Since it’s a Thursday afternoon and we sometimes drift into offbeat topics, I decided to share another personal post about little quirks and memories that make life interesting for John and me. We’ve done variations of this before, and three years after our original “Ten Things You Didn’t Know About Us” post, it felt like the right time to offer a fresh batch of small, honest moments and oddball facts. Below are a few things you might not know about us—some funny, some sincere, all true.
Without further ado, here are some random bits about our daily life and personalities:
1. I’ve always wanted to name a band. I don’t necessarily want to be in one or even date a rock star—I just enjoy inventing band names. Random phrases pop into my head and I’ll think, “That would make a great band name.” A few of my favorites over the years: “What Ever Happened To Breckin Meyer?”, “Exhibit A,” and “Venn Diagram.” Yes, I know it sounds a bit eccentric, but it’s a silly hobby I get a kick out of. Just the other night I came up with “Pass The Mustard” and I’m still kind of into it. Naming imaginary bands is one of those small creative pleasures that light up an otherwise ordinary day.
2. We assign babies to animals. This is a loving, playful thing we do as a family. For example, Clara is our turtle—calm and steady—and we also see a little bird in her quick, bright movements. We’ll look at photos and laugh, saying “Turtle!” or “It’s the bird!” like it’s an obvious match. Other family members have earned their own animal counterparts too: cousins who are a chipmunk, a bear, a monkey, and a puppy. It’s silly, but these little metaphors help us describe personalities and moments in a way that feels warm and fun.
3. I have a soft spot for Bethenny Frankel. I realize she’s not everyone’s favorite, and that’s okay, but I’ve followed her career closely—watching Housewives of New York, Bethenny Getting Married, and Bethenny Ever After—and I even read her book A Place of Yes. I find the behind-the-scenes stories and her candid admissions fascinating. What appeals to me most is her willingness to own mistakes with blunt honesty; she’ll admit to missteps instead of denying them, which feels refreshingly human. Admitting that a reality-TV personality inspires a little personal growth might be a bit unexpected, but her straightforwardness has influenced how I try to handle moments when I feel defensive.
4. Clara had a memorable habit during diaper changes. For nearly every day of her first six months, she surprised John by peeing on him as soon as the diaper came off. We heard that was mostly a boy thing, but she proved otherwise—and she usually did it with a very animated face that always made me laugh. We found it hilarious; John, not so much. Looking back, those tiny, messy moments are the ones you don’t forget, because they make up the real, imperfect rhythm of life with a baby.
5. We have silly catch phrases at home. John’s favorite comeback—possibly second to “That’s what she said”—is simply “Your face.” It’s his default response to almost anything, and it cracks me up every single time. My own go-to is a mock-bratty “I do what I want!” usually said as a joke and sometimes punctuated by a fake pout when I hand him the remote. We call ourselves dorks a lot, and it’s true: these little verbal quirks are part of how we connect and keep everyday moments light.
Those are a few snapshots of who we are when we’re being unapologetically ourselves. Now I’d love to hear from you: tell me at least one quirky or random thing about yourself. Do you put ketchup on steak? Sing show tunes in the shower? Count stairs in your head? Share something small and unexpected—it’s a nice way to have a little Thursday-afternoon bonding and remind ourselves that everyone has their own charming peculiarities.