Inspired by Dorothy and Litlove I thought I would share my answers to this meme as well. So here are five things that you might not know about me:
1. Let me get the biggie off my chest first. I don't own a car. I don't drive. I don't want to own a car or drive. Yes, I am an anomaly in this indepedent society that is America today. But there you have it. I actually like walking. I walk all the time, and then I walk some more on my treadmill at home. I take public transportation (with, as some have so lovingly described them...the unwashed masses), and yes, sometimes some of them are unwashed (I have lots of stories...). I wish the public transportation was better in Omaha, but it isn't. It isn't much of a priority here. I also wish there were more sidewalks in the newer parts of town. But that doesn't seem to be a priority either.
2. I was hit by a car while crossing the street a few years ago. I guess that is the risk you take being a pedestrian. It was in January, it was early and dark and I was going to work. And it was really, really cold and snowy. I am a good pedestrian, and I waited for the light to turn green and the little walking man to appear, and I set off on my way, and was...well...hit by a nasty, little minivan. Apparently the driver didn't feel like slowing down in the snow to stop for the red light until she saw me. Oops. There is nothing like the feeling of being swept off your feet and thrown to the snowy pavement by a minivan. Okay, I am being pretty dramatic, but I walked away from it with only a very nasty bruise. Once again...this city, and the way it is run...drivers are required to carry proof of insurance with them, which this lady did not have. The policeman (and yes, there was an ambulance as well as fire truck) let her call her husband to get "their policy number". Little catch, it belonged to a different vehicle. She didn't even get a ticket. To this day I am still in a huff about that!
3. I love to travel even though you wouldn't know it by my lack of going anywhere lately (too poor...too much book buying I suspect!). In college I went by myself on one of those package tours they advertise in universities. London, Paris, Rome! (I wasn't quite brave enough to backpack on my own). I spent two summers in Ireland (primarily in Belfast) volunteering on a Children's Playscheme that would integrate Catholic and Protestant children on little day trips and fun events. I spent part of a summer in London living with three crazy Irish girls. And I lived a year in Austria (outside of Vienna) teaching English in a high school (and spent lots of time traveling to neighboring countries).
4. Growing up I wanted to be various things-including: an arachaeologist, an oceanographer, a journalist, someone who works for the foreign service, someone who does restoration on artwork (like the character in The Fander's Panel--but I could never get past all the chemistry classes!), but I ended up studying and getting my degree in Art History. I later took some grad classes in education (to possibly get an MLS). I still haven't quite decided what I want to be when I grow up, but until then I work in a library.
5. In my free time I like to do creative things. I have done a lot of paper-arts/collage sorts of things, and have even had a few of my pieces shown in some of Stampington's publications (the collage above is an example). I am also a needleworker. I have a pretty large collection of "stash"--more linen, floss, and charts than I could possibly use in a lifetime (but I am still known to buy the odd thing here or there). I have a needlework blog, The Peacock's Feather. I am a slow stitcher, though, as I tend to spend more free time reading than stitching!