7 Things

I was tagged by krisijo of Mamma Mia to tell you a few things, so here goes

1. I'm the oldest of 7 (6 living), and I'm pretty sure I'll never live it down. It seems I'm the meanest big sister in history. TOUGH as NAILS.

2. I had a fab garden this year

3. I've never broken a bone, but I have dislocated one

4. I'm a sucker for Aussie/Kiwi/British accents

5. I've got a weakness for chocolate, Dr. Pepper (diet now), and Bajio's Shrimp Salad

6. Must, must multi-task

7. I aspire to be clutter-free

Oh! and I have another blog, Positively Organic - go read my entry for Scribbit's Writeaway contest and tell me what you think.

Feel free to play along.

A few of my favorite things (pics)

I saw this Meme at Kahri's place - Our Peculiar Life. It looked fun, so I thought I'd give it a go. I'd love to see your answers, let me know if you play.
All you have to do is type the answer to each question into a Google image search, and then pick an image from the first page of results.

Here's how mine went-
1. Age at next birthday...

2. place I'd like to travel...
3. favorite place... (sans alcohol and with a book)

4. favorite objects...

5. favorite food...

6. favorite color...
7. nickname...

8. place you were born...

Randomology the 2nd

Here's the first edition

I've been tagged by Speechteach for a 7 Random Things About Me meme.
A reminder of the rules:
1) Link to the person who tagged you and post the rules on your blog
2) Share 7 facts about yourself
3) Tag 7 random people and include links to their blogs
4) Let each person know they have been tagged and comment on their blog.

1) I'm not particularly good at following rules. The ones that are actual legal code - yes, any others, not so much. I am pretty good at reading legalese and using it to the benefit of those I'm helping. (a little strange thing: I love word-smithing)

2) To tie in with #1, I play a mean game of Scrabble, but only if I'm the best speller in the group. Otherwise, I'm crap. I have a friend who used to play every Monday with her sister (dictionaries allowed). I won't play her because I know she'll whup the socks right off me, and she won't even have to crack a dictionary to do it. Hmmm, psychologically, what does that say about me?

3) According to the Hartman Color Code test, I'm a blue (probably with reddish undertones). Maybe that is why I'm a intermittent rule follower.

4) I have a brain that works, and a mouth that works overtime. Alas, there is no filter to keep my mouth in check, so I spend a fair amount of time making apologies or explanations.

5) I used to love to do 'stuff' with my kids. The kind of stuff that means "up to your elbows in messy, hands-on stuff" - now I'd just rather read aloud to them, dance with them, or cook with them.

6) I suffer from leadfootitis, but it is not as severe as it used to be. My boy will have his Learner's Permit in 2 1/2 years, so I better start setting the example of law-abiding citizenship.

7) I just mixed powdered milk for the kids' breakfast, because it's really too late to get to the store for it. And I think it's good for them to realize every once in awhile just how good they have it, by giving them just a taste of how things could be worse.

That's it. My fingers are solid blocks of ice, so I must stop now. Speechteach - thanks for tagging me. I would love anyone who reads this to do it too. If you don't have a blog, leave 7 random things about you in your comment.
And that is my cop-out for rules 3 & 4. Have a lovely Friday.

5 factors?

I saw this at Lisa's and did one for 'kicks'

I'm probably more neurotic than that, but otherwise I guess I'm a middle-of-the-roader

Your Five Factor Personality Profile

Extroversion: You have medium extroversion. You're not the life of the party, but you do show up for the party. Sometimes you are full of energy and open to new social experiences. But you also need to hibernate and enjoy your "down time." Conscientiousness: You have medium conscientiousness. You're generally good at balancing work and play. When you need to buckle down, you can usually get tasks done. But you've been known to goof off when you know you can get away with it. Agreeableness: You have medium agreeableness. You're generally a friendly and trusting person. But you also have a healthy dose of cynicism. You get along well with others, as long as they play fair. Neuroticism: You have medium neuroticism. You're generally cool and collected, but sometimes you do panic. Little worries or problems can consume you, draining your energy. Your life is pretty smooth, but there's a few emotional bumps you'd like to get rid of. Openness to experience: Your openness to new experiences is high. In life, you tend to be an early adopter of all new things and ideas. You'll try almost anything interesting, and you're constantly pushing your own limits. A great connoisseir of art and beauty, you can find the positive side of almost anything.

The Five Factor Personality Test

4 Things

Edited to say: Crappit! another variation on my favorite swear. I just reread B.'s original "4 things." So nevermind - how about Kelley? You could start with this for your first post. Just get started sister!

Tagged by Montserrat

Four jobs I've had:
1. Receptionist (worked for my dad, too)
2. Computer Lab Tech
3. Grocery Cashier
4. Sales Rep Assistant for DC area

Four places I have lived:
1. Chula Vista, CA
2. Cebu City, Philippines
3. Santa Clara, UT
4. Here

Four favorite T.V. shows:
1. 24 (but only the whole season on dvd)
2. Craig Kilborn (when I need a laugh, definitely a guilty pleasure)
3. My Name is Earl (same thing, not for the kids & I've only seen a few)
4. Can't really think of any others - how about Flip that House?

Four favorite foods:
1. Rice dishes - asian cooking
2. Chocolate - pretty much all of it
3. Shrimp salad from Bajio's
4. BBQ Pork Salad from Cafe Rio

Four websites I frequent:
1. Google Reader
2. You Tube - finding the fun stuff for you
3. PubMed - finding the research to help Ty
4. Rosie little things - see for yourself

Four places I'd rather be right now:
1. New Zealand - seeing my grandparents' stomping grounds
2. Here - can you say tranquility?
3. My bed - reading
4. A cabin in the woods (sans mosquitos)

Four Movies I love:
1. Most BBC Bronte or Austen productions
2. My Father's Glory
3. Jean de Florette
4. The Man from Snowy River

Four more people?
Rachel B
Kenna
Sydney
B. (I don't know if you play tag, but if you do please consider this one)

To answer your questions...

