My turn: Ten Random Things

Annie did one, and I thought it was a good idea. Besides, an assortment of random things... that's basically my life right now. I still haven't quite gotten over  my disappointment that I had a post all planned out for Palm Sunday, but then got sick and never wrote it. But never fear, I shall still photograph the pussywillows, just because I love them. But I digress.

So here it is, ten random facts about myself:

1. I love history, but have always been rubbish at remembering dates. The only one I know straight off is d-day, and only because it's two days after my birthday (except for the year, of course).

2. My favourite author is J.R.R. Tolkien, and although I am known for being fond of The Lord of the Rings, I have in fact read almost everything he ever wrote that was published. Someone once told me that I was very Elven, and I almost died of happiness.

3. I will eat almost any vegetable, but I can't stand cauliflower, zucchini, or squash.

4. When I was four years old I was walking with my parents to church, since we lived just down the road at the time, and fell into a storm drain. My dad looked into it after they pulled me out (I was holding onto the edge) and says it would have been about a forty foot drop to the bottom.

5. I have been fascinated by names as long as I can remember, and keep lists of my favourites sorted by gender and order of preference. Somehow I tend to be much choosier with boy names; there are only six on that list and eleven on the girl list.

6. My paternal grandfather ran away from home when he was about ten or twelve, and was a child hobo during the Great Depression. He also always claimed that he had no middle name. Well, last year my father's cousin found an old picture of him when he was in the military, and it had his full name on the back. It turns out that his middle name was Jack. Now his first name, the one that he admitted to, was Herman. I ask you, how does that make any sense?

7. I don't know why, but I can't stand people touching my hair. So far the only ones I've been alright with doing it are my mother and my aunt the hairdresser.

8. At one point I seriously considered becoming a philologist. Then I found out that it involves graduate school and whatnot, and I just don't have the patience for that. Or the funds.

9. I am double jointed in certain places. The most obvious one is my ability to bend my fingers backwards. 

10. I have always wanted red hair. I blame it on my cousin, who is a gorgeous ginger. (Once, several years ago, she dyed it brown. I nearly had a heart attack.)

...

There you have it. Also, that pelican at the top was something I photographed in January while on a little excursion with visiting relatives. He was the only bird who stayed to pose for me.