I always enjoy being nominated for writing-related things. Opening those types of emails and messages always seems to tickle me and bring about a smile. Earlier this week I opened my email to find a fresh nomination. Things around the Mirandaverse have been a bit chaotic. I’ve got a list a mile long of things I need to get done or people I need to call back. Of pieces, I want to write, or grading I need to accomplish. At the end of every day though, I just want to fall into bed and not brain for a while. Right now becomes tomorrow and I get just a little more behind. But I’m going to do this for me and you dear reader. I’ve been wanting to write something for a while and this is an easy step in that direction.

The Rules

1. Share 7 facts about yourself that aren’t super present in your blog. (I can totally do this bit)

2. Tag 7 bloggers you adore. (While as a rule, I don’t tag people in these kinds of things, I invite anyone to share something about themselves with me in the comments!)

3. Shout out back to me, so I can read and get to know everyone more too. (Duh! I want to read your stuff too).

 

The Facts

1. I love Catana Comics.

I stumbled upon Catana Comics a couple of years ago. It was love at first sight. Until my current relationship, however, I could never quite relate, just adore from a distance. I relate hard now and love it about a hundredfold more. It might just be my favorite thing all day when a new one comes out. They warm my insides and make my heart smile.

2. I’ve driven hours out of my way just for coffee.

I love good coffee. I mean, I love coffee period. But I LOVE LOVE LOVE good coffee. The best coffee I’ve ever had is roasted in a small town in Oregon called, Hood River. I have driven out of my way…like hours out of my way for Kickstand Coffee. It’s served in many of the local restaurants in Hood River (how I stumbled upon it) and can be purchased at their cafe in town. I know this straight-up sounds like propaganda. That’s how obsessed I am with their coffee. I have half a bag of decaf in my freezer… It’s decaf which is the only reason it’s still around. I only drink decaf in the evenings and I usually prefer tea at that point. I’ve been thinking about their coffee a lot recently. Like so much so that I’ve been mulling over how to plan a weekend trip. One day down, stay the night…drink all the coffee… drive back the next day.

For realz.

3. Once upon a time, I used to be an artist.

From an early age, I had a pencil to paper and was always sketching things. The older I got, the more I’d play with different mediums: charcoal, oils, acrylics, ink, and pastels. I’d mix mediums and come up with some crazy things. Sometimes I even rather liked what I painted. As a woman who hasn’t really picked up a brush in years, it’s a bit odd to have stacks and stacks of the canvas, art supplies, and paper without much to do with them. I still appreciate art a lot. I love, with no end, when someone creates art for me. I have a whole wall of student art in my classroom. I have a wall at home of framed pieces that have been given to me. Might seem a bit conceded (I’m going to argue it’s not), but there are five drawings/paintings of me done by various people, that I have hung in my home. There was one point in time when I would spend all year coming up with a painting for each of the people I loved as a gift. I kind of miss it, but also, I know I have to prioritize my time and energy. I’d like to be at a point in my life again, where I could actively set time aside for painting. I’m fascinated with digital art. I own a drawing monitor and some software. It’s all been about time and priorities, however. Someday, I think it would be fun to make time for more artistic ventures in my life again.

4. My three love languages.

I’m fascinated by this idea of love languages. I read the book and took the test and was a bit surprised by the answer. At first, it didn’t make sense to me… but after some reflection, it all clicked. My first love language is Touch. Instinctually I would say I’m not a touchy-feely person. I don’t like to touch strangers and I don’t even want to touch most of the people I know. It bothers me. *ding* *ding* *ding* Why does it bother me, you might ask… because it’s one of my love languages. I show affection and love through touch. So when I don’t like someone or I don’t feel affection for them, I don’t want to touch or be touched by them, it completely weirds me out. And when I think about it now, it all makes sense.

My second love language is gifts. I love to write letters to people, and it’s generally my gift of choice. I can say the things I want to say to someone and I can do so with flair and without interruption. I can give the gift of appreciation. I’m a gift-giver in general and I love it when someone thinks of me in small ways. I don’t need huge over the top gifts, but small things will make me smile for a week. It’s more that someone was thinking of me, than the actual item itself.

My last love language is acts of service. I actually believe that it’s tied for second place, and the first only received one point above second and third. Acts of service go forever with me. It’s showing me you care through your actions. I see these things reflected in myself. For those I love and care about, I’ll do whatever I can to help someone. Doing someone’s dishes, helping them clean or organize something, whatever it is that makes things just a little bit easier on someone else – to show I care. I often don’t even think about it. Second nature. In the same breath, someone who thinks about my allergies when they make a meal for me, who opens the door for me, who helps me with a project, acts as my sounding board, you name it…. acts of service show me you care.

5. I love old movies.

Not just old movies, but like OLD black and white movies with names no one has heard of. Movies that are probably horrible but there is still something lovely about them. I love old movies. Good, bad, and especially the kind with monsters. Think MST only without the commentary. I’m actually quite thrilled to get some of my movies out of storage for this reason alone. I look forward to watching some old favorites again soon.

6. The house I grew up in burned down a few years ago.

Maybe this doesn’t quite qualify but it’s one of those things I think about. Someday I want to own my own home. I want to make memories that will last generations. If I decide to have kids one day, I want to write their heights on a wall. I want to write their children’s height on the same wall. I want to fill my home with laughter and photographs. I want every scuff to tell a story.

There is something about the fact that my childhood home is gone which bothers me. I don’t want to be there. It’s not even that my parents sold it. It’s that I can never go back to it. It’s gone. I guess, I really love this idea of something I never had. And I think I’ve wanted it a little more every day that passes since my own childhood home burned down.

7. There is someone in my life who I adore to three divided by zero.

I’m head over dumb for someone. He’s basically the smartest man I know, and while I’d appreciate you not telling him, but he’s the funniest too. He makes me laugh until my sides physically hurt. No fooling. I get to be authentically me with him and I don’t know that that’s ever happened before. He’s patient with me when I need time and he’s open and honest which earns my respect. I’m enjoying where we are. Seeing a future with him is as easy as breathing.

Alright, there’s my 7!

Tell me 7 things about yourself in the comments! Or tag me in your own blog, I’d love to read all about you.