Niel: 101

And now for the list of all the things you never wanted to know about Niel but now have to read:
1. My full name is Janiel. I started going exclusively by "Niel" the first week of my freshman year in college when I heard someone read my name and mutter, "Janyell? That's a *&^% up name."
2. I have an intrathecal pain pump implanted on my left side near my belly button. It's the size of a hockey puck and it delivers narcotics and muscle relaxers directly into my intrathecal spinal space. I hate how it looks, but can't deny it changed my life.
3. I love to work-out. Love it. Before I was pregnant I went to the gym 5-6 times a week, and did all the hardcore cardio/weights/kickboxing classes each day. I'm still doing the classes while I'm pregnant, but I don't know that you can call my participation "hardcore" at this point.
4. I can't leave the house without brushing my teeth. Even if it's just to walk the dog. I get that from my dad.
5. I'm mentally incapable of remembering dates such as birthdays. I forgot Nick's birthday two years ago, and didn't realize it until he told me that it was his birthday. I cried. I got my problem remembering dates from my dad too. He gave me good oral hygiene, but bad memory.
6. When I tell people what job I do they always say something like, "Oh you must be an angel" or "You must have the patience of a saint". I never know how to respond because A) that's so awkward and B) I really don't have much patience. I just like the kids.
7. My friend closest in age to me is 40-years-old.
8. My mom is one of my best friends.
9. I have a shopping addiction. I could seriously shop all day long without wearing out. I get this from my mother, who taught me retail therapy heals all wounds.
10. I grew up terrified of not being able to have children for some reason. When we actually started trying to conceive and realized we that something wasn't working it was so incredibly stressful. When I actually got diagnosed with infertility it was one of the most devestating days of my life.
11. I despise any doctor that involves orifices: dentist, opthamologist, gynocologist.
12. I got Lasik as a college graduation present to myself. Best $3,000 I ever dropped.
13. I only had one real boyfriend prior to meeting my husband.
14. My toenails don't grow. At all. Like, if I cut them down they'll grow out again to a certain point, but then they just stop. I told my mom this when I was a teenager and she didn't believe me, so she took away the nail clippers and kept checking my toes, and sure enough, nuttin'. Hey, it saves on pedicures.
15. I got hired to work my current teaching position while I was still in college. My 'student teaching' semester ended up being my first official teaching year. It was tough (understatement).
16. My brother lived with me from the time he was 17-years-old till he was 21-years-old. It was the hardest and the most fun thing I could have experienced.
17. I can eat the same meal over and over and over and over again. But it goes in phases. I've always been like this - my mom calls them my "kicks". Now that I'm pregnant I can just call them "cravings".
18. I'm scared I'm going to be an incredibly neroutic mom because of the students I work with.
19. I could eat Spicy Peanut Sauce on just about anything.
20. I rode horses for over ten years when I was younger. I learned to ride Western, English, and competed in jumping and dressage.
21. I'm a reality tv addicted. Real World, Teen Mom, Jersey Shore, Amazing Race...Yeah, I love the smut tv.
22. I'm an animal lover. No, I'm an animal freak. I am obsessed with animals, and have a passionate need to help them. The other day I made Nick pull the car over because I realized there was a ladybug on the windshield and I didn't want him to get blown off at 40mph. I flick worms back into the grass on our nightly walks so they don't dry up on the cement. I make sure Nick doesn't step on Rolly Polly's (I make sure of this by screaming "WATCH OUT!!!!!" when he's walking near one). It drives Nick crazy but he always humors me.
23. I love to talk in front of people, and don't really understand fear of public speaking.
24. I'm only 5'2". I'd like to be taller, but I don't mind being short.
25. I wish I was better about staying in touch with people. If I don't see someone on a regular basis, I'm bad about keeping in contact. I want to, but I just suck at it for some reason.
26. I'm a people pleaser. I like for people to like me. Unless I don't like you. Then you'll know about it.
27. I'm neurotically organized at work, and habitually unorganized at home. I've always been this way, even when I was in elementary school.
28. I'm an avid reader. I could (and do) waste away the day reading. Unfortunately I'm also a very fast reader, which makes books not last as long as I'd like them to.
