Tuesday, June 24, 2008

You Ask, I Answer: The Many Sides of Me

I'm constantly tagged and nudged by folks for little blog games like, "Tell Us 7 Things About Yourself", etc. I played along once, but as a rule I generally ignore them. Not to be rude, I just don't have time.

But I continue to get comments and emails from folks who read my blog often... questions asking who I am, what I do, if I like this or if I've been there. Some questions are about my house, my background, and once, even what I do with my leftovers.

So let's do this: I'll summarize myself here and you'll see that, really, you're probably better off not asking. [laugh]

About me:

I have a dry, sarcastic, and self-deprecating sense of humor. But I love to laugh and find most things hilarious.

I quilt and knit and hate to exercise. I also just bought a kayak. Go figure.

I try to be in bed by 10 PM but I write best late, late at night.

I am constantly fluctuating between a low carb diet and a low fat/high carb diet. Don't figure.

I want a simple job... like baking cookies... but right now I'm determining "working interest" in a federal CO2 unit for an oil company. Beats me.

I love shopping for frilly skirts and love sundresses. But most days I wear jeans.

I recycle everything I can get my hands on, compost, and always look for ways to save energy. But I drive a Jeep SUV.

Over the weekend I watched CNN's full-length documentary We Were Warned: Out of Gas three times before composing an essay from the industry's point of view. Last night I watched the Bachelorette and bawled my eyes when she let Graham go. (The Moen ad guy? Is she crazy?)

I'm a serious homebody and would prefer to stay in any night over going out. But I travel over six months out of the year. Go figure.

At home, I teach Sunday School and adore my church. Yet churchy people creep me out.

I hate drinking water. I drink 75 oz. of water every day.

Dealing with money is my #1 Top Hated Thing, but I'm constantly buying stocks and moving money around. Much to the chagrin of the guy I pay to do those things.

The only pie I'll eat is chocolate. But I don't like meringue and don't eat the chocolate part, either.

I love eating out, but I travel with a crock pot, a hot plate, and a toaster oven so I never have to. (Huh?)

The idea of being tied down scares me. At 25, I bought a home.

As a lover of fine cuisine, I dream of pancetta-crusted pork tenderloin with a rosemary/shiraz reduction. My wish for my final meal? Taco Bell bean burritos with Fire sauce. (See comments for what I want inscribed on my tombstone someday.)

I listen to Christmas music all year. By December I'm tired of it and listen to Coldplay or something.

I love snow and mountains and cold weather. I live in Texas.

My favorite movies (right now) are Pride and Prejudice (with Keira Knightley) and Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Favorite TV shows are History Channel documentaries and Pushing Daisies. (What?)

And last, but not least, I tell myself every day that I'm going to hit "delete" on this blog and happily walk away. And here I am, telling you even more about myself. :)

Okay. So there's me. (And before anyone asks, I told the lady who asked about my leftovers that I eat them or compost them. And yes, I find this terribly funny and am laughing even now.)

Oh. And I'm convinced I'm sacrificing my retirement by giving too much money away. We draw for magazine subscriptions tomorrow. (!) See you then. -Brin

24 comments:

Anonymous said...

LOL, I see a lot of me in this post. You work in the oil indsutry? I do too, at Stanford in the Petroleum Engineerign dept. Anyway, I just discovere dyour blog and really enjoy it!! I'm curious about the house fixing upping and look forward to reading back posts about that.

Anonymous said...

Noooo! Don't push the delete button! You'd be missed.

Anonymous said...

the more i learn about you the more i like you and i like that!!! my onlyquestion is what part of the chocolate pie do you eat?! take care out there and come home safe!! :'} connie

Sue said...

DON'T HIT DELETE! You brighten too many people's days to do that. You put into words what so many of us think and feel- and you do it so eloquently. (And I am old enough to be your mother!)
Sue

ancient one said...

I'm guessing you eat the crust of the pie.. oh my.. I want all the chocolate pie I can get...LOL

I love the many sides of you... please don't ever, ever, hit the delete button....

Anonymous said...

But you didn't answer the really pressing questions. Like which do you prefer - Wal Mart or Target ;-) Or what brand of white cotton socks do you wear? What about - which side of the car is your gas tank on and did that affect the decision on which SUV to buy? Oh, the list goes on and on! Get to the real meat of the matter, please! (hearts - your favorite nameless secret agent)

Anonymous said...

Hi Brin,
Don't ever hit the delete button! I love reading your blog on a daily basis, and love all your recipes. I do believe your the next "martha Stuart!"
How's Millie doing? When do you get back to the Freeman House?
Pam :)

Harbor Hon said...

Darling Brin, please don't hit the delte button. We enjoy your words, your generous heart, and your pictures that take us to new and interesting places. You would be sorely missed believe me.

