Oh how fun,

Lets see, hmmm I love whisky, 85% cocoa chocolate and ginger (probably in that order too)

I have strong tastes in music and stopped walking down the aisle on my wedding day so they could change the track from Celine Dion's My Heart Will Go On

I have a T-Rex head, in my bedroom.

My favorite sport is ice hockey and I am a long time Devils fan.

I will go (and have gone) sky diving, I love heights. I will not learn to scuba dive and go deep in the water though.

My husband is afraid of heights and loves to go scuba diving.

My first overseas trip was to London.

Cool thread. Hm, there's a lot I haven't shared, but I choosing just one: I would rather live in Minnesota than California!

These are SO much fun to read - I want to have a giant YLF party and talk to every one of you!

Puffenstuff, LOVE The Breakfast Club. "You mess with the bull, you get the horns."

Such a fun thread! I am truly fascinated by everyone! Here is my scoop:

--I was my current height (5'11") by 6th-7th grade
--I was the first person in my family to go to college
--I am absolutely revolted by the smell of wet peanut butter (for example, if my SO leaves a knife with peanut butter on it in the sink, and it gets wet)
--I have a high pain threshold, which is sometimes cool but sometimes gets me into trouble when I overdo some sort of physical activity then end up injuring myself
--I took my Raggedy Ann doll with me to college, because I was so attached to her
--By nature I'm a night owl, though I have had to adjust since I had kids. I look forward to the day when I can go back to my night owl habits, once the kids are gone from home!

I am a hoarder I find it terribly difficult to throw anything out, this goes hand in hand with being a total mess freak! So bad I can go weeks without tidying up!
I love murder mystery dramas on TV and reading Chick lit. I still live at home with my parents at the grand old age of 30 (i really need to grow up soon!!!!) I have 2 furbaby cats Marley and Tigger. I hate flying and have only been on 3 foreign holidays, BF took me to Paris a few years ago and I spoiled the weeekend by stressing about the flight home!!!! Give me a UK holiday anyday x

This thread has been so much fun to read!
Like others, reading is a favorite activity since childhood. Cozy historical mysteries are my favorites now, although for years I read only nonfiction for fun.
I love tent camping and hiking and have always wanted to hike the Appalachian Trail.
Hate to have to call a list of people on the phone!
I love very dark chocolate covered ginger and dark chocolate and ginger in anything.
I met my DH on a blind date.

I just posted two cars in another thread. I guess I'm a secret petrolhead *NAH* I don't even drive.

I still haven't learned how to drive yet. Maybe I'll learn this year but really I have no overwhelming desire to take to the roads.

I met my lovely boyfriend while mountain biking, and then was set up with him by some mutual friends who thought we'd make a cute couple.

Hmmm - let's see ...

* I spend my weekends volunteering as a rescue driver for abused and abandoned dogs. We relay them up the highways of the East Coast to new lives and loving homes.

* I'd read the complete works of Dickens by the age of 12 - a voracious reader in my youth, far less so now ... blame it on the internet. :-/

* Secret vice: Watching "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills"

* Favorite adult beverage: Grey Goose martini, ice cold, dirty, with olives. Which brings me to:

* Love-love-love to dance - and you'll find me at the head of any conga line (see above).

-I too belonged to the ballroom dance club in college. (-: My dance partner was my petite Japanese friend (boys were scarce) and she used to dance in giant wooden platform boots.

-I took Japanese classes for 6 years, and piano lessons for 15. I can barely do either of these things now

-I won't read fiction because I can't stop reading once I start and it distracts me from doing anything productive. It's easier just to not start! But, I love non-fiction.

Lol, Jenava! I was sent to Japanese school every Saturday for my entire childhood and I have no recollection of it except for hating every minute of it. Every time I try to speak Japanese, the words come out in spanish (three years of HS Spanish.) I'm an only child and a serial crafter. I've knit and crocheted miles of yarn and never wear any of the finished objects. DD"s have been subjected to many hand knits. I played rugby for several years in a women's league post college. Love reading mysteries and thrillers. Often laugh at inappropriate moments--especially when nervous.

Had to throw in two responses to the fun facts of others.

DC Deb, I'm wondering if we know each other through the rescue world. I'm in DC as well and do a lot of volunteer work with Homeward Trails.

