Mitzi of Atlantic Mermaid and Libby of Vintage Aplomb have passed on the Versatile Blogger Award to me, so I’m supposed to share seven facts about myself and then pass the award along to more people. Thank you for thinking of me, Mitzi and Libby! Here are my facts:
1. I love California.
We may have pollution, traffic and economic problems, but California is a beautiful state and I hope I can always call it my home. I’d love to visit many places, but I’m so attached to the beaches and mountains, feeling of freedom, variety of cuisines, cities and countryside, diversity and weather of California. So far I’ve lived here my entire life, and my parents also grew up here (their parents came from New York, Chicago and New Mexico). I took this photo when Jasen and I were driving down Pacific Coast Highway after visiting Berkeley one weekend.
2. I used to act.
For about five years in my late teens and early 20s I performed in several community theater and college plays. This is a photo of me as Sophia in Neil Simon’s Fools, the last play I was in before I gave up acting because I was starting grad school. I even met my husband, Jasen, through theater! We were both in a community college production of Cyrano de Bergerac. He played Cyrano, but I wasn’t Roxane. I just had two smaller roles. Another fun little fact: our first date was on Cyrano de Bergerac’s birthday, March 6th. I wish I had some photos from Cyrano on the computer that I could share!
3. I hate raw carrots.
Source: zoebakes.com
I can’t stand the texture. I think more people dislike carrots when they’re cooked, but I definitely prefer them that way. Gnawing on a carrot grosses me out.
4. I love buying and wrapping gifts.
Source: pacificscents.com
If I could do this for a living, I would. Whenever I have the chance to choose a gift for someone, I obsess over picking THE perfect item(s) for that person and wrapping the gift in a way that relates to him or her somehow. It’s so satisfying to perfectly fold and tape the paper, coordinate the ribbons or other decorations...and of course see the look on the recipient’s face when the gift is opened! Yes, of course giving gifts is generally pleasurable for people, but I REALLY love it.
5. I had a Road to Avonlea website in the ’90s.
Source: koretv.wordpress.com
And it had fan fiction. Yes, fan fiction. I worked on it from age 14 to age 16. I eventually lost access to the site and it disappeared, although I have at least some of the fan fiction somewhere.
6. Haruki Murakami is one of my favorite writers.
Source: coverspy.tumblr.com
I’ve read seven of his novels and plan to read them all eventually. My favorite so far has been The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle. The bizarre yet familiar world that he created in this book, the supernatural elements and the protagonist’s emotional journey driving the plot are, in my opinion, brilliant. I don’t think I’ve been sadder about finishing any other novel. I feel a connection with his writing that’s hard to explain, although I think there’s something introverted and analytical about it that I relate to. I also love his beautiful, precise, well-placed similes.
7. My sister is studying abroad in Melbourne, Australia.
Source: bluebirdbayou.blogspot.com
Her name is Hillary, and I miss her very much. Hillary is five and a half years younger than me and majoring in anthropolgy. (She also, haha, used to work at Anthropologie.) She is one of the absolute nicest people ever, extremely smart and funny, artistic and gorgeous. She can even sing! She has a beautiful voice and sang “It Had to Be You” at Jasen’s and my wedding. She has a blog as well (http://bluebirdbayou.blogspot.com/) if you’re interested in reading about her adventures in Australia.
And the bloggers I’m passing this award on to are Brittany of not all who wander are lost, Brinny of NOT WITHOUT INCIDENT, Hope of Pansy Lane, Sian of Rebel Angel, Ciara and Stephanie of Roses and Pearls Vintage and Jenni of Stop Making Sense. I apologize if any of you already received this award or if awards like this aren’t your cup of tea, but I tried to choose people I thought might be interested in listing seven things!
PS: Does anyone know where this award started? I’ve been seeing it all over the place lately, and I’m just curious.
CONGRATS!
ReplyDeleteI am glad you like wrapping gifts because I have a couple HUGE ones in my apartment I'll need help with! I don't mind wrapping gifts, but something tells me you'll rock it out.
I love raw carrots so much, it's raw broccoli I can't handle- like on veggie platters. BLEH!
Man, I remember when you told me you had that Avonlea site the first time- I was all, "Yes, this person is awesome."
Love that pic of you! I am so used to you with short hair!
wow what a great post Heather! and congrats on the award :)
ReplyDeleteI love that photo of you. It's so cute. I always wish I could write, sing and play in theater. But I have two amazing friends now that can do most of those things ;)
I also love California, mostly because of its weather and the diversity of nationalities. It has made me feel at home more than any other place I've lived in.
I've never met Hillary, but I already like her. I'm checking out her blog now...
GREAT POST :)
I didn't click that Hilary was your sister, I like reading her adventures. Cute post and I liked finding out more about you.
ReplyDeleteThis was such a sweet post! I visited California for the first time over the summer and absolutely loved it. Also, I love wrapping presents too :)
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I have never yet been to California, but I'm actually going to be going to school there in the fall. Whereabouts are you located?
ReplyDeleteBuying and wrapping presents for other people is one of my absolute favourite things to do too!
ReplyDeleteGreat facts, it's great to learn more about other bloggers :D
M xo
Road to Avonlea! AH! I absolutely adored that show! Haha that is so cool that you had a website dedicated to it. I wish you still did so that I could visit it! :)
ReplyDeleteAvonlea ♥ Wow for this artcile!
ReplyDeletexoxo from Hannie
feel free to visit me at: http://ilovemondayz.blogspot.com/
i absolutely LOVE wrapping gifts; at christmas, i even wrap stuff that goes into stockings. i'm a nut!
ReplyDeleteSorry I'm so late replying to this! I've been catching up on my blog reading since I've been away and just saw this one =) Thank you so much for thinking of me! I'll get mine posted soon!
ReplyDeleteI actually love raw carrots haha, it made me want to eat some reading this!! And that's amazing your sister's studying in Australia, I'd love to do something like that =)
Are you from Canada? I have never heard of anyone not from Canada watching Road to Avonlea. I was just thinking about Aunt Hetty the other day.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes I am from Canada.
No, Anonymous, I've lived in California my whole life...but the Disney Channel brought Road to Avonlea (retitled as just Avonlea) to U.S. viewers, and that's how I saw it! Aunt Hetty is a scream. I used to have a page on my website called "Aunt Hetty Says" with my favorite Hetty quotes, plus other sayings suggested for her by people who visited the site.
ReplyDelete