Getting to know your friend . . .

As I am new to this blogging world so I thought I might share about myself. My friend, Bonnie (best pastor's wife ever), sent one of those "get to know your friend better" quizzes and this was my reply. I have updated it removed all the references to AON Home Warranty and Sharina - I had a phone glued to my hear, waiting on hold when I answered the quiz:

1. What time did you get up this morning?
7:00ish

2. Diamonds or Pearls?
BRING ON THE BLING - not that I don't fancy pearls, but . . .

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?
"Pan's (scary and grotesque) Labyrinth"

4. What is your favorite TV show?
I watch Grey's Anatomy online while writing real estate ads late at night - you can skip all the commercials. Can you imagine if I messed up? "Nice 4 bedroom colonial with beautiful new surgical interns." I am a cable girl all the way, although I have not turned on the TV in over 2 months . . . Josh makes sure that ESPN doesn't go away, though. Top Chef (Bravo), Iron Chef (Food Network), Passport to Europe (Travel Channel), Dog Whisperer (National Geographic) I watch them all with equal infrequency, but I really like these shows!

5. What did you have for breakfast?
Hot oat bran with wheat germ and flax seed mixed in - Hot Peach Tea (Stash brand is BEST)

6. What is your middle name?
CHARMAINE . . . I had a roman history prof note that on his roster and he called me Charlemagne - yeah, hilarious, we're all laughing . . . I don't mind being called "great", but drop the "Charles" . . .

7. What is your favorite cuisine?
I would have to say Thai or Authentic Indian food - bring on the spicy!! Seafood is yummy, too . . . again, I really like food and wine-pairing and even like to read about food history . . . it is a family hobby, I guess . . .

8. What foods do you dislike?
Peas, anything overly processed or fake sweeteners. I don't like fast food either . .

9. Your favorite Potato chip?
Kettle style jalapeno chips - spicy yummy goodness! They are so spicy that you must eat them slowly to avoid hiccups. . .

10. What is your favorite CD at the moment?
Oh boy - I love all kinds of music! I love the worship song play list on my computer - right now I really like "You Are My Joy" by David Crowder and I never get sick of Nichole Nordeman or Sarah Kelly or Patty Griffin . . . I must admit that the most recent CD purchases for our home were The Killers and Norah Jones and both are really good, but the most listened to cds are the worship team compilation cds . . . practice PrAcTiCe PRACTICE!

11. What kind of car do you drive?
I drive our Chrysler 300, but I like driving the Hemi Ram on occasion. . . We have a Z28 Camaro and a 1970 Buick Electra convertible, too . . . they are all fun in their season and when they are running properly!

12. Favorite sandwich?
Crusty french bread with buffalo mozzarella, fresh basil and tomatoes. Or swap out the mozza for brie and toast it on the bread then add the basil and tomatoes (I picture myself walking through Victoria train station in London whenever this culinary delight touches my mouth). . . YUMMmmmm . . . I just got a panini press . . . oh the carbo joys . . .

13. What characteristics do you despise in others?
Judgemental people . . . I hate when I am judgemental, too, REALLY I DO - I always regret if I fall into that trap . . .

14. What are your favorite clothes?
Honestly, I love dresses more than anything - one piece of cloth hanging on your body - only one thing to pick out, no wondering if the pants are too tight, and generally no ironing needed because I have them dry cleaned! Of course, I like things cinched at the waist with ruffles and "girly" written all over it . . . I am a girly girl when it comes to physical appearance (I don't think that I have a overly-girly or dainty personality to match - so I need balance)! I don't like when people think you are "dressed-up" just because you have a dress on . . .

15. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where WOULDN'T you go?
Antartica - no desire . . .no reason . . .

16. Favorite brand of clothing?
I don't have a favorite brand . . . I do own a lot of Betsey Johnson, J. Crew, Free People, UO clothing because they fit me well, but the things in my closet have come from a wide range of places - from Target to Niemen Marcus to street markets and ebay . . . I am not that great of a bargain shopper, but every now and then I find a deal - I bought a $400 dress from Lord & Taylor last year for just under $40! That was my deal of 2006 . . .

17. Where would you want to retire?
Laguna Beach, CA or Brugge, Belgium - that means I'm really rich, too . . .

18. Favorite time of day?
Morning or late at night . . . it depends on the day and what is going on really . . .

19. Where were you born?
Warren, MI

20. What is your favorite sport to watch?
Michigan Football and Detroit Tigers . . . I love sports! These are nostalgic events for me . . . My dad lived and breathed baseball and was a pretty good baseball and softball player back in the day . . . We used to stop on the side of the road and watch random baseball games when we didn't even know anyone on the team . . . Going to a U of M football game in Ann Arbor was a pilgrimage that my family made each year as I was growing up . . . It's all fun now, too, because Josh is a huge fan of both!