And, on a selfish note, I'm still waiting (nudge,nudge) for the recipe you said you'd share with me.
Carolyn A. xxoo

Brin said...

Dear "Nameless Secret Agent",

A: Target, of course. (I boycot Walmart for reasons we won't get into here.)

I only wear Tommy Hilfiger socks because they last FOREVER and you get 3 for $12. I also bought my Dad and all my brothers those socks for Christmas. Yea Tommy!

My gas tank is on the passenger's side but no, that didn't have anything to do with my decision to buy a Jeep. It was all about having volume/radio controls ON the steering wheel, baby! ;)

And yes, I adore you and your friendship. (And by the way, did you see on that preview for "WipeOut" the other night... that hilarious black lady trying to do the obstacle course? She fell off into the mud and, while lying face-down in it, said: "I knew I shouldn'ta had that burrito." Omgosh. Still laughing. Please, please make sure you're there to put that on my tombstone.)

Your Cheesecake Factory Sister,
b

PS - Millie says tell Hannah 'hello'.

Brin said...

Oh. And tell your friends at the CIA that I said to stop leaving creepy love comments on my blog. They's ain't funny.

Anonymous said...

And this is why I said I adore you and your blog, Brin. I am so very sorry about my comment last night. Wish you would have just deleted my comment instead of your whole post. Truly, I have nothing but respect for you. Cathleen

Randi~Dukes and Duchesses said...

You seem to push yourself and love a good challenge. Please don't hit delete ... I don't think I'm the only one living vicariously through you! :)

Sissy said...

I love a woman with contradictions! It gives you mystery, and makes you more interesting. I will certainly say, and I am sure that other commenters say, that we envy your life. You may own a home, but you aren't tied down. You travel. You work, but it seems flexible. You cook and eat, but are skinny. You hurt, but you make us laugh. See? Contradictions. And aspects of your life that are so different from what I have here in my town, with my job, and my husband and my last trip was to Florida for a wedding.

I am glad you post. I am glad one of us is out there living! I am happy to keep reading as long as you keep writing. And when you build that women's retreat, I am booking a nice long weekend.

nanatrish said...

Yes, I love reading your blog and I love all the contradictions. You are a real person that seems to love adventure. I love it that you take some risks and love life. I went too many years not taking chances. Life is too short. Brin, please don't hit the delete. I look forward to your posts.

Anonymous said...

One other contridiction I have noticed about you... you spent most of your college years trying to get rid of the annoying girl who lived next door, and now.... she considers you one of her bestest friends.. Thanks for the sweet card today, you made my day!
Love you!!!

Anonymous said...

Did you hear the collective loud gasp when you mentioned hitting the delete button? I hope we can give you as much pleasure as you give us.
Love your blog.
Jane

Kristie @ Comfy Cozy said...

All the things you mention are what make you who you are. I love your blog and look forward to your next adventure, recipe, book recommendation or anything else that's currently going on in your world. Please don't ever push the delete button!!

Kathi~Lavender, Lace and Thyme said...

Brin...I'm sure if you could see right through your computer screen you'd see many, many smiling faces as we read over each tidbit about yourself...many of which we all share! LOL....I would eat the whole chocolate pie, after all, there are starving people all over the world so I wouldn't want to waste one bite! :)

Jenny said...

Great post! And whatever you do, do not hit the delete button for this blog! There's way to much to enjoy here and we would all surely miss you and wonder what you were doing if you did.

One more pressing question: Toilet paper over or under?

Anonymous said...

Yes, I think you sum it up for us all- the heart of a woman is full of contradictions. Yet we are fearsome creatures, are we not? (quoting Kiera on P & P). I think we all know that about ourselves and LOVE seeing it in you.

We must be on the same wavelength. I watched Deanna dump Graham the other night too, and was bitterly diappointed. (and I never watch these kinda' shows!) So, lastnight I went from the ridiculous to the sublime- I watched Becoming Jane for the 5th time. (James McAvoy-big sigh).

Amy said...

I'm so torn between versions of P&P. I love Colin Firth's Mr. Darcy, but Matthew MacFayden is a hunk!

Unknown said...

Oh Brin, PLEASE don't hit the delete button, your our Gilmore Girl, Martha, Rachel and Oprah all in one sweet package! Your Monday Moments mean alot to me, as does all your writing and wisdom!

Vee said...

Now that was great fun to read and I thank you for indulging all those who have prodded you. I, of course, would never do that. I wouldn't! Would I?

sparkled*life said...

You sound like me it all doesn't make sense yet in some weird way it all does....I am the same with chocolate pie! I enjoy coming by and seeing what you have going! Doing wonderful as always!