I'm Special Because...

My brother tagged me. I'm supposed to write seven interesting facts about myself. If I didn't owe him my love of Ultimate Frisbee, Wheat Thins, and the Housemartins, I may have ignored the tag. Here are seven interesting things about me:

1. I have attended twelve different schools in three different countries and five different states. I am counting UW, even though I'm not the student. I'm also counting my stint at Cambridge University (England), where I lived for a summer before my senior year with 120 other Summer Discovery students. The other country I lived in was Japan, where I attended a fabulous Catholic school and took classes in flower arranging, needlework, Japanese caligraphy, and where I was on the junior high basketball team as one of the taller players. These experiences have taught me to be pretty adaptable.




2. I have an undisclosed love for the strategy computer game Civilization, which Rob has graciously supported through four versions of the game. My love for the game began in Tokyo, where it was offered in our school computer lab. My good friend and I used to go to school early just to play for a few minutes. Looking back, I loved it without even knowing how to make anything but militia men and Wonders of the World...


3. I taught special education seminary (New Testament course for 9th graders) while attending college. I taught at a local junior high and after completing an internship/course, it was a paid position (I only throw that out there because how many people can say they got paid to teach seminary?). Teaching special education (and the scriptures) provided some of the most rewarding and most difficult experiences of my life. Especially because the other teachers decided to start sending me their trouble students to be my "example" helpers during my seminary hour...

4. As much as I love playing the piano and singing in choirs, I have a ridiculous fear of leading music. I was asked to lead the young children's music time in church (Primary Chorister) six years ago and it was one of the hardest things I have ever done. If someone asks me to lead music at church, I have no problem turning them down and politely offering to play the piano instead.

5. When I was in elementary school, I was a money-making genious. Here are a few of my endeavors: teaching roller-skating lessons, charging dues from members of my sticker club, helping with children's birthday parties, starting a baby-sitting club, putting on plays, holding carnival's in my backyard, and selling popsicles. I was so smart that I would have my friends walk by my popsicle stand nonchalantly and pretend to buy a popsicle. I figured if people driving by noticed a sucessful popsicle stand, they'd stop too! When I moved back to Utah as a college student, I went to open a bank account - they informed me that I already had one that I had opened when I was 8 years old and it still had $86 in it!

6. I HAVE A CROW-PHOBIA!! When I was twelve, I was walking up the hill to school when a crow flew out of nowhere and clawed my scalp! It tried to do it again - this time I ducked. The third time, a brave passerby swung at it with her backpack. He made me bleed! (about 2 drops) To top it off, three years ago I was unloading groceries from our Subaru hatchback. I carried in the first load and went back for the second load. As I rounded the back of the vehicle, a crow FLEW OUT of my trunk!! He had broken into my bag of Costco rolls. Ahhhh!

7. I love market research!! When I was 18, I had a job hosting focus groups - my job was literally to play hostess - provide food, drinks, and money to the participants. I loved it and I hoped someday to be on the receiving end! I now belong to almost every market research internet panel and have been known to earn between $1 and $200 for surveys, focus groups, and usibility studies. I like earning money, but I also like sharing my opinion. I use my kids as research assets as well - Jacob has already participated in a hearing study! I'm always testing products - baby wipes, shampoo, cereal, etc. I guess this stems from #5.

*BONUS: I once was pulled over for harassing this very alligator (with various unnamed family members). All we wanted was a decent picture!

I'm tagging the following 7 people: Brandy V, Ashlee C, Denise B, Amber H, Claire R, Stephanie D, and Cami P