25 Things, 30 things, OK 35 things...

I originally did this for a friend of mine because the list she made was so great. But it has become quite addictive...

Rules:
Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you.
Continue Reading....

1. After being able to avoid it for 13 years Ryder finally wore me down and we now have a cat named Murphy who is off at the vet right now getting de-balled.

2. I do not like: peanut butter, cooked salmon, anchovies, raw onions in a salad or Doritos.

3. I do like: raw salmon, strong cheeses, salt on everything, hot sauce and Crystal light.

4. My girls and I are now training for a mini-marathon that will take place in February in Doha, Qatar. The last time I trained for a marathon I fell off of a train bunk and messed up my back and was not able run for 4 months. (NOT A WORD FIZER!) And the last time I ran a marathon I pooped 12 times and STILL finished the race.

5. My son Koa will have to have MAJOR BRACES. We call him shark-mouth because his teeth are growing in rows.

6. My daughter Nai'a's real mom, I believe, is my sister Preta. They are two peas in an existential shakra power pond. "Mamma, I am talking to myself in my head!"

7. I think I was as proud of paying off my school loan for my Doctorate as I was for actually getting my Doctorate degree.

8. Soup is my favorite thing to have for lunch.

9. I have lived in North America, South America, Africa and the Middle East. I hope Asia will be next.

10. One of my favorite vacation places had no running water, mattress on the floor for a bed, an outhouse bathroom and German Nihilist music playing all night long.

11. After being able to avoid it for 13 years, Ryder finally wore me down and we now own a house in Portland, OR, USA.

12. Portland, OR is the world's best city during June, July and August.

13. I have never shaved my legs... I do shave my underarms!

14. My favorite movies are action adventure or cheesy girly movies. My least favorite movies are horror movies.

15. I have only actually been to the movies one time in the last 7 months. Most of the movies I watch are on airplanes.

16. One of my New Year's Resolutions is to fix Nai'a's hair into cute pigtails every morning before school.

17. I have a love/hate relationship with our nanny, Ganga.

18. My dream job would be a to be a travel writer. One time I pretended I was one to a restaurant owner in Positano, Italia. The guy gave us a jar of homemade hot sauce. It was the best damn hot sauce I have ever tasted.

19. I am happy to get more than 5 hours of sleep a night.

20. I like having a glass of red wine while I help Koa and Nai'a with their homework.

21. I am shamefully addicted to teenage TV series like One Tree Hill and Gossip Girl.

22. I love reading a magazine and drinking huge cups of coffee before work. I wake up at 5 am in order to do this before we all leave for school at 6:20 am.

23. I am too impatient to enjoy a long hot bath... unless I have an episode of Gossip Girl to watch.

24. I made relentless fun of my girls for buying HEATERS in the desert. Now every morning I freeze my ass off when I get ready for work.

25. The three best presents I have ever gotten were: my own phone line (circa 1989 - not a cel phone, a real life land line), a Huffy 10-speed road bike (same Christmas!) and the MacBook Pro Ryder bought me last year.

26. The best book I read while pregnant was The Red Tent by A. Diamant. Way better than any of those "What to Expect When" ones.

27. New things I have done recently: made a pot roast, enrolled in Arabic lessons, tried camel milk (not as bad as you think, but not great), played hockey (on a scooter!), been proud of how strong my almost 36 year old body is, bought a liquor license, actually understood what is happening in Gaza and stayed in a hotel that costs $17 USD a night.

28. After living for years with heartburn/ulcer pain I was FINALLY diagnosed correctly with something totally different. Now, thanks to 7 little pills a day I am completely pain free.

29. My favorite song of all times is Piano Man by Billy Joel. But my favorite Billy Joel line is: "They say there is a heaven for those who will wait, some say its better, but I say it ain't. I'd rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints. The sinners are much more fun." from Only The Good Die Young.

30. Ryder thinks I am a Scrooge because last Christmas I wrapped Koa and Nai'a's presents in a white pillow case I got from housekeeping.

31. I did not vote in the 2000 USA Presidential election. I am registered to vote in Miami-Dade county. You do the math.

32. I don't really like nicknames. The only two that I have tolerated are CMF and Dr. J

33. My favorite color has been, is and always will be orange.

34. I really like coffee table books. Especially travel ones.

35. I have jumped out of an airplane, bungee jumped, been in a hot air balloon, white water rafted class 5 rapids, skied double black diamonds, kayaked rivers, hiked active volcanoes, ridden camels and elephants, scuba dived, gone on safaris, piloted a glider plane, been to Rio for Carnival, made amazing friends and had two healthy, beautiful kids. I have always wanted to rock climb, speak Italian, help build a house for poor people, take a biking vacation, eat sushi in Japan, go to an Ashram in India and not hate it, learn about wine, make a mosaic, write a book, get really good at Dance Dance Revolution, speak Russian, be a map drawer, and have kids who say "please" and "thank you" without me having to remind them.