25 Things about Frances

Writing 25 random factoids about oneself is all the rage on Facebook right now. I posted my own list there yesterday and thought I'd share it here as well...

1. I like grammar. I edit everything I read and love finding typos. I even edit others’ speech when they are talking . . . but I usually keep corrections to myself (unless it’s my husband – I edited his speech during our very first phone conversation).

2. For my high school career project I gave a speech about being a book editor.Ten years later I became a book editor (technically, an Associate Editor for a Catholic book publishing company). It was pretty cool.

3. For my high school's senior superlatives, I was voted “Most Likely to be Found in the Library” (tells you what my peers thought of me: ultimate nerd). Funny how I worked in my college library for two years (as a writing tutor in the Writers’ Workshop) and in a public library for another two (as an Administrative Support Coordinator).

4. I will always try to respond honestly to any question I’m asked, although I do believe withholding information is sometimes appropriate.

5. On the flip side of the same coin, I am extremely gullible – I usually believe people are telling the truth and find it difficult to discern when someone is being sarcastic.

6. I am (overly) analytical. If you propose something to me, I will consider every reason NOT to do it (or why it won’t work) before I agree/approve. Just ask my husband.

7. I believe that “reduce, reuse, and recycle” and striving to live in a way that has the least negative impact on the environment are all part of good stewardship of the resources God gives us. I recycle everything I can, I love to acquire needed items secondhand, and I try to get by with less.

8. I use handkerchiefs all year long, clean with washcloths and rags, and plan to cloth diaper our children as much as possible.

9. I’m allergic to fresh pineapple. If I eat it or anything it touches my mouth tingles and my tongue swells up. But I can eat most canned pineapple – something about the canning process must neutralize whatever triggers my reaction.

10. I still sleep with a stuffed raccoon puppet named Ginger. My excuse for keeping her with me in the bed is that she holds useful things inside: handkerchief, eye mask, earplugs, etc.

11. I have lived in 7 states and England. I like North Carolina the best of them all and am very grateful that God led David and me to Charlotte (half way between where we were living when we met online: me in NJ and him in FL).

12. Soft, fuzzy things make me happy, so I’m having a heyday with these baby blankets and toys.

13. I discerned my vocation to marriage and motherhood at a young age (late teens). I had to wait a long time to find my husband, but God’s timing is perfect and I am now eagerly anticipating being a mom to Teresa and any more children God blesses us with.

14. I really like my curly hair. When I’ve straightened it in the past I didn’t feel like myself.

15. Singing is one of my favorite ways to pray.

16. My favorite chore is putting away clean dishes.

17. I really enjoy word games like Boggle and Balderdash. I am not very good at Scrabble, though.

18. I use a Palm Pilot to keep track of my calendar, contacts, and lists.

19. When I lived in a Benedictine monastery for 7 months, I loved the daily flow of prayer and work. I wonder if my life as a stay-at-home mom will be anything like that.

20. I love to lector at Mass. There’s nothing better than asking the Holy Spirit to come and help you proclaim God’s love letter to His children.

21. My husband had “Peace be with you” inscribed in my wedding band. Sometimes just remembering that helps me calm down.

22. I like chocolate, and I think it tastes good with most anything. Chocolate, caramel, and nuts (turtles). Mint chocolate brownies. Chocolate liqueur. Chocolate chip pancakes. Mmmm.

23. I bribe and reward myself with food – at school, at work, at home . . . “you can have a cupcake after you wash all the dishes” etc.

24. I can sing “Head, shoulders, knees, and toes” in 3 languages (English, French, and Japanese).

25. I can make the dimple on my chin go in and out by flaring my nostrils. My other weird human trick is tucking and releasing my lips in a wave – you have to see it to know what I mean. :)

PS Sorry the picture is a little fuzzy - I scanned it from my high school yearbook. Now it occurs to me that "I went by Frankie for 11 years (ages 13 to 24)" would have been a good item to include on the list for anyone who came into my life after that time.