Let's have a go

Crystal tagged me, but her blog is private, so you can't read what she said about herself. But here are seven facts about me that you might not know...

1) I need to go to grad school eventually. I want to wait for a while--like until Andrew's all done with his schooling because we don't want to be paying for two degrees at the same time; we also want to wait until our children are in school so that I can spend my days with them while they're at home still. But I really am an intellectual. I read Andrew's textbooks (not the boring ones though...just the interesting ones) and his papers and I do research sometimes just for kicks. When I was in school, I read every single one of my textbooks cover to cover, sometimes multiple times. And I kept my favorite ones--mostly just linguistics and psychology ones.

2) There are a few words that I always mispronounce so I say them very slowly so that I can say them correctly and then it sounds just as funny as if I had said them incorrectly. Like foliage. I always say that foil-age. You'd be surprised at how often I use this word. Actually, I just metathesize a lot of things. Oh, and I just learned last Saturday that 'door jamb' is spelled with a silent b. Only 36% of the web sites on Google spell it correctly, so I don't feel too bad.

3) I love music, but I'm a terrible musician. I never really excelled at piano and I am still struggling to teach myself viola. One of my goals in this life is to be to play through the hymn book on the piano, but since I can't even play the simplified hymns yet this may take a while to accomplish. I don't really understand why I can't play--I can read music, I can play each hand separately--I guess I just never was able to put my left and right hands together. I can sing though.

4) I have toe thumbs. My thumbs look like my big toes. You've heard of being "all thumbs." Try being "all toes." No wonder I can't play the piano. I struggle with strings, too, because my thumbs don't bend the way most people's do, apparently. My thumbs are awkward a lot of the time. Gloves fit me awkwardly and I can't wear a thimble on my thumb. I can't get fake nails. I struggle with little buttons. They can be great sometimes, too. They work perfectly for covering up the top of a soy sauce bottle. I always get the perfect amount on my rice.

5) The first time I ever slept alone, for more than just a few nights, was when I moved to Russia. I slept in my parents' bed until I was five. Then I slept with either of my sisters, or my brothers. And then after Josie was born, she slept in my bed until I left for Russia. I may have spent a few months having a room and bed of my own, but I never really liked it. Now we have three in our bed, which can get a little squishy at times. Isn't it funny how much room such a little baby can take up? Rachel sleeps spread eagle.

6) I'm terrified to use nail clippers on Rachel, so I just bite her nails instead. I figure that once there is more difference between her skin and her nails, then I'll use the clippers. At least I am not afraid to clip my own nails!

7) I've always wanted to run a marathon. I haven't begun to train for one, but I figure one day I will. Andrew said that he will drive behind me. The farthest I've ever run was 10 kilometers. That was when I was nine years old and I won a metal. Shoot, a marathon is only 32 kilometers more than 10. Should be a piece of cake, right? Oh, and I also need to hike Mount Timpanogos. I've lived here for seven years and I've never hiked it.

Now, I tag Abra, Amanda, and Karen. And anyone else who'd like to participate, of course.