Since it’s Thursday afternoon and we sometimes wander into random territory, I thought it would be fun to share a few more personal tidbits. Over the years we’ve posted about random moments, parenting mishaps, and other little life details, and it felt like the right time to add another list of small personal revelations. Below are a handful of things you might not know about me and John — little slices of life, family quirks, and silly habits.
We first did a “Ten Things You Didn’t Know About Us” post years ago and had such a good time that we wanted to revisit the format. So, without further ado, here are some more random facts from our household.
1. I’ve always wanted to name a band. It’s not that I need to be in a band or date a rock star — I just love coming up with names. I’ll mutter something odd and immediately think, “That would make a great band name.” A few favorites I’ve come up with over the years are “What Ever Happened To Breckin Meyer?”, “Exhibit A,” “Venn Diagram,” and a new one I thought of last night: “Pass The Mustard.” It’s a quirky hobby, but brainstorming names is one of the little things that makes me happy. For me it’s playful and creative, and it’s fun to imagine the vibe each name would carry.
2. We mentally assign animals to babies in the family. This is something we do out of affection and observation. For example, Clara often reminds us of a turtle — calm and deliberate — and sometimes a little bird, fluttery and curious. We have family members whom we affectionately think of as a chipmunk, a bear, a monkey, and a puppy. It’s a harmless, endearing shorthand we use when looking through photos or watching them move and make faces. We’ll often glance at a picture and call out, “Turtle!” or “Bird!” — it’s become a quiet, silly language that makes us smile.
3. I’m unabashedly a fan of Bethenny Frankel. I realize she’s not everyone’s cup of tea — and if she were, that might be a little unsettling — but I appreciate her frankness and find her candidness refreshing. I’ve watched many of her shows over the years and even read her book A Place Of Yes. I’m fascinated by the behind-the-scenes glimpses and the way she often admits mistakes instead of denying them. That level of openness is something I admire and sometimes try to emulate when I’m feeling defensive. It might sound odd, but I find inspiration in her willingness to be honest about messy parts of life.
4. During Clara’s early months she frequently peed on her dad during diaper changes. We expected that was something only boys did, but from her very first diaper change she seemed to have no reservations. More often than not she surprised John with a fountain of baby pee right when the diaper came off, and she usually made a distinctive face that we joked looked like a miniature Dr. Evil. I thought it was hilarious and still laugh about it, even if John was less amused at the time. It became one of those family anecdotes we tell again and again because it perfectly captured the unpredictability of newborn life.
5. We have very specific go-to comebacks and catchphrases. John’s favorite quick retort — aside from classics like “That’s what she said” — is simply “Your face.” He uses it in response to almost anything, and it’s become his comedic signature. It’s ridiculous, but it always makes me laugh. My own little comeback is “I do what I want!” delivered in a purposely bratty tone. I use it playfully, even when John asks me to hand him something and I theatrically comply while pretending to pout. Between us we trade these small, silly bits of dialogue so often that they feel like part of our rhythm — a private shorthand that keeps life fun even in the mundane moments.
Okay, now it’s your turn. Tell me five random things about yourself, or even just one: do you put ketchup on steak? Sing show tunes in the shower? Count stairs in your head when you climb them? I’m guilty of that last one — I almost always count steps silently. Share a small, quirky detail so we can have a little Thursday afternoon bonding session. It’s the little oddities that make life interesting, so let’s hear yours.