Thought I would introduce myself by giving 25 random things about me.
1. I really, really do not exercise (I have never been in a gym), but I love water and I swim 40 laps twice a week. I consequently have a serious tan. (I have lots of moles and visit a dermatologist regularly.)
2. I LOVE my job, but hate the fact that I have to be there at 8 EVERY morning and stay till late. I drop my kids at school on the way to work, it takes more than half an hour to make two stops and walk to class. I do not make it to work at 8 in the morning.
3. I get excited about food. I love dark chocolate, the milky kind is just not as great. I love Lindt chocolate (even the milky kind). I love cheesecake. I love fresh, plump red cherries. I love nuts, especially macadamia. I love fruit and will sell my earthly possessions for a good smoothie. In fact I can fill this questionnaire with food related facts about me.
4. I am the mother of 2 boys, and actually think I would have sucked at having girls. I do not mind bugs and spiders and geckos. Great skill for the mother of boys.
5. I gave birth twice without any medical interventions or pain medication (breathing does not count). Both boys were water births in a birthing unit with a midwife and no doctor. People thought I was crazy, but everything was fine and it was a special experience for us. The midwife was passionate about breastfeeding and helped me in the beginning. I breastfed both boys for a year.
6. Comfortable shoes over pretty shoes any time. In fact comfortable clothes over pretty clothes every time as well.
7. I got a paddle ski for my birthday (That is what happen when you are the only woman in a house), and try and use it often. I snorkel and scuba dive in the ocean.
8. I met my husband in high school. We were friends in Grade 11, had the same mutual friends and went to the same places. I dated a much older guy (4 years, which is a lot when you are in school) and when I was heart broken after he dumped me, my husband provided a shoulder to cry on. We used to ride home together on our bicycles. We started dating in matric (last year of high school) and went to our matric dance together. We have been together ever since; studied at the same university and got married in our final year.
9. I do not do wear make up often enough, but I like to have bright red nails. If my nails are painted I refuse to do dishes. I have a great hubby who does the dishes often.
10. I was a perfect scholar. I did all my homework, studied for all my tests and learnt my work until I was sure I knew everything. I never broke rules at school. As a result I did very well. I was usually first in my class, had 7 As in matric. I was the best student in a first degree at my University. Years later, I fail to see how this was important or help me in any way (it did allow me to study for free and get every job I ever applied for). I hope this realisation makes me a balanced mother who does not insist on academic achievement from her children.
11. I feel like I spend my life trying to empty my inbox (e-mail) at work. I hate sending SMS’s (text messages). It takes too long. I would rather e-mail or phone. I love e-mail and send long mails to friends.
12. I love reading. I will read anything. I read more than one book at a time. My husband does not get this. I like books more than movies. My response when someone asks me whether I have seen a movie is to reply, “No, but I have read the book”.
13. I took 6220 photos in 2008. I keep and organise all photos, they are kept with dates and details of the events.
14. I got a degree at 35 years of age. I took my family with me to New York and became a full time student again. It was great studying again and I would not mind doing this for the rest of my life. I have 5 degrees, but not the one that really matters (PhD).
15. I believe in Christ. I go to church. I miss the amazing church we joined in New York.
16. My son has my maiden name as his first name. I thought it was incredibly cool before he was born. After he was born it was weird to call him that, and now I am used to it.
17. I always have a home improvement project (or 3) going on. I tile, I paint. I started gardening, and it is not all bad. I have an enormous garden and I do not like gardening.
18. I have traveled a bit. Been to Europe, North America, China, Africa. I have lived in Manhattan for a year. It was as cool as it sounds.19. I steal my children’s sweets (and they know it). They would constantly tell me to look after their ice creams or sweets on a playground and then tell me not to eat it as they leave. I buy them sweets and then eat more of it than they do.
20. It makes my day when a teacher tells me they find my son adorable, a pleasure in class. This has happened 4 times. He has been called the most polite child a teacher ever taught. His computer teacher says she loves him and wants to take him home.
21. I am indecisive.
22. I live in the subtropics and winter means a light jersey plus sandals. I walk barefoot whenever I can, almost always at home, even if we have company.
23. I am the head of a unit at work. It sounds a lot more glamorous than it is. The unit consists of 5 people and they are great and basically manage themselves. I can however tell my boys I am a boss at work.
24. I do not need much to be happy. I am not really materialistic. In fact I sometimes think I should be buying more things, like clothes (I sometimes wear old rags), furniture (my house could look a lot better), etc.
25. The beach makes me happy. It makes me happy to spend a weekend morning on the beach before I tackle another week.