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Did I mention that I
like to collect postage stamps? I have been collecting since I
was a kid. I used to go to stamp auctions. The hardcore
philatelists are cruel people at auction. Mostly men who
throw dirty looks at stamp-girl when she outbids them. I just lick
the winning stamp and stick it on my forehead - that really gets
their blood boiling. I jest.
I collect American
stamps from the early 1900's through the 1960's. Old CCCP
(pronounced, s-s-s-air) Russian stamps. Old German and
Austrian. Well, those are my favorites. I collect stamps
from all around the world. A few air mail. Mostly general post and
first class. Plate blocks. Some with interesting post
marks.
When I get old, I'll
catalogue them all. But for now, they sit quietly in a giant box,
waiting for my attention.
I find the history of a
stamp fascinating. I use Scott catalogues to identify most of my
collection.
I also like to collect
old post cards.
I don't understand
postage stamps with self-sticking adhesive. I don't and won't
collect those. I think they take the fun out of stamp collecting.
There are so many
variables with the identification of old stamps. Perf. size, hidden
watermarks, cancellation marks, color, printing technique.
I also like trains. I
used to go to quite a few train shows. I collect H.O. scale. Most of
my train stuff isn't that valuable. I collect what I personally
love, not what I think might be a wise investment for my twilight
years. I like 1960's Plasticville. What can I say... I'm a
dork.
When I was born, I was a
premie. I weighed less than three pounds. I lived in an
incubator for several months. I developed an inner ear infection
while I lived in the inkie. The infection went unchecked and
subsequently I am profoundly deaf in my right ear. I have no bone
conduction.
I've been asked many
times how I can be a musician and singer and be partially deaf.
Wasn't Beethoven deaf? Okay, I'm no Beethoven.
Hey - Most
musicians are partially deaf! Or at least a majority of them have a
raging, ringing case of tinnitus.
I can't tell where sounds are
coming from.
I can't hear
passengers talk if I'm driving. Unless they yell.
I will always try to get
on someone's right side during conversation.
Big crowds can be a
little weird.
I can and do read
lips, even from across a crowded room. I can see what you are
saying... :)
My
message is this... Do not let anyone tell you that you
can't do something because of their perceived limitations of
you. If you feel limited, work towards letting go of that.
Just do your best and that is good enough. Push forward. LOVE
yourself. Learn to love yourself.
I've never known a full-on hearing world. I'm fine with that. I'm
actually grateful for it. Who knows, maybe I wouldn't have listened
so intently to music growing up and would not have developed a
love for it.
I've always wanted to learn American Sign Language.
A long time ago I started a list of things I wanted to do. Some funny, some kind
of sad, some just downright ridiculous. I'm still working on
fulfilling my list.
Belly dancing. About ten years ago I took lessons for a
year. I made my own dance wear. Jingle-jangle and sheer. But
when it came time to perform in public, I couldn't do it. I had the
heart of a dancer and the modesty of a nun. I dance at
home and run around the house naked. What's up with
that?
A drum circle. I've always wanted to be in a very small drum
circle. Have djembe, will travel.
Fire walking. Yes. I'm nutty.
Sky dive. Not on your life.
I did try to climb down the Royal Gorge in Colorado. Scaled a
"keep out" fence too. I got in so much trouble...
I climbed the Pyramid of Kukulcan (El Castillo) at Chichen Itza.
It was so, so, so, so hot! (temperature-wise) I wanted to
fly off the top platform. I seriously considered it. It seemed
like an easy way down. Okay, I got a little panicky and refused to
come down until I was good and ready and rested. And I wanted
to be an archeologist...
When I was a teenager, I sat in the Library for countless
hours planning my backpacking trip through Europe.
I wanted to join the Peace Corps.
Mahjongg - I have a vintage game set with full
instructions and no one to play with. Not that I know how to
play. But with three other game partners, I'd rather like to give it
a shot.
I wanted to be an Archeologist, specifically Egyptian digs. Hot,
hot!
I have an affinity for the ocean. I still want to be the Captain
on a sailboat. I feel quite certain, I can be bossy on a boat.
And also, with great certainty, the sailing vessel will
capsize.
My favorite maritime artist is James E. Buttersworth. If I could
just capture 1/100th of his detail to color and composition... you
could swim in his vivid waters. Well, that probably wouldn't be a
good idea, since many of his paintings represent war ships, war and
tormented waters.
I want to live in a lighthouse. Okay, I'll settle for a long
visit.
I rode the rapids near Pilar, New Mexico. Class 3 and 4. I was
lead row person. It was crazy and fun. Afterwards, I jumped in the
river to celebrate and about froze. The anchorman plucked
me out of the water with one arm and set me down in the bottom of
our raft. This guy had arms the size of my thighs. He was also
sporting a very visible "mechanic's man crack", so don't get too
excited.
I want to climb pyramids in the Valley of the Kings.
For a while, I wanted to be an opera singer.
I wanted to dive on our school's swim team, but I was too
shy to sign up for try-outs. And then of course, there's the modesty
issue.
I seriously thought that at one point that we'd be invaded by
Russia. So I took a semester of Russian so that I could learn how to
converse with the enemy. Instead my friends and I took our
Professor out and we all got inebriated. Didn't learn much, but
we all got A's anyway.
I want to get my passport and go to Europe.
I want to swim with dolphins.
I want, I want, I want... There's more...
What's on your list?
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