My first Meme -- all about Me (me!)

This is my first "Meme". I wasn't actually "tagged" per se, but read about it in my friend Jenn's blog and was so inspired by her that I had to stay up late and send in my meme in her comments. Come to think of it, this was the first time I got out of lurking mode and actually wrote a comment (well 11) and it was appropriate that it was on her blog which got me started lurking in the first place. She got such a hoot out of it that she even made her long-suffering husband read it and reported back to me that he actually snort-laughed, which is supposed to be high praise! So...

10 ULTIMATELY INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT ME...:

1) Even though I am/was a scientist and engineer, even though I designed semiconductor chips that are still used in computers and electronic gadgets today, even though my husband is also an electronic engineer, my children are both generally deprived of using computers, playing computergames, video games, etc. We do not own a playstation/gameboy/I-Pod/mP-3 player, etc. And though I do have a mobile phone, it is rarely switched on and I have only sent out about a dozen SMS messages, ever. By the way I didn't mention that I also worked to help market mobile telephony and data communications in the Netherlands, having been employed at various times by 3 of the major operators in the Netherlands. I guess the adage about the cobbler's children is true...

2) When speaking to non-native English speaker, I have little or no Texas accent. The occasional "yawl" does sneak in, but it's only because I have never found a better word (plural you can be confusing). My accent in German is generally considered American, but I have also been asked if I was Swiss or Austrian. My accent in Dutch is often considered to be Belgian (not necessarily a compliment!). And what little Italian I speak has met with such raves by my Italian friends who claim I have no real accent. However, when I get off the phone from talking to my Mom or girlfriends, or spend a morning with a fellow Texan or Southerner, then my poor long-suffering German husband can barely understand me for a couple of hours. It takes some time for the "native" tongue to wear off. You can take the girl outta Texas...

3) I was once mistaken for a "hooker". (Sorry, I've been out of the US for too long and don't know the PC term. "My bad!") I was in hotel in Vegas, waiting beside the entrance to the casino for my date who was playing blackjack. A man walked past me a couple of times. I wasn't really paying much attention, but then he came up to me and asked if I was busy. I smiled and said I was waiting for someone (we Southern girls are brought up to be polite). He said, "Well Honey, I'll double whatever he's paying you." It took me a moment to understand what he was saying, but the gleam in his eyes finally got the message across. I was in turn shocked, angry, momentarily speechless, and then amused. I straightened my spine, cocked my hip, and gave him a long slow look up and down. I then looked him in the eye and in my best Texas drawl said "Darlin', you couldn't afford me." Must've been pretty convincing as he backed away fast. One of the few times I've had the perfect comeback...

4) I have an album credit. When I was a back-up singer to an electronic music band, we scraped up enough money to actually cut a record. I not only have my laugh and a couple of vocals enshrined in the grooves of black vinyl (yes, this was before CD'S became all the rage), I have actual credits as back-up singer and "Executive Producer" printed on the album cover. Okay so maybe it's not 15 minutes of fame, but it is mine...

5) My youngest child was born without any drugs, and we were home from the hospital less than 8 hours later. Sometime I'll write you about how the Dutch treat pregnancy and child-birth in the Netherlands, a verrry different experience from my US and UK girlfriends!

6) I wanted to grow up to be an astronaut. Since I was 10 years old. I mapped out my career path, and pretty much followed it for the next 14 years (a few detours, but still got back on track). I wasn't deterred by the many times I was told that this was not something for a girl/woman. I was not intimidated in my Physics classes when I was the only girl. So many of the choices that have shaped my life today came from this original goal. I learned German so that I could read Einstein in his native language (and it was more "scientific" than French or Spanish). I learned to fly an airplane when I was only 17 years old. I was not bothered to be the "geek" or "nerd" because I had a goal I was focused on. Being left out and lonely only made me more determined. I even had the opportunity when I graduated from college to follow the same career path that Sally Ride eventually took. But when that choice came up, I realized that I no longer had the same goals, even though they had gotten to that point. It took some soul-searching and hard thinking, but I chose a different path. And today I have no regrets, well, not many and not often. Just a twinge and a "What if..." every once in a while.

7) I dream in 3 languages. Sometimes even 4 when I have visited with my Italian friends. I cannot even tell you what language many of my dreams are in. I just know that sometimes I wake up with phrase in my head and it isn't English. I can't say that it comes naturally to me, the way it does to my girls who change languages on the fly. But it has become "normal". We speak 3 languages at home. It is at times a real "cultural chaos". But as you would of course attest too, it is a rich, surprising, at times hilarious mix. My neighbors have admitted to getting a real laugh out of their eavesdropping on our backyard conversations.

8) I have gone for a topless swim in the ocean. Once. And I was punished for it and learned my lesson. But having seen the almost full frontal nudity that was the accepted attire on the public beaches in Portugal, on a day when there was only one other couple on a secluded beach, both sleeping and the woman having only a postage-stamp sized bottom, I gave into the temptation. I admit it was exhilarating to feel the ocean waves on bare skin that had always been covered. And it was no small feat to overcome my Southern Baptist upbringing and indulge, even in this less-than-public location. But it was fun, for about 10 minutes. And then, "OHMYGODICAN'TBREATHEITHURTSSOBAD". At first I thought it was a jellyfish. But no, only some algae, complete with the microscopic protozoa’s that administer a burning-stinging sensation. It left a long red welt, right across my bare nipple. I knew without a doubt it was a message from God. Baptist girls do not go swimming nude or semi-nude. I learned my lesson. Never again.

9) There is a gap in my memory. I was in a bad car accident (my station wagon vs. a bridge support on an icy road). It took 2 tow trucks to remove the car. I received a double concussion, multiple bruises, no broken bones but ended up with a bad case on pneumonia before I got out of the hospital. But the lasting effect is a 6 month period of time where I have little or no memory of events. I have since filled in the gaps with the stories and memories that other people have told me about those times. But in all of these memories, I see myself in the picture, rather than seeing the picture through my own eyes. These "manufactured memories" have blended seamlessly with those from before and after that period. But whenever there is the rare occasion when I try and recall something from that period, it is like I am watching a video of myself. Strange things these minds and memories.

And...

10) I used to be a perfectionist. I took myself very seriously and I never liked making mistakes. I was cured of this shortly after moving to Germany. Even though it was only going to be for a period of 2 years, I learned the hard way that I would not survive the stress of holding onto my ideals. I had to let go and not be afraid of making a fool out of myself when I tried to speak the language. This lesson was only too clear after I went to the office where six of my male German colleagues worked (including one who was eventually to become my husband). In a very clear and confident tone, I announced that I was moving house and was there someone who would be willing to help me. A very good, perfect German sentence, pronounced well and easily understood by my colleagues, except...I included one tiny extra word that changed the sentence to me announcing that I was removing my clothes and would someone be willing to help me. My conservative German colleagues were very quiet and stunned, and I stood there a bit confused about why they were looking at me so strangely, when I realized my mistake at the same time that they did.... Well, it did break the ice. And the colleague who did volunteer to help me move also helped remove my clothes some months later...

Tag! You're It!!