5 Things Meme: Inspiration from Chris Brogan and Dominick Evans

I was reading Chris Brogan’s blog post that identified 5 things about himself that we might not know about…. It came from this Dominick Evans blog post. I wasn’t actually tagged by Chris, but it looks fun, so I figured I might as well start the process yet again (thanks for the motivation guys!).  On Chris’s example, I’ll also pass on the love to Dominick (and a few people that might find this fun).

So, here are 5 things about myself you might not know.

1) My parents bought the place that I grew up in for the view….. which means that I spent 6 months of my childhood living in a tent in the barn in the backyard while the decrepit “house” was being torn down.  I was young enough that it was all fun, although if you ask my parents, I’d say they have different opinions. This barn also came complete with cats and horses, the latter of which were heavily used…the former caught mice. [Location: Oran NY, east of Syracuse NY.  See to the left the barn and the view]

2) If I could do anything for the rest of my life it would be to play music.  I’m sort of in a band now, but if I had to choose, I would be part of a symphony orchestra that played a lot of Tchaikovsky at every concert (especially the 1812 on the 4th), Gershwin at least once (Rhapsody in Blue), not a lot of modern pieces (I’m not a huge fan) unless it included a Bond-like electric rendition of some classics, and one concert of opera greats like O’ Fortuna by Orff.  Ideally, I would be first cellist.

3) Speaking of the 1812, it’s actually the reason I’m in Boston.  My parents met in Marblehead (at Maddie’s, which has since tragically closed but was known for their pint-sized Long Island Iced Teas that were 11/12 liquor and a splash of iced tea…that’s my dad several years ago outside, reminiscing), and they spent several years in the Boston area.  I grew up hearing about the 1812 on the 4th, and with Tchaikovsky being one of my favorite composers, I decided one summer in college that I was going to go and watch it that year in Boston.  Then I decided I might as well spend the summer there, so I up and left, found an apartment and a hostessing job in the span of a day and a half, and promptly fell in love with the city.

4)  Most people think that I’m an extrovert, when in fact I’m about a 19/20 introvert.  I explain it this way: extroverts are like Energizer bunnies, they keep going, and going, and going….  Introverts need to go home and recharge.  I’m truly interested in people and learning from them, and get a great deal out of my interactions with them, but I can’t do it for hours, or days in a row and I get tired and I need to go home and not be with anyone but myself and/or my other half.

5) I’m a trash talker.  I can’t help it.  If you aren’t a fan of the Boston Red Sox, the NY Giants, or whatever, I’m probably going to trash talk you.  I also trash talk in things like cooking, Sunday afternoon tennis, Pumpkin carving, Pick ‘Em league….. really, anything that I can trashtalk about.  I’m never ever mean about it, or angry.  It’s complete fun for me.  I don’t think less of anyone who roots for the other team (unless you’re a Yankees fan maybe…. actually, I don’t think less of you, I’ll probably just trash talk a little more).  Oh, and I fully admit when I lose too and will always take the trash talking back.