100 Posts!

Today is post #100! Today I'm going to share with you 100 things about me, like Tiffany did a few weeks ago. I was going to try to keep these chronological, but there's just no way. I've included a lot of links, but don't feel obligated to link. I just thought the links were interesting.


1. My first name is Jennifer

2. My parents caused me to always have to spell my name, since I go by Jeni - a nickname they picked out.

3. I grew up surrounded by Jennifers, so if someone calls me that, I just don't answer. It's usually not me they're looking for. It's one of the other 20 Jennifers in the room.

4. My middle name is Ann, same as my mother, same as my daughter.

5. I'm not technically an Air Force brat, since my dad didn't enter the service until I was 15 months old. But I consider myself an Air Force brat anyway, since that's how I spent my entire life.

6. I started kindergarten in a DoDDS school in Greece.

7. When I was in kindergarten, I crossed in front of the bus after school and got hit by a motorcycle. I was fine.

8. I hated green beans with a passion as a child. I like them now.

9. I hated sweet potatoes, stuffing, and pumpkin pie as a kid. I still don't like them.

10. I'm a cry-er. And I think it's physically impossible for me to talk when I cry.

11. I have always had bad knees. Not like needs-surgery kind of bad knees, just randomly achy bad knees.

12. I was a National Merit Scholar.

13. I cringed while typing #12, because that sounds so much like bragging.

14. When I was a senior in high school, I broke my right ring finger playing volleyball in P. E. I had to have two surgeries and a few weeks of occupational therapy.

15. I have panic attacks. Usually at random times, about random things.

16. My diet is probably about 2% cat hair, since we have 5 indoor kitties.

17. I didn't get my driver's license until I was almost 19, at the end of my freshman year of college.

18. I went to high school in Anchorage, Alaska, a place I'd love to visit again with James and Wendy - it's the most beautiful place I've ever lived.

19. I spent a semester in London when I was in college. I learned more in that one semester than the other 3 1/2 years put together.

20. I can sightread music fairly well.

21. I'm an alto. But I can sorta sing soprano passingly well if needed.

22. I played piano and trumpet growing up. I haven't picked up a trumpet in over ten years. I can still plink out a tune on the piano.

23. I took 5 years of Spanish in junior high and high school.

24. I tried taking Spanish in college, but it was boring.

25. I've been to Canada, Mexico, England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Spain, France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, Austria, and Greece.

26. I met James at Harding before I started my freshman year.

27. I dated another "James Allen" my first semester.

28. My best friend/suitemate really liked my James.

29. My James asked me out while I was still dating other James, and while my best friend/suitemate still liked him. And I said yes.

30. Aren't I a good friend? Seriously, we had long talks all around, and I think everyone was okay with the situation after that.

31. James and I dated for one semester, then were apart all summer except for one week.

32. We dated long distance while I was in London.

33. I thank God for James encouraging me to go to London - I was ready to stay home, since it meant I'd be apart from him all semester.

34. I got back from London on December 16th, 1997. James proposed on December 17th. I said yes.

35. We got married on August 15th, 1998.

36. I'm not convinced we would've married as virgins had we waited longer to get married. (I know, I know, TMI...)

37. We went to Harding University, in Searcy, Arkansas. I strongly recommend it - it changed my life.

38. We lived in a teeny little apartment when we first got married. Life was simple then.

39. We've lived in six different homes in the 9 years we've been married.

40. I had to decide between pursuing a career as a teacher or as a veterinarian.

41. I chose poorly.

42. After graduating from Harding University with a B. S. in Biology, I started vet school at the University of Missouri, in Columbia, and graduated in 2004 with my DVM.

43. That makes me Dr. Allen. But no one calls me that anymore.

44. My vet school years were very, very difficult.

45. I graduated from vet school at the bottom of my class.

46. Maybe that's what comes of not following the path God sets out for you.

47. I worked for two years as a small animal vet. It was ok. The hours and on-call made it difficult to be the wife I wanted to be, and solidified my desire to be a stay-at-home mom.

48. We decided to start a family in December of '05. Three weeks later, we knew we were pregnant.

49. At my first prenatal visit, when we were 8 weeks pregnant with Wendy, we discovered that I have obstructive fibroids, and would have to have a classical C-section.

