everything you ever need to know about me (and more)

I read this post on The Anderson Crew and this post on Words of Williams the other day. I love posts like this from bloggers and it got me thinking what I would want you to know about me.

* I hate black coffee, wine and beer (even though all five members of my immediate family do). *

* I drink a cup of Red Rose tea every morning with milk and sugar. According to my English MIL and her mom and auntie, it's the best English Breakfast tea. I agree. *

*My favorite drink is chai lattes, though. Pacific Chai is the best brand (Wal Mart). If I get one at Starbucks, I ask for a 1/2 pump white mocha in it. *

* I am a serious bookworm. I am always reading a book and start another one the same day I finish one. I feel like I'm missing a limb if I don't have a book going. I usually only read a little bit at night before I fall asleep (or a lot bit, if it's a particularly good one). But I also cannot sit down at the table to eat when I'm by myself (or...TMI...sit down on the potty for business that takes more than 10 seconds) without something to read. I can't do it. * 

* I feel instantly connected to someone if they're a big reader, like me. *

* I love grammar and spelling and still beat myself up for losing a spelling bee in 8th grade with the word poisonous. So dumb. I get a little spark of pleasure when I find an error in any published material. * 

* I broke my leg in 7th grade skiing and wore a cast for 5 months. It was the worst pain I've experienced, far beyond childbirth. I broke my foot in 11th grade and didn't think for a second I'd actually broken it. I didn't even call my mom until a few hours later when it swelled up about three times the size and was turning strange colors. Not all broken bones are equal. * 

* I'm an adrenaline junkie and there's not much I won't do (besides snow skiing. I haven't been since and I'll never go again). I think scuba diving is the coolest thing in the world. Hang-gliding is at the very top of my bucket list * 

* I'd love to get my pilot's license someday. *

* I love removing the lint from the dryer trap and peeling hard boiled eggs. *

* I love filling out forms. * 

* I eat my food in a specific order and I don't like it to touch. * 

* I hate getting my hands wet or messy. Jon makes fun of me if I get something on one of my fingers, I just wash that finger. *

* I lived in four different states and one province by the time I was 15. I've lived in Iowa for about 15 years but still wouldn't consider myself an Iowan. *

* I don't want to move our kids around. * 

* When we moved from Georgia to Canada in 2nd grade, my mom asked me if I wanted to go by my middle name, Elisabeth, instead. I strongly considered it. *

* Most of the time I like having a different name. Its a good conversation starter. It makes it easy online to choose a user name. But whenever I'm at a restaurant or coffee shop where they ask for your name, I use a fake one. * 

* I hate dancing. I'm too self-conscious for it. * 

* I have a debilitating fear of moths and other large flying bugs. I would interrupt a funeral if there was one flying towards my head. * 

* I think I'm a good mom for wild boys. * 

* I am the opposite of a helicopter parent. I am a sniper parent, watching from a distance, waiting to pull the trigger. No, that's not quite right. Whatever the opposite of a hoverer is. I have had to call in security to find my runaway children no fewer than six times so far (Ok, one of those was my mother-in-law). My heart doesn't even beat fast until they've been gone for 10 minutes. If we were wildebeests or antelopes, they would have been eaten by lions a long time ago. Thank goodness we're not. Dawson had to wear a kid tracking device in our backyard last year because he would leave the yard every time and not answer when I'd yell for him. I had a newborn, so cut me some slack :) And we don't live on a busy road. I know, that doesn't make it any less ridiculous. *

* I'm not a worrier. (Duh...as if the previous information didn't tell you that loud and clear!) I let my boys climb high, run far, explore anything and I watch and wait when they get hurt. They have yet to have any stitches or broken bones. I've gotten really good at ignoring the judgmental looks of other helicopter moms watching my boys in shock as they jump off the roof of something or another. *

* I love adventure. My dad did a great job of instilling that into all four of us kids. His favorite saying is, "risks are for kids". He'd push us a little past our comfort zone until that became our comfort zone. I love going new places and trying new things and I want my boys to love it too. *

* I am an introvert to the nth degree. I love being alone. I've always only had one or two close friends at a time (which has been in constant rotation over the years due to moving around.) I force myself to be outgoing but am quite shy by nature. I hate calling people on the phone. I'll stay upstairs if a stranger (or distant acquaintance) comes to the door and Jon's around to answer it. Same thing if I see an acquaintance at the store. I'll go to great lengths to make sure they don't see me. I hate small talk and am terrible at it. * 

* Jon's an introvert too, but is extremely outgoing (and doesn't really comprehend my shyness in the least!). He just internalizes everything and gets drained when he has to talk too much. When we drive somewhere together, we're silent almost the whole time. I don't think there's anything wrong with that. We work well together. * 

 * I am a slob. My husband is a neatfreak. I only clean for him (and company). *

* But if you look in any closet, cupboard or drawer, they're relatively neat. I love to organize and used to refold my friends' sweaters in college. *

* I'm super slow and meticulous. (Like, crazy slow). It takes me forever when I clean because I have to do it so thoroughly. I'm also very easily distracted. This is why I never clean, and don't get very far when I do. * 

* I'm messy but I hate messes. I'm talking sticky, dirty, muddy, slimy messes. I hate when my kids get covered in food. I hate play-doh. I don't mind them playing in the mud if I'm prepared for it. But if they get in the mud wearing normal clothes, it drives me crazy. Seeing someone's 18 month old feeding themselves yogurt without a bib gives me anxiety. Ew. I can't handle it. *

* My love language is words of affirmation, followed closely by gifts. I love to show love in these ways. I love picking out gifts for people and I'm a big commenter on FB and blogs. It seems normal to me and I like to be encouraging because I know how much people's words mean to me. I could probably guess which of my friends also need words of affirmation based on who's comments I regularly get on here ;) *

* My husband's love language is sex and cookies (in that order) *

* After 10 years, he's getting a lot better at meeting my needs even though its a stretch for him! *

So what do I need to know about you? If you do a post like this, let me know in the comments!