Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Things I Like

I was moved to a new school this year and one thing people in education like to do is try and make new people feel welcome. My first official work days are tomorrow and Thursday and you can bet I'll be asked to participate in some "getting-to-know" activities that require me to act energetic and gregarious and just generally really happy to meet these people, most of whom I already know.

Today in my email I received a template for a baseball card that will be used to introduce me to other teachers and parents and kids and random people who walk in off the street. It has a picture of me (the four-year-old one I use for this blog, as a matter of fact), my name, teaching assignment, and college. Then at the bottom, I was asked to "tell a little about myself."

This was an opportunity I couldn't resist. I love to tell about myself. I even have a blog that does very little except tell about myself. I decided I would make two lists, one of things I like and one of things I don't. But then I got to thinking and I had a really hard time thinking of things I like. There were the obvious, of course--chocolate milk, golfing, anything with cheese or bacon, new socks--but I was surprised how much mental energy it took to figure out what I really liked.

So on the drive home, I started paying attention to everything and discovered that I like a LOT of things. I have made it a goal to create a comprehensive list of the things I like. I'm keeping this list in a notebook. And I'm keeping the notebook in a very secure place. And I'm not telling you where this secure place is because then it wouldn't be very secure anymore because it doesn't have a lock or anything. I mean, it's a notebook full of things I like, not credit card information. Besides, what if I have to get at the notebook really quickly, before I forget the thing that I like? I wouldn't want to monkey around with a lock, especially one of those combination ones. Then, in a month or so, I am going to reveal my list right here on Murphblog. I encourage all my readers to do the same. I think you'll be surprised at some of the things you like.

(For instance, just now I remembered that I really like parentheses. How could I have forgotten?) (Ooh! Rhetorical questions. I like those.) (Ooh! Ooh! Making lists!)
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This is totally irrelevant (like most of this blog's contents, really), but I just accidentally googled "the" and the first link is to The Onion. What'd they pay to get that?

17 comments:

Monica said...

ooh... i like this (i really like ellipses)(and parentheses)

Are you going to tell The Wife the location of said notebook? what if something tragic happened, and she needed to know?

Kelly Polark said...

I think you should put one of your fart poems on your baseball card. Just to see if the faculty has a sense of humor.
Don't forget to put Peter Cetera in your notebook!

Unknown said...

You should go with your first thoughts for part of the list, the new socks and stuff. If those came to mind first, then you must really like them. And the obvious is sometimes not so obvious. I would never think of someone REALLY liking new socks, although I really like new underwear, especially from Target.

Monica said...

there's my christmas shopping half done. Socks For PMM, Target Underwear for TEW.

Anita said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Lily Cate said...

I like the Onion.

Sarah J Clark said...

Oooooh... I like Silk Chocolate Milk and new socks (just like you). Pink ones. Ones you wear running. Love running. Just got through running. Kinda need a shower.... love showers. I could go on forever....

Looking forward to .... "The Notebook."

Hey, wasn't that a movie?

MG Higgins said...

You weren't very clear with your directions, PMM. I got the impression that, like you, we were supposed to think carefully about our lists and reveal them at another time.

I really like SPAM sliced super thin and fried until desiccated-crispy and served with baked beans. That's a hint at how fabulous my entire list will be.

Paul Michael Murphy said...

To clarify: If you too would like to make a list of things that are awesome, post it on your own blog in about a month. (Yes, it would be cooler if we all did it on the same day, but that would mean I would have to commit to a day and then actually, you know, post it on that day. And the odds of that happening are slim.)

Monica said...

i'll accept that challenge.. in about a month..

Monica said...

(oh, and i googled 'the' just to see what would happen, and i came up with The Weather Network) (just goes to show you what our priorities are)


word verification 'wackysmo'

Ray Veen said...

I like Murphblog.

My list is thus complete.

Betty (Beth) said...

One of my fav. lines from "A Christmas Story":

Creepy Kid: I like the wizard of Oz. I like the Tin Man.

Sounds like that creepy kid had a list of his own.
I'll post mine in a month, per your request! :-)

Monica said...

Big V, youre a suckup. is there even a prize involved??

MG Higgins said...

FYI, I blogged about your post. (Hope you don't mind.)

Paul Michael Murphy said...

There would be a prize, but I still haven't sent Kelly her prize from like six months ago.

So I've just made it a policy to avoid prizes.

And no, MG, I do not mind.

Yat-Yee said...

Paying attention to the thinks I like: I like that. I think I may join you on this little list-making adventure.