10 Random Things About Me for the Month of July...

 I can't believe it's actually July - where, oh where, has the year gone?  So to start the month off right - here are 10 random things about me, for the month of July!

1.  I have a 115 lb. German Shepherd named Ronin, who's ears I firmly believe, give me better cell phone reception. 

 I also have the Antichrist reincarnated into a cat with black fur and a bottle brush tail - her name is Chewbacca or Chewy for short.  Yeah, I dare you to pet her...try it.

And lastly, I have a black and white tuxedo cat named Tuck, who quite honestly, is one of the best cats I've ever known.

Oh, did I mention I'm allergic to cats?  Sadly, I haven't been able to breathe through my nose in almost 11 years.

  

2.  My very first job was working at Safeway, bagging groceries, at the age of 14.  I will forever be grateful for learning how to pack perfectly - and now I'm actually obsessed with finding the perfect home for everything, when I do pack.  It's a sickness...I know.





3.  I was in gymnastics for more than 12 years and firmly thought I was going to be the next Olga Korbut.  My favorite apparatus was the uneven bars.


Me on the uneven bars - I believe I was 3 years old (with my sister in the background staring at my cute instructor!):

Olga Korbut on the uneven bars circa 1976 Olympics:

I know, the resemblance is uncanny isn't it?  HA!

4.  I played the classical violin for 14 years - at first it was because my Mom made me...but now, I'm so glad she did.

5.  I love to travel!  I'm the daughter of a retired commercial airline pilot and my brother is both a Captain in the Air Force as well as a pilot for Alaska Airlines...but sadly, I am afraid to fly!  If I could click my heels together and just get there, I would - and let's just say that teleportation would be one of my all-time favorite super powers to have.  

Some of my favorite destinations, thus far:
Italy:

 

(Clockwise from L to R) Pictures I took of Vatican City, Venice, the volcanic mountains of Pompei, and The Colosseum in Rome.

Machu Picchu, Peru:                                                                                                                                       

  

Chichen Itza, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico:

 
 

 
 

Antigua, Guatemala:                                                                                                  

  

6.  From the above, I think it's safe to say that I also have a huge passion for photography!
7.  I traveled all throughout Central and South America for over 10 years, yet I don't speak Spanish.  But I can order a mean quesadilla and dos cervezas por favor!  

8.   I have two cell phones - one for business and one for personal - and I work in the marketing department for a cell phone company...yet sadly, I probably know how to use maybe 10% of the cool functions that either of them can do:

9.  I am just getting back into training, so that I can run a Half Marathon next year.  Yes, I'm waaaay out of shape and have a long way to go - but that's the plan.


Paula Radcliffe better watch out...












10.  I miss my Mom, every single day. 

So there you have it!  10 more random things about me, covering the month of July!
Until next month...

10 Random Things About Me for the Month of June...

I thought I'd start writing 10 random things about me, for every month that I blog.  Maybe it will give you a little insight, to my crazy antics...maybe?  
Should I let you know that I'm also writing this at 3:30am?  That might explain a few of the below:


1.  There is one word in the English language, that I absolutely detest - hands down.  I can't even bring myself to spell it out - so I'll only say, that it's an adjective usually used to describe warm, chewy and _____ brownies (or cake, or anything that's slightly "soggy", for that matter).  Don't ask why, I just can't stand the word.
2.  However, I have several favorite words:  glockenspiel (just because it's fun to say), abominable (yes, as in the snowman from the classic cartoon Rudolph), quiche (because it looks nothing like it sounds, but tastes oh, so good!), and clandestine (cause I feel sneaky, just saying it), to name a few.
3.  Here's a little math (and no, it's not a trick question!):
  a.  My husband Neal and I have been married for 5 years, this year.
  b.  But we've been together for 11.
  c.  And we've known each other for over 22 - since the 7th grade.  
4.  One of my absolute favorite authors is Roald Dahl.  He is who inspired me when I was a little girl, to become a writer.  The BFG, The Witches, and of course, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory are some of my favs.
5.  I for some reason have an issue with putting the caps back on my pens.  I have no idea why...just can't seem to do it - and it drives my husband crazy.
6.  I also tend to leave random lights on, around the house - again, drives my husband batty, and he follows me around, turning them off.  I must be afraid of the dark?
7.  I spent almost 11 years as a Senior Buyer for Eddie Bauer, where I pretty much had every girls dream, of shopping for a living.  But alas, the politics and the constant travel, chewed me up and spit me out.  So for the past 3 years, I've worked in the marketing department for a large cellular company, where everything (and I mean everything!) is magenta.
8.  I now hate pink.
9.  My favorite movie is The Princess Bride.  I know, I know...but it goes way back with my family - and thanks to my brother, my sisters and I can recite almost every line.  No more rhyming I mean it...anybody wanna peanut?  Come on...tell me that's not funny!  Just a little?
10.  I took scuba diving as a class in college - and my Dad called it my underwater basket weaving course.  What can I say, I went to Hawaii Pacific University, lived in Honolulu, couldn't really swim, and was incredibly intimated by the ocean.


So there you have it!  10 random things about me, for the month of June!  Until next month...