What do people find surprising about you?

[kijip]

For a fun thread, let's share 1 unexpected thing about ourselves. This is triggered by my music shopping today. Mine is def. my very diverse appreciation of music. When I was checking out today a newer employee remarked "I have never seen anyone buy this mix of genres before" and I was pleased as punch when the other employee recognized me and my husband and said, oh they do that all the time! :jammin:

Usually people are surprised to see Seattle white girl with so much rap and hip hop in the collection, it is easily the largest portion of the music we own, followed closely by punk rock and then women folk rock guitar and vocal combos. People expect the folk and classic rock and perhaps the punk rock, maybe even together, but they don't expect all of the others. Country, gospel, big band, bubblegum pop and blue grass also throw people for a loop. And we have a huge collection of classical music, baroque and are big opera fans which is not so common in our age group. The only genre I think we totally pass on is that we don't really do Christian rock music...we have a lot of religious music but the religious rock is not my cup of tea. Mostly CDs though we have a lot of vinyl. We have thousands of CDs and records in the house, though some we have stored away out of sight.

We bought just on this one trip (mostly all cheap used...typically $6 is as high as we go for our own music but we will buy some new releases for more and some kids stuff for more).

They might be giants, NO for T
The Johnny Cash Children's Album, for F and all of us
Sonic Youth @ the Continental in Austin TX
Ani DiFranco Evolve
The Clash a compilation of singles (for a few bucks, for the car, we already own all of their albums)
Sonic Youth - Rather Ripped
Indigo Girls- Become You
Ramones- Road to Ruin
Mad Rad- The Youth Die Young
Kayne West- the College Drop Out
Madeline Peyroux- Bare Bones

So from kids to folk to jazz to punk to rap to hip hop all in one go.

[JoyNChrist]

That I'm very intelligent (that sounds boastful, but I promise I'm not, I just don't know another way to say it).

I guess it's because I'm a SAHM, married and had children really young, and I didn't get a fancy degree...but people always seem really surprised when they find out I had perfect scores on the ACT and SAT, am really good at mathematics and languages, and know my stuff in regard to politics and whatnot.

I don't think I come off as dumb or anything, but I've had a lot of people tell me after conversations - "Wow, you're really smart. Like REALLY smart." I never know if I should take it as a compliment or be a little insulted that they seem so surprised. ;)

People also seem to be surprised by the fact that I'm a liberal (I think I'm the only one in our town, lol), and that I love to sing karaoke.

[ha98ed14]

People are always surprised when I tell them that we buy our coffee green through a cooperative and DH roasts it himself. Those are the people I know semi-well. People I've just met who don't know me at all are surprised that DH is an elementary school teacher. Not too many guys do that job. I'm not very exciting. The only thing people have found surprising about me is that I went to an all girls boarding school, but that is just because in CA, there are hardly any boarding schools. Where I grew up (and started my adult life) in NJ/NY/CT, there's lots of them and it's not uncommon at all.

[SkyrMommy]

I have to laugh sometimes when I tell people that I'm an artist. I guess I don't have the artist angst look down, I rarely wear black & I'm about as LL Bean looking as you get. :wink2: I think even in art school I was pretty beige compared to other students, luckily my artwork is bright and bold!

[Melaine]

People are often surprised that I was homeschooled. People also don't peg me as the karate type, but I was a green belt before I went to college.

[liamsmom]

People seem really surprised about my age. Even at work when I'm dressed up and not wearing my "kid" clothes. I think I look like I'm in my early 30s, but some folks seem shocked. Also people think my younger sisters (only two of them) are the older sister.

[crl]

That I am older than dh (by a year) and that I was practicing law long before he went to law school.

Catherine

[LMPC]

People are always surprised to find out that I was born and raised in AL. I don't really have a Southern accent, and I am a flamin' liberal. Apparently, I don't mesh with their AL stereotypes ;)

They also kind of look at me funny when I tell them that I was a 2nd degree black belt and nationally ranked (okay, I usually don't tell them...DH finds it hilarious to blurt this out to annoy me). In my old age I have turned rather laid back and groovy (or so I would like to think)....not the intense kid/teenager I was when I took karate.

