300

Okay, the title of this post is a lie. It should actually be "300 divided by 3"! Inspired by everyone who has done one of these in the last few months though, here is a small (?) indulgence in egotism, in the form of a list of 100 things that you might not have known about me. :)

1. I did ballet for 16 years and really miss it.

2. I feel as if the Goo Goo Dolls’ album “Dizzy Up the Girl” was written for me.

3. My favourite colours are red, grey and green (although definitely not in combination)

4. Buying a digital camera was probably the best purchase I ever made

5. I failed my driver’s licence 3 times.

6. Engineers are my favourite "category" of people. I just always have so much fun with them! I’m friends with so many engineers that I’ve have been declared an “honorary” engineer.

7. I love blogging.

8. I wonder if I should have done a BSc or a medical degree instead of a BA. Occasionally, I also wonder if I should’ve become an engineer.

9. I fall in love with movie and TV characters on a regular basis – Seth Cohen (Adam Brody) from “The O.C.” and Jude from “Across the Universe” are 2 of the more recent examples.

10. I love baking – especially for other people.

11. The song “No Bravery” by James Blunt changed my life.

12. One of my goals in life is to be an extra/dancer in a Bollywood movie.

13. I’m a morning person (likely 1 of the 3 on the planet)

14. I don’t particularly like wearing black. If I do wear it, it’s usually a skirt or pants, and I’ll wear a really bright coloured top with it as some form of compensation.

15. Matric was one of the toughest – and best – years of my life.

16. The only alcoholic beverage that I really like is blue curaco (and only if it’s served with lemonade).

17. I have watched “Singing in the Rain” and “Juno” so many times that I know all the dialogue.

18. I love swimming – even if it’s doing lengths in the Wits pool!

19. I don’t have a middle name. My Hebrew name is Carmella though.

20. My pet hate is people who have Facebook statuses that read along the lines of “Jessica is so wonderfully in love with her sweetie-honey-angel-baby and so happy that they’ve been together for 2 months”. Urgh.

21. I hardly ever wear make-up – not even foundation.

22. I’m still close friends with someone I’ve known since I was 3! We still talk on the phone at least once a month and still get along fantastically! I'm really glad that we're still friends!

23. I love Chinese food.

24. I love thunderstorms.

25. I have helped deliver puppies – simultaneously amazing and terrifying!

26. The thing I struggle with the most is acceptance.

27. I don’t drink coffee, as it makes me jittery.

28. I’ve been vegetarian for 7 years.

29. I’m a fussy vegetarian – I don’t like brinjals, bell peppers or marrows.

30. I didn’t want to go to Wits. I wanted to study at UCT or Rhodes. But, looking back, I’m really glad that I did end up at Wits.

31. I’m an only child.

32. If I wasn’t an only child, I would really like to have an older brother.

33. I don’t want children, as I don’t believe that I’m maternal in any way. I never know what to do with them!

34. Instead of having children, I’d prefer to own 2 cats (preferably a Russian Blue, a Maine Coon or a Burmese).

35. I don’t mind insects or reptiles, but I’m petrified of snakes (Freud would have a field day with me).

36. I fall in love too easily. Sometimes I wish that I didn't.

37. I read Shakespeare for fun. My favourite Shakespeare plays are “Othello” and “Hamlet”. I like the tragic stuff

38. I only learned to apply eyeliner when I was 21.

39. I’m an obsessive reader of food labels – mostly to avoid gelatine and other animal derivatives.

40. One of the things that I’m most proud of is having been head girl of my high school.

41. I love emo music – probably against my better judgement.

42. I have asked a complete stranger out on a date. The complete stranger said yes.

43. I don’t like driving into parking spaces which have cars on either side.

44. I had the same cellphone for the last 5 years, and only bought a new one 2 weeks ago.

45. I’m ¼ Polish.

46. I love receiving flowers (what girl doesn’t?!?).

47. I think in Facebook statuses.

48. I’m at least a little bit OCD – at least about academics and keeping my room neat.

49. It takes at least an hour to straighten my hair, because it’s so thick. My hairdresser once gave up trying to blow-dry it, and handed the hair-dryer to someone else.

50. I usually have favourite scenes in movies – moments that just stand out for me, either because of the cinematography, or just because of the general feel of the scene. Good examples are the flash-card scene in “Love Actually” and the fish-tank scene in “Romeo + Juliet”.

