10 Things: What I Like

Let's mix things up and do a list-post today.

10 Things I Like

1. Pet-Sitting: This is really a good match of person and job. It's part-time, I love the people, I love the pets, and it has really helped when money has been tight. I'm really grateful for this one.
2. Painting: I spent yesterday and today painting a mural at one of my work's facilities. I won't say much since it is work-related, but I had a really great time. I got to talk to all kinds of interesting people, I got to do some painting and really narrow my focus to just painting and making sure folks had enough supplies, and everyone was so great. I felt very comfortable and had a really good time, actually.
3. Greens: I've started taking spirulina, and I ate a whole bunch of swiss chard. Could be a placebo effect, but I do feel better.
4. Alameda: Ever since I started making a conscious effort to appreciate Alameda (and the Bay Area), guess what!? I like it a lot better! Amazing. But Alameda in particular. I've always liked it, but it really is calm, feels like a small town, and feels comfortable. I don't ever feel nervous or scared here, and it's really nice knowing that if I needed, I could just bike everywhere. I should, in fact, bike everywhere. Working on that.
5. Makeup: Duh. Put me in front of a cheap lipstick display and I'm like a raccoon with its hand in a trap. CAN'T... GET... AWAY... I can't help it. I've always loved makeup. I still do. I don't wear a ton, thankfully, but I HAVE a ton. I love it.
6. Baking cookies and desserts: Notice that I didn't say eating cookies and desserts. Funny thing. With only a few exceptions (peanut butter cookies being one), I can make a whole pile of cookies and only eat a couple. I only want like, two or three. However, I really love the whole process of making them. I really need kids, I tell you. Somebody's gotta eat all this food that I love to make.
7. Stars: Anything star-shaped, I like. Anything. It's my favorite shape.
8. Flowers: I never really thought of myself as a flower person. But, I love to draw flowers, and take photos of flowers, and I like flower prints (sometimes, anyway). So, I guess I like flowers. Apparently.
9. New things: I'm usually pretty game for anything that I haven't done, tasted, experienced, seen... except for meat or seafood. I kinda can't do that stuff. But, I'll try just about anything else. I do reserve the right to never, ever, want to do it again if I didn't like it. However, I can say that I do actively seek out new things to try. Like recipes. And Trader Joe's food items. And driving routes. And eating plans. And hiking trails. But not entrails. Uh-uh. No way.
10. Sun-warmed pine: Driving home along highway 280 today, I saw this little park that had this strange Greek-like column structure (photos later). Had to check it out. The path to the columns was all hot from the sun, with the summery smell of pine needles and sap rising from each step. I automatically slowed down, took deep breaths, felt calmer. Instant peace.

I like lots of things. I would say that I like more things than I don't like. And you know how some things you used to hate, but now you like? Like for me, onions is a good example. I used to hate anything oniony (except onion rings). But now, I kinda like onion flavor. I also used to HATE walnuts. I was even a little allergic to them. Now, I find they're pretty okay sometimes. But there are some things I'm still impatiently waiting to like.

Things I Am Still Waiting To Like:

1. Fish: Yep. I've never liked it. I can tolerate a few bites of a few kinds (halibut in a sauce, my dad's barbequed fresh steelhead), but I can't say that I actually like any kind of fishy anything. Crab cakes: barf. And don't even get me started on caviar. Can't do it. Nope. I know what those little balls are!!
2. Milk: Now here's an interesting one. I used to like milk just fine. Even skim milk. No problem. But now, I can barely manage a swallow. I'll eat yogurt, or ice cream, or cottage cheese (although I recently got some regular, not cultured, cottage cheese, and I noticed my stomach kind of turned while eating it). And of course, cheese. But glasses of milk, I can't seem to do anymore. I much prefer soymilk or ricemilk. Hmm.
3. Lynyrd Skynyrd: Terri loves them. Many, many people love them. I just don't get it. I like Sweet Home Alabama. That's about it. I do, however, lovelovelove Tom Petty. Go figure.
4. Going Back: As in, you're two blocks away from home and you realize you forgot your pillow and your toothbrush. Do you go back? It's only two blocks. I can't stand it! I hate going back if I've left something. I'll do just about anything to avoid going back.
5. Computer Stuff: I'm a graphic designer. I love blogging, I love email. I appreciate Photoshop. But really, I couldn't care less about computer stuff in general. I have only the barest concept of what's the difference between RAM and memory. Or is there a difference? See, I just don't know. And, I really don't care!

Anyway. That's a fun list to make. What do you think you SHOULD care about, or like, but you just DON'T?