29. I love to write (oh hey, have you seen my blog?)
30. I met my husband online. I still think that sounds creepy.
31. I eat everything with a fork. I mean everything. Example: nachos, grilled cheese sandwiches, french fries. Reason? I hate for things to touch my hands that might be sticky or slimy. I have sensory issues.
32. I could spends days upon days upon days lounging around a beach.
33. I have an insatiable (and sometimes unhealthy) need to be needed.
34. I like spaghetti, but don't like marinara sauce, so I still eat it little-kid-style with olive oil and some garlic.
35. I  have a tremendous fear of clowns. I've been scared of them since I was little, and had an unfortunate (and embarrassing) "clown incident" at school a few years ago. I don't know why I don't like them. They're just not...natural.
36. I can crack my knuckles, my toes, and my neck. Things don't "feel right" unless everything's cracked. Just typing that made me have to crack my neck.
37. I type faster than I can write longhand.
38. I think I'm good at making connections with the parents of the students I work with. It ended up being a way bigger part of my job than I originally realized it would be, and it also ended up being a part of the job I love. (Well, I love it with most families...)
39. I have an odd, god-given talent of being able to rhyme on-the-spot without having to pause to think about it. I use this gift by making up songs about whatever I happen to be thinking about/looking at. Songs often include subjects such as: my cat, what's for dinner, why Nick should give me back-rubs, etc.
40. I love wrapping presents. When I buy a present in a perfectly square box I get excited because I know it's going to wrap up beautifully.
41. I won't blow my nose. Will. Not. Do. It. Doesn't matter if I'm stuffed up, being destroyed by a cold, can't breathe, and about to die of a sinus infection. I'm not doing it and you can't make me. Don't ask me why - can't explain it, just don't like it.
42. I'm not scared of snakes, but grasshoppers freak me the hell out.
43. I prefer calling people by nicknames versus their real names. This is probably because I have a hard time remembering names. I call my my husband (Nick) "Buttface", my friend (Deb) "Bob", and even my cat (Alfred) gets called just "Kitty".
44. I'm an extremely picky eater. I have a huge list of common foods that I don't like (beans, mustard, meatloaf, onion rings, seafood etc., etc.) I'm also not one of those people who can "fake it" and eat something I don't like to be polite.
45. I sleep a ton. I easily get 8 hours a night, and don't function well on much less than that.
46. I love giving gifts. I spend an inordinate amount of time planning and picking out gifts, and I seriously get a rush when I get to give someone a good gift.
47. One of my biggest pet peeves is people who complain about a problem and don't do anything about it.
48. I chew gum semi-obsessively.
49. I wish I could sing well. I'm jealous of that talent.
50. I'm always told that I have a 'baby face', and look significantly younger than I am. I know one day it will work to my benefit, but honestly it drives me crazy that I look like my dad could still be driving me to school.
51. I cry when I get mad or frustrated. I hate that about myself, because otherwise I'm not a very emotional person.
52. I don't like wine but I love beer.
53. Until I was 14-years-old I wanted to be a vet.
54. I'm a huge believer in first impressions and trusting the "vibe" you get from someone. My dad taught me to be that way.
55. I was raised Catholic. I haven't been to Mass in years, but I can still recite the Creed, Lord's Prayer, and the Hail Mary without having to think about it.
56. I've had access to prescription narcotics for my Schuermann's disease since I was about 13-years-old. I have never once abused or misused my medication.
57. I've never cried at a movie.
58. I worked as a bartender for quite a few years and loved it. I thought it was so fun to get paid to sit around and chat with people.
59. Because many of my students are non-verbal, I have an ability to carry on a one-sided conversation for way longer than most.
60. When I was little my dad would tell me history stories for bedtime stories. My favorite was to hear about slavery.
61. One of my favorite activities to do with my husband is walk the dog. We walk her every single night after school (and during the summer/warmer months she also gets a walk in the mornings before school starts). It's an hour that we have just to walk and talk and catch up with each other, and it's one of my favorite times of day.
62. My husband and I go to the grocery store together every week.
63. I've never been a "girly-girl". I think that nearly killed my mom when I was little.
64. The only toppings I'll eat on pizza is sausage, pepperoni, or cheese.
65. I don't believe in teaching grammar. I consider myself to be a decent writer, and I can't tell you the difference between an adjective and a clause.
