I've been resisting this "things about me" list mania that my fellow bloggers have taken up, but this being the first of the month, and with me close to brain dead after publishing 86 blog posts last month, I'm going to go for it rather than come up with something interesting.

I will not be listing 100 things ... not even 86 ... as there are too many things about me that are, quite frankly either not at all relevant to the part of me that writes this blog, or not your business to know. Also, since there's already a lot you do know ... I have four kids, I adore them, Sam and Cj were born in Cambodia, I have a five-year old granddaughter, I live on an island in the Indian Ocean, blah, blah, blah ... I don't need to list those details. I think 50 should about do it ...

So, with a caveat, and a mention that these are not in any order at all, here goes:

1) I love where I live, but hate how far it is from many I love.

2) I'm 5'9" tall.

3) When I was pregnant the first time, my husband du jour said I looked like a potato with a toothpicks stuck into it.

4) I like being married. I like it so much that I've done it three times.

5) The third time stuck, and will be the last.

6) I, too, am writing a book at the moment.

7) It's not the first one.

8) A short story of mine has been made into a film. (Not yet out.)

9) I'm of the Gloria Steinem school of thought when it comes to writing: I hate writing, but I love having written.

10) Writing fiction is actually painful for me, but so rewarding ... a bit like giving birth.

11) My dad was my biggest fan.

12) I had my tubes cut when I was 30 because at the time I thought I didn't want to be raising kids my whole life.

13) I lived in 28 places by the time I was 31 years old ... the last time I counted. (Also not military.)

14) I went to 11 different schools before finishing high school.

15) I drink a lot of tea.

16) I like nice white wine, but don't get much of it on this island, so drink plonk.

17) Every computer I've ever owned has been a Mac. My first had 512K of memory.

18) I am known to be a very loyal friend.

19) I start every morning with a fruit shake of bananas, papaya, whatever other fruit I might have on hand, yogurt, Metamucil and honey.

20) I make my own yogurt, as there is no reliable supply in the country.

21) My mom sends me the Metamucil, which is part of my fruit shake because it helps to reduce cholesterol.

22) I have familial hyperlipidemia.

23) I had a triple heart bypass when I was 47.

24) I used to work in TV news, and was a news junkie for years.

25) I have helped collect semen from an adult male orang utan while he was awake ... and liking it.

The next 25 things about me are over on the Older Parent Blog.