Get to Know Me, A Little…

I’ve been on my Friend Crusade lately, as detailed in Ebb and Flow, and while meeting new people and actually opening up I found myself repeating basic get-to-know-you information as I exchanged with different people.

I know quizzes seem like something “everybody does” and almost meaningless but I enjoy them.  I like them on a bus, I like them on a plane…  I like them on Facebook and I like them on blogs…  SO, I know it may seem mindless that I’m posting it, but a la Hilly et al here is my Questionnaire:

1. What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Harmony.  Being successful in my careeer, being a great mom (someday), being a forgiving wife, having a rich life.  And not simply monetarily rich.

2. What is your greatest fear?
Drowning.  I’m not a strong swimmer and once was declared “hydrophobic” by a doctor.  I do not like not being able to breathe.

3. Which historical figure do you most identify with?
I can’t say I identify with her but Marie Curie holds a spot in my heart.  I think it’s because I know I either a) would’ve succumbed to traditional roles as a woman (puke) had I been born in a different time or b)I would’ve been the woman getting beaten for having talked back to her superior husband (barf. choke.).

4. Which living person do you most admire?
I admire qualities about many living people but I can’t say I’ve fully invested my Hero Trophy in any one person… My dad, my sister, my brother, my mom, my Aunt Shelly, her daughter Jasmine (my “older sister”), Jay…

Ann Curry, Jason Mraz… These two seem very in tune with themselves and spreading harmony.

5. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
The way I tend to interrupt and jump to conclusions.  I’ve caught myself muttering “Just slow down!”  Yet, I don’t take my own advice…?

Also, I’m learning in my adult life how to “unlearn” the victim attitude.  I’ve had a lot of demostrations about how to be a victim from my childhood so it’s time to unravel that mess and take my neurosis down a notch. 

6. What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Anything that results in me not being able to trust you.  Basically, a violation of the basic human courtesy: do unto others… Sound familiar?

7. What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Charity.  I mean, I love the idea of helping people but I think people get caught up in the idea that charity has to be a HUGE happening when really, I truly and honestly believe that charity should start at HOME.

8. What is your greatest extravagance?
Like the one who took this quiz before I: my hair products. Redken, Biolage (and their daughter product, Matrix), Kenra, Rusk, Catwalk, etc… Yep.  It doesn’t end there: OPI nail polish ONLY for this girl; and I worship Clinique as well… I’m really down to earth though!

9. On what occasion do you lie?
I have a twisted instinct to lie when I’m in the line of fire but (again, in my adult life) I’ve realized that if I don’t do shitty things I don’t feel the need to lie.  BUT, if I’m keeping a secret for somebody or blah-blah-blah then yes, I deem that an appropriate occasion to lie.  If there ever were such a thing.

10. What do you dislike most about your appearance?
I’m having qualms with something that didn’t used to bother me… I don’t really like my teeth anymore.  I used to think they were cute or some shit but no.  I want orthodontics!

11. When and where were you happiest?
Probably graduating from nursing school.  And the day my niece was born.  I’ll never forget the feeling of my heart swelling as I held that swaddled blanket of beautiful baby goodness.  I’m waiting for that white dress event though… 

12. What is your greatest regret?
I try to live in such a way that I don’t have any.  Really, though?  It would be fucking up my credit at the tender age of 18.  I refused to listen to people who warned me against credit cards.  Now I’m trying to dig myself out of that quicksand.

13. What or who is the greatest love of your life?
Romantically, Jay.  Otherwise, (what is the opposite of romantically?) my family.  Not all of them but they know who they are.   

14. What is your current state of mind?
Chill.  It’s my one day off in a while and I’m soaking up every minute of good feelings: lounging, drinking endless amounts of coffee, having many many options for my social activities today, being with Jay…

15. What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Being a child of divorced addicts who has grown to be 22 years old, having graduated with a degree in nursing (and a motivation to keep getting degrees), and being an unwed, childless successful 20-s0mething who has good stuff going on to write home about.

16. What is your most treasured possession?
Ooh, so controversial!  Really, though.  My BlackBerry.  Or my jewelry.  Because each piece of  jewelry holds a story for me (I have old, new, family, past relationship and personal jewelry…)

17. What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
Feeling defeated.  It’s a crock of shit.  Every single time life has handed me an atrocious situation I have come out on the other end stronger and braver and more fulfilled than before. 

18. Where would you like to live?
California.  Or Maine.  On a farm with horses.  In a city for a while.  I don’t know.  I tend to change my mind a LOT.

19. What is your favorite occupation?
I currently LOVE nursing but I still want to be a cosmetologist someday.  I’ve also thought about majoring in equine science that way I could justifiably play with horses all day and work at rodeos.

20. What do you most value in your friends?
Honesty, unconditional love, forgiveness, comedy, trust.  I have very few friends because I am so picky about the type of person they are.  I look for a friend I can cry in front of, laugh uncontrollably in front of (especially if I’m the only one laughing), fart in front of, etc… I have a need for acceptance.

21. Who are your favorite writers?
Oh Lord.  I cannot name all of the ones I like but I’ll name some faves: Anita Shreve, Barbara Kingsolver, Wally Lamb, Nicholas Sparks.

Some of my favorite classic novels are The Grapes of Wrath and To Kill a Mockingbird.  

I also loved Bernard Schlink’s The Reader. 

22. Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
Agent Booth.  I don’t care what you say.  He’s a hero damn it!  And Bones is his heroine. 

23. Who are your heroes in real life?
Our soldiers.  I haven’t met any “everyday-real-life” heroes so…. Pish posh.  I’m too busy enriching my own character while the world is tied up in meaningless drama.  Nobody really sticks out as a hero. 

24. What are your favorite names?
Finnley or Jacob for a boy.  Too many to list for a girl.  Oh what?  You’re dying to hear them?  Olivia or Ophelia (with Collette as a middle name to honor my great-grandmother), Maren, Madelyn, Heidi, Lily.  Alexa.  Who knows what my children will actually be named though?

25. What is it that you most dislike?
Lots.  I swear, I’m not high maintenace (just medium)!

Liars, people with a lack of work ethic, bad drivers, bad parents (especially bad mothers), unnecissarily rude people… Sigh.

26. How would you like to die?
Peacefully.  I want to die knowing that I’ve left my mark on this little corner of the Earth called life.  Preferably at an old age but truthfully I’d like to die when it’s time for me to do so.  I’m not devoutly Christian so who knows what death is about, really?

27. What is your motto?
If you do what you’re supposed to, you’ll end up on top.

(Hard and honest work pays off in many facets.)

At least if you read this and then we meet up, we’ll have something to talk about.  You know, you can ask me ‘What the hell did you mean by that?’  And then in my chatty-bordering-on-verbose manner I’ll gladly answer your questions over a glass of wine.  While wearing my homemade Friend Crusade T shirt.