Thursday
Jul282011
100 Things Thursday - 70/100
DebraClick these links for 100 Things Thursday/Things 1-10, Things 11-20, Things 21-30, Things 31-40, Things 41-50 and Things 51-60.
- I used to worship the sun. I would spend hours every week, all summer long, lying outside and baking like a potato, the scent of coconuty suntan lotion forming one of those Pig-Pen clouds around me.
- Nowadays I rarely go outside without major SPF protection and, if I'm feeling sassy, a hat. In fact, I'm pretty sure I'm whiter now in July than I was when summer began. I call my color Skin Cancer Scare Pallor. Sherwin-Williams should be calling any day now to tap into my skills.
- I have always gotten annoyed when people don't call me by my name but lately I've been confronting them about it. The first time or two was difficult but now I'm pretty good at standing up for myself. If I have never introduced myself, signed an email, answered the telephone or referred to myself in any way by something other than my name, you certainly have no right to call me something else. At the very least we should be able to own our names.
- However, besides Debra, I will answer to Petal Cougar Mellencamp (no relation). Seriously. But that's a story for another day.
- In the past few years I've been paring down my possessions. I am inching my way to a pseudo-minimalist lifestyle in which I have only what I absolutely love and need surrounding me. I've always been stressed by clutter and I find the more I release, the better I feel.
- I gave away about half of my wardrobe but I realized I didn't wear most of it anyway. But for some reason, when I pack for a trip, I suddenly think my life is full of costume changes. I take everything in my closet and a few things I swear I've never seen before. It's like I'm Tina Turner or something.
- I saw Tina Turner in concert years ago and she changed clothes for almost every song. (Just in case you were wondering where that 'out of left field' Tina Turner reference came from.)
- Okay, I can see that Petal Cougar Mellencamp thing is bothering you so I'll fill you in. My friend Mary named me Petal (after I was kind enough to fly all the way to Maine to visit her, thankyouverymuch) because she came to the erroneous conclusion that I am delicate and fragile like a hothouse flower. I think her exact words were, "You are delicate and fragile like a hothouse flower." Sure, it sounds like a compliment but in Maine they don't care for things that require the least bit of effort. At least that's the impression I was given. Ahem.
- The Cougar name was applied after I generously tipped (and flirted with, so the record states; I'm still contesting that) a young man who waited on us in a pub in Freeport, Maine (home of the L.L.Bean flagship store and the giant boot). Apparently this kind, benevolent gesture on my part made me a Cougar. Again, I say, Ahem. And by Ahem, I mean, Maine people are all kinds of crazy.
- Of course, once she started calling me Petal Cougar, I had to add the Mellencamp (no relation). You try saying anything Cougar and not adding Mellencamp. It's impossible. John couldn't even do it.
Reader Comments (5)
Rebuttal:
64: I'm glad you put the addendum on there about PCM. I would be sad not to be able to say that anymore.
68. *I* am not the one who referred to you as delicate and fragile. *You* said you didn't like cold and preferred things like hot houses. LIKE FLOWERS DO. And Mainers (in addition to being just plain odd) like those who can do for themselves. Okay, maybe it's just me since I have to do EVERYTHING myself!
69. a. It's the LLBean flagship store.
b. DUDE! You order nachos, eat exactly 3 of them and leave this young impressionable naive little boy a 90% tip!! Who does that?? Besides, he flirted with you too.
70. I was going to rebut the "all kinds of crazy", but I can't. It's sorta true.
Mary, As for 68, that is EXACTLY how I remember it. That's just like you to get all deluded with the truth and whatnot. :P And I fixed 69a. Thanks for pointing that out, it would have driven me nuts later today when I would have figured out what I did.
I say we get together again next year and come up with a nickname for YOU! :)
I love the lighthearted breezy voice in this post! Not that I think it's any different than any of your others necessarily, but it was fun. xx I shall call you Petal when next (first) we meet, now that I have your permission.
Deal!
Dee, I can't wait to meet you. I'm still thinking 2012. That extra week of vacation kicks in then. :)