The Girl from the Ghetto

102 Random things about me …

1. I once got a private tour of The Mint, a bar in Hailey Idaho owned by Bruce Willis. AMAZING. Even got to see the secret shower room.

2. I went to college off and on for 18 years, but I graduated with a 3.79 (and still can’t find a job …)

3. I’ve seen every episode of 90210.

4. I’m more of a cat person than a dog person.

5. I’ve traveled to 13 countries and 39 states.

6. The meanest thing I ever did was tell everyone in 5th grade that a girl got her period. Then I showed them her pads. I am still bothered by this.

7. I used to live in Vegas, and I hated it.

8. I was a published author by 19, but it’s been 8 years since I’ve submitted anything else for publication.

9. I liked the movie Across the Universe.

10. I hate chicken, turkey, and fish.

11. I have horrible ADHD, but became organized because of it.

12. I was in a rock video - Cocky by Kid Rock, filmed in Detroit.

13. I was a flight attendant and miss wearing the uniform.

14. I love to take picture, esp. landscape photography.

15. I love road trips. My longest road trip ever was 19 days, which I did twice, both times with my friend Becky. We traveled all over Florida the first 19 day trip, and all out west and to national parks the second time.

16. I had to make a decision last month and chose to have an endometrial ablation, which means now I can’t have kids.

17. I love all things Star Wars.

18. I used to work at a movie theatre as a popcorn seller, a projectionist, and a manager. I miss getting free movie passes.

19. I own 5 cameras. My latest is a Nikon D80. I haven’t used it yet.

20. I was engaged for one day. I was on a plane and married within 36 hours, which was fantastic. i’m not into all of that perfect day bullcrap.

21. I used to be a cocktail waitress in Vegas, and they forced me to stuff my A-cup bra to a size D. The horror!

22. I waited on Tupac and Snoop-Dog about a month before Tupac died. They were the nicest guys and tried to force me to take an autographed cd, which I turned down, as I had NO IDEA who they were. What a mistake that was.

23. The Beatles were and are the best band. ever. Don’t you argue otherwise with me.

24. I never knew my dad growing up. I hired a private eye to find him, and he doesn’t want anything to do with me, even though I am his only child. This really bothers me.

25. When I was growing up my mom used to prank phone call people with me. I miss the days before caller id and star 69.

26. Capture the flag is the best game to play as a child.

27. I am not athletic at all, but I can walk circles around anyone. Even in my condition, i walked an average of 16 miles a day when I was in Europe last summer.

28. Eddie Van Halen was fabulous sober in concert this past tour. I pray for his continued sobriety.

29. Bob Guinney from the Bachelor lived in my dorm at MSU. We had friends in common and went to the same parties all the time. He was an ass, but his band Fat Amy was good. I once had the pleasure of kicking him in the ass and calling him a big dummy. I can’t believe that chick Greenley from AMC married him.

30. I love the Beatles so much I had to go to Liverpool on my honeymoon.

31. I subscribe to 8 magazines, but since the economy sucks, I’m letting all my subscriptions go. I miss Star Magazine already.

32. I still have all of my Barbies, including Cher, Farrah, and all of The Sunshine People.

33. I loved MASH and we often watch it reruns in the early evenings.

34. I am a feminist.

35. As a third grader I had a club called Hot Lips, in honor of Major Hoolihann. We would beat up boys who picked on weaker girls in our class. I even had a shirt at the mall that said “I’m with Hot Lips.”

36. I prefer writing with blue over black ink.

37. My favorite Artist is Vincent Van Gogh, but I went to the Ann Frank House in Amsterdam rather than visit his museum.

38. I hate all things flavored grape, and love orange flavored anything, except i hate eating actual oranges.

39. I have sweared since the third grade, but never swear in front of my step-kids, which is so HARD.

40. I have a cat named Beatrice. She is fat and lazy and shy and is fabulous.

41. I have moved 22 times in my life.

42. In college I would entertain people by shoving my fist in my mouth.

43. I used to be able to put both my legs behind my head, too, but arthritis has ruined my talent…

44. I loved Michael Cera before Superbad and Juno. Watch him as George-Michael in Arrested Development.

45. I hate video games, and of course we have an X-box.

46. I love to pretend I have a British accent, just like Britney Spears does.

47. I sold 2 stories to Star Magazine and made a few hundred dollars. It was so exciting!

48. The Sound of Music has finally beat Grease as my favorite musical of all time.

49. Halloween is my favorite holiday.

50. I have won Halloween contests by dressing up as Marilyn Monroe, Dolly Parton, and Michael Jackson.

51. I hate beach vacations. I have been on enough of them to last a lifetime, and after you have drank yourself sick for days and gotten sunburned I feel there is nothing else to do other than swim.

52. I’m a proud Democrat and can’t wait until Bush leaves the White house next year.

53. I miss Howard Stern on regular radio and tv. I wonder how his show is doing?

54. I’m a longtime listener to WRIF 101.1 and love the Drew and Mike show - but I’m wondering why Drew has been gone so long. How long does it take to write a book?

