The Online Journal of Melissa Mularski

About

December 20th, 2006 by Melissa

59 things about me.

I’m about 6 feet tall.
I write and use utensils left-handed. For everything else I’m right-handed.
I was born March 28,1973
I’ve lived in Wisconsin (West Allis, Cudahy, Milwaukee, Wauwatosa, Watertown, Madison, Brown Deer) my whole life.
My parents separated when I was 5, again when I was 7, and divorced when I was 10.
I’m the oldest of my biological siblings, 4th if you include half- and step-siblings.
I have two brothers, one half-brother, one half-sister, two step-brothers, one step-sister. And one ex-step-sister.
My brother Mike and I went to a Catholic grade school in West Allis, Wisconsin.
When I was 6 1/2 my brother Scotty was born 3 months premature, weighing 1 pound 14 ounces. He has cerebral palsy, severe mental retardation and has seizures.
Scotty lived at home with my mom, my brother Mike and I until he was about 4, when he moved to a home for people with severe disabilities like his.
I still visit Scotty often, and I’m developing a website to help parents, siblings and other interested parties discuss issues facing the residents where he lives. wisconsinspeaksout.org
Mike and I used to play Intellivision, and then Nintendo, together all the time. We fought a lot, but we still liked to play together.
We got a TI 99/4a computer from Toys ‘R’ Us for $50 when I was about 9 years old. I got to put it in my room and typed programs for it often.
I wrote an adventure program in a spiral notebook called Haunted Manor when I was 9 for the TI. I could never finish typing the program because it took up too much memory. But I still have the notebook.
I was a Brownie, then a Girl Scout.
When I was 11 my mom remarried and we moved to Cudahy, Wisconsin.
C-U, D-A, H-Y spells Cudahy!
I started reading Stephen King books in 6th grade. The first book I read was Thinner; probably not the best book for a 6th grader to be reading.
When starting 6th grade, my music teacher Mr. Kramer suggested I try to learn cello. He said I had “cello hands.” He told me I could only learn how to play cello if I promised to play for two years.
At the end of the first year I hated playing cello. I only continued to keep my promise to Mr. Kramer.
During my second year playing I auditioned for and joined Music for Youth, now renamed the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra (MYSO).
Through school and my twenties I played cello in small ensembles, theater orchestras, music camps, jazz band, chamber and symphony orchestras. And a rock band.
I’ve been playing cello for over 20 years.
These days I don’t play cello nearly as much as I’d like to. (But I keep looking for groups to play with).
I was in color guard in my high school marching band. We won the State championship in our class both years I was in guard.
I also played electric bass in high school (much to my continued protests).
When I was 19, I got my first migraine. It was on my last day of my first year of school at UW-Madison. Presently, I get migraines a few times a month. They used to make me so sick that sometimes I’d throw up. Instead of taking daily drugs (that never helped anyway), now I exercise. Exercise seems to have greatly reduced the number and severity of the migraines. When I do get an occasional one now, I use Zomig. So far it really seems to work. Migraine log
My favorite number is 28.
I’ve gone to colleges including UW-Madison, UW-Milwaukee, MATC and Lakeland College, taking mostly classes in business, engineering, computer science and mathematics.
I have one child. His name is Owen, and he’s 9 years old. Photos of Owen
I had no drugs when giving birth to Owen. At birth he weighed 9 pounds 5 ounces and was 22 inches long.
When Owen was born I weighed just under 300 pounds.
From the time Owen was born in 1999 until 2004 I lost approximately 130 pounds, most of that between 2001-2002. I’ve kept it off by exercising and eating healthier foods.
I love being a mom.
I still really love video games.
My XBOX 360 gamertag is h2ocello
2ocel
Our Nintendo Wii friends code is: 2522 9160 1398 5641.
I also have a Nintendo DS, PSP, PlayStation 2, Playstation, original XBOX, Sega Dreamcast, Nintendo GameCube, Nintendo 64, Super Nintendo, Nintendo (8-bit), and a Gameboy SP. All the consoles but the Playstation and original Nintendo are presently hooked up at home, mostly jury-rigged to each other on our TV in the basement.
My hair is naturally curly, although I straighten it about a fifth of the time.
I’m addicted to dyeing my hair. (Sorry mom.)
I love to drive stick shift, but currently I drive an automatic.
I think most women are really bad drivers and I complain about them often.
I can type around 80 words a minute.
I love seeing movies in theaters, and love movie theater popcorn. If a theater has bad popcorn, I usually avoid going back to that theater.
When talking to people typically I’d rather talk in person. If that’s not possible I prefer instant messaging or e-mail. I don’t like talking on the phone much, especially cell phones, although Skype is okay sometimes.
I got my PADI Open Water and Advanced Open Water SCUBA diving certification in October 2004.
~~I’m taking classes for my PADI Rescue Diver certification from April through June 2007.~~ I finished my PADI Rescue Diver certification in June 2007.
I got my first passport in 2006 for a SCUBA diving trip to Belize.
I extremely dislike all nuts except peanuts.
I’ve developed an allergy to sesame oil over the past few years which makes the the insides of my ears itch and gives me a lump on the back of my head near the nape of my neck. It’s weird and gross. But sometimes funny too.
I’m moderately afraid of spiders especially when there are a lot of them in one place. If I find one in the house, I’ll put it in a container and set it outside. Which in the winter here is as bad as killing it, but at least it’s not me personally killing it. I’m more afraid of spider-induced bad karma than I am of spiders.
I open mail over the recycling bin.
I absolutely hate the acronym “LOL”.
My hands, arms and legs are very flexible. I can get a leg behind my head, even when standing up. But I can’t do the splits. Yet.
I’m aware that several exes and several ex-significant others’ new significant others read my blog.
My favorite books are Watership Down, The Stand, The Poisonwood Bible, A Thousand Splendid Suns and the seven Harry Potters.
On February 11, 2009 I married my husband Michael.
Michael and I first met at MYSO camp when I was 15 and he was 16. He plays percussion, mostly marimba. That’s that big wooden xylophone thing that has a really neat sound.
I’ve had a blog since before blogs were popular, and will probably have it long after they are.

