Betcha Didn't Know

My fellow blogger Stephanie at Hungry In Cleveland tagged me in a fun get to know you post. Basically she revealed some details about herself and asked me, and several other bloggers, to do the same. I really enjoyed learning more about my blogging friends and wanted to do my part as well. Work has been crazy hectic so I'm finally getting around to sharing a little about me. Here goes!

11 Things About Me

1. I am an only child. A Italian friend of mine once called me a "lonely child" because he was messing up the English but I love it - it sums up growing up without siblings perfectly!

2. I have been to every state except Alaska and Maine. My parents and I drove from Ohio to California and back twice when I was a kid and I've done extensive traveling as an adult as well. The travel bug bit me at a young age and traveling is still my favorite thing. If I win the lottery, I won't buy a huge mansion and fancy cars. I'll jump on a plane instead!

3. I'm terrified of spiders! This is not something to EVER joke with me about unless you want one of us to end up in the hospital - me from having a heart attack or you from when I try to kill you for terrorizing me. I thought I would try to beat this fear by watching the movie Arachniphobia. Worst. Idea. Ever.

4. I can never just "pick one" or tell you my "favorite" - my tastes are too varied and I hate limiting myself! (see below for many examples - ha ha!)

5. I would love to be a house wife. I do NOT need a paying job to fulfill me. I would love to have my day free to putz in the garden, cook, can, volunteer, walk Buffy, blog more and be sure I look cute for my future husband when he gets home. And I would actually have time to workout so looking cute would be possible!

6. One of my worst habits is chewing on my fingers. If I'm stressed, I pick them until bleed they sometimes. My fingers are a good indication of how I'm doing on the inside. It's gross, it hurts, and I want to stop - but I can't.

7. I love Lawson's French Onion chip dip! My favorite way to eat it is by dipping a chip and a pretzel at the same time and shoving both in my mouth. Ladylike? No. Delicious? YES! As much as I love it, I won't buy it. Can't be trusted not to eat the whole tub. But I will bring some to your house and eat it with you.

8. My parents wouldn't let me have indoor furry pets. So I had outdoor kitties. One time when I had three of them, they all had babies at the same time and we ended up with 27! No, I wasn't allowed to keep all of them...and I'm allergic to cats.

9. I used to be such a baby about needles that I wouldn't get Novacaine at the dentist's office. CRAZY! I'm a lot smarter now although I still hate needles.

10. I climbed to the top of Angel's Landing in Zion last year. It was one of the hardest and most rewarding hikes of my life. I still can't believe I made it to the top!

That's what I'm climbing! 5785 ft

Don't look down! And hang on to the chains!

We made it! What a view!

11. I've always wanted to go to culinary school but I don't want to be a restaurant chef. Would hate those crazy hours! But I would love to rock the kitchen in my house at a new level and even teach cooking classes.

Stephanie's questions for me:

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

Well, I've eaten A LOT of crazy stuff! Sweetbreads, chicken hearts, and squirrel are all things I enjoyed. Chicken feet and tripe, not so much.

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

My Grammie's raviolis, pork and sauerkraut, pizza, popcorn, peach pie w/ ice cream, watermelon, Thai food, and hot fresh bread with real butter would be on the list for sure but I could go on forever!

3. What is your all time guilty pleasure food?

Cookies! I am a true cookie monster and love homemade chewy ones. Especially hot out of the oven. Chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, peanut butter, Mexican wedding cakes, thumbprints - everything except sugar cookies. I've found a few of those I like (Elisabeth's!) but most are just not worth the calories.

4. What are you currently listening to?

Just watched Wilco on Austin City Limits so I've been listening to them a lot. They are one of my favorite bands but I kind of forgot about them. Nice to be getting reacquainted again!

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

Love to watch baseball and hockey.

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

Roller derby! Looks like so much fun! I love the super cool bad ass names they all have too.

7. Fill in the blank: Food makes me _____
Happy! It makes everything better.

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

Grammie - miss her so much!

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

Everyone always wants to go to Melt or Lola. If I get to pick, I would say Pier W (the food! the view!) and L'Albatros (the cheese!)

10. What quote sums up your life right now?

"You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough." Mae West

11. What is your favorite holiday?

Halloween - love the costumes and parties and carving pumpkins and trick or treating! Also Thanksgiving - love all the food and family without all the decorating and shopping.

I like the questions Stephanie came up with so I'm going to stick with those. Tag - you're it!

1. Kristian of Ohio Festivals (click here for his responses)

2. Amie of My Retro Kitchen

3. Sarah of Cooker Girl

4. Mary of Adventures of a Foodie Wannabe

5. Megan of Monkey Bread and Sweet Pea

6. Mary of iNeed a Playdate (click here for her responses)

The Rules: