Tagged!

Thanking the Smaller Places blog for tagging me in this meme.  If you want to participate, feel free.

1. Thank the person that nominated you and link to their blog

2. Give your readers 11 random facts about yourself

3. Answer the 11 questions from the person that nominated you

4. Nominate 11 bloggers to receive the award

5. Invent 11 questions for your nominees.

Eleven Random Things About Me

1.  I got a bead, or beads, stuck up my nose when I was a toddler.  The bead obsession begins.

2.  I learned to both swim and ice skate in/on ponds.

Stock photo of Snake Pond, Sandwich:  swimming lessons

Shawme Pond, Sandwich: Every kid in town learned to ice skate here

3.  I got a concussion while slam dancing at a high school punk rock dance when I was a senior in high school.  Had to go to the hospital and everything. 

4.  Pepper is the first dog I've ever owned.

Long Beach, WA, 2005

5.  My fear of heights tends to take a back seat to my desire for a good photograph.  The thought of getting aerial shots of the northwestern Oregon coast on a gorgeous summer day was more important than my intense fear of helicopters.  

Cannon Beach

Tillamook Lighthouse off the coast

6.  My very first law job was in a San Francisco firm that included Malcolm Burnstein, the attorney for the Berkeley Free Speech Movement in the 60s. To a 25 year old Deadhead and 60s fanatic from the east coast, this was really mind blowing for me.  Mal treated me really, really well and I worked for him and his wife/law partner, Catherine, for 6 years.  Great people. 

Web image

7.  I was obsessed with the west when I was a kid and I wanted to live there so bad.  It just seemed like there was so much more to do and see out there...it was more 'happening' than boring old Cape Cod.  The light blue states, with the exception of Alaska and Hawaii, were what interested me most. And also western South Dakota.

8.  The best summer of my life was the summer of 75.  All 1975 was awesome, as I recall. The music from that year is so, so great.

9.  When I was in college, I was obsessed with Kajagoogoo, esp the bass player, Nick Beggs.  I don't remember how I got an address for him, but I wrote him a fan letter and sent it off.  I was absolutely blown away when a few weeks later, I received a hand written response from him.  I wrote 2 more letters and received 2 more hand written responses back.  Then in 1995, MTV did a 'where are they now' thing on 80s band.  I found out Nick worked at the music school in London and I tracked down the address.  I wrote again to thank him for his gracious responses when I was in college and how much it meant to me.  He wrote back AGAIN, AND sent me a couple pictures.  Of course now I follow him on Facebook and he is still a gracious and very down to earth guy for being a famous musician.

10.  I absolutely love stuffed animals and always have.  As an only child, I had a tendency to anthropomorphize them.  This is why I related so much to the Calvin and Hobbes comic.  They were real to me, not toys but pets and friends.

11.  I know enough about Star Trek to hold my own (a little bit) in conversation, but I'm not a fan of the franchise at all, except "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home".  Lost in Space was my go-to space show and still is.

It should be noted that it took me TWO HOURS to find facts about me.

Answer the Questions Asked by Tagger:

1.  What's the oldest item in your immediate environment?  Probably antique marbles, beaded purses and/or postcards.

2.  When has a project exceeded your wildest expectations? How?  Can't pick just one project, but every time a craft idea comes together perfectly, it's just the best feeling ever.

3.  Chocolate: white, dark, milk or not at all?  Milk chocolate.  But I'd rather have sweet & sour, fruity or cinnamon candy.

4.  If you could have dinner with three fictional characters, who would they be?  The Ninth Doctor, Albus Dumbledore and Indiana Jones.

5.  What's your all time favourite movie? To Kill a Mockingbird.

6.  If you could choose a career other than your actual one, what would it be?  Psychologist.

7. How many cats is the optimum number?  Zero.  I'm a dog person and very allergic to cats.

8.  What is the most versatile tool in your arsenal?  I'm not entirely sure what this means, but I'll say my awl or jewelry pliers.

9.  Winter or summer person?  Neither.  Fall.

10.  What do you most wish you could organize properly? My craft room and supplies.  It's a hot mess in there.  And also my tupperware cabinet.  It's like Fibber Magee's closet in there.

11.  What do you do to find inspiration?  Go to the beach, day trip, Pinterest.

So whoever wants to play along, please do.  I'm not going to tag anyone.  I'm also too lazy to make up 11 questions so please feel free to use mine.  It took me 3 hours to draft this post so I don't have the energy to think of my own questions!