Twenty-Five Random Things About Melindaville
I was visiting my favorite Aussie’s blog, Svasti, Journey from Assault to Wholeness, a few days ago, where her post was a dedication to a ‘tag’, she’d received from a fellow blogger to list 25 random things about herself. I enjoyed this a lot because I felt I knew more about Svasti than I had before and found I had several things in common that I hadn’t realized we shared. After leaving her a comment outlining some of those similarities, she ‘tagged’ me to complete this same exercise on my own blog.
So, don’t blame me—blame Svasti! So, here goes, folks! Twenty-five random things about Melindaville you always wanted to know—but that you were afraid to ask!
1. My immediate family is completely blue eyed, this included my father, who was Egyptian—he had the bluest eyes you ever saw. Apparently, my Egyptian ancestors hailed from the small Egyptian village of Dahktalia, which is actually known for its high number of blue-eyed Egyptians. (What this means is that I likely have more French in my blood than the ¼ I know about—because apparently, Napoleon’s troops landed there during his three-year occupation of Cairo).
2. My first real memory is of my family’s arrival in the United States, when we took a ship from Egypt. I remember walking down a long corridor with huge gates (they seemed mountainous to a two and a half year old!). I remember thinking, “I’ll never forget this.” And I never have.
3. I hate lima beans. Even the sight of them brings up a gag reflex.
Yuck! Lima Beans!
4. I was in a movie before I ever left Montana for San Francisco—when I was just a kid. I was cast in the film, “The Missouri Breaks” (arguably the worst film Jack Nicholson and Marlon Brando ever did). I ran into Jack Nicholson in the small town of Virginia City, Mt. (where the film was shot) and didn’t know who he was (I didn’t know who he was because I’d never seen a one of his movie’s at that point). During the course of our conversation, I bragged to him that I had a role in the movie. He said, “I’m in that movie too.” To which I replied, “I hope you got a good part!” Boy was my face red when I saw him at filming the next day.
5. I once rode my bicycle all the way from Bozeman, Montana to Yellowstone Park and back (about 200 miles, give or take).
6. At the age of 7, I wrote, directed, and starred in a play called “The Plight of Penelope” (ripped off from The Perils of Pauline, with the music ripped off from the musical, Oliver!
7. At the above-mentioned play, I charged a dollar admission per person, which was a fortune for a neighborhood play at that time. But people thought it was so cute, that they willingly paid it without an argument. I spent the money on candy, which I distributed to all the neighborhood kids.
8. I have a phobia about bats—I’m scared to death of them.
9. I have done stand-up comedy and the time I got the most laughs was when I was almost too drunk to stand up.
10. Speaking of drunk, I started the YAA club in San Francisco in the 1980’s. This stood for “Young, Alluring, Alcoholics” YAA!
11. The first time I ever used a computer, every single monitor in the Montana State University library went down just as I pushed the first button. I slunk out of the library, embarrassed—I really thought I caused the entire problem!
12. After that experience, I was determined to master computers so I took a class called “Computer Literacy.” I got an A in it. 
13. I graduated from high school, 328th out of a class of 342. Not very good. 
14. I graduated from college, 81st out of a class of over 5,0000. That was much better.
15. My marriage to Michael Roberts took place in Las Vegas. I was kicking heroin when we said, “I do.” (How romantic).
16. I was a very fussy eater while growing up—and very conservative. I refused to try an avocado until I moved to San Francisco when I was in my teens (and then I was forced). 
I love avocados today!
17. I can touch the tip of my nose with my tongue
18. Speaking of elastic body parts, my mouth is so elastic (and so big), I can actually fit my entire fist in my mouth (there they walk, hand in mouth).
19. My behavior illustrates a penchant for getting high from a very young age. As young as 3 or 4, I remember twirling madly, in circles, and then falling down and enjoying feeling the ‘spinning’ sensations. If I’d gone to spinning rehab in kindergarten, I might have saved myself a long history of substance abuse.
20. I have always been rebellious and I hate people telling me what to do. If you tell me what to do, I am likely to do the opposite. Just because. 
21. When I was very young, I used to think all dogs were boys and all cats were female.
22. I met my husband through an Internet dating service, called ‘People to People.’
23. I stood him up for our first date and he still pursued me! (I love ya, honey and I’d never stand you up today!).
24. I don’t remember ever being as happy as I was on my wedding day to Les.
25. I realize now that I’m not nearly as interesting as I’d like to think I am!
Those are my 25 fun facts you never knew about me (or did you?).
Peace,
Melinda
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3/3/2009 8:36 PM
five ancestors wrote:
Bookmarked your post over at Blog Bookmarker.com!
I must admit, I got a good chuckle. Except I do not understand your phobia of bats. I thought your phobia was being surrounded by nothing but Yankees fans!!!
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Hey Tommy!
Great point--bats are nothing compared to those damn Yankee fans! Ha!
Thanks for stopping by--
Melinda
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Hehe, good stuff Melinda!
I can also touch the tip of my nose with my tongue.
What else... I'm definitely not from Egypt but I've been there - travelled all around, and down the Nile and up to Alexandria. Its a beautiful place and somewhere I wanna go back to see again.
I also used to make plays for people to watch as a child. Don't know I ever charged them for watching though!
Kudos on the cycling - nice effort!
Similarly, I didn't like avocados as a kid, but now I love them.
Excellent list, Melinda
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That's great that you can touch the tip of your nose with your tongue, Svasti--but can you put your entire fist in your mouth? LOL.
I'm glad that you approve of my list--your list was quite a role model for me--Just sayin'!
Melinda
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Nope, can't quite manage that impressive feat! And believe me, I tried!!
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LOL!
Thank you for the early a.m. laugh.
Melinda
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I was cracking up at your 25 things. I also had a 25 random things post after I was tagged on FB. I also hate lima beans with a passion that can be barely contained. I was forced to eat them in hamburgers when I was a kid. Yak! Mom didn't quite understand that lima beans and hamburgers did not go together! This was really fun to read!
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Stillthinking,
Anyone who hates lima beans is okay in my book--although you'd still be okay even if you loved 'em! And no wonder you hated them if someone messed up a perfectly good hamburger by placing lima beans in them. Then you have a ruined burger AND lima beans.
Sounds like your mom went to the same cooking school mine did! I'll never forget that one 'surprise,' which turned out to be tater tot and cheeze whiz casserole. My goodness that was nasty!
I'm glad you enjoyed my list. Some of my posts are really pretty dark so I thought this was a good way to lighten things up a bit!
Take care,
Melinda
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5. I once rode my bicycle all the way from Bozeman, Montana to Yellowstone Park and back (about 200 miles, give or take).
(wholey crap! are you kidding me? Man I can barely do 10 miles on the gym bike..lol, let alone across the states.
Ya know, I bet you would have made it big in the movies, but then you would have had to put up with all the drama and paparazzi. I loved acting and wanted to continue, but I was afraid to be famous due to the crap that goes on. So I bowed out.
And, that is so cool that you are from Egypt. I believe that we all start out there in the beginning of time. Most people don't really think about that.
C U Soon
Peace, Love and Sauerkraut!
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LOL, Sheila--that was a long, long time ago. And I didn't do it in a day! We took a day getting down and then spent a few days having fun in the park, then we rode back. The ride back was wonderful! It was almost all down hill except for the last 10 miles, which were up a huge hill. I swear, those ten miles seemed longer than the entire other 190!
You know, I had a friend tell me once--a long time ago--she said, "Melinda, you'll either be a fabulous star or a fabulous junkie." What a drag that it was the latter. BUT, my life is so fantastically wonderful today, I would not change a thing. Not in a million years.
I thought your last sentence was one of the most insightful things I have read for quite some time. I agree. We were all there, are all here, and will alll continue.
Peace,
Melinda
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I definitely blame Svasti...those Aussies are really nothing but trouble...but don't tell her I said that....
Nonetheless, I'd say you're at least as interesting as you think you are...though I'm horribly disappointed to find that there's a PhD out there (who I know--virtually, at least--even) who had an even worse high school rank than I...kinda lowers my underachiever cache, y'know?
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Yay! I won, I won! I was worse at high school than you were, (neener, neener, neener!)