[maestramommy]

This is a fun one to think on because we recently moved to an area where NOBODY knows me, and doesn't already know my dad.

They're usually surprised to find that I'm a professionally trained musician. I think twice now after I've played in a Sunday service someone has come up to me or and said, "You've had some training, haven't you?" One Sunday, a mature gentlemen turned to Dh and said, "Is she your wife? She's had some lessons, hasn't she?" Um, yeah :tongue5: I guess most people don't think of anyone in the congregation besides the actual music director as ever studying music professionally.

Also, because we had kids already by the time we moved, many are surprised to hear that I had a career as an orchestra teacher before that. I'm not sure if it's because "orchestra teacher" sounds exotic, or because I'm a SAHM, and they think I went from being a kid in my parents' home to fulltime homemaker. I actually had someone ask me, "Have you ever worked?" :hysterical:

That would tie in with a bigger surprise, which is how old I am. I guess to most people I don't look my age (though I sure feel it!). That will be nice 20 years from now:loveeyes:

[golightly1118]

People are always surprised to learn that I played flute for eight years. I guess I don't mesh with their mental image of a grown-up band nerd :p

Also, people are surprised to learn that before I had DD I was a pastry chef/cake designer. I guess they think all chefs are big, gruff men-I'm 5'0 and weigh a hundred and small change pounds.

One more thing-people are surprised to learn I was a sorority girl in college, as I'm not a big party girl (never have been). Granted, in Texas everyone goes Greek, but the impression I get is that only super-wealthy, stuck up kids in the Midwest pledge-maybe I'm wrong though.

[catsnkid]

First impression: my age. I'm early thirties but I guess look more like mid twenties. Lately my clients at work ask how long I've worked here and are sometimes shocked when I tell them 7 years.

[niccig]

That I'm Australian. Most people think I'm from Boston. My dialect has changed and is now a Australian/American hodge podge - some words like "water" are still very Australian and other words are very American. When we're in Australia many Australians think I'm American. I'm studying phonetics at school and have realised that I have a similar ending to words that end in a "a" as they do in Boston, so I think that's why people think I'm from there.

That I speak Japanese and learned at school.

[vludmilla]

I'm not sure what they find most surprising...maybe that I went sky diving with DH on our first date.

People may be most surprised by DH's musical and artistic talents and accomplishments. He was accepted to many esteemed university art programs (but never attended one) and he is a musician with a couple of CD's available through small labels. We have thousands of CD's in our house, probably several thousand. DH and I have music from genres many people have never even heard of, much less listened to.

[SpaceGal]

I think most people are surprised that I'm an only child...I guess because I don't act like one...then the other surprising thing is that I was born in Hawaii...and now live inc razy snow country!

[viba424]

I dated a multi-platinum grammy winning rock star. I dont tell that story much anymore now that Im married with a child, lol. :tongue5:

[ChunkyNicksChunkyMom]

I dated a multi-platinum grammy winning rock star. I dont tell that story much anymore now that Im married with a child, lol. :tongue5:

Okay, you can't say that and not spill!

[BarbieSmith]

That I am a face painter, in addition to my "other" jobs of candle company owner, and stay-at-home mama (yes, I am a busy gal!). I have an MBA, but I love my face painting job better than any other high powered job I have had! If you want to see my photo gallery, please see my photos at www.ARTiFACES.com - enjoy your visit if you *do*! :)
Barbie

[LMPC]

I dated a multi-platinum grammy winning rock star. I dont tell that story much anymore now that Im married with a child, lol. :tongue5:
Oh come on! I can't believe you are going to leave us hangin' like that!!!!
:popc1:

[Uno-Mom]

I've never smoked pot. Not ever.

