I love to read these lists about everyone else so I decided I would attemp to come up with 100 things about myself that are both interesting enough to share, and things that I am actually willing to share. Here goes:
1. I am number 4 of 7 kids. Right smack dab in the middle. And yes, I have middle-child issues.
2. I was born in Astoria, OR.
3. I have 5 sisters and most of us look alike. I was always sure that when people in our town talked to me after I came home from college they had no idea which Nedry girl they were talking to.
4. I grew up in Naselle, WA. A town of less than 1000 people, with no stoplights or sidewalks. 23 kids in my graduating class.
5. My school was pink! It sat on a hill at the main intersection in town so there was no missing it.
6. I sucked my thumb till I was 8.
7. I loved to go “froggin’” in the summer in the ditch that ran by our house.
8. We lived with my grandparents for 3 summers while my mom earned her Master’s Degree at OSU. They were from the Depression-Era and nothing was thrown away. Grandma was going to make me eat my tuna sandwich that had milk spilled on it till my mom intervened. Thanks mom. I lived with the same grandma for 3 years while I was at OSU. She was the best!
9. We used to pick up apples that my dad shook from a tree in an old lady’s field but we had to be very quiet the entire time. Hmmm, looking back now, I think I can figure out why!
10. Same thing with cutting down Christmas trees. We would all go out in the state forest and cut down a tree and we would have to be very quite the entire time. It makes me laugh now to realize why.
11. I had braces and a mullet at the same time. Not a good time for me.
12. I played Volleyball, Basketball, and Softball all 4 years in high school. Except I quit softball my Junior year in order to breath. I was class president and putting on Prom at the time. I played again my Senior year.
13. I was the Treasurer of my high school. I still LOVE paying bills and balancing my checkbook.
14. I went to BYU for 3 years and I finally was able to flunk myself out so I didn’t have to go back. I HATED it there. But I made some very good friends that I still keep in touch with, 17 years later!
15. I went on a few blind dates at BYU. They were bad. One guy was making a Jackalope movie for America’s Funniest Home Videos. Need I say more?
16. I was a communications major at BYU. I wanted to be the one on the sidelines of football games interviewing the players and coaches.
17. I twice danced with Heini, of The Jetts, at the Ivy Tower in Provo, which is funny since I always made fun of his name and called him “the Singing Heini.” He was fine!
18. I was a danceaholic in college. Every week I was at the Ivy Tower or the Palace while at BYU, and the Peacock while at OSU. Good times.
19. I associate most memories with music. Paul is sick of my stories that go along with every song we hear on the radio.
20. 80’s music is my favorite. I also love R&B from the 90’s.
21. I have seen U2, Depeche Mode, Boys II Men, Billy Idol, Duran Duran, and Harry Connick Jr. twice in concert. The only other must-see on my list is George Michael, who was in Seattle 6 days before Darcy was born this summer or I would have gone to see him.
22. I am a sports fanatic. I live for college football and college basketball’s NCAA Tournament, and my grandparents taught me the thrill of watching golf for hours on tv. It really is an awesome sport.
23. I am willing to play any sport except soccer. Can’t stand it.
24. I once had my cheek bone broken in a game of team handball. I dive for badminton birdies. I am very competitive.
25. I worked for 6 summers as a wildland firefighter for the state of Washington. 5 of those years I was the engine leader so I got to drive the big truck and boss the boys around. I loved every minute of that job. I still get the urge to go back out on the firelines whenever I see them on the news or smell the smoke in the air.
26. Over the years I worked as a babysitter, on a crew at a wildlife refuge, Sizzler salad bar attendant, Crazy Jack’s Burger Shop, Shopko, Firefighter, made soles for Nike shoes at their sweatshop in Beaverton, Credit card call center, a few different jobs at HP, and as an On-line scorer of essays for college entrance exams.
27. I graduated with my BS in Exercise and Sport Science from OSU. My dream job is to be a high school Athletic Director.
28. I earned a letter at OSU. A big orange O for being on the tennis club team. We were awful but I still earned my college letter! I take more crap for that letter from my family!
29. I am a loner. I have no problem taking trips, seeing movies, or eating at restaurants alone. It’s a wonder I ever got married.
30. I never had any intention of getting married and having kids. I was always going to be the favorite aunt.
31. Because of this, I always dated guys I would never marry. Yep, most of them were total losers.
32. I have made many mistakes that I would love to say I regret, but looking back on them, I realize that they were all major life and attitude changing experiences that have brought me to where I am today. And I don’t regret that for a single second.
