So, a few weeks ago, I presented a list of facts about me that I’m sure one at least made you say, “wow, didn’t know that”. Welp, here’s another list of stuff.

1. Technically, I am a high school drop-out

Yes, I have my high school degree. I’m in college now. However, during my high school days, I couldn’t be bothered with the work so I just stopped doing it. Oh, and yeah, I was home schooled. Now, how did I manage to pull that off? Welp, I didn’t. My mom/teacher was not pleased and she tried so many things to punish me. I remember at least three things. One was take away my video games and TV. I didn’t have a cell phone a the time. And, if I did, I couldn’t do anything with it anyway because of the plan. Anyway, I lost that stuff. Didn’t work. Then, she tried this little thing: If I didn’t finish all my work by a certain time…normally 9 pm, I would get beat with the belt. Wait…I would get beat with the belt, while butt naked. I’m not kidding; my mom is crazy. And I got whipped too! Why? I didn’t finish my work because I simply did not care. In fact, my skin got used to getting beat it didn’t even phase me anymore. Lastly, she kicked me out. Yup, I packed a bag and was on my way out. I guess she was bluffing because she stopped me. I didn’t care; I was done with school. Family tried to talk to me. Nothing worked. So, how did I finish? What pushed me to complete it? Welp, my mom said I couldn’t go on vacation. Yup, that’s right. The lack of games, the beating butt naked, and the almost getting thrown out to the street didn’t wake me up. I wanted to go on vacation. To this day, as you know, I still don’t care for school. I credit my start of high school as starting this mindset.

2. I have no friends

I have a lot of acquaintances. However, I really can’t say I have any friends. There is no one I hang out with or talk to on a consistent basis outside of my household. Try as I might, I can’t see to step up and start a friendship with anybody. I prefer to sit on the couch and type posts like these.

3. I managed to steal from a department store…and then I busted myself like an idiot

Yup, I’m a former thief. Hey, I’m not perfect. I was a young lad, perhaps 8 or 9. I was in the store with grandma and my sisters. Well, I saw this Pokémon top spinner (I know right!?) and I had to have it. So, I did what any normal kid would do, I stole it. I put it in my pocket, still in the plastic packaging and all. And we made it out of the store and went home. That should be the end of the story but it’s not. Technically, I didn’t go home; we went to grandma’s house since we were staying with her for the day. So, I had this toy that I just got. Obviously, people would start to wonder how I magically got this toy. I had to make a plan. How could I explain this to my folks? Well, it just so happened that my uncle, who is only 7 years older than I, was living with his parents, my grandparents. The plan was simply this: Claim that my uncle left the toy out in the open for me as a gift. Yeah, like a fool I laid the toy out in the open instead of keeping it in my pocket. My grandmother didn’t buy it, then she told my parents. Jesus. I denied it of course but I eventually confessed. As a kid, I never got in trouble so I shocked a lot of people. I took the toy back to the store where there were police cars outside. Oh snap! I’m thinking: I’m off to jail. This is it. The end. I wish I wrote my will. Instead, I told the policeman what I did and he gave me a nice talk about how wrong it was to steal. I guess since I was a kid and brought the toy back, I got off easy. One of the scariest days of my life. The darn had to have been $1 or so. Really, Dante?

4. I can’t stand milk; I eat cereal dry out of a cup

Oh God, I can’t stand milk. How do people drink it? I’m on the fence about chocolate milk. I stay away from milk as much as possible to the point I actually just eat cereal out of tall glasses. Part of it is I don’t like liquids and solids mixed. That’s why I don’t like soup. I love oatmeal, but it has to be pretty thick and I don’t use milk; I use water. Yogurt is tough for me. I love ice cream though. Go figure.

5. I’m probably anorexic.

I don’t like food. I feel fat when I eat even though I’m medically underweight. Plus, 90% of my family is obese so I’m probably, subconsciously, scared to eat. Basically, I don’t have to inhale much for you to see my rib cage show under my skin. I should sell myself to science as the skeletons on the stands for A&P class. But, seriously, I might need help one day.

6. I am convinced that the combination of double stuffed Oreos and Juicy Juice Berry flavor are deadly to me

Wow. What the heck does that mean? Well, for starters, I rarely get sick. We’re talking like, stay in bed; can’t move, vomiting all over the place sick. But, even colds and stuff don’t get me. I’m usually taking care of everybody else in the house because they get sick from the same thing and I don’t. I’m special. Anyway, one Wednesday night, the last thing I had right before bed were double stuffed Oreos. And then, before I peed, I had some juicy juice and it was berry flavored. Maybe an hour later, I vomited and I was sick for a couple of days. That was perhaps a decade ago. To this day, I don’t consume those items together. I’m insane. But, wait until you see number seven.

7. I don’t do germs

I always have a bottle of hand sanitizer on me. I constantly wipe the toilet seat with disinfectant wipes, even if I’m the only one using it. When people cough, I picture myself running away. As you saw in my previous point, I don’t get sick. There’s a reason why. I tuck my hand in my shirt when using restroom doors. Nasty cough? Get thee behind me! I gag when I see people share food whether TV or real life. It’s a struggle but that’s why I’m a survivor.

8. I survived Thrombocytopenia

Ah yes, I had low platelets for quite some time. Starting at age six and I was finally ready to roll by 13. It was a trying time. I promise I will dedicate a whole post about this because this story is a miracle. Only by the grace of God I am able to write about this. My cause for the low count was my spleen decided that platelets shouldn’t be in my blood and started attacking them. Yeah. I was killing myself. I mean, that’s what Thrombocytopenia is about. The story is awesome; I promise.

9. I kinda hate Wednesdays

I was born on a Wednesday so how can I hate it? Well, there are actually a couple of things on this list that Wednesday played a key role in. Like when I got sick from the cookies and juice. Wednesday. And my previous point? Well, the doctors had to draw blood weekly to keep monitoring my progress. Which day? Yup, Wednesday. In my previous things you may not know about me post, I talked about how much of pain volunteering at foodbank could be. What day is foodbank on? Wednesday. When did my car break down in the middle of a major highway? Wednesday. I could go on but you get it. Wednesdays seem to hate me. I don’t know; but it seems like Wednesdays are my least favorite and least successful day of the week.

10. I almost became a dancer

Back in the day (a lot of this list was childhood stuff) I had a small desire to dance. Tap dance specifically. My sisters were students at this dance school and I decided to give it a shot. What I didn’t anticipate was being the only boy in the class. I dropped out after my first class. I swear, even if there were one more guy in there, I would’ve stuck it out and I would be a dancer to this day. I definitely have the quick feet to do it. Also, according to my sisters, I naturally stand in several ballet poses that apparently are hard for some to master. Imagine that.

And that, is another list of things you may not have know about me. I can’t say another list is coming soon. Check out my first list of things you may not know about me. Thanks for reading!

-DALANEL