That's doubly suprising, since I live on the West Coast and I really look like I'd enjoy a joint or two. :)

[viba424]

Oh come on! I can't believe you are going to leave us hangin' like that!!!!
:popc1:

Im so embarassed. Let me just say the band rhymes with Lashing Bumpkins. Not saying any more! :p

[WolfpackMom]

Im so embarassed. Let me just say the band rhymes with Lashing Bumpkins. Not saying any more! :p

STHU! Thats so freaking cool!!!

I honestly can't think of one thing that people would be surprised by.... I know at work and in interviews when its come in the past people have been surprised by my age (thinking I was older than I am), but that was more when I was younger that people would be surprised, now I dunno...

ETA: It was that people thought I was older because of maturity and experience not looks, lest you think I look aged... ;)

[Indianamom2]

I think I must (still) look younger than I am, because people are usually surprised that I've been married as long as I have. DH and I have been married for almost 11 years. I'm 32.

Otherwise, I'm pretty boring!

[LMPC]

Im so embarassed. Let me just say the band rhymes with Lashing Bumpkins. Not saying any more! :p
Well I'll give you a definite....:jammin: but must say my first reaction was :47:

That's awesome!!!

[ChunkyNicksChunkyMom]

Im so embarassed. Let me just say the band rhymes with Lashing Bumpkins. Not saying any more! :p

NO FLIPPIN WAY!!!!!


I love Hilly Morrican!

[lovebebes]

that im a mom. and then when they find out im a mom of three they just go crazy.

[kijip]

I've never smoked pot. Not ever.

That's doubly suprising, since I live on the West Coast and I really look like I'd enjoy a joint or two. :)

I am totally with you here. No drugs at all ever. Period. And I have been drunk one single time in my life...when I was 29 after a long French dinner with way too much wine. :ROTFLMAO:

[smiles33]

Viba424: that is super cool!

We had to do this exercise once at a work retreat where you name 3 true things about yourself and 1 pretend fact. Several people were surprised that I was (co-)MVP of my high school varsity basketball team. I am Asian, 5'8 (with my basketball shoes on!), and am known more for my brains than my mad athletic skills at work. I played for almost 10 years (6th grade to law school graduation) but only intramural level after high school.

[Fairy]

I'm very open about my age, and most people say I look far younger than I am. I am thankful for that. One day it will catch up with me. My skin is good, but my hair has a ton of grey. I should really own stock in my salon.

I have never done any drug of any kind in my life. Given my personality in college and the fact that I drank in college, that shocks people.

[Fairy]

Im so embarassed. Let me just say the band rhymes with Lashing Bumpkins. Not saying any more! :p

:47: Ok, props for rising to the occasion.

[blisstwins]

There are a lot:
-never tried pot
-lived in Japan
-have been vegetarian for almost 30 years
-have a PhD/published articles
-that I have traveled to at least 30 countries
-I have a Russian ice skating coach
-I am religious
-that must husband is brilliant and has an extremely responsibile job.

I am very unassuming and laid back in a very intense community. I have also always walked to the beat of my own drum. We are not fashion conscious and we live in a humble apartment. People make all kinds of assumptions about us and always seem surprised as things come up.

[♥ms.pacman♥]

people are always surprised by my age, they assume i'm younger than i am. when i tell folks i was born in the 1970s people are usually pretty surprised. DH is actually younger than me by a few months, and 100% of the time people assume he's much older than me.

people are also surprised to hear i went to graduate school at MIT..like Stacy mentioned, the whole SAHM thing throws people off. DH & I both have engineering PhDs from MIT, yet it's always DH that is assumed to be and described as the "super smart" one. I don't know whether to take that as a compliment or an insult, LOL.

people are also surprised to learn i can read & speak Japanese. though i've forgotten a lot of it...im nowhere near good as I was a few years ago.

[Pennylane]

I think most people are surprised to find out that I used to smoke! I guess I don't seem like the type at all now, but I was pretty wild woman in my 20's :)

Ann

[happy2bamom]

That I have a PhD. I'm a SAHM mom, so people seem shocked by my education.