33. I am a “cup half-empty” type of person. I try to be more positive but it just isn’t in me.
34. I was on antidepressants (happy pills) for 6 months and luckily the synapses in my brain “learned” how to function properly and I haven’t had to take them since. I am not ashamed to admit it and I will scream it from the highest rooftop if it will convince someone in need to get help.
35. I have a crazy side effect from my happy pills though. I get tongue tied. Probably some of you have noticed. My mind gets way farther ahead of my speaking and it comes out in a jumble.
36. I met Paul at the University Ward in Corvallis. He was a student and I was working at HP.
37. When I first saw him I instantly thought “I’m going to date that guy.” I had no idea who he even was, and since he is 3 years younger than me I really had no intention of dating him. Crazy things happen at church!
38. I broke up with Paul a few times while we were dating because I knew we were headed toward marriage. One time he showed up at my door with a case of Dr. Pepper. I had to let him in.
39. I LOVE DR. PEPPER
40. I was 29 years old when I got married and 30 when I had my first baby.
41. Paul and I were married December 14, 2002 in the Portland Temple. We honeymooned in New Orleans. We weren’t very impressed so we rented a car and toured some of the southern states.
42. I love to travel and collect the states. I have seen 45 of our great states. So has Paul. The only problem is that we each need 4 different states, with only Oklahoma missing on both our lists.
43. Before we had kids, Paul and I drove from Corvallis up to Alaska, as far north as the Arctic Circle. It was around June 21st so it only got dark for an hour or so each night. Very weird. We made the 7,000 mile trip in 10 days. The last 5 we couldn’t find a shower, the drive is that primitive. We were used to our smell but my parents sent us straight to the shower when we got back to their house in Washington. Amazing trip, I highly recommend it but don’t take little kids!
44. I have a National Parks passport and I am determined to visit all the National Parks before I die.
45. I traveled to Mt. Rushmore, alone, and sat in front of it for hours. It is one of my favorite places. I also drove through the Badlands National Park right next to it, with Native American chants on the radio (the only thing that would come in). It was quite a spiritual experience.
46. My idea of fun is to be curled up in a chair reading a book and drinking a Dr. Pepper. ALONE.
47. I have read Gone With the Wind and its sequel, Scarlett, 15 times each. GWTW is my favorite book EVER. I don’t care for the movie though.
48. My favorite movies are random. Last of the Mohicans, Better Off Dead, Dirty Dancing, and Pride and Prejudice.
49. I love to quote movies, mostly obscure ones from the 80’s. My siblings and I are pros!
50. I don’t like red meat. If I eat it, it has to be cooked till its crispy.
51. My food never touches on my plate. I eat the potatoes first, veggie second, and meat last. Maybe that’s why I don’t like it, its always cold by the time I get to it.
52. I personify inantimate objects and attribute feelings to them. My cars all have names. I rotate the plates, glasses, silverware, underwear, Darcy’s spit rags, etc. so everything gets its turn and doesn’t feel left out. If a pea is left on someone’s plate I have to tell myself that it doesn’t want to be eaten in order to feel OK about it.
53. I can’t touch dry wood. It gives me the shivers and freaks me out. I won’t touch clothes pins, decks, wooden spoons, or anything with an unpolished wooden handle. My sisters used to chase me around the house with a wooden spoon and catch me and rub it on me. AHHHH!!!
54. The sound of bagpipes creates the same reaction.
55. I love the smell of vinegar, and pavement after it starts to rain.
56. My favorite sounds are the Tin Woodsman’s oil can when Dorothy is pumping it, and the sound of my fire engine driving over hot tar on country roads when it pops the melted bubbles.
57. I have always had a testimony of the truthfullness of the Gospel. I have not always lived in accordance with that testimony, I am sorry to say.
58. I am scared to death that I will someday have a Relief Society calling. I don’t do well speaking in front of peers. Makes me wonder why I thought I should be a communications major!
59. I am a “swing shifter.” I function best in the afternoon/evening.
60. I love to sleep. Anything less than 9 hours a night and I am dragging. But 9 hours doesn’t happen too often anymore. Is it bad of me to look forward to the day all my kids are gone so I can get a good night’s sleep?
61. I am very posessive of my own pillow and own blankets. I have passed that on to my kids.
62. I used to think I wasn’t an emotional person but I was kidding myself. I cry at the smallest things and get worked up over the smallest things.
