For Michelle

My friend Michelle recently asked me to share 6 interesting things about myself. So here it goes ...

My memory is my super power. I have always had an uncanny ability to quote back what people say to me. For example, the other day Nate was talking about our cat and how she is really interested in trees but has never climbed one, and I said that I thought she had climbed a tree. Nate disagreed. Then I said, “I thought that you told me about an eventful evening when Zephyr ran down the hill and then climbed a tree.” Nate replied, “oh yeah, how did you remember that when you weren’t even there?”

And speaking of super powers, I decided ten years ago that if I could have one real super power I would like to be able to travel anywhere in the blink of an eye. Think how many places I could go and how much time and money I would save! It would be best if my super power worked in a way that allowed me to take someone with me.

I am addicted to books on tape, and, luckily, we have an awesome public library system which keeps my needs supplied nicely. I actually look forward to my 45 minute commute to school because while I’m driving I’m also doing what I like best – reading. Thanks to Nate for giving me an IPod. I don’t think he had any idea how much it would be used.

I love the Disney show Even Stevens. I got really into this TV show when I was in college and they were still making new episodes. I had a roommate who liked Even Stevens too and that helped me to embrace my love of the show. I started recording all the episodes. I got all my roommates (and Nate too – even before we got married) converted to Even Stevens. Then this past year Even Stevens was on WGN, so I rerecorded them on DVD and now I own every single episode. The really weird thing about Even Stevens is this: Even Stevens is about a family named Stevens that lives in Sacramento, and I ended up marrying a Stephens from Sacramento. Coincidence?

I am a big nerd, and I find nerdy things really amusing. For example, when we were in college, my roommate, Nicole, and I decided to celebrate Copernicus’ birthday. We made a sign that said “Happy Birthday Copernicus! Hoorah for the heliocentric model!” And we included a drawing of the solar system and hung it on our front door. We, of course, thought this was hilarious, but it was actually kind of sad how many people didn’t think it was funny because they didn’t know who Copernicus was.

I own a 1986 Volkswagen Golf with unknown mileage. (The odometer was broken when I got it.) The car has personality and is a really trooper. Despite its old age it still runs like a dream – it’s kind of like the Energizer Bunny. We think the Golf wants to be immortal.

Honestly, I think this pretty much sums me up.

The Dallas Zoo

Nate and I went to the Dallas Zoo with Jen, Savannah, and Will. Our favorite part was the children's zoo. That's where Savannah showed us one of her favorite games.


She was pretty intense about it.


Nate and I loved the bird exhibit. We got to feed all of the beautiful birds pictured below. Some of the birds ate worms and some ate seeds. Some of them were rather pushy about being feed.



This bird is a Golden-breasted Starling from Africa. He's a much more colorful than the North American variety. Unfortunately, I don't remember the names of any of the other birds, but I'm pretty sure they came from exotic locations like the South Pacific and Australia.

Before we left the zoo Savannah had to take a ride on the Carousel. She chose to ride the Triceratops even though we didn't see any dinosaurs at the zoo.