I am from "you aren't living up to your potential" and "Your sister was always so smart" that eventually turned into "I can't believe how well you handle it all" and me being amazed that anyone is asking me for advice.

I am from lighting the Advent wreath and fasting on Lenten Fridays, from never turning away from the people you love when they need help, and from a definition of "family" that expands beyond blood or marriage.

I'm from Scandinavian skin tones, Irish tempers and Hungarian stubborness; from beigli and chruschiki, and from devils food cookies at breakfast time.

I come from dirty looks from the Sodality ladies when the baby makes noise at a funeral (but the baby's Grandy didn't mind at all), from posting embarrassing family photos from the 70s on Facebook. From some family members who still send the cheesy Christmas letter, contrasted with the family members who artfully spoof it. I come from banding together to face teen pregnancies, multiple marriages and divorces, alcoholism, mental illness and gender confusion.

I come from falling asleep to "Stewball" and "Teen Angel" and "The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia." I come from living an hour away from cherry blossoms, but never visiting them. I come from vacations excursions to the water slide and bumper boats, from watching fireworks from the balcony because there is no way in hell we are fighting traffic on the Coastal Highway.

I come from a place where change always seems to come around to something familar.

(Meme stolen from Sweetney, who I think took it from Avitable, loosely based on the template here.) 

The fabulous Neil of Citizen of the Month has once again provided the platform for so many of us bloggers to both ask probing questions and to talk about ourselves.  Yes, it's time again for the Great Interview Experiment.  I interviewed Tatiana, whose blog you should go and read after the interview.

What is your favorite aspect of living in the DC area?  What is your least favorite? (I’m a lifelong MD resident, so DC was always sort of in my back yard).

Oh, tough! There are so many great things about DC. To be fair, I’m biased – I’m from the area but ended up coming back, so I have to love it… or I came back for grad school. No, I really do love it here. I can’t drive, so the Metro is a big plus. And I love all the different neighborhoods. Cities like New York are too big for me, so I like that DC is manageable.  Plus, for me, all the museums make it ideal.  (note from MamaKaren: I was so spoiled growing up in the DC area, and all its free museums.  the idea of paying for a museum when I travel just seems so wrong!)

It is hard to say this, moving from Boston, but DC is expensive, too. And people can be pretty snobby about politics. Just because I live in the capital doesn’t mean I understand the nuances of government… nor do I want to discuss them all day.

And I have problems with limits. Obviously.

If there were no cost barriers/scheduling issues/logistical problems, and you given the chance for a last minute trip, where would you go?  You don’t get time to plan stuff out ahead of time, just pack your bags and board the plane right now…

Oh, no question. Ireland. My mom’s family is Colombian and I’ve been there twice. My dad is Irish American and I think I still have cousins twice removed or something in Cork, but I’ve never been. Plus, one of my life goals is to make a man with an accent love me. Family history and make out with a ginger in a pub. Done!

What is your top choice for ‘dead before its time’ TV show?

Oh, lord, I LOVE TV. No joke, I watch it… a lot. Even though I just finished one degree, I’m thinking that I’ll eventually go back to school for a PhD in media and cultural studies. Because all I want to do is watch TV and movies and talk about them. So… I would have to say Pushing Daisies. Everything about that show was perfect – Chuck and the pie maker, Olive’s singing, the detective makes pop-up books! I know most people would say Arrested Development of Firefly, but since there are movies for those and sadly NOTHING for Pushing Daisies, I’ll stick with my original Jim Dale narrated slice of heaven.

What song would best summarize your personality or your life?

Party in the USA! Party in the USA! Haha, no, that’s just my favorite song right now. I do love upbeat pop, especially from the 70s. So, I’m going to say… Shake Your Groove Thing.

Do you have a grammar pet peeve?  If so, what is it?

I v. me! I VERSUS ME! My little sister always says “My friend and me did this” and it drives. Me. Up. The. Wall.

If you had unlimited funding, what kind of museum would you create?

My favorite museum is the National Geographic Museum here in DC. It is like the magazine come to life. Natural science, art, culture, and all exhibits rotating out on a short term basis. So basically, an ADD museum.

What do you consider your best physical attribute?  Your best emotional/personality attribute?

So many to pick from! Haha, obviously, my humbleness. My hair is pretty kickass, but so are my boobs. Personality wise, I think my sense of humor reigns supreme.

 

So, readers, please go visit Tatiana, and visit Neil, and read some of the other interviews.  I will be interviewed by LZ at My Messy Paradise (whose blog I am loving already, btw.)