[Moneypenny]

People are usually surprised by my sense of humor (it can lean a bit toward the raunchy side) and the fact that I have a tattoo. I'm not sure what a funny person with a tattoo ought to look like, but not me, I guess!

[ilfaith]

People are often surprised that I have a really bad temper. Most people who don't know me that well think I am a pretty laid back mom, especially considering I have three little boys. Fact is, I have a really short fuse and it blows pretty regularly. If you ask my DH or kids or any of my close friends and family they all know how i fly off the handle, screaming and throwing things. I do usually manage to control my temper in public (aside from doing things like throwing my coffee at a MetroNorth train as it pulled our of Grand Central Station without me...this was when DH and I first began dating and he married me anyway...it was years later that I hurled a pizza at him).

People are also surprised by my age. Most of the moms at school were shocked to discover that I am older than they are (and at 41 with preschoolers, I am older than just about all of them). Maybe venting my anger and frustration, rather than bottling it up, keeps me looking young.

[AnnieW625]

I have never smoked pot, smoked a cigarette, or done any other illegal drug. I did try a pot brownie once but spit it out because the maker didn't grind up the pot enough:rotflmao: Most people who know me well in person wouldn't be surprised by those revelations though. I am pretty much afraid of getting caught doing anything illegal. I am an overly cautious cancer. I have been drunk plenty of times though.

People sometimes think I am older than I am.

I have always been attracted to older men.

I hate listening to voice mail.

[NancyJ_redo]

I'm extremely handy and a fast learner at DIY stuff, so I can fix/do just about anything that doesn't require brute strength. I've taken apart and replaced the electrical components in our refrigerator, washer & dryer, installed numerous toilets, light fixtures & faucets, tiled walls & floors, put up crown moulding, etc. I really enjoy doing that stuff and find it totally cathartic (it's the only time I really have quiet "downtime"). I think people find this surprising about me because I'm very petite and look like a girly girl.

[momm]

- That I'm of legal age to be in a casino :p

- That I can be brutally honest - though it's not necessarily surprise in a nice way :)

[hellokitty]

I think that what surprises ppl the most is that I look like a very serious type of person. Actually, I'm semi-crunchy, super liberal, and I think that for the most part, I can be really funny to talk to. I think that it really catches ppl off guard, b/c they have a perception of what ppl of my race are like (asian) and I don't fit that stereotype. Esp in our area, where there are fewer than 1% asians and most of them are first generation immigrants, and act like my parents with the whole tiger mom attitude. So, the first thing ppl think when they see me is that I must not be around here, but as soon as they talk to me (most) realize that their perceptions were incorrect (there are still dumb dumbs that ask me, "where" I came from, and when I tell them I was born in the US, they act like I just knocked their socks off, which yeah, is pretty bad). I know that this wouldn't be an issue if I lived somewhere with a larger asian american population, but where I live, I think I throw ppl off, b/c they really believe in stereotypes.

[twowhat?]

I can't think of a single thing. I am so boring!

Last week on a business trip though - my co-workers thought I was older than I really am :angry-smiley-005:

[Globetrotter]

People tend to think I'm a lot younger. For instance, I was at a party with my kids (not dh) and a young female was talking to me for some time, then one of the kids came up to me and called me mommy. This woman was shocked and told me she thought I was a grad student! I've had this issue since I WAS young :) In my early 20s I spent some time in a middle school (for work) and was mistaken for a student! :ROTFLMAO: I think it's the S. asian genes :) I don't have much grey, and I dye what I have, and my skin is in good shape.

However, i aged a LOT after having kids and didn't take care of myself (and in that time I was mistaken for OLDER a couple of times!!) and it took me a long time to get my groove back, so to speak, but it's back! :cheerleader1:

[twowhat?]

