11 Things About Me (aka "Do you really want to know this stuff?")

Crystal of the blog Eat*Drink*Cleveland has tagged me in a blogger's challenge where each tagged person (such as myself) is supposed to write 11 facts about him(or her)self and then also answer some questions proposed by the tagger.

Being that this sounds fun to me, I am happily accepting this challenge to present you with information about myself that will probably not benefit you in any shape or form.

With this in mind, I will do my best to make each of these 11 things somewhat interesting.

Here goes...

1.) I can be rebellious/mischievous. By this, I mean that there is something deep, deep, deeeeep inside of me that occasionally enjoys breaking the mold or shaking the ant farm or just disturbing the peace.

Honestly, these thoughts/drives are basically harmless, like unleashing a herd of Yorkshire Terriers in a nursing home to watch the chaos unfold. I actually haven't done this because I've been responsible enough to think this through and realize that a near-sighted senior citizen could easily mistaken a Yorkie for an oversized rat and bash it with a cane.

So this is on hold...for now.

2.) I speak Italian. Thanks to a letter I sent out in English and broken Italian to every Italian household with the same surname (in the towns my family came from), I've managed to reconnect with dozens of cousins throughout Italy who speak very little English.

As a result, I've learned the Italian language and eventually moved to Italy (2002-2003) to teach English and better understand the Italian culture.

This entire experience was obviously life-changing and I wouldn't trade it for anything.

3.) I love the New Age stuff!

I'm intrigued by just about everything paranormal: ghosts, UFO's, all types of divination (astrology, numerology, palmistry, etc.).

I would stay a night in a haunted house. I would go to a psychic fair (and I have). I also have a general understanding of astrological charts...

...like my own.

And, in case you are wondering, I'm Capricorn Sun, Moon and Rising...which is probably why I haven't released those Yorkies mentioned in #1.

Also, in case you're still wondering...it's Uranus' placement in my 9th house (with an opposition to Mars in the 3rd and a square to my Ascendent) that is probably giving me the crazy Yorkie idea (and many others that I live with on a daily basis).

4.) My biggest fear is that I'll do more bad than good in this lifetime (notice the implication of reincarnation...please re-read #3).

Now, I honestly don't think I'm a bad person, but there's this drive to be a benefit to humanity in one form or another.

Another way to say this is that I want to feel that the world is a better place because I am here.

5.) I love to explore!

The idea of traveling, interacting with people, trying new dishes, learning traditions/customs, and seeing new sites energizes me!

If I had a career that involved traveling (and exploring and eating and writing!!), it would be a personal heaven of mine.

For the time being, I am able to do this via Ohio Festival blogging.

6.) I've written and illustrated a children's book. This might seem to you like a self-promotional point where I shamelessly try to get you to buy my children's book at http://willandthewishflower.blogspot.com/ ...

...and it is.

But you should click on the link and consider the purchase because it's a great, great book and it would help me feel better about point #4.

7.) My favorite topics to discuss are food, travel, sex and religion.

In fact, the title of my thesis, which is a collection of short stories for my Creative Writing MFA, is "Food, Sex and the Afterlife: Stories from the Things We Think About."

8.) While traveling, I often stop at gas stations or grocery stores and look for interesting potato chip flavors.

It's true!

9.) I am certain that I've been to the more festivals in one year (103) than anyone...ever!

I've contacted Guinness about this already and they've denied me the record. Not that there is a record. But they just don't have room in the book.

10.) I believe that your life is what you make of it.

11.) I want to be on TV this year (and I'm going to re-read point #10 and help make it so)!

Of course, this wish is on the basis that it's due to an accomplishment and not involved with any police blotter.



CRYSTAL'S QUESTIONS

1. What is the most adventurous thing you have ever eaten?

Hmm...I've eaten a lot of weird stuff like chicken feet, cow tongue/heart...

...and insect stuff.

But for this question, I'll answer jellyfish (both in pickled versions and in broth).

2. What would your last meal be if you had a say in it?

Sushi, raw oysters, seared scallops, coconut shrimp and caramel pie. Oh heaven!

If I have to pic only one thing, then I'll do sushi.

3. What is your all time guilty pleasure food?

Chips. Love chips. Especially BBQ.

4. What are you currently listening to?

I've downloaded a bunch of free mps off of Amazon and last.fm, so it's a blend of music (typically indie - Wye Oak, Midlake, Arcade Fire). But I listen to a lot of post-rock music like Explosions in the Sky and This Will Destroy You. It's music that allows me to think while on the road and it mellows me out.

5. What is your favorite sport (to play, watch, or both)?

I did enjoy watching the Demolition Derby at the Medina County Fair. Usually, if there are explosions or food (wrestling varieties, perhaps?), I could possibly enjoy it.

Oh - I would like to start up some racquetball!

6. One thing you are dying to try (this could be anything)

I would like to para sail. I would also LOVE to be in one of those gravity-free chambers that the astronauts get to float around inside.

7. Fill in the blank: Food makes me _____

Whole

8. If you could have dinner with just one person, dead or alive, who would it be?

Nice question. Hmm. I guess I would pick one of my grandfathers. If I had to pick at this very moment, it would be my paternal grandfather. But it's very close, so I'm sure that decision would waver from time to time.

9. What is your "go to" restaurant for taking out of towners?

Pacific East. I just love it so.

10. What quote sums up your life right now?

I like this quote...

"In the depths of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer."

-Albert Camus

11. What is your favorite holiday?

Halloween. Just fun fun fun fun FUN! And I love the spooky, scary stuff.

................................................................................................................................................

Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoyed it.

I would like to thank Crystal for the tag so that I could take part in this challenge.

Furthermore, I would like to act out a visual tag.

By this, I mean that, if you are reading this and you haven't yet done this on your blog, you are now tagged.

Ha! Take that, Mr. or Ms. Curious Cat! :-)

Peace, Love and Chicken Grease!

Kristian