24 Responses to “About”

on 08 Jan 2007 at 3:15 am1Shawn C

Hi Mel,
I figured you could use a “comment” on your blog. I hope the eye thing work out okay! I can see how that might be a little scary. Hopefully, it ends up being nothing. I’ll keep you in my prayers.

-Shawn
on 12 Jan 2007 at 12:12 pm2John Manske

I love the picture on your website. It is very colorful and interesting.

Where was it taken?

Thanks In Advance

John Manske
Appleton, WI
johnmanske@hotmail.com
on 12 Jan 2007 at 2:13 pm3Melissa

Thanks, Shawn :) I think your prayers worked! I’m 95% better now. I can’t believe I took a picture of ZE SCARY EYE.
on 12 Jan 2007 at 2:16 pm4Melissa

To John Manske:

Hi there! Sadly, I don’t know when the picture was taken. It’s the default picture that came with the blog template I’m using. I really like it too, which is why I chose it. It’s from, “WordPress Themes by Sadish > Misty Look” http://wpthemes.info/misty-look/

At some point I’ll probably change it to a photo I’ve taken, but I’m very happy with keeping the photo as is til that day comes.

Best regards,
Melissa
on 14 Feb 2007 at 12:48 pm5alison

melissa, i miss you! and i’m really glad that you have a blog. i used the feed to create a syndicated page on livejournal so anyone there can add ya. (oh, the power of a permanent account!) anyway, now i can pester you on a regular basis. mwahaha!
on 15 Feb 2007 at 5:27 pm6Melissa

I miss you too Alison! Smart of you guys to move to California, though…we have such crappy weather here. :( What a crazy awesome blog you have by the way!
on 23 May 2007 at 10:14 am7Brett Evans

Wow played the cello for 20 years.

I once played with a pencil for about 5 min, I gave up and got something to eat afterwards.

NO FOCUS!
on 17 Jun 2007 at 10:36 pm8John

TI994/A WOW!!!!

I have to tell you that out of high school a friend of mine had a computer store here in town. Working with him selling computers was a blast. We sold the Texas Instruments 994A and associated hardware.