However, i aged a LOT after having kids and didn't take care of myself (and in that time I was mistaken for OLDER a couple of times!!) and it took me a long time to get my groove back, so to speak, but it's back! :cheerleader1:

Please share your secrets?? I'm asian too and I have aged SO much since the twins were born. I don't even know if there's any hope for my skin anymore:(

[maestramommy]

In my early 20s I spent some time in a middle school (for work) and was mistaken for a student! :ROTFLMAO: I think it's the S. asian genes :) I don't have much grey, and I dye what I have, and my skin is in good shape.

However, i aged a LOT after having kids and didn't take care of myself (and in that time I was mistaken for OLDER a couple of times!!) and it took me a long time to get my groove back, so to speak, but it's back! :cheerleader1:

:rotflmao:Me too! I taught in a girls school, and wore a lot of Khaki and white. It was one of the uniform choices, and I'm just shy of 5'2" so I got mistaken for a student many times.

Now I'm afraid that would never happen. I have a ton of gray. Course I still get breakouts so maybe that would throw people off:p

[rin]

Hmmm, I'm a little embarrassed coming after some of the earlier posts about the exact opposite relation to these things, but I guess what people are most surprised about is that fact that I was a VERY wild teenager and had several run ins with the law involving illegal drugs. Apparently I come across as pretty clean-cut these days: I don't smoke (quit at 22 after smoking a pack or more a day for 8 years), rarely drink and then max one beer or glass of wine at dinner parties, and am a pretty meticulously law-abiding citizen. Apparently I don't seem the type to have been quite so, er, out-there.

[cindys]

People are surprised to hear I have been with the same company 31yrs.

That I am older than I look...I am 48 and most people think I am in my mid 30's.

My DH is 10yrs younger than me.

I can sing and used to be in a traveling church choir.

And my musical tastes are all over the place...You will find in my cd changer right now in my car...the Bee Gees, Ozzy, Rick James, Sammy Hagar, Kid Rock, Alexander O'Neal,Lynyrd Skynyrd & Carrie Underwood .

Cindy
Mama to 3 boys...19, 4 & 2 :heartbeat::heartbeat::heartbeat:

[hopeful_mama]

I guess I'm pretty boring, all I can think of is people are usually surprised to find I don't have pierced ears.

[Globetrotter]

Please share your secrets?? I'm asian too and I have aged SO much since the twins were born. I don't even know if there's any hope for my skin anymore:(

My kids are older. Seriously, that is secret #1! I need my sleep! I was a MESS for at least 5-6 years. For me, microdermabrasion (basically, just exfoliation with a L'oreal scrub) and mineral makeup made a difference, but the main thing is daily use of sunscreen. My hands have aged, and I think that's because I don't take good care of them.

Also, I started straightening my hair and paying attention to what I wore. And, for me, losing baby weight made a big difference.


! I taught in a girls school, and wore a lot of Khaki and white. It was one of the uniform choices, and I'm just shy of 5'2" so I got mistaken for a student many times.

Now I'm afraid that would never happen. I have a ton of gray. Course I still get breakouts so maybe that would throw people off:p

I used to wear conservative "grown up" clothes but it didn't seem to help! I was stopped and asked for my hall pass :ROTFLMAO: I'm also short, so that certainly didn't help, either. I used to get pimples (in my mid 30s) but they are gone - there is hope!

[maestramommy]

My kids are older. Seriously, that is secret #1! I need my sleep! I was a MESS for at least 5-6 years. For me, microdermabrasion (basically, just exfoliation with a L'oreal scrub) and mineral makeup made a difference, but the main thing is daily use of sunscreen. My hands have aged, and I think that's because I don't take good care of them.

Also, I started straightening my hair and paying attention to what I wore. And, for me, losing baby weight made a big difference.



I used to wear conservative "grown up" clothes but it didn't seem to help! I was stopped and asked for my hall pass :ROTFLMAO: I'm also short, so that certainly didn't help, either. I used to get pimples (in my mid 30s) but they are gone - there is hope!

