Because that Shut Up and Run girl said to...

I was hanging out in my green bikini, enjoying Cheetos and NASCAR when I saw that I was tagged.

Thanks, Beth (and Tall Mom!). I know you know that I love these things. Except for all the linking you have to do, they are somewhat cathartic sometimes. Or embarrassing. Or sometimes just boring. Whatever... here it is...

A New Bunch of Random XL Crap in One Tidy, Long-ass Post

Here are the rules:

1. Post these rules
2. You must post 11 random things about yourself
3. Answer the questions set for you in their post
4. Create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer
5. Go to their blog and tell them you’ve tagged them
6. No stuff in the tagging section about you are tagged if you are reading this. You legitimately have to tag 11 people!

Random Things About Me

1. I love practical jokes...simple or elaborate. 
2. Several times when I was rowing seriously, I skipped Christmas and/or Thanksgiving because Tuesday and Thursday evenings were weight workouts. Some may say "Wowza, XL! That was so hardcore!" And while I think it may have helped me mentally in the years I did that, it really shouts out "Whoa, chick...Get a life!" to me now. 
3. I struggle mightily with self-confidence. One friend in particular has been privy to my psycho, pre-race freak-outs this past year. It is not a pretty thing. 
4. When I was in Cuba for the PanAm Games, we went out for our first row on the course. We were in a pair which is what is called a 'blind' boat (no coxswain and facing backwards so one can't see where one is going). We headed up the course following the prescribed pattern and made our cut across the lanes at the prescribed point. What wasn't prescribed was crashing into a solid, immoveable starting platform. Yeah, I did it. It was my fault since I was steering. Yeah, we broke the brand-new boat...but fortunately the boat-builder was on hand and could fix it by the next day.
5. I have never broken a bone...except my nose...but I have collapsed a lung. I almost died.
6. I paid $8.50 for a dozen eggs last week because I believe that pasture-raised, 'happy' chickens will produce eggs that are better for you. I am a total believer in the energetics of food. They did taste better...even my 6-year old said so.
7. I pulled Q-Man's teeth out this week with my bare hands. They were his first two teeth to lose and were each dangling by a root. He was sick of them annoying him while he ate, so he asked me to pull them out. I obliged. It was a bloody mess.
8. I used to be able to do 15 pull-ups in 45 seconds. Now I can't even do one. I should get back on that.
9. I tried out for American Gladiators while pregnant. I didn't make the cut.
10. I f*ucking HATE ants. We are in the middle of dealing with a horrendous infestation. I f*ucking HATE ants. They warrant the f-word.
11. One of the stupidest things I have ever done is to hike down the Schilthorn (a big mountain in Switzerland) in the snow while pregnant and carrying a 5-year old in a frame-pack on my back. With a funky hip. We made it. It took us 6.5 hours to complete what was supposed to be a 2-hour hike. 

Beth's Questions for Me:

1. In five words or less, tell me your most embarrassing moment. Indoor balcony, vomiting, people below.
2. What’s one habit you need to break? Staying up too late...this was my New Years Resolution :(
3. What’s your favorite book of all time?  I have lots of favorites...Miss Rumphius is one. Joy Luck Club, Gone With the Wind, Pillars of the Earth, Les Misérables, Shibumi...and more.
4. Have you ever cheated on a test or a partner (don’t need to tell me which one)? Yes, sort of.
5. If you weren’t doing your current job, what would be your profession? Highly-paid creative genius whose talents are sought after by many.
6. Do you think Bob Harper is gay? No. He's secretly hoping that everyone is asking that question though.
7. What’s the best compliment you’ve ever received? My acupuncturist told me she'd want me in her lifeboat because I am the most resourceful survivor-type she has ever met.
8. Would you be able to run further or faster? Some days it's one, some days it's the other. If you make me pick one right now I'll say "faster."
9. What food gives you gas? Broccoli and garlic...either on their own or together.
10. Ever done a cleanse or had a colonic? Yes, both.
11. What’s your dream marathon? Even though it's only 23 kilometers, I'm going with the Napoleon Run in Corsica. 

Mel's Questions for Me...   

1. What is your favorite season for running and why? here in California I love running in the summer because it is cool. When I lived in Philadelphia, I loved running in the fall. I'm a cool weather runner :)
2. If you could meet any famous person, who would it be and why? Living – Steve Martin or Robin Williams. Both strike me as very intelligent, sensitive, insightful people who would also be a ton of fun to hang out with.
3. What is your mantra, favorite quote, and/or words you live by? 

   Everything will be all right in the end. If it's not all right, then it's not the end.

4. If you could have ANY ONE ITEM for free, what would it be? a new mattress.
5. How did your parents come up with your name? I am named after my paternal grandmother.
6. Do you collect anything? If so, what? Yes. One thing I collect is little cars from the Pixar/Disney movie "Cars."
7. How did you meet your significant other? we met at work and it was love at first sight.
8. If you could go on vacation anywhere in the world, where would it be and why? Côte d'Azur in France. It is beautiful and warm and friendly and interesting and I love it there.
9. What is your favorite fruit and vegetable? fruit – a perfect peach. vegetable – spinach!
10. What is your favorite color? Dark and brilliant green.
11. What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of me (Tall Mom)? amazingly and genuinely NICE... you're what my husband calls 'good people'...I am so glad to have met you in person :)

11 Questions for New Tag-ees...

1. What is your 'comfort food'?
2. Do you exercise better when you are angry or happy?
3. Have you ever done anything to the point of puking? What?
4. Any embarrassing nicknames in your past? Spill it.
5. Guilty movie pleasure?
6. Do you like or dislike these tagging memes?
7. Why do you run? (might seem like a stupid question, but I'm curious)
8. Would you rather be rich or famous?
9. If you could go anywhere tomorrow without any worries (everything would be taken care of perfectly for the duration) where would you go, 
10. with whom and 
11. for how long?

People Tagged  (yes, I realize my tag-ees are all women...well, except Kovas) :

1. Ali Mc...Running with Spatulas
2. TriMOEngr...Climbing those hills...
3. Michelle...Running with Attitude
4. Hiker Mom
5. Jess...who gets large numbers of people to run with her through cemeteries
6. Jolene (who I see was already tagged...so she's off the hook...go read about her!)
7. A So-Called Runner, Courtney
8. Nicole, who is Becoming a Mother Runner
9. Jamie...Chosen Chaos
10. Just Keep Running
11. Kovas who keeps two blogs...this one and that one.

If you've already been tagged, you don't need to do this again. But would you put a link to your tag post in a comment so we can read all about you? Thanks!

P.S. This is NOT like a chain-letter. Nothing bad will happen to you if you blow it off. So don't worry :)