Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Yet Another Childhood Survey

Purloined from Lushy:

Are you a child of the 70s, 80s, or 90s?
The 70's. God, I'm old.

Where were you born?
The Jersey Shore.

What city did you grow up in?
A little beach side town on the Jersey Shore.

Did you enjoy your childhood?
Immensely.

When you were a kid what did you want to be when you grew up?
The first female football coach in the NFL. Seriously.

What do you want to be now?
Over sexed and independently wealthy.

Name the first memorable vacation you took as a kid?
When I was about six, my mother, brother, and I drove to Florida to visit my oldest brother in college. I was actually quite good for most of the trip, until I saw the giant Welcome to Florida sign, and then I started the ubiquitous "Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet?" That lasted for the next nine hours until we got to Sarasota. Who knew Florida was so long?

What was your first best friend or friends' name?
Lori F. We found each other the first day of kindergarten. The teacher lined us up by height, and Lori and I were last. Being the two shrimps of the class, we found it wise to stick together.

Are they still your friend?
We stayed friends all the way through high school, where we continued to be the shrimps of the class. I haven't seen her in years. If I were to run into her, I would tackle her with all the delight of a slobbering puppy.

Can you name all the schools you ever attended?
Of course, I'm not that old.
You don't want me to do it here, do you?

Who was your first crush?
Richie H. in kindergarten. I started young. Even at five I could appreciate big blue eyes and long lush eyelashes. We walked to and from school together with our moms and I would pretend we were married. This did not please Lori F, as she too had an eye for the cuties. Fortunately, we never allowed boys to get in the way of our friendship.

Were you closer to your Mom or Dad as a kid?
I was always closer to my mom, but like Lushy, I longed to be closer to my dad. Daddy issues anyone?

Do you have any embarrassing school stories to share?
I used to beat up boys. Like, a lot.

What was the first record, tape or CD you remember buying?
Shadow Dancing by Andy Gibb.
Shut up.

Were you scared of anything?
I was afraid of our basement. It had all these creepy little rooms and closets from its former glory days as a speakeasy. Even though it was my favorite place to play, I still remember being petrified when it was time to go back upstairs. For some reason I had it in my head that if my feet were on the basement floor when I turned out the lights, the Boogie Man could get me. The lights had to be turned off before you went up the stairs, which posed quite the dilemma. So I would stand on the bottom step and lean over as far as I could so I could turn out the lights and not actually be touching the floor. I almost fell on my face on a daily basis doing this, but the Boogie Man never got his grubby paws on me. Suck it Boogie Man!

What was your favorite class in elementary school?
The first year the government started doling out money for the Gifted programs, I was tested and immediately sent to be in the new "Special" class. There were only a few of us in this little room, and I don't think our teacher, Mr. K, had a fucking clue what to do with us. I can still see the Incentive Chart on the wall covered with bright shiny stars to keep us interested. We were meant to put on some sort of play for the school, but that never happened. In fact, suddenly Gifted class just stopped and nobody ever told us why. It wasn't until I was about 30 years old that my mother gently explained to me that my beloved Mr. K had had a nervous breakdown and had been carted off in the Twinkie Mobile. I blame myself.

Broke any bones or had any freaky accidents as a kid?
I was quite the little athlete as a child, mostly because I thought I was a boy until the twins arrived. The two major injuries I remember were both sports related.
Injury One: in my valiant effort to avoid getting hit in Dodgeball, I slid across the gym on my shoulder and wound up slamming head first into a bench. You should have seen the look on the school nurse's face when she saw me - subdural hematoma anyone?
Injury Two: I was playing Kickball with the boys for the world championship (of the playground). I was in third grade at the time, and not only was I the only girl allowed to play, but I was the pitcher as well. The last one up was a fourth grade boy who snickered derisively when he saw that a girl was pitching. He kicked the ball right at me with all his might. I stood my ground, held my arms out, and literally caught the ball with my neck. I toppled over onto my back with the ball but never let go. We won!! Everyone was screaming and cheering and going wild until they realized I couldn't get up. The ball hit me so hard that I literally could not move, speak, or breathe. The aforementioned and now traumatized nurse actually thought that it had fractured my windpipe. Fortunately I was ok - after a week or so of bed rest.
The important point to remember here is that we won the game - because of me. That's all that matters. Windpipes come and go, but glory on the playground lasts forever.

Did you play house or pretend to be a super hero?
I did it all baby. I was a thoroughly modern woman.

34 comments:

Anonymous said...

I hate to think that someone born in the 70's is old. I am just beginning!!

yournamehere said...

Andy Gibb?

You disco slut.

Knitty Kitty said...

that is one rockin survey

Mone said...

I still fall for the boys with blue eyes and long eye lashes :)

egan said...

Great answers Brooke. I had no idea about the NFL coach thing, but I like it very much.

Your basement story sounds like me in present day. Ever since my wife saw a mouse down here I get a little jumpy down here. (I'm sitting in basement now overcoming my fear of a two inch rodent)

Tim said...

I had a very similiar basement fear when I was little. Except it was stormtroopers I was afraid of. My stairs were L shaped and there was a little peak hole after the turn. I was always afraid the stormtroopers would shoot my legs off as I ran by.

JillWrites said...

"Over-sexed and independently wealthy."

Heh. Heh heh. Awesome.

Anonymous said...

Now thats what I call cool classic memories girl...!

Love ya
callie
www.calliesrealm.blogspot.com

Ubermilf said...

He he... Jody thinks you were born in the 70's.

I'm not saying a word.

My first 45 was "My Sharona" by The Knack.

doo doo doo doo do do doo doo doo doo do do doo doo doo doo do do ... MY SHARONA!!!!

Churlita said...

I think you and I are the same age and I don't like to think of us as old. I prefer to think of us as being at a stage of our lives where we've developed a very low tolerance for bullshit.

dizzy von damn! said...

i used to also pretend to be a monster and a witch and then i would poke my sister with sticks.

thephoenixnyc said...

I think you have the beginnings of an autobiography here. Viva La Jersey Shore!!! Ra!

Scarlet Hip said...

Jody - born in the 70's? Uhhh...yeah...ok! Me too!

Todd - shut up.

Knitty - feel free to steal it. I did!

Mone - you and me both.

Egan - it's true, I really did want to be the first woman football coach. As far as you in your basement dilemma, that laughter you hear is me laughing with you, not at you. Ahem.

Tim - you totally get me.

Scarlet Hip said...

Jill - and I know for sure you're laughing with me, not at me.

Callie - again, feel free to use this survey. It's a hoot.

Ubie - shhhh...I'm not saying a word either. Hehehe. When you gonna give me some tiiiiiiiiiiiiiiime Sharona!

Churlita - and don't forget the healthy dose of immaturity as well. Keeps me young.

Kendra - I'm so jealous that I never had a sister to torment.

Phoenix - sooner or later this blog will have all my stories, and it will have to serve as my autobiography. Go Jersey!

egan said...

I vaccumed the basement last night and didn't see the mouse anywhere. I think Ralph "The Grinch" Mouse found a way out of our house somehow. I'm not sure if that comforts me or worries me. Why am I scared of a rodent that's 70 inches shorter than me and 190 pounds less? Damn critters.

I think Green Bay could use a new coach. What kind of offense would you run and who would be your top three players?

Anonymous said...

Hey, we share windpipe injuries. Cool. Of course, mine was a broom handle and an older brother who had just realised that without a weapon I could beat him up. The celebrations were the same, by same I mean different, by different I mean an older brother jumping up and down on my legs.

The important point to remember here is that I won the game - because of me he's never beaten me up since.

Scarlet Hip said...

Egan - you are such a sissy. Of course I have a whole post about how bugs make me go EEEEK! So who am I to talk?
Favre, Green, and Driver would be my top players. I know everyone says he should retire, but nobody leads like Favre.

Rich - I love that not only do we share windpipe injuries, but we both have our priorities in order. Plus you live in my favorite place. I'm totally crushing on you now.

Anonymous said...

By crushing you mean windpipe, yes?

matty said...

I am so proud that your first LP purchase was a record by Andy Gibb.