My hands have aged too. It's hard to take care of them when you are doing multiple diaper changes and hand washes a day. I got a massage once and the person asked if I was a nurse, because of my hands:p I really do need to work on losing baby weight. And if you were a mess for 5-6 years that gives me hope. I'm going on 6 years. But there's no hope for my hair. Both Dh and I come from early graying stock and I can't bring myself to dye. ;)

[Jo..]

I used to be a porn star, and I can shoot a ping pong ball out of my cooch with enough accuracy and force to topple bowling pins.

[elephantmeg]

I get questioned a lot about my age. Just last night I was starting an IV and the pt asked me how long I had been a nurse and when I told him 9 years he was shocked. People are also very surprised that I lived overseas growing up. I come across as very mainstream

[Meatball Mommie]

I used to be a porn star, and I can shoot a ping pong ball out of my cooch with enough accuracy and force to topple bowling pins.

WOW! That's a real skill you have there ;)

[rin]

I used to be a porn star, and I can shoot a ping pong ball out of my cooch with enough accuracy and force to topple bowling pins.

No way! I suppose there unfortunately aren't many opportunities to showcase a skill like that outside the adult entertainment industry. Must make for nice fast labors, though, eh? ;)

[crl]

I used to be a porn star, and I can shoot a ping pong ball out of my cooch with enough accuracy and force to topple bowling pins.

Bet you are popular at the neighborhood potlucks. :ROTFLMAO:

Catherine

[JMS]

I used to be a porn star, and I can shoot a ping pong ball out of my cooch with enough accuracy and force to topple bowling pins.

You don't happen to have a youtube (or redtube) video of that, do you?

[clc053103]

I used to be a porn star, and I can shoot a ping pong ball out of my cooch with enough accuracy and force to topple bowling pins.

Ding ding ding we have a winner!

:bowdown:

[pinkmomagain]

That I'm jewish.

I have an italian first name and married an italian with a verrrrrrrrry italian last name. And I look italian. So people just always assume I'm italian. I also live in a very waspy & catholic area, where there are very few jews. Can make for sticky situations sometimes.

[scrooks]

That I am an engineer. People just don't expect that. I also fall into the category of having never done drugs. I tried to smoke a cigarette once when I was about 25 and thought it was the most disgusting thing ever.

[brittone2]

That I homeschool but am politically liberal. I live in an area with a mix of religious/conservative HSers and those who are not, but am close to an area with very concentrated area of conservative HSers.

That I don't dress like a hippie or wear a denim jumper (the two assumed uniforms for HSing moms I guess LOL).

[longtallsally05]

that I have no tatoos, no body piercings, I've never had any lesbian experiences AND I went to college in the 1990's!

[fortato]

I used to be a porn star, and I can shoot a ping pong ball out of my cooch with enough accuracy and force to topple bowling pins.

Yeah, Jo- We've seen the video. But, I still don't understand what the Donkey and midget were doing there.

And when people meet me- they are surprised that I speak the same way I do on here... I don't censor myself, and I will make you laugh. I have a vast knowledge of things no one needs, which makes me super awesome at winning Cranium.

[army_mom]

people are surprised that *I* am in the Army (rather than being the Army wife), that I am older than DH, and have been in the Army longer than DH. Once they get over that, they are surprised again to find out I fly attack helicopters since I am a girly girl and rock pink like it's going out of style! :love-retry:

[cindys]

" they are surprised again to find out I fly attack helicopters since I am a girly girl and rock pink like it's going out of style! :love-retry: "
:jammin::jammin::jammin:

Cindy
Mama to 3 boys...19, 5 & 2 :heartbeat::heartbeat::heartbeat:

[lizzywednesday]

I'm not sure what people find surprising about me anymore. It's been so long since I've met someone new that it's hard to say.

Typically, it's an age thing because all the women on my mom's side of the family look much younger than we are.

In fact, my sister and I were at our SIL's bachelorette party last January and SIL's friends actually told us they thought my SISTER was older than I was.

