In case you're wondering

My friend Lauren tagged me a while back with this post, and today I decided to give it a try. I don't know how interesting this will be for you, but I was surprised by how fun (and challenging) it was for me to fill out. I know the point of being tagged is to tag others and pass it on, but really? You're welcome to use the questions if you'd like, otherwise, no pressure.

What is your current obsession?
DIY ("Do it yourself") home projects, using money wisely, making an effort to stop eating when I'm full, accuracy in telling stories, nice dishes and linens, and flossing and brushing my teeth.

What's for dinner?
Tonight we were running low on creativity and high on feelings of imminent starvation: Rice, and a stir fry of our pathetic selection of on-hand fresh veggies.

What's the last thing you bought?
A 23" LCD computer monitor WD-40 triple sow-cow ACDC double scoop. Or something like that. There were a lot of highly impressive numbers involved.

What are you listening to right now?
The crickets outside.

What is your favorite ice-cream flavor?
Usually something with texture and chocolate, like Moosetracks, but my real eternal love on extravagant days is Haagen Daz vanilla swiss almond.

What do you think of the person who tagged you?
Lauren is just... solid. Solid in her faith, in her loyalty to her friends, and solid in keeping calm and carrying on.

If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you like it to be?
Sorocaba, Brazil, or maybe Kailua, Hawaii, to give to our parents. That would really be something. Because we're still young and transient, Marcos jokes that he wonders if Obama's $8,000 stimulus for first-time home buyers would go towards a Goodyear Blimp, because that's about how much I want to be tied down to one place...

If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?
Probably Chiba-ken, Japan. There is a family there I would like to visit. Or maybe Hilo, Hawaii to play gin rummy with my grandpa. He has days when he's not doing well.

Which language do you want to learn?
Probably Portuguese, the world's prettiest language (and for the record, I felt that way before I married a Brazilian). I can fake it fairly well now, but I'd love to be more fluent, specifically to the point where I can formulate a sentence quick enough to add to a group conversation.

What's your favorite quote (for now)?
Well... I just started making this new funny little scary laugh when I'm wrestling with Marcos, and every time it happens I stop and say, "My favorite laugh of the week!", so that might be my recent favorite quote even though I'm the one who says it. Don't judge.

What is your favorite store to shop at?
The Salvation Army thrift store on Hillsborough St. in Durham. I kid you not, that place is magical. You walk in and just wish for something, and you turn around and there it is. More often than not, the magical item is priced at 29 cents.

What is your favorite piece of clothing in your own wardrobe?
I like the shirt I just made at my sewing class, simply because I made it. Otherwise, no personal attachments.

What is your dream job?
Conducting a large orchestra. Teaching parenting in group settings. Writing for Lonely Planet or some other travel book. Training refugees for job readiness in America. Something like that...

If you could go anywhere on a long vacation, where would you go?
Spain. I sometimes forget about this dream, but I've always wanted to live in Spain for about six months at some point in my life solely to learn how to play flamenco guitar and learn to dance the Paso Doble (anyone seen "Strictly Ballroom"? Anyone?).

If you had $100 now, what would you spend it on?
I would either save it to spend on a train ticket (we're heading to Europe in September), or use it towards the IKEA bed I've been loving for months.

Who is one historical figure you would love to meet?
I'm at a loss here (I asked Marcos and he answered "Madonna?". Hm.). But someone I would really enjoy talking to is Auguste Rodin ("Ro-dan"). He created the mold for the statue called "Le Penseur" ("The Thinker"), and I love the style of his sculpture. He just has it going with human figures...

What are you going to do after this?
Go to bed. Pray. Snuggle.

What are your favorite movies?
The Bourne movies, The Holiday, the Oceans movies, Ratatouille, Sliding Doors, Cinderella Man, The Devil Wears Prada, The Count of Monte Cristo, Dan in Real Life.

What's your favorite fruit?
Mangoes are always a winner, and other tropicals like passion fruit and lychee. I dig watermelon too, but especially if it is prepared with a melon baller. That really sells me on melons.

Are you a home body or do you prefer to be out?
No preference either way. In any case, I am astonished at how social we are. More often than not we are with friends in the evenings, although usually our activities are pretty chill.

Polka Dots or checks?
Stripes.

What are 3 jobs you've had in your life?
Working as a precinct official at the local voting center when I was very young, Family Support Specialist in Durham, and I was once paid to paint faces at a kid's birthday party.