51. I love high heels (especially stilettos), but I don’t generally wear them because they hurt my feet.

52. I only ever listen to Dashboard Confessional when I’m really happy!

53. I react horribly to most medication. Myprodol knocks me out for at least 3 days.

54. I always eat breakfast! I go into a mental shutdown if I don’t.

55. I always sing along to the radio when I’m driving.

56. I’m the worst person to watch horror movies with – I end up screaming and hiding behind whoever is sitting next to me (usually long before anything scary actually happens).

57. Some of the best times of my life have been (in no particular order): matric; going to the Vaal with the Warners; Forum 1 and Forum 2; my holiday to Durban with varsity friends; watching "Purple Rain" with Luke and Duncan (and many other movie nights); my 21st birthday party; Kirstan's "Pin-Up Girl" photoshoot in 2008; and many other random moments... :)

58. I love dancing – although I’m not a huge fan of clubs, mostly because they don’t play the kind of music I like. Anyone know of any good trance clubs? ;)

59. My most prized possession is my Irish Promise Ring, which was given to me by a very awesome friend! :)

60. The people who I am still friends with from high school are not the people I expected to still be friends with, but they are the most fantastic people and I’m really glad that we’re friends!

61. I love the ocean, simply because its so vast and constantly changing. Kind of like life, really...

62. I love musicals, concerts and live music shows. Some of the really good ones that I've seen live include Tap Dogs, Lord of the Dance, James Blunt, Bryan Adams and We Will Rock You.

63. When people ask me if I’ve seen a particular movie, I usually say “No, but I’ve read the book”.

64. I have cried in pretty much every episode of “Everwood” that I’ve ever watched.

65. I need at least 7 hours of sleep per night.

66. The first thing that I notice about boys that I like is their eyes and their shoes.

67. I suspect that I was Chinese in a previous life (mostly because of my Chinese culture and food obsession)

68. I was completely maths-phobic until I ended up tutoring stats to second years’ at varsity.

69. I would like to sky-dive.

70. I like getting dressed up to the nines to go out.

71. I usually fall for guys who turn out to be emotionally unavailable or gay. I'm starting to get used to it!

72. It takes a lot for me to get angry. I usually just get sad when I’m upset about something.

73. I’m a neat-freak, of note!

74. I associate the people and events in my life with songs (feel free to ask what “your” song is!)

75. I love road trips – especially those which have no destination in particular.

76. I don’t like copying CD’s.

77. I don’t have pierced ears – and I’m not sure that I’m planning on changing this anytime soon!

78. I really enjoy painting and drawing and making “stuff” and wish that I had more time for it.

79. I’m determined to become a clinical psychologist.

80. I’m fascinated by Buddhism and Taoism.

81. Most of my closest friends are older than me. I just find it easier to relate to them (although apparently this has something to do with being an only child).

82. I only listen to the news on the radio to find out what the weather is going to be like.

83. I love public speaking.

84. The worst day of my life was the day my cat had to be put down. She was the most awesome cat!

85. I have never learned to ride a bicycle.

86. I collect dessert recipes and probably have at least 200 of them!

87. I have never been overseas. The countries I would most like to visit though are Italy, Japan, Poland and Ireland.

88. There are certain movies that I refuse to watch with other people – namely “City of Angels” and “Romeo + Juliet”.

89. I am slightly obsessed with recycling and environmental issues and wish that more people would recycle.

90. If I could live in any historical period, it would be either the 1960’s (the time of The Beatles and civil rights protests) or the 18th Century (inspire by too many Jane Austen novels!)

91. I worry far too much!

92. Doing philosophy at university was the most intellectually challenging thing that I’ve ever done!

93. I get goosebumps when I hear bagpipes.

94. I love going to art galleries and the theatre, and wish that more people did.

95. If my life was a movie or TV show, the song for the opening credits would be Matchbox Twenty’s “How Far We’ve Come”.

96. I never buy jewellery, and yet somehow have tons of it. It seems to be a popular birthday present choice! ;)

97. Bad grammar and spelling annoy me.

98. If there is one thing that can always make me smile, it’s the OK Go music video for “Here it Goes Again” (the treadmill dance). Just hearing that song makes me want to dance (possibly on a treadmill)!

99. I love hiking (although falling down hills tends to kill my enthusiasm for it).

100. My favourite scent is vanilla. Just wearing my vanilla perfume makes me happy!