12 and a half

Wow, it has been quite a while since I posted.... guess there hasn't been any real exciting things to post about so I just haven't. Nothing really exciting right now either but in attempt to keep writing I shall become a small white fluffy mammal and post some rather boring and perhaps vaguely interesting things about me for your perusal. Enjoy these 12 and a half facts about me.

1. I would consider myself a beer connoisseur. But the fact that I had to use the spell check to spell connoisseur makes me doubt this fact already. I am currently trying to track down some of the great beers of the world according to Beer Advocate and have had 2 of the Top 100 (which were both downright delicious!) So if you're going to the States and aren't coming back with your allotted amount of alcohol - stop reading this and email me! I'm also tasting some great local brews, so anyone in Victoria should stop by and sample some with me (Yes, I'm thinking of you Bing - I already told Andy to get himself over here too).

2. The Calgary Flames are the greatest sports team in the world. I cannot lie. I vaguely remember watching them win the Stanley Cup in 1989 ( I was six) and I mark this date as the beginning of my love affair with them.

3. While I do not yet consider myself a true globe trotter, someday I hope to be. There are so many places on my to-see list and hopefully as we live abroad I can actually see some of them.

4. In a similar vein, I have a fascination with maps. A large world map hangs in my office. I often just sit and study it. I can name all 53 African countries. I have tried to sit down and name all the countries of the world but I think I could only get around 115 of them. Some day.

5. I have a Bachelor's Degree in English Literature. Who chooses to study literature? Seriously, what was I thinking? If I could have a do-over I would do my degree in History or Sociology or something that translated into a real-life Masters a little easier.

6. I am an avid reader. I also read very fast. These two facts mean I often read in the range of 50-80 books a year, many of them fairly dense history or theory books.

7. I spend way too much online. Most of the time, I really am just wasting time. Reading about beer. Checking the hockey scores. Browsing Facebook. How did people learn before the internet?

8. I like the idea of being a life-long learner. I don't like the idea that life-long learners don't really make too much money.

9. I love and hate conversation. I find small talk generally distasteful. I also find discussions with close-minded people equally un-fun. But few things are finer than conversations with open-minded, interesting individuals. Or chewing the fat with friends. Over coffee or a beer. Ahhh, sweet delights.

10. I enjoy playing games. Card games, board games, sports, fantasy sports, whatever. You get to be social and let out positive competitiveness, while being strategic and devious. And let's not forget the joys of smack talk.

11. I love listening to music. I like it a lot. If there was one thing I could change about me it would be to give me a silky smooth voice and limitless natural musical talent so I could just make my own music to listen to.

12. There is something about Africa that calls to me and yet, due to my skin color, where I was born, etc... I will always be an outsider. Sometimes I just wish I was African.

12 1/2. I enjoy cooking new, interesting, fancy things. Part of the joy is in the creation, the other part is in the good eating. Nolana likes it that I enjoy cooking (see, only half about me!)


Well, I hope that you enjoyed the wasted minutes spent reading this!