21. Pepsi or Coke?
Neither - soda makes me violently ill . . . and apparently so do Lays potato chips - Last night I ate too many of those while putting together our foam family channel cut-outs and fell horribly sick when we arrived home . . . Note to self: don't eat Lays chips again . . . I hate that my gall bladder doesn't like grease!

22. Beavers or Ducks?
Platypus?

23. Are you a morning person or night owl?
Night owl for sure! But I am the occasional morning person . . .

24. Pedicure or Manicure?
Manicure, but NO nail polish . . .

25. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share?
My sweet niece, Itsy Bitsy Izabelle . . . she is my favorite news . . . . . . Moving to Vegas to pursue my showgirl career might be news . . .

26. What did you want to be when you were little?
I wanted to be Pancho Barnes - she was a female pilot like Amelia Earhart . . . so I didn't want to just be an aviatrix, I wanted to be Pancho Barnes . . . It's perfectly reasonable to believe you will be a totally different person with a new name, dark hair, accent and pilot license when you grow up . . .

27. What is your best childhood memory?
I have soooooooooooooooo many! I did love going on family vacations - my parents took us to Disney World and such, but they were history buffs so we took several "historical vacations" mixed in to visits with Aunt Rhonda. I remember when we happened upon Mystic Seaport, CT for the first time - that was incredible and the first time I ever saw a blue lobster . . .

28. Piercings?
2 in my ears . . .

29. Ever been to Africa?
No, but I will get there . . . I would like to visit Morocco, South Africa, Mauritius, and wherever else life might take me. I will NEVER go on a safari . . . I have watched too many National Geographic specials where people are mauled by lions and hippos . . .

30. Ever been toilet papering?
Too many times to remember . . .

31. Been in a car accident?
Four. The first time, my mom was pregnant and ended up having her 4th miscarriage (there were several between me and Adam). The second time wasn't really an accident as much as bad luck - Kris and I were caught up in a drive-by shooting when I was in 10th grade. Kris's window blew out and I was shot. We have these crazy photos that the police took of my blood covering the interior of the truck. The third time was driving with friends to a winter retreat and the road iced over. We were in my pickup truck, driving in one-lane construction between cement and steel barriers. The truck smashed between the two barriers for 1/4 mile before is stopped - it was like a jerky carnival ride. The last time, I was hit head on by a lady who ran a stop sign - my airbag deployed, fractured my ribs, bruised my lungs and burned my arms.

32. Favorite restaurant?
Of all time: This tiny little pub in Oxford, England called the "Eagle and the Child" (students call it the bird and the baby) - I used to go and drink cider ale with my friends and we would talk about literature - mostly William Wordsworth and Shakespeare - and the pub had the best FISH AND CHIPS EVER!!! This is where Tolkein and Lewis used to chill . . . I think it was built in the 14th century . . . My fav restaurant that I can enjoy more frequently now: Josh and I love "The Rochester Chop House" - the front section reminds me of English pubs . . . it's that nostalgia thing again . . . I love "The Whitney", too - again the atmosphere . . . Coach Insignia holds unforgettable memories as well - FANTASTIC sommelier!

33. Favorite flower?
Hydrangeas are my fav - I have some dried ones in my kitchen right now - they came from my bushes at the end of autumn . . . I had oodles of hydrangeas for my wedding . . .

34. Favorite ice cream?
Chocolate anything really . . . I just totally love ice cream - haven't really met a pint, half-gallon, cone, or cup that I didn't like!

35. Favorite Fast Food?
Panera - is the fastest food I like . . . I don't really like anything with a drive through other than Starbucks . . .

36. How many times did you fail your drivers test?
Zero

37. Which store(s) would you choose to max out your credit card?
William Sonoma, of course! I like Z Gallerie and would opt to go nuts on expedia.com, too . . .

38. Bedtime?
2:00 a.m.ish

39.Last person you went to dinner with?
Josh - we went to the Bath City Bistro in downtown Mt. Clemens - nice little place to drop in for lunch or dinner. Before that - Kris - I took him to Panera and Cold Stone on Kercheval the day after Izabelle was born - the congratulatory carb fest was in order!

40. What are you listening to right now?
The whirring of the computer and my conscience telling me to hurry up because I have more phone calls to make!!! Also listening to the shower water running and Woodson snoring . . .

41. What is your favorite color?
RED for decor - BLUE to wear . . .

42. How many tattoos do you have?
None. I think they look ABSOLUTELY tacky/sleazy/horrible on girls, but I don't mind them on guys (too many are scary though). . . Josh has a cobra on his arm - I like it and think he should get a dove on the other arm . . . see Matthew 10:16