Hanna, have you read Word Freak? I'm guessing you would love it.

This is so much fun!

- I'm a total organization freak. I can't stand it when it's messy around me.
- I have two younger brothers and a younger sister.
- I haven't blow dried my hair for three years.
- I'm learning Norwegian for university.
- I was repeatedly on holidays on five different german North Sea Islands and I loved it every time!

I'm learning so much from this thread!

I like to day dream. I can spend hours online searching for my dream apartment in NYC and Paris. I also love to read hotel reviews, and can waste a ton of time on TripAdvisor reading the reviews.

Cold gives me hives.

I was a mischievous little girl in first grade and sang a naughty song to my class about a cat peeing under a chair. I was so proud of myself, that I sang it through a second time before the teacher could stop me. I still remember all the words to this day. My teacher told my mom that they were all in hysterics afterward in the teachers' lounge.

Well, Kellygirl, Japanese and spanish do have a lot of similarites (at least, they are both pronounced consonant, vowel, consonant, vowel).

How interesting & fun!

- I love to play sudoku games, variation ones (jigsaw, samuri, etc.) are even better than the original!
- I have 3 children, all delivered naturally without epidural.
- I read all the Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie books, and watched all the Murder she wrote, Matlock.. but now totally not into those types of shows anymore because of too much gore & violence
- I hate snakes!

ETA: I have a strange aversion (not quite phobia) of pure white *manufactured* food, such as milk (real milk is not quite this white), white chocolate, mayo... yuck! Only exception may be white rice & bread... maybe because they don't look bleached white. Egg white is OK because it is naturally ocuring.

Hi, Steph!

I've driven for so many rescue coordinators, and Homeward Trails sounds familiar. Are they along the I-95 route?

I drive extensively for Critter Cavalry (Candace Giles), L.A.B.S. and All Breeds Rescue, and Joy McManus. These are along the I-81 route, which I much prefer. It's less congested and more scenic.

I really feel like I am centered and at peace when driving in the pre-dawn hours, watching the sun come up, the mists in the hollows, seeing the farms, the cows and horses, etc. Have a lot of time for reflection. I tell my husband it's my way of being with God - don't need a church or any intermediaries.

Stay safe out there!

This thread is fun! Some random stuff about me:

- Another phone-hater here. Although living interstate I am using it now more as a necessity.
-Also another oldest of 3. And also the boss (although that was easier when my brothers were smaller than me!)
- My most beloved pets ever have been goats (followed by chickens). I've never had a dog or a cat.
- Until last year my main mode of transport was my vespa. Now I also have a car and a bike. Already have plans to add another bike (or two!)
- Another non-blowdrier. In the last decade I have blow-dried my hair less than 10 times.
- Addicted to chilli flakes. I have purchased a 2nd container specifically for my lunch bag so I won't end up without it at work.
- Until last year I didn't eat red meat for over a decade. I've eaten at least McDonalds cheeseburgers last year. Oops!

Enough randomness!

I play piano for the choir every Sunday at my very small church but only had lessons 2nd grade through 6th, picked it up again at age 28, and don't own a piano. Needless to say, I bumble it up a bit as I don't practice at all between Sundays. But I'm willing to try just about any song requested. I'm the worst with Christmas music and am always very glad when the holidays are over so I can put that sheet music away for another 11 months. I get very nervous when we have visitors and am more likely to mess up. When I mess up, I play faster.

The summer before I started college, I mapped out exactly which classes I was going to take and when and stuck to it with very few exceptions, graduating a semester early. My degree is in accounting and I was top accounting graduate.

My husband and I married young ... ages 21/22. I put my husband through college (full time) to be a teacher because he was miserable in his job.

I waitressed at a Dari King (not DQ) for 4 years in high school/college and am a pro at making any ice cream treat you can imagine. I went from age 21 (when I quit the job) to age 28 without eating ice cream. Started back when I was pregnant with first child.

My lips swell up like Angelina Jolie's when I accidently touch them after touching the cat. I suspect the cat secretly lounges on my pillow while we're out of the house.

I'm a Spongebob addict (since having children) and have seen every single episode multiple times.

I hate hate hate going to the dr. Once put off going to the dr so long with sinus issues that my ear drum burst.

I want to go out for coffee with every single one of you!

I'm half English (on my mother's side.)