66. I couldn't tell time on a face watch until I was nearly in junior high. I still prefer digital watches/clocks.
67. When I think about all that can go wrong during fetal development, it truly boggles my mind that the vast majority of children are born without disabilities.
68. It rained on my wedding day, and ended up being perfect.
69. I can fall asleep for a nap within 15 minutes even if I wasn't really that tired to start with. What can I say, it's a gift.
70. My cat is somewhat obsessed with me and follows me everywhere. When I take a shower, he sleeps on the bathmat. When I get into bed at night, he cuddles up next to me. If I try to go to the bathroom and close the door before he's in, he'll sit outside the door and pound on it with his paw and head and meow pitifully. He's a touch spoiled.
71. I've never been good at math, and still don't really see the point of math past about a 6th grade level. Seriously, unless you're going into aerospace engineering you don't use more than basic math in every day life.
72. I hate, hate, hate confrontation with my family and friends. But, if someone I don't like or respect pisses me off, I can be an aggressively assertive b-word. (Sorry to use angry letters).
73. People say that my brother and I look a lot alike, but I don't see it.
74. I have a terrible potty mouth. I think I'll blame my mom for it.
75. I love going to baseball games with my husband, and we got to at least 5-10 games a season. One of my favorite parts of the game? The delicious P&C (pretzel and cheese) of course.
76. Two sports that hold zero interest for me are golf and soccer.
77. I would love to go sky diving. I have no fear of heights, and think the experience would be amazing.
78. My first word was "Bobo", my cat when I was little.
79. I skied nearly every day of my freshman year of college, when I lived in Durango, CO.
80. I haven't stayed overnight in my parents' home since I was 18-years-old.
81. The concept of breastfeeding both intrigues me and grosses me out.
82. As much as I love buying new clothes, I don't really like purses. Currently I carry a Mountain Bag buttpack for a purse.
83. I've worn the same amount of make-up since about 5th grade. (Hint: it's not much.) I don't think I have a face that carries make-up very well, so I just keep it simple. Really simple.
84. My husband finds me to be much sexier in work-out clothes than anything I'd find at Vicky's Secret.
85. I'm adamently refusing to buy maternity panties. They are hideous, and I simply can't bring myself to do it. I don't care if my belly shoves my cute little "hipster" undies down so far they become invisable. A girl has to retain something during pregnancy, and for me, it's my undergarments.
86. I get really cranky when I get too hungry.
87. My great-grandmother lived to be nearly 105.
88. I can't stand bad manners. Bad table manners are enough to make my eye twitch.
89. I was raised in what I would consider to be a pretty strict household. I will raise my own children much the same way.
90. One of the biggest things Nick and I want to do differently with our kids than how we were raised is to make sure they are shown open affection often. Neither of us were raised in a 'touchy' family, and consequently both of us are uncomfortable with hugging other people. (Don't worry, we've worked through the whole hugging/touching issues between each other. Case in point: I'm pregnant.)
91. I prefer special education students over regular education students. Typical children tend to drive me crazy way faster.
92. The only family Nick and I have living within a day's trip of us are my mom and dad.
93. I spoke with a lisp when pronouncing the /s/ sound when I was younger. I ended up needing a few years of speech therapy to correct it. Sometimes if I'm talking too fast I'll lisp a bit on accident.
94. I definitely take after my dad in looks and personality. My brother definitely takes after my mom.
95. Two things that are sure to put me to sleep quickly: 1. Riding in a car. 2. Listening to books on tape.
96. I hate roadtrips. I can't deal with sitting in a car for that long. And they make me sleepy (reference #95).
97. My husband and I made a list when we first started dating of different travel locations we'd like to visit together. So far we've been able to cross off: Disneyland, San Diego, Jamaica, Las Vegas, Coranado Island, San Francisco, and Washington DC.
98. I am obsessed with koalas, prarie dogs, and bull dogs. Ob. Sessed.
99. I've never missed a payment on a utilities bill, my mortgage, car loan, etc. I'm anal retentive about stuff like that.
100. My legs are the strongest part of my body. I can leg press 325lbs.
101. As much as a moan about the aches, pains, and changes in my body, I love being pregnant. When I think about the fact that I only have 3 more months with Eggy growing and moving inside me it makes me wish I could be pregnant longer. Until I really think about being pregnant longer. And realize that three months is PLENTY of time.