55. I love Lost, and can not wait for season 4 to begin tomorrow night at 9:00 pm on ABC.

56. I love nothing more than laying in bed with flannel pajamas - especially on a cold winter night.

57. I am Italian, Finnish, Scottish, Irish, French Canadian and French. Although if you look at my senior picture many people have commented I look Asian.

58. I know the real way Jim Morrison died. My college professor’s twin brother’s best friend used to manage the Grateful Dead and was there the night Jim died. He pulled a record player in the bathtub and electrocuted himself by accident. The people there at the party freaked out, and moved from the tub to the bed to the tub. They waited very long before calling police, too late in fact, as he was not dead right away.

59. My nickname is Aim the Flame. I’ve had it since I was in grade school.

60. I hate going to the gym and seeing people talk on cell phones, wear too much make-up, or couples working out together.

61. I once had a 100 things before I die list and wripped it up after I’d crossed off 75 things. I figured that was close enough.

62. I like to collect postcards, cds, books, Beatles items, and magnets.

63. I love traveling more than anything else in this world. If I was rich I would travel as much as possible.

64. I am obsessed with jewelry, and will sneak in buying some any chance I get. Pandora, Swarovski, and Troll are bad habits and are hard to break…

65. My senior class song was Sweet Child of Mine by Guns and Roses.

66. Angelina Jolie has tainted Brad Pitt for me.

67. If you must know my top 5 hot movie stars list, I’d say it was: George Clooney, Jake Gyllenhall, Ewan McGregor, Edward Norton, and McDreamy.

68. I love violent films: Fight Club, American History X, The Godfather, Goodfellas, The Usual Suspects, Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill vol. 1 (and 2) and countless others.

69. McDreamy over McSteamy any day. My step-daughter disagrees….

70. The Office isn’t as funny this season (before thewriters strike.) But I still enjoy it.

71. I have a Dwight Schrutte Bobblehead at my desk at work.

72. Cameron Crowe is my favorite director, although that Elizabethtown stunk.

73. I love to read books about dysfunctional families, like “Running with Scissors” because they make me fell better about my own.

74. A mouse jumped on my head when I was 17 and i’m still freaked out by this. I have to sleep with the covers over my mouth to this day and my husband always mocks me because of this (but in a fun way.)

75. I read the entire Old Testament by the time I was 9 years old.

76. I have no religion, but I’m very interested in Buddhism.

77. I’m trying to get tickets to see the Dalhi Lama when he comes to U-M this year.

78. The nicest thing I ever did for my mom was take her to a $500 show to see Paul McCartney. She still talks about it with joy in her eyes to this day.

79. The first cd I ever bought was The Police Greatest Hits.

80. I still have all of my old records at my mom’s house, including the soundtrack to Miami Vice.

81. I believe that what goes around, comes around.

82. I’ve decided this posting is the hardest one I’ll ever write.

83. I loved John Cusack after seeing “Say Anything.”

84. I was once chased by the Secret Service and outran them. It was on campus when Bill Clinton was campaigning. We were just hopping a fence to get out of the crowd to leave.

85. I loved Knott’s Landing as a teenager and wouldn’t miss an episode, even for a bar night once during college.

86. I fought off digital photography as long as possible, but now love it.

87. I text when I drive.

88. I put on make-up at stoplights. Rush hour traffic is horrible in my hood.

89. I once gave a guest lecture I wrote about Madison Heights at MSU.

90. I grew up next to drug dealers.

91. My mom used to charge my and my friends each $2 one way for any rides she gave us once we were in high school.

92. My house was crawling with mice who often would join me in the shower as they climbed up from the drains.

93. I think that buying a coach purse is worth it, but only if you go to the outlet store.

94. I’m addicted to red carpet coverage on E! If there are no Academy Awards this year I will be at a loss.

95. Pam from The Office is a friend of mine on Myspace.

96. The worst pain I’ve ever felt was when I feel asleep with fake eyelashes and contacts. They glue from the lashes glued my contacts to my eye, which I ripped off when I forced the contacts out. I had to take steroids for weeks and wear those think weird black glasses old blind people wear, even to work. My eyes were blood red. it was AWFUL.

97. If I ever had a daughter I was going to name her after my great-grandmother Rose who raised me.

98. I enjoy acting silly and goofy. If i can do a weird dance and make someone laugh, i’ll do it in a heartbeat.

99. I love to karaoke and haven’t went in 3 years. But I’m going Saturday night.

100. I am a secret romantic at heart, even though I make fun of all that stuff.

101. For some reason, I’m shrinking. In the past 6 months I lost a 1/4 inch, and in the past 8 years it’s been a total of 1 3/4 inches. I’m still in my 30’s …

102. I recently got to be an extra in the movie Whip It staring Ellen Page and Drew Barrymore. It was a dream come true!!!

