Marcie "Mom" Glanzer's Column
Monday, March 27, 2006
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11.22.05
12.07.05 1.20.06
2.27.06 3.5.06
To counter-balance my recent review of dislikes, here is a
top ten list of my likes.
1. Books…Anyone who knows me well, knows I love to read. I like
all genres of books and spend hours and hours listening to audio books as I
drive around my mail route. I also read actual books, but don’t get a chance to
just sit and read, so they tend to take longer. I try to read at least 100
books a year. I keep track of all the books I have read and/or listened to, and
a brief synopsis, so that I don’t forget and read something twice. I feel badly
that there is nobody else in the area that enjoys reading as much as I do and I
have nobody with which to discuss my latest novel. I would start a reading
group, but I would be the only member. I think Ryan read “Adventures with
Gumby” in 2nd grade, but that doesn’t count.
2. Chocolate…I believe chocolate is as addicting as nicotine. I
can’t go a whole day without getting chocolate cravings, and if I try to deny
myself this delicious food, I will eat lots of other junk and still crave the
chocolate, so why not just eat it in the first place? I love brownies,
especially if they are really gooey, and then I make frosting (chocolate of
course) to go on top. I have a certain frosting recipe that turns out kind of
like fudge and while it is still hot, I take a dish and eat it with a spoon. I
also love Russell Stover’s candy, Hershey bars, oh Hell…I like any kind of
chocolate. Who am I fooling!
3.
Dogs…I have always loved dogs, any breed (except those hairless
Chinese crested ones), any size, and any color. If I never have another friend
in the world, my two dogs will think I’m the most wonderful thing. They
absolutely worship me…when they are outside, they will follow me from window to
window…watching my every move. If they sense that I am going to go outside,
they bark, jump, twirl in circles. If I am gone for a few minutes and then
return, you’d think I had been gone for weeks by the happy reception I receive
on my return. Some people go nuts when they see a little baby; I’m that way
when there is a puppy. I rush over and gush over its cuteness. Dogs are the
best.
4. Reality TV shows…I know…they are a waste of precious time,
mindless and stupid, but I’m hooked on them. My favorite would have to be
“Survivor” then “American Idol”, but I also like “Fear Factor”, “The Bachelor”,
“The Bachelerette”, “Super Nanny”, “Nanny 911”etc…I will even go so far as to
watch “Overhaulin’”. I don’t know if this falls into the same category, but I
also watch way too many decorating shows, my favorite being “Devine Design” with
Candyce Olsen. Damned be the fool who dares to call me when Candyce is on.
5. Shopping…What red-blooded American woman would not have
shopping on her top 10 list of favorites? I don’t even have any money and still
enjoy a weekly outing, even if it is just to buy groceries. When I was really
young, my mom and I went to Huron and she had quite a bit of shopping to do.
(She, too, is a confessed shopaholic)…That was in the days when there was no
mall, all the shopping was done downtown where you plodded along from store to
store carrying your bags. It was a lot of walking and the weather was cold and
windy. My mom began to feel sorry for me…I had to be exhausted, cold and
hungry, and decided to head home. When we were in the car I said to her, “That
was fun!!! When can we go shopping again?” That’s when my mother knew for
certain that I was her daughter! What a proud moment.
6. Cereal…I have often thought that if I lived all by myself I
could get by fairly cheaply where groceries are concerned. All I would need in
my cart would be 2 gallons of skim milk, 5 or 6 varieties of cereal, some Diet
Coke, and that’s about it. Oh yeah, some chocolate, too. I could eat cereal
for every meal and be perfectly happy. Maybe it wouldn’t be the most nutritious
diet, but it would satisfy me. I would buy Raisin Bran, Banana Nut Crunch,
Cheerios, Grape Nuts, and whatever else grabbed me, and I’d be set. However, I
don’t live alone and have a cart heaped high with crazy things like meat and
vegetables.
7. Ebay…I admit it… I’m an Ebay-aholic. I spend WAY too much
time fooling around on Ebay. Either looking for things to bid on or listing
things to sell, at least a couple of hours a day could be better spent doing
something useful. I have had a lot of fun listing junk we have laying around
the house and finding out that someone else actually wanted it and would pay a
lot of money for it. One example is a backpack that belonged to Ryan when he
was in the first grade. He used it for the year, and then wanted to get
something else, so this backpack was stuck away upstairs for 15 years. Finally,
I dug it out and listed it last school year, thinking some kid might like it.
It featured “Super Mario Brothers” and was in good shape, so I listed it at
$2.00. That darned thing brought $45!! Another time I had a gray, pin-striped
suit that had belonged to my Grandpa. The kids found it in his attic and used
it in a couple of school plays. I was tired of having it hang around in my
porch and listed it for $5. It sold for almost $60. And to think I was going
to burn it!
8. Summer...I think I listed being cold as one of the things I
disliked, so it only stands to reason that I would enjoy summer and the heat
that comes along with it. I like to mow the lawn, go barefoot, cook on the
grill, go for walks, get a tan…all things that winter really screws up. I can’t
say that I’m enamored with bugs or humidity, but I will gladly put up with them
in exchange for no snow, ice or freezing temps.
9. Trains, Planes and Automobiles (the movie)…This is one movie
that cracks me up every time I watch it. I have it on DVD and every time I get
it out, it makes me laugh all over again. I know what is going to happen in the
movie, but watching John Candy’s facial expressions is hilarious. If you have
never taken the time to view this, do it. I’m sure Jason has a copy of it since
he has every DVD ever produced.
10. Citibank Commercial…now, call me crazy for listing a
commercial as one of my likes, but these Citibank commercials are hilarious! I
am referring to the ones where the geeky guy is on the phone, trying to get
someone to help him with his billing problem when his kitchen catches on fire.
Then he’s in another one that’s better yet, where he is on a cell phone and has
to give his info forever before he finally connects with a live person, only to
get cut off when the train goes into a tunnel. Whoever came up with that
promotion should get a promotion. I laugh every time it comes on, which is
several times a week.
Well, there you have it. I have very few secrets left…you now know my likes,
dislikes and lots of other useless information about me. When I peruse this
list, it becomes very evident to me that I am what’s known as a “low
maintenance” person. I don’t need lavish diamonds, expensive vacations or
caviar…just give me a bowl of cereal, a remote control and a box of chocolates
and I’ll be as happy as a clam!