She is 7.5 years and two brothers younger than me. (And yes, it's absolutely crucial to phrase it that way.)

Of course, it probably helped that I was 7 months pregnant and wearing braided pigtails at the time ... LOL.

Folks are frequently surprised to learn that I'm the eldest of 4 kids, though not so much in some circles anymore.

Sometimes people are surprised to learn that I played field hockey (I am too tall to play field hockey; it's definitely a shorter girl's game!) in high school or that I swam competitively for 8 years. (But then they look at my shoulders and ask about my butterfly.)

I'm not sure what else; like I said, it's been a while since I've met new people.

[Dcclerk]

I'm extremely handy and a fast learner at DIY stuff, so I can fix/do just about anything that doesn't require brute strength. I've taken apart and replaced the electrical components in our refrigerator, washer & dryer, installed numerous toilets, light fixtures & faucets, tiled walls & floors, put up crown moulding, etc. I really enjoy doing that stuff and find it totally cathartic (it's the only time I really have quiet "downtime"). I think people find this surprising about me because I'm very petite and look like a girly girl.

I've seen these skills first hand, and they are highly impressive! Me, not so much.

But, most are shocked that I can dance. I'm no Justin Timberlake back-up, but I can hold my own at clubs, which shocks the average Joe who knows me as a professional and mom of 4 little kids. It's the only place I get second looks anymore!

[NancyJ_redo]

But, most are shocked that I can dance. I'm no Justin Timberlake back-up, but I can hold my own at clubs, which shocks the average Joe who knows me as a professional and mom of 4 little kids. It's the only place I get second looks anymore!

How have I never seen these skills?! Note to self: must go dancing with Dcclerk. We need a girls night out :bighand:And just to forewarn you, sadly I don't have the dancing gene :p

[WolfpackMom]

I'm extremely handy and a fast learner at DIY stuff, so I can fix/do just about anything that doesn't require brute strength. I've taken apart and replaced the electrical components in our refrigerator, washer & dryer, installed numerous toilets, light fixtures & faucets, tiled walls & floors, put up crown moulding, etc. I really enjoy doing that stuff and find it totally cathartic (it's the only time I really have quiet "downtime"). I think people find this surprising about me because I'm very petite and look like a girly girl.

Ok you inspired me, this is something that people would find surprising about me as well if they dont know me well. Ive knocked down walls, installed new tile floors, installed carpet and laminate wood flooring, tiled shower walls, wired home surround sound, installed lights, done mounding, faucets, toilets built a kitchen and bathroom from studs to finished product.

[baymom]

Nothing particularly interesting, but people are often surprised that I am the ethnicity that I am (S. Asian) and tend to be very surprised that I am not Persian, Mediterranean or Latina or really a variety of others. Both my parents are Indian, but my features and coloring truly don't look very Indian---though I do look just like my Dad. It's been fun being able to bust out speaking fluently in a language people don't expect me to know when I'm around other Indians....who oddly ALSO are often surprised I'm Indian. Go figure...

[GaPeach_in_Ca]

That I am an engineer.
:yeahthat: With an *especially* to electrical engineer.

Also, that I'm white & have blonde hair. This one usually applies after I've emailed with someone at work and we meet in person. They are always expecting a Vietnamese woman. :p

[edurnemk]

That I'm a chemical engineer (especially now that I'm a SAHM I guess people don't really stop to think SAHM's may have had careers ;) ).

That I don't like most pop and commercial music. I prefer rock, alternative... just "heavier" stuff than people would expect from looking at me.

That I CD'd my son. No one does that around here, so they usually look at like I have 3 heads when it comes up in conversation.

That I'm so open-minded about a lot of stuff, I'm pretty conservative about my own life, and was always a goody-two-shoes growing up, so I guess a lot of people expect me to be conservative about everything.

ETA, oh yeah, and everyone is surprised to find out that I'm not American, and English is not my first language.

