not know they were on tour? If I feel old talking about them, they must really feel old singing them 80s' hits. I'd love to see them in a smaller venue, where I could actually hear the lyrics.
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live? Why?
Submitted by abcdefg81.
I love big cities. I love the constant noise and the zillion people with somewhere to go. I love the parks built on top of skyscrapers and spread out over old railroad tracks. I love the abundance of taxis (a guarantee that I'll always have a ride home). I love the diversity in culture and food. Oh, the food. I even love the grittiness of public transportation systems and deserted warehouse districts.
I especially love New York city. London comes in at a strong second. I imagine I'd love to live in Tokyo and Hong Kong too. I'm planning trips there next year in fact. My college roommate moved to NYC right after graduation, and I've visited at least twice a year for the last seven years. Two years ago I went for a few weeks, looking at business schools, researching companies, getting blisters on my feet, and drinking lots of coffee. I was so sure that I was going to move. That was the year.
But I didn't. It was always a "Not yet, maybe in a few months". For now I'm still happy here.
I discovered a new sushi restaurant. Or well, Yelp helped me discover it. It's tiny, drive too fast and you'll likely miss the red and black signs adorning the side of the building. It doesn't help that it's partially hidden by a bus stop and located on a particulary barren block in the Tenderloin. But not to fear, it's close enough to the Phoenix Hotel and Bambuddha Lounge, that you have safe havens if the crack dealers come after you.
For a Saturday night, the place was surprisingly empty except for another couple and three people at the sushi bar. We couldn't believe our luck! While it's not as good as Ebisu or Kirala, it's location is prime if I'm coming from the SOMA, Mission, or downtown. And it's cheaper than Tokyo Go Go, Blowfish, or Sushi Groove.
Everything that came to the table was really fresh. Halibut nigiri arrived with a sprig of mint over the rice - a very unique and totally unexpected twist. They serve good quality sake for cheap and the special rolls are decently priced. The firecracker balls are a must try if you love fried foods covered in sriracha and mayo.
Do you like surprises?
Planners generally don't like surprises. I plan my weeks well in advance, including who I'm having lunch, dinner, and coffee breaks with. [Ok, I'm kidding about the coffee breaks] I also build itineraries when I travel to new places...in Excel...and color coded by public transportation routes. But not to worry, I also include a 'free time' column to do unplanned exploration. ;)
I've learned though that this type of behavior can drive others crazy. I'm trying to let loose. This week, I went to lunch with a friend at the last minute. Exciting, I know! And there definitely are some surprises that are good surprises. Like when they are the perfect, little gifts that friends give because they know I'll love it. That's a great surprise.
But then I suppose, that's a planned surprise...