It's amazing how what was once such a supreme shame is now a claim to fame!
Perhaps we should start a club? The "I really sucked at high school but then succeeded" club.
Thanks for the laughs, Jay!
Melinda
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OK Lovie! Now I'm gonna have to make my own random list!
Is there anyone that actually likes lima beans? EWWW!
Oh, and I used to think that dogs were boys and cats were girls too!
I hope you don't mind me making a random list too. I'll be sure to give my props to you for the idea! LOL
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Actually, Angela! I am tagging you now! Just as Svasti tagged me, I am tagging you!
I think we might have to start a club for people who hate lima beans too! Glad to know I'm in good company!
Melinda
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They started this 25 random thing on Facebook, at least I think because I first got tagged a month or so ago. I never participated...lol Thanks for sharing Melinda. There is so much about your life that is very interesting. Great job on your blog
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You know, that's right! I remember now, I saw a friend writing out the 25 random things about herself--and she even tagged me in that note, I recall. At that time, I was so bogged down with teaching stuff that I couldn't do it. I have a little more time now.
I had fun writing this--and I am glad you had fun reading it, Sheila!
Melinda
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Dear mam Melinda
This was the post which I was waiting for !!!!
Very interesting to know so many facts about you.
take care
harneet singh
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Dear Harneet,
Oh good! I'm so glad you enjoyed my fun little list! I had fun writing it too!
Take care,
Melinda
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I've been tagged to do this and have been sidetracked. Now that I've read yours and have seen how much fun you made it with photos, etc. I will stay sidetracked for awhile. Really, I enjoyed this immensely. Especially #1,2,9,13,14,19(I used to wait for everyone in the family to go to sleep then would spin in the dark living room),20 (I hear 'ya),and 23.
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Lol, Lydia! Why am I not surprised that you could have used spinning rehab yourself?! I think many of us that liked getting that old buzz started our behavior very early on! And like most alcoholics/addicts--we hate being told what to do!
So glad you enjoyed the list!
I can't wait to read yours -- so don't be sidetracked for too long!
Melinda
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I'm not afraid of bats, but I hate the way they like to fly right at your head. Um, GO YANKEES!
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Ewww! Bats!
Lol, Mike--we'll have to have a healthy baseball rivalry--um, GO Red Sox!
Melinda
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Ugh, the Red Sox?! lol. Yikes.
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Melinda
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Thanks for visiting my blog and your nice comments:
http://nandugreen.typepad.com/chasing_the_wind
Montana is special - nice it is your family home - I look forward to following your blog - always interesting. How is your book coming along? I want to read it!
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You are quite welcome, Marlene.
Yes, it is wonderful to visit my mom in Montana--we always enjoy going to the mountains and since she lives there, we have an excuse to go, often.
My book is finished--at least the rough draft. I'm about 1/2 way through the first edit ,which has been slow going because I have rewritten several parts of it. I am only teaching 2 classes right now, though so I hope to be able to get more editing completed.
Melinda
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Number 4 was hilarious! Neat list ;o)
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I'm so pleased you enjoyed it! I really enjoyed writing it!
Melinda
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I've never seen Lima beans. Thanks, now I know
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Avocado people, Unite!
Thanks for stopping by!
Melinda
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These lists are always fun -- thanks for sharing (and I think I tagged you on FB, but it works well as a post, too.)
I remember loving to spin around, too, and putting on many plays (especially when I could boss my friends around, telling them exactly what to do. I should have put that on my 25 things: I was an extremely bossy child. Perhaps this explains my son's bossiness ....)
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Hi Jennifer,
I didn't understand what 'tags' meant when you tagged me on Facebook (lol--someone had to actually explain it to me). I am still learning my way around the blogosphere!
So, you were a fellow spinner, eh? And we were both bossy! I always knew we had a lot in common. But the real question is--do you like lima beans?
Melinda
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#3 - they absolutely make me gag. Fun list. I love these things, but everytime I try to do them, I can only get to 10 or 11. Which means #25 also applies to me. hahahaha
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Lima bean haters, UNITE!
Ah, Jen--I am sure you could come up with 25 things! Think "random'
Thanks for stopping by--as always, I appreciate it!
Melinda
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