ETA2: How could I forget! What surprises people the most is that I have never been drunk. Of course after hearing that I don't need to tell them I've never tried drugs and never smoked a cigarette.

[StantonHyde]

hmm, let's see...
1. That I was captain of my rugby team in college

2. That I bake an amazing apple pie

3. When I lived on the East Coast, they were surprised that I had spent half my childhood in Idaho

3.5 That I have a Masters Degree in International Political Economy with a Latin American emphasis. Thought I wanted to work for the World Bank. Turns out I hate banking.

3.55 That I am not a nurse. I was raised in a medical household and worked in healthcare for years so I am comfortable with medical technology. I get nurses. I get what makes them tick. Same for administrators and doctors. I can't tell you how many times people say, "You're not a nurse? But you're so smart." um, gee, thanks, I think.

4. That I do some pretty hefty backpacking trips. (I only do one a year and the people here who do that a lot are in uber good shape. I may not look that amazing but I have endurance and can keep going) They are doubly shocked that I am the backpacker in my family--not my husband

5. That I have always done so many social things by myself. I do my backpack trips through the Sierra Club--no I don't know any of the people on my trips--but I know them by the end! I don't necessarily need to be with someone I know to feel comfortable when I am trying something new or different. I signed up to do triathalons by myself but I did get help from friends to prepare.

[ChunkyNicksChunkyMom]

Yeah, Jo- We've seen the video. But, I still don't understand what the Donkey and midget were doing there.

And when people meet me- they are surprised that I speak the same way I do on here... I don't censor myself, and I will make you laugh. I have a vast knowledge of things no one needs, which makes me super awesome at winning Cranium.

Why didn't you tell me all this before I started playing Word w Friends with you??? Argghhhhhh!!

[ChunkyNicksChunkyMom]

I used to be a porn star, and I can shoot a ping pong ball out of my cooch with enough accuracy and force to topple bowling pins.

This just made me wet my pants a little. Seriously.

[kijip]

This just made me wet my pants a little. Seriously.

Jo can give us all kegel bootcamp exercises now so that we don't all pee reading her posts.

[ChunkyNicksChunkyMom]

Jo can give us all kegel bootcamp exercises now so that we don't all pee reading her posts.

She is a woman of many hidden talents and I am proud to call her my friend.

[dec756]

that i went to culinary school in nyc and that im 24.. i really look 16 and sometimes get awful stares while holding my precious 15 month old:rotflmao:

[nmosur]

So many things that I have started to seriously feel bad about myself:

1. I have a graduate degree in engineering
2. I used to work before DD came along
3. That I am DD's birthmom and not the maid/low paid nanny (she is dressed to the nines
and me not that much)
4. The walls in my house are painted in colors other than beige and yes, I chose the colors
including the orange walls in my kitchen
5. That I can carry a conversation on a variety of topics
6. I am very very particular about the food stuff I buy
7. That I am not a "Tiger Mom" and that I enrolled DD in everything but Kumon

[kijip]

She is a woman of many hidden talents and I am proud to call her my friend.

And I need those lessons, her posts are dangerously funny for a board full of mamas.

[JustMe]

What a fun and interesting thread! I have been trying to think of what to reply and can't come up with anything, but I think when it comes down to it I can just throw people in general because I am an "outside the box" kind of person in general. I think most people are aware of the many different ways this is true of me, so there are no surprises/secrets, but it is definitely a challenge for some.

[DrSally]

3. That I am DD's birthmom and not the maid/low paid nanny (she is dressed to the nines
and me not that much)


That means YOU need to go out (or online) and do some shopping for yourself! I was the same way, wearing old, raggy maternity t-shirts and oversized hoodies for 5 years. I finally went out and bought some clothes for myself and feel so much better about myself (who knows which comes first, right). I felt guilty spending $$ on myself until I realized that the kids have everything they need and they do not need another toy or item of extra clothing that they're going to outgrow before they wear. Also, I sold some baby gear and used the $$ for clothes for me!