8 Things about the 7 Imps: Part One
May 30th, 2007 by Eisha and Jules
Hey, all. We’ve been tagged TWICE in the past two days with the “8 Things” meme. So here’s what we decided to do. First, in today’s post, we’re going to play it straight for Kelly’s tag, and each list 8 random things about ourselves. Then, in our next post, we’ll each list 8 random things about the OTHER person for Michele’s tag. What will we reveal about each other? When we’ve been friends for nearly half our lives? And even roommates for a couple of years? Ooh, you’ll just have to tune in and see…
The 8 Things Meme rules:
Each player lists 8 facts/habits about themselves. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning before those facts/habits are listed. At the end of the post, the player then tags 8 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.
Except, since we’re spreading this across two posts, we’ll post our list-o’-eight blogs we’re tagging on the second one.
Jules: Most of my 8 Things About Me will be shared through the words of authors, ’cause I’m that much of an Extreme Nerd (shouldn’t that be a reality show?) and, since practically everyone will probably be doing this meme, why the hell not try to be different?
- I don’t know if I believe in what most people consider prayer, but this to me is what a prayer should be (from The Grapes of Wrath and in the words of the character Casy, the lapsed preacher, when he was asked to say a prayer before a meal): “I can’t say no grace like I use’ta say. I’m glad of the holiness of breakfast. I’m glad there’s love here. That’s all.” I’ve always wanted to, I dunno, learn how to crochet or something and hang that on my kitchen wall. But, even though learning to crochet is a nice idea and all, it’d take time away from reading, so I’ll probably only enjoy that in the kitchen-in-my-mind.
- There were two men in my life for whom this excerpt from The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje rings true: “Wherever Hana is now, in the future, she is aware of the line of movement Kip’s body followed out of her life. Her mind repeats it.”
- “When I was young, I was attracted to sorrow. It seemed interesting. It seemed an energy that would take me somewhere. Now I am older . . . and I hate sorrow. I see that it has no energy of its own, but uses mine, furtively. I see that it is leaden, without breath, and repetitious, and unsolvable. And now I see that I am sorrowful about only a few things, but over and over.” — Mary Oliver (Blue Pastures)
- ” . . . looking back on my lifelong passion for reading, the one activity that has kept me going and given me the most and only lasting pleasure, {I see that}
. . . {t}he books, the authors who matter the most are those who speak to me and speak for me all those things about life I most need to hear as the confession of myself.” — Aidan Chambers (Postcards from No Man’s Land) - “I do not think that I will ever reach a stage when I will say, ‘This is what I believe. Finished.’ What I believe is alive . . . and open to growth.” — Madeleine L’Engle
- “I am grateful for what I am and have. My thanksgiving is perpetual.” — Thoreau
For the last two, I’ll stop being such an insufferable literature nerd and just share random, pointless things:
- When I was a girl, I was in love with Barry Manilow. Go figure. Several years ago, I bought “Manilow Magic,” a best-of sort of CD, and I felt like I was twelve again.
- I am irrationally TERRIFIED of roaches, as in I practically hyperventilate if I see one.
eisha: Geez, Jules, that’s some list. Way to raise the bar… Um, mine won’t be nearly as literary.
* I was raised as a Jehovah’s Witness from age 11 up. I finally figured out that I wasn’t meant for that life at 19, in a very weird, powerful, lightning-bolt-from-the-sky kind of reverse-epiphany moment.
* In elementary school I had the nickname “Mouse” for a while, because in our 2nd grade theatrical production of Peter Rabbit, I played – duh – the Mouse, and being the shortest kid in class I was able to borrow a costume from a previous kindergarten show.
* My feet are outrageously ticklish. Not in the fun giggly way, more in the horrid nausea-inducing way. Sometimes I give myself the shivers just trying to put my shoes on.
* That said – if you ever, EVER try to touch my feet I will kick you in the teeth. I am not even kidding.
* I have a favorite mole. It’s a couple of inches southeast of my belly button. I can’t explain it, I just like it.
* My husband proposed to me on top of the Acropolis in Athens, Greece.
* You know how everyone has a favorite movie that they actually tell people about, something classic, or cool, or indie/artsy… and then they have a REAL favorite movie that they maybe don’t admit to so readily? My indie/artsy favorite movie is The Unbelievable Truth.
* My real favorite movie is Airplane.
Great lists, dudes!
Jules: Love that quote from the Grapes of Wrath. I also love the concept of “Kitchen-in-my-mind.”
Okay, but Barry Manilow?!? What DID your parents do to you, Jules?
Eisha: I have the same exact mole and I love it too 🙂 My husband loves Airplane and has the annoying habit of quoting it–with other Russians (it’s a Russian favorite) in Russian accents 🙂
Good ones, y’all. I like the literary route, Jules. I like what Grace Paley said about fiction & believe it, too: “Every character deserves the open destiny of life.” (or something similar)
And, Eisha, my real favorite movie is Dirty Dancing. There. I said it.
Ha! Kelly, do they even do the Barbara Billingsley jive-talkin’ scene? I will pay you if you’ll record and podcast it.
Susan, I can tell, you’re a stronger person for having come clean. I know I am.
Great stuff girls – thanks so much for sharing. Jules, I’m jealous that *I* didn’t think of such a literary route – and love the concept of a kitchen-in-your-mind – but I have a whole house !!
One of my favourite movies that I’m unashamed of owning up to, though most would scorn me for it, is Pretty Woman – I know I should be ashamed, but I’m damned if I will be !
jules: it’s a known fact that roaches run away when you quote Mary Oliver. They can’t stand the beauty…
And Barry Manilow? May I just say there is no better song when you need to howl badly than Mandy. (you could try this against the roaches, too, but I’d be worried it might attract them.)
Seriously, a lovely list. And so…you.
eisha: the Acropolis? Did you know it was coming?
Do you have a “secret” and “real” favorite book too? Maybe jules will tell all tomorrow…
YES, SARA! AMEN! “Mandy” — it’s a classic.
I also love Abba’s “Dancing Queen” — two wonderful guilty pleasures.
I’d argue about Mandy. I think “Somewhere Down the Road” is much sadder Manilownificence.
Yeah, but everyone knows the words to Mandy. Even when they’ve had too many glasses of wine.
Jules, high five on the Barry Manilow thing. Don’t you let anyone shame you about that. I remember all my life, raining down as cold as ice . . .
Eisha, WOW on the Jehovah’s Witness thing. Can we please have a slumber party some day and talk?
Sara – we’d been together a couple of years at that point, and we’d talked about it in general terms, so I thought it might be coming… but did I actually expect him to go down on one knee on the Acropolis on our last night in Greece? No. No I did not.
I don’t have a secret-favorite book – I have tons of favorite books, but I can’t think of any I feel sheepish about. Do you?
Robin – I’d love to. Email me!
It was hard finding people who hadn’t been tagged. Jules: I love L’engle and The English Patient, what a great book. Eisha: I think my fave movie would be Footloose.
Jone, I know! We certainly didn’t mind the triple-tag. And Footloose – classic!
Oh! Oh! Oh! Barry Manilow!
I don’t know what bizarre middle-grade thing happened to my brain, but I ADORED him from about fourth grade on. I can sing all the lyrics to songs heard only in elevators, earning me the shocked and horrified looks of passers-by.
I still mock Copacabana, however, like everyone else…