My name is Jami Gibbs (a.k.a. Ms. Babble) and I created this blog while deployed to Iraq with the U.S. Army. Since returning home, I continue to write about the events in my life which, as it so happens, coincide with many events that have happened in your lives too. I’m an avid traveler and have been to Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Israel,and a vast number of U.S. destinations. Read more below…

  1. I currently live in the United States. Illinois, to be precise Israel.
  2. I started blogging when I was deployed to Iraq with the U.S. Army.
  3. Even though I’m not in Iraq anymore, I continue to write because I truly do love it.
  4. One day I want to write something significant.
  5. Being published in this book makes me feel like I’m going in the right direction.
  6. I am a feminist.
  7. You most likely are too but won’t admit to it.
  8. My cell phone plays, “Rehab” by Amy Winehouse vibrates when I get a call.
  9. I love all foods that are salty.
  10. Except for sardines (not to be confused with saltines which I eat by the handful).
  11. When I was a child, I dreamt of becoming a veterinarian.
  12. After realizing that it would take 8+ years of school to finish, I nixed the idea and started a Liberal Arts degree in 1997.
  13. I finally graduated with my B.A. in English, May 2007. You do the math.
  14. Can anyone see the irony?
  15. I was born in Chicago Heights, Illinois.
  16. Besides writing words, I also write music.
  17. My music site is here.
  18. I am instantly attracted to people who know how to use ‘to’ and ‘too’ correctly.
  19. The same with ‘their’, ‘they’re’, and ‘there’.
  20. Foreign accents are a weakness of mine also.
  21. I can easily spend $2000 on a guitar.
  22. But I’m a cheapskate with life sustaining purchases like food, clothing, and shelter.
  23. Spelling is something I’ve never been good at.
  24. I’m completely self conscious of that fact.
  25. I used to blush if someone merely looked at me.
  26. Now I only blush when people do things like point out my poor spelling or give me compliments.
  27. After being overseas for a year I’ve decided that it’s important to see the world.
  28. Countries I’ve been to: Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, and Israel.
  29. Not all of them I enjoyed.
  30. Israel takes the cake though
  31. Being in a foreign country really shows how different Americans are.
  32. I think it’s important to see those differences and analyze them.
  33. Every day I make plans to escape the states.
  34. The 2007 World Almanac folks published one of my blogs in their handy book.
  35. It’s on page 12.
  36. It’s about Iraq.
  37. When I see people wearing name brands on their clothing, I am disgusted.
  38. I am allergic to cats.
  39. But I still can’t help touching them.
  40. It’s rare for people to spell my first name correctly.
  41. My brother and I share the same initials.
  42. I think it’s really cool that his name is spelled out in the first letter of these sequential months: July, August, September, October, and November.
  43. When I realized this as a kid, I think I was a bit envious.
  44. My car is a stick shift.
  45. I was a vegetarian for four years before I joined the army.
  46. The only reason I quit was because I didn’t weigh enough to enlist.
  47. I cut out meat again once I returned from Iraq in 2006. (EDIT: And gave it up again 9 months later.)
  48. Needles truly freak me out yet I enjoy tattoos. (Can you guess how many I have?)
  49. I would pass out nearly every time the army decided I was due for a vaccination.
  50. As you can imagine, it happened a lot.
  51. I am an ex-smoker.
  52. When I shop for a new writing pen it takes me at least 20 minutes to pick one out I only write with Pilot G2 pens.
  53. I hate shopping. (Unless it’s for guitars. See item #19.)
  54. Gum chewing drives me insane.
  55. Chewing in general drives me insane.
  56. Also, people who breathe heavily.
  57. I consider it one of my neuroses.
  58. Musical guilty pleasures? Journey, The Carpenters, & Blondie.
  59. American football rocks my socks! Go Bears!
  60. When I was a little girl, I broke my leg.
  61. A small brick wall fell on me. Or at least it seemed like a brick wall at the time.
  62. It was a complete accident.
  63. When I go anywhere (driving or walking), I listen to music.
  64. It’s like having a soundtrack to my life.
  65. Every year I look forward to the winter but only enjoy it for 2.5 days.
  66. I spend the next four months grinding my teeth and wishing it was warm again.
  67. In basic training, I stress fractured my foot and hip.
  68. I didn’t tell anyone until after I graduated and was then put under orders not to walk excessively for two months.
  69. When it’s raining, my foot and hip still ache.
  70. My favorite flower is the tulip.
  71. Or maybe it’s the daffodil. I’m not really a flower person.
  72. I carry a notebook with me to most places that I go and often write down things people say.
  73. I ate alligator meat once in Louisiana.
  74. It tasted like beef jerky.
  75. Like every American, I describe my ethnic background by the half dozen European countries my ancestors came from.
  76. In reality, the majority of us Americans are simply mutts.
  77. I am extremely liberal center-left but have given up on arguing politics with most people.
  78. Especially family.
  79. I enjoy following world events although they can get a bit depressing.
  80. The first song I wrote was about Billy Joel.
  81. I was 11 or 12 years old.
  82. I’m certain it was because I had a crush on him.
  83. I don’t have crushes on boys anymore.
  84. My favorite color is green but it has nothing to do with the army.
  85. I don’t own a television.
  86. This makes me totally ignorant in conversations about commercials and reality T.V.
  87. It may be the one ignorance I’m proud to have.
  88. Writing a list like this is surprisingly hard. You should try it one day if you haven’t already.
  89. I love reading only if it’s something I choose to read.
  90. I’ve never been a fan of anything written prior to the 20th century.
  91. I prefer to read nonfiction and could spend all day reading a good biography.
  92. The Desi Arnaz (aka Ricky Ricardo) biography is surprisingly good, by the way.
  93. If asked about religion, I will call myself an agnostic.
  94. But I can admit that it’s just a fancy word for saying, “I haven’t decided on a religion at this point in my life.”
  95. From my mother I’ve inherited my musical talent.
  96. From my father I’ve inherited my musical taste.
  97. The night Bush was elected for a 2nd term I literally cried and got drunk.
  98. I watched 9/11 unfold on a television in a Best Buy electronics store.
  99. Illegal drugs have never had a place in my life.
  100. I want nothing more than to stay busy.

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