5 Things

I was tagged for the "5 Things" meme by Mary from Jalapeno Girl.  Though I am known among my friends as being the blogger who doesn't participate in memes, the stars aligned, and I decided to actually participate for once. 

#1. In second grade, I was asked to stay in from recess because I'd eaten spaghetti for breakfast.

The first thing you should know is that I was a geek of a kid -- never was in trouble at school, and was pretty much a bookworm for my whole childhood.  I was in second grade in Mrs. Hopkins class at Lake Arrowhead Elementary.  She was teaching a nutrition segment about the importance of a good breakfast.  Mom always fed us breakfast, but it was usually leftovers.  She didn't buy into the sugary cereal hype, and I never liked pancakes or anything like that.  So I'd eaten spaghetti with red sauce.  Mrs. Hopkins asked us all to say what we'd eaten for breakfast that morning before we were dismissed for recess.

Girl 1:  "Waffles."
Mrs. H:  "Great!  You're dismissed."
Girl 2:  "Cereal."
Mrs. H:  "Good, Girl 2, you can go to recess."
Me:  "Spaghetti."
Mrs. H:  "Please stay in from recess, Jennifer."

I was humiliated as she lectured me about the importance of a good breakfast, and the fact that spaghetti was NOT a good breakfast.  My mother promptly went down to the school the next day and informed the teacher that spaghetti was, in fact, a good breakfast.  I was never held in from recess again, and continue to eat unorthodox breakfasts.

#2. I can't stand entrees that are sweet.

Though I have mellowed about this rule a teeny bit in the past few years, I generally hate when my entrees taste sweet or syrupy.  Desserts I love.  But there is nothing more irritating than biting into an entree you expect to be savory and getting a mouth full of sugar.  My gradual acceptance of this lately has come from the realization that, when it is well executed, there is sometimes a reason for a bit of sugar in a dish.  But sugar content in entrees is so often poorly executed that I basically have made a hard and fast rule.  Teriyaki sauces?  Sweet and sour?  Sweet dressings?  Sugary squashes or other root vegetables?  Keep me away!

#3. I have convinced a legion of my friends' children that my name is "Cool Jen."

It started twelve years ago when my friend Joanne's son was an infant.  I decided to do an experiment with him and would hold him on my lap and point to him and say "Jack,"  then point to myself and say "Cool Jen."  Over and over.  It worked.  Even though they are both old enough to realize the truth, Jack and his brother call me Cool Jen to this day, along with many other children who I have since manipulated.

#4. My clumsiness has been well documented, but here's something that sent me to the injury clinic last year that you don't know about:

I was getting dressed in my bedroom, my legs got tangled in my jeans, and I fell with my head against my dresser drawer!  I had to go in for a gigantic bump on my head and possible concussion.  I also broke my arm in eighth grade by running out of the locker room and around a corner, right into the hard stomach of one of the toughest girls in school.  I knocked the wind out of her, fractured my arm, and was harassed by her and her friends for the rest of the year.

#5. I am a HUGE Bruce Springsteen fan.

Listening to Tunnel of Love as we speak.  I happen to be the only person my age I know who likes Bruce Springsteen as much.  In fact, when I scored tickets to a concert years ago, the only person I could find to go with me was my friend's 40-year old husband.  I had a blast at the concert -- me and the baby boomers.

If you're interested in being tagged for this, email me.  Otherwise I am not going to tag anyone.

Comments

[cookiecrumb]

As a baby boomer, I want to put on the record that we can listen to old music too. Charlie Parker for me.

[McAuliflower]

Wonderful breakfast story!

We have a local bakery that sells t-shirts stating "Chocolate, it's not just for breakfast".

I can envision a special spaghetti breakfast shirt for you!

[lucette]

My dad was particularly fond of soup for breakfast.
I love your mom standing up for you at school: a heroine.

[Tea]

I specifically decided not to tag you with this meme, because I didn't believe in a million years that you would do it.

Ha, just goes to show me.

I like leftovers for breakfast too. I'd say spaghetti with red sauce is more nutritious than fruit loops.

[Hande]

Hey I am 36 and am a huge fan of the boss. I even got expelled from school for one day (when I was 15) because I wore a windbreaker with Bruce on the back over my uniform. You know, that typical picture of him playing away at his guitar, in front of a huge USA flag, during "Born in the USA".
And I am definetely trying out the "cool Jen" trick! I wonder if my name rhymes that good, though...

[sam]

there a re several things I don't like much in this post:

1) Your teacher.
2) That I didn't think to get the kids to call me 'Cool Sam', first, but I am going to in future, starting now.
3) Your attitude towards 40 year olds. Deeply shocking and very upseting and NO! No - I don't like Bruce Springboard or whatever he is called.

[Mary/Jalapeno Girl]

Good stuff, Cool Jen!

[jen maiser]

Thanks everyone, for making me giggle. And Sam, I should point out that this person was 40 years old about 7 years ago I think. So you're nowhere near the same age. ;)

[Diane]

My typical breakfast? Always savory. never sweet. And usually spicy.

Typically left-over rice, fried up with garlic, fish sauce, and whatever vegie I have around to chop into bits (cucumber, chinese broccoli, spinach, etc).

Or Indian breakfast - left over dal curries stuffed into a pita bread and eaten as a sandwich. Curries and rice. Savory upuma.

On days I don't have much around to cook I have plain (not sweet) yogurt and fruit.

Cereal. Blecch. Cold, crunchy. And so not spicy...
:)

And I LOVE the boss...best concert of my life was 10th row seats to the "Born in the USA" Tour.

[Jen (almost-lifelong sidekick)]

This listing is just the tip of the iceberg. Another broken arm happened about 22 years ago during one of our frequent roller skating trips to the store to buy, yep, CANDY. (oops, wonder if Jen's mom knew before now!) That sidewalk crack just tripped her up and down she went. Needless to say, we walked to the store after that. We were on mision for candy. Also, it didn't take long for Jen to convince me that a delicious breakfast was corn tortillas with just about anything on them (refried beans, jam, butter, eggs, cheese, peanut butter, cream cheese...) Breakfasts of champions.

[shelly]

Breakfast cereal has got to be one of the biggest agribusiness scams ever. That teacher of yours sounds like Frau Fabissina (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118655/). I mean really, what kind of sadistic ninny would punish a kid for eating the "wrong" breakfast?

[Anita]

I love-love-love leftovers for breakfast. Much better for you than waffles! :)

[Amanda L]

I cant believe you tripped over yourself and admitted to it...thats pretty funny.

[Annie M.]

I remember when you got home with the broken arm after running into the solid girl, I was convinced that you could just shake it out.
So, as we got out of Grandma's Cadillac I grabbed your arm and started shaking it. You screamed and punched me.

Okay, so little Jen just sold you out on the roller skating story and the broken arm. What you said was that you got scared when you went past the neighbor's Doberman Pinscher (remember the mean dog down the street?)and you fell.

Then mom made you a sling out of a dishtowel. That's the best part of the story.

[jen maiser]

I think Annie (sister) and Jen (best friend since I was 12) have their stories confused. I did break my arm rollerskating past the Doberman Pinscher. And then I think I just landed on my braces when we were skating to candy. And smashed a bracket. But then mom swears that she was in the ER with me on the day of the SF Earthquake ('89) and I can't figure out what that was about. Whatever. I think that was a different daughter. :-)