100 Things Thursday - 40/100

For the background on 100 Things Thursday and Things 1-10, see this post, for Things 11-20, see this post and for Things 21-30, see this post.

1. I love lighthouses. The first one I saw in person was on Lake Superior and the largest one I've seen (so far) was in Portland, Maine. I love what a lighthouse symbolizes: steadfastness, guidance, safety, a reminder that we are not alone in the darkness. Plus, they're pretty, so there you go. 
2. I could plan a road trip just around traveling to all the lighthouses in North America. Oh, dude, why is that not on my life list? 
3. I once won a radio quiz by knowing that the state that has the most lighthouses is Michigan. People were guessing states all up and down the Eastern seaboard but for some reason I just knew that Michigan had to be the right answer. As much as I love lighthouses, I love Michigan just as much. It seemed apparent to me that they went together. 
4. As long as we're talking architectural-type structures, my second and third favorites are bridges and doors. There's symbolism there, too, but I'll let you figure that out.
5. For all the reading I've done, I've never been part of a book club. I've wanted to be for years but for one reason or another, it hasn't worked out. That changed this week. I'm in a book club! I hope there's a secret handshake. 
6. I'm listening to my iPod as I'm writing this and I must admit, I have rubbish taste in music. I don't have the knack of finding the great indie bands lurking out there in the… wherever it is that great indie bands lurk. See, I don't even know where to begin. 
7. When I was a kid, I had to get allergy shots all the time, sometimes as often as every week. I don't know if the needles scared me at first (they probably did) but I don't remember ever not wanting to get my shot.
8. I don't mind blood draws, dental fillings or mammograms either so maybe I'm just weird. I have had two doctors tell me I have a great tolerance for pain and both were in the middle of performing procedures on me much worse than any of that, so I guess I'll take their word for it.
9. My biggest pet peeve lately is people using text speak, even in texts. Words are valuable and powerful. Abbreviating them beyond recognition isn't efficient or trendy, it's hurtful. I fear for where language is headed. If you don't have time to use your words, I have trouble finding time to read your message.
10. But I was one of those kids who actually enjoyed grammar, spelling tests and diagramming sentences so I am a little protective of my words. I can't imagine a world without the beauty of written language. Nor could I live in it.