63. Paul was the steadying influence my life so desperately needed when we met.
64. I am a mom of 3 gorgeous kids and am looking forward to popping out one more someday. Then I am done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
65. My children make me happier than I ever thought possible. I am so thankful my mind was changed for me and I got married and reproduced.
66. My husband is my best friend. He is my sounding board, he is my partner, he is just another one of my kids, he puts up with me, he makes me mad, he buys me the most random presents, and I will love him for eternity!
67. I don’t like my middle name but it is a family name so I deal with it.
68. I have horrible teeth. I swear I brush and floss all the time but I don’t think there is a tooth in my mouth that hasn’t had work done on it.
69. I have always struggled with self esteem (see #1) and weight issues. I was never meant to be skinny but I always seem to be bordering on the fat side.
70. My hair is naturally curly. I would never fix it this way on purpose!
71. My feet are cute in socks.
72. My mind is filled with useless knowledge and trivia. I tried out for “Jeopardy” once but didn’t make it past the first round. It is much harder in person than on tv.
73. A jigsaw puzzle is usually in the works on my dining room table. It has to be at least 1000 pieces or it isn’t worth my time. I also love logic puzzles and crossword puzzles.
74. Old Navy is where I buy all my kids clothes. I love to shop for them.
75. My favorite part of nature is the night sky.
76. One of my bucket list items is to star gaze from a ship on the ocean.
77. I have never been on a train or ridden a horse. I have ridden an elephant though.
78. Oregon weather is the best. Give me a day that is sunny and 73 or a day that is 45 and rainy and I’m a happy girl.
79. Fall is my favorite season with the colorful leaves, college football, Halloween, chilly nights. I love it!
80. I am not an animal lover. Especially house pet animals. Especially when other peoples’ house pets use my garden as a litter box.
81. I do have a thing for hippos, though. Always have, don’t know why.
82. I have wonderful family memories of camping at Mt. Rainier, eating buckwheat pancakes in the camper, and sharing a bed with a million siblings while dad got his own. That is still my very favorite place to camp.
83. The bulk of my Christmas shopping is usually done by Halloween.
84. My watch is set 5 minutes ahead and then I like to get places at least 5 miutes ahead of that so I will be sure I’m not late. Being late is one of my biggest pet peeves.
85. I am a chocaholic, thanks to my dad. Growing up, we made everything we could chocolate. Chocolate mush, tapioca pudding, waffles, bread pudding, etc.
86. Every spring when I was a kid I would have a dream about ants attacking me. That is my worst fear, critter-wise.
87. My other worst fear is one of my children dying. I don’t know how I would go on, I don’t know how others who really have lost a child go on. Its nothing I dwell on but I hope I never have to go through that.
88. I don’t appreciate those who feel the world owes them a happy life and they sit back and let someone else provide it for them, instead of getting out there and getting their boots muddy to create it for themselves.
89. My children will know what it means to work and to earn things for themselves.
90. I am not a patient person. I want things done to perfection the first time. That’s a fun trait to deal with when you have a house full of little kids!
91. I am not a spontaneous person either. I want things planned as far in advance as possible. I can’t just get up and go on a moment’s notice. I have dreams about this, where I am expected to be somewhere but I just can’t seem to get everything together that I need to in time.
92. I believe there is no such thing as a “normal” family life, though I did growing up. Its amazing how disfunctional your family becomes as you grow up and realize what life is really like.
93. I believe I am a strong person who can overcome anything. I have already come out on top of many struggles and I am sure there will be many more coming my way.
94. I never believed I could be as happy as I am now. I love my husband, my kids, the church, our ward family, our very own home, and the direction in which my life is heading.
95. I have a strong testimony of the power of the Holy Ghost, and also of geneology and Temple work.
96. Attending the Temple is one of the things that makes me most happy in this crazy world.
97. I worry about the last days, but I think I would sing Halleluiah if the Second Coming happened today. Get me out of this crazy world!
98. I have great friends who have stuck by me through very thick and thin. They are the best. Hopefully they might feel that way about me.
99. My name is spelled Tiffiny. No one spells is right. That is why I chose not to do funky spellings with my kids’ names.
100. My favorite color is blue!
Well that was much more difficult than I could have imagined. It was fun and I actually came to a couple of self-realizations doing this. Hopefully I didn’t bore you too much. Maybe now you will understand why I do some of the things I do when you are around me!