Playing along with Meg again:

1. What is your favorite word?
Serendipity

2. What is your least favorite word?
Leftovers

3. What turns you on?
Courtesy/Respect

4. What turns you off?
Meanness

5. What sound or noise do you love?
Rain falling on a tin roof with me sleeping under it. Just lovely!

6. What sound or noise do you hate?
That creepy sound cats make when they're uh... you know, gettin their groove on.

7. What is your favorite curse word?
Dammit - now darn it for the 2 year old's benefit.

8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
Zoo keeper
Nurse
Tap Dancer
Wait, I do those already. Travel Writer

9. What profession would you not like to do?
Anything in the Post Office. As if I'm not frustrated enough.

10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
Where ya been?

Want to play too? Head to Meg's or just tell us in the comments.

10 weird organized/unorganized things about me

Playing along with Lara at the Lazy Organizer -

1)I have a place for everything, but everything most definitely is not in its place.

2) I clip my keys to my purse strap so I will be less likely to lose them. A purse is much easier to find than keys.

3) I think my attention span is worse than Lara's. You can call me up and arrange to meet me at my house in say, a couple hours from now, and I won't be here. Not because I don't like you and was trying to stand you up, but because I completely and totally forgot.

4) I use this pill box to organize my pills. I only take 3 a day, but when you take them everyday it all seems to run together. I put all three in one compartment and can store 28 days worth at a time -I'm ready to travel! Of course, it helps if you actually remember to bring the thing with you.

5) I organize my kids' snacks so they can't pull a fast one on me.

6) I was a perpetual shoe-dropper. My usual stash was under the toe kick of the kitchen counter, but now I put them in these:

7) I have this OCD thing with my dishwasher. I like it loaded a 'certain' way. Even though I know the dishes will still get clean, I will go back and reload it that way.

8) I should not be allowed near a labeler

or masking tape and markers.

9) I organize my daughter's hair before she goes to bed (tangle prevention 101)

10) I put my plates, bowls, and plastic cups in a lower cupboard by the fridge. This makes it easy for them to put the dishes away, or get them out.

How about you? Do you have any weird organized/disorganized things about you?

The Lie, the whole lie, and nothing but the lie...

It is #6, all those other things are true (mostly). That tv show was seriously creepy, I was in junior high and it still gave me nightmares when that woman had the lizard baby. That thing was uh-gly.

#1 - I was in 5th grade, what can I say? We were trying to trick the teacher into eating them. Fifth grade teachers are pretty smart fellers.

#2 - I didn't beat the snot out of him, but I didn't give up. I fought with him for what seemed like forever before he turned his back on me and I ran for the car. (I never locked my car doors before meeting Mr. Triumph, he probably saved me).

#3 - It wasn't intentional and I'm not exactly sure it was a tarantula, but it was one huge hairy spider. I mistook it for the drawer pull in a dark bathroom.

#4 - See the comments for the previous post. We restrained ourselves when we saw Warren Beatty out with his son at Travel Town on "free ride" day.

#5 - I nearly lost my fingernail from wearing my gold wedding ring before I figured this one out. Good thing I'm not allergic to platinum.

#6 - big, fat lie. Do you remember that awful psychological dream machine they had? It could make you believe something was happening to you when you were really just standing in a room with a one-way mirror. Oh gosh and the alien baby was every girl's nightmare!

#7 - I have been in a commercial, but you probably didn't see it unless you lived in So Cal in the 80s. I played a wayward, 7/11 loitering teen for a youth conference plug.

7 Things

I saw this on Lara's blog and thought it would be fun to do. So here are 7 things about me:

1. I danced on TV for a Merrill Osmond Thanksgiving Special - but never watched it. Osmond? Who's that you say? Google it, I'm older than you.

2. I love foreign films - good ones. My favorite tend to be french - Count of Monte Cristo (w/Gerard Depardieu), My Mother's Castle, My Father's Glory. I can read french pretty well, speaking it on the other hand...

3. Growing up, I always wanted to be an archaeologist, a photographer for National Geographic, a writer, or maybe even a teacher. My sister was the one who wanted to be the nurse, not me. Not that I'm complaining; I love my life, it's just not exactly how I pictured life with 5 kids (but I'm pretty sure the same goes for a lot of people).

4. I have had a phobia of stinging things (bees, wasps, hornets). I say had, because it goes away every winter and hasn't yet poked it's head out this year and maybe there's still hope that it won't.

5. Closet sing-alonger, to my kids' dismay (actually only the 12 year old minds, the girls are all about it). You know, the kind you see on the freeway, in their cars. They look like they're having a very animated conversation with their self - but really, they're belting it out. The best tunes come from Queen, but Wee-Sing Sing-alongs works in a pinch.

6. I love to bake and quilt (handwork too), but I haven't done either since last October when Ty's bomb dropped. The only thing I've done is knit 3 hats from organic cotton to keep his head warm.

7. My music tastes are pretty varied (in no particular order): Harry Connick Jr., Elvis Costello, The Proclaimers, James Taylor, Queen, typical and not-so-typical 80s, classical, Les Mis and Phantom soundtracks, some Smashmouth, Allison Kraus, John Denver, ABBA, Beach Boys, Brian Setzer Orchestra, and so on.

Join in, if you like and tell me 7 things about you.