Meme'd

Alrighty then, I've been memed by Amy. That has a nice ring to it. Now I'm going to come up with seven things that all you folks might not know about me. I'm kinda dovetailing on Amy's friends and fellow bloggers here, so this may not be too hard.

1. I love winter. I secretly anticipate snow days and I love it when we get more feet than inches. I don't admit this to just anyone-like the mail carrier or the guy at the grocery store that is out gathering carts. I think snow days inspire a stronger sense of community and belonging since we're all in it together. I also love snow days because I love the look on my kids' faces when I get to tell them "It's a Snow Day!!!" Being Arizona babies, this is all still relatively new to them. Last year during the big ice storm when power was out, Joseph looked out his window with major anticipation after my proclamation of "It's a Snow Day!!!" It was sad to see his little face scrunch up in confusion..."Where's the snow? I don't see any snow." And then looked at me like I'd really done it this time. I guess I should have announced, "It's an Ice Day!" but that doesn't have the same appeal to it, now does it? We still had fun by the fire place playing card games and thinking. It's the only time the kids have gone to bed at 5 p.m. It was dark, they were bored, and the dog was cold, forcing them to snuggle up.

2. I got to give my sons their middle names since they came with their first names. Jesse Nicholas and Joseph Anthony. Nicholas for St. Nicholas; patron saint of children, among other things. Anthony for St. Anthony, who helps me find lost items. I really owed it to St. Anthony as he's come through for me many times. I figured, too, with everything Joseph had been through, he might feel a little lost himself, so Anthony would be a good namesake.

3. I wish I could say my favorite book was something literary, like Crime and Punishment, or I Lay Dying, or some Camus book...alas my favorite read is Auntie Mame. More surprising yet, I rather look at her as my role model. All quirks aside (and it's her quirks that make her who she is), she modeled unconditional love in the way she cared for her nephew. Sometimes I get a little irritated and annoyed with my sons, and I sometimes ask myself, "What would Auntie Mame do?" Aside from pouring a drink and lighting up, she usually comes through with sophistication, knowledge, curiosity, and compassion.

4. I've written two novels. The first one is about twins separated at birth. They are meeting for the first time, and their father does not know there are two of them. The mother kept it a secret that she had given birth to two girls, and quickly one of them placed for adoption. It's the story of the families and a lot of secrets. I wrote the other novel in November 2005, during NaNoWrMo (National Novel Writing Month). My grandma had passed away that August, and I wrote a fairy tale based on her life. There were dragons, witches, fairies, and other fun stuff.

5. I love Taco Bell. I really do. I sometimes go through the drive-thru after teaching a yoga class. Maybe I shouldn't be admitting this?

6. I'm a horrible housekeeper. If you come to my house, you will see. I always say, "I'm a good homemaker but a lousy housekeeper." It works for me.

7. While I consider myself artsy and creative, I hate pottery. Making pottery, that is; I love to have pottery in my home. I hate throwing the clay onto the wheel-it's always crooked. I hate sitting with my back all scrunched up, leaning over the wheel. I hate holding my hand a certain way to produce a vase that caves in on itself. I had neck spasms for days after my first class. They were gone by the second class. Neck spasms for days. Made it to the third class. Neck spasms for days. That was the last class as my doctor was getting suspicious about my frequent requests for muscle relaxers and Vicodin. Physical therapy worked it all out, and I haven't been back to class since.

Now, I'm going to tag one of Amy's friends since I don't know anyone else here. I hope that's okay, and maybe we'll be friends too. I tag Melissa Peach at http://watchingpeach.blogspot.com/. Amy, maybe you'll let her know she's been Meme'd?