50. I was very sick and ended up losing 50 pounds while pregnant with Wendy.

51. I found that 50 pounds (plus some) after Wendy was born.

52. I had gestational diabetes.

53. We kept Wendy's name a secret until just a few days before she was born. We referred to her as "Shanequah" until then.

54. We had a scheduled C-section at 39 weeks, on 9/26/06.

55. The C-section was not a pleasant experience, but I'd go through it again in a heartbeat.

56. Wendy has been my delight, my pride and joy, and also my biggest source of frustration.

57. I am shy.

58. I am lonely.

59. I'm not good at making friends, but dream of a world where I get a couple of phone calls from friends every day, and have more on my social calendar than I can possibly do.

60. I always have great intentions, but rarely (if ever) follow through on them.

61. I am a chocoholic. I know a lot of people like chocolate, but seriously, there are times when I just have to have some chocolate.

62. I will definitely lick the spatula if I'm making cake, brownies, or cookies. (After the dough is put in to bake; I won't inflict my germs on others.) I know full well the dangers of Salmonella, etc., so I abstained while I was pregnant, but at all other times I'm a licker.

63. I love reading. Historical fiction is usually what I like, but I'll read mysteries and romances, too. Not so good with the non-fiction - I can never make it through.

64. Some of my favorite authors are Elizabeth George, Diana Gabaldon, Sara Donati, and, of course, JK Rowling.

65. If I were a teenybopper, I'd totally have a crush on Rupert Grint. Totally.

66. I laugh quite often while watching *ahem* while Wendy is watching Sesame Street.

67. I can quote most of the Princess Bride.

68. I think Dave Barry is hilarious.

69. My mom calls me Imelda sometimes - you guess why...

70. I spend a LOT of time online, reading blogs and contacting people on Facebook.

71. I was in Swing Choir in high school - much singing, dancing, and sequins were involved.

72. We got married shortly after I turned 20. That sounds way too young to get married.

73. My first car was one we bought for $800 the year after we got married. It was an 86 Chevy Cavalier station wagon. It was a good little car, especially for $800.

74. People give us vehicles. The three we currently have were given to us, and we're very grateful!

75. I like doing laundry - except for the folding and putting away. That's where my laundry always gets stalled.

76. I have a very good memory for random facts from long ago, but have a hard time remembering conversations James and I had two days ago.

77. The sight of my Wendy snuggled up in her crib wearing a footie sleeper, with her binkie and her blankie in use, gives me the warm fuzzies.

78. I would love going to Jazzercize.

79. We stayed in a cabin in the Smoky mountains for part of our honeymoon. There were snails in the bathroom.

80. I watched Animaniacs after school when I was in high school.

81. I have a cafe au lait birthmark on my right thigh that looks like Africa.

82. I'm very ticklish on my sides.

83. I'm very ticklish on my feet, too - no pedicures for me!

84. I love Dove shampoo and conditioner, and people tell me my hair smells good when I use it.

85. I love the smell of honeysuckle and lilac.

86. I also like the smell of Bandaids. I know, I'm strange.

87. My favorite color is blue, but I also love purple and pink.

88. I don't like warm colors in most settings.

89. I enjoy doing surgery (but I haven't done it in two years).

90. I'm glad Wendy has blue eyes.

91. I have very thick hair. It makes it difficult to style, because it's so heavy.

92. My favorite scripture is Philippians 4:8.

93. My favorite musical is "Martin Guerre," which I don't think ever came to the states. I saw it 3 times during the semester I was in London.

94. Even though I'm a chocoholic, I love my Grandma's homemade vanilla ice cream. It's fantastic! The only thing that comes close is Blue Bell's homemade vanilla.

95. I would rather get take-out and watch a movie at home than go to a restaurant and the movie theater.

96. I haven't been on a date since before Wendy was born.

97. My hair was very long when I got married - past the bottoms of the pockets of my jeans. It was pretty, but very hard to manage.

98. My favorite flowers are daffodils and daisies.

99. I collected lightning bugs in baby food jars at my grandparents' house when I was little.

100. I'm very thankful for my readers, especially my commenters!