A million years ago, when I was an actor, I played "Mary" in a very special Christmas episode of "Highway To Heaven." After that, I was killed by an orangutan in an episode of "Probe." My life has been pretty boring ever since!

Fun thread, Maya!

I decided to share two things about myself that no one here knows.

1). I'm a total sucker for ridiculous adventure movies if they have anything even vaguely archaeological or pyramid-y in them.

and 2). Hah, Jean, I can totally relate to that note! At the end of third grade when "awards" were being given out and other kids received things like "Most likely to get a 4.0," I received the "Sweet but stubborn" award. Not a lot has changed since then.

It's so nice learning funny little things about everyone.

alaskagirl, I do research on these: http://www.google.com/images?u.....8;gs_rfai=

(hence having a phobia of clusters of holes wouldn't be good)

ETA- I forgot I also have had turtles, frogs and a pet eel

o I live in Austin but am originally from the Seattle area, although I've lived and traveled many places (been to over 40 of the States) because my step dad worked for the Dept of Defense
o I have four cats, all rescued
o I love working out at my Crossfit gym. I feel so incredibly powerful and strong when I can squat 115+ pounds. Strong is beautiful.
o I attended college with a piano major, but dropped out after my Associates because I lost my love of playing.
o I love football. I don't care who's playing, I want to watch. I watch more than my husband does!
o I am scared of driving (two accidents this year) and fire (my two sisters and I were staying in a hotel that had such poor wiring that the room caught on fire when we plugged in the alarm clock)
o I'm the middle of three girls and our height is opposite our age. My mom was a single mom for many of my formative years.

Astrid, please come to my house and help me to organize it when you are enroute to Norway :). Will go and put out spare towels now, anything else you need ?

Thanks for starting this most interesting thread! I love reading about each of you.

Let's see...
I, too, am the oldest of three kids (younger sister and brother).
I met my husband when we were both in high school (not the same high school) while driving down the road.
All of my current pets (1 dog, 3 cats) were found by me on the sides of roads.
I have a 3 legged dog.
I used to write poetry in school and won an award for it.
I have a fear of walking over the drains/grates in sidewalks. You should see me dodge those things while visiting NYC!
I ran a half marathon.
I love to travel and desprately want to go to the British Isles. No sitter for the kids.
I used to work as a speech-language pathologist.
I adore reading books. Love to buy new books and antique books.
I am not athletic. I once tripped over first base while playing softball and twisted my ankle.
I can imitate Donald Duck.

I too love mysteries.....my top read....once I find a mystery series...I have to go and find every book in the series. I am a keen bookcrosser (leave my read books in public places for others to find) and up until a month ago used to go to meetups to meet other bookcrossers (just moved house so live in a new city) I never watch TV
I studied Japanese at university and visited Japan 5 times ....I only paid for one trip! The others were for work.
I am an urbanite! give me a city any day...hate camping, hiking etc My father used to take us to camp in tents and hike in the mountains. Now my limit is a YHA in a city. I adore cities but have just moved into a small town (city is only 40mins away though) to be close to family and so my son can go to school near my mum's house.

I'm very new here, but I'll play along!

- In 2010, I took a two-month solo road trip across the USA. Hooked a tiny teardrop trailer to the back of my Toyota Prius and hit the road, camping, hiking, and photographing along the way. It was one of the best things I've done in my life!

- I used to be a radio disc jockey. Started in college and kept it up as a part-time thing until about 10 years ago. Always for independent/alternative radio stations where we got to choose our own music. It was a blast and I still miss it sometimes.

-I've never been very good at sports, but I love to swim, hike, bike, and do yoga. I just need to do more of it!

I was a bit of a wild child (back in the 70's) so quit school and moved away from home at age 15.

I have since homeschooled all my children from elementary school age through high school...(2 are currently attending college so I must have done something right...LOL)

I own 4 dogs, as if 3 kids wasn't enough!

I kill most houseplants. Nobody gives them to me anymore...

I dislike gardening. (See above)

I love steel cut oatmeal. I eat it every morning for breakfast.

I can't sing.

I can't dance.

But I still do both with my daycare kids every day!

I was an extra (with my kids, see homeschooling above) in a movie once. I have the DVD.

I am an eternal optimist, and I love organization stuff!

And I too would love to have coffee with all of you interesting ladies!