22 Comments

22 responses so far ↓

  • moonbeammcqueen // February 10, 2008 at 12:59 pm

    I love this list. Fascinating! Your dad should be ashamed. How can people be so heartless?

  • Michele // February 14, 2008 at 8:38 am

    I love your list too!
    My dad left when i was 1 and i hired a PI when my grandmother died…(he had died). I looked just like him (no wonder my mother and I did not get along!) My mother would never talk about him and the only reason I know what he looked like and his name is thx to my grandmother. I turned out OK…have my own company of geeks that is the love of my life.
    Does not sound like you really want a job…lol.

  • John Michaelson // February 15, 2008 at 3:08 am

    On the other side of the spectrum, my son was taken from me back in 1989 and I just got to know him now that he’s 20.

    Great list. I might have to do one too. (I’m so original it stinks).

  • k3mp // February 17, 2008 at 4:23 pm

    Your list is very honest and inspiring. I might write one too one day :-) Best Wishes

  • slybard // February 22, 2008 at 6:15 pm

    Quite inspiring list…i may write one up myself.nothing new coz i already have a top 10 list for the most beautiful women i’ve ever seen,favourite actresses(Sandro Bullock etc) and fave actors(Al Pacino,Nicholas Cage etc)….

  • gunny93 // March 3, 2008 at 1:14 pm

    I think I could probably come up with a list of about 13.

    How did you pull off 101?!

  • Dube // March 26, 2008 at 10:19 pm

    Published author? That is very impressive. The publishing world is hard to break into!

  • thegirlfromtheghetto // March 27, 2008 at 7:14 am

    Yeah, but that was so many years ago …

  • ames31 // March 31, 2008 at 7:54 am

    I went and found my dad too - and I am so lucky. it has turned out to be the best decision I ever made. and I pray that your dad will someday realize the errors of his ways and make an effort to change the future.

  • Shannon // April 6, 2008 at 10:35 pm

    Wow, what a great list. You sound like a very interesting person!

  • trailerparkbarbie // April 15, 2008 at 8:12 pm

    We have a lot in common . But, you are much more interesting than I am.

    Girl….you have LIVED! And, you’re not even close to the finish line. I wonder what else you will do.

    And, how long did it take to write that list? I would have to commit to at least 6 months to come up with that many things.

  • thegirlfromtheghetto // April 15, 2008 at 10:32 pm

    I think it took me like 45-60 minutes. If I’m having a good day, I can kick around a few good things.

  • trailerparkbarbie // April 16, 2008 at 9:02 am

    GG….check it out….you’re gonna hit 100,000 soon. Prob today!
    My goal today is to be that 100,000 click.
    But, I have to be gone for most of the day.

    Hmmm….maybe, I should just sit here and keep clicking. Too bad that I’m too ADD to accomplish that.

    Early congrats!

  • anna // April 21, 2008 at 2:05 pm

    I loved your list :) Everything from MASH to Coach purses … You’re fricking awesome!

  • unwritten22 // April 30, 2008 at 12:47 pm

    i love your work thats good im just 18 but i listen

  • unwritten22 // April 30, 2008 at 12:48 pm

    can you wirte me on my e-mail at shantelcbrown@yahoo.com

  • Ron // May 11, 2008 at 2:59 am

    I agree with 26 agree
    46 is funny.
    I’ve always loved the Sound of Music over all those other musicals because I watched it over and over again as a child.
    I also can’t wait until Bush leaves office.
    I agree with your step-daughter about McSteamy.
    When the Dali Lama came to UT, Austin, Texas, I waited in line for 18 hours to get tickets! The free tickets were only open to students, faculty, and staff.
    Ouch to 96 :(

  • Selena // June 22, 2008 at 11:18 am

    You have to buy tickets to see the Dalhi Lama?!?!?!

  • thegirlfromtheghetto // June 22, 2008 at 11:43 am

    Yes Selena, you do .. and I didn’t get them, and was so bummed out …

  • Gunfighter // July 9, 2008 at 8:00 am

    “I am Italian, Finnish, Scottish, Irish, French Canadian and French. Although if you look at my senior picture many people have commented I look Asian.”

    Sure… it’s the Finnish influence, as many Finns have the epicanthic fold in the eyelids.

  • thegirlfromtheghetto // July 9, 2008 at 12:08 pm

    Gunfighter - Oh, how interesting … I don’t know any of my Finnish relatives, how interesting.

  • gypsy-heart // August 11, 2008 at 7:45 am

    We a lot in common though I am from the south…and during a lot of my childhood I lived deep in the sticks, not the city.
    I’ve lived in 28 houses but all within Florida. I am settled now, but I still have a restless gypsy- heart so I go between two places…both still in Florida. :O

    I love your dry sense of humor…very high on my list of “connections!”

    I like Drew very much too, but I also like Angelina Jolie very much…so I have to disagree there. :)

    I like the energy here so I’ll be back.

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