This placed a smile on my face.

I remembered these 25 items from those popular and attractive notes being passed around through Facebook. Honestly, I took the bait and scribbled these things about me out of sheer desire to be understood at that time. As I was cleaning up my desktop, I came across this and decided to post this again (this time, in my blog) out of sheer hope to make you smile, the same way it did to me.

25 Random Things about Me

1. I can’t bike but I can rollerblade. Through rollerblading, I developed a childhood dream to be an iceskater or a hockey player or even a propsman on a Walt Disney show on ice—anything that has to do with skating on ice. I haven’t tried it yet. I missed the rink here but I’m saving up to go to Manila one of these days to do just that. There seems to be freedom and thrill in it, like rollerblading.

2. I wore teeth braces and back braces (scoliosis) at the same time during my first year in college (USC) for a couple of years. I lost a lot of weight because of them. I hated my teeth braces so much I had them pulled out without completing the required three years. I like wearing back braces while sleeping. Unfortunately, I’ve outgrown it and it hurts wearing them now. Getting another one would be quite expensive.

3. Despite the laughter and the smiles, I am secretly grieving (not so secret now) over loved ones who died consecutively over the past year or so.

4. I used to drink beer a lot (Surprise! Surprise! Surprise!). Red Horse, to be exact. One night, I was quite drunk but I managed to drive myself home. The next day, when I was sober, I felt stupid and afraid of what I did. I stopped drinking when I shifted to my second job. It just ended. Thinking of the taste of beer now is so yuck. I’m now a water person and a vanilla shake fan. But I miss Q Shandy!!!

5. I like air travel. The departure and the landing thrill me. I like land tips, too, as long as I’m the driver. I wouldn’t enjoy the trip if I would be a passenger. It would be even better if I’ll be driving my dream car—a black (or red) Suzuki Jimny.

6. I like children. They are so cute, although I’m pretty aware that looking after them is not so cute. I have lots of god-sons, “extended” god-daughters, nieces, and nephews over the years. They are all equally adorable. The irony of it is I just can’t imagine myself being a mother.

7. I love the comfort of being surrounded by books. My room is filled with them. My first trips in the malls, always and always, are bookshops. And one business I would like to start and manage in the future would be a cozy little bookstore.

8. I am a self-proclaimed non-practicing Catholic. I haven’t attended mass since Christmas Eve and said confession since I graduated more than three years ago. I prefer lighting candles and saying prayers in churches. Still, I remain grateful to my God and talk to Him as often as I can.

9. I always look forward to every 9th day of the month when Boboy and I would celebrate our relationship in creative ways.

10. I am in love, committed, and engaged. At the same time, I am also taking down notes and ideas I could use for my wedding (no dates yet and definitely not this year). I’m already charting our honeymoon destination (it’s hush-hush for now). I’m keeping all ears and eyes open. Visiting boutiques and looking through websites and talking to people—it’s fun, exciting, and overwhelming.

11. I would like to travel to as many places in the country as possible. I’ve been told there are so many beautiful places here. I’ve already been to one of my dream destinations–Palawan. This year, I hope to go to Butuan or any place I haven’t been to yet–there’s a lot! My ultimate dream destination is Europe. But I would like to live in Australia.

12. I love good foods that are well-presented but affordable. I also like Japanese food, Mcnuggets in McDonalds, chorizo rolls in Jonie’s, fish fillet in Sunburst, chickenjoy in Jollibee, among many others.

13. I like online shopping as well as strolling along stores, checking prices, imagining budget calculations, and making mental notes of buying them in the next payday.

14. Except for a couple of items I haven’t paid yet, I am glad that I am about 95 percent debt-free. I don’t have any credit cards or loans—not yet. I only have a savings passbook I keep feeding twice a month. I am preparing myself for a debt I will soon have—paying for my house and lot.

15. I used to be a very optimistic. I am quite pessimistic now, after some sad experiences. I am fighting to regain my optimism back, starting with having to answer Boboy everyday on what positive thing has happened to me and what positive thing I will do to address my worries and problems. It seems to be working.

16. I can’t dance, sing, and swim. But I can crochet, draw, and paint. For me, it’s still not yet too late to learn. I’ll learn them in due time.

17. A former hyperthyroidism patient, I get easily sick (vertigo and want to vomit) whenever I feel being closed in and that happens when I am in an elevator, in a huge tight crowd, closed airconditioned cars, and windowless rooms. I’m beginning to think lately that I’m claustrophobic. Then again, maybe I am.

18. I like academics and I like being in school. I like the positive energy of college students. I am planning to finish my Master’s and get a teaching position.

19. I am a collector—scaled cars, cards, blouses, books, key chains, scratch papers, etc. No wonder my room is perpetually messy.

20. In fulfillment of one of my dreams, I am writing my book entitled “Plucked Strings.” I am still on the fourth chapter. It’s an unusual kind of love story with a touch of realism.

21. I am not a romantic person. I just happen to be in love. I still find movies about love mushy and over-acting. Sorry, I can’t help it. But there a couple of favorites like A Very Long Engagement and Australia. I still go for action movies, especially with cars and powers and mutants in them. Horror movies terrify every wit in me.

22. I am a worker and a practical spender. I easily get tired if I don’t work. I believe in competition but I don’t have to live with it. I just recently acknowledged that it’s tiring to the bone. I don’t believe in branded items, either, although I respect my friends who buy them.

23. If I were a mutant, I would like to be Rogue (not the one in the movie) but the real adult Rogue in the cards who can fly after absorbing the powers of Mrs. Marvel and has very high strength and agility levels.

24. I believe in and work for world peace.

25. My dad’s the frighteningly silent type. My mom’s the colorfully noisy one. My sister’s the cool and laid back kid. I’m the hyperactive and the worrier. Still, we managed to talk out through the days. I love my family.

-By Nancy R. Cudis