Damn. I’m It.

A while ago, I got tagged by the fabulous Susan DiPlacido

I figure better late than never, eh? So here goes... I'm not totally sure what this means (still a blog world neophyte of sorts), I'm gonna play along because it looks like fun.

The rules:

1. We have to post these rules before we give you the facts.
2. Players start with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
3. People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.
4. At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.
5. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

Here are my eight things:

1. I’m a second generation native Floridian on both the maternal and paternal sides. Yes, we do exist. I’m proud of my state, weird as it may be, and as much as I bitch and moan about the heat and lack of seasons, I cannot imagine living anywhere else. (I’m also a third generation graduate of the University of Florida...whoo-hoo!)

2. I hate snakes. Snakes are the debil -- just read Genesis and the story of Adam and Even in case you had any doubts. Can’t even stand to see them on TV, much less in person. Needless to say, I don’t watch a lot of Animal Planet. Will sings a little song about picking up baby bumblebees/puppy dogs/kitty cats/etc. His favorite verse is about the baby rattlesnake, which he sings over and over, complete with the Ssssssss sound effects. Who says God doesn’t have a sense of humour...

3. I’d not a big fan of chocolate. I don’t dislike it, but I also don’t go out of my way to find it -- no chocoholic tendencies here. Now, caramel and/or pralines are a complete other story... a praline from Aunt Sally’s in New Orleans is a little bit of heaven as far as I’m concerned.

4. I can’t drive a stick shift. I have a recurring nightmare in which there’s some sort of emergency and I’m the only one who can drive to safety and the only vehicle available is a stick. I also have a recurring nightmare about trying to drop a class in college before the drop period ends and not being able to find the administration building. Thank goodness the two scenarios have never collided into one Super Nightmare. Yet.

5.I have never seen one single episode of Beverly Hills 90210, Melrose Place or Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I’m the only person I know who can make this claim, by the way.

6. I didn’t see snow in earnest until I was 35 years old. (See fun fact #1 for a logical explanation of this.) I’d seen the fake stuff on some ski excursions to NC in my youth and there are photos of me as a toddler, posing with my parents next to a patch of snow in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. But see drifts and drifts of the powdery stuff -- not until just a few years ago. I did it right, though -- in Park City, Utah for a business meeting of the mister’s. That was totally some serious snow. And I loved it. Although I quickly discovered that I’m better at apres ski then actual skiing. One day of lessons. It wasn’t pretty.

7. I would rather speak in front of a group of 100 people than go to a cocktail party where I know only one or two people. Public speaking = love. Small talk = afraid.

8. My happy place = my kitchen. I love to cook and read about cooking and think about cooking. My home library has well over 100 cookbooks. I would never want to be a professional chef or caterer, though. I’m content being a fairly proficient home cook, thank you very much. Although I do wish my knife skills were better.

That’s it. For now. Fascinating, aren’t I. *dislodges tongue from cheek*