Brooke, I loved Andy.

I really did.

I was and continue to be a total disco whore. It can't be helped, but my heart belongs to Andy.

Why o why did they take him away?

I was born in late 1966, but I think of myself as a child of the 70's because I don't really remember the 60s. Is that correct or wrong.

...am I child of the 60's?!?!?!?

Oh dear. Being 40 sucks.

Spinning Girl said...

I love these little tidbits about you.

Hypersonic said...

I was a child of the 70s too. Happy Days was cool, and my first record I ever bought was the Happy Days theme song, then I went out and bought "Ever Fallen in love with soemone(you shouldna fallen in love with)" by the Buzzcocks.

Monkey said...

Oh my! I too have been the instrument which resulted in persons being carted off in the Twinkie Mobile.

Ham Twat!

Scarlet Hip said...

Rich - yes of course. That's what I meant. I certainly didn't mean that I wanted to have sex or anything. I mean come on. I hardly know you. I didn't mean that at all.
No really, I didn't. I mean, unless you wanted to.

Matty - few people understand me the way you do. My heart did, and always will, belong to Andy. He was my everything. As for age, I was born in 65, and I am indeed a child of the 70's. I remember nothing about the 60's except for some truly horrifying fashions that my mother sported. Oh, and being 41 sucks worse.

Spinning Girl - I'm just full of 'em! I heart your tidbits too. All your bits actually.

Hyper - totally my absolute favorite! While that show ran I needed no discipline, all my parents had to say was "Happy Days" and whatever bad behavior I was displaying ended right there. The Fonz ruled my life.

Monkey - It never ceases to amaze me how much we have in common. Someday we shall meet and discuss.
Turkey Twat!

flounder said...

"Special" class? Did you ride the "short bus" too?

Take your tongue on a sleigh ride. Get your fudgy wudgy here.

Who was that teacher at Ventnor Middle that doubled as an ice cream man in the summer?

The Dummy said...

No wonder you beat up boys.

jayeofmanyhats said...

WOW I know it's been a while since I commented but I mean geez I don't even register on your periodical Blogs list. I think I will go cry myself to sleep on my huge pillow!

kris said...

In all honesty, that part about your gifted class almost made me cry.

Gifted teacher issues, anyone?

Mackenzie said...

Miss Brooke, you rock!

Scarlet Hip said...

Flounder - Oh. My. God. Can I just tell you that my best friend and I would sit on the beach waiting for the Get your fudgy wudgy he-ah!! guy - and we would just say that over and over for the rest of the day. The memories... but I don't know who the teacher was, I was a Margate girl.

Dummy - what are you trying to say.

LeMorse - you are totally on my regular blogroll you big dork, look again. I would never drop you. You were one of my very first readers and I'm a loyal gal. Also, I have tried to comment on your blog a few times but Blogger Beta sucks ass and won't let me. So there!

Kris - it's actually quite a sad story. He was a lovely man, I can still picture him. I really shouldn't have made light of his situation. I'm a twat.

BV - you're a nurse now! And Flounder is a doctor. The world really is going to hell in a handbasket.

G3T Films said...

As a minor I'd need to ask my Mum. But sure, sex would be good. I'm sure she'll let me after I've srubbed her feet.

Does this mean we're going steady? Cause that would be Koool, I've never had a girlfriend before. Probably because of my hump, but I have a nice smile. At least that what's my mum says.

jayeofmanyhats said...

Yes blogger beta sucks ass...sorry I was checking it from my cell phone and it skipped right past your "prolific bloggers" section. I love you and am sorry gorgeous.
I think beta is crap! But I will stick with Blogger over all because I have been on soooo long. I do have a myspace but only cut and paste my "greatest" blogs from here over there...chat with ya later!

Hypersonic said...

I use blogger-beta and have had no problems with it! Hmmmmmm?

Chris "Chickenwing" Quigley said...

God, thise "gifted" classes were like a "Kick Me" sign on your back where I came from.

I got kicked a lot.

I am resisting Beta as long as humanly possible.

I have nothing else to say.

Lushy said...

Over-sexed and independently wealthy is even better than Wonder Woman.