In 1983 our computer club which we founded M.I.C.R.O. (Midwest Intereactive Computer Resource Organization) had a computer fest which had over 700 people in the local Tech School on a Saturday.

There is an 994 in my basement right now that occasionally, is powered up for old time sakes. My Favorite game was PARSEC.
on 18 Jun 2007 at 1:51 pm9Michael M

I’d like to think that the 28 had something to do with it being MY birthday, but alas….

Good to hear that you’re still keeping the cello going. You were really good with it when we were in MYSO together 17-18 years ago. I’d like to hear you now!!!

shoot me an email when you get the chance!!

-Michael
on 18 Jun 2007 at 6:54 pm10swjwcjfpzn

Hello! Good Site! Thanks you! jkteubdhrds
on 18 Jun 2007 at 11:25 pm11Melissa

To John from June 17 -
If I’d have known about them, I’d have been at your M.I.C.R.O. meetings. Perhaps I was on the young side, but that’s when I was doing my best

1600 GOTO 10

lines of code. All I had tech-wise were the TI books at the library (which I constantly renewed) and the occasional game title at the local K-Mart. Like Munchman, Hunt the Wumpus, Household Budget Management (I always budgeted all my money into ‘Miscellaneous’ meaning comic books and TI games) and PARSEC.

Speaking of which…

PARSEC!!! I *love* PARSEC. Defender ain’t got nothin on it.
on 18 Jun 2007 at 11:26 pm12Melissa

To Michael M
February 28? July 28? ;)

Seriously, I’m thinking it’s November 28, but it’s been awhile…

Shooting as we speak.
on 19 Jun 2007 at 10:52 am13Melissa

To swjwcjfpzn June 18

Thanks you too! lkjdvmvsmaksll!
on 20 Jun 2007 at 7:19 pm14Outdoor Adventurer

I like the idea of listing random facts about yourself. I am stealing this idea for my blog soon :)
on 26 Jun 2007 at 12:03 am15Melissa

To Outdoor Adventurer (www.gotakeahike.com)

Great thing about random facts is you can also have a random number of facts. One of these days I’ll get to 100 (or so).

Steal away! I probably stole it myself. :)
on 02 Nov 2008 at 9:34 pm16Erik Z

I got my first migraine around 13, it was one of the most painful things I have ever experienced. I never knew working out could help them out just like you suggested, I guess that could be why I never get any of them anymore. I work out just about every other days so that must really help. Can’t believe you read thinner at age 6, the movie gave me nightmares. I’m sure the books was just as bad!
on 06 Nov 2008 at 4:07 pm17Wawanesa

And I was born on 28th of May, so it’s my favorite number too.
on 22 Dec 2008 at 5:26 pm18Games tutorials

Me too I was born on 28th of May
on 11 Apr 2009 at 5:07 am19paula r mansky

Melissa,

I was wondering what you knew about your family’s history. My father was born in Wisconsin (Spirit Falls). My fathers mother and I assume father were both catholic. My father moved from wisconson when he was 4 years old.

I always thought there would be some roots from my grandfather’s family still in wisconson, however my father would be 85 now and so his father and any siblings he had would have been born around 1860/1890.

I believe it is quite possible that if you had family there during the middle to late 1800 that we could be related.

Please let me know if your family or another with the Mansky, Manski or Manske surname can trace a relative born to a Jacob Mansky and Selma Wisniewski. My father was Chester Josph Mansky born 1921, died in Shamokin PA 1980.
on 08 Jun 2009 at 1:42 pm20Leon Win.

I always went snorkeling. I wanna learn how to dive but never had a chance. It costs too much money (training courses + equipments) for me. By the way, you have an interesting life.
on 23 Jul 2009 at 12:28 pm21tratamiento acné

wow! a life in a post! it sounds like a complicated life… but i’m 21 yet, so i didn’t live half of that… i live with my parents and my sister yet, so you can imagine… thanks for sharing your stuff, it sounds interesting! and i like so much your photo at the top of the post!
on 14 Dec 2009 at 10:33 am22Cash for Surveys

What a great ‘about’ page and I like your writing style. This puts almost every other ‘about’ page to shame!

I wish your brother well and commend